New York Yankee Aaron Judge tries on his Team USA uniform as he prepares for the World Baseball Classic at Spring training (photo by SportsKeeda Baseball)
That’s Amuay News and Commentary podcast:
#1 MLB’s Spring Breakout is being restructured into two single-elimination tournaments for 2027 — what impact might that have on how teams develop and showcase their top prospects?
#2 With the 2026 World Baseball Classic set to begin this week, how might players’ involvement in the international tournament affect their MLB spring training preparations and regular-season readiness?
#3 How significant is the early success of teams like the Sacramento A’s and San Francisco Giants using the new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system in spring training, and what could it mean for regular-season games?
#4 How are fans reacting to the high turnout of Padres fans spring training coverage at the Arizona Cactus League this year, and what does it suggest about fan engagement heading into the 2026 season?
#5 What was it like to see the New York Yankees Aaron Judge sitting in a Team USA uniform that he will wear for the WBC?
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
As it always seems to be in spring training, there’s one player who you least expect that makes a strong impression. And for the San Francisco Giants, that player is non-roster invitee Victor Bericoto.
Bericoto has been making loud contact all spring. He is 8-for-14, with two home runs. He is a long shot to make the team when they go north, but you never know if one of the Giants’ main outfielders suffers an injury. If that happens, Bericoto may have his shot on Opening Day if he keeps up his successful spring training at the plate.
The Giants signed Bericoto as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2018. He cost the Giants $25,000. During that time, the Giants also signed current roster member Luis Matos and former Giants infielder Marco Luciano, who is now in the New York Yankees organization.
Before Monday’s game, Bericoto had 9 RBIs in seven games, with an impressive 1.642 OPS. His most impressive season in the minors came in 2023, where he hit 27 home runs and had a .272 batting average in 122 games. Bericoto’s 456 at-bats were split between the Eugene Emeralds (High-A affiliate) and the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A affiliate). He had a solid combined .840 OPS that season.
Bericoto was in Triple-A Sacramento last season, only hitting .196 in 46 at-bats. He had one home run and a double but did not draw a walk in his Triple-A stint. He probably will start 2026 in Sacramento, unless he continues his hot-hitting spring and the Giants decide otherwise.
Even though it’s spring training, Bericoto hit a grand slam against the Dodgers on Friday which will always get attention even if the games don’t count. His two home runs leads the team in that category.
Bericoto, 24, is a converted catcher who plays left field, right field, and also some first base. It will be interesting to see where he ranks in MLB Pipeline’s top 30. That list has not yet been released in 2026.
This is Bericoto’s fifth spring training with the Giants. He could be an intriguing option if he’s on the Opening Day roster at Oracle Park. Opening Day is March 25 against the New York Yankees.
MESA, ARIZONA — The Athletics were in session for some more Cactus League action on Sunday afternoon at Hohokam Stadium. The A’s defeated the Reds in resounding fashion 12-4 on Sunday in the matinee affair.
The A’s had rotation hopeful J.T. Ginn go for them on the mound in what was his second start of the spring. In his first start, Ginn was solid, going two innings of no-hit, no-walk baseball and striking out three.
On Sunday, Ginn impressed again as he tossed three innings of no-run, no-hit baseball as he struck out two and walked two in the outing. Ginn, who has had control issues at times, certainly wasn’t happy with the two walks. However, limiting the damage and keeping the Reds off the board certainly had to be a good feeling.
“I just think he built off his last outing,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said after the game to the media. “Obviously velo might’ve been a tick less this outing that’s going to happen in spring training, but really, really we were hoping he’d get three full innings. He did and got a little work in, there was a little test there. He had to pitch out of the stretch for the first time. So all in all I think it was a good outing for J.T.”
Ginn, who was in and out of the A’s rotation last season, looks to cement himself a rotation spot for an A’s club who certainly has a few spots in limbo. Jeffrey Springs, Luis Severino, and offseason acquisition Aaron Civale certainly will slot into the top three rotation spots come the season. Jacob Lopez, who is recovering from an elbow strain from last season, is expected to be ready for Opening Day and will almost certainly command attention for a rotation spot to begin the year.
