Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who is reading this blog (I know there aren't too many, but not a lot of folks watched the A's until late September, either, right?). While there isn't much reach reason to offer any thanks for not having hockey, at least this guy got his stuffing on with NHL Commish Gary Bettman as an impromptu member of the media chasing down stories that really make the same "life sucks without hockey" tales with differing points of view as you reheat the lockout leftovers again and again and again.
So Teal&Green Sports would like to send out a Turkey Day gobble, gobble, to one Jonny Gomes, unfortunately now former member of the 2012 American League Western Division-champion Oakland A's. Frankly, you couldn't blame Gomes for agreeing to not just a contract but a more secure two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox Wednesday. Gomes would earn $10 million from the free-spending Sox, and while it seems like a puzzling overpayment for essentially a fourth outfielder and DH against left-handed pitching, for the first time in a while Beantown is in far worse shape than Beane Town, and while Gomes might not have fit a need in Oakland, he could be desperately needed in Boston. The Red Sox need position players, especially since waving the white flag in late August when it dumped the salaries of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and outfielder Carl Crawford to Los Angeles.
That gives Gomes an excellent opportunity to play more than he did with the A's, when as a utility man he got into just 99 games with 279 at-bats. But Gomes made the most of his limited playing time with 18 home runs and 47 RBI and was very effective against southpaws (.299/.413/.561 with a .974 OPS). But his playing time had become non-existent in the postseason when the A's couldn't sit their perfect outfield combination of Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp and Josh Reddick, and Seth Smith was a hot hand at DH. In fact, Gomes managed just a single at-bat in the American League Division Series, when he received a standing ovation as a pinch-hitter in Game 5. Maybe ourselves in the crowd that night sensed the "Pride of Petaluma" wouldn't be re-signed as a pending free agent and wanted to give one of the Athletics' best supporting actors and Bay Area native son his due.
You knew Billy Beane was probably going to tinker -hopefully without disrupting- with his playoff club, because that's what Billy Beane does. On the field, Gomes was limited in what he could do simply because he's not a premier defender and struggles against right-handed pitching. And when Beane shrewdly traded for versatile -great glove man with above-average power- center fielder Chris Young to further bolster an already team strength and possibly improve it, Gomes went from iffy to return to absolutely expendable. He'll get more playing time in Boston, at least you would think so at $5 million per. An even if he remains a part-time player with the Red Sox, Gomes understands that role and seems to thrive at being "that clubhouse guy" many in an ego-driven profession refuse to accept. From Gomes' Hugh Hefner-ish look in his personalized gold bathrobe; his status as the Petaluma Little League World Series team's No. 1 fan and benefactor; and earning the ultimate respect from teammates and coaches at the end of the season, Jonny Gomes will be difficult to replace.
Off the field a lot more than on the field.
So Teal&Green Sports would like to send out a Turkey Day gobble, gobble, to one Jonny Gomes, unfortunately now former member of the 2012 American League Western Division-champion Oakland A's. Frankly, you couldn't blame Gomes for agreeing to not just a contract but a more secure two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox Wednesday. Gomes would earn $10 million from the free-spending Sox, and while it seems like a puzzling overpayment for essentially a fourth outfielder and DH against left-handed pitching, for the first time in a while Beantown is in far worse shape than Beane Town, and while Gomes might not have fit a need in Oakland, he could be desperately needed in Boston. The Red Sox need position players, especially since waving the white flag in late August when it dumped the salaries of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and outfielder Carl Crawford to Los Angeles.
That gives Gomes an excellent opportunity to play more than he did with the A's, when as a utility man he got into just 99 games with 279 at-bats. But Gomes made the most of his limited playing time with 18 home runs and 47 RBI and was very effective against southpaws (.299/.413/.561 with a .974 OPS). But his playing time had become non-existent in the postseason when the A's couldn't sit their perfect outfield combination of Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp and Josh Reddick, and Seth Smith was a hot hand at DH. In fact, Gomes managed just a single at-bat in the American League Division Series, when he received a standing ovation as a pinch-hitter in Game 5. Maybe ourselves in the crowd that night sensed the "Pride of Petaluma" wouldn't be re-signed as a pending free agent and wanted to give one of the Athletics' best supporting actors and Bay Area native son his due.
You knew Billy Beane was probably going to tinker -hopefully without disrupting- with his playoff club, because that's what Billy Beane does. On the field, Gomes was limited in what he could do simply because he's not a premier defender and struggles against right-handed pitching. And when Beane shrewdly traded for versatile -great glove man with above-average power- center fielder Chris Young to further bolster an already team strength and possibly improve it, Gomes went from iffy to return to absolutely expendable. He'll get more playing time in Boston, at least you would think so at $5 million per. An even if he remains a part-time player with the Red Sox, Gomes understands that role and seems to thrive at being "that clubhouse guy" many in an ego-driven profession refuse to accept. From Gomes' Hugh Hefner-ish look in his personalized gold bathrobe; his status as the Petaluma Little League World Series team's No. 1 fan and benefactor; and earning the ultimate respect from teammates and coaches at the end of the season, Jonny Gomes will be difficult to replace.
Off the field a lot more than on the field.
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