Tag: Oakland Athletics

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast with Barbara Mason: How Sharks lost three straight at home; Ichiro is just the ticket for opener in Japan; St. Mary’s continues to deliver the thrills

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Barbara Mason filling in for Amaury Pi Gonzalez:

#1 The San Jose Sharks, after winning six straight have all of a sudden hit a brick wall with three straight loses to Florida, Nashville and Vegas. Should there be some concern from head coach Peter DeBoer?

#2 Ichiro can still throw from the outfield to the plate. He’s over 40, but can still start as a designated hitter and will be in the starting line up for the Seattle Mariners against the Oakland A’s on Wednesday in Tokyo for opening day.

#3 Ichiro becomes the second oldest position player in MLB history to start a game.

#4 This is a big deal for the Oakland A’s to host and open the season in Japan and there has been a huge contingent of press and fans, who will pack the Tokyo Dome Wednesday night.

#5 St. Mary’s win over Gonzaga last week is something that basketball analysts are still talking about. You have to go back to the 2010 St. Mary’s team, who beat top-10 Villanova in the 2010 NCAA Tournament in the second round.

Barbara Mason does Amaury’s News and Commentary each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports with Tony Renteria: Will Machado signing open doors for Harper and Keuchel?; Raiders-Coliseum to get a deal done; Kings at Golden State tonight; plus more

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bleacherreport.com file photo: Bryce Harper’s negotiations with the Washington Nationals is not the same offer that the San Diego Padres Manny Machado received as Harper remains a free agent

On Headline Sports with Tony:

#1 The recent signing of Manny Machado to the a ten year $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres could that mean more big signings to come with Dallas Keuchel and Bryce Harper.

#2 The Raiders are at the bargaining table with the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Authority to get a deal on the table to get the Raiders back at the Coliseum for home games the Raiders might even sign a two year deal if the stadium in Vegas is not ready by the 2020 season.

#3 The Sacramento Kings are coming off a tough two point loss to the Denver Nuggets on Feb 14th they’re in Oakland tonight to face the Warriors.

#4 The Oakland A’s president David Kaval finally solved the A’s radio flagship station issues getting KTRB 860 in San Francisco and now the biggest task at hand trying to solve the toxic waste clean up at the A’s future new home at Jack London Square

#5 The Giants biggest story is the retirement announcement of manager Bruce Bochy who will finish his career this season

Tony does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s get flagship stations KTRB 860 and KHTK 1140

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By Jerry Feitelberg and Oakland A’s press release

OAKLAND — The long wait is over. The A’s announced on Friday that they have reached an agreement with radio station KTRB 860 AM in San Francisco and KHTK-AM 1140 in Sacramento to broadcast the entire 2019 season. In addition, 17 other stations will join the A’s to form the largest radio network in team history. The A’s press release follows below.

The Oakland A’s today announced a new radio broadcast agreement with KTRB 860 AM and an expanded partnership with KHTK–AM 1140 in Sacramento. The dual stations, along with 17 additional radio network affiliates, will provide the largest coverage map ever for A’s baseball.

The Club also announced a partnership with TuneIn, the leading global live audio streaming service. In addition to free live streaming of all A’s games in-territory, TuneIn will launch a 24/7 A’s channel. The A’s TuneIn channel will air exclusive team content, including special programming and podcasts.

“Our new partnerships with KTRB 860, KHTK-AM 1140, and TuneIn significantly amplify our coverage and reach, ensuring that every Spring Training and regular season game will be available throughout Northern California. These partnerships will allow us to reach A’s fans from as far north as Butte and Mendocino Counties across the Bay Area and down to Fresno and Monterey, with both terrestrial and free streaming broadcasts,” said A’s COO Chris Giles. “We are also thrilled to launch a 24/7 A’s channel on TuneIn and deliver exclusive content and unprecedented coverage throughout the season.”

Ken Korach will return for his 24th season with the A’s and his 14th as the team’s lead radio announcer, pairing with Vince Cotroneo, who will begin his 14th season with the Club. Ray Fosse will also make special appearances in the booth throughout the season. The team will debut expanded pre and postgame shows – A’s Total Access and A’s Clubhouse – hosted by Chris Townsend.

KIQI (1010 AM, San Francisco) and KATD (990 AM, Pittsburg) will serve as the Spanish-language home of Oakland A’s baseball, broadcasting 72 games. Amaury Pi-González, will return for his 26th season with the A’s and 36th season overall in MLB. González will be joined by Manolo Hernández-Douen, who will begin his 11th season as an A’s analyst.

KTRB 860 AM will air every A’s game, and KHTK-AM will air every game, minus Sacramento Kings game conflicts. The A’s TuneIn channel can be accessed at tunein.com/athletics.com.

In addition, the A’s announced that all 162 regular season games will be televised. 147 games will be shown on NBC Sports California, and the other 15 on the MLB Network, Fox Sports 1, and ESPN.

The TV broadcasts will feature the Emmy award team of Glen Kuiper doing play-by-play, and Ray Fosse as the color analyst. Former A’s pitcher Dallas Braden will be featured on select broadcasts as a color commentator and a field analyst. Kara Tsuboi will be a sideline reporter for select home games. The A’s Pregame Live and A’s Postgame Live will be anchored by Brody Brazil and will have analysis from Braden, Dave Stewart, Bip Roberts, and Shooty Babbitt.

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

Guess who’s coming back to the A’s? Sandy Alderson

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By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s announced that former General Manager Sandy Alderson has been hired as a Senior Advisor to Baseball Operations. Sandy first joined the A’s in 1981 as General Counsel. He stayed with the club for seventeen seasons and was instrumental in building the club that won three straight pennants, and one World Series championship. Alderson turned over the reins as GM after the 1997 season and stayed on as President of the club until the end of 1998.

Three days after the 1998 season ended, Sandy left the A’s to become the number three man at MLB. He was an Executive Vice President there from 1998 until 2005. Sandy then became President of the San Diego Padres and held that post until the end of 2009. Sandy became the GM of the New York Mets from 2011 until 2018. He left that post due to health issues.

Sandy was a mentor to Billy Beane and handed him the job as GM when he stepped down from that position after the 1997 season. Beane is now the Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations for the A’s, and David Forst has the job of GM.

Beane had this to say about Sandy rejoining the club: “His mentorship and friendship have been invaluable to me over the course of my career, and I look forward to the expertise and perspective he will add at every level of the organization. David and I couldn’t be more excited to bring him back to Oakland.”

This will be Sandy’s 18th year with the club. All of those who know him including the media, players, and fans, are happy to see him back in Oakland. We all wish him great success in his new job and, most importantly, wish him good health.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A Talk With A’s Top Prospect Jesus Luzardo

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By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

On a sunny Saturday afternoon at Jack London Square where the 2019 Oakland A’s Fanfest took place, dozens of thousands of A’S and baseball fans in general tasting one of the appetizers of the 2019 season, the Fanfest, and in a couple of weeks, Spring Training, and the start of the season not far behind either.

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame had the kiosk closer to Scott’s Seafood Restaurant, fans stopped by to talk baseball. Others got information on the museum and this year’s new A’s stars. La Pedrique, the A’s first base coach first stopped y to sign and meet the public, then later talented 21-year-old prospect, Jesus Luzardo.

Luzardo is a 21 years old and extremely personable with a big smile. He truly enjoyed meeting A’S fan for the first time. I talked to him in Spanish. A Miami, Florida resident, he is totally bilingual. He was born in Lima, Peru, but most of his family is from Venezuela and he identifies himself as a Venezuelan.

While Luzardo signed autographs and posed for photo with A’s fans, I learned a lot about this young prospect. Of the top 100 MLB prospects, he comes in as #7.

When I asked him about the feeling of wearing the A’s uniform, he responded: “It is great, it is tough to make it to this level, and I am very happy today.” Originally from the Washington Nationals organization, the rookie lefty told me he is good friends with ex-A’s lefty Gio Gonzalez, as they both live in the Miami area.

He told me “Gio helped me the time we spend together.”

I asked him about what type of pitcher he considers himself to be in power and in control. He told me “Everything, I can throw the fastball also a breaking pitch and I can be funky also.”