For guys like Ginn, that leaves the last two spots up for grabs in the Athletics rotation come the end of March and the beginning of the season. Luis Morales, J.T. Ginn, and Jacob Lopez all seem to be the favorites to fill those final two spots as guys like Jack Perkins and Mason Barnett seem to be on the outside looking in that conversation. Luis Morales seems to be the odds-on favorite around camp to fill the A’s fourth spot, which leaves Ginn and Lopez to fill the fifth and final spot. Ginn’s efforts on Sunday certainly furthers his case for consideration if he can keep up his performance through spring.
In Sunday’s game on the offensive side, the A’s bats woke up and flipped the script after their poor performance on Saturday.
The A’s tallied 11 hits and scored 12 runs on Sunday in a breakout game that saw some of the A’s mainstays get going. A’s All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson tallied a hit and reached base twice in three at-bats as Nick Kurtz recorded a walk in the contest. A’s starting catcher Shea Langeliers was 2-2 with a hit by pitch and three RBIs in the game as he hit a two-run homer and an RBI double in the game.
I asked Mark Kotsay after the game his thoughts on how locked in Shea looked at this point in the spring.
“When I saw Shea for the first time this spring, I felt like he was right where he needed to be building off last season. So I think a lot of our starters, a lot of our guys that you’re going to see play every day when the season starts, look good.”
The A’s continue camp this week prior to a trip to their near-future home in Las Vegas where they will play the weekend of the 6th in Las Vegas, where the Aviators play their home games.
To open the week, the A’s will travel to Peoria to take on the San Diego Padres at 12:10 p.m. PST as the A’s will send Mason Barnett to the hill.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
MESA, ARIZONA — The Athletics welcomed the San Francisco Giants to Mesa on Saturday afternoon for the A’s seventh game of the spring. The Giants, led by strong pitching and timely offense, defeated the A’s 8-2 on Saturday.
One of the A’s main focuses this spring has to be on their pitching corps heading into opening day. The A’s already have what is certainly considered one of the more feared lineups in baseball this season. The real question is with the pitching staff. Can the A’s piece together a bullpen good enough to keep them in contention in 2026? During the A’s struggles in May, the bullpen posted the worst ERA in the league, over the 8.00 mark. Granted, the bullpen pitched much better later in the season, but the damage was done.
The key in many ways for the Athletics going into 2026 will be the pitching staff.
On Saturday, the potential woes for the A’s pitching staff were on full display.
The A’s started the game with projected rotation hopeful Luis Morales.
Morales struggled in his outing, with his initial appearance lasting one and a third innings, as he gave up four runs on five hits while walking one and striking out one. Morales was lifted for Eduarniel Nunez to finish the second inning. Nunez did so, allowing two runs on one hit in two-thirds of an inning of work. In a rare move you don’t see all that often, A’s manager Mark Kotsay elected to go back to Morales for the third inning. Morales gave up another hit and another walk and recorded just one more out in his outing. As the dust settled on his outing, Morales finished going one and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out two and walking two.
After the game, Mark Kotsay spoke his thoughts regarding Morales’s start.
“Just lack of fastball command really,” Kotsay said. “He left a lot of balls up, breaking balls up. I still feel like it’s early. I definitely want to get that pitch count up. That’s the reason to take him out and put him back out there. I think the biggest thing for Luis is going to be being able to get ahead of hitters with his fastball and be able to locate it.”
Like Kotsay said, it’s certainly early in the spring. Morales has many more opportunities this spring to get himself right, and the A’s will give him all the opportunities to do just that.
The A’s staff after Nunez pitched pretty well. A few base hits aside, the A’s held the Giants off the board until the eighth inning, as JJ Goss, Tyler Ferguson, Hogan Harris, Scott Barlow, and Justin Sterner all had scoreless outings through the seventh inning.
