Tag: Oakland A’s

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Ohtani says interpreter stole money to pay off gambling debts; Interpreter never graduated or worked at Sox or Yanks; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Will Ireton Los Angeles Dodgers manager of performance operations (left) interprets for Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (right) at a pre game press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Mon Mar 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 A look into Los Angeles Dodger’s designated hitter Shohei Ohtani’s personal trainer Ippei Mizuhara stole the money from Ohtani to pay off his gambling debts. It was learned that Ohtani did not pay for Mizuhara’s gambling debt Ohtani said the $4.5 million to pay the debt was stolen by Mizuhara. Ohtani made it clear he did not know about Mizurhara using the stolen money to pay an illegal bookie.

#2 Mizuhara’s background was found to be suspicious as well it was discovered he never attended UC Riverside and never graduated there in 2007, Mizuhara never was an interpreter for the Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima from 2007-2011. The Red Sox released a statement saying that Mizuhara never worked for the Red Sox. It was also reported that Mizuhara was an interpreter for the New York Yankees in 2022 but the Yankees said that Mizuhara never was an interpreter for them in 2022.

#3 Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that it was good that Ohtani addressed the media before Monday night’s game at Dodger Stadium. It gave Ohtani a forum to clear the air and address some of the questions about his knowledge that money was going to an illegal bookie to pay Mizuhara’s debts.

#4 Although no one will admit it in the Dodgers clubhouse that this whole thing is a distraction but has to be the largest paid athlete of all time tied to a gambling scandal and it’s turned into a federal investigation and questions where is this going to end up?

#5 Turning to the Oakland A’s the A’s have announced that they have cut the time in half on Thursday opening night and will open the gates at the Oakland Coliseum parking lot from four hours to two hours early. The A’s have said they did that because there was no sense opening up the lot when they are expecting a low paid attendance to show up. Two large A’s fan groups the Oakland 68s and the Last Dive Bar said that cutting the parking lot times from two to four hours will cut their boycott time down to just two hours and they also planned to have tailgates before the game now that time has been cut in half. The 68’s said the A’s are playing mind games.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Luciano double and Slater homers in 4-1 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The San Francisco Giants did the bulk of their scoring in the top of the fourth and fifth innings against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum in pre season play on Mon May 25, 2024 (San Francisco Giants X photo)

Monday, May 25, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

San Francisco. 010 120 000. 4. 6. 0

Athletics. 000 001 000. 1. 4. 1

Attendance: 7,580

OAKLAND–The rootless Athletics came back to Oakland to wind up their spring training with an uneventful 4-1 losss ti the San Francisco Giants in the first of a two game crash pad-home series at the Coliseum this evening.

The green and gold entered the fray with a 13-13 Cactus League record and an interesting assortment of veterans, including JD Davis, Abraham Toro, 29 year old 4A slugger Miguel Andújar, and an improved Paul Blackburn; inexperienced but clearly of major league calibre like Zach Gelof, with his 2023 Baseball Reference WAR of 2.6 and Esteury Ruíz, who stole 68 bases, whether the game situation called for it or not, to go along with his .248 batting average; and youngsters who are on the verge of establishing their bona fides, like Seth Langeliers, who hit only .205 (with an OPS of .683), but whose 2024 spring training numbers going into today were .372, 9.75) and Brent Rookie, who made the 2023 all-star team and then went into free fall until September, finishing the year with a mediocre batting average of .248 but an exciting OPS of .817).

And then there’s non-roster invitee Ho Jun Park, who’s seen considerable Cactus League action and was hitting over 500 when the team broke camp.

Before the gates opened, the A’s announced that they had bought right-handed pitcher Austin Adams’ contract from the Mets. Adams was added to the 40-man roster, and his fellow right handed pitcher Trevor Gott was placed on the 60-day injured list.

Matt Chapman, returning to the Coliseum in a Giants uniform, received a nice round of applause on his first plate appearance from the 7,580 fans who bothered to show up.

In on field action, San Francisco jumped to an early lead on a leadoff 375.foot line drive home run to left by Tom Murphy off a 93.2 four seamer. He duplicated that feat with another round tripper over the left field auxiliary, a 405 foot blast scoreboard that left the Giant catcher’s bat at 106.2 mph.

This one came off an 84.6 mph changeup. One out later, right handed Michael Kelly replaced the southpaw Sears, who hadn’t allowed any hits except for Murphy’s two dingers, in 3-2/3 innings, during which he threw 70 pitches, 39 for strikes. He walked four and struck out three, and was the losing pitcher, leaving him at 2-2, 2.70 for the spring.

