Bored

The plot thickens...apparantly Schott may be close to selling his share in the A's. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...BAG0DAE6F01.DTL

I would have never imagined that Barry Zito would be the A's starter not traded. Beane insisted yesterday that Zito isn't going to be traded. I suppose you do have to keep one veteran starter around (you'd be looking at a 2nd year pitcher in Harden and potentially four rookies in the rotation) but I don't know how many more of his 110 pitches in six innings starts I can take. Maybe a miracle happens and he suddenly starts pitching like it's 2001 and 2002 again.

NOW I know why the A's traded for Jason Kendall...he's going to win the A.L. West one game playoff over the Angels with a bunt! Joe Morgan: "I told you the A's needed to manufacture runs to win".

That's if the A's aren't contracted. Some what interesting the week contraction talk starts up again the A's start trading their name players. At least I can look forward to Willie "Mays" Hayes and Pedro Cerano in A's uniforms next year.

They've punted 2005 but it's made them better for the future...out of Oakland. Really as a rationally thinking fan I know both of these trades could be great but from a fan who doesn't want to see his team gone in a couple of years these trades are horrible.

Probably just a little more than have been showing up to Expo games the last few years. This is a Major League type of sabotage being done by owner Steve Schott. He wants them out of Oakland and he's going to get his wish. Who knows maybe they'll be contracted. Really I can't even get that emotional after being a fan for almost 20 years as I've prepared myself for this possibility for quite a while.

Zito is rumored to go to the Orioles or Dodgers. Chavez has six-year contract so they won't trade him. Likely all their arb eligible players will be dealt: Erubiel Durazo, Octavio Dotel, and Eric Byrnes. My head is spinning right now.

This part of the article should also be pointed out:

teke seemed to decide to not have you forfeit. First thing though you need to finish making your picks for the Emerald, Rose, and Fiesta. I'll post teke's picks once your's are completed.

Yes the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry really needed more hype.

At three years, $25 million that's one of the best signings all offseason. He'll be getting paid slightly less per year than the Diamondbacks are paying for Russ Ortiz.

Two sources out of Boston are reporting that he has signed a 4-year, $56 million deal with the Mets. Will Pedro last all four years? *shakes magic eight ball* "Outlook not so good"

Texans - 20 points Pittsburgh Washington Atlanta Cincinnati Philadelphia Chicago Jacksonville Detroit Cleveland N.Y. Jets New Orleans Arizona Denver Tennessee Baltimore New England

Good to see the Yankees looking to the future... They'll be signing beer league softball players to fill out their minor league rosters soon. I think that's idea though. Fool the average rube fan into thinking they have a team so they'll renew their season tickets.

Maybe. Mecir is retiring and I think with the addition of Cruz they'll non-tender Chad Bradford who has gone from a good set-up man to mediocre specialist in a real hurry. Right now they're hoping Hutson Street is the real deal.

Gryboski and his 24 strikeouts and 23 walks? Cruz is better and five years younger.

Like I said you can't get equal value for a player in a walk year. Beane would not have traded Hudson if he wasn't told that payroll wasn't going to be raised this year.

It's not Beane. It's owner Steve Schott. He didn't get his postseason revenue this year so he's not allowing any payroll increase at all, in fact it might end up being lower than last year. This is a 100% salary dump. It's almost impossible to get equal value for a player in a walk year and it totally goes against Beane's normal way of doing things. As for who they got Thomas is nothing special and probably just insurance in case Nick Swisher struggles. Meyer is good but he won't make an immediate impact. Cruz will definently help their weak middle relief, unless they plan on trading Dotel to avoid paying him anything in arbitration and then hand Cruz the closer job.

For Charles Thomas, Juan Cruz, Dan Meyer. Hellllllllllllllooooooooo 3rd place.

