Tag: Amaury Pi Gonzalez

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Two Warriors Players test Positive; Training Camp Delayed–

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Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Meyers made the announcement on Tuesday that two players have tested positive for Coronavirus and that the team training camp has been put on hold. (sportsnet.com file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Bob Meyers, Golden State Warriors General Manager made the announcement that two Warriors players tested positive for covid-19 and therefore the Training Camp has been delayed.

The Warriors first exhibition game was schedule for December 12 and the team’s opener of the regular season is scheduled for either the 22nd or 23rd of December. This stuff is day-to-day, and decisions have to be made quickly, but it is not an easy Lay-up.

Last week the NBA stated in a health-and-safety protocol guide that was distributed to teams that any player who tests positive, must wait 10 days and then be monitored in individual workouts for two more days.

For the player to return to work (even if they were asymptomatic when tested positive) and to return to work the players must go 10 days or more after the first positive test or onset of symptoms or test negative at least 24 hours apart via PCR testing.

Just like all sports leagues, the NBA is at the mercy of what happens with this novel virus. The virus does not have or cares about any schedule. People here in California are in a state of awareness and have all the information they need, but still people will test positive.

It is disheartening when officials like Governors, Mayors and other elected officials have such contempt to “say one thing and do another” for the people that are actually paying their collective salaries. This surely doesn’t help.

A lot of people say, well if they do not care, why should I care? Many at the beginning of this Pandemic predicted vaccine would take years, are startled that it has taken less than 1 (one) year to develop (under the government operation Warp Speed) by bio-pharmaceutical companies, like Pfzier Moderna and AstraZeneca, and others on the way, are waiting for approval from the FDA.

Interestingly enough, The United Kingdom already approved the Pfizer vaccine to give to its population. Bureaucrats here in the US usually take their time, the red-tape is always the obstacle, but we can only hope these vaccines will get the green light soon to help the people of the United States and other countries that are for sure ready to acquired and use. Talking about our Bureaucrats, isn’t ironic that the United Kingdom has approved the US vaccine before our own FDA?

Stay tuned and stay well.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Blue Jays want new stadium but can’t play in the one they have; Despite missing key players Giants almost made playoffs; plus more

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A look from outside of the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Toronto Blue Jays would like to tear down Rogers Centre and build a new ball park (photo from onsitenews.com)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 The Toronto Blue Jays have new stadium plans on the drawing board and are considering tearing down their current baseball home Rogers Centre. The argument in Toronto is why not spend millions instead of billions on getting some super star players instead of a new stadium. Also the Jays didn’t even play in Rogers Centre last season as they were relegated to play in Buffalo due to Coronavirus protocol restrictions in Canada.

#2 After the San Francisco Giants last season nearly made the playoffs without Madison Bumgarner who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and catcher Buster Posey who opted out because he didn’t want to chance getting Covid and spreading to his newborn child how much credit do you give to team general manager Farhan Zaidi and Giants manager Gabe Kapler.

#3 The Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng made her first deal as the Marlins acquired pitcher right hander Adam Cimber from Cleveland Cimber had a 4.30 ERA and this deal will be part of history as Ng is MLB’s first woman general manger and this is her first deal.

#4 In Pro Football: A lot of game cancelations and Covid-19 spreading the Denver Broncos weren’t too shocked about their results after losing to the New Orleans Saints 31-3. The Broncos lost all their quarterbacks to positive Covid-19 tests and Kendall Hinton who was on the practice squad as a receiver was put into service as the starting quarterback for Denver and had a rough time of it throwing for only 13 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.

#5 In an article you wrote about Santa Clara County which has a strict stay at home order and Coronavirus protocols that ban all sports from not just the fans but no players or games. The San Francisco 49ers will be playing weeks 13 and 14 in Arizona as they will not be allowed to play at Levis Stadium until after Dec 21st.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Diego Armando Maradona “El Pibe de Oro” dead at 60

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Former soccer great Diego Maradona who died at 60 on Wednesday will be remembered as one of the game’s greatest all time players (AP News Photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The legendary Argentinian-born soccer player, Diego Armando Maradona is dead at 60 years of age. Maradona was recently rehabbing from a recent surgery for a brain hematoma, a blood clot to the brain. He died of a heart attack after his release from the rehab-center.

He had an addiction to alcohol and drugs for years, often going in and out of rehab facilities.. An icon in Argentina as well as one of the most famous names in sports all over the world. Maradona was so good he made his professional debut at the age of 15 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the team Argentinos Juniors.

Maradona as well as the legendary Brazilian player Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé are ranked among the best soccer players ever. I had the privilege of interviewing both of them when some of the matches for World Cup ’94 were held in the Bay Area (San José) to be exact, while I was covering sports for Telemundo Bay Area.

The FIFA 1994 World Cup was the only time the United States hosted what it is considered the greatest sporting event in the world. They both came as FIFA Ambassadors.

Maradona who also came to the Bay Area to play a friendly game with the Italian Club Juventus, had a turbulent relationship with the press in his native Argentina as well as around the world, he was not an easy interview. A great international player, he was also a manager and occasionally a soccer commentator. He had great passion for the game, born in a country were Fútbol/Soccer is more than a sport, but like a religion.

Maradona will always be remember for the game against England during World Cup ’86 in Mexico City, a quarterfinals match, were he scored two goals against England. The first called (although protested by the English team) as the goal “Mano de Dios”(God’s Hand) because he used his hands, something that is illegal in this sport.

Maradona himself said after the game “it was part with my head and part with the Hand of God”. Since then the international soccer press baptized the goal as “Mano de Dios”. The second goal was not controversial but was named “Gol del Siglo” (Goal of the Century) as his team Argentina beat England 2-1.

Maradona, at 25-years of age was the captain of that team, who later beat Germany 3-2 in the finals, to win the World Cup. That was the second FIFA World Cup title for Argentina and last one.

Maradona played 490 official club games during his 21-year professional career. Scoring 259 goals. For Argentina he played total of 91 games and scored 34 goals.

An Internet poll conducted by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association named Maradona the top player of the 20th century.

Note: The last FIFA World Cup was held in Moscow, Russia in 2018 and France won the title. The next FIFA World Cup will take place in 2022 in the country of Qatar, first time an Arabic country will host the worldwide event.

Happy and Safe Thanksgiving.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez did Soccer coverage on Telemundo TV and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: How Bazemore fits into Warriors plans; Kings happy to sign Fox for blockbuster $135 M deal; plus more

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Former Sacramento King Kent Bazemore is re-joining the Golden State Warriors as their key shooting guard. The question is will he be able to compliment the loss of injured Klay Thompson who is out for the rest of the season? (photo from San Francisco Chronicle)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury after the injury to the Warriors Klay Thompson last week the Warriors need all the help they can get. Rookie James Wiseman can only help and learn from Draymond Green and will Steph Curry’s ankle hold up. Now they pick up shooting guard Kent Bazemore will he be enough to cover for the loss of Thompson?

#2 The Sacramento Kings finally got what they wanted a new deal with D’Aaron Fox who was one of the big keys for the Kings. He signs with the Kings for $135 million for five years and the Kings really rely on his offense coming into this season.

#3 The San Jose Sharks CEO Jonathan Becher update: Becher said he was pretty optimistic from what he heard from Monday’s San Jose City Council planning commission meeting. Becher’s big concerns were keeping Autumn and Santa Clara Streets open and not have development that would shut fans access off from that side of the SAP Center. Also development in the parking lots in front of SAP Center that would cut out the City and the Sharks agreed 4850 parking spaces. Becher said the team would consider moving if the City and Sharks could not come to some sort of agreement and from the sound of Monday’s meeting there might be some happy medium. The San Jose City Council will be holding a meeting concerning street closures for the Dirdon Street area on Dec 3rd.

