Category: MLB

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Oakland A’s could have a Winter Sale

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Matt Chapman (26) and Matt Olson (28) look to be seriously shopped by the Oakland A’s this off season as the A’s are expected to be putting a lot of free agents up on the trade block (file photo Athletics Nation)

Oakland A’s Could have a Winter Sale

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Some of the best Oakland A’s players could be on the move this winter. Two of the team’s All Stars this year, first baseman Matt Olson and starting pitcher Chris Bassitt head the list; they both can become free agents next year. Matt Chapman, the best defensive third baseman in the American League won his third Gold Glove in 2021. Aside from Olson, Bassitt, and Chapman there are other A’s players that could be traded. Should not be any surprise, under the A’s system players do not stay too long. A good friend of mine and A’s fan for decades, tells me “Hollywood marriages are usually longer than A’s players in Oakland”.

–Matt Olson’s 2021 season was his best since he started his career with the A’s in 2016; he ended with a .271 average, 39 home runs (sixth best in the league) for the first time Olson drove over 100 runs, with 111 RBI. His 111 RBI tied No.5 in the league with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. a contender for the MVP trophy. His batting average, home runs, and runs batted it was all personal highs for Olson. The most consistent slugger of the A’s could bring some very good prospects to Oakland. The New York Yankees (always looking for sluggers) have shown interest. Olson is the perfect fit as a left-handed hitter for Yankee Stadium.

–Matt Chapman recently won the 2021 Gold Glove (his third) he has now won the award in 2018, 2019, and 2021. Was going for his third Golden Glove last year but his season was shortened by injuries. His High School friend Nolan Arenado (both went to El Toro High School in Southern Orange County) has won nine (9) consecutive Gold Gloves at third-base, eighth with Colorado, and one with St Louis. Brooks Robinson (Baltimore) aka “The Vacuum Cleaner” won 16 Gold Gloves, the most for any position player in history.

–Chris Bassitt was 12-4 with a 3.15 era in 27 games he started but missed a month and a half after he got hit by a 100MPH line drive in Chicago in mid-August. His best season since he joined the A’s in 2014.

–Frankie Montas, had his best season as he ended with a 13-9 and 3.37 ERA in 32 starts and established himself as a “top of the rotation” arm. Back in 2019, he was up to his best start in the majors with 9-2 and 2.63 ERA in 16 games he started but was suspended 80 games at the end of June because testing positive for PED use. He missed the rest of the season and did not return until 2020.

–Sean Manaea. The lefty had a productive season in the rotation with 11-10 and 3.91era in 32 starts, most for him in a season, as well as innings, pitched with 179 1/3 and 194 strikeouts, all personal highs.

Starting pitching is a big commodity this off-season. Needless to say, position players with the talent of Olson and Chapman are also very attractive on an everyday lineup. However, not much is happening in the trading/free-agent market and that might be the case for a while, the way it looks now. Fast approaching is December 2.

That is a very important day because if there is no new CBA contract by then, it is widely known that owners will be locking out players and all transactions will be frozen. I will have more of the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) later this week.

“Baseball people, and that includes me, are slow to change and accept new ideas. I remember that it took years to persuade them to put numbers on uniforms.” -Branch Rickey.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Ray Fosse to be inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame Way Overdue

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The late Oakland A’s TV analyst Ray Fosse seen here taking a stroll on the Oakland Coliseum field will be honored by being inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame as announced Fri Nov 12, 2021 (Oroville Mercury-Register file photo)

Ray Fosse to be Inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame Way Overdue

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–I could have only wished the Oakland A’s would have inducted Ray Fosse into their Hall of Fame when he was alive. Today the Oakland A’s announced the popular catcher and broadcaster will be in the Hall of Fame.

The A’s Press Release today:

‘Two-time Major League All-Star catcher and Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Ray Fosse will be enshrined in Athletics history forever as a member of the Athletics Hall of Fame. Fosse joins four-time All-Star “Captain Sal” Bando, Gold Glovers Eric Chavez and Joe Rudi, Director of Player Development Keith Lieppman, and A’s Clubhouse Manager Steve Vucinich as members of the Class of 2022.’

