Tag: Fernando Valenzuela

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Reasons remain the same why Bonds and Clemens weren’t elected; Kent hit production gets him elected

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Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens (left) and former Miami Marlins coach Barry Bonds (right) were once again denied entry to the Hall of Fame this time by the Players Committee. (Getty file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury just wanted to ask you if you not surprised that former San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds was not elected to Cooperstown.

#2 Considering the reasons why Bonds was not elected this year were they the same reasons as before his connection with admitting during grand jury testimony that he unknowingly took steroids and his bad relationship with the media?

#3 Fernando Valenzuela also missed election. Valenzuela was a well respected figure in the game was his denial to making it to the Hall due his overall career where some writers felt his overall career didn’t meet the typical Hall-of-Fame bar for pitchers in terms of longevity and sustained excellence.

#4 For former New York Yankee and Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens the most given reason for Clemens rejection to being elected to the Hall of Fame was the chair of the Hall acknowledged that the committee’s decision likely mirrored many of the same “Steroid Era” concerns that affected the writers’ votes.

#5 Talk about former San Francisco Giant second baseman Jeff Kent and his election to the Hall of Fame. Some writers state that he has the most home runs for a second baseman in MLB history with 377 in his 17 year career, high run production, and hit consistently hit for average at .290. Was Jeff Kent the best candidate out of those other players for this year’s Hall of Fame candidates?

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.

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LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Remembering Fernando Valenzuela

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Fernando Valenzuela pitcher of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park on Oct 3, 1982 at the height of “Fernandomania” Valenzuela passed away on Tue Oct 22, 2024 at age 63. (AP file photo)

Remembering Fernando Valenzuela

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Fernando Valenzuela has died at the age of 63. Fernando was ill. He pitched for 17 years in 1981 and won the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award in the National League. He was most recently doing commentary for the LA Dodgers in Spanish.

Fernando and the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees during that 1981 season. This next Friday, the Dodgers will host the 2024 World Series against the Yankees for the 12th time in the history of both franchises, more than any other two teams.

Anecdote: In 1981, during a Dodgers visit to Candlestick Park to play the Giants, SF Examiner writer Wells Twombly asked me to interpret an interview he would conduct with Fernando Valenzuela. At the time, teams (unlike today) did not have designated interpreters in Spanish or Japanese.

Twombly was a veteran reporter during the years of other writers who covered the Giants, such as Bob Stevens, Harry Jupiter, and Art Spander. The interview with Fernando was featured the next day in the SF Examiner, the afternoon paper of San Francisco. It was a success, and Fernando told me later that it was one of the first interviews he had enjoyed outside of Los Angeles.

Anecdote: In 1981, Fernando Valenzuela became the best and most famous player in the major leagues ever to be born in Mexico. On the days he pitches, millions in Mexico will listen on the radio or watch on television, just like Japanese Dodger’s mega-star Shohei Ohtani when he plays, millions follow him in Japan, where baseball is king.

Anecdote: Before 1981, my good friend and Spanish broadcaster of the Dodgers Jaime Jarrin told me, “We need a Mexican-born star with the Dodgers”. A few years later, Jarrin’s wishes became a reality with the arrival of “El Yaqui de Sonora”

Anecdote: Fernando told me during an interview that in 1979, he learned his signature pitch, the screwball, from then Dodger’s pitcher Bobby Castillo, who at the time was injured. Fernando learned how to throw his famous pitch which he used in the minors and then when he was brought up to the big team in’81.

Fernando was a true legend of the game. His simplicity but tremendous magnetism was responsible for increasing attendance at Dodger Stadium. When he pitched, it was either a sellout or close to a sellout.

This next Friday, the Dodgers host the first game of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees. Expect every Dodger player to wear a Number 34 on their sleeves. My most sincere sympathy to Fernando’s family as well as Pepe Iniguez and José Mota, who are going to miss Fernando’s smile and great attitude inside their Spanish radio booth.

Noter: Baseball has lost three great players during the past few weeks: Pete Rose, Luis Tiant, and now Fernando Valenzuela.

Descansa en Paz Fernando – Rest in Peace Fernando. Nunca se nos olvidará Fernandomania.

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

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O: SRS’s Amaury speaks out on A’s ownership; Orioles announcer Brown back after suspension; plus more

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Oakland A’s broadcaster Amaury Pi Gonzalez said in a recent interview that if Oakland A’s owner John Fisher sold the team there would be a parade in Oakland the following week (photo provided by Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

On the MLB The Show Podcast with Charlie O:

#1 One of the biggest quotes coming out of the San Francisco Chronicle interview with Oakland A’s broadcaster Amaury Pi Gonzalez on Thursday saying, if A’s owner John Fisher sold the team there would be a parade in Oakland next week, also saying that Fisher was not professional for the way he relocated the A’s and that he didn’t want the A’s to leave Oakland he wants them to stay. The interview has gone viral in the baseball community on social media.

#2 Baltimore Orioles broadcaster Kevin Brown’s suspension ended on Saturday in time for him to broadcast the Orioles and Seattle Mariners game. Brown was suspended five games for negative comments regarding the Orioles loosing records in previous seasons. The Orioles are in first place this season. Brown also said that the Orioles have had a losing record against the Tampa Bay Rays. The fans during the suspension chanted “Free Kevin Brown” and owner John Angelos received lots and lot of emails regarding the Brown suspension that became a national story.

#3 San Francisco Giants pitcher Ross Stripling showed catcher Blake Sabol an article on his phone when they were in Anaheim to play the Angels last week showing that Sabol would be part of a package to get Angels two way player Shohei Ohtani. Stripling said to Sabol, ” Sabes, I love you but we would have to do this” Sabol said “Yeah I get it.” Ohtani would fetch up to $600-800 million after this season on the free agent market. The Dodgers and Angels are the front runners in the Ohtani sweepstakes.

#4 The Giants who nearly signed Carolos Correa for $350 million for 13 years as the Giants nearly introduced Correa to the media before finding out that he failed a physical. Then failing another physical with the Mets eventually signing $200 million with the Minnesota Twins. Correa in 109 games with the Twins has hit .230, 15 home runs, and has 54 RBIs. Has Correa underperformed the Twins expectations?

#5 The Los Angeles Dodgers long awaited ceremony for pitcher Fernando Valenzulea arrived on Friday night when the Dodgers retired his number. Fernando Fever arrived in the Southland in 1980 when Valenzuela arrived pitching for the Dodgers until 1990 and playing for Angels, Orioles, Padres, before retiring with the Cardinals in 1997. Fernando in case many of you don’t know is a class act, he acts like a regular guy and not this legendary figure, the honor the Dodgers gave him was well deserved.

Join Charlie O for the MLB The Show podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com