Tag: That's Amaury News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Béisbol de Grandes Ligas! The México City Series

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Mexican City Series 2024 between the Colorado Rockies vs. Houston Astros in Mexico City on Apr 27 and 28, 2024 (MLB.com image)

Béisbol de Grandes Ligas! The México City Series

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Major League Baseball continues flirting with México, playing regular season games down México way. This weekend, the Houston Astros and the Colorado Rockies will play two games in the Mexico City Series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú with 20,062 capacity. This will mark the seventh time MLB plays a regular season series in Mexican territory.

It will be the first international game for the Houston Astros since 2019. The Rockies also played in Monterrey during 2019 but in Spring Training. México City’s population is over 9 million, and the metro area population of México City is over 22,000,000 people. If baseball is smart “if” they should consider México City for expansion.

These are the potential cities that have shown interest for an expansion team, some are being considered.

Austin/San Antonio, Texas

Charlotte, North Carolina

México City, México

Montréal, Canada

Nashville, Tennessee

Orlando, Florida

Portland, Oregon

Raleigh, North Carolina

Salt Lake City, Utah

San José, CA

Coverage for the US. MLB TV (Saturday) and ESPN TV (Sunday)

Major League Baseball will expand from 30 to 32 teams in the coming years. The only uncertainties are when the process will formally begin and when the two new franchises to be named will begin play. The last time MLB expanded, ahead of the 1998 season, the Tampa Bay then-Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks each had to pay $130 million to join the club. We feel confident the price has gone way up.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Sox poor attendance, threatening to move and poor record; Giants Snell heads to 15 day IL with adductor strain; plus more news

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Guarantee Rate Field on the South Side of Chicago home of the White Sox. The White Sox have not drawn well all season and have the worst record in baseball so far in 2024. (AP File photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, lots of talk about the Chicago White Sox problems all around, lack of attendance, team doesn’t have enough hitters and pitching to win games, Sox have won only three games this season, they have won only one road game out 12 so far this season, and are in dead last place in the AL Central.

#2 Amaury, San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell is out with a left strained adductor and on the 15 day IL. Snell was a scratch on Wednesday’s day game at Oracle Park and was replaced by starter Ryan Walker in a bullpen game. Snell has been rocked in his last two starts Apr 14th vs. Tampa Bay giving up six hits and seven runs and Apr 19 against the Arizona Diamondbacks giving up nine hits and five runs.

#2 After getting swept in Cleveland in three games the Oakland A’s came to New York and won the first game of the three game series at Yankee Stadium on Monday on a Zack Gelof ninth inning two run homer. There are just some games that the A’s pull a rabbit out of the hat.

#3 It’s not often you get to see the A’s throw a shutout on the road but A’s starter JP Sears pitched six inning of shut out ball giving up three hits and striking out seven batters. A’s relievers Lucas Erceg and closer Mason Miller also kept the shutout in tact.

#4 Amaury if you had to point to one thing where the A’s improved a little this season and have had some success over the last few weeks what one thing would it be, JP Sears pitching, Zack Gelof’s hitting or the return Esteury Ruiz?

#5 Amaury, the San Francisco Giants are fourth in the NL West with the Dodgers, Padres, and Diamondbacks in front of them in the standings that said the Giants are only two games out of first place.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Could a Mayor Thao recall get a better Mayor for A’s to work with? Aramark’s employee gag order from media how long will that last?

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Oakland voters are hoping to uproot Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao in a recall. If successful the question is if the Oakland A’s ballpark deal falls apart in Las Vegas can a new Oakland mayor make a new pitch to the A’s to get them to stay and build a park in Oakland? (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commenary podcast:

#1 Food and beverage concessionaires at the Oakland Coliseum have been told in a 99 worded company letter they had better keep their opinions about lay offs, the A’s relocation to Sacramento, or any business related issues regarding Aramark to the media or reporters. Aramark also said that “violations of this policy are subject to discipline up to and including termination.”

#2 Aramark who serves food and beverages to nine Major League Stadiums and is a Forbes Fortune 500 holder and is the 50th largest employer in America. Is the issue of the lay offs a huge concern for Aramark and is putting a muzzle on the Coliseum concession employees a prevention from any negative publicity because of the layoffs after this last season in Oakland for the Aramark employees.

#3 Amaury, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao could face a recall. Currently Oaklanders are trying to put together a petition drive to get a ballot initiative to get Thao recalled. If successful and its long shot could a new mayor try and get together with the Oakland A’s and try and work something out for a stadium if the Las Vegas deal falls through.

#4 Mayor Thao has surmounting complaints from City of Oakland residents who want her removed because of the firing of Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong, the huge crime that has forced retailers particularly in downtown Oakland and Chinatown to either fold their businesses or move, and the Airport corridor has seen car break ins and crime at their local restaurants including the high profile In and Out Burger and Denny’s close and shutter their businesses. Now with the recent rent offer by the City of Oakland and the Coliseum Joint Authority of $97 million for the A’s to rent the Coliseum was so inflated that it chased off A’s team president David Kaval who the next day chose to have the A’s play their interim years in Sacramento. Many critics said this was poor handling of business from the City of Oakland and the appearance of gouging on the City’s part.

#5 In the event of a new Oakland Mayor takes over for a recalled Thao that new mayor could call the A’s back to the bargaining table if Vegas were to fall apart and offer the A’s a sweetheart deal. Here is the scenario come back to the Coliseum from Sacramento for $3 million a year. Offer to bridge the gap that the City and A’s were apart on for Howard Terminal and that money some $97 million (sound familiar) and the money will be paid back on taxes on ticket sales and concessions and parking.

#6 The current plan to have the A’s in Sacramento if Las Vegas fails won’t work from the marketing and sponsorship aspect. What works for the NBA Sacramento Kings in advertising might not work for the A’s who will see that money get divided in half when they and if they build a 30,000 seat stadium in Sacramento. The A’s would be playing in the 20th TV market while it’s likely they can get the support but owner John Fisher’s TV revenue will also come down from what he’s getting in Oakland at $70 million versus what he would get in Sacramento around $35 million.

#7 If you follow the money whether it’s in Las Vegas or Sacramento the A’s lose. TV money always rules the day even if the A’s were to get good crowds they leaving Oakland will hurt their pockets by walking away from their $70 million TV contract with NBC California. If Oakland changes it’s mayors maybe the A’s could consider changing their minds.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice at 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 podcast: The JP stands for Just Pitching as Sears takes no hitter into 7th against baseball’s champs

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Oakland A’s pitcher JP Sears gets a congratulations for a job well done after being relieved in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington on Thu Apr 11, 2024 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Oakland A’s pitcher JP Sears put the old baseball saying good pitching beats good hitting to use going into the seventh inning with a no hitter against baseball’s World Champs the Texas Rangers. Sears left after surrendering a hit in the seventh.

#2 Sears had everything working for him he didn’t give up a run walked three batters and struck out five innings.

#3 Despite walking batters in the first three innings Sears was able to get out of each of those innings. Things have dramatically have turned around since the A’s had a rough opening homestand to start the season taking two out of three from the Detroit Tigers and Rangers on the road.

#4 Sears said after the game that the A’s are just trying to win every games and when things are going bad and no expects you to win you just put your head down and go to work.

#5 Amaury the A’s are back home and after having the kind of road trip that they had going 4-2 they open up a series against the Washington Nationals (5-7) who have lost six of their last ten games can the A’s keep it going?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Sacramento Baseball A’s and River Cats

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Sutter Health Park a panoramic view. The Park will be the interim home of the A’s for the 2025-28 seasons.

Sacramento Baseball: A’s and River Cats

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The most recent statistics from the State of California list the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom Metro Area with 2,397,382 residents. Only the Los Angeles-San Bernardino-Ontario-Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura Metropolitan Area, the nine-country San Francisco-San José-Oakland Metropolitan Area and San Diego and the surrounding area have a higher population concentration than the Sacramento Metro.

The baseball question many have in mind. Are there enough baseball fans to support a Major League team in the Sacramento Area? Since 2016, these are the official attendance records for the Minor League Sacramento Rivercats. 2016: 609,666. 2017: 562,237. 2018: 538,785. 2018: 549,440. 2020: Covid. 2021: 256,714. 2023: 388,246.

Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento’s capacity is 10,624 (fixed seats), 14,014 total. Including Fixed Seats, Lawn, and Standing Room). If you are wondering about minor league baseball parks, Sahlen Field, home of the International League Buffalo Bisons, has the highest seating capacity of all active Triple-A teams in the US, 16,600, while Tacoma’s Cheney Stadium has the lowest capacity, 6,500.

It could be complicated for the A’s and the Rivercats to share Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento starting in 2025; with such a small capacity that it is not close to Major League standards, they need many improvements.

In a recent release from NBA Sacramento Kings, the majority owner of the River Cats said MLB is working with both teams to ensure that their schedule meets MLB and MiLB guidelines and that they have dedicated facility space.

They plan to modify Sutter Health Park, which had just undergone a multi-million dollar renovation, which includes upgrading LED lighting and adding a clubhouse scheduled to be completed before the 2025 season.

By now, it is known that Mr.Vivek Ranadivé, owner of the Kings and the River Cats, is the most powerful man in Sacramento regarding sports. Tony Clark, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, will have to approve all of the above for the 2025 season and for the Oakland A’s to play in Sacramento before the 2025 season.

This is what is happening with Sutter Health Park in Sacramento to date. According to the Las Vegas Business Review, the Nevada Supreme Court did not decide Tuesday after hearing arguments regarding a challenge to the Oakland Athletics public funding bill of $380 million.

Schools Over Stadiums were each given 17 minutes to argue their sides to the seven Supreme Court justices on why a lower court’s 2023 decision regarding a petition opposing Senate Bill 1, the A’s stadium public financing bill signed into law last year, should be upheld or appealed.

That one is now in the hands of the lawyers, and when lawyers get involved, only God knows. Mark Twain (1835-1910) observed correctly about lawyers: “Lawyers are like other people–fools on the average; but it is easier for an ass to succeed in that trade than any other.” And this is how the ball bounces.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Diversity and Inclusion? Giants voted Yes for the A’s to leave

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred seen here on Thu Nov 16, 2023 addressing the media during an owners meeting in Orlando Fla. Manfred has been questioned about his stance on leaving Oakland a very diversified region for Las Vegas. Some have asked why Manfred is leaving a diverse community after saying baseball is trying to be more diverse and improve it’s minority fans, players and employees. (AP file photo)

Diversity and Inclusion? Giants voted Yes for A’s to leave

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–In 1989, the same year the Athletics swept the Giants in four games in the World Series with the Loma Prieta Earthquake, Oakland A’s owner Wally Haas ceded the San José territorial rights to the San Francisco Giants.

Giants owner Bob Lurie was frustrated in getting a new stadium for the Giants in San Francisco. At the time, a group of investors led by Vince Naimoli and a group of investors from St. Petersburg had agreed with the Giants to move them to the Tampa Bay Area.

However, the National League owners voted against the acquisition. Answering some fans’ questions: Owners can vote Yes or No when another team plans to move. Last November, the League 30 owners voted unanimously in favor of the Oakland A’s moving to Las Vegas, exceeding the 75% approval requirement.

Among these owners was the signature of Charles P. Johnson (or another Giants top executive with the blessings of Mr.Johnson, owner of the San Francisco Giants). Had the Giants voted “No,” that would at least have been a symbolic act of courage that I believe Bay Area baseball fans had respected and appreciated, keeping the rivalry with the team that plays in Oakland and the importance of keeping the Bay Area a two-team Major League market, which it is.

