Category: Oakland Athletics

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Three points on why A’s are leaning towards moving to Las Vegas

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7 year old Indie Erardy shows off her newly signed baseball as Oakland Athletic players sign for the fans at Las Vegas Ballpark on Sun Mar 4, 2023 before their exhibition split squad game against the Cincinnati Reds (Las Vegas Register Review photo)

Three points on why A’s are leaning towards moving to Las Vegas

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Three big points for the Oakland A’s today and their possible move to Las Vegas are all related to money. Here they are: 1-Revenue sharing:

During the Winter Meetings in December, commissioner Rob Manfred pointed to January 15, 2024, as something of a deadline for the A’s to have a binding agreement with the City of Oakland. Under the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, the A’s would lose their status as a recipient of revenue-sharing

(MLB teams will receive at least $100 million annually from TV rights contracts)

2-MLB relocation fee:

Commissioner Rob Manfred said that under current guidelines he has control of charging a franchise fee and has already gone to his executive council, which has endorsed the position. “That’s why I was prepared to say it publicly,” Manfred said: “If they can get it done in Vegas, there will not be a relocation fee for them.”

(How much does it cost to relocate an MLB team? An expansion fee would run at least $2.2 billion, Manfred said in April 2021, calculating the average value of major-league franchises at the time) 3-Las Vegas factor:

While the A’s played a couple of games this weekend at their Las Vegas Aviators Stadium (AAA affiliate) at Summerlin. Clark County Commission Chairman Jim Gibson told the San Francisco Chronicle that while “the governor has said no new taxes, that doesn’t mean there aren’t public revenues available” The Commissioner appeared ready to lobby state officials (in the Nevada legislation) for some “gift” close to the $750 million that Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis received for a new stadium.

The Oakland A’s, according to the state of Nevada records, has recently formed a lobbying group for Nevada’s 2023 legislative session. A’s President Dave Kaval is listed among the names that make up the “Athletics Investment Group”. These lobbyists for the A’s are trying to influence legislation in Nevada’s government decisions regarding facilitating their relocation from Oakland to Sin City.

Stephen Edwin King is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels, some adapted to many famous films. Credited with saying this: “Money talks and BS walks”.

KIQI 1010/990AM San Francisco-Bay Area and Sacramento, returns as the A’s Official Spanish flagship station with 66 live broadcasts this 2023 season, beginning Opening Night from the Oakland Coliseum at 7 PM when they host the LA Angels.

Catch Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Manolo Hernandez Douen for all the play by play of Oakland A’s on the A’s Spanish radio network and News and Commentary with Amaury at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Roll the Dice Weekend in Vegas

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A’s played two game series in Las Vegas against the Cincinnati Reds at triple A affiliate Las Vegas Aviators park Cashman Park in Las Vegas on Sun Mar 5, 2023 (photo from mlb.com)

A’s Roll the Dice: Weekend in Vegas

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

One of the many Frank Sinatra hits over decades was “Luck be A Lady” which he also sang in the 1955 film “Guys and Dolls”, which also featured Marlon Brando. Sinatra and the famous Rat Pack was the King of Las Vegas, years before Elvis Presley arrived in Sin City. I had the pleasure of seeing both of them live in concert, there was nothing like it. If the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas, there will also be nothing like it because it would be the first time in history that Las Vegas, Nevada would be home to a major league baseball franchise. And they will have 81 shows each summe

“Big League Weekend” A’s sent a split-squad of players to Las Vegas for two games against the Cincinnati Reds. The games were played at Las Vegas Ballpark, the home of the Oakland A’s Triple-a affiliate, the Aviators in Summerlin, a 20 minute drive from the strip.

Las Vegas has been home to a Triple-A team since 1983. This weekend the folks had the chance of watching the 2023 Oakland A’s in action. In 1996, the A’s played their first six games of their regular season at Cashman Field, Las Vegas, while the Oakland Coliseum was still under renovation with the return of the Raiders in 1995 from Los Angeles.

