Tag: mlb

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Businesses taking interest in Jack London Square future home of the A’s

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nytimes.com file photo: Oakland A’s team president David Kaval lounges in the upper deck at the Oakland Coliseum during the 2019 season. Jack London Square will start building new restaurants and businesses drawn to the idea of the A’s breaking ground at the site.

On That’s Amaury pod for today:

#1 Amaury businesses are taking an interest to start construction at Jack London Square restaurants, hotels, condos could this be a move in anticipation of an Oakland A’s ball park?

#2 A’s president David Kaval has worked hard this off season to make sure some of these proposals stick he had to sweat through the City of Oakland law suit that was dropped that would have blocked the A’s from purchasing the Coliseum property.

#3 How big is public transportation for this project to get done. Do you agree that some sort of transit must be in place to get people from 12th Street Broadway BART in downtown Oakland to the ball park?

#4 In other baseball news how surprising is it that former San Francisco Giants outfielder Kevin Pillar who was the Willie McCovey Award recipient from last season is still not signed?

#5 The Chicago White Sox are doing some shopping take a look at some of the free agents that their studying, Nolan Arenado, Francisco Lindor, Yasiel Puig, and Nicholas Castellanos.

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

 

 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Umpires Strikeout Robots Coming

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dodgersnation.com file photo: MLB Umpire Angel Hernandez and the rest of the MLB umpires will be replaced at home plate by an auto ball strike system anytime as part of a five-year deal.

By Amaury Pi-González

There should be little surprise we knew it was coming, it was not “if” but “when”. It was announced Saturday that umpires agreed to cooperate with Major League Baseball on a new system of an automated ball and strike system at the plate, as part of a five-year deal.The computer plate umpires could make an appearance in MLB anytime during the next five years.It will be the independent Atlantic League the first organized professional baseball league to let a computer call balls and strikes at their All-Star Game on July 10. A plate umpire wore an earpiece that is connected to an iPhone in his pocket and relayed the call upon receiving it from a TrackMan computer system that uses Doppler radar. (More on that below)

A Doppler radar is a specialized radar that uses the Doppler effect to produce velocity data about objects at a distance. Most people are familiar when they learned that is the common practice use by TV meteorologist in on-air-weather reports. Decades ago,the umpires only knew Doppler when they were checking the weather for a game, the possibility of a rainout, rain coming or not. Stuff like that.

“This idea has been around for a long time and it’s the first time it’s been brought to life in a comprehensive way,” Morgan Sword, MLB’s senior vice president of economics and operations, said on the night the Atlantic League experiment started. Humans still will determine checked swing and making sure TrackMan doesn’t call a strike on a pitch that bounces and goes through the strike zone. And other crazy stuff that always finds its way to a baseball diamond.

Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt said in October: “We have replay everywhere else in the game. Like it or not, replay gets the call right.” Meanwhile, MLB has discusses installing the system at Class-A Florida State League for 2020 season. If the test is satisfactory,the computer umpires could be used in Triple-A in 2021 as if it works there, then they will come to the Major Leagues. It is not clear whether the Major League Baseball Players Association would need to approve computerized ball and strikes.

Soon, an umpire could ride in a car that drives itself to the park and then another computer that tells him what happened. Yes, we are on the eve of another decade.

This time, it is all about TrackMan!

Best wishes during these holidays! Felíz Navidad!

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB’s Coming Attractions? 3-Batter Minimum Rule

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Photo credit: usatoday.com

By Amaury Pi-González

Major League Baseball (MLB) is trying to reduce the number of pitching changes and cut down the average time on each game. Beginning next season that requires pitchers to either face a minimum of three batters in an appearance or pitch to the end of a half-inning, with exceptions for injuries and illnesses.

Currently, Rule 5.10(f) states that the starting pitcher must pitch to one batter until that batter is put out or reaches base. Rule 5.10(g) states that any reliever must pitch to one batter until that batter is put out or reaches base, or the offensive team is put out, with exceptions for injuries and illnesses.

The 2020 change will likely cause a decline in the number of specialists, the kind that poses the situation where you bring one pitcher to face one hitter like lefty vs. lefty for a one out match-up.

