Favorite A's team of the Billy Beane Era?

by WiscoFan on Aug 6, 2005 6:28 PM PDT Comment 25 comments

And by team I mean for a single season, even though trades and moves shake things up during every year. Which year has been your favorite and how does 2005 rank, so far? I know theres still plenty of baseball to go but I think this team might be my favorite for how suprisingly fast they are growing(meaning the youngest guys). If this is a re-tooling year, wow. I know 01' and 02' were probably better talent wise, but by how much? I'd say my favorite is 05' and 01' with 02' and 00' being close after. 03' was dissapointing and 04' while competitive, the withering last month or so was tough.

0 recs | Comment 25 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Still rather fond of '99.

An over-achieving bunch, but a sign of times to come.

by ArakSOT on Aug 6, 2005 6:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It'd have to be this one,

because all of the others disappointed me in the end, while this team has only turned into a great surprise.

Actually, the 2000 season was the most fun I've had at the ballpark. They were not the "best team," but the accomplishment of that team is what stands out.

"I don't want to win the wild card. I still want to hunt down the Angels and win the division." -Eric Chavez (SF Chronicle)

by BillyBall 81 on Aug 6, 2005 6:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I really like the '05 team

but I can't seem to get over the '02 team especially with the streak and all but this '05 team is really special and I'm liking it more and more.

by anA on Aug 6, 2005 6:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

this diary needs a poll

where are the poll options??

If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Aug 6, 2005 6:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2000......

I think I made every home game in September. The A's pulled in front in the final week of the season. What a pivotal 4 game series in Seattle - the A's won 3. Esteban German with the big hit in that series.

And finally, Hudson on the mound going for #20. His legendary remark - just get me 1, boys.

And finally, "Strike 3 called - the A's win the West!"

by BleacherDave on Aug 6, 2005 6:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My faves from the Beane era

1999, 2005, 2000, 2001

1999 - chief berroroa. damn that was a fun team.
2005 - haren, swisher, johnson, street, crosby
2000 - jaha (lol), mulder, hudson, zito
2001 - the great expectations team. zito with the 1 hit, 1 run loss v. yankees. I wore that loss on my sleeve.

by suggy on Aug 6, 2005 6:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2005, by a mile

I'm in LOVE with this team. How could you not be? Rising from the dead, proving EVERYBODY wrong. How many rookies are we starting? Man, as Beane said in 2000, this is probably the worst team we will have for the next five years. THAT, my friends, bodes pretty well.

By the way, where was this question back in May?

by Crosbino on Aug 6, 2005 6:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think I've finally figued out...

...why 'Beane Ball' bothers some fans. At least I think I can put it into words. I think some fans get tired of the perception (or perhaps the reality) that much of the Oakland roster seems like they're auditioning for a bigger gig in the future. It's as though this is some temporary place to mature into a fine player or to resurrect a career gone off track - the petri dish of MLB if you will. I like it though; maybe it's the mad scientist in me.

By the way, to answer your question, the 2001 team was my favorite. Only two player remain from that roster from just four short years ago - Eric & Barry - yet my love for the team has never wavered.

Lets Go Oak-land..clap, clap, clapclapclap!

by LowcountryJoe on Aug 6, 2005 7:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

'01

that was the year everything clicked. giambi, tejada, chavez all had huge years, as did the big 3 (mulder being the cy young bridesmaide). even lidle down the stretch was nails. izzy shutting the door...it was something special that year.

before you insult someone, walk a mile in their shoes. that way, you'll be a mile away from them, and you'll have their shoes.

by andyc on Aug 6, 2005 7:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This one

Because this team is better than 2001 and they'll prove it in the playoffs.

Think about it-- i did a comparison a month ago and concluded that the only two positions where 2001 might have a clear-cut edge were 1B and closer.

Umm-- wouldn't say that today, would I???

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Aug 6, 2005 7:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2001 and 2005!

by gotgreen on Aug 6, 2005 7:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah

If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Aug 6, 2005 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

20 game win streak? Hello?

Definitely 2002. The drama and euphoria of the last few games of that win streak are unmatched by anything else in my years of sports-fandom.

by jmoney on Aug 6, 2005 7:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I cast the only vote that will ever be cast for 04

because it made the 2005-20?? run possible. If we live up to expectations last year, then this potential green and Golden Age may not be possible. So, that frustrating 91-win season (as if a 91-win season should even be frustrating, anyway) willbe enjoyed for years to come.

Rock over London, Rock on Oakland. Wheaties: It's the Breakfast of Champions.

by Cutthemullet on Aug 6, 2005 7:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Vewy Intewesting.

The lone contrarian thinking deeply. I like it.

by LowcountryJoe on Aug 6, 2005 7:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

AN as enterprise

I don't have to pay you for the positive post rating, do I? I was led to believe that it was part of the free trial offer.

Now when I decide I want to binge on diaries and match my career diary output over the course of one day, that's when I'll fire up the PayPal.

Rock over London, Rock on Oakland. Wheaties: It's the Breakfast of Champions.

by Cutthemullet on Aug 6, 2005 8:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This one

I'm loving it. Now if only Beane would replace Ginter with Rouse and Rincon with Flores, and the team would be perfect... :)

by OaktownTribesman on Aug 6, 2005 8:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"It"

2005-This team, like the Red sox and Marlins before them and unlike the previous mentioned A's teams has the "it" factor. And as oaktoon says will prove it in the playoffs.

by kcir on Aug 6, 2005 9:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I just love watching this team

They are so much fun to watch---they just love to play the game, and they seem to like playing with each other as well.

2001 was a lot of fun, but like the 03 team, the end left a bad taste in my mouth. Obviously, we've yet to see the conclusion of this year.

But this is the first time I've liked pretty much the whole team. Except Rincon.

Last years team, though I watched them just as closely, made me angry more than anything else.

I love this years team

"He threw me a pitch I'd never seen before, Sexson said. The umpire asked me what it was, and I said, 'I don't know.' This guy throws ghost pitches.''

by Alien on Aug 6, 2005 9:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

A's now in 1st place!

D-Rays whipped the Halos!

First Place in the AL West! ...A'smA's-zing!

by A s Eh on Aug 6, 2005 10:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2000, though this year isn't over

Nothing like that first year, the little team that could. An incredible run at the Mariners; the terrific four-game series against them the next-to-last weekend. The three way race with the Indians in the mix. The beautiful final weekend with chants of MVP for Giambi, over 20 runs on Saturday, and the amazing final game in which Huddy just needed one, Saenz and Velarde went back to back while Beane drove around the Coliseum nervously, and then the end with Menechino and Stairs hoisting Giambi on their shoulders and Art Howe coming back out to the field with a mic inviting us all to buy tickets to the series against the Yankees. Oh yeah, and the unforgetable footage of Zito dancing in the clubhouse during the celebration.

Tough to ever top that.

Of course 01, 02, and 03 were also memorable.

(We should also have a best moment ever thread.)

by RLangford on Aug 6, 2005 10:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

'01 forever

10 games under .500, Giambi having another MVP type year, Mulder winning 20 games, and Zito being one of the best, how can we forget Izzy saving a couple games as well.

You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club wont be worth a dime.-Babe Ruth

by doublehustle22 on Aug 7, 2005 1:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm going with this year too... (2005)

I was just hoping in May that the team would be competive.

And on the outside chance finish on the high side of 500.

This team just makes me smile everytime I think about it and what they have done todate.

So many people at work gave me crap for being an A's fan.

Now they can eat it.

by Mike Heath on Aug 7, 2005 8:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

take a poll in October

2002's it for me so far.

"For five years in the minor leagues, I wore the same underwear and still hit .250, so no, I don't believe in that stuff" -Dusty Baker

by captainamerica on Aug 7, 2005 10:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

all year's are special like in

'00 was the first year of the new era and that will always be near and dear to me, the most complete team was in '01 and i felt we had the best chance to win it all that year, '02 was amazing because of the streak, '03 was a bit of an over-achieving team and we almost had Boston down, '04 sucked so nevermind that one, and of course '05 is the most special of all because of all the adversity we've had to overcome and here we are now.

by Helloooo 1st on Aug 7, 2005 11:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs