Oakland A’s sign Fremont land deal: The owners of the Oakland A’s announced today that they have signed a contract to buy 168 acres for a proposed ballpark development in Fremont. Lew Wolff, the team’s managing partner, said the deal will allow him quickly to submit an application to the city for a roughly 32,000-seat [...]

Oakland A’s sign Fremont land deal:

The owners of the Oakland A’s announced today that they have signed a contract to buy 168 acres for a proposed ballpark development in Fremont.

Lew Wolff, the team’s managing partner, said the deal will allow him quickly to submit an application to the city for a roughly 32,000-seat stadium, surrounded by housing and high-end commercial development.

“Let’s go Fre-mont” just doesn’t have the ring of “Let’s go Oak-land”. On the other hand, the new stadium will be close enough that we could conceivably attend weeknight games–not an option at the Coliseum.

In what has become an annual tradition, Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez has won his sixth consecutive Gold Glove, MLB announced today: A’s third baseman Eric Chavez is the first to admit he had a disappointing season at the plate, having struggled through an injury-marred season on the way to a career-worst .241 batting average. [...]

In what has become an annual tradition, Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez has won his sixth consecutive Gold Glove, MLB announced today:

A’s third baseman Eric Chavez is the first to admit he had a disappointing season at the plate, having struggled through an injury-marred season on the way to a career-worst .241 batting average.

Yet his work at the hot corner once again was unparalleled in the American League, and on Thursday it was recognized by way of his sixth consecutive Gold Glove Award.

In other A’s news, they’ve struck a new radio deal for next season. They’re dropping conservative talk-radio KNTS 1220 AM and adding KIFR 106.9 FM:

Bay Area fans frustrated by their inability to consistently receive a strong signal for A’s radio broadcasts in 2006 should have no such problems in 2007.

The A’s and 106.9-FREE FM (KIFR) on Monday announced that they’ve agreed to terms on a three-year contract for the San Francisco-based, CBS-owned station to serve as the club’s FM radio flagship through the 2009 season.

I’m glad I won’t have to listen to Michael Medved promos between innings any more.

In a pair of articles (from yesterday’s Chronicle), Susan Slusser and Henry Schulman analyze this year’s A’s and Giants teams. While the outlook for the A’s is promising: After a rare offseason in which they lost no major components and added three interesting ingredients, the A’s have emerged as a solid all-around contender, a team [...]

In a pair of articles (from yesterday’s Chronicle), Susan Slusser and Henry Schulman analyze this year’s A’s and Giants teams. While the outlook for the A’s is promising:

After a rare offseason in which they lost no major components and added three interesting ingredients, the A’s have emerged as a solid all-around contender, a team some are calling the division or even league favorite.

Their pitching, especially the starting rotation, is excellent. Their defense should be strong. And their lineup is improved.

The Giants look to have a difficult season unless their aging cadre can stay off the disabled list:

The urgency in Felipe Alou’s voice is palpable. The Giants’ manager has had a winter to stew over a 75-87 season that he cares not to repeat, that he dare not repeat for the sake of the faithful.

With pitchers and catchers set to report to spring training Wednesday in Scottsdale, Ariz., Alou sounds like a man running toward a set of doors that are rapidly closing. He desperately wants to get there before they slam shut, on him, on his son Moises, on Barry Bonds, on a franchise that would have to dig into its Eisenhower-era files to find the lineup for its last October victory parade.

Either way I’m looking forward to a better season than last (could it be worse?) for both teams.

Steve Kroner of the Chronicle reports: Two sources close to the negotiations have confirmed the A’s radio broadcasts will air on KYCY (1550 AM) and KNTS (1220 AM) in 2006. KYCY will be the flagship station, but its signal does not cover the South Bay well. KNTS is a South Bay station, but apparently it [...]

Steve Kroner of the Chronicle reports:

Two sources close to the negotiations have confirmed the A’s radio broadcasts will air on KYCY (1550 AM) and KNTS (1220 AM) in 2006.

KYCY will be the flagship station, but its signal does not cover the South Bay well. KNTS is a South Bay station, but apparently it will not carry weekday broadcasts until 6 p.m. So, the plan is for KNTS to skip weekday afternoon games, and to join in progress games that begin between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Pacific time.

I haven’t yet gone out to check reception on KYCY here in Palo Alto. Does any other MLB team have such a ridiculous scheme for broadcasting their games? And way to cater to the South Bay audience, guys, that’ll sure help your quest to relocate to San Jose.

I have XM, which carries all MLB games, in the Infiniti. Unfortunately, XM runs the home team’s broadcast for each game, so if the A’s (or Giants) are on the road that means I will hear the other team’s broadcast.

A’s third baseman Eric Chavez has won his fifth consecutive gold glove, the AP reports via SFGate: ‘When you have a streak intact, you want to keep it going as long as you possibly can,’ said Chavez, who committed 15 errors. ‘I have been pretty fortunate, especially with the shoulder situation last year. The past [...]

A’s third baseman Eric Chavez has won his fifth consecutive gold glove, the AP reports via SFGate:

‘When you have a streak intact, you want to keep it going as long as you possibly can,’ said Chavez, who committed 15 errors. ‘I have been pretty fortunate, especially with the shoulder situation last year. The past four or five years, I’ve felt pretty lucky. I don’t really expect anything. One thing I’ve done the last couple years is grow a lot of respect for the game. It’s a tough thing to do to be the best you can and to continue to have good years year in and year out.’

On the downside, the A’s elected not to pick up first baseman/designated hitter Scott Hatteberg’s contract option:

Hatteberg’s role diminished with the emergence of rookie first baseman Dan Johnson, called up in late May from Triple-A Sacramento. Johnson batted .275 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs as a rookie.

Hatteberg, 35, hit .256 last season with seven homers and 59 RBIs in 134 games, 78 at DH. He spent the past four seasons in Oakland after playing for the Boston Red Sox in the first seven years of his big league career.