Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Affordable Housing will Make or Break the Howard Terminal project–

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Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff seen here speaking at a news conference on Wed Jul 26, 2021 is pushing for the Howard Terminal project. Schaff might have to be the go between for affordable housing at Howard Terminal and the Oakland A’s as affordable housing could be a deal breaker for a new A’s downtown ballpark. (AP News photo)

Affordable Housing will Make or Break the Howard Terminal project–

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The new Oakland A’s ballpark at Howard Terminal is loaded with enough suspense to write an Alfred Hitchcock movie thriller. An affirmative vote by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission on June 30 would be a key step toward a new A’s ballpark in Oakland.

But there are still more hurdles ahead, one important issue is affordable housing which is included in the project and something the City of Oakland wants if the A’s build the new ballpark.

“Affordable housing is going to be what makes or breaks this project,” Dolores Tejada, lead organizer of East Bay Housing Organizations — a nonprofit advocacy coalition that’s been involved in community benefits recently told SFGate.com. The disagreement is not complicated.

The City of Oakland would like the A’s to designate 450 of the approximately 3,000 apartments, an equivalent of 15% as affordable housing on site at the Howard Terminal development. The city also wants the A’s to pay for an extra 600 affordable homes in the nearby neighborhoods.

This is according to a draft term sheet back in July 2021. The Mayor of Oakland Libby Schaaf and a number of city council-members have repeatedly said that 15% is a hard line for the project in order to move forward.

In other words, somebody will have to pay for the Affordable Housing around Howard Terminal. According to Oakland Mayor Schaaf “City Council has been very clear about the affordable housing requirements for this deal,” Schaaf told The Oaklandside back in April. “This project right now is proposed to create 3,000 desperately-needed units of housing.

15 percent of them would have to be at least deeply affordable.” The Oakland A’s have not come out publicly and said if they are anywhere close to meeting that target. The A’s have said many times they do not want to negotiate through the media.

On June 2 The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission held a public hearing on the proposed A’s ballpark and development project.

At that meeting, dozens of Oakland port workers urged members of a key state agency to reject the A’s $12 billion proposed waterfront project, as they called it a “real estate grab” that would transform the Port of Oakland into a “yuppie playground. The Commission decided against their wishes and recommended the next step for June 30.

I have not mentioned Las Vegas, Nevada, although Dave Kaval, President of the A’s still maintains that the team is working on parallel plans, to land the new ball park here or there. There are two Piñatas, but only one will be broken.

As a longtime Bay Area resident, with interests in baseball, as baseball is a great part of my career, I would like the A’s to stay here in Oakland. But I do not have a vote on this process.

Round and ’round it goes, where does this stops, nobody knows.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2022 A’s Redux of 1979?

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Former Oakland Athletic and the late Mitchell Page who passed away in 2011 in is sleep was the star player for the A’s in 1979 as the A’s were selling off players during that period (file photo Major League Baseball Hall of Fame)

2022 A’s Redux of 1979?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

For longtime local Oakland A’s fans of age, it is impossible for this season not to go back to the memory of the 1979 season. In 1979 the team ended with a 54-108 record finishing seventh in the American League West Division.

The total home attendance after the regular season-81 games was 306,763 paying customers. There are many similarities at this time to the 2022 season with one-third of the season completed. Team owner Charlie Finley nearly sold the team to owners who would have moved them to New Orleans.

Finley had sold most of the team marquee players, Finley also fired most of his front office people and at one point there were six to eight people (at most) working in the front office.

However, Oakland got lucky when Finley sold the team to Walter Haas family (Levi Strauss Co) who kept them in Oakland and ushered a new era for the team, a winning culture ensued with league championships as well as three consecutive World Series, winning it all in 1989.

Roy Eisenhardt, Wally Haas, Andy Dolich, Sandy Alderson and all the people running the team had a great run, one of success, because they did things correctly, marketing the team to the community, developing a good product on the field. They made Oakland and their fans proud to be a major league city.

That new era of baseball under Walter Haas included the debut of Rickey Henderson, who would play for over two decades (with the A’s in four different stints) and also with other teams. But Rickey was always an Oakland A’s at heart, as he is currently enshrined in the Hall of Fame with the A’s uniform.

1979 was the night were only 250 fans showed up for a game at the Coliseum, to be exact April 17, 1979, when they played the Seattle Mariners. I remember 1979 well, when Stanley Burrell, a teenager would bring us coffee to the Spanish broadcast booth No.19.

He was one of those Finley “employees”; he then became famous when he changed his name to MC Hammer. His dream was to be a baseball player, but later scored his biggest hit U Can’t Touch This, a number one song as a hip-hop, pop and rap beat. Mr. Finley discovered Burrell listening to a radio “a boom box” at the Oakland Coliseum parking lot and brought him along.

As the team is now playing on the road, the A’s have played a total of 30 games at the Coliseum, with a record of 7 won and 23 lost (worst home record in MLB) their attendance is also the lowest, with a total of 248,501, an average of 8,283 per game, also lowest in baseball.

Just by numbers; the Oakland/Bay Area population is larger today than in 1979, so they should draw more than the 306,763 in 1979. But similarities remain remarkably from 2022 to 1979, 43 years later.

In 1980 Charlie O Finley agreed to see to local buyers Walter A. Haas, Jr, president of Levi Strauss & Co, a historic business born in San Francisco in 1853, where the blue jeans were born. In August 1980 the new owners paid Finley $12.7 million for the team, as the deal was finalized before the 1981 season.

The final story of the current Oakland A’s still to be decided on the field and votes by city representatives and baseball owners and planners, commissions, and so on. Although nobody can predict what will develop during the second half of this season. One thing is for sure, 2022 reminds us very much of 1979.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish lead play by play voice 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: A’s open 2 game series in Atlanta tonight; NBA Finals game 3 sets up in Boston; plus more

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Oakland A’s starter Cole Irvin (19) gets the start against the Atlanta Braves Kyle Wright at Truist Park in Atlanta on Tue Jun 7, 2022 to open up a two game series (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 The Oakland A’s have an off day on Monday. They are on their way to face the defending World Series Champion Atlanta Braves for two games starting Tuesday night in Atlanta. The A’s hope to get back on the winning track against the Braves.

#2 The Oakland Coliseum has been a house of horrors for them this season. They are 7-23 at home. They were 1-9 on the homestand ending on Sunday. They lost their last six games, three to the Houston Astros and three to the Boston Red Sox. 

#3 Turning to the NBA Finals the Golden State Warriors who were down 0-1 to the visiting Boston Celtics were able to climb back into the series and even it up. It was a close first half 52-50 but the Warriors in the second half held the Celtics to just 14 points in the third quarter that made a huge difference in the win.

#4 The Boston Celtics during games 1 and 2 wanted to show unity by tee shirts supporting the release WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner who is being held in a Russian prison on drug charges when they accused Griner for having hashish oil in her suitcase at the Moscow Airport.

#5 There is no doubt and you saw him on the last homestand in Oakland that Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez who no doubt is like a reincarnated Willie McCovey type hitter who just got a six year extension worth $115 million on Monday. That’s $26 million a year and the largest contract for a DH. Alvarez is hitting .295, 51 hits, 16 home runs, and 34 RBIs.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play announcer for Oakland A’s beisbol 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: A’s take on Red Sox at Coliseum for game 2; Reunion of 1972 World Champions Oakland A’s

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Some of the 1972 Oakland A’s on the cover of Sports Illustrated who had a reunion at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Jun 4, 2022 from top left to right Rollie Fingers, Joe Rudi, Vida Blue, center left to right Reggie Jackson, Charlie O Finley, Gene Tenace, bottom left to right Captain Sal Bando, Catfish Hunter, and Campy Campaneris (photo from Sports Illustrated cover 1972)

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

The Boston Red Sox and Oakland A’s match up for game two on Saturday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. The Red Sox will be going with starter Nick Pivetta (4-4 ERA 3.95) and for the Athletics Paul Blackburn (5-1 ERA 2.15).

The A’s drew their largest home crowd on Friday night for Fireworks night over 17,000 attended which brought out a whole lot of families. I noticed in the fourth and fifth innings there were not a lot of fans but by the sixth or seventh innings the seats started filling up and believe it or not most fans were here to watch just the fireworks.

Saturday afternoon was the reunion of the 1972 Oakland A’s the 50th reunion bringing back such big names Reggie Jackson, Campy Campaneris, Vida Blue, Joe Rudi’s son, Dick Green, Mike Epstein, Gene Tenace, Rollie Fingers, Darold Knowles, Tim Cullen, Charlie O Finley’s family representative, and many others.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s lead Spanish play by play announcer 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: Who is the legitimate home run king?

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Former Milwaukee Brewer the late Henry Aaron is still regarded as the home run king (left) stands next to Oakland A’s Spanish play by play announcer Amaury Pi Gonzalez (right) in this 1976 photo at the Oakland Coliseum (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Who is the Legitimate Home-run King?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In the history of major league baseball, nobody ended a career with more Home runs than Barry Bonds (762) and nobody won more Most Valuable player awards than Barry Bonds, a total of seven. However, Barry Bonds can no longer be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the writers (BBWAA).

Players voted by the BBWAA are considered the very best and considered the most prestigious vote for Hall of Fame election. Bonds ended his 10-year run with 66 percent of the vote, short of the minimum 75 percent required. “Today’s Game Ballot” is a new committee for a way to vote a player into Cooperstown.

Under this system, Barry Bonds might have a shot this December, but the jury is still out. It comprises a group of ex-players in the Hall of Fame, executives, and veteran media members. It is very similar to the “Era Committee” once called the “Veterans Committee” which inducted players such as Orlando Cepeda, among others.

Barry Bonds will be considered with others that have fallen off the ballot, most recently, like Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGuire, the “usual suspects” during the steroids era.

In 2005, these (plus other players and baseball executives) had to appear in front of the House Committee on Government Reform in an 11-hour hearing in Washington, D.C. This House Committee was to pressure baseball to toughen its policy against steroids.

2002 was the last season for Barry Bonds, who played for 22 years in the major leagues and his failure to make it during the regular Baseball Writers of America ballot has created a feeling that he is a ‘persona non-Grata ‘ and tainted for life because of the accusations.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports Bonds admitted receiving the “cream and clear” substances from his personal trainer during the 2003 baseball season, however, denied he knew they were steroids during his testimony on December 4, 2003, to a federal grand jury.

Henry (Hank) Aaron played for 23 years in the major leagues and ended with a total 755 home runs, second behind Barry Bonds, holds many of baseball records, and was elected to The Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 1982 by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Aaron received 97.8 % of the vote. Aaron holds MLB records for the most career runs batted in (RBIs) 2,297, extra base hits 1,477 and total bases with 6,856 and is one of only four players to have at least 17 seasons with 150 runs batted in. Also in the top five of other hitting departments.

On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715 career home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s legendary record of 714 homers, arguably one of the top moments in Major League Baseball.

During his last season in the majors (1976) I interviewed Hank Aaron as he came to Oakland with the Milwaukee Brewers, he was a gentleman and one of the greatest players ever, very humble and very measured when he spoke. Truly an American icon.

Hank Aaron had an unblemished and distinguished career, born in the south had to face racism since he was a boy in Mobile, Alabama all the way to the big leagues, and to this day many across the country still consider Hank Aaron the legitimate Home run King.

This year at the July 24 Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown the BBWAA electee David Ortíz will join Golden Era Committee electees Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Orestes (Minnie) Miñoso and Tony Oliva. Plus early Baseball Era Committee electees Bud Fowler and Buck O’Neill.

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 podcast: Montas focusing on pitching despite being on trade block

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Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas gives up the ball to manager Mark Kotsay in the bottom of the seventh on Tue May 10, 2022 at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Montas gets the start tonight against

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Oakland A’s starter Frankie Montas has an amazing splitter that’s kept hitters off balance. Montas in his last ten starts has an 3.28 ERA and has 60 strikeouts under his belt.

#2 Montas has been on the trade block since spring training opened in February and is still with the club but the A’s seem to be waiting for the right offer if they going to move him.

#3 The Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez left very little doubt about with his two home runs which totaled 913 ft combined. Alvarez 6’5 who wears No. 44 reminds some of the reporters who covered Monday’s game of Willie McCovey.

