I don’t usually write about the Oakland A’s. The Oakland A’s are irrelevant. The Oakland A’s made themselves irrelevant — they are auto-irrelevanters. Today I am writing about the Oakland A’s. What’s up with that? Word has come out that the A’s signed an outfielder named Yoenis Cespedes. This is supposed to be a big deal. Cespedes is a Cuban defector. That’s kind of interesting. He never has played in the big leagues or faced big-league pitching. The A’s are paying him $36 million over four years, anyway. Wow! To read my Tuesday column about this curious and mostly irrelevant signing, please click here.
chris
Lowell…..I thought you were buddy buddy with Billy Beane……could you give him a call and find out what hes been smoking these days to be making all of these psychadelic player transactions……longtime A’s fans like myself would like to know.
February 13th, 2012 7:03 pm
jason
I’m sure when Yoenis Cespedes left Cuba he was hoping to join a major league team. I suspect by the time April rolls around and he arrives for his first game in the barren coliseum, and sees the team that he has joined, he’ll hop on the first flight (or boat) back to Cuba.
February 13th, 2012 8:25 pm
Capts
While I won’t defend Wolff/Fischer, the worst owners in Bay Area sports history, this signing isn’t that bad of a move. This guy isn’t going to be paid all that much (in MLB terms), has a very high upside, is a better defensive CF than they have now, is under a four year deal, and he represents some excitement for long suffering A’s fans. You say he’s old at 26, that’s a major stretch for your argument. Ichiro started in America at 28 and Japanese ball isn’t that far ahead of Cuban play. If the rest of the A’s prospects develop well and this guy becomes a centerpiece, a new stadium (hopefully in the Town, not SJ) will be around the corner allowing for in influx of revenue. A lot of “what ifs,” for sure, but it’s also a proactive move that this franchise deserves. 9 World Series titles is a tradition that Wolff and Co. should start living up to and signing a player like this is a start.
February 13th, 2012 10:24 pm
Tiburon Dave
Where have you gone Bowie Kuhn?
February 13th, 2012 11:23 pm
John Sousa
Brutal.
February 14th, 2012 7:20 am
mendozaline
It must be fun for a columnist to write a sarcastic column about the A’s.
It can’t be too difficult.
The last good A’s team was in 2006. They beat
the Twins in the ALDS and lost to the Tigers. In the 5 years since they have won 381 games or 76.2 games per season. In the same span, the Giants have won 409 games or 81.8 a season. That’s a lot of sarcasm for 6 games a year. (The Giants are 14-16 vs the A’s during the 5 years since Oakland was good.)
Each season I go to many games at both ATT Park and the Coleseum. I see the beauty of baseball at each.
February 14th, 2012 9:37 am
KauaiRobert
Unproven commodity.
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-ALOHA-
February 14th, 2012 10:20 am
Stan
It took me awhile to spot it..but Beane might be bipolar. Like somebody who’s in tears that they are broke,bills are piling up and then they dumster dive for food to save money…then when they get manic,They think-I will buy a motorcycle,have fun-live for today! spend!…even though they dont know how to ride a motorcycle..so the cycle starts again with dread of what have they done?…So it is with Beane’s pattern.
He gave or traded all stars when they had least value-the off season,slashed payroll to nothing…then, as is it just sank in that he destroyed the team..Beane is now mad to sign anybody for no matter how much.
And if I’m right..thats a sad way to run a team.
And it has been plenty sad the last seven years…
February 14th, 2012 10:21 am
Susan Schell
I’m fed up with your constant ill will toward the A’s. It smacks of being the playground smart alec! Hit them when they’re down! It’s bad enough the A’s lovers have to put up with do-nothing owners year in and year out. Can’t you find something good to write about us? Are you trying to be “oh so clever” with your sarcasm and wit when you constantly put down the team? You could have written an an honest little bio of this new guy Cespedes, and an analysis of what he might do right this season. I just tune you out much of the time when you write like you do. I know being a nasty wit brings in lots of readers, but why not try being positive once in a while. There are some positive things about the A’s to write. Just look for them. TTFN, Susan
February 14th, 2012 10:28 am
Frank in Minnesota
I’m very suspect whenever the A’s make a signing now. What’s the real story? If he’s any good they will probably trade him anyway….Do you know if he’s ever played against major leaguers, say in winter ball? The A’s do not seem to be a very organized team to make the fans believe that they are serious to make any playoff run…..
February 14th, 2012 11:06 am
CohnZohn
Susan, Please write three positive things about the A’s.
February 14th, 2012 11:32 am
KauaiRobert
Yeah Susan!
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Let’s see you come up with three positive things about the A’s.
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FYI–Pretty uniforms don’t count as a positive.
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Would you rather Lowell be POSITIVE or REAL?
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I’ll take real…good or bad.
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-ALOHA-
February 14th, 2012 12:26 pm
Stan
Three?
Hmm..They still play in Oakland.
Ken Korach.
uh,hmmm…is two enough?
February 14th, 2012 1:25 pm
Capts
If Susan doesn’t mind, I’ll respond:
1. Jemile Weeks is more dynamic than any position player the Giants have. Posey is close, but he doesn’t offer the athleticism of Weeks.
2. Jarrod Parker, Michael Choice, AJ Cole, Cespedes a group of players that are unproven, but are highly thought of by MLB scouts.
3. The A’s will be a relatively fast team, with the potential to make things happen and steal bases.
The A’s will probably struggle against a tough division this year and A’s ownership is absolutely pathetic. But to be so dismissive, as you often are, of the franchise with the most championships in its history than any other Bay Area franchise, well it’s insulting to A’s fans. Lowell, ownership should me attacked, not the franchise or A’s fans.
February 14th, 2012 2:31 pm
jason
need another positive thing about the A;s?
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Here’s one…. MC Hammer bobbleheads.
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You can’t touch that !!
February 14th, 2012 2:44 pm
mendozaline
Three positive things about the A’s.
1 – Jemile Weeks
2 – Tyson Ross – Lowell look up your columns and blog posts about him.
3 – On 5/23, 8/8 and 9/5 you can see the A’s play the Angels, On 7/18 and 10/3 you can see them play the Rangers, on 7/4 they play the Red Sox and
on 6/20 they play the Dodgers.
Because of BART $2 Wednesdays the TOTAL price for those 7 games is $14.
I prefer the Plaza Outfield seats over the Plaza Reserved.
February 14th, 2012 2:50 pm
KauaiRobert
That’s only one Stan.
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I’ll let you figure out which one counts.
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(HINT: It rhymes with Shmen Shmorach.)
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-ALOHA-
February 14th, 2012 3:38 pm
jason
>
>Because of BART $2 Wednesdays the TOTAL price for those 7 games is $14.
>
Dang!! I just plucked down over $200 on my card for 4 seats to the MadBum bobblehead game. And they’re upper deck nose bleed seats too.
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Oh well, gotta make it up to my kids somehow since they missed out on the MC Hammer bobbleheads.
February 14th, 2012 8:36 pm