Just started seeing mention of this, and I gotta say, without providing a whole lot of stats to corroborate, that this seems like a bad idea. I mean, what's the harm in hanging on to him and see how Spring Training plays out? Pretty safe to say one of Kila, Carter, Allen is going to make the decision for us and I was impressed with Allen...he struggled after the initial surge, but the athleticism was surprising, and I gotta believe he's got more to show on the upside. Carter / Allen DH / 1B / OF when necessary...? Allen's 25 - not sure on Carter / Kila, but they're pretty close in age I think. Carter still has an option, right? I also don't feel like we're going to get much in return for Allen right now, but, if he shows well in ST...and let's say another of either Carter / Kila also do well...the value increases. Just don't see / understand why we'd shop him right now without letting ST guide us... big big mistake, imho..

Just left Phoenix wearing shorts and arrived in Chicago to snow! Oh to be back! A's lost the first game to the Giants, and of course beat the D-backs the next day. I had pretty good seats for the D-backs, and wanted to share some pics. Not sure if I'm doing this correctly, so, hopefully it works out. I also included a link to a gallery - 

One of my favorites is a shot of Eric Patterson as he rips one down the line with the bases juiced. Nice!

Here's the link to the gallery - just not sure how to embed the photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/quazeen/sets/72157623660737488/

I'm sure there will be someone who tells me that this has already been covered - in advance, I'm apologizing for not being able to track it down. I'm headed down on the 19th - 22, and I remember a basic hotel around the corner from the A's stadium, but I can't remember the name. Anyone have recommendations, or, suggestions? Cheap is ok - baseball is the primary topic, so, as long as it has a bed and isn't in too bad a location, that works for me. Seem to remember it being a Motel 6? Along same lines, who's going this year? Times? 

Chicago Tribune mentions Beane's thoughts on seeing DLS pitching, mid-90's.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-16-rogers-whispers-nov16,0,4524518.column

In that same article, there's talk about the Brewers possibly making Gamel available; defense not that great, right? I bet he could be had for some pitching? I'm also guessing he might come cheaper than previously, but might be worth the risk for giving up maybe Eveland, Gray, and?

Looking forward to Spring Training, but that's a ways off, so of course, always looking for something of interest to keep occupied while teams I could care less about vie for the golden ticket. Fangraphs is always interesting, especially when it's talking about our A's - 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-problem-with-oakland/

Sure wish we had Ethier back instead of the forgettable memories of Mr. Bradley (I digress), but it's an interesting look at the draft(s) and comparisons between ours, and those of the Rockies and Devil Rays...

What a chump! I couldn't believe it when the Cubs signed him (I'm in Chicago) and I thought "man...do they have any idea what they're doing?" but I was willing to see, like the Cubs were. There's just no excuse for this; the guy had an opportunity to play in a historic park, and had he played well, I think the Cubs would be in a different place right now. 

Now, I'm sure they're wishing they'd DL'd him earlier in the season, when it made sense to. The option's been picked up, but they're stuck, and are gonna have to pay dearly to rid themselves of his cancer. 

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090920&content_id=7067878&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

I guess we've only got 1 day for all of this to shake out, and this might've already been covered (though if so, I'd wish it stayed in the top of the posts section) but where do we stand on the signing(s) so far? 2nd round pick is signed, but 3 of the top 4 haven't yet...

Maybe we use this as a thread for tracking / linking to news on where things stand with our picks? The following isn't just for Oakland draft picks, but I thought it was helpful (courtesy of baseballdraftreport.com)

http://baseballdraftreport.com/2009/06/11/2009-mlb-signings/

From the Rotoworld blurb:

"The A's declined to add Guzman to their 40-man roster after his breakthrough season, so he's currently a minor league free agent, though rumor has him signing with the Giants. He's hitting .407/.504/.708 in 113 at-bats in Venezuela after posting a 948 OPS in the minors last season. Even if the Giants do sign him to a minor league contract, it's quite possible that they'll lose him in the Rule 5 draft next month."

Sorry if I missed this somewhere else, but with the talk about who is / who isn't going to be protected on the 40-man roster, I thought I'd ask the question: "why didn't we sign this guy?" He's 23? Seems to be a monster with the bat, and plays 3rd base (though I don't know what his defense is like at the hot corner)

Anyone have any ideas / thoughts as to why we didn't keep him?

I hope this hasn't been posted already; kinda tough I think, to find this out in the new format (not a complaint as much as for me, it just is..)

 I'd never been to this site before - think I stumbled on it from RotoAuthority, which I like reading, but here's the link to the articlecrazy

 In it, he basically calls out Billy Beane and the A's for their handling of all their pitchers, essentially saying that they work the hell out of 'em, and then, toss 'em aside for draft picks to some other team.

hiyo -
haven't posted in a long time; a bit depressed about the year, though, making the trip to Oakland for the last 2 games of the season was a highlight, even if they lost one. i was lucky enough to sit in the Diamond level, a row in front of Lew for that first game! i about fell over when I realized he was right behind me. Also managed to procure some 50% off A's merch, including a sweet new green jersey (my first - I have issues with the cost of those things, but 50% off - couldn't resist)

the last game of the season was definitely a good time; this time, sitting in a box, thinking the worst as Street gives up the runs, then, freaking out as they finally come back to win it.

hopefully this Swisher interview hasn't been posted yet; go easy on me, diary police, and if it's already been mentioned, take it easy, or i'll buzz one high and inside on ya - i'm only trying to share.

http://mlb-rumors.blogspot.com/2007/...
*hoping to catch Mr. Swish online in a Halo3 tourney sometime.

let's see about signing Kerry Wood for the 'pen, and taking a flyer on Prior

I couldn't believe my own eyes!

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So, I'm not a stalker, but I'm curious, since I live here, and thought I might get lucky to pick the bar where the guys have a drink or two...

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Hey gang..

Anyone here in the Midwest going to the 3 game series vs. the White Sox this coming week?

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MLB Extra Innings package for $150

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Didn't see anything on the site about who we lost in the Rule V draft, so here's a quicklist, brought to you by the gang at Baseball America

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/051208rule5.html

Picked By
Twins              Jose Lugo, lhp, Athletics
Rangers     Alexi Ogando, of, Athletics
Pirates      John Suomi, c, Athletics

I also didn't notice that anyone took the guy from the Cubbies, who is supposed to be a crusher - can't recall the name. Anyone know if he was left off the 40 man roster, or if someone picked him up?

Sorry, in advance if this was listed by anyone else earlier, and if you find a site with stats/writeups on the guys we picked up, let me know.

Not sure if someone's already posted this, but there's a pretty decent article on Rotoworld with snapshots / ratings

http://fantasybaseball.rotoworld.com/content/story.asp?sport=MLB&storyid=17994
one of the things that caught my eye:

Brad Sullivan - RHP Athletics - Age 24 - 1 percent
The A's left both of their 2003 first-round picks still in the organization, Sullivan and third baseman Brian Snyder, unprotected. With injuries turning each into major long shots, it's unlikely either will be picked.

what injuries did Snyder suffer?

There are several deals that are mentioned as possiblities in this article, and some real surprises that I would be interested in hearing people's thoughts on.

zito is seen as being traded to either the D'Backs or Indians.

robnett listed as part of a package for Brad Wilkerson of Nationals..

thoughts?

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.asp?sport=MLB&column=14

Ok. Here's the thread where everybody gets to go off, but not at any one person on the team, cuz', well, that just sucks. If you're superstitious (I am), then sh*tting on a player can have repurcussions. So, vent about something tangible, regardless of who hit it...
let's face it folks, I can't take another double-play.
so,
Double Plays sux
Double Plays sux
Double Plays sux
Double Plays sux
Double Plays sux
Double Plays sux
Double Plays sux
Double Plays sux I hate 'em. I hate 'em I hate 'em.
!@&!@)#!@$&!@#!(@(!(()##++!~!@~!@~!!>~!?!@

I had it originally titled "Juan Cruz is______", but since I'm on Juan's side, I didn't want to jinx him seeing a diary that begged the question. My reply to the question is: going to be really, really good next year...as a starter. I think he can pitch, and pitch extremely well, as long as he starts the game. He doesn't have a closers' mentality; something I think you need when you find yourself in extra-innings.

I wish, for obvious reasons, that they hadn't put him in. I would have liked to see Zito's start pushed back, and was looking forward to Cruz starting. I think we'd have seen an entirely different Juan Cruz.

I worked so late that i managed to walk into the nearest bar right at the moment that Yabu hit Ramirez for what I then realized was the winning run. Very disappointing; among the toughest loses that I can recall. I didn't even see Juan pitch.

I feel sorry for him; he always wanted to be a starter in Chicago, and Dusty gave up on him. I think he's going to be a star next year, if he makes the team (which I hope happens) I think he can't handle the pressure, and, more importantly, I think that he'll pitch tough enough if he's allowed to start to avoid most of that pressure. Seriously. The kid is nasty, but he just can't take the pressure, and has said so, without saying so.

dammmit. to walk in on that was just a real sh*tter; I was hoping to walk in and turn the tide of what I knew to be a tie ball game.

Go GET 'EM, A's. BOSTON. almost arch-enemy. 3 of 4 is pretty bad-as$, and that's what I'm looking for. Just wish we'd have seen Juan start one of 'em.

