Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Nats GM tossed from game in luxury box; This past Labor Day could bring spike in virus; plus more

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The Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was thrown out of Sunday’s game vs the Baltimore Orioles for yelling out of the luxury box at the umpires. Here is Rizzo in the luxury box the day before on Sat Sep 5th (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury the talk during Labor Day weekend the fear was that the spike would go up and put face masks, gloves and social distancing aside during the scorching heat.

#2 Baseball is planning to have bubbles for the post season in Texas and Los Angeles for the playoffs and World Series do you see it working the same way it worked for the NHL and NBA.

#3 Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was ejected for yelling at umpires from the luxury boxes on Monday telling umpire Joe West and his crew they were brutal. With the stadium empty everything can hear everything that anyone is saying.

#4 The Los Angeles Angels TV announcer Victor Rojas said that a home run hit by the Angels in the top of the seventh was a walk off three run home run by Anthony Rendon. Which in some ways is understandable because the Angels were playing a make up doubleheader as the visiting team in Angels Stadium in their home uniforms. Rojas quickly walked back the walk off and said the Angels took the lead.

#5 On Wed Sep 9th at PNC Park the Pittsburgh Pirates will be wearing #21 in dedication to Roberto Clemente a tribute to one of the greatest Pirates ever who died trying to deliver relief to Nicaragua Dec 31st 1972.  Clemente got his 3000th major league hit to end the 1972 season on Sep 30th and it would be his final MLB game.

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

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s return home after six days off

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Former Los Angeles Angel Tommy LaStella joins the Oakland A’s this Friday as the A’s host the San Diego Padres. LaStella in photo hits a ninth inning two run walk off home run against the San Francisco Giants Mon Aug 17th at Angels Stadium (AP News file  photo)

A’s Return Home after Six Days Off

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–On August 23, after beating the LA Angels 5-4 on a smoky Sunday afternoon in Oakland, the Athletics went on their longest road trip of the season, a ten-game trip to play the Rangers and the Astros in Texas and the Mariners in Seattle. They played five of those ten games. Games were postponed in solidarity for social justice and also because one member of the Athletics organization tested positive for Covid-19.

You’ll never see a team take five or six days off during a season, not even during the All Star Break, but this is 2020, where all your sweet dreams or nightmares can come true and this last road trip for the Green and Gold was very unusual, to say the least.

They return Friday to the Oakland Coliseum, to open a seven-game series, three against the San Diego Padres, followed by four against the Houston Astros.

The San Diego Padres were the busiest team during the trade deadline, as they landed coveted pitcher Mike Clevinger in a nine player blockbuster deal. Solidifying an already excellent starting rotation and also acquiring veteran Mitch Moreland to join an already potent offense with Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer and company.

The A’s acquired lefty Mike Minor from Texas, a veteran, who was an All Star in 2019. Also traded for Tommy La Stella from the LA Angels, sending Franklin Barreto and cash considerations to the Angels.

With a 22-12 record and with a 13-4 home record the A’s are in first place over the Houston Astros, who recently swept them in a double-header at Minute Maid Park.

A good question for this home stand: How do the A’s respond after almost a full week of inactivity? Baseball is a game of repetition, practice, timing, feel, and sometimes when you stay away for a few days; you are not as sharp as when you play every day. A’s manager Bob Melvin admits is it not easy, but also said there is no excuse.

The month of September just began and the Athletics will have to play at least three (3) double-headers. It is not getting easier for Bob Melvin’s crew in the home stretch of 2020. We will soon find out.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Other mentions:  The great pioneer and visionary, Branch Rickey who signed Jackie Robinson to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers is credited for this memorable quote. “The greatest untapped reservoir of raw material in the history of our game is the black race.” Source: AP Wire During the Signing of Jackie Robinson (1946)

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for all the Oakland A’s action on Spanish radio 1010 KIQI San Francisco and for That’s Amaury’s Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s series in Seattle cancelled over Covid issues; Minor coming to A’s from Rangers in deal

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Pitcher Mike Minor is coming to the Oakland A’s in a deal from the Texas Rangers in exchange for two players to be named later (mlb.com file photo)

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

#1 The Oakland A’s have now cancelled three of their last five games only playing a doubleheader last Saturday how far does these misses put the A’s behind the eight ball?

#2 The first two misses on Thursday and Friday the A’s cancelled due to the civil unrest of racial injustice in America pertaining to the shooting of Blake Jacob in Kenosha Wisconsin.

#3 The A’s missed their third game on Sunday when a member of the A’s traveling party in Houston was found to be positive for Coronavirus. A’s general manager David Forst said anything beyond today will not be speculated on. The A’s were scheduled to be in Seattle on Tuesday night but have been quarantined in their Houston hotel rooms as of Sunday.

#4 Tests taken after the discovery have been reported to be negative in the A’s traveling party as of Sunday. The A’s series in Seattle was cancelled and are expected to resume on Fri 4th at the Oakland Coliseum against San Diego.

#5 The A’s are buyers on Monday they dealt two players to be named later to the Texas Rangers for pitcher Mike Minor. Minor has struggled at 0-5 ERA 5.6o for this season. His last outing however he threw six shutout innings against one of the toughest lineups in baseball the LA Dodgers.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 2020 poetic justice Dodgers on a record pace

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The Los Angeles Dodgers were supposed to honor former Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson this past April 15th for the anniversary of Robinson’s breaking the color bearer in 1947 the tribute never took place because of the Coronavirus shutdown. Here in this photo is Robinson with former Philadelphia Phillies manager Ben Chapman in 1947. Chapman was Robinson said the worst racist offender in baseball he ever encountered. Chapman only posed for this photo because the New York press wrote all the racist things that Chapman said and Chapman relented under pressure to show he could be in Robinson’s company for the photo   (lelands.com file photo)

2020 Poetic Justice: Dodgers on a Record Pace

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Los Angeles Dodgers are headed into this weekend with a 24-9 record, a .772 winning percentage. In a 60-game abbreviated season, this record is equivalent of 118 win game pace during a normal 162 game campaign.

Poetic Justice in this 2020 season that Jackie Robinson’s team, the first black man to play in the Major Leagues is making history. Granted, here in the Bay Area the Dodgers are despised, especially by Giants fans, who for years have considered the two best things for the Giants are, 1-To win the World Series and 2-For the Dodgers not to win the World Series. But that is part of the second most intense baseball rivalry. Yankees vs. Red Sox, obviously the oldest and fiercest, then the Giants vs. Dodgers and Cardinals vs. Cubs.

On April 15, 1997, in a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, New York, Commissioner Bud Selig declared that No. 42 (Jackie Robinson’s number with the Brooklyn Dodgers) would be permanently retired by all 30 major league teams.

Panamanian-born Mariano Rivera was the last player to wear No. 42 when he began his career until he retired in 2013, and was the last player to wear the historic baseball number. Mariano, a star on and off the field, a solid Christian man that is idolized in Panamá, who was also the first ever player unanimously inducted into Cooperstown.

Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, and the season beginning months later than the scheduled late March Opening Day, Jackie Robinson Day that was to be celebrated on April 15, the day he broke the color barrier in 1947 with the Dodgers, could not take place as planned by all teams in major league baseball.

There are two names in the history of baseball that are in our record books, because of the way they transformed the game we all love. Babe Ruth, because at that time in history ‘he was baseball’. Because of hitting very long home runs in the 1920’s a New York newspaper named his home runs “Ruthian” a word that is still even used today. Then there is Jackie Robinson a trailblazer and great example to black Americans and all Americans of honesty, perseverance and dedication to his family, his country and his sport.

The 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers are making news because during this “season” they are on a pace that would be equal to 118 wins during a 162 game season and because the Dodgers and Jackie Robinson are forever united by history, the Jackie Robinson name is today bigger than ever.

In 2017 the LA Dodgers dedicated an 800 pound, eight-foot bronze statue of Jackie Robinson – an image of Robinson stealing home during his rookie season. This statue if for everybody to see at the left field reserve plaza at Dodger Stadium (aka Chávez Ravine). If you ever visit Dodger Stadium, I recommend you take a look. The Dodger franchise is not one that builds many statues for players, for this one is special. Why? because it is not about statistics, but of historical and human values.

Jackie Robinson name is more important today that it was in 1947. I think it is poetic justice that because of the Dodgers great ‘on the field record’, his name has risen to the forefront of discussion in this country. At the end, we were and are, all born the same. We all bleed the same color. Stay well and stay tuned.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network on flaghship station 1010 KIQI San Francisco and on That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Trade Dealine Monday A’s should do “Nada”

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Matt Olson (28) is all the reason to do the forearm bash with teammate Mark Canha (20) after clouting a two run homer in the fourth inning of the Oakland A’s second game of the three game series at Globe Life Ballpark in Arlington on Tuesday night the Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos waits behind the plate (photo from sfgate.com)

Trade Dealine Monday: A’s should do “Nada”

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

The Oakland Athletics should not be busy when the trade deadline arrives on Monday the 31. Why should they? They are set at every position, including second base, shared by Tony Kemp and Chad Pinder. Their starting pitching is set and their bullpen is one of the tops in baseball.

In previous seasons the A’s have added a pitcher or two, most recent lefty reliever Jake Diekman, acquired mid-July last year in a trade with the Kansas City Royals. It is very improbable that the A’s are going to add to their bullpen, via acquisition or trade.

Of all the regular position players in the team, there is one rookie playing the catching position. Sean Murphy, for a few years he was the catcher of the future for the A’s and in 2020 he got the opportunity. Last year Murphy divided time between the minors and the majors. He launched 15 home runs in a total of just 61 games.

During Spring Training this is what Manager Bob Melvin said about Murphy. “We have been waiting for ‘Murph’ for a couple of years now,” and continued. “We have to keep him healthy” – he has dealt with some knee injuries and hasn’t had a full workload – but this is the type of a guy a catcher [turned] manager waits for.

The A’s continue their longest road-trip of the season, ten games. At Arlington vs. Rangers where they are playing a long 4-game set, then three (3) during the weekend at Houston vs. Astros, followed by three (3) more at Seattle vs. Mariners. Returning to Oakland for a seven (7)game home stand beginning September 4 against San Diego Padres for three (3) and the Houston Astros for four (4).

Super-utility Chad Pinder was placed on paternity leave as the team recalled outfielder Seth Smith. Pinder was batting .200 with two home runs and six runs batted in 17 games. Melvin has used Pinder and Kemp at second base, and without Pinder, he could also use young Luis Barreto at second base. 25-yeard old A’s catcher Jonah Heim made his major league debut last night at Arlington He got his first hit in the A’s 10-3 win over the Rangers. The A’s are “locked and loaded”to use an old Army term.

A day like today: August 26, 1980. George Brett strokes four singles and a double in five at-bats when the Royals edge Milwaukee at County Stadium, 7-6. The Kansas City third baseman’s 5-for-5 performance raises his league-leading batting average to .407. George Brett ended the season with a .390 average.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez can be heard on the Oakland A’s Spanish flagship station 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s vs Giants World Series? Why not, it’s 2020!

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Amaury discusses the possibility of a 2020 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s on That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary (pinterest.com image)

A’s vs Giants World Series? Why not, it’s 2020!

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In a year like this 2020, we can expect the unexpected. Yes, the Athletics are one of the top tier teams to make it all the way, while the Giants are definitely not on that same tier of team, but this is 2020, so you must throw logic out the window.

The last time the Giants went to the Fall Classic was as recent as 2014 when they beat Kansas City in seven games. The A’s have waited since 1990, when they lost to the Cincinnati Reds in a four-game sweep.

2020 is the perfect storm of a year, for these bay area teams to met again, Most memorable the last (and only time) they met in a World Series in 1989,that was stopped by the largest earthquake in recent history, the Loma Prieta 6.9 intensity earthquake.

Maybe destiny has it, that our two bay area professional teams will only make it under those circumstances. However, compared to 1989, this 2020 is in a class by itself.

More than likely the A’s will make it far and the Giants who are currently hot on a 5-game winning streak and will just vanish and try to salvage the season and play not to end in the cellar in a 60-game season.

The A’s do not have it that easy. Tomorrow they open their longest road-trip of the season, a 10-game show that takes them to Texas to play with both clubs in that State and then all the way up north to Seattle for three more games.

The A’s are one of the most complete teams in MLB this season, they are atop of the AL West and their only real threat -not to win the division- is the Houston Astros.

Good luck to both teams, and see you in the World Series!

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Covid-19, Doubleheaders, Time of the Game

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Chicago Cubs second baseman Jason Kipnis (27) turns to finish a double play with a throw over St. Louis Cardinals Dexter Fowler (25) during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in Chicago. The Cardinals will be ramping up their games with 53 games in 44 days to make up for canceled games (AP Photo/Mark Black)

Covid-19, Doubleheaders, Time of the Game

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

As of today, a total of 33 games have been postponed, because of Covid-19. There is a good chance some teams (like during the 1981 season, shortened by a 50-day players strike) will not be able to play the same amount of games.

Nothing wrong with that, as long as there is not a big difference in games. If a team ends playing 55 games, out of the 60-game season, it seems fair, however lesser games played could damage the season.

Going into the playoffs that could be a concern and winning percentages might have a key role to play. The St Louis Cardinals (one of the teams affected by Covid-19) are now in the process of playing 53 games in 44 days. If Cardinals fans like doubleheaders, 2020 is their year! However, that is not good if you are a pitcher and Managers will tell you the same.

Going by what has happened it seems that MLB didn’t have a good plan regarding how to handle playing with a Pandemic, and Protocols have not worked as good as they expected. MLB doesn’t want to be the league that fails, since the NBA and NHL have been successful, so far. It remains to be seen when it comes to the NFL season.

Why are the Playoffs this season that important?

1-MLB Stands to make $1 Billion in Television revenue.

2-Prior to the season, players negotiated a $50 million dollar Playoff pool.

3-More than likely teams that qualify for the Playoffs, total of 16 (eight on each league) will be playing in a Bubble, like the NBA. This means less travel for the players, easier to contain virus infections. Cities have yet to be announced if the go to the Bubble plan.

Statistics: Interesting stats about game time so far. We know during the last few years MLB has been trying to shorten the game time, by using various rule changes. So far this 2020 season, the seven inning games are averaging two hours and 34 minutes. While the regular nine inning games 3 hours and 6 minutes, and that is the longest ever.

Baseball is a game of stats today more than ever. Everything has a number: launch angle, speed of the ball leaving the bat, two of the most recent. I tolerate them, but not hooked on them, to me a home run is just that, regardless if it is so high it broke a cloud and so hard that nobody saw the ball, still a home run and you can trot around the bases.

In case you think that the seven inning games are here to stay, you do not have to worry much. Doubtful this will be permanently set. Less innings means less stat (fewer records) for players and in return it will always have the owners paying less money. The chances that seven inning games are going to be here to stay, I would say are two: “slim and none”.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Memory Lane The 1981 Oakland A’s

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Copy of a delivered Sports Illustrated cover of the starting rotation of the 1981 Oakland A’s pitching staff top left to right, Rick Langford, Steve McCatty, Brian Kingman, bottom Matt Keough (left) and Mike Norris (right)

Memory Lane: The 1981 Oakland Athletics

That’s Amaury News Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

This current 60-game abbreviated season and the strike-abbreviated season of 1981 have many similarities. For the Oakland A’s 1981 was a bittersweet year. The A’s went far in the postseason, but felt short of the World Series. Some of us remember that year, in my case it was another crazy baseball season. The 1981 season and strike lasted from June 12 until July 31. It was all about arguing for free-agent compensation, in case anybody forgot. About one-third of the regular season was cancelled that year.

