Tag: Willie McCovery

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A’s open 2 game series in Atlanta tonight; NBA Finals game 3 sets up in Boston; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s starter Cole Irvin (19) gets the start against the Atlanta Braves Kyle Wright at Truist Park in Atlanta on Tue Jun 7, 2022 to open up a two game series (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 The Oakland A’s have an off day on Monday. They are on their way to face the defending World Series Champion Atlanta Braves for two games starting Tuesday night in Atlanta. The A’s hope to get back on the winning track against the Braves.

#2 The Oakland Coliseum has been a house of horrors for them this season. They are 7-23 at home. They were 1-9 on the homestand ending on Sunday. They lost their last six games, three to the Houston Astros and three to the Boston Red Sox. 

#3 Turning to the NBA Finals the Golden State Warriors who were down 0-1 to the visiting Boston Celtics were able to climb back into the series and even it up. It was a close first half 52-50 but the Warriors in the second half held the Celtics to just 14 points in the third quarter that made a huge difference in the win.

#4 The Boston Celtics during games 1 and 2 wanted to show unity by tee shirts supporting the release WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner who is being held in a Russian prison on drug charges when they accused Griner for having hashish oil in her suitcase at the Moscow Airport.

#5 There is no doubt and you saw him on the last homestand in Oakland that Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez who no doubt is like a reincarnated Willie McCovey type hitter who just got a six year extension worth $115 million on Monday. That’s $26 million a year and the largest contract for a DH. Alvarez is hitting .295, 51 hits, 16 home runs, and 34 RBIs.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play announcer for Oakland A’s beisbol on flagship station Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants day off report: McCovey’s wife Estela putting up ex-slugger’s awards, rings, and mementos on auction block

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Hall of Fame slugger Willie McCovey said of his wife Estela in 2012 that when you work closely together you fall in love. Estela decided to put McCovey’s mementos up for bid. (photo from McCovey Chronicles)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Former San Francisco Giant the late Willie McCovey’s wife Estela will be putting up McCovey’s awards, mementos, and world series rings. The list from the late slugger “Stretch” will premier his 1969 National League MVP Award plaque his 2012 and 2014 World Series rings are also up for bid.

The other items include his first baseman’s gloves and mementos that have a total inventory of 200 items that will go up for sale. Estela will be working with Heritage Auctions over the weekend and the bidding is already in progress and all bids will end by August 22.

Estela’s heartbreak emotion at the time of McCovey’s passing says again this is another hard time of remembrance of the former Giants slugger as she passes on his greatest awards from an illustrious career as she told the SF Chronicle’s John Shea, “It’s hard for me emotionally. It’s hard just to think I’m giving away Willie’s stuff. I still don’t know if it’s the best time. I don’t know if there’s a right or wrong time.” said Estela.

The items were willed to Estela from McCovey’s estate amongst those his All Star Game rings from 1984 and 2007, 1989 and 2002 National League Championships and World Series rings from 2012 and 2014. McCovey had numerous uniforms, ball and bats from his big league career which started when the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958.

McCovey said of his wife Estela who he met while he was in rehab from back surgery was his caretaker. Estela Bejar at the time (2010 the same year as the Giants first of three World Series Championships) worked at her sisters home care facility and Estela still works there today. McCovey said in 2012 interview with Shea, “When you work that close together sometimes you fall for each other. She’s just a really, really, caring person.”

Morris Phillips is a San Francisco Giants reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rays spoil Giants’ home opener with 5-2 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @RaysBaseball

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — After all the pomp and circumstances of Opening Day went away, there was a game to be played and it did not take long for the Tampa Bay Rays to get on the board.

Ji-Man Choi doubled, and then Brandon Lowe drove in Choi with a double of his own for the only run that the Rays would need on their way to a 5-2 over the San Francisco before a sellout crowd of 41,067 at Oracle Park.

Following the Lowe double, the Rays began to show their muscles, as Yandy Diaz hit a two-run home run that broke his bat and then Kevin Kiermaier launched a solo home run into the center field bleachers.

After that rough first inning, Dereck Rodriguez settled down, as he went 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, walking no one and striking out five, as his record fell to 1-1 on the young season.

Buster Posey singled to lead off the second inning, went to second, when Choi was unable to make the throw on a ball hit by Brandon Crawford, then after Rays starter Tyler Glasnow retired the next two, Joe Panik walked to load the bases; however, the attempt at a rally ended, when grounded to first to end the inning.

Glasnow went six innings, giving up zero runs on just three hits, walking just and striking out six, as he won for the second time in as many starts to begin the season.

The Rays stretched their up to 5-0 in the top of the seventh inning, as Michael Perez doubled and then after a throwing error by reliever Nick Vincent, Austin Meadows doubled in Perez.

Pablo Sandoval got the Giants on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Pablo Sandoval doubled down the left field line off of Rays reliever Wilmer Font, who gave up a single to Kevin Pillar. It was the first hit as a member of the Giants for Pillar.

Steven Duggar then cut the Rays lead down to three, as he doubled to the left-center field gap to score Sandoval and put an end to Fonts afternoon.

Despite getting the tying run to the plate in bottom of the ninth inning, Brandon Belt struck out and then former Rays third baseman Evan Longoria flew out to Guillermo Heredia.

NOTES: Prior to the game, and during the game, the Giants paid tribute to beloved members of the Giants family who passed away during the off-season, including Hank Greenwald, Frank Robinson, Peter Magowan and Willie McCovey.

The team also honored the first responders of the California wildfires that destroyed many different parts of California this past fall and also remembered the people who perished in those fires.

This is the second year in a row that the Giants have opened the home slate against an American League team, as the Seattle Mariners defeated the Giants 6-4 to open the 2018 home season.

With the loss in the home opener, the Giants have lost back-to-back home openers for the first time since the 2007 and 2008 season, when they lost to the San Diego Padres 7-0 and then 8-4 the following season.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija takes the mound on Saturday for the Giants, while the Rays starter is yet to be determined.