Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s Bob Melvin Is a Manager for All Seasons

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By: Amaury Pi-González

A’s manager Bob Melvin was awarded the 2018 American League Manager of the Year by the BBWAA (Baseball Writers Association of America), which was a well-deserved award from an A-1 manager and A-1 gentleman. The Oakland Athletics are a very lucky organization to have him as their leader.

Melvin’s A’s won 97 games, that is 22 more games that any other team from 2017 to 2018. This is the third time in his career that Melvin has won it and the second time he has won the award with the A’s in 2012. He beat Alex Cora, whose Red Sox won a team-record 108 games during the regular season, then went on to win the World Series. Cora, also known as “The Pride of Caguas,” finished second. In third place, Tampa Bay Rays’ skipper Kevin Cash, who lost players like Evan Longoria and Jake Odorizzi last season, yet in the toughest division in baseball won 90 games to finish third between the Red Sox and Yankees, which are two of the most resourceful teams anywhere.

Melvin has won it three times: 2007 NL Manager of the Year with the Arizona Diamondbacks, 2012 AL Manager of the Year with the A’s and 2018 AL Manager of the Year again with the A’s. In the history of the A’s, only Melvin (2012, 2018) and Hall of Fame Manager Tony LaRussa (1988, 1992) have won this award. Melvin’s A’s had the lowest payroll in baseball, yet he continued to motivate and teach his young players to respect, listen to, and play hard for him. Last week, the A’s announced they are bringing back all their coaches and that was also good news for Melvin.

We wish Melvin a great offseason and happy holidays to him and his family and hope to see him in Arizona just a few months.

Congratulations, Melvin!

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Caribbean Series has a rich history that goes back to 1949; What a great three-game series in Baja California

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On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Mexicali Baseball Series was played this week in Baja California, but taking a look at the Caribbean Series, how important was this event for Spanish speaking baseball and its rich history going back to 1949?

#2 The Caribbean Series was revived in 1970, but was without Cuban participation and went on a hiatus in 1981.

#3 Cuba did win in 2015 when they returned as a guest in the Caribbean Series.

#4 The Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. won the National League Rookie of the Year Award, hitting for the season .293, 78 runs, 64 RBIs,and 26 home runs.

#5 American League Rookie of the Year Award went to Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, who hit .285, 59 runs, 61 RBIs, 22 home runs. Ohtani pitched with a 4-2 record and a 3.31 ERA.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Giants Usher the Era of Analytics

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By: Amaury Pi-González

The Giants won their three World Series in San Francisco in 2010, 2012 and 2014 with very good pitching, good defense, timely hitting and less power. Bu now, the game has drastically changed, and it is all about the modern metrics, analytics and the launch angle. Power, power and more power! Relief pitchers come in early after a starter has seen the lineup three times. That being said, there is a totally different approach to the game today than the last time the Giants won the World Series.

Farhan Zaid, aged 41, is the Giants’ new President of Baseball Operations and he will report only to Larry Baer, Chief Executive Officer, in San Francisco.

“He’s definitely an analytical-type guy who will use his computer skills to create a model for the Major League club and the Draft,” said a National League official.

However, Zaidi has a good reputation in working well with scouts.

Since the All-Star Break in 2016, the Giants have won a total 167 games. The Giants join the Orioles, White Sox and Padres on that woeful list. Zaidi is considered a top baseball mind who was the Dodgers’ General Manager for the previous four seasons reporting to Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations, in Los Angeles.

Zaidi also worked for the A’s from 2005 to 2014. He urged the A’s to acquire Yoenis Céspedes. With an economic degree from MIT and a PhD in economics from UC Berkeley, he is an intelligent and educated baseball executive. Of the six consecutive NL West Division titles the Dodgers have won, four were under Zaidi.

The Giants’ Hall of Fame manager Bruce Bochy is your typical old school type of manager and many are skeptical if he is going to get along with Zaidi. That remains to be seen, but there is no question that Bochy’s legacy has been cemented. And even if he retired today, the Giants will have to move on, and he is the first to understand the game is changing and the Giants do not want to be the last team to join the party.

The Giants have some heavy contracts on their payroll and they will have to be extremely creative to return to be the contending team they were three years ago. Zaidi’s mission is to find the magic formula to return this franchise to success on the field and the obvious decisions he has to make right away, like, say, to keep ace Madison Bumgarner or to trade him? The Giants feel they do not have to rebuild,and believe they still have the pieces to return to be a power in the NL West. Some Zaidi’s first decisions could indicate which way the Giants are headed.

The Giants need younger and more athletic players as their current roster is not getting any younger. AT&T Park is not a home run friendly park, and even if they would acquire Bryce Harper and give him the $400 million contract he and his agent are seeking, they might still need more than Harper to fight the Dodgers, Rockies and Diamondbacks.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s lean towards Jack London Square site as announcement for new stadium coming

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On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Oakland A’s are just a couple months away until the big announcement for their plans for a new ballpark.

#2 The A’s made it no secret of their first choice where they want to have their new permanent site at Howard Terminal at Jack London Square.

#3 Amaury has had a chance to speak with Oakland A’s team president David Kaval about the new stadium. He says the team makes it no secret leans towards Jack London Square.

#4 Kaval did say until the A’s get the deal the team has to keep it’s options open and could settle for the Coliseum.

#5 Will a Howard Terminal location be a better place that will draw more fans?

Join Amaury each Tuesday for News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Golden Pillars–Chapman and Olson

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By: Amaury Pi-González

The dictionary definition of “pillars” is a firm upright support for a superstructure.

The Matt Dudes are those pillars in the corners for the A’s superstructure. Third baseman Matt Chapman and first baseman Matt Olson won their first (of many in the near future) Gold Gloves for their defensive excellence. The A’s infield was one of the best defensively in the game, second-baseman Jed Lowrie, who enjoyed his best season ever, was the runner up to Ian Kinsley of the Angels and Red Sox for the Gold Glove at second base in the AL.

Chapman’s first Gold Glove came as he ended as #1 in all of MLB (at any position) with 29 defensive runs saved. Chapman is so good that he might also win the Platinum Glove Award, which is given each year to the best player in the Majors among all positions. In other words, the best fielder in baseball,period. Since he came to the A’s, we knew of his reputation with the Gold Glove and he showed it this 2018 season. Olson won it on his third season in the Majors and his first full year of play. Olson ended as #1 among all first basemen with 14 defensive runs saved.

While the A’s will announce soon where their new ballpark is going to be build in Oakland, the organization already building a solid team that won 97 games last year who advanced into the playoff as a Wild Card team. Two of those young stars have been awarded with respective Gold Gloves. Chapman and Olson have an innate ability for fielding. Those types of players are adored by pitchers, because they can do stuff with their gloves that pitchers appreciate and many times are the difference between a win or a loss.

Chapman and Olson, who are also very good friends, both deserve the award. Usually there is less controversy when it comes to fielding, and these two showed us why.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Is Bryce Harper what the Giants really need?

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Photo credit: @sfgiants_fanly

By: Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO — Bryce Harper, who has played all of his seven years with the Washington Nationals so far, is currently a free agent. Some teams are showing interest in the superstar who is looking for something like a 10-year, $300 million contract. Money is not the issue for the Giants. The Giants, Cardinals, Yankees, Phillies have been mentioned as some of the top teams for Harper…and they have deep pockets, too. But there can be other teams. I’ll provide more on the latter another time.

But is the star right fielder the answer to the Giants’ offensive woes? Maybe! It would not hurt,but they still will need more than Harper to be a top contender in 2019. The Giants were the only team in 2018 who did not have one hitter reach 20 home runs, which was incredible in the era of the home runs. But let’s face it, as attractive as AT&T Park is, which comes with a great Giants fanbase, he could also select a more “hitter friendly” place like Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Yankee Stadium in the Bronx (Nirvana for a left-handed power hitter), Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, where the summer humidity makes the ball go much deeper than AT&T Park, or even with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dodger Stadium.

I believe Yasiel Puig has played his last game with the Dodgers in right field. The Dodgers are looking for their next mega star in an area where the great LeBron James, who is now playing for the Lakers. Star power is a big thing down Hollywood Lane. Those are some of the better places for Harper who this season ended with a .249 average, 34 home runs and 100 runs batted in (First time in his career he drives 100 runs). Still, the 26-year old Las Vegas native shows a very impressive resume. Harper is not a pull hitter, a very experienced MLB scout told me, but still has a better chance of reaching the fences in most of those places, instead of AT&T Park and that “Death Valley” area that is right-center field and if you are a left-handed hitter and not a pull hitter that is enough to discourage you not to move to The City.

Harper was the first overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft. Also, the youngest position player ever (19) to be selected for an MLB All-Star Game (2012) as well as the National League Rookie of the Year award. In 2015, the Baseball Writers Association of America unanimously MVP selected Harper, who was the youngest in baseball to ever do so.

It is obvious the Giants need to make more decisions, pending the most important of hiring a new GM, but this is something else to ponder for the Orange and Black.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Giants considering hiring woman for GM spot

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newsday.com photo: Then-Dodgers assistant general manager Kim Ng walks through the hotel lobby during the first day of MLB annual general managers meetings in Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 5, 2007.

By Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO — The Major League Baseball General Manager meetings are scheduled to begin November 5th.

The San Francisco Giants are searching for a new General Manager, and many are asking, will they have one in place by then? The organization needs somebody to take charge and make important decisions pertaining their immediate future. Kim Ng is among the qualified people for the job. She has overseen international operations and talent development for the MLB. She also worked for the LA Dodgers as Vice President and Assistant to then-GM Ned Coletti as well as the front offices of the Yankees and White Sox. Her reputation is impeccable.

Among others candidates, the Giants have also shown interest on Milwaukee Brewers GM David Stearns, but the owner of the Brewers, Mark Attanasio, declined the Giants permission to speak with Stearns. Bobby Evans, who was the GM, was fired last month and the Giants announced they are searching for another executive to take that position. Maybe the Giants will find the person they want during those winter meetings starting on November 5th and conduct the interviews of the people available for the job. Who knows, and maybe make news with the announcement then.

If the Giants sign Kim Ng, it will obviously make news nationwide, and it would make sense since they play in San Francisco–one of the most diverse and progressive cities in the country.

On the other hand, the main priority for any baseball club seeking such an important position is to find the most qualified person regarding of gender or ethnic background. Whomever takes over will have to go to work right away. Trade Madison Bumgarner or not? Also, evaluate the scouting for the club. The Giants will have to take a different direction and look for younger talented players.

The Warriors will be playing within walking distance from AT&T Park at the Chase Arena next basketball season and they are the perennial winners currently in the Bay Area, dethroning the Giants, who were the winners from 2010 until 2016.

Baseball is at a very important crossroad in history as the international scouting, the sabermetrics side and the old school methods are at an intersection. It would make sense that the person for this job will grasp the understanding of all these and show the leadership required to revive a financially healthy franchise than until a couple of years ago enjoyed great success on the field.

If Ng has all those qualifications, she could be the one.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Mesa Brothers From Cuba to the Marlins

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Photo credit: @donovanc7sports

By: Amaury Pi-González

The last Cuban star on the Miami Marlins was the late pitcher José Fernández. The very talented 24-year-old died in a boating crash off the coast of Miami Beach on September 25, 2016. On October 22, 2018, the Marlins made it official when they introduced the Mesa brothers, Victor Victor and Victor Jr., during a press conference hosted by the Marlins’ top executive officer and part owner Derek Jeter. The Mesa brothers are the two sons of Cuban legend Victor Mesa.

“When I was doing the showcase, I was thinking this could be my ballpark,” Victor Jr. said through a translator. “It was beautiful. I felt like a big leaguer.”

Victor Victor is 22-years-old and Victor Jr. is 17-years old. They are both outfielders. Jeter is hoping that these two will help to rebuilt a struggling franchise that were founded as an expansion team in the National League in 1993 and won two World Series in 1997 and 2003. Victor Victor is the most advanced and closer of the two brothers to be playing next year with the Marlins.The Marlins were last in attendance this season–#30 in MLB with 10,013 fans per game. The team finished last in the National League East this season with a record of 63-98.

The Mesa brothers could bring back the interest of the large Cuban community in Miami and Southern Florida

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 114th World Series–Red Sox vs. Dodgers, a Coast-to-Coast Show

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Photo credit: @KMPHFOX26

By: Amaury Pi-González

It’s a glamorous dream match-up drama made for television. The Boston Red Sox, the franchise of the legends Babe Ruth and Ted Williams against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the franchise of the legends of Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax. It will be New England Clam Chowder vs. Los Angeles Tacos, Cape Cod vs. Hollywood, Fenway Park vs. Dodger Stadium, the colors Red vs. Blue. Two of the oldest major league parks in the country,but two of the most iconic. It all begins this Tuesday, October 23 at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles  for Game 1. It this reads like a television drama since it could be just that.

A huge story for Latin America is Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who is the first manager born in Caguas, Puerto Rico to take his team to a World Series. He is 43 years old. His team gave him the best birthday present ever on the day of his birthday, October 18, as they won the American League pennant, eliminating the 2017 World Series champions Houston Astros. In 2011, Edwin Rodríguez, also from Puerto Rico, briefly managed the Florida Marlins. There has only been one manager born in Latin America that has won a World Series. Venezuelan Ozzie Guillén in 2005 when the Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros. The first Latin American-born manager in MLB history was Miguel Angel González (Mike González) born in Cuba, and in 1938, replaced Frankie Frisch as the St. Louis Cardinals’ skipper.

This is the first meeting between the two teams in a World Series since the 1916 World Series,when the Dodgers were known as the Brooklyn Robins. In 1916, Broadway theater owner and producer Harry Frazee and Hugh Ward bought the Red Sox for $700,000.

