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Even without Fred Lewis in the lineup yesterday I really enjoyed seeing how the new speed can create runs in this lineup.  In the fifth inning, Burris hit what would have been a single for 90% of other players but stretched it out into a double.  A groundout to second moved him to third, and then a groundout to first scored him.  Seeing the Giants get a run with only one hit is something that’s been foreign to fans over the last few years.  I think we’re looking at a *much* better offense this year … We know that Travis Ishikawa isn’t going to be having too many multi-homerun games in the regular season, but it was great to see the power yesterday.  I feel a lot better about having a young guy like this at 1B than dinosaurs like Klesko or Aurilia, and that swing looked sweet yesterday … Lowry’s elbow is apparently still on the skids so it looks like Sanchez has the edge on the number five spot … And somehow I missed this great New York Times article from a couple of days ago about Randy Johnson’s career and reputation.

ST Game #1, A’s/Brewers: 3-3

Yes, a tie in the desert. In 10 innings the Brew-Crew tied with the A’s. Its like kissing your sister. Travis Buck and Bobby Crosby both had good showings today, both hitting home runs, Buck a two run HR, and Crosby a solo-shot. Outman looked good in two inning of work, 2 innings, 1 hit, 1 K. Out of all pitchers, Schorder made the best showing, by striking out 2 batters in one inning.

Notables: Holliday, 1 for 3 , Giambi, 0 for 3

Box Score

The A’s will be taking on the Angels tomorrow at 12:05

That is it for today, more updates tomorrow!

Brett Anderson

As my mom has always said “The cream rises to the top.” Im going to count down the top players that could make Oakland  coaches jump out of their chairs.

#1 Chis Carter 1b, 3b, and OF

Baseball America ranked Chris Carter as the A’s 6th best prospect. He was also named by Baseball America as the A’s “top power hitter”.

Minor League Stats: 39 HRs, 104 RBIs, .259 AVG

#2  Cliff Pennington SS, 2B, 3B and DH

Baseball America called Cliff the A’s “Best Defensive fielder,”  “Best Infield Arm,” and “Best Strikezone Discipline.” His batting stats do not jump out and reach you but, he seems productive enough.

#3 The Early Risers for the A’s rotation

Brett Anderson was named by Baseball America the A’s top prospect, “Best Slider,” and “Best Control.”

Trevor Cahill was named by Baseball America as the A’s second best prospect and “Best Curveball.”

Michael Iona was named by Baseball America as the A’s third best prospect.

Hope this helps for A’s fans looking forward to srping training.

Eric Chavez, good fielder, bad batter

Mr. Chavez, why have you done nothing?

So much potential, and now he is a huge flop. Chavez was very promising young player. He was drafted in the first round (10th pick) by the A’s, in what seemed like another great move for the A’s. He has only had one stand-out season since he has been playing as an Athletic. He has been popular among the fans, but in these past few seasons he has been plagued by injuries and poor play.

Career Stats: .269 Batting average, 776 RBIs, 229 HRs, in 4642 games. Not productive at all. The only thing Eric had going for him was his amazing glove, with 6 gold gloves, one of the best at third base. He had a couple of good playoffs series, but the A’s lost both when he did good. But the A’s have been paying him way too much money, the total amount he has gained since he has been an Athletic has been $51,191,000. They wasted that money when they could have been keeping future star players for about one more year. He is a waste of money! I dont understand why Beane has kept him, espcially the way he has played the last 3 seasons. I could see him leaving Oakland by the trade deadline, but Beane might not do that.

There is only a couple reasons why beane would keep this bum

• He is a fan faveorite
• It is hard to find a solid third basemen
• If he goes without injuries he could be somewhat productive

But these are not really good reasons.

The Rotation: A’s News and Notes

Molder could return to the A’s

A report from the San Francisco Chronicle beat writer Susan Slusser said that Mulder could be one of the last addtions to the A’s roster this spring. The A’s will be attending his bullpen sesion.

“I’d love to be out there, but what I was doing the last couple of years wasn’t fair to me and it wasn’t fair to the Cardinals, and I’m not going to do that to another team,” Mulder told The Chronicle. “I’m not going to say I’m ready to roll and sign with someone until I can repeat side sessions and repeat them again with no issues, no doubt in my head, no setbacks.”

It would be a good addtion to a very young rotation for the A’s. The former member of the “Big Three” could be back in Oakland.

Nomar

If you have read my past articles, you know my hatred for Lew Woff. Wolff was looking at site in Fremont for there new stadium “Cisco Field” which came to a abrupt stop a couple days ago. “To tell you the truth, I don’t really have a Plan B,” Wolff said. “Right now, I’m going to take a breath and think things out. I’m not really sure things would be any easier in Omaha, either.” Really Wolff? Omaha?

A’s Looking at Garciaparra

The A’s have expressed interest in Nomar Garciaparra, apparently it is pretty serious. Nomar, is also looking at a deal in Philly. The A’s have not dropped intrest in Orlando Cabrera according to a source. The A’s are also looking at a couple pitchers: Dennys Reyes and Andrew Sisco. Sisco in a Minor League Contract.

Cactus League Starters

Left-Handers Josh Outman and Gio Gonzales will be the first two pitchers for the A’s Cactus league opener vs. Milwaukee. Sean Gallagher is set too start game two.

The evil Tyrant himslef, Lew Woff

A day after I wrote an Article on how the A’s owners should reconsider building Cicsco Field, the next day they cancel it. How funny? Did I get to them? Nah!

The Oakland A’s have asked the city of Fremont to stop the planning process for building a stadium in the city, various agencies are reporting. The move is not much of a surprise — rumors had been circulating this week that the team was reconsidering its plans to build the stadium in Fremont. Fremont Mayor Bob Wasserman told The San Francisco Chronicle that he thinks “this means the A’s aren’t going to build this here, at least not at that site.”

The A’s should really consider buying out Golden Gate Fields.

This should be obvious to Lew Wolff! Just look around! Why Fremont? You really think that the fan base will just love you if you build a nice stadium and slap a corporate name on their like “Cisco Field”? I don’t think so!

I dont think so!

This ball-club has moved too much. They have been too Kansas City and Philly. They have built up some history in Oakland, so why move? Walter Haas is rolling in in grave (RIP Walter).

Here is solution Mr. Wolff: Use your b-r-a-i-n

I guarantee that 90% of your fan base will not be happy, and 30% will become Giants fans!

Here are some good options, with out moving away from Oakland

1. Buy Out Golden Gate Fields

This place has no future, they just want somebody to take it away. Wolff, buy this place, it is perfect! It is right on the San Francisco bay, just as easy to get there as getting to the Colosseum, and the fans would be happy!

2.  Spruce up the Old Yard

Everybody knows how bad the A’s park is. It is shared with the Raiders, not good. Trust me, Candlestick park was bad enough. If the Wolff could work out a agreement with Al Davis (shivers) they could fork up the money to fix up the park! They could make is look nice.

Im sure there are more solutions out there, so please, leave a comment, I would love to hear about what you have to say.

-Harrison

This section of my writing you will see a lot, here are some random blurbs about the A’s:

Ziegler Named to Team USA for WBC:

Brad Zielger, as all A’s fans know, put up amazing relief numbers with a 1.06 ERA , and posted up a big league record with 39 inning scoreless streak. “I’ve wanted this opportunity for a long time,” Ziegler said Wednesday. “I campaigned to get on the Olympic team last year but then I was called up. To have the opportunity to wear the stars and stripes, and play with some of the elite names in baseball, is just incredible” (USA Today).

Oakland A’s New

Ziegler

stadium delayed

The Oakland Athletics are reportedly delaying and possibly halting a move to Fremont because of opposition from residents who live near the team’s proposed stadium site. I like this, the A’s just need to spruce up the Colosseum and make it nicer, or just find a place in Oakland to build a new stadium. I will rant about the A’s owner soon enough, don’t worry.

That is about it for our favorite team. Just so you know, I’m working on a couple articles about the idiotic A’s owner Lew Wolff, and a new feature about A’s prospects. See you guys later

-Harrison

I must be honest, I went through mixed emotions on this one:

1. This is not like Billy Beane at all! What is he thinking?
2. They dont have the money to keep him
3. Maybe he will get traded during the deadline? Get some prospects?
4. No, no, no! The A’s are trying to sell tickets
5. What is Beane up to?

If there is one thing we learned from Beane, is that he is unpredictable. At any given moment he could trade away a top player (Moneyball), and we would get mixed emotions. But the other thing I have learned, is that whatever he does works. So he is up to something with Holliday, so here is what you can expect: Matt Holliday is one of the players I have watched over the years, he is the next great player. I always thought that, way before he made that slide in the 2007 AL West playoff game. He has a hard work ethic that nobody can ruin.

Here are some Stats:

2004: In 121 games he had a .290 batting average, 57 RBIs, 14 HRs, and 116 Gits

2005: In 125 Games he had a .307 batting average, 87 RBIs, 19 HRs, and 147 hits

2006: In his breakout year (that nobody noticed), in 155 games he had a .326 batting average, 114 RBIs, 34 HRs, and 196 hits. 15th in MVP voting.

2007: In what everybody thought was his breakout year, in 158 games he had a .340 batting average, 137 RBIs, 36 HRs, and 216 hits. Finished 2nd in MVP voting

2008: In 139 games, he had a .321 batting average, 88 RBIs, 25 HRs, and 173 hits. All of that in a shortened season

Some may say his number will drop in a park like the Coliseum. But they wont. The best Baseball players adapt to ballparks, Holliday is one of the best! So A’s fans, you now have an excuse to go to the park this season. But how long will he last? Do the A’s have the money to keep him? I say no, but the world of Bill Beane is seriously unpredictable.

Well, I’m here to post for the A’s in ‘09. I’m not an A’s fan, I respect the team, and follow them, but I’m not a fan. Let me get this off my chest and say: I’m a Die-Hard Giants fan. I would have been posting for the Giants but, a fellow poster has that spot taken. Kudos to you! But, I’m certainly happy to be covering the A’s.
Let me tell you a bit about myself
* I live in The Napa Valley, CA (the North Bay)
* I was born in Cupertino, but moved with my family to St. Helena when I was three
* Baseball is not the only sport I love. I’m also a huge Cal Bears, Kings, Sharks, and 49ers fan, I love them all.
* Yes, I may be a Giants fan, but the A’s are the only team I have seen live in the playoffs (’06 Division Series)

That is just a little bit about myself, no here is what I will be talking about
* I am here to bring you A’s baseball coverage, that includes:  The future of Matt Holiday, Billy Beane, daily news, My hatred of the A’s owner, and a break down of A’s prospects and players, and the need for a new Stadium.

* I’m not here to talk about Steroids

Well, that is all I have to talk about right now, but, either tonight, or tomorrow I will post what the trade for Matt Holiday means for the A’s.

P.S. My name is Harrison, Go A’s! Also, thanks Jeff for this job, it is awesome!

2006 ALDS