Tag: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Frankie Montas-Will he be traded?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas pats the glove after teammate outfielder Nick Allen makes a nice catch on Texas Rangers Brad Miller’s fly at the Oakland Coliseum Sat Apr 23, 2022 (AP News photo)

Frankie Montás – Will he be Traded?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Frankie Montás started Saturday afternoon for the Oakland A’s during the second game of a three game series against the Texas Rangers. He pitched a season-high 7 2/3 innings allowed just 3 hits and 2 earned runs, struck-out 8 and threw 96 pitches.

His team’s anemic bats only produced 3 hits. A’s lost 2-0 and the series vs. Texas. Frankie Montás record is 2-2 with a 3.28 earned run average. 9,120 was the paid attendance on a beautiful Oakland afternoon.

As this 2022 season got underway, the Oakland A’s had one established starting pitcher, one that has won consistently and was not trying to make the team. Frankie Montás. The three respectable starting rotation members (until last season) were Chris Bassitt, Frankie Montás and Sean Manaea. Since then Frankie Montás has ascended as the ace of the staff.

A’s fans are cynical and expect Frankie Montás to be traded like Bassitt, Manaea and other A’s established players like Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Mark Canha, Josh Harrison, Jake Diekman, Andrew Chafin, Sergio Romo.

Will Frankie Montás be traded this season? Nobody will bet their house (if they own one) or any other valuable possession, to tell you one way of the other. But common sense tells everybody that this A’s organization will not hesitate to trade their players that have value and can bring a haul of prospects.

In the trade with Atlanta, the A’s sent All Star Matt Olson to the Braves and in return they got four players; highly regarded catcher Shea Langeliers, their 2021 first-round pick pitcher Ryan Cusick and another good arm from the mound in Joey Estes. Also from Atlanta the A’s got a 23-year old Dominican-born outfielder with limitless potential, Cristian Pache.

He was the #4 prospect inside the Braves organization; So far, Cristian Pache has become a fan favorite at the Oakland Coliseum in front of the scant attendances during this first month of the season. Prior to games at the Coliseum, I walk among fans and ask for their comments about some of the new crop of young A’s players, and just about everybody mentions Pache.

A’s fans compare Pache to Ramón Laureano, who is only a few weeks away from his return after an 80 game suspension dating to last season. They both can play defense, cover all of center field and then some.

The only doubt about Cristian Pache, (according to most scouts) was, can he hit major league pitching the? He has shown some promise so far, but the whole season is still ahead. The best ‘focus group’ in baseball is the fans.

For baseball players, it is a job, they do not care where they play, they want to be in the major leagues, so asking A’s players how they feel to play in front of 3,000 people is not the question. They are professionals, they get paid to perform in front of 3,000 or 30,000.

Regardless where the A’s play in the future, Oakland, Las Vegas or Hong Kong (that would be some road trip) the fact remains that A’s management would not hesitate to trade anybody at any given time early or late in the season which would be a trade deadline between July 29 and August 3.

I know some A’s fans that repeat themselves that Frankie will not be traded this year, like you want to “self brainwash” and the more you say it the more you believe it, but they also admit, they will absolutely would not be surprised if the A’s do pull the trigger.

Good young starting pitcher is very coveted at this time and many contending teams have already called the A’s involving Frankie Montás. Among those are the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels.

How can anybody blame the Oakland A’s fans that complain about good players getting traded? Nobody can. Because they have seen the same Rodeo for years and years, there is nothing new here. The Oakland A’s of the 2012 season were picked to finish last in their division; they won it with a 94-68 record. So there are always surprises. Are the A’s going to win this division this year, most probably not?

Are the A’s going to trade Frankie Montás? I think there is definitely more than a 50-50 chance that they will. Why? Because that is their track record and that is what they do. I do not like to see Montás leave Oakland, but I also have my feet on the ground and I still believe the world is round.

Adiós muchachos!

NOTE: Refreshing our collective memories. These were some of the names of that surprising 2012 A’s team that most “experts” expected very little: Adam Rosales, Eric Sogard, Jamile Weeks, Kurt Susuki, Chris Carter, Daric Barton, Josh Donaldson, Cliff Pennington, Bartolo Colón, Tyson Ross, Jerry Blevins, Brian Fuentes, A.J Griffin and Sean Doolittle, among many others. Remember?

