Tag: John Fisher

Oakland named as one of two expansion sites once A’s leave for Vegas in 2028

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Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao addresses the media during a Wed Feb 15, 2023 press conference at Oakland City Hall. Mayor Thao has said the City of Oakland would consider extending the A’s lease through the 2027 season if the city would retain the A’s name and the city gets an expansion team. (AP photo file)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–You might recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said that if Oakland A’s are looking for extending they’re lease between 2025-27 before moving to Las Vegas the city of Oakland wants assurance of an MLB expansion team. According to USA Today reports two high officials in MLB said that Oakland and Nashville have been named as the top two cities for expansion.

The A’s ballpark is expected to be completed at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip by 2028. The A’s are committed to play at the Oakland Coliseum through the 2024 season. Then after 2024 where do the A’s play? Several sites have been suggested Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Aviators park, Reno, and San Francisco.

Mayor Thao said as long as Oakland is assured an expansion team when the A’s leave in 2028 the city would grant the A’s an extension to play at the Coliseum for an additional three more years until they pack up and leave for Sin City.

With the two high ranking officials saying Oakland is on the list for expansion Thao will most likely extend the A’s lease through the 2027 season. The officials who were not named said the city of Oakland needs to secure an owner who will build a new ballpark most likely at the Howard Terminal location. Mayor Thao would most likely need to identify an owner who will build the new ballpark and take charge of the expansion team to make it happen.

Thao had said that the city in part of extending the Oakland Coliseum lease for the A’s would retain the Oakland A’s name and brand. A’s owner John Fisher had said that the A’s will not relinquish the name when they move to Vegas and intends to keep the A’s brand.

It was also mentioned in the report that the city and the A’s were close to a deal in before the A’s announced they were leaving for Vegas. Thao had said the city and A’s were ten percent of the way to finalizing a deal but the A’s broke off negotiations and said they had a binding deal with the Rio in Las Vegas. The deal at the Rio was later broke off and now the A’s are trying to build at the Tropicana location which the A’s are waiting for MLB owners approval a vote that is expected to take place in December.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network and Jerry Feitelberg is an Oakland A’s reporter at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s report: Schools over Stadiums files petition to get initiative on ballot to stop public funding for A’s Vegas ballpark

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Rendering of the Las Vegas Tropicana Hotel and Casino ballpark. If successful the ballpark is expected to be completed by 2028 upon the approval vote of MLB owners in Dec 2023. Schools over Stadiums is attempting to put a measure on the ballot stopping public funding of the Vegas ballpark that vote could take place in Nov 2024. (rendering from the Oakland A’s)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Schools over Stadium a group who is working with the Nevada State Education Association filed a referendum petition to get a measure on the ballot that would prevent public funds to pay for a new A’s ballpark at the Tropicana hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip.

Dawn Etcheverry who is president of the NSEA and Schools over Stadiums and is a music teacher said that the organization is committed to pursue every possible path to stop the use of public funds to subsidize a new ballpark for owner John Fisher and the Oakland A’s.

Etcheverry raised the point that the people of Nevada did not have a say in the process during the Nevada State Legislature special session on public funds use for the ballpark. Etcheverry said that the priorities to use public funding for a stadium over schools and education in the state are misguided and that Nevada is 48th in the state on education should be priority for public funding rather than spending those funds on the Tropicana ballpark.

Etcheverry stated that the funds should go to Nevadans who depend on that money to go to public schools rather than the ballpark. Etcheverry pointed out that the 82nd Legislative session overlooked the overcrowding in classrooms in the state of Nevada, the lack of teachers, and the state has ignored streams of incomes for schools and public education.

If there are enough signatures on the petitions from the four Nevada districts which includes Clark County where the A’s plan to build at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip. The measure will be placed on the ballot and if the voters say no to public spending for the A’s new ballpark the A’s move to Las Vegas could be dead unless Fisher can find $380 million in private money for the Vegas ballpark.

Jerry Feitelberg is an Oakland A’s reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s commentary: What John Fisher Can Learn From San Jose Teams

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Oakland A’s owner John Fisher sitting in the Oakland A’s dugout is the subject of today’s feature Oakland A’s commentary (NBC Bay Area file photo)

Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

By Troy Ewers

OAKLAND– With the end of the MLB season coming at the end of the month and the Oakland A’s two losses away from clinching their second consecutive last place finish in the AL West, the cloud looming over the A’s organization is the threat of leaving Oakland California.

The 2023 season was the year of the boycott. The year of “SELL THE TEAM” chants not just filling the Coliseum, but Oracle Park, the All Star Game in Seattle, and even areas outside of baseball, the boycott was the most talked about thing in Major League Baseball.

The change of location stems from no renovation to the current Coliseum or a new ballpark, but after the stubbornness of owner John Fisher, the negotiations of relocation became the norm starting in 2021. After two years of meetings and talks, Las Vegas became the nominee after Nevada approved a potential $380 million funding deal and the club submitting its relocation paperwork in August of 2023. 

At this point in the conversation, if everything is approved, the new stadium would be completed in Vegas for the 2027 season with Oakland most likely playing the three transition years in either Reno or Sacramento, but in the grand scheme of things, Oakland moving says John Fisher didn’t learn from other Bay Area entities.

Over the past weekend, San Jose State football had their first home game of the season in their newly renovated stadium with new facilities. Building these facilities and having their first game sell out with approximately 22,000 people, a number the A’s would love to have averaged this season, SJSU has the ability to attract big recruits, which will give them a better chance to win games, which in theory can bring more money to the school and an area of San Jose.

The San Jose Earthquakes opened their $100 million stadium that fits 18,000 in 2015 and even with an average team, the stadium is an attraction in the city (they just need better parking). These new facilities in San Jose aren’t just money makers for the organizations, but they make the area they’re in an attraction.

A sign at one of the A’s games said “Fisher should learn from the Quakes” and that sign may go on deaf ears, but it is the sad realization of where we are in this Oakland/Vegas location conversation, all that needed to be done was to build something new. 

In one of the most famous baseball movies ever, Field of Dreams, the most famous quote from the film is “if you build it they will come”, this quote contextually explains that if you build a baseball field, even in the middle of a corn field, people will show up to watch them play baseball.

In a city that lost the football team that was a cultural representation of the city, then lost the best basketball team of the last decade, and is experiencing a poverty problem that is reminiscent of Detroit after the 70’s, to lose a baseball team with such history would devastate the city to possibly irreversible magnitudes, especially if it’s announced after the season. 

Troy Ewers is a beat reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: MLB teams relocation threats are to get local tax money for improvements

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Camden Yards in Baltimore, John Angelos and family who own the Baltimore Orioles want improvements on the ballpark. They were offered $600 million from the state of Maryland and the Angelos wants more they want to build a downtown complex for hotels, retail, offices, and to own the land if not the team will relocate possibly to Nashville (AP file photo)

On the A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, there are now seven MLB clubs who are interested in relocating for various reasons how much of a role did A’s owner John Fisher play in opening the door to relocation in his case Las Vegas and now MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred can capitalize on mass taxpayer municipalities who will feel like hostages to try and keep their teams.

#2 All of sudden the idea of relocating might not be half a bad idea they could get expansion money out of it or best yet they can get state and local tax money to do the relocation and best yet baseball doesn’t have to worry about the relocation fees.

#3 Daniel, tell us about the teams who are interested in moving unless their local government comes up with tax payer money for stadium improvements or to pay for new stadiums are Tampa Bay, Arizona, Milwaukee, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Angels.

#4 It was stated the national past time is not designed to be there for generations of fans, loyal fans, long time season ticket holders it’s there for the mean green almighty dollar and to serve the MLB owners including Fisher.

#5 At Howard Terminal where the A’s originally were going to try and move to before A’s team president David Kaval said the A’s had a binding agreement in Vegas. The A’s are suing longtime Howard Terminal tenant Schnitzer Steel for toxic waste. There is also an investigation into why Schnitzer has had fires at their plant between 2018-2020, there have been five fires involving hazardous materials at the plant. Schnitzer had a most recent fire last Wed Aug 16th.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s could be playing in San Francisco after 2024

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NBC Bay Area TV’s Raj Mathai (left) and Oakland A’s owner John Fisher (right) do an exclusive interview in Fisher’s home on Wed Aug 23, 2023 (NBC Bay Area photo)

A’s could be playing in San Francisco after 2024

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Oakland A’s President Dave Kaval, who was in Oakland recently prior to a game for the A’s team photo, narrowed the Oakland A’s temporary home (while they build in Las Vegas) to three sites, including Oracle Park in San Francisco.

This was reported by the Independent of Las Vegas, The A’s could make an early leap to Las Vegas in 2025, right after 2024 which is already set for the A’s to be played at Oakland, However, if the A’s and Giants come to an agreement, the A’s could be playing 30 to 40 “home” games at Oracle Park in 2025.

The Oakland A’s have submitted their application for relocation to Major League Baseball, owner John Fisher told ESPN, putting the team one step closer to becoming the Las Vegas A’s. Now it is all up to the MLB owners to approve.

A’s owner John Fisher answering to the cry of A’s fans to “sell the team”says: “I have not considered selling the team” and added “I’ve now owned the team with my partner Lew Wolff, it’s shocking really how the time time flies, but since 2005”.

Meanwhile the group “Schools not Stadiums” from Las Vegas still lobbying for the city of Las Vegas not to build a parks for the Oakland Athletics.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: Nevada Schools over Stadiums initiative could be last line of defense to save A’s in Oakland

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A benefit gathering to stop the use of Nevada public funds to build a Las Vegas A’s new stadium at the Tropicana and to get a referendum on the Nevada ballot to stop use of public funds for the ballpark. Members from Schools over Stadiums, the Oakland 68s, also former Oakland Mayor Jean Quan (in purple dress), and the Nevada State Education Association president Dawn Ectheverry to Quan’s right . (photo from @jeanquan)

On the A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel the Nevada Schools over Stadiums group who are ran by the Nevada State Education Association. The NSEA held a fund raising benefit for Schools over Stadiums which included the Oakland 68s a Oakland A’s fan group who are pushing the green Sell shirts and for A’s owner John Fisher to sell the A’s to someone that will keep them in Oakland. The benefit included former Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and NSEA president Dawn Etcheverry. The benefit was on Thu Aug 17 in Oakland.

#2 Quan said that she is confident that the referendum will have enough signatures to make it on the ballot for spring and the former mayor said that it has a good chance of winning.

#3 Etcheverry said some districts in Nevada are starting the school year with 40% or more in teacher vacancies. Nevada has the highest teacher vacancies in the nation and are number 49 in education.

#4 Former San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly said that despite state increases Nevada teachers remain amongst the lowest in the US with the largest class sizes.

#5 Schools over Stadiums are asking the public’s in help to fund the campaign to fight the Nevada State legislature who are planning to give the A’s $380 million in public funds for the Tropicana ballpark.

#6 The teachers from the NSEA, Mayor Quan, and the Oakland 68s will be at the Oakland Coliseum for the next reverse boycott this Sat Aug 19 vs. the Baltimore Orioles and they will be seeking the A’s fans support for the ballot initiative to stop the use of public funding for the Vegas ballpark over education.

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

MLB The Show podcast with Charlie O: SRS’s Amaury speaks out on A’s ownership; Orioles announcer Brown back after suspension; plus more

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Oakland A’s broadcaster Amaury Pi Gonzalez said in a recent interview that if Oakland A’s owner John Fisher sold the team there would be a parade in Oakland the following week (photo provided by Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

On the MLB The Show Podcast with Charlie O:

#1 One of the biggest quotes coming out of the San Francisco Chronicle interview with Oakland A’s broadcaster Amaury Pi Gonzalez on Thursday saying, if A’s owner John Fisher sold the team there would be a parade in Oakland next week, also saying that Fisher was not professional for the way he relocated the A’s and that he didn’t want the A’s to leave Oakland he wants them to stay. The interview has gone viral in the baseball community on social media.

#2 Baltimore Orioles broadcaster Kevin Brown’s suspension ended on Saturday in time for him to broadcast the Orioles and Seattle Mariners game. Brown was suspended five games for negative comments regarding the Orioles loosing records in previous seasons. The Orioles are in first place this season. Brown also said that the Orioles have had a losing record against the Tampa Bay Rays. The fans during the suspension chanted “Free Kevin Brown” and owner John Angelos received lots and lot of emails regarding the Brown suspension that became a national story.

#3 San Francisco Giants pitcher Ross Stripling showed catcher Blake Sabol an article on his phone when they were in Anaheim to play the Angels last week showing that Sabol would be part of a package to get Angels two way player Shohei Ohtani. Stripling said to Sabol, ” Sabes, I love you but we would have to do this” Sabol said “Yeah I get it.” Ohtani would fetch up to $600-800 million after this season on the free agent market. The Dodgers and Angels are the front runners in the Ohtani sweepstakes.

#4 The Giants who nearly signed Carolos Correa for $350 million for 13 years as the Giants nearly introduced Correa to the media before finding out that he failed a physical. Then failing another physical with the Mets eventually signing $200 million with the Minnesota Twins. Correa in 109 games with the Twins has hit .230, 15 home runs, and has 54 RBIs. Has Correa underperformed the Twins expectations?

#5 The Los Angeles Dodgers long awaited ceremony for pitcher Fernando Valenzulea arrived on Friday night when the Dodgers retired his number. Fernando Fever arrived in the Southland in 1980 when Valenzuela arrived pitching for the Dodgers until 1990 and playing for Angels, Orioles, Padres, before retiring with the Cardinals in 1997. Fernando in case many of you don’t know is a class act, he acts like a regular guy and not this legendary figure, the honor the Dodgers gave him was well deserved.

Join Charlie O for the MLB The Show podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s fans plan reverse boycott this time involves Giants fans in San Francisco May 25th

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Ruben Ortiz of Modesto holds up is “Stay in Oakland” sign before the last reverse boycott at the Oakland Coliseum on Jun 13, 2023. Oakland A’s fans are encouraging San Francisco Giants fans to join in the reverse boycott this Tue Jul 25, 2023 when the Oakland A’s play the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP file photo)

On the A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Daniel, tell us your thoughts as fans get ready for another reverse boycott this time at Oracle Park in San Francisco when Oakland A’s fans encourage San Francisco Giants to get on board with wearing black shirt with the word “Sell” in orange to join A’s fans in support of getting A’s owner John Fisher to sell the ball club to someone who’ll keep them in Oakland. The reverse boycott is scheduled for this coming Tue Jul 25th at Oracle Park.

#2 Daniel, the group called the Oakland 68’s named after the A’s first year in Oakland 1968 are part of the movement to fight to keep the A’s in Oakland. The 68’s in a statement from the their website said the A’s deserve a stadium at Howard Terminal. San Francisco Giants fans and A’s fans can be pretty vocal if both sets of fans come out to encourage Fisher to sell.

#3 The 68’s are hoping that Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao continue her fight to help keep the A’s in Oakland. It’s hopeful the documents she delivered to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred might have some sway to the other owners to vote to keep the A’s in Oakland.

#4 The latest news is that the MLB owners vote could take place months from now as they wait for the A’s to deliver the relocation application. The A’s on the relocation application are trying to solve where to play while the park in under construction between 2025-2027, the renderings of the park need to be put together and the design of the retractable roof needs to be addressed and how it’ll fit on nine acres of Tropicana land space.

#5 Daniel, on the A’s side of the coin how confident do you see Fisher and team president David Kaval in getting the votes and getting the shovels in the ground in Vegas?

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

Oakland A’s day off report: Medina gets the call to open series in Cleveland on Tuesday; Ruiz leads off and has MLB stolen base lead

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Oakland A’s Esteury Ruiz slides home safely after scoring on a Ramon Laureano single against the Seattle Mariners Tue May 23, 2023 in first inning action at T Mobile Field in Seattle (AP file photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s finished an up-and-down week, ending the seven-game homestand with two wins and five losses. The A’s had won seven games in a row before they lost two to the Tampa Bay Rays and three to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The A’s seven-game win streak saw them win two against the Pittsburgh Pirates and a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Pirates and Brewers are in a dogfight for first place in the NL Central. The A’s won the first two games of the four-game set with the Rays.

It was no easy task as the Rays own the best record in baseball. The team had almost 28,000 people in the seats on Tuesday, June 13th. Organizers of a reverse boycott hoped to show A’s owner John Fisher and baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred the fans would support the team in Oakland.

Fisher, as usual, said nothing. Manfred dismissed the effort as meaningless as he said their effort was no better than the average attendance at a game in Major League baseball. Manford also said the city of Oakland needed to do more.

Oakland needed a program in place to build the stadium. Manfred is tone-deaf. Oakland had raised over 400 million dollars in grants for infrastructure needs. The City Council was two days away from a vote. The A’s ownership had turned the fans off by trading away their best players and leaving the fans with a team with the worst record in all of baseball.

