Athletics Nation

yep

I think the article on his depression mentioned being far away from his son contributed to his condition. His ex-wife lives in New Jersey I believe.

It makes great sense.

He immediately becomes the A’s best or second-best starter, he’s still comparatively cheap, and he provides a veteran presence for a young staff, yet one that should still have considerable gas in the tank.

jeepers - December 24, 2009 reply

I have ahard time understanding this one

Why pay a guy 5 million when he’s coming off a pretty serious injury. Rajai Davis worked his butt off last year and proved he could more than adequately handle CF. I like Crisp and if he performs like he did in 05 then great sign Billy, but I seriously doubt that.

I keep hearing a trade is coming, and I certainly hope that’s true. Who’s going then, is it Rajai Davis, Hairston, maybe Sweeney. I’m not hating Crisp, and I’ll certainly welcome him in, just confused about this. Are we rebuilding or not????

JLopez - December 23, 2009 reply

It sure is confusing. I'm in the same boat as you.

There are so many thing that could happen. We just need to be patient and see what happens. Go Oakland Athletics!

Seb - December 23, 2009 reply

One Year Contract Could Become 1st Round Draft Pick?

If Crisp is a Type A – Then maybe the A’s get a 1st round supplemental pick for the upfront cost at the worst, and if fantasies come true who knows. But yeah I don’t like this move at all.

Ran - December 23, 2009 reply

Thoughts?

I’m really glad it’s so sunny in LA at the moment. Getting rained on in San Francisco was getting me down

Sun is shining is SF today! It's beautiful winter weather!

paris7 - December 24, 2009 reply

random thought

I got this funny feeling that BB is gonna do something big. Perhaps something with San Diego with his old friends Sandy and Paul. How crazy am I to think that Adrian Gonzalez is a possibility. Or is it just wishful thinking?

brownln - December 23, 2009 reply

wishful thinking

jeffro - December 23, 2009 reply

More than wishful thinking -- self-destructive "feel good now" move

Undo the rebuild by shipping a bunch of good prospects away, to get one stud who plays one of the few positions where the A’s are relatively set for several years (Barton, Doolittle, Carter…). Don’t get me wrong: Adrian Gonzalez is a great player. But the cost would be exactly the type the A’s need to avoid — their best prospects.

A'sfansince1970 - December 23, 2009 reply

Why, Why, Why?

DO NOT TRADE RAJAI DAVIS!!!!!

fansince1980 - December 23, 2009 reply

Why not?

Classic selling high, no? Will he have a similar year next year? Probably not. If we can put together Davis and Hairston/Buck for a top rated 3rd baseman?

Why not?

Because…

Do you remember

the game/season he had up to and including the A’s only visit to Florida this last season?

I wanted the A’s to leave him here.

A'sfansince1970 - December 23, 2009 reply

What can we deduce from this?

1. Coco got no other offers. Otherwise, why the hell would he come to Oakland, where the chance of reaching the postseason is about 10000 – 1
2. Kansas City is no longer MBL hell. Oakland is. Coco is just going with what feels familiar.
3. I’m || this close to becoming a Giants fan. Seriously… I am so tired of this bullshit. Taylor and Crisp as our acquisitions to get the team ready for 2010? WTF? We’ll end up in the cellar behind a much improved Mariners, not much worse Angels, and At least we have more than 10 team home runs next year Rangers. How about someone at 3rd? How about a real anchor veteran for the starting pitching? I’m so tired of trading prospects for prospects, prospects for has beens, and prospects for average players.

ENOUGH

chuckcheeze - December 23, 2009 reply

How long have you been a fan?

Give Beane some more time, he’s just getting warmed up! Don’t overreact! And the Giant’s have done absolutely nothing and are going nowhere.

How about it's December 23rd?

Cheezombie - December 23, 2009 reply

xbhaskarx - December 23, 2009 reply

this

Buck Turgidson - December 23, 2009 reply

>:-(

are you angry or are you Satan?

the former

Speaking of Satan, have you heard the story where Santa is some relative of Satan. He’s been put under a curse where he’s doomed to roam the earth giving away presents every year. Very Flying Dutchman-ish.

Someone told me that this year, but I can’t remember where it comes from.

I LIKE it!

Ever seen Malkovich on SNL, reading A Christmas Carol?

Sorry for the surroundings…

That Garko trade looks like a great deal

Go follow Sabean and the Giants

echerrst - December 23, 2009 reply

Bye

A's Fan by Design - December 23, 2009 reply

AGREED

Find a GM who wins more games with the same budget. Oh right, there aren’t any.

Seriously, what exactly were you expecting? The A’s are forced to play this game, every year, or every other year, or the year after, or whenever we can sign good players for cheap who all peak at the same time. It’s damn-near impossible.

But at least we make it interesting. If it ever does work, I’ll be there.

…and part of me really hopes you’re not.

You prove my point.

“The A’s are forced to play this game, every year, or every other year, or the year after”…

I’ve been a fan since 1987 when we moved to Alameda. I know we’ve had good times and bad, but this same game is getting old. At least it worked back in 2000. Everybody knows Beane’s schtick now and the moves he makes get us nowhere. He doesn’t surprise any other teams now with his wizardry. I’m not saying we need to win the world series, but when the biggest thing we could root for in 2009 was, what, a 7 game streak that got us to 15 games under or something? It just gets tiring.

And I don’t want to hear about a big move coming. It won’t matter. He got one of the best hitters in the game in Holliday last year ( in know, from the thin air in CO) and it didn’t help anybody. All we did was sit here and complain about how shitty he played and looked like he didn’t want to be here. And then he blows up in StL. Big surprise.

Face it, we’re a joke of a team, nobody even flinches when the A’s come to town. All other teams watch us for is to see who they can pick off at their peak when Beane gets antsy for some prospects.

chuckcheeze - December 23, 2009 reply

Bye

Understand the frustration can reach crazy levels

But take a deep breath and understand many experts think we could be close to something special or at least competitive. Carter, Cardenas, Taylor, young SP, heck of a pen, etc.
And in this forum it can get ugly to voice such an unbridled pessimistic opinion; you’ll become the backend of the donkey with all the faithful trying to pin the tail on you. I have been there, I know.

bajablue - December 23, 2009 reply

Um, we were in the playoffs as recently as '06

Go boo-hoo to Royals, Pirates, Blue Jays, Nationals, Reds, Rangers, Padres, Giants, Astros and Cubs fans about our lack of success.

cityplANner - December 23, 2009 reply

+1

Higher standards are wrong?

UncleLeo - December 24, 2009 reply

Fewer wins within a budget doesn't impress me.

UncleLeo - December 23, 2009 reply

laughs

jdub69 - December 23, 2009 reply

Didn't the Marlins have a winning season this year?

Find a GM who wins more games with the same budget. Oh right, there aren’t any.

The Marlins have a much lower payroll than the A’s.

still bills kingdom - December 23, 2009 reply

that may be

but I wouldn’t recommend emulating the Marlins in any way, shape, or form.

At least we keep our star players through their arbitration years.

cityplANner - December 23, 2009 reply

Do we? Always?

And Hanley Ramirez says hi.

(Although I don’t disagree with you much- the Marlins have generally managed to put the word “cheap” in “cheapskate” in recent memory. What’s tough for many A’s fans to deal with is the sinking feeling the past few years now that the A’s are behaving in a similar fashion, albeit not quite to the same extreme.)

How about winning 2 WS in 7 years?

The Marlins do get their business done...

…I’ll give you that. I was mainly addressing the soon-to-be-Giants-fan by explaining that Beane somehow finds a team that has good chemistry and becomes competitive against teams whose payrolls are much higher than Oakland’s.

But touche. Nice work, and I admit that my statement wasn’t 100% accurate. That doesn’t necessarily discount everything else I said, though. Beane fights an uphill battle just about every season, and it works out occasionally (2006).

Don't know about the SAME budget...

…but the Twins do pretty damn good as a similar small-market team.

UncleLeo - December 24, 2009 reply

I agree with all the criticisms that are being posted of chuckcheeze's point of view

But it’s getting progressively harder to make the claim “find me a GM who wins more games with the same budget.” Minnesota and Florida do just as well, if not better.

We still need to be patient, regardless. Mismanagement of the minor league pipeline through 2006 created a problem that is taking years to address. Fortunately, we appear to be nearing the light at the end of that tunnel.

jeepers - December 24, 2009 reply

I don't disagree with your overall assessment

But I think mismanagement of the minor league pipeline may be a bit too strong. He had been mortgaging the future in order to make our 6/7 year run and it just went barren in order to get us to where we were heading. He figured it out a little late, but then had he seen it earlier, we maybe not have been looking at the ALCS (and possible WS had it worked out) in ’06.

DMOAS - December 24, 2009 reply

The way I'd put it is that Moneyball suggested

“ZOMG, Billy Beane does something no other GM/team can do!” whereas realistically, he does something few other GMs/teams can do but doesn’t have the market cornered on getting the most out of the least.

Nico - December 24, 2009 reply

Answers to questions

1. The chance of reaching the post-season by signing with Oakland is very very good. Look at Orlando Cabrera and Matt Holliday. If the A’s are out of it by mid-season and a play-off team comes calling, then Coco is crisped.
2. Maybe Coco wants to come to Oakland because it’s his best deal and/or he figures this is his best way to get with a contender, one way or the other.
3. It’s December 23rd and the off-season isn’t even half over. Sit tight.

richwol1 - December 23, 2009 reply

You know what annoys me the most about all the recent Giants love on this site?

The Giants just came out of a similar 4 year run of being cellar dwellers. The only difference is they are in a worse league, worse division, with more money and higher draft picks. And in spite of all the money and high draft picks, the Giants aren’t really in great position.

Also, when have we traded a (good) prospect for a has been or an average player?

travdog6 - December 23, 2009 reply

Its not Giants love, is A's contempt

I like being a hometown fan and if I somehow found it within myself to actually find another team (unlikely) i’d stick with the Giants so I can go to home games. So its more a matter of location than anything else when I say that.

chuckcheeze - December 23, 2009 reply

Fair enough.

I was just speaking in generalities about the Giants love on this site. i will say that if you do decide to become a Giants fan, it will become painful, quickly.

travdog6 - December 23, 2009 reply

Well, we can always hope, anyhow.

Gaijin_Suketto - December 24, 2009 reply

bamboo shoved underneath fingernails

vs. being chained to the ground over live bamboo sprouts…

hmm…

those both sound lovely.

Leopold Bloom - December 24, 2009 reply

I think I speak for many here when I say

There are so many better teams to root for than the Gnats

cuppingmaster - December 23, 2009 reply

And you realize

The same criticisms you have of the A’s can pretty much be leveled at the Giants. The signings getting the team nowhere… Aaron Rowand, Barry Zito, Edgar Renteria, Bengie Molina… The main difference is, they don’t trade aging guys for up and comers… Unless you count Ray Durham for a box of balls. I ask you this… Had the Giants traded Matt Cain 3 years ago in a similar fashion to what the A’s did with Dan Haren… would they still suck as bad with 5 top level prospects hitting the big leagues in the past two years? They may have a real first base option that is cost controlled. They may have a real 5 man rotation rather than Tim L, Matt Cain and hope someone else can throw strikes on the next day. They might not have spent 18 million on Edgar Renteria…

So in 5 years, when you got tired of the Giants sucking, where would you turn then?

jeffro - December 24, 2009 reply

good riddance?

Buck Turgidson - December 23, 2009 reply

#2

you are wrong. When was the last time kanas city went to the playoffs? When was the last time KC won a playoff series?

I wouldn't be shocked if the Royals finished with a better record than the A's.

I would be.

Wanna put money on this?

thejd44 - December 23, 2009 reply

No, I think it's about a 50-50 chance.

