Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: deGrom first pitcher to be checked; NCAA athletes will get compensation; plus more

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New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom is inspected becoming the first MLB pitcher to be checked by umpires since the new policy from MLB was instituted during Mon Jun 21, 2021 game vs. the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field in Flushing NY (photo from

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom who was out with shoulder issues was back on the mound during Monday’s game against the visiting Washington Nationals. deGrom’s hat, uniform, and under his belt was checked while he was heading back to the dugout and was cleared. This is expected to be the first of many inspections by umpires.

#2 Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Carl Nassib became the first active player to announce that he is gay. Nassib said he’s a quiet private person and that he’s coming out because as Nassib said “visibility and representation are important.”

#3 The US Supreme Court announced that college athletes will get compensation in the forms of needed materials such as transportation, computers, travel, the players at some point will be getting monetary compensation. NCAA president has order all 1100 NCAA member schools to act on compensation or he will.

#4 Amaury, lots of anti vaccine blow back the Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley said he won’t get vaccinated and said that he wants to live his life his way and he may die of Covid but he rather die actually living.

#5 The Oakland A’s are trying to put the memory of their trip to New York behind them they opened up a four game series against the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington. The Rangers wasted no time rallying for five runs in the first inning against A’s starter Frankie Montas. Looks like the A’s have hit a rough patch again.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Hot Again -Athletics Winning is no Surprise

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The Oakland A’s Mark Canha connects for a single in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York on Fri Jun 18, 2021 (AP News photo)

Hot Again -Athletics Winning is no Surprise

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Oakland Athletics going for their eighth win in a row this Saturday at Yankee Stadium, New York. Among all 30 MLB teams there are surprises every season, teams that were supposed to win, that are not, and teams that were not supposed to win that are winning.

Your typical over achievers and under achievers. But the Oakland Athletics are neither, they have been a good team and they continue to be. Although it was a short season in 2020 the A’s won their division and this year they had the longest winning streak in the game.

13 victories in a row and that was no fluke. Led by first baseman Matt Olson, who is having an MVP-type of season, a solid starting rotation and a very efficient bullpen, even though they are without closer Trevor Rosenthal, whom they signed to a one-year deal for $11 million in February.

He was to take the place of Liam Hendricks who left the Athletics and signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox. Rosenthal (surgery) has yet to pitch. Off everything goes to plan he might be able to pitch towards the end of the season. Rosenthal, 30, has 132 saves and a 3.36 ERA over eight major league seasons.

The AL West is basically a two-team race, between the reigning divisional champion Oakland A’s and the Houston Astros who are in second and continue to keep pace with the A’s. The word “distancing” came out of the closet with the Covid pandemic, and in this division there is distancing, between Oakland and Houston and then the rest of the herd. The AL West can be divided into two segments.

The Athletics have enough to win between 90 to over 100 games. For the A’s the big question must be; how deep can they go into the postseason. The Chicago White Sox are one of the most athletic teams in the game, well balanced and managed by Tony LaRussa, while the Tampa Bay Rays could easily return to the World Series.

The Houston Astros, might have the best offense in the game. Trade deadline is only six weeks away. What do they Athletics need for the second half? Twins slugger Nelson Cruz (DH) will probably be available. He would be a key bat for the postseason, and some more help in the bullpen is always welcome. The A’s front office usually finds a way to make a deal when they are contending and this year should be no different.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Baseball Umpires to check Pitchers’ Balls

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Former Cleveland pitcher Gaylord Perry was checked often for using foreign substances and doctoring baseballs which is now the case this season with the use of the spider tack baseball used by some MLB pitchers (file photo from Hobart Pulp)

Baseball: Umpires to check Pitchers’ Balls

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Being a few days since California “was opened” due to Covid, there is a new scandal brewing…… in baseball. Beginning this Monday June 21, MLB umpires will be enforcing new guidelines around pitchers using foreign substances on baseballs during games.

According to MLB, umpires will be urged to check the pitcher regularly and ask for the ball if they suspect the baseball has an unusually sticky feel to it. Also, when an umpire notices a pitcher going to his hat, glove, belt, or any place on his uniform or body to apply what may be a foreign substance, he will be checked.

Players caught will be ejected and suspended (with pay) for 10 games, even if the opposing manager doesn’t request inspection. Major League Baseball is responding to a season with: 1-Record strikeouts, 2-League batting average more than half-century low at .235 and 3-Spin rates of the ball.

This represents more responsibility for baseball umpires, who will be policing these new guidelines. MLB is not de-funding the umpires, but giving them more power. MLB investigated numerous complaints from players, tested balls, plus collected data during April and May.

Spin rates on the ball that provides pitchers with an unfair competitive advantage over pitchers and hitters who do not used foreign substances. All this has also translated to less action on the field. There have been six (6) no hitters this year (one of 7 inning thrown by Madison Bumgarner) but MLB doesn’t recognizes that as a no hitter because is less than 9 innings. The record is eight (8) no hitters in 1884.

This April, Trevor Bauer, now with the LA Dodgers and the 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner reacted sarcastically to the report on his twitter account. He also noted that many baseballs were being collected from games across baseball, not only from him.

More recently after the MLB announced on this new guidelines he told the MLB network that pitchers use the ‘rosin bag’ (a sticky substance extracted from the sap of fir trees) and is used by pitcher to improve their grip on the baseball and keep their hands dry, but Bauer said many pitchers use the rosin bad and it gets mixed with their sweat.

Gaylord Perry is 82 years old, born in Williamston, NC. He pitched for 22 years won 314 games, with 6 different teams, first pitcher to win the Cy Young in both leagues, with the Indians in the AL in 1972 and with the Padres in the NL in 1978 5 times All Star, five season with 20 or more wins, inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown in 1991.

He wrote the book “Me and The Spitter” an autobiographical confession by Gaylord Perry. This is one of Gaylord Perry’s quotes: “I’d always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to be caught out there with anything though; it wouldn’t be professional.” See you at the park.

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’s News and Commentary: Latino Power–Guerrero Jr. Tatis Jr., and Acuna Jr.

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The Toronto Blue Jays Teoscar Hernandez (right) get a hug from teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr after Hernandez hit a three run homer against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston on Sun Jun 13, 2021 (AP News photo)

The Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr hitting .344 with 21 home runs is seen here taking off after connecting with the baseball (CBS Sports file photo)

Latino Power: Guerrero Jr. Tatis Jr. Acuña Jr.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Out in Toronto, in San Diego and Atlanta, play three of the most talented players in the game today, the three are MVP-franchise-caliber players. They have one thing in common, they are exciting in everything they do, great talent and flair all rolled into one.

These are the type of players that get the attention of the new baseball generation of young fans. More than launch-angle, and exit velocity and everything else that is served on a plate for fans today, these are the player’s baseball needs. These three are among the real “influencers” that promote the game and can bring the type of attention that many say baseball is lacking behind the NFL and NBA.

Toronto’s first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 22 years old, batting .344 with 21 home runs and 55 runs-batted-in (on top of most offensive departments in MLB) just on his third year in the majors.

His dad Vladimir Guerrero a superstar who was inducted as a LA Angel to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2018 and who could hit any pitch, wherever it was thrown, plus owned a Clemente-type of arm from right field, taught his son Guerrero Jr. how to play the game since he began to walk.

Anytime you asked Guerrero about Jr., his face broke out in a smile. Guerrero Jr. personality seems to be like his Hall of Fame father, happy-go-lucky type of player with talent that some would say is on loan from God. During this past winter he shed 42 pounds.

When his father visited Angel Stadium after his induction into the Hall of Fame he came to the Fox Sports Spanish broadcast and told us, when asked why his son was not there Sr. said he didn’t wanted his son there, that he was better to continue playing baseball in the minor leagues.

Fernando Tatis Jr., 22 years old. He is the San Diego Padres shortstop. He who signed a deal with the Padres for $330 million with a full no-trade provision through 2028, the phrase “Slam Diego” has been coined at PETCO Park since this young man arrived which has created a kind of contagious excitement that has never been seen there.

The Padres hope to win a World Series this year; they are the only major league team in California with no World Series hardware. His real Padre, Fernando Sr. who was a third-baseman for 11 years, owns a unique MLB record; he hit two grand slams in the same inning while playing for St Louis at Dodger Stadium in 1999.

