Category: MLB

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Commanders shock football world knocking out Lions; SF Giants working on getting Jays Guerrero Jr in 3 player deal; plus more news

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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) is on the way with a keeper runs past the Detroit Lions defensive end Levi Onwuzurlike (91) in the second half in the NFC Divisional game at Ford Field in Detroit Sat Jan 18, 2025 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie O, are the Washington Commanders that underdog, under rated team and going through their post season portfolio, they won their first round of the playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back on Dec 29th in overtime and advanced to face the Detroit Lions on Saturday night. The Commanders shocked not only the nation’s capital but the country with a shocking 45-31 win over the Super Bowl favored Detroit Lions. With the loss the Lions will not appear in the Super Bowl for 59 seasons.

# 2 The Kansas City Chiefs have never lost a AFC Divisional game and the Houston Texans have never won one. The case was the same on Saturday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw to Travis Kelce seven times for 117 yards and and a touchdown as the Chiefs took out the Texans 23-14 to advance to the AFC Championship.

#3 Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is said to be courting Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to be the front runner for the head coaching opening at the Raiders. There is very little doubt that Brady and other NFL teams will be reaching out to Johnson knowing the success he’s had with the Lions offense.

#4 The San Francisco Giants are rumored to be working a three player blockbuster deal to obtain Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for reliever Camilo Doval, infielder/outfielder Marco Luciano, and outfielder James Tibbs III. The Jays have not been able to seal a deal with Guerrero and the Giants are said to be willing to break the bank and spend $333 to $426 million to get Guerrero who might be San Francisco’s ticket to get to the post season.

#5 The Athletics are hoping to develop Japanese 18 year old two way player Shotaro Morii and were able to bypass the Japanese professional league getting Morii for a minor league signing bonus of $1,510,500. Morii will become the sixth A’s Japanese player and the fifth Japanese born player joining Shintaro Fujinami, Hideki Okajima, Hideki Okjima, Akinori Iwamura, Keiichi Yabu, Hideki Matsui and American Born Japanese catcher Kurt Suzuki.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Athletics Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Does a season ticket sell out mean the relocation pressure is off the A’s brass?

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Athletics owner John Fisher (left) smiles while former Athletics pitcher Rollie Fingers (right) signs autographs for the fans at Las Vegas Ballpark on Mar 8, 2024 during last year’s spring training (Las Vegas Review-Journal photo)

On the Athletics Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Now that the A’s have sold out their season tickets for their 2025 season in Sacramento is the pressure off the A’s brass regarding their move out of Oakland?

#2 Are fans from the Bay Area going to still be fans of the A’s and maybe even spend their money on going to see the A’s in Sacramento?

#3 Reporters have said that Sutter Health Park and the A’s have built out their seats, fixed the clubhouses with weight rooms, and have added 10-15 more seats in pressbox. That said it’s still falls short of MLB standards and it’s going to be quite a squeeze to get into park for employees, fans, media, and the teams to fit into.

#4 A’s designated hitter Brent Rooker said that the A’s are the team he wants to stay with that the A’s are a desirable place to be at and that he’s happy with the group of people that Rooker has to work with on a day to day basis. Needless to say he’s happy about the five year $60 million extension he got with the club.

#5 The A’s actual environment covering this team everyday in 2024 they are a great group of players who like each other. In the press conference they had in Sacramento when some of the players were introduced they were excited about coming to Sacramento. But will this be at a honeymoon stage when they and visiting teams realize that playing in a minor league park is not all that it’s cracked up to be for a big league setting?

Daniel Dullum does the Athletics podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary–Athletics Loading-Up and Spending money in Sacramento

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Sacramento A’s two way player Shotaro Morii (gold A’s jersey) is introduced at press conference in Sacramento. Morii signed a minor league contract for $1,520,500. (photo from the New York Post)

Athletics Loading-Up and Spending money in Sacramento

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

When a team relocates, it brings a lot of new challenges, aside from the city they’re moving to, marketing strategy, new players, who is gone and who is returning plus changing the team’s identity. For the Oakland A’s, who made Oakland their home from 1968 to 2024 are now starting a new phase of their history in Sacramento, California. Aside from the new players, more on that later.

For this first season in Sacramento, 2025, the Athletics have added a new sleeve patch to their uniform that features the Tower Bridge and the word Sacramento. No, it is not as famous as the Bay Bridge or the Golden Gate Bridge, nevertheless is an emblem of Sacramento.

