The A’s are pushing hard for a new stadium and the organization has set its sights on the city of San Jose as their new home. The San Francisco Giants, however, contend that San Jose falls within their organization’s territorial rights and are trying to stop the A’s from violating those rights.

A’s owner Lew Wolff and general manager Billy Beane have been patiently waiting for a new stadium, but MLB and Bud Selig have played the waiting game with the cash-strapped Athletics for nearly three years now. Oakland needs the approval from MLB and Selig before any new stadium can be built in San Jose.  (more…)

With the offseason approaching, baseball executives like A’s GM Billy Beane are probably already laying out their plans for the 2012 season. Beane, however, has a lot on his plate this offseason. Oakland currently plays in one of baseball’s worst stadiums and are currently pushing for a move to San Jose. A lot of what Beane does this offseason depends on whether or not the A’s will be allowed to move to San Jose.

If the small-budget A’s are allowed to move to San Jose, the team is expected to undergo another rebuilding phase. By undergoing another rebuild, the A’s figure they’ll have a contender to show off in their nice, shiny, and state-of-the-art stadium in San Jose.

Getting denied by Selig, however, would likely result in the A’s becoming aggressive spenders as a way to attract future buyers. The team, stuck in a five year postseason drought, would likely spend to stay competitive and appealing to potential owners.

Lew Wolff, who bought the team back in 2005, has tried to move the team out of Oakland, but hasn’t had very much success. Getting denied would likely mean the end of the Wolff era. (more…)

The A's are in serious need of a new stadium. (Photo Credit: www.probaseballforsanjose.com)

Nearly three years after Bud Selig appointed a special committee to oversee all of Oakland’s stadium options, the A’s still remain in limbo. The A’s remain prisoners in the confining cavern that is O.co Coliseum, and MLB isn’t doing much to help free the A’s.

General manager Billy Beane and the rest of the A’s front office are being held as captives of this on-going stadium issue, and as a result, cannot layout any long-term plans. Not being able to plan accordingly could do some serious damage to the A’s. For a team that missed the playoffs for a fifth-consecutive season this year, the A’s would like to turn things around sooner rather than later.

It is quite sad that, as a major league team, the A’s play in one of the most outdated stadiums in baseball. Heck, the A’s minor league affiliates, like the Sacramento River Cats, play on better fields than the A’s. Owner Lew Wolff has repeatedly state before in the past that the team is likely, if granted permission, to move out of Oakland. (more…)