Category: MLB

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB Plans to Eliminate 42 Minor League Teams

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By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

During the Winter Meetings in San Diego last week, Major League Baseball (MLB) proposed eliminating 42 minor league teams. That is approximately 25 percent of all the minor league teams in the country. This is planned to happen after next year.

One minor league owner already said: “It’s never going to happen”.

What this signals is just the beginning of a very rough period for baseball. The Professional Baseball Agreement (PBA) covers the working arrangement between Major League Baseball and Minor League teams and will expire after the 2020 season.

The fight has already reached the political arena, where Bernie Sanders, a Democratic Party candidate running for President out of Vermont, strongly opposed the idea. By the way, the Oakland Athletics have a minor league team in Vermont in the Vermont Lake Monsters of Class-A. But you do not need to be a politician to understand how such a reduction of teams will do nothing but hurt the game of baseball, not to mention the cities where they play, the economy of those cities (less revenues and less people hired to work in the stadiums), the reputation (identities) of those cities that would lose a minor league team. The minor leagues serve a purpose to provide opportunities for player development and a way to prepare for the major leagues.The minor league system in is as old as MLB dating back to 1901

According to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, several key issues are at the heart of debate, including potential increases in player compensation as well as the need for facility upgrades, team relocation and the feasibility of a Dream League, which would replace affiliated baseball in the cities that stand to lose their team under the version of the plan known to the public.

All listed below.
– Facilities
– Player Welfare
– Team Travel
– Hotels
– Clubhouse Conditions
– Player Salaries
– Subsidies
– Dream League
– Public Financing
– Relocation
– League Realignment

Here are the A’s minor league franchises: Las Vegas Aviators, Midland Rockhounds, Stockton Ports, Beloit Snappers, Vermont Lake Monsters and AZL Athletics.

Here are the Giants’ minor league franchises: Sacramento River Cats, Richmond Flying Squirrels, San José Giants, Augusta Green Jackets, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and AZL Giants.

Moreover, it is unclear which 42 teams MLB has proposed to eliminate.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: MLB rule changes irk Reds’ Bauer; Former Giant Vogt biggest reason why Bumgarner a D-Back; plus more

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On Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred is applying a new rule change that pitchers must face at least three batters before being relieved the very unpopular wiping out of 42 minor league teams, which has not gone over well with the players.

#2 At some point, these changes will not go over well with the players and they will tell Manfred “enough is enough” at the bargaining table when the Collective Bargaining Agreement is up.

#3 Madison Bumgarner’s departure from San Francisco came when Bumgarner realized that he won’t get a deal from San Francisco that would match the Arizona Diamondbacks’ five-year, $85 million offer.

#4 Former Giant catcher Stephen Vogt, who spoke with his current team’s brass at the Diamondbacks, said that if they can get Bumgarner it would be well worth it. Vogt is one of the biggest reasons why Bumgarner came to Arizona.

#5 The Oakland A’s have put out a full page ad in the printed versions of Bay Area local papers. The A’s are pushing the “Rooted in Oakland” brand and trying to secure a fanbase that had worries the team could leave if they don’t get a new stadium at Howard Terminal in Oakland. The A’s are trying assure everyone they are committed. But fans know that the environmental impact report, parking and public transit issues are at play still.

Join Amaury each Tuesday for That’s Amaury’s Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bumgarner to the Diamondbacks

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By Jeremy Kahn

What is that old adage, all things must come to an end and an era came to the end with the San Francisco Giants.

In this day of free agency and big bucks, Madison Bumgarner took his glove and left for a division rival.

No, Giants fans, he did not travel about 350 miles south on interstate 5 to the Los Angeles Dodgers; however, the Hickory, North Carolina native signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for a reported $85 million over for five years.

The Giants did not go without a fight in re-signing Bumgarner to a long-term deal, as the two sides were talking as late as Wednesday in getting a deal done. The deal that the Giants put out there was five years at $85.5 million according to some reports.

With Bumgarner gone, the Giants staff for 2020 will be different indeed; however, it will include holdovers Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto. Also in the mix to join the starting rotation will be Andrew Suarez, Dereck Rodriguez, Tyler Anderson and newly signed Kevin Gausman, who the Giants signed during the Winter Meetings.

