that would be awesome. Actually its a horrible game to play, especially cause your little sister always wind. but anyway, if one on one baseball existed Crosby would still be AA with my sister, and Sabathia would be the yankees.

If/when the Athletics baseball club moves to Fremont, will the name change to the

“Fremont Pathfinders”…

???

Every time I’m heading to Sacramento on I-80 and I pass “Lagoon Valley” and “Lagoon Valley Road” near Fairfield, I think of John C. Fremont and his capture of the popular governor of California, Vallejo. They were taking Vallejo to Sutter’s Fort at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers. Some of Vallejo’s men caught up with the capture party at night at their encampment in Lagoon Valley. “Shall we kill all these Americanos??” they asked Vallejo. The security at the camp was so haphazard, Vallejo’s men were able to slip in and talk with him in his tent.

“No, no bloodshed. I think I’ll be okay.” The men left, leaving Vallejo with the Americans. Vallejo knew everyone around this area of California, so after setting up in Sutter’s Fort, it took no time at all before Fremont became repeatedly incensed at the casual and convivial treatment by his “guards” toward his important “prisoner”. “Who’s guarding the prisoner??!!!” Fremont would explode, as he spied Vallejo wandering in and around Fort Sutter, or sitting at a table holding court with the “guards”.

Too bad the Californios didn’t off that dismal pompous blowhard when they had the chance.

Such as?

He’s going to cost a lot as it doesn’t seem there’s a large market for his services.

Who else can we acquire to play 1st Base?

Adam Dunn? His EQA last year was the same as Giambi’s, but will cost a lot more.
The Cubs are shopping Derek Lee, he has good D but he’s lost all his power.
Kevin Millar? NO.
Dallas McPherson? Maybe, but he can’t hit in the MLB it seems, and the Marlins are probably going to retain him and use him at 1B/3B next year.
Mark Teixiera? Cost too much.
Prince Fielder? A ton in prospects.

Whereas Giambi just costs money, won’t be expensive and is probably the best deal we can find on the FA Market at First Base. If we can keep the years down (1 or 2 years), we could use him till either Carter or Doolittle are ready.

1. Giambi may be available for “pennies on the dollar” compared to his relative value – maybe cheap enough so as not to prevent other moves one way or the other. Basically, deal Crosby as a salary dump and add Giambi and you may be in about the same financial position you were in before.

2. Let’s say Barton is predicted (by A’s brass) to hit .260/.340/.380 in 2009 and that Giambi is predicted to hit .250/.370/.480. That’s a significant difference (130 points of OPS).

3. Returning Barton to AAA also gives you one more year of his services down the line, so if he reaches his potential there’s a payoff in 2014 by getting one of Giambi’s last productive offensive seasons at a time when the team needs more power (even with Holliday).

4. If there’s a ground ball right to the 1Bman, Ellis will get it. We’re talking about a unicorn here.

and i totally misinterpreted what he meant

but Paul is right. That’s the sort of info that it’s better to link. When a cut-and-paste is that large it’s unfair to the source website. It also potentially causes a copyright hassle for Blez and AN. Out of respect for both websites, next time use a shorter excerpt or just the link.

Furcal would be much, MUCH more valuable in the 6 hole (assuming something like a Buck, Holliday, Chavez, Cust, Ellis (or even Swooney, if he can ever hit for any damn power). I know lineup construction isn’t too big of a deal, but there’s some really strong evidence that meh (for a leadoff hitter) OBP guys who steal a lot of bases actually hurt the team at the top of the order.

and not many shortstops available.

I’m not saying the A’s will be able to net a Joey Devine type. I’m talking a middling prospect type, fringey guy.

in my softball league … Am I a prospect?