DLD 9/23/2006

"Thomas deserves every accolade coming his way, but there isn't nearly enough credit given to Milton Bradley. Given his history, maybe it's wise to wait until season's end, but this ranks with the greatest moves ever pulled by GM Billy Beane, a frightening gamble that paid off in a million ways. The stat geeks can't seem to figure out the A's success, given the injuries and paltry offensive numbers (especially before this month). Just watch Bradley during the course of a game, the astonishing energy he brings to the field, his interaction with teammates. That's a big reason right there."

so now that his giants are dead and the a's are going to the playoffs as statheads predicted, jenkins is going to tell us with a straight face that "stat geeks can't seem to figure out the a's success."  
how do these people sleep at night...

---

new york times magazine article on ken mehlman:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/magazine/24melman.html

When Mehlman talks about politics, he doesn't talk about Machiavelli; he talks about "Moneyball," Michael Lewis's book about how the Oakland A's employed statistical modeling to assemble a powerhouse baseball team, sending to pasture the old-line scouts with their years of calling it from their guts. "We are the party of 'Moneyball!"' Mehlman proclaimed, practically shouting and bouncing on the balls of his feet, talking to a room of slightly bewildered Republicans in California last year. "They measured everything. We are doing the same thing in politics."

---

from mccovey chronicles:
http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/story/2006/9/22/111638/432

"Well, that would not be necessary Mr. Sabean. Winning a pennant could easily be accomplished with scouting. And the scouts could be told to accept factors ranging from years played, veteran experience, service time, experience, and experienced veterans, to a cross section of other necessary skills.
Of course, it would be absolutely vital that our top veterans and experienced players be included to foster and impart the required principles of leadership and tradition. Naturally, they would win prodigiously, eh? There would be much time, and little to do. But, ah, with the proper free agent signing techniques and a ratio of, say, ten veterans to each rookie, I would guess that we could then work their way back to a division title within, say, twenty years."

---

a mcc reader wants to fight matt morris:
http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/story/2006/9/21/235459/889

the comment with the shoulder surgery diagram is quite interesting, and one of the responses makes me wonder if that person has been reading AN.

I'm already bouncing around in great excitement!!!  YAY!!!!!!!!!!  I have tickets for tomorrow too, so DOUBLE YAY!!!!!  :) :) :) :)

http://catfishstew.baseballtoaster.com/archives/517223.html

</sarcasm>

They do, after all, have less capacity (though average ticket prices are thus higher). But, there is also the fact that MLB might make them open up the 3rd Deck for the Championship and World Series.

But I have the feeling that unless we face the Yankees in the Championship and the Mets in the World Series, we wouldn't sell anything up there.

Let angels be angels and let A's be A's. works better that way.