Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2022 Season-My Predictions

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Amaury Pi-Gonzalez broadcasting last time the Oakland A’s were in the Postseason. October 3, 2018 At Yankee Stadium. American League Wild Card Final score: Yankees 7 Athletics 2. (Photo credit: APG Sports)

2022 Season – My Predictions–

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The season is here, even though we just had an abbreviated Spring Training and the CBA negotiations went deep into extra-innings, this will be a full 162-games season. And that is great news. Of all other sports, baseball (without a doubt), offers the most fun when it comes to predictions, there are more games, more ups and downs, more drama and great surprises. So here we go!

AL West

Houston Astros The more I look at the Seattle Mariners, the more improvement I see all over their roster. I like what they are doing in “Rain City”. They are already crowning Rookie Julio Rodríguez as the new “J-Rod” as the Rookie of the Year.

But I have to go with the Houston Astros, although they lost Carlos Correa to the Twins. Justin Verlander is returning to the mound, this is a veteran team with a good skipper who keeps everybody happy and knows how to win, in Dusty Baker.

I would not be surprised if the Mariners win the division. The A’s have a new look and it will be fun watching some of their future stars recently acquired, but they will not be in this race, they will play role of spoilers. Last time A’s were in a Postseason was in 2018.

Back to, the Angels line-up (all healthy) might be the most dangerous in baseball, but since Adam and Eve, without pitching nobody has won anything. Noah Syndergaard, aka “Thor” left the Big Apple for the Big A. But the Angelinos need more from the mound.

What a waste of a lineup it they do not win; Othani, Trout, Rendon and company. Last time the LA Angels made the playoffs was in 2014. Angels Owner Arturo (Arte) Moreno who spends more money than the US Congress would love nothing more than to be in the postseason. Arte is a good guy. Ay Caramba!

AL Central

Chicago White Sox The Minnesota Twins have a scary lineup and a good pitching staff, but the Chicago White Sox. this season are built not only to win this division but to go all the way to the World Series.

This will not be a tight race, White Sox by plenty. Last year they won the division by 13 games over Cleveland. There is a team now named the Guardians in Cleveland, they just signed José Ramírez, maybe one of the most underrated players in the game, he finally got paid, a multi-year $124 million contract.

But this is LaRussa’s division. We related to each other, Tony and I, were born on exactly threw same day, month and year, about 200 miles apart, Havana-Tampa, and not the cigars! This year is like the old Sinatra classic “My Kind of Town” Chicago!

AL East

Winner: Toronto The Blue Jays might be the team to watch and you cannot close your eyes when you see this team play. They are fun personified. Hard to have more fun than to watch this lineup, their solid pitching and the athleticism is by far the class of this division.

They’re young talented stars with some experience and they are going to compete in this always the most watched division in baseball. Tampa Bay Rays will be there and Boston Red Sox could compete all the way into September, they have Alex Cora, at 46 years old one of the most intelligent and accomplished managers in the game.

The Yankees always find a way, but they will not win the division, they wanted Frankie Montás of the A’s, and they still might get him, if they are in the race by July-August. If the Yankees win it, that is a surprise. You might get your passport ready, right now, for the postseason because you are not going to the Bronx, you are going to Canada.

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers should win this division again with 100 plus wins. Games in the 2021 MLB season were initially played with limited capacity before being gradually increased to full capacity over the course of the season. Dodger Stadium will be rocking again this year between 3 to 3.5 million or more in attendance.

That’s a lot of Dodger Dogs. Further south the Bob Melvin Padres will survive a month or so without injured mega-star Fernando Tatís Jr, but they do not have the depth on their roster like the Dodgers, it is a must for Tatís to comeback healthy and stay healthy all season long.

I like the Giants rotation, even though they lost Kevin Gausman, they picked up Carlos Rodon, and if he can stay healthy, he will help. Their offense is not as good on paper compared to LA or SD. Giants could have signed Khris Bryant, but he signed with the thin-air Rockies in Colorado.

They open the season with their third-baseman, veteran Evan Longoria on the injured list. Attention, Giants fans; do not forget there are more opportunities for a wild card spot this year. But it will be tougher this year to “Beat LA”.

NL Central

St Louis Cardinals. For some reason I like the St Louis Cardinals, maybe is because they have the greatest of all baseball uniforms. The reunion between good friends and future Hall of Famers, Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols, might be all the inspiration they need, in a city personally I consider the best, bar-none, for baseball and fans in this country.

One of the very best organizations in the game, the Cards always manage to make it interesting. History has it they have won the most World Series in the National League, with eleven, and only the Yankees with 27, have won more in the same city among all teams in history..

NL East: New York Mets

Do we have enough drama in New York? Never! And this season will have more drama as veteran skipper Buck Showalter takes the control as first year manager of the Metropolitanos. The World Champion Atlanta Braves lost their heart and soul, the great first-baseman Freddy Freeman, who was one of the most popular players ever in Atlanta since Larry “Chipper” Jones.

They gained A’s Matt Olson so they did not lose much power there. The Bravos won 88 games last year and won the World Series. I see the Mets ascending and like the improved Philadelphia Phillies, it could be a three-team race.

When everything is right, the Mets might have the best trio of starters in the game, #1 Jacob DeGrom, #2 Matt Scherzer and #3 Chris Bassitt. Whatever happens, I still Love New York, I lived there after my US Army service and there is no city like it.

To expedite things, let’s go-by the playoffs and land in the World Series.

League Champion AL: Toronto Blue Jays NL: Los Angeles Dodgers

World Series Champion: Toronto Blue Jays

Adiós muchachos.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Amtrak joins Union Pacific in A’s Howard Terminal law suit; Former Dodger Tommy Davis passes at 83

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Artists rendition of what the Howard Terminal ballpark would look like if built. The project is meeting lots of opposition from a number of plaintiffs who have filed lawsuits including Amtrak and Union Pacific just this week (photo from the Port of Oakland)

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

#1 Amtrak Capital Corridor has joined Southern Pacific in a lawsuit to stop the Oakland A’s Howard Terminal build. Both plaintiffs claim that public safety risk which involved traffic, pedestrian safety where railroad tracks encircle the entire Oakland Port location. The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) is the A’s last chance at building at the terminal and the A’s need a two thirds vote on June 2 if the Commission votes it down the project is dead.

#2 Amaury, Couldn’t start the podcast without mentioning the passing of the late Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Tommy Davis who passed away on Monday at age 83. Davis had a .294 career average, 153 home runs, and 1,052 RBIs.

#3 Davis said towards the end of his career that he was bitter for being released so much he played for 11 different teams including the Oakland A’s two different times. Davis said that he was released because he was too laid back and argued he played better that way. He was noted for shaving or reading a book between at bats when he was a DH for the Baltimore Orioles between 1972-75.

#4 Former Oakland A’s designated hitter Khris Davis was signed by the Mexico City Red Devils for a one year deal. Davis’ mother is Mexican and who speaks Spanish is from Guadalajara and this has to be very special for Davis to play in the Mexican League.

#5 Mark Kotsay said Saturday that he was debating whether to start Sean Manaea or Frankie Montas for opening day on Friday but that answer was made for him when Manaea was traded to the San Diego Padres on Sunday morning. The A’s were scheduled to play the Padres that morning and Manaea got to start against his former team and heard some all in fun chirping from his ex-teammates during his first game with the Pads.

#6 Former Houston Astro Carlos Beltran admitted that the Astros crossed the line in 2017 stealing signs electronically. Beltran who is now a analyst for the YES Network calling New York Yankee games said “the cheating was working did you truly expect us to stop.”

