Category: San Francisco Giants

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants and two other Teams sued for Junk Fees on tickets

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer hasn’t made a comment to the news media yet about the lawsuit against the Giants regarding junk fees by plaintiff Juan Flores. The Giants are one of three teams being sued regarding junk fees on inflated ticket prices. (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

Giants and two other Teams sued for Junk Fees on tickets

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

With Spring Training ’26 around the corner, Major League Baseball made news in the litigation side of things when the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, and Washington Nationals all faced class-action lawsuits. Allegedly, these teams used hidden “junk fees” to inflate ticket prices.

These three teams are accused of misleading advertising tickets at lower prices when they are only for mandatory fees, such as processing and “facility fees”. It is called “drip pricing,” which, at checkout, often doubles the cost the fan/buyer was originally told it would be. Giants: A class action lawsuit (Flores v. San Francisco Baseball Associations LLC) was filed in Federal Court in San Francisco on January 26, 2026, by plaintiff Juan Flores, represented by Almeida Law Group LLC and Tycko & Zavareel LLP.

Alleges the Giants added mandatory “Service”, “Convenience”, and “Order Processing” fees at the last second, increasing the cost of the ticket by 45%. Cinics will say, “Hey It is San Francisco, one of the most expensive cities in the world”. That is true.

San Francisco is considered among the top five cities in the world with the highest cost of living. The San Francisco Giants have experienced a notable decline in attendance. From their winning/peak seasons, with average attendance falling from 3 million in 2016, when they had their best start in MLB through mid-season, they collapsed in the second half and made the postseason as a Wild Card, beating the Mets, but lost the NLDS to the Chicago Cubs.

Boston Red Sox: The plaintiff’s suit alleges the team used “bait-and-switch” tactics to add “junk fees” that ultimately increase ticket prices by as much as 150%. Washington Nationals: Their proposed class-action lawsuit is different from the Giants’ and Red Sox’s in scope, but also about tickets.

The Nationals are fighting a proposed class action lawsuit filed in September 2025 in a Washington, D.C., federal court by a consumer alleging the team charged similar hidden fees for years. Teams increase their ticket prices, for many reasons like high demand, rising players’ salaries, and special premium seating experiences .

The San Francisco Giants have experienced a notable decline in attendance from their peak seasons, with average attendance falling from over 3 million in 2016 to around 30,000–33,000 per game in recent years. Contributing factors include an “unexciting” on-field product, a lack of major, long-term player signings, high ticket/parking prices, and a significantly eroded season-ticket base, which dropped from nearly 30,000 in 2017 to roughly half that in 2022.

The fans want to be repaid for the extra fees that were not included in the initially advertised prices. The suit, filed in federal court in San Francisco, seeks to have the Giants repay fans who were charged extra fees not included in the initially advertised price, according to local reports.

Looks like a touch of greed from some owners who want a leg up before they lock out the players by December 2026, in what is expected to be a very tough situation for Major League Baseball. A “Battle Royale” when owners will demand a hard salary cap, and the players’ union will continue to oppose it. This could result in something “very malo para el baseball.”

Quote: On Economic Realities: “People don’t want to go to the stadium, pay a high ticket price, then get cleaned out when they go to the ballpark… Until you have more disposable income, pricing is going to be a problem.” — Michael Cramer, former president of the Texas Rangers.

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

San Francisco Giants report: Giants agree to two-year deal with outfielder Harrison Bader

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader signed a two year deal worth $22 million with the San Francisco Giants on Mon Jan 26, 2026 (Google photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

It seems the Giants have finally nabbed a free agent hitter, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has reported that the team has agreed to sign center-fielder Harrison Bader to a two-year deal.

If the deal is completed, it will be the most significant move the Giants have made in what has been a frustrating-slow off-season. To this point, their most significant signing has been starting pitcher Adrian Houser, who was signed to a two-year deal worth $22 million, with a club option for 2028. The Giants have also signed relief-pitchers Jason Foley and Sam Hentges to one-year deals.

It would also be a solid addition to the Giants’ lineup. Bader hit a career-high .277 with the Twins and Phillies last season, with 17 home runs, and 54 RBIs. He hit .305 with the Phillies after being traded from the Twins on July 31 of last year.

Bader is also a terrific outfielder, and one perhaps even amongst the best outfielders in the game. Bader’s presence made a tremendous difference in the Phillies’ outfield after he was acquired.