In 1916, the Chicago Cubs played their first game at Weegham Park (modern-day Wrigley Field) and they defeated the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in 11 innings. That same year the New York Giants traded Christy Mathewson to the Reds. Woodrow Wilson (Democrat) was the President of the United States. The U.S. Marines occupied the Dominican Republic. In Seattle, Mr.William Boeing renamed his young airplane company BOEING. DW Criffith’s film Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Through the Ages was released while massive flooding by two hurricanes devastated North Carolina. Unfortunately, hurricanes have been with us for centuries.

Who is the better team?  The Red Sox led the world in offense, the Dodgers where número uno in home runs in the National League, so it seems the Dodgers win most of the time with the long ball. But that is today’s game in baseball. It is all about “launch angle” and guys hitting .235 with 35 home runs. This season, there were more strikeouts than hits in MLB–the first time that has ever happened. The Red Sox have more selective hitters like AL batting champion Mookie Betts .346 and probably the MVP in the league and J.D. Martínez, who has become the hitting guru today. He fell short of winning the Triple Crown. The last player to lead the Majors in all three categories in the same season was Mickey Mantle, who batted .353 with 52 homers and 130 RBI for the Yankees in 1956. The Mick was the last man to win the Triple Crown. Is that easy to do? The last time was 62 years ago.

Both teams have good starting pitching and bullpens. Both closers Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel are not automatic when they come out late in the game, as the booth can elevate the blood pressure of their respective managers very quickly with a simple walk in a close game. However, the way it has been going, closers come in the seventh inning and sometimes starters pitch in the ninth and secure the victory. So, only God knows how pitchers will be used.

Without going into pedantic analysis, these are two very good deep teams. Dodgers have basically two squads,with tremendous depth maybe even more than the Red Sox. It is tough to pick a winner. I know here in the Bay Area, specially on the west side of the bay, I would make more enemies than friends if I picked the Dodgers, and I am inclined to do that this time. They are on a mission and manager Dave Roberts had his team since Spring Training very focused on repeating as NL champions and making it again to the October Classic. The Dodgers have accomplished that. This should be a long series. The old cliché, “It is not the best team that wins, but the team that plays the best”. Best testimony of that statement was the 1988 Dodgers vs Athletics World Series, the A’s were a better team in all aspects of the game, yet the Dodgers won. Hurts me to remember that, since I was there with the A’s. 1988 is also the last time the Dodgers won the whole Enchilada.

One thing is for sure and this will be fun. if there is a Game 7, it will be played at Fenway Park on Halloween! Trick or Treat?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Oakland Athletics in 1978–a Unique Radio Story

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Photo credit: Amaury Pi-González

By: Amaury Pi-González

As I was doing weekend games for the Oakland Athletics’ Spanish radio on KBRG 105.3FM, San Francisco in 1978, something happened that year that was truly unique. A’s owner Charlie O Finley was trying to move the team to Denver and he had no commercial radio station in English to carry the games.

To my left in the A’s press box–I believe at that time was Box 19, sat two young UC Berkeley students broadcasting the games for KALX, one of whom was Larry Baer, who approached Finley during mid season about doing play-by-play and Charlie sold them the broadcast rights for $1.

Because the Spanish station was a commercial FM station, we had a greater signal than the UC Berkeley station, which was just a handful of watts enough to be heard at the UC Campus, and not even in the Coliseum’s parking lot. I was asked after each half-inning to repeat the score of the game, but in English. And I did.

Those were the days were radio was truly still king in the broadcast business, way before social media came about. To refresh our memories, ESPN was born in 1979, CNN in 1980 and those were trailblazers in our business. One was a 24-hour all sports, the other one 24-hour all news, but both were national. It’s a totally different world today in 2018. People talk about streaming games live on Facebook, YouTube is getting into the action, everybody has a cell phone and everything that happens is transmitted instantly. During Game 4 of the ALCS, a fan in right field “interfered” with what looked like a home run by the Astros’ José Altuve, which was declared an out by veteran umpire Joe West. The name of the fan, the video of the controversial play was transmitted immediately to the whole world. Hundreds of millions of people knew what happened at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

Back in the day (referring to the 1970’s), if you covered a game, you could not report on that game while the game was taking place (unless you/station) owned the broadcast rights. Some postseasons that I covered, as a reporter, not as a play-by-play person, I had to sign a form that specified my outfit would not report during the game. Only before and after the game(s) did I had legal permission to report.

What is coming in broadcasting the next 20 years, I will leave that for your great imagination. And everybody has an imagination. Unless you are Rodney Dangerfield, who once said: “When I was a kid I was so poor….I could not afford an imaginary friend!”