Tag: mlb

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB Now Recognizes Negro Leagues as Major League

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Negro Leagues Baseball Museum sign in Kansas City. The Museum is excited about Negro League stats being part of the Major League Baseball records as announced Wed Dec 16, 2020 by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

A decision that should have been made many years ago, but obviously is a welcomed decision by Major League Baseball. When The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame was founded in San Francisco in 1998 the museum instantly classified the Negro Leagues as a Mayor League.

Black players born in Latin America or in the United States played in leagues in the Caribbean. Central and South America for decades, it was not considered an “accomplishment” because the abnormal thing to do is not to allow a player to play because of his skin color.

The United States was the only place in the world that black players could not play in the Major Leagues. Many players had to play in the Negro Leagues and many had at least the talent (if not more than enough) to be in the Major Leagues.

Now, Major League Baseball officially classifying 1920 to 1948 teams of the Negro League as Mayor League. Major League Baseball basically is making a right from something that was a “wrong” for decades and that is to be commended. Nobody can change history, but in cases like this, it is good to correct it and bring it in-line with current society. “All of us who love baseball have long known that the Negro Leagues produced many of our game’s best players, innovations, and triumphs against a backdrop of injustice,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement provided by the league. “We are now grateful to count the players of the Negro Leagues where they belong: as major leaguers within the official historical record.”

Note: Jackie Robinson played one season in the Negro Leagues before he was brought into the Major Leagues by Brooklyn Dodger’s Branch Rickey. 1947 Kansas City Monarchs he played in 47 games, 163 at bats, .387 average, 14 doubles, 4 triples, 5 home runs and 13 stolen bases. Although I do not always agree with Commissioner Manfred in his changes to the game, this is one time I give him the highest praise.

Stay tuned and stay well.

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish lead radio play by play announcer for Oakland A’s baseball on 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 2020 Worse News for Baseball? –No Minor Leagues–

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Reno Aces ballpark the Triple A team in Reno NV announced they will return for the 2021 season in a press release Dec 9th, 2020. The Aces are an affiliate for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Aces are a survivor of many of the minor league teams who are being cut in MLB (sierrasun.com file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Major League Baseball, after all, came out “very well”, during an abbreviated 60-game season, compared to other sports, playing during a worldwide Pandemic. But (in case some forgot) there was no Minor League Baseball in 2020.

As of 2018 there were 14 ML-affiliated Minor League teams. A total of 160 teams in large, medium and small markets across the country and also in Canada, plus a total 80 teams in three ML-affiliated rookie leagues in Arizona, Florida and the Dominican Republic.

It was on June 30, 2020 that it was announced there was not going to be Minor League Baseball this year. The announcement explained that the season had been shelved because Major League Baseball will not provide players. It was the first time the Minor League season was cancelled since the Minor Leagues were founded in 1901.

However, it was actually in (pre-covid) 2019 that Major League Baseball were planning to eliminate 42 Minor League teams, most in the lowest levels, with more than half of those 42 either at the Rookie League level or Short-Season, Class A. MiLB (Minor League Baseball) also is a revenue-generating business. Most minor league teams are not owned by major league clubs, but they have contracts as affiliates.

Generally teams in organized minor league baseball are generally owned and operated independently but most are directly affiliated with a major league team. Very important Milb, because they have contracts with MLB teams for player development. Because of what happened in 2020, MLB teams lost hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and therefore had furlough employees, some were told their services terminate at the end of this year.

In the Minor League with zero games played, and even with some payroll protection loans issued early, more jobs were lost. If MLB suffered by playing 60-games in 2020, you can imagine how much the Minor Leagues suffered with no season at all, not one game played. It is very important for baseball to keep their minor league structure for the future.

The game of baseball needs a lot of practice, repetition, seasoning “if you will” of their young talent. All players in the Minor League system have one goal. To be promoted to the Big Leagues, as simple as that. When I was playing as a kid in Cuba with my brother, or just playing catch with my father and on teams in the area.

I always dreamed of playing for a Major League team, I do not recall as a kid I ever dreamed of playing for the Cuban Sugar Kings of the Triple-A, International League, although that was a popular league as well as the Winter Leagues, kids dreams always relate to their Major League teams and stars, heroes.

