Tag: Renel Brooks Moon

Headline Sports with Charlie O: Can Ohtani interpreter stay in Japan avoid extradition?; Ex-O’s owner Angelos dead at 94 great accomplishments; plus more news

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Former Los Angeles Dodgers interpreter Ippei Mizuhara (left) and Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani no longer will be working together after Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers for allegedly massive theft of Ohtani’s money for gambling (photo from ESPN)

On Headline Sports with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie, how bad of a look is it for baseball to have Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter allegedly stealing some $4.5 million from Ohtani to use it to gamble with an illegal bookmaker with Ohtani’s name on it. The big question is from the face of the story and everything we know does it look like or appear that Ohtani could have had a hand in this scandal based on the money transfers being in Ohtani’s name? Ippei Mizuhara the interpreter reportedly has said that Ohtani didn’t have anything to do with gambling which is being investigated by the US Attorney’s office.

#2 Baltimore Orioles former owner Peter Angelos has passed away at age 94. He oversaw an Orioles organization that had it’s highs and lows but the one thing everyone will remember him by his when got the plans together in the early 90s to build Camden Yards which opened in 1992. It was the ballpark that started other major league franchises to want a new ballpark for themselves. Angelos commandeered the idea of having the Orioles play a exhibition series against the Cuban National team in Havana Cuba on March 28, 1999. It was the first time that any team from the US played in Cuba since 1959. Later that season the the same two teams met again on May 3 at Camden Yards.

#3 The Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper who hasn’t played in a exhibition game since Mar 14th was in the line up against the New York Yankees yesterday. Harper had been out with sore back. Harper played in a simulated game on Friday and got in the line up on Saturday. Harper had back spasms last season.

#4 The San Francisco Giants announced that they will begin looking for a new PA announcer to replace the popular Renel Brooks Moon who had been the Giants PA announcer for 24 seasons. The Giants plan to rotate PA announcers during the season until they settle on someone they will hire. The Giants said they couldn’t reach a deal with Renel and sources say she wasn’t rehired because she was outspoken on social injustice issues.

#5 The Oakland 68s and the Last Dive Bar two Oakland A’s fan groups have voice their displeasure regarding the Oakland A’s cutting the usual opening night parking lot time from four hours down to two hours. The A’s say that the expect a low attendance for Thu Mar 28th and that opening the lot for four hours before the game would not be necessary. The 68s and the Last Dive Bar call the A’s decision “mind games” and a deliberate way to cut into their parking lot boycott that they planned.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: How much did Melvin and Zaidi have influence getting Snell; PA Renel was outspoken for civil rights was that the reason why she didn’t get renewed?

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Newest San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell smiles for the cameras with agent Scott Boras in Scottsdale AZ after being presented to the media on Wed Mar 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael with the acquisition of pitcher Blake Snell to the San Francisco Giants this week it was the push of Giants president Farhan Zaidi and manager Bob Melvin who influenced Snell to come to San Francisco and Snell’s agent Scott Boras felt this was the right fit for Snell.

#2 Renel Brooks-Moon’s departure as the Giants PA announcer has been headlines in the sports world this past week. She couldn’t work out a deal with the Giants brass and thus is no longer working the PA and is now relegated to a Community Volunteer position. Renel said in her last contract negotiation back in 2020 she had to right her way to get a four year extension. Renel’s departure struck many as a shock. Michael was there anyway for a path for Renel and the Giants to reach a happy medium?

#3 Renel had said that the organization didn’t feel disrespected by the organization for her outspokeness. Renel also said she spoke out for others and she fought for those who came after her. She said the Giants did give her freedom to speak out.

#4 Charles Johnson who is the Giants team Chairman and the has the largest holding share of the team. Johnson donated $2,800 the maximum to Rep Lauren Bobert who pushed for President Trump’s voter fraud claims and Renel said “I’m not turning a blind eye to this believe me.”

Join Michael Duca for the San Francisco Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Were Giants trying to pinch pennies in not keeping PA announcer Renel?; Ohtani is preparing to play the field; plus more news

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Former San Francisco Giants PA Announcer Renel Brooks Moon parted ways with the Giants after the two sides could not agree to terms on a new contract that expired in Dec 2023.This photo shows Renel in the Oracle Park PA booth in 2002. Renel will work as a volunteer community representative for the Giants. (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 San Francisco Giants first black female PA announcer Renel Brooks Moon who was the PA announcer at Oracle Park for 24 seasons could not reach a contract agreement with the Giants. According to reports Renel and the Giants had extensive discussions about a new deal but couldn’t arrive at an agreement. Renel’s contract expired in December. Renel will now be a volunteer for the Giants as a community activist and mentor. Was this a money saving deal for the Giants or was Renel asking too much from the Giants and didn’t get her contract renewed?

#2 He could do it all, pitch, hit and now play the field. Los Angeles Dodgers two way player and could be a three way player by converting his services to the field. Although as manager Dave Roberts reiterated Ohtani will not pitch this season but will begin throwing drills once the Dodgers come back from Korea. Roberts said that Ohtani will mostly be a designated hitter.

#3 Amaury get your thoughts on the big signing of former San Diego Padre and now San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell who signed with the Giants on Monday for a two year contract worth $62 million. Snell was 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA for San Diego in 2023. How will he be an impact to the Giants rotation.

