That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Padres win the Juan Soto sweepstakes; Soto addition can help San Diego make a run at Dodgers

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Juan Soto former Washington National after fouling off a pitch in the ninth inning on Sun Jul 31, 2022 at Nationals Park in DC now joins the San Diego Padres in a deal completed on Tue Aug 2, 2022 (image from ESPN)

What happen today is historic as the San Diego Padres picked up Juan Soto for six prospects from the Washington Nationals. Joining Soto is first baseman Josh Bell. The Padres Eric Hosmer has a no trade agreement in his contract and says he doesn’t want to go. Hosmer is a good player to sit on the bench for the Padres. The Nationals and Padres might get cash to settle the deal.

Hosmer has no interest in going to Washington a team that has the worst record in baseball. Hosmer could end up playing for someone whose going to the post season. Soto is hitting .241, leads MLB in walks and is among the home run leaders in home runs with 19.

Soto is happy to join a team that is contending and leaving the Nationals who lost four of their last five games and had no plans to stay in Washington who offered him 15 years for $440 million. No price for Soto has been disclosed yet but it’s speculated that Soto could fetch as much as $500 million.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer on the A’s Spanish radio network and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: All Star honor Griner with #42 jerseys; A’s Blackburn looking forward to meeting All Star teammates; plus more

Team Wilson’s Brionna Jones, right, tries to get at the loose ball as Team Stewart’s Alyssa Thomas, left, and Emma Meesseman get after the loose basketball in the second half at the WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago on Sun Jul 10, 2022. The players changed jerseys to #42 for the second half to honor Brittney Griner (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Tony R:

#1 At the WNBA All Star Game in Chicago on Sunday there was a void with Phoenix Mercury superstar Brittney Griner missing. The players dedicated the second half wearing #42 jerseys in honor of Griner who has detained in Russia for the last 145 days. Tony the second half dedication meant a lot to the players remembering Griner.

#2 The Oakland A’s named their lone player representative for the 2022 MLB All Star Game for July 19th at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles pitcher Paul Blackburn who started out with a flurry at 6-2 and currently is 6-4 with a 3.36 ERA. Blackburn said he’s looking forward to meeting with his American League teammates and also being able to talk with the Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani.

#3 The San Francisco Giants who are coming off a 2-2 split against the San Diego Padres and opened a three game series last night with the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 4-3 loss. The Giants were 6-14 in their last 20 games and after winning 107 games last season are a different team without the presence of former catcher Buster Posey.

#4 Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman was working on his game in the NBA Summer Leagues in Las Vegas. Wiseman who played only 39 games in the last 15 months. When Wiseman first came on the scene for the Warriors he was expected to be an anchor at the center position for him but he had troubles adjusting to the NBA and also his recovery from knee surgery was slow but is looking forward to working hard to get back with the club for the 2022-23 season.

#5 The Pittsburgh Steelers have renamed their Stadium from Heinz Field to Acrisure Stadium. Acrisure is a top ten global insurance broker with revenue exceeding $3.8 billion. Heinz Kraft Company said in a statement that after concluding a 20 year $57 million naming rights agreement that ran from 2001-2021. Acrisure out bided Heinz for the naming rights. Art Rooney the Steelers owner was hoping that Heinz would stay on as the naming rights holder.

Join Tony for Headline Sports Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: All sorts of hitting for Giants in San Diego on Sunday; San Francisco opens up series with Arizona Monday night

The San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores (right) gets the welcome at home plate from Austin Slater (13) after hitting a two run home run in the top of the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 On Sunday San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Wood threw shutout ball against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego and the Giants ended up winning in a laugher 12-0 to split the four game series with the Padres.

#2 Wood had his mojo going throwing no hit ball in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Pads until rookie CJ Abrams hit a single to leftfield to end the no hit bid.

#3 The Padres were in a no hit drought going back to Saturday’s game when they last got a hit in second inning going 12 innings without a hit until Sunday’s sixth inning.

#4 Marko knowing Padres manager Bob Melvin as well as you do these last two games have to be a little unusual play of the Padres and losing to the strengths of two strong pitchers for the Giants Carlos Rodon on Saturday and Wood on Sunday.

#5 The Giants open a three game series Monday night with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park. The Diamond backs will be starting Merrill Kelly (7-5, 3.42) and for the Giants Alex Cobb (3-3, 4.74) for a 6:45 pm PDT first pitch at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Marko is filling in for Morris Phillips on the Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants beat up Padres 12-0 in fourth game

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Wood pitches to the San Diego Padres line up in the bottom of the fifth inning at Petco Park in San Diego on Sunday, July 10, 2022. 

Giants Beat Up Padres in Game Four 12-0

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (43-41) were apparently fed up with losing. They came roaring into Petco Park Sunday and plowed through the San Diego Padres (49-38) lineup with ease. They tied up the four game series 2-2 but most importantly they are playing lights up baseball as evidence by the two final games of this series. Lots of hitting with an 11-0 win for the Giants ending their road trip at San Diego’s Petco Park.

The Giants got on the scoreboard in the second inning and never looked back. Nine players in the starting lineup had hits. By the fourth inning the Giants were leading 8-0 and there wasn’t much the Padres could do to stop the assault.

Alex Wood had a great start going seven innings allowing three hits and eight strikeouts, in fact, he was unhittable for five innings. He had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning. The Giants gave up nothing to the Padres. Yunior Marte finished off San Diego in the eighth and ninth innings for the 12-0 win. He also allowed three hits and had four strikeouts.

What a follow-up to the brilliant show that Carlos Rodon put out there in game three. San Francisco has really shown some encouraging signs of completely turning this whole season around. It is only two games but it is certainly looking good for the Giants.

Wilmer Flores had an outstanding game with four hits two of them out of the park with runners on base. This is first time that the Giants have won consecutive games since June 16-17 in Pittsburgh.

The Giants offense was totally on task with 17 hits and walking four times. San Francisco sent three shots out of the yard two of them with a runner on base. It was a near perfect offensive defensive effort by the Giants.

Next up for San Francisco will be the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 PM PT. Alex Cobb will take the mound for San Francisco. He comes in with an ERA of 4.74 with a 3-3 W-L. Arizona will send Merrill Kelly with a 7-5 W-L and a 3.42 ERA.

Rodon goes nine innings for SF win over San Diego 3-1

San Francisco Giants starter Carlos Rodon expresses his excitement after getting the win over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego on Sat Jul 9, 2022 (AP News photo)

Rodon Goes Nine Innings for SF Win Over Padres 3-1

By Barbara Mason

Saturday night the San Francisco Giants (42-41) took on the San Diego Padres (49-37) in game three of their four game series. The Giants dropped games one and two and needed a win if they want to have a chance at an even series by game’s end on Sunday and even the series they did with a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

After a quiet first inning, the Giants scored a run in the second inning. Brandon Crawford hit a sacrifice fly and Brandon Belt scored for the early 1-0 lead.

The Padres tied up the game in the second when Jose Azocar grounded into a fielders choice to first and Jorge Alfaro scored for a 1-1 game.

It was a pitchers duel through the next five innings. Neither team was able to get much offense going until things turned around for San Francisco in the eighth inning. Wilmer Flores belted a rocket out of the yard and with Joc Pederson on base, he gave the Giants a 3-1 lead.

San Francisco pitcher Carlos Rodon had a masterful performance on the mound. He went nine innings allowing only 3 hits, 2 walks with 12 strikeouts. He finished the game with 112 pitches. At one stretch he retired 22 in a row. His fast ball was dominating from start to finish bringing home the 3-1 victory. The win put the Giants just over five hundred still trailing the first place Dodgers and the second place Padres.

This series will wrap up on Sunday in game four. Alex Wood will take the mound for San Francisco coming in with an ERA of 4.83 and a 5-7 win-loss record. The Padres will send Mackenzie Gore who has a 3.18 ERA and a 4-3 win-loss record. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM PT.

Padres dominate Giants at Petco Park in game two 6-3; SF drops 14th game out of last 18

San Francisco Giants’ Austin Slater, below, safely advances to third on a wild pitch as San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado is late with the tag during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 8, 2022, in San Diego. (AP News photo)

Padres Dominante Giants In Game Two 6-3

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the San Francisco Giants (41-41) took on the San Diego Padres (49-36) in game two of their four game series and later took one on the chin in a 6-3 loss to the Padres at Petco Park in San Diego. Thursday night the Padres took game one in ten innings 2-1.

San Diego got off to a quick start in the first inning of this game. Manny Machado slugged one out of the ball park with Ha-Seong Kim and Jake Cronenworth on base for an early 3-0 lead.

In the fifth inning the Giants got on the board when David Villar hit a solo home run. The Padres answered in the sixth inning off a Nomar Azara single that drove Jose Azocar home and extended the Padre lead 4-1.

San Francisco had the bases loaded in the fourth inning but couldn’t take advantage and the Padres got out of a shaky situation.

Going into the seventh inning San Diego maintained their 4-1 lead looking for a W in game two of this series.

Giants pitcher Sam Long came out after 2.1 innings and was relieved by Tyler Rogers who went two innings. Long allowed four hits and the homer putting the Giants behind the eight ball from the start of this game. Zack Little relieved Rogers and John Brebbia relieved Little.