Affable and always available to talk baseball Ray was one of those guys that I would always enjoyed picking his brain when it came to baseball knowledge. How to manage different pitchers during a game and all other aspects of the game we all love. A presence in the Press Box, I will always miss him. During the games at home we would talk about what happen in the previous game(s) or what to expect prior to the game at hand. I was privileged to have known him for years. He was strong of body and mind.

Ray Fosse was the catcher during the last two years of the A’s 1970’s dynasty, in 1973 and 1974. He caught some of the greatest luminaries in the history of the Oakland Athletics, guys like Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Vida Blue, Ken Holtzman, John “Blue Moon” Odom, and Rollie Fingers.

He always asked me about Latino players, their idiosyncrasies and superstitions, guys like Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris, Manny Trillo, Gonzalo Márquez, who was a professional pinch hitter something that was seen as a key component of a team in the American League before the Designated Hitter rule was adopted in 1973.

Since I was a kid I was always fascinated by the work of a catcher. The only player that sees the whole field right in front of his eyes, and no wonder many catchers become managers. They’re basically acting managers, on the field. Ray Fosse was a real catcher. He played the position like it was intended to be played. Ray personified what a catcher is, strong, smart and in charge.

“A good catcher is the quarterback, the carburetor, the lead dog, the pulse taker, the traffic cop and sometimes a lot of unprintable things, but no team gets very far without one” -Miller Huggins.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Dodgers Urias Only to Win 20 games but not Nominated for the Cy Young Award

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Photo of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias seen here after winning his 20th game of the 2021 season on Sat Oct 2, 2021 at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles against the Milwaukee Brewers. Urias shockingly did not win the coveted 2021 Cy Young Award (AP News file photo)

MLB: Only to Win 20 games but not Nominated for the Cy Young Award

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Young Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Julio Urías was the only pitcher in Major League Baseball among all 30 teams, this 2021 season to win 20 games; he ended with a record, 20-3, 2.96 ERA, started 32 games, pitched 185 2/3 innings, and struck out 195 hitters. However, the Mexican-born Urias was not among the three finalists for the coveted National League Cy Young Award. Is it because now victories are an antiquated way of judging a pitcher?

These were the three pitchers nominated for the Cy Young Award in the National League: Max Scherzer, who pitched for two teams this season, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers, he finished with 15-4, 2.46 ERA, started 30 games, threw 179 1/3 innings, and struck out 236 batters.

In all fairness, he is a first-vote Hall of Famer. Philadelphia Phillies Zack Wheeler ended with a 14-10 record, 2.78 earned run average in 32 games he started, pitched 213 1/3 innings, and struck out 247. Corbin Burnes of the Milwaukee Brewers finished the season with an 11-5 record, 2.43 ERA, started 28 games, pitched 167 innings, and struck out 234.

As a broadcaster I do not have a vote. The people that vote are members of the BBWAA (Baseball Writers Association of America). I do have the utmost respect for them, some I have known and have been friends with for decades and worked with them.

To win 20 games during one season in today’s game is tantamount to winning 28 to 30 games years ago. Anybody that followed the postseason this year can see that one million pitchers were used, doesn’t matter if one is throwing a no-hitter after 5 innings, he is coming out for a reliever.

To be a starter doesn’t have the prestige it once had. But is not only the 20 wins, you cannot punish Urías because he pitched for a team that won over 100 games and was favorite to win the World Series again. I understand that a lot of the “logic” for this award goes to ‘innings pitched’ and in that case, Scherzer and Wheeler did pitch more innings than Julio Urías. It is (ironic and disingenuous) to give Innings Pitch that much weight when in today’s baseball starters do not work that much.

The beauty of baseball is that everybody has an opinion and a different point of view, (not to mention a bias for their team). I am not one that screams racism all the time, although I know, unfortunately, it still exists. And I do respect the votes by the baseball writers.

Maybe Julio can win 30 games next season and get the recognition he well deserves. The last 30 game-winner was Denny McLain of the Detroit Tigers, who in 1968 won 31 and lost 6. Today, the description for a starting pitcher has changed.

