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Amaury
9-24-18 - A's - Darren Yamashita
The Oakland A's thank their fans as they conclude their final home game of the 2018 season
and hope for a deep run in the playoffs. Photo by Darren Yamashita.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

A's vs. Brewers... The "Oh No!" World Series for FOX Sports

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
There is one week left in the 2018 regular season and 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 are trying to win back-to-back World Series which 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 and 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 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 Milwaukee Brewers fans whose team last made it to the World Series in 1982, to see their Harvey Wallbangers go down 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. The World Series match-up could be the A's (with a population of 420,000) against the Brewers (with a population of 595,000). Obviously these two teams will not bring the desired audience across the country that FOX Sports expects for a World Series, like the match-ups above suggested. 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 market 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 still win the AL West, although it is unlikely, but they most likely will win 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. 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 streaks 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.

Amaury Pi-González is the Spanish voice of the A's and since 2016, he's in the Advisory Board of the American Sportscasters Association in New York City.

Pops
3-6-17 - Pops

Michael King (left), with an associate from USF (center), and Karla Granadino-King, are pictured at the Olympic Club in San Francisco,  proudly sharing with the world their  Pops Premium Rumpopo. A King family secret, Pops Premium Rumpopo is a  delicious rum cream liqueur recipe brewed in the family tradition.  The award winning recipe is a Belizean family favorite and now available at all Total Wine & More stores in California and Bay Area retailers.
For more information, visit https://www.bzecheers.com/rumpopo

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