Tag: Rob Manfred

MLB podcast with Bruce Macgowan: Manfred says torpedo bat good for baseball; Dodgers Snell on 15 day IL shoulder inflammation; plus more MLB news

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Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell, who struggled at times against the Atlanta Braves on April 2 at Dodger Stadium, has been placed on the injured list. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

MLB podcast with Bruce Macgowan:

#1 Major League Commissioner Rob Manfred said that the torpedo bat is “absolutely good for baseball.” After all the attention that the torpedo bat has created Manfred addressed it’s legitmacy saying, “I believe that issues like the torpedo bat and the debate around it demonstrate the fact that baseball still occupies a unique place in our culture,”

#2 Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell has been placed on the 15 day IL suffering from left shoulder inflammation. Snell now 1-0 ERA 2.00 in two starts this season. Snell signed with the Dodgers for five years for $182 million.

#3 Due to weather issues the times have changed for the New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers times have been moved up. Wind chills have been forecasted for Monday and Tuesday to be in the 20s. The game that was scheduled from Monday has been moved up from 6:40pm to 3:10 and for Tuesday and Wednesday now at 1:10pm.

#4 Milwaukee Brewers left hand pitcher Nestor Cortes has been placed on the 15 day IL with a flexor strain in his left elbow. The Brewers pitching staff is depleted of their starting pitcher. With Cortes on the shelf the Brewers have Freddy Peralta as their only healthy starting pitcher in the starting rotation.

#5  Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani threw a 26 pitch session on Saturday before the Dodgers played the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Ohtani making a step closer to returning as a starter for the Dodgers. Ohtani has been out of the pitching rotation since Sep 19, 2023 this was his second bullpen session.

Bruce Magowan is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s fail to sell out opening home series; Vegas officials approve land permits for A’s ballpark

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Rendering of the A’s Las Vegas ballpark as shown during Mar 6, 2025 at the Las Vegas Stadium Authority meeting (image by negativ)

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 The first three games at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento the Athletics didn’t sell out. The A’s were near the 14,014 capacity on Monday night’s opener with 12,119 but the were far from it on Tuesday with 10,000 plus and for a Wednesday day game when only 9,000 plus showed up.

#2 Some A’s fans that traveled from the Bay Area came up only to check out the new digs and stayed a few innings on Wednesday and left to go back to the Bay.

#3 The issue during the A’s opening home series against the Chicago Cubs was brought up as to whose to blame for the A’s relocation. Was it owner John Fisher’s fault as former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said at the time the city of Oakland and the A’s were so close to a deal at Howard Terminal and they just backed out saying they had a binding deal with the Rio in Las Vegas?

#4 Was it the fault of Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred who some say wanted the A’s out of Oakland and wanted the Bay Area to be a one team market rather than a two team market and could he have been influenced to move the team by the San Francisco Giants who would have the market all to themselves?

#5 On Wednesday the Clark County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the land permits for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark as the A’s move a step closer to beginning construction for their $1.75 billion ballpark. The A’s are hoping to have the park ready in Vegas by 2028.

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

Headline Sports with Charlie O podcast: Yankees Cole rocked in 2 2/3 innings with sore elbow; Tigers Urquidy hoping to make comeback this season; plus more news

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Former Houston Astro Jose Urquidy is signed to a $1 million deal that includes a one year option with the Detroit Tigers for the 2025 season. Urquidy has had Tommy surgery twice and is on the 60 day IL and hopes to make a return to baseball with the Tiger this season. (AP file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole who has a sore elbow had imaging done on his right elbow and the Yankees expect to know more about his elbow in two more days. Cole 34, pitched on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins and was lit up for six runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings of work. Cole said in the post game presser he felt alright but the elbow was sore after the game.

#2 The Detroit Tigers signed right hand pitcher Jose Urquidy that includes a one year option for 2026 to a $1 million one year deal. Urquidy is 30 and had Tommy John surgery back on Jun 5th. Urquidy also had his first Tommy John in 2017. Urquidy was placed on the 60 day IL and it’s a question on when he will return. Urquidy last pitched in 2023 and went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA.

#3 One of the scary things about spring training is that one of your highest paid players could down with an injury and miss significant time. The Atlanta Braves Jurickson Profar is hoping that won’t be the case he had to leave Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after jamming his left wrist when he landed on his left arm. X-rays proved negative and the Braves said Profar will go further testing.

#4 Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr said that his contract proposal was significantly lower than New York Mets Juan Soto and was less than $600 million. Guerrero said that he and the Blue Jays failed to secure an extended contract before the start of spring training. Guerrero is eligible to enter the free agency market this November. Guerrero is in his last season of his contract with the Jays.

#5 Two Major League teams two minor league parks. How much of a mistake is this on the decision of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to allow this to happen or did Manfred do the right thing with no choice but to have the Sacramento A’s and the Tampa Bay Rays play in minor league parks for the interim?

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Injuries adding up for Yankees Gil out with lat strain; Astros Altuve moving to left field from second; plus more news

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New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil and a former American League Rookie of the Year is out with shoulder and injury and will miss the start of the season (AP News file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The New York Yankees injuries are starting to adding up Giancarlo Stanton (elbows), DJ LeMahieu (calf injury) and now pitcher Luis Gil a starting pitcher has been diagnosed with a high grade lat strain in his right shoulder. With these injuries it’s got to have manager Aaron Boone concerned this early in spring training.

#2 The Houston Astros Jose Altuve is expected to play in left field this season. Altuve is an All Star and a three time MVP and has played second base in 1767 games. A gold glove winner in 2015 and 2020. The idea of putting Altuve in left was brought up when Alex Bregman was with the team but signed with the Boston Red Sox. The Astros will use Isaac Paredes at second base and play Altuve in left.

#3 Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy will miss the beginning of the start of the season due to a rib injury. Murphy is an All Star and Gold Glove winner and the Braves announced that he will be on the Injured List for four to six week with a cracked rib on his left side. A big name out of the line up.

#4 The big news this week is Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is considering lifting the lifetime ban against Pete Rose who has been banned from baseball since 1989 for betting on baseball. If reinstated will that also open the door for Joe Jackson who was accused of being in on the fix during the 1919 World Series. Jackson has the numbers to be a Hall of Famer.

#5 The Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles are finished with their litigation over TV rights that dates back to 2012 when MLB announced Monday the Nats will be freed up from their deal with Mid-Atlantic Sports Network after the 2025 season.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Sounds unusual and strange as A’s no longer use Oakland moniker for first time since 1968

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Sacramento A’s catcher Shea Langeliers sporting a Rickey Henderson T shirt at Surprise Stadium in Surprise AZ before their game against the Kansas City Royals on Mon Feb 24, 2025 (Sacramento A’s X photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury the Sacramento A’s open this first week at spring training in Mesa for the first time since 1968 without the Oakland moniker while it was expected it still sounds and feels very strange to those are following the A’s in Oakland and those who are following the club in Sacramento.

#2 Amaury, talk about the talk in spring training that baseball is moving down the list as a sport that no longer one of the most popular sports in America. That it’s viewership and interest has fallen and it might fall even worse now that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and ESPN are no longer working together.

#3 Amaury, matter of fact when you go to ESPN’s headline banner on the main page of their website MLB no longer appears as one of the major sports in the banner. It now just shows NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAM, and More Sports you have to now hunt for MLB on the banner. MLB is buried on the main page banner and ESPN barley mentions MLB in it’s news reports through it’s programming.

#4 How much responsibility does Manfred hold since he has two MLB teams playing in minor league parks for the 2025 regular season, the Tampa Bay Rays are going up for sale and they might move to Orlando, the A’s will not play any post season games in their interim park in Sacramento but at a neutral site if they make to the playoffs, the players are not happy that Manfred is using the robo umpire and they prefer the human umpire, and baseball could move to a salary cap after the 2026 season something the players oppose and could trigger a players strike.

