ANtics - Episode II: Trading Deadline

by louismg on Jul 31, 2005 4:20 PM PDT Comment 56 comments

Working within a limited budget but achieving big league success has made Oakland A's GM Billy Beane a unique phenomenon - his every move or non-move dissected and questioned - championed by his followers, and maligned by his detractors.

This year's trading deadline was no different. Following the exclusive uncovering of Beane's daily calendar yesterday, this week's ANtics delves deeper into the pressure that surrounds him - ranging from other owners' expectations, to players' yearning to join the suddenly hot A's - who at times can seem to do no wrong.

After the 1-2 punch of Chadford and Byrnsie being replaced by Jay, Jay and Joe K, Beane stood pat.

As for the "Wanna-Beanes"?
Theo Epstein? Paul DePodesta? JP Ricciardi? Wear It!

Click to See Larger Comic

Poll

If you had to make a trade, which would it have been?

To A's: Adam Dunn - To Reds: Daric Barton

42 votes

To A's: Buddy Groom - To Yankees: Ricardo Rincon

7 votes

To A's: Rickey Henderson - To SD Surf Dawgs: Kieth Ginter

44 votes

To A's: Alfonso Soriano - To Rangers: 25 copies of "Anger Management" DVD

33 votes

To A's: A New Stadium - To Giants: A How to Play Baseball Primer

67 votes

To A's: Larry Brown - To Knicks: Ken Macha

9 votes

202 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 56 comments

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Comments

Good Choices

I had to change my vote 3 times, first I wanted to go for Rickey, but then I couldn't pass up the Fonz for only 25 DVDs, but then how can you beat a brand new stadium for a book.

Excellent new comic as well. I've enjoyed every issue so far.

Olympian Amil Gartenamo, world record holder in both the javelin and the hundred yard dash--only person who ever died by throwing a spear into his own back.

by Furious George on Jul 31, 2005 4:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Excellent!

Great comic. Does anyone know how Rickey's doing in the minors now?

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Jul 31, 2005 4:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ricky's Stats

The stats didn't copy and paste well from the Surf Dogs website, so here's the short version.

53 Games
.459 OBP
.253 Average
3 HR
20 RBI

by lexi on Jul 31, 2005 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice.

Just back from the game - great to be back at the park again since I've been abroad for most of the summer. Did anyone notice Kotsay limping after the double in the ninth? Hope he's ok. Also, here is a great poll from the Los Angeles Angels of San Berdu blog:
http://www.halosheaven.com/poll/1122622229_JEZtFMYQ

by moco on Jul 31, 2005 4:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We should take over Halo's Heaven

During the next A's-Angels series. Their numbers are far smaller.

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Jul 31, 2005 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's not

If the roles were reversed, would you want them coming here and ranting and raving about catching us, sweeping us, and having a much larger blog? I think not....

"Street's 'sweetness' will do for now." -Billy Beane

by Roscoe Parrish on Jul 31, 2005 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

No trolling

Olympian Amil Gartenamo, world record holder in both the javelin and the hundred yard dash--only person who ever died by throwing a spear into his own back.

by Furious George on Jul 31, 2005 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just a joke

That would indeed not be a nice thing to do.

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Jul 31, 2005 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow

thats kinda sad... i would say that they should never give up because look at what happened to the a's, but then again, them doing well doesnt help the a's out.

by Devina on Jul 31, 2005 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Y'know who should get together?

Rev Halofan and oaktoon. They'd be best buds.

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Jul 31, 2005 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

When you look at

Rev. Halofan's last three game-previews and wraps, you can see why no one comments there. Makes me proud to be associated with Blez and AN.

Nico

by Nico on Jul 31, 2005 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right

It is kind of sad that SBNation has a bad seed, though. Most of the blogmasters on the other sites are very knowledgeable and friendly (and in the case of McCovey Chronicles, downright hilarious).

But you know who's great? That new author and BtB. Man, he is something! :)

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Jul 31, 2005 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shame on you

Blatant self promotion, tsk, tsk.

"so what was it? the pork chop or the booty???" -rly723

by secret ASian man on Jul 31, 2005 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blatant?

That was my attempt at subtlety. When I'm blatant, you'll know it!

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Jul 31, 2005 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's a reason why

a person might call Halofan's blog the "unrestricted id of Angels blgodom"

"so what was it? the pork chop or the booty???" -rly723

by secret ASian man on Jul 31, 2005 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What?

Rev Halofan: Street should be a starter and Duch cold close.

That was a direct quote. Wonder if he feels Bartolo Colon - centerfielder is a good match too.

Welcome to Oakland - Where our Barry doesn't need to cheat!

by JLaff on Jul 31, 2005 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love ANtics!!

Better than the Archie comics. ;)

And I changed my vote a couple of times, too. Tough decision.

by ChaBinsky on Jul 31, 2005 5:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Great strip

This is probably the best episode yet, out of all the comic strips. It's great to see all the panels tie in together as part of a larger plot.

by OaktownTribesman on Jul 31, 2005 5:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Very nice!