The winner will be announced live on MLB Network on November 17 at 3 PM Pacific time.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Hall of Fame Heritage Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Supervisor Chan, Posey, Braves, and MLB Collective Bargaining

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Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan who died Wed Nov 3, 2021 after be struck by a car in Alameda while walking her dog. Chan was 72 and was one of four County Supervisors who voted for the Oakland A’s new ballpark Howard Terminal. Here Chan speaks to the Alameda County Asian Health Services in Oakland on Wed Oct 27, 2021 (AP News photo)

Supervisor Chan, Posey, Braves, CBA

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan died after being struck by a car Wednesday. She was walking her dog in Alameda, according to her office said in a statement. Chan suffered a head injury and died shortly at Highland Hospital. Police say the driver stayed at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

She was a hard working Supervisor for the people of the county and recently voted for the Howard Terminal new ballpark for the Oakland A’s. Although she was ‘on the fence’ on to build or not to build the Howard Terminal ballpark, at the end she was one of the four supervisors that voted in favor by a final tally of 4 to 1. May she Rest in Peace.

— Buster Posey announced his retirement after 12 years as catcher for the San Francisco Giants. Posey ends his career with three World Series rings as well as Rookie of the Year, seven (7) All Star Game appearances and MVP of the National League in 2012. In 2020 Posey did not played.

He chose to stay home with his family because of covid epidemic. Giants were ready to welcome Posey back for 2022, but he chose to retire to stay home with his family. A good decision (although he left over some $20 million dollars on the table) he is a principle family man of conviction with very straight set of priorities. Congratulations Buster Posey, who might be in the Hall of Fame five years from now.

— Atlanta Braves victory parade in downtown Atlanta, with millions of Atlanta fans on the streets, many with Tomahawks in hand. The parade ended at Truist Park, Home of the Braves, where all fans were allowed to walk into the park for free and celebrate with the players.

This Braves championship ends an incredible story where Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred removed the All Star Game from Atlanta to Denver in July in protest for a new ID voting law in Atlanta, which stands today and moved it to Denver, where there happens to be a similar law.

Atlanta is now recuperating from the financial lost of not hosting the ASG. They are benefiting much more economically and in prestige as they have won their second World Series since they play in Atlanta. Congratulations Atlanta, Georgia. This should be a lesson to Commissioner Manfred, that he is the Commissioner of Baseball and politics are not his forte. Leave the politics outside the stadium.

— Owners and Players of Major League Baseball have until December 2 (expiration day) to work out a new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement). Last time it was negotiated was 2016. There are many issues to be resolved – typical management (owners) vs. labor (players).

There is a feeling in the business that there is a high probability of a lockout of the 2022 season. Later this month I will have this issue explained in more detail as it is my feeling, that if they lockout the sport this might be very close to committing suicide and like 1994 (the last work stoppage) where the game “came back” in 1998 because of the home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, this time they might not be able to comeback.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: From Defecting his Country to World Series MVP

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The Atlanta Braves Jorge Soler holds the 2021 World Series MVP Award in the Braves defeat of the Houston Astros on Tue Nov 3, 2021 at Truist Park in Cobb County GA (photo by the New York Times)

From Defecting his Country to World Series MVP

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Although there are no diplomatic relations between the US and communist Cuba, that has not stopped dozens of Cuban baseball players escaping the island for years now. They have traveled via small homemade rafts in the middle of the night (very dangerous journey) or when their national team plays in a foreign country. They ask for political exile. Later, these players find their dreams, to play in the major leagues.

Jorge Soler of the Atlanta Braves in one of those Cuban players. He just won unanimously the Most Valuable Player of the 2021 World Series. Their first World Series championship since 1995. After leaving Cuba, under awful circumstances, Soler was signed by the Chicago Cubs to a 9-year $30 million contract.

In 2016 was traded to Kansas City for reliever Wade Davis, two years later he fractured a toe in his right foot and missed the rest of the season. With the Kansas City Royals. Jorge Soler established their new season home run record. In 2019 Soler’s 48 home runs, broke the previously home run record for the Royals, held by Mike Mustakas of 38 home runs in 2017.

