http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/d...

OAKLAND PLAYERS:

LHP - Jerry Blevins (Midland) - 24 Years Old
RHP - Jeff Gray (Sacto) - 26 Years Old
LHP - Jay Marshall (MLB) - 24 Years Old
RHP - James Simmons (Midland) - 20 Years Old
C - Anthony Recker (Midland) - 24 Years Old
SS - Cliff Pennington (Midland) - 23 Years Old
3B - Jeff Baisley (Midland) - 24 Years Old

Trainer - TBA (Oakland)?!?!

Poll

Who will wear the Green and Gold in 2008?

52%

Jay Marshall

24 votes

13%

James Simmons

6 votes

8%

Anthony Recker

4 votes

2%

Jerry Blevins

1 votes

15%

Cliff Pennington

7 votes

2%

Jeff Gray

1 votes

6%

Jeff Baisley

3 votes

46 votes | Poll has closed

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So, the Giants land the "Top Free Agent Pitcher" of the 2006-2007 Offseason".  Yeah for them.  So, WIIFU, you ask...?(What's In It For Us?).  Well, as I see it, there are some teams very close to applying the "Win at all Costs" theory over the month of January.  

One of those teams is the NY Mets.  New York Fans/Media won't put up with another season of mediocre pitching, and they have a ton of question marks in their rotation.  Minaya knows it.  The Baseball World knows it.

Mets' 2007 Rotation:

1. Glavine
   
2. Hernandez
   
3. Maine
   
4. Perez
   
5. Pelfrey

The other team is the Toronto Blue Jays.  Let's be honest:  If things go like last season, J.P. Riccardi is on a very short lease in Toronto.  They need a couple starting pitchers, and a lot of bullpen help.

Blue Jays 2007 Rotation:

1. Halladay
   
2. Burnett
   
3. Chacin
   
4. Marcum
   
5. Janssen

Poll

What Pitcher is Most Likely to Be Traded this Offseason?

11%

Halsey

11 votes

41%

Blanton

41 votes

9%

Calero

9 votes

11%

Loaiza

11 votes

3%

Duke

3 votes

7%

Kennedy

7 votes

0%

Haren

0 votes

15%

Saarloos

15 votes

3%

Harden

3 votes

100 votes | Poll has closed

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I can't remember the last time an Oakland Athletics team received a good old fashioned "BOOOOOOO!".    Can you?

Poll

Should This Team Get *BOOED* if they are losing (or lose) to the Royals tonight?

49%

YES

31 votes

19%

NO

12 votes

31%

It's never OK to boo the home team

20 votes

63 votes | Poll has closed

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Kenny Rogers almost went off on another TV Camerman today.  While taking finger prints inside an Arlington Court House, he stared angrily at the Cameraman, degrading him...

KR: (As Kenny Rogers stares angrily into the camera lense)   "Dude, your getting really close, you know that?"

KR: (continues to stare, almost ready to go off)  "Do you hear me?"

KR: "You must be pretty proud of yourself, too"

Cameraman:  "Just my job, Kenny"

KR:  "Good Job"

Bud Selig:  Please suspend this guy before he kills someone.

Poll

How many games should Kenny Rogers be Suspended now?

6%

None - Bud and Kenny are in bed together

3 votes

41%

Rest of Season

19 votes

45%

20 Games

21 votes

6%

10 Game Reduction (10 Games Total)

3 votes

46 votes | Poll has closed

Haven't seen this yet, so here it is....

It looks like "Filthy" Rich Harden is getting back into the rotation next Thursday vs. Seattle (knock on wood)...

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050615&content_id=1090728& ;vkey=news_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak

Couple Quick Thoughts:

• 23 Games until the All-Star Break.  How about a nice 17-6 Run to finish off the 1st Half of the Season?
• How good would 44-43 sound at the All-Star Break?
• How about sending Cruz down to AAA next week.  He could be "stretched" out in Sacramento for a few starts, then called up to replace Glynn as the 5th Starter after the All-Star Break.  Cruz has nasty stuff, and mentally, starting might be the cure for Cruz'es mental struggles thus far.  Saarloos can take over the middle relief duties.

Poll

When Harden comes Back, what should happen?

19%

Saarloss will replace Harrikala in the bullpen

9 votes

28%

All of the Above

13 votes

19%

Harrikala will be sent down to Sac. or waived

9 votes

32%

Cruz will be sent to Sacramento to be "stretched" out to become our 5th starter

15 votes

46 votes | Poll has closed

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http://www.athleticsnation.com/story/2005/2/4/101152/7909

This diary from February pretty much rehashes why I'm a better predictor than Ohad...

Enjoy...

Poll

Who's the Best AN'er on this board?

26%

Blez

15 votes

31%

Other

18 votes

12%

Ohad

7 votes

17%

Nico

10 votes

12%

Oaktoon

7 votes

57 votes | Poll has closed

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I'm sorry, but this team is laughable.  I'm seriously considering asking Direct TV for my MLB Extra Innings $$$ back.  I would rather watch the actual movie, but if our current A's were to put this season on film, here's the Cast:

In contrast to the "Moneyball" Cast, here's your 2005 Bad News Bears...errrr, A's:

• Coach Morris Buttermaker... played by Ken Macha
  
• Coach Roy Turner... played by Dave Hudgens
  
• Tanner Boyle... played by Eric Byrnes
  
• Kelly Leak... played by Barry Zito
  
• Miguel Agilar... played by Eric Chavez
  
• Ahmad Abdul Rahim... played by Ohad
  
• Ogilvie... played by Jason Kendall
  
• Engleberg... played by Keith Ginter
  
• Amanda Whurlitzer... played by the Batgirl
  
• Jimmy Feldman... played by Scott Hatteberg
  
• Rudy Stein... played by Mark Ellis
  
• Timmy Lupus... played by Erubial Durazo
  
• Regi Tower... played by 2-Buck Chuck
• Any other movie casts you can compare this team with?  

It's THEIR team!  THEY are the leaders!  Others look to them for toughness, how-to-do-ness.  They will dictate how far the 2005 Oakland Athletics take this team this year, as well as for seasons to come...

KOTSAY:

Year            AB    AVG
1997            52   .192
1998            578  .279  
1999            495  .271  
2000            530  .298
2001            406  .291
2002            578  .292
2003            482  .266  
2004            606  .314

8 Seasons       3727  .287  

162 Game Avg    594   .287

HARDEN:

Year           IP     ER   BB   SO   ERA
2003           74.7   37   40   67   4.26
2004           189.7  171  81  167   3.99

162 Game Avg   199.7  91   91  176   4.12

I really, really, really, really,really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really,really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really...

...like the direction this team is going.  

Viva Oakland Athletics!!!!

Poll

What is the next step for Billy Beane?

7%

Trade Byrnes

5 votes

44%

Sign Kotsay to a long-term deal

31 votes

21%

Trade Dotel, Byrnes, & Scutaro to Cubs for Derrick Lee

15 votes

4%

Trade Chavez to the Rockies for Todd Helton + Cash

3 votes

15%

Sign Haren to long term deal (alas, Harden)

11 votes

5%

Trade Dotel

4 votes

69 votes | Poll has closed

Does AN hold a blind eye to the fact that we're the clubhouse leaders when it comes to Steriods?  It's safe to assume that our minor league system was a chemical lab, and things don't seem to be changing.  One of our top prospects, Javier Herrera, was caught as well.  David Castillo (Kane County) has tested positive 3 times!

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