Tag: Sacramento A’s

A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Dodgers Walker Buehler Walks away from A’s offer; Minor League park will keep big signings away

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Free agent and former Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Walker Buehler delivers against the New York Mets in game 3 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wed Oct 16, 2024. Buehler recently was offered to negotiate with the A’s but declined the offer on Thu Nov 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Last Thursday Los Angeles Dodgers free agent pitcher Walker Buehler express no interest at all in pitching for the Sacramento A’s as acknowledged by A’s manager Mark Kotsay. Although Buehler didn’t say it that he would not want to sign up to play in a minor league park for multiple years.

#2 This considering Buehler had a rough 2024 season with 5.38 ERA with a 2.29 strike out to walk ratio. In spite of the opportunity from the A’s it was “thanks but no thanks” from the veteran pitcher.

#3 Just talking about other free agents how many will stay away from signing with the A’s and for the future of the A’s how many players will stay away because of low salaries and the A’s reputation for not being competitive.

#4 This whole idea of playing in a small minor league park, in a small market TV 20th in the country and it gets even worse when they move to Vegas they will be in the 40th size TV market the smallest in baseball do you agree that will keep players away?

#5 In spite of improvements to Sutter Health Ballpark with a two story clubhouse, putting bleachers in the right field grass area, new weight rooms, and modern facilities. It’s the whole concept of playing in a minor league facility there will still be a space problem no matter how hard the A’s and Sacramento River Cats try to improve it for MLB.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Rays repair damage $56 million to fix the Trop; West Sacramento would like to keep the A’s

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The roof of the Tropicana Field is damaged the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the region, Oct. 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Tampa Bay Rays are now being mentioned for relocation from Tampa Bay after having Tropicana Field destroyed by Hurricane Milton on October 9th. The damages for repair is estimated at $56 million and the Rays will play their 2025 season in the spring training home of the New York Yankees George M Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

#2 The move to Steinbrenner Field for the Rays puts them as the second big league club not to play in a Major League facility for the 2025 season as the A’s of Sacramento will be playing their home games in minor league park Sutter Health Park in 2025.

#3 The Rays are at a tough crossroads here as Tampa Bay Mayor Ken Welch wants to go ahead and repair the Trop but with the Rays getting a new stadium in 2029 they might end up playing their regular season games at George Steinbrenner Field until their new stadium is ready?

#4 The construction cost for the A’s Las Vegas ballpark at $1.5 billion is still yet to be seen. A’s owner John Fisher’s spokesperson Sandy Dean said recently at the Las Vegas Stadium Authority meeting headed by Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce CEO Steven Hill that the Fisher Family will be putting up the $1.5 billion to cover their share of the construction costs. The bill to help supplement SB1 is due Dec 5th.

#5 Meanwhile until things are sorted out in Las Vegas, West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero has said that West Sacramento can build a 40-50 thousand seat ballpark for the A’s by the Sacramento River Bridge. The A’s are focused on playing in Las Vegas after the 2027 season.

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

A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Mayor of West Sacramento is convinced city can build 40-50 thousand seat ballpark for A’s

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Sacramento Rivercats owner Vivek Ranadive has welcomed A’s owner John Fisher at Sutter Health Park for the 2025-27 seasons before the team moves to Las Vegas (Sacramento Bee photo)

On the A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero said that the City of West Sacramento can build a 40 to 50 thousand seat stadium along the Sacramento River and Mayor Guerrero said that she’s convinced that they can bring Major League Baseball to West Sacramento.

#2 Guerrero said that West Sacramento would like to work with the land owners near the river to see how they would like to shape it. They would help with the design and the city would help navigate with the existing land that they have.

#3 A’s owner John Fisher when he came up for the press conference in West Sacramento said that he mentioned West Sacramento as an interesting place to play ball. It’s something that the A’s would consider.

#4 The Tropicana in Las Vegas already has demoed the towers and is clearing the space for the ball park. What’s left is the John Fisher family to put together the $1 billion for the construction costs of the park. The deadline to make the construction cost payment is Dec 5th where the Las Vegas Stadium Authority will be holding a meeting.

#5 One thing to keep in mind the population contrast with Sacramento vs. West Sacramento is a huge gap. Sacramento’s population is 526,384 and West Sacramento’s population 55,842. Also to keep in mind West Sacramento is in Yolo County which is much smaller than Sacramento. With West Sacramento having the smaller population and less taxes coming in how would they pay for a ball park?

