Tag: That's Amaury News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: One-Year Contracts are Popular this Off-season

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One of the questions of one year contracts San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander has a second year left on his $22 million two year contract will the Giants exercise his second year or choose to opt out? (AP file photo)

One-Year Contracts are Popular this Off-season

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The San Francisco Giants have been lukewarm in the market for free agents this winter. In an effort to strengthen their pitching staff(bullpen, they have signed four pitchers this offseason, three of whom are on one-year deals. Tyler Mahle (1year,$10M), Jason Foley (1 year, $2M), Sam Hentges (1 year, $1.4M). They “splurge” by signing Adrian Houser to a 2-year, $22 Million Contract. Last season, the Giants signed Justin Verlander to a one-year, $15 million deal; all they got from the future Hall of Famer was four wins, which cost the Giants almost $3.7 million per win.

I do not believe Verlander will be back. Obviously, the Giants cannot afford the “luxury” of carrying a future Hall of Fame pitcher at the end of his career. With these new pitcher signings, the Giants are prioritizing other arms, making his return less sure despite Verlander’s expressed desire to pitch in 2026.

If the Giants want to really get serious? They would go for Framber Valdez, but that would take a multi-year contract and around $200 Million. If you want to catch the Dodgers, you go all the way with pitching. Yoshi Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki are the Dodgers’ rotation, and it’s lucky for the Giants that Clayton Kershaw retired. In 62 appearances vs. Los Gigantes in his Hall of Fame career, Kershaw compiled a 2.08 earned run average.

There have been a few multi-year multi-million contracts recently this winter. It is a hot pitching market, and so far, most of the largest deals have been pitchers, Dylan Cease to Toronto for (7 years $210M). Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai to Houston for 4 years, ($54M).

My prediction. We will continue this trend by teams of One-Year-deals, not only with the Giants but also with other teams. The looming 2026-2027 lockout is the reason for these short-term contracts and free agency. Players are seeking security ahead of the almost certain owners’ lockout expected around this time in 2026.

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 podcast: How Soderstrom strengthens Sac’s outfield; A’s shore infield with McNeil signing plus more news

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Sacramento A’s left fielder Tyler Soderstrom who signed for a seven year $86 million deal is looking to add some pop in the A’s line up and a solid glove in left field (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury just wanted to get your take on the Sacramento A’s signing Tyler Soderstrom on Monday for $86 million a seven year deal and the contract could max out at $131 million. Soderstrom in 2025 hit .276, 25 home runs and drove in 93 RBIs.

#2 The A’s also had acquired utilityman Jeff McNeil in a trade with the New York Mets. The Mets are making deals to add players to their roster. McNeil cones with right hand pitcher Yordan Rodriguez and $5.75 million the Mets share of McNeil’s $15.75 million salary for 2026. The Mets also agreed to pay McNeil’s $2 million buyout if Sacramento doesn’t exercise his 2027 club option.

#3 Former A’s outfielder JJ Bleday has signed a $4.1 million one year contract with the Cincinnati Reds. Bleday hit .212, 14 home runs, with 39 RBIs with Sacramento last season. Bleday’s average dropped from the 2024 season when he hit .242, 20 home runs and 60 RBIs which was a career best.

#4 Amaury, let’s take a look at Baseball Hall of Fame candidates for the class of 2026 amongst them on the ballot leading the way is former San Francisco Giant Carlos Beltran who fell just short in the last election in 2025 with 70.3% of the vote, former Atlanta Brave outfielder Andruw Jones with 66.2%. How do you see Beltran and Jones chances for the next election?

#5 Finally turning to football San Francisco 49er play by play announcer Greg Papa’s expected return back to the booth last Sunday night at Levi Stadium was put on hold as Papa is in remission after he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia back on July 16th. Papa is still having spells of brain fog, dizziness, blurred vision, that forced his return to be put on hold. Papa has been the 49ers play by play announcer since 2019. Papa was also a play by play announcer for the then Oakland A’s from 1993 to 2003 doing TV.

