The Isle of Misfit Toys

I know the A's could tank, but my point is assuming they dont tank, I dont want to hear about the playoffs being a crapshoot. I dont think it is a crapshoot, but there is luck involved.

So how we gonna win it all? I think the way to do it is figure out the weakness of the other teams. The management needs to take a big role in this, but guys like Kendall seem to be studying like crazy to get it together.

In the past my theory is, the A's were designed for winning in a season but not in the playoffs. They were the Isle of Misfit Toys. A cowboy that rides an ostrich, a train with square wheels, a Charlie in the Box. Magnante with the leg braces, Mecir with the club feet, Bradford with the 85 mph fastball and fear of the spotlight, Hatteberg with the numb throwing hand. Depo and Beane found guys with problems who could help them. That is cool and ecomonical, but when it really became tight in the playoffs, I just get the feeling they knew they were misfits. They were better than their opponents in all those series but they just couldn't put them away.

So what do we have now? A catcher with no power, the Big Hurt, with his crazy incentive-laden contract coming off 2 bad years, Milton Bradley and his attitude, Kotsay and his back, but I argue this team is not misfits anymore. Scutaro is the best backup player in baseball, and the 2nd best backup player in baseball is Melhuse. Even carrot top and Payton are awesome and underrated. I was at the game last night, and Duchscherer had SWAGGER out there. His body language told me he was ready to go 1-2-3 and he had no margin for error against the Red Sox. He was relishing the chance. It was epic out there. Strike 1, strike 2...11 pitches, 9 strikes a curveball for the first pitch and the last one. Game over. He reminded me of Foulke in 2004.

People can keep saying "one game at a time" and just trying to keep it cool, but this team is ready to win it all, and I just hope someone is thinking about how we pull it off. I am a little concerned about how the 3 dl guys fit in. I dont know if I want Crosby coming of the dl then going 1 for 34 down the stretch. I am not sure how we use Harden if we can get him. The pen? Street is the one I feel can reintegrate the easiest.

Then there is Barry Zito. He isnt really leaving, is he? I just can't accept it. My thought is maybe the only chance he stays is if the A's win the World Series. that is a tough call. The way Mulder has been, it is not going to scare Billy to lose Barry. but Barry is different. Barry is magical. My favorite player on my favorite team. Maybe when Ken Korach says, "let's not look ahead to much, just enjoy the run" he is talking about that too. Keep up the good work and enjoy the run. This is the best organization in baseball and it has been the best for 6 years at least. It is time to show the unwashed masses. Not assuming we will but we know we can.

Goddamn Josh Beckett

I have little to say that this guy hasn't said already:
Seth Mnookin on Josh Beckett and Matt Clement.

I would like to add, though, that it should seem fairly obvious to anyone who isn't a) an idiot, or b) Theo Epstein that Beckett's swagger and Little League "I dare you to try and hit my (flat, up-in-the-zone) fastball" attitude won't make for a long and successful career, and certainly doesn't make him worth $30 million. Curt Schilling, as quoted in ESPN The Magazine, endorses Beckett's cocky approach--apparently the leadership he brings to the dugout doesn't include emphasizing the finer points of pitching (such as location, patience) and this is surprising, considering Schilling loves to relate a story how when he was a young pitcher with Houston, Roger Clemens lectured with a preacher's passion on what Schilling needed to do to become the pitcher he could be. (What did Clemens say? "Not a lot of it is printable," Schilling said, drawing laughter.)

Maybe that's what Beckett and his 5+ ERA needs--a swift kick in the ass, and not a buddy who defends macho posturing that isn't even backed up by quality performance. Beckett proved in the 2003 postseason (and in several great starts he's had this year) that he has the potential to be a great pitcher. He has a lot of pop on his fastball, a curveball that--on the rare occasion he's not missing locations or throwing it in the dirt--can be very effective, and the spirit of a competitor. But being aggressive and cocky can destroy a player if he can't harness his emotions and use it to his advantage. Having a hard fastball means nothing if you can't locate it. Having a great curveball won't help you if it's off half the time. And while we're at it, maybe adding a new pitch to the repertoire (see: Pedro, Clemens, Maddux) wouldn't hurt?