Baseball Diaries: MLB in Las Vegas

[Pelican]

Keep it up! Great stuff.

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
July 30th, 2022

People seem to give owners a lot of credit for the success of their teams in professional sports. I always think it's odd that owners are the first ones to touch a trophy when a champion is crowned in the TV postgame shows. Do we really think Joe Lacob is more responsible for the Golden State Warriors winning the NBA Championship than Steph Curry? Did Stan Kroenke play a bigger role than Cooper Kupp in the L.A. Rams winning the Super Bowl? No. Of course not.

But that's not to say owners aren't important. Show me an owner who's willing to spend, and I'll show you a team with a chance to win. On the flip side, if ownership tightens the purse strings and won't commit financially, the team has very, very little hope for success.

That's exactly what we're seeing in the A.L. West. The Seattle Mariners are making major moves. Just yesterday, they dealt their top prospect and three other minor leaguers to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Luis Castillo. And it's not just about a $7-to-$10 million increase in payroll. That's also a clear sign that the M's front office is committed to winning. They may not chase down the Astros for the division crown, but Seattle should very much be in the mix for a Wild Card spot.

It's the exact opposite for the A's. It's just a matter of time before anyone on the roster with even just a modicum of talent is dealt away. Frankie Montas, Ramon Laureano, and Sean Murphy are probably counting down the hours until they pack up their lockers and join a contender. Sadly, A's fans are well versed in the annual tear down and rebuild in Oakland. John Fisher has taken what little there was at the Coliseum, and turned it into a graveyard. It's where hopes and dreams go to die.

Still no word on the Fisher front. I haven't heard a peep from Rob Manfred since the fiasco in Henderson. It's been radio silence. Maybe Manfred crossed my name off the list and is moving on to someone else to try and pry the A's away from Fisher. That would be fine with me. Dealing with Fisher seems like it would be a nightmare, and honestly he's not worth my time. I'm focusing my efforts and energy on our new Arkade console. Launch day is 8-8-22, which is just 10 days from now. If I don't hear anything in the next week, I'll assume Manfred has moved on.

Pictured: New Mariners Acquisition Luis Castillo

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
August 8th, 2022

Finally I can take a breath. Arkcon is our biggest event of the year. Add to that the launch of a new gaming console, and you have one exhilarating, exhausting weekend. I can remember the days when we were content to put a booth up at the popular gaming conventions, hyping just one game title. Now we're putting on our very own convention, dedicated to our console and our games. We've come a long way.

I can remember when Arkcon first opened here in Boulder City in the lobby of our headquarters. We could accommodate a relatively small number of fans at the time. Then our following grew to the point where we had to move the event to Las Vegas. In subsequent years, we hosted Arkcon in other cities like San Francisco and Seattle. But this year, I felt it was appropriate to bring Arkcon back to its roots in Boulder City.

The timing couldn't be more perfect. For starters, it's not every day you unveil a new video game console. On top of that, we just finished construction on a new 1,000 unit hotel at the center of our ever-growing entertainment complex comprised of a theme park, zoo, and baseball stadium. All of that is connected to the lifeblood of our endeavors -- Sol Headquarters.

Friday was loaded with video game panels and discussions. Saturday was dedicated to teasers for upcoming titles. Sunday was all about getting hands-on with the new Arkade console and launch titles. And Monday was a day-long celebration of the system's launch.

The 8/8/22 launch date coincides with the debut of our new sports video game title. This marks the end of the Madden monopoly, after Electronic Arts killed the competition by getting an exclusive licensing agreement with the NFL in 2004. That exclusivity window finally expired, paving the way for our game, titled "NFL Arkade." We put a ton of resources into the game, harnessing the power of the Arkade console's new graphics engine. Reviewers are already dubbing it the "Madden killer." We'll have to wait and see when Madden 23 releases on August 15th, a full week after NFL Arkade.

When choosing the first-ever cover boy for the game itself, we decided to swing for the fences. We had considered going with a big name like Patrick Mahomes, but we wanted to make a splash with a rising star, whose best is yet to come. We decided Deebo Samuel was our guy. He's coming off a breakout season in which he established himself as one of the game's elite receivers, while also becoming a weapon at running back. There's no one else like him. He's dynamic.

But Deebo's status as a 49er was also... fluid. When we had him in for a photo shoot, we truly didn't know if he would be a 49er by the time the game dropped. He was in the thick of a messy and very public contract dispute with the team, even scrubbing the 49ers from all of his social media accounts and demanding a trade out of San Francisco. So when we photographed Deebo for our cover, we had him suit up and pose in every single NFL uniform, from the Bears to the Vikings.

It was a calculated risk on our part. We figured Deebo would be in the news right around launch time, whether it was for signing an extension with the 49ers or being traded to Dallas. Turns out he signed a $73.5 million contract extension a week before the video game launch. So the world will have to wait to see Deebo in a #19 Cowboy uniform and starred helmet.

As fans queued up to play NFL Arkade and other launch titles, I walked around the ballroom floor soaking it all in. One of the most rewarding and bizarre things I've ever experienced is seeing fans dress up in costume as characters in games I created. Other fans waited to pose for pics with our official mascots and characters who had come over from the theme park. Almost all were blissfully unaware that I was watching it all. Occasionally someone would recognize me, but I keep such a brisk pace, people usually settle for a fist bump or a blurry pic.

I had thrown all of my focus and energy into Sol and the Arkade launch. I emotionally cut myself off from the A's drama, resigning myself to the fact that there was no path for me to purchase the team from John Fisher. But baseball has still been on my mind, running like a background task, occupying a small amount of my bandwidth. I was still following the standings and the headlines. I saw the box scores from over the weekend, when the A's got swept by the Giants in the Bay Bridge Series. I saw Oakland continue its tear-down by trading pitchers Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino to the New York Yankees. Unfortunately, none of those developments were a surprise to me. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer.

But I was pleasantly surprised to see Juan Soto get traded to the San Diego Padres. I'm a sucker for a good underdog story, and I'd love to see the Padres overtake the free-spending Dodgers in the NL West. It's the kind of move I'd love to see the A's make, though I know that would never happen with Fisher controlling the purse strings.

These are the thoughts that keep dancing around my head, even as my company celebrates the successful launch of a video game console. I have bold ambitions that go far beyond video games, theme parks, and zoos, yet I still allow a small partition of my brain to be distracted by sports, particularly the Oakland A's. And that background task moved to the foreground once again when I noticed a familiar face making his way toward me on the ballroom floor.

Pictured: San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto, traded by Washington on 8/2/22 (statistics dated 8/8/22)

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
August 8th, 2022 (continued)

The face staring at me intently wasn't MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. It was not A's President Dave Kaval, though the man was wearing a green and yellow ballcap. No, this was the last person I would ever expect to see at a video game convention.

I quickly pressed record on my transcription device.

[Begin Transcription, 4:40 pm Pacific, 8/8/22]

John Fisher: Sam Arkwright!

Arkwright: John... Fisher...

Fisher: You're a tough man to find.

Arkwright: Are you here to get an Arkade for your nephew?

Fisher: (chuckles) No, I'm here to see you.

Arkwright: Really...

Fisher: I hear you're the one who gets things done in Las Vegas.

Arkwright: Who told you that?

Fisher: The Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

Arkwright: Is that so?

Fisher: Absolutely. Rob spoke very highly of you. He said you could be a useful ally in this town. And I could use a friend right now.

Arkwright: What kind of a friend?

Fisher: The kind of friend who can grease the wheels for me. I'm running into some... resistance.

Arkwright: Are we talking about the stadium site in Henderson?

Fisher: That dump? No way. I'm not building in that hell hole. I'm looking at a site in Vegas. It's on the Strip. It's perfect.

Arkwright: So what's the hold-up?

Fisher: Apparently, I'm not the only one who wants it. Now I feel like I'm getting jerked around by the seller. Are you familiar with the Tropicana?

Arkwright: The ballpark in Tampa?

Fisher: No. The casino.

Arkwright: Vaguely familiar.

Fisher: What about Bally's?

Arkwright: Rings a bell.

Fisher: You know... for a guy who's supposed to be connected in Vegas, you don't seem to know a whole lot about the town.

Arkwright: I'm not much of a gambler. And I try to stay off the Strip as much as possible.

Fisher: Good. Then I feel a little better about letting you in on this. Last thing I need is another bidder.

Arkwright: So what does all this have to do with Bally's and the Tropicana?

Fisher: It might be best if you actually see what I'm talking about. Got time for a quick road trip?

Arkwright: I've got a better idea.

[End Transcription]

I pulled out my phone and texted my Sol squad. I told them I'd be skipping out early, but that I'd be back in time for the closing ceremonies at 6pm.

I ushered Fisher to a private access door at the back of the hotel. We hopped on an idle golf cart parked in the alleyway, and we drove across the Sol campus to the main tower. I pointed out different sites along the way -- things avid gamers and tourists eat up -- but Fisher showed little to no interest. Unless this man has the best poker face in the world, he avoids video games and tech like the plague. I attempted to change the subject on the elevator ride up to the top. I mentioned Sean Murphy's recent hot streak. Four multi-hit games in his last five games. A 50-point jump in batting average from mid-June to now. Like I said, this stuff is always running in the background. It amazed me that Fisher had genuinely no clue what I was talking about. Does he even watch the team that he owns?

We mercifully reached the rooftop at Sol. The elevator door opened, revealing my experimental aircraft. As Fisher tried his best to hide his amazement -- again, not much of a poker face -- I pushed a button on the phone app, remote starting the turbine engine. Almost instantaneously, the rotors spun at full speed, simultaneously sending Fisher's ballcap flying into the air, exposing his bald head. He cautiously followed as the cockpit hatch opened right in front of us.

Pictured: A's catcher Sean Murphy

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
August 8th, 2022 (continued)

I didn't bother to start my recording device once John Fisher and I were inside the cockpit. I wouldn't be able to capture any usable audio. Not with the insane amount of force and sound being generated outside and around the cockpit. Fortunately, it comes equipped with noise-cancelling headsets and on-board recording.

[Begin Transcription, 4:55 pm Pacific, 8/8/22]

Arkwright: Here, put these on.

Fisher: WHAT IS THIS THING!?

Arkwright: No need to shout. I can hear you just fine.

Fisher: What. Is. This. Thing?

Arkwright: This... is the OrbX EXH-2. Buckle up. We're going for a ride.

Fisher: Where?

Arkwright: To the site you were talking about. Where you said you want to build a ballpark.

Fisher: Where's our pilot?

Arkwright: You're looking at him... or "it," should I say. Here, take my phone. Point on the map precisely where you want to go. The autopilot will take care of the rest.

Fisher: Is this thing legal?

Arkwright: Look, I don't want to sound rude, but I'm on a tight schedule. I've got to be back in less than an hour. Which means we've got to get a move on. I can answer all your questions once we're up in the air. Where's the site?

Fisher: The Tropicana...

Arkwright: Don't tell me. Just tap it on the phone.

Fisher: Here...

Arkwright: Very good. And away we go.

Fisher: (breathing heavily) Whoa... this sucker can move!

Arkwright: She'll get you there quick, alright.

Fisher: Is this a helicopter? A plane?

Arkwright: Yes.

Fisher: (nervous laughter) A little bit of both, huh? Where did you get this -- whatever you call it?

Arkwright: I know a couple of guys in California. (pause) So tell me about where we're headed.

Fisher: Yeah, right. The Tropicana. It's an old casino right on the Strip. One of the last legacy resorts. Been there since the 1950's.

Arkwright: And it's for sale?