Basically, the argument persist that baseball games are too long,and most people do not sit down to watch and listen to the whole game.

Question: If you go to a movie that you have not seen, and you know this movie is over three hours, would you go and see it? The one beauty about a game of baseball is that you know when it is scheduled to start, but you do not know when it is going to end.

The way I see it a Hollywood film editor takes more and more scenes from the movie to the point that it takes away from the original story. Nowadays, there are many ways you can see what happened in a game by highlights of all the action in just a few minutes, and unlike decades past, you do not have to wait to come home to see the 11 o’clock news sports segment, but in the palm of your hand with your phone.

There are other issues on the table. Before the All Star Game this July in Cleveland, Astros pitcher Justin Verlander said that the ball baseball is using is a “joke”. Also, during the final day of the Winter Meetings in San Diego, a study concluded that a variance of stitching and lack of drag in the baseball contributed this past season to another historic surge in home runs. So Verlander is correct as we do not need another attorney to translate.

In the words of an old Chinese curse, “we live in interesting times”. Yes, this also applies to baseball.

Headline Sports with Barbara Mason: 49ers can’t hold the lead against Falcons, will this be a concern going forward?; Raiders string four straight losses together; plus more

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Photo credit: nbcbayarea.com

On Headline Sports with Barbara:

#1 The 49ers couldn’t hold another lead, dropping their third loss of the season to the Atlanta Falcons 29-22 at Levi’s Stadium.

#2 The Oakland Raiders suffered a 20-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Quarterback Derek Carr just couldn’t get and anything going for Oakland in the second half on offense.

#3 For former interim Warriors head coach Luke Walton, it was an important win in defeating his old team as head coach of the Sacramento Kings in the 100-79 victory Sunday night.

#4 Changes in baseball: Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is trying to change the game drastically. First by getting rid of some 42 minor league teams and next by mandating that pitchers must face the minimum of three batters before getting relieved. It certainly will be an issue with the players during contract negotiations for the CBA.

#5 The San Jose Sharks had lost six straight games before winning on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. They host Arizona tonight to try and pick up their second straight win under new head coach Bob Boughner.

Barbara has the Headlines each Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB Plans to Eliminate 42 Minor League Teams

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Photo credit: sbnation.com

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

During the Winter Meetings in San Diego last week, Major League Baseball (MLB) proposed eliminating 42 minor league teams. That is approximately 25 percent of all the minor league teams in the country. This is planned to happen after next year.

One minor league owner already said: “It’s never going to happen”.

What this signals is just the beginning of a very rough period for baseball. The Professional Baseball Agreement (PBA) covers the working arrangement between Major League Baseball and Minor League teams and will expire after the 2020 season.

The fight has already reached the political arena, where Bernie Sanders, a Democratic Party candidate running for President out of Vermont, strongly opposed the idea. By the way, the Oakland Athletics have a minor league team in Vermont in the Vermont Lake Monsters of Class-A. But you do not need to be a politician to understand how such a reduction of teams will do nothing but hurt the game of baseball, not to mention the cities where they play, the economy of those cities (less revenues and less people hired to work in the stadiums), the reputation (identities) of those cities that would lose a minor league team. The minor leagues serve a purpose to provide opportunities for player development and a way to prepare for the major leagues.The minor league system in is as old as MLB dating back to 1901

According to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, several key issues are at the heart of debate, including potential increases in player compensation as well as the need for facility upgrades, team relocation and the feasibility of a Dream League, which would replace affiliated baseball in the cities that stand to lose their team under the version of the plan known to the public.

All listed below.
– Facilities
– Player Welfare
– Team Travel
– Hotels
– Clubhouse Conditions
– Player Salaries
– Subsidies
– Dream League
– Public Financing
– Relocation
– League Realignment

Here are the A’s minor league franchises: Las Vegas Aviators, Midland Rockhounds, Stockton Ports, Beloit Snappers, Vermont Lake Monsters and AZL Athletics.

Here are the Giants’ minor league franchises: Sacramento River Cats, Richmond Flying Squirrels, San José Giants, Augusta Green Jackets, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and AZL Giants.

