That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: World Series Pulls FOX to the Top of the TV Ratings

Photo credit: deadline.com

By Amaury Pi-González

According to figures from Nielsen, FOX’s national coverage of the 2019 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals averaged 11.64 million viewers. This was the most watched week by any network since the Superbowl. In a big upset, the Nationals stunned the Astros 6-2 in the winner-take-all Game 7 on Wednesday to win their first World Series. This was the first World Series in which all seven games were won by the visiting team. This was also the first time this has happened in all major sports, where they play a series of games for their championship title.

Previously, the only other Major League team based in Washington to win a World Series were the Washington Senators in 1924 when they beat the New York Giants in seven games.

The Montreal Expos were purchased by MLB in 2002, and as a result, the team moved to Washington and named the Nationals prior to the 2005 season. The Victory Parade is this Saturday at 2 PM ET at Constitution Avenue NW and 15th Street and will end on Pennsylvania Avenue NW at 3rd Street.

MLB Network will televise the parade live nationwide.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 114th World Series–Red Sox vs. Dodgers, a Coast-to-Coast Show

Photo credit: @KMPHFOX26

By: Amaury Pi-González

It’s a glamorous dream match-up drama made for television. The Boston Red Sox, the franchise of the legends Babe Ruth and Ted Williams against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the franchise of the legends of Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax. It will be New England Clam Chowder vs. Los Angeles Tacos, Cape Cod vs. Hollywood, Fenway Park vs. Dodger Stadium, the colors Red vs. Blue. Two of the oldest major league parks in the country,but two of the most iconic. It all begins this Tuesday, October 23 at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles  for Game 1. It this reads like a television drama since it could be just that.

A huge story for Latin America is Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who is the first manager born in Caguas, Puerto Rico to take his team to a World Series. He is 43 years old. His team gave him the best birthday present ever on the day of his birthday, October 18, as they won the American League pennant, eliminating the 2017 World Series champions Houston Astros. In 2011, Edwin Rodríguez, also from Puerto Rico, briefly managed the Florida Marlins. There has only been one manager born in Latin America that has won a World Series. Venezuelan Ozzie Guillén in 2005 when the Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros. The first Latin American-born manager in MLB history was Miguel Angel González (Mike González) born in Cuba, and in 1938, replaced Frankie Frisch as the St. Louis Cardinals’ skipper.

This is the first meeting between the two teams in a World Series since the 1916 World Series,when the Dodgers were known as the Brooklyn Robins. In 1916, Broadway theater owner and producer Harry Frazee and Hugh Ward bought the Red Sox for $700,000.

In 1916, the Chicago Cubs played their first game at Weegham Park (modern-day Wrigley Field) and they defeated the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in 11 innings. That same year the New York Giants traded Christy Mathewson to the Reds. Woodrow Wilson (Democrat) was the President of the United States. The U.S. Marines occupied the Dominican Republic. In Seattle, Mr.William Boeing renamed his young airplane company BOEING. DW Criffith’s film Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Through the Ages was released while massive flooding by two hurricanes devastated North Carolina. Unfortunately, hurricanes have been with us for centuries.

Who is the better team?  The Red Sox led the world in offense, the Dodgers where número uno in home runs in the National League, so it seems the Dodgers win most of the time with the long ball. But that is today’s game in baseball. It is all about “launch angle” and guys hitting .235 with 35 home runs. This season, there were more strikeouts than hits in MLB–the first time that has ever happened. The Red Sox have more selective hitters like AL batting champion Mookie Betts .346 and probably the MVP in the league and J.D. Martínez, who has become the hitting guru today. He fell short of winning the Triple Crown. The last player to lead the Majors in all three categories in the same season was Mickey Mantle, who batted .353 with 52 homers and 130 RBI for the Yankees in 1956. The Mick was the last man to win the Triple Crown. Is that easy to do? The last time was 62 years ago.

Both teams have good starting pitching and bullpens. Both closers Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel are not automatic when they come out late in the game, as the booth can elevate the blood pressure of their respective managers very quickly with a simple walk in a close game. However, the way it has been going, closers come in the seventh inning and sometimes starters pitch in the ninth and secure the victory. So, only God knows how pitchers will be used.