Remember? Yes, the Raiders who are now permanent residents of…Las Vegas. (Raiders’ owner Al Davis who moved to LA signed a letter of intent to bring the team back to Oakland in return the City of Oakland renovated the Coliseum (Mt.Davis) to the tune of millions of dollars which left Oakland taxpayers on the hook)

Quotes from this weekend series:

(Saturday)

–Jason Giambi was the 2000 American League MVP for the A’s and he is all for the A’s to make their permanent residence in Las Vegas, where he has lived since 1998. He mentioned either the A’s or an expansion team. Giambi was at Saturday’s game with his traveling youth baseball team, the Henderson Hawks, and spoke about the possibility of the A’s moving to Las Vegas. He said he felt for “some of the greatest fans in the world” with an A’s move, “But also,” he added, “to be relevant anymore in baseball, you have to be competitive.”

A new stadium, in a new market, might allow for that. Giambi also said “there is no competition for the summer sports dollar in Las Vegas “I came here as a Triple-A player, and it was the best five days of my life. Are you kidding me?” “There’s nothing like it. You can wake up in the middle of night, 2 o’clock in the morning, go get breakfast, go watch a show, anything you want to do. It’s a little bit of the Wild, Wild West. It’s not like that anywhere else.”

Saturday score: Reds beat the A’s 10-9, in front of 8,805 paid fans (capacity at Aviators Stadium is 10,000) the attendance was 88% of capacity.

–A’s Manager Mark Kotsay: “It’s no secret that we’ve been pursuing paths in Oakland and Vegas. So maybe there’s more buzz around it because we’re going right now and the process has seemed to be shifted a little bit,” Kotsay said, “For us as an organization, we continue to pursue both in Oakland and in Vegas and we call that the parallel path. For us, we’re always looking for the opportunity in front of us.”

–Don Logan, president and COO of the Triple-A Aviators, told ESPN.”It makes sense. My perspective, make the best deal you can in Vegas and start to turn this community on” “Las Vegas offers a dynamic that no other team has. We have 45 million visitors annually in this market, and that’s what we want — heads in beds. That’s what Las Vegas is about.”Logan also mentioned that a retractable-roof stadium would be needed for the summer when temperatures regularly hit 110 degrees who added that Las Vegas first look at the A’s in a ‘quiet examination’ for a potential relocation in the year 2004.

–David Forst, general manager of the Oakland A’s said “I’m hoping the A’s get a stadium. I don’t take sides. The only thing that affects the way we operate in baseball operations is actually having a facility. “We really can’t spend a lot of time thinking about the where right now.”

Sunday score: Reds beat the A’s 12-4, in front of 8,024 paid fans.

Next for the A’s: With three weeks of Spring Training left, they will face Colombia who is one of the teams in the World Baseball Classic that starts the competition this week. A’s will open regular season on March 30th when they host the LA Angels, first pitch at 7:07.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Manolo Hernandez Douen for all the play by play of Oakland A’s baseball on the A’s Spanish radio network and catch That’s Amaury News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden State Warriors podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Curry close to making a return Kerr just not sure when; Warriors host Clippers tonight at Chase

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The Portland Trailblazers Damian Lillard takes a shot against the Golden State Warriors left to right Draymond Green (23), Anthony Lamb (40) and Jordan Poole (3) at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Wed Mar 1, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been out of action since Feb 4th when he injured his lower leg from all indications he’s pretty close to returning.

#2 After watching Curry workout on Wednesday Warriors head coach said that Curry can do more and was impressed with his improvement after recent practices.

#3 Curry has had his share of injuries in the past and the ankle being one of the most famous injuries he’s been on the shelf for a few weeks on this lower leg injury assuming whenever his return is talk about his capabilities to battle in an NBA game coming off this injury?

#4 Jordan Poole has filled in for Curry averaging 22 point per game, grabbing 2.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists, netting 41.8% of his shots, and is 36.6 percent for three pointers.

#5 The Warriors take on the Los Angeles Clippers (33-31) tonight at Chase Center. The Clippers are coming off a 108-101 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. Clippers like the Warriors are battling for a top spot in the playoffs how do you see this match up tonight?

