NO A'S FOR ATTENDANCE: SCHOTT (NOT MARGE) TO INCREASE ROLE

     With the A's ranking at the bottom of the MLB attendance
list, Co-Owner Steve Schott announced he will take a more active
role in the business operations of the team, particularly the
marketing and ticket operations -- departments, Schott admits,
that "have had some problems."  Robert Kuwanda of the SAN JOSE
MERCURY NEWS reports the A's have lost 2,500 season-ticket
holders from a year ago and are averaging 10,769 fans per game,
the lowest in the AL.  Schott, who had been spending 20% of his
time on the A's, said he would up that to 65% with time spent
with the A's business staff -- principally, Alan Ledord, VP of
Business Operations.  Schott, who feels that there is a
"falsehood" among fans that he is interested in moving the team:
"We need to get fans believing the A's are for real, that we're
not moving the club and that we're going to provide a lot of
entertainment and excitement for our fans."  Schott has no plans
to become actively involved with on-field baseball decisions (SAN
JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 5/20).