Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Don’t give the A’s your money — they don’t know what to do with it
San Jose Mercury News ^ | March 15, 2022 | Dieter Kurtenbach

Posted on 03/16/2022 5:30:24 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Oakland Athletics are purging top players, trading Chris Bassitt and Matt Olson. It should be the last straw for the team’s few remaining fans.

A’s fans deserve better.

But sadly, any fans who have stuck around know the drill by now.

The A’s are tearing it all down, again. This weekend, All-Star starting pitcher Chris Bassitt was traded to the Mets. Monday, Matt Olson, a legitimate MVP candidate, was sent to the Braves.

More will come in the days and weeks to come. Matt Chapman, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas — anyone wearing green and yellow and anywhere near arbitration is on the market.

And while you could make the argument that the A’s have done well in the deals they have already made, that misses the point.

This batch of A’s was supposed to be the core of a competitive team. It was a competitive team up until last season.

But instead of augmenting around them while they were inexpensive, instead of signing good players to contract extensions before they hit free agency, the A’s blew it all up again, well before this core’s time was up.

Predictable? Of course.

But sports are an escape from everyday life. They need to sell hope — the idea that things will be great this year, or, at the worst, that they’ll be better soon.

(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Sports
KEYWORDS: as; mlb; oakland
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

1 posted on 03/16/2022 5:30:24 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Many years ago I got into the Braves big time. Watched all their games, got to know the players, I mean I was seriously into it for 2-3 years. I didn’t keep up with trades and off season stuff, though. Then at the beginning of a season all of sudden half of the players I had been cheering for were on the other teams. It just destroyed my interest pretty much immediately.


2 posted on 03/16/2022 5:46:02 PM PDT by suthener ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

As long as they kept Vida Blue.


3 posted on 03/16/2022 6:05:02 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (GoFundMe is a Democrat Scam)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

4 posted on 03/16/2022 6:12:47 PM PDT by Eccl 10:2 (Prov 3:5 --- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
The A’s have a long history of developing talent at low cost and selling/trading them when the time is right.

Al Campanis (GM of the Dodgers in the ‘60’s) once said:

‘Better to trade someone a year too early than a day too late”

5 posted on 03/16/2022 6:15:14 PM PDT by Michael.SF. (Never do anything illegal, when you are doing something illegal. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

They’re following the Nutting model from the Pirates.


6 posted on 03/16/2022 6:15:25 PM PDT by RayBob (If guns kill people, can I blame misspelled words on my keyboard?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

The Cincinnati Reds say “hold our beer!”


7 posted on 03/16/2022 6:23:58 PM PDT by buckalfa (America is the only nation where a person can be both fat and poor at the same time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
But sports are an escape from everyday life.

I used to actually believe that, but about 30 years ago Pro Sports decided it was a good idea to allow Gangsters, Thugs and Criminals to play Pro Sports and Influence our youth, So now I choose ALCOHOL for my escape from everyday life. I am much happier now.
8 posted on 03/16/2022 6:36:41 PM PDT by eyeamok (founded in cynicism, wrapped in sarcasm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: buckalfa

C’mon the Reds manager David Bell says: ‘We’re getting better in a really weird way’. The players traded are happy to leave. I almost feel sorry for Votto.


9 posted on 03/16/2022 7:34:04 PM PDT by bleach (If I agreed with you, we would both be wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: bleach; buckalfa

The weird thing is the A’s players aren’t happy to leave for the most part. Yoenis Cespedes was really upset to leave, he wanted to stay there his whole career, even knowing they were cheapskates. Olson and Chapman didn’t want to leave.


10 posted on 03/17/2022 10:27:55 AM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Michael.SF.

Hmmm. I thought Bill Walsh said that in football.


11 posted on 03/17/2022 10:28:32 AM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Billy Ball


12 posted on 03/17/2022 10:34:57 AM PDT by Osage Orange (1961 VW Two Door Truck)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: eyeamok

LOL!!


13 posted on 03/17/2022 10:35:48 AM PDT by Osage Orange (1961 VW Two Door Truck)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Who the hell would want to live in Oakland?


14 posted on 03/17/2022 10:36:43 AM PDT by Osage Orange (1961 VW Two Door Truck)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
I had it wrong:

"Trade a player a year too early rather than a year too late." -- Branch Rickey (Brooklyn Dodgers GM)

It's a good line so Walsh may well have used it as well

15 posted on 03/17/2022 10:53:03 AM PDT by Michael.SF. (Never do anything illegal, when you are doing something illegal. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Osage Orange
Who the hell would want to live in Oakland?

A lot of very rich people Oakland has some of the richest neighborhoods in the country.

Although, really, you could live anywhere in the Bay Area.

Khalil Mack had a mansion in San Ramon, which is really nice.

16 posted on 03/17/2022 11:12:33 AM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Osage Orange

Piedmont, Claremont, Crocker Highland, Upper Rockridge, etc., some of the most expensive neighborhoods in the coutry.


17 posted on 03/17/2022 11:23:33 AM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Let me rephrase that....And I was born and raised in SoCal...

But who the hell "wants" to live in Calif.?

18 posted on 03/17/2022 11:32:48 AM PDT by Osage Orange (1961 VW Two Door Truck)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I have no idea who the hell Khalil Mack is....and don’t care.


19 posted on 03/17/2022 11:33:55 AM PDT by Osage Orange (1961 VW Two Door Truck)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Osage Orange

Well, sadly, that’s because of our terrible leadership. The Bay Area is a wonderful place. But we have a crew trying t wreck it.


20 posted on 03/17/2022 11:34:58 AM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson