Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Schedule and Restrictions

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Fifa logo from Vecteezy

FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Schedule and Restrictions

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar begins Sunday, November 20, 2022,

-64 games are scheduled Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 will see 32 teams from five confederations compete for the biggest prize in football. The teams have been divided into eight groups of four (A to H) and only the top two teams will advance to the knockout stages.

-FOX Sports/Fox Deportes and Telemundo will televise for the US.

Restrictions for those in Qatar:

-No Beer or any other Alcoholic beverages allowed at the stadiums (nine of them) 6 months in prison and a fine of over $800.

-Smuggling alcohol into the country could result in arrest and a 3-year prison sentence.

-Islam is the official religion of Qatar. Criticizing Islam is subject to criminal prosecution.

-Public speech critical of Qatar government (verbally or signage) could trigger arrest.

-Homosexuality is criminalized in Qatar. LGBT not allowed to fly flags or emblems.

Fans from all over the world including the US, who are in Qatar (and all players from all countries) will have to abide by these restrictions, or face consequences.

Enjoy this great worldwide sporting event. It is unique in nature because it is the most extremely nationalistic and passionate tournament in the whole world. I had the pleasure and privilege of covering FIFA World Cup USA 1994 for Telemundo 48-Bay Area.. After the game ended goalless, Brazil beat Italy on penalties in the final for their 5th World Cup title. It was a wonderful experience and the privilege of interviewing many fútbol/soccer star-players of that time, compadres in the media from many nations as well as interviewing the all-time great Edson Arantes Do Nascimiento commonly known as Pelé, considered the World Ambassador of the Sport.

Prediction. I am looking for Brazil, to win their 6th World Cup.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Harsh conditions expected for Griner in Russian penal colony

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WNBA star Britney Griner is escorted from a Russian courtroom after a hearing in Khimki a suburb of Moscow on Aug 4, 2022. Griner this week was transferred to a undisclosed location to a penal colony. (AP News file)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Brittney Griner has been sent to a Russian penal colony. In an court appearance Griner admitted to mistakenly packing two vape cartridges in her luggage and provided documents that showed the hash oil was legally prescribed by her US doctor for pain management. The WNBA Phoenix Mercury star was sentenced to nine years.

According to rights group Amnesty International, conditions in these colonies and prisons are among the worst in Europe. The facilities are located in remote locations, far from cities, making it difficult for family or human rights workers to visit. This form of isolation is believed to be part of the punishment of pseudo-exile. There are about 700 penal colonies in Russia and close to one million prisoners, making it the most common imprisonment institution.

These penal colonies in Russia are infamous for harsh conditions and forced labor. Sleep deprivation torture is one of many tactics with little medical treatment. An estimated 18 million people were sentenced to gulags between 1929 and 1953, until the death of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. About 1.6 million died in work camps. When Griner was arrested the Russia-Ukraine war was beginning, with no resolution it is a war that could go on for a longtime and she was caught in the middle of an international situation.

Although Griner was not that well known in the US and other parts of the world because the WNBA is not the NBA and gets little publicity and coverage still she was in Russia to play basketball to supplement her WNBA salary which is a six-figure salary instead of the approximately $1.5 million she normally earns in Russia.

This could have been avoided if Brittney Griner understood the laws of Russia, which are totally different to the US. For example; cannabis is in fact, illegal in Russia, a country with over 145 million people and largest country in size in all of Europe.

Russia is known for having the highest number of people currently (per capita) imprisoned for drug offenses. When a US citizen travels outside the US he/she is subjected to the laws of whichever country she visits, as a tourist or to work in the case of Griner.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people forget that other countries have different laws to US laws, and when we travel we have to obey those laws, which is just common sense. It is either ignorance or arrogance (or both), we travel abroad and we must obey the laws or suffer the consequences. Nobody knows how much time Brittney Griner will serve in prison of her nine (9) years sentence, however, we know that the US is strongly supporting Ukraine to the tune of billions of dollars in weapons in their war against Russia.

