A's marketing slights Eric Byrnes

by Just Me on Mar 29, 2005 7:36 AM PST

From the Oakland A's advertising supplement in today's West County Times:

"A Versatile Outfield

The addition of Charles Thomas from Atlanta, coupled with the presence of rookie Nick Swisher, gives the A's a versatile outfield. Mark Kotsay returns in center, and even though Bobby Kielty is coming off a down year, he figures in the mix, too. The most likely configuration is Swisher in right, Kotsay in center and Byrnes in left, but there are no guarantees."

Then yada yada five paragraphs about the anointed young prince of the outfield and then one more about Thomas.

Hey, A's marketing. Byrnes has a first name--Eric. Try using it. Byrnes had a career year in 2004; try mentioning that.

And hey, A's marketing. Were none of you at fan fest? Did you not hear Eric Byrnes get the loudest applause on his introduction? Did you not notice that he got the most questions? When Byrnes teased Kotsay about his having to stand in for Mark in the autograph session and Mark replied that judging from Eric's reception at his introduction, the fans would rather have had more Byrnes, Kotsay was spot on.

A's marketing, you have an established star in the outfield. His name is Eric Byrnes. No matter what the know-it-alls on this board will say, the truth is that he has a more passionate fan base then any of the other outfielders. You hope that Swisher will be there some day, but little Nicky still has a long way to go before he draws the fans in. Eric Byrnes is already there. Why play up the Thomas-is like-Byrnes angle, when you have the original in the outfield? Billy Beane gets cornered by fans all asking him NOT to trade Eric. Hell, my whole family wears the orange and black, and they know who Byrnes is.

Yet, how many commercials will Byrnes be in? In how many adds will he be featured? When is A's marketing going to get a clue. When you disrespect Eric Byrnes this way, you're disrespecting the fans.

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why waste the dollars...

if he gets traded, all those ads and promos would be for bunk...

by pseudokiwi on Mar 29, 2005 7:51 AM PST reply actions

Yeah

I think the reason is also the risk of making comercials with him only to be traded.

"I'm good because I ground out to second a lot!" ~ Darin Erstad

by Zonis on Mar 29, 2005 8:11 AM PST reply actions

Three Stooge Rep

Yep, given the enduring reputation of the Three Stooges, the A's ad could cite Byrnes as a rep of the trio, showing his comedic failure to touch home plate in the biggest game of his life.

Another ad could show Byrnes' flightpath to a routine fly ball.

And Byrnesy could do a commercial as the posterboy for ADD.

Truly, as the fans know fullwell, Eric brings lotsa yucks to the ole ballyard...

by reztips on Mar 29, 2005 8:36 AM PST reply actions

Big ole glass...

of haterade....

by pseudokiwi on Mar 29, 2005 8:55 AM PST up reply actions

Interestingly,

when I got my season tickets, I noticed that there are pictures of four players on the tix: Crosby, Kotsay, Chavez and Harden.

Who does that leave out? Zito, of course, who is by far the most famous and accomplished member of the A's.

by jrbh on Mar 29, 2005 10:30 AM PST reply actions

Zito's picture...

wasn't on the season tickets for the same reason Byrnes isn't in the current marketing. All of the guys on the tickets are going to be with the team, at least, for the remainder of this year.
Zito and Byrnes have no such guaranty.

"I'm my biggest fan ..." Eric Byrnes

by FoolshGame22 on Mar 29, 2005 10:40 AM PST up reply actions

I'm waiting

for them to update the wallpaper selections in the Fan Forum. They've still got Mulder and Hudson as two of the choices.

Visit the beautiful Napa Valley, home of many Oakland A's fans.

by kkdaz on Mar 29, 2005 10:43 AM PST reply actions

Outdated posters

They still sell posters of Tejada as a member of the A's at posters.com

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE YELLING ABOUT!!!" -Brick Tamland, Anchorman

by secret ASian man on Mar 29, 2005 12:29 PM PST up reply actions

Brynes being treated like Scutaro

I agree- both Byrnes and Scutaro are being treated poorly by the team. Both performed well last year and now it's like they are just extra baggage we can't wait to get rid of. Not the kind of behavior this team needs to exhibit.

The greenmachine

by greenmachine on Mar 29, 2005 12:16 PM PST reply actions

Huh?

I am one of the biggest Byrnes fans around and I would like to see Scutaro make the team, but to imply that either player has been treated poorly by the A's is ridiculous.

At this level baseball is a business and anyone who cannot recognize that needs to grow up. I think Byrnes will likely stay with the club all season unless they really go downhill.

Byrnes doesn't need to be marketed by the A's. Any real A's fan knows about him as does the rest of major league baseball.

by RudiFan on Mar 29, 2005 3:12 PM PST reply actions

Marketing Byrnes

would help the A's attendance goals. Advertising is aimed at those who are not members of AN, the people who don't know who Byrnes is. Spot lighting Byrnes would help get them into the seats. But then, A's marketing has always been short-sighted.

by Just Me on Mar 29, 2005 3:34 PM PST up reply actions

dont get mad

but I've always thought byrnes was one of the guys that takes way too much speed before the game. . . and I'm serious about this, I think he takes amphetamines (baseball speak "greenies") before the game. . . he just doesnt look natural out there, every time I see him take a wack route to the ball I think it's cause of the speed.

by kotsbots on Mar 29, 2005 7:21 PM PST reply actions