It will be a different scene in the Giants clubhouse when the 2020 season commences, as Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt are the only three players remaining from the 2014 World Championship team that defeated the Kansas City Royals in seven games.

Bumgarner will best be remembered for his World Series heroics in 2010, when as a 21-year old, he shutout the Texas Rangers in Game Four of the World Series, who can ever forget his postseason run in 2014 that started with the Wild Card game at PNC Park, Game Five of the World Series and finally those final five innings against the Royals in Game Seven on two days rest.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: AstroGate – Sign-Stealing in Baseball?

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By Amaury Pi-González

Major League Baseball is investigating the Houston Astros for stealing signs during the 2018 and 2019 seasons and dating back to 2017 when the Astros won the World Series. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said last month MLB will be interviewing a lot of people,during the investigation.

Manfred said: “We are talking to people all over the industry,former employees,competitors, whatever.”

This looks like an old episode of the famous TV detective Columbo.

Before they bring baseball attorneys and experts on the matter and it becomes a huge scandal, we should all be aware that stealing signs in baseball has been part of baseball since most people can remember — before most of us where born. In a way, this investigation is laughable because this is absolutely nothing new. In the history of baseball, it is part of the fabric of the game. However, the game has changed so much that I have to admit they are much fewer stolen bases by players today, that stolen signs.

Actually, it brings me to the point of being in favor of stealing signs because that means that you are much more baseball-savvy that your opponent. Especially nowadays with all the replays and technology available and when the camera sees much more than the umpires. With all the technology today that we apply to the game it should be truly refreshing that players and coaches can steal a sign or two to help their team. How much impact can stealing signs have on a game, that is another matter, and for that, brings the baseball attorneys.

Here is a personal anecdote. In the mid 1980’s, I was broadcasting an A’s game from a tent-installed directly behind the backstop and home plate at field level at the Oakland Coliseum. The station was KNTA 1430 AM San José. We were going to be removed from that location because opposing teams believe that was a good location for the home team to steal signs. Some of the players that used to stand next to us,during the games like A’s pitcher José Rijo posed a potential for the “crime”.

There is no rule in baseball today that prohibit sign stealing.

Yes, there is “No Crying in Baseball”, but there is sign stealing.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: He tried and tried, but A’s release Treinen; Raider-49er updates

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On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 Former Oakland A’s reliever Blake Treinen, who had a spectacular 2018 season, was the A’s All Star rep that season, but has now been non tendered for his unconditional release. In 2019,Treinen had an 4.19 ERA, walked 37 batters and allowed nine home runs in 58 2/3 innings.

#2 How bad of a move was it for the Oakland A’s to let infielder Jurickson Profar get away? The A’s acquired San Diego Padres catcher Austin Allen and another player to be named later. How do the A’s make up for a loss like Profar? A’s catcher Josh Phigley is up for being non tendered and facing a release as well.

#3 Kevin Pillar was called a clubhouse guy for the SF Giants with career numbers .261, 76 home runs, and had 318 RBIs some have criticized Giants team president Farhan Zaidi for letting Pillar get away.

#4 The San Francisco 49ers lost by a narrow margin to the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore 20-17 on Sunday. One thing that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan could agree on the Ravens were a worthy opponent.

#5 The Raiders continue to spiral dropping a key game to the Kansas City Chiefs 40-9. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr didn’t have a chance.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish play-by-play radio talent and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Minority participation in 2020 MLB season?

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By Amaury Pi-González

According to the LA Times, a recently published article about the last MLB season in 2019 said: “For the first time since 1946, the season before Robinson debuted and altered the course of American history, an African American did not appear in a game for the Dodgers for an entire campaign.”

An irony for the franchise that headed by a courageous Branch Rickey, who signed Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier..

The fact today is that just like with the regular population of the United States, where Latinos are now the largest minority and not African-American, the same has happened in the most historic sport in this country, baseball. The Census will be taken in 2020, and before that Census, Hispanics/Latinos are 18 percent of the population with around 60 million people, while African-Americans are 12 percent of the population with approximately 42 million people.

