San Francisco Giant second baseman Willy Adames (2) receives the Willie McCovey Award on Fri Sep 26, 2025. On Wed Sep 24, 2025 Adames received the Jose Uribe Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame Museum Award at Oracle Park in San Francisco (San Francisco Giants X photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum honors Giants Willy Adames
Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum honors Giants Willy Adames
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
On Wednesday, September 24, prior to game #159 of the regular season, Willy Adames, shortstop of the San Francisco Giants, received the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame plaque honoring him with the José Uribe Award.
Amaury Pi-González, Vice President and Co-Founder of the museum, presented Adames with the plaque. Michael Friedman and Michael Gama, also representing the museum, were in attendance. This award is presented by the museum to the most outstanding Hispanic player on the San Francisco Giants each year.
In 2024, Wilmer Flores was the recipient. Two days later on Friday September 26, the Giants honored Adames with the Willie McCovey Award, Felicidades Willy this is your year!
This is the inscription on the José Uribe plaque. The Jose Uribe Sportsmanship Award has been awarded to a San Francisco Giants player who best exemplifies the character and Sportsmanship of the late Jose Uribe, a former San Francisco Giants Shortstop from the Dominican Republic who was a member of the 1989 National League Champion San Francisco Giants, who went on to play the Oakland Athletics during the Loma Prieta Earthquake-stricken World Series.
The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame wants to thank Bertha Fajardo of the San Francisco Giants for her cooperation in coordinating this event. Over 30% of all players in Major League Baseball are Hispanic, according to most statistics. https://hhbmhof.com/
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
San Diego Padres pitcher Jeremiah Estrada is fired up after getting the third out against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park in San Diego on Mon Sep 22, 2025 (AP News photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 The San Diego Padres for the fourth time are back in the post season within the last six years. The Pads clinched on Monday night against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 5-4, the Brewers did it in a 11 innings victory against the NL Central champions Milwaukee Brewers.
#2 Ozzie Albies the Atlanta Braves second baseman had to leave on Monday in a game against the Washington Nationals when he fractured his hamate bone in his left hand. Albies was in pain after fouling off a pitch while hitting against the Nats RHP Konnor Pilkington. Albies stayed at the plate for one more pitch but then walked toward the dugout and went to see the trainer. Former A’s second baseman Nick Allen came into replace Albies.
#3 The sale of the Tampa Bay Rays has been approved by the MLB owners and the club has been purchased by real estate developer Patrick Zalupski. The sale allows previous Rays owner Stu Sternberg to close the sale. The Rays who said on Sep 17th that the sale would close close to the last day of the regular season. Sternberg owned the team from Nov 2005 and renamed the team from Devil Rays to Rays in 2008.
#4 He’s 41 years old and he’s returning to the Atlanta Braves for the third time veteran pitcher Charlie Morton was signed by the Braves after the Detroit Tigers designated Morton for assignment. Braves manager Brian Snitker didn’t say one way or the other if Morton will pitch during the last week of the regular season.
#5 The Sacramento A’s who went 3-3 on their last road trip in Boston and Pittsburgh open up a six game homestand tonight in Sacramento against the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals. The A’s had a rough trip losing to the Pirates Sunday 11-0 and losing second baseman Zack Gelof for the rest of the season due to a left dislocated shoulder. The A’s are hoping to finish the season on a positive note when face the Astros Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
A fan Alberto (left) at Coors Field caught Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout’s (right) 400th home run against the Colorado Rockies. The two played catch after the game on the field as one of Alberto’s wishes. Trout also handed Alberto three autograph bats. (photo from Instagram)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
When fans attend a major league baseball game, they often dream of catching a home run ball, but sometimes much more happens, and it does not always involve a money request between the fan and the player.. The fan who caught and returned Mike Trout’s 400th home run ball (485 foot blast) had one small request from the 3-time MVP. He wanted to play catch with him.
Alberto was the name of the fan at Coors Field on Saturday, who was attending the game with his wife and two children. According to Alberto, he told his young sons minutes before Trout’s home run, “he has a lot of power.” Alberto just happened to be in the right seat at the right time, and although this did not happen at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, within walking distance of Disneyland, where Dreams Come True, it happened at Coors Field in Denver, and this fan’s dream came true.
After the game, Alberto and Trout played catch in front of the third base dugout for a few minutes as his wife captured the whole thing on her phone. Trout’s prodigious shot helped the Angels beat the Rockies 3-0. Alberto brought his glove, but he did not need it to catch the ball; however, it came in handy when Trout said he would accept the offer of playing catch with him in return, Albert gave Mike Trout the ball, and Trout also gave Alberto three of his bats personally autographed.
I covered Mike Trout since the first time he arrived from the Angels’ Salt Lake City AAA affiliate in July 2011. This Saturday, his 400th homerun made him the 59th player in history to achieve that milestone. A first-ballot ‘sure thing ‘ for the Hall of Fame, Mike Trout is as good a player as I have seen in uniform. He is well-liked by fans, the media, and his teammates, both with the Angels and other teams.
Every player who played with him or against him has nothing but good stuff to say about Trout. José Mota (now with the Dodgers) and yours truly interviewed Mike Trout on many occasions, and he was always a class act.
A veteran baseball writer in Anaheim told me about Mike Trout, “he reminds me of Cal Ripken Jr”, for his professionalism and excellence all around.. The Angels’ last playoff appearance was in 2014, as they currently hold the longest active playoff drought in Major League Baseball, which is now 11 seasons long as of the end of the 2025 season. In his 15 years with the Los Angeles Angels in the major leagues, Mike Trout has only played in three (3) postseason games.
Mike Trout is not retiring after the current season; he is in the middle of a contract that runs through 2030 and has stated he plans to retire with the Los Angeles Angels. Despite ongoing injury issues, especially with his left knee, his financial commitment and team situation make it highly unlikely he would retire early.
I am sure we will hear from Trout on his plans. He is a great ‘old-fashioned ‘, very unassuming 34-year player, who comes day and night, to play a game he has always played since childhood in Vineland, New Jersey.
Mike Trout has only played in three postseason games so far. These luminaries never played in the Postseason: Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Billy Williams, Luke Appling, and Ted Lyons of the Chicago White Sox, Harry Heilman of the Detroit Tigers, and Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners.
Quote Shoeless Joe Jackson: When Ted Williams famously concluded his .400 season, manager Connie Mack said, “I wish I had a Williams. I had one once, and I lost him”. This quote refers to the ineligible Shoeless Joe Jackson, whose ban from baseball prevented him from ever making it to Cooperstown. Here is the link to The Baseball Hall of Fame, at Cooperstown, New York, one of my favorite places on earth. https://baseballhall.org/planyourvisit
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
San Francisco Giant call up Bryce Eldridge replaced the injured first baseman Dominic Smith on Mon Sep 15, 2025 and went 0-3 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his big league debut at Chase Field in Phoenix (photo from Bay Area News Group)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 What happened to the San Francisco Giants after winning some 15 out of 17 games and made to third in the NL Wild Card. They ran into a brick wall losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday and Sunday and lost in a landslide on Monday night to the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1. The Giants are now two games back of the NL Wild Card.
#2 Not ready for prime time for Bryce Eldridge? Eldridge who started Monday’s game went 0-3 against the Arizona Diamondback and is now the Giants starting first baseman after being called up from Triple A Sacramento after Dominic Smith was injured stretching at first base to make a catch doing the splits on a throw by third baseman Matt Chapman. Smith ended up with a hamstring injury. Eldridge 20 years old was ranked number 29 in the ESPN rankings for prospects.
#3 The Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette is seeking a second medical opinion for his knee injury and could return as the designated hitter. Bichette has been out since Sep 7 and was seen by Dr. Dan Cooper. Jays manager John Schneider said there was no news and that Dr. Cooper was just checking the injury for the recovery process.
#4 Nick Kurtz has really set the tone at the Sacramento A’s since breaking in. He had that four home run game, he’s up to 32 home runs and is hitting .298, 32 home runs, 112 hits, and 80 RBIs. He’s a top candidate for the AL Rookie of the Year Award.
#5 The Chicago Cubs who are in first place for the NL Wild Card and are looking to shore up some pitching activated right hander Michael Soroka off the 15 day IL on Monday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs intend to use Soroka as a reliever. Soroka threw for two innings on Monday night in the Cubs 4-0 shutout win.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Slade Cecconi tips his cap to the Cleveland crowd after nearly throwing a no hitter against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Mon Sep 8, 2025 (Chronicle-Telegram Cleveland photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Monday night Cleveland Guardian pitcher Slade Cecconi went into the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals pitching a no hitter but Royals lead off hitter Michael Massey hit a lead off single and broke up Cecconi’s no hit bit which could have been the first one of the season. It also would have ended Cleveland’s four decade long wait for a no hitter but the wait continues.
#2 Philadelphia Phillies Trea Turner who is out with a strained hamstring for the rest of the season is expected back for post season in October. Phils manager Rob Thomson that Turner’s MRI results are better than expected and that the strain is not as bad as expected. Turner is in the third year of his 11 year $300 million contract.
#3 Milwaukee Brewers Christian Yelich is back in the line up on Monday night after he was scratched out of the line up and missed five game due to lower back pain. Yelich on Monday got one hit in four at bats in the Brewers 5-0 loss to the Texas Rangers. Yelich this season has played in 132 of the Brewers 144 games hitting .268 with 27 home runs and 92 RBIs.
#4 The Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe is on the seven day concussion IL after getting hit in the head by the Sacramento A’s Jacob Wilson’s backswing. The Angels Jo Adell was out of the line up due vertigo. O’Hoppe was removed after being hit in the head in Sunday’s game.
#5 Times are getting rough for the A’s after taking the first two games from the Angels on Friday and Saturday and then turning around and losing to the Angels on Sunday and getting crushed by the Boston Red Sox on Monday night 7-0 at Sutter Health Park. The hopes of getting out of the cellar are dimming for Sacramento.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Nine possible expansion cities MLB is considering to expand to (image by Fox Sports)
Oakland an expansion city?
–That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
Major League Baseball plans to expand to 32 teams after the Oakland Athletics move to Las Vegas and the Tampa Bay Rays secure a new ballpark. So that is not happening tomorrow; it will be a few more years. But could Oakland, California, be one of these expansion teams?
I am not as surprised as others when one of the nine (9) cities named as a candidate for an expansion franchise was Oakland. Oakland is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the top ten media markets in the US.
With Silicon Valley in the South Bay (San José) we are also considered one of the affluent markets in the United States. The primary reason the Oakland A’s left Oakland is the lack of a new stadium and the owner’s desire for a more profitable market.
Owner John Fisher chose Las Vegas, Nevada, the #40 media market in the United States, over the Bay Area, one of the top markets in the country. In other words, Mr. Fisher left a Filet Mignon on the table for a Hamburger.
However, let’s be clear, the Oakland A’s are not returning to Oakland. But, there is a possibility that Oakland could have a new team, an expansion team in the Major Leagues. A brand-new-shinning Oakland logo back in the East Bay.
Stranger things have happened. Although the commissioner has stated that there are no predetermined locations, these nine seem to be the most popular. Charlotte, Mexico City, Montreal, Nashville, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Portland, Sacramento, and Oakland.
In the case of Sacramento (which is currently the temporary home of the A’s, onto Las Vegas in a few years), Sacramento would have to build a brand-new park to meet major league specifications. The key figure in professional sports in California’s capital city is Vivek Ranadivé, and his ownership group, which owns both the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A Affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
Ranadivé extended a hand to John Fisher to bring his A’s to Sacramento temporarily; he could be interested in a major league franchise in his town, an expansion team. Keep in mind, we are talking years in the future.
Joe Lacob and Peter Gruber are the owners of the NBA Golden State Warriors and the WNBA Golden State Valkyries. Could it be that these same owners, who a couple of years ago had an offer to buy the Oakland A’s from John Fisher, would be interested in a new expansion team across the bay?
