That's Amaury News and Commentary – Page 10

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: From My Baseball Notebook Strategy You Don’t see Everyday

Published on December 1, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former San Francisco Giant outfielder Barry Bonds once walked with the bases loaded on May 28, 1998 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Here is Bonds in action trying to score at the plate at Candlestick Park. (USA Today file photo)

From My Baseball Notebook Strategy You Don’t see Everyday

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Date and Place: May 28, 1998, at Candlestick Park/3Com Park, San Francisco, as the Giants’ Spanish play-by-play announcer on station KIQI 1010AM, San Francisco. Below is what happened.

At the time, nobody really believed it was happening. I witnessed a very rare play in baseball history during a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants, The Game: It was the bottom of the ninth inning when Arizona’s manager Buck Showalter ordered an intentional walk to the Giants’ dangerous slugger Barry Bonds with the bases loaded and two outs.

Arizona was leading 8-6, and manager Showalter chose to give the Giants a free run by giving the intentional bases on balls to Bonds. Showalter intentionally walked Bonds and made the game 8-7. The next batter was Diamondbacks catcher Brett Mayne.

The 12,066 crowd were on their feet when Mayne hit a solid line drive to deep right field as Stan Javier caught the last out, and Buck Showalter, and his counterpart Dusty Baker, manager of the Giants, both could breathe again as the game came to a conclusion in 3 hours 26 minutes.

Buck Showalter was a genius with that strategy as his Arizona Diamondbacks won 8-7 over the Giants. For most people, including me, at the Press Box and Broadcast booths, it was the first time we witnessed such a moment in a game.

That season, Barry Bonds won the NL MVP award, hitting .303 with 37 home runs and 122 runs batted in. The Ultimate Respect: A manager gets paid to win games, and uses his baseball knowledge and strategy in every game, but during this game, Diamondback’s manager, Buck Showalter, gave Barry Bonds the ultimate respect, an intentional base on balls to walk in a run (with the game on the line) in the ninth inning and prevailed.

How many times has this happened? Only eight times in history has a player been intentionally walked with the bases loaded in the Major Leagues. Here they are: Abner Dalrymple (1881), Nap Lajoie (1901), Del Bissonette (1928), Mel Ott (1929), Bill Nicholson (1944), BARRY BONDS (1998), Josh Hamilton (2008) and the most recent instance was in 2022, when the LA Angels intentionally walked Corey Seager. Of the eight on this list, two are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame: and Museum Nap Lajoie and Mel Ott.

However, what I called at the mic that night in May at a cold and windy Candlestick Park was done only by two players in history to win the game: Barry Bonds in this game,1998 and Josh Hamilton in 2008, both of whom were walked by their respective managers in the ninth inning of a game. The only time I have seen this in my life as a fan or broadcaster. What they say, “you never know what you’ll see at the ballpark”

Major League Baseball Record for Intentional Bases on Balls. For one season (Barry Bonds), 120 times in 2004, Career Record: Barry Bonds 688.

“I was such a dangerous hitter, I even got intentional walks during batting practice” -Casey Stengel.

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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From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Holy Bat

Published on November 29, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

Pope Leo XIV receives a baseball bat that once belonged to Hall of Famer Nellie Fox. (Photo via Vatican Media)

Holy Bat

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Pope Leo XIV, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born in Chicago on September 14, 1955. The Pope recently visited Turkey, a positive visit of religious outreach preaching Peace to the world and Christian unity. Along the way, upon his return, he received an unexpected gift.

Chris Livesay, CBS News foreign correspondent, was on assignment traveling with Pope Leo when he gifted a baseball bat to the pontiff. It was a family heirloom from Livesay. This was not any bat, but one used by White Sox legend, second baseman, and Hall of Famer Nellie Fox. “Oh, wow,” The Pope exclaimed as he received the bat featuring Fox’s initials and number. “How did you get this through security?” he then joked. Pope Leo XIV roots for the Chicago White Sox.

The Chicago native has been widely reported as a White Sox fan, even sporting their cap during public appearances at the Vatican and playfully joking about the rival Chicago Cubs. Pope Leo is the first Pope to root for a baseball team in history. The late Pope Francis was a lifelong and avid fan of Futbol (Soccer here in the US).

Growing up in Argentina, Pope Francis probably had no choice since Futbol in Argentina is like a religion. Pope Leo is the first-ever American-born Pope in history and the 266th Pope. The first Pope was Saint Peter. Peter’s real name was Simon.

When he became an apostle of Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian faith, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy, is often cited as the largest Catholic Church in the world, with a greater seating and standing capacity and a greater height than any other.’

