That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants “nervous money” goes to Correa

Carlos Correa joins the San Francisco Giants on Tue Dec 13, 2022 for 13 years and a deal worth $350 million (photo from ESPN)

Giants “nervous money” goes to Correa

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO–National baseball reporter Jon Heyman said about the Giants signing Carlos Correa for 13 years and $350 million; “Grossly overpaid, and so not worth it”.

A few weeks ago the Giants told their fans and the whole baseball world they were going after Aaron Judge, the Yankee slugger who established a new home run record in the American League this past season, hitting 62 home runs, that they (Giants) had all the money to make the 6′ 7 Judge a San Francisco Giant.

Among the reporters in San Diego Jon Heyman covering the winter meetings, wrote the news that the Giants had signed Aaron Judge, a few minutes letter he had to apologize as he retracted the so-called breaking news. Judge is the guy the Giants needed, to create that buzz that is not there anymore at Oracle Park, a true slugger with devastating power to all fields.

At the end, Judge decided to stay in the Bronx with the Yankees, the legacy of the most famous franchise in American history. Let’s face it, the Giants haven’t had a good farm system since GM Brian Sabean, so they were desperate to give this no opt-out, full-no trade deal to Carlos Correa, whose agent is Scott Boras, the best there is.

The San Francisco Giants needed a power bat, a hitter with power of around 40 home runs and 100 runs batted in. As good as a shortstop Correa has been, he is not your typical slugger, of that kind. But the Giants had “nervous money” that had to be given to a player in order to try to please their fan base that have been waiting for that home run, that offensive savior since they had Barry Bonds, who retired in 2007 with 762 home runs.

Giants are feeling the pressure and they want to bring another title to San Francisco, especially now when just three blocks away the Warriors play at Chase Center and have become the most successful team in San Francisco. The Giants want to recoup that “mojo” they had when they won three World Series in a six-year span. But this signing might not do it. Carlos Correa is a great defensive shortstop and a very good hitter, but he is no Aaron Judge.

The 13-years $350 million contract is the largest for an infielder in history of baseball. Correa will be 41 years old when he retires. In the history of the game only Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout ($426.5 million) Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts ($365 million) and New York Yankees Aaron Judge ($360 million) have been guaranteed more in a contract.

Giants and the Western Division. The San Diego Padres lineup is indeed a scary one: Manny Machado, Juan Soto, Fernando Tatís Jr. and Xander Bogaerts, not necessarily in that order, but all very productive and dangerous hitters. Tatis Jr. will miss the first 32 games of the 2023 season as he will complete his 80 game suspension from last season when he proved positive for illegal substances. San Diego manager Bob Melvin might be the team to beat in 2023 in the west.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Have A’s really thrown in the towel by dealing Murphy?

Oakland Athletics catcher Sean Murphy, left, tries to tag Chicago White Sox’s Adam Engel (15), who scored the tying run during the ninth inning at the Oakland Coliseum Sep 9, 2022 (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury, the recently traded Sean Murphy heads from the Oakland A’s to the Atlanta Braves how much is this a reflection of the A’s pretty much throwing in the towel for the 2023 season?

#2 Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said that while it’s hard to trade players away this is a great opportunity to get some great defense in a catcher like Murphy.

#3 Amaury, The Milwaukee Brewers are getting All Star catcher William Contreras and the A’s are getting catcher Manny Piña and pitchers Kyle Muller, Freddy Tarnok and Royber Salinas who are prospects from Atlanta and from the Brewers outfield prospect Esteury Ruiz.

#4 Murphy was third ranked amongst catchers only trailing the Phillies J.T. Realmuto and the Baltimore Orioles Adley Rutschman. Murphy hit .250, 134 hits, 18 home runs, and 66 RBIs in 2022. Besides his bat the Braves main reason for Murphy’s acquisition is defensive prowess.

