Category: MLB

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s hire same managing construction company as the Raiders

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This rendering is a illustration sample that the Nevada Legislation had to work with before approving the $390 million in public money for the Las Vegas A’s new Tropicana ballpark but is not the real rendering. Which will later be presented by an architect company to be named later. The A’s named Mortensen-McCarthy as the managing contractor for the Tropicana ballpark project (rendering from the Oakland A’s)

A’s hire same construction company as the Raiders

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The same company that was hired by the Oakland Raiders to build Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will serve as construction manager for the new Oakland A’s ballpark in Las Vegas. Mortensen McCarthy completed the Las Vegas Raiders new home in the summer of 2020.

The Oakland A’s Press Release says the company will be responsible for overseeing the construction, like scheduling, coordination and the management of employees, as well as labor relations and community engagement. This construction outfit also was hired for the construction of the spectacular Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco.

Mortenson McCarthy, additionally, is also the same construction outfit that built Target Field in Minnesota the home of the Twins, on a 8.5 acres or land, the smallest in Major League Baseball, only 8.5 acres but it covers a total of 10.5-acres because portions extend over surrounding roadways.

The A’s land at Tropicana is nine acres. The ballpark is scheduled to be built on the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, where the Tropicana Las Vegas casino resort sits. Aside from the Raider’s Allegiant Stadium, Mortenson McCarthy was responsible for the Atlanta Braves Truist Park, the Seattle Kraken’s Climate Pledge Arena and the Minnesota Vikings U.S. Bank Stadium.

“If I were awarding this contract, I would say I want someone with a track record, and a good track record, in an industry where there are constant cost overruns.” Jerald Podair, who wrote the 2017 book “City of Dreams: Dodger Stadium and the Birth of a Modern Los Angeles, (FOX5 Las Vegas)

Podair (many consider him a reputable expert) added he is impressed with Mortenson McCarthy’s portfolio, especially with Allegiant Stadium, which was completed on time without any cost overruns, and Target Field in Minneapolis, which (like mentioned above) is the only Major League Baseball stadium built on less acreage than the nine at Bally’s has given the A’s for their new ballpark project on the site of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino.

Construction for the Las Vegas A’s project will have to wait until at least part of the Tropicana is demolished. MLB owners are expected to vote on the approval of the ballpark next December. On this vote 75% of the baseball owners will have to vote Yes. If all goes well, the A’s hope to put ‘shovel in ground’ by early 2024 and Play Ball at their new facility Opening Day 2028.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s win in the battle of the titans 5-4; Oakland hands Kansas City their second loss of series

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Oakland Athletics Aledmys Diaz watches his RBI sacrifice fly during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Aug 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

Kansas City (40-88) 020 020 000. – 4. 6. 1

Oakland (36-90). 212 000 00x – 5. 6. 2

Time: 2:37

Attendance: 4,021

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–It’s not often that we get to see the A’s play a game that’s not a mismatch. Their current three game series against the Kansas City Royals affords us the rare opportunity to experience an exception to that unfortunate rule. Monday night’s walk off win over the Royals was an example of how exciting triple A baseball (well, maybe four A ball) can be, even if played by two major league teams. Tuesday’s 5-4 A’s win was another.

Both teams went the bullpen route.The Athletics picked Dany Jiménez, whose major league experience had consisted of 1-1/3 innings with the 2020 Giants before he signed with Oakland as a free agent after the ’21 season, for their opener.

He went 3-4, 3.41 over 34-1/3 frames last year. He made a cameo appearance in last night’s thriller against the Royals, throwing a third of an inning. He brought an 0-1, 6.75 record to the mound with him. Tuesday night, he retired the side in order in his one inning on the mound and then yielded to the just called up from Las Vegas Hogan Harris.

