This guy is starting to bug me...

This has been a quality in Chavvy that's always gotten to me too. But I've come to realize that that's just the guy's nature. That's how he sees the world. He looks at the Angels and says what he says, completely honest. Though, in this case, he could have his tongue a little in his cheek.

Funny thing is, it's never really mattered. Chavvy would concede the division year after year and we'd still win it. It doesn't really bug me that much anymore.

And yes looks like the bet is a given for you.

Byrnes is doing what I expected and frankly that is not very good. I just had no idea Kotsay would be 100 points below his career OPS v Righties... and however you knew that more power to you.

He ain't a fool. About a week ago, he said, in effect, why can't we keep playing like this??

He just doesn't want to give the Angels any bulletin board material.

This stuff is starting to get old.  Chavy is just being Chavy.  He's giving an honest assessment of both teams.  Considering that Chavez is more of an "old schooler" than the A's "new school," it's not surprising.  So he thinks the Angels are a better team.  So what?  That doesn't mean he's going to roll over when they show up.  This is the same guy who, when told he was going to be a poor fielder during his career, decided to shove it in their faces and become one of the best-fielding third basemen in the history of the game.

And remember, Chavy was also one of the guys who said in 2002-2003 that the A's were a better team than the Angels (Zito was the other one, I believe).  Based on the team records in 2002, and the fact that we owned them in head-to-head play, he was right.

He's honest.  It's not a character flaw to be honest.  He's showing respect to the other team's talent.  Get over it.  Would you rather he say, "The Angels are the worst team in the majors"?  Because that just sounds completely idiotic.

when they broadcast him on the scoreboard in game 5 of the 2000 div series when he talked about the end of the yankee dynasty before the game.  that backfired.

that the perception, ever since the Angels signed Vlad, has been that they've had more talent. The media goes on and on and on about this EVERY SINGLE DAY.

They're wrong. These two teams are at least comparable. But I think Chavy and just about everyone else thinks that talent=experience. Have you been there? Have you done that? When you hear former players talk about who they think will win it all, it's always the more experienced teams. A young team with unknown players are going to be...unknown.

Take, for instance what Tejada has to say:

"Oakland's going to have a tough time with those guys," said Baltimore Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada, who played for the A's until 2004. "This team (the Angels) is a great team. They can run, hit, hit with power and pitch. They have everything."

They don't have everything They don't hit for much power. The A's are definitely better on offense.

These players watch ESPN. That's where they get their information. Need I say more?

He knows we're better, but he's putting all the pressure on the Angels. Even Huddy, our old BULLDOG Huddy, he said the Angels were favorites a couple years back right after they won the WS. So you see Chavvy is just emulating him. Talk your opponents up, then make them fall. It's sweeter that way.

...is it so horrible for him not to conform to someone's perceived notion of what makes a great "team leader" in baseball?  Everyone on the team points out that he's a great leader figure, because he does the job the right way.  He prepares and practices constantly, and he's always looking to improve himself.  He hates losing, and makes sure that everyone around him hates losing, too.

What more can you ask for?  So what if he doesn't fit your typical mold of what a "leader" should and shouldn't do.  All that matters is that he has the respect of his peers, because they're the ones he is supposed to be "leading" (and I use the word in quotation marks because really, once you hit the major leagues, you shouldn't need someone to stand there and hold your hand like it's the freaking third grade anymore).

"OMG CHAVY SAID HE THINKS THE ANGELS ARE A BETTER TEAM OMG ITS THE END OF THE WORLD CUZ I THINK HE SHOULD BE A LEADER AND HE IS SAYING THINGS THAT I DON'T THINK A LEADER SHOULD SAY EVEN THO ALL HIS TEAMMATES SAY HE'S A GOOD LEADER AND THEY'VE BEEN KICKING ASS SINCE HE TOLD US NOT TO BE SATISIFIED WITH LOSING!!!"

Chavy is just being honest.  That's who he is.  That's why the media loves getting quotes from him, because they know they won't get the normal platitudes that everyone else spouts off.  For the record, Chavy also said that the he thought the Yankees were done a few years ago and, as I pointed out, that the A's were a much better team than the Angels in 2002.  Anyone remember the Hideo Nomo comment?  "Worst stuff I've ever seen."  And yet, somehow, the team was shut down by that same pitcher.  Does it make sense to say that a pitcher has crappy stuff when he's just made your team look like a bunch of infants with twigs?  No.  But that's what he says, because that's what he thinks.

It's time for people to stop holding it against him just because he's being honest.  This is the same stuff that annoys me about politics - everyone gets their panties in a bunch because politicians do or say stupid things every once in a while, but ignore the larger issues at hand.  Well gee, politicians are human.  If you come in expecting them to be perfect, then I hate to break it to you, but you're asking to be a sucker.

how talented this team really is.  The core of the team is a bunch of rookies.  Is Dan Johnson playing out of his head, or is he really this good?  Is Blanton's stuff good enough that if he locates it well other team can't tee off.  Can Swisher hit anybody if he just waits for the good picthes to hit?  Is Crosby's arm so strong that as long as he gets to balls at short he can pretty much throw anyone out?  Is Harden in a league all buy himself, so if he doesn't beat himself, then he's untouchable?  Is Street still getting bigger, stronger and better?

I think these are questions the young guys must be asking themselves right now.  They've never really been at this hallowed level before, and they are probably pinching themselves to find out if they are for real.  They've always been much better than the competition in all levels they have ever played, and they've got to be thinking that maybe they still are.  It was supposed to be that way for Chavy, but as good as he is, he's maybe not the superstar that he was expected to be.  So maybe his take on the talent chasm is a little jaded, influenced by his own shortcomings.  But maybe these young guys really are that good, and they have been shown no reason to make them believe otherwise.

If the A's take it to the Angels this week, will Chavy have a different assessmeent of the relative talent levels?  Will the whole team believe they are superior, and not just hot?