Tag: mlb

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB Negotiations Oops, We Are Down to 50 Games

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MLB Negotiations: Oops, We Are Down to 50 Games

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

At the start of Spring Training the plan was a normal 162 game season, then a deadly virus with no vaccine knocked on the door, and things quickly changed, Spring Training was not completed and the March 26 Opening Day date is now a trivia question. During these negotiations, both sides had discussed an 82 game season and 114 game season and now today it is down to a 50 game season after MLB owners rejected the 114 game season by the MLBPA. All of these plans with the same result of playing with no fans in attendance. Three divisions of ten (10) teams each, sorted by geography, with not much (if any) travel.

After the owners rejected the counter-proposal by the Players Union Association of a 114 game season, MLB owners are set to make a counter to the players that is a significantly shortened season. After reports that the owners are upset with the players proposal, and now they are coming back throwing the ball to the players with a proposal of a shorter schedule, something like 50 games. With the owners conceding to the players request for prorated salaries, instead of the percentage the owners previously proposed.

The 50 game season that the owners are proposing to the players, would represent a huge reduction in salary for the players. So these are plainly negotiations tactics, it could be that the players will settle for something more than 50 games but less than the 114 they proposed to the owners. The 50 games has not been proposed yet to the players and therefore, the next step would be their reaction.

So more than a baseball game between both sides during these negotiations, we are down close to a tennis match where the ball gets returned from one side to the other with every play. There is one thing that was, is and will always be non-negotiable, the calendar. The calendar doesn’t wait for team management or players union, every 24-hours we enter a new day and needless to say it is getting very close to “Deuce”, which in tennis is the deciding and winning point. We know they want Spring Training this month, but not late this month and start the season by July 4th weekend.

With so much happening today, baseball now has become almost like a ‘speck of dust’ in the universe. If there is no season some will blame the owners, others the players. It would be no difference from public opinion on many issues. Myself, I would blame both sides, since I am sure neither side will worry about unemployment, because these are privilege people, when it comes to economics, especially these days.

Some good news today. Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House task force member for the Covid-19 Pandemic, says the US should have 100 million Coronavirus vaccines by year’s end. Hurray! Who doesn’t like that news?

Stay well and stay tuned.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: How 114 games will go over with owners; Royals pledge to keep all their minor leaguers; plus more

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kaufman.stadium.kansascity.org file photo: Kauffman Stadium home of the Kansas City Royals holds many dreams for their minor leaguers who will be retained and paid through August 31st by Royals owner John Heyman

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary pod:

#1 The MLB Players has offered a counter proposal to MLB asking the league to extend the regular season from 81 games to 114 games so that they can get more than the 50% pay that the owners are offering them.

#2 If accepted by the owners the regular season would start on July 4th and end on October 31st. The union said that pay deferrals would be considered in the event the playoffs and World Series are canceled.

#3 As we have discussed if the players and owners can’t come to a resolution and cancel the season due to money could baseball very well in fact lose countless fans?

#4 The Kansas City Royals owner John Heyman and general manager Dayton Moore said they will not cut minor leaguers pay and that they will receive all of their pay through August 31st the end of the regular season. They also said that after August 31st they will not release or cut any minor leaguers and keep them in the organization.

#5 Amaury with Robo umpires coming how much will it change the game, baseball says their trying to reach out to the younger fan using graphics and robo umpire calls to decide balls and strikes. On plays at the plate like a bang bang play the base umpires can call for a replay review.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Real True Grit-He Pitched with One Leg

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photo from White Sox Cards: Chicago White Sox pitcher Monty Stratton pitched for the White Sox from 1934-1938 before he had a hunting accident

Real True Grit – He Pitched with One Leg

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

I have seen the regular most well known baseball movies, the ones most people that do not even follow or like baseball have seen occasionally, like Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, Eight Men Out, The Pride of the Yankees, The Sandlot, The Natural, Major League, The Rookie, Moneyball and others.

Also some not that well known and one rather obscure. It is in black and white, titled The Stratton Story (1949) Inspired by his wife Ethel (June Allyson) and son White Soxer Monty Stratton (Jimmy Stewart) pitches with a wooden leg. Also making appearances on The Stratton Story, were, major league players Bill Dickey, Jimmy Dykes and Merv Shea.

The Stratton Story is not a Hollywood fictitious story but a true one. Well personified by June Allyson and Jimmy Stewart, who had previously worked in a very nice also historical movie “The Glenn Miller Story “depicting the life of the great bandleader and his service during WWII until his plane disappeared in 1944.