For this first year in Sacramento, the team also signed Dominican-born right-handed pitcher Luis Severino in December 2024. Severino (a veteran with the Yankees and Mets) got the largest contract in the history of the Athletics, a three-year, $67 million contract. Previously, Eric Chavez hsd signed the largest contract in athletics history twenty years ago, a six-year contract extension of $66 million in 2004.

The A’s went to Asia to find young talent. They recently signed 18-year-old Shotaro Morii, who made the rare decision to bypass Japanese professional baseball entirely and agreed to a minor league contract with the Athletics, including a signing bonus of $1,520,500.

Morii is trying to become another two-way player from his country after the great Shohei Ohtani with the World Champions Los Angeles Dodgers. The minor league contract is the largest ever for a Japanese amateur outside of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)

The spending spree came after the team extended slugger Brent Rooker’s contract to five years and $60 million. The A’s DH was their MVP in 2024, with a .293 batting average, 39 home runs and 112 runs batted in. Since last season, many teams where interested in Rooker, but the A’s did well in retaining him.

The A’s signed a one-year contract with Dominican-born right-hander José Leclerc for 1 year and $10 million. The team expects José’s acquisition will bolster the back end of the bullpen, with their #1 star sensational closer Mason Miller, on his third season with the A’s.

The team also signed experienced third baseman Gio Urshela to a 1 year contract worth $2.15 million with up to $400,000 in incentives. Urshela, a native of Cartagena, Colombia, signed with Cleveland in July 2008 at age 16. He made his MLB debut for the Indians on June 9, 2015, and played two-plus seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the Blue Jays in May 2018. The team was looking for a guy with this experience to be part of their infield this year. Saludos and Adiós, for now.

Amaury Pi-González was inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame in 2010 for his work as a Spanish-language Major League Baseball. Amaury is the vice president of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame Museum catch Amaury’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Does season ticket sell outs signal success in Sacramento for A’s or just a honeymoon?; AI says Clemente most popular Hispanic player of all time; plus more news

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Lawrence Butler of the Athletics conducts an interview at the Sawyer Hotel in downtown Sacramento on Mon Jan 6, 2025 regarding the A’s upcoming 2025 season in Sacramento (still from ABC 10 KXTV Sacramento)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Athletics selling out season tickets at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento does that signal that this relocation by the A’s was a successful idea or this is just a honeymoon in Sacramento and the A’s will eventually struggle in the standing like they had in past seasons?

#2 According to AI the most popular MLB Hispanic player of all time is former Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente who began his career in 1955 and in his second year in 1956 hit .311. After 1956 he hit above .300 in seven different seasons. He was defined as a pure hitter who drove in runs as well as being able to scores runs as well.

#3 According insiders three MLB teams were taken off Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki’s desired list the New York Yankees and Mets and the Texas Rangers. Sources are saying that Sasaki is down to three clubs the Toronto Blue Jays, the Los Angeles Dodgers, or the San Diego Padres. The San Francisco Giants have backed out of pursuing Sasaki. Sasaki is under 25 years old and is classified as a amateur and his salary will be limited from $5.1 million to $7.5 million per year. He will be regarded as a rookie phenom and could conger up endorsements that could add more to his finances depending how he performs in his MLB debut.

#4 Sasaki is another big signing possibility that has passed up the Giants. The Giants over the last two seasons missed signing in 2024 the likes of Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, and Shohei Ohtani. For 2025 the Giants so far have missed out on the following free agent signings Juan Soto, Ha Seong Kim, and Corbin Burnes. They managed to sign Willy Adames and Justin Verlander. The Giants last Thursday avoided going to arbitration with LaMonte Wade Jr, and relivers Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers. Are there a number of big name free agents avoiding San Francisco for specific reasons based on how the team has been a revolving door for managers, general managers, and team president changes and how CEO Larry Baer and team managing partner Greg Johnson who have final say have not been able to sign high profile players?

#5 The Seattle Mariners agreed to a one year deal with infielder Donovan Solano for $3.5 million. Also Solano could earn up to $1 million for plate appearances that ramp up to $200,00 for at bats totaling 300, 350, 400, 450, and 500. Solano hit .286, eight home runs, and 35 RBIs in 96 games with the San Diego Padres.

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

Sacramento Athletics relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Kotsay talks about adjustment and getting to know Sacramento

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Sacramento A’s manager Mark Kotsay addresses the media during Winter Meetings on Tue Dec 10, 2024 in Dallas. Kotsay spoke with the media on Mon Jan 6, 2025 regarding the A’s getting ready to play at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento for the 2025 season (Tom Gutierrez AP file photo)

On the A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Mark Kotsay manager of the A’s met with the media on Mon Jan 6, 2025 at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in downtown Sacramento and said regarding leaving Oakland and starting in Sacramento that change is never easy and that’s its never easy leaving from what your leaving behind that meaning the Oakland fanbase.

