Category: MLB

Youth Movement: A’s hope trio of top prospects make an immediate impact

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–The Dodgers traded for Mookie Betts, the Yankees signed free agent Gerrit Cole, who is anything but free, and the Twins struck late, adding Josh Donaldson to their collection of sluggers.

The A’s didn’t sign any big names, or little ones for that matter. But that doesn’t mean they stood put. A.J. Puk, Jesus Luzardo and Sean Murphy–each among the Top 60 prospects in all of baseball–are being counted on to be big league contributors starting on Opening Night July 24.

Luzardo, the A’s No. 1 prospect, has been cleared to resume workouts after testing positive for COVID-19, the timing of which threatened his availability for the opener. But while preparing to be cleared, Luzardo lobbied the coaching staff, and did whatever he could physically to gain preparedness.

“I figured out ways to get little lifts in my room while listening to my body,” Luzardo said. “If I was feeling good that day, I’d get after it. If I was a little tired, I took it lighter. I definitely tried to stay in shape.”

Originally tabbed as a starter, Luzardo could start the season in the bullpen, where he would remain ideally until he regains a starter’s stamina. Puk seems set as the fourth starter with Murphy assuming the starting catcher’s role after a successful, 20-game audition in 2019.

Puk, Luzardo and Murphy all saw time at the big league level last season, and given their performances, expectations are high that all three can excel and kiss the minor leagues farewell.

Murphy was a third round selection in the 2016 Draft and he’s moved quickly through the organization’s minor league structure,  compiling 90 extra-base hits in 235 games over four seasons. The 24-year old impressed manager Bob Melvin with his attention to detail in handling the pitching staff, so much so he was picked to start the AL Wild Card Game against the Rays. Murphy’s had issues with knee injuries so the shortened 60-game schedule may prove ideal for his adjustment to the majors.

Puk, the 6’7” flamethrower chosen sixth overall in the 2016 Draft, made ten appearances, all in relief, for Oakland in 2019. He was 2-0 with 3.18 ERA, striking out 13 batters in 11 plus innings of work. Despite missing all of 2018 due to Tommy John surgery,  Puk compiled 262 strikeouts in 183 innings at the various minor league levels.

The 24-year old hasn’t experienced any setbacks in either spring or summer training, giving him jump on veterans Daniel Mengden and Chris Bassitt for a spot in the starting rotation. No official announcements have been made but Puk appears on track to get a start against the Angels opening weekend.

Luzardo was acquired in the 2017 trade that sent Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to Washington. His profile as a polished performer has the A’s brass excited to see more after the 22-year old made just six appearances at the big league level in 2019 while battling injuries. In 43 minor league starts, Luzardo won 14 times compiling a 2.53 ERA. He also appeared in the 2019 Wild Card Game, throwing three innings, allowing just one hit, all while the A’s failed to rally from a five-run deficit.

Yanks Cole gives up back to back homers throws 87 pitches against Mets

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The New York Yankees pitcher Gerritt Cole threw against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium on Friday afternoon in pre season baseball. Here in photo Cole throws in an intersquad game featuring the Yankees split squad team (newsday.com photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK—The New York Yankees played their final intrasquad game at Yankee Stadium on Friday evening, with new virtual crowd noise, before facing the New York Mets for an exhibition game ahead of Opening Day.

Right-hander Gerrit Cole threw 87 pitches in his final practice before Opening Day Thursday of the abbreviated 2020 MLB season. The Yankees’ new starting pitcher gave up homers to Mike Ford and Miguel Andújar in the fourth inning, but those were the only runs he allowed in 5 2/3 innings. Cole struck out seven and walked none.

Ford hit into the right-field bullpen. Andújar hit an opposite-field shot in the same direction.

“The back-to-back homers were undesirable from my perspective, just kind of got into a position there where I was spraying some breaking balls and just kind of became noncompetitive,” Cole said. “And I got in some fastball situations where I had to challenge, guys.”

Cole said the intrasquad game “presented a few challenges” but he “absolutely” feels ready for the Opening Day matchup against Max Scherzer and the World Series champion Washington Nationals.