Harris had not been sharp in his last big league start; he gave up eight runs on nine hits, three of which were home runs, in three innings., which gave him a 2-6, 6.98 record for the season. He was a lot better tonight, but still not the type of pitcher you’d want to pin your hopes on. He gave up all of KC’s runs and did it in 3-2/3 innings.

KC used 23 year old Angel Zerpa as a prologue to the entry of 20 year veteran and 2009 Cy Young Award winner, Zack Greinke, fresh off the 15 day injured list He’s approaching his 3,000th career strikeout, but would have been mathematically impossible for him to have reached that milestone tonight. He came to work needing 45 more Ks to do that.

His record on entering the game in the bottom of the fourth was 1-12, 5.53, a sign that this year probably will be the last chance he has to become the 20th member of the 3,000 K Club. If the right elbow soreness that had sidelined him for two weeks still bothered him, his performance tonight didn’t reflect it.

He added five strikeouts to his total in his four inning stint as the bulk pitcher; he now has 2,960, Greinke held the A’s to two hits, one of them of the infield variety, and didn’t walk anyone. He did this on 53 pitches, 38 of them considered strikes.

He wasn’t involved in the decision because the A’s were ahead when he entered the game, and the Royals never caught up with them. John McMillon relieved him and set the A’s down 1-2-3 in the eighth.

Jiménez threw the game’s first pitch at 6:40. The “SELL THE TEAM” chants began at 6:42.

Oakland opened the scoring early, loading the bases with one out in the first when Zerpa hit Jonah Bride with a pitch, walked Zack Gelof, and, after Carlos Pérez flew out to left, Brent Rooker singled Bride home and Aledmys García’s sac fly brought Gelof home.

That 2-0 lead disappeared when Harris entered the fray and Kansas City imitated Oakland by loading the bases with one out; Number nine hitter Kyle Isbel drove in Salvador Pérez and MJ Meléndez with a two out single to center that knotted the score at two all.

Shea Langeliers’ 13th home run, a definitive 412 foot blast to left, to lead off the home second untied the knot. An inning later, Oakland tacked on another pair of runs. With one down, Carlos Pérez smacked a hard shot down the left field foul line that got by third sacker Maikel García. It was scored as an error. Rooker followed with a single to left and Aledmys García doubled to left.

The Royals mounted a comeback in the top of the fifth. Maikel García drew a leadoff base on balls and stole second. After Bobby Witt, Jr., fanned, Michael Massey sent a fly to deep left center that Ruíz caught up with while colliding with the wall.

The wall won; the ball was dislodged from Ruíz’s glove. García advanced to, but had to hold at, third. Salvador Pérez singled both runners home, closing the gap between the teams to 5-4. Meléndez went down swinging, and Spencer Patton, just promoted from the AAA Aviators, replaced Harris on the mound.

Harris retired Nelson Velázquez on a fly to right, retired the side in the sixth, and left with one away in the top of the seventh after a video review showed that Witt had beaten out a throw that otherwise would have resulted in a 6-4-3 double play. Kirby Snead was Patton’s replacement, and the score remained 5-4 in favor of Oakland at the seventh inning stretch.

Trevor May began the KC half of the ninth on the mound, facing the 9,1, and 2 Royal batters. They went down 1,2,3. It was Mays’ 13th save of the season. Harris got the win and now is 3-6, 7.14.

Tonight’s squeaker of a win brings Oakland’s record to W 36-90, .288. The Cleveland Spiders of August 22, 1899 were 18-92, .164, after having been obliterated, 15-6, at Eclipse Park by their hosts, the Louisville Colonels. 63 years later, the infamous and belovèd New York Mets enjoyed a rare victory. They defeated Don Larsen and the Giants, 5-4, at Candlestick. That raised the Amazin’s record to 32-95, 2.52.

The last game of the series will start tomorrow, Thursday, at 12:37. Kansas City intends to send southpaw Cole Ragens (2-1, 2.51). Oakland still hasn’t announced its starter or opener, as the case may be.

Giants Lose Backbreaker to Phillies In a Walk Off 4-3; SF drops 12 of 16 games

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Philadelphia Phillies’ Trea Turner hits a game-winning two-run single against San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval during the ninth inning at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Tue Aug 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

Giants Lose Backbreaker to Phillies In a Walk Off 4-3

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (65-61) took on the Philadelphia Phillies (69-57) at Citizens Bank Park in game two of their series Tuesday evening losing on a walk off by the Phillies 4-3.

On Monday night: The Phillies had a commanding lead throughout game one winning by the score of 10-4.

Tuesday night: San Francisco was looking to even up the series. The Giants had a great first inning in this game taking advantage of two errors from the Phillies and taking a 1-0 lead. They did leave two runners on base but this was an awful start for the Phillies. Wilmer Flores grounded into a fielders choice and Lamonte Wade Jr. scored for the early lead.

The bottom of the first inning show-cased Kyle Harrison in his MLB debut. Family and friends were in the stands to witness this, his first start for the Giants. He did finish the inning with three strikeouts but did allow a two-run home run from Bryce Harper giving the Phillies a 2-1 lead.

Harrison did put two runners on base but the Phillies failed to take advantage and the score remained 2-1 going into the third inning. It was a tough inning for Kyle but he held on, to get out of the inning unscathed.

Kyle Harrison was relieved after a little over three innings by Ryan Walker. Harrison had thrown 65 pitches, 49 of them in the first two innings allowing five hits and two runs with five strikeouts.

In the fifth inning the Giants took back the lead 3-2. Joc Pederson doubled Wilmer Flores and Thairo Estrade home for the lead and San Francisco was back in business.

The Giants hung onto the 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. The Phillis had one last chance to even up this game or take the lead and get the walk off.

They did threaten, putting runners on second and third with one out. The Giants intentionally walked Kyle Schwarber to load the bases. Trey Turner singled for the walk off. The Giants had lost another heartbreaker.

San Francisco will try to avoid the sweep Wednesday in game three in Philadelphia. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM. Going for San Francisco Alex Cobb (6-5 ERA 3.75) and for Philadelphia Michael Lorenzen (7-8 ERA 3.57).

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Giants see their second inside the park HR against in a week

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Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper, left, slides past San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey to score on his inside-the-park home run against pitcher Sean Hjelle during the fifth inning at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia on Mon Aug 21, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 The San Francisco Giants saw their second inside the park against them in as many as week apart. The first time was when the Tampa Bay Rays Luke Raley belted one at Oracle Park and on Monday night the Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper slugged a inside the park home run as one of many runs against the Giants in a 10-4 laugher at Citizens Bank Ballpark.

#2 Phillies starter Aaron Nola pitched seven innings, two earned runs, one walk and five strike outs in a ball game that looked like he could have gone the distance.

#3 Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm and Edmundo Sosa each hit home runs for Philadelphia the Phils are getting some offense and it came in droves on Monday night.

#4 With the win the Phillies now move three games ahead of the Giants in the NL Wild Card standings and the Giants wild card chances are starting to dim as their just having problems getting pitching whether an opener starts the game or if starters Alex Cobb and Logan Webb get the call.

#5 Phillies RHP Taijuan Walker (13-5, 4.03) and Giants rookie Kyle Harrison making his MLB debut first pitch 3:40pm PT.

Join Stephen Ruderman who does the Giants podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Walk off magic for the A’s get them the victory over the Royals 6-4

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Photo courtesy of Oakland Athletics.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

OAKLAND- The A’s and Royals battled it out in a night game that went down to the wire but ended on a walk-off by Brent Rooker 6-4.

Getting the start for the Royals was left hander Tucker Davidson while for the A’s Paul Blackburn was on the mound.

The first baserunner for the A’s got on in an interesting fashion as Esteury Ruiz reached on catcher interference. Despite Ruiz then managing to steal his way to third the A’s got no runs in the inning as Aledmys Diaz lined out to end the first.

