Jeremiah

My gf and I went to SF when we were both on spring break a couple weeks ago. We just took the BART and the Muni everywhere. It was so easy, and we never felt even a little uncomfortable. We had a great time just hitting up breweries, cool dive bars, and little local sites. I was there for my kids’ school trip a year ago as well. It was a great time. No issues.

I think an expansion team would be a better success here. It would be embraced more fully by the community as a whole. I just look at the Golden Knights vs the Raiders. Bill Foley privately financed T-Mobile Arena, and was very proactive in communicating with the community about what the team would be. It was, and continues to be, the area’s favorite team by far. The Raiders were funded by legislative action. They knew we wouldn’t approve it by vote. They have no history here, and they don’t sell out. They rank 31st out of 32 teams in attendance numbers. An expansion team would work better. Plus, I’m not sure a baseball team can sellout 81 home dates. The A’s would need to do that in order to pay off the bonds.

I don’t know about comparisons to how the Orioles have learned how to win. They had some lean years, and have had the number one ranked farm system for a few years now. They’re starting to reap the benefits of drafting, developing, and trading well. Even with the trade for Burnes, they still have the best farm system. There’s a huge difference there in approach to player scouting, drafting and development.

The same article goes on to say the city will still ask for those very things: “In addition, the city is asking for a commitment from Major League Baseball on one of three options: (1) a one-year exclusive right to solicit ownership of a future expansion team; (2) vote to leave the A's colors and name in Oakland, or; (3) facilitate the sale of the A's to a local ownership group.”

According to this report from NBC News Bay Area, and other local reporters, Oakland is still asking for all of those things. The meeting won’t take place until Tuesday.

Well, they need a place to play between now and 2028(!). MLB needs to know by within a month or so because they need to make next year’s schedule. The pressure is on the A’s and the city has a ton of leverage here. It might be even longer than three years because the final plans for the stadium here in Vegas haven’t even been drawn up. That’s why the 5-year option is even there. That’s plenty of time for things to change. The best options for the A’s would be to stay where they are, or move here next season, and play in Las Vegas Ballpark, which would move the Aviators back to Cashman Field for a couple of years. That’s already their AAA team, so it wouldn’t upset the Giants (SAC), or the Angels (SLC). They’d have to compensate the Aviators and the union, but MLB doesn’t want them in a random MiLB park anyway. It’s not a good look. I imagine the league will pressure Fisher to work with this deal and negotiate something pretty close to it. They need this done, and the clock is ticking.

This is what Oakland is proposing at their upcoming meeting with A’s management:

Oakland has good leverage here because of all of the uncertainty surrounding the Vegas development (no private financing yet, the schools lawsuit, all of the things in the renderings that are flat impossible). Plus, MLB doesn’t want to be forced to engage the players association so they can play for three-plus years in MiLB ballparks. Sacramento is a PR nightmare because that displaces the Giants AAA team, pissing off the Giants and their fans even more than they already are. It also put SAC in the position to do to OAK what other cities we’re trying before the Kings were saved by new local ownership. There’s still the fact that Fisher loses his broadcast deal ($70M/yr) if the team leaves the area. What the city is asking for isn’t unreasonable considering, and it gives an opportunity for the local owner to buy the team from Fisher. I don’t think expansion is a real possibility unless they go to 32 and really realign things, but I like that they’re demanding that as well.

The ball was coming out of Griffy’s hand really well. We just have to turn the page.

I just don’t see how that fits with taking stock of what the team has with their pitching prospects this year. He’s a distraction more so than a benefit for the development of the core of this team. In this division, what does that get the team now? So, 35-36, and an absolute clown, he’s going to be this great pitcher and mentor to the youngsters? I just don’t see upside to the organization as a whole.

He hasn’t faced MLB hitters in three years. He’s now 33, out of practice, and you’d like to give him a contract of three years?

