Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: How Giants plan to take on Soto and Machado

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San Diego Padres Manny Machado (right) points at pitcher Nick Martinez after the Padres picked up a win against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Sat Aug 27, 2022 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, Juan Soto and the San Diego Padres are in San Francisco. Soto entered Monday night’s game hitting .254 with 24 home runs and 52 RBIs. The Pads are really looking for some big things from the slugger.

#2 Manny Machado is staying way ahead of the pack with his hitting slugging .304 with 24 home runs and 81 RBIs. Machado hits behind Soto so pitchers will be careful what to throw these guys.

#3 The story on the Giants Brandon Belt is a big question mark. Belt has had knee problems and most recently his left knee. He’s had to have his knee drain multiple times and his career is in question.

#4 Turning to pro football Sun Sep 11 the San Francisco 49ers are in Chicago to face the Bears. 49ers head coach will be looking for a winning effort from quarterback Trey Lance. How ready is Lance in this first game.

#5 Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is preparing for their game on Sun Sep 11 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Carr who did not play in any of the pre season games says he’s ready. Carr had worked in one on one sessions with opposing teams each week which is considered better than facing pre season action.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s on flagship station Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Chasing No.61 — You Be The Judge

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New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, right, launches his 50th home run of the season as Los Angeles Angels catcher Matt Thaiss, center, and home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott watch in the top of the eighth inning at the Big A in Anaheim on Mon Aug 28, 2022 (AP News photo)

Chasing No.61 — You Be The Judge

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

On October 1, 1961 New York Yankee outfielder Roger Maris hit his home run No.61 of the season breaking the (at that time) major league record for most home runs in one season of 60 established by Babe Ruth in 1927. Today Yankee center fielder Aaron Judge is challenging Roger Maris record as well as making a bid to become the Most Valuable Player in the American League.

Roger Maris still holds the home run record for one season in the American League and another Yankee, Aaron Judge today, 95 years later is on a pace to break that record with his first-place team.

The major league record is that of Barry Bonds of 73 home runs in 2001. However because Bonds played during the much maligned ‘steroids era’, a period of time when a number of players were believed to have used performance-enhancing drugs, resulting in increased offensive numbers, Barry Bonds record is kind of hollow, compared to the historic 61 of Roger Maris.

Bonds was not alone during that era, there are other “regular suspects” like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, José Canseco, Rafael Palmeiro whose records are also considered suspicious and therefore have lessen their impact. As a result these players with Hall of Fame statistics so far have fallen short of induction.

Beginning this Tuesday August 31, the Yankees have 33 games left this season. The Yankee have a very even schedule the rest of the way; 17 games on the road and 16 at Yankee Stadium.

The race for the MVP in the American League will be between two men, NY Yankees Aaron Judge and LA Angels Shohei Ohtani, who won it last year. In 2017 many believe that during his rookie year Aaron Judge was robbed of the MVP as he hit for .284 with 52 home runs and 114 runs batted in.

José Altuve of the Houston Astros won the MVP that season hitting for a .346 average with 24 home runs and 81 runs batted in. By the way that 2017 was also the last of the three batting titles Altuve has won so far.

I believe (and I do not have a vote) the MVP voting will be close this season. I am from the school of thinking that it should go to the player that helps his team win the Division; the Yankees are on the way to do that, while the Angels are finishing in fourth place this season.

The mere fact that Ohtani is a unique two-way player, (the most relevant since Babe Ruth) the Japanese super star, a very good hitter and a very good pitcher is going to seduce many writers to vote for him again. Let’s face it.

The national baseball media has a love affair with the Japanese super star. A relatively new baseball stat WAR, wins against replacement figures big today in the major leagues and applies to these two guys, when it comes to the MVP.

As of today Aaron Judge 50 home runs is on a pace to hit 62 home runs this year and therefore establish the new American League record. Can he do it? You be the Judge!

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Dodgers Spanish announcer Jarrin prepares for retirement after 65 years in baseball; plus more commentary

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Los Angeles Dodger Spanish announcer Jaime Jarrin in his broadcast booth at Dodgers Stadium is good friends with Oakland A’s Spanish announcer Amaury Pi Gonzalez. Jarrin broadcasted Dodger baseball in Spanish from beginning to end of his career. (file photo Los Angeles Times)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 In recent interviews Los Angeles Dodgers Spanish radio lead announcer Jaime Jarrin reflected back on a long 65 year career. Jarrin will call it quits after the Dodgers post season.

#2 Amaury, Jaime is a Hall of Famer in the Ford C Frick wing of the Hall of Fame in talking with him what does his enshrinement mean to him.

