That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Who really was at fault for Giants 2025 fall?

The Giants fired Bob Melvin after the 2025 season. / Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 What were the key factors that led to Bob Melvin’s dismissal as manager of the San Francisco Giants?

#2 How did the Giants’ performance in the 2025 season influence the front office’s decision to part ways with Melvin?

#3 Were there reported tensions between Bob Melvin and the Giants’ front office or players that may have contributed to his firing?

#4 What qualities or experience is the organization looking for in Melvin’s replacement?

#5 How does Bob Melvin’s tenure with the Giants compare to his previous managerial stints, particularly in terms of team development and clubhouse culture?

#6 Where does the buck really stop in the Giants front office? The Giants have not been in the World Series since 2014 that’s going on 12 years now. Does it stop with team president Buster Posey, general manager Zack Minasian or Giants CEO Larry Baer who is the one really responsible for the Giants not making it to the fall classic the last 12 years?

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Harper-Manfred prelude to Players-MLB CBA battle; Acuna on 10 day IL for Achilles; plus more news

Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies in an meeting with MLB Commissioner made his feeling known how he feels about the salary cap that the owners will be proposing after the 2026 CBA expires (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 In speaking with other reporters Amaury the aftermath of the Rob Manfred-Bryce Harper F bomb tirade is considered the first volley as the Players Union and the Commissioner’s office teed off in the clubhouse in Philadelphia as the CBA expires at the end of the next year with a chance that the 2027 season could be locked out.

#2 Ronald Acuna Jr the Atlanta Braves outfielder had to leave Tuesday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals due to tightness in his right Achilles tendon. Acuna was put on the 10 day injured list on Wednesday morning. Aucna was chasing a ball in right field and felt tightness in the Achilles. The Braves medical staff will be checking Acuna Wednesday before their game.

#3 As New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge is out with an arm injury the Yankees traded for outfielder Austin Slater from the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. The Yankees are trying to strengthen their line up without Judge and might make some more moves before Thursday’s trade deadline. The Sox got minor league pitcher Gage Ziehl for Slater.

#4 Amaury the San Francisco Giants are on a five game losing streak, they have the worst record in baseball since July 9 at 3-12 (.250). People on the talk shows and the sports writers are asking questions. One of those has been is there any difference from the way the club is being ran since former Giants president Farhan Zaidi left to the it’s being ran with team president Buster Posey or it’s neither one of their faults and the buck stops with team CEO Larry Baer who signs off on who comes and goes?

#5 The Sacramento A’s after sweeping the Houston Astros in four games in Houston have won five of their last six games. The A’s are going well getting hitting from their big boppers Brent Rooker, Lawrence Butler, Nick Kurtz, and Jacob Wilson. They’ve also been getting some great pitching from their starters JP Sears, JT Gin, Jacob Lopez and Luis Severino.

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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That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants selling ownership stake – What does it mean?

Giants selling ownership stake – What does it mean?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer says the money from the sale of 10% of the Giants will be used for ballpark improvements with the developments around the ballpark (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

The San Francisco Giants dropped a 10% ownership stake in the franchise to the private equity firm Sixth Street, as reported today by the New York Times. The Giants did not confirm the specific share that it sold. Still, they said it was a “strategic partnership.” Larry Baer, Giants President, and CEO, said that the deal “allows (the Giants) to strengthen further our franchise on the field and in the community.”

That the Giants intend to use the money for improvements to Oracle Park and the Mission Rock mixed-use development surrounding the stadium, as well as the team’s Spring Training complex in Scottsdale. But it will not impact the team’s players’ payroll. And added, “This is about improvements to the ballpark, making big bets on San Francisco and the community around us, and having the firepower to take us into the next generation.” said Baer Major League Baseball Network revealed.

Major League Baseball and NBC Sports Regional Networks announced a new partnership today to stream games consumers for three MLB Clubs: Athletics (NBC Sports California), Giants (NBC Sports Bay Area), and Phillies (NBC Sports Philadelphia) – through MLB.TV during the 2025 season.

Fans in the Clubs’ home territories can now watch the networks’ game coverage live and on-demand with live pre-and post-game shows through the league’s streaming service, which is now entering its 23rd season. Talking about money for those who like to watch MLB games on TV.

This 2025 season- Packages for the A’s and Giants will be available monthly for $19.99 and can be bundled with MLB.TV’s out-of-market games for $39.99 a month. The Phillies package will be available for $24.99 monthly and can be bundled with MLB.TV’s out-of-market package for $44.99 per month.