#2 Kotsay who spent the day in Sacramento and got a chance to go to the Sacramento Kings game on Monday and getting a chance to see the energy at Golden 1 Center and the support that the Kings get Kotsay said that’s a vision of the A’s future.

#3 Kotsay said that there is a sense of a lot of excitement regarding the A’s moving to Sacramento and brining Major League Baseball to a city that hasn’t had it before.

#4 Kotsay said that it’s important that the baseball is and the A’s are about the Sacramento Community and that any kind of community that the A’s can build and get support in makes it more comforting and life becomes a little bit easier.

#5 Kotsay was real and said that also there is a level of uncomfortability that can challenge you that makes you stronger and that the A’s are fully aware of that and that the Sacramento community is important and being part of the Sacramento community.

Daniel Dullum does the Sacramento A’s relocation podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Athletics Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: When will actual construction begin on Vegas ballpark for A’s?

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Athletics president Sandy Dean addresses the Las Vegas Stadium Authority regarding the construction finance for the A’s Vegas ballpark. Dean said is working the planning stages for zoning, traffic, parking and designs to name a few. Dean is seeking to get some of the SB1 funding to get the project moving by March 2025 (LV SportsBiz photo)

On the Athletics Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Those who are following the progress of the Athletics new Las Vegas Stadium project ask the ongoing question when will construction get off the ground for the new park on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana Blvd?

#2 The A’s and Clark County are still working out the details of how funding will go to begin the process of the ground breaking for the Tropicana Park which be build on nine acres on the 35 acre property of the old Tropicana.

#3 The cost overruns since the A’s and the Las Vegas Stadium Authority came to an agreement in 2023 have increased to from $1.5 billion to $1.75 billion and A’s president Sandy Dean said that talks are in the early stages with Clark County on how the money will be spent on construction.

#4 Ground breaking is scheduled around March 2025. The nuts and bolts of getting the construction of the park underway is between April and June 2025 with a target date of completion of March 2028.

#5 Right now Dean says the A’s need to get funding from Clark County to cover land use, zoning, traffic and parking plans, design, occupancy details and needed offsite improvements.

Daniel Dullum does the A’s Relocation podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: 20 MLB teams seeking Sasaki’s services; Williams signs 2 year deal worth $14 million with Nats; plus more news

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Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki winds up to deliver the pitch against the Czech Republic at the World Baseball Classic at the Tokyo Dome on Sat Mar 11, 2023. Sasaki is being sought by 20 different teams he’s well sought after. Sasaki and his agent are looking over the offer sheets. (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki is in Japan contemplating of the 20 Major League teams reaching out to Sasaki for his services. Sasaki and his agent Joel Wolfe are looking at the offer sheets. Sasaki no doubt is well sought after last season had a 2.10 ERA, with 505 strikeouts, 88 walks, in 394 2/3 innings looks like he can help a team.

#2 The Washington Nationals signed pitcher Trevor Williams to a two year $14 million deal. Williams has a 4.30 ERA in 202 games. Williams pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets. How do you see him helping the Nats next season?

#3 Well Amaury do the Arizona Diamondbacks get high marks for signing pitcher Corbin Burnes who passed his physical on Monday signed for $210 million, a six year deal. Burnes pitched for the Baltimore Orioles last season going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA.

#4 The Los Angeles Angels who at one time were one of the premier teams in MLB between 2002-2009 have made bad decisions, have had poor player signings and finished last in the AL West last season. Angels owner Artie Moreno at one time considered moving the team out of Anaheim to Long Beach. Amaury how much dysfunction do you see the Halos having going into spring training in February.

#5 The FBI has warned professional athletes that burglaries are becoming rampant or the target of thieves and break ins of players home. This has been more frequent at NBA and NFL players. Burglars target players home thinking high end property would be at the homes such as jewels, designing hand bags, watches and money.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Athletics Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Did fans and media put the pressure on Kaval to eventually resign?

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Outgoing Athletics president David Kaval resigned this week and said he would seek other ventures and will remain living in California (file photo Oakland Athletics)

On the Athletics Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 The reaction of the resignation of A’s president David Kaval is one of good riddance in commentaries on social media, main stream media and by former Oakland A’s fans.

