Category: MLB

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Giants Casali to back up Posey as Bart opens season in Sacramento; A’s Murphy expected back by opening day

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Former Cincinnati Reds catcher Curt Casali joins the San Francisco Giants in the back up roll to start the 2021 season. Catcher Joey Bart who started most of 2021 will open the season in Triple A Sacramento (AP News file photo)

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

#1 Amaury, How smart is the move sending San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart to Triple A Sacramento for more instruction. Last season Bart hit .233 and struck out 41 times.

#2 When Giants catcher Buster Posey opted to sit out the 2020 season due to Coronavirus concerns Bart was made the starting catcher. With all the high expectations of Bart he lapsed at the plate and will not be with the big club to start the season.

#3 The Giants acquired catcher Curt Casali as the back up catcher for Posey. Casali has been in the big league since 2014 playing for Tampa Bay before moving onto the Cincinnati Reds 2018 and now joining the Giants this season. Casali hit .167, 12 hits, no homers and 3 RBIs. Casali joins the Giants mostly for his defensive skills and experience working with pitchers behind the plate.

#4 Amaury, the A’s moved on acquiring players like Trevor Rosenthal pitcher, DH Mitch Mooreland, infielder Elvis Andrus, pitcher Sergio Romo, and resigning Yusmerio Petit after former A’s players Marcus Semien and Liam Hendriks had left are these big enough pieces to fill their shoes?

#5 A’s catcher Sean Murphy is recovery from lung surgery and is expected to be ready to start on opening day. The A’s will be looking at his back up Aramis Garcia who will be doing a lot of the catching in spring training. Garcia hit .143, six hits, five runs, five RBIs. Garcia spent the 2020 season in the minors.

#6 Amaury, the Oakland A’s Fanfest is normally at this time of the year but due to Coronavirus there have been no fanfests for the last two seasons normally held at Jack London Square.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast Tue Feb 23, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Athletics Have Their Closer and their Designated Hitter

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Former San Diego Padre reliever Trevor Rosenthal seen here throwing during Sep 13, 2020 game against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park in San Diego. Rosenthal has signed on with the Oakland A’s for $11 million for the 2021 season (AP News file photo)

Athletics Have Their Closer and their Designated Hitter

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Closer: After losing Liam Hendricks to free agency as he landed with the Chicago White Sox, the Oakland A’s acquired veteran closer Trevor Rosenthal for $11 million and one year. Pending a physical he will be wearing the Green and Gold very soon in Spring Training. Rosenthal is 30 years old and during eight years as a closer showing 132 saves.

During the 2020 season he pitched for Kansas City and San Diego and recorded 11 saves. Between Kansas City and San Diego he made 23 appearances saved 11 games, with a 1.90 ERA.

He enjoyed his best years with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014 when he saved 45 games and 2015 with 48 saves as an All Star. Designated Hitter: With the departure of Khris Davis, going to Texas a few weeks ago, the Athletics have picked-up veteran Mitch Moreland for one-year.

Moreland is a first baseman and designated hitter, and will probably be their DH most of the time and when Matt Olson needs a rest at first base, he will provide the back-up. Mitch Moreland is an 11 year career with Texas, Boston and San Diego, combined numbers are .252 average with 176 home runs and 588 runs-batted-in.

Spring Training: Frankie Montás, Oakland’s Opening Day starter last season is experiencing flu-like symptoms, Melvin said: “He’s several days into it,” Melvin said during a Zoom call before the A’s first workout of spring on Wednesday. “He does feel the effects of it.

He was having some symptoms, more flu-like than probably anything else at this point. He’s going to be a little bit behind.” Catcher Sean Murphy who enjoyed a very good rookie season in 2020 is out of action and not in Spring Training.

According to manager Bob Melvin, the catcher woke up one morning a couple of weeks ago and noticed discomfort while breathing. He went to the hospital and later that day had surgery.

David Forst, the team’s general manager described the injury as a “freak thing” that could have been caused by something as simple as a hard cough during his sleep that led to a pulmonary bleb (a small air pocket or blister) that created a small hole in his lung, Doctors said that while the surgery was not necessary, it was recommended to avoid a recurrence.

Young lefty A.J.Puk threw and felt “free and easy” coming back after shoulder surgery. His would be a very important part of a young and talented rotation, if he can make the team this season, something the organization will like to see in 2021.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

Ex-A’s pinch runner Washington says lawsuit is about stopping McDonald’s from practicing systematic racism

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Former Oakland A’s pinch runner and owner of some 14 McDonalds franchises Herb Washington says that the McDonald’s Corporation has forced him to sell seven of his stores to white owners because he’s black (AP News photo)

By Charlie O

A lawsuit has been filed in U.S. District Court in Ohio by former Oakland A’s pinch runner Herb Washington. Washington’s law suit claims that McDonalds discriminated against him forcing him to sell as many as seven McDonald’s franchise restaurants in 2017.

Washington now 69 is the largest owner of black owned McDonald’s restaurants in the chain in the 40 years of owning McDonald’s restaurants Washington had as many as 27 restaurants he has 14 now. The lawsuit that Washington filed states the reason why for the suit “because of the opposition to the relentless discrimination he has endured in the McDonald’s system.”

The seven restaurants that he was forced to sell were in the past three years to white owners. The lawsuit also says “McDonald’s subjected Mr. Washington to targeted and unreasonable inspections and harsh grading to manufacture negative internal business reviews on account of his race, which McDonald’s then used as pretext to dismantle Mr. Washington’s business.”

McDonald’s responded in a statement saying “This situation is the result of years of mismanagement by Mr. Washington, whose organization has failed to meet many of our standards on people, operations, guest satisfaction and reinvestment. His restaurants have a public record of these issues including past health and sanitation concerns and some of the highest volumes of customer complaints in the country”

Washington in his complaint said that McDonald’s steered black owners into disadvantaged areas and he was also forced to open a restaurant “in a distressed predominantly black neighborhood” in Rochester NY and that McDonald’s stopped Washington’s attempts to buy a store in the white suburb of University Heights Ohio which Washington says was sold to a white owner.

Washington was a pinch runner for the Oakland A’s during the 1974 and 1975 seasons and went onto the World Series where the A’s won it all in 1974. A’s broadcaster Monte Moore always introduced Washington as the A’s “pinch runner deluxe” during A’s broadcasts when he came out to run. Washington scored 33 runs in 105 games during his two years in Oakland.

Charlie O is a contributor reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Swinging A’s World Series Hero Passed at 73

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Former Oakland Athletic Angel (Cuqui) Mangual who passed away on Tue Feb 16, 2021 at 73 years old played for the Oakland A’s for seven season (1971-1976) and was on three of the World Championships teams during that time (photo from conlasbasesllenas.com)

Swinging A’s World Series Hero Passed at 73

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–In 1972,1973 and 1974 the Oakland Athletics became the only other Major League franchise, other than the New York Yankees to win at least three straight World Series titles. Angel (Cuquí) Mangual was 73 years old, he played for the Oakland A’s during his seven year career (1971-1976) but impacted Charlie O Finley Swinging A’s in a big way.

During Game 4 of the 1972 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, the Puerto Rican outfielder became an instant hero as he delivered a game-winning hit for the victory. The A’s had a Major League record three pinch-hit singles in the ninth inning.

The Athletics went on to win the Series in seven games. That was the first of three-consecutive World Series titles, followed in 1973 with another seven game thrilling win against the New York Mets and then in 1974 the Swinging A’s took the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. Angel Mangual set the pace for the Swinging A’s dynasty of the 1970’s.

Angel’s younger brother José (Pepe) Mangual announced the passing of his ill brother. José played for six years from 1972 to 1977 with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets. Mark Oliveras, considered the best manager in the history of professional baseball in Puerto Rico said: (quote)”I remember that in Puerto Rico and the United States they compared his abilities to those of Roberto Clemente. Even his body language reminded me of Roberto, his smile and the way he comported himself. His health has not been good in the last few years. I will always remember him, may God have him next to him in eternal glory”.

Angel once said about Clemente: “Roberto me ayudó mucho cuando estaba con la organización de los Piratas de Pittsburgh y siempre me decía como jugar el béisbol, pero lo que más me impresionaba es que siempre estaba hablando conmigo” Trans: “Roberto helped me a lot when I was with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, and always told me how to play baseball, but what most impressed me about him, is that he was always talking to me”.

May Angel “Cuquí” Mangual Rest in Peace.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Petit and Romo just what A’s relief needed; Golf with no fans and celebrities different at the AT&T; plus more

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Former Minnesota Twin pitcher Sergio Romo throws a pitch against the Cleveland line up in a game on Fri Sep 11, 2020. Romo joined the Oakland A’s pitching staff as of Sun Feb 14, 2021 (AP News file photo)

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Marcus Semien and Liam Hendriks won’t be in the A’s spring training camp no longer with the A’s but relievers Yusmeiro Petit and Sergio Romo will be. Talk about the impact they will have on closing games this season. 

#2 Petit signed a one year for $2.55 million deal plus incentives and and Romo is on board for one season for $2.25 million.

#3 Petit last season pitched in 26 games was 2-1 ERA 1.66 and Romo last season was 1-2 4.05 last season a 60 plus game season this year a full 162 games how preparation will Petit and Romo need?

#4 Amaury turning to pro golf, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am has been an event without fans and celebrities has this made a difference in this PGA Tour.

#5 Tennis pro Serena Williams whose currently participating in her 24th Grand Slam at the Australian Open. Williams was talking about how excited she was to own a women’s professional soccer team called the Angel City FC in Los Angeles. This has to be a great new venture a new and exciting business for Serena.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast Tue Feb 16, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Athletics Veterans in the Bullpen

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Aug 24, 2020 Oakland A’s reliever Yusmeiro Petit throws against the Texas Rangers in Arlington during last year’s regular season. Petit is signed with the A’s for the 2021 season. (AP News photo file)

Athletics Veterans in the Bullpen

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The A’s solidifying their bullpen after they lost star closer Liam Hendricks, who was considered the best closer available among all the free-agents during the off-season, now with the Chicago White Sox and Joaquim Soria now with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The team is keeping Yusmeiro Petit, 36 years old and a solid veteran arm, one of manager’s Bob Melvin’s favorite and acquired “el veterano” Sergio Romo, who turns 39 in March. Petit and Romo won two World Series for the team across the bay.

On Friday the Athletics were involved in a four-player trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Athletics got more bullpen help with lefty Adam Kolarek plus outfielder prospect Cody Thomas. In return they send infielder Sheldon Neuse and minor league right handed pitcher Gus Varland.

Right now, looks like a very good deal for the Athletics, as Kolarek last season was 3-0 with a 0.95 earned run average in 20 games and 1 save. Kolarek is the ideal lefty to face a lefty hitter in a game situation late in a game.

Sheldon Neuse played some infield for the A’s and Gus Varland is a prospect and might be the key for the Dodgers who are basically loaded with talent and tweaking their club as they are favorite to repeat this year again.

The Western Division this season will be a three-team race, between the reigning division champion Athletics, the Houston Astros and possibly the Los Angeles Angels. I will have my analysis of this division before the season opener April 1.

The Oakland Athletics open the season at home with a 4-game series against the Houston Astros, followed by the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Realignment A’s Class A Team in Vermont affected

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Image of the Oakland A’s minor league affiliate the Vermont Lake Monsters a team that is on the bubble of folding due to MLB directives of closing minor league teams (image from thinkvermont.com)

Realignment: A’s Class A Team in Vermont affected

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Major League Baseball announced the elimination of more than 40 affiliated teams (Minor Leagues). This leaves 120 affiliated teams which breaks down to four per each MLB franchise.

MLB announcement mentions that all 120 teams have signed what is now a Professional Development License, and these agreements are going to be for at least ten years, not the two or four years they previously had.

According to MLB, many affiliates will be in much closer geographic proximity. On average, the report says that the MLB clubs will now be over 200 miles closer to their Triple-A affiliates.

Looks like that the previous long-standing names of “International League, “Pacific Coast League”, “Midwest League” and Florida State League will disappear according to this new alignment. The local economical impact will be substantial in these cities that now will not have any minor league team.

Among those cities the Oakland Athletics affiliate, the Vermont Lake Monsters located in Burlington, Vermont. They played their games at the University of Vermont’s Centennial Field, but were inactive last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Lake Monsters have been an affiliate. Class A Short Season, of the Oakland Athletics since 2011.

Bernie Sanders, US Senator for the State of Vermont, who last year showed his displeasure with the proposed elimination of the Vermont minor league franchise said: “If the multimillionaire owners of Major League Baseball have enough money to pay hundreds of millions in compensation to a single superstar baseball player,” Sanders said, “they have enough money to prevent 40 minor league teams from shutting down in Vermont and all over this country.”

The State of Vermont has a population of 623,989 as of 2019; Burlington is the most populated city with 42,545 residents. The elimination of this team is bound to hurt the local economy in many ways.

This is the statement by Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred: “We are excited to unveil this new model, which not only provides a pipeline to the Majors, but continues the Minor Leagues’ tradition of entertaining millions of families in hundreds of communities.

In modernizing our Minor League system, we prioritized the qualities that make the Minor Leagues such an integral part of our game while strengthening how we develop professional athletes on and off the field.

We look forward to demonstrating the best of our game throughout local communities, supporting all those who are working hard to grow the sport, and sharing unrivaled technology and resources with minor league teams and players.”

The release says that all minor leagues in this affiliated system will have salary increases of 38 to 72 percent. It is expected that MLB will take over merchandising, broadcast and sponsorship rights, splitting net revenues 50-50 with the minor league clubs.

Definitely not the news that most people like to hear, especially baseball fans and people involved in the business of the national pastime. All over the country and especially at this time, where the economy is still bleeding from the covid-19 pandemic.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

A’s get leg up on Howard Terminal Stadium; Superior Court Judge and AB734 ruling gets A’s on first base

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Oakland A’s president David Kaval says he’s glad the A’s won this first step to move forward towards a new Howard Terminal Ballpark at Jack London Square (file photo from the Mercury News)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Joe Hawkes

Sports Radio Service staff writers

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s caught what A’s team president David Kaval would call a huge break just when the future of the A’s new ballpark development had no new developments since March.  Wednesday an Alameda Superior Court judge ruled for the A’s that the A’s need to prepare an environmental impact report and meet the qualifications of the impact report .

Once the report is ready the A’s are still subject to complaints and legal challenges for example traffic and parking , and air quality issues. The A’s would have 270 days from any complaints or challenges filed. The coalition filed an appeal with the court on Wednesday right after the judges ruling.

AB734 a state bill passed by then Governor Jerry Brown in 2018 helped expedite arenas, stadiums and ballparks built in California. It helped the Sacramento Kings expedite their arena Golden One Center after the Kings met challenges in their developments. The courts moved the challenges through working or basically overruling those who had complaints and challenges such as parking, transit and air quality issues.

The A’s could very well enjoy that same cut through the red tape challenge and get to the next step and see groundbreaking of their new stadium located at Howard Terminal at Jack London Square finally get started.

The A’s have face many challenges to get the stadium project off the ground. In March the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, Schnitzer Steel, the Harbor Trucking Association all filed a court lawsuit challenging the A’s on building at the port. The complaint said that in doing so would eliminate port jobs and put businesses there out of business.

Mike Jacob vice president of the general counsel of Pacific Merchant Shipping Association said he is hopeful that the court will agree “that the Howard Terminal project should not be certified for fast tracking and the A’s follow the standard environmental impact review process.”

Kaval said that the city of Oakland is responsible for releasing the environmental impact report and it’s completion. The most recent delays regarding the A’s Howard Terminal development was due to the pandemic and the opposing groups lawsuits.

Joe Hawkes is a staff writer and Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB: De-Juicing the Pelotas

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The New York Yankees Luke Voit designated hitter led MLB in home runs with 22 will have to swing a little harder this season as MLB has unwound the balls just a tiny bit to reduce the amount of home runs hit. Here is Voit swinging for a ground out against the Miami Marlins last season on Sun Sep 27, 2020 at Yankee Stadium (AP News photo)

MLB: De-Juicing the Pelotas

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

MLB announced today starting dates for all 30 teams to report to Spring Training. As well as the plan for a full 162 game season, with playoffs as in the past, pre-pandemic 2019. The Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants February 17 to 22, for pitchers and catchers first workouts. April 1 is Opening Day.

Last few years Major League Baseball introduced a bevy of changes. This 2021 season is going to have one of the most interesting changes in recent memory. MLB is going to alter the baseball, and therefore hope to reduce the ratio of home runs.

Recently the KBO, Korean Baseball Organization increased the weight of its baseball less than one twentieth of an ounce and moved the COR about 0.01 in 2019, the result was a 33% decrease in home runs. MLB paid attention to such numbers and hope to accomplish something similar.

After the league saw a record 6,776 homers hit in 2019 (the last 162-game season that was played), the home run rate fell from 6.6% of plate appearances in ’19 to 6.5% during the pandemic-shortened ’20 campaign. It might be the worse kept secret that baseballs have more juice than ever in recent memory, and combined with the new style of hitting the famous “launch angle” home runs are becoming, boring?

What MLB is trying to do this 2021 season is De-Juicing the Pelotas. And what is going to do is basically reduce a 375+ foot fly-ball by about 1 to 2 feet, which will return a reduction of 5% less home runs.

This will also result in an increase in doubles and triples. Another change pertaining to the baseball: MLB wants five (5) more teams to store baseballs in a humidor at their home park. As of today the Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets and Seattle Mariners already store their baseballs in humidors.

Of these five teams, Arizona was the only one showing a decline in home runs once the humidor was installed. To this day, the other five (5) teams that will add the humidor are unknown. Plus, my friends that are National League fans will be happy to learn 2021 there will not be a DH, everything stays the same.

Enjoy it, I am afraid this will be the last year with no DH. But not so quickly for those that like less home runs and more bunting, hit and run and strategy that seems to be absent these days. We are not going to regress to the dead ball era, where from 1900 until the arrival of Babe Ruth in 1919 nobody hit home runs.

Ruth hit an MLB record 29 home runs in 1919 and that was Page One material then. John Franklin “Home Run” Baker led the American League from 1911 to 1914 with a total combined of 42 home runs.

I do not think we are going to go that far back in the time machine in 2019 Houston Note: Juiced Pelotas: In 2019 Astros All-Star pitcher Justin Verlander won his second Cy Young of his career, with a 21-6, 2.58 ERA and gave-up 36 home runs most in his stellar career. This is what he said in 2019 about the juiced balls: “Major League Baseball is turning this game into a joke”.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Join Amaury for News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com and Amaury works as vice president for the Major League Baseball Heritage Hall of Fame Museum

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: República Dominicana Wins Caribbean Series, Again

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Criollos de Caguas the Aguilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Republic are the Caribbean Series 2021 Campeones defeating Puerto Rico on Saturday for the Championship (image from @elacid0)

República Dominicana Wins Caribbean Series, Again

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

With a 4-1 victory over Puerto Rico’s Criollos de Caguas the Aguilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Republic are the undefeated champions (7-0) of the 2021 Serie del Caribe that ended Saturday in Mazatlán, México.

For the second year in a row the Dominican Republic defeated Puerto Rico in the championship game to win their 21st Caribbean Series. Outfielder Juan Lagares of the champion Doninican Republic was the Most Valuable player and today the Los Angeles Angels announced they signed Lagares to a minor league contract.

At the conclusion of this year’s Serie del Caribe here is where the countries by total championships: Dominican Republic 21 titles, Puerto Rico 16, México 9, Cuba 8, Venezuela 7, Panamá 2, Colombia 0. The 2022 Caribbean Series will take place at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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