That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB–Oakland A’s the Fuji effect

The Oakland A’s Shintaro Fujinami warms up at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa at Cactus League spring training (San Francisco Chronicle photo)

MLB: Oakland A’s –  The Fuji effect-

Tha’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The 2023 season is not far from the ‘first pitch’, and Spring Training is in full swing as all 30 clubs have hopes of a postseason berth. Seven months from today reality will be set for 28 teams, and only two will be playing in the World Series. Although is too early to talk about October baseball, this is the time to talk about what teams have in store.

For the Oakland A’s there is a new bunch of players.  Among the position players, only a handful of “veterans” like Ramón Laureano, Tony Kemp and Seth Brown are names that fans could identify together with some young pitchers. The team signed free agent Japanese right-handed pitcher Shintaro Fujinami “Please call me ‘Fuji.’ Like Mount Fuji,” the Japanese right-hander said in English when he was introduced to the media in Oakland.

Fuji played for ten years in Nippon Professional Baseball (Japan) for the Hanshin Tigers. Fuji (as he said he likes to be called) will turn 29 this next April. The A’s signed Fuji to a one-year deal for $3.25 million. He was, by far, the most interesting signing by the team this off-season. 

The A’s going to Asia makes news. After all, the last time the A’s had a Japanese player was in 2011, slugger Hideki Matsui, who played only that year for the Green and Gold, with the difference that Matsui was already a major league player. Today in Spring Training, Fuji is the main attraction, although he had yet to throw one pitch in the majors and although many “experts” suggested (before he signed with the A’s) that he could help a team in the majors as a reliever.

The A’s are giving him a shot of winning a spot in the starting rotation. Why not? The A’s rotation is still young and does not have much experience. Fuji pitched for ten years in Japan (although a rookie in the majors) he still has more experience on the mound than any A’s pitcher on this roster, to date.

Here’s what Sports Info Solutions wrote about Fujinami. The splitter was his best strikeout pitch, and his most-used pitch with two strikes, narrowly edging out his fastball in both two-strike usage and strikeouts. In addition to having a solid 34% whiff rate, batters also struggled to do anything with the splitter when it was put in play. His splitters turned into grounders 66% of the time, and batters only managed a 9% hard-hit rate versus the pitch.

I do not know how much success Shintaro Fujinami will have with the A’s, and the truth is that nobody really knows. Not a surprise the A’s signed him for one year since he will have to prove himself at the major league level. I am surprised when the A’s signed veteran Cuban-born journeyman Aledmys Díaz to a 2-year $14.5 million deal.

Díaz can earn $500,000 annually in performance bonuses for plate appearances. Díaz is a seven year veteran who played for St Louis, Toronto, and the most recent World Champion Houston Astros. Díaz can play many bases and it makes sense he will take the place of utility man extraordinaire Chad Pinder who left the A’s to sign a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds.

Note: Fuji was very excited after he learned on Saturday he will be starting this next Tuesday the 28th against his good friend and countryman, the sensational two-way player, Shohei Ohtani when the A’s face the LA Angels.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Athletics Investment Lobbying Group

Oakland A’s team president David Kaval has been negotiating with the state of Nevada. The A’s are getting serious about Las Vegas as they formed a group Athletics Investment Lobbying Group Kaval has been named as one of the lobbyists for the group (photo from mitchtobias.com)

Athletics Investment Lobbying Group

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–According to Nevada State records the Oakland A’s recently formed a lobbying group for Nevada’s 2023 legislative session, it is named Athletics Investment Lobbying Group. Among the lobbyist, Dave Kaval, President of the Oakland A’s is listed.

Greg Ferraro is the founder and President of the Ferraro Group, a public affairs firm that provides service in the government lobbying space in Nevada. Ferraro says the club is likely aware that, after this session, the Nevada legislature won’t convene again until 2025.

The A’s who seem to be serious of moving to Las Vegas are spending money to hire the Ferraro Group in order to build a new ballpark in Sin City. This group of A’s Lobbyist in Nevada would have to move quickly and get it done (come to an agreement) during this 2023 year. Last week the A’s added a third site where they could build their $1 billion indoor park in Las Vegas, as they are seriously considering the land where the Rio Casino sits, on Flaming Road just west of the Strip and Interstate 15.

This 2023 is the target year for the A’s to make a final decision, according to Robert Manfred MLB Commissioner, who said things with the City Oakland are not looking good.

This February 7 in Oakland, at the end of the annual mayor’s economic forecast, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said talks have resumed between the City of Oakland and the Oakland A’s for the new ballpark. When asked about the A’s negotiations with the city, she said that “it is looking good”. Any deal will have to be approved by the Oakland City Council.

Thao is currently dealing with strong criticisms for firing the popular Oakland-born ,Leronne Armstrong Chief of Police. Members of Oakland’s NAACP rallied to support Police Chief Armstrong, calling to bring him back. If talks are going on between the A’s and the City of Oakland at this time, they must be extremely secretive (something like CIA style) because nobody hears anything coming from Oakland City Hall, not even a leak.

Truth-be-said: At this time it is evident the Oakland A’s are not very hopeful that they can come to an agreement with the City of Oakland in order to build their new proposed Howard Terminal stadium. Especially after the recent setbacks, specially the grant of $190 million for Oakland that was not approved.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Francona feels ready and healthy for 2023; Jays Schneider saves woman from choking to death; plus more news

Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona makes a pitching change during the team’s baseball game against the Houston Astros, Aug. 4, 2022, in Cleveland. Francona says he feels much better going into a season than he did in 2020 and 2021. (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaruy News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Cleveland Guardians manager Tito Francona is heading into his 11th season and has his health issues behind him he had the toe and hip surgeries in 2021 and he had the blood clot and gas issues in 2020 and Francona says he’s not hanging it up anytime soon.

#2 Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider’s sixth grade education on the Heimlich maneuver was a life saver last Saturday when Schneider was taking a lunchbreak with his wife Dunedin Florida when a woman at another table started choking the others at the woman’s table didn’t know what to do that’s when Schneider stepped in and performed the maneuver and saved her life. She had been choking on a shrimp.

#3 New York Yankees star Aaron Judge has it all going for him the $360 million contract, the 62 home runs, the team captaincy any pressure for Judge to keep it going for the 2023 season.

#4 As announced by the Toronto Blue Jays their on air broadcasters will do all their road games from a studio as mock up baseball they won’t need to hit two sticks together to make the ball hitting the bat sound but Blue Jays announcer Jerry Howarth said he was “very disappointed” by the decision.

#5 Turning to the NBA Amuary, there is talk about NBA players changing teams like players changing uniforms. If a player doesn’t like where he’s at he just simply gets a trade such as the case as the Brooklyn Nets shipping Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns, Patrick Beverly signed with the Chicago Bulls and Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Spring Training–Commissioner speaks – A’s open Cactus League

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao walks away from the podium after addressing the media on the firing of Oakland police chief LeRonne Armstrong on Wed Feb 15, 2023 at Oakland City Hall. The Oakland A’s who are seeking funding for the Howard Terminal project is grant money that Thao is trying to identify. (AP News photo)

Spring Training: Commissioner speaks – A’s open Cactus League

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–While in Oakland. the new Mayor of Oakland Sheng Thao is in a middle of a crisis after firing Oakland’s Chief of Police LeRonne Armstrong, the tenth Chief of Police in Oakland in the past ten years, in Phoenix, Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke at the opening of baseball’s Cactus League media day regarding the A’s situation and the long-running saga of their new ballpark and the go-no-go relocation to Las Vegas.

Rob Manfred says Oakland Athletics owner John Fisher has focused on Las Vegas of late as a new home for the franchise. Commissioner Manfred is invested in making sure that 2023 is the decisive year for the A’s to ‘fish or cut bait’ regarding their “parallel” situation.

The Howard Terminal proposal has been stalled by money (government grants that were not approved) as well as concerns for affordable housing, Manfred addressed that situation by saying the A’s and the City of Oakland in the housing issue; “I don’t think they are in agreement on the affordable housing issue,” Manfred said. “The threshold issue right now I think in Oakland is how to handle the funding for the infrastructure.”

After a recent visit to Las Vegas, where the A’s owner was well received by a powerful group of casino magnates, the Governor of Nevada Joe Lombardo said through a spokeswoman that there are “other possibilities, aside from taxing the residents on how to support the A’s economically if they chose to move to Las Vegas.

The Oakland A’s reported to Spring Training in Arizona and in less than a month on March 4 and 5 at Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the Las Vegas Aviators they will host the Cincinnati Reds The Las Vegas Ballpark is the home for the Las Vegas Aviators the Pacific Coast League Triple A affiliate of the Oakland A’s.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Nevada Governor on the Oakland A’s -Negotiations early in the process-

An artists rendering of a potential Las Vegas A’s ballpark located near the Tropicana hotel on the Las Vegas Strip complete with retractable roof as speculated. Parking is missing from this rendering and public transit isn’t enough to shuttle 35,000 fans to 81 home games which needs to get worked out. (rendering by Stadium 51 in Las Vegas)

Nevada Governor on the Oakland A’s -Negotiations early in the process–

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

On Monday, February 13, one day after the Superbowl, Joe Lombardo recently elected Governor of the State of Nevada was mum on what public assistance the Oakland A’s could receive if they chose to move to Las Vegas and built their $1 billion ballpark.

The Governor said today; “Those negotiations are so early in the process that it would be detrimental for me to even talk about any details.” Last month Lombardo, through a spokeswoman, said he is not in favor of raising taxes to assist the A’s, but hinted that the team could be eligible for existing Nevada State Economic Development programs.

What the Governor said today leaves the door still open for the A’s to relocate to Sin City. Just two weeks ago the owner of the Oakland A’s was welcome by a group of casino magnates as the A’s seemed to have picked their favorite location in Las Vegas.

The Oakland A’s or an expansion team:

-There is a belief in Las Vegas by the government and local Casino magnates, that they will eventually have a major league baseball franchise, via expansion, but they also recognized that they see the Oakland A’s relocating to their city as a much quicker opportunity than if they are awarded an expansion team which will take a few more years.

The Baseball Commissioner already is on the record for telling the A’s that MLB would forfeit relocation charges. Commissioner Manfred said in April 2021, calculating the average value at the time that an expansion fee would run at least $2.2 billion for the team that chose relocation, the average value of a major league franchise that is huge bait for the A’s if they indeed make the move to Sin City.

In other words, the decision by the Commissioner to waving relocation fees to the Oakland team enhances the chances for Las Vegas of acquiring a storied franchise. The Athletics then representing Philadelphia was one of the charter members of the American League in 1901, with stops later in Kansas City and since 1968 and four World Series titles later in Oakland, California.

Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas is set for February 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium.

-Las Vegas, Nevada is growing in sports. The Pro Bowl took place early this month in Las Vegas and drew more than 50,000 people to Allegiant Stadium In March the NCAA men’s basketball West regionals will take place in T-Mobile Arena, the first time a portion of March Madness is taking place in this city In November the inaugural Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place on portions of Las Vegas Boulevard and surrounding streets.

Lombardo said about the Grand Prix “We’re excited to bring them into the State of Nevada and be their host. It’s going to be a fantastic deal for us”. Currently, the NFL Oakland Raiders and the NHL Golden Knights made their home in Las Vegas and it is expected the city will eventually be also home to MLB and NBA.

Rob Manfred MLB Commissioner says 2023 is a big year when it comes to the future of the Athletics franchise.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play radio talent for the Oakland A’s on flagship station 1010 KIQI San Francisco on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Dominican Republic wins Caribbean Baseball Series -Cuba Finished Last –

Robinson Canó (center) and teammates pose with the championship trophy on Fri Feb 10, 2023. (Ariana Cubillos/AP)

Dominican Republic wins Caribbean Baseball Series -Cuba Finished Last –

By Amaury Pi-González

The Dominican Republic (Licey) beat Venezuela (Caracas) 3-0 Friday night in the title game of the Serie del Caribe, which this year took place in Venezuela.This is basically like the Yankees vs. Dodgers of the winter leagues. These are also the two countries, among all Latin American countries, with the most players in the major leagues.

From the best to the worst; team Cuba was the biggest disappointment as they ended last with a 1-6 record in the tournament which ran from February 2 to 10. Team Cuba was a total disaster and in a way one of the biggest news coming out of this tournament, because of the great tradition of Cuban baseball.

After the terrible showing of the Cuban team, ending in last place among all the eight participants, the Cuban Government used the old lie excuse that they have been using for decades, Cuba blames the US blockade when in fact they trade with other countries like Canada, México, Spain, China, Brazil, the Netherlands, and others.

Cuba’s government is the only to blame for their situation, the failure of a repressive system without individual freedom, shortages, and bad living conditions is responsible for the current situation in Cuba, and baseball a historic institution in the largest island in the Antilles has greatly suffered together with the whole country.

Today after over 60 years of a communist dictatorship, baseball on the largest island in the Caribbean has steadily declined. The first Caribbean Baseball Series took place in Havana, Cuba, and ran annually from 1949 through 1960, with Cuba winning seven times.

However, in 1961 Fidel Castro declared himself a Marxist-Leninist in a speech in which he said “I am a Marxist-Leninist and I will be for the rest of my life”, that same year the communist dictator canceled professional baseball in Cuba, followed was an exodus of established Cuban major league star players as Orestes “Minnie” Miñoso, and Octavio”Cookie” Rojas who left the island for good.

During the last 20 years, some of the best Cuban players have left (via defection) and are now playing in the major leagues. More than 650 Cuban ballplayers have defected to the United States and elsewhere over the past six (6) years alone; this was reported by their own state-run media, which with the advent of social media still is very dishonest in what they report on baseball. In other affairs (aside from baseball) the Cuban government continues its communist propaganda. In 2022 a record number of Cuban players defected.

Not all that leave had to risk their lives in homemade boats, balsas in Spanish, but some do it in other ways. For example, veteran Aledmys Díaz, now with the Oakland A’s stuffed his jersey into a small backpack and walked away from the Cuban National Team during a tournament in the Netherlands in 2012 and asked for political exile.

Cuban players will continue to defect until Cuba is free and can go back to the days when Cubans and other players from other countries could participate in the Cuban Professional Winter Leagues, which was considered one of the best in baseball, attracting even major league stars born in the United States, that went to Cuba to play during the winter, i.e. Brooks Robinson, Jim Bunning, Jackie Brandt, Bob Shaw, Hoyt Wilhelm and other American players went to Cuba during the winter, it was the highest level of winter baseball and the pay was the best, as some of those players have told me.

This 2023 we congratulate the Dominican Republic which continues its dominance in the Caribbean Baseball Series, winning its 22nd title.

Next in Baseball: After a six-year wait, the World Baseball Classic (WBC) has returned, and it is bigger than ever, with a total of 20 teams. The tournament with teams from North America, Latin America, Asia, and Europe will have three new participants in England, Czech Republic, and Nicaragua.

The 2023 World Baseball Classic will be held in three countries, the United States, Japan and Taiwan. Games in the U.S. will be played in Miami at loan Depot Park and in Phoenix at Chase Field. Japan will host games at the Tokyo Dome and Taiwan will host games at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Superbowl LVII = Super Business

The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (left) and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (right) sit for photos and interviews on media day Wed Feb 8, 2023 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale AZ (Yahoo Sports photo)

Superbowl = Super-business

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Superbowl has become as American as The Fourth of July and Thanksgiving Day all rolled into one. It shows commercialism and consumerism mixed with patriotism and the whole culture of a sport named Football, which is best played in the NFL, one of the best sports leagues in the whole world. It is a staple of America is as a culture. Capitalism at its best.