In the second MJ Melendez got a triple and then Freddy Fermin got out on a sacrifice fly knocking home a run.

The bottom of the second saw the first pitching change of the game as Taylor Hearn came in to replace Davidson. After Seth Brown struck out it brought up Jordan Diaz who smoked one to center field tying the game up at one. The solo shot exited the park at 103.3 mph and went 383 ft.

The third saw Oakland’s offense strike once again as Zack Gelof leading off the inning struck one to center field and over the wall giving them a one run lead.

Looking to tack on to their lead in the fifth Ryan Noda got a single and Brent Rooker was hit by a pitch getting two on with only one out. After Diaz flied out Seth Brown singled getting Noda home and extending their lead to 3-1.

The Royals got some run support in the sixth as Bobby Witt Jr. got a solo shot which was his 25th of the season. Countering in the bottom of the inning was Shea Langeliers who hit his own solo shot that was his 12th homer of the season.

In the seventh Blackburn’s night came to an end as he finished the game giving up only two earned runs, four hits, and striking out six. He was replaced by Kirby Snead who pitched until the eighth when he was taken out in favor of Lucas Erceg.

Erceg’s night did not get off to a great start as Matt Beaty got a double and Kyle Isbel drew a walk. A wild pitch then got Beaty to third and on sacrifice fly Beaty made it home making it a 4-3 game.

With the pressure bearing down Erceg was able to get it down to two outs but despite that Michael Massey singled trying the game up at four. After the run knocked in Erceg was taken out and replaced by Dany Jimenez who did not have to pitch long as Langeliers threw out Massey who was trying to steal.

The white-and-green kept the the game tied until the bottom of the ninth as they came up to bat.

Facing the A’s batters was right-hander Dylan Coleman who was facing Noda first.

That at-bat did not go Coleman’s way as he hit Noda with a pitch bringing up the on fire Rooker. After two pitches taken for balls Coleman threw a 89 mph slider right at the heart of the plate and Rooker did not miss. He launched it to center field walking it off and getting the A’s their 35th win of the season.

Trevor May got the win for the A’s bringing his record to 4-4 while Coleman took the loss making his record 0-2.

The A’s next game will be the second of this three game home series against the Royals at 6:40 p.m.

MLB The Show podcast with Titus Wilkinson: Mantle jersey and card combine for $9.2 million at auction; Jays Guerrero out with sore finger; plus more news

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This 1952 Mickey Mantle rookie card was valued at $12.6 million as the most expensive card paid at a sports card show on Sun Aug 28, 2022 graded at 9.2. Another 1952 topps Mantle card sold for $4.5 million this week and was graded at 9.0 (AP News photo)

On MLB The Show podcast with Titus:

#1 Just recently auctioned baseball memorabilia a Mickey Mantle 1958 home game worn jersey sold for $4.68 million which went for double the previous Mantle jersey. A Mantle 1952 Topps rookie baseball card sold for $4.5 million. The total take for both sales $9.2 million.

#2 Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero is badly missed by the Jays with a finger injury. Guerrero left Sunday’s after middle finger soreness against the Cincinnati Reds. Guerrero had trouble swinging the bat and was losing his grip and had to sit in the fourth inning. Guerrero is day to day.

#3 Los Angeles Angels two way star Shohei Ohtani who hit a grand slam and the Angels had a triple play still lost the game 9-6 last Saturday. The Angels got clobbered on Saturday in the second game of a double header 18-4. The Angels have lost six of their last ten games. This situation isn’t improving as the Angels have lost six of their last ten and their post season hopes dim. Ohtani will go shopping in the off season most likely.

#4 The Oakland A’s have selected their construction company who will build their new ballpark in Las Vegas Mortensen-McCarthy. Mortensen-McCarthy is the same construction company that built Allegiant Stadium. The A’s plan to build the 30,000 park on nine acres with a retractable roof at the Tropicana hotel at a cost of $1.5 billion.