#5 Murphy’s resume is incredible coming to the Braves he won the 2021 Gold Glove Award and was fourth in voting for the AL Rookie of the Year in 2020. The A’s are going to miss Murphy behind the plate and in the clubhouse.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Manolo Hernandez Douen are the Oakland A’s Spanish radio play by play announcers on flagship station 1010 LeGrande KIQI San Francisco and Amaury does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Basketball player traded for Merchant of Death; Aledmys Díaz now Highest Paid A’s player

Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner will be returning to the US after a prisoner exchange for the Merchant of Death Viktor Bout in a one person prisoner exchange between the US and Russia (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

The United States and Russia have exchanged prisoners. WNBA Phoenix Mercury basketball star Brittney Griner for famous arms dealer Viktor Bout aka “The Merchant of Death” who was in an American prison for 12 years.  Brittney Griner was held for nearly 10 months in a Russian prison on drug charges and was released Thursday in a one-for-one international prisoner swap.

The US still has work to do, as Paul Whelan, a U.S. Marine veteran was sentenced to 16 years in 2018 for espionage charges which the United States said are false, he was not involved in the exchange. Some experts in this matter were expecting that maybe the Russian government will also release the Marine.

Brittney Griner was arrested when at the Moscow airport she was trying to board a plane headed for the United States when it was found that she was carrying vape cartridges containing hashish oil. Griner a center for the Phoenix Mercury went to Russia to play for UMMC Yekaterinburg, and was earning a reported, at least $1 million from the team, far more than the WNBA maximum base salary of about $230,000.

The US and Russia are two countries with very tense relations these days, especially since Russia invaded Ukraine, the US has been sending billions of dollars to Ukraine (including some sophisticated weapons) and Russia’s Vladimir Putin considers the US a big contributor in a proxy war against Russia.

Brittney Griner was a victim of the situation when the Russian-Ukraine war was just getting started.  According to the Associated Press Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout is widely known abroad as the “Merchant of Death” who fueled some of the world’s worst conflicts, many countries consider Bout one of the biggest professional mass murderers in the world.

Aledmys Díaz now Highest Paid A’s player

Utility man Aledmys Díaz who played for the Houston Astros last four seasons agreed to a 2-year $14.5 million contract with the Oakland A’s. He immediately becomes the highest paid A’s player on the current roster. Díaz born in Cuba, is 32 years old, began his career with St Louis in 2016, then played in Toronto and since 2019 with the Houston Astros, winning a championship with Houston win over the Philadelphia this most recent World Series.

Ironically the only free agent on the current roster for the Oakland A’s is another utility man, Chad Pinder who last season signed a one-year deal for $2.7 million and together with Tony Kemp who singed for one-year in 2022 for $2.2 million.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Why the Giants need Aaron Judge

The author Amaury Pi Gonzalez prepares for doing the Oakland A’s Spanish radio broadcast at Yankee Stadium on Oct 3, 2018 against the New York Yankees for the American League Wild Card game (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Why the Giants need Aaron Judge

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO–At the time of this article, the Yankees and the Giants are still on a bidding war to get Aaron Judge a long-term contract of over $350 to $400 million. What many consider now the legitimate home run king for one season, with 62 in 2022, Aaron was born in Northern California and was a Giants fan most of his life.

Although Judge has played only for the New York Yankees, in today’s baseball loyalty is out the window. We witnessed last season how Freddy Freeman left the Atlanta Braves to sign with the LA Dodgers. Freeman was the most popular Brave in Atlanta since the days of Larry “Chipper” Jones (HOF).

You would think Aaron Judge values the legacy of the Yankees, and their great history, winning more World Series than anybody else, plus the last three great home run record setters in the American League all are Yankees; Babe Ruth in 1927 with 60 home runs, Roger Maris in 1961 with 61 home runs and then Aaron Judge in 2022 with 62 home runs.

The three main reasons the Giants really need Aaron Judge.

