Howie Kendrick Interview May 2, 2006

The Rookie talks about getting the call up to the Angels, his AA experience and about his start into the Majors. On April 24, The Angels recalled Kendrick from the minors. In only 70 at-bats at AAA, he was batting .386. Howie Kendrick will be a star. He is a very thoughtful young man as you will be able to tell right away as you listen to the interview.
Marty [Read more →]

Inside Baseball with Marty Lurie & Shooty Babbitt – breaking down the A’s pitching rotation, The Divisions: AL East and the business of sports radio.

Segment one: Dave Feldman, Marty and Shooty.

Segment two: Dave Feldman, Robert Buan, Marty and Shooty.

Segment Three: Dave Feldman, Robert Buan, Bruce McGowan, Marty and Shooty.

Segment Four: Dave Feldman, Robert Buan, Marty and Shooty.

Segment Five: Dave Feldman, Robert Buan, Marty and Shooty.

[Read more →]

Last fall the White Sox swept through the World Series beating the Astros in four games.

Has the balance of power shifted in major league baseball from the East to the Central?

The last time the Central dominated the American League for any period of time you have to look back to the Kansas City Royals-Detroit Tiger battles of the 80’s.

In the senior circuit the last real dominance from teams comprising the current Central Division saw the Reds and Pirates battling through the 1970’s .

The Central Divisions in 2006 are strong.

Click below for more! [Read more →]

Rick Kaplan
Staff Writer

(OAKLAND, May 5) – Once upon a time, home runs were exciting.

There was Bobby Thomson’s sublime shot in 1951. Kirk Gibson’s unforgettable one-legged victory lap in 1988. Joe Carter’s World Series winner in 1992.

But now it’s like shooting fish in a barrel. They’re a dime-a-dozen. Ho-Hum Home Runs.

Chris Shelton, whoever that is, hits 9 in the first 14 games of the 2006 season, and Albert Pujols rings up 15 dingers in the first 28 games. Kevin Mensch homers in seven straight games.

And it’s just early May.

Click below for more! [Read more →]

Rex Hudler Interview May 1, 2006

Hud and Marty, in Anahiem, talk about getting beaned, the A’s pitching rotation, Angels’ baseball and body language. Hud is the television analyst for the Angels, one of the most unique and colorful guys in the game, I enjoy having him on the show.
[Read more →]

Willie Mays: An Original
by Glenn Dickey
May 03, 2006

WILLIE MAYS turns 75 on Saturday, which was noted by John Shea, who did a lengthy interview of Mays for this morning’s Chronicle. As one who saw Mays for all of his San Francisco Giants career – and who also had an illuminating interview with Mays for my Giants history book: “San Francisco Giants, 40 years” -–I’d like to share some of my memories.

Mays was simply the best all-round player I’ve ever seen, and everybody who watched him play felt the same. “When you talk to players from different eras,” said Alvin Dark, “there are always those who stand out for the guys who played with them. When I’ve talked to players from the ‘30s, Joe DiMaggio was that guy. For those in my era, Willie was the one.” Maybe even more than DiMaggio. Leonard Koppett was a friend of DiMaggio’s, but he always said Mays was the best he’d seen.

Click below for more, great column Glenn…Marty [Read more →]

Rick Kaplan
Staff Writer

(OAKLAND May 2) – Jae Seo (0.64 ERA, 14 inn., 7 hits) and Chan Ho Park (0.00 ERA, 10 1/3 inn., 7 hits) were ‘lights out’ pitching for Korea in the WBC. However, they’ve both cooled off, and the change has been like night and day for them since the opening of MLB.

Seo has a 7.64 ERA and Park is at 4.62.

Esteban Loaiza of the A’s had some modest success in the WBC, having a good start against Canada, but got knocked out by Japan and finished the Classic with an ERA of 5.0. And somewhere between the WBC and Opening Day of the regular season he mysteriously lost nearly 10 miles an hour off his fastball, just yesterday going on the DL with an ERA over 8.

Click below for more! [Read more →]

Barry Bonds: Still the Catalyst for Giants
by Glenn Dickey
May 02, 2006

BARRY BONDS will be a mixed blessing for the Giants this season.

Bonds now looks a lot like Frank Thomas with the A’s, but the A’s can use Thomas as a designated hitter and not have to play him in the field. The Giants have to put Bonds in left field and just hope that he doesn’t have to make any tough plays.

The Giants can put together a very good defensive outfield when Bonds doesn’t play, with Randy Winn in left field, Steve Finley in center and Moises Alou in right, with Jason Ellison in reserve. The versatile Winn is best in left field, and he made two sensational catches to save a win last weekend. At 41, Finley is still an outstanding defensive center fielder, though his bat isn’t what it was. Alou is off to his best start in years at the plate, and he does a good job in right field, too.

Click below for more!

[Read more →]

– Inside Baseball with Marty Lurie and Shooty Babbit – breaking down the A’s rotation, the Royals, and the Divisions: past month in review.

Segment one: Rick Hurd(from the Contra Costa
Times), Marty and Shooty

Segment two: Rick Hurd, Marty and Shooty.

Segment Three: Mark Gonzales(from the Chicago
Tribune), Marty and Shooty breakdown.
[Read more →]

With April drawing to a close, some teams are smiling, while others are wondering if their April woes will continue into May.

Let’s take a look at the American league and check the ups and downs from the first month of play.

Angels: Injury to Bartolo Colon beginning to take toll on the staff. Starter Jeff Weaver very erratic. Angels bull pen working smoothly so far. The Halos don’t hit for much power, but find a way to score runs. Club has problems at catcher and first base. Rookies Jeff Mathis and Casey Kotchman soon heading to the bench. [Read more →]