During the NLDS on October 12 Soler tested positive for covid a few hours before the Braves played the decisive Game 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers. He had to leave the stadium and remain away from the team for at least 10 days, also missing the first 4 games of the NLCS against the LA Dodgers. He returned last Thursday for the World Series and the rest (like they say) it is history.

The slugging outfielder has come full circle with a great performance in the 2021 World Series, especially the 3 run home run in the third inning of the six game, a line-shot over 440 feet, that left Minute Maid Park, “A la calle” into the street. The Braves won 7-0 against the Houston Astros and that home run was crucial to open the scoring as the Astros were under pressure against great pitching for 6 innings from their star left-hander Max Fried.

World Series MVP Jorge Soler from Pinar del Río, Cuba (province famous for producing the best cigars in the world) hit, .300 with 6 hits, 4 home runs, 6 runs batted-in, 4 runs scored and 3 walks.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s on flagship station 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Posey to retire on Thursday; Three time World Champ hangs it up after 12 seasons

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San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey is seen here playing just one of a handful of games during spring training on Feb 24, 2020. Posey did not play in the 2020 regular season and returned in 2021 and is announcing his retirement Thu Nov 4, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News file photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–Buster Posey, the last player to win all three World Series Championships with the San Francisco Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014 will be announcing his retirement on Thursday, according to sources.

Posey, who was drafted by the Giants with the fifth overall pick in the 2008 MLB draft, and when he signed with the team on August 16 of that year, he was given a $6.2 million signing bonus, the largest up-front bonus in team history.

After beginning the 2009 season with the San Jose Giants, Posey was promoted to the Fresno Grizzlies, then the Giants Triple-A and after 35 games, he was called up to the big leagues on September 2 of that year and eventually made his debut on September 11 at AT&T Park and struck out in his first career at-bat against Hiroki Kuroda of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Eight days later, Posey picked up his major league hit off of Jeff Weaver of the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Posey began the 2010 season with the Grizzlies, and was called up on May 29, 2010, and went three-for-four at the plate with four runs batted in. On June 9, Posey hit his first MLB home run off of Aaron Harang of the Cincinnati Reds.

Then Giants General Manager Brian Sabean traded Bengie Molina to the Texas Rangers on June 29, 2010 and after the trade, Posey became the Giants starting catcher.

After helping the Giants to their first World Series Championship over the Rangers later that season, Posey would be named the National League Rookie of the Year.

Just one month after the 2011 season began on May 25, Posey sustained a broken fibula, and torn ligaments in his left leg after a home plate collision with Scott Cousins of the Florida Marlins.

Posey returned to the team for the 2012 season and became the first National League catcher since Ernie Lombardi of the Cincinnati Reds in 1942 to win the batting title, and helped the Giants to their second World Series Championship in three years, when the swept the Detroit Tigers.

During the post-season awards circuit, Posey won the NL MVP, the Silver Slugger Award for catchers and the NL Comeback Player of the Year. Posey also won the Willie Mac Award from his teammates.

Posey would help lead the Giants to their third World Series Championship in five years in a thrilling seven-game series against the Kansas City Royals in 2014.

Once again, Posey and the even year magic of the Giants would come into play again in 2016, as the Giants defeated the New York Mets in the NL Wild Card game; however, they would lose in the National League Division Series to the eventual World Champion Chicago Cubs.

With the 2020 season being shortened due to the coronavirus, Posey opted out of the season to help his wife Kristen take care of their twins Addison and Lee, and two premature born twins.

Posey returned to the field for the 2021 season, and helped the Giants to their first NL West Division Championship since 2012, as the Giants won a franchise record 107 games.

During the season, Posey batted .304 with 18 home runs and 56 Runs Batted In.

The organization said last month that they would exercise the $22 million club option for the 2022 season.

While playing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, Posey showed hints of retirement to be at home with his wife and four children.

Eventually, Posey will be a member of the Giants Wall of Fame, probably get a statue at Oracle Park, have his number 28 retired and most definitely head to Cooperstown and into Baseball Hall of Fame.

