By Morris Phillips
OAKLAND—The Coliseum sound system remains on point. In the mid-fifth inning break Tommy Richman’s “The Devil is A Lie” is doing what it does. Later the Foo Fighters, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And prior to the fifth, Nelly’s “It Must Be The Money” bumped nicely, and thematically touched on the greater issue of the A’s final season in Oakland.
Initially, and through May and June, that music could have been the high point. The protests and the anger at A’s management could have been the low point. Now, as August gives way to the final September, the A’s surprising play on the field is the overriding theme.
The youthful, talent-challenged A’s could surprise and post a winning record at the Coliseum in their final season. They sit at 33-33 with 15 home games and five opponents remaining, and people want to see what they’re going to do, how they’re going to finish.
“Look at Bido, he pitched a great game,” Jerry Albright commented, from his choice seats right behind third base and home plate. “JP Sears is hitting his stride. Mason Miller’s been great.”
“We’re happy,” Albright continued. “We’re much happier.”
Albright is a true A’s fan. All he needs is green and gold uniforms in front of him, and at least one guy sitting near him to talk baseball. On Thursday afternoon, with just 5,142 people in the park, Albright had what he needed. And when I approached, I had to interrupt his enthusiasm for his team, and how swell they dispatched the Rays to even a competitive four-game series.
Albright’s taking his game to Sacramento in 2025. Two teams playing a full schedule on field turf in a burdened Triple-A stadium doesn’t compute to him. But he needs his team, and Amtrak will get him where he needs to be.
“We’re going to Sacramento,” he said. “We’re A’s fans. What are you going to do?”
Ten rows in front of Albright, reliever Jim Ferguson is anticipating his son Tyler’s entrance into the game as the A’s newly-minted setup man. Ferguson grew up loving Catfish Hunter, and his first game in the building was in the initial season in 1968. After raising Tyler in Fresno, and watching him pitch in Las Vegas, Phoenix with Diamondbacks, and a few other west coast ballparks, Jim Ferguson is back off Hegenberger Road, and he like Albright, appears to be in his element.
“Tyler’s coming in now,” he tells me in anticipation of the eighth.
The 31-year-old Ferguson worked fast and effectively. He needed just 12 pitches to retire the Rays despite surrendering a walk to Josh Lowe. Jim appeared satisfied after spending consecutive days in the park and getting to see his favorite pitcher work for six or so minutes.
“When I was here in May, we weren’t playing great ball, but we’ve made strides,” Tyler Ferguson said after the game.
Phil Peters, a few more rows closer to the A’s dugout, and joined by bookend friends, both wearing “Sell” t-shirts, was grumbling about the $50 seats and $30 parking. His guys fussed as well about not being able to change their seats when plenty of seats were obviously available.
“There’s no one here. I’m here because I love baseball. It’s just sad,” Peters said.
The fans speak with their emotion. The players play. The actions aren’t similar, but the dynamic works. In a stadium where the sound system is the loudest thing, Mason Miller and Brent Rooker are the best things.
Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday, Shea Langeliers, and JP Sears are stars as well in an environment that could be described theatrically. It’s a dense story, and Thursday’s winning pitcher Osvaldo Bido, Joey Estes, Zach Gelof, and Max Schuemann are scene stealers, too. Daz Cameron, Mitch Spence, and Tyler Nevin are promising actors. They, too, could one day be stars.
This is a story people want to see develop. But it’s leaving town, not for Broadway, but to some regional theater in mid-America.
The A’s open an engagement with Milwaukee on Friday. The slumping Mariners and Tigers open September, and the Yankees and Rangers close the home slate starting September 20.
This isn’t a promotional piece, but promotion is sorely needed. Oakland’s team, the A’s deserves a steady, stable audience.
Sports Radio Service 