Tag: That's Amaury News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Days of Hope, Fremont was in the A’s plans

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Oakland A’s pitcher Yusmeiro Petit signs autographs for fans at the A’s 2018 Fan Fest at Jack London Square in Oakland (photo by the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

Days of Hope, Fremont was in A’s Plans

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

2018 at Jack London Square, where the Oakland Athletics still hoped to build a brand new ballpark, was another year where hope was in the air, hoping the team would remain in The Town.. The A’s Fanfest was popular, with fans gearing up for the season. Little did these fans know that in just a few years, the team would not be playing at Oakland, where they won six American League pennants and four World Series.

The A’s Fanfest at Oakland was always well attended by fans and visitors from all over the Bay Area and the country, baseball people, collectors, tourists, dreamers, and most of all, baseball aficionados seeking autographs from their favorite Oakland A’s players.

The Oakland Athletics had high hopes for staying in Oakland within a new stadium during the years the Oakland Coliseum was deemed outdated and needed replacement. This desire extended across several ownership groups and multiple Bay Area cities, including Oakland, as they struggled to secure funding and land for a new ballpark.

Specifically, the A’s explored options in Fremont, San José, and ultimately, a waterfront site in Oakland. However, the decision to relocate to Las Vegas in 2023 marked the end of these attempts to find a new home in the Bay Area. Currently temporarily playing in Sacramento.

During the A’s Fanfest, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame were busy, as many A’s players would sign autographs and meet with the fans. Next to our location was another non-profit founded by ex-A ‘s Manager and Hall of Famer, Tony LaRussa.

Tony has long advocated for animal welfare and is passionate about helping animals find a home. Tony was not happy about the possibility of the A’s relocating out of the city, which made him a winning manager and a Hall of Fame manager. “I think we should have figured a way; If it wasn’t going to be Oakland, it should have been somewhere in the Bay Area.” -his quote.

Fremont, the city, my home for a longtime was talked about to be the next home of the A’s, not a bad idea, only 20 minutes south of Oakland and even closer to San José, a perfecrt location for the team to stay in the Bay Area.

A meeting to discuss bringing the A’s to Fremont was held at the Saddle Rack in Fremont on February 25, 2009. This meeting was part of a larger effort by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce and local fans to support the team’s relocation to Fremont.

I was there, with the group that supported the idea to have Fremont as the new home of the A’s. But there was also opposition, and they won. Lew Wolff was the team owner at that time and told the citty in a letter that the team stopped all plans to build a state-of-the art stadium in Fremont Wolff, who owned the team told city officials in a letter that the team has stopped all plans to build a state-of-the-art stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area suburb, of Fremont south of its current home at the Oakland Coliseum.

He cited expected delays to the project as a reason for his decision. “Delays that are both real and threatened have made it impossible for me to assure my organization of an implementation date consistent with our needs and the requirements of Major League Baseball,” Wolff wrote in the letter.

He noted that the team had already committed more than $80 million to the project, $24 million of which is not recoverable. Fremont Mayor Bob Wasserman was disappointed by the decision. Wasserman was the Mayor who developed Fremont into one of the Bay Area’s most prosperous and populated cities.

Fremont is the fourth-largest city in the Bay Area, after #1 San José, #2 San Francisco, and #3 Oakland. Fremont is also the home of the #1 Tesla manufacturing plant in the United States, “Silicon Valley East.” Fremont, CA with 230,000 population.

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.

AQUA ADVENTURE WATER PARK CENTRAL PARK FREMONT FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY- OPENS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND https://goaquaadventure.com/

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: ATH and LAD to meet in the 2025 World Series 

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Pennants from the 1988 World Series that featured the Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Dodgers that were on bid. Can the A’s and Dodgers meet again in another World Series sometime in the future? (photo from eBay)

ATH and LAD meet in the 2025 World Series

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Athletics of Sacramento overachieved this season, winning the American League West Division, beating the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, and heading to the World Series in Los Angeles after the Dodgers won 120 games for a new MLB season record.

The most games won in an MLB regular season is 116, a record shared by the 1906 Chicago Cubs and the 2001 Seattle Mariners. The first game of the World Series begins on Friday, October 25, at the remodeled (Looking like new) Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

With the help of AI, the first pitch is thrown by the one and only Frank Sinatra, who was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan since his childhood in New York. For the young kids, who have no idea who this Sinatra guy is, he is probably the greatest singer in American pop history: a Grammy and Oscar winner. Born and raised in Hoboken, New Jersey, there is a statue of the iconic singer, actor, producer, and entrepreneur on the streets of Hoboken.

AT Dodgers Stadium, all 56,000 fans, plus some 5,000 extra standing room only, look at the scoreboard to see the legendary Sinatra throw the first pitch. For the record, Frank Sinatra was good friends with iconic Brooklyn Dodger Manager, Leo Durocher, and later with his Italiano Compagno, Tommy LaSorda. Frequently, after an afternoon game at Dodger Stadium, Frank and Tommy will drop by ‘La Dolce Vita’ in Beverly Hills, the place for celebrities.

I interviewed LaSorda many times, and inside his office were photos with Sinatra and a “Who’s Who in Showbiz. Tommy spoke conversational Español, The aerial Gondola connecting Union Station to the Dodger Stadium property is now completed (a project that took years), the same project which was imitated by then A’s President Dave Kaval during his proposal for the new A’s park at Jack London Square.

That was a failure due to the lack of leadership by the City of Oakland and the Oakland A’s organization; it was ‘the perfect storm’. These Gondolas going up from Union Station to Elysian Park at Dodger Stadium are packed with fans, not to mention the large parking lot.

Over 30 million cars are registered in the State of California, more than half in the LA area, but that parking lot is not that big. Those who cannot attend in person can watch on television, but watching all the games will be complicated.

The games will air on ESPN, FOX, Apple TV+ (for exclusive streaming games), the Roku Channel, and a wide range of games on RSN(Regional Sports Networks). Good luck finding your favorite. \ IMPORTANT: The home games for the ATH for this World Series, will have to be played at another stadium, not Sutter Health Park, because playing a World Series at a minor league park is not acceptable to standards of Major League Baseball.

So, although the Dodgers were not scheduled to play the A’s this year during the regular season in Sacramento, in this imaginary World Series the A’s would have to find a Major League park to play their “home”games.

The Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Dodgers last met in the World Series in 1988. The Dodgers won the series in five games, defeating the Athletics. I broadcast that series in Spanish. Unfortunately, I will not be in the 2025 World Series. “Set your dreams high, and don’t stop till you get there.” – Bo Jackson

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.

DELICIOUS CUBAN FOOD HABANA-CUBA RESTAURANT DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE 387 First Street San Jose CA 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary-Athletics of the Lost Arc

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Aerial view of Sutter Health Park in Sacramento interim home of the Sacramento A’s. The A’s have not sold out one home game yet this season. The closest they came was for their home opener back on Mar 31, 2025 when they drew 12,119 in their 14,014 seat ballpark. (photo by ABC 10 Sacramento)

Athletics of the Lost Arc

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

At the current pace, the ATH playing at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento will draw around 700,000 people for the 2025 season. All the hype that preceded the season about “sold out” tickets before was like the hype failure of Ford’s Edsel.

In business, projecting success is crucial for attracting investment and building confidence. However, projecting success without a solid foundation can lead to problems and ultimately, failure. A strong business needs more than just a positive outlook; it requires a clear strategy, efficient operations, and a team capable of executing it.

Did the A’s “choose well” when they decided to play for three years in Sacramento? Only time will tell. I am not questioning the people or the City of Sacramento; they are just the consumers of the final product.

Common sense tells us that a Major League team playing for the first time in a city they have never played before will have at least a honeymoon of maybe a couple of dozen sellouts, but that has not happened. While the honeymoon has not turned into a divorce yet, it is not progressing as expected.

The Oakland Coliseum’s capacity for baseball was 45,000, compared to Sutter Park Sacramento’s capacity of 14,014 According to my research and all estimates, Sacramento is a dry-weather city for most of the summer.

