Just wanted to start by saying I would have made this a fanshot, but I could not figure out how to make a poll on a fanshot.

Second, I am not sure if someone already did a poll like this, so if it is redundant I appologize for that.

On to my real purpose for this post - basically I just want to get a feel for which side of the Holliday trades does AN feel is the better package the Rockies or the A's. Thanks for your input and thanks for voting.

I was checking out Buster olney's blog and one of his links leads to this story about Street being pulled from a game yesterday after he got into trouble.

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_12152100 

Looks like he is on a very short leash and may even lose his job as closer any day. It appears he is taking it a lot better this year than last year, after he pouted and complained so much last year.

Definately look like we pulled the plug on this guy at the right time. Thank god for that. For some reason this guy seems to have a very shaky psyche to me, anytime something goes wrong for him it takes him at least two weeks to right the ship. Maybe that is just my perspective, but I bet in about 3 weeks after having been removed from the closer spot he will start throwing the ball really well and declare that he is ready to close once again.

I think it was pretty much assumed around baseball that Orlando Hudson is both a better hitter and nearly equal if not better fielder than Mark Ellis. In addition, Ellis's injury was deemed more serious and would cut into his salary demands even more so.

So what resulted, Ellis instead resigned with the A's for 2 years and around 11 million. Seemingly a good deal for both sides at the time.

However, when you see now that Hudson can be had for less than 5 million for 1 year, you have to think two things: 1) The A's overpaid Ellis (albeit by not a grosse amount), and 2) Ellis actually benefited this offseason by having injured his shoulder, however odd that may seem.

Anyone else agree with my premise? I realize we are dealing with a bit of revisionist history, but it's fun to speculate about.

According to Ken Rosenthal the A's are the favorites for Rafeal Furcal, Randy Johnson, & Nick Johnson. If we do get all three of those guys all of the sudden the Angels better get moving because our footsteps will be coming up awful fast. This I must admit is pretty sweet.

 Counting down the days until Spring Training. Go A's!!!!

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8889016/A's-still-after-Furcal,-but-may-chase-Big-Unit-too

*This is from an article I wrote for my local newspaper, The Piedmont Post. Figured I would share it withe the A's community.

2008 Major League Baseball Playoffs Preview
            As summer turns to fall, shorter days and cooling weather lead to heightened tensions and cold sweats as the major league baseball playoffs returns beginning October 1st and concluding with the fall classic which begins on October 22nd. This year there are familiar faces as well as a few new ones. Yes, the Red Sox, Angels, Phillies, and Cubs return this year each looking to make up for last year’s failures or a chance to repeat as champions. Others, such as the Brewers and Rays await an opportunity to prove themselves after decades of mediocrity.
            Boston Red Sox v. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - This series is a continuation of previous years battles and could go either way. Yet the Angels appear to have the upper hand this year having gone 8-1 against the Red Sox. Additionally, with Boston’s ace Josh Beckett, a pitcher with a known pedigree of success in the playoffs, no longer able to start game 1 due to an oblique injury and tentatively scheduled to start game 3 this series may have swung the Angels way for good. This combined with the firepower and brilliant pitching the Angels possess should be enough to get the Angels past the Red Sox this time…but just barely.
-Angels in 5.
           Minnesota Twins/Chicago White Sox v. Tampa Bay Rays - This series is as up in the air as it can possibly be. The White Sox staved off elimination by winning a make up game against Detroit yesterday 8-2, to force a one game playoff. No matter who wins the play in game, the Rays will be favored in the series as they are strong in all facets of the game from pitching and defense to late heroics, having led the league in walk off hits. The Rays are a team that has fought all season and seem prepared for a lengthy playoff run.
-Rays in 4 regardless of whom they play.
            Los Angeles Dodgers v. Chicago Cubs - This should be a promising matchup as the Cubs come in for the first time in about a century as the favorites to win the World Series. But don’t look for the Dodgers to roll over for them, no sir, not as long as Joe Torre is at the helm. The Dodgers sport the best ERA in the National League. If Derek Lowe who has been unhittable of late (6-1 with a 1.27 ERA since August 11th) pulls a game 1 upset over Ryan Dempster in Wrigley, he of the 14-3 home record, this one may go their way. However, the Cubs have the best hitting, defense, power, relief, and more than enough front line starting pitchers to take the series.
-Another close one, but Cubs in 5.
            Milwaukee Brewers v. Philadelphia Phillies - Having played down to the final day just to get into the playoffs, the Brew Crew come in at a significant disadvantage. As such, the Brewers will turn to Yovanni Gallardo, a man that has made 1 start in five months as their game 1 starter and hope that talent overcomes rust. The Phillies counter with one of the best starters in the league in Cole Hamels, giving them a substantial edge. Sabathia will come back for the forth time this month on short rest to start game 2, and no one knows how that will affect him. All we do know is that the Phillies have been the hottest team in baseball the past couple of weeks and just recently swept the Brewers in a 4 game series. The Phillies have too much offense in Utley, Howard, and Rollins and good enough pitching that they should take this series. The Brewers are a great story, but it looks like it ends here.
-Phillies in 4, a sweep if Sabathia loses.

ALCS: Angels over Rays in 6

NLCS: Cubs over Phillies in 6

World Series: Cubs over Angels in 7

What are the chances of Jason Giambi coming back to Oakland as a free agent?
--James R., Richmond, Calif.

About the same as Rickey Henderson batting leadoff for the A's next year. About the same as Vince Cotroneo reporting to Spring Training next season with an Afro. About the same as Billy Beane ever saying, "You know what? That was a bad trade I made." No chance.

Not sure if you all have seen this yet. Figured it was realtively interesting since it seems that a good percentage of us were kind of hoping for a return for Giambi, and a return to "power ball." Had to throw that reference in there, since this years motto of "100% baseball" is kind of lame. What like it's 85% baseball and 15% soccer. I even liked "they're young, buth they can play" better. Either way that is just a bit of a minor rant. I find this kinda too bad if true, since Beane alway seemed to like Giambi and he would seem to be once again a great fit on a young team maybe ready for another rise in the near future.

With Harden clearly dominating and staying healthy, Gaudin also performing very well, and Gallagher and other performing nothing short of terribly this trade must be deamed a failure (and one that will most likely rank among the worst trades in Oakland A's history.) Hopefully, Donaldson will continue playing well in A ball and help salvage the trade a bit with Gallagher regaining something simlar to the first start he had with us, but that seems like a tall task at this point. This trade from the moment I first heard about it has me shaking my head and working very hard to keep myself from destroying things. This one may go down as the first HUGE mistake by Mr. Beane. Very hard to watch Harden go 7 inn, 2 HITS, with 10 K's. Letting that kind of talent go should never have been allowed to happen (and then throwing away Gaudin as well.) If anyone has any constructive comments to refute my assumption I am all for it, and would love to be proved wrong.

I was just rolling throught the headlines and saw that Kotsay wnt 5-5 yesterday, hitting for the cycle. He is now hitting .300 with 6 homers and 15 doubles. I wonder if we had kept Kotsay if perhaps his leadership on a young club such as this would have been enough of a stabalizing force after the trades seemed to alter the psyche of the team. Either way looks like despite how the Braves season turned out his trade has worked out fairly well for both teams.