Tag: Oakland A’s

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Who will be the leading candidate for first base for the A’s

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Oakland A’s Seth Brown (center) gets congratulations from former A’s third base Matt Chapman after hitting a two run home run back on Fri Jun 11, 2022 at Oakland Coliseum against the Kansas City Royals. Brown is auditioning for a job to start at first base which has been vacated after Matt Olson left for Atlanta (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury podcast:

#1 The Oakland A’s are looking for a first baseman after the trade of Matt Olson to the Atlanta Braves. One name came up was Seth Brown who has played 200 minor league games at first but only 13 with the A’s.

#2 The A’s are looking at Eric Thames a non roster invitee who played first base with the 2019 Milwaukee Brewers hit 25 home runs. That said he has had Achilles surgery and is 35 years old.

#3 The A’s in Sunday’s Cactus League game started at first base Dalton Kelly who was a Tampa Bay Rays prospect and is 27 years old. Kelly in the Rays Triple A farm club hit .244, 27 home runs and show promise with the glove on defense.

#4 A’s pitcher Sean Manaea has said that he’s trying to ignore all the trade rumors and is trying to focus on getting ready for the season. He knows that he’s on the bubble and numerous teams have expressed interest for his services.

#5 The St Louis Cardinals have expressed interest in obtaining both Manaea and pitcher Frankie Montas. Meanwhile the Minnesota Twins have been inquiring about Montas’ services but the A’s are waiting for the right offer.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Kaval says until a new stadium plan is in place more favorite players will leave

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Oakland A’s team president David Kaval (center) addresses the media with Ces Butner, president of the Board of Port Commissioners (left) and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf (right) at a news conference back on Nov 28, 2018 regarding the new Howard Terminal park in downtown Oakland. This past week the Seaport Planning Advisory Commission recommended against the new Howard Terminal ballpark in what is considered a major setback for the A’s (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry let’s ask you about some of what Oakland A’s president David Kaval said concerning why the A’s are unloading some of their key players. Kaval said in order to have a high payroll the A’s have to have a facility that’s on the level of a Camden Yards, Oracle Park, Petco Park. At the Coliseum the A’s can’t make that kind of revenue and once the A’s can get that kind of revenue and new park to play in then they can consider a high payroll.

#2 Kaval said that a lot of the players that were traded away, Matt Olson, Mark Canha, Starling Marte, Matt Chapman, and soon to leave A’s pitcher Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea are being dealt to see if the A’s can pick up a good return on prospects and Kaval said it’s no secret that vice president Billy Beane and general manager David Forst have built this team up like this in the past.

#3 Kaval said the A’s have not had a normal season in three years that has impacted the team financially, In 2020 a 60 game season with no fans, in 2021 a 162 game season with Covid 19 restrictions, and 2022 a lockout to begin the season.

#4 Kaval said in not signing the star players and keeping key players not having a new stadium in place holding back the A’s adding that the Coliseum in antiquated and it’s been ten years since it’s life expectancy and in order to move ahead with keeping a higher payroll a new stadium is needed.

#5 Kaval said on the higher ticket prices and key players leaving that everything in dependent on getting a new stadium and that elected officials and fans understand that raising revenue is all riding on getting a new stadium.

Jerry does the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: The Tale of the Fire Sale–Chapman looks very close to leaving for Philadelphia or New York

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Oakland A’s Matt Chapman (26) will not be forearm bashing anymore with former teammate Matt Olson (right) seen here Mar 5, 2021 against the Los Angeles Angels in spring training at Hohokam Park in Mesa. Olson now with the Atlanta Braves and Chapman on the trade block (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury, it comes as no surprise that once the lockout was lifted the Oakland A’s would have an early season fire sale and pitcher Chris Bassitt who left for the New York Mets was one of the first followed by A’s first baseman Matt Olson.

#2 And while it’s no surprise of their departure it’s still hard to grasp for anyone who follows the A’s that it’s a hard pill to swallow to have to say good bye to Bassitt, Olson and soon to be Matt Chapman.

