MLB Commish - Rob Manfred pressures Stu Sternberg to sell the Rays...finally! (2 Viewers)

[Ministry of Pain]

MLB boss Rob Manfred reportedly pressuring Rays owner Stu Sternberg to sell team as stadium drama continues

Sternberg purchased the franchise for $65 million in October 2005

www.cbssports.com

I was at the first Rays game in 1998, they went thru some terrible times and honestly the run they were on prior to last season where they made the Playoffs several years in a row including the WS is nothing short of remarkable...because they have an El Cheapo owner

Stu makes as much or more than many of the other owners that spend significantly more on their rosters. Stu pockets a lot of cash and he 's the owner so I guess he's entitled
Stu dragged his feet getting a new stadium deal talking about it for years and years and teasing which side of the Bay deserved to host the Rays
I was willing to turn a blind eye because I do enjoy going to Tropicana Field in the AC during the summer, going to Fergs before and after, just having fun with my son and family

But then the Hurrcane destroyed the roof and also a big part of the interior of the stadium which sustained damage with falling debris from above. Any contractor in Tampa would have jumped to try and get the roof back together and it might have taken the 2025 season but Stu doesn't seem interested in a quick fix so he can build the new stadium, he sorta wants to hold everyone hostage and in limbo. Meanwhile he just rolls the team over to Tampa where he plays in one of the premier SIngle-A MLB parks in the country It holds close to 10,000 and thats about all they get most nights at the Trop

With so many folks that lost their homes and their lives completely devastated around Florida, it's disheartening to hear him cry poor or pretend that the solution to get things rolling in 2025 becomes a permanent solution and I hate to say it like this but if you allow him to run the team this way, he's keep doing it and push the new stadium deal off to 2032

On the surface, you would think people on the Tampa side of the Bay would be delighted to not have to drive and see MLB, I bet they easily fill the place up in April/May
But I also think people will hate it quickly, heat and humidity will wipe folks out when they try and watch the games in person

Enough is Enough, I would love to see the owners rise up and force a sale here to someone dedicated to expanding the brand in Tampa Bay the way the Lightning have done in hockey
Good Bye Stu...except I don't think he will sell, he's a real PIA for MLB

"Sternberg and local leaders have been fighting all winter over funding for the proposed $1.3 billion stadium deal in the Gas Plant District."
-Terrible look since he bought the team for a lowly $65M in 2005...they would easily sell for close to 1 Billion now

 

[BeTheMatch]

Then do Pittsburgh. And Minnesota. And...

 

[Capella]

Insane this scumbag agreed to this deal last summer and then a HURRICANE hit and he decided he wanted to take advantage of that and try to screw the area for more money. Legendary scumbag.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Then do Pittsburgh. And Minnesota. And...

Twins are slated to be sold before opening day '25

 

[BeTheMatch]

Then do Pittsburgh. And Minnesota. And...

Twins are slated to be sold before opening day '25

Not anymore. It fell apart and there is reportedly no backup plan at this point.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Insane this scumbag agreed to this deal last summer and then a HURRICANE hit and he decided he wanted to take advantage of that and try to screw the area for more money. Legendary scumbag.

Amen!

-Nothing is more fun than putting around downtown St Pete on my Bday in April and taking my son over to the ballpark and visiting Green Bench
I love downtown St Pete since they redid the pier. I thought the Grand Prix last week looked sensational on TV

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Then do Pittsburgh. And Minnesota. And...

Twins are slated to be sold before opening day '25

Not anymore. It fell apart and there is reportedly no backup plan at this point.

You bring up good points about a handful of other teams, we could add the Marlins in there.
I get why the Florida teams have trouble with MLB, the Rays do a much better job than the Marlins not just in wins and losses but the fan experience at the Trop way better
I use to go to Marlins Park when Jose Fernandez was alive
Any time he drew a start at home especially on a week night where I could buy a ticket right off the 1st base bag and watch him up close
The Marlins have just never been the same since that tragedy took place

 

[TheAristocrat]

Then do Pittsburgh. And Minnesota. And...

Twins are slated to be sold before opening day '25

Not anymore. It fell apart and there is reportedly no backup plan at this point.