During baseball season (April to September), they are lucky to get eight inches of rain. For those Oakland A’s fans who remember how rare rain-outs were at the Coliseum, Sacramento is in a different league regarding dry weather.

It is hard to comprehend that it has been 36 years since the first game of the 1989 World Series at the Oakland Coliseum vs. the San Francisco Giants. I worked on that historic event, which was temporarily delayed by the Loma Prieta earthquake.

The Haas family had a long record of success on the field, working with the community, and bringing championship teams to the people of Oakland and the Bay Area. It remains to be seen whether the current regime could duplicate such success.

Of all the promotions a team can have during their season schedule, the most seductive promotion is winning; that is the best thing a team can give to their fans, a winning season. As April concludes, we must wait and see if the 2025 A’s have “chosen wisely.”

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.

FUN THIS SUMMER FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AQUA ADVENTURE WATER PARK OPENS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FREMONT, CA.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Bambino in Cuba in 1920 – Meeting Professor González-Echevarría

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

(Adolfo Luque Cuban Pioneer 1920’s Cincinnati Reds photo from the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

The Bambino in Cuba in 1920 – Meeting Professor González-Echevarría —

That’s Amaury News and Commentary-

Amaury Pi-González

Babe Ruth visited and played baseball in Havana, Cuba, in October 1920. He played a series of games with the New York Giants against Cuban teams Habana and Almendares, earning $20,000 (equivalent to $260,280 in 2020) for the appearance.

His first game was on October 30, 1920, where he played center field. They played two games in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba’s second largest city, at the Cuban Park. Ruth loves to gamble and visited El Hipódromo Oriental Park, also Jai Alai, staying at the Hotel Plaza in room #216. According to reports from the Cuban media, he spent almost all the money he made playing in Cuba and lost it in the casinos.

At the end of the series, he ended with a .345 average, two home runs, a triple, and a double. As Babe Ruth is part of the great history of baseball, his trip to Cuba during the 1920s brought to my mind a friend and professor who was also born in Cuba, as we met in New York.

During the 1998 baseball season, as I was working as a play-by-play announcer in Spanish for the San Francisco Giants, I had the pleasure of meeting. Professor Roberto González-Echevarría, a Cuban-born critic of Latin American literature and culture and Sterling Professor of Hispanic and Comparative Literature at Yale University.

A man whom I had always admired. In the typical tradition of Cuban baseball writers, he is a remarkable man, a teacher at Yale University. We share many memories of Cuba from past years; speaking with him is always a pleasure and to me he is a treasure.

Professor Roberto González Echevarría and I met in the  Press Box at the Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets. He asked me if I could introduce him to Giants manager Dusty Baker. We went to the Giants’ dressing room and Dusty’s manager’s office, where I introduced the professor to Dusty.

It was an enlightening conversation among the three of us, with González-Echevarría doing most of the questioning for a project the author was working on. I always enjoyed my friendship with the professor, and my favorite of his books, “The Pride of Havana,” A History of Cuban Baseball.

In that book, he documented the great Adolfo Luque’s career, who pitched in the 1920s in the Major Leagues and had a sensational season in 1923 with the Cincinnati Reds when he finished with a record of 27-8 and a 1.93 ERA, started 41 games, and completed 37 games. Towards the end of his baseball career, I remember attending the games in Cuba with my father when Luque managed the Leones del Habana of the old Cuban Professional League..

González-Echevarría’s books, from Cuba’s José Martí to Cervantes’ Don Quixote to books about baseball in the United States and Cuba, are great reads for everybody. My favorite is”The Pride of Havana: A History of Cuban Baseball,” where he highlights Adolfo Luque, a historical Cuban pitcher.

As published in 1999 and winning the Dave Moore Award in 2000. It is an excellent contribution to Cuban baseball history and culture. Cuban players (not black) were some of the first Latino pioneers to make it to the Big Leagues, Like Adolfo Luque, who pitched for 20 years (1913-1935)

A Piece of History: Bullfights and Baseball are deeply rooted in Cuban history. Cuba’s independence from Spain came in 1902. The Spanish colonizers of the island wanted Cubans to master Bullfighting, but after Cuba gained its independence, the Americans taught Cubans the game of baseball. Cubans were enamored with the great baseball game (“la pelota,” as we call it in Cuba) and forgot about bullfighting. Cuba was a pioneer of baseball in Latin America.