Hey.
I'm here in Chicago, and I think some of you are as well. We should get together and go see the Cougars a couple times this year while we still can, and see MoneyPenny (ha ha..whoever came up with that) and Mr. Buck play some ball.

Anyone interested in catching at least one game in the near future?

Was reading about Farnsworth getting traded to Atlanta, and at the bottom of the article, this tasty little tidbit (though not anything really earthshaking..just some good press)
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=knight-_WWW_bbcol2e_20050802&prov=knight&type=lgns
here's the link to original story, and an excerpt:

What Dombrowski learned about his club in July was that one player -- coming or going -- wasn't going to alter the last one-third of the season.

The Tigers weren't on the outer fringes of the wild-card race this late in the season because of anything they accomplished; it was because the American League has so many flawed teams.

One club that no longer fits that description is Oakland. The streaking Athletics broomed the Tigers in a three-game weekend series to take control of the wild-card race, and they've moved within one game of the West-leading Angels.

The Tigers pointed to what the A's have done -- 42 wins in 56 games after a terrible start -- as proof that significant turnarounds are possible.

That's true for a team as efficient as the A's have been. The not-so-efficient Tigers have yet to put it together for more than a few games at a time this season and seem a long ways removed from being the kind of club that can pull off a hot streak anything like the Athletics'.

The A's are trying to author one of the greatest comebacks in baseball history by making the playoffs after being 15 games under .500, which they were the morning of May 30.

That would match the 1914 Boston Braves, who came from 15 games under .500 during the regular season to ultimately win the World Series. For that stirring reversal, they earned the nickname "the Miracle Braves."

Speaking of miracles, it would now take a minor one for the Tigers to get back in the playoff chase -- no matter who is closing for them.

I sat right behind the A's dugout for the last of 3 games (all of which the A's won, and which I was lucky enough to go to). I think it was Byrnes' last game w/ the A's - there are a couple pics. I also got DJ's autograph on the hat I bought while visiting Oakland last summer. And, last but not least, a shot by my girlfriend of yours truly, sitting w/ A's hat on, that every WhiteSox fan had to see on TV broadcast, when an A's batter was at-bat.

http://homepage.mac.com/krelgor/PhotoAlbum8.html

Ken Rosenthal had this to say about Dan Meyer:

 Two executives express concern that A's LHP Dan Meyer, the team's biggest prize in the Tim Hudson trade, lacks an above-average pitch, but a scout who is familiar with Meyer says his biggest problem this spring has been a lack of command. Scouting reports say that Meyer throws 91 to 93 mph season with a hard slider and above-average changeup, but one executive had him at 86 with a "lollipop" curveball and average change in a recent Cactus League start. Another scout attributes Meyer's struggles to nerves.
----

I'm going to vote for nerves, and hope he gets chilled out a bit. (that's me, not Ken Rosenthal)

kong vs. bong

http://all-baseball.com/

An interesting look at 2 former A's players who I never thought to compare / contrast, but which All-baseball did.

The similarities are interesting; I'd never have put them in the same sentence (though I like both of 'em at one time or another). Enjoy!

apparently, McLemore signed a 1yr deal with Houston. I thought he was done, and looking for a coaching job somewhere, but apparently not.

I always liked the guy, and he was one of the A's who I got to sign my hat when they came to play the ChiSox at the end of the year. I wish him the best.

http://all-baseball.com/transactionguy/

I'm curious if anyone has plans to go to ST this year, and if so, is there any sort of big "hey...let's all go to ST, and hang out" plan?

I'm stuck in Chicago, but seriously trying to make the work schedule work so as to maybe see a weekend series. I know the A's play the Cubbies on like a thursday and saturday...

If this isn't an awesome time to go see the new A's, I don't know what is. Just thought I'd bring it up, and see if anyone's already made plans

it's not http://www.athleticsminors.com/ (all a's, all awesome)

but it is a great site that i've started to read more often
http://www.all-baseball.com/nextyear/

I loved this line, when talking about Omar Q...

"A Chavez-Crosby-Q-Johnson infield would be very solid for Billy Beane in 2006, when you have to figure the A's to be a favorite for the World Series.

hellsyes!

Hi gang...
I might've missed this at some point recently, but I was wondering if anyone had any details on an updated version of Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists (like the one on ESPN that you can only get when you're an "Insider") that has our newest additions included?

Johnson will take a different number than the No. 51 he has worn throughout his career.

Bernie Williams currently wears No. 51 for the Yankees.

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I think it's funny, so lets' see if anyone else does, and roll with it.

For starters, if DePo and Beane combine the 2 teams, we'd not feel so bad about losing Beltre cuz' we don't need 'em.