Baseball has been always like that, and hopefully it will continue. We must remember than the overwhelming majority of the Major League stars began their professional careers and ascent to the Big Show in…yes, the Minor Leagues.

You cannot over emphasize the importance of the Minor Leagues. I can only hope 2021 will be played normally, and that there is a Minor League with younger players ready to come-up to the big team.

We all talk about how terrible 2020 has been, but we also must be positive and realize that we are ending this year with sort of a miracle. The development and approval of covid-19 vaccines, which took around 9 month from beginning to completion.

What Warp Speed Operation accomplished was unprecedented in the history of vaccines, we should be grateful that because of these vaccines (in days made available) millions of lives will be saved in the US and around the world, and this is exactly the news Baseball wanted to hear prior to 2021 Spring Training in Arizona and Florida, which is just two months and a couple of weeks away.

The Minority: These are some well known Major League Players, (some in the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown) who never played in the Minor Leagues. They came directly from High School or College to the Big Show: Al Kaline, Sandy Koufax, Bob Feller, Harmon Killebrew, George Sisler, Frankie Frisch, Joe Nuxall, Dick Groat, Dave Winfield, Mike McCormick, Mel Ott, Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Herb Washington.

Felíz Hanukkah and Felíz Navidad

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Is Baseball Strategy Out the Window?

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The Atlanta Braves Freddie Freeman who hit .341 last season will DH when needed at American League parks as the DH will not be in effect during National League games this season (file photo from Atlanta Journal Constitution)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González.

The last time I remember seeing  a ‘hit and run’ I was in the parking lot outside the park, before the game started. I am afraid we will eventually see a defensive alignment of five outfielders when a guy that seldom hits a ground-ball comes to the plate.

A complete game thrown by a starting pitcher would be tantamount to a perfect game. Bullpen games would be regularly scheduled, in other words, the manager will give his lineup and also a “pitching lineup” of the seven pitchers he is planning to use in any given game.

In other words, there will be two lineups, the regular one with every player place in the batting order as well as position the he is playing and then the seven pitchers to be used. Plus, other stuff that would make it look like a game from the planet Pluto.

Those that were against the Designated Hitter rule will find that as a “traditional” part of the game, almost like wood burning in a fireplace on a cozy Christmas Day, compared to what is coming down the pike with more Analytics and more regulations and changes.

We have strayed so much from the game of baseball as it was meant to be, that it is soon coming to the point of no recognition. Are hitters so lazy that they cannot adjust to the shift? If the third-baseman is playing in mid-right field, and the shortstop and second-baseman can shake hands behind second base and the hitter cannot hit to the left side of the infield, which is vacant of fielders.

What do we have? Atlanta’s first-baseman, Freddie Freeman won the National League Most Valuable Player this year, he hit .341 and he can find the hole in the infield when the shift is on, that is why he hit .341. Freeman is the exception in today’s game.

Image a quarterback that every time he goes back to throw to the end zone, there are 4 unobstructed receivers standing there just waiting for the ball? Or in basketball a 7’4″ center waiting under the basket with nobody allowed to check him or block a shot? OK, baseball is different, I get it.

Still the biggest changes in the game of baseball throughout the years have been mostly by their players. They are faster and stronger. There is more advances in the science of conditioning, surgeries, rehab programs and such.

The equipment has changed, catchers (unlike years past) do not have to wear 60 lbs of protections, today’s material is lighter and more resistant to impact, the ball is lighter than it was, the gloves are better, the playing surfaces are in immaculate condition and we have many parks with re-tractable roofs, so there can always be a game, with rain or shine. Players today are stronger and faster than ever, however that doesn’t mean they are better ballplayers, they might be better all-around-athletes.

Today’s players make ridiculous amounts of money and the advances in technology are now part of the game. Analytics, finances and technology as we head to 2021 is what really rules the game. Yet, baseball has long had the goal of moving things along, shortening the time of the game has been one of the topics, but baseball will never be what it was meant to be if we begin looking too much at the clock.

This is why one of my favorite quotes was by one of my all-time favorite managers, the great Earl Weaver of the Baltimore Orioles who said: “In baseball you can’t kill the clock. You’ve got to give the other man his chance.”

That’s why this is the greatest game”. We agree that is ‘the truth and nothing but the truth’. In baseball strategy, every move counts. An extra-base hit, a walk, an error, can gain a run, one run can win a game, one game can win a division and one game can win the World Series. Statistics are a great part of the game.

What would it be without? Scoring a game you need a road-map to know what happened, and watching the game is much more fun when there is a strategy at play. It is a game of averages and a mathematician dream, but we should not be carried away, because stats are not always what they seem.

In the words of ex-baseball player Toby Harrah: “Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything”. I hope and pray for today and future generations this great game is played correctly and doesn’t become just another video-game of quick self-gratification.

I still love the game of baseball, otherwise I would be writing about something else. Most of my life, since a kid, it is the game I mostly compare to life, because it like life, everyday is different.

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.

Join Amaury for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Buffalo offense just too much for SF; Colts take winning record into Vegas to face Raiders; plus more

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie (19) scores a touchdown as San Francisco 49ers defensive back Tarvarius Moore (33) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. Ross D. Franklin/AP

That’s Amaury’s podcast for News and Commentary:

#1 The San Francisco 49ers were coming off a big win against the Los Angeles Rams from week 12 and last night they played host in Glendale at State Farm Stadium against the Buffalo Bills. One thing about the switch from Santa Clara to Glendale is the 49ers will be not be doing much traveling in three of four games.

#2 The Las Vegas Raiders narrowly beat the winless New York Jets last Sunday on a Hail Mary pass from quarterback Derek Carr to receiver Henry Ruggs for a 46 yard game winning touchdown and as a consequence that last play was Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams who was fired right after the game.

#3 The MLB winter meetings started on Monday and for the Oakland A’s they are expected to keep things on the down low due to the pandemic the A’s have taken a financial loss which included refusing to pay rent at the Oakland Coliseum just before the beginning of last season’s brief 60 game schedule.

#4 Like the Philadelphia Phillies who are also feeling the pinch and had a hard time trying to sign TJ Realmuto which they didn’t the report is out that Philadelphia lost $ 2 billion because of overall loses. The Oakland A’s may not have lost that much but they are behind the financial eight ball during these winter meetings.

#5 Also talk is that the A’s most likely will not offer A’s infielder Marcus Semien a deal because it will be relatively much lower than what other clubs are expected to offer him which has been in the neighborhood of $100 million. Who have you heard that is interested in obtaining Semien, Cubs, Cardinals, Reds, Yankees, Astros, Dodgers or maybe others?

Join Amaury for News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday morning at http://www.sportsrasdioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Blue Jays want new stadium but can’t play in the one they have; Despite missing key players Giants almost made playoffs; plus more

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A look from outside of the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Toronto Blue Jays would like to tear down Rogers Centre and build a new ball park (photo from onsitenews.com)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 The Toronto Blue Jays have new stadium plans on the drawing board and are considering tearing down their current baseball home Rogers Centre. The argument in Toronto is why not spend millions instead of billions on getting some super star players instead of a new stadium. Also the Jays didn’t even play in Rogers Centre last season as they were relegated to play in Buffalo due to Coronavirus protocol restrictions in Canada.

#2 After the San Francisco Giants last season nearly made the playoffs without Madison Bumgarner who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and catcher Buster Posey who opted out because he didn’t want to chance getting Covid and spreading to his newborn child how much credit do you give to team general manager Farhan Zaidi and Giants manager Gabe Kapler.

#3 The Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng made her first deal as the Marlins acquired pitcher right hander Adam Cimber from Cleveland Cimber had a 4.30 ERA and this deal will be part of history as Ng is MLB’s first woman general manger and this is her first deal.

#4 In Pro Football: A lot of game cancelations and Covid-19 spreading the Denver Broncos weren’t too shocked about their results after losing to the New Orleans Saints 31-3. The Broncos lost all their quarterbacks to positive Covid-19 tests and Kendall Hinton who was on the practice squad as a receiver was put into service as the starting quarterback for Denver and had a rough time of it throwing for only 13 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.

#5 In an article you wrote about Santa Clara County which has a strict stay at home order and Coronavirus protocols that ban all sports from not just the fans but no players or games. The San Francisco 49ers will be playing weeks 13 and 14 in Arizona as they will not be allowed to play at Levis Stadium until after Dec 21st.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Players of the Past– Leonardo “Leo”Cárdenas — The Lost Bullet-

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From left to right, Scott Horstmeier, HHBMHOF Representative, Leo Cárdenas and George “Buzz” Guckenberger, Biographer. (Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame Cincinnati Ohio photo)

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Leonardo (Leo) Cárdenas was born in Matanzas, Cuba on December 17, 1938 and arrived in the major leagues in 1960 with the Cincinnati Reds. An excellent shortstop from the same country that produced such major league shortstops as Willie Miranda, Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris, Zoilo (Zorro) Versalles, Humberto (Chico) Fernández, Alexei Ramírez, Rey Ordoñez, José Iglesias plus others.

He would play in the major leagues from 1960 to 1975, his first nine years with the Cincinnati Reds, later with California Angels, Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers, a total of 16 years, mostly as a shortstop.

In the year 1956 Cárdenas was signed at the age of 17 by a Reds scout and was sent to Tucson, in the minor leagues where he hit .316 with 23 home-runs, but his specialty, from the start, was his glove. The next two years he was part of a great double-play combination with fellow Cuban second-baseman Octavio (Cookie) Rojas at Savannah in the Sally League.

In 1959 played for the International League (AAA) Cuban Sugar Kings and next season, 1960 with Jersey City. Finally arriving to the Big Show on July 25, 1960, where he plays in 48 games with the Cincinnati Reds of manager Fred Hutchinson.

The Lost Bullet: On July 25, 1959. During a game he was playing with the Cuban Sugar Kings at Estadio de El Cerro in Havana, against the Rochester Red Wings of the AAA International League, a riot broke between Fidel Castro’s supporters and the opposition when shots were fired from the stands, and one bullet grazed Cardenas sparing his life.

It was mayhem on the field, people running all over the place, umpires, players, military soldiers, fans. They were not shooting at the shortstop, but he was almost an accidental victim. A victim of the moment, when Castro had not yet established his dictatorship.

On August 8, 1966 with his first and original team, the Cincinnati Reds, he hit 4 home runs in a double-header against the San Francisco Giants. His 6th and 7th homers of the season and two (2) of those were against Giants ace Juan Marichal.

That year the slick-fielding Cuban shortstop ended the season with 20 home-runs. For a shortstop to hit 20 home runs during those years was quite astonishing, there were not very many shortstops named Ernie Banks.

First time I saw Leo Cárdenas was in the old Cuban Winter Professional League with the Elefantes del Cienfuegos ballclub (Cienfuegos Elephants) in 1960. My father would take me to the games every weekend at Estadio de El Cerro, in Havana.

Camilo Pascual a curveball specialist was also with that Cienfuegos team, as well as other Cuban and American-born players who participated in what was called the best professional baseball league after the major leagues at that time. American major league players like Brooks Robinson, George Altman, San Maglie and even Cool Papa Bell (they were some American-born players with Cienfuegos) who played in Cuba in the winter.

At that time the players did not have any representation/Union in the major leagues, and most needed another job in the off-season, and Cuba played the best among all pro-leagues in Latin America, it was a prestigious and very famous league. However and sadly, 1961 would be the last year Leonardo Cárdenas played in his homeland.

Soon after the Fidel Castro government would eradicate all professional sports in the island, as its government declared itself a communist country and took control confiscating American and Cuban interests (private businesses) including all the sports. If you played baseball in Cuba, you only had one employer, the Cuban government.

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame inducted Leonardo Cárdenas and presented him his HHBMHOF plaque on September 27, 2016 at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Field representatives of the museum Scott Horstmier and Rich Walls Director of the Cincinnati Reds Museum did the honors. Cardenas was one of the first established regular position players from Cuba and Latin America in major league baseball.

Cardenas played on the 1961 World Series with Cincinnati against the New York Yankees and as a member of the Minnesota Twins in the American League Championship Series of 1969 and 1970. Leo Cárdenas had a 16 year major league career, participating in 1,941 games, 7,402 plate appearances a .257 batting average with 118 Home runs and 689 runs batted in. He was an excellent defensive shortstop.