Join Daniel for the Oakland A’s podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary–The Improved Sacramento Park for the Athletics 

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Sutter Health Park Sacramento from behind outfield grass view. The future interim home of the Athletics for 2025-2027. (photo by the Sacramento Rivercats)

The Improved Sacramento Park for the Athletics

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

1-Although it was said Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento was originally planned to have artificial turf, that didn’t happen because the players and agents raised concerns about the heat and potential for injury. It will be natural grass.

2-A new clubhouse. It will be a two-story clubhouse located beyond the left field wall. There will be a dressing room, gym, training room, dining room.kitchen and, of course, Batting cages.

3-For Fans. The Gilt-Edge Club, an open-air lounge located in the right field, a private bar with complimentary beer and wine, hot dog, and nacho stations.

4-Premium seating. The Tower View tables and Diamond View Dugout offer VIP entrance, complimentary welcome drinks, and in-seat service

5-Television. Camera capabilities were improved to provide major league quality broadcasts.

6-Regular media, baseball writers, radio AND television reporters. TBD.

7-Schedule. Because of the heat in Sacramento, the A’s are expected to play most of their games at night.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Eovaldi walks away from $20 million and Rangers declares free agency; Cole and Yanks settle on not changing the contract; plus more news

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Former Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi will be seeking greener pastures as Eovaldi has declined the $20 million offer by the Rangers and will not return for the 2025 season and will declare free agency and seek a new club. (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Texas Rangers Two time All Star starter RHP Nathan Eovaldi became a free agent on Monday. Eovaldi declined a vested $20 million player option with the Rangers for next season. Eovaldi will get a $2 million buyout. In 2023 Eovaldi pitched in the deciding game that landed the Rangers the World Series Championship. Eovaldi was 5-0 with a 2.85 ERA in the 2023 post season.

# 2 New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole was prepared to leave after asking for a $36 million extension that would raise his contract from $140 million to $180 million. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Cole sat down and hashed things out. It was agreed upon that both sides wanted to stay in New York so it was agreed that there would be no extension raise and Cole would finish out his current contract as a Yankee.

#3 Amaury, 13 players are getting qualifying offers which includes the Yankees Juan Soto as free agency began on Monday. Soto hit .288, 166 hits, 41 homers, and 109 RBIs. No doubt Soto will be well sought after if he ever hits the market but like Cole he might want to stay in New York too.

#4 Two San Francisco Giants were awarded the Golden Glove Awards third baseman Matt Chapman and catcher Patrick Bailey both had a superb season at their respective positions.

#5 The former Oakland Athletics released brand new guidelines and saying they will be referred to as the Athletics or A’s not the Sacramento A’s where they will be playing for the next three years at Sutter Health Park. The A’s are foregoing any mention of Sacramento and do not want fans to be confused with any city name because they have already vacated Oakland and eventually will vacate Sacramento in 2028.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Will World Series ticket prices beat the A’s regular season prices?

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Logo for the 2024 World Series (image by Capital One “What’s in your wallet”)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury the lowest priced ticket for a for game 1 ticket of the 2024 World Series is $1122 at Dodger Stadium. That’s a little over $500 over what the Sacramento A’s want for a ticket at Sutter Health Park for a regular season game. It’s got to the point where you can’t afford to go to a ball game anymore.

#2 The A’s are offering season ticket plans that run $15,000 to $20,000 a seat which works out to $300 a game. Is this a matter of the A’s getting over on the Sacramento fan or the fans getting a great deal to see Major League Baseball for the first time in the Capital City?

#3 The A’s will have three year stint at Sutter Health as an interim place to play until 2028. The A’s and MLB are rethinking installing artificial turf and go with natural turf. The artificial turf idea was a sticking point with the players but it looks as if the A’s and MLB are going to relent and keep it as natural turf.

#4 This past week A’s owner John Fisher was in Las Vegas for the implosion of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino and he actually spoke to the press saying he was upwards and onwards towards the construction of the new A’s ballpark problem is as of today Fisher has not paid his share of the construction costs for the park. Can he beat the December deadline?

#5 Moving onto another baseball player in the past and he’s still around today a former Atlanta Brave 85 year old Dominican Rico Carty. Carty played from 1963 breaking in with the Milwaukee Braves and retiring with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1979. Carty had a career batting average of .299 and did so well he earned a starting role in the 1970 All Star as a write in candidate. Is Rico a member of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and there has to be a little doubt he would be a well deserved member.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does the That’s Amaury podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sports

Sacramento A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s owner Fisher makes rare public statement regarding move to Vegas and Tropicana implosion

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After standing 67 years (1957) the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas was imploded on Wed Oct 9, 2024 to make room for the incoming Sacramento A’s for the target dates 2028 or 2029 seasons. (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel, the Tropicana was founded in 1957 and was imploded Wednesday Oct 9th. The Tropicana was one of the longest standing hotel casinos in Las Vegas strip history. The now demolished lot will be designated for a new Las Vegas A’s ball park on nine acres and the rest of the property will used for building hotel towers and casinos.

#2 For preparation of the implosion of the two Tropicana towers that once housed tourists, dignitaries, guests, and those who stayed at the Tropicana just to roll the dice the public was kept away for safety reasons.

#3 The implosion lasted only 22 second and was livestreamed that included 555 drones and a fireworks show. The resort had closed on April 2nd just as the 2024 baseball season and what would be the A’s last and final season in Oakland.

#4 A statement from A’s owner John Fisher: “The demolition of the Tropicana is an important milestone in the process of bringing A’s baseball to the world-renowned Las Vegas Strip and the community of Southern Nevada,” said Fisher in a Baily’s news release right after the implosion. “We hope that, in time, this site will become a place of unforgettable experiences for fans of the game.” Some still doubt that Fisher can get his share of the construction costs and that the A’s will ever move to Las Vegas.

#5 It’s the first time a casino has been imploded since the Riviera was imploded to make room for the construction of the Las Vegas convention center. Only the Sahara remains standing as the last of the hotel and casinos built in the 1950s.

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

Oakland era of the A’s closes with 6-4 loss at Seattle

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Last time anyone will ever see the Oakland A’s on deck circle which was used against the Seattle Mariners at T Mobile Park in Seattle on the very last day of the season Sun Sep 29, 2024 as the A’s will depart for Sacramento for the 2025 season going forward (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Sunday, September 29, 2024

For the final time, the name “Oakland” appeared on the visiting uniform of the Athletics Sunday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. The A’s lost the 2024 season finale 6-4 to the Mariners.

For the next three seasons, the Athletics will only be identified with their nickname as they play at their temporary home, Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. The A’s finished their final season in the East Bay 69-93.

A charter member of the American League, the Athletics called Philadelphia home from 1901-1954. They resided in Kansas City from 1955-67 before owner Charles O. Finley moved the A’s to Oakland in 1968.

Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (9-12) was perfect for 5 2/3 innings, and Cal Raleigh belted a two-run home run to spark the Mariners’ victory. Gilbert struck out seven while ending the season with 208 2/3 innings to lead all of MLB – the first Seattle pitcher to do so.

Raleigh’s homer capped a four-run Mariners rally in the fifth inning, giving him 93 for his career – the most by a cancer in their first four seasons. He passed Mike Piazza on the list, and finished the season with 100 runs batted in – the first Seattle catcher to reach that plateau.

Justin Turner had a two-run single for Seattle and teammates Victor Robles and Julio Rodríguez added RBI base hits, as the Mariners finished 85-77.

Oakland starter Mitch Spence (8-10) gave up all six runs on seven hits while striking out five without a walk. Joe Boyle and Kyle Muller combined to throw 3 2/3 shutout innings in relief.

Tyler Nevin’s two-run double in the seventh put the A’s on the board, and Darell Hernaiz had a two-run double for Oakland in the top of the ninth.

There was a contingent of A’s fans who were part of the announced attendance of 42,177, often chanting “Let’s Go Oakland.” Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson threw the ceremonial first pitch wearing a half-A’s/half-Mariners jersey – Henderson spent most of his career with the A’s and played part of 2000 with Seattle.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Why MLB Players have not signed off for Sacramento 2025 season yet; Coliseum memories

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Chicago Cubs runner Miles Mastrobuoni (left) is forced at second base by Oakland A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson at Wrigley Field on Thu Sep 19, 2024. The A’s play their last homestand between Sep 20-26 before moving to Sacramento at the end of the regular season. (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, the countdown to closing up the Oakland Coliseum is just five games away each time you come to the park it’s really hard to believe that this ball club you covered for decades will no longer be playing in Oakland anymore after Thursday afternoon?

#2 When you talk about the A’s move to Sacramento it’s almost hard to fathom. I wanted to ask you about the MLB Players Association they have not signed off on playing in Sacramento yet. They have said that playing on artificial turf in 100 degree heat in Sacramento is not something that’s going to work for the health and safety of the players. Could this end up being a hang up that could drag maybe into December?

#3 When you look back on the history of the Coliseum it opened in 1968 with Governor Ronald Reagan throwing out the first ball and the A’s had joined the San Francisco Giants as the second team in the Bay Area ever since that time in good and bad times it was always exciting for baseball fans to know there were two Bay Area teams to see each and every season.

#4 This last Oakland A’s team showed a lot of grit this season and had players who have a great future in Major League Baseball with hitters like Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, JJ Bleday, Shea Langeliers, and Seth Brown. These guys competed and gave some of the best teams in baseball fits.

