Wolff's Statement on the end of the Fremont A's
by TroyNeelorBust on Feb 24, 2009 10:13 AM PST
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PrintHere's what our owner sent to the city of Fremont today...
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“After much consideration, today we informed Mayor Wasserman and City Council members that the Oakland Athletics will cease efforts to relocate our franchise to the City of Fremont.
“I expressed my regrets and gratitude, especially to those people who shared our vision and spent endless hours in support of our proposal. However, it became increasingly clear that our ballpark project faced significant delays ahead and I could not, in good conscience, continue to lead our team down this path.
“My focus now is on baseball with Spring Training and the opening of the 2009 season. I am extremely excited about the team’s prospects this year.
My goal and desire for the organization is to determine a way to keep the team in Northern California. This goal has not changed.”
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My goal and desire for the organization is to determine a way to keep the team in Northern California. This goal has not changed
Note the lack of the word Oakland in this sentence?
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
Well, yeah
Oakland sure isn’t doing anything to make them want to stay.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
I agree.
Which is why it doesn’t break my heart one bit that they’ll probably end up in SJ.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
Yeah, it’s better than them going to Nevada or something.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Feb 24, 2009 3:08 PM PST up reply actions
That's simply not true
Just because it’s not in the newspaper doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.
"There is a sense of tragic destiny associated with people who have large noses." --Bucky Wunderlick
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Feb 24, 2009 2:45 PM PST up reply actions
If it were happening.
It is likely it would be int he newspaper. Fact is Oakland hasn’t done squat to help the A’s. They’ve been gunshy ever since the Raiders fiasco.
you are correct, but
status quo in Oakland City government is about as bad as it’s ever been. So, they need to pay more attention to crime instead of baseball? Seems crime is on the way up. Anybody remember the Chauncey Bailey Project? They are still going strong, and OPD is being investigated by the FBI for its involvement in the investigation.
IT WOULD BE SO GREAT for the city to just make an effort to put the A’s in a waterfront park (West Oakland), and emphasize something positive that Oaklanders could feel GOOD about. Dellums is awful, Bobb is gone (to DETROIT no less), De La Fuente is useless…. what we need right now is a HERO….
Rickey for Mayor?
Bob Geren, on 8/2/07, on the success of Alan Embree as new interim closer: "What can I say,... he's been our Steady Tremendous Bullpen Man"
by popcornjames on Feb 24, 2009 3:40 PM PST up reply actions
I think you nailed everything
the goods and the bads.
No, Ricky as mayor would be very bad. For example, this quote from BaseBall Digest in that publication’s recent edition:
When Ricky was a new member of the San Diego Padres, he got on the team bus and looked around for a seat. Steve Finley said to him, “Ricky, you can sit anywhere, you’ve got tenure..”
To which Ricky replied, “Ricky’s got more years than that…fifteen, seventeen years at least!”
Officially awaiting the 2009 season.
by One won lost won on Feb 24, 2009 10:14 PM PST up reply actions
Well he wasn't going to say Oakland when speaking of the Fremont plan anyway.
The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.
move the giants to SJ...
…and let the a’s play at pac bell.
sincerely,
totally delusional SF a’s fan
by mk on Feb 24, 2009 10:37 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
+ infinity ... i am all for this
Some of the most violent things I’ve ever seen were at Raiders games. And I’ve been to jail. - leopold bloom
by designatedforassignment on Feb 24, 2009 10:40 AM PST up reply actions
San Jose is sounding better all the time.
Gotta find a place to put them while I’m at it.
"God made Majnun love Layla so much that just her dog would cause confusion in him."
The Many Wines-Rumi
Got this in some sort of link or proof or anything like that?
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
Press release on A's website
"I believe in spiritual rebirth, and I can't wait to experience that." --Barry Zito
by GreenNGoldGirl on Feb 24, 2009 10:55 AM PST up reply actions
Full open letter on Wiki
I added the open letter to Wikipedia, this was sent out to the A’s to Fremont mailing list.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lew%27sLetterToFremont.pdf
Well there's a username I haven't seen in a while
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton
Melody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is all.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
It's seeming more and more like it has to be San Jose at this point
Otherwise the A’s are going to have to look out of state. I just don’t see many other options for them. And San Jose really makes a ton of sense any way.
The benefit to all of this? At least we aren’t looking at a team called the San Jose Athletics of Fremont or the Silicon Valley Athletics of Fremont.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Feb 24, 2009 11:08 AM PST reply actions
San Jose A's
I can live with that.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
If we're just gonna throw in completely unrealistic towns
for the sake of it, I want as well include mine…
Benicia A’s!
RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.
by walk off bunt on Feb 24, 2009 12:05 PM PST up reply actions
I know they are all unrealistic but wow we have some great areas there
Can you imagine a stadium overlooking the water in Benicia or Crockett.? And Orinda or Moraga are right off BART, well Orinda is anyway and highway 24.
Actually i would like it if they decided to go to Pleasanton area. 680, 580 and BART access in a growing area.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
I live in Pleasanton
And I would welcome the A’s, but 580 isn’t really a selling point. The Freeway is way over utilized most of the day and, unlike 880 in Fremont, there isn’t really any plan to fix the problem.
yeah, except then
my town’s traffic, crime, etc. would go up a lot
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
put the A's in Richmond
Isn’t Richmond safer than Oakland these days?
There's no crying in baseball!
by gigglingone on Feb 24, 2009 12:45 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Benicia would be awesome
When i visit, since my family lives in Fairfield
by FrozenA'sFan on Feb 24, 2009 3:25 PM PST up reply actions
As a fellow Benician
I approve of this message. With all the time and energy being spent on the skate park crisis they could just plop a ballpark down on first street some where. Now that’s something I could go for.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Feb 24, 2009 7:50 PM PST up reply actions
Port Costa A's
No? Byron A’s?
I got it… Birds Landing A’s
Perfect!!!
I could prove God statistically. Take the human body alone - the chances that all the functions of an individual would just happen is a statistical monstrosity.
~George Gallup
Moraga
was one of the original possible locations for the UN building so why not a baseball stadium?
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Feb 24, 2009 12:04 PM PST up reply actions
It's what my Dad told me
And unless he’s gone off the deep end (anyone who knows him will say that it’s an extreme possibility) then I’ll take his word for it.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Feb 24, 2009 7:51 PM PST up reply actions
im gonna be honest here
your father is far beyond the deep end. in a good way tho. oh how i love me some ulf
"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT
No, it's true.
Relatively recent story here.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
Sixty-four years later???!!
I believe things have changed a bit in California in the last sixty-four years.
If any city could do it, it would be Emeryville. They “wave through” any project. And, the Oakland Oaks used to play in Emeryville, so it would be a “return” kind of a thing.
Pixar could donate the airspace above their parking lot for the “stadium on stilts”. When the A’s weren’t in town, Pixar could utilize it as an outdoor multiplex.
Officially awaiting the 2009 season.
by One won lost won on Feb 24, 2009 10:25 PM PST up reply actions
I argue they deserve it, on grounds that their commercials are horrible and annoying
Many years from now, when his name's recalled
Everyone will say, "He should have passed the ball"
-- Al Stewart, "Football Hero"
"keep the team in Northern California"
Dunsmuir A’s!!!
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
SWEET!
That would be a wee bit of a drive, though…
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby
by ZeroIndulgence on Feb 24, 2009 1:19 PM PST up reply actions
Howsabout a nice waterfront ballpark
In scenic Fort Bragg.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Feb 24, 2009 7:52 PM PST up reply actions
they could put it in topless!
im not sure if youll get/remember that joke.
"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT
I'm afraid I don't
But I’m trying my best to remember
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Feb 25, 2009 8:31 AM PST up reply actions
topless was where all the parties were
and at the circle k, some college kids were saying “ya’ll wanna go to the party up there at topless tonight?”
"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT
Hmm
I don’t think I was there for that, or at least I don’t remember. But boy do I remember the Circle K
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Feb 25, 2009 12:42 PM PST up reply actions
Crime -
Why would crime rise in your town if the A’s located there? Is there some kind of statistic that if a ballpark is built in your town that crime will rise – or are you referring to the A’s fans?
Look what happened to Oakland
When Stephen Jackson showed up.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Feb 24, 2009 7:53 PM PST up reply actions
Humboldt County A's!
Lots of marketing opportunities….
"...in baseball you wear a cap." -- george carlin
Color scheme is appropriate.
Why not?
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
I don't want SJ just because that means I'll have to drive another hour to get to an A's game
here’s hoping to Sacramento A’s of Oakland! We already have a ballpark, anyway. Just flip our PCL champs with the A’s right now. K thanks.
Signed,
DLJ
"If Bowden was a general contractor, he'd build houses with nine bedrooms, six garages, no bathrooms, and half a roof."