I would not be surprised if Junior duplicates that record. What story would that be, there is no limit to this kid talent. At the time of this article Fernando Tatis Jr. was hitting .279 with 19 home runs and 55 runs batted in.

Ronald Acuña Jr. Atlanta Braves right fielder, he is 23 years old and the “veteran” among the trio. Acuña Jr. has been playing with the Braves for four years. In 2019 he ended the season hitting .280 with 41 home runs and 101 RBI.

This season, as of today, he was hitting .292 with 18 home runs and 39 RBI. Acuña Jr. is one of the elite players in the game in the town where the great Hank Aaron once played to my liking, Aaron is the legitimate Home run king.

There is another young player today that people have to watch all the time, Shohei Othani, the Japanese phenom is doing something that has not been done since Babe Ruth, he can pitch and he can hit, and do both very well.

Last week he hit a home run to right center field at Angel Stadium, estimated to be 470 feet which his manager Joe Maddon said “That’s the farthest ball I’ve ever seen hit here” and continued “I’ve never seen one hit there before”. Maddon served as bench coach for manager Mike Scioscia in the early 2000, winning a World Series in 2002. He had spent over 30 years with the Angels organization. Now he is back as their skipper

These are the players that can bring people to baseball. Othani is in town for three games starting tonight against the Oakland Athletics. The A’s hold a two-game lead on top of Houston in the AL West, but the Angels now in third place are red hot (even without Mike Trout) and have won six games in a row and are only six games out of first place, with a lot of baseball left this season.

See you at the park!

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: USA Baseball Back at the Olympics

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Mike Scioscia former Los Angeles Angels manager will be managing the 2021 National Team and will be at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics (photo from USA Baseball)

USA Baseball Back at the Olympics

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

First Olympic Baseball tournament since 2008 and the United States of America is back after classifying this weekend. Baseball is back after a rule change that allowed the host nation to propose adding additional sports for games.

In 2016 Baseball and Softball were confirmed as Olympic sports (both softball and baseball are very popular in Japan) baseball was confirmed along with karate, skateboarding, sports chiming and surfing. Baseball will not be back in the 2024 Paris Olympics but could be added (more than likely) to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

More on this at the end. US Manager Mike Scioscia’s team qualified in Florida with a 4-2 victory over Venezuela. The US joins Israel, México, South Korea and host Japan. The final (six spot) will go to the winner of a final qualifying tournament later this month.

Dominican Republic and Venezuela with be among those going for the last berth. Cuba, winner of three of the five past gold medals failed to make the Olympics this year and their national team is in disarray as some players that were scheduled to fly from Florida to Mexico to join professional teams in that country defected, including a team physiologist.

The US Olympic team features promising minor leagues, who were allowed by their MLB teams to participate as well as veteran ex-major leaguers like pitchers Edwin Jackson and David Robertson. No current players in Major League clubs are allowed to participate in the Olympics.

The US baseball team has won gold once, in 2000 and bronze twice in 1996 and 2008. The baseball competition of the Tokyo Olympics gets underway on July 27 and concludes on August 7. Manager Mike Scioscia, who won a World Series with the Los Angeles Angels over the San Francisco Giants in 2002 said about his US Olympic team, regarding all his players young and veterans on his team: “Your priority has to be contained to the process to getting to the gold,” Scioscia said. “I think that there is an opportunity for players to get back on the drawing board as far as where their careers might be, but that’s t the primary reason they’re here.”

Good luck to Mike Scioscia and the USA Olympic Baseball team, hope they bring home the gold. Note: I agree with Japan accepting Baseball as an Olympic Sport. As a matter of fact I believe Baseball should be a regular sport at every Olympic.

Think of this; Skateboarding began in the 1950’s when surfers in Southern California wanted something to do when the waves were flat. It was then called “sidewalk surfing”which is now popular in many cities. Yet, baseball a sport that has been around for over a century and it is played in the Americas, Asia, Oceania and some countries in Europe is not?

I understand the French not wanting baseball during the Paris Olympics on 2024. the French would probably have Chess as an Olympic Sport before baseball. Men’s Soccer was first introduced at the Summer Olympics in 1900 in Paris, but the French will probably never accept baseball.

