Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Lightning struck the Sharks with Russian collusion

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Tampa Bay Lightning’s Yanni Gourde shoots against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

SAN JOSE–Hard for me to believe the San Jose Sharks are on their 26th season in the National Hockey League, I remember covering their very first game at the Cow Palace in Daly City (1991-92 season) while they were building their current home. Since 1993, the SAP Center in San José when I remember taking Telemundo cameras to film the construction of their current home in San José. It was then a big deal, because professional hockey was returning to the Bay Area. Prior to the 1967-68 season the NHL underwent their single biggest expansion in their history. Joining the league were the Oakland Seals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, and the St.Louis Blues.

My good friend Len Shapiro, (he regularly covers the Sharks here on this site and is the guy with the most hockey expertise in the Bay Area) was with the executive office of the Oakland Seals and he always reminds me of the lack of attendance to the Seals games at Oakland those years. But the Sharks have enjoyed solid support from a very loyal fan-base since they began play in San José. Of course this is not the San José of the late 1960’s it is one of the most affluent markets in the country, with Silicon Valley as their shinning star. The South Bay economy is one of the most dynamic economies in the country.

I covered my first game this season on Wednesday night November the 8th as they host the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On a rainy night, most people were not even yet at their seats, when with 25 seconds into the game Joonas Donskoi scored the first goal. The Sharks were winning 1-0. But little did we knew then, that was going to be all the scoring for the home team. For this night in San José there was proof of Russian collusion as Tampa Bay’s, Russian right wing Nikita Kuchenov scored his 15h goal of the season to tie the game in the first period, he leads the NHL in goals scored. In the second period the visitors iced the game scoring three goals, two of those by Russian center Vladislav Namestnikov. Slater Koekkoak also score for the Lightining. The Sharks now have a record of 8-6 loses, while Tampa Bay leaves San José on their way to play the Kings in Los Angeles, with a 12-2-2 record .

This season is just warming up, and hopefully this Sharks team can return to the Finals of the Stanley Cup as they did two seasons ago, I was there covering for Telemundo and the Sharks (although they lost to the Penguins )put on a memorable show for all in attendance.

The Sharks next game is this Saturday at the SAP Center against the Vancouver Canucks

Amaury Pi Gonzalez hosts the honorees for the Bay Area Radio Museum with Hockey analyst Len Shapiro and introduces inductees into the Hall of Fame wing of the Radio Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: AL West: Two different worlds; What do the A’s need?

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Photo credit: @biggamerings

By: Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The American League West now has the World Champion Houston Astros, we can see why the Astros are in outer space and the other four teams are on planet earth. Standings below are enough and clear for anybody to understand.

1 – Houston 101-61 .623 —

2 – Los Angeles 80-82 .494 -21

3 – Seattle 78-84 .481 -23

4 – Texas 78-84 .481 -23

5 – Oakland 75-87 .463 -26

It we took the champion Astros out, it would have been a great race. Four teams separated by five games in the lost column. But we cannot do that. The Astros came to live with us here in the West back in 2013, after 51 years as a member of the National League winning nothing in the NL. Since they moved to the AL West, Houston have won two pennants and a World Series.

While the Astros still basking in their impressive 2017 championship season, the other four teams are involved in a dog race to see who can improve the most. We know the Astros have a team already that could easily win again in 2018 and be competitive for a long time. I hate to use the word ‘dynasty ‘because these days with free agency it is not something that anybody could predict. If not, ask the Giants.

What do the Athletics need?
The last three seasons the Athletics have owned the cellar. Ending in last place this year with 75-87, last place in 2016 with 69-83, and again in last place in 2015 with 68-94. Back in 2014 the A’s had a respectable 88-74 season, and finished in second place, 10 games behind the division leaders Angels.

