The 25-man roster, as currently constituted and probably as constituted the rest of the season, is not very good; I get that. I'm not asking for Jack Hannahan to suddenly catch up to mid-90s fastballs and I'm not asking Bob Geren to produce long winning streaks from a combination of young pitchers, old hitters, bad hitters, and Kurt Suzuki.
Here's what I do want:
* I want the A's to run out every ground ball and every fly ball as if they secretly know an error is going to be made on the play. Even if they're wrong almost every single time, it's the way baseball should be played and it brings energy to a team to see that kind of hustle 100% of the time.
* I want every player in the dugout to acknowledge a teammate's hard slide, or alert tag up from first, or "hustle double," in a way that is visible to the teammate out on the field, and as a result to every fan, and I want the manager to be the first one out to the front step clapping and leading that acknowledgment.
* Every "productive out" - sacrifice fly, bouncer to second that advances a runner to third with one out, successful bunt - I want every player in the dugout to greet the batter before he gets into the dugout, in a way that lets every fan see that every player appreciates that a "productive out" is better than a "non-productive out," and I want the manager to be the first one the hitter gets to on his way to the dugout.
Do you get the picture? Everything I'm asking for as a fan is fully within the control of any team, no matter how talented or untalented the players are, no matter what the score. I'm asking for energy, intensity, and liveliness, things that won't necessarily produce more wins but will necessarily send the right message about how the game is supposed to be played. And I want my manager to lead, at every turn, insisting that the team play with life and intensity, and insisting that everyone acknowledge these qualities when they see them.
Is this too much to ask? Because personally, I think if the A's focused on just this, the team would start playing better. Not a lot better, but a little. And a little can lead to a little more, and every bit helps. Energy is infectious and intensity is a habit. Guys, you're 18-29 doing it your way and you're heading south fast. But I'll proudly watch a team that plays with passion, and I'll support that team through thick and thin.
Can you guys just do that much? Starting, like, now?
2 recs | 105 comments
Here here
Good post Nico, a little passion for the game of baseball would be nice to see out of the Oakland A’s right now.
sirbed - May 30, 2009
So...you want the A's to play like they're in Little League?
Tripp - May 30, 2009
Although, they kinda already are playing like they're in little league
Tripp - May 30, 2009
I don't want the A's to play like they're in Little League,
but it would be nice if Little League coaches could tell their kids to play like the A’s.
Nico - May 30, 2009
In Little League
they preach simple concepts like moving runners up by hitting balls thru the infleid and hitting cut off men.
Startling concepts I know….
BleedGreen - May 30, 2009
If that's what it takes, then yes.
UncleLeo - May 30, 2009
This is what I thought too
I watched my friend’s 9-yr-old son play a few weeks ago. The coach and all the kids were talking to each other, cheering etc…. until the last inning when the pitcher’s “control” started to fall apart and the team lost.
But I agree, more enthusiasm and interest in the game from all A’s coaches and players would sure help!
streetfan - May 30, 2009
I completely agree with this.
I’d encourage every Beane-or-bust die hard to carefully watch their next A’s game with an eye towards level of effort on the field. There is way too much jogging to first, and trotting after a ball in the corner going on with this team.
Will a change there make a huge difference? No. But it is absolutely maddening to see factors that are completely in one’s control not being seized as such. Think about it in terms of your job. Do you mail it in when you know your prospects or grim, or do you have some pride in putting in the effort?
jeepers - May 30, 2009
Well, when you put it that way ...
most people mail it in. Unfortunate but true.
el campysino - May 30, 2009
It could be my bias, no doubt.
Stealing anything, including a paycheck, will fill me with self-loathing faster than just about anything.
jeepers - May 30, 2009
What about third? Third's cool.
Nico - May 30, 2009
Funny,
el campysino - May 30, 2009
Exactly; well put
Jack Hannahan, what’s your excuse for striking out? You can’t hit a good fastball? OK, fair enough.
Ryan Sweeney, what’s your excuse for jogging to first on a high pop-fly the other day, and barely making it to second when it was dropped? Still waiting.
Nico - May 30, 2009
Answer:
I thought it would be caught. Sorry. Who’re you gonna replace me with?
el campysino - May 30, 2009
denorfia
Future Ed - May 30, 2009
he sucks at baseball
stm72 - May 31, 2009
I seem to remember reading somewhere that sabermetric analysis proves...
…that effort doesn’t matter.
In fact, there’s no such thing as “effort.”
[/snark]
GreenNGoldSooner - May 31, 2009
Actually....
I have heard something to that effect, no snark.
“These are professionals who are paid a lot of money to do their job, therefore the real professionals just get the job done, and you see that in the statistics.”
This is part of the philosophy that says people do their best work for money, and only for money. I think it’s a crock. I also think it’s something Billy Beane subscribes to.
richwol1 - May 31, 2009
what he said
Plus the socks have to all come up and we need to show some Oakland Athletics flair out there, if it means they have to hire Rickey Henderson as Fashion Coach then it has to happen. Demonstrate some fucking passion and some unity or you might as well all start the autograph/cardshow circuit and get it over with.
If they aren’t all out there tomorrow or Monday with the cool golden Josh Outman socks with the green ol’ skool stirrups up to their knees, then they don’t know what baseball means and fuck ’em.
emperor nobody - May 30, 2009
Agree with the sentiment.
I’ve been trying to resolve why I’m so down on this team this year more than the last couple years.
One is obvious, we were supposed to be seeing some improvement by now. Not necessarily as WS win, but some discernible improvement.
But the other reason, I think, is for the most part this team seems so apathetic. Lack of fire. Whatever you want to call it. Almost as if they’ve resigned themselves to sucking.
UncleLeo - May 30, 2009
your kidding right
Why should they the team has already “disconnected” from the “coaching staff”…..
granja - May 30, 2009
Sean Gallagher tonight for Sacramento:
7 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (106 pitches, 65 strikes). The game is currently 3-3 in the 10th.
Nico - May 30, 2009
They just won with a bases loaded walk
from Baisley.
Trainman - May 30, 2009
How A's.
Nico - May 30, 2009
Huh, even the Rivercats managed 3 earned runs off Cecil!
Tripp - May 30, 2009
LOL - I saw the box score and thought the same thing
Nico - May 30, 2009
Just like the manager
Their attitude is always tomorrow is another day. Once they are down more than 2 runs they give up.
Arcman - May 30, 2009
I, once again, totally agree
I think the reason why this is happening is pretty clear, too. The 2009 A’s feature a bunch of young, unproven rookies who feel like they might have been brought up too soon (Cahill, Anderson), some demoralized players who feel they should be clicking right now but have been sidelined by injuries and trips back to AAA or just plain lack of talent (Buck, Crosby, Hannahan, Davis), and veteran players who are wondering what they’re even doing on this team (Cabrera, Holliday). The young, the demoralized, and the grizzled make for some bad chemistry. Blaming Geren for everything is getting old, but one thing I’m sure of is that his placid demeanor sure isn’t firing anyone up.
Suzuki and Kennedy are the only ones playing with any passion right now.
DDroney - May 30, 2009
First Time Commenter
Uhh, hello.
I’m a Blue Jays fan that was turned onto AN by reading an Athletics/Blue Jays recap here, and found the threads interesting to read.
Just like to say that I feel your pain in having a less than ideal team on the field, and while I’m not super intricately familiar with the A’s history prior to this season, I do have respect for the A’s as an organization from years past. I find myself looking up the A’s scores and then (more often than not) cringe as I imagine the likely reaction here.
Hope that the A’s pull it together, except when they face the Jays, you guys deserve better than what’s being put out right now. Oh, and no trade-backs for Scutaro. He’s ours ;D
Northern Fan - May 30, 2009
Hey, thanks for commenting - hope you'll stick around
I find that having comments and perspectives from cool fans of other teams really enhances the site.
Can we share Scutaro?
Nico - May 30, 2009
I suppose...
…if we have an off-day and Scutaro’s willing to make the commute.
Will you settle for him helping us beat the slegnA? (it took me /forever/ to realize that that meant. because I’m a smart one.)
Northern Fan - May 30, 2009
I guess we'll have to settle for that ...
especially because I can’t see Scoot’s making the commute pro bono to a place where all the authorities, including numerous AN experts, confidently asserted that he didn’t have the makings of a bona fide starting shortstop.
Thanks for checking in, and hope to hear from you again!
el campysino - May 30, 2009
Welcome!
Please stop by often
day-to-day - May 30, 2009
Off-Topic
But Texas and Boston College are in the top of the 23rd inning in Austin in the winner’s bracket of their regional.
sprtsnwyn - May 30, 2009
Here's a link
To watch.
sprtsnwyn - May 30, 2009
On it.
This is ridiculous.
Jjjsixsix - May 30, 2009
I can’t not watch this.
DDroney - May 30, 2009
quick! you got another 15 minutes or so, max, probably.
Jjjsixsix - May 30, 2009
wow
that’s a long game….when did it start, last week?
gigglingone - May 30, 2009
wow
24 innings, and neither team has hit in to a double play. Amazing.
gigglingone - May 30, 2009
i love how it's
Texas 2 19 3
BC 2 7 0
Jjjsixsix - May 30, 2009
And now on to the 25th.....
gigglingone - May 30, 2009
This must be brutal.
I do video for SC baseball games. I couldn’t imagine being stuck in that booth since … 4? going on 7 hours?
Also, I’m going to go out on a limb and say the winner of the elimination game has the advantage, at least with tired pitchers and such.
Jjjsixsix - May 30, 2009
sounds like a fair number of fans still there after nearly 7 hours
gigglingone - May 30, 2009
yeah, it does. probably more than we get total.
it must suck to go 1 out of 11…
Jjjsixsix - May 30, 2009
It does.
I think that was my record in kid-ball in the seventh-grade or so.
On the other hand — you shoulda seen my on-base percentage!
el campysino - May 30, 2009
actually, after seeing that shot...
the stands actually still look full.
Jjjsixsix - May 30, 2009
Well done Texas
Hopefully for them, they have at least a day or two off before their next game….
BC has a game in 11 hours — ouch.
gigglingone - May 30, 2009
Texas vs Army/BC winner at 4 pacific.
Jjjsixsix - May 30, 2009
Wow, can you imagine if BC wins that and these teams have to play each other again?
gigglingone - May 30, 2009
Watching BC try to hit reminded me of the A's...
nateinberkeley - May 30, 2009
Wait, what?
You think we can get 8 hits in 2 1/2 games?
Also, apparently Austin Wood is quite good.
Jjjsixsix - May 30, 2009
I assume they are going to rest Wood tomorrow....
What was it, 13 innings tonight for him? And he pitched last night?
gigglingone - May 30, 2009
I hope they do, for his sake.
But then again … if he is willing and able and they need to close out the game to not play Monday, why would they rest him?
Jjjsixsix - May 30, 2009
Yes
He is. His first 12 1/3 innings were no-hit innings! That is flat out stupid. 169 pitches in the game for his 13 innings of work.
sprtsnwyn - May 31, 2009
I know someone who's covering that game
Flashfire - May 30, 2009
Andy Warhol?
el campysino - May 30, 2009
BC, Texas fight into night
Boston Herald
SwisherThresher - May 30, 2009
Billy Beane traded away everyone with heart or attitude...
… so you won’t see any of those things. Billy’s precious ego can’t handle anything but people like bob geren. If you’d like to see Billy Beane fired, look for the petition at the home series vs the giants that calls for billy to be fired or for his resignation. Billy Beane is the biggest fraud in pro sports.
TedRamey - May 30, 2009
Hooz? Is that you?
Flashfire - May 30, 2009
MrMoneyBaller - May 31, 2009
you obviously are attached to billy’s ego. i take it you still think he is “smart?”
TedRamey - May 31, 2009
I take it you think you know what you're talking about?
Flashfire - May 31, 2009
Ha
I actually laughed out loud at that.
:D
MrMoneyBaller - May 31, 2009
Uh, no.
I’m just wondering what exactly you’re talking about, because saying he trading away everyone with “heart or attitude” is vague to say the least.
MrMoneyBaller - May 31, 2009
I think he means Byrnes/Swisher/Haren
Thats who I thought of when he said that. In a way I agree, (about these three players not B.B.).
adragon - June 1, 2009
You're making weird, sweeping assumptions
about hundreds of baseball players throughout every level of the organization.
Is it the fact that Beane has amassed a top 1/3 winning percentage with a bottom 1/3 payroll in 12 seasons that makes him a fraud? Or is 12 seasons too small a sample size for you? Do you really think the A’s had a swath of playoff appearances and winning records by way of dumb luck and accident?
With a bottom 1/3 payroll, no matter how good a GM you are, there are going to be down years. These are the down years. TedRamey, I’d like you to list all of the teams who don’t have a few down years every 10 – 15 years. It’s nearly every team, large and small payrolls alike.
Beane has tried to stay fresh and inventive working with miniscule payrolls against a market that is rapidly evolving
-the market is getting smarter. Down years are inevitable. Your petition is bunk and you’re a knee-jerk reactionary.sleepingcobra - May 31, 2009
After Moneyball...
Many GMs were saying that the only reason those teams from 2000-2004 were good was because of the Big Three.
The A’s have had exactly one good season since Mulder and Hudson left, and that can be attributed to the work of one man, Frank Thomas.
Here’s the thing, though: the A’s farm system has not produced a single great offensive player in nearly a decade. Only two position players, Swisher and Suzuki, came up through the organization and stayed with the organization in the majors.. That’s very bad. We can’t fault the team for working without much in the way of funds, but their pre-draft scouting produced exactly one miracle (Suzuki), one decent top choice (Swisher). Thus far, the rest are either duds or the “let’s have patience” crowd (Buck, etc).
richwol1 - May 31, 2009
It does not get any more corny and cliched than this post
Hustle: the last refuge of a desperate fan of an awful team.
RLangford - May 31, 2009
agreed
Team hustles if they are in a slump and the losses belie their true abilities. A team should hustle if they are trying to build towards something in the near term. We are nowhere close to making the playoffs, let alone winning the world series. What is the point of asking our players to hustle when half of them won’t be on this team next year? If players like Crosby and Hannahan hustle on every play from here on, would it make a difference this year or next?
batterbatter - May 31, 2009
sorry?
striving for excellence in everything is not only fun to watch and inspiring, but it helps the players in what is also an individual sport.
One can only hope you don’t apply that philosophy to your own lives!
Chilango - May 31, 2009
Low standards - gotta love 'em.
UncleLeo - May 31, 2009
Yeah, because I love watching a team that doesn't try their hardest just because they're losing games
Guess what? Keep not trying your hardest and you’ll keep losing games.
Flashfire - May 31, 2009
To me it should be about taking pride in your profession.
Even if the rest of the team around you is pathetic it’s inexcusable to jog to first, trot after a ball in the corner etc when you’re being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to play baseball.
OldhamA - May 31, 2009
Agreed
No matter how pathetic a team this is, they need to hustle. It sends the right message. Of course Geren does not know how to send them the message
Trainman - May 31, 2009
this sounds like a plaintive Kansas City Royals fan...
course, the Royals are better than the A’s, so maybe a Royals fan of the past.
