Category: MLB

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Eovaldi walks away from $20 million and Rangers declares free agency; Cole and Yanks settle on not changing the contract; plus more news

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Former Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi will be seeking greener pastures as Eovaldi has declined the $20 million offer by the Rangers and will not return for the 2025 season and will declare free agency and seek a new club. (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Texas Rangers Two time All Star starter RHP Nathan Eovaldi became a free agent on Monday. Eovaldi declined a vested $20 million player option with the Rangers for next season. Eovaldi will get a $2 million buyout. In 2023 Eovaldi pitched in the deciding game that landed the Rangers the World Series Championship. Eovaldi was 5-0 with a 2.85 ERA in the 2023 post season.

# 2 New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole was prepared to leave after asking for a $36 million extension that would raise his contract from $140 million to $180 million. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Cole sat down and hashed things out. It was agreed upon that both sides wanted to stay in New York so it was agreed that there would be no extension raise and Cole would finish out his current contract as a Yankee.

#3 Amaury, 13 players are getting qualifying offers which includes the Yankees Juan Soto as free agency began on Monday. Soto hit .288, 166 hits, 41 homers, and 109 RBIs. No doubt Soto will be well sought after if he ever hits the market but like Cole he might want to stay in New York too.

#4 Two San Francisco Giants were awarded the Golden Glove Awards third baseman Matt Chapman and catcher Patrick Bailey both had a superb season at their respective positions.

#5 The former Oakland Athletics released brand new guidelines and saying they will be referred to as the Athletics or A’s not the Sacramento A’s where they will be playing for the next three years at Sutter Health Park. The A’s are foregoing any mention of Sacramento and do not want fans to be confused with any city name because they have already vacated Oakland and eventually will vacate Sacramento in 2028.

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

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Fisher gets help from his family; Everyone pitches in to make up the $1.5 Billion

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John Fisher (far right) and his family plan to come up with $1.5 billion for their share of the construction costs to pay for the Las Vegas A’s ball park at the old Tropicana location (photo from Rickey Blog and Thompson Family go fund me)

On the Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 The Sacramento A’s and owner John Fisher on Thursday have detailed how their going to finance the new Las Vegas ballpark as the deadline to come up with the A’s share of the construction costs come due on Dec 5th. Fisher with the help of his family plan to pay the $1.5 billion.

#2 A’s executive Sandy Dean said that construction details, a financing plan are going to be in place. There will be a Dec 5th meeting with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority and final approvals for the $1.5 billion, 30,000 seat that will have a 33,000 capacity should be approved.

#3 Construction for the project is scheduled to begin Spring 2025 and the targeted opening date is 2028. The State of Nevada will be funding some $380 million towards the new park that will be located at the old Tropicana site located at Las Vegas Blvd and is targeted to open in 2028.

#4 Alexander Marks Schools over Stadiums spokesman and Schools over Stadiums who are education group fighting to stop public state funding that is going to pay for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark has not given up the fight and are hoping to get an initiative on the 2026 ballot that would stop the state funding for the A’s Vegas ballpark. Schools over Stadiums said last week that “we will continue our fight, including taking it to the streets with a referendum petition to protect Nevada’s tax dollars.”

#5 With the Fisher family getting very close to the stadium construction costs they are also getting loans to cover the costs from Goldman Sachs and US Bank, if there were any doubts before about financing the stadium Dean said this is the evidence you need, this “concludes the Fisher family has more than sufficient resources to fund the equity investment that’s required to build the stadium.”

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

World Series podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Dodgers win World Series in five games defeating Yankees in Bronx

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Mookie Betts (50) and Freddie Freeman (5) both exclaim “You the Man!” as they celebrate scoring against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx during game 5 of the 2024 World Series on Wed Oct 30, 2024 (AP News photo)

World Series podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Earlier in game 5 the Yankees built up a 5-1 lead that went into the third inning that saw a home run by Aaron Judge and a homer by Jazz Chisholm in the first inning. Alex Verdugo got an RBI single in the second and Giancarlo Stanton with a home run in the third inning.

#2 The Dodgers would chip way at that four run Yankee lead in the Mookie Betts in the top of the fifth inning beat out an infield single that scored Enrique Hernandez and Freddie Freeman’s two run single scored Tommy Edman making 5-3. Then Teoscar Hernandez would hit an two RBI double that would tie up the game at 5-5.

#3 Stanton would fly to center that would score Juan Soto that gave the Yankees a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth. So the Bronx Bombers were not giving up just yet.

#4 The Dodgers would score twice to take the lead back in the top of the eighth when Gavin Lux with RBI hit score Edman and Betts would sac fly to scoring Edman to center put LA in drivers seat 7-6.

