Jen Pawol makes baseball history as the first female umpire to work an MLB game in history working the first game of a doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins at Loan Depot Park in Miami on Sat Aug 9, 2025 (AP News photo)
MLB The Show podcast Charlie O:
#1 Jen Pawol made baseball history becoming the first female to work a MLB regular season game. Pawol’s made her umpiring debut on Saturday’s first game of a doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. Pawol worked first base and had a relatively quiet first game.
#2 New York Yankees reliever Devin Williams battled against the Houston Astros in a 5-3 loss on Friday night allowing three runs in the tenth inning. The Astros Carolos Correa got a base hit and Taylor Trammell hit a two run home run for a 5-2 score. Williams has allowed four home runs in his last eight appearances.
#3 Hall of Famer and former New York Yankee Mariano Rivera tore his Achilles tendon while chasing a fly ball at an Old Timer’s game on Saturday. Rivera will need surgery. Mariano’s agent Fern Cuza said that Rivera who is 55 will have the operation in less than a week.
#4 Former Seattle Mariner Ichiro Suzuki has his No.51 retired in a pregame ceremony in Seattle before facing the Tampa Bay Rays. Ichiro said to the crowd, “What’s up Seattle!” and added “Iam so grateful to be here today to receive this highest of honors.”
#5 Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hit his 40th home run of the season on Saturday night against the Toronto Blue Jays in a 9-1 win. Ohtani hit a 417 foot shot off Jays starter Chris Bassitt which gave the Dodgers a three run lead.
Ichiro Suzuki with Hall of Fame plaque at Hall of Fame induction Sun Jul 27, 2025 (AP News photo)
Ichiro elected to Cooperstown, Not Unanimous?
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
Amaury Pi-González
In 2001, when Ichiro Suzuki made his debut in Major League Baseball, I was broadcasting all home games for the Mariners in Seattle and then returning to the Bay Area to do the same for the San Francisco Giants, both in Spanish.
Ichiro was a special guy, extremely focused, disciplined, hard-working, and a great contact hitter. For me, Ichiro was a leadoff hitter in the category of Rickey Henderson and Pete Rose, a great contact hitter, speed on the bases, and, for Ichiro, a great and accurate throwing arm from right field.
Ichiro took over the Mariners franchise record in stolen bases, previously held by Julio Cruz (who was my broadcast partner in Seattle, may he rest in Peace). Julio’s franchise record was 290. Ichiro surpassed that category for the Mariners.
Ichiro Suzuki’s American League records include a single-season hits record of 262 in 2004. I was privileged to call that hit in 2004 at Safeco Field. Since Ichiro arrived and during his first season, I believed and commented that he had the talent to be a potential Hall of Fame player.
In 2001, Ichiro provided an example of how his career was going to unfold. During that first season in the US, the Japanese star did something that nobody to this date has ever done.
1-Won the AL Batting title. 350 2-Won Rookie of the Year. 3-Won the Gold Glove. 4-Won the Silver Slugger, and (5) last but not least, was selected to be a starter in the All-Star Game. This was a first in history for a major league player.
This week, Ichiro Suzuki received 393 votes out of 394 cast in the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame election, making him one vote short of a unanimous selection. One vote short? How can anybody who covered this player’s career not vote for him for Cooperstown?
That is puzzling to me. Seattle again? Another great Mariner player, Ken Griffey Jr., was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2016, and was not elected unanimously, by a single vote. Could it be possible that this was the same Baseball Writer who did not vote for these two legendary Mariners players?
You tell me. Incredible. Increible,信じられない Today, many questions in the baseball world remain (obviously, by Mariners fans), and are not answered, although the Baseball Writers Association of America does not release the names of the writers who vote.
However, since we can always speculate, there could be a personal reason, including racism, if a player is racist, a writer could also be, and nobody really knows. We know that Ty Cobb, for example, who won twelve (12) batting titles, was not unanimously elected to Cooperstown; he was four votes short of unanimity.
Why? more than likely, since Cobb was a well-known racist, it is probably what cost him unanimity. In my book, this is the Hall of Fame for Baseball, for your skills as a baseball player, and that should be it. No more, no less.
I recommend a visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. A beautiful part of the country. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY, is open seven days a week, 362 days a year.
It’s closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Extended hours are offered from Memorial Day weekend through the day before Labor Day. If you are a baseball aficionado, this must be on your bucket list.
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.
Former Seattle Mariners outfielder Irchiro Suzuki is honored and enshrined into the hallowed halls of the the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and becomes the first Japanese born player to make the Hall in Cooperstown on Sun Jul 27, 2025 (AP News photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Ichiro during Sunday’s Hall of Fame ceremony said he withdrew his dinner offer at his house to the lone unnamed writer who did not vote for Ichiro who won Hall of Fame balloting 393 out of 394.
#2 Iricho said of the lone writer who voted for someone else to the hall “Three thousand hits or 262 hits in one season are two achievements recognized by the writers,” he said. “Well, all but one. “By the way, the offer for the writer to have dinner at my home has now expired.”
#3 Amaury do you believe that the lone writer who didn’t vote for Ichiro is truly anonymous or do you think he’s know to other writers in the BBWAA but his identity is protected?
#4 You were the Seattle Mariners Spanish play by play announcer for most of Ichiro’s career what was your biggest call during Irchiro’s career in Seattle?
#5 Irchiro said during his speech of his success, “Baseball taught me what it means to be a professional and I believe that is the main reason I am here today.”
#6 What puts a damper on the Hall of Fame celebration is the passing of former Chicago Cub second baseman and class of 2005 Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg who passed away from prostate cancer. What a career and what a respected player from in the lore of Cubs history.
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.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
Cincinnati Reds hitter Elly De La Cruz slugs a sixth inning home run at Wrigley Field on Sun Jun 1, 2025 and later dedicates it to his late sister Genelis who passed away in the Dominican Republic. (AP News photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Cincinnati Reds star Elly De la Cruz didn’t need to play on Sunday and no one would have blamed him if he didn’t. Cruz’s older sister Genelis De La Cruz Sanchez passed away in the Dominican Republic after suffering a number of health issues. Cruz hitting against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field tag a deep drive to left field and rounded the bases pointing heavenward and giving the heart sign. Elly could also be a candidate for the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame if he continues to play at the level he has that’s in the future.
#2 A drunk intoxicated fan overseas sent threats to Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers and had also threatened his two kids the Houston Police announced on Monday. The suspect in the case has not been charged as of yet but police have indentified as overseas gambler who admitted that to police he gambled on an Astros game and lost and sent the threats to McCullers. The suspect says he apologized to McCullers and his family for making the threats. Charges for the threats are being considered.
#3 You covered them you knew them when you worked at the Seattle Mariners pitcher Randy Johnson who wore number 51 and Ichiro Suzuki who both wore number 51 will have their numbers retired by the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro wrote to the Big Unit if he could wear number 51 when he joined the Mariners and Johnson gave his permission. Talk about both players as you saw them when you covered the Mariners in your television days there.
#4 Amaury talk about the ejection of the Tampa Bay Rays Taylor Walls who tapped on his helmet after being called out on strikes on Sunday at Daikin Park in Houston by home plate umpire Nick Lentz after being ejected from the game Walls went ballistic and charged at Wentz several times only to be restrained by the coaches and a couple teammates before being led to the clubhouse.
#5 Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said after designated hitter Mike Trout had returned from his knee injury and had successful days on Friday and Saturday at the plate but was benched Sunday as Wash called it for taking a break it was not a reflection on his left knee injury. Expect Trout to get a day off every other two days as the Angels approach his return cautiously.
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.
Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and current Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson will rebuild the Bears from inside out as he takes over the head coaching duties for the 2025 season (AP News file photo)
On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong:
#1 Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and now head coach of the Chicago Bears Ben Johnson was noted for being a play caller as offensive coordinator but can Johnson take that experience and lead the Bears to glory for the 2025 season. Can Johnson fix the Bears who finished in dead last this season with a 5-12 record.
#2 The anticipation of former Seattle Mariner outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to get a unanimous decision for the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown fell short by one vote. The ballot that did not vote for Ichiro was left blank next to Ichiro’s name out of 393 BBWAA writers who cast ballots. No matter Ichiro will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.
#3 UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley cussed at the refs during a time out against the Butler Bulldogs on Tuesday night saying, “Don’t turn your back on me. I’m the best coach in the (expletive) sport,” said Hurley while following the ref on the floor. There is no doubt that coach Hurley coaches with emotion and passion.
#4 The Golden State Warriors continue to struggle losing six of their last 11 games, are in 11th place in the Western Conference and are battling to try to move up and get a playoff spot. The Warriors were beaten soundly on Tuesday night 125-85 by the Boston Celtics and lost again to the Sacramento Kings 123-117 on Wednesday night in Sacramento.
#5 Big NFL Championships are coming this Sunday the Washington Commanders at the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. In the AFC Championship the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki makes a leaping catch to rob the Cleveland Guardians Carlos Santana of a hit in the bottom of the fourth inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Thu May 17, 2012. Ichiro was voted into the MLB Cooperstown Hall of Fame on Tue Jan 21, 2025 (AP News photo)
On the MLB podcast with Michael Duca:
#1 Michael not only did former Seattle Mariner Ichiro Suzuki was voted in for enshrinement but all the talk was that he missed getting unanimously voted in by one vote.
