Tag: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2023 The Worst Year for the A’s in Oakland

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Oakland A’s pitcher JP Sears delivers against the Los Angeles Angeles in the first inning at the Big A in Anaheim on Sun Oct 1, 2023. Sears and the A’s went through the worst season in Oakland history. (AP News photo)

2023 The Worst Year for the A’s in Oakland

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The bad season for the A’s combined with the news this year the team is moving to Las Vegas, makes it the worst year ever in Oakland A’s baseball history.

The 2023 Oakland A’s season ended in Anaheim, on October 1, with their 112 loss of the season. They ended with 50-112. At the bottom of the American League and Major League Baseball in the win and lost column, as in most statistical departments, obviously including attendance. The 112 games lost is ten more than 2022 when they lost 102 games. In 1979 Oakland lost 108 games, so there have been other bad years for the ball club since they moved from Kansas City to Oakland in1968.

However, in 55 years of playing in Oakland, this is the first year that the team is planning to leave the city of Oakland, build a new stadium in Las Vegas which they hope to inaugurate on opening day 2028. The combination of bad performance on the field and the eventual departure of this franchise without a doubt makes it the worst year.

Some take solace that they won 50 games, but that is not what history will remember this team for, because when you end with 50 wins during a 162 game season, everybody knows what happened.

Bright spots: Young position players like Zack Gelof, Ryan Noda, Brent Rooker, Esteury Ruíz, Jordan Díaz, Shea Langeliers, have shown they are major league talent. Their pitching is also very young, and the club will need some stability forming a rotation, they have some very good arms.

Lefty J.P Sears started 32 games for the team, he was their most consistent pitcher. Sears ended with a record of 5-14 and 4.54 earned run average, hardy a positive record, but what more could he do with a team that lost 112 games? Pitchers are many times the benefactors of the teams they pitched for, but also their numbers suffer when they pitch for a bad team. It is part of baseball.

Zack Greinke ended the season with a record of 2-15 and 5.06 ERA for the last place Kansas City Royals in the central division. The Royals ended with a 56-106 record, and Greinke a potential Hall of Fame pitcher, could not escape the poor performance of his team. A pitcher with over 200 wins (granted at the end of his career) was not helped at all by his team performance. Zack Greinke said before the season, this was his last year.

What the A’s need? They have to find a way to build a decent rotation, guys like JP Sears who gets the ball every fifth day, has that unique consistence is badly needed on a young club like the A’s.. People should know that this 2023 team have some great young arms, the ones I think are the best: Kyle Mueller, Luis Medina, Mason Miller,Joey Estes and Joe Boyle, they all need more seasoning, but they have the tools. In years past when the A’s were “rebuilding”, a most favorite term, they also signed a veteran pitcher than can get outs, guys like a Jon Lester, Bartolo Colón.

They do not have to take a loan to sign pitchers like that, but guys that will help a very young pitching staff and they bring a lot to the table, with their experience, and in Colón’s case I remember one A’s pitcher telling me, “this guy is great to have because he has been around and he still throws strikes and he is mentor to the kids that are trying to become good pitchers”.

What will happen? Nobody knows. There will be changes, some players will not be back, others will be traded, maybe some new faces will be signed and that could bring another dimension to the 2024 Oakland Athletics.

I am not going to write here about the move to Las Vegas, because everybody have their own opinion, it has become a very emotional issue, in some cases incendiary. It is a salad of owners, construction companies, labor unions, school teachers unions, politicians, lawyers and one Commissioner, what they call a “mix salad”.

So, I like to end with this quote.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.” Helen Keller

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame at Fiesta Gigantes

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From left to right:  Gabriel(Tito)Avila Jr. President, Amaury Pi-González Vice President, Joe Angel Broadcaster, Erwin Higueros, Broadcaster, Camilo Dovial, Giants pitcher at the Award ceremony at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Oct 1, 2023

Photo credit: Mauricio Segura, HHBMHOF

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame at Fiesta Gigantes

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO–Fiesta Gigantes this season took place at Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, on the penultimate game of the regular season before the Giants hosted the LA Dodgers on September 30. The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum presented (on the field) before the game their awards.

Hall of Fame plaque to ex-Giants play-by-play announcer Joe Angel, the only Colombian-born to become an English broadcaster in the major leagues for the Giants, as well as other teams during his career. Erwin Higueros, current Spanish play-by-play for the Giants, and Camilo Doval, from the Dominican Republic, who won the José Uribe Award.

Doval lead the National League in game saves this 2023 season with 39. The Giants won the game with a final score of 2-1.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Adiós Kapler!~ -Kai Correa named SF interim manager; Giants dismiss Kapler as manager with three games left in the season

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The San Francisco Giants named Kai Correa as interim manager after firing Gabe Kapler on Thu Sep 29, 2023 (file photo USA Today)

Adiós Kapler!~ -Giants dismiss manager with three games left in the season

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO–Gabe Kapler was never that popular when the Giants first signed him in 2020 and today became the first Giants manager to be fired since in September of 1995 when Jim Davenport was fired and replaced by Roger Craig.

In 2021 the Giants overachieved and won 107 games, and Gabe Kapler won the NL Manager of the Year. After two years as skipper of the Philadelphia Phillies, 2023 was the fourth season for Kapler.

Soon after noon on September 29, the San Francisco Giants released this statement: “He has been dedicated and passionate in his efforts to improve the on-field performance of the San Francisco Giants and I have tremendous respect for him as a colleague and friend” said team president Farhan Zaidi. Kapler’s first season with San Francisco was the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign”

Names already rumored to be possible candidates for Giants manager in 2024, Menlo Park native and three-time Manager of the Year Bob Melvin, ending his first season as manager of the San Diego Padres, also Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay. But it is “too early” to tell.

Meanwhile, Giants veteran shortstop and three-time World Champion Brandon Crawford 36, said he likes to retire as a Giant, but he still contemplating his future and was not ready to commit to anything just yet. Crawford made the statement just a few days ago, on September 21. About the speculation if he is going to play his last game as a Giant and retire this next Sunday when the team closes the season against the LA Dodgers, he said: “I don’t have an answer, but there’s been plenty of thoughts”.

San Francisco closes the season at home this weekend with a three-game series against the Western Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Brooks Robinson, the Greatest Third baseman has passed away at 86

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Brooks Robinson the Baltimore Orioles third baseman snares a line drive hit by the Cincinnati Reds Johnny Bench in the top of the sixth inning on Oct 13, 1970 at Memorial Stadium during the World Series in Baltimore (AP file photo)

Brooks Robinson, the Greatest Third baseman

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

As a kid in Cuba when my father took me to the Cuban Professional Winter League in Havana, around the late 1950s I remember a skinny slick fielding third baseman that played for the Elefantes de Cienfuegos, (Cienfuegos Elephants), with the green and gray uniforms, his name was Brooks Robinson, they won the Cuban Winter League title in the 1959-60 season.

He was since that moment together with Cuban-born Orestes (Minnie) Miñoso my two favorite players. Miñoso played for the rivals Tigres de Marianao, Marianao Tigres and with the Chicago White Sox in the major leagues. I had the privilege of meeting Miñoso not in Cuba (although I saw him play in Cuba, like I just wrote) but here in the Major Leagues as a player and later as a Front Office employee of the Chicago White Sox, as I interviewed him in many occasions including in 2005 when he sat with me in Chicago during a game as I was broadcasting for the LA Angels Spanish radio, he did commentary for most of the game. Both Minnie and Brooks played at a very young age in that Cuban professional league. Both became established stars in the major leagues.

Today, September 26, 2023 the news broke. Brooks Robinson has died at the age of 86. There was no better defensive third baseman, He was selected to 18 All Star Games and won a total of 16 Gold Gloves, the most of any position player, only one player won more Gold Gloves in history, pitcher Greg Maddux,18.

In 1983 third baseman Brooks Robinson was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York. His nickname “The Vacuum cleaner” was given to him by Cincinnati Reds manager Sparky Anderson after his legendary performance for the Orioles in the 1970 World Series. “I’ve never seen anything like what he did to us in that series, He killed us”. In 1970 Brooks won the MVP in the World Series.

He played his entire 23 year career with the Baltimore Orioles. Hit for an average of .267, 2,896 games, 2,848 hits, 1,357 runs batted in, 1964 American League MVP, 1970 World Series MVP and 2-time World Series Champion.

The Human Vacuum Cleaner” or “Mr. Hoover” because of his defensive prowess. But mostly known as “Mr. Oriole.”

Why do they call third base “the hot corner”? Because right handed hitters pull balls down the third base line with with lots of heat.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Acuna 5th player to join 40-40 club; Marlins Alcantara suffering from forearm tightness; plus more news

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Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. watches his solo home run in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park in Cumberland, Cobb County, GA on Tue Sep 19, 2023. Acuna Jr becomes the fifth MLB player to join the 40-40 club on Fri Sep 22, 2023. (AP News photo)

#1 Amaury, the Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuna became the fifth player in MLB history to become a 40-40 player, Aucna joined the club after hitting his 40th home run of the year against the Washington Nationals on Friday night.

#2 In triple A baseball the Miami Marlins Sandy Alcantara who is on a rehab assignment suffered forearm tightness on Thursday night the Marlins announced on Friday night. Alcantara who won two Cy Young Awards struck out four hitters in four innings is headed back to Miami and will be evaluated by team doctors. Alcantara has not pitched since Sep 6th.

#3 MLB announced they will be selecting 12 of the top clock operators for the post season as the time clock rule will be in place for the post season. The league upon selection will use the same time clock operator for that specific series. The rule remain the same with the exception of the ghost runner in extra innings which will not be used.

#4 Amaury, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton finds Chicago Cubs manager David Ross’ comment that the Pirates “are not a very good team” comment unfortunate. The Cubs are the third team in the NL Wild Card and the Pirates are two games behind them. Will Ross’ comments fire up the Bucs and make it an interesting run for the Wild Card in this last week of the season?

#5 The Oakland A’s conclude their final homestand of the 2023 season on Sun Sep 24th against the Detroit Tigers. The A’s have a lease with the Oakland Coliseum through the 2024 season is there any chance that the A’s could break the lease and choose to play somewhere else maybe Las Vegas Ballpark for next season or will they honor the lease and play here in 2024?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s on the A’s Spanish radio network and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: O’s and Rays headed for post season; ex-Phils manager Manuel improving after stroke; plus more news

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Philadelphia Phillies hitting coach Charlie Manuel looks on prior to the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Aug. 14, 2019, in Philadelphia. The Phillies announced Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, that former manager Manuel has suffered a stroke. Manuel was undergoing a medical procedure in Florida when he was afflicted, the team revealed. Sun, Sep 17, 2023 doctors said 12 hours after the procedure Manuel was showing signs of improvement (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays both teams who have great seasons clinched for the AL playoffs after the Texas Rangers lost to the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday.

#2 Good news after the scary experience that ex-Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel 78, had a stroke while going through a medical procedure in Florida. Doctors were able to remove a blood clot from the 79 year old manager Sunday and reported that Manuel has shown improvement. While Manuel was manager for the Phillies he won five NL East titles between 2007-2011. Manuel was fired by the Phillies in 2013 after a 53-67 start of that season.

#3 Cuban born designated hitter and outfielder Jorge Soler of the Miami Marlins hit a home run upon his return from the 10 day IL. Soler had been placed in the IL due to a right oblique strain. Soler said he was feeling discomfort taking swings on Sep 5th but feels alright now going 2-3 with a home run on Sunday.

#4 Pitcher Corey Kluber will not pitch again for the rest of the season for the Boston Red Sox due to right shoulder inflammation. Kluber announced that he has ended his minor league rehab assignment and will not make his third rehab assignment at Triple A Worcester last Saturday. Kluber is a two time Cy Young Award winner.

#5 The New York Mets threw a huge bash for Bartolo Colin at Citi Park in Queens on Sunday. The Mets celebrated Colin’s home run he hit on May 7, 2006. It was Colin’s first home run off the San Diego Padres James Shields and Colin became the oldest player at age 42 years and 349 days to hit a home run. Colin pitched in the big leagues for 21 years. Colin also was a former pitcher for the Oakland A’s and made a big splash with fans and teammates during that time as well.

Amaury PI Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsadioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Taking a look at the steps MLB will take to move A’s out of Oakland

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Kansas City Royals CEO John Sherman is part of a three man MLB committee that will recommend relocating the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas. The committee will send their recommendation onto MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred after doing the first step of the study. (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, MLB announced that there will be a relocation vote in mid November. There are several steps to the process beginning with a three man executive committee which consists of Milwaukee Brewers chairman Mark Attanasio, who is chairing the committee, Philadelphia Phillies CEO John Middleton and Kansas City Royals CEO John Sherman. 

#2 The second step of the process is the recommendation gets passed along to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred who will look over the relocation application and no doubt put his stamp approval on it.

#3 After Manfred is finished with his approval it moves onto a eight man committee who will look it over for the renderings, the blue prints, how the move will benefit MLB, the topic of moving to the smallest MLB market will no doubt be part MLB considerations.

#4 Once the eight man committee has completed their study they will pass it onto the 30 MLB owners for the mid November vote which requires 75% approval to relocate the A’s from Oakland to Las Vegas.

#5 You have to wonder if Oakland was going to get an expansion team out of this then why move out of Oakland in the first place. Also revisiting Howard Terminal could be tougher than it was the first time with John Fisher and the A’s.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Bucs Hayes says it’s time for the auto umpire forthwith; Brewers lose no hitter and game in 13 innings; plus more news

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Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes follows through on a solo home run off Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta during the first inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Wed Sep 6, 2023. Hayes said the need for the auto umpire needs to be in place ASAP saying there are too many umpire mistakes that are costing hitters (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, Ke’Bryan Hayes of the Pittsburgh Pirates is calling for the auto umpire as soon as possible. During Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves pitcher AJ Minter threw a 3-1 pitch that was outside and was ruled strike two by plate umpire Bill Miller. Hayes thought he was taking ball four and headed up to first base but had to come back. The Bucs were down 5-2 in the top of the eighth. Hayes is calling for the auto saying some umpires don’t care. He questioned Miller after the game about the call and Miller told him you had your chance to hit a homer.

#2 The Brewers on Monday night took a no hitter going into the 11th inning. Brewers pitchers Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams, Abner Uribe, and Joel Payamps almost made baseball history as they were two outs away from the game’s first 11 inning no hitter. The New York Yankees not only ended the no hitter but came back and won the game as the Yankees Kyle Higashioka doubled in the ghost runner in the bottom of the 13th inning.

#3 The Milwaukee Brewers called up third baseman Josh Donaldson from triple A Nashville and optioned Owen Miller to help the Brewers in their playoff drive. Donaldson started at third base on Monday night against the Miami Marlins. Donaldson was released by the New York Yankees hit .142, .434 slugging percentage, with 15 hits and 10 home runs and 15 RBIs.

#4 The Los Angeles Angels are open to trading superstar outfielder Mike Trout. Trout has seven years and $248 million left on his 12 year deal with the Halos on a contract worth $430 million. Trout had been plagued with back injuries. Trout has been out since July 3 with a broken hamate bone. Trout was hitting .263, 81 hits, 18 home run, 44 RBIs.

#5 The USA Today reports that the Oakland A’s would be one of two cities who would get a expansion team once the A’s move to Las Vegas at Tropicana Park in 2028. The other city under consideration is Nashville. High ranking baseball officials say that the city of Oakland needs to get a ballpark site in place (most likely the Howard Terminal), an ownership group who will secure the site. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said that in order for the city to extend the A’s extension before they move out of Oakland MLB needs to assure the city will get an expansion team and the A’s name brand stays with the City.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for all the action of Oakland A’s baseball on the A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland named as one of two expansion sites once A’s leave for Vegas in 2028

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Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao addresses the media during a Wed Feb 15, 2023 press conference at Oakland City Hall. Mayor Thao has said the City of Oakland would consider extending the A’s lease through the 2027 season if the city would retain the A’s name and the city gets an expansion team. (AP photo file)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–You might recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said that if Oakland A’s are looking for extending they’re lease between 2025-27 before moving to Las Vegas the city of Oakland wants assurance of an MLB expansion team. According to USA Today reports two high officials in MLB said that Oakland and Nashville have been named as the top two cities for expansion.

