SBNation.com User Blog: hokecole

Tori Gurley cut again

hokecole — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 22:43:01 -0000

I just noted that the Vikings cut Tori Gurley from their practice squad last week. As Packer fans do we overvalue players that are or were Packers? The Seahawks and Dolphins are both weak at Wide Receiver, and both should know of Gurley because of Schneider and Philbin, but apparently knowing about someone does not translate into actually wanting them on their team. Gurley was a fan favorite, and many thought he would make the roster this year. I also noted that Reggie Wells was also picked off the Packers practice squad and almost immediately released so quickly I can not recall who had signed him.

A's are done, time to play the kids and deal the vets

hokecole — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 00:11:37 -0000

It took two months for the A's to settle where I thought they would be....which is the bottom of the division looking up at everyone. I had hope at the beginning of the month that I was wrong, and like Charlie Brown thought this year would be different, and Lucy would not pull the ball away when Charlie went to kick it. Well, I was right, they are done, stick a fork in them, and start dealing the vets and playing the kids because the A's have broken my heart once again.

Look at your division rivals before signing on to organizational rebuild

hokecole — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:06:41 -0000

Nico has an excellent look at what/where the organization should or could go to get better. He details no hitting, and decent pitching. He does not mention horrible fielding. Yesterday's loss to the Marlins the margin of defeat was, once again, an unearned run. I do not know how many times, but it seems as if it is quite often, that our marginal fielding comes into play and decisive run(s) are unearned.

The real reason for the post is my pessimistic view going forward of how the A's stack up against their division rivals. In Seattle the M's have a team that has been horrific, BUT they have a fan base that still comes out, they ownership with money to spend, and they have a good GM, and are a team on the rise. Just like the A's they have very good pitching, and horrible hitting, but they are getting better including a recent addition, Dustin Ackley, who looks like a star; and they have other position players in their farm system ready to move up. I can not see the A's passing the M's.

The Angels have a big money spending owner with a passion for winning. They have a good revenue stream, and they will always be competitive. The A's are definitely behind the Angels with little chance of passing them.

Texas plays in a band box, and they have always had the hitters to take advantage, but now have some talented pitchers. They won last year, and look to repeat again. I don't know much about their ownership, but they have talent. Unless they catch the Disabled List disease from the A's we won't catch them either.

In summary, the A's look to be the new Pittsburg Pirates with little chance of being anything else. The key going forward is to acquire young talent that the club can hang onto for many years before they get too expensive, and to develop a revenue stream that will fuel more talent. This is not going to happen in Oakland. The future, if the team has one, will be some where else, whether it be San Jose or Portland, but right now stick a fork in them...they are done.

A's are done, stick a fork in them and in Geren

hokecole — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:23:14 -0000

No thanks to Geren the A's are slipping away from contention, and if you check out the Texas Rangers they have a nice opportunity in the next 22 games to put the AL West either away or take a huge step. They have sixteen games at home, and their opponents are among the worst in baseball.

I think the discussions will shortly turn to which players will be jettisoned for prospects, and which prospects will be brought to be given playing time.

I have enjoyed the run so far this year as the A's have exceeded my expectations, but the lack of hitting, injuries (once again), lack of depth, and coupled with horrific managing by Geren make my reluctant call.....stick a fork in them.

I think the discussions will shortly turn to which players will be jettisoned for prospects, and which prospects will be brought to be given playing time.

Former Packer QB Cut Again

hokecole — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:03:52 -0000

Former Packer practice squad QB Mike Reilly, was released once again. This time by the Seattle Seahawks. Reilly was a record setting QB at Central Washington U., the alma mater of former NFL qb Jon Kitna. He went from the practice squad of the Packers to St. Louis, released by the Rams, and on to the Seahawks, where he was released again. All of this in less than one year. Reilly has some promise, and I hope the Packers remember that promise and give this guy an invite to camp.

Ruvell Martin signs with Seattle

hokecole — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:18:39 -0000

The Seahawks just announced they signed free agent receiver Ruvell Martin from Green Bay. Seattle just signed NE Patriot tight end Chris Baker to back up starter John Carlson, so I have no idea where Martin will play, but he surely will not see much time at tight end. Martin seemed lost in the depth chart at Green Bay, but maybe the new GM in Seattle, John Schneider, formerly of Green Bay, sees something in Martin that must have escaped his former boss at Green Bay.

Sloan Sports Analytic Conference & Moneyball Reference

hokecole — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:24:29 -0000

If I knew how to post the direct address I would do so, but at Blazers Edge, another SB Nation blog, there is a very long fan post about the Sloan Sports Analytic Conference that was just held in Boston. Michael Lewis of Moneyball fame was there, and a whold host of other GM's and front office people in a variety of sports. What may be of interest to A's fans is the general scope of analytic analysis being used not just in Baseball, but in Basketball and Football which is discussed in this fanpost. If others agree there is probably someone who can post a direct link so A's fans can read without having to jump over to another blog.

Byrnes signed by M's...who is the better GM Billy or Jack Z?

hokecole — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:44:19 -0000

Byrnes was signed by the M's today, and Mariner fans are claiming that Jackie Z....their new GM is making all the right moves. So who is the better GM Jack Z or Billy. Jack Z is from MIlwaukee and knew all about Ben Sheets, and he passed on him. Billy knew all about Byrnes and passed on him....so who is making the right moves? The M's believe that they are on the way up, and give all the credit to Jack Z, and Billy has been making all the moves for the A's for years now. So do they both deserve accolades or is one better than the other?

M's handle A's.....AGAIN!!!

hokecole — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:28:57 -0000

As an A's fan in Seattle I only get to watch the A's on TV when they play the Mariners, or on national TV once..... It absolutely kills me how the A's have rolled over against the M's. Once again they were terrible, and the M's are not that good. They have all kinds of problems until they play the A's. The M's have a fifty run differential of runs scored to runs allowed, and they should be ten games under 500 instead of a couple to the good. The A's are just lifeless against the M's, and this does not bode well going onward.

Next year....who are the A's going to leap over in the division? The Angels have been superior, and the Rangers finish one place out of the wildcard. The M's have the A's number, have more money to spend, and finally have a competent front office. So who are the A's going to beat.....the M's announcers described the A's as a collection of slap hitters with a couple of good young starters, and a good bull pen. So in a best case situation the A's will flirt with being a 500 team next year?

Once again I am back on the ledge....is there any hope looking ahead, or are the A's the new Royals or Pirates going forward?

The A's are Quite Simply Just Terrible!!!!

hokecole — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:04:21 -0000

I am an A's fan living in Seattle. I have watched with dismay the last three games on local TV as the A's were swept with ease. The A's are terrible. They have no life, no passion, and had no chance to win even one of these games. The M's are not that good. The three starters that shut down the A's were nothing special, and were the equivalent of a # 3 and two # 5's, and they all made the punchless A's look.......punchless!

When you consider the four team division the A's have no chance to be anything but # 4. Did Billy Beane channel the Pirates or is it the Royals? As an A's fan I have never been so discouraged. Should Major League Baseball take up the issue of contraction again the A's would be under consideration to just disappear....much the same way this season did before Memorial Day.

Can anyone talk me off the ledge?

Stick a Fork in the A's They are Done

hokecole — Sat, 30 May 2009 04:59:50 -0000

I am sick about the fortunes of the A's because they are mired in last place with the worst record in the American League, and you can stick a fork in them because they are done in 2009. They can not score enough runs to be competitive, and they have too many holes in their lineup. Why is Raj Davis even on this team?

The only thing left is to see how little Matt Holliday will bring in a trade, and trying to figure out if any other veterans have any trade value. Who else can they trade, or should I ask who else on this team would any other team want? Adam Kennedy has value before he reverts to his average, but is there anyone else?

This is so discouraging. Three years ago the A's and the Tigers faced off for the pennant. The Tigers are leading their division, and the A's are looking up from the bottom in their division.

