After spending 57 years in Oakland, the Oakland Athletics are set to hold their last home game in the Bay Area on Thursday, September 24, facing off against the Texas Rangers. In an effort to express gratitude to the Oakland fans, team owner John Fisher sent out an email attempting to explain the circumstances surrounding the move.

This message did not resonate well with fans.

Throughout the ongoing discussions about the A’s leaving Oakland, fans have made it clear that they wanted the team to stay. Although the team has struggled with ticket sales, this is largely due to ownership’s unwillingness to upgrade the aging Oakland Coliseum or make significant investments to keep the team competitive. Receiving a letter from Fisher stating that “we tried,” which many feel was disingenuous, left fans feeling dismissed, especially since they have been waiting for signs of genuine effort from ownership.

Among those expressing frustration was ABC Bay Area reporter Larry Beil. He wasted no time sharing his views on the letter during a local broadcast, echoing the sentiments of many Oakland fans.

Beil’s criticisms of John Fisher

Beil kicked off his critique by highlighting key points from Fisher’s letter. Fisher mentioned that upon purchasing the team in 2005, his goals were to win championships and build a new stadium. He stated that despite his efforts, he fell short in achieving these goals. He expressed regret that staying in Oakland wasn’t feasible.

Following this, Beil pointed out that while Fisher had suggested five different sites for a new stadium, each proposal was fundamentally flawed, never bringing the team closer to building a new venue. Beil contested Fisher’s assertion that winning championships was a top priority, likening him to Golden State Warriors’ owner Joe Lacob, and suggesting that “you need to invest to see returns,” similar to Lacob’s approach with the Warriors.

Beil went on to challenge Fisher’s claim that he wished to connect with every A’s fan personally. According to Beil, his station has been trying to secure an interview with Fisher for years, but he remains elusive, only appearing when seeking political support for funding.

Concluding his impassioned commentary, Beil did what many A’s fans likely wished to do upon reading Fisher’s letter—he tore it up. He expressed skepticism about Fisher’s handling of the impending move to Las Vegas, noting that despite the perception that the move is set in stone, the A’s still lack a stadium plan and will spend the next three seasons playing in a minor league facility in Sacramento. Beil fears this mismanagement could lead to Major League Baseball demanding that Fisher sell the team.

Reactions to John Fisher’s letter

Definitely. Notably, a former Oakland Athletics player has also spoken out against Fisher.

Trevor May, who recorded the last out during Oakland’s notable “reverse boycott” game last year—where fans packed the stadium to show their support—expressed his frustration with Fisher’s letter.

May said, “Act like an adult. Get in front of a camera and be honest. Sending out a letter, which clearly wasn’t personally written and includes a bunch of names you likely don’t even recognize, is just disrespectful to the fans who love the team.”

May’s views were echoed by former fan favorite Josh Reddick.

What makes the letter problematic?

One of the most frustrating aspects of the letter is the claim that “we tried.” Many Oakland fans argue that Fisher did not genuinely try, and it’s difficult to refute their claims. When it came to keeping star players on the roster with substantial contracts, the A’s consistently fell short. For instance, in 2004, the A’s awarded third baseman Eric Chavez a $66 million contract. Fisher purchased the team in 2005, and despite the soaring salaries in baseball since then, that remains the largest contract the A’s have ever issued.

While the A’s experienced a few playoff runs over the years, they never advanced beyond the divisional rounds after the 2006 ALCS appearance. The team has had several promising players who could have helped secure championships had they stayed longer: Josh Donaldson (who won an MVP with the Toronto Blue Jays), Matt Chapman, Matt Olson (who ranked fourth in MVP voting in 2023 with the Braves), Yoenis Cespedes, Marcus Semien, and Sean Murphy, to name a few.

In addition to acquiring Jon Lester (in the Cespedes trade) and Jeff Samardzija in 2014, the A’s did not make significant moves on the trade market post-2010. It’s possible that the disastrous trade for Matt Holliday in 2008 made Fisher cautious about pursuing such trades again.