More than likely Russia will detain Griner until the current war between those two countries comes to a resolution. She is a small piece of the biggest land war in Europe since WWII, but Russia is using her and will continue to use her because that is how Russia and other countries with similar types of governments operate.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Nevada Election could Impact the A’s move

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Nevada Governor elect Joe Lombardo takes center stage at Rancho High School in Las Vegas on Mon Nov 14, 2022 he was elected governor the next day and the question remains will he publicly finance an Oakland A’s move with public money to come to Las Vegas? (AP News photo)

Nevada Election could Impact the A’s move

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Joe Lombardo (R) beat Steve Sisolak (D) to become the new governor of the State of Nevada. Sisolak (who lost) was a strong proponent of Southern Nevada’s $750 million subsidy to help build the Raiders stadium just west of the Strip. Sisolak aired two TV commercials highlighting his support for the Raiders, Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, and the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix set for November 2023.

Sisolak was not in favor of using tax money in order to help the A’s built their new stadium in Las Vegas. Even with the emphasis on sports growth in Las Vegas in his political spots, the sports theme was not enough to put Sisolak over the top. But, as much as Sisolak was a strong proponent for Southern Nevada’s advancement in the professional sports world, it was the former Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (Republican) who triggered the Raiders stadium project as he created the Las Vegas tourism panel that basically build the new stadium where the Raiders now play. In Las Vegas it is believed Sandoval and not Sisolak was the driving force for the big sports scene in Las Vegas.

So now a new governor takes over in Nevada. Joe Lombardo, a Republican, he was previously a Sheriff. Lombardo has not made any comments on how he stands as far as the Oakland A’s moving to Las Vegas, but it is believed he is not opposed to the idea.

Governments using public dollars for sports venues that help private sports teams are non-partisan public policy debates and transcend traditional political party talking points. Some Republicans and some Democrats support using public subsidies for sports stadiums and arenas and others oppose it. In other words, this is a regional situation, which has little to do with national policies regarding the two main political parties and their philosophies. This is more business than politics.

We will know sooner than later, what Mr. Joe Lombardo’s opinion is regarding the possible move of the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas, Nevada. If Lombardo is in favor of using tax money to help the A’s new stadium in Las Vegas, that would be a “game changer” and could move the needle for the A’s packing their bags to Sin City.

Meanwhile here in Oakland, there still has not been a decision who is the new Mayor of Oakland. Loren Taylor is leading Sheng Thao with thousands of votes yet to be counted. Probably (whomever wins) wants to keep the A’s in Oakland. Libby Schaff who is leaving, supports both of them as she believes they both want to keep the A’s in Oakland.

One thing is for sure, like A’s President Kaval had said in the past, if by this December the Howard Terminal project is not green lit by the City of Oakland, the project is all but dead. Now new leadership in Nevada regarding this issue is unknown but could impact the A’s move. Elections in Nevada, elections in Oakland, like somebody once said “timing is everything”.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: At 81 years old Pete Rose asks for another chance to get into the Hall

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Former Cincinnati Red and Philadelphia Phillie Pete Rose doffs his cap to the Citizen’s Bank in Philadelphia crowd on Sun Aug 7, 2022 at an alumni event. Rose has asked MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred this week to forgive him and allow him the chance to get back into baseball in a letter to Manfred’s office. (AP News photo)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Former Cincinnati Red great and lifetime banned player Pete Rose has asked for forgiveness and one more chance for enshrinement in to baseball’s hollowed Hall of Fame. Rose who was banned for life for betting on baseball and betting on his team as a manager of the Reds in a letter sent to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred this week pleading to allow Rose one more chance to end the lifetime ban and allow him a shot at getting elected into the Hall of Fame.

Rose since being banned by the late baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti back in 1989. Giamatti at the time made clear that there was no way he would consider the MLB all time hits leader a chance at forgiveness and a way back into baseball and into the Hall of Fame.

It’s been nearly 33 years since the ban and Rose is 81 years old and wrote asking Manfred to consider reinstating him back into the National Pastime saying: “I am writing today for three reasons,” Rose wrote this week “First, because at my age I want to be 100% sure that you understand how much I mean it when I say that I’m sorry. Second, to ask for your forgiveness. And third, because I still think every day about what it would mean to be considered for the Hall of Fame.”

Rose since his confession of betting on baseball and the lifetime ban had said in the letter that he let his father down and his former manager Sparky Anderson down that he thinks about it everyday and that was one of the biggest disappointments in his life. Rose stated that besides spending time with his partner and his kids as his life’s greatest joy he would like to have the chance to get back to the ball park with the fans and spend time with his former teammates.

Rose said that he has spent the last 33 plus years soul searching and expressed his deepest regret for gambling on baseball and his team the Reds when he was the manager of the club. Rose basically is saying that he’s in his early 80s and would like to be forgiven, given another chance from Manfred and he could be a positive influence in baseball if the ban were lifted. In the sports hobby despite the lifetime baseball ban Pete Rose’s artifacts are hot commodities, baseball cards, signed pennants, gloves, bats, his rookie card from 1963 commands an asking price in mint condition at $40,000.

Rose has appeared at baseball card shows and has commanded some of the longest wait times for signatures of some of the top Major League players. Rose is serving a lifetime ban from baseball with eight other MLB players who were on the 1919 Chicago White Sox better know as the Black Sox who were accused of betting and throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. The eight men out from that 1919 White Sox team, Had Felsch, Chuck Gandil, Ed Cicotte, Joe Jackson, Buck Weaver, Swede Risberg, Fred McMullin, and Claude Williams.

During the steroid era the players from that time who are not banned from baseball but seldom have been invited back to join their old teams for special festivities and honors. None of the steroid era players have been elected to the Hall of Fame but could be by a special committee namely Barry Bonds, Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa are names as possible candidates through a special committee called the Today’s Game Committee.

As Rose might be watching Bonds, Schilling, Clemens and Sosa get elected into the Hall of Fame he might still be waiting on the sidelines for that one chance he was asking for to get inducted into the game’s hollowed halls.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Will the A’s do it again?

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Artist’s rendition of an Las Vegas A’s ballpark, the A’s are considering sites on the Vegas strip at the Tropicana or near the Stratosphere (from Stadium S1 file photo)

Will the A’s do It Again?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The most any MLB franchise has moved is two times. And history has three (3) teams that did so. The A’s have already played in three different cities; Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Oakland.

The Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis and became the St. Louis Browns. Later the Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Orioles in 1954. The Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1953 and then in 1966 moved to Atlanta. The Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City in 1955, and in 1968 they moved to Oakland – that’s 3 different cities, for you scoring at home.

The Oakland A’s were moving out of the Oakland Coliseum to other locations, inside the Oakland city limits, near Laney College, plus to other cities in California, like Sacramento and Fremont. Now, the latest statement by baseball Commissioner Fred Manfred late in October to Sirius XM that he’s no longer optimistic they will remain in Oakland, and a move to Las Vegas is likely bringing the possibility of the A’s playing in their fourth different city.

If the Oakland A’s do move to Las Vegas or Portland, Nashville, Salt Lake City, Montreal, Cucamonga, Timbuktu, or any other place, they will be the first team ever to have played in four different cities. As it is today, in 2023 they will play at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s lease at the Coliseum expires in 2024.

After that only God knows.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Angels say Ohtani is a keeper not trading superstar; deGrom opts out of New York seeks another deal with another team; plus more news

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Shohei Ohtani met with reporters at Tokyo Airport on Tue Oct 18, 2022. Ohtani said he had a good season but not so good for his team the Los Angels Angels. The Angels reportedly are not trading Ohtani according to latest reports. (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Big question in Anaheim Amaury about the Los Angeles Angels considering trading Shohei Ohtani. Angels general manager Perry Minasian said he is not trading Ohtani who is the biggest asset for the Angels right now considering all the on and off field issues they had last season.

#2 Amaury, how surprising is it that the New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom has optioned out of his contract to become a free agent? Mets owner Steve Cohen said he will be making a big offer to deGrom. deGrom opted out of his final year of his contract worth $32.5 million.

#3 The Mets have signed Edwin Diaz to a five year $102 million agreement the agreement includes a team option for 2028 that would make it six years. Diaz was 3-1 with an 1.31 ERA.

#4 San Francisco Giants starter Carlos Rodon opted out of his contract to enter free agency Rodon could have elected for the player option for the 2023 season that would pay him $22.5 million but opted for the free agency open market. Considering his performance in 2022 going 14-8 ERA 2.88.

#5 In the Houston Astros World Series win against the Philadelphia Phillies a lot of the credit for the Astros success during the 2022 season goes to slugger Yordan Alvarez who scored 95 runs, hit 37 home runs, had 144 hits, and 97 RBIs and hit .306.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Howard Terminal Affordable Housing still a Huge Issue

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It’s all up to Oakland City Hall now as the Oakland City Council and the Oakland A’s need to work out the specific on the Howard Terminal affordable housing issues (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Howard Terminal: Affordable Housing still a Huge Issue

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–After what Commissioner of Baseball Fred Manfred said a few days ago about the future of the A’s in Oakland, which in Mr.Manfred’s words were not good. There still is a big issue that is part of the deal, if the A’s build their new Howard Terminal; it is affordable housing and the A’s are responsible for that. Some Oakland officials want to set up an “infrastructure financing district”—similar to the ballpark funding proposal—but to build more homes across Oakland. Interesting, because this plan has absolutely nothing to do with the A’s.

I wrote about the importance of affordable housing built as part of the Howard Terminal project, a $12 billion plan that would change Oakland, for the better. On November 1, 2022, officials from the city of Oakland are working on creating a new tax district to fund affordable housing.

Interestingly enough, this did not include the affordable housing that is part of the requirement from the city of Oakland with the A’s. Both sides have yet to negotiate. Oakland Council member Noel Gallo on the deal that the city is supposed to reach with the A’s before the end of this 2022 year said: “not going to happen”.

Gallo believes his fellow council members are increasingly concerned about protecting the city’s general fund from being eaten alive by cost and overruns or miscalculations. Gallo has continued to push hard for the A’s to ditch the Howard Terminal project. Gallo continues to say that he wants the A’s to stay in Oakland, but to build their new park at the Oakland Coliseum site. Something that Commissioner Manfred said it is not an option.

Next Tuesday. November 8, is Election Day and the City of Oakland would elect a new mayor plus other officials. Nobody really knows what are their intentions reading the Oakland A’s and the Howard Terminal project. But as of today the Oakland A’s have not made any comments on the recent statement by Commissioner Manfred during this current World Series.

The City of Oakland still has big problems to deal with, like the thousands that are homeless, the crime in the streets and they shortage of cops, the economy that is affecting everybody and it seems their plate will be more than full and the situation could call to put the A’s HT Project on the back burner.

I know many of you are sick and tired of the Oakland A’s situation, I have heard from people that told me about the A’s’ “who cares, leave already”, to others that are very sadden and still have some hope that they could stay and build their new park: “we need the A’s to stay in Oakland, that is where they belong”.

During the regular 2022 baseball season I have spoken to many loyal A’s fans (at the Coliseum during games and other places outside) and I do believe they still enjoy the game and the A’s but they also have “had it” with the whole enchilada and they have come to the conclusion of the famous saying and also famous song “Que Será, Será”. For those than flunked Spanish, “What Will be Will Be’.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary World Series podcast: Astros-Phillies get an extra day off due to rain out in game 3

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Halloween night Mon Oct 31, 2022 at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia before game 3 of the 2022 World Series between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies rained out and rescheduled for Tue Nov 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury podcast:

#1 The Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies have started off to a 1-1 tie and won each by scores of 6-5 how even do you see these teams in this World Series?

#2 The World Series goes back to Philadelphia tied 1-1 game three was canceled due to rain and rescheduled for Tuesday night does this give both teams time to get an extra day of rest and get ready for tonight.

#3 We’ve talked about playing baseball in November are there people who schedule these games to keep advertising revenue going rather than thinking baseball in November in cold rainy months is really not such a good idea?

#4 Amaury, how about the fans after a certain point like the beginning of November do they seem to tune out the game looking at it as a long enough season already but could the series go until Nov 6th almost five days short of Veterans Day?

#5 Let’s take a look at tonight’s starting pitchers for the Astros Lance McCullers who has an ERA in the post season of 2.45 will be opposed by the Phillies Roger Saurez (1-0 ERA 1.86) at Citizens Bank Ball Park in Philadelphia for game 3.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2022 World Series: No US-born Black Players – First time in 72 Years

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Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker meets with the press before game 1 of the 2022 World Series has expressed deep concerns as to why there are no US born black players for the first time in 72 years (AP News photo)

2022 World Series: No US-born Black Players – First time in 72 Years

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In 1947 Jackie Robinson’s first year in Major League Baseball, his team, the Brooklyn Dodgers faced the New York Yankees in the World Series. Since then, the 1950 match-up between the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies has been the only World Series without US-born Black players.

Until this year when the Houston Astros face the Philadelphia Phillies. Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker, a black man born in the US says he is “deeply disturbed” there will be no US-born Black players taking part in this year’s World Series.

In 2022 the majority of players in MLB are white, while Latino players make up around 30-33% of all talent in the Major Leagues, and black players born in the US 6.8%. Dusty Baker has a reason to be deeply disturbed. In the NFL 70% of all players are black-US-born, while in the NBA is 73% of all players.

The NHL is predominantly white, by 97%, the other 3% is made of different ethnicity. Of that 3%, twenty-six players are black. However, twenty of the twenty-six black players in the NHL are from Canada and only 6 are from the US. Mike Grier the general manager of the San José Sharks, is the first Black General Manager in National Hockey League history.

In the MLS 25.6% are black players, but not all from the US, they come from 36 other countries and four Continents. This is the most racially balanced professional sports league in the United States. But it makes sense because Fútbol (called Soccer in the English-speaking world) is played in more countries than other sports.

Major League Baseball continues to spend a lot of money as well as developed many programs in inner-cities all over the country for African-American communities, Major League Baseball through its affiliates is trying. But the black youth continues to gravitate towards basketball and football and one of the main reasons is pure convenience. In basketball, you do not require a lot of equipment for multiple players.

All you need is a ball and a basket/hoop. You can play by yourself, one-on-one, or just a few friends up to 5 vs. 5. There are basketball courts in most high-density neighborhoods in the US. You do not need a lot of money for basketball equipment, elementary and high schools have basketball floors to play and kids take it early and develop much faster than in other sports. While baseball and football are much more complicated, they require several pieces of equipment, several players, and large places to play.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: World Series Best team Houston vs. Hottest team Philadelphia

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Sixto Zapata, right, and Mike Lidecker paint the field at Minute Maid Park ahead of Game 1 of baseball’s American League Division Series, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, in Houston. The Houston Astros host the Philadelphia Phillies for Game 1 of the 2022 World Series on Fri Oct 28, 2022 in Houston (AP News file photo)

World Series: Best team Houston vs Hottest team Philadelphia

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

With all respect to the Los Aneles Dodgers, the Houston Astros are the best team in baseball this year. Does that mean they should win the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies? Hold on! Not necessarily. For a while I stopped making predictions in the World Series during the 1988 classic between the A’s and Dodgers.

