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

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

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: Bang the drum slowly; Terrible 2020 for Puerto Rico; Alex Cora is Out as Red Sox Manager

abchouston13.com file photo: Former Boston Red Sox manager Joey Corey was fired on Tuesday by the Boston Red Sox after it was disclosed that he over saw the technology of sign stealing via TV monitors and plastic cans as drums when as bench coach of the Houston Astros and manager of the Red Sox

Terrible 2020 for Puerto Rico: Alex Cora is Out as Red Sox Manager

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Days after Puerto Rico was shaken by powerful earthquakes, another thing has shaken the island. A day after the Houston Astros fired their Manager and General Manager, the Boston Red Sox part ways with their manager Alex Cora. This decision directly related to the investigation of the Astros sign-stealing allegations in the 2017 season. Cora was the bench coach for the Astros in 2017 and was found to have been involved in the operations from the replay room to transmit the signs in game situations.

Commissioner Rob Manfred statement on Alex Cora: “Cora was involved in developing both the banging scheme and utilizing the replay review room to decode and transmit signs,” Manfred wrote in his findings. “Cora participated in both schemes, and through his active participation, implicitly condoned the players’ conduct. I will withhold determining the appropriate level of discipline for Cora until after the [Department of Investigations] completes its investigation of the allegations that the Red Sox engaged in impermissible electronic sign stealing in 2018 while Cora was the manager.”

Alex Cora won the World Series as manager of the Boston Red Sox in 2018, becoming the first manager born in Puerto Rico to do so. Carlos Beltrán named new manager for the New York Mets last year, after season’s end, is also under investigation as he also was part of decision making for the the Houston team.

This has been a terrible beginning of this 2020 year for the island of Puerto Rico. The recent earthquakes that continue to devastate the island and now what just happened with Cora and also potentially Carlos Beltrán also born in Puerto Rico. The difference is that Beltrán has not managed his first game yet this upcoming season.

We probably have not heard the last on the sign-stealing scandal. And there should be more to come.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez has been covering the MLB sign stealing scandal and is the Oakland A’s radio Spanish play by play announcer on KIQI 1010 and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show 2019 World Series podcast with Daniel Dullum: Astros stay alive, even series 2-2; plus more

photo from the Washington Post: Yordan Alvarez put the Astros on the board first with a two-run home run in the second inning. (Jonathan Newton /The Washington Post)

On the MLB The Show 2019 World Series podcast with Daniel:

1 World Series tied at 2-2 after Astros take Game 4; home team yet to win

2 Nationals fans boo Astros’ Roberto Osuna in wake of controversy

3 Commissioner Rob Manfred said President Trump opted out of World Series’ first pitch to improve fan experience

4 Red Sox hire Tampa Bay Rays’ Chaim Bloom as Head of Baseball Operations

5 Longtime MLB umpire Chuck Meriweather dies at 63, second umpire to die this month after Eric Cooper

Daniel did MLB commentary throughout the 2019 season and will return next Sunday doing NHL podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants finish season with winning road record; Webb has good pitching performance

photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants’ Logan Webb pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Atlanta.

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 The Giants avoided getting swept by the Atlanta Braves in Cobb County Sunday with a 4-1 win. The Giants added two runs in the top of the sixth. Joey Rickard doubled on a line drive to Nick Markakis. Both Evan Longoria and Kevin Pillar scored on the play. San Francisco snatched a 3-0 lead.

#2 The Giants’ away record was better than their home record away they were 42-39 and home 33-42. The bulk of the Giants’ road success came after the July 31st trade deadline and in August when they hit a speed bump and lost momentum.

#3 For San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy, it was his final road game managing.  Bochy notched his 2,000 win of his career when the Giants were in Boston prior to coming to play the Braves.

#4 One of the biggest highlights on the trip was the home run hit by Mike Yastrzemski in Boston Tuesday night, which drew a standing ovation from the Boston crowd — kind of like their own homage indirectly for Mike’s grandfather Carl.

#5 The Giants conclude the 2019 season at Oracle Park on the homestand. The Giants will open against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night for three games and finish the season with the Los Angeles Dodgers for three starting on Friday night. Starting for Colorado, Jeff Hoffman (2-6, 2.71 ERA), and for the Giants, Madison Bumgarner (9-9, 3.86 ERA).

Morris did the Giants podcasts each Monday during the 2019 Giants season and will begin Cal Bears podcasting next Monday, September 30th at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants whiff on late rally, puts damper on otherwise-legendary series

Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants lost in heart-sinking fashion on Thursday, 5-4, to the Boston Red Sox, after a ninth-inning rally that fell just shy that will almost certainly make the plane ride to Atlanta a little less pleasant.

But before sulking in that any deeper, let’s all take a moment to look back on all the good, legendary stuff that went down in these past three games.

First of all, the Giants took two of the three games at historic Fenway Park, a place where the Giants had not won since 1915.

Do the math. That’s 104 years, people!

Mike Yastrzemski, the grandson of Hall of Famer and Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, made his Fenway debut Tuesday night and was given a standing ovation by the Boston faithful, and the magnitude was ramped up when young Yaz blasted one out of the ballpark later in the game.

To cap it all off, Bruce Bochy got the 2,000th win of his managerial career Wednesday night, a career that will land him into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

As we let that sink in for a little bit, fast-forward to Thursday afternoon.

Trailing by a pair in the ninth, the Giants began a rally against Red Sox closer Brandon Workman, which started when Brandon Belt reached base on a throwing error by second baseman Marco Hernandez, who made a nice sliding stop but watched as his routine throw to first pulled Brock Holt off the bag.

The Giants loaded the bases with nobody out, but Brandon Crawford struck out looking, a situation where simply making contact would likely bring in a run. Yastrzemski was then blown away by a Workman fastball, and the rally was suddenly in jeopardy.

Kevin Pillar kept the rally alive by drawing a walk and bringing in a run, and Evan Longoria was able to work a full count. However, Workman then threw perhaps his best pitch of the afternoon, a breaking ball that dove out of the strike zone and enticed Longoria to swing at air, ending the rally and the hope for a sweep.

“(Workman) found a way to get through it,” manager Bruce Bochy said. It’s a tough pitch to lay off for (Longoria), especially after seeing a couple of pretty good fastballs before that.

“We were close to getting a nice sweep here, but we just came up a little short.”

Although the numbers won’t necessarily reflect it, but Madison Bumgarner threw well on Thursday and gave his team a chance to win.

He went five innings and gave up five runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out seven. However, many of the decisive hits were not hit especially hard at all, but rather were bloopers off good pitches that found open spots in the Giants’ defense.

“It’s just unfortunate that that many fell in,” Bumgarner said. “In this case, I just keep making my pitches and trust that that’s not going to continue to happen. I felt that I threw the ball pretty good.”

Giants thrash BoSox

Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants’ playoff hopes may be over, but they are still playing hard and playing good baseball in spurts, and that still makes them interested to watch, even with only a couple of weeks left in the 2019 season.

For the past two nights, they have given it to the Boston Red Sox, a team that is in the thick of the American League playoff race, the latest installment being an 11-3 rout of the Red Sox at Fenway Park Wednesday night.

The Giants jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first three innings, a surge that was spearheaded by Stephen Vogt’s two-run homer in the first inning that sailed over the short wall in right field.

In the sixth and seventh, the Red sox mounted a comeback and cut the lead in half. However, the Giants used the next two innings to blow the game wide open.

They got a pair of runs in the eighth and then erupted for a five-run ninth, during which Mike Yastrzemski, who got a standing ovation from the Boston faithful in his first game at Fenway Park Tuesday night, singled in a run to start the burst.

Vogt had four RBI on Wednesday for the Giants, while Mauricio Dubon knocked in a pair of runs himself, courtesy of a two-run single in the ninth.

Meanwhile, Jeff Samardzija had a solid outing, giving up only a run on two hits, walking only one and striking out a pair of batters, lowering his ERA to 3.64. His Red Sox counterpart, Jhoulys Chacin, however, was not so fortunate. He was chased from the game after only 2 2/3 innings after surrendering four runs on five hits.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: It’s a real Boston Marathon, Giants edge Sox in 15 innings; Yaz scores twice, gets two hits

Photo credit: mercurynews.com

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Miguel:

#1 There was no giving up in this one and the Giants and Red Sox were not going to cry uncle anytime soon as this marathon went 15 innings that went to the Giants 7-6.

#2 Someone cried out “someone score!” as this one went until 2 AM EDT. Since one of the teams was a National League team (the Giants), there would be no 2 AM curfew, and lucky for both teams, they didn’t have to go until 2:30 AM.

#3 Anyone who works at Fenway press, concessions, security, engineers, front office, media or players will have to be glad that they don’t have to be back at the park until after 12 except the TV production crew, whose call time is the early morning. They might as well sleep in the production truck.

#4 Big night for Giants leadoff hitter outfielder Mike Yastrzemski and grandfather Carl, who had a mini reunion at the park before the game. It’s not too often the Giants get to come to Boston. This had to be something special.

