Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

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

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

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

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

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

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

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

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

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A’s Celebrate 2022 Class of Hall of Fame Inductees

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just In:

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

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

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

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

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

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

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

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

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

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

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: New Lawsuit Against Howard Terminal

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Mr. Mike Jacob (in photo), vice president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association which represents port workers, said the San Francisco Bay Area Conservation and Development commission failed to properly evaluate the impacts of the project before they voted in favor of the A’s request. (photo from pmsaship.com)

New Lawsuit Against Howard Terminal

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–This June the San Francisco Bay Area Conservation and Development approved the Howard Terminal project, ruling it will not negatively affect the Port of Oakland Operations.

Now the group of Port operators and trucking disagree with the June ruling claiming the commission did not adequately assess the environmental impact of the project as mandatory by law.

In a recent statement Mr. Mike Jacob, vice president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association which represents port workers, said the San Francisco Bay Area Conservation and Development commission failed to properly evaluate the impacts of the project before they voted in favor of the A’s request. Mr.Jacob claims the commission should have allowed their advisory group to do further analysis on their recommendation prior to taking a vote.

How many lawsuits now?

Three (including this one) of the legal opposition to the project is coming from an argument that the project has not received the proper level of analysis about the environmental impact. That is the key to this most recent lawsuit. According to the law, all these lawsuits need to be decided within 270 days of the lawsuit being filed. The opposition to Howard Terminal is basically claiming that not enough environmental studies have been done and that more is needed.

How do the courts consider this lawsuit? Depends on how the courts interpret an evaluation of the economic impact of the project.

This November 8 the elections for Mayor and other positions in the Oakland government. Do not be surprised if we still talking about the Howard Terminal project by then.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Padres win the Juan Soto sweepstakes; Soto addition can help San Diego make a run at Dodgers

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By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Juan Soto former Washington National after fouling off a pitch in the ninth inning on Sun Jul 31, 2022 at Nationals Park in DC now joins the San Diego Padres in a deal completed on Tue Aug 2, 2022 (image from ESPN)

What happen today is historic as the San Diego Padres picked up Juan Soto for six prospects from the Washington Nationals. Joining Soto is first baseman Josh Bell. The Padres Eric Hosmer has a no trade agreement in his contract and says he doesn’t want to go. Hosmer is a good player to sit on the bench for the Padres. The Nationals and Padres might get cash to settle the deal.

Hosmer has no interest in going to Washington a team that has the worst record in baseball. Hosmer could end up playing for someone whose going to the post season. Soto is hitting .241, leads MLB in walks and is among the home run leaders in home runs with 19.

Soto is happy to join a team that is contending and leaving the Nationals who lost four of their last five games and had no plans to stay in Washington who offered him 15 years for $440 million. No price for Soto has been disclosed yet but it’s speculated that Soto could fetch as much as $500 million.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: No Surprise A’s Frankie Montas Traded along with Lou Trivino

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Former Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas is shown here walking to the Oakland dugout after completing the top of the third inning of pitching in the night cap of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers on Thu Jul 21, 2022 at the Oakland Coliseum. Montas and reliever Lou Trivino both were dealt to the New York Yankees for minor league prospects (AP News file photo)

No Surprise: A’s Frankie Montas Traded along with Lou Trivino.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Oakland A’s rebuilding which began months before the 2022, continued ahead of the August 2, deadline for trades. Frankie Montas, their best starter will be wearing pinstripes as the New York Yankees acquired him along with reliever Lou Trivino.

Montas was one of the best top of the line starters on the market, Trivino, a reliever who did not performed as a closer as the team had hoped for, however, he will have a change of scenery going to New York, where in the land of the greatest closer ever Mariano Rivera, he will have to perform, or else. In typical rebuilding mode, the Oakland A’s in return received four of the Yankees top prospects.

Left handed pitchers J.P Sears and Ken Waldichuk, right handed Luis Medina and second baseman Cooper Bowman. The Yankees most requested prospect is their young shortstop Anthony Volpe, (their untouchable prospect), which the Yankees will keep in their organization

Other names potentially on the trading block for the A’s, Ramón Laureano, Sean Murphy and maybe a couple of relievers from the bullpen, all the players that have any value in order to bring a good return of younger prospects to continue the rebuilding process.

Stay tune for more. The deadline for trades is this Tuesday 6PM EDT, 3PM PDT.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: An International Trade is made Public

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From left to right, Viktor Bout “The Merchant of Death” for Brittney Griner WNBA star and US Marine Paul Whelan could be made in a prisoner exchange as talks between the US and Russian governments continue (file photos from CNN News)

An International Trade is made Public

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Brittney Griner is a WNBA star with the Phoenix Mercury. She is the only NCAA and professional basketball player to both score 2,000 points and block 500 shots. Without a doubt one of the WNBA’s biggest stars. Griner was in Russia playing for the basketball team UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA off-season.

In February she was detained at Moscow Airport and has been in custody since then. Griner is accused of having vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage as she was trying to board a flight back to the US.

The US offered Russia a trade in order to free Brittney Griner. In this trade-deal the United States would send back to Russia convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, aka “The Merchant of Death” for Griner and also American Paul Whelan, who is also in a Russian jail.

This is very unusual. In the great majority of these types of international prisoners trades, the US never releases the information of what they are proposing. The US releases the information after the trade is consummated.

Usually the US government informs the media after the Americans are secured and coming back to their country. The same is when the US announces to the world that they have captured or killed a terrorist, they do not make the announcement before.

In another interesting piece of information, the US government also announced that this proposal was done months ago and they still have not heard any positive response from the Russian government. Today this is a very tough and delicate predicament for Griner who has been there since Russia invaded Ukraine and is caught in the middle of a very tense situation.

Sometimes we here in the US are very naive when we travel abroad, and forget that what in our free country is just a misdemeanor in other countries is a felony and in this case an international crisis.

This is not about basketball but about the tough job of diplomacy between two countries that for many decades (back to the Cold War) have never liked each other.

Griner is facing a ten year sentence if she is convicted and not released because she was carrying cannabis oil inside her luggage.

If this would have happened before the Russian-Ukraine war, chances are we might not even have known about it, and Griner would have been home for months, but she is very unlucky that this happened when a war was just beginning.

The US has sent Ukraine billions of dollars in weapons of war, supporting the fight against Russia. The US, although not involved with soldiers, is fighting Russia. This is the typical proxy war.

All this above sounds like at least a made-for-TV movie or even a feature film in Hollywood. Unfortunately we are all witnessing this as it happens, in real time, in this real crazy world it is more like a Live Reality Show with international consequences.

My hopes are that Brittney Griner can gain her freedom soon and return to her family in the United States.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Stanton, Judge, Soto Outfield?

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Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals gets a lift from the St Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols during the home run derby at the All Star Game at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Mon Jul 18, 2022. Soto could be a New York Yankee before the trade deadline (AP News photo)

Stanton, Judge, Soto Outfield?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

August 2 is the last day this year for trades. Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals is the name that is on many contending teams. Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Cardinals and Toronto, yes, Toronto is a bigger market than most people believe and if they really want to make an “earth shaking” move, they would trade for Soto. Soto fits their profile, the Toronto Blue Jays are a very young and talented team, Juan Soto is 23 with all the talent in the world.

Of course the Yankees are always a player, because they have and spend the money. Just image this outfield: Giancarlo Stanton in left, Aaron Judge in center and Juan Soto in right.

That arguably could be the most powerful trio of outfielders in the history of the major leagues. Never discount the possibility about the NY Yankees making this type of a move. It should not surprise anybody.

A day prior to the All Star Game last Tuesday, Dominican star Juan Soto said no to the Nationals offer of a 15 year-contract for $440 million. Not because he would not like that type of contract, but because he knows the Nationals are not going to be contending for a few years.

Other teams like the Dodgers, (with Yankees type of money) have to be considered. The Dodgers have a very strong farm system and are capable of trading for Soto. However, the Yankees and Dodgers are going to be playing in October, maybe playing each other in a World Series even without Soto.

Then here comes the Houston Astros, but they will not trade for Juan Soto. The Astros are one the best teams right now in the. I do not believe Dusty Baker’s team is in the Juan Soto sweepstakes.

