Tag: Amaury Pi Gonzalez

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: How much of the blame will MLB Commish Manfred take on crisis?; plus more

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Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle was one of the first players to speak out against the idea of playing a season in a pandemic and in the last 24 hours MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has been catching a lot of the blame (photo from Yahoo!)

On That’s Amaury’s Podcast:

#1 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is in a real spot here he pushed for baseball to go ahead with this 60 game schedule and players like the Washington Nationals Sean Doolittle and the Cincinnati Reds Trevor Bauer said they should just shelve this season and now MLB has a huge outbreak of Covid.

#2 The Miami Marlins have half their team out positive with Coronavirus held up in a hotel room in Philadelphia quarantined and two MLB games were canceled that pretty much has other clubs in fear and also pretty much puts the season in danger of being canceled.

#3 The Detroit Tigers manager Rob Gardenhire said that he’s nervous to play the Cincinnati Reds since second baseman Mike Moustakas and Reds outfielder Nick Senzel are reported to being sick while a unnamed teammate has tested positive for Covid 19.

#4 Amaury from the famous Utah Jazz Rudy Gobert incident when he rubbed his hands all over the microphones and laughing about the Covid threat later got Corona now fast forward to baseball some of the players, talk show hosts and those who work in the game say this should have never launched from day one.

#5 Amaury do you think the NHL and the NBA got it right and have a bubble in Orlando for the NBA and in Canada for the NHL will the NFL be next because of the nature of the game being a sweat swapping contact sport?

Join Amaury is the Oakland A’s Spanish announcer on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and join Amaury each Tuesday for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Toronto Blue Jays are Homeless as 2020 season begins

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Pennsylvania Department of Health have ruled against the Toronto Blue Jays sharing PNC Park with the Pittsburgh Pirates because of the increased cases of Covid-19 (photo from tripadvisor.com)

Toronto Blue Jays are Homeless as 2020 season begins

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Toronto Blue Jays might have to play their full 60-game season on the road after PNC Park the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates (team they were talking to) denied them access to play their 30 home games at PNC.

Statement by the Pennsylvania Department of Health:

“In recent weeks, we have seen a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in southwestern Pennsylvania,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said in a statement.

“To add travelers to this region for any reason, including for professional sports events, risks residents, visitors and members of both teams. We know that this virus does not discriminate, and can even make professional athletes very sick. We are committed to protecting the health and well-being of all Pennsylvanians.”

Over the weekend, the Blue Jays were denied by the Canadian Government to use their home station Rogers Centre, because they feared bringing American League East teams to Toronto could spread the Coronavirus in the largest city in Canada.

On Monday the Pirates announced they were in discussions with the Blue Jays and MLB, hoping they could host the Toronto team at PNC Park this season.

The Blue Jays will begin their season this Friday the 24th as they are expected to play the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida.

In the meantime MLB is trying desperately to find the Homeless Blue Jays a home for 30 games.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB 2020 will it be remembered as “Fake Season?”

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner who is noted for his pretty good use of the bat will not be able to hit as the National League for the first time will be using the universal designated hitter one of the firsts in baseball that Amaury talks about in today’s commentary (arizonarepublic.com file photo)

MLB 2020: Will it be remembered as the “Fake Season”

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Will this 2020 season that begins this week be remembered as the season when these things happened? At least ten (10) of them.

1-The Canadian team was not allowed to play in Canada. 2-The first season when there was a new “Virus DL” list. 3- First season when National League used the Designated Hitter. 4- First season when no fan caught a foul ball at a game. 5- First season when many players and umpires opted-out prior to the inaugural game. 6-First season when a game went extra-innings and the team batting in the top of the 10 th automatically starts the frame with a runner at second-base. 7-First time all parking lots at each park are empty. 8-First season each team broadcaster radio and television works inside a whole booth alone. 9-First time all schedule promotions at each park, like the tickets, will be a collector’s item and 10- A 60-game season that is not completed, because of extenuating circumstances.

I am sure there will be other “firsts” like in some places the National Anthem might not be played. Many people that are invited by teams to sing, will not be there, and a plethora of other stuff.

No question we are embarking into this season just like when in early August of 1492 Spain King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain financed the trip by Italian mariner Christopher Columbus who sailed from Spain with three small ships, and in late August sighted Cuba, which he thought it was mainland China. Later Columbus (who didn’t have a GPS) landed in Hispaniola (today Dominican Republic) and thought it might be Japan. Obviously and inadvertently, as history would have it, Columbus was involved with three baseball countries; Cuba, Dominican Republic and Japan. He struck-out on China.

Hopefully this 60-game season will be completed as planned and fans hungry for the game WILL get a taste of a season that will be marked with asterisks. A very realistic possibility exists that some baseball historians will regard the 2020 season as the “fake season”.

As much as I love the game of baseball, I still have my feet planted on the ground and this is how I see it. You might agree, or disagree. I will always respect your opinion as long as we can remain a free country.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Catch Amaury for Spanish A’s broadcasts on the A’s Spanish flagship station at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Oh No Canada!

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Rogers Centre in Toronto the usual home of the Toronto Blue Jays but not this season because of the huge pandemic issues in the US. The Canadian government is not allowing teams from the US in Toronto (ballparksofbaseball.com file photo)

Oh No Canada!

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

The Federal Government of Canada has prohibited the Toronto Blue Jays of playing at their home field Rogers Centre this season, because of their necessary travel to the US and the dangers of Covid-19 to the Canadian citizens. 2020 keeps bringing us unprecedented situations.

According to sources, the Blue Jays are considering two places; Dunedin, Florida,their Spring Training Home or Buffalo New York, their Triple A affiliate. But those two places present challenges. Dunedin is in Florida, today one of the hottest spots for the virus in the US and Buffalo, that park in Buffalo doesn’t have lights to major league standards, not to mention that New York State has been hit hard by the virus.

Canada has not been hit as hard by Covid-19, but to be fair to the US. Canada by territory is larger than the United States, their total population is 37 million people while the US is around 325 million. The State of California alone has a larger population than Canada, with around 40 million.

Ironically the Blue Jays are scheduled to open the season next Friday the 24th against the Rays at Tampa Bay. Looks like Florida is in the cards for the Jays one way or another.

Less than a week remains for a decision, where the Toronto team will be playing their 30 home games this year. But one thing is for sure, it will not be at their home park and country of Canada.

Stay tuned and stay well.

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

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Yasiel Puig with Los Bravos

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Former Cleveland outfielder Yasiel Puig is headed to the Atlanta Braves after signing a deal with Atlanta (sportscasting.com file photo)

Yasiel Puig with Los Bravos

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The Cuban-born outfielder who was rumored to sign with the San Francisco Giants is signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves. Aside from the Giants, the Orioles also showed interest in the controversial Puig.  Atlanta is much closer to Miami, where Puig makes his home, a 1 hour 30 minutes flight instead of Baltimore, or a coastal flight from San Francisco. So, I am sure he is elated to play that close to home, with a contending team loaded with Latino players..

In this short 60-game season that is a week away, Puig can rotate with one of the very best young outfields in the game, the sensational 22-year old super star Ronald Acuña Jr., Ender Enciarte and Marcell Ozuna, all three Latino players to the delight of Puig who speaks English but prefers Spanish.

Puig could easily find himself in another World Series; the Atlanta Braves are that talented of a team. He would probably be their DH when they play teams in the American League, since this season National League teams will be allowed to have a designated hitter. Puig could prove to be a very good acquisition for Los Bravos, or it could also be a disaster, because with him a team is basically ‘rolling the dice’. It is as simple as that.

The great Manuel (Manny) Mota worked with a young Puig when he arrived to the US, and played for his first team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mota for years always told me when I asked him if he wanted to manage, he always told me, he did not, because he believed he wanted to teach young players and he has done that very well for many years, especially with young Latino players.

Yasiel Puig had a very dangerous escape from Cuba, he is very talented, I would say he was given some God-given talents that you really cannot teach, but he is also a liability, and there are certain players that do not listen to good advice, they just do what they want to do. I am not one that subscribe to giving players nicknames, but one of the best ever given was from the great former Dodger announcer Vin Scully, when he called Yasiel Puig “The Wild Horse”.

Puig is a very colorful man, he has a big heart and is very popular with the Hispanic community. He used to visit Porto’s, a great Cuban chain of restaurants in the Los Angeles Area and was famous for treating lots of people at that wonderful and very popular eatery. He seems to enjoy playing baseball as much as anybody I have ever seen, granted his “style” is not approved by a lot of people. Yasiel Puig is a fun guy to see play and now he will be wearing the Bravos de Atlanta uniform, his fourth team, so far, since he arrived from Cuba.

Note: KIQI 1010AM/KATD 990AM(10,000 Watts) San Francisco, covering the Bay Area and Sacramento continues as the Spanish radio home for the Athletics as they will carry 26 LIVE home games, all Friday, Saturday and Sunday games as well as all night games from the Oakland Coliseum

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 1961 When Professional Baseball Died in Cuba (Memories)

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Former Washington Senator pitcher Pedro Ramos in his first uniform in 1955 now 85 years old who pitched for six Major Leagues teams between 1955-1970 is part of Amaury’s Commentary today (photo from en.wikipedia.org)

1961 When Professional Baseball Died in Cuba(Memories)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

I remember 1961 as I was arriving in the United States leaving behind Cuba. It was precisely that year for the first time that the Cuban-Communist government banned professional baseball, as well as all pro-sports.

The last year that there was professional baseball in the largest island in the Caribbean was the 1960-61 season, the old Cuban-Winter Professional League. The Cienfuegos (Elephants) won the season with a 48-24 record and finished 12 games ahead of the Tigres (Tigers) of Marianao.

Right hander pitcher Pedro Ramos won the MVP that year with Cienfuegos. Ramos threw side-arm had a nasty sinking fastball; he was a very popular player in Cuba as well as in the Major Leagues with the Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins.

Pedro Ramos (Pete) many called him Cuban Pete or the Cuban Cowboy was a colorful man that loved to wear cowboy boots. After one season I remember seen him in front of Union Radio a famous radio station next to Havana’s Central Park signing autographs and driving a shining brand new Cadillac with a pair of Longhorns at the front of the hood.

In the US Pedro Ramos was called a ‘hot dog’ something like another Cuban-born player today in MLB, Yasiel Puig. I always said and written about, there is nothing wrong if you are a ‘hot dog’ as long as you can play.

Ramos was a great athlete with great speed. There is a story that he once challenged Mickey Mantle in a sprint race in the outfield, prior to a game at Yankee Stadium when the Senators visited which he beat a young and very fast Mantle.

But I remember Pedro Ramos pitching next to another great Cuban pitcher, Camilo Pascual with a great curveball on those Cienfuegos teams of the old and famous league, considered one of the strongest outside the Major Leagues in the US.

Numerous American players participated in that Cuban winter league. I remember players like Wilmer (Vinegar Bend) Mizell, Bob Allison, Al Cicotte, Bob Shaw, Jackie Brandt, Bobby DelGreco, Forest Jacobs, Bill Werle, Al Spangler, Rocky Nelson, Jim Bunning; my favorite US-born player in Cuba was Brooks Robinson, and many others. They will be scattered on rosters of the four teams that made that league: Cienfuegos, Havana, Marianao and Almendares with some great Cuban players like Minnie Miñoso saw him with Marianao Tigers, Luis Tiant with the Havana Lions, Chico Fernandez, shortstop with the Scorpions of Almendares, and I am just mentioning a few.

Cuba until Castro killed professional baseball was the #1 country sending talent to the Major Leagues. Baseball has always been the top sport in Cuba, after many decades of the actual Cuban dictatorship many Cubans have escaped the island in small man-made crafts, or defected with their teams when they were playing tournaments outside the island. As of today’s rosters there are approximately 20 to 25 Cuban players in the Major Leagues.