However, Bader has had some recent injuries. He had to leave Game 1 of the NLDS last year with a hamstring injury, and was limited to just two pinch-hit at-bats for the remainder of the series, in which the Phillies lost in four games to the eventual-world champion Dodgers.

The finances of the deal have yet to be disclosed.

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants beat reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee briefly detained at LA airport over missing travel documents

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By Vince Cestone

Jung Hoo Lee homers off Carlos Rondo/ AP file photo

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee was briefly detained at Los Angeles International Airport after he arrived from South Korea on Wednesday.

Lee didn’t have the correct documents to get through customs, officials said. He had forgotten the paperwork, according to KRON4.

Lee was arriving in the United States on Wednesday to prepare for Spring Training in Arizona, which starts in February.

The missing paperwork issue has been sorted out, and Lee was allowed to enter Los Angeles.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi helped to resolve the issue, according to Cleveland.com.

The Giants issued the following statement about the incident:

“Earlier today, Jung Hoo Lee experienced a brief travel issue at LAX due to a paperwork issue. The matter was quickly clarified with the appropriate authorities and he has since been cleared to continue his travel. We appreciate the professionalism of all parties involved.”

The Giants signed Lee to a $113 million, six-year contract. He hit .266 with eight home runs and 55 RBIs, with 10 stolen bases over 150 games.

Jeff Kent punches ticket to Cooperstown

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former New York Met and San Francisco Giant Jeff Kent addresses the media at the MLB baseball winter meetings in Orlando Fla on Mon Dec 8, 2025. Kent was elected into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame on Sun Dec 7, 2025. (AP News photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

Former Giants’ second-baseman Jeff Kent got his ticket to Cooperstown when the Contemporary Era Committee voted him in as the first member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

This a well-deserved honor for Kent, who hit .290 in 17-year big league big league career from 1992 to 2008. The 16-person committee is made up of six hall-of-famers; six current and former baseball executives; and three other members of the media. 12 votes were required, and Kent got 14.

Kent was originally eligible under the conventional BBWAA ballot from 2014 to 2023, but did not get in. So was Kent’s former teammate and adversary, Barry Bonds. Bonds, like Kent, did not get in on the BBWAA ballot.

However, Bonds did not get in on the Contemporary Era ballot either. In fact, under a new rule, since Bonds received fewer than five votes, even though this committee will next vote in December 2028 for the Class of 2029, Bonds will not be eligible again until December 2031 for the Class of 2032.

To make matters worse for Bonds under this new rule, if he once again fails to reach five votes in 2031, he will be permanently ineligible to get into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Kent remained mum on the subject of Bonds not getting into the Hall of Fame, but lavished praise on his old rival. Bonds, meanwhile, was humble in another rejection from the hall, as he congratulated Kent on getting into Cooperstown.

The man whom Kent gave a lot of credit to was his old skipper, Dusty Baker, who may join Kent in the Hall of Fame in as little as a year from now. Kent, who originally came up as a dead-pull hitter, learned how to go the other way from Dusty.

Kent was drafted out of Cal Berkeley by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989, and made his major league debut in 1992. Kent was traded over to the New York Mets in the middle of 1992, and he would remain in Queens until he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in the middle of 1996.

The Giants tapped Brian Sabean to replace Bob Quinn as the general manager at the end of 1996. One of Sabean’s first moves was to trade longtime and fan-favorite third-baseman Matt Williams to the Indians for Kent.

Giants’ fans absolutely lost their minds over the move, but after a disastrous 94-loss last-place finish in a miserable 1996 campaign, Sabean was willing to try anything. Sabean also added J.T. Snow and a few others, and the Giants miraculously went all the way from worst to first and won the National League West in a magical 1997 season.

Kent spent six years with the Giants from 1997 to 2002. He won the Willie Mac Award in 1998. He then beat out Bonds for the National League Most Valuable Player Award after hitting .334 in 2000, when Kent and Bonds, along with Ellis Burks, led the Giants to a memorable 97-win season—the best record in Baseball—in the first year at then-Pacific Bell Park.

Kent had another solid season in 2001. Despite a controversial injury in 2002, he hit .313 with a career-high 37 home runs, and helped lead the Giants to just their third National League Pennant in San Francisco.

Giants’ fans all know the story of how the 2002 World Series ended. After the Angels wrapped up their title in Game 7, Kent told the media gathered at his locker, “I feel like a loser.”

Dusty left the Giants to go manage the Chicago Cubs after the tragic finish to 2002, and a lot of players from that team also left. One of them was Kent, who signed with the Houston Astros. In his first visit back to Pacific Bell Park in April 2003, Kent was mercilessly booed by Giants’ fans.

The booing got even worse when Kent joined the Los Angeles Dodgers of all teams. Kent spent his final four seasons—2005 to 2008—with the Dodgers, and was even involved in a war of words with the Giants’ fiery young right-handed relief pitcher, Billy Sadler, on Aug. 9, 2008.

Kent announced his retirement on Jan. 21, 2009. When the Giants inducted him onto the team’s new Wall of Fame on Aug. 29 of that year, he was cheered like old times, and it seemed as if he was never booed in his old ballpark.

Kent has remained connected with the Giants’ organization since. He has shown up to spring training as a special instructor on multiple occasions, and has taken part in various ceremonies.

Kent hopes to go into the hall as a Giant. It is not known whether the Giants will retire Kent’s old number of 21, which would be very well deserved.

Kent had his ways, and feuded with a lot of people. While Kent was not the kind of player who hung or even became friends with his teammates, he came up with that same grin every time he stepped up to the plate, and he always put his team ahead of himself on the field. The man was a competitor who wanted to win every single time he took the field.

In a game that has unnecessarily been made overly complicated over the last eight years, players should heed the wise words of the new hall-of-famer: “the money lies in the RBI.”

Well said! Congratulations on the greatest honor of your life, Mr. Kent!

San Francisco Giants report: Vitello introduces himself to San Francisco

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants president Buster Posey (left) and new manager Tony Vitello is introduced to the news media at a press conference at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Oct 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants introduced their colorful new manager, Tony Vitello, in what turned out to be a massive press conference at Oracle Park this morning.

Members of the media and the Giants’ top brass all gathered on this foggy morning on the Club Level at Oracle Park, as Chairman Greg Johnson and President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey introduced Vitello to the city of San Francisco and Northern California.

It looked to be a rather-small crowd, but about 10 to 15 minutes prior to the start, a whole tsunami of people showed up. It felt like the entire city of San Francisco showed up.

Posey introduced Vitello, and presented him with a Giants’ cap and Giants’ jersey. As of right now, Vitello’s number will be 23, which was worn by Felipe Alou when he managed the club from 2003 to 2006.

It was a surreal experience for Vitello, who admitted that he never dreamed of being a big league ballplayer, as he admitted his skills were not up to par. However, he said that becoming a big league manager was a dream come true.

Members of Vitello’s family were in attendance, as were members of Vitello’s host family when he was a coach for the Salina Packers of the California Collegiate League in 2002. Vitello is actually pretty familiar with the Giants’ organization, and even said he sat behind home plate in Kansas City for Madison Bumgarner’s five-inning performance in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series.

Vitello is a revolutionary hire in the game of baseball. There have been many innovative things that have happened throughout the history of the game, and Vitello’s arrival is up there as one of the most notable.

Vitello is the first man to go straight from coaching college baseball to managing a major league team without any experience whatsoever in organized and professional baseball.

There’s always the question of how big league players will respond to a new manager. That question may be asked more than ever with a college head coach coming in to head a big league team

Outfielder Drew Gilbert, a character himself, who made himself a hit with his quirky personality, played for Vitello at Tennessee. So did starting pitcher Blade Tidwell, who came over from the Mets to the Giants along with Gilbert in the Tyler Rogers trade on July 30.

Gilbert was ecstatic when he heard the news. Vitello then said that he would be Gilbert’s babysitter.

On a podcast with Greg Olsen last week, Vitello said that personalities were a requirement. Vitello made reference to the 1993 Philadelphia Phillies, a team with many gregarious personalities.

Vitello touched up on his comments from a week ago.

“I think the biggest thing is to be comfortable in your own skin, and let [your] personality shine through, regardless of what [your] day is like,” said Vitello. “There is a lot of downtime in our sport, so personality is somewhat of a requirement for [things] to go as well as I think it could go.”

John Kruk, the Phillies’ first-baseman in 1993, and one of the biggest characters on that team, said that players would stay deep into the night after games to drink beer and talk about baseball.