Leonardo Cádenas is available for speaking engagements and baseball shows https://www.athletespeakers.com/speaker/leo-cardenas

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish lead radio play by play announcer on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Cano’s career could be toast after second PED’s suspension; 7 Raiders come down with positive Covid-19 test; plus more

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New York Mets Robinson (24) Cano greets J.D. Davis (28) after hitting a home run during their game on August 17, 2020 against the Miami Marlins (AP News file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Tony R:

#1 Tony the New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano who was suspended on Wednesday for coming up positive for PEDs may not be back with the Mets. This is Robinson’s second suspension for PED use.

#2 Cano was considered a Hall of Fame candidate who was just 376 hits away from reaching a career total of 3,000 most likely will never see that plateau and no team may pick him up because of his steroid use and suspensions.

#3 Tony tell us about the Las Vegas Raiders here they go again seven players go on the Covid-19 list, saftey Jonathan Abram, defensive tackles Maliek Collins, Johnathan Hankins, Kendal Vickers, defensive end Arden Key, cornerback Isaiah Johnson, and defensive end David Irving from the practice squad. Tony how will the absence of these seven players impact the Raiders going into Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

#4 The Raiders had a success in the ground game in their last game against the Broncos could they get that same satisfaction against the Chiefs this coming Sunday at Allegiant Stadium? The Raiders are the only team in the NFL to beat the Chiefs so far this season.

#5 The Sacramento Kings Bogdan Bogdanovic will enter restricted free agency after a deal that would have been a trade and sign deal fell though that would have sent him to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Kings and Bucks did have an agreement but the Bucks were able to acquire Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Hornets as the Bucks were looking for someone that could compliment Giannis Antetokounmpo on offense. Will Kings still try and deal Bogdanovic somewhere else or will the Kings work on trying to keep him.

Join Tony Renteria for Headline Sports everyother Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Double Standard at Cooperstown?

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Former Cincinnati Reds great Pete Rose poses near his statue outside of Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati is still serving a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball (file photo from WLWT 700 News Radio Cincinnati)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

“T’was the night before Christmas when all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse, the stockings were hung by the chimney with care all the new Hall of Fame names were read with a flair, but the name of Pete Rose still was not there” -APG.2020.

The list for the 2021 first time nominees for Cooperstown is out, including those that felt short in previous years. They are still on the ballot and some like Roger Clements and Barry Bonds will probably not be elected this year. They might have to wait a few more years. But, what about Pete?

This is the time of the year for that perennial question. Why is Pete Rose not in the Hall of Fame as a player. No player alive or still playing is remotely close to Pete Rose record of 4,256 hits. The closest one, who still active is LA Angels Albert Pujols with 3,236 hits. Also active, Miguel Cabrera 2,866, Robinson Canó 2,624 ( who also was suspended for the 2021 season for PEDs), Nick Markakis 2,388 then Yadier Molina with 2,001. All of these active players are veterans towards the end of their careers; they have really no chance of getting remotely close to Pete Rose.

Gambling is the cardinal sin of baseball, and that is why Pete Rose is not in the Hall of Fame. In 1989 Major League Baseball punished Pete Rose, manager of the Cincinnati Reds for betting on baseball.

Rose accepted a settlement than includes a lifetime ban from the game. But every year when the names of the new class of Hall of Fame players that are nominated comes out, everybody debates if he should be given the chance of induction into the Hall of Fame.

Rose recently admitted to Jim Gray that he still bets on baseball. This confession is part of Jim Gray’s “Talking to Goats” FOX News special and book. As a civilian he can bet on baseball, it is legal, just visit any Casino in the United States and you probably can place a bet, or on the internet as well.

We are a betting nation. Draft Kings is a very popular Daily Fantasy Sports for Cash in baseball, the Superbowl is approaching and after March Madness tournament in Basketball. The Superbowl is the highest sports event in amount of bets. During the summer, baseball (usually 162-game schedule) allows more opportunities to bet each day.

We are also a forgiving nation. With the advances of science, i.e. DNA, people that were wrongly convicted of murder and have been serving for decades a life sentence, have been released after DNA showed that they were wrongly convicted.

Many countries around the world, if you are convicted of murder, you are executed very soon after your sentence. O.J Simpson is a free man, after his controversial ‘not guilty’ verdict, but we all know he got away with murder, he had to hire the best attorneys in the world to save his life, so there went most of what money OJ had.

Question for everybody: What is worst, Pete Rose betting on baseball or the Houston Astros cheating and winning the 2017 World Series?

