Kotsay is still processing his emotions as the A’s begin their final Oakland home game. Originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
OAKLAND — The Athletics began their final home game as Oakland residents on Friday, and everything just felt different. Of course, Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees are in town, which naturally creates excitement. But the presence of the American League’s top contender is secondary.
With Oakland and its fans losing their MLB team within days, emotions are running high as the A’s 57-year stay at the Coliseum comes to a difficult end. Players, fans and staff of the long-standing East Bay franchise must decide together how to move forward as Sacramento and Las Vegas soon expand their respective professional sports portfolios.
Despite all these changes, there is one constant: baseball. Oakland still has six games left, including Friday’s dance game against New York, and A’s manager Mark Kotsay is trying his best to get his club to stick to a familiar routine.
“To be honest, I’m really focused on the Yankees and baseball in this series,” Kotsay said before Friday’s game. “We kind of made it clear to the group that this is nothing new to us as far as the amount of distractions we’re going to have over the next six home games. I’m thankful that there’s a day off between these two series to break up the distractions.”
“I know that when we talk about it, this group has really been able to focus on what’s important, which is baseball. And that’s the goal of this weekend: to focus on continuing to play good baseball. And at the end of the series, we’ll see how well this weekend went.”
Kotsay tries to focus on the game he’s paid to navigate, which is harder than it sounds.
Sure, distractions are nothing new for the A’s. They officially initiated the move to Las Vegas last summer, and the organization’s three-year stay at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento concluded on April 4.
But Kotsay can hardly ignore the cries and support of A’s fans. He remembers how on June 13, 2023, 27,000 supporters filled the Coliseum to show owner John Fisher and the rest of the Oakland leadership that the A’s still have support. Kotsay also recognizes their devotion as the current season slowly winds down.
Oakland’s last manager can only do so much. On the field, Kotsay has led the 67-86 A’s to a 30-25 record since the 2024 MLB All-Star break. But off the field, there’s nothing he can do about the buildup of raw, intense emotions, especially in the stands, as the final games at the Coliseum progress.
“They’re uncontrollable for us,” Kotsay said. “Last year, the anger was much greater. This year, it’s been really, really quiet. I don’t know if that’s because they’ve let out their anger. Those emotions will still be there, of course, as we approach Thursday. But that’s part of the healing process, whenever it begins.”
“I expect these fans will come here like they always have … While there was anger at the reverse boycott of the game, there was also a passion and energy that has always characterized this group of A’s fans since I first became part of this organization in 2004.”
Kotsay, a native of Whittier, Calif., played 17 years in the major leagues, including 3 1/2 in Oakland. He is in his third season as A’s manager and will lose fewer than 100 games for the first time at the helm — not bad for a team with the MLB’s lowest payroll, which is about $23 million lower.
The grieving process at the Coliseum is as complex for Kotsay as it is for the fans. As he mentioned, baseball is the priority, but Thursday will be the last time Kotsay will officiate an A’s game in the only home stadium he knew as a member of the organization.
Fans aren’t the only ones frustrated, wondering, “How did we get here?” or “What’s next?” Kotsay has had his moments of reflection, too. Perhaps the difference between Kotsay and the A’s fans who are rightfully disturbed is his restraint. The captain can’t afford to pay any attention to the transition with games still to come.
“Anger is part of the healing process, so there are different stages for everyone,” Kotsay said. “As a leader, I try to control those emotions and understand them from the 26 guys I mentor and the people who make up the support group outside of those 26 … everyone from the coaches to the regular coaches to the guys in the clubhouse.
“As far as being angry, I don’t really have time to have that feeling. People have been asking, ‘How are you feeling? What are the feelings going to be like? Until I go through that on Thursday, I can’t give you an honest answer.'”
Kotsay has twenty years of major league experience, where he had a .300 batting average and led a 50-win team. As of Thursday, you can officially add “leading a team to a new city” to that list.
Kotsay knows the journey is far from over. The A’s won’t arrive in West Sacramento ready to play right away. People in the organization have to figure out housing and where possible playoff home games will be held.
“There’s always more, right?” Kotsay said. “There are always different challenges. The beautiful thing is that we learn from these experiences and continue to grow. This was definitely different, and we’re not through yet.”
“When the season ends, a new phase of challenges begins – preparing to move, preparing to play in a different stadium. This group continues to fight through those challenges. We have to stick together like we have this season and keep fighting through it.”
Since the franchise’s founding in the American Baseball League in 1901, the A’s have called home three cities: Philadelphia, Kansas City and Oakland. Oakland’s time as host city ends Thursday against longtime A’s shortstop Marcus Semien and the Texas Rangers.
Kotsay has held up well over the past two seasons, but Oakland’s last manager will have no choice but to experience his emotions next week, because there will never be a tomorrow at the Coliseum.