#2 One of the highlight achievements of Ichiro’s career was that he surpassed George Sisler’s single hit season record on Oct 1, 2004 with his 258th hit.
#3 Michael, take about Vallejo native and newly Hall of Fame inductee former New York Yankee pitcher CC Sabathia who retired at the age of 44 pitching from 2001 to 2019. Winning 251 games with an ERA 3.74.
#4 Former Houston Astros pitcher Billy Wagner was voted into the Hall of Fame on his tenth and final Hall of Fame ballot wining by 82.5%. Wagner was 47-40 career with an ERA of 2.31.
#5 To close out this segment since were talking about Hall of Famers who made it let’s talk about maybe the one player you could think of that has not and is not in the Hall of Fame that you personally feel deserves to be in the Hall of Fame?
Former Atlanta Brave Andruw Jones was honored by the Braves at Truist Park in Cobb County GA on Sat Sep 9, 2023. Jones who won ten gold gloves has missed being elected to the Hall of Fame but just over the number needed for induction in 2025. Those numbers could fall off with other candidates vying to get elected to the Hall. (AP News file photo)
On That’s Amuary News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Hall of Fame choices former Brave Andruw Jones might fall short for election this year again. Jones fell by three percent last year and this year Jones is polled at 72.6% good enough to make but it was reported that when the final results came in Jones fell short. According to an ESPN article Jones staying in the big leagues too long when he should have retired at his peak. His numbers faltered and that brought his chances down to make the Hall. Jones career hit .254, 1933 hits, 434 home runs, 1289 RBIs.
#2 Former Seattle Mariner Ichiro Suzuki is expected to be a 100% shoo in and a unanimous choice to make the Hall. Ichiro’s career numbers hitting an average .311, 3089 hits, 117 home runs, 780 RBIs.
#3 The Toronto Blue Jays and Anthony Santander have reached a five year agreement worth $90 million. Santander gives the Jays one of the big leagues best hitters. Santander 30 who played for the Orioles showcased an outstanding 2024 season with a .506 slugging percentage, 44 home runs, 102 RBIs, with 25 doubles in 155 games.
#4 The Boston Red Sox are in the lead in the Vladimir Guerrero Jr sweepstakes if the Jays opt to trade him. Guerrero hit a whopping .323, with 30 home runs, 103 RBIs, and 199 hits in 2024. The San Francisco Giants were in the rumor mill willing to pay Guerrero $333 million and trade pitcher Camilo Doval and infielder Marco Luciano for Guerrero’s services. The Red Sox have upped that offer and it’s expected that Guerrero would get an offer as high as $427 million when he enters free agency.
#5 The Los Angeles Dodgers are unstoppable they just signed Tanner Scott who pitched for the San Diego Padres and had 22 saves, had a 1.75 ERA, with 84 strike outs. The Dodgers and Scott agreed on a four year $72 million deal. Scott would get a $20 million signing bonus and $21 million deferred payments. The Dodgers are almost flawless at this point.
Amaury Pi-González throws First Pitch in Seattle during Ichiro years. (Photo from the author)
Ichiro Suzuki First Japanese Inducted into Cooperstown
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
The inevitable just happened. The 2025 Baseball Writers Association of America Hall of Fame ballot was released, and their #1 name for this round is Japanese star Ichiro Suzuki, who had a close two-decade Hall of Fame career in the Major Leagues. Also, C.C. Sabathia, a great pitcher and a local guy from Vallejo, is on the HOF ballot, as is closer Billy Wagner, who ended with 422 games saved, the most in MLB history by a left-handed pitcher. John Franco had 424.
During the years I broadcasted home games for the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants (concurrently), I witnessed the greatness of Ichiro Suzuki, especially during that memorable 2004 season when he ended the season with 262 hits, breaking the all-time Major League single hits record previously held by George Sisler who in 1920 with St Louis Brown had a 257 hit season.
Interviewing Ichiro was one of the most extraordinary things I have experienced. Allen Turner was Ichiro’s first interpreter in 2001; later, others came to do the same job, home and road. Every time I interviewed Ichiro I had to pose the question in English, and the interpreter then would relay it to Ichiro in Japanese; next, the interpreter would tell me what Ichiro said(of course, translated to English), and then OK, the finished part I told the audience in Spanish for Mariners Spanish radio, what the great Ichiro just told me.
