Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Drama in Warriors’ World

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The Golden State Warriors Draymond met with the media on Oct 8th will return to Golden State for practice Thu Oct 13, 2022 and will be in the line up against the Denver Nuggets Fri Oct 14, 2022 at the Chase Center in San Francisco (photo from the San Francisco Chronicle)

Drama in Warriors’ World

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

All the Warriors have done recently is win four NBA titles in the last seven years. The reigning champions open their 2022-23 season at home next Tuesday October 18 against the LA Lakers. Draymond Green is slated to return this Thursday for practice and will be eligible to play this Friday against the Denver Nuggets.

Green had been away since last Wed Oct 5th after violently punching teammate Jordan Pool in the face. When Green said he will take a few days off, Coach Steve Kerr called it a “mutual decision”.

The star forward publicly apologized Saturday and said he is taking a few days away to allow the team to ‘heal’ from the incident. It seems we as a culture has become much more up-tight and we are easily offended.

My brain reminded it that back in the day (1997) when the Warriors had Spanish radio and I was doing their play by play, during a practice session in Oakland, Latrell Sprewell snapped after coach P.J Carlesimo said something like “c’mon Spre put some mustard on that pass” Sprewell attacked Carlisimo choking the coach and threatened to kill him.

It was during a practice! But we all have the potential to snap; after all we are all human. In 1997-98 season the Warriors were one of six NBA teams broadcasting all their games in Spanish, the others were Miami, LA Lakers, Houston, San Antonio and Chicago. Right after that incident I received a few requests (calls from media) not only in the Bay Area, but outside across the country, they wanted to know what happened between Sprewell and Carlisimo.

I’ve got a couple of calls from people that were not sports reporters, but regular gossip stuff, (like TMZ these days). I once read that we all have a “rage circuit” inside our brains and at any time the circuit can have a short and prompt us to act violently and sometimes in a very stupid way.

Draymond Green is an amazing player. He always seems to see the whole court as good as anybody. He has an impressive high basketball IQ. When he first came into the NBA many said he was not athletic enough to be a small forward and too small (undersized) in the paint as a power forward. Many believe he didn’t fit into any position.

The were all wrong. Veteran guard Klay Thompson said last season about his teammate. “If you can’t be yelled at by Draymond, you can’t play on the Warriors. Its kind’ve like a bylaw now.”

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: 3 game Wild Card format favorable; Chapman cut from Yankees after Friday workouts no show; plus more

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New York Yankees pitcher Aroldis Chapman is lifted by manager Aaron Boone in the top of the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium against the Boston Red Sox on Thu Sep 22, 2022. Chapman has been cut from the roster for the ALDS during the 2022 post season. (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, how much of an improvement is it that the Wild Card went from one and done to a best of two out of three format?

#2 The New York Mets and San Diego Padres NLWS had some excitement when that series ended it up a in a 1-1 tie something you wouldn’t see in Wild Card games past.

#3 On Sunday the New York Yankees pitcher Aroldis Chapman did not show up for a mandatory workout Friday at Yankee Stadium manager Aaron Boone said that Chapman has been removed from the post season roster.

#4 Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that you have to be all in at this time of the year and the Yankees have players who are fighting for a spot on the roster and Chapman not only let the team down by not showing up but he chose to be absent.

#5 Amaury, I know you occasionally get an invitation to call the play by play on either the MLB Network or Telemundo for post season after the regular season is completed where are you on that and I know you look forward to that each post season?

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Why Aaron Judge will stay a Yankee

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Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees has lots to smile about. Here is Judge in the Yankees dugout on Wed Oct 5, 2022 in Arlington. The Yankees host the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium in New York for game 1 of the ALDS Tue Oct 11, 2022 (AP News photo)

Why Aaron Judge will stay a Yankee

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Aaron Judge will be named the MVP of the American League. He had one of the most remarkable seasons ever for a player in the major leagues. Ending with a new American League record of 62 home runs and without any doubt the most valuable of all players on his team.

Judge was hitting throughout the whole season when his teammates were also hitting early in the season and later when the Yankees struggle to score runs. He was the only Yankee hitting the ball and driving in runs.

Brian Cashman, the Yankee’s General Manager on behalf of the Yankee ownership, offered Judge a 7-year deal worth $213.5 million, prior to the start of the 2022 season. Judge did not swing at it. This past June, the Yankees and Judge agreed to a one year (2022) deal, signed for $19 million just to play this season and avoid arbitration.

Now that Judge established the new AL record, his price has skyrocketed to be much more than the $213 million (peanuts contract) that the Yankees originally offered him. We are looking at minimum of between $300 to $400 million, to start, for his services in a multi-year deal.

There are rumors that some teams will go after Aaron Judge this off season, among those mentioned are the San Francisco Giants. Judge was born in the town of Linden in San Joaquin county, a small town of around 1,700 residents, some 95 miles from San Francisco, a two hour drive.

The Giants haven’t had a real slugger since the days of Barry Bonds, and Judge would be a great improvement for the Giants, or in the middle of other teams lineups.

However, it makes all the sense in the world to expect the Yankees to retain Aaron Judge. The storied franchise now can claim how they got to 62 home runs, after all it was Babe Ruth who originally established the record of 60 in 1927, to be broken by another Yankee, Roger Maris 61 home runs in 1961 and yet to be broken again with another Yankee, this time Aaron Judge, this season 2022 with 62.

All three Yankees! It sounds so good and rhythmic that it could be written, and probably will, into a song. I doubt the Yankees want to break that chain.

The New York Yankees can now offer Aaron Judge the money he wants in order for him to end his career as a Yankee, the only team he has played for. Judge will make the Yankees all the money and then some, to easily give him that great contract, marketing, merchandise, publicity and prestige plus.

The Yankees in my opinion offer Judge a better opportunity to be in a World Series than the San Francisco Giants. Why? Because they are the Yankees! They spend all the money and each and every year they have only one goal, to win the World Series, and they have won 27 of them.

The Yankees won the AL east, and this Tuesday. the 11th will host the Cleveland Guardians, who won the AL Central Division, at Yankee Stadium for the ALDS best of five.

Aaron Judge led the Major Leagues in runs scored with 133 in home runs with 62, runs-batted-in 131, on-base percentage .425, slugging percentage, total gases, led in walks with 111. Was second in the American League in batting average with .311, missing the Triple Crown by six points.

It was the Minnesota Twins Luis Arraez who won the batting crown in the American League with a .316 average. Without Arraez winning the batting title, Aaron Judge would have been the first man to win the Triple Crown since Miguel Cabrera (Detroit) in 2012.

“Pot of Gold awaits Aaron Judge, it’s yet to be determined how much it weighs, but it’s a pot of gold, no doubt about it” -Yankees GM, Brian Cashman.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Las Vegas is not just for Gambling anymore

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Al Capone bobblehead photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Las Vegas is not just for Gambling anymore

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The moment you mention Las Vegas, gambling comes to mind, of course. But that is becoming less and less the case. Las Vegas Tourism reports that millions of people are coming to their city each year from all over the world for pure entertainment, and not just for the slot machines or the tables, poker, baccarat or sports betting.

It is a total family destination. The biggest entertainers in the world, perform at the Las Vegas strip. It is not only the Las Vegas (once Oakland) Raiders of the NFL or the NHL Golden Knights. The Las Vegas Grand Prix, Formula 1 is taking place November 2023, there is information and tickets are selling already over a year from the popular racing event. Basically, Las Vegas is the ultimate “event oriented” city.

This is far from the Las Vegas of the 1960’s at the Sands with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., and Shirley McLaine, yes, she was also part of the “Rat Pack”. The 1970’s when Elvis make his big comeback as “The King” and opened the International Hotel, which later became the Las Vegas Hilton and since then now it is the Westgate.

The names might have changed, but Sin City is growing in stature every year. If you visit Las Vegas you will see tour guides with groups of people from France to China, from Japan to Germany to Australia.

There was a time in the young history of the City of Las Vegas (Founded in 1905) when the biggest businesses were gambling and legal prostitution. But today a watering hole in the middle of the desert founded by mafia characters, very much depicted in Hollywood movies, like Casino, and Bugsy is growing in many ways. Construction is everywhere.

Las Vegas has the most hotel rooms of any city in the United States, as of January 2016, 167,730 rooms; today close to 200,000 rooms. Is Las Vegas a city without problems? No, not by any means. Water is a very important commodity and an obvious necessity, after all, it is a city in the middle of the desert.

The US government issued a water shortage declaration on Colorado’s river in January 2022 and Southern Nevada’s water allocation was reduced to 7 billion gallons.

How about the A’s? I have talked to a lot of regular fans, and a lot of bay area people. The majority believe the A’s are moving to Las Vegas, some say they will not, some tell me “move already!” others still have faith in Oakland, and the rest are Sharks and 49ers fans and some are Giants fans, but not that many this year.

LAS VEGAS INFORMATION: Around 1 million residents between Las Vegas 644,594 and Henderson 309,955. It is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, a State with approximately 3 million people. City of Las Vegas is the number 40 designated media market in the US. STATE OF NEVADA: Does not have an individual income tax. Does not have a corporate tax but a gross receipt tax.

IF YOU VISIT LAS VEGAS: Although is not recognized as a city of museums, I recommend you visit the Mob Museum and pick up the ultimate bobble-head. My favorite, the Al Capone Bobble-head, a must!

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: The Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum presents A’s President honorary plaque

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photo provided by Amaury Pi Gonzalez (left) as the author presents the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame the Victor A. Suarez Notorious Community Service Award plaque to Oakland A’s president David Kaval on Tue Oct 4, 2022 at the Oakland Coliseum

The Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum presents A’s President

By Amaury Pi-González

October 5, 2022

OAKLAND– Oakland A’s Executive Offices, Oakland Coliseum. Mr. Dave Kaval, President of the Oakland A’s received The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame plaque for his cooperation with the museum events, from the Fan-Fest, to the Museum at the Coliseum to other events supporting this non-profit organization.

Mr.Dave Kaval receives the Victor A. Suarez Notorious Community Service Award at the Oakland Coliseum Athletics Executive Offices.

Mr. Kaval is looking forward to the A’s new home at Howard Terminal, Oakland and the Museum as part of the whole baseball oriented entertainment center that will revitalize the City of Oakland.

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: Cost of A’s ballpark worries Oakland residents; Infrastructure and affordable housing worries Fisher and the A’s

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Artists rendition of the inside of an Oakland A’s Howard Terminal ballpark in downtown Oakland (Port of Oakland photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury, just have to ask you about the concerns that Oakland residents have regarding the cost of building a new ballpark although it’s suppose to be done with private funds the public is worries that a tax is coming with a new A’s park?

#2 No figure has been presented regarding a price tag for the new ballpark that would include, housing, retail, and parking structures.

#3 The A’s are paying for the new park from private funds it’s the housing and retail and surrounding infrastructure that the public is worried that they’ll be on the hook for?

#4 Amaury, crime in Oakland has been in headlines of late with two Berkeley High schoolers getting shot and killed in Oakland and an Oakland High School shooting that ended up with six adults injured how much does that play into the A’s moving into safe downtown for their fans?

#5 On the field tonight for the Los Angeles Angels lefthander Patrick Sandoval (6-9, 3.09) for the A’s Adrian Martinez (4-6, 6.08) a 6:40 pm PDT first pitch at the Oakland Coliseum.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Howard Terminal-A’s lose legal challenge

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Issues of about the environment surrounding the Oakland A’s Howard Terminal location and project includes toxic waste and melted shredded metal amongst other environmental problems at Schnitzer Steel Plant in Oakland. (Mercury News file photo)

Howard Terminal: A’s Lose Legal Challenge

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–A lost season with over 100 games in the L column is coming to an end, as the Oakland A’s will play their last three games this season, a series against the LA Angels at the Oakland Coliseum, Monday through Wednesday.

The Oakland A’s also lost a legal challenge in a state appeals court against a metal shredder named Schnitzer which is near the site of the A’s planned new Howard Terminal ballpark.

