An Open Letter to A.H. Selig

by jeffro on Dec 5, 2010 2:00 AM PST

December 5th, 2010

MLB Corporate Headquarters

245 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10167

Attn: A. H. "Bud" Selig

Dear Mr. Selig,

I am writing you today to ask that you speak publicly about the future of the baseball team that I have been following for the entirety of my life. I do not wish to influence your decision in the favor of Oakland or San Jose, I just want a decision. In return, I promise to buy season tickets for the 2011 season and Charter Seats for any new stadium. I believe there are several other fans who share this view point and are, likewise, ready to do our part to help make whichever plan you endorse a reality.

When you appointed a panel of experts to study the A's stadium situation in March of 2009 I was cautiously optimistic that the years of stadium proposals and conjecture about where my fellow fans and I would be spending our hard earned cash to watch the team we love play the game we revere was soon to end. Instead, I have watched as the lack of direction from the one person who could end this ridiculousness (you) has helped to foster an environment that has eroded support, hampered my favorite team's ability to attract free agents and been generally divisive (splitting the fan base into competing factions).

I have heard the excuse. You have summed it up as a "complex" issue. I have agreed, and understand that everything from the Minor Leagues role in future MLB revenue streams to paying for the potential park are items to be thoroughly vetted. That said, 21 months is a long time and analysis paralysis has set in.

On the eve of your organizations annual Winter Meetings I ask that you make the case for one of the two scenarios. If the local media is to be believed, your stadium panel has done a thorough and exhaustive search that has considered timing, financing, revenue impacts, traffic, political support, and even the height of light towers and the path of airplanes. There are no more angles to explore. No new rocks to turn over. It all comes down to you and your willingness to make either Bill Neukom or Lew Wolff, and their respective partners, miffed. Please do so at some point in the next two days so we can all move on from this unnecessary purgatory.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey August

A's Fan

PS- Please tell Lew Wolff that Josh Feinberg (jfeinberg@oaklandathletics.com) is doing an awesome job. I would love to reward his persistence and buy a ticket package soon.

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Agreed.

Dear Bud,

I won’t promise to buy season tickets (because I live in Australia) but I will promise to buy mlb.tv.

Daniel777

Is this the real life-
Is this just fantasy-
Caught in a landslide-
No escape from reality-

by Daniel777 on Dec 5, 2010 2:47 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Me too!

And I might even drive the three hours to watch an inappropriately blacked out A’s-M’s game. I might even try not to complain about those blackout rules.

A full time A's fan in Portland who spends part of his time on AN.
Not so much tweeting as squawking: http://www.twitter.com/yusebio

by yusebio on Dec 5, 2010 3:22 AM PST up reply actions

This is a great letter, Jeffro

I think it’s a powerful statement when a fan says, “I will buy season tickets if _______.”

All fans complain sometimes, but you’re offering to positively impact their bottom line if the right things happen.

The Oakland A's: If you have a no-trade clause in your contract, we're in it.

by notsellingjeans on Dec 5, 2010 7:03 AM PST reply actions

Do people on this Athletics Nation have season tickets?

I’m just wondering do a lot of folks on Athletics Nation have season tickets?

by frustratedfan68 on Dec 7, 2010 9:48 PM PST up reply actions

I guess no one here at AN is a season ticket holder or there isn't too many...

I guess no one heere at AN is a season ticket holder or there aren’t too many of you guys. I just have a 20 game bleacher plan. Maybe we should have an AN pledge to get more season ticket holders for 2011. As we know, we’re going to have more Giants fans next season than A’s fans. We need to represent at teh Bay Bridge Series!

by frustratedfan68 on Dec 8, 2010 9:13 AM PST up reply actions

Totally agree with the sentiment of this letter.

Though I don’t agree with this:

When you appointed a panel of experts to study the A’s stadium situation in March of 2009 I was cautiously optimistic that the years of stadium proposals and conjecture about where my fellow fans and I would be spending our hard earned cash to watch the team we love play the game we revere was soon to end.

Bud Selig’s getting more involved in something always makes me worried.

Nothing that’s happened since the appointment of this panel makes me think any diffferently about the man’s ability to do good for baseball…or the A’s.

There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.

by GreenNGoldSooner on Dec 5, 2010 7:20 AM PST reply actions

Nice. I like it.

This is the part that stuck out at me as the most relevant…

There are no more angles to explore. No new rocks to turn over. It all comes down to you and your willingness to make either Bill Neukom or Lew Wolff, and their respective partners, miffed.

Just make a decision already, Bud.

Billy Beane... What have you done for me lately?

by UncleLeo on Dec 5, 2010 8:12 AM PST reply actions

This exactly

It’s clear they are stalling, p—p or get off the pot!

by Slappyfrog on Dec 5, 2010 10:12 AM PST up reply actions

Dear Jeff:

I appreciate your input and will take it into account in the process. I look forward to watching an A’s game with you sometime. Blah blah blah blah blah.

Sincerely and I really mean that,

Allan H. Selig

Call me Bud.

It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner

by WaddellCanseco on Dec 5, 2010 8:29 AM PST reply actions

Allan H.

Thanks for clearing that up. I thought A H stood for something else.

Stomp,em, stomp the piss out of em.Then pound the budweiser after the game. Joe Schultz Seattle Piolts Mgr 1969

by billyball1981 on Dec 5, 2010 8:45 AM PST up reply actions

no, you were right

"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes

by Future Ed on Dec 5, 2010 8:47 AM PST up reply actions

All Hail? (Heil?)

And the last remnants memory destroys.

by Leopold Bloom on Dec 5, 2010 8:49 AM PST up reply actions

Dear Jeffro

I have looked into this matter as vigorously as I have the origins of baseball.

As with that effort we have concluded that the A’s are fluffy little kittens.

thank you for your time.

Wendy’s Dad

"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes

by Future Ed on Dec 5, 2010 8:46 AM PST up reply actions

Wendy's Dad?....are you saying this bastard is responsible for square hamburgers as well?

will his evil ever stop?

But seriously, folks....

by Bed on Dec 5, 2010 9:11 AM PST up reply actions

If only Bud could be responsible for something like a good hamburger.

Billy Beane... What have you done for me lately?

by UncleLeo on Dec 5, 2010 9:32 AM PST up reply actions

Warning: groll at work here

Dear Jeffro: I really really like your letter, and I hope when you send it (if you have not already sent it), you include all the links to help make your point.

I always believe that with any letter like this, where one is trying to make an impact on high mucky-mucks, it is important to cross every t and dot every i. For that reason only, if you have not already sent this letter out, I want to help you with a couple of minor corrections.

I do not wish to influence your decision in ~~the~~ favor of either Oakland or San Jose.

everything from the Minor ~~Leagues~~ Leagues’ role in future MLB revenue streams

On the eve of your ~~organizations~~ organization’s annual Winter Meetings

OK, groll duly reporting and done…

"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins

by justANotherAsFan on Dec 5, 2010 8:53 AM PST reply actions

Thanks

Grammar is not my friend.

by jeffro on Dec 5, 2010 11:58 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

My letters to proud to be your Bud

have more four letter words and threats in them.

But seriously, folks....

by Bed on Dec 5, 2010 9:09 AM PST reply actions

Well written, Jeffro!

Enough already! This pointless dithering is killing the market credibility of the A’s. Baseball solved the Montreal dilemma faster than this mess.

There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact. - Mark Twain

by ptbarnum on Dec 5, 2010 9:10 AM PST reply actions

exactly

exactly i dont relly care if we move thats what b.a.r.t is for to have no problem traveling in the bay area even though i wold love to keep oakland in the name of the team. im tired of empty seats even if you get 10 seats to yourself at times. but free agents love the weather but hate the coliseum any thing to help us win so BUD all i want for christmas is a stadium or a world series championship.

by Cesar Esparza on Dec 5, 2010 9:22 AM PST reply actions

although you'd have a tough time getting to San José via BART

by OaklandSi on Dec 5, 2010 9:25 AM PST up reply actions

he is leaving in 2021

"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes

by Future Ed on Dec 5, 2010 9:28 AM PST up reply actions

Is BART going to be a circle in 2021? Awesome!

It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner

by WaddellCanseco on Dec 5, 2010 9:42 AM PST up reply actions

Only if you like circles with San Jose to SFO sized gaps

"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes

by Future Ed on Dec 5, 2010 9:47 AM PST up reply actions

just a question...

So if the A’s move to San Jose, then all east bay fans should become Giants fans since it’s easier to get to SF than SJ on BART?

by frustratedfan68 on Dec 7, 2010 6:41 PM PST up reply actions

The A's play in one region, the Bay Area...

I think it’s important regardless of the move, the A’s need to draw fans from all over the 9 county Bay Area. As it stands, most people are Giants fans! We need more A’s fans to represent. Mr. Wolff, help us out with this! Entice the casual fan to come to games! Also, Mr. Wolff let’s create an AN pledge to have more season ticket holders from our sports blog for 2011!

by frustratedfan68 on Dec 8, 2010 9:28 AM PST up reply actions

i would get season tickets

by Cesar Esparza on Dec 5, 2010 9:23 AM PST reply actions

I know I must be in the minority,

but I’m not so sure that Bud has handled this badly. He’s been methodical, plodding, and deliberate. The guy’s leadership style has always been one of consensus within the owners circle. Not an easy task when the interests of two owners are pitted head to head so to speak. Jeffery hits on a very valid point, in that at least one owner is going to be pissed no matter which direction he chooses. Bud may be taking this one down to the eleventh hour so that his successor doesn’t get blamed by the losing party. On the other hand, Wolfe is a personal friend of Selig’s who was recruited by him to take over the A’s. So the cynic in me thinks the outcome has been known by Selif for quite some time. It’s just a matter of timing and allowing the aggrieved party plenty of time to make a case to the other owners. But those guys are in the business of making money, so Neukom has a hard sell to make. An impossible one I would say. The other owners are going to vote their pocketbook, and they’re going to choose a path that is most likely going to result in the A’s being weaned off the dole.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Dec 5, 2010 9:44 AM PST reply actions

I totally agree with this letter

an am grateful to Jeffro for speaking out. I’d like to see this fan base taking the same kind of steps that the influential Silicon Valley Leadership group did with their pledge to support a team in SanJose. I thought when they spoke up that would be the tipping point, but clearly those of us who are fans and want to see this team be successful must say the same things as Jeffro. I suggest we all write to Bud and clearly say it’s time for a decision.

Haleakalu

by haleakalu on Dec 5, 2010 10:45 AM PST reply actions

Nice work, Jeff

This is no longer simply bordering on ridiculousness. It IS ridiculous. Whether the stadium is the primary reason that the A’s are right now having trouble attracting FAs is irrelevant; having a new stadium can only help this cause. What’s more, the team’s near future is pretty bleak without a firm decision and funding plan.

!#%&$#@&%&% antioxidants! - pam
needs moar bacon

by cuppingmaster on Dec 5, 2010 11:42 AM PST reply actions

I sometimes wonder

if this current “leg” of the delay is due to the Giants winning the World Series and garnering the national media attention that they have. If so, MLB may be waiting for that to die down a little more before announcing that they’ve decided in favor of the A’s in San Jose. If they haven’t, I don’t know why they wouldn’t just come out and say it at this point, but if they have decided in favor of Wolff’s plans for San Jose, they might be waiting until the new year, or even worse, Spring Training to make a formal announcement. The whole thing stinks, and I’m glad you’ve written this letter. If a decision isn’t made by January, I’d advise that we all follow suit – maybe a form letter would be appropriate at that point.

by oakballnack on Dec 5, 2010 3:41 PM PST reply actions

Favorite Phrase:

Analysis Paralysis

CT ..."he’s not just an asshat with a mic" - cuppingmaster

by Berry Jo on Dec 5, 2010 4:36 PM PST reply actions

Marine Layer has an interesting take

on why the apparent delay in a decision one way or the other. It’s worth a read.