Catch Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Manolo Hernandez-Duen for all the play by play on the Oakland A’s Spanish flagship station 1010 KIQI LeGrande San Francisco and Amaury does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s open up homestand against Orioles: A’s have seven players out with Covid 19 protocols

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty is one of seven Athletics that were out for the home opener against the Baltimore Orioles at the Oakland Coliseum on Mon Apr 18, 2022 (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

The Oakland A’s (5-5) surprised a lot of the oddsmakers after they were predicted to pretty much have a rough start not to mention a very unexpected opening of the season to open a ten game road trip.

The A’s who lost two out of three to the Philadelphia Phillies but won that last and final third game and got inspiration and won three out of four in Tampa Bay including a 13-2 landslide on Mon Apr 11th at Tropicana Field.

Then the A’s who lost two out of three to the Toronto Blue Jays did pick up a win on Thu Apr 14th winning a two run ball game 7-5. The A’s on trip got some run production from catcher Sean Murphy and some closing help from Lou Trivino. The A’s went 5-5 which was unexpected on the trip.

On the Covid list: On that last A’s road trip the A’s might have got away with a lot with a relatively unexpected successful road trip going 5-5 but for the A’s home opener the A’s have seven players out with Covid 19 protocol issues, outfielder Stephen Piscotty, catcher Austin Allen, infielders Jed Lowrie, Chad Pinder, pitchers AJ Puk, Lou Trivino and Kirby Snead. Called up infielders Nick Allen and Christian Lopes, and pitcher Sam Selman. The A’s who opened up their season in Philadelphia on Fri Apr 8th came at a time when the city of Philadelphia is having a relatively large BA 2 Variant outbreak and has mandated mask wearing and social distancing.

The Baltimore Orioles are 3-6 but had won two of their last three games against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards. This could be a lot closer of a series than the oddsmakers are predicting.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio lead play by play announcer heard on flagship station 1010 KIQI LeGrande San Francisco and does News and Commentary podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Amaury’s brick message to Cuban baseball fans stands true today

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, Pink Floyd once had the chance to sing about another brick in the wall, you had a chance to put a brick on the floor at Willie Mays Plaza in 2000 at Pac Bell Park you dedicated to those who were in Cuba that loved baseball but who could not leave Cuba.

#2 Amaury, there are numerous bricks on the Mays Plaza that dedicates many messages to fans, these were placed there during the inaugural year how much does your message stand up today?

#3 In 1998 MLB took Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan doing the play by play and color to Havana something that was never done before what did it mean for baseball to go to Cuba and play a game there?

#4 Was the experience for the game to go to Cuba a positive one for MLB obviously MLB has never gone back to Cuba since 1998?

#5 Many Cuban players have come out of Cuba over the years some either declared political asylum and very few were granted permission to play MLB by the Cuban government.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for the Spanish play by play of Oakland A’s beisbol with Manolo Hernandez-Douen on flagship station 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and listen for Amaury for News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Jackie Robinson-The Scorebook-More than Baseball he is America

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

April 15, 1947 Scorebook by sportswriter Tom Meany, historic first game for Jackie Robinson (Photo: National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown)

Jackie Robinson -The Scorebook – More than Baseball he is America

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

On my first visit to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 2009, there was a very impressive book I was privileged to see. It is the official reporter scorebook, from April 15, 1947, by Sportswriter Tom Meaney of the New York World Telegram.

It is kept in the special historical archives and not for regular public viewing. It is a small book, with measures of 7 3/4 inches by 4 5/8 inches. It list Jackie Robinson (although in a sports hall of fame) it is one of the most important Civil Rights documents in history.

Craig W. Muder, Director of Communications and John B. Odell, Curator, were kind enough to give me a private tour and a look at this impressive piece of history. I forever am thankful to them. All in coordination with Debbie Gallas, of the A’s media department, the best.

Interesting enough, this book is not in Washington, DC, but in upstate New York at Cooperstown. Of all the great sports memorabilia at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, in my opinion, this is the most impressive and definitely historical.

The many records by Babe Ruth and other legendary players, in this the greatest sports Hall of Fame in America, do not compare to the historical value of this little scoring book, because it changed the history of baseball and the country.

This April 15th we commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball. On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson took the field at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York, as a Brooklyn Dodger.

No other figure impacted American sports history in America more than Jackie Robinson. This great moment in American history happened 16 years before the “I Have a Dream” speech by the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on August 28, 1963.

Branch Rickey, the Dodger executive responsible for bringing Robinson to the major leagues, said he deserved ‘no credit for Jackie Robinson’. He received a lot of resistance not only in baseball but outside as well.

That should never be forgotten since at that time in history that was a courageous move. Branch Rickey was a man of vision and great courage, one of his quotes: “Problems are the price you pay for progress”. In these days of great fan cynicism regarding baseball from the Commissioner, to owners and even players, Branch Rickey was the right man at the right time in the history of the United States. History has told us so.

Although I never met Mr. Rickey (1881-1963) I did speak to Dodgers Vice President Al Campanis during the 1988 World Series between the A’s and Dodgers at the Oakland Coliseum and although he was fired as their VP for remarks he made on ABC’s “Nightline” comments that were seen as being insensitive at best and possibly racist, he gave me an interview for the pre-game regarding the great star in MLB that time, A’s José Canseco who that season became the first 40-40 man in baseball history and won the MVP in the American League.

Campanis spoke fluent Spanish. I also asked him about his relations with Hispanic players (Al Campanis who is in the Hall of Fame) who had signed such black and Hispanic players as Roberto Clemente and Tommy Davis. Many who knew Campanis said he embraced Jackie Robinson historic feat and that what he said on that interview with ABC’s Ted Koppel was a “slip of the tongue”

On April 15, all players on all major league teams will be wearing Robinson’s iconic number 42. An honor to all African-American players as well as all players in baseball, in the minors or major leagues. Many teams have their own tributes during this historic day. Worldwide, Nike is coming out with its own special this year.

A shoe they will be releasing they are calling it, Jackie Robinson Dunk Lows in honor of the legend celebrating (featuring at the tongue) a 75 for this special anniversary. The shoe designed in white and blue the colors of the Dodgers.

The All-Star game this year will take place on Tuesday, July 19 at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles. On April 15, 2017 the Dodgers unveiled an 800 pounds Statue, located at the left field reserve plaza, since then have become one of the most photographs areas at the home of the Dodgers.

Baseball is very proud of celebrating Jackie Robinson Day, more than Baseball he is America.

Catch Amaury Pi Gonzalez on the Oakland A’s Spanish flagship station for all the A’s action at 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2022 Season-My Predictions

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez broadcasting last time the Oakland A’s were in the Postseason. October 3, 2018 At Yankee Stadium. American League Wild Card Final score: Yankees 7 Athletics 2. (Photo credit: APG Sports)

2022 Season – My Predictions–

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The season is here, even though we just had an abbreviated Spring Training and the CBA negotiations went deep into extra-innings, this will be a full 162-games season. And that is great news. Of all other sports, baseball (without a doubt), offers the most fun when it comes to predictions, there are more games, more ups and downs, more drama and great surprises. So here we go!

AL West

Houston Astros The more I look at the Seattle Mariners, the more improvement I see all over their roster. I like what they are doing in “Rain City”. They are already crowning Rookie Julio Rodríguez as the new “J-Rod” as the Rookie of the Year.

But I have to go with the Houston Astros, although they lost Carlos Correa to the Twins. Justin Verlander is returning to the mound, this is a veteran team with a good skipper who keeps everybody happy and knows how to win, in Dusty Baker.

I would not be surprised if the Mariners win the division. The A’s have a new look and it will be fun watching some of their future stars recently acquired, but they will not be in this race, they will play role of spoilers. Last time A’s were in a Postseason was in 2018.

Back to, the Angels line-up (all healthy) might be the most dangerous in baseball, but since Adam and Eve, without pitching nobody has won anything. Noah Syndergaard, aka “Thor” left the Big Apple for the Big A. But the Angelinos need more from the mound.

What a waste of a lineup it they do not win; Othani, Trout, Rendon and company. Last time the LA Angels made the playoffs was in 2014. Angels Owner Arturo (Arte) Moreno who spends more money than the US Congress would love nothing more than to be in the postseason. Arte is a good guy. Ay Caramba!

AL Central

Chicago White Sox The Minnesota Twins have a scary lineup and a good pitching staff, but the Chicago White Sox. this season are built not only to win this division but to go all the way to the World Series.

This will not be a tight race, White Sox by plenty. Last year they won the division by 13 games over Cleveland. There is a team now named the Guardians in Cleveland, they just signed José Ramírez, maybe one of the most underrated players in the game, he finally got paid, a multi-year $124 million contract.