The A’s have a very good nucleus of young talented position players: Healy, Olson, Chapman, Pinder, Powell, and guys that have been there in the past like Marcus Semien and veteran Jed Lowrie, who is returning. Their infield seems to be set (not to make any comparisons, but the Astros strength is also in their infield with Bregman-Correa-Altuve and Gurriel). The outfield is quite another story. Let’s assume that Khris Davis (arbitration eligible) is coming back, then we need a regular center fielder, is it Powell? Matt Joyce who had a very good season (.243 25 HR 68 RBI) on his first of a two year contract with the team, could be the Opening Day right fielder. It could take until Spring Training to see who of these guys figure in the mix: Brugman, Nunez, Canha, Smolinski, or some other outfielder coming from someplace else, not in the A’s organization.

Their weakness seems to be in the bullpen and the inconsistency of their starters. For starters, I believe they could use a veteran like Vallejo-native CC Sabathia. If the Yankees do not retain him, he is a free agent. Hope is, that the A’s do keep their young group of players because that is their future. A veteran hurler like Sabathia would compliment their young starters, like Graveman, Cotton, and others. It could be the same effect as when Bartolo Colon was with the team next to a young Sonny Gray. Remember?

I do not expect the A’s to be very active this off-season, but I could be surprised. Healy is one guy that could be gone, as much as I hate to see that, I can understand it, since they have very good young infielders, and I forgot to mention Franklin Barreto is just 22 years old, he had a taste of major league baseball this season. Barreto is a nice kid; hard-working, when I spoke with him this year, he comported himself like a veteran. The A’s will not be favorites in this division next season, but they might make it very interesting, especially if their young talent continues to improve.

As I had said during the. year, the best news for the A’s this year, is that under the leadership of team president David Kaval, the team is now in a very good position to build a new park in Oakland. People that have lived here (Bay Area) for a long time, know very well that building a new sports facility is not something that happens easily. This is not Cincinnati, Kansas City. Atlanta or Texas. Therefore, you need strong leadership and from the first time I met Mr. Kaval personally during the A’s Fanfest prior to the starting of the 2017 season at Jack London Square. I saw his passion and dedication to make this happen. And I believe he will make it happen.

However, and as much as I like the Lake Merritt location, something still tells me that at the end of it all. The A’s might build their new place right at the same place where they have been playing since 1968. At the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. I believe that is the best location, most accessible, and although there is nothing around it, the land is there and they can build around the park.

Next season, the Athletics will celebrate their 50th season at Oakland.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2017 World Series It was about the Game and the People

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Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve, center, and his teammates celebrate during a rally honoring the World Series baseball champions Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, in Houston. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Houston celebrated their first World Series title with a huge parade in downtown Houston. The Mayor of Houston, the Governor of Texas, Senators from Texas, the owner of the team Jim Crane (who bought the team in 2011), and Astros players all took to the microphone to speak to a delighted crowd. The celebration continued today as George Springer, Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve will represent the Astros in a parade at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida.

This World Series was all about baseball, the people, and nothing more. Specially after that incredible game 5. Millions went to Facebook, Twitter, texting, calling their friends. The talk was about baseball, and what a great World Series. Baseball has that ability, to take you away from all the other ills and make you focus on this great game. What a noble idea, an event that for a few hours make you escape from all the hardships.

Unlike other sports, baseball begins and culminates in the same year, giving the title to one team that played approximately 170 or more games (April to October) and then into November, to claim the trophy. And, of course, there is nothing like game 7 in a World Series.

Baseball literally alleviates the tragedy of many, specially this year. MLB sponsors collected millions of dollars for those suffering from the hurricanes in Houston and Puerto Rico. Players set the example, giving themselves, money out of their pockets. In the case of Astros Carlos Beltran, a native of Puerto Rico, he gave $1 million out of his own pocket. I would said that is very good social activism.

Major League Baseball is still an affordable experience for the family. Kids with families populate the parks, much more than any other sport. Baseball is called a game, and we all can remember playing catch with our dad, our brothers, our friends. You attend a baseball game, you are a participant, you can take home a ball that was actually used during the game. What other sport can you do that?