Pope Leo XIV was named Pope of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025, at the Vatican. Here in the United States, soon after he was elected Pope, both teams, the White Sox and the Cubs, claimed he was a fan. However, he wore a White Sox cap earlier this year and rooted from the stands during World Series Game 1 in 2016; his prayers were answered as the club celebrated its first World Series championship since 1917.

But when he gets a chance, he also roots for the crosstown Cubs. I am sure that, as a good man of Chicago, he prays for both teams. “Baseball is the only sport mentioned in the Bible. “In the Big Inning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

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

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Are you a Superstitious A’s Fan?

Published on November 27, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland Raiders fans express their disappointment in 2019 about the team moving to Las Vegas (photo from the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Are you a Superstitious A’s Fan?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Just like there are some Oakland A’s fans here in the Bay Area rooting for the A’s even as they play in Sacramento, with the final stop in Las Vegas, there are Oakland Raiders fans who still follow their team, as unfortunate as they have been since they moved to Sin City.

I wonder how many are left. Since we are talking about Las Vegas, I think it’s a good bet that Oakland A’s fans are following the A’s in Sacramento much more than Raiders fans from Oakland are following them in Las Vegas. Here in the East Bay, I do not see many Raiders flags anymore. I remember a few years ago, when Raiders fans were everywhere from Oakland to Milpitas.

This season’s Las Vegas Raiders are one of the worst in recent franchise history. What’s wrong with this Raiders team? Doesn’t take a John Madden-type football brain to tell you they have a lack of consistent talent across the roster, poor offensive and defensive execution, and that the coaching staff’s and management’s recent personnel decisions have been a failure. Aside from that, they are a good team.

Attention A’s fans, does this sound familiar to you? “Because of a long-standing inability to secure a modern stadium deal in Oakland, which had outdated facilities and limited public funding for upgrades, Las Vegas offered a more attractive package with public funding for a new stadium. This made relocation feasible as the Oakland Raiders left for Las Vegas in 2020,” -SF Chronicle.

Since the Raiders left Oakland for the desert in 2020, only in 2021 did they have a winning season with a 10-7 record. Their 2-9 record with 6 games left is bad because, even if they win all 6 games (extremely unlikely), they will still finish with another losing record.

The Raiders rolled the dice and went to Vegas, and they are “crapping out”, which is one of many terms when you roll the dice and do not do well.

A’s owner John Fisher is taking magic lessons from David Cooperfield, one of the greatest magic acts in the history of Vegas, to make believe to the whole world his Oakland A’s are ln the way to that city and that with a 33,000 stadium, he will sell out every game and it will be the greatest move in the history of professional sports. What are the odds on this? Place your bet.

Do you know why turkeys don’t trust each other? Too much foul play.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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

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: Will $1.8 billion loss force MLB to shutdown/lockout in 2027?

Published on November 25, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

New York Mets Juan Soto (22) slugs a three run home run in the fourth inning as Washington Nationals catcher Jorge Alfaro (left) watches at Citi Field in New York on Fri Sep 19, 2025. Soto is the highest paid player on the Mets. The Mets claim they lost $350 million because of their $342 million payroll in the 2025 season. (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

How much of the $1.8 billion loss is due to player payroll, especially on high-spending teams?
- For example, the Mets reportedly lost ~$350 million, largely driven by their $342 M payroll.
Did declining or restructuring media revenue contribute significantly to the losses?
- Around 25% of team revenue comes from media, and teams have reportedly struggled to replace traditional regional sports network (RSN) deals.
- Also, MLB and ESPN mutually ended their $550M/year deal early, which could have left a big revenue gap.
How much of the loss is “paper accounting” versus real cash-flow problems?
- Some insiders suggest these losses are accounting losses — not necessarily indicative of a decline in franchise value.
Is there a structural imbalance in MLB’s economics ( lack of salary cap, uneven revenue sharing) that exacerbates these losses?
- MLB is reportedly considering a salary cap, which could indicate that current spending is unsustainable.
- Wealth disparities between big-market and small-market teams may be playing a role.
Are there longer-term strategic choices or risks ( media strategy, labor uncertainty) that could be contributing to the losses?
- With media rights changing and ESPN opting out, MLB’s future broadcast deals may be less lucrative.
- Also, potential labor issues loom: owners are discussing a salary cap ahead of the collective bargaining agreement expiring in 2026.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary:Bay Area and Los Angeles Area Sports Rivalry

Published on November 24, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers face each other at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles on Tue Nov 25, 2025. Los Angeles is a two team NBA market. (images from reddit.com)

Bay Area and Los Angeles Area Sports Rivalry

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

These two most populous areas of California have an interesting sports rivalry, especially in professional sports leagues. Let’s take a look at recent success stories for these two California sports regions. We are looking at the four most popular Professional leagues in the country. NFL, MLB, NBA. NHL. Looking a respective titles for each league.

Bay Area: Golden State Warriors won the NBA title in 2022. The San Francisco Giants won the MLB World Series in 2014, and the San Francisco 49ers won the NFL Super Bowl in 1995, their fifth consecutive Super Bowl title during their 1990s dynasty.

In Baseball, the last time the San Francisco Giants won the World Series was in 2014. In the NHL, the San José Sharks have never won the Stanley Cup; however, they did reach the 2016 Stanley Cup Final and lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The last title for the Los Angeles area was the Los Angeles Dodgers’ win in the 2025 MLB World Series. The Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl LVI in 2022. The LA Lakers won the NBA title in 2020.

Present: As of today, the LA Area is doing much better than the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Dodgers won the last World Series, as mentioned above. The other two teams, the Rams and the Lakers, are well-positioned to win a title this season.

The Rams, as of today, are leading the NFC West with a 9-2 record, the 49ers occupying third-place with7-4 record. While the Lakers are among the top teams in the NBA Western Conference. The Lakers are in second place behind the Thunder, but it is very early, with over 60 games left for most teams in the NBA. The other team in MLB, the Dodgers, already won the World Series, their second in a row. In MLB, the San Francisco Giants finished 81-81, in third place.

NHL. In the National Hockey League, the Southland’s two teams, the LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks, are not expected to compete for a title this season. Here in the Bay Area, our NHL team, the San José Sharks, although so far showing improvement, is also not considered a team with a good chance of making the playoffs. In the history of these NHL Franchises, the LA-Anaheim Area has the clear lead, with the LA Kings winning two Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014, and the Anaheim Ducks winning one Stanley Cup in 2007.

Happy Thanksgiving.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Pouring Cement in Las Vegas as the Betrayal continues

Published on November 19, 2025November 19, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Oakland A’s president David Kaval in 2016 touted how the A’s would build a new ballpark at Howard Terminal near Jack London Square in Oakland. In 2023 Kaval announced the team would move to Las Vegas and later resigned his position with the A’s. ( photo from Forbes)

A’s Pouring Cement in Las Vegas as the Betrayal continues

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

For Oakland A’s fans, this pouring of cement at their under-construction new location in Las Vegas feels like the Mafia burying them in cement. In my opinion, a relocation that did not have to happen. The Oakland media market is ranked in the Top 10 US markets by Nielsen ratings, while Las Vegas, Nevada, is ranked 40th.

In baseball terms, that is like comparing a .330 hitter in Oakland to a .220 hitter in Las Vegas. But…no problem, “pour more cement” says one guy smoking a Havana at the Tropicana location.. In the late 1950s, Brooklyn Dodgers fans felt a sense of abandonment and loss when they moved to Los Angeles, much as New York Giants fans felt heartbroken and betrayed when they moved to San Francisco in 1958.

The story of the Oakland A’s is in some way similar to that of the two New York teams. Especially because the Dodgers and Giants left New York primarily because of a stadium situation. In New York, with the city planner Robert Moses, plus also financial opportunities in untapped markets in California.

The difference is that California was indeed a huge untapped market for Major League Baseball, offering a great opportunity for these teams. Does anybody believe Las Vegas is like Los Angeles or Oakland-San Francisco? In mid-November 2016, the Oakland A’s named Dave Kaval President of the Oakland Athletics. Kaval would come into our Spanish radio booth at the Oakland Coliseum and talk about the new ballpark for the A’s in Oakland, although he did not speak Spanish, we translated very clear and remember when Kaval would tell us/radio audience: “the new A’s park would be next to the bay, a beautiful setting, just like the Giants across the bay.”

He visited many times to “update us” on the new A’s Oakland ballpark; he spoke of it ad nauseam. A good friend who is a huge baseball fan described Mr Kaval to me simply like this: “he is a weasel”. Before 1958, California had several professional minor league baseball teams, such as the San Francisco Seals in the PCL, where young players like Joe DiMaggio and his brother, Vin DiMaggio, played.

Also, here in California, the great Ted Williams played professional baseball years before the Dodgers and Giants arrived in the Golden State. The Hollywood Stars were a rival of the LA Angels. My father-in-law, (Joe)Clardy, played in the early 1950s for the Las Vegas Wranglers.. which was the only professional baseball team in Las Vegas.