“The thing is to let that stuff evolve organically,” added Vitello. “If you do have an environment that is entertaining, welcoming and fun, you tend to want to spend more time in that environment.

Even Max Scherzer, who pitched at a future first-ballot hall of famer heaped praise on the Giants’ new skipper. Vitello was Scherzer’s pitching coach at the University of Missouri, and even played a role in developing Scherzer into the hall of famer that he became.

When asked by John Shea how games would be managed, Posey was mum on how that would go, and said that he and Vitello would work in tandem.

Vitello will now get to work assembling his coaching staff, and as the 2025 World Series and Season near their end, Posey will soon get to work building the team for next season.

Posey goes unorthodox, taps Tennessee Head Coach Tony Vitello as Giants’ next manager

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

New San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello will manage the 2026 Giants. Vitello is the first manager in MLB history to go straight from the college level to manage in the big leagues. (file photo Chattanooga Times Free Press)

by Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–San Francisco Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey has made the unorthodox move of bringing in University of Tennessee Head Coach Tony Vitello to be the Giants’ next manager in an historic move.

When the Giants dismissed Bob Melvin as their manager on Sept. 28, there were numerous names floated around for who would be the team’s next skipper. From former Giants Nick Hundley, who was Posey’s teammate in 2017 and 2028; to even the legend himself, and Posey’s longtime manager, Bruce Bochy.

After two lackluster seasons under Melvin, Posey wanted to move the Giants in a different direction. Indeed he did, as he chose a college head coach in Tony Vitello to be the Giants’ new manager in an unprecedented move in Baseball History.

Vitello has been immensely successful as the head coach at the University of Tennessee for the last eight years, and he coached them to the College World Series title in 2024. However, Vitello has never been in organized baseball.

Vitello, 47, was born and grew up in St. Louis Missouri, where he went to De Smet High School. He then spent three years as an infielder at the University of Missouri from 2000 to 2002. 

Vitello transitioned into a coaching role as an assistant coach at Missouri in 2003, and spent eight seasons in that capacity. He went on to be an assistant coach at Texas Christian University from 2010 to 2014, and then the University of Arkansas from 2014 to 2017, before being hired as Tennessee’s head coach for the 2018 season.

There have been former college coaches who have managed big league teams. Brewers Manager Pat Murphy is the most notable. Murphy was the head coach at Notre Dame from 1988 to 1994, and then at Arizona State from 1995 to 2009.

Murphy started his career in organized baseball in the San Diego Padres’ front office in 2010 as a special assistant to baseball operations. He then managed in the Padres’ minor league system from 2011 until he was named the Padres’ interim manager in June 2015.

Murphy then spent the next eight seasons as the Brewers’ bench coach under his old pupil at Notre Dame, Craig Counsell. Murphy then took over as the Brewers’ manager in 2024, and got them to the playoffs in both of his first two seasons at the helm.

However, no one, at least in recent memory, has gone straight from being a college head coach one year to being a big league manager the next. Vitello may be the first in Baseball History to do so.

This is actually not uncommon in the NFL. Jim Harbaugh was the head coach at Stanford, and then was the head coach for the 49ers from 2011 to 2014.

There is always room for innovation in Baseball. Perhaps Vitello’s hire will start a new trend and custom in baseball of people going straight from being head coaches at colleges to being big league managers. How Vitello fares as the manager for the Giants will determine if that indeed happens or not.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants would be the First to hire a college coach

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

FILE – Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello looks on during a baseball game against Stanford at the NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Neb., June 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz, File)

Giants would be the First to hire a college coach

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In the history of the game, no Major League Baseball team has ever hired a college baseball manager to manage its team. The Giants are reportedly close to hiring Tony Vitello. Vitello would be the first manager in major league history to move directly from a college program to an MLB manager position without any previous experience in a professional organization.

Giants president Buster Posey leads the team’s manager hiring, reportedly targeting Tony Vitello for the role. Posey is part of the Giants’ ownership and has a key role in these decisions. Tony Vitello is the head baseball coach for the University of Tennessee Volunteers, who led the team to a national championship in 2024.

Common sense, and the conventional thinking for many would dictate that if a Major League franchise leaves their organization seeking to hire a new manager, it would be a man that already had managed at the Major League level, but if that is not the case, then the San Francisco Giants have seven managers at their minor league affiliates, including the Sacramento River Cats (Triple-A), Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A), Eugene Emeralds (High-A), and San Jose Giants (Single-A), plus two Dominican Summer League teams and one Arizona Complex League team.