We all know what happened, the Athletics were the very best, and the Dodgers did not matched ‘player by player’ with Tony LaRussa’s team. I was there with the A’s for the three consecutive series appearances and I thought the A’s should have won all three, they were that good, but they could only beat the Giants in 1989.

To predict a World Series is like to predict a hurricane; you can track it from the moment it becomes a hurricane and then you predict it is going to land in one place, and all of a sudden it changes course and goes where you never thought. That is my best analogy about predicting World Series. Remember the recent Hurricane Ian? All the experts in meteorology predicted it was going to hit the Tampa area, but it never did, it went inland miles to the south in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Houston has a better bullpen, better pitching and All-Star lineup, they won 106 games during the regular season. The Philadelphia Phillies won 87 games and they have last year’s NL MVP Bryce Harper. They know they’re good, but nobody expected them to be where they are today.

The 2022 World Series begins this Friday at Minute Maid Park, Houston. The Phillies are on a roll, they have great momentum and they have played with passion and great confidence, but that could be stopped tomorrow when they face Justin Verlander in the first game of the classic. Verlander will be named American League Cy Young Award winner.

Houston has the home field advantage. Games one and two at Houston, games three, four and five (if necessary in Philadelphia) games six and seven back at Minute Maid Park, Houston.

This is the best chance for Dusty Baker to win his first World Series. He lost to the LA Angels the 2002 as skipper for the Giants and took the Astros to the 2021 World Series only to lose to the Atlanta Braves. Now Dusty takes this Houston team (very similar to last season, minus Justin Verlander, who was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery) to this Fall Classic. Dusty is the ninth manager in history to win pennants in both leagues, he is the oldest manager in baseball and the one with the most wins (2,093) who has never won a World Series.

This is his best shot. Last time Houston visited Oakland I asked Dusty, “is this the best team you ever managed? He did not answer but paused and then grin and said it was “one of the best”. Dusty’s Astros won the AL West 16 games over second place Seattle.

The Philadelphia Phillies fired their veteran manager Joe Girardi early in the season when his team had a 22-29 record and replaced him with Rob Thomson who won the pennant and took them to the World Series.

Prediction: Astros have the experience and they have been here recently, but I would not be shocked if the Philadelphia Phillies upset the Astros. The Houston Astros will win in six (6) games.

The Phillies have to win one of the first two games at Houston, if they do not, the Astros could continue the ‘sweep express train’, they swept the Seattle Mariners in three games during the ALDS and swept the New York Yankees in four games to win their fourth American League pennant in six years.

Dusty’s team is undefeated during the postseason. Last time the Astros lost a game, was at the end of the regular season on September 30, when they lost to Tampa Bay. So here comes the World Series, no Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Braves, Red Sox or White Sox. It is the Astros and Phillies! Definitely not the dream series the FOX Network envisioned. That was Yankees vs. Dodgers, a coast-to-coast spectacular.

Houston has won one World Series, 2017 over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Houston’s win was tainted by MLB for stealing signs. A.J Hinch was the Astros manager. Phillies have won two World Series, 1980, 2008.

Mascots? Not even close, Philadelphia’s Phillie Phanatic has a huge lead over Astros Orbit.

The World Series will be exclusively on FOX Sports, which will call its 25th Fall Classic in its 27th season as the official network broadcaster of MLB.

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 28 in Houston at 8:03 p.m. ET on Fox

Game2: Saturday, Oct. 29 in Houston at 8:03 p.m. ET on Fox

Game 3: Monday, Oct. 31 in Philadelphia at 8:03 p.m. ET on Fox

Game 4: Tuesday, Nov. 1 in Philadelphia at 8:03 p.m. ET on Fox

Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, Nov. 2 in Philadelphia at 8:03 p.m. ET on Fox

Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, Nov. 4 in Houston at 8:03 p.m. ET on Fox

Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, Nov. 5 in Houston at 8:03 p.m. ET on Fox

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