Anybody have an idea of what the A's team salary is right now.  Just curious as to how low it's been trimmed this year and where we stand against the rest of the league.  For clarification, I'm looking for the salary post trades, August team with the young guys.  I'm guessing it's incredibly low.

Thanks to anyone who has that info handy or is better at digging it up than me.

I got a text message late last night from a friend of mine that has a lot of insight on what the Niners are doing day to day.

"Adalius Thomas and Nate Clements doing physicals at niner camp 2morrow.  Thats ur inside news of the day."

It doesn't mean that they are signing, but it's got to be a ggod sign that we brought in both of the most prized free agents on the market to do our due dilligence.

Now I haven't heard anything to this extent, but in my mind it makes complete sense.  The Steelers have officially hired Tomlin as their head coach.  Word is that he likes the 4-3 defense and that Dick Lebeau is likely to leave.  I'm sure there are plenty of places he could land and in a number of capacities, but why not the niners.  Add another established coordinator under a young head coach and I think we could really get the ball rolling in the right direction.  What do you all think?

"If we've got to score eight to 10 runs, we're not going to fare too well," Chavez said. "The team you are in the regular season is what you take into the postseason. We didn't score 10 runs during the year, and there's no reason to think we're going to do it against these pitchers."

Call it realism if you will, but it seems like he's mentally really putting a limit on what we can do as a team.  This is not the comment of a leader.  I've been blasting his attitude for the last few years and this just confirms my thoughts.  Most of you back him and say he's being realistic, but this is a losing statement.  A leader rallies the troops.

"If our pitchers give up 8, then we've got to score 9," is a much better answer.

If he honestly thinks that way then why even play the game.  Some franchise player...

Is anybody else fed up with his bull$hit.  He's got guys on this team that respect them and will follow him if he leads, but if he keeps up with this he's going to instill his losing attitude into them too.  In a reply to a post yesterday I questioned his attitude and the comments he'd make if we lost the series.  I didn't realize he was giving up already.

Could you imagine Joe Montana sitting there saying, "34 points, jeez, we can't score that many, we've only done it twice this year and if you expect us to do it in the playoffs, well, it's just not going to happen."

Absolute bull$hit!

I've often heard on this site and elswhere from reporters, so-called experts and everybody else that Tejada's so-called baserunning blunder is why the A's didn't advance in the 2003 playoffs.

For the last three years I've been wondering how good A's fans can attack Tejada for a mistake that I didn't think was a mistake.  It was clear to me that the ump did something (point and yell) to get Tejada's attention after the blatant interference non-call.  I've seen Tejada attacked on this site for it and I've never understood why.  his only fault was listening to a dumbass ump who took the game into his own hands (enter conspiracy theory here).  Check out Ron Washington's quote below.  If the umps missed it then why do those of you who blame Tejada, still blame Tejada?  The umps screwed us, not him.

"The worst was the Boston series [2003]," Washington said. "We had the third game won, and then there was an interference call the umps missed..."

On a side note, this article on Ron Washington is great:
http://www.startribune.com/508/story/724795.html

I wish Billy would've chosen him as the manager and not accepted the grovelling of Ken Macha.

We're home now, let's win this shit!!!

He's a catalyst, something that A's are dying for right now.  We could insert him at 2nd base and in teh lead off spot and be very well off.  His .395 OBP isn't an aberration and everyone knows he can flat out run.  He plays every position on the field and he's only making $1.3 mil this year.  Ellis and a minor league pitcher should do it.

Our franchise player just asked if he could bat 9th in the lineup???  

"I know my importance on the defensive side," Chavez said. "I also understand in the middle of the lineup, you're supposed to put up some numbers. I don't want to hurt the team."

There's some confidence for you.  He should be asking to sit out if it's that bad.  If he can't hit for power because he's hurting I understand, but shorten up the stroke and do what you have to do.  What a headcase!

Where would you rather have Chavvy?  Batting 9th or sitting on teh DL, possibly getting better for the stretch run?  Right now, even in teh 9 spot...he's hurting us more than he's helping us.    

This has probably been covered ad nauseum over the first 4 months of this season, but it's probably a subject that will continue to come up until lightning strikes some maple trees in Oakland and we're able to start manufacturing our own bats.  

What changed this year from last?  Many of our young players showed great improvements last year and if it weren't for a couple of injuries, we were a playoff team.

So far this year our hitting as been flat out terrible other than the improvement of Chavez and th erecent tear that Frank has been on.  Is it any wonder that Swisher attributes much of his success this season to Frank Thomas???

Why has everyone else turned to crap?  Why does Crosby hold the bat in front of his face, only to pull it back right before the pitch and come through late on everything?  Why aren't adjustments being made.  

If everything else remained constant then maybe the problem is our new hitting coach.  He did come from a great organization in Pittsburgh, so it's hard to question his credentials...but something has got to give.  We can speculate all we want about what is wrong, but let's look right at the guy whose loan job it is to make the team better hitters...

So far he is failing miserably!

Fire Gerald Perry!  

There has been a lot of talk on AN recently about Payton vs. Kielty.  I personally don't think there is much of an argument in these regards and that Payton is the better player.  In fact, Payton isn't much below Kotsay in many ways.  Now Payton and Kielty's OPS and other stats have already been pitted against each other of late, so I'm going to focus on some rudimentary comparisons between Payton and Kotsay.  If any of you care to expand on these humbers, please do so.

Payton vs. Kotsay 2005 OPS:
.750 vs .746

Payton vs. Kotsay Career OPS
.773 vs. .765

Payton vs. Kotsay 2005 HR's
P - 18 HRs in 408 at-bats
K - 15 HRs in 582 at-bats

If you look at their career numbers, there are a lot of similiarities but Payton has a limited number of games played because people didn't think he was good enough.  It's hard to gauge where he stands offensively.  In the last three years he's played in Colorado (extreme hitters park), Petco (extreme pitchers park) and Oakland (another pitchers park).  Fielding-wise I think Kotsay is definitely superior, but Payton is above average in my eyes and makes very few mistakes, in fact he made 0 errors last year.  Kotsay has the better arm, but there isn't a huge difference there.  

In the end I think it's funny that people are so down on Payton for not producing when I think he's a great value for what he can bring to the table.  In fact I think he's a much better than the injury prone Kotsay.  I don't see a $3 mil a year difference between them.  I said this before we re-signed Kotsay and I'll continue to say it.  Payton is a great value compared to Kotsay.

Just an FYI...
I just got this press release sent to me from a ticket sales guy I know with the Padres.  Padres season ticket holders are already buying their seats as we speak, but this release outlines the prices for when they go on sale on Monday.

for immediate release                                                                                           Friday, December 9, 2005

SAN DIEGO BASEBALL FANS OFFERED FIRST OPPORTUNITY

TO SECURE TICKETS FOR FINAL ROUNDS OF HISTORIC TOURNAMENT

¾ Three-game Ticket `strips' for World Baseball Classic go on sale to public, Monday, December 12 ¾

San Diego, CA ¾ In March 2006, baseball will crown a true "world champion" for the first time, and San Diego baseball fans can have a front row seat.  On Monday, December 12 beginning at 10:00 a.m., fans can guarantee their place in history as three-game ticket `strips' for the semi-finals and final of the inaugural World Baseball Classic at PETCO Park go on sale to the general public.  The three games, featuring the top four international teams from a starting field of 16 and comprised of many of the marquee names in baseball, is set to take place March 18 - 20, 2006.

        "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the greatest players in baseball playing for their home countries in a first-of-its-kind tournament, right here in San Diego," said Sandy Alderson, Chief Executive Officer of the San Diego Padres.  "We're excited to provide San Diego fans the opportunity to be a part of the greatest gathering of baseball talent in one place at one time."

        Earlier this week at the Winter Meetings in Dallas, Major League Baseball announced an impressive list of 177 players who have agreed to participate in the tournament, including Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Andruw Jones, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, as well as Padres' All-Star Jake Peavy.

Three-game ticket `strips' for the two semi-final games held on Saturday, March 18 and the final game to be played on Monday, March 20 will be available online starting at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 12 at www.padres.com <http://www.padres.com> and www.worldbaseballclassic.com <http://www.worldbaseballclassic.com>.  Ticket prices for the three game package range from $51 for Upper Reserved to $180 for Premier Club and Terrace Club Infield seating.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to put on the USA uniform and represent my country against the best in the world as a representative of the Padres," said Peavy.  "And to hopefully compete in the Semi-finals and Final in front of the hometown fans makes it even that much more special."

Peavy is joined by recently acquired veteran third baseman Vinny Castilla, who has agreed to represent Mexico.  Castilla is a native of Oaxaca, Mexico.

THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

The World Baseball Classic, a 16-team tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), will feature many of the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories for the first time ever in March 2006.  The 16 teams invited to participate in the event have been divided into four pools of four teams for the first round of play. They include: Pool A - China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea; Pool B - Canada, Mexico, South Africa, United States; Pool C - Cuba, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico; Pool D - Australia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Venezuela.

The four Round 1 pools are scheduled to be played in Tokyo, Japan; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona.  Round 2 will feature two pools of four teams each with games scheduled to be played in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Anaheim, California. The Semi-Finals and Final will be played at PETCO Park in San Diego.

PRICING OVERVIEW

Category                Three-Game Strip

Field Box               $135
Field Reserved          $120
Left Field Lower Boxes          $90
Right Field Lower Boxes                 $90
Right Field Lower Reserved      $75
Right Field Upper Boxes         $60
Left Field Upper Boxes          $90
Left Field Reserved             $51
Right Field Reserved            $75

Premier Club            $180
Terrace Club Infield            $180
Terrace Club Reserved           $150

Upper Boxes             $90
Upper Infield Reserved          $75
Upper Reserved          $51

I believe Major League baseball stopped keeping this as a stat, but I was wondering if any of the "stat guys" on this website had any more insight about it.  The link below talks about the stat's value.  I always liked the stat personally.  I'm sure there are more than a few opinions on this subject here at AN.  What brought up this curiosity is that I heard an analyst somewhere say that A-Rod had more GWRBI's than the "uber clutch" Big Papi.

http://www.athomeplate.com/nlmvp.shtml

I know some people don't believe in clutch hitting on this site and the Bill James Deciples will think this is not a true tell of a good player, but read the article.  And if anyone can find the stats, I'd love to see them.  Papi won in style, but A-Rod might have won more games with his rbi's???  Could be interesting.

I know it's not one of the formal, prestigious awards, but in my opinion it might mean just as much to teh psyche of a player to have your peers say that you did it the best.  For American League rookies, Huston Street did it the best.  Here's to the first of many trophy's he'll win as a professional.  I know his amateur case is already busting at the seams, so he might need a new one.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051102&content_id=1263847&vkey=news_mlb &fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

The guy just signed a contract and a day later he resigns.  Larry Luchinno must be an ass to work for.  Could he end up in LA with the Dodgers?  It's funny that they mention what Beane was offered everytime they talk about a Boston GMs contract.  Hopefully that will haunt them for a while.

http://www.cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/9015254

Honestly with street clothes on, they'd look exactly the same.  Did anybody else notice this when you were watching the playoffs?  They could be brothers...or (and I hope this doesn't offend anybody) sisters the way Kendall swings...sorry ladies, figure of speech. Character, Character, Character!

Feel free to add your own, this could be fun...Offseason fun, huh? Woohoo!

All season I heard that if the A's weren't in the race that Chavvy would hang 'em up and go have surgery on that bum shoulder of his.  The excuse has been used by him, the team, and my many of us here on AN.  Sure enough, we're out of it and he's still playing.  My question is why?  What are we gaining?  Shouldn't we throw some of the kids out there and try to get somewhat of a gauge as to their ability to hit major league pitching?  Please tell me it's not for the numbers.  That arm must be killing him. Huh?

Let me preface this by saying that I'm not trying to get on Swisher at all and I don't want all the AN optimists nailing me to the cross for bringing this up, but after his first season I think it's a good time to analyze what he has doen so far as an Athletic and what we should expect from one of Billy's favorites.  I'm sure he'll be around for quite a while.

That being said, I've heard a lot of people on this site talk about the progress that he has made this season, but I'm not real sure about that.  
-If he gets hot he might finish the season with a .240 average.  
-His 20 homers are nice and I'm sure that number will increase in the near future.  He's got a natural lift in his swing.
-Some situational numbers that bother me:  .192 against lefties, .218 w/ RISP, he also didn't have one month in which he got hot enough to hit over .280.  Usually a young player with upside will at least get hot for a while.  It didn't really happen with Swish this year.  
-My other main concern is that is OBP is .320.  That is down significantly from any of his numbers throughout his stints at different levels of the minor leagues.
-He actually played pretty good defensively this year.

Is Swisher a star of the future or is he a Matt Stairs type?  He never really hit for great avaerage in the minros and it's becoming a concern for me.  I realize it's only his rookie year and it should improve, but I'd like to hear what everyone else has to say on this subject.  What do you guys and green and gold girls expect out of Swish in the future?  Whip out the crystal ball and give your predictions and analysis.

I would've taken more from right behind the pitcher in the bullpen, but I was probably blinding Buckley.  Street was hilarious.  The security guard took away a beach ball and threw it in the bullpen.  When he wasn't looking, Street threw it back out into the stands, it actually hit a lady in the face...too funny.  Castillo gave some girl his number and the Boston fans were all over him and the girl.  Anyways, they're not all good, but Fenway is amazing.  Here you go.  By the way, we won that game 6-2.

I know living in the past, blah, blah, blah.  I was busy yesterday, so here it is.  Do you guys think Macha should've sent Haren out on 3 days rest?  With the day off, it would get our rotation back to normal anyways.  Now we're stuck with an extra Kennedy start and our 5th spot in the rotation is scheduled for the last game of the season.  If we would've pitched Haren, we'd have Kentucky Joe closing out the season for us.  Hindsight, blah, blah, blah.

I know it's the end of the season, but Haren a little off or Kennedy???

i just heard from an Angels fan that the Halos were thinking of pitching Bartolo on 3 days this saturday, but have decided against it because of his back.  That means that he'll either go against us Monday on an extra day's reat (Who'll pitch Sunday for them?) or on 3 days in the last game of our series.

I don't live up in the Bay Area anymore, so I won't be able to take part, but I propose a contest.  We've all seen the posts, the shirts, etc about players asses, but I think it's time we start something for the people on this site that would rather see the ladies.  The next A's game you're at.  Snap a pic of the best looking girls you see wearing A's gear.  Like I said, I can't take part except hoping that I see some down here in SD or Anaheim, but I'll be there in spirit.  Any opinions on this contest, post 'em below.

It's obviously well documented that we as a teamtry to adhere to the Moneyball way of baseball.  This includes trying to draw walks and not giving up "unecessary outs".  I agree with this to an extent, but I think small ball has it's place at times.  

That being said, I'm not sure if the IBB when pitching has been talked about in these regards.  Should we give free baserunners if we truly do adhere to the Moneyball school of thinking?  It seems that may be hypocritical.

On offense we think: Baserunners = runs
While pitching we should think?:
IBB = doesn't equal runs

I personally think the IBB, the sac bunt, and the SB all are important parts of baseball and winning.  I just wanted to see what you all think in these regards...Hopefully I explained my point okay.

Would/should a true Billy Beane team ever intentionally walk somebody???

A lot of people on this site have been  discounting the guy's season as being a transition period.  I think that's crap.  
Dan Johnson has never see American League pitching until he came this year and he seems to have adjusted just fine, other than the minor slump he's in right now (even though he produces more in a slump than Kendall).  There are in fact a lot of guys who make the transition okay, let's take a look:

Across the Bay Ray Durham's first NL year:
.285 BA (5 points above career avg.), .366 OBP (+11) over career

Vizquel: .280 (+5), .342 (+1)

Javy Lopez: .316 (+26), .370 (+.30), he suffered a small drop from the year before, but that was a career year.

I know this is a small sample, but there are others, and it does go both ways on occasion (see O. Cabrera, Steve Finley) , but it should not be used as an excuse at this point of the year or in my opinion ever.  Case in point, Kendall's rookie year:
G   AB  R   H HR RBI BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
130 414 54 124 3 42 35 30   5 2 .372 .401 .300

He had never seen a major league pitcher to date at this point yet he was able to adjust rather quickly.  Something is wrong with him and it's more than a "transition period."  I'm sick of hearing people defend this guy.  Just admit it, he's not good.  Hopefully next year he can turn it around, but as of this year, he's a waste of $11 million.

