Tag: Oakland A’s

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

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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’s News and Commentary podcast: He tried and tried, but A’s release Treinen; Raider-49er updates

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On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 Former Oakland A’s reliever Blake Treinen, who had a spectacular 2018 season, was the A’s All Star rep that season, but has now been non tendered for his unconditional release. In 2019,Treinen had an 4.19 ERA, walked 37 batters and allowed nine home runs in 58 2/3 innings.

#2 How bad of a move was it for the Oakland A’s to let infielder Jurickson Profar get away? The A’s acquired San Diego Padres catcher Austin Allen and another player to be named later. How do the A’s make up for a loss like Profar? A’s catcher Josh Phigley is up for being non tendered and facing a release as well.

#3 Kevin Pillar was called a clubhouse guy for the SF Giants with career numbers .261, 76 home runs, and had 318 RBIs some have criticized Giants team president Farhan Zaidi for letting Pillar get away.

#4 The San Francisco 49ers lost by a narrow margin to the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore 20-17 on Sunday. One thing that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan could agree on the Ravens were a worthy opponent.

#5 The Raiders continue to spiral dropping a key game to the Kansas City Chiefs 40-9. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr didn’t have a chance.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Some sports news to be thankful for this Thanksgiving

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sfgate.com photo: San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) celebrates after scoring against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019.

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Thanksgiving Day sports fans will be around the table during the Turkey dinner and they will talk about some of the things Bay Area sports fans should be grateful for this year. For example.

-Colin Kaepernick will never play again for the 49ers.The most unpopular man in the country,poll says 91% of the American people do not want him back in the NFL. The 49ers 10-1 record is tied for the best in the NFL with the reigning champion New England Patriots after the 12th week of action.

-The City of Oakland dropped the lawsuit against the Athletics.Other obstacles remain, but the 2019 season is ending on a good note after another 97 wins and and another playoff-wild card berth.

-The Oakland Athletics do not have to share the Oakland Coliseum with the Raiders anymore.Green and Gold will take over Silver and Black at the Coliseum from now on,until they build their new ballpark at Howard Terminal or at the current location.

– San Francisco Giants bullpens will not be on the field,but behind TrIples Alley,which will be reduced from 421 feel to a hitter-friendly 380. Only teams in MLB remaining with bullpens on the field are Oakland and Tampa Bay. 2020 will be the first year that Oracle Park will not have the bullpen on the field, but 2019 (after the Giant season and in the fall)is when the team made the change.

-Golden State Warriors playing in their first year at their new home, Chase Area in San Francisco a state-of-the-art sports facility. Fans can watch and “grow together”with their new cast of future star players. The Warriors and the Boston Celtics are the only two teams in history of the NBA to have played for the championship five consecutive seasons. 2019-20 will not be the case for the Warriors. -San José Sharks has dug out from their 4-10-1 start and are now over .500 with 12-11-1 record as of Sunday November 24.

-The Big Game.University of California Berkeley fans are grateful as the Golden Bears beat Stanford Cardinal 24-20 for the first time in a decade.

-San José Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2019 inducted John Doyle, All American. Doyle is a Bay Area soccer icon, starring at the high school, club, college, Olympic & professional levels who represented USA Soccer at the highest level.

Wishing you and your family a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day.

“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” – Charles Dickens

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: What’s Next Regarding the A’s Howard Terminal Park?

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By Amaury Pi-González

“We’re excited to enter into this next phase of negotiations with the A’s to ensure they remain rooted in Oakland!”

That was the last statement issued by City of Oakland Officials right after the city dropped lawsuit over Alameda County over the possible sale of the Oakland Coliseum to the Oakland Athletics.The team offered to buy out both halves of the 112-acre Oakland Coliseum site, with the goal of building a new ballpark at Howard Terminal.

So what’s next? EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) was founded by the US government in 1970 about concern of environmental pollution. They will conduct studies about the location and what challenges they will encounter at Howard Terminal about the environment.