That’s Amaury’s World Series News and Commentary podcast: Miracle Astros come back and keep coming back

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Houston Astro Jose Altuve gets congratulations after scoring on a single in the top of the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves in game 5 of the 2021 World Series at Truist Field in Cobb County (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaruy’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, it really says a lot about the Houston Astros that they could come back after the Atlanta Braves hit a grand slam in the first inning and the score twice in the second and third innings and three times in the top of the fifth in game four.

#2 How remarkable is it for the Astros who were down 3-1 have now cut the lead to just one game for the Braves at 3-2. The series goes back to Houston for games six and possibly game seven.

#3 If the Astros can pull it off at Minute Maid Field tonight and force a game 7 what will they say about about manager Dusty Baker whose been a bit of a strategist in this World Series?

#4 It looks like last game 5 will be one that will be for the ages if the Astros come back and win games six and seven it will be game 5 that will long be talked about by both sides the Braves and Astros.

#5 Amaury talk about the pitching match ups for tonight’s game in Houston. The Braves have announced that Max Fried will go in game six and the Astros will start Luis Garcia for tonight.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez has called past World Series on Spanish national radio and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tha’ts Amaury News and Commentary: Bob Melvin A Bay Area original to San Diego

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Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin who signed a three year deal with the San Diego Padres last week should right the ship at San Diego with such superstar players as Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. (file photo by the Detroit News)

Bob Melvin A Bay Area original to San Diego

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–In case anybody forgot. The last three managers of the San Diego Padres were rookie managers at the time they were signed. This next season the Padres are going for the experience. In 2022 they will have an experienced, steady, and calm hand at the helm. Melvin managed the A’s for 11 seasons and leaves very good memories with the Oakland A’s fans in the Bay Area and everywhere. With constant personal changes every year, Melvin led the A’s to three (3) AL Western Division titles and six (6) playoff berths.

The three-time Manager of the Year (2007 Arizona and 2012 and 2018 Oakland) will take his managing skills and relaxed style to beautiful PETCO Park in downtown San Diego, where he will be managing such players as Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado, and Jay Cronenworth.

The Padres were the biggest underachievers in baseball. Many picked them to rival the Dodgers in the NL West but ended in third place 28 games out of first place. They also suffered some key injuries and it was an ugly year for the Friars.

Bob Melvin is truly a Bay Area original, born in Palo Alto, went to High School on the Peninsula, and the East Bay at the University of California at Berkeley. Played as a catcher for 10 years in the major leagues including from 1986 to 1988 with the San Francisco Giants, his longest tenure among the seven teams he played for.

Melvin is well known for developing good relationships among his players. He listens to them, communicates well, and sometimes sends a player a text message or two. He knows his players, leads them on the field, and guides them to navigate the world of Major League Baseball, especially the young players that come to Oakland. Yoenis Céspedes (a star outfielder and one of A’s fan favorites) told me once about Melvin: “es un buen manager, me conoce como jugador y siempre me mantiene al tanto de todo” (trans) “he is a good manager, he knows me as a player and he keeps me aware of everything going on”.

Communication is never overrated for a manager, especially in today’s game, where it is becoming more of a players game and so many decisions are made from “upstairs” inside the front offices of many ball-clubs, without the human element and where computers and statistics in this fast world of communications are running the show.

I was always impressed with Melvin’s style of manager and often told him, “someday you are going to be a General Manager”. He usually smiled and dismisses it not saying much about it. From his days in Seattle to his time at Oakland where he managed the longest, 11 years, he will be missed. We will miss him, affable, always available to the media, and definitely a fan favorite for Oakland A’s fans. Definitely a Bay Area original.

We wish BoMel nothing but the utmost success in one of America’s Finest Cities.

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

Editorial: Oakland A’s Suffer Devastating Blow Manger Bob Melvin Moves On to San Diego

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Former Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin in Aug 20, 2021 photo on the field before a game against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum. Melvin signed a three year deal to manage the San Diego Padres on Thu Oct 28, 2021 (AP News file photo)

By Barbara Mason

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s have had a few successful seasons getting to the playoffs twice in the last three years and missing the playoffs in this last 2021 season. Under Bob Melvin they played in the 2012, 13 and 14 playoffs as well. This was of course accomplished by not only the players but under the brilliant leadership of Manager Bob Melvin.

