Groundhog Day for A's fans-- a Decade of Hope

Don't know about you, but when the final whistle blows in the Super Bowl the pace quickens quite a bit thinking about the next baseball season. Pitcher and catchers will report within a couple of weeks, the final elements of the roster are coming together, that hope of spring and renewal George Will and all those fancy pants write so movingly about actually does exist.

What have we had to look forward to the past decade.

1999-- I confess that I had almost zero expectations. I certainly didn't see a year where the A's became a contender. The excitement was really around the young players-- we'd had a full year of Grieve (ROY), most of a season of Miguel tejada, and knew that Eric Chavez was on the way with Mark Mulder lurking not too far behind. Maybe I didn't follow things that closely back then but I confess I had nary a hint that the next great pitcher on the horizon would be up by May and his name was Tim Hudson.

2000-- OK, the amazing turnaround had happened. The first signs of Beane's genius had appeared, and I for one figured the division was for the taking. We all of a sudden had a stud closer in Izzy; a stud pitcher in Hudson; A stud veteran in Appier; A stud hitter in Giambi; and young help was on the way-- who cares if Ben Grieve threw like a girl and didn't seem to be panning out as a superstar?

2001-- "The Best is Yet to Come" was the A's PR refrain this off-season, and then all of a sudden here came Johnny Damon. And a potentially good starter in Cory Lidle. And some middle infielder prospect named Ellis. We had a full-time catcher now, and while there was regret in seeing Matt Stairs go, with ROY runner-up TLong, improving Tejada and Chavez, Mulder hopefully on the mend after a late injury-- and Barry Zito about to step up, this was going to be a world beater. The Yanks had escaped in the Divisional Series, but that was going to be it. The only dark cloud was the team's inability to resign MVP Jason Giambi, for we didn't really appreciate yet the limitations of the marketplace;

2002-- Damn!! So close.. and so far. Jeremy didn't slide. Jermaine busted up his leg. And now Giambi is gone forever (well, not, as it turns out), plus Damon and Isringhausen, and maybe our best chance went a glimmering. But.... Billy Koch came as a steal to replace Izzy. Zito's 2nd half was lights out-- David Justice will add some smack, and how about that Pena trade? Don't count us out so fast, no matter how many games the Mariners won last year;

2003-- And the Angels win the goddam World Series?? At least it wasn't Bonds and Co. How could we blow a series to Minnesota? How could Hudson get hurt at the worst possible time? How could Koch pitch so bad down the stretch? How could Howe use Ted Lilly in such a crucial situation? This is getting depressing. Well, Foulke is bound to be better than Koch. And while the Tejada contract situation is more depressing even than Giambi's, that Bobby Crosby guy is just a year away. And now we have a pretty darn good 2B man in Ellis. Plus Hatteberg-- he of the incredible HR to win that 20th game in a row. And the Big Three still here, though scab Lidle is history. Maybe Lilly can step in, and flamethrowing Rich Harden is the next up. We're still contenders;

2004-- Ugh. Byrnes doesn't touch the plate; Tejada stops running; Mulder is yet another pitcher who gets hurt at the worst possible time. Well, at least the albatross of TLong is gone, though one wonders if Kotsay will be worth Ramon going too. Let's see how good Crosby is. Angels slipped last year-- can they come back and threaten us? Moneyball sure has shaken the baseball establishment-- will it hamper Beane's ability to deal? Are Jeremy Brown and Nick Swisher all that?

2005-- Frustrating finish. Should have beat the Angels-- why no Harden in relief?? And now Beane really rolls the dice. Most dramatic changes since 1999-- Hudson and Mulder both gone?? Let's hope he knows what he is doing. The new Big Three (well, more like Biog 3, 4, 5 after Zito and Harden) is Blanton, Haren and Dan Meyer-- nice sound to it. Street ought to solidify the bullpen after that crazy Rhodes-Dotel season. Chavez has been plenty consistent and his glove is terrific-- but-- can't he do more??

2006-- Same old story-- Angels a bit better. Harden's health a growing concern. Zito not the same anymore. Crosby not progressing enough, though that injury vs. baltimore was key. But Haren and Blanton sure did the trick last year, after that horrific start. Team was world-beaters for most of the summer, and then injuries and they faded down the stretch. Not used to that after our incredible 2nd half runs. Frank Thomas?? Could he still have the magic? He sure came cheap.

2007-- We won a frickin' playoff series!! We won a frickin' playoff series!! MARCO.... SCUTARO!!! Who cares that we were then torched by Detroit? After 6 years it was nice to have a little bit of a glow for at least a couple of days. But now Zito is gone-- and to the Giants, for crissake. But we've gotten used to that-- Harden, Blanton, Loaiza-- still a pretty good rotation.  Swisher could be a star.. We lost the Hurt but maybe Piazza still has something in the tank. We can win this thing again. Wish Kendall could hit a bit for all that money, however;

2008-- oops. Luck-- and health-- ran out I guess. What a disaster. And now Billy unloads Haren to the DBacks-- probably a smart move can Harden and/or Blanton be that far behind?? Swisher is gone too. Well at least we can see what Daric Barton and Kurt Suzuki are like. Could we climb back up and be a contender? Maybe, but seems tough this season.. Looks like a rebuilding/retooling year. Chavez' shoulder and back are real problems... and Crosby is.... ahh, what happened to that team from way back (4 years ago) when??

2009-- Ok, we're coming back. Young pitching and more young pitching. Maybe Chavy's healthy... Holliday is a stud!! Angels have slipped-- get us a SS and let's strap it on, baby!! The Best is Yet to Come!!!!