Fisher: Yeah, all 35 acres. Bally's entered a purchase agreement to buy the hotel and lease the land earlier this year.

Arkwright: For how much?

Fisher: Just over $300 mil.

Arkwright: And you offered more...

Fisher: A lot more. I even offered to cut them in, give them a piece of the action.

Arkwright: And they said no?

Fisher: No, they loved the pitch. We had a deal... or so I thought. They came back a few weeks later and said the price went up.

Arkwright: What happened?

Fisher: What do you think? They obviously went back and told Bally's about my offer.Then Bally's beat my price.

Arkwright: Right. Okay... look out to your right. Is that the site coming up?

Fisher: That's it. Damn, did we just cover 30 miles in 5 minutes?

Arkwright: 35 miles... 6 minutes.

Fisher: That's got to be like 300 miles an hour!

Arkwright: 350. So why this spot in particular?

Fisher: Are you kidding me? Look at it! It's right on the Strip. The MGM Grand is right over there. And next door? That's Excalibur. Then the Luxor. Mandalay Bay.

Arkwright: It's a nice spot. It's right next to McCarran, too.

Fisher: It's practically sharing property lines with the Airport. And look just across the freeway... that's Allegiant Stadium. Home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Arkwright: Another team stolen away from Oakland.

Fisher: Yeah, probably.

Arkwright: What do you mean, "probably?"

Fisher: You never know... Oakland could still be in play...

Arkwright: You mean you may not end up moving the team to Vegas?

Fisher: Not necessarily. It's all part of the game. If get a sweetheart deal from Vegas, I run it back to Oakland. Then Oakland starts kicking in some public financing and more acreage, and then I take it back to Vegas. Rinse and repeat.

Arkwright: So... you don't care where the team ends up? You just want the best deal?

Fisher: Bingo. The way I see it, the A's are a free agent. May the best bid win.

Arkwright: You don't feel any allegiance to the Bay Area? Weren't you born and raised there?

Fisher: Sure. I'm California through and through. Fourth generation San Franciscan. I have no plans on leaving The City. Oakland, on the other hand? I have zero connection to that town, other than my team happens to play there.

Arkwright: So much for "Rooted in Oakland"...

Fisher: They had their chance. Now's your chance.

Arkwright: My chance for what?

Fisher: To help convince these guys that they should be doing business with me... not some casino. To these developers, I'm just some schmuck from California. Maybe they're impressed that I own a baseball team. Maybe they know my parents founded GAP. But I'm not local. I'm not... Vegas.

Arkwright: And Vegas always wins...

Fisher: Exactly. And that's where you come in. You're a mentsh around here. You've built a solid reputation. That can't be easy in this town. If you vouch for me... they might just say "yes."

Arkwright: We should start heading back to Boulder City...

Fisher: Alright, hear me out. All I need you to do is meet these Tropicana guys. Just show them I'm serious about moving the team to Las Vegas.

Arkwright: But you're not...

Fisher: Sam, Sam... You're a business man, right? You know how this works. Leverage is the name of the game. Tell me something: where are your arcade systems made? The good old U-S-of-A?

(silence)

Fisher: I'll bet you bottom dollar your first products were made in the U.S. It was convenient, and you slept well at night, knowing your toys were "Made in America." But somewhere along the way, you realized you could make the exact same product for half the price in some sweatshop in China. And being the nice, fair, and honest guy you are, you probably mentioned that to the good folks in Decatur, Illinois, or whatever blue-collar town was building your little gadgets. You gave them a chance to keep your business. And for a couple years, I bet they cut their margins, and you saved a few bucks. Everyone was happy. But eventually Decatur couldn't keep up with China, and you did the smart thing... and took your business overseas.

Arkwright: Your point?

Fisher: Competition! Competition is my point! Competing offers. You pit two parties against each other...

Arkwright: And then?

Fisher: And then... may the best man win. You follow?

Arkwright: I'm beginning to understand. Yeah.

Fisher: Good. So do you want to be remembered as the guy who made a really nice toy... or do you want to be known as the man who helped bring baseball to Las Vegas?

[End Transcription]

That was when I knew I was going to bring Major League Baseball to Las Vegas.

I shook hands with Fisher and we parted ways at Sol HQ. He said he'd be in touch with everything I need to know about the Tropicana. But I've got my own research I need to do. I don't like leaving anything to chance. Especially in Las Vegas.

Pictured: Aerial photo of proposed stadium site at the Tropicana.

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
August 12th, 2022

I decided a last-minute getaway was in order. School starts back up in Boulder City in two weeks, so my son and I flew out to Dyersville, Iowa. I thought it would be fun to take TJ to last night's Field of Dreams Game. I wanted to do something special for just me and my boy, and he's growing up so fast.

The ballpark was practically my second home as a kid. I spent many a day in the stands at Cashman Field watching my favorite team, the Las Vegas Stars. I still have box scores and notes from every single game I ever attended. Too many to count, but I would guess it would be somewhere north of 300 games. TJ hasn't taken to baseball like I did. We're still trying to find a common interest. Baseball, unfortunately, is not it.

I was fascinated by all the Major Leaguers suited up in throwback uniforms, playing on a baseball field surrounded by cornstalks. It was surreal. TJ wasn't really into it... until the 7th inning. A hologram of the late Harry Caray led a rousing rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." My son couldn't care less about Harry Caray -- he had no idea who he was, let alone the team he used to announce games for -- but he was mesmerized by the technology. I explained to him that the tech my company has is much, much more advanced. Looks like a "Take-Your-Son-to-Work Day" is in store at Sol.

The father-son dynamic between me and TJ is still a work-in-progress, but it's still considerably better than the relationship between me and my father. Let's just say the "Hey, dad... wanna have a catch?" scene in Field of Dreams doesn't bring back warm and fuzzy feelings of me and the old man playing catch in the backyard.

What does give me warm and fuzzy feelings is the thought of bringing baseball to Las Vegas. It's impossible not to get nostalgic about America's Pastime when you're at an event like this. I keep thinking about the role I can play in bringing the sport I love to Nevada. It's a long road to get there, and it's going to start with the developers who are selling the Tropicana site. John Fisher sent me some preliminary intel on them, but it was rudimentary at best. I'll do a much deeper dive on these guys when I get a moment. I have time. They're not local, and they won't be in town until next weekend. They'll have to wait.

In the meantime, I'm learning as much about the A's ownership situation as possible. If I'm going to vouch for Fisher, I want to know what kind of guy I'm dealing with. I tried finding out more at the start of this whole thing, but didn't get anywhere. I suppose I learned enough on our ride back and forth from Boulder City to Las Vegas. But in doing more background, I learned an interesting nugget about how exactly Fisher came to own the Oakland A's. Long story short, he and a guy by the name of Lew Wolff purchased the team together when the previous owner put their franchise on the market in 2005. But Fisher and Wolff weren't the only bidders. In fact, it wasn't even the best offer. Another guy put together a bid of $180 million. He thought he had a done deal for $180 million. But, inexplicably, he got turned down. He was relatively unknown back then, but you may know him nowadays as the owner of the Golden State Warriors -- Joe Lacob. I'd say the Warriors have had a pretty good run since he took over, with four NBA championships and a $1.5 billion arena on the San Francisco waterfront to boot.

So how does a guy like Joe Lacob lose out to a guy like John Fisher? Simple. It's who you know.

When the bids for the A's came in, Fisher and Wolff had an unfair advantage over Lacob. Wolff, it turns out, was college buddies with Allan Huber Selig. That's "Bud" Selig. Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

Again, it's all about who you know.

Here's a quote from Lacob published just last month in the San Francisco Chronicle that tells the story:

"It got yanked from under me. I was really pissed at Bud Selig. I easily qualified; that wasn't the issue. Bud basically did what he wanted to do, and he didn't know me. So I learned a valuable lesson from that, which is it's not all about money. You've got to have the right friends in these leagues."

It wasn't about the money. It was about having the right friends. No wonder Fisher came to me. He needs a friend in Las Vegas. Which makes me wonder... do I need to start making some friends of my own?

Pictured: Field of Dreams - Chicago Cubs 4, Cincinnati Reds 2

[Hendu Style]

Fernando Tatis Jr. Suspended 80 Games For Performance-Enhancing Drug Violation

by Anthony Franco | August 12, 2022 at 8:59pm PDT | MLB Trade Rumors

Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 2022 season is over. In a stunning development, Major League Baseball announced Friday afternoon that the Padres star has tested positive for Clostebol, a banned performance-enhancing substance. He’s been suspended for 80 games without pay, effective immediately. Tatis, who confirmed he’s already dropped an appeal he’d initially filed, goes on the restricted list.

Tatis released a statement via the MLB Players Association (Twitter link):

“I have been informed by Major League Baseball that a test sample I submitted returned a positive result for Clostebol, a banned substance. It turns out that I inadvertently took a medication to treat ringworm that contained Clostebol. I should have used the resources available to me in order to ensure that no banned substances were in what I took. I failed to do so.

I want to apologize to (owner Peter Seidler), (president of baseball operations A.J. Preller), the entire Padres organization, my teammates, Major League Baseball, and fans everywhere for my mistake. I have no excuse for my error, and I would never do anything to cheat or disrespect this game I love. … I am completely devastated. There is nowhere else in the world I would rather be than on the field competing with my teammates. … I look forward to rejoining my teammates on the field in 2023.”

The Padres released a briefer statement of their own on the news:

“We were surprised and extremely disappointed to learn today that Fernando Tatis Jr. tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program and subsequently received an 80-game suspension without pay. We fully support the Program and are hopeful that Fernando will learn from this experience.”

Preller confirmed to reporters (including Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune and Dennis Lin of the Athletic) that the organization learned about the suspension this afternoon, around two hours before it was made public. The Padres baseball ops leader was forthright about his frustration, suggesting that “over the course of the last six or seven months, I think (trust has) been something that we haven’t really been able to have.” That’s presumably in reference to the motorcycle accident that fractured Tatis’ wrist. Preller continued, “I think we’re hoping that from the offseason to now, that there would be some maturity. And obviously with the news today, it’s more of a pattern and something we’ve got to dig a little bit more into. I’m sure he’s very disappointed, but at the end of the day, it’s one thing to say it. You have to start by showing it with your actions.”

Tatis will go the entire 2022 season without appearing in a major league game. (Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets that he’ll also be barred from representing the Dominican Republic in next spring’s World Baseball Classic). The star shortstop sustained a fracture in his left wrist in an offseason motorcycle accident, an injury that was revealed when he reported to the team in Spring Training. He underwent surgery and was out of action for months. There was finally light at the end of the tunnel, with Tatis sent to Double-A on a rehab assignment last week. He’d played in four minor league games and was set to rejoin the big league club within a couple weeks. That’ll no longer be the case.

The Padres have 48 more games on the regular season schedule. That’ll leave him in position to miss as many as the first 32 games of the 2023 season as well, although Tatis’ suspension would be reduced for any playoff games he misses (if the Padres reach the postseason this year).

It’s a crushing blow to a San Diego team that enters play Friday night in possession of the National League’s final Wild Card spot. They’re just a game clear of the Brewers, setting the stage for a tightly contested pennant race. If they’re to get to the postseason, the Friars will have to do it without the elite midseason reinforcement on whom they’d been counting.

That’s not to say the Padres are doomed. They’ve been without the two-time Silver Slugger winner all season, and they’re nevertheless 12 games above .500 with a +40 run differential. The deadline blockbuster to add Juan Soto and Josh Bell looms larger than ever now. San Diego still has a fearsome middle of the order anchored by Soto, Bell and Manny Machado, while Jake Cronenworth and Jurickson Profar have each hit at above-average levels.

There’s no way to replace a player who owns a .292/.369/.596 slash line through his first three big league seasons, but the Padres are in as good a position as a team can reasonably be to weather Tatis’ absence. They’ve gotten strong play from Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop in his second MLB season. The former KBO star is hitting .247/.324/.371 through 392 plate appearances, exactly league average offense by measure of wRC+. Public metrics have pegged Kim as one of the sport’s top defensive shortstops, making him a more than adequate fill-in for the remainder of the season.

Perhaps the greater roster ramification is that San Diego now has little recourse to replace scuffling center fielder Trent Grisham. Tatis had been slated to play both shortstop and center field on his rehab assignment, and he may well have gotten more time in the outfield down the stretch. While Kim has held down shortstop effectively all year, Grisham owns a .195/.292/.357 line over 411 trips to the plate. He has continued on as the primary center fielder, although Wil Myers has gotten the nod the past three times the Friars have faced a left-handed opposing starter. Skipper Bob Melvin figures to stick with at least a soft platoon arrangement for the stretch run.

While the team will feel the strongest repercussions down the stretch this year, Tatis’ lack of availability in 2022 has to be alarming to the organization over the long term. He’s under contract for another 12 seasons beyond this one under the extension he signed in February 2021. That $340MM deal is the fourth-largest in MLB history, and there’s arguably no one more important to the franchise’s long-term future.

That deal is backloaded. Tatis’ forfeited salary during the suspension, while substantial, isn’t nearly as significant as it would have been had he tested positive a couple years from now. He’ll lose the remainder of this year’s $5MM salary (approximately $1.5MM) as well as around a month’s worth of next year’s $7MM salary. The extent of his salary forfeiture is dependent on how many games he loses next season, which is subject to how far into the playoffs the Friars get this year. He’s likely to miss around 20% of the schedule, which would translate to around $1.3MM in lost salary next year.

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
August 22nd, 2022

I grew up obsessed with baseball. Before I started making video games, all I did was go to the ballpark at Cashman Field. I used to love watching the Las Vegas Stars Triple-A team. I was too young to watch their first season when they came over from Spokane in 1983. But soon enough, I started seeing a slew of future Major Leaguers getting their last taste of minor league baseball. Shane Mack, Andy Benes, Carlos Baerga, Bip Roberts, and, of course, the Alomar brothers, Sandy Jr. and Roberto. I saw them all in Las Vegas, all on the verge of Major League careers with the Stars' parent club, the San Diego Padres.

But no player left a bigger impression on me than Kevin Towers. There was nothing special about him as a player. In fact, he was remarkably unremarkable. Towers was drafted by the Padres out of BYU in 1982. In ten minor league seasons, he never posted an ERA below 4.01. When I saw him in 1988, he was at the tail end of his playing career. He didn't even pitch the day that I met him. But as I waited by the team bus after the game hoping for an autograph, he approached me and struck up a conversation. I told him it was my birthday. He then handed me a game-used bat from one of his teammates, Shawn Abner, and signed it:

"To Sam, 8 is great. Never grow up. -- Kevin Towers."

I still have that bat. It sits in my office in Boulder City. That was exactly 34 years ago. August 22nd, 1988. My eighth birthday.

That day was significant to me not only because it was my birthday and my first-ever ballgame. It was also the day I met the most important person in my life: Solomon King.

Sol played in the Negro League in the 1940's. When I met him, he was spending pretty much every afternoon and night the Stars were playing at Cashman Field. Ol' Sol took me under his wing and taught me everything I know about the great game of baseball. But that's another story for another day.

A lot has changed since the Summer of '88. Sol has since passed away. So has Towers, who made a name for himself long after his playing career, becoming the General Manager of the Padres. He put together the team that went to the World Series in 1998. They haven't been back since.

As for Cashman Field, it's now a soccer stadium. The Stars aren't the Stars anymore. They changed their name to the 51's in 2001, and then became the Aviators in 2019. That's when they moved into a swanky new $150 million stadium just west of town, called Las Vegas Ballpark.

And that brings us to last night, and my visit to the ballpark. I've been to a handful of games there. It's nice enough. But it's a pretty long drive from Boulder City. My other endeavors haven't left me much time to make the 45 minute trek to Summerlin. But last night I was willing to make an exception.

Peter Carlino was in town. He's the chairman, president, and CEO of Gaming & Leisure Properties. He and his investment group control the Tropicana site on the Strip. They've been in talks with Bally's about operating a casino. They've also been in negotiations with John Fisher about a stadium for the A's. One plot of land for two suitors. The man is a natural born salesman.

I had reached out to Carlino a couple of weeks ago in hopes of meeting up to talk about the A's using the site for a new stadium. As Fisher put it, "show them he's serious about moving to Vegas." I never got Carlino on the phone. I couldn't even get past his executive assistant, Beverley. She had a very distinct and proper British accent. But I couldn't tell if she was 25 or 55 years old. Anyone's guess. But Beverley finally called me back and informed me "Mr. Carlino" would see me at Sunday's Aviators game. I didn't tell her what it was pertaining to, and she didn't ask.

I strolled up to the luxury box just as the National Anthem was playing. I removed my "LV" Aviators cap and paid my respects, and then showed my digital pass to the usher to enter the box. Only two people were inside. One was wearing an official looking Aviators polo, adorned with a name tag which read "Scott D." The other was a man in his 70's. He was wearing a full business suit, despite a typically hot 101 degree evening in Las Vegas. His cheeks were flushed red, most likely a combination of the poor wardrobe choice given the game time temperature, and a clear case of rosacea. He waved me forward as I hit record on my transcription device, buried in my front pocket.

[Begin Transcription, 7:01 pm Pacific, 8/21/22]

Carlino: Sam Arkwright. The man, the myth, the legend. So nice to finally meet you.

Arkwright: Likewise.

Carlino: The bar is open. Pick your poison.

Arkwright: Water will do.

Carlino: Water... suit yourself. Scott, water for my guest. Diet Coke for me.

Arkwright: You don't drink?

Carlino: Not when I'm talking business.

Arkwright: So this is business?

Carlino: I would assume so. The sole proprietor of an entertainment empire doesn't just call me out of the blue, unless he wants something.

Arkwright: Like what?

Carlino: I'm still trying to figure that out. My guess is it has to do with a property. Maybe you want to start a new video game-themed casino on the Strip. Am I getting warm?

Arkwright: Ice cold, I'm afraid. I have no interest in the gambling industry.

Carlino: That's too bad. Between your Intellectual Property and my connections in the industry, we could make good dance partners.

Arkwright: I'm not here looking for a partnership. I'm here to talk about baseball.

Carlino: Baseball?

Arkwright: You know... the sport that's going on right behind you as we speak? Since we've been standing here, you haven't turned around once to watch the game.

Carlino: When I'm talking to someone, I like to give them my undivided attention. Do I not have your full attention?

Arkwright: That's a difficult question for me to answer.

Carlino: How so?

Arkwright: My mind operates... differently. My focus is always fully on at least two or three things simultaneously.

Carlino: Care to explain?

Arkwright: In just the last minute, Beau Taylor lined out to first base on an unassisted double play. That dropped his batting average to .219 on the year. He's 30 years old and hasn't played in the Majors since 2020, when he was 1-for-21 with Cleveland. Barring some sort of miracle, he might be out of baseball altogether by this time next year.

Carlino: Okay...

Arkwright: I also noticed there's shrimp cocktail being served in the other luxury suites to our right and to our left, but there is no seafood in your suite. So I'm guessing you have some sort of seafood allergy.

Carlino: ...

Arkwright: Despite your investment in a luxury box at this stadium, it's abundantly clear you have zero interest in baseball. You're wearing a suit to a baseball game. A Las Vegas Aviators t-shirt would be far too casual for a man of your stature. I assume you received a few team polos and hats as a suite holder, but you probably pawned them off on your assistant, Beverley, to give to her kids. Or grandkids. Am I getting warm?

Carlino: Scalding hot. Damn, you're good.

Arkwright: So, back to the task at hand. We've established you don't care for baseball.

Carlino: Is that going to be a problem?

Arkwright: Depends.

Carlino: On what?

Arkwright: If you like money.

Carlino: Is that a trick question? Do I like money? Of course I like money.

Arkwright: Great. Then it appears you and John Fisher have at least one thing in common.

Carlino: Ah. There it is. You're here for Fisher.

Arkwright: I'm here to vouch for Mr. Fisher, yes.

Carlino: Why would you vouch for that guy? You are polar opposites.

Arkwright: Our goals are in alignment. We both want to see a Major League Baseball team in Las Vegas.

Carlino: And you're here on his behalf?

Arkwright: Mr. Fisher says you've been jerking him around on a deal on the Tropicana property.

Carlino: I've been jerking him around?

Arkwright: His words. Not mine.

Carlino: It's the other way around, my friend. We negotiate a deal, and then he turns right back around and takes it to Oakland.

Arkwright: You're not doing the same with Bally's? Word on the street is you're using the A's as leverage to squeeze more money out of Bally's to operate a new casino at the Tropicana.

Carlino: You know, for a guy who says he's not into gambling, you sure do know a lot about the business.

Arkwright: Like I said, my mind operates differently. So what's it going to take to get a deal done? I'd like to wrap this up so I can watch some baseball.

Carlino: The last offer I had on the table was $350 million for the property. And a 10% equity stake in the Oakland A's. But Bally's is making a pretty compelling offer...

Arkwright: 5-4-3.

Carlino: Huh?

Arkwright: You missed another inning-ending double play. Third to second to first. 5-4-3.

Carlino: So what?

Arkwright: So let's keep Bally's out of this. You start talking about the other girl, and I'm going to start losing interest.

Carlino: Okay... let's forget Bally's for a minute. What's the best offer you're prepared to make?

Arkwright: $500 million. Straight up. No stake in the team. That's the offer.

Carlino: Half a billion dollars? Fisher signed off on this?

Arkwright: Don't worry about Fisher. Whatever his final number is, I'll make up the difference. But I need to get a "yes" out of you right here. Tonight.

Carlino: What assurances do I have he won't back out of this deal just like he has before?

Arkwright: If he backs out, I'll double it.

Carlino: I'm sorry... what did you say?

Arkwright: If Fisher backs out, I'll pay you one billion dollars for the Tropicana property. But that last part stays between you and me.

Carlino: That's a damn good deal.

Arkwright: You're right. It is. So good, in fact, that you're not going to jerk me around by taking it back to Bally's. You're going to take this straight to your Board.

Carlino: And if they say no?

Arkwright: They won't. We both know this is the best offer you're going to get for that land. I'd say $17 million an acre for 34 acres is well above the going rate these days. And any doubts about Mr. Fisher's involvement will be allayed by my own personal commitment to this deal.

Carlino: And what if Fisher says no?

Arkwright: Let me worry about that.

[End Transcription]

Carlino and I shook hands. He immediately went for his phone as we left the suite. I made my way down to the stands, but not before leaving Scott a hundred dollar bill for his efforts. He smiled and seemed genuinely surprised to get such a large tip. If I had to guess, I would say that's the first time he's gotten any sort of gratuity all season from that box. Carlino doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who's overly generous with "the help."

I lost myself in the game, thinking how Sol would've given a booming clap with his giant hands as the Aviators staged a late game rally. Five runs in the 8th inning erased a 3-1 Sacramento lead, sparked by a solo homer by journeyman catcher Beau Taylor, and then a 2-run homer from Dermis Garcia. Dermis is probably due for a late season call-up to Oakland. As for Beau? Probably not. He's 32 years old... a real life version of Jake Taylor from "Major League." This might just be his last year of pro baseball. But that didn't seem to bother him one bit. He was all smiles as he was drenched with a Gatorade bath, giving a postgame radio interview following a thrilling 6-3 win, lifting Las Vegas to one game above .500 at 59-58 on the year.

