Could The Athletics Finally Move...???

((HT: KPIX-TV))

When MLB Commissioner Bud Selig jumps in and actually tells the Oakland Athletics that they can get up and move if there's no new deal put together with the Oakland Coliseum board- that's huge news...

And, of course, it's put in the headlines at the same time as the A's made a great deal for starting pitching and are off to one of the best starts in the season for all of Major League Baseball.

If a new 10-year deal isn't put on the table and agreed to, could the A's go to San Antonio or Montreal...???

That's the question posed by SFGate's Matier and Ross quoting City Council President Larry Reid as saying the A's "have options."

Here's the analysis for now as everyone wonders if the City Council are ready to play chicken with a major tenant...


If Oakland moved to Montreal, it would cause upheaval in the American League Division structure. It would make more sense, for preservation sake, if Tampa was the team to go after years of failing (and flailing) support.

Warren Cromartie and the Montreal Baseball Project have been shouting from the rooftops about a downtown, retractable roof stadium that would give the city a more tenable place to watch a sport and team the city could wrap themselves around- as they did with the Expos.

San Antonio is mentioned, but the Alamodome is only 280-feet down the right field line. Optimistically, the right field foul pole at Fenway is listed at one distance, but may be really 297 feet.

Vegas...??? Too hot... and the gambling influence may be too much.
Sacramento and Portland are both top-25 markets, but the stadium sizes may not meet MLB spec.

So, all that does is drop you out of top-35 market sizes for a new barn that is ready for play immediately.

And a 16-14 split if the A's were to move to the National League...

This is an official headache...

Baseball Returns To The Big Owe

((HT: MLB/Sportsnet))

The Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Mets in the first of a two-game tease for baseball fans in Montreal...

One Expo in particular has been trying to get baseball back in town full-time...

Warren Cromartie, who was referenced on the liner notes of the Rush album "Signals" (Look it up, it's true...) spent some time with Buck Martinez and the Blue Jays crew discuss his passion these days...

Could Montreal Rejoin The Ranks Of MLB...???

((HT: NESN))

Here's one for you...

Could Le Provence Quebec get a baseball franchise back if they get a new barn...???

Maybe...

There are some obvious "ifs" here...

If Tampa doesn't get a new stadium...
If Montreal gets a new one that bears no resemblance to l'Olympique with a retractable roof...

Then, the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo says "maybe..."

Here's the discussion...