Oakland A's

A’s win in walk-off fashion in front of record breaking crowd

Published

6 years ago

July 21, 2018

Oakland, CA – It was a night to remember, the A’s honored the 1989 Championship team and tied the series in walk-off fashion in front of a record breaking crowd. The Bay Bridge series didn’t disappoint, the Giants forced extra innings and Jonathan Lucroy’s game ending single capped off a spectacular day at the Coliseum.

Oakland’s 4-3 win over San Francisco was reminiscent of the rivalry that began decades ago between these two teams. The A’s took charge bottom of the eleventh with three hits off closer Will Smith. The story book couldn’t have had a better ending.

After Smith forced the first two batters to ground out and pop up he gave up three back-to-back singles. Matt Chapman and Chad Pinder singled on a ground ball then Lucroy followed with a single to center. Lucroy threw up his hands and the celebration began.

“It’s fun being on the field for that,” Lucroy said. “Any time you get that energy from the crowd, it really is a special time. I wish we could do that every night here because it’s a lot of fun.”

Oakland hosted the largest crowd in Coliseum history (56,310) and in the Bay Area since the final game at Candlestick Park Sept 30,1999. The Giants kept it interesting along the way. They tied the game 3-3 in the ninth on a blown save, Alan Hanson struck out swinging but made it to first safely after a wild pitch by pitcher Blake Treinen.

The A’s challenged the (stadium boundary call) call on the recent play, and the call was upheld. Hunter Pence doubled and Hanson scored. Gorkys Hernandez walked, Steven Duggar had a chance to extend San Francisco’s lead but he flew out to end the inning. The Giants never scored after that inning.

“It’s always been a little sketchy down there with the chairs being moved and guys sitting outside of that area and so forth,” said Oakland’s manager Bob Melvin. “I was looking for some sort of interference, and the rule is unless it was intentional, you play it.”

The turning point of the game was when Madison Bumgarner lost his command on the mound in the fifth. His lasted four plus frames, allowing two hits, three runs, six walks and five strikeouts. Bumgarner’s streak of 89 straight games lasting five innings is over. After walking in a run for the first time in his career, Bumgarner finished the night with more walks than strikeouts.

“The walks were key in that inning,” Melvin said. “We got just enough to get a lead. Obviously they came back and tied it up. And then we got some big hits after that. The key to that game was making him work and getting him out of there.”

Olson led off the frame with a walk and Chapman followed with a fly ball to right field. Bumgarner walked his fourth batter, Pinder and loaded the bases with no outs. Bumgarner walked the next batter, Josh Phegley and the A’s tied the game 1-1. Posey walked to the mound to chat with the southpaw who seemed out of sync.

The bases still loaded with no outs, Bumgarner walked Marcus Semien and his night was done. Mark Canha grounded into a double play and Pinder scored. Jed Lowrie walked and Khris Davis grounded out to third baseman Pablo Sandoval to end the inning.

“I just didn’t throw strikes, that’s it,” said Bumgarner. “It doesn’t matter, I’m trying to get ahead, trying to throw strikes and put guys away fast and I just couldn’t do it there in the fifth.”

The Giants comeback was incredible, Trevor Cahill pitched a solid game until he gave up a home run to Brandon Belt in the fourth. Cahill was knocked out of the game after giving up his third walk to Andrew McCutchen to load the bases in the sixth. By the seventh, Posey’s RBI single made it a 3-2 game.

Oakland will close out the Bay Bridge series tomorrow at 1:05pm. With the series being tied the A’s have an opportunity to take the series and win the Bay Bridge trophy for the season. They beat the Giants before the All-Star break and look to continue that winning mentality. Sean Manaea will face Johnny Cuteo on the mound.

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Oakland Welcomes a New Baseball Team to Compensate for Oakland A’s Departure

Before a City Council meeting in early November, Mayor Sheng Thao held a rally with fans to call on the A’s owners to vote to stay in the Bay Area. In a show of solidarity, the City Council voted to approve a resolution that asserted its support for the A’s and appealed to MLB owners to keep the team rooted in Oakland. Despite the appeals, the owners decided to go ahead with their plan to move to Las Vegas, making this Oakland’s second major sports team since the Raiders exited in 2020 to play at Allegiant Stadium.

Published

5 months ago

December 10, 2023

Oakland Post

The Oakland Ballers, or Oakland B’s logo. Courtesy image.

By Magaly Muñoz, Post Staff

The city of Oakland is welcoming a new baseball team, the Oakland Ballers, only weeks after the Oakland A’s unanimously decided to relocate to Las Vegas.

The team’s owners, Bryan Carmel and Paul Freedman, who refer to themselves as the Oakland B’s, held a press conference in late November to announce their new minor league team with the intention to “steal back Oakland’s baseball legacy.”

“In Oakland, sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but we always bring it,” Carmel said.

Despite the appeals, the owners decided to go ahead with their plan to move to Las Vegas, making this Oakland’s second major sports team since the Raiders exited in 2020 to play at Allegiant Stadium.

Thao was present at the press conference, alongside others, including City Council President Nikki Fortunato-Bas and Oakland rapper Mistah F.A.B. There, she expressed her enthusiasm for the new sports team.

“The Ballers will be ambassadors for the town and demonstrate our spirit, hustle, and resilience to the world. Let’s play ball, Oakland!” said Thao.

The B’s will be a part of the Pioneer League, an independent baseball league that operates in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States. The team will play at Laney College starting May 2024.

Tyler Peterson, assistant general manager for the B’s, said the team coming to Oakland brings opportunities for everyone involved.

Ball players who weren’t drafted straight out of college or who did get drafted but aren’t performing up to expectations have the opportunity to join the B’s and build up their skills with the team.

“We want to be able to offer them [players] high visibility, opportunities to get themselves in front of Major League scouts,” Peterson shared.

Peterson told the Post that nine players have already been signed onto the team, and over 60 inquiries have come through from players all over the country. The names of the players will ~~soon~~ be announced to the public soon.

The B’s will have one of the lowest contract buyouts for players in the league — $5,000 — making it more enticing for major league teams to scout players from their roster. Peterson revealed that the Ballers also intend to give back to the community by donating a portion of the buyout money to local charities.

Oakland sports has taken massive hits over the last decade, with major teams relocating one after the other. The Golden State Warriors moved in 2019 to Chase Stadium in San Francisco, the A’s are set to leave as early as 2025, and the Raiders left in 2020. Oakland was among several cities considered for a WNBA expansion team but was also passed up in favor of San Francisco.

Peterson said they reject the idea that Oakland isn’t a pro-sports town, and although they can never replicate the A’s impact, he affirmed that the B’s are here to stay for good.

“We aren’t going to dictate to the fans what we are because we’re supposed to be for Oakland by Oakland,” Peterson explained. “We want this to be something for Oakland to celebrate and something that we all need.”

Peterson revealed that the team has received an overwhelmingly positive response since their announcement, and they are excited to get started.

The B’s have secured $2 million in seed funding from investors, and fans will have the opportunity to become part owners of the team through a public crowdfunding campaign.

The Oakland Ballers‘ inaugural home game is scheduled for June 4, 2024.

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Mayor Thao, Rebecca Kaplan Back Resolution Endorsing Barbara Lee’s “Moneyball Act” Legislation

On June 28 the Oakland City Council will vote on Mayor Sheng Thao and Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan’s resolution in support of Congressmember Barbara Lee’s “Moneyball Act” legislation at the 3:30 p.m. Special Council meeting. The Moneyball Act would require any professional baseball club that relocates more than 25 miles from its previous location to compensate the state and local authorities they relocate from; and subject Major League Baseball (MLB) to Anti-Trust Laws if professional baseball clubs do not comply.

Published

10 months ago

July 5, 2023

Oakland Post

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao (left) and Oakland Councilmember at-large Rebecca Kaplan. Post file photos.

The Moneyball Act would require any professional baseball club that relocates more than 25 miles from its previous location to compensate the state and local authorities they relocate from; and subject Major League Baseball (MLB) to Anti-Trust Laws if professional baseball clubs do not comply.

“The Moneyball Act will ensure that no city and community is left behind when billionaires decide that Lee. “The Oakland Athletics have been an institution of the East Bay for over half a century. I want to thank Mayor Thao and Councilmember Kaplan for supporting our federal efforts to keep the A’s rooted in Oakland and for their commitment to our community.”

The current antitrust exemption granted to MLB is a direct result of the unique value that individual sports teams bring to their communities. However, the incentivization of professional baseball clubs to leave their home cities and relocate to other markets has raised questions about the continued validity of the legal and public policy bases for MLB’s antitrust exemption.

“I commend Congressmember Barbara Lee for defending the rights of communities like Oakland, along with many others across the nation, that are struggling to fight corporate greed in sports. The Moneyball Act will rectify Oakland’s current situation by ensuring fair compensation as a result of losing revenue, jobs, and commerce should the A’s relocate, Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan states.

As the Councilmember who represents the entire city of Oakland and Chair of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority, we have worked diligently to bring about a thriving future, including sports, entertainment, job opportunities, and more. This includes providing substantial opportunities for the A’s. Communities, taxpayers, workers, and fans all deserve to be treated with respect,” said Kaplan.

The relocation of clubs to new cities can sever the bonds established between franchises and their communities, leading to adverse economic effects and a loss of revenue, jobs, and commerce for the former host communities.

As demonstrated in the relocation of the Oakland Athletics (A’s), which was supported and encouraged by MLB, there are deep and inequitable impacts on the local community, especially the East Oakland community where the A’s have called their home for 50 years.

Thao states: “The A’s have been a treasured part of the Oakland community for more than a half century, and the City and fans have repeatedly shown our commitment to keeping the A’s ‘rooted in Oakland.’ That history and deep commitment shouldn’t be thrown aside lightly.”

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Oakland Mayor Thao, Councilmember Kaplan Announce Resolution in Support of Representatives Lee and DeSaulnier’s ‘Moneyball Act’ Legislation

Mayor Sheng Thao and Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan announced their resolution in support of Congressmembers Barbara Lee and Mark Desaulnier’s “Moneyball Act” legislation that would require any professional baseball club that relocates more than 25 miles from its previous location to compensate the state and local authorities they relocate from; and subject Major League Baseball (MLB) to Anti-Trust Laws if professional baseball clubs do not comply.

Published

10 months ago

June 26, 2023

Oakland Post

On Thursday day, the Rules and Legislation Committee approved the resolution to be scheduled for a vote at the June 28 City Council meeting.

The current antitrust exemption granted to MLB is a direct result of the unique value that individual sports teams bring to their communities.

However, the incentivization of professional baseball clubs to leave their home cities and relocate to other markets has raised questions about the continued validity of the legal and public policy bases for MLB’s antitrust exemption.

Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan stated: “I commend Congressmembers Barbara Lee and Mark DeSaulnier for defending the rights of communities like Oakland, along with many others across the nation, that are struggling to fight corporate greed in sports.

“The Moneyball Act will rectify Oakland’s current situation by ensuring fair compensation as a result of losing revenue, jobs, and commerce should the A’s relocate,” she said.

“As the Councilmember who represents the entire City of Oakland and chair of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority, we have worked diligently to bring about a thriving future, including sports, entertainment, job opportunities, and more,” Kaplan said. “This includes providing substantial opportunities for the A’s. Communities, taxpayers, workers, and fans all deserve to be treated with respect.”

Mayor Sheng Thao states: “The A’s have been a treasured part of the Oakland community for more than a half century, and the City and fans have repeatedly shown our commitment to keeping the A’s ‘rooted in Oakland.’ That history and deep commitment shouldn’t be thrown aside lightly. Once again, Congressmembers Lee and DeSaulnier are bringing plain common sense to the table, and we appreciate their steadfast support.”

From the media relations offices of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and City Councilmember at-Large Rebecca Kaplan.