Tag: Amaury Pi Gonzalez

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred shown here at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit in New York stands with the owners proposal to start a 76 game season which the players are opposed to   (sports.yahoo.com)

MLB: The Clock Is Now the Umpire

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

With all the back and forth during these negotiations, there is no doubt the Clock is now THE factor. After the players union proposed an 89-game season with full prorated pay at the end of Tuesday, which was quickly brushed aside by the owners.

Get ready for either: 1) A 50 games season or 2) No season at all. Both sides do not want to play a regular season past the September 27th date; one of the few things that have been mutually agreed during this negotiating exercise. Anything after that would land the playoffs into November and both sides are afraid that going into the winter the Covid-19 “wild card” could show-up.

Commissioner Rob Manfred can implement a schedule and the players are required to show up. We are dangerously closing-in on that final decision, a 50 game season, which will guarantee the players with prorated salaries, which is exactly what the players last proposed and agreed among themselves they would accept, but the players want more than 50 games, because they will get paid more.

At the end a 50-game schedule might be the best they are going to get. However, if this is adapted and the season comes down to 50 games, this could have serious repercussions for the future negotiations after the 2021 season, the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) labor agreement that is on the agenda.

A 50-game season could risk the perception by the public that they are just playing for the money (with playoffs which is the big revenue producer) during a time where a lot of people are unemployed and struggling, because of the Covid-19 closures all over the country, although most States are re-opening and getting their economies back on track. Regardless what happens this year, MLB is headed for a bumpy ride in 2021.

The 2020 Baseball season is running out of options. The Clock, which is non-negotiable, is now dictating what might, might be a last effort decision to save the season. If you call a season 50 games.

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

Photo of empty seats at the Oakland Coliseum as MLB and the MLB Players Association continue to attempt to iron out a deal to get the 2020 season started (file photo Stadium Parking Guides)

By Amaury Pi-González

Owners today made their new pitch to the players. A season of 76 games. Season beginning July 10th and ending September 27th, with the postseason running through October. Owners proposal also includes playoff pool money but eliminates draft pick compensation. Both, owners and players will share the risk of the postseason cancellation if a second wave of COVID-19 takes place.

The owners’ proposal today has players making up to 75 percent of their prorated salaries. But is also known that only 50 percent of pay would be guaranteed with the other 25 percent to do with the playoffs. The players consider this proposal worse than its last; some call it a “step backwards”.

Negotiations began May 12. Previously MLB went on hiatus because of THE covid-19 pandemic. It has been almost one month since the two sides began discussions. Numbers have been thrown around, since 162 games season could not begin on their scheduled opening day March 26. The proposal discussed has been for: 82 games, 114, games, 48 to 50 games and today of 76 games.

If you get dizzy reading this back and forth, join the party. When you read or see a prediction on television or hear one on radio, consider it just that “a prediction” just as good as yours as a fan. Because nobody really knows as days go by. Do not let anybody tell you otherwise.

The big problem that presents for baseball with each day that goes by is that the NBA and NHL already have announced they will re-start and go into their playoffs and the NFL is getting ready for what they hope will be a full 2020-2021 season.

As far as I’m concerned, as of today, the glass is not half empty or half full, the glass is leaking water, big time and very soon we will not have a glass.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

image from sportslogos.net: MLB Logo

MLB Negotiations: Oops, We Are Down to 50 Games

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

At the start of Spring Training the plan was a normal 162 game season, then a deadly virus with no vaccine knocked on the door, and things quickly changed, Spring Training was not completed and the March 26 Opening Day date is now a trivia question. During these negotiations, both sides had discussed an 82 game season and 114 game season and now today it is down to a 50 game season after MLB owners rejected the 114 game season by the MLBPA. All of these plans with the same result of playing with no fans in attendance. Three divisions of ten (10) teams each, sorted by geography, with not much (if any) travel.

After the owners rejected the counter-proposal by the Players Union Association of a 114 game season, MLB owners are set to make a counter to the players that is a significantly shortened season. After reports that the owners are upset with the players proposal, and now they are coming back throwing the ball to the players with a proposal of a shorter schedule, something like 50 games. With the owners conceding to the players request for prorated salaries, instead of the percentage the owners previously proposed.

The 50 game season that the owners are proposing to the players, would represent a huge reduction in salary for the players. So these are plainly negotiations tactics, it could be that the players will settle for something more than 50 games but less than the 114 they proposed to the owners. The 50 games has not been proposed yet to the players and therefore, the next step would be their reaction.

So more than a baseball game between both sides during these negotiations, we are down close to a tennis match where the ball gets returned from one side to the other with every play. There is one thing that was, is and will always be non-negotiable, the calendar. The calendar doesn’t wait for team management or players union, every 24-hours we enter a new day and needless to say it is getting very close to “Deuce”, which in tennis is the deciding and winning point. We know they want Spring Training this month, but not late this month and start the season by July 4th weekend.

With so much happening today, baseball now has become almost like a ‘speck of dust’ in the universe. If there is no season some will blame the owners, others the players. It would be no difference from public opinion on many issues. Myself, I would blame both sides, since I am sure neither side will worry about unemployment, because these are privilege people, when it comes to economics, especially these days.

Some good news today. Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House task force member for the Covid-19 Pandemic, says the US should have 100 million Coronavirus vaccines by year’s end. Hurray! Who doesn’t like that news?

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

Former Pittsburgh Pirate Dave Parker wore a mask at one time while playing for the Bucs. This illustration gives you an idea what some creative looks are to come. (espn.com file photo)

The New Constitution for Baseball 2020

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

This week the Commissioner of Baseball, Rob Manfred, presented to Tony Clark, in charge of the Major League Players Association a 67 page “Operations Manual” for the players union, to review, give their input, recommendations/amendments, and ultimately approval. This one is all about the health of the players and not about the 50-50 sharing of revenues, which still has not been approved. These are all for the 82-game “regular” season. No Spring Training rules are listed here, but they are also very stringent

These are some of the key new “rules”.

-No spitting. -No chewing of gum or anything, including seeds -No sitting next to each other in the dugout -No fighting -No traditional pregame exchange of lineup cards -Coaches must wear masks and no touching of their faces with their hands (including to give signs) -Balls that are in play and touched by player(s) should be removed and exchange for a new baseball. -After an out, players are discouraged from throwing the ball around the infield. -Pitchers should bring their own rosin bag to the mound -Hitters should have their own pine tar and batting donuts that they bring with them to and from the on-deck circle -First and third base coaches must remain in or behind the coach’s box and shall not approach a base-runner, fielder or umpire. -Using the indoor hitting cage is discouraged -Players are not to high-five or any type of demonstration even after a walk-off -No use of saunas, steam rooms or other hydrotherapy at the ballparks clubhouse are prohibited -The duties performed by bat boys/girls will be performed by existing team employees -No Mascots allowed

Traveling to hotels also has restrictions, like no venturing outside the hotel on the road. Cannot use Uber, Taxi, Public Transportation, but only buses provided by the team. While at the hotel, limit the amount of players on each elevator. No congregation in the lobby, player family or friends. And there are more not listed here. Like for team charters to try to use smaller airports if possible. But these will give you an overall flavor of what it would be.

And of course, no fans.

Spring Training rules not listed here.

Stay tuned and stay well.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio play by play voice for the Oakland Athletics and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Former Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver (left) and former umpire Ken Kaiser (right) get into it during their MLB active days (New York Times photo file)

Umpires: Impartial Pillars of Judicial Dignity

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

It should not be lost during the baseball negotiations between owners and the players union, that the Umpires are “all in” and ready to go,if there is a 2020 season, Let’s give the umpires some love, because slowly but surely their jobs will not exist.

While distrust exist between the owners and the players union during these negotiations, trying to bring baseball back and save the season, the umpires reached a deal weeks ago to cover the 2020 season during the Covid-19 pandemic. In that agreement umpires took a 50 percent cut in pay in May and nothing more if no games are played. They usually make between $150,000 and $450,000. They agreed to play with masks and to abide on whatever new restrictions are put in place.

On July 10,2019 in York, Pennsylvania the independent Atlantic League became the first American professional baseball league to use a computer call balls and strikes, this was during their All-Star Game. The umpire behind the plate wore an earpiece connected to an iPhone in his pocket and then relayed the call after receiving it from TrackMan computer system that uses a Doppler radar In other words, during this “experiment”the umpires was like a baby-sitter, because he depended on a computer to tell if the pitch was a ball or a strike. During the 2018 season the MLB umpires at home plate were wrong by 20 percent of the time, that is the most important umpire on the field and he sees hundreds of pitches during each game.

Umpires never get any love from the crowd,unless they get hurt, as they walk out of the field, or if they are trying to stay in the game after they get hit by a ball a bat or collusion with a player. In some parks (including Oakland) umpires sometime get booed just when their names are announced before the game. It is a ungrateful profession, by any means. They get a lot of verbal abuse and it takes a special man to be an umpire. I always admired the baseball umpires, they are part of the game we love.

Quotes about umpires.

-I didn’t mean to hit the umpire with the dirt, but I did mean to hit that bastard in the stands. -Babe Ruth -Umpire’s heaven is when he works third base every game. Home is where the headache is., -Ron Luciano(Umpire) -I never questioned the integrity of an umpire. Their eyesight yes. -Leo Durocher -In a way an umpire is like a woman. He makes quick decisions and never reverses them and doesn’t think you are safe when you are out. -Larry Goetz – I’ll never forget the time he came out there to argue, and he turned his hat around. I turned my hat around, too, and he said he wanted to punch me. I said, ‘Go ahead you midget, you’ll hit my knee.’ (talking about Orioles manager Earl Weaver) -Umpire Ken Kaiser.

Stay tuned and stay well.

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