#4 Former 2011 Tampa Bay Rays prospect Brandon Martin was convicted for life for the 2015 three counts of first degree murder for killing his father, a security technician and his uncle with a baseball bat. Martin had previously had his mother in a a headlock and had scissors in his hands. It was reported that Martin had unspecified psychiatric issues and came to his parents house while the security technician was installing security cameras at the home.

#5 New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman with heavy furry winter jacket and outdoor camping sleeping bag slept outdoors on Sunday night at Yankee Stadium which Cashman does annually for raising awareness for homeless teenagers. Temps have been in the low 40s overnight in New York.

Catch Amaury for News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Double Standard at Cooperstown?

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Former Cincinnati Reds great Pete Rose poses near his statue outside of Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati is still serving a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball (file photo from WLWT 700 News Radio Cincinnati)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

“T’was the night before Christmas when all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse, the stockings were hung by the chimney with care all the new Hall of Fame names were read with a flair, but the name of Pete Rose still was not there” -APG.2020.

The list for the 2021 first time nominees for Cooperstown is out, including those that felt short in previous years. They are still on the ballot and some like Roger Clements and Barry Bonds will probably not be elected this year. They might have to wait a few more years. But, what about Pete?

This is the time of the year for that perennial question. Why is Pete Rose not in the Hall of Fame as a player. No player alive or still playing is remotely close to Pete Rose record of 4,256 hits. The closest one, who still active is LA Angels Albert Pujols with 3,236 hits. Also active, Miguel Cabrera 2,866, Robinson Canó 2,624 ( who also was suspended for the 2021 season for PEDs), Nick Markakis 2,388 then Yadier Molina with 2,001. All of these active players are veterans towards the end of their careers; they have really no chance of getting remotely close to Pete Rose.

Gambling is the cardinal sin of baseball, and that is why Pete Rose is not in the Hall of Fame. In 1989 Major League Baseball punished Pete Rose, manager of the Cincinnati Reds for betting on baseball.

Rose accepted a settlement than includes a lifetime ban from the game. But every year when the names of the new class of Hall of Fame players that are nominated comes out, everybody debates if he should be given the chance of induction into the Hall of Fame.

Rose recently admitted to Jim Gray that he still bets on baseball. This confession is part of Jim Gray’s “Talking to Goats” FOX News special and book. As a civilian he can bet on baseball, it is legal, just visit any Casino in the United States and you probably can place a bet, or on the internet as well.

We are a betting nation. Draft Kings is a very popular Daily Fantasy Sports for Cash in baseball, the Superbowl is approaching and after March Madness tournament in Basketball. The Superbowl is the highest sports event in amount of bets. During the summer, baseball (usually 162-game schedule) allows more opportunities to bet each day.

We are also a forgiving nation. With the advances of science, i.e. DNA, people that were wrongly convicted of murder and have been serving for decades a life sentence, have been released after DNA showed that they were wrongly convicted.

Many countries around the world, if you are convicted of murder, you are executed very soon after your sentence. O.J Simpson is a free man, after his controversial ‘not guilty’ verdict, but we all know he got away with murder, he had to hire the best attorneys in the world to save his life, so there went most of what money OJ had.

Question for everybody: What is worst, Pete Rose betting on baseball or the Houston Astros cheating and winning the 2017 World Series?

Pete Rose is not going to manage or play again. To me it looks ridiculous the fact he is not in the Hall of Fame where he belongs. If we are going to be consistent with the world we are living today (this is not 1919 and the Black Sox scandal) I hope we can see Pete Rose soon, (not after he is dead) in Cooperstown. That is my opinion, you might disagree and I respect your opinion.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: With New Vaccines Sports see Game Changer

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The front of the offices of Moderna who have an effective 94.5 % vaccine for Coronavirus that is scheduled for distribution as soon as April 2021 (teletrader.com file photo)

With New Vaccines Sports see Game Changer

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

We heard all the projections that a vaccine for Covid-19 would take years, because most vaccines usually do. However within one week Pfizer and Moderna two very big and innovative pharmaceutical companies announced their new vaccines, both reporting their trials showed over 90 percent effective.

