Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Cubs lose Steele for season needs elbow surgery; Jays Guerrero Jr glad contract issues settled; plus more news

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Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele 2025 season is over due needed elbow surgery to repair a flexor tendon. Here Steele pitches to the Texas Rangers in the top of the first inning at Wrigley Field on Mon Apr 7, 2025 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele will miss the rest of the 2025 season due to needed surgery on his left elbow to repair a flexor tendon, according Cubs manager Craig Counsell. It wasn’t know if Steele will need ligament replacement of the Tommy John revision with a internal brace. Steele will be out until the 2026 season.

#2 Vladimir Guerrero Jr is thrilled to be on board with the Toronto Blue Jays after singing a 14 year contract worth $500 million. Guerrero Jr who signed with the Jays last Monday was born in Montreal and his Hall of Fame father Vladimir Sr was born in the Dominican and played for the Montreal Expos. Guerrero signed with the Blue Jays at 16 years old in 2015 and made it to the big leagues in 2019.

#3  Toronto Blue Jays right hand pitcher Max Scherzer will pay a visit to a US specialist due to right thumb soreness. It will be his second to the specialist in the US this week said Jays manager John Schneider on Monday. Scherzer a three time Cy Young Award winner got a cortisone injection for the sore thumb when visited Dr. Thomas Graham on Mar 31st.

#4 Very sad news from the Cincinnati Reds Tommy Helms who was a slick fielding infielder who had won the 1966 National League Rookie of the Year. Helms also managed the Reds for short terms has passed away at age 83. Helms wife told the Reds Hall of Fame that Helms passed away of an unknown cause. Helms played 14 season in 1435 games, he was an All Star 1967 and 68. He won gold gloves in 1970 and 1971 those years Helms played Dave Concepcion and they were considered the best double play combinations in the game.

#5 Amaury check it out two homestands so far for the Sacramento A’s and two of the largest TV market teams have paid a visit to the A’s minor league park Sutter Health Park the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets. Reports have fans who came from New York saying the space is way too small to accommodate fans, players and media from either of those two markets visiting Sacramento. On the home opener the broadcasts went off the air one time for the A’s and one for the Cubs. During Saturday’s game the cart taking an injured Cub player off he diamond ran out of gas the player had to be assisted off the field.

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.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Ex-A’s pitcher Dotel dies from roof collapse; LA’s Ohtani on a roll falls a double short of cycle; plus more news

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Former St Louis Cardinal pitcher Octavio Dotel deals in the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers in game 5 of the 2011 World Series on Oct 24, 2011 at the Ballpark in Arlington. Dotel was killed when a roof collapsed on him at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic on Tue Apr 8, 2025 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Octavio Dotel a former Oakland A’s pitcher and who pitched in the Major Leagues for 13 different team pitched for 15 years and had won a world championship for the St Louis Cardinals died today when a roof collapsed at a nightclub in Octavio’s native Dominican Republic. Dotel was attending a merengue concert. Dotel was 51. Dotel pitched for Oakland during the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

#2 Nothing can wrong for the Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani, he’s on his way back to pitching again and his throwing sessions have looked good. His hitting hasn’t lost a step on Monday night he missed the cycle by needing just a double.

#3 The Toronto Blue Jays have to be relieved and thrilled to have signed Vladimir Guerrero Jr to a 14 year $500 million. So far Guerrero is hitting .279, has four RBIs and 12 hits. No doubt this is the signing that both the Jays and Vlad Jr had been waiting on.

#4 Albert Suarez the Baltimore Orioles reliever was moved to the 60 day IL due to a shoulder issue the Orioles announced on Monday. Suarez a right hander has pitched in only one game when he threw for 2 2/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 28th. O’s manager Brandon Hyde said Suarez could be out for months and that it’s unfortunate news.

#5  Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli got tossed for arguing a pitched that was called for a clock violation. Twins pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson was pitching against the Kansas City Royals when umpire Nic Lentz called the violation. There were two out in the sixth when Richardson stepped off the pitchers mound and was tapping his ear trying to indicate that he couldn’t hear his PitchCom. Lentz then ruled the pitch clock had run out and called a ball. Baldelli argued he wanted time out to have Richardson’s PitchCom earphone checked and Lentz was not having it and tossed Baldelli.

#6 Amaury, it was a pitchers duel between the Cincinnati Reds Hunter Greene and the San Francisco Giants Logan Webb. Greene was one out away in the last of the ninth from a complete game but none the less got the win and got a shutout against one of the most potent line ups in baseball defeat San Francisco 2-0. Greene had given up four hits.

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.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Torpedo Bats the talk of Baseball — The Bats at Cooperstown

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Jared Smith speaks about the torpedo bat during an interview at Victus Sports in King of Prussia on Wed Apr 2, 2025 (AP News photo)

Torpedo Bats the talk of Baseball —The Bats at Cooperstown

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

BREAKING NEWS. Torpedo bats are here and have not been affected by the recent tariffs. The “torpedo” bats, with their unique shape resembling a bowling pin, are manufactured by several companies, including Victus, Marucci, Chandler Bats, and are legal under MLB rules. Yankee Jazz Chisolm, who averaged 12 home runs per season during his six-year career in the majors, hit three home runs in the opening three-game series of 2025 against Milwaukee. Chisolm used the torpedo bats and said, “It doesn’t feel like a different bat. It just helps you in a little way”.

Could the Torpedo Bats be the star of the show in 2025? The MLB players’ union expects a lockout by team owners after the CBA expires following the 2026 season. It is not like the production of home runs is decreasing; home runs have increased in recent seasons, especially since 2016, with a surge in 2019. This is not only because of the bats, but we have to consider that hitters are more sophisticated in their approaches, and even this increase could be partly due to changes in the baseball.

I know you are saying it is too early to talk about the possible Lockout after the 2026 season since the 2025 season just got underway, and that could be true. But we might have a record number of home runs with these bats for this 2025 season. The MLB season with the most combined home runs across all 30 teams was 2019, with a total of 6,776 home runs. Do we accredit the Torpedo Bats if this 2025 season ends with 6,777 home runs or 7,000? Time will tell, and we could play Detective Colombo if we discover evidence that these bats are more powerful, making a difference.

These are some of the most famous bats in history. They are at The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, NY.

-Babe Ruth’s Louisville Slugger. This is an iconic bat

-Honus Wagner’s JF. Hillerich & Son Co, bat. Used by Honus Wagner in the early 20th century.

-Reggie Jackson’s Adirondack Big Stick. This made the Adirondack Company a world brand for bats.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY, has a significant collection of baseball bats, with over 2,000 bats representing various eras and players, and there are great moments of legendary hitters who used these bats. This national museum keeps adding baseball memorabilia; there was also an exhibit called Viva Baseball!, which recognizes the contributions of Latino baseball players. From the great Pirates #21 Roberto Clemente to other legendary Latino players from Cuba, Puerto Rico, México, Venezuela, Colombia, Dominican Republic, and other countries.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, is a must for every baseball fan. I have visited, and I strongly recommend you take a trip to beautiful upstate New York. On my trip to New York, I took the train from Grand Central Station, Manhattan, to Albany, where I rented a car and then drove to Cooperstown. It is a beautiful countryside drive of about 70 miles. There were also two Amtrak trains from NY to Cooperstown every day, as well as two trips on the weekend. Visiting always brings me back memories, like knowing that my mentor, Rafael “Felo” Ramírez, who when I was 10 year old kid used to listen to him on the radio in Cuba’s Professional Winter League, and was fortunate of working with him, broadcasting postseason games in 1998 for the Spanish US and Latino American, networks. Felo is in Cooperstown as Ford C.Frick Broadcaster.

The museum in Cooperstown is open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 pm, and extended hours during the summer. Admissions are $30 for adults, seniors 65 and over, $24 for juniors (ages 7-12) $21, and free for active or (like yours truly) retired card-carrying military personnel. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Trivia: The first professional baseball bat, a Louisville Slugger, was created by J.F. Hillerich in the 1880s, specifically for Pete Browning, a ballplayer nicknamed “The Louisville Slugger”.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Sacramento A’s media room make shift shed; Cards veteran Lynn retires at 37; plus more MLB news

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The media facility at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento is a shed like looking building. This photo was the talk of baseball circles that a shed would be used for Major League Baseball media. (photo by Ben Ross KRON 4 TV San Francisco)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Reporters on Monday night covering the Sacramento A’s first home game at Sutter Health Field the minor league park for the triple A team Sacramento River Cats got the full treatment of what going back to covering minor league baseball is like. The park was cramped it was sold out, the reporters said their work space was reduced to a makeshift shed for a media room and it was cramped. This is going to be a complicated working environment for those covering A’s home games.

