June 2020 – Page 4 – Sports Radio Service

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB Players Proposed 70 games instead of 60

Published on June 18, 2020June 18, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred proposed a 60 game schedule and the players union is asking for 70 games the baseball is in the owner’s court now as the players wait for MLB’s decison (New York Times file photo)

MLB Players Proposed 70 games instead of 60

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

A day after the owners proposed a 60 game season beginning July 19 and ending September 29, the players union today made a counter-proposal according to ESPN this is what it calls for:

-70 game season from July 19 to September 30. -$50 million in playoff bonuses -50/50 split of new postseason TV revenues in 2021 -Universal DH -Forgiveness of salary advance for Tier I-III players -Mutual waiver of grievance

This should probably fly, but with these two sides never bet anything.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: MLB proposal 60 games full prorated salaries; Dr.Fauci-second wave fears MLB should end post season by Sep 30th

Published on June 18, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Baseball America file photo: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred (left) and MLB Players Representative Tony Clark (right) in 2017 at the World Baseball Classic sat down on Wednesday to discuss starting the MLB season in July sources report there is progress

On Headlines with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry Dr. Anthony Fauci said that baseball should wrap up it’s playoff season meaning the World Series by the end of September to avoid the coming second wave in the cold months.

#2 Dr. Fauci in an interview with the Los Angeles Times said he would end the season in September during the core summer months and avoid the cold months of October when temps can get down to the low 30s in some parts of the US and the flu season is back. Fauci felt the fall is the most vulnerable time for Covid-19.

#3 Baseball is at the tipping point and negotiations between the MLB players union and MLB are starting to show progress according to reports on Wednesday between the two sides. As MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and Union Chief Tony Clark said one on one to iron out roadblocks to get the season started.

#4 One of those roadblocks is prorated play. The owners last offer a 70 plus game schedule at reduced pay for the players that was rejected by the union. In talks with Manfred and Clark on Wednesday the l proposal salaries will be at the full prorated pay and a 60 game schedule starting July 19th. Sources say they had a serious talk about expanded post season play.

#5 Clark and Manfred know there is really not much choice don’t play you already have a dwindling fan base you could lose more than 50% of your fans or play July through September and try to win more fans over. Choosing to play is really the only choice now.

Jerry joins Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: The facemask will remain in fashion if the NBA bubble opens up

Published on June 18, 2020June 18, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Camping World Stadium in Orlando is part of the bubble for Major League Soccer for 24 teams and 36 games. Some of the players are questioning the lock down restrictions by the league with players staying in their hotel rooms with the exception of going to work at the stadium (booking.com file photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Tony the NBA and MLS will be in a bubble called Walt Disney World but as exciting as that may sound they won’t be taking in on the amusement park’s rides or entertainment but buttoned down at the Disney Hotels after workouts, practices and games for six weeks.

#2 There is a fear in returning back to the regular season for the MLS who are two games in before the Covid-19 shelter in and the NBA who are trying to finish the last eight regular season games before starting the playoff. That fear is that local workers at the arena and at the hotel do not have the same mandated requirements like the players. The NBA has maintained that the risks of getting sick by arena security, custodians, camera production crews, and others are low.

#3 Bill Hamid of the MLS’ DC United said that being restricted to going from the hotel and the stadium in Orlando would be like being locked up. Hamid said he talked about this from the beginning. The next question how will this plan work keeping players in their hotel rooms and then back out to the stadium?

#4 The Milwaukee Bucks have a real shot at winning the NBA Championship but for the Bucks Kyle Korver he said if the NBA’s black players feel like not playing is the best idea Korver said he’s in full support behind them. Korver added that he cared more about a change in society than a championship.

#5 In the NFL the tune is changing at least for quarterback Colin Kaepernick as Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said that Kaepernick has the style that fits in with the Chargers offensive system and that the Chargers will be a team that will be running.

Join Tony every Thursday for Headline Sports

Headline Sports podcast with Marko Ukalovic: NHL cities named as possible hubs for Stanley Cup Playofs

Published on June 17, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews observes the action during the first period against the Blues at the United Center on Mon Dec 2, 2019. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is hoping to be a hub city host for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Chicago’s United Center.

Headline Sports podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he would welcome the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in Canada. Canada has had an imposed travel ban with 14 day quarantine that will be imposed until at least July 20th. The three cities in Canada who are interested in hosting the playoffs are Edomonton, Toronto,or Vancouver.

#2 Ten cities in all are vying to host the playoffs including the following US cities, Columbus, Dallas, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. This week in an interview with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Lightfoot said she is extending the invitation that Chicago would like to host the NHL playoffs saying Chicago is a “hockeytwown. ”

#3 Marko realistically speaking safety is a huge concern for everyone in hockey from the players to the folks who clean the arenas each night after the games we’ve asked all along wouldn’t it be safe if hockey waited until a vaccine was found rather than start and have to stop again because someone tested positive?

#4 The Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin seems to be optimistic that players can shake off that old pandemic rust off from the shutdown and get to regulation NHL speed how much time do you think it will take for the players to get ready?

#5 Marko, the Buffalo Sabers fired their GM Jason Botterill although Botterill will take credit for the Brandon Montour signing. The overall picture for the Sabers is not too good they struggled before March’s shutdown and the Sabers have hired Kevyn Adams. Adams served as the vice president of business operations and played ten years in the NHL.

Join Marko for Headline Sports each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB 60 Game Proposal Looking Good

Published on June 17, 2020June 17, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

yahoo.sports.com file photo: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred (left) and MLB Players Association Rep Tony Clark (right) met for a one on one discussion to bring baseball back on Wednesday

MLB; 60 game Proposal looks Promising

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

After Commissioner Fred Mandfred for the owners and Tony Clark,representing the players Union met in Arizona on Tuesday.

“The owners are 100% committed to getting baseball back on the field,’’ Manfred says.

Says Clark: “The players want to play.’’

The new proposal is from the MLB/owners going to the MLPA/players, is to play a 60-game season in 70 days with prorated salary to the players and an extended playoff. The season would begin,(if this is approved) around July 19.

So far, looks like booth sides are in agreement (at least)to formally submitting this for an approval or rejection.

So if you are exhausted about this, that is normal, but this story, even if they play, would not end, because we have an unpredictable Pandemic going on, and at the end, that might be the “wild card” with cases currently spiking all around the country.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury is the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary weekly at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: NBA players having second thoughts about returning

Published on June 16, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Los Angeles Lakers Dwight Howard (12) and the Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irving expressed their concerns about resuming the NBA season while they got opposing views from former Boston Celtic Kendrick Perkins and the Utah Jazz’ Ed Davis (AP photo)

On Headlines podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Los Angeles Lakers Dwight Howard agrees with the Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irving saying that this is not the right time to return to play basketball when there are so many important issues going in society. Howard didn’t say basketball would be a distraction for the players but it would not be appropriate to return to play with a serious issues at hand.

#2 One former NBA player Kendrick Perkins who played with the Boston Celtics and also was a teammate of Irving’s said he disagrees with Irving naming a number of stars that want to return to play like LeBron, Chris Paul, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Anthony Davis to name a few. Perkins says Irving is lashing out and making a lot of noise and “Everytime I think of the guy I want to throw up”

#3 The other point being made by some of the players is that they will not have contact with anyone fans, friends, agents, business associates, sponsors, or the media no one for at least three months and such seclusion has them thinking twice about playing in the Disney World bubble.

#4 In what would be a huge publicity move on the part of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodall and going against the wishes of President Donald Trump, Goodall is now encouraging a team to sign former NFL and San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick. With the political climate and Goodall saying he was wrong for punishing players who took a knee during the anthem under pressure from the White House Goodall wants to see Kaepernick signed onto an NFL team and soon.

#5 The return of the MLS will be a tournament style World Cup format will have teams playing games divided by East and West conferences, playing 34 games amongst 26 teams. Each team will face each team one game home and one away.

Barbara does Headline Sports each Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Manfred puts doubt on baseball’s return; The latest on the season shortened or put off

Published on June 16, 2020June 16, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred now says that baseball might not return at all after the owners have offered a 50 game season to the players which was rejected (yardbarker.com file photo)

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 How huge is it that baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred would say that he’s not sure if there will even be a baseball season in 2020?

#2 Supposing baseball is canceled for the 2o20 season will the damage be as bad as it was like the strike shorten 1994 season?

#3 Owners want to limit the salaries they pay and the players are looking for a full prorated pay, if this negotiating to get the ball rolling by mid July is a sampling of whats to come in next season’s collective bargaining you could be assured the game is in danger.