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-Biological men playing in Women’s Sports

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former San Jose Spartans Volleyball player Blaire Fleming warms up for the first set of an NCAA college volleyball match against Colorado State on Oct. 3, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo /David Zalubowski)

Biological Men playing in Women’s Sports

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Nearly 80 percent of Americans don’t want men playing in women’s sports. So, why is this controversy about biological men playing against women in women’s sports happening?

The NCAA revised its policy to restrict student-athletes assigned male at birth from competing in women’s sports while allowing them to practice and receive benefits. The policy also restricts student-athletes assigned female at birth who have begun hormone therapy from competing on women’s teams.

In a recent USA Fencing tournament, fencer Stephanie Turner took a knee in protest and was disqualified after refusing to face a transgender opponent, Redmond Sullivan, sparking controversy. Perhaps the most famous is that Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas lost a legal battle and was not allowed to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

After winning many times against biological women. A San Jose State University women’s volleyball player who is transgender was at the center of controversy and legal challenges regarding her eligibility to play in the Mountain West Conference tournament, with a judge rejecting a request to sideline her. Below is what the qualified people say about this topic. In “street language,” are men stronger than women?

1-Testosterone plays a crucial role in muscle growth and strength development. Biologically, men typically have higher testosterone levels, leading to greater muscle mass and strength than women.

2-Men generally have denser bones and a higher proportion of muscle mass than women, contributing to their overall strength.

3-Men also have larger hearts and greater lung capacity, which can enhance endurance and power output. These biological differences contribute to men’s typically superior athletic performance in sports that rely on strength, power, and endurance. These are facts, not political or angry statements. In the United States, about 1.6 million people ages 13 and older identify as transgender, representing about 0.6% of that population. This includes roughly 1.3 million adults and 300,000 youth aged 13 to 17. Sadly enough, this has become more of a political issue on all sides, and it is almost impossible to know how many trans athletes are currently competing in the US. From a common-sense point of view, with all that I have learned about this, it presents a disadvantage for female athletes. At the level of these athletes, college, Olympics, and such, there is no ” participation trophy”, which makes much sense for little kids to recognize their effort and participation. But when it comes to the big guys, they are playing to win, and in my book, a biological man who transitioned to women should not be allowed to play against biological women. It is not fair to women. As simple as that. 0.6% of the United States population identifies as transgender.

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.

EL Pollo Supremo 5210 Mission St (MIssion and Geneva) San Francisco. – beyondmenu.com – Delicious Cuban and Mexican Food. Open for Lunch and Dinner 415-337-5750

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Padres Arraez placed on 7 day concussion IL; Braves Strider hurt again out on 15 day IL; plus more MLB news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Diego Padres Luis Arraez is laid out after colliding with Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon (left) as Padres first base coach David Macias (46) and the Houston Astros trainer checks on Arraez in the top of the first inning at Daikin Park in Houston on Mon Apr 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1  The San Diego Padres have placed Luis Arraez on the seven day concussion injured list on Monday. Arraez got into a scary collision with Houston Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon at first base. Arraez was laid out and had to be carted off the field and taken to the hospital but came back to the ballpark after the Padres 3-2 win. Talk about taking one for the team.

#2 If it’s one thing it’s another for the Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider. Strider was who returned from elbow surgery and had not been in a game since April 5, 2024. Strider in his last game pitched five innings in a 3-1 loss giving up two runs on April 16th. Strider on Monday strained his right hamstring while playing catch on Monday and is now on the 15 day injured list.

#3  Cleveland Guardians pitcher Triston McKenzie has been designated for assignment on Monday. McKenzie had been suffering from arm injuries had made 30 starts in 2022 when he went 11-11 with a 2.96 ERA. McKenzie had a 11.12 ERA in four appearances this season. McKenzie a right hander since April 16 when allowed four runs against the Baltimore Orioles.

