Once again, Major League is playing out before our eyes.
Listen, Oakland A’s fans, we all remember the pain of the 2002 MLB season when the 1994 World Champion Montreal Expos were dismantled by an owner who wanted to pack up and move to Washington. But then he wound up buying the Florida Marlins and was then sued by several local governments.
Jeff Loria set a standard other owners could only hope to emulate. He can claim a record as the only man to destroy two MLB franchises, and his work is featured in many discussions on the worst owners in the history of sports.
But Montreal is working to show they’ll support a team that’s not owned by someone who’s just awful. The argument against expanding back into Montreal has been that, toward the end, the Expos were drawing less than 4,000 fans a game.
Back in 2014, I met some fans at the Ballpark in Arlington who were going to every MLB venue to explain, “Listen, you wouldn’t support a team owned by someone who’s just awful, either.”
Which brings us to the Oakland A’s. Current owner John Fisher is ready to pack up and move out of Oakland.
“I mean, the Expos were even outdrawing us,” he explained to Rich Uncle Pennybags while they drank wine and looked at each other’s art.
Rich Uncle Pennybags is often mistaken to wear a monocle. We can now confirm the reason he does not have a monocle is because it popped out of his eye when he was surprised to see Oakland is now drawing 2,500 fans a game.
“The fans don’t support baseball in Oakland!” Pennybags exclaimed while leaning back in his chair.
So Fisher has signed a deal for a $1.5 billion stadium on the Strip. Then he said, “Listen, guys, I’m totally good for it. I just need the State of Nevada to float me $500 million. I believe that qualifies as a ‘micro loan.’ Again, I’m totes good for it.”
The Nevada legislature may be zeroing in on a deal, but they’re still waiting on “specific language.” I’m no constitutional scholar, but I feel like specific language is fairly important here.
“I’ve already lost my monocle! And the Nevada legislature adjourns June 5!” Pennybags cries out, nearly doing a spit take as he lifts his snifter of brandy to his mouth [the time passed 5 pm during his discussion with Fisher, making the harder alcohols socially acceptable].
Oakland is in last place with the worst record in the AL West. The fans shouldn’t be blamed for not coming to the stadium. The Montreal Expos had strong attendance when they gave fans a reason to show up, too.
If A’s ownership took steps to field a competitive team, they might draw more fans. That, however, wouldn’t get them a new stadium in Las Vegas. They may sign Tom Berenger and Dennis Heysbert to tank the season but wind up galvanizing the team and fan base.
OR Hollywood could present us with a Major League sequel where a dad and his son reunite on a ragtag group of misfits on a team disregarded by the masses. Then Manager Dad guides the club to success and becomes a father-figure to the others.
And we all learn something about ourselves in the process.
