I, for one, would be happy to take Jared Weaver off the Angels' hands.  Same with Santana.  Same with Shields and Rodriguez.

The other guys are overpaid and not worth it, although the A's could use a shortstop for the right price.

Despite all of the hyperbole thrown towards Erstad's grit, he's a guy I'd want on my team, just like Kotsay. Just like Milton. We just aren't sick and tired of hearing about Kotsay or Milton's grit or whatever adjective the media throws at them and wears out. For some reason (I think it's the wad of chew in the bottom lip) Erstad gets noticed for his effort more than others (oh, that plus Rex Hudler rents space on the Goodyear blimp to advertise "Erstad Grit".)

If someone helps the A's win, I don't really care where they came from. Yes, it would be hard to root for Bonds, but if he and Swish came up with a little home run dance, you'd start rooting for him too. (File footage not found.) Would I take Jeter? Hell yeah. Giambi? Absolutely. Bitchy KRod? Done and done!

That being said, i think a great deal of my baseball enjoyment comes from watching new players develop. So the only caveat I'd have is that I'd hate to see the young kids get blocked by a below league average vet. So I'd prefer to see DJ get a shot, but if DJ doesn't look good in ST, and Erstad/Durazo are looking good, you have to go with the producers if yer the A's.

Beane is simply loading up the roster, and if everyone produces, then he can make a nice trade. Doesn't seem like too much to throw up over. Save that for this year's "slow start".

The major turn-off for me on these forums is the I Hate XXX crowd - Byrnes, Kielty, et al.

This is not "professional" wrestling. The guys on opposing teams don't wear El Diablo masks and taunt the crowd.  It's Baseball, for gawd sake.

If a player is added from Angels or whichever, who cares - as long as makes the A's better?

Grit?  Not sure about that one,  but it's the opposite of Chavez.  What's wrong with players who go all out for the team? Don't get that, either.

I for one still believe baseball is special. Other pro sports seem so trite, but the sacred geometry of Baseball? Rocks.

We can respect other players, enjoy Ichiro and Bonds for their talents, and root root root for home team.

The Dude abides

It may not be just you, bbg, but it certainly isn't me.  Who cares what team a guy FORMERLY plays for?  If he's wearing green and gold he's our guy.  It's like Billy Beane says, "Route for the uniform."

"As you probably remember, Erstad was awfully clutch-y, and gritty during that time, and probably should have been MVP-for-life, despite the little things, like he's really not that good, and didn't he once get thrown out trying to get to third late in a playoff game with the Angels down three? Maybe I'm making that up."

Okay, now we're talking about some reasons to dislike the A's signing Erstad.  If the guy can't play, why sign him?  Checking his stats at Baseball-Reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/e/erstada01.shtml), it appears that Erstad peaked in 2000.  That was seven seasons ago.  Is this guy really 32?  I would have guessed that he was at least five years older based on his career stats.

Thinking back on something else that Billy Beane said, basically, that there has to be something wrong with a guy for the A's to sign him, e.g., Frank Thomas coming off two down years because of injury, perhaps Erstad is the best the A's can do given their financial limitations.

Let's face it, the A's will never have the ability to sign players that the Yankees and Red Sox do.  Heck, we can't even RE-sign players that WANT to stay here...badly.  (Remember Miggy?) It's sad, but that's partlty what makes the present-day A's such a fun team to route for. Somehow they're able to compete for the post-season nearly every year despite the cards being stacked against them.  As we know, it's largely attributible to a few factors:

1. Good management at the top of the organization
   
2. Excellent scouting
   
3. Excellent player development throughout the system
   
4. Probably a bit of luck

1.  Bonds
   
2.  F-Rod
   
3.  Jeter