AP All-American Team announced. First Team OFFENSE Quarterback: Matt Leinart, Southern California, junior. Running backs: Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, freshman; J.J. Arrington, California, senior. Wide receivers: Braylon Edwards, Michigan, senior; Taylor Stubblefield, Purdue, senior. Tight end: Heath Miller, Virginia, junior. Center: David Baas, Michigan, senior. Guards-Tackles: Jammal Brown, Oklahoma, senior; Alex Barron, Florida State, senior; Elton Brown, Virginia, senior; Michael Munoz, Tennessee, senior. Kicker: Mike Nugent, Ohio State, senior. All-purpose: Reggie Bush, Southern California, sophomore. DEFENSE Linemen: Erasmus James, Wisconsin, senior; David Pollack, Georgia, senior; Shaun Cody, Southern California; senior; Marcus Spears, LSU, senior. Linebacker: Derrick Johnson, Texas, senior; Matt Grootegoed, Southern California; senior; A.J. Hawk, Ohio State, senior. Defensive backs: Carlos Rogers, Auburn, senior; Antrel Rolle, Miami, senior; Marlin Jackson, Michigan, senior; Ernest Shazor, Michigan, senior. Punter: Brandon Fields, Michigan State, sophomore. Second Team OFFENSE Quarterback: Alex Smith, Utah, junior. Running backs: Cedric Benson, Texas, senior; Carnell Williams, Auburn, senior. Wide receivers: Dante Ridgeway, Ball State, junior; Mark Clayton, Oklahoma, senior. Tight end: Alex Smith, Stanford, senior. Center: Marvin Philip, California, junior. Guards-tackles: Chris Kemoeatu, Utah, senior; Marcus McNeil, Auburn; junior; Dan Buenning, Wisconsin, senior; Jonathan Scott, Texas; junior. K: Tyler Jones, Boise State; senior. All-purpose: Chad Owens, Hawaii, senior. DEFENSE Linemen: Jonathan Goddard, Marshall, senior; Dan Cody, Oklahoma, senior; Matt Roth, Iowa, senior; Ryan Riddle, California, senior. Linebackers: Ahmad Brooks, Virginia, sophomore; Michael Boley, Southern Mississippi, senior; Kevin Burnett, Tennessee, senior. Defensive backs: Corey Webster, LSU, senior; Thomas Davis, Georgia, junior; Junior Rosegreen, Auburn, senior; Morgan Scalley, Utah, senior. Punter: Matt Payne, BYU, senior. Third Team OFFENSE Quarterback: Jason White, Oklahoma, senior. Running backs: Jamario Thomas, North Texas, freshman; DeAngelo Williams, Memphis, junior. Wide receivers: Mike Haas, Oregon State, junior; Roddy White, UAB, senior. Tight ends:Trey Haverty, Texas Tech, senior. Center: Ben Wilkerson, LSU, senior. Guards-tackles: Rob Petitti, Pittsburgh, senior; Sam Mayes, Oklahoma State, senior; Wesley Britt, Alabama, senior; Travis Leffew, Louisville, junior. Kicker: Andrew Wellock, Eastern Michigan. sophomore. All-purpose: Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State, freshman. DEFENSE Linemen: Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College, junior; Mike Patterson, Southern California, senior; Travis Johnson, Florida State, senior; Jonathan Babineaux, Iowa, senior. Linebackers: Barrett Ruud, Nebraska, senior; Lofa Tatupu, Southern California, junior; Leroy Hill, Clemson, senior. Defensive backs: Mitch Meeuwsen, Oregon State, senior; Jamaal Brimmer, UNLV; senior; Charles Gordon, Kansas, sophomore; Jason Allen, Tennessee, junior. Punters: Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor, sophomore.

Boone is washed up and the Mariners were the worst offensive team in the A.L. last year. Sexson and Beltre will certainly help, although Safeco is brutal on right handed hitters, it's doubtful they are better than a middle of the pack team in runs scored. Their staff was horrific last year and they've done nothing to address it. In that division they have no realistic shot at winning it even if Beltre is signed.

Boras is hilarious. Lowe wasn't even one of the Top 100 starters in baseball last year. Oh wait he could always just call the Diamondbacks. Bill Bavasi and the Mariners might be the only other team dumb enough to sign Lowe to a major deal.

I think the Diamondbacks are in the process of contracting themselves. If there ever is contraction then yes there would some sort of dispersal draft for those players.

A's traded for Keith Ginter yesterday so they aren't going to pick up a 4th second baseman. Beane wouldn't be interested in a guy who had a .283 OBP last year and a .307 career anyways.

Dammit no Chow time at Stanford.