As for myself, I have been and continue to be a season ticket holder. I’ve had my season tickets and supported my team through championship and losing seasons, during times with a packed as well as an empty stadium. As long as I’m an A’s fan – and I can get to enough games reasonably via public transportation – I plan to continue being a season ticket holder.

by OaklandSi on Dec 5, 2010 5:47 PM PST reply actions

the link - she is empty

Now there's nothing left to say, so let's go drink beer.

by doctorK on Dec 5, 2010 6:43 PM PST up reply actions

Says it all.

Billy Beane... What have you done for me lately?

by UncleLeo on Dec 5, 2010 7:05 PM PST up reply actions

let me try it again

I just tried it and it works.

Give it a look

by OaklandSi on Dec 5, 2010 7:11 PM PST up reply actions

Coming Home

I was born and raised in the Bay Area and proudly supported the A’s from the very first season. My family got to go to the ‘72, ’73, and ’74 World Series (I was out of the country doing my Peace Corps thing in ’73) and we felt privileged to have the ice plant behind us and Joe Rudi in front of us.
I am a fan. And I’ll be a fan no matter where Our Boys play.
I bought a house this year up in Oregon (dang, I hope the A’s get a radio outlet up in Portland!) where I have to live three years due to my mortgage. I deliberately made this three-year commitment because I figured this house would appreciate some in the next few years and the A’s would have a new stadium by then. I plan to move Home and spend many, many years of absolute bliss watching “my boys” again. :)
Yes, we’re fans. Yes, we’re crazy. Yes, some of us plan our lives around a baseball team. Yes, we love our A’s. We don’t like them or support them, we Love them.

Mr. Selig, please get a decision made.

by nomAad on Dec 6, 2010 12:53 AM PST reply actions

Do You A's Fans Really Not Know What The Hold Up Is?

Bud very much wants to support the A’s moving to San Jose to help out his college frat mate and screw the Giants for allowing Bonds to break his childhood hero’s career HR record . However he needs 21 of the other 28 owners to join in and vote this way. Right now he does not have these votes. Bud does not have the power to just decide this on his own. Bud is a politician and as such he will not take a public stance on this until he knows he can win. Right now the only stance Bud has the votes to take is in favor of the Giants and Oakland and this is clearly not the stance he wants to take.

by giantsrainman on Dec 6, 2010 3:43 AM PST reply actions

Awesome to know that you are on the inside

by jeffro on Dec 6, 2010 8:22 AM PST up reply actions

heh.

All flash no substance hair twirler.

by pam5981 on Dec 6, 2010 9:53 AM PST up reply actions

Awesome To Know That You Are On The Inside

Fixed.

""Expelliarmus!" said Eckstein, attempting to knock the bat out of Matt Kemp's hands, just before Kemp laced a single to center." -Ken Tremendous

by Cheezombie on Dec 6, 2010 9:59 AM PST up reply actions

What the What?

Bud very much wants to support the A’s moving to San Jose to help out his college frat mate and screw the Giants for allowing Bonds to break his childhood hero’s career HR record

How does the A’s moving to San Jose screw the San Francisco Giants? Also, Bud wants to screw the Giants because they played Barry Bonds?

Right now the only stance Bud has the votes to take is in favor of the Giants and Oakland and this is clearly not the stance he wants to take.

Uhhh….?

When you've played this game for 10 years and gone to bat 7,000 times and gotten 2,000 hits do you know what that really means? It means you've gone 0-5,000. -Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson

by Geronimo Berroa on Dec 6, 2010 2:48 PM PST up reply actions

Silicon Valley Is The Source Of Most Of The Corporate Dollars In The Bay Area

The A’s moving to San Jose over time will cause most of these dollars to move from the Giants to the A’s.

by giantsrainman on Dec 6, 2010 8:42 PM PST up reply actions

Yes, Bud wanted the blackballing of Barry Bonds to have begun a year earlier then it did.

by giantsrainman on Dec 6, 2010 8:43 PM PST up reply actions

Most Of The NL Owners Join The Giants In being Againt Allowing the A's To Move To San Jose.

This position is in support of the Giants (and their own revenue to since they play the Giants every year) and of course indirectly supports Oakland as staying the home of the A’s.

by giantsrainman on Dec 6, 2010 8:46 PM PST up reply actions