#5 The Dodgers would put this one away retiring the Yankees in the bottom of the ninth inning and taking the World Series Trophy back to Los Angeles with them The Dodgers would jump on the Yankees taking the first three games going up 3-0 but the Yankees pounded the Dodgers 11-3 in game 4 but the Dodgers who were behind 5-1 would come back in the fashion that they’ve played in post season with a one run 7-6 win to become the 2024 World Series Champions.

Stephen Ruderman did MLB podcasts throughout the 2024 season for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

World Series podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Yankees facing elimination in game 4 tonite; NY could be swept for 4th time in history

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New York Yankees Aaron Judge head back to the dugout after striking out against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium in New York in the first inning of game 3 on Mon Oct 28, 2024 (AP News photo)

World Series podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 The New York Yankees pursuit of their 28th World Series title is in jeopardy as they are on the cusp of elimination after losing game 3 on Monday night at Yankee Stadium 4-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

#2 If the Yankees were to lose tonight at Yankee Stadium it would be the fourth time in their history that they’ve been swept in the fall classic. Which includes loses by sweeps to 1922 to the New York Giants, the 1963 Dodgers, and 1976 Cincinnati Reds.

#3 Aaron Judge has been struggling at the plate and the Yankees pitching allowed four Dodgers runs enough for a two run win for Los Angeles. No doubt it’s the offense that the Yankees need to step up in to get back in this series as the Dodgers have been getting excellent relief help.

#4 Judge so far in the series has gone 1-12, has no RBIs to speak of and has struck out 12 times, Judge has struck out for a total of 40 times in the post season and is hitting .140.

#5 Both clubs back it again tonight in the Bronx and as Anthony Verdugo was questioning in the post game on Monday night “If that team wins three in a row, then why can’t we win three in a row?” Verdugo said.

Stephen Ruderman is MLB podcaster at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Was Oakland Mayor Thao responsible for letting A’s get away?; Thao says it was Fisher and MLB’s fault; Ex-Mayor Schaaf endorses Thao’s recall

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Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao with 30 bound books to be delivered at the 2023 All Star Game in Seattle to the 30 different MLB owners showing that the City of Oakland and Oakland A’s did have a deal to develop at Howard Terminal and try to convince the owners that the A’s and the City can work a deal out to stay in Oakland. Later in the year December 2023 all 30 owners voted to move the A’s from Oakland to Las Vegas. (photo from ABC 7 News)

On Sacramento Kings Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Former two term elected Mayor of Oakland Libby Schaaf said this past week that since Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao hasn’t demonstrated that she couldn’t grow into the job these past two years, Schaaf has endorsed Thao’s recall which is on the Nov 5th ballot that Oaklanders will vote on next week Tuesday. One of the big issues in the Oakland sports community is how Mayor Thao lost the Oakland A’s.

#2The Mayor says it’s the fault of A’s owner John Fisher and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred saying that Oakland had a deal with the A’s to build at Howard Terminal and they were some $36 million apart.

#3 That’s not the only reason Schaaf is endorsing the recall but Schaaf when Mayor was working with Fisher and Manfred on getting a Howard Terminal deal and the feeling at that time before leaving office they were closing in on getting it done. Time ran out on Schaaf’s second and final term and she had to leave office. Thao took over and worked with Fisher on financing for the Howard Terminal ballpark but Thao said Fisher quit while the city and the A’s were $36 million apart and A’s president David Kaval said that the club had a binding deal at the Rio in Las Vegas.

#4 Thao went to the July 2023 All Star game in Seattle and had some 30 bound books that outlined that the City of Oakland did have a binding deal with the A’s as trying to prove that as opposed to Manfred saying there was no deal in Oakland he was incorrect and that the bounded books would show MLB owners there was a deal on the table and she tried to encourage them to vote against moving the A’s out of Oakland and to go back and negotiate a deal to stay in Oakland.

#5 As we all know now the team has left the barn and will start a new with the interim park in Sacramento starting 2025 until the Las Vegas park is open in 2028. There had been previous polling showing that Oakland voters are in favor of recalling Mayor Thao and that Schaaf has endorsed former member of the Oakland City Council Loren Taylor to be the Mayor in the event that Thao is recalled.

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

World Series podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Freeman’s walk off grand slam gives Dodgers a leg up in game 1 over Yankees

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Game 1 of the World Series was Freddiemania when the Los Angeles Dodgers Freddie Freeman (5) slugged a walk off grand slam home run to defeat the New York Yankees in the bottom of the tenth inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Fri Nov 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the World Series podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Game 1 is practically what everyone was expecting a razor close nail biter which wound up in extra innings in a World Series where teams don’t have the ghost runner to depend on. New York Yankees leading 3-2 the Los Angeles Dodgers in the bottom of the tenth inning . LA didn’t need a ghost runner all they needed was Freddie Freeman who slugged a grand slam home run to put the Dodgers over the top with a 6-3 win to lead the series 1-0.

