If baseball mythology really came to life, if teams really were civic assets and owners really were stewards of those public trusts, Rob Manfred would have issued a starkly different statement when the Oakland Athletics decided they wanted to move to Las Vegas.
Instead of extending his support to the A's, the commissioner should have said the following: "I appreciate the effort the A's have put into pursuing a new ballpark in Oakland. But, in baseball, we do not abandon our fans unless we have exhausted all of our options. The only team to move in the past 50 years — the Montreal Expos — did so because the league already had stepped in to buy the team.
"I respect that John Fisher, the A's owner, sees Las Vegas as his most viable option. Before I ask owners to consider approving a move, I am asking any investors interested in buying the A's to contact my office. Any buyer would be required to keep the team in Oakland and pay for a new ballpark next to the Coliseum, where the A's currently play.
