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 22nd, 2009
Okay, maybe not, but you have to think the A’s would be reluctant to make any deal that helps the Giants considering the teams’ fight over the San Jose territory. I mention it because the A’s do have some players the Giants should be interested in, even outside of Matt Holliday.
Holliday, of course, would be a major help as a big bat, and as someone who is much more comfortable with major league pitching, but Orlando Cabrera, Adam Kennedy, Mark Ellis, and Justin Duchscherer would also help the Giants. While Cabrera is a shortstop, you’d think that he could do just fine at a lesser position, such as second base, and is someone with world championship experience. Plus, he’s grossly underachieved and could be had for cheap. Of course, Ellis and Kennedy are the “true” second basemen, but Ellis has the bigger deal and a no-trade clause (huh?.. why?). As for Duchscherer, Buster Olney mentioned him yesterday as a cheap Roy Halladay-alternative. Even though he hasn’t pitched a game this year, he could be a worthwhile gamble. This is a guy who led the league in ERA for the first half of last season. Considering Sadowski’s struggles, the Giants may be in the market for a starting pitcher by next week. (more…)
Categories: Oakland A's, San Francisco Giants |
Tags: 49ers, A's, Adam Kennedy, Andrew Bailey, Angel Villalona, Anthony Randolph, Billy Beane, C.J. Watson, Cal, Dennis Green, Giants, Gio Gonzalez, Jeremy Newberry, Justin Duchscherer, Kevin Frandsen, Lew Wolff, Mark Ellis, Matt Holliday, Orlando Cabrera, Raiders, Rich Aurilia, Rickey Henderson, Ryan Sadowski, Santa Clara, Stanford, Warriors, Zach Follett | No Comments
July 10th, 2009
I haven’t said much about Pablo Sandoval not be selected for the All-Star game because this “last man vote” was great publicity for him (not that he wants it). Most of the baseball world was finally taking notice of what Giants fans have been watching all season: A portly but athletic, versatile, fun-loving, smart, high-effort guy who is a breath of fresh air because he plays the game the right way.
Despite the newfound publicity, it won’t be a big deal nationally if Sandoval doesn’t make the All-Star game as an injury replacement. While his numbers dwarf many other players on the team, it’s an East Coast media-driven country. Down the road, however, when Sandoval is getting the same type of respect as Albert Pujols (and he will, as we’ve made clear before), this slight will look moronic. Sandoval is going to consistently be one of the top five players in baseball in the next five years, while playing in a pitcher’s park. Historians will look back at his first full season and wonder why he wasn’t playing with baseball’s best in mid-July.
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Categories: San Francisco Giants |
Tags: 49ers, A's, Bill Neukom, Buster Posey, Charlie Manuel, Freddy Sanchez, Giants, Ian Kinsler, JaMarcus Russell, Jason Giambi, Jesse English, John Bowker, Kent Huskins, Madison Bumgarner, Pablo Sandoval, Raiders, Rickey Henderson, Rob Blake, Scott Hairston, Sharks, Stephen Curry, Steve McNair, Tim Alderson, Tim Lincecum, Warren Sapp | No Comments
June 15th, 2009
The hardest part of coming off the bench is you feel like you have to produce every time you go out there. - Nate Schierholtz
One of the benefits of having a stellar pitching staff is that a team like the Giants can afford to experiment with positions that are offensively challenged. It’s particularly easier to experiment with players that are good defensively. Nate Schierholtz has proven to be a good enough rightfielder that Bruce Bochy can start him everyday for the next 3-5 weeks without it costing the team.
Hopefully, Bochy, who sounds like he’s open to the idea of Schierholtz playing more often (and admitted that he’ll start tonight), will give him more than just a couple of starts to prove that he deserves to play everyday. I don’t care if Schierholtz goes 0-for-20, he should start every game (against lefties and righties) for the next three weeks… at least. It still won’t be a big enough sample size, but Schierholtz deserves some kind of an opportunity. An opportunity where he doesn’t have to look over his shoulder or feel he has to “produce every time”.
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Categories: San Francisco Giants |
Tags: 49ers, A's, Barrett Robbins, Brett Anderson, Cal, Chad Billingsley, Eric Chavez, Fred Lewis, Giants, Jerry West, Kevin Mitchell, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Madison Bumgarner, Mark Kotsay, Matt Cain, Nate Schierholtz, Pablo Sandoval, Pau Gasol, Raiders, Rickey Henderson, Syd'Quan Thompson, Tim Lincecum | No Comments
