The Curious Case of the Oakland Ballers

Indy Ball Nation: / @indyballnation
Indy Ball Nation Instagram: / indyballnation
What does success look like for The Oakland Ballers and The Pioneer League as these two very different entities come together to attempt to make independent baseball work in Northern California? It’s an interesting question that hasn’t been answered clearly.
We should also not forget the Yolo High Wheelers out in Davis, who has an integral role in all this as well. What happens here? This does kind of have the trappings of a rebound relationship-something where the idea is better than the reality that unfolds.
However, I am no expert on Independent baseball. That is why I enlisted the help of Indy Ball Nation to add some much-needed perspective on what will happen with the Ballers and the Pioneer League. I highly recommend checking out his KZbin channel for all things Independent baseball in America. You can also visit his website alpbroundup.com. Links will also be in the video description, but he’s truly the Independent voice of independent baseball.
We couldn’t make out schedules, but he’s spoken with many in-the-know folks and shared a ton of notes. So, with that in mind, let’s try to figure out how this all plays out between the Ballers and the Pioneer League.
I want the Oakland Ballers and Yolo High Wheelers to succeed. I want the Pioneer League to succeed. There are a lot of good, hard-working people committed to making things work. In the case of the Ballers, you look at the coaching staff, the players, the volunteers, those who have supported the club since first launching and see a lot of people committed to making this a success. And I have a great deal of respect for those folks.
However, the team’s co-founders, Paul Freedman and Bryan Carmel, are perhaps less than forthright about their true intentions. The entire announcement of the team and the timing felt opportunistic, bordering almost on predatory as far as A’s fans' feelings at the time.
To that extent, the truncated timeline to get the franchise up and running is a point of concern. According to Indy Ball Nation, most teams need a year to set up. The Ballers have tried to cram everything into a six-month window. It’s certainly less than ideal.
About The Touchback
#takeitouttothe25
The Touchback is the world’s best sports and culture website…or something like that. You’ll either really like it or really hate it. But it’s worth reading either way.

[@evilamo]

I went to the open in Oakland…4100 in attendance! BTW the founders of the Ballers also started the Yolos to get baseball in Oakland. Raimondi Field is historic: Raimondi WW2 hero, Curt Flood HoF, Frank Robinson HoF all played there.

[@frv1995]

I hope the ballers can succeed but due diligence is needed when so called entrepreneurs come to Oakland. No more fishers please

[@SippyCupAdventures]

Huh. Interesting. You opened up a can so let's see how it goes, but, it had to be said. It's news to me about the documentary.

[@whalesequence]

Yeah, this checks out. Opportunistic has always been my feeling about the Ballers.

[@Savethepeople2004]

This ballpark literally needs a green monster in LF asap

[@user-hy8wc9xb8x]

Wow!

[@brianmccarthy1029]

Thanks for the warning, but I’ll invest emotionally non the less.

[@chrisscott1305]

I don’t understand why doing a documentary means that the owners are shady? Lots of Jabs thrown out here without any evidence.

[@thetouchback]

Ahh yes, no evidence. Well, apart from someone who has spoken to Pioneer League owners and league officials and the team's own pitch deck. You sound like a certain recently convicted former president. If you didn't get this point in the video, I doubt you'll understand the following either but here goes anyway. The co-founders of the Ballers created a team as a means to sell a documentary/TV series. A poor man's Welcome to Wrexham. If that doesn't happen, they can cut bait after this year because their agreement is only for one season. However, they have pitched the team to the local community as a long-term project. The co-founders, at the very least, have not been forthright about their full intentions.

[@chrisscott1305]

@@thetouchback are you saying that league owners have specifically said that the team was only created to sell a documentary? And if they stay after this year w/ or w/o a documentary, will you make a correction video?

[@thetouchback]

Dude, did you not watch the video? I'm saying if the co-founders are truly serious about the Ballers, why not put 100% of the focus into the team in year one? Why not work out a longer agreement with the Pioneer League or put a long-term plan in place for the franchise? Also, I have said several times I want this project to be a success. But if you don't hold people accountable or think critically, you end up getting burned. Northern California has been comically naive when it comes to sports owners and their intentions over the past 25 years if not longer.

[@chrisscott1305]

@@thetouchback I did watch the video and I like what you put out there! I just have a different perspective on what I’ve observed from the ballers thus far and think your accusation that this is all a show for a tv show is a stretch. Maybe I’m wrong but if you had evidence (not just opinion) than that’d be different. To me having other potential revenue streams does not mean they are not focused on the team. Publicity builds the brand. To say that they are not focused on the team is like telling them not to broadcast the games or have advertisers because that would take away their attention. From the league standpoint I could see why they would only want a year deal- this is sort of an experiment and that makes sense to me. Or maybe you’re right, I’m just being like trump b/c I’m engaging your video with questions…. Noted

[@sirchi8731]

​@@chrisscott1305I agree with you

[@togoandmoss]

it they were only doing it for publicity for a show they would probably do something crazy and outside the box like putting a pitcher on the team with a 45.00 ERA just because the pitcher would be the first woman in Pioneer league history...... wait a minute.... I think you are onto something!!

[@UHaulShorts]

Kant doez biness in dat state without kissang da rang a *BIG LABOUR*

[@soylouie510]

Source: ‘Trust me bro, I know a guy’

[@thetouchback]

The Ballers' own investor pitch deck confirms what is stated in the video. But I'm sure the tech and TV bros are operating out of altruism and not because they want to be the next Welcome to Wrexham.

[@Andrew-vq7yo]

This video should have been 1 minute. Sorry to say, but I honestly feel less smart and less informed after watching this. And I think Indy ball bro had his reasons for not joining this in person…other than calendars not syncing up.

[@thetouchback]

He previewed and approved the video before I published it. Meanwhile, you seem to be butt hurt because you don't like the truth.

[@Andrew-vq7yo]

@@thetouchback lol, love it. Definitely butt hurt over here. Ouch! 🥰 I love you man, keep up the good work.

[@sirchi8731]

​@@Andrew-vq7yoright. Dude can't even go to Sacramento Kings games anymore anyway lol😂