1-The Giants haven’t had a slugger since the days of Barry Bonds, who retired in 2007 (15 years ago). Bonds failed again to get enough votes (getting only four votes) for the Hall of Fame this week. He is in danger of becoming the “forgotten slugger”, a man with a record 762 home-run career and seven (7) MVP Awards, whom baseball still doesn’t recognize.

2-Attendance has gone down during the last few seasons at Oracle Park in San Francisco, the Giants have a mediocre team, they did not make the postseason (not counting the Covid years). The Western Division is dominated today by the Dodgers and Padres. There is little excitement these days at Oracle Park, although they still have a very good fan base.

3-The Warriors who play within walking distance of Oracle Park, at Chase Center, have become San Francisco’s most popular team and have taken the shine out of the Giants.

If the Giants do steal Judge from the Yankees, they still will need more talent to rival Los Angeles and San Diego. As good as Judge has been in a career of seven seasons with the Yankees with a total of 220 home runs and 437 RBI he has never won a World Series.

Even with one of the greatest individual seasons for a player in history, this 2022 when he set the new American League home run record with 62 and won the MVP, his Yankees did not make it to the World Series. Baseball is not football. The team with Tom Brady usually goes deep into the post season and most times to the Super Bowl and win it all, but there has never been one single player in baseball than can do that.

Aaron Judge is will be 31 years old next April and if he signs with the Giants for nine years (as his contract offer is rumored to be) will retire as a Giant. Not a bad deal for a kid who grew up less than two hours from San Francisco as a Giants fan.

The Yankees are the Yankees, they always build their teams with one goal only, to win the World Series. If the Yankees do not resign Judge, this will be one of the hardest punch-in-the-gut to their huge fan base, who spend a lot of money year after year and expect the Yankees to do the same.

There could be a misery team out there (not the Giants or the Yankees) it happens during negotiations of this sort, mega stars with huge contracts, but for now, there is a high probability that Aaron Judge will probably be wearing a Yankee or Giants jersey come Spring Training.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Good reasons to keep Barry Bonds out of the Hall of Fame

Former San Francisco Giant outfielder Barry Bonds swings against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Thu Jul 19, 2022. On Sun Dec 4, 2022 Bonds did get enough votes for Hall of Fame induction from the Contemporary Era Committee. (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, how much of a message does it send when the Contemporary Era Committee voted to keep former San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds out of the MLB Hall of Fame?

#2 Only former Atlanta Brave Fred McGriff was elected to this year’s Hall of Fame class with a amazing 100% of the vote. The 100% vote is a clear message by the 16 member committee that they will not vote for players who used steroids to achieve the records that they did.

#3 Bonds getting four votes is telling, he failed to get elected in the Hall since being on the ballot starting 2012. Ten years later a special committee was Bonds only chance to get in the Hall but he only got four votes well below what he needed for elction.

#4 Amaury, Bonds was noted for talking smack to the media, telling the reporters to get out of the locker room, giving condescending answers to reporters and having just a hostile relationship with the media would you say that played a huge part in Bonds not getting elected to the Hall even though it was an unspoken reason?

#5 Amaury, One player who never made the ballot for a shot at the Hall of Fame but was definitely an unsung hero and will remain that way was former three time champion Oakland A’s shortstop Bert Campaneris whose performance and numbers are well deserving of Hall of Fame induction. It’s a shame he’s overlooked.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB Veterans Committee Fred McGriff voted to the Hall of Fame

Former Atlanta Brave Fred McGriff is all smiles after being informed that he has been voted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown (AP News file photo)

MLB Veterans Committee: Fred McGriff voted to the Hall of Fame

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Fred McGriff is 59 years old and played for six different teams during a 19-year career that ended in 2004. With 493 homers he ties with another Hall of Famer, Lou Gehrig as the only two with less than 500 home runs in Cooperstown.

