Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s get out of town after getting swept twice by Cleveland and Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Rays’ Manuel Margot hits a two-run single against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum as the Rays shutout Oakland 3-0 on Wed May 4, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s (10-15) who were swept twice in the last homestand by the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays (15-10) one thing that showed in this past homestand they just couldn’t get many runs on the scoreboard.

#2 Game three of get away day on Thursday was quite transparent as the A’s and Rays played to a 0-0 score until the top of the eighth and the Rays attacked with three runs and never looked back and wound up with a 3-0 shutout win.

#3 The Rays Manuel Margot who slugged a two run single in part of the Rays three run attack broke what was a great pitching duel between the A’s starter Frankie Montas and Rays starter Corey Kluber.

#4 Montas threw like he could have completed the game but his pitch count was up and he was lifted for reliever Zach Jackson in the top of the eighth. Jackson was the pitcher of record that was charged with the three earned runs.

#5 It’s once again back to the drawing board for the A’s as they head for the Twin Cities and Minneapolis and Target Field for Friday night as the A’s will start left hand pitcher Cole Irvin (2-1 ERA 2.93) and the Twins have not announced a starting pitcher yet a 5:10 PDT first pitch.

Join Jerry for the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Pitching a little better but A’s can’t get in front of Guardians in 3-1 loss

Cleveland Guardians’ Owen Miller, left, scores ahead of the ball as Oakland Athletics catcher Austin Allen, right, waits for the throw after a double hit by Richie Palacios in the top of the ninth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Apr 30, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

The Oakland A’s (10-7) were back in action on Saturday afternoon against the Cleveland Guardians (9-12). On Friday, the A’s took a loss in the closest of margins by the final of 9-8. On Sunday, they hopes to turn the tide. The A’s were unable to make enough adjustments on Saturday and fell again to the Guardians 3-1 in Oakland.

Unlike the game on Friday, Saturday’s game saw much less offense on display and much more solid pitching. Cleveland scored their first run in the fourth inning on a Andres Gimenez single to center that scored Oscar Mercado.

The A’s scored their first run in the fifth inning. One of the best players from Friday night, Sheldon Neuse, was also the first to get the A’s on the board Saturday. Neuse, hit a long drive to center field off starter Shane Bieber to tie the ball game. It was the second home run of the year for Neuse and his 13th RBI.

The starters in the ball game each pitched really well. For the A’s Cole Irvin threw six innings of one run baseball allowing six hits with two walks and four strikeouts. On the Guardians side, Shane Bieber threw seven innings of seven hit one run baseball striking out seven and walking only one.

The rest of the runs for the Guardians both came in the ninth inning as Richie Palacios doubled home Owen Miller and Andres Gimenez to make the score 3-1. The A’s got a double from Elvis Andrus in the ninth inning but nothing more and lost the game by the final of 3-1. Emmanuel Clase got the save which was his fourth of the year.

The A’s will be back at it trying to salvage the final game of the three game series on Sunday at 1:07 PM PST in Oakland. Triston McKenzie goes for Cleveland (0-2 ERA 3.71) for Oakland James Kaprielian (0-0 ERA 0.00).

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Is this a bad time for Kaval to have a spat over tweets with the local media?

Oakland A’s team president David Kaval has recently found himelf and the local media tied up in a nasty bunch. Kaval has been criticized over his tweets last Tuesday saying the local media should get to the bottom of the San Francisco Giants poor attendance where the Giants drew over 32,000 in both games against the A’s on Tuesday and Wednesday (file photo from the Mercury News)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry:

#1 David Kaval the A’s team president had some interesting tweets last Tuesday night during the A’s and Giants first game at Oracle Park along the lines of writing where are all the Giants fans who drew around 32,898 at Oracle Park tweeting, “It is sad how few fans are at the game. Maybe the local media can look into the @SFGiants marketing? Ask some questions. Get to the bottom of what is going on.” Kaval caught some heat for the tweet including one from Oracle Park Seagull who tweeted, “You are literally the president of a baseball team. You’re acting like a petulant child who got told no TV on school nights. Show a little decorum dude. Act like a grownup.” Kaval wrote back saying “you are literally a seagull.”

#2 Jerry, you might think that Kaval needs all the allies he could muster in the push for the next vote that essentially decide the future of the Howard Terminal project as the vote will be held on Jun 2 by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) as a two thirds vote is needed to keep hope alive for the A’s to have a shot at staying in Oakland.

#3 After Tuesday’s tweet the local media has soured on Kaval after criticizing the Giants for having few fans in the stands 35 minutes before the first pitch took a picture on twitter saying the local media should check with the Giants marketing department to see why so few fans? The A’s are asking for a huge amount of money $12 billion to support the project could a fight between Kaval and the media could turn that effort on a dime.

#4 Back on the field the A’s are coming off a two game split with the Giants at Oracle Park and starting pitching and hitting were in questions after taking some tough loses against the Rangers and the first game from the Giants two of those games where pitching gave up eight runs in each game.

#5 A’s will open a three game homestand starting tonight at the Oakland Coliseum with Cleveland starting pitcher Aaron Civale will go for Cleveland. Civale is 0-2 with an ERA of 9.58 and for Oakland the A’s are sending their ace, Frankie Montas, to the mound. Montas is 2-2 for the year with an ERA of 3.28.  A 6:40 pm PDT first pitch.

Jerry is filling in for Jeremiah Salmonson who does the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Preview of A’s series with Cleveland Guardians; Oakland coming off two game split with San Francisco

Oakland A’s second baseman Tony Kemp (5) completes a double play after retiring the sliding San Francisco Giant Brandon Crawford (35) at second base in the bottom of the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco Wed Apr 27, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s return home to face the Cleveland Guardians for three games. The A’s split the two-game set with the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Chad Pinder’s leadoff home run was the only run scored in the game. The A’s hope their offense wakes up as the team has had a hard time putting runs on the board in their last five games.

The Guardians, managed by Terry Francona, got off to a good start starting the season at 7-5. However, the team has lost six in a row and are playing the Los Angeles Angels Thursday afternoon in Anaheim. With a record of 7-11, the Guardians are in fourth place in the A.L. Central Division. Francona is hoping to get a win over the Angels before heading to Oakland this weekend.

The pitching probables for the series will see the A’s sending their ace, Frankie Montas, to the mound. Montas is 2-2 for the year with an ERA of 3.28. Montas pitched well against the Texas Rangers last week, but the A’s offense failed to give him any support.

Aaron Civale will go for Cleveland. Civale is 0-2 with an ERA of 9.58. For his career, Civale is 19-17 and has a career ERA of 3.99. On Saturday, Lefty Cole Irvin will be seeking his third win of the season. Irvin is 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA.

Irvin has pitched well in his last two starts. 2020’s Cy Young award winner, Shane Bieber, will go for Cleveland. Bieber is 1-1 with an ERA of 3.27. Bieber is 42-19 lifetime and has a career ERA of 3.27. Neither team has announced their starting pitcher for Sunday’s game.

Key players on Cleveland’s roster are first baseman Owen Miller, second baseman Andres Gimenez, third baseman Jose Ramirez, left fielder Steven Kwan, center fielder Myles Straw, right fielder Josh Naylor, and designated hitter Franmill Reyes. Miller, Gimenez, Ramirez, Kwan, and Naylor are all hitting over .300.

The A’s offense has gone south in the last five games. The A’s have scored just six runs in these five games. Cole Irvin beat the Rangers 2-0 last Sunday, and Paul Blackburn and the A’s bullpen shut out the Giants 1-0 on Wednesday.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay has to be pleased with the bullpen’s work. Dany Jimenz has recorded four saves. Domingo Aceveda, A.J.Puk, Kirby Snead, Sam Moll, Zach Jackson, and Justin Grimm performed well.

The series will see two teams that do not have a lot of familiar names. It will be an opportunity for the fans to see how the new A’s roster performs against many new Cleveland players.

The A’s would like to win at least two of the three games before meeting the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. On Saturday, the A’s will have their work cut out for them as they face Shane Bieber. It should be a fun series.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants face evenly matched Mets tonight to open three game series

San Francisco Giants second basemen Thairo Estrada, right, is congratulated by shortstop Brandon Crawford after sweeping the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Sun Apr 17, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Morris, the Giants wind up getting a sweep on their first leg of this road trip against the Cleveland Guardians. Giants pitcher Alex Wood threw for over five innings giving up just four hits in the 8-1 win.

#2 Wood gave up just one run and had real good command of his pitches. In the third inning the Guardians had two runners on but Wood would get out of the inning and the Giants continued with the lead.

#3 Thairo Estrada supplied the offense in the second inning with a homer to left and with Wilmer Flores on second after hitting a double it was a 2-0 lead for San Francisco.

#4 Brandon Belt would homer in the seventh inning to extend San Francisco’s lead to 8-0. Belt would bring Austin Slater home from first.

#5 For tonight’s game opening up in New York, the Giants will start Alex Cobb (1-0 ERA 3.60) and for the New York Mets (7-2)Tyler Megill (2-0 ERA 0.00). First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM PDT at Citi Park in Flushing.

