Tag: Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Tony Renteria for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Best hitters in baseball missing out on making big numbers; Can MLB make it back by June?; plus more

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wikipedia file photo: New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge just one of many big league players missing out on improving their numbers this season as the shut down continues

Tony Renteria filled in for Amaury Pi Gonzalez:

#1 Taking a look at some of baseball’s big  boppers how badly are they missing this season names like New York Yankees Aaron Judge and the Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper.

#2 From the Oakland A’s Matt Chapman who had such a fine hitting season last year .249, 145 hits, 36 home runs, and 91 RBIs, he’s another player missing the opportunity to tee off this season.

#3 How possible could it be for MLB to start the season in June, play in two different states, hold fan interest, and hope that curve has been flatten in order to play this season?

#4 This was going to be the season that MLB was going to have a shot at increasing it’s attendance, getting a younger demographic and looking forward to improved TV ratings could that all be for not with an abbreviated season and most fans not having access to their local team?

#5 The A’s got criticized for not signing on with their former flagship radio station KTRB 860 and decided to stream all of it’s games home and away on itunes.com. Then came the shutdown for Covid 19. In hindsight considering all the advertising and business that has dried up and the A’s wanted to save money from buying air time it could very well be a good move and it might be a trailblazer move for other MLB teams.

Tony Renteria filled in for Amaury Pi Gonzalez who does News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 2020 Baseball Optimism vs. Realism

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photo of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred will he move to allow all 32 teams to play the 2020 regular season in front of empty spring parks?

2020 Baseball Optimism vs. Realism

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

As an optimist I have always look at he glass hall full and not empty. However, even the greatest hitters in baseball could not hit the curve balls of Sandy Koufax, Camilo Pascual or Bert Blyleven (the three best curve ball pitchers I have ever seen)so we must also be realistic.

Life, throws many curve balls which we are just not prepared and sometimes can’t hit. You can physique yourself to say “today will be a wonderful beautiful day with the sun shinning the birds chirping and everything in harmony,” then you open the door and you see a dreary windy day, raining and lightning.

Major League Baseball is considering playing this season in Arizona with all the teams and with no fans in the parks. This,in my book, is a perfect show made for television. May I say a Reality Show. The ultimate Reality Show. Reality is the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.

Regardless of what happens,this 2020 season will be remembered as the Coronavirus Season and in baseball, the first time in our history that a worldwide medical event stop not only MLB but most of the world.

The plan calls that all 30 teams play their games at a stadium with no fans in attendance in the Phoenix area. This includes the regular season home for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix,Chase Field. Plus the other ten Spring Training facilities where a total of 15 teams hold their Spring Training.

This plan seems to have the approval of the Federal officials at the CDC, because will continue with the narrative by the Federal and State governments to have “separation”of people and the travel would be only from the hotels in the Phoenix area -where all 30 teams will be staying- by bus to the park.

No charter flights at all. All with be localized to the Phoenix area, Some call it a “pipe dream”, others call it “the best option to play this season” and you might have another opinion. Opinions (just like in the game of baseball) are not like toilet paper today, opinions are abundant. So, if you have a better one, send it to the Commissioner.

Above seems to have the approval of MLB,the Players Union and most of the Federal and State governments involved in this unprecedented situation this country is in today.

Let’s hope the best is yet to come,but remember that just like baseball, we live “day to day” anyway.

Stay well.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News Commentary podcasts each Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradsioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB International Cancellations, plus more

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London Stadium in preparation of last year’s London Series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox on June 27, 2019. This years meeting between the Cubs and Cardinals has been canceled for Jun 13-14 series. (AP file photo)

MLB International Cancellations,plus.

Amaury Pi-González

The London Series, between the St Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs on June 13-14, has been canceled due to the COVIC-19 pandemic. These were going to be the second set of teams to play at London, after the Yankees and Red Sox had played two regular season games there in 2019.

According to MLB this series will not take place at any time this season. Also canceled previously other international baseball events that were scheduled for this 2020 season like the Mexico City Series between the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks,as well as the New York Mets vs. Miami Marlins in Puerto Rico.

Major League Baseball latest directive, states that the 2020 season will not begin until at least mid-May. This is a very fluid situation and there will be more information coming from Commissioner Rob Manfred in the days to come.

