Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz leaves a Brooklyn federal courthouse Wed Nov 12, 2025 who is facing indictment charges for throwing certain pitches and taking bribes. (AP News photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 What are the biggest implications of the indictment of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz for MLB’s integrity and its efforts to police gambling?
#2 With the deadline Tuesday to accept or reject qualifying offers, which players (like Kyle Schwarber) are most likely to decline, and how will that reshape the free-agent market?
#3 How significant is Shohei Ohtani’s unanimous NL MVP and Aaron Judge’s AL MVP win this year — particularly because they’re back-to-back, a historic first?
#4 What could be the long-term impact of the Astros’ Minute Maid Park being rebranded to Daikin Park, both from a business/sponsorship standpoint and for fan perception?
#5 What strategies should teams prioritize now as the offseason really ramps up (with owners’ meetings, free agency, non-tender decisions) to position themselves for the 2026 season?
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.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
Cleveland Guardian pitcher Luis Ortiz works the count on the Minnesota Twins line up at Progressive Field in Cleveland on April 30, 2025 (AP News photo)
Cleveland Guardians Pitchers Indicted for Gambling
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
When it comes to betting in professional sports, it looks like when it rains, it pours”. Now it’s MLB time. Just a few weeks ago, the FBI revealed its investigation into some NBA players and a coach of gambling during games, resulting in indictments and arrests of the defendants.
Now is Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortíz turn who were indicted on charges of alleged gambling misconduct, manipulating bets on individual pitches. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, announced the indictment on Sunday at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.
Ortíz was arrested in Boston for alleged gambling misconduct, specifically manipulating bets on individual pitches. Emmanuel Clase, the closer for the Guardians, was not in custody as of Sunday, when the charges were announced and the indictment unsealed.
The Department of Justice has charged the pair with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy.
This is a developing story, and it is just in the top of the first inning…
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.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
Darryl Strawberry as a San Francisco Giant in 1994 the only year he played in San Francisco (photo from Photos of Legends)
Darryl Strawberry – Story of Redemption –
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
Darryl Strawberry was pardoned by President Trump for his 1995 federal tax evasion conviction. The pardon covers his plea of guilty to tax fraud, though it does not apply to his separate state-level drug-related charges.
The reason being the pardon, according to the White House statement, is that Strawberry served time and paid back the taxes owed after his conviction, and has since become active in ministry and maintained sobriety for over a decade.
Strawberry Ministries, founded by Darryl and Tracy Strawberry, is a ministry in St. Peter, Missouri. It involves speaking at correctional facilities, men’s retreats, plus other events and stories they share of personal transformation and recovery from addiction.
The ministry’s mission is to empower individuals and families through faith in Jesus Christ. Strawberry is a good man, he was a very good player, good with teammates, fans, and media alike.
His career baseball statistics include a .259 batting average,335 home runs, 1,000 RBIs, 221 stolen bases in 17 major league seasons, including the National League 1983 Rookie of the Year, 8-time All Star who played for the Mets, Dodgers, Yankees, and Giants.
He played right field and hit in the fifth position during the 1986 All-Star Game at Astrodome, Houston. A game I had the pleasure of covering. Redemption includes forgiveness of sins, freedom from sin, and reconciliation with God.
Congratulations to Darryl Strawberry on his well-deserved pardon. His career was marked by both great success and personal struggles with addiction and legal issues, but he has since found faith and is now an ordained minister Congratulations to Darryl Strawberry.
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.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
Former San Francisco Giant outfielder Barry Bonds and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens are once again candidates for the Hall of Fame as the BBWAA will take a vote Dec 7, 2025. Bonds and Clemens fell short for the last ten Hall of Fame ballots. (photo by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Once again former Giants outfielder Barry Bonds and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens are on the ballot for Hall of Fame induction. Both have been accused of steroid use during their years in MLB. They are up for consideration to be elected to the Hall of Fame and it’s been reported that this is the year they finally could be elected?
#2 Clemens finished his Hall of Fame balloting with 65.2% of the vote and Bonds received 44% of the vote in 2024 down from 66% from 2023. They both need 75% of the vote to be elected.
#3 Reports are that both Bonds and Clemens are getting closer and this ballot called a special ballot. This is a contemporary special ballot that has six other players on it that includes Bonds and Clemens. As you know the Baseball Writers of America Association have the last say on who gets voted in the Hall of Fame and Bonds and Clemens have been rejected for the last ten years.
#4 Bonds had admitted to Federal Grand Jury under oath during the BALCO investigation that he unknowingly took Performance Enhancing Drugs that was given to him in the form of the clear and the cream by his personal trainer at the time Greg Anderson. Clemens was accused of taking Human Growth Hormone by his former trainer Brian McNamee who testified under oath at a US Congressional Hearing that Clemens was using steroids while pitching for the New York Yankees. Clemens under oath swore he did not ever use steroids at the hearing. Were these the two factors that have kept Bonds and Clemens out of the Hall of Fame?
#5 In essence do you see Bonds or Clemens having a shot at getting elected to the MLB Hall of Fame this year by the BBWAA on Dec 7th of this year?
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.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
Toronto Blue Jays Ernie Clement hits a double during game 7 of the 2025 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Centre in Toronto Sat Nov 1, 2025 (AP News photo)
Leftovers: Postseason and World Series
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
-New record: Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement established a new Major League Baseball record with 30 hits in a single postseason, breaking the previous record of 29 hits by Randy Arozarena. Clement established the record during Game 7 of the World Series this past Saturday in Toronto.
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement now owns the new MLB record with 30 hits during the games this Postseason, which includes this World Series.
-An act of Solidarity. The Toronto Blue Jays have joined their counterparts on the Los Angeles Dodgers in paying tribute to Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia during the World Series.
Vesia was away from the team because of a “deeply personal family matter”, according to a statement by the Dodgers posted before game 1 of the World Series. The Dodgers’ pitchers were wearing Vesia’s #51 on the sides of their caps. Blue Jays players showed solidarity, and their relievers and starters did the same, wearing #51 on the sides of their caps.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he was touched to see the Blue Jays recognize an opponent amid the competition of the World Series.“It’s everything,” Roberts said before Saturday’s Game 7 in Toronto. “I didn’t learn that until after the game last night. I think it really speaks to the brotherhood of athletes. It just speaks to how much respect and love they have for one another. It’s a huge, huge tribute to Alex.”
-Did you see The Champions Trophy? The World Series Commissioner’s Trophy has engraved on its base the words “Presented by the Commissioner of Baseball”, a replica of the current commissioner’s signature, and the year and “WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS”. On the back, the winning team’s name is engraved each year: LA Dodgers 2025.
-The MVP Trophy? Since 2018, the MVP trophy has been a bronze sculpture of Willie Mays making “The Catch” on a wooden base. The recipient of the MVP Trophy this year was Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto who won three games in this 2025 World Series, earning him the MVP award. He earned wins in Game 2, Game 6, and Game 7, becoming the first pitcher since 2001 to win three games in a single World Series
– In the 90s, Toronto was the first: Cito Gaston was the first African-American manager to win a World Series. He led the Toronto Blue Jays to consecutive World Series championships in 1992 and 1993, defeating the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies, respectively.
-What, favorites again? Yes. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the early favorites to win the 2026 World Series, followed closely by the New York Yankees. The Dodgers, coming off a 2025 championship win, are favored to become the first team to win three consecutive titles since the 1998-2000 Yankees. This, according to most betting outfits.
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.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate their second consecutive World Series victory winning the 2025 Fall Classic against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sat Nov 1, 2025 (AP News photo)
Dodgers the Hottest Franchise in Sports
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi Gonzalez
In a World Series for the ages, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games. The Dodgers have now won three titles in six years (and nine overall). Not easy to do in baseball today, with an expanded postseason, consistency in winning is more difficult.
The 2025 Dodgers were the favorite to win this year’s World Series since Spring Training, and they did. It took them 169 baseball games to accomplish one of the most difficult titles in any top professional sports league.
The last MLB team to win consecutive World Series was the New York Yankees, who won 3 in a row (1998-2000). The Dodgers were the first repeat champions in 25 years. This team set a new franchise record for attendance in 2025, becoming the first team in franchise history to surpass 4 million fans in a single season. Total 4,012,470 fans.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto won the Most Valuable Player of this 2025 World Series with a historic performance, pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings in game 7, sending the game into extra innings, just one day after he threw 96 pitches to earn the win in game 6.
After Yamamoto won game six, he went to the training table, not to the Hotel like the rest of his teammates. He won two games of the four to give the Dodgers the victory. This whole World Series is worthy of a Hollywood movie, with the seventh game as the last few minutes for the conclusion, as they went into the 11th inning, a go-ahead homerun by Will Smith (the catcher) Saturday, much more popular than Will Smith (the actor) in Los Angeles, with main character Yamamoto (playing himself with sub-titles on the screen) the pitcher who pitched on zero rest.
The 11th was the First and Last time the Dodgers took the lead to win it all by a 5-4 final. There have been 22 World Series Game sevens won by the visiting team (like the Dodgers); however, the home team still has the overall edge in Game sevens, with 19 wins over the 22 for the road team The Parade for the World Champion is scheduled for this Monday, November 3, at 11 a.m. in downtown Los Angeles, which began last night with thousands of fans on the streets, some cars doing doughnuts, though it seemed a peaceful celebration.
The Dodgers announced the parade will be followed by a ticketed event at Dodger Stadium. Overall, the New York Yankees have won 27 World Series, followed by the St Louis Cardinals with 11, and the Oakland A’s and Boston Red Sox with nine each, also the Los Angeles Dodgers with nine, the San Francisco Giants with eight, the Cincinnati Reds with five, and the Pittsburgh Pirates with five.
The TV audience for the 2025 World Series Game 7 was expected to surpass 2020 20 million viewers in the U.S. alone. This makes it a very high-profile game, but official numbers for the specific event have not yet been released. One source indicates that Game 7 of the 2025 Finals averaged 16.4 million viewers. Another source mentions that every other 2025 World Series game has averaged over 11 million viewers
Quote Don Drysdale: “Hey, skip, bet you wish I was Jewish today too”. This was said to his manager after a poor pitching performance in Game 1 of the 1965 World Series which was played on Yom Kippur. Sandy Koufax is the most famous Jewish baseball player, an incredible player who made the iconic decision to skip Game 1 of the 1965 World Series.
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.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
According to sources the top three cities that MLB and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred are considering for expansion are Utah, Portland and Nashville. Cities that look like their out of the hunt for expansion Oakland and Montreal two former MLB towns. (AP News photo)
MLB:The Frontrunners for Expansion
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi Gonzalez
Oakland is never going to get an expansion team in Major League Baseball. John Fisher folded his tent in Oakland and took the Circus on a crusade to Sacramento, with Las Vegas as their ultimate stop. John Fisher killed Major League Baseball in Oakland.
But currently, two cities are leading the race for expansion. Portland, Oregon, and Salt Lake City, Utah. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has stated that he hopes to have the expansion process in place before his term ends in January 2029. –
Numero Uno: Portland seems to be ahead and a leading contender for one of the two expansion cities. Portland is pursuing a team through its Portland Diamond Project. They have strong civic support and plans for a stadium.
A final ownership group of people with financial resources is still needed; the largest city in Oregon is leading the way. The Portland Trail Blazers are the only professional team in the top leagues: the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB. The State of Oregon has a total population of 4,280,000, of which 635,000 live in Portland, its largest city.
-Numero Dos: Salt Lake City. They are preparing to be a potential Major League Baseball expansion city. They are developing a 100-acre Power District, for mixed use that includes a site for their future ballpark, together with housing, retail and green spaces.
The construction of that district is underway and basically waiting for MLB through their Commissioner Rob Manfred to select them as a one of the two new major league towns. The State of Oregon population is 4.5 million and Salt Lake City their largest city with 218,000 residents.
Officials in Salt Lake City said that they intend to be “shovel-ready” for the job, if a team is awarded. In the State of Utah there are two teams among the top pro-sports league. The Utah Jazz in the NBA and The new NHL team, the Utah Mammorth which officially began play in the 2024–25 season.
Last two: The last expansion teams in MLB history were the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Rays, which began play in 1998. Currently, MLB has 30 teams, the NBA has 30, the NFL has 32, and the NHL has 32. Major League Soccer (MLS) does not rank higher than the MLB, NBA, NFL or NHL in terms of average franchise valuation or revenue. The main reason I have not listed them.
Happy Halloween!
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.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
Los Angeles Dodgers Freddie Freeman connects for the game winning home run against the Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Brenden Little in the bottom of the 18th inning at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Mon Oct 27, 2025 (AP News photo)
That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 What historic mark did the game reach in terms of innings and how did this compare to previous World Series records?
#2 The Dodgers Freddie Freeman hit the walk-off home run to end the contest what made it significant in World Series history?
#3 Describe the performance of Shohei Ohtani: how many times did he reach base, what extra-base hits did he record, and what records did he tie or break?
#4 How did the scoring progress: what was the situation at the end of the 7th inning, and how did both teams reach that point?
#5 Will Klein earned the win for the Dodgers, and what role did he play in the extra-innings bullpen usage?
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.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
TNT NBA analyst Shaquille O’Neal said his advice to NBA players is to save aggressively about 75% of your earnings and live off the remaining 25%. (photo by TNT)
Mafia-NBA Scandal and Shaq’s advice –
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
The average salary of NBA players is 11.9 million. Shaquille O’Neal’s comment and question about the players involved in the gambling investigation were, “How much is enough?” Shaq’s advice to the players in his own words: Save aggressively — ideally 75% of their earnings — and live off the remaining 25%. Ideally 75% of your earnings, and live off the remaining 25%”.
He emphasizes that it’s not about how much you make, but how much you keep. His core principle is that with discipline, you can build wealth and financial freedom even from smaller amounts by living. Shaq played for 19 seasons in the NBA.
Shaquille O’Neal’s fortune is estimated at around $500 million in 2025. But when it comes to handling his finances. Shaquille O’Neal said to his own children, “We ain’t rich, I’m rich, to teach them the value of hard work.
Shaq believes his children should earn their own success and not rely on his wealth. He requires them to finish school, get a degree, and present a business plan before he will invest in it. The NBA sent a memo to all 30 teams four days after guard Terry Rozier and coach Chauncey Billups were indicted by the FBI in the gambling investigation, shaking the NBA to its core.
The league wrote that it is reviewing policies on injury reporting, training, and education for all NBA personnel, as well as player safety measures. Charles Barkley has been vocally critical, dismissing arguments of gambling addiction and calling those involved “stupid.”
This comment came during an on-air debate with fellow NBA commentator Kenny Smith, who suggested addiction could be a factor. After the recent arrests on this scandal, Barkley has been very critical, dismissing the argument made on-air by commentator Kenny Smith, who suggested addiction could be a factor.
Quotes: Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner: Emphasized the seriousness of players betting on games and stated that nothing is more important than the integrity of the competition. Jessica Tisch, NYPD Commissioner: Described rigging games for profit as immoral and illegal, calling it an offense to players and fans. FBI Director Kash Patel: Referred to the alleged schemes as “mind-boggling ,” involving significant financial fraud over multiple years.
Miami Heat’s Tony Rozier leaves the Orlando Federal Courthouse through a side door after an arraignment on Thu Oct 23, 2025 (AP News photo)
Investigation of the Mafia-NBA Gambling Scandal
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
The current investigation of the Mafia and NBA gambling continues, and could make the 1919 eight Chicago White Sox players banned for life after throwing the World Series on equal footing, the numerous PED scandals, with many players’ suspensions, the Pete Rose ban from baseball because of gambling charges, and the most recent the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal look all trivial in comparison.
This could be the “tip of the iceberg,” said one popular ESPN commentator on TV, referring to the current investigation Recently, before the Warriors’ game against Denver, Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr was asked about this current NBA scandal. He responded, “The biggest thing is that our players face a lot of wrath from fans,” referencing the barrage of hostile messages athletes now receive, especially from those with money riding on the outcome.
Kerr was talking about the fans, and I agree that fans do not have a right, because they bet on a game, to harass or intimidate him or his team, because a fan made a certain bet and Kerr made a substitution, and that fan felt it cost him to lose money on his legal bet.
With all due respect to the Warriors coach, I understand what he is saying and agree with his statement, but as of today, nobody knows whether this scandal involves basketball fans who bet on NBA games. It is legal for adults to bet on sports in the US.
More than 30 people have been arrested in this recent FBI investigation into illegal gambling, match-fixing, and a mafia-backed poker scheme, and so far those arrested include NBA players, a head coach, and organized crime members. Are there also fans among the people over 30 who have been arrested so far?
We do not know, or those in the know have not told us yet. Here are all the major sports outfits in the country: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Bet365, ESPN Bet, Fanatics Sportsbook,BetRivers. There are also a bunch of sites that are dedicated exclusively to horse racing.
The Warriors’ success at the box office is nothing new. The Golden State Warriors sold out games with great frequency during their time in Oakland, especially during their championship-winning years . The team amassed a long consecutive sellout streak that began in Oakland and continued after their move to San Francisco.
I remember those years when I was their first and only, to date, Spanish play-by-play announcer for all their games, home and away. The Warriors have always been a very popular team in the Bay Area, whether they played in Oakland or in San Francisco.
On a lighter note: A good friend of mine told me that the prices for food at the Warriors games at Chase Center in San Francisco are so high that a hot dog costs $8.50 and a beer is as high as $20. But once they’re inside, they know those are the prices; it’s like an island, they cannot leave. Which I responded, What do you expect? They play at the Chase Center, Chase is a huge US Bank.
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.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
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