Tag: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Athletics Radio-Not the First Time

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photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez working in the Oakland Coliseum pressbox 19 during the 1979 season

Athletics Radio – Not the First Time.

Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–In 1979 during the last season of Charlie O Finley ownership of the Oakland Athletics, the team did not sign a local commercial flagship station to broadcast their games locally.

Finley sold the broadcast rights for $1 dollar to the University of California Berkeley, their campus radio station.. Their play by play announcer was Larry Baer, now a SF Giants top executive, Baer broadcast weekend games and just across the glass next both, Box 19, Amaury Pi-González was broadcasting weekends in Spanish for KBRG 105.3FM “Hot Hits” San Francisco.

KBRG (popularly known as KBRIDGE) one of the pioneer Spanish radio format stations in California. The A’s made a big change this 2020 season ending their relationship with KTRB radio 860AM who was their flagship station.All the games this season will be air for free on TuneIn.

A’s Cast, the Oakland A’s 24/7 audio streaming station on TuneIn, is now the official home of A’s audio content, including all 2020 game broadcasts, podcasts, and daily sports shows. Every Spring Training and regular season game in 2020 can be heard exclusively on A’s/ Although the A’s do not have a Bay Area station their retain and will air them on their radio network.

Ken Korach will return for his 25th season with the A’s and his 15th as the team’s lead radio announcer, pairing with Vince Cotroneo, who will begin his 15th season with the Club. Ray Fosse will also make special appearances in the booth throughout the season.

The A’s are also expanding their Spanish-language broadcasts on TuneIn to include coverage of every regular season home game in TuneIn and Spanish radio. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday home game Spanish-language broadcast will also air on KIQI (1010 AM, San Francisco Bay Area) and KATD (990 AM Pittsburg) covering Sacramento/Stockton and surrounding areas.

So, that’s it, “That’s the way the ball bounces”

Amaury Pi-González will return for his 27th season with the A’s and 43rd season overall in MLB. Pi-González will be joined by Manolo Hernández-Douen, who will begin his 12th season as an A’s analyst.

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Players say they will take action in their own hands against Astros; Will MLB act if beanball war starts with teams throwing at Stros?

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photo from newsday.com: Houston Astros Dusty Baker says he is asking MLB Commissioner to take action against any teams who will start on field trouble against the Astros during the 2020 season which could lead to beanball wars

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

#1 After a number of players have voiced their anger about the Houston Astros and sign stealing they have said their only choice left is to retaliate against the Astros which could amount a lot of bean balls this season.

#2 One of the players that teams might go head hunting for is the Astros Jose Altuve whose possible wired under the jersey incident in the World Series has got the Dodgers and Yankees in particular pretty hot

#3 Astros manager Dusty Baker says that out of concern he’s asked MLB to make it clear that anyone retaliating against any of the Astros players should face discipline by baseball.

#4 If the Astros wind up winning a bunch a games again will there be doubts about how legit those victories will be?

#5 Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manea made it clear in an interview this week that he’s very angry with the Astros and that their cheating took a lot away from Manea and other players who could have won those games against Houston.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Pete Rose How do you like me now?

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washingtonpost.com file photo circa 1989: Former Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose is questioned over betting on baseball in the Reds dugout before a game in 1989 at Riverfront Stadium

Pete Rose: How do You Like me Now?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Amid the controversy over the sign-stealing scandal,which followed the steroids-era,it is fair to say that Peter Edward Rose,also known as “Charlie Hustle”, Pete Rose, who played in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1986, might be “looking good” today. Rose hit 4,256 hits more than any other player. He gambled but only on his own team winning as a manager. Ty Cobb ended second in hits with 4,191 and nobody alive today is close to 4,000 hits.

The question today: Is it time to let Pete Rose into Cooperstown? I believe so. I know baseball ultimate sin is gambling, and there are lots of degenerate gamblers all over, many go to Las Vegas to bet on baseball games,but nobody has 4,256 hits. Charlie Hustle was always on base, played for 24 Years (10 of those years 200 plus hits) 3,562 Games,15,890 Plate Appearances,14,053 at Bats. Only one season he struck out over 100 times. Total strike outs for Rose in those 24 seasons:1,143. This strike out category is very similar to Ted Williams and Joe Dimaggio, two of the greatest pure hitters in history. I will render my verdict at the end, the way I see it as if I was a juror.

Twenty-nine years have gone-by since 1991 when the Baseball Hall of Fame formally voted to ban those “permanently ineligible” list from induction. Those players were previously excluded by informal agreement among voters. Pete Rose admitted in 2004 that he bet on baseball and on the Reds. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and Major League Baseball are two different entities. However (as of today) the Hall of Fame states that no one on Major League Baseball’s ineligible list can be inducted into Cooperstown. So this means Pete Rose is out.

Hypocrisy? MLB has changed their attitude toward gambling. On November 27,2018 they announced that MGM had become its “official gaming partner”. I know people that bet on different legal sites in the US, the Fantasy Draft attracts a lot of sports betting fans, they have fantasy players on their list and is very popular, specially with the younger crowd of fans. And isn’t that what MLB wants? To bring young people back to baseball?

If it sounds confusing, mixed signals. It is. At the end is baseball that will have to deal with this,with the changes in the culture we live in. I do not have the answer.That is for the “moral philosophers” out there that examine the nature of ethics and foundation of good and back character in our society. Not to mention we are now in the robotic era and social media.

One last question, before my verdict. What stops somebody that stole signs from betting on those games they knew they had the edge?

My verdict: Put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame, as a player and put an asterisk on his plaque as a manager. And stop fooling yourselves.

Hasta la Vista!

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Ozzie Guillen wants to manage again

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file photo from WBEZ 91.5 FM: Miami Marlins former manager Ozzie Gullien trying to explain himself to the media why he said he loved Fidel Castro back in 2012 which forced him out of baseball

Ozzie Guillén Wants to Manage again

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Ozzie Guillén, born in Venezuela,was the first Latino-born manager to win a World Series as skipper of the Chicago White Sox when his team swept the Houston Astros in the 2005 World Series. Since then, Alex Cora,born in Puerto Rico managed the Boston Red Sox to a World Series title in 2018 over the Los Angeles Dodgers,becoming the second Latino manager to win the Fall Classic. Guillén is said to be looking for a job and return to the major leagues as a manager.

Guillén was also a very colorful player,a shortstop for 16 years with the White Sox,Orioles,Braves and Rays. Later he was a coach for the Expos and Marlins prior to managing the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011. As a manager he posted a .513 winning percentage. Not short of controversy during his career. Always opinionated,he loves to talk,when he played and managed as he always had time for me and for an interview, I could roll tape forever,and many a times,I had to edit his interviews to make sure they fit the time I have on the broadcast.

In 2012 he told Time Magazine, “I love Fidel Castro” and that started a storm in Miami,a heavily Cuban populated city, Cubans who left their country because of Castro’s communist dictatorship. Later the Marlins issue a statement denouncing the Cuban dictator. Guillén was suspended five games and the fallout resulted with his ouster after the season. Marlins management at that time reported that attendance fell after those remarks and never recovered.

Jorge Ortíz, who was a writer for the US Today in 2012 called me and asked me about my opinion about what Guillén said,since I am Cuban-born and a broadcaster in the major leagues,below is part of his article:

“It’s like going to New York’s Jewish district and saying, ‘Hitler wasn’t so bad. He managed to stay in power for a few years,’ ” said veteran Spanish-language baseball announcer Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, who fled Cuba at age 17 and lived in Miami for five years. “Even a 9-year-old knows better than to say that in Miami. But I don’t think he’s really a fan of Castro or meant any harm. It’s just that he talks so much that sometimes he says things without thinking about them.”

I still feel the same way for Ozzie, a good man and a very good manager,I defended him then because here in the US we have the right to free speech, something that -by the way-still absent in Cuba for over six decades.

Ozzie GuilIén has not managed in the major leagues since 2012,he has been doing some television work and has kept-up with the game On February 2019 Guillén said “I want to manage again.“I know the game,I’m still close to it, so I see the game unfold. I watch the games now doing television and I’m still involved managing through the Venezuela Winter League.”

If not this season,I think we can expect the possibility of Guillén managing again,he would not mind going into the minor leagues to get the shot at managing again in the show. Talking with a lot of baseball fans,and recently during the Oakland Athletics Fanfest a couple of Venezuelan fans that know Guillén told me that he – Guillén (for sure) is still interested in the opportunity.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Museum, is the Spanish play by play voice of the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Sox sign Grandal four years $73 M; Betts is close to being a Dodger; plus more

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photo from latimes.com: The Boston Red Sox Mookie Betts is on the bargaining table to be dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 Amaury how important is Yasmani Grandal’s role at catcher going to be for the Chicago White Sox he’s on a four year $73 million contract with the Sox.

#2 How serious is are the Dodgers in acquiring the Boston Red Sox Mookie Betts and talk about how he would impact the team.

#3 The Seattle Mariners signed Marco Gonzalez, Gonzalez will be under contract with the Mariners for under $1 million for 2020-2024 but his contract is reportedly worth $30-45 million for four years.

#4 You had a chance to sit with Frankie Montas pitcher of the Oakland A’s during Fan Fest how far has Montas put his PED suspension in the review mirror.

#5 Former San Francisco Giant Gerardo Parra is a new Giant but this time in Tokyo Parra said he’s excited about playing in Japan

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

 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Athletics Pitcher Frankie Montas, Exclusive Interview

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2020 Topps baseball card of Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas

Athletics Pitcher Frankie Montas, Exclusive Interview

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND– In a overcast day/afternoon, but without rain,as thousands of fans visited and mingled with A’s players during the 2020 A’s Fanfest at Jack London Square young Danay García, Special Events Assistant for the A’s brought to our kiosk at The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame, A’s starting pitcher Frankie Montas.

Frankie ended his 2019 season with a 9-2 record with a 2.63 earned run average in 16 games he started. Smiling and followed by a bunch of fans with ball and pen in hand they were lining-up to get this autograph, he sat next to me as he signed for roughly 20 to 30 minutes, once in a while standing up to pose with fans in selfies as well as group/family shots.

Montas dropped by with his wife Nicolette and son Michael. The young Dominican hurler seems very happy posing with fans signing one autograph after another. I conducted the interview in Spanish and here it is translated. Montas pitched this winter for the Leones del Escogido or Escogido Lions) in the Dominican Republic professional baseball league.

He said he pitched a little bit more this season. That makes sense because he only started basically half of the 2019 for the Athletics. I didn’t wanted to dwell on why he was suspended that was not the main goal, specially at this time in history when baseball is under heavy scrutiny because of the sign-stealing scandal. This is not the place anyway, this was a Fanfest, where positivism was in the air. The last thing I wanted to ask him was about his suspension and I did not.

Montas is about 6 feet 2 inches tall,at 240 pounds with a strong powerful right arm.

Q: Welcome to Oakland. Ready for Spring Training?

A: “Yes, I am happy to be here, and ready to go to Arizona”

Q:You live in Arizona, so basically you are going back home.

A: Absolutely,should be fun…and I am really looking forward this season.

Q. Do you consider yourself a fastball pitcher (you throw around 97 mph).?

A: Yes, I do, that is my best pitch, but I can also come at a hitter with other pitches, but yes, I think you can consider me a “power pitcher”.

ThIs will be his sixth season in the major leagues and fourth with the A’s,the Dominican pitcher will be 27 years of age next month. During his abbreviated 2019 season,he recorded 103 strike-outs in 96 innings of labor and was on a pace to win 18 to 20 and throw over 200 strike outs.

Q: Many people (including me) like to know, which player is the toughest for you to get out.

A: Joe Mauer of Minnesota, I cannot get him out. Mauer has played 15 years with the Twins and is the only catcher in MLB history to win three batting titles. The veteran has been a tough out for many pitchers, last week in a ceremony at Target Field,the Twins retired his famous number 7..

Q: Now that you have been in the majors for a few years, what is the one thing that has impressed you the most?

A: The discipline here, everything is done professionally,we have a schedule for everything, the speed of the game is another thing..

Q: Oakland Coliseum is the most spacious MLB park, with all kinds of foul territory,that benefits pitchers. Aside from here in Oakland,which parks are the favorites for you to pitch, favorites for you, not necessarily because you can get more outs,but because you like those places.

A: Kansas City…Anaheim and Houston, I would say those three.

Q:Luis Rojas was just named the new manager of the New York Mets, a fellow Dominican one of the sons of Felipe Alou, your opinion?

A; Great, I know him, he is a great guy, happy for that.

Photos and selfies all over the place with the very affable Frankie Montas,as his wife and son patiently waited on the sidelines, he was just getting to the end of his signing duties at our kiosk. We also took some pictures, he signed a few Topps baseball Cards for The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum, which someday (hopeful sooner than later) we’ll have a place inside the proposed new A’s Ballpark at Howard Terminal.

My last question.

Q:When you were a little boy like this kid that was taking a picture with you here. Who was your idol?

A; :”Pedro Martínez” Not surprisingly from a young pitcher to name the great Dominican Hall of Famer Martínez

The Oakland Athletics pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to their Spring Training home February 12.

We shook hands,as I told him,next time we talk will be at Mesa, during Spring Training. which he said Okay!

Good Luck Frankie!

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Congress will be asking detailed questions as to how signs got stolen

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wkyt.com photo: The Houston Astros Jose Altuve waits his turn at bat could be called as a witness to whether he was wearing a wire or electronic device that help him indicate which pitch was coming next during the 2017 season.

Amaury does the News and Commentary podcast each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#1 There is little doubt that Congress will call witnesses and former players and current players and coaches into the sign stealing scandal to come to testify

#2 Amongst the center of the probe will be former Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch and former general manager Jeff Luhnow and current Astro Jose Altuve

#3 In the congressional inquiry congressmen will be expected to turn this scandal upside down while they get to the bottom of what exactly happened?

#4 Also in the probe look for former New York Mets manager Carlos Beltran and former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora to be asked what role they played while with Houston Astros

#5 Oakland A’s pitcher Mike Fiers said he had just about enough when he reported that signs were being stolen with high technology when he played with the Astros and guilt more than anything played a role into his coming forward.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Sign-Stealing Scandal–Politician calling for Congressional Oversight Hearing

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congress.gov photo: Illinois Rep Bobby Rush is calling for an official congressional investigation into the sign stealing scandal involving MLB general managers, managers, players and front office staffs
Sign-Stealing Scandal:  Politician calling for Congressional Oversight Hearing
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
Amaury Pi-González
Representative Bobby Rush from the State of Illinois wants an official Congressional Oversight hearing on the current scandal. He had said so in a letter to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, which is in charge (among other things) of oversight of major league sports. So now the government might get involved as major league baseball is going to an unprecedented crisis.
Last time Washington D.C. got involved in a baseball scandal was 2005. The Mitchell Report – (steroids era) some players had to testify in public open hearings among those were Mark McGwire,Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro. During that scandal Barry Bonds and Bret Boone were Implicated, while others like José Canseco and Ken Caminiti admitted their use of steroids.
As the Office of the Commissioner of baseball continues this wide investigation others aside from Representative Bobby Rush are also voicing their opinions. The Los Angeles City Council is expected to vote in a resolution urging MLB to recall the World Series trophies awarded to the Astros in 2017 and Red Sox in 2018 and award them to the Dodgers instead.  Pitcher CC.Sabathia, who announced his retirement last season,said that the Yankees got cheated by the Astros and Manfred should take their away their title.
Looks like Dusty Baker is getting interviewed this Monday by the Houston Astros for their open managerial position. Good luck to a good genuine baseball man.
The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum will be participating again at the Oakland Athletics Fanfest this next Saturday the 25th from 9:30AM to 3:00PM at Jack London Square. Admittance if Free. All are welcome to visit our new bilingual website https://www.hhbmhof.com/
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice of the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Sign Stealing Scandal–Carlos Beltrán steps down as Mets manager