Here’s a list of the current valuations for each MLB franchise as of late 2024,

1-New York Yankees $7.55 Billion

2 Los Angeles Dodgers $5.45 Billion

3 Boston Red Sox $4.5 Billion

4 Chicago Cubs $4.22 Billion

5 San Francisco Giants $3.8 Billion

6 New York Mets $3 Billion

7 Philadelphia Phillies $2.92 Billion

8 Atlanta Braves $2.8 Billion

9 Los Angeles Angels $2.7 Billion

10 St. Louis Cardinals $2.55 Billion

11 Houston Astros $2.42 Billion

12 Texas Rangers $2.4 Billion

13 Seattle Mariners $2.2 Billion

14 Toronto Blue Jays $2.1 Billion

15 Chicago White Sox $2.05 Billion

16 Washington Nationals $2 Billion

17 San Diego Padres $1.78 Billion

18 Baltimore Orioles $1.73 Billion

19 Milwaukee Brewers $1.6 Billion

20 Colorado Rockies $1.48 Billion

21 Minnesota Twins $1.46 Billion

22 Detroit Tigers $1.45 Billion

23 Arizona Diamondbacks $1.43 Billion

24 Cleveland Guardians $1.35 Billion

25 Pittsburgh Pirates $1.32 Billion

26 Cincinnati Reds $1.26 Billion

27 Tampa Bay Rays $1.25 Billion

28 Kansas City Royals $1.2 Billion

29 Miami Marlins $1.2 Billion

30 Oakland Athletics $1.1 Billion

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: Does season ticket sell outs signal success in Sacramento for A’s or just a honeymoon?; AI says Clemente most popular Hispanic player of all time; plus more news

Lawrence Butler of the Athletics conducts an interview at the Sawyer Hotel in downtown Sacramento on Mon Jan 6, 2025 regarding the A’s upcoming 2025 season in Sacramento (still from ABC 10 KXTV Sacramento)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Athletics selling out season tickets at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento does that signal that this relocation by the A’s was a successful idea or this is just a honeymoon in Sacramento and the A’s will eventually struggle in the standing like they had in past seasons?

#2 According to AI the most popular MLB Hispanic player of all time is former Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente who began his career in 1955 and in his second year in 1956 hit .311. After 1956 he hit above .300 in seven different seasons. He was defined as a pure hitter who drove in runs as well as being able to scores runs as well.

#3 According insiders three MLB teams were taken off Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki’s desired list the New York Yankees and Mets and the Texas Rangers. Sources are saying that Sasaki is down to three clubs the Toronto Blue Jays, the Los Angeles Dodgers, or the San Diego Padres. The San Francisco Giants have backed out of pursuing Sasaki. Sasaki is under 25 years old and is classified as a amateur and his salary will be limited from $5.1 million to $7.5 million per year. He will be regarded as a rookie phenom and could conger up endorsements that could add more to his finances depending how he performs in his MLB debut.

#4 Sasaki is another big signing possibility that has passed up the Giants. The Giants over the last two seasons missed signing in 2024 the likes of Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, and Shohei Ohtani. For 2025 the Giants so far have missed out on the following free agent signings Juan Soto, Ha Seong Kim, and Corbin Burnes. They managed to sign Willy Adames and Justin Verlander. The Giants last Thursday avoided going to arbitration with LaMonte Wade Jr, and relivers Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers. Are there a number of big name free agents avoiding San Francisco for specific reasons based on how the team has been a revolving door for managers, general managers, and team president changes and how CEO Larry Baer and team managing partner Greg Johnson who have final say have not been able to sign high profile players?

#5 The Seattle Mariners agreed to a one year deal with infielder Donovan Solano for $3.5 million. Also Solano could earn up to $1 million for plate appearances that ramp up to $200,00 for at bats totaling 300, 350, 400, 450, and 500. Solano hit .286, eight home runs, and 35 RBIs in 96 games with the San Diego Padres.

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

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Raiders go for third straight win against Chargers today at Allegiant; 49ers start Dobbs at QB in Arizona today; plus more news

Owner Mark Davis (left) and Head coach Antonio Pierce (right) and the Las Vegas Raiders will try and win their third straight game today at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas against the Los Angeles Chargers in the final regular season game for 2024-25. A win would most likely save Pierce’s job as head coach. (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports with Charlie O:

#1 Season comes to a close for the Las Vegas Raiders today as they close it out against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant. The Raiders since coming off a ten game losing streak have won two straight against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New Orleans Saints. The Chargers are playoff contenders and have one of the smartest coaches in the NFL on the sidelines with Jim Harbaugh at the helm. How do you see this match up today and the Raiders really want to finish the season with a win.

