Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Will World Series ticket prices beat the A’s regular season prices?

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Logo for the 2024 World Series (image by Capital One “What’s in your wallet”)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury the lowest priced ticket for a for game 1 ticket of the 2024 World Series is $1122 at Dodger Stadium. That’s a little over $500 over what the Sacramento A’s want for a ticket at Sutter Health Park for a regular season game. It’s got to the point where you can’t afford to go to a ball game anymore.

#2 The A’s are offering season ticket plans that run $15,000 to $20,000 a seat which works out to $300 a game. Is this a matter of the A’s getting over on the Sacramento fan or the fans getting a great deal to see Major League Baseball for the first time in the Capital City?

#3 The A’s will have three year stint at Sutter Health as an interim place to play until 2028. The A’s and MLB are rethinking installing artificial turf and go with natural turf. The artificial turf idea was a sticking point with the players but it looks as if the A’s and MLB are going to relent and keep it as natural turf.

#4 This past week A’s owner John Fisher was in Las Vegas for the implosion of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino and he actually spoke to the press saying he was upwards and onwards towards the construction of the new A’s ballpark problem is as of today Fisher has not paid his share of the construction costs for the park. Can he beat the December deadline?

#5 Moving onto another baseball player in the past and he’s still around today a former Atlanta Brave 85 year old Dominican Rico Carty. Carty played from 1963 breaking in with the Milwaukee Braves and retiring with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1979. Carty had a career batting average of .299 and did so well he earned a starting role in the 1970 All Star as a write in candidate. Is Rico a member of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and there has to be a little doubt he would be a well deserved member.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does the That’s Amaury podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sports

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A Coast to Coast Affair 2024 World Series

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1977 World Series, Yankees vs. Dodgers.  Before the game at Dodger Stadium, LA, Amaury Pi-González left,(Oakland A’s radio) and Jaime Jarrin (Los Angeles Dodgers radio) both wait jm

A Coast to Coast Affair -2024 World Series

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Two of the game’s most historic franchises will compete for the title beginning Friday, October 25th, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, time TBD. This will be the 12th time, more than any other teams from the American and National Leagues, that these two teams will meet in the Fall Classic.

It all began in New York City when the Dodgers played in Brooklyn and the Yankees in the Bronx. Dodgers headed to the World Series for the fourth time in eight years. For the Yankees this will be the first time since 2009.

The rivalry between these two franchises is one of the biggest in Major League Baseball. The teams have met 11 times in the World Series, more than any other teams from the American and National leagues. The rivalry began in New York City when the Dodgers played in Brooklyn and the Yankees in the Bronx. In 1977 and 1978, Yanks and Dodgers played each other in the World Series.

I covered the 1977 and 1981 Series with reports and interviews. In 1977, I first met my good friend and broadcaster Jaime Jarrin, a Hall of Fame Ford C. Frick Award recipient who called the Dodgers games in Spanish for 64 years and retired after the 2022 season.

Some of the game’s biggest stars will participate in this World Series, which begins next Friday. This season, the most likely MVP winners are Yankee Aaron Judge for the American League and Dodger Shohei Ohtani for the National League.

Some of the most prominent and historical baseball players played for these two franchises: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle,Yogi Berra, Phil Rizutto, and many others for the Yankees. For the Dodgers, the most historical trailblazer figure in baseball is Jackie Robinson. Other Dodgers greats include Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Mauri Wills, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, and Fernando Valenzuela.

Yankees vs Dodgers rivalry. The Dodgers have won seven World Series titles since winning their first championship as a Brooklyn franchise in 1955 to break a run of futility against the New York Yankees, who had beaten them the first five times they had met for the MLB title. The New York Yankees have won the most major U.S. professional sports titles with 27 World Series Championships.

It’s a dream come true for FOX Network (rights holder), which will broadcast this coast-to-coast affair. FOX expects some of the highest ratings in World Series history. FOX feed coverage extends to Canada, Australia, Asia, China, Japan, India, South Korea, all of Latin America, including Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. It is also available in some countries in Europe.

Here in the Bay Area CH 2 KTVU FOX is your official 2024 World Series station.

Who is the favorite? You pick’em. However, the Dodgers were the favorites to win this 2024 World Series before the regular season got underway. They won the most games among the 30 teams. As a matter of fact, both the Dodgers and Yankees won more games than any team in Major League Baseball this season. Dodgers won 98 games and Yankees won 94. They are indeed the best two teams in baseball.

It will be Pizza vs Tacos, New York vs Los Angeles.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for Thats Amaury’s News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Battle for Women Sports in the US

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San Jose State University Spartan’s volley ball player Blaire Fleming (3) a transgender has been the subject of boycotts by four universities (San Jose State University photo)

The Battle for Women Sports in the US

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Although this instance involves a Bay Area University, this issue is becoming a bigger and bigger national issue. Simple, should a biological male who transitioned to female be able to participate in biological women’s sports? Several teams have canceled matches against San José State rather than compete against the team that features transgender senior Blaire Fleming.

Below: This was the official statement by the University of Reno women’s volleyball team.

“We, the University of Nevada Reno women’s volleyball team, forfeit against San José State University and stand united in solidarity with the volleyball teams of Southern Utah University, Boise State University, the University of Wyoming, and Utah State University,” the statement said, referring to the other teams who have forfeited their matches. We demand that our right to safety and fair competition on the court be upheld. We refuse to participate in any game that advances injustice against female athletes.”

So, how do we approach this issue in sports as a society? According to the professionals in academia, the people who know and are authorized to talk about biology, men have more skeletal muscle than women, an average of 26 pounds. Regarding upper-body strength, men have about 40% more upper-body strength than women. Regarding lower-body strength, men have about 33% lower body strength than women.

In other words, when a male is born compared to a female, they have deeper bones, tendons, and ligaments and a greater cardiovascular reserve. Men also have larger hearts, greater lung volume, higher red blood cell counts, plus other physical advantages.

This is not a commentary but a fact revealed by people who study and are qualified to give us this type of statistical information. We are all entitled to offer our opinions on sports and cultural issues. However, most people with any common sense agree that a biological man is born with more physical attributes than a female.

70% of the country agrees that biological males who do the transformation to women should not compete against biological females. I am part of that 70%, and we cannot criticize these women in collegiate sports who refuse to play against a team that showcases a biological man.

Lia Catherine Thomas is an American swimmer and the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship, having won the women’s 500-yard freestyle event in 2022 before being barred from competing in women’s events by World Aquatics.

Thomas’s career has been a part of the public debate about transgender women in women’s sports. I, for one, would not like any of my two grandaughters to compete against the biological men who transitioned to female. I consider myself fair, and in my book, such a thing is not fair.

This issue is bigger than sports, but since it is now part of our sports culture, I thought we should consider what we are doing, and should be open for debate.

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

MLB Post Season podcast on That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Mets tie series 1-1 with Vientos grand slam; Yanks go up on Guardians 2-0

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The New York Mets Mark Vientos rounds the bases with a second inning grand slam home run at Dodger Stadium in game 2 of the NLCS. The Mets went onto tie the series at 1-1 on Mon Oct 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 New York Mets Mark Vientos hit a grand slam home run to help defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday night for a commanding 7-3 win to even the series 1-1.

#2 Amaury after getting clobbered in a 9-0 shutout the Mets regrouped and scored some runs with the Vientos grand slam and that big second inning five run rally.

#3 After Mets starter Sean Manaea five innings allowed two hit and two runs. The Mets relievers Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, and Edwin Diaz came in and didn’t allow a run.

#4 New York Yankees showed their a powerhouse and they got big help in game 1 in the ALCS on Monday night with home run help from Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton for a 5-2, over the Cleveland Guardians.

#5 The Yankees got some pitching with starter Carlos Rodon went six innings, three hits and one earned run. Rodon had injuries when he first joined the Yankees but this season he’s got tracked and has been a big part of the starting rotation.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez podcasts That’s Amaury News and Commentary Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Los Tiburones – Successful Hispanic Night at SAP in San José

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NBC Sports California’s Amaury Pi Gonzalez (left and author) on color and Carlos Ramirez (right) on play by play, call the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and San Jose Sharks NHL game on Sat Oct 12, 2024, on Los Tiburones Night at SAP Center in San Jose (photo provided by Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Los Tiburones — Successful Hispanic Night at SAP in San José

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

On Saturday, October 12, the Sharks celebrated Hispanic Night at the SAP Arena. A capacity crowd of 17,916 joined the fiesta with 100X100 Hispanic flavor, including a live Mariachi band, Balet Folklórico Mexicano.

Los Tiburones played their California rivals, the Anaheim Ducks. It was a very entertaining night, which ended with a 2-0 win for the visiting Ducks.

The action was broadcast live on NBC Sports California, with all the action in Spanish on the Secondary Audio Channel, as well as on Sharks Audio, with Carlos Ramírez handling all the play-by-play and Amaury Pi-González providing commentary and promotional announcements for the whole 2024-25 Sharks season.

Sergio Almodovar, coordinator for the Sharks Media Relations, joined us after the second half ended with insightful information about the 2024-25 Sharks season; he talked about how important the Hispanic community is for the San José Sharks.

Almodovar, born and raised in the Bay Area, is of Mexican heritage. San José is over 30% Hispanic and a community that keeps growing. Some of the most famous Spanish media in the Bay Area are in San José, including KSTS CH 48 Telemundo Network, and some of the highest audiences in Spanish on radio stations in the Bay Area’s largest city.

San José is California’s third most populous city, #1 Los Angeles, #2 San Diego. The largest city in Northern California is a global hub for the high-tech industry, home of world-famous Silicon Valley—hosts annual conferences like Facebook F8 and the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference.

Spanish is the State of California’s unofficial second language. With a total population of around 40 million, there are nearly 20 million Hispanics. Here in the nine=-county Bay Area, 20% of the population is Hispanic/Latino, by far the largest minority in the State and in the Bay Area.

As of July 1, 2023, the Hispanic population in the United States was 65.2 million. The United States of America is #2 with the most significant number of Spanish speakers. México is number one, with 128 million people who speak Spanish.

The Florida Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Vegas Knights have all added Spanish-language broadcasts to serve their Hispanic fan bases.

As Sports Anchor of Telemundo CH 48 San José in 1991-92, I covered the Sharks, even before they built the SAP Center. Covered their first game at the Cow Palace in Daly City (before moving to San José to their current digs).

It was on October 5, 1991, against the Vancouver Canucks, during that 1991-92 season, their first they played at the Cow Palace before moving to the SAP Center in San José in 1993.

In 2016, they covered the first Stanley Cup for the team as they played the Pittsburgh Penguins and lost the series in seven games.

The San José Sharks partnership with the Hispanic/Latino community is more important today than ever.

The Sharks are now a Bay Area institution for the last 33 years. And we all hope their best season are soon to come.

Catch Amaury Pi Gonzalez on That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Thomas hits grand slam and lands Cleveland in ALCS; Dodgers to face Mets in NLCS

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The Cleveland Guardians Lane Thomas celebrates after hitting his fifth inning grand slam home run against the Detroit Tigers in game 5 of the ALDS at Progressive Field in Cleveland (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Well Amaury, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled it off with a 2-0 shoutout over the San Diego Padres on Friday night to advance to the next round of the playoffs winning game 5 and the series 3-2. Dodgers starter Yoshi Yamamoto was effective for five inning of work allowing just five hits and two strikeouts.

#2 The Dodgers face off against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium for a 5:15pm PT on Sunday night start in game 1 of the NLCS. Starting pitcher for the Mets Kodai Senga (0-0 ERA 4.50) for the Dodgers Jack Flaherty (0-1, 6.75). The Mets took out the Philadelphia Phillies three games to four last Wednesday.

#3 Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt might win AL Manager of the Year just yet. Down 1-2 in the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers the Guardians came back to win game four 5-4 on Thursday to tie the series 2-2 and won game five 7-3 on Saturday to advance to the ALCS.

#4 The Guardians Lane Thomas had a big day with a grand slam home run and five RBIs. The Tigers starter Tarik Skubal got lit up by Thomas and ended up with a line of six plus innings, allowing six hits and five runs. Skubal had been a top contender for the AL Cy Young Award.

