Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Tropicana to cease operations Apr 2; Vegas hotel and casino property to make way for A’s ballpark

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The Tropicana Hotel and Casino are prepared to close up business on April 2, 2024 according to Tropicana general manager Arik Knowles. The towers will be imploded to clear the way for a Las Vegas A’s ballpark and new plaza. (photo by the Nevada Independent)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Tropicana Hotel and Casino will will ceasing operations on Apr 2, 2024 and will no longer be accepting reservations for after that date as the Hotel and Casino will be clearing the way to implode the towers and grounds to build a new Las Vegas A’s ballpark and plaza.

#2 The Tropicana has a lot of history going on seven decades as an institution and hosted many of Las Vegas top celebrities in their showroom like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, Angie Dickinson, Don Rickles, and Johnny Carson.

#3 For many who walk down memory lane this sound of the imploding buildings will bring those memories down for the people of the Oakland those famous A’s teams that won three championships in a row and the 1989 World Series with Bash Brothers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire. For the people of Las Vegas all those great memories that the Tropicana brought for 70 years.

#4 Tropicana General Manager Arik Knowles said once the plans renderings and concept plan is in place the Tropicana can be cleared and the beginning of construction for the new ballpark will begin. Construction is expected to start Apr 2025. Once those towers are imploded at the Tropicana that will signal the beginning of the end for the A’s history in Oakland.

#5 The A’s are not expected to return next season at the Oakland Coliseum after the 2024 season is completed. The A’s have been looking for temporary sites in Sacramento and Salt Lake City. Oracle Park and the Coliseum will not host the A’s 2025 and beyond according to reports.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Tropicana to close April 2, 2024 to make way for the A’s

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Statement issued by Tropicana Hotel and Casino general manager Arik Knowles regarding the closing of the Tropicana to make way for the Las Vegas A’s new ballpark on the Vegas strip (below)

Photo: Outside of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino which will close on Apr 2, 2024. The construction on the site to clear the way for the Las Vegas A’s new ballpark will start on Apr 2025. (photo by the Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Tropicana to close April 2, 2024, to make way for the A’s

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The second oldest hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, Tropicana, will close on April 2, 2024, and later in 2024, imploded to make way for a stadium for the A’s. Below is today’s official statement by the Tropicana Las Vegas.

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

That’s Amaury Newsand Commentary: Jesús Luzardo only Major Leaguer born in Perú – Could be traded again

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The author Amaury Pi Gonzalez (right) poses with former Oakland A’s pitcher Jesus Luzardo (left) at the A’s Fanfest 2019. Luzardo who now pitches with the Miami Marlins (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Jesús Luzardo only Major Leaguer born in Perú – Could be traded again-

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

The South American country of Perú’s population is over 34 million people. Fútbol (Soccer in the US) is their number one sport. However, pitcher Jesús Luzardo, currently with the Miami Marlins starting rotation and previously with the Oakland A’s,(his first team in the major leagues), was born in Lima, Perú. His parents are Venezuelans, a country where baseball is undoubtedly the #1 sport.

Luzardo debuted with the Oakland A’s in 2019, as the A’s No. 6 prospect. Just a year before, On February 13, 2018, in his Alma Mater in Parkland, Florida, a former student killed 17 people when he opened fire inside the high school.

Luzardo intended to work out at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on that same afternoon of the shooting, he was warned not to come by his former coach, and that might have saved his life. During the shooting, Luzardo stayed in contact with people inside the school via text messages.

In 2019, before the team reported to Spring Training, Luzardo was at the A’s Fanfest in Jack London Square; he sat with yours truly and Mauricio Segura at the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame and signed autographs for dozens of A’s fans who stood in line. He was gracious and pleased and, as he told me, “lucky to be in the major leagues”.

But a couple of years later, he wasn’t happy to be traded to the Miami Marlins, he felt good pitching here at Oakland and enjoyed the Bay Area. But the life of a major leaguer always included the possibility of being traded. He started with the A’s, went to the Marlins and he might changed uniforms soon again.

Luzardo could be traded again before this 2024 season gets underway. In his first years with the A’s, he did not pitch much and struggled, but it was a learning process like it is many times with young pitchers.

Last season, the lefty with the Miami Marlins ended with a record of 10-10 and a 3.58 ERA in 32 games he started. He owns an outstanding fastball, especially among left-handed starters who, in 2023, threw at least 200 fastballs; he ranked second out of 57. The southpaw was one of 12 pitchers to reach 205 strikeouts in 2023, when he fanned 208. Was that good?

Well, only Blake Snell,two-time Cy Young winner, Gerrit Cole, won Cy Young in 2023, Kevin Gausman, finalist this past seasons to win the Cy Young, Zac Gallen, who finished second in the NY for the Cy Young in 2023 and and Luis Castillo, still one of the best pitchers who will soon win a Cy Young.

Jesús Luzardo is maturing as a pitcher, and if the Orioles, Pirates, or anyother teams currently pursuing him could land a pitcher ready to be a winner at the young age of 26.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s owner John Fisher, spoke at Las Vegas event- -It is like the Groundhog Day movie; Fisher open to selling shares of team

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Mary Beth Sewald president/CEO of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce (left) and Oakland A’s owner John Fisher (right) sit down to discuss the A’s move to Las Vegas and all the ballpark intangibles at the Fontainebleau Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Wed Jan 24, 2024 (photo by Nevada Independent)

A’s owner, John Fisher, spoke at the Las Vegas event– It is like the Groundhog Day movie

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

The first public comments by A’s owner, John Fisher, were made on Wednesday in Las Vegas. He said he would like local Las Vegas investors to help him pay for the $1.5 billion A’s stadium at the Tropicana hotel-casino location on the Strip. Fisher spoke for about 20 minutes at the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce event. He wants to find local capital for the stadium in Las Vegas as a way of engaging his new city.

He said about the Las Vegas park renderings: “We’ll release our renderings when you know when it’s the right time to do so,” Fisher said.

Speaking about the funding: “That will be funded mostly with equity from my family,” Fisher said. “We would like to consider raising capital, especially from local investors. That creates a connection to the community, and we’ve seen that with many other teams become a successful thing.”

Meanwhile, back in Planet Oakland, Mayor Shen Thao’s office told the Las Vegas Review-Journal: “When the Athletics leave the Bay Area ahead of the team’s planned Las Vegas relocation, they won’t be missed.” The mayor’s office also responded to whether they have discussed extending the team’s Oakland Coliseum lease past its expiration date at the end of the 2024 season.

Leigh Hanson, Mayor Thao’s chief of staff, said no and then ripped into the club. According to the Review-Journal, Mr. Hanson added; “To date, they have not contacted or requested an extension to their lease from the Mayor, Alameda County, the joint powers agency that oversees the Coliseum, and perhaps most notably from the fans.”

The situation in Oakland is not a pretty one when businesses close because of a spike in crime as they continue to make news nationwide, not how they wanted. As a matter of fact, the A’s story is not as crucial for the city of Oakland as the current situation, where some Council Members are now asking the Mayor to declare a State of Emergency.

When a profitable In ‘n Out Burger restaurant announces they are leaving Oakland because of too much crime in their parking lot, the Mayor has a bigger problem than the baseball team.

From Amaury’s desk: This whole story is extremely close to the script of the 1993 Hollywood film: “Groundhog Day” where a cynical television weatherman relives the said day repeatedly. Actor Bill Murray’s predicament drives him to distraction until he sees a way of turning the situation to his advantage. Las Vegas has become Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

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: Sports Illustrated another victim in Sports Journalism

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Sports Illustrated cover of former Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani as Sports Illustrated has laid off writers, editors, and supports staff due to budget cuts (Sports Illustrated cover)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Between video games, cellular telephones, streaming services, podcasts, and the internet and now Artificial Intelligence, it was not surprising that Sports Illustrated’s recent layoffs have shaken the 70-year-old sports magazine and, in a way, the sports publishing world.

The best-selling issue of all time for SI was not a cover of Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Lebron James, or Shohei Ohtani. In 1989, the 25th-anniversary edition of SI featuring Kathy Ireland on the cover was the best-selling ever.

The country has changed since the 1980s and 1990s; heck, it has changed since the 2000s, when Colin Kaepernick took a knee, and all of a sudden, we were talking politics over sports, which is never a good idea because most people who buy SI could care less of your political leanings or affiliation. But in the significantly changing world we are living in, other things are coming that influence journalists, including sports journalism,

Artificial intelligence, also known as AI, has revolutionized many sports, including team practices, competition, and communication. It is still early, but AI is already inside our media, mainly based on audience preferences. AI can put out a quote by a person (voice) impersonating somebody else, which will sound like it is the natural person…but it is not. It will “aid” news, fact-checking and content.

The Sports Illustrated cover that once defined sports does not anymore, according to the oldest daily-publishing newspaper in the United States, the New York Post, which has an editorial that explains why Sports Illustrated’s future comes down to a high-stakes game of chicken between the iconic magazine’s billionaire overlords.

Sports Illustrated gutted most of their staff this past week, and their future is unknown. SI might survive, but they might not.

–My recommendation to SI, for whatever is worth: Why not publish a future cover of Air Force Officer Second LT Madison Marsh, who was the first active-duty service member to win the Miss America competition? The 22-year-old beauty graduated from the Air Force Academy last year with a degree in physics. So it is not sports? But Miss America is still a fierce competition, and after all, what does Sports Illustrated have to lose?

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A’s looking at Sacramento and Salt Lake City for 2025-27

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The Salt Lake City Bees are aiming to lure the Oakland A’s to play their home games at Smith’s Ballpark in downtown Salt Lake City for the 2025. Salt Lake City is on the list of temporarily homes for the A’s after the 2024 season. (photo by News Radio 102.7 FM)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury, the A’s owner John Fisher and team president David Kaval this past week visited Sacramento’s Sutter Health Field and Salt Lake City Smith’s Ballpark. They will eventually decide where the A’s will play after the 2024 season.

#2 The other 2025 options are Summerlin, Reno, and of course Salt Lake City and Sacramento.

#3 Amaury, is the relationship between the A’s and the City of Oakland so bad that Fisher won’t even consider finishing up at the Oakland Coliseum despite Fisher owning half of the Coliseum property?

#4 How much opposition do you see the A’s and MLB getting from the Players union about having to play in a minor league park when they can finish up at the Coliseum.

#5 Amaury, no renderings and no money to pay for construction no word or latest word where John Fisher is on the renderings and construction money for the Vegas ballpark?

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Atléticos turn to Latin America for their Future

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Aledmys Diaz of the Oakland A’s gives thanks to the Almighty after clubbing a fifth inning home run against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Aug 5, 2023. Diaz is one of many players in the A’s system from Latin America (AP News file photo)

Atléticos turn to Latin America for their Future —

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Oakland A’s have signed these international players. Nathan Arends, RHP Aruba, Yohandri Contreras, RHP, Venezuela, Brayan Cota, 3B,México, Samuel González, SS, Venezuela, Celso Lopez, RHP, Venezuela, Eric Matos RHP, Cuba, Hugo Merza Trejo, RHP, México, Edgar Moreno, SS, Dominican Republic, Azzael Pacheco, C, Venezuela, José Parra, LHP, Venezuela, Alejando Pereira, C, Venezuela, Luis Plicet, RHP, Panamá, José Ramos, OF, Venezuela, Sebastián Rojas, OF, Venezuela, Oliver Sirotti Vásquez, RHP, Dominican Republic, Franco Zabaleta, LHP, Colombia.

The 2024 roster: Aledmys Díaz, Cuba, Jordan Díaz, Colombia, Esteury Ruíz, Dominican Republic, Angel Felipez, Dominican Republic, Dany Jiménez, Dominican Republic, Adriían Martínez, México, Francisco Pérez, Dominican Republic, Darell Hernaiz, Puerto Rico, Lázaro Armenteros, Cuba, Miguel Andujar, Dominican Republic, Royber Salinas, Venezuela, Luis Medina, Dominican Republic. With the season beginning March 28, more Latinos could still be signing with the Oakland A’s.

Throughout their history, among the Atléticos Latino players were; Yoenis Céspedes, José Canseco, Ozzie Canseco, Dagoberto Blanco Campaneris, José Mangual, Angel Mangual, Miguel Tejada, Stan Javier, Jesó Alou, Joaquin Andujar and many others. Currently, 32% of all major league players were born in Latin America; the percentage is more significant in the minor leagues.

The Hispanic/Latino baseball market continues to grow, as 63.7 million is listed as the United States Hispanic population as of July 1, 2022, making it the nation’s most significant racial or ethnic minority — 19.1% of the total. Population. The largest minority consumer and voting block in the United States of America. In some areas in the US, Hispanic media enjoys higher ratings than traditional “all other” media.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Hello Sa-cra-men-to!; Sutter Health Ballpark Sacramento is looking better and better for A’s in 2025

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The Oakland A’s owner John Fisher and team president David Kaval both toured Sutter Health Ballpark in Sacramento on Thu Jan 18, 2024 and are considering having the A’s play their home games there starting in the 2025 season (photo from Sacramento Rivercats facebook file)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Hello Sa-cra-men-to!

That’s Amaury Pi-González

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

What is settled: Officially, the A’s will play the whole home schedule at the Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum this 2024, on Thursday, March 28, at 7:07 against the Cleveland Guardians.

