That's Amaury News and Commentary – Page 2

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: How Dodgers balance early season concern with payroll; A look at Judge’s impact on Yanks post season chances; plus more news

Published on May 26, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) faces the Milwaukee Brewers line up on Sun May 24, 2026 at American Family Ballpark in Milwaukee Sun May 24, 2026 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 How are the Los Angeles Dodgers balancing their massive payroll expectations with early-season performance concerns?

#2 What impact has Aaron Judge had on the New York Yankees playoff outlook through the first part of the season?

#3 Are the recent pitching injuries across Major League Baseball changing how teams manage starting rotations and bullpen usage?

#4 Can the surprising start by the Baltimore Orioles be sustained over a full 162-game season?

#5 What are the biggest storylines surrounding the upcoming MLB trade deadline, and which contenders are most likely to make aggressive moves?

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.

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

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: A Statue for Vin Scully-Simply the Best-From my Notebook

Published on May 24, 2026May 25, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Los Angeles Angels TV play by play announcer and author Amaury Pi Gonzalez (left) and Los Angeles Dodgers radio and TV play by play announcer Vin Scully (right) pose for a photo (photo from the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The Los Angeles Dodgers Approve $1.1 Million Project to Build Statue Honoring Vin Scully – The Greatest “Voice of the Soul” in American Baseball History After more than half a century as the “immortal voice” of American baseball, legend Vin Scully is finally set to have his own statue outside Dodger Stadium in a $1.1 million project approved by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The man who recounted some of MLB history’s greatest moments with a voice described as “the sound of an American summer” is now preparing to be immortalized in the very place where he spent 67 years creating the soul of the Dodgers, also called 28 World Series — a legacy many believe is even greater than baseball itself.

My good friend and ex-Dodgers Spanish broadcaster Jaime Jarrin first introduced me to Vin Scully in 1988 when I was broadcasting for the Oakland A’s, who were facing the Dodgers in that year’s World Series. Since then, I have seen Vin Scully many times, and he has always been a gentleman and a great inspiration not only for me but for numerous broadcasters for many decades.

The last time legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully visited Angel Stadium in 2016 to call the Freeway Series during the regular season, I was the Spanish play-by-play announcer for the LA Angels on FSN (Fox Sports Net) in Los Angeles.

His broadcast booth (visiting TV) was separated from my broadcast partner José Mota’s and mine by a glass partition. When I was doing the Spanish for the SF Giants, my wife would come with me to the games on Sundays. She has her “Broadcaster’s Baseball,” which she brings to the Sunday games, and she collects autographs from the visiting teams’ broadcasters. That included a signature from Mr. Scully.

Vin gave Gail permission to call him “Vin”. One of the best “gifts” Gail has ever received. She was born in SoCal and has been a lifelong Dodger fan, with fond memories of attending a game when Don Drysdale was pitching his no-hitter. Fast-forward to recent memories: Mr. Scully told me after a game, “Don’t forget to say hi to Gail.”

A true gentleman. Vin Scully Statue at Dodger Stadium will be great for baseball fans and for a great man and broadcaster, and I applaud the LA Dodgers for the initiative, because Vin Scully was the best baseball play-by-play announcer who ever lived, from Brooklyn to Los Angeles and is well known and recognized all over the world.He broadcast the Dodgers games on the radio and later on television for 67 years; he was simply the best.

Quote: “May God give you for every storm, a rainbow, for every tear, a smile, for every care, a promise, and a blessing in each trial.”-Vin Scully.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: The man from Linden on a special Mission

Published on May 20, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge swings for the fences currently has 16 home runs and 30 RBIs through May 20, 2026 (AP file photo)

The man from Linden on a special Mission

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Aaron Judge got an offer from the San Francisco Giants in 2022. The Giants made an aggressive push for a long 9-year contract worth $360 million. The Giants’ last player of that caliber was Barry Bonds. The Bay Area media wrote about the possibility of the Giants acquiring such a slugger, especially because he was born and raised just 90 miles from San Francisco, a star from Northern California.

Aaron Judge officially re-signed with the New York Yankees on December 7, 2022, for nine years, agreeing to the same deal the Giants were offering: a nine-year, $360 million contract. The judge chose wisely. The Yankees have been home to sluggers since Babe Ruth; not only do the Bronx Bombers seem to be in the pennant race every year, but they also have a great tradition, with an unprecedented 27 World Series titles.

Aaron Judge has won back-to-back AL MVP Awards and three of the past four seasons.’ No player in history ever had more than four (4) years of hitting 50 or more homeruns. Aaron Judge could be the first ever during this current season, and yes, that includes the Babe.

There is a four-way tie for a player hitting 40 home runs. They are Aaron Judge, Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGwire. Some of the greatest, who never reached five seasons of 50-plus home homeruns, also include Henry Aaron and Barry Bonds, Henry Aaron, for decades the all-time home run king, never had a 50-homer season. Barry Bonds did it just a single time.

It happened only 54 times in total by 34 players. The majority did it only once, some twice, and Alex Rodriguez, the only one to hit 50 homeruns in a season three times.. As of today, the man from Linden is one of the top home run hitters in the game(16) and with 113 games left to play this season, Aaron Judge figures to have a very good shot at becoming the first ever to have five (5) seasons of 50 or more homeruns.

He will probably play his whole career in Pinstripes, and that makes a lot of sense. I can fully understand why he did not want to sign with the Giants in 2022. Yankee Stadium is hitter-friendly, Oracle Park is not, but in the end, he became a star with the perfect team for a slugger, the New York Yankees.

Linden, California, has a population of 2,389 and is located in the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley. The most famous thing about this town is its favorite son, Aaron Judge. Another great Yankee, Joe DiMaggio, “The Yankee Clipper,” was born in Martínez, a 50-60-minute drive northeast of San Francisco.

Quote: One of the most famous quotes in baseball history is, “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” Lou Gehrig, July 4, 1939, during his farewell address at Yankee Stadium, after being diagnosed with ALS, a disease known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

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: Mets making a come back against Yanks; M’s Emerson big story in Seattle; plus more news

Published on May 19, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens (13) empties the Gatorade can on teammate Tyrone Taylor (left) after defeating the New York Yankees at Citi Field on Sun May 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 How did the New York Mets complete their comeback win over the New York Yankees in the latest Subway Series game, and which players delivered the biggest clutch moments?

#2 Why is top prospect Colt Emerson’s promotion such a major storyline for the Seattle Mariners, and what impact could he have on their season moving forward?

#3 What has fueled the recent surge by the San Diego Padres after their sweep of the Mariners, and how important has Gavin Sheets been to that run?

#4 Why are the upcoming Brewers vs. Cubs games being labeled one of the must-watch MLB series of the week, and what recent history adds extra intensity to the matchup?

#5 Which teams are currently reshaping the MLB power rankings landscape, and why have the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies gained momentum over the Los Angeles Dodgers?

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: Sacramento wants an MLB expansion team. Will they get it?

Published on May 15, 2026May 15, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Mar 31, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; A general view of Sutter Health Park before the game between the Chicago Cubs against the Athletics. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

Sacramento wants an MLB expansion team. Will they get it?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Sacramento A’s will play in Sacramento for one more year, 2027, until they can complete their new ballpark in Las Vegas, which is scheduled to open in 2028. However, there is a good chance that in 2027, the team owners will lock out the players in a salary dispute over the salary cap and other issues they want to resolve.

Whatever happens, the City of Sacramento is not guaranteed a new franchise; other cities (before Sacramento) have thrown their hats in the ring seeking an expansion team. Here they are: Nashville and Salt Lake City, considered front-runners, and then Montreal, Charlotte, Portland, and Vancouver, with expansion expected to bring the league to 32 teams by 2030. In other words, Sacramento is not alone; there are four (4)cities planning to have one of their two expansion teams.

Sacramento-area leaders are expected to announce a formal bid for a Major League Baseball (MLB) expansion team on May 28, 2026, with the Greater Sacramento Economic Council leading the effort, including a partnership between Sacramento and West Sacramento, as they aim to land a franchise by 2031-2033. Sacramento is leveling its role in hosting the Athletics to prove market viability for building a park near Sutter Health

Why I do not think it will happen. Sacramento is currently leveraging its role as the A’s ‘temporary host. So far this season, the A’s at Sacramento are averaging 10,490 fans per home game (stadium capacity is 13,800) at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

For a small minor league baseball park, 10,490 attendance per game is not that bad. The main reason I believe Sacramento is a very long shot to land an expansion team is the competition it will face from the other cities mentioned above, including one that was a Major League City, Montreal, Canada.