But that was not the case; the Giants swallowed the relocation pill the Commissioner had served all the owners in baseball. After all, from the beginning of this ordeal, one of the leading proponents of the A’s leaving Oakland is Mr.Rob Manfred, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

The two Bay Area teams have won 7 World Series combined while playing in this great area we love called The Bay Area. The Giants have won three since moving from New York, and the A’s have won four since moving from Kansas City.

Diversity and Inclusion (something the MLB Commissioner’s Office in New York professes all the time) obviously won’t apply to “inclusion” for the A’s in the two-team Bay Area baseball market. So much for Diversity and Inclusion. How about Deception and Hypocrisy? Cynics will quote this famous line from The Godfather: “It is not personal; it’s just business.”

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play 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 podcast: Gelof is taking off with key hits; A’s open three game set in Texas tonight

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Oakland A’s hitter Zack Gelof (with helmet) is congratulated by teammate after hitting a three run second inning home run at Comerica Park in Detroit against the Detroit Tigers on Sun Mar 7, 2024 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Success in the Detroit Tigers series for the Oakland A’s winning two out of three. The last two games the A’s came away with wins on Saturday with a 4-0 shutout and a 7-1 win over the Tigers on Sunday.

#2 One of the key players for the A’s was Zack Gelof on Sunday hitting a three run home run with four RBIs as the A’s clobbered the Tigers 7-1 to conclude the series.

#3 To give you an idea how a great game that Zelof had he had an RBI triple in the top of the first inning and later scored on JJ Bleday’s single.

#4 The A’s also got good pitching holding the Tigers to just a run from starter Joe Boyle who went five innings, two hits, three walks, and six strikeouts.

#5 The A’s open a three game series in Texas tonight. The A’s will start pitcher Alex Wood (0-1 ERA 9.72) and for the Texas Rangers Nathan Evaldi (1-0 ERA 1.38). The Rangers are tough customers and manager Bruce Bochy would be a worthy opponent. First pitch 5:05pm PDT at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington.

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

#1

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: I might lose my radio job after this season

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Former Los Angeles Angels broadcasters Jose Mota (left) and Amaury Pi Gonzalez (right) during their days calling Angels games on Fox Sports Los Angeles (photo from the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

I see all this hate for Fisher and Kaval of the A’s for what they are doing, and I do feel for the loyal fans who feel betrayed. But in the end, you can’t take this stuff personally. It is business, and different people do business differently. I probably will lose my broadcast job with the A’s.

A few years ago, I had a terrific position doing the play-by-play of Angels Baseball on TV with Fox Sports West. It was a total TV production (like regular English TV) with a Director and producers (just like Fox English). José Mota handled the color, and I handle the action.

At the same time, I was doing home games on TV for Angels in LA and home games on the radio here for the A’s. The LA job paid “like TV pays in a big market like LA, the largest in Spanish in the US” very handsome for each season; there were eight seasons, I was treated well, and I even had reserved parking at Angel Stadium (big deal in LA) plus other very cool benefits.

It was great; our staff was 15 people, between the truck outside and our crew in the booth. One November morning, Nick Davis, Fox Sports West Executive Producer, called me from LA and told me that Disney Co. was acquiring the Fox Sports West Network from Southern California and ten more Regional Sports Networks nationwide, including the Yes Network from New York.

Nick thanked me for the great job I did. And that was it. I was out because Disney Co. did not want to continue the production, although I was told it was successful. Disney wanted to go another way, so the Mouse made the decision. In the end, it is all about business. You and I and many others might not find this right, especially the way A’s management runs this s*!t show, and I agree. But in the end, it is their show.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play 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: Giants will be a team for 8 million people 

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Oracle Park in San Francisco will be the only Major League Baseball facility in the nine county Bay Area serving nearly 8 million people as the Oakland A’s will leave the Bay Area for Sacramento in the 2025 season. (file photo from giantenterprises.com)

Giants will be a team for 8 million people

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

With the Oakland A’s departing Oakland, where they have played since 1968, the San Francisco Giants will be (after 2024) all by themselves inside the 9-county San Francisco-Oakland-San José Bay Area. The most recent US Census shows the Bay Area is home to approximately 7.52 million people, the largest population area in California after the Greater Los Angeles Area.