This World Series and baseball is the ultimate conversation sport. It is engraved in our history, it enables us to start a conversation because a special, specific or great play, it makes you think. You can be 12 years old and argue a play with the manager. It is the most democratic of all sports. When your son or daughter comes home with an A he/she got from Algebra you say :”you hit a home run”. Baseball is part of who we are, you have a game every day during the season. You have a bad one…and you can come back the next day and be king. No need to wait for seven days to see what you are going to do after that terrible defeat.

I know the game is going under some changes. I truly hope they do not change it much more, because it is a beautiful game that help us with something that is not common these days – patience.

This 2017 World Series had all these qualities, entertainment, uniting people, helping people in need, enjoying the ups and downs of a very exciting series. Before it began I wrote here that I picked the Dodgers because among these two very well matched teams, the Dodgers had a better bullpen. It didn’t happened but at the end the Houston Astros are well deserved champions. They played as a unit all year. These players like each other and they enjoy the game. They have the dedication and passion, specially Altuve, Correa and Springer, there is nothing any of those three guys cannot do on a baseball field.

With all respect to those that invest heavily in “analytics”, I think it is overrated. I wonder what would Einstein think about analytics, after all he had a 160 IQ.

“You teach me baseball and I’ll teach you relativity…No we must not. You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball”. -Albert Einstein.

One more thing, at the time of this article, there is approximately 100+ days until Spring Training.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the TV Spanish talent for the Angels, the Radio Spanish talent for the A’s and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Power starving SF Giants after Giancarlo Stanton

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Miami Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton hits a RBI single to score Tyler Moore during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants are a “power starving” team. Their big question this winter is to put one or multiple power bats in that lineup. All Star Giancarlo Stanton was healthy this past season, played in 159 games, hit 59 home runs and drove in 132 runs his best season in 8 years with the Marlins. Previous best season was in 2014 when he finished with 37 home runs and 105 RBI. The Giants have shown interest in the Marlins slugger now for a few months, actually there was talk about this in July. Other teams in the hunt for Stanton; Cardinals who need that bat in a difficult division with the Cubs, the Phillies who badly need some excitement dying in the cellar these days and the Texas Rangers, who had a disappointing season are also showing interest. Of course there could be other “mystery “teams involved.

The Marlins now have new ownership and It looks like Derek Jeter and company are looking to unload payroll and re-load with pitching.

Here are some facts: Giants finished 64-98 in last place and hit 128 home runs, last in the National League and #29 in the major leagues among the 30 teams. The Marlins finished #26 in pitching with a 4.82 earned run average.

Giancarlo Stanton is set to make $25 million or more, in each of the next 11 years,(he only made $14.5 this season) with a player option from 2021 to 2027 and a club option for 2028.

For Miami their priority here is more financial than anything else, we are talking about at least $300 million dollars. Stanton is 27 years old, drafted #2 by the Marlins in 2007, grew up in Pacoima, California. His father is Puerto Rican. His parents just like the name Giancarlo, and that is what they named him.

The Marlins need starting pitching, their lineup is formidable, they score a lot of runs, although if Stanton leaves that hole in that lineup his bat will be missed for sure. They have very good players like, Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, J.T Realmuto, Christian Yellich

Would the Giants trade Madison Bumgarner on a package deal or maybe another starter to the Marlins? And yes, Stanton has been plagued by injuries during his career in Miami. On February 20, 2013 he was hit on the face during an intrasquad game in Spring Training by Jose Fernandez. He had problems with his vision (it was a scary injury) but since then he has been relatively healthy.

Giancarlo Stanton is expected to met with owner Derek Jeter after the World Series. By then something might happen and the Giants, who seem to be as of today his preferred destination might have a deal or maybe not. Of course there are other hitters available that would not required that much money. One of them is OF Julio Daniel Martinez (aka J.D. Martinez) who had a great half season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is an excellent pure hitter with power and although it will not be cheap, it will not be $300 million.

There are no dynasties these days. Giants had a great run, winning three World Series between 2010 and 2014. Are they just one bat away from contention? I am not convinced. The Western Division of the National League is getting much better by the day, even the San Diego Padres have some young talent there for the future. Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Rockies have gotten much better in recent years. Many questions remain for the Giants even if they would get Stanton, what kind of Matt Moore will show up next season? Is Pablo Sandoval their third-baseman Opening Day? Can they get more speed? Can Melancon stay healthy the whole season?

Derek Jeter is interested in the services of ex-Yankee manager Joe Girardi. Jeter is contacting people he knew inside the NY Yankees organization as he builds his Miami Marlins.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum in San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: New York Yankees the biggest surprise of 2017

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New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge looks back after striking out during the sixth inning of Game 6 of baseball’s American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros Friday, Oct. 20, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

By: Amauri Pi Gonzalez

Yes, the New York Yankees are still the #1 professional sports franchise in Major League Baseball, worth about $4 billion together with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL also worth around $4billion the most valuable sports franchises in America. The Yankees have won 40 pennants and 27 World Series and they still have the history and the prestige that is far ahead anybody else in the game.

However, 2017 was not a year that the New York Yankees were supposed to be contenders. This is the biggest surprise this year in baseball without a doubt.

In 2016 the Yankees finished in fourth place with a record of 84-78. This season the Yankees finished second in their division with 91-71, AND 2 games behind the division champion Boston Red Sox.

Eliminating the Houston Astros would be another stunning event and advancing and winning the World Series would be an ever more incredible feat this year for Joe Girardi’s ballclub. They would have been the only team to date to advance and go all the way, and on the way there, beating three teams that won over 100 games. Cleveland 102 victories, Houston 101 and Los Angeles Dodgers 104.

The success of the New York Yankees is the best example of the unpredictably of baseball, unlike other sports like football and basketball, where it is easier to predict a team performance or an individual performance on any given moment. Enrique “Kike”Hernandez, is a very good utility man for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who played 7 different positions this year and ended hitting just .215. Yet, Hernandez became the 10th player ever in a postseason game to hit 3 home runs and established a new runs batted record, during a postseason with his 7 RBI during game 5 of the NLCS.The Puertorican-born player found his name with Reggie Jackson and Babe Ruth, he could not believe it when he learned about his incredible performance helping the Dodgers clinch the 2017 National League pennant.

FOX Sports will again have the World Series this year. First game at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles will begin at 5:09PM(West Coast).

For FOX the dream World Series will obviously be Yankees vs Dodgers. It will have one team from the East and one from the West, two heralded franchises. two top TV markets. This would provide a plethora of stories for print and electronic media. The Dodgers prior to moving to Los Angeles in 1958 where one of three Major League teams in New York. The other two, well…the Yankees and the New York Giants. A Houston vs Los Angeles World Series would definitely be a very interesting affair, but not the “pipe dream”for FOX network, although it would showcase the two best teams in the West. That would never make a bigger and more attractive story than the Dodgers vs Yanks. The two best bullpens in the game, the two sluggers Rookies of the Year, among other nuggets.

But whatever happens, even if the New York Yankees do not advance to the World Series, they are the most unacceptable story this season in baseball.

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: Can Yanks come back again down just a game; Cubs down two face Davish tonight LA up 2-0

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yu Darvish (21) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of game 3 of baseball’s National League Division Series, Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

On That’s Amaury’s Podcast:

NLCS: Could the post season be over for the Cubs sooner than they think. The Dodgers in LA were dominating taking the first two games of the NLCS. The Dodgers Justin Turner provided help with a three run walk off home run in LA’s 8-1 win in game two from Dodgers Stadium. Tonight The Dodger’s Yu Davish will pitch against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Darvish one of the best pitchers in the NL might be more than the Cubs can handle in game three. The Cubs will need every bit of offense to stay ahead of LA to avoid going down 3-0.

ALCS: The New York Yankees might even up this arm wrestling match. The Yanks who were down 2-0 in the best of five series against Cleveland and came back to win three straight are vying to win their first game in the series down now 2-1 with the series going back to Yankee Stadium game four Wednesday night. Aaron Judge came through on Monday night with a home run and provided the Yankees some punch over the Astros for a 8-1 win.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does Podcast commentary weekly at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The 1989 Earthquake World Series 28 Years ago today October 17,1989 October 17, 2017

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photo courtesy of sportsnaut.com: Oakland A’s outfielder Jose Canseco (33) with then wife Esther Canseco to Canseco’s right teammate Carney Lansford (4) with son

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Today is the 28th anniversary of this momentous event. Do you remember where you were?

I was at a small auxiliary broadcast booth next to the roof of Candlestick Park doing the pregame show on radio for Game 3 of the World Series, when the quake happened. Out station (KIQI 1010AM) went off the air right away. Bob Self, our engineer, tapped me in the shoulder within seconds to signal me “we are off the air”. Bob is now retired living in Colorado.

Evelio Areas Mendoza, was my partner in the broadcast booth, we both left walking down to the main press box. Some reporters were trapped in the elevator. First media report of what has happened I saw at the Candlestick Park Press box on KPIX CH 5 (CBS Bay Area) with news anchor Ana Chavez. It took me until midnight to make it home to Fremont, the Bay Bridge was closed and I had to drive Evelio first to his home in San Francisco and then I drove south to take the Dumbarton Bridge back home. When I went to SF to drop Evelio, I also stopped at my parents place in the Mission District.(Evelio Area Mendoza, passed away a few years ago) My mother and father were fine, but very nervous, I remember most of the mess in their dinning room, the china that fell to the floor and broke as well as other stuff. On a service station just outside Candlestick Park saw A’s star Jose Canseco fueling his car, he was still wearing his uniform. And much more other craziness of that afternoon and night. I felt very lucky, Candlestick Park shook for a few seconds but it seemed like it was very long. First reports were that it was a strong 7.1 magnitude earthquake, later it was downgraded to 6.9, still considered a strong earthquake. I remember talking to other media outlets, print and electronic in the Bay Area, and outside the area, about the experience.

In history:

On October 17, just minutes before the start of Game 3, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Bay Area causing significant damage to both Oakland and San Francisco. Candlestick Park in San Francisco suffered damage to its upper deck as pieces of concrete fell from the baffle at the top of the stadium and the power was knocked out. The game was postponed out of concerns for the safety of everyone in the ballpark as well as the loss of power, with MLB Commissioner Faye Vincent later saying that he did not know when play would resume. The series resumed on October 27 and finished the next day. The October 28 finale set a record for the latest finish to a World Series at the time. The 1995 World Series played at the end of that strike shortened and delayed season, also finished on October 28; those two series have since been surpassed by both the 2001 World Series and 2009 World Series both of which concluded on November 4 of those respective years; the 2001 season was delayed in finishing due to 9/11–related postponements while the beginning of the 2009 season was postponed due to the World Baseball Classic.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez formerly did Spanish radio for the San Francisco Giants and is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio talent and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Did you know? Sports Fun Facts with Amaury

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch to Colorado Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Did You Know?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Thought this is the perfect time of the year to share some fun facts.

– Fishing is the biggest participant sport in the world.

– If three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw were to break Cy Young record of 511 wins, he needs to stay in the current pace for the next 41 years, until he were 68 years old.

-The average golf ball has 336 dimples.

-The San Jose Sharks are the only pro-league (MLB-NFL-NBA-NHL-MLS) team in the Bay Area that has not won a championship at the current city they play for: 49ers (5). Athletics (4), Warriors (3), Giants (3), Earthquakes (3) and Sharks (0).