San Francisco Sweeps Cleveland 8-1; Wood gives up only four hits and Estrada homers gets four RBIs

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Wood pitches in the first inning to the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sun Apr 17, 2022 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Sweeps Cleveland 8-1; Wood gives up only four hits and Estrada homers and gets four RBIs

By Barbara Mason

After taking the first two games in their series against the Cleveland Guardians (4-5) the San Francisco Giants (7-2) went for the sweep Sunday afternoon defeating the Guardians by seven runs 8-1.

It was a quiet first inning for San Francisco but the second inning was anything but quiet for the Giants. Thairo Estrada homered to left and with Wilmer Flores on second after hitting a double it was a 2-0 lead for San Francisco.

The Guardians would threaten in the third inning but Alex Wood would get out of a two runners on jam and the Giants held on to their two run lead.

San Francisco would strike again in the fourth inning. Thairo Estrada grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop and Joc Pederson would score. Brandon Crawford was just behind him off a throwing error by Owen Miller. The Giants now had a 4-0 lead.

In the sixth inning the Giants would add a couple more for a 6-0 lead. Peterson would score from second off a double by Estrada. Estrada would go on to score when Duggar hit an infield single.

Brandon Belt would homer in the seventh inning to extend San Francisco’s lead to 8-0. Belt would bring Austin Slater home from first.

The Guardians got up on the scoreboard in the bottom seventh inning when Amed Rosario scored off a single from Austin Hedges. Cleveland trailed by a heap of runs and everything pointed to a San Francisco sweep. The Guardians were not able to get much going in this game.

Monday the Giants will start a four-game series with the mighty New York Mets (7-3). Starting pitcher for the Giants will be Alex Cobb (1-0 ERA 3.60) and for New York Tyler Megill (2-0 ERA 0.00). First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM PDT at Citi Park in Flushing.

Giants win game two against Guardians 4-2 at Progressive

The San Francisco Giants Brandon Belt connects for a fifth inning two RBI single against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sat Apr 16, 2022 (AP News photo)

Giants Win Game Two Against Guardians 4-2

By Barbara Mason

After winning the first game against the Cleveland Guardians (4-3) Friday night the San Francisco Giants (5-2) continued their three game series Saturday. The Giants won Friday’s series opener handily 4-1 thanks to pitcher Carlos Rodon who allowed a single run through seven innings striking out nine and only giving up two hits.

That was the home opener for Cleveland at Progressive Field and not the debut as the Guardians that they were hoping for. The Giants won their second straight game in Cleveland with a 4-2 win on Saturday.

Cleveland was first on the scoreboard Saturday in the first inning. Jose Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly to allow Myles Straw to score for the early 1-0 lead.

The Giants would fight through four innings when in the fifth inning Brandon Belt singled to center and base runners Thairo Estrada and Mike Yastrzemski would both score giving San Francisco a 2-1 lead. Cleveland would score in the same inning to tie up this game. Myles Straw doubled to deep left and base runner Owen Miller scored for a 2-2 game.

Going into the eighth inning the game remained tied. With one out the Giants would load the bases and Wilmer Flores would ground into a fielders choice to second. Brandon Belt scored to break the tie and give the Giants a 3-2 lead.

San Francisco was not finished and with two outs Austin Slater would score on a wild pitch extending the Giants lead. The Giants would take the 4-2 lead into the ninth inning. In the bottom of the ninth Cleveland was looking at their last chance to salvage this game. Cleveland’s Josh Naylor would single and Owen Miller walked but they could not cash in and San Francisco held on for the win

Sunday the Giants will be going for the sweep. First pitch is scheduled for 10:40 AM PDT. Alex Wood (0-0 ERA 4.15) will take the mound for San Francisco and for Cleveland it will be Aaron Civale (0-0 ERA 5.40).

Rodón strikes out nine, Giants use power to beat Guardians 4-1

San Francisco Giants pitcher Carlos Rodon threw heat against the Cleveland Guardians seen here in the first inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Fri Apr 15, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Friday, April 15, 2022

One year after throwing a no-hitter against Cleveland (4-3), Carlos Rodón turned in his second strong start of the season for San Francisco (5-2) on Friday, going seven innings in the Giants’ 4-1 victory over the Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Rodón (1-0) – who no-hit Cleveland as a member of the Chicago White Sox on April 14, 2021 – needed only 47 pitches in the first five innings and threw 68 pitches through six. After working out of a seventh-inning jam, Rodón wound up surrendering one run on two hits with nine strikeouts and two walks.

Camilo Doval picked up his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth. Tyler Rogers was credited with his third hold, throwing a scoreless eighth.