Baseball is also headed in the same direction as the total populations of the country. In baseball, Hispanics/Latinos make up about 30% of all players, while African-Americans are just around 8%. The MLB has been trying with the RBI program and many others to attract young African-Americans to the game of baseball, but as of today with little success. The other two major professional leagues, the NBA and the NFL are miles ahead of the MLB when it comes to African-American players. I do not want to speculate what is the reason, but there are many. Some point to baseball as a slow game, while other sports generate more instant gratification. Baseball requires patience, and in a time like this with social media, anybody–at any given time–can access anything in five seconds.

Facebook and You Tube have carried live MLB games. The fluid world of social media looks like the #1 vehicle to deliver baseball to the masses, especially of the younger generation. There is no secret that baseball audiences are typically older that most other sports according to data released by media-polling organizations. It is said that the average age of a baseball viewer is 57 (this has been increasing year by year), and if you wonder about some kind of a youth movement, only 7% of the baseball audience is under age 18.

These baseball demographic statistics will likely not change much. In Latin America, where some baseball countries play ball 12 months of the year, and most MLB clubs scout those countries. In some of those baseball countries, baseball is still king and there is no competition by basketball, and of course, American football as neither sport is not really played by kids. Soccer still the most popular sport in Latin America. However, in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Panamá, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela, soccer is not as popular as baseball. In México and Colombia, baseball is popular, but soccer is still número uno, but those two countries continue to develop a lot of baseball talent, and have a presence in the Major Leagues.

This could be getting much more interesting as MLB is proposing to eliminate many minor league teams. MLB says the reorganization is in order to make the minor leagues more efficient (i.e.conditions where they play, dated facilities, etc.). Common sense tells us less teams is not going to help the development of younger players aspiring to make it to the show. Unlike the NBA and NFL, who get most of their talent from drafts, the minor leagues are the gateway to Major League Baseball.

Major and Minor League Baseball’s current Professional Baseball Agreement is set to expire after the 2020 season. One thing for sure is that more Latino talent will continue to arrive and the trend will continue.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: What’s Next Regarding the A’s Howard Terminal Park?

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By Amaury Pi-González

“We’re excited to enter into this next phase of negotiations with the A’s to ensure they remain rooted in Oakland!”

That was the last statement issued by City of Oakland Officials right after the city dropped lawsuit over Alameda County over the possible sale of the Oakland Coliseum to the Oakland Athletics.The team offered to buy out both halves of the 112-acre Oakland Coliseum site, with the goal of building a new ballpark at Howard Terminal.

So what’s next? EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) was founded by the US government in 1970 about concern of environmental pollution. They will conduct studies about the location and what challenges they will encounter at Howard Terminal about the environment.

The New York Mets’ City Field was inaugurated in 2009, but was built with the highest environmental standards, with 95% recycled steel and a green roof to decrease energy needs along with water conserving measures like hand-free faucets and automated flush valves that save millions of gallons of water. It is not only the New York Metropolitans, but most new stadiums today are built similarly and the Bay Area is not different,

Earlier this year, KGO reported that the Bay Area is the most expensive place in the world to build. According to a report by United Kingdom-based consultant Turner and Townsend, the average construction cost in the Bay Area is $417 per square foot, surpassing New York’s $338. It is good news because the A’s will privately finance the park, so it will never go to a local election. When that happens here in the Bay Area,and there is an election to approve or disapprove the construction of a professional sports facility. The vote is “no” and you can just ask the San Francisco Giants.

Unlike states like Texas, Georgia or Missouri, the Bay Area is not easy to build a sports facility for a major league franchise. There are many decisions to be made and this is a project that involves hundreds of millions of dollars. This is the only professional big league franchise left in the City of Oakland, a once proud city that was named “City of Champions” in the 1970’s when the A’s, Raiders and Warriors all won titles, respectively. Obstacles remain and we will be talking about this until it happens or not. If the Howard Terminal location cannot be the place, the same place where they have been playing since 1968 to date would be the most sensicble solution for the A’s future. BART and Highway 880 are also not moving.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s and City of Oakland get a Kumbaya on Coliseum property sale

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photo from San Francisco Chronicle: Artists rendition of the Oakland A’s new ball park at Howard Terminal.