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: From My Baseball Notebook–Working with The Cruzer in Seattle 

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Seattle Mariners Spanish broadcasters Julio The Cruzer Cruz (left) and Amaury Pi Gonzalez (right) as heard on KBRO 1490 in Seattle/Bremerton and KNTB AM 1480 in Tacoma, Cruzer would say “Wow” to that. (photo by the Seattle Mariners magazine)

From My Baseball Notebook: Working with The Cruzer in Seattle

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Up in Seattle, during the years of Ichiro Suzuki, Jay Buhner, Edgar Martínez, and Félix Hernández, among others, I was paired with Julio “The Cruzer” Cruz on the team’s Spanish radio broadcast. Julio was the Seattle Mariners’ dream-team second baseman and the M’s original second baseman in 1977, the team’s first year in Seattle. Julio was truly a fan favorite in Seattle. He excelled at defense and was fast on the bases; he held the Mariners’ stolen-base record for years, until Ichiro Suzuki tied it and later broke it.

An affable man, born in Brooklyn, New York, of Puerto Rican descent, wore a smile at all times. I called most Mariners home games at Safeco Field, and when they went on the road, I flew south to San Francisco to call the Giants games in Spanish. I could not wait to go to Seattle to see Julio and talk baseball stories with him. I truly enjoyed every minute with Julio; he was genuine, humble, and just fun to be around. When we first started working together, he knew who I was because he was then a player with the Mariners, and I would interview him and others during batting practice before the games.

In Seattle, when Julio came up to the booth to work the games with me, I was his first broadcast partner, and I was lucky!. He was funny and inquisitive, and he loved the word “wow,” which he used frequently during our broadcast. He was the Mariners’ original second baseman from 1977 to 1983. The community in the Puget Sound area loves him. Julio Cruz passed in 2022 at age 67. During the early 2000s, we would work together.  Together with our producer, Candace Oehler, we will forever remember the one and only Cruzer.

Inside the booth, Julio was funny and very curious about stats; he kept telling me he owned the team record for stolen bases. When Ichiro tied his record and later broke it, he was sad, but at the same time happy for Ichiro, whom he kept saying in the air, “wow, este hombre es increible”  trans-  “wow, this man is incredible”.Top Base Stealer in Mariners history-  Ichiro Suzuki with 438 stolen bases for the team, ahead of Julio Cruz (290) and Harold Reynolds (228)in third place.

Julio is one of the few players I ever met who had two nicknames, “Cruzer” and “Juice”.   According to Randy Adamack, former Seattle Mariners senior vice president, the nickname “Juice” came from Cruz’s constant “extra energy,” which was palpable to those around him. His former Chicago White Sox teammate Ron Kittle echoed this, saying, “You couldn’t find a more energetic guy… always full of energy.

Those were fun years working with Julio in Seattle, during his first years in the booth, in one of my favorite areas in the country, and in a place I was familiar with from my days serving in the US Army on active duty at Ft Lewis. Seattle is one of my favorite cities, and the Mariners are an excellent organization, top to bottom, with veterans of the game like the Mariners VP of Communications, Tim Hevly.

I know Julio Cruz is up in heaven, looking down, calling me and telling me, “Wow, Amaury, what are you doing!”

Note: During those years, we broadcast the games on KBRO 1490 in Seattle/Bremerton and KNTB AM 1480 in Tacoma, which at the time was part of the Christian Salem Communications group.

About nicknames: Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd on the origins of his name: “Someone caught us in a tin shed drinking Big Momma’s whiskey out of oil cans, so my friend Pap started calling me ‘Oil Can'”.

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: Venezuela, Country and Baseball in Peril

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Venezuela oppostion leader Maria Corina Machado holds up a tally sheets during a protest against the reelection of President Nicolas Maduro. Machado says that she won by a landslide election in Caracus Venezeula in Aug 28, 2024. The politics is keeping the Carribbean Series on hold because other countries are nervous about sending their athletes to Venezuela because of possible war against Maduro and Venezuela. (AP News photo)

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Baseball is Venezuela’s national sport, but it is suffering because of the deep economic crisis, political instability, and security concerns. Their leagues are struggling financially. Players have left the country for asylum, and their attendance at games has also suffered.

Although the 2026 Caribbean Baseball Series was scheduled to be held in Caracas, Venezuela, at Estadio Monumental Simon Bolivar, logistical issues and rising tensions in the country led the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation (CBPC) to relocate the series to México, with games to take place at Guadalajara’s Estadio Charros de Jalisco.

Leagues from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and México boycotted Venezuela; these countries do not want to send their players to Venezuela for reasons already known. Cuba,a historical baseball pioneer, was excluded from this tournament, and its government called it “disrespectful.” Why was Cuba excluded? Cuba is politically aligned with Maduro.

Operating under Cuba’s government sports ministry (INDER), there are no baseball team owners in Cuba; the government owns them, plus you cannot question a government decision in Cuba; they rule. There is no First Amendment in Cuba.

Venezuela situation: Geopolitical tensions in Venezuela are nothing new. Over the past decade, since Nicolás Maduro became president, the United Nations estimates that close to 8 million Venezuelans have fled as the economy collapsed (the largest exodus ever from one country in Latin America), sneaking across porous borders and crowding into nearby countries (like Colombia) that increasingly fear they cannot accommodate another mass exodus. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for promoting democracy and opposing the Maduro regime.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in recognition of her courage in campaigning against Maduro and leading the opposition, despite being barred from running and forced to live in hiding. Also, pressure from the current US government administration against Venezuela, which is nothing new since the United States has been intervening in Latin American countries since President Wilson in 1914. Like it or not, it is history.

In the Caribbean Series, the situation is highly fluid. Venezuela’s participation remains uncertain; Panamá will participate as a guest nation.  This series is supposed to be played from February 1 to 7. But it is in danger.

The World Baseball Classic (WBC), with 20 countries scheduled to participate,(including the US and Japan) takes place from March 5-7, 2026. The situation with Venezuela and Cuba is still to be determined. What is the root cause of Venezuela that led to the current situation?

 (Read here) ]\\https://www.unhcr.org/us/emergencies/venezuela-situation

Personal story: I remember as a kid (13 years or so) in 1959 at Estadio de El Cerro in La Habana.  Just days after Fidel Castro was assembling his government, there was gunfire inside the stadium, and Havana Sugar Kings shortstop Leonardo (Leo) Cárdenas was injured, along with a coach. Cárdenas played for 16 years in the majors, mostly with the Cincinnati Reds. He is 87 years young.

Happy New Year!

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: From My Baseball Notebook– The Era of Big Contracts could be History

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A’s Spanish broadcaster Amaury Pi Gonzalez (left) meets with New York Yankees pitcher Jim Catfish Hunter (right) before a 1975 game with the then Oakland A’s (photo from the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

MLB: The Era of Big Contracts could be History.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Starting pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter was the first modern baseball player to sign a multi-million dollar contract. The former Oakland A’s pitcher signed a landmark five-year, $3.05 million contract with the New York Yankees on December 31, 1974.

Hunter was the first actual free agent due to a contract dispute, making way for today’s huge salaries. A’s owner, Charlie O. Finley, breached the contract by failing to pay the required deferred compensation into an annuity, according to an arbitrator, which opened the door for George Steinbrenner of the Yankees to roll out which at the time was an incredible amount of money  $3 million plus.. In 1974, the median price of a home in the US was around $30,000.

Jim “Catfish” Hunter just came off the 1974 season with the Oakland A’s as the American League Cy Young Award winner. I remember when ex-catcher and later radio and television commentator Ray Fosse told me, “Catfish control was for the ages.” 