The Padres Blake Snell pitched through six innings having a great outing allowing only three hits and the Villar homer. He was relieved by Nick Martinez in the seventh inning. Martinez would finish the game.

This whole game came apart for San Francisco when they began walking far too many players (seven walks) and San Diego began stringing hits together. The Padres extended their lead in the eighth inning. Nomar Mazara singled bringing CJ Abrams home, and Cronenworth singled driving Mazara home. Going into the ninth inning San Diego had a healthy 6-1 lead. San Francisco was running out of outs and was three away from dropping game two of this series.

With two outs in the ninth inning Brandon Belt would knock one out of the park driving Brandon Crawford home but San Francisco came up short losing 6-3.

Notes: San Diego Padres announced that left fielder Jurikson Profar who collided with shortstop CJ Abrams on Thursday night has been placed on the seven day IL. Profar sustained neck and concussion injuries when he and Abrams went after a San Francisco Giant Tommy LaStella pop up to shallow left field and Abrams knee met Profar’s left cheek as both players were laid out. Abrams remained in the game while Profar was carted off and sent to the hospital for a further look by doctors.

First pitch Saturday is scheduled for 4:15 PM. Carlos Rodon will take the mound for the Giants. He has a 2.87 ERA. The Padres will send Yu Darvish who also has a solid ERA of 3.53.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Profar sent to hospital after collision with Abrams; Giants take seventh loss out of last eight games

The San Diego Padres Jurickson Profar raises a fist acknowledging the crowd after colliding with teammate CJ Abrams in the top of the fifth inning at Petco Park in San Diego on Thu Jul 7, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 San Diego Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar collided with rookie shortstop CJ Abrams left a lot of people concerned at Petco Park on Thursday night in the opening game of the four game series when Profar and Abrams went chasing after a San Francisco Giant Tommy La Stella shallow pop to left apparently neither made a call for the ball and Abrams knee ended up hitting Profar in the left jaw as both players fell down on the field.

#2 The scary part of it was that Profar had to be carted off the field after getting help from the training staff but collapsed when he reach the infield portion of the diamond and the trainers called for a cart and stretcher to assist Profar off the field.

#3 While Jurickson was carted off he had to have his neck and head braced and he received a nice applause from the Padre fans and Profar raised a fist in appreciation. Abrams who was laid out as well was able to continue and was deemed alright. Padres manager Bob Melvin said that Profar will be getting tests in the hospital and will have an update on Friday.

#4 The Padres got good starting pitching from starter Joe Musgrove who went seven innings, gave up only one hit, four walks and six strikeouts. He looked like he could have completed the game if it weren’t for the pitch count.

#5 The Giants and Padres play game two of the series tonight at Petco starting for the Giants Sammy Long (0-1, 1.78) for the Padres Blake Snell (0-5, 5.13) a 6:40 pm PDT first pitch at Petco.

Marko filled in for Daniel Dullum for the Giants podcast heard Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants snap six game skid in Arizona: San Francisco opens four game series in San Diego tonight

The San Francisco Giants Darren Ruf (right) hive fives Austin Slater (left) after hitting a two run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the top of the eighth at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wed Jul 8, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 The San Francisco Giants (41-39) avoided a seventh straight loss with a 7-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks (37-45) and it’s a win that the Giants hope to turn the page tonight in San Diego. When you lose six straight how much pressure is there to get back in the win column.

#2 There was that fear again after the Diamondbacks scored early getting a run in the bottom of the first inning and three runs in the bottom of the third inning and they jumped out to a 4-0 lead. After the first two innings were the Giants worried here we go again?

#3 How important of a role has Austin Slater played for the Giants getting a that tie breaking bases loaded ninth inning double making it 7-5?

#4 Giants reliever John Brebbia in the eighth got the Diamondbacks out in order and picked up his fourth win of the season.

#5 The Giants open a four game series in San Diego the Giants will start Logan Webb (7-3, 3.13) and the Padres will start Joe Musgrove (8-2, 2.25) a 6:40 pm PDT first pitch.

Join Michael for the San Francisco Giants podcast Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The best division in baseball plus

Copy of the New York Daily News announcing the New York Mets and New York Yankees in the Subway World Series in 2000 edition could the two cross city rivals meet again in this year’s fall classic? (photo by wikipedia)

The Best Division in Baseball, Plus

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–For the first time this 2022 season there will be a third wild card team on each league. No division in baseball is better than the American League East, with the New York Yankees walking-away with the best record in baseball and Toronto, Tampa Bay and Boston poised for a tremendous race.

For the first time ever, a division could have three wild card teams going into the postseason and a total of four of the five teams in this division playing in October.

