Tim Keown, ESPN Senior Writer
OAKLAND — The A's started their final homestand of their final season in Oakland on Friday evening, and no person can predict what may happen over the following six video games and 7 days.
After 57 seasons in the Coliseum, there might be emotion, however how that emotion will present itself is the principle query on everybody's thoughts.
“We've heard some rumblings, and we're going to have some more meetings about it,” mentioned left fielder Seth Brown, who, in his sixth season, is the longest-tenured Athletic. “The fans have always supported us, and we just hope they support us in a positive manner. We want everyone to come out and enjoy the time and give it its last hurrah, and at the same time we're hoping it's done the right way.”
The A's will play three video games in opposition to the New York Yankees earlier than ending the house portion of their schedule with three video games in opposition to the Texas Rangers. The final sport, on Thursday afternoon, would be the final main skilled sport in Oakland, which has misplaced three main franchises — the Warriors, the Raiders and now the A's — in 5 years.
Beginning subsequent spring, the A's will play a minimal of three seasons in a minor league ballpark in Sacramento earlier than making a everlasting transfer to Las Vegas.
The A's have been compelled to take care of one off-the-field distraction after one other over the previous two seasons, from the Las Vegas announcement final April to the Sacramento announcement this April.
“This isn't really new for us,” A's supervisor Mark Kotsay mentioned. “But the emotion last year was a lot greater in terms of the anger. This year has been really, really calm, and I don't know if that's because they've gotten the anger out. There's still going to be that emotion as we near Thursday, but that's part of whenever the healing process starts.”
Fans in Oakland have staged quite a few protests aimed toward proprietor John Fisher, who pulled out of a large improvement deal in Oakland in April 2023 and introduced the transfer to Las Vegas. There was a extremely publicized “reverse boycott” final 12 months and an Opening Day car parking zone boycott — the place followers congregated in the car parking zone however refused to enter the stadium — this season.
Before Friday, the staff had drawn 738,438 followers, the worst in Major League Baseball.
“The last three games are going to be pretty epic for us and the fan base,” outfielder JJ Bleday mentioned. “I'm kind of looking forward to it, though. It'll be exciting to play some games with a crowd. Obviously, I feel bad for the fan base, but we'll be a part of history.”
The A's have instituted some precautions for the final homestand, alerting the gamers to pay attention to their environment in case followers resolve to take the sector. Players have additionally been instructed to not collect for pictures with household on the sector after video games.
“Just get on out of there,” Bleday mentioned.
Before Friday's collection opener in opposition to the Yankees, followers taped the ever-present SELL indicators to the railings in the right- and left-field bleachers. Another signal — VIVEK REPENT — was a reference to Sacramento Kings proprietor Vivek Ranadive, who additionally owns the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, who will share Sutter Health Park with the A's.
Ranadive, a pal of A's proprietor John Fisher, engineered the deal to offer the A's with a non permanent house, rent-free.
“I wish we were staying here,” Bleday mentioned, “but it's not up to me. I do have a jar ready to fill up with some dirt, though.”
