I'm just concerned that we sacrifice too much of our future by doing a short fix now.  By shaking up the troops via a Macha dismissal, you accomplish much of the same at a lower cost.

Unless we have a real shot of making the playoffs, of course.  Right now, it's just hard to see that.

I also agree that we can be competitive this year for the West.  The division is a bit off, and we have many of the ingredients required for winning.  Many pundits said we would stink this year because of the departure of Hudson and Mulder.  But this isn't even close.  The pitching is doing fine.  As we all have painfully seen, we can't hit.  This is the most anemic A's lineup I can remember seeing in a long time.  Billy needs to get us a bat or two and we will all be looking at a very competitive run for the division.  

I have reservations about Sweeney given the injury risks.  I don't think I could handle a DL.  I don't have an answer for how we might solve this problem.  I am sure Beane is working away on this problem (I trust).  Although this year is something of a rebuilding one, I can't see him throwing in the towel on this season.  He is too much of a competitor.  

I hate to be sarcastic, but this place is already overrun w/ this kind of talk.  It's getting to the point where I will avoid AN on days after losses.

As for the Indians, well thats an interesting one. The thing is, their offense is one of the worst right now as well. Who could we get that they would give us for Dotel? Ben Broussard and Ronny Belliard? I don't think they have anyone we reallly want, and Hafner is a lefty.

Although I have not given up on this season at all, I believe that any move that is made should be made looking to the future and the strength of the A's when Crosby, Haren, Swisher, Blanton, and Meyer have all had a couple more years under their belts.

We should look for power now, but young power that we can hold on to for some time and have grow with the team.

I've always had the impression that Sweeny has been tough on the A's (the stats folks will share the reality with us I hope).  And I'm a firm believer in getting the folks who can cause you trouble over to your side.

Add this to the fact that he is a solid hitter and a trade for him would send a serious signal to the players and fans... I'm all for it!

We can't slug.  We can't play small ball.

Sweeney isn't the answer.  He's on the downside of his career and is injury-prone.  And he would only make sense if the A's are in the race this season.  At this point, even though the division is weak, I'm not persuaded that we're a contender.

And then there is the matter of Calero.  I don't know if he's still hurt, or if the loss of his best pitch has turned him into a very hittable pitcher.  But suddenly, our bullpen is looking mighty vulnerable.  Our two prize relief acquisitions, Cruz and Calero, can't be used if the game is close.  I don't know if Calero needs surgery, time to get his stuff back, or whether he's just damaged goods.  But this remains an alarming development.

As for the hitting, we are probably reaching a point where a change needs to be made, simply for the sake of doing something.  But I don't know what would help.    

Will Beane go this route? Probably not.

And calm.  Very, very calm.

Because I've got a good feeling about this series in Boston.  

No changes for me, thanks.

Just as long as I have my medicine.

That said, I'd trade for Carlos Lee. Not as expensive, extremely durable (has never had fewer than 492 AB in a season), and with more power than Sweeney. Plus he plays a position that currently represents our weakest spot in the field and in the lineup (LF).

I don't think a trade is going to be the answer. We'll get a big bat that will suddenly start slumping because apathy breeds apathy. And we'll be right back where we are now.

What we need is someone who can REMIND Hudgens and these guys what to do with the bat with RISP. Quit taking huge hacks, shorten your swing and PUT THE BALL IN PLAY. MAKE CONTACT. MOVE THE RUNNER. 25% of the time you'll get a run, which is 25% more of a chance when all you do is strike out.

Granted I never got farther than Babe Ruth in my baseball career because I sucked, but I never struck out with RISP because I was just going for contact instead of the fence.

Maybe Hudgens ought to hire me to script his next DVD.

I'd much rather keep johnson and go through a year of hardship and have 06 be just an amazing year as its looking out to be.

First off, the A's have 3 players that are switching leagues (Kendall, Thomas, Ginter).  This is traditionally hard for hitters (see last years NL MVP on the Mariners right now).  I think this transition will be over soon and that those 3 hitters will regain their previous form.  Also, Crosby and Swisher are out right now.  That is the AL ROY from last year, and the ROY fav. for this year.  Those injuries hurt too.  Chavy is in his usual slow start.  

All these factors have definately contributed heavily to the loss in offense for the A's.  The important thing to remember is that they are all transient: they will dissapear as time progresses.  

There are about 5 months left in the season.  I think we all need to remember that.  Have patience, and some faith.

1. Have Macha set the clubhouse on fire. Take one of everyone's bats and burn them in the shower.
2. Sign Jeff Tam to a 10 day so he can do him Taminator act.
2. Fire Macha

Can anyone elaborate?

We also need to stick Chavy down in the 7 or 8 hole.  Get him out of the middle of the order where his failures are maginified, yet keep him in the lineup so he can come around.

We need a hot bat now to light the spark.  Matt Watson or Andre Ethier, not Jack Cust or Dan Johnson.  Bring them (or him) and to start right away.  If they don't hit in a few days, sit them down re-evaluate in a week.  Send down some bench players to get AB's in the minors and possibly heat up.

Jason Kendall needs to sit.  He can't hit the ball out of the infield and he can't throw runners out.  Adam Melhuse should at least be playing against righties right now.

Eric Byrnes needs to go, and we can probably get some value for him while reducing payroll.

After a few more weeks, if the offense still hasn't shown signs of pulling out of its hole then we should pursue a trade.  Sweeney sounds ok, if the price is right.

Jonathon

It's true that several players are underperforming. It's true that it makes the team difficult to watch. If you're really an A's fan you should be used to this by now because it's an annual ritual for us. The team will do better. The good news is that nobody else in the division is playing particularly well either. It's not like it was when the M's roared ahead with an outrageously hot start. Billy will find a way to shake things up without damaging the team's long-term health or making scapegoats of people who are simply going through slumps. What happened to "In Billy We Trust" in this so-called Athletics Nation?

go get him billy!

Why is it that the A's never stick with rookies.  If they are not on fire or play some what decent we give up on them.  And can someone win the second base job.  Every day I look in the paper and it is a shuffle between Marco, Ellis and Ginter.  

Consistancy people

I'd like to see what he can bring to our offense in a full-time role.  If that means benching Scutaro or Ellis, I'm all for it at this point.

"I have never known a better hitting coach than Dave Hudgens. His program has kept me at the top of my game ever since I signed with the A's"
Eric Chavez,
Oakland A's, AL All Star 3B

...Hudgen's DVDs must be selling like hotcakes!

Top of my game now means hitting below the Mendoza line and being quoted in the paper as saying, "I have no clue.  I really don't."