(Tennis)Wimbledon Cancelled:  This was scheduled to run from June 29 to July 12.This is the first time it will not be played during peacetime. Wimbledon was canceled from 1915 to 1918 because of World War I and from 1940 to 1945 due to World War II.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary and catch Amaury’s podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: With Covid cases rising will there even be a MLB season?; Greatest double play combos of all time; plus more

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sfgate.com file photo: The Oakland A’s second baseman Marcus Semien fields a grounder hit by the San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey in the August 13th 2009 game. Semien signed a contract for $13 million last season which equates to a $7.1 million raise.

On That’s Amaury’s pod:

#1 According to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred the season could be pushed back to start as early as late May or early June. With Covid-19 cases multiplying will there even be a season?

#2 Marcus Semien the A’s second baseman will he get a new contract before the season starts or will the A’s wait until they get the clear when baseball comes back to negotiate terms with Semien?

#3 Taking  a look who was the best all time double play combinations in the game let us know your thoughts on these favorites double play combinations, From the Chicago Cubs Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, and Frank Chance, From the Brooklyn Dodgers Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, and Gil Hodges, From the New York Yankees Phil “Scooter” Rizuto, Jerry Coleman, and Moose Skowron, from the Los Angeles Dodgers  Bill Russell, Davey Lopes, and Steve Garvey, and finally from the Cincinnati Reds Dave Concepcion, Joe Morgan, and Tony Perez.

#4 Who to you were the greatest Oakland A’s teams the 1972-74 A’s? or the 1988-90 A’s?

#5 The A’s have transgressed they could very well lose most of this season to the virus shutdown, they have not secured Howard Terminal during this delayed season, and they will not broadcast any of their games on English radio.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Musuem please visit the Museum at the Oakland Coliseum during all A’s home games also Amaury does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB big decisions remain like All Star game in Los Angeles

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The All Star game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles most likely will be called off in July 15th due to the nationwide lockdown due to Coronavirus. If held the Dodgers were planning to unveil a statue for former Dodger pitcher Sandy Koufax whose statue would be right next to former Dodger second baseman Jackie Robinson in photo (cbslosangeles.com photo)

MLB: Big Decisions remain like All Star Game in Los Angeles

That’s Amaury New and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Decisions loom in the horizon regarding the possibility of cancelling the All Star Game at Dodger Los Angeles, scheduled for July14 this year. Think for a moment this: let’s say the season begins June 1st. It will be a challenge to pick the players for the All Star Game,when they have only played one month of baseball.

The ASG will be cancelled. Such scenario in a way, would mean, at least the season will begin during the first half and not the second half. Dodger Stadium has renovations of approximately $100 million- “Centerfield Plaza”. Legendary southpaw Sandy Koufax will have a statue next to Jackie Robinson whose statue was unveiled last July. Dodgers (unlike many other teams) have not been an organization that have built statues for some of their great players. But that could be changing beginning this season.

In 1945 the All Star Game scheduled for July 10, was cancelled on April 24, just two weeks into the season. This was due to WWII and wartime travel restrictions.That was the only year since 1933 when the first All Star Game took place that the mid-season event has not been played.

The future of this 2020 season is resting on how fast we get a handle on this deadly virus, Covid-19. There will probably be at least a week for players to stretch their legs and take a few swings and pitchers get into the groove they were getting-into a couple of weeks ago.

It is not like you can sit down 600 plus players, then “turn the switch on” and they can begin the season. I do not envy the Oakland Athletics great traveling secretary Mickey Morabito, one of the most competent and experience traveling secretaries in baseball.

The first game in the Bay Area was scheduled for Tuesday when the Giants were to host the Athletics in the first game of the Bay Bridge series, signaling the end of Spring Training. Both clubs were to begin playing for real Thursday the 26th.

The A’a at home against the Twins. Giants in Los Angeles vs.Dodgers. The best scenario for the A’s would be to open their season mid-April. They already postponed the first home-stand of seven games, four vs Twins and three vs Astros.

April had the most games at home for the Athletics a total of 18 and against very popular drawing teams, aside from Twins and Astros, Yankees and Boston scheduled to make their only appearance at Oakland. Then comes Seattle for four and Tampa Bay for one game before we turn into May.

It doesn’t look pretty either for the Giants who open their season in Los Angeles and Arizona and are schedule to open their season at home on April 3 for three vs Dodgers and four vs.Arizona. That first home-stand for the Giants is very much in jeopardy.

MLB states: “The league will continue to evaluate ongoing events leading up to the start of the season. Guidance related to daily operations and workouts will be relayed to Clubs in the coming days. MLB and its Clubs have been preparing a variety of contingency plans regarding the 2020 regular-season schedule. The league plans to announce the effects on the schedule at an appropriate time, though MLB also said it “will remain flexible as events warrant, with the hope of resuming normal operations as soon as possible.”

All the experts. CDC professionals, who study and manage this type of crisis agree that this next two weeks are crucial for the country, and which way this is headed. As we speak, some laboratories per instructions from the CDC and the US Federal government are working with a couple of well known drugs that could have some good results.

It may not to solve the problem, but in the sense of therapy in trying to alleviate those afflicted,(treatment) until eventually in the future a vaccine is developed and available. When it comes to medicine, the US is very innovative and is result oriented country and we should all stay positive and think that better days lie ahead. Everybody is this country wants a quick solution, but not every problem in life has a quick resolution.

In the meantime, enjoy more time at home, listen to the instructions take care of yourself and your family and hope for the best.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Without Sports? Things to do.

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mecurynews.com file photo: An alternative of going to see professional sports is to go to the Alameda County Fair this July in the event that the MLB or MLS season is cancelled

Without Sports? Things to do.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Let’s face it.No country on the face of the earth has more variety of sports,and great leagues than the USA. The best players in the world,that play baseball play in Major League Baseball, in Basketball in the National Basketball Association in Football, in the National Football League, in Hockey in the National Hockey League.

They all come to the USA,the most talented athletes in most sports in the world. Except in Soccer (Fútbol) with all respect to the US Major League Soccer, the only thing Major is their name,because the best soccer in the world is played in Europe i.e,Premier League (England) Bundesliga (Germany) and La Liga (Spain) are three of the very best in the world,with most of the best players in the world.

Many addicted to sports in our great country,might be looking to replace the vacant left by the Coronavirus pandemic cancellations.

Here are 10 thing to do. I am sure you have thought of these and many others,or maybe not.

1-Read a good book,it is relaxing.Don’t want to buy it,Libraries still open,check a book. Free. 2-Go to the beach,take a nice long walk in the sand next to the ocean,is as relaxing as anything. Free. 3-At home.Binge on sports movies,baseball movies are the best,there are many,so what if you have seen it?

Free 4-Support and visit your local Little Leagues most are still operating. Free 5-ESPN and other sports channels will be running big sporting events from the past. Free. 6-Car Racing. NASCAR already announced they are still doing the races, with no people in the stands, but they are televised LIVE.

Free 7-You might like Horse Racing. Go to a race,even if you are not a gambler. Alameda County Fair and others coming soon.You do not have to bet on a horse. They way this sport is going,with so many dead horses,it might not be around much longer.Free, if you’re not betting. 8-Batting Cages,it is always fun with a friend to see if you can hit the ball thrown from a machine,it is fun.

I have done it. Reasonable. 9-Bowling still open.Take the family or a friend,or join a league. Bowling is the “game”sport with more popular participation in the US with around 43 to 45 million people going at least once a year. Reasonable. 10-Fishing. Dusty Baker favorite.We live in the Bay Area,ocean,lakes, rivers,you name it. Reasonable.

Finally, like most Cubans,if they are not eating,playing music or talking politics,more than likely they will be playing Dominoes for pleasure,but you can lose money too.

Have fun!

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

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: No High Fives at games?

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No High Five at games?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Teams are now taking precautions and sending directives with recommendations on how to handle the spread of Coronavirus The NBA sent a memo to all teams advising them,they should opt for fist bumps instead of high-fives, they also suggested that players do not borrow items from fans like pens and markers to sign autographs.

The memo also says they(the NBA and players union)are closely monitoring the Coronavirus situation,specially consulting with the CDC (Center for Disease Control) in Atlanta.

The NCAA, NHL have been addressing this worldwide epidemic.In Chicago the Chicago State University men’s basketball team will not travel to two regularly schedule Western Athletic Conference games this week,plus,it’s women team will not host two games,citing spread of Coronavirus -said the school.

