Category: San Francisco Giants

Samardzija enjoying early taste of Dodgers-Giants rivalry

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, March 6, 2016

AP photo: San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeff Smardzija throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during first inning of Sunday’s game

SCOTTSDALE – The rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants that started in 1883 is as heated as ever, even in Spring Training.

This day, the Dodger faithful who were part of the sellout crowd of 12,127 departed happily from Scottsdale Stadium after Los Angeles defeated San Francisco 5-2. They were part of a boisterous crowd that roared and cat-called loud and often throughout the afternoon – an unusually intense crowd for an exhibition contest.

“It’s a rivalry, for sure,” Giants starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija said. “I’ve been a part of a few of them, so I understand. I love it. That’s what sports are all about, man. When you get two passionate fan bases and they’re probably yelling at each other more than the players are, that’s a good time. That’s why we play these games.

“If you don’t enjoy these games, you need to get your pulse checked.”

Samardzija compared it to other rivalries he’s been a part of, like the Cubs and Cardinals when he was pitching in Chicago.

“When (the Cubs) were good enough to make it a rivalry with the Cardinals, it was fun,” Samardzija said. “It’s not so much which one is the biggest – I remember when we had a down team coming in, or they had a down team going in, it never really mattered.

“There’s so much passion and so much at stake, that you throw a lot of things out the window and leave it all out on the field.”

“For a player in general, you’re just here to work on some things, so you have to balance the things you have to work on with it being an exhibition game. You just want to work on some things and understand some people do take this seriously.”

On Sunday, the pitches Samardzija worked on was his slider, and split-finger fastball, along with smoothing out his fastball.

“In the bullpen, I thought my fastball was good enough to where I was OK with it, and it was good today,” Samardzija said. “Then, I was able to move on to my secondary pitches today. I thought I threw a couple of good splits. Obviously the one Micah (Johnson) hit was up and I’d like to have that down a little.

“It’s nice when you can check some things off your list, and when that fastball is good early in the game in spring training, you can move on to other things. That’s what we’re out here for,” he added, “If you’re wasting 50 pitches on getting your heater location, you’re way behind.”

Samardzija, one of the Giants’ key free agent acquisitions in the off-season, struck out the side (Carl Crawford, Joe Pedersen and Yasiel Puig) in the first inning, and threw a double-play ball to A.J. Ellis in the second.

Samardzija faced seven batters in the third, but worked out of bases-loaded jam when he struck out Chase Utley on a slider. In his three innings, Samardzija gave up one earned run on five hits, struck out five and didn’t issue a walk.

“Every time you come out, you want to have a strong first inning,” Samardzija said. “Speaking from experience, it makes the day a little bit longer when that first inning is a grind. In my career, I’ve been big on trying to improve in that first inning, and have a nice balance of being under control and still have enough excitement and fire to take that inning seriously.”

THE GAME
The Dodgers prevailed behind an 11-hit attack, led by two hits each by Crawford, Scott Van Slyke and Charlie Culberson. Crawford and Culberson each drove in two Los Angeles runs.

Dodger pitching held San Francisco to five hits. Reliever Ross Stirpling (1-0) threw two innings of shutout ball to earn the win. Logan Bawcom, borrowed from the LA minor league camp, faced four batters and earned the save.

Clayton Blackburn (0-1), who replaced Samardzija in the fourth, gave up the go-ahead runs in the fifth and took the loss.

“We’re playing well defensively,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said. “But we’re hitting into double plays and that killed us today.”

TAGS: Spring Training,Cactus League,San Francisco Giants,Jeff Samardzija,Sports Radio Service,Daniel Dullum

Giants win Cactus League opener over Angels

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, March 2, 2016

AP photo: San Francisco Giant starter Jeff Samardzija pitched two innings and allowed one run on Wednesday against the Angels

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – In a Cactus League game that provided a little more drama than usual, San Francisco used an RBI double by Christian Arroyo to slip past the visiting Los Angeles Angels Wednesday at Scottsdale Stadium.

In the bottom of the sixth, Trevor Brown singled off losing pitcher Cam Bedrosian and later scored on a single by Ryan Lollis.

Grant Green, the former top Oakland prospect in camp as a non-roster invitee, singled to extend the inning and a wild pitch plated Lollis. Green, who spent parts of the last three seasons with the Angels, then scored on Arroyo’s drive to right-center.

Mike Broadway, who celebrates his 29th birthday at the end of the month, picked up the win, striking out two in 1 1/3 innings. George Kontos, the seventh San Francisco pitcher, threw a scoreless ninth and earned the save.

As per normal, each starting pitcher lasted two innings – left-hander Hector Santiago for the Angels and right-hander Jeff Samardzija, who was making his first appearance in a Giants uniform after signing a five-year, $90 million pact as a free agent.

Samardzija faced four hitters in the first inning, but struggled in the second, giving up one earned run while allowing a double to Carlos Reyes (who scored on Rafael Ortega’s bases-loaded sac fly) and walking two.

After his stint, Samardzija told the press corps, “It’s like the first day of school. You’ve been thinking about this moment for about four months now.”

Giants Manager Bruce Bochy admitted that seeing Samardzija throw to catcher Buster Posey was “like unwrapping a Christmas present.”

“It’s a big acquisition that we’re very excited about,” Bochy said. “It was good to see our new guy out there I know Buster wanted to catch him. It was a good day of work for him.”

San Francisco evened the game when Conor Gillaspie led off the Giants’ third with a home run off Angels right-hander Matt Schoemaker.

“I think you guys (the press) were as anxious to see this game as we were,” Bochy said. “When you get here (in Scottsdale), it’s good to see the guys, we get to start playing the games and you get something to write about. It’s always good to get that first one.”

Bochy said he intends to rotate his everyday players through the first few weeks of exhibition play. Thus, there’s a good chance that left fielder Angel Pagan, newly-acquired center fielder Denard Span and third baseman Matt Duffy could be in the Giants lineup for Thursday’s game in Scottsdale against Milwaukee.

TAGS: San Francisco Giants,Sports Radio Service,Daniel Dullum,Jeff Samardzija,Cactus League

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Thousands turn out for Giants fanfest at AT&T

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

photo credit: http://www.sfbay.com– 2016 San Francisco Giants fanfest at AT&T Park on Saturday

SAN FRANCISCO–The 2016 Giants Fanfest took place on Saturday February 13 at ATT Park, and according to the Giants, between 35,000 to 40,000/ fans got a chance to see some of the regular Giants players as well as some of the  recent additions this winter. Many waited up to four hours to get an autograph. Fans were allowed to visit areas that are usually “of limits”during the regular season, like the press box and other places, during a nice sunny and rather warm day. This was a free event and parking was $10.
The doors opened to the fans at 9AM but there were lines even before that by the corner and main entrance to the park by the Willie Mays statue. Sacramento Rivercats and San Jose Giants mascots mingle with the people and posed with pictures with kids from 9 to 94. The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum is celebrating 18 years as a non profit organization. During the years more and more people are interested in the Hispanic players, and other tournaments  like the recent Caribbean Series that took place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which Mexico won, and now have four titles since 2011.  Close to 33% of all players in the major leagues are of Hispanic descent, you can increase that by another 10%(at least) in the minor league. A very proud San Jose Giants manager, Lipso Nava, 48 years old born in Maracaibo, Venezuela was there very proudly wearing his 2015 SF Giants World Series ring.We spoke for a few minutes at the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame booth, he is a very enterprising bilingual baseball manager with major league aspirations, but  says he is concentrating in this 2016 season as his team will open the campaign on the 7th of April at home against the Lancaster Jayhawks.
Tito Fuentes made a brief stop at the booth, we reminisced from years past. Tito, now a Spanish broadcaster for the Giants, and a very good friend of the museum since it was founded in 1999,  started his career behind the microphone with this reporter back in 1980 with the Oakland Athletics, after he retired in 1978 from a 13 year career in the major leagues. The great Vida Blue, a Cy Young Award winner and a man that pitched with both Bay Area teas,, Athletics and Giants briefly also stopped at the booth to greet us. Vida is a Bay Area fixture in the world of baseball and still involved with the game, as an analyst for the Giants on their pre and post game shows on television. In 1971 Vida Blue won both the MVP and the Cy Young in the American League with the Oakland Athletics, and he was selected to 6 All Star games, one of the most dominant pitchers during the 1970’s.
Although it was in the middle of February the weather made this day feel inside and outside ATT Park as a regular baseball game during the summer. The typical streets performers and vendors that make part of the unique fabric of this city were playing their music, selling souvenirs, even a few blocks past the Letty O’Doul draw bridge, two or three blocks south of the park on the way to the parking lots.
Now the Giants pack their trucks on the way to Spring Training in Scottsdale, Arizona, which they will open this week with pitchers and catchers first reporting. We wish the very best to the San Francisco Giants on this upcoming 2016 season. The Fanfest is always the first stop for fans to remind them, the season is just around the corner. See you in Arizona!
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for the Angels and the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Take on Niners in Pebble Beach Charity Event

Published on by joelamiLeave a comment

By: Joe Lami

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.—The fifth annual Chevron Shoot-Out took place on Wednesday afternoon. Members of the San Francisco 49ers squared off against the San Francisco Giants in a battle for charity. The annual event is the opener to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AM.

