Friday, October 29, 2004
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SHARPEN THOSE PENS
SHARPEN THOSE PENS
Here is a preliminary list of free agents to be; the list is expected to grow in the coming weeks.
A few left-handers on the list will go quickly.
Here is the list of minor league free agents, courtesy of Baseball America. Over the weekend I'll give the thumbs up or thumbs down on the A's players and some others that the A's might snatch up from other organizations.
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 10:04 AM
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Wednesday, October 27, 2004
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GOD TO BOSTON RED SOX FANS:
YOU WON
NOW QUIT WHINING YOU SNIVELLING LITTLE BITCHES
GOD TO BOSTON RED SOX FANS:
YOU WON
NOW QUIT WHINING YOU SNIVELLING LITTLE BITCHES
...AND LEAVE ME ALONE FOR THE NEXT 86 YEARS
Tony LaRussa is a moron.
ANYWAY
The Motley Fool has an extensive interview with Micahel Lewis. It's heavy on investing but evaporates on the upside. That's a link to part III.
Here is Part I.
Here is Part II.
There's some interesting tidbits for you to peruse.
I'm going to do some laundry and some controlled breathing exercises.
...and maybe look at Amazon.com stock, again.
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 8:41 PM
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WELCOME THE UNINVITED
WELCOME THE UNINVITED
Just when you think you have seen it all...
The Oakland A's today made public the hiring of Rene Lachemann."I think it was important to have someone in the position who had previous managerial experience, and Rene obviously fits that bill. He is an outstanding baseball man with a tremendous amount of experience both as a manager and coach. He will be very helpful on the bench and in the clubhouse."
- Ken Macha, on the hiring of SCAPEGOATBench Coach, Rene Lachemann
What was it that I said last week about "he's a good baseball man"? Well, Lachemann is an "outstanding baseball man"...
What does this mean? You really need to take the blinders off. Re-read the Press Release.
Notice that Billy Beane is not quoted. It is Ken Macha who is quoted.
Could this be a sign that Benae is giving Macha as much slack as he wants to hang himself?
One could only hope to guess.
Usually there is some interplay between Manager and Bench Coach. So it goes without saying that Beane is lettign Macha choose his own bench coach. When it hits the fan in late April/early May and if A's are failing, Macha has no more excuses.
Billy Beane has not fired a manager in his tenure, but he has had an itchy trigger finger in the past. Lachemann would not be a choice as manager should Macha be sent packing, no matter what Macha thinks. Lachemann has never managed a team that finished above .500 or a team that finished better than 3rd in its own division.
Somewhere in the MLB article/press realease it states the A's have retianed Ron Washington, Curt Young, Dave Hudgens, Bob Geren and Brad Fischer for at least one more year.
In the short term it means that Ron Washington and Bob Geren are denied chances of moving up. Also, Tony DeFrancesco in Sacramento is kept at bay...in the valley.
On a trivia note:Bob geren was once involved in a trade for Nick Swisher's father, Steve Swisher. December 10, 1980: Sent by the San Diego Padres to the St. Louis Cardinals to complete an earlier deal made on December 8, 1980. The San Diego Padres sent a player to be named later, Rollie Fingers, Bob Shirley, and Gene Tenace to the St. Louis Cardinals for Terry Kennedy, Steve Swisher, Mike Phillips, John Littlefield, John Urrea, Kim Seaman, and Al Olmsted. The San Diego Padres sent Bob Geren (December 10, 1980) to the St. Louis Cardinals to complete the trade.
Information provided by Baseball Reference
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 1:36 PM
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LISTEN, READ, THINK, SHUT THE ....UP!
LISTEN, READ, THINK, SHUT THE ....UP!
Okay, very quickly, because I have a meeting to get to. Several readers have written and asked a few questions and several others have pointed me toward articles.
Look:
- If the Boston Red Sox win the World Series, the 'Curse' is not lifted.
The Curse doesn't exist (well, the website does) in the first place, so how can something that does not exist suddenly go away?
- If Boston wins the World Series, it is proof positive that Moneyball works.
For the billionth time, MONEYBALL IS A BOOK. It's not a story. Michael Lewis did not create the tale. Moneyball is ABOUT a story. Lewis did not have carte blanch throughout the A's organization. He did not write a textbook on how to run an organization. He didn't teach Bill James in a summarized fashion. He wrote about a story, that is all.
- The A's are going to trade Barry Zito, or Mark Mulder, or...
No trades are going to occur for several weeks when the Winter Meetings begin in Anaheim. Billy Beane has entertained the idea of trading himself. No player is out of the realm of possibilities. Further, the front offices of baseball teams cannot comment on individual players and whether they are involved in trades or not. Remember, the A's front office is all of two people: Billy Beane and David Forst. If it didn't come from their mouth, just pass it off as a rumor or an urban legend. Weren't the A's supposed to get Placido Polanco - what happened? Rumors running rampant.
- The A's are moving to San Jose, or Portland, or Las Vegas.
Schott y Hoffman are exploring every avenue to get a better bargaining position. The traditional method of holding the city hostage by threatening to move really has not been kicked into high gear. The rumors you hear are just those vapors getting loose. The A's are going anywhere, so go buy season tickets.
For the last time; if Boston wins the World Series it is not a validation of Moneyball. It simply means that a team with a $140 million payroll can win the World Series against poor competition.
If you don't understand that concept, then you didn't understand the premise of Moneyball; maximizing wins with a limited payroll. It all comes back to Doug Pappas and wins per dollar.
Send me your queries; I'll answer them at the end of the day.
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 7:31 AM
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Monday, October 25, 2004
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CRUD, DOES THAT BOOGER EATING SPAZ MAKE ME WANT TO PUKE
CRUD, DOES THAT BOOGER EATING SPAZ MAKE ME WANT TO PUKE
Okay, this is just wrong.
Greg Kinnear continually getting work is bad enough, but remaking the Bad News Bears?
What the ....?
Can't Hollywood get a decent script? Why do they have to retool classics to expose what tools they are?
It's another ploy to lure people who love the original movie/tv show/etc. from the past and get them into the movie theater on the cache of the name alone. Freaky Friday, I Spy (actually, any Eddie Murphy movie), Alien vs Predator, The Exorcist: the Beginning, The Manchurian Candidate, Around the World in 80 Days, Scooby-Doo, Spiderman, the Thuderbirds...it even gets to concepts, Harold & Kumar go to White Castle, Dogdgeball: A True Underdog Story.
Ugh.ANYWAY
If you have been wondering why Baseball Prospectus is having an off year, (really, just so-so) look no further than the absence of Gary Huckabay.
Gary was very selfish in 2003 and along with his wife decided to start a family. So, Gary went a head and took some time to be with his growing family and concentrate on his other projects during the 2004 season.
Thus, robbing us of insight and commentary that makes baseball a better game and the internet a place to spend worthwhile time.
And to make it worse, it has left me wanting for Texas Hold 'em.
If you have not been to a BP Pizza Feed where Gary is present, then you have not been to a BP Pizza Feed...and you may not have really tasted pizza. Gary is a guy who can own a room.
Gary took some time last week and endured a BP Chat session. There is some interesting tidbits of info there, but always Gary's sardonic wit and he goes out on a high note. The man knows showmanship.
There will be a few Pizza Feeds this off-season and I'll work my angle to hopefully get him to commit to an all A's feed at some point.
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 9:12 AM
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Sunday, October 24, 2004
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PUMPKININNY
PUMPKININNY
Sorry. Busy with cult ceremonial carvings.
Extreme Pumpkins.
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 4:51 PM
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Friday, October 22, 2004
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WHERE ARE THEY?
WHERE ARE THEY?
Below are some numbers on the A's players in the AFL. Dan Johnson is in the Mexican League at Hermosillo with Matt Watson. I'm going to try and find where everybody is and round up the stats.
MEXICAN LEAGUE (as of 10/20/04)
BATTERS G AB R H TB 2B 3B HR RBI BB AVG OBP SLG Matt Watson 6 25 2 5 8 0 0 1 5 2 .200 .286 .320 Dan Johnson 6 19 3 4 8 2 0 0 3 4 .211 .316 .348 PITCHERS W-L SV ERA G AB TBF IP H R ER BB SO HR Mario Ramos 0-1 0 3 1 . . 12 7 4 4 3 11 1
ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE (as of 10/21/04)
BATTERS G AB R H TB 2B 3B HR RBI BB DP AVG OBP SLG John Baker 7 18 2 3 4 1 0 0 2 4 2 .167 .318 .222 Jeremy Brown 4 5 1 1 2 1 0 0 2 2 0 .200 .429 .400 Jason Perry 8 31 7 10 21 2 0 3 9 2 1 .323 .364 .677 Omar Quintanilla 8 30 6 9 13 2 1 0 6 2 3 .300 .344 .433 PITCHERS W-L SV ERA G AB TBF IP H R ER BB SO HR Steve Obenchain 0- 1 0 10.57 3 33 40 7.2 12 9 9 5 6 2 Huston Street 0- 0 3 1.17 5 28 29 7.2 7 1 1 0 8 0
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 11:23 AM
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BOW TIE
BOW TIE
UNHAPPY IS THE FATE OF ONE WHO TRIES TO WIN HIS BATTLES AND SUCCEED IN HIS ATTACKS WITHOUT CULTIVATING THE SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE;
FOR THE RESULT IS WASTE OF TIME AND GENERAL STAGNATION.
- The Art of War -
For a few weeks, well, since the end of the season, I have been contemplating change. Specifically that of the Oakland A's bullpen. I have delved into philosophical readings and re-read the oldies; Marx, Goethe, Plato, Lennon and McCartney. I skimmed, I read the Republic for the umpteenth time, I read Homer and watched the Season 4 DVD of the Simpsons.
Then I went into the business world to try and find a model for change that could encapsulate the philosophical process of change and the inherent difficulties and constants. Perhaps that could set a model and keep risk management in the forefront. I whipped through a couple of those business books and manuals. I re-read Moneyball...not really for any tips, but for an upcoming series titled What Book Were You Reading?.
Change is not something that has a norm. Change, initiated or otherwise as an eventuality comes from a vast breadth. The ranging discourse it provides and compels can be simplistic in nature or convoluted and masking. In the end, change is a bow tie.
You heard me.
Think of one end of the tied bow tie. It is wrapped and folded into a knot that eventually comes out the other side and appears the same as its polar opposite. Is one side different than the other; did actual change occur?
You are missing the point.
Change is that what came before and that what comes after. Change is the constant. Not matter what affect change has, it is still part of the same stream of being. The effects of change are based on its being in the first place.
I see that I am losing you.
Here it is in the basic terms; no matter what changes the A's make with their bullpen - it will still be a common facet of the overall being of the A's. The new bullpen will be because of the old bullpen. The players who failed will be replaced or remodeled based on their previous performances. The philosophy of usage patterns and misgivings are inherent.
At this point, this is when you throw the philosophy book against the wall.
Still, the new pen will be a part of the old pen.
All change folds into itself to create the end effect, which in itself is never finished.
I could have used the imagery of a waterfall; water bends from a river and falls but in the end is still water. Or, a wheat thresher. Or, jet propulsion via liquid fuels.
But bow tie works.
The Individual The Organization What the...? Inventory. Review the goals of the organization. Establish a general understanding of these goals with ownership, administration and management.
Promote abilities. Review abilities of players under control of organization. Review what the resources are with ownership and administration.
Survey external resources. Review external sources with ownership and administration.
Buy into the goals of the organization. Create a determination of needs. Review the basis of needs and alternatives, if any to meet the needs.
Create scenarios for meeting needs. Review scenarios with ownership and administration.
Revise scenarios -
Enable scenarios:
- No Change
- Trades
- Arbitration
- Promotion
Constantly revise scenarios as needed, update ownership and administration on changes.
Open discussions with external organizations and players. Address updated scenarios -
Let the fur fly.Weigh balance of needs against availability. Constantly update scenarios and needs as they are met or availability becomes an issue.
Trigger acquisition opportunities. Adjust scenarios.
Adjust to new formula. Contrast existing formula against previous formula. Create new model of operation. Analyze change process and update needs.
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 10:14 AM
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CHRIS SPEIER: HIRED
CHRIS SPEIER: HIRED
See, it's not so bad.
Even if you are bad at your job, someone will hire you, eventually. Art Howe got a new gig. Some day soon Ken Macha will find a job, too.
The interesting thing about Chris Speier's situation is that he appears to be a laid back guy and could be mistaken for your father's accountant. He doesn't seem to stick up for himself (see his firing by the A's) and he doesn't seem to want to question authority (see not begging Ken Macha to stop making moves).
If he can handle his booze, what a great addition for Dusty Baker - and what a horrible addition for the Chicago Cubs' fans.
Baker is on the short list of managers ready to be relocated in 2005. With Dusty's track record, it's like pulling teeth to say, even he will get a another shot at managing.
"I've known Chris for a long time, played against him for many years. He's a good baseball man, and a fine third-base coach and infield instructor. He's also a former Cub so he knows what it means to play in Chicago and to play in day games."
- Cubs Manager Dusty 'Don't blame me if we lost, I'm just the manager' Baker
Ah, the ever-present, "He's a good baseball man".
Somewhere, there's the definition of a 'good baseball man'. Usually it's of a guy who knows how to lose, how to keep his mouth shut about team matters (hookers, booze, drugs, illegitimate children, et al) and not use his brain.
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 8:47 AM
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Wednesday, October 20, 2004
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GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM
GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM
Question: What are you talking about?
Answer:Yahoo! News - XM Satellite Radio Confirms Deal With MLB
Question: What does this mean to me, the average baseball fan and rabid A's fan?
Nothing, until XM Radio hands out checks.
The worst that could happen is that MLB ends up with a failed satellite radio company in their laps. The best that can happen is a stream of revenue from subscribers and advertising and you can get MLB.com radio in your XM outfitted car with your team's radio broadcasters, wherever you are.
MLB has plans for a radio and TV network. What has not been discussed is what affect that will have on their current contracts with Fox, ESPN, Fox Sports Net and all of the local providers and teams with their own networks.
Is MLB shooting itself in the foot by cutting off revenue streams from FOX and ESPN? Are they shooting the foot that is already in its mouth? Or the foot that is attached to the leg they don't have to stand on?
Could the extra revenue mean the A's can get some funds for a new stadium...?
You really think that the A's would pay for the stadium out of the owner's profits?
Yes, they should, and could, but they won't. Hoffman y Schott will force the hands of the city of Oakland, Alameda County and MLB before they spend an extra dime one out of their own pocket.
Oh, sure they will put money, say $100 Million for the construction of a new stadium. But that $100 Million will represent less than 20% of the cost of construction and maintenance. But guess how much of the profits Hoffman y Schott will expect?
Give or take, oh gee, about 100% or more.
Should we, as A's fans fault them?
If you were to build, not buy, but, BUILD a new house and the city and county and say your local high school would pay a majority of the costs and handle all of the legal wrangling and public relations...wouldn't you jump at that chance?
No, we can't fault Hoffman y Schott. Yet.
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 2:40 PM
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Wednesday, October 13, 2004
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ABOVE SUSPISCION
ABOVE SUSPISCION
SPIES ARE USEFUL EVERYWHERE.
- The Art of War -
Sorry for the delay. I'm researching an article and working up the numbers for the closer situation. In addition, I start my new career tomorrow and I have not received an offer letter, yet...because it has not been mailed.
Doesn't speak much for the staff, does it?
Confidence abound.
There's not much news to report on the A's. All the moves made in the last week were expected.
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 5:03 AM
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ANALYSIS: OAKLAND ATHLETICS BULLPEN OPTIONS
ANALYSIS: OAKLAND ATHLETICS BULLPEN OPTIONS
EMPLOY THE ENTIRE ARMED FORCES LIKE EMPLOYING A SINGLE PERSON.
EMPLOY THEM WITH ACTUAL TASKS.
DO NOT TALK TO THEM.
MOTIVATE THEM WITH BENEFITS, DO NOT TELL THEM ABOUT HARM.
- The Art of War -
The string of closer feats has ended in Oakland. The A's had a string of four different closers in four consecutive years with at least 30 saves. They also had two closers with at least 40 saves over the last two seasons.
CLOSING TIME (click me)
Season Closer G IP H R ER HR BB SO W L SV HLD BLSV ERA 2000 Izzy 66 69 67 34 29 6 32 57 6 4 33 0 7 3.78 2001 Izzy 65 71.1 54 24 21 5 23 74 4 3 34 0 9 2.65 2002 Koch 84 93.2 73 38 34 7 46 93 11 4 44 0 6 3.27 2003 Foulke 72 86.2 57 21 20 10 20 88 9 1 43 0 5 2.08 2004 Rhodes 37 38.2 46 23 22 9 21 34 3 3 9 3 5 5.12 2004 Dotel 45 50.2 41 23 23 9 18 72 6 2 22 0 6 4.09
Sheesh.
That's a scary roller coaster if you plot some of those numbers on a graph.
Let's go a bit beyond the numbers. Let's look at acquisitions and mergers. Or, as some fans of a certain General Manager quip, "bread and butter".
Jason Isringhausen July 31, 1999 Traded by the New York Mets with Greg McMichael to the Oakland Athletics for Billy Taylor. November 5, 2001 Granted Free Agency. December 11, 2001 Signed as a Free Agent with the St. Louis Cardinals. Billy Koch December 7, 2001 Traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Oakland Athletics for Eric Hinske and Justin Miller. Keith Foulke December 3, 2002 Traded by the Chicago White Sox with catcher Mark Johnson, minor league pitcher Joe Valentine and cash considerations in exchange for closer Billy Koch and two minor leaguers (December 12, 2003 Chicago White Sox acquired minor league pitcher Neal Cotts and outfielder Daylan Holt from Oakland as players to be named in the Koch-Foulke deal) December 8, 2003 Keith Foulke Offered arbitration by the Oakland Athletics December 13, 2003 Boston Red Sox signed free-agent RHP Keith Foulke to a three-year deal that includes a vested option for a fourth year. Arthur Rhodes December 22, 2003 Signed free agent LHP Arthur Rhodes to a three-year contract with the Oakland Athletics Octavio Dotel June 24, 2004 The Oakland Athletics acquired RHP Octavio Dotel and cash from the Kansas City Royals in exchange RHP Mike Wood and 3B Mark Teahen. The Royals acquired Dotel from the Houston Astros along with C Jon Buck in exchange for OF Carlos Beltran.
Now, any of you who are watching the Houston Astros in the playoffs and thinking the same thing every time Carlos Beltran comes to the plate; "hey, there's that A's outfielder who doesn't wear an A's uniform"...
Anyway.
The Oakland A's front office stands at a crossroads.
They have several options available, and several options not available to them. Let's look at each in kind...
TO BE CONTINUED...
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 5:00 AM
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Tuesday, October 12, 2004
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ARISTOTLE'S POETICS, BOOK II
ARISTOTLE'S POETICS, BOOK II
SO WHAT KILLS THE ENEMY IS ANGER, WHAT GETS THE ENEMY'S GOODS IS REWARD.
- The Art of War -
NOTE: The Chris Speier content has been supplied, click here, or scroll down to the original post to read about his firing..
Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle is not funny. In fact, he is unfunny. There is a difference. There are people who do not have a sense of humor (even though they think they do) and, in turn are not funny. I call it; unfunny. It takes quite a bit of work to be that unfunny.
They try so hard to be funny and reverent and witty.
Jayson Stark of ESPN.com is a good example. Just not funny at all.
In his recent attempt, Ostler offends and shows how inept he is as a writer. Not only does he have, yet another retarded, 'fix' for teams walking Barry Bonds he deposits this brain dropping:"A's fans better hope Mark Mulder makes an announcement soon about arm surgery. Because if it's not a medical problem, Mulder's second-half collapse will make the Rick Ankiel mystery look like misplaced car keys."
WHAT THE FU..?
- Since when have injuries, particularly arm injuries to pitchers, been funny?
- Rick Ankiel was 'all over the place', Mulder just looked mechanically 'off'.
- "Mulder's second-half collapse" started before the All-Star Break, but that would mean Ostler did some research.
- Why would I, as an A's fan, want Mulder to have surgery on his arm, when the absence of a competent pitching coach and discerning manager were 85% of his trouble in 2004?
Scott Ostler probably needs a reference for a good proctologist as a few dozen A's fans are lining up to put their foot in his ass. It would not be a surprise to see General Manager Billy Beane or Assitant General Manager David Forst taking a number to take a whack at the moronic scribe.
Not that violence is a solution to any issue.
How do you feel about the situation?
Email Scott Ostler and let him know, I'm sure he can use a break from his required reading, "How to Write Comedy that is Actually Somewhat Funny".
E-mail Scott Ostler at sostler@sfchronicle.com.
HERE'S MY RESUME
Anyone looking for a job? Monster has an unusual entry you might be interested in:MONSTER JOB SEARCH: MLB BASEBALL COLUMNIST Company: MLB.com Location: US-CA-Oakland As @ Network Associates Coliseum
Salary/Wage: Competitive, commensurate with experience
Status: Part Time, Per Diem, Temporary/Contract/Project, Seasonal
Job Category: Sports and Recreation
MLB.com, the Official Site of Major League Baseball, is seeking columnists to help cover Major League Baseball for the 2005 season. We're interested in candidates with solid reporting skills and a strong voice who are as well versed in writing about the sport off the field as they are about the games themselves.
Responsibilities
* - Column writing from live games across the country, as well as the news of the day off the field.
* - Non-column writing that helps feed the beast that is a 24-by-7 deadline cycle.
* - Factual reporting; intelligent writing.
* - Nuanced analysis and insightful commentary.
* - Professional representation of our company inside and outside our walls.
Qualifications
* - Four-year degree preferred.
* - Passion for the sport, as well as a thorough knowledge of the sport.
* - Experienced in writing on deadline.
* - Able to produce clean, crisp copy.
* - Team player to work in field, as well as with editors.
* - Good communicator and well-organized.
* - Self-starter with a wealth of ideas.
* - Willing to travel.
* - Bilingual a plus.
Note: Baseball columnist job openings are subject to business requirements, and, as such, positions may not be available with respect to all MLB teams.
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 2:44 AM
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Monday, October 11, 2004
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CHRIS SPEIER: FIRED
CHRIS SPEIER: FIRED
Chris Speier was fired Monday as the Oakland Athletics Bench coach.
Semantically, Speier's contract was not renewed for 2005.
This move was expected and is a little transparent...and effectively accomplishes nothing.
I'll break down the issue later this evening.See below.
The Oakland Athletics Official Press Release "OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland A's announced today that they will not renew the contract of bench coach Chris Speier. The 2004 season marked Speier's third season on a major league coaching staff. He also served as the third base coach with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2000 and spent the 2001 season as the third base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Speier also managed for four seasons in the Arizona farm system after a 19-year career in the major leagues from 1971 to 1989. He had a .246 career batting average with 112 home runs and 720 RBI in 2260 major league games."
Since skipper Ken Macha scuttled the Oakland A's ship last on October 3rd there has been a lot of rumors swirling and lingering. Many thought that Ken Macha's offing was immanent. Others hinted at it. Until Billy Beane came out and gave Ken Macha the dreaded Vote of Confidence there was nothing but speculation to rest your suspicions upon.
Many forget the short leash that Art Howe had under Billy Beane. If it was not for Jason Giambi and Matt Stairs and a few other players who urged Beane to keep Howe, he probably was due to be out on his ass before 2000. Not so peculiar, then, that Howe was given the heave-ho after the 2002 season. Same as that Jason Giambi guy.
Now, with Ken Macha, things are a bit different. The A's have lost a hitting coach in Thad Bosley, a pitching coach in Rick Peterson, a bench coach in Terry Francona an assistant General Manager in Paul DePodesta, a scouting executive in Danny McCormack and a bench coach in Chris Speier.
It seems like everyone is getting the ax or a ticket to ride but Macha.
The Chris Speier issue is a red herring. It's window dressing. As A's fans we should be shocked, shocked to discover that the wool is being pulled over our eyes.
Josh Suchon of the Oakland Tribune got some good dirt on the Speier situation:
Suchon got good wood, er, dirt, but it doesn't wash.
I have no doubt that the quote is genuine, Suchon did a fine job getting the information, what I have concern is over the methodology by the A's manager with his coaching staff.
Is Macha actually suggesting by his actions that Chris Speier has 'the Book' on all of the A's match-ups and Macha looks solely to him for his pitching moves?
Pitchers need to get warmed up prior to coming into a game. So, there is more than enough time to second guess a decision and go over the numbers and the match-ups. Particularly if the pitcher is going to face more than one batter, you have to look several moves ahead.
What the hell does Curt Young do for a living, again? Is there some sort of pitching coach mantra involving keeping your distance from all things involving pitching that Young ascribes to?
Didn't Bob Geren get a little nervous down in the bullpen when Ricardo Rincon was warming up?
Does it really matter which left-hander Macha brought in, since the 2004 Arthur Rhodes is nothing like the previous year's models?
Didn't Damian Miller and Adam Melhuse mention that the move might be a bad idea?
Didn't Ricardo Rincon have something to say on the subject?
In the end, this is simply one bad bullpen decision of several dozen Macha made in 2004.
Sorry, I'll rephrase that and drive the point home:KEN MACHA, THE A'S MANAGER, MADE THE BULLPEN DECISIONS.
The fact that he did it with erroneous information is far removed from the point. In fact, it raises many, many MORE questions. How did Ken Macha, you know - the manager of the A's, not know of the numbers himself? How many times have the Angels played the A's in the last three years?
Ken Macha is responsible for any decisions made regarding in-game management, particularly pitching changes.
Macha, by allowing Speier to take the fall, is exemplifying poor skills as a leader.
It is Macha's duty to take responsibility for his coaching staff. By allowing any one of them to be singled out for blame he essentially cuts his own throat by exposing his coaches to scrutiny.
Macha has lost a hitting coach, a revered pitching coach and now two bench coaches in less than 18 mont