Unfortunately for the team, upper management has an ugly history of refusing to spend the money needed to put together a championship team. I was in fact pleasantly surprised this season when they brought Josh Harrison, Starling Marte, Yan Gomes and Andrew Chafin aboard. They made some real waves from the get go but it was too little too late with them coming in later in the season.

Had the A’s kept Marcus Semien, who had a banner year with the Blue Jays, we will never know what could have happened. I do hate the shoulda, woulda, coulda but if the shoe fits…. Oakland’s purse strings were under lock and key and this team did the best with what they had, and in my opinion Bob Melvin was brilliant.

Despite the stingy nature of upper management this team had one of the best managers in MLB who in fact won Manager of the Year twice while with the A’s. We also have a group of great players with our golden gloves Matt Olson and Matt Chapman immediately coming to mind.

There has been so much talk regarding the new stadium that fans have grown weary of it all. It is moving at a slugs pace, and surrounded by such a penny pinching mentality you knew that something was bound to happen and it would not be pretty.

We have seen players come and go and then we hear what we have heard so often, and that is the re-building scenario. The last thing that we ever expected to see was for Skipper Melvin to move on. Even though Melvin’s option for the 2022 season was exercised in June he was able to pursue and actually accept any other offers. I believe that in this case enough was enough and the cheapness in this organization gave Melvin no other options.

There is a winner however; a big winner in this entire situation and it is the San Diego Padres who knocked the ball out of the park attaining Bob Melvin for three years to the tune of 12 million dollars guaranteed. The Padres were of course looking for a manager and boy did they get one.

One of the best managers in baseball will reside in San Diego next season. What made Melvin so wildly successful was despite the meager payroll he still got the job done putting together some pretty successful teams although never reaching the promised land.

How could upper management in anyway, shape or form be unhappy with this guy. The bottom line is that if you want a successful baseball team, you spend money. If you spend money you can put together a very good team. If you do this the team will start winning and guess what, fans love winning.

You complain about, low attendance but who wants to come to a miserable ball park and watch losing efforts. That’s not to say that we do not have some great players, we do but how long they stay is always up in the air. I would say, in most cases not very long.

In a sport like baseball, the driving force is money and the success of any team comes down to how much money you are willing to spend. If you are cheap, that’s the reputation that you will deal with and the losing results that you will have to live with.

We will now be looking towards the future and the hiring of a new manager. We will have to also deal with the loss of a number of beloved players because the word is that the Oakland A’s Management are looking to tighten their purse strings, so they will reap what they sow and it will not be pretty.

It doesn’t get anymore ludicrous than that. It is heartbreaking for fans and players alike to have to deal with this. These are a group of individuals who could care less about the sport of baseball, who don’t care about the fans or their team and their only love is the love of the almighty dollar and how they can hang onto it.

World Series podcast with Michael Duca: Astros get key hitting in 2nd inning and from Altuve to tie series

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Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker oversees the Astros tying up the series in game 2 at Minute Maid Field against the Atlanta Braves on Wed Oct 27, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the World Series podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael with the Houston Astros winning it they proved they won’t go quietly in the night tying up the series against the Atlanta Braves 1-1.

#2 Astros got a four run second inning off Atlanta Braves starter Max Fried. Fried just struggled to keep runners off base with pitching five innings, seven hits and six runs.

#3 The Astros Jose Altuve kept things alive with a run scored in first and a home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Altuve has been clutch in the post season and in game 2 was no exception.

#4 Astros starter Jose Urquidy pitched five innings, gave up six hits and two runs and had all his pitches working for him to keep a challenging Braves line up off balance on Wednesday night.

#5 Game three moves to Atlanta the Astros will start Luis Garcia and for the Braves Ian Anderson will oppose Garcia a 5:09 pm first pitch in Cobb County how do you see this series moving back to Atlanta?

Michael Duca does MLB commentary throughout the post season for http://www.sportsradioservice.com