McGriff could not get over the hump in ten appearances on the BBWAA ballot mostly in part of a backlog of controversial (steroids era) candidates and never got out of 69 votes (39.8), but on Sunday December 4, he was elected with 16 votes on the 16 member committee, unanimously. 100%. A player needs a minimum of 75% to get elected to the Hall of Fame.

“What an honor,” McGriff said in a Zoom call with the media from his home in Florida. “It’s a beautiful night in Tampa. I did it. I got in there. I feel as if I’ve been totally blessed my whole life and I continue to be blessed. It’s an honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.”

Because of a backlog of controversial candidates from the steroid era, McGriff could not get over the hump in ten appearances on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot, topping out at 69 votes (39.8%). A player needs a minimum of 75% for election to Cooperstown.

Fred McGriff hit 30 or more homers during a season for five different teams; Toronto, San Diego, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Chicago Cubs. He was a member of the 1995 World Champion Atlanta Braves and now joins four (4) other Hall of Fame players of that great Braves team; Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Larry “Chipper” Jones and Tom Glavine.

Not surprised Fred McGriff was elected or that Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Rafeal Palmeiro were not for obvious reasons, also not a surprise that Curt Schilling received 43% of the vote, as controversial as he was, it was because of comments he made on twitter on political issues, which everybody is entitled as we all have the rights to free speech. Schilling was never involved or was suspect of using steroids. It will be no sooner than 3 years from today that they would be considered again for election. Here is the final vote:

Fred McGriff 16 votes, (100%) Don Mattingly 8 votes, (50%) Curt Schilling 7 votes (43.8%) Dale Murphy 6 votes (37.5%) Albert Belle Less than 4 votes Barry Bonds Less than 4 votes Roger Clemens Less than 4 votes Rafael Palmeiro Less than 4 votes

The Winter Meetings began today in San Diego. Expect this week some news regarding signing of free agents and trades. The Braves, Cardinals, Indians and others have been talking to the Oakland A’s in trying to reach a deal to acquired catcher Sean Murphy, he is one of the most sought after players this off season and the A’s are expected to trade him for a bunch of prospects.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Major League Baseball Expansion is coming – But on Hold

A proposal to tear down the Rio Casino pictured above and replace it with a Chase Field Phoenix type ball park with a retractable roof on the Las Vegas strip (Las Vegas Review-Journal photo)

Major League Baseball: Expansion is coming – But on Hold

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González.

Expansion in baseball is coming. However, it has been now “on the on-deck circle” for a while because the office of the Commissioner and the powers to be are focused on the Oakland A’s and the Tampa Bay Rays building new stadiums. 1998 was the last time MLB added a team it was their 29th (Arizona Diamondbacks) and then the 30th was the Tampa Bay Rays. It is over 20 years and the A’s and Rays have been holding the line of a total of 30 teams in major league baseball.

There are no timetable to tell us when the expansion will take place, however these cities are on the waiting list: Nashville, Tennessee, where a group that includes ex-A’s pitcher Dave Stewart is involved, also Austin and San Antonio, Texas, Orlando, Charlotte and a decent chance that Montreal, Canada, will be back as a major league town.

I also have to mention Portland Oregon, because they have shown interest in the past and in this crazy business of baseball, we cannot count anybody out. For the record; Portland is the #21 Media Market in the US and for your information, Las Vegas is #40.

In the MLB plans for expansion, Las Vegas is not listed as an expansion city, although even if Sin City doesn’t land the A’s, they still will have a good shot because that city keeps growing and pro-sports leagues are planning and showing interest to have a team there in the future.

For now Las Vegas is ‘rolling the dice’ on the A’s. One important thing to keep in mind. Las Vegas, Nevada is mostly desert, the building regulations there and politics are not that complicated, unlike here in the Bay Area. It is easier and cheaper to build anything in Las Vegas than in the Bay Area – as simple as that.

How about the A’s? It is December 2022 and no news from the City of Oakland or the Oakland A’s. A’s Present Dave Kaval has maintained that if by December of this year there is no “green lit” plan in Oakland for the A’s project at Howard Terminal, they are gone. In a Twitter Kaval tweeted: “It is Howard Terminal or Bust”.

Winter Meetings: For the first time in three years (none last two because of Covid) they will take place from December 4 to December 7 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California. After these meetings are over, baseball is on vacation for Hanukkah and Christmas, so it is anybody’s guess what’s is going to happen, what news we might hear on the Oakland A’s.

But the focus is on the big name free agents available and possible trades, the #1 Aaron Judge and others like Justin Verlander, Carlos Rodón, Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts and A’s catcher Sean Murphy are some of the high profile names in the menu.

For now I wish everybody a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, and see you in 2023.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: His name is Freedom, and he Means it

Enes Kanter Freedom photographed before he made a trip to play in China for the Boston Celtics (photo from CNN)

His name is Freedom, and he Means it

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Enes Kanter Freedom played in the NBA; he is 6’10” 250 pounds center and played from 2011 to 2022. His conviction cost him his high-paying job. He changed his name to Enes Kanter Freedom as he continues to speak against the president of his native Turkey as well as injustices in China.

Enes Kanter Freedom sacrificed his career as a professional basketball player to be a voice for the voiceless. This is one of his quotes: “Whatever happens in life, always stand for the truth. Stand for justice and stand for whatever you believe in, even if it means sacrificing everything you have,”

Freedom, who has spoken out against human rights abuses at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party and has raised awareness surrounding the mistreatment of Uighur, Tibetans, Hongkongers, and Taiwanese, as he received an award as Most Valuable Patriot from the Fox News Network this year,

Professional basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom accused the National Basketball Association (NBA) of hypocrisy over its decision to host a “civic engagement night” the day before Election Day, the mid-term elections here in the US, while remaining silent on the Chinese “dictatorship” that he says the league is “profiting off of.” and: “The NBA’s biggest backer is China — so when they promote Civic Engagement here, do they care to comment about a dictatorship they are profiting off of? The NBA constantly told me ‘we don’t want to get involved in politics’… I guess what they meant to say was ‘we don’t want to “upset China”

Kanter Freedom has been targeted by the Turkish government for his outspoken nature and was dropped from the Houston Rockets this year but the pushback hasn’t stopped him from advocating for those who need it most. In 2021, he took his activism to new heights when he became an American citizen, changing his name to “Freedom”. “The reason I wanted to add “Freedom” behind my jersey was to remind every child in America how blessed they are in the best place in the world,” he said. “I believe America is going to have even better years going forward. That is giving me so much motivation to fight for what’s right. I represent freedom. That’s, like, the best thing that I could do.”

Some athletes get the call for justice causes and lose their jobs, in 2016 San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee for black justice and since then never returned to the NFL. Enes Kanter Freedom is an opinionated ex-basketball player who spoke publicly about the NBA involvement in China a country where human rights abuses are well documented worldwide and recently lost his job, but he seems to be happy and at peace.

Enes Kanter Freedom, nickname Enes The Menace, played in the NBA and his basketball skills made him a star in the NBA but his activism has made him more of a hero and well-known all over the world, even in the countries where the NBA is not that big.

The irony is that while Enes Kanter Freedom paid a price for speaking the truth, even the US government and other organizations are on his side. It is well documented that the U.S. government and human rights organizations have accused China of using slave labor, especially in the Xinjiang region. If you want to know more, here is the US State Department site ttps://www.state.gov/forced-la

Freedom to speak your mind is a beautiful thing. We just witnessed the USA 1-0 victory over Iran in the World Cup. The Iranian government threatened their payers for not singing their national anthem. The Iranian government could torture and imprison the families of these soccer players in the Islamic republic which is totally controlled by the government. Those Iranian soccer players are as courageous as any athletes in the world and deserve our respect and admiration.

Like Enes Kanter Freedom for speaking against the NBA and their affiliation with communist China, he can do that because he lives in the US where you can speak your mind. One of the most famous athletes in US history, Muhammad Ali when he refused the draft, to be inducted into the US Armed Forces citing his religion forbade him from serving.

It cost him a lot, like the stripping of his heavyweight title, a suspension from boxing, and a $10,000 fine which in 1967 was enough to buy a home in the US. Not to mention the criticism inside the US Armed Forces serving at that time. I was serving at that time in the US Army and Muhammad Ali was not very popular among the troops. If you believe in free speech, you have to respect these athletes.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Iran-USA World Cup politics; Abreu signs 3 year deal with Astros; Tigers Cabrera says this is his last year; plus more

Former Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu signed a three year deal with the Houston Astros Mon Nov 28, 2022 and will join them for the 2023 season (mlb.com file photo)

On That’s Amaury podcast:

#1 Amaury, talk about the big signing of Jose Abreu 36 with the Houston Astros for a three year deal and how it improves the Astros chances of repeating winning another World Series?

#2 Amaury, talk about the Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera saying that 2023 will be his 21st and last season. Cabrera said he thought would say “never” but has conceded that this will be his last season playing MLB.

#3 AL Cy Young Award winner and free agent Justin Verlander met with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday in a bid to land Verlander also joining the Verlander sweepstakes are the New York Mets and New York Yankees. Question is which team will Verlander going into the Hall of Fame as?

#4 Trea Turner has been rumored to be linked to the Philadelphia Phillies it was reported by mlb.com that there is a very good chance that Turner will sign with the Phils. Turner last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers had 194 hits, 21 home runs, 100 RBIs and a .298 batting average.

#5 The Carlos Rodon sweepstakes is heating up as the Texas Rangers could be top pursers of the pitching star who the Rangers are also approaching getting a deal done with Kodai Senga. The Rangers were also looking at Jacob deGrom but have backed off as they are focusing more on signing Rodon. deGrom has expressed interest in signing with the Rangers but that deal never developed.

Join Amuary Pi Gonzaelz for News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com each Tuesday

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Royals to build new Kansas City downtown stadium

Artists rendition of the new Kansas City Royals stadium (photo from the Kansas City Royals)

Kansas City Royals to build a Downtown stadium

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In 2019 Mr. John Sherman bought the Kansas City Royals for $1 Billion. The Royals have played at Kauffman Stadium since 1973. Recently Mr.Sherman announced the Royals will be building a new stadium in downtown Kansas City. A $1 Billion stadium and entertainment district will be the biggest plans of any construction area in the history of Kansas City. The lease for Kauffman Stadium expires in 2031, when Kauffman Stadium turns 60 years old

According to the owner: “The renovations required at The K (Kauffman Stadium) to achieve our objectives would cost as much or more than the price tag to develop a new ballpark.”Sherman said the club will be seeking public input over the next approaching months.In addition to a ballpark, Sherman said he envisioned shops, hotels, restaurants and affordable housing options. The total price tag projects to surpass $2 billion.

“To accomplish this move, our plans will be contingent on continuing our public-private partnership and investment with multiple local jurisdictions and the state of Missouri,” Sherman said. He added that the club intends to invest hundreds of millions of dollars directly into the project. He also said the Royals will not ask Jackson County citizens to pay more tax dollars than what they already do in the current lease.

The Royals were founded in 1969 as an expansion franchise that was granted by Major League Baseball after the Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland the previous year.

Since these two franchises have crossed paths in history the obvious question would be: Who will have a brand new park ready for Opening Day first, the Royals, Rays or the A’s?

Population of Kansas: City: 508,394 Population of the greater Kansas City Metropolitan area: 2,192,035 Kansas City is the home of The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, located in downtown Kansas City.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the play by play Spanish radio voice with broadcast partner Manolo Hernandez Douen on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network and Amaury does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com