Marty (Gander) Stratton major league career ended prematurely during a hunting accident in 1938, he fell, and his gun discharged accidentally and damaged his right leg, which was later amputated. In 1939 the Chicago White Sox sponsored a charity in a game against the local rival Chicago Cubs at Comiskey Park. $28,000, (today around $500,000) went to Stratton. In that game he took the mound and demonstrated he could still pitch with a wooden leg. Not easy, during his wind-up he had to learn how to transfer his weight to his artificial leg. He practiced in his barn on a farm he owned pitching to his wife Ethel. Stratton. Later attempted to enlist to serve in WWII when the war began, but was rejected.

A big Texas-born man, Marty Stratton was 6’5” 185 pounds. In 1946 ended with an 18-8 record and a 4.18 earned run average, with the Sherman Twins of the East Texas League, Class C. In his career, he pitched with the Chicago White Sox from 1934 to 1938 won 36 games and lost 23 with a 3.71 ERA, started 62 games and 196 strikeouts.

His story has been depicted briefly in other movies, like Woody Allen’s “Radio Days” (1987) one of my old time favorite movies, not only because I am a huge fan of Woody’s movies and have seem them all, but because it is a film that captures the radio days in all its glory and splendor.

During these days of grievance between players and owners, when billions and millions of dollars are at stake and with the season on the line and with so many problems in this country, which I think we will overcome because we are that strong, it was good to see a movie of an obscure major league pitcher, that loved the game, had a very good career considering at the time he pitched during a World War plus a serious accident that shortened his career.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish play by play announcer and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Michael Duca: Twins Kepler mask offends many in Minneapolis; Texas gov to open up stadiums to 25% capacity crowds; plus more

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photo from TMZ.com: Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler posted a selfie wearing a Blue Lives Matter mask which supports police. Kepler received huge blowback in light of the killing of George Floyd and the Minneapolis protests about Floyd being killed by police.

On Headline Sports with Michael:

#1 Max Kepler of the Minnesota Twins had posted a Blues Live Matter face mask with a solid blue line on the bottom of the face mask which was interpreted to support for police. Kepler says he wasn’t aware what the mask represented. Kepler received a barrage of backlash for the mask. The timing on the mask wearing couldn’t have been with worse with all the rioting in downtown Minneapolis over the police killing of George Floyd. Kepler apologized for wearing it saying he didn’t realize it had a underlying inference.

#2 Tough week for the Oakland A’s organization with the loses of scoreboard operator Chester Farrow who passed away at 77 last Sunday and former A’s PA announcer Roy Steele who passed away on Thursday could you tell us about your experiences in working with Chester and Roy?

#3 With the uptick in Coronavirus cases is Texas governor Greg Abbott making the right decision allowing 25 percent capacity crowds in arenas and outdoor stadiums. Which brings to the question is it safe yet to do such a thing?

#4 MLB agent Scott Boras has advised the players not to budge in the fight against the owners regarding another pay cut. The players took a reduction already because of the number of lost games and are upset that they face additional cuts in revenue sharing with the owners if they return.

#5 The wife of the late Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay speaks out about Halladay’s pain killer addiction and mental issues. Brandy Halladay said that Roy would agree that we are not perfect. Halladay died while flying his plane in a 2017 crash. There is a new one hour documentary coming out on Halladay titled “Imperfect”

Join Michael Duca every other Saturday for Headlines podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: So, Let’s Not Play Ball! Is this The New Normal?

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PNC Park in Pittsburgh will most likely remain unused for the 2020 season as the players and owners are far apart on revenue issues and a second pay cut for the players (WPXI 11 News file photo)

So,Let’s Not Play Ball! Is this The New Normal?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Another week has come and gone, and like an old friend used to say to me all the time “the more things change, the more they stay the same” that old friend is not around anymore, and baseball is also going the same way as my old friend. Nothing to report from the MLB/owners and the MLPA/Players Union regarding the baseball situation.

The stakes are high in this art of negotiating, each side wants to get what they want, many call it a negotiating game, but just like politicians can talk forever and never get anything done, this current “negotiations” between the owners and players have not produce one grain or results. Let’s be positive and safe…so far.

It surely looks like is coming down to money, and ‘what else is new’? This is the same old flick we have seen with these protagonists. It also looks like both sides were satisfied with the plan for the health and protection of players and staff, although the player’s representative presented some additional recommendations to the owners and that was well received.

Although no deadline was imposed, sources had said all along that a deal had to be in place by the first of June, for teams to have time to report for a few weeks of Spring Training, before playing for real by the Fourth of July. Since then, some have said, negotiations could go into mid-June, and then the season would begin in August. If that is the case, everybody would see that they are just playing for money, no good faith here will be seen. You mean a season of two months? Who in the right mind will like to have the playoffs, if not for pure money since the postseason generates a lot of revenue for both sides.

