What we have here is a failure to communicate
BOSTON, July 7, 2009
Wow. This Travis Buck business appears to have hit quite a nerve among A's fans. Thanks for chiming in.
The consensus, with which I agree, is that Buck has been getting a jerked around. Exactly why, I can't say -- because I honestly don't know.
Back when Art Howe and Ken Macha were managing the A's, if the folks on the beat didn't "get" what the team was doing, either on the field or off, the skip would usually be willing to clue us in off the record. It really helped us provide better, more informative coverage of the team, which obviously benefits the fans.
Unfortunately, that kind of cooperation isn't part of the program anymore. I really like Bob Geren as a person, but he's a difficult manager to cover. He plays virtually everything extremely close to the vest, so you get almost nothing off the record from him, and he doesn't reveal much when he's on the record, either.
That doesn't serve anybody particularly well, and it's part of the reason fans are sounding increasingly fed up. They simply don't know what's going on.
As much as I hate to admit it, neither do I.
And now, time for a few sprints through the bowels of "America's Most Beloved Ballpark" ...
... Nothing against Andrew Bailey, an excellent young reliever and a very nice kid whose story is incredible, but Kurt Suzuki should have been Oakland's All-Star. Bailey was essentially a middle reliever for the first month and a half, and the A's deserve credit for giving him time to get comfortable in the big leagues. But does someone with four blown saves in 13 chances deserve to go to St. Louis over someone who plays every day, leads the regulars who have been with the team all year in batting, and has to handle the youngest starting rotation in the Majors? You tell me. I say Suzuki is the Great Dane.
... I've seen a lot of cool things in my time covering the A's. The 20-game winning streak, the dominance of the Big Three, Giambi's epic homer off Stanton, Scutaro's bomb off Mariano, Big Hurt's two homers in his return to Chicago, Kotsay's inside-the-parker in Minnesota, Miggy Magic, Chavez's comic-book defense; the list goes on and on. Last night the list grew. The reception that Nomar got from Boston fans was incredible. So was his reaction. And because I'm the guy sitting next to you on a plane, trying to pretend I'm not tearing up during seven different scenes of "Marley and Me," it got to me. I can't even imagine what that must feel like, to be showered with so much affection from so many people at once. Amazing that Nomar even made contact in that at-bat.
... Most believable trade rumor regarding the A's: Matt Holliday and Orlando Cabrera to the Braves for shortstop Yunel Escobar. It makes sense in that it would take care of Oakland's long-term issue at short -- Escobar is 26 and a legitimate stud -- and it would save the A's close to $10 million in salary. But word is that Escobar is something of a problem child, and that might hold up the deal. If it happened, would Buck get another shot in the bigs?
... You haven't lived until you've dropped your hairbrush into a hotel toiletbowl, reached to save it, banged your head on the glass counter above the toilet, recoiled and banged your head again on the sink. How something like that happens is not something I'm willing to discuss on the record, but I'll tell Geren about it later.
... I'm going to go out on a limb and say Dana Eveland won't be making another start any time soon. Tonight made me think of Christians and lions.
... And finally, best wishes and prayers to Dallas Braden, whose beloved grandmother suffered a stroke Sunday or Monday and underwent surgery today. She basically raised Dallas, and she's pretty much all the family he has. Just an awful set of circumstances.
That's all for now, gang. Peace, roasted pork tenderloin and the soundtrack from "Ocean's 11" to all ...
--Mychael Urban
regarding the banging of a head: have you ever banged your head on a door once and bounced back and banged your head on that same door again? many times this has happened to me. i also once woke up after napping in study hall and banged my head on the desk across the aisle in the process of bending down to grab my bag. i then banged my head on my desk, and fell out of my seat. i'm not even out of high school yet and i've probably lost half of my brain cells to doors, windows, desks, and any other hard object that my head can reach!!!!!!!!
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thoughts and prayers for Dallas and his grandmother. He has been one of the very few bright spots on this disappointing season, and by all accounts he seems to be an even better person than he is a ballplayer.