Another great comic! You have a great sense of humor. Can't wait for the next installment!

by athleticsjunkie44 on Jul 31, 2005 5:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

bring back rickey!

If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Jul 31, 2005 5:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bring Rickey back and

put him at the card table at the old folks home...
:-)

by reztips on Jul 31, 2005 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know I'm stuck in Portland....

but I can't think of a reason not to pay rickey the minimum and sit him on the bench. Can you imagine the power of a <gasp> humble Rickey Henderson? A guy who's just happy to be there and share with a bunch of kids who love the game like he does? A guy who can talk about how Dave Stewart used to stare people cold?

I mean, I love Keith Ginter, but do I trust him more than Rickey Henderson if we need a pinch hit RBI in the 10th inning late in the year in Los Anaheim? Sorry, but I'll take Rick every single day of the week - twice on Sunday.

Can you imagine the revenue stream if he <double gasp> succeeds? He's got the Charisma to carry a team deep into the playoffs. I bet he'd be like a poor-man's Paul O'neal, guiding the Yankees soul those years when Jeter was getting all the credit.

Tap. Tap. Snatch.

"I'm the best you've ever seen, Fats, the best there is. Even if you beat me I'm still the best."

by Mike Gallego is my Hero on Jul 31, 2005 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, Ricky won't create much excitement

Ricky hasn't been in an Athletics uniform for some time. He isn't going to create "excitement" anywhere.... he's 46! When you suggest "imagine", that's the only substance to this idea.

Paul O'Neill (correct sp.) hit 21 home runs in his final year. At age 38. Rickey is eight years older. He has little to offer a team that needs to win. Sure, if the A' are way way out of the race in late September, bring him back to get a few rear ends in the seats. But every roster spot is crucial in a playoff (and playoff run). Heck, for a 25th man, I'd take left-hander Flores back from Sacto. He might get the critical "out" that our bullpen failed to get vs. the Angels in game 161 last year.

by Ducts on the Pawn on Aug 1, 2005 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In or out of contention...

...I doubt that it would hurt to have him on the September roster for a day or two. Assuming that what Rickey says is what Rickey means, he wants nothing more than to retire in an A's uniform. I think that's a hell of a lot cooler than Reggie's decision to enter the HOF as a Yankee. Let the dude pinch run or something. I'd certainly come out to say goodbye.

"I'm a lexicon devil with a battered brain."--Darby Crash

by lexdevil on Aug 1, 2005 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Groom Actually Goes to Diamondbacks

In the "And in other news..." category, Buddy Groom will not be playing with the A's for another campaign, as he was picked up by the Diamondbacks today.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/scorecard/mlbnews.asp?articleID=135377

by louismg on Jul 31, 2005 5:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

hahah

great comic. love the ginter part. .164!! HAHAH

by Devina on Jul 31, 2005 5:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I love it

You are a genius. :D

by Squeaky on Jul 31, 2005 5:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Byrnes Defense

If you only see Byrnes on SC highlights then you think he's a good defensive outfielder. If you watch Byrnes day in and day out like we do you know he takes poor routes to the ball, which leads to a lot of his spectacular catches. I really like what Jay Payton has brought to the club but it does seem a little weird to no longer have the energy of Byrnes on the team. The way Baltimore has been struggling recently I can certainly see why they'd make a move to get someone like Byrnes who will bring energy to their squad if nothing more.

PT-42

by norcaldevilasu on Jul 31, 2005 6:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well defensive plus or not....

Byrnes almost hit for the cycle today! Amazing! Go Byrnesie!

by OaktownRajah on Jul 31, 2005 10:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Byrnes diving

The announcers were making fun of Byrnes diving into 1st when I watched part of that game. They said it was great hustle, but not so smart.
Well, most of us knew that already. But I hope he does well with the O's too, he can hang with Miggy again.

Everything's cocoa and cookies once again--M. Urban, on A's win

by streetfan on Jul 31, 2005 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Diving into 1st is a special technique

Every see Scutaro dive to first? He misses the bag by about three feet, and extends his left hand, barely tapping it.

Wasn't it Kenny Lofton who slid in headfirst to 1st base and wrecked about 33 body parts?? He slid over the bag, which is waaaaay wrong.

I wonder how Ramon slid in his "dive to 1st" where he put himself out for the year?

In short, never dive at the bag. Stay in foul territory, slide next to it, and just barely tap it going by. I hope this is how Byrnes did it (did he ask Scutaro??)

Good luck, Eric Byrnes. Anyone who skateboards to work and earns $2 million-Plus has my props.

by Ducts on the Pawn on Aug 1, 2005 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The long fly he caught

early in the game....if you watched closely it was typcial herky-jerky approach and last split second adjustment for a routine fly.

by ak_A on Jul 31, 2005 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

When is a "routine fly" ?

..a ball you have to run into foul territory to catch? Any time you have to run into foul territory, it is not "routine".

It is the end result that counts. "Herky Jerky" may be a matter of a lot of things, but ultimately he gets to the ball faster than 90% of the outfielders playing.

I notice it is always the arm-chair posters who claim he is a mediocre fielder, not the managers, players, or GMs.

by Ducts on the Pawn on Aug 1, 2005 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Indirect

The manager or GM didn't have to disgrace Byrnsie by saying he was a bad fielder. By trading him and then talking about how impressive Jay Payton's defense is, it is an indirect way of saying they were not happy with Byrnes' defense. Many "armchair" posters are not just judging his defense ability based on observations alone anyway, they have looked at the statistics that say that he is not an especially great outfielder.

Olympian Amil Gartenamo, world record holder in both the javelin and the hundred yard dash--only person who ever died by throwing a spear into his own back.

by Furious George on Aug 1, 2005 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beautiful... We Need...

... a link to the comic archives off the homepage. Blez? Nico?

by Dan_Honolulu on Jul 31, 2005 6:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Don' look at me...

Besides lacking the decision-making authority, my technical skills pretty much start and end with the power button.

Now how do I make this comment appear in the diary-thingy? There's no "send" button...Oh, "post," got it, right.

Nico

by Nico on Jul 31, 2005 8:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

From 10 greatest moments in mound visit history

This is an excerpt from a Seattle Times article that I found fairly funny:

Former A's catcher Ron Hassey, the Mariners' bench coach, went out to the mound in a tight game to speak to Oakland rookie pitcher Todd Burns, who had just been called up hours earlier.

"Who are you?" Hassey asked him

The entire article can be found here:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002412051_artmoments31.html

"If my uniform doesn't get dirty, I haven't done anything in the baseball game." - Rickey Henderson

by Durden on Jul 31, 2005 10:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

jeez

is that allowed?

ATHLETICS + T = THEISTICAL

by jasonkb on Aug 1, 2005 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Byrnes still getting uni dirty

And yes, still rockin' the high socks!

Welcome to Oakland - Where our Barry doesn't need to cheat!

by JLaff on Jul 31, 2005 11:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

interesting

byrnes took huddy's number!

by Devina on Aug 1, 2005 3:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Macha

In can't believe a photo of Macha looking remotely pissed even exists.

"so what was it? the pork chop or the booty???" -rly723

by secret ASian man on Aug 1, 2005 12:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

good point

maybe that photo has been doctored...

If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Aug 1, 2005 3:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hahaha

or maybe that was a pic of him yelling at TLong...

by Devina on Aug 1, 2005 3:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe he's yawning

during one of the embarrassments in may...

If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Aug 1, 2005 3:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

must have been

that one game that he actually got thrown out...

by Apricot on Aug 1, 2005 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a legit photo

None of the photos "borrowed" for use in the ANtics have been "Photoshopped" in any way. Aside from captions and wordart, they are intact.

As far as Macha, I think somebody took away his bubble gum.

by louismg on Aug 1, 2005 9:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Raffy and ROIDS

A buddy of mine said that WFAN out of NYC is reporting Palmeiro tested POSITIVE for steroids. I'm trying to confirm the story but have yet to find anything...anybody out there here anything?

by 415goas on Aug 1, 2005 9:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Palmeiro: Confirmed Suspended

Palmeiro suspended for drug policy violation
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/orioles/2005-08-01-palmeiro-suspension_x.htm

by louismg on Aug 1, 2005 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whoa! :O

by anomaly_kat on Aug 1, 2005 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great ANtic!

A great way to start the day!

by anomaly_kat on Aug 1, 2005 9:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

words of wisdom!

CANSECO SPEAKS THE TRUTH!!!!!! THE MASTER AT INJECTING INTO THE ASS KNOWS ALL!

by BruceBochteBiyatches on Aug 1, 2005 9:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Will Rafi lose his Viagra contract?

Totally off topic, but...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/08/01/steroids.suspension.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

Or does chemically enhanced performance make him an even more appropriate spokesperson?

"I'm a lexicon devil with a battered brain."--Darby Crash

by lexdevil on Aug 1, 2005 9:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The more I think about it...

...the more I wonder whether the baseball performance enhancement might have created the need for the bedroom performance enhancement...

"With prolonged use of a steroid, the man will eventually feel less sexual desire and will be less capable of maintaining an erection."
http://www.fitness-advantage.com/nutrition/steroids.html

"I'm a lexicon devil with a battered brain."--Darby Crash

by lexdevil on Aug 1, 2005 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Never doubt Jose:)

He could tell me the sky is no longer blue and I will now believe him...Jose knows all:)

by 415goas on Aug 1, 2005 9:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Jose

I wonder that now he's redeemed he'll look even better to Janice Dickinson on the Surreal life.

Now it's time to out Jason Giambi....

"Because he's always cleanin' up everybody else's s**t" -Ron Washington on Jeff Tam in 'Moneyball'

by kotsaykid on Aug 1, 2005 10:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Canseco Intimated That Miggy Juices

And given that he is a teammate of Raffy, let alone the fact that before his MVP year, Miggy came to ST looking twice as muscular as in the previous season, it wouldn't surprise me.

by reztips on Aug 1, 2005 11:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs