Category: Oakland Athletics

Oakland A’s relocation podcast: Mayor to present resolution on Howard Terminal at Tuesday press conference; Could it change owners vote for A’s relocation?

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Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has called for a press conference for Tue Nov 7, 2023 to present a resolution in an attempt to keep the A’s in Oakland. This presentation is in hopes that MLB owners would change their A’s relocation vote to a no vote on Nov 14-16 in Arlington. (Las Vegas Review Journal file photo)

On the A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Former Oakland A’s executive Andy Dolich wrote his own commentary in the Mercury News telling MLB owners to vote no on the A’s move to Las Vegas and keep them in the sixth largest market in Oakland and go back and finish negotiating with the Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the city of Oakland.

#2 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, the Oakland City Council, and the Port of Oakland are holding a press conference on Tue Nov 7 at Oakland City Hall regarding a proposal to keep the A’s in Oakland. Although a deal and a plan is already worked out to relocate the A’s upon the MLB owner vote Nov 14-16th in Arlington. The City of Oakland could use litigation to stop MLB and the Oakland A’s from relocating the team if the City can get a deal to build a Howard Terminal ballpark and show they can produce financing to keep the team in Oakland.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Former A’s executive Andy Dolich says MLB owners should reject A’s relocation; Mayor, Oakland City Council, and Port of Oakland call for press conference Tuesday

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Former Oakland Tribune columnist Dave Newhouse (top) and former Oakland A’s executive Andy Dolich (below) in photo promoting their book “Goodbye Oakland.” Dolich wrote a recent San Jose Mercury News column asking MLB owners to vote no on relocating the A’s at the MLB owners vote on Nov 14-16. (photo from Books Inc.)

On the A’s relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Former Oakland A’s executive Andy Dolich wrote his own commentary in the Mercury News telling MLB owners to vote no on the A’s move to Las Vegas and keep them in the sixth largest market in Oakland and go back and finish negotiating with the Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the city of Oakland.

#2 Dolich said that MLB owners would be making a huge mistake if they were to leave the sixth largest TV market for the smallest and that every possible effort should be made to keep the A’s in Oakland where they belong.

#3 Dolich was an A’s executive under the Haas family between 1980-1994. Dolich and the A’s won three American League Championships getting in the World Series in 1989-1990 and won one of those World Series in 1989 against the San Francisco Giants. Dolich says the A’s can win in Oakland and team owner John Fisher just won’t spend the money to do it and the owners should not vote for the relocation.

#4 Dolich said that the A’s attendance is not because the A’s are the worst team in baseball but because it’s self inflicted as a mechanism to turn their customers off and the A’s can point to poor attendance for wanting to get out of Oakland.

#5 Dolich also wrote that he’s in favor of keeping the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum location and build the Coliseum complex to professional sports. Build a state of the art ball park for the A’s, a stadium to lure an NFL team. Have retail, hotels, and restaurants to lure customers that can change the Coliseum, neighborhood and bring more fans to East Oakland.

#6 The problem with all of these scenarios is that A’s owner John Fisher is not selling. If the deal does fall through or the owners do vote no will he go back to the City of Oakland with hat in hand and try all over again to get a ball park built at Howard Terminal?

#7 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, the Oakland City Council, and the Port of Oakland are holding a press conference on Tue Nov 7 at Oakland City Hall regarding a proposal to keep the A’s in Oakland. Although a deal and a plan is already worked out to relocate the A’s upon the MLB owner vote Nov 14-16th in Arlington. The City of Oakland could use litigation to stop MLB and the Oakland A’s from relocating the team if the City can get a deal to build a Howard Terminal ballpark and show they can produce financing to keep the team in Oakland.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: What’s next on the A’s relocation to Las Vegas?

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Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred talks with the media before game 1 of the 2023 World Series on Fri Oct 27, 2023 at Globe Life Field in Arlington (photo from Jason Burke former host of Locked on A’s)

Trick or Treat? What’s next on the A’s relocation to Las Vegas?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Here are the following essential steps for the Athletics Soap Opera Relocation.

1-Owners Vote: Next month, MLB owners will vote to approve or disapprove the relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas. 75% of the vote is needed to support the move.

2-Schools over Stadiums: This group is still fighting to get a referendum and attempting to collect 102,000 signatures from four different Nevada districts to get it to next year’s election in November (for those keeping score, that would be November 2024). This group has until July of 2024 to collect these signatures.

3-No funding: If they get the referendum and it wins on election day,  that would strip the funding for the ballpark in Las Vegas.

If this happens, Mr.Fisher must decide; one option is selling the team. The owner had repeatedly said the team was not for sale.

So there is the field of dreams or land mines (depending on what you wish) that the Oakland A’s still have to navigate.

Trick or treat?

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

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Las Vegas Stadium Authority wants to break ground for A’s ballpark April 2025; Schools over Stadiums ready to fight lawsuit

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Proposed renderings of the Tropicana ballpark on the Las Vegas strip at Tropicana and Las Vegas Avenue. The Las Vegas Authority announced this week that construction is scheduled to begin December 2025. (image from the Oakland Athletics)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Las Vegas Stadium Authority said they are ready to break ground at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino location for the Las Vegas A’s ballapark. Construction company Mortenson-McCarthy the A’s ballpark manager will be handling the building of the new park.

#2 In a community group engagement plan the Stadium Authority presented details of how minority and diverse businesses and vendors will play a part during the construction of the park.

#3 The plan also said that 51 percent of the construction will be done by minority, disabled and diverse groups and 15 percent of the construction work will be done by small local businesses sub contractors.

#4 Two law firms Hunton Andrews Kurth and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck will be doing legal work for the A’s will negotiate on the A’s business dealings on various agreements. The Authority approved $1 million for legal fees for the law firms to represent the A’s in the business side of the venture.

#5 Meanwhile Schools over Stadiums is still on the march trying to get petitions in four Nevada Districts ready to submit for a ballot initiative to stop the use of public monies towards the A’s ballpark. A lawsuit filed against Schools over Stadiums by Attorney Bradley Schrager who represents the A’s stating the initiative is misleading and the words on the petition language are misstated.

#6 Schools over Stadiums spokesman Alexander Marks said of the A’s lawsuit  “Suing educators trying to put schools first sets a terrible tone for an organization claiming to now care about our community.” Alexander added that he’s confident that the referendum will go forward.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Las Vegas Stadium Authority negotiates A’s Lease

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The Oracle Red Bull grandstand and Koval hospitality as seen from the F1 pit Building during the media tour on Fri Oct 20, 2023 in Las Vegas. Formula 1 will take place on Nov 16-18. One of the top sports features in Vegas. Meanwhile the Las Vegas Stadium Authority are planning to demo of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino to make way for the Oakland A’s new ballpark. (photo from the Las Vegas Review Journal)

Las Vegas Stadium Authority negotiates A’s Lease

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Although the move of the A’s to Las Vegas has yet to be approved by the majority of MLB team owners, with a vote expected to take place this next month of November, the Oakland A’s are moving ahead of that vote and beginning to negotiate a lease with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, two law firms could get to share $1 million to negotiate the stadium lease agreement in Las Vegas with the A’s. This is the #1 item for next week (October 25) agenda of the Las Vegas Stadium Authority

The two law firms could get a combined $1 million to negotiate the stadium lease agreement with the Athletics, according to agenda items leading up to next week’s meeting of the Stadium Authority Board .If the current plans move forward, the Tropicana Las Vegas Casino Resort would be demolished and the stadium will be built on nine acres at the site.

Other development is expected to fill the rest of the Tropicana site, but on-site parking is minimal.

The same company that handled the construction of Allegiant Stadium, Mortenson McCarthy will be manager for the $1.5 billion, 30,000 seat stadium for the Athletics at the corner of Tropicana Avenue and the Las Vegas strip. Other companies involved to develop the lease agreement are Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP.

Since we are talking about leases. The A’s lease at the Oakland Coliseum expires after the 2024 season. After that (like they say in Vegas) “all bets are off”.

More sports news in Sin City:

-Las Vegas Champions: WNBA: Las Vegas Aces won their second consecutive WNBA title, joining the Las Vegas Golden Knights NHL reigning champions.

-Formula 1 -Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place from November 16-18 at a 3.8-mile track right through the neon heart of the Las Vegas Strip. (ESPN)

-Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium., February 11, 2024. (CBS)

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentaries and coverage of the Oakland A’s relocation to Las Vegas at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Mayor Thao has been silent on A’s relocation since July; No mention of A’s in state of city speech on Tuesday

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Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao speaks at the state of city of Oakland address on Tue Oct 17, 2023. Thao did not address the Oakland A’s relocation at the address and has been pretty much silent on the A’s move to Las Vegas since the MLB All Star break in July (photo from oaklandside.org)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao for the most part has not said a word regarding the A’s move since her journey from last July’s All Star game. Mayor Thao flew to Seattle with an Oakland delegation to present MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred with 30 books showing that the City of Oakland was in the middle of negotiations for the Howard Terminal ballpark when the A’s broke off talks to announce they had a binding deal in Las Vegas.

