Bay Area natives will always remember exactly where they were when it happened. I was at home, eating a Popsicle, waiting to watch game 3 of the 1989 World Series. in the middle of warmups and pregame commentary, as the hosting giants prepared to respond to the beatings in games 1 and 2 by the A's... everything stopped as the earth began shaking.
i can't call it surreal, because i remember it so specifically--but it was definitely erie, and massively, overwhelmingly powerful. scores of people were killed, freeways collapsed and the Bay Area saw its most devastating disaster since 1906. the implications of October 17th went far beyond baseball, but for many, that moment in 1989 was immortalized by an unlikely backdrop: a World Series between San Francisco and Oakland (the first inter-metro world championship since the the NY subway series of 1956)... and it happened as the entire world was already watching.
I spent my summer that year collecting baseball cards, playing pickup baseball games at the nearby blacktopped diamond, and reading books at the oakland public library--earning an upper reserved (R.I.P.) ticket and a pizza hut personal pan for every 8 books completed (those who know are feelin' me right now). 4th grade had just started and Halloween was around the corner. my costume was reigning MVP Jose Canseco; my hero to the point of jersey, poster and (less than mint condition) autographed rookie card.
Life was good. The A's were good. They had been for a while. By all accounts they were the team to be respected/feared in 1988. But they suffered a left hook to the ego, losing the world series in 5 games to LA (despite having won 104 in the regular season). this is year they would get it done. they had retained almost the entire roster and sought redemption in the eyes of the world this time around. My team was the best team in baseball in 1989, hands down. There was an expectation amongst the people of oakland that we were witnessing a reprise of the early 70's glory in green and gold. we got A's history in class.... our teachers told us about heroes like Vida Blue and Catfish and how we were once the best team in the world (thank you Oakland Unified School District)... everyone was a fan, and any kid on the playground could name at least 3 players from our allstar lineup.
In my 9 year old mind, the previous year's World Series loss to the Dodgers was a bump in the road on the A's ongoing dominance. They had weapons at every position and they were unstoppable. just like the 49ers of that time, i expected the A's to win. the fact that they were facing the giants that year was a fun coincidence, but nothing i ever considered to be in the way of the A's winning it all.
The Giants, on the other hand were a longtime NL laughingstock, and though i'm sure Giants fans remember it differently, they were just happy to have a place at the table. they didn't stand a chance. but, they had won 92 games and boasted a spunky offense with impact players like Will Clark and Kevin Mitchell (aka "the pacific sock exchange"... not quite "bash brothers", but whatever). They had made their mark, and needless to say, the Battle of the Bay was being hyped to the (yet undiscovered) point of critical-hyphy. it was a moment of definition and redefinition for Bay Area sports.
At about 5:00, fans began taking their seats in sold out candlestick park. Al Michaels and Jim Palmer were calling the game. i had come home in plenty of time to get a cherry Popsicle and grab a seat on the couch next to my brother. out of nowhere the shaking started. At first i thought my little sister was shaking the TV, but then i heard and felt the rumbling and saw the terrified look in my mother's face, and i knew it was an earthquake. we ran outside and gathered our family on the sidewalk. once we realized we were all safe, it was still happening. it kept going... we stayed huddled, crouched to the ground as neighbors flooded out of their houses down the entire block. phone lines shook violently above us, cars stopped in the street and the low noise just kept rumbling. all told, Loma Prieta was recorded a 6.9 and it lasted fifteen seconds.
as the afternoon became evening, we stayed together in the living room, TV on... prepared to run out the door at the first sign of aftershocks. news outlets began building the story of what happened, and the national spotlight on the Bay Area suddenly got wider and brighter--zooming out to examine the depth of what had taken place. a baseball story became had become pure, survivalist human interest, and Americans who weren't watching the series now had payed close attention. most Americans remember the image of the bay bridge collapse, or the stories of motorists plummeting to their deaths trying to jump the distance (yes, like knight rider).
damaged was assessed. running water and electricity were restored, and for the next 5 days rescue crews went to work clearing people trapped in their cars under the collapsed 880 freeway. i remember seeing interviews of folks in Colorado Springs and Peoria, Illinois lamenting the bad luck we Californians just struck, and offering their prayerful thoughts to help with our cleanup. (many thanks, i'm sure New Orleans also appreciates those).
life must go on, and like every thing else, the World Series resumed on October 27th, after a record 10 day delay. game 3 revisited the matchup of Dave Stewart and Scott Garellts... and Stewart who pitched a 5 hit shutout in game 1... crushed him again, winning his 2nd World Series game of 1989 and earning the Series MVP. the Giants licked their wounds and retreated into offeseason anonymity; the A's relished the longest, most unusual and improbable World Series sweep of all time. it will forever be treasured in the hearts of A's fans, and remembered by the rest of the world for its incredible circumstance. as Tony La Russa said "I think we may have just won the most historic World Series of all time, with having to deal with the delay and everything. I don't think anybody's had to go through anything like what we did to win and compete for a world championship!"
getting back to the idea of redefinition of bay area sports, 1989 also marked the birth of the A's/Giants rivalry. although the clubs faced each other in 1913 (as the Brooklyn Giants and the Philadelphia Athletics - A's killed- 4-1) interleague play was not introduced until 1997, and the neighboring teams rarely faced each other. as we well know, A's have gone on to own that matchup... which has taken on the name of the immortal world series that launched it into existence. the rivalry has grown, and nowadays i still find it special to attend those games... it's also nice that we usually stomp.
those who were here remember exactly where they were when it went down. i love asking people where they were... over the years i've heard some pretty good stories. people's perceptions are very different. some lost their homes. one person told me she was in the car driving and didn't even realize an earthquake had occurred. wherever you were, the significance and the magnitude (no pun intended) of the situation are unmistakable... and i'm sure you have a story. I guess Al Michaels called game 3 so well that he won an Emmy for his performance, so he can sum it up... "well I dunno if we're on the air or not and I'm not sure that we hear you right at the moment, but we are. Well folks, that's the greatest open in the history of television. Bar none!"
-j
some videos:
canseco shaken up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru47yp6ju08&feature=related
candlestick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_-dFvemYUs&feature=related
bay bridge collapse:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFwJR04qBys&feature=related
sappy ass photo essay/collage with background italian vocalist:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0o_9sILvLY&feature=related
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Giambino, Round 2
There are a few major league players I stand up and boo at A's games. It's not pretty, but I save a special volume setting for the likes of A-Rod, ManRam, Coco Crisp, Barry Bonds (God rest his soul) Mo Rivera and of course, Jason Giambi. I get loud and I get personal, and it's usually enough to illicit game-long jawing from Yankee fans in earshot. Giambi is a special case, however, and I make sure to come correct.
Last season at McAfee I made a few new friends in pinstripes as I repeatedly yelled "I WAS WRONG TO DO THAT STUFF!" when Giambi took the plate; mimicking his near-confession to steroid allegations in front of a judgemental sporting press earlier that year. Fans in the know recall him swimming in tearful remorse as his conscience publicly sputtered to a gaffe. And although he never said the word, everyone knew what he meant: he was juicing, and he was sorry.
The humiliation of it all was a special reward for A's fans with a chip on their shoulder. Most of us still hold a grudge against the guy who won the MVP for Oakland in 2000 and signed with the Yankees 1 year later. In typical fashion, Giambi was swept away by New York's deep pockets and navy-blue mystique. He sealed a $100MM deal by cutting his long hair, shaving his goatee, and trading in his west coast bad-boy look for a more presentable Manhattan manner. He was one of the first and certainly most notable free agent (read: sell-out) departures, and A's fans still hate him for it.
So how do I feel about the fact that he will likely sign a 2 year deal with Oakland? I'm juiced (pun intended). Giambi is a career .289 hitter and once did great things for the A's. There are, however, pros and cons. Like any 38 year old (who is recently off the juice) his performance has declined. But in all fairness, that's exactly why the A's can afford him. Giambi will hit his 400th home run next season, and how fitting would it be for him to do it in Green and Gold?
The 2-time Silver Slugger would bring power to a lineup that desperately needs it. He could play first base, keeping Jack Cust at DH (and relieved of defensive responsibilities in the outfield) and will likely knock in 20+ homers. Like it or not, he is a big name lightning rod that will at least earn some attention and hopefully contribute some regular offense. For a team that ranked second to last in RBIs in 2008, his contribution would be valuable.