Major League Baseball has no plans yet to cancel games,however Commissioner Rob Manfred announced MLB is establishing an “internal task force” to coordinate all efforts”working with medical people,local and national as well as making sure all players are seeing by team doctors and are up-to date with regular flu vaccinations.

At this time there is no vaccination for this Coronavirus, although the CDC and WHO (World Health Organization) as well as the Federal Government continues to explain that they are working on a vaccine.

The 2020 Olympics this July in Tokyo,Japan are still on, according to organizers and their respective committees.

The flu has already killed 10,000 across the US,that is the regular flu,not the Coronavirus,which as of today has killed just a handful of people all in Washington State.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Maddon excited to face his old team Cubs; Will Matz meet the Mets; plus more

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photo Angels manager Joe Maddon

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

#1 What’s it like for former Chicago Cub manager Joe Maddon to play against his former team the Cubs as Angels manager.

#2 What does it say for the Angels organization formerly working in Anaheim picking up a manager like Joe Maddon.

#3 The New York Mets are inquiring about Steven Matz of the New York Yankees. Matz has a 4.05 ERA over the last four seasons and could turn free agent what are the Mets chances of getting Matz?

#4 The Oakland A’s Jesus Luzardo threw for three innings on Sunday in his second start this spring. Luzardo pitched for the Las Vegas Aviators last season in seven starts and had an ERA of 3.19.

#5 A’s manager Bob Melvin says that Tony Kemp may not end up being the A’s lead off hitter but he’s been getting some good at bats, Kemp hit a double and went 8-18 and Melvin says that Kemp is seeing left handed pitching pretty good too.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for A’s baseball on KIQI 1010 San Francisco hear all A’s home games on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Amaury does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Coronavirus Threatening Tokyo Olympics

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That’s Amaury News and Commentary Amaury Pi-González

Coronavirus Threatening Tokyo Olympics

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The Tokyo Olympics,scheduled to start on July 24 and end August 25 according to the IOC (International Olympic Committee). Japan is one of the countries affected around the world with the Coronavirus and officials of the OIC say there could be a final decisions as late as the end of May.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says Japan is to ask all schools to close this coming Monday to prevent spread of the Coronavirus. The closure will affect 13 million students and will continue until the school year ends in late March.

The Coronavirus now affecting most of the world,has forced cancelling of dozens of sporting events events in Asia and Europe and many international events like car racing. Little or no events, so far, in the sports world have been cancelled here in the United States, but things could change at any time,as this virus keeps spreading.

So far MLB, NBA,NHL and others have not announced any plans for events cancellations.

The biggest company in the world (Bay Area based) Apple stock has dropped as of today,as well as all the financial markets and the world has taken a hit through this week.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish voice for Oakland A’s baseball on KIQI 1010 San Francisco for all home games Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Catch Amaury each week for News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Fiers gets through first game unscathed; Dusty says Springer is his lead off hitter in Houston; plus more

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photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez at the Major League Baseball Society for American Baseball Research Sacramento Chapter

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

#1 The Big News out of the A’s camp in Mesa on Sunday A’s pitcher Mike Fiers whose been under physical threat from fans and opposing players threw two innings of shutout ball on Sunday looks like he’s not disturbed at all.

#2 The Houston Astros George Springer will be the lead off hitter for the Astros says manager Dusty Baker. Baker said “if it’s not broke don’t fix it” Springer has been the Astros lead off hitter since 2016

#3 Los Angeles Dodger lead off hitter Mookie Betts loves being in the lead off role and went 0-2 in Sunday’s pre season action, Betts received a nice ovation when he came to the plate from the Camelback Ranch crowd welcoming him to the Dodgers.

#4 The question that has been talked about amongst the media and fans is “are the A’s out of their minds for not having a radio network and going streaming” how does the ball club respond to the criticism of not having a station presence on their English broadcasts and only broadcasting just three home games only a week on their Spanish side for radio?

#5 And in conclusion Amaury please tell us what was discussed at the recent Major League Baseball Society for American Baseball Research Sacramento Chapter

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish play by play announcer at KIQI 1010 San Francisco join Amaury and Manolo for exclusive A’s home games only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and for News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com