Makes sense, since they are already invested and very influential in the Bay Area Professional sports scene. México City, México, makes a lot of sense. Major League Baseball’s influence in Latin America continues to grow, with over 30% of Hispanic players born South of the Border among the biggest stars in the world.
Montréal, Canada (which had the Expos for 36 seasons), is also an interesting choice. If they do get an expansion team, it would be the second team in all of Canada, alongside the Toronto Blue Jays, like it used to be.
Let’s face it, Canada, eh… is a nice country, they deserve more than hockey. If the Commissioner wants to make baseball more international, we should expand further north to Canada and south to México. I am only using common sense, but beware; ‘common sense is not very common in 2025’
On managing the expansion Mets: “They’ve shown me ways to lose that I never knew existed.” — Casey Stengel.NY Mets Manager(1962)
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Willson Contreras (40) is held back by manager Oliver Marmol (37) after he was ejected by umpire Derek Thomas (53) during the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium Mon Aug 25, 2025.Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Seattle Mariner catcher Cal Raleigh is setting records on Monday night he belted his 50th home run of the season against the San Diego Padres at T Mobile Field in Seattle. Raleigh has the most home runs hit by a catcher in a single season. Raleigh also joins Mickey Mantle as two of the only switch hitters to hit 50 or more home runs in season. Mantle hit 52 1956 and 54 1961.
#2 It was a wild argument by St Louis Cardinals designated hitter Wilson Contreas who was called out on a third strike that was inside the lower part of the imaginary box. Cards manager Oliver Marmol was also thrown out but had to restrain Contreras who almost made contact with plate umpire Derek Thomas and Contreas threw his bat at Cards hitting coach Brant Brown which was intended for the umpire. Umpire crew chief Jordan Baker said that Contreras was saying vulgar stuff to Thomas and that’s why he was tossed.
#3 After having quadruple bypass heart surgery Los Angeles manager Ron Washington said on Monday night that he feels great and said he was looking forward to recovering in New Orleans where he lives. Washington who was known to be a long time smoker and since quit said that doctors told him he could start doing light work in about eight weeks. Washington rejoined the Angels in Arlington to be with the team but he wasn’t there to work but to have fun with the guys.
#4 For the third straight game the Cleveland Guardians were shutout this time by the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night 9-0. The Guardians had not been shutout in three straight games since the 1991 season. “Everyone’s frustrated,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We need to hit. We need to score more runs. We need to get things going on offense, and we’re all aware of it. We’re all working through it, and it’s going to take all of us individually doing our best.”
#5 The Sacramento A’s continue to roll winning their seventh in their last ten games this time at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento against the Detroit Tigers on Monday night 8-3. The A’s win puts them just two games out of climbing out of the AL West cellar for a tie with the fourth place Angels.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
When the New York Yankees Aaron Judge was a free agent he passed on the San Francisco Giants and re upped with the Yankees shortly there after. (AP News photo)
Giants: Looking for the next Barry Bonds?
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
Over the last few years, the San Francisco Giants have attempted to sign some of the game’s biggest superstars, players who will truly bring fans to Oracle Park and, most importantly, lead the team to another World Series. No disrespect to Dominican-born Rafael Devers, who was acquired in a midseason trade from the Boston Red Sox; he is a very good player, but he is not in the same category as the ones you will see listed below.
Everybody will probably agree that the San Francisco Giants haven’t had a great player since Barry Bonds, a real superstar, who retired in 2007 after 22 years in the Major Leagues. No disrespect to Buster Posey, as good as he was, possibly Hall of Famer, but Bonds was in a much higher category of talent. As a business, baseball teams like to contract big stars.
The Giants signed future Hall of Fame pitcher Justin Verlander. It is good to have that talent; however, this should be Verlander’s last season with the Giants, and maybe his last season, period.
Verlander’s signing might have sold more tickets, because everybody wants to see successful players. However, with the Giants to this day, Justin Verlander is 1-10 with a 4.64 earned run average. Here is something that might surprise you: in World Series games, Verlander has a record of 1 win and 6 losses with a 4.64 earned run average.