The game may have been thrilling, but Fisher's response to the deal for the Tropicana site was not. When I texted him about the accepted offer and terms of the deal, I was greeted with the infamous "..." text bubble. The bubble hung in the air for a solid five minutes, until it disappeared. I never got a response.

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
September 14th, 2022

It's been three weeks since I made the pitch for the Tropicana property. The silence from John Fisher and the A's has been deafening. I sent Fisher several follow-up texts and a voicemail, but with no response. But finally last week, I received a Fed-Ex envelope originating from San Francisco. Inside? A check for $5,000 signed by John Fisher, with a Post-it note reading "Finder's fee. Consider our business settled. -- J.F."

I wish I could say I was surprised. I knew Fisher was going to ice me out of this deal as soon as he got the chance. Give credit where credit is due. He apparently decided to fork over the entire $500 mil without cutting me in. As far as the $5,000 check... I'd be insulted if I didn't already have such a low opinion of him. In fact, if Fisher was smart, he would've made the number substantially larger in hopes of me actually cashing the check and theoretically removing myself from the deal. The man just can't get past his own greed. It will be his downfall.

While Fisher is trying to write me off, I still have skin in the game. I consider my offer to purchase the Tropicana to still be on the table, even if I'm under no legal obligation to do so. No contract with my name was ever drawn up, and I signed nothing. I did ponder reaching out to Peter Carlino, to reaffirm my offer to double Fisher's bid if he backs out. But I figured I would just let this all play out.

As all of this has been going on, the A’s are putting on a dog and pony show in the Bay Area, trying to make it look like they're still "Rooted in Oakland." A's President Dave Kaval has been jumping through more legal hoops to build a stadium at the Howard Ferry Terminal. Just last Thursday, an Alameda County Superior Court judge rejected lawsuits arguing that the A’s proposed stadium would cause serious harm to the surrounding port area. It’s the kind of legal gymnastics that are commonplace in the Bay Area and are an afterthought in Las Vegas. It’s why it’s so difficult to build in California, and so easy to build in Nevada. And that’s exactly why the Raiders relocated here, why the NHL expanded here, and why the A’s are on the verge of coming here.

In the meantime, all I can do is sit, wait, and watch some baseball. It was nice seeing Dermis Garcia hit a 1st inning 3-run homer for the A's off the Rangers last night in Texas. Garcia was here in Vegas just a couple of weeks ago playing for the Aviators, so it's great seeing him have some success in the Bigs. I bounced back and forth between the A's game and the Angels-Guardians game on MLBTV. I was genuinely hoping to see Mike Trout tie an MLB record with a home run in an eighth straight game, but he was held in check with three flyball outs and a strikeout in a 3-1 loss in Cleveland. By the time I switched back to the A's game, Oakland had managed to blow a 7-2 lead, eventually losing on a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 9th in a 8-7 loss. That's now 10 losses in 12 games, giving the A's a league-worst record of 51-91 on the season.

While both Trout and the A's failed to deliver Tuesday night, Aaron Judge did not. The Yankees slugger hit two more dingers against the Red Sox, bringing his single season tally to 57, with twenty games left to play. The Major League HR record* may be out of reach, but Judge is certainly well within striking distance of the A.L. single season mark of 61, held by Roger Maris since 1961. He's primed for a mega contract in free agency this offseason.

It's hard not to dream about what a team like the A's could do with some decent ownership. I can just imagine Aaron Judge signing on to play for the Athletics, injecting some much needed punch and starpower into the yellow and gold. At the rate he's going, it might take at least $300 million to acquire his services. That may be a lot in baseball terms, but that's chump change with the dollar figures that are being thrown around between Oakland and Las Vegas these days. Now I just need to find out where I fit into that equation.

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
September 16th, 2022

For a guy who runs a video game company, theme park, zoo, and a hotel, you'd think I'd be more of a free spirit. But my entire life has been formed on extremely logical and informed decisions. Which makes what I'm about to do very... un-me.

I've been thinking a lot of baseball lately. Especially since I've taken an interest in bringing baseball to Las Vegas. I've been spending more and more time watching games... Aaron Judge chasing 61. Albert Pujols closing in on 700. But I've been watching all of this on TV or through an app. It got me thinking. Why not go to these games in person?

I certainly have the means. To a certain extent, I also have the time.

So here's my plan: I'm going to see every Major League ballpark by the end of the season. It's always been a dream of mine. But why now? What's the rush?

First, I need something to occupy my mind while I wait for this Vegas baseball thing to play itself out. There are tons of pieces in play right now, and I need to exercise patience and let it happen. I'm one step away from not-so-gently nudging John Fisher, Peter Carlino, Paul Manfred, and Dave Kaval into the moves I'm expecting them to make.

Second, it's time to start networking with these owners. If I'm going to become a part of this club, I need to find a way into this fraternity. Warriors owner Joe Lacob's words are still ringing in my head. "You've got to have the right friends in these leagues."

It's time to start thinking three steps ahead. So I'm going to travel to each Major League ballpark and meet -- and win over -- each and every owner. Except Oakland and John Fisher, of course.

My plan is to see 29 stadiums over the course of 20 days, taking me all the way down to the end of the regular season on October 5th.

How will I do it? With lots of smiles air miles. And maybe a few dozen Arkade video game consoles.

Next stop: Wrigley Field.

We touch down in Chicago in less than an hour.

I can't wait.

[GoPedro99]

just patiently awaiting the big reveal that this is a true story with some details changed and we are all secretly being let in on the huge development that is the movement of the A's

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
September 17th, 2022

It took me 42 years, but I finally saw the baseball cathedral that is Wrigley Field. It was everything as advertised. I milled around Wrigleyville for about an hour before the game. I hung out at a bar on Sheffield Ave, just to get a feel for the pregame atmosphere. I did not imbibe, but there was plenty of alcohol flowing for a weekday afternoon. I bought a round for the house, and they thanked me by giving me a green “Murphy’s Bleachers” t-shirt. Best $700 I’ve ever spent.

Then I made my way down to Addison Street to a place called “Lucky Strike,” a bowling alley and video game parlor. It looked like the kind of place that would be jam-packed after the game and on a Friday or Saturday night. I found a couple of arcade games to my liking, and put the name “A-R-K” on the high scores. I don’t think those are getting replaced any time soon.

I looked at my watch and realized it was getting close to 1 o’clock, twenty minutes before game time. I made my way through security and up to the owner’s box just in time for the first pitch, where Thomas Ricketts was patiently waiting for me.

We exchanged pleasantries, and I thanked him for inviting me to his suite. I had reached out just 24 hours earlier, and I was pleasantly surprised to get a response less than 30 minutes later. I handed him a brand-new Arkade console packed with a few games, including NFL Arkade and MLB Arkade 22. He looked genuinely appreciative, and said that one of his sons is a big fan and will put it to good use.

I asked Thomas if he minded if I recorded our conversation, and he nodded approvingly.

[Begin Transcription, 1:27 pm Central, September 16, 2022]

Ricketts: Are you writing a book?

Arkwright: Oh, no. I just do this to collect my thoughts. Review dialogues with people. It’s kind of like watching a movie for a second time. You find that you missed a lot the first time.

Ricketts: Interesting. I like that. That’s a really cool idea.

Arkwright: Thank you. So you’re probably wondering what brings me out to Chicago…

Ricketts: Whoa!

(Crowd noise)

Ricketts: Go go go! Get down! Get down!

(Crowd noise)

Ricketts: Sorry about that. Lead-off triple!

Arkwright: Nice piece of hitting there. Kid’s hot wheels.

Ricketts: That’s Zach McKinstry. We got him in a trade with the Dodgers.

Arkwright: You’re not quite what I expected.

Ricketts: What were you expecting?

Arkwright: You're not like most baseball owners, are you?

Ricketts: How many owners have you met?

Arkwright: You’re the second.

Ricketts: (laughter) You need to get out more.

Arkwright: That’s the plan. I’m hoping to go to every Major League stadium this season.

Ricketts: How many more do you have to go?

Arkwright: 28.

(Crowd noise)

Ricketts: That a baby, Happ! Nice base knock! 1-0!

Arkwright: Go Cubs.

Ricketts: Go Cubs is right! Who’s your team? I mean, when you’re not in Chicago in the owner’s box sitting next to the owner of the Cubs.

Arkwright: That’s a great question. I’ve lived in Nevada my entire life. I grew up watching the Las Vegas Stars as a kid. They were affiliated with the Padres at the time, so that kind of made the Pad’s my team.

Ricketts: Shame about Tatis.

Arkwright: The steroids thing? Yeah. Bad choice. Hopefully he learns from it. Really hurt the team. If Juan Soto can finally get going, they should make the playoffs.

Ricketts: As long as the Brewers don’t catch ‘em. They’re really coming in strong.

Arkwright: You really know your baseball.

Ricketts: You’ve got to know baseball in this town. Chicagoans expect nothing less.

Arkwright: Great baseball town. Great park.

Ricketts: You want to take a walk around? See more of Wrigley?

Arkwright: You read my mind.

[End Transcription]

Ricketts and I left the owner’s box, and he showed me the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. He merrily mingled with fans, handing out baseballs to kids in the stands. What a breath of fresh air. Ricketts is the anti-Fisher. My kind of guy.

He took me to the 400 level seats, so we could get a picturesque view of the stadium and the surrounding skyline. It was breathtaking. Then we made our way to the bleachers, where the legendary “Bleacher Bums” toasted Ricketts, inviting him to chug a $10 cup of beer and join a “beer snake” — a giant line of empty beer cups making a, well, beer snake. You can’t make this up. Ricketts politely declined and we made our way into — yes, into — the Wrigley Field scoreboard. He showed me how the scoreboard operator changed the score by hand, without the luxury of modern technology. I loved it.

I asked Ricketts if he’d be interested in having an “Arkade Booth” in the concourse area. I explained that it would be a Virtual booth, where fans could play a baseball video game in a virtual environment. I told him I could invite him to Sol HQ in Boulder City to show him some of our cutting edge VR technology. He enthusiastically said yes, and promised he’d fly out after the season to check it out.

The Cubs won the game, beating the Colorado Rockies, 2-1. Sadly, there will be no postseason for the Cubs. Despite the win, Chicago is still 20 games below .500 at 62-82 on the year.

I shook Ricketts’ hand and thanked him for his hospitality. Next stop, Milwaukee.

Pictured: Wrigley Field, Thomas Ricketts Bio

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
September 17th, 2022

The baseball gods smiled upon me. My first game in this baseball marathon took a scant 2 hours and 15 minutes, which meant I had plenty of time to get from Chicago to Milwaukee. I decided to take a detour between Wrigley and Midway, and made a stop in Lincoln Park so I could grab some deep dish at Pequod’s. I came just before the notorious Friday evening rush, and had time to sit down and scarf down half a pie before hailing a taxi and getting back on the road.

I could've theoretically driven the 87 miles from Chicago to Milwaukee, but then I’d be without my plane for the next leg of my journey to Ohio and Michigan. This entire endeavor is simply not possible without a private plane. So I had the taxi cab take me to Midway, where my jet was waiting, and whisked me off to Milwaukee.

