Bored

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.

For Kiko Calero, Danny Haren, and Daric Barton. A's projected attendance next year: 1.4 million.

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.

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.

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.

A's just traded for a second baseman who's last name starts with the letter "G"! Wait it's Keith Ginter not Marcus Giles.

Not that it was ever an option for Nomar to go back to Boston but from a market value perspective is Renteria really worth $2 million/year more and $32 million more total than Garciaparra?

I'm loving this. Awwwww poor little Bud might have to find another city to extort. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/artic...-2004Dec14.html

Everyone picked Southern Miss. Pick Breakdowns Bored Bowl UVA: Georgia Tech, Memphis, Cincinnati, Oregon State, North Carolina, New Mexico, Texas A&M, Michigan, USC Min: Syracuse, Bowling Green, Marshall, Notre Dame, Boston College, Navy, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma Tiebreak Answers: 59/45, 682/1187 Traditional Bowl UCLA: Marshall, Hawaii, Toledo, Boston College, Northern Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue, LSU, Texas SU: Cincinnati, UAB, Connecticut, North Carolina, Troy, Alabama, Arizona State, Iowa, Michigan Tiebreak Answers: 52/48, 900/888 Oxycotton Bowl Wazzu: Loses out on New Orleans Bowl, Marshall, Hawaii, Connecticut, New Mexico, Troy, Boise State, Miami, Texas A&M, Texas, USC LSU: Cincinnati, UAB, Toledo, Navy, Northern Illinois, Louisville, Florida, Tennessee, Michigan, Oklahoma Tiebreak Answers: 41/47, 900/875 PETA Bowl HI: Georgia Tech, Memphis, Miami (OH), Troy, Purdue, Texas A&M, USC MD: Syracuse, Bowling Green, Iowa State, Northern Illinois, Arizona State, Tennessee, Oklahoma Tiebreak Answers: 44/42, 600/980 Douche Bowl Ore: Memphis, Connecticut, Miami (OH), Navy, Northern Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue, Boise State, Texas A&M BG: Bowling Green, Toledo, Iowa State, New Mexico, Troy, Alabama, Arizona State, Louisville, Tennessee Tiebreak Answers: 42/59, 900/815 Tar Bowl ND: Cincinnati, Iowa State, Notre Dame, UTEP, Oklahoma State, Troy, Florida State, Oklahoma Tex: Marshall, Miami (OH), Oregon State, Colorado, Ohio State, Northern Illinois, West Virginia, USC Tiebreak Answers: 54/54, 799/625 Out Magazine Bowl Stan: Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Miami (OH), Colorado, North Carolina, Purdue, LSU, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma OSU: Syracuse, Marshall, Iowa State, UTEP, Boston College, Arizona State, Iowa, Auburn, USC Tiebreak Answers: 50/45, 848/865

I guess McCaleb can't take these high pressure kicks in the prestigious New Orleans Bowl. 15 for 15 during the regular season, 1 for 3 tonight. And he misses again!