Lew would rather let Holliday walk than trade him

by dboysick on Nov 19, 2008 9:44 AM PST Comment 44 comments

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3712578

"On other matters, Wolff said he's inclined to keep newly acquired outfielder Matt Holliday for the entire season, even if he becomes a free agent next November and leaves the A's.

"I'd rather take the two draft choices than lose him in the middle of the season," Wolff said.

Holliday, obtained from Colorado, is represented by Scott Boras, who advocates that clients not sign contracts before filing for free agency."

He also said something about a one-game playoff in the first round. Not cool given the A's history in the playoffs. That kind of looks bad.

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He also said something about a one-game playoff in the first round. Not cool given the A’s history in the playoffs. That kind of looks bad.

I disagree, this would work out great for the A’s considering that they have won the first game in 3 out of the last 4 1st round 1st games.

by stranahanahan on Nov 19, 2008 9:53 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe...

but it would also be an elimination game. And we all know how they fare in those.

And, since I have nowhere else to put this:

I had a dream last night I was in Oakland watching the 1st game of the WS. Duke was starting, we had a 6 run lead going into the second, I caught a foul ball, and there were only like 7500 people at the Coli.

99 MPH with as much control as a deflating balloon - CurveballKing on H-Rod

by Scottbass on Nov 19, 2008 12:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I like the way you dream

"The Athletics at Fremont" is terribly bad

by ArakSOT on Nov 19, 2008 1:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Great that we would be in the World Series and looks like there is going to be plenty of seating available

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Nov 19, 2008 1:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not if the tarp covered the rest of the seats

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 19, 2008 6:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

what he said

"It's like déjà vu all over again." -yogi berra

by Cheezombie on Nov 19, 2008 3:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, that playoff idea is really awful

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Nov 19, 2008 9:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

+1

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Nov 19, 2008 10:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

+2097340839274

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 19, 2008 10:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

OK, now that might be a little long for a first-round playoff series

I also have a pretty high shame threshold. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 19, 2008 11:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Dialing PT's Phone number

Wow, those sure are a lot of extra digits…

I had no idea he lived in Egypt.

The Stockton Ports pitching staff is better than the Orioles.

by gdub171 on Nov 19, 2008 1:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

almost posted this too, then rethunk it.

at this point, Lew’s stance on this issue doesn’t really mean anything to me. If the A’s are sucking mid-season, the FO will look for a trade, and if there is one that they like they will take it. That’s that.

Save Rajai Davis

by oakinboston on Nov 19, 2008 9:57 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

not really Lew’s decision…if Billy wants to sign him, Lew will agree (I think).

The Maharg makes me look like an idiot.

by carp on Nov 19, 2008 10:15 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

That does seem to be the way it's worked in the past.

Lew does tend to defer to Billy on personnel decisions.

by athletics68 on Nov 19, 2008 10:20 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That's a smart boss...

Hire good people and let them do their job.

99 MPH with as much control as a deflating balloon - CurveballKing on H-Rod

by Scottbass on Nov 19, 2008 12:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

yet no mention of actually signing him

thats what fans want to hear uncle lew

by Asfan4ever723 on Nov 19, 2008 10:42 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Uncle Lew

Seems to be trying hard to become the latest annoying owner who their league wishes would shut up.

by jdr on Nov 19, 2008 11:21 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'd rather make the world series a 1 game playoff than the first round

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra

by brenarlo on Nov 19, 2008 12:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Welcome to the World Serie

99 MPH with as much control as a deflating balloon - CurveballKing on H-Rod

by Scottbass on Nov 19, 2008 12:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

How about one 63-inning game?

"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico

by jeepers on Nov 19, 2008 1:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oldham probably loves this idea

The more like Cricket we can make baseball…

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Nov 19, 2008 1:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Cricket has two innings at most

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 19, 2008 6:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

But never ends

(much like a 63 inning game)

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Nov 19, 2008 7:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

There are 3 different versions of cricket

The full 5 day version, ie Test / First Class Cricket, and 2 limited overs versions, one 50 overs, ie one day games, and one 20 overs.

The 20 overs version is exploding in popularity. In terms of duration, it is similar to most modern team sports like soccer, baseball, basketball.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Nov 19, 2008 11:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't they have $20 million to the winning team a few weeks ago

West Indian Team I believe and the starting 11 got 1 mil each. Not bad for one game.

Brings back memories

Leg break, Googly, Flipper, Top Spinner, Doosra, arm ball, off break and even the rarest of all the “Chinaman bowler” Listed on Cricinfo.com as SLC by the persons name. Slow Left-arm Chinaman or a left handed wrist spinner. Only remember about two of those in my time.

by Trainman on Nov 20, 2008 10:37 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

well in the interest of excitement

we might as well make it like the NCAA tournament.. seed the teams and have one game to determine who moves on. not only would it be amazingly fun to watch, it would be incredibly stupid.

by travdog6 on Nov 19, 2008 12:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

and because it would involve all of mlb

the a’s would make the playoffs every year! bonzer!

BB should send scouts to watch cricket players.

by alea iacta est on Nov 19, 2008 12:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That would be great

Start with 16 teams, 8 in the NL and 8 in the AL and then each play a game, one day in between each game for travel.
So you wouldn’t know if you liked who was playing for the WS until the after the final 4. Also, It may be a little difficult for advance ticket sales.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Nov 19, 2008 1:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course he would

If they let him walk, it means that the A’s actually still had a chance at the trade deadline. Beats the hell out of giving up in May again.

"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico

by jeepers on Nov 19, 2008 2:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I believe you may be misreading the content of the title sentence

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 19, 2008 2:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He won't trade Holliday if he draws too many bases on balls?

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 19, 2008 6:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think so.

“Lew would rather let Holliday walk than trade him.” This sentence excludes neither option from reailty, and expresses a preference for one of them. What is not clear is the motivation behind Lew’s preference.

One might assume that it’s because he views the draft picks as more valuable than the return he will get from a trade. I think that’s a pretty silly assumption, and it’s more reasonable to believe that he prefers to let Holliday walk because he believes the A’s will be in contention at the trade deadline, and would prefer to remain in contention beyond that by fielding the most competitive team possible.

"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico

by jeepers on Nov 20, 2008 10:00 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If you read the article in context, it's very clear that what he's intending to argue against

is the notion that the A’s traded for Holliday looking for an arbitrage benefit, a la some of the ridiculous suggestions here at AN. He’s saying they got him to try to contend in 2009.

I think that in practice, if the team is 15 games out at the break, principles won’t stop the team from dealing him to a contender. But he doesn’t expect that, and I don’t either.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 20, 2008 1:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully we won't lose, what was it,

16 games in the standings over the course of 24 games?

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Nov 20, 2008 7:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It'd help if the Angels didn't win quite so many games they weren't supposed to

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Nov 20, 2008 7:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I know - didn't they see the list I sent

of which games they were supposed to win and which ones they were supposed to lose?

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Nov 20, 2008 7:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

OOOO

Can I write that list for next year?

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Nov 21, 2008 1:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course, Foolsh has previously predicted that Lew will soon be

forced out by the rest of the ownership group.

Grover, by contrast, is 100% certain that Lew will continue to front the franchise until Armaggedon…which will occur the instant after Jamie Moyer throws the first pitch for the A’s in their 2021 home opener.

Don't you know there ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk.

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Nov 19, 2008 2:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs