Thank you Oakland ballers

Thank you ballers

I sent this to my brother the morning after game 2.

Regarding the ballers:

I tuned in Tuesday night to the free broadcast. The stream didn’t start until three batters into the game after the Ballers had scored their first run. I was initially struck by how lo fi and almost amateur the stream seemed. My first thoughts were focused on how the full season of streams costs $31 USD a month, more than NBA league pass, and there is no way I’d pay for it despite how much I want the ballers to do well as an entity.

I was disappointed and sad. My thoughts began to obsess over just how much of a hole in my heart is permanent due to the demise of the Oakland A’s. I felt foolish as to how I thought that I could follower the Ballers instead. I faded in and out of sleep as the game continued. Their game was about 3 hours plus, longer than MLB with the pitch clock rules. I then noted the ballers’ Instagram and twitter feeds (fuck you elon, there is no X for you). I noted the energy the players had. The excitement they had to be representing Oakland. I looked at the stands for the road game, in Glacier Ridge Montana, and how the stands, albeit in poor weather, were like 25% full. I then reflected to note that the Ballers first 3 home games, at 4k capacity, are sold out. There is energy behind this. Local celebrities involved. The team is reaching out to Oakland. The Oakland 68s and their drumming core have committed to attending home games. "Lets go Oakland" is going to be chanted again.

The play level is likely what would have historically be high A milb ball. One could notice that in a lot of the play. Lots of ground balls, few deep drives. The home team made 4 errors. But there were also glimpses of good and great play. There are roughly 4000 professional baseball players in leagues in the US (and Canada). These are still players that are the best of the best in an absolute sense.

Dondrei Hubbard, one the best hitters in the league the last season of a .395/.436/.623 line, hit an absolutely towering moonshot the other way for the ballers’ first ever homer. We won 7-6, we won. WE won.

They wore dark forest green tops, ballers script on the front, bart logo on one shoulder, oaklandish on another, Oakland script on the back above the number. This is our thing. It will be like being an A’s fan post Mcgwire trade in 1997 through the middle of 99 when the team was pretty bad but fun, our thing. It will be like being a warriors fan Post 1994 Chris Webber and prior to the 07 Baron Davis we believe warriors. Really bad but ours. No one else’s but ours. No bandwagon but just those Oakland loyal.

Now, I get the impression that the ownership group has clearly put in a lot of effort. I know that they obtained several of the top players from the previous Pioneer league season, including Hubbard, likely by offering more somehow. I know lots of players jumped to join the team to. I get the impression that the ownership group, with their 1.6 million dollar investment on retrofitting Raimondi park in west Oakland into an actual suitable milb ballpark, they are not shy about sinking resources in and they want to win.

I worked late last night and I found myself constantly refreshing my phone during the game to the Oakland ballers’ website equivalent to mlb gameday.

We won with 2 runs in the top of the 9th, 3-2. WE won.

Having that feeling again, even if its on a smaller scale, feels good. I've got to get some ballers gear up to Canada but I can't spend $100 on a cap.

Either way, this feels really good. I'm glad we have the ballers.