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Oakland Athletics
Overall: 115
Title track: 79
Ownership: 122
Coaching: 63
Players: 75
Fan relations: 110
Affordability: 34
Stadium experience: 122
Bang for the buck: 80
Change from last year: -15
Is this the worst franchise in baseball, as the voters felt? It's easy to see the bad when the '60s-era stadium is on blast practically daily in the media. Then the team is just five wins from the worst record in baseball. But there's some good news in there somewhere.
What's good
Wait, is there something good about this franchise right now? Honestly, it's the players, even though their ranking fell to 75th. There were some finds this year, as Marcus Semien, Ryon Healy and Khris Davis could form a formidable group in the lineup next year. Young pitchers Jharel Cotton and Sean Manaea -- acquired in classic, veteran-dumping Billy Beane trades -- provide hope that the rotation can be a strength again. Win or lose, at least going to an A's game is cheap (34th in affordability), and the bang for the buck potential is strong, even if the return for your buck, at the moment, is devalued (80th overall and down 41 spots).
What's bad
What's not? Lew Wolff -- the worst owner in sports in a repeat performance -- has been at odds with practically everyone as he has tried to railroad his way to a new ballpark for the Athletics. To be fair, that current ballpark also ranks worst in these standings, so he's right to try to improve it. At the Coliseum, the food is terrible, the craft beer selections are mediocre, and the concourse is cramped, cement and bunker-like. In the meantime, Wolff has spent less on the players on his team than anyone else the past five years, and that has led to a gradual downturn in on-field product. There is only so much Beane can do.
What's new
There might be movement on a new ballpark! Maybe. The players are showing signs of promise. Those are the things that might move the needle in next year's standings. But right now, all we see are empty parking lots -- even on free parking Tuesday! -- that lead to empty seats and, until the youth turns this team around, a worsening record that throws shade on the players (down 38 spots) and the coaching staff (down 24).