Tag: Roger Clemens

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Reasons remain the same why Bonds and Clemens weren’t elected; Kent hit production gets him elected

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Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens (left) and former Miami Marlins coach Barry Bonds (right) were once again denied entry to the Hall of Fame this time by the Players Committee. (Getty file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury just wanted to ask you if you not surprised that former San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds was not elected to Cooperstown.

#2 Considering the reasons why Bonds was not elected this year were they the same reasons as before his connection with admitting during grand jury testimony that he unknowingly took steroids and his bad relationship with the media?

#3 Fernando Valenzuela also missed election. Valenzuela was a well respected figure in the game was his denial to making it to the Hall due his overall career where some writers felt his overall career didn’t meet the typical Hall-of-Fame bar for pitchers in terms of longevity and sustained excellence.

#4 For former New York Yankee and Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens the most given reason for Clemens rejection to being elected to the Hall of Fame was the chair of the Hall acknowledged that the committee’s decision likely mirrored many of the same “Steroid Era” concerns that affected the writers’ votes.

#5 Talk about former San Francisco Giant second baseman Jeff Kent and his election to the Hall of Fame. Some writers state that he has the most home runs for a second baseman in MLB history with 377 in his 17 year career, high run production, and hit consistently hit for average at .290. Was Jeff Kent the best candidate out of those other players for this year’s Hall of Fame candidates?

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.

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LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: BALCO and Victor Conte could be a huge speed bump for Bonds and Clemens going into Hall election

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Former San Francisco Giant outfielder Barry Bonds and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens are once again candidates for the Hall of Fame as the BBWAA will take a vote Dec 7, 2025. Bonds and Clemens fell short for the last ten Hall of Fame ballots. (photo by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Once again former Giants outfielder Barry Bonds and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens are on the ballot for Hall of Fame induction. Both have been accused of steroid use during their years in MLB. They are up for consideration to be elected to the Hall of Fame and it’s been reported that this is the year they finally could be elected?

#2 Clemens finished his Hall of Fame balloting with 65.2% of the vote and Bonds received 44% of the vote in 2024 down from 66% from 2023. They both need 75% of the vote to be elected.

#3 Reports are that both Bonds and Clemens are getting closer and this ballot called a special ballot. This is a contemporary special ballot that has six other players on it that includes Bonds and Clemens. As you know the Baseball Writers of America Association have the last say on who gets voted in the Hall of Fame and Bonds and Clemens have been rejected for the last ten years.

#4 Bonds had admitted to Federal Grand Jury under oath during the BALCO investigation that he unknowingly took Performance Enhancing Drugs that was given to him in the form of the clear and the cream by his personal trainer at the time Greg Anderson. Clemens was accused of taking Human Growth Hormone by his former trainer Brian McNamee who testified under oath at a US Congressional Hearing that Clemens was using steroids while pitching for the New York Yankees. Clemens under oath swore he did not ever use steroids at the hearing. Were these the two factors that have kept Bonds and Clemens out of the Hall of Fame?

#5 In essence do you see Bonds or Clemens having a shot at getting elected to the MLB Hall of Fame this year by the BBWAA on Dec 7th of this year?

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.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

Victor Conte BALCO podcast host Michael Villanueva: With Bonds up for Hall of Fame election will the Conte death reverberate his chances?

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Victor Conte former founder of BALCO holds up a autograph photo of track star Marion Jones in his BALCO office on Oct 21, 2003 (AP News photo)

Victor Conte BALCO podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 With the death of former BALCO founder Vic Conte and the special Hall of Fame election coming up on December 7th will that bring up negative memories and the writers might again not vote for Barry Bonds into the Hall of Fame?

#2 Will Conte’s time in prison for distributing steroids also play into an ex-con who is accused of distributing steroids to someone that is considered the all time home run king?

#3 Conte passed away from pancreatic cancer at 75 there is no doubt his legacy will be his association with Barry Bonds and BALCO.

#4 The steroids scandal had quieted down for awhile but with Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds up for election for the Hall of Fame and Victor Conte’s passing it’s been a subject of discussion on many talk shows.

#5 On the local level two former Oakland A’s players Jeremy and Jason Giambi were noted for their use of performance enhancers. Jeremy passed away on Feb 9, 2022 by suicide by shooting himself in the chest.

Michael Villanueva is a podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Bonds and Clemens Hall of Fame hopes dim with rule changes; Yanks Cole out for season with Tommy John surgery; plus more news

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Former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Barry Bonds seen here being inducted into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame during a ceremony for the 2024 class before the Pirates game against the Cincinnati Reds Sat Aug 24, 2024. Bonds chances of Cooperstown Hall of Fame induction have dimmed due to new rule changes in 2025. (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Former San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds recently said regarding being nominated to the Hall of Fame and being on the ballot for the last ten years but not receiving the 75% “I’m not talking about that.” The same can be said about former New Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens. Both players are on the Contemporary Era ballot. In the last election in 2022 Bonds or Clemens did not receive more than four votes. Reasons given for the lack of votes to get in the Hall involvement in the PEDs scandal and the Hall of Fame’s character clauses. Rule changes in the Hall of Fame Committee state that any player, manager, executive who doesn’t get five or more votes will they will have to sit out the next three year voting cycle.

#2 Amaury, It was a short stint for Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole 34 who pitched in two spring training games and gave up seven runs. The Yankees ace said he felt pain in his elbow going into Friday and went through imaging tests which showed a torn ulnar collateral ligament that will require Cole to need Tommy John surgery that ends his 2025 season.

#3 Amaury, a mash up of the Texas Rangers caps, jersey and logos has created a visual of a vulgar word in Spanish the New Era cap in the 5950 collection has the T block superimposed over the X in the block in the word “Texas” it was a logo that appeared in the front of the team’s jerseys. MLB did not make any comment about enforcing the change. The Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, and Sacramento A’s mashed up hats also spell hidden vulgar words as well. Is this something that MLB didn’t catch or was making a buck more important than catching these hidden in plain sight words?

#4 Lawrence Butler signed a huge seven year $65.5 million deal with the Sacramento A’s on Monday. Butler met with the press in right field where Butler plays and where a table and chairs were set up to take questions from the media. Butler in 2024 hit .262, 22 home runs, and 57 RBIs.

#5 Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts signed a four year $32.4 million contract extension which calculates to a $8.1 million annual salary. The contract eclipses Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell’s $40 million annual salary. The Dodgers as an organization continue to show why they take care of their players, employees, broadcasters, and now manager Dave Roberts.

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: At 81 years old Pete Rose asks for another chance to get into the Hall

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Former Cincinnati Red and Philadelphia Phillie Pete Rose doffs his cap to the Citizen’s Bank in Philadelphia crowd on Sun Aug 7, 2022 at an alumni event. Rose has asked MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred this week to forgive him and allow him the chance to get back into baseball in a letter to Manfred’s office. (AP News photo)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Former Cincinnati Red great and lifetime banned player Pete Rose has asked for forgiveness and one more chance for enshrinement in to baseball’s hollowed Hall of Fame. Rose who was banned for life for betting on baseball and betting on his team as a manager of the Reds in a letter sent to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred this week pleading to allow Rose one more chance to end the lifetime ban and allow him a shot at getting elected into the Hall of Fame.

Rose since being banned by the late baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti back in 1989. Giamatti at the time made clear that there was no way he would consider the MLB all time hits leader a chance at forgiveness and a way back into baseball and into the Hall of Fame.

It’s been nearly 33 years since the ban and Rose is 81 years old and wrote asking Manfred to consider reinstating him back into the National Pastime saying: “I am writing today for three reasons,” Rose wrote this week “First, because at my age I want to be 100% sure that you understand how much I mean it when I say that I’m sorry. Second, to ask for your forgiveness. And third, because I still think every day about what it would mean to be considered for the Hall of Fame.”

Rose since his confession of betting on baseball and the lifetime ban had said in the letter that he let his father down and his former manager Sparky Anderson down that he thinks about it everyday and that was one of the biggest disappointments in his life. Rose stated that besides spending time with his partner and his kids as his life’s greatest joy he would like to have the chance to get back to the ball park with the fans and spend time with his former teammates.

Rose said that he has spent the last 33 plus years soul searching and expressed his deepest regret for gambling on baseball and his team the Reds when he was the manager of the club. Rose basically is saying that he’s in his early 80s and would like to be forgiven, given another chance from Manfred and he could be a positive influence in baseball if the ban were lifted. In the sports hobby despite the lifetime baseball ban Pete Rose’s artifacts are hot commodities, baseball cards, signed pennants, gloves, bats, his rookie card from 1963 commands an asking price in mint condition at $40,000.

Rose has appeared at baseball card shows and has commanded some of the longest wait times for signatures of some of the top Major League players. Rose is serving a lifetime ban from baseball with eight other MLB players who were on the 1919 Chicago White Sox better know as the Black Sox who were accused of betting and throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. The eight men out from that 1919 White Sox team, Had Felsch, Chuck Gandil, Ed Cicotte, Joe Jackson, Buck Weaver, Swede Risberg, Fred McMullin, and Claude Williams.

