Bay Area Baseball Fever Heats Up Ahead Of Opening Day
OAKLAND (KCBS) — Baseball fever is heating up throughout the Bay Area ahead of opening day, with both the A's and Giants optimistic about a chance to return to the postseason.
On Friday, both teams continued the Bay Bridge exhibition series at AT&T Park, just days away from their season openers. The A's won the first game on Thursday night. On Saturday, the third and final game takes place at O.Co Coliseum.
Giants Team President Larry Baer reflected on the team's recent success, winning two of the past three World Series.
Bay Area Baseball Fever Heats Up During Bay Bridge Series
"We feel very blessed and very grateful that we're in this moment in time. Each year is a different movie and we've got to be focused and we're very focused on opening the season Monday in [Los Angeles]," Baer said.
Baer is presiding over the Giants during an era of rising salaries. The average Giants player earns $3.9 million, more than twice that of the A's players.
On Friday, Giants catcher Buster Posey signed a $167 million, nine-year contract with the organization.
"In the old days the gold standard was a million fans. You draw a million fans, you're successful. Now you need to be at three million to break even," Baer said.
Meanwhile, Oakland celebrated the defending American League West Champion A's by raising the team flag atop the historic Tribune building, according to "Visit Oakland" CEO Alison Best.
"It's an iconic building. You can see it from the freeway; you can see it from the ferry coming in. Just to know that the city is really behind the team and we're all excited. We have lights—green and gold at City Hall," she said.
The A's open on Monday at home, hosting the Seattle Mariners, while the Giants home opener is on April 5th against the Saint Louis Cardinals.
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