The Giants could promote one of these managers to San Francisco. For example, Lenn Sakata, who managed the San Jose Giants for 11 seasons, has the most seniority among minor league managers in the Giants organization.

He holds California League records for wins (757), championships (3), playoff appearances (8), and years managed (11). He is well known and especially here in the Bay Area. So why not pick a man who has paid his dues and has been very successful in the minor leagues, like Sakata?

Of course, like the old saying, ‘it takes two to tango’, Sakata might not want the challenge. Perhaps the Giants’ top brass do not believe he has the leadership skills to guide their team at the Major League level. Buster Posey is the one doing the hiring. Buster Posey, a catcher, could also take the challenge to manage if he so desires.

Catchers are by far the most popular position where Managers come from. The Los Angeles Angels have hired former catcher Kurt Suzuki as their new manager. Suzuki, who finished his playing career with the Angels, has spent the last three seasons as a special assistant to the General Manager.

He replaces Ron Washington and becomes the team’s fifth manager since 2018. Suzuki broke into the major leagues with the Oakland A’s from 2007 to 2011 and later in 2013. He also played and caught for the Nationals, Twins, Braves, and Angels.

During his first season in the majors with the Oakland A’s, I remember Suzuki as a very studious, detail-oriented player —a good catcher, who knew the game and liked the challenge of catching and working game plans with all the pitchers.

When hired as the new Los Angeles Angels manager, Kurt Suzuki expressed his excitement about the opportunity and his commitment to the team’s future, and he expressed gratitude for the role after spending the last three seasons as a special assistant to the general manager. He said he is eager to lead the team as the full-time manager.

If the Giants hire Tony Vitello, it would mark the first time a Major League franchise hires somebody to be their skipper with no experience at the top level of the game. Will it work? Nobody knows. Time will tell. If I were a manager in the team’s minor league system and I learned that the team had hired someone who was managing in College, I believe it would be, in some way, a slap in my face.

At the end of the day, it is a business; this is professional baseball. List of all SF Giants managers from 1958 to 2025: Bill Rigney, Tom Sheehan, Alvin Dark, Herman Franks, Clyde King, Charlie Fox, Wes Westrum, Bill Rigney (again) Joe Altobelli, Dave Bristol, Frank Robinson, Danny Ozark, Jim Davenport, Dusty Baker, Felipe Alou, Bruce Bochy, Gabe Kapler, Kai Correa (interim) Bob Melvin.

Quote: “The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided”. Casey Stengel, Manager, Hall of Fame(1966)

San Francisco Giants report: Giants closing in on Tony Vitello as new manager

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Tennessee Volunteers head baseball coach Tony Vitello watches the football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the UAB Blazers during the second quarter at Neyland Stadium. (photo from Yahoo News)

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants are closing in on hiring University of Tennessee Head Coach Tony Vitello to be the team’s next manager according to news sources.

Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey has been searching for a new manager since he dismissed Bob Melvin from the post on Sept. 29. Several names have come up, such as Nick Hundley and Brandon Hyde. 

Tony Vitello’s name has also come up. However, hiring Vitello straight from the dugout of a college team, and bringing him right into the role of a big league manager would be an unprecedented move in Baseball History.

Vitello has his credentials. He has headed Tennessee’s baseball program since 2018, and led them to the college world championship in 2024. In his time at Tennessee, Vitello has built a reputation as one of the most respected college baseball coaches in the country.

There have been other college head coaches who have become big league managers, such as Brewers Manager Pat Murphy. However, Murphy managed in the Padres’ minor league system before becoming a big league manager.

Vitello was present at a team practice for Tennessee on Sunday, which caused speculation that perhaps he will not be coming to the Giants. However, no one can say for sure until the Giants confirm or deny Baggarly’s report.

This is a developing story.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Major League Baseball Leader in Hispanic Heritage

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former San Francisco Giant first baseman Orlando Cepeda was one of the many Hispanic players in the National League in the 1960s. Cepeda is a member of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum. (New York Times file photo)

Major League Baseball Leader in Hispanic Heritage

That’s Amauiry News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The US government designated National Hispanic Heritage Month as a one-month celebration, starting on September 15 and ending on October 15, in 1989 under President George H.W. Bush. Some of the earliest documented celebrations among all US professional sports leagues, like MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLS, originated from Major League Baseball organizations, given the league’s long history with Hispanic/Latino players.

