Category: MLB

Headline Sports podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Offer still sits on the table for MLB players; Dr.Fauci says there could be a second wave from opening up

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Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry interviewed Dr. Anthony Fauci on Thursday March 26th during the early days of the sheltering in. Fauci said without a vaccine opening up will not bring down the curve. Protesters say it’s their constitutional right to leave the house and go back to work. (file photo from npr.org)

On the podcast with Jerry F:

#1 We all know in order for baseball to return they must play in empty stadiums, check temperatures, there will be no showers for the players, social distancing for all players and employees while working in the park. How practical is this going to be.

#2 There have been a number of high profile athletes and celebrities coming out for Dr. Anthony Fauci. Dr. Fauci simply said that continuing to open up America will lead to a second wave, raising the curve, and those who are screaming that it’s unconstitutional to shelter in will be the very same people that will have to shelter in in a second wave.

#3 The San Francisco Giants have said they will be keep their 350 full time employees at least through September. The ball club will furlough it’s 60 part time workers and employees who make over $75,000 a year will get a 25% pay cut.

#4 The A’s have a Cornavirus relief fund for their contract employees from ProPark, Aramark, Landmark, Allied Universal and AEG have applied for the tax free grant. Oakland A’s full time employees are being paid through May. Everyone on board at the A’s are hoping that the players vote to come back by July 4th which means if the games are in Oakland. However with games played in front of an empty stadium it will still be a skeleton crew if the players comeback.

#5 Jerry with all this opening up going what chances is there that a spike of the virus could repeat itself and could force everyone back to shelter in?

Join Jerry each Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com for Headline podcasts.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Umpires Impartial Pillars of Judicial Dignity

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Former Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver (left) and former umpire Ken Kaiser (right) get into it during their MLB active days (New York Times photo file)

Umpires: Impartial Pillars of Judicial Dignity

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

It should not be lost during the baseball negotiations between owners and the players union, that the Umpires are “all in” and ready to go,if there is a 2020 season, Let’s give the umpires some love, because slowly but surely their jobs will not exist.

While distrust exist between the owners and the players union during these negotiations, trying to bring baseball back and save the season, the umpires reached a deal weeks ago to cover the 2020 season during the Covid-19 pandemic. In that agreement umpires took a 50 percent cut in pay in May and nothing more if no games are played. They usually make between $150,000 and $450,000. They agreed to play with masks and to abide on whatever new restrictions are put in place.

On July 10,2019 in York, Pennsylvania the independent Atlantic League became the first American professional baseball league to use a computer call balls and strikes, this was during their All-Star Game. The umpire behind the plate wore an earpiece connected to an iPhone in his pocket and then relayed the call after receiving it from TrackMan computer system that uses a Doppler radar In other words, during this “experiment”the umpires was like a baby-sitter, because he depended on a computer to tell if the pitch was a ball or a strike. During the 2018 season the MLB umpires at home plate were wrong by 20 percent of the time, that is the most important umpire on the field and he sees hundreds of pitches during each game.

Umpires never get any love from the crowd,unless they get hurt, as they walk out of the field, or if they are trying to stay in the game after they get hit by a ball a bat or collusion with a player. In some parks (including Oakland) umpires sometime get booed just when their names are announced before the game. It is a ungrateful profession, by any means. They get a lot of verbal abuse and it takes a special man to be an umpire. I always admired the baseball umpires, they are part of the game we love.

Quotes about umpires.

-I didn’t mean to hit the umpire with the dirt, but I did mean to hit that bastard in the stands. -Babe Ruth -Umpire’s heaven is when he works third base every game. Home is where the headache is., -Ron Luciano(Umpire) -I never questioned the integrity of an umpire. Their eyesight yes. -Leo Durocher -In a way an umpire is like a woman. He makes quick decisions and never reverses them and doesn’t think you are safe when you are out. -Larry Goetz – I’ll never forget the time he came out there to argue, and he turned his hat around. I turned my hat around, too, and he said he wanted to punch me. I said, ‘Go ahead you midget, you’ll hit my knee.’ (talking about Orioles manager Earl Weaver) -Umpire Ken Kaiser.

Stay tuned and stay well.

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

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Expect Posey to break out the bats as a DH; Negotiations to start season with players; plus more

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San Francisco catcher Buster Posey is expected to excel as the team’s DH when the universal designated hitter is put in place in the National League this season (mlbdailydish.com)

On Headline Sports podcast with Barbara:

#1 There is little doubt that San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey will take advantage of the universal designated hitter once that is put in place in the National League if and when the season gets started.

#2 It would give Posey a huge break from the beating he takes from behind the plate and give him the opportunity to exhibit his hitting prowess that much more

#3 There are a lot of fans and players of the National League that are not fans of the designated hitter but they might be outnumbered because from the business stand point it creates more jobs on a MLB roster to have the DH.

#4 Sadly former Los Angeles Dodger Carl Crawford had a five year old boy and a woman Bethany Lartigue who tried to rescue the boy that were guests at his house drown in his pool. Crawford tried to revive them through CPR but couldn’t. Lartigue was not related to the boy and was there at Crawford’s house to film music videos.

#5 Talks still remain as it’s been a week now since MLB owners have put a proposal on the table to get the players to start the season targeted for July 1st. The players concerns were getting their salaries cut to nearly 50 percent and for their safety.

Join Barbara Mason for Headline Sports podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Morris Phillips: What will be the new normal?; A tip of the cap to the late Bob Watson; plus more

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Former major league player Bob Watson talks about the selections made to the baseball Hall of Fame by the pre-integration era committee at the baseball winter meetings on Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. Former New York Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert, longtime umpire Hank O’Day and barehanded catcher Deacon White have been elected to the baseball Hall of Fame by the committee. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Headline Sports podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Morris while MLB still is trying to work the details on how to return by July 1st the one big sticking point with the players are their salaries being cut again to just 50% of the revenue with the owners if and when they return.

#2 Fans, media, front office staff, trainers, medical staff, stadium employees, players, coaches and managers many more must take their temperatures, self distance, wear a mask, wash hands frequently before entering the park.

#3 Last week Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Blake Snell said “I’m risking my life” and also questioned why he should take a pay cut to risk his life. The sentiment was supported by Philadelphia Phillie star Bryce Harper. Although Baseball wants to insure safety a number of Coronvirus cases are spiking in the country.

#4 Baseball lost a great figure in former Houston Astro Bob Watson who passed away on Friday at age 74. Watson was the first black general manager to win a World Series in 1996, Watson played 14 seasons with the Astros, and is well known as the player who scored MLB’s one millionth run on May 4, 1975.

#5 From a media stand point what’s it like not be involved in baseball on that day to day schedule that you’ve had over the years you covered the Giants and A’s on an everyday basis.

Morris does Headline Sports each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports podcast with Daniel Dullum: Rays Snell has support for saying he won’t play for less pay; Howe battling Covid-19; plus more

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sfgate.com file photo: Former Oakland A’s manager Art Howe is resting in the hospital after suffering from Covid-19 he will be released if he doesn’t have a fever in the next 24 hours

Headline Sports pod with Daniel:

1 Rays pitcher Blake Snell declares ‘I want mine,’ said he won’t play for less than his full salary;  Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper supports him

2 Former A’s manager Art Howe in intensive care, battling coronavirus

3 Manfred: MLB could lose up to $4 billion if season is cancelled

4 If MLB plays, no high-fives, lots of Covid-19 testing, no spitting, no seeds

5 RIP Bob Watson, first black MLB general manager to win a World Series

6 The No Fun League strikes again, orders YouTube page to be shut down

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Yasiel Puig A Showman without a Show

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Former Cleveland outfielder Yasiel Puig (66) is looking to play on a big league team as he seeks his fourth MLB team of his career. Is his “Wild Horse” reputation making him less attractive to joining a club? (sportscasting.com file photo)

Yasiel Puig – A Showman without a Show

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

If baseball returns in 2020 it will be without fans and maybe without Yasiel Puig. Puig still a free agent and there have been many rumors, one of them (seem like years ago) is that the San Francisco Giants were close to signing him. The talented Cuban-born outfielder is not in a hurry to sign as he said in an interview with Jorge Ebro of El Nuevo Herald in Miami. Puig indicated his focus is slowly turning toward 2021.

In the occasions I have been able to interview Yasiel, he always indicated to me that his love for the game was the key for him playing baseball, he likes to talk baseball he enjoys every second he is on the field and I cannot think of any other player that enjoys to play in front of a crowd, more than Yasiel Puig.

The first time I spoke with him was during his rookie season with the LA Dodgers. The Angels were visiting Dodger Stadium for an inter-league Freeway Series and at that time he was doing stuff as a rookie and, his name was getting compared to Joe DiMaggio. Of course he is no Yankee Clipper but his talents are well documented. A great arm from the outfield, great speed and good instincts. Puig generates excitement from the time he is in the lineup and he plays with abandon and a lot of passion. As much as he wants to play this year, I do not believe the notion of playing at empty stadiums excites him at all. .

Yasiel’s best years were with the LA Dodgers 2013 to 2018, and then in 2019 he played for Cincinnati and Cleveland. There are many nicknames in the game of baseball some are corky or some might be even tacky. But when the great Vin Scully named Yasiel “The Wild Horse” he could not have described him better.

If there is no 2020 season we will not see Yasiel Puig, if there is a season there is a chance a team like the Giants, who were not supposed to be a contender this year might take a chance with him on a one-year deal. Like many Latino players Puig wants to play every day and with a team like the Giants, there would be no reason he could not do that. Image Puig wearing a Giants uniform,facing Madison Bumgarner now with the Arizona Diamondbacks? Many fans would pay just to see that.

In a way it is sad that this Showman doesn’t have a show to perform. For the real baseball fan, not to see him play is not a positive. But this is no “regular” year in baseball, so anything goes and nothing should surprises us. I am sure Puig would be content returning in 2021. But in case you forgot, he was a free agent before the virus, and he is a free agent during the virus.

Stay tuned and stay well.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for That’s Amaury’s podcasts each Tuesday on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Television can only save Baseball

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred as he appeared on CNN with Anderson Cooper Tonight (cnn.com photo)

Television can only save Baseball

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Unless there is a bottom of the ninth walk-off home run, the first week of negotiations on trying to come to an agreement between the baseball owners and the players union did not produce much more than quotes from both sides, and signs of frustration from both sides. Commissioner Rob Manfred said on CNN “If we don’t play a season, the losses for the [club] owners could approach $4 billion.”

Blake Snell, Tampa Bay starter, who won the Cy Young in the American League in 2018, said that playing for anything less than his full $7 million salary is “just not worth it” as he cited safety concerns, something that Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle had said early in the week.

Phillies mega star Bryce Harper reacted to Snell comments by saying: “He ain’t lying, he’s right. He’s speaking the truth bro. I ain’t mad at him. Somebody’s gotta say it, at least he manned up and said it. Good for him. I love Snell, the guy’s a beast. One of the best lefties in the game.”This is what Snell had said a day earlier:”Y’all gotta understand, man, for me to go — for me to take a pay cut is not happening, because the risk is through the roof. No, I gotta get my money. I’m not playing unless I get mine, OK? And that’s just the way it is for me. Like, I’m sorry you guys think differently, but the risk is way the hell higher and the amount of money I’m making is way lower. Why would I think about doing that?”

The Commissioner made his case by saying that because baseball is a seasonal business, and the season never got started and there are no revenues, the sport could be devastated. He also said he has “great confidence” that both sides will come to an agreement to play in 2020. MLB concerns about the Coronavirus pandemic is understandable. “A laboratory in Utah, which MLB normally uses for drug testing for minor league players, will handle the testing, and there will be a 24-hour turnaround,” Manfred said.

At the conclusion of the week, the main issues remain salary of players and health of players.

Television could be the cure for 2020. No disrespect to radio and print media, but TV revenues for baseball are unmatched. With zero revenues, no attendance, luxury boxes, concessions, parking revenues, baseball will definitely feel that television would be the greatest medicine, to alleviate some of the financial hit taken by baseball, not to mention to heal the country as baseball is needed more than ever today as the National Pastime.

Have a great weekend. Stay tuned and Stay well.

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

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Universal designated hitter on the table for MLB; Greatest moments in MLB history

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photo of New York Yankees hitter Babe Ruth pointing to the fences before going deep on an 0-2 count against Chicago Cubs pitcher Charlie Root at Wrigley Field in game 3 of the 1932 World Series. London discusses some of the greatest moments in MLB history (wikipedia.com)

Headline Sports with London:

#1 MLB is planning to introduce the universal designated hitter if and when the season starts back up again on July 1st. There are some players, fans and media who say that the uniqueness of the National League is allowing the pitcher hit why change it?

#2 There was a discussion today on yahoo sports about the most iconic moment in baseball history starting with the Boston Red Sox Carlton Fisk’s home run against the Cincinnati Reds in game six of the 1975 World Series

#3 Babe Ruth’s called shot in game three of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field did the Babe call the shot or not?

#4 Willie Mays’ centerfield over the shoulder no look catch in the 1954 World Series and turning to throw the ball back into the infield in one motion while falling down.

#5 The game six NLCS at Wrigley Field with Steve Bartman fan interference play which he reached over for the ball and the Cubs outfielder Moises Alou lost it and blamed Bartman for interference which led to the Cubs losing the 1997 NLCS.

Join London each Friday for Headline Sports at http://www.sportsadioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Back to the Future- Fox to Pump Crowd Noise

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Oakland A’s Spanish announcer Amaury Pi Gonzalez (left) and former A’s announcer Evelio Mendoza (right) were a broadcast duel during the A’s glory years of 1988-1990 (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Back to the Future: FOX to Pump Crowd Noise

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Talking from personal experience. During a recent interview with Joe Buck of Fox Sports said the network will use artificial crowd noise during games with no fans, old stuff comes back, because this has been done decades ago. Although with a high degree of technology nowadays, this method was used decades ago. When a baseball team didn’t want to send me on the road, to call the games because of budgetary reasons. I got permission to call the games from the radio station studios. This was done with the teams express permission; I also called games with “crowd noise” for television.

But it was not only on the radio. In the 1990’s when I was sports anchoring during the 6PM newscast at Telemundo CH 48 San José, Joe Cruz was the General Manager and he had the station build a set, especially for the games that we were going to broadcast on the road for the Oakland Athletics. The set had the colors of the team ‘green and gold’. If the A’s were in Baltimore, we would get the lineups via FAX. I would have the lineup and be ready for the game.

There will be a green screen behind and the moment we got the feed from the A’s regular flagship TV station we would be “on”. I needed a partner so I called Erwin Higueros, now with the Giants (who had his start with me on the radio) and we called a handful of away games from the Telemundo studio in San José, This was years before Telemundo was bought by NBC/Comcast and became a much bigger station with a much larger audience because the proliferation of the Hispanics in the Bay Area. As of today (prior to the US Census that was to take place this year) approximately 2 million Hispanics make their home here in the nine-county Bay Area.

But even way before that, I called games for radio from the radio studios, when the team was on the road. Evelio Areas Mendoza was my broadcast partner in the 1980’s on KNTA 1430AM Santa Clara. We would be at the main studios at the radio station at that time we will call the city where the team was playing, directly to the media person connection to get the lineups hours before the game. There was a “continuous cartridge with crowd noise” that would run during the whole game, sometimes it was not synchronized with the action on the field, so it was a little odd. For example, a player of the opposite team to the A’s will hit a home run and the crowd noise behind the call would not coincide with the sound. Nevertheless, the job was done. The games were called live from the studio when the team was on the road.

Everything has been done in sports broadcasting, really. If you like to adventure into the past. Ronald Wilson Reagan 40th President of the United States re-created baseball games. Reagan was a sportscaster for several radio stations between 1932 and 1937. This was more of an acting job, since he had to read the “baseball wire”, first read each play and then bring it alive with his imagination on the radio.

If there is a season this year, FOX Network will use “crowd noise” behind the games that would be played at empty stadiums. Not a surprise and nothing really new, maybe millenniums think that is cool and “new” but they will find it easy to research that this is really, old stuff.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary each week and catch Amaury’s podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: MLB could play in Texas, Florida and Arizona by July 1st

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A cameraman walks through a crowd of spectators who are masked up for Korean Baseball between Hanwha Eagles and the SK Wyverns on May 5th at Incheon South Korea as MLB negotiates to return July 1st (AP photo)

On Headline Sports with Jerry F:

#1: Talks continue between MLB and the players to get the season started there have been reports that the two sides will get a deal done and opening day will be on July 4th.

#2 One idea that’s on table having baseball in three southern states Texas, Arizona, and Florida where they have re-opened and have ended shelter in place.

#3 Rules to be implemented social distancing, face masking, wearing gloves, to use a few house rules.

#4 Baseball is a gate driven league much more than football they are exploring the possibility of getting fans back in the stands and they have to make money some way.

#5 Talks have been about getting the season started in July the owners and players had one sticking point that was the revenue the players are asking for their full salary and the owners want to share 50-50 of the gate after they get started in July.

Join Jerry each Thursday for Headline Sports on http://www.sportsradioservice.com