Tag: Amaury Pi Gonzalez

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Oakland Athletics in 1978–a Unique Radio Story

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Photo credit: Amaury Pi-González

By: Amaury Pi-González

As I was doing weekend games for the Oakland Athletics’ Spanish radio on KBRG 105.3FM, San Francisco in 1978, something happened that year that was truly unique. A’s owner Charlie O Finley was trying to move the team to Denver and he had no commercial radio station in English to carry the games.

To my left in the A’s press box–I believe at that time was Box 19, sat two young UC Berkeley students broadcasting the games for KALX, one of whom was Larry Baer, who approached Finley during mid season about doing play-by-play and Charlie sold them the broadcast rights for $1.

Because the Spanish station was a commercial FM station, we had a greater signal than the UC Berkeley station, which was just a handful of watts enough to be heard at the UC Campus, and not even in the Coliseum’s parking lot. I was asked after each half-inning to repeat the score of the game, but in English. And I did.

Those were the days were radio was truly still king in the broadcast business, way before social media came about. To refresh our memories, ESPN was born in 1979, CNN in 1980 and those were trailblazers in our business. One was a 24-hour all sports, the other one 24-hour all news, but both were national. It’s a totally different world today in 2018. People talk about streaming games live on Facebook, YouTube is getting into the action, everybody has a cell phone and everything that happens is transmitted instantly. During Game 4 of the ALCS, a fan in right field “interfered” with what looked like a home run by the Astros’ José Altuve, which was declared an out by veteran umpire Joe West. The name of the fan, the video of the controversial play was transmitted immediately to the whole world. Hundreds of millions of people knew what happened at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

Back in the day (referring to the 1970’s), if you covered a game, you could not report on that game while the game was taking place (unless you/station) owned the broadcast rights. Some postseasons that I covered, as a reporter, not as a play-by-play person, I had to sign a form that specified my outfit would not report during the game. Only before and after the game(s) did I had legal permission to report.

What is coming in broadcasting the next 20 years, I will leave that for your great imagination. And everybody has an imagination. Unless you are Rodney Dangerfield, who once said: “When I was a kid I was so poor….I could not afford an imaginary friend!”

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Los Tiburones Spanish Broadcast

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Photo credit: nhl.com/sharks

By: Amaury Pi-González

SAN JOSE–The San José Sharks will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Night for the second consecutive year when they host the New York Islanders at the SAP Center this Saturday, October 20 at 7:30 PM.

Los Tiburones got their start in 1991-1992 as they played at the Cow Palace in Daly City, Calif. In 1993 they moved to the SAP Center in San José, where they have been playing exciting hockey for their very loyal steady fan base in the South Bay. I remember covering them since their very first game at the Cow Palace in 1991 as they lost to the Vancouver Canucks, 5-2, later with Telemundo Channel 48, we filmed the new and current location in San José when the arena was under construction, interviewed the surrounding businesses, and all the excitement that has brought to San José, their fans and to the overall economy of the Bay Area’s largest city. Was there in their greatest achievement,when they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2016 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Once the “pequeños” Tiburones, now they have “grown up.” They are 27 years old and they have joined the ranks of the following Bay Area professional teams that also broadcast in Spanish: Athletics, Giants, Raiders, 49ers and Earthquakes.

The Spanish Broadcast this Sunday will air on KIQI 1010AM/990AM Bay Area/San Francisco/Oakland/Sacramento, 98.5 HD-2 for South Bay and NBC California SAP (Secondary Audio Channel).

Carlos Orellana, Producer/Engineer, Jesús Zárate, play-by-play, yours truly commentary.

Follow the Sharks and their quest for their second trip to a Stanley Cup Final on 98.5 KFOX Flagship station for the Sharks Radio Network in the voice of veteran play-by-play announcer Dan Rusanowsky, as well as all game telecasts on NBC California.

¡Buena suerte Tiburones!

2018 Una Gran Temporada Para Los Atléticos De Oakland

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Autor de la foto: @Athletics

Por Amaury Pi-González

Los Atléticos de Oakland celebraron su Aniversario 50ta en Oakland con una marca de 97-65 (segundo lugar en la División Oeste) y clasificaron a la postemporada como equipo comodín detrás de los Yanquis de Nueva York que terminaron 100-62. Los Atléticos viajaron a Nueva York el día 3 de Octubre para juego eliminatorio y perdían 7 a 2 frente a los Yanquis.

Esta fue la mejor temporada para los Atléticos desde 2002 cuando terminaron con marca de 103-59. Terminaron en primer lugar en la División Oeste. Esa temporada 2002 el equipo ganaba 20 juegos en forma consecutiva, del 13 de Agosto al 4 de Septiembre(un record entonces)y esa fue la temporada que sirvió de inspiración para el libro ‘Moneyball’ del escritor Michael Lewis, que años despues era adaptado a la pantalla en película de nombre “Moneyball” 8en 2011. El actor Brad Pitt protagonizó a Billy Beane,Gerente General de los A’s.

El 21 de Abril Sean Manaea lanzó un juego sin permitir Hit ó Carrera, al vencer a Boston 3-0 en el Coliseo de Oakland. Manaea era el primer lanzador de los Atléticos en lanzar juego sin permitir Hit ó Carrera desde Dallas Braden quien lanzaba Juego Perfecto el 9 de Mayo (Día de la Madre) en el Coliseo de Oakland contra Tampa Bay. La joya de encuentro vino contra un equipo de Boston que había ganando 8 juegos de forma consecutiva.

En Junio, el equipo establecía un record de Grandes Ligas conectando de cuadrangular en 25 partidos consecutivos. La previa marca pertenecía a los Orioles de Baltimore en 1996, de 24 juegos consecutivos pegando jonrón.

Los A’s conectaron 227 jonrones,tercero mejor entre todos los 30 equipos de Grandes Ligas. Los Yanquis 267(nueva marca) y los Dodgers 235. Los A’s terminaron número cuatro en total de carreras anotadas con 813,detrás de Boston 876, Yanquis 851 y Cleveland 818. También eran segundo en dobles conectados con 322, solo Boston pegaba más con 322.

El Baterador Designado Khris Davis se convirtió en solo el segundo en la historia de los A’s y el primero desde Jimmy Foxx en 1934, con temporadas de 40 ó más jonrones en tres-temporadas-consecutivas (2016-18)

y también estableció nueva marca en toda la historia al convertirse en el primer jugador en terminar las últimas tres temporadas consecutivas con el mismo exacto promedio al bate, de .247.

El primera base Matt Olson encabezó el equipo en total de juegos participados con 162 (todos) y también pegaba 29 jonrones con 84 carreras impulsadas, todos records personales. Los demás jugadores también disfrutaron de su mejor temporada en cuadrangulares y carreras impulsadas: Khris Davis 48 jonrones 123 impulsadas,Stephen Piscotty 27 jonrones 88 impulsadas,Matt Chapman 24 jonrones 68 impulsadas,Jed Lowire 23 jonrones 99 impulsadas y fue a su primer Juego de las Estrellas, Mark Canha, 17 jonrones 52 impulsadas y el versátil Chad Pinder jugó en 110 partidos y bateó .259 de promedio, todos mejores en su carrera.

Blake Treinen terminaba con el mejor promedio de efectividad para un relevo-cerrador en las Grandes Ligas, con 0.78, ganando 9 perdiendo 2, salvando 38 juegos en 80 1/3 entradas de labores y fue a su primer Juego de Estrellas. Yusmeiro Petit encabezaba a todos los lanzadores del equipo con 74 apariciones en relevo,máximo para el en su carrera de 11 años.

En Agosto, el tercera base Matt Chapman le suplicaba a los aficionados de Oakland que fueran a ver al equipo jugar, luego de un encuentro contra Seattle donde la asistencia era solo de 10,000 fanáticos. La asistencia esta temporada fue 1,573,616 (#27) entre los 30 equipos de Grandes Ligas, un aumento sobre el 2017 cuando la asistencia fue de 1,475,721,(#29)que pagaban para ver a los A’s en el Coliseo de Oakland.

Historia de la Serie Mundial. Las tres franquicias más exitosas son: Yanquis de Nueva York 27 títulos,Cardenales de San Luis 11 títulos y los Atléticos 9 titulos (5 en Filadelfia y 4 en Oakland)

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 2018 Was a Great Season for the A’s

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s celebrated their 50th anniversary season in Oakland with a 97-65 record–second place in the Western Division–and a postseason berth as the second Wild Card team behind the New York Yankees, who finished 100-62. The A’s traveled to Yankee Stadium on October 3, and were eliminated by the Yanks with a final score of 7-2.

This was the best season for the A’s since 2002 when they ended with a 103-59 record, finishing first in the Western Division. That 2002 season saw the A’s winning 20 games in a row from August 13 to September 4–a record at the time–and that season was the subject of Michael Lewis’ 2003 book Moneyball, which later was adapted to the screen as the film Moneyball in 2011.

On April 21, Sean Manaea pitched a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox 3-0 at the Oakland Coliseum. Manaea became the first A’s pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Dallas Braden’s perfect game on Mother’s Day at the Coliseum on May 9, 2010 against Tampa Bay. Manaea’s gem came against a Red Sox team that had won eight games in a row.

In June, the A’s set a new MLB record by homering in their 25th straight road game. The previous record of 24 games had been held by the 1996 Baltimore Orioles.

The A’s hit 227 home runs, third best among all 30 MLB teams, Yankees’ 267–new MLB record–and Dodgers 235. A’s were No. 4 in most runs scored in MLB with 813 behind Red Sox’s 876, Yanks’ 851 and Indians’ 818. They were also second in total doubles with 322, only the Sox hit more doubles with 355.

DH Khris Davis became just the second player in A’s history and the first since Jimmy Foxx in 1934 to go back-to-back-to back with 40 home runs. He finished with 48 home runs, leading all of MLB. He also established a new MLB record–only man in history–ending with the exact same batting average .247 in three consecutive seasons (2016-17-18).

First baseman Matt Olson led the club playing in all 162 regular season games and also hit 29 home runs and 84 RBI–all personal bests. Also, these players enjoyed their best seasons in home runs and runs batted in: Davis’ 48 home runs and 123 RBIs, Stephen Piscotty’s 27 home runs and 88 RBIs, Matt Chapman’s 24 home runs and 68 RBIs, Jed Lowrie’s 23 home runs, 99 RBIs and his first All-Star Game, Mark Canha’s 17 home runs and 52 RBIs and Chad Pinter, who played in 110 games, and hit .258–all career-highs.

Blake Treinen had the best earned run average for a closer in the MLB with a 0.78 ERA (9-2 record) and saved 38 games in 80 1/3 innings of work and was selected to his first All-Star Game. Yusmeiro Petit led all A’s pitchers with 74 relief appearances, the most in his 11-year career.

In August, Chapman pleaded A’s fans to “come to the games” after only over 10,000 went to see the A’s play the Seattle Mariners. The attendance this year was 1,573,616–No. 27 among all 30 MLB teams, and an increase from 2017 when 1,475,721, (No. 29) watched  A’s baseball at the Coliseum.

The A’s need to have a healthy rotation. Their bullpen was great, but there is a reason the Astros, Sox, Dodgers and Brewers are still alive for a shot at entering the World Series. That reason? They all have conventional rotations. I still like the Astros to repeat as World Champions.

World Series History
Top three winning franchises: Yanks’ 27 titles, St. Louis Cardinals’ 11, A’s nine titles (five in Philadelphia and four in Oakland).

