Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary A’s prospect: Escaped Cuba in 2021 figures in the team’s future

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s future prospect Luis Danys Morales (left) shakes hands with A’s assistant general manager Dan Feinstein during the signing of Morales (photo by the Oakland A’s)

A’s top prospect Escaped Cuba in 2021 figures in the team’s future

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Luis Danys Morales defected from the Cuban National Sub-23 team in México in 2021. According to MLB, in 2023, the Cuban right-handed pitcher was considered the best young international prospect—the Oakland A’s signed Morales for $3 million.

A few years earlier, when he was 18 years old, Morales was caught by Cuban authorities in Guantanamo in the process of escaping the island, but he finally defected two years ago. Libertad!

Suppose you wonder why all the talented baseball players from Cuba have been defecting for decades to come to the US. They are not treated well, as they make an equivalent of $40 to 200 dollars per month in salary in Cuban pesos.

It is important to remember that because Cuba’s communist government abolished all professional sports in the country in the 1960s, today’s players only play for the pleasure of the country, and the entity that reigns over baseball evaluates “patriotism” as crucial as their baseball skills.

They have to play under the harassment of the government. One Cuban player who defected and who is not in the major leagues told me years ago “if we do not stand for the Cuban National Anthem before the game, in Cuba or abroad, we are in dire trouble.”

Morales is 6’3″and 190 pounds, with a 99 mph fastball and good stuff in his other pitches. Scouts consider he could be a future starter in the major leagues. Born in Antilla, Cuba (in the eastern part of the country) on September 24, 2002.

In 2023, pitched for the Lansing Lug Nuts of the Midwest League High-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s. He pitched 44 innings, struck out 55 in 14 games, 13 games as a starter, and ended with a 2.86 earned run average.

The A’s have a very young and inexperienced pitching staff; they recently signed Trevor Gott for one year and $1.5 million, plus other bonuses, including if he gets traded. Trevor Gott has become the most experienced pitcher on the A’s roster, although others might be signed in the future.

Gott has pitched in the AL West with the Mariners and the Angels and in the NL West with the Giants. “We are looking to add some experience to our pitching staff and our bullpen,” A’s general manager David Forst said to the AP. “Trevor has pitched well in our division and wanted to return to the Bay Area.”“We are looking to add some experience to our pitching staff and our bullpen,” A’s general manager David Forst said to the AP. “Trevor has pitched well in our division and wanted to return to the Bay Area.”

Happy New Year!

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer 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: 2023 Asian Winter in Baseball

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Ichiro Suzuki the former Seattle Mariners star started a huge following for Asian players in MLB. Ichiro is on the cusp of being voted in the MLB Hall of Fame. Here is Ichiro addressing the media on Fri Aug 26, 2022 the day before he was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame. Ichiro will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2025 (AP News file photo)

2023 Asian Winter in Baseball

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Since the 2022 World Series ended and until today, some of the most coveted and expensive free agents in the game are players like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshiubo Yamamoto, both Japanese, who signed with the Dodgers and shelled 1 Billion dollars total for both players. ($1 Billion US dollars is equal to 141,613,142,860 Japanese Yen)

Also, Jung Hoo Lee, a South Korean outfielder who signed with the San Francisco Giants; Masataka Yoshida with the Boston Red Sox; and Yuki Matsui, who signed with the San Diego Padres from the Japanese professional leagues.

Not signed yet: From Japan, the two free agents are Shota Imanaga, a lefty-control pitcher, and Naoyuki Uwasawa, a right-handed pitcher. Uwasaka was not even posted yet.

-The West Coast a Pioneer to Asian players:

-Japan: The first Japanese player was pitcher Masanori Murakami, who was with the San Francisco Giants. However, after just 2 years, the connection of players from Japan to the major leagues was closed

-South Korea: In 1994, Chan Ho Park, a pitcher, became the first Korean-born player to p[play in the major leagues.

The most impactful player from Asia?  Ichiro Suzuki played from 2001 to 2019 with the Seattle Mariners: a lead-off hitter-outfielder, great contact hitter, and tremendous throwing arm from right field. Ichiro had 200 or more hits in ten consecutive seasons with the Mariners from 2001 to 2010.

