Tag: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Baseball Rules Changes or Restoration

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Baseball Rules: Changes or Restoration?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Toronto Blue Jays and American League MVP of the 2021 All Star Game Vladimir Guerrero Jr holds up the MVP Trophy after being selected for the award at Coors Field in Denver after the 2021 All Star Game Tue Jul 13, 2021 (AP News photo)

During the All Star Break Commissioner Rob Manfred watched the American League beat the National League for the eight consecutive year, with 22-year old Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays) becoming the youngest MVP during a mid-season classic to win the coveted award. The AL beat the NL 5-2.

LA Angels Shohei Othani, a serious candidate for AL MVP, became the first ever player to start an All Star Game as a hitter and as a pitcher. “Shotime” was credited with the win; he also joined his compatriot Hideo Nomo as the only two Japanese pitchers to open an ASG (Nomo in 1995) Mr. Manfred, made news as he spoke about possible rules coming down for the 2022 season.

Manfred spend a few days in Denver hosting the MLB players draft and ASG festivities. Here is what might be coming down the pike for the 2022 according to the Office of the Commissioner.

A) Designated Hitter: First of all (like it or not) and I know a lot of traditional people that do not like this, the Commissioner announced the universal DH (Designated Hitter ) rule could be adapted permanently for the first time in the National League on all 15 teams, starting 2022. “I think it would be a non-radical change, but I’m not going to speculate on whether we’re going to propose it or get it,” he said. He feels most teams in the National League will be happy to go along with the DH.

B) Seven-Inning Double Headers: Most likely will not be back for 2022 “I don’t think seven-inning doubleheaders are going to be part of our future going forward.’’ said the Commissioner. These rules were adopted based on medical advice,’’ Manfred said. “Those are less likely they will become part of our permanent landscape. It was a covid-19 related change.

C) Extra-Inning Rule: The one beginning the tenth inning with a runner at second base, (free-phantom-zombie runner), many terms have been used to describe this runner that is automatically inserted in the top of the tenth inning before the first hitter comes to the plate. This likely will not return in 2022.

D) The Shift: This defensive strategy could be banned next season. “Let’s just say you’ve regulated the shift by requiring two infielders each side and second base. What does that do?” Manfred said. “It makes the game look like what it looked like when I was 12 years old.

It’s not change; it’s kind of restoration, right?” Mr. Manfred said he believes this will have a positive reaction from front offices. Personally, I applaud this decision. When you score a game; an out recorded by a third-baseman on a throw to first, many times is not the traditional 5 to 3 for an out, because that third-baseman (or shortstop or second base) could be fielding the ball from short to medium right field, we see this a lot during the season.

All the above will be on the agenda after the season when the MLPA (players union) and MLB and the Commissioner negotiate their Collective Bargaining Agreement, which Mr. Manfred feels very positive. There were rumors of a possible lockout or strike in 2022, if they cannot come to an agreement. I believe after what has happened the last year and a half, it would be basically suicide for the game if this happened.

Regarding the Oakland Athletics Howard Terminal new stadium and possible relocation out of Oakland: “Viewing Oakland A’s exploration of Las Vegas relocation as a bluff “is a mistake”. (quote) Rob Manfred, Commissioner of Baseball.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary with Jeremiah Salmonson: Stephen A. Smith’s Ohtani can’t speak English comments weighing heavy; Olson and Bassitt representing A’s

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ESPN’s Stephen A Smith apologized for saying that Los Angeles Angels designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani shouldn’t be the face of Major League Baseball that he’s a foreign player, can’t speak English and he’s contributing to harming the game (USA Today file photo)

Jeremiah filled in for That’s Amaury podcast this week:

#1 Jeremiah, please tell us your thoughts on New York Mets Pete Alfonso winning the home run derby two years in a row and the Oakland A’s Matt Olson participating in the derby as well.

#2 ESPN’s Stephen A Smith sure hit a nerve when he said that the Los Angeles Angeles Shohei Ohtani shouldn’t be the face of Major League Baseball, that he’s foreign player, can’t speak English, and he’s contributing to harming the game. Smith issued an apology for his comments on Tuesday.

#3 All Star game tonight in Denver A’s representatives first pitcher Chris Bassitt (9-3 ERA 3.28) is looking forward to participating in the mid summer classic particularly after having a fine first half.

#4 Matt Olson .282, 88 hits, 23 homers and 59 RBIs he’s seeing the ball well needless to say and participated in the home run derby on Monday night.

#5 The A’s first round draft pick Max Muncy 18 is hoping to be their future shortstop. Muncy no relation to the LA Dodger Max Muncy who was drafted fifth by the A’s in 2012 and shares the same birth date with the Dodger Muncy on Aug 25th.

#5 Jeremiah, the All Star game is tonight in Denver many a player who is there worked hard to get this far in the first half of the season who are the All Stars that we’ll see tonight that impressed you most?

Jeremiah Salmonson filled in for Amaury who is on La Mejor Musica on the Oakland A’s flagship station 1010 KIQI LeGrande San Francisco and look for his News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s New Ballpark July 20 might Not be the Day you Expect

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An artist rendering of the Oakland A’s gondola that is expected to take fans from the 12th Street BART station in downtown Oakland to Howard Terminal (photo from Athletics Nation)

A’s New Ballpark July 20 might Not be the Day you Expect

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

OAKLAND–The Oakland Athletics last champions of the American League Western Division go into the All Star Break with a winning record for the third consecutive season and in second place 3 1/2 games behind the Houston Astros. July 20 will mark an important vote by the Oakland City Council to open the way for the construction of the Howard Terminal park.

Here are some key points:

1-The A’s committed to $450 million construction for the ballpark. However, the overall project on the table is in the billions.

2- The A’s will commit to a 20-year non-relocation agreement, but the City of Oakland wants a deal that will keep the team in Oakland for 45 years.

s3-City of Oakland, under the law, requires developers include affordable housing in projects, the A’s want an exemption. The team want future taxes to take care of that, Oakland City Council has a big problem with that.

4-Oakland taxpayers are still ‘not over’ on past leases/deals with the Raiders and Warriors and they are on the hook for millions of dollars after both teams left. This has nothing to do with the City or the A’s, but figures greatly in the minds of residents and voters.

5-Chinatown is less than one mile from the proposed site of the Howard Terminal Park. Traffic and parking will present a challenge. The amount of parking spaces (the team proposed 2,000 parking spaces) at the ballpark for the 35,000 seat ballpark and would affect the Chinatown neighborhood and their financial future.

It is more than just the building of the new baseball park. There are many moving pieces here that the City of Oakland and the Oakland A’s still will have to agree on. The Jack London Square/Port of Oakland area where the Howard Terminal is to be built is a busy place. Amtrak trains go-by right there in the streets of Oakland and that could be problematic during game-day crowds, walking from BART station at 12th street, as fans will have to cross train tracks.

Other modes of transportation for the one-mile walk, like Gondolas have been proposed, but more than likely bridges for people crossing would have to be build, infrastructure is key for safety of the people attending a baseball game.

In conclusion: This July 20 the Oakland City Council vote might not be the last one or decisive that many believe it will be; they already have said they might need more time to analyze the financial impact and we might have to wait at least until September. In the meantime Las Vegas looms as A’s officials have already made a few “scouting” trips to Sin City.

The Oakland City Council has a full plate these days and some issues that believe it or not, are more important than keeping the A’s in Oakland. Amid a recent spike in homicides and crime in general, the Oakland City Council voted to defund the police as they diverted $18 million from the police department into community prevention programs, prompting Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong to strongly voice his displeasure with such policy as he said “This will make it tougher having less officers on the field, particularly for marginalized communities like deep East Oakland” and added “We see clearly that crime is out of control in the City of Oakland, and our response was for less police resources”. According to all official stats, homicides, shootings, robberies and carjackings are up at alarming pace in Oakland.

I want the Athletics to stay in Oakland, where they belong. but Las Vegas doesn’t present any of the hurdles the team encounters at the proposed site in the City of Oakland. The construction of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, home of the Raiders took less than three years to be built. The Athletics and the City of Oakland cannot stop time, the clock keeps ticking.

The best option still remains. If there was a plan to keep the A’s and build in the current location, that would be an asset. I challenge anybody to tell me another pro-sports facility in the Bay Area with better access than the Oakland Coliseum.

Highway 880 to the west and BART station a 10-15 minute walk from the Coliseum, to the east. Plus an Amtrak, Capitol Corridor train, with scheduled stop at the Coliseum, those trains travel between San José and Sacranmento. where fans also come to watch A’s baseball.

There is plenty of land to re-develop that area, around the Coliseum. Mr. Rob Manfred, Commissioner of Baseball doesn’t support that idea and that is why he told the A’s to look for another location, or say Adiós to the Bay Area.

And so it goes. The Athletics return home for their first home-stand post-All Star Break on Friday July 16 for the first of 3 games against the Cleveland Indians then a quick 2-game set vs. the divisional rivals Los Angeles Angels.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Tokyo Olympics, State of Emergency, No Fans, No Demonstrations

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Fans outside of the Olympic park in downtown Tokyo in preparation of the 2021 Summer Olympics (The Guardian file photo)

Tokyo Olympics: State of Emergency, No Fans, No Demonstrations

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Organizers originally had planned to limit local fans to 10,000 with no fans from outside Japan. However, a state of emergency in the city of Tokyo was issued because of the rising of corona virus cases in the country, according to Mr. Tamayo Marukawa, Japan’s Olympic Minister, who also said organizers came to the agreement to hold the games without fans.

International Committee President Thomas Bach met with organizers and officials in Japan. However, some events like Baseball, Softball and Soccer still might take place outside Tokyo (as planned) where there is no state of emergency.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the state of emergency will go in place next Monday and last through August 22. “Taking into consideration the impact of the delta strain, and in order to prevent the resurgence of infections from spreading across the country, we need to step up virus prevention measures,” Suga said.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced they are adapting their long-standing Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which reads “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or radical propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other area.

If you were planning to attend the Olympics in Japan, you are ‘on your own’ you can still travel there, however, you will not be able to attend all events held in Tokyo. As for the other events, scheduled in other cities outside Tokyo, good luck.

Japan has spent $15.4 billion on the Olympic and Paralympics Games. Because they were to take place on 2020 and because the postponement because of the pandemic, some estimates to be an additional $3 billion to that bill. NBC paid $1.34 Billion for the rights to broadcast this Summer Olympics The Olympics begin July 23 and run through August 8. The Paralympics will take place August 24.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Oakland A’s Mid-Season Report-What do they need

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Oakland A’s outfielder Mark Canha who is out with a hip injury will take a much needed rest during the All Star Break next to prepare for the second half of the season (file photo from Athletics Nation)

Oakland Athletics Mid-Season Report – What do they need

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

There used to be a saying that the teams who are in first place by the 4th of July are the ones that are going to win the World Series. That might have been proven as the norm years ago, but today with 30 teams on six divisions, the playoffs and the Wild Card, is not that simple and more difficult than ever to reach the World Series.

You do not have to win your Division to make it deep in October. As a matter of fact these wild card teams all have won the World Series: the Florida Marlins in 1997 and 2003, the Los Angeles Angels, in 2002, the Boston Red Sox, in 2004, the St Louis Cardinals, in 2011; the San Francisco Giants, in 2014 and the Washington Nationals, in 2019

However, to be on first place come Independence Day is not an impediment, but an advantage with some 80 games; those teams have over a 60% probability of making the postseason.

The Oakland A’s ended their home schedule of the first half Sunday July 4, and lost 1-0 to the Boston Red Sox. They lost the three game series against the Red Sox, who left Oakland with 53 wins in first place and are one of the surprises of this 2021 season, under general manager Alex Cora is the first and only Puerto Rican manager to win a World Series, in 2018 for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox looked like a better team that the A’s. However, prior to that series, the Texas Rangers came to Oakland and they took two out of three from the Athletics. The Rangers are not a better team than the A’s.

The Athletics are missing their leadoff hitter Mark Canha; he was their offensive catalyst during the first half of the season as their steady hitter at the top of the lineup, hopefully he will be back soon. A’s first baseman Matt Olson having his best season to date was selected as a reserve to the All-Star Game this July 13 at Coors Field, in Denver.

The announcement was made in the press box during the game Sunday as we were broadcasting. This was not a surprise. Olson leads the A’s in most offensive categories, with a .283 average, 20 home runs and 53 runs batted-in; no other Athletic player is remotely closely to the Gold Glove first-baseman. Another player for the A’s that has All Star numbers is right handed starter Chris Bassitt with 9-2 and a 3.04 earned run average.