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nytimes.com file photo: Carlos Beltran being introduced as the New York Mets manager will not manage one ball game for the Mets as he stepped down today as Mets manager over the Sign Stealing scandal

Sign-Stealing Scandal: Carlos Beltrán Steps Out as Mets Manager

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Major League Baseball continues reeling from the current sign-stealing scandal. Truly unprecedented. Seriously jeopardizing his possible induction into the Hall of Fame after a brilliant 20 years major league career, Carlos Beltrás who was named manager of the New York Mets on November 1,2019, will not manage with the Mets this season.

Beltrán is 42 years old born in Manatí,Puerto Rico. After what has been happening, especially with the Houston Astros,Carlos Beltrán today decided to step down as manager of the New York Mets. This is makes the Mets management who picked Beltrán look very bad,overall nobody is looking good at this time in the game. Beltrán will not manage a single game in Spring Training which is just over two weeks away.

Beltrán played for 20 seasons in major league baseball compiling Hall of Fame worthy numbers, 2,586 games, hit .270 with 435 home runs and 1,587 runs batted in. Began his career in 1998 and ended in 2018, he played for: Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, St Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees,Texas Rangers and Houston Astros (again) during the 2017 season when the Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

Jessica Mendoza,ESPN Baseball Analyst and who also works for the NY Mets blasted Mike Fiers,now pitching with the A’s, and ex-Astros for blowing the whistle on this current scandal.

Personally, I cannot blame a pitcher for blowing the whistle on hitters stealing signs. This goes to the essence of the game of baseball, where the pitchers objective is to get the hitter out. Hitters today have the definite advantage,with all the videos and stuff on film and social media,now.

There will always be the gamesmanship in some situations like when a runner at second base can relay a signal to the hitter, and that will always belong in the game, but methodically establishing a system to steal signs should never be allowed.

Follow us with this very fluid story, in my lifetime (including the steroids era) this is the worst scandal.

See you in Arizona, in Spring Training. But I am afraid this story is still in the top of the 7th.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish play by play talent at the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI La Grande and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Pats and Brady to decide future; Can Vikings surprise 49ers Sunday? plus more

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usatoday.com file photo: Tom Brady might have played his last game in New England however Robert Kraft team owner is knocking at Brady’s door

On the podcast with Amaury:

#1 The New England Patriots have lots of questions in their off season about Tom Brady’s future where does head coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots go from here?

#2 The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are coming off a huge win New Orleans one thing for sure the 49ers can’t be too over confident going into this game.

#3 Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones is not one to keep coaches long although his last one Jason Garrett survived nine seasons and finished this season at 8-8 as the Cowboys failed to make post season. Garrett will be replaced by former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.

#4 It was mentioned that congress might take away baseball’s exemption status if MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred goes ahead and reduces 42 minor league teams. Will this give Manfred something to think about before pulling the trigger on the 42 minor league teams.

#5 He’s called the Cuban Ohtani- Oscar Luis Colas who defected from Cuba is headed for The Show. Colas is a left handed pitcher, an outfielder and a first baseman.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the radio play by play talent for the Oakland A’s and can be heard on KIQI 1010 San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com