The SF Giants released a statement after the A’s relocation to Las Vegas was announced, calling the move a “loss for all baseball fans” The team acknowledged the A’s as a “big part of Bay Area baseball history” and expressed sadness over the potential departure of their East Bay rivals.

Well, the San Francisco Giants were among all the 30 teams that voted to have the A’s leave Oakland. Like the famous line from The Godfather is ‘It’s not personal. It’s strictly business,” delivered by Michael Corleone and also by Salvatore Tessio.

Note: Currently, the smallest Major League Baseball stadium is Progressive Field in Cleveland with a capacity of 34,830. A’s in Las Vegas is projected to have 33,000 seats, making it the smallest in MLB. It took three months to film the movie “Viva Las Vegas” with Elvis, which also featured some scenes at The Tropicana.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: How will MLB control gambling in the sport?; Qualifying offers and reshaping free agency; plus more news

Published on November 18, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz leaves a Brooklyn federal courthouse Wed Nov 12, 2025 who is facing indictment charges for throwing certain pitches and taking bribes. (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 What are the biggest implications of the indictment of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz for MLB’s integrity and its efforts to police gambling?

#2 With the deadline Tuesday to accept or reject qualifying offers, which players (like Kyle Schwarber) are most likely to decline, and how will that reshape the free-agent market?

#3 How significant is Shohei Ohtani’s unanimous NL MVP and Aaron Judge’s AL MVP win this year — particularly because they’re back-to-back, a historic first?

#4 What could be the long-term impact of the Astros’ Minute Maid Park being rebranded to Daikin Park, both from a business/sponsorship standpoint and for fan perception?

#5 What strategies should teams prioritize now as the offseason really ramps up (with owners’ meetings, free agency, non-tender decisions) to position themselves for the 2026 season?

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Cleveland Guardians Pitchers Indicted for Gambling

Published on November 9, 2025November 9, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Cleveland Guardian pitcher Luis Ortiz works the count on the Minnesota Twins line up at Progressive Field in Cleveland on April 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

Cleveland Guardians Pitchers Indicted for Gambling

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

When it comes to betting in professional sports, it looks like when it rains, it pours”. Now it’s MLB time. Just a few weeks ago, the FBI revealed its investigation into some NBA players and a coach of gambling during games, resulting in indictments and arrests of the defendants.

Now is Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortíz turn who were indicted on charges of alleged gambling misconduct, manipulating bets on individual pitches. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, announced the indictment on Sunday at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.

Ortíz was arrested in Boston for alleged gambling misconduct, specifically manipulating bets on individual pitches. Emmanuel Clase, the closer for the Guardians, was not in custody as of Sunday, when the charges were announced and the indictment unsealed.

The Department of Justice has charged the pair with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy.

This is a developing story, and it is just in the top of the first inning…

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Darryl Strawberry – Story of Redemption –

Published on November 8, 2025November 9, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Darryl Strawberry as a San Francisco Giant in 1994 the only year he played in San Francisco (photo from Photos of Legends)

Darryl Strawberry – Story of Redemption –

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Darryl Strawberry was pardoned by President Trump for his 1995 federal tax evasion conviction. The pardon covers his plea of guilty to tax fraud, though it does not apply to his separate state-level drug-related charges.

The reason being the pardon, according to the White House statement, is that Strawberry served time and paid back the taxes owed after his conviction, and has since become active in ministry and maintained sobriety for over a decade.

Strawberry Ministries, founded by Darryl and Tracy Strawberry, is a ministry in St. Peter, Missouri. It involves speaking at correctional facilities, men’s retreats, plus other events and stories they share of personal transformation and recovery from addiction.

The ministry’s mission is to empower individuals and families through faith in Jesus Christ. Strawberry is a good man, he was a very good player, good with teammates, fans, and media alike.

His career baseball statistics include a .259 batting average,335 home runs, 1,000 RBIs, 221 stolen bases in 17 major league seasons, including the National League 1983 Rookie of the Year, 8-time All Star who played for the Mets, Dodgers, Yankees, and Giants.

He played right field and hit in the fifth position during the 1986 All-Star Game at Astrodome, Houston. A game I had the pleasure of covering. Redemption includes forgiveness of sins, freedom from sin, and reconciliation with God.

Congratulations to Darryl Strawberry on his well-deserved pardon. His career was marked by both great success and personal struggles with addiction and legal issues, but he has since found faith and is now an ordained minister Congratulations to Darryl Strawberry.

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

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

Published on November 4, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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?