#2 St Louis Cardinal veteran right hand pitcher Lance Lynn 37 is hanging up the cleats for the last time. He has announced his retirement from baseball after 13 big league seasons. Upon retiring Lynn said, “Baseball season is upon us and I’m right here on the couch and that is where I’m gonna stay,” Lynn also said “Dymin in the Rough.” and “I am officially retiring from baseball right here, right now.”

#3 Right hand pitcher for the New York Yankees Adam Ottavino will be returning to the mound as he agreed to a one year contract. Ottavino 39 signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox on Feb 18 but wound up exercising his right to be released on March 23. Ottavina had a 10.80 ERA during spring training. Ottavino pitched for the New York Mets last season.

#3 Who needs steroids when you have the torpedo bat say some who observed the astronomical rise in hitting stats for players who use the hitting weapon. The Yankees the other day hit four home runs in the first inning and for the game nine home runs. Now Cincinnati Reds slugger Elly De La Cruz has got into the act hitting a single, double and two home runs on Monday night and has accumulated seven RBIs so far.

#4 A’s owner John Fisher was at Sutter Health ball park in Sacramento on Monday night and heard a smattering of “Let’s go Oakland”, “Sell the Team.” Some fans wore t shirts saying “I’d rather be at the Oakland Coliseum.” Despite the protests that was blended over with fans who were excited to see big league baseball being played in Sacramento.

#5 Carson Kelly became the first Chicago Cub in 32 years to hit for the cycle which he achieved on Monday night against the A’s in Sacramento. Kelly needed a triple to complete the cycle in his last at bat in the eighth inning as the Cubs stormed the A’s 18-3 in the Cubs first road game stateside of the season.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Seattle Mariners own the Pacific Northwest

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The author Amaury Pi Gonzalez is paid a tribute being on the Seattle Mariners Wall of Fame as a former Mariners broadcaster (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

The Seattle Mariners own the Pacific Northwest

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The ATH of Sacramento opened the 2025 season in Seattle, winning two of the three games in Seattle. The Seattle Mariners have been a regional team since 1977, when they were born. Before the Oakland Athletics moved, they were the closest team to the Mariners. But today, since the Athletics departed Oakland, the Mariners’ “closest”Major League rival are the San Francisco Giants, 800 miles away to the south, across two and a half States.

The Mariners draw from the Seattle/Tacoma area, eastern Washington, Vancouver, Canada, Idaho, Oregon, and northern California. Especially during weekend games, many people travel from all these areas to visit Seattle.

The Seattle Mariners have one of the most extensive radio coverage with affiliates not only in Washington State, Idaho, and British Columbia, Canada, but also all the way up to Alaska, and in the middle of the Pacific in Hawaii. In all those places, you can hear their games on the Mariners radio network and watch them on their Root TV Network, including as far east as Montana.

Nintendo owned a stake in the Mariners until 2016, when it sold most of its shares to First Avenue Entertainment, retaining a 10% ownership stake. Mr.Joh W. Stanton, an American businessman, is currently the owner of the Seattle Mariners.

T-Mobile Park in Seattle is their home; previously, it was called Safeco Field.

Of all the indoor stadiums in baseball, this is my favorite. A retractable roof can be closed or opened in 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the climate conditions. If there is a city in MLB that needs a roof to play baseball, it is Seattle. Here it rains for a good 9 months of the year., So, during the baseball season, fans do not worry about the rain because with a retractable roof, “rain or shine,” they will always see Mariners baseball.

Seattle is one of my favorite cities in the country, and in baseball especially, I had the good fortune of broadcasting their games. However, I first discovered Seattle when I was stationed in Ft Lewis, a US Army active service base about 45 miles north of Emerald City. This area is beautiful and green all year round.

Mariners fans are loyal and enthusiastic. Beginning this season, they have never appeared in a World Series. They were also riding the longest playoff drought in any of the four major sports, at 20 seasons, before snapping that in 2022. A very famous quote is attributed to Benjamin Franklin: “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” I believe Mr.Franklin, so maybe the Mariners can make it all the way to 2025. Good luck to them.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2025 A’s Sharing the Park with Replacement Grass

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Fans pack Sutter Health Park during an exhibition game between the San Francisco Giants and the Sacramento River Cats on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in West Sacramento. Photo by JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS Sacramento Bee

2025 A’s Sharing the Park with Replacement Grass

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury PI-González

Fifty-six years ago, the Oakland A’s were the talk of the Bay Area as a recently arrived Major League franchise from Kansas City, roughly ten years after the Giants relocated from New York to San Francisco.  And just like that, the Bay Area started the rivalry of the A’s vs San Francisco Giants, the very cool Bay Bridge Series, and the very historic 1989 World Series, which was interrupted by an earthquake and was won 11 days later by the Oakland As in a sweep. Something that has been engraved in my brain forever. But Sacramento ended that story.