Is it illegal, though? There is no suspension in place, and teams are free to sign him if they choose to. MLB isn’t required to employ everyone who is good at hitting and throwing a baseball. Bauer has shown throughout his career that he isn’t skilled enough for teams to overlook what a clown he tends to be off the field. He’s a distraction, and apparently not good enough to be worth it.

If this is really a year to just see what the team has in terms of its younger players and prospects, it wouldn’t seem to make much sense to sign a vet who is a PR nightmare, and would take starts away from someone else’s development. Unless Bauer is part of a long-term plan, it would seem counterproductive to what Perry is trying to do this season. I don’t get the obsession.

I fully agree with you final statement there. I know GMs are necessarily never fully honest with the fans and media because plans can turn on a dime. That being said, it feels like this plan could have been communicated quickly to everyone. It would have given the immediate impression that, as Dave said, the baseball people are in charge, and the organization knows what it’s doing. The fans and media can put two and two together, so many of us saw that this was happening. The fact they didn’t come out and say just made it look like they had no plan or direction. So many times they just shoot themselves in the foot with poor communication.

I hope this continues to get negative coverage for the team and the league. It’s a really bad look for them to take away a team that has a winning history over its nearly 60 years there. It’s hard to see that right now, but when Walter Haas owned the team (80’s and early 90’s), they spent on the right FA’s, developed young players, and kept their core guys around. Because of that they drew fans. In an area that boasted around 4M residents at the time, they were pulling in 2.5M-3M per season. The population there has doubled in size since then. For perspective, the Las Vegas area boasts about 3M total residents. They can be, and have been, very successful in Oakland with competent leadership. It’s just the last three owners have run the team like Jackie Autry ran the Angels, like a small-market team. I don’t like making fun of this or of the fans for protesting in their way because this can happen to any team that isn’t the Yankees, Red Sox, or Dodgers. I hope they find a way to keep the team there.

I think this is a big part of it as well. There’s definitely more to this story.

It is if they go after the money wiring, which I believe would take precedence over the state crime of illegal betting in CA. They’re also still in the investigatory phase, and Ippei must not be considered a flight risk. TORS and Cals can probably give us a good timeline as to how this may go.

Great win last night! I’d love for the Kings to get VAN in the first round. I think they match up better. If EDM loses to WIN tonight, it’s only a one-point difference for second in the Pacific. Go Kings Go!

This is a good point. I would imagine there is more anonymity using bookies as well.

I think that’s a totally fair question to ask. We won’t likely get much of an answer, but questions like that are completely valid.

Being largely at full strength certainly has them playing better going into the playoffs. That was a nice win against a good team. I don’t like that they gave up the lead so quickly in the third, but it was great to see them get a non-S/O OT win at home. It’s something the Kings have had a hard time with all year. Now comes the challenging Canadian trip to VAN, EDM, and CAL. If they hold their own on this trip, they’ll be looking pretty good for the playoff run.

I think it can be safely said there really isn’t one.

I think the story that Shohei was paying off Ippei’s gambling debts is plausible, if not really believable. That’s a lot of money for one person to rack up in debts when, comparatively, he wasn’t making money in the millions. I find the idea that Ippei stole the money even less believable, especially since that was a quick pivot from the legal department. I think the most plausible scenario is Shohei was betting on sports, and Ippei was his go-between. It’s becoming way more acceptable to bet now, and many pro athletes have been caught up in gambling scandals over the years.

MLB wanted this to be a retractable roof. The A’s presented their pitch to the state based on a stadium with a retractable roof. Fisher says the closed stadium is for fan comfort and stadium utility beyond baseball games. I think it’s because of the cost or space constraints. Either way, I agree with you. There are a lot of adjustments that will need to be made here based on what has already been released.

I think you and I have been through this already, and were talking civilly, then you need to respond to something not directed to you and insult my intelligence while doing so. I’m an English teacher, and I wasn’t even going to harp on your typos. But If you’re going to be rude like that, then just don’t respond. I already told you.