The Athletics are headed for Houston against the Astros and then Arlington, against the Rangers. The ‘Texas two-step. The A’S will then recess for the All Star Break. After Sunday’s game at the Coliseum the A’S were in second place 3 1/2 games behind the hot Houston Astros.

This road trip for the Oakland team is a key one as they head to the break and get ready for the second half. A’S pitching has not been the problem, even though they started the year without Mike Fiers and then lost Jesús Luzardo to a hand injury (healed now) he sustained while playing a video game and on a violent reaction when he hit the table with his hand.

Their good pitching and good defense have kept the A’S with a record of 49-37 which a chance to re-capture first place this week while in Texas. They have to come home for the first game of the second half the 16 June vs. Cleveland with a better road trip than the last one which they won 4 and lost 6 games.

What do they need? First and foremost they have to improve their offense. Matt Chapman is the best all-around player on the team, but the Gold Glove third-baseman is having an under-achieving season, he is hitting .229 with 11 homers and 42 runs batted in, he should have much better numbers, like closer to 20 home runs and 50 RBI.

Ramón Laureano, one of the best defensive center-fielders in baseball is also having a subpar season at the plate. Elvis Andrus was acquired to play shortstop when Marcus Semien was not signed with the team and left for Toronto, Semien will be the starting second-baseman for the American League in the All Star Game. Andrus is a great defender with the glove but no comparison offensively to ex-A’S Semien in the infield.

The A’s were the only team in the American League that did not have a homerun from the shortstop position until Elvis hit one on July 2. Olson is the man, having a season where he could hit 40 to 50 homeruns and drive in 100 or more runs. Houston is one of the best (many believe the best) offensive team in the league. The trade deadline is at the end of the month.

The Twins are out of it this season and DH extraordinaire Nelson Cruz could make a nice addition into this line-up at the Coliseum. The 41 year old Dominican player still packs a punch, is healthy and he could help the A’S. Cruz is one of the true sluggers of the game with 435 home runs, and the A’s do not have to break the bank to bring him to the bay.

Nelson Cruz could hit the ball out of any park in baseball. Cruz is hitting .306 with 18 home-runs and 45 RBI; his bat will help the A’s. Mitch Moreland, whom the A’s acquired to be their DH (and currently on the injured list) is hitting .238 with 6 home runs and 22 RBI.

The A’s always trade to improve their team if they are in the race and they are in the race. The best two teams in the AL West are the Astros and the Athletics. This six-game road trip is a test for the A’s and its results could hinge in what adjustments they make in player personal. Regardless of results. they might have to shake-up the roster and make some moves as they try to repeat as Western Division champion.

Talking about trades: In June 1989, the Oakland A’s brought back Rickey Henderson from the Yankees, as they went on to win their fourth World Series in Oakland. Remember that?

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Cuba’s Baseball in Disarray, Ranked 11th

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The Cuban National Baseball team during a pre game ceremony failed to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics (File photo from the New York Times)

Cuba’s Baseball in Disarray, Ranked 11th

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

After Cuba failed to qualify for the Olympics (first time ever that Cuba baseball will not be in baseball Olympic competition) the baseball program in that country is in disarray. The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is the world governing body for the sports of baseball and softball, at the amateur level, therefore covering Olympic competition.

They have 208 National Federation Members in 141 countries and territories across Asia, Africa, Americas, Europe and Oceania. Some people in Cuba consider this fall a disgrace for the morale of the country, since Cubans have been playing baseball for the longest time in this hemisphere after the US. The WBSC dropped Cuba to 11th in their rankings.

For the first time in history Cuba is not listed as one of the power-countries in baseball. Baseball has been Cuba’s national sport since the game was introduced to Cubans in 1864 when Cuban students returned home from the United States. In 1878 a baseball league was established in Cuba and it evolved into many levels and leagues.

One was the Cuban Winter League, a professional league, at that time regarded the best baseball league in the world after the US Major League Baseball, by most experts, scouts and players. Major League players in the US that went to Cuba in the winter to play, told me that was the best league after MLB and the one that paid the best.

Those players knew, because most American players back then, had to supplement their incomes in the winter, since they did not have the benefit of today with a very strong Players Union. The very popular Cuban Winter League ended when Fidel Castro took power in Cuba and abolished all professional sports, including baseball. Cuba’s economy is dominated by their communist government.