But this is LaRussa’s division. We related to each other, Tony and I, were born on exactly threw same day, month and year, about 200 miles apart, Havana-Tampa, and not the cigars! This year is like the old Sinatra classic “My Kind of Town” Chicago!

AL East

Winner: Toronto The Blue Jays might be the team to watch and you cannot close your eyes when you see this team play. They are fun personified. Hard to have more fun than to watch this lineup, their solid pitching and the athleticism is by far the class of this division.

They’re young talented stars with some experience and they are going to compete in this always the most watched division in baseball. Tampa Bay Rays will be there and Boston Red Sox could compete all the way into September, they have Alex Cora, at 46 years old one of the most intelligent and accomplished managers in the game.

The Yankees always find a way, but they will not win the division, they wanted Frankie Montás of the A’s, and they still might get him, if they are in the race by July-August. If the Yankees win it, that is a surprise. You might get your passport ready, right now, for the postseason because you are not going to the Bronx, you are going to Canada.

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers should win this division again with 100 plus wins. Games in the 2021 MLB season were initially played with limited capacity before being gradually increased to full capacity over the course of the season. Dodger Stadium will be rocking again this year between 3 to 3.5 million or more in attendance.

That’s a lot of Dodger Dogs. Further south the Bob Melvin Padres will survive a month or so without injured mega-star Fernando Tatís Jr, but they do not have the depth on their roster like the Dodgers, it is a must for Tatís to comeback healthy and stay healthy all season long.

I like the Giants rotation, even though they lost Kevin Gausman, they picked up Carlos Rodon, and if he can stay healthy, he will help. Their offense is not as good on paper compared to LA or SD. Giants could have signed Khris Bryant, but he signed with the thin-air Rockies in Colorado.

They open the season with their third-baseman, veteran Evan Longoria on the injured list. Attention, Giants fans; do not forget there are more opportunities for a wild card spot this year. But it will be tougher this year to “Beat LA”.

NL Central

St Louis Cardinals. For some reason I like the St Louis Cardinals, maybe is because they have the greatest of all baseball uniforms. The reunion between good friends and future Hall of Famers, Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols, might be all the inspiration they need, in a city personally I consider the best, bar-none, for baseball and fans in this country.

One of the very best organizations in the game, the Cards always manage to make it interesting. History has it they have won the most World Series in the National League, with eleven, and only the Yankees with 27, have won more in the same city among all teams in history..

NL East: New York Mets

Do we have enough drama in New York? Never! And this season will have more drama as veteran skipper Buck Showalter takes the control as first year manager of the Metropolitanos. The World Champion Atlanta Braves lost their heart and soul, the great first-baseman Freddy Freeman, who was one of the most popular players ever in Atlanta since Larry “Chipper” Jones.

They gained A’s Matt Olson so they did not lose much power there. The Bravos won 88 games last year and won the World Series. I see the Mets ascending and like the improved Philadelphia Phillies, it could be a three-team race.

When everything is right, the Mets might have the best trio of starters in the game, #1 Jacob DeGrom, #2 Matt Scherzer and #3 Chris Bassitt. Whatever happens, I still Love New York, I lived there after my US Army service and there is no city like it.

To expedite things, let’s go-by the playoffs and land in the World Series.

League Champion AL: Toronto Blue Jays NL: Los Angeles Dodgers

World Series Champion: Toronto Blue Jays

Adiós muchachos.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish lead play by play talent heard on 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Amtrak joins Union Pacific in A’s Howard Terminal law suit; Former Dodger Tommy Davis passes at 83

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Artists rendition of what the Howard Terminal ballpark would look like if built. The project is meeting lots of opposition from a number of plaintiffs who have filed lawsuits including Amtrak and Union Pacific just this week (photo from the Port of Oakland)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amtrak Capital Corridor has joined Southern Pacific in a lawsuit to stop the Oakland A’s Howard Terminal build. Both plaintiffs claim that public safety risk which involved traffic, pedestrian safety where railroad tracks encircle the entire Oakland Port location. The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) is the A’s last chance at building at the terminal and the A’s need a two thirds vote on June 2 if the Commission votes it down the project is dead.

#2 Amaury, Couldn’t start the podcast without mentioning the passing of the late Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Tommy Davis who passed away on Monday at age 83. Davis had a .294 career average, 153 home runs, and 1,052 RBIs.