The Giants increased their lead in the top of the fifth on a lead off double by Marco Luciano that got past a diving Lawrence Butler in right, followed by Jung -Hoo Lee’s productive ground out to second, Austin Slater’s sac fly to right and a homer to left by Wilmer Flores. By now, it was 4-0, Giants.

Zack Jackson hurled a scoreless top of the sixth before giving way to Dany Jiménez, who retired the side in order in the seventh. Lucas Erceg rode the bullpen merry-go-round in the eighth, the inning that produced the loudest response from the select gathering in the stands, cheers for a single to left by Pablo Sandoval, who had entered the game in the bottom of the seventh to play third base. Mason Miller put the visitors down in order in the ninth.

Lefty Juan Sánchez relieved Hicks, who left after holding the A’s to one base runner, Gelof, who walked in the opening frame, over five innings, in which he threw 72 pitches, 45 of which counted as strikes, and striking out 10 batters he was credited.

Another southpaw, minor leaguer Erik Miller relieved Sánchez with two on and one down in the bottom of the sixth, and he surrendered an RBI single to Toro, who had replaced Gelof as the A’s second sacker. Ryan Walker kept the A’s off the board ij the seventh, and RJ Dabvoich, a minor leaguer, unleashed two wild pitches and yielded an equal number of bases on balls but escaped unscored upon thanks to a crisp inning ending 6-4-3 double play on Rooker’s sharp grounder. Another minor league righty, Justin Garza earned the save by setting the Athletics down in order.

Both teams will wrap up their preseason activity tomorrow, Tuesday afternoon, with a 5:05 game at Oracle Park. The A’s will send Paul Blackburn to the mound; the Giants haven’t announced who will start for them.

Oakland A’s game wrap: Oakland A’s Lose To The San Francisco Giants 4-1, JP Sears Gives Up 2 Homers To Tom Murphy

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Lawrence Butler (2) of the Oakland A’s stands in at the plate against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on Mon Mar 25, 2024 (Oakland A’s X photo)

Monday, March 25th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

The Oakland A’s host their cross the bridge rivals the San Francisco Giants in a Spring Training game at the Oakland Coliseum. 

The game was off to a hot start for the Giants as Tom Murphy hit a second inning lead off home run off A’s starting pitcher JP Sears making it 1-0. Sears in the third inning started off by walking Jung Hoo Lee, but got out of that jam and kept it at 1-0, but in the fourth inning Murphy banged another homer off Sears and that led to a pitching change for the A’s as they went into the bottom of the fourth down 2-0. 

Michael Kelly was the new pitcher for Oakland and he started his first full inning in the fifth giving up a leadoff double to Marco Luciano. Luciano would move to third on a Lee groundout, then would score off an Austin Slater sac fly, 3-0 Giants.

Wilmer Flores would then follow up Slater with a solo homerun, 4-0 Giants and again when the A’s would get to the plate, would have no hits as Jordan Hicks ended his outing with just a walk against him. 

Giants pitcher Juan Sanchez gave up the A’s first hit in the sixth inning to Lawrence Butler and he would then score from an Abraham Toro single with the new SF pitcher Erik Miller, 4-1. The A’s looked like they had a chance to deliver a real comeback with the bases loaded, but a ground out from Esteury Ruiz and Miller escaped the jam. 

In the 8th inning Oakland had Lucas Erceg start the inning on the hill and he faced off against Giants hero Pablo Sandoval and gave up a single. It looked like Sandoval would get a run when he would make it all the way to third after a single and a walk, but a ground out ended the inning for Oakland.

The 8th inning looked like the A’s would have a chance from Ryan Noda who made it to third off two wild pitches and it looked like they’d close the gap, but a double play would get San Francisco out the 8th and closer to a win. 

Mason Miller would stop the Giants from any insurance runs by striking out the side, but the A’s would go three up and three down at the plate and lose to the Giants 4-1. 

Before the A’s go into their opening series against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, they face the Giants one more time for Spring Training, tomorrow in Oracle Park in San Francisco. Still no announcement on who will be pitching.