The Montreal Expos played for 36 years (1969-2004). The Greater Montreal Metropolitan Area has a population of around 3.4 million, the second-largest city in Canada, and the largest French-speaking city in the Americas. They would have to beat Montreal, Salt Lake City, Portland, Charlotte, Nashville, and Vancouver, and that is not an easy task.

Quote: “I think if we expand, it provides us with an opportunity to geographically realign,” Manfred said. “I think we could save a lot of wear and tear on our players in terms of travel. And I think our postseason format would be even more appealing for entities like ESPN, because you’d be playing out of the east and out of the west.” -Rob Manfred, MLB Commissioner.

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: Yanks in a jam after losing no hitter losing fourth game in a row; M’s hoping to log some wins against Astros; plus more news

Published on May 12, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

New York Yankees pitcher Brent Headrick pitches into the seventh against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Mon May 11, 2026 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Are the New York Yankees in trouble after blowing a no-hit bid and losing their fourth straight game to the Baltimore Orioles?

#2 Can Julio Rodríguez stay red-hot and add another home run for the Seattle Mariners Tuesday night against the Houston Astros?

#3 Did the Los Angeles Dodgers make the right move by trading for outfielder Alek Thomas from the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks?

#4 Are the Chicago Cubs emerging as the best team in baseball after climbing to No. 1 in the latest MLB power rankings?

#5 Could ongoing labor talks between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association become the next major storyline hanging over the sport?

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: Did you know Juan Marichal was not inducted into Cooperstown in the first Year of eligibility?

Published on May 11, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Juan Marichal was dealing in the 60 and early 70s for the San Francisco Giants (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

San Francisco Giants Juan Marichal, one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball in the 1960s, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 12, 1983, his third year of eligibility. He became the first native of the Dominican Republic to earn this honor, appearing on 83.7% of the ballots.

However, Marichal was first eligible in 1981 and again in 1982, but he did not make it either time. In 1982, after the second time he failed to be elected, I began a campaign on the air at KIQI 1010AM in San Francisco, as a Spanish-language broadcaster for the San Francisco Giants. To me, it was an injustice that a pitcher of Juan’s caliber was not elected in his first year of eligibility. My campaign reached many people and received many positive responses, including from Mr. Willie Brown, former Mayor of San Francisco, and other political and community dignitaries in the Bay Area. This campaign struck a chord, so much so that on February 26, 1983, the Mayor of San Francisco, the Honorable Dianne Feinstein (who later became US Senator for California), presented yours truly with an Award of Merit by the City of San Francisco in recognition for my efforts in the endeavor to get Juan Marichal elected into Cooperstown.

At the time I began the campaign for Juan Marichal, one of my points was simple: Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson were also dominant pitchers of the 1960s, and both were elected to the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. So why was Juan Marichal not? Because he was a Latino, and they were not getting a lot of representation. Roberto Clemente was the first Latino player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, in 1973, one year after his disappearance on a DC-3 plane filled with aid to the people of Managua, Nicaragua, during an earthquake relief mission.

Things have changed since then, with the influx of Hispanic/Latino players in the game, at least 33% of all players, and higher in the minor league. As of the 2026 induction class, 20 Hispanic/Latino players have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Carlos Beltrán is the most recent addition to the group, joining in January 2026, joining others like Roberto Clemente, Pedro Martínez, Mariano Rivera, and Juan Marichal.

The last time I spoke with Juan Marichal, who is a regular visitor to Oracle Park, was a notable appearance at Oracle Park, San Francisco, September 2024. With members of his family and friends, he was the typical Marichal, cordial, smiling, and enjoying the moment, as he visited his statue at the ballpark, then known as SBC Park) On May 21, 2005, the Giants honored Juan’s friend and teammate, Orlando Cepeda, who passed in June. I met many good and important baseball people during that event, like Juan Marichal and members of his family, as well as Mr.Josh Rawitch, the President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Quote: “The big thing about Clemente is that he can hit any pitch. I don’t mean only strikes. He can hit a ball off his ankles or off his ear.” — Juan Marichal on Roberto Clemente.

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: A’s returning from successful road trip; Open homestand against St Louis Tuesday

Published on May 10, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

I’m not that surprised that the Sacraamento A’s are in first place and their getting both the hitting and pitching, I wrote here on Sports Radio Service during spring training we know the A’s are going to hit with the line up that they have with Tyler Soderstrom, Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers and Lawrence Butler they all can hit.