The Hall of Famer who pitched for 15 years was a dominant pitcher on the best team in baseball at the time, the three time World Champion Oakland A’s,1972-73-74. From 1971 to 1974, the right-hander won 20 or more games each season.

During Caffish Hunter’s first visit to Oakland in 1975 with his Yankee uniform, he seemed relaxed and told me, “I never thought I would be pitching for any other team but the A’s. These are great fans here in Oakland, but what happened was beyond my control. Now I’m a Yankee.”

In a previous article, I wrote that the 2026 season could be historic. The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires in December 2026, and all roads lead to an owner-imposed lockout thereafter. I believe the baseball owners have the upper hand this time, as they are seeking a hard salary cap like the other sports (every other major professional sports league), thus, the years of hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts for the best players will be officially over.

Why Catfish?  Jim “Catfish” Hunter got his famous nickname from Kansas City Athletics owner Charles O. Finley, who gave it to him in 1965 to create a flashier persona, inventing a story about young Hunter catching catfish to make it stick, though Hunter never really liked it.

Finley owned the Kansas City club and then the Oakland A’s for 20 years, from 1960 to 1980, when he sold the team to Walter A.Haas (Levi Strauss) for $12.7 million, I met Charlie O. Finley, yes, he was controversial, but he had a lot of good ideas, and in Oakland, he was a winner, and also,he was a shrewd businessman.

Thank you for reading My Baseball Notebook. I wish you a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Felíz Año Nuevo. See you in 2026!

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: NBA Expansion to Las Vegas

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is considering expansion teams to Las Vegas and Seattle that will be up for discussion sometime in 2026 (CNN photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: NBA Expansion to Las Vegas:

NBA Expansion to Las Vegas

That’s Amaury News Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

A decision on expansion (potentially to 32 teams) is anticipated sometime in 2026. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised Las Vegas support for basketball. The Commissioner notes support in Las Vegas for the WNBA Aces, the Summer League, and the NBA Cup.  Seattle is also another city that the NBA is showing interest.

The Seattle SuperSonics played in Seattle for 41 seasons, from their inaugural 1967-1968 season until relocating to become the Oklahoma City Thunder after the 2007-2008 season. They were Seattle’s first major sports franchise and won one NBA championship in 1979 under legendary coach Lenny Wilkens.

I remember as I covered the Warriors visiting Seattle with the team and witnessed the support of the Supersonics fans, the arena where they played was right, where the World’s Fair was held in 1962, today known as Seattle Center,  next to the Space Needle and the Monorail. It was made even more famous in 1963 with Elvis as the star in the movie “It Happened At The World’s Fair”.

Expasion history: Last time the NBA expanded was in 2004 when the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) joined as the league’s 30th team. While there’s been talk of expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle, no new teams have joined since the Bobcats’ debut.

More Hoops: Below made the rounds here in the Bay Area and in the national news of one Golden State Warriors Fan complaining to owner Joe Lacob about the struggles of the team recenlty even as Stephen Curry scoring in big numbers but still no victories.

(via Justdutari/Reddit, Alex Simon/SFGate)

A Warrior fan wrote Lacob: “Dear Joe, Please do something about this team. What Steph need to do every night to win? Drop 50 points? Team is need a real second option. Jimmy tool are being underutilized because he is playing as a power forward due to the small position players. We have no true center.”

Lacob replied: “You can’t be as frustrated as me. I’am working on it. It’s complicated. Style of play. Coaches desires regarding players. League trends. Jimmy is not the problem.”

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 podcast: Does Garcia impact the Phils outfield plans and Castellanos?; Will D-Backs trade Marte?; plus more MLB news

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Texas Rangers’ Adolis García hits an RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the W. Sacramento Athletics, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 How will Adolis García’s reported one-year, $10 million deal with the Phillies impact Philadelphia’s outfield plans and Nick Castellanos’ future with the team?

#2 With the Diamondbacks signing Merrill Kelly and Michael Soroka, are they still willing to trade outfielder Ketel Marte this offseason?

#3 What were the most notable selections and potential impacts from the 2025 Rule 5 Draft?

#4 Which prospects headline the Athletics’ top 10 2026 MLB prospect list, and how might they influence the franchise’s future?

#5 What standout moments from the 2025 season (like Freddie Freeman’s 18th-inning walk-off) are shaping narratives as the offseason continues?

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: Big Win for Women’s Sports Title IX

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Former San Jose State University Spartans Volleyball player Blaire Fleming (3) was the center of controversy in 2024 when she played for the team (SJSU Athletics file photo)

Big Win for Women’s Sports Title IX

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Remember this last year? The San Jose State (SJSU) volleyball controversy which erupted in 2024 when a teammate Brooke Slusser, revealed her transgender teammate (later identified as Blaire Flemming) was born male, sparking debate and legal action over trans women playing in women’s sports, with opponents citing fairness/safety concerns (biological advantages in strength/jump) and leading to opponent forfeits, while supporters and the player highlight inclusion and adherence to NCAA/Mountain West rules, with a judge temporarily rejecting injunctions to remove the player.

However, the case continued in federal court, but it was just settled. Monday, the final decision by the highest court in the land came in. On December 15, 2025. The Supreme Court of the United States struck down the Biden-Harris administration’s Title IX rewrite by a 5-4 vote, which would have allowed men to compete in women’s sports and to use women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, and dorms.

And compelled speech. Common Sense prevailed in the Supreme Court. Most U.S. polls show a majority of Americans favor policies keeping transgender women out of biological women’s sports, believing they should play on teams matching their birth sex, with significant support for bans in youth and competitive athletics.

NBC News Poll (May 2025) showed that 75% of American adults say transgender women should not be permitted to participate in female sports. Agree or disagree, studies have shown that males generally become significantly stronger than females after puberty due to testosterone’s effects on muscle mass, bone density, and hemoglobin, creating a 10-30% performance gap in strength/power sports, which raises complex questions about fair competition when transgender women (who went through male puberty) compete in women’s sports, as testosterone suppression may not eliminate these enduring advantages, I did not interpreted this Supreme Court decision as discrimination against trans athletes.

At the end, this decision is a big win for biological women. I believe that in sports, men should play men and women should play women, as simple as that. If that is controversial, so be it. But it makes all the sense in the world.

Reports from November 2025 indicate that it is moving toward a blanket ban on transgender women competing in the female category at the Olympics. This decision is expected to be finalized and implemented before the Los Angeles 2028 Games, but likely not in time for the Winter Olympics in Italy.

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: Baseball headed to a Category 5 Labor Storm

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New York Mets Pete Alfonso hits a two run home run against the Colorado Rockies in the bottom of the first inning Thu Aug 8, 2025 at Coors Field in Denver. (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Baseball headed to a Category 5 Labor Storm

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The 2026 season will begin as scheduled. The 2027 season is a totally different story, as the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires at 11:59 ET on December 1, 2016. An owner’s lockout after the 2026 season is almost inevitable. What do the owners want?

A hard salary cap, which the Players Association (MLBPA) says “no way, José. If negotiations fail, we could have a work stoppage similar to 2021. The last time we experienced an MLB labor dispute was a players’ work stoppage in August 1994, a lengthy one which led to the cancellation of the rest of the 1994 season, including the World Series.

Serious stuff, especially when you canceled the baseball showcase, the World Series. The owners demanded a salary cap and changes to free agency. It wasn’t until April 1995 that the court forced both sides back to the table to work under the old rules.

The Category 5 Storm: After the 2026 season, the owners are ready to act. However, there could be a ‘civil war’ among the ‘Haves and the Have-Nots’. Teams like the A’s, Marlins, Rays, Pirates, Reds, and Rockies are considered “poor” and want a salary cap and oppose a high salary floor (basement) unless it comes with a cap.

These teams cannot afford to sign players for hundreds of millions of dollars. The Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Phillies, and the other “regular suspects” have no problem spending mucho dinero.. The Phillies recently signed Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million contract to stay in Philadelphia.

Toronto signed free-agent pitcher Dylan Cease to a 7-year, $210 million contract. The Orioles (trying to survive in the tough AL East) signed Mets slugger Pete Alonso for five years and $155 million, while the World Champion Dodgers got a bargain as they stole star closer of the Mets Edwin Díaz and signed him for 3 years for a total of $69 million (a new record for a reliever) but this is”lunch money” for the Dodgers.

In conclusion, last time there was a work stoppage, it was by the players; the next one will be by the owners, and I believe the owners have the upper hand this time. MLB is the only league without a salary cap. The NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, and even the WNBA all have salary caps.

I believe the owners are willing to risk disruption to achieve a hard salary cap, despite concerns from some executives that it could damage the game. However, all can be assured, we are not soon to see another Juan Soto-type contract.

The Dominican right fielder, who signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets in late 2024. This is what Juan Soto said after signing that contract. “Los Mets no fueron los que ofrecieron más dinero; hubo otros que ofrecieron más” (Trans) “The Mets weren’t the ones who offered the most money; there were other teams that offered more.

Which means that at least one other team offered Juan a better deal than $765 million. In the words of the great NY broadcaster Mel Allen, “How about that!” And how about this? Always go to other people’s funerals; otherwise, they won’t come to yours -Yogi Berra.

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: National Baseball Broadcaster Joe Buck was awarded the Ford C. Frick Award

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The former St Louis Cardinals play by play voice Jack Buck (left) and Fox Sports play by play voice Joe Buck sit in the St Louis Cardinals broadcast booth on Fathers Day June 18, 1995 (AP News file photo)

National Baseball Broadcaster Joe Buck was awarded the Ford C. Frick Award

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in baseball broadcasting was won today by Joe Buck, of ESPN Sports, who calls Major League games for the sports network. He joins his father, Jack Buck, who won the award in 1987and who was the beloved “Voice of the St. Louis Cardinals” for nearly 50 years.

I have listened to Joe Buck on ESPN baseball but never met him. I did know his father, Jack. In 1999, during a special ceremony at Candlestick Park, last year the Giants played there. Yours truly and Lon Simmons were co-masters of ceremonies for the No. 30 uniform retirement of Giants great Orlando Cepeda.

Mr. Jack Buck also addressed the crowd during the ceremony. He was a St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster; the Cardinals were in town, and Orlando Cepeda also played for St. Louis. Mr. Buck asked me if he should address the crowd in English or Spanish; he spoke conversational Spanish, but he chose to do it in English.

Mr. Buck, the father, was a much more seasoned broadcaster than his son, Joe, and, in my opinion, a better play-by-play man. Congratulations go out today to his son, Joe Buck for winning this prestigious award.

Joe Buck, son of Jack Buck, today became the first father-son duo of baseball announcers to win the Ford C. Frick Award. National broadcasters are heard across the country and therefore carry more weight when it comes to voting for this award.

For example, Jon Miller, who won this award in 2010, was not only known and heard locally as the Voice of the San Francisco Giants, but was paired with Joe Morgan on ESPN nationwide telecasts in games across the country.

I was rooting for my good friend and pioneer René Cardenas, the first to broadcast for an MLB club in Spanish in 1958 with the Dodgers, before Jaime Jarrin (who won in 1998), to win it this season. I spoke via telephone with Rene today, he told me he understands, but told me he feels he is “totally forgotten”. Cardenas is 95 years young.

Congratulations to Duane Kuiper of the Giants, who was also nominated for this award, which yours truly was proud to be nominated for in 2004.

ESPN pays Major League Baseball over half a billion dollars annually under a deal covering the 2026-2028 season, which includes the MLB TV streaming service.

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.