For underpaid A’s, satisfaction is a sweep of Giants

There was something appropriate, if not ironic, that Brandon Crawford, who grew up in the East Bay, and plays for San Francisco, made the final out in what almost certainly will be the final game in Oakland between the Athletics and the Giants.

The result was almost insignificant. Almost.

The A’s, seemingly the worst team in the majors (at least they have the worst record by far), beat the Giants on Sunday, 8-6, to sweep the two-game series.

Sure, the Giants are attempting to retain their lead in the National League Wild Card standings, so any loss, to the A’s or any other franchise, is damaging. But we’re dealing with the big picture here, the one from which the A’s will be eradicated — or moved to Las Vegas. As if there is any difference.

That the A’s drew some 27,000 fans Sunday to the very maligned Coliseum after more than 37,000 Saturday, continues the idea the A’s should not be dragged away to Nevada or anywhere else.

Yet, the individual who owns the team — dare we refer to him as a gentleman? — is determined to upend the status quo, and because, for the most part, he’ll be universally supported, is destined to get his way — and get the money.

Sometime long-ago sport was called the “opera of the poor.” That was when tickets to say, “Rigoletto,” were expensive and those seats in the bleachers could be purchased on a working person’s salary. But as we know too well, nowadays the price of court-side locations at Lakers and Warriors games, for a start, requires a large withdrawal from the bank.

That said, the loyal patrons who are willing to buy, e.g. those remarkably determined A’s fans, deserve something more than to have their favorite team hauled off to a location where the locker rooms are marble and the field is sprinkled with sequins of gold.

Not that the highbrows involved in the academic side of festivities are much different. The appearance of the A’s this past weekend was timed unfortunately with what has become the complete disruption of intercollegiate athletics. What used to be the Pac-12, which billed itself as the “Conference of Champions” has been, well, destroyed. 

Yes, for money.

And does this have any connection to the Lakers giving Anthony Davis a contract extension worth $186 million? Indeed it does. True, it’s another sport, but dollars are dollars, and that figure alone is about double the Oakland A’s annual payroll.

It’s a different world, one sadly that probably will be filled with slot machines and croupiers for the A’s. All their fans can do is find satisfaction that their team won what looks like their final game in Oakland against the Giants.