Join Jerry for the Warriors podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Changes in baseball coming to a park near you

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The Major League Baseball 15 second pitch clock will now be joined by the hitters clock the batter has eight seconds to get in the batter’s box and hit or could be charged with a strike call these rules will be implemented for the 2023 season. (photo from mlb.com)

Changes in Baseball Coming to a Park near You

That’s Amaury News and Commentary–

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

“The Only Constant in Life is Change” – Heraclitus, a Greek Philosopher once wrote. Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred is no Heraclitus, but under his tenure, he is changing the game of baseball. Well, trying anyway. We remember Mike Hargrove, who played in the 1970s and 1980s also better known as “The Human Rain Delay” because of his deliberate routine at the plate before each at-bat and before each pitch.

The record books show he played for 12 years in the major leagues, but if we could add all the time he spend at the plate, we can probably increase it by two more years. If he was playing this 2023 season he could not do those antics at the plate. To be fair there were others that took all the time in the world at the plate like, for example, Nomar Garciaparra.

Beginning this year, hitters will have to be ready inside the batting box and ready to hit in eight seconds. These are changes that you will “discover” this season if you attend a game or in your living room in front of the television, or if you watch the games on your telephone. When I was a kid growing up in Cuba, I can imagine what my grandfather Armando would have told me if I said to him, “Abuelo, I am going to watch the game on the telephone”. I know his answer, but I will not translate it here.

1-Pitch Clock.

Mike Moore, pitched for 14 years, four of those with the Oakland A’s, and I know I could shave, put aftershave, a t-shirt, and a nice shirt in between his pitches. He will also (if he were pitching today) could not take too much time in-between pitches.

Commissioner Rob Manfred is implementing changes after trying them in the minor leagues. Starting this 2023 season, pitchers will have 15 seconds to deliver the ball, with bases empty and 20 seconds with at least one runner on base. If a pitcher exceeds the clock time he could be charged with a balk (with runner(s) on base.

The hitters will also have to be ready inside the batting box and ready to hit in eight seconds. Years from now, when robotics are running everything, baseball could clone a pitcher like Hall of Fame Greg Maddux, because anyway by that time, bases on balls would have been banned, just like the Umpires, they all left us, like the Dodo bird, all extinct and if a pitcher can’t throw strikes, he is in the wrong line of work.

2-Defensive Shift

A team must have two infielders to the right of the second base and two to the left of the second base, all four on the outer part of the infield. It is expected to be more traditional and it could and should increase batting averages, therefore more people running which equals more action, and more excitement. Before the shift, (the baseball that we all knew) infielders didn’t play outside the infield. I do not believe Ted Williams would have supported the shift all the time, for every .220 hitter, as we have seen recently. After all, who can hit .400 anyway?

3-Larger Bases.

The bases that were 15 square inches, this season will be 18 square inches. The study revealed that this keeps players healthier as far as bases-related injuries with a decline of 13.5 % in the minor leagues in 2022, at every level of the minors. The minor leagues have become the experimental laboratories for baseball.

And who is getting more responsibilities? The Umpires will have to live and die by the clock. We will altogether see how it works. By the way, these changes begin during the 2023 Spring Training games in Arizona and Florida. Oh yes, the “free runner” at the second base starting each extra inning game in the top of the tenth inning is back and it looks like it is going to stay.

Manfred seems to be its biggest fan. Please excuse my cynicism, and with all respect to the Commissioner; if the purpose is to end the game right away; why not start with a runner at third base in the top of the tenth? Credit him with a triple which is still the most difficult to get. Make the player happy. Statistics have shown that if you have a runner at third with no outs it usually scores around 50% of the time. In Las Vegas, you have a 1 in 5 tries chance to win any price in a slot machine.

Like everything in life, some like it, and some do not. The biggest critic so far is ex-major league pitcher Rob Dibble. “It’s idiotic,” Dibble responded to a question about MLB’s implementation of a pitch clock, and he was just getting started. “I heard what Theo Epstein said [and] it was idiotic. He’s working for Rob Manfred who doesn’t love baseball the way we do. “I think the game is fine. You can have analytics, you can have the old-school mentality, it all works,” Dibble continued. “But when you start hating on the game and saying ‘we need a pitch clock, we need pitchers to work faster’ you know what’s going to happen? Guys are going to throw fewer strikes. There’s going to be less active.” Others like ex-A’s currently with the New York Mets, Mark Cahna like it. “I am open to change. I think I can evolve with the times, and be open-minded. I think the rules are just great. I think it’s really good for baseball”.