#5 The Guardians now face the New York Yankees in the ALCS for game 1 in the Bronx. These two teams have met over their history six times in October. They last met playing five games in the ALDS in 2022 with the Yankees winning the series.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does That’s Amaury podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Luis Tiant -“Solo hubo Uno” -There was only One

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Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant (left) signs autographs at the Manchester NH Fire Firefighters Department with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (right) who was running for president smiles and looks on Mon, May 7, 2007. Tiant passed away on Tue Oct 8, 2024 at age 83 (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Luis Tiant -“Solo hubo Uno” -There was only One-

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Solo hubo Uno -There was only One

Born in Cuba in 1940, he passed away on October 8, 2024 he was 83. This Cuban-born pitcher was a great and funny guy who approached life really ‘one day at a time.’ He could lose a game and be okay with it, although he didn’t like it. He would say, “Esta bien,voy a lanzar otra vez en cuatro —trans: “That is okay, I will pitch again in four days.”

When I was a kid in La Habana, my father, Joaquin, would take me to the Cuban Winter League games. I saw him pitch, with the Leones del Habana, and he was a dandy, a fan favorite. Later, in the Major Leagues, he was an outstanding pitcher with great character.

Luis Tiant’s father was also a good pitcher, and he pitched for the New York Cubans of the Negro Leagues, but because he was black, he never pitched in the Major Leagues. Oh yes, the ex-MLB star always had that incredible delivery when he threw the ball, one of the most distinctive in history. Some great Latino pitchers, i.e., Dominican Juan Marichal, with that high-leg kick, had those traits that generations of fans remember.

During his visits to Oakland, I interviewed Luis. He was wearing the Boston Red Sox uniform in the late 1970s. He was funny but a friendly, genuine, typical Cuban player (of the old days). He loved a cafecito Cubano (Cuban coffee) and then an authentic Habano, a Cuban cigar, but he truly loved to talk baseball.

After retiring from a career of close to 20 years in the Major Leagues, he was seen signing autographs at Fenway Park, especially near his Cuban Sandwich stand and beloved by Red Sox fans, El Tiante, who also left Cuba (like many Cuban players) because of the strict restrictions imposed on Cuban citizens by a communist system that nationalized all sports and owned the players.

Tiant remained active with the Red Sox in spring training and was visible around Fenway Park, often signing autographs to anybody who asked before the game at the ballpark’s El Tiante Cuban Sandwich stand; it was an authentic Cuban sandwich, none of the imitations that we often see all over the place today, which the only thing Cuban on the sandwich is the name. Although nominated but never inducted into MLB Hall of Fame he is in The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Luis-Tiant

Descansa en Paz hermano… Rest in Peace brother.

Catch Amaury Pi Gonzalez for That’s Amaury podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Charlie Hustle should be in Cooperstown 

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Former Cincinnati Reds hitter Pete Rose at the bat against the Atlanta Braves on Aug 2, 1978 at Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta (AP file photo)

By Amaury Pi-González

When I first arrived in the United States as a young teen in 1961, I remember people saying, “In America, everybody deserves a second chance.” Well, Pete Rose, as a player, never got that chance by the MLB Hall of Fame.

Charlie Hustle was banned from baseball in 1989 for gambling on the Cincinnati Reds team he managed; that makes a lot of sense. As a manager, he made the moves; some of them could win a game, and some could not, but he had absolute control throughout any match. Common sense tells us that for baseball, it was correct to ban him for life as a manager. But as a player?

In the United States of America, even criminals, big-time felons, go to prison, serve their time, rehabilitate later, and join society again. Example: O.J Simpson, and we know that story.

As a player, Pete Rose is the all-time Hits King, with 4,256 hits. #2 in Ty Cobb, 4189 hits; if we used today’s standards, Ty Cobb should lead a new Hall of Fame, “The Racist Hall of Fame, and ‘trust me’ he will have competition, even managers.

Today, the Hall of Fame’s various committees elect participants other than recently retired players. The most active is the Veterans Committee. I hope that for the sake of the great game of baseball and future generations, Pete Rose could be elected to the Hall of Fame as a player. Why?

Because he was one of the best baseball players ever to wear a uniform. Whether or not you like his personality, you do not elect people for their personality flaws but for the merit of their performance. With 4,256 hits, who could argue with a career of such magnitude, especially during this time in baseball history when the average batting average in baseball is a paltry .240. I covered Pete Rose as a player, and he should be in the Hall of Fame. Period.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Tigers get all the runs they need in 2nd inning in 3-1 win; Royals Witt with RBI helps defeat O’s 1-0 in game 1; plus more Wild Card news

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Detroit Tigers starter Tarik Skubal (29) is stoked after striking out Houston Astros Yanier Diaz in the bottom of the sixth inning at the AL Wild Card Game in Minute Maid Field at Houston on Tue Oct 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, just wanted to ask you about the four MLB Wild Card games being played today and see if you can share your thoughts about today’s results. We’ll start with the Detroit Tigers who played the Houston Astros today at Minute Maid Field in the AL Wild Card game. Framber Valdez started for the Astros and Tigers did all the damage against Valdez in the top of the second inning scoring three runs coming away with a 3-1 win in game 1.

#2 The Royals and Orioles battled for the second AL Wild Card game at Camden Yards. The Royals came away with a 1-0 shutout to defeat the Orioles at Camden Yards. The Royals Bobby Witt has been doing it all season Tuesday he drove in the winning run and Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragan pitched six innings of shutout ball to close down the Orioles in game 1.

#3 The New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers might be a tight match at American Family Park in Milwaukee.

#4 The Atlanta Braves will be starting SJ Smith-Shawyer (0-0, 0.00) and the San Diego Padres will be starting Michael King (13-9, 2.95) Shawyer will be pitching against one of baseball’s best teams the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: End of an Era-I feel I was Evicted

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Oakland A’s Spanish radio announcers left to right Manolo Hernandez-Douen, Jose Orellana (engineer), and Amaury Pi Gonzalez at the last MLB game ever played at the Oakland Coliseum between the Oakland A’s and Texas Rangers on Thu Sep 26, 2024 (photo furnished by the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

End of an Era -I feel I was Evicted

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–It ended on a Sunday afternoon in Seattle, the Oakland A’s run since 1968. The Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland A’s (last time we can say Oakland A’s): Seattle 6, Oakland 4. It has been an emotional hangover for most of us who worked at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

I do feel like I have been “evicted” for no fault of my own, and I know many feel the same way. I have been there from the Charlie O Finley ownership[ days to Joh Fisher’s days}. I met Mr. Finley, but never A’s owner Mr. Fisher.

I started broadcasting Major League Baseball at old Box 19, a broadcast booth at the Oakland Coliseum, in 1978. It has been a long time since then. In 1978, the NY Yankees beat the LA Dodgers in the World Series, and Bucky Dent was the MVP.

The highest-paid player in 1978 was third baseman Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies, who earned $560,000.The US turned the Panamá Canal to Panamá. Louise Brown became the first human born from in vitro fertilization, and the average gas price in the United States was .70 cents per gallon.

But back to the Oakland Coliseum. A’s Manager Mark Kotsay and his players were a “class act” playing during a difficult season, not because they were trying not to finish last, they did not. They looked like a team that could be a .500 team starting next season, but because of all the circumstances with the team moving to Las Vegas, with an expected stop in Sacramento.

This time in history is not like it was back in 1978 when everybody got their news from three television Networks and a couple of local stations (no 500-plus cable channels like today). In the Bay Area, the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, Oakland Tribune, and San José Mercury News were mostly our daily sources of information. That was when people actually read whole newspaper articles, not just a big-fat headline on YouTube.

Today, everybody has a cell phone in their pockets (including the players), and rumors, fake news, and innuendo move faster than the wind at old Candlestick Park in San Francisco during batting practice around 5 PM. As I remember, this includes the games during the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989.

I do not have an exact count of the many days, afternoons, and nights that I spend at the Oakland Coliseum, but I have called it “my second home” since the 1970s in the business. I not only called games on the radio but also covered games. In the 1980s, I broadcast games for Telemundo CH 48 San José, which was first a tiny station but is now part of NBC Universal.

No matter how you analyze the Oakland Athletics story, it is sad, and I, for one, feel like I was evicted from the Coliseum.

Adiós al Coliseo y todas las memorias.

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