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My sympathies to Braden's family, Suzuki for the All Star snub, and to you for your bathroom comedy of errors. With Geren announcing Hairston will be the everyday centerfielder and Sweeney moving to right, I'm losing the little hope I had for Buck's return. I don't like the way the organization is doling out discipline/punishment - hmmm, legit frustrations being voiced versus sloppy defenders and/or low batting averages? I don't see how onfield failings do not outweigh anything happening off-field. For a team that typically loves young, cheap talent they sure have a lot of more expensive veterans who aren't getting the job done. What has happened to the internal workings of this team and when do we schedule the exorcism?
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I'm assuming the PTBNL for the Hairston deal is going to be Sean Gallagher at this point, and I just wanted to ask why? They are buying high on a guy in Hairston who will not put up the stats he put up the first part of this year, and selling low on a guy in Gallagher who has 'ace' potential, even if he hasn't shown it. If the PTBNL is not Gallagher, I dont hate this trade, but if it is...i just don't understand what the A's are doing...
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I have not actually heard what they are planning to do with Hairston? Can someone explain this to me? I get they want a stick to replace Holliday when he leaves, but what does this mean for the future? Who is at odds, Buck, Cunningham, or Sweeney? I would hate to see Hairston replace any of these three. They all deserve at least a shot to be in the starting OF next year...but what about Hairston?
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Buck has been going up and down more often than a yo-yo. I'm sick of seeing this. I thought we were rebuilding. Why do we have 2 29 year old OF's and a plethora of young talent in the OF not being given a chance?
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First, my thoughts and prayers go out to Dallas Braden and his family.
Second, Kurt Z is the team All Star. Nothing against Drew Bailey but he isn't even the 2nd most deserving player on the team.
Third, none of us have a clue as to what the A's are doing or where the organization is headed. I don't think the brass in the front office, including BB, do either. I could put up with losing while giving our kids especially our outfielders a chance to get some experience and show they belong. Instead we see young players jerked in and out while guys who have NO FUTURE on our team get all the playing time.
As a season ticket holder and hard core A's fan, it is hard to get excited about a team where there is a good chance most of the current lineup either won't be here next season or shouldn't.
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OK first you need to issue a warning when relaying stories that involve dropping a hairbrush in a toilet, banging your head not once, but twice with one of those being a rebound bang. Almost did a spittake. Second I totally agree about the not understanding. Much of what the organization's doing doesn't make a lot of sense, especially with regard to Buck. Of course this isn't the first time they've done this a player. Lastly, Suzuki is the team's all-star. He's been absolutely fantastic and I think he should have had the nod.
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Hey, Big Urb,
Thanks for putting up 2 posts since I got after you for a long period of fallow. I agree that Suzuki deserved to be the All Star, but we didn't get to decide, nor did anyone in the A's orgaization, so these things happen. Maybe they felt they needed another flame-throwing pitcher, rather than another catcher.
I, to, am frustrated at the lack of openess in the A's organization, and the seeming lack of having a clear direction. It's almost as if BB has thrown up his hands and will try anything even if it is wrong. I agree with willytheAsfan that the revolving door between Sacamento and Oakland with the young guys being shuttled back and forth is very unsettling to the team dynamic and to the players involved. Jeff Gray is a case in point. Why bring him up to sit in the bullpen for a few days pitch 1 inning yesterday and then send him back down. It interrupts his pitching routine, is taxing on his body having to fly cross country and back, and uses up one of the teams options. Makes no sense to me. Bee
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It really is pathetic that a fan and sportswriter such as yourself and others are kept out of the loop by Geren. When fans want to know more detailed info about things, they are screwed because everything is a big freaking secret. Furthermore, it seems as if any players speak out, their career is in jeapardy. On one hand, I don't blame him because there has been a lot of bad things said about him. But, on the other hand, as far as anyone can see, he has not taken any responsibility towards the fans or the team for some of the horrible in and out of game decisions made.
I have to say though, our team is starting to look like a major league team now with all of the experience on the field, aside from the young arms, whom I enjoy watching.
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