Not settled: Although 2025 and 2027 are not settled at all, Sacramento is looking better and better as that temporary home for the Atléticos. But, Sacramento is not in the Bay Area, so the team will not be eligible to receive some $60-plus million from NBC Sports.

Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto is the #20 television market in the US; the Sacramento Sutter Health Park total capacity is 14,404, which is all the regular seats plus the grassy area behind the outfield.

According to John Shea of the SF Chronicle, even if the A’s pay far less than the $67 million, a deal would still benefit NBC Sports California because it is less than what they would pay in the Bay Area. Also (according to Shea), the A’s could retain the A’s programming lineup.

On Thursday it was reported that A’s owner John Fisher and team president David Kaval both were taking a tour of Sutter Health Park and checking the facilities. If Fisher and Kaval like everything they see at Sutter Health it’s likely the A’s could start playing home games there beginning 2025.

Oakland A’s president Dave Kaval initially said the Oakland Coliseum, Oracle Park (home of the Giants), or Summerlin, Nevada, the Las Vegas Aviators, the A’s triple-A affiliate. If the A’s play at Oracle, the Giants will charge them as tenants for some 40 games, a very good fee; San Francisco is expensive, although there is a 40,000 capacity, which is totally a major league standard. and A ‘s Aviators Park in Las Vegas is probably out of the equation as of….now. The A’s are scheduled to play a two game spring training series at Aviators Park Mar 8th and 9th against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish voice on the Oakland A’s 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: Sutter Health Park Sacramento could be A’s landing spot in 2025

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Sutter Health Park in Sacramento could be the home of the Oakland A’s for the 2025 season. Nothing official yet from the A’s on playing their games there in 2025. (Mrmingbean file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Oakland A’s will be hosting a public event similar to a Fan Fest in Las Vegas and Southern Nevada at $125 a pop. This public event could be scene as a barometer and how many fans will attend and how many will season tickets they’ll sell of 2028.

#2 The renderings still have not been unveiled as of yet and the A’s have not revealed their financing plans for the park. Also they have not announced where they will play after the 2025 season although insiders say they are leaning towards the San Francisco Giants triple A park in Sacramento Sutter Health Park.

#3 The A’s have a deal with NBC Sports Bay Area through the 2033 season and NBC would pay on that contract so long as the A’s play their games in the Bay Area. A’s team president David Kaval said knowing Sacramento is outside the Bay Area NBC would not be obligated to pay on the deal.

#4 There has been talked that both the A’s and NBC Bay Area would reach a middle ground on the contract and the A’s would get a reduced amount on the contract that would pay less than the $67 million that they got in 2023 season.

#5 A deal between the City of Oakland beyond 2025 looks impossible. The A’s and the City are not on good terms and the fact that the City and A’s never got to the point to where they could make Howard Terminal a reality plays into playing at the Coliseum in 2025 unlikely as negotiations had broke down before their decision to move to Las Vegas. Also the A’s fans and A’s owner John Fisher look like they will not be patching things up anytime soon. The A’s could play 30-40 of their home games at Oracle Park home of the Giants and the rest in Sacramento.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: ESPN returns 37 Emmys after investigation

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Stephen A Smith who is considered the face of ESPN and is the highest paid talent at the Sports Network. ESPN recently had to return 37 Emmys because of using ineligible on air talent sending in fake names for the awards. (photo from onmilwaukee.com)

ESPN returns 37 Emmys after investigation

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

From the department of “Who can you trust today in media”.

According to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) ESPN has returned dozens of Emmys. They (ESPN) were involved for decades in securing trophies for ineligible on-air personalities by submitting fake names for consideration.

It was found that employees at ESPN had been submitting made-up names to the Emmys organization to obtain more than 30 extra trophies and give them to broadcast talent who were not eligible to receive them.

The shocking part of this scheme is that this has happened at ESPN since 2010. The employees at the sports network attached fake names to award entries.

An internal investigation conducted by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and ESPN found that employees at the sports network had been submitting made-up names to the Emmys organization to obtain more than 30 extra trophies for broadcast personalities who were ineligible to receive them.

This is according to ESPN who is admitting and now is coming clean with the whole story. More specific details could be revealed in the future.

ESPN began operations and went on the air on September 7, 1979. In 2024, Stephen A. Smith is the most popular on-air talent on ESPN today, making $12 million annually. CBS Judge Judy is the highest paid in all of television, with $47 million per year for her top-rated show.

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