#3 Olson led in many categories for the A’s at different times with on base percentage .371, 101 runs, 153 hits, 35 doubles, RBIs, home runs and walks with 88, 74 base hits, and four stolen bases.

#4 The in picking for players from the Atlanta Braves in the Olson deal two right handed pitchers Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes, catcher Shea Langeliers and outfielder Cristian Pache. Langeliers could be the key player in the deal a number one draft choice for the Braves. A’s team vice president Billy Beane might have some of that Money Ball magic going again and have himself a core of players in the works.

#5 Amaury talk about Matt Chapman being on the trade block bubble he’s the All Star third baseman the guy that A’s fans sought in their pack of baseball cards he’s very close to being no more and the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies are shopping Chapman hard core he might get a crazy Bryce Harper type contract.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzaelz at the mic for Oakland A’s Spanish radio beisbol all season long on flagship station 1010 KIQI LeGrande San Francisco and for News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Olson the latest to leave A’s in early season fire sale; Oakland picks up four players from Braves

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Former A’s slugger Matt Olson is seen here getting into the swing of things against catcher Tom Murphy (left) and the Seattle Mariners on Sep 21, 2022 at the Oakland Coliseum. Olson was dealt to the Atlanta Braves on Mon Mar 14, 2022 in five player deal (AP photo file)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–Some are calling it an early fire sale the Oakland A’s might call it a rebuild to going young and getting some value for their former veteran players such as former A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt who left Oakland for the New York Mets.

Household names are sliding off the A’s roster and the latest pitcher Matt Olson is going back to his native hometown Atlanta. The former first baseman is going to the Braves in exchange for two right handed pitchers Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes, catcher Shea Langeliers and outfielder Cristian Pache.

As the A’s get four players for Olson, Olson was selected to the American All Star team in 2021 and hit .271, 39 home runs, 111 RBIs, in 156 games. Olson offensively was part of the heart and soul of the A’s line up during his days under former A’s manager Bob Melvin.

Olson led with on base percentage .371, 101 runs, 153 hits, 35 doubles, RBIs, home runs and walks with 88, 74 base hits, and four stolen bases. While it might not make sense to the average A’s fan that players like Bassitt and Olson have gone to greener pastures of money the A’s have been here time and time again.

This is a rebuild on the part of A’s team vice president and minority owner Billy Beane. He’s back to Money Ball again building from scratch to see if he can get enough veteran and young talent to see if an unpredicted A’s team can break the glass ceiling again and surprise critics and oddsmakers by making the post season. Noted that post season will take awhile but Beane based on his past experience could have one of those unknowns in the works again.

With Cusick, Estes, Langeliers (a number draft choice for the Braves) and Pache you could be assured that Beane has done his scouting report homework and is either counting or assured that this foursome will somehow develop into what his fire sale players were in the past.

It won’t happen over night it took time for Olson, Bassitt, Marcus Seimen, and the soon to be delivered Matt Chapman were on rebuild status but in a season or two maybe the third season you might see one of the foursome of Cusick, Estes, Langeliers, or Pache make some headway.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Mayor Schaaf says A’s project will be a positive change for Oakland

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Artists rendition of Oakland A’s new ball park with surrounding offices and retail (image from AP News)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry how important was the vote for the Howard Terminal project yesterday by the Oakland City Council?

#2 A’s team president David Kaval said the A’s have never been this far and the vote is an important step for the City of Oakland and that the A’s project has never been this far before and that he vote is a milestone.

#3 Now the next step is for the city to negotiate the final terms of the new ballpark, affordable housing, retail, public transit to the park and benefits for the neighborhood.

#4 Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said that any legal challenge has 270 days according to state law which could shorten any delay.

#5 City Council president Nikki Fortunato Bas who said she wants to see that project delivers the economic and community benefits that Oakland needs. Also city council member Carroll Fife who represents the district where Howard Terminal is located said that the is moving fast. Also residents of West Oakland and Chinatown have expressed concern about traffic in their neighborhoods.

