As a sidebar, I thought about doing a post about California's recent decision to allow Sacramento to hold redevelopment agencies as ransom and what it meant for the future of the A's in San Jose or Oakland, but I wasn't 100% sure if that would fall into CGV-worthy territory (not sure how to describe the state's actions in neutral terms). So... I'll link you to vertig0/marinelayer's amazing New Ballpark blog for that kind of analysis. Redevelopment talk here and a little more here.

So, on the last day of 2011, I figured we'd take a look back on a year of A's baseball. There were some bad times, there were some ugly times, then there were some more bad times.

Yeah, this year kind of sucked, not going to lie. Grab a bottle of something strong and click the jump...

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Merry Christmas (Eve), everyone! Happy Hanukkah, Festivus, Saturnalia and every other holiday you celebrate.

Figured we'd take a break for a bit from the Gio Gonzalez to the Nationals hoopla, and take on more of a lighthearted topic.

Who are your favorite A's players of all-time? It doesn't matter if he was the best, the worst, the hottest, the ugliest, etc. Just players who you enjoyed watching in the green and gold (or blue and white).

Some of mine:

Dallas Braden

Dallas Braden's perfect game came when I was living in Stockton, so I felt a connection. I admire his love for the 209 and Stockton, which often ranks among one of America's most miserable cities — seriously. I understood. I totally understood. It's kind of like A's fans love for the Coliseum. Yeah, Stockton's a dump, but doggone it, it's his dump. He was also awesome enough to come through the minor leagues with a screwball, and he's able to get batters out without a 95-mph fastball or a nose-to-toes curveball.

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The Padres have just made a deal with the Reds.

To Cincinnati: RHP Mat Latos

To San Diego: RHP Edinson Volquez, 1B/LF Yonder Alonso, C Yasmani Grandal, RHP Brad Boxberger

How does this affect the A's chances of trading Gio Gonzalez this offseason?

The A's have posted their schedule for promotions and giveaways, with more to be added in the future, I'm sure.

There are some pretty cool ones, such as the 1972 A's celebration and Rollie Fingers bobblehead on Apr. 21, kids baseball socks (hopefully they come with stirrups too) on June 16, a curious Gio Gonzalez bobblehead on June 17 and a Scott Hatteberg bobblehead on Aug. 18

Here are a few ideas that were somehow left on the cutting room floor:

Apr. 6 vs. Seattle — Groundhog Day

Bill Murray throws out the ceremonial first pitch to "Punxsutawny" Phil Garner, A's players come onto the field to the tunes of Sonny & Cher's "I've Got You, Babe," and once again are thoroughly dominated by face Mariners ace Felix Hernandez.

Apr. 22 vs. Cleveland — 30th anniversary of the 1982 Oakland A's

One day after the 1972 team is fêted, Rickey Henderson, Joe Rudi and the best Dan Meyer in Oakland history (no, not that one, the other one) come back to the Coliseum for a remembrance of a team that time forgot — the 1982 Oakland A's. With a record of 68-94, these players will remind the current squad that, hey, it can always get worse.

More after the jump.

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