Without going into pedantic analysis, these are two very good deep teams. Dodgers have basically two squads,with tremendous depth maybe even more than the Red Sox. It is tough to pick a winner. I know here in the Bay Area, specially on the west side of the bay, I would make more enemies than friends if I picked the Dodgers, and I am inclined to do that this time. They are on a mission and manager Dave Roberts had his team since Spring Training very focused on repeating as NL champions and making it again to the October Classic. The Dodgers have accomplished that. This should be a long series. The old cliché, “It is not the best team that wins, but the team that plays the best”. Best testimony of that statement was the 1988 Dodgers vs Athletics World Series, the A’s were a better team in all aspects of the game, yet the Dodgers won. Hurts me to remember that, since I was there with the A’s. 1988 is also the last time the Dodgers won the whole Enchilada.

One thing is for sure and this will be fun. if there is a Game 7, it will be played at Fenway Park on Halloween! Trick or Treat?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s vs. Brewers…The “Oh No” World Series for FOX Sports

Photo credit: youtube.com

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

There are two weeks left in the 2018 regular season. There are so many scenarios going into the postseason. For the networks, there are two dream World Series: 1) The Yankees and Dodgers, two of the most famous franchises with all the money in the world. They represent a very attractive scenario. Also, it would be a coast-to-coast affair. 2) The Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs is another dandy.

Of course, the Houston Astros trying to win back-to-back World Series would make for another great story. It doesn’t matter who they will play. They are a team with a great rotation and some of the greatest players in baseball: José Altuve, Carlos Correa, George Springer, this year’s Astros Most Valuable Player, and Alex Bregman. Not to mention, a rotation like no other with Verlander-Cole-Keuchek-Morton along with a good bullpen.

The Cleveland Indians could also be there and they have not won a World Series since 1948. Although the Indians’ most recent appearance in the World Series was in a seven-game loss to the Florida Marlins in 1997.

As thrilled as the A’s fans would be to see their team again in the October Classic for the first time since 1990 when they were swept by Lou Piniella’s Cincinnati Reds, or the Milwaukee Brewers fans whose team last made it to the World Series in 1982 to see their Harvey Wallbangers go down it in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals, this would be a nightmare for Fox Sports, the official network for the World Series.

The baseball Gods are unpredictable, At the end this year it could be the A’s (with a 420,000 population) against the Brewers (with a 595,000 population). Obviously, these two teams will not bring the desired audience across the country that FOX Sports expects for a World Series like the previous match-ups I’ve mentioned. But maybe the country needs to know about unfamiliar names like: Laureano, Chapman, Olson, Piscotty, Treinen, Yelich,Aguilar, Harden and Shaw. World Series audiences are not all hardcore baseball fans. A big chunk of the audience are casual fans. However, if the Brewers met the A’s, there will be great curiosity. But in today’s television with 200 different channels, who knows who would tune in?

Yes, an A’s vs. Brewers World Series would be something. The Brewers look like a good bet for a wild card spot and the A’s can even still win the AL West, although it is unlikely, but they have one of the two wild card spots. I am not saying an A’s vs. Brewers October Classic is going to happen, but it could happen. For starters, who ever thought the A’s were going to win 90 or more games this season and finish second to the Astros? If you know of anybody, please let me know.

Notes: The Yankees have achieved one streak each of three, four, and five championships in a row, and the A’s have achieved a streak of three in a row. Back-to-back championships have been achieved an additional 10 times.

The Yanks were the last team to win back-to-back World Series from 1998-2000 when they won it in three consecutive years. If the Astros win this 2018 World Series, it will be the first time anybody has won it back-to-back in 18 years.

Listen to the A’s games in Spanish on KIQI 1010AM/990AM Bay Area, Sacramento and Stockton.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: World Series Champion Houston Astros to Visit the White House

Photo credit: @KPRC2

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

The Houston Astros are scheduled and have accepted to visit the White House by invitation of President Donald Trump on March 12. The Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in a very exciting seven-game World Series to win their first title ever. The team began with the name Colt .45s in 1962 and later changed their name to the Houston Astros in 1965 when they began playing in the Astrodome. In 2013, the Astros moved from the National League to the American League. The previous World Champion Chicago Cubs (2016) visited the White House by invitation of Trump on June 2017.

Recent visits from other sports: On October 2017, the Stanley Cup Champions (2016) Pittsburgh Penguins visited the White House by invitation of Trump, and on April 2017, Trump hosted the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. The NBA champion Golden State Warriors did not attend this week, declining their invitation after winning the NBA title last season.

The first known official team meeting between a President and an organized baseball team at the White House was on August 30, 1865, when President Andrew Johnson met the Washington Nationals and the Brooklyn Atlantics. The Atlantics won the title of the National Association of Baseball Players. In 1924, the Washington Senators were the first professional baseball team to visit the White House hosted by President Calvin Coolidge.

As far as the other main three sports: the NBA was founded in 1946. In 1963, the Boston Celtics became the first NBA champions to visit the White House upon an invitation from President John F. Kennedy, a Massachusetts native. The NFL was founded in 1920. The Pittsburgh Steelers were the first Super Bowl champions to visit in 1980, when Jimmy Carter was President. The NHL was founded in 1917. The Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins broke the ice for the NHL as guests of President George H. W. Bush and were the first NHL team to visit the White House.

Baseball teams were the first to accept invitations to the White House, and since then, it has become an American tradition. The protocol is for the White House to extend an invitation to a team–usually a champion–the team can accept or decline, or the White House can also cancel a team visit for any reason, and do not have to explain why. The White House also can re-schedule a visit.

In the past, teams have accepted and visited, but some members of those teams have decided not to go. It is usually left to the individual decision, and that is the way it should be. Nobody should be forced to attend or feel pressure not to attend. Athletes are also protected by the First Amendment. After all, we’re still a country made of individuals, not groups, at least not until the robots take over. Is it that important? Not at all, more symbolic, and in good sportsmanship than anything else, and nobody should lose any sleep over it. I sure don’t. It is like throwing the Ceremonial First Pitch at a baseball game, or playing or singing the National Anthem prior to a sporting event. It is just another photo-op.

It is said that President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 clemency to a turkey recorded in an 1865 dispatch by Washington reporter Noah Brooks, was the origin for the pardoning ceremony. This might be the oldest ceremonial tradition at the White House. To this day, no turkey has demonstrated against the pardon.

A-Rod says he’s fighting for job and baseball all the way

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

The New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez feels he’s been targeted unfairly in a way I don’t want to make direct comparison like the Barry Bonds case why? Because he’s a high profile player A-Rod is a name when he was playing even Roger Clemons who got in trouble that transcends sports and most people are not sports fans in this country and you walk in the streets and you ask somebody who is Jonny Gomes? Someone will reply I think I saw him in the World Series.

You say Alex Rodriguez they would say he’s a big star with the Yankees, so here’s the deal baseball wants to crucify him. How much evidence do they have on him? That’s the real question and I don’t think anybody really knows and it might be a game of chicken on whose going to blink first and A-Rod has some of the best attorneys in the world and Major League Baseball has very good attorneys and they have the power with the commissioner which is very powerful with over 30 owners behind him.

So this would be a big battle of epic proportions if this battle goes to court but let me say this and this is just myself, my experience I really believe that MLB and this commissioner wants to get A-Rod out of baseball and with a suspension of the 211 games maybe commissioner Bud Selig thought A-Rod is going to give up but it has backfired he’s not giving up he wants to keep playing and he’s very controversial as we know for all the suspensions for steroids and he’s very talented so Major League Baseball versus Alex Rodriguez right now is 50-50 chance on whose going to win this battle.

Tim Hudson can he stay healthy?: The Giants newly acquired 38 year old Tim Hudson from the Atlanta Braves this week and you never ever heard anything negative and he’s a class act however he’s 38 going on 39 very soon in a few months he’s been hurt a little bit and he’s still recuperating from ankle surgery although he will be in the Giants starting rotation. If he’s healthy and if everything goes right for him it would be a tremendous pick up for the Giants.

When your talking about a pitcher whose 38 or 39 or 40 the same thing happens with A’s pitcher Bartolo Colon he had a great season last year with 18 wins and he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball but he’s going to be 41 in May and the Giants spent a lot of money recently they paid $35 million for pitcher Tim Lincecum, they’re paying Hudson $23 million and there is still a little question mark if this is going to be the Hudson of old.

If he is it would be a very good pick up for the Giants and he would be behind starting pitchers Matt Cain, Madison Baumgarner, and he would be number three right now unless they have Lincecum at number three and the don’t want to sign Ryan Vogelsong to a free agent contract. So the Giants are still looking for maybe another pitcher. Bronson Arroyo could be signed but who knows the Giants could surprise everybody and sign Bartolo Colon.

There’s not too many in free agents in baseball, free agents of value but some stuff is happening as I predicted a couple of weeks after the World Series this stuff develops that the last two weeks in November before and after Thanksgiving day I believe that it’s going to be very busy in baseball and then in December everybody goes home and relax and come back in January and work on the media guides and the schedules are get ready and then your a couple months away from the first pitch.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for the A’s and the Spanish TV voice for Angels baseball and does News and Commentary each week for Sportstalk

Dodgers already favorites to win 2014 World Series

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

 The World Series still fresh in our minds, yet the betting books in Las Vegas have made the Los Angeles Dodgers, the favorites to win the 2014 World Series. They are counting on a much “settled” young Yasiel Puig, and a healthy Matt Kemp, with still the best one-two pitching punch in the majors, with Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke.