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s meet with Coliseum Authority next week on April 2

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s officials are to meet with the Oakland Coliseum Joint Authority on Tue Apr 2, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News file photo)

On the A’s Relocation podcast:

On the A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Sources are saying the Oakland A’s are no longer accepting comments from fans or the public on what their plans are for financing the Las Vegas Tropicana and other than the artists rendition of the Sydney Opera House ballpark people want to see the blue prints.

#2 Also it was reported that the Las Vegas community, businesses, and casinos who have been approached about becoming minority owners of the A’s have not taken the bait and have expressed no interest in entering a business with the A’s after observing how the stadium project has been handled.

#3 The A’s have tuned off their X comments page so the public cannot write to them with questions and comments as to what is happening with the relocation of the A’s. As of yet the A’s still have not decided where they will play for the 2025-27 seasons and have a scheduled meeting with the Oakland Coliseum Joint Authority on Tue Apr 2.

#4 Daniel with there being no tangible renderings and blue prints to back it up and no financing since the unveiling of the Sydney Opera House style ballpark A’s fans in both Las Vegas and Oakland are trying to find out what the A’s plans are and have not got a response.

#5 Vegas fans and the business community are really getting turned off after a Wall Street Journal article came out with a headline that read “The Oakland A’s have plans for a new home in Vegas. Now they need a plan to get there.” As this drags out and there is no financing things are becoming more doubtful if this will ever get off the ground.

Daniel does the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2024 Oakland A’s Outlook

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Radio Espanol 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg will bring you all the play by play action with author Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Manolo Hernandez Douen (Graphic work by Mauricio Segura)

2024 Oakland A’s Outlook

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

This is the time of the year when you want to know what to expect from your favorite team. In this case, I am talking about the Oakland Athletics. The biggest question is not how they will do on the field (we will get to that later) but where they are playing in 2025 and the next few years while building in Las Vegas.

By April 2, we should know if the A’s have agreed with Oakland for a new lease for the next three years to keep playing at the Coliseum. But the soon approaching season for the A’s is now the talk, and this is major league baseball, the best baseball league in the world, and the Oakland A’s have a lot of young intriguing talent.

Manager Mark Kotsay announced this week that ex-Giants lefty Alex Wood is scheduled to pitch on Opening Night in Oakland next Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians, at the Oakland Coliseum, this is the first time Wood opens a season in his 11 year career, he has also pitched for the Braves, Dodgers and Reds.

The A’s have been acquiring Giants players this off-season; also, suitable right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling is coming to the East Bay. Saturday, the A’s signed another Giants veteran, third baseman, J. Davis (who, according to reports), was convinced by Alex Wood to follow him to Oakland.

Davis, a good veteran hitter, with power, who signed a $2.5 million, one-year contract, a deal that allows him to earn $1 million more in performance bonuses. These ex-Giants are all veterans who will now play for the A’s, giving the young team an adrenaline shot of experience, and most important, leadership.

These four everyday players (below) are essential for this ball club in 2024 and beyond.

1-Zack Gelof. He was the top breakout player for the team last season. The second baseman showed in 2023 that he was a major-league talent; nobody should have any doubt about that. The 25-year-old was one of the top players for the team, and in half a season, he hit 14 home runs and had a .840 OPS.

The 2021 pick #60 in the second round for the A’s should be the team second baseman, period. It is conceivable that Zack could hit the 30-home run mark; his power is evident.

2-Brent Rooker, the A’s All-Star Designated Hitter. He led the club with 30 home runs. At 28 years of age, he is what they call a late bloomer. A great pick by the A’s he was claimed off waivers in 2022 from the Kansas City Royals. So far a great move by the team.

3-Shea Langeliers. The ‘número uno’ catcher had an excellent first full year in the majors, slugging 22 home runs and showing his skills as an outstanding defensive catcher. Although A’s are very high on Tyler Soderstrom, their #1 pick, he is not ready for the big time so Tyler will begin this 2024 season in the minor leagues. It is conceivable, if he does well in the minors, he will be brought up later in the season. Tyler Soderstrom will not begin the season as the #2 catcher for the A’s.

4-Esteury Ruíz. A star was born? We will have to wait for this season, but the young Dominican set a new American League rookie-record with 67 stolen bases. He is an exciting player, usually playing center field, with speed to burn. In 1979, I was there when the A’s brought a young kid by the name of Rickey Henderson, who, in that rookie season, stole 33 bases in 89 games, usually playing left field and the rest is history. Esteury offers more than the excitement of the stolen base and art that has been on hiatus like the bunt for a while.

