If the Vets (cough-crosby-kotsay-cough) realize that they might not quite have the job security they think they have, maybe they might perform a bit better. Or maybe we'll be able to get rid of them and replace them with someone who will.

Come on Billy, bring us Fukudome!

They already named a section of the stadium after him, no need to go crazy with loyalty.

(And before anyone corrects me; yes, I know. It's a joke. Because he's fat.)

"Why do you even care enough about this to post a snarky/angry comment?"

Are you saying that because coaches don't really impact the A's win/loss record, and none of us know precisely what happened, we shouldn't care?

You almost sound as though you're objecting to expressions of sympathy, even. Like, if I said "Geez, details be damned, it's got to be hard to see 30 years of your life dwindle into the ether over the course of a 3 minute phone conversation," that might really piss you off.

Maybe you're just saying we shouldn't be reflexively indignant. And that is certainly reasonable - after all, we don't really know what happened.

But your vehemence seems to extend beyond that, what with all the "why do you care" and "they don't matter at all" stuff. I think this discussion is perfectly relevant, whether or not we have sufficient insight to conclude anything, and regardless of the coaches' (no doubt marginal) contributions to the A's win/loss record. Brad Fischer has been with the A's forever, and performed essentially the same function for the past decade plus; his job performance (good, bad, or indifferent) likely didn't change - rather, the direction/philosophy/who knows what of management changed. I find that interesting. And it appears the partings (two of them, anyway) were less than amicable. That's interesting, too, and potentially instructive.

So interesting, in fact, that I might even be moved to post something snarky or angry. Though only after carefully assessing the prospective relative value of such a remark.

a dumb decision, I guess.

They don't matter at all, or we don't know how much they matter?

I have no idea why you hate me so much, or that you think my ideas are invalid, because they're not.  The pomposity sure is cute, though.

If we're not replacing them to increase our chances of winning, then why are we replacing them?  To increase our chances of losing?  To save money?  Just for fun?

Rejecting 29 years of service and one of the most respecting coaches on the team isn't a trivial move.

as a second bullpen catcher, in addition to pitching batting practice?

on a side note: Fischer was considered to be the toughest of the batting practice pitchers.

if "loyal fixture" Larry Davis was sent packing in "a 3-minute phone conversation."

In fact, you even criticized Beane's defense of Larry Davis's long tenure with the club, pointing out, (correctly) that tenure doesn't equal competence.

I agree with you take that the dismissals probably could have been handled better, if it really was a 3 minute call, but as far as loyalty and tenure go, you can't have it both ways.