Well I figured that we should have our own discussion thread instead of bouncing between other threads.

Sounds good to me... thanks for doing this.

I agree with what you said in the other thread. I don't think by any stretch of the imagination that Beane seriously thought the A's had a chance this season of making the playoffs. His only goal for signing Holliday, Giambi, Cabrera, and Nomar was strictly to flip them for prospects...especially if they played well. Now look at what's happened... Giambi is on the DL with something extremely minor. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't bring him back for the rest of the year. Nomar is getting little to no playing time as well.

But where I agree it's frustrating to keep watching us "start over" year after year it's not like we have any marquee players coming out of our own system lately. There's no Tejada, Chavez, Giambi, Hudson, Mulder, and Zito like in 2000. And that's what really bothers me. Either we're too cheap to draft and sign the "sure thing" talent or our scouts just plain stink. Personally, I think it's a mix of both. The last really promising prospect we've had to come out of the minors and make an IMMEDIATE impact was Andre Ethier (and we traded him and let him start for the Dodgers that year so he never really played for us... every time I hear how great he's doing I cringe because we could have had him on our team instead of a 1 year rental of Milton Bradley) Other than that Kurt Suzuki is the only consistant player on our team right now but I'd hardley call him a star... just an above average catcher.

Now don't get me wrong. Until the last 2 years we had quite the run going and it's far more than Pittsburgh fans have had in the last 14 years. But I feel we have the ablity to be so much more if we weren't hamstrung by the whole "new ballpark"/small market BS. We'd sell more seats if we were winning more Mr. Beane!!!

I agree, mo matter how bad the A's organization gets, there are still others who haven't tasted success in a very long time.

With that said. I share your pain with Ethier, we send away a top quality outfielder for a rental player. Granted it was a move that Beane made to try to win at the moment (If I remember correctly that was the year the A's went to the ALCS), but how can a guy who prides himself on getting the better younger player out of trades was able to let the Dodgers steal him away? Props to LA.

It just pains me, and I'm sure many others, to see a team on a continual 4-year rebuilding process. The players they've gotten in these trades will be in the position in 4 years as the player who was traded to get them.

Beane wants to have a reputation of being a genius for winning in a small market, but he should take responsibility for failing in a winnable league.

Agreed.

Bradley WAS acquired to win at the moment and had Kenny Rogers not been cheating with pine tar, we may have been able to win that series and go to the World Series that year (and play LaRussa's Cards who I think we could have beaten... maybe... I have alot of respect for Tony)

The GM that acquired Ethier was our ex-assistant GM (Forst? I can't remember the guy's name... he didn't last long in LA LA Land). So I can't blame Beane for making the trade because it did work out for him but man, Ethier is beyond even what I thought he was capable of...

Tommy Everidge has been playing well since his callup... encouraging because at this point I consider Barton a bust... even though he is still VERY young. I'm looking forward to the arrival of Chris Carter probably next year. That kid can RAKE.

And props to Rajai Davis for making the most of his opportunities... he's proven to be a good 4th outfielder who can start to spell the regulars and not hurt the team. Plus his speed of the bench is a plus.

Has anyone noticed we are stealing bases like crazy this year? Jack Cust got one last night (his 4th!!!!) how bad do you have to be to let Cust steal a base off you? LOL!

I love small ball!

quote Rhetorical

Has anyone noticed we are stealing bases like crazy this year? Jack Cust got one last night (his 4th!!!!) how bad do you have to be to let Cust steal a base off you?

Yeah I know, 4 Oakland players were in double digits in steals (granted Holliday and Cabrera are gone), but with Davis getting 22, Kennedy has 14, we might be seeing a changing of the guard. We've come a long way from the 2005 season with Jason Kendall leading the team with 8.

But the one thing that does need to change is Cust. The guy averages 2Ks per game while only hitting .230. There are only 4 guys in the majors who strike out more, but you know what, I'll take Mark Reynolds' 154 ks to go along with his .286 ave with 36hrs and 80 rbis. And Cust costs 2 million more.

Man, Mark Ellis has been on a TEAR this month. When he's healthy he's a fantastic 2B. I got to watch all 3 A's/WhiteSox games this weekend (I live in Chicago) so it was a treat. Other notes...

Hairston is turning out to be a pretty decent player now that he's getting regular playing time.

Suzuki is a GAMER.

Adam Kennedy and Nomar no longer belong on this team. Period. We are in a rebuilding mode the rest of the season at least, let the kids get some experience in the Bigs and give us a higher draft pick next year.

Pennington seems pretty solid. So far anyway.

Rajai Davis is a great story. After clawing his way to being the official starter in CF he's making the most of it.

Our OF is crowded with good *but not great* players. Hairston, Sweeney, Davis, Buck, Cust(grr)...

I'm excited for this weekend, my brother and I are traveling to Seattle to watch a couple of the A's/Mariners games. It'll be the first time i've seen the A's in 3 years.

It's amazing how the A's can shutout the Yanks with good pitching and timely hitting and yet still not be consistant about it.

Although, In other news, I'm happy to see Pudge back with the Rangers. He should have never left.