Put the A's in Sac and you lose most of the existing fanbase
And you replace it with a much smaller city. This is why I can’t see Sac getting them. Sac has a hard time supporting 1 pro sports team lately and you want to put a more fan intensive team in their backyard? And as I said you’d end up losing most if not all of the existing fanbase by moving them 90 miles to the northeast. They’d be out of reach for the south and most of the north and east bay.
Sacramento wouldn't be there first option,
and what you say about losing the fanbase and replacing it with a smaller one is true. However, that is also true of any other option outside of Northern California they might consider.
"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico
Whoa there
I’m not sure that I was all too clear in my post, but I’m saying all this semi-sarcastically. Of course their fanbase/sales/everything would suffer moving to Sac. I’m just saying then I wouldn’t have to drive as far to see them.
"If Bowden was a general contractor, he'd build houses with nine bedrooms, six garages, no bathrooms, and half a roof."
by DyeLongJustice on Feb 24, 2009 7:48 PM PST up reply actions
Lots of empty seats at those Kings games lately.
Root for the Giants? Not even if they're playing al-Qaeda!
How about?
The Napa A’s, at least the drinks at the ballpark would be good.
by sirbed on Feb 24, 2009 3:24 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
Santa Cruz A's
They would feature the only stadium in MLB to allow smoking, as long as it is not tobacco.
"Warm Springs Infernal" - FSU, 2/6/09 DLD
They wouldn't keep score, either.
I could prove God statistically. Take the human body alone - the chances that all the functions of an individual would just happen is a statistical monstrosity.
~George Gallup
Oakland A's of Berkeley?
Tie-dye jerseys?
Bob Geren, on 8/2/07, on the success of Alan Embree as new interim closer: "What can I say,... he's been our Steady Tremendous Bullpen Man"
If they put a floating stadium in the Berkeley harbor to get the team
there is a certain change needed:
“Berkeley Black Sox”
Green, gold, white shoes….black sox
Officially awaiting the 2009 season.
by One won lost won on Feb 24, 2009 10:41 PM PST up reply actions
I would love to see the civil unrest at an interleague game
between tie-dye berkeley and desert camo san diego
There is an “A” in Peace
Play more Conan!
by oaklandSMASH on Feb 24, 2009 11:58 PM PST up reply actions
And tranny. And goat.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Bolinas A's
No-one would ever find the ballpark.
by green star oakland on Feb 24, 2009 4:01 PM PST reply actions
Rob Neyer says
the A’s should turn to Portland.
And just like that, I hate Rob Neyer.
by HigherPie on Feb 24, 2009 5:10 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I like how he says sunny Portland and shows a picture of a snowtop mountain.
Can't get enough of the Oakland A's? Visit Oaktown Awesomer's. For further statistical analysis, Beyond the Box Score.
Because the economy is booming?
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Neyer must be smokin' something good...
because if Lew thought the EIR in Fremont was burdensome process, just wait until he attempts to get approval for a stadium in Portland. haha
Clowns to the left of me... Jokers to the right...
by FoolshGame22 on Feb 24, 2009 9:50 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Eric? Eric Byrnes?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
the gypsA's
"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT
Why not Alcatraz?
Change the name of the team to the Inmates, and “Play Ball!”
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Fill in Lake Merritt,
build ballpark. 3 BART stations within walking distance, and I’d get to watch my boys every night from my window.
Or...
Have a glass infield that doubles as a viewing tank in the offseason.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Feb 24, 2009 7:56 PM PST up reply actions
Amory Lovins:
“There is no ‘box’”
Officially awaiting the 2009 season.
by One won lost won on Feb 24, 2009 10:42 PM PST up reply actions
The Treasure Island A's
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
The Monterey Bay A's-quarium
Play more Conan!
by oaklandSMASH on Feb 24, 2009 11:59 PM PST up reply actions
What, no advocate for the floating stadium?
Sadly, to my profound sorrow, that ship has sailed.
"There is a sense of tragic destiny associated with people who have large noses." --Bucky Wunderlick
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Feb 24, 2009 8:05 PM PST reply actions
I still propose it every chance
With steel prices plummeting, shipyards in China and Korea idle, I hear that old refrain of real estate and used car dealers, echoing in the hallways….
“Now is the time to buy…”
Built in sections, floated over/towed over… no EIR, doubles as floating emergency earthquake center (so State of Calif gives some $$$) No land purchase…maybe a little dredging over by Zhone Ave and 66th…
I hear that the shipyards in China are offering “Zero percent down, and no payments for four years!” 8^))
Compared to the cost of millions rioting in the streets, it sounds goooood!
Officially awaiting the 2009 season.
by One won lost won on Feb 24, 2009 10:48 PM PST up reply actions
Too bad Ricardo Montalban is gone...
The official greeter job for those arriving on the “Island” is sadly, up for grabs….
Officially awaiting the 2009 season.
by One won lost won on Feb 24, 2009 10:51 PM PST up reply actions
Guantanamo Bay A's?
Has a certain ring to it…..bet you land there would be cheap as well, since it’s being vacated! :X
"Twenty minutes," says Jack Sr. "Thank god for Billy Beane."
"Any fan that wants us to do that is going to be disappointed because that just isn’t us." - Wolff
"Joe Morgan's going to think Beane wrote the movie too..." -whitshoes40
"What am I going to do, seriously? Maybe be a bouncer at strip joints. That's about all I'm qualified to do." -Giambi
1 or two people have asked me to if I said Auckland when I replied
to their question about what team was on my cap……so erm, yeah. The home field advantage would be something.
wolff spent $80mill on the cisco field project
nothing spent by the city of fremont…basically time and money lost.
over this 2 yr span from mid november 2006…mets broke ground on their stadium, which will be ready this yr, twins announced their new stadium sept 06, will be ready spring 2010
what a downer, especially with A’s announced new medial deals w/ new tv/radio contracts, they were moving in the right direction. even worse wolff has no current plan B.
Maybe I'm just being optimistic, but...
…I believe they do have other options in mind. Maybe not a specific and official “Plan B”, but something. If so, it’s probably best to not reveal their hand publicly just yet.
I could prove God statistically. Take the human body alone - the chances that all the functions of an individual would just happen is a statistical monstrosity.
~George Gallup
i think his honest plan
is to not make it work in norcal and move them to portland.
There are alot of potential sites in easy bay to do this…for wolff its about housing and commercial real estate
I disagree.
It’s always been about San Jose. That’s why he went with Fremont first, try to get it done close to SJ without rocking the Giants boat. Now he’s got no choice but to rock their boat, but in the end he’ll end up in a better position in downtown SJ. Portland isn’t happening. They can’t even support their minor league team nor get them a stadium.
by athletics68 on Feb 25, 2009 10:14 AM PST up reply actions
i also think he wanted close to silicon valley
to tip into that market for season tickets… just what we need programming engineers on blackberrys at a game…. might as well go to ATT if i want to see that.
Id like them to explore north of oakland a little, richmond almost. Lots of land. Area in need of a revival, close to oakland. Easily accessable for those along 80 up to Sac + current easy bay residents because of bart
Lew got cold feet a long time ago
Even if Freemont were to fast-track the environmental reports and zoning stuff, Wolff would still be maneuvering toward San Jose; he has too many connections there.
I think there was a point when Lew was legitimately eager to make things happen in Freemont, but that was a long time before the real estate market went south.
Ever since his phrat brother started signaling some flexibility with regard to the Giants South Bay territorial rights, Wolff has grown luke warm on the Freemont deal.
so at least 2 cities want A's
mayor kevin johnson of sacramento would welcome A’s if the kings left…i assume they would expand raley field
maybe then have the oakland rivercats and tarp off the 2 decks
already stories of lew talking to the sj mayor a day after the fremont announcement
Oakland, Sac and SJ are all hitting up Wolff
Seems Fremont dying has inexplicably created interest from all 3 cities.
If not being wanted makes you so attractive,
how come my phone still never rings?
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I don't know
But somehow the A’s are suddenly VERY attractive to all 3 cities. And in particular SJ’s city council has been falling over itself to help the A’s. They’re already talking about city wide polls, and possibly even public money for the A’s.
San Jose knows the A's are the only MLB team
they could ever bring in. If the A’s leave the bay area, the Giants wouldn’t allow another team to come in. If the A’s get a new stadium, there’s no way a 3rd team comes in. It’s the A’s or nothing and from the sound of it, they want MLB.
In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!
I tend to agree with this. It's the A's or nothing for SJ.
Even if the A’s were to move to another state entirely, I seriously doubt MLB would entertain the thought of another team coming in to fill the void.
I could prove God statistically. Take the human body alone - the chances that all the functions of an individual would just happen is a statistical monstrosity.
~George Gallup
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