sounds like great news for my brethren of the east bay
http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/17/lew-wolff-reportedly-stepping-down-as-as-managing-partner/Quote
OAKLAND – Lew Wolff, the man demonized by some A’s fans for the team’s low-budget approach, stepped down as the A’s managing partner Thursday.
The A’s announced sweeping upper management changes shortly after Major League owners, meeting in Chicago, gave approval to the new organizational structure.
In addition to majority owner John Fisher taking over for Wolfe, Michael Crowley, the president for the last 18 years, is moving into a senior advisor role. David Kaval, who has been president of the San Jose Earthquakes the last six years, will replaces Crowley’s as team president.
Both Fisher and Crowley were in Chicago.
Fisher, who currently owns about 80 percent of the A’s stock, for years was content to let Wolff, whose ownership stake was about 10 percent, take the lead in public for the organization. Fisher has refused almost all interview requests over the years.
But in the last year or so, while still not speaking out publicly, Fisher has taken over the reins of finding the A’s a new home in Oakland.
“I want to thank Lew for his leadership over the last 11 years,” Fisher said in a statement issued by the club. “His initiative and love of the game of baseball brought my family to the A’s, and we would not be involved without him.
“Lew has given the organization all of his energy and experience for the last 11 years and I look forward to a new chapter in our working relationship and friendship. It is a privilege for me to steward the A’s at this important moment for the franchise.”
Last week Wolff hinted that something was in the works when he said “you may be talking to John before too much longer.”
In a statement Thursday, Wolff seemed willing to move on.
“It has been an honor serving as Managing Partner and I thank our fans, staff, and players for the opportunity I’ve had to lead this great organization,” Wolff’s statement read. “John and I have talked in great length about the future of this club and I am ready to pass the reins to him.”
The A’s could be in for some major changes as an organization. In the final talks between the Major League owners and the players association, one of the issues was the amount of money the club receives from MLB, estimated at more than $30 million dollars in 2016. The program is designed to help poorer small market teams, and Oakland was grandfathered into the agreement because of the necessity of playing in the half-century old Coliseum.
Some of the other owners have not been impressed by the way the A’s have spent that money.
Many A’s fans have felt the same way, using social media to express their displeasure at seeing the A’s habitually move players off the roster once they become too expensive. In the last few months, veterans Josh Reddick, Rich Hill, Coco Crisp, Danny Valencia and Billy Butler all have found new homes, although the A’s are still on the hook for $10 million due Butler in 2017.
But in the 11 years that the Fisher/Wolff group has been in place, the A’s have won the American League West title three times and made the playoffs four times.
The last two seasons, however, have seen the A’s finish last in the American League West.