#4 I know you had a chance to speak to Astros manager Dusty Baker before tonight’s game Dusty’s club is loaded the Astros have the best ERA in the American League at 2.86 and are hitting a team .226 batting average Dusty has lots to be proud about.

#5 Amaury taking a look at the starting pitchers for tonight for the Astros righthander Cristian Javier (3-2, ERA 2.43) and for the A’s righthander Frankie Montas (2-4, 3.28) a 6:40 pm first pitch.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play announcer for Oakland A’s baseball 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: Kapler takes anthem protests one game at a time; Can A’s improve attendance as Astros and Red Sox pay a visit to Coliseum

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San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler takes a stroll to the Giants dugout after making a pitching change in the top of the eighth inning against the New York Mets on Mon May 23, 2022 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Gabe Kapler San Francisco Giants manager made headlines when he said he would not be on the field for the national anthem but made an exception for the Memorial Day game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

#2 The Oakland A’s continue to suffer at the gate their draws have been around 8,000 plus tops and bottoming out around 3,000 on a Thursday night against the Texas Rangers.

#3 What a week for the Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani on Sunday Ohtani homered twice, but the Angels lost by just a run in a slugfest against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Big A in Anaheim 11-10 in a back and forth game. No doubt Ohtani is doing it all this season for the Halos.

#4 There is no doubt Amaury that the Cincinnati Reds outfielder Tommy Pham who returned from his three day suspension on Monday and San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson as strange as that situation is Pham felt that Pederson cheated in Fantasy Football and Pham said there was a lot of money at stake and hence the bad blood between the two. How dangerous is a situation like this when there is money lost between players and they have to play together professionally.

#5 Amaury, talk about the warm pitched that bounced that was thrown by Los Angeles Angels pitcher Michael Lorenzen one of the warm up pitches went up and hit teammate catcher Kurt Suzuki in the neck. Suzuki was helped off the field but once in the dugout passed out on Saturday night. Suzuki went to the hospital and a few hours later returned to the ballpark and said he was available to play the next day in Sunday’s game.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: White Sox surprised Yanks Donaldson got just a one day suspension; Cardinals Molina out for bereavement after pitching Sunday

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New York Yankees Josh Donaldson (left) and manager Aaron Boone (right) talk during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Sun May 22, 2022 (AP News)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 MLB suspended New York Yankees Josh Donaldson one game for making a Jackie Robinson reference to Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson on Saturday. Donaldson after the game in New York made the Jackie Robinson reference and said he meant no disrespect but White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz was surprised that he only got one day.

#2 The Jackie Robinson reference was an undertone a dog whistle to Anderson who is black and Donaldson is white player. Donaldson said that he was joking around in the past with Anderson about the Robinson reference when Anderson said he feels like today’s Jackie Robinson.

#3 Amaury, Sunday the St Louis Cardinals pitcher Yadier Molina who pitched in relief giving up two home runs and four runs after the Cardinals swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in four games at PNC Park. The Cardinals have placed Molina on the bereavement list the reason for the bereavement was not disclosed.

#4 The San Francisco Giants are coming off losing a three game sweep against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park. The Giants also lost first baseman Brandon Belt to the 10 day IL for an inflamed right knee. Giants manager Gabe Kapler said the team is still in good shape.

#5 The Oakland A’s have lost seven of their last ten games and have lost two of three to the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend including Sunday’s 4-1 loss. A’s pitcher Cole Irvin lost the contest and the A’s are not getting any run support.

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

The A’s should retire Campaneris number 19

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Former Oakland A’s shortstop Bert Campaneris is regarded as the best shortstop in Oakland A’s history winner of three consecutive World Series Championships. Campaneris is seen here seated for a 2012 photo (photo from wikipedia)

The A’s Should Retire Campaneris Number 19

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Baseball is a generational sport. People grow-up watching their favorite players, they are engraved in their collective memories forever. It is passed from one generation to the next one.

Many times during The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame exhibits at Fanfest, All-Star Games, community and other events I have seen fathers telling their kids (as they watch an exhibit) “Billy, this was Minnie Miñoso, my favorite player as a kid”.

Players numbers are retired by teams to honor their past stars.Teams are proud to retire their legends numbers, not to mention it is also a smart marketing tool to sell more jerseys and merchandise for people to wear and use. It is a win-win situation for everybody.

On September 11 when the A’s host the Chicago White Sox, the Oakland A’s fans in attendance will receive a replica of #34 Dave Stewart’s number which will be officially retired by the team. Stewart is one of the A’s legends. As a great pitcher Dave Stewart was the heart and soul of the Oakland Community, specially during the 1989 World Series during the Loma Prieta earthquake.

One of the last pitchers in baseball to have four consecutive 20 game winning seasons, his famous “Death Stare” in the mound when he was pitching is remembered forever in the memories of A’s fans, as well as those hitters who faced him.

Another great Oakland A’s player is Cuban-born shortstop Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris. Campy is the only Latino shortstop in history to have been a shortstop for three-consecutive World Series champion. The 1972-73-74 Oakland A’s. Campy will be in attendance as the A’s celebrate their 1972 World Series Champion team reunion on Saturday June 4 at the Oakland Coliseum.

Campy (now living in Arizona) is a shy and humble man who as the A’s lead-off hitter was the spark plug for those great championship teams of the early 1970’s. Many times I have spoken with Campy he has always cherished those great memories.

He is a baseball man to his core, his stories about the game are priceless. He still represents the Oakland A’s and is happy to sign autographs for fans when the A’s conduct their Spring Training camp in Arizona.

A few years ago I was called by CH 2 FOX to translate for Campy for an exclusive interview done by Mark Ibañez their sports anchor during Spring Training. Campy is so humble he told me “¿por qué quieren hablar conmigo?” trans- ‘why do they want to talk to me?”.

Reggie Jackson became a star with the Oakland A’s, and a mega star once he won two World Series championships and earned the nickname “Mr. October,” with the New York Yankees. Reggie said that those Yankee teams were inferior to the Oakland A’s teams that won back-to-back-to back championships in the 1970s with Jackson as its megastar, according to the man himself. Reggie (whose number 9 is retired by the A’s) always talks fondly about Campy Campaneris, “The Road Runner”, the man that ignited that great lineup.

Around 30 to 33 percent of all players in today’s game are Hispanic. The Oakland A’s always enjoyed very loyal Hispanic fans in the Bay Area and across the country and those that remember Campy will tell you he was an integral part of the “Swinging A’s” during his playing days.

I hope the Oakland Athletics consider the retirement of Campy Campaneris number 19. To this day, the A’s have not retired a number from one of their Latino players and I cannot think of a better person than Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris. In the past I have suggested to A’s upper management the importance of retiring Campy Campaneris number 19. I hope in the near future they will. It is time.

These are the numbers retired to date by the Oakland A’s:

34 Rickey Henderson, 43 Dennis Eckersley, 9 Reggie Jackson, 27 Jim “Catfish” Hunter, 34 Rollie Fingers and Walter A. Haas, Jr, Owner.

Dagoberto “Blanco” Campaneris is in The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants leave St Louis after getting clobbered 15-6; SF to open 3 game series in Colorado tonight

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Pitching for the first time in his 22 year career and tying the record for oldest player to pitch a MLB game St Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols picks up a ninth inning save against the San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium in St Louis (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 St Louis Cardinal pitcher Albert Pujols shut the door on the San Francisco Giants on Sunday. Pujols who pitched in the top of the ninth inning giving up a three run homer to Luis Gonzalez and Joey Bart hit a solo home run still the Pujols and the Cardinals had plenty of room as Pujols retired the next three batter for a 15-6 win.

#2 After playing in the majors for 22 years Pujols never pitched and said after the game that it was a dream to pitch in the majors and he pulled it off.

#3 Pujols said he loved pitching that inning except giving up the two home runs to Gonzalez and Bart. Saying  “It was fun. It wasn’t fun giving up two bombs. I think the fans had a good time. I’m sure the guys that took me deep did, too.”

#4 Just a baseball fun fact Morris, Pujols became the oldest player to pitch since Lena Blackburne who did it at 42 years old in 1929 for the Chicago White Sox.

#5 The Giants open up a three game series in Colorado tonight starting pitcher for the Giants LHP Alex Wood (3-2 ERA 3.60) and for the Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (2-2 ERA 4.88) a 5:40 pm PDT first pitch.

Join Morris for the Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com