Winning brings people into the seats. Then, to make matters worse, the Nevada legislature voted to approve $380 million to give to the A’s to help build a stadium in Las Vegas. The Nevada governor signed the bill.

The only hope the A’s fans have is that the owners of the other 29 teams will reject the move. Manfred has said baseball will waive the $300 million relocation fee. The owners share those fees. Many of them say they want Las Vegas to get an expansion team. The fees for an expansion team are around two billion. That’s a lot more money to share.

None of the drama on the relocation situation should affect what’s happening on the field. The A’s still have to go out and play the game. A’s manager Mark Kotsay has to be pleased with his team’s performance in the last 12 games.

They went 7-5. During the winning streak, the A’s starters and relievers pitched well. The A’s offense came to life, and the team showed improvement. They split four games with the Rays. They lost three games to the Phillies. Two of the losses were by one run. The Phillies are the hottest team in baseball. They have won fourteen of the last 16. The Phillies were in the World Series last year.

The A’s start a six-game road trip in Cleveland Tuesday night. The A’s will play three against the Guardians and then finish the road trip with three against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Guardians are in second place in the AL Central with a record of 33-38.

They are two and 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins. Manager Terry Francona is in his 11th year as the skipper of the Guardians.

The A’s will send Luis Medina (1-6, 7.55) to the hill Tuesday night. Cleveland will counter with Aaron Civale(2-2, 2.67). Righty Paul Blackburn (0-0, 3.49) goes for the A’s on Wednesday. The Guardians have not announced a starter. Lefty JP Sears(1-4, 4.24) will be on the mound on Thursday. Logan Allen (3-2, 3.95) goes for Cleveland.

The key players for the Guardians are first baseman Josh Naylor, third baseman Jose Ramirez, and outfielders Stephen Kwan and Will Brennan. Their catcher is Josh Naylor’s younger brother Bo Naylor. Closer Emmanuel Clase leads the Guardians bullpen. Clase is 1-4 but has recorded 20 saves this year.

Their setup guy is Trevor Stephan. The Guardians do not have a left-handed pitcher in the bullpen. The A’s will see relievers Sam Hentges, Enyel De Los Santos, Elijah Morgan, Nick Sandlin, Xzavion Curry, and two recently recalled from Triple-A, Daniel Norris and Tim Herrin. The A’s will not see the Guardians’ ace Shane Bieber in the series.

The A’s want to get some wins on this road trip. They will need better pitching and timely hitting. They know they can win on the road. They are looking for players such as Esteury Ruiz, Ryan Noda, Brent Rooker, Seth Brown, JJ Blesday, Ramon Laureano, Roberto Perez, and Shea Langeliers to get back on the hit parade. Blackburn has pitched well since coming off the IL.

Also of note A’s leadoff hitter Ruiz leads the majors in stolen bases with 36 for the season and could get some good coverage on the base paths that could help Oakland get a leg up for this upcoming road trip.

Medina has improved, and Kotsay wants him to give the A’s a quality start on Tuesday night. JP Sears, acquired in the trade that sent Frankie Montas to the New York Yankees, has to find a way to stop serving up gopher balls. Sears has allowed 17 dingers in his starts this year.

The A’s still are the worst team in baseball. Kotsay continues to have a positive outlook. He has seen some improvement in the last two weeks. The A’s would love nothing better than winning each series against the Guardians and The Blue Jays.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: MLB Commissioner’s sarcasm doesn’t ring well in light of Oakland losing team

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Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks to members of the media following an owners’ meeting, Thursday, June 15, 2023, at MLB headquarters in New York. (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

OAKLAND–I’m a little disappointed in MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred who was asked about last Tuesday’s reverse boycott at the Oakland Coliseum, he said “I mean it was great, it is great to see what is this year almost an average Major League Baseball crowd in the facility for one night. That’s a great thing.”

I respect everybody and the Commissioner shouldn’t say stuff. I like the golden rule I l treat people like I want to be treated. Manfred is in a big position. Former MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth and some commissioners were thinking about going into politics after being Commissioner.

Baseball is an institution in the United States of America and Manfred should not have laughed at the customers (the fans) and you don’t do that in any business. I’m really disappointed at Manfred I really am and I’m not criticizing just for the sake of it just for the sake of it he sends a lot of mixed messages and in some cases you can say he’s lied to the A’s fans so I understand the grief by the A’s fans.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Museum and You can join Amaury for News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com