Category: MLB

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Randy Arozarena – His Escape from Communist Cuba

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The Tampa Bay Rays Randy Arozarena gives thanks to the almighty after he hits a first inning two run home run against the Houston Astros in game 7 at Globelife Park in Arlington during the ALCS on Oct 17, 2020 (AP News photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Randy Arozarena plays left field for the 2020 American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays; he recently won the Most Valuable Player Award when his team eliminated the Houston Astros last week. Today, Arozarena is playing in the World Series. But his journey to this land of freedom was not easy, as you will find here.

He was born in Pinar del Río, the Westernmost province of Cuba, one of the six provinces of the largest island in the Caribbean. That region is famous for growing the best and most famous cigars in the world, across many decades since Cuba was a colony of Spain. Because of the current system of government, communism, with no free-trade or private ownership, the Cuban cigar enjoyed their best days in the past. Now the Dominican Republic can claim their cigars are just as good, if not better. So the Cuban cigar, barely survives by its reputation of days gone by.

Arozarena played fúbol (soccer) but he was a very good baseball player in Cuba. He played for the Vaqueros (Cowboys) team in Cuba. His journey to the United States began in 2015, as he was playing for the Vaqueros, but was cut from the team just before they left to Puerto Rico to represent his country in the Caribbean Series. Why? Because the Cuban authorities feared he was going to defect the island, like most Cuban players currently playing in MLB have done.

He was a very good player in Cuba with very good numbers; he was not cut because he wasn’t good. Note: To this day after 60 years of the Communist Revolution in Cuba, no Cuban citizen is allowed to leave the country freely, unless is a government official a diplomat or in many cases sports clubs representing the country in tournaments around the world. In the past entertainers/musicians were allowed to leave to other countries for concerts, but that has also changed. Cuba is basically a closed society.

It was then in 2015 after the team in Cuba cut him from going to Puerto Rico that Arozarena decided to defect. He left the island in a small raft and headed to the West, towards the Gulf of México, a very dangerous journey in shark infested waters, which took him 8 hours to arrive to Isla de Mujeres, a small island of the coast of the famous tourist beach resort of Cancún. There in México the Mexican government granted him political exile. His family lives now in Mérida, México, his brother plays fúbol/soccer for the Cafetaleros de Chiapa. He talks to them all the time on the phone, says he plans to join them there where he is planning to live.

In an interview he gave to the New York Times, the young Cuban Arozarena: “I will not represent Cuba until things there change” and “the only thing that ties me to Cuba is my family and friends and country” plus “The situation in Cuba is bad” and added he hopes the situation changes for the Cuban people and for the Cuban baseball players.

As dangerous journey as Randy Arozarena had to endure to arrive in the US, this is common to many Cuban-born players currently playing baseball in the Major Leagues and all over the world. However (like most baseball players anyplace) their dream is to play in MLB, the best professional baseball league in the world.

I never forgot what the great Orestes (Minnie) Miñoso once told me. “When I came to the Major Leagues from Cuba in the late 1940’s I could travel in and out of the island, I lived in Cuba, but played mostly for the White Sox in Chicago, but these Cuban kids arriving since after the revolution had to go through many difficult situations before they achieve their dream”.

Perhaps one of the most incredible stories of defection by a Cuban player is that of ex-major league player Kendrys Morales, after trying and failing to defect 12 times, three of which landed him on three-day stints in prison when he was caught, finally was able to take a small rowboat to a larger vessel which then took him to the United States. He told me that story while he was playing with the LA Angels and is well documented and reported by many news agencies.

Amnesty International a reputable non-profit organization that specializes in human rights violations reports that Cuba remained mostly closed to independent human rights monitors. The government of Cuba does not allow its citizens to freely express their views, especially if they are negative to the government. Finally: There have not been free elections in Cuba for over 60 years, since the current government took power. Cuba’s government condemns free-market capitalism, yet the founder of the revolution, Fidel Castro died with close to $1 billion dollar fortune according to Forbes Magazine, who specializes in money issues.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Rays Charlie Morton 36 still overachieving; Dodgers trying to make fourth time the charm

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Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Charlie Morton seen here throwing against the Oakland A’s Wed Oct 2, 2020 in the ALWCS at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 If you look at the Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Charlie Morton’s 2020 post season stats at age 36, 3-0 and 0.57 ERA he’s pitching lights out post season baseball and maybe one of the key pitchers that’s kept the Rays post season from ending.

#2 Morton’s achievements throughout the playoffs is incredible he’s won all the games he’s started three and has gone five plus innings just enough to get the bullpen to finish the job.

#3 It’s got to drive Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash crazy to win three in a row and to think it’s in the bag and the Houston Astros win the next three straight and force a game 7 and the Rays to get out of it by a two run win 4-2.

#4 Looking at the Los Angeles Dodgers the Atlanta Braves were no easy task either after losing game four 10-2 down 3-1 in the series backs to the wall the Dodgers came back to win the NLCS winning three straight games.

#5 How will the dislocated arm injury of Cody Bellinger impact the Dodgers going into the World Series against the Rays. Bellinger hit a key home run in game 7 celebrated a little too hard too early when Keke Hernandez forearm bashed Bellinger dislocating his right arm.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 2020 World Series Dodgers in Six

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2020 World Series logo from amazon.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

This might be the best Los Angeles Dodgers team in their history. They won the NL pennant beating the Atlanta Braves in seven hard fought games; this will be the third time during the last four years that the Dodgers are in the World Series.

After dominating the NL West with eight consecutive Divisional titles. The Blue Boys from Los Angeles have not won a World Series since their big upset over the much talented Oakland Athletics in 1988, that was is 32 years ago.

The Dodgers and Rays ended with the best two records in MLB this season. Dodgers 43-17 a .717 winning percentage while the Tampa Bay Rays lead the American league with 40-20 and .667. The last time the two best teams-with the two best records met in a World Series was 2013 Boston Red Sox vs. St Louis Cardinals, which the Red Sox won in six games.

Two solid teams without many weaknesses will go toe-to-toe starting Tuesday October 20 at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. The Dodgers have made Arlington their home for the last week, while the Rays were at Petco Park in San Diego. The Dodgers have the second biggest payroll in MLB while the Rays are towards the bottom in the payroll department.

Andrew Friedman is the President of Baseball Operations for the Dodgers; he previously served as the Tampa Bay Rays General Manager in 2008, when the Sporting News named him the Executive of the Year.

In 2009 the Rays went to their first World Series and lost in 5 games to the Philadelphia Phillies. Friedman is credited with building that 2008 Rays club who won the AL Pennant with a 97-65 record, prior to losing to the Philadelphia Phillies who won the NL with 92-70. That was the Manager Joe Maddon Rays team vs. Phillies Charlie Manuel.

Dodgers Hitting: As powerful and balanced line-up as there is in baseball. A better team than last year, as they signed Mookie Betts to a 12 years $385 million contract. NLCS MVP shortstop Corey Seager. Hottest hitter on the planet.

This club grinds every at bat and they just make pitchers work, do not seem to go after bad pitches. Dodgers Defense: Excellent in every position. we saw how many runs they saved with spectacular catches specially in the outfield with Bellinger and Betts.

Pitching: The best in the National League with veteran future Hall of Fame lefty Clayton Kershaw, followed by an array of great arms like Walker Buehler, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Julio Urías) who is ready to be their ace in the future) and a very strong bullpen, usually anchored in a conventional way, like veteran Kenley Jensen their all-time leader in saves with 312, probably a future Hall of Famer.

Jensen has been inconsistent at times, but recently looked like his old self. A supporting cast for the Hollywood guys coming out of the pen like: Pedro Báez, Blake Treinen and others

Rays Hitting: Their man so far this postseason is young and dynamic Cuban-born outfielder Randy Arozarena, they have a good offense, but have not been hitting to their potential so far. Rays Pitching: One of the best in baseball, with a system where 12 of their pitchers have worked in relief, one time or another and saved at least 1 game apiece.

Their rotation was the best in the American League, with their three-headed monster of Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Charlie Morton. Their bullpen has as many good strong arms and anybody in baseball (including this Dodgers team) guys like Ryan Thompson, Ryan Yarborough, Pete Fairbanks, José Alvarado, Nick Anderson and Diego Castillo. The Rays do not depend on one closer, like I stated before, their system allows Manager Kevin Cash to use everybody and anybody that is there for the task.

In Conclusion: If the Rays want to win their first World Series, they are going to need more offense than Randy Arozarena, who was named the MVP of the ALCS, A great young Cuban player who cut his teeth in the Mexican League.

Arozarena only played in 23 of the 60 games for the Rays hitting .281 with 7 home runs and 11 runs batted in and even better numbers in the postseason. The Rays best hitter Brandon Lowe has not found his swing yet, he was their best hitter during the season.

Both the Dodgers and Rays needed a day-off and they got it today after starting play from Monday through Sunday without a rest. This World Series (unlike the previous Divisional and Championship Series) will feature two days off. That could be a blessing for these managers, whose biggest job is to manage their pitching staffs.

Manager: Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In a big market team like Los Angeles with their great tradition since they arrived from Brooklyn in 1958 is an affable and well liked man. Roberts won the Manager of the Year with the Dodgers in 2016.

Kevin Cash of the Tampa Bay Rays, a young franchise born in 1998, could be winning the AL Manager of the Year in 2020. He could make history and guide his club to their first World Series title.

World Series records: Los Angeles Dodgers franchise won: 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, and 1988. and Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955… Tampa Bay Rays never won a World Series.

Schedule: All games played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. From October 20 to (if necessary game seven)October 28, There will be two (2) days off the 22nd and 26th. FOX Television is the official World Series station. Check your local listings.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

World Series 2020 podcast with Michael Duca: Rays Arozarena has been key all post season long

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The Tampa Rays Randy Arozarena is part of the celebration after the game 7 victory against the Houston Astros at Petco Park in San Diego on Sat Oct 17, 2020 as the Rays move onto the 2020 World Series (photo from golf.com)

On the World Series podcast with Michael:

#1 The Tampa Bay Rays Randy Arozarena played so well in post season that he was key in the Rays victory in game 7 of the ALCS victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

#2 Rays manager Kevin Cash said Arozarena with a bat in his hands and a home run opportunity he settles a lot of people in the dugout.

#3 Arozarena said after Saturday’s game he wasn’t trying to win the MVP but was doing anything to help the team win.

#4 Cash said the last three games were agonizing with a one run loss in games 4 and 5 and a three run loss in game 6 that tied the series it was a relief to win game 7 and a two run 4-2 win.

#5 Turning to some San Francisco Giants news the team announced on Friday they would layoff 10% of their 500 full time employees which amounts to 50 full time employees. You know some of those full time employees personally how will this furlough impact the lives of some of these Giant employees.

Michael Duca does analysis for MLB and San Francisco Giants for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

World Series 2020 podcast with Larry Crino: Dodgers back in World Series Defeat Braves 4-3 in game 7

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The Los Angeles Dodgers Cody Bellinger (35) suffers the agony of victory after dislocating his right arm on this forearm bash with teammate Keke Hernandez (14) after hitting a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sun Oct 18, 2020 in game 7 of the NLCS at Arlington Stadium in Arlington (yahoo.sports.com photo)

World Series podcast with Larry Crino:

#1 Larry what it got to mean for the Dodgers who are returning to the World Series for the third time in four years and getting a precious opportunity at the brass ring again?

#2 The Braves won three of the first four games in the NLCS how concerned was Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and the Dodgers being down 3-1 going into game 5?

#3 How much credit does Cody Bellinger get for getting that big home run for the Dodgers in game 7. Bellinger has been they key player all season long for LA.

#4 Coming back from being down 3-1 and winning three straight was that confidence or was that a matter of sheer focus and concentration of taking each inning, each pitch and each game at a time?

