Tag: Matt Williams

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Welcome to Baseball Trading Season

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Detroit Tigers Tarik Skubal tips his cap to the crowd after striking out his 1000th career batter against the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wed Jul 29, 2026 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

According to history, the first baseball trade took place on August 29, 1885, when the Louisville Colonels of the American Association traded John Connor and $750 to the minor leagues for pitcher Toad Ramsey of the Chattanooga Lookouts.

The most famous deal: owner of the Boston Red Sox Harry Frazee sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $100,000 plus a $300,000 loan because Frazee needed money to finance a Broadway musical called My Lady Friends.  This created the “Curse of the Bambino” keeping the Red Sox from winning the World Series for 86 years, and the start of the New York Yankees dynasty.

With about 60 games left this 2026 season, buyers and sellers are poised to begin dealing as soon as August 3 at 6 pm ET.

For the Giants: They are legitimate sellers. Their biggest and most impactful trade in their history took place in November 1996, bringing Jeff Kent, along with José Vizcaino, Julián Tavarez, and José Roa, to San Francisco from the Cleveland Indians; in return, the Giants sent one of their fan-favorite players, Matt Williams, to Cleveland.

But the most recent deal for the Giants that made big baseball news was when they acquired Boston Red Sox Rafael Devers, taking on the remainder of his very nice (for Devers) 10-year, $313 million contract. This deal took place June 15, 2025, just over a year ago. In return, the Giants sent left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks, outfield prospect James Tibbs III, and minor-league right-hander José Bello.

Many players will change uniforms over the next few days/weeks, but the most coveted player is Tarik Skubal, currently pitching (maybe for the last time with the Detroit Tigers. Tarik Skubal was born in Hayward, California, a Bay Area kid, but the Giants will not trade for Skubal.

Quote on trades: Joe Garagiola,Baseball Broadcaster  “Is like your 100th birthday. not ideal, but  it beats the alternative”

For the young readers: Garagiola lived to be 90 years young, broadcasted for 58 years. I met him in 1986 during the World Series for NBC Sports. while Juan Vené and yours truly called the 1986 World Series betwen the Mets and the Red Sox on the old CBS Hispanic Radio Network, under great producer Armando Talavera.

Saludos to Cooperstown! Congratulations to the Baseball Hall of Fame: Great inductiong ceremony forJeff Kent, Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones.

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.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants Rafael Devers missed three scheduled Workouts

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giant Rafael Devers (16) strikes out against the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the ninth at Oracle Park on Fri Jun 20, 2025. Devers has missed three practices where he was supposed to train for playing first base and to be coached by former Giants first baseman Will Clark. Nonetheless Devers was in the line up on Tue Jul 8, 2025 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants Rafael Devers missed three scheduled Workouts

Giants Rafael Dever missed three scheduled Workouts

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

San Francisco Giants legend Will Clark serves as a Special Assistant in the Giants’ front office. In this role, he represents the organization at various events. Clark stated on the No Filter Network that Rafael Devers, who was recently traded from the Boston Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants missed three scheduled workouts for him, which were intended to help Devers acclimate to playing first base.

The voice of the Red Sox initially reported this information, Will Fleming, on the WEEI afternoon radio show, and then later, Clark confirmed Fleming’s story. The Red Sox broadcaster has been critical of Rafael Devers since Devers was traded to the Giants, suggesting a lack of commitment from the recently acquired player and expressing doubt that Devers can ever become a face of the franchise.

While playing in Boston, Rafael Devers was a fan favorite and a talented hitter, but had a complicated reputation in Boston up to the trade to the Giants. In Boston, Devers was criticized for his defense and perceived lack of leadership, creating some tension with the Red Sox front office.

In the opinion of some, that precipitated the trade to San Francisco. Will Clark also revealed that manager Bob Melvin and third base coach Matt Williams asked him to meet with Rafael Devers and work around first base, but Devers failed to show for practice.

While Red Sox manager Alex Cora labeled the stunning trade “not personal,” reports indicate that Devers left Boston with souring relationships within the organization, and in just a few weeks with the Giants, a similar dynamic seems to be unfolding.

This sometimes happens in baseball when a trade of this magnitude occurs, which is why the Red Sox got rid of such a talented player. Well, we might now have the answer. So, around and around it goes, where does this soap opera end? Nobody knows.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Sandoval struggling at the plate in attempt to make roster

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval attempts to make it back to the majors since 2021. Sandoval heading to the field at spring training home of the Giants Scottsdale AZ (photo by AP News)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 San Francisco Giant try out Pablo Sandoval has only one hit in 13 at bats striking out nine times. Giants manager Bob Melvin and Sadoval’s teammates are pushing for Sandoval 37 to make it to the roster but he just may end up being a coach advising younger players when spring training is over.

#2 Melvin said that Sandoval is very affable and that his teammates realized how important Sandoval is to the organization. Giants third base coach Matt Williams says that Sandoval is working out with the younger players so he can pass on his knowledge to them.

#3 Michael talk about how you see this season’s outfield with Mike Yastrzemski in right, Jung Hoo Lee in center, and Michael Conforto in left field all left handed outfielders is that a defensive strategy. Only right hander is Austin Slater.

#4 Jorge Soler could play some outfield and could do it once a week and could hit against left handed pitching. How do you see that possibility getting Soler sometime in the outfield to give either Slater or Yastrzemski some rest.

#5 Wilmer Flores can gets some work in as the DH and away from being the platoon hitter. Melvin said that you want to get Flores some at bats he can help with the run production.

Join Michael Duca for the San Francisco Giants podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Diamond will continue streaming MLB games; Pitch clock shaves off 26 mins; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Diego Padres third base coach Matt Williams pauses on the field during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. The San Diego Padres third base has colon cancer and will have surgery on Friday, March 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin,File)

On Headlines Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong:

#1 Diamond Sports Group is hoping to hold as they restructure after filing for bankruptcy protection on Mar 14th. Diamond had a two week grace period a time which Diamond tried to negotiate the streaming rights. During restructuring Diamond will carry games. Diamond just paid the San Diego Padres their rights fees on Wednesday. MLB is putting together a streaming network and plans to take over for some 14 MLB clubs. There are NBA and NHL clubs who also effected by the Diamond bankruptcy.

#2 The pitch clock has shaved off 26 minutes off in spring training. Games during the 2022 season averaged 3:01 and now are pacing at 2:35. Comparing the World Baseball Classic games the spring games are 35 minutes shorter. Opening day is Thursday and MLB is waiting to see how this pitch clock works out in the regular season.

#3 San Diego Padres third coach Matt Williams 57, has been diagnosed with colon cancer and will be away from the team for an undisclosed time. The news was announced to the media some 24 hours before the Padres open their regular season against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday afternoon at Petco Park in San Diego. Williams will have surgery on Friday to remove growth near his colon.

#4 There’s a lot of expectations that the Los Angeles Angels are expecting from top catching prospect Logan O’Hoppe. Catcher Max Stassi has been placed on the injured list due to hip soreness. O’Hoppe will get the call to start and catch Angels ace and starter Shohei Ohtani in the season opener in Oakland against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Thursday for a 7:07pm first pitch.

#5 The New York Yankees will open their season against the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium on Thursday afternoon. The Yankees will start Gerrit Cole and the Giants will be going with Logan Webb. The Yankees are trying to get the bad taste of the American League Championship Series loss to the Houston Astros out of their mouth from last season losing four out of five to the Astros and missing the World Series.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com