The Gants provided Rodón with plenty of offensive support, as Brandon Crawford, Joc Peterson and Joey Bart all hit home runs. Crawford, playing his first career game in Cleveland, hit a blast to right for his first homer of the season. He’s homered in 24 different ballparks.

Peterson’s second home run as a Giant – No. 150 for his career – traveled 410 feet to right-center off Guardians starter Zach Plesac ()-1). Bart added a two-run shot in the eighth.

Rodón’s fastball reached a high speed of 99.3 mph, hitting 99 on the gun in his final two innings. His 21 punchouts lead the Majors, and Rodón is second on the franchise list for most strikeouts in his first two starts of a season. Cliff Melton holds the team record with 22 K’s in first two starts in 1937 for the New York Giants.

This was Cleveland’s first home game as the Guardians after being known as the Indians for over 100 years. It occurred on Jackie Robinson Day, marking the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier.

In Saturday’s game, the Giants will go with Anthony Desclafani (0-1, 4.91), while the Guardians have Cal Quantrill (1-0, 3.60) on the hill. First pitch is at 2:10 PDT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: SF’s Rondon matches up against Cleveland’s Plesac in Giants first road game Friday

The San Francisco Giants Luke Williams belts a second inning two run double against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park on Wed Apr 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 San Francisco Giants (4-2) pitcher Logan Webb held the San Diego Padres (4-3) for eight innings surrendering only four hits.

#2 The Giants Luke Williams hit a two run RBI double in the bottom of the second inning it was just enough for San Francisco to edge the visiting Padres 2-1 at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

#3 Webb who had an 11-3 record last season pitched like a 20 game winner Wednesday afternoon picking up his first win against no loses. Webb threw for eight, surrendered four hits and one earned run, didn’t walk a batter and struck out seven batters.

#4 Don’t blink if you were watching this matinee as this one took only 2:11 so far the fastest game the Giants have played this season.

#5 The Giants will be part of history. It will be the first time the Guardians will be playing under their new name in Cleveland. Starting pitchers for the Giants left hander Carlos Rodon and for the Guardians Zach Plesac.

Join Michael Duca Thursdays and Morris Phillips Mondays for the San Francisco Giants podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Texas Tops Oakland 8-6 to open series in Arlington

The game wasn’t a laugher but Yohel Pozo of the Texas Rangers gets a laugh after taking Oakland A’s pitcher Sergio Romo deep in the the sixth inning for a three run homer at Globe Life Park in Arlington on Fri Aug 13, 2021 (AP News photo)

Texas Rangers Top Oakland 8-6

By Barbara Mason

Thursday night recap:The Oakland A’s are on a roll winning the past seven games in a row. In those seven games they swept a four game series with the Texas Rangers followed by sweeping a very good Cleveland Indian team.

Game Three against the Indians was a wild affair with the A’s winning by the score of 17-0. Everyone was hitting in that game and tonight they took on the Texas Rangers in another three game series looking to extend their winning streak.

When we look at the Rangers they are struggling mightily sitting in last place in the American League West with a record of 40-75 while the A’s have a record of 67-48, and only 1 1/2 games out of first place in the division.

This is a series that Oakland should comfortably win although in the first game of their last series it took extra innings to put the game away.

Friday night recap: The first inning in this game could not have started more miserably for the A’s. They fell behind 3-0 in the inning and were not able to score until the fifth inning. Oakland really put the pedal to the metal in not only the fifth but the sixth inning as well.

In the fifth inning, Seth Brown doubled and Marte singled giving Oakland a couple of runs but still trailing 3-2. The sixth saw the A’s take the lead 4-3. In the inning Moreland tripled and Chapman singled.

The Rangers came right back with a homerun by Yohel Pozo with two runners on base taking back the lead 6-4. In the seventh inning Matt Olson hit his 29th home run. With the score 6-5, although trailing, the A’s seemed to have things under control. We have seen those comebacks more often than not.

The Rangers really threw a wrench into the A’s planned comeback when DJ Peters hit the Rangers second home run of the game with a runner on base taking a 8-5 lead.

Seth Brown hit a double in the eighth inning allowing Matt Chapman to score and going into the ninth inning Oakland still trailed by the score of 8-6. Andrus would pop fly out, Marte strike out and Matt Olson thrown out at first base.

This was a disappointing loss for the Oakland A’s in a game that they should not have lost. The Rangers had two unearned runs in the first inning when the A’s had some costly errors. Sergio Romo had a disappointing outing which we have not seen in quite awhile and the offense was off after the display that we all saw last night.

It will be onto game two of the series with the A’s looking for their first win. There is no doubt that we will see a different team tomorrow with first pitch at 4:05 PM. Oakland will clean up those errors and James Kaprielian will be on the mound for the A’s looking to tie up the series.