Comments on: Celebrating Stockton http://www.ibabuzz.com/athletics/2009/06/28/celebrating-stockton/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:19:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bee Hylinski http://www.ibabuzz.com/athletics/2009/06/28/celebrating-stockton/comment-page-1/#comment-923 Bee Hylinski Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:00:41 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/chinmusic/?p=1794#comment-923 I agree that Dallas Braden gets it--in spades. I think the A's problem may be a lack of leadership from Bob Geren. He's so laid back that he doesn't inspire the team to greatness. If Geren got it, he'd chew on the players when the are not performing well--like now!--and create a culture of excellence in the clubhouse and the dugout. I have criticized others on this blog for bashing Geren, but I am beginning to think they are right. Look what happened when Cabrera took matters into his own hands and had a meeting with the position players in the outfield before a game a month or so ago. The result? The guys won seven in a row. We need more of that kind of leadership. I agree that Dallas Braden gets it–in spades. I think the A’s problem may be a lack of leadership from Bob Geren. He’s so laid back that he doesn’t inspire the team to greatness. If Geren got it, he’d chew on the players when the are not performing well–like now!–and create a culture of excellence in the clubhouse and the dugout. I have criticized others on this blog for bashing Geren, but I am beginning to think they are right.

Look what happened when Cabrera took matters into his own hands and had a meeting with the position players in the outfield before a game a month or so ago. The result? The guys won seven in a row. We need more of that kind of leadership.

]]> By: D W http://www.ibabuzz.com/athletics/2009/06/28/celebrating-stockton/comment-page-1/#comment-922 D W Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:28:27 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/chinmusic/?p=1794#comment-922 Braden did get it. Unfortunately, the rest of the team doesn't get it. The team needs to be more inspired. Obviously, the month of July will determine if we can keep Matt Holliday or if we have to trade him. Should the latter happen, no matter who we acquire, the next acquistion MUST be a better hitter and be able to light a fire under his teammates. It's the only solution barring better health or a shocking Beane-Geren fallout. Braden did get it. Unfortunately, the rest of the team doesn’t get it. The team needs to be more inspired. Obviously, the month of July will determine if we can keep Matt Holliday or if we have to trade him. Should the latter happen, no matter who we acquire, the next acquistion MUST be a better hitter and be able to light a fire under his teammates. It’s the only solution barring better health or a shocking Beane-Geren fallout.

]]> By: Steve Toomajian http://www.ibabuzz.com/athletics/2009/06/28/celebrating-stockton/comment-page-1/#comment-921 Steve Toomajian Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:02:11 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/chinmusic/?p=1794#comment-921 Hi Rick, Thanks for the positive comments on Dallas Braden. It should not be overlooked that his hometown of Stockton gets bashed in a similar way that Oakland gets criticized---for being a high crime city. Living here in the Central Valley, I hear these derogatory comments quite often from folks in towns only 20 miles outside of Stockton. So it is even more noteworthy that Braden has stayed loyal to his roots. There are other reasons to like Braden on the field. He is a fierce competitor. He also is a real "pitcher" as opposed to a "thrower." Then, too, check him out on the bench talking to his fellow starting pitchers as he truly has assumed a leadership role among them. -----Steve Toomajian Manteca Hi Rick,
Thanks for the positive comments on Dallas Braden. It should not be overlooked that his hometown of Stockton gets bashed in a similar way that Oakland gets criticized—for being a high crime city. Living here in the Central Valley, I hear these derogatory comments quite often from folks in towns only 20 miles outside of Stockton. So it is even more noteworthy that Braden has stayed loyal to his roots.
There are other reasons to like Braden on the field. He is a fierce competitor. He also is a real “pitcher” as opposed to a “thrower.” Then, too, check him out on the bench talking to his fellow starting pitchers as he truly has assumed a leadership role among them.
—–Steve Toomajian
Manteca

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