John Axford Has the Best Facial Hair

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Ryno In the Pen

There’s a trend starting.

Okay, maybe not a trend, but on Saturday, December 5th, the A’s signed their second 35-year-old comeback “kid” to their pitching staff.

Ryan Madson came from Kansas City to Oakland on a three year, $22m deal (pending a physical) that will guarantee him a spot… somewhere in the bullpen. Not only that, but his 2015 year with the Royals was his first season pitching since Tommy John surgery in 2012 saw what appeared to be the demolition of Madson’s career, until something drove him back to the mound.

And he didn’t come back quietly. Posting a 2.13 ERA and .963 WHIP over 63.1 innings, striking out 58 and walking 14 out of the the Royals’ bullpen.

Still, three years and $22mil sounds risky at best for a 35-year-old who only pitched his first full season since 2011. Considering it was Oakland that dished the dough for the deal, things only get more bizarre.

Oakland had their collective eyes on Madson for a while and finally agreed to terms on Saturday, which makes it sound as if Madson’s name was a part of some mysterious larger Beane scheme. Only time will tell — and we’ve got three years of that coming up to see what he was thinking. (Hopefully)

Madson, a veteran pitcher, sports two rings (KC last season and another in ’08 with Philly) and closer experience, though he’ll most likely end up in the seventh or eighth inning slot, unless closer, Sean Doolittle, gets injured… Again. Despite his age and time off, “Ryno” can still pop heat in the mid-90’s, and was pitching around 96 out of the pen even at the end of last season.

I’m interested to see how our pitchers gel this season with the new faces and old faces coming back from injuries sustained last season. Lots of fingers crossed, stay away from mirrors and ladders, and maybe Hill, Hendriks, Ryno (and whoever else we end up with) will have repeat performances from last season. Any maybe we can find a way to minimize the names taking up space on the DL. For once.

Dreams are very nice.

Down Yonder, it's Ryczycszcyszczc

Adding some hope at first base and a name you won’t forget (as you silently sit in front of your computer, mouthing it at yourself), the A’s have acquired two new faces in a four-player swap with the Padres earlier this week.

The trade saw the departure of starter/reliever, Drew Pomeranz and minor-leaguer, Jose Torres. In return, the A’s got first-baseman Yonder Alonso, and left reliever…

The man they call “Scramble” is a 30-year-old Illinois native (though he grew up in California) is coming off of a 5.66 ERA performance, split between time in Cleveland and San Diego last season. Though in a dramatic twist, he was able to pack in a 2.74 ERA for Cleveland in 2014, following a 3.23 ERA performance in 2013. So if we can forget that last season even happened for Rzepczynski, he could end up another solid arm in the pen. If not, the most exciting thing about him will remain what’s written on the back of his jersey.

28-year-old Yonder Alonso is a little more of a stable option, and one of those perpetual waiting-for-the-breakthrough types. Since 2011, only one time did he post a sub-.273 BA. He also likes walking. Last season, Alonso posted only six less walks (42) than strikeouts (48). The move gives the A’s the ability to scrape away Ike Davis, his hip injury and his almost-$4 million contract from first base in place of Alonso, who will cost them only $1.65mil.

But most importantly, he’s very, very stoked to join the A’s. Very. Following the transaction sending him to the Athletics, Alonso has made the following statements:

• “I’m as excited as it gets!”
• "I'll be going to the hospital with my new Oakland A's hat on for the birth of our new baby boy!"
• "I'm from Miami - white shoes, I'm all about it!”
• “Now, I am looking forward to starting a new chapter with the Athletics & breaking out the white spikes! Let's go!”

No, I’m not sure, either, but it happened.

After 2015, the A’s made a statement that they were going to be putting focus on improving clubhouse vibe, and what better way to do it than an eager new face who Mark Kotsay says has “leadership potential”. (Don’t worry, he smiles a little bit more than Kotsay) 

And who couldn’t be stoked about a guy who says his favorite thing about playing first base is chattering with the runners and working his way into their heads?

When asked about this in an interview, Alonso said, smiling, “If I had to pick one thing, it would be talking smack to the other team. When they get on base, sometimes they’re in a bad mood, and that’s when I really get after it with them.”

And you know who else is excited? Mark Kotsay. Yes. Mark Kotsay is excited. And probably making his excited face.

“You’re gonna love him,” says the former Padre.

Alonso also has some familiar faces in his midst. Kotsay knows Alonso’s skills, because the two were teammates on the Padres for two seasons before Kotsay’s retirement. They were reunited for another year after that when Kotsay accepted the position of hitting coach for the Padres in 2014.

And in a more bizarre twist of fate, Alonso is also reunited with his high school and college teammate, Danny Valencia.

Could this all be the push Alonso needs to have his breakout season in Oakland? Could having his old teammate be Danny Valencia’s extra kick he needs to find himself a real place in the infield? How much will Mark Kotsay smile? 2016 will have (some kind of) an answer to these questions. Stay tuned…

Careless Whisper(s)

There’s a lot of excitement brewing in the air amongst the deafening drawl of stale Christmas music. Excitement and promise of trades and acquisitions, but this year with some money backing it, and a promise for a future. A real one.

Sure, this sounds really cool right now. Armchair managers across the Silicon Valley (and remotely as well, as with people like me) are brimming with eager joy at the next tasty morsels of what-will-happen-next moves on the A’s roster.

The real upcoming season is never as exciting as the offseason can make it out to be, but it’s hope, and as A’s fans, we love hope. We lap it up, even if we deny it.

From the discussion brewing, it sounds like the A’s are going to be packing in some more bullpen power, and maybe something else for the starting rotation. A fresh face in left, too, perhaps? A DH that can actually… hit?

There are some problems that need to be corrected first. One of which is the mess of confusion that makes up the infield roster, but some pushing around of pieces and possible trades might clear up what, right now, looks like scrambled eggs. There are things that shouldn’t change, too, one of which I already talked about in my earlier post:

Now, here’s a couple things I’d like to touch on. One… do everything possible to get rid of Billy Butler.

Not an easy task, considering Butler is only about to enter the second year of his 3-year $30mil deal he and the A’s agreed to last November, but he must be stopped. Stomper has put up better numbers (slight exaggeration) than the 29-year-old ex-Royal, who hit a cringe-worthy .251 in 2015 in the DH slot, below the league average of .254. 

No, no you’re not.

Finding someone to bite on the Butler deal will not be easy, but there is still time to make him someone else’s problem.

Two. Another name that bothers me in the trade rumors is Reddick. Every season, in many fans’ eyes, is Reddick’s last. A season ends, Reddick’s name immediately is thrust into trade talk. While Reddick has never been a superstar, he’s a character and a good, solid ballplayer with acrobatic defensive skills, which is a package that has been coveted by the A’s organization over the years.

And it’s not like we’re not used to eccentrics.

Okay, so Reddick’s value lies somewhere between Zito and Bobby Kielty’s red ‘fro, but the point is still there. Reddick is a talented and a big quirk, and seems to enjoy being in Oakland where he has a stage he can stand out on.

The 29-year-old Georgian native has improved leaps and bounds over the last three seasons and only hones his incredible fielding skills with every year he tacks on. Let’s take a look, shall we?

Reddick is also like a spider-monkey in the outfield, scaling fences and robbing home runs… while looking like a caveman.

In conclusion, it’s hard to foresee the feasibility of dealing away Butler, but I would personally be ecstatic to see him go. Gray and Reddick stay. The infield must be conquered. The bullpen needs more bodies. How about some arms to back up Sonny? There’s a lot that needs work, but it’s not impossible, we’ve seen the A’s do it before. We’ve seen other teams do it before. And with the organization looking to build a future starting now, only the coming months will give us the morsels of hope we can cling to before everything is put into action next year.

In the meantime, there’s football and there’s entertainment abound on Reddick’s Twitter. Here’s to next time…

Lowrie's Back, Back Again...

I’m trying to put a positive spin on this Lowrie acquisition. I’m failing.

The A’s should be doing everything they possibly can to eradicate the memory of their 126-count error performance (.78/game) last season, the highest in the entire league. Four below Pittsburgh, who had the second most. Maybe Lowrie can help. Or maybe he won’t. It’s hard to tell, as Lowrie missed a three-month-chunk of last season due to a thumb injury that saw the emersion of Astros rookie phenom, Carlos Correa, spring up in his place (and then take his spot permanently).

The most I can gather is that they’re looking for a middle-of-the-line versatile infielder… to add to their already large collection of middle-of-the-line versatile infielders.

Okay, if not that, perhaps a familiar face? The A’s acquired the 31-year-old Lowrie from the Astros on Wednesday, November 25th for minor league right-hander, Brendan McCurry. Weirdly enough, the Athletics already acquired Lowrie from Houston before the 2013 season, and then lost him to Houston less than a year ago. So, he’s back. Again. For $7.5mil.

I suppose somewhere, somehow, this trade made sense. Someone decided it was a good idea, convinced some other people it was a good idea, and then it happened.

While the organization has stated this off-season that they’re not worried about money, there are a few other positions that could use work before the acquisition of Lowrie. If we had to get an infielder, I’d have rather seen money put into someone who will be even a little more of a threat at the plate and help us cut down on that error count.

Plus, we already have an infielder named Lawrie, so good luck there.

What names will be where in our plethora of infielders remains to be decided, but the A’s being the A’s, it will probably never be decided and we’ll end up with a roulette of sorts until something sticks. Here’s to hoping something does. Looking forward to a drop in error percentage next season.

Hint. Hint…

Run to the Hills

I hate false hope.

However, I do like what is being done with our under-construction pitching staff, and bullpen in general. Is it false hope? Likely, but with the cesspool of gross feelings I’m still trying to scrub off from last season, seeing the addition of Rich Hill and Liam Hendriks onto the A’s roster makes me feel mushy and warm inside.

And with more to come? More money to spend? What is this witchcraft!?

While predicting Hill’s performance is more up in the air, the A’s played their cards right on both the acquisition of the 35-year-old lefty as well as now ex-Blue Jay, Liam Hendriks.

Rich Hill spent a trying last season going from the National’s AAA farm team to the Independent League then back to Boston for four starts, in which he posted a 1.55 ERA through 29 innings while striking out 36 and walking five. Obviously, that is a performance that is not going to be simply slapped onto a full season, but it’s enticing. The A’s signed him to a one-year six-mil contract, so this is his chance to prove his worth as a starter, something he’s been working tirelessly to achieve.

Hill chose the A’s because they would give him that shot.

"It was really a personal journey for myself getting back to what I always wanted to do, being a starting pitcher," said Hill.

Hill bring his mean curveball to a rebuilt pitching staff and yet another set of new faces after his journey in and around the league last season, but he will also have a familiar face in ex-Boston pitching coach, Curt Young.

Hill’s one-year acquisition amongst a flurry of promises for more team additions to come proves the A’s are building for the future, but are finally focusing on the now, as well. 

Another nod to that is Liam Hendriks.

Former Blue Jay, Hendriks, was acquired for the swap of… former Blue Jay, Jesse Chavez. (It’s the circle of life) While Chavez has been a solid enough man in the rotation over the past few seasons, seeing him switched out for newly-christened reliever, Hendriks, doesn’t upset me one bit.

First of all, Chavez put in his time, is now 32 and is going to see the end of his contract at the conclusion of the upcoming season. He had a decent enough run, but how much longer he can hold onto that is unpredictable at best. With a 4.18 ERA through 157 innings in 2015, Chavez is replaceable and gave us something shiny and new for our bullpen in the trade made on November.

Hendriks, who will be 27 by Opening Day, suffered through six dismal seasons as a starting pitcher, posting his best performance in 2014 at a rousing 4.66 ERA until Toronto decided to see what he could do out of the pen. While a nudge up in fastball speed is expected when going from a starter slot to reliever, Hendriks boosted his fire by 4-6mph average per pitch and dropped his ERA to 2.92 in 58 innings of relief. Not only that, but the A’s have him under contract until 2019.

And more importantly, Oakland hasn't had such a phenomenal set of eyebrows since Dan Haren.

False hope? Maybe, but I’ll take anything right now after last season. 

Now only if we could get a hitter like Donaldson…

It's Always Sonny In Oakland

The running joke of ‘and Billy Beane trades the whole team’ has been a meme amongst A’s fans since his start in Oakland, and a national one since Moneyball let everyone else know what was going on in the Bright Side of the Bay. Clearly, this is a meme based in fact.

Okay, more like submerged in a quagmire of truth, but that’s another story for another post.

Yes, we have reason to moan. Most recently, the biggest reason for this continued moaning has picked up an AL MVP Award… in Toronto. Happy trails, Josh Donaldson.

We learn to cope by trading jokes and not letting ourselves get attached. It’s like watching a minor league team and knowing than any of the guys you’re watching could get sucked up to the majors or lumped in with a trade package at any time.

While it provides for comfortable post-season bar chatter, it does have a negative effect: clouding our (A's fans) vision of what we actually hold on our roster.

It’s hard to truly understand greatness when it’s still active, young and the punchline of most ‘wonder who he’s gonna get traded for’ jokes.

Obviously, I’m talking about Sonny Gray. And here’s why he needs to be left out of the jokes and seen for what he really is; the Ace we’ve been craving for the past ten years.

We haven’t seen talent on the mound as young as Gray since the glory days of the Big Three (Zito, Mulder and Hudson). We also haven’t seen such a cool name since Vida Blue and Catfish Hunter, but that’s besides the point. (no it is not)

Now that he’s settled in, let’s look at his third-season stats versus some other big name A’s (of recent times).

And how about some all-time pitchers? (And for the heck of it, I included Catfish Hunter’s first season with the Athletics, which was his fourth season overall.) If you’re sick of stats at this point, please skip this portion.

While, of course, stats aren’t everything, they’re a nice tool to put things into perspective. Gray is heading into his fourth season in green and yellow, and has plenty of time left. Could he tank? Of course, but anyone can. He hasn’t shown himself to be injury-prone and has only beefed up his statistics every season.

And with the mass-rebuilding of the A’s bullpen this year as well as some added talent in the rotation (and more to come, as is being promised us from the front office), Gray will have more freedom to focus on himself. A’s management has already stated they’re looking at building a team now that will be solid for years to come, and Gray is going to be the headliner of that train.

Though even with all this, Gray remains the punchline of the off-season “imagine who we could get for him” talk. Well, let me tell you, the A’s already have the best they’re going to get for Gray: himself.

It’s not Sonny’s fault he’s starting to shine (insert pun here) in a mass of gray (oops). With his third season filled with one of the worst second-half performances in club history to date and endless talk of the Donaldson trade, Sonny’s gifts raised some eyebrows, but have not been appreciated and coveted for what they really are.

He only has room to grow, and if all goes according to plan, he’ll have a team around him that’s set up to do the same.

So here’s to a great 2016 for Sonny. And maybe he can actually reel in the Cy Young this time around.

Trade Rumor Blahs

Those time when the only new that pops up is endless trade and signing rumors. Since the attempt to get Korea's Byung-Ho Park failed, there hasn't been too much else going on.

So here's some old, old and older drawings of Josh Reddick from the past couple of years.

Highlighters Don't Make Good Backgrounds

I went to see the four games the A's played here in Chicago in 2015 and drew this in the off chance Mr. Valencia might come sign it for me. He did not, but now I have a watercolor drawing of Danny Valencia, and that's very important.

Familiar Smiling Faces

I feel like it's appropriate that my first post as an A's blogger be about Mark Kotsay and his bright, shining smile. The smile that, after a long journey around the league, has finally found its way back to its rightful corner of baseball.

While one of my earliest memories of ex-outfielder, Mark Kotsay, is watching -- not one, but two -- SportsCenter "Not Top Ten Plays" featuring our fearlessly grinning soldier tripping over invisible cracks in the grass, I'm pretty excited to have him back with the Green and Yellow.

(honestly, that just makes me love him more)







If you haven't heard, Kotsay got hired on Thursday, November 12th, 2015 as the new bench coach and will be back in A's colors for the first time since 2007, after doing a tour around the entirety of Major League Baseball*

*slight exaggeration

(Please also note that this is great, because Kotsay is psychic, and that is a good quality in a coach, especially with the ever-changing game of today)

There is hope that Kotsay will excel at his newly appointed position; he has a history of diverse success. Kotsay was a baseball and football star at Santa Fe High School and was a closer at Cal-State Fullerton as well as being named the 1995 College World Series' Most Outstanding Player). He also sports a bronze medal from the 1996 Men's Baseball Olympic Team.

Does any of this have anything to do with being a bench coach? No, not at all, but it sounds cool. What he does have under his belt is many years of experience in and around the game, as well as a three-year familiarity with an A's organization that still carries a couple of names from back when Kotsay trolled around the Coliseum outfield.

Kotsay also dreams one day of being a manager. You go, man.

With the addition of Kotsay, their third bench coach in as many years, the A's have finalized their coaching roster. It's go time, at least in that department. Welcome back, Mark. Let's see those pearly whites.