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Good morning afternoon, Athletics Nation!
The Oakland A’s made some moves last week in their quest for a new ballpark at Howard Terminal. They publicly released the financial offer they’ve made to the City of Oakland, and on Friday team president Dave Kaval sent an email to fans asking for support. The A’s also published a petition for fans to sign, urging the Oakland City Council to take a vote on the matter.
Later on Friday, the spokesperson for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf released a statement, shared by David DeBolt of the Mercury News.
Schaaf spokesman on A's Howard Terminal ballpark proposal: "The City is willing to bring to bear its resources to help make this vision a reality; however, today’s proposal from the A’s appears to request public investment at the high end for projects of this type nationwide" pic.twitter.com/jocaer3OKF
— David DeBolt (@daviddebolt) April 23, 2021
The full text of the statement:
“The City of Oakland is in receipt of the A’s proposal submitted today and will evaluate it closely. Our goals for the project are unchanged. We want to keep the A’s in Oakland — forever. We need a deal that’s good not just for the A’s, but for the City, one that provides specific, tangible and equitable benefits to our residents, and doesn’t leave Oakland’s taxpayers on the hook. The City is willing to bring to bear its resources to help make this vision a reality; however, today’s proposal from the A’s appears to request public investment at the high end for projects of this type nationwide. We remain fully committed to working collaboratively with the A’s, our City Council, and our community partners, to formulate a public-private partnership and project of which we can all be proud, and to bring forth a consensus plan to our City Council this year.”
For more details on the latest chapter in the stadium saga, check out the links below, including Sarah Ravani of the S.F. Chronicle, plus reactions New Ballpark, and a podcast episode featuring Kaval.
- Ravani: City balks at Oakland A’s funding plan for proposed $12 billion waterfront ballpark and development ($)
- NewBallpark.Org: A’s Release Howard Terminal Development Term Sheet, Urge Summer Council Vote
- A’s Cast: Dave Kaval discuss the financial offer to the City of Oakland with Chris Townsend
- Athletics Nation: A’s president Dave Kaval sends letter to fans urging support for Howard Terminal Ballpark Project
The story drags on! In the next episode, we learn of plans for Elon Musk to buy the team and build a stadium on the moon. The Lunar A’s!
A’s Coverage
- Straight A’s podcast: Host Shayna Rubin joined by guest Kyle Madson of 95.7
- Coffey: As A’s continue historic win streak, Scott Hatteberg is glued to the action: ‘I want them to experience it too’ ($$$)
- Kawahara: How A’s reliever Lou Trivino worked his way back into key role ($)
- A’s option Jordan Weems to alternate site
- AN: Pirates claim Ka’ai Tom off waivers from A’s
- AN: Former A’s prospects: Neuse homers, but Fowler and Nottingham DFA’d
- AN: ‘Jeopardy!’ contestant misses Oakland A’s question, loses money for guessing Giants
- Nelson: The Bet: Why the A’s will win more games than the Padres in 2021
- MLB News: Drellich: ‘It’s very valuable’: What would change if MLB lost its antitrust exemption? ($$$)
A's taxi squad for this road trip: P Mike Fiers, P James Kaprielian, C Austin Allen, INF Pete Kozma, OF Luis Barrera. Sunday's starter still listed as TBA. It's @JohnSheaHey with your A's coverage today.
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) April 23, 2021
A’s injuries (and also their opponents’ health)
Pukdate
A's trainer Nick Paparesta says A.J. Puk is expected to throw down at the A's alternate site in Stockton at some point before the club returns from its current road trip.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) April 24, 2021
Riddle played briefly against the A’s in the doubleheader on Tuesday
#MNTwins Roster Moves: Twins place Riddle on COVID IL, Telis contract selected from Taxi Squad. pic.twitter.com/ANkZ5QBzYP
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 21, 2021
A’s Game Highlights
- Game #17: A’s breeze behind Sean Manaea shutout and Mitch Moreland homers
- Game #18: Doubleheader shutout sweep! 10-game winning streak! Luzardo pitches lights out!
- Game #19: A’s ride the wave with extra-inning 13-12 walk-off win on 10th-inning errors
- Game #20: Cole Irvin, A’s outfield lead way in 12th straight win
- 2021 A’s are riding historic roller coaster
- What have we really learned about the A’s so far in 2021?
- Matt Olson is crushing the ball and also missing it less
- Could Seth Brown be the next Brandon Moss, or maybe even better?
- Nico: Eyeball Scouts Ruminates On Players From “The Team That Suddenly Can’t Lose”
Ride the wave! (And now the streak is up to 12)
The @Athletics are the first team in MLB history to start a season 0-6 and then win 11 straight at any point later that season.
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) April 22, 2021
Best K-Strut in the majors
Jesús Luzardo, Wicked 84mph Back Foot Slider...and K Strut. ✝️ pic.twitter.com/WKSunqZnTo
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 21, 2021
What a way to end a 1-0 game
That was close pic.twitter.com/0r4oZJl55a
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) April 21, 2021
... Regarding that Canha catch above, here’s some further context
When the arena gets in the way of the prevailing wind, balls to LF get knocked down. But at the time of Astudillo's fly ball, the wind had shifted, so the Arena wasn't blocking the wind anymore, which made it scarier.