Ended his career with 3,089 hits and .311 average. He will be the first Asian player inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York. No other Asian baseball player has played for this long and enjoyed this much success.

During my years calling Mariners games for Spanish radio in Seattle, I met Ichiro when he first came into the major leagues from Japan; a hard worker and eccentric player, he would carry his favorite bats inside a particular case like a great violinist carries a Stradivarius.

Ichiro was very reserved as a player, some say, shy; I did interview him a few times with one of his interpreters. I would answer the question in English to his interpreter, who would then ask him in Japanese, and he (the interpreter) would return the answer in English to me.

Later, I would take the tape upstairs to my broadcast booth to edit for my pre-game show. It was exciting. One of the most curious answers he ever gave me was when I asked him if he learned any words in Spanish, and it was ‘peligroso’, which means ‘dangerous’. I later learned that he was ‘miked’ during a  live game that was nationally televised and said a word that he did not mean to say.

On October 1, 2004, Ichiro Suzuki broke George Sisler’s single-season record with a  258th hit. I called that game; it was one of Ichiro’s greatest accomplishments. That season Ichiro ended with 262 hits.

Quote: If I’m in a slump, I ask myself for advice  -Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro will not be eligible for the Hall of Fame until 2025.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Will Ohtani and Yamamoto be worth the $1 Billion spent; Dodger’s Ohtani gifts Kelly’s wife with new Porsche

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (left) showed his appreciation to Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly’s (right) wife Ashley (center) as Ohtani got Kelly’s jersey 17. This was actually a gift from both Ohtani and Kelly to Kelly’s wife for the numeral change on the jersey. (Getty photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 It was the two signings by the Los Angeles Dodgers this week with designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto for a combined $1 billion are these deals going to be worth all that money?

#2 The Seattle Mariners and catcher Mitch Garver have reached a two year $24 million agreement. Garver hit .270, 19 home runs and 50 RBIs. Tell us how Garver will have give the M’s boost in their line up.

#3 Got to ask you about Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly selling his uniform number 17 in exchange for a brand new Porsche from Ohtani for his wife Ashley Kelly. The new car was parked in front of Kelly’s home and his wife answered the door to see the new silver Porsche as the delivery driver told her “it’s yours.”

#4 The San Diego Padres signed Yuki Matsui for a five year $28 million contract. This was the Padres biggest splurge since last spring training. Matsui was the top reliever in Japan where he saved 236 games and had an 2.40 ERA. The Padres are expecting Matsui to be the core of the pitching staff.

#5 ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian said that it doesn’t seem right that the Cleveland Guardians got the number one draft pick and the Oakland A’s end up with the fourth lottery pick. Amaury despite the A’s coming in fourth in the lottery can you see the A’s getting talent for their future in spite of not getting the number one draft pick?

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Dodgers reload and acquire Yamamoto

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Yoshinobu Yamamoto seen here dealing with Team Japan during the World Baseball Classic signed a 12 year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thu Dec 21, 2023 (AP file photo)

Dodgers reload and acquire Yamamoto

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Los Angeles Dodgers so far have had a sensational off-season, which began with signing the #1 Free Agent and two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to an incredible 10-year-$700 million deal. A couple of weeks later, they signed free-agent pitcher Tyler Glasnow.

Today, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, considered the best pitcher in Japan, is also a Dodger with a $375 million contract; the Yankees, the Mets, and the Giants made offers for Yamamoto, but he chose the Dodgers. No surprise here; as soon as the Dodgers signed Ohtani, the two-way superstar was recruiting Yamamoto to come to Los Angeles.

Although it is not yet confirmed, it is believed that the Yamamoto contract is for 12 years and $325 million. Also, there is a posting fee of $50 million. The $325 million is the most given to a pitcher, more than Yankees’ current American League Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole, beating Cole by $1 million. Yamamoto will be making a $27 million per year salary.

The Dodgers, one of three teams last season to win 100 games, the other two were also divisional winners, Atlanta (104) and Baltimore (101), look like the team to beat again in the National League West. Adding Glasnow and Yamamoto to the Dodger rotation is crucial to their hopes of repeating as divisional champions, combined with a great top-of-the-lineup headed by three of the best hitters of MVP caliber in the game: Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani.

