SB Nation User Blog: may7

Two To Tango Offense

may7 — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:57:13 -0000

In the early 1980's the Baltimore Orioles managed to field competitive teams and even win a World Series with what one sportscaster at the time referred to as a "two-to-tango" offense. The "two" that he was referring to was the formidable offensive pairing of Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken, Jr. that, when matched with the magnificent pitching of those teams was enough to keep them in the hunt and even push them over the top. That is why the addition of an offensive companion to Matt Holliday is so vital to the A's.

Though I have loudly booed Jason Giambi in the years since he signed his bloated Yankees contract, I have to admit to being a bit of a sentimental guy and, despite my better instincts, find myself secretly hoping to see news of his return to the A's. However, my logical mind tells me that Adam Dunn would be a much, much superior choice. I am also aware that the last thing that these latter-year Athletics have been about is sentimentality and I am trying to correct my thinking and am really praying that Billy Beane is really, secretly close to signing Dunn instead of Giambi. In any case, a second piece of the offensive puzzle, along with many potential suprrises sprinkled through the A's lineup could really give us hope for next year.

However, unlike those Orioles teams, the A's don't have a proven and tested pitching staff, which makes me nervous. Once again, there is a ton of potential there, but at this time that is all it is. To use a tired metaphor, baseball is an arms race and while a second piece of the offensive puzzle will probably solve things, it won't matter if the A's pitching staff doesn't mature in a hurry. If it doesn't then all of this winter hand-wringing over the merits of the Holliday deal or Giambi vs. Dunn will be for naught.

Don't Forget Pitching!

may7 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:41:20 -0000

For good reason, much of the discussion on this board has centered around hitting given the A's anemic 2008 offense. However, during glory years, the A's have always had solid, not spectacular offense and really great pitching. From Catfish, Vida, Holtzman and Rollie to The Five Aces of the Billyball years to Stew, Welch, Moore and the Eck A's teams to the Big Three and revolving good closer years of this decade. Though I've seen a few posts that have discussed pitching, let's tackle the issue head on. Gone in the Holliday trade is Greg Smith, who despite a few flashes of brilliance last year that may presage a solid future, will not be sorely missed. However, his slot in the rotation is now open. Who else do we have? Though the scouts are high on Gallagher, he hasn't shown much at the major league level yet. Gio, like his surname-mate Carlos, was brilliant at Sacramento, and not so much at Oakland. Of course there is Duke, who is as good as they come when healthy, but we all know the story there. I would put Eveland in the same category as Smith. Overall it sounds like a pretty thin rotation. What do you guys think is a best case scenario here? I know someone blogged that Derek Lowe would be a good free agent catch, and though that does seem to make sense, it still doesn't sound very confidence inspiring. Am I wrong?

Untouchables?

may7 — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 07:50:15 -0000

Alright, in my view I think that everyone except Ziggy and Mark Ellis should be on the table, either now, though waivers, or after the season. Billy Beane should consider a lot of offers and make a lot of deals. Is there anyone else that any of you would consider untouchable?

Also, why are the River Cats so good and are reigning AAA champions and that A's are so bad this year? I don't understand that.

Coming Out

may7 — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:04:55 -0000

Alright, it's unfortunately that time of year again. I'm watching our beloved A's getting spanked by the Red Sox and given their less than lofty record post-All Star break, I'm getting the idea that it is time to root for someone else for 2008. Let's be honest, all of us baseball fans have secret crushes on other teams. It's like having a biological impulse that evolved over the course of our fandom to stay interested in baseball in any given year, because we love the sport. I've seen some similar blogs last year when the A's were, if not mathematically, at least psychologically, out of the race. I'd say that they are currently there and it's that time again to admit your secret baseball team crush.

So, I'll start.

Though they are going nowhere and thus there is no reason to get on their bandwagon this year,I have to admit to having a secret crush on the Seattle Mariners. It even started before my Sonoma County-based family started vacationing in the Pacific Northwest or beer-fueled college trips to Seattle, both of which led to several M's home games at the Kingdome. I liked that they were on the West Coast,, and not in So. Cal. and their heartbreakingly bad record and lack of success, thus threat to the A's made me kind of like them. Plus, Iused to be able to get their games later in the evening on my radio. But, I was a Northern California boy who wanted to follow a Northern California team, and became an A's fan based on their general success and spent several years battling the majority Giants fans in the Sonoma County area. But, because the M's were in the same general region of the country, I liked them too. Plus those tridents as their symbol was cool. I like Tampa Bay this year, despite the lame name change, because like the Mariners then (and now unfortunately), they have been historically bad.

In the National League, of course I couldn't stoop to the Giants. I liked the Cubs partially, at least, since my Dad does. When I finally made it to Wrigley last year, I was actually the fourth generation in a straight line of males (meaning we all had the same last name) to visit Wrigley Field. My family lived in northern Missouri and my grandparents lived for a brief while in Chicago (my Dad was on a business trip and saw them play the Giants).

So, who's your secret baseball team crush? It's high time to come out of the closet. Hey, at least we don't have to reveal them as often as, say, Pittsburgh Pirates fans. Disclaimer-- I am not responsible for other members who mock secret Giants fans.

I Know This Sounds Awful, but.....

may7 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:02:00 -0000

......I plan on booing Gallagher and Murton if they get off to rocky starts in Oakland. I'm not going to cut Billy Beane much slack on this one and I hope other fans follow suit. We'd better see these guys look good from the start. I live in Sacramento so I'll see Murton here first and he better look like a good player or I'll boo him at Raley Field. I've never booed an A's player before (well maybe Billy Koch when he gave up that home run to the Twins during the 2002 playoffs, but hey, everyone did).

Is Joe Blanton having a Brian Kingman-type Season?

may7 — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:01:21 -0000

I'm really beginning to feel really bad for Joe Blanton. Talk about tough luck. Perhaps I am stating the obvious, but it needs to be said. His is perhaps one of the most undeserved 2 and 6 records in recent baseball history. His ERA is quite excellent, but his record is horrible. His karma should allow him to be the "winning" pitcher in a string of 12 to 10 slugfests. If this keeps up, Blanton is on pace to match Brian Kingman who in 1980 had an 8 and 20 record for the A's, but had a very decent 3.83 ERA. Kingman let being a 20 game loser get to his head and never really pitched to his potential. I hope Blanton realizes that the fault is not his.

Pull the Trigger Billy, Again and Again And Again....

may7 — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:20:20 -0000

I think that the Haren trade shows that Billy Beane is back on track. Maybe when the team moves to Fremont, Beane can become more like his spiritual pupil Theo Epstein and play shrewdly with more cash on hand, but for now he's got to make one more big Moneyball push and he's off to a good start. I hope that he not only trades Blanton and Street for even more prospects, but just goes full boar and just flips the table over. Since prospects are not a guarantee, it's best to cast as wide a net possible now, so that the ones that do come through will peak and gel together at the same time like the bevy of Kansas City Athletics prospects in the 60's who became the powerhouse teams of Oakland in the '70's. I say trade Swisher and, if anyone will take him, Chavez as well. I'd even see what prospects Ellis could land. Chavvy is getting further and further from his power hitting heyday and it might be best to cash in now, or we'll end up with another Kotsay on our hands. Swisher has yet to show whether he's the 35 home run stud of 2006, or the guy who bumbled his way to 22 last year. Even if we have to bumble along with Donnie Murphy and Jack Hanahan next year, the core of the coming wave will already be in place with Barton and Suzuki on for their first full seasons. I say out with the old and in with the new.

The Sporting News says we bought the farm

may7 — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 04:57:48 -0000

In a good way. The writer seems really enthusiastic about this trade and seems to think that the A's received more than an adequate return. However, I think as Baseballgirl pointed out, this crop may peak later than the Barton/ Suzuki generation. Maybe Beane is hoping that the A's won't have to be cheapskates anymore by that point and can actually retain a few of these guys. Next year, however, will be as ugly as the post-Raiders Coliseum. However, I'm old enough to recall the 1986-7 seasons, which was pretty ugly, but featured Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and mid-season pick up and Phillies cast-off Dave Stewart and Cubs cast-off Dennis Eckersley. So maybe there is hope on the horizon.

Also, sorry about adding the millionth Danny Haren centered blog, but what else are we supposed to talk about today? Steroids? Puh-leez!!

Speaking Of Giants' Obnoxiousness

may7 — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:31:47 -0000

I just saw a report that the team is going to buy a large share of Fox Sports Bay Area. FSBA has been my lifeline to A's games over here in Sacramento. Does anyone have any idea how this is going to affect northern California A's broadcasts? We already got shafted on the radio over here last year when they dumped A's radio broadcasts onto the lousy local ESPN outlet that broadcasts maybe a game a month if we are lucky. The year before we had it good as a local station would broadcast all night and weekend games. Now they want to take the games from my TV and replace it with the horrid "Kuip and Kruk" combo? Please say it ain't so?

Lastings Milledge Reportedly Traded to Nats

may7 — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:10:39 -0000

Though he is not and has never been a member of the A's, this reported trade by Fox Sports has significance to the A's since it has long been rumored that Mr. Milledge is the apple of Billy Beane's eye and has at least been twice rumored to be Oakland bound in exchange for Joe Blanton. Unless Billy Beane has some secret deal with the Nats, it looks like his quest for Mr. Milledge will become legendary myth on par with Kevin Youkilis......