#2 The San Francisco 49ers have run into all sorts of problems all season long with numerous injuries and having lost six of their last seven games and coach Kyle Shanahan will not be starting quarterback Brock Purdy but Joshua Dobbs will be under center against the Arizona Cardinals for a 1:25pm PST kick off at State Farm Stadium in Glendale to conclude the regular season.

#3 After the truck attack in New Orleans French Quarter on New Years Day on Wednesday that killed 14 victims that suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar ran over. Jabbar had fire arms and explosives in the truck after it was found by law enforcement authorities. It got worse as Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart’s father had fallen and broke his hip and died in surgery. Smart’s father Sonny fell in New Orleans and it was reported that complications arose but Sonny was not able to overcome his injuries. The game was played on Thursday even though it was suggested that it should have been canceled the Notre Dame Fighting Irish dominated the Bulldogs 23-10.

#4 Taking a look at the San Francisco Giants inability not being able a headliner free agent either last season with players like Carlos Correa, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, or this year with Juan Soto, Blake Snell, Corbin Burnes, and most likely high profile pitcher Roki Sasaki will not choose to come to San Francisco either. So after taking a look at last season and this season it can’t be the faults of former Giant president Farhan Zaidi or current president Buster Posey it’s obvious they don’t have a final say on how the money is spent. Baseball players and agents talk amongst themselves and they can’t be fooled. Do you think it’s the way the Giants top brass have either tightened their belts or just some of the behind the scenes politics or the way they operated that involves CEO Larry Baer or owner Charles Johnson that may play into players not signing in San Francisco?

#5 Just a question on the Sacramento Kings after losing six game in row, five of them under former head coach Mike Brown and rebounding winning three in a row under new interim head coach Doug Christie is it too early to say the Kings are back on track or are they back on track?

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Commissioner Manfred says Bay Area needs only one team; How much influence do the Giants play in keeping an Oakland team out?

Does San Francisco Giants and team CEO Larry Baer play a influential role in encouraging MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to make sure Oakland never gets an expansion team so the Giants will have the East Bay as their territory as well? (AP News file photo)

On Oakland A’s relocation podcast:

#1 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s Chief of Staff Leigh Hanson said on Friday after meeting with Oakland A’s team president David Kaval that in order for the A’s to get a three year lease at the Coliseum MLB has to agree that Oakland will get an expansion team. That decision rests with baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

#2 Manfred said of any expansion team or any idea of another MLB team coming to Oakland “First of all we do have a major league team in the Bay Area.” Manfred was referring to the San Francisco Giants it’s been everyone’s understanding that Giants team CEO Larry Baer and the Giants who voted to have the A’s moved out of Oakland to Las Vegas during the owners vote on Dec 16th that the Giants would like to have the Bay Area including the East Bay as Giants territory and their market. Do they want the Commissioner not to allow any team to expand or move to Oakland and Oakland would become Giants territory.

#3 After the A’s announced and got confirmation from the Nevada State Legislature to the tune of $380 million for the Tropicana ballpark the A’s and MLB were confident that this was going to be smooth transition but the offering was rushed they left out where John Fisher A’s owner was going to get his share of the $1.5 billion for the construction costs and also where the A’s were going to play between 2025-27. Now Manfred is under pressure to find a place for the A’s to play for those remaining three years and Fisher doesn’t want to walk away from $70 million in TV money for those three years.

#4 Who will blink first. The City of Oakland and the Coliseum Joint Authority will lease out the Coliseum to the A’s only if Oakland is guaranteed an expansion team this boxes in Manfred who wants to get out of Oakland all together and is being counted on by the Giants to make sure that happens. The A’s must have a place to play decided by July. The Players Association will not sign off on playing in a minor league park and the Coliseum is the only practical viable place to go.

#5 Sharing a ballpark with another MLB team won’t especially if the A’s leave the Bay Area to play their home games and they lose the $70 million TV money.

Jerry Fetielberg is an Oakland A’s beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Webb says losing not fun, not enjoyable; Does CEO Larry Baer share in the blame?

San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb works against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Sep 26, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb who did win his last game last Monday night said after the game that he was tired of losing despite winning the game and gave praise to San Diego pitcher Blake Snell who opposed him saying he was the one who deserved the Cy Young Award. Webb also added he was tired of losing as the Giants once again will not be a post season team.

#2 Webb said that Alex Cobb pitched good enough all season long and was an All Star this season and it was a shame that someone like that didn’t make post season after all the work he put into the season.