The Giants also were interested in Yamamoto, but the Dodges outbid them. The Giants’ best free-agent signing is South Korean star outfielder Jung-Hoo Lee, who received a 6-year $113 million contract from San Francisco; he can opt-out after four seasons.

His agent is Scott Boras, and many in the business believe that although Lee is a star outfielder, Boras might have oversold the player to the Giants. Cody Bellinger, who had a great season with the Chicago Cubs, is still available and one of the best position players in this 2023 class of free agents.

Many teams have shown interest in the 2019 NL Most Valuable Player; if the Giants want Bellinger, they might have to overspend, some say around $200 million. With all respect to Bellinger, I do not think he is worth that much.

Still, it is all relative to how much the Giants would want Bellinger in Orange and Black. By not acquiring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Giants continue to ‘swing and miss’ at the most prominent free-agent names available during the last few years.

According to Alex Pavlovic, Yamamoto informed the Giants that he would not be signing with them; the Red Sox and Blue Jays were also after the Japanese hurler. The Giants’ offseason focus was on Ohtani and Yamamoto. Unfortunately, not only did neither choose to come to San Francisco, but they went to LA to the Dodgers, the one team the Giants despise the most. Like the French say: “c’est la vie. — that’s life.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Gurriel Jr signs 3 yr $42 million deal with Diamondbacks; Ohtani and Acuna win the Hank Aaron Award; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Arizona Diamondbacks Lourdes Gurriel Jr joins the Arizona Diamondbacks agreeing to a three year $42 million deal on Sun Dec 17, 2023 (USA Today photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Lourdes Gurriel Jr will be returning to the Arizona Diamondbacks on a $42 million three year deal. Gurriel gets a fourth year option on his three contract. The deal also includes an opt out on the second year of the contract. Gurriel hit .261, with 144 hits and 24 home runs. How much of a good deal is this for Gurriel and the Diamondbacks.

#2 Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuna are both racking up trophies. This time they both win the Hank Aaron Award for most offensive performer. Ohtani hit .304, 151 hits, and 44 home runs. Ohtani will not pitch but be the Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter for the 2024 season. Acuna hit .337, 217 hits and had 106 RBIs.

#3 Texas Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer who had off season back surgery will not be expected to be back until June or July. Scherzer was suffering back pain and was removed from last season’s World Series. His pain didn’t stop when he got home to Florida and was later diagnosed with a herniated disc.

#4 Over the weekend Amaury, the San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox threw their ball caps into the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes joining the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers. Yamamoto has met with the Mets twice. These clubs have each put in a starting bid of $300 million for Yamamoto. The pressure is mounting Amaury which team will it be?

#5 It didn’t take long after being acquired by the Atlanta Braves from the San Diego Padres Matt Carpenter was released after one week. The Braves will lose around $4 million on the deal in 2022 Carpenter hit .305, with 15 home runs and 37 RBIs. Carpenter played for the Yankees from May 26 to Aug 8th. Carpenter he broke his foot on a foul ball and got back into post season on going 1 for 12 with nine strikeouts.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Viva Las Vegas Raiders! 63 points – Ay Caramba!

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (11) is walking on air after scoring a first half touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Thu Dec 14, 2023 (AP News photo)

Viva Las Vegas Raiders! 63 points – Ay Caramba!

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Las Vegas Raiders made history this Thursday night as they beat the Los Angeles Chargers 63 to 21. This is a new franchise record in total points for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.

Antonio Pierce, the Raiders head coach ( the HC role is general oversight, making calls on things like timeouts and challenges, and overall strategic adjustment) says he told the team that they should “press the gas pedal even harder” when they were up 42-0 in the second quarter.

The highest-ever scoring in one NFL game was on November 27, 1966, when the Washington Redskins scored 72 points and beat the New York Giants by a 72-41 score.

The Raiders made news, although their record the morning after was still a disappointing 6-8. Nonetheless, it was something to see.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Draymond and the Warriors

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Golden State Warrior guard Draymond Green (23) runs off the floor after spinning and hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic and receiving a flagrant 2 foul at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Tue Dec 12, 2023 (AP News photo)

Draymond and the Warriors

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO–Draymond Green has been an outstanding player for the Golden State Warriors and has been part of the Warriors championships for years as they have ruled the NBA. However, his 2023-24 Warriors team is, at best, “mediocre”.