#5 Triple cancelation due to Hurricane Hilary games in Anaheim, Los Angeles, and San Diego were moved to doubleheaders on Saturday and all games in the Southland were canceled due to the tropical storm and flash flooding. The Angels were rained out once again on Monday night and return to action on Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds at the Big A.

Titus Wilkinson is a staff writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants lose 10-4 to Phillies in series opener

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Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images

By: Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants visited Citizens Bank Park to play a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Giants lost 10-4 to the Phillies in the series opener.

The Giants fell to 65-60, while the Phillies improved to 68-57. Giants pitcher Sean Manaea (4-4, 5.06 ERA) took the loss, while Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (11-8, 4.49 ERA) got the win.

The Giants’ starting lineup featured LaMonte Wade Jr., Joc Pederson, Wilmer Flores, Michael Conforto, Patrick Bailey, Johan Camargo, Blake Sabol, Wade Meckler, Casey Schmitt, and Scott Alexander. Alexander pitched just 2/3 innings and gave up three hits, one earned run, and two strikeouts.

The Giants wasted no time getting on the board. Joc Pederson homered on a line drive to right field for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

But the Phillies quickly responded. Bryce Harper singled on a line drive to Blake Sabol, and Trea Turner scored to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning.

The Phillies took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Edmundo Sosa homered on a fly ball to center field, and Bryson Stott scored to make it 3-1.

The Giants made it a one-run game in the top of the third inning. LaMonte Wade Jr. homered on a fly ball to center field to cut the Phillies’ lead to 3-2.

The Phillies regained the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Alec Bohm homered on a fly ball to center field to make it 4-2. An umpire reviewed Bohm’s home run, and the call on the field was upheld.

The Phillies added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Bryce Harper hit an inside-the-park home run on a fly ball to left-center field to make it 5-2. Bryson Stott doubled on a line drive to Michael Conforto, and Alec Bohm scored for a 6-2 lead as J.T. Realmuto went to third base.

The Phillies took a double-digit lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Johan Rojas tripled on a sharp line drive to Wade Meckler, and Alec Bohm and J.T. Realmuto scored to make it 8-2. Kyle Schwarber homered on a fly ball to right field, and Johan Rojas scored for a commanding 10-2 lead.

The Giants bounced back in the top of the ninth inning but were still down by six runs. Johan Camargo was hit by a pitch, and Wilmer Flores scored to reduce the Phillies’ lead to 10-3 as Heliot Ramos went to second base. Blake Sabol singled on a ground ball to Trea Turner that was deflected by Dylan Covey, and Luis Matos scored to cut the Phillies’ lead to 10-4 as Heliot Ramos went to third base and Johan Camargo went to second base.

Notes
The Giants recently called up No. 1 prospect Kyle Harrison, a left-handed pitcher.

Up Next
The Giants and Phillies will continue their series on Tuesday at 3:40 pm Pacific. Kyle Harrison will debut for the Giants, while Taijuan Walker (13-5, 4.03 ERA) will start for the Phillies.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: MLB owners not happy with A’s special treatment in relocation move

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Sources have said that New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner is not too happy regarding the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas including the A’s receiving revenue sharing and having their relocation waved (New York Post file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 MLB owners have expressed their frustration over the Oakland A’s getting special treatment not having to pay a relocation fee as the behind the scenes discussions of the A’s move to Las Vegas heats up.

#2 Amaury, although it’s been quiet on the MLB owners front when they’ll hold the relocation vote it’s pretty apparent that it will most likely be held the first week of December.

#3 John Shea reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle says that the owners from high and low revenue teams are complaining that the A’s are receiving preferential treatment in getting increased revenue sharing and while not paying the relocation fee. Do you see that playing into the owners decision on the A’s relocation vote?