#5 Taking a look at tonight’s pitchers. For the Giants, Jeff Samardjiza (10-12, 3.72 ERA), and for the Sox, Jhoulys Chacin (3-10, 5.44 ERA). Michael talks about the matchup.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Yastrzemski homers in Giants’ 7-6 win in 15 innings

Photo credit: bostonglobe.com

By Jeremy Kahn

Mike Yastrzemski was the talk of the town, but it was another first year member of the Orange and Black who came through in the end.

Alex Dickerson hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the 15th inning to score Donovan Solano from third base, helping the San Francisco Giants defeat the Boston Red Sox 6-5 at Fenway Park.

It was the first time in six tries that the Giants won in the 107-year old ballpark, as the Giants were swept in 2007 and 2016, their previous two trips to the oldest ballpark in the major leagues.

Solano hit a ground-rule double that went into stands with one out in the inning, and went to third on a wild pitch by Trevor Kelley.

The win gave Dereck Rodriguez the win, as he went the final two innings to pick-up his sixth win of the season.

Rodriguez was the 13th pitcher of the night, as Logan Webb started this marathon and went five innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walking four and striking out three.

Webb was in line for the win, but Andrew Suarez was unable to hold on to the lead, as he gave up two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

After Suarez, the next 11 pitchers went nine innings, allowing one run on six hits, walking six and striking out nine.

Brandon Belt gave the Giants a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as he hit his 17th home run of the season over the Green Monster.

Yastrzemski gave the Giants a 5-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning, as he hit his 20th home run of the season in front of family and friends.

The Giants retook the lead in the top of the 13th inning, as Kevin Pillar singled to lead off the inning and then Brandon Crawford doubled to score Pillar, but was thrown at third base, when he over slid third base.

Sam Selman was unable to get the save, as he loaded the bases with one out, as he gave up a single to Marco Hernandez, walked Andrew Benintendi and was then replaced by Burch Smith, who gave up a single to Xander Bogaerts. Smith was then replaced by Wandy Peralta, who struck out Rafael Devers for the second out.

Kyle Barraclough was then called on to replace Peralta, but he was unable to close out the game, as he walked Juan Centeno to tie up the game. Barraclough was able to get out of the jam, as he got Brock Holt to end the inning.

NOTES: Both the Giants and Red Sox used a major-league record tying 24 pitchers, including 13 by the Giants, tying a team record.

The Giants did defeat the Red Sox in two games of the 1912 World Series, and also defeated the Boston Braves in the 1914 and 1915 seasons.

Bruce Bochy won his 1,999th game, moving within one of becoming the 11th manager to reach the 2,000-win victory mark.

The Sacramento Rivercats defeated the Columbus Clippers 4-0 in the Triple A National Championship game at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee.

This was the third time that the Rivercats won the Triple-A National Championship, becoming the first team to three National Championships.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija will take the mound on Wednesday for the Giants, while Jhoulys Chacin will toe the rubber for the Red Sox. Game starts at 4:10 p.m. PT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Excitement builds, Yastrzemski scheduled to play all 3 games at Fenway Park

photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski scores after hitting a solo home run during the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Phoenix. It was Yastrzemski’s third home run of the game. It was Yastrzemski’s third home run of the game.

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Whose got to be more excited about Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski playing at Fenway Park? Starting on Tuesday night, Yastrzemski, his grandfather former Boston Red Sox Carl Yastrzemski or our very own MLB analyst Bill Gould?

#2 On Sunday against the Miami Marlins, Yastrzemski scored on a diving head first slide to score one of the Giants’ two runs, which was enough to get by the Marlins 2-1. Yaz is having a rookie season hitting .265, 56 runs, 87 hits, and 51 RBIs.

#3 Giants starter Johnny Cueto pitched five innings of shutout ball and gave up three hits in the win. The Giants had five pitchers come into relieve after Cueto left and they combined to hold off the Marlins to just one run.

#4 This is kind of a special series besides of the reunion of grandfather and grandson Yastrzemski. The Giants, who do not play at Fenway except for every three years. This is a special place for them to return to since it doesn’t happen often to come to a historical place like Fenway.

#5 This will be Giants manager Bruce Bochy’s last road trip as manager. The Giants conclude their 2019 road schedule in Boston and then to Atlanta. Pablo Sandoval, who was a Red Sox but not on this trip, wouldn’t quite expect the same reception Yaz will.

Morris Phillips does the Giants podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com