Guy wants to invest more into the White Sox which hit me a little deeper than it should have

 

[Eephus]

They misspelled John Fisher

 

[Ministry of Pain]

If La Teresita provides the food at Steinbrenner Field (thought it was called Legends Field) then all will be good

 

[SWC]

i hope they sell them to jimmy butler and he sticks it to all of the florida residents for how pat reilly treated him with crazy ticket prices and no more ballpark franks instead only kale take that to the bank brohans

 

[HellToupee]

As a Red Sox fan I say let him stay . I would hate to see a competent owner there

 

[Capella]

As a Red Sox fan I say let him stay . I would hate to see a competent owner there

???? They may have the most competent front office in all of sports. I guess you mean an owner who spends more? The whole FO could walk if Sternberg sells (I’m fine with it of course he’s horrible). But I expect the franchise would take a step back if it happens.

 

[HellToupee]

As a Red Sox fan I say let him stay . I would hate to see a competent owner there

???? They may have the most competent front office in all of sports. I guess you mean an owner who spends more? The whole FO could walk if Sternberg sells (I’m fine with it of course he’s horrible). But I expect the franchise would take a step back if it happens.

Yes the owner. If that’s the case that the whole front office leaves then I hope he sells . That FO does a great job

 

[SWC]

As a Red Sox fan I say let him stay . I would hate to see a competent owner there

???? They may have the most competent front office in all of sports. I guess you mean an owner who spends more? The whole FO could walk if Sternberg sells (I’m fine with it of course he’s horrible). But I expect the franchise would take a step back if it happens.

why would they leave if he sold honest question i dont know the situation at all if they do leave i hope they come to milwaukee though take that to the bank bromigo

 

[Capella]

As a Red Sox fan I say let him stay . I would hate to see a competent owner there

???? They may have the most competent front office in all of sports. I guess you mean an owner who spends more? The whole FO could walk if Sternberg sells (I’m fine with it of course he’s horrible). But I expect the franchise would take a step back if it happens.

why would they leave if he sold honest question i dont know the situation at all if they do leave i hope they come to milwaukee though take that to the bank bromigo

A lot of them originally came with him from Wall Street and some are still there. Idk if they’ll leave or not but new owners usually want their own people and this front office is pretty connected to the owner. Hope they don’t!

 

[UncleZen]

As a Red Sox fan I say let him stay . I would hate to see a competent owner there

???? They may have the most competent front office in all of sports. I guess you mean an owner who spends more? The whole FO could walk if Sternberg sells (I’m fine with it of course he’s horrible). But I expect the franchise would take a step back if it happens.

why would they leave if he sold honest question i dont know the situation at all if they do leave i hope they come to milwaukee though take that to the bank bromigo

A lot of them originally came with him from Wall Street and some are still there. Idk if they’ll leave or not but new owners usually want their own people and this front office is pretty connected to the owner. Hope they don’t!

It's their scouting dept, president, and coaching staff that make the Rays what they are. I doubt the front office contributes much other than shedding salaries.

 

[Instinctive]

As a Red Sox fan I say let him stay . I would hate to see a competent owner there

???? They may have the most competent front office in all of sports. I guess you mean an owner who spends more? The whole FO could walk if Sternberg sells (I’m fine with it of course he’s horrible). But I expect the franchise would take a step back if it happens.

why would they leave if he sold honest question i dont know the situation at all if they do leave i hope they come to milwaukee though take that to the bank bromigo

A lot of them originally came with him from Wall Street and some are still there. Idk if they’ll leave or not but new owners usually want their own people and this front office is pretty connected to the owner. Hope they don’t!

It's their scouting dept, president, and coaching staff that make the Rays what they are. I doubt the front office contributes much other than shedding salaries.

Scouting is part of the front office...most teams president of baseball ops is the head of the front office, and technically the coaching staff are part of the front office.

 

[Capella]

As a Red Sox fan I say let him stay . I would hate to see a competent owner there

???? They may have the most competent front office in all of sports. I guess you mean an owner who spends more? The whole FO could walk if Sternberg sells (I’m fine with it of course he’s horrible). But I expect the franchise would take a step back if it happens.

why would they leave if he sold honest question i dont know the situation at all if they do leave i hope they come to milwaukee though take that to the bank bromigo

A lot of them originally came with him from Wall Street and some are still there. Idk if they’ll leave or not but new owners usually want their own people and this front office is pretty connected to the owner. Hope they don’t!

It's their scouting dept, president, and coaching staff that make the Rays what they are. I doubt the front office contributes much other than shedding salaries.

The front office hires all of those people and sets the blueprint for how the org does things. The Rays Way is a pretty well-known thing in baseball it seems.

 

[gump]

It’s official…new stadium deal is dead:

https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-announce-they-won-t-move-ahead-with-new-ballpark

 

[Eephus]

It’s official…new stadium deal is dead:

https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-announce-they-won-t-move-ahead-with-new-ballpark

Least surprising news ever for anyone who's been following this saga for a decade.

 

[Capella]

It’s official…new stadium deal is dead:

https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-announce-they-won-t-move-ahead-with-new-ballpark

Least surprising news ever for anyone who's been following this saga for a decade.

Uhhh it’s pretty surprising. He’s passing on over a billion in redevelopment rights. There has to be something else to it, some think a sale announcement is coming.

 

[Eephus]

Uhhh it’s pretty surprising. He’s passing on over a billion in redevelopment rights. There has to be something else to it, some think a sale announcement is coming.

I'll take your word for it but as someone who's been through this recently with the Oaklands, there's a familiar stench of cheese being moved again.

 

[gump]

Jane Castor (Mayor of Tampa):
I am disappointed to hear that the Rays don’t intend to follow through with stadium plans in St. Petersburg. The goal has always been to keep the team in Tampa Bay. The City, Tampa Sports Authority, and County are happy to speak with the team once again, but any proposal will have to make sense for our taxpayers and community.

 

[Capella]

Uhhh it’s pretty surprising. He’s passing on over a billion in redevelopment rights. There has to be something else to it, some think a sale announcement is coming.

I'll take your word for it but as someone who's been through this recently with the Oaklands, there's a familiar stench of cheese being moved again.

Manfred could be lying and obviously has before but there is no reason for them to want to leave this market. It’s the 12th largest in the nation and the Bolts and Bucs draw well in Tampa. Rays tv numbers are excellent. Manfred came in last month and promised the county if they approved the bonds the team would stay in the Tampa area, with or without Stu.

My opinion is MLB is tired of Stu and is forcing him to sell. I believe a new ownership group will be announced by the all-star break.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

My opinion is MLB is tired of Stu and is forcing him to sell.

I think this is what MLB is trying to do, too, and new ownership will magically have a path to a new park.

How do the Rays TV numbers compare to other markets? Not necessarily talking sheer counting numbers, but - say - % of population or whatever RSNs use for metrics nowadays or ad revenue.

 

[ChiefD]

My opinion is MLB is tired of Stu and is forcing him to sell. I believe a new ownership group will be announced by the all-star break.

Yet Fisher can get away with it.

MLB is flat out nuts.

 

[Chemical X]

at what point does mlb realize that baseball in florida doesn’t work? not enough people go, way too many other things to do. just my .02. i don’t think drawing 10,000 a game is the long term plan.

 

[Instinctive]

My opinion is MLB is tired of Stu and is forcing him to sell. I believe a new ownership group will be announced by the all-star break.

Yet Fisher can get away with it.

MLB is flat out nuts.

Idk about get away with it. They haven't wanted a team in Oakland for some time. The Giants already cover the south bay area and East Bay isn't profitable.

 

[rockaction]

As a Red Sox fan I say let him stay . I would hate to see a competent owner there

???? They may have the most competent front office in all of sports. I guess you mean an owner who spends more? The whole FO could walk if Sternberg sells (I’m fine with it of course he’s horrible). But I expect the franchise would take a step back if it happens.

why would they leave if he sold honest question i dont know the situation at all if they do leave i hope they come to milwaukee though take that to the bank bromigo

A lot of them originally came with him from Wall Street and some are still there. Idk if they’ll leave or not but new owners usually want their own people and this front office is pretty connected to the owner. Hope they don’t!

It's their scouting dept, president, and coaching staff that make the Rays what they are. I doubt the front office contributes much other than shedding salaries.

Scouting is part of the front office...most teams president of baseball ops is the head of the front office, and technically the coaching staff are part of the front office.

Scouts and club managers are part of the front office? I'm not so sure about that. They might answer to a person in the front office that heads their department, but I don't think anybody considers a roving scout part of the front office. Part of the organization, yes.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I followed this sport ardently for fifteen-twenty years and I never heard coaches or scouts described as part of the front office.

eta* It's why when there's a strike you always hear about the coaches being in the middle of it all. Not part of the player's union and not part of the front office.

