To all the GM’s out there, just in case you were wondering: Beane is better than you. No, I am not referring to the recent trade for Holliday, although I love that one as well. No, I am delving back a year to the trade of Nick Swisher to the White Sox. The A’s received Gio Gonzalez and right-hander Fautino De Los Santos, along with outfielder Ryan Sweeney. Today, the White Sox traded Swisher to the Yankees for Minor league pitcher Jeff Marquez. Advantage Beane. Swisher had the lowest batting average in the league last year while Sweeney hit well. In addition, Gio tore up AAA (although the majors weren’t pretty) and Fautino got hurt but is supposed to be the best of all three of them. Do you think that Beane would even trade Sweeney straight up for Swisher now? The man is the master of the sell-high.
Macha’s back managing the Brewers. …Link… Last time we saw him, he was leading the A’s to their first divisional series win of the decade (and to an eventual sweep at the hands of Detroit, I choose to gloss over this). I always liked Macha and I glad he is back in the game. Game 3 of 2006 is one of those moments I will remember for the rest of my life. I went to playoff and World Series games when I was younger, but this was the first time I really remember being at a clinching playoff game (attended several playoff disappointments) and Macha was our manager. Good luck Kenny.
Some time ago, this site bestowed a weekly honor called Hero of the Week. This hallowed institution ebbed and flowed as the tide, sometimes lasting for as many as two or three consecutive weeks before we got bored and forgot about it. Past honorees include such varied luminaries as Joey Chestnut, Cornelius “K-9″ Bundrage . . . and probably some other people too. Keifer Sutherland probably got a mention. And Mick Foley. Emil Brown. You get the idea.
Hero of the Week has lain dormant for some time, but recent events have made its resurrection imperative. Nay, compulsory. Given the infrequency of its appearance here, this week’s Hero of the Week may be more accurately referred to as Hero of the Month, Hero of the Year, or (perhaps most accurately) Hero of July ‘06 through October ‘08. I’d be nervous about conferring such a distinction upon a lesser man, but the present honoree’s achievements have declared him more than worthy of ruling over a 27-month period.
He has dominated the news cycle as of late, so rather than fail to adequately praise his glory with my inadequate verbal stylings, I will rather merely say that it is my distinct and esstatic pleasure to present to you CurveBall City’s Hero of the Week: Mr. Joe “Country Joe” “Cupcakes” “Possibly the Deli Guy at Safeway” Blanton.
We are all witnesses.
Two of my favorite players are coming back to the A’s. Ellis (never actually left) has re-signed, and everybody’s favorite second baseman from the “Championship years” is back to coach 3rd base, Mike Gallego. Link. I loved this guy. In fact, second basemen were awesome back in the 80’s, Gallego, Tony Phillips, and a personal favorite, Glenn Hubbard. Check out Hubby’s baseball card…
How can you not love this guy?
Stay tuned.
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