The A's are rebuilding so they go against logic and sign vets Foulke and Sweeney.  Both are recovering from injury problems and when healthy have been good players.  Beane is looking for the kind of success he got from Stewart and Thomas.  Of course the lack of success he received from Piazza is a risk he is facing.

Continue reading this post »

In a little over a week from now pitchers and catchers report.  So what will the 2008 A's look like?  Who will bat third?  Where will the power come from?

Continue reading this post »

For the last few years we have seen the A's trade off potential major league prospects for sonetimes marginal major league prospects to remain competitive.  This has helped as players like Kielty' Bradley, etc. have made the A's successful.  These players are not star quality and are not the type to build around.  Instead star player have mostly come through the draft or inflated free agent signings.  Until now.

Continue reading this post »

Unnamed sources have stated that Jose Canseco will identify many promenant members of the A's family as well as parties in other organizations.  These unnamed sources quoting other unnamed resouces believe steriod use started with Charlie O. the mule to develop muscle control so that he would not relieve himself when on the field.

It is also believed the the red dot was a heavy user as it started to win quite frequently.  The dot did not answer telephone calls to the A's office.
The San Diego Chicken was suspected because of his behavior in abusing umpires.  Questions were also raised about the singing field sweepers.  What else could explain their behavior.

Milwaukee also was hit hard as these three stringbeans would race at each game.  

The Giants purchased 25-30% of FSNBA giving them ownership of the cable network that broadcasts the bulk of A's, Warriors, and Sharks games.  This could have far reaching consequences depending on how much influence the Giants exercise in programming.  As an A's fan I am concerned.  Naturally the Giants come first to the Giants.  When games conflict, will we see the A's delegated to lesser channels?  Or will the A's broadcast be reduced?

So far news has been positive.  FSNBA will now have pre and post game shows for all A's and Giants game and eventually for the Sharks and Warriors too.  FSNBA will also broadcast a locally originated sports show.

The Giants did not make the purchase unless they obtained a competitive and cost advantage.  How do the A's see this and what will be their response?  Ideally, they might want to own their own network.  The Yankees do.  I believe thet Boston does.  I also don't think it is economical for the A's to go it alone.  So what are their options?

We already know that the A's do not have equal footing in radio broadcasts.  Could TV be far behind?

AP is reporting that Bob Garen thinks Esteban Loaize will be on the Dl to start the season due to a stiff right shoulder.  This will move Kennedy into the 4th. position and Chad Gaudin would be the first consideration for the 5th. spot.

    http//www.comcast.net/sports/mlb/index.jsp?cat=BASEBALL&fn=/2007/03/31/624837.html

According to Bay Area Radio Digest the A's are changing their flagship radion station to FreeFM 106.9 (KIFR).  KIFR is an 80,000 watt station.

I apologize if this has been reported before.  If so, I missed it.

   http://www.bayarearadio.org/blog/index.shtml

I do not know the transmission pattern or if the station can be heard in Sacramento.

Financially are the A's better off by closing the third deck? Has the lost revenue fron the lower attendance greater or less than the added costs of running the third deck?

The A's have announce a 34,000 seat stadium in Freemont.  How are the A's going to increase revenue to allow us to keep our quality players?  If the demand for tickets sell out the stadium it will mean attendance will be about 2.7 million fans.  Will this give us enough money? Will the A's like the Giants, be strapped for cash because they half to service the debt to build the stadium?

If the demand for tickes increases to give the A's a sellouts, are we looking at a 30% or more increase in ticket prices?

What else can the A's do to increase revenue?  Is technology the answer?  If so, will the average baseball fan buy into it?

Do you have any suggestions or answers?

Accourding to the website Apes, you should . . .

. . . Discourage monkeys from coming into your home by placing rubber snakes, bright yellow or orange balls with painted big, black eyes or face masks in prominent/problem locations. Preferably these should be strung up so they can move in the breeze and should be relocated regularly.

For the first time in recent memory, the A's have failed to sign six of their first eighteen draft picks. This includes their first pick (in the second round), Trevor Cahill, a top high school pitcher out of San Diego. Forgetting the John Smoak disaster, the A's have been very good at signing their draft choices. For a team that counts heavily on their own farm system to produce their players, this does not ring too good.  What gives?