During my first stint living in the Bay Area, I spent a lot of time watching A’s broadcasts on local TV. There was usually one broadcast on a weekday night, and one broadcast on the weekend–usually on Sunday, preceded by Mel Allen on "This Week in Baseball." I remember back to when I was at…
I realize this is going to seem like piling on, but I want to talk a little bit about Wednesday’s three-way deal. The latest Allard Baird silliness has garnered most of the attention, but it’s really an interesting trade on all sides. The A’s added a right-handed hitter to play right field and bat fifth….
For this week’s column, I can either excoriate Allard Baird in print for the hundredth time, or I can open the ol’ mailbag. And since my lawyer friends insist that "battery" covers written as well as verbal threats, I’ll let reader Greg Godowsky defuse a touchy situation with his question: I don’t know if this…
TRANSACTION ANALYSIS For the love of God! Where is Transaction Analysis?!? Please Chris, take mercy on my soul and post a new Transaction Analysis! –AC Well, it should hopefully warm your heart to hear that TA is gearing up for daily coverage of the trading deadline action, starting on Friday. Sorry about the quiet period,…
(Ed. note: The unofficial kickoff to Rumor Week got the staff here at BP riled.) Rany Jazayerli: The following deal is about to take place: Kansas City trades Jermaine Dye to Oakland, which trades Mario Encarnacion, Jose Ortiz, and a pitcher to Colorado, which trades Neifi Perez to… Do I need to finish the sentence?…
IN THIS ISSUE American League National League
The promised run through the NL stats: The NL MVP race: PA AVG OBP SLG EqA RARP VORP R RBI Luis Gonzalez 438 .342 .435 .725 .363 58.8 68.6 83 94 Barry Bonds 403 .290 .474 .778 .399 73.1 75.5 72 78 Barry Bonds still gets my vote, but his slight decline since June at…
I know we went around the AL last Friday, and I’d planned to look at the NL today, but I’m pushing that back for a day. I want to point out some mediocy from last night’s A’s/Royals game. Down 4-2 in the top of the ninth with no one out and Jeremy Giambi on first…
DUDE, WHERE’S MY WALK? "I’ve thought for a while that he’s the best player in the history of the game. Name someone better." —Brady Anderson, Orioles outfielder, on Giants outfielder Barry Bonds "Bonds is way better. Look at the walks, dude." –Anderson, responding to ‘Willie Mays‘ "It’s all about on-base percentage. That’s the most important…
Just riffing as I look at the AL stats: I haven’t mentioned him in a while, so here’s a Garret Anderson update. He’s walked 15 times–just 12 times on his own–in more than 400 plate appearances, and his OBP is once again under .300. Here’s some perspective: Anderson is playing every day and taking no…
Who’s more crack-addled? The Detroit Tigers for offering Roger Cedeno a three-year deal worth $4.5 million annually, or Cedeno for turning it down? Cedeno is 26, with career numbers of .277/.356/.370, and he’s perhaps a 50/15 SB/CS guy. How does this guy push your club towards a championship at that price? As a fourth outfielder,…
This week’s question comes from Nate Calvin, who also happens to be an old college buddy of mine: Sandy Alderson is in hot water for trying to get the umps to drop game pitch counts from 285 to 270 by calling more strikes. I believe pitchers average a little over five pitches per out, so…
The A’s have moved to within six games of the wild card after a terrible start, and are looking like the team we all thought would be the scourge of the American League. With the team playing great baseball, ESPN.com is reporting that Oakland A’s co-owner Steve Schott is pushing for the team to trade…