The New York Mets’ City Field was inaugurated in 2009, but was built with the highest environmental standards, with 95% recycled steel and a green roof to decrease energy needs along with water conserving measures like hand-free faucets and automated flush valves that save millions of gallons of water. It is not only the New York Metropolitans, but most new stadiums today are built similarly and the Bay Area is not different,

Earlier this year, KGO reported that the Bay Area is the most expensive place in the world to build. According to a report by United Kingdom-based consultant Turner and Townsend, the average construction cost in the Bay Area is $417 per square foot, surpassing New York’s $338. It is good news because the A’s will privately finance the park, so it will never go to a local election. When that happens here in the Bay Area,and there is an election to approve or disapprove the construction of a professional sports facility. The vote is “no” and you can just ask the San Francisco Giants.

Unlike states like Texas, Georgia or Missouri, the Bay Area is not easy to build a sports facility for a major league franchise. There are many decisions to be made and this is a project that involves hundreds of millions of dollars. This is the only professional big league franchise left in the City of Oakland, a once proud city that was named “City of Champions” in the 1970’s when the A’s, Raiders and Warriors all won titles, respectively. Obstacles remain and we will be talking about this until it happens or not. If the Howard Terminal location cannot be the place, the same place where they have been playing since 1968 to date would be the most sensicble solution for the A’s future. BART and Highway 880 are also not moving.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s and City of Oakland get a Kumbaya on Coliseum property sale

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photo from San Francisco Chronicle: Artists rendition of the Oakland A’s new ball park at Howard Terminal.

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1  How important is it now that the city of Oakland has dropped it’s lawsuit against the Oakland A’s regarding the sale of the Oakland Coliseum property?

#2 Will the dropping of the lawsuit clear the way for the A’s to build at Jack London Square?

#3 The Los Angeles Angels could very well be the next home for pitcher Gerrit Cole. Cole is from Orange County and the Halos are looking to contend in 2020.

#4 Stephen Stasburg could be a New York Yankee. The Angels and Padres have been mentioned in interests for Strasburg. The Nationals are trying to find a way to re-sign Strasburg.

#5 Madison Bumgarner’s name has been floated by the New York Yankees as someone they’d like to sign for the 2020 season. The Yankees consider Bumgarner a fit for their pitching staff.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio talent for Oakland A’s radio at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: The A’s Stadium Saga (Episode 29)

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By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–A’s fans have been on this rollercoaster ride of the new ballpark for long enough that it is now almost running as long as one of Telemundo novelas. This last episode was a good one. This week, over 80 Oakland and surrounding area business leaders announced the formation of “Town Business” — an initiative by company executives in support of keeping the A’s in Oakland for the long-term. They hand-delivered copies of the letter addressed to the Mayor of Oakland, Libby Schaaf, urging the City to drop its lawsuit against Alameda County.

There should be no doubt that the Schaaf should be happy with this support. Schaaf’s legacy could the first mayor of a big city in the country to lose three professional sports franchises. The NBA’s Warriors are already gone and playing in San Francisco and the NFL’s Raiders have one leg already in Las Vegas and are currently playing in their last season at the Oakland Coliseum. There are millions and millions of dollars behind these executives running companies here in the East Bay — large, small and new businesses. The famous author, Stephen King, known as “the master of horror stories” once said: “Money talks and bullshit walks”. By the way, King is a huge Boston Red Sox fan.

A new ballpark would usher a new era of prosperity for the franchise. Since the A’s been playing in Oakland in 1968, other major league teams have built multiple stadiums (i.e. the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves) and many others who have at least one. Only a handful of teams remain that have played at the same place such as the Red Sox (Fenway Park), Chicago Cubs (Wrigley Field), Los Angeles Dodgers (Dodger Stadium). For some of us who have made the Bay Area our long-term home, we witnessed what happened with the San Francisco Giants, who lost election after election in order to build a new park until they finally found private investors to build what is today Oracle Park, which debuted in 2000.