Although it is not Christmas yet, their record of 10 wins and 13 losses is not pretty, one you would not like to wrap in a box and give to a friend. If they want to make another run at the Larry O’Brien Championship trophy, they have to improve very soon, and Draymond Green is making that much more difficult. The Warriors look ‘old’ playing some teams that are younger, quicker, and bigger than they are.

Fans can see this and would tell you the same because there are no mysteries in the NBA. Many years ago, when my sons were teenagers, we took a vacation trip to Yellowstone National Park. One morning, as we woke up and walked out of our cabin, we saw a Buffalo lying beside the cabin wall just outside the door, not moving. We later reported it to a park ranger. I remember he told us, “You have to leave him alone; he is old, and he is dying, and he just cannot keep up with the herd”.

If the Warriors cannot ‘keep up with the herd” of younger and faster teams, maybe they should leave Draymond Green alone; they are finding out that it is much more difficult to carry this player, as good as he is, under these circumstances. They might not be able to win this year, and Draymond’s antics are becoming much more frequent and publicized.

During the Chicago Bulls’ dominant years, I covered them, broadcasting all Warriors games for Spanish radio, home and away, traveling with the team. I remember the antics of Dennis Rodman, who led the NBA in rebounding for seven consecutive seasons between 1991 and 1998.

Rodman is in the Hall of Fame; he was wild on the court, but he produced and even visited North Korea and spoke to that country’s dictator; which was “entertaining”. Rodman was indeed a character, he transcended sports.

On one occasion, Rodman was suspended for 11 games for kicking a cameraman. But Rodman was a ferocious defensive player who brought good news to the Bulls organization for many years. He also traveled to North Korea with a Harlem Globetrotters basketball team member and a crew to shoot an episode for an HBO series.

Green is no Rodman and has been suspended indefinitely for taking a shot at Suns’ Jusuf Nurkic. In the regular world, where most people live, not just in professional sports, many employees are referred to a psychologist for anger management.

I do not know if that is what Mr.Green needs, but I know the Warriors do not need these antics from Green, especially this season when they are not a dominant team. If you have to focus more on the suspensions of a player than his productivity, that is never good news. Especially in this social media era where billions of people carry their news in their telephones.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Losing out on the Ohtani sweepstakes has Giants and Angels looking for plan B; Are the 49ers unstoppable? plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Shohei Ohtani in simulated photo in Los Angeles Dodgers uniform. San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels will take a different direction now that Ohtani is signed. (photo by the Athletic)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury, How much is the urgency for the San Francisco Giants now that the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani someone the Giants seriously thought. Are the Giants in your view in a desperate moment now that they couldn’t sign players like Carlos Carrera, Aaron Judge now Ohtani.

#2 Has the loss of Ohtani not just for the Giants but as well for the Los Angeles Angels who hired Ron Washington as their manager and are still standing by Mike Trout. Will the directions of these two teams change their direction?

#3 Amaury, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has another great afternoon this time against the Seattle Seahawks went 19-27 for 368 yards threw for two touchdowns and one interception for a 28-16 win. It’s now the 49ers fifth straight win.

#4 The Golden State Warriors lost another close game this time against the Oklahoma City Thunder 138-136. What cost Golden State was the 29 turnovers while the Thunder capitalized with 35 points to just edge out the Warriors. The question is are the Warriors feeling their age as they struggle or are they in a slump and just inconsistent right now.

#5 Amaury, on Dec 5th Schools over Stadiums who are opposed to the $380 million going to build a new ball park on the Las Vegas strip and are appealing a judges ruling to put a referendum on the ballot to stop public funding for the A’s ballpark in Vegas. Point out 21 professors in economic finance all with PhDs from Oklahoma Universities oppose public financing for a new basketball arena for the NBA Oklahoma Thunder. They’re point is education should come first in Oklahoma and not using public funds to build a new arena. This is something that Schools over Stadiums are arguing. Schools over Stadiums are considered the last hope to stop the A’s from having the publicly funded ballpark in Vegas.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Big Star Free Agents do not come to San Francisco

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is being sought by the New York Mets brass who flew out to Japan to meet him. The San Francisco Giants are interested in obtaining Yamamoto’s services. Teams seeking Yamamoto will likely turn out to be a bidding war. (AP News file photo)

Big Star Free Agents do not come to San Francisco

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

SAN FRANCISCO–Last year, the Giants tried to lure free agents Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa, but they failed; other big stars like Bryce Harper (when he was a Free-Agent) have spurned the Giants. It has become much more common now that many big-name free-agent players dislike coming and playing in San Francisco.