Heads Up: Mariners Show Sign of Intelligent Thinking

hokecole — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:50:45 -0000

It does not mean the M's will contend or win the division, but their dogs days are numbered, and the A's front office should know, that once again, they will have to keep an eye on the M's, and realize that the new front office is capable of fielding a competitive team, and new manager, Don Wakamatsu will know how to use the team he is given.

A heads up to A's fans about what is going on in Seattle. The Mariners have retooled both their front office and on field management. According to the bloggers in the know, USS Mariner is my favorite M's source, the days of idiotic roster construction, defensive ineptitude, and brains for shit running the M's are over. It does not mean the M's will contend or win the division, but their dogs days are numbered, and the A's front office should know, that once again, they will have to keep an eye on the M's, and realize that the new front office is capable of fielding a competitive team, and new manager, Don Wakamatsu will know how to use the team he is given.

Wakamatsu to be new Mariners Skipper

hokecole — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:53:20 -0000

It has been reported by several media outlets here in Seattle that the A's bench coach, Don Watamatsu will be named as the new manager for the Mariners. Announcement to be made on Wednesday is the current shuttlebutt. Wakamatsu would be the second bench coach of the A's to get a top spot.

With Macha in Milwaukee, Washington at Texas, and perhaps Wakamatsu in Seattle former A's are catching on as managers.

Why is Emil Brown complaining....he has not been dfa'd

hokecole — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:37:08 -0000

So Emil Brown with is 1.4 million dollar contract is upset that he has not got the chance he deserved to play more this year? This guy is lucky he was not dfa'd this year. He has no future with the A's and will be lucky to get a contract offer beyond the major league "minimum" next year. A minor league deal/offer, but nothing else. The guy is a poor fielder, poor baserunning, and on his best day an average hitter.

If Bill Bavasi was still GM of the Mariners, why he would be dumb enough to sign Brown, but no one else will. The A's have a large group of outfielders to try out for next year, and no way is Brown among them. I would sit his ass on the bench for the rest of this year, and let someone else get his time in the field and any plate appearances. Even one at bat is taking it away from someone else who needs it to assist the A's in their 2009 evaluations.

Which came first: The A's going down like a sinking ship, or the A's bailing on the season

hokecole — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:47:05 -0000

I am dismayed at the once stellar season sinking like a ship taking on water. My question is what came first: Did the A's go into the tank because of the trades of Harden, Gaudin, and Blanton, or did Billy Beane/Frost believe that the first half of the season was an unsustainable fluke, and the season was going down the drain with or without Harden, Gaudin and Blanton?

The Blanton deal appears to be a good one, but I still can not get over the Harden/Gaudin trade. Four mediocre appearing prospects for two major league pitchers, including one stud in Harden. WTF? Another way of saying the same thing....did the A's go into the tank because they were undercut by the Front Office by the Harden trade, or were they going down anyway?

Living in Seattle I am used to observing bonehead- brain dead moves by the Mariners, but looking at a bonehead(?) move by the A's....a whole new experience.

Talk me off the ledge....please!

Living in Seattle I am used to observing bonehead- brain dead moves by the Mariners, but looking at a bonehead(?) move by the A's....a whole new experience.

Talk me off the ledge....please!

Disturbing Trend

hokecole — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:13:58 -0000

The A's showing against the Mariners in two games exposes a disturbing trend that does not bode well unless changes are made. The obvious one is the offense. There is no punch, but even worse, a lack of plate discipline. Exhibit A was the Buck strike out in the 8th inning. He just kept swinging as each pitch went higher out of the strike zone.

Defense. Terrible. How many games in a row with an error is it....10! Even the reliable Mark Ellis made minor league plays on the double plays in both the third and eighth innings. It is stating the obivious that you can not give up outs. No team has enough talent to be successful throwing away as many outs as the A's have been doing.

Pitching. Lenny DiNardo is regressing to his average, which is terrible. He could not find the plate at all, and even walked one of the worst hitters on the Mariners, Willie Bloomquist. You don't have to be clever with a hitter like Bloomquist, just get the ball over the plate. That is all Silva did, and the A's got themselves out over and over again. DiNardo should not be on this team with a performance like tonight.

The optomism of the recently concluded road trip has faded away....someone pull off the bridge.