#3 Davis said towards the end of his career that he was bitter for being released so much he played for 11 different teams including the Oakland A’s two different times. Davis said that he was released because he was too laid back and argued he played better that way. He was noted for shaving or reading a book between at bats when he was a DH for the Baltimore Orioles between 1972-75.

#4 Former Oakland A’s designated hitter Khris Davis was signed by the Mexico City Red Devils for a one year deal. Davis’ mother is Mexican and who speaks Spanish is from Guadalajara and this has to be very special for Davis to play in the Mexican League.

#5 Mark Kotsay said Saturday that he was debating whether to start Sean Manaea or Frankie Montas for opening day on Friday but that answer was made for him when Manaea was traded to the San Diego Padres on Sunday morning. The A’s were scheduled to play the Padres that morning and Manaea got to start against his former team and heard some all in fun chirping from his ex-teammates during his first game with the Pads.

#6 Former Houston Astro Carlos Beltran admitted that the Astros crossed the line in 2017 stealing signs electronically. Beltran who is now a analyst for the YES Network calling New York Yankee games said “the cheating was working did you truly expect us to stop.”

#7 Amaury, MLB’s hottest prospect the Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriquez not only is up and coming but he made it to the opening day roster. The 21 year old from the Dominican hit .419 this spring and the Mariners were so impressed what he did at the plate hitting three home runs and and eight RBIs. Rodriguez can also play left, center and right defensively and are hoping for big things from his this season.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s lead Spanish play by play announcer on flagship station 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Sean Manaea traded to San Diego for two prospects

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea seen here pitching against the Houston Astros on Oct 1, 2021 at Minute Field in Houston was dealt to the San Diego Padres on Sun Apr 3, 2022 and quickly switch uniforms pitching against his old teammates the A’s in Peoria AZ (AP News file photo)

Sean Manaea traded to San Diego

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Lefty Sean Manaea was traded to the San Diego Padres. In return, the A’s received two prospects from the Padres minor league system. Infielder Euribiel Angeles No.12 on their system, plus Adrián Martínez, a pitcher and No.26 prospect. The Athletics also send minor league pitcher Aaron Holiday with Sean Manaea to San Diego.

A mainstay for the A’s rotation, the 30-year old lefty Manaea spent the first six years of his major league career with the Oakland A’s. With a win-loss record of: 50-42 a 3.86 earned run average. Started 128 games for the Green and Gold and on April 21 of 2018 threw a no-hitter at the Oakland Coliseum against the red hot Boston Red Sox (who had won 8 games in a row) by the score of 3-0, and struck out 10.

The A’s are continuing to rebuild and Manaea was rumored to be one of the three A’s starters with tradable value. The Yankees, Twins, Royals and others have been talking to the A’s about trading for Manaea. Chris Bassitt was already traded to the New York Mets (for a couple of prospects) and Frankie Montás is still rumored to be on the trading block and could go at any minute now or possibly during mid season, to a contending team.

The New York Yankees are one of the teams that has been very much interested in Montás, but it is believed that the A’s want more value for Montás, who is 27 year old and they are seeking some of the Yankees top prospects.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio play by play lead announcer heard on flagship station 1010 KIQI LeGrande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: No April Fool’s Joke–New Lawsuit Filed against the A’s Howard Terminal

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Artists rendition of the Howard Terminal ballpark the Oakland A’s are seeking to build. The East Oakland Alliance is suing the City of Oakland and other defendants in their fight to keep the A’s at the Coliseum location in East Oakland (AP News photo)

No April Fool’s Joke: New Lawsuit Filed against the A’s Howard Terminal

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–It was no April Fool’s joke. Today, April 1, 2022 a new lawsuit against the Oakland A’s and the building of their proposed new Howard Terminal Ballpark took another hit. This lawsuit was filed by the East Oakland Alliance, which wants the Oakland A’s to stay in Oakland but build the new ballpark in the current Coliseum location.

MLB does not approve the building of the new park at the actual location that is a no-go. The East Oakland Alliance is among the entities this time suing the team and the city of Oakland, together with shipping, steel, and port groups also suing.

Their spokesman says the A’s and city did not adequately disclose the negative effect the project will have on the existing waterfront operations and surrounding areas, among other things. A’s President Dave Kaval rejected those claims saying a new ballpark at Howard Terminal would be better for the environment and people in the Bay Area.