#3 You had mentioned this on your last Giants podcast why would any free agent want to sign with the Giants? Is it the environment, is it that manager Gabe Kapler and team president Farhan Zaidi have trouble making thing work amongst deals and certain strategies on the field.

#4 Does the problems go to the top with team CEO Larry Baer how much does he bare some of the brunt of the blame because he’s watching how much he spends on getting talent or is there some belt tightening involved?

#5 Baer said that the attendance would surge but the Giants are 17th in attendance. Some critics say Baer inherited two World Champion teams from former team CEO Bill Neukom and once those teams dissolved the Giants made the post season just once?

Stephen Ruderman is filling in for Michael Duca on the Giants podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s Commentary podcast with Len Shapiro: Will Giants claim East Bay as their territory when A’s leave?

San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer looks out from the stands at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Baer has been in the 24 hour news cycle for being responsible for tweeting how it’s a shame the A’s are leaving. The former Oakland A’s play by play announcer himself, Baer as Giants CEO played a role in blocking the A’s from moving to the South Bay in 2011 according to former A’s owner Lew Wolf and former San Jose Mayor Tom McEnery. (file photo from San Francisco Chronicle)

On the Oakland A’s Commentary podcast with Len Shaprio:

#1 As if the San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer hasn’t got enough blame in the last 48 hours for being a big part in the Oakland A’s leaving Oakland leaving a huge void in the East Bay will the Giants also claim Oakland and the East Bay their territory when the A’s leave Oakland so no team could either move or expand there?

#2 Baer received a lot of criticism in the media and on social media regarding the Giants tweeting this week saying that the “A’s are such a big part of Bay Area baseball history, the East Bay and the greater community.” Former A’s owner Lew Wolf called the tweet by the Giants “disingenuous” and that the Giants stopped the A’s from moving to San Jose by claiming their territorial rights in 2011 when the A’s wanted to build a new downtown stadium in San Jose.

#3 Len you and the late Joe Buerry were managing partners at the Oakland A’s radio affiliate 990 the KATD in Pittsburg and were with the station during the time when the Giants wanted to block the A’s from claiming territorial rights in the South Bay the city of San Jose took MLB to court to fight for territorial rights but the Supreme Court ruled that the Giants had those rights.

#4 Critics say that Baer should have done his due diligence like previous A’s owner Walter Haas did and agreed to give the Giants territorial right to keep the Giants in San Francisco or allow them to move to San Jose. The Giants never returned the territorial rights back to the A’s and even more Baer has fought to keep those right and enforced it to keep the A’s out of moving to San Jose.

#5 The big question is will Baer and the Giants claim the East Bay as their territory after the A’s move out of Oakland and to make sure that no MLB team can expand or do a relocation move to Oakland or the East Bay in the future to claim Northern California the Giants and only the Giants?

Len Shapiro was a former radio station assistant manager for Oakland A’s affiliate 990 KATD Pittsburg

MLB podcast with Daniel Dullum: SF CEO Baer returns after domestic abuse suspension; Yanks-Sox slugfest in London; plus more

President and CEO Larry Baer will reportedly wield less power upon his July 2 return from suspension. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

On the MLB podcast with Daniel:

1 Larry Baer will return as Giants president/CEO but with less power

2 Yankees, Red Sox light up scoreboard in London

3 Benches clear after Cincinnati Reds Yasiel Puig hit by pitch; reliever calls him ‘stupid as f–k’

4 Fernando Rodney ties obscure save record

5 Mets apologize for putting two living players in memorial montage of 1969 Mets

Daniel Dullum does the MLB podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Baer will lose control of team when he comes back from suspension; New CEO Dean to take Baer’s spot

Photo credit: @Deadspin

On Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Tony, the San Francisco Giants have decided to have acting CEO Rob Dean as their frontman. In a statement from the team on Tuesday, the Giants have said that upon returning from suspension on July 2nd, Baer will no longer have control of the team, although he will retain his title as CEO and president.

#2 The players have stated that regardless of the off-the-field issues regarding Baer, they are determined to stay focused, and outfielder Steven Duggar says playing between the lines has been a safe haven for the players.

#3 The Giants have been struggling in spring training are are now open their regular season today in San Diego. They do have one of the best defensive infield in the National League coming into the season.

#4 The Oakland A’s, who were left for dead after their starting rotation either went on the DL or underwent surgery, came back later in the season and made it to the Wild Card. You just can’t count a Billy Beane team out.

Tony does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com