As for the veterans, I am sure that Mark Ellis is very frustrated, and I’m not holding my breath that he will be in the green and gold next year. He deserves a chance to play for a winning team. That may be the only way he’ll ever win a gold glove. Not fair, but that’s what it is. Small market teams don’t get enough recognition.

The rest of the veterans (except maybe Bobbie Crosby) haven’t done what they are capable of this year (I am nopt ready to classify Kurt Suzuki a veteran yet). Thomas and Mike Sweeney were out for most of the year and Big Frank hasn’t found his stroke and may not ever again. but he came at a very low cost and it was worth a try. Sweeney may come back next year and be healthy if he is still on the team.

Jack Cust has shown us that last year was a fluke and he belongs back in the minors. Emil Brown came out gang busters at the plate in the early going and has slacked off considerably, though better of late, but as you said, Rick, he isn’t going to carry the team on his shoulders.

So I think that the A’s need to do the following:
1) Demote Cust and keep Raj Davis in the line up. Raj is showing some pop with his bat lately and can field circles around the “Babe” (not!)
2) Let Rob Bowen get at least half of the starts for the rest of the season. He has power and is a decent catcher, and playing more regularly will raise his meager batting average.
3) Try to pick up a few bats in the offseason. The A’s don’t seem to have a lot of power hitters (or even hitters for high average) in the minors since the team has focused so much on pitching. Since we can’t afford a free agent bat, we need to get some minor league bats and it will take a few years for them to show up at the Major League level.
4) We must figure out why we lose so many players to the DL each year. As you said, Rick, a small market team cannot afford to lose it’s players to the DL. Is there something wrong with the field? The training? The offseason strength and conditioning program? What about having the first and second year players come to spring training a week earlier with the pitchers and catchers to focus on conditioning and hitting only. At least we might be able to keep the young ones healthier longer.
5) Don’t pick up anymore veterans on the way down unless they are completely healty. Easier said than done, I know, but maybe next year we should go with an all young team and turn them loose and see what they can do. One or two veterans to give them perspective should be enough. I know the rest of you will groan at this prospect, but if we are rebuilding, let’s rebuild. They might surprise us!

Finally, I’d like to echo most of what Jayandrews99 said. Yes it’s hard to watch losses, but there is a lot of good stuff to watch while it’s happening: Hanny’s two homers and Bowen’ jack yesterday, Eveland’s great pitching performance the day before, Carlos Gonzalez’ amazing catches, and so on–I could name more but I won’t. This already too long. The jury is still out on Billy Beane’s genius or lack thereof. Let’s revisit this next year at this time and see. I am hopeful of the result.

Building a new stadium in the south Coliseum parking lot that includes the vacant land that abuts it, is a prudent plan given the age of the Coliseum.

My full A’s season ticket seat has a gate value of $40.00. The “same” seat has a gate value in Chase Park (Diamondbacks) of $215.00. The same thing will happen in Oakland if a new stadium is built.

Juvenile name calling … I didn’t miss much today did I?

Oh well, at least there’s a decent comment from Scott on the discussion board for this topic today.

I’m definitely going back to reading Hurd’s blog and skipping most of the comments most of the time.

Beane probably knew he wouldn’t be able to catch the Angels this year anyways. so he’s going to load up for next 2-3 seasons.

It will hurt for awhile. We have had alot of great success in the previous seasons. This season, it all evens out.

Though if he keeps trading for the ‘gallegers’ of the MLB, we’re in trouble. But remember what he got from Lidle, Lilly, Hiljias, Sarloos. They all ended up over acheiving.

I think I can wait another 2 years before calling on Beanes’s head.

They were a YOUNG team and he himself built that young team. So he gets rid of all the BEST young players on the team he built AND the manager who won a playoff series with them?

You are dumber than even I thought you were.

Have some more Kool-aid!

On July 10th A’s were 50-42, less than 4 games out of 1st in the division, right in the wildcard race , they should have been in the BUYING not the SELLING mode as the first trade deadline approached. Just like all those other teams in similar positions did. The only teams who are in the SELLING mode at that time of the year are teams ompletely out of any playoff race.

What Bean and his owner did reeks of the comedy(but quite true in this case) movie “Major League” and the owner out to chase fans away so a move could be justified.

This team was 4 games out of 1st when the idiot Beane traded Harden away. You

know how happy the Brewers players and fans were when they traded for

Sabathia? Cubs players and fans too were thrilled when they got Harden. Jets players and fans were thrilled their management traded for Favre. It means to them that their owner is sparing nothing to win. Beane could have strengthened the A’s when they were 4 games out instead of destroying the team and its’s morale and the fans morale. Angels even strengthened their team at deadline.

A’s record after trading Harden away was 50-42.

A’s players reacted to trade of Harden by going 7 wins and 27 losses out of their

next 34 games(and counting).

A’s record today is 57-69.

A’s record after trading Harden away was 50-42.

A’s players reacted to trade of Harden by going 7 wins and 27 losses out of their next 34 games(and counting).

A’s record today is 57-69.

Praise Billy Beane so more you airhead!