Hey, Look Over There! It’s an A’s Preview!
Recently I was asked to do a preview of the Oakland A’s for Chad Gramling’s Baseball Blog, one of the sites I read on a regular basis. Well, I’ve now written it, and it’s been posted.
I’m not very optimistic about the A’s, but I’m still going to pick them as the team to beat in the AL West. Perhaps that’s a compromise between my fandom and sense of reality, but I’ll stand behind it.
Here’s my personal favorite part:
I’m not going to address the mangerial change from Ken Macha to Bob Geren, because I’m a firm believer in the idea that the manager has about as much influence on the team’s success as the bat-boy does. Sure, Geren will make sure the right guys are in the lineup against left-handers, and put in Huston Street in the ninth, but that’s about it. The only way he’ll have a significant impact is if he consciously tries to hurt the team by doing any of the following:
- Putting Erubiel Durazo in the field
- Using Mike Piazza as a catcher
- Letting Antonio Perez hit
- Antagonizing Milton Bradley
- Using Huston Street before the ninth
- Looking at Bobby Crosby or Rich Harden the wrong way, causing them to get injured.
- Accidentally sending the team out without gloves
Although, I’m fond of this passage, too.
There are a lot of barriers standing in the way to the A’s getting back to the playoffs. Luckily, the Los Angeles Angels of Contractual Obligation did essentially nothing to improve, wasted tons of cash on a now-PED-implicated Gary Matthews Jr, and have injuries throughout. Texas still lacks pitching, although Ron Washington just might turn that club around. And Seattle… well, Seattle has Bill Bavasi to keep the A’s at the top of the division. Head over to USS Mariner or Lookout Landing to witness the rending of garments over Bavasi’s every move to destroy the Mariners.
February 28th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
Really enjoyed your A`s preview! Just one thought though:
How can you post this:
I’m not going to address the managerial change from Ken Macha to Bob Green, because I’m a firm believer in the idea that the manager has about as much influence on the team as the bat-boy does.
and this:
Texas still lacks pitching, although Ron Washington just might turn that club around.
in the same post? Did the first comment only apply to your opinion about A`s managers under Beane? Or do you feel that Wash would make one hell of a bat-boy?
February 28th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
That’s a good point about the managers. I think my reasoning was this:
- In Oakland, the manager doesn’t do a lot.
- The difference between Showalter and Washington is pretty vast.
- Also, I was a bit tired when I wrote that, so yes, it’s not completely self-consistent. You caught me.
March 1st, 2007 at 8:35 pm
It`s a very interesting topic, the influence of the manager on the club, and I surely can`t claim any insight on it. Half of me agrees with the Beane philosophy while the other half… well players are people, and I know whenever I have bad boss, or shitty work environment, I don`t apply myself nearly as hard as I could.
There was a very interesting post about it on Beyond The Boxscore a week or so ago. Maybe here:
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/main/2
Either way I`m really enjoying your blog. Keep up the good work, and keep those graphics comin! And have fun in Arizona!!