Moreover, it is unclear which 42 teams MLB has proposed to eliminate.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: MLB rule changes irk Reds’ Bauer; Former Giant Vogt biggest reason why Bumgarner a D-Back; plus more

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Photo credit: letsgotribe.com

On Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred is applying a new rule change that pitchers must face at least three batters before being relieved the very unpopular wiping out of 42 minor league teams, which has not gone over well with the players.

#2 At some point, these changes will not go over well with the players and they will tell Manfred “enough is enough” at the bargaining table when the Collective Bargaining Agreement is up.

#3 Madison Bumgarner’s departure from San Francisco came when Bumgarner realized that he won’t get a deal from San Francisco that would match the Arizona Diamondbacks’ five-year, $85 million offer.

#4 Former Giant catcher Stephen Vogt, who spoke with his current team’s brass at the Diamondbacks, said that if they can get Bumgarner it would be well worth it. Vogt is one of the biggest reasons why Bumgarner came to Arizona.

#5 The Oakland A’s have put out a full page ad in the printed versions of Bay Area local papers. The A’s are pushing the “Rooted in Oakland” brand and trying to secure a fanbase that had worries the team could leave if they don’t get a new stadium at Howard Terminal in Oakland. The A’s are trying assure everyone they are committed. But fans know that the environmental impact report, parking and public transit issues are at play still.

Join Amaury each Tuesday for That’s Amaury’s Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bumgarner to the Diamondbacks

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Photo credit: @MLB

By Jeremy Kahn

What is that old adage, all things must come to an end and an era came to the end with the San Francisco Giants.

In this day of free agency and big bucks, Madison Bumgarner took his glove and left for a division rival.

No, Giants fans, he did not travel about 350 miles south on interstate 5 to the Los Angeles Dodgers; however, the Hickory, North Carolina native signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for a reported $85 million over for five years.

The Giants did not go without a fight in re-signing Bumgarner to a long-term deal, as the two sides were talking as late as Wednesday in getting a deal done. The deal that the Giants put out there was five years at $85.5 million according to some reports.

With Bumgarner gone, the Giants staff for 2020 will be different indeed; however, it will include holdovers Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto. Also in the mix to join the starting rotation will be Andrew Suarez, Dereck Rodriguez, Tyler Anderson and newly signed Kevin Gausman, who the Giants signed during the Winter Meetings.

It will be a different scene in the Giants clubhouse when the 2020 season commences, as Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt are the only three players remaining from the 2014 World Championship team that defeated the Kansas City Royals in seven games.

Bumgarner will best be remembered for his World Series heroics in 2010, when as a 21-year old, he shutout the Texas Rangers in Game Four of the World Series, who can ever forget his postseason run in 2014 that started with the Wild Card game at PNC Park, Game Five of the World Series and finally those final five innings against the Royals in Game Seven on two days rest.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Niners pull one out for the ages in New Orleans; Raiders’ skid hits three, Carr and Raiders hear it from the fans; plus more

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Photo credit: ninersnation.com

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 The San Francisco 49ers pulled out a victory for the ages on Sunday in New Orleans when kicker Robbie Gould hit the gamer, a field goal that captured one of the 49ers’ best wins of the season 48-46.

#2 The Oakland Raiders suffered their third straight loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon 42-21. Critics have said that Raiders quarterback Derek Carr looks lost in the headlights in those last three games.

#3 How important is it for Cal getting a bowl game in the Bay Area they face Illinois on Monday, Dec. 30th at Levis Stadium? Although the game is in a neutral site, the Bears will feel right at home.

#4 This past week, the San Francisco Giants hired batting coach Donnie Ecker as manager Gabe Kapler slowly dismantles the former coaching staff that was once Bruce Bochy’s.

#5 The San Jose Sharks lost their fourth straight game and five of their last seven games. Over the weekend, they lost by convincing scores 7-1 to Tampa Bay on Saturday and 5-1 to Florida on Sunday.

Listen to Amaury Pi-Gonzalez for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: AstroGate – Sign-Stealing in Baseball?

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Photo credit: foxnews.com

By Amaury Pi-González

Major League Baseball is investigating the Houston Astros for stealing signs during the 2018 and 2019 seasons and dating back to 2017 when the Astros won the World Series. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said last month MLB will be interviewing a lot of people,during the investigation.

Manfred said: “We are talking to people all over the industry,former employees,competitors, whatever.”

This looks like an old episode of the famous TV detective Columbo.

Before they bring baseball attorneys and experts on the matter and it becomes a huge scandal, we should all be aware that stealing signs in baseball has been part of baseball since most people can remember — before most of us where born. In a way, this investigation is laughable because this is absolutely nothing new. In the history of baseball, it is part of the fabric of the game. However, the game has changed so much that I have to admit they are much fewer stolen bases by players today, that stolen signs.

Actually, it brings me to the point of being in favor of stealing signs because that means that you are much more baseball-savvy that your opponent. Especially nowadays with all the replays and technology available and when the camera sees much more than the umpires. With all the technology today that we apply to the game it should be truly refreshing that players and coaches can steal a sign or two to help their team. How much impact can stealing signs have on a game, that is another matter, and for that, brings the baseball attorneys.

Here is a personal anecdote. In the mid 1980’s, I was broadcasting an A’s game from a tent-installed directly behind the backstop and home plate at field level at the Oakland Coliseum. The station was KNTA 1430 AM San José. We were going to be removed from that location because opposing teams believe that was a good location for the home team to steal signs. Some of the players that used to stand next to us,during the games like A’s pitcher José Rijo posed a potential for the “crime”.

There is no rule in baseball today that prohibit sign stealing.

Yes, there is “No Crying in Baseball”, but there is sign stealing.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Minority participation in 2020 MLB season?

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Photo credit: theringer.com

By Amaury Pi-González

According to the LA Times, a recently published article about the last MLB season in 2019 said: “For the first time since 1946, the season before Robinson debuted and altered the course of American history, an African American did not appear in a game for the Dodgers for an entire campaign.”

An irony for the franchise that headed by a courageous Branch Rickey, who signed Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier..

The fact today is that just like with the regular population of the United States, where Latinos are now the largest minority and not African-American, the same has happened in the most historic sport in this country, baseball. The Census will be taken in 2020, and before that Census, Hispanics/Latinos are 18 percent of the population with around 60 million people, while African-Americans are 12 percent of the population with approximately 42 million people.

Baseball is also headed in the same direction as the total populations of the country. In baseball, Hispanics/Latinos make up about 30% of all players, while African-Americans are just around 8%. The MLB has been trying with the RBI program and many others to attract young African-Americans to the game of baseball, but as of today with little success. The other two major professional leagues, the NBA and the NFL are miles ahead of the MLB when it comes to African-American players. I do not want to speculate what is the reason, but there are many. Some point to baseball as a slow game, while other sports generate more instant gratification. Baseball requires patience, and in a time like this with social media, anybody–at any given time–can access anything in five seconds.

Facebook and You Tube have carried live MLB games. The fluid world of social media looks like the #1 vehicle to deliver baseball to the masses, especially of the younger generation. There is no secret that baseball audiences are typically older that most other sports according to data released by media-polling organizations. It is said that the average age of a baseball viewer is 57 (this has been increasing year by year), and if you wonder about some kind of a youth movement, only 7% of the baseball audience is under age 18.

These baseball demographic statistics will likely not change much. In Latin America, where some baseball countries play ball 12 months of the year, and most MLB clubs scout those countries. In some of those baseball countries, baseball is still king and there is no competition by basketball, and of course, American football as neither sport is not really played by kids. Soccer still the most popular sport in Latin America. However, in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Panamá, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela, soccer is not as popular as baseball. In México and Colombia, baseball is popular, but soccer is still número uno, but those two countries continue to develop a lot of baseball talent, and have a presence in the Major Leagues.

This could be getting much more interesting as MLB is proposing to eliminate many minor league teams. MLB says the reorganization is in order to make the minor leagues more efficient (i.e.conditions where they play, dated facilities, etc.). Common sense tells us less teams is not going to help the development of younger players aspiring to make it to the show. Unlike the NBA and NFL, who get most of their talent from drafts, the minor leagues are the gateway to Major League Baseball.

Major and Minor League Baseball’s current Professional Baseball Agreement is set to expire after the 2020 season. One thing for sure is that more Latino talent will continue to arrive and the trend will continue.