I'll get into Bonds later. I can't start a link dump with Bonds news for fear of being tar-and-feathered.

In his latest blog, Buster Olney talks about the Barry Zito situation and somewhat elaborates on the SF Chron article.

A.J. Burnett got $55 million this winter at a time when some of the richest teams in the majors effectively passed on him -- the Yankees, the Red Sox, and the Mets. If Zito stays healthy, has a good year, and perhaps leads Oakland to what should be a strong season for the Athletics, the contract offers that Zito could get will dwarf the Burnett deal.
...
It could be that Zito will get a deal like Mussina's -- six years and $88 million -- and it's hard to imagine Oakland would ever approach anything like that, because part of Billy Beane's philosophy is to stay flexible. He is not in a position to have one player absorbing 20 to 25 percent of his payroll.

Now, if Zito would sign a Burnett-size deal, maybe that would fall within range of Oakland's budget; still doubt it.

I have also just realized that Olney's blog is just one big link dump. He SO took our idea.

Jason Kendall has retooled and looks forward to an improved 2006.

"I had a bad year,'' Kendall said. "New league or not, everyone is throwing the same stuff.''

He hit 35 points below his career average, finishing at .271, and he had difficulty throwing out runners, with the second-lowest percentage (15.1) in the majors (18 of 119 attempts). So Kendall went home, he said, "and it's not like I went to (Der) Wienerschnitzel every day. I worked my butt off.'' He watched video of his throwing with his father, former big-league catcher Fred Kendall, and found his footwork was off.

In an attempt to boost his batting average, Kendall plans to be more aggressive at the plate, perhaps not working the count quite as much as has been his wont.

Also in Slusser's article, Juan Cruz and <strike>Jairo Garcia</strike> Santiago Casillas are the only A's pitchers yet to report.

I saw this in Olney's blog, and it was talking about about how the high schoolers Billy passed on in the infamous "Moneyball" draft haven't done half bad. I almost KNEW it had to be an East Coast paper. I was right (NY Post).

The irony, however, is that the 2002 draft might be remembered as one of the best ever for high school players. First-rounders Scott Kazmir (yes him, Met fans), Zach Greinke, Matt Cain and Jeff Francouer already have shown big-league promise, and Prince Fielder (first base, Brewers) and Jeremy Hermida (right field, Marlins) are 2006 NL Rookie of the Year favorites. Shortstop B.J. Upton (Devil Rays), first baseman James Loney (Dodgers) and righty Cole Hamels (Phillies) are well regarded. High schoolers out of the second round include Marlins shortstop Robert Andino, Braves catcher Brian McCann and Dodger reliever Jonathon Broxton plus Red Sox top prospect, lefty Jon Lester.

It is worth noting that before Oakland picked Swisher with its first pick, Upton, Greinke, Fielder, Hermida and Kazmir already had been selected.

I still heart Swish.

Okay, well, last night, as I was watching ESPN before I went to sleep, and I saw along the bottom line "Giants OF Barry Bonds tells USA Today he will retire after 2006."

Yay.

Wait a minute. Not so fast, my friend.

Yesterday morning:

"I'm not playing baseball anymore after this," Bonds told USA TODAY in a telephone interview from his home in Beverly Park, Calif. "The game (isn't) fun anymore. I'm tired of all of the crap going on. I want to play this year out, hopefully win, and once the season is over go home and be with my family. Maybe then everybody can just forget about me."

And then later that day:

"The brace feels great, it's awesome," said Bonds, who will turn 42 on July 24. "Right now, I feel like I can play for another five years, another 10 years. It's given me a new lease on life. That's how I'm feeling today. I'm ready to get going."

He can't make up his mind. I really don't want him to break Aaron's, or even Ruth's, record. Does that make me a jerk? I think, if he is to break Ruth's record, he should show up at the ballpark completely tanked, a la the Babe. Let's see how great that batting eye is after that.

Okay, that's all the Bonds for today. Now back to our regularly scheduled link dump.

Macha's ex-favorite lefty is having some trouble getting to Spring Training.

In more former A's news, Huddy is pulling back on his workout, hoping that will alleviate the injury problems.

"He told me maybe it was time to do the Greg Maddux workout -- Twinkie here, Twinkie there, and sit on the bike and read the paper," Hudson said, smiling.

Schuerholz was joking -- Maddux does slightly more conditioning than that -- but there was some seriousness in the suggestion. Hudson himself said he might have overdone his workouts the previous winter.

Also, check out Nebraska's diary which has the early crop of A's Spring Training pics.