A's EVP/Baseball Operations Billy Beane is “thinking enthusiastically ... that one day shovels will be used to break ground for an A’s ballpark,” amid “plenty of pessimism and distrust," according to John Shea of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Beane said, “At some point we will have a new stadium. That’s what makes me feel good. I hope it’s within my tenure. But we will. I think the organization, the city deserve it, and it’ll happen.” Shea writes those are “words of optimism we haven’t heard" from A’s President Dave Kaval and "certainly not owner John Fisher, whose parallel-paths expedition, featuring lots of cuddling with Las Vegas officials, has turned off much of the A’s fan base and sunk interest levels to lows not seen since the late 1970s and their last 100-loss season.” At this point, Beane is "deferring to Fisher and Kaval," as he “isn’t personally involved" in the ballpark decision. But the "more creative resources the better -- especially with time supposedly running out.” The goal was for Fisher and the city of Oakland to secure a deal on the $12B Howard Terminal project “before Mayor Libby Schaaf and key council members termed out.” Now it “seems more likely that any ballpark deal will be for the new council to deal with.” Beane said, “The frustration from a team standpoint is, yeah, it would be nice to be at that point where we could have some continuity. We don’t. And until we have a new venue, we’re not going to” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/11).
