Tag: Rob Manfred

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Asian Connection MLB Open 2024 Season in South Korea

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San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee is bringing a lot of excitement to the Giants for the 2024 season at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

The Asian Connection -MLB Open 2024 Season in South Korea

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

For the first time, Major League Baseball’s regular season will open its 2024 season in Seoul, South Korea, as the Los Angeles Dodgers will face during a two-game series on March 20 and 21, where each team will play once as the home team. “There are a lot of baseball fans in Seoul, and it’s a beautiful city, so the MLB proposed that it would like to hold the opening games here, and of course, we agreed,” Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, 63, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV.

The series will be played at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, the home of the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO. It was also the host site of first-round games in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. The domed stadium was built in 2015 and has a capacity of 16,744

Although only 4% of all Major League players are Asian, fans in Seoul, South Korea, are hoping to see Dodgers players like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both from Japan as well as San Diego Padres Yu Darvish, from Japan and also a nice homecoming for South Korean Ha-Seong Kim.

Chan Ho Park, the pitcher, was the first South Korean former professional baseball player to play in the major leagues and was the first South Korean player to be named an MLB All-Star. But there is little doubt that the most significant baseball star that fans want to see, Shohei Ohtani, has become the most well-known international figure of American Major League Baseball; Ohtani has excellent global traction.

Talking about this two-game season opener in South Korea, Commissioner Rob Manfred, “We’re going to get off quick. We’re opening in Korea, and it’ll be Ohtani’s first game (with the Dodgers),” he said, before adding with a smile, “every once in a while, you get lucky in terms of the way things shake out.”

Baseball is the most popular professional sport in South Korea, with around 6.4 million spectators during the KBO (Korean Baseball Organization) in 2022.

American missionaries introduced baseball to Korea in the 19th century. South Korea played baseball under Japanese colonial rule under the Joseon name. Lee Young-min hit South Korea’s first-ever home run in 1921.

Local interest: Are there any South Korean players in the Bay Area? Last December, the San Francisco Giants signed signed 25 year old South Korean star outfielder Jung Hoo Lee.

ESPN will carry the Dodgers-Padres two-game opener of the 2024 MLB season from South Korea. “Why do people sing Take Me Out to The Ballgame when they’re already there? -Alex Rodríguez.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: MLB and A’s are not talking about what’s beyond 2024

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According to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao the door is still open to negotiate a deal at Howard Terminal at the Port of Oakland. Oakland A’s owner John Fisher in the event the Las Vegas deal falls through is welcomed to call Thao. (photo by the Nevada Independent)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, how impossible is the idea for the Oakland A’s to go and disband for three years and MLB to carry with just 29 MLB teams from 2025-27?

#2 The idea that the A’s could shut it down for three years is it a clear indication that either financially John Fisher doesn’t have his share of the stadium costs or he’s trying to scrape enough together between 2025-27 in order to pay for his share saving money by shutting down operations.

#3 If it all falls apart in Las Vegas there is really no where else for the A’s to go. Commissioner Rob Manfred said the A’s will play out west and did really know where himself. The players association will not play in a minor league park hence Salt Lake City, Portland, Sacramento or Summerlin.

#4 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said recently that her door is open and if Fisher wants to talk about working a deal out at Howard Terminal if Las Vegas falls apart. Her offer out numbers the State of Nevada number $428 million to $380 million.

#5 The A’s pre season starts Sat Feb 24th in Mesa Arizona at Ho Ho Kam Stadium it’ll be the first pre season game this one is against the Colorado Rockies on the same day two Oakland A’s fan clubs the Oakland 68s and the Last Dive Bar will host a Fans Fest at Jack London Square that would raise money to help with legal fees for law suits filed by Schools over Stadiums and Strong Public Schools who are trying to stop the public financing of the Las Vegas ballpark.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Rays Franco fails to show up for inappropriate relationship hearing in the Dominican; Braves acquire Sale from Red Sox for Grissom; plus more news

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Tampa Bay Rays infielder Wander Franco sits in the dugout during a game at the Tropicana in St Petersburg on Aug 13, 2023 during a MLB game. Franco was arrested on Sun Jan 1, 2024 and is under investigation allegation of having a inappropriate relationship with a minor in the Dominican Republic (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco 22, appeared at a prosecutor’s office with his two attorneys Teodosio Jáquez Encarnación and Juan Francisco Rodríguez Consoró, to answer to accusations of inappropriate relationships with minors. Details of the meeting was not forthcoming. He has been accused by two people and a third person came forward and that investigation is forthcoming. Franco was placed on leave last season. Franco signed an 11 year $182 million contract in Nov 2021 with the Rays.

#2 It’s the big deal that everybody in MLB is talking about the Atlanta Braves acquired pitcher Chris Sale and cash for infielder Vaughn Grissom who goes to the Boston Red Sox. Sale last season for the Sox was 6-5, ERA 4.30 with 125 strike outs. Grissom last season for the Braves hit .280, 21 hits, no home runs and 9 RBIs.

#3 The Red Sox picked up pitcher Lucas Giolito who pitched for the Cleveland Guardians last season. Giolito joins the Sox in a two year $38.5 million deal. Giolito a left hander will join the Sox starting rotation. Giolito went 8-15 with 4.88 ERA.

#4 Two Detroit Tigers scouts Gary Pellant 68 and Randall Johnson 67 have filed a law suit against the Tigers for age discrimination. Both Pellant and Johnson were fired by the Tigers after the 2020 season because of the false stereotype that older scouts lacked the scouting tools regarding analytics. There have been 51 of 83 older scouts of other MLB scouts who filed age discrimination suits against MLB for age discrimination over the same charges. The lawsuit mentioned that after Rob Manfred became Commissioner in 2015 there has been of recruiting younger scouts and doing away with the older scouts who were 60 and over.

#5 Last Friday Amuary you wrote about Cuban native and Oakland A’s pitching prospect Luis Morales who signed for $3 million last season. Morales from Cuba throws a fast ball that is in the triple digits. In Cuba he had been making $40-200 a month pitching. Morales defected and was caught by Cuban authorities in Guantanamo in the process of escaping the island, but he finally defected two years ago and here he is now with the A’s.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Commissioner says there wasn’t a viable path to stay in Oakland

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In what should have been a happy moment for Oakland A’s owner John Fisher (pictured) and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in announcing unanimous vote to relocate the A’s to Vegas during the whole press conference from Thu Nov 16, 2023 they both looked uncomfortable and were apologetic about to Oakland fans at at times looking guilty (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said there was not a viable path to stay in Oakland even though it was Oakland A’s owner John Fisher and Manfred’s to remain in the Bay Area.

#2 Daniel, did you find it strange after all the criticism that the Tropicana ballpark got nationwide, that you didn’t hear anyone outside of MLB ownership or the Commissioner’s office say this was a great idea. You have to ask what was the motivating factor for the owners to vote 30-0 to approve the A’s relocation?

#3 A’s president David Kaval said after the vote last week when asked if Fisher is ready to pay his share of the new Las Vegas ballpark. Kaval said that debt and equity would come from the stadium funding legislation.

#4 Kaval also said that the A’s could play their 2025-2027 seasons either at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Las Vegas Ballpark, or at the Oakland Coliseum. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao the A’s could finish at the Coliseum but they would have to give up their team name and colors and the city would be promised a MLB expansion team.

#5 One motivating factor is Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo saying that Las Vegas is a sports town and having the A’s are an added addition for the Vegas sports scene.

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

Headline Sports with Charlie O: Will A’s finish up their Bay Area days at Oracle Park in San Francisco?

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Will Oracle Park be a landing place for the Oakland A’s after the 2024 season?, the A’s would not lose a share of Bay Area TV revenue between 2025-27 while the Tropicana Park is being built in Las Vegas (SF Travel file photo)

On Headline Sports with Charlie O:

#1 How crazy will it be to have the San Francisco Giants host the Oakland A’s at Oracle Park in the 2025 through the 2027 seasons while the Tropicana is being built after the Giants would not cede South Bay territorial rights to the A’s.

#2 The A’s know they will not get the cut of Bay Area TV money if they were to play in Nevada or Sacramento and just to go ahead and finish they’re last three season in the Bay Area in San Francisco.

#3 The relationship between the City of Oakland and A’s owner John Fisher and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is so toxic because of how they got to this place it’s very unlikely the A’s will finish their last three seasons at the Oakland Coliseum.

#4 A’s fans led by the Oakland 68’s have called for a boycott, not a reverse boycott but a full on boycott for no one to show up at the A’s opening day game on Thu Mar 29th at the Coliseum against Cleveland.

#5 There has been some hope that Schools over Stadiums will get it together and get the court to approve their petition to get signed by some 102,000 Nevada residents, put the no public funding for the ballpark on the Nevada ballot for vote in Nov 2024 also Rep Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) and Rep Mark DeSaulnier will introduce the “Moneyball act” a measure that would require Oakland A’s owner John Fisher or any Major League Baseball owner who relocates it’s team 25 miles from it’s former location to compensate their former community or MLB would lose it’s anti trust exemption.

Charlie O does Headline Sports podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB Brings Back 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta “Eating Crow, Manfred Style”

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred seen here at an MLB owners meeting in Arlington on Thu Nov 16, 2023 has awarded Atlanta the All Star Game in 2025 after the City of Atlanta sued MLB for taking the 2021 All Star Game away from Atlanta and moving it to Denver over what Manfred said was Georgia’s voter suppression laws. (AP News photo)

MLB Bring All-Star Game to Atlanta “Eating Crow Manfred Style”

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Goznalez

Four years after Commissioner Rob Manfred moved the All-Star Star Game in Atlanta to Denver’s Coors Field, Manfred is reconsidering as many believed “he owed one to Atlanta”. Four years ago, he moved the game over objections to Georgia voting rights laws changes.

Atlanta blasted the Commissioner of Baseball for his political decision, something he did not know much about. It is now apparent that Manfred made a mistake when he moved the game from Atlanta to Denver without first learning the substance of the law.

According to economists, the City of Atlanta lost $100 million in economic impact losses, especially those businesses near Truist Park, home of the Braves. At the same time, some say it was more than $100 million in lost revenue to the City of Atlanta.. . “I made the decision in 2021 to move the event, and I understand, believe me, that people had then and probably still have different views as to the merits of that decision,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday.

During an announcement that followed an owners’ meeting. Straightforward interpretation “Sorry I screwed up, so I am awarding Atlanta the All-Star Game in 2025 because I owe them one.” The City of Atlanta filed a 1 Billion dollar lawsuit against Major League Baseball.

The voting rights litigation is ongoing. Last month, a federal judge declined to block several contested portions of the law while legal challenges play out. There is a chance Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Rob Manfred, might lose this one.

Quote. “The economics of baseball is the big problem. The big clubs make a lot of money, and the little clubs don’t” -Fay Vicent, Baseball Commissioner from 1989 to 1992.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Museum and does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Owners expected to vote yes on moving A’s this week; Could Schools over Stadiums be last hope to block move?

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Don’t expect this rendering of the Oakland A’s ballpark as this was a stop gap rendering last summer after the A’s announced they were moving to Las Vegas in Jun 2023. As of yet the A’s have not submitted a rendering or blue prints for their new Las Vegas ballpark and the MLB owners are voting this week to move the A’s to Vegas without a rendering. (Oakland A’s rendering of Tropicana ballpark location)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Major League Commissioner Rob Manfred sounded positive when talking to the news media saying that he is confident that the move by the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas will be just fine. “Vegas is a different kind of market. I think they’re going to be fine.”

It is expected that the MLB owners will get the anticipated 75% to move the A’s to satisfy one of two teams that Manfred wanted moved or get a new ballpark. The A’s failed for the new ballpark part in Oakland in Manfred’s view and is prepared to move the A’s to the Tropicana Hotel and Casino resort on the Las Vegas strip.

The A’s who have been in Oakland since 1968 have won four World Championships there. There was no saving grace that would have convinced the Commissioner that the A’s home should remain in Oakland. Amongst his complaints were the Oakland Coliseum is far outdated and when the sewage backed up and possums were making their home in the press box Manfred was at the end of his rope.

Manfred mentioned that Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao didn’t get anything resolved when she took office and MLB and the A’s had no other choice but to move the team to Vegas. Shao countered by saying that the City of Oakland was within striking distance of a deal with the A’s and Fisher just got up and walked away from a Howard Terminal ballpark deal.

Manfred gave a time limit to the City of Oakland to fix the Coliseum and when that didn’t meet his satisfaction he and A’s owner John Fisher started to research the Las Vegas market. Once they found a few viable location at the Rio and the Tropicana on the Vegas strip they had announced they’re intention of moving to the Rio and later the Tropicana.

The State of Nevada Legislation approved the $380 million in public funds last June and the A’s and MLB fast forward are confident that the owners will pass the A’s relocation request to Las Vegas this week in Arlington. If the owners vote to move the team as expected happens the last hurdle could be Schools over Stadiums who sought to have a petition put together for Nevada residents in four districts to sign.

Schools over Stadiums needs over Stadiums to get over 102,000 signatures approved by the Nevada voter registration to move the referendum on the ballot if approved by the voters in the November 2024 election the referendum would be put on the ballot in an attempt to stop the public funding for the A’s ballpark.

Although some owners for different reasons may not be excited about the A’s leaving the sixth largest media market in baseball to the 40th and smallest market with the smallest ballpark in MLB. Most likely they will as a group will vote for the move as they want to show they are all together as a business group. Also the Kansas City Royals are looking to move and build a brand new stadium in downtown Kansas City and the Milwaukee Brewers are getting $545 million from the state of Wisconsin. Any vote that would involve the owners they want show they are in unison as a group.

There is a lot at work that will have Schools over Stadiums on their heels, the unions in Vegas are very strong on bringing the A’s to the strip because of more job creation. The Culinary union is considered the strongest union in Las Vegas and are heavily behind the effort to move the A’s to Las Vegas. Other unions in Nevada are also on the push for the A’s to come to Vegas because of job growth.

Schools over Stadiums is seen as probably the last chance that Oakland has to try and block the team from moving to Vegas. After a hearing on Mon Nov 6th a Nevada District Court Judge ruled that the language in the petition for Schools over Stadiums needed to be cleaned before Schools over Stadiums can circulate the petition. After the judge disallowed the petition he advised Schools over Stadiums that they could appeal the ruling and they have enough time to get the language fixed as the petition must be ready before the June 2024 deadline to be submitted.

Manfred did pardon Fisher from paying a relocation fee which might be a long shot reason for owners to vote no on the relocation. Owners already are aware that the A’s have received revenue sharing for years and now they’re going to wave the relocation fee. That and the A’s have not produced an updated rendering and blue print, a financial plan for the park, and where is John Fisher’s part to pay for the ball park? These are issues still on the table that need to be addressed and the vote is supposed to be taken this week.

Manfred is waiting for the Tampa Bay Rays and A’s to get their new stadium issues in order and once everything is in place he will consider expansion for one team in the east and west. On that list for expansion mentioned Portland and Salt Lake City in the west and Charlotte and Nashville in the east.

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

World Series MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Game 1 was lowest rated ever; Football outdrawing World Series in TV ratings; plus more news

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The Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly delivers against the Texas Rangers in game 2 of the World Series on Sat Oct 28, 2023 at Globe Life Field in Arlington (AP News photo)

On World Series MLB The Show podcast with Stephen:

#1 Game 1 of this 2023 World Series has gone down in MLB history was the lowest rated and least watched World Series of all time. Game 1 drew 9.18 million which is 100,000 less than the previous low the 2020 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays.

#2 Right now football is outdrawing the World Series. As expected two the Las Vegas Raiders and Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football outdrew game 3 of the World Series. Some say the season is long and when the Fall Classic comes. It’s too late in October early November fans would say “enough already” regarding the long schedule of 162 regular season games.

#3 Should baseball shorten it’s schedule to end the regular season by from 162 games to 154 or start the post season by September 15th. As it is right now the World Series will lap over into the first week of November.

#4 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is considering reducing the amount of pitchers that a team can carry. Teams can carry on 13 pitchers the league average per start was down this past season.

#5 Stephen, we didn’t get a chance to get your opinion regarding Manfred’s comments before game 1 of this World Series where he said that Schools over Stadiums ballot referendum is a “significant development” he left little doubt that the initiative could block financing for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark and that would leave the deal dead.

Stephen Ruderman is a baseball beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Diamondbacks plan to continue to leave roof open for game 4; Ex-Senator Frank Howard dead at 87; plus more news

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A look at Chase Field home of the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Apr 22, 2023 against the San Diego Padres. The Diamondbacks had the roof open for game 3 of the 2023 World Series and plan to leave it open again for game 4 against the Texas Rangers on Tue Oct 31, 2023. (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Things in the Arizona corridor has cooled off a bit and no rain in sight so the Diamondbacks opened up the roof and they plan to do the same for game four tonight. It’s rare that happens because it gets pretty toasty during the regular season.

#2 Amaury, former Washington Senator Frank Howard has passed away at age 87. Howard lived a good long life and was a slugger of 382 home runs and batted .273 and won a World Series with the 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers. Howard played not only with the Dodgers and Senators but he moved to Texas when the Senators relocated to Texas in 1972. He was known as Hondo and was known as a gentleman of a giant at 6’7.

#3 Milwaukee Brewer manager Craig Counsell who is on his last week of his contract is set to meet with the Cleveland Guardians for the vacant manager job. Counsell is also being sought by the New York Mets who financially can offer Counsell more money than either Milwaukee or Cleveland.

#4 Tommy Pham did something that surprised manager Troy Lovullo asking Lovullo to insert former Oakland A’s infielder Jace Peterson in the line up as a pinch hitter in game 2. Pham already had four hits and the D-Backs were in front of the Rangers 7-1. It gave Peterson to get a swing in the World Series. Peterson ended up hitting into a force out but got a thrill to play in the World Series.

#5 Amaury, Looking back on some of these division and championship games. No one thought a number of these series would involve sweeps and teams like the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros winning all their road games. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says he likes the playoff format. Meanwhile MLB Union Executive Tony Clark said that a 84 game winner like the Diamondbacks for example made it to the World Series where you had 100 game winners like Orioles, Braves and Dodgers who were eliminated early. Clark said he was concerned about the value of being a 100 game winner but getting canceled early in post season.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s relocation special report podcast with Augie Musenburg: Baseball Commissioner Manfred says Oakland Mayor Thao was not truthful

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred addresses the media. Manfred said this week that Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is not being truthful regarding getting a new stadium deal done in Oakland (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Augie Musenburg:

#1 A San Francisco Chronicle column written by John Shea title Oakland vs. MLB as Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao exchange unpleasantries regarding who dropped the ball in trying to get a deal done in Oakland.

#2 You might recall that during the All Star game in Seattle Mayor Thao went to Seattle and presented Manfred with 30 copies of books for each team owner documenting how Oakland was close to a deal with the A’s before team president David Kaval had called and pulled out. Do you feel that this is the crux of why Manfred has some strong words about Thao after giving him the documentation and he felt she’s not telling the truth?

#3 Manfred said that Mayor Thao was good at pointing out how MLB got this wrong and the A’s got that wrong but questioned if Thao handled getting the A’s deal done in Oakland well Manfred said “Don’t think so.” It should be noted that Thao had been newly elected and had only been in office a few weeks when the A’s said they had a binding deal with Las Vegas while they were in the middle of negotiating with Oakland and backed out of the deal.

#4 Manfred also said that Thao is about to lose her third team, making it sound that this happened under her watch and that she’s not telling the truth. Manfred also said he and Thao never talked about Oakland getting an expansion team and the city keeping the A’s name. Was Manfred upset about being presented the books and that he wants this deal in Vegas all along.

#5 Manfred also said that Thao didn’t reach out to him after winning election. Manfred said that Thao didn’t reach out after she won election and took that Manfred took that as a signal they weren’t negotiating about the A’s anymore.

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com