Tag: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

Radio Espanol 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg will bring you all the play by play action with author Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Manolo Hernandez Douen (Graphic work by Mauricio Segura)

2024 Oakland A’s Outlook

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

This is the time of the year when you want to know what to expect from your favorite team. In this case, I am talking about the Oakland Athletics. The biggest question is not how they will do on the field (we will get to that later) but where they are playing in 2025 and the next few years while building in Las Vegas.

By April 2, we should know if the A’s have agreed with Oakland for a new lease for the next three years to keep playing at the Coliseum. But the soon approaching season for the A’s is now the talk, and this is major league baseball, the best baseball league in the world, and the Oakland A’s have a lot of young intriguing talent.

Manager Mark Kotsay announced this week that ex-Giants lefty Alex Wood is scheduled to pitch on Opening Night in Oakland next Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians, at the Oakland Coliseum, this is the first time Wood opens a season in his 11 year career, he has also pitched for the Braves, Dodgers and Reds.

The A’s have been acquiring Giants players this off-season; also, suitable right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling is coming to the East Bay. Saturday, the A’s signed another Giants veteran, third baseman, J. Davis (who, according to reports), was convinced by Alex Wood to follow him to Oakland.

Davis, a good veteran hitter, with power, who signed a $2.5 million, one-year contract, a deal that allows him to earn $1 million more in performance bonuses. These ex-Giants are all veterans who will now play for the A’s, giving the young team an adrenaline shot of experience, and most important, leadership.

These four everyday players (below) are essential for this ball club in 2024 and beyond.

1-Zack Gelof. He was the top breakout player for the team last season. The second baseman showed in 2023 that he was a major-league talent; nobody should have any doubt about that. The 25-year-old was one of the top players for the team, and in half a season, he hit 14 home runs and had a .840 OPS.

The 2021 pick #60 in the second round for the A’s should be the team second baseman, period. It is conceivable that Zack could hit the 30-home run mark; his power is evident.

2-Brent Rooker, the A’s All-Star Designated Hitter. He led the club with 30 home runs. At 28 years of age, he is what they call a late bloomer. A great pick by the A’s he was claimed off waivers in 2022 from the Kansas City Royals. So far a great move by the team.

3-Shea Langeliers. The ‘número uno’ catcher had an excellent first full year in the majors, slugging 22 home runs and showing his skills as an outstanding defensive catcher. Although A’s are very high on Tyler Soderstrom, their #1 pick, he is not ready for the big time so Tyler will begin this 2024 season in the minor leagues. It is conceivable, if he does well in the minors, he will be brought up later in the season. Tyler Soderstrom will not begin the season as the #2 catcher for the A’s.

4-Esteury Ruíz. A star was born? We will have to wait for this season, but the young Dominican set a new American League rookie-record with 67 stolen bases. He is an exciting player, usually playing center field, with speed to burn. In 1979, I was there when the A’s brought a young kid by the name of Rickey Henderson, who, in that rookie season, stole 33 bases in 89 games, usually playing left field and the rest is history. Esteury offers more than the excitement of the stolen base and art that has been on hiatus like the bunt for a while.

Then we have and infield that could be shared by J.D. Davis, Abraham Toro, Ryan Noda, Aledmys Díaz and young Darell Hernaiz.

Another ex-Giant, (mentioned earlier) Ross Stripling, is a right-handed pitcher with experience. But there is still a big question about how the rest of their pitching be in starting roles. It is a big puzzle yet to be resolved, and Spring Training allows manager Mark Kotsay to pick the top five on that rotation: Paul Blackburn, who is having a great time in Arizona, Adrián Martínez, and Luis Medina. J.P Sears, Kyle Mueller, Ken Waldichuch, plus…you pick’em.

Bullpen. In 2023, Trevor May retired after recording 21 saves for the team. The possibility that young Mason Miller opens the season as the team’s closer is accurate, together with a variety of young arms. The athletics manager indicated recently that he would like to see Miller gradually move up the bullpen hierarchy rather than anointing him as a closer right away.

As of today, M&M has an excellent position to open and win the rubber in the night inning. A’s young pitchers could be starting in one game, relieving in other, a plethora of arms, Zack Jackson., Dany Jiménez, Joe Boyle and it goes on and on and on.

Finally. 214 is an Ugly number: The number of games the Oakland A’s have lost in the last two years. However, in this fast internet/social media/Artificial Intelligence world, it is easy to forget that the A’s posted a 579 winning percentage from 2018 to 2021 and qualified for the postseason three times. Nobody is expecting the A’s to contend this year. The two Texas teams now control this division, The World Champion Rangers and the always contenders Dusty Baker Houston Astros, they suck all the oxygen in the West.

The 2024 Oakland Athletics have an ensemble cast, with an assortment of actors on a film as long as “The Longest Day”(1962)

Let’s Play Ball and enjoy the season!

Quote: “A home opener is always exciting, no matter if it’s home or on the road” -Yogi Berra.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer 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

Former Oakland A’s pitcher Trevor May has been open being against the A’s leaving Oakland and also saying that A’s owner John Fisher should sell the team (AP News file photo)

Do you suffer from A’s fatigue?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

I know some A’s fans because they have told me they suffer from fatigue about the team’s current situation. What is fatigue? Fatigue is common, and one of the main components of fatigue is “burnout.” The constant talk about “they are leaving,” “no, they are staying,” “it is not over yet,” “sell the team,” they are heard all over the A’s fan-hood.

There is also “anxiety” about the Oakland-Las Vegas-Sacramento-Salt Lake City Athletics. Ex-A’s closer Trevor May has spoken publicly about his anxiety as a pitcher months before he blasted the Oakland A’s ownership.

Anxiety is very real, and although sports is just a part of life, which is meant for people to enjoy, some fans have worked themselves up with something of an obsession about their team potentially leaving Oakland, which creates a constant state of anxiety for uncertain things.

All the cities involved are trying to have the A’s play their games at their respective home parks; their elected officials and the teams that own the parks are all trying to get a piece of the A’s.

There are people on their podcasts in the Bay Area dedicating most of their time to the Oakland A’s saga, from local journalists to some other people outside the Bay Area like David Samson, once President of the Miami Marlins, on his top-rated podcast as he said: “Whether they were close or not, my view has always been that there is a deal to be done to keep the A’s in Oakland.”

He also says that he doesn’t believe the owners would force John Fisher to sell the team, so he doesn’t see a forced sale as an option.

Whatever your situation about the A’s, most things are not under your control. For example, if you do not have a vote in the City of Oakland or are not an executive of the Oakland A’s with the decision-making power to make something happen, you should not worry since you can’t control it anyway.

So what is the point of torturing yourself unless you are a masochist (enjoy experiments that give you pain)

Negotiations: The A’s and the City of Oakland are at an impasse. They have yet to agree to a lease extension beyond this 2024 season, during which they will play at the Oakland Coliseum.

This means that, as of today, it is still possible that this 2024 season will be the last time the Oakland A’s play at the Oakland Coliseum, which make 2024 a very historical year. But I will not let it worry me because I, just like you, cannot control the situation.

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

The book Beisbol on the Air by Jose Iber and Anthony R Salazar

Oakland A’s – Baseball Boycott Capital

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

If you have never heard of a fan base boycotting their team’s Opening Day, it is because it is not common in Major League Baseball history in Oakland or any other city. But such is the state of affairs on the A’s franchise today. Last Dive Bar and The A’s 68’s have joined forces for a full boycott of Opening Day, March 28 when the A’s host the Cleveland Guardians.

During the 2023 A’s season, there were reverse boycotts, and in the end, the Oakland A’s attendance at the Oakland Coliseum was the lowest among all 30 in major league baseball. Not all of this can be attributed to the boycotts, but A’s hardcore and casual fans have shown disinterest in the team since the team announced their move to Las Vegas.

The relationship between A’s fans and A’s ownership is very similar to part of the Christian marriage vows I, take you to be my favorite team, to have and to hold from this day forward for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer”. Unfortunately, it has resulted in a very nasty divorce, what attorneys call “irreconcilable differences.”

On March 28 at 7:07 PM the Oakland A’s inaugurate their 2024 season when they will play the Cleveland Guardians at the Oakland Coliseum.

Fans plan to boycott the A’s opener by showing up at the Coliseum parking lot but not inside. Instead of going inside the Coliseum to watch the game, fans will show their displeasure with owner John Fisher, who is trying to relocate the team to Las Vegas. The Oakland A’s are offering a BOGO deal for that Opening Night against the Guardians, buy one tixket get another ticket for free.

New book: “Béisbol on the Air” by Jorge Iber and Anthony R. Salazar. Essays of Major League Spanish-Language Broadcast is now available.

Both the U.S. population and Major League Baseball rosters have seen dramatic demographic changes over the past 50 years. The nation and the sport are becoming multilingual, with Spanish as the unofficial second language.

Today, 21 of 30 MLB teams broadcast at least some games in Spanish Filling a gap in the literature of baseball, this collection of new essays examines the history of the game in Spanish, from the earliest locutores who called the plays for Latin American audiences to the League’s expansion into cities with large Latino populations–Los Angeles, Houston and Miami to name a few–that made talented sportscasters for the fanaticos a business necessity.