 

[Instinctive]

As a Red Sox fan I say let him stay . I would hate to see a competent owner there

???? They may have the most competent front office in all of sports. I guess you mean an owner who spends more? The whole FO could walk if Sternberg sells (I’m fine with it of course he’s horrible). But I expect the franchise would take a step back if it happens.

why would they leave if he sold honest question i dont know the situation at all if they do leave i hope they come to milwaukee though take that to the bank bromigo

A lot of them originally came with him from Wall Street and some are still there. Idk if they’ll leave or not but new owners usually want their own people and this front office is pretty connected to the owner. Hope they don’t!

It's their scouting dept, president, and coaching staff that make the Rays what they are. I doubt the front office contributes much other than shedding salaries.

Scouting is part of the front office...most teams president of baseball ops is the head of the front office, and technically the coaching staff are part of the front office.

Scouts and club managers are part of the front office? I'm not so sure about that. They might answer to a person in the front office that heads their department, but I don't think anybody considers a roving scout part of the front office. Part of the organization, yes.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I followed this sport ardently for fifteen-twenty years and I never heard coaches or scouts described as part of the front office.

eta* It's why when there's a strike you always hear about the coaches being in the middle of it all. Not part of the player's union and not part of the front office.

You could convince me that to the layperson, a front office is just the executive leadership of Baseball Operations.

I don't love the term front office to begin with. Each team has Baseball Operations staff and Business Operations staff. Two houses almost completely separated.

Everyone in baseball operations reports to the General Manager. Many teams also give this person an additional title like VP or President of Baseball Operations. Some teams split that role and the GM reports to the President of Ops but that's just title inflation. In practice that means the GM is just the assistant GM.

So to me, all of baseball operations is one group and I would use the term front office synonymously, but I'm not gonna die on the hill.


ETA: the strike point is nonsensical. Front office, or baseball operations personnel (including coaches), aren't part of it. A strike or lockout is a labor dispute between the players union and the owners. Or it could be between the umps union and owners. Etc. Any reporter who said that a strike is between the players and front office did a bad job.

You don't strike against GMs. They have no bargaining power to give you anything!

 

[rockaction]

ETA: the strike point is nonsensical. Front office, or baseball operations personnel (including coaches), aren't part of it. A strike or lockout is a labor dispute between the players union and the owners. Or it could be between the umps union and owners. Etc. Any reporter who said that a strike is between the players and front office did a bad job.

You don't strike against GMs. They have no bargaining power to give you anything!

Right. My mistake. They usually include GMs in the little aside, and GMs are certainly what I would consider front office.

To the layperson like myself, the front office also includes "those finance guys," or what you would call Business Operations. But I'm certainly willing to see your point about Baseball Operations and Business Operations separated if it makes for a fuller understanding of what goes on.

Your description makes the modern "front office" make a little more sense with all the VPs and President of Baseball Operations being tossed around. I wonder why that is; or why the title got inflated. Did they take on any different roles than the traditional GM did? Did they get an equity stake in the team? You've explained it interestingly and made it a little more easily understood. Beneath all the jargon at the end of the day, there's still a guy with the penultimate role in deciding upon personnel matters. What caused the title inflation?

 

[UncleZen]

I admittedly don't know the differences in what you consider what regarding the front office but what I know is the Rays scouting and coaching staff is top notch. If they were allowed to spend some money, I feel they would regularly compete for championships. The whole stadium fiasco is joke. Stu needs to sell the damn team to someone who wants to move the team to Tampa.

 

[UncleZen]

Also, for those that say baseball doesn't work in Florida, they also used to say hockey didn't work in Florida. I would say they are doing pretty well now.

 

[Instinctive]

ETA: the strike point is nonsensical. Front office, or baseball operations personnel (including coaches), aren't part of it. A strike or lockout is a labor dispute between the players union and the owners. Or it could be between the umps union and owners. Etc. Any reporter who said that a strike is between the players and front office did a bad job.

You don't strike against GMs. They have no bargaining power to give you anything!

Right. My mistake. They usually include GMs in the little aside, and GMs are certainly what I would consider front office.

To the layperson like myself, the front office also includes "those finance guys," or what you would call Business Operations. But I'm certainly willing to see your point about Baseball Operations and Business Operations separated if it makes for a fuller understanding of what goes on.

Your description makes the modern "front office" make a little more sense with all the VPs and President of Baseball Operations being tossed around. I wonder why that is; or why the title got inflated. Did they take on any different roles than the traditional GM did? Did they get an equity stake in the team? You've explained it interestingly and made it a little more easily understood. Beneath all the jargon at the end of the day, there's still a guy with the penultimate role in deciding upon personnel matters. What caused the title inflation?

The finance guys are back office. Think of back office as any role that would exist in a more typical business. Accounting. Finance. Real estate. HR. Etc etc.

I don't pretend to know exactly why titles got inflated, but the general hypothesis I have is: as MBAs and highly educated smart people began to take over those roles vs just former players, they began to modernize them to match structures more like any company. Something I see in my work is a client where they'll have a bunch of VPs and a few senior VPs when 20 years ago those where just directors and VPs respectively. But a title bump is a way to create a feel of progression and promotion and growth. It also is a way to steal people away. I imagine someone was an assistant GM and another team basically wanted them to do that for their team, so they offered a GM role (otherwise why leave) but they liked their GM so they made him Prez of BBall Ops...which basically means they had a GM and an Assistant GM LOL.

I have never once heard of anyone in a front office role (read: Insert Sport Name followed by Operations) getting equity. Sports teams are WAY too valuable and the jobs are too sought after to do that. The only equity holding front office person I know of is Kirk Lacob (NBA, Warriors), and that's because his dad is the owner not because he negotiated some equity for his role.

At the end of the day re: jargon you're exactly right.

 

[Capella]

All I can tell you about the Rays is the team President worked with the owner at Goldman Sachs. If Stu leaves, Silverman is leaving for sure. No new owner would leave him in place. So if the Rays sell, that’s probably good for the area but the team also may take a step back. But then the new owners may spend more.

 

[Capella]

My opinion is MLB is tired of Stu and is forcing him to sell.

I think this is what MLB is trying to do, too, and new ownership will magically have a path to a new park.

How do the Rays TV numbers compare to other markets? Not necessarily talking sheer counting numbers, but - say - % of population or whatever RSNs use for metrics nowadays or ad revenue.

Idk how they compare but I’ve always read from the local beats that they do very well.

 

[Capella]

at what point does mlb realize that baseball in florida doesn’t work? not enough people go, way too many other things to do. just my .02. i don’t think drawing 10,000 a game is the long term plan.

Hockey doesn’t work in Florida either. The Lighting in Tampa have the longest sellout streak in the NHL. The rays are in a terrible location.

 

[rockaction]

The finance guys are back office. Think of back office as any role that would exist in a more typical business. Accounting. Finance. Real estate. HR. Etc etc.

I don't pretend to know exactly why titles got inflated, but the general hypothesis I have is: as MBAs and highly educated smart people began to take over those roles vs just former players, they began to modernize them to match structures more like any company. Something I see in my work is a client where they'll have a bunch of VPs and a few senior VPs when 20 years ago those where just directors and VPs respectively. But a title bump is a way to create a feel of progression and promotion and growth. It also is a way to steal people away. I imagine someone was an assistant GM and another team basically wanted them to do that for their team, so they offered a GM role (otherwise why leave) but they liked their GM so they made him Prez of BBall Ops...which basically means they had a GM and an Assistant GM LOL.

I have never once heard of anyone in a front office role (read: Insert Sport Name followed by Operations) getting equity. Sports teams are WAY too valuable and the jobs are too sought after to do that. The only equity holding front office person I know of is Kirk Lacob (NBA, Warriors), and that's because his dad is the owner not because he negotiated some equity for his role.

At the end of the day re: jargon you're exactly right.

I think I've got it about the back office.

Thanks for the explanation about the equity and the titles. That's wild about the puffery there. And that makes sense about nobody having equity in the clubs. Sports teams are indeed crazy valuable.

 

[Instinctive]

All I can tell you about the Rays is the team President worked with the owner at Goldman Sachs. If Stu leaves, Silverman is leaving for sure. No new owner would leave him in place. So if the Rays sell, that’s probably good for the area but the team also may take a step back. But then the new owners may spend more.

If it gives you hope, I don't think he does baseball operations anymore. A few years ago he moved to Team President (kinda like RC Buford did in San Antonio) because he wanted to do the business side of the team. They promoted Erik Neander from within and he's been running the baseball side for 5-6 years now I think.