For decades Schnitzer metals plant has been turning discarded cars, scrap metal, and cars into recyclable and non-recyclable waste. Millions of tons of metals and plastics and others such as lead, copper, and zinc at a potentially dangerous levels.

But this Friday, September 30, a state appeals court overturned a ruling in favor of the A’s, saying that Schnitzer metal shredding company near the proposed Howard Terminal site for the new baseball park need not classify its treated residue as hazardous waste, In a 3-0 decision after reviewing the research studies, Judge Alison Tucher said that “there is no threat to human health or the environment from managing treated metal shredder waste as non-hazardous”

Refreshing our memory – The A’s sued the state agency in August 2020 for refusing to classify the waste as hazardous, saying the plant releases 200,000 tons of metal waste annually that pollutes the air, water and soil.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Paul Herbert ruled in March 2021 that a state law passed seven years earlier required the department to classify metal waste as hazardous, prohibiting its disposal in landfills. But the A’s did not win this one.

The A’s could come back with the argument that they disagree with this decision and they will not build their new park next to a metal waste plant that could endanger the health of their fans.

Now, this ‘legal jujitsu’ might continue as the A’s can seek review in the state Supreme Court. However, so far the A’s and the company have not made any statements regarding this most recent legal decision.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Roger Maris Jr. Says Barry Bonds Home run record is Illegitimate

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Mother and child reunion: New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge celebrates home run number 61 with mother Patty at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Wed Sep 28, 2022 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Judge becomes tied for the American League single season lead with Yankee Roger Maris Sr (AP News photo)

Roger Maris Jr. Says Barry Bonds Home run record is Illegitimate

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Roger Maris Jr. was in attendance in Toronto on Thursday, September 28, when Yankee slugger Aaron Judge hit home run No.61 to tie his father Roger Maris who established the Home run record in the American League hitting 61 in 1961. This is what Roger Maris Jr. told the Associated Press – “He should be revered for being the actual single-season home run champ,” Maris said after Judge hit his 61st on Wednesday night to match Roger Maris’ record-setting total with the Yankees in 1961. I mean, that's really who he is if he hits 62, and I think that's what needs to happen. I think baseball needs to look at the records and I think baseball should do something.'' Asked Wednesday whether he considers McGwire and Bonds home run totals to be illegitimate, Maris answered yes.I do,'' he said.I think most people do.” What Mr.Maris Jr said is much like what I wrote during my last article.

In 1999 St Louis Cardinals Mark McGwire hit 65 while Sammy Sosa had three seasons of over 60 home runs, from 1998 to 2001 hitting, 66, 64, 63. While McGwire admitted to using steroids, Sosa and Bond maintained they did not use it knowingly. It wasn’t until 2004 that Major League Baseball began testing for PED’s/drugs with penalties that same year.

The records and history are there for everybody to see, especially now in this age of high technology when all the information you can get in your cell phone within seconds. That was not the case in 1961, when nobody doubted if Roger Maris’s record was legitimate or not.

How much have times changed in baseball? Consider this, the biggest “controversy” in 1961 was when Roger Maris hit 61 home runs to break Babe Ruth’s 1927 record of 60. The argument was: While Ruth hit 60 home runs in the 1927 season that was 154 games long, Maris hit 61 but when the season was 162 games long.

Will Major League Baseball do something to “adjust” the situation, of who is the real holder of the one-season home run record? Probably not. I believe MLB is leaving this controversy to the record books, to history, to votes in the Hall of Fame and many asterisks to follow.

Aaron Judge needs one more home run to be the undisputed home run king for one season and he will have seven (7) more games left to do it. And then, there will be another discussion. I think.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: National Anthem standoff doesn’t quite workout as planned; Braves honored at White House

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From left, Braves President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos, manager Brian Snitker, President Joe Biden, and Braves President and CEO Terry McGuirk who were celebrating their 2021 Championship at the White House on Mon Sep 26, 2022 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Seattle Mariners Robbie Ray and the Kansas City Royals Luke Weaver both did a national anthem standoff and while after the anthem was played both Ray and Weaver stayed in front of their respective dugouts with their hats over their hearts until the umpire threw them both out of the game on Sunday.

#2 President Biden welcomed the World Champion Atlanta Braves to celebrated their World Series victory in 2021. Biden said that the Braves “unstoppable” the Braves presented Biden with a number 46 jersey for being the 46th president.

#3 The Cleveland Guardians made an unexpected finish finishing at the top of the AL Central to clinch the division with a win over the Texas Rangers. The Guardians are the youngest team in baseball as well.

#4 Amaury, Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly has announced that he will not manage the Marlins past this season. Mattingly had been with the Marlins since 2016 and did not option to seek a contract extension.

#5 The Marlins wore the Cuban Sugar Cane uniforms over the weekend. The Marlins wanted to honor the former Triple A team the Sugar Canes. The Sugar Canes were a minor league team from 1954-60.

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: The Home Run record is 61, not 73

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New York Yankees star Aaron Judge needs just one more home run to tie the American League home run mark in one season held by the late and former Yankee Roger Maris. Here Judge walks to first base after getting a base on balls from Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello on Sun Sep 25, 2022 at Yankee Stadium in New York (AP News photo)

The Home Run record is 61, not 73

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

New York Yankee Aaron Judge is just one home run away from tying the American League record of 61 by Yankee Roger Maris in 1961.

Considering all that has happened in baseball since 1961, including the steroids era, it is understandable to believe the real home run record for a regular season (as of today) is that of Roger Maris, 61.

Barry Bonds (2001) who hit 73 home runs holds the major league record. In 1998 Mark McGwire ended with 70 home runs and that same year, Sammy Sosa finished with 66 home runs. We all know these three sluggers did not establish those one season-records without the use of PED’s.

The three have enough lifetime home runs and hitting stats to have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, five years after their last year of play, but we also know why they have not been elected. It remains to be seen if and when they will be elected. More on this at the end.

With nine (9) games left for the Yankees, beginning this Monday. 26 of September, Aaron Judge might soon be the all time home run hitter for a regular season in the history of Major League Baseball.

The New York Yankees, who have won 27 World Series, would be proud to have the three sluggers that made original history. Babe Ruth 60 in 1927, Roger Maris 61 in 1961 and Aaron Judge in 2022.

As far as baseball historians are concerned, Ruth, Maris and Judge have done it without scandals. Induction into the Hall of Fame is based on performance during a whole career.

Babe Ruth is in Cooperstown, Roger Maris, was never elected and Aaron Judge, is way too early to tell, although he is not a rookie, but 30 years old, have been a Yankee since 2016 and to date has hit a total of 218 home runs. However, I am talking about a “the one season home run record”.

Starting this Monday the 26 of September the Yankees visit Toronto for 3 games, return to Yankee Stadium in New York for 3 games against the Baltimore Orioles and then they close the season at Texas against the Rangers for a 3-game series that will end their regular season on October 5.

Aaron Judge will have the last nine (9) games of the season to tie Roger Maris 61 home run record in 1961, and at least one more, 62, to establish the new record. If he achieves it, Aaron Judge will own the new record in the American League.

However, in my humble opinion his record should be the legitimate overall MLB home run record. MLB still recognizes Barry Bonds 73 home runs in 2001 as the current record for home runs in one season. Bonds and others mentioned here and not mentioned here, keep falling short of Hall of Fame election.

The Era Committees, formerly known as the Veterans Committee, consider retired Major League Baseball players no longer eligible for election by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), along with managers, umpires and executives, whose greatest contributions to the game were realized in one of four eras.

Committees meet at the MLB Winter Meetings. The home run record for one season is independent of these committees, but baseball can still correct themselves, if they wish to do so, although I believe they will not.

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion and I respect it. I hope you respect mine.

The regular 2022 season ends on October 5, and a couple of days later the postseason will get under way. The latest 2022 World Series odds have the LA Dodgers (+350) and Houston Astros (+425) at the top of the board with the Mets (+550), Yankees (+550) and Braves (+850) circling behind.

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