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Don Quixote de la Mancha and the Oakland A’s

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Photo credit: @mlbtraderumors

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

OAKLAND — The great Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes wrote the unforgettable Don Quixote de la Mancha. A fictional character, Don Quixote de la Mancha, is a middle-aged man from the region of La Mancha in central Spain who read a lot of books and image of enemies he had to “take on” with his lance and sword to defend the helpless the poor and destroy evil. In the mind of Don Quixote, he believed he was a knight with bad eyesight, so he saw the windmills as dragons and wanted to fight the windmills.

The Oakland Athletics had a terrific season, which ended with 97-65 the fourth best record in all of MLB. The A’s went to New York and they didn’t have an imaginary enemy like Quixote, they had a team like the Yankees, who could start the series with Luis Severino, a legitimate Cy Young contender who finished with a 19-8 record and a 3.39 ERA, started 32 games, pitches 191 1/3 innings with 220 strikeouts. The Dominican with a great fastball around 97 and a very effective slider, Severino went four innings, allowed two hits and no runs, and struck out seven. He set the pace for the Yanks’ easy 7-2 victory to eliminate a good and young A’s team. A’s Liam Hendricks, who was 0-1, became the first pitcher ever in MLB postseason history to begin a game, the “opener” as they call it today, without a victory during the regular season. This is not to criticize Hendricks, as he is not a starter. I am sure you would never hire a plumber to fix an electric problem in your house.

If you look at all the teams currently in the playoffs as of today, they all have a starting rotation. Houston, Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Colorado and Atlanta. Some are better rotations, like Houston, Boston, L.A., Milwaukee, Colorado and Atlanta.

The A’s did not have one. During the press conference at Yankee Stadium prior to the game last Wednesday, manager Bob Melvin explained that we have to adjust to the times and he has used the system of the “opener” more than once. A lot has to do that his rotation was wiped out with injuries during the whole season. And I say, folks, basically it is what it is, a manager can only use what he has at hand. Melvin will be the Manager of the Year in the American League, but he is not working as a magician at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas during the off-season.

I am willing to go with the program, and when something works, you do not change it. And yes, sometimes opening a game with a reliever will work. The big thing now is the third time a lineup has seen a pitcher, and how much use the bullpen are now part of the equation. The A’s are not the only team to have used “openers” Tampa Bay and others have.

I went to N.Y. to call that game for the A’s Spanish Radio Network, N.Y. is a special place for baseball, after all, it is where the first baseball game ever took place. The passion runs deep–The Babe,The Clipper, The Mick, Yogi, Munson, Jeter and many others. It is a unique and historical place for this great game. They have won 27 World Series and their fans will let you know if you dare to start and argument about the Yanks. I lived for a couple of years in N.Y. after I was honorably discharged by the US Army in 1968 after I served my time. I attended games at the old Yankee Stadium as well as the old Shea Stadium. For some reason, I always liked the AL.

I was ready and packed to go to Boston for the ALDS, but the baseball Gods didn’t have that in mind. We all should feel good about this A’s team and the way they performed during this season. We can only hope that guys like Melvin are retained to stay with the team for many years and Khris Davis would get the multi-year deal he truly deserves.

A good old friend of mine, who passed away a few months ago, used to tell me “Amaury, most people in life do not get what they deserve.” You can interpret or spin that in any way you want.

Congratulations to the A’s on this 2018 season!

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast from Yankee Stadium: A’s gave it their all all season, but climax goes thud

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newsday.com photo: Luis Severino #40 of the New York Yankees reacts after the final out of the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics during the AL Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018. Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac

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

#1 You said it best one game and one and done. All the way to New York and it’s all over for the Oakland after some 162 games in a 7-2 loss at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night.

#2 The Wild Card should be at least two out of three games, but baseball says that’s a longer season.

#3 The Yankees wasted no time in the first inning getting a two-run home run from their star hitter Aaron Judge.

#4 The Yankees got the pitching too. Starter Luis Severino had a no-hitter going through four innings.

