Former Oakland A’s Spanish Broadcasters from KIQI 1010 radio Amaury Pi-Gonzalez (left) Manolo Hernandez-Douen (right) Engineer José Orellana (back) (Oakland Coliseum) Photo: Mauricio Segura -2024

2026 A look at the Giants and Athletics

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Giants: The San Francisco Giants ended last season with an 81-81 record, good for third place in the NL West, 12 games behind the World Champions, the LA Dodgers. This was the second time in Giants history they finished 81-81, previously in 2022.

As of today less than a month prior to Opening Night, March 25, 2026. At Oracle Park in San Francisco, the Giants will face the New York Yankees. Here is the probable lineup for the Giants.on Opening Night. (There could be some changes, due to injuries or simply the manager’s decision) 1-Luis Arraez 2B 2-Rafael Devers 1B 3-Willy Adames SS 4-Matt Chapman 3B 5-Jung Hoo Lee RF 6-Heliot Ramos LF 7-Harrison Bader CF 8-Bryce Eldridge DH 9-Patrick Bailey C Offense: With Luis Arraez, three-time Batting Champion over the last three years with three different teams, the Twins, Marlins, and Padres, the Giants have an excellent opportunity to score more runs.

This was the #1 acquisition by the team during the off-season; #2 was another veteran, Harrison Bader, who will take command of center field, a solid all-around player. (Offense was Improved) Pitching. The top two in the rotations are All-Star pitchers, Logan Webb and Robbie Ray.

They will need contributions from Tyler Mahle, Adrian Houser, and Landen Roupp. Closer Ryan Walker was 5-7 with a 4.11 ERA and 17 saves. Their pitching will have to do better, considering the Dodgers have a dominant rotation and also signed All-Star closer Edwin Díaz.

(Pitching needs more depth) Defense: The overall team defense was near the bottom of the league. Harrison Bader could help in the outfield, with excellent defense, he covers lots of ground with a good arm, this was a good acquisition by the Giants. (Defense is improved)

Athletics: A’s will be renting again in Sacramento for the second year in a row. Last season, they finished in fourth place in the West with 76-86, 14 games behind the Mariners. The A’s have not made the postseason since 2020, when they were the Oakland A’s during the COVID-shortened year. The A’s will open their 2026 season in Canada, taking on the reigning American League Champion Blue Jays in Toronto.

Here is their probable lineup for the first game of the season. 1-Nick Kurtz 1B 2-Shea Langeliers C 3-Brett Rooker DH 4-Tyler Soderstrom LF 5-Jacob Wilson SS 6-Jeff McNeil 2B 7-Lawrence Butler RF 8-Max Muncy 3B 9-Denzel Clarke CF (There could be some changes, due to injuries or simply the manager’s decision) Offense: I really like this young, talented, and aggressive lineup.

Last season, they were fourth in Home runs in the league with 219. Only the Yankees, Mariners, and Angels hit more round trippers than the young A’s studs, headed by a sensational Rookie of the Year season by Nick Kurtz. They have enough hitting to compete, but pitching?

You cannot win without it. Even the famous 1927 Yankees with “Murderers’ Row” also had the pitching to win that year’s World Series. (Offense is Lock and Loaded) Pitching: In 2025, the Athletics finish #27 in overall pitching statistics out of the 30 MLB teams. A’s staff served 222 Home Runs, only the LA Angels rendered more (one more), 223 long balls to the opposition. (Pitching needs more improvement)

Defense: The team’s overall defensive, or fielding, placed them in the bottom tier of Major League Baseball early in the 2025 season. CF Denzel Clarke made a sensational catch for the ages. Overall, they need to do much better (Defense could use more improvement. The 2026 Major League Baseball season is coming soon. I will have my picks during the week before the start of the season.

Quote (Spanish) Cualquier tiempo que tengas la oportunidad de hacer una diferencia en este mundo y no lo hagas, estás desperdiciando tu tiempo en la tierra” – -Roberto Clemente. (Spanish). (English): “Every time you have the opportunity of making a difference in this world, but do not, you are wasting your time on this earth” -Roberto Clemente.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com