All games leading up to Opening Day are part of MLB’s July Summer Camp and do not count toward the 60-game regular season.

On Friday, the Yankees welcomed back infielder DJ LaMahieu, who tested positive for Covid-19 before Summer Camp. LaMahieu warmed up on the field and got a workout in the weight room before the intrasquad game.

“Obviously everyone is very excited to see the machine back in the building,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Coaches have started putting a plan together for La Mahieu’s return to play, but when he will return is still to be decided based on evaluations.

“I don’t want to commit one way or the other, we’ll see how we are then next couple off days,” Boone said. “It would be a pretty quick turnaround obviously. First and foremost, we want to make sure we bring him back safely and smartly and when he’s back, he’s ready to roll.”

Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames said LaMahieu is a “baseball rat, he knows the game, he knows the swing, he knows what guys are trying to do to him, but he’s still human” and needs to get some at bats and rest before he returns.

The Yankees’ pitchers have been ahead of the hitters. Thames acknowledged that the hitters “have a little ways to go” but that the players at bat have been better.

Players tend to put more pressure on themselves with the shortened season, but Thames said the coaches have been trying to keep them loose and taking one bat at a time.

“We have real pros, we’re going to make sure they’re … ready for the first game against Washington,” Thames said.

As the roster gets decided, outfielder Clint Frazier said he has learned not to worry about where he will be placed.

“I think it’s pretty natural to let your mind wander to those areas but something I’ve learned is to stop trying to play GM,” Frazier said, “I have a role, I don’t know what the role is going to be, I guess we’ll find out what all of our roles will be, but hopefully it’s one I can play a big part in.”

Frazier also confessed that his decision to wear a mask has drawn a lot of positive, as well as negative feedback. He said the criticism isn’t bothering him because he and his teammates need to stay safe to accomplish their goal.

“We want to win the world seri and the way to do that is to be healthy,” he said.

The Yankees play the Mets at Citi Field on Saturday and again on Sunday at Yankee Stadium, before wrapping up Spring Training with an exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Yankee Stadium on Monday. Opening Day against the Washington Nationals will reportedly happen at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., instead of alternate sites that were explored due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

First pitch for Saturday’s exhibition game against the Mets is set for 7:10 p.m. ET at Citi Field in Flushing NY.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Sports under Siege?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

TNT’s Charles Barkley says that the whole conversation of “social injustices have become a circus” (NBC Sports file photo)

Sports under Siege?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In this unusual year of 2020 for weeks, the news/tease was that the Washington Redskins were about to change their logo/name of Redskins. While that has not happened yet, the biggest news from the Washington franchise was not their logo, but 15 ex-women employees claiming sexual harassment.

The NFL never seems to run out of scandals, a lot of them with absolutely nothing to do with play on the field. All kinds of surveys have shown that the NFL fans are not looking forward to more political demonstrations, but that seems to be inevitable. It would be interesting to see fan reaction and television audiences (if they ever play this year), the jury still out, but the NFL, as I said before seems to be making more news outside the field than on the field; and that is obviously not good. There is one thing for sure for fans, Roger Goodell is the most hated Commissioner in Sports.

MLB: The season is on schedule to begin their shortened version next Thursday July 23, when the Yankees face the Nationals on a nationally televised game on FOX and the Giants at LA Dodgers. The Oakland A’s open the 24th at home against the Los Angeles Angels. Every day players show they are positive for corona virus and earlier this week eleven (11) umpires opted out of the season, for personal reasons. With one week left until the start of the season, MVP Mike Trout has not made a decision if he is going to play or opt out.

But there is nothing normal about this baseball season. Yasiel Puig was to sign with the Braves but it never happened because it was contingent with his testing negative on a Covid-19 test, he tested positive. Yasiel, still a Free Agent. For baseball 2020 is as weird as ever, and I will not be surprised if there is more to come, because surprises now are expected.

All teams will play in empty stadiums. Some teams will pipe crowd noise into the park, traveling is limited to inter-divisional in each league as well against the opposite league. The players and owners through their negotiators ‘struck out’ of a deal to begin the season as scheduled back in March. MLB recently released their schedule for the 2021 season, maybe in a ‘spin’ to make everything look normal. But there is nothing normal about this season.

NBA: Is to reopen on July 30th, after a hiatus on March 11 because of the pandemic. A total of 22 teams returning to play. The league will allow players to wear jerseys with social justice messages, in collaboration with Nike the league apparel sponsor. Not everybody agrees with this. Hall of Fame player Charles Barkley said (quote) “racial injustice issues are turning into a circus.” About the legitimacy of a shortened season, Barkley added” “if everybody is healthy that is fine, but if everybody is sick with the virus and the Sacramento Kings or the New York Knicks win the championship, you know damn right it is tainted”.

The teams will play in Orlando, Florida at Disney World. The Golden State Warriors did not make it this season.

NHL. They plan to return to the ice with 24 teams competing for the Stanley Cup. Beginning with the best of five series, round robin games in two hub cities on August 1. The San José Sharks did not make this season. It seems that among all the four top pro-leagues in the country the NHL has been the most “quiet” during these turbulent times.

MLS: Already began their season.They are scoring goals. The San Jose Earthquakes have not lost a game yet they are 1-0-1 after their latest victory last Wednesday against the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-3. They now face the Chicago Fire in the bubble at Disney World on Sunday.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio talent for the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Headline Sports podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s working out at Coliseum and in San Jose; Fiers says Astros scandal is behind him; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s pitcher Mike Fiers says the Astros sign stealing scandal is behind him and it’s time to move forward (athleticsnation.com file photo)

On Headline Sports with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry talk about how the Oakland A’s will workout at the Oakland Coliseum and the club will also use the San Jose Giants single A affiliate park Excite Park for other players who most likely will not be with the club during opening week.

#2 Oakland A’s pitcher Mike Fiers says he’s putting the Houston Astro scandal behind him. It was Fiers who came out and said that the Astros were using electronic devices and using a garbage can to drum to the hitters the next pitch coming some players called him a snitch and to look out has all this time off cooled that thinking?

#3 A’s pitcher Jesus Luzardo who tested positive for Coronavirus says he’s feeling good and is ready to come back. That said still is there a risk for anyone who was positive could have spread Covid-19 to teammates and team personnel. If one gets it is it risky to continue to even have a season?

#4 The A’s Franklin Barreto is trying to contend for a spot in the line up for second base. Barreto whose been hitting well in camp and back in March during spring training has been noted to fall off during the regular season?

#5 The Oakland A’s will host the San Francisco Giants on Mon Jul 20th at the Oakland Coliseum in a brief Bay Bridge Series and it’s off to the City at Oracle Park where the Giants will host the A’s to conclude exhibition play on Tue Jul 21st both are night games.

Join Jerry each week for Headline Sports podcasts; Jerry is a Oakland A’s beat writer for sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Yasiel Puig with Los Bravos

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Cleveland outfielder Yasiel Puig is headed to the Atlanta Braves after signing a deal with Atlanta (sportscasting.com file photo)

Yasiel Puig with Los Bravos

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The Cuban-born outfielder who was rumored to sign with the San Francisco Giants is signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves. Aside from the Giants, the Orioles also showed interest in the controversial Puig.  Atlanta is much closer to Miami, where Puig makes his home, a 1 hour 30 minutes flight instead of Baltimore, or a coastal flight from San Francisco. So, I am sure he is elated to play that close to home, with a contending team loaded with Latino players..

In this short 60-game season that is a week away, Puig can rotate with one of the very best young outfields in the game, the sensational 22-year old super star Ronald Acuña Jr., Ender Enciarte and Marcell Ozuna, all three Latino players to the delight of Puig who speaks English but prefers Spanish.

Puig could easily find himself in another World Series; the Atlanta Braves are that talented of a team. He would probably be their DH when they play teams in the American League, since this season National League teams will be allowed to have a designated hitter. Puig could prove to be a very good acquisition for Los Bravos, or it could also be a disaster, because with him a team is basically ‘rolling the dice’. It is as simple as that.

The great Manuel (Manny) Mota worked with a young Puig when he arrived to the US, and played for his first team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mota for years always told me when I asked him if he wanted to manage, he always told me, he did not, because he believed he wanted to teach young players and he has done that very well for many years, especially with young Latino players.

Yasiel Puig had a very dangerous escape from Cuba, he is very talented, I would say he was given some God-given talents that you really cannot teach, but he is also a liability, and there are certain players that do not listen to good advice, they just do what they want to do. I am not one that subscribe to giving players nicknames, but one of the best ever given was from the great former Dodger announcer Vin Scully, when he called Yasiel Puig “The Wild Horse”.

Puig is a very colorful man, he has a big heart and is very popular with the Hispanic community. He used to visit Porto’s, a great Cuban chain of restaurants in the Los Angeles Area and was famous for treating lots of people at that wonderful and very popular eatery. He seems to enjoy playing baseball as much as anybody I have ever seen, granted his “style” is not approved by a lot of people. Yasiel Puig is a fun guy to see play and now he will be wearing the Bravos de Atlanta uniform, his fourth team, so far, since he arrived from Cuba.

Note: KIQI 1010AM/KATD 990AM(10,000 Watts) San Francisco, covering the Bay Area and Sacramento continues as the Spanish radio home for the Athletics as they will carry 26 LIVE home games, all Friday, Saturday and Sunday games as well as all night games from the Oakland Coliseum

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

No Posey: SF Giants turn to Plan B for 2020 success

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The most obvious path to  success for the 2020 San Francisco Giants disappeared when Buster Posey opted out of the season, citing his family and the adoption of prematurely-born twin girls.

With just 60 games in a 100-yard dash of a season, the Giants figured to rely on a veteran, starting pitching staff to establish a pattern of low-scoring games winnable with an offense adept in scratching across a run or two as opposed to slugging its way past NL and AL West opponents. Without Posey–in his familiar role as the orchestrator of the pitching staff–the Giants may need to revisit just how capable their offense is.

Any evaluation of the Giants offensively should begin with right fielder Alex Dickerson, the 2019 mid-season acquisition from San Diego who turned heads with 22 extra-base hits in playing time limited by injuries. Dickerson has the swing and the frame of a 30 home run guy at big league level, but a balky back and other physical issues have kept the 30-year old from blossoming. His home run off Shaun Anderson highlighted Tuesday’s intersquad game and provided hope that Dickerson can be the starting left fielder on Opening Day and stay put.

Michael Yastrzemski, the Giants’ other under the radar acquisition from last season, returns with a firm grip on the centerfield job, the leadoff spot and an opportunity to improve on his 101 hits and 21 homers in 2019. The Giants love his work ethic and approach, all reasons to bet on the Hall of Famer’s grandson to trend upward in 2020.

Hunter Pence returns to San Francisco after a year in Texas in which he re-energized a career that appeared to be over. Pence is healthier than he was in his last season as a Giant in 2018, and he’s successfully tweaked his batting approach and daily habits, giving him a shot to recapture the starting job in right field.

Evan Longoria, starting his 13th big league season, is no longer a stranger to San Francisco, the cooler weather and the National League, and is in fact, the team’s closest thing to a senior leader in Posey’s absence. Most importantly, Longo’s not satisfied, believing that his stats should return to previous standards now that he’s completely acclimated. In seven previous seasons, the third baseman hit more home runs than the 20 he had in 2019.

Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford return at first base and shortstop respectively, and both are out to prove they’re more than the last links to the team’s world championship past. Crawford slipped some defensively last season, and Belt stayed healthy–tying his career high with appearances in 156 games–but saw his batting average and offensive impact slip dramatically. Both Brandons are eager to shore up their defenciencies but Belt’s availability for the opener in Los Angeles is up in the air due to a foot injury.

Maurice Dubon was a breath of fresh air in the clubhouse and on the field following his 2019 acquisition from Milwaukee, but 28 games were hardly enough to show his full capabilities. Can he continue his growth in 2020? Manager Gabe Kaplan is betting yes by handing the second base job to the 25-year old originally from Honduras who played as a prep in Sacramento.

