Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Oakland has been a Successful Sports town; Fisher sends Dear John letter to fans

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The A’s have not determined where they’ll play for the 2025-27 seasons but it has been suggested they could play in Mexico City’s ballpark for the interim until their permanent home in Las Vegas is completed in 2028. (photo from CBS Sports)

Oakland has been a Successful Sports town

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Today, the MLB owners unanimously approved Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas. One of the most popular used quotes in the world, not only in baseball but in every walk of life, engraved into our culture, is New York Yankee legend Yogi Berra’s famous, “It ain’t over ’till is over”.

With all respect to “Schools not Stadiums” the teacher’s Union in Nevada, who are still trying to derail the move, let’s face it… it is over. It did not surprise me that all MLB owners voted the same; the Yes vote for the Athletics to move to their fourth city in their storied franchise was expected. The A’s, from Philadelphia, with stops in Kansas City in 1954 and Oakland since 1968, are moving again in 2024.

However, Oakland’s professional sports history is still a very good one. Teams in Oakland won ten championships; the Oakland A’s won four World Series, the Golden State Warriors also won four NBA titles, and the Oakland Raiders won two Super Bowls. The only cities in the country with more combined championships in MLB/NBA/NFL are Los Angeles, Boston, and New York.

A’s owner, John Fisher, sent a letter today to Oakland A’s fans, thanking them for their support.

The Dear John letter’s first paragraph reads: I know that today is a challenging day with the vote by MLB owners allowing for the A’s relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas. I share many of those emotions – sadness that our team will be leaving its home since 1968, pride in what we have accomplished together on and off the field in Oakland, and hope and optimism about the future of the A’s in Las Vegas.

What else can I say that hasn’t been said yet? To be said, for like ten years now, we have heard all the opinions regarding the situation, and there are still other stories (I am sure) to be written.

Yes, it is sad for everybody here in Oakland and the A’s Bay Area fans, especially those who are very good A’s fans; it is terrible for the economy of Oakland, an economy in a situation today that many political commentators and experts in financial matters are comparing to the year 1979 with high gasoline and food prices, high living expenses, homeless all over the place.

By the way, two crazy wars are going on, and yes, the unemployment probably will get a little higher in Oaktown. A good friend of mine told me today, “BART is going to lose riders to the game and more money”, but it is more than BART. When a city loses a team, they’re losing a part of its identity, part of the fabric of the community, the total name recognition, and especially Oakland, as previously mentioned, has been a very prosperous city in Sports.

Except for one key, keeping them in Oakland. The A’s will play in Oakland in 2024, and my educated guess is that they might still work a deal with the City of Oakland to play in 2025, 2026, and maybe 2027 at the Coliseum until they inaugurate their stadium in Las Vegas.

However, that makes a lot of sense, and common sense is not abundant nowadays. So, who knows where the Athletics will play for the next four to five years since they built in Las Vegas. I even heard the suggestion of Mexico City.

Have a great weekend, and get ready for Thanksgiving!

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast with Michael Duca: MLB owners vote on A’s relocation this week; Nevada Independent calls A’s relocation mismanagement and political cronyism

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The Tropicana Hotel and Casino is on the chopping block to get demoed late 2024 and the construction for the A’s ballpark is to begin April 2025 according to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority. (photo by the Nevada Independent on May 9, 2023)

Michael Duca filled for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Michael, the Nevada Independent calls A’s coming to Vegas mismanagement, political cronyism, and a public relations disaster as the MLB owners prepare to vote on the A’s relocation this week.

#2 The article goes onto to say last week’s meeting with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority so far shows that this is throwing tax dollars away at the Tropicana ballpark and that’s it’s a worthy investment.

#3 So far the A’s have not produced how they will fund the construction costs and they have not presented a rendering of how the park will look like and the MLB owners A’s relocation vote is Tuesday night in Arlington.

#4 One other feature that’s hardly been discussed that the Independent shined the light on was the lease agreement between the team and the Las Vegas Stadium Authority this a deal similar to what Allegiant Stadium has that the A’s would not have to pay rent for 30 years and revenues go to the A’s. That would include fringe benefits of retail, hotels, and office space that the A’s will benefit from when the Tropicana is developed.

