The New York Yankees are expecting big things from top prospect George Lombard Jr in the next few years. Lombard started at shortstop and batted eighth on Tue Aug 4, 2026 .(facebook.com photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 How will the New York Yankees use top prospect George Lombard Jr. after promoting him to the majors and optioning Anthony Volpe to Triple-A?
#2 What impact will the blockbuster trade deadline deals—such as the Red Sox acquiring Adley Rutschman and the Dodgers adding Tarik Skubal—have on the postseason race?
#3 How did Alec Burleson’s three-home-run performance help the Cardinals defeat the Yankees 13–7, and what does the loss mean for New York’s playoff outlook?
#4 What were the biggest winners and losers from Monday’s MLB trade deadline, and which teams improved their chances of reaching the playoffs?
#5 Which players and teams are expected to make the biggest headlines during Tuesday night’s MLB schedule following the flurry of trade deadline moves?
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Shea Langeliers (23) of the Sacramento A’s and currently on the IL and out for the rest of the season gave it his all in 2026 and was voted the starting catcher for the American League during last month’s All Star Game in Philadelphia. Langeliers if he had not got injured might be playing for another team before the MLB trade deadline. (AP photo)
The Trade Frenzy is over, and the A’s Front Office was on Vacation
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
Amaury Pi-González
True, nobody was expecting the A’s to acquire pitcher Tarik Skubal from the Tigers, but they were as quiet as anybody that I can remember when it comes to an important trade deadline. (Tarik Skubal was born in Hayward) considered the most talented pitcher in the game, was acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers. I think Rob Manfred, the Commissioner, should give the World Series Trophy to the Dodgers by the end of this month; why wait?
The A’s are still a developing team. Catchers were in high demand. A’s All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers underwent a successful medial meniscectomy and PRP injection in Los Angeles on July 28, which is expected to end his 2026 season. I consider him the best all-around A’s player, one of the best catchers in baseball. Shea is having his best season, hitting .263 with 23 homeruns and 51 runs batted in. Defensively, his metrics are among the best for catchers.
As far as catchers go. I was very surprised that the Baltimore Orioles traded their great catcher, Adley Rutschman, to the Boston Red Sox. The Orioles made the postseason in 2024, and less than two years later, Rutschman became the best catcher traded this weekend.
Not long ago, Rutschman was considered the face of the Orioles franchise. Good catchers are usually not traded because once a catcher changes teams, he will have to learn how to receive and work with pitchers that he has never worked with. Although some great catchers were traded. Perhaps the best example was Gary Carter, a Hall of Fame catcher.
Carter was traded from the Montreal Expos to the New York Mets, but it was not during a trade deadline but months after the season ended, on December 10, 1984. I have followed the Orioles since I was a kid and was their ball boy and sometimes bat boy during the Orioles Spring Training in Miami, back in the day. In other words, since my teen years, the Orioles have been my first love in baseball and the team deep in my heart.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has been open for 87 years, established and dedicated in June 1939, and there are twenty (20) catchers inducted in Cooperstown.
Catching is the one position that takes a load mentally as well as physically, and then you have to guide your pitcher to execute the pitch you want; a catcher is like having another manager, but on the field.
The phrase “tools of ignorance” is most frequently credited to a major league catcher; according to some historical and baseball sources, it is attributed to fellow catcher Bill Dickey. But it was said because of all the gear that a catcher has to wear, it doesn’t take anything away from intelligence. And execution, directing the pitcher on every pitch he receives.
True that the A’s did not make any news in this trading cycle, but nobody really expected them to do much, maybe anything. They have other priorities; after all, this is a franchise in the middle of transition, not only players, but stadiums, cities, billionaires like Mark Cuban investing in the franchise; who knows, Cuban could own the A’s sooner than you think.
We get it: the A’s are not only a team not contending, 22 games under. 500 while owning penultimate place, but a team that still feels like they cannot keep up with the herd. The A’s have a very good young and aggressive lineup, but they forgot one very important side of the game: pitching, unless you are planning to win most games 15 to14.
Quote: The catcher is in the middle of everything. He sees it best. -Johnny Bench
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
The Oakland Coliseum may no longer be home of the Oakland Roots as the lease between the Coliseum and the Roots looks to be over after 2026 (photo by the Oakland Roots)
Oakland about to lose another Sports team?
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
OAKLAND–In the 1970s, the City of Oakland had the moniker City of Champions; remember a big banner in front of Oakland City Hall that read “Oakland City of Champions, however, things have changed since then.
The Oakland Roots are facing a serious financial dispute of $1.4 million in overdue rent plus game-day expenses owed to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority. The team says it has paid upcoming fees in advance so they can keep playing. Team President Lindsay Barenz confirmed that the fees for the upcoming Saturday (August 1st) home match against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds have been paid in advance, ensuring the game will go on.
Unfortunately, these days the City of Oakland is well-known in sports because it cannot keep its professional sports teams in town. The Warriors left for San Francisco in 2019; they were followed by the Raiders in 2020, who packed and moved to Las Vegas, and then the Athletics in 2024, now temporarily playing in Sacramento with a final stop and new home in Las Vegas in 2028. This is unprecedented for an American city in recent history.
The Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum is a huge sports facility that seats 50,000 to 60,000 depending on what sport is played. The average home attendance for the Oakland Roots Soccer Club this 2026 USL Championship season is between 5,000 to 6,000 spectators.
Recently, Marketing Guru Andy Dolich, who was in charge of the Marketing for the Oakland A’s, said that the Roots need to play in a smaller venue, and I totally agree with Andy. This is what he said: “They should be playing in a smaller venue. They should find the right venue in which they know, early on, that they’ll sell out”
Is Oakland about to lose this Fútbol/Soccer team the same year that the FIFA World Cup took place in the United States, which was a great success financially and culturally? I hope not, but time will tell.
On the Oakland positive: The Oakland Ballers Baseball team of the Pioneer League started play in 2024, and they play their home games in Raimondi Park, Oakland. Our friend Lewis Rubman has been covering the B’s for this site since they first started play.
Bears moving? The Chicago Bears of the NFL have officially announced they have plans to build a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana, which is located in Northwest Indiana, just across the state line from Chicago. The Chicago Bears have played at Soldier Field in Chicago for 55 years. The move is expected to happen, but they have not yet determined the site for the new stadium and what year they will have their first kickoff in Indiana.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Detroit Tigers Tarik Skubal tips his cap to the crowd after striking out his 1000th career batter against the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wed Jul 29, 2026 (AP News photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
According to history, the first baseball trade took place on August 29, 1885, when the Louisville Colonels of the American Association traded John Connor and $750 to the minor leagues for pitcher Toad Ramsey of the Chattanooga Lookouts.
The most famous deal: owner of the Boston Red Sox Harry Frazee sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $100,000 plus a $300,000 loan because Frazee needed money to finance a Broadway musical called My Lady Friends. This created the “Curse of the Bambino” keeping the Red Sox from winning the World Series for 86 years, and the start of the New York Yankees dynasty.
With about 60 games left this 2026 season, buyers and sellers are poised to begin dealing as soon as August 3 at 6 pm ET.
For the Giants: They are legitimate sellers. Their biggest and most impactful trade in their history took place in November 1996, bringing Jeff Kent, along with José Vizcaino, Julián Tavarez, and José Roa, to San Francisco from the Cleveland Indians; in return, the Giants sent one of their fan-favorite players, Matt Williams, to Cleveland.
But the most recent deal for the Giants that made big baseball news was when they acquired Boston Red Sox Rafael Devers, taking on the remainder of his very nice (for Devers) 10-year, $313 million contract. This deal took place June 15, 2025, just over a year ago. In return, the Giants sent left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks, outfield prospect James Tibbs III, and minor-league right-hander José Bello.
Many players will change uniforms over the next few days/weeks, but the most coveted player is Tarik Skubal, currently pitching (maybe for the last time with the Detroit Tigers. Tarik Skubal was born in Hayward, California, a Bay Area kid, but the Giants will not trade for Skubal.
Quote on trades: Joe Garagiola,Baseball Broadcaster “Is like your 100th birthday. not ideal, but it beats the alternative”
For the young readers: Garagiola lived to be 90 years young, broadcasted for 58 years. I met him in 1986 during the World Series for NBC Sports. while Juan Vené and yours truly called the 1986 World Series betwen the Mets and the Red Sox on the old CBS Hispanic Radio Network, under great producer Armando Talavera.
Saludos to Cooperstown! Congratulations to the Baseball Hall of Fame: Great inductiong ceremony forJeff Kent, Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Midland RockHounds outfielder Ryan Lasko suffered a fractured vertebra after colliding with teammate Devin Taylor (7) on Jun 30, 2026. Lasko says he has feeling in his legs and is positive about his rehab. (still photo from yahoo.com)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Sacramento A’s player wore Midland RockHounds double A affilate Ryan Lasko #22 T-shirts during batting practice. Lasko who collided with teammate Devin Taylor going for a fly ball Jun 30th Lasko laid motionless after the collision. Lasko underwent surgery to repair a fractured C6-C7 vertebra C-7. Lasko said that he has some feeling coming back from his feet to his knees. Lasko is the 2013 third round draft pick and is hitting .209 with six home runs.
#2 A’s All Star catcher Shea Langeliers and right hand pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. will both have surgeries that will end their seasons. For Langeliers he will have his right knee torn meniscus repaired and Leiter will have surgery to repair a right hip.
#3 Langeliers hit .263 with 23 homers, 51 RBIs in 93 ball games and became the first A’s catcher to start an All Star Game since Terry Steinbach in 1989.
#4 The New York Yankees lost another star player All Star outfielder Cody Bellinger ( is out with a Grade 2 hamstring strain according to manager Aaron Boone. Bellinger had been placed on the ten day IL and had to leave Sunday’s game in the eighth inning. The Yankees are also missing Aaron Judge ( rib injury out since May 31st) and Giancaro Stanton (out since April 24th strained right calf).
#5 When Juan Marichal the former San Francisco Giants Hall of Fame pitcher said when he was coming up through the minor leagues in the 1960s that he couldn’t eat with his teammates because restaurants were segragated then. Dick Allen said that Marichal was the best pitcher even better than Sandy Koufax as Allen said Koufax was a thrower and Marichal was a pitcher.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
San Francisco Giants Rafael Devers (16) might not get picked up by a club before the trade deadline because of his huge remaining six years left on his contract which pays an average of $28 million per year. (AP News photo)
What the Giants need for next Season, if there is a Season
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
SAN FRANCISCO–Baseball is headed to a lockout by the baseball owners. Some say the players’ only leverage is to strike, maybe during this postseason. However, MLB players cannot strike because the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) remains in effect through December 1, 2026, which means labor peace is totally guaranteed during the playoffs.
The playoffs are during October and sometimes until November, with some World Series taking place that late in the year, but nobody plays in December. Players cannot strike. But owners have been telling everybody in the media they are ready to lock out the players. It would be inconceivable for the 2027 season as a whole not to be played; however, there is also a good chance they will not play 162 games. The only question is how long this lockout will last.
What about the Giants? What are they going to do to improve the product on the field? That is their biggest problem. Oracle Park is one of the most beautiful sports facilities in the world; fans are happy and enjoy taking their families and friends to watch the Giants play. This season has not been fun. The Giants will finish in either last or penultimate place this year, and that was not what Posey and the front office had in mind. Next week and a half could give us an idea of what they are thinking.
1-The Big Deal. Rafael Devers is making $27 million this season and is owed $28.5 million every year from 2027 through 2033. If the Giants trade him, somebody will have to pay him. Devers is not a failure; it is just that his production is close to average levels in the league and that 10-year $313.5 million total commitment is tough for any other baseball club to absorb. Can they trade him? And who needs Devers that badly to make the difference and win? There are only a few teams that would take Devers, not because of his play, but because of the money involved there.
2-Another Big Deal. Willy Adames with a huge contract and a full no-trade clause; Adames has underperformed at the plate. Adames’ contract, including his signing bonus of $22 million, is the largest total value contract in San Francisco Giants history, surpassing Buster Posey’s previous record. Adames and the Giants agreed to a seven-year $182 million contract, which was finalized in December 2024. Remember also, his full no-trade clause gives him the power to refuse any deal he doesn’t like. Is he going to be traded? You tell me, but I am not convinced he will.
3-The Easy One: Luis Arraez. This guy is just a solid star player who is a four time MLB All-Star, three time batting champion, and 2-time Silver Slugger winner; what is not to like here? Oh yeah, he also plays a very good defensive second base. He will be traded, and Giants fans will miss him. Arraez’s salary this year with the Giants is $12 million. And he is worth every penny.