The 1981 season was actually split in half and there was quite a controversy because some teams missed out the postseason. The strike lasted a total of 50 days. All Star Game was postponed and then played August 9 in Cleveland, the second time an ASG was played in the month of August. Seems were settled and owners gave teams that won their divisions the right to advance to the Postseason.

The Oakland Athletics won the west that year with a record of 64-45 and got the right to travel to Kansas City for the best of five Divisional Series vs. the Royals. My broadcast partner, Julio González (RIP) and yours truly traveled to Kansas City for the first two games. The A’S won their two games in Kansas City and then returned to Oakland, were they finished the Royals via sweep.

While in Kansas City I wanted to visit the Harry Truman Library, in Independence, Missouri, not far from Kansas City, I convinced Julio we should visit. As somebody who likes history, I thought that would have been a good time to visit the former President hometown and library, but time was of an essence and we never visited. We were not more than 12 miles or so away, since we were staying at the hotel just outside Kaufman Stadium across the freeway, a big Marriott Hotel.

The next stop for the Athletics was New York. Yankee Stadium as we traveled for the American League Championship Series and a win would find us in the World Series. The first two games where in New York, I remember we took the team bus and I was wearing an A’s warm-up jacket (I should have known better, I lived in NY in the late 60’s) as we came out of the bus, some kids where throwing pebbles and stuff at all of us, players and alike as we came out of the bus right in front the stadium. Not a good omen.

The Yankees took the first two games in New York, and ultimately they also beat the A’s on the game at the Oakland Coliseum. We were done for the season. A crazy strike-year, A’s swept the Royals, and then got swept by the Yankees.

In 1981 Julio and yours truly were doing the games for KIQI 1010AM when the owner was Cuban-born Rene DeLa Rosa, a lifelong baseball aficionado, who just a couple of years’ before bought the station from Bay Area communications magnate James Gabbert.

Today and during the last few years the A’s broadcast Spanish station are aired on that same frequency 1010AM/990AM although with new management, studios, but still in San Francisco. The 1981 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

I covered the games in LA for the radio station with interviews and pre-post game reports, Fernando Valenzuela who was the man for the Dodgers and one of the most popular players in all of baseball sat down with me for a one-on-one, among other players, also colleague friend and Dodger Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrin, with whom I would be working a few years later during playoffs for the US and Latin-American Radio networks.

At the end, the Los Angeles Dodgers won in six games and their celebration took place inside their dressing room at Yankee Stadium, as they took that game six in the Bronx.

My memories of the 1981 season are still there, and it reminded me of the current 2020 season. We all know the reasons this season was “delayed” and we know a player strike also reduced 1981 which ended with a bi-coastal World Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers, the TV network dream. Ironically, today 39 years later, the two favorite teams to meet in the World Series in this 60-game season are, the Yankees and the Dodgers. Stay well and stay tuned.

Catch Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Manolo Hernandez-Douen for all of the Oakland A’s Spanish play by play on 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and Amaury does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 2020 History Four Cubanos in the same Lineup

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abc7ny.com file photo: The late Minnie Minoso who played in the majors breaking in the majors 1947 and retiring in 1980 playing mostly with the Chicago White Sox was born in Perico, Cuba is one of the subjects of That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

2020 History Four Cubanos in the same Lineup

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Orestes (Minnie) Miñoso is a happy man, looking down from heaven at his Chicago White Sox. On Saturday August 1, 2020 the Chicago White Sox became the first team ever in history to field four (Cuatro) Cuban players in the same lineup; Luis Robert(CF), Yoan Moncada(3B) José Abreu(1B) and Yasmani Grandal(C). And as if it wasn’t enough, the starter was ex-A’s lefty Gio González, born in Miami of Cuban Immigrant parents.

Miñoso was a tutor to a young rookie Abreu as the young first-baseman told me during an interview while his team was in Oakland. José Abreu talked about Miñoso, with a lot of reverence and admiration.

Minnie has a Statue at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. That same year, (2014) Abreu won the American League rookie of the year as he batted .317 with 36 home runs and drove in 107 runs. In 2018 when the White Sox called Yoan Moncada to the major, Abreu didn’t wasted anytime.

Rick Hand, General Manager said as Abreu was the most famous Uber driver at the airport picking up his compatriota Moncada Their lead-off hitter is another Cuban defector, Luis Robert 22 years old, who signed with the team for a $25 million bonus. Robert said that he told his agent he wanted to play for the White Sox, and his wish became a reality.

Although Chicago is not Miami, New York or Los Angeles, the cities where the majority of Cubans reside in the US, this bunch seem to be happy playing in the Windy City and have their own click going, with little Cuban flags all in a row at their dressing room as they seem to enjoy each other’s company.

Cuba’s baseball tradition is historical and well documented. In 1954, a franchise was awarded to Havana, Cuba, where they played, until 1960 when political upheaval and Castro’s declaration of communism and elimination of all professional sports in the island forced the team to be moved to Jersey City, New Jersey, in the middle of the season.

That was in the famous AAA International League. Cuba was the only Latin American country, to-date- to ever be awarded a professional baseball franchise and in 1960 the Havana Sugar Kings/Jersey City Jerseys, were the only international team aside the Montreal Royals and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In 1923 Cincinnati Reds Cuban-born pitcher Adolfo Luque ended the season with a record of 27-8 with a 1.93 earned run average, pitched 322 innings started 37 games and completed 28 and threw 6 shutouts. He led the major leagues in wins and earned run average that year, and with 151 strikeouts finished second to Dazzy Vance.

The Cy Young Award was not given until the year 1956. Other Cuban-born players of white skin played, like Rene Monteagudo who played in the majors from 1938 to 1945. The first Latino manager of a major league team was Miguel Angel González in 193. 8 After coaching the St Louis Cardinals in 1934, four years later was named manager of the Cardinals on September 11, when Frankie Frisch was fired. González was originally a catcher.

The Chicago White Sox are a very good team, loaded with a nucleus of young talent, and these four Cubans are part of that. All four are regulars.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: There is No Social Distancing in Football

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(lineups.com image) The Houston Texans are scheduled to open the season against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday September 10th

There is No Social Distancing in Football

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In football the purpose is to move the ball towards the opposition’s end zone ultimately into their end zone to score a touchdown. This is achieved by 1-Running with the ball until you are tacked. 2-Throwing the ball down field to score. And of course, there is a field goal kicker. That is the NFL-type of football we know.

Even when you play “touch football” in a park with friends, we still make contact with each other, that is why we call it “touch football’. Football is antithetical to baseball, where one team on the field is well separated by bases 90 feet apart, and even more of a distance among the three outfielders.

The catcher, the hitter and the umpire are the ones that are closer to each other during most of the game. But, how can you have social distancing in football, when the core of the sport is a brutal confrontation with the purpose of hitting your opponent hard until you beat his brains out.

The NFL is planning to have their season. If it all goes well as the NFL hopes, their season opener will have the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans in their season opener Thursday, September 10. To be followed by a complete 17-week season, then playoffs and eventually Super Bowl 55 in Tampa on February 7, 2021. The league also has contingency plans to start the season later, if necessary. Just like in baseball, although for different reasons, in the case of baseball a labor disagreement between owners and players, the NFL seems to be committed to play a full 2020–21 season.

For the NFL their biggest opponent this season is #19, Covid-19 to be exact. Controversy has followed the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell is not a very popular man. Goodell is like “Captain Obvious” he said (quote) “The NFL in 2020 will not look like other years”.

Special helmets. Sports manufacturing Oakley, who already build face shields for the players have send some NFL teams their new helmets equipped with a Mouth Shield they hope will protect players from Covid-19 for their approval. The biggest challenge for the league is probably not on the playing field, but in the traveling, hotels and especially when players have some free time available.

My favorite quote about football. “Football has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealously, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting”

-George Orwell.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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