The Giants were victorious and earned their revenge winning this year’s contest 3-2. The victory is sweet for Giants’ captain Duane Kuiper, who was sporting the 49ers’ red and gold after the Niners won in last year’s Shoot-Out. The annual bet forces the losing team’s captain to wear the colors of his opponent the next year.

Harris Barton captained Steve Bono, Dwight Clark and Steve Young for the 49ers, who competed for the 49ers Foundation. Though Kuiper didn’t compete for the Giants’, Bruce Bochy, Matt Cain, George Kontos and Randy Winn, who competed for the Giants Community Fund.

The two teams took on the world famous whisky run, holes 1,2,3,17, and 18 at gorgeous Pebble Beach. Weather couldn’t be more perfect on a February afternoon, as the high hit 72 degrees before the afternoon sea breeze kicked in at the perfect time.

On the first hole, the two teams came to a draw, making the second hole worth double at $20,000. The Giants were victorious on hole number two. The 49ers’ battled back and tied things at two holes apiece after winning at the third and 17th.

Cain earned the MVP honors, executing exactly what he said he was going to do before the match, “I’m going to try to hit it as hard as I can and see where it goes”. He then drilled a beautiful tee shot on the scenic to start the deciding 18th.

George Kontos knocked the next ball closer with his 5-iron shot after the 350 yard Cain drive. Cain pulled off a great flop shot hitting the ball within 15 feet of the cup. The pair then needed a two-putt to earn the victory.

Charities were the real winners, though, as the 49ers Foundation and Giants Community Fund, along with local Monterrey-based charities benefited. The Monterey charities included were CHISPA, Girls Inc., Greenfield Community Science Workshop, and the Monterey Peninsula College Foundation were the real winners.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Marlins Gordon gets $50 M for five yrs, Jays Donaldson drives hard bargain wants a total of $11.8 mill

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez, Jeremy Harness, and Jerry Feitelberg

photo credit: yardbarker.com Miami Marlins Dee Gordon swings for the fences he reupped with Miami for $50 million

Don’t touch the top of that stove as it’s getting hot and Major League teams are swapping deals and the Miami Marlins are no exception they had to go out and get National League batting champion Dee Brown who signed to the tune of $50 million and a $14 million deal for five years.

The Toronto Blue Jays Josh Donaldson is taking the Jays to arbitration as he might very well hold out. Donaldson is looking for a raise from $11.35 million to $11.8 million. He is very likely to get it considering his success in his first year in Toronto.

photo credit: AP photo of the Miami Marlins Dee Brown who just got a bump up from the Marlins in pay

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Former New York Giant Monte Irwin dead at 96

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment
by Amaury Pi Gonzalez
photo credit: vintagecardtraders.org New York Giants hero Monte Irwin in 1953
A truly historical and legendary figure, Monte Irwin died in Houston, Monday night at age of 96 of natural causes. He was sought after to be the first African-American to break the color barrier, in the 1940’s, before Jackie Robinson. Negro League owners recommended to Branch Rickey, President and General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers Irwin to be the first African-American to play in the big leagues.
A great long life for Irwin who was a mentor to Willie Mays, and who was in the dugout at Polo Grounds when Bobby Thompson hit the “Shot Heard ‘Round The World”In American baseball, the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” (usually spelled with an apostrophe) denotes the game-winning walk-off home run by New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca at the Polo Grounds to win the National League pennant at 3:58 p.m. EST on October 3, 1951. As a result of the “shot”, the Giants won the game 5-4, defeating their traditional rivals in their pennant playoff series 2 games to 1. This moment was named the greatest in New York or San Francisco Giants history and one of the most famous in the history of the game.
“I don’t have any regrets,” Irvin said in 2010. “I couldn’t aspire to becoming a Major Leaguer because the door was closed. Jackie Robinson is the real hero and the real pioneer. I was just so happy he was successful, and it made it much easier for all of us who came after him.”
Willie Mays, 84 years old,  issued a statement in reaction to the news of Irvin’s death that read, “Today is a sad, sad day for me. I lost someone I cared about and admired very, very much; someone who was like a second father to me. Monte was a kind of guy that you had to be around to get to know. But once you became friends, he always had your back. You had a friend for life. Monte Irvin was a great left fielder. Monte Irvin was a great man. I will miss him. There are no words for how I feel today. I could say so much more about Monte, but this is not so easy to do right now.” Monte Irwin played a very big part in the integration of the game with African-Americans who were coming into the majors in the 1950’s. Irwin the fourth American-American player to make it to the majors, after Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby(first African-American player in the American League)and Hank Thompson.
Born on  February 25, 1919 in Hateburg, Alabama.Monte Irwin played with the New York Giants from 1949 to 1955, a first-baseman and left-fielder, Irwin had his best year in 1951, when he finished with a .312 batting average, 24 home runs and 121 runs batted in. I had the privilege of meeting him and shaking his hand on the field prior to a postseason game which he used to frequent often.
Monte Irwin, member of the Hall of Fame, was a man of class and dignity. May he rest in Peace.
 Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for the Angels and the Spanish radio voice for the A’s and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsadioservice.com
     
Actions
Mark as Unread
Mark as Read
Mark as Spam
Star
Clear Star
 Previous Next

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Oakland will lose the Raiders

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

photo credit: tnation.t-nation.com Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis

ALAMEDA–Monday the 4th of January 2016, was the dateline for teams to present plans to the NFL to move to Los Angeles. The San Diego Chargers, the St Louis Rams and the Oakland Raiders, at least one(maybe two)will leave for Los Angeles, the second media market in the country that hasn’t had an NFL team for the past 20 years. By mid January, one or more teams have to be approved for the proposed move and three-quarters of owners have to vote to make it possible, if not(no decision by then)it could get tabled until next year.

The Rams proposed a stadium which could house two teams in Inglewood, LA area. Another plan would be for the Chargers and Raiders to share the facility at Carson. By far the Rams have the best option with $450 million in possible subsides, while the poorest would be the Raiders. The franchise relocation fee is $550 million dollars, and no team has received enough support from NFL owners to make the move. Committees are meeting during this first week of the year in New York.
The Chargers released this statement:
“We have tried for more than 14 years, through nine separate proposals and seven different mayors, to create a world-class stadium experience for fans in San Diego. Despite these efforts, there is still no certain, actionable solution to the stadium problem. We are sad to have reached this point.”The Rams statement:

“The Rams  informed the National Football League today that the Rams propose to relocate to the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. The relocation would be effective for the 2016 NFL League Year.”

And the Oakland Raiders were the last to release a statement::

“In accordance with the relocation policies, the Oakland Raiders submitted a relocation package to the NFL. The matter is now in the hands of the NFL’s owners. An owners’ meeting is scheduled to take place in Houston, Texas on January 12 and 13, 2016.”

—————————————————————————–

 

Are the San Francisco Giants willing to spend on Yoenis Cespedes?

The Giants signed two starting pitchers to strengthen their 2015 weak rotation, by signing free agents Jeff Samardzija for $90 million dollars and five years and then Johny Cueto for 6 years and $130 million dollars. The “first row” of free agents outfielders available as of today are: Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton and Alex Gordon. Cespedes would be the ideal fit for the Giants in a stadium where a good right handed power hitter can do very well, but Cespedes is looking for a long deal of four years at least and most teams are probably pondering the situation; as he would turn 31 years of age this 2016 season. Alex Gordon, with less power but a Gold Glove could be a good option also, and of course Justin Upton who could provide some power in the middle of the lineup. Cespedes probably is the best fit, and he would be back in the Bay Area, where he originally began his career with the Oakland Athletics. The Los Angeles Angels are very much in need of a power bat left fielder, but owner Arte Moreno said recently he is not going for the big free agents this year. However, he has said that before, and has also changed his mind. He has the money, so I would not be surprised if he signed a guy like Yoenis Cespedes.