#2 Manfred did have some stinging comments back in September saying that if Thao was close to a deal why didn’t she throw $100 million on the table. Thao said the deal for Howard Terminal was ten percent of the way there but Manfred said the deal wasn’t even close.

#3 Manfred did have a working relationship with former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf but after Schaaf’s term was up and Thao took over as new mayor A’s owner John Fisher and Manfred said that they couldn’t get anything going with Thao hence turning their attention to Las Vegas.

#4 There are some theories why various teams might vote no to an A’s relocation, the Angels, Dodgers, Padres, and Diamondbacks beam their broadcast signals, stream, and market their brand in Las Vegas that would all go away if the A’s make Vegas their home base, the Mariners could object being the only AL team in the Northwest and that would put them geographically alone with the nearest American League in Anaheim and you guessed it Las Vegas.

#5 Another objection going into the owners vote in November is the A’s would be moving into the smallest TV market and have the smallest capacity of all the ballpark in MLB. The A’s could very well be the number four team behind the Aces, Raiders, Knights, and drop to fifth if an NBA franchise moves into town.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with inside analysis and updates on the A’s relocation and MLB owners relocation vote Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A Star is Born in 2023 and it is Esteury Ruiz

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Oakland A’s Esteury Ruiz heads home after hitting a two run homer off the Detroit Tigers on Sep 23, 2023 at the Oakland Coliseum. Ruiz led the American League with 67 stolen bases in the 2023 season. (AP News photo)

A Star is Born in 2023 and it is  Esteury Ruíz

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The Oakland A’s rookie, Esteury Ruíz stole a rookie record 67 bases this past season, born in Azua, a town of over 120,000 people west of the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, 100 kilometers – 62 miles away.

Numerous players were born in Azua, including the Miami Marlins Sandy Alcántara who in 2022 unanimously won the Cy Young Award in the National League. The 24-year-old rookie was tutored by Major League Baseball Rickey Henderson, the undisputed stolen base king of all time.

The stolen base record for a rookie established by Ruíz this past season is the new major league record. The record of 66 was previously held by Kenny Lofton, in 1992 with the Cleveland Indians (that was the name of that team, today the Cleveland Guardians).

Esteury Ruíz established the new MLB record for a rookie in stolen bases during his 132nd game of the season. It was in Anaheim, with two games left in the 2023 season, a sunny Sunday when in the third inning the Dominican kid broke the Lofton record, stealing his 67 base of the season.

The rookie will never forget this 2023 season “nunca se me olvidará este año” trans- “I will never forget this year”. Yet, he knows he needs to exhibit more patience at the plate, as he only walked 20 times in 449 plate appearances.

It is unfair to compare this kid with Rickey Henderson, because one season doesn’t makes a career. However, not a power hitter, Ruíz has many other good tools, like his defensive play in center field, just one season after the A’s had another young kid playing that position, Christian Pache, now playing with the best team in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies, probably on his way to the World Series.

Esteury Ruíz, who mostly hits in the lead-off position or last in the lineup is a good kid, enjoys the game, works hard and loves, I mean loves, to run the bases. He also knows there is only one Rickey, Because there is nobody like Rickey: In 1982 Rickey Henderson stole 130 bases, the current one-season record, then also became the first and only three time over 100 stolen bases per-year-player in history, in 1980-82-83, ending with 1,406 stolen bases, also the current record in history.

2023 a good year to steal? Yes. The bases are slightly larger, the pitchers are limited in how often they can throw over to first base, Second base is where the majority of the bases are stolen, it is “donde está la acción” trans- “where the action is”.

This 2023 season stolen bases were at an all time high 81% success rate. And Ruíz did his part, Felicidades Esteury!. Quote: I was stealing all the bases, and when you had to go to arbitration they say, “You know, only the big boys make the money “So I got to try and figure out how to hit a Home-run too”. -Rickey Henderson.

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

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Warrior owner Lacob knows he can’t buy what’s not for sale

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There is zero chance that Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob can buy the Oakland A’s as A’s owner John Fisher is keeping the team and moving them to Las Vegas (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob confirms that he still has a standing offer to buy the Oakland A’s and that he’s very interested in purchasing the team.

#2 When A’s owner John Fisher decided it wasn’t going to work in Oakland anymore he’s headed to Vegas but Lacob said he would interested in buying the team. However Lacob said you have to have someone who wants to sell something to be interested in buying it.

#3 Lacob, did make an attempt to buy the A’s when former A’s owners Steve Schott and Ken Hoffman put the team up for sale only to sell it to Lew Wolf who just so happened to be a sorority brother of former MLB Commissioner Bud Selig at the time.

#4 Lacob’s dream at the time was to build a new park at the current Oakland Coliseum location and build a baseball village around it. Now with Fisher owning half the Coliseum property and moving the team to Vegas it’s looking tougher to save the A’s.

#5 Fisher know he will increase the value of the team by moving it to Las Vegas and having the A’s play at the Tropicana on the strip. The only thing that will stop him now is if the MLB owners vote no. Otherwise any hope to keep the A’s in Oakland looks almost like no chance.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s relocation podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Sharks Los Tiburones Night Se Habla Español

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By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Amaury Pi Gonzalez (Author) will be doing the play by play on NBC Sports Northern California at SAP Center on Los Tiburones Night on Sat Oct 14, 2023. When the San Jose Sharks host the Colorado Avalanche at SAP Center. (Image from nhl.com/sharks)

By Amaury Gonzalez

SAN JOSE–On Saturday, October 14, at 7 pm the San José Sharks will play their second game at home of the brand new 2023-24 season. The Sharks have gone through some changes in personnel, as this new season is expected to be a rebuilding season for the team that last year finished in penultimate place in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference with a 22-44 record.

One of the biggest news of the off season was when they traded veteran Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a three-team transaction that also involved the Montréal Canadiens.

That night, the Sharks will host their 7th Annual Los Tiburones Night at SAP center, when they play the Colorado Avalanche. Captain Logan Couture who missed the home opener against the Vegas Golden Knights, current champions of the Stanley Cup was not in action.

Couture has not recovered yet from problems in the lower back, but coach David Quinn seems to be optimistic, however right now it looks like Couture’s return could be a week-to-week situation. The Sharks should have better forwards this season and Sharks fans are excited to welcome the 2023-24 season in San José,

Los Tiburones Night will have a very Hispanic flavor. Sponsored by Milagro Tequila, everybody in attendance will receive a Luchador Goalie Mask on Los Tiburones Night presented by Milagro Tequila.

The colorful mask was designed by local artist Luis Guardado. This Hispanic Night will also include pregame music and the Star-Spangled Banner being performed by Mariachi Tequila de San José a local mariachi band.

On the concourse, arts and crafts with the Mexican Heritage Plaza and a specially designed mural backdrop located at the Hop Valley Bar above the South Entrance for fan photo opportunities. Intermission entertainment will include on-ice performances by the Grupo Folklórico Los Laureles.

¿Se Habla Español? Of course, you can catch all the exciting and fast paced action LIVE Play by play by yours truly by selecting the SAP function on NBC Sports California’s television game from SAP Center. The Sharks Audio Network is available presented by Western Digital.

Bienvenidos Amigos a la Noche de los Tiburones – Arriba Sharks!

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the play by play voice for the San Jose Sharks Spanish on NBC Sports California TV and the Sharks Audio Network by Western Digital

Oakland A’s relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Historic Tropicana Hotel to be torn down for A’s ballpark

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Tropicana Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas is expected to begin deconstruction in 2024 after the MLB owners vote to relocate the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas. The Tropicana will be cleared of debris and start building the A’s ballpark that will be completed in 2028. There are only two roadblocks that could stop the move the owners vote no in mid November or Schools over Stadiums is successful with their ballot measure to stop the public funding of the A’s ballpark. (AP News file photo)

Oakland A’s relocation podcast:

#1 For the Oakland A’s their regular season ended last week but they’re future in Las Vegas is just about to get started. The A’s are waiting for the MLB owners to hold a vote in mid November to decide whether to relocate the A’s or not.

#2 The latest discussion is on the historic deconstruction of the Tropicana Hotel and Resort. The Tropicana who has been in business for 66 years will tear down it’s hotel and resort historic buildings and clear the property of debris and build the ballpark.

#3 Part of the Tropicana will be taken down and the rest will be imploded to make way for the nine acre ballpark.

#4 The A’s have architect Gensler and Bjarke Ingels Group/HNTB will be making multiple designs which A’s president David Kaval and owner John Fisher will look over and decide which rendering they will choose from.

#5 Daniel, from the prospective of the people who live in Oakland, the people who work at the Coliseum and those who have a long running history with this organization that will be a tough day once deconstruction on the Tropicana is started.

Join Daniel Dullum on the Oakland A’s relocation podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com