Tag: David Kaval

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: How serious is a deal for A’s playing last 3 years in San Francisco?; Dodgers top pick so far for Ohtani

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Former Los Angeles Angels two way player Shohei Ohtani won the 2023 AL MVP and is an odds on favorite to join the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2024 season. It’s yet to be determined. (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Insiders have said that Oakland A’s president David Kaval after the MLB owners vote to move to Las Vegas that Oracle Park home of the San Francisco Giants could be the home of the A’s for the remaining three years 2025-27 while they wait for the Tropicana ballpark to be completed by 2028. How strong do you see that possibility.

#2 It’s ironic if the Giants were to allow the A’s to play at Oracle Park for the 2025-27 season in San Francisco after not allowing the A’s to have territorial rights to move to San Jose and now will allow them to come to Oracle and play their final three years in the San Francisco.

#3 No surprises here as former Los Angeles Angel Shohei Ohtani was named the AL MVP, Ohtani the two way player was 10-5 with an ERA of 3.14 pitching and hit .305 with 151 hits, 44 home runs, 102 runs, and 95 RBIs.

#4 Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuna Jr won the NL MVP hitting .337, 149 runs, 41 home runs, and 106 RBIs. Both Acuna and Ohtani won by unanimous decisions which is a first in the 92 years of the award.

#5 Ohtani is up for free agency is still waiting through the bidding and what team he would like to go and play for. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the odds on favorites in the Ohtani sweepstakes followed by the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants.

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

Oakland A’s relocation special report podcast with Augie Musenburg: Baseball Commissioner Manfred says Oakland Mayor Thao was not truthful

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred addresses the media. Manfred said this week that Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is not being truthful regarding getting a new stadium deal done in Oakland (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Augie Musenburg:

#1 A San Francisco Chronicle column written by John Shea title Oakland vs. MLB as Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao exchange unpleasantries regarding who dropped the ball in trying to get a deal done in Oakland.

#2 You might recall that during the All Star game in Seattle Mayor Thao went to Seattle and presented Manfred with 30 copies of books for each team owner documenting how Oakland was close to a deal with the A’s before team president David Kaval had called and pulled out. Do you feel that this is the crux of why Manfred has some strong words about Thao after giving him the documentation and he felt she’s not telling the truth?

#3 Manfred said that Mayor Thao was good at pointing out how MLB got this wrong and the A’s got that wrong but questioned if Thao handled getting the A’s deal done in Oakland well Manfred said “Don’t think so.” It should be noted that Thao had been newly elected and had only been in office a few weeks when the A’s said they had a binding deal with Las Vegas while they were in the middle of negotiating with Oakland and backed out of the deal.

#4 Manfred also said that Thao is about to lose her third team, making it sound that this happened under her watch and that she’s not telling the truth. Manfred also said he and Thao never talked about Oakland getting an expansion team and the city keeping the A’s name. Was Manfred upset about being presented the books and that he wants this deal in Vegas all along.

#5 Manfred also said that Thao didn’t reach out to him after winning election. Manfred said that Thao didn’t reach out after she won election and took that Manfred took that as a signal they weren’t negotiating about the A’s anymore.

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: Oakland Mayor wants to keep A’s name and wants an expansion team in exchange for lease extension

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Oakland Coliseum could be the home of the Oakland A’s from 2025-2027 if they can’t land either at Oracle Park in San Francisco or at the Las Vegas Ballpark while their new park at the Tropicana on the Las Vegas strip is under construction (AP file photo)

On the A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, the Oakland A’s will still be at the Oakland Coliseum next season, the Nevada Independent reported that the A’s could make an early leap for Las Vegas but that has not been determined yet. The A’s are considering many venue options one of them is using their minor league facility in Vegas which the Aviators are using. A’s president David Kaval that there needs to be upgrades and the A’s might re-think using the Aviators 10,000 seat facility.

#2 The A’s reportedly have explored playing at the Oakland Coliseum until their new ballpark at the Tropicana on the strip is ready. There in lies the problem as Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao wants some concessions before the A’s get committed to the Coliseum as a lame duck team, one is the city of Oakland keeps the team name A’s and MLB commits to expanding to Oakland when expansion opens up.

#3 Kaval said that the decision of where the A’s will play after 2024 is totally up to MLB Commissioner and Rob Manfred. Kaval did say that the A’s have looked at three locations Oracle Park in San Francisco and share the park with the Giants, Aviators Park/Las Vegas ballpark in Vegas, and the Oakland Coliseum.

#4 Some have said that it’s a bad idea for the A’s to play at Aviators park because it becomes a spoiler to the A’s 2028 arrival and it kind of blows the hype of the team after being there for three years in the making and sharing the ballpark with the Giants might not be a good idea because that’s a lot of wear on the turf for 162 games.

#5 Staying at the Oakland Coliseum from 2025-2027 might be the best place and they might as well finish up what they started and visiting teams have said they want to play in Major League facility rather than playing in a minor league facility like Las Vegas.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s fans plan reverse boycott this time involves Giants fans in San Francisco May 25th

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Ruben Ortiz of Modesto holds up is “Stay in Oakland” sign before the last reverse boycott at the Oakland Coliseum on Jun 13, 2023. Oakland A’s fans are encouraging San Francisco Giants fans to join in the reverse boycott this Tue Jul 25, 2023 when the Oakland A’s play the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP file photo)

On the A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel, tell us your thoughts as fans get ready for another reverse boycott this time at Oracle Park in San Francisco when Oakland A’s fans encourage San Francisco Giants to get on board with wearing black shirt with the word “Sell” in orange to join A’s fans in support of getting A’s owner John Fisher to sell the ball club to someone who’ll keep them in Oakland. The reverse boycott is scheduled for this coming Tue Jul 25th at Oracle Park.

#2 Daniel, the group called the Oakland 68’s named after the A’s first year in Oakland 1968 are part of the movement to fight to keep the A’s in Oakland. The 68’s in a statement from the their website said the A’s deserve a stadium at Howard Terminal. San Francisco Giants fans and A’s fans can be pretty vocal if both sets of fans come out to encourage Fisher to sell.

#3 The 68’s are hoping that Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao continue her fight to help keep the A’s in Oakland. It’s hopeful the documents she delivered to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred might have some sway to the other owners to vote to keep the A’s in Oakland.

#4 The latest news is that the MLB owners vote could take place months from now as they wait for the A’s to deliver the relocation application. The A’s on the relocation application are trying to solve where to play while the park in under construction between 2025-2027, the renderings of the park need to be put together and the design of the retractable roof needs to be addressed and how it’ll fit on nine acres of Tropicana land space.

#5 Daniel, on the A’s side of the coin how confident do you see Fisher and team president David Kaval in getting the votes and getting the shovels in the ground in Vegas?

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and commentary podcast: A’s rookies break into show open Twins series; MLB owners to look at A’s documents before vote; plus more news

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Oakland A’s rookies designated hitter Tyler Soderstrom (left) and second baseman Zack Gelof (right) made their MLB debut against the Minnesota Twins at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Jul 14, 2023 (USA Today photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, talk about Oakland A’s Tyler Soderstrom and Zack Gelof who both were in the line up on Friday night making their Major League debut against the Minnesota Twins how did they look?

#2 The A’s also have pitcher Freddy Tarnok do you look to see him as a middle reliever or a closer?

#3 Both pitcher Richard Lovelady and catcher Manny Pina were place on the IL before Friday night’s game how long are they expected to be out?

#4 A’s starter Ken Waldichuk got the call Friday night he was looking for the win he had a good night out on the mound keeping run total down early.

#5 Amaury, I didn’t get to interview you about Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao do you see her visit last Sunday in Seattle a last ditch effort to keep the A’s in Oakland or a hope that she could show the owners that the A’s did have something on the drawing board and it was close to fruition prior to A’s president David Kaval saying the team had a binding deal in Las Vegas?