Right now the A’s are in first place and had a successful road trip in Philadelphia and Baltimore. The A’s have improved with a starting roation JT Ginn, Aaron Civale, Luis Severino, Jacob Lopez and Jefferey Springs. The question is do the A’s have the pitching to make it in the line run.

The story of the pitching staff and Mark Kotsay is happy the direction his pitching staff is going and the management believes the same thing. The question is is this a .500 team or a team that has a shot at making the post season.

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: Can Tony Vitello survive his Maiden season

Published on May 7, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Tony Vitello argues with umpire David Rackley (right) after getting ejected in the seventh inning in a game against New York Mets Sun Apr 5, 2026 (AP News photo)

Can Tony Vitello survive his Maiden season

By That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

The San Francisco Giants are rich in managerial experience, talent, and advisors; under this 2026 team’s payroll, there are Bruce Bochy, Dusty Baker, and Ron Washington. All managers at the Major League level with extensive and successful resumes; two of the three are future Hall of Fame material. Except for Washington, the others are done with managing.

The Giants hired Tony Vitello in late 2025 primarily because Buster Posey (with higher management support), as the President of Baseball Operations, sought a high-energy, moderate leader who would change the team’s culture and develop young talent. Vitello was ‘all that’ at Tennessee, where he was intense and competitive and won, but in Major League Baseball, where egos are plentiful, you need to be an effective manager on the field with strategy and a psychiatrist in the locker room to win in the end. By the way, you also need the horses to win the race.

So far, during this young season heading into May, the Giants do not look like a team with the fire to win. The question is, can Vitello change this culture? The same culture that ended with a mediocre 81-81 last season under Bob Melvin, can they improve on that?

Vitello might be able to do it, maybe or not. I do not believe the Giants can tell this early in the season; they have to be evaluating as they go. After all, with all respect to Vitello, a man who played college baseball but never played professional baseball at any level (minor or major leagues). He was a good infielder at the collegiate level. Tony Vitello was the head baseball coach at the University of Tennessee for seven years.

In 2024, Stephen Vogt was named American League Manager of the Year with the Cleveland Indians; he never managed or coached at any level (professional or otherwise). As a matter of record, Vogt owns the record as the fastest person to go from player to Manager of the Year; he did it in 297 days.

He played in the major leagues for 11 seasons. I am not asking for Vitello to be fired this early. I know fans are quick to react, but they are the team’s prized customers who attend their games, follow the team, and spend money.

A good friend of mine told me about Vitello, “Give him this year and next.” OK, but we live in different times; fans paying good money to attend games might have a shorter patience span for Vitello, which is why they’re called “fans”.

Oracle is not Dodger Stadium; there is not a sellout here every game. Why can the Giants develop, draft, or acquire really athletic players like Reds Elly De La Cruz and Pirates O’Neill Cruz or Royals Bobby Witt Jr.? These are exciting, talented players, winning players, and that is what changes your culture.

Since 2018, the average tenure of a team manager has been between 3 and 4 years.

Quote: The phrase “managers are hired to be fired” is a long-standing baseball adage -Used by everybody.

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: Padres sold to Jose E Feliciano and Kwanza Jones for record $3.9 billion

Published on May 3, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Jose E Felciano (pictured) and Kwanza Jones (not pictured) are the new owners of the San Diego Padres. The sale set an all time record for a MLB franchise at $3.9 billion (Getty photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

On May 2, 2026 the San Diego Padres reached an agreement to sell controlling ownership to an investment group led by José E.Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. The deal was a record 3.9 billion.

Still have to be approved by Major League Baseball.Kwanza Jones is an American artist, investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, and her husband is José E. Feliciano. Feliciano is not the Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano, who is 80 years old, and whose biggest hits were “Felíz Navidad” and “Chico and the Man”.

The San Diego Padres have won two pennants and played in the World Series in 1984 and 1998, losing both times. Before the Padres, the Baltimore Orioles were the last franchise to be sold in MLB, sold in 2024 for $.1.725 The San Diego Padres will visit the slumping San Francisco Giants for the first time this season on May 4, 5, 6 for a three-game series at Oracle Park.

Quote: “The return on investments from purchasing franchises is below the stock market.” — Rob Manfred, MLB Commissioner

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.