#7 Amaury, MLB’s hottest prospect the Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriquez not only is up and coming but he made it to the opening day roster. The 21 year old from the Dominican hit .419 this spring and the Mariners were so impressed what he did at the plate hitting three home runs and and eight RBIs. Rodriguez can also play left, center and right defensively and are hoping for big things from his this season.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Sean Manaea traded to San Diego for two prospects

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Former Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea seen here pitching against the Houston Astros on Oct 1, 2021 at Minute Field in Houston was dealt to the San Diego Padres on Sun Apr 3, 2022 and quickly switch uniforms pitching against his old teammates the A’s in Peoria AZ (AP News file photo)

Sean Manaea traded to San Diego

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Lefty Sean Manaea was traded to the San Diego Padres. In return, the A’s received two prospects from the Padres minor league system. Infielder Euribiel Angeles No.12 on their system, plus Adrián Martínez, a pitcher and No.26 prospect. The Athletics also send minor league pitcher Aaron Holiday with Sean Manaea to San Diego.

A mainstay for the A’s rotation, the 30-year old lefty Manaea spent the first six years of his major league career with the Oakland A’s. With a win-loss record of: 50-42 a 3.86 earned run average. Started 128 games for the Green and Gold and on April 21 of 2018 threw a no-hitter at the Oakland Coliseum against the red hot Boston Red Sox (who had won 8 games in a row) by the score of 3-0, and struck out 10.

The A’s are continuing to rebuild and Manaea was rumored to be one of the three A’s starters with tradable value. The Yankees, Twins, Royals and others have been talking to the A’s about trading for Manaea. Chris Bassitt was already traded to the New York Mets (for a couple of prospects) and Frankie Montás is still rumored to be on the trading block and could go at any minute now or possibly during mid season, to a contending team.

The New York Yankees are one of the teams that has been very much interested in Montás, but it is believed that the A’s want more value for Montás, who is 27 year old and they are seeking some of the Yankees top prospects.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: No April Fool’s Joke–New Lawsuit Filed against the A’s Howard Terminal

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Artists rendition of the Howard Terminal ballpark the Oakland A’s are seeking to build. The East Oakland Alliance is suing the City of Oakland and other defendants in their fight to keep the A’s at the Coliseum location in East Oakland (AP News photo)

No April Fool’s Joke: New Lawsuit Filed against the A’s Howard Terminal

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–It was no April Fool’s joke. Today, April 1, 2022 a new lawsuit against the Oakland A’s and the building of their proposed new Howard Terminal Ballpark took another hit. This lawsuit was filed by the East Oakland Alliance, which wants the Oakland A’s to stay in Oakland but build the new ballpark in the current Coliseum location.

MLB does not approve the building of the new park at the actual location that is a no-go. The East Oakland Alliance is among the entities this time suing the team and the city of Oakland, together with shipping, steel, and port groups also suing.

Their spokesman says the A’s and city did not adequately disclose the negative effect the project will have on the existing waterfront operations and surrounding areas, among other things. A’s President Dave Kaval rejected those claims saying a new ballpark at Howard Terminal would be better for the environment and people in the Bay Area.

Back in February 2021, the A’s cleared a legal hurdle in their quest for the new ballpark at Howard Terminal, most recently this year the news was encouraging as the A’s received positive votes toward their ultimate goal of the $12 billion project, Oakland Howard Terminal.

But today another step backwards. The problem? Well, the ‘clock is ticking’. These groups that opposed the Howard Terminal project keep throwing grenades at the A’s and things (when they look like they’re moving along) they stall.

Major League Baseball Commissioner, Rob Manfred Jr. expects a yes or no (Oakland or Las Vegas) a final decision by summer 2022. In the meantime, the A’s continue to work with Las Vegas, in what Dave Kaval has called for a year now: “working on different parallels, with the same goal of a new ballpark for the A’s.”… by the bay or by the desert.

This was the statement today by the groups opposed to the Howard Terminal project:

“The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) certified by the City of Oakland for the Oakland A’s’ proposed project at Howard Terminal did not adequately disclose, analyze, or mitigate all of the significant adverse impacts this massive and disruptive redevelopment on the working waterfront will cause.

Every EIR is required to provide an objective and thorough analysis of impacts, alternatives, and mitigation measures under California law, but the City’s EIR and environmental process failed to meet this mandate.

The A’s proposal to build a stadium and luxury condominiums, office and retail development will cause major disruptions and impacts to both the surrounding community and the operations of the Port, yet the EIR did not fully address these concerns or mitigate these well-known issues.

It also failed to accurately compare the Oakland Coliseum site as an alternative which would have far less adverse effects. It is simply not proper to ignore or defer analysis or mitigation of so many of the significant impacts identified in the more than 400 comments submitted by community and supply chain stakeholders, and as a result our only alternative is to pursue legal recourse.” 

Mike Jacob — East Oakland Stadium Alliance

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Baseball is On the Radio!

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Broadcaster Red Barber gets ready to call the next pitch as the hitter gets into the batter’s box on 710 WOR Radio New York. The Ol Red Head broadcasted for the Cincinnati Reds 1934-38, Brooklyn Dodgers 1939-53, and the New York Yankees 1954-66 (photo from the baseballhall.org)

Baseball is On the Radio!

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

It is that time of the year. Covid in the bottom of the ninth inning, a lockout that lasted for 100 days, the best quarterback in history retired (but did a Sinatra) a comeback, a very dangerous war going on in eastern Europe, and although summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21, the ‘Boys of Summer’ are already playing in Arizona and Florida. The smell of beer, hot dogs and cotton candy is on the air, and so are the sounds of baseball on the radio.

Almost 101 years ago, KDKA radio, Pittsburgh, aired the first-ever live account of a baseball game on the radio, at Forbes Field home of the Pirates in the voice of Harold Arlin, a 25-year-old engineer. The Pirates were hosting Philadelphia.

The pioneer Arlin didn’t think much of this as he said: “To tell the truth, our guys at KDKA didn’t even think baseball would last on the radio. I did it as a one-shot project. No one had an inkling if we’d do baseball again.” KDKA a Westinghouse Electric Company station was the first commercial radio station in the country. Arlin, although an engineer, had some experience at the microphone.

A year before (1920) Mr.Arlin broadcast the results of the 1920 Presidential election, an Ohio event, as Republican Senator Warren G. Hardin from Ohio defeated Democratic Governor James. M. Cox also of Ohio by a landslide victory of every state outside the South and cleaning-up in the popular vote.

Historic KDKA Radio celebrated the 100th Anniversary of its first regular broadcast, radio 100th anniversary on Nov. 2, 2020. Currently, KDKA is well known as “The Voice of Pittsburgh”. 100.1 FM and 1020 AM.

That pioneer radio station opened the way for radio formats all over the country, not only carrying baseball but all other sports. There is no school known that will train to become a play-by-play/commentator announcer in baseball. Columbia School of Broadcasting, in Virginia, is a broadcasting journalism school.

Growing up as a kid in Cuba I was usually glued to the radio during the old Cuban Professional League and listened to such voices as the legendary Rafael “Felo” Ramírez (For a long time the Voice of the Miami Marlins) whom I had the privilege to share the microphone in the late 1990s during the old CBS/MLB Postseason Hispanic Radio Networks for the US and Latinamerica. Also the legendary voices of Cuban announcers like René Cañizales, Orlando Sanchez-Diago, whom I met at the Astrodome in Houston during the 1986 MLB All-Star Game. Manolo de la Reguera, Cuco Conde, Rafael Rubí, René Molina and Fernandito Menéndez, among others.

These were the voices of baseball I grew up listening to on my little radio on my end table inside my bedroom. They were the best companions, during the regular baseball games in the Cuban leagues ,including the Caribbean Baseball Series, as well as the World Series. Cuba was the first country to recreate a World Series for all Cuba and Latin America as the announcers,

Bob Canel and Rafael “Felo” Ramírez would call the games from NBC Studios at Rockefeller Center in New York City, the signal was sent from the stadium the game was played and relayed to a DC-3 airplane flying around the Caribbean. The signal was sent to Cuba and then continued to other countries.