In the eighth, Kade Morris came on for the A’s and struggled. Kade worked the eighth and ninth innings, giving up two runs on four hits while striking out one and walking one. It was the A’s lone blemish for the pen after the rough start to the game for the A’s pitching staff.
On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s also struggled.
The A’s didn’t get their first hit of the game until a fourth-inning Tyler Soderstrom single.
In terms of scoring runs, the A’s managed two runs in the game; one run came in the seventh and the other in the ninth for the A’s. Michael Stefanic had an RBI single in the seventh inning, and Cade Marlowe scored on a throwing error in the ninth inning. Those two plays were the only runs the A’s would score in the game. The Giants outhit the A’s 15-8 in the game, as the A’s failed to secure their second win of the spring, falling to 1-6 in Arizona.
The A’s will stay home to take on the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday at 1 p.m. MST at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa.
Robbie Ray #38 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the second inning of the spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Scottsdale Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Jeremy Chen/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE — The San Francisco Giants were back in action on Friday afternoon as they took on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Scottsdale Stadium. The Giants crushed the Dodgers in a hot but beautiful afternoon contest, 12-4.
As is true with all of spring training, players are focused most on finding their stride and getting back into baseball shape.
On Friday, Robbie Ray took a positive step toward regaining his form heading into the 2026 season.
Ray spoke with the media after his start, in which he went two innings, allowing one run on one hit with one walk and one strikeout.
“It felt good. Today was definitely a step in the right direction,” Ray said after his performance. “I feel like I’ve been trying to find that delivery post-surgery. Everything — arm feels great, body feels great. It’s just searching for that delivery.”
Ray underwent Tommy John surgery in May of 2023, which is the surgery he was referencing. While Ray had a solid season last year, going 11-8 with a 2.8 WAR and 3.65 ERA, he hasn’t felt he has truly found the rhythm he believes he can regain in 2026.
“I mean, I’ve looked at the video. Justin and Christian have also. We’ve been losing sleep over it, trying to figure out what it is,” Ray said Friday afternoon. “I feel like the biggest thing is I’ve been dumping my hips, my back hip, which has caused my arm to hike up, which kind of counteracts everything that I do because it actually lowers my release point and my pitch shapes are bad when I do that.”
So what is on Ray’s mind in terms of mechanics to fix the feel issues he’s been having? His hips and shoulders are prime markers for where he is mechanically.
“I felt like I was actually getting out over my front side, driving the ball to the plate. Pitch shapes are a lot better today, so I’m really happy with it. If I can keep my shoulder square, it allows me to just drive everything through the plate.”
In addition to the positive signs from Ray, Willy Adames showed some power in Friday’s win over the Dodgers. Adames led off the game with a solo home run to give the Giants an early 1-0 lead. It was his first homer of the season and traveled 418 feet to left-center field.
The game itself was lopsided. The Giants didn’t look back after the leadoff shot, scoring 12 runs while tallying 14 hits against Dodgers pitching.
The Dodgers committed three errors in the loss.
The Giants will travel to Mesa to take on the A’s at Hohokam Park at 1 p.m. MST on Saturday afternoon.
San Francisco Giants play by play announcers and brothers Glen Kuiper (left) and Duane Kuiper (right). Glen returns to the Giants booth after being fired by the Oakland A’s for using the N word on live TV. (San Francisco Chronicle photo)
By Stephen Ruderman
There will be some slight changes to the Giants’ broadcasting apparatus this season with former A’s TV voice and Giants’ Fox Sports Net sideline reporter Glen Kuiper set to assist San Jose Giants Voice Joe Ritzo with fill-in play-by-play duties on KNBR, and former pitcher Shawn Estes set to rejoin the lineup of Mike Krukow’s fill-ins on the TV side for road games.
Glen—like his eldest brother, Duane—went from playing to broadcasting. Glen, the youngest of the three Kuiper brothers, got his start as a sideline reporter for Giants’ telecasts, a role he would stay in through 2003.
Glen split the A’s TV play-by-play duties with former legendary Giants’ play-by-play master, Hank Greenwald, in 2004 and 2005, and then took on the fulltime role in 2006. Glen was paired up with Duane’s former Cleveland Indians’ teammate, the late-great Ray Fosse, through 2021. Glen was then paired with former A’s pitcher, Dallas Braden for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Glen’s time with the A’s came to an abrupt end after a visit to the Negro League Museum in Kansas City, Missouri on May 5, 2023. Later that evening, during the open for the A’s telecast at their game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium, Glen inadvertently uttered a racial epithet when describing his experience that day.
Despite showing remorse and taking responsibility for the incident, upon realizing what he had done, the A’s fired Glen. The youngest Kuiper has since hosted ‘The Glen Kuiper Show’ on social media. He has also teamed up with Duane for Friday-night gatherings at the Gotham Club, inside the 24-for–high Willie Mays Wall in right field at Oracle Park.
In addition to being Duane’s youngest brother, Glen is also the younger brother of longtime Giants’ TV producer, Jeff Kuiper.
Estes has mainly been an analyst for Giants’ Pregame and Postgame Live on NBC Sports Bay Area. Javier Lopez and Hunter Pence have split the fill-in color commentator role for Mike Krukow while the Giants have been on the road. Lopez will dedicate more time to his new front office role with the Giants. As a result, Estes will return to the Giants’ broadcast booth.
Former Oakland A’s TV play by play announcer Glen Kuiper who was fired by the A’s for using the N word on live TV has been hired to do play by play for the San Francisco Giants as of Thu Feb 26, 2026. The hiring has social media talking and some objecting to his being back on the air. (Michael Zagaris / Getty Images file)
Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:
#1 What are the A’s primary goals for 2026 Spring Training, and how is the club addressing expectations for a return to postseason contention?
#2 Who are the key non-roster invitees or young players competing for major-league roster spots at spring camp, and what standouts have emerged so far?
#3 How is the A’s early spring training performance win-loss record or pitching struggle shaping perceptions of the team’s readiness for the regular season?
#4 What impact might contract extension negotiations — especially involving rising star players like Nick Kurtz — have on the club’s preparations and morale heading into spring?
#5 How is the team handling its branding and local engagement — including the use of “Sacramento” on alternate jerseys and continued play in Sutter Health Park — amid preparations for Spring Training and the upcoming season?
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Tony Vitello #23 of the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on February 15, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE — The San Francisco Giants were back in action on Thursday afternoon for their sixth game of the Spring Training slate at 1 p.m. MST. On Thursday, the Giants fell to the Colorado Rockies at Scottsdale Stadium 11-3.
Hayden Birdsong had another rough outing for the Giants as his chances of making the Opening Day team seem slimmer and slimmer by the day. Birdsong pitched one inning, giving up three runs on four hits. On the bright side, Matt Chapman and Heliot Ramos each hit their first home runs of the season in what was a welcome power display for the Giants.
Yet, the score of Thursday’s matchup is hardly the story of the day. Spring training is always more about hitters finding their timing and pitchers getting ramped up than any on-field result. Granted, rookies and fringe Opening Day roster players fight for a chance on the big league club come game one, but the lion’s share of the work is in preparing for the 162-game grind for the team’s established players. While all of that remains true for the 2026 spring training for the Giants, there’s a vibe of newness and evergreen experience with this club. However, above all else, is the uncertainty surrounding the season ahead.
The Giants are, of course, now being managed by first-time MLB manager Tony Vitello. That alone is enough change for the club to feel as if they are starting from scratch.
However, I would argue the uncertainty surrounding the Giants has little to do with the question mark of Vitello and much more to do with the question of whether this roster, as currently constructed, can truly compete in 2026.
The Giants have a talented roster. There’s no doubt about that. The question remains whether the pieces they have had mostly together since the trade deadline of last year can be a club capable of rising out of baseball hell. Can the Giants rise significantly above the .500 mark, or will they remain where they have been since finishing 107-55 in the 2021 season?
Call me pessimistic, but I think it will be a real challenge for Tony Vitello and the Giants to significantly improve upon last season’s totals. My main concern? Well, after what were largely career-average years from the majority of their players, the Giants don’t have many places to look for drastic improvements from their holdover players, and they didn’t add many impact guys to the mix in the offseason.
For instance, Matt Chapman during his career has consistently been a 115-120 OPS+ hitter. Last season, he had a 120 OPS+ and a 4.1 WAR. Willy Adames has a career 109 OPS+; last season, he had a 111 OPS+. Rafael Devers, who many considered to have had a down few months with the Giants, has a career OPS+ of 129; with the Giants last season, he had a 130 OPS+. Heliot Ramos, who had a solid season defense aside, has a career 110 OPS+; last season, Ramos had a 108 OPS+. So, without being too much of a downer, I don’t think the Giants should expect big improvements on the offensive side of the ball from their mainstays.
With that being said, it seems the improvements for the Giants offense must come from the fringes. That, in my estimation, is an uncertain proposition indeed.
Do the Giants expect a meaningful contribution from highly touted prospect Bryce Eldridge? He’s been okay this spring but had a fairly disastrous start to his big league career last fall, hitting .107 with 13 strikeouts in 37 plate appearances. I’m sure the Giants would love a Nick Kurtz-type showing from him this season, which might be needed for this offense, but that is a lofty request for such a young player playing at Oracle Park.
Jung Hoo Lee has seemingly been an underwhelming offensive threat for the Giants, given the amount of money they have committed to the 27-year-old from Japan. Granted, he hasn’t been terrible on the offensive side of the ball, but I think he has undershot expectations, fair or not. That’s not even mentioning his below-average defensive metrics last season playing the outfield. The Giants hope the move to right field will improve those defensive numbers, given his above-average arm.
On the pitching side, the bullpen remains a bit of a mystery. The Giants will suffer from Randy Rodriguez continuing his rehab from Tommy John surgery while also having traded away key pieces at the deadline. Yet, the Giants seem to find ways to make the bullpen work, even if it is not lined with stars.
The Giants rotation includes three guys I assume will be in it come Opening Day: Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and Landen Roupp. All had fairly career-average years last season.
All that, of course, begs the question: Where will the Giants’ big increases in production come from in 2026?
If the Giants want to compete for the playoffs in 2026, they will need to be one of the most defensively sharp and situationally sound clubs in the majors. That seems to be the fringes the Giants can win over to make a big step forward in a positive direction.
Can Tony Vitello, in his first big league season as manager, get that type of buy-in from his players?
San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee, of South Korea, works out during spring training baseball on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Scottsdale Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
By Vince Cestone
The San Francisco Giants are off to a hot start in spring training, going 4-0 to start the Cactus League campaign. But what has really shined for the Giants so far–their pitching.
In their four wins, the Giants held their opponents to just 10 runs, no small feat in the thin, dry Arizona air. And five of those runs came in the first inning of the Cactus League opener where bullpen hopeful Hayden Birdsong struggled with his command. He’ll hope to bounce back in his next spring training appearance.
In the Cactus League opener on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners in Peoria, the Giants bounced back from Birdsong’s horrible outing and won the game 10-5 after being down 5-0 in the first. In his start, he was only able to get one out and gave up five runs, on three walks, while walking two. The knockout punch came when Mariners third baseman Miles Mastrobuoni hit a grand slam, to make the score 5-0.
The Giants bullpen, which used nine relievers, took over and pitched a scoreless 8 2/3 innings. Right hander Blake Tidwell headlined the impressive bullpen performance by striking out the side in his one inning of work. Tidwell was lighting up the radar gun in the high 90s and could make the team as a solid relief option in the late innings. The Giants acquired Tidwell in the Tyler Rogers trade last season.
On the offensive side, the Giants exploded for 10 runs. New Giants outfielder Harrison Bader smashed a 2-RBI double in the second inning, and designated hitter hopeful Bryce Eldridge also had an RBI double in the third inning.
In Game 2 against the Chicago Cubs, the Giants’ pitching shined in their 4-2 win at Scottsdale Stadium. Starting pitcher Robbie Ray wiggled his way out of trouble after giving up a hit and two walks in the first.
This is how Ray survived–with a triple play to get out of the inning.
Carson Seymour chimed in with a one-hit scoreless second inning. He’s also hoping to make the Giants bullpen once they break north for camp. Tristan Beck and Spencer Bivens, who were part of the Giants bullpen last year, also pitched scoreless innings.
On offense, new Giants second baseman Luis Arraez hit a single in the game in three tries. Third baseman Matt Chapman went 2-for-2 with a double. Will Brennan, who the Giants recently signed for outfield depth, contributed with an RBI single in the second inning. Through some small ball, the Giants scratched across four runs and beat the Cubs 4-2.
In the third game of spring training against the Athletics, the Giants again only gave up two runs, but this time added their first home run of the spring.
In the eighth inning, designated hitter Victor Bericoto hit a home run to right field, making the score 6-2 Giants. Bericoto also had an RBI-single in the sixth inning. This Giants prospect converted from catcher to the outfield in 2024. Bericoto signed with the Giants in 2018 as an international free agent.
On the pitching side, in the first inning, JT Brubaker gave up the only two runs the Giants allowed. Trevor McDonald, who made three appearances for the Giants last season, pitched a perfect second inning, striking out two. Marques Johnson was impressive, striking out the side in the sixth inning.
Arraez went 2-or-3 in the game, with a double, single, and 2 RBIs. Outfielder Jung Hoo Lee had a single in the game, going 1-for-3, and Luis Matos had an RBI single. The Giants defeated the A’s in dominant fashion, a rarity in the Cactus League, where the A’s have traditionally had the Giants’ number.
And on Tuesday, in the Giants’ fourth game of the spring, their pitching was better yet. The Giants beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 4-1, as ace Logan Webb shined in his two innings of work.
In those two perfect innings, Webb had four strikeouts. Landon Roupp followed with a strong scoreless third inning, allowing just one walk but striking out two. Matt Gage followed in the fourth inning with a perfect frame. In the fifth inning, embattled Giants closer Ryan Walker gave up one hit, but struck out two in his scoreless inning. Walker is vying for the closer role after the Giants decided not to sign one in the free agent market. Walker will be someone to watch this spring.
With the bats, the Giants only had four hits in the game but made the most of them. Lee went 1-for-3 with an RBI single, which opened the scoring in the second inning. The Giants scored the next three and final runs on sacrifice flies, including one from catcher Patrick Bailey. Bailey will look to improve things with the bat in 2026.
The Giants will next play on Wednesday afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers. Game time is 12:10 p.m. from American Family Fields of Phoenix. You can listen to the game on MLB.com.
Major League Baseball Players Association senior director Bruce Meyer answers questions to the media in MLBPA offices in New York Mar 11, 2022 (AP News file photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Will MLB avoid a labor dispute or lockout later in 2026? With the current collective bargaining agreement scheduled to expire after the 2026 season and owners pushing for changes like a potential salary cap, there’s significant uncertainty about labor peace beyond this season.
#2 Can any team realistically stop the reigning champions and favorites? The Los Angeles Dodgers enter 2026 as back-to-back National League champions and World Series winners and will try to become the first team since the 2000s Yankees to three-peat.
#3 How will the new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system affect games? MLB is implementing an automated strike-zone challenge system for the 2026 season, which could meaningfully change umpiring, game strategy, and pace of play.
#4 Which remaining free agents or trades will shape contending rosters? With notable free agents still unsigned and trade rumors circulating, questions remain about where players like top free agents sign and how teams will bolster key areas.
#5 Amaury for the Sacramento A’s who will win key roster spots, especially around the infield? With new acquisitions and players like Zack Gelof competing for positioning, a central question is whether veterans or younger talent will earn starting roles come Opening Day.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
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