That government sponsors their baseball program with great national pride and is one of the few things that the majority of Cubans can truly celebrate in the island. The fall of Cuban baseball in the world stage is among the list of many failures for that government, with one of the poorest economies in Latin America as well as dismal record of human rights violations, year-after-year per Amnesty International, a non-profit human rights watchdog.

Today at least 25 Cuban-born players are playing in the US Major Leagues and many others around the world where baseball is played professionally. According to the WSBC recent ranking some of the countries above Cuba in baseball are: USA, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Australia, Dominican Republic, Holland, and Venezuela.

For Cuba not to dominate in baseball it would be comparable to the US not dominating in basketball, at any level. Cuba was the only country to have made it in baseball five times to the finals of the Olympic games, winning three Gold Medals and two Silver Medals.

What will happen with the Cuban baseball program is anybody’s guess. The US has maintained a blockade of the island of Cuba since 1960 when then President John F. Kennedy and the Soviet Union (who made Cuba one of its political satellite supporting the country with billions of dollars) were involved in the cold war.

Although Cuba continues to trade with countries like Canada, Brazil, Mexico, China and the Netherlands, among others, they still suffer a tremendous shortage of goods. The fact remains, that considering how much baseball represents to the island of Cuba this downgrading of Cuban baseball at the international level is a huge blow to the Cuban government who is the sole sponsor of sports.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Tokyo Olympics Protest at the Games will Have Consequences

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The plan for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics is for toned down celebrations, strict Covid-19 protocols, and there will be no protesting of any kind allowed by the athletes under strict consequences as policies established by the International Olympic Committee (photo from swimmingworld.com)

Tokyo Olympics: Protest at the Games will Have Consequences

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

With less than a month until the Tokyo Olympics get under way, the International Olympic Committee reiterated that they will not allow any form of protest or demonstrations, from kneeling to other actions taken on the field of play or during official ceremonies at the podium and those who do will be punished, including the possible stripping of the medals, which they have the rights to enact.

The IOC spent 11 months consulting with experts and athletes. They polled over 3,500 elite athletes and Olympians age 16 to 55 and over. The results showed the majority is clearly against demonstrations, and although the punishment has yet to be determined, the IOC said that those who choose to disrespect the country they represent will suffer consequences.

Kristy Coventry, 37 years old, ex-Olympic swimmer and the most decorated Olympian from Africa who is the current Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation in the government/cabinet of Zimbabwe, Africa, said: “A very clear majority of athletes said that they think it’s not appropriate to demonstrate or express their views on the field of play, at the official ceremonies or at the podium. “

So, our recommendation is to preserve the podium, field of play and official ceremonies from any kind of protest or demonstrations or acts perceived as such,” continued Coventry. Olympian Athletes represent their respective countries. In the United States (unlike other Olympic nations) the government doesn’t have a funded sports ministry.

The US Olympic Committee pays for itself, mainly through corporate sponsorships and some of the proceeds from broadcast rights. The IOC encourages and supports the promotion of ethics in sport along with education of youth through sport.

To promote fair play in sport and rid sport of violence. Punishment for athletes who demonstrate, pre, during, or after an event, include: -Disqualification -Pulled from competition -Striped of medal -Banning from competition in four years Games are scheduled to take place in the Japanese capital between 23 July and 8 August.

They were postponed last year because of Covid. It will feature 33 sports at 339 events across 42 venues. NBC is the official network. A Japanese doctor in Japan has pledged to hold a “safe and secure” 2020 Olympics in Tokyo after a year-long postponement but is struggling to contain a fourth wave of infections and preparing to extend a state of emergency in much of the country.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday and News and Commentaries each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Young questionable for tonight’s game in Atlanta; NHL Commissioner doubts players for Japan Olympics; plus more

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The Atlanta Hawks Trae Young (seated upper left) twisted his right ankle on this play after stepping on official Sean Wright’s foot (right) during game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sun Jun 27, 2021 in Atlanta (AP News photo)

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

#1 Amaury, The Atlanta Hawks play host for game 4 tonight against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks lead the series 2-1 and the Hawks star player Trae Young is questionable tonight with a twisted right foot he injured in game 3 on Sunday after stepping on an official’s foot Sean Wright.

#2 NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman say he doubts it will be safe for NHL players to participate in the Olympics in Japan. Bettman says he is concerned about safety measures and the spike in Covid cases in Japan. 826 million Japanese have been vaccinated that’s 10% of the population even the Japanese citizens say it’s not safe. Do you see NHL players sitting the Olympics out because of safety concerns.