The drawbacks are less tangible: he is unliked... he is old... he is expensive (as he will want a 2 year commitment)... and most of all, his game may be on the end of its rope. All of these are potential red flags. Old guy sluggers are always a risky move, but one the A's have recently seemed willing to take. Betting on Frank Thomas paid off in 2006, but not so much last year. Piazza was a total flop. What's to say that Giambi will continue to perform at a time when most power hitters either die quietly or defy nature and keep slugging? Nothing. There are no guarantees with this kind of contract, and lack of security is this contract's biggest downside.
But market conditions are what they are. The A's don't have the resources to sign Mark Teixiera... It's just the reality of the situation. The most feasible offensive acquisition right now is Jason Giambi. Pros and cons considered, it's a good move for the A's. I think he has at least 2 good years left in him, and I'd like to see him spend those in Oakland. After all, I'm more of an A's lover than a Giambi hater. Plus, he made an easy business decision to join the Yankees. Money talks, and he is certainly not the only guy to outgrow his contract with the A's.
So for what it's worth, Jason: I forgive you... provided you: a) sign with us. b) sign with us at a reasonable sum, in a reasonable amount of time. c) hit at least .275 for the season. d) smash at least one walkoff against Jonathan Papelbon to deep right field and/or issue defamatory statements towards former Yankee teammates or management. That's it. Otherwise, welcome home champ.
-J
Circa 2001:
Last season at McAfee I made a few new friends in pinstripes as I repeatedly yelled "I WAS WRONG TO DO THAT STUFF!" when Giambi took the plate; mimicking his near-confession to steroid allegations in front of a judgemental sporting press earlier that year. Fans in the know recall him swimming in tearful remorse as his conscience publicly sputtered to a gaffe. And although he never said the word, everyone knew what he meant: he was juicing, and he was sorry.
The humiliation of it all was a special reward for A's fans with a chip on their shoulder. Most of us still hold a grudge against the guy who won the MVP for Oakland in 2000 and signed with the Yankees 1 year later. In typical fashion, Giambi was swept away by New York's deep pockets and navy-blue mystique. He sealed a $100MM deal by cutting his long hair, shaving his goatee, and trading in his west coast bad-boy look for a more presentable Manhattan manner. He was one of the first and certainly most notable free agent (read: sell-out) departures, and A's fans still hate him for it.
So how do I feel about the fact that he will likely sign a 2 year deal with Oakland? I'm juiced (pun intended). Giambi is a career .289 hitter and once did great things for the A's. There are, however, pros and cons. Like any 38 year old (who is recently off the juice) his performance has declined. But in all fairness, that's exactly why the A's can afford him. Giambi will hit his 400th home run next season, and how fitting would it be for him to do it in Green and Gold?
The 2-time Silver Slugger would bring power to a lineup that desperately needs it. He could play first base, keeping Jack Cust at DH (and relieved of defensive responsibilities in the outfield) and will likely knock in 20+ homers. Like it or not, he is a big name lightning rod that will at least earn some attention and hopefully contribute some regular offense. For a team that ranked second to last in RBIs in 2008, his contribution would be valuable.
The drawbacks are less tangible: he is unliked... he is old... he is expensive (as he will want a 2 year commitment)... and most of all, his game may be on the end of its rope. All of these are potential red flags. Old guy sluggers are always a risky move, but one the A's have recently seemed willing to take. Betting on Frank Thomas paid off in 2006, but not so much last year. Piazza was a total flop. What's to say that Giambi will continue to perform at a time when most power hitters either die quietly or defy nature and keep slugging? Nothing. There are no guarantees with this kind of contract, and lack of security is this contract's biggest downside.
But market conditions are what they are. The A's don't have the resources to sign Mark Teixiera... It's just the reality of the situation. The most feasible offensive acquisition right now is Jason Giambi. Pros and cons considered, it's a good move for the A's. I think he has at least 2 good years left in him, and I'd like to see him spend those in Oakland. After all, I'm more of an A's lover than a Giambi hater. Plus, he made an easy business decision to join the Yankees. Money talks, and he is certainly not the only guy to outgrow his contract with the A's.
So for what it's worth, Jason: I forgive you... provided you: a) sign with us. b) sign with us at a reasonable sum, in a reasonable amount of time. c) hit at least .275 for the season. d) smash at least one walkoff against Jonathan Papelbon to deep right field and/or issue defamatory statements towards former Yankee teammates or management. That's it. Otherwise, welcome home champ.
-J
Circa 2001:
Friday, December 19, 2008
Searching for Bobby Crosby
The A's placed one time rookie of the year shortstop Bobby Crosby on waivers this morning. For all intents and purposes, Billy Beane ended the 4 year professional relationship, casting him into the offseason market--hoping some other team will eat the $5.7 MM owed him for 2009. Crosby was not traded, he was simply released. After failing to upgrade the infeild with free agent Shortstop Rafael Furcal, the A's were forced to take a hard look at their current personnel. Crosby did not make the cut.
The son of Pro utility infielder Ed Crosby, Bobby exceeded all expectations when he exploded his rookie year (2004) hitting 22 homers, and knocking in 64 runs. He was picked, almost unanimously for the honor of outstanding rookie in the AL, joining the ranks of legendary shortstops Cal Ripken, Ozzie Guillen and Derek Jeter. He appeared to be the next big superstar for the A's... but that never really materialized.
Last year Crosby saw a full season's worth of playing time, and didn't do much with it. Fan expectations were that he would finally have his chance to live up to his potential. All he needed was a full season, free of injuries, to really shine. But instead he batted .237 and struck out a disappointing 96 times in 2008. If anyone was withholding judgement on Crosby's true colors, it appears we've seen them.
What happened? How did such a promising young star all of a sudden find himself out of a job? Crosby was lights-out in college, the minors, and his first year in the majors. It was easy to be optimistic about his development. But ongoing injuries, limited playing time and unknown intangibles all took a toll on Crosby's production since that breakout season, and he has become a career .235 hitter. Not exactly the stuff of miracles.
Shortstop is the most athletic of all positions in baseball. It requires a strong arm, quick feet and sharp instincts. There is a certain mystique to those who play it well; a talented shortstop is a natural... a baller. Crosby appeared to show all the signs of a gifted, agile infielder, plus he could hit. But nothing is forever. It's foolish to assume that talent and competitive fire will simply persist. Strength fades. Injuries pile up. Skills get less sharp, and before long the downward momentum catches up. For Crosby, it happened in the middle of what should be his prime.
It's unlikely any Major League Franchises will take an interest in Bobby. Evaluating talent is an inexact science, and the rule of thumb is to underestimate potential in order to mitigate risk. The chance that he will turn it around is a risky one. Moreover, most teams have a shortstop, and the attractive free agents have been snatched up. The market does not look promising for the 6th man to win rookie of the year for the A's.
Comebacks can happen, but like so many promising baseball players, Crosby will probably fade into memory. A's fans will remember him mostly for what we thought he would become. Sadly, he will be known more for for his potential (and failure to meet it) than for his successes. It is what it is. For what it's worth, I will miss him.
-J
Bobby Crosby, Athletics Shortstop: 2004-2008
The son of Pro utility infielder Ed Crosby, Bobby exceeded all expectations when he exploded his rookie year (2004) hitting 22 homers, and knocking in 64 runs. He was picked, almost unanimously for the honor of outstanding rookie in the AL, joining the ranks of legendary shortstops Cal Ripken, Ozzie Guillen and Derek Jeter. He appeared to be the next big superstar for the A's... but that never really materialized.
Last year Crosby saw a full season's worth of playing time, and didn't do much with it. Fan expectations were that he would finally have his chance to live up to his potential. All he needed was a full season, free of injuries, to really shine. But instead he batted .237 and struck out a disappointing 96 times in 2008. If anyone was withholding judgement on Crosby's true colors, it appears we've seen them.
What happened? How did such a promising young star all of a sudden find himself out of a job? Crosby was lights-out in college, the minors, and his first year in the majors. It was easy to be optimistic about his development. But ongoing injuries, limited playing time and unknown intangibles all took a toll on Crosby's production since that breakout season, and he has become a career .235 hitter. Not exactly the stuff of miracles.
Shortstop is the most athletic of all positions in baseball. It requires a strong arm, quick feet and sharp instincts. There is a certain mystique to those who play it well; a talented shortstop is a natural... a baller. Crosby appeared to show all the signs of a gifted, agile infielder, plus he could hit. But nothing is forever. It's foolish to assume that talent and competitive fire will simply persist. Strength fades. Injuries pile up. Skills get less sharp, and before long the downward momentum catches up. For Crosby, it happened in the middle of what should be his prime.
It's unlikely any Major League Franchises will take an interest in Bobby. Evaluating talent is an inexact science, and the rule of thumb is to underestimate potential in order to mitigate risk. The chance that he will turn it around is a risky one. Moreover, most teams have a shortstop, and the attractive free agents have been snatched up. The market does not look promising for the 6th man to win rookie of the year for the A's.
Comebacks can happen, but like so many promising baseball players, Crosby will probably fade into memory. A's fans will remember him mostly for what we thought he would become. Sadly, he will be known more for for his potential (and failure to meet it) than for his successes. It is what it is. For what it's worth, I will miss him.
-J
Bobby Crosby, Athletics Shortstop: 2004-2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
who's the black sheep?
It ain't over til it's over, but now it's over... and I'm over it. Furcal signed a 3 year deal with the Atlanta Braves this morning, sending clear signals that he did not find viability in the A's prospects for 2009 and beyond. Despite the higher offer, for more years, the injury prone shortstop would rather play 2nd base for an aging, middle of the road NL team than play his native position for Oakland.
Stigmas are hard to shake, but hard to earn as well... and I find myself wondering how we got stuck with such a bad rap. The 2006 A's made the AL championship series (albeit against ALL analyst predictions) only to be swept by a big market, big swinging Detroit Tigers team. It was crushing to Oakland fans, but business as usual for the rest of the baseball world, who all but expected the A's to fall into a familiar stasis of mediocrity... and yeah, we did.
But are we really that bad? Have the 19 years since our last World Series really been so flat that we should be systematically overlooked? I don't think so. We are not Kansas City. We are not the Pittsburgh Pirates. We are a small money ballclub who has redefined how small market ballclubs are run. We made the playoffs for 6 straight seasons (2000-2006) and we did this by working smarter and more unconventionally than anyone else. We've sent young pitchers to the All Star game almost every year since 2000, all of which were brought up through our own farm system. Our fans are plucky and quirky and historically our team has have competed against the best in the AL. In short: our successes have been modest, but unique... and we have certainly earned ourselves some credibility as a franchise.
Why then, would the prospect of playing for Oakland be so unappealing for a guy like Furcal? I think it's a multidimensional stigma that starts with money. We have the 7th smallest payroll in the Majors and a 30 year old stadium that we share with arguably the worst team in the NFL.
Only 3 MLB clubs still share a park with the NFL, and we are stuck with some very ugly neighbors. Al Davis runs a bottom of the barrel team known for its lack of discipline and rowdy fanbase. He mismanages contracts, alienates his players and refuses to relinquish an ounce of control, even as he approaches 90 years old. The Raiders are universally seen as losers, and the A's are devalued by association. Stigma.
As a card-carrying Raider Hater, I see the team's departure for LA more than I see any kinship with the A's. I see the sabotage Al Davis wrought upon the A's hopes for a new park in Oakland. I see the 3 story monstrosity he installed in the Coliseum to sell more Raider tickets (at our expense). The fact that the two teams share a stadium has always been more of a liability and burden than anything else to me. Call me a negative pragmatist.
The money stigma goes deeper though. The A's are also known for losing players once their notoriety outgrows our payroll. The modern era has seen the likes of Miguel Tejada, Jason Giambi, Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, Johnny Damon, Jermaine Dye and Barry Zito leave for (far) greener pastures/contracts. The A's been repeatedly incapable of retaining our big name talent, despite the fact that we built it. It stings, but we're used to it. It's not personal, its business. Big fish eats small fish, and that's just the way it goes.
So, Furcal sees a small fish offering him a heap of fish food to swim in our little tank for 4 years, and it doesn't exactly scream promise. Despite a revamped NL East, he feels the Braves can offer him a greater chance at success, or at least a smaller chance of stigma. Fine. He's not the only one. For every arrogant, entitled redsox or yankee fan that moved west, there is a loyal and faithful member of the athletics nation that scours the blogs and trade rumors. We hope for the best because that's what true fans do. Haters buy A-rod jerseys (or sign with Atlanta).
I remember saying I'm over it... allow me to clarify: I'm not over the emotional buildup that big name free agents can dangle in front of us (that's the good stuff). I'm over succumbing to the notion that losing Furcal dooms our season. He's one guy. I'm over feeling shunned or rejected by him (he's just telling us what everyone else thinks). But mostly I'm over shying away from our stigma. We are who we are: small market craftsmen who do what we can against the bigs. Moneyballers. Bring on the haters... their dismissal will make our inconsequential victories feel that much more fulfilling.
Now to the task at hand: let's get ourselves a shortstop. Go Billy. Go A's.
-j
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
make me an offer...
Furcal is done. Or is he? The all star wanted a four year deal, and so Billy Beane offered him one, albeit a shade below the rate he'd been getting on his 3 year deal with the Dodgers (4 years, $35MM-$40MM). Furcal's agent, Paul Kinzer balked at the offer... clearly overlooking the fact that his client is fresh off a back surgery that limited him to 36 games in 2008. Beane attached a sunset clause, and eventually the sun set on the offer. Negotiations halted. Offer withdrawn.
Beane's offer borders on the bold. It's not quite a low-ball sum, but it's pretty much a low ball-sum. The length of the deal is overshadowed by the price tag. Furcal didn't just want a 4 year deal... he wanted a 4 year deal at the rate he was getting in his 3 year arrangement. This begs the question: if LA didn't think he was worth it 3 years ago, why should Oakland think he is now, at 3 years older plus one major back surgery?
Short answer: he isn't. And as Sarah Green (Boston Metro) pointed out: "it's a thin market for Furcal". The 3 teams looking for a big name free agent Shortstop were SF, St Louis and Oakland. The Giants and the Cards found their guys in the forms of Edgar Rentaria and Khalil Greene. Oakland, being the only team left, took the sensible (if not smug) route in offering Furcal a 4 year deal at a rate that didn't offend their delicate payroll politics. It didn't work.
So here we are; the thirsty athletics nation, grinding our teeth at the thought of another year with Bobby Crosby at short, batting .245 and playing well below the expectations of his 2004 Rookie of the year season. As an athletics faithful, my hopes were set on the big free agent signing, but I'm not ready to give up yet on Crosby. Hitting is chemical, and it's hard to expect one guy to hit well when the entire lineup is underperforming.
There is also the possibility that Furcal comes back around; realizing there are no suitors willing to go the distance his agent seems to think they should go. Only time and market conditions can tell. The offseason is not done yet, and this week's winter meetings in Vegas could be the most eventful of the year. Stay tuned for next steps.
-j
Beane's offer borders on the bold. It's not quite a low-ball sum, but it's pretty much a low ball-sum. The length of the deal is overshadowed by the price tag. Furcal didn't just want a 4 year deal... he wanted a 4 year deal at the rate he was getting in his 3 year arrangement. This begs the question: if LA didn't think he was worth it 3 years ago, why should Oakland think he is now, at 3 years older plus one major back surgery?
Short answer: he isn't. And as Sarah Green (Boston Metro) pointed out: "it's a thin market for Furcal". The 3 teams looking for a big name free agent Shortstop were SF, St Louis and Oakland. The Giants and the Cards found their guys in the forms of Edgar Rentaria and Khalil Greene. Oakland, being the only team left, took the sensible (if not smug) route in offering Furcal a 4 year deal at a rate that didn't offend their delicate payroll politics. It didn't work.
So here we are; the thirsty athletics nation, grinding our teeth at the thought of another year with Bobby Crosby at short, batting .245 and playing well below the expectations of his 2004 Rookie of the year season. As an athletics faithful, my hopes were set on the big free agent signing, but I'm not ready to give up yet on Crosby. Hitting is chemical, and it's hard to expect one guy to hit well when the entire lineup is underperforming.
There is also the possibility that Furcal comes back around; realizing there are no suitors willing to go the distance his agent seems to think they should go. Only time and market conditions can tell. The offseason is not done yet, and this week's winter meetings in Vegas could be the most eventful of the year. Stay tuned for next steps.
-j
Friday, December 5, 2008
A's Days with Kanye
the fiscal year winds down, and the slumping economy sputters to a glide. work goes on, because i know the 2009 budgets and MLB payrolls take shape soon. baseball analysts will predict anything in december. perfect timing to launch an amateur blog :)
what's on my mind? my job. the A's. the economy. the new kanye west record. these topics don't exactly correlate, but do comprise my current mental climate. this is my first effort, so i will ramble rather than dissect. rocket surgery.
Billy Beane is making moves for Rafael Furcal. the 31 year old all star wants 4 years at around $40MM despite the 51 games he missed last season with a sore back. he, his wife and his agent Paul Kinzer toured the coliseum yesterday... and sniffed around the walnut creek real estate. Kinzer is unlikely to accept anything under 4 years... typically safe play for a shortstop with uncertain longevity... and i don't blame him. the fact is, he is the best shortstop free agent available... and he will bring media attention to Oakland.
the A's aren't typically in the market for an all star. we make them, we don't buy them. when your club boasts the 7th smallest payroll in the majors, you are forced to do things differently than the Boston red sox. so we moneyball our seasons and fight tooth and nail for news coverage. ESPN almost devoted an entire media cycle to the trade for Matt Holiday... and i'll be honest... it left a delicious, expensive taste in my mouth that i want more of. 4 years of furcal tastes like baseball legitimacy (for at least the preseason). it's enough to make randy johnson consider winning his 300th game in Oakland. it's enough to overshadow the giants signing edgar rentaria, and enough to energize and empower the athletics nation and restore us to AL West prominence.
Tampa Bay changed things with their 6 game upset of the evil red machine last October (GOD i hate redsox)... small market teams will NOT be overlooked this year. we won't be signing CC Sabathia, but we can make some waves of our own... on offense. the new stadium will be a factor, but that can't be our starting point. young pitching and a few select free agent pickups will be enough to create momentum in the preseason.
the A's haven't been so good to me lately, and the last 2 years have not followed our ALCS appearance with much substance. i still read the news though. that's what a fan does: make the most of small news and treat any development as reason to hope.
so i was thumbing through this morning's sporting green, rocking the new kanye album while on the way work. the theme seemed strangely appropriate to the bay area. 808s and heartbreak... sounds like a ballad for sports in oakland. the bash brothers 2k9 are as elusive as the digital neo-soul on these 11 tracks. even the deflated balloon on the cover summons the futility of bay area teams in the post-season. if the warriors 5-13 start doesn't bring tears to my eyes, maybe kanye on the vocodor can serenade my sorrow. and he aint no damn singer.
i highly doubt the inspiration for the album was actually a tough breakup. i kept asking myself what he has to be so melancholy about? call me cynical, but i think Mr. West manufactured that motif. must say: it's a good one. the album actually sticks to the theme pretty well, and there is a definite cohesive character to the tracks. he kept the drumlines simple in this one and it conjures images of a more muted, ethereal artist; lots of cool tones... he raps/sings/rap-sings somber refrains over minor key chords and melodies. repeat: he aint a damn singer.
the voicebox is able to both keep him on key while at the same time scrambling the pitch (sort of like A's bullpen following our iffy starting pitcher). it's hard to tell where he ends and the box begins... i honestly feel like he's trying to get all he can out of this voice-box pop rap fad... because i know people will start to find it gimmicky. probably soon. all said, the album reads like a chilly oakland sunset... colder than i expected, but warm enough to sit through; maybe even enjoy.
maybe i'm resistant because of the A's. maybe my hardened fanhood won't let me trust my team and keeps me from letting the kanye's bitch-musings touch my soul. times are tough. people are uncertain of the future. unemployment is on the rise nationwide... and we are even seeing it in the tech sector. adobe laid off 600 yesterday. my modest collection of yahoo shares are worth a third of their strike price (and falling). i had lunch the other day with a candidate out of AOL that i placed at at a small startup (at a 30K paycut) and he was just happy to have a job. maybe i'm in the wrong business as a contingency recruiter working at 100% commission. kanye, please cry with me.
2009 is probably not the year to put my heart behind a small market team. luckily for me, i have no choice who i follow. it's green and gold for life. 100% baseball. preseason to post season from an athletics perspective.
welcome to my blog. go A's.
-jose
what's on my mind? my job. the A's. the economy. the new kanye west record. these topics don't exactly correlate, but do comprise my current mental climate. this is my first effort, so i will ramble rather than dissect. rocket surgery.
Billy Beane is making moves for Rafael Furcal. the 31 year old all star wants 4 years at around $40MM despite the 51 games he missed last season with a sore back. he, his wife and his agent Paul Kinzer toured the coliseum yesterday... and sniffed around the walnut creek real estate. Kinzer is unlikely to accept anything under 4 years... typically safe play for a shortstop with uncertain longevity... and i don't blame him. the fact is, he is the best shortstop free agent available... and he will bring media attention to Oakland.
the A's aren't typically in the market for an all star. we make them, we don't buy them. when your club boasts the 7th smallest payroll in the majors, you are forced to do things differently than the Boston red sox. so we moneyball our seasons and fight tooth and nail for news coverage. ESPN almost devoted an entire media cycle to the trade for Matt Holiday... and i'll be honest... it left a delicious, expensive taste in my mouth that i want more of. 4 years of furcal tastes like baseball legitimacy (for at least the preseason). it's enough to make randy johnson consider winning his 300th game in Oakland. it's enough to overshadow the giants signing edgar rentaria, and enough to energize and empower the athletics nation and restore us to AL West prominence.
Tampa Bay changed things with their 6 game upset of the evil red machine last October (GOD i hate redsox)... small market teams will NOT be overlooked this year. we won't be signing CC Sabathia, but we can make some waves of our own... on offense. the new stadium will be a factor, but that can't be our starting point. young pitching and a few select free agent pickups will be enough to create momentum in the preseason.
the A's haven't been so good to me lately, and the last 2 years have not followed our ALCS appearance with much substance. i still read the news though. that's what a fan does: make the most of small news and treat any development as reason to hope.
so i was thumbing through this morning's sporting green, rocking the new kanye album while on the way work. the theme seemed strangely appropriate to the bay area. 808s and heartbreak... sounds like a ballad for sports in oakland. the bash brothers 2k9 are as elusive as the digital neo-soul on these 11 tracks. even the deflated balloon on the cover summons the futility of bay area teams in the post-season. if the warriors 5-13 start doesn't bring tears to my eyes, maybe kanye on the vocodor can serenade my sorrow. and he aint no damn singer.
i highly doubt the inspiration for the album was actually a tough breakup. i kept asking myself what he has to be so melancholy about? call me cynical, but i think Mr. West manufactured that motif. must say: it's a good one. the album actually sticks to the theme pretty well, and there is a definite cohesive character to the tracks. he kept the drumlines simple in this one and it conjures images of a more muted, ethereal artist; lots of cool tones... he raps/sings/rap-sings somber refrains over minor key chords and melodies. repeat: he aint a damn singer.
the voicebox is able to both keep him on key while at the same time scrambling the pitch (sort of like A's bullpen following our iffy starting pitcher). it's hard to tell where he ends and the box begins... i honestly feel like he's trying to get all he can out of this voice-box pop rap fad... because i know people will start to find it gimmicky. probably soon. all said, the album reads like a chilly oakland sunset... colder than i expected, but warm enough to sit through; maybe even enjoy.
maybe i'm resistant because of the A's. maybe my hardened fanhood won't let me trust my team and keeps me from letting the kanye's bitch-musings touch my soul. times are tough. people are uncertain of the future. unemployment is on the rise nationwide... and we are even seeing it in the tech sector. adobe laid off 600 yesterday. my modest collection of yahoo shares are worth a third of their strike price (and falling). i had lunch the other day with a candidate out of AOL that i placed at at a small startup (at a 30K paycut) and he was just happy to have a job. maybe i'm in the wrong business as a contingency recruiter working at 100% commission. kanye, please cry with me.
2009 is probably not the year to put my heart behind a small market team. luckily for me, i have no choice who i follow. it's green and gold for life. 100% baseball. preseason to post season from an athletics perspective.
welcome to my blog. go A's.
-jose
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