So a new owner totally might leave him in place, but they also might not. And he might not want to stay - most of the Team Presidents I know retire from it or go to the league office or leave the sport altogether when it's their time to go vs going to a different team. Exceptions to every rule im sure, but I'm not aware of one.

 

[Instinctive]

The finance guys are back office. Think of back office as any role that would exist in a more typical business. Accounting. Finance. Real estate. HR. Etc etc.

I don't pretend to know exactly why titles got inflated, but the general hypothesis I have is: as MBAs and highly educated smart people began to take over those roles vs just former players, they began to modernize them to match structures more like any company. Something I see in my work is a client where they'll have a bunch of VPs and a few senior VPs when 20 years ago those where just directors and VPs respectively. But a title bump is a way to create a feel of progression and promotion and growth. It also is a way to steal people away. I imagine someone was an assistant GM and another team basically wanted them to do that for their team, so they offered a GM role (otherwise why leave) but they liked their GM so they made him Prez of BBall Ops...which basically means they had a GM and an Assistant GM LOL.

I have never once heard of anyone in a front office role (read: Insert Sport Name followed by Operations) getting equity. Sports teams are WAY too valuable and the jobs are too sought after to do that. The only equity holding front office person I know of is Kirk Lacob (NBA, Warriors), and that's because his dad is the owner not because he negotiated some equity for his role.

At the end of the day re: jargon you're exactly right.

I think I've got it about the back office.

Thanks for the explanation about the equity and the titles. That's wild about the puffery there. And that makes sense about nobody having equity in the clubs. Sports teams are indeed crazy valuable.

No problem. It's fun to share. And I don't know for sure nobody has equity. I've just never heard of it. I'm a couple years out of date on really feeling like I know it in and out but I still have a network in there.

 

[ChiefD]

My opinion is MLB is tired of Stu and is forcing him to sell. I believe a new ownership group will be announced by the all-star break.

Yet Fisher can get away with it.

MLB is flat out nuts.

Idk about get away with it. They haven't wanted a team in Oakland for some time. The Giants already cover the south bay area and East Bay isn't profitable.

Say what now? Oakland has supported that team when ownership gave them a reason to.

The only reason the A’s moved to Las Vegas is because it is a small enough market so Fisher can still receive revenue sharing. The A’s in Oakland were on the verge of losing their small market status, which means they were going to lose revenue sharing dollars.

The Bay Area is the 8th largest tv market in the US. And on top of that, the money the A’s are spending on payroll this year? They HAD to, or they were going to get sanctioned by MLB.

Fisher is a piece of crap.

 

[Instinctive]

My opinion is MLB is tired of Stu and is forcing him to sell. I believe a new ownership group will be announced by the all-star break.

Yet Fisher can get away with it.

MLB is flat out nuts.

Idk about get away with it. They haven't wanted a team in Oakland for some time. The Giants already cover the south bay area and East Bay isn't profitable.

Say what now? Oakland has supported that team when ownership gave them a reason to.

The only reason the A’s moved to Las Vegas is because it is a small enough market so Fisher can still receive revenue sharing. The A’s in Oakland were on the verge of losing their small market status, which means they were going to lose revenue sharing dollars.

The Bay Area is the 8th largest tv market in the US. And on top of that, the money the A’s are spending on payroll this year? They HAD to, or they were going to get sanctioned by MLB.

Fisher is a piece of crap.

Eh. I think we will just have to agree to disagree. I know John and his family and they're kind, goodhearted people. On the other hand, the city of Oakland is a place I did my absolute best to never find myself in if at all possible.

I know Dave very well and we talked at length for a couple years about how much of a pain in the *** and roadblock the city was being first on any renovations then on zoning for any growth or development and finally on a good stadium deal at all.

I don't think I'm going to, not do I need to, convince you of these things. You might have a personal connection and be really upset to lose a team. I get that - I have a burning hatred of Patrick Dumont and Nico Harrison, but I've never met either and wouldn't be able to say anything about their character, beyond the gross trashing of Luka in public post trade that I think was pretty classless.

I just don't think it's right to call someone a piece of crap unless you've actually met them or seen how they treat people or have some other inside knowledge I'm unaware of. I think that's a pretty crappy thing to do.

 

[ChiefD]

You won’t convince me. Your buddy ripped the hearts out of generations of A’s fans.

That means something to me. I guess I relate better to the poor folk.