# 3 Amaury, We didn’t get a chance to talk to you about the suspension of Seattle Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago. As you know Santiago had his hat, hair, jersey and belt check and his glove was found to have a foreign substance on it and was confiscated. Santiago was unceremoniously suspended. Santiago told the umpires it was sweat and rosin.

#4 Amaury could you go over some of the participants for this year’s home run derby in Denver a run down of the names who will be at the contest: Shohei Ohtani (Angels), Pete Alonso (Mets), Trey Mancini (Orioles), and Trevor Story (Rockies).

#5 Amaury the San Francisco Giants (50-27) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (47-31) match up again at Dodgers Stadium for game 2 of this brief two game series. Tonight for the Giants it’s Kevin Guasman (8-1 ERA 1.49) and for the Dodgers Walker Buehler (7-1 ERA 2.51) two of the best pitchers in the National League matching up.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: deGrom first pitcher to be checked; NCAA athletes will get compensation; plus more

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New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom is inspected becoming the first MLB pitcher to be checked by umpires since the new policy from MLB was instituted during Mon Jun 21, 2021 game vs. the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field in Flushing NY (photo from

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom who was out with shoulder issues was back on the mound during Monday’s game against the visiting Washington Nationals. deGrom’s hat, uniform, and under his belt was checked while he was heading back to the dugout and was cleared. This is expected to be the first of many inspections by umpires.

#2 Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Carl Nassib became the first active player to announce that he is gay. Nassib said he’s a quiet private person and that he’s coming out because as Nassib said “visibility and representation are important.”

#3 The US Supreme Court announced that college athletes will get compensation in the forms of needed materials such as transportation, computers, travel, the players at some point will be getting monetary compensation. NCAA president has order all 1100 NCAA member schools to act on compensation or he will.

#4 Amaury, lots of anti vaccine blow back the Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley said he won’t get vaccinated and said that he wants to live his life his way and he may die of Covid but he rather die actually living.

#5 The Oakland A’s are trying to put the memory of their trip to New York behind them they opened up a four game series against the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington. The Rangers wasted no time rallying for five runs in the first inning against A’s starter Frankie Montas. Looks like the A’s have hit a rough patch again.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Hot Again -Athletics Winning is no Surprise

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The Oakland A’s Mark Canha connects for a single in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York on Fri Jun 18, 2021 (AP News photo)

Hot Again -Athletics Winning is no Surprise

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Oakland Athletics going for their eighth win in a row this Saturday at Yankee Stadium, New York. Among all 30 MLB teams there are surprises every season, teams that were supposed to win, that are not, and teams that were not supposed to win that are winning.

Your typical over achievers and under achievers. But the Oakland Athletics are neither, they have been a good team and they continue to be. Although it was a short season in 2020 the A’s won their division and this year they had the longest winning streak in the game.

13 victories in a row and that was no fluke. Led by first baseman Matt Olson, who is having an MVP-type of season, a solid starting rotation and a very efficient bullpen, even though they are without closer Trevor Rosenthal, whom they signed to a one-year deal for $11 million in February.

He was to take the place of Liam Hendricks who left the Athletics and signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox. Rosenthal (surgery) has yet to pitch. Off everything goes to plan he might be able to pitch towards the end of the season. Rosenthal, 30, has 132 saves and a 3.36 ERA over eight major league seasons.

The AL West is basically a two-team race, between the reigning divisional champion Oakland A’s and the Houston Astros who are in second and continue to keep pace with the A’s. The word “distancing” came out of the closet with the Covid pandemic, and in this division there is distancing, between Oakland and Houston and then the rest of the herd. The AL West can be divided into two segments.

The Athletics have enough to win between 90 to over 100 games. For the A’s the big question must be; how deep can they go into the postseason. The Chicago White Sox are one of the most athletic teams in the game, well balanced and managed by Tony LaRussa, while the Tampa Bay Rays could easily return to the World Series.

The Houston Astros, might have the best offense in the game. Trade deadline is only six weeks away. What do they Athletics need for the second half? Twins slugger Nelson Cruz (DH) will probably be available. He would be a key bat for the postseason, and some more help in the bullpen is always welcome. The A’s front office usually finds a way to make a deal when they are contending and this year should be no different.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com