#4 Nothing worse than getting an injury in spring training to put off your regular season and that’s the case for Cincinnati Reds centerfielder TJ Friedl who on Saturday was attempting to make a diving catch fractured his right wrist. Friedl will be reevaluated in three to four weeks. Fridel had such a great season in 2023 that the Reds were looking forward to making him their everyday centerfielder.

#5 Former Reds first baseman Joey Votto hit one out in his first at bat for the Toronto Blue Jays. Votto rather than retire sought to join another big league team and the Jays wanted to take a look at what he could do. Votto pounded a 392 foot home run off the Philadelphia Phillies frontline pitcher Zack Wheeler in the first inning at Clearlake Florida on Sunday.

#6 Salt Lake City has been in talks to possibly host a pre season game or two for the Oakland A’s at Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City. The A’s had been in talks with Sacramento over use of Sutter Health Park. Salt Lake City is in serious MLB mode to get a big league team. They want to have the A’s move to Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City would finance the ballpark and land and finance a ballpark village. How realistic for that to happen starts with if the A’s can’t get to Las Vegas?

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

Giants bolster rotation add Blake Snell on 2-year deal for $62 million

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Former San Diego Padre Blake Snell who had been a free agent for most of the off season and pre season agreed to a two year deal with the San Francisco Giants on Mon Mar 18, 2024 (AP file photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have strengthened their rotation, as they have agreed to sign left-handed ace, and 2023 National League Cy Young Award Winner Blake Snell to a two-year, $62 million contract, according to MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman.

The deal caps off a strong off-season for the Giants, which started off with them adding Bob Melvin as manager, and continued with the signings of Jung-hoo Lee, Robbie Ray, Jordan Hicks and Tom Murphy. Jorge Soler and Matt Chapman were signed during Spring Training, and Snell could be set to join them in the final week of camp.

Blake Snell came up with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016, and was their ace through the COVID-shortened 60-game sprint season of 2020. He won the American League Cy Young Award in 2018; struggled, but helped lead the Rays to the Postseason in 2019; and led them to the World Series in 2020.

Snell was infamously pulled by Rays Manager Kevin Cash in Game 6 of the 2020 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the bottom of the sixth inning, despite throwing a shutout. After Snell was pulled, the Dodgers scored two runs to take a 2-1 lead, and won the game 3-1 to win their first world championship since 1988.

Following Cash’s controversial move, Snell was traded to the San Diego Padres that off-season. Snell struggled in a 2021 campaign that saw the Padres collapse down the stretch. He then bounced back, and helped lead the Padres to the National League Championship Series in 2022. Snell then won his second cy young award in an otherwise disappointing 2023 season for the Padres.

Snell’s cy young season was believed to be a massive booster for him as he entered free agency. However, Snell, along with Chapman, Cody Bellinger and Jordan Montgomery, who were all represented by prominent agent Scott Boras, all remained on the market as teams reported to Spring Training in February. Snell, along with Chapman and Bellinger were signed after games got underway, and Montgomery remains a free agent.

Snell now joins Logan Webb, who finished second in cy young voting last season. Snell also joins what is set to be a strong rotation for the Giants. Along with Webb and Snell, young left-handed phenom, who saw time late in 2023, will be bumped from the second to the third start in the rotation.

The rotation could also be further fortified by the experiment of turning the flamethrower Jordan Hicks from a reliever to a starter; the return of Alex Cobb and the newly-signed Ray off the Injured List; and the potential of right-handed Carson Whisenhunt making his major league debut later this season.

Snell will still need to pass a physical. Once he was done so, it could be assumed that Snell will join the Giants in their final week of camp in Scottsdale, and will get a start or two prior to the Giants’ opener in San Diego on March. It is most likely that Snell will begin the Regular Season in the minor leagues, and be ready to join the Giants in the middle of April.

Other Notes:

The Giants and Longtime Public Address Announcer Renel Brooks-Moon mutually parted ways on Monday.

Brooks-Moon, who had served as the Giants’ PA announcer for 24 years since then-Pacific Bell Park’s opening in 2000, has enshrined herself into Giants Lore. She was behind the microphone for the Giants’ run to the National League Pennant in 2002, and their three world championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Brooks-Moon was at Barry Bonds’ breaking of the single-season record on Oct. 5, 2001 against the Dodgers, and his breaking of the all-time home run record on Aug. 7, 2007 against the Washington Nationals.

She was also there for Matt Cain’s Perfect Game against the Houston Astros on June 13, 2012, as well as Tim Lincecum’s two no-hitters, which were thrown on July 9, 2009 and June 25, 2014 respectively, both against the Padres.

Brooks-Moon has become a beloved and outspoken figure not just with the Giants, but with San Francisco and the Bay Area. She was the voice of the Cathedral of 3rd and King, and for so many younger fans, they do not know Giants Baseball without her.

There has yet to be word on who Brooks-Moon’s replacement will be, or how the process will play out.

J.D. Davis signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, following his release from the Giants on March 11.

Davis was encouraged to come to Oakland by Alex Wood, who had been a member of the Giants’ rotation from 2021 to 2023. They are also joined by Ross Strippling, who the Giants traded to Oakland on Feb. 2.