#5 Just how confident are the San Francisco Giants in starting a 42 year old Justin Verlander and how successful will Verlander be in helping the Giants contend. There are those who say Verlander who suffered neck and shoulder pain last season at best could be a ten game winner. Some other critics say that Verlander is washed up.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame

Athletics Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: All of sudden A’s in the chips with Severino signing and covering Vegas ballpark costs

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Luis Severino A’s pitcher (right) who signed for a two year $67 million deal shakes hands with A’s general manager David Forst (left) at the Severino press conference at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Fri Dec 10, 2024 (Athletics X photo)

On the Athletics relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 A’s owner John Fisher who has owned the A’s for 20 years and had signed pitcher Luis Severino to the largest contract since they had third baseman Eric Chavez. Severino signed for two years at $67 million. In 2004 Chavez had a six year deal with the A’s worth $66 million.

#2 The criticism about the Severino deal is that the A’s and the city of Oakland back in 2023 couldn’t reach a deal for Howard Terminal which fell some $36 million short for it to close the deal but the A’s were able to find the money to sign Severino for $67 million this month.

#3 It was pointed out that Fisher said of the reasons to move the A’s was that the attendance was horrible, nobody shows up, it’s the ballpark, and now they have to play in a minor league park in Sacramento but they couldn’t afford to pay the City of Oakland $90 million to play their remaining three interim years at the Oakland Coliseum before moving to Vegas.

#4 Also the A’s who originally were to pay $1.5 billion for the construction costs for the Vegas ballpark those costs have gone up to $1.75 billion and that cost could go up even further to $2 billion. It’s amazing what can happen if the A’s need to get something but couldn’t find the money for Howard Terminal?

#5 What about Commissioner Rob Manfred was he duped thinking the A’s had no money for Howard Terminal therefore they could get some love from the State of Nevada in public funding to build the park but who’d a thunk the A’s found funding with the Severino deal and covering their Vegas ballpark costs all this month?

Join Daniel Dullum Sundays for the A’s relocation podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Will players union, Scott Boras sign off to play on artificial turf in Sacramento?

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Sutter Health Field in Sacramento the future interim home of the Athletics for the next three seasons 2025-27

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel, this is the last week at the Oakland Coliseum for the A’s as they embark for Sacramento after the regular season. It’s been a reunion of sorts with lots of reporters, employees, front office, former players coming to bid the fans and each other a farewell.

#2 Rickey Henderson came out on Saturday to watch his daughter throw out the first ball as the A’s played the New York Yankees. It was a huge treat for fans watching on the field that was named after Rickey.

#3 Some reporters believe the move to Sacramento is a done deal because MLB has approved the move and Sacramento Rivercats are renovating the ball park.

#4 There are those who believe there is that very small chance that the A’s deal in Sacramento will fall apart because of the artificial turf the players do not want to play on. The Players union sill has not signed off on it yet.

#5 On the other side of the coin A’s owner John Fisher, A’s team president David Kaval and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred look very much forward to getting things started and getting the A’s out of Oakland. They do realize that that last step of getting the union to sign off on Sacramento might not be as easy as they think.

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s relocation podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: MLB Players break out the strange bats for Players Weekend; Rangers deGrom to face live hitters soon; plus more news

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Toronto Blue Jays Ernie Clement stands in at the plate with his pencil bat during “Players Weekend” the weekend where players used unusual looking bats on their trips to the plate. (photo by mlb.com)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie wanted to ask you about something kind of fun yet very strange it’s “Players Weekend” Major League players are using bats painted like a giant pencil, lightsabers, team bats, and green colored bats. No doubt this was a marketing ploy to get fans to buy these “freaking bats” as they call them.

#2 You might remember Jacob deGrom who starred with the New York Mets, deGrom who now pitches for the Texas Rangers has been rehabbing and pitched to live hitters for the third time in recent weeks. deGrom hopes to pitch for the Rangers for the first time since June 2023.