The Chapman Chapter: Chapman’s manager in Oakland Bob Melvin’s favorite player in Oakland. The manager always talks big about Matt Chapman, and one of the reasons he crossed the bay to San Francisco to play for the Giants was because Bob Melvin was managing the Giants and he wanted him, and he got him.
The question is: what can Chapman bring in return to the Giants if they trade him? Nobody knows. But it is most likely that Matt Chapman will be traded. A Gold Glove third baseman who has won five Gold Glove Awards, two Platinum Gloves Awards, and one All-Star selection. At 33 years old, he is still a good player for any team that values defense, and he can also give you a big hit in a key moment in a game. I never underestimate Chapman. He will be traded. The Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox can use a third baseman with experience, especially Boston.
Robbie Ray. A pitcher with lots of value. Since Webb is untouchable, Ray is the one starter that could fly away. Lots of teams can use a pitcher with his stuff. A Cy Young Award winner and two-time All-Star, he is somebody who will definitely help a team point to the postseason. Ray will change uniforms again soon; he has pitched for Detroit, Arizona, Toronto, Seattle, San Francisco, and soon_______?
The Giants have a dysfunctional bullpen: They need talented arms who can hold leads and close a game at any given time; the Giants lack all that. A major weakness for this team is relief meltdowns; they need more reliable arms and guys who can pitch in high-pressure situations. They have to find a way to have a better bullpen, because this 2026 version is not even close. There is no contending team without an established closer.
Note: When you think of any work stoppage, players’ strike or owners’ lockout, think of this. Major League Baseball has reached record-high gross revenues, hitting approximately $12.1 billion. This growth is driven by rising ticket sales, strong sponsorships, and massive individual franchise earnings. As we can see, any prolonged work stoppage is not good for anybody, and it could cause irreparable damage to the game’s reputation.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Former Los Angeles Laker LeBron James who is making his way to the Philadelphia 76ers ended the dream of joining Stephen Curry (right) and the Golden State Warriors (Yahoo.com file photo)
No LeBron James for the Warriors? That complicates the Warriors’ plan
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
Amaury Pi-González
There is no doubt that the Golden State Warriors needed LeBron James more than the Philadelphia 78ers. The future Hall of Fame player chose to sign a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. It is not money anymore; he wants to compete and challenge himself into a role that could lead to a championship for his new team, in this case, the 76ers.
The Warriors are facing a lot of pressure to maximize Stephen Curry, their biggest star and future Hall of Fame member. Curry had a wuiioet season and recovering helaht, not havbing LeBron James now rthey they are in a rough situation as they play in a very tough Western Conference, with such team as the Thunder, Spurs, Nuggetts and Lakers, just to mention a few, the patch for the Warriors is not much more complicated than a few days ago, when they was still hope of LeBron James by the bay..
It is simple.If the Warriors could have paired LeBron James with Stephen Curry, that would have put them in championship contention right away, but it was not the case; some say: it was not meant to be. In the meantime, the most spoken-of Warrior in recent memory, Draymond Green, is finalizing a new commitment after declining his $27.7 million player option.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III is a primary trade option, and many expect the Warriors could be making available their first-round draft picks to make a deal with the New Orleans team. This shows potential, and it could happen, but the Warriors have to consider drastic adjustments, maybe Michael Porter Jr.or even Alperen Sengun. They might be “close to desperate,” but nobody can deny that Warriors fans were highly disappointed, as their hopes were high on a LeBron Stephen duo taking the team once more to an NBA TITLE.
And that’s the way the ball bounces!
Quote: Michael Jordan: “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal has numerous suitors from other clubs before the baseball trade deadline will the Tigers trade him or keep him as they will need his services in the post season (AP News photo)
That’s Amury News and Commnentary podcast:
#1 How could trade deadline rumors involving Tarik Skubal impact the Detroit Tigers’ playoff hopes, and which contenders should pursue him?
#2 With injuries affecting stars Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, which player is more critical to their team’s postseason chances?
#3 What does Max Kepler’s walk-off RBI in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ dramatic comeback over the St. Louis Cardinals say about Arizona’s resilience this season?
#4 Can Paul Skenes continue pitching at an elite level and emerge as the National League Cy Young Award favorite by season’s end?
#5 As the MLB trade deadline approaches, which player—the New York Mets Francisco Lindor, the Sacramento A’s Shea Longeliers, or another star—could become the biggest name on the trade market?
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Spain’s Ferran Torres (7) celebrates an opening goal which turned out to be the only goal in the World Cup match Final against Argentina at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford New Jersey on Sun Jul 19, 2026 (AP News photo)
America Shines in World Cup – Will Soccer Become Big in the US?
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
The 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup in the United States was a total financial and cultural success, with record attendances at stadiums all over the country and massive television ratings. People from all over the world came to the US and had very positive experiences; many expected hostility and division but found great hospitality, diverse cultures, and communities welcoming people from Norway to Argentina, from Colombia to France.
Soccer, Fúbol, Balompie, is a sport played in 200 countries; there is no argument that this is the most popular sport in the world, and the United States of America, not a Fútbol-Soccer country, was well represented with their team; we should all be very proud of the USA Soccer team in the World Cup, England with the Premier League and Spain with La Liga dominate this sport by quantity of talent at the professional level and it is where the greatest Fútbol players show their talent. For the United States to join the South American and European soccer powerhouses, it could be and will be done, but it is not happening right away.
The USA has the most famous and highest-revenue professional sports leagues in the world. It is home to the “Big Four” most lucrative leagues globally: the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. The United States provides a canvas for sports like nobody else in this world. However, Soccer is NOT “yet” a sport that can rival the popularity of these other sports. Major League Soccer (MLS) is the highest level of professional men’s soccer in the US and Canada, but it is not close to the quality of play that is featured in the European leagues.
I followed this World Cup like most people, as a fan watching most of the games on TV, unlike the first World Cup that took place in the US in 1994, when I was a credentialed member of the media with Telemundo as their Sports Anchor. 1994 was fun; it was great, but this 2026 World Cup, which also took place in the US, broke all the records. However, the United States, which, according to FIFA, remains an elite top-8% still has a long way to go.
What can the US do to improve their soccer?
Overhauling our schools’ structures for sports, the great majority of our young athletes play Baseball, Football, Basketball, and Hockey. Schools should increase their Fútbol-Soccer disciplines. The US does not develop players in this sport as it does in the other sports we have been doing for many decades. It will happen, but it will also take years, because the whole structure of sports in schools will have to change. Young athletes get drafted to play in our main professional leagues; that doesn’t happen today in the world’s most popular sport. We are a country of innovators; I do not see any reason why the US could not become a power in Fútbol-Soccer.
By the way: Felicidades España!
Quote” “It’s not that I hate soccer, it’s just that I have time to watch other sports.” Jim Rome (Sports Broadcaster)
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
The New York Yankees are waiting for Aaron Judge’s return from a fractured rib injury. Judge has been out of action since May 31, 2026. The Yankees have said that Judge is not ready to start doing phyical baseball activities yet (AP file photo)
MLB The Show podcast Marko Ukalovic:
#1 New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge’s fractured rib is still not healed and is not ready to return to baseball workouts and rehabbbing. The Yankees are still not certain when the next step will take place. Judge has been out since May 31the doctors said that Judge’s rib is showing partial healing.
#2 MLB released it’s 2027 regular season schedules despite the a severe labor dispute between the owners and players over the salary cap. The Collective Bargaining Agreement will expire on Dec 1, 2026 which makes the scheduled opening dates in doubt.
#3 Los Angeles Dodgers two way star Shohei Ohtani had a lubricant injected into his left knee, Ohtani did not have fluid drained from the knee. Ohtani went 0-4 hitting two fly outs to the warning track against the New York Yankees on Friday’s win 2-1. Ohtani is not scheduled to pitch this weekend and should return to the mound on Wednesday in Philadelphia. The last time Ohtani pitched was on Jul 3.
#4 Marko, the way you see it whats the most likely team that Tarik Skubul of the Detroit Tigers could end up going before the trade deadline. Is there any way that Skubul can stay on the Tigers or is Detroit looking to shore up for younger propects? Skubul is 5-5 with a 3.09 ERA.
#5 The Sacramento A’s who snapped a ten game losing streak on Saturday lost a tough game to the Washington Nationals 5-2 Sunday at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. The struggled to get run production in this game and have now lost 11 of their last 12 games.
