Backstop Blues

As A's fans we've seen a few very good catchers over the last twenty years. Terry Steinbach, Mickey Tettleton, Mike Heath, Ron Hassey and the current Ramon Hernandez. Terry Steinbach always reminded one staff member of an Imperial Guard of Ancient Rome the way he handled himself and went about his duties. All of us at the staff have an affection feeling of Terry Steinbach simply because he was around so long and helped the transition during the great teams of the late 80's to the lean years of the mid-90's.

Catchers are often rushed through the minor league ranks because of their, "work behind the plate" it's often said. In reality, it's because they have decent skills and their age helps a ton.

If anyone ever needed to look cool in a baseball movie, the easiest thing to do was to put him at catcher. Tom Berringer in Major League, Kevin Costner in Bull Durham, Kevin Costner's Dad in Filed of Dreams, Robert DeNiro in Bang the Drum Slowly...you get the picture. Possibly only quarterbacks in movies get better lines.

There is something about wearing the mask and chest protector that makes for instant respectability. Or is it something else entirely? Is it because catchers are always having their physical abilities finish their careers before the are ready to call it quits? In the direct translation world; are baseball's catchers the beat up quarterbacks we always relate to? It would seem logical since pitchers are more like kickers and punters; seem to be an awful lot of them around but very few worth keeping around.

The question comes to mind, then, where are all of the good catching prospects? With the exception of Joe Mauer in Minnesota, nobody seems to be able to tout a prospect that will catch more than 100 games behind the plate in three years.

A further question arises then, where the hell is baseball headed? Why are pitchers getting paid so well, being babied out on the mound while catchers seems to be ground up and tossed like a rosin bag with a hole in it?

For years pitchers were abused by managers either too stupid, too stubborn or too much of both to actually understand the limitations of the human body. We still see half of baseball cringe every time a pitcher under age 25 gets around Jeff Torborg or wears a Chicago Cubs uniform. Fortunately somebody threw out the notion that you should pay attention to the number of pitches a pitcher throws. Further, you should pay attention to the number of innings a pitcher throws at an early age. If you don't know anything about mechanics or the physics of baseball, the very least you can do is walk out to the mound around 90 pitches and ask a guy how his day is going. If you don't like his answer or the fact that the opposition is about to start it's fourth time through the order you can ask him if he would like to discuss the matter in the clubhouse.

No, pitch counts really don't matter. Sort of like the number under the sign that says 'Speed Limit' doesn't matter. But, you need to have an idea of what gets your pitcher into trouble and what doesn't. 100 pitches have become the preverbal line in the sand. Not because it is where the human body hits a wall, but where managers should be thinking that a contract extension is better than looking for work every few years.

By 90 pitches there should be activity in the bullpen and if there is a runner in scoring position after 100 in a close game, managers might like to stretch. Or better yet, have the pitching coach stretch for them.

It's really about pitcher safety, a manager's job security and very little to do with anything else. It's better to yank a guy too early than too late for the sake of his health and the sake of the game. It's also better to be able to use the pitchers you already pay too much money as many times as possible during their contract.

The baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. Having a starting pitcher go 15-10 and start 35 games is more valuable than a starting pitcher who goes 12-4 and only starts 20 games because of injury. Especially when the price tag is around $10 million.

Would you take Jamie Moyer or Brian Anderson?

Would you take Todd Pratt or Pudge Rodriguez?

The A's made a move last week that slipped under the radar of most people. Picking up Mitch Melusky might be the start of a plan by Billy Beane to solve the catcher riddle.
The American League has had a Designated Hitter rule for a long time. About 30 years. Even for baseball, 30 years is a long time. Anytime a catcher gets to age 30 he is thankful to still be in the game. If he makes it to 35, he is a rarity and lucky if he has a multi-year deal. Catchers often become managers or coaches, more often than any other position player. Something about squatting, probably.

Perhaps this is why catchers have never been let up on. Their peers also include their coaches. "If I can catch a double-header in 100 degree heat, you can, catch 12 innings of a night game" might be the prevailing wind.

Baseball has been wasting the talents of the boys behind the dish for too long and something has got to give. Catchers need days off and need to be more versatile. A number of players in high school and college are pitcher/catcher combos. Often picking either when signing a major league deal. Fine. But the guy who decides to catch should also think about shagging some flies or even trying his hand at third base.

Catchers have to have decent arms and decent footwork. So, plugging a guy in at third or first base for 15-20 starts shouldn't be unusual. It should be the norm. Having your backstop out in rightfield should be looked upon as an asset for 10-15 games a year, not a liability.

The National League does not have a DH. But, we don't understand why pitcher/catcher batteries don't often change when a reliever is brought in. Doesn't it make sense to give the starter and the starting catcher the rest of the game off? Especially if it provides the catcher with 4-5 additional years on his career?

In the American League, why a team has not been able to get two catchers who can split the DH duties; one day catch the next DH, is beyond our scope of understanding. A catcher shouldn't have to be behind the plate more than 120 games a season and around 100 if there's a decent back-up available.

MLB should seriously consider a 26th player on the MLB roster. Should the game go more than nine innings, a team may opt to use it's 26th. It just makes sense for the longevity of the guys with the masks who do a majority of the dirty work.

The NFL allows teams the comfort of an emergency quarterback in the rare chances two are too injured to play. Often times, it's a punter, receiver or even defensive back that serves as the emergency quarterback.

The owners would, of course, hate the idea of a 26th roster paycheck to cut. Owners rarely have enough vision to realize they would be able to keep payrolls down by having many catchers to chose from and more utility players to boot in the market. A catcher/mid-infielder? A catcher/left-fielder? Don't be surprised to see it happen in the near future.

Baseball traditionalists would argue that the timing and connection between a pitcher and catcher would be disrupted. Sort of like a QB only being comfortable with his hands up one guy's crotch.

Please.

Fast guys lead off and slow guys play catcher. Pitchers have to have an overpowering fastball and closers only pitch the 9th. Plugging in Todd Hundley at catcher because he is a catcher by trade 140 games a year (if he can stay healthy) is a waste of money and time. It's an affront to the 10 other catchers in the organization who could just as easily weakly ground out to the pitcher on a regular basis, for a few million dollars less, too. It's also an insult to our collective intelligence to watch players like Ivan Rodriguez, Mike Piazza and Jason Kendall have their careers shortened because they creak when they walk and when they stand still.

People who don't understand sports forget that between the lines what matters are things like, competition, winning and integrity. Having a catcher behind the plate at 80% because he is the everyday catcher and he is able to prop himself up for 270 minutes is a futile maneuver. Figuring out a way to keep players at 100%, even if it means denying a player 40-50 at-bats over a season, is worth more when it means 1000-1500 more at-bats for a career.

From the Inbox

A's 2003 Season Ticket Packages

Place your deposit now for the best seats!!

GRAND SLAM -- FULL SEASON
Same seat for every game
Includes all regular season games


ON DECK WEEKENDS
Great weekend fun
Same seat for most games
Includes every Saturday and Sunday Home Game
Selected Friday night games


SAC FLY -- WEEKNIGHTS
Weeknights -- Perfect entertainment!
Same seat for most games


HIT AND RUN -- WEEKDAYS
Perfect for client entertaining!
Same seat for most games
Selected weekday games


FIELDER'S CHOICE
20 Games -- You choose your games!
Available in every category except MVP
Best available location for the games you choose



Plan Name: Grand Slam On Deck Sac Fly Hit & Run Fielder's Choice Full Season Weekend Weeknight Weekday Your Choice

Number of games	79	36	30	15	20
Plaza Club** (213-214)	$2,449	$1,116	$930	$465	$620
MVP(109-125, Rows 1-20)	$2,133	N/A	N/A	N /A	N/A
Field Level +	$1,659	$756	$630	$315	$420
Plaza Infield*(209-212, 215-225)	$1,501	$684	$570	$285	$380
Plaza Outfield*(200-208), 226-234)	$1,185	$540	$450	$225	$300
Upper Reserved*(300-334)	$553	$252	$210	$105	$140
Bleachers(134-150)	$553	$252	$210	$105	$140

Note: Based on 79 games. Ticket prices, number of games in each plan and ticket policies are subject to change.
*Half price tickets for fans 14 and under, seniors 60 years and older, and active military.
**Includes meal in the West Side Club.
+ All areas of Field Level except MVP (sections 109-125 rows 1-20).
$50 per seat deposit is non-refundable and must be used for a season ticket package for the 2003 season by May 1, 2003.

Bell Done

With David Bell's agent playing the market as well as an agent can with a moderate to good 3rd baseman- the Giants are going to be looking for a hot corner guy. Might we suggest Adam Piatt? Eric Chavez isn't going anywhere and Piatt was originally a 3rd sacker. The A's could rip the Giants off for a few prospects here and there or even the cash and player to be named later scenario.

Brian Sabean has already made two stumbles out of the blocks, first in picking up the dirty laundry that is Neifi Perez and his contract and now failing to lock up David Bell when he was still in the $1.5-2 million per year range.

F.P. (Fancy Pants) Santangelo has signed a contract with the Giants San Jose minor league affiliate as a coach. Santangelo was recently praised by his former manager, Felipe Alou, as a bright guy and a future manager. Santangelo spent last year as a player, coach, guru for the Sacramento River Cats.

Topsy Turvy

ACT I

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO WE ARE


In it's infinite wisdom, MLB has decided that the first game of the 2003 season will be played in Japan . In 2001 MLB opened in Japan, as well, with the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs squaring off (do you think it hurt that Sammy Sosa played for the Cubs?). The teams will be the Seattle Mariners and your Oakland Athletics. Of course the Mariners have a few players from Japan (do you think that is a coincidence-you're wrong if you think it ain't).


Ichiro Suzuki, Kazuhiro Sasaki and Shigetoshi Hasegawa all hail from Japan after many years of laboring in the leagues of Japan.


Bud Selig, our great Commissioner, virtuous man, is in a precarious position. The New York Yankees are thought to be in the lead for the services of Hideki Matsui possibly the next great Japanese player in MLB. After the near strike situation and the brave front Selig put up, all of the inclusions in the Collective Bargaining Agreement are falling out like the fillings in an elderly man's mouth.


Selig has long professed the disparity of the lack of parity of major league teams. With Japanese players being freed after seven years service to enter MLB as Free Agents, it smacks of racial discrimination . Latin American players arrive by the bunches often signed for very little money . Many of the players lie about their age in order to be younger just for a slim chance. MLB seems willing to look the other way since their minuscule investment often pays off before a player's age and performance level catch up. Oh, to be washed up at 25 years of age (28 actual age).


It is the success that teams like Seattle, a middle market team with deep pockets , has had in bringing foreign players into MLB without a draft that led to the inclusion of a worldwide draft in the last Collective Bargaining Agreement . Of course, recent events have led MLB to scrap just about everything from the CBA and it is in danger of leading to a situation worse than we have experienced in the last ten years of Seligula .


Selig defrays interest in racial discrimination in players, but takes great strides to spout off about racial discrimination when it comes to managers. It displays Selig's inability to balance any issue on ethics or morals and shows him in the light for what he really is . An incompetent, stubborn man in charge of the soul of many of us. Until the Commissioner is an actual leader and does not dance with the owners or the players will MLB be the sport it can be.

Signings

11/13/02 The Oakland Athletics acquired right-handed pitcher Roy Smith from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for cash considerations.

Smith, 26, spent the entire minor league season at the Indians Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, where he posted a 5-4 record with a 3.84 ERA in a team high 36 appearances, including three starts. The 6-6, 235-pound right-hander struck out 65 batters in 70.1 innings of work and limited hitters to a .246 (65-for-264) batting average with just two home runs. Smith posted a 5.35 ERA (21 er in 35.1 ip) through the Bisons first 21 games but then made six straight appearances from June 25 to July 16 without allowing an earned run in 10.1 innings. He made three starts for Buffalo over the last six weeks of the minor league season, going 1-0 with a 3.55 ERA (5 er in 12.1 ip) in those outings, including a win in his last Buffalo game on August 30 against Rochester (5.0 ip, 0 h, 0 r, 2 bb, 2 so).


Smith was recalled to Cleveland on September 2 and made his season debut on September 5 in Chicago, allowing one hit in one inning of work against the White Sox. He made a spot start in the Tribe?s last game of the regular season against Kansas City on September 29 and allowed two runs in 3.1 innings of work in a 7-3 Cleveland victory.


The Indians signed Smith after a tryout in January of 2000 after spending two seasons in the independent Northern League with St. Paul. He began his professional career in the Seattle system after being selected in the 13th round of the 1994 draft out of Dixie Hollins High School in Florida. Used primarily as a starter in the Seattle chain, he made 27 starts in both the 1995 and 96 seasons at Single-A Wisconsin, where he posted a combined record of 13-27. He was released by Seattle at the end of spring training in 1998 and then latched on in the Northern League, where he spent the next two seasons before being signed by the Indians.


He split the 2000 season between Double-A Akron and Single-A Kinston, where he led all of Cleveland s minor leaguers in ERA with a 2.34 mark. He also recorded eight saves between the two stops. He spent most of the 2001 season at Triple-A Buffalo and made nine appearances in Cleveland, including his major league debut on May 26 vs. the New York Yankees.

Smith's delivery is not submarine, it's more Eck-like. A less than ¾-side-arm approach.


11/13/02The Oakland Athletics will open spring training on February 15th, when pitchers and catchers report to the club's spring training complex in Phoenix, Ariz. The first workout for pitchers and catchers is scheduled for February 16th. The remainder of the squad is scheduled to report on February 19 with the first full squad workout slated for February 20th.