#4 The A’s getting that increased revenue sharing is also a frustration for the MLB owners particularly when they A’s don’t put any money into their payroll. Owners might ask why are the A’s getting all this money and also want to be rewarded by relocating to Vegas?

#5 Amaury, the question is will the owners go along with the relocation for the A’s to move to Vegas in spite of the A’s getting special treatment receiving revenue sharing money from MLB and the relocation being waved?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish Network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Logan Webb talks about his cousin’s fentanyl poisoning death in ESPN special; Giants open up series in Philadelphia tonight

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb throws in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies on Sun Jul 9, 2023 at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Webb is featured in a ESPN series discussing the death of his cousin Kade who passed away due to fentanyl poisoning. (AP file photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb is being featured in a very special and very important public message that he addressed at a local school where he grew up in Roseville CA. Webb was addressing the passing of his 20 year old cousin Kade who was found dead from fentanyl poisoning and wanted to warn students and young people of such a poisoning.

#2 Kade thought he was taking what he thought was Percocet which is used for moderate severe pain and should not be mixed with oxycodone or acetaminophen. Turns out that Kade was addicted to pain killers and Kade was like a little brother to Webb. Poisoning is an ESPN segment with Giants pitcher Logan Webb you don’t want to miss.

#3 Marko now to the Giants, pinch hitter Joc Pederson’s walk forced in a runner Michael Conforto into score from third bases with the bases loaded which defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Sunday.

#4 The Giants also got home runs from Luis Matos and Wilmer Flores as Braves pitcher Kirby Yates had control problems. San Francisco also avoids getting swept.

#5 Giants head to Philadelphia and Citizen’s Bank Ballpark for the first of three games on tonight. The Giants Scott Alexander ( 6-2 ERA 4.06) will be the starter and the Phillies will be going with right hander Aaron Nola (10-8 ERA 4.58) a 3:40pm PT first pitch.

Join Marko for the Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Here are ten reasons why the A’s should Play in Havana after 2024

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Cuban National Ballet dance Daniela Gomez in front of the Capital of Havana on Apr 14, 2018 (AP file photo)

Here are ten reasons why the A’s should Play in Havana after 2024

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

1-Since Fidel Castro died in 2016, Cuba’s new “bosses” are hungry for big-time baseball. Cuba’s long history of pioneering baseball in Latin America is well documented. Fidel said he hated capitalism, yet he had a $1 billion fortune when he died.

2-All the best Cuban players have left the island and are now in the Major Leagues.

3-While the A’s build their new ballpark in Las Vegas, Havana, Cuba, would be the temporary home for the team.

4-Havana’s weather is like Miami, and teams could easily travel to play the A’s in Cuba. What’s another hour on a flight from Seattle to Cuba?

5-Cuba, with 11 million citizens, is a communist country. So what? China has over 1 billion people; they are also communist, and the NBA is king there.

6-The baseball commissioner will be thrilled since he loves to promote the game abroad. MLB has played in Europe, so why not 90 miles from Key West?

7-Cuba is the only Latin American country with a US League professional team. The Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-base minor league team that played in the US International League from 1946 to 1960. From 1954 to 1960, they were Class AAA. Baseball in Latin America has roots in the largest island in the Caribbean.

8-Fans could travel to Cuba on vacation and catch a game or two; the same will happen in Las Vegas anyway. So the A’s will be “rehearsing” their marketing.

9- The Estadio Latinoamericano (Latin American Stadium) in Havana has a capacity of 55,000. That is 20,000 more than Las Vegas proposed new park. In 1999 the Baltimore Orioles played there, and they had no problem.

10-The owners, players union, and the Office of the Commissioner will all have to approve it; just like everything else, they are the ones who run the game.

Note: Having fun with this, but it will never happen because political reasons by both countries will not allow it. But it sure looks interesting. Of course, as a Cuban-born US Naturalized citizen is easy for me to say. Well…not that easy, really, because there is a reason I live here and not in Cuba. I am not a hypocrite.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com