The A’s are loaded with lefthanded hitters in key spots in the batting order.

Here’s the dilemma manager Ken Macha will confront as soon as the games count for real.

With an inexperienced starting pitching staff you can expect to see most games decided in the seventh inning or later.

With lefty hitters Mark Kotsay, Eric Chavez, Erubiel Durazo, and Scott Hatteberg hitting in the one, three, four, and five spots opposing managers will be saving their best lefthanded relievers for the critical situations late in the game. [Read more →]

by Glenn Dickey

WHEN YOU think Billy Beane, think Branch Rickey and Bill Walsh. The A’s general manager always acknowledges his debt to each man.

BIO: Glenn Dickey – 33 years as a sports columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle; author of 16 books, the last being “Champions: The Story of the First Two Oakland A’s Dynasties – and the Building of the Third.” He’s written more than 300 magazine articles, and he’s been a columnist for Pro Football Weekly since 1972. He’s also been featured on several radio and TV shows and am currently a frequent panelist on “The Last Honest Sports Show,” which airs Saturday night on Channel 44.

Check out his new website at: glenndickey.com
Click below for more of Glenn’s first column on baseball. [Read more →]

By A.J. Hayes

It’s ironic that one of the most repeated clichés about catchers is that they wear the “tools of ignorance.” Because as any serious baseball fans knows – while catchers play the most physically demanding position on the field, catcher is also the game’s most cerebral.

There is a reason catchers become managers more often than any other position players after their playing days conclude – because throughout their careers they have been the brains of their respective organizations. Catchers do more than squat and catch what the pitcher hurls. The top and most respected catchers in MLB have the power to dictate the pace of a game. They call pitches, provide on-field leadership and intelligence.

Note: Anthony Hayes is one of the most knowledgeable baseball writers in the Bay Area. For the past few seasons you have read his work in the San Francisco Chronicle’s Game Day Special Baseball Section. We are fortunate to have Anthony joining us this year on our site.

Click below for more!
Thanks, Marty Lurie [Read more →]

Baseball we have a problem, no it is
not in Houston but at 245 Park Avenue
New York at the Office of the Comissioner
and this could get uglier before it gets better.

By Amaury Pi-González [Read more →]

This is a difficult question to answer with a simple yes or no. The true answer may not be known for years to come or at the very least until this season plays out.

In the spirit of the upcoming Oscar awards, let’s create categories of interest and give a special baseball award called, “The Bud” (in honor of the commish) to the winner of each category.

Click Below for the awards and my analysis of the winter moves. I welcome your reactions.
Marty

[Read more →]

José Canseco’s controversial
book should be out later this
month of February. A lot of
people are upset at José’s
accusations, but who are
we to say they are not true?

By Amaury Pi-González [Read more →]

The Super bowl has past, the one day I wait for each year, because it signifies that there is nothing in the way of the impending baseball season.

Within the next two weeks the teams will all have reported for training in Arizona and Florida.

I remember reading that the Brooklyn Dodgers trained in both Havana and Panama in 1946 and 47 because the city fathers in Vero Beach Florida wouldn’t permit black players to live or train in Vero Beach.

59 years is not that long ago when considering periods of history, baseball mirrors life and American culture in so many ways, segregation was just one of them, which should never be forgotten.

Steroids and how they helped bodybuilers win championships weren’t ignored by baseball players who also were looking for an edge.

This morning Jose Canseco is back in the news revealing more of the sacred secrets of the clubhouse.

One thing is common when reading all the comments about Jose’s revelations about his teammates steroid use: no one is calling him a liar.

Click below for more! [Read more →]

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum
is the only museum of its kind in the country.
Established in San Francisco, California
in June 1999, as a nonprofit institution
501(c)(3). This Museum is dedicated
to, recognizing the contributions made
to baseball by its Hispanic players and
once again the HHBM will be present
at the Giants and Athletics Fanfest
to take place on February 12, 2005.
[Read more →]

It sure feels good to be in Arizona, I’m here for the A’s Fantasy Camp. I get to put on the uniform and play ball all week, then at night I facilitate the baseball discussions between the campers (ages 30-60) and the former players.

Shooty Babitt is here and he is the camp coordinator. Greg Cadaret came in yesterday, Tony Phillips too.
Tomorrow Terry Steinbach, Dave Henderson, Billy North, Dave Stewart among others.

Drove past the A’s spring training facility last night and you could just feel how close spring training is to getting started. Then went up tp Scottsdale, had sushi, and breezed past the Giants park, you could sense the difference between the A’s and Giants immediately.
Say what you want, but there is a definite rivalry between the two.

Most of the talk yesterday was about Mark Mulder and how his problems could be in his head and how this has happened to pitchers throughout the history of the game and it’s not that uncommon for careers to take a major downturn.

We’ll see, I still think the A’s moved him too early.

Someone said to me in the restaurant last night that he thought Barry Zito would be traded to Arizona, No way, Zito is the ace of the staff, and as I write this it is a frightening thought just going off last year’s performance. The ace has to give you seven innings with a low pitch count, something he had trouble doing last season.

Cick below for more! [Read more →]

New York city loves its newspapers and its baseball rumors.

The latest was published Sunday and it involves the A’s and Eric Byrnes.

Mike Cameron was the apple of Billy Beane’s eye during the winter of 2003. Cameron told me he was offered more money by the A’s to sign here as a free agent, but chose the bright lights in NY, a place he always wanted to play.

Well, Mike has joined the crowd of disgruntled players who have the seen the Big Apple turn an unfriendly eye towards their game.

Now the Mets have 117 million invested in Carlos Beltran. Cameron sees the handwriting on the wall. A gifted centerfielder, Cameron’s days in center are over and he is being asked to change outfield positions.

This is where the A’s come in.

Click below for more! [Read more →]