#2 Kaval had once said that the A’s are rooted in Oakland when all of that changed in June 2023 when Kaval announced the A’s had a binding deal to move to Las Vegas that was pretty much the beginning of the end of any hope to stay in Oakland but also Kaval is remembered for rubber stamping the idea rather resigning right then and there instead of doing it after Christmas 2024.

#3 Daniel, do you feel the resignation of Kaval was caused by all the last two years of criticism from fans, media, MLB fans around the country, social media, the heart break of the A’s moving out of Oakland and that Kaval was the face of this move.

#4 To what degree does the announcement have a shock value or are people really surprised at all considering the way this relocation had been handled. No money for the construction costs have been announced for the Vegas ballpark as of yet. Did owner John Fisher’s role in all of this and getting negative reaction from the fans and media prove too much for Kaval where he just really had no choice but to walk away?

#5 Fisher family business associate Sandy Dean who had spoke at multiple Las Vegas Stadium Authority meetings in helping cement the financial plans to finance the Vegas ballpark will take over Kaval’s job as team president.

Daniel Dullum does the Athletics Relocation podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s President David Kaval resigns; At one time Kaval had promised A’s would be rooted in Oakland

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From left, analyst Jeremy Aguero, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill and Oakland A’s President Dave Kaval during a presentation to a Senate committee of the whole on the team’s proposed stadium funding during the 35th special session of the Legislature on June 7, 2023, in Carson City. (David Calvert/The Nevada Independent)

A’s President resigns

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In a few weeks, there will be a change in the White House for a new President of the United States. Here in California, in the state capital of Sacramento, there are also changes, but in the world of sports, with their new baseball team, with just five days until the new year. Also, this was a change at the top, as Dave Kaval, President for the past eight years for the Oakland A’s, resigned to pursue new business opportunities in California. December 31, 2024, will be his last day with the team,

“We are grateful for Dave’s contributions and leadership over the past eight years. He guided our organization through a period of significant transition, and we sincerely thank him for his unwavering commitment to the team,” said A’s Owner John Fisher.” Sandy Dean, a longtime business partner of the Fisher family, will serve as interim President. Eventually, the team will hire a new President as they begin a search next year.

The A’s will play for at least three years in Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. Kaval, 49, served as the seventh president of the Athletics in the franchise’s 123-year history, which began in Philadelphia in 1901. Seven Presidents in 123 years for a franchise is not that many, considering the A’s are now working on their fourth city to be their home base: Philadelphia, Kansas City, Oakland, and Sacramento, with plans for Las Vegas as their potential fifth different city.

Although not a done deal if Las Vegas doesn’t materialize, Sacramento, who is scheduled to be in the Major Leagues, might be in the Major Leagues for decades to come as the A’s will have to settle there permanently, not what Mr.Fisher is planning for, but there is a possibility. Since in our country, only two things are certain “death and taxes.”

“I will be staying in California to explore new opportunities at the crossroads of business and government. I am grateful to A’s ownership for the opportunities they have given me.” -Dave Kaval. His resumé includes working for private business, government, and sports teams.

He has also taught Sports Management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business for the past decade. This should not surprise anybody because this team still transitioning, and not a surprise also, especially in professional sports, where Presidents, General Managers, Field Managers, and players come and go regularly. Only God knows where this is all headed. All I can tell you and make an easy prediction—actually with certainty—is that 2025 will be here in a few days. Happy New Year! Felíz Año Nuevo!

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Tribute to Rickey Henderson and his many achievements

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Former Oakland A’s player Rickey Henderson checks on the game between the Texas Rangers and Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Sep 25, 2024 (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury podcast:

#1 The passing of Rickey Henderson at age 65 comes as a shock. Rickey looked like a picture of health the last time he made two public appearances. The first one was at the A’s last home game ever in Oakland on Sep 26, 2024 and at the Reggie Jackson Classic one month later on Oct 27, 2024 all at the Coliseum.

#2 Rickey’s family made the sad announcement confirming Rickey’s former teammate Dave Winfield’s X tweet that announced Rickey’s passing on Friday night.

#3 Amaury, Rickey’s playing days he had that swagger once he came on the scene. Rickey even waved his glove at the fans in leftfield during his playing days in games.

#4 Rickey’s most famous moment came when he stole his 939th stolen base that broke Lou Brock’s stolen base record in 1991. Rickey holds the record for stolen bases in season at 130 and holds the record for the most bases stolen of all time at 1406.

#5 Amaury, I have to ask you in closing you had the opportunity to interview Rickey numerous times during his tenure with the A’s in Oakland. How special was that and what was that relationship like?

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