#2 Despite the loss that first game was competitive where it had to be decided in ten innings by a walk off home run. Do you see that being an indication that this could be a tight World Series.

#3 There was big contributions from both sides on Friday night. The Yankees Giancarlo Stanton hit a 412 foot home run with Juan Soto scoring ahead of him to put the Yankees on top in the sixth inning 2-1.

#4 Mookie Betts hit a sac fly to center that scored Shohei Ohtani to tie up the game 2-2. The Yankees would move ahead when Anthony Vlope grounded into a fielders choice that allowed Jazz Chisholm to score putting the Yanks up a run 3-2. Freeman would later hit the walk off grand slam to beat the Yankees in the tenth inning.

#5 Tributes before the game for Fernando Velenzuela who passed away this week. The Dodgers fans stood for a moment of silence to remember Velenzuela who brought Fernandomania to the Southland and later became the Dodgers Spanish announcer.

Stephen Ruderman is podcasting the 2024 World Series at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Remembering Fernando Valenzuela

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Fernando Valenzuela pitcher of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park on Oct 3, 1982 at the height of “Fernandomania” Valenzuela passed away on Tue Oct 22, 2024 at age 63. (AP file photo)

Remembering Fernando Valenzuela

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Fernando Valenzuela has died at the age of 63. Fernando was ill. He pitched for 17 years in 1981 and won the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award in the National League. He was most recently doing commentary for the LA Dodgers in Spanish.

Fernando and the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees during that 1981 season. This next Friday, the Dodgers will host the 2024 World Series against the Yankees for the 12th time in the history of both franchises, more than any other two teams.

Anecdote: In 1981, during a Dodgers visit to Candlestick Park to play the Giants, SF Examiner writer Wells Twombly asked me to interpret an interview he would conduct with Fernando Valenzuela. At the time, teams (unlike today) did not have designated interpreters in Spanish or Japanese.

Twombly was a veteran reporter during the years of other writers who covered the Giants, such as Bob Stevens, Harry Jupiter, and Art Spander. The interview with Fernando was featured the next day in the SF Examiner, the afternoon paper of San Francisco. It was a success, and Fernando told me later that it was one of the first interviews he had enjoyed outside of Los Angeles.

Anecdote: In 1981, Fernando Valenzuela became the best and most famous player in the major leagues ever to be born in Mexico. On the days he pitches, millions in Mexico will listen on the radio or watch on television, just like Japanese Dodger’s mega-star Shohei Ohtani when he plays, millions follow him in Japan, where baseball is king.

Anecdote: Before 1981, my good friend and Spanish broadcaster of the Dodgers Jaime Jarrin told me, “We need a Mexican-born star with the Dodgers”. A few years later, Jarrin’s wishes became a reality with the arrival of “El Yaqui de Sonora”

Anecdote: Fernando told me during an interview that in 1979, he learned his signature pitch, the screwball, from then Dodger’s pitcher Bobby Castillo, who at the time was injured. Fernando learned how to throw his famous pitch which he used in the minors and then when he was brought up to the big team in’81.

Fernando was a true legend of the game. His simplicity but tremendous magnetism was responsible for increasing attendance at Dodger Stadium. When he pitched, it was either a sellout or close to a sellout.

This next Friday, the Dodgers host the first game of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees. Expect every Dodger player to wear a Number 34 on their sleeves. My most sincere sympathy to Fernando’s family as well as Pepe Iniguez and José Mota, who are going to miss Fernando’s smile and great attitude inside their Spanish radio booth.

Noter: Baseball has lost three great players during the past few weeks: Pete Rose, Luis Tiant, and now Fernando Valenzuela.

Descansa en Paz Fernando – Rest in Peace Fernando. Nunca se nos olvidará Fernandomania.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A Coast to Coast Affair 2024 World Series

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1977 World Series, Yankees vs. Dodgers.  Before the game at Dodger Stadium, LA, Amaury Pi-González left,(Oakland A’s radio) and Jaime Jarrin (Los Angeles Dodgers radio) both wait jm

A Coast to Coast Affair -2024 World Series

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Two of the game’s most historic franchises will compete for the title beginning Friday, October 25th, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, time TBD. This will be the 12th time, more than any other teams from the American and National Leagues, that these two teams will meet in the Fall Classic.

It all began in New York City when the Dodgers played in Brooklyn and the Yankees in the Bronx. Dodgers headed to the World Series for the fourth time in eight years. For the Yankees this will be the first time since 2009.

The rivalry between these two franchises is one of the biggest in Major League Baseball. The teams have met 11 times in the World Series, more than any other teams from the American and National leagues. The rivalry began in New York City when the Dodgers played in Brooklyn and the Yankees in the Bronx. In 1977 and 1978, Yanks and Dodgers played each other in the World Series.