Luzardo is currently single, but told me he has a girlfriend with a huge smile. Al Pedrique, the A’s first base coach, is also from Venezuela, and prior to Luzardo, he came over to our kiosk to sign autographs. Pedrique believes this kid is “the real thing.”

When I asked Luzardo, who will report to Mesa, Arizona, for Spring Training, about making the rotation this season, he responded “We will see, but I am ready for Spring Training.”

According to scouts, Luzardo throws around 98 miles per hour and other secondary pitches. For his age, I found him to be very confident and very smart,when it comes to baseball. He told me he had been playing all his life and to be here is truly a dream come true. Many fans already have known about him and were excited to meet him, wished him good luck. One guy said to him that he will be in the A’s pitching rotation this year.

The opportunity is there for Luzardo. We all know the A’s have a very good young talented lineup, so pitching will be the main focus, especially starting pitchers and aside from Frankie Montas, Luzardo is one of the other young arms that could definitely win a position in the A’S 2019 starting rotation. He came to the A’s from Washington in a trade with closer Blake Treinien, and he could be the missing link for what could turn out to be a great trade for the A’s.

Buena suerte a Jesus Luzardo, muchacho con mucho talento y personalidad.

Translation: Good Luck to Jesus Luzardo, a kid with a lot of talent and personality.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s Fanfest at Jack London Square This Saturday

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By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Baseball fans will be delighted when the Oakland Athletics’ Fanfest takes place this Saturday, January 26 at Oakland’s Jack London Square.

The Fiesta begins at 9:30 in the morning and ends at 2:30 in the afternoon. A’s players will sign autographs. There will be questions and answer sessions, giveaways, fun for the kids and the whole family as this event is the first to celebrate the return of the baseball season. In less than a month, the managers, coaches and players will report to Spring Training in Mesa, Arizona.

The weather is expected to be spectacular for this Fanfest (not far from where the A’S are planning to build their new ballpark). All kinds of foods will be available and live music for all to enjoy. After the off-season, fans are ready to return and support the A’s fter a very successful 2018 season.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s Radio History, Can It Repeat Itself in 2019?

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By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

In 1978, A’s owner Charlie O Finley gave the broadcast rights for free to the UC Berkeley campus radio station, KALX 90.7 FM, with Larry Baer and Bob Kozberg at the microphone, calling the action. That same season I was calling the weekend games in Spanish for the old KBRG 105.3 FM San Francisco, with studios in the Merchandise Mart in Market Street. Carl Finley asked me to give the score every half inning in English because our signal was covering the Bay Area and the UC Berkeley campus station could not be heard at the Oakland Coliseum parking lot. By the way, if the name Larry Baer sounds familiar; yes, he is the same Larry Baer running the San Francisco Giants today.

The A’s ended their partnership in 2018 with 95.7 FM The Game, and as of today, there’s less than one month until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in Arizona, and the team has not signed a new flagship station. Could it be that the A’s will not have a radio station to carry their games? How can they find sponsors if they might just go into Spring Training with no radio signal? They could even be broadcasting the games on the A’s website, but no commercial over-the-air radio station? Can history repeat itself from 1978?

Of course, the A’s will have full coverage of all their games on television, but if they cannot secure a local radio signal, that would be news that they are not looking forward to announce. At this time last year, the A’s were already advertising their Fanfest at Jack London Square. But today just a week and days away (their Fanfest is on January 26th at Jack London Square) and that fan favorite is not advertised on a their radio station because they simply do not have a carrier.

Unfortunately, it’s embarrassing and ridiculous, but these are the times we are living these days, radio is not the medium that it once was back in the day. With the advent of social media (Facebook has done live MLB games in recent years) and local team television, the absence of local radio in 2019 is very possible. The A’s have their network station aligned, but no local flagship station to provide the coverage

Welcome to 2019!

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: How Murray’s departure for football affects the A’s; Phillies’ big offer on table, will Harper sign?; How opening the season in Japan affects MLB clubs; plus more

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

#1 Does Kyler Murray’s decision to leave the Oakland A’s for the NFL Draft or will he be a two sport player much like Bo Jackson and Dieon Sanders?

#2 How serious are the Philadelphia Phillies about pursuing Bryce Harper and does Amaury think they’ve got the best chance of acquiring him?

#3 How much does it take out of ball clubs when they open the season in Tokyo because of the distance the A’s open this season in Japan. Do the players enjoy the trip and do they find it productive and challenging?

#4 San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner is still in the shopping sweepstakes. No deals yet, but plenty of interest.

#5 Manny Machado has an seven-year deal on the table that could be as huge as 13 years at $325 million from the Chicago White Sox. Will it be too good to pass up?

#6 White House treated the Clemson Tigers to lunch with hamburgers boxes from Wendy’s, McDonalds, and Burger King on silver platters with paper napkins and plastic containers of mustard, mayo, and ketchup. Could Trump have served better food for lunch.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Jed Lowrie Takes His Show to the Big Apple

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By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

The last time Jed Lowrie played in New York was October 3, 2018 when the A’s visited the Yankees and got eliminated by a score of 7-2 in the AL Wild Card Game. Lowrie signed a 2-year, $20 million deal with the other New York team, the Mets. The Mets picked up a versatile, switch-hitting veteran who came out of his best year in home runs with 23, playing second base for the A’s. He can play all over the infield, but during his last two very productive years with the A’s, he was basically a second-baseman. In 2018, he was selected to his first MLB All-Star Game.

Lowrie peaked last year and now he is going to play in one of the toughest markets in the country. However, he is going to a team that recently also traded for the 8-time All Star Robinson Cano, who still remains as one of the best all-around second-baseman in the game.

During his last two years, Lowire has elevated the ball consistently and also hitting it harder. That are some of the reasons he has enjoyed his success at ages 33 and 34. He A’S also got younger at second base with the acquisition of Jurickson Profar, who will make the young A’s infield even better this coming season.

In 2017, Lowrie showed solid defense when he made 132 starts at second base, and in 2018, when he made 133 starts. He also played shortstop and briefly third base last season when A’s manager Bob Melvin asked him to take over for the injured Matt Chapman. I remember Melvin praised Lowrie for his dedication and professionalism and taking over the third base responsibilities without a problem, always ready to help the team anyway he could. A’s fan thanked Jed Lowrie for the great job he did during his tenure at the Coliseum, establishing a new record for doubles by an A’s second baseman and one of the most steady players in the young A’s in recent years.

A’s announce plans for a new stadium

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By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s held a press conference today to announce their plans for a new ballpark to be located at Howard Terminal near Jack London Square. A’s fans have been waiting a long time for the announcement, and they are hoping that this project will come to fruition. Fremont, San Jose, and Laney College all rejected the A’s proposal for a new stadium. The A’s think they have their ducks in a row this time. When the plan for the stadium at Laney fell through last year, A’s officials had egg all over their collective faces. They promised to make an announcement by the end of 2018 and today they made good on the promise.

The A’s plan to build a privately-financed 34,000 seat stadium. Seats will be closer to home plate, and a lot of the extra foul territory will o longer exist. It will be a better deal for the fans as it will more intimate. It will be better for the hitters as foul balls will no longer be caught for outs. It may not be better for pitchers as the hitters will now get extra opportunities to hit. Not to worry fans, the park won’t be ready until 2023. The A’s will need more parking, for sure. They are planning to build an aerial gondola that can transport 6000 people to the park. They will need additional shuttles from the Bart stations in West Oakland and 12th street downtown.

The A’s are embarking on a 120-day action plan. 1) They are gathering additional feedback. 2) They will begin the environmental review process at Howard Terminal. 3) They will negotiate an agreement with the Port of Oakland. 4) They will develop a framework with public officials regarding development plans for the Oakland Coliseum site. 5) They will create a framework for economic and community benefits agreement.

The A’s plan to develop the Coliseum into a general community center. They will keep Oracle Arena intact and will use it for concerts and other events. They plan new affordable housing as well as offices, retail, restaurants, and other public spaces to help revitalize the neighborhood. The A’s have offered to buy the Coliseum Complex from the city and county, but have not yet received an answer.

It is an ambitious plan for the future for both the A’s and the city of Oakland. Everyone involved is hoping the ballpark will be built.