My Debut on Inside Baseball Postponed

by Tyler Bleszinski on Dec 21, 2005 11:33 AM PST in News

The fever has finally broken, but now I have a painful and uncontrollable cough, so I won't be on Inside Baseball with Marty Lurie tonight. Although I suggest you tune in because Marty will be interviewing Ken Macha and a writer for MLB.com who covered the Dodgers during Milton Bradley's time there.

As for other news, Johnny Damon signed with the Yankees. This makes the Red Sox desperate for a new center fielder. I don't think the A's will be involved, despite the fact that the A's basically have three center fielders. Kotsay has a no-trade clause in his contract. Payton made a hasty retreat from Boston when he didn't get any playing time. And Milton Bradley is someone the A's have wanted for a while.

The Yankees also signed Octavio Dotel. They reportedly signed him for a $2 million one-year contract. It'll be interesting to see how Dotel performs this season coming off Tommy John surgery. The A's aren't the type of team that can take a chance on a player coming off surgery and risk tying up salary on a player who may or may not be healthy.

The truth is I'm more frustrated that the Yankees were able to sign Mike Myers. He could've been the ideal lefty specialist for the A's. Right now, the A's don't have a true LOOGY. Or at least one that is proven.

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Comments

sorry you can't do the show tonight

but obviously, your health comes first, and I'm sure Marty will get you on another time.

I've forgotten: what time is the program?

by OaklandSi on Dec 21, 2005 11:38 AM PST reply actions

LOOGY

Nico made a good argument, I seem to remember, for Kennedy being tried out as a LOOGY. You're right, though, they have no one proven.

I guess the question is, do the A's have a bullpen strong enough to survive without a LOOGY? The Angels were able to do it--of course their pen was probably the best in baseball, with shutdown strikeout guys. Ours is strong, but is it strong enough?

Really, there are only a few guys in the league you really need a LOOGY for. Ortiz is a big one. Hafner's another one. The argument, I guess, is go for every little advantage you can get, but I wonder what the numbers show about pens that have depended on LOOGY's vs. pens that have not.

by rockbutt on Dec 21, 2005 11:41 AM PST reply actions

Yeah, butt of rock,

here's the link:

http://www.athleticsnation.com/story/2005/12/3/162726/476

I think Kennedy could be an above-average LOOGY, though 2.4 mil is too much for a team like the A's to pay for a LOOGY. His price tag leads me to believe he'll be used in middle relief, meaning either he'll double as a LOOGY when available, will share bullpen time with a second lefty, or will be part of a "LOOGY-free" bullpen.

Nico

by Nico on Dec 21, 2005 12:06 PM PST up reply actions

in his last year with the A's

experienced and effective LOOGY Rincón made $1.9 million.

I find it difficult to believe that the A's will use Kennedy as only a LOOGY for that amount of $$. However, he would be a very affordable starter for someone else...

by OaklandSi on Dec 21, 2005 1:12 PM PST up reply actions

Warning: Old Zito Rumor

The Newark Star Ledger says the Mets had been trying to trade right-hander Kris Benson and 2B Kaz Matsui to create payroll room necessary to acquire Oakland's Barry Zito.

------------------------------------------------

I suppose they'll never go away.

Let's Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Dec 21, 2005 11:57 AM PST reply actions

That must be the easiest story

in news print today.

Mets after Zito!

Zito to the Mets?

And folks get paid to come up with that stuff.

"You dumped a porn star? Friendship over. FRIENDSHIP OVER!"...Barney

by grover on Dec 21, 2005 4:25 PM PST up reply actions

Good Luck

The Mets WAAAYYYYYYY overpaid for Benson and his loudmouth wife. Noone will want to take on that headache and salary for a below average pitcher and 2 bagger

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by haren4prez on Dec 22, 2005 10:41 PM PST up reply actions

1550

Correct for Lurie's show, oh and Blez hope you get better.

The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.-W. M. Lewis

by doublehustle22 on Dec 21, 2005 12:04 PM PST reply actions

Ditto, Blez

Hope you're feeling better and that your temperature stays well below 1550.

Nico

by Nico on Dec 21, 2005 12:07 PM PST up reply actions

What time is the show?

"I like Band Camp. He hits things." ~ Kyli (9/24/05)

by AsGirl on Dec 21, 2005 12:07 PM PST reply actions

Starts at 6 p.m.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Dec 21, 2005 12:08 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks

It's not like it matters, though. All I hear on that station is "Bvzzzz bbbvvvzzzzzzzz."
I'd go crazy if that's what I hear during A's games.

"I like Band Camp. He hits things." ~ Kyli (9/24/05)

by AsGirl on Dec 21, 2005 12:11 PM PST up reply actions

[recycled joke]

That's because they have a live feed to the electrodes in Jennifer's basement.

@('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 21, 2005 12:13 PM PST up reply actions

I want to buy a radio station

and play static most of the time, except occasionally when there is suddenly clear programming "due to technical difficulties".

Nico

by Nico on Dec 21, 2005 12:14 PM PST up reply actions

make sure

it's the Gnat flagship station then.

Damn! Street is so imposing, he even causes the earth itself to freeze in fear! - monkeyball

by Jjjsixsix on Dec 21, 2005 12:16 PM PST up reply actions

No problem--

It'll fit right in with KCHH's slogan of "THE spchchbbbzts leadchbbchzzchhr."

Nico

by Nico on Dec 21, 2005 12:20 PM PST up reply actions

Finley days again

Oh the Charlie Finley days are back. Closed third deck, radio stations that are weak. If you can remember, Kalx, 89 watts of pure power in 1978 for the first couple of weeks of the season.Then in 1979 it was KTIM, 1500 am, San Rafael, who at 8pm had to drop their power to 1000 watts. You would be listening to Red Rush and Hal Ramey, then... buzzzzzzzzzz. It sucked, but so did the A's that year. Then 1980 came, NO radio for the first month of the season. I would take a bunch of dimes and call my friends to give them updates. Hopfully this will be better than that.

by billyball1981 on Dec 23, 2005 6:11 PM PST up reply actions

thanks, I'll listen on the radio

by OaklandSi on Dec 21, 2005 1:23 PM PST up reply actions

Oh and thanks for all of your

very nice well-wishes yesterday. It meant a lot to me.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Dec 21, 2005 12:08 PM PST reply actions

Yankees.....

Is it just me, or are they looking like the A's Alumni Association (again)?

2006 Yankees = 2001 A's

(OK, Maybe just seeing Giambi AND Damon in pinstripes is gonna give me the willies)

"Our team has always been like, 'You're a rookie? OK, here's the ball,'" Barry Zito

by 510inDenver on Dec 21, 2005 1:11 PM PST reply actions

cant beleive dotel...

says he'd play for us at a discount, then signs with the Yanks for 2 million...we all know he was never coming back, but still..shut your yap if you're a blowhard like all the rest...screw him anyway...he was garbage for us.

tdwclark

by tdwclark on Dec 21, 2005 1:20 PM PST reply actions

Don't think we wanted him anyway

since he won't be avialable til mid season.

"Put a Milo on him." -Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on Dec 21, 2005 1:32 PM PST up reply actions

We don't need him!

And the stankees are desperate. Let them take a chance and he will fail just like anyone else who pitches for them. Maybe a 3 or 4 year tailspin like the Mattingly era. Go A's!

by A'sfansince1970 on Dec 21, 2005 1:37 PM PST reply actions