Is this the end for 'G'?
OAKLAND, July 21, 2009
Jason Giambi's homecoming was a nice little story over the winter and this spring, but it looks like it might be coming to an abrupt, inglorious end.
Strained right quad? And nobody knows how it happened? Come on. I'm pretty sure everyone knows exactly what's going on here, and if you need a little more evidence, consider this: Giambi isn't going on the next road trip.
Check me if I'm wrong, Sandy, but shouldn't a player with such an injury be with the team's trainers for regular treatment? Sure, he could get treatment at any number of places here in the Bay Area, but my guess is that Giambi won't be in the Bay Area. I'm thinking he heads to his pad in Vegas and contemplates shutting it down for the rest of the year.
It's pretty sad, really. Giambi is one of the most likeable guys in the game, and he was an amazing hitter for a long, long time. He helped restore the A's as a national baseball brand, and he provided a ton of memorable, thrilling moments for Bay Area fans.
Now he's one of the worst hitters in the Majors, a rapidly graying shadow of his former self, and he's being nudged out to pasture under the guise of what appears to be a phantom -- or at the very least, way overplayed -- injury.
It'd be nice to see Giambi go moonshot throught the marine layer a few more times, but it just doesn't look like he's got many of those left in him -- and agreeing with that will cost the A's $1.25 million via buyout this offseason.
And now, time for a few wind sprints around The Coli ...
... A pickoff throw to first base by Dallas Braden just popped up on the stadium radar gun at 200 mph. A few pitches later, Braden lost one of his shoes while running for a foul pop. And then the bearded lady emerged from a trap door behind the mound.
... Why won't Bob Geren just come out and say Justin Duchscherer is going to be a reliever when he comes back? Or that he's going to be a starter? Say something. Say anything. What's the big deal? Uncle.
... Don't look now, but here comes the Brett Anderson everyone was hoping for: polished, poised and red-dirt nasty.
... Travis Buck update time. Through 25 games at Triple-A Sacramento, he has a .309 BA with a .358 OBP and an .848 OPS. Yet still SOL.
... The starting pitcher gets to pick the clubhouse music for the day, and at 3:45 this afternoon there was Terence Trent D'Arby pouring through the speakers. I had Braden pegged as more of a Staind/Rage/Too $hort guy.
... Sports Illustrated needs to knock it off with stories about guys hitting .400 in early July. I don't believe in the cover jinx, but Joe Mauer probably does right about now.
... Name I'm not hearing in trade rumors, still: Adam Kennedy. Surely Billy Beane could sell high and get a decent Double-A prospect for the guy, right? The A's are still rebuilding, right? And I'm pretty sure Tommy Everidge plays a little third base.
... Fair warning: If the between-innings "Kiss Cam" ever finds me, whoever is sitting next to me -- I don't care if it's the smelly old guy who just horked down his 12th press-box hot dog -- is getting some tongue action. Just because. Wear it.
That's all for now, folks. I'm heading to Cooperstown for Rickey's big weekend, so I'll post from upstate NY in a few days.
Peace, tzatziki and TTD's "Dance Little Sister" to all ...
--Mychael Urban
I'm sure Tommy Everidge can play some first base too.... as can Landon Powell. I don't know if Mr. 33 and 1/3 (thats a large LP record for you young folks) can play the kind of first base you want to run out there on a consistent basis, but if he can, I would consider it. I think the dude has earned a shot to see if he can be more of a regular player. Props for not rushing prospects by calling up Barton, but i'm not sure he has it. Dude is only 23, so its WAY to soon to give up on him, but, after this next month or so of Barton, the outcome should dictate if someone else gets a late September tryout.
And yes, I was excited about this year, but trades should come. And any real fan should suck it up and know that is what is best. In my opinion, anyone whom Beane can get more for than the compensation pick for should be considered a trade candidate. Exceptions: Kurt Suzuki, Bailey, Zeilger and, unless someone blows Beane out of the water, Braden. But i'm no expert, so that's the just the thoughts of another fan.
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I'm with you that Giambi looks like he's about to awkwardly bow out. I've never been a big fan of his and this year has been frustrating to no end. If he does do this, do you think the team will take a chance on Barton or trade for a more established name (even though that hasn't turned out too well for this team this year)? And what's the latest news on Holliday? I'm sick of his attitude and would love Buck to come back so he can prove what he can do playing every day (his numbers right now are fantastic - do you think they are keeping him at Triple A because of how many times he has been optioned already this year? I admit the whole optioning rule makes my head spin). I'm glad Cust's average is starting to creep up, and I think it's because he has only been DHing. If Holliday does go, I hope Geren doesn't send Cust back out to right, because he'll tank again and Buck will once again be a glorified, scruffy bench warmer. Glad to see Anderson doing better. Geren is clueless, I'd be surprised if he did say where Duke will end up (I'd kill to have a seasoned veteran in the rotation right now). Ha, agreed on Mauer, poor guy; but I've been glad for that during this series, he usually kills us. And the kiss cam - oh, Urban, you sure have a way with words (and almost forgot about "Wear it," haven't heard it a lot since Mulder was traded). Have fun in Cooperstown.
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Not one G, Mychael — 3 Gs, as in Giambi, Geren and Gonzales (Gio) . . . time for the A's to do some housekeeping, get out the broom, and sweep these guys out the door.
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How long before they replace the huge "100% Back" sign (featuring G) outside Gate D?
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I'm interested in hearing your perspective on why Ray Fosse and Glen Kuiper were so upset about a New York colmnist calling the A's pathetic?
I mean the A's have played pathetic since the arrival of Bob Geren. Except for the little glimmer of hope in the first part of the 2008 season, the A's have played uninspired baseball.
There's no doubt about that. I'm not quite sure how to explain it to Ray and Glen that Bob Geren has done a terrible job. It is one thing to keep things positive, but it is totally wrong when the facts in front of your face is that Geren has no clue how to use his young pitchers or his relievers.
So, therefore we have another question why is Bob Geren still in the clubhouse? Why is he still in a A's uniform?
The A's wil play better in a couple of years, but before that happens Geren needs to be fired immediately. He has no clue what he is doing as manager from day one he's looked lost and this season is fully proving it.
He can't get his veterans to play for him and he can't get his young players to play hard for him. So, what does it take to get Geren fired?
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Every year now instead of making the big trade at the deadline, we deal away anyone who makes more than the receptionist at Microsoft.
Billy Beane has traded away our beloved Nick Swisher and Danny Haren (whom were both under contract for cheap for at least two more years, Swish just signed a 5-yr. deal) away and then most of the guys we got for them, at least the most promising ones. Why did Billy trade for the highly praised Carlos Gonzalez, only to trade him away a year later? Billy's slipping. Billy's time has now come and gone. He needs to quit now or the A's are always going to be trading for highly-touted high school players, who will then be traded for eight sixth-graders.
This crap is ridiculous and leaves us A's fans always having to look five years down the road. No wonder attendance continues to suck (even worst than normal), a bad product on the field. Thanks Billy, at this rate we'll be moving to freaking North Carolina or Sacramento or something, because the organization can't sustain this.
The only decent acquisition since Beane traded away Hudson, Mulder and Zito has been Haren who again, is also gone now. So what the hell is he doing here? Fire his *** because he won't quit. I've been a A's fan since 1970 and this is a disgrace. Changes need to happen not only in the dugout, but upstairs as well. Can we woo Sandy Alderson to come back? No, he actually has a better job with the Padres.
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Every year now instead of making the big trade at the deadline, we deal away anyone who makes more than the receptionist at Microsoft.
Billy Beane has traded away our beloved Nick Swisher and Danny Haren (whom were both under contract for cheap for at least two more years, Swish just signed a 5-yr. deal) away and then most of the guys we got for them, at least the most promising ones. Why did Billy trade for the highly praised Carlos Gonzalez, only to trade him away a year later? Billy's slipping. Billy's time has now come and gone. He needs to quit now or the A's are always going to be trading for highly-touted high school players, who will then be traded for eight sixth-graders.
This crap is ridiculous and leaves us A's fans always having to look five years down the road. No wonder attendance continues to suck (even worst than normal), a bad product on the field. Thanks Billy, at this rate we'll be moving to freaking North Carolina or Sacramento or something, because the organization can't sustain this.
The only decent acquisition since Beane traded away Hudson, Mulder and Zito has been Haren who again, is also gone now. So what the hell is he doing here? Fire his *** because he won't quit. I've been a A's fan since 1970 and this is a disgrace. Changes need to happen not only in the dugout, but upstairs as well. Can we woo Sandy Alderson to come back? No, he actually has a better job with the Padres.
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