It is not the money because the players I am talking about get the cash they want anywhere. It could be about the reputation that San Francisco has nationwide nowadays. Could it be the City by the Bay social-political situation has become not a favorite destination for some of the game’s biggest stars?

Most of these big-name free-agent players that get those multi-million dollar contracts tend to be conservative or non-political, and sometimes San Francisco doesn’t ‘rub them well”. They are all aware of this because, in today’s communication world, there is more than enough information out there, especially in social media.

This is what Farhan Zaidi, GM of the Giants, told Sussan Slusser of the SF Chronicle last year: “When we’re doing our research on free agents, and we find that players aren’t really that happy even coming into town for a three-game series, they’re probably not going to be that excited to play there for a long time.

So I think that’s part of what fueled our strategy of targeting guys with Bay Area ties. … Free agency is really, really competitive, especially at the top of the market. Even when you think you can sign a player, you’re probably not; that’s how it works. So when you don’t think you’ll sign a player, you’re definitely not going to sign him.”

No team needed Ohtani more than the Giants, but he is also not coming here. After Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers, another Japanese player remains of high value; it is pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the best pitcher in Japan; estimates of this 25-year-old pitching star are that he could earn as much as a $300 million contract, and the Dodgers (of course) will go after him to paired him with Ohtani as they both won the 2023 World Baseball Classic together and have been playing together for years now.

Other free agents are Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Jung-Hoo Lee, Teoscar Hernández, JD Martínez, Dylan Cease, Blake Snell, Corbin Burns, and Tyler Glasnow. Giants could use some more power in that lineup; Bellinger might be a good choice.

This 2023 off-season, the Giants went after Shohei Ohtani (who, like Aaron Judge last year, was the biggest fish to catch). Still, Ohtani decided to stay in Southern California and signed the richest-ever contract in American sports with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a 10-year mega-deal for $700 million.

Another reason for Giants fans to hate the Dodgers, but at this time, the Giants fans cannot be pleased with their General Manager Pete Putila. Is he a victim of circumstances that are beyond his control? What can you do if you offer big money contracts but players do not consider your offers? The mega-stars are not coming to San Francisco.

Note: Tom Cruise made $100 million for “Top Gun: Maverick,” his most recent movie, a worldwide success. Ohtani is making $700 million in 10 years with the Dodgers, also in Hollywood.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Ohtani is going to Hollywood 10years for $700 Million

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani has signed a contract worth $700 million for ten years on Sat Dec 9, 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers the largest contract in professional sports (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Today, Saturday, December 9, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year $700 million contract. Largest ever in American sports.

During a wild and furious December 8, Friday afternoon, rumors swirled about the Toronto Blue Jays signing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. Some believed Ohtani had boarded a plane from Santa Ana, California, to Toronto, Canada.

Others refute such information, saying that Ohtani remained in Southern California. The Los Angeles Dodgers had their eyes on Shohei Ohtani since he was in high school in Japan. They made him the centerpiece of this off-season and will have him in the lineup in 2024. They hope to have him back after surgery to pitch in 2025.

The Dodgers will open the checkbook and invest over a half billion dollars on Shohei, and now they are after a pitcher or two who could help that rotation, which is short for the Dodgers; they are after Dylan Cease, and if they even want to spend more money, the Japanese free agent right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, which would be close to a $300 million investment. Yamamoto is just 25 years of age and the best pitcher in Japan. In seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes, he is 70-29 with a sensational 1.82 ERA and 922 strikeouts.

The 2024 Major League Baseball season (MLB) is scheduled to begin on March 20–21 with a two-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres held in Seoul, South Korea, before the regular season proper runs from March 28 to September 29. You can bet, Ohtani will be the DH for the Dodgers in Korea.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s on the A’s Spanish radio network and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com