A team that could go for Soto and use his bat are the San Diego Padres, right now a playoff team with a very good pitching staff but an offense that, except Manny Machado has been sputtering for a while this season. They hope that, the often injured Fernando Tatis Jr. can play soon for the last two months of the season and obviously having him ready for the postseason.

The Boston Red Sox are going to sell soon, they are in serious trouble right now but I do not believe Juan Soto is what they need. Their shortstop Xander Bogaerts will be traded, if not before this deadline, somewhere after that.

Any other teams that could land Juan Soto, they would be a surprise. One thing I do believe is that Juan Soto will be traded before the August 2 deadline. Right now Boston is a seller not a buyer. Seattle was playing very well, they had a 14-game winning streak, until they faced “reality” and were swept at home this weekend in 3 games by the Houston Astros.

If A’s ace Frankie Montás pitches well tomorrow against the Houston Astros (like last week when he pitched three innings allowed no runs and made 53 pitches) he would be traded. If not, is because the A’s are still asking too much in return for him, but eventually Montás will not be with the team very long.

Do not be surprised if the A’s trade these players also: Ramón Laureano, Tony Kemp, Sam Moll or another lefty reliever, Chad Pinder and there is a long shot that even a guy like catcher Sean Murphy, for the right deal, could leave Oakland as well as veteran shortstop Elvis Andrus, since young Nick Allen seems ready now to be an everyday shortstop.

The Giants are in an interesting situation after they just got swept in LA in a four game series and they’re are not going to win the division, there is one pitcher that could help a lot of teams, lefty starter Carlos Rodón, he has a lot of value, but because there are more opportunities to make it as wild card this season, I doubt the Giants would depart with Rodón, but they could trade with Boston, who is ready to unload JD Martínez a professional hitter, a good defensive player going to San Francisco, a team that is not a good defensive team.

This just In: Congratulations to NY Yankees WFAN radio announcer Suzyn Waldman, she was just elected to the National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago.

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 Amaruy News and Commentary podcast: Can A’s win another series against Astros again?; Houston and Oakland up for three game set tonight at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s right hander Adam Oller faces the visiting Houston Astros at the Oakland Coliseum on Mon Jul 25, 2022 to open a three game series. Oller is looking for his first win of the season. (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Oakland A’s (35-63) Houston Astros (64-32) square off here at the Oakland Coliseum tonight for the first of three in a row. The Astros one of the hottest teams in baseball and will be starting Jake Ordorizzi who is 4-2 with an ERA 3.56 has won four of his last seven games.

#2 The A’s will be starting right hander Adam Oller (0-3, 8.56) Oller had no decision in his last start against these very same Astros on July 17th. Oller tied his previous strike out high of retiring three batters. Oller did give up two solo home runs to the Houston Astros Kyle Tucker.

#3 The Astros have won five straight games defeating the New York Yankees in a two game series then sweeping the Seattle Mariners in three games.

#4 The last time the A’s faced the Astros was at Minute Field Jul 15-17th at Minute Maid Field in Houston. The A’s won the series taking two out of three no easy accomplishment. Can

#5 Amaury on Paul Blackburn just big surprised that he was racked up the way he was against the Texas Rangers they way he was on Sunday afternoon giving up ten runs on ten hits. Was it just a matter of he was missing with pitches or were the Rangers yesterday just seeing the ball very well.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Big Pappi, Jim Kaat, and Tony Oliva nominees for Hall of Fame induction

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Former Boston Red Sox David Ortiz is headed for the Hall of Fame here he is addressing the media on Mon May 2, 2022. Ortiz will be inducted on Sun Jul 24, 2022

On That’s Amaury podcast:

The Major League Baseball Writers of America Association will vote Sun Jul 24, 2022 for the next Hall of Famer to be elected. Of the seven candidates three are still living from the Boston Red Sox David Ortiz, from the Minnesota Twins pitcher Jim Kaat and outfielder Tony Oliva. The deceased candidates on the ballot from the Chicago White Sox Minnie Minoso, former New York Mets manager Gil Hodges, former Negro Leagues and first black professional baseball player from 1894-1904 Bud Fowler and former manager and Kansas City Monarch Buck O’Neil.

Amaury gives you an update of the Texas Rangers and Oakland A’s series from the Oakland Coliseum. Both teams are engaged in a three game series.

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