Robert Manfred is not going to win a popularity contest with those that love traditional baseball. Baseball takes its time, it is game of leisure and strategy and patience. I remember years ago Dusty Baker telling me he loves fishing, because it develops patience. Managers have to think ahead, and a pitching change still the biggest move a manager will make.

The clock will play a big role this year in major league baseball, but (so far) it is not sponsored by Seiko, Rolex or Longines. Just enjoy the game, do not get hang-up on the clock, because the clock never stops anyway.

Get ready, baseball season is coming soon.

Talking about things coming soon: A fascinating tour of Oakland sports history and a look toward the future of professional sports in the East Bay will be available soon in hard copy by April 11. A book “Goodbye Oakland, A Fight for Survival” by Andy Dolich and Dave Newhouse. Pre-orders on Amazon books, if you do not want to wait until April.

Adios muchachos!

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for his latest perspectives on sports on That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Spring Training–Commissioner speaks – A’s open Cactus League

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Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao walks away from the podium after addressing the media on the firing of Oakland police chief LeRonne Armstrong on Wed Feb 15, 2023 at Oakland City Hall. The Oakland A’s who are seeking funding for the Howard Terminal project is grant money that Thao is trying to identify. (AP News photo)

Spring Training: Commissioner speaks – A’s open Cactus League

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–While in Oakland. the new Mayor of Oakland Sheng Thao is in a middle of a crisis after firing Oakland’s Chief of Police LeRonne Armstrong, the tenth Chief of Police in Oakland in the past ten years, in Phoenix, Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke at the opening of baseball’s Cactus League media day regarding the A’s situation and the long-running saga of their new ballpark and the go-no-go relocation to Las Vegas.

Rob Manfred says Oakland Athletics owner John Fisher has focused on Las Vegas of late as a new home for the franchise. Commissioner Manfred is invested in making sure that 2023 is the decisive year for the A’s to ‘fish or cut bait’ regarding their “parallel” situation.

The Howard Terminal proposal has been stalled by money (government grants that were not approved) as well as concerns for affordable housing, Manfred addressed that situation by saying the A’s and the City of Oakland in the housing issue; “I don’t think they are in agreement on the affordable housing issue,” Manfred said. “The threshold issue right now I think in Oakland is how to handle the funding for the infrastructure.”

After a recent visit to Las Vegas, where the A’s owner was well received by a powerful group of casino magnates, the Governor of Nevada Joe Lombardo said through a spokeswoman that there are “other possibilities, aside from taxing the residents on how to support the A’s economically if they chose to move to Las Vegas.

The Oakland A’s reported to Spring Training in Arizona and in less than a month on March 4 and 5 at Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the Las Vegas Aviators they will host the Cincinnati Reds The Las Vegas Ballpark is the home for the Las Vegas Aviators the Pacific Coast League Triple A affiliate of the Oakland A’s.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play announcer with Manolo Hernandez Douen on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Nevada Governor on the Oakland A’s -Negotiations early in the process-

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An artists rendering of a potential Las Vegas A’s ballpark located near the Tropicana hotel on the Las Vegas Strip complete with retractable roof as speculated. Parking is missing from this rendering and public transit isn’t enough to shuttle 35,000 fans to 81 home games which needs to get worked out. (rendering by Stadium 51 in Las Vegas)

Nevada Governor on the Oakland A’s -Negotiations early in the process–

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

On Monday, February 13, one day after the Superbowl, Joe Lombardo recently elected Governor of the State of Nevada was mum on what public assistance the Oakland A’s could receive if they chose to move to Las Vegas and built their $1 billion ballpark.

The Governor said today; “Those negotiations are so early in the process that it would be detrimental for me to even talk about any details.” Last month Lombardo, through a spokeswoman, said he is not in favor of raising taxes to assist the A’s, but hinted that the team could be eligible for existing Nevada State Economic Development programs.