I heard a good buddy telling me, “Owners should just play with replacement players”. Others said “no Minor Leagues, no problem, bring them in to play, set some rosters and play, let the regular players stay at home, since “staying at home” is “the new normal” these days and since “we are all together” is a phrase in vogue, let all the players stay together at home and give a chance to the poor inexperience players.

The problem for baseball seems to be that what is happening today is “the old normal”. A lot of distrust between owners and players like cats and dogs, oil and water.

The ultimate alternative might be the one we are headed towards anyway “Let’s Do Not Play Ball!” Wait until 2021, by then there will be no equivocation between a scientist who told us early in this pandemic one thing about the mask and then later another thing, or one model that would kill so many and then changed it later. Come Spring 2021 if there is no vaccine yet, we will know much better about the treatment of this virus and we shall be in a much better position to live with it than today.

It is just my opinion. I am sure you have your own and I respect that.

Have a great weekend

Stay well and stay tuned.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: A look back on Roy Steele A’s PA announcer; Kaepernick says Minneapolis right to fight back; plus more

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Former Oakland A’s PA announcer Roy Steele who passed away on Thursday worked A’s games from 1968-2005 and returned to make appearances in the 2007-2008 seasons (mercurynews.com file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with London:

#1 He was known as the voice of God and the voice of summer Oakland A’s PA announcer Roy Steele passed away Thursday at his Auburn home and was the A’s PA announcer from day one when the A’s moved to the Oakland Coliseum in 1968 to 2005 and made appearances during the 2007-2008 seasons. Roy was also a kind gentleman and a Baptist minister when not working at the A’s. Roy now joins his long time friend scoreboard operator Chester Farrow who passed away at age 77 on Sunday. Chester also worked at the A’s since day one in 1968.

#2 On Thursday following the protests in Minneapolis following the murder of George Floyd who was choked out by Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin with his co officers  Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J Alexander Kueng assisting. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick weighed in saying the people of Minneapolis have a right to fight back.

#3 After Kaepernick’s statement CNN’s Don Lemon said that it should be very clear to everyone why Kaepernick led the way in taking a knee during the national anthem and why there is injustice. Lemon said Trump calling football players SOBs for taking a knee was a bad message to NFL players who wanted to demonstrate in their way injustices.

#4 NFL owners viewing that a fourth and 15 to replace an onside kick would be an advantage for certain teams declined to move forward with the rule change. The league said that they did not rule out revisiting the rule change at a another time.

#5 The Washington Nationals Max Scherzer says the owners need to show financial transparency as they owners claim they are taking a financial hit and can not pay the players their full salaries when they come back based on revenue sharing. Players have questioned why ownership are willing to pay top salaried players 70% of their salary and lower paid players 47% of their salary. Scherzer said there is no reason the players should have to take a second pay cut.

London does Headline Sports each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Players and MLB far apart on salaries for return of the game; plus much more

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New York Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman said negotiations with players are not going well as cuts in salaries are not sitting too well for the higher paid players (newsday.com file photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Sounds like MLB hit a snag in negotiations to get the game up and running with a July 4th target date. MLB proposed to the players to return taking a sliding scale with the highest paid players taking the biggest hit and the lowest paid players taking a less of a hit and remaining mostly whole. The players have let MLB know they need to go back and make another offer.

#2 Jerry time is of the essence to get a deal done how much time do you see is needed before it’s too late for baseball by July?

#3 The New York Mets third highest player right hand pitcher Marcus Stroman was brutally honest saying that the proposals by baseball doesn’t look very promising and Stroman plans to dive into some life after baseball projects if there is no agreement.

#4  Oakland A’s owner John Fisher had sent out notices to over 150 full time employees stating that the A’s will furloughing pro scouts by June 16th, business operations will downsize next week in furloughs and salary cuts. Fisher who hardly says anything publicly even to his employees said in the statement he realizes how much this impacts everyone on hand and apologized to everyone.

#5 Oakland A’s longtime scoreboard operator Chester Farrow who passed away last Sunday at age 77 kept track of runners, outs, balls, strikes and information since he joined the team in 1969. We got to know Chester when we started covering the Oakland A’s in 1983 and often sat with Chester and former A’s PA announcer Roy Steele for pre game dinners in the A’s media room for many years.

Jerry is an Oakland A’s beat writer and does Headline Sports podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Baseball 2020 Season in Peril

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mlb logo from mlb.com

Baseball 2020: Season in Peril

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Both sides returned to the negotiating table this Tuesday, but the new proposal by the MLB team owners was rejected in just a few minutes by the Players Association. The Union will now move to inform there members where they stand. Although no deadline for a deal,the consensus is that by June 1st, both sides must be inked,  the agreement for Spring Training to begin in June and the season by July 4th. We felt “disappointment”after reviewing this new proposal, said the Players Union.

The players received a plan that would impose bigger salary cuts to the players making the most money while the players in the lower salary scale would receive a bigger portion of their pro-rated salaries. This plan will cost the players more than the current deal. It is known that the players have lost 40% to 50% of their salaries,with half the season having been lost, since the proposed date to go back to play is early July.

All the 30-teams have lost hundreds of millions of dollars and some owners have said (according to sources) that they are not in the mood to lose more money, therefore throwing the ball back to the players. Some teams have already reduced their front office staffs as well as scouts.

Looks like the money part of the proposed deal is the one where both sides are further apart than last week. The safety and health of the players was countered last week with players giving the owners feedback on the frequency of testing, and how to proceed when players are tested positive, especially some players that are in the high-risk categories. There are players that are diabetic and this virus could complicate any given player with such condition if they tested positive with Covid-19.

The clock is ticking. This week is paramount for the future of the game, not only this season, but for years to come. If they cannot close a deal,this would present economic problems that have never been seen before in the history of baseball.

The negotiations continue.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio play by play voice for the Oakland Athletics on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Pro teams get ok to train in NY; Colon looking for next club to pitch for; plus more

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Former Texas Rangers pitcher Bartolo Colon is just 46 innings short of former San Francisco Giants pitcher Juan Marichal on the all time innings pitched list (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has given the okay for re-opening sports training facilities in pro sports. Meaning teams like the Mets and Yankees can start throwing around the old horse hide and get ready for the 2020 season.

#2 In terms of the MLB players getting back on the field the remaining sticking point is the money. The safety concerns covered in the Commissioner 67 page outline to return to action is pretty much agree upon by the players it’s the 50-50 revenue sharing the players have a problem with.

#3 Former Los Angeles Dodger Carl Crawford said his heart is heavy after the loss of two visitors in his home Bethany Lartigue 25 and a five year old boy. It was the first time since the May 16th drownings of the boy who was found by Lartigue who jumped in the pool to save the boy in Crawford’s pool that she spoke out about the incident. Crawford tried to save both victims to no avail. He spoke for the first time about it saying his heart is heavy and it’s the first and last thing he thinks about.

#4 Former Oakland A’s pitcher Bartolo Colon says he’s not retiring and is determined to find a team that will pick him up. At age 47 Bartolo who didn’t pitch in 2019 is looking for a club to join. Colon The Big Sexy is 46 innings behind former San Francisco Giant Hall of Famer Juan Marichal in innings pitched all time. Colon has 3,461 and Marichal has 3,507. Colon last pitched for Texas in 2018.

#5 New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard is being sued by his landlord for failure to pay rent during the Coronavirus epidemic for $250,000. Syndergaard says the landlord is trying to extort him for $250,00 the full value of the lease at $27,000 a month. Syndergaard said he paid two months ($50,000) on an apartment he never was going to use. Syndergaard’s attorney informed the landlord that Syndergaard was not moving in and had paid the two months. Syndergaard was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery in Florida and after learning the season was suspended didn’t need the apartment anymore and wanted to rehab in Florida.

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

 

Headlines Sports podcast with Morris Phillips: If things go to schedule Cal to open Aug 29th in Vegas; Giants and A’s developments

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Allegiant Stadium on the Las Vegas Strip where the Cal Bears will open up the 2020 season on August 29th against the UNLV Rebels (quarantine not withstanding) athlonsports.com photo

On Headline Sports with Morris:

#1 At the Cal campus there is news that the NCAA Division I council voted to return on June 1st through June 30th on a voluntary basis signaling that the football season will be on a fast track to start when school opens.

#2 The Bears 2020 season is scheduled to start on Saturday August 29th when Cal plays the UNLV Rebels at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas. By that time it’s the hope there is a vaccine and you can come to the stadium and not worry about social distancing. Worst case social distancing and the game will be played with no fans.

#3 The UNLV Rebels who have a good program in their own right have a new head coach Marcus Arroyo who took over for former head coach Tony Sanchez. Arroyo is from Oregon and was an assistant offensive coordinator for the last three seasons.

#4 The San Francisco Giants broke ground near McCovey Cove on their 27 acre parking lot  the team is constructing ten buildings for apartments, retail, a parking garage and a five acre park which is expected to be finished in seven to eight years.

#5 This week a group opposed to the building of an Oakland A’s Howard Terminal Stadium filed a lawsuit last Monday in Alameda Superior Court from the shipping, trucking and steel companies who work at the Port of Oakland. The lawsuit plans to slow down or stop a legislature that was signed by former California Gov Jerry Brown AB 734 a law that would fast track the construction of a new arena or stadium in California. The lawsuit is trying slow down the path of construction for the A’s. The opposing group says that Gov Gavin Newsom has no authority to certify the construction of the A’s park under AB 734.

Morris Phillips does Headline Sports each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com