Jerry Feitelberg is an Oakland A’s reporter at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kotsay named new A’s manager; Formerly coached at third base and bench coach

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Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay in file photo was hired as the new manager of the club on Mon Dec 20, 2021 replacing former A’s manager Bob Melvin (AP News file photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s have decided on Mark Kotsay 46 to manage the A’s. Kotsay was the A’s third base coach and was the A’s bench coach. Kotsay replaces former A’s manager Bob Melvin who is now managing the San Diego Padres.

Kotsay who played on seven different big league clubs including the A’s was an outfielder hitting a career 127 home runs, 720 RBIs, and hit for .276. The A’s have been a money ball team getting close or getting to the post season but not close enough to get to the World Series in various seasons under Melvin on a small payroll budget.

Last season under Melvin the A’s were just short of making the post season. Melvin managed the 2021 A’s to a record of ten games over .500 at 86-76 behind the first place Houston Astros. There was talk about the A’s hiring former third base coach and former Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington who is now third base coach of the World Champion Atlanta Braves. Washington wasn’t considered and Kotsay was mentioned as the heavy favorite for the job soon after Melvin left the club.

The A’s were mentioned as preparing to not sign a large number of their key players from last season which would change the face and success of the club. The A’s moved outfielder Mark Canha and Starling Marte to the New York Mets and some thought that would be the beginning of the unloading of the team but since the departure of Canha and Marte no significant moves have not been made.

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

A’s just might get that chance to get rooted in Oakland yet; 3500 page impact report indication city wants to move forward

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Artist’s rendering of the proposed Howard Terminal ballpark in Oakland (image by the Oakland A’s)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The City of Oakland City Council will take a vote in February to decide on approving a 3500 page environmental impact study after the Oakland Planning Commission takes a January 19th vote on recommending the $12 billion project. A lot hinges on the future of the Oakland A’s on whether they stay in Oakland or not based on the how the Commission and the City Council move forward with what they see in the impact report.

The release of the project report is considered a major step forward for the A’s towards a new 35,000 seat ballpark at Howard Terminal and Jack London Square but also development of 3,000 units of housing, offices to the size of 1.7 million feet of space, retail space up to 270,000 feet, a 3500 capacity entertainment venue, hotel rooms with a capacity of 400 rooms, and 8900 parking spaces.

The hope is to improve Howard Terminal and turn it into a destination, a hot venue spot in downtown Oakland with the crown jewel being the ballpark. The key environmental issues that are of concern to move the project forward, affordable housing, toxic waste removal at the port shipyard, public transit and how to access around the railroad tracks that are in place at the terminal, where parking will be built and how access roads to get to parking and the terminal and how will that get done, and how traffic will impact Chinatown which is just down Broadway Street in downtown.

Oakland A’s team president David Kaval who has made numerous trips since the close of the regular baseball season to Las Vegas and has considered various sites near the Las Vegas strip for a new A’s ballpark if it doesn’t work out in Oakland. Which includes the Tropicana on the strip, Summerlin near the A’s minor league ballpark, or Henderson home of the Las Vegas minor league hockey team the Silver Knights. Kaval has not made a commitment to Vegas.

Kaval did express excitement about the planning commission and the City Council in hopes to move forward with the impact report including the January 19th vote. Kaval called the 3500 page plan an “enormous accomplishment” and feels things are headed in the right direction as the A’s have made it clear that their first choice is to stay in Oakland.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and Kaval have made it clear that the City of Oakland needs to get on board with the A’s if they want to keep the A’s in Oakland and this latest step with the impact report just might be that new beginning.

Jerry Feitelberg is a beat writer for the Oakland A’s at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Las Vegas to host first Superbowl

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A look outside of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas home of the Super Bowl for February 13, 2024 as announced by the NFL on Mon Dec 13, 2021 (image by USA Today and Kirby Lee)

Las Vegas to Host their First Superbowl

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Even if the Oakland A’s do not move to Las Vegas, Sin City is well-positioned and on track to become besides a gambling mecca a sports mecca as well. The NFL granted the city their first ever Superbowl on February 13, 2024. Considered America’s number one sporting event, there is no doubt for Las Vegas, this is huge. Aside from the Raiders, Las Vegas is also home to the NHL Vegas Golden Knights.