The American League East is the only division in baseball with four teams playing over .500. In the AL West, there is only one team to beat, Dusty Baker’s Houston Astros, they are the best team and will stay in first place.

The LA Angels are sputtering again, after a very nice start, they went into a funk lost 14 in a row, from May 25 to June 8,and Joe Maddon (one of the best managers in baseball) was sent packing.

Next managerial change could come from Seattle, where expectations were high for this team to win this year. Manager Scott Servais and General Manager Jerry DiPoto are in the hot seat. The Texas Rangers spend a fortune (close to half billion dollars) signing Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, they are both starting to play the way everybody expected, but I do not believe they have the pitching to overtake their State rivals Houston Astros.

The Oakland A’s are what they are. All the other teams have more established talent, they are trying to compete with rookie manager Mark Kotsay, a good baseball man, but the best jockey in the world cannot win the race if the horse is limping.

In the Central Division, considered the weakest in all the major leagues, supposed to be an easy one for the Chicago White Sox, but the great Tony LaRussa is not having much fun so far, star closer Liam Hendriks just placed into the IL.

The Minnesota Twins will be in the playoffs, as of today leading that division and the Cleveland Guardians are playing good baseball, leading the way at third-base, José Ramirez an early candidate for MVP. Watch out for the Indians, sorry, the Guardians, they have a good team and a terrific manager in Terry Francona.

There are some 100 games left for each team this season. While in New York they are talking about a Subway Series, Mets vs Yankees. Most recently, in 2000 the New York teams faced each other with the Yankees winning in five games, a memorable series, which I happened to worked for the Latino Baseball Network.

In other cities there is lots of disappointment. In Los Angeles, the Dodgers, whose manager, Dave Roberts predicted a 2022 World Series win during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, when he said “We will win the World Series in 2022. We will win the World Series this year.”

The Dodgers have pitching problems, ace Walker Buehler recently went into the IL, Julio Urias is not going to win 20 games again this season (he was the only to win 20 last season) plus mixed with an inconsistent offense, the Dodgers have stuff to “figure out”, they do have the talent.

The San Diego Padres, at this time, even with the delayed return of superstar Fernando Tatis Jr, looks like the team that could win this division. Bob Melvin is doing a great job, which is nothing new for the three-time Manager of the Year.

The San Francisco Giants, while they are not going to win 107 games again, they find a way to win series, starter Jacob Junis went into the IL, veterans like Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt, can’t seem to stay healthy.

Giants lost some pieces in the off-season, perhaps the biggest one, starter Kevin Gausman who had his best year ever in 2021 with a 14-6 record, and 2.81 ERA, he left for a very lucrative contract in Toronto. Nobody expected the Giants to have a similar season as 2021, which was a dream season, when every player at the same time, had great years.

Trades: The new deadline this year is set for August 2. There will be many trades, some earlier than others, but the greatest commodities are starting pitchers. they are in high demand. Many of the teams with hopes of postseason play will reinforce themselves. In today’s game the old saying “you never have enough pitching” is new again.

Happy Fathers Day weekend.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for all the play by play of Oakland A’s baseball on the A’s Spanish radio network and on flagship station Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants can’t stop Padres Machado; SF’s Gonzalez comes in from leftfield to relieve; Giants meet the Mets tonight at Oracle

The San Diego Padres Manny Machado (left) greets Jake Cronenworth (right) after scoring on the San Francisco Giants in the top of the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris, the San Diego Padres (22-14) Manny Machado was being Manny again three doubles and a triple he had an MVP type game lending to the Padres 10-1 laugher and series sweep on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants (22-18).

#2 For Machado it was a career high and tied the Padres all time record for extra base hits in a ball game Machado also picked up two RBIs. Becoming the eighth Padre to accomplish four extra base hits in a game.

#3 The Padres improve their record to four games over .500 and Machado said after the game that San Diego is a good ball club and said that if things continue this way things will fall into place.

#4 The Giants brought in relief pitcher Luis Gonzalez who had been playing in rightfield. Gonzalez who pitched against the Padres in the top of the seventh got the side in order and came out again in the top of the eight giving up a hit but again got out of the inning unscathed after two a 80 plus MPH change up and mostly 48 MPH lob balls that kept the hitters off balance.

#5 The New York Mets (28-15) who are one of baseball’s hottest teams come to Oracle Park to open a three game series with the Giants on Monday night. Starting pitcher for the Mets lefthander David Peterson (1-0, 1.89) Peterson will be opposed by Giant starter Alex Cobb (3-1, 5.61) a 6:45 pm PDT first pitch.

Join Morris for the Giants podcast each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com