FoolshGame22 - May 31, 2009
great post nico...couldn't agree more...
went to an a’s royals game a few weeks ago.
i was struck by the discipline of the royals. most notably, the entire team lined up in front of the dugout, caps off for the national anthem (save the starting pitcher and catcher). the eye opening moment was when the stadium announcer told the fans in attendance to rise, the entire team ran to the dugout and lined up.
the a’s were strewn about the field running and stretching. no order to the chaos.
a buddy of mine that knows nothing about baseball commented that the royals manager controls the team. i agreed and quietly sobbed to myself.
stm72 - May 31, 2009
Don't Really Agree
I like the sentiment, but to be honest, crappy baseball teams always look apathetic. Players who are always making outs look like they aren’t trying, while high batting average teams in particular tend to look scrappy and get commentators rabbiting on about how they have good fundamentals.
More hustle and ‘productive outs’ won’t change the fact that this team regularly trots out a lineup half-full of replacement level trash. I’m actually pretty excited about the post 09 state of the franchise, but at the moment there is inevitably going to be some very ugly baseball.
VanderBirch - May 31, 2009
Based on what?
UncleLeo - May 31, 2009
The farm system no doubt.
OldhamA - May 31, 2009
At least they should keep their heads in the game
Giambi in particular – at times it looks like he’s checked out and is now just looking to increase his career stats. In the last week or so he’s failed to start running from first on a two out, 3-2 pitch and of course the faux ball four that caused Holliday (who also must not have been paying attention) to be picked off of first.
THAT’S the kind of crap that should get someone benched for a day or two. THAT’S the kind of crap that really cheats the fans. I don’t expect winning baseball all the time, but I do expect good fundamental baseball.
coffee roaster - May 31, 2009
Giambi just trying to increase his career stats?
if so, he’s not doing a very good job.
I think he’s showing that he is no longer physically capable of playing every day, at least not also in the field.
OaklandSi - May 31, 2009
I was going to make the same point.
OldhamA - May 31, 2009
Amen, Nico!
Well said. This team plays with NO passion due to their passionless manager Geren. Wash should have been hired. I miss guys like Whitey Herzog and Billy Martin. They need a kick in the pants!
A'sfansince1970 - May 31, 2009
Whitey Herzog, Billy Martin, Dick Williams, Earl Weaver...
Are there any more baseball men like them around?
Could they drive and cajole and prod a club into being better than the sum of their parts?
Or, would today’s players just tune guys like that out and pout and sulk?
How would Matt Holliday feel if he had made an error or strikeout that lost the club a game and then a Dick Williams or a Billy Martin not only bitches him out in front of the whole clubhouse, but in front of the media, too?
How would Jason Giambi feel if he got fined $1,000 every time he didn’t run out a groundball and immediately taken out of the game in punishment?
I wonder if treating these guys like fourth graders when they pull stupid fourth grade shit would shape this club up a little…
Gaijin_Suketto - May 31, 2009
See I don't want someone chastised for making an error or striking out
But I do want them chastised (that is, held accountable) for not running out a ground ball. You shouldn’t be afraid to fail or make mistakes, but at the same time you should be afraid to see your manager when you play stupidly or not hard. As you will be if Jim Leyland is your manager, and in a different way Joe Maddon.
Nico - May 31, 2009
as much as Joe Maddon is the perfect manager for these times,
those old school guys I mentioned could sure light a fire under a club.
I see your point… Cajole them when they do lazy things, and don’t be too hard on them for mere failings, because baseball is all about failure… Although, I wonder if some of these guys might not be better motivated by someone treating them badly rather than someone blowing smoke up their asses all the time.
Plus, the great old-school managers had a fire to win. They just had to win, or they would be depressed, pissed off, and a little bit mental, until the next victory. Then, ten minutes later, after the good feelings wore off, they were back racking their brains, trying to figure out how to win tomorrow, or at least going out and beating up marshmallow salesmen.
Gaijin_Suketto - May 31, 2009
Anybody just see Baseball tonight
Just a few items they had….. A’s worst BA in the Majors and get this 5.12 worst ERA for the month of May. Hey Billy and Bob do you think any changes have to be made. Remember the press conferences you had when you were signing for these “veteran bats” that were supposed to help the pitching staff!!! What happened and that smile has disappeared from your face. What about the pitching staff you gonna continue to run out the youngsters and let the beatings continue. Gonna be a long painful season for fans and for all the complaining fans do “Gerens not going anywhere”……..LOL.
granja - May 31, 2009
In all the years
I cannot think of a lower point, a rockier bottom than what we have hit here with this years team. Maybe the Dwayne Murphy era teams before Bash Brothers took the stage. Horrible product on the field. No leadership. Just a complete and total meltdown. I already gave up my season tickets last year and am going to games at about the once per month rate. I watch every game but since I let the MLB and Direct TV bleed me for the $200 package I end up switching over to other games with talented players who are actually playing for something other than their paycheck.
How can you not get rid of Geren at this point? How can you not DFA Crosby and Hanahan? How can we keep marching this crap team out there every day? Horrible.
bajablue - May 31, 2009
You must be too young
..to remember the late ‘70s or mid -80s. Those teams were far worse than the 2009 A’s. FAR WORSE.
richwol1 - May 31, 2009
What I want from my fan site
is for a site where not everyone feels they need to create a new fanpost with their ideas about the GM, manager, roster, and crazy trade ideas!
but yeah, I would have hoped that the A’s could keep the fans interested at least until June
closetasfan - May 31, 2009
Good luck finding that fan site!
I’m just glad that so many people still care.
Nico - May 31, 2009
just to clarify
obviously posts like you and other regulars are always an interesting read, its the trollers and the not so well though out ones that I wish were parts of other posts rather than new posts
but hey, I guess on the bright side, at least they care.
closetasfan - May 31, 2009
okay, doctor, then what DO you want from a fansite?
Easy recipe ideas?
Front page bikini girls?
I know that when my club is playing like crap, I want the brightest minds of the fans trying to figure out how to fix the problem, and the club officials who read the fansite(s) stealing the best of those ideas and using them.
Gaijin_Suketto - May 31, 2009
If club Officials read anything from this site
The A’s would be in first place, maybe not but I am confident anyone on this site could manage the team better!!
Athletic - May 31, 2009
Or at least thinks they could -
Such is being a fan.
Nico - May 31, 2009
Of course, everyone thinks they're better than a bad manager...
But Geren’s so bad that I can name at least 10 people on this site who could do a better job.
There are a lot of savvy fans here that would never do stupid things like IBB’ing .200 hitters in the 1st inning or putting Santiago Casilla to pitch in pressure situations…
Also, a lot of us AN’ers actually breathe in through our noses, unlike the current manager.
Gaijin_Suketto - May 31, 2009
Nicely said
Athletic - May 31, 2009
maybe they should act like someone is PAYING THEM TO PLAY BASEBALL
9Custs - May 31, 2009
this team is flat. they need the spark. geren is creating SERIOUS doubt in my mind.
greendatitiz - May 31, 2009
In other news...
Carlos Gonzalez has a 1.018 OPS, 7 HR, and a 30/22 K/BB ratio for the Rockies AAA Affiliate
Damn it :(
supermarc589 - May 31, 2009
hey. but you are missing the most important thing! at least we have the moneyball movie!
why concentrate on talent on your team, when the real question is if it’ll be clooney or pitt playing beane? priorities folks, priorities.
greendatitiz - May 31, 2009
The problem begins at the top
Yes, it would be nice to see some more hustle and attitude. But we have an owner who could care less about the fans, puts down his stadium, and disrespects the home town; a GM who is a control freak and can’t tolerate a manger who can think for himself; and a manager who is clueless. The lack of hustle and attitude shown by the players is a direct result of the above.
jiggsy - May 31, 2009
That would be nice
But it would be hard to do considering the fact that Geren has very little personality to begin with.
Rocky632 - May 31, 2009
I feel like this post was FJM-baiting
Anyone else?
jsullivan - June 1, 2009
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