Then we have and infield that could be shared by J.D. Davis, Abraham Toro, Ryan Noda, Aledmys Díaz and young Darell Hernaiz.

Another ex-Giant, (mentioned earlier) Ross Stripling, is a right-handed pitcher with experience. But there is still a big question about how the rest of their pitching be in starting roles. It is a big puzzle yet to be resolved, and Spring Training allows manager Mark Kotsay to pick the top five on that rotation: Paul Blackburn, who is having a great time in Arizona, Adrián Martínez, and Luis Medina. J.P Sears, Kyle Mueller, Ken Waldichuch, plus…you pick’em.

Bullpen. In 2023, Trevor May retired after recording 21 saves for the team. The possibility that young Mason Miller opens the season as the team’s closer is accurate, together with a variety of young arms. The athletics manager indicated recently that he would like to see Miller gradually move up the bullpen hierarchy rather than anointing him as a closer right away.

As of today, M&M has an excellent position to open and win the rubber in the night inning. A’s young pitchers could be starting in one game, relieving in other, a plethora of arms, Zack Jackson., Dany Jiménez, Joe Boyle and it goes on and on and on.

Finally. 214 is an Ugly number: The number of games the Oakland A’s have lost in the last two years. However, in this fast internet/social media/Artificial Intelligence world, it is easy to forget that the A’s posted a 579 winning percentage from 2018 to 2021 and qualified for the postseason three times. Nobody is expecting the A’s to contend this year. The two Texas teams now control this division, The World Champion Rangers and the always contenders Dusty Baker Houston Astros, they suck all the oxygen in the West.

The 2024 Oakland Athletics have an ensemble cast, with an assortment of actors on a film as long as “The Longest Day”(1962)

Let’s Play Ball and enjoy the season!

Quote: “A home opener is always exciting, no matter if it’s home or on the road” -Yogi Berra.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s 2024 In One Word, “Prospectos”

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay seen running out of the dugout on Sep 10, 2024 in Arlington Texas against the Texas Rangers hopes the 2024 A’s can finish at least at .500 for the season. (AP file photo)

A’s 2024: In One Word, “Prospectos”

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–It is time to talk baseball and leave executive negotiations and all trials and tribulations on the A’s future “housing,” but unless there is a deal with Oakland, the A’s could play their last game at the Coliseum this season.

I will leave those issues to the people who have that responsibility. But this is not a rumor, On March 28, 2024, the Oakland Athletics will begin their 56th season at the Oakland-Alameda-County Coliseum. The A’s open the season with a weekend series against the Cleveland Guardians and their new manager, ex-A’s Stephen Vogt. What we can expect this season is two-fold.

1-Manager Mark Kotsay said a “.500 season is the challenge for his team this year.” That is an expected position for a young manager in an organization that changes players like most of us change underwear.

2-Prospects. Although I see it as the main focus for the young A’s in 2024, after a 102-lost season in 2023, they are loaded with young but unproven talent. Although the P word (potential) always figures with prospects, that is the question for many young kids trying to make the majors. Not every player develops the same way; some are ready given the opportunity, and others are late bloomers.

Lazaro (Lazarito) Armenteros (outfield) is a five-tool player signed by the A’s out of Cuba as a 17-year-old for $3 million. The team hopes he blossoms into the Major League player they envisioned when he was signed.

He began the 2023 season in Lansing, then was promoted to Double-A Midland Rock Hounds, where he ended with a 2.49 average 14 homeruns, 72 runs batted in and ten stolen bases. On November 6, A’s added him to the 40-man roster. Jacob Wilson is the A’s No.1 prospect and No.68 in MLB. Two third-basemen are in the prospect mix: Brett Harris A’s No.11 and Myles Naylor A’s No.9.

Since baseball is not a perfect science, you could see some of these prospects, although unlikely, this season. As it is today, the A’s will have a young team when they open the season in a couple of weeks.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Oakland Mayor’s office talks continue on A’s Coliseum extension; A’s officials look forward to more talks on April 2

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s team president David Kaval meets with the media before the A’s and Milwaukee Brewers pre season game at Las Vegas Ballpark on Fri Mar 8, 2024 (photo by the Nevada Independent)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s office said that will not discuss anything further regarding talks between the Mayor’s office and the Oakland A’s officials but did say that they will continue talking regarding the lease extension.

