Elephant Rumblings: Rooker doubles, fans show solidarity at All-Star Game

Happy Wednesday, Athletics Nation!

Brent Rooker made us proud as the A’s lone representative at the All-Star Game in Seattle yesterday. He came in for Randy Arozarena at left field in the sixth inning and hit a ground rule double in the bottom frame. The high-arcing shot advanced Salvador Perez to third base, setting up a go-ahead sacrifice fly from Bo Bichette to give the AL a 2-1 lead.

Listen carefully to that clip and you can hear fans chanting “Sell the Team,” a clear message to A’s owner John Fisher.

Fans began the chant at the top of the fifth, hearkening back to the “reverse boycott” staged at the Coliseum last month.

The protest was organized by A’s fans in green “SELL” shirts who were handing out flyers to fans entering T-Mobile Park. Their efforts are inspirational, and the broad support from fellow fans is encouraging. If Fisher had any shame, he would listen to all the fans, players, and journalists who have spoken out in favor of keeping the A’s rooted in Oakland. Alas, some folks will do anything to make that second billion, I guess.

Rooker lined out hard into a double play in his second and final at-bat, but there is no shame in that. The ball was well struck, and NL third baseman Austin Riley made a heck of a play to end the eighth and help the NL win a 3-2 nailbiter.

Congrats to Brent Rooker on his first All-Star appearance! May there be more in his future—and many dingers to come as summer turns to fall.

• A’s Coverage:
• Polito: National League beats the American league in 93rd Annual All-Star Game 3-2
• Hardin: Rounding up Day 3 of the MLB Draft for the Oakland Athletics
• Shea: With A’s focused on Vegas, is MLB commissioner leaving door open to Oakland? ($)
• Feinsand: 6 trade targets to watch after the break
• Franco: Rico Garcia Elects Free Agency
• Wirth: Former A’s turned All-Stars react to team’s new direction

MLB News & Interest:

• Jones: ‘The League’ shares stories, challenges and impact of Negro League Baseball ($)
• Franco: The Trade That Landed NL’s All-Star Starter In Arizona
• McDonald: Padres Release Nelson Cruz
• The Athletic: Rob Manfred, MLB players continuing to discuss postseason pitch-clock rules ($)
• Stark: Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr., already a Home Run Derby legend, was born to hit bombs ($)
• Sarris and Ghiroli: The adjustments that made this latest batch of baseball’s All-Stars ($)
• Adams: The Cubs Hit A Jackpot In Minor League Free Agency — Now What?
• Today in Baseball History

Best of Twitter:

All the A’s picks.

The lovely Rooker fam.

Rooker makes his entrance.

This Gen Xer agrees.