 The Dodgers are tops at 5 to 1 to win the 110th World Series. But the Dodgers might need to acquire some help for that mediocre bullpen, during this off season. We all know, nobody can win a World Series without a bullpen, or with a great closer. Mariano Rivera has retired, he is not available,so the cash happy Dodgers will have to make some moves.

The  Oakland Athletics are 8 to 1 favorites to win next year’s classic, and their across the bay rivals, San Francisco Giants are 22 to 1.

 I do not expect the A’s to go out and sign anymore high profile players, although they still have very good young pitching, which Billy Beane could chose to trade for some established talent. And what about Bartolo Colón he had one of his best seasons with 18 wins, they have to make a decision with him very soon.

As far as the San Francisco Giants are concerned, one of the reasons they are a long, 2201 shot to win it all is very simple, there are doubts about what once was a dominant starting rotation. Specially with Ryan Vogelsong. I am also not totally certain than Sergio Romo is a front row closer, he is now. He is the Giants closer by process of elimination.

Hey, Brian Wilson is a free agent, Could he comeback to Giantsland? Doubt it. Giants took it too seriously when he left and signed a brief deal with the Dodgers. But other great Giants have done that, anybody remembers Hall of Famer Juan Marichal?

The Giants need a left fielder with some power, in the 20-25 home run category and maybe 80 to 90 runs batted in. Only God knows how much weight Sandoval would be able to shed in the summer and how he will report to Spring Training.

 The only dependable bat in the Giants lineup, as far as power and runs batted in is concerned is catcher Buster Posey. Other odds to win the 2014 World Series. Detroit 9-1, Washignton 9-1, St Louis, 10-12, Boston 12-1.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary each week for Sportstalk Radio

Let Timmy throw smoke; Giant pitcher signs 2 yr $35 M deal

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

SAN FRANCISCO–Speculation at the end of last season was that Giants ace pitcher Tim Lincecum was going to leave the Giants and shop other markets like his hometown Seattle and sign with the Mariners. Tuesday Lincecum signed a two year deal worth $35 million that runs through the 2015 season with the Giants.

Lincecum 29 reflected about all the things he went through as a Giant and that pretty much was the deal breaker, “I’ve been one of the most fortunate pitchers in this organization just to be part of many things, it was pretty special just to be in that kind of situation today, you kind of really see what’s going on and the emotions that are tied with it, I’m trying to figure out how to handle it” said Lincecum.

Lincecum is a twice winner of the National League Cy Young Award for two years straight in 2008 and 2009, Lincecum despite his struggles from last season finished at 10-14 was well sought after by the club and wanted to stay in San Francisco he was in awe of playing with former teammates, pitcher Randy Johnson and outfielder Barry Bonds, and current star teammates Pablo “the Panda” Sandoval and Buster Posey. He said with those memories and two World’s Championships from 2010 and 2012 it was very hard to walk away from San Francisco.

2013 World Series: The St.Louis Cardinals are in Boston for game one of the World Series, Adam Wainwright (21-10) starts for St.Louis and Jon Lester gets the call for the Sox (17-9) on Wednesday night. This is the fourth time in franchise history that these two teams match up in the World Series since 1946, 1967, 2004 and here we are again.

These are two great franchises St.Louis has won 11 World Series titles only second to the New York Yankees who have won more and this will be one interesting series and I can predict that this one will go a long way six to seven games and I don’t really have any winner in this one that both teams are so evenly matched that I really don’t have a choice in this fight.

Although I worked with in the American League with the Oakland A’s in radio and the Angels in Anaheim for TV it’s just hard to pick a winner both teams can win it’s not going to be a zero-zero match there’s going to be loser and a winner but their both winners, they already have rings already people forget when you make it to the World Series you already have a ring.

Looking back on Jimmy Leyland: Leyland was a class act and I’m glad that he retired and he’s leaving the Detroit Tigers and in a way I feel for him and I watched him in his press conference the other day some reporter asked Leyland “why did your team lose?” Come on this guy has been around 50 years in baseball here’s a 22 year old kid asking why did your team lose, it’s because the other team played better it’s baseball.

So it’s getting to him, he’s 69 let him enjoy life outside the media and the game and from baseball travel and wearing the uniform each day and answering these stupid questions and he deserves it and he could be a Hall of Famer. He won a World Series with the Marlins in 1997, he won a bunch of pennants, he’s well regarded with over 1700 wins, he’s managed for four teams, the Pirates, the Marlins, the Rockies, and now the Tigers.

So I’m glad he retired and I wish him nothing but the best he’s a classy old school manager. I can appreciate what he does and the traveling is overrated you go out many times to a town like Cincinnati in the summer it’s 100 degrees outside there’s nothing to do you stay in your room with your shirt off and the A/C on. It’s overrated and he already had a great career I congratulate him and I exactly understand what he is saying and wish him nothing but the best in retirement.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for the A’s, TV Spanish voice for Angels baseball and does News and Commentary each week for Sportstalk Radio

Just as predicted Puig solves Dodgers ills

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

LOS ANGELES–Yasiel Puig the Dodgers young slugger and outfielder saved the Dodgers season he’s the Cuban kid 22 years old and that energy is contagious to everybody on the Dodgers that it even rubbed off on Hanley Ramirez who wasn’t having fun in Miami with the Marlins and here he is.

Ramirez was a miserable human being, he didn’t want to talk to anybody, he never gave his teammates even a smile, never gave an interview with the press, Ramirez went to the Dodgers and when the Dodgers brought up Puig and now Ramirez is the happiest man in the world he’s producing and said after game three that he would do anything for the organization.

That’s what’s happens in baseball, baseball is not as physical as football, basketball or hockey, it’s a mental game and the Dodgers are a happy bunch and their producing. Magic Johnson is part owner of the team, the Dodgers are getting all the money in the world. Of all the parks in the world the largest attendance, the largest capacity is Dodgers stadium.

There are over 53,000 people that fit into the park at Chavez Ravine and their coming back and I wouldn’t be surprised after losing the first two games in St.Louis they won Monday night and they came back and they have done it three times in 1955 they were done the Yankees had a big lead and they came back and they were the Brooklyn Dodgers at that time.

In 1965 they lost the first two games of the World Series to the Minnesota Twins turned it around and won four in a row and won the World Championship. In 1981 they were down to the Yankees and they came back to win. This is not new territory for the Dodgers they’ve been down in the series before and their going to win the National League the Dodgers are the most likely to go all the way and win the World Series.

Raiders can’t get it together: Nobody expected the Raiders to do too much this year. I haven’t heard anybody saying that the Raiders are going to win five or six games. Most predictions were three wins or four wins at most. Then last Sunday they faced the Kansas Chiefs who are perfect at 6-0 and facing former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith where people around the Bay Area are saying “oh the 49ers should have kept him he should be their starting quarterback now.”

Smith has had a terrific start and he’s throwing games that’s almost like “in your face 49ers here I’m” with one of the best starts in Kansas City Chiefs history at 6-0. Everything is clicking for Smith over in KC. Smith was a good quarterback he got in the mud with all the quarterback controversies with the franchise of the 49ers.

This is good to see and I’m glad for Smith and the Chiefs and I can not say the same for the Raiders, their very inconsistent with their quarterback in Terrelle Pryor and they have a lot of problems on that team and since the first day of the year Pryor should have run a little bit more and Pryor was throwing the ball and had problems and Pryor and that offense needs a lot of adjustments.

Edward Lake II second 49ers construction worker to be killed at new stadium: Edward Lake II a delivery truck driver was killed on Monday as he was crushed to death by a steel rebar at the 49ers new stadium in Santa Clara. Lake was 60 and became the second casualty in four months at the Niners new digs which is set to open August 2014.

The job site was shut down all day on Monday due to state investigations but reopened on Tuesday, it’s sad, it’s a tragedy, it happens. I have seen the production of the construction crew and the results of the new Niners stadium and I’ve seen it when you fly over the stadium out of San Jose Airport  and the cost of the stadium is over one billion dollars.  

With all the safety, and all the helmets they wear and this happens it’s not a bad rap for the 49ers or anybody but construction is a tough job and when your building a new stadium with so much going on on the property there’s something that could happen and I’m very sad by this death at the 49ers new stadium and I hope it doesn’t dampen the move for the 49ers in 2014.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Museum and does News and Commentary for Sportstalk Radio

A blast from the past:Telemundo ch 48 once televised A’s games in Spanish

[category Oakland Athletics]

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

OAKLAND–As we approach the 24th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake, this Thursday the 17th, which stopped the World Series for eleven days, we must remember what was going on in 1989 and during those years.

