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A’s Blank Rangers On Opening Day

Published

11 years ago

April 6, 2015

Oakland, CA – Blame it on the two new video boards or the swift “willing and dealing” by General Manager Billy Bean this offseason. The A’s overcame an obstacle that had been their achilles heel for the last ten years. Three Oakland managers Ken Macha, Bob Geren and Bob Melvin have fallen victim to losing on Opening Day.

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“This will be my fourth opening day and we haven’t won one yet,” said Melvin. “It does bother me. You really want to enjoy and embrace opening day but I really would like to get this losing streak out of the way”

The ten-year losing skid (on Opening Day) ended tonight, in fact, not only did the A’s shutout the Texas Rangers 8-0. Sonny Gray was a gem on the mound pitching a no-hitter through eight innings. He allowed on hit to Ryan Rua who leadoff the eighth with a single to right field. The crowd rose to their feet chanting “Sonny, Sonny, Sonny” and gave him a standing ovation when he walked off the mound.

“That was a big monkey we needed to get off our back,” Melvin explained. And to do it in the fashion we did tonight was terrific. It’s really nice to get that win.”

Gray finished the night with one walk and struck out three. His pitch count was at 98. One mistake, leaving a fastball over the plate a little too long was the deciding factor of Rua breaking up his “no-no”. But Gray wouldn’t change a thing. He knew he was in a zone and that one pitch he wouldn’t take back.

“There in the eighth, I didn’t feel like I made a bad pitch,” said Gray. “I was maybe a little tired, left a few pitches up, but the hit, he put a great swing on it and hit he ball into right field. But I wouldn’t take that pitch back.”

“He was throwing all his pitches,” Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre said. “He was commanding his fastball and throwing his pitches for strikes. He pitched great game.”

A team full of new faces did not disappoint. Ben Zobrist recorded his first home run as an Athletic in the first. He followed Sam Fuld’s one-out triple with a two-run shot to left field giving Oakland a 2-0 lead. The A’s added two more runs to pull away from the Rangers in the fourth. And never looked back as the hits kept coming.

“For the fans that maybe didn’t know how well we were in Spring Training,” Zobrist said. “They were able to see what this team’s capable of. The game is a lot harder than we made it look tonight.”

Ike Davis leadoff the fourth with a free pass. Stephen Vogt doubled to left field moving Davis to third. Marcus Semien drove in Davis on a bloop single to center field making it a 3-0 game. Then on a wild pitch, Vogt scored. In the seventh, Vogt hit a three-run homer to extend Oakland’s lead 7-0. Billy Butler scored in Eric Sogard in the eight making it a 8-0 game.

For years the A’s needed a power hitter but from the looks of tonight’s game the team is well on their way to have a success season. The defense was superb keeping Texas frustrated throughout the game. A crucial call in the fifth didn’t result in scoring in any runs but kept the momentum login of Oakland.

Butler grounded into a force out to shortstop Elvis Andrus to second baseman Rougned Odor. Fuld slid into second and was tagged out by Odor who never had the ball to tag him out. The A’s challenged the call and it was overturned. The result a Fielder’ Choice, E-6. Pitcher Anthony Bass walked Davis, loading the bases with one out. But Vogt struck out stranding all three.

“I think we have more consistent power throughout our lineup,” said Vogt. “We may not have a 30-home run guy like we’ve had in the last couple of years. You’re going to miss that kind of power. That’s a special power. But up and down the lineup, you’re going to see guys hunting for 10 or 15 home runs.”

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Related Topics:Ben Zobrist Sonny Gray Stephen Vogt

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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO STATE OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ENGINEERING DIVISION NOTICE TO BIDDERS FOR ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III

WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.

Published

6 hours ago

February 20, 2026

Oakland Post

PROJECT NO. 2020.0050

BID NO. 25-26.011

BID OPENING: The bidder shall complete the “Proposal to the City of San Leandro” form contained in the Contract Book. The proposal shall be submitted in its entirety. Incomplete proposals will be considered non-responsive. Sealed bids containing the completed Proposal Section subject to the conditions named herein and in the specifications for ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III/PROJECT NO. 2020.0050 addressed to the City of San Leandro will be received at City Hall, 835 East 14^th Street, 2^nd Floor San Leandro at the office of the City Clerk up to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at which time they will be publicly opened and read.
WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.
OBTAINING THE PROJECT PLANS AND CONTRACT BOOK: The project plans and Contract Book may be obtained free of charge from the City’s website at:https://www.sanleandro.org/Bids.aspx Bidders who download the plans are encouraged to contact the City of San Leandro Public Works Department Engineering division at 510-577-3428 to be placed on the project planholder’s list to receive courtesy notifications of addenda and other project information. Project addenda, if any, will be posted on the website. A bidder who fails to address all project addenda in its proposal may be deemed non-responsive.Bidders may also purchase the Project Plans and Contract Book from East Bay Blueprint & Supply Co., at 1745 14^th Street, Oakland, CA 94606; Phone Number: (510) 261-2990 or email: ebbp@eastbayblueprint.com.
PRE-BID CONFERENCE: A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM and on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM as follows:
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM
Zoom Meeting ID: 883 8752 6074
Passcode: 502955
Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/88387526074?pwd=hZ5rjB8AWdLAUem3CtByFiZxqKarHj.1
And
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM
Zoom Meeting ID: 898 2672 0472
Passcode: 091848
Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/89826720472?pwd=JgZX2nXMpLSRM5xDPr7EJUxl7QIznr.1The information presented at the conferences will be identical, all bidders must attend one of the pre-bid conference and sign the attendance sheet. A firm that didn’t attend the pre-bid conference isn’t qualified to bid on the project.Questions regarding the plans and specifications may be submitted in writing to the project engineer until 5:00 p.m. five (5) days before, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, bids must be received by the City. The City will not respond to oral questions outside of the pre-bid conference. The response, if any, will be by written addendum only. Oral responses do not constitute a revision to these plans or specifications.
VALUE OF WORK: The Engineer has estimated that the value of work is between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000.
SAN LEANDRO BUSINESS PREFERENCE AND PARTICIPATION GOALS: The work performed under this contract is subject to Section 1-6-225 of the San Leandro Municipal Code regarding local business preference and participation. A list of companies that hold a San Leandro business license is located on the City webpage under the finance department, here: https://www.sanleandro.org/340/Business-License
SAN LEANDRO COMMUNITY WORKFORCE AGREEMENT: The work performed under this contract is subject to the Community Workforce Agreement adopted by City Council Resolution 2015-104. Contractors attention is directed to Section 10.

Dated: February 13, 2026 Sarah Bunting, City Clerk

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Oakland Post: Week of February 11 = 17, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 11 – 17, 2026

Published

4 days ago

February 16, 2026

Oakland Post

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Advice

Rising Optimism Among Small And Middle Market Business Leaders Suggests Growth for California

“Business leaders across the Pacific region continue to demonstrate a unique blend of resilience and forward-thinking, even in the face of ongoing economic uncertainty,” said Brennon Crist, Managing Director and Head of the Pacific Segment, Commercial Banking, J.P. Morgan. “Their commitment to innovation and growth is evident in the way they adapt to challenges and seize new opportunities. It’s this spirit that keeps our region at the forefront of business leadership and progress. We look forward to helping our clients navigate all that’s ahead in 2026.”

Published

6 days ago

February 14, 2026

Oakland Post

Super Scout / E+ with Getty Images.

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

Business optimism is returning for small and midsize business leaders at the start of 2026, fueling confidence and growth plans.

The 2026 Business Leaders Outlook survey, released in January by JPMorganChase reveals a turnaround from last June, when economic headwinds and uncertainty about shifting policies and tariffs caused some leaders to put their business plans on hold.

Midsize companies, who often find themselves more exposed to geopolitical shifts and policy changes, experienced a significant dip in business and economic confidence in June of 2025. As they have become more comfortable with the complexities of today’s environment, we are seeing optimism rebounding in the middle market nationwide – an encouraging sign for growth, hiring, and innovation. Small businesses, meanwhile, maintained steady optimism throughout 2025, but they aren’t shielded from domestic concerns. Many cited inflation and wage pressures as the top challenges for 2026 and are taking steps to ensure their businesses are prepared for what’s ahead.

Overall, both small and midsize business leaders are feeling more confident to pursue growth opportunities, embrace emerging technologies and, in some cases, forge new strategic partnerships. That bodes well for entrepreneurs in California. Here are a few other key findings from the Business Leaders Outlook about trends expected to drive activity this year:

Inflation remains the top concern for small business owners. Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, many anticipated a favorable business environment. By June 2025, however, that feeling shifted amid concerns about political dynamics, tariffs, evolving regulations and global economic headwinds.
Going into 2026, 37% of respondents cited inflation as their top concern. Rising taxes came in second at 27% and the impact of tariffs was third at 22%. Other concerns included managing cash flow, hiring and labor costs.

For middle market leaders, uncertainty remains an issue. Almost half (49%) of all midsize business leaders surveyed cited “economic uncertainty” as their top concern – even with an improved outlook from a few months ago. Revenue and sales growth was second at 33%, while tariffs and labor both were third at 31%.
And tariffs are impacting businesses costs. Sixty-one percent of midsize business leaders said tariffs have had a negative impact on the cost of doing business.
Despite challenges, leaders are bullish on their own enterprises. Though the overall outlook is mixed, 74% of small business owners and 71% of middle market companies are optimistic about their company’s prospects for 2026.
Adaption is the theme. For small business owners surveyed across the U.S., responding to continuing pressures is important in 2026. Building cash reserves (47%), renegotiating supplier terms (36%) and ramping up investments in marketing and technology are among the top priorities.
Big plans are on the horizon. A majority midsized company leaders expect revenue growth this year, and nearly three out of five of (58%) plan to introduce new products or services in the coming year, while 53% look to expand into new domestic and/or international markets. Forty-nine percentsay they’re pursuing strategic partnerships or investments.

The bottom line

Rebounding optimism among U.S. business leaders at the start of the year is setting the stage for an active 2026. With business leaders looking to implement ambitious growth plans that position themselves for the future, momentum in California could be beneficial for leaders looking to launch, grow or scale their business this year.