A mini-doc about Lester Rodney, the unsung hero that helped desegregate Major League Baseball. The film will screen at the Hollywood Independent Documentary Festival Saturday December 10th.

For info: Hollywood Independent Documentary Festival

Crime of the Big Leagues from Tomorrow Media on Vimeo.

After reading this article, I hope Beane is just posturing when he says: "Most of our team is already in place." And "Whether or not we participate in the free-agent market or trade market, we’re not looking to reinvent the wheel." Well, Mr. Beane, do you remember that bargain, Frank Thomas? You know: the $500,000 man who put your team on his shoulders and pushed them into postseason relevance last year? Well, he’s gone. Not to mention that scrappy, left fielder with some occasional thunder, Jay Payton? Yeah, that one: He’s probably gone, too. And, last but not least, that tall, durable, lefthander with the filthy curveball, Barry Zito? Yeah, he won’t be playing his guitar in your clubhouse next year, either. Sorry, Billy, but this current roster doesn’t make me want to Loaiza on Highway 880, and snatch some World Series’ tickets just yet. But that can change next week. I remain, Professor [Read more →]

We’ll find out as early as tomorrow. Each candidate has marched into Beane’s office, pulled out their resume, and stated their case.

This gut-wrenching reality competition began with seven, with three having been or will be hired by other clubs, and now the final four, Bob Geren, Bob Geren, Bob Geren, and Bob Geren, wait patiently, hoping for that knee-buckling call from Mr. Moneyball.

Send your text vote, friends.

With all due respect for the other qualified candidates, Jamie Quirk, Orel Hershiser, and Trey Hillman, apparently they have a shot, too.

But interviewing for the managerial spot in Oakland negates years of conventional wisdom. Perhaps it’s not what trove of leadership skills you can bring, but your selfless ability not to botch a proven system already in place, that impresses Beane.

Click below for more! [Read more →]

While everyone has been wondering about a replacement for the soon-to-be-very-wealthy Barry Zito, I’m concerned about another critical role on the A’s: the closer.

Toward the last few months of the season, many fans were seduced by the A’s dominance, and overlooked the struggles of Huston Street. Sorry, pupils, it looks like opposing batters, especially left-handed ones, have figured out the former rookie of the year. And I’m not ignoring his strained right pectoral muscle injury, which may be the cause for his decline.

Click below for more! [Read more →]

I read in the paper today that Ron Washington, the 3rd base coach for the A’s for the last 11 years, has been hired as the manager of the Texas Rangers. I had mixed emotions about that announcement. I am extremely pleased that Ron got the manager’s job but I was sad to hear that he was going to Texas. I had hoped that Ron would be the new A’s manager. He had worked here for 11 years under Art Howe and Ken Macha. He is a tireless worker and has helped many players improve their fielding. Eric Chavez and Miguel Tejada are just 2 examples.
During sping training,Ron would be at the park as early as 7 am to work with the young players. He is a man who is a baseball lifer who just lives and breathes baseball.
The game has been good to him and he has been good for the game of baseball. The A’s are losing one of the good guys. Let’s all wish Ron the best in his new endeavor.
So, Ron, stay well and good luck, except against the A’s.

Jerry Feitelberg [Read more →]

For the old Professor, the winter represents heartache and inconvenience. Not only does the early darkness shave my fluffy cat, Rollie, and husky puppy, Campy’s, curfew, but another A’s player packs up his bags, and indulges himself with a major league powerhouse. Indeed, except for Chavvy, the A’s have earned the reputation as a stepping stone for players, a spot to revive your career, increase your value, and run for the riches. The Professor recalls Jason Isringhausen, and Keith Foulke moping into the A’s clubhouse with concerns hovering over their arms, only to transform their statistics and desert Tina from Guest Services’ Oakland Athletics.

Click for more from the ol’ professor! [Read more →]

Let’s get the rants started, my high-speed; A’s obsessed pupils. I have such little to say, and so much time.

Wait a minute.

Switch that.

Been busy tackling a freelance assignment from Detroit, so I’ve been mixing and matching for Kenny Rogers’ next start. Had nothing to do with Rogers’ game 3 start in the ALCS against our A’s, but since he’s been caught, they’re trying to manufacture an invisible substance. High definition television will expose you every time, Kenny.

So, the A’s are managerless?

Click below for more!
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ESPN and all those folks don’t give the phenomenon that is the Oakland A’s enough attention.

Every season since high expectations began (2000), the A’s have followed a pattern that has been as predictable as a movie you’ve already seen. In fact, watching how the 2000-2005 seasons unfolded felt nothing less than watching the same movie five times.

And now, 11 games into 2006, I’m not going to be fooled again into thinking I don’t know what’s coming.

Click below for more!
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Even before opening night for the ’06 A’s I’d said that I really won’t miss Barry Zito next year when he’s gone.

I’d be willing to bet that the A’s front office won’t either.

Of course they’ll miss Barry Zito, the good guy. But they won’t miss Barry Zito the pitcher. People with more than “fan-typical” baseball knowledge know that Zito, the pitcher, is overrated.

He’s a charismatic, eccentric baseball player. Combine that with a Cy Young award (100 years ago)…and you’re going to see some serious “overration”.

The fact is, in professional sports, one recipe for superstardom is awesome production. However, there’s another way to become a “star”…

Eccentricity and a little bit of success. And I do mean “a little bit”.

And that’s specifically why Zito will get $14 mil per year after this season from some over zelous owner. Not because he’s worth that, but because a lot of MLB general managers/owners have “fan-typical” knowledge as well. And thats a sad, sad thing.

If you look at Zito’s stats since his Cy Young year he’s been simply…average. Yet he still has all that respect. Boggles my mind why people can’t get past the name on the baseball card and just turn it over and look at the stats on the back.

And thats why I won’t miss Barry Zito next year when he’s pitching for a different team.

Simply put, he’s not that good.

Sure he has his stretches where he still shows flashes of that past dominance. But a lot of pitchers have good stretches. What really gets me is that, like Eric Chavez, you can count on Zito to take half the season to get warmed up.

I’ve heard rumors that the Rangers are already intersted (what pitcher aren’t they interested in). To be honest…fine with me.

Having Zito pitch against the A’s in their division doesn’t worry me at all.

–Ned
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My father, Vicente Antonio Colon was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1911 and played baseball with Pancho Coimbre and the Ponce Leones. My father used to tell me stories about his days playing in the Puerto Rican League and how good Pancho really was.
I had the pleasure of meeting Senor Coimbre when I visited Puerto Rico with my father in 1967. My father was visting his father (my grandfather) Vicente who was ill at the time. Incidently, my grandfather was the first first baseman on a baseball team in Puerto Rico.
My father passed away in 1996, at the age of 85, and I certainly miss his wonderful stories of baseball on the island. [Read more →]