#3 Charlie do you believe MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s new rule change for starting pitchers requiring them to pitch six innings with the exception if a pitcher throws over 100 pitches, gives up four or more runs or gets injured. This new rule for pitchers will be implemented starting next season. Will this put a pitcher’s health in jeopardy?

#4 Last Monday a host of cameras and photographers and broadcasters near the left field line where the Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani was throwing and playing catch with intensity. Ohtani made 71 throws with a wide legged spread apart set while the trainer using the radar gun. While it was said that Ohtani will not return as a pitcher this season and he’s been the DH he is making a attempt to return after having two elbow surgeries.

#5 The San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s play what will be their final Bay Bridge series game today at the Oakland Coliseum. Bob Melvin who managed with both the A’s and Giants and broke in at the Coliseum after coming up with Cal Berkeley said he will leave a lot of memories out on the field after Sunday’s game in completed.

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

MLB All Star Game/That’s Amaury News Commentary podcast: National League and American League All Stars battle in the Mid Summer Classic tonight

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Los Angeles Dodgers Teoscar Hernandez (37) slugged 14 Home Run Derby home runs just edging the Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr who had 13 home runs at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Mon Jul 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, Teoscar Hernandez became the first Los Angeles Dodger to win the home run derby winner at the All Star Game contest on Monday at Globe Life Field. Hernandez edging out the Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr 14-13.

#2 Amaury, there were a number of hitters invited to the Home Run Derby but took a pass saying it could hurt a player and it could effect their swing going into the second half of the season.

#3 On the national stage at the Home Run Derby four time Grammy nominated artist Ingrid Andress’ rendition of the national anthem almost overshadowed the derby itself. Andress was off key during her rendition but there have been worse versions sang. But since this was in front of a national audience at the Home Run Derby it was a discussion.

#4 The American League announced they are starting Baltimore Orioles pitcher Corbin Burnes to start the All Star Game. Burnes is 9-4 with 2.93 ERA. The Orioles have had much luck this season occupying first place in the AL East and Burnes has been one of the O’s best starting pitchers.

#5 Each time you get to the All Star Game it give you a chance to ask questions of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and as usual the questions of the Oakland A’s playing at a minor league facility in Sacramento should come up. Reporters who have walked around at Sutter Health Park said it’s going to be challenging to fit all the media, fans, and players accommodations during A’s home games in Sacramento and games are expected to be sold out with almost no room in the ballpark.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Manfred is certain Vegas deal for A’s is a sure thing

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Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred addresses the news media at spring training Tampa Bay Fl Thu Feb 15, 2024 at the Grapefruit League (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Major League Commissioner Rob Manfred said that if there was any doubt about the Oakland A’s going to Las Vegas Manfred wanted to assure everybody that the move is “solid” in spite of A’s owner John Fisher who has not come up with his share of the construction costs for his share of the Las Vegas ballpark.

#2 Manfred also wants the A’s to decide where there going to play in the interim for 2025-27. Manfred would like the A’s to decide to play in one location and not move say from Portland to Salt Lake City or even Oracle Park in San Francisco for example.

#3 As you may recall A’s president David Kaval said talks with the Oakland Coliseum will continue as it was reported their first meeting two weeks ago went well. Manfred who doesn’t have the best relationship with Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao might have to come back and have talks with Thao and work out something to get the A’s some place to play for the next three seasons after 2024.

#4 The Las Vegas stadium idea has run into it’s share of problems, there are no renderings, there is no funding plan from Fisher, Schools over Stadiums is appealing language for their petition drive in the Nevada Court of Appeals once up and running they need over 100,000 signatures to place an initiative on the November ballot to block the A’s public funding for the ballpark and the Nevada State Education Association has filed a $380 million lawsuit against the State of Nevada to block public funding of the park.

#5 After Fisher got a luke warm reception when he was introduced to a paid crowd in Las Vegas sponsored by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said that the A’s would be better off in Oakland with a waterfront ballpark. Manfred said Las Vegas is solid and that Goodman was the first person to talk Manfred about getting a baseball team in Vegas.

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