One of my favorite quotes about the French: “France has neither winter nor summer nor morals—apart from these drawbacks it is a fine country.” -Mark Twain.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Olympics Cuban National Baseball Team Fails to Qualify More Defections

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Cuban pitcher Lazaro Blanco joined teammate Carlos Juan Vera and team psychologist Jorge Sile Figueroa in Miami as they defected on Fri Jun 4, 2021 (photo from SwingCompleto)

Olympics: Cuban National Baseball Team Fails to Qualify: More Defections

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

For the first time since 1984 (first time since baseball became an Olympic sport) Cuba will not be sending a team to the Tokyo Olympics. The Cuban national team lost its first two games to Venezuela and then to Canada, during the pre-olympics in Florida.

The Cubans made all five Olympic baseball medal finals before baseball was removed from the Olympics after 2008. With Cuba out, the US ranked No 2 in the world behind Japan, Canada, Venezuela and one of the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua or Puerto Rico will advance to the final round of the qualifier.

After their #1 player, César Prieto defected last week; two more Cuban players and one team psychologist defected. Cuban pitchers Lázaro Blanco and Carlos Juan Vera did not showed up to the airport in Miami. They were to fly to México to join baseball teams in the Mexican Professional League.

Jorge Sile Figueroa a 33-year old Cuban psychologist for the Cuban team also defected, Pitcher Lázaro Blanco said to Telemundo CH 51 in Miami “I am here because I want to play baseball and make a team in the US, it was a tough decision because I am leaving my family behind”.

These defections are not good for the Cuban government propaganda machine. It is palpable proof that even in Cuba a country crazy for baseball, Freedom ranks above the game.

Stay well

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Olympics in Japan Money or Health

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2021 Tokyo Olympics NBC logo; The Tokyo Olympics are in jeopardy due to the spike of Coronavirus cases in Japan. The International Olympic Committee is planning to move forward with the games. (image from creative blog)

Olympics in Japan: Money or Health

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

According to the Associated Press between 50-80% of Japanese citizens do not want the Olympics to take place in Tokyo. Organizers have already announced that international fans will not be permitted. The IOC has repeatedly said that the Games will move forward safely.

Japan has extended the state of emergency in the country through mid-June in both Tokyo and Osaka. “The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee will absolutely make sure to protect the health of the athletes,” organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto told the AP. Japan’s population: 126.3 million.

Over 750,000 confirmed cases of Coronavirus since pandemic began. 13,000 plus deaths reported 3% of the country has been fully vaccinated. Originally to take place in 2020 and after the Covid pandemic forced the cancellation last year; some estimates today project Japan will have spent $35 Billion dollars to host the games this year. The original budget was about $7.5 Billion.

The opening ceremony will take place on July 23. NBC is the Official Olympic Network. Japan is 16 hours ahead of the West Coast.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Another Cuban Baseball Player Defects – Cuban Government Furious

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Cesar Prieto Cuban star of the Cuban Olympic team has defected in Florida while the team was there, Prieto is seen here while playing for the Cuban team during a training session at Estadio Latinamericano in Havana (AP News file photo)

Another Cuban Baseball Player Defects – Cuban Government Furious

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Cesar Prieto star of the Cuban Olympic team defected and here is the statement by the Cuban Federation of Sports. “His decision, which is contrary to the commitment he made with both his country and team, has generated repudiation among his colleagues and other members of the delegation, who are willing to overcome foreign interests to be faithful to our homeland and the mission with which we traveled to the tournament”.

Typical statement by a communist government and it is loaded with BS. Most of his teammates are probably very happy Prieto left the team, because he is one of the most talented players on that squad and sometime that would soon be signed by a MLB scout.

It doesn’t matter what administration (party) is in charge in Washington, D.C, because Cuba just continues to violate basic human rights and their system reeks of confiscation, envy and pure hate for those that seek a basic fundamental of all human being, Freedom.

Cesar Prieto is just 21 years of age and one of the best Cuban players at this time. He said “no más” to Cuba while his team was in Florida in the qualifying round for the Tokyo Olympics, where baseball will be back as an Olympic sport. In other words, the communist government of Cuba is upset with this desertion.