#5 One other important point there is no oversight committee to see how the public funds are allocated and managed over the project. The Independent points out that the oversight is being managed by the very same people who lobby lawmakers for public money who helped the A’s move from one binding agreement (the Rio) to the Tropicana. This is public money being thrown away to a private business that the Stadium Authority claims would be a benefit for public interests but is really helping private interests such as the Tropicana Ballpark development.

Michael Duca filled in for Amaury Pi Gonzalez who does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Oakland Mayor hoping to sway owners vote with A’s resolution; Schools over Stadiums to appeal Judge’s ruling

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Howard Terminal rendering. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, City Council, and the Port put on a presentation on Tuesday that City Hall hopes to sway some of the MLB owners to vote no on an A’s relocation (Rendering of Howard Terminal from the Oakland Athletics)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, among the Mayor and the City Council goals in adopting a resolution at City Hall. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the City Council are showed the infrastructure of Howard Terminal, the benefits of having a park at the Terminal and something on the drawing board that might change the MLB owners vote. After today’s meeting do you see owner changing they’re minds and giving the A’s a chance to build at Howard Terminal?

#2 Amaury, the odds are starting to dim and Mayor Thao is hoping for a ninth inning rally to stay in the hunt to persuade the owners vote. Thao says that the city does have a plan and budget to build at Howard Terminal but the A’s walked away. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Oakland had no deal hence Manfred and the A’s are ready to open for business in Las Vegas.

#3 Nevada District Judge James Todd Russell ruled in favor of Oakland A’s lobbyists Danny Thompson and Thomas Morely who took Schools over Stadiums to Monday’s court hearing in District court to throw out Schools over Stadiums attempt to put a referendum on the Nov 2024 ballot to stop public funding for a Las Vegas A’s ballpark and that funds should be used to support schools.

#4 Judge Russell said that Schools over Stadiums would have to refile their petition and that Schools over Stadiums would need to use the full text of SB1 or appeal the case to a higher court.

#5 Thompson and Morely didn’t respond to media inquiries for comments. Schools over Stadiums spokesman Alexander Marks made it clear that they will appeal saying the decision was disappointing but not uncommon adding that Schools over Stadiums plans to refile the referendum and that there is plenty of time to refile as the signature deadline is June of 2024.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead radio voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network on 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: Diamondbacks plan to continue to leave roof open for game 4; Ex-Senator Frank Howard dead at 87; plus more news

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A look at Chase Field home of the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Apr 22, 2023 against the San Diego Padres. The Diamondbacks had the roof open for game 3 of the 2023 World Series and plan to leave it open again for game 4 against the Texas Rangers on Tue Oct 31, 2023. (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Things in the Arizona corridor has cooled off a bit and no rain in sight so the Diamondbacks opened up the roof and they plan to do the same for game four tonight. It’s rare that happens because it gets pretty toasty during the regular season.

#2 Amaury, former Washington Senator Frank Howard has passed away at age 87. Howard lived a good long life and was a slugger of 382 home runs and batted .273 and won a World Series with the 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers. Howard played not only with the Dodgers and Senators but he moved to Texas when the Senators relocated to Texas in 1972. He was known as Hondo and was known as a gentleman of a giant at 6’7.

#3 Milwaukee Brewer manager Craig Counsell who is on his last week of his contract is set to meet with the Cleveland Guardians for the vacant manager job. Counsell is also being sought by the New York Mets who financially can offer Counsell more money than either Milwaukee or Cleveland.

#4 Tommy Pham did something that surprised manager Troy Lovullo asking Lovullo to insert former Oakland A’s infielder Jace Peterson in the line up as a pinch hitter in game 2. Pham already had four hits and the D-Backs were in front of the Rangers 7-1. It gave Peterson to get a swing in the World Series. Peterson ended up hitting into a force out but got a thrill to play in the World Series.