I covered the 1977 and 1981 Series with reports and interviews. In 1977, I first met my good friend and broadcaster Jaime Jarrin, a Hall of Fame Ford C. Frick Award recipient who called the Dodgers games in Spanish for 64 years and retired after the 2022 season.

Some of the game’s biggest stars will participate in this World Series, which begins next Friday. This season, the most likely MVP winners are Yankee Aaron Judge for the American League and Dodger Shohei Ohtani for the National League.

Some of the most prominent and historical baseball players played for these two franchises: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle,Yogi Berra, Phil Rizutto, and many others for the Yankees. For the Dodgers, the most historical trailblazer figure in baseball is Jackie Robinson. Other Dodgers greats include Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Mauri Wills, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, and Fernando Valenzuela.

Yankees vs Dodgers rivalry. The Dodgers have won seven World Series titles since winning their first championship as a Brooklyn franchise in 1955 to break a run of futility against the New York Yankees, who had beaten them the first five times they had met for the MLB title. The New York Yankees have won the most major U.S. professional sports titles with 27 World Series Championships.

It’s a dream come true for FOX Network (rights holder), which will broadcast this coast-to-coast affair. FOX expects some of the highest ratings in World Series history. FOX feed coverage extends to Canada, Australia, Asia, China, Japan, India, South Korea, all of Latin America, including Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. It is also available in some countries in Europe.

Here in the Bay Area CH 2 KTVU FOX is your official 2024 World Series station.

Who is the favorite? You pick’em. However, the Dodgers were the favorites to win this 2024 World Series before the regular season got underway. They won the most games among the 30 teams. As a matter of fact, both the Dodgers and Yankees won more games than any team in Major League Baseball this season. Dodgers won 98 games and Yankees won 94. They are indeed the best two teams in baseball.

It will be Pizza vs Tacos, New York vs Los Angeles.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for Thats Amaury’s News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB Post Season podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Dodgers win the Pennant will face Yankees in World Series

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On the MLB Post Season podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) reaches second base after a late throw to New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) during the sixth inning during game six of the NLCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn ImagesJason Parkhurst

#1 The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t waste anytime getting of the shoot Sunday night in game 6 against the New York Mets scoring four runs in the bottom of the third inning.

#2 Stephen from the Start in the first inning the Dodgers scored twice when Tommy Edman doubled in Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez.

#3 In the bottom of the third inning Edman homered a two run shot 406 feet to left center that scored T Hernandez making it 4-1. Will Smith hit a two run homer to make it 6-1.

#4 In the bottom of the eighth the Dodgers up 7-4 and looking for more runs saw T Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to right field and Ohtani scored making it 8-4. Enrique Hernandez hit a single to right scoring Edman making it 9-4. E Hernandez hit a single to right scoring Edman Dodgers putting it out of reach 10-4. Final would be 10-5.

#5 The World Series will feature probably two of the best traditional teams historically in the game the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. Who could forget the 1950s when the Brooklyn Dodgers and Yankees met on multiple occasions. Do you see this being a coin flip and a series that possibly could go to seven games.

Stephen Ruderman is MLB Post Season analyst at http://www.sportsradioservice.com calling from the home office in Yakima Washington

Sacramento A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: Renderings released for A’s Vegas ballpark at Bally’s Casino location

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A rendering from Marnell Architecture depicts initial plans for a new casino-resort centered around the Athletics’ Las Vegas ballpark on the Strip. (Image via Clark County)

On the Sacramento A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 The A’s who revealed their renderings for their new ballpark in Las Vegas will integrate the park with Bally’s Casino Resort. The new renderings look like an armadillo park as it would open as separate shells and have windows to let sunlight in.

#2 There are three phases to the property which would include a hotel tower 1000 to 1500 rooms it would include a casino, sports book, and a food hall and 4500 parking spaces. The capacity will not surpass 3,000 rooms.

#3 The park structure will be 290 feet high and will have seating capacity of 30,000. The renderings also reveal where the dugouts and home and visiting locker rooms will be located as well as a 100 level seating section.

#4 There are rendering for the second deck the 200 level section, third deck 300 section, there is a layout for the 400 section level which are the suites. It keeps on going there are the 600 and 700 level seats which are upper level seating.

#5 Daniel, keep in mind that the intersection of Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd is the busiest intersection in the world. The A’s ballpark will accommodate 44,000 parking spaces when you also factor in the other surrounding casinos parking structures as well but that’s not to mention that gridlock will be a sure thing and don’t be surprised if there are some fans who won’t get in there seats on time. Public transit in Vegas is not the most convenient option unless you leave at least two hours early.

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