#3 Amaury, there are a number of fans who are calling out teams who aren’t traveling their play by play announcers because they can tell by the delay on a play that is in question and something they might notice while waiting for clarification on a play that an announcer who is at a live game can call and dial up right away.

#4 Amaury, is it a matter of saving a buck for MLB teams not traveling their broadcasters and how much have has the broadcast suffered not having play by play announcers on the road?

#5 During Friday night’s game at the Coliseum relief pitcher Lou Trivino was warming up in the New York bullpen when bat boy came up to him with a No. 56 jersey Trivino was warming up with a No. 50 jersey. Trivino said after the mishap he wasn’t paying attention and it wasn’t the first time and it won’t be the last. Trivino said he might try on the No. 99 jersey Aaron Judge’s number for a little run.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Why is Arturo Moreno selling the LA Angels?

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Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno plans to sell the troubled ball club the team has even discussed moving out of Anaheim and moving to Long Beach (USA Today file photo)

Why is Arturo Moreno selling the LA Angels

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Mr. Arturo (Arte) Moreno purchased the LA Angels from Disney Corporation for $180 million in May 2003. The team is listed today with a value of over $2 Billion. Mr. Moreno when asked yesterday about a potential sale of the team said “It has been a great honor and privilege to own the Angels for 20 seasons”. I can understand why he is done with baseball.

I met Mr.Moreno when I was broadcasting Angels baseball in Spanish for Fox Sports West. Many times prior to a game he would walk into our booth (José Mota was the analyst with me for this telecast; I handled the play by play) Moreno was always jovial and engaging with us, liked to talk baseball, and was very enthusiastic about the game overall and his team, he will always say “let’s win today.”

Sometimes he would begin a conversation in Spanish. Arte Moreno is a businessman, 76 years old, who became the first Mexican-American to own a major sports team, born in Tucson, Arizona.

Some team owners are criticized (mostly by the fans) because they never seem to spend enough money for super star players. But nobody can say that about Arte Moreno. Right after he bought the team from Disney one of his first signings was the great Vladimir Guerrero, he is now in the Hall of Fame. Just before the 2019 season began he signed center fielder Mike Trout to $426.5 million, the largest contract in professional sports history.

Anthony Rendon signed a 7 year $245 million contract, with a $4 million signing bonus and this 2022 season his base salary is $36 million. Rendon, the Angels third-baseman played just 58 games in 2021, groin, knee, hamstring, hip injuries. Rendon is out this 2022 with wrist surgery.

This is what Mr. Moreno got from Anthony Rendon’s $245 million contract. Rendon played just 52 games in 2020 granted this was the covid abbreviated 60-game season, his first season with the Angels, 58 games in 2021 and just 45 games this 2022 season. That is frustrating for everybody, fans and management, but injuries are part of the game. Bad luck.

There were other signings during Moreno’s ownership that did not worked out very well. The one that I remember, as I was doing their games, was pitcher CJ Wilson who signed a $77 million 5-year contract around 2012-2015, but Wilson under performed. Prior to 2012 season Arte signed Albert Pujols to a 10-year $240 million dollars, he will be in the Hall of Fame by 2027.

Shohei Ohtani plays for Arte Moreno’s team. Arguably the most exciting player in many decades. There is nobody today with the god-given talent of this Japanese mega star. He can pitch with the best and hit (with great power) with the best, he is the whole package and just like Mike Trout a tremendous asset to the Angels organization, affable, a great teammate, totally the dream player for anybody. The American League MVP last season. Ohtani makes $5.5 million during this 2022 season, maybe the greatest bargain ever.

However, after the 2023 season Trout be an unrestricted free agent and can sign with whomever he wants. There is a good chance Mr. Moreno will not have to open the pocket-book to sign that monster of a contract that the Japanese star deserves and will probably get.

There is no mystery why this owner is selling this team. He expected a much better return on his investment and he is not having the fun he was anticipating. The Angels have been short of pitching now for a longtime, and nobody can win without pitching, even a lineup that was as loaded as the Angels.

Bad luck has run in his organization with other scandals that have been well publicized. The dead of pitcher Tyler Skaggs perhaps the biggest shocking news for the Angels.

A federal jury found former communications director Eric Kay guilty on two felony counts. The jury agreed with the government that he distributed the deadly drug fentanyl and caused the death of Angel’s pitcher Tyler Skaggs while the team was playing the Rangers in Texas.

In 2009 just a few hours after the best performance of his young and promising major league career, pitching in Anaheim against the visiting Oakland A’s, Nick Adenhart, a 22-year pitcher for the LA Angels was one of three people killed when the car they were traveling in was struck by a vehicle driven by a suspected drunken driver.

This season the Angels are lucky that the Oakland A’s began another rebuilding before the season got under way and have the cellar already reserved, otherwise they would be the occupants. The Angels occupy the fourth place and that is more than likely where they will finish this season.

Finally this year three-time American League MVP, Mike Trout has been dealing with a complicated condition, what is known as ‘costo vertebral dysfunction’ at T5 of his spine. The team has to monitor this condition for the rest of the season and also “through the rest of his career”

By the way, there is the Anaheim City Council who canned Angel Stadium deal after FBI corruption probe into City Hall.

Mr. Arte Moreno’s dream of winning a World Series, or two, during his ownership has not materialized. Ironically he bought the team from Disney (as mentioned here) in 2003; one year after the Angels won their only World Series against the San Francisco Giants. Interesting years under his ownership, but I think it was just time for him to sell, and I do not blame him. Heck, if I was him I would sell also.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for exclusive exciting Oakland action on the A’s Spanish radio flagship station on Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Moreno selling Angels just another brick in the wall of trouble for suffering franchise

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Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno announced the sale of the team Tue Aug 23, 2022. Former Angel superstar Rod Carew said he approved the sale of the team. (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

The Los Angeles Angels have been under a dark cloud of sorts and it all started when they tragically lost the late Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart on April 8, 2009 hours after pitching against the Oakland A’s in a car crash.

Then on Jul 1, 2019 the Angels lost pitcher Tyler Skaggs due to an oxycodone overdose after Angels media relations assistant Eric Kaye provided the pills for Skaggs.

Anaheim Mayor Henry Sidhu had to resign over corruption regarding the Anaheim Stadium deal in trying to get campaign contributions for the stadium deal.

When Angels superstar Albert Pujols was released by the team May 6, 2021 the departure was not that all diplomatic and it was reported that he got into a verbal altercation with then general manager Perry Minasian over the release. Pujols joined the Los Angeles Dodgers after leaving the Angels.

Minasian would later fire manager Joe Maddon when the team was in the middle of a 12 game losing streak.

The Angels star outfielder Mike Trout developed back spasms which later doctors called costovertebral dysfunction at T5.

The future superstar Shohei Ohtani was in question around the All Star break as to whether he would stay or not but Ohtani made it clear he likes the Southland and remained with the Halos. Ohtani could option to leave next season.

Owner Arte Moreno 76 said he spoke with his family about selling the team, he will leave baseball but will continue with his billboard advertising business.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez with Manolo Hernandez Douen for all Oakland A’s home game broadcasts on the A’s Spanish radio network and on flagship station Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s fire sale of players appearances

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Former Oakland A’s outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was one of the seven A’s All Stars that was dealt away from Oakland. Cespedes played in Oakland for two seasons 2012 and 2013 before leaving for the New York Mets (bleacherreport.com file photo)

A’s Fire Sale of Players and Playoff Appearances

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

No, it is not “Breaking News” that the Oakland A’s will not be in the postseason this year. After all, and with all the changes of players around Spring Training you not-needed-to-be Albert Einstein to realize they were not going to compete.

Now, the possibility of losing 100 games is very realistic with some 40-plus games left this season. Since they moved from Kansas City to Oakland in 1968 only in 1979 the A’s lost 100 or more games (54-108) Coming to the last part of the 2022 season the A’s have done what they have been doing for most of the 2000’s.

It has been the history of the A’s to get rid of star players with good salaries for younger players, mostly rookies that could become stars in the years to come. Unloading payroll while clinging to the narrative that they play in a small market.

A’s play in the Bay Area and this is not Kansas City or Milwaukee, this is not a small market. While it might not be Los Angeles, New York or Chicago the Oakland A’s play in the Bay Area, this is at least a “medium size” market, but not small by any means. The Bay Area had a record high 7.77 million people last year (US Census)

Remember 2014? I do, that is only eight years ago. These seven A’s players were All Stars: Yoenis Céspedes, Josh Donaldson, Jeff Samardzija, Scott Kazmir, Sean Doolittle, Derek Norris and Brandon Moss. Soon they left and the A’s brought another group of younger and role players.

This is nothing new. Although a World Series championship has not been produced with this system, the Oakland A’s is one of the top five (5) franchises in postseason appearances during the 2000s.

Below are the teams with the most playoff appearances in the 2000s Yankees (18) Cardinals (15) Braves (13) Dodgers (13) Athletics (11)

Note: The term Fire Sale originated in the late 19th century, around the time of the Great Chicago Fire. When goods were damaged by fire, merchants would quickly sell them off to raise capital. Although becoming famous for the “Fire Sale”, the A’s are not alone, there are other MLB teams that also dumps payroll by trading expensive players for marginal players and prospects.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Brittney Griner and Bad Diplomacy

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Brittney Griner is escorted from the courtroom in Khimki Russia on Thu Aug 4, 2022. The Kremlin says that all talks about a prisoner exchange must be done in secret. (AP News file photo)

Brittney Griner and Bad Diplomacy

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

She traveled to Russia to play professional basketball because as a big star of the WNBA Phoenix Mercury, Brittney Griner needed to supplement her income. The average WNBA salary is under $200,000 per season and there are only 14 players as of this last season that was making $228,094, those were Diana Taurasi, Jewell Loyd, and Breanna Stewart (According to Yahoo finance).

Brittney Griner signed a 3-year / $664,544 contract with the Phoenix Mercury, including an annual average salary of $221,515. In 2022, Griner will earn a base salary of $227,900, while carrying a cap hit of $227,900.

It’s understandable she traveled to Russia to play there because the WNBA (unlike the NBA) doesn’t have a great impact domestically and internationally, with low attendance and low interest as well as media coverage.

The NBA is the “mother of all basketball leagues” as they get huge revenues in the US and internationally, especially in China. Their players’ salaries are in the millions of dollars. For American women, it is totally the opposite.

This July, American women’s basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted of deliberately smuggling drugs into Russia and sentenced to nine years of jail time in a case that has raised concerns she is being used as a political pawn in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

This is what Russia has done for decades, from the days they were under total communist control and called the Soviet Union, to this day under Vladimir Putin.

99.9% of the time these hostage crises are negotiated in secret between the two governments involved and everybody learns about it after the release of the hostage(s) Not this time, the United States made it public to the whole world, that they would release a Russia arms trafficker who is also known as “The Merchant of Death”.

In return, Russia would set free Griner and a US Marine incarcerated accused of spying. Many experts in hostage situations point to the fact that the US played directly into the hands of Putin’s Russia’s government, who are using her as a pawn in the middle of a war they unleashed on Ukraine.

To complicate the matter, the US has been sending weapons and billions of dollars in support of Ukraine against Russia. In other words, Russia and the USA are not the best of “friends” at this time.

Because Russia’s Putin specialized in these types of international issues (he was a KGB agent during the Soviet Union days) he will continue to play the game of leverage as he will ask for others in return if they make a deal.

Unfortunately that Brittany Griner has found herself in the middle of this international conflict, but in the first place she should have been smart enough not to take any type of drugs to Russia. It is easy to find out about the laws of another country when you travel abroad.

That is what the US State Department is for. You can easily find information about traveling to other countries and what you need to do, like their laws.

Professional athletes tend to be arrogant sometimes and do not bother to check on those things when they travel abroad by themselves.

If they travel with a team, that probably would not have happened, because professional teams have cleared all the traveling in advance and know who is traveling, and have control of their athletes, because they are their employees.

Everything has been very quiet, no news, in this case, is bad news for Brittney Griner, because all the reports by Amnesty International shows that Russia is one of those countries where foreign prisoners in jail for breaking their laws are treated and kept in not the best of conditions.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Ohtani to start Tuesday is the biggest story in baseball

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Los Angeles Angels hitter Shohei Ohtani who will start Tue Aug 9, 2022 game against the Oakland A’s was checked by the trainers on Sun Aug 7, 2022 at the T Mobile Field in Seattle after pitcher Marc Gonzales collided with Ohtani near the Angels on deck circle in the top of the third inning. Ohtani remained in the game. (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

The Los Angeles Angels starter and the face of baseball Shohei Ohtani better known as ShoTime will start Tuesday night against the Oakland A’s. Ohtani he’s one of the best pitchers in the Majors going into the Tuesday’s game.

Ohtani collided with Seattle Mariners pitcher Marco Gonsales after Ohtani’s first at bat near the Angels on deck circle. Gonsales said he was trying to back up a throw coming from the outfield in the top of the third inning but didn’t see Ohtani and collided with him. Ohtani was a little shaken up but staying the the ball game.