 

                                                                ——————————————————————————
Are the Warriors receiving enough national recognition?
If the Warriors played in New York, or Los Angeles, or even Chicago, we would be reading that this 2015-2016 is “the best NBA team ever, but they play in the Bay Area, Oakland, to be exact. If we determine the best team by winning record, the history books show that the best three teams ever where all Chicago Bulls;  1995-98,  72-10, 1996-1997,   69-13 and  1991-1992, 67-15, the Michael Jordan and company teams. The Warriors are 32-2, on a pace to become the best record ever, all they have to do is to win 41 of their next 48 games, then the numbers will show that they are the best on a regular season in the NBA history. Notice the Bulls (above) have the best two records ever on consecutive seasons, and that means that if the Warriors win the NBA title again, they will make some history also. Easy to forget here in Curryland, that the San Antonio Spurs have a 30-6 record.
                                                                 ——————————————————————————-
Brazil looking for Vinganca
In Portuguese, the world Vinganca means “revenge” and this next World Cup of Soccer, the world’s greatest sporting event, will take place in Brazil, this year and Brazilians who were totally embarrassed during the last World Cup by Germany who defeated them 7- 1 are looking forward to playing this time in front of the greatest futbol audience in the world. Brazil has won five World Cups more than anybody and they are the only team to have qualified to every World Cup. When you are the host country, you automatically qualify, so that was sort of good news for the Brazilians this year.  Germany is #2 all time with four World Cup titles. Brazil is the fifth largest country(by territory)in the world, only Russia, Canada, United States of America and China are larger, but there is not bigger passion for one sport in the world but for Futbol in Brazil. Because the way they lost to Germany last time in the final game, where 95%of the Brazilian people were either listening on the radio or watching on television, the media in Brazil considers this 2016 World cup as their most important in their history.
                                                                   ——————————————————————————–
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is a former candidate for the Ford C Frick Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Remembering El Cometa de Carolina Roberto Clemente

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment
by Amaury Pi Gonzalez
photo credit: psacard.com 1964 Topps giant Pittsburgh Pirates Roberto Clemente
Where were you on December 31, 1972? Where you born yet? This was the day one of the real legends of baseball died at the young age of 38 years as he was on a DC-3 airplane  loaded with relief effort on a mercy mission from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Managua, Nicaragua, just days after Nicaragua’s biggest earthquake took place not far from Managua,(the capital)on December 23,1972. This monster shake caused over 6,000 deaths, 20,000 wounded and 250,000 left homeless. The plane  Clemente chartered,filled with aid disappeared north of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Five people were killed in the crash, including Clemente, whose body was never recovered. He spent his off-season in his native Puerto Rico, where he played and managed in the Puerto Rico national league.
Born in 1934, Clemente was a track and field star and Olympic hopeful before deciding to turn his attention to baseball, a national passion in his native Puerto Rico. He was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954 and was given a bonus of $10,000–an impressive amount for the time. Due to a league rule forcing major league clubs to keep any player paid more than $4,000 on their roster for an entire season–or risk him being drafted by rival teams–Clemente was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates after the Dodgers relegated him to the minor league Montreal Canadiens. But why did Clemente charter that plane? After he learned that the carriers by earlier relief planes had not reach its intended recipients he decided to accompany the next one himself. The plane that crashed was found to have a history of mechanical problems, and was carrying too much weight.
Roberto Clemente’s heart was much bigger than his great baseball persona on the field, and his Hall of Fame performance with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he is the most famous #21 in the history of the game, and to this day, young kids that play baseball from Puerto Rico, want to wear his #21. Throughout the years Puerto Rican stars in the maior leagues, like Ruben Sierra and Candido(Candy)Maldonado, has wore that famous #21. A number that Major League Baseball should also retire, like the #42 of Jackie Robinson. Clemente was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, becoming the first Latin American and Caribbean player to be enshrined. His untimely death established the precedent that, as an alternative to the five-year retirement period, a player who has been deceased for at least six months is eligible for entry into the Hall of Fame.
Retiring #21 for all 30 major league teams, would be a home run for the new Commissioner. When Roberto Clemente played, most of the teams didn’t even have one Hispanic player. Today some of the biggest names in the game are born in Latin America, and many teams did not have a minority playing. Clemente’s first)pf his total 18 seasons)was 1955, less than 10 years since the first black player put a uniform(Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947). Clemente remains the most historical of all players born in Latin America; no, he was not the first Hispanic to play in the major leagues, but he was definitely the first impact player born in Latin America.
He barely spoke English, and that made his life very tough, he was often misquoted by the print media, something he detested, because he was a honorable and  a very proud family Clemente enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve after the 1958 season and spent six months on active duty at Parris Island, South Carolina and Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. He served until 1964 and was inducted into the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. When I was writing for El Mundo News of Oakland, inn the early 1970’s, I covered games at Candlestick Park when the Giants hosted the Pirates. Although it was not the 1940’s racism in baseball was very much around. I could never forget during one game at Candlestick Park, after Clemente struck out at the plate, a Pittsburgh reporter shouted in the press box: “sending him back in a banana boat!”. To this day, I do not know if this was meant to be funny, but to me it sounded very racist, even if it was a sarcastic remark. Clemente was not famous for striking out; as a matter of mathematical fact, he came to the plate on 9,454 occasions, and struck out only 1,230 times. In other words he struck out 68.5 times per season. Contact, great hitter, that is how he finished with a career .317 average.
Almost poetic, Clemente’s last hit, was his 3,000 hit of his career. At Three Rivers Stadium against Mets lefty Jon Matlack a 22-year old rookie, who gave the double against the left field cement wall, and Clemente’s 3,000 hit. At the time, Roberto was the 11th major league player to reach the plateau and the first ever Latin American player to do so. His last hit September 30, 1972, his last day on this earth (3 months later), December 31, 1972. That historical 3,000 hit is in Spanish in the Hall of Fame, at Cooperstown, New York with the call by legendary Cuban-born announcer, good friend and Hall of Fame member, Rafael “Felo”Ramirez, at 92 years old, until this 2015 season still the Spanish play by play announcer for the Miami Marlins. Felo is also in The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame.
This Thursday December 31, 2015, it will be 43 years since Roberto (El Cometa de Carolina, trans The Carolina Comet) born in Carolina, Puerto Rico August 19, 1934 died on that plane crash. If you saw Roberto Clemente play, it was not only about his talent, but his style,  running the bases like a gazele, playing right field with one the best arms ever seen,his dedication to the game and to other human being, you have to agree, he was indeed One of A Kind.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish play by play announcer and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