What the Governor said today leaves the door still open for the A’s to relocate to Sin City. Just two weeks ago the owner of the Oakland A’s was welcome by a group of casino magnates as the A’s seemed to have picked their favorite location in Las Vegas.

The Oakland A’s or an expansion team:

-There is a belief in Las Vegas by the government and local Casino magnates, that they will eventually have a major league baseball franchise, via expansion, but they also recognized that they see the Oakland A’s relocating to their city as a much quicker opportunity than if they are awarded an expansion team which will take a few more years.

The Baseball Commissioner already is on the record for telling the A’s that MLB would forfeit relocation charges. Commissioner Manfred said in April 2021, calculating the average value at the time that an expansion fee would run at least $2.2 billion for the team that chose relocation, the average value of a major league franchise that is huge bait for the A’s if they indeed make the move to Sin City.

In other words, the decision by the Commissioner to waving relocation fees to the Oakland team enhances the chances for Las Vegas of acquiring a storied franchise. The Athletics then representing Philadelphia was one of the charter members of the American League in 1901, with stops later in Kansas City and since 1968 and four World Series titles later in Oakland, California.

Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas is set for February 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium.

-Las Vegas, Nevada is growing in sports. The Pro Bowl took place early this month in Las Vegas and drew more than 50,000 people to Allegiant Stadium In March the NCAA men’s basketball West regionals will take place in T-Mobile Arena, the first time a portion of March Madness is taking place in this city In November the inaugural Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place on portions of Las Vegas Boulevard and surrounding streets.

Lombardo said about the Grand Prix “We’re excited to bring them into the State of Nevada and be their host. It’s going to be a fantastic deal for us”. Currently, the NFL Oakland Raiders and the NHL Golden Knights made their home in Las Vegas and it is expected the city will eventually be also home to MLB and NBA.

Rob Manfred MLB Commissioner says 2023 is a big year when it comes to the future of the Athletics franchise.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play radio talent for the Oakland A’s on flagship station 1010 KIQI San Francisco on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: How AJ for JJ trade will work for A’s in 2024

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Former Miami Marlin JJ Bleday watches his launched third inning home run on Tue Sep 27, 2022 against the New York Mets at Citi Park in New York. Bleday joins the Oakland A’s that sent AJ Puk to Miami. (AP News file)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Miami Marlins strengthened their bullpen by trading for former Oakland A’s pitcher AJ Puk. Puk has a 3.12 ERA with 76 strikeouts.

#2 Puk does have a injury history he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 but made his big league debut as a relief pitcher. Puk did not pitch at all in 2020 because of shoulder surgery.

#3 Puk also missed part of the 2021 season for biceps strain. Can Puk stay healthy for a season now that he’s pitching for Miami?

#4 Amaury, talk about the A’s acquisition of outfielder JJ Bleday. Bleday broke into the majors last season hitting .167, five home runs, 16 RBIs, in 65 games and started in centerfield 27 times. How do you see him helping the A’s out this year.

#5 The A’s primarily will be showcased in Las Vegas at Aviator Stadium on March 4 and 5 in pre season baseball to see how the Las Vegas crowds will respond to the A’s. If the experiment is a success the A’s very well could start the 2024 season in Vegas and leave the Oakland Coliseum.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Las Vegas Casinos give Full Support to A’s

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Southwest corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue on the Las Vegas Strip the proposed new location for an Oakland A’s new ballpark (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Las Vegas Casinos give Full Support to A’s

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Oakland A’s owner John Fisher and President Dave Kaval made another trip to Las Vegas, trying to select their site to build a new stadium, since they have not been able to move forward with their proposed Howard Terminal by the Port of Oakland.

On Wednesday Oakland A’s top brass met with casino magnates in the North Strip and downtown resorts operators who gave the A’s their full support for their $1 billion stadium. Scott Sibella, President of Resorts World, Las Vegas and a group of casino magnates welcome the A’s executives “We reinforced our support that we believe the best site is on the Sahara/Las Vegas Boulevard,” Sibella wrote in an email. “Having the A’s in Las Vegas will be great for the Strip properties and the Las Vegas community. “The meeting did not discussed economics, only that the A’s will have our full support” Sibella said .

