Tag: Rob Manfred

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Does Anybody Care about the A’s in Sacramento?

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The Sacramento A’s have not sold out a game yet in the 2025 season since their home opener on Mon Mar 31, 2025. Sutter Health Park’s capacity is 14,014 the A’s highest season attendance is 12,119 at the home opener. (tripvisor.com photo)

Does Anybody Care about the A’s in Sacramento?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Let’s say you have your eyes on that brand new car you dream of, and you are “almost sure” you are going to buy it in 2028 because you just put your other car (Soccer Team)for sale, but in the meantime, you need another vehicle.

For the A’s owner, West Sacramento Sutter Health Park, it’s like leasing an Avis car for a couple of years, hoping to buy a brand-new car in a few years in Las Vegas. You do not care much for maintaining the Avis lease; you are only interested in being practical, since you are not going to buy it anyway.

Sacramento’s 15 minutes of Major League fame have been cut to 5 minutes, all the hype a month before the season was more “sizzle than steak:”, in the stadium, they call it “all foam no beer” and in the cattle areas of California, “All hat no cattle”.

The A’s announced in January that Opening Day tickets were sold out, despite offering $25 lawn seats the night of the game. The team announced a sold-out crowd of 12,119 fans at the home opener. However, team officials said Sutter Health Park’s total capacity is 13,416.

The Oakland A’s fans in Sacramento (the number is unknown) are disappointed by the team’s temporary move to Sutter Health Park, expressing feelings of betrayal and a sense of disconnection from the team in its new temporary home.

They miss the Oakland atmosphere and feel the team is not embracing Sacramento. Some Sacramento fans, however, are excited to have a Major League team in their city, even if it’s just for a temporary period, but the team also couldn’t care less about Sacramento.

To the best of my knowledge, the A’s are not even recognized by the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, or the Sacramento Asian Chamber of Commerce. Neither did the A’s approach them.

However, if you’re interested, you can still follow the A’s games in Sacramento on sportsradioservice.com, which covers all the team’s day-to-day activities with reporters in the Sacramento area.

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.

@Central Park Fremont – Fremont CA

http://goaquaadventure.com

A’s Relocation podcast Rich Perez: Shovels in the ground; How crucial is the Earthquakes sale to raise stadium money?

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Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, from left, Major League Baseball Commissioner Manfred, A’s owner John Fisher and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President and CEO Steve Hill watch a video during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Athletics $1.75 billion Strip ballpark at the site of the former Tropicana Las Vegas Monday, June 23, 2025. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

On the A’s Relocation podcast with Rich Perez:

#1 Lots speeches made at the Sacramento A’s and future Las Vegas A’s ground breaking at the former Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

#2 Amongst some of the speakers John Fisher who stated that he was excited to get this far to having shovels in the ground and that he thanked MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred for help making the relocation of the A’s a reality.

#3 Fisher was asked about the sale of his MLS soccer team the San Jose Earthquakes and how that sale will make the difference in paying for the new A’s Las Vegas stadium and help make up for Fisher’s share of the construction costs at $1.75 billion.

#4 Was there any questions raised regarding regret that the A’s had left Oakland or was this a total turn the page event and it was never brought up and it’s onto the next step in developing the Las Vegas ballpark and bringing Major League Baseball.

#5 Manfred had a chance to speak and wanted address what he wanted in getting the A’s a new ballpark something he had been working on since he took over as baseball commissioner.

Rich Perez is a Las Vegas podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Headline Sports podcast Jessica Kwong: White House was the one who pushed MLB to drop Rose lifetime ban; Red Sox Rafaela hits shortest walk off HR; plus more news

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Former Cincinnati Red Pete Rose jumps on home plate to score the winning run against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the tenth inning at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati on April 18, 1985. Rose lifetime banned was lifted by Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred. (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast Jessica Kwong:

#1 President Trump’s support of Pete Rose to get off the lifetime banned list was a factored that influenced Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to remove Rose from the permanent ban list. This could be a pathway for Rose to get election in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Manfred also took former Chicago White Sox Shoeless Joe Jackson off the lifetime ban list and Jackson has a shot at getting into the Hall.

#2 The Boston Red Sox Ceddanne Rafaela hit the shortest walk off home run since Statcast was keeping track since 2015. The home run went just 308 feet just 24 feet short of the shortest homer of all time.

#3 Jessica, game 1 of the NBA Finals gets underway on Thursday night between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma Thunder at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The Thunder are favorites but the Pacers are coming off a successful series against the New York Knicks how do you see this match up.

#4 The NHL Finals are underway between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. Game 1 was won by Edmonton on Wednesday night 4-3 the game went into overtime and this is a rematch from last season if game 1 is an indicator of what’s to come for the rest of the series this is going to be another back and forth set of contests.

#5 Jessica what’s wrong with the Sacramento A’s they have now lost their 19th out of their last 20 games. Losing on Wednesday to the Minnesota Twins 6-1 in a three game sweep. The A’s have now lost nine straight games.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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