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s might not have enough votes to pass Nevada ballpark bill in the Assembly

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From left to right, Community Benefits Planning Consultant Yolanda King, Oakland A’s vice president Catherine Aker and A’s president David Kaval sit at a committee meeting regarding SB1 the public funding for the A’s ballpark at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino on Wed Jun 7, 2023 at the Nevada State Legislature in Carson City NV (photo from the Nevada Independent)

On the A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, the Nevada State Assembly who were supposed to vote on Thursday on using public funds to tax credit the proposed Tropicana ballpark but once again the vote has been delayed and is expected to resume on Monday.

#2 Both members of the senate and assembly after haggling all day on SB1 have adjourned extending the special session. The Senate and Assembly had adjourned last Monday without an initial committee vote and no vote had taken place all of last week.

#3 Throughout the day at the Assembly Legislature assembly members and lawmakers were around with Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo who was signing bills. SB1 is still being debated as no decision and no vote as of yet. Democratic senators are looking for health care benefits for kids, food for the poor and elderly and school subsidies.

#4 Democrats who make up a majority of the Legislature 13-8 have expressed frustration over the lack of changes in the A’s ballpark bill Sen. Rochelle Nguyen (D-Las Vegas) said “To say I’m extremely disappointed that no work has been done on this bill over the past 10 days is an understatement.”

#5 Daniel, among some of the changes that Democratic lawmakers are pushing for is entertainment tax that would need to be applied at A’s home games. The NHL’s Las Vegas Golden Knights, the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces are exempt from the entertainment tax which would have been 9 percent. Also the A’s would need to make the same contributions like they had in Oakland to food banks in Las Vegas.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Homeless A’s

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The Oakland A’s could abandon the Oakland Coliseum ahead of their lease expiring which is at the end of the 2024 season. The A’s could play at Las Vegas Ballpark home of the triple A Las Vegas Aviators after this season if the Nevada State Assembly approves the Tropicana Ballpark on the Vegas Strip. (photo from thegreatgame.com)

The Homeless A’s

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Oakland is as diverse as any other city in its size in the country and has a much larger media market than Las Vegas. Yet Oakland is currently going through a serious slump and seems to be more often than not in the news with a plethora of negative news and many challenges (as listed below); trying to keep the A’s is just one of those challenges.

-Homelessness. According to recent surveys of Oakland residents, it is the most urgent issue facing the city of Oakland. Conservative estimates list at least 5,000 homeless people “living” in the streets and parks in Oakland. A’s night games at the Coliseum are averaging less than 5,000 per game. -Drugs in the streets.

According to the OaklandSide, Methamphetamine, a highly addictive stimulant drug, is on the rise in Oakland. In both its quantity on the streets and the number of people who die from using it, meth comes second only to opioids (including fentanyl and heroin) in Alameda County.

But unlike fentanyl and other opioids, which have buprenorphine as a medicated treatment option, there isn’t yet a drug on the market that can treat patients’ meth addictions. -Crime: Oakland, CA, is a city that unfortunately suffers from significantly higher rates of crime than the US average. For violent crimes, the rate in Oakland is 75.5 compared to only 22.7 incidents nationally.

Property crime is also alarmingly above the national average, with 81.2 occurrences in Oakland compared to 35.4 on a national level. Clearly, this city needs to take steps to ensure the safety of its citizens and reduce these high crime rates to improve the quality of life for its residents.

-Affordable housing: Once Oakland was a “reasonable city” regarding rental prices for apartments and real estate/homes. Not anymore. In February, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao fired Chief of Police LeRonne Armstrong from the city without a cause. Mr. Armstrong, an Oakland native, was one of the most popular chiefs of Police in recent history for the city of Oakland.

Oakland has had 12 chiefs of Police during the past 10 years. Oakland A’s and why the City of Oakland needs their baseball team to stay. It is good for their economy and good for the morale of not losing their third professional team during the last six years.

Considering all the stuff happening in Oakland in the last few years, Oakland needs the A’s more than ever today for financial and psychological reasons. Mayor Thao said she is “fighting for the A’s to stay in Oakland” this week.

During the negotiations in the Nevada Legislature, when lawmakers asked Oakland A’s representatives if they could not get the financing needed for their new ballpark, would the team reconsider going back to the table with Oakland, then Steve Hill, the CEO and President of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, jumped in to clarify the A’s stance and said (quote) “If this agreement does not go through, they will look for other cities to move to.