I had plenty of time to spare before the Friday night 7 o’clock game time at American Family Field. Again, I had a date with the Brewers owner, just as I had with Tom Ricketts in Chicago. But Mark Attanasio was not in the owner’s box when I arrived 30 minutes before game time. In fact, he wasn’t there when the first pitch was delivered at 7:11pm. Or when Marwin Gonzales singled on a sharp grounder up the middle to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead in the 1st inning. Or when two more runs came in the top of the 2nd inning. Attanasio finally showed up just before the start of the bottom of the second.

I decided not to ask Attanasio for consent to record our conversation, since we’re in Wisconsin, which, like Nevada, is a single-party consent recording state.

[Begin Transcription, 7:44 pm Central, September 16, 2022]

Attanasio: Damn, we’re already down 5-0! What did I miss.

Arkwright: Just a bunch of singles, walks, sac flies, and fielders choices. Death by a thousand cuts.

Attanasio: Sam! Nice to meet you.

Arkwright: Likewise. Thanks for having me.

Attanasio: My pleasure. Sorry I’m late. Got a lot going on. Apparently I just bought a soccer team in Europe.

Arkwright: Congratulations.

Attanasio: Thank you. But enough about that. We’ve got a baseball game to watch.

Arkwright: It looks like you might be a good luck charm. Your team just got the first two runners on.

Attanasio: I’d really like to beat these guys.

Arkwright: The Yankees. Most hated team in pro sports.

Attanasio: Most known team in pro sports, too. I’m from the Bronx. That was my team!

Arkwright: And now?

Attanasio: Screw 'em.

Arkwright: Spoken like a true New Yorker.

Attanasio: (laughter) I’ve got some New Jersey mixed in there, too. Born in the Bronx, raised in Tenafly. You?

Arkwright: Southern Nevada, born and raised.

Attanasio: Las Vegas?

Arkwright: Something like that.

Attanasio: Any brothers or sisters?

Arkwright: Something like that. How about you?

Attanasio: One brother. Younger. He’s out in LA.

Arkwright: Hollywood?

Attanasio: Yeah. John is a screenwriter and producer.

Arkwright: Anything I’d know?

Attanasio: Donnie Brasco. Quiz Show. Disclosure. The Sum of All Fears. All pretty much adapted screenplays. Then John got into TV. He and his ex were the ones who pitched House. They were both Executive Producers on that show.

Arkwright: What about you? How did you come about owning a Major League Baseball team?

Attanasio: Kind of a long story. Cliffs Notes version: Made a s---load of money in the 1990's. Investment banking. Leveraged loans. High-yield bonds. Distressed securities. Sold out a few years later and stayed on as a senior partner. Finally got tired of sitting on a giant pot of gold and spent half of it buying the Brewers in 2004.

Arkwright: From Bud Selig?

Attanasio: Wendy. Bud couldn't own the team once he became the Commish, so he transferred ownership to his daughter, Wendy. I bought the team from her in 2005. Here we are 17 years later.

Arkwright: It appears your Brewers are in need of a new good luck charm. Yelich just struck out. That’s two outs.

Attanasio: Let’s see what Adames can do here. Come on, Willy…

(Crowd noise)

Arkwright: He got a hold of that one…

Attanasio: Get up! Get outta here!

Arkwright: It’s GONE!

Attanasio: 3-run homer! First Brewers game?

Arkwright: Yep.

Attanasio: Look over there. You’re about to see your first “Bernie Slide.”

Arkwright: There it is!

Attanasio: And now you can die a happy man.

Arkwright: It appears so.

[End Transcription]

I stopped recording. I chuckled as I saw Bernie Brewer in that ridiculous outfit slide merrily down a white plastic slide. I guess he used to slide into a giant mug of beer. This current celebration is a little more family friendly.

It was clear Attanasio and I weren’t going to talk about anything but the game, and that was just fine with me. It seemed like he just appreciated having good company in his suite. I assume he normally has other white collar bank-type guys in there, so it might be a welcome change having a fellow baseball fan to talk shop with.

I partook in the staples of the true Milwaukee Brewer experience. Cheese curds. Bratwurst. Something called the Dog n' Brat Show. My heart was full, and so was my stomach.

As for the game, Willy Adames struck again with a ground rule RBI double in the 4th, followed by a Rowdy Tellez sacrifice fly to tie the game at 5-5. The Brewers took a 6-5 lead into the 9th before Josh Donaldson hit a game-tying homer to lead off the inning for the Yankees. Attanasio responded with a series of f-bombs. Lucky for him and his team, Garrett Mitchell walked it off with a RBI single in the bottom of the 9th, giving Milwaukee a thrilling 7-6 win. That led to another litany of Attanasio expletives, but this time with a much cheerier tone. With the win, the Brewers improved to 77-67 to remain 1.5 games back of the Padres for the third and final Wild Card in the National League.

I thanked Attanasio for having me, and gave him an Arkade console as a parting gift. He didn’t seem to know much about video games, but he was intrigued by my offer to purchase a VR suite to install in the stadium concourse. We shook hands, and he said he'd look me up the next time he was in Vegas.

Two ballparks down, and it looks like I've made a couple of new friends along the way. On to Cleveland.

Pictured: American Family Field and Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
September 18th, 2022

I’m on my way back to the West Coast after a whirlwind swing though the Midwest. Chicago and Milwaukee on Friday, and then Cleveland and Detroit on Saturday.

As fruitful as my meetings with owners were to start this trip, the vines were suddenly barren yesterday. The Cleveland ownership is apparently in flux at the moment. Larry Dolan is the principal owner of the Guardians, but is 93 years old and has ceded much of the control of his team to his son, Paul. But Paul seems to be maneuvering to give up control of the club to David Blitzer, who just purchased minority stake in the franchise this summer.

No one responded to my calls, so when I arrived at Progressive Field on Saturday afternoon, I left a card with a girl named Denise at the ticket booth. Luckily there were plenty of good seats available (18,177 announced attendance), so I scooped up a single ticket in section 149 on the first base side, eight rows behind the Twins dugout.

The ballpark was gorgeous. It was built in the retro classic design that was all the rage after Camden Yards was built in Baltimore in the early 1990’s. But it works. You can see the Cleveland skyline beyond a massive video board in left field. I always had an affinity for the Indians from watching the movie Major League in the late 80’s. I can still quote just about every line from that movie. I was a little sad to see them change their name, but seeing the new name and branding, the team really hasn’t missed a beat.

As for the game, Jose Ramirez started things off for the Guardians, launching a solo homer into right center in the 1st inning, his 28th on the year. Cleveland tacked on another run in the 3rd, and then two more in the 4th, and one more in the 6th. Minnesota’s lone run came in the top of the 8th on a Matt Wallner home run, his first career HR. But it was too little, too late. The Guardians got the win, 5-1, to improve to 78-66 on the year.

I didn’t have time to stick around for game two of the doubleheader between the Guardians and the Twins, instead opting to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — also known as the Rock Hall. I could’ve arranged for a private tour, but I prefer to see things just as the general public sees them. There’s just something so cool about seeing kids, old timers, and rock buffs going crazy over guitars, drums, stage outfits, and nostalgia from the Stones, Jimi, and every legend in Rock and Roll history. My kind of place.

After that, it was a quick jump to Detroit, Michigan. As I was in the air flying across Lake Erie, I had KISS in my head, humming along to “Detroit Rock City.”

Comerica Park was just a 20 minute cab ride from Wayne County Airport, and I arrived 45 minutes before first pitch at 6:10. Instead of heading into the ballpark, I took a few moments to marvel at the architecture of two churches right across the street — St. John Episcopal and Central United Methodist. From there, I made my way inside the stadium, and headed straight for the Ty Cobb statue. I named my son, TJ, after Cobb. Tyrus J. Arkwright. I have always had a great admiration for Cobb. Sure, he had 4,191 basehits — a record that stood until Pete Rose eclipsed him on September 11, 1985. But that wasn’t the root of my fascination. Sol told me that Cobb had somehow been branded a racist and a bigot, but he found that not to be the case. He told me how Cobb’s father was a noted advocate for racial equality, and Cobb himself once said that Willie Mays was the only player he’d pay money to see. Sol told me many other stories about Cobb, that only further piqued my interest in the man who outdistanced Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson in the inaugural Hall of Fame class.

After taking a minute to admire the Cobb statue, I took the long walk from the left-center field concourse to the luxury suites behind home plate. The owner, Chris Ilitch, greeted me once I arrived, about 15 minutes before first pitch.

I could tell from the moment we met, he didn’t have the first clue about baseball. I asked him about seeing Miguel Cabrera getting his 3,000th hit earlier this season. About Lou Whitaker’s number being retired last month. Ilitch’s eyes glazed over, like a 5-year-old listening to their parents talk about refinancing a home loan. He just didn’t get it.

Chris talked about his dad, Mike Ilitch. He was a legend in these parts. He had a four-year minor league stint with the Tigers in the 1950’s, before a knee injury ended his career. It was for the best. He started a pizza business with his wife in 1959. Little Caesars. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Mike then got into sports ownership in the 1970’s, buying a couple of minor league teams in 1974 and 1977. He broadened his horizons in the 1980’s, purchasing the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings in 1982, followed by the Tigers in 1992. He passed away in 2017, and Detroit was never the same.

I wish I could’ve met Mike Ilitch. He not only invested heavily in Detroit’s sports teams, but also its community. There are stories about how he paid the rent for Rosa Parks for years when she was attacked in her apartment in 1994. He formed a traveling restaurant to feed the hungry and to help during natural disasters, a program that was recognized by three different Presidents. The man was a legend.

Chris and I didn’t talk much about baseball, which was really too bad. It was a heck of a game. It went to extra innings tied at 2-2. The owner was long gone, and I had the suite all to myself. The White Sox scored two runs in the 11th, but the Tigers struck back with a Javier Baez RBI single in the bottom of the frame to pull Detroit within one. But Chicago prevailed, holding on to win in 11, 4-3.

It’s been a wild 48 hours. Four games in two days. One extra game. One 9th inning walk off. That’s a whole lot of baseball.

Pictured: Progressive Field and Comerica Park

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
September 19th, 2022

Thank God for retractable roofs. The temperature was pushing triple digits yesterday. Just your typical Sunday in September in Phoenix. But with the roof closed, it was absolutely perfect inside Chase Field — 73 degrees.

I was there with my son, T.J. I thought it would be fun to swing by home and take him to some ballgames. He groaned at the thought of being stuck with his boring dad for a few days, but I promised him a trip to Disneyland was in store as well. He took the bait.

Surprisingly, the Diamondbacks pulled out all the stops for our visit to Chase. We were welcomed by a lovely woman by the name of Karen at the front gate. She greeted us with a sunny smile befitting of the weather, which suddenly made the late night flight from Detroit and the early morning hop from Boulder City much more bearable. She told me she’s the Senior Director of Community Affairs, and that she would be my personal guide before I met her boss, Ken Kendrick.

She asked me if I wanted to record any of our conversation. I pulled out my transcription device and pointed to it, and she gave me a polite nod, as if to say, “You may begin.”

[Begin Transcription, 12:33 pm Mountain, September 18, 2022]

Karen: Mr. Kendrick said you like to record all of your conversations. He said you’re very thorough.

Arkwright: And so is your boss, it seems.

Karen: He is.

Arkwright: How long have you been working for the Diamondbacks?

Karen: I came over from the Suns in 1999 at the request of Mr. Colangelo...

Arkwright: Mr. Colangelo?

Karen: Oh, sorry. Jerry Colangelo. He’s kind of a local legend around here.

Arkwright: How so?

Karen: You want the Randy Johnson version or the Eddie Gaedel version?

