Four Mid-Season Myths of 2006

[editor's note, by louismg] Political content removed per Community Guidelines

Mid-Season Myths of 2006

by batman

OAKLAND (July 2) -

1. "BILLY BEANE CAN SPOT A BARGAIN"

Like giving up Jeremy Bonderman for Ted Lilly? Actually, there was nothing wrong with Lilly. It looked like a good deal. Ted was easily the A's best pitcher in the 2003 stretch drive and in that memorable ALDS against Boston. But Beane inexplicably let him walk away and sign for a bargain $5M for two years with the Blue Jays, where he is currently a very effective third starter behind Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett. Beane filled his spot with the utterly forgettable Mark Redman for the same $2M that Lilly got from the Jays in 2004. Moneyball net to the Athletics: nothing, with Bonderman and Lilly helping to lead the Tigers and Jays forward to possible post-seasons, while the A's continue to flounder and disappoint with Beane gems like Esteban Loaiza. Each day we watch Andre Ethier get two more hits with that sweet stroke, we wonder about Beane's scouting competence and if we will ever see Milton Bradley fulfill the "potential" that has characterized his entire injury-dominated career. We were all excited when Milton first put on the Green and Gold and showed off his exceptional hustle and energy. But someone in a well-managed organization also had to pay attention to his evident brittleness. Maybe way back when Beane mentor Sandy Alderson sent Jose Rijo packing to the Reds in exchange for Dave Parker, where Jose would thrive and totally dominate the A's in the 1990 Series sweep, after Alderson said Rijo lacked a "work ethic," we should have had some sense of Beane's ability to evaluate players and "bargains."

<!-- 2. "JULY 3 COLISEUM SALUTE TO THE TROOPS DESERVES YOUR SUPPORT"<p> Most baseball fans appear to support the war on the Iraqi people, but THEY SHOULD NOT. I remember the German people whining, "We didn't know what the Nazis were doing." Well, we DO know. And I don't come to the ballpark to celebrate imperialism and oil war. I come to watch baseball. And if I did "support the troops," I would be offended by Barry Zito's "generosity" in contributing $50 per strikeout to the women and men in uniform. That kind of largess might buy two soldiers a weekend at the All-Star Game, if they took Greyhound and ate at McDonald's. And this is from a guy who not only wants to advertise his giving but is looking to make $10-15M a year over the next ten seasons.  <p> --> 2. "DISTANCES POSTED ON M.L.B. OUTFIELD FENCES ARE ACCURATE"

Maybe this is something that could be verified by your GPS system or some advanced Google map, but without as much as an old-fashioned tape measure I am going out on a limb to say that it is not even close to 420 feet to that quirky right-center alcove at Fenway park. I am so sick of David Ortiz hitting these bloopers that land half-way up the centerfield bleachers and Baseball Tonight ooohing and ahhhing about him "crushing" another one. Even though there isn't enough time to even begin to  say a decent "going, going . . . gone!" before some ordinary can of corn is prematurely landing in the seats. Get out there and measure the fences in Boston, and while you're at it do left field at Minutemaid (Houston). You can calibrate your tape measure at AT&T, which seems to have really accurate distances posted to me. A lifetime of estimating the time of rain delays, bat weights and lengths, crowds, home run distances, and hot dog prices has given me an uncanny sense of accuracy concerning these important matters.

3. "THE FANS DON'T LIKE THE COLISEUM"

Most of the fans I talk to think the old ballpark is fine. Great location, great history, great food. The only thing the real fans don't like about the Coliseum is that the A's new owner, Lew "the Wolff in Sheep's Clothing," doesn't allow them in anymore! Thanks, Lew. Your marketing strategy and snob appeal isn't working.  Open the upper deck and get Carlos Lee, and there will be no attendance problem.

4. "AUTO RACING IS A SPORT"

Even though this isn't a "baseball issue," the racing season is heating up and taking attention away from our game, so I had to say something about this growing plague and menace. Auto racing is a crime. Can you imagine paying to watch a bank robbery, at least one that Al Pacino wasn't part of?. Auto racing is against the law! It's speeding! It's reckless driving! Drivers basically try to run one another into walls at 200 miles an hour and the fans cheer. Are ESPN-televised car jackings and armed robberies far behind? Auto racing is a morbid, sadistic and voyeuristic ritual in which "fans" wait for horrific accidents. It's a celebration of violence and danger that makes boxing look gentle and benign. It is completely unjustifiable pollution and destruction of our increasingly fragile environment. If this trend continues of framing degenerate and exploitive addictions such as auto racing, mass poker, and gambling, and overtly sexually marketed marginal sports such as tennis, golf and pool, it won't be long before ESPN will be displaying nude full-body contact bowling and armed miniature golf tournaments and marketing them as sports. Auto racing is a vile, disgusting trashing of the planet and sets a really bad example of what to do with our resources and our time. Ychhhh.