#5 Game 1 of the 2020 World Series Larry first game of the World Series is this Tue Oct 20th at Globelife Park in Arlington where all the World Series games will be played. There will only be one day off and that’s on Thu 22nd. Knowing the Dodgers have been there all post season how much of an advantage will that be for LA against the Rays?

Join Larry for the 2020 World Series podcasts right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Billy Beane brought winning teams but no World Series

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Oakland A’s vice president Billy Beane is waiting for the final touches on a deal that would send him to be a owner/partner with owner John Henry and the Boston Red Sox (file photo from windsorstar.com)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Hollywood made a movie titled “Moneyball”. The reign of Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics. Since Mr.Beane became the A’s General Manager in 1998, the team captured seven Western Division titles, including this season, always making money. Doing it with a small budget.

Billy Beane reminds me of the famous line in the movie “Godfather Two”, when Johnny Ola said: “Mr. Hyman Roth always makes money for his partners”. Mr.Beane is leaving the A’s (or so it has been reported) to join Red Sox owner John Henry business endeavors. Many are in the soccer arena, as Mr. Henry owns the famous Liverpool club among other businesses. Liverpool Football Club is a professional football club in Liverpool, England, that competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. The club has won 19 League titles.

Nothing wrong with making money, at least not in a free enterprise capitalistic system as ours. Nobody goes into business to lose money. However he will be remembered by his philosophy for over 20 years with the A’s as he brought a lot of wins to the delight of Oakland Athletics fans, but like a good and fervent fan of the A’s who has followed the club since the late 60’s, recently told me (quote) “Yes, he has been good for the A’s, but he never won a World Series for us”. Those fans, which will remain nameless, also spend a lot of money through the years buying season tickets. He told me that he is not resentful, he will always be an A’s fan.

That reflects the feelings of a lot of A’s fans if Mr.Beane exits Oakland on his way to Boston. In the past Mr. Billy Bean has said “My job is to get us to the playoffs”. He is quoted on Michael Lewis book (Moneyball) quote: “My s**t doesn’t work in the playoffs”. So, Mr.Beane has been transparent on his style of management.

The Tampa Bay Rays, one win away from moving to the World Series as of today, are in very similar to the current Oakland A’s. A small budget team with relatively very good success on the field, a team that won the AL East over the New York Yankees with their typical huge payroll, and ironically, the Rays are a team with very similar problems to the Athletics, i.e. both franchises want to build a new ballpark

Stay well and stay tuned.

MLB The Show podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: If Red Sox can’t be publicly traded will that keep Beane in Oakland?

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Oakland A’s vice president Billy Beane is exploring leaving the A’s for the Boston Red Sox which would give him a large partnership up to 25% with owner John Henry (file photo from (truthfinder.com)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry taking in account that Oakland A’s vice president Billy Beane is seriously considering leaving the A’s how much would the A’s miss his talents, his ability to put together competitive teams and frankly was the best part was his ability to find talent at low under market baseball prices?

#2 Jerry, the Boston Red Sox owner John Henry is merging the Red Sox with Fenway Sports Group and RedBall Acquisition Corp but MLB rules do state against public ownership and Henry does plan to trade the company publicly could that be the one sticking point that would keep Beane in Oakland if baseball clearly tells the Red Sox and their merging companies can not be publicly traded which would impact any investment Beane would be involved in?

#3 The investment number at 25% is what reportedly Beane would invest in the merged group at the Red Sox there is very little doubt that this is profit driven and that Beane to avoid a conflict of interest would sell his 1% ownership of the A’s to join the Red Sox.

#4 Looking at the success of Beane 11 post seasons out of the 21 years that he’s been with the A’s. With a Beane departure and keeping the payroll down and having a post season caliber club how much will that culture change without Beane?

#5 The A’s seem to think without Billy Beane at the top the A’s general manager David Forst has got this, that Forst has been at this quite awhile and can manage without Beane and still make the team a success on a low budget?