Ohtani is 9-7 with an ERA 2.83 he’ll be opposed by the A’s James Kaprielian (3-5, 4.32) for a 6:40 pm PDT first pitch out at the Oakland Coliseum.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Celebrate 2022 Class of Hall of Fame Inductees

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A’s Celebrate 2022 Class of Hall of Fame Inductees

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

From left to right Amaury Pi Gonzalez author (left), former Oakland A’s players Joe Rudi (center) and Shooty Mack Babbitt (left) enjoy the festivities at the 2022 Class of Hall of Fame Inductees at the Claremont Club Spa in Berkeley on Sun Aug 7, 2022 (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

OAKLAND–Sunday night, at the swanky and iconic Claremont Club and Spa in the Berkeley hills with breathtaking views of San Francisco, the Oakland Athletics celebrated their 2022 Class of Hall of Fame inductees with a bevy of past and present A’s stars.

A’s President Dave Kaval was master of ceremonies during a very happy group of players and their families representatives. 1972 World Champion Joe Rudi, Steve Vucinich, former A’s Clubhouse Manager, Keith Lieppman Special Advisor to Player Development, the family of “Captain Sal” Bando, family members of A’s third-baseman Eric Chávez, the wife and family of A’s broadcaster Ray Fosse. Ex-A’s owner Charlie Finley’s son and his family were also in attendance.

A’s Broadcasters Ken Korach, Vince Cotroneo, Glen Kuiper, Bip Roberts, Shooty Babitt, Chris Townsend, Manolo Hernández-Douen and yours truly sitting at the broadcasters tables. I had the chance of meeting the son of A’s owner Charlie Finley and his family.

My wife Gail night was made complete by a hug and kiss by A’s legend Rickey Henderson, in my opinion the best player ever in the history of the Oakland A’s. She thanked him for the great memories.

Rickey who is also in the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown looked as happy as ever, as well as Vida Blue and friends. With background music playing hits from the 1970’s and 1980’s everybody had a great time. Muchas gracias, and Kudos to Melissa Guzmán, A’s Manager Alumni and Family Relations.

Reminiscing with Rickey Henderson that first named “million dollar outfield” during his rookie season in 1979 when he played left field, Dwayne Murphy center, and Tony Armas right.

I was broadcasting A’s in 1979 and I told Rickey his stolen base record is safe, nobody in our lifetime is going to tie or break his record, Rickey responded, “they do not play like that now”. Which is true, who steals bases anymore?

Another ex-player (anonymous) told me “today’s game is boring, all they do is hit home runs”, when I said, yes and everybody hits .220 also, he smiled and say “you got it”.

The A’s “got it” Sunday night, celebrating their glorious past. When it comes to celebrating the history, baseball is the king of sports. The Library of Congress is the home of the largest baseball-related collection in the world. There are more books written about baseball than any other sport.

Just In:

Oakland A’s fans can now vote to help select a member of the Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Members of the Athletics Hall of Fame are also voted on by a committee of A’s front office personnel, Athletics Hall of Famers, and the media. Fans can cast a vote until Sunday, Sept. 11, at athletics.com/fans .

Former Oakland players on the 2023 fan ballot include Jose Canseco, Coco Crisp, Mark Ellis, Jason Giambi, Dick Green, Dave Henderson, Ramon Hernandez, Ken Holtzman, Rick Honeycutt, Tim Hudson, Carney Lansford, Mike Moore, Mark Mulder, Dwayne Murphy, Mike Norris, John “Blue Moon” Odom, Tony Phillips, Terry Steinbach, Gene Tenace, Miguel Tejada, Bob Welch, and Barry Zito.

The full Class of 2023 will be announced during A’s Fan Appreciation Weekend in September. Fans can vote now until Sunday, Sept. 11, at athletics.com/fans.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network and heard on flagship station Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: It’s the last time the Giants and A’s battle this season

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San Francisco Giants hitter Luis Gonzalez takes the Chicago Cubs pitching deep on Sat Jul 30, 2022 in the bottom of the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Gonzalez has the highest batting average .283 coming into the two game series against the Oakland A’s at the Coliseum this weekend (AP News photo file)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

It would be easier for me to grow another arm than for the San Francisco Giants or the Oakland A’s to make it to post season for this season as these two teams will be on the same field this weekend at the Oakland Coliseum.

Big crowds are expected on for the weekend series around 40,000 predicted on Saturday and the A’s are expecting more on Sunday. Most of those sales are from Giants fans because when you win 107 games like the Giants did last season you sell a lot of tickets for the next year.

There also was a lot of hope that the Giants would be in the race this year but it’s either going to be the San Diego Padres or the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants won’t make it as a wild card and they certainly won’t win the division.

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