A's sign eight players to minor league contracts

The Oakland Athletics announced today the club has signed eight players to minor league contracts including right-handed pitchers Heath Bost and David Hooten; outfielders Mike Edwards, Chris Prieto and Brian Sellier; infielder Graham Koonce; and catchers Adam Melhuse and Mike Rose.

Melhuse is the only player of the eight signees with major league experience, having appeared in 64 career games with Los Angeles (2000) and Colorado (2000-01). He signed with the Chicago Cubs as a six-year free agent last off-season and appeared in 72 games and batted .292 at Triple-A Iowa before being released on July 17, 2002. He signed with Colorado the next day and finished the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he batted .348 with six home runs in 34 games. A native of Stockton, Calif., Melhuse attended Santa Clara University for one year and was named the West Coast Conference's Freshman of the Year in 1991. He then transferred to UCLA where he was an All-Pacific 10 selection as a junior.


Koonce, Sellier and Bost all played in Oakland's minor league system last year. Koonce led the Texas League in home runs (24), RBI (96) and on-base percentage (.440) and finished third in runs scored (86) and fourth in slugging (.487). Sellier batted .300 with five home runs and 58 RBI in 116 games at Single-A Modesto last season. Bost made 52 relief appearances for Triple-A Sacramento last season, posting a 1-5 record to go along with a 3.35 ERA.

If the A's were to bring up a 1st baseman, it might be Koonce. But, Adam Morrisey is hitting so well in the Arizona Fall League he might be in the mix, as well.


11/18/02The Oakland Athletics announced today the club has signed four more players to minor league contracts including right-handed pitcher Jose Silva, catcher Mitch Meluskey, first baseman David McCarty and outfielder Billy McMillon.

A sixth round selection of Toronto in the 1991 Free Agent Draft, the 28-year old Silva has appeared in 154 major league games with Toronto, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and has posted a 25-28 career record to go along with a 5.41 ERA. He made 12 appearances with Cincinnati last season and posted a 1-0 record to go along with a 4.24 ERA (11er in 23.1ip) and was 1-2 with a 2.27 ERA in 20 games at Triple A-Louisville. Silva posted career highs in appearances (51), starts (19), innings (136.0), wins (11) and losses (9) to go along with a 5.56 ERA with Pittsburgh in 2000.


The 29-year old Meluskey was limited to just eight games with Detroit last season due to lower back pain and missed the entire 2001 season with right shoulder instability. However, he hit .300 with 14 home runs, 69 RBI and posted a .401 on-base percentage with Houston in 2000 and finished fifth in National League Rookie of the Year balloting after ranking among NL rookie leaders in home runs (3rd), RBI (2nd), hits (6th; 101), runs scored (6th; 47), total bases (6th; 164), doubles (5th; 21), walks (4th; 55) and extra base hits (5th; 35). He also batted .374 with runners in scoring position and .625 with the bases loaded, the third best marks in the National League in both categories. Melusky was acquired by Detroit along with Roger Cedeno and Chris Holt in exchange for Brad Ausmus, Doug Brocail and Nelson Cruz on December 11, 2000.


McCarty, a 1991 graduate of Stanford University, batted .094 (3-for-32) with one double, one home run and two RBI in 13 games with Kansas City last season and was designated for assignment on May 13 before being granted his unconditional release on May 15. The 32-year old then signed a minor league contract with Tampa Bay on May 21 and played 12 games for the Devil Rays, hitting .176 (6-for-34) with one home and two RBI. McCarty, who was the third overall pick by Minnesota in the 1991 June Free Agent Draft, has a career .236 average with 31 home runs and 148 RBI with five major league teams-Minnesota, San Francisco, Seattle, Kansas City and Tampa Bay. He was also a non-roster invitee in Oakland's 2000 major league spring training camp.


McMillon, 31, signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees at the end of 2002 spring training after being released by the Florida Marlins as a non-roster invitee. He spent the entire season at Triple A-Columbus, where he led the Clippers in hitting (.301), hits (131), walks (59), on-base percentage (.388) and tied for the team lead in runs scored (72). He was the Clippers lone representative at the Triple-A All-Star Game in Oklahoma City. McMillon played 20 games with Oakland in 2001 after being claimed on waivers from Detroit and batted .293 with 10 RBI.

This is Dave McCarty's second go-around with the A's, as is McMillon's. Both proud Scottish lads they be. Well, maybe not McMillon. Mitch Meluskey becomes the new "Crash" and a solid back-up catcher if the injury bug is out of his system. Jose Silva is fodder for the ranks. If he can keep the ERA around 5.00 he'll be in Midland. If he can keep it below 4.50 he'll be in Sacramento. If he can keep it below 3.00 he'll be in Oakland until (if) Jim Mecir gets back.

Lidle Bit Softer Now

With the A's trade of $4.8 million to Toronto in the form of Cory Lidle, a large strain was lifted. We no longer have to worry if Lidle's name is spelled C-O-R-Y or C-O-R-E-Y.


QUICK STATS:

2001 29 games 13-6, 3.59 ERA
2002 31 games 8-10, 3.89 ERA
2 yrs 60 games 21-16, 3.74 ERA


According to the laws of nature, Lidle isn't getting any younger. So it is expected that he could have a 15 win season in the near future, but to expect a 20 win campaign and a Cy Young is out of the realm of possible expectations. Lidle was a plug-in 4th starter. The A's have many young arms in AA and Aaron Harang in limbo. With Lidle's proclivity to suck the first few months of the season, paying a lot of money to a second half pitcher didn't make much sense for a team with little wiggle room. Cory Lidle was a cheap find and experiment that Billy Beane was successful in facilitating.

By clearing $4 million in the payroll department and picking up two prospects, Beane has leverage for future trades.

Injury Department

Jim Mecir will miss the first two months of the season after having surgery to repair his patellar tendon. Mecir damaged his kneee while playing with his kids on a hill.

This seems to be an acceptable injury. Not like Aaron Rowand, Chicago White Sox centerfielder who broke several ribs and critically damaged his shoulder in a dirt bike accident.

Our question is: if you make as much money as Jim Mecir, don't you pay somebody to play with your kids for you? Jim seems to have a black cloud following him. Hopefully an insurance umbrella will pop out so the A's can push a sizeable amount of Mecir's salary off on it. Playing with your kids and being injured is a little different than ignoring clauses in your contract and becoming involved in activities of high risk.


We'll do some research on the two prospects the A's picked up; left-handed hitting shortstop Mike Rouse (a San Jose native) and right-handed reliever Chris Mowday (product of the G'Day nation, Australia) in the next 24-36 hours.

Bone: to Pick or Chew

Baseball is an enigmatic sport. In the Bay Area people are giddy that the San Francisco Giants have hired Felipe Alou. Of course, Felipe is not of the new school of taking walks and getting on base rather than gripping and ripping. But, Felipe Alou has been successful in the past even being stranded in Montreal. For a few years, at least. He never reached the playoffs in Montreal as a manager. Alou, later in Montreal, was not much of a manager and more of a tender of the store. He ignored pitchers on the mound who had lost their effectiveness and needed to come out. He made pitching changes based hunches and the fact he could care less. He told hitters to get a pitch to hit and rip it. Not exactly a cultivation of talents, rather a sand blasting to see what sticks.


Do you think people aren't going to start chirping that they there when the Alou brothers all played in the outfield for the A's? Of course not. But if Alou fails to keep the Giants above .500, you can bet someone will chime in, "I always said Jim Fergosi would have been the better choice".

True Value Hardware

Awards. What do they really say about a player? Depends. What do they say about a player's season? Depends. What do they say about a player's career? Depends. It's hard to pinpoint the Most Valuable Player in a team sport.


It depends on three things;
A) Who is asking
B) Why they are asking
C) Do you really want to know


Does the MVP award really matter to anyone out there besides sports network talking heads, sports radio geeks and agents? When you read about bloggers and fans getting so upset about the Cy Young and MVP awards, you know there is a problem.

One of the stupidest arguments we've heard is; "How can Miguel Tejada be the MVP of the AL when Barry Zito was the MVP of the A's?"


It's absurd. If you want to find MVP based on value and intangibles, then Mark Ellis, Miguel Tejada and John Mabry of the position players and Aaron Harang and Chad Bradford of the pitchers were the team's MVP's. Zito doesn't get mentioned because he actually did what was expected of him, possibly under-performing. Billy Koch blew up so many times TNT wants to start showing some of his outings on their Movies for Guys weekends. How's this for Cy Young whining, of the 15 no decisions Tim Hudson had in 2002, nine times he left with the lead.


The problem doesn't reside with the voting, either. The ballots cast in 2002 were done with the same criteria that has been established for several decades.

The problem resides in perception.


Most of us who blog are of the new school of baseball. That of the high OBP and total bases for hitters and ground ball/flyball ratios and counting pitches for pitchers. It?s not new science. Little League coaches for fifty years have told kids to "wait for your pitch", "just throw strikes" and "a walk is as good as a hit". There were just too few good coaches to stand up to the fathers screaming in the stands, "SWING the God Damn Bat, Billy!" A few less of those fathers and there would be fifty MLB teams instead of a dozen teams worth mentioning.


The top grossing movie doesn't win the Academy Award. Though, that is starting to change. Actors and Actresses are now getting awards based on popularity and the savvy or their agents, managers and publicists. Not their ability to portray characters and actually be able to act. Julia BLEEPING Roberts won an Oscar? Are you kidding me? Did anyone see Training Day? How can a mediocre, two star movie have two male co-stars up for Academy Awards and still be that bad? Perhaps the crap acting had something to do with it. Sir Lawrence Olivier could grace the screen for 90 seconds, wave to the audience, walk off screen and win an Oscar, and actually deserve it. Cuba Gooding, Jr got 105 seconds of screen time for As Good As it Gets and got nominated for best Supporting Actor.

Never underestimate the ability of an agent, manager or publicist to get an issue its head start.


So, you're asking why Alex Rodriguez (or anyone else) didn't win the AL MVP? Okay; do you harbor any resentment that Rodriguez gets slighted by the media and fans because of his paycheck? Do you think it's hard to be a professional in a bad situation and still be successful? Do you think that numbers are numbers and that numbers are the best way to determine a player's value and worth? Do you think that Alex Rodriguez is the best shortstop in baseball?


Well, if you had any preconceived notions about A-Rod, then you can't argue your point. You are automatically disqualified because you have stated you show a sentimental attachment to the player.


If you think that it is hard to play every day for a bad team then you are a borderline idiot in the clinical sense and the shorter school bus is here for you. Of the 750+ MLB players last year less than a handful opted out of trying to play every day as hard as they could. Even if 80% is all they had to give, most gave that 80%. And I say, most. But, that is the difference between AA and being in Fenway Park. Professionals are professionals and they share a code of conduct. If you think you see a player shutting it down other players notice and even a dim-witted manager knows to pull the player out of a game. Derek Bell and Pedro Martinez were the few low-lights this year, and that is because they were stupid enough to verbalize their intent.


If you think that numbers are numbers then why bother with formulas and averages? Just go with the counting stats. That's your key. Hits, homeruns and runs batted in. That's all you get. Somewhere along the line, people missed the intent of Bill James. It's not about trying to figure out who is better because of their statistics. It's about trying to figure out where a player fits according to their statistics. James looked at players along career lines and over several years. Trying to use the magic stats to pinpoint six months of comparison is stupid and worthless. They are a tremendous tools, don't get us wrong. However, there is no asterisk for playing with a bruised foot in week 12 of the season or broke up with girlfriend in week 20. Those blips on the radar wouldn't really shift the focus of a three year players evaluation. Is Alex Rodriguez a better player because he hits a lot of homeruns or is Alex Rodriguez a better player according to the number of homeruns he hits? I think you'll find the later is the litmus test result you're looking for and homeruns can be given too much weight, at times.
Alex Rodriguez happens to play shortstop. Let's get this notion out of the way. A-Rod could play the outfield, third or short or even first base. But, if A-Rod played left field suddenly some of the tarnish comes off and you have to compare A-Rod to Bonds, Sosa, Williams, Ruth and the like. At short, A-Rod stands head and shoulders above of the smoke and mirror trick we saw in the 80's and 90's: Ozzie Smith and Cal Ripken, Jr.


That being said, Alex Rodriguez is one of the best players in Major League Baseball without taking into consideration the position he plays. He's automatically, then, the best shortstop because no other shortstop fits the criteria one best player without considering position. There are other shortstops that one might consider taking over Alex Rodriguez namely Miguel Tejada, Nomar Garciaparra and the 1997 Derek Jeter (the current model is no longer in production). But, those decisions carry context. Attitude, perception, personality, etc. It's hard to pin point those on a spreadsheet.

The Alex Rodriguez fawners want A-Rod to get the MVP awards they seem to think he so richly deserves and they offer simple solutions; change the way the writers vote or create a new award. Sort of like telling organized religion to change its practices and views of homosexuality and pre-marital sex to be in step with the times. If you don't agree with it, don't associate with it and don't be upset if they don't see things the same way as you do.


And for the last time, we would have voted AGAINST Miggi and Zito for their awards if given the chance. By winning, they are going to cost that much more when free agnecy comes around. We just wanted them in the conversation of upper echelon, top tier performers for the year. Plus, we know what the process is for selcting those awards. We are not naive and sightless.

Quade Guy

A's first base coach Mike Quade was reassigned in the A's organization...which is sort of like the player to be named later scenario. Who knows what's going on? Quade could end up in Sacramento or he could be pushing papers around on a desk until the end of his contract.

Mr. Smith Goes to Oakland

The A's acquired Roy Smith, all 6-6 240 of him, for cash considerations yesterday. Smith looks to be a Jeff Tam replacement and could provide a solid long relief to set up role guy. Smith gave up all of two homeruns in 70 innings pitched last year in AAA. A converted starter, Smith might be one of those sleeper guys that nobody notices until he is lights out and Billy Beane gets another thorn in his crown.

Sooner, rather than later, teams will stop trading with the A's. Eventually, people will realize that Beane is one of the best ever at "mine'n and your'n".


That's an old, old football saying. A mine'n your'n guy can take his players and beat yours then turn around and take your plaers and beat you with his players.


The Smith deal looks like another attempt by the A's to start a basketball team. A few years ago when they had 6-6 Mark Acre, 6-5 Mark McGwire, 6-6 Billy Taylor and a few other 6-4 players it was thought that the Warriors were going to fold and the A's were going to double dip into the NBA.

The Warriors probably should have considered the idea. We can't think of a more pointless franchise in the NBA, a league from top to bottom full of pointless franchises.

Geren to Become A's Coach

Published 10:16 a.m. PDT Wednesday, November 13, 2002 Sacramento Bee

Bob Geren, the Sacramento River Cats manager for the past three seasons, has been promoted to a coaching job with the Oakland Athletics. Geren's assignment on the major-league staff will be determined later.


Geren, 41, has guided the River Cats to a 231-201 record and two Pacific Coast League Southern Division titles in 2000 and 2001.


He joined the A's organization in 1999 as manager of the single-A Modesto A's. His professional career spanned 15 seasons, including five years in the major leagues with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres.

This is a great move by the A's. Geren had all of the A's players at one time and has seen them devlop under his watch and from afar. Geren offers a good personality mix as he has a dry sense of humor that can keep the edge off while still maintaining focus.

Last year's River Cats record was an aberration as the top River Cats players were already playing for the A's. It didn't make a lot of sense to have Geren waiting two years until the most recent slew of draft picks get moved up to AAA.

F.P. Santangelo might be in line for a coaching job with the River Cats or even stepping right in to the manager's role.

Thad Bosley, the A's hitting coach, being released or even reassigned within the organization is not a bad move, either. Watching Eric Chavez struggle at the plate last season ate a hole in our collective stomachs. Terrence Long would be the Exhibit A, though. A complete flop as a hitter and a liability in the field.

Miggi Wins MVP

Foregone conclusion made public.


It's not even worth arguing. If you want to send your A-Rod emails, fine. Just know that we're going to nod in agreement and then mention, 'Most Valuable Player', not "most valuable stats".


On a team that won 20 straight despite looking very AAA at times early in the season, Miggy had big at-bats and in June/July was the only Oakland Athletic hitting consistently. Where was his 'protection'? He didn't have A 15 year veteran or a perennial All-World player around him. He didn't play in a launching pad.

He had a number of excuses he could have used.


His defense was first rate. Watch the plays. They are all over the highlight reels. Watch his defense. His non-plays were first rate. Stopping balls from going into the outfield with a runner on second when 29 other short-stops would let the ball go through.


Is there a stat for that? Yup, he didn't make an impossible play despite getting to the ball, mark him down on range. A 'better' short stop would have know not to even bother to go after it and backed up the second baseman.


Look at the big hits, the little hits. Did anyone expect this year from Miggi? Did anyone say, "he has to do more"?


How could he have done more?


Would padding his stats have helped the A-Rod worship crowd?


Doubt it.

Sacks and Sacks of Letters...

Billy to Make it Beanetown?

"Hi, I was just wondering what you thought about the possibility of Billy Beane leaving for Boston. I was never a fan of the A's growing up, but have really become fascinated with them in the past few years. I think that it is almost solely because of Beane's work. He is amazing, the smartest GM I have ever seen. To me, his departure would be a devastating blow. Right now, the A's are my pick for the 2003 WS, but without Beane, I think that they will be extremely lucky to make the playoffs. And this with little hope for future improvement. Am I overreacting, or do you agree that Beane leaving would cripple the franchise?" - Arron Scruggs


A.S.-

No, we don't think it would cripple the franchise. We actually think it would be helpful in several ways. Just as a new CEO might be better for a company after a few years to adjust the overall vision. Beane has a stranglehold on the organization and I think asst GM Paul DePodesta is more than ready to take over. If push comes to shove DePodesta might be more willing to take a risk here and there whereas Beane would not. Beane not only is competing, as it were, against the rest of the American League, he's now in the category of competing against his perception and stature. That's a tall order.


The A's are already in for a bit of a change (Howe/Macha) and have adjusted to change in the past (McGwire/trades/Giambi/more trades/Isringhausen/trades/Durham?).


Most recent reports have Beane staying in the East Bay (update: Beane actually made himself available to the Boston media to explain his decision out of reverence to the Boston mob, er, fans).


It might have opened the door for a possible trade between the Red Sox and A's, later, if Beane was given enough information on their minor league system...which is in shambles. Boston is more than a five year plan away from being successful and two years away from the playoffs. That's why we think Beane passed.




Litmus Test (on paper)


If the A's and Sox make a trade, then you'll know things may not be so bad in non-Beanetown. If they do not, recently hired Bill James might ask that all of the Red Sox games be played on the theoretical plane and there be no players above replacement level allowed at Fenway.


There had been talk of Beane taking the Padres job a few months ago. Oddly, the Giants never came up. Makes you think. Even then, his family was an issue. Billy is a decent guy. Well, except torturing us with Terrence Long.

NOTE: Blogger has not restablished our site and many of our links and the entire archive is missing. It's now getting ugly. Blogger's HQ is in San Francisco so we are heading there tonight.

Non-Issue

On a non-relaetd issue;


If you would like to find information about stand up comedian David Feldman go to www.davidfeldman.org and send him an email.

Why is it that when you want to find specific information on the web you can't get it but you've somehow got so much useless information right in your face distracting you?

Zito Snaps Streak

Barry Zito snapped the A's streak of being runners up in the AL Cy Young race. Tim Hudson was runner up in 2000 ,Mark Mulder was screwed out of the award in 2001 to Roger Clemens (please, there's not even an argument to make).

Zito had his back up against the wall as most pundits had Pedro Martinez winning the award. Many pointed to Pedro's stats and those of Derek Lowe and tried to make an argument. Win Shares had Zito ahead. Zito had the better numbers for a starting pitcher. Still, some go by the linear thinking of counting stats and get caught in the turnstiles.

Every other 'minor' pitcher award gave Zito the nod.

Who would you think was the better pitcher; the guy who performed well against the tough teams or a pitcher who performed below average or average at best against tough teams, especially when it mattered?

Zito was the best starting pitcher in the American League in 2002. It angers us to see it becasue Zito will demand at least $1 million more a year on the open market in a few years. Agents love awards.

Still, many have Zito 'edging' Martinez for the award.

HUH?


Zito got 17 1st place votes and 114 points. Martinez had 11 first place votes and 96 points.

17-11, if it's a football game it's a close game. If it's baseball, it's a slugfest. In this case Zito got 60% of the first place votes. We're leaning toward a walk. Not a cake walk. Maybe just a stroll.

114-96. If it's a basketball game it was a crushing defeat. Nearly 20 points. Well, maybe a cruising win.

When they announce the AL MVP a few dolts will talk about how the award is not for the best player on a pennant winner. Well, the award isn't for the guy with the best stats, either.

Offense counts, but stats don't always tell the tale-it's harder to hit when you need to win a game rather than when it doesn't really matter.


Defense counts, and you can't gauge defense with numbers-you need to apply the numbers to see how they matter.

Who is the better defender; the guy who gets to a lot of balls others can't and makes the plays (and several fantastic plays) or the guy who gets to the balls he's supposed to and makes all the plays he's suppsoed to with a highlighter every month or so?

Depends on who you ask and how they understand the game.

Who's the better player; the guy who needs to try and hit the ball the other way to advance a runner if he can't get an inside pitch to turn on or the guy who can swing away no matter what the score or situation?

Depends on who you ask and how they don't understand the game.

Value has it's own meaning and until you understand what value is you can't make a judgement call. The MVP ballots are vague and don't offer any hints on which way voters need to vote. MLB lists criteria and then leaves it up to the baseball writers to try and make a case without writing a word. For guys who like to shoot off their mouths a lot (why is it that writers do that, shouldn't they have picked a different profession) it becomes a hit or miss transaction.

Terry Francona?

Maybe it was like picking Dan Quayle as vice president. You knew nobody would go after the president if Quayle were waiting in the wings.

Former Philadelphia manager Terry Francona was picked as the Oakland Athletics' bench coach on Wednesday.

Francona's track record, well, it stinks.

2001 Special assistant to baseball operations for the Cleveland Indians
2000: Bench coach in Texas.
1997-2000: 285-363 overall record.
1996 Third-base coach for Detroit.
Managed Team USA to a silver medal in the 2001 Baseball World Cup in Taipei, Taiwan.

Bob Geren was the better choice. We can only hope Billy Beane is keeping Geren in Sacramento and plans to bring him up to the big club in 3 years when the latest batch of prospects comes through.

Right now Geren has a stock of organizational warriors and replacement level players to chide and coddle until the kids are ready to get out of single and double A.