Whole families gathered around the television with all kinds of snacks, goodies, drinks. This Sunday the 12th of February 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona Superbowl LVII will take place, between the NFC Champions Philadelphia Eagles and the AFC Champions Kansas City Chiefs, at State Farm, Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the home stadium of the Arizona Cardinals.

FOX Network kick-off time is 6:30 ET. The Phoenix area which suffered great business hardships during the last few Covid years is ready to welcome this great event, which it would be a springboard to 15 MLB baseball teams who are slated to open their respective Spring Training camps in less than two weeks. The Valley of the Sun is ready for a business bonanza, first the Super Bowl, then baseball Spring Training.

• The average cost for a Superbowl commercial on FOX Network is around $7 Million.
• The audience is estimated to be, at least 200 million people in the United States. That is nine times more than the 23 million who watched the State of the Union address this Tuesday.
• Over 230 countries will also televise this Superbowl, in just about every conceivable language with huge audiences expected as well.
• Advertisers: From Beer, Food, Insurance, Automobile, and other popular brands plus always the surprises. During the past 20 years, commercials on the Superbowl have become as popular as and even more memorable than the game itself. One of those surprises this Sunday is one on the “Late Night King of TV”, Greg Gutfeld, and his show Gutfeld, on the FOX network. Gutfeld is a graduate of Serra High School in San Mateo, same as Tom Brady and Barry Bonds, Gutfeld show is clocking the highest ratings beating such Late Night network shows as those of Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert.

If the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs they would tie the Philadelphia A’s for the most titles in the City of Brotherly Love. It would be the Eagles fifth title, after NFL crowns in 1948, 1949, and 1960 and a Super Bowl victory in 2018 that would match the Philadelphia Athletics for the history of that sports-crazed city.

Businesses large, medium, and small gear themselves for every Super Bowl, all across the US, Hawaii and Puerto Rico for this event. There is nothing in American sports that is close to the NFL Super Bowl every year.

Get your chicken wings ready, I’m coming to your Super Bowl party! Eagles by 3!

Amaruy Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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

The Peanuts gang from left to right Lucy, Snoopy and Charlie Brown are ready for some baseball at the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum as featured at the San Francisco Giants 2023 Fanfest (photo from Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame at Giants Fanfest

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO–Saturday, February the 4th, was a gray and rainy day in San Francisco, but that did not stop over 10,000 fans that showed up to mingle with other fans and players alike. Just over a week and days until Spring Training in Arizona, fans were in a festive mood, ready for another baseball season. The Giants open their 2023 season in New York against the Yankees on Thursday March 30th, but the Fanfest this past Saturday was like a home game for the Black and Orange.

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame (a veteran of these events) had their table at the Club Level of Oracle Park. Giants fan base is always very inquisitive. The HHBMHOF gave hundreds of brochures as they celebrated their 23rd year since they were founded in San Francisco.

We talked baseball, with many Giants fans always ready to ask for players of the past and present. Some familiar and not-so-familiar faces were in attendance. The Museum President and Founder Gabriel “Tito” Avila Jr. was there with the Vice President as well as museum volunteers. Lisbeth Sánchez of Redwood City stopped in front of our table, there with her nine year old son and husband, as she was holding a brochure said: “about time there is baseball Museum for us the Latinos”.

Many of the people that visited were of Hispanic roots, some born in Nicaragua, México, El Salvador, there were people from Puerto Rico and other countries. Many fans of Hispanic Heritage were smiling and proud to see the colorful brochures. One middle age Hispanic man told us; “hermano los felicito por tan linda labor que estan haciendo” translation- “congratulations brother for the beautiful job you guys are doing”.

The ”número uno” question (always) asked by Giants fans:-“where is the museum?” We have been traveling all over the country for over 20 years, and with the help of the Giants we hope it will be within walking distance of Oracle Park, in the vicinity, of what is has become one of the most popular neighborhoods in the city by the bay.