#5 Amaury, Looking back on some of these division and championship games. No one thought a number of these series would involve sweeps and teams like the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros winning all their road games. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says he likes the playoff format. Meanwhile MLB Union Executive Tony Clark said that a 84 game winner like the Diamondbacks for example made it to the World Series where you had 100 game winners like Orioles, Braves and Dodgers who were eliminated early. Clark said he was concerned about the value of being a 100 game winner but getting canceled early in post season.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: What’s next on the A’s relocation to Las Vegas?

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Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred talks with the media before game 1 of the 2023 World Series on Fri Oct 27, 2023 at Globe Life Field in Arlington (photo from Jason Burke former host of Locked on A’s)

Trick or Treat? What’s next on the A’s relocation to Las Vegas?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Here are the following essential steps for the Athletics Soap Opera Relocation.

1-Owners Vote: Next month, MLB owners will vote to approve or disapprove the relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas. 75% of the vote is needed to support the move.

2-Schools over Stadiums: This group is still fighting to get a referendum and attempting to collect 102,000 signatures from four different Nevada districts to get it to next year’s election in November (for those keeping score, that would be November 2024). This group has until July of 2024 to collect these signatures.

3-No funding: If they get the referendum and it wins on election day,  that would strip the funding for the ballpark in Las Vegas.

If this happens, Mr.Fisher must decide; one option is selling the team. The owner had repeatedly said the team was not for sale.

So there is the field of dreams or land mines (depending on what you wish) that the Oakland A’s still have to navigate.

Trick or treat?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Dusty Did it His Way

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Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker (right) greets Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy (left) before game 1 of the ALCS at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Sun Oct 15, 2023. Baker announced his retirement from baseball after game 7 of the ALCS on Mon Oct 23, 2023 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Dusty Baker announced he is retiring after concluding the seventh game of the American League Championship. His team lost in seven games to the now-American League Champion Texas Rangers.

As a player, Dusty had a stellar career as an outfielder during 19 seasons with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Oakland Athletics; he hit 242 home runs with 1,981 hits with a .278 batting average. In 1986, he retired as a player with the Oakland A’s, the team that showcased the Rookie of the Year that season in José Canseco.

Dusty, a gracious man whom I would often interview in Spanish many times, was always thinking baseball, and It did not surprise me when he launched a managerial career. I never met a player that said anything that wasn’t complimentary about Dusty Baker, the ultimate player manager.

I had the privilege of covering and traveling with Dusty Baker’s San Francisco Giants, the first major league team he managed from 1993 to 2002. I remember many conversations we had and interviews pre and post-game, especially during the first years of his managing with the Giants. He told me that “minority managers want that first interview, the opportunity to show what they can do.”

He won the 2002 NL pennant and took the team to the World Series against the Anaheim Angels, who won it all that year. He would continue as skipper with stops in Chicago with the Cubs, Cincinnati with the Reds, Washington with the Nationals, and finally, the last four years (2020-2023) with the Houston Astros, culminating with a World Series title in 2002.

During this 2023 season, he took the Astros to game seven of the ALCS and lost to the streaky Texas Rangers. In one Spring Training with the Cincinnati Reds as manager, Dusty introduced me to a young pitcher from Cuba named Aroldis Chapman who was then throwing at a velocity of 105 mph.

Dusty was an “old school” manager; not many left these days. After announcing his retirement from managing just hours after the Rangers beat his Astros, he is now free from the grind of managing, and his baseball on-the-field duties are done during a successful Hall of Fame career. Dusty ended #7 on the list of all-time winning managers with a record 2,183-1,862.

Only Connie Mack, Tony LaRussa, John McGraw, Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, and Sparky Anderson ended ahead of Dusty Baker. All these managers ahead of Dusty are in the Hall of Fame. If elected to the HOF, as he should, Dusty Baker will be the first African-American manager in Cooperstown.

Johnnie B. “Dusty” Baker will not have to deal anymore with some 25 year-old in the front office telling him about the science of baseball, known now as Sabermetrics; the analysis of baseball through statistics. We might see Dusty talking baseball on television, maybe MLB Network and such, but I do believe he will not return to managing, he has a lot of life left to live with his family, after all Baseball was his life, but not all of life is Baseball.