"Wouldn't Be Shocked"

So what you’re saying is that there may or may not be a chance that the A’s may or may not have more or less wins this season than the Royals may more may not have and regardless of the outcome you will not be surprised.

…but you’re not gonna step up and make it interesting.

…hm. Interesting.

only because of the Cy Young award winner on their team

The last time the Royals had more wins than the A's

was 1997

oh god, we were horrible in '97....

I almost just threw up.

The funny thing is,

the Royals were also horrible that year. But they did have slightly more wins. Something like 67 vs 65, I think.

A's Fan by Design - December 23, 2009 reply

Hahahaha

You wanna be a Giants fan? Why don’t you just say you want to become a Detroit Lions and Charlotte Bobcats fan while you’re at it?

Here’s the Giants mentality: We have tremendous pitching but no hitting. Let’s NOT spend money on hitters in the offseason or trade for one, and go into the season with Pablo Sandoval as our best hitter! We’re sure to beat the Dodgers that way! Sabean is a joke of a GM and should be fired.

Real fans stick by their teams. True fans suffer the hard times to make the good times that much sweeter. I suffered through the infamous Jeter flip, T-Long’s strikeout looking (SWING TERRENCE! SWING!!!) and all of the first round collapses, which made Game 3 of the 2009 ALDS that much better. Go join the milquetoast franchise across the bay. When the A’s finally do raise that championship banner, we’ll send you and Sabes an A’s World Champion T-Shirt. Too bad Giants fans have never seen on with their team’s name on it.

darooster - December 24, 2009 reply

Wait -- going into a season with Sandoval as your best hitter

is worse than going into a season with Ryan Sweeney and Kurt Suzuki battling for that honor? That doesn’t quite work.

Nico - December 24, 2009 reply

Three problems with your comment, Nico

No. 1 Are you defending someone jumping ship to go be a Giants fan? Seems like it.

No. 2 A’s payroll in 2009: 62 million, which they then cut from with trades. Giants payroll in 2009: 82 million, which they then added to with trades. That’s why you can’t compare A’s best hitter to their best hitter.

No. 3 The Giants organization says it is legitimately contending, but then does nothing about it. Billy Beane finds a political way to say, come see us in 2011 or 2012.

darooster - December 28, 2009 reply

Well...

No. 1: I’ll defend anyone’s right to be a Giants fan. Root for whatever team or teams you choose to root for.

No. 2: That doesn’t change my point, which is that Sandoval is a good hitter to have and the A’s should be so lucky to have a “best hitter” like him. For whatever reason, the fact remains that they don’t.

No. 3: I haven’t actually heard the Giants say that, but if they were to, say, sign Matt Holliday, I’d have to agree with them. And they can still do that if they choose.

Nico - December 28, 2009 reply

Nico has not-so-secret love for the Halloween set.

The upside is we get to screw with him about it all the time.

Leopold Bloom - December 28, 2009 reply

No. 1: It should never be okay to abandon one team and root for another simply because you don’t agree with your first team’s direction. If we were talking about the Detroit Lions in the midst of Matt Millen’s tenure, it’s understandable that you might have to give up on them, but the A’s were just in the ALCS 3 years ago. It would be pathetic to jump ship at this point.

No. 2: The A’s may be lucky to have a hitter as good as Sandoval, but when was the last time a team won the World Series when the team leader in HRs and RBI had 25 dingers and 90 RBI? Hasn’t happened this century.

No. 3 With just a quick google search, I found this comment from when DeRosa was signed:

“He’s a winning player,” Sabean said. “Any organization wants as many players like Mark on its ballclub, especially ours because we have a chance to turn the corner and get to the playoffs next year.”

Sounds like trying to contend to me.

darooster - December 31, 2009 reply

I'm just as annoyed that Melhuse didn't swing

Or that Melhuse was even batting.

CaliforniaJag - December 24, 2009 reply

Thoughts...

I’m already on vacation!

grover - December 23, 2009 reply

Whoa, whoa, whoa... Everybody... Chill.

I know we’re all getting impatient with the never-ending years of rebuilding, but seriously, you have to accept that if you’re rooting for a small market team like the A’s. Billy Beane stretches a dollar WAY better than any GM in the majors. Just compare dollars and wins and find me a better GM. Good luck.

Other notes:

1. I’m sure The Duke would be open to come back. The A’s are the team he knows best. And we’re just warming up. I’ve heard that Milwaukee has interest, but I’d expect to see the A’s make a push. He’d be a great Ace to lead the squad of Duke, Anderson, Braden, Cahill and whoever takes the 5th spot. Outman? Solid rotation. Seriously.

2. I, too, hope we’re not trading Rajai. He went off last year with his first real shot at consistent playing time. If we do trade him, I’ll feel the same way I did when we lost Byrnes, or Scutaro, or maybe Swisher. Another promising player who I hated to see leave the building. I’m sure Billy will rape and pillage if he trades Davis.

3. Signing Coco Crisp brings in a veteran outfielder who can guide the youngsters through our rebuilding year. Best case scenario, he’ll be better surgically repaired and he’ll help us with baserunning (which we suck at). He gets on base, and he can run. That’s 1 thing Cust CAN do and one thing Cust CAN’T do. That’s why Coco was selected. Also, the Cubs need a CF and Billy just took the best one on the market. Maybe he’s working on a deal… He always is.

4. I’d expect to see Cust back with the A’s. As a DH only. Maybe, if we have at least three injured outfielders, or if the pitching matchup fits, Cust may get thrown into RF or something. I’ll just close my eyes if the ball goes his way.

5. Don’t hold your breath on Adrian Gonzalez. Billy’s not THAT good.

The team was in the AL damn CS in 2006

I don’t think “never-ending years of rebuilding” is fair or accurate.

thejd44 - December 23, 2009 reply

yeah, people seem to have forgotten 2006 rather quickly, it seems

supporting at team isn’t just about cheering when they’re winning, I’d say.

By the sounds of things around here from time to time it’s like the A’s have literally not been in any conention since 1989

I remember 2006...

I remember Marco (clap, clap) Scutaro (clap, clap).
I remember the Bradley-Swisher shake.
I remember the Big Hurt’s 2 HR in Game 1 of the ALDS, the first one against Johan effing Santana.
I remember Kotsay’s inside the park HR.

I do remember 2006.

And in some ways, I kind of ignore the statements that any given year is going to be a rebuilding year. I hope we will the whole damn thing every year. And come April, I always get excited about my young, energetic team and think “it could happen.” The thing is, some people complain that the rebuilding never stops because we don’t have a rotation of Cy Young winners and a lineup of All Stars. I was just trying to get their attention.

I’m so freakin’ stoked for 2011 I almost feel like bitching about 2010 is a waste. They need a year to get used to each other, and the second half of the season, barring any injuries, should get exciting. It’ll be too little too late, but it’ll be exciting. Like watching Rajai slice and dice the basepaths like the Iron Chef that he is. Haha…

yep

A’s should bring back Duke and trade for Gaudin. Bring back the halcyon days of 2007. Duke/Braden/Anderson/Gaudin/Gio looks like a mighty fine rotation to me.

Maybe Coco is just Rajai-insurance. I mean, if Rajai ends up crapping the bed at the beginning of the year, we’re going to be really glad that we brought in Coco. Hairston/Coco/Sweeney looks way better than Cunningham/Sweeney/Hairston if we have to sit Rajai down. It’s also better than putting Jack’s lead glove in the field; well, if we bring him back.

And yeah, bring Cust back. Fox is nice and all, but he ain’t Jack.

cityplANner - December 23, 2009 reply

2007 was halcyon?

For Cust, sure, but for the whole team?

Well, the first half was okay.

Up until that last week before the ASB…after that, it was painful.

Well, if Crisp's arms fall off

We’ll be glad the A’s still have Rajai.

OaklandSi - December 24, 2009 via mobile reply

I love you man, but...

Chad Gaudin… please. I am down with the Duke returning, Cust would eb a great fit in the DH role as well know. But Gio, Mazzaro, Cahill, Outman in June… I’d take any of those 4 over Gaudin.

jeffro - December 24, 2009 reply

But he's Chad to the bone!!!

Charlie O the Mule - December 23, 2009 reply

RE #4

I know it’s not practical or feasible, but I wish we could make DHing only a condition of Cust’s contract if he’s brought back.

jeepers - December 24, 2009 reply

I Really don;t get it either........

Coco is not any better than what we saw from Davis the last half of last year, is coming off of surgery, we already have outfielders galore, need a 3rd baseman, could use a little power (ok more than a little)…. thank god the season doesn;t start tomorrow…… Beane better not be doen, better not trade the only bright light ’09 had (RD), and better allow for the much anticipated youngsters to get some PT if this is truly a rebuilding year and not just another Beane trading away our teams talent for junk

This made my day!

Really hope they bring Cust back. Definitely need the power, not to mention a guy who actually stays healthy. As for Duke, eh, don’t care.

J Canseco - December 23, 2009 reply

I really don't see the hysteria over this deal

We needed a short-term LF until Carter/Taylor are ready, and we got one that is totally mega awesome at one skill (fielding) and meh at another (hitting).
We are committed for only one year, with the flexibility for another.
In 2009 we are roughly paying him for one win (if they really are $4.5mil each).

So if you are having a panic attack over this deal, please untwist your knotted panties.
Kthanxbye.

Daniel777 - December 23, 2009 reply

LOL!

jdub69 - December 23, 2009 reply

The main reason I don't like the deal

is because I don’t really like Coco Crisp, rather irrationally because of all the hype he got as a Red Sock. If he’d never played in Boston, this’d be a resounding ‘eh’, to me. I don’t think it damages the team massively in a long term way, I just don’t want a player I don’t especially like to be playing for the A’s.

So it goes, huh.

The problem here is you pay too much attention to the Red Sox.

I was blissfully unaware that Coco Crisp even played for Boston. I mean, I’m sure I had heard it before, and I kind of remembered it, but basically he was just some player out there. I don’t make it a habit of paying attention to the Boston roster. I recommend it.

Agreed. Think of Coco as an Indian, or even a Cardinal. Then he becomes less

overhyped.

Gaijin_Suketto - December 24, 2009 reply

I have never been a Coco Crisp fan,

because his name is more annoying than cute. Normally, I’d rather root for Quentin Crisp than Coco Crisp, but old drag queens die hard, and hell, I root for the laundry anyway.

Quentin Tarantino and

then Crispen Glover, who apparently has a part in Tim Burton’s new Alice in Wonderland movie. I’m imagining a coked-out Val Kilmer getting it on with Grace Slick.

Leopold Bloom - December 24, 2009 reply

They could have paid the same amount to Jack Cust

and had a player who actually played one of the positions that the team needed to fill (DH) instead of a position it did NOT need to fill (CF).

PaulThomas - December 23, 2009 reply

They can still do that.

+100000000000

I am just waiting for Cust to sign somewhere else at this point. The question is where… I am thinking Royals or Rangers but that’s mostly just spaghetti on the wall

cuppingmaster - December 23, 2009 reply

Well the Rangers do have 4 OF, and Hamilton might be healthiest at DH.

Could be White Sox.

Gaijin_Suketto - December 24, 2009 reply

NOOOOOOOO!

could be worse.

Leopold Bloom - December 24, 2009 reply

Sacto OF/1B > Oakland OF/1B

MLB:

1B: Barton
LF: Crisp
CF: Rajai
RF: Sweeney
Bench: Hairston, Buck

Sacto:

1B: Chris Carter
LF: Cunningham
CF: Corey Brown
RF: Michael Taylor
Bench: Sean Doolittle, Matt Carson

Colorado Fan - December 23, 2009 reply

I'll take the sacto team....you can have the mlb team.

ryanmoser - December 23, 2009 reply

Significantly better defense in Oakland though

Manstein - December 24, 2009 reply

More random thoughts...