Back in February 2021, the A’s cleared a legal hurdle in their quest for the new ballpark at Howard Terminal, most recently this year the news was encouraging as the A’s received positive votes toward their ultimate goal of the $12 billion project, Oakland Howard Terminal.

But today another step backwards. The problem? Well, the ‘clock is ticking’. These groups that opposed the Howard Terminal project keep throwing grenades at the A’s and things (when they look like they’re moving along) they stall.

Major League Baseball Commissioner, Rob Manfred Jr. expects a yes or no (Oakland or Las Vegas) a final decision by summer 2022. In the meantime, the A’s continue to work with Las Vegas, in what Dave Kaval has called for a year now: “working on different parallels, with the same goal of a new ballpark for the A’s.”… by the bay or by the desert.

This was the statement today by the groups opposed to the Howard Terminal project:

“The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) certified by the City of Oakland for the Oakland A’s’ proposed project at Howard Terminal did not adequately disclose, analyze, or mitigate all of the significant adverse impacts this massive and disruptive redevelopment on the working waterfront will cause.

Every EIR is required to provide an objective and thorough analysis of impacts, alternatives, and mitigation measures under California law, but the City’s EIR and environmental process failed to meet this mandate.

The A’s proposal to build a stadium and luxury condominiums, office and retail development will cause major disruptions and impacts to both the surrounding community and the operations of the Port, yet the EIR did not fully address these concerns or mitigate these well-known issues.

It also failed to accurately compare the Oakland Coliseum site as an alternative which would have far less adverse effects. It is simply not proper to ignore or defer analysis or mitigation of so many of the significant impacts identified in the more than 400 comments submitted by community and supply chain stakeholders, and as a result our only alternative is to pursue legal recourse.” 

Mike Jacob — East Oakland Stadium Alliance

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish lead play by play announcer on flagship station 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Baseball is On the Radio!

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Broadcaster Red Barber gets ready to call the next pitch as the hitter gets into the batter’s box on 710 WOR Radio New York. The Ol Red Head broadcasted for the Cincinnati Reds 1934-38, Brooklyn Dodgers 1939-53, and the New York Yankees 1954-66 (photo from the baseballhall.org)

Baseball is On the Radio!

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

It is that time of the year. Covid in the bottom of the ninth inning, a lockout that lasted for 100 days, the best quarterback in history retired (but did a Sinatra) a comeback, a very dangerous war going on in eastern Europe, and although summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21, the ‘Boys of Summer’ are already playing in Arizona and Florida. The smell of beer, hot dogs and cotton candy is on the air, and so are the sounds of baseball on the radio.

Almost 101 years ago, KDKA radio, Pittsburgh, aired the first-ever live account of a baseball game on the radio, at Forbes Field home of the Pirates in the voice of Harold Arlin, a 25-year-old engineer. The Pirates were hosting Philadelphia.

The pioneer Arlin didn’t think much of this as he said: “To tell the truth, our guys at KDKA didn’t even think baseball would last on the radio. I did it as a one-shot project. No one had an inkling if we’d do baseball again.” KDKA a Westinghouse Electric Company station was the first commercial radio station in the country. Arlin, although an engineer, had some experience at the microphone.

A year before (1920) Mr.Arlin broadcast the results of the 1920 Presidential election, an Ohio event, as Republican Senator Warren G. Hardin from Ohio defeated Democratic Governor James. M. Cox also of Ohio by a landslide victory of every state outside the South and cleaning-up in the popular vote.

Historic KDKA Radio celebrated the 100th Anniversary of its first regular broadcast, radio 100th anniversary on Nov. 2, 2020. Currently, KDKA is well known as “The Voice of Pittsburgh”. 100.1 FM and 1020 AM.

That pioneer radio station opened the way for radio formats all over the country, not only carrying baseball but all other sports. There is no school known that will train to become a play-by-play/commentator announcer in baseball. Columbia School of Broadcasting, in Virginia, is a broadcasting journalism school.