Fifty-six years ago (1969), the last time a Major League team played an entire season in a minor league ballpark, the Seattle Pilots and Montreal Expos, respectively. Sicks Stadium is in Seattle, and Jarry Park is in Montreal. Years later, the Seattle Mariners became the Expos, and the Expos became the Washington Nationals.

The ATH (also known as the Athletics) will play at Sutter Health Park close to the Sacramento River, within walking distance of the park, with the Sacramento River patch on the sleeves of A’s players. The A’s will have to share this park with the Rivercats, the AAA team of the San Francisco Giants.

The groundskeepers will have the most challenging job, and they will have replacement grass on standby. Sacramento gets an average of 18 inches of rain annually, with April being the last month with the possibility of precipitation. After that, and during summer, it is as dry as any place in California, with temperatures averaging between 80-100 Fahrenheit.

The A’s story has many angles, turns, and everything that fascinates some people and irates others. The Rivercats and the A’s will have to share the same field this season, and probably the rest of the A’s temporary stay in Sacramento, for three years total. The biggest challenge of two baseball teams sharing a field for an entire season would be the potential for scheduling conflicts, logistical issues, and the strain on the field itself, leading to potential damage and uneven playing conditions.

Beginning this season, the City of Sacramento listed a population of approximately 530,000, which is last among all cities hosting Major League Baseball. This is less than the current population of Milwaukee, which, with 562,000, is now the next-to-last.

The A’s opened their season today in Seattle.

What is the national media saying about the A’s?

New York Post sports journalist Jeff Passan, which is a national baseball writer, recently said on the A’s,  “The Oakland A’s were “killed by greed”  John Fisher, the owner, did not have to move the team, it was a choice, not a necessity”   Something that has been said by many during this whole ordeal of relocation, especially here in the Bay Area.

Did you know?  In1953, four cities in the United States had two major league teams. Chicago, (Cubs and White Sox), Boston (Red Sox and Braves), Philadelphia, (Phillies and Athletics), and St Louis (Cardinals and Browns)

Hasta la Vista Baby!’

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Dodgers Roberts encouraged by Mookie’s progress; Yanks Yarbrough signs for 1 yr $2 million deal; plus more MLB

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Mookie Betts walks around in the Los Angeles Dodgers dugout and has been out of the line up since losing 18 pounds and having trouble keeping down solid food. Manager Dave Roberts says that Betts should be back in the line up on Tue Mar 25, 2025 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he feels “really encouraged” by Mookie Betts recovery. Betts had been ill and couldn’t keep solid down and lost 18 pounds. Betts went through a full workout at Dodger Stadium on Monday and is expected to be back in the line up on Tuesday.

#2 New York Yankees signed left hander Ryan Yarbrough to a $2 million one year deal with a $250,000 in contract bonuses the Yankees announced on Monday. Yarbrough 33 pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays in spring training and opted out of his contract Sunday after learning that he would not be on the opening day roster.

#3 Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez will not open the season and will be on the injured list as Suarez is recovering from a lower back injury. Suarez could be ready to pitch sometime in April according to Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

#4 At the Sacramento A’s and San Francisco Giants Triple A team the Sacramento River Cats ballpark Sutter Health Park the grounds crew will have replacement grass on standby in the event the grass starts to brown or deteriorate. The A’s and River Cats are considering the amount of games being played on the shared field they will need the sod on standby.

#5 The Phillies left hand pitcher Matt Strahm did not pitch in the final Grapefruit League game on Monday due to a finger injury while packing. Strahm tore a fingernail on his left middle finger while preparing for a trip to the Phillies spring training home in Clearwater Florida.

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.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2025 MLB Predictions

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A ten year old boy/fan is thrilled to have caught Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Otani’s home run ball at the Tokyo Dome on opening day against the Chicago Cubs on Wed Mar 19, 2025 and showed the baseball to the media. Author Amaury Pi Gonzalez predicts the Dodgers will return to the World Series this season and face the Texas Rangers (AP News photo)

2025 Major League Baseball Season Predictions

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

It is the time of the year to look into my crystal ball and see how teams will do this year.

American League (East)

1-Baltimore

2-Boston

3-New York

4-Toronto

5-Tampa Bay

The Baltimore Orioles are back in force this season. The bullpen is healthier; they lost Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander to free agency, but they still have a young, dynamic lineup and are the best team in this division.

Boston Red Sox is always in the mix and one of the best organizations in baseball. They added Alex Bregman for third base and Walker Buehler, a very good pitcher. They have a shot at a wild card.

The Yankees lost their #1 ace starter, Gerrit Cole, to Tommy John surgery. Even if they were healthy, their rotation would not be the best. Without Cole, they cannot win that division; their best hope is a Wild Card. Their lineup suffered as they lost Juan Soto, but they still can score enough runs to be competitive.

Toronto Blue Jays. I don’t feel them this year. Their last shot to win big with Vladimir Guerreo Jr. and Dante Bichette, who will be free agents after the season. They are good for fourth. Any of the seven Canadian NHL teams have a better shot at winning the Stanley Cup than the Blue Jays winning the World Series.

Tampa Bay Rays will play in a new stadium provisionally while they repair Tropicana Field. It is not because they will play at Hal Steinbrenner Jr ballpark for this year, but the simple fact remains is that they do not have it.

American League (Central)

1-Kansas City

2-Detroit

3-Cleveland

4-Minnesota

5-Chicago

Kansas City Royals should win this division, still with the leadership of catcher Salvador Pérez

Detroit could be in the mix; it’s a young team with lots of potential.

Cleveland and Minnesota will fight to be wild cars, and Chicago will start rebuilding early again. If you like trades, go to Chicago.

American League (West)

1-Texas

2-Seattle

3-Houston

4-Athletics aka ATH

5-Los Angeles

Texas Rangers are loaded and ready to shoot for the top; with Hall of Fame manager Bruce Botchy, they have enough offense, good enough to pitch a great defense, all the components of winning this division, and maybe…maybe a trip to the World Series.

Seattle Mariners are picked just about every year to win, but, nada. This year they “could”finally win it, butt they are not betterr than the Rangers.

Houston Astros and José Alrtuve in left field, without Alex Bregnam anymore at third base. Well, third is a good palce fdor them.

Athletics, aka ATH (now in Sacramento for how many years…? could win this division if they did not have to play the Rangers, Mariners, and Astros, or if they played the Angels every day, they might win it. It is a new city, a new park, and a great attitude from many young and talented players, with an outstanding manager in Mark Kotsay. I like to see the A’s win the Division or a wild card and then play the postseason at Oracle Park(If the Giants do not make it) because there is no way MLB will let the A’s play a postseason in a 14,000-seat park. But this season (again), they ended in fourth place.

Los Angeles Angels, another last-place finish. I’m sorry for one of the true gentlemen of the game, Mike Trout, whom I covered and broadcasted many of his hits as a rookie and then fMVP seasons and who is trying to ride what could be a Hall of Fame career. With only one Trout in this lake, they will not fish much in 2025. Oh, and I’m sorry for a great man and Manager, Ron Washington; he doesn’t deserve this punishment.

National League (East)

1-Atlanta

2-Philadelphia

3-New York

4-Washington

5-Miami

Atlanta Braves, With Ronald Acuña Jr back this year and Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Michael Harris, have enough powder to get into lots of rallies, and the pitching is still top-notch. They are the team to beat. And for another year, a treat for winning the league.

Philadelphia Phillies, with their great, passionate fans, could win or at least go down to the wire with the Braves, but second place is a safe bet.

New York Mets. Drama in Queens is always on the air. They talk about a pennant but fall short. The NY media creates bogus trade rumors. What else is new?

Washington Nationals should be happy not finishing last. They won their World Series a few years ago, so they should keep enjoying that.

Miami was my second city when I was a teenager. Bienvenidos a Miami, but I’m sorry—they are still a last-place club. Keep the nightclubs in South Beach going!

National League (Central)

1-Chicago Cubs is the best team in this division. Like Sinatra used to say:”My Kind of Town”.

2-Cincinnati Reds (I pick them to surprise everybody, including themselves….if they could only have pitching, this is an inspiring young and fast team

3-Milwaukee Brewers. The days when they were on top are coming to an end. Keep the Beer production.

4-St Louis Cardinals. They always seem to have a lot of Cards and have won 11 World Series, only second to the Yankees. This 2025…close, but no cigar!

5-Pittsburgh Pirates. Last place, in Spanish, also, último lugar.

National League West

1-Los Angeles is the Best team in this Division and League, probably in baseball. They are going for it again, with lots of influence in Japan, as they are already undefeated there.

2-Arizona. If the Dodgers collapse, which will probably be the biggest earthquake of all, the Diamondbacks will win this race

3-San Diego. A lot has to be said about an afternoon game at their beautiful park in San Diego; their fans are restless and looking to put it all together. Maybe?

4-San Francisco Giants. They are now under the Buster Posey Government. They made some interesting off-season changes and could win 82 games. Wild Card?

5-Colorado Rockies. No comment. But the Rocky Mountains are spectacular.

World Series? Texas Rangers vs Los Angeles Dodgers.

You might agree or disagree with me, and that would be normal after all this is America. But remember, at the end, it is only baseball!

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.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: After 47 years in Broadcasting -This happens

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The Athletics press release announcing the introduction of new A’s Spanish radio announcer Jose Reynoso which was posted on Facebook Fri Mar 21, 2025 (Press release image from the Athletics)

After 47 years in Broadcasting  -This happens.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

This morning, my wife was on the computer when she noticed the following on Facebook:

The A’s sent out a media release announcing that Spanish radio announcer Jose Reynoso has been named as the new play by play announcer on Lotus Broadcasting doing 75 home games for the 2025 season.

A’s Spanish radio for the 2025 season will be heard on Fox Sports radio 104.7 FM/890AM . Reynoso is a former Sacramento River Cats Spanish broadcaster. The 75 games will include weekends and weeknight games all broadcast from Sutter Health Field in Sacramento.

First, some context. The A’s knew I was willing to go with the team to Sacramento. Although they announced that all their English-speaking announcers on radio and television would continue in Sacramento (including two on TV in their second season), they never attempted to offer the Spanish announcers the same opportunity to continue with the team in Sacramento; so much for the DEI page on the Athletics website.

Yes, it is true; my name has been connected to Oakland for many years since 1977 when I first began with Charlie O Finley A’s; however, they took my friend Ken Korach to Sacramento, and his name has also identified with Oakland A’s franchise since his days of working with the legendary Bill King.

My inquiring mind wants to know if I have been discriminated against. My work has been on record for decades, and there have been no scandals for saying anything negative over the air or any other improprieties that would have harmed the Oakland A’s franchise. I was always willing to offer my advice about Hispanic affairs and community. When A’s staff called on me for advice regarding the Hispanic community, I was there. Until the next time.

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.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Braves Strider returns after 1 years absence pitches perfect 2 plus innings; Twins Lewis out with hamstring injury; plus more news

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider (00) pitches to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Truist Field in Cobb County GA on Apr 5, 2024. Strider hasn’t pitched in a year since and pitched over two innings of perfect ball against the Boston Red Sox in spring training on Mon Mar 17, 2025 (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1  Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider made his first appearance in a year to throw 2 2/3 innings of perfect ball against the Boston Red Sox. Strider struck out six of the eight batters he faced. Strider was pleased to return to the mound after being out,  “It was like a little reward sprinkled on the pathway, a good test for the work you’ve been doing.” Strider had Tommy John surgery last season.

#2  Royce Lewis of the Minnesota Twins will miss opening day due to a left hamstring strain injury the Twins announced on Monday. Lewis is the Twins third baseman and the Twins do not know when he will be back. Lewis will have to go on the IL and go through a recovery rehab period.

#3 Jace Jung was demoted from the Detroit Tigers to Triple A Toledo. Jung was trying to earn a spot on the roster at third base for opening day. The Tigers also optioned pitcher Sean Guenther to Toledo and the Tigers now have 39 players on the roster in the Grapefruit League camp in Lakeland Florida. Jung was under consideration to take free agent who went to the Boston Red Sox Alex Bregman’s spot on the roster. Jung was 4 for 33 with a .121 batting average with one home run and two doubles.

#4 There is no doubt that the Los Angeles Dodgers are loaded and are one of the most World Series ready teams in MLB. With an All Star cast, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Clayton Kershaw, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Teoscar Hernandez, Will Smith, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, and Blake Snell just to name a few teams who face the Dodgers are going to have fits.

#5 Amaury, how important is it that the A’s have a grand opening success in Sacramento and a proper introduction to the Sacramento fans in the home opener on Mon Mar 31st at Sutter Health Park in 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.