     
Actions
Mark as Unread
Mark as Read
Mark as Spam
Star
Clear Star
 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Former Oakland A’s outfielder Dave “Hendu” Henderson dead at 57

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

photo credit: from Wikipedia of Dave Henderson in 1989 with the Oakland A’s

OAKLAND–He was known as Hendu to his teammates, his co-workers in the media, and fans Dave Henderson the former San Francisco Giant, Boston Red Sox, Kansas Royal, Seattle Mariner, and Oakland A passed away today at the age of 57.

Henderson had been having complications with a kidney transplant and was reportedly in ill health for about a month. Henderson was on those great Oakland A’s teams that went to the World Series in 1988-1990. Henderson in the 1989 World Series hit a pair of home runs in game three to help the A’s sweep the Giants in four games.

Henderson played for 14 years in the big leagues and finished his career with a career batting average .258, 197 homers, and 708 RBIs. Henderson at the concluded his baseball career on July 29, 1994 with the Royals and later worked with the Seattle Mariners TV network from 1997-2006 with Mariners Hall of Fame announcer Dave Niehaus. After the death of Niehaus, Henderson was asked to return to the booth in 2011.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweeted some kind parting words about Hendu’s passing today: “Dave Henderson the gregarious man know as Hendu died Sunday, one month after getting a kidney transplant he will be tremendously missed.”

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for Oakland A’s baseball and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, and Commentary: Former Giant Leake signs with Cards for $80M; no change in scorekeeping for shift; Boggs to get #26 retired by Sox

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

AP photo: St.Louis Cardinal pitcher Mike Leake meets the press on Tuesday during his signing with the Cards

SAN FRANCISCO–Former San Francisco Giant Mike Leake who signed with the St.Louis Cardinals on Tuesday will get $80 million for five years and an option bonus that will pay him $94 million and a no trade clause as Christmas comes early for Leake. Leake met the with press on Tuesday afternoon and said upon joining St.Louis “I think we can be the best, if they name me the number five guy that’s fine with me.”

The shift is on: Major League Baseball met with official scorekeepers and decided to make rulings and decisions based on the players original position in the starting line ups on defensive plays.  So if the shortstop is at second and the second baseman is in right field and the second baseman gets a fly in right and throws to the shortstop covering second base to get a runner trying to come back the play goes fly out 4 and an assist on the out going to the shortstop 6 covering second.

Longtime Boston Red Sox and former Tampa Bay Devil Ray Wade Boggs will have his #26 retired by the Boston Red Sox. Boggs hit 338 for 11 seasons with the Red Sox. Boggs is looking forward to the honor and the celebration will take place at Fenway Park when the season gets underway in April.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Museum and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com