Join Jerry F each week for Headline Sports podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Dodgers Kershaw scratched back spasms last night; Cowboys owner Jones says Prescott will be back in spring; plus more

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The Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Klay Kershaw did not start on Tuesday night due to back spasms against the Atlanta Braves in Globelife Park in Arlington. Here is Kershaw leaving the field during game 2 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres Wed Oct 7, 2020 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports with London:

#1. How big a of a loss was it for the Los Angeles Dodgers not to have Klay Kershaw not able to start in Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves who is out with back spasms.

#2 After the horrible ankle injury that all of you saw Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says that quarterback Dak Prescott should be back in time for spring football and that the injury should be healed and Prescott should be ready by April or May.

#3 Oakland A’s team vice president Billy Beane has an offer that he can’t refuse an offer in the making Boston Red Sox owner John Henry merging groups Fenway Sports Group and RedBall Acquisition Corp that plans to be publicly traded something that MLB rules say that teams can not have public ownership. Will the decision of being the Red Sox being publicly traded hinge on Beane’s decision joining the Sox?

#4 How would Beane’s departure impact the A’s who under Beane has saw the A’s make post season 11 times in the past 21 years and having some of the lowest payrolls in baseball without Billy’s talents around anymore will the A’s start suffering on the field?

#5 London talk about the Tampa Bay Rays taking the first three games against the Houston Astros wasting little time going up three games to none. Does indicate how the Rays quickly could close out this series?

Please join London each Wednesday for Headline Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Former Red and ESPN analyst Joe Morgan memories; Sox mgr Renteria fired; plus more

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The Cincinnati Reds former second baseman Joe Morgan who passed away at 77 on Monday is seen here at the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown during the time he asked the Hall to keep steroid users out of the Hall (file photo from Newsday.com)

On Amaury’s podcast:

#1 Amaury, former Cincinnati Reds second baseman Joe Morgan who had worked as an ESPN analyst with San Francisco Giants announcer Jon Miller who passed away on Monday at 77 was best remembered for his days with the Big Red Machine in the 1970s

#2 Morgan and Miller left Sunday Night Baseball in 2010 and started out his broadcast career with the San Francisco Giants doing analysis before moving onto the national scene.

#3 Morgan could be surly at time with reporters at times and was pretty stubborn on his opinions but those were his opinions at the end of his broadcasting careers he received quite a bit of criticism for not moving with the changes in baseball but also fans said he never moved the needle of the way he saw the game and a group of comedy writers formed a group called “Fire Joe Morgan” towards the end of Morgan’s broadcast career because of those on air traits.

#4 The Chicago White Sox and manager Rick Renteria have parted ways after the White Sox had lost the ALWCS to the Oakland A’s 2-1. Renteria finished his tenure with the Sox with a record of 236-309 (.486).

#5 Amaury talk about the how close, how similar do you see how the Tampa Bay Rays and the Houston Astros who should play a number of one run games and maybe some slugfests in this series?

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

MLB The Show Championship Series podcast with Larry Crino: The passing of the Reds Joe Morgan at 77; Rays just get by Astros in game 1

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Former Cincinnati Red second baseman and former ESPN analyst Joe Morgan who passed on Monday due to nerve related conditions at age 77 (intelligencer.com file photo)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Larry:

#1 The passing of former Cincinnati Reds second baseman and former ESPN Sunday Night Baseball analyst Joe Morgan

#2 Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros started out playing a pretty close game in game 1 first Larry wanted to ask you about Astros pitcher Framber Valdez who made a no look behind the back pick up of a ball hit back to him by the Rays hitter Kevin Kiermaier for an out talk about a defensive play.

#3 The Houston Astros Jose Altuve hit a leftfield first inning home run to get the Astros on the scoreboard talk about Altuve’s homer you can hear it off the bat that the Astros were going to get on the scoreboard a 388 foot blast.

#4 Larry in watching this game it was close from start to finish after Altuve’s home run the Rays Randy Arozarena whose been key for the Rays getting to this second round of the post season hit a bottom fourth inning solo shot to centerfield to tie the game.

#5 With the score tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning Willy Adames scored on a Mike Zunino single to center and the Rays held a 2-1 lead to take game 1 of the ALCS.

Join Larry for the MLB post season podcasts right through the 2020 World Series at http://www.sportsradioservice.com