The only reason Prieto deserted is because he is looking for the Liberty and the opportunity that his country doesn’t allows him. Cuban players play for the Cuban government, which is the largest employer in the country. They made the equivalent to $60 dollars a month, and have other duties “assigned” to them, like driving the team bus, these are requirements by a country that doesn’t offer its citizens the Freedom of travel, of thought or assembly.

Most of the over 25 Cuban players today in the MLB have either defected when they leave Cuba and arrive at a free country or have the dangerous task to escape in man-made dinghy across the treacherous Florida straits. It doesn’t matter which party is in the White House. Cubans have been defecting for decades and will continue until they are free to travel.

The Coast Guard is still looking for the 10 refugees that just defected from Cuba. From the Miami Herald: ” As Cuba descends into one of the worst economic crises since the beginning of the Castro revolution, its people are escaping in greater numbers on dangerous journeys to the United States and encountering disasters on the high seas.

In the latest calamity, two Cuban migrants died and 10 others were missing after their boat capsized in the Florida Straits south of Key West this week, while the U.S. Coast Guard rescued eight survivors Thursday and continued their search mission Friday.”

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: José Canseco Showtime Car Wash in Vegas

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Jose Canseco’s Showtime Car Wash outside of carwash in Las Vegas (photo from yelp.ca)

José Canseco Showtime Car Wash in Vegas

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

For a couple of years now, Mr.40-40/MVP José Canseco’s name is on his Car Wash operation in Las Vegas. José has done many things after his 17 year-career in MLB (which most of us that covered him with the A’s believe was on the way to the Hall of Fame).

He has done reality television shows, wrestled strange things on the boxing ring and other “out of the ordinary” stuff, too many to mention, including a couple of books about Steroids. But now he can be seen at the Showtime Car Wash in Las Vegas on Tropicana Avenue.

A place where you can have your car hand washed, or detailed and even get an autograph from the slugger and half part of the Bash Brothers during the A’s most recent glory years. Canseco is not there all the time, but at specific days of the week.

Canseco was signing autographs at a hotel in Las Vegas, last time I visited. Some are the regular baseball memorabilia shows that travel around the country as well as Las Vegas which is one of the big entertainment centers of the world, home to the Oakland Raiders and could be the future home of the Oakland Athletics. If the A’s relocate to Vegas, Canseco can always say, “I was here first”.

Hoping for a healthy Memorial Day weekend.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Shooting kills one just blocks away from A’s new ballpark site; Will Curry and Green seek the highest bidder to sign with? plus more

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Authorities work the area near Oakland Police Headquarters precinct in downtown Oakland and Oakland Chinatown just blocks from Jack London Square the site of the Oakland A’s proposed new ballpark after a shooting killing one male. 20 spent bullet casings were found at 8th in Broadway on Mon May 24, 2021. (still photo from NBC Bay Area)

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

#1 Fans, media, workers, front office staff and players could be concerned regarding the future of moving to downtown Oakland as downtown and Chinatown have seen it’s share of violence just blocks from Howard Terminal where the Oakland A’s hope to build their new ball park. A male was shot over 20 times just a block from Oakland Police headquarters in downtown and no suspects have been arrested or found in the Monday killing.

#2 The Golden State Warriors next move now that their regular season is over is to try and sign both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green during this off season. Amaury do you find it a no brainer for both Green and Curry to sign on with the Warriors or will they wait it out and see who the highest bidder is in the NBA.

#3 Amaury, talk about the hit by injury that A’s Mark Canha sustained getting hit in the elbow which caused swelling on Saturday. Canha made a quick recovery on Monday night with two hit and scoring a run, walked twice with an RBI.

#4 Former St Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa faced his old team at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago. LaRussa recently had been questioned about some of the remarks he made regarding the Sox Yermin Mercedes when he hit a 3-0 pitch for a home run against a position player, LaRussa in another game on May 5th used Liam Hendricks to pinch run at second base during the 10th inning on a double switch during the post game press conference LaRussa said he didn’t know he could have used Jose Abreau as a pinch runner. LaRussa has being under a lot of criticism this month but the White Sox still maintain first place in the AL Central.

#5 Japanese polls show that 60-80% of the public do not want the Summer Olympics to open for at least two months during a pandemic. International Olympics Committee vice president John Coates told a reporter “absolutely yes” that the Olympics will open July 23rd and will “safe and secure.”

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