In 2022, the metropolitan area population of New York City was 18,867,000. The New York Yankees and the New York Mets share this huge #1 market.

The Los Angeles Metro area population in 2023 was 12,534,000. The Dodgers and Angels share the biggest market in California and #2 in the country.

In 2018, the Chicago Metropolitan Area reported 9,459,000 residents. The Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox share the Midwest.

In 2022, the Houston Metropolitan Area reported 7,122,240 residents. The Astros are it, they rule Houston.

In Dallas-Fort Worth, the World Champion Texas Rangers play in a Metropolitan area with a population of 6,488,000, and the Rangers own big slice of Texas.

Then, there are the other MLB teams cities and Metropolitan areas across the country, with smaller populations, most in the millions, but much smaller.

This is a significant marketing change for the San Francisco Giants. It has been 27 years since MLB introduced Interleague games. Before that, the Giants of the National League only played teams in the National League, and across the Bay, the A’s of the American League only played American League teams. But the equation changes big time without the A’s in Oakland, even with Interleague play.

Starting in 2025, you can attend a Giants game at Oracle Park and see any other team, including the A’s. But the popular Bay Series is dead, since the A’s do not identify with a particular city anymore for the next three years, or four years. The once Philadelphia, once Kansas City, once Oakland, now renting in Sacramento while they build in Las Vegas, will only be called “The A’s”

If you live in the Bay Area and want to see a Major League game starting in 2025, there is only one place —the corner of 2nd and King, San Francisco. The Giants now own the Bay Area.

Have a great weekend, and may your favorite team win.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play 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 podcast: A’s moving onto discussions with Sacramento Wednesday; No deal to stay at Oakland Coliseum

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Oakland team president David Kaval (left) and reporter Marko Ukalovic (right) sat down for a Mar 30, 2017 interview when Kaval had an open door policy for reporters. That door has since been closed as Kaval and top A’s officials met with the Oakland Coliseum Join Authority Tue Apr 2, 2024 regarding a lease extension at the Coliseum. (photo from Marko Ukaloivc)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury the Oakland A’s met with City management and the Oakland Coliseum Joint Authority today. There was talk before they were going to meet that there was no way the A’s would agree to pay the $97 million for five years to play their interim years at the Coliseum.

#2 Ironically the $97 million that the City of Oakland was asking for was the same amount that separated the City and A’s for the Howard Terminal ballpark. Then A’s president David Kaval announced that the A’s had a binding agreement with the Rio in Las Vegas back in June.

#3 I know you reported that Sacramento is a solid second choice for a A’s interim home if the Coliseum falls apart. The A’s have visited Sutter Health Park and Kaval said he likes the park and it was reported that MLB Commissioner would prefer the A’s stay in California. The Sacramento Rivercats if necessary are prepared to make adjustments to Sutter Health to make it work for the players.

#4 One of the biggest reasons the A’s wanted to meet with the Coliseum was they didn’t want to walk away from the $70 million a year NBC California contract they have that runs through 2030. Whatever deal they get in Sacramento would not be nearly as close as what NBC would pay the A’s if they’d stay in Oakland.

#5 A $97 million five year contract with the Coliseum would work out to $19.4 million a year on rent. Figuring they would get $210 million from NBC California for the first three years and the A’s would have to shell out $60 million to the Coliseum Joint Authority in rent and still would be a good deal giving the A’s $150 million on a three contract. They A’s refused that offer and countered with asking for two years for $17 million and the Coliseum Authority declined leaving both sides far apart.

#6 Amaury, reports today regarding Esteury Ruiz was sent down because as A’s general manager David Forst said he needs to get on base more. Also Brent Rooker has been benched because Forst said he’s not hitting. Insiders say that Ruiz and Rooker have been demoted or benched because they wore Last Dive Bar wristbands which are pushing for A’s owner John Fisher to sell the team. This has certainly become political.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for 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