Posey’s catcher spot remains up in the air with Tyler Heineman, Rob Brantly and Chadwick Tromp all in camp and getting reps while free agent veteran Russell Martin keeps getting mentioned as a potential acquisition. Currently, Tromp’s getting a lot of attention with his power bat and dramatic rise after seven seasons at the minor league level.

The universal DH is baseball’s COVID-19, shortened season surprise adjustment that has all 15 National League teams scrambling to staff on the fly. The Giants are even further behind here given their lack of power options, but they’ve already decided to pass on Yasiel Puig who just signed with the Braves. Instead the Giants will cobble together a left-right platoon with Pablo Sandoval, Pence, non-roster invitee Darrin Ruf, Steven Duggar and Tromp all in the mix.

Headlines Sports podcast with Daniel Dullum: SEC Commissioner expecting the worse; Giants Posey will spend time with his twins; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

SEC Commissioner Greg Sanky has his doubts about the upcoming season if it’ll be safe or not, Big 10 and Pac 12 are considering just playing conference games only (NBC Sports file photo)

Headline Sports with Daniel Dullum:

1 Big-10, Pac-12 opting for league-only football schedules; SEC commissioner ‘pessimistic’ about upcoming season

2 Buster Posey the latest MLB player to opt out of playing in 2020

3 MLB reports 66 positive Covid-19 tests, which is less than 2 percent, in latest round of testing

4 NHL and players association reach deal to resume season on August 1; Toronto and Edmonton tabbed as hub cities

5 Report: Paramedic struck by a foul ball in the ALCS sues the Astros for $1 million

6 From the NFL: Eagles DeSean Jackson opens mouth, inserts foot; Randall Cunningham joining the Las Vegas Raiders as team chaplain

Join Daniel each Sunday for Headlines podcasting at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: After two positive test results is it safe for the Giants?; A’s had to wait days for results; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey gets his two bats ready for workouts at Oracle Park last Sunday. Workouts were canceled through Tuesday pending test results which came back negative and Wednesday workouts resumed (photo from AP)

Headline Sports podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Jerry baseball training camp is underway some of the players have expressed safety concerns.

#2 The San Francisco Giants received test results from July 4th that showed all players are negative for the virus on Tuesday. Two unnamed Giants personnel were reported to be positive from results they received on Monday. Tests like these has everybody keeping their fingers crossed in a sports that is played almost everyday.

#3 If things go wrong in baseball does the blames squarely rest on a White House that has encouraged opening up and in some cases no social distancing in a country now that is exploding in the virus? In the matter of the recent spike does the buck stop there?

#4 How concerned are you about the Utah lab that baseball uses. Over the Fourth of July weekend test results were hung up in Oakland the A’s test results from Friday were still at the Coliseum on Sunday that needed to be in Utah. Has baseball since last weekend straightened out this problem?

#5 The Giants open on the road in Los Angeles and play four of their first six series on the road. How do you look at this as big trouble for the team or they’ll be road tested and come out if it just fine?

Jerry Feitelberg does Headline Sports every other Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 1961 When Professional Baseball Died in Cuba (Memories)

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Washington Senator pitcher Pedro Ramos in his first uniform in 1955 now 85 years old who pitched for six Major Leagues teams between 1955-1970 is part of Amaury’s Commentary today (photo from en.wikipedia.org)

1961 When Professional Baseball Died in Cuba(Memories)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

I remember 1961 as I was arriving in the United States leaving behind Cuba. It was precisely that year for the first time that the Cuban-Communist government banned professional baseball, as well as all pro-sports.

The last year that there was professional baseball in the largest island in the Caribbean was the 1960-61 season, the old Cuban-Winter Professional League. The Cienfuegos (Elephants) won the season with a 48-24 record and finished 12 games ahead of the Tigres (Tigers) of Marianao.