They will not decide to stay, even if this does not go through”. The A’s moving to Las Vegas has the support of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and most of the biggest Labor Unions in Nevada, plus the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

Currently, the Homeless A’s are looking for a city to play their games, as they still hope to build a new park. Do the A’s need Oakland more than Oakland needs the A’S? Time will tell. Howard Terminal negotiations agreement with the baseball team expired during the month of May. Maybe owner Fisher will sell, maybe not.

MLB Commissioner Manfred has been very quiet during the past couple of weeks. The A’s are on pace to establish the new record for the lowest record during a season, that of the New York Mets in their inaugural season (1962), when Casey Stengel’s Mets ended with 40-120 (.250), finished tenth and last in the National League, 60 1/2 games behind the National League Champion San Francisco Giants, who went on to the World Series won by the New York Yankees in seven games.

Finally, but very important, about revenue sharing – The A’s would receive only a 25% share in 2022, a 50% share in 2023, a 75% share in 2024, and a total share in 2025. The shares in the last two years were contingent upon the A’s having an agreement in place for a new ballpark by 2024.

No agreement, no revenue sharing, My wife posed a very interesting question: With all of these back and forth, will the A’s be able to sign high-priced talent, to be competitive again? Las Vegas until next week: Joe Lombardo, Governor of the State of Nevada, has postponed the vote for the A’s stadium in Las Vegas and extended the vote until next week.

When lawmakers meet in these special sessions, a lot of horse trading goes on behind closed doors, like “if you scratch my back, I scratch yours”; they all want something. This recently elected Governor has publicly said he believes the A’s will be good business for Nevada. Did You Know?

The NFL Buffalo Bills, among the favorites to win the Superbowl next February, just got approved for a new venue under a cost of $1.4 billion, with $850 million paid by local and state taxpayers, for a franchise owned by multi-billionaire couple Terry and Kim Pegula. It is called the lure of professional sports.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead radio voice 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: Nevada Governor announces agreement to bring A’s to Vegas

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Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo waves to the crowd shorty after he was inaugurated governor in Jan 2023. Lombardo announced on Wed May 24, 2023 that the State of Nevada and the Oakland A’s have reached an agreement to finance a 30,000 seat ballpark at the Tropicana Casino and Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip (Las Vegas Review Journal file photo)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The Las Vegas Culinary Union has assured it’s working staff if the Oakland A’s and the State of Nevada will have union protected jobs at the Tropicana Casino and Resort. The Culinary Union is the strongest union in Vegas and they are assured union paying jobs as the Tropicana plans to build another tower across the street from the ballpark. The old tower will be torn down and the newer tower will be part of the square block with the A’s who will have their ballpark on nine acres of land.

Nevada governor Joe Lombardo announced on Wednesday a tentative agreement between the A’s and the State of Nevada a bill that will go forward to the Nevada Legislature that would bring Major League Baseball to Las Vegas. “The agreement follows month of negotiations between the state, the county, and the A’s and I believe it gives us a tremendous opportunity to continue building on the professional sports infrastructure of Southern Nevada.” said Lombardo.

The agreement will be drafted into legislation and later will be introduced to the Nevada State Legislature that will allow the public and lawmakers to debate over the project. Las Vegas A’s team president David Kaval said “We’re very appreciative of the support from the State of Nevada and Clark County leadership. We want to thank Governor Lombardo the Legislative leadership, the treasurer, and Clark County Commissioners and staff on the collaborative process. We look forward to advancing this legislation in a responsible way.”

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice 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

MLB podcast with Charlie O: Was Scherzer suspension too excessive?; Mad Bum out at Arizona but LA might be interested; plus more

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New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer pleads his case that has clean hands in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wed Apr 19, 2023, but umpires ruled he had a sticky substance on his hands after he was ordered to wash his hands and was suspended for ten days by MLB (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie O, Last Wednesday at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, New York Mets Max Scherzer said that he was supervised by an MLB official when he was ordered to wash his hands during his last start to remove what the umpiring crew termed as “sticky substance” apparently that didn’t work he was tossed from the game and hit with a ten day suspension in your view Charlie O was this a justified ejection and suspension?

#2 Scherzer sat on the MLB Players Association representatives during the last contract negotiations and he’s been active with the players union is it a conspiracy to say that their might be some retribution from baseball for his union activity?

#3 The Arizona Diamondbacks released pitcher Madison Bumgarner on Friday. Bumgarner had been struggling going 0-3 ERA 10.26. The Dodgers might be interested in his services. The Diamondbacks are on the hook for $34 million remaining on his five year contract. There is this and next season remaining on the deal.

#4 Can you believe how the Chicago Cubs Drew Smyly’s no hit perfect game ended when Smyly went to field a grounder in between home and the mound hit by the Los Angeles Dodgers David Peralta Cubs catcher Yan Gomes flipped over Smyly’s back. Smyly lost his balance and ended up on the ground holding the ball but it was too late as Peralta was on base and the perfect game was no more.

#5 Can’t leave out the toughest story of the week the announcement of Oakland A’s team president David Kaval announcing the moving of the team to Las Vegas. Kaval announcing on Wednesday night the A’s have a binding agreement at the old Wild Wild West location at Tropicana and I 15 to build a new A’s park. First Charlie how heartbreaking is this for Oakland and the Bay Area?

Charlie O does the MLB podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s after 2024, where do they Play?

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Las Vegas ballpark could be the home of the Oakland A’s for the 2024 season. The A’s minor team the Las Vegas Aviators and the A’s could end sharing the park starting 2024 until the A’s stadium is ready in 2027 (photo by the Las Vegas Review Journal file)

A’s after 2024, where do they Play?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

A’s fans are very upset, after the announcement a few days ago by Dave Kaval that the A’s are buying land, have a binding agreement in Las Vegas to build their new ballpark. This is a wound that will take time to heal to all the people in the bay area, especially Oakland and the east bay.

On one hand many fans were under the impression the team was still working with the city of Oakland, as Kaval has said many times “we are working on parallel plans”, but on the other hand for anybody following this soap opera, the possibility of the team leaving was greater than 50%. Honestly, I was not surprised.

According to Kaval the plan is to inaugurate the new park in Las Vegas in 2027. But many are asking the question: where will the A’s play after 2024 when the lease with the Oakland Coliseum expires. Where will the A’s play in 2025 and 2026, while they are building the new park?

Oracle Park the home of the Giants could be one option, but it is unlikely. MLB will have to work on a big schedule modification. At the Oakland Coliseum. Extending the Coliseum (what happened to the Raiders) when they were waiting for their new park.

This is a possibility, if both sides agree to terminate the lease early. But this whole story has not been distinguished by people agreeing in much. At Aviators park in Las Vegas. Dave Kaval said the Aviators will remain in Las Vegas, the Aviators are their AAA affiliate and they could possibly play regular season games there while they build their new park close to the strip. Aviators Park is located in Summerlin, a suburb of Las Vegas with a capacity of 10,000.

If you think both teams, Aviators and A’s could not play close by, I remind you that currently the Minnesota Twins have their Triple A affiliate in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and have played their home games at CHS Field since 2015, which is 10 minutes away from Target Field in Minneapolis home of the major league Twins.

Ex A’s and Hall of Fame player Reginaldo Martínez (Reggie) Jackson recently told the NY Post “what was the city of Oakland thinking?” And mentioned that they had already lost the Raiders and the Warriors and now the Oakland A’s. Two weeks ago Reggie predicted “they will not have a team in Oakland”.

Commissioner Fred Manfred wanted the A’s to leave Oakland and he knows the baseball owners are in agreement. The chances for Oakland to keep the A’s were never good. Baseball historians will have the task to record this moment in history. Once is all said and done, the A’s will become the first franchise in baseball to have played in four different cities; Philadelphia, Kansas City, Oakland and Las Vegas all keeping the same name of Athletics.

Perhaps the most famous move of major league teams happened on May 29, 1957, when National League owners voted unanimously to allow the Brooklyn Dodgers to relocate to Los Angeles and the New York Giants to San Francisco.