SB Nation User Blog: jarforcefatherofforce

Things Become Clear

jarforcefatherofforce — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:46:10 -0000

The A's are rebuilding so they go against logic and sign vets Foulke and Sweeney. Both are recovering from injury problems and when healthy have been good players. Beane is looking for the kind of success he got from Stewart and Thomas. Of course the lack of success he received from Piazza is a risk he is facing.

Sweeney could provide some right handed power thr A's need.

Foulke was a gread pitcher for the A's and Beane is looking for that kind of result. Over at Fox Sports Rosenthal reports that Beane is trying to trade Alan Embree to a contender. Foulke for Embree can save money.

If these moves pay off and Harden is healthy there could be some excitement on 2008.

Things are starting to become clear . . .

Odds and Ends

jarforcefatherofforce — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:56:40 -0000

In a little over a week from now pitchers and catchers report. So what will the 2008 A's look like? Who will bat third? Where will the power come from?

The trading of Nick Swisher created a big offensive hole in the A's lineup. The A's are now deficient in power hitting. High average guys like Buck and Barton will now become the mainstays of the A's. They have shown themselves to be exciting ball players. Probably the best pure hitters since Carny Lansford. They could very well bat one-two.

Jack Cust is our power hitter. Unfortunately our only one that has shown some consistancy. If he bats cleanup, who bats third?

Jack Cust had an unbelievable year last year. He finished 7th in the AL in OB%(.408). He was 8th in OPS (.912). He was second in walks (105) and first in strikeouts {164).

The A's have shown they are willing to play Jack Cust in the ourfield. If Johnson hits with any consistancy he wiii be at first with Cust in right field.

Chad Gaudin was 2nd. in the AL with 100 walks in 2007. What does he need to do to improve?

Here is hoping that Bobby Crosby has a healthy year so that he can show he really knows how to hit. If reports are true that he is making some positive changes we could be pleasently suprised.

Has Billy Found the new Moneyball Niche?

jarforcefatherofforce — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:36:40 -0000

For the last few years we have seen the A's trade off potential major league prospects for sonetimes marginal major league prospects to remain competitive. This has helped as players like Kielty' Bradley, etc. have made the A's successful. These players are not star quality and are not the type to build around. Instead star player have mostly come through the draft or inflated free agent signings. Until now.

With trading just two players off the 25 man roster, the A's have more "B" or better (Sickels's ratings) prospects than they probable every had. With Buck and Barton from our own system beginning possible very successful major league careers and the potential of adding four or five above average plyers from our system in the next few years could mean having aome star quality players for many years.

Nick Swisher was certainly a good player but would he be considered "star' quality? Probably not. Dan Haren? Maybe. But what are the possibilities of some of the players the A's received in return? Can they replace Swisher's 25 homeruns and 80 RBI's? What about replacing Haren's 15-20 wins?

Along with the 2007 draft and the Haren trade the A have power hitters in AA and below. How long have we been hearing that "the power wiii develop later" and it usually doesn't. We not have pitchers that could rival Harden in skill level.

While other teams are actively trading to get their stars now, usually at outrageous cost, we will just have to wait a few years.

When refering to 2008, Billy Beane was recently quoted that we couldn't expect to succeed on hope. If all we have is hope, I for one, feel better for the future hope of the A's than I did about the 2008 hope.

Meanwhile, who is going to bat third this year for the A's?

Canseco's New book may expose Popular A's

jarforcefatherofforce — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:13:03 -0000

Unnamed sources have stated that Jose Canseco will identify many promenant members of the A's family as well as parties in other organizations. These unnamed sources quoting other unnamed resouces believe steriod use started with Charlie O. the mule to develop muscle control so that he would not relieve himself when on the field.

It is also believed the the red dot was a heavy user as it started to win quite frequently. The dot did not answer telephone calls to the A's office.
The San Diego Chicken was suspected because of his behavior in abusing umpires. Questions were also raised about the singing field sweepers. What else could explain their behavior.

Milwaukee also was hit hard as these three stringbeans would race at each game.

Why Did Fox and Comcast Sell part of FANBA to the Giants and What Does it Mean for the A's?

jarforcefatherofforce — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:22:44 -0000

The Giants purchased 25-30% of FSNBA giving them ownership of the cable network that broadcasts the bulk of A's, Warriors, and Sharks games. This could have far reaching consequences depending on how much influence the Giants exercise in programming. As an A's fan I am concerned. Naturally the Giants come first to the Giants. When games conflict, will we see the A's delegated to lesser channels? Or will the A's broadcast be reduced?

So far news has been positive. FSNBA will now have pre and post game shows for all A's and Giants game and eventually for the Sharks and Warriors too. FSNBA will also broadcast a locally originated sports show.

The Giants did not make the purchase unless they obtained a competitive and cost advantage. How do the A's see this and what will be their response? Ideally, they might want to own their own network. The Yankees do. I believe thet Boston does. I also don't think it is economical for the A's to go it alone. So what are their options?

We already know that the A's do not have equal footing in radio broadcasts. Could TV be far behind?

LOAIZA TO DL, GAUDIN TO BE 5TH STARTER?untitled diary

jarforcefatherofforce — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 02:44:42 -0000

AP is reporting that Bob Garen thinks Esteban Loaize will be on the Dl to start the season due to a stiff right shoulder. This will move Kennedy into the 4th. position and Chad Gaudin would be the first consideration for the 5th. spot.

http//www.comcast.net/sports/mlb/index.jsp?cat=BASEBALL&fn=/2007/03/31/624837.html

A's Changing Radio Stations

jarforcefatherofforce — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 07:13:45 -0000

According to Bay Area Radio Digest the A's are changing their flagship radion station to FreeFM 106.9 (KIFR). KIFR is an 80,000 watt station.

I apologize if this has been reported before. If so, I missed it.

http://www.bayarearadio.org/blog/index.shtml

I do not know the transmission pattern or if the station can be heard in Sacramento.

Disturbing Facts

jarforcefatherofforce — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 03:55:53 -0000

Financially are the A's better off by closing the third deck? Has the lost revenue fron the lower attendance greater or less than the added costs of running the third deck?

The A's have announce a 34,000 seat stadium in Freemont. How are the A's going to increase revenue to allow us to keep our quality players? If the demand for tickets sell out the stadium it will mean attendance will be about 2.7 million fans. Will this give us enough money? Will the A's like the Giants, be strapped for cash because they half to service the debt to build the stadium?

If the demand for tickes increases to give the A's a sellouts, are we looking at a 30% or more increase in ticket prices?

What else can the A's do to increase revenue? Is technology the answer? If so, will the average baseball fan buy into it?

Do you have any suggestions or answers?

How to Counter the Rally Monkey

jarforcefatherofforce — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 19:40:51 -0000

Accourding to the website Apes, you should . . .

. . . Discourage monkeys from coming into your home by placing rubber snakes, bright yellow or orange balls with painted big, black eyes or face masks in prominent/problem locations. Preferably these should be strung up so they can move in the breeze and should be relocated regularly.

What gives?

jarforcefatherofforce — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 21:09:43 -0000

For the first time in recent memory, the A's have failed to sign six of their first eighteen draft picks. This includes their first pick (in the second round), Trevor Cahill, a top high school pitcher out of San Diego. Forgetting the John Smoak disaster, the A's have been very good at signing their draft choices. For a team that counts heavily on their own farm system to produce their players, this does not ring too good. What gives?