Bat him 9th if at all!  

Our last diary has dropped down pretty far, so I wanted to get one more diary up to see where peopl are going pre-game.  I'll be at the National around 4pm probably.  I'll also have one extra ticket if anybody needs it (sect 239, Row P, $15).  If you see someone wearing a Rickey jersey at the National, chances are it's me.

"I don't think so," he said. "Dan Meyer was one of the finest pitching prospects, and I almost didn't make the deal because of the need (by the A's) to put him in the deal to get it done. That's how much we loved Dan Meyer. He'll be a sensational major-league pitcher in the mode of all those other young guys who are pitching for Oakland now. He just hurt himself. Once he's healthy, he'll be every bit as good as those other guys."

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/08/28/SPG7IEE9BU1.DTL

From an artcile by John Shea in the SF chronicle.  Hopefully he's right.

The SurfDawgs clinched the division on Friday night.  Rickey led the way going 3 for 5 with a homer and 3 rbis.  I'll be going to his playoff games down here and those of you that got the pleasure of seeing him in '89 and '90 in the playoffs should know that it's going to be something to see.

Sign him Billy!  How many 2nd baseman do we need?    

I'm going to be out there for a wedding and I've never been to Fenway or Boston for that matter, so I bought a ticket and will be out there by myself.  I actually got a really good seat on stubhub, 3 rows from the field in Pesky's corner.  Let me know if any of you will be out there to help root on the A's.

"Dan Meyer, the left-hander acquired in the Tim Hudson deal with Atlanta, was placed on Sacramento's DL with tightness in his shoulder. Meyer, who missed much of the first half with a shoulder injury, also was hit in the head during batting practice Wednesday."

And hit in the head to boot...Hopefully this guy will pick it up sooner or later.  

This was the a Surdawgs game I went to a couple of weeks ago when Rickey single handedly took over the game with his legs and scored the winning run, a la the 1989 divisional playoffs when Pat Borders just didn't have a chance in hell of throwing Rickey out.  Here are some pics.  This is my first time trying to post pics, so please be kind.  I'll get it eventually.

Rickey waiting to get in the game.

Rickey warming up getting ready to pinch hit.  He singled.

Rickey at the plate. Note classic stance.

Rickey at first

Rickey at 2nd, getting ready to steal 3rd

Rickey telling a teammate to slide after he, himself scored the go ahead run in the 8th

Hopefully these work.

Did anybody get their copy yet.  There is a big (actually not big enough) Huston article in it that I've yet to read.  Just browsing over it, I can't wait to read it.  Pick it up people.  Let's get some thoughts.

Witasick compares him to Rivera, Nen and Hoffman.  He played free safety in the 5A Texas football state championship agaisnt Cedric benson.  This is great.  Sorry, I'll let you read it.  

I was just listening to teh Angels radio announcer (don't know his name) on a show down here in Southern California and he had the gall to compain about the Angels schedule.  He said it's not fair that the A's get to go against the cupcake Royals right now when the Angels have to face the Red Sox.  Then he went on to say that the Angels play the Yankees and Red Sox more times than the A's do and it's crap that this could've happened.  

Here's the truth of the matter (I wish they were excepting calls, cause I would've torn hima new one):
A's 48 games against the East (most already played) 4 games more against the Orioles and Blue Jays than the Angels.

Angels 41 games against the East 1 more game against the Yanks than us, but the fewer games aginst the O's and Jays.  

That means that they have more games against the cupcake central.  White Sox included because we own them this year.

I wish some of you were listening.  I was in my car chomping at the bit wanting to call him out.  

"The A's signed right-handed pitcher Adam Johnson, 26, from the San Diego Surf Dawgs of the independent Golden Baseball League. Johnson, who played with the Twins, will start for Sacramento tonight."

A guy from Rickey's team has moved to AAA ball with the A's.  I saw him pitch twice this year and he's been pretty good.  You guys in Sac will have to keep me posted.  The Surf Dawgs also have an ex-A's AAA guy in Steve Smyth, anybody remember him?