Elephant Rumblings: Goodbye to the Oakland Athletics
MLB news roundup
It’s Monday, Athletics Nation.
Today is the first day of the post-Oakland era of Athletics baseball. The A’s played their final game in Oakland uniforms against the Mariners yesterday to close out a challenging season that was marked by struggles through the first half but saw the team greatly improve through the summer.
The final stretch of the season was especially tough, as the reality of the team’s departure from the Bay Area became more palpable and the A’s again found themselves struggling to win games, going just 2-7 through their last nine games and getting swept by the Yankees and Mariners.
The A’s were looking to hit the 70 win mark this year to demonstrate significant improvement and positive momentum, and a week or so ago the goal seemed very attainable. But the team fell just short, finishing with a 69-93 record.
Some individual players fell just short of reaching big milestones, as well. Brent Rooker had a fantastic year, but just missed hitting 40 home runs and ending the season with a .300-plus average. Shea Langeliers fell one homer short of his first 30-plus season. Mason Miller didn’t lose his stuff, but he blew his final save opportunity of the season on Saturday, and I don’t think I was the only one who noticed that the A’s closer went from “fuhgeddaboutit” level to—-well, just a damn good reliever as the season wound down. Lawrence Butler also cooled down as the season waned.
Still, the A’s on-field improvement was massive this season. And every one of the above mentioned A’s stars deserves congratulations for lifting the A’s out of the MLB cellar and towards respectability. There’s reason to hope for continued improvement, if you can stomach that the A’s will be out of Oakland and playing home games at a Triple-A ballpark in Sacramento next year.
Don’t call ‘em the Sactown Athletics—they’ll just be the A’s. But I won’t blame you if you insist on calling them the Oakland Athletics, which they would remain if everything was right in the world.
One last toast to the Oakland Athletics, by far my all-time favorite team in professional sports. Thanks for the memories.
A’s Coverage:
- Athletics drop season finale, fall to Mariners 6-4
- Eyeball Scout: Young Pitchers Plan For 2025
- For A’s super fan ‘Road Trip Mike,’ devotion to team was a life-saver ($)
- How die-hard A’s fan Tom Hanks reacted to team’s Oakland departure
- Oakland A’s share favorite moments from Oakland Coliseum finale
MLB News & Interest:
- Who should win MLB’s MVP, Cy Young, top rookie and manager awards for 2024 ($)
- Skip Schumaker Will Not Return As Marlins’ Manager
- Paul Skenes Ks Juan Soto, Aaron Judge to cap most dominant rookie pitching season in 50 years ($)
- How MLB players cope with — and grow from — playing on a terrible team: ‘You find ways’ ($)
- Cardinals To Part Ways With Paul Goldschmidt, Could Reduce Payroll This Winter
- Report: Cardinals Open To Offers On Sonny Gray
- Justin Turner Plans To Continue Playing In 2025
- Ozzie Virgil Sr. Passes Away
- Twins To Retain Derek Falvey, Rocco Baldelli For 2025
- Latest On Anthony Rizzo
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
The GOAT throws the last first pitch.
Classy, Mariners. Very classy. https://t.co/o7aCPXfHOq
— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) September 29, 2024
Last call.
"That will mark the last time we will see the name OAKLAND on the front of the A's uniform." -@KenKorachRadio with the final call pic.twitter.com/pjUibIzzIQ
— The Rickey Henderson of Blogs (@RickeyBlog) September 29, 2024
The last knock.
Darell Hernaiz drove in two runs in the bottom of the ninth for the final hit in Oakland A's history pic.twitter.com/PgSJc1dz6c
— The Rickey Henderson of Blogs (@RickeyBlog) September 29, 2024
Thank you, Max!
Thank you, Oakland. Proud to play my first full season in the big leagues as an Oakland A!! pic.twitter.com/154SdmlFAk
— Max Schuemann (@maxschuemann) September 30, 2024
A final goodbye.
One final send off to the players as they leave T-Mobile park in the team bus. pic.twitter.com/karToyff7s
— Last Dive Bar (@LastDiveBar) September 29, 2024
Rooker and Miller should be a lock.
Brent Rooker, Mason Miller and Shea Langeliers are on the ballot for the official 2024 All-MLB Team: pic.twitter.com/acP8iHeVqm
— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) September 29, 2024
A few postmortem stats.
1,107 players have played for the Oakland A’s. https://t.co/T1vE8ZmqJc
— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) September 29, 2024
A message to A’s fans from Dallas.
I know that Thursday was a day we will never forget. Today is not much easier. A’s fans, you have raised me from a boy to a man to a husband & now a proud father. You have been my heartbeat in the most trying of times. I hope I’ve represented you with as much love & respect as… pic.twitter.com/CKgqeUWHRJ
— Dallas Braden (@DALLASBRADEN209) September 29, 2024
Fierce Fisher critic is a new daddy.
Last night I became a dad! Mom and little guy are thriving, so all is well. Im taking a little time off so I’ll see you soon.
— Trevor May (@IamTrevorMay) September 29, 2024
Vince gets love from the fam as well as the fans.
And I’m trying to do a baseball game ❤️❤️❤️ with an assist from Brian and LDB. Thanks and love to all pic.twitter.com/LzabC9JGsA
— Vince Cotroneo (@CotroneoVince) September 29, 2024
It’s like rain on your wedding day.
The San Diego Padres, who are losing 6-1 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, are actually WINNING.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) September 29, 2024
You see, if the Padres lose today, it forces Atlanta and the Mets to play at least one game Monday in Atlanta.
It also could force Atlanta to pitch Cy Young favorite Chris Sale so he can't…