Arkwright: The Randy Johnson version? Ohhhhh… the long or short version. I get it. Give me the Big Unit.

Karen: Very well. Mr. Colangelo first came to Phoenix in 1968. He was named the General Manager of the expansion Suns, and had just $200 in his wallet when he and his family moved from Chicago to the Valley.

Arkwright: The Valley…

Karen: Yeah, that’s what we Phoenicians call Phoenix. The Valley of the Sun. So Mr. Colangelo didn’t exactly have the best luck at the start. The Suns lost a coin flip to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969 for the #1 pick in the Draft.

Arkwright: And Milwaukee got Lew Alcindor.

Karen: Or better known today as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Arkwright: The NBA’s all-time leading scorer. So who did the Suns draft at #2?

Karen: Not Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

(Laughter)

Arkwright: So how did Jerry come about owning the Suns?

Karen: Mr. Colangelo had a pretty remarkable run in the 70’s as GM. They even made it all the way to the NBA Finals against the Celtics in 1976. He wound up having the second-longest tenure of running one team in NBA history.

Arkwright: Who was number one?

Karen: Red Auerbach, Boston Celtics.

Arkwright: Elite company.

Karen: Indeed. But things took a turn for the worse in the 1980’s. The team had off the court issues. Several players were involved in a drug scandal. Another died in a plane crash. The team started missing the playoffs. That’s when Mr. Colangelo assembled a group of investors, and bought the team in 1987.

Arkwright. Rags to riches.

Karen: Working class Italian-American from Chicago living the American Dream. Pretty amazing.

Arkwright: So then what?

Karen: The Suns had one of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history. They went from 28 wins in 1988 to 55 in 1989 and made the playoffs. They made it to the postseason every year for 13 straight years. Mr. Colangelo made a big trade in 1993 to get Charles Barkley from the Philadelphia 76ers. They wound up going to the NBA Finals, losing to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

Arkwright: (chuckling) Michael Jordan. I just bought his jersey.

Karen: Pretty expensive I would imagine?

Arkwright: Just over ten million bucks.

Karen: So you’re a big basketball fan?

Arkwright: Not really. Just enjoy collecting sports memorabilia. Plus, I’ve got MJ to thank for making bald cool.

Karen: He was the first, wasn’t he?

Arkwright: A true trailblazer. So how did Jerry end up getting into baseball?

Karen: When Mr. Colangelo was back in Chicago for a Suns-Bulls game, he decided to catch a baseball game at Wrigley. He got to thinking, "Why not Phoenix?" So Mr. Colangelo put together a team of investors to purchase an expansion franchise in 1994. Four years later, the Arizona Diamondbacks were born.

Arkwright: Sounds like he was a heck of a guy.

Karen: He is a heck of a guy. Still alive and kicking at the age of 82. Resigned as Managing General Partner in 2004, and sold his stake in the team not long after. We just had an anniversary to celebrate the 2001 Championship. He’s doing well.

Arkwright: Heck of a team. Randy Johnson… Curt Schilling…

Karen: Luis Gonzales. Mark Grace.

Arkwright: Unforgettable Series. Went the full 7. George Bush threw out the first pitch after 9/11…

Karen: Goosebumps.

Arkwright: And that Yankees team was loaded! Jeter, Rivera, Mussina…

Karen: And yet we won the World Series. We’ve been chasing that second ring ever since.

Arkwright: And that brings us to your current boss…

Karen: Yes it does.

[End Transcription]

Karen, T.J., and I had made our way to the outfield concourse. We were standing at the gate to a field level suite. The field level suite. It’s hard to miss. Just beyond the fence in right-centerfield at Chase Field is an 8,500 gallon tank… The Pool Suite. T.J.'s eyes grew wide open. This pool has been a staple in Phoenix ever since the stadium was christened in 1998. Karen summoned an assistant on her walkie-talkie, and before we knew it, we were presented with two pairs of trunks -- just our size. Karen told me Mr. Kendrick would be joining us shortly.

I asked her if she had any kids. She told me three. She flashed me that gigantic sunshine smile when I handed her an Arkade console from my bag.

T.J. and I slipped on our trunks in a restroom in the pool suite. Surprisingly, no one else was there, so I did a cannonball into the pool while no one was looking. When I rose back to the surface, a pasty white man in his late 70’s was standing poolside. He gave a hearty laugh and asked if I was enjoying myself. It was Ken Kendrick.

I sheepishly grabbed a towel and shook his hand. He pointed toward my transcription device that was sitting on a nearby bar table, telling me it’s okay to start recording.

[Resume Transcription, 1:07 pm Mountain, September 18, 2022]

Arkwright: Just us?

Kendrick: Just me, you, and your boy. What do you think of the ballpark?

Arkwright: Love it. Wish we had something like this in Vegas. The retractable roof is a game changer.

Kendrick: Worth its wait in gold. It’s going to be 100 degrees this afternoon. Without that roof, we’d be lucky to get 10,000 people in here today. But we’re looking at a projected gate of double that.

Arkwright: Doesn’t hurt that you have the Padres in town.

Kendrick: They travel well these days.

Arkwright: Some major star power. Juan Soto and Julio Machado. Fernando Tatis Junior, if not for the steroid suspension.

Kendrick: So you watch baseball?

Arkwright: A little bit.

Kendrick: A little bit? Says the guy who’s at his fifth game in three days in five states!

Arkwright: Guilty. How about you? What floats your boat?

Kendrick: The team keeps me fairly busy. I’m also pretty involved with CityScape. We’re revitalizing downtown. This stadium is kind of the anchor point for that. I understand you’re also into building things. I’d love to visit Boulder City the next time I’m up in Vegas. The theme park… the zoo…

Arkwright: We’d love to have you.

Kendrick: So Karen tells me you’re a bit of a collector.

Arkwright: I dabble.

Kendrick: Congratulations on the Jordan jersey. You outbid me for it.

Arkwright: Really?

Kendrick: A little too rich for my blood, unfortunately. Do you collect baseball memorabilia too?

Arkwright: I do. Do you?

Kendrick: I do.

Arkwright: Don’t hold back on me, Ken. What's your prized possession?

Kendrick: Want to see?

Arkwright: Sure...

[End Transcription]

I slipped on a t-shirt and flip-flops and quickly dried myself. Karen reappeared and told me she'd watch T.J. while we were gone. I followed Kendrick around the concourse. I snapped by head back as Manny Machado ripped a drive to left-centerfield for a 2-run home run. His 29th on the year. 2-0 Padres. We finally reached a guarded elevator. An usher swiped a card to open it for us, and Kendrick and I stepped in without saying a word. Kendrick punched a button to take us to the very bottom of the stadium.

We stepped out into a hallway. Kendrick told me all about the history of the ballpark, and how it was once known as "BOB" (Bank One Ballpark). By the feel of things, I sensed we were now under the field. We finally reached the end of the empty hall, and Kendrick placed his thumb on a scanner to open the door.

Before me was a sizable collection of sports memorabilia. Baseball bats. Balls. Jerseys. And cards.

I pulled out my transcription device and gave him a look. He nodded in approval.

[Begin Transcription, 1:44 pm Mountain, September 18, 2022]

Arkwright: Impressive.

Kendrick: Thank you. Let's show you the piece de resistance.

Arkwright: Is that what I think it is?

Kendrick: Yes, it is.

Arkwright: 1909 Honus Wagner T-206. The Holy Grail. Unbelievable. How?

Kendrick: Wow. Where do I begin? It started with Wayne Gretzky...

Arkwright: The Great One?

Kendrick: The One and only. He bought it at auction back in 1991. $451,000. Four years later, Gretzky sold it for half a million.

Arkwright: Who bought it?

Kendrick: Walmart. They used it as a promotion. They sent the card all across the U.S. to juice the baseball card market. Then they held a big drawing for the card on Larry King. The drew the name of some postal worker living in Florida.

Arkwright: What'd he do with it?

Kendrick: He sold it almost immediately. Couldn't afford the taxes on it. Went at auction for $640-grand to a guy by the name of Michael Gidwitz. Then in 2000, Gidwitz put it on eBay and sold it to Brian Seigel for one and a quarter million dollars. It changed hands a couple more times between private collectors, until I finally scooped it up in 2007.

Arkwright: You mind if I ask how much?

Kendrick: $2.8 mil.

Arkwright: That's got to be worth at least seven million dollars now. Thanks for showing it to me. Never seen one up close.

Kendrick: Look, Sam... It's time I come clean. I have an ulterior motive in having you as my guest here.

Arkwright: I had my suspicions.

Kendrick: Speaking one private collector to another... you have the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card, don't you?

Arkwright: How did you know?

Kendrick: I wasn't really sure until you spilled the beans to Karen about the Jordan jersey. And now, just by the way you're looking at the cards in this room, I pretty much knew for sure.

Arkwright: Is this the part where you ask me if I'll trade my Mantle for your Honus Wagner?

Kendrick: It makes sense, doesn't it? We make the trade, we avoid paying auction house fees. No capital gains tax either. Equal value.

Arkwright: I haven't traded cards since I was 12.

Kendrick: This is the kind of trade you'll tell your grandkids about. What do you say?

Arkwright: True to your name. You've certainly done the math on this one. I'd expect nothing less from a fellow software guy.

Kendrick: And banker.

Arkwright: And banker. OK, Mr. Banker, how about I give you a counterproposal? How about you sell me your Honus Wagner T-206 for $13 million?

Kendrick: And make it the most expensive in sports card history... even more than the $12.6 million you spent on Mantle?

Arkwright: Exactly.

Kendrick: Thanks, but no thanks. As you said, this is the Holy Grail...

Arkwright: $15 million.

Kendrick: I don't think you understand. I invited you here so I could get your card... not so you could get mine.

Arkwright: Twenty.

Kendrick: Excuse me?

Arkwright: $20 million. Take the money and buy yourself two other Honus Wagner's.

Kendrick: You'll seriously pay me $20 million for this card?

Arkwright: Is that a yes?

[End Transcription]

Kendrick and I shook hands. I didn't feel the need to have the card authenticated. I wired him the money before he had a chance to change his mind.

We rode the elevator back upstairs in silence after the deal was complete. He smiled and gave me a pat on the back as we went our separate ways. I arrived back at the pool just in time to see Juan Soto hit a homer to right in the 5th inning. T.J. asked me what was in my hands. I told him, "Just a baseball card."

Pictured: Chase Field, Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick, Honus Wagner

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
September 20th, 2022

I don’t pull the celebrity card very often, but I’ll make an exception when it involves my kid and Disneyland. I took TJ to the “Happiest Place on Earth” early Monday morning. My VIP status granted me and my son theme park access a full two hours before opening.

It’s always strange going into a theme park when you own and operate one yourself. I would imagine it’s much like being a teacher and sitting in a class as a student. I can’t unplug and just enjoy the experience in the same way a park goer would. All I’m thinking about is routing, overhead, branding, and logistics. I don’t see a 6-year-girl and her parents having the time of their lives while hanging on for dear life on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I see needs meters like in The Sims video game — maxed out in the green on thrills and entertainment, but dangerously low in the red on hunger and bathroom needs. Our R&D department has actually created precisely the same thing. A smart watch measures different needs, sends that data for us to gather and interpret, and prompts the user where to go to satisfy their needs. We’re starting to roll it out at our theme park right now in Boulder City. It’s in alpha testing at the moment, but I could see it as a regular thing five years from now.

We had a park employee, Leroy, usher us around Disneyland, flashing his ID to get us to the front of the line. Just as we were making our way from Frontierland to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, I got a phone call from the L.A. Angels. It was owner’s administrative assistant, notifying me that her boss could meet me for lunch before the Angels game. TJ had a furious theme park meltdown (the worst kind), refusing to leave. We made a compromise: TJ could stay with Leroy to continue his Disneyland adventure, while I made the short trip over to Angel Stadium for lunch and a ballgame.

90 minutes before game time, the stadium felt like a mausoleum compared to the hustle and bustle of Disneyland. I was directed to the Lexus Diamond Club Restaurant inside the ballpark. Only a handful of people were inside. Among them was the Angels owner, Arte Moreno.

He looked nothing like the triumphant Mexican-American who had bought the Angels from Disney for $180 million in 2003. Or the man who smiled proudly beneath a black, pencil-thin mustache in 2011 when he signed Albert Pujols to a $250 million contract.

This Arte Moreno was tired. His black mustache had gone gray. He looked defeated. Worn out. News broke last month that he was putting the team in the market, and that he intended to sell the franchise after 20 years of ownership. The news was met mostly by relief and excitement. People had tired of the Angels underperforming, especially with two of the game’s brightest stars — Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout — toiling away on a sub .500 team. Fair or not, fans and the media by and large have pointed the finger at Moreno for the Angels’ recent woes.

I asked if I could record our conversation, but Arte waved off the request. He called over a server to take our order. Arte insisted I try the prime rib. I obliged, and we dug into our conversation.

He had assumed I was interested in buying the Angels. I will admit, the thought crossed my mind. But I knew it just wouldn’t work. I have no interest in owning a team outside of Las Vegas, and I certainly don’t want to be vilified as a guy who uproots a team from one town so I can move it to another. Yes, I know I’m looking at doing the same thing with the A’s, but that’s different. The specter of a move out of Oakland has been hanging over the East Bay for years. It seems at this point it’s not a question of if, but rather when.

I pretended to show a faint interest in the Angels. It’s not like they’re out of my league. Forbes last valued the franchise at $2.2 billion — well within my means. Whoever lands the team will also have access to one of the largest media markets in the U.S. That means massive TV exposure and broadcasting rights to go with it.

Arte insisted that whoever buys the team must keep the team in Anaheim. Duh. That’s a no-brainer. He also told me $3 billion is the starting point for negotiations, and that there are already two other suitors. Which means there’s probably one. Maybe.

I told him I’d be in touch. Might as well humor the man and give him another potential buyer. Help drive up the price a little bit with the appearance of multiple bidders.

He excused himself from the table, and I beat a hasty retreat from the restaurant. It was starting to get crowded, and I wanted to see some baseball.

I picked a seat in the upper deck behind home plate. I prefer sitting high up anytime I’m visiting a stadium for the first time. It gives you the perfect panoramic view of the entire ballpark, and gives you a real feel for the stadium. In this case, I was a little disappointed to see a tacky rock formation out in center field. Frankly, it resembles a second-rate theme park, not the previous owners, Walt Disney Corp.

The Angels lost the game, falling 9-1 to the visiting Seattle Mariners. This kid Logan Gilbert is the real deal. He went 6 innings for the M’s and struck out 11 Angels. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him playing in an All-Star game real soon.

I couldn’t help but flash back to the 1989 MLB All-Star Game, played in this very same stadium. It was one of the very first games I can remember watching on TV as a kid. There was no fake rock formation in the outfield at the time. Just a giant green tarp. And that’s exactly where Bo Jackson hit it. 450 feet from home plate. Unbelievable.

It’s one of the inspirations for my son’s name. Tyrus may be the “T”, but “Jackson” is the “J.” Jackson was inspired by Bo, as well as “Shoeless” Joe Jackson.

Tyrus Jackson Arkwright.

I then made the short jaunt back to Disneyland to pick up TJ, so we could go to the late game at Dodger Stadium. It was my second time at the stadium this year, and the first since I was accosted by Rob Manfred at the Midsummer Classic about potentially buying the A’s a few months ago. So much has happened since then. Nothing has gone according to Manfred’s plan, but everything is falling into place in my plan.

My plan was to sit in the bleachers just I had done back in July. We sat in our seats long enough to see Joey Gallo absolutely crush a thigh-high fastball off the Diamondbacks deep to right… just out of my reach, with a one-hop to the ribbon board behind us. Final distance: 437 feet. Not far off from Bo.

TJ and I were greeted by an usher just as we were sitting back down. The kid’s name tag read “Bradley.” He couldn’t have been more than 23 years old. He was overflowing with energy and enthusiasm. And enough hair product to destroy the ozone layer. He told me that we were invited to the owner’s box.

What’s interesting is that I never reached out to the Dodgers front office. I had planned on trying to connect with them the next morning before I headed back to the Midwest for Kansas City. I really wanted to focus on the game with Clayton Kershaw on the mound, and spending some father-son time with TJ.

Magic Johnson’s megawatt smile greeted me as Bradley showed us into the owner’s suite. Bradley announced my name as if I was some dignitary visiting from a foreign lane. “Ladies and gentlemen, the creator of the Arkade, I present Sam Arkwright.” All he was missing was a bugle.

Magic gave me a friendly hug, as if we had known each other for years. This was our first meeting. I immediately pulled out my recorder and asked him if I could start recording. He answered, “Sure, man!”

[Begin Transcription, 7:41 pm Pacific, September 19, 2022]

Magic: So is it true?

Arkwright: Is what true?

Magic: Man, don’t play coy with me. This is Magic you’re talking to!

Arkwright: Coy about what?

Magic: The Angels! You looking to buy the Angels? That’s the word on the street!

Arkwright: Word travels fast.

Magic: Man, this is Tinseltown! Word travels faster than a Lakers fast break. So, you buying?

Arkwright: Just sniffing around. Nothing serious.

Magic: Sure. Sure. How much is ol’ Arte asking? Two? Three?

Arkwright: I think that’s between me and Mr. Moreno.

Magic: I just like to know these things. When a neighbor is selling their house, you want that house to go for as much as possible. Brings up all the prices on the block. You follow?

Arkwright: A rising tide lifts all boats.

Magic: Yeah! “Rising tide lifts all boats.” I like that. You make that one up yourself?

Arkwright: It’s a pretty common expression. You can credit JFK for that one.

Magic: I’m just really interested in what Arte’s number is. Because you take that number and then double it. That’s what the Dodgers are worth.

Arkwright: I wish I could help. But, again, I think that’s a private conversation between me and Mr. Moreno.

Magic: Alright. Alright. Had to shoot my shot. Well, I won’t waste any more of your time. You and your boy can go back to your seats way out there in the bleachers now. Enjoy the game.

[End Transcription]

That was it. Magic’s smile added a hint of ice, as if to say, “Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.”

He may only have a 2.3% stake in the Dodgers, but in that moment, Magic Johnson acted like he ran the town. Interesting dude.

TJ and I went back to our bleacher seats, just in time to see Chris Taylor belt a 3-run homer for the Dodgers. Kershaw was his typical amazing self. 6 innings, 1 run, 10 strikeouts.

A 5-2 Dodger win against Arizona. And a couple of awkward conversations. That’s LA for ya.

Pictured: Angel Stadium and Dodger Stadium

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
September 21st, 2022

The ballpark tour continues. My visit in the L.A. Dodgers owner's box soured my trip to Chavez Ravine. I decided to skip Tuesday's matinee game at Dodger Stadium and dropped TJ back off in Boulder City. I then departed for the start of a whirlwind stretch across Kansas City, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Miami in a span of less than 24 hours.

I started with Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on Tuesday night to watch the Royals take on the Twins. Royals owner John Sherman sent his regrets, saying he had a prior engagement and wouldn't be able to meet with me. Since it was my first time at "The K," I decided to mill around the stadium, watching the game from different parts of the park. Kauffman is one of the older stadiums in baseball (est. 1973), and it's starting to show its age. It sounds like ownership is starting to make a push for a new downtown stadium. In the meantime, the team is foundering. I witnessed a rare Royal win, as they beat the Twins 5-4. Sadly, it wasn't enough to save the job of longtime GM and now President Dayton Moore, who was fired amid a 59-89 season. That might explain why Sherman wasn't able to meet with me. He was probably too busy finalizing plans to part with the man who helped build a World Series champion in 2015, but hasn't had a winning record since.

I then took a late night flight to Atlanta last night, and caught my first game at the new Braves ballpark early this afternoon. Since the Braves are owned by Liberty Media, I didn't have high hopes of breaking through the corporate red tape and meeting with anyone from ownership. It's why I never took my own company public. There's something to be said for having a singular voice and a personal stake in a business. Not surprisingly, my calls to Liberty Media went unanswered, and there was no welcome wagon waiting for me at Truist Stadium.

That didn't stop me from enjoying a great day at the ballpark. The stadium is stunning. So is the surrounding area, called "The Battery Atlanta." It's got shops and restaurants, and mixed-use zoning. I'm sure that's exactly what John Fisher had in mind when pitching a stadium near downtown Oakland.

As for the game, the defending World Series Champion Braves jumped out to an early 2-0 lead against the Washington Nationals. But the Nats clawed their way back in, first on a sac fly in the 5th, and then a 2-run homer by Joey Meneses in the 7th. That's all Washington would need in a 3-2 win over the Braves.

The game lasted 3 hours and 13 minutes, which meant I had about three hours to fly out to Tampa and meet with the Rays owner before their 6:40pm game against the Astros. Stuart Sternberg almost apologetically guided me around the stadium about 30 minutes before first pitch. Tropicana Field is a domed stadium on its last legs. It feels like a 1980's casino in Las Vegas with outdated carpet and middle-aged cocktail waitresses. It's just depressing. Despite having the defending American League champion Houston Astros in town, the announced attendance was a paltry 9,293. And that's being kind.

Like the A's, the Rays are desperately seeking a new stadium. Sternberg told me how the team has its sights set on a 17 acre parcel in Saint Petersburg, and the Rays are negotiating with the City on making affordable housing and workforce housing part of the deal to revitalize the area. He tried to act hopeful that a deal will get done. We'll see if anything actually gets done. The Rays don't have the one thing the A's do seem to have right now: leverage.

Sternberg hosted me in what I supposed would pass for a luxury box for the first few innings before he excused himself from the suite. I gave him an Arkade console, which he promised to give to his children when he flew back to be with his family in New York. His lack of connection to Tampa Bay is apparent, and I can see why fans are hoping he'll someday just sell the team.

Not long after he ducked out, so did I, so I could make the short flight to Miami to catch the tail end of the Marlins-Cubs game. It was 3-0 Miami when I got there in the 6th inning. Bruce Sherman (no relation to Royals owner John Sherman) was in the owner's box and gave me a warm welcome. Just like Tampa, the attendance was abysmal. 8,753 tonight at loanDepot Park. Unlike Tampa's stadium, this one was at least updated... though it had the feel of a garish casino. Definitely not my cup of tea.

Patrick Wisdom finally got the Cubs on the board with a solo homer in the 7th inning off of former A's prospect Jesus Luzardo, now with the Marlins. Chicago pushed across three more runs in the 8th, rallying for a 4-3 win. Sherman was not a happy camper, his attitude getting increasingly more foul with each Cubs run. The conversation was pretty much non-existent. Maybe I just caught him on an off day. I certainly caught the Marlins on an off day, something that's been pretty commonplace this year. They're now 61-89 on the season.

It's now just shy of midnight at my hotel. It's Wednesday night and I can hear the bass booming from the night life outside on South Beach. If I were about 20 years younger, maybe I'd venture out and enjoy myself. But I'm just wiped out and wondering if this trip was a mistake. If I'm hoping to garner the support and friendship of owners, I'm having a pretty tough go of it. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Pictured: Kauffman Stadium, Truist Park, Tropicana Field, loanDepot Park

[Galeg]

You've got a great sense for the flow of dialogue. Really enjoying this!

[Hendu Style]

Video Game Mogul Among Those Interested in Angels Sale

by Mark Polishuk | September 22, 2022 at 8:43am PDT | MLB Trade Rumors

Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno is exploring a sale of his club, making it the second MLB team to potentially hit the market in 2022 along with the Washington Nationals. It could be the start of a trend just two years after Steve Cohen bought the New York Mets for a record $2.4 billion in 2020.

Despite some team owners claiming financial losses of biblical proportions during the COVID-19 pandemic, many in the industry are doing well. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred makes a $17.5 million salary, earning more in reachable bonuses thanks to rising revenue from TV rights contracts.

As major networks and streaming services pay more for the rights to MLB games, providing the league with billions of dollars per season for revenue sharing, the luxury tax is climbing and owning an MLB team is becoming even more profitable. While neither the Nationals nor the Angels are expected to come anywhere close to the $4.65 billion sale price of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, there should be a historic deal before long.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Angels are expected to fetch at least $2 billion if Moreno goes through with selling the team. While the exploratory process doesn’t guarantee he puts the team up for bid, he is following the same steps as the Lerner family did with the Nationals.

Washington has used the 2022 season to explore the market, evaluating interested groups who want to buy the club and is moving forward with the process. There were 28 interested parties in June with billionaire Michael B. Kim among those who toured the stadium. While no bids have been disclosed, the expectation remains the Nationals will be sold for a minimum of $2 billion.

According to Heyman, Arkade creator and Sol owner Sam Arkwright is interested in pursuing the Angels if they are put up for sale. An unidentified source told Heyman that Arkwright's bid is north of $2 billion, and said, "Whatever the price is, it's good for baseball. A rising tide lifts all boats."

However, there will be significant competition for the second MLB team in Los Angeles.

An unidentified group in Hollywood, along with one from Orange County and another with ties to Japan are among those connected to the potential sale of the Angels. Others are expected to be involved, especially based on the location of the team and the presence of superstar Shohei Ohtani on the roster.

Ohtani will have an impact on a potential bidding war. He will become a free agent after the 2023 season and the Angels’ front office considered moving him at the trade deadline. However, a new ownership group would likely be more inclined to buy the team with him on the roster. It’s a different situation than what unfolded with the Nationals for Juan Soto because Ohtani is the face of MLB and one of the most recognized professional athletes internationally thanks to his ties to Japan.

While MLB won’t have any direct involvement in the selection of who buys the Los Angeles Angels, it might prefer a group with roots in Japan for the opportunity to diversify its team ownership and to keep Ohtani in a large market. However, the ultimate factor in determining the next owner will be who offers the most money. Arkwright may have the advantage in that department.

There is still a chance that Moreno decides to keep the franchise. With the exploratory process already underway and a chance to sell the Angels at a price that is half his estimated net worth ($4.1 billion), it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Angels have new owners before Ohtani becomes a free agent.

[Hendu Style]

Sam Arkwright Diary
September 24th, 2022

It's been an eventful past few days to say the least. After a series of chilly receptions in recent stops on my ballpark tour, owners have suddenly welcomed me with open arms everywhere I go. I can't help but think it has something to do with my reported (and wholly inaccurate) interest in purchasing the L.A. Angels.

My first stop was in Denver on Thursday afternoon to see the Rockies play at Coors Field. The game time temperature was 56 degrees, by far the coldest day I've had watching baseball during this trip. Thankfully I received a much warmer greeting from the Rockies owners, brothers Dick and Charlie Monfort.

The Monforts wasted no time asking about my interest in buying the Angels. They also gave me unsolicited advice on Major League ownership. They considered themselves experts on the subject, having owned a stake in the Rockies for the last thirty years.

They both made their fortune off the ConAgra Foods empire, which bought their parents' meatpacking company in the 1980's. These are two very "status quo" kind of guys, and it shows on the baseball field. The Rockies are 20 games below .500, but seem to be in no rush to pursue free agents, nor do they appear to be willing to juice their lagging data analytics and farm systems. The results showed in a pathetic 3-0 loss to the visiting San Francisco Giants, dropping the Rox to 64-86.

Despite all of that, the Rockies are not struggling at the gate. 25,669 fans came through the turnstiles Thursday for a matinee game, bringing them just south of 2.6 million in attendance on the season -- 10th in all of baseball. They're doing all of this in a stadium that is 27 years old, with no signs that a new ballpark will be built any time soon. That's probably why the Monfort Brothers were so cordial and dare I say jovial in hosting me in their suite. They are sitting on a cash cow with very little reinvestment into the team. Both seemed to be receptive to me opening a VR suite at Coors Field next year. They also had no problem taking a couple of Arkade consoles off my hands, though I doubt either of them even knew what they were.

One day later, I was in Cincinnati to watch the Reds host the Brewers at Great American Ball Park. Phil Castellini was my host for the day. His father, Bob, has owned the team since 2006, and pops named his son as the team's chief operating officer the next year.

It's the kind of nepotism I absolutely loath. I have no plans to give my son the keys to my business someday. I want him to carve his own place in this world. Something, sadly, by father never did with either of my two siblings, who still work in the family business. The divide between me and Seth and Saphara has only grown through the years, perhaps resentful that any so-called "family duties" had been dumped on them when I left the house. Or maybe they're jealous that I struck out on my own and built something for myself, no longer having to be under my father's thumb. Who knows and who cares?

I got the feeling that Phil was on marching orders from his dad to be a polite host, but I also got the impression that Phil felt like this kind of work was beneath him. He's clearly the kind of person who's only kind to people he needs something from. Otherwise, good riddance. Apparently he told Reds fans as much, when he said this to Cincinnati radio host Mo Egger at the start of the season:

“You have people who say, look, ‘Faith is earned. Fifteen years of ownership and they haven’t won to the extent that we would like. So, you had my faith, but you’ve lost it.’ Why should that fan maintain trust?

“Well, where are you gonna go? Let’s start there. Sell the team to who? … If you want to look at what would you do with this team to have it be more profitable, make more money, compete more in the current economic system that this game exists—it would be to pick it up and move it somewhere else. And so be careful what you ask for.”

That's all I needed to know about Reds ownership right there. Nonetheless, I offered the same civility and charity that I have extended at each of my previous twelve stops so far: a free Arkade console, and a pitch to open a VR suite in their stadium. He met both offers with hollow interest and thinly-guarded disdain. As for the stadium and the game, they were both non-descript, with the Brewers getting a 5-3 win.

Things really spiced up this morning when Peter Carlino called me. I hadn't heard from him or anyone from Gaming & Leisure Properties since I negotiated a deal for John Fisher to purchase the Tropicana Casino site from them to build a new ballpark for the A's. That was over a month ago. Since I was still in Ohio -- a one-party consent state -- I started recording the conversation on my phone.

[Begin Transcription, 7:01 am Eastern, September 24, 2022]

Carlino: Sam. I didn't expect you to pick up. It must be about 4 am in Vegas right now.

Arkwright: I'm up.

Carlino: Rumor has it you've been a very busy man.

Arkwright: How so?

Carlino: I read that you're putting a bid together to buy the Los Angeles Angels. I trust that you still plan to honor the promise you made to us?

Arkwright: You mean the offer to double John Fisher's bid to buy the Tropicana property on the Strip if Fisher backs out?

Carlino: That's the one.

Arkwright: Nothing has changed as far as I'm concerned. Whatever business I may have in L.A. has nothing to do with my standing offer to purchase your property. That is if Fisher doesn't hold up his end of the bargain.

Carlino: All things being equal, I, I mean, we, would like to have that in writing.

Arkwright: Sure thing. How soon?

Carlino: By the start of business Monday morning. And the rest of the Board would like to meet you.

Arkwright: That doesn't give us much time. That's 48 hours from now.

Carlino: Is that going to be a problem?

Arkwright: No, not really. I'll be there in two hours.

Carlino: Two hours? From Las Vegas? That's a five-hour flight.

Arkwright: Who said I was in Vegas?

[End Transcription]

I made the 90-minute flight from Cincinnati to Reading Regional Airport, which is about a 10-minute drive to Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. There was absolutely nothing notable about the G&L structure itself. It could pass for a mid-market real estate building. I counted about 130 parking spaces. For a publicly-traded company, I was expecting some sort of high rise tower in New York City or Las Vegas.

Once I went inside, I was greeted by G&L's "Management Team." They were four of Carlino's cronies. All white, all middle-aged, all going by the title of "Senior Vice President" or "Executive Vice President." They then ushered me into a conference room to meet "The Board." Carlino was at the head of the table, flanked by four board members on each side. These guys (and two women) were older than Carlino's cronies. And stiffer. A real fun crowd.

I didn't even bother trying to record the conversation. First, Pennsylvania is a two-party consent state. Second, at least one of these board members is a Professor of Law at Temple University. Third, this is a gambling-centric investment firm. What happens in the board room stays in the board room.

Carlino asked me what I was doing in Cincinnati, so I told him I've been traveling around the country touring ballparks and meeting MLB owners. He made a remark about private plane travel, and how some of his friends have been roasted by the media and activists for carbon footprint. I thought nothing of it.

Then we got down to business. Carlino reiterated our agreement, that I would double Fisher's offer to purchase the Tropicana property if Fisher reneged on the deal. He then read aloud the portion of the contract in question:

“Should the purchaser [John Fisher] fail to pay the agreed upon purchase price of $500,000,000, Samuel Arkwright agrees to pay the amount in double, $1,000,000,000.”

That's a whole lot of zeroes. I told him "no problem."

Carlino then smiled, and indicated that Fisher was getting cold feet, especially about a newly-introduced addendum to their contract. It would put G&L in charge of any gaming venture -- a sports book, slot machines, card tables, you name it -- if it was built on-site at the current Tropicana. A portion of those proceeds would go into G&L's pockets.

I told Carlino and the board that it wouldn't be a concern. I didn't even ask him how much of a cut G&L would take. I looked over all the documents, and signed them on the spot. No lawyer necessary. I liked what I saw.

With that, I shook each person's hand, one-by-one.

The Management Team: Brandon. Desiree. Steven.

The Board: Scott. Earl. Barry. James. Joseph. Lili. JoAnne. And finally, Peter.

They all gave me firm, hearty handshakes. "Welcome to the team." "We can't wait to work with you." That sort of thing.

I couldn't wait to get out of there. I hurried back to the regional airport and flew back west across Pennsylvania into Pittsburgh. I made a stop at Primanti Brothers for their world famous Capicola Sandwich, with cheese, fries (yes, french fries), slaw, and tomato on the sandwich. The stuff of legends. Then I made a beeline for PNC Park to watch the Pirates take on the Cubs. The owner, Robert Nutting, was nice enough. He seemed to really like me. I think he just loved the idea of another free-spending billionaire potentially joining the ranks. He seems to have no problem receiving money in MLB's revenue sharing deal, where the lowest-spending teams (like the Pirates) get subsidized by those that go over the luxury tax limit.

The ballpark was amazing. Incredible sweeping views of the vastly underrated Pittsburgh city skyline. The Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol, and Rachel Carson Bridges. The Allegheny and Monongahela feeding in to the Ohio River. If I were to design a ballpark, I'd take a few notes from PNC Park. I'm hoping to get even more inspiration for my next stop Sunday in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and the Bronx. I hear they've got some pretty nice ballparks.

Pictured: Coors Field, Great American Ballpark, PNC Park