MLBPA executive director Tony Clark spoke to reporters (including Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times) today prior to Game 1 of the World Series regarding the Athletics and their bid to relocate from Oakland to Las Vegas. With a relocation vote scheduled for the owner’s meetings in November, the process is moving forward with few roadblocks, though one major question still remains: where will the A’s play from 2025-27, after their lease at the Colliseum expires but before their ballpark is completed, which is expected in time for Opening Day 2028?
Any temporary stadium situation would require MLBPA approval, and Clark notes that there’s an “ongoing dialogue” between the players’ union and the league regarding an interim stadium, though he also noted nothing has been decided on that front. Among the ideas that have been floated publicly are the A’s playing in the ballpark of their Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas Aviators; the A’s sharing Oracle Park with the Giants; and an extension of the club’s lease in the Colliseum, though the latter seems particularly unlikely.
More from around the AL West…
- Rangers ace Max Scherzer came off the injured list for the ALCS after missing more than a month with a teres major strain. In two appearances during the series, the veteran righty struggled, allowing seven runs in 6 2/3 innings of work. While it’s not exactly surprising for a pitcher to struggle after a layoff of over a month, Newsday’s David Lennon relays another potential explanation for Scherzer’s struggles during the series. Scherzer told reporters (including Lennon) yesterday that he was hampered by a cut on his thumb near the nail during both of his starts during the series. Scherzer added that he doesn’t expect the ailment to be an issue during the World Series. Though starters haven’t been announced beyond Game 2, Scherzer figures to line up for Game 3 of the World Series following Nathan Eovaldi and Jordan Montgomery.
- The Angels have parted ways with minor league pitching coordinator Buddy Carlyle, per Sam Blum of The Athletic. Carlyle, a right-hander who pitched in the majors in parts of nine seasons spanning 1999 to 2015, played for five major league clubs in addition to stints in the NPB and KBO. After retiring in 2015, Carlyle was hired by the Braves as a coaching assistant in charge of replay review before moving on to act as pitching coach for the Anaheim’s Double-A affiliate in Mobile. He moved with the team to the Rocket City Trash Pandas in his role as pitching coach before eventually being promoted to his most recent role. Carlyle’s departure makes for another coaching position the Angels will have to fill this offseason, with replacing recently-fired manager Phil Nevin standing as chief among those.
When does deGrom pitch?
In the past
No roadblocks? The state of Nevada is facing a lawsuit that would block the $180 million in state issued tax credts. The Clark County tax credits are dependent on the state tax credits being issued. The federally required EIR is not completed yet and cannot be until the Tropicana is demolished. No plan for financing has been submitted by the A’s to the state of Nevada.
There is a huge amount of roadblocks today. The owners can vote all they want but at this point it’s not a sure thing that the A’s will move.
Go Rangers.
Scherzer always seems to have a bucket of excuses these days. It was nice when he was younger and just shut up and pitched.
I have always loved the guy, but I agree with you. He should just say, “I’m getting old, what do you expect?”
Speaking of Angels and their minor league system, The DBacks have their Triple A affiliate in the PCL just like the Angels. It’s at a hitter-friendly park at altitude just like Salt Lake. Yet all the rookies you see playing in the fall classic spent significant time in Triple A. So the notion by Angel fans and the front office and Gubuicza or O’Neill that PCL is a waste of time or not necessary ot the offense is too inflated to develop players ajd that Double A is good enough, the D Backs are proving them wrong.
What? The angels actually had fine pitchers come from the last two drafts. It’s that we don’t invest in tech or coaches to make adjustments. There’s like zero dollars in the development system. Arte is only a short term major league level thinker.
But they don’t develop in Triple A. It’s Double A then MLB. I wouldn’t lay all the blame on Moreno. These changes happened on Minasian’s watch over the last couple of years of “fast tracking” players.
It shouldn’t matter if prospects come up from AA. The key is having the mental toughness to be a major leaguer. And most of the kids the Angels calked up from AA were productive enough to make an impression for just being rookies. That says a lot. I think the Angels proved that AAA is arbitrary to a degree. Just bring San Bachman up and put him in the bullpen. Make him earn his spots like teams used to do 40 years ago.
The Angels have the worst medical staff in the league and its not even close. Their strength and conditioning program is deplorable and directly contributes to unnecessary injuries. They most definitely spend on talent, but until they fix their foundational franchise pieces, they’ll continue to have Rendon types milking IR, Trouts getting lifting injuries, Pujols suffering imbalance related foot stuff, and Skaggs getting opiates.
Sometimes I truly wonder how these owners made and keep their fortunes when they clearly don’t understand how to build an organization.
Since the A’s are leaving Oakland for the desert just let them play three seasons on the road and rename them the Nomads
This is what I’ve been saying. Make them be the traveling team to do the global spread and Manfred’s bidding. Go play series in Mexico City, Austrailia, Puerto Rico, London, Japan, Cuba, etc. whatever where ever. Serves Billy right.
Billy who?
Billy Martin. It’s all his fault!
> Billy who?
She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene.
I said don’t mind, but what do you mean, I am the one.
Who will dance on the floor in the round?
She said I am the one, who will dance on the floor in the round.
The kid is not my son…
Vegas and Nashville are getting teams and Oakland will have professional baseball too. How this all shakes out is beyond me, but wouldn’t it be cool if the people of Oakland bought the A’s and it became an MLB version of the Packers? No city is better equipped to manage a pro sports team than Oakland, the international model for good governance…
Ur right GBS I should be saying serves Fischer right if anything. The A’s suck
Of course Max was hurt. That’s why he pitched so bad. Explains everything. My god the ego he has.
LEGO MY EGO
I heard that Carlyle quit. Does anyone have more information on what happened?
“Colliseum”??? Really??? Twice???
That’s sad and really bad
Scherzer must have had that cut on his thumb since Spring Training.
Spring Training ’22
Apparently a 3.77 ERA is bad, at least according to 30 Parks.
With their attendance, the A’s would be fine renting a high school field