You know, it hit me while driving home from the CAL vs Washington game (CAL Won in Overtime, btw!) that the A's have quite a lot ahead of them this off season, and not all of it is rebuilding the team, firing the fitness staff and forcing the players to actually abide by an off season fitness routine.

Here is what the A's need to get done by April 1st, 2007.

[ ] Finalize Ballpark plans in Fremont and dealing with Cisco
[ ] Finish securing funding for Ballpark
[ ] Find Permanent radio host for 2007 and beyond
[ ] Hire Manager (and create Fire<NewManager>Now blog)
[ ] Resign Frank Thomas
[ ] Find 1B/LF Bat via Trade of Free Agency
[ ] Sign Arbitration Eligible Players
[ ] Sign Nick Swisher to Long Term Contract
[ ] Sign Huston Street to Long Term Contract
[ ] Trim the fat (Designating expensive backups for assignment, and replace them with cheap AAA guys)
[ ] Insert Other Options Here

The topic I want to focus on, however, is one that was a centerpiece of last year's off season talk, and a thorn in our side for the 2006 season.

The A's need A radio station (not two) that has good reception and covers the entire Bay Area.

Last year the A's missed out on what I believe was the biggest opportunity for rivaling the Giants, something that the Angels had already achieved, helping them get a bigger market share from the Dodgers: Buy a Radio Station.

As you all remember, KNBR 1050 was up for sale (along with 680). How great would it have been for the A's to have bought 1050? Not only would it allow the A's to hide revenue ala the Giants, but it would give the Bay Area a Second True Sports Station, one that would actually discuss the A's. The station would allow A's fans to listen in and talk A's baseball, as well as bring in new fans the way that KNBR does with the Giants. It would give the A's something they have always lacked-a serious media outlet that gets their name out, instead of the usual which ignores their existence.

It would have also solved the problem of the A's radio home for years and years to come.

But the A's missed the opportunity. And that, I believe, is a very sad thing. A true station would have put us on the map instead of fighting for static with polka in the background.

It worked for the Angels, and as they should be whom we look for to copy, as they have paved the road for us as to how a team in a big market that's been historically ignored can come a team that truly rivals the big one, we should have looked deeper into it.

Maybe now that the A's look to be settled in Fremont, and not going out of the Bay Area, and with money from the Playoffs, Mr. Wolfe will look into finally acquiring a solid radio station that can not only broadcast the A's to the Bay Area, but overthrow KNBR as "The Sports Leader" (by default, not by quality). The A's could even try to wrestle other Bay Area teams from KNBR, or those ignored by them. Imagine if the A's can have the A's, Warriors and Raiders on a station. The East Bay could have a voice!

Ultimately, the question is, will another opportunity come around as it did last winter, when a slew of Radio Stations went up for sale? I don't know, but I would sure as hell find out.