From San Jose Mercuty News

http://www.bayarea.com/c/category/sports_and_recreation/columnists/purdy/docs/purdy29.htm

That's a good column. It really puts the whole situation in perspective. From some of the points made, it seems that the A's might stay in the bay area after all. Would they be the Santa Clara A's?

Some interesting excerpts from the Portland perspective:
In a confidential memo from Busch to the A's front office obtained by the Mercury News from city files, Busch wrote: ``I think we can enter into our discussions with relative comfort that a San Jose ballpark would be ready for occupancy in April, 2005, if approved by the electorate in November, 2000.''

And Portland gets a mention:
"It tells me that for the overall health of baseball, instead of moving the A's to a less profitable market such as Portland or Salt Lake City, the smartest plan would be to move a team to the Silicon Valley and . . . hey, if you're Bud Selig, how hard can it be to fill in the blanks?"

Salt Lake City's a new one...

Hey thanks CubsFanBudMan for this info as I was tied up today and didn't get to the Mercury (figures that on the one day that I don't go there's this.. ).

San Jose seems more feasible than the Santa Clara situation, but the one thing that sticks out is the mention of Portland. RIGHT ON!

++++++++++++++++++++
Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser. - Sandy Koufax

I'd say these are the options for the Oakland Athletics (over the next five years):

1. The A's stay in NA Coliseum.
   
2. The A's build a new ballpark in Oakland.
   
3. The A's move to a site in the Silicon Valley.
   
4. The A's move out of the Bay Area entirely.
   

Personally, I think it'll be either 2 or 3. They will stay in the Coliseum for at least three years regardless (unless they outright move before then). But I see them building a new park in Oakland or somewhere else in the Bay Area. Just my opinion.

Portland in the National League.