Elephant Rumblings: A’s and Giants split final, emotional Bay Bridge Series
MLB news roundup
Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!
The A’s and Giants played what appears to have been the final Bay Bridge Series this weekend, and it was certainly one to remember. Oakland got excellent starting pitching in both games: Osvaldo Bido carried a no-hitter into the sixth in Saturday’s victory, while JP Sears shone yet again on Sunday, pitching into the eighth inning and holding the Giants to a single run.
Sunday’s game was a nail biter that unfortunately fell apart in extras, as the A’s failed at a bid to sweep a series for a fifth consecutive time. The outcome was disappointing, but the convergence of so many that have contributed to the rich history of the A’s at the Coliseum is something I’ll remember for a long time—it was perhaps the most palpable “farewell” moment so far this season, one that likely heralds the flurry to come as we rapidly approach the final month of Oakland A’s baseball. Ever.
Saturday saw the final Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Coliseum. Inductee Jose Canseco was as visibly emotional as anyone I’ve seen about the storied chapter of this franchise that is nearing its close. And while I don’t love that Bob Melvin, Matt Chapman, and Mark Canha are all Giants now, it just seemed too damn fitting to have them on hand for the occasion as representatives of the last great A’s team.
Canha scooped up a memento from his last game at the Coli.
San Francisco Giants' Mark Canha scoops up dirt from home plate after their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Aug. 18, 2024. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-2 in 10 innings. This is the Giants last game at the Coliseum after this season. pic.twitter.com/F6NPx6OkFV
— Jose Carlos Fajardo (@FuzyJoe) August 18, 2024
Chappy got a souvenir too, while BoMel was content to soak in the memories.
Bob Melvin didn’t take anything to remember the Coliseum by, just “one last look.”
— Shayna Rubin (@ShaynaRubin) August 18, 2024
Matt Chapman will get third base from today’s game to take home.
I hate to be a drag here, but this whole “end of the A’s in Oakland” feeling just sunk in that much deeper as I was writing this. It feels pretty damn real now. It’s tough to juggle the poignancy of reminiscence and the indignity of what is happening to the team.
KEN KORACH: “A’s fans were so into this game like it was a playoff game. And to think, in six weeks, it will all be over. That’s kind of a hard thing to wrap your head around right now.”
— Karl Buscheck (@KarlBuscheck) August 18, 2024
Have a fantastic week, AN.
A’s Coverage:
- Athletics drop finale against Giants, wrap rivalry with 4-2 loss
- The 2024 A’s Had A Great July, A Great July, And A Great July
- A’s roster moves: Rooker back, Alvarez optioned, plus a new reliever
- The final Oakland A’s Hall of Fame class was inducted before Saturday’s Bay Bridge Series game against the Giants
- A’s Holman faces Little League teammate Schmitt of Giants in MLB debut ($)
- ‘I got chills then and I get chills now’: A’s reflect on Bay Bridge Series as it nears end ($)
- Jose Canseco’s tears underscore emotions over A’s leaving Oakland: ‘I’m an emotional wreck’ ($)
- Chapman, Canha take heartfelt mementos after last game at Coliseum
- A’s to Place Austin Adams on the IL
MLB News & Interest:
- Freddie Freeman To Undergo Imaging On Injured Finger
- AL Notes: Verlander, Garcia, Buxton, Paddack, Rangers, Skubal
- NL Injury Notes: Kim, Marte, Nimmo
- Braves Notes: Riley, Lopez
- NL West Notes: Black, Treinen, Graterol, Rodriguez, Jones
- Tigers Designate Gio Urshela, Easton Lucas For Assignment
- Reds Claim Amed Rosario Off Waivers From Dodgers
- Mets Activate Starling Marte, Designate Ben Gamel For Assignment
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
Roster moves.
A’S MOVES: RHP Austin Adams on A’s IL, RHP Dany Jimenez off A’s IL, A’s OF Brent Rooker off paternity list, RHP Grant Holman to A’s, RHP Will Klein & IF Armando Alvarez to LV, SS Jacob Wilson to LV on rehab, RHP Aaron Brooks & LHP Francisco Perez to LV IL…https://t.co/joKXkyUAPy
— Athletics Farm (@AthleticsFarm) August 18, 2024
Big crowd for the Bay Bridge finale.
32,727 here today.
— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) August 18, 2024
Jose showed his softer side during his induction.
An emotional Jose Canseco thanks Oakland fans after receiving his Athletics HOF jacket pic.twitter.com/OEN2AyepZA
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) August 17, 2024
Piscotty in the hizz.
This guy was playing the bay bridge series in his Pleasanton backyard as a 10 year old Stephen Piscotty pic.twitter.com/iqVqAf5a5m
— Vince Cotroneo (@CotroneoVince) August 18, 2024
Maxwell too!
Former A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell is here to visit with all the players and coaches he knows on both teams - he’s done playing and has moved into coaching pic.twitter.com/zeP8fzXPsI
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) August 18, 2024
Home run history lesson.
This Date in Coliseum History: On August 18, 1996 Mark McGwire hits his 147th career home run in the Coliseum, breaking Reggie Jackson’s Coliseum career home run record. The Coliseum career home run leaders are: pic.twitter.com/cZIs745THb
— Mike Selleck (@MikeSelleck) August 18, 2024