Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Mid-Season Report- Not to Lose 100 Again?

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Oakland Athletics’ Mason Miller pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Has been a big part of the A’s closing opportunities and could be on the trade deadline in July or could be one of the future foundations for the A’s (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

A’s Mid-Season Report: Not to Lose 100 Again?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s have played 86 games, and they are already into the second half of this 2024 season. Their record of 30-56 is seven games over last season, when at this same time of the season, they had a 23-63 record. From July 2 of last season to July 2 this season, the A’s have seven more wins and seven fewer lost games. What does this mean?

Does it mean they are going to lose 100 games again? They might not lose 112 games as they did in 2023, but they could also end with at least 100 games in the lost column. With a day off Monday, July 1, the A’s return to Oakland after a 1-5 road trip, swept in Anaheim and lost 2 of 3 in Arizona.

They will face the Angels on Tuesday for a three-game series, who swept them last week in Disneyland. They will be followed by the Baltimore Orioles, one of the best teams in baseball. The O’s have been taking turns on first place with the New York Yankees, and more than likely, one of those two teams will win the AL East. The O’s and Yanks are on the list of possible World Series winners this year.

Since they began to play in Oakland in 1968, it was in 1979 (another transition season) that the A’s ended with a 54-108 record. In 2022, with 60-102, and last season in 2023, with 50-112. They could quickly lose 100 or more again.

They continue to rebuild and are in transition, with their main goal to develop the players that, in the future, could make their team like the Orioles. The Orioles also leased the cellar not long ago, but they drafted many good players; a few are headed soon to the All-Star Game in Texas, traded for others, and are a young powerhouse. We will see these O’s soon after the Angels visit Oakland; as a matter of schedule, the Orioles are here next Friday for a 3-game soiree with the young Athletics.

Bleday, Gelof, Soderstrom, Langeliers, Miller, Medina, Rooker, Erceg, and Butler are some of the new names and faces in Oakland who could be the foundation for a better future. However, the trade deadline is at the end of this month, and nobody should be surprised if some of the young talent will also be departing, making room for… more young talent for that long-awaited future.

But as far as this season, who is counting?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Adiós Cha Cha Cepeda, Descansa en Paz, RIP

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Flashback: Hall of Fame acknowledgement for Orlando Cepeda in 1999 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. From left to right: Lon Simmons Giants broadcaster (seated), Amaury Pi Gonzalez Giants Spanish broadcaster, Giants manager Dusty Baker, Orlando Cepeda Hall of Famer, and Giants managing partner Peter Macgowan (seated) (photo furnished by Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Adios Cha Cha Cepeda, Descansa en Paz, RIP

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Ten days after Willie (“The Say Hey Kid”), Mays left us, Adiós today to Cha Cha. Rest in peace. Orlando Cepeda passed on June 28, 2024, at 86, in the Hall of Fame, elected by the Veterans Committee. He was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico; the first baseman played for 17 seasons in the major leagues, and ended with a .297 average, 379 Homeruns, hit over .300 nine times in his career, a six-time All-Star who in 1958, won the National League, Rookie of the Year honors, was the 1966 Comeback Player of the Year Award, the 1967 Most Valuable Player in the National League, and 1973, at the end of his career won the DH of the Year Award.

Orlando’s debut was in 1958 with the San Francisco Giants, where he played most of his 17 seasons. He also played in St. Louis, Atlanta, Oakland, and Boston, and his last season with the Kansas City Royals was in 1974. A power hitter from Puerto Rico, Orlando made his debut in the majors just three years after his compatriot Roberto Clemente, who in 1955 was a rookie with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

I had the chance to speak with Orlando on many occasions, just talking baseball with him in Spanish and all the great memories of his days as a player that he shares with yours truly, the years when he (like many African-American and Latino players) were discriminated in the minor leagues and later here in the big show.

His telephone at home had a recording with Salsa music in the background. He once told me he would be either a musician or a ballplayer. He shared a great love for Latin music and always had a smile when we spoke about that topic.

Many times, either at Candlestick or later after 2000 at what is today Oracle Park, Orlando will come to the Spanish broadcast booth to join me as he enjoyed doing commentary. He was not part of the broadcast team, but it was an honor for us to welcome him, his experience, knowledge, and stories of his great career.

In February 2018, after a fall, he suffered a cardiac episode, a head injury, and a stroke after falling in a parking lot. Orlando Cepeda’s father was one of the most famous baseball players in Puerto Rico. Nicknamed Perucho was a solid professional baseball player in the “Isla del Encanto” trans “Island of the Charm.”

Orlando told me his dad could have played in the major leagues, but he did not want to suffer the discrimination that Hispanic players were subjected to. His father’s full name was Orlando Manuel Cepeda Pennes.

In 1998, through Orlando Cepeda, I met Garbiel (Tito) Avila Jr, who had the idea of starting a Hispanic Baseball Museum in the United States. I joined Avila Jr and, with him, co-founded the museum, which is still going strong after 25 years of traveling across the country.

In 2002, Orlando Cepeda was inducted into The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame (hhbmhof.com). Orlando shared their passion for the game as he was part of the HHBM during many of our public events and always hopes that we will have the permanent site for the Museum near the San Francisco Giants Park.

As a fan I always remember Orlando Cepeda aka The Baby Bull for his pure power at the plate; he hit a lot to centerfield and had power to spare.

Que en Paz Descanse una de las leyendas de Latinoamerica, el gran Boricua Orlando Cepeda.

Adiós Cha Cha Cepeda, Descansa en Paz, RIP.

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:2024 The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum (PART VI) No-No’s and Perfecto’s

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Oakland A’s pitcher Jim Catfish Hunter pitches the 10th MLB perfect game in 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum (Mercury News file photo)

2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum (PART VI) No-No’s and Perfecto’s

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

We continue to reminisce about all the great moments that have taken place for the Oakland A’s at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum during this final season for the team in Oakland. Since the Oakland A’s first game in 1968 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, there have been a total of twelve (12) no-hitters at the site currently called Rickey Henderson Field, and seven (7) of those twelve (12) have been by Oakland A’s pitchers, including one combined no-hitter. 1968.

Jim”Catfish” Hunter (Perfecto) on May 8, 1968. A’s 4 Minnesota 0. Attendance: 6,298 Time: 2:28 1970. Vida Blue. September 21, 1970. A’s 6 Minnesota 0. Attendance: 4,284 Time: 2:21 1975. Vida Blue (5 Inn) September 28, 1975. A’s 5 Minnesota 0. Attendance: 22,131 Time: 1:59 Glenn Abbott (1 INN) Paul Lindblad (1 INN) Rollie Fingers (2 INN) (Combined no-no on the last day of the season) 1983.

Mike Warren, at 22 years of age, threw a no-hitter vs Detroit Tigers on September 29, 1983. Nine innings, zero hits, zero runs, walked three and struck out five. As no-hitters usually go, it was also a quick game (before the clock era) of 2 hours and 20 minutes and a small crowd of 9,058 2010.

Dallas Braden’s (Perfecto) occurred on May 9, 2010, on Mother’s Day. He made 109 pitches to retire all 27 batters and struck out 6. in a 2-hour and 7-minute game in front of 12,228 fans at the Coliseum. 2018. Sean Manaea pitched a no-hitter over a sizzling Red Sox team that came into Oakland with an 8-game winning streak.

A’s 3 Boston 0. In front of 25,746 fans during a 2-hour and 15-minute game. 2019. Mike Fiers threw a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. A 2-0 final in front of 11,794 at the Coliseum, lasting 2 hours 25 minutes. (Four years earlier, Fiers also threw a no-hitter with the Houston Astros on August 21, 2015, against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

However, Fiers is mainly remembered in baseball history for blowing the whistle about the Houston Astros who allegedly engaged in sign-stealing methods in 2017, the year the Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers to win their franchise’s first World Series.

Note: Johnny Vander Meer of the Cincinnati Reds threw consecutive no-hitters against the Boston Bees (now the Atlanta Braves) and the Brooklyn (now Los Angeles) Dodgers. In 1938, Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Vander Meer pitched back-to-back no-hitters on June 11 and 15. One record that might never be broken. What was the quickest MLB game ever played? April 16, 2005. Chicago White Sox 2, Seattle Mariners 1. 1 hour, 39 minutes.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum–(Part V) – Rickey’s 939

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Rickey Henderson of the Oakland A’s hoists his 939th career stolen base for the Oakland Coliseum crowd to see. Rickey is the subject of That’s Amaury News and Commentary. (photo from ebay)

2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum (Part V) – Rickey’s 939 —

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Since 2024 is the last year that the A’s will play at the Coliseum, I have highlighted the great moments that took place there in this series of articles. Over the decades, I have given my opinion on who is the best player ever to have worn an Oakland Athletics jersey, and I have spoken about it and written about it in two languages.

That guy is Rickey Henderson. On May 1, 1991, during a warm and muggy afternoon at the Coliseum, Rickey made history as he broke Lou Brock’s 938 stolen base record. The A’s were facing the New York Yankees. Rickey tried to steal second base in the first inning, but Yankee catcher Matt Nokes made a perfect throw, and Rickey was out.

In the fourth, Henderson made another try. It was a different outcome. He reached base on an error and took second on a Dave Henderson single. Rickey took off, and he had stolen third base, no doubt about it, with his typical head-first slide. That was his 939 stolen base, breaking Lou Brock’s record.

Rickey stood up and lifted the base over his head, and seconds later, he said, “I am the greatest of all time”. A’s equipment manager, Frank Ciensczyk, brought out a replacement base. Rickey and his mother, Bobbie and Lou Brock all join the recently crowned stolen base king on the field around third base. They all share hugs with Rickey.

Then Rickey talked to the crowd (36,139). “It took a long time, huh?” and finished by saying, “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today I am the greatest of all time.” The first thing that surprised me was that Rickey has shown no humility. It sounded like what the great Muhamad Ali (in Boxing) used to say: that he was the greatest of all time. However, Rickey was saying a statement of fact; it just happened.

He just became the King of Steal; Rickey also personally thanked Lou Brock, who has been in the Bay Area for a while, following Rickey Henderson each at-bat, when he got on base, and especially when he went for a steal. Lou Brock was a class act; he passed in 2020. He was patient while waiting for baseball history to be made, and he witnessed Rickey Henderson’s outstanding achievement.

I covered that game and will remember it forever. Rickey Henderson went on to play for another 12 years, with various teams amassing 467 more steals. Today, Rickey Henderson remains the undisputed King of Steal in the history of Major League Baseball, with 1,406 stolen bags.

Note: Today, the active player with the most stolen bases is Starling Marte on the New York Mets, who in his 13-year career has 350 steals. Marte, born in the Dominican Republic, is 25 years old. Quote: “I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball. -Rickey Henderson..

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Mays in Mount Rushmore of Baseball

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Willie Mays who passed away Tue Jun 18, 2024 has his statue in front of Oracle Park in San Francisco (photo from Facebook)

Mays in Mount Rushmore of Baseball

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

On the afternoon of June 18, 2024, Willie Mays passed at 93 at a hospice in Palo Alto, California, surrounded by his family with dignity, like his great career for decades in baseball. There was nobody like Willie Mays, past or present. His baseball numbers and accomplishments have been well documented through the years, and his Cooperstown plaque shines as brightly as ever today. There are no controversies when it comes to his life in the diamond.

As history will have it, Mays left us just 48 hours before a historical moment in which Major League Baseball would be honoring the Negro Leagues and their pioneers with a game at Rickwood Field (America’s Oldest Baseball Park) 1137 2nd Avenue W. Birmingham, Alabama, just 9 miles away from Westfield, where Willie Mays was born.

During the 1990s, when this reporter was the Spanish radio play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco Giants, we could see Willie at any given game inside the Giants dressing room, talking baseball, or in Spring Training in Arizona, there he was. It was a pleasure and privilege to have met this man, synonymous with baseball.

In the late 1960s, I attended the first game in the Bay Area at Candlestick Park. And Mays was in center, Bobby Bonds in right, and Ken Henderson in left, and pitching as I remember, was Mike McCormick, my brother Joaquin and I enjoyed that game in July at windy Candlestick Park, we have seen Willie Mays play.

Many things have been and will be written about this humble and talented man who graces us with his presence on and off the field. Three personalities were impossible to ignore in the game we call the National Pastime. Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Willie Mays. Ruth was the most famous American in the 1920s when the NBA and NFL were not on the radar of the American sports scene, Jackie Robinson was a historical lesson in America, and Mays for excellence and dignity in baseball.

‘The Catch” at the Polo Ground, New York, the great play by Mays on a deep fly ball of Cleveland’s Vic Wertz in the first game of the 1954 World Series, is one of the most watched pieces of film in baseball history.

Willie Mays was for baseball, Muhammad Ali was for boxing, and Pelé for Fútbol (Soccer) . Class, Dignity, Excellence—that was Willie Mays. Like his Statue at the main entrance of Oracle Park, we will never forget him. May he Rest in Peace.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Yankees Grisham silences critics with 3 run homer; Will Blue Jays be sellers with Guerrero? plus more news

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New York Yankees Aaron Judge (left) celebrates Trent Grisham’s (12) 3 run home run in the top of the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium in New York on Sun Jun 9, 2024 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 New York Yankees fans chanted “We want Soto” when Trent Grisham made his third plate appearance at Yankee Stadium and Grisham who was batting in the five hole with a .086 average clouted one into the right field seats for a three run home run changing those chants around. Grisham was filling in for the injured Juan Soto who is out with forearm inflammation.

#2 Amaury, there’s been talk about the Toronto Blue Jays being sellers and they could deal a very sought after Vladimir Guerrero Jr whose hitting .292, with 73 hits, 7 home runs, and 30 RBIs. You got to see Guerrero over the weekend in a three game series in Oakland there is little doubt he could help a club?

#3 Amaury, talk about the Texas Rangers Marcus Semien who led off in the first on Sunday but got beaned in the helmet by San Francisco Giants pitcher Keaton Winn. Semien was glad he was alright came up in his at bat and hit his 11th home run of the season.

#4 Amaury, you wrote this week that the WNBA’s face of the league star player from the Indiana Fever Caitlin Clark who was not selected by the US Olympics women’s basketball team due to a lack of experience. In your view is there more to that why Clark was not selected to the Olympic team.

#5 Amaury, the WNBA just had it’s highest TV ratings in 26 with the most recently watched and most attended games when the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Chicago Sky, have increased viewership with 138% with young girls watching, and huge increases when Hispanic and Black audiences were watching.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s players with the most Value for Trade Deadline

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Oakland A’s Brent Rooker seen here slugging a three run homer against the Miami Marlins pitcher in the bottom of the third inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat May 4, 2024. Rooker could be a hot prospect before the trade deadline if the A’s are shopping for more minor league players (AP News photo)

A’s players with the most Value for Trade Deadline

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

We have passed one-third of the season as the A’s have used 47 different players, that is the most of any team to date. This is the quintessential organization in transition. Transition of cities, transition of stadiums and transition of players.

The trade deadline is July 30, and the A’s (if they chose to get involved) with definitely be sellers. Three of the A’s most valuable players in a busy trade market, could be: catcher Shea Langeliers, Designated Hitter Slugger Brent Rooker and closer extraordinaire Mason Miller.

They probably have the most value in the trade market at this time. Langeliers is a solid #1 defensive catcher who provides power in the lineup, currently hitting just .196 but with 12 home runs and 30 runs-batted-in.

He is on a pace to have an even better season than 2023 when he ended with a .205 average, 22 home runs and 63 RBI. There is always a need for a good catcher. Just ask the Chicago Cubs, who might not catch up Milwaukee but are a serious wild card contender.

Note: Hitting around .200 is not shameful anymore. Meanwhile in Atlanta, a team that have been involved with the A’s recently in big trades; (Matt Olson, Sean Murphy) and who acquired Shea Langeliers from the Braves back in March of 2022 is very possible.

The Braves need somebody with power to replace “some of the power” absent after the Braves lost the last National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. who went down with his second ACL tear in three years and will not play anymore this season.

Acuña is one of those truly irreplaceable players but a true slugger like Brent Rooker can maybe “heal” the power vacuum left by the Dominican superstar. The Braves well know that Rooker is on his way to another 30 home run season and maybe another All Star Game for the A’s.

He is on the list of the Braves who are buyers come July. The most coveted A’s player, that could be traded (many say will be traded) is young Mason Miller. Most contending teams dream of having the flamethrower closing games in the Postseason.

He might be the hardest to give away for the A’s, but it is one guy that could bring you a big haul of promising players and maybe even one or two productive everyday players. Miller is under control by the A’s for a few more years.

Mason Miller is making the league minimum salary of $740,000, but I am sure the A’s will move Miller if the price is right and it will be huge. This would be the most difficult trade for the A’s this season. But, who knows, maybe not. Also time will definitely tell. Nobody should be surprised if other A’s players also are traded before the July 30 deadline.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2024The Final Season of the Oakland Coliseum (Part IV) -The 1987 All-Star Game

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Montreal Expos Tim Raines takes a lead on the Oakland A’s first baseman Mark McGwire at the July 14, 1987 MLB All Star at the Oakland Coliseum (photo from Athletics Nation)

2024: The Final Season of the Oakland Coliseum (Part IV) -The 1987 All-Star Game

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

When a city with a Major League team gets the privilege to host an All-Star Game, it is a big win for that city. It is a showcase to the rest of the country and, especially now that baseball is more international than ever, to the whole world.

The 58th All-Star Game at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum took place on July 14, 1987. The National League defeated the American League 2-1 in 13 innings in front of 49,671 fans. Tim Raines of the Montreal Expos won the MVP (The capacity of the Coliseum in 1987 was 50,000) A’s Franchise All-Star Games: The A’s franchise has hosted an All-Star Game in the three cities they have played since 1901.

In 1945 Philadelphia Shibe Park; in 1960, Kansas City Municipal Stadium and in 1987, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. All-Star Roster (familiar faces) The American League roster had such players as first baseman Mark McGwire of the Oakland A’s, who won the Rookie of the Year that season and by the All Star Game “Big Mac” had shocked everybody with 33 homers, in the first half, something that hadn’t been done in the major league since, another A’s by the name of Reginaldo Martínez Jackson (mostly known as Reggie Jackson) also Hall of Fame player Rickey Henderson, but with the New York Yankees uniform, relief pitcher Jay Howell of the Oakland A’s and infielder Kevin Seitzer representing Kansas City, who also played for the A’s.

(Off field happenings in Oakland) In 1987, the threat of a strike in Oakland was averted. 300 Oakland Coliseum food workers were settled on Saturday (just three days before the game on Tuesday the 14th). Oakland Mayor Lionel Wilson and county officials sat in on that Saturday’s talk with the Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union, and they all agreed.

The 1987 MLB All-Star Game was the first and only All-Star Game hosted by Oakland during the 56 years of the Oakland A’s at the Coliseum. The 94th annual Midsummer Classic will be held July 16, 2024 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas,home of the World Champion Texas Rangers.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Betting on Baseball Gets MLB Players Big Suspensions

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Oakland A’s pitcher Michael Kelly has been suspended for one year for betting on baseball that equaled to $100 (Getty file)

#1 Tucupita Marcano in the San Diego Padres organization is looking at a lifetime ban for betting on baseball. Marcano placed 387 baseball bets which equaled $150,000 between Oct 16, 2022-Oct 23, 2022 and in Jul 12, 2023-Nov 1, 2023. Marcano betted while he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates 25 times.

#2 Michael Kelly pitcher for the Oakland A’s has been ruled ineligible for one year. Kelly bet on baseball as a minor leaguer ten times. Kelly bet on outcomes, over unders on runs and on pitcher strikeout totals. His bets totaled under $100 and he won $28.30.

