TAMPA, FL – Make believe that this might happen in 2025. The Tampa Bay Rays will face the Sacramento A’s for the American League Pennant. With no team repeating as World Series Champions since 1998-2000, when the NY Yankees pulled it off, anything is possible.
The problem with this scenario is both teams will be playing their home games in Minor League parks. The hurricane disaster, which destroyed the Rays home field, has them playing over at Steinbrenner Field, the Spring Training home of the Yanks, and the home of the Tampa Tarpons, their Single A affiliate.
The A’s left Oakland with the hopes of moving into a new stadium in Las Vegas. While they’re still hoping that happens one day, Sutter Health Park in Sacramento is where they’ll be crashing at least for the next three years. That’s the home of the River Cats, the Triple A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
The problem with this plan is the fans showing up for playoff baseball. Steinbrenner Field has 9,628 seats, with a capacity of 11,026 when you include the suites, club areas, and cabana seating.
Over in Sutter Health Park, 10,624 seats are set, with a capacity of 14,014 – when you include the grass berms. Both teams always had an attendance issue as fans practically stayed away. The team’s new playground probably won’t increase the ticket sales with the weak product they put on the field, but the Rays always find a way to play October baseball. With the A’s you never know, stranger things have happened.
If this happens, everyone and their mothers will want to attend the games that will lead to a championship. This can cause problems in a limited capacity setting, as we are about to have in 2025. Let’s see how the geniuses of Major League Baseball handle the demand when there is no supply.
Will they move both teams to a larger venue and take home field advantage away? Will they dis the loyal fan-base who supported the teams all season?
Let’s hope these two teams face each oher and see how MLB f*cks this one up.
Comment below and come back tomorrow for the exceptional, Joltin’ Jake Sternberg.