#5 Amaury you’ve been calling A’s games out of the Coliseum since the 1970s you’ve had numerous broadcast partners and working with some of the best Spanish radio broadcast talent in baseball had to really give you something to really look back on over the years.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish 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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s to play home games in Sacramento in 2025; As the Park Turns – What Sacramento will not ask the A’s

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Outside of Sutter Health Park a simulated West Sacramento Bridge slide next to the real one equipped with glove in the children’s playground. Sutter Health Park will be the home of the 2025-28 Oakland A’s while the Tropicana Ballpark in Las Vegas will be constructed and ready by 2028. (photo by Sutter Health Park)

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s will be playing their 2025 season at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento as the A’s and Sacramento River Cats owner Vivek Ranadive have come to agreement and pathway for the A’s to play all their home games in Sacramento. The details of the plan are forthcoming at the end of the week according to Sactown Sports.

The A’s announced Tuesday after they reviewed the “leaked to the media” proposal/offer to the A’s to extend their Coliseum lease for five years (minimum of three) for $97 million plus other demands. The A’s put a press release stating that they did not agree and that no further meetings were planned with Oakland officials. This long A’s stadium saga is not as long as ‘As the World Turns”, the legendary TV Soap Opera that ran on CBS for 54 years. But it is becoming like the Telemundo “Esmeralda”.

Nobody knows how this is going to end. Many say, “It is not a done deal,” leaving from Oakland to Las Vegas. I agree that the only “done deal” in life are taxes and death and that The Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel has closed its doors after more than six decades of memories. The famed venue, home to the city’s longest-running cabaret, The Folies Bergere, nearly made it to its 67th anniversary before closing on Tuesday, April 2. We know these things are a “done deal”.

However, we know that Sacramento will not ask for the following:

1-Sacramento will not ask the A’s for $97 million to play there for three years or maybe five. 2-They will not ask the A’s to sell half of their stake in the Alameda-County Coliseum, among other demands Oakland had in that proposal, including extending their lease. Oakland is not Sacramento.

However, Sacramento is especially interested in the A’s because, as a “trial for a few years” at Sutter Park, if they get the A’s, they are banking that they can prove to Major League Baseball that their city of Sacramento should be seriously considered for a future expansion team.

Sutter Park’s 14,000-plus capacity is not MLB standard, but for the A’s in the last few years, including the first home stand this 2024 season, that is a good crowd. Opening Night at Oakland 2024 last Thursday, 13,522 fans attended the game against Cleveland, and at least half were rooting for the Guardians, maybe more. The A’s fans’ noise came from the crowd boycotting in the parking lot.

But let’s get to the point. David Samson was the President of the Major League Miami Marlins from 2002 to 2017. He was involved with the new Marlins Park next to Little Havana in Miami—the ins and outs of the new Marlins Park.

Samson hosts “Nothing Personal,” a top-rated podcast. He has been following the A’s stadium situation for a long time. This is what Mr. Samson said a day before the A’s met with the City of Oakland, and they did not agree to the 3-5 year extension at the Oakland Coliseum. By the way, Samson also predicted that nothing would be decided upon during the meeting (the third) between the A’s and Oakland. He has experience as an MLB team President, especially when his team, the Marlins, was building their new ballpark, which they play today,

Mr. Samson said this on his podcast: “The A’s need to find a stadium to play before Las Vegas Stadium if they even open. In other words, they need to get a deal in Sacramento and negotiate a deal with their TV partner. Figure out the logistics with the Rivercats.

They have to make sure it is a Major League-ready facility and what this is code for; it doesn’t mean the fans have to have concession stands or that there is good ingress and egress. When you say Major League ready, all that means is players’ facilities behind the scenes you do not see as a fan. It means the weight room, the food room, how the players get to the clubhouse, how they get to the bullpen, all the pleasures and comfort that Tony Clark loves to make sure players enjoy during the season.” (quote)

Commissioner Rob Manfred is under pressure to deliver a playing baseball-ready park for the Oakland A’s while building their new facility in Las Vegas, expected to be ready for Opening Day 2028. Manfred said MLB needs a schedule.

The other teams (including the A’s) deserve a schedule very soon; that is the norm. Tony Clark is the Executive Director of the Major League Players Association. Sure, he will have to say that if Sutter Park is a “baseball-ready” facility, everybody knows it is a minor league park, but the A’s are running out of options. The A’s and the City of Oakland have been butting heads for a long time. Some say today (Wednesday), Sacramento might have a deal in place.

The Next chapter is being scripted.

Adiós.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg also does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com