Thursday, December 7, 2006
Screw you, Oakland Athletics
OK, so Mike Piazza signs with Oakland for one year and reportedly $8.5 million. From that linked story:
Asked why he thought Piazza decided to sign with the Athletics over other teams seeking his services -- including the division rival Texas Rangers -- (A's GM Billy) Beane said it could have a lot do with franchise history and potential for continued success.
"He sees that we have been a competitive club and he knows a couple of guys on the team," Beane said. "Mark Kotsay played briefly with him in Florida, for a week or something like that, and I think he sees a good match here. If we sign him, he has a good chance to win at this point of his career."
Remind me, Moneyball, last time you guys won a World Series? (1989.) Five out of the past seven seasons the A's have made the playoffs and have never won a pennant. Yeah, they've got a new manager for next year. And they just signed Alan Embree to the pen so Joe Kennedy can get his butt kicked every fifth day on a regular basis. (I watched him pitch a lot in the minors. It was like clockwork, after the fifth inning he totally lost it. Always.) This is not a team with a history of closing the deal. Potential for continued success at choking is more accurate.
Rangers manager Ron Washington tells the S-T today about Texas making the playoffs: "I'm very confident that it will happen. I wouldn't be sitting here, and I wouldn't want to go into a season thinking that I didn't have a chance at postseason. If it doesn't happen, I'll be shocked. It's just that simple."
I'm not saying the Rangers will win the division. I just like that Ron Washington talk, and I'm also saying Oakland needs to be knocked down a notch until they start producing more than second-rate division winners.
I am going to alter a funny photo I found out there in cyberland.
Erin Rice, says:
I agree, the Oakland Athletics suck. I lived on the Berkeley/Oakland border last year and learned that if you live in Oakland you passionately support your team... the SF Giants. One good thing about Athletics games, however, is that you can see good teams like Boston for cheap, and you don't have to share the stands with any other people.
Verified
2 years, 12 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
ijh13, says:
"I lived on the Berkeley/Oakland border last year and learned that if you live in Oakland you passionately support your team... the SF Giants."
The A's may not have won the World Series since '89 but, refresh my memory, when was SF's last championship? Division title? Playoff berth?
Anonymous
2 years, 12 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Blair Lovern, says:
Giants have never won a WS since they've been in SF.
Last time the franchise won a WS was 1954.
Pennants won - 2002, 1989, '62, '54, '51, '37, '36, '33, '24, '23, '22, '21, '17, '13, '12, '11, '05, '04.
Division titles - 2003, 2000, 1997, '87, '71.
I believe that is right, but I am not going to double check because I am lazy.
Staff
2 years, 12 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
ijh13, says:
I think you may have missed a couple pennants but pretty damn good if that was from memory. thanks.
Anonymous
2 years, 12 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Blair Lovern, says:
I wish I could claim it was from memory, but it's really from this important site: http://www.baseball-reference.com/tea...
More summarized trivia: San Francisco Giants (1958 - 2006) - 3 Pennants and 8 Playoff Appearances <br>New York Giants (1885 - 1957) - 5 World Championships, 17 Pennants, and 16 Playoff Appearances
Staff
2 years, 12 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
hrtmnn79, says:
Who swept the giants in the 89' World Series?
The rangers are useless. They have Hank, tex, and young. Oh yeah lets not forget about the great signing of one Sammy Sosa. They have no outfield and no pitching. I've got three words for you Rangers fan...Chan Ho Park.
Anonymous
2 years, 10 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Blair Lovern, says:
All-time series: Texas leads the A's, 254-250.
The most recent A's World Series victory was 18 years ago. How many guys were on steroids then? You might as well pull the Connie Mack and Gene Tenace bows out of your quiver with that line of thinking. Athletics franchise won a World Series in 1905, too. What's that got to do with anything now?
Three words for you, hrtmnn79: Todd Van Poppel
Staff
2 years, 10 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
softail, says:
Errrrrr... how many WS flags does the Texas franchise fly at their park?
Anonymous
2 years, 9 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
softail, says:
Errrrrr... how many WS flags does the Texas franchise fly at their park? NONE., The A's franchise have won 9 of 15 ( 4 in Oakland) and the Rangers haven't even gone beyond the division series, right bucky?
Give it up loser.
Anonymous
2 years, 9 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Blair Lovern, says:
Last time I checked, no WS flags.
Staff
2 years, 9 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jaylikewise, says:
"Errrrrr... how many WS flags does the Texas franchise fly at their park? NONE., The A's franchise have won 9 of 15 ( 4 in Oakland) and the Rangers haven't even gone beyond the division series, right bucky?"
exactly. the A's are the samll market team that consistently posts winning seasons due to SUPERIOR recruting and management.
...and if you're a Ranagers's fan, you're form Texas. Nuff said.
Anonymous
2 years, 9 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Blair Lovern, says:
What's a Ranagers's fan form Texas?
I'll say it again - All-time series: Texas leads the A's, 254-250.
Staff
2 years, 9 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
ScrewTexas, says:
Ok, all you "Texas fans" are a big joke, along with your "team". What American League team in the Western division, has shown the ABILITY to make it to the playoffs? Hmmmm...Would that be the A's? I think it would be. Before you put the A's down, you REALLY need to take a look at YOUR team. They're the ones that should be shamed. You people are just JEALOUS because we have CONSISTENCY. Does Texas have consistency? Another big "NO". Well, ok, they are consistant with LOSING. They have a hard time getting above 3rd place. Texas is pathetic. You're all just mad because we got PIAZZA. Get a life "Y'ALL" LMAO. GO OAKLAND!
Anonymous
2 years, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
bmlarson, says:
This guy is very funny in the fact that he brings up Todd Van Poppel. Oakland saw they had a hack in Van Poppel and let him go. So who do you think picks him up in 1998 but the Texas Rangers! LOL! Not only once but two more times they give him a chance in 2002 and 2004. That tells you how sorry they really are. No pitching then and no pitching now! I hope Texas fans have a strong neck because they are going to be looking up from the bottom again this year
Anonymous
2 years, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
ScrewTexas, says:
I agree with Bmlarson. Look at the pathetic Rangers start. This is a sign of what Texas fans have to face AGAIN this year. When will you guys be competitive?
Anonymous
2 years, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
ScrewTexas, says:
Back to one of my previous questions...When will Texas be competitive? Oakland 16...Texas 4...ENOUGH SAID! When was the last time Texas went to the World series? When was the last time they made it to the playoffs? I think Oaklands success speaks for itself. If you guys want to rag on a team...rag on your own. You guys are pathetic.
Anonymous
2 years, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal