Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB and Player Union agree to new Collective Bargaining Agreement

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AP file photo: Representing the MLB players union executive Tony Clark (left) and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred (right) announced on Wednesday that both sides have reached an agreement on a new CBA. There was talk earlier that the owners were considering locking out the players that’s all under the bridge with the new agreement.
by Amaury Pi Gonzalez
They negotiated for 36 hours and announced it is a done deal. This deal is good until the year 2021. So let’s play ball.
I never expected owners and players to be locked up this season. I stated it very clear, last time in this column, that baseball is rich beyond anybody’s dreams, and both sides stand to lose a lot if they would have gone that route.
The average salary for a major league player is now $4.4 million per season(the highest it has ever been) owners revenues were about $10 billion dollars and attendance topped 73 million. An example of the money flowing to major league clubs is that of the LA Dodgers. The Dodgers could make between $7 billion to $8 billion on the original rights contract from Fox Sports to Time Warner, which changed networks in 2014.
Under the new agreement, owners did not get the International draft they were looking for but players did not get a total end to Draft Pick compensation. Among the most interesting decision was that of the All Star Game results pertaining to the World Series and who (which league)get the rights to open their World Series at home, and a home field advantage, since potentially a seven game World Series will have the team that opens the Series playing four at home and three on the road.
That is out the window. The way that changed is the  following: the team that wins the most games,(during the regular season) among the two pennant winners is the one that has the right to open the World Series at home. Ironically, this year it would also have been the current World Series Champion Chicago Cubs, who won 103 games during the regular season, tops in the majors.
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 at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB-Union agree on international players; Brazil mourns loss of it soccer players and accident victims

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AP file photo: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred who will play a huge part in CBA negotiations shown here meeting with the press at the General Manager Meetings annual meetings on Nov 9th at Scottsdale

On the podcast with Amaury:

It’s significant that the MLB players union and MLB have agreed on how the International players will be paid. At first MLB wanted to lower the pay of the Intl players but the union wouldn’t have it and the owners agreed not to lower their pay because of the cost of living and significant pay difference that the Intl players would get would be different than the MLB players.

MLB is very prosperous they have a lot of money their very wealthy and some of these players have played in Cuba or Japan. Their ready to come up to the big leagues they’ve gone through the minors in a foreign country their already for the big leagues. That makes sense and why not pay these guys? MLB has the greatest union in the world why not include the International Players?

Also has commentary on the tragic loss of life on the Brazilian flight bound for Columbia that crashed with six survivors out of 81 people on board also Amaury talks Raiders football

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

 

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Colin Kaepernick is having a rough year, in many ways

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez
AP photo: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick addresses the media following their game against the Miami Dolphins at Miami Gardens on Sunday
SANTA CLARA–Not only Colin Kaepernick has been controversial for kneeling during the National Anthem, but he already caused a controversy in Miami, when in August he attended a press conference with a T-shirt showing Fidel Castro. Then after Fidel Castro died last Friday, he made some comments about Castro’s educational system in Cuba as well as medical system. He has also spoken about oppression in the United States against minorities. Two things happen this Sunday for the 49ers quarterback, when he first took the field and had the ball, and at the very end when he also had the ball and was trying to score.
Before the game Sunday,which the 49ers lost 31-24 and when Kaepernick took the field, he was booed
During the very last play of the game, running with the ball trying to tie the game Kaepernick was tackled by Kiko Alonso of the Miami Dolphins, who is the son of a Cuban-born exile who fled Cuba looking for freedom and totally dislikes Kaepernick. “There was some bad blood there for me with Kaepernick,” Alonso, whose father is a Cuban exile, told The Miami Herald after Sunday’s game.

This season has been truly a nightmare for the San Francisco 49ers, who lost their 10th consecutive game, have a record of 1-10 (you can thank the LA Rams, or they could be 0-11).
It is laughable that Kaepernick talks about oppression here in the United States, yet seems to have sort of a favorable opinion of Fidel Castro who has oppressed and incarcerated people since he declared Cuba a Marxist-Leninist state in the early 1960’s. Mr Kaepernick has all the right in the world to say what he wants to say, (and I have said that I support his right to kneel or stand on his head or whatever he wants do to during the National National Anthem). For the record: a Cuban citizen is not allowed to  demonstrate against the Cuban flag or the National Anthem. I suggest that Mr Kaepernick do a little research before he speaks about Cuba’s educational system. Although it is true that Cuba has the lowest rate of illiteracy in Latin America, it is also true that the Cuban educational system teaches the doctrine of a one-party state, kids from Kindergarten on, are brainwashed to memorize Castro’s speeches. The medical system is not as good as some people here in America believe. I have friends that have to send medicines to their families because of the shortages in Cuba, and the lack of medicines for the Cuban people that have to wait for very long times.
But then again, Colin Kapernick is not alone. Do we all remember when Ozzie Guillen, then the manager of the Florida Marlins said about Fidel Castro, during his first season in Miami?  At that time  I defended Ozzie, who I always liked and I was called by USA Today sports reporter Jorge Ortiz, who asked me my opinion. and I told Ortiz that I agree with Ozzie’s right to say what he wants to say, but at the same time -I remember saying- It is not smart to say that in Miami, it is almost like somebody going to Harlem and saying that the KKK was not that bad.
Sports and politics sometimes mix, it is inevitable, but mostly here in the United States of America because of the abundant freedom we all enjoy, but in places like Cuba, North Korea and other totalitarian systems of government athletes are incarcerated if they speak against their government. With all the stuff Kaepernick has done and said, I (for one) would love him just to praise this country, because he can do what he has done, and never take that for granted. Somebody should tell Mr.Kaepernick that t-shirt he wore, cost more than what the average Cuban citizen makes in a month.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
 

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: Abreu and many other Cuban players were smuggled to U.S. as investigation uncovers

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Today the US Government filed a case against Bart Hernandez a long time player agent accused of trafficking baseball players from Cuba which included Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu. Court documents pertaining to the case included alleged violence, lies, kidnapping, and murder. In August 2013 an alleged associate named Amin Catouff paid $160,000 to have Abreu to be smuggled from Cuba to Haiti. In October Catouff secured a fake passport and visa for Abreu and his girlfriend to travel to the U.S.

By the end of October Abreu signed a $68 million deal with Chicago and started payments to Julio Estrada for $2.45 million. Estrada is a Hernandez associate who paid Hernandez $276,000 the FBI and Homeland security found more than a dozen cases similar to Abreu’s.

Amaury comments on the smuggling of Cuban baseball players to America story at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’ Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: Can Cuban keep ban on ESPN writers?; Who will be the NL manager of the year?

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AP file photo: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban watches his team warm up during the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder last April 16th has said that two ESPN writers will remained banned from covering the team’s home games

On Amaury’s podcast:

#1 Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has banned two ESPN writers from covering any Mavericks games. ESPN had asked NBA Commissioner Adam Silver tried work things out between Cuban and ESPN but Cuban who did allow ESPN to cover just their home opener is sticking to his guns and will keep the ban going and will not allow the ESPN writers to attend Mavs home games as Cuban said that if ESPN can not cover all the Mavs home games than they can’t cover them at all.

#2 Also Amaury goes over his picks for the National League manager of the year who will it be? Dusty Baker Washington Nationals, Joe Maddon Chicago Cubs, or Dave Roberts Los Angeles Dodgers?

#3 The New York Mets Yoenis Cespedes will not be returning to the Mets. Cespedes has voided his contract and will seek free agency and a bigger contract for the 2017 season.

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

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: History will be made no matter the outcome of this World Series

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AP file photo: Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta throws in the first inning of game two on Wed Oct 26th at Progressive Field

It’s a very long season when you have all this post games spilling over into November. The only short part of it is when they have the one game playoff to decide a wild card game. Then you have to go to the division playoffs in a set of five and then it’s off to the Championship and decided there and then you go onto the World Series which could go seven. I picked the Cubs in six or seven game to defeat Cleveland.

The Cubs aren’t going to win in six but they have to win Tuesday night in Cleveland and then come back to Progressive on Wednesday and try and win game seven. This week history will be made no matter what with a Cubs victory it would decided one way or the other. It’ll be either Cleveland or the Cubs.

Amaury goes over the World Series in Cleveland in today’s News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: NFL TV ratings down 29% they blame protest of the players

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NFL TV Ratings: Down 29%, they blame protest of players
by Amaury Pi Gonzalez
AP photo: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick stands on the sidelines during the second half of Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara
SANTA CLARA–When it comes to sports and television ratings, the National Football League is “Numero Uno” for many years now, among all the main sports. But this year the story has abruptly changed.
Is there discrimination? sure, is there social injustice?  Yes,  are there unpopular wars?  Sure. But people that watch sports in this crazy violent world we are living today do it to escape for a couple of hours of all the stuff that is going on. The NFL is no exception and that is why a recent poll showed a 29% drop in their ratings, 40% blame protests like those started by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
As a man that is 100X100 FOR Free Speech(otherwise I would have moved back to Cuba, where for the past half over century there is none)I agree with anybody that wants to demonstrate about a certain issue they feel passionate about it. But, we all know that Kaepernick could have called a press conference anytime he wanted, before of after a game, during the season, or in the off-season and explained his point of view regardless blacks and minorities and the abuse they receive by law enforcement. I have absolutely no problem with Mr Quarterback if he wanted to do that.
However, I totally disagree with not standing up for the National Anthem, and I know he has the right and the freedom to do it and thank the millions of people that have fought and defended the right he enjoys. In a country as diverse as ours I believe there are two things that should be respected all the time, the flag and the national anthem. I have never questioned what is in Kaepernick heart. I do not think I am asking for much, it is only common sense to me. Maybe I can appreciate this much more because of my background and where I come from a place that if you go on the streets and burn the flag, your head will probably be broken in pieces.

This is what the Yahoo Sports/Yougov Polls, taken October 12-13 of 2016 shows why 29% of fans are watching less football.  Election: 17%. Lost Interest 28%. Lack of opportunity 31%. Kaepernick protests 40%.

San Francisco 49ers fans are probably watching less of their team anyway, this is the Bay Area after all, we are famous for flying our teams colors(when they win)but today the 49ers flags we used to see in the cars around the bay are few, and a 1 -6 start to a season will fold anybody’s flag.
It will be very interesting to see how the ratings show the rest of this NFL season. The NFL is a very rich league and their blood-line comes from huge audiences who generate huge advertising revenue.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: Fernandez’ friend was warned about going on boat trip; players refused to go with Fernandez on fateful night

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photo abcnews.com: The boat owned by Jose Fernandez with front end damage crashed full throttle into the rocks killing Fernandez and his two friends Sunday morning at Miami Beach

On That’s Amaury’s Podcast, Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez’ friend’s friend Eddy Rivera was warned not take that Saturday night boat ride with Fernandez and other friend Emilio Macias. The friend Will Bernal knew what he was talking about as he took rides on that same boat with Fernandez before. Bernal knew the Miami Beach waters were choppy at night and there were no lights and it was dark in those waters and that he was in that boat when it was going at top speed in the previous rides.

Fernandez who owned the boat was going at full speed when it hit rocks that were protruding above the water’s surface it was reported that one of his friends was at the wheel at the time of the accident not Fernandez. These guys were good friends and they had a good idea what could happen. Bernal’s instincts were good not to go there at night. I know exactly where the accident happened I was raised in that area and I know those rocks there coming out of the water at Miami Beach.

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

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: The Giants the great collapse of 2016

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez
AP file photo: San Francisco Giants starter Johnny Cueto in pain suffering from a groin pull against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium Mon Sep 19th has had a rough second half of the season since his All Star game appearance
SAN FRANCISCO–Regardless if the Giants make it as a wild card, their 2016 season has been a total collapse. and in some way a mystery for a team that was the same (as far as personal)in the first half as in the second half.  This franchise waited for 52 years, before winning their first ever World Series in San Francisco in 2010.
When the current 2016 season arrived to July 15, when the second half of the season began, the Giants had the best record in baseball (even better than the Cubs who are now closing in 100 wins)the Giants were  57-33.
After they played in San Diego and Johnny Cueto didn’t win the All Star game, the team has gone 23-37. the worst record in major league baseball and during this second half of the season, a week away from ending their longest winning streak was a three game winner.
 Now, Giants fans, most of them, blame Santiago Casilla, but this collapse has been far greater the result of one man. This team has a very hard time scoring runs, Buster Posey (playing with back problems) as we see today is hitting  .289 with 13 Home runs and 68 runs batted in, Brandon Belt is hitting .271 with 16 home runs and 77 runs batted in and Hunter Pence (true, he has been hurt for a portion of the season) brings a .291 with 12 Home runs and 53 runs batted in. There is “murderers row” for the 2016 San Francisco Giants with a week and 3 days left of this season.
The irony is the Giants rotation today, is better than their rotation in 2014 when they won their third World Series, but their bullpen today is all-over-the-place. While Santiago Casilla has been sent to the moon (like the Most Interesting Man in The World) in that famous beer commercial)now it seems they have resuscitated Sergio Romo, to close games again. Please do not bring back Crazy Crab again.
Now, Casilla is the easiest scapegoat, but he is not alone in that bullpen. During the past five years, the Giants have won with pitching and defense, this season power is up for most teams, except the Giants. Across the bay the Athletics have a guy with 40 Home runs Khris Davis and 100 RBIs, playing in one of me most difficult parks for home runs. Even if they advance to the postseason, as a wild card, forget the division, they still will have to do something to bring their power numbers up.
No, the Giants are not going to be the Orioles, Blue Jays or Red Sox (who by the way have  three guys in the same lineup everyday with over 100 runs batted in)but win or lose this season, they will definitely  have to do something to improve an offense that does not scares anybody.
The Giants know that, and a guy like Yoenis Cespedes or somebody with that power and excitement, would probably fit perfectly in the middle of that lineup, they have the money to sign him in the off season, these days of the Giants not been a wealthy team, playing at cold and windy Candlestick Park in front of 8,645 people, are gone, they can spend with the best of them, they have no choice but to improve their offense, if they want to win at least every two years, because with this lineup as of today, they can forget 2017 also.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio talent for the A’s, the Spanish radio talent for the Angels and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
 
 

 

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, and Commentary: Suspect in pieing to be arraigned today of Sacramento Mayor Johnson

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sacmag.com file photo: Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson shown on left after working over pie thrower Sean Thompson, Thompson received nine stitches in the beat down from the mayor and has been charged for assault on  public official

On That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, and Commentary Amaury is joined by Jeremy Harness, Tony the Tiger, and Len Shapiro to discuss Mayor Kevin Johnson and his getting pied by Sean Thompson. The former Phoenix Sun and current mayor who played an instrumental part of fighting to keep the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento and also recently had his past come back to haunt him when a woman said Johnson had sexually assaulted her and some say this could have been the reason why Johnson was pied by Thomson.

Johnson after getting hit with the pie jumped up and hit Thompson several times and Johnson later was photo’d by Sacramento Police for his mug shot with a cut under his eye. Thompson is being charged with assault on a public official. Johnson tweeted later “appreciate everyone, I’m doing fine be safe everyone.”

plus on That’s Amaury’s podcast a look at the progress of Sacramento’s new arena where Sportstalk will be doing our next podcast on Thu Oct 6th. The Golden One Arena will be hosting it’s first event a Paul McCartney concert followed by the Sacramento Kings first NBA exhibition game on Saturday Oct 15th against the Washington Wizards.

Plus more sports headlines on Major League Baseball, the Oakland A’s, San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors move from KNBR radio to 95.7FM The Game why lose power to a less powered station?

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