Pete Rose is not going to manage or play again. To me it looks ridiculous the fact he is not in the Hall of Fame where he belongs. If we are going to be consistent with the world we are living today (this is not 1919 and the Black Sox scandal) I hope we can see Pete Rose soon, (not after he is dead) in Cooperstown. That is my opinion, you might disagree and I respect your opinion.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s lead Spanish play by play announcer on the A’s flagship station 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Padres Clevinger out for 2021; Hall of Fame balloting as Bonds and steroid era players try again; plus more

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San Diego Padre pitcher Mike Clevinger leaving game 1 of the NLDS on Oct 6, 2020 at Arlington will have Tommy John surgery for his elbow and will miss the 2021 season (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury:

#1 Amaury how shocking is it that San Diego Padres pitcher Mike Clevinger is now out for the 2021 season after having Tommy John surgery on his elbow. He was a big value pitcher coming over from Cleveland during the season.

#2 Amaury bolloting for the 2021 MLB Hall of Fame saw Mark Buehrle, Torii Hunter, Nick Swisher and Barry Zito enter as candidates while high vote getters from the steroid era Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are also in the running.

#3 Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy LaSorda has been admitted into ICU at an Orange County Hospital. LaSorda 93 had a heart attack when he was Dodgers manager in 1996 and had attended game 6 of the 2020 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Dodgers. LaSorda’s reason for being in the hospital was not disclosed.

#4 Turning to hockey Amaury, The San Jose City Council had a meeting on Monday at San Jose City Hall regarding the planning of development around SAP Center which include 65 new buildings on 84 acres surrounding SAP Center and BART also plans to develop right across the street. The Sharks had been opposed to BART coming to SAP Center and tried to go stop it in court in 2017. Their fear was too much traffic, too much congestion. The City plans another meeting on Dec 3rd regarding street closures and the Sharks said if there is sufficient gridlock and their parking revenue is cut they will consider moving out of downtown San Jose.

#5 Amaury is there any future consideration for Sharks on Spanish radio as you might recall last season Jesus Zarate called the play by play on the Sharks original flagship station 910 ESPN Deportes. Fans received a “Los Tiburones” t shirt for Hispanic Heritage night at SAP Center and it was former San Jose Mercury News columnist Mark Purdy who coined the “Los Tiburones” name. Will the Sharks return on Spanish radio again for the new season?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Museum Hall of Fame vice president and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: With New Vaccines Sports see Game Changer

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The front of the offices of Moderna who have an effective 94.5 % vaccine for Coronavirus that is scheduled for distribution as soon as April 2021 (teletrader.com file photo)

With New Vaccines Sports see Game Changer

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

We heard all the projections that a vaccine for Covid-19 would take years, because most vaccines usually do. However within one week Pfizer and Moderna two very big and innovative pharmaceutical companies announced their new vaccines, both reporting their trials showed over 90 percent effective.

Next step is for the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) to approve and then the distribution to millions of Americans. An once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between the Federal Government and some of the world largest pharmaceutical companies worked together to bring results during a crisis of this magnitude.

The same Chemicals that in time of war are used to construct military missiles, to build weapons, drones, body armor now are fighting for the civilian population. The old Korean War-era law known as the Defense Production Act of 1950 was used again by the administration in power and named Operation Warp Speed.

To develop and built all that is needed to combat this Covid virus. Dr. Anthony Fauci calls is good news and now we have to work on getting it to the people. He called these vaccines impressive and that they could be out to the public by the end of next month.

It has taken these companies six to seven months to develop a vaccine, a much needed instrument against this virus and the sports world is breathing today some relief from months of uncertainty.

For most of the year we have seen empty stadiums, protocols for players and staff, fans (when allowed like in the NLCS and World Series) and we have been living under a totally different lifestyle. MLB, NBA, NFL have lost billions of dollars in revenue, it has forced these leagues to reduce their regular-season amount of games played, where they play it and in some instances how they play it.

This virus has changed everything in the sports world, however, with these new vaccines; things should improve and eventually improve to the goal of everybody, to return to a normal world, and the world we knew before. When the only time you had your temperature checked was at your doctor’s office, that type of world.

I am sure everybody that is involved with sports, players and staff across the country and millions of fans sees this as very positive news.

The most appropriate and most used phrase in sports, applies here: This is a “game changer”.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com