Ichiro was a distinctive, timid person who worked as hard as anybody. He stored his bats inside a particular case, like the bat(s) were Stradivarius violins. Down on the field, my broadcast partner, the late Julio Cruz, Mariner’s Dream Team Second baseman, Julio and I would stand behind the batting cage a couple of hours or so before the games at Safeco Field (the original name of the tremendous retractable stadium in downtown Seattle Ichiro would hit home runs at will, and when he took a break in between swings inside the cage, he would do some gymnastic moves. It was truly a feat to see a guy listed at 5’11, who looked like 5’7 and around 165 pounds, hit the ball as hard and many times as deep.
Ichiro Suzuki played from 2001 to 2019, a total of 19 years. It began with the Mariners in 2001 and retired with the Mariners in 2019; in between, also playing for the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins. A solid Hall of Fame career. It ended with a .311 batting average, 3,089 hits, 509 stolen bases, 117 homeruns, and 780 runs batted in.
His first name was Ichiro, and that was enough. Only one other Mariners Hall of Fame player had that distinction: Ken Griffey Jr. “Junior was enough, “and everybody knew, just like Ichiro, who it was. For me, the best lead-off hitters of all time that I have known, interviewed, and covered are Rickey Henderson and Ichiro Suzuki. One is in the Hall of Fame, and the other one soon will be joining Rickey.
QUOTE: Ichiro appeared in 10 All-Star Games. I once asked him about playing in the All-Star Game and if he could tell me something about playing during those fun games. He surprised me with one word in Spanish; he told me it was “peligroso” translation=dangerous. You asked, why dangerous? Well, in one of his 10 All-Star Game appearances, the network that carried the game got his permission to insert a small microphone in his uniform so he could say something while he was on the field during the game. He did it reluctantly; he didn’t feel comfortable doing that. In the end (like I mentioned before), he was timid, reserved, and, in many ways a mysterious player.
Ichiro Suzuki the former Seattle Mariners star started a huge following for Asian players in MLB. Ichiro is on the cusp of being voted in the MLB Hall of Fame. Here is Ichiro addressing the media on Fri Aug 26, 2022 the day before he was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame. Ichiro will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2025 (AP News file photo)
2023 Asian Winter in Baseball
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
Since the 2022 World Series ended and until today, some of the most coveted and expensive free agents in the game are players like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshiubo Yamamoto, both Japanese, who signed with the Dodgers and shelled 1 Billion dollars total for both players. ($1 Billion US dollars is equal to 141,613,142,860 Japanese Yen)
Also, Jung Hoo Lee, a South Korean outfielder who signed with the San Francisco Giants; Masataka Yoshida with the Boston Red Sox; and Yuki Matsui, who signed with the San Diego Padres from the Japanese professional leagues.
Not signed yet: From Japan, the two free agents are Shota Imanaga, a lefty-control pitcher, and Naoyuki Uwasawa, a right-handed pitcher. Uwasaka was not even posted yet.
-The West Coast a Pioneer to Asian players:
-Japan: The first Japanese player was pitcher Masanori Murakami, who was with the San Francisco Giants. However, after just 2 years, the connection of players from Japan to the major leagues was closed
-South Korea: In 1994, Chan Ho Park, a pitcher, became the first Korean-born player to p[play in the major leagues.
The most impactful player from Asia? Ichiro Suzuki played from 2001 to 2019 with the Seattle Mariners: a lead-off hitter-outfielder, great contact hitter, and tremendous throwing arm from right field. Ichiro had 200 or more hits in ten consecutive seasons with the Mariners from 2001 to 2010.
Ended his career with 3,089 hits and .311 average. He will be the first Asian player inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York. No other Asian baseball player has played for this long and enjoyed this much success.
During my years calling Mariners games for Spanish radio in Seattle, I met Ichiro when he first came into the major leagues from Japan; a hard worker and eccentric player, he would carry his favorite bats inside a particular case like a great violinist carries a Stradivarius.
Ichiro was very reserved as a player, some say, shy; I did interview him a few times with one of his interpreters. I would answer the question in English to his interpreter, who would then ask him in Japanese, and he (the interpreter) would return the answer in English to me.
Later, I would take the tape upstairs to my broadcast booth to edit for my pre-game show. It was exciting. One of the most curious answers he ever gave me was when I asked him if he learned any words in Spanish, and it was ‘peligroso’, which means ‘dangerous’. I later learned that he was ‘miked’ during a live game that was nationally televised and said a word that he did not mean to say.
On October 1, 2004, Ichiro Suzuki broke George Sisler’s single-season record with a 258th hit. I called that game; it was one of Ichiro’s greatest accomplishments. That season Ichiro ended with 262 hits.
Quote: If I’m in a slump, I ask myself for advice -Ichiro Suzuki
Ichiro will not be eligible for the Hall of Fame until 2025.
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