Right hander pitcher Pedro Ramos won the MVP that year with Cienfuegos. Ramos threw side-arm had a nasty sinking fastball; he was a very popular player in Cuba as well as in the Major Leagues with the Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins.

Pedro Ramos (Pete) many called him Cuban Pete or the Cuban Cowboy was a colorful man that loved to wear cowboy boots. After one season I remember seen him in front of Union Radio a famous radio station next to Havana’s Central Park signing autographs and driving a shining brand new Cadillac with a pair of Longhorns at the front of the hood.

In the US Pedro Ramos was called a ‘hot dog’ something like another Cuban-born player today in MLB, Yasiel Puig. I always said and written about, there is nothing wrong if you are a ‘hot dog’ as long as you can play.

Ramos was a great athlete with great speed. There is a story that he once challenged Mickey Mantle in a sprint race in the outfield, prior to a game at Yankee Stadium when the Senators visited which he beat a young and very fast Mantle.

But I remember Pedro Ramos pitching next to another great Cuban pitcher, Camilo Pascual with a great curveball on those Cienfuegos teams of the old and famous league, considered one of the strongest outside the Major Leagues in the US.

Numerous American players participated in that Cuban winter league. I remember players like Wilmer (Vinegar Bend) Mizell, Bob Allison, Al Cicotte, Bob Shaw, Jackie Brandt, Bobby DelGreco, Forest Jacobs, Bill Werle, Al Spangler, Rocky Nelson, Jim Bunning; my favorite US-born player in Cuba was Brooks Robinson, and many others. They will be scattered on rosters of the four teams that made that league: Cienfuegos, Havana, Marianao and Almendares with some great Cuban players like Minnie Miñoso saw him with Marianao Tigers, Luis Tiant with the Havana Lions, Chico Fernandez, shortstop with the Scorpions of Almendares, and I am just mentioning a few.

Cuba until Castro killed professional baseball was the #1 country sending talent to the Major Leagues. Baseball has always been the top sport in Cuba, after many decades of the actual Cuban dictatorship many Cubans have escaped the island in small man-made crafts, or defected with their teams when they were playing tournaments outside the island. As of today’s rosters there are approximately 20 to 25 Cuban players in the Major Leagues.

Bill Werle who pitched with Marianao, was born and lived here in the Bay Area was pitching last time that club won the Cuban title in 1956. He was a popular major league scout. I had many conversations with him when he was scouting here and he would tell me “during those years the best league outside the major leagues was that Cuban league and many of us players were lucky to be able to go and play winter ball there, where they also paid the best”. Bill Werle was born in Oakland, California (1920-2010) pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates, St Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox.

The memories of baseball from Cuba to the US are precious to me and my family and no matter what happens in baseball, today or in the future, those 1950’s and 1960’s years are some of the best in the history of the game. The Castro governments took my family’s property and change our way of life, but the memories that I have from those years, nobody can take away from me.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Too many roadblocks for A’s new park bulid; A’s working out all week at Coliseum

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Manica Architecture image: Howard Terminal ball park design for the Oakland A’s which is facing a lot of roadblocks

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 The Sierra Club has raised environmental concerns regarding traffic and transit issues at Howard Terminal for the A’s new ball park build will this be another road block to stop the A’s construction at Jack London Square?

#2  Among other issues that were mentioned by the Sierra Club Sea level rise, contamination toxic waste and parking. The Sierra Club suggested that the A’s were better off staying at the Oakland Coliseum location where there was BART and freeway access. The A’s are dead set on getting out of Coliseum.

#3 Oakland City Council had already agreed on the sale of the city’s share of the Oakland Coliseum and Alameda County is prepared to sell their share of the Coliseum property as well.

#4 The A’s will buy the property to develop the land for retail, entertainment and a ball park for local schools and colleges. The A’s will not purchase the Coliseum land until they are 100% approved to develop their new ball park at Howard Terminal.

#5 On Sunday the Oakland A’s had 42 players at the Oakland Coliseum ready for workouts but due to results from testing last Friday were delayed due to the 4th of July Holiday weekend and workouts were rescheduled on Monday.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish play by play announcer and does That’s Amaury each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com