Now-former Oakland Athletics pitcher Trevor May only spent one of his nine MLB seasons in Northern California.
But that was apparently enough for May to gain first-hand knowledge about embattled A’s owner John Fisher. The veteran announced his retirement on Monday. In the process, May laid into Fisher in a big way during his retirement announcement on Twitch. It was not subtle.
“Sell the team dude,” May said. “Sell it man. Let someone who actually takes pride in the things they own, own something. There’s actually people give a s**t about the game. Let them do it.”
Fisher — the heir to the GAP fortune — has been under a microscope in recent years for his cheap ways as owner of the A’s and their on-field struggles this past season (50-112 record).
That was taken to a whole new level earlier in the year when it became apparent that Fisher was looking to relocate the A’s from Oakland to Las Vegas. With a MLB vote on relocation set for next month, he’s about to make headlines again.
According to May, Fisher is not going to step up and take responsibility for his actions and the fact that the A’s have become a laughingstock around the MLB world.
“You’re a billionaire. You guys have all this power. You shouldn’t have any because you haven’t earned any of it. Reality is you got you got handed everything you have, and now you’re too soft to sit and stand in front of or take any responsibility for anything you’re doing.”
Oakland Athletics pitcher Trevor May on John Fisher during retirement announcement
May’s only season with the A’s included several reverse boycotts directed at Fisher and their pending move to Southern Nevada.
For many A’s players, this was not lost on them. They saw on the field what was happening in the stands during a season in which the MLB franchise averaged a mere 10,200 fans per game.
“But you’re putting hundreds if not thousands of people out of work that have worked somewhere for decades, and you haven’t acknowledged that at all. Just be better. That’s all we’re asking. Just be a human being,” May said.
That’s one parting gift for both A’s fans and Fisher as May calls it a career. In his only season in Oakland, the 34-year-old pitcher posted a 4-4 record with a 3.28 ERA while saving 21 games.