Felicidades Dusty!

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Ex MLB pitcher charged with slaying a shock; Bochy and Rangers are going to the Fall Classic

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Image left: (AP Photo/Kyle Ericson) Image right: Placer County Sheriff’s Office of former MLB pitcher Danny Serafini who is up on one murder count and attempted murder

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Former MLB pitcher Danny Serafini who pitched for six teams and was a Bay Area native is up one count of murder charge and attempted murder. Serafini is being accused of shooting to death 70 year old Robert Gary Spohr and attempting to murder his long time partner Wendy Wood. Wood eventually took her own life because living without Spohr was like the killer killed her according to Wood’s daughter Adrienne. Serafini pitched in the majors for 21 years. Serafini was arrested with Samantha Scott.

#2 Bruce Bochy the manager of the Texas Rangers is in line to pick up his fourth World Series Championship as the Rangers defeated the Astros in game 7 of the ALCS at Minute Maid Field.

#3 The Rangers and Astros became the first visiting teams since 2019 in the post season to win all games one through seven in the opponents home park.

#4 The Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies are involved in a seven game back and forth. The Diamondbacks won game 6 on Monday night 5-1 in Philadelphia to tie up the series 3-3. The same clubs play the elimination game 7 on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Ball Park.

#5 Since San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin threw his hat in the San Francisco Giants manager job sweepstakes Melvin has been named the leading candidate for the job opening. Melvin managed some struggling Oakland A’s teams and made the best of what he had. In San Diego he managed a team with loads of talent didn’t get to the World Series but he could be a perfect fit in San Francisco.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary each week for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Las Vegas Stadium Authority negotiates A’s Lease

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The Oracle Red Bull grandstand and Koval hospitality as seen from the F1 pit Building during the media tour on Fri Oct 20, 2023 in Las Vegas. Formula 1 will take place on Nov 16-18. One of the top sports features in Vegas. Meanwhile the Las Vegas Stadium Authority are planning to demo of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino to make way for the Oakland A’s new ballpark. (photo from the Las Vegas Review Journal)

Las Vegas Stadium Authority negotiates A’s Lease

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Although the move of the A’s to Las Vegas has yet to be approved by the majority of MLB team owners, with a vote expected to take place this next month of November, the Oakland A’s are moving ahead of that vote and beginning to negotiate a lease with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, two law firms could get to share $1 million to negotiate the stadium lease agreement in Las Vegas with the A’s. This is the #1 item for next week (October 25) agenda of the Las Vegas Stadium Authority

The two law firms could get a combined $1 million to negotiate the stadium lease agreement with the Athletics, according to agenda items leading up to next week’s meeting of the Stadium Authority Board .If the current plans move forward, the Tropicana Las Vegas Casino Resort would be demolished and the stadium will be built on nine acres at the site.

Other development is expected to fill the rest of the Tropicana site, but on-site parking is minimal.

The same company that handled the construction of Allegiant Stadium, Mortenson McCarthy will be manager for the $1.5 billion, 30,000 seat stadium for the Athletics at the corner of Tropicana Avenue and the Las Vegas strip. Other companies involved to develop the lease agreement are Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP.

Since we are talking about leases. The A’s lease at the Oakland Coliseum expires after the 2024 season. After that (like they say in Vegas) “all bets are off”.

More sports news in Sin City:

-Las Vegas Champions: WNBA: Las Vegas Aces won their second consecutive WNBA title, joining the Las Vegas Golden Knights NHL reigning champions.

-Formula 1 -Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place from November 16-18 at a 3.8-mile track right through the neon heart of the Las Vegas Strip. (ESPN)

-Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium., February 11, 2024. (CBS)

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentaries and coverage of the Oakland A’s relocation to Las Vegas at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A Star is Born in 2023 and it is Esteury Ruiz

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Oakland A’s Esteury Ruiz heads home after hitting a two run homer off the Detroit Tigers on Sep 23, 2023 at the Oakland Coliseum. Ruiz led the American League with 67 stolen bases in the 2023 season. (AP News photo)

A Star is Born in 2023 and it is  Esteury Ruíz

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The Oakland A’s rookie, Esteury Ruíz stole a rookie record 67 bases this past season, born in Azua, a town of over 120,000 people west of the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, 100 kilometers – 62 miles away.

Numerous players were born in Azua, including the Miami Marlins Sandy Alcántara who in 2022 unanimously won the Cy Young Award in the National League. The 24-year-old rookie was tutored by Major League Baseball Rickey Henderson, the undisputed stolen base king of all time.

The stolen base record for a rookie established by Ruíz this past season is the new major league record. The record of 66 was previously held by Kenny Lofton, in 1992 with the Cleveland Indians (that was the name of that team, today the Cleveland Guardians).

Esteury Ruíz established the new MLB record for a rookie in stolen bases during his 132nd game of the season. It was in Anaheim, with two games left in the 2023 season, a sunny Sunday when in the third inning the Dominican kid broke the Lofton record, stealing his 67 base of the season.

The rookie will never forget this 2023 season “nunca se me olvidará este año” trans- “I will never forget this year”. Yet, he knows he needs to exhibit more patience at the plate, as he only walked 20 times in 449 plate appearances.

It is unfair to compare this kid with Rickey Henderson, because one season doesn’t makes a career. However, not a power hitter, Ruíz has many other good tools, like his defensive play in center field, just one season after the A’s had another young kid playing that position, Christian Pache, now playing with the best team in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies, probably on his way to the World Series.

Esteury Ruíz, who mostly hits in the lead-off position or last in the lineup is a good kid, enjoys the game, works hard and loves, I mean loves, to run the bases. He also knows there is only one Rickey, Because there is nobody like Rickey: In 1982 Rickey Henderson stole 130 bases, the current one-season record, then also became the first and only three time over 100 stolen bases per-year-player in history, in 1980-82-83, ending with 1,406 stolen bases, also the current record in history.

2023 a good year to steal? Yes. The bases are slightly larger, the pitchers are limited in how often they can throw over to first base, Second base is where the majority of the bases are stolen, it is “donde está la acción” trans- “where the action is”.

This 2023 season stolen bases were at an all time high 81% success rate. And Ruíz did his part, Felicidades Esteury!. Quote: I was stealing all the bases, and when you had to go to arbitration they say, “You know, only the big boys make the money “So I got to try and figure out how to hit a Home-run too”. -Rickey Henderson.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Wisconsin legislators approves over $500 million to keep the Brewers

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American Family Field is seen Sept. 15, 2023, in Milwaukee. The Wisconsin state Assembly was set Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, to approve a Republican-authored plan to spend more than half-a-billion dollars to help cover repairs at the Milwaukee Brewers’ stadium. (AP News photo)

By Amaury Pi-González

Wisconsin State Assembly just approved a plan to keep the Milwaukee Brewers in Wisconsin until at least 2050 in exchange for spending nearly $550 million in state and local money to finance the team’s stadium. After legislators raised the prospect of the Brewers leaving Wisconsin is the state didn’t fund repairs at America Family Field.

Mark Attanasio, owner of the Milwaukee Brewers also chairs the Major League Baseball committee regarding the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas. The Brewers needed the funds to repair the stadium in Milwaukee. Mr.Attanasio fortune is estimated to be $700 million.

The State of Milwaukee has a total population of 5.8 million people, Milwaukee is the largest city, although a small baseball market, it represents a lot of the economy and name recognition of this state in the world of sports.

Mr.Attanasio who chairs the MLB committee regarding the relocation of the A’s from Oakland to Las Vegas, recently said about the owners committee; “The committee, we are literally in the middle of our process, which therefore, I can’t comment,” Attanasio said. “Even if I were to comment, we’re still doing our work. In fact, we had a meeting a couple of days ago. We have another meeting scheduled this week, so we’re addressing it in a broad context and there’s a lot to address.”

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expects the vote by the owners regarding the approval of the A’s move to Las Vegas will take place this November. Three-quarters of the owners votes are needed for the A’s to move to Las Vegas.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the 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