A's Radio daze with KTRB; As Season nears uncertainty looms, but deal will probably get done; Inside story

The A's and KTRB, (really, the bank that owns the station, Comerica,) are in a last-minute standoff as the season nears and broadcasts of the teams games are in limbo.

But are they really? Probably not, but the situation has escalated to the point where there remains considerable doubt and very little information has surfaced.

Bottom line: I think a deal will get done before the start of the season in spite of total mismanagement on BOTH sides. The A's broadcasting hierarchy, (and those who run that part of the business in the upper food chain of the org.,) should be embarrassed that it's reached this point. They have dragged their feet and allowed something as simple and necessary as a legitimate broadcast entity reach crisis stage. Yeah, it's a money deal, but its still part of business. You want to be respected and not made to look foolish? Then you need to get this done. Period. End of story.

Without knowing the entirety of the negotiations, this much can be deduced: both sides, (Comerica and the A's) thought the other would blink. The bank has more leverage at this point than the A's realized. Another thing: the A's may have reached a point where they don't necessarily want to throw a huge chunk of money at a distressed property, even one that broadcasts their baseball games.

On the other hand, it would figure that a team that is "major league" would not want to be without a radio station. What to do?

The A's could stall and try to work out a temporary deal while negotiating a deal to buy the station, (about $4-5 million, but in doing so, have to assume all the debt that has piled up with the acquisition--that could end up becoming millions and millions of dollars.)

They could also do an "LMA", and essentially pay for the time to run broadcasts and continue all  programming. But the bank may not want that deal and continue to play hardball.

Keep in mind that there's really no incentive, (other than getting dimes on the dollar) for the bank to acquiesce with the A's. The station as it currently broadcasts is severely dilapidated with tower maintenance issues, (it costs $25-$30,000 monthly alone to make sure the signal gets out.) In fact, as it now, KTRB is broadcasting at about 20,000 watts of its 50,000-watt capability. Beyond that, at night, it is barely audible in most parts of the Bay Area and that's when its on the air.

None of this could have and should haves reached this point. Exhibition games have been cancelled. The fan base is up in arms and the whole quagmire is another black mark for minority owner Lew Wolff.

In the end, I still believe a deal will get done, but I wouldn't be totally shocked if the A's were without a deal come opening night.

Said a source familiar with the dealings: "They both deserve each other."

That pretty much sums it up at this point.

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