#4 Rob Manfred is known as a Commissioner who likes a challenge and taking on the players union head on in a situation like this will get the idea across and is known for his attack dog style.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez each week for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB Commissioner Not Sure of a Season

Published on June 15, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Major League Baseball Players Association representative Tony Clark said the latest offer from the owners of 72 games and cuts in player salaries was unacceptable on Sunday (USA Today file photo)

MLB Commissioner: Not Sure of a Season

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Last week Commissioner Rob Manfred said “100 percent is going to be a season”. Today after his weekly conference call with the 30 owners said he was “not very sure we will have a season”. According to Manfred the league doesn’t want to open a season with the risk that the union could file multi-billion dollar grievance saying that MLB did not act in good faith to play as many games as possible this year. With the Covid-19 situation players could choose not to report for work.

The Commissioner lacks the ownership votes to open the season. MLB/owners after they rejected the 72-game proposal by the MLPA this past weekend, and after the union told the owners they are “done” negotiating, and told them to “go and set a schedule”, the players now do not seem to want to go any further.

This is what the Commissioner told ESPN today. “I had been hopeful that once we got to common ground on the idea that we were going to pay the players full prorated salary that we would get some cooperation in terms of proceeding under the agreement that we negotiated with the MLBPA on March 26th. Unfortunately, over the weekend, while Tony Clark was declaring his desire to get back to work, the union’s top lawyer was out telling reporters, players and eventually getting back to owners that as soon as we issued a schedule — as they requested — they intended to file a grievance claiming they were entitled to an additional billion dollars. Obviously, that sort of bad-faith tactic makes it extremely difficult to move forward in these circumstances.”

Commentary: Many epitaphs will be written about MLB 2020, I believe it will be remembered as the weird year where greed killed the game, suicide by the numbers. Nobody was arguing about a $15 per-hour salary here, in a game where the owners can make billions in television deals and a rookie makes around $563,500 per-season, and the rest of the country is struggling in many ways with 30-40 million unemployed, many will lose their jobs and businesses forever, this was as ridiculous as it could get.

Unless there are last second surprise(s), the great Lon Simmons would say today about the 2020 season: “Tell it goodbye!”

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for A’s baseball on the A’s Spanish radio flagship station 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 1971 Pirates First All Black and Latino lineup

Published on June 14, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

blogspot.com file photo: 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates who defeated the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS to advance to the World Series and the Bucs defeated the Baltimore Orioles for the Championship

1971 Pirates First All Black and Latino lineup

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

On September 1, 1971 the Pittsburgh Pirates fielded the first all-black and Latino line-up.

Rennie Stennett (second base) Panamá, Gene Clines (center field)USA (Bay Area native), Roberto Clemente (right field), Puerto Rico Willie Stargell (left field) USA, Manny Sanguillen (catcher) Panamá, Dave Cash (third base) USA, Al Oliver (first base) USA, Jackie Hernandez (shortstop) Cuba, 2019 Opening day rosters included players from the United States, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico México, Canada, Japan, Curacao, South Korea, Brasil, Colombia, Panamá, Aruba, Germany.

Honduras, Australia, Honk Kong, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan. Five teams have the most players born outside the US: Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico and México.

Today about 7. 7% of all Major League Baseball players are African-American and close to 29% are Latinos/Hispanics. In the country (total population) As of July 2019 Hispanics/Latinos made 18.3 percent of the total population, Black/African-Americans 13.4 percent. When it comes to African-American participation in the big three professional leagues in the US, baseball still way behind the NBA and the NFL. In the NBA 75% while in the NFL 68% are African-Americans.

Arizona Diamondbacks all-star outfielder Adam Jones fills in on his belief in this detachment between blacks and baseball. “The decisions made in baseball are white made decisions. The league has experimented with various rule changes to speed up pace of play and reach younger fans, but the racial politics of baseball are the most in need of an update,” claims Jones. Simply put, Jones feels the league can do a better job connecting with African-American social issues as the other sports have made a priority.

The MLB (RBI) Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities is sponsored by Major League Baseball and it is designated to promote the game to teenage boys and girls in disadvantaged areas. The RBI Program is in partnership with the Boys & Girls of America.

Note: This year (in progress) the 2020 US Census started in April 1 and will conclude in December.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Heritage Hispanic Museum located at the Oakland Coliseum and Catch That’s Amaury’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com