Just after the Oakland Athletics defeated the San Francisco Giants in that 1989 World Series, with two victories prior to the earthquake and two victories after the earthquake, KSTS CH 48 Telemundo would begin a schedule of weekend games live in Spanish of the four time World Champion Oakland A’s.

Then, General Manager, Joe Cruz, built a brand new set, colors Green and Gold, and authorized an expense of a few thousand dollars to build such a nice set. Yours truly was the Sports Director and Anchor those early years at Telemundo. The play by play of the games then were done from those studios, live, with a green screen in the background calling A’s games.

In this I Phone-Twitter-I Pad-Smart Phone and whatever else world we are living today, it is good to remember the many things that were done on radio and television. Like an old friend in the business tells me: “everything already has been done, at least once, although some people think they are re-discovering the world”.

Just one of my many memories in the business, which I thought was appropriate to remember during this week, when we celebrate 24 years since the earthquake that stopped the World Series for eleven days.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for Oakland A’s baseball and does News and Commentary each week for Sportstalk

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

OAKLAND–As we approach the 24th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake, this Thursday the 17th, which stopped the World Series for eleven days, we must remember what was going on in 1989 and during those years.

Just after the Oakland Athletics defeated the San Francisco Giants in that 1989 World Series, with two victories prior to the earthquake and two victories after the earthquake, KSTS CH 48 Telemundo would begin a schedule of weekend games live in Spanish of the four time World Champion Oakland A’s.

Then, General Manager, Joe Cruz, built a brand new set, colors Green and Gold, and authorized an expense of a few thousand dollars to build such a nice set. Yours truly was the Sports Director and Anchor those early years at Telemundo. The play by play of the games then were done from those studios, live, with a green screen in the background calling A’s games.

In this I Phone-Twitter-I Pad-Smart Phone and whatever else world we are living today, it is good to remember the many things that were done on radio and television. Like an old friend in the business tells me: “everything already has been done, at least once, although some people think they are re-discovering the world”.

Just one of my many memories in the business, which I thought was appropriate to remember during this week, when we celebrate 24 years since the earthquake that stopped the World Series for eleven days.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for Oakland A’s baseball and does News and Commentary each week for Sportstalk

A’s play most important elimination game in 25 years

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

OAKLAND–Tonight(5:07PM) the Oakland Athletics will face the Detroit Tigers in an elimination game. The winner travels to Boston to open the American League Championship Series against the Red Sox, the other team goes home.

But why is tonight the most important game in the past quarter century for the A’s?

–For starters, they will face again the same pitcher that eliminated them last year, Justin Verlander on the fifth and final game of the Divisional Series.

–For over 25 years the Oakland Athletics have not been able to go “deep into the postseason”, under three different ownerships.

–I was there for those great championship seasons, the five pennant and three consecutive trips to the World Series in 1988, 1989 and 1990. Those were the days when the Oakland A’s rocked the bay. The Walter Haas ownership was without a doubt the best ever for the A’s and one of the best ever in the history of professional sports in the bay area.

–One year prior to that great run (1987) the Athletics hosted the Major League All Star Game, Oakland was the talk of the Bay Area. I remember as a part of the Oakland A’s All Star Committee, appointed by the A’S, we met with then Mayor of Oakland Lionel Wilson. Oakland was a city on the move. Good things were happening in Oakland, and the Oakland A’s greatly helped into that great civic pride.

–Today the Oakland Coliseum is an antiquated place to play baseball in a time in history were every other team seems to have a brand new and fan friendly park. A victory tonight, puts the A’S in the American League Championship Series and just four more wins from a fifth World Series title.

–An A’s team than wins a World Series this year could be extremely important for the future of this franchise, where they are going to play, and if they will be able to move to San José, per owners Wolff and Fisher desires. The Athletics in the World Series this year, would put the baseball park issue ‘front and center’, no way Commissioner Selig could hide from that. His blue ribbon commission has spent over 4 years trying to make a decision on the move of the A’s to San José, four years and no decision(World War II lasted around six years).

–But most important a win tonight for Bob Melvin’s A’s is a huge step in returning the prestige the luster back,of this franchise, after the last few years of the “party”across the bay at a truly beautiful stadium.

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One of these teams will win the 2013 World Series, in alphabetical order: Athletics, Cardinals, Dodgers, Red Sox and Tigers,  that’s it – it will be reduced tonight by one more team leaving and going home. They are all traditional franchises that have been operating in one same town for over a century, except the Athletics and Dodgers)