#5 Amaury’s last game of the season. Just get your thoughts on the fantastic year the A’s had to get this far.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Giants Have Many Decisions to Make This Winter

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

The Giants could go in a new direction. Would if be towards analytics and be more creative with their player acquisitions and trades? AT&T Park will never be a home run friendly park, even if they acquired Bryce Harper; that alone might not be enough for them to contend on their division. Many decisions now rest with the new person that will take over Baseball Operations, replacing Bobby Evans, who was fired prior to the game Monday against the Padres at AT&T Park.

The Giants have $132.9 million committed in 2019, $129.4 million in 2020 and $94.1 million in 2021–just five players.

The Giants have a lot of money tied up into a handful of players and most of them are bound to return in 2019.

Next year’s Giants will have Evan Longoria, Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey (coming back for surgery), Johnny Cueto $130 million (coming back from surgery), Jeff Samardzija–$90 million, and Mark Melancon–$63 million, These players are veterans who are in their 30’s.

Yes, the Giants need to get younger. Are the Giants going to pick up the 2019 option for Bumgarner? $12 million, that is a bargain, but maybe the new General Manager/Baseball Operations that will take Evans’ place might consider trading him for a few young prospects. I would trade Bumgarner if I was able to find a few young, exciting, promising players. Why not? He is the best bait you’ll have for a nice deal.

The Giants had a good run and won three World Series, but they got melancholic with their established players,  pouring big money on them and hoping for another run, which never happened. It is understandable, as they have a great fan base and want to keep that winning style of baseball happening at AT&T Park. But the last two seasons were not exciting at all. When you do not hit in today’s game, you become a boring team.

Yes, their pitching this year surprisingly was not that bad, but this is not Soccer/Fútbol, there is no tie and you have to win. You have to hit and hit with power in today’s game. The Giants are the only MLB team this year with no player hitting at least 20 home runs. Look across the bay, that A’s team has Khris Davis, Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Stephen Piscotty, Jed Lowrie, Mark Canha, Marcus Semien and company–they all hit home runs and that is a huge part of the game and they ended up winning.

And by the way, the Coliseum–just like ATT Park–is also not a home run friendly park.

Good luck to the next man or woman who will be running the Giants’ Baseball Operations.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame–Greg Papa, Class of 2018

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@Greg_Papaa file photo: Greg Papa in photo during his Golden State Warriors days

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Greg Papa has been the radio voice of the Raiders for the past 20 years. He has also broadcast A’s and Giants baseball along with Warriors basketball. In addition, he has served as an in-studio host for both the Giants and Warriors broadcast on NBC Sports Bay Area.

Papa has attained iconic status as one of the top sportscasters in the United States. He was product of Syracuse University–the cradle of sportscasters. During his Warriors years in the 1990’s, I got to know and travel with Greg, who is a hard-working, accomplished sportscaster with a good sense of humor and has lived in the Bay Area for most of his adult life.

The members of BARHOF Class of 2018 include: Scott Beach known on the air for his work on KCBS. Michael Stavko, one of the legendary characters of the airwaves hosted the KFOG’s morning show. Newscaster Jon Bristow, who’s currently with KCBS and also was a reporter and news anchor at KGO for more than 25 years. Gene Burns arrived in KGO in 1995 after a lengthy career that took him from his native New York into Philadelphia, Boston and Florida.

Others: Fred Krock, Engineering. Gordon Zlot, Management. Floyd Farr, Pioneer. Chris Edwards, Legend; and the Second Annual Sherwood Award went to Brian Sussman.

The BARHOF Class of 2018 Induction Luncheon will take place on Saturday, October 13, 11 am at the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco. Terry McGovern will be the Master of Ceremonies. This year’s class was selected in voting conducted among current emembers of BARHOF. For more information on reservations to attend this event visit www.broadcastlegends.com

BARHOF Class of 2010 in Sports: Sports Radio Service’s Amaury Pi-González, alongside Jon Miller and Gary Radnich.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Jaime Jarren at the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum & Hall of Fame Wall at the Coliseum

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Photo credit: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Jaime Jarrin has been the Spanish voice for the Los Angeles Dodgers for over half a century. As you can see, Jarrin is standing at the popular Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame wall conveniently located at the Club Level entrance of the Oakland Coliseum, the home of the Oakland Athletics.

Jarren is pointing at the flag of Ecuador. Ecuador is his country of birth. Aside from Jarren, other folks love to stop by the same area to take pictures of the colorful wall.

Amaury Pi-González serves as the Vice President of The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame, a nonprofit organization that was founded in San Francisco in 1998.

Click the link for more information: http://www.hispanicheritagebaseballmuseum.org/

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Angels Manager Mike Scioscia Likely to Say Goodbye

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Photo credit: sbnation.com

By: Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND, Calif. — Chances are very good that this week was the last time we will see Angels manager Mike Scioscia as manager with the Angels at the Oakland Coliseum. During their last home stand of the season and during the penultimate game at Angel Stadium on Saturday, September 29, the Angels will give everybody in attendance a Mike Scioscia bobblehead, a sellout of 45,000 is expected.

As a manager, Scioscia led the Angels to their only World Series championship on 2002 against the San Francisco Giants.

Scioscia is the all-time managerial leader in wins, games managed and division titles. He also was honored as the American League Manager of the Year Award in 2002 and 2009.

I have very good memories and experiences with Scioscia. Not only did I have the privilege of calling the 2002 World Series for the Giants, but during the past eight seasons, I traveled to Anaheim to do the Spanish play-by-play for the Angels at Fox Sports Network with my good friend José Mota, who does commentary. Mota is bilingual and as qualified as anybody I have ever met in baseball.Although this season the Spanish Fox Sports West production of the Angels ceased to exist due to a business decision by Disney, who acquired a ton of regional sports networks, including Fox Sports West. Anyhow, you can still see Mota during pre and post games for the English Fox Sports and sometimes on Angels’ radio and other MLB outlets.

There were many times where I have interviewed Scioscia in Spanish (Scioscia speaks conversational Spanish) for the Fox Sports’ Angels pregame in Anaheim. He was always available to talk baseball. A man that was in the Los Angeles area was always thought to be the perfect manager for the rival Dodgers, a team he played for 13 seasons from 1980-1992. He was arguably one of the best defensive catchers of any generation. To try to score on a close play at the plate against Scioscia was a tough thing to do, he was Fernando Valenzuela’s first and foremost catcher. Fernando has always told me great things on how Scioscia guided him when he was a Dodgers rookie. Preston Gómez, a great pioneer manager and lifetime baseball man, once told me: “Scioscia era el hombre que los Dodgers debían de haber firmando de manager.” Translation: “Sciosica was the man that the Dodgers should have signed as their manager.”

On March 29th when the Angels played the A’s at the home opener in Oakland, Scioscia told me this: “I really like my ballclub this year.” Unfortunately, injuries to his pitching staff, many Tommy John surgeries–all while the news broke that Japanese rookie sensation Shohei Othani, who could be the Rookie of the Year in the AL, was also told he had to submit to the surgery.

The Angels’ best player in the game is Mike Trout. Scioscia and Trout have the ultimate respect for each other. They are both huge fans of the Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles. Trout was born and raised in southern New Jersey and Mike Scioscia hails from Pennsylvania. Obviously, Scioscia’s team was not the one that was going to chase the Houston Astros or even contend for a Wild Card spot.

Scioscia could write his own ticket. I do not know what he will choose to do after his managerial life, but whatever he does, he will be just as good as he has been as the Angels manager for the last 19 seasons–the longest tenured manager in the MLB. He could possibly take an advisory position and assistant to Angels owner Arturo “Arte” Moreno. I can easily see that.

Listen to A’s home games in Spanish on KIQI 1010AM/990AM in San Francisco/Oakland/San José/Sacramento/Stockton.