I wondered when soemthing would be posted on here about him. Great move! And he’s in the lineup! How about a six spot in the first! That’s a good start!

My only concern is getting Barton ABs

Why can’t we just teach Barton to play 3rd?

The A’s are competing right now, despite all the headaches we might be having over, well, everything. I guess the best thing we can hope for is that he can carry the team on his back for stretches, like he did two years ago, and lead them into the playoffs.

Wishful thinking, but there’s not much being lost if the gamble doesn’t pay off.

Thomas was quoted as saying he would like to retire with us!

Now, he hopes to retire with the A’s.

"I hope so," Thomas said. "That’d be great."

I looked it up.

Barton did play 3B for a total of 25 games in the minors. How big a defensive disaster would it be to temp him there while we figure out the Buck, Thomas, Sweenies logjam? Would it be enough of an offensive upgrade over this Hannahan/Murphy business while we wait to see what happens with Chavy?

before BB adds the other BB?? Chavez out til who knows when and we have no left handed pop. As i posted before, signing Thomas and eventually Bonds will add two players who are hungry to prove all the critics wrong, which could be dangerous. Thomas did that on his first tour of duty. Adding Bonds who is angry and hungry can also give the young kids great pennant run experience. As much as i dislike Bonds, i think with him being humbled he would be out to prove he can still play and be a great influence on the younger players.

Hit 150?? You get shin splints and get DLed pretty quick.

Mike Sweeney ain’t going nowhere. Today is the perfect illustration—he can sub for Barton against lefties—he can DH when Thomas can’t go—he can pinch-hit more liberally now thatwe have another defensive option in Davis.

But Cust?? With Gonzalez waiting in the wings?? I think big Jack had better start hitting soon or he won’t be here much beyond Memorial Day, if that.

This makes my day

One of these DH guys will get hurt pretty soon, and then we won’t have to worry about our logjam for another 15-20 days until a different one gets hurt. It’s really a very simple process or cycle - whatever you want to call it.

I grew up an A’s fan in the 70s – 90’s in the bay area and moved to Roseville ( Sacramento ) about 10 years ago.

I usually go to about 3-4 games a year during bay area business trips. One thing I have noticed, especially this year and last is the alarmimg increase in the number of pan handlers ( and in some cases aggressive pan handlers ) in the parking lot. It’s getting to the point that I’m beginning to get frustrated about it and is beginning to take away from the fun experience of attending games. For example, I was at the game on Tuesday and was approached 3 different times just sitting in my car about 4 rows away from the colesium !

For those of you that drive to the games, have you also noticed an increase in this kind of activity ? Does it bother you ? Can I complain to someone about it ?

To me this would impact interest in attending games by some, especially if I was a new fan and gointg to the ballpark for the first time.

Thoughts ??

Much as I like Babe Cust, I think he’s going to be the one sitting out when all is said and done. Sweeney’s just doing too well compared to him, I’d be surprised to see either Sweeney depart this early (though Billy certainly lives to shock).

Seeing the Giant of Awesome back in the proper color shoes is so damn exciting. I loved Big Frank with the team and was genuinely surprised when he didn’t end up with us again. This seems to be setting the world right again.

When the A’s returned from falling out of the postseason in ‘06 and we waited outside the Coliseum for their return, Frank was one of the guys to stay around for a longish period to sign autographs and chat—he seemed like a genuinely fan-friendly person, and it makes me happy to see him sporting the green and gold again.