#2 The A’s said the talks were positive and an extension is something they will continue to discuss with the City and plan to meet with the City and Coliseum on April 2. The Oakland Soul and Oakland Roots soccer teams will meet with the Coliseum Authority on Friday to discuss playing at the Coliseum in 2025-26.

#2 According to sports commentator Damon Amendolara saying the A’s moving to Vegas doesn’t fix the A’s problem. It only spoils another good market. DA was saying that he was in town last month for the Super Bowl and said that Vegas is a great sports town but in talking with Vegas fans about the A’s they didn’t want this team to come but they wanted an expansion team.

#3 Last week March 8th and 9th VIPs in a roped off area in front of the first base dugout at Las Vegas Ballpark during batting practice before the exhibition game before the Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland A’s in Las Vegas. Those invited in the roped off area were state and local lawmakers, labor leaders, and anyone responsible for helping make the A’s legislation or otherwise making it possible in getting the public money for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark. Those VIPs were given the opportunity to speak with A’s president David Kaval and team owner John Fisher.

#4 The A’s weekend in Las Vegas gave Fisher the opportunity meet with not only Las Vegas residents and VIPs but also to answer questions from the media which is very rare since Fisher is noted for not giving too many interviews. Fisher was thrilled to be in Vegas the future home of the A’s and wanted to express how pleased he was about the A’s future ballpark for 2028.

#5 Schools over Stadiums is appealing the public funding for the A’s ballpark. They will be in Nevada Appeals Court in April to get approval for the language to go on a petition that will stop the public funding of the A’s Tropicana ballpark. Once they win appeal they will circulate the petition in four Nevada districts and need over 102,000 signatures before June 1st. If that is accomplished they can get the initiative on the Nov 2024 ballot. If the voters vote to stop the public funding for the A’s ballpark in Vegas that should stop the A’s move to Vegas. That unless the A’s can get private money $380 million worth for the missing public funding share.

Join Jerry for the Oakland A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s officials meeting with Oakland Coliseum Joint Authority today

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland Alameda County Coliseum will the Oakland A’s play their interim years from 2025-27 there before moving to Las Vegas in 2028? ( photo by Flickr Shawn Clover)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Oakland A’s officials are meeting today with the Oakland Coliseum Join Authority in trying to get the A’s an extension for the 2025-2027.

#2 The City of Oakland is asking for the team colors and an expansion team how practical do you see that happening.

#3 The Tropicana is closing April 2024 and Bally’s wants to demo the Tropicana in April 2025 to start construction for the ball park and the new Tropicana Plaza.

#4 John Fisher A’s owner has is working on getting $500 million for his family to help pay for his share of the construction costs.

#5 The A’s team president David Kaval compared the move to the Brooklyn Dodgers moving to Los Angeles. Fans said that the move does not compare with the fans in LA where they were thrilled to get the Dodgers. The Vegas fans have been mediocre about the A’s coming judging from interviews from the local and Bay Area media.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A’s meeting with Coliseum officials still waiting to be put on the docket

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Tropicana Hotel and Casino in discussions with the Oakland A’s and the Hotel’s umbrella parent company Gaming and Leisure Properties are hoping to get A’s owner John Fisher’s financial obligation for the construction share settled. The Tropicana will stop taking reservations after the first week of April in preparation of demoing the hotel in April 2025. (photo by the Nevada Independent)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 No date mentioned yet when Oakland A’s team president David Kaval and other A’s officials plan to meet with the Oakland Coliseum Joint Powers to discuss the A’s extension beyond the 2024 season.

#2 The Oakland Roots and Oakland Ballers have expressed serious interest in playing at the Coliseum in 2025 and beyond if the A’s end up playing in Sacramento or Salt Lake City. There is still time to figure this out but the A’s do have first choice if they do plan to extend the lease after this season.

#3 In an interview with NBC Sports California A’s manager Mark Kotsay said he would never tell his player’s what to say when they are questioned by the media about the move to Las Vegas or the stadium designs or whether they prefer Vegas or Oakland.

#4 A’s owner John Fisher financing for Tropicana park: Fisher’s part of the construction costs are as follows, the A’s need construction plans and a timeline for the FAA as the park’s lighting and layout will front the Las Vegas Airport, private financing and development plans, a lease agreement, and a benefits package to present to the Las Vegas community.

#5 Amaury in your view are the A’s any closer to moving to Las Vegas than they were when the Nevada State Legislature had approved the public funding back in June. Do you see any road blocks here in March that could interfere with the A’s leaving Oakland?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com