Next step is for the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) to approve and then the distribution to millions of Americans. An once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between the Federal Government and some of the world largest pharmaceutical companies worked together to bring results during a crisis of this magnitude.

The same Chemicals that in time of war are used to construct military missiles, to build weapons, drones, body armor now are fighting for the civilian population. The old Korean War-era law known as the Defense Production Act of 1950 was used again by the administration in power and named Operation Warp Speed.

To develop and built all that is needed to combat this Covid virus. Dr. Anthony Fauci calls is good news and now we have to work on getting it to the people. He called these vaccines impressive and that they could be out to the public by the end of next month.

It has taken these companies six to seven months to develop a vaccine, a much needed instrument against this virus and the sports world is breathing today some relief from months of uncertainty.

For most of the year we have seen empty stadiums, protocols for players and staff, fans (when allowed like in the NLCS and World Series) and we have been living under a totally different lifestyle. MLB, NBA, NFL have lost billions of dollars in revenue, it has forced these leagues to reduce their regular-season amount of games played, where they play it and in some instances how they play it.

This virus has changed everything in the sports world, however, with these new vaccines; things should improve and eventually improve to the goal of everybody, to return to a normal world, and the world we knew before. When the only time you had your temperature checked was at your doctor’s office, that type of world.

I am sure everybody that is involved with sports, players and staff across the country and millions of fans sees this as very positive news.

The most appropriate and most used phrase in sports, applies here: This is a “game changer”.

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Baseball and Veterans Day

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Amaury Pi Gonzalez author in uniform with the US Army is one of five staff writers at Sports Radio Service who have served in the US Military. As Amaury writes about Veterans Day celebrated Wed Nov 11, 2020 (photo provided by Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

That’s Amaury’s News and Commenty

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

No sport is more intertwined with the US military than baseball. Through the years many baseball players have served their nation, during times of war or peace. Some volunteered for war, some were drafted, other served in uniform in the reserves, regardless of their circumstances all showed their patriotism and selfishness to their country.

Among Hall of Fame players that served are:

Cleveland Indians Bob Feller. He left an over six-figure contract and joined the US Navy right after the Japanese attack in Pearl Harbor. He was the first American professional athlete (among all sports) to enlist and served in the US Navy from 1941 to 1945. In 1946 Bob Feller’s fastball was clocked at 98.6 miles-per hour, by a US Army device. It was the fastest at that time.

Boston Red Sox slugger Ted Williams. Teddy Ballgame is frequently mentioned as the last man in major league baseball to hit over .400 when he ended the 1941 season with a .406 batting average. His military career was also exemplary as a pilot during World War II and the Korean War, he and Larry McPhail,(high ranking baseball executive) are the only two to have served in two wars.

New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio enlisted in 1943, and never saw combat. The Yankee Clipper served as a physical education instructor in the US Army Special Services, mostly stationed in California and Hawaii.

New York Giants center-fielder Willie Mays was drafted by the US Army in 1952 during the Korean War. Although he did not see action during the war, he was much valuable to the military participating in media campaigns and public exhibitions to raise troop moral. He returned to the Giants in 1954 and led the National League with a .345 batting average, winning the Most Valuable Player.

New York Yankee legendary catcher Yogi Berra volunteered during the assault on Normandy, France, during the famous D-Day. Berra was told not to mention his secret mission to his family. He was on a rocket boat during the first waves of the allied invasion of Europe, landing at Normandy, France, which began the eventual undoing of Hitler and his occupation.

The most famous #42. Jackie Robinson joined the US Army in 1942 and was commissioned a second Lieutenant in 1943. Honorably Discharged in 1944. While serving Robinson was arrested and court-martialed protesting segregation, but was acquired later. Pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm (He threw the best Knuckleball ever) pitched for the NY Giants and eight other teams, served in the US Army during the Battle of the Bulge, was injured in and received a Purple Heart

These Hall of Famers also served in uniform: Roberto Clemente, Tom Seaver, Rod Carew, Nolan Ryan, Don Larsen, Pee Wee Reese, Johnny Mize, Joe Gordon and many others.

Sandy Alderson, once Executive for the Oakland Athletics, new York Mets and San Diego Padres, served during the Viet Nam war as a US Marine Lieutenant.

My apologies to those I did not mentioned and the many more that also served the country.

On behalf of all the staff here at Sports Radio Service and our veterans we salute you and thank you for your support. past and present collaborators; Ken Gimlin, US Army, Joe Cronin, US Army, Tony Rentería, US Marines, Jerry Feitelberg, US Army, Amaury Pi-González, US Army.

Stay tuned and stay well.

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

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: LaRussa busted a second time for DUI, Sox keeping him; Ex-Astro GM Luhnow suing MLB and Astros

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Chicago White Sox manager Tony LaRussa was charged with his second DUI violation back on Feb 24, 2020 in Maricopa AZ. LaRussa had a first DUI charge back in 2007. The White Sox said their still keeping him as team manager no discipline forthcoming (mug shot photo from clumsycrooks.com)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

1. Chicago White Sox manager Tony LaRussa back on Feb 24 in Maricopa Arizona ran into a curb and flattened his tire while walking around outside of his vehicle around 12 midnight a peace officer discovered that LaRussa had smelled of alcohol and gave him a sobriety test which he failed and was charge with DUI and driving with a alcohol level of 0.08. LaRussa was argumentative with police.

2.The White Sox are aware of the DUI charge but regardless are going forward with keeping LaRussa as their manager for the 2021 season. This is LaRussa’s second DUI arrest he was arrested in 2007.

3. Former Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow is suing MLB and Houston Astros owner Jim Crane for what Luhnow calls a “negotiated result” in terminating him in the Astros sign stealing scandal.

4. Luhnow has insisted that he had no knowledge that the players had a real time camera on the hitters in centerfield and were on line or on a cell call what the next pitch was which was fed to the hitter via banging on a garbage can.

5.Amaury with all the sporting events that have been canceled or delayed due to Covid-19 related issues Prizer has a vaccine that is 90% effective if so this could be a path back to a normal life again.

6. The Oakland A’s have their eye on draft pick Ha-Seaong Kim from the Korean Baseball Organization in the free market agency. Kim is a shortstop who hit .308, 30 home runs, and 23 stolen bases. Kim could be a replacement for Marcus Semien but the A’s do say they are determined to keep Semien.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: NBA Season to Begin December 22 –Without Fans–

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media during a presser announcing the 2022 NBA All Star game would be held in Cleveland. Silver, the owners and the Players Association this week has agreed on playing a 72 game schedule starting Dec 22 (file photo from cleveland.com)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

NBA and the Players Association set their opening of the 2020-21 season for December 22. It will not be in January, as both sides discussed another starting date. This is the fastest season-to-season turnaround in history for the NBA.

The LA Lakers won the title over the Miami Heat on October 11 that was the last game of the season. By starting on December 22, it means they will be back in less than three months. According to Elias Sports Bureau, this is in fact the quickest turnaround in history from one season to the next among all major professional leagues in the United States.

–72 game season. Not the regular 82 games as usual.

–Training camp will open on December 1.

–Playoffs middle of May until July

–Where they play. Teams to play in their home markets

–Traveling. There will be travel, but it will be cut by 25%, limiting the coast-to-coast traveling

–Players and staff will be tested daily for Covid-19

— Fans. Doesn’t look like fans will be allowed. It is a good bet thatCovid-19 will still be around by this December.

Precautions for players: Usually the biggest danger of virus contamination doesn’t happen on the court, but when players are not on the court. It will take lots of discipline by everybody in the sport to abide by all protocols.

Where will the Toronto Raptors play? Just like in baseball, when the Toronto Blue Jays were not allowed to play because Canadian government rules trying to control Covid-19 and they played in Buffalo, New York, it looks the same might happen with the NBA Toronto Raptors. Buffalo is also interested in hosting the Raptors. At this time, also Newark, New Jersey and Kansas City, Missouri.

Since spring some of the United States giant pharmaceutical companies like Johnson & Johnson and others as well as around the world have been working on a vaccine for Covid-19. Some have trials going on right now, with the hopes of getting it approved and out into the public. However, with 330 million people we are not a country that can vaccinate everybody in a couple of months, so patience is paramount.

Stay tuned and stay well.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the former Spanish radio voice for Golden State Warriors basketball and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Baseball Is Cheating Rewarded?

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AJ Hinch gets a new lease on life after spending the 2020 season suspended from the Houston Astros scandal. Hinch will be at the helm for the Detroit Tigers for 2021. (photo from the Detroit Free Press)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Alex Cora was hired by the Boston Red Sox as their new skipper for the next two years running through 2022 with a two-year club option for the ’23 and ’24 seasons. In 2017 Alex Cora was the bench coach for the World Champion Houston Astros.

Because of a coordinated cheating of signs, he was suspended for a year, together with manager A.J Hinch as well as General Manager Jeff Lunow, who is a very good General Manager, proficient in Spanish who sat with us during a few innings of a broadcast, a few years ago as the Astros visited Oakland.

Alex Cora’s suspension expired immediately after Dodgers eliminated the Rays in this most recent World Series. Cora also assumed the manager’s position (during that 2017 cheating season with the Astros) every time manager Hinch was ejected; which was in three occasions. To refresh our memories: The 2017 Astros team won the West with 101-61 record, 21 games over second place LA Angels. A’s finished in last place, 26 games behind. Then the Astros took the World Series from the Dodgers. Obviously, the cheating paid off.

Not a surprise Cora is returning to Boston, he is well regarded by the Boston Red Sox organization. As a rookie manager Cora guided the Red Sox to 108 victories and a World Series title in 2018. However, the next season (2019) under Cora, the club ended with a 84-78 record, in third place 19 games behind the NY Yankees.

The most famous baseball scandal was that of the 1919 World Series, between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds, most well known as The Black Sox Scandal. In 1920 four players admitted to a Grand Jury they had thrown the 1919 World Series in return from a bribe by a gambling syndicate led by Arnold Rothstein and his associates.

A total of seven players were involved. “Eight Men Out” is an excellent movie about that most famous scandal. 1920’s and 2020, are two different planets in baseball. The highest paid player in 1920 was the great Ty Cobb, $20,000 a season with the Detroit Tigers. The Detroit Tigers franchise in 2020 is worth an estimated $1.25 billion.

Major League teams have the right to hire whomever they want, they are a private business and that is their right. And, granted, Cora won a World Series as Manager of the Red Sox and nobody accused the Red Sox of cheating that year.

However, I would think that the memory of the 2017 Houston Astros cheating and winning a World Series, still very much fresh in our minds. In a way looks like you can cheat and wait a couple of years and you are back in the game. I do not want Alex Cora suspended for life, that would be ridiculous, but coming back this soon? I do not think is a very good look for Major League Baseball. The wounds are not healed yet.

If there is cheating inside an organization, the most culpable are those in charge, from the top down, General Manager, to the Field Manager, then the players, and in some instances, maybe even the owner. During these times, owners are not that involved with what happens down on the field.

Unlike the days of black and white television, and prior, where some owners were really “hands on” with the teams. Not that very long ago, owners that come to mind are Charlie O. Finley with the Kansas City and Oakland A’s and George Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees, those were hands-on owners, they were really bosses with lots of passion for the game and they were not shy to show it.

Back in the days of the Black Sox Scandal, things were different, teams were mostly owned by families with certain affinity to the game and not big corporations like today. Not to mention a record that will never be broken, that of the Owner and Manager of the Philadelphia Athletics for over 50 years. Connie Mack who won 3,731 games, tops in major league baseball, he also played prior to his managing-owner years and never wore a uniform while managing, famous for his white straw hat.

“Cheating is baseball’s oldest profession. No other game is so rich in skullduggery. -Thomas Boswell.

Stay tuned and stay well.

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