July 24th, 2009
My disdain for Lew Wolff, because of his desire to get out of Oakland, has been well-documented on this site. Many probably wonder why I’m making such a big deal out of something considering the A’s, if they go to San Jose, won’t be moving very far away. My issue is that the A’s have historically been a huge part of Oakland’s community. As Rickey Henderson is enshrined in the Hall, I think of the great impact he had on that community, particularly African-Americans. You almost never see a community produce the local team’s greatest player, but that’s the case in Oakland. The greatest Athletic is clearly Rickey Henderson. If you don’t think that made a big deal to fans going to games in the 80’s and early 90’s, then you weren’t paying attention. Sadly, there haven’t been many good African-American players playing for this team in the past decade plus. That, along with Lew Wolff’s greed and the team playing in the worst stadium in the league, explains the dwindling A’s attendance numbers.
Much has been made about the lack of African-Americans in baseball, but the East Bay has been an exception to the rule in this country. Some of the biggest African-American names in baseball are the East Bay’s own Jimmy Rollins, C.C. Sabathia, and, despite his struggles, Dontrelle Willis. These players, and other local products, undoubtedly were impacted by Henderson and other outstanding black A’s players from the 80’s and early 90’s. In fact, in an article by ESPN’s Tim Keown a couple of years ago, Sabathia spoke of this very impact:
The reason I wanted to play baseball was the A’s. They had Dave Parker, Rickey Henderson, Dave Henderson, Dave Stewart—guys I could look up to. Right now, the A’s have Milton Bradley, and that’s about it. I don’t think I’d be playing baseball. I think it would probably be football, because that’s what I see.
I’m sure Rickey Henderson, while at Oakland Tech, was just as impacted by the championship teams of the early 70’s, and African-Americans such as Vida Blue, Reggie Jackson, and Billy North. Maybe Sabathia and Henderson would have liked those same great A’s teams the same if they played in San Jose, but I doubt it. Part of the appeal for many East Bay African-Americans to go to A’s games in the past, outside of the cultural familiarity, was the team being in their backyard, BART made the games even more accessible, and the games are very affordable.
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Categories: Oakland A's |
Tags: 49ers, A's, Adam Dunn, Adam Kennedy, Alan Johnson, Alex Smith, Barry Zito, Billy North, Brett Anderson, C.C. Sabathia, C.J. Watson, Conor Gillaspie, Dave Henderson, Dave Stewart, Don Nelson, Dontrelle Willis, Giants, Jimmy Rollins, Jonathan Sanchez, Justin Duchscherer, Kevin Pucetas, Lew Wolff, Madison Bumgarner, Mark Cuban, Raiders, Rajai Davis, Reggie Jackson, Rickey Henderson, San Jose State, Sharks, Stanford, Thomas Neal, Tim Alderson, Vida Blue, Vin Mazzaro, Warriors | 1 Comment
July 15th, 2009
Any Giants fan watching last night’s game might have been a little frustrated by the lack of defense played behind Tim Lincecum in the opening inning. First, Yadier Molina started what should have been a double play, only David Wright was not in proper position and unleashed a wild throw to first. Then, normally reliable Albert Pujols made an error in the same inning. Later in the game, we saw a misplay in left by Justin Upton (usually a really good rightfielder) on a game-changing Curtis Granderson triple, and a fantastic play by Carl Crawford to take away a home run from Brad Hawpe.
I found it refreshing that both good and bad fielding was on display last night because this is a time in baseball where the importance of defense is analyzed more by fans than it ever has been before. Thanks to fantastic websites like FanGraphs, we can measure the true value of certain players and their defensive metrics. Any general manager, like Kansas City’s Dayton Moore, who isn’t using defensive metrics in their analysis is doing their team’s fans a major disservice.
For example, a lot of supposed baseball experts, who have no idea what FanGraphs is, will tell you that power-hitters Adam Dunn and Jermaine Dye would be major upgrades to the Giants. However, when you dig deep into the overall analysis (the UZR numbers), you’ll find that they are awful defensively. Randy Winn, thanks to his defensive prowess, is just as valuable, if not more so, than Dunn and Dye even though Winn doesn’t post the sexy home run and RBI numbers.
This season, we have listened to dopes like John Kruk, who are so surprised about the success of teams like the Giants, Mariners, Rangers, and Tigers. When you look at the UZR team stats, however, you’ll find that the Giants are the fourth best fielding team in baseball, while the Mariners are second, the Tigers are fifth, and the Rangers are seventh. The 2008 UZR’s show that three of the final four participants (Rays, Phillies, Red Sox) were also among the top four defensive teams in the league during last year’s regular season. Defense counts and the numbers prove it.
Fielding ratings aren’t the only important statistics in baseball, but they may be the most undervalued and underutilized. The Giants, and any other contending team, should keep defense in mind as this year’s trading deadline approaches. Because any team that gets Adam Dunn or Jermaine Dye to roam their outfield could be in for a rude surprise.
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Categories: Oakland A's, San Francisco Giants |
Tags: 49ers, A's, Acie Law, Adam Dunn, Albert Pujols, Andrew Bailey, Anthony Randolph, Brian Sabean, Brock Lesnar, Bruce Bochy, Buster Posey, Carl Crawford, Charlie Wedemeyer, Dayton Moore, FanGraphs, Frantz Joseph, Giants, Jermaine Dye, Matt Cassel, Mike Singletary, Raiders, Randy Winn, Stryker Sulak, Tiger Woods, Tim Lincecum, Warriors | No Comments
May 23rd, 2009
- When Pat Misch was first called up on May 13th, we said at WCB, “Just don’t let Misch pitch when it matters. I think Giants fans have seen enough of Misch in those spots.” Sure enough, Bruce Bochy has pitched Misch in quite a few close games. Often, he’s brought in Misch with the Giants down a run, and Misch has promptly turned those games into a three-run game such as last Saturday against the Mets. Last night was even worse because he brought him in a tie game, and still had Merkin Valdez and Brian Wilson available. As bad as Wilson has been, he’s still a better option than Misch. Bochy also sent Misch into the game against Russell Branyan (possible Giants trading option) who was putting together solid at bats all night. There might not ever be a more hittable Giants pitcher than Pat Misch. You’re a bad manager if you are being first-guessed by fans when you’re making awful moves. In Bochy’s case, he has been outmanaged by nearly all Giants fans. All you have to do is go to last night’s McCovey Chronicles game thread, to find out how many fans questioned Bochy’s Mischtake (as one put it).
- Pablo Sandoval is the long-term solution at third base. Really, there isn’t anybody playing better at the position right now, and I have a hard time believing that he’s going to get much bigger/fatter as some suggest. He has too much respect for the game. The thing that makes Sandoval so fun to watch is he has a great understanding and feel for the game. That play he made in the sixth inning, with the bases loaded, two-out, and Ichiro at the plate, was one I’m not sure a lot of third basemen would make. It was one of the better plays you’ll ever see. With his momentum carrying him towards foul ground, the only play was at home and his throw was perfect. You can tell Sandoval has been playing baseball all of his life. On the other hand…
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Categories: San Francisco Giants |
Tags: Adam Dunn, Adrian Beltre, Brian Wilson, Emmanuel Burriss, Fred Lewis, Ichiro, Ken Griffey, Kevin Frandsen, Merkin Valdez, Mike Sweeney, Pablo Sandoval, Pat Misch, Raymond Ritter, Tim Lincecum, Trevor Cahill, Vin Mazzaro | No Comments
May 12th, 2009
I don’t think anyone could possibly run an organization worse than Chris Cohan has operated the Warriors. He always seems to one-up his terrible moves. Bad moves aren’t surprising anymore, but they’re still frustrating. Yesterday’s announcement that Larry Riley would be the general manager was just another in a series of terrible moves. Cohan has managed to make bad hire after bad hire, with each move somehow being worse than the one that preceded it. He’s placed Robert Rowell, a man who seemingly knows very little about basketball, in charge of the organization, and Rowell has managed to give Stephen Jackson an extension that NOBODY in the league would have granted. Rowell apparently also thinks Don Nelson is some kind of a basketball wizard. The same Nelson who has left his previous three organizations on sour notes. As for Riley, he isn’t basketball smart, but he’s smart enough to know that if he’s friends with Nellie, he can get the GM job that isn’t possible anywhere else.
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Categories: Golden State Warriors |
Tags: 49ers, A's, Adam Dunn, Andre Ward, Art Howe, Brian Wilson, Casey Blake, Chris Cohan, Chris Mullin, Don Nelson, Giants, JaMarcus Russell, Jesus Guzman, Jim Skaalen, Larry Riley, Madison Bumgarner, Mark Cuban, Mike Singletary, Randy Johnson, Sergio Romo, Sharks, Tim Alderson, Warriors | No Comments
May 11th, 2009
I admit I was one of those who was hoping Kevin Frandsen would win the second base job in spring training. Frandsen appeared to have the better offensive potential, and it seemed like it was his time to prove whether he was a worthy major leaguer. I was, however, excited about the defensive potential of Emmanuel Burriss. I just never thought Burriss was going to hit much and was expecting a .230-.250 batting average.
After yesterday’s four-hit effort, that average is up to .287 (17 for his last 33) and Burriss is almost putting on his own Juan Pierre show (speaking of Pierre, I prefer if I don’t see that again.). He’s not trying to drive the ball, but just going with the pitch, often hitting the ball on the ground, and he’s getting results. Granted, the overall offensive numbers, outside the batting average aren’t that impressive. Burriss’ slugging percentage is only .307, he has an OPS of .658, and just five RBI’s (still three more than Fred Lewis). You can live with these numbers out of someone in the bottom of your lineup, as long as that player is a excellent defensive player.
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Categories: San Francisco Giants |
Tags: 49ers, A's, Adam Dunn, Ahmad Brooks, Bob Geren, Brett Cecil, Brian Sabean, Brian Wilson, Bruce Bochy, Cal, Casey Blake, Corey Maggette, Dallas Braden, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Emmanuel Burriss, Fred Lewis, Giants, Jamal Crawford, Juan Pierre, Justin Duchscherer, Kevin Frandsen, Manny Ramirez, Marco Scutaro, Raiders, Stanford, Tim Alderson, Travis Ishikawa, Warriors | No Comments
