Update: The Athletics will not exercise the option on Stephen Drew for 2013 (let the speculation begin on what that means for both Drew and the A's and if they agree to a multi-year deal). And Grant Balfour will be back next season as the team's "raging" closer.
Well, this blog is not surprised the Giants defeated the Tigers to win the World Series, since that was our pick. But a sweep? Two consecutive shutouts after a Game 1 wipeout of Tigers' ace Justin Verlander, who seemed like he had this on his mind rather than this? It did seem a long time ago Verlander was making the A's hitters look like Little Leaguers in stuffing Oakland's own World Series hopes.
Congratulations to a dominant seven-game stretch of victories over the Cardinals and Tigers by the team on that side of the bridge. And a special thanks to injured/inactive/no factor in 2012 pitcher Brian Wilson, who's the Will Rogers of Bay Area sports personalities: he's never met a camera he didn't like, or want to interact with, even while shut down.
Back to the Athletics. Jane Lee, Oakland's beat writer for MLB.com, reported on the A's expected quiet offseason. I don't expect general manager Billy Beane to ever be quiet between Halloween and Groundhog Day, but we'll see if the 2013 A's look much like they did in 2012.
As Lee reported, shortstop looks like the most uncertain spot on the diamond with Stephen Drew and the A's both needing to agree to the former's $10 million 2013 option to kick in. I'm not sure Drew is a great fit, even for one season. He had a few big moments after his trade from Arizona on Aug. 12. But his season in green and gold ended with a thud, getting thrown out at third, arguably unnecessarily and recklessly, that for a moment snuffed out Oakland's chances of evening its ALDS series with the Tigers (the A's went on to win Game 4 in typically taut fashion). He then fanned four times in four at-bats off Verlander in Game 5.
Of course neither of those performances were grounds for jettisoning Drew and sniffing around elsewhere for a shortstop. But for a team that doesn't spend much money, $10 million represents a lot of Colossal Dogs for a player who just doesn't look like he's an elite player anymore as he suggested early on in Arizona. Then again, Beane traded Cliff Pennington, who would be at worst a respectable option at shortstop had Drew either on his own or via the A's turning him down bolted for free agency.
So you have no choice but conclude Beane is confident 1. Drew wants to come back to the A's; 2. Drew will be not just a solid defender but a productive hitter for a team that candidly needs to be more consistent with plate discipline; and 3. Drew can anchor the infield and presumably mentor second baseman Jemile Weeks, as 2013 will be a huge and critical opportunity for him to dismiss his disappointing year as a sophomore slump and nothing more.
And it's safe to say most A's fans look forward to, with fingers crossed, the heart of the club -corner outfielders Josh Reddick and Yoenis Cespedes (I do believe another quality and proven bat could be added to protect those guys, and it's debatable if Chris Young is that bat); starting pitchers Brett Anderson, Jarrod Parker, Tommy Milone; relievers Ryan Cook, Sean Doolittle and Grant Balfour; and manager Bob Melvin, to be fixtures in Oakland for years to come. It's time for the front office to give Athletics' fans players to root for and wear their uniform numbers on their jerseys without the risk of losing them to the tired cycle of "building for the future trades" and bringing talented but nameless prospects in return.
Well, this blog is not surprised the Giants defeated the Tigers to win the World Series, since that was our pick. But a sweep? Two consecutive shutouts after a Game 1 wipeout of Tigers' ace Justin Verlander, who seemed like he had this on his mind rather than this? It did seem a long time ago Verlander was making the A's hitters look like Little Leaguers in stuffing Oakland's own World Series hopes.
Congratulations to a dominant seven-game stretch of victories over the Cardinals and Tigers by the team on that side of the bridge. And a special thanks to injured/inactive/no factor in 2012 pitcher Brian Wilson, who's the Will Rogers of Bay Area sports personalities: he's never met a camera he didn't like, or want to interact with, even while shut down.
Back to the Athletics. Jane Lee, Oakland's beat writer for MLB.com, reported on the A's expected quiet offseason. I don't expect general manager Billy Beane to ever be quiet between Halloween and Groundhog Day, but we'll see if the 2013 A's look much like they did in 2012.
As Lee reported, shortstop looks like the most uncertain spot on the diamond with Stephen Drew and the A's both needing to agree to the former's $10 million 2013 option to kick in. I'm not sure Drew is a great fit, even for one season. He had a few big moments after his trade from Arizona on Aug. 12. But his season in green and gold ended with a thud, getting thrown out at third, arguably unnecessarily and recklessly, that for a moment snuffed out Oakland's chances of evening its ALDS series with the Tigers (the A's went on to win Game 4 in typically taut fashion). He then fanned four times in four at-bats off Verlander in Game 5.
Of course neither of those performances were grounds for jettisoning Drew and sniffing around elsewhere for a shortstop. But for a team that doesn't spend much money, $10 million represents a lot of Colossal Dogs for a player who just doesn't look like he's an elite player anymore as he suggested early on in Arizona. Then again, Beane traded Cliff Pennington, who would be at worst a respectable option at shortstop had Drew either on his own or via the A's turning him down bolted for free agency.
So you have no choice but conclude Beane is confident 1. Drew wants to come back to the A's; 2. Drew will be not just a solid defender but a productive hitter for a team that candidly needs to be more consistent with plate discipline; and 3. Drew can anchor the infield and presumably mentor second baseman Jemile Weeks, as 2013 will be a huge and critical opportunity for him to dismiss his disappointing year as a sophomore slump and nothing more.
And it's safe to say most A's fans look forward to, with fingers crossed, the heart of the club -corner outfielders Josh Reddick and Yoenis Cespedes (I do believe another quality and proven bat could be added to protect those guys, and it's debatable if Chris Young is that bat); starting pitchers Brett Anderson, Jarrod Parker, Tommy Milone; relievers Ryan Cook, Sean Doolittle and Grant Balfour; and manager Bob Melvin, to be fixtures in Oakland for years to come. It's time for the front office to give Athletics' fans players to root for and wear their uniform numbers on their jerseys without the risk of losing them to the tired cycle of "building for the future trades" and bringing talented but nameless prospects in return.
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