McCovey
05-25-2008, 04:01 PM
I wonder is Billy Beane is in a bind now. The '08 seasons was supposed to be a regrouping year for the A's where they let the kids play and perhaps win 75 games. I'm sure he would have traded Jon Blanton and perhaps even Rich Harden. But the A's are contenders right now so he can't really trade those guys. If he did the A's fans and media will jump all over him.
A's with the big boys … for now
Buster Onley
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Justin Duchscherer threw his first three pitches out of the strike zone (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/25/SPJD10TFR9.DTL) Saturday, Susan Slusser writes, and it was all uphill from there, and Oakland beat Boston again. You watch the Athletics these days and they remind you of a surprise runner in the lead pack of a marathon. You know the others around them probably have the staying power to hang in the race, but you aren't sure about the newcomer.
And the truth is, the Athletics' youngest players probably aren't so sure, either. But this weekend's series against the Red Sox will probably provide a nice little mental boost, no matter what happens today. Rich Harden showed again on Friday that he can beat the Red Sox or any other team on any given day when he's actually on the mound, and then Duchscherer shut down the Red Sox on Saturday. Boston is clearly the best team in the American League right now and the Athletics have a chance to sweep the Red Sox this weekend. Oakland hasn't gotten as much out of Daric Barton as expected, and Travis Buck was shipped off to the minor leagues. Like so many teams, the Athletics have offensive issues. But Oakland continues to get strong pitching: It is first in the majors in team ERA (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/aggregate?statType=pitching&group=9). There has been outside interest in Joe Blanton, who has strong market value, and if Harden puts in two more months of starts, then somebody might be tempted to bid on his talent. But Oakland general manager Billy Beane will want opposing GMs to pay market value for either pitcher, especially at a time when the Athletics are playing better than expected and running in the lead pack and can believe, with confidence, that they have a chance to be even better the rest of the summer. Mark Ellis wants to stay with Oakland, and the A's want to keep him (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/25/SPF410T591.DTL), mentioned within this Slusser piece.
A's with the big boys … for now
Buster Onley
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Justin Duchscherer threw his first three pitches out of the strike zone (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/25/SPJD10TFR9.DTL) Saturday, Susan Slusser writes, and it was all uphill from there, and Oakland beat Boston again. You watch the Athletics these days and they remind you of a surprise runner in the lead pack of a marathon. You know the others around them probably have the staying power to hang in the race, but you aren't sure about the newcomer.
And the truth is, the Athletics' youngest players probably aren't so sure, either. But this weekend's series against the Red Sox will probably provide a nice little mental boost, no matter what happens today. Rich Harden showed again on Friday that he can beat the Red Sox or any other team on any given day when he's actually on the mound, and then Duchscherer shut down the Red Sox on Saturday. Boston is clearly the best team in the American League right now and the Athletics have a chance to sweep the Red Sox this weekend. Oakland hasn't gotten as much out of Daric Barton as expected, and Travis Buck was shipped off to the minor leagues. Like so many teams, the Athletics have offensive issues. But Oakland continues to get strong pitching: It is first in the majors in team ERA (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/aggregate?statType=pitching&group=9). There has been outside interest in Joe Blanton, who has strong market value, and if Harden puts in two more months of starts, then somebody might be tempted to bid on his talent. But Oakland general manager Billy Beane will want opposing GMs to pay market value for either pitcher, especially at a time when the Athletics are playing better than expected and running in the lead pack and can believe, with confidence, that they have a chance to be even better the rest of the summer. Mark Ellis wants to stay with Oakland, and the A's want to keep him (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/25/SPF410T591.DTL), mentioned within this Slusser piece.