– Liechtenstein has competed in the most Summer Olympics(16)without winning any medal.

– There are 18 minutes of total action in an average baseball game.

– Until 1936, the jump ball in basketball took place at center court after every single made basket

– Wrestling is considered the oldest sport in the world.

– At 37 years of age Albert Pujols (Designated Hitter for the LA Angels) drove in 103 runs this 2017 season, tying with Alex Rodriguez as the only two men in MLB history with 14 different seasons with 100 or more runs batted in.

– The great Pele (Brasil) scored 1,281 goals in his incredible career, and in 2000 was named Player of the Century by FIFA together with Diego Armando Maradona (Argentina). I had the privilege of interviewing both of them.Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele) in 1994 during the USA World Cup in San Jose and years later Maradona during an “amistoso”: trans-friendly when he came to San Jose with the Juventus.

– October 17, 1989: The A’s were playing the Giants at Candlestick Park when the 7.1 Loma Prieta Earthquake happened. The SF Chronicle at 5th and Mission Streets had a total power lost, however next day,the papers were printed at The Chronicle’s Army Street printing plant and at its East Bay facility in Union City. The news accounts were placed on Macintosh computer disks using an emergency generator.

– Before the advent of the Winter Olympics in 1924, men’s, women’s and pairs figure skating events were part of the programs for the 1908 and 1920 Summer Olympics. Ice hockey also made its Olympic debut at the 1920 Summer Games.

– Voleyball was invented by William George Morgan of Holyoke, Massachusetts in 1895.

– Roger Bannister held the world record in the mile for 46 years.

Hope you all have fun with “Did You Know?” There will be more in the future.

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, & Commentary: Without Carr does this ruin the Raiders post season chances?; MLB Playoff previews; Sharks get out ahead of Vegas shooting

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Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is helped off the field after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)

On That’s Amaury’s Podcast:

1 With the Raiders quarterback Derek Carr out with a back injury fracture for six weeks Amaury takes a look at the Raiders chances at making post season

2 Carr will be back for week ten but what shape will the Raiders (2-2) be in by then they have now lost two straight game on the road and head home this Sunday to host the Ravens at the Oakland Coliseum

3 Amaury goes over the MLB Playoff schedule; Tuesday night AL Wildcard Minnesota @ New York Yankees; NL Wildcard Colorado @ Arizona; Thursday ALDS Boston @ Houston; Min or NYY winner @ Cle; Friday NLDS Chicago @ Washington; winner Col-AZ @ Los Angeles

4 The tragic shooting in Las Vegas was tied into the sports scene as the San Jose Sharks who were playing in Las Vegas against the Golden Knight for their last exhibition game of 2017 chartered out of Vegas just hours before the shooting started at Mandalay Bay Hotel

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

 

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, & Commentary: A’s rookies and call ups make next season an interesting place for the A’s

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AP File Photo: Oakland Athletics’ Matt Olson celebrates his solo home run with Ryon Healy (25) against the Detroit Tigers in the second inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

On That’s Amaury’s Podcast:

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND–The way I see it A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell whose taking a knee during the national anthem each night for the A’s didn’t get a hit in Monday night’s game against the Seattle and if he doesn’t hit after taking an knee he might have to take the bench. The A’s are now without Olson at first base with a hamstring injury. Here’s a kid who hit 24 home runs in his first 15 games and has been a real sensation. Imagine if Olson had started the season how many hone runs he would have ended up with.

Aaron Judge broke the American League record held by a rookie when he hit his 50th home run breaking the A’s Mark McGwire record from 1987 and I remember that year I called some those home runs. McGwire hit 49 that year. On Maxwell the knew thing is fashionable now he gets paid to hit and he gets paid to catch. I like Maxwell a lot he’s got a lot of fire, he’s got a great arm.

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