The National League of professional baseball clubs is the oldest professional sports league in the United States, founded in 1876. Major League Baseball (MLB) has the highest percentage of Hispanic/Latino players among the major professional sports leagues in the U.S.

With over 30% of players identified as Latino, and a rich history of talent from countries such as, (in alphabetical order) Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, México, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Panamá, Venezuela and other smaller countries like Aruba, Bahamas, Honduras and Curacao.

Here in the Bay Area, the San Francisco Giants have been leaders in recognizing Hispanic/Latino communities as well as one of the leaders nationwide. These celebrations are conducted by the team(s) not only because of the Hispanic talent on their rosters, but also for the Hispanic/Latino communities in which they play and the many Hispanics who are fans and support their teams.

Of the three most populous cities in the Bay Area, San José, Oakland, and San Francisco, San José is the largest, with at least 33% of its population being Hispanic, followed by Oakland at 29% and San Francisco at 16%. According to the latest 2020 US Census.

The Bay Area is one of the most diverse areas in the US and the world, and teams draw a great number of fans of Hispanic Heritage. Since the Oakland Athletics left the Bay Area after the 2024 season, the Giants have become the “only Major League” baseball team that plays within the nine-county Bay Area, with a total population of approximately 8 million people.

Overall, at the time of the 2020 Census, there were 65.3 million Americans who were Hispanic or Latino. Only México, with 130 million, has more Spanish speakers than the United States of America. The importance of Sports teams’ marketing to the largest minority in the country is just good business Down in LA.

There is no precise figure for the number of Hispanic/Latino fans of the LA Dodgers who attended Dodger Stadium. this season. However, considering the Dodgers’ attendance was over four million fans, and Los Angeles is 50% Hispanic(some say more), you do not need to be Isaac Newton or Archimedes to figure out that 1 million Spanish-speaking fans is a very possible figure for the Dodgers, the team leading the Hispanic market in all US professional leagues.

However, this is nothing new for the Dodgers; they have long recognized the importance of their Hispanic community. The relationship between a team and its fans is frequently viewed as symbiotic. Success is seen as something achieved together, lifted by those around you.

Recognition plays a role in this relationship, reinforcing positive connections. Teams that fail to recognize their own market are bound to fail. Hispanics are the largest consumer group in the US, representing a significant and fast-growing segment of the market with trillions of dollars in buying power that is projected to continue increasing.

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

SF Giants press conference: Buster Posey mum on managerial search and changes

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants general manager Zack Minasian (left) and president Buster Posey (right) address the media at a press conference at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Oct 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey kept things close to his chest at the Giants’ end-of-the-year press conference, following the firing of Manager Bob Melvin.

Posey, who just completed his first season in charge of the Giants’ Baseball Operations Department, was accompanied by General Manager Zack Minasian. Posey took questions relating to all matters, from the search for a new manager, to Giants’ players hitting the free agent market, as well as prospects.

Posey confirmed that he plans to talk to potential managerial candidates this week, but did not go into details on the backgrounds of the candidates. Posey seemed to rule out former manager Bruce Bochy returning to the helm in San Francisco after the latter left his post managing the Texas Rangers, where he led them to a world championship in 2023.

Ryan Christenson and Matt Williams, Bob Melvin’s bench coach and third base coach respectively, will also not return next season. Posey did not give an update on the statuses of Bench Coach Pat Burrell and Pitching Coach J.P. Martinez.

Posey did say that the next manager will have agency over their coaching staff. However, Posey did say that he will want to have some input on the matter.

Bryce Eldridge, the Giants’ top prospect who was up with the big club for the final two weeks of the season, will have surgery on his left wrist. His recovery timeline is expected to be roughly eight weeks. Minasian said the Giants will remain open minded to Eldridge and his place on the team next season.

Other prospects, such as catcher Jesus Rodriguez and starting pitcher Blade Tidwell, both acquired at the Trade Deadline this season, will also get a look in Spring Training next year. Posey mentioned that Rodriguez “[did] not have a ton of experience behind the plate, but [was] a hard worker.”

Posey did not give a timetable on when a new manager will be announced. As for player moves, free agency does not start until after the conclusion of the World Series.