During my years as a teenager in Miami I remember listening to Chicago White Sox voice of Bob Elson on WKAT AM who used to carry the Chicago White Sox games. In New York City, the one and only voice of the NY Yankees Mel “How ’bout that!”Allen and of course, here in the Bay Area, guys like Bill King, Lon Simmons, Hank Greenwald, Monte Moore and others, all which I had the pleasure to have known.

Today radio stations are hanging on to baseball broadcasts. Radio is no longer the king of baseball, like it used to be. First the advent of television and now social media, has reduced the impact of baseball on the radio.

Many stations cannot carry full schedules of 162 games, they cite conflicts with other programming, because of the nature of baseball, some games might go 3 to 4 hours or more in length and this presents a time-format problem for many stations because they might have to pre-empt other shows to make room for baseball and that might not be good business.

However, a radio station that is well managed can appreciate baseball, especially if it is well marketed and committed to serving its community will always represent a prestigious asset to its programming. A radio station owner used to tell me: “even if do not make money with baseball, as long as I do not lose money, I love the prestige that brings to the station and I use it to attract more advertisers”.

Radio is still a very personal thing when it comes to baseball, still, a companion that you can always keep at home, in the car, or in your telephone/computer at home or laptop, some of us remember the days of transistor radios, and how convenient it was to “take the game with you” with your transistor radio to the game, to work, some even took it to school, and got in trouble. I know.

Quote: “He throws a “radio ball”, a pitch you hear, but cannot see”. -Gene Mauch, Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies about Sandy Koufax fastball.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2022 A’s New Manager Kotsay will be Tested Early

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Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay will be taking on challenges this season and can he be as good of a manager that former A’s manager Bob Melvin was? (file photo from si.com)

2022 A’s New Manager: Kotsay will be Tested Early

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Mark Kotsay is the Oakland A’s rookie manager this season, and his new-look A’s will open the season on the road, on April 8, against the Philadelphia Phillies for three games, then on to Tampa Bay and four against the Rays, followed by three more north of the border in Toronto against the Jays. Three teams loaded with talented stars with hopes of going deep into the postseason.

Kotsay is a good baseball man, a good man that served as a coach for Bob Melvin. Eager to begin his new managerial career, as he will be challenged early. He is about to open the season against three of the best teams coming out of Spring Training.

The A’s will return home to open the season with a seven-game game home stand, four against the Orioles and three against the much improved Texas Rangers.

The A’s will stay by in bay and visit the San Francisco Giants in a brief two-game interleague series and then return to Oakland to host the Cleveland Guardians for three games, followed by Tampa Bay for three and then, on the road again.

The A’s 2022 season begins with 17-straight games (ten of those on the road). But Mark Kotsay always wanted the challenge. He was a durable player in the major leagues during a 17 year career, four of those seasons with the A’s.

This is what Billy Beane said after the hiring of Mark Kotsay, a 46-year-old who spent the previous six seasons as a coach for his predecessor Bob Melvin. “Even as a player, he’d always expressed this was something that he wanted to do. He immediately took a coaching job as soon as he stopped playing, which shows the passion that Mark has had to do what he’s getting ready to embark on.”

The new A’s skipper, born in Whittier, California, signed a three-year contract to manage the Oakland Athletics through the 2024 season. A great collegiate record for Kotsay who was the top amateur player in 1995 when he won the Golden Spikes Award.

He was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1995 College World Series with his team the California State Fullerton Titans, won first team All-American honors in 1995 and 1996 and also won an Olympic bronze medal.

He batted for a .404 average during his three collegiate seasons (a school career record) as they went 149-41 during those years. A first-round draft choice of the Florida Marlins and earned a World Series ring in 1997. Played for the A’s from 2004 to 2007.

Wishing all the best to Kotsay as he embarks into a new career as major league manager. The A’s are rebuilding this season and nobody expect them to be a serious contender on a division were just about every other team, Angels, Rangers and Mariners have gotten stronger with various deals during the winter.

The Houston Astros, with the return of their #1 pitcher Justin Verlander as still favorites to repeat as division champion, even though they lost their shortstop Carlos Correa who signed a very surprising, but lucrative three-year deal with the Minnesota Twins for $105 million. Correa’s Puerto Rican compatriots were saying, Ay bendito! trans: Oh bless! when he signed the deal.

Optimism is always a good way to approach everything in life. There are always surprises in this game. Best example was the Giants of 2021, winning their division with 107 victories. You cannot find anybody on this planet that could have predicted such a season.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Owner Charlie Oscar Finley Ahead of the Game

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Oakland A’s owner Charlie O Finley who made an appearance at the 1972 World Series at the Oakland Coliseum and owned the A’s from December 1960 until August 1980. Under his ownership the A’s won three straight World Series 1972 to 1974. (photo from Forbes)

A’s Owner Charlie Oscar Finley: Ahead of the Game

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

When baseball people talk and write about Kansas City and Oakland A’s owner Charlie O. Finley, they do not only talk about how controversial he was, how much he paid or did not paid his players, or winning three consecutive World Series, (something only done by one other team, the NY Yankees) but they also realize how much of a visionary and innovator he was.

An old friend of mine used to tell me all the time “most people do not get what they deserve”, but, in the case of Charlie O Finley he deserves to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

This is amplified today, when the game of baseball is going through sort of a “revolution”, which social media, all the statistics you need and really do not need to know, the designated hitter, the ghost runner, 7-inning doubleheaders, the exit velocity right off the bat, a future pitch clock, baseball is suffering from lack of interest by the younger population and only God knows how much more on the way.

Charlie O. Finley is also very well knows by baseball historians for his innovations to the game of baseball. Here is some of what Finley brought to the game.

1-Color Uniforms: In 1963, few years prior to the franchise moving from Kansas City, to Oakland, the A’s who wore red-white and blues uniforms in KC. Mr. Finley introduced colors, like Kelly Green, Fort Knox Gold and Wedding Gown White. These uniforms stood-up instantly on the field. The A’s uniforms inspire and changed the game forever. In 1967 Finley introduced white shoes, just one year prior to moving to the Oakland Coliseum, in Oakland, California. A success now teams wear all kinds of different uniforms and colors of shoes. Mr. Finley was ahead of the game.

2-A Three Ball Walk: In 1971 games in both leagues were low scoring. Finley believed that instead of the traditional 4-ball walk to a hitter, there was a better way and came up with the idea of a 3-ball walk. Thinking it will shorten the game. Although that was not adopted. Today there is all kinds of talk on how shorten the game. In the minor leagues a pitch clock was used as an experiment and next season 2023 the Major Leagues are scheduled to adopt it. Again Mr. Finley was ahead of the game.

3-Inter-League Play: The Athletics owner wanted the American League to play the National League. He felt that it should be good for regional rivalries and this would create more interest among the fans, Charlie O. Finley died in 1996. That same year, owners unanimously approve inter-league play for the 1997 season. Mr. Finley was ahead of the game.

4-Designated Hitter: The A’s owner was a major proponent of the DH, that was very controversial then, but in 1973 that became reality. And this (2022) owners and players union approved the Universal Designated Hitter. Finley wanted to go further. The DH was usually a slugger, and slow runner, so Finley also wanted sort of a DR = Designated Runner. As a matter of fact he hired Herb Washington in 1974-1975 just to come up to run the bases after the DH got on. For 105 games Herb Washington just ran the bases, not for one second he took the field to play defense. Washington stole 38 bases in 41 attempts. Also Finley’s A’s were the only team to do such with Herb Washington; however Finley was on the right track when it came to the Designated Hitter. Charlie O Finley, again, was ahead of the game.

5-Night Playoff Games: The A’s owner talks about the advantage of having postseason games at night. He believed since most of the fans worked during the day (except on weekend) this would be a good marketing move for the game and popular to millions of fans that follow the game. He was ahead on this also!

6-Women in the Game: Mr. Finley’s A’s were the first team ever to use ball girls on the field. It was a good idea not only from the marketing point of view, but it opened the doors to more women and men getting involved in the game. Today many teams have not only ball girls on the field as well as Ball Boys and Ball Dudes (usually mature men) fan participation is popular. Yes, Finley was ahead of the game.

I recently spoke with Nancy Finley whose father was Carl Finley who was also the Vice President and a silent partner to Charlie. I used to talk with him a lot in the Press Box at the Coliseum back in the middle of the 1970’s; he was a very busy man.

Carl was cousin of Charlie Finley and according to his daughter Nancy: “Dad’s title was V.P. Dad was actually a silent partner to Charlie. This became well known at the time. Charlie trusted dad and not many others”, she continued, “Dad ran the team, 24/7 on a daily basis while Charlie was in Chicago most of the time. Charlie and dad spoke on the phone once or more per day” and “Dad was who kept everything intact throughout the mid to late 1970’s which were crucial”; Len Shapiro once said this to me as well as Andy Dolich. “With home games, dad approved the roster, from Clubhouse to Ownership; dad was who had the authority next to Charlie”. I fully agree with Nancy Finley that Charlie O Finley should be in Cooperstown.

Anybody who knows about the history of this game agrees that Charlie Oscar Finley was an innovator who left his fingerprints on the game of baseball. Love him, hate him (and many players did, he refused to pay million dollar salaries) doesn’t matter how you feel.

The fact remains that his contributions to the great game of baseball should be rewarded by a posthumously induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York.

Yes, Major League Baseball owners also are inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown. I hope in the near future they make room for Charlie O Finley. He deserves it.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Who will be the leading candidate for first base for the A’s

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Oakland A’s Seth Brown (center) gets congratulations from former A’s third base Matt Chapman after hitting a two run home run back on Fri Jun 11, 2022 at Oakland Coliseum against the Kansas City Royals. Brown is auditioning for a job to start at first base which has been vacated after Matt Olson left for Atlanta (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury podcast:

#1 The Oakland A’s are looking for a first baseman after the trade of Matt Olson to the Atlanta Braves. One name came up was Seth Brown who has played 200 minor league games at first but only 13 with the A’s.

#2 The A’s are looking at Eric Thames a non roster invitee who played first base with the 2019 Milwaukee Brewers hit 25 home runs. That said he has had Achilles surgery and is 35 years old.

#3 The A’s in Sunday’s Cactus League game started at first base Dalton Kelly who was a Tampa Bay Rays prospect and is 27 years old. Kelly in the Rays Triple A farm club hit .244, 27 home runs and show promise with the glove on defense.

#4 A’s pitcher Sean Manaea has said that he’s trying to ignore all the trade rumors and is trying to focus on getting ready for the season. He knows that he’s on the bubble and numerous teams have expressed interest for his services.

#5 The St Louis Cardinals have expressed interest in obtaining both Manaea and pitcher Frankie Montas. Meanwhile the Minnesota Twins have been inquiring about Montas’ services but the A’s are waiting for the right offer.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB 2022 Season back to the Past and Future

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You won’t see Arizona Diamondback pitcher Madison Bumgarner taking swings at the plate anymore with the new Universal Designated Hitter rule starting this season (AP News file photo)

MLB 2022 Season: Back to the Past and Future

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

After a short Spring Training because of the 99-day lockout by owners, each team will embark on their regular 162-game journey for the 2022 season, beginning on April 7.

New this 2022 Season

  • DH (designated hitter) now will be Universal. Sorry “old school” National League fans.
  • Pitchers will no longer have a spot in the batting order. Sorry for Madison Bumgarner.
  • Playoffs will expand from 10 teams (five each league) to 12 teams (six each league) Owners happy more money.
  • Three Divisional winners and 3 Wild Card teams in each league. The top two division winners in each league will receive byes to the Division Series. The other four teams in each league will play best-of-three series in what will be called the Wild Card round, with the higher seed hosting all three games.
  • No re-seeding for Division Series. The No. 1 seed plays the winner of the 4-5 series, and the No. 2 seed plays the winner of 3-6. – No more games known as (Game 163) to decide playoff spots. Playoff spots will be determined through tiebreaker formulas.
  • The Rule 5 Draft has been canceled for this season. Usually held each December, the Rule 5 Draft allows clubs without a 40-man roster to selected certain non-40 man roster players from other clubs. Clubs draft in reverse order of the standing from the previous season. No more.
  • There will be complete 9 inning games for Double Headers. (Double-Headers made-up from games lost because of lockout or rainouts this year.)
  • No “automatic runner” at second base at the start of extra-innings. It didn’t look like baseball.
  • Players’ uniforms will feature advertising, including patches on jerseys and decals on batting helmets. More revenue.

-The number of times a player can be optioned to the minor leagues in one season will be limited. –

Back to the Future: Beginning in 2023 – A Joint Competition Committee comprise of four active players and six members appointed by MLB plus one umpire will be tasked with making decisions on other changes, such as pitch clock, limits on defensive shifts, larger bases, and the automatic ball/strike system. Any rule changes that committee adopts can be implemented with 45 days’ notice to the players.

Pitch clocks will be used. There will be a ban on defensive shifts, an automatic ball/strike zone will exist and there will be larger bases. In 2023, teams will play five fewer games against division opponents, instead of playing one series against every team in the other league. Teams will continue to play their “rival” Inter-league team four times, twice at each ballpark.

(More on Pitch Clocks) In 2021, MLB implemented a pitch clock in the Low-A West five weeks into the season, giving pitchers 15 SECONDS WITH NO ONE ON BASE and 17 SECONDS WITH RUNNERS ON. The average time of a nine-inning game dropped from 3 hours and 2 minutes to 2 hours and 41 minutes after the pitch clock was introduced, with offense jumping across the board.

MLB & MLPA agreed to host games or tours in the following locations over the next 5 years: México, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Asia, London and Paris.

Social Media News: Apple takes a Bite at Baseball. Apple now owns rights to the Friday-night package of MLB games. They will have exclusive rights to telecast two “Friday Night Baseball” games each week, a total of about 50 games per year, in the U.S and eight countries overseas, via Apple TV Plus.

So let’s make if fun again, because in the end, it is a kid’s game.

Hasta la vista.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: The Tale of the Fire Sale–Chapman looks very close to leaving for Philadelphia or New York

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Oakland A’s Matt Chapman (26) will not be forearm bashing anymore with former teammate Matt Olson (right) seen here Mar 5, 2021 against the Los Angeles Angels in spring training at Hohokam Park in Mesa. Olson now with the Atlanta Braves and Chapman on the trade block (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury, it comes as no surprise that once the lockout was lifted the Oakland A’s would have an early season fire sale and pitcher Chris Bassitt who left for the New York Mets was one of the first followed by A’s first baseman Matt Olson.

#2 And while it’s no surprise of their departure it’s still hard to grasp for anyone who follows the A’s that it’s a hard pill to swallow to have to say good bye to Bassitt, Olson and soon to be Matt Chapman.

#3 Olson led in many categories for the A’s at different times with on base percentage .371, 101 runs, 153 hits, 35 doubles, RBIs, home runs and walks with 88, 74 base hits, and four stolen bases.

#4 The in picking for players from the Atlanta Braves in the Olson deal two right handed pitchers Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes, catcher Shea Langeliers and outfielder Cristian Pache. Langeliers could be the key player in the deal a number one draft choice for the Braves. A’s team vice president Billy Beane might have some of that Money Ball magic going again and have himself a core of players in the works.

#5 Amaury talk about Matt Chapman being on the trade block bubble he’s the All Star third baseman the guy that A’s fans sought in their pack of baseball cards he’s very close to being no more and the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies are shopping Chapman hard core he might get a crazy Bryce Harper type contract.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzaelz at the mic for Oakland A’s Spanish radio beisbol all season long on flagship station 1010 KIQI LeGrande San Francisco and for News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com