SB Nation User Blog: mikev

Wanted: 3 Tickets for Tuesday 5/6 v. Bal

mikev — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:02:45 -0000

Hey AN, Sorry to use up a Dia...er... FaNpOsT on something like this, but I wasn't sure where else to put it. A couple of guys who are in my simulation baseball league (kinda like fantasy, but way better) are going to be up here tomorrow. One flies in from Vegas in the morning, and we were planning on meeting up beforehand and then catching a game.

I figured that since it's a "special occasion" I would try and get some better tickets than my usual bleacher seats, so before resorting to Craigslist or (ew) StubHub, I'll ask AN-land if anybody with super awesome seats that can't go tomorrow would be interested in selling them to me. If not, no biggie - if anything there are still MVP section 115 tickets from the A's website, but I wanted to get around the "convenience" fee. (I'll delete this if it's out of place. Thanks)

Fernando Hernandez returned to White Sox for $25,000

mikev — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:27:58 -0000

Fernando Hernandez returned to White Sox for $25,000

Oh F-Hern, we hardly knew ye...

Kevin Goldstein says we're #2

mikev — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:49:16 -0000

I agree with him.

So, of the remaining possible trade chips -- for the sake of argument, I'm going to list them as Blanton, Street, Ellis, Embree, and DJ -- does anybody see a deal out there that will net those desired infielders? Those that have been speculated, whether here or on various sites around the intertoobz, and the mentioned prospects:

Dodgers (Blanton rumors): LaRoche, Hu, Abreu

Reds (Blanton rumors): Keppinger (old, not really a prospect), Votto (1b), Frazier

Red Sox (Blanton rumors): Lowrie, Lars Anderson (1b), Oscar Tejada

Rays (mostly internet speculation): Longoria, Brignac

There's more, I'm sure, but those are the ones that seem to come up most often.

The folks at MLB Trade Rumors reported that Buster Olney reported that we're still talking to Boston about Coco Crisp. That's really slightly baffling to me on several levels, because Boston doesn't need to dump his salary but they do need to clear room for Ellsbury. Would taking on Crisp be a move that would entice Boston to give up more talent, or is the assumption that Crisp is a valuable piece of a trade? If it's the latter, I'm not interested.

Anyway, back to the point I was trying to make: Of the remaining trade chips, I'm not really sure that any of them are dealt. There was a rumor about the White Sox wanting Ellis, but we already pillaged their farm. The more I think about Blanton's value, the more I think that he'll stick around in Oakland to anchor the rotation for the next few years. Nobody is going to overpay for him, and I don't think Billy will deal him without somebody overpaying.

A's-Sox Opener set for 6:07am... eastern time

mikev — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:41:10 -0000

si.com link with details...

It's been announced that the A's first "home" game is going to be at 3:07 in the morning Oakland time.

I guess it's not nice to keep beating this dead horse, but man it sure hurts to be called the home team in these 2 games, doesn't it?

Also, for those who plan to watch the game live: http://www.methcoffee.com

Kirk Saarloos signs minor league deal with Oakland

mikev — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:42:15 -0000

Welcome back Kirk.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/st.htm

For me, this is good news. I wished that he would have stayed in Oakland all along, I thought he was a much better (much cheaper) option than signing Esteban Loaiza to the godawful contract that LAD thankfully took off our hands.

Anyway, I'm happy. Kirk's a good dude, and when given the chance to be a full time starter he was a solid back of the rotation guy. See: 2005. 159 innings of 105 ERA+ for next to no salary at all. If we can get that back, I'm a happy camper.

But yeah, I've gotten into many internet arguments on various A's boards about hating the fact that Saarloos wasn't given the 5th starter job straight away in 2006 and that Loaiza was signed. Consider this my vindication. How sweet it is. :D

Third Deck re-opening for 2008!!!

mikev — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:21:36 -0000

So, uh... For the sixteen or seventeen people that are going to keep going to games next year:

3 sections of the 3rd Deck will be open for $35 All-You-Can-Eat tickets, to include hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn, soda and ice cream -- and maybe more!

I guess that's sort of a reason to go to games... I guess.

Me personally, I don't think I'm shelling out 35 bucks for that.

If it was for the bleachers, you can bet your behind I'd likely pull the trigger on season tickets, but c'mon... Is this really that good of an idea?

Tejada en route to Houston: Does this trigger more moves that affect Oakland?

mikev — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:27:06 -0000

According to this ESPN link, Miggy is finally getting out of Baltimore and heading to the Astros.

The Orioles get Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers, Troy Patton and Dennis Sarfate, and third baseman Michael Costanzo. The only one I know of is Scott, who's supposed to be pretty good.

Anyway, this will probably result in subsequent trades of Roberts and Bedard by the Orioles. To me, this will set the market for possible trades of Dan Haren, Joe Blanton, and possibly Mark Ellis if Beane decides to blow the team up and look towards Fremont.

So what if Beane decides to blow it up?

mikev — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:44:22 -0000

For really not much reason whatsoever, I was perusing mlbtraderumors and noticed this little tidbit about Boston possibly looking at Johan Santana or Haren. Obviously adding Haren would give Boston a ridiculously awesome rotation (Beckett, Haren, Dice-K, Schilling, Wakefield? Seriously?), but I don't care about that.

What interests me is thinking about what would be required from Boston. Who would Beane want? My first thought: More than Haren is worth. I couldn't see Haren going to an AL team without Billy getting so completely blown away by an offer that he just can't say no. To me, that would mean a package starting with Buchholz and Ellsbury, and probably including somebody like Jed Lowrie as well.

So, here's my question to AN: What would it take for you to be okay with trading Dan Haren? A Mulder-or-Hudson-esque deal? More? Less? How about Blanton, as he's the other major piece that could be dangled if a full blown, tear it down rebuild were to commence.

Tokyo, here we come -- as the home team

mikev — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:36:11 -0000

So it's official: The A's open the season in Japan against the Red Sox next year. The A's will be the home team, as the March 25th and 26th games are being considered the first of a four game set that will be concluded on April 1st and 2nd back in Oakland.

As pointed out on various other blogs around the net, the current Oakland active roster consists of 21 Americans, one Canadian, one Venanzuelan, one Puerto Rican, and one Dominican. As we all know, Boston has Dice-K, as well as Okajima, so I think it's pretty clear who will actually be the "home team" in this series.

I would think that each team would have been given one home game instead of taking away two from one team, unless the A's are going to be getting the revenue from the game as if they were truly the home team. Somehow I'm not sure that's the case, but I've got to believe that the team wouldn't be making the trip if it wasn't going to be worthwhile for them. I hope.

Oh BTW, first diary post. Hi, I'm Mike.

SB Nation User Blog: mikev

Wanted: 3 Tickets for Tuesday 5/6 v. Bal

Fernando Hernandez returned to White Sox for $25,000

Fernando Hernandez returned to White Sox for $25,000

Kevin Goldstein says we're #2

A's-Sox Opener set for 6:07am... *eastern time*

Kirk Saarloos signs minor league deal with Oakland

Third Deck re-opening for 2008!!!

Tejada en route to Houston: Does this trigger more moves that affect Oakland?

So what if Beane decides to blow it up?

Tokyo, here we come -- as the *home team*

A's-Sox Opener set for 6:07am... eastern time

Tokyo, here we come -- as the home team