Crisp: Meh. The more I think about it, and read about it, the more I’m… just ok with the deal. It doesn’t outrage me, nor does it inspire me. I’m still not sold on Davis’ recent surge as being real, but at this point I think I’d rather give him the shot…. and this comes from a person who has been very vocal in questioning the effectiveness of the rebuilding.

Cust: I wouldn’t mind seeing him back, but I suspect that the reason he was non-tendered was that Beane feels he isn’t worth as much to the team as his numbers might suggest.

Duke: Please, no. I’m sorry, but I do not think we will get much production out of him, regardless the financial cost. I’d wish him well, but I’d send him on his way.

UncleLeo - December 23, 2009 reply

Wow -- I am SO psyched at the thought of maybe keeping Duke

Then again, much of my Duke-love is irrational. But the guy is an actual ace (or at least #1-#2) when he’s healthy, is due for a healthy year (because I say so), is a true joy for a fan to watch and is a great pitcher for young SPs to watch and learn from.

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuke!!!!!!!!!!!!

Plus he's a super cool muchacho'

and I rock his personally signed game jersey!

mrod - December 23, 2009 reply

Nothing irrational

about liking a mans back door breaker Nico. Am I right guys…am I right?

Ovale Fan - December 23, 2009 reply

At first I was excited to know Duke might be back

But I think the A’s might be better off with the draft sammich. I can’t decide.

thejd44 - December 23, 2009 reply

If he comes back, they're likely to get the draft pick next year too.

That's true, unless his back blows up in spring training

Which isn’t totally out of the realm of possibility or anything.

thejd44 - December 23, 2009 reply

You mean...

…there’s a chance that my Duke bobblehead will cease to be a booby prize? Well, then I’m all for it.

LeSaboteur - December 23, 2009 reply

I think a booby prize is clearly a prize in itself

CaliforniaJag - December 23, 2009 reply

Innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnge?????!!!!!

danmerqury - December 23, 2009 reply

Yeah, in the same was as I say (above)

that I don’t really want to watch Crisp in an A’s jersey, I’d also quite like to see Duchscherer back in one. Hell, it’s going to be hard to watch the team, this year. We can all accept that. So maybe bring in a few sops to the fans?

Pleeeeease come back DUKE!

jdub69 - December 23, 2009 reply

"I’m sure Billy will rape and pillage if he trades Davis."

Probably not the wisest analogy to use….

I really want Billy to bring Duke back on a one year deal built with incentives and perhaps a team option if he stays reasonably healthy and reaches certain goals. I’m also cool with bringing back Cust of only to DH.

Still want to see Beane spin another trade before this is all said and done. Okay, so here is my Christmas wish, if I could ask Billy for one Christmas present:

“To somehow wrestle Yunel Escobar away from the Atlanta Braves”. Cheers!

mrod - December 23, 2009 reply

Yeah, that analogy is really insensitive

towards the many people I’ve known who were pillaged.

I'm speaking a bit of of turn here since I've never been raped (but pillaged, why it's a damn near weekly occurrence!)

But I have a couple friends who have been, and using the term in this way would never offend them.

Of course, they also know what a metaphor is and it’s rhetorical use and generally aren’t offended by such things. I guess others might not be so thick-skinned after such awful events happen to them.

thejd44 - December 23, 2009 reply

You didn't know Billy was a Viking?

Where have you been? (rolls eyes)

Daniel777 - December 23, 2009 reply

metaphorically speaking, of course.

My apologies. To the goats.

A's Fan by Design - December 23, 2009 via mobile reply

Not to mention the many goats that were not harmed during this film...

:)

mrod - December 23, 2009 reply

And the two that were -- I mean if you're gonna dress that way, c'mon.

"you may not be a whore..."

“…but you got a whore’s uniform on, that’s for sure.”