— Ken Arneson (@kenarneson) April 21, 2021
Don’t worry about innings totals just enjoy it
DOUBLEHEADER SHUTOUTS IN OAKLAND HISTORY
— Mike Selleck (@MikeSelleck) April 21, 2021
June 4, 1972 at Baltimore
Sept. 9, 1974 vs. Kansas City
April 20, 2021 vs. Minnesota
Here’s an even better stat about shutouts
The A’s have back-to-back shutouts twice over the last five games…this marks the first time the A’s have recorded four shutouts over a five-game stretch since the Philadelphia A’s did it from May 12-18, 1909...the A's game note highlights for April 21:. pic.twitter.com/tFy9TnsSHx
— Mike Selleck (@MikeSelleck) April 21, 2021
Everything has been going right for the A’s the past couple weeks, and here’s a perfect illustration
The ball did not want to come out of Donaldson's glove pic.twitter.com/4j2fNtTtvs
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) April 21, 2021
... Here’s an even more perfect illustration of the nexus between being lucky and good
RIDE THE WWWWWWWWWWWAVE pic.twitter.com/AJMrNR43RY
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 22, 2021
“The Baseball Gods happened”
Ramón Laureano on what he was thinking before that throwing error was made to end the game: "S**t. I just f***ed up. But the Baseball Gods happened. That's why I knew we were going to win."
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) April 22, 2021
“My guess: moist socks” — Melissa Lockard of The Athletic
“You just smell when you’re going to win” — Ramón Laureano
— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) April 22, 2021
Win Probability chart for the 13-12 walk-off victory
Ride the Wave? More like Ride the Roller Coaster. pic.twitter.com/SyMMhPTF47
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) April 22, 2021
Oly Toledo
OLY pic.twitter.com/dNyUvKZJSq
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 21, 2021
Seth Moss
Brownie took him DEEP pic.twitter.com/DGmmAgGePV
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 21, 2021
Laser ignites
!!! ♂️ pic.twitter.com/pQxRFKgNA4
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 24, 2021
Fieldin’ Machin
@Vimael25 | #RiseAndGrind pic.twitter.com/9jge5BcWqE
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 21, 2021
Classic Coliseum, leading to 25 minute delay during the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader
The lights above left field are causing the delay pic.twitter.com/Ga69LpEjaG
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) April 21, 2021
Get off my outfield lawn
I think the Coliseum itself is protesting 7-inning doubleheader games with this light outage.
— Alex Hall (@AlexHallAN) April 21, 2021
"You can play however few innings you want but we're gonna sit here for 3 hours either way," says the predictably old-school ballpark.
A’s rotation made use of the time during the lighting delay
Staying #LockedIn with some thumb game pic.twitter.com/JmShbHhVnU
— Shayna Rubin (@ShaynaRubin) April 21, 2021
A’s TV broadcast crew continues to crush it this year
"And you know what happens we assume?"
— Alex Hall (@AlexHallAN) April 21, 2021
I'm imagining an NBCS producer wildly waving at a disappointed Dallas Braden "don't say ass on TV!!"
But I'm just assuming.
Chaptain America
What it's all about. pic.twitter.com/wPXWYjRV1T
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 24, 2021
Best of MLB Twitter
Let’s begin with some Jacob deGrom facts
Jacob deGrom is the second pitcher in the modern era with 50+ strikeouts and five or more base hits at the plate over any four start span.
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) April 24, 2021
Fellow Met Dwight Gooden did it over four starts in September 1984 (52 K, 6 hits).
deGrom faCts #2
Here’s your list of all pitchers who have ever had 3 straight games of 14+ K:
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) April 24, 2021
Pedro 1999
Gerrit Cole 2019
Jacob deGrom right now
Nobody has ever strung together 4 in a row. For another week anyway.
deGrom faCts #3
deGrom 2021 awards:
— Jerry Blevins (@jerryblevins) April 24, 2021
Cy Young
MVP
Silver Slugger
Gold Glove
2 Oscars, a Tony, and a Grammy for Album of the Year
Now for Tatis Facts
April 23, 1999: Fernando Tatis Sr. hits 2 grand slams in 1 inning at Dodger Stadium
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 24, 2021
April 23, 2021: Fernando Tatis Jr. hits 2 HR at Dodger Stadium
They are the 1st father-son duo to each record a multi-HR game at the same venue on the same calendar date
!!!
(h/t @EliasSports)
Tatis Facts Jr
Players with multiple home runs at Dodger Stadium in games played on April 23:
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) April 24, 2021
Fernando Tatis Sr.
Fernando Tatis Jr.
It’s not just how amazing the play was, it’s also the concept of bailing out a former Platinum Glove winner
*kiermier* i got it I go... well shit where’s it at?
— Dallas Braden (@DALLASBRADEN209) April 24, 2021
*Arozarena out of left field, LITERALLY*
iiiiiiiii got iiiiiiiiiiiiiit! Told ya! pic.twitter.com/V3IeFg8I3E
Ferris Bueller 2021
secret's safe with us, kid. pic.twitter.com/92NjcKiTvm
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 23, 2021
Montage of the hottest team in MLB oh wait that’s us
"EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING RIGHT FOR THE A's JUST CONTINUES!" pic.twitter.com/iNVHFgNoOQ
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 23, 2021