 

[Eephus]

I have never once heard of anyone in a front office role (read: Insert Sport Name followed by Operations) getting equity. Sports teams are WAY too valuable and the jobs are too sought after to do that. The only equity holding front office person I know of is Kirk Lacob (NBA, Warriors), and that's because his dad is the owner not because he negotiated some equity for his role.

Billy Beane has an small ownership position in the Athletics. It used to be 4% but I believe he's since sold some of that other investors.

 

[Eephus]

Eh. I think we will just have to agree to disagree. I know John and his family and they're kind, goodhearted people. On the other hand, the city of Oakland is a place I did my absolute best to never find myself in if at all possible.

I know Dave very well and we talked at length for a couple years about how much of a pain in the *** and roadblock the city was being first on any renovations then on zoning for any growth or development and finally on a good stadium deal at all.

There are at least two sides to every story.

 

[Capella]

All I can tell you about the Rays is the team President worked with the owner at Goldman Sachs. If Stu leaves, Silverman is leaving for sure. No new owner would leave him in place. So if the Rays sell, that’s probably good for the area but the team also may take a step back. But then the new owners may spend more.

If it gives you hope, I don't think he does baseball operations anymore. A few years ago he moved to Team President (kinda like RC Buford did in San Antonio) because he wanted to do the business side of the team. They promoted Erik Neander from within and he's been running the baseball side for 5-6 years now I think.

So a new owner totally might leave him in place, but they also might not. And he might not want to stay - most of the Team Presidents I know retire from it or go to the league office or leave the sport altogether when it's their time to go vs going to a different team. Exceptions to every rule im sure, but I'm not aware of one.

I don’t see anyway Silverman stays for sure and I also think Neander would move on. Hope I’m wrong!

 

[Spartans Rule]

Say what now? Oakland has supported that team when ownership gave them a reason to.

The only reason the A’s moved to Las Vegas is because it is a small enough market so Fisher can still receive revenue sharing. The A’s in Oakland were on the verge of losing their small market status, which means they were going to lose revenue sharing dollars.

The Bay Area is the 8th largest tv market in the US. And on top of that, the money the A’s are spending on payroll this year? They HAD to, or they were going to get sanctioned by MLB.

Oakland won 97 games in both 2018 and 2019 and ranked 27th and 24th in attendance. I remember those maps that showed fanhood by county based on social media data and the A’s weren’t the most popular team anywhere. Even in Alameda they were a little behind the Giants.

I don’t say that to bash Oakland fans or defend everything Fisher does. I’m just not sure why the 8th largest TV market in the country needs two MLB teams. It sucks for the diehard fans any time a team moves but if it never happened the A’s would still be in Philly.

 

[rockaction]

I just don't think it's right to call someone a piece of crap unless you've actually met them or seen how they treat people or have some other inside knowledge I'm unaware of. I think that's a pretty crappy thing to do.

I think avarice is one of the seven deadly sins and we can adequately judge people if they demonstrate overt or obvious signs of committing that sin. I think it's long been in human nature to judge one's methods of acquiring and spending material wealth, and I think it's necessary and good.

I know I often judge one's character by how one makes and spends—I think it's a natural instinct that serves society well.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Say what now? Oakland has supported that team when ownership gave them a reason to.

The only reason the A’s moved to Las Vegas is because it is a small enough market so Fisher can still receive revenue sharing. The A’s in Oakland were on the verge of losing their small market status, which means they were going to lose revenue sharing dollars.

The Bay Area is the 8th largest tv market in the US. And on top of that, the money the A’s are spending on payroll this year? They HAD to, or they were going to get sanctioned by MLB.

Oakland won 97 games in both 2018 and 2019 and ranked 27th and 24th in attendance. I remember those maps that showed fanhood by county based on social media data and the A’s weren’t the most popular team anywhere. Even in Alameda they were a little behind the Giants.

I don’t say that to bash Oakland fans or defend everything Fisher does. I’m just not sure why the 8th largest TV market in the country needs two MLB teams. It sucks for the diehard fans any time a team moves but if it never happened the A’s would still be in Philly.

The A's existence in Philly was kind of wild. They were either really, really good or really, really bad. They were owned by people who couldn't really afford it (then as now, I guess) and who would dump all their players once they got good and asked for more money.

Yet they were more successful than the Phillies, who were almost continually bad for the first half of the 20th century. But then the Phillies were bought by the Carpenter family, which had DuPont money, and after that were never in jeopardy of leaving.