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1  How important is it now that the city of Oakland has dropped it’s lawsuit against the Oakland A’s regarding the sale of the Oakland Coliseum property?

#2 Will the dropping of the lawsuit clear the way for the A’s to build at Jack London Square?

#3 The Los Angeles Angels could very well be the next home for pitcher Gerrit Cole. Cole is from Orange County and the Halos are looking to contend in 2020.

#4 Stephen Stasburg could be a New York Yankee. The Angels and Padres have been mentioned in interests for Strasburg. The Nationals are trying to find a way to re-sign Strasburg.

#5 Madison Bumgarner’s name has been floated by the New York Yankees as someone they’d like to sign for the 2020 season. The Yankees consider Bumgarner a fit for their pitching staff.

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

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Washington sending scout to watch Kaepernick practice; 49ers look to get back in win column Sunday against Arizona; plus more

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photo from tmz: Seeking work in the NFL Colin Kaepernick will be trying out his handwork this week in his quest for an NFL job.

On Headlines with Tony Renteria:

#1 Washington is one of the NFL teams that will be taking a look at quarterback Colin Kaepernick for his tryouts to get back on an NFL team. It was mentioned that Washington might not be interested in Kaepernick because they have rookie Dwayne Haskins as a team starter.

#2 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals next. It’s just one day less to rest as the 49ers are coming off that tough loss on Monday Night Football to the Seattle Seahawks. After a loss like that, how quick do you see the 49ers regrouping?

#3 The Oakland Raiders just edged out the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football last week 26-24. The Raiders’ Derek Carr threw for 218 yards and went 21 for 31 with one touchdown.

#4 The Sacramento Kings are believing in themselves. They have won four of their last five games and are getting great offensive production from Bogdan Boganovic, Buddy Heild, Nemanja Bjelica, and Harrison Barnes.

#5 After former Houston Astros pitcher Mike Fiers said that the Astros were stealing signs during the 2017 season and 2017 World Series, how far down does the Astros’ credibility go down from here?

Tony Renteria does Headline Sports each Thursday for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kapler named as Giants manager in second MLB stint at the helm

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@SFGiants photo: San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler joins the Giants as this will be his second team after managing the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018 and 2019

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — When the weekend began, San Francisco Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi was trying to set the table for the foreseeable future.

Zaidi cleared one plate, as he hired Chicago Cubs Assistant General Manager Scott Harris to replace Bobby Evans, who let go during the 2018 season and now he set another place at the table with the naming of former Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler as the teams next manager.

“Our top priority in the next manager was to find someone who can build strong relationships with our players, coaches, front office and fans, and someone who has the drive and desire to win,” Zaidi said in a statement. “… In my personal experience in working with Gabe, there is no one who works harder and is more committed to getting the best out of the people around him. This was also echoed in the feedback we received around the baseball community. I look forward to working with Gabe to help return the Giants to its winning tradition.”

Kapler, who is 44 years old spent the 2018 and 2019 season with the Phillies and ended with a record of 161-163 in those two seasons.

Phillies managing partner John Middleton fired Kapler almost two weeks after the season after he re-evaluated the team and the manager and obviously, Middleton did not like what he saw going down the stretch. In his two years with the Phillies, Kapler went 8-20 and 12-16 in the seasons final month.

Kapler comes to San Francisco after multiple incidents that occurred when he was the Farm Director for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Two women made accusations against minor leaguers in the Dodgers organization, as both women accused the players of assault to Kapler. One of the women was just 17 years old at the time, who told police that she was sexually assaulted; however, she did not tell Kapler of the incident in the first place. The other woman involved happened to be a housekeeper at the hotel and told them about the sexual assault.

Kapler reported to the Dodgers brass and legal counsel, as he was obligated to do.

After the incidents, the Dodgers drew ridicule, as they did not report the two incidents to Major League Baseball.

Kapler, who grew up in the San Fernando Valley and went to Taft High School in Woodland Hills, played in the major leagues for 12 years for the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, where he won a World Series ring in 2004, Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays. He was drafted in the 57th round of the 1995 out of Moorpark College by the Tigers.