The A’s plan is to begin construction of this privately financed new facility at Howard Terminal, just north of Jack London Square by 2021 and hope for a first pitch in 2023. It would be a beautiful 35,000 seat park. It would be a fan and environmentally friendly park that addresses the rising sea level. Today, the sea levels is not a main concern. But, up north in Portland, they are talking about building a new major league park for what they hope will be their first MLB franchise…and I think Las Vegas is taking odds in all of this.

Can’t wait for the next episode!

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 30 Years Since the World Series, Loma Prieta Earthquake

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By Amaury Pi-González

It has been 30 years later after that unforgettable October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta earthquake that stopped the Oakland A’s vs. San Francisco Giants World Series. Then-MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent decided on the classic postpone for 11 days. The A’s won two games prior to the earthquake and two more after in sweeping the Giants to win their fourth World Series in Oakland and ninth in total since they started playing in Philadelphia over 100 years ago.

That day was an unforgettable day as Evelio Areas Mendoza and yours truly were ending our pregame show on radio, when just minutes past 5 p.m., the earth shook Candlestick Park. Many people at the press box ran to the elevators, and many were trapped there because all electricity was lost. I remember fist images that I was able to see was that of KPIX CH 5 then-anchor Ana Chávez and the shot of the Bay Bridge, where cans fell into the bay. At that time, the whole world stopped, and we realized that when “mother nature” speaks, the World Series seems insignificant.

We became news reporters and witnesses. Manolo Alvarez, who was covering the game for WQBA AM in Miami came over and asked me how many more earthquakes were coming next. He is from Miami, where they are famous for hurricanes and not earthquakes, and had no idea. I explained to him that usually the after shocks are lesser in intensity. It was a 6.0, a very strong quake and we were lucky in the Bay Area as casualties were not as high as anticipated minutes after it happened.

It was a night to remember for all of us at that game were all of a sudden witnesses and interviewed. I remembered the experience for a few outlets in Mexico and Latin America. For me, that was one of the most hectic moments in my life and the most powerful earthquake I have ever felt to date.

Just a few days ago, we felt another shaker — this one, 5.4, almost 30 years to that October 30, 1989 shaker.

Amaury Pi-González is the pioneer in establishing Spanish baseball play by play in the Bay Area. With 40 years experience in radio and television in the Bay Area with the A’s, Giants, Warriors games as well as in Los Angeles with the Angels and Clippers for Fox TV play by play. Inducted into three Hall of Fame, BARHOF (Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame), The Cuban Sports Hall of Fame(Miami), and The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: People still asking are 49ers for real; Raiders continue out of town trip in Green Bay Sunday; plus more

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On Headline Sports with Barbara:

#1 Are the San Francisco 49ers an optical illusion or are they for real? People are pinching themselves over the Niners at 5-0 and their amazing performance on both sides of the football.

#2 The Oakland Raiders continue their long strange trip this time against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday. The Raiders play their fourth game out of the last five weeks out on the road and they’ve won their last two games.

#3 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said for the Oakland City Council to get its act together soon or the Oakland A’s will move to Vegas. Some question if Manfred was more on the hasty and demanding side, while the city has put a legal hold on the A’s ability to buy the Coliseum property. In the meantime, CA Gov. Gavin Newsom said he will try to expedite the construction of the A’s new stadium at the Howard Terminal.

#4 The Cal Bears are coming off a tough loss to Oregon October 5th and host OSU at Cal this is expected to be a much better game this Saturday than their last game in Oregon.

#5 No one would have thought that San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau would be the difference in turning things around after the Sharks went 0-4 and now they’re up to 2-4 and could close in on .500 on Wednesday night with a win over the Carolina Hurricanes at SAP Center.

#6 Calls went against the Detroit Lions Trey Flowers for hand to the face on Monday Night Football on the second hands to the face call it forced the Lions into their own red zone and the Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers took a knee twice and with just a little over a minute left the Packers kicker Mason Crosby kicked a 23 yard field goal for the 23-22.

Catch Barbara for Headlines Sports podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Cardinals facing elimination in game at Washington; Yankees-Astros series tied at 1-1; plus more

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

#1 The series all tied at 1-1, the Houston Astros won Game 2 and they had to come back from behind against the New York Yankees in 11 innings to win by a run, 3-2.

#2 After facing some tough pitching in St. Louis, the Cards play an elimination game tonight in Washington. Down 0-3, the Cards faced some tough Nationals pitching over the last two games.

#3 Is it a lack of patience by the Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred with the City of Oakland and that lack of patience translate to the city council retreat or double down on the Oakland A’s and MLB in their lawsuit against the A’s?

#4 The 49ers have won five straight and are undefeated after their many struggles over the last few years. The question is are the 49ers the real deal?

#5 Some of the candidates named for the open Giants manager position are Ron Wotus, Bam Bam Muelens, Bob Geren, Gabe Kapler, Mark Kotsay, Raul Ibanez and even current Dodgers manager Dave Roberts if the Dodgers let him go.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: China pulled out of NBA over Rockets GM tweet; A’s consider getting rooted in Vegas

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file photo from Washingtonpost.com: In this April 19, 2011, file photo, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey discusses the direction of the team with the media during a basketball news conference, in Houston, after the decision to part ways with NBA basketball head coach Rick Adelman. Morey tried Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 to defuse the rapidly growing fallout over his deleted tweet that showed support for Hong Kong anti-government protesters, saying he did not intend to offend any of the team’s Chinese fans or sponsors.

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

China’s mad over tweet by Rockets GM: A political triangle has the NBA’s Houston Rockets apologizing over a tweet by Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong” as soon as that tweet was known China ended its relationship with the Houston Rockets and sponsors pulled out of all radio advertising in China.

The Rockets are the most popular team in China because of its relationship with former NBA player Yao Ming. The Rockets’ James Harden and Russell Westbrook quickly tried to go into damage control.

“We apologize, we love China. We love playing there. Both of us, we go there once or twice a year. They show us most support so we appreciate them,” said Harden.

The Chinese response was too late for the Rockets as a Chinese statement read, “Deeply disappointed by the inappropriate remarks.” Hong Kong has been protesting for the last four months about China having the ability to use extradition any Hong Kong citizen if they are wanted for any crime, espionage, or whenever deemed necessary to extradite a Hong Kong citizen when necessary.

Texas representative and presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke has said that the apology from the Rockets and the NBA is an embarrassment. That the NBA and the Rockets should stand pat on Hong Kong standing up to China and protesting extradition of any Hong Kong citizen and not to cave to China.

The Rockets and the NBA are in panic mode now as the league could face losing millions of dollars in revenue in NBA properties, NBA paraphernalia, and NBA branding not to mention their broadcast rights in China. The NBA and the Rockets have apologized but it may be a little too late as the Hong Kong issue is an extremely sensitive issue to China.

Oakland A’s consider getting rooted in Las Vegas: Sources say that baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is getting tired of the situation that’s gone back and forth between the city of Oakland and the A’s  There has been a lot of posturing between the A’s and the city regarding how to get started on working the land at Jack London Square the A’s were in discussion with the City Manager on Tuesday the day before the A’s wild card game with Tampa Bay. 90 minutes after the meeting with the city manager, Kaval found out the city was suing the A’s to stop them from developing at the Coliseum.

When the city handed the A’s a lawsuit on Tuesday to stop the team from developing on the Oakland Coliseum site, it baffled A’s team president David Kaval, who has been very guarded with his statements about the lawsuit. Kaval has been the spearhead of the new stadium for the A’s and for a brief moment it looked like the A’s were going to work something out with the city, but the city council are split on the A’s getting a downtown stadium. To clarify, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff and City Council president Rebecca Kaplan are both not on board with suing the A’s.

Because of the lawsuit, Kaval and the A’s are regrouping and considering something they never thought they would and that’s moving the A’s out of town to Las Vegas. Fighting the city of Oakland is not on the A’s radar and it will be a sad day when the A’s make the official announcement that it’s over in Oakland. The A’s triple-A team, Las Vegas Aviators, are playing near the Vegas strip.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio talent for the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and on http://www.sportsradioservice.com for News and Commentary.