-Dave Chapelle

Outfield and Infield

Now that we have some good outfielders, why don’t we trade the bad ones for some good infielders. We have no need for Buck or Cunningham, and even Hairston for that matter. We could really use some solid infielders, especially SS and 3B. Or we should dip into the FA market. Juan Uribe would be a perfect fit. He plays 3B and SS sometimes. He is only 30. He is good and has a lot of potential. But, the best part is, he was paid only 1 Mil in SF last season, which means he can probably still come cheap. The A’s should offer him a multi-year contract worth 3-5 mil a year. He will only get better in the next few seasons and would be a huge upgrade at 3B.

Mikey6rocker - December 23, 2009 reply

Why would other teams want to give up their good infielders for bad outfielders?

thejd44 - December 23, 2009 reply

jedi mind tricks.

I tried that once

First she laughed. Then she thought about it. Then she slapped me. Then she laughed again.

Maybe the jedi mind trick worked and she just wasn't impressed with your light saber

thejd44 - December 23, 2009 reply

Aw!

RAWR

where you been hiding, lady?

Rawr!

Um, not hiding? I’ve piped in now and again, but I’m not knowledgeable enough about stats and trades to take part in most of the off-season threads. I’ve enjoyed reading them, though.

Wait. We have to be knowledgeable?

Yikes!

Wad!

Good to see you too!

Don’t be a stranger. I hope I get to be in more game threads next year.

I won't.

I hope you do, too!

You were like my Norm,

and I missed you.

What's shaking Norm?

All four cheeks and a couple of chins.

What's going down Normie?

My butt cheeks on that bar stool.

doesn't matter

post more. we need you and ZF and thresher and athletica to bring up the hawtness average on AN plz.

I miss those girls, too!

And, thanks.

and Pam

Yes.

I see your Schwartz is as big as mine.

Now let’s see how well you handle it…

CaliforniaJag - December 23, 2009 reply

Just because I have a light penknife... HEH!!!

Billy Beane is going to intimidate them with sweet karate moves

thejd44 - December 23, 2009 reply

Well a Callaspo trade seems more plausible now than it did last week.

What would the Royals be looking for in such a trade?

DDroney - December 23, 2009 reply

Coco Crisp?

thejd44 - December 23, 2009 reply

I hear they've tried to acquire him in the past

Good news about Cust and Duke as far as I'm concerned

I really hope that one or both of them are part of the 2010 season.

DDroney - December 23, 2009 reply

Yes, but I'd rather have had Beltre and Chapman.

(sigh)

well when you put it that way...

DDroney - December 23, 2009 reply

Duke leaning towards a NL team

According to a tweet posted by Ken Rosenthal.

GreggC - December 23, 2009 via mobile reply

Based on everything Rosenthal says

I feel like his accuracy rate is around 3%. Am I nuts here? I swear I hear more “reports” from this guy that don’t come true than anybody.

thejd44 - December 23, 2009 reply

spending the budget

I’ve noticed that if the A’s have a budget of $70 million, they spend the $70 million, even if it means overpaying a bit for some FA’s. They don’t operate like the Marlins, Royals and Pirates often do (although the Marlins are awfully good at it). This tells me they will do something significant after next season when Chavez comes off the books and they have a better chance of winning.

vk - December 23, 2009 reply

I'd much rather they spend that money on the draft/International FAs than overpaying mediocre major leaguers.

thejd44 - December 23, 2009 reply

Are you guys getting the commercials for New Pirate Radio there?

no idea why so many have a boner for beltre

he is awful.

thebigman - December 23, 2009 reply

Awful would be a nice upgrade at 3B

awful at 3B brings to mind the infamous Jose Offerman

aka, Jose Awfulman who I believe played 3B at one time

cuppingmaster - December 23, 2009 reply

Because at the moment our 3B are Jake Fox and Aaron Miles

And Chavez and McPherson of course, but I’ve got them penciled in for DL.

Where in the world is Adam Kennedy?

I don’t think I’ve seen one headline with his name on it. Is he a free agent? Are the A’s keeping him? Is he going to help the Royals win the World Series? He was a steal for what he gave us last year.