Tag: Craig Counsell

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Cubs lose Steele for season needs elbow surgery; Jays Guerrero Jr glad contract issues settled; plus more news

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Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele 2025 season is over due needed elbow surgery to repair a flexor tendon. Here Steele pitches to the Texas Rangers in the top of the first inning at Wrigley Field on Mon Apr 7, 2025 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele will miss the rest of the 2025 season due to needed surgery on his left elbow to repair a flexor tendon, according Cubs manager Craig Counsell. It wasn’t know if Steele will need ligament replacement of the Tommy John revision with a internal brace. Steele will be out until the 2026 season.

#2 Vladimir Guerrero Jr is thrilled to be on board with the Toronto Blue Jays after singing a 14 year contract worth $500 million. Guerrero Jr who signed with the Jays last Monday was born in Montreal and his Hall of Fame father Vladimir Sr was born in the Dominican and played for the Montreal Expos. Guerrero signed with the Blue Jays at 16 years old in 2015 and made it to the big leagues in 2019.

#3  Toronto Blue Jays right hand pitcher Max Scherzer will pay a visit to a US specialist due to right thumb soreness. It will be his second to the specialist in the US this week said Jays manager John Schneider on Monday. Scherzer a three time Cy Young Award winner got a cortisone injection for the sore thumb when visited Dr. Thomas Graham on Mar 31st.

#4 Very sad news from the Cincinnati Reds Tommy Helms who was a slick fielding infielder who had won the 1966 National League Rookie of the Year. Helms also managed the Reds for short terms has passed away at age 83. Helms wife told the Reds Hall of Fame that Helms passed away of an unknown cause. Helms played 14 season in 1435 games, he was an All Star 1967 and 68. He won gold gloves in 1970 and 1971 those years Helms played Dave Concepcion and they were considered the best double play combinations in the game.

#5 Amaury check it out two homestands so far for the Sacramento A’s and two of the largest TV market teams have paid a visit to the A’s minor league park Sutter Health Park the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets. Reports have fans who came from New York saying the space is way too small to accommodate fans, players and media from either of those two markets visiting Sacramento. On the home opener the broadcasts went off the air one time for the A’s and one for the Cubs. During Saturday’s game the cart taking an injured Cub player off he diamond ran out of gas the player had to be assisted off the field.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Acuna out for season with blown ACL; Umpire Angel Hernandez has retired; plus more news

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Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuna Jr grimaces while being assisted by the Braves George C Poulis while walking off the field after blowing out his ACL and will be out for the rest of the season on Sun May 26, 2024 (photo from ESPN)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 How much of an impact for the Atlanta Braves losing Ronald Acuna Jr for the rest of the season after running between second and third base and blew out his ACL taking a bad turn on the base pathes.

#2 Umpire Angel Hernandez who was accused of blowing calls in the ALDS which resulted in his not being selected to umpire in the World Series and lost a racial bias suit has retired from ever umpiring an MLB game again. His retirement is effect today. Hernandez was the center of the ire from the players and fans on social media. Hernandez said this was all stemmed from racial bias. Hernandez umpired in the Majors since 1991.

#3 Los Angeles Dodgers two way player Shohei Ohtani is not giving up on the possibility of pitching again. Ohtani was put on the shelf from pitching and left with the hitting duties as designated hitter. Ohtani is recovery from his second Tommy John surgery. Ohtani threw from 60 feet on Monday at Citi Field tracking at 80 MPH. Ohtani was said to possibly to return to pitching in August.

#4 Former Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell was unceremoniously booed upon his return at American Family Field as manager of the Chicago Cubs on Monday. Counsell took the booing in stride saying, “The fans are here to enjoy the day, enjoy a baseball game,” Counsell said “They get to do what they want. Hopefully they had a good time.” The Cubs lost to the Brewers 5-1.

#5 The San Francisco Giants LaMonte Wade Jr who returned to the line up after being on the IL. Wade reinjured himself on a hard slide on a double and ended up straining his hamstring. The Giants said that Wade is on the way back to the IL.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Cubs biggest move in off season was signing manager Counsell; Angels Rendon says baseball is not a priority; plus more news

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Chicago Cubs president of operations Jed Hoyer and manager Craig Counsell speak to the media from the Cubs spring training camp facilities in Mesa AZ on Wed Feb 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Chicago Cubs seem pretty comfortable with the players that they have and didn’t have any big signings over the winter. The one big move they did make is signing manager Craig Counsell from their division rival the Milwaukee Brewers for $40 million. Not a bad pay day for a manager.

#2 How surprised are you that Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon said that baseball is not a priority for him and that he only plays the game for a living. Rendon was injured for most of the 2023 season and is back at the Angels spring training camp.

#3 The New York Yankees Juan Soto said that he won’t talk about his future past the 2024 season as makes his debut at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Florida for spring training. It been theorized that Soto wants to be a Yankee for life and would like an extension before the end of this season.

#4 Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that designated hitter Shohei Ohtani will not play in the spring training opener Thursday against the San Diego Padres. Roberts said that Ohtani is coming off elbow surgery and Roberts added he’s not sure when Ohtani will be in the line up this spring. Roberts did report that Ohtani is making progress coming off surgery.

#5 Amaury, we didn’t get a chance to talk to you about the recent signing of Jorge Soler with the San Francisco Giants for a three year $42 million deal. Soler told the media at the Giants training facility in Scottsdale AZ that he expects to have big numbers this season.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Oakland Mayor hoping to sway owners vote with A’s resolution; Schools over Stadiums to appeal Judge’s ruling

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Howard Terminal rendering. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, City Council, and the Port put on a presentation on Tuesday that City Hall hopes to sway some of the MLB owners to vote no on an A’s relocation (Rendering of Howard Terminal from the Oakland Athletics)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, among the Mayor and the City Council goals in adopting a resolution at City Hall. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the City Council are showed the infrastructure of Howard Terminal, the benefits of having a park at the Terminal and something on the drawing board that might change the MLB owners vote. After today’s meeting do you see owner changing they’re minds and giving the A’s a chance to build at Howard Terminal?

#2 Amaury, the odds are starting to dim and Mayor Thao is hoping for a ninth inning rally to stay in the hunt to persuade the owners vote. Thao says that the city does have a plan and budget to build at Howard Terminal but the A’s walked away. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Oakland had no deal hence Manfred and the A’s are ready to open for business in Las Vegas.

#3 Nevada District Judge James Todd Russell ruled in favor of Oakland A’s lobbyists Danny Thompson and Thomas Morely who took Schools over Stadiums to Monday’s court hearing in District court to throw out Schools over Stadiums attempt to put a referendum on the Nov 2024 ballot to stop public funding for a Las Vegas A’s ballpark and that funds should be used to support schools.

#4 Judge Russell said that Schools over Stadiums would have to refile their petition and that Schools over Stadiums would need to use the full text of SB1 or appeal the case to a higher court.

#5 Thompson and Morely didn’t respond to media inquiries for comments. Schools over Stadiums spokesman Alexander Marks made it clear that they will appeal saying the decision was disappointing but not uncommon adding that Schools over Stadiums plans to refile the referendum and that there is plenty of time to refile as the signature deadline is June of 2024.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead radio voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Diamondbacks plan to continue to leave roof open for game 4; Ex-Senator Frank Howard dead at 87; plus more news

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A look at Chase Field home of the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Apr 22, 2023 against the San Diego Padres. The Diamondbacks had the roof open for game 3 of the 2023 World Series and plan to leave it open again for game 4 against the Texas Rangers on Tue Oct 31, 2023. (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Things in the Arizona corridor has cooled off a bit and no rain in sight so the Diamondbacks opened up the roof and they plan to do the same for game four tonight. It’s rare that happens because it gets pretty toasty during the regular season.

#2 Amaury, former Washington Senator Frank Howard has passed away at age 87. Howard lived a good long life and was a slugger of 382 home runs and batted .273 and won a World Series with the 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers. Howard played not only with the Dodgers and Senators but he moved to Texas when the Senators relocated to Texas in 1972. He was known as Hondo and was known as a gentleman of a giant at 6’7.

#3 Milwaukee Brewer manager Craig Counsell who is on his last week of his contract is set to meet with the Cleveland Guardians for the vacant manager job. Counsell is also being sought by the New York Mets who financially can offer Counsell more money than either Milwaukee or Cleveland.

#4 Tommy Pham did something that surprised manager Troy Lovullo asking Lovullo to insert former Oakland A’s infielder Jace Peterson in the line up as a pinch hitter in game 2. Pham already had four hits and the D-Backs were in front of the Rangers 7-1. It gave Peterson to get a swing in the World Series. Peterson ended up hitting into a force out but got a thrill to play in the World Series.

#5 Amaury, Looking back on some of these division and championship games. No one thought a number of these series would involve sweeps and teams like the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros winning all their road games. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says he likes the playoff format. Meanwhile MLB Union Executive Tony Clark said that a 84 game winner like the Diamondbacks for example made it to the World Series where you had 100 game winners like Orioles, Braves and Dodgers who were eliminated early. Clark said he was concerned about the value of being a 100 game winner but getting canceled early in post season.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Posey, Melvin, Wotus, Correa, who amongst them will be Giants next manager

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Former San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey takes to the 2012 World Series celebration back on Oct 31, 2012. Posey has been named as a top candidate for manager for the Giants job. It’s unlikely that Posey will take the job according to sources as Posey left baseball to have more time with his family. (AP file photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Stephen:

#1 Stephen wanted to go over some of the top candidates for the job of manager of the San Francisco Giants. We’ll start with Buster Posey nothing like name recognition. He’s a three time World Champion catcher and a no one would be surprised if he gets on a Hall of Fame ballot after the five year waiting period is up. Yet can Posey come in and manage the club with no managerial experience what would that adjustment be like?

#2 Bob Melvin is still managing the San Diego Padres but that all could come to an end. The Padres didn’t make post season and Padres GM AJ Preller and CEO Erik Greupner will be meeting Melvin Monday at Petco Park to discuss Melvin’s future. If Melvin gets canned in San Diego he’s been speculated as one of the top contenders for the Giants job. He managed a struggling Oakland A’s club and got the best out of a bad situation, he was a former Giants catcher and is well known and admired for his work in the Bay Area.

#3 Giants third base coach Mark Hallberg is considered the best candidate for the job. He’s well respected and has worked with all the players through his time as third base coach and the players would say he would be a fit. Hallberg was good friends with Posey and if Hallberg was named manager he might tab Posey to come back as a coach.

#4 Ron Wotus is a special assistant with the Giants and a fan favorite. Wotus has been coaching the team under managers Dusty Baker, Felipe Alou, Bruce Bochy, and now Gabe Kapler. Wotus spoke to the team after last Wednesday night’s game after the Giants lost giving up three runs in the top of the tenth inning against the Padres in a 5-2 loss. The writing was on the wall after that game. Did Wotus speaking with the team have meaning for the future for him as a possible manager.

#5 Stephen, just mentioning three more names that could come up available as manager the Rockies Bud Black, the Angels Phil Nevin, the Yankees Aaron Boone, and the Brewers Craig Counsell. Of that short list who do you see having a chance joining the helm at the Giants.

Stephen Ruderman was a MLB podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com