The A’s ballpark is expected to be completed at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip by 2028. The A’s are committed to play at the Oakland Coliseum through the 2024 season. Then after 2024 where do the A’s play? Several sites have been suggested Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Aviators park, Reno, and San Francisco.

Mayor Thao said as long as Oakland is assured an expansion team when the A’s leave in 2028 the city would grant the A’s an extension to play at the Coliseum for an additional three more years until they pack up and leave for Sin City.

With the two high ranking officials saying Oakland is on the list for expansion Thao will most likely extend the A’s lease through the 2027 season. The officials who were not named said the city of Oakland needs to secure an owner who will build a new ballpark most likely at the Howard Terminal location. Mayor Thao would most likely need to identify an owner who will build the new ballpark and take charge of the expansion team to make it happen.

Thao had said that the city in part of extending the Oakland Coliseum lease for the A’s would retain the Oakland A’s name and brand. A’s owner John Fisher had said that the A’s will not relinquish the name when they move to Vegas and intends to keep the A’s brand.

It was also mentioned in the report that the city and the A’s were close to a deal in before the A’s announced they were leaving for Vegas. Thao had said the city and A’s were ten percent of the way to finalizing a deal but the A’s broke off negotiations and said they had a binding deal with the Rio in Las Vegas. The deal at the Rio was later broke off and now the A’s are trying to build at the Tropicana location which the A’s are waiting for MLB owners approval a vote that is expected to take place in December.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network and Jerry Feitelberg is an Oakland A’s reporter at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Memories of Oakland  No.11 in Series-Nobody is more Oakland than Dave Stewart

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Former Oakland A’s pitcher Dave Stewart who is a member of the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame and has his #34 jersey retired with the A’s (File photo by the Tennessean)

Memories of Oakland  No.11 in Series

Nobody is more Oakland than Dave Stewart

By Amaury Pi-González

No other player in Oakland A’s history represents Oakland more than Dave Stewart. Born in the City of Oakland and the only Oakland A’s pitcher to have won 20  or more games in four seasons in a row, his grit and determination are legendary. While Tim Hudson, Barry Zito, and Mark Mulder are also 20-game-winners while pitching in Oakland, Stewart is in a class by himself.

He always had a smile and was gracious when we spoke, especially with one of his most memorable anecdotes; when he was a young man and lived not very far from the Oakland Coliseum he would sneak into A’s games and Reggie Jackson would catch him in the process and bring  him to the park.

Soon after, Stewart started washing Reggie’s car in exchange for tickets. If anybody is really Rooted in Oakland, that would be Dave Stewart. That is the best definition of “Rooted” the other stuff is only marketing, but Stewart is the real thing.

Those of us who covered the 1989 World Series remember well, the Cypress Freeway in Oakland, on October 17 when the strong Loma Prieta Earthquake struck the bay area. Stewart was there working shoulder-to-shoulder with first responders, rescuing people that were trapped.

There, 42 people were killed when the double-decked Cypress Freeway (which I had driven hours before on the way from the east bay to Candlestick Park), totally collapsed. Dave Stewart is a World Series Champion and World Series Most Valuable Player, but he is also a role model for the youth in Oakland.

Dave Stewart is involved as an owner of an expansion team in Nashville, Tennessee. His vision could become reality as Nashville is one of the top cities considered for MLB expansion along with Charlotte, Montreal, Portland and Salt Lake City.

“Mental attitude and concentration are the keys to pitching”  – Ferguson Jenkins.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for exciting Oakland A’s baseball on the Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com