#4 After playing in 32 minor league games the Sacramento Athletics have called up first baseman Nick Kurtz. Kurtz the A’s No. 4 overall pick in last season’s draft will be activated on Wednesday. The A’s will face the Texas Rangers left hander Patrick Corbin on Tuesday and would like to see Kurtz get some at at bats to see if he add some punch to the line up.

#5  San Francisco Giants infielder Casey Schmitt is on the 30 day IL suffering from a grade 2 left oblique strain. Schmitt who underwent an MRI Monday was diagnosed by Dr. Ken Akizuki and the Giants orthopedist has scheduled Schmitt for evaluation for this weekend. Schmitt was hitting in the batting cage last weekend in Anaheim when he got injured putting him on the ten day IL.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Cubs lose Steele for season needs elbow surgery; Jays Guerrero Jr glad contract issues settled; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele 2025 season is over due needed elbow surgery to repair a flexor tendon. Here Steele pitches to the Texas Rangers in the top of the first inning at Wrigley Field on Mon Apr 7, 2025 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele will miss the rest of the 2025 season due to needed surgery on his left elbow to repair a flexor tendon, according Cubs manager Craig Counsell. It wasn’t know if Steele will need ligament replacement of the Tommy John revision with a internal brace. Steele will be out until the 2026 season.

#2 Vladimir Guerrero Jr is thrilled to be on board with the Toronto Blue Jays after singing a 14 year contract worth $500 million. Guerrero Jr who signed with the Jays last Monday was born in Montreal and his Hall of Fame father Vladimir Sr was born in the Dominican and played for the Montreal Expos. Guerrero signed with the Blue Jays at 16 years old in 2015 and made it to the big leagues in 2019.

#3  Toronto Blue Jays right hand pitcher Max Scherzer will pay a visit to a US specialist due to right thumb soreness. It will be his second to the specialist in the US this week said Jays manager John Schneider on Monday. Scherzer a three time Cy Young Award winner got a cortisone injection for the sore thumb when visited Dr. Thomas Graham on Mar 31st.

#4 Very sad news from the Cincinnati Reds Tommy Helms who was a slick fielding infielder who had won the 1966 National League Rookie of the Year. Helms also managed the Reds for short terms has passed away at age 83. Helms wife told the Reds Hall of Fame that Helms passed away of an unknown cause. Helms played 14 season in 1435 games, he was an All Star 1967 and 68. He won gold gloves in 1970 and 1971 those years Helms played Dave Concepcion and they were considered the best double play combinations in the game.

#5 Amaury check it out two homestands so far for the Sacramento A’s and two of the largest TV market teams have paid a visit to the A’s minor league park Sutter Health Park the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets. Reports have fans who came from New York saying the space is way too small to accommodate fans, players and media from either of those two markets visiting Sacramento. On the home opener the broadcasts went off the air one time for the A’s and one for the Cubs. During Saturday’s game the cart taking an injured Cub player off he diamond ran out of gas the player had to be assisted off the field.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Ex-A’s pitcher Dotel dies from roof collapse; LA’s Ohtani on a roll falls a double short of cycle; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former St Louis Cardinal pitcher Octavio Dotel deals in the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers in game 5 of the 2011 World Series on Oct 24, 2011 at the Ballpark in Arlington. Dotel was killed when a roof collapsed on him at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic on Tue Apr 8, 2025 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Octavio Dotel a former Oakland A’s pitcher and who pitched in the Major Leagues for 13 different team pitched for 15 years and had won a world championship for the St Louis Cardinals died today when a roof collapsed at a nightclub in Octavio’s native Dominican Republic. Dotel was attending a merengue concert. Dotel was 51. Dotel pitched for Oakland during the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

#2 Nothing can wrong for the Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani, he’s on his way back to pitching again and his throwing sessions have looked good. His hitting hasn’t lost a step on Monday night he missed the cycle by needing just a double.

#3 The Toronto Blue Jays have to be relieved and thrilled to have signed Vladimir Guerrero Jr to a 14 year $500 million. So far Guerrero is hitting .279, has four RBIs and 12 hits. No doubt this is the signing that both the Jays and Vlad Jr had been waiting on.

#4 Albert Suarez the Baltimore Orioles reliever was moved to the 60 day IL due to a shoulder issue the Orioles announced on Monday. Suarez a right hander has pitched in only one game when he threw for 2 2/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 28th. O’s manager Brandon Hyde said Suarez could be out for months and that it’s unfortunate news.

#5  Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli got tossed for arguing a pitched that was called for a clock violation. Twins pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson was pitching against the Kansas City Royals when umpire Nic Lentz called the violation. There were two out in the sixth when Richardson stepped off the pitchers mound and was tapping his ear trying to indicate that he couldn’t hear his PitchCom. Lentz then ruled the pitch clock had run out and called a ball. Baldelli argued he wanted time out to have Richardson’s PitchCom earphone checked and Lentz was not having it and tossed Baldelli.

#6 Amaury, it was a pitchers duel between the Cincinnati Reds Hunter Greene and the San Francisco Giants Logan Webb. Greene was one out away in the last of the ninth from a complete game but none the less got the win and got a shutout against one of the most potent line ups in baseball defeat San Francisco 2-0. Greene had given up four hits.

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: Torpedo Bats the talk of Baseball — The Bats at Cooperstown

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Jared Smith speaks about the torpedo bat during an interview at Victus Sports in King of Prussia on Wed Apr 2, 2025 (AP News photo)

Torpedo Bats the talk of Baseball —The Bats at Cooperstown

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

BREAKING NEWS. Torpedo bats are here and have not been affected by the recent tariffs. The “torpedo” bats, with their unique shape resembling a bowling pin, are manufactured by several companies, including Victus, Marucci, Chandler Bats, and are legal under MLB rules. Yankee Jazz Chisolm, who averaged 12 home runs per season during his six-year career in the majors, hit three home runs in the opening three-game series of 2025 against Milwaukee. Chisolm used the torpedo bats and said, “It doesn’t feel like a different bat. It just helps you in a little way”.

Could the Torpedo Bats be the star of the show in 2025? The MLB players’ union expects a lockout by team owners after the CBA expires following the 2026 season. It is not like the production of home runs is decreasing; home runs have increased in recent seasons, especially since 2016, with a surge in 2019. This is not only because of the bats, but we have to consider that hitters are more sophisticated in their approaches, and even this increase could be partly due to changes in the baseball.

I know you are saying it is too early to talk about the possible Lockout after the 2026 season since the 2025 season just got underway, and that could be true. But we might have a record number of home runs with these bats for this 2025 season. The MLB season with the most combined home runs across all 30 teams was 2019, with a total of 6,776 home runs. Do we accredit the Torpedo Bats if this 2025 season ends with 6,777 home runs or 7,000? Time will tell, and we could play Detective Colombo if we discover evidence that these bats are more powerful, making a difference.

These are some of the most famous bats in history. They are at The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, NY.

-Babe Ruth’s Louisville Slugger. This is an iconic bat

-Honus Wagner’s JF. Hillerich & Son Co, bat. Used by Honus Wagner in the early 20th century.

-Reggie Jackson’s Adirondack Big Stick. This made the Adirondack Company a world brand for bats.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY, has a significant collection of baseball bats, with over 2,000 bats representing various eras and players, and there are great moments of legendary hitters who used these bats. This national museum keeps adding baseball memorabilia; there was also an exhibit called Viva Baseball!, which recognizes the contributions of Latino baseball players. From the great Pirates #21 Roberto Clemente to other legendary Latino players from Cuba, Puerto Rico, México, Venezuela, Colombia, Dominican Republic, and other countries.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, is a must for every baseball fan. I have visited, and I strongly recommend you take a trip to beautiful upstate New York. On my trip to New York, I took the train from Grand Central Station, Manhattan, to Albany, where I rented a car and then drove to Cooperstown. It is a beautiful countryside drive of about 70 miles. There were also two Amtrak trains from NY to Cooperstown every day, as well as two trips on the weekend. Visiting always brings me back memories, like knowing that my mentor, Rafael “Felo” Ramírez, who when I was 10 year old kid used to listen to him on the radio in Cuba’s Professional Winter League, and was fortunate of working with him, broadcasting postseason games in 1998 for the Spanish US and Latino American, networks. Felo is in Cooperstown as Ford C.Frick Broadcaster.

The museum in Cooperstown is open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 pm, and extended hours during the summer. Admissions are $30 for adults, seniors 65 and over, $24 for juniors (ages 7-12) $21, and free for active or (like yours truly) retired card-carrying military personnel. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Trivia: The first professional baseball bat, a Louisville Slugger, was created by J.F. Hillerich in the 1880s, specifically for Pete Browning, a ballplayer nicknamed “The Louisville Slugger”.

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: The Athletics traded Latino Player and American League record holder

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Oakland A’s 2023 base stealing leader Estuery Ruiz was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wed Apr 2, 2025. The A’s will be getting right hand pitcher minor leaguer Carlos Duran (AP News file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

The Athletics traded Latino Player and American League record holder

By Amaury Pi-González

Esteury Ruíz, the speedy outfielder for the A’s who established the current American League record for stolen bases by a rookie in 2023 with the Oakland A’s, is now wearing the blue and white uniform of the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

In return, the Dodgers shipped to Sacramento Minor League right-handed Carlos Durán. Although I have not spoken with Esteury since his departure, I wish him nothing but the best, a hard working and good young player who at least is lucky to leave the A’s and going to the best team and organization in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers, a much more cohesive system with young players will probably benefit young Dominican and make him a better player.

It has been challenging for the A’s organization to keep a good Latino player long enough to be identified by the A’s fans. The latest that comes to mind was Cuban Yoenis Céspedes, who was happy playing for the A’s in Oakland, as he always told me and in one occasion when the A’s asked me to interpret for him in front of a group of Oakland A’s fans. Céspedes played the first three of his eight-year career in the major leagues with the Athletics. For the A’s, the Céspedes story is nothing new.

It is difficult for a good Latino players to stay with this organization. In 2003 Miguel Tejada (Dominican) was traded, because the team claimed they could not afford him because they were a “small market team”,an excuse for saying they actually do not want to spend the money for good players.

The Bay Area is not a small market if you call an area with 7 million people “small” (at the time Tejada was traded) it was a two-team major league market, Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. This past season, during an A’s player reunion, the last one at Oakland, Miguel Tejada came to our KIQI 1010AM Bay Area-KATD 990AM Sacramento broadcast booth at the Oakland Coliseum.

He told me during an interview during the game, “siempre me gustó jugar aqui en Oakland, estos son buenos fanáticos” trans-:”I always enjoyed playing here in Oakland, these are good fans”.Miguel Tejada won the AL MVP in 2002 while playing for the Oakland Athletics. He was a six-time All-Star and the MVP for the 2005 All-Star Game, earning two Silver Slugger Awards in 2004 & 2005.

Decades before Miguel Tejada, another Latino shortstop played for the A’s, Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris, from Cuba, he played shortstop for the A’s during their dynasty of three-World Series championships. 1972-73-74. During his 19 seasons in the majors, Campy played 9 seaons with the Oakland A’s.

In the Bay Area, San Francisco, Oakland, and San José, have a large Hispanic population of about 30%, represented at least 20% in every county, including the affluent Marin County, the least in proportion. As far as Media market, the Bay Area ranks #5 in the country.

The A’s present home is Sacramento, which is the #20 media market in the country, but ‘there is more!’ After Sacramento, in about three years, they keep going backward (as planned) to Las Vegas, which is the #40 media market in the United States. I believe this is unprecedented in the history of Major League Baseball, maybe in the history of all pro-sports in the US.

For Esteury Ruíz at the end of the day, leaving the A’s and landing with the Dodgers could be the break of his life.

About Trades: Jesse Chávez, pitcher, is the most traded player in MLB history, traded a total of ten times.

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