Derek Stevens, co-owner of the Circa, Golden Gate and the D.Properties downtown confirmed Wednesday meeting, adding that the key players want to see the A’s relocate to Las Vegas for several reasons. “I talked with ownership in John Fisher and their President Dave for a while yesterday”, Stevens wrote in a text message. “This is very good for Las Vegas, very good for jobs, very good for hotel rooms (i.e. the LVCA). The key thing is getting the location nailed down and moving forward.

Nevada’s recently elected Governor Joe Lombardo is not willing to have any taxes on the people in order to help build the A’s ballpark in Las Vegas, but he also said that there are other ways to accomplish this without taxing the people. This recent trip by Fisher and Kaval to Las Vegas was a big step for the A’s in their “parallel plan” to seek a new stadium in Las Vegas or Oakland.

There has been no news from the City of Oakland who is dealing now with a set of issues including new elected council members and a new Mayor. As of mid-afternoon of Thursday, the A’s have not disclosed any details on their meeting yesterday in Las Vegas. The A’s only have one more year (2024) after this season when their lease expires at the Oakland Coliseum.

Does the City of Oakland wants the Oakland A’s? Or is Las Vegas a step closer today to welcoming this historic American League franchise?

This is a developing story

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

A’s Fisher and Kaval to meet with Las Vegas casino owner regarding ball park site on strip

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One of the proposed locations on the Las Vegas Strip for a new Oakland A’s ballpark. One location at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds and the other is at Resorts World as the photo indicates here (photo by google maps)

A’s Fisher and Kaval to meet with Las Vegas casino owner regarding ball park site on strip

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The top brass of the Oakland A’s is back in Las Vegas today to continue discussions on a potential relocation to Las Vegas, Nevada. It has been reported that A’s owner John Fisher and team president Dave Kaval met with resort operators on the Strip.

There are two potential sites. One that went silent in recent months is the Las Vegas Festival Grounds owner and casino magnate Phil Ruffin. Now it is said that this site is back and still in play for the A’s. It is a 39-acre site for a potential retractable dome stadium. Perspective: How big are 39 acres for a baseball stadium? The San Francisco Giants Oracle Park is just 14 acres.

The other location for A’s interest is in the Strip (as the photo here indicates) as the executives meet on the 66th Floor of Resorts World, to get a good bird’s eye view. Meanwhile, there is total silence from the Oakland A’s and the City of Oakland regarding the projected Howard Terminal, which has suffered more setbacks recently.

Oakland failed to secure more than $180 million in federal funds that would have benefited the A’s proposed waterfront ballpark and surrounding development, raising the question of whether the city will be able to get the project done. The A’s also lost a lawsuit over regulating the steel company that’s next to a proposed site for building a new waterfront stadium.

This is what’s going on today in the A’s Saga.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Oakland A’s Spanish radio play by play voice with Manolo Hernandez Douen at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: How Fujinami fits in on the A’s pitching staff; A’s welcome new broadcaster Johnny Doskow

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Japan pitcher Shintaro Fujinami pitches against the Netherlands in the sixth inning of an international exhibition series baseball game at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Nov. 12, 2016. Right-hander Fujinami (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury how big of a help will Japanese pitcher Shintaro Fujinami be for the Oakland A’s. Fujinami has an 3.17 ERA and is noted to throw in the 90s and could have been aligned with some like Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani but Fujinami’s control has been in question.

#2 Fujinami signed with the A’s for $3.2 million on a one year deal the Nippon Hanshin Tigers did submit on the MLB posting system that Fujinami was available and the A’s scooped him up.

#3 Look for Fujimani to use the splitter when he has a hitter on two strikes, Fujinami has a 34% strikeout rate and 66% of facing hitter he gets them to ground out.

#4 The A’s this off season have signed third baseman Jace Peterson, right hander Drew Rucinski and Trevor May, catcher Manny Pina, and outfielder Esteury Ruiz from trades.

#5 Amaury, the Oakland A’s have added Johnny Doskow who joins the A’s radio broadcast team of Ken Korach and Vince Cotroneo for pre season and regular season games. Doskow comes from the triple A Sacramento River Cats.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play Spanish radio announcer for the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI San Francisco