Pending approval by the NFL owners this Wednesday, Las Vegas will host the 2024 Superbowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, a $2 billion facility with 65,000 seat capacity. But it doesn’t stop there; Las Vegas will also host the Pro Bowl on February 6th and the NFL Draft, April 28-30.

In history, Las Vegas is relatively a new city, founded in 1905 by William C. Clark, owner of three railroads, but it was really a charismatic gangster born in Brooklyn, New York by the name of Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel who had the vision of a place for everybody to gamble where they could stay, eat, drink, gamble, vacation and be entertained.

On December 26, 1946 Siegel opened The Flamingo Hotel, first of its kind in Las Vegas and a new concept began. Las Vegas today is a world destination. Las Vegas had the most hotel rooms among all cities in the US, as of January 2016 with 167,730 rooms, much more today since many other facilities have opened since then.

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

Headline Sports podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Cal to close up regular season vs. USC in make up game; A’s deal stars Marte and Canha to Mets; plus much more

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Cal Bears quarterback Chase Garbers (7) looks for a receiver against the Colorado Buffaloes defense on Sat Oct 23, 2021. Garbers and the Bears host the USC Trojans Sat Dec 4, 2021 at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley in a make up game. ( file photo by AP News)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, the Cal Bears (4-7) play their final game of the regular season against the USC Trojans (4-7) this will be part of a make up game as it was postponed due to the Bears having half the team on Covid 19 protocols.

#2 The Bears just simply didn’t have a chance against UCLA Bruins (8-4) last Saturday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena 42-14. The Bruins after the first quarter just simply took over scoring in double digits in each quarter.

#3 The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a huge win over the Minnesota Vikings and their post season hopes are not dashed they’ve getting great offense from wide receiver Brandon Ayiuk and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Talk about the job Ayiuk and Garoppolo has done and how you see them matching up against the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday.

#4 How badly will the San Francisco Giants miss having pitcher Kevin Gausman who went 14-6 ERA 2.81 on their starting rotation as he joins the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2022 season?

#5 Jerry, the New York Mets scored huge this week obtaining former Oakland A’s players Starling Marte and Mark Canha on Wednesday. Talk about how the A’s will miss Marte and Canha and how they’ll be a plus in the Mets line up.

Jerry Feitelberg filled in for Michael Duca for Headline Sports heard each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Considering Free land offer from Howard Hughes Corporation in Las Vegas

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The Las Vegas Aviators the Oakland A’s minor league affiliate located in Summerlin was named Ballpark of the Year. The A’s are considering moving to Summerlin and building a brand new ball park (Las Vegas Review Journal file photo)

A’s Considering Free land offer from Howard Hughes Corporation in Las Vegas

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The Hughes Corporation is willing to offer free land to the Oakland A’s if they chose to move to Las Vegas. The Howard Hughes Corp, own the A’s Triple-A affiliate, Las Vegas Aviators and their home, the Las Vegas ballpark. They have officially said that they will give the land to the A’s for free in Summerlin, (15 + minutes from the Strip) if the A’s want to build their $1 billion baseball park there.

David Kaval, President of the Oakland A’s who has made seven trips to Las Vegas since last May said the team would consider the potential land offer. “That is one consideration when we talk to different (owners) of the final sites is land cost, partnership on ancillary development, understanding all the aspects of the different locations logistically, making sure they work” and added “So those negotiations are going on with a couple (of) different groups to see what’s possible”.

On October 26, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to keep the Howard Terminal Stadium plan alive in a 4 to 1 vote. However, if the A’s chose to take the offer of free land by the Howard Hughes Corporation in Las Vegas, then this would be an important change of plans.

For months now the A’s have been working on parallel plans to build a new ballpark, at Oakland or someplace else, with Las Vegas running in a race and tied with Oakland as the two cities. The Commissioner of Baseball is anxiously waiting where all this is going to end, but as he had said the current Oakland Coliseum is not an option for the A’s anymore.

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