During the steroid era the players from that time who are not banned from baseball but seldom have been invited back to join their old teams for special festivities and honors. None of the steroid era players have been elected to the Hall of Fame but could be by a special committee namely Barry Bonds, Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa are names as possible candidates through a special committee called the Today’s Game Committee.

As Rose might be watching Bonds, Schilling, Clemens and Sosa get elected into the Hall of Fame he might still be waiting on the sidelines for that one chance he was asking for to get inducted into the game’s hollowed halls.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB–2022 Hall of Fame Ballot PED Guys will fall Short

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Barry Bonds (left) and Roger Clemens (right) are holding out hope that the MLB Baseball Writers of America Association will vote them into the Hall of Fame but reports say it’s very unlikely (ESPN file photo)

MLB–2022 Hall of Fame Ballot PED Guys will fall Short

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

These “steroids era” players will probably fall short. Barry Bonds with an MLB record 762 home runs and seven MVP Awards, Roger Clemens, with a record seven-Cy Young Awards, are the two first and then possibly Alex Rodríguez, who some time ago admitted to using PED’s and said it might cost him the Hall of Fame.

David Ortíz is an interesting case, he also admitted to using PED’s years ago. Other interesting characters are Samuel “Sammy” Sosa, who said he “never tested positive for steroids” during his career and in 2005 he appeared in front of the US Congress House Committee on Government Reform together with Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro as well as some baseball executives.

But if you want to talk about it interesting, how about Curt Schilling, who a year ago asked to be removed from the 2022 HOF list, but was rejected and will remain on the BBWAA ballot for the tenth and final time.

About a year ago Schilling called the Baseball Writers Association of America a bunch of “spineless cowards”. Schilling was never connected to steroids use or any PED’s during his career, but his controversial twitters became a litmus test for most of those that opposed his point of view.

If you are eligible you are eligible, it should only be about your baseball career. It is the Hall of Fame not the Hall of Saints and baseball should not bring statues down, but build it for their heroes.

I do give a lot of credit to the BBWAA for rejecting Curt Schilling’s wishes to be removed from the ballot. If we go down that rabbit hole, we must also, never elect or maybe remove some that are already in Cooperstown.

I am sure if research is done there will be found to be some very unsavory characters in the Hall. Such Hall of Fame luminaries like Roger Hornsby, a .358 lifetime hitter who batted over .400 three times, there were persistent rumors he was a member of the KKK.

The great Ty Cobb, who by all accounts was a terrible human being who won a history-leading 12-batting titles, was an admitted racist. He is in Cooperstown. Cap Anson was widely reported by the media he was totally opposed to black players in baseball.

Back to the present. Some of the greatest sluggers in recent history who are tied to the use of PED’s, steroids and their home run totals: Barry Bonds 762, Alex Rodríguez 696, Sammy Sosa 609, Mark McGwire 583, Rafael Palmeiro 569, Manny Ramírez 555.

Among the luminaries of the mound; Roger Clemens, a tremendous 24-year career ended with 354 wins, 3.12 earned run average, and 4,672 strikeouts, a 6-time 20+ game-winner. Clemens won a MLB record of seven Cy Young Awards.

I have a feeling a lot of ballots will be blank this year. However, if a BBWAA writer does not send a ballot that means he/she is abdicating his/her responsibility. Each of the writers who vote can choose from 0 to 10 candidates. Last year no player reached the 75% minimum

Inductees from the era committee, elected last year: Six, Buck O’Neil, Bud Fowler, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Orestes (Minnie) Miñoso, and Gil Hodges are in already. Remote possibility they will add any others on this list

There is a guy that played more games than anybody else, 3,562 and also lead everybody in history in hits with 4,256, was selected to 17 All Star Games, yet he is the first to be banned from baseball (1989), for life since 1943 as an investigation determined he bet on games with the Cincinnati Reds while he was the manager.

Peter Edward Rose “Mr.Hustle”, is still waiting for a Commissioner who will Pardon him. Note: His violation was while he was managing, not as a player. But gambling has always been the “capital sin” in the game.

Each voting cycle, qualified members of the BBWAA name no more than ten eligible players whom they consider worthy of Hall of Fame honors. To be enshrined, a player must be named on at least 75% of the voters’ ballots. Currently, players are removed from the ballot if they are named on fewer than 5% of ballots or have been on the ballot ten times without election.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: 49ers head to Dallas Sunday; Raiders in Cincinnati Saturday; MLB lockout update; plus more

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San Francisco 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (4) picks off a pass for an interception intended for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Ben Skowronek (18) at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sun Jan 9, 2022. The 49ers advanced to the NFC playoffs Sun Jan 16, 2022 against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury’s:

#1 The San Francisco 49ers on the last day of the season needed to defeat the Los Angeles Rams in a game that could not have been scripted any better. Winning on a field goal in the fourth quarter 27-24 and now advance to the NFC Playoffs for this Sun Jan 16th in Arlington against the Dallas Cowboys.

#2 The Las Vegas Raiders were another team that just got into post season battling it out with the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football. With the game all tied 32-32 in overtime and no time left the Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson booted a 47 yard field goal that got the Raiders into post season 35-32 in a game that was almost scripted for a Hollywood movie. The Raiders had their share of tragedies this season but bounced back winning their last four games to get into post season.

#3 Amaury, why aren’t the owners and players talking in MLB from the sound of it spring training in February and March could be put on hold until something is agreed upon. Feb 26th is the first spring training game and it looks in question.

#4 The St Louis Cardinals announced they have canceled their annual winter warmup Bill Dewitt III the Cardinals team president said unfortunately due to the current circumstances of the lockout the planning of the winter warm up has been canceled. This was an opportunity to allow fans to interface with Cards players. Baseball is huge in St Louis so you can imagine many Cardinal fans will be disappointed.

#5 In the MLB Baseball Hall of Fame voting Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens it was reported on ESPN will not get enough votes to make the Hall of Fame and former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling who was 16 votes short last year will be much shorter last year due to that dark cloud of steroid use.

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

No players selected to be in Baseball’s Hall of Fame this year

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Former Boston Red Sox Curt Schilling who failed election in to the MLB Hall of Fame on Tue Jan 26, 2021 namely because of his controversial political views requested to be taken off next year’s ballot and will try and get in in front of the Veteran Committee in 2022 (MassLive.com file photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The eligible members of the BBWAA (baseball writers association of America) did not select any player to the Hall of Fame this year. It was the first time since 1960 that they did not select a player. A player needs 75% of the vote to make it to the Hall. Players have ten years of eligibility. They can gain entrance later if selected by a committee of former players.

There were three players on the ballot that had the best chance of getting selected. They are pitchers Curt Schilling and Roger Clemens. The other player is Barry Bonds. All three are in the ninth year of eligibility.

Schilling received 71% of the vote. He has asked the people at the Hall of Fame to remove him from the ballot next year. He claims that he is willing to take his chances with the players’ committee. The Hall is considering his request. Many people think that Schilling didn’t get the 75% required for entrance due to his political views.

Schilling holds extreme right-wing positions. Many people were shocked that he allegedly made remarks supporting the people who attacked and vandalized the Capitol on January 6th, 2021.

The Hall of Fame vote took place before the attack but might affect the vote later this year. The Hall of Fame is a museum. Many people in the Hall have character less than sterling. The Hall voters have to vote on the players’ performance. Is Schilling worthy enough to be in the Hall? He won 219 games in his career.

Schilling is a three-time World Champion. He won one with the Arizona Diamondbacks and two with the Boston Red Sox. His courage and fortitude on the mound can not be questioned. His performance in game six of the 2004 AL Championship series is legendary. He beat the Yankees to send the series to game seven. The Red Sox won that game and then beat the St Louis Cardinal to win the World Series for the first time in 86 years.

Roger Clemens won over 350 games with the Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros. He won seven Cy Young Awards as the best pitcher in the American League. His numbers should mean induction into the Hall.

The fly in the ointment is the claim that he, allegedly, used performance enhancing drugs. Clemens never failed a drug test. He received about 61 % of the vote last year and about the same this year. His chances of getting in next year are slim. He will have to wait until later.

Barry Bonds was one of the best hitters ever to put on a uniform to play baseball. Bonds won the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award seven times. No other player in Major League history has won it more than three times.

Bonds holds the single-season record for most home runs with 73. He broke Henry Aaron’s record of 755 homers in a career in 2007. He finished his career with 762. Bonds, like Clemens, never failed a drug test. He, too, had to deal with accusations that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

There may be people in the Hall that used steroids to help them hit or pitch. Many voters are not willing to vote for players that “cheated.” Some voters are willing to say that Clemens and Bonds using steroids during those years was not illegal.

Attendance at baseball games dropped after the player’s strike in 1994. The teams’ owners looked the other way when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa sent balls flying out of the parks in 1998. McGwire finished with 70, and Sosa had 66. Clemens and Bonds will have to wait. They have the numbers for entrance. Many people believe they should be included. Only time will tell.

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