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame is looking forward to its first permanent location, in San Francisco, a city that originally received the non-profit since it birth/foundation in 2000, the first season the Giants moved from Candlestick Park, today Oracle Park.

The San Francisco Giants is leading the way as the first (of many MLB teams) to endorse the museum. As a traveling museum the HHBMHOF has inducted players in at least 15 different major league cities, as well as participating in All Star Game events across the country.

In the early 2000s, the HHBMHOF was part of the national traveling exhibit ‘Baseball As America’ when they exhibited in the City of Oakland. As recent as 2018, the Museum had a big mural inside the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum.

The San Francisco Giants franchise tradition with Hispanic/Latino players is well documented since the days of José Pagan, Orlando Cepeda and Juan Marichal and Rigoberto”Tito 23″ Fuentes, to Pablo Sandoval, to the current team with Wilmer Flores, Luis González, Camilo Doval, Thairo Estrada, Heliot Ramos and others.

It makes all the sense in the world that Latino/Hispanic fans identify with these stars. The City of San Francisco with a population of 815,000 (as of the 2020 US Census) of which 15.2% are Hispanics/Latinos, the nine-county Bay Area is 20 percent Hispanic. The Giants have one of the best and most loyal fan bases in all of baseball.

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame will share with visitors the true meaning of diversity, while enlightening future generation on the vast Hispanic culture. Today the United States of America is more Hispanic than ever, according to 2020 Census data, there are 62.1 million living in the United States. This is by far the largest minority in the United States. Many believe it is as high as 80 million across the country.

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame was established on October 24th 1998 in San Francisco as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, very proud of bringing the community together with the greatest game on earth, Béisbol.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: How Fujinami fits in on the A’s pitching staff; A’s welcome new broadcaster Johnny Doskow

Japan pitcher Shintaro Fujinami pitches against the Netherlands in the sixth inning of an international exhibition series baseball game at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Nov. 12, 2016. Right-hander Fujinami (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury how big of a help will Japanese pitcher Shintaro Fujinami be for the Oakland A’s. Fujinami has an 3.17 ERA and is noted to throw in the 90s and could have been aligned with some like Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani but Fujinami’s control has been in question.

#2 Fujinami signed with the A’s for $3.2 million on a one year deal the Nippon Hanshin Tigers did submit on the MLB posting system that Fujinami was available and the A’s scooped him up.

#3 Look for Fujimani to use the splitter when he has a hitter on two strikes, Fujinami has a 34% strikeout rate and 66% of facing hitter he gets them to ground out.

#4 The A’s this off season have signed third baseman Jace Peterson, right hander Drew Rucinski and Trevor May, catcher Manny Pina, and outfielder Esteury Ruiz from trades.

#5 Amaury, the Oakland A’s have added Johnny Doskow who joins the A’s radio broadcast team of Ken Korach and Vince Cotroneo for pre season and regular season games. Doskow comes from the triple A Sacramento River Cats.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play Spanish radio announcer for the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI San Francisco

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Caribbean World Series Begins February 2

The Caribbean World Series in Caracas, Venezuela will run from Feb 2 to Feb 10th (logo from the Caribbean World Series)

Caribbean World Series Begins February 2

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Caribbean World Series will open this February 2 in Caracas, Venezuela, and all eight participating teams will play on opening day. A new champion will be crowned on February 10.

Games will be played in two different sites in Caracas. La Rinconada Baseball Stadium and Jorge Luis Garcia Carneiro Stadium. La Rinconada Baseball Stadium will be opening for the first time, with a capacity of 38,000 will be the largest baseball stadium in Latin America.

More teams: For the first time in the tournament’s history will feature eight teams (there were six in 2022) new teams this year, are Curacao and Cuba. Cuba will be back after three years of absence for political reasons.

Questions and Answers: Last champion Caimanes de Barranquilla, Colombia in 2022

Most Titles: Tigres de Licey 10, Dominican Republic History: First Caribbean World Series: 1949 La Habana, Cuba Coverage US ESPN Deportes.

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