Bill Werle who pitched with Marianao, was born and lived here in the Bay Area was pitching last time that club won the Cuban title in 1956. He was a popular major league scout. I had many conversations with him when he was scouting here and he would tell me “during those years the best league outside the major leagues was that Cuban league and many of us players were lucky to be able to go and play winter ball there, where they also paid the best”. Bill Werle was born in Oakland, California (1920-2010) pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates, St Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox.

The memories of baseball from Cuba to the US are precious to me and my family and no matter what happens in baseball, today or in the future, those 1950’s and 1960’s years are some of the best in the history of the game. The Castro governments took my family’s property and change our way of life, but the memories that I have from those years, nobody can take away from me.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Sports Teams What’s in a Name?

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wikipedia.com image: Who is offended by the Seattle Mariners name? Fans whose been following the team for 43 years and still haven’t won a World Series

Sports Teams: What’s in a Name?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

A friend of mine that lives in Seattle tells me: “I am not a sailor but if I were one, I would be offended of the Seattle team name Mariners,because they have never won a World Series in 43 years of their existence…they would be associated with a loosing sailor, and I am not a looser”.

This man is a happy-go-lucky type of man an honest man,that takes life in stride, yet he makes a point that he could be also offended by the name Mariners if he was a sailor! Sound funny and some might say ‘a stretch’but it is not an illogical statement. The Mariners are not going to change their name and that is the least of the problems for this last place team.

So here we go. As a minority myself I understand why some teams want to change their names/logos. I get it. In Cleveland, the name Indians will be changed. John Adams was a Founding Father and the second president of the United States. John Adams is also the name of the drummer that is a super fan of the Cleveland team, famous for beating the drums in the bleachers in support of the home team.

He will probably not be allowed to do that anymore. On a video Mr.Adams says: “I bought this drum for $25 dollars and on August 24, 1974 I started. I have missed 45 games in 45 years, with the same drums…If we have a guy in scoring position, that be second or thrid, then I start …(and he added) “I feel blessed I get to meet so many wonderful people from all over the world I would never have dreamed something like this would come from baseball.”

A colorful character, like so many that enjoys the game of baseball and found a unique way to show it.He is loved by the fans in Cleveland. Baseball needs all the help they can get, but this man will not be playing his drum anymore at the ballpark, he did it with no malice, he enjoyed and the fans also enjoyed it for years.

Are we going to accuse him of being a racist as well as all the Cleveland fans? Of course not. Major League parks are in need of colorful fans, in Latin America there are more characters and color among fans rooting for their teams. I am sure Mr.Adams will be missed at Progressive Field.

In 2009 while traveling to the east coast I visited the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington,D.C , in my family I have somebody that has Potawatomi blood. A tribe originally from the midwest,who were not warriors but business people, fur traders, to be exact. I learned a lot about this tribe and understand very much the plight of the Native-American, the truly originals inhabitants of this country.

Their land was taken, their treaties with the US government were repeatedly violated. Today most tribes are organized and get much respect from the government, they have their own leaders and lobbyist in Washington to defend their affairs. Still their history is a sad one.

Washington Redskins. This is not the first time the controversy has arrived, but this time because of the current situation in the country it looks, this time it will happen. The Redskins logo was introduced in 1972 and proposed by Walter Wetzel,a former Blackfeet tribal chairman and once a President of the National Congress of American Indians, and was modeled after the likeness on the Buffalo nickel.

In 2014 Mr.Wetzel said “Don’t call the Redskins logo offensive”. And there have been polls conducted . As late as August 2019 a Washington Post poll found that 9 of 10 Native Americans aren’t offended by Redskins name. Ironically, and for political pressure reasons the name might be changed regardless. And it goes ever further,many Native-Americans are proud that name is on an NFL franchise.

At the end the Cleveland and Washington teams, do not set policy,domestic or foreign, they represent two teams of two of the top four professional sports leagues in our country. No more,no less.

In today’s culture we could always find something that will offend us. A lot of people do not like the scales when they visit the doctor, they might discover that weight-scale are also offensive, because they cannot believe they weight that much! I personally think parking meters are offensive, but I have to put money all the time or get a ticket,it is the law. One of the many reasons we have survived as the longest running Democracy in the world is because we are a country of laws.

I am sure by the time you read this, we might already have heard of other teams, getting pressure to change their names.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Why We Need Sports to Return

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Lionel Messi of the Manchester United who is the highest paid futbol player in Europe and in the middle of a four year $92 million deal (kitbag-us.com file photo)

Why We Need Sports to Return

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

MLB, NBA, NFL, and the NHL. Those are the four biggest and most popular sports leagues in the country. No disrespect to MLS, but while the best baseball, basketball, football and hockey pro-players in the world play in these US leagues, the top soccer/fútbol players in the world do not play in the MLS, they play in Europe.

As a matter of fact Lionel Messi is the highest paid soccer player in the world and the highest paid athlete in the world with the FC Barcelona. Born in Argentina, Messi signed a four year deal in 2017 makes $92 million a year in salary, plus he compliments his salary with sponsorships with Adidas, Gatorade, Pepsi and other worldwide companies, total (playing and endorsements) around $400 million dollars. In China, a theme park called Messi Experience Park opened in Nanjing last year.

But leaving Fútbol/Soccer, the other three leagues are part of the physique of the country, followed by millions of fans and generating billions of dollars for our economy. In the USA during normal times, there is always one of these four leagues playing.

We are just beginning the second half of this year 2020, and there is no doubt this country can use some entertainment, trying to escape what has been the longest first half of a year, maybe in the history of the US. Adding to this shortage of quality entertainment, thousands of theaters/movie houses are closed. I know many have been watching movies on TV, but let’s face it,there is nothing like attending a movie in a nice theater with a big screen.

MLB will begin a 60-game season the 23rd of this month, so far a handful of players have opted-out, and they will not play, most by fears of the Covid-19, in situations with their families and the unpredictability of this virus.

Some other players might follow, or maybe not. MLB has been following the recent developments with the rise of infections in California, Texas and Florida, where almost one-third of the 30-teams that make the league play. Aproximately 20 players and staff members have tested positive for Covid, with the Philadelphia Phillies leading the list, with seven players and five staff members. SF Giants 2019 first round pick Hunter Bishop tested positive.

The NBA is scheduled to begin traveling to Florida next week, with arrivals between July 7 and July 9. They plan to re-start action July 30 at Disneyworld, Orlando, Florida. Adam Silver the Commissioner said “returning to work is not all about dollars and cents”. Unfortunately the Warriors will not be there. Some 16 players have tested positive for Covid so far.

NFL just cut the preseason to two games, with Week 1 and Week 4 to be eliminated from their schedule. Travel will be limited, maybe some staying at their home cities during preseason. The regular NFL season is scheduled to begin on-time (according to league officials) despite the pandemic. The first game schedule for the Texans at Kansas City Chiefs on September 10 and the regular season ending on January 3. Around 10 NFL teams have Covid cases.

NHL plans to return with 24-teams competing for the Stanley Cup, with the best of five series, round robin games in two hub cities, dates not determined yet. Unfortunately, the San José Sharks are not one of those 24 teams and will not be there. Some 16 NHL players have tested positive for Covid.

We need sports to comeback this second half of this year, and we need it badly. It is bad enough that people had to stay inside their homes, with everybody with at least one TV but none of these top leagues in action to watch anything but games from years ago.

Nobody could have predicted all the events so far during this 2020 eventful year. Just think that just three to four months ago we were living in a normal world, yes with all the problems always easy to identify, but we have exceeded the negative and it is time for the positive. Sports is able to do that, it is the best medicine for the mind in days like these. We are a sports nation, we need the entertainment value, but at this time it is more than entertainment, sports has become a much needed therapy.

“It’s not whether you get knockdown; it’s whether you get up” -Vince Lombardi.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Will DH change the culture in the NL; The day SF Giant Marichal threw a no no; plus more

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San Francisco Giants’ pitcher Juan Marichal, in uniform without cap, acknowledges his teammates’ congratulations as he marches off the playing field, June 15, 1963, after throwing a no-hitter against the Houston Colts. Teammates and man in suit are unidentified. (AP Photo/Robert H. Houston)

On That’s Amaury’s pod:

#1 Fourth of July is coming and that is the one day that you could always count on working an MLB game now that the season has been rescheduled for July 23rd it’s an awkward time of the year to open the season.

#2 Amongst some of the changes coming into the 2020 60 game season one of them is the Universal Designated Hitter where the National League will longer allow the pitcher to hit. Will this be a big adjustment for the pitchers and will the NL miss allowing all fielders to hit?

#3 Amaury how much will the Universal DH be a departure from the culture of the game and how much impact will it have as a change in the rules of the game.

#4 On June 15, 1963 a high kick wind up of Hall of Famer and San Francisco Giant pitcher Juan Marichal was all that the visiting Houston 45’s saw all afternoon as Marichal threw a no hitter at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

#5 The Oakland A’s English broadcasters are considering going back to last season’s flagship station and carry all 60 games on KTRB 860. The A’s left the station last year that there was just too much right wing programming. 860 tried to appeal to the A’s and now the team might reconsider and come back.

Join Amaury for That’s Amaury’s podcasts each Tuesday morning at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 2020 Season A Big Asterisk Year (Stats)

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wagerbop.com image: New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso has a few games less to work with in a 60 game season to beat his home run total of 53 from last season

2020 Season: A Big Asterisk Year (Stats)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

No season has been shorter than the one that is scheduled to begin this 24th of July, since 1878. We might get some wild season-ending stats for the length of the 2020 season. Of course all stats will display asterisks.

Here are some of the most interesting: Somebody could end the season with a .400 or more batting average. If that happens, Ted Williams (Bos) last to hit .406(1941) would be turning over in his grave.

The pitchers that win the Cy Young might win it with 8-2 and a 2.90-something ERA. A pitcher could be the strike-out king with 70-75 K’S, and a possibility for an extra-ordinary season if any hurler ends with 100 strikeouts, which is like the equivalent to 300 or more. In 2019 Gerrit Cole (NYY) served 326 strike outs while Justin Verlander (HOU) distributed 300. The incredible duo that were the best one-two at Houston.

The RBI leaders could end with 50 runs-batted-in. The leader in hits might end with 80 hits, the sexy home run leader, in a power game like today, could possibly win it with 15 home runs. Last season Pete Alonso (NY Mets) hit 53 and led the National League and the underrated Jorge Soler (KC) who led the American League with 48 home runs. A player could lead his league in stolen bases with 15. Last season Mallex Smith (SEA) stole 46 to lead the American League and Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL) the National League with 37 steals. The forgotten bunt these days?

This season a player could get 3-4 bunt-hits and lead his league, and it would be an excellent bunter with great speed. Sacrifice bunts will be less because the NL is using the Designated Hitter. Most of the SAC-Bunts are from starting pitchers in the National League. The only bunts you might see these days are in old films at Cooperstown. Occasionally when ESPN or MLB Net. Open their vaults to bring us the 1952 World Series between the NY Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers, the bunt was part of the game.

This year if a team ends with a record of 41-19 that is a .683 percentage, and should be more than enough to win and advance to the playoffs. Last season, Yankees, Dodgers, Astros and Twins who won their respective divisions were the only teams to finish with an over .600 winning percentage.

One Safe Record: Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting streaks in 1941.This season a player that plays all 60 games would not have much wiggle room to accomplish such feat. Image if it happens? Just like Ted Williams .406 in 1941, The Yankee Clipper will also be turning-over in his grave.

Another safe record this season. Barry Bonds (SF) 2001 season when he hit 73 home runs. If that happens in 60 games, then the year 2020 has really “Jumped the Shark”.

For broadcasters? With an empty stadium, we do not have to talk much louder. It would be interesting especially in such spacious places as the Oakland Coliseum.

Have a great weekend. Stay well and stay tuned.

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