Growing up as a kid in Cuba I was usually glued to the radio during the old Cuban Professional League and listened to such voices as the legendary Rafael “Felo” Ramírez (For a long time the Voice of the Miami Marlins) whom I had the privilege to share the microphone in the late 1990s during the old CBS/MLB Postseason Hispanic Radio Networks for the US and Latinamerica. Also the legendary voices of Cuban announcers like René Cañizales, Orlando Sanchez-Diago, whom I met at the Astrodome in Houston during the 1986 MLB All-Star Game. Manolo de la Reguera, Cuco Conde, Rafael Rubí, René Molina and Fernandito Menéndez, among others.

These were the voices of baseball I grew up listening to on my little radio on my end table inside my bedroom. They were the best companions, during the regular baseball games in the Cuban leagues ,including the Caribbean Baseball Series, as well as the World Series. Cuba was the first country to recreate a World Series for all Cuba and Latin America as the announcers,

Bob Canel and Rafael “Felo” Ramírez would call the games from NBC Studios at Rockefeller Center in New York City, the signal was sent from the stadium the game was played and relayed to a DC-3 airplane flying around the Caribbean. The signal was sent to Cuba and then continued to other countries.

During my years as a teenager in Miami I remember listening to Chicago White Sox voice of Bob Elson on WKAT AM who used to carry the Chicago White Sox games. In New York City, the one and only voice of the NY Yankees Mel “How ’bout that!”Allen and of course, here in the Bay Area, guys like Bill King, Lon Simmons, Hank Greenwald, Monte Moore and others, all which I had the pleasure to have known.

Today radio stations are hanging on to baseball broadcasts. Radio is no longer the king of baseball, like it used to be. First the advent of television and now social media, has reduced the impact of baseball on the radio.

Many stations cannot carry full schedules of 162 games, they cite conflicts with other programming, because of the nature of baseball, some games might go 3 to 4 hours or more in length and this presents a time-format problem for many stations because they might have to pre-empt other shows to make room for baseball and that might not be good business.

However, a radio station that is well managed can appreciate baseball, especially if it is well marketed and committed to serving its community will always represent a prestigious asset to its programming. A radio station owner used to tell me: “even if do not make money with baseball, as long as I do not lose money, I love the prestige that brings to the station and I use it to attract more advertisers”.

Radio is still a very personal thing when it comes to baseball, still, a companion that you can always keep at home, in the car, or in your telephone/computer at home or laptop, some of us remember the days of transistor radios, and how convenient it was to “take the game with you” with your transistor radio to the game, to work, some even took it to school, and got in trouble. I know.

Quote: “He throws a “radio ball”, a pitch you hear, but cannot see”. -Gene Mauch, Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies about Sandy Koufax fastball.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish lead play by play announcer on flagship station 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Proposed changes in preventing sign stealing from MLB; Union must approve proposals

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former Oakland A’s starter Mike Fiers sits by the A’s dugout was on the Houston Astros when sign stealing was taking place. Fiers reported such going ons and baseball and the players union are working on rule changes to prevent any further stealing of signs (file photo from USA Today)

On That’s Amaury podcast:

#1 Major League Baseball proposed new rules regarding electronically stolen signs which was revealed when the Houston Astros were stealing signs in the 2019 season. Mike Fiers the former A’s pitcher who was a key whistleblower that cracked the sign stealing case wide open when he was with the Houston Astros.

#2 Amongst the proposed rule changes which must be approved by the union, No more looking at scouting information in batting helmets for hitters, hitters will have to do their studying of opposing pitchers before the game in the clubhouse but cannot review opposing starters, middle relievers or closers.

#3 MLB proposed that no managers, coaches, or players may print any scouting reports that can be distributed after the first pitch of a game.

#4 MLB will allow pitchers and catchers to wear wireless pitch com devices voluntarily throughout the regular season.

#5 Amaury on the pitch com issue of wireless devices pitching stars Zack Greinke of the Kansas City Royals likes the new pitch com idea and the New York Mets Max Scherzer says he won’t use it. Both were player representatives during the MLB lockout.

#6 King Richard star Will Smith issues apology: Will Smith who starred as the father of Venus and Serena Williams as father Richard Williams in the movie King Richard who went on stage on Sunday night and slapped comedian Chris Rock issued a direct apology to Rock. Rock who was contacted by Los Angeles Police after the battery declined to press charges and has not issue any statements since the incident. The Oscars Academy has vehemently said they do not condone violence of this kind. The Academy has not issued any discipline against the Fresh Prince such as suspending him from the next Oscars Awards.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play Spanish announcer for the Oakland A’s flagship station 1010 Le Grande KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com