Looking for that one big star, the Giants tried to sign these.
1-Aaron Judge.(No chance) He chose to stay with the Yankees, the team he had played for throughout his career. While the Giants made a strong offer, potentially matching the Padres’ offer of 10 years, $400 million, Judge’s preference was to remain in New York. Who can blame him?
The Yankees are the home of the sluggers and home to 27 World Series titles. When the Giants were trying to bring him to the Bay Area, I said it was never going to happen. He is a New York Yankee in the tradition of the great players like Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Maris, Berra, Jeter, etc. There was no reason he was coming to San Francisco (even though he was born 95 miles from San Francisco in Linden). California. However, in baseball and business, New York is New York.
2-Shohei Ohtani (No chance) The Giants said they were offering him a contract that was very similar to, if not identical to, the one he ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers (In the $700s million range). President of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi, confirmed that they met with Ohtani and his representatives and were willing to match the Dodgers’ offer, including the deferred money, according to MLB.com.
Ultimately, Ohtani chose to sign with the Dodgers. Why? Said he preferred LA to SF. Note: ESPN reported that the Giants’ offer was identical to the one made by the Dodgers. Ohtani went Hollywood. I first met him and interviewed Ohtani “Showtime” as a rookie with the LA Angels in 2018 at Anaheim. Very smart and pleasant player.
3-Carlos Correa (Not meant to be). He had a deal with the Giants in place for a 13-year, $350 million contract, but it fell through due to concerns about a surgically repaired ankle, and the Giants stated that he had failed his physical.
However, the Correa story continued in 2025, as he had played for the Minnesota Twins and was currently with the Houston Astros, whom he had played for from 2012 to 2015, before joining the Twins. Carlos Correa, who is beloved in Houston, hit a home run in his first at-bat with the Houston Astros just days after being traded from Minnesota.
This Puerto Rican story is as long as his full legal name, which is Carlos Javier Correa Oppenheimer Jr., and yes, he has seen the movie.
4-Juan Soto (Never close) There were rumors that the Giants were interested in Juan Soto, a free agent, but they did not make a strong push for him. Although all roads ended with a group of 10 different teams, Juan Soto landed in the Big Apple, and the New York Mets, secured him with a record-breaking contract for 15 years and $765 million, although he was jumping like a kangaroo from team to team, 2022-23 Padres and 2024 Yankees, he broke the Piñata with the Mets, where he is playing today, and will probably see him in the Playoffs. These Giants.
In 2025, they were not picked to win the NL West, but nobody expected them to be in 4th place at this time of the year. Buster Posey and company have a lot of work to do to improve this team. The mid-season acquisition of Rafael Devers did not change the chemistry of that lineup, and Willy Adames is having a better second half, but the team is not. There are only three ways you can find a superstar.
1-You develop him..
2-You trade for him.
3-You sign him as a Free Agent. Everybody will probably agree that the San Francisco Giants haven’t had a great player since Barry Bonds, who retired in 2007 after 22 years in the Major Leagues. The Giants initially drafted Barry Bonds out of high school in 1982 at Junípero Serra High in San Mateo (the same school as Tom Brady), but the Giants did not sign him due to a contract dispute over $5,000.
Bonds went on to play college ball at Arizona State University, hitting .347 with 45 home runs and 175 RBI. In 1984, he batted .360 and stole 30 bases. In 1985, hit 23 home runs with 66 RBI and a .368 average. That year, Bonds was a Sporting News All-American.
He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992, and in 1993, the Giants signed him as a free agent to a record-breaking six-year, $43.75 million contract. The rest is history. For the Giants today, 2025 it’s “Wait ‘Till Next Year”. Probably the most used phrase for a bunch of teams around mid-August and September.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
Sacramento A’s Shea Langeliers slugs his second of three home runs against the Washington Nationals in the top of the fifth inning on Tue Aug 5, 2025 at Nationals Park in DC. Langeliers leads the A’s in home runs with 26. The A’s opened a six game road trip on Tue Aug 19, 2025. (AP News photo)
A’s Best of Last Place Teams
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi Gonzalez
The objective is to win, but there can only be one champion. When all is settled, only one of 30 will get the trophy. In the Big Leagues, unlike Little Leagues, there is no “participation” award, and the closest thing to that is the Wild Card, which has been in place since 1995.
You always have the elite teams, such as the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and a few others, ‘the regular suspects’, but what about if we start from the bottom and see what’s happening there, with under 40 games left for most teams?
That could be interesting, and these are the ones at the bottom. The Cellar. These are the teams that, if the season ended today, would finish last in each of the six divisions. Orioles, White Sox, Athletics, Pirates, Nationals, Rockies.
In this group of non-contenders, the Rockies and White Sox have the best chance of reaching the dreaded 100 games lost. By the way, the White Sox established the new record for most games lost with 121 last season.
The Athletics and the Orioles had been evenly matched for most of the season. However, there is a big difference here, while the O’s were expected ‘in some way’ to be contenders, maybe as a wild card, nobody picked the A’s to do much, but to try to survive another year, they are the most criticized franchise in recent memory (thanks to his owner, who was brutally booed by fans at their home park a few days ago) they were expected to finish, like last season out of the cellar.
I could analyze this until the cows come home, but I will make it easier. Oh yes, there is another difference between the O’s and the A’s, the Orioles’ payroll is $154 million, while the Athletics is $77 million. The A’s lineup is a young and aggressive one.
The first in MLB this year to have three guys with 25 home runs: Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, and the Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz. If the A’s retain the same nucleus of players and can improve their pitching from starters to closer (they traded one of the best in Mason Miller), and perhaps spend a little money??? In the off-season, they could be very interesting in 2026, possibly challenging for a wild card.
For the Orioles, it is even more interesting; they play in a tough division with the Jays, Rays, Yanks, and Red Sox, and it could be much more difficult to be relevant next season.
However, there are always trade possibilities; they have already traded veteran Cedric Mullins to the contending Mets, and I expect the Orioles to be busy in the trade and free agent markets this winter. Players on last-place teams often struggle to stay motivated when playoff hopes are lost and fan energy is low, highlighting the importance of professionalism.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Savannah Bananas logo. The Bananas are out drawing most MLB teams and are filling up NFL football stadiums to sell out crowds with their baseball comedy that’s been a sensational hit. (logo by the Tiger)
That’s Bananas! No Attendance Problem for these guys
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
Unlike the Athletics, Rays, and Marlins, or any of the other 27 Major League teams, the Savanah Bananas can draw between 50,000 and 80,000 fans at any given time. They are not in Major League Baseball, but these bananas are ripe and ready for entertainment every game, pleasing thousands of people and lots of families who enjoy their antics.
It reminded me of the first time I watched a game between the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals. This is a unique type of baseball featuring acrobats and comedians in uniform, some more athletic than others, but it’s entertaining nonetheless
The Savannah Bananas played in stadiums all across the country, including Major League Park. Most recently, August 10-11 at Coors Field, Denver, home of the Colorado Rockies. They often sell out venues. The Savannah Bananas drew 81,000 people to Clemson’s Memorial Stadium on April 26, 2025, as part of their Banana Ball World Tour as they played against the Party Animals.
The game was a sellout, with 81,000 fans in attendance. They also sold out Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on March 15 of this year, a crowd of 65,000. At the time, the sold-out game in Tampa was a record and also the first time the players played in an NFL stadium.
The Bananas are about to draw the same amount of fans (or close), maybe a little less than the A’s and Rays and That’s Bananas!
The Athletics at Sacramento are last among all 30 MLB teams in attendance, averaging just 9,000 per game. With fewer than 20 more home games this 2025 season, they will likely end short of 600,000 in total attendance.
If you are still curious, this is their website. If you are curious, this is their website https://thesavannahbananas.com/ Quote: In the film For Love of the Game, pitcher Billy Chapel says, “[Hearing Yankee fans boo and jeer him] I can always tell when I’m in New York.” This shows that a player is aware of fan presence, regardless of size.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