#3 Jay Groome was suspended for one year for placing bets on the Boston Red Sox while he was a single A player. Groome bet on 30 MLB games wagering $453.74 losing $433.54 on MLB games.

#4 Jose Rodriguez has been suspended for one year for placing 31 bets on baseball from Sep 2021 to Jul 2022. Rodriguez bet on 28 MLB games and 3 NCAA games. Rodriguez bet on the White Sox seven times totaling $749.09.

#5 Andrew Saalfrank has been suspended for one year he placed 29 bets from Sep 2021 to Mar 2023 on baseball. He bet on baseball while in the Arizona farm system four times. Saalfrank bet $445.87 and lost $272.64 and placed 28 bets and won five of them.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: It’s only Business -Why Aaron Judge decided to stay a Yankee

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New York Yankees Juan Soto (left) and Aaron Judge (right) celebrate Judge’s top of the first inning home run off of San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Jun 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

It’s only Business -Why Aaron Judge decided to stay a Yankee

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

In 2022 Aaron Judge ended the season with the Yankees and broke the American League record for home runs in a season, a record of 61 in 1961 by Yankee Roger Maris. A record that lasted for 63 years. A couple of months after the season ended the Yankees signed Judge to a nine-year, $360 million deal breaking the record for the largest free agent deal in Major League Baseball at that time.

Next, Shohei Ohtani, after 6 years with the LA Angels, signed an incredible 10-year deal as a free agent worth $700 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and that by far is the largest ever. But back to Aaron Judge.

The Giants were reported to have offered Judge the same amount as he signed with his original team the New York Yankees for $360 million, around the same time that Judge was still searching for a new contract. But why did Aaron Judge signed with the Yankees and not the Giants?

This was a “pipe dream” for Giants to have signed a young man that followed the Giants as a kid, traveling with his parents from Linden to San Francisco (95 miles) to watch the Giants and his favorite player (not Barry Bonds) but shortstop Rich Aurilia, as he recently said.

Bay Area sportscaster Matt Steinmetz recently said that Judge not coming to the Giants was because he doesn’t want to have the pressure that Barry Bonds endured in San Francisco and that Judge was “gutless”.

Never in this world a player would feel more pressure playing in San Francisco than in Yankee Stadium. West Coast pressure is not remotely close to New York. In cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia a player who hit three home runs in one game but strikes out on his last at bat, will get booed.

That, mis amigos, you do not see in San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Anaheim or San Diego. My take on why the slugger from Linden (15 miles from Stockton) Aaron Judge signed with his original team the Yankees and not the Giants is very simple.

With all respect to the Giants, Aaron Judge plays for the #1 MLB franchise, the most historic, (27 World Series titles) the highest exposure level for an athlete is in New York, like Sinatra’s “New York New York” which has become the theme song for that city, “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere”.

So Judge (probably his family and advisors) and in his wisdom figured that New York is where he made his fame, most recently with the new American League home run record, the potential for endorsements is greater in New York than in San Francisco, and probably believes that with the Yankees he also has more opportunities of postseason play. I do not believe it was a difficult decision for Aaron Judge.

It is understandable for Giants fans to be upset at Judge, when he went with the Yankees instead of the Giants. After I left the US Army I lived in New York City for a few years, prior to moving to California and I know the Yankee fans are not surprised he stayed in New York.

California is laid back, New York is cut throat, edge-of-your-seat stuff, super passion and pressure all the time. A totally different lifestyle. It is also understandable why the Giants made a serious attempt to sign the slugger, this is the type of player they still need in San Francisco, a real superstar, something they lack since the days of Barry Bonds and most recently Buster Posey.

The Giants need that type of star and presence in their lineup there is no doubt about it. Giants improved the team this off season,signing very good players, like Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler and Blake Snell, but there is no hitter like Aaron Judge.

It is the type of player that baseball fans will pay just to see take a swing Aaron Judge sells tickets, and what team doesn’t like to sell tickets? Of course Shohei Ohtani is the face of baseball today, but Judge is the “swing to see in baseball”. At the end, the truth remains, Aaron Judge still a Giant, he is 6’7 !

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish Network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com