Chuckling All the Way to the Credit Union

A funny thing happened last week. People felt Miguel Tejada was very valuable. Even those who felt he didn't deserve the 2002 AL MVP. Funny, they made a good case for him.

We've written, felt and said all along that year end awards are great for agents and for publicity. They do little for the game between the lines.

A valuable player does a lot of things that don't end up in the stats. That's what makes him or her valuable.

In Miggi's case, he makes a lot of spectacular plays in the field (and the occasional bad play). He does a lot of things at the plate, too. Except walking. He doesn't do a lot of that. He does some things in the dugout. He does some things in the clubhouse. He does a lot of things in the community.

When the Schott hit the fan a little over a week ago people suddenly realized that Miggi wasn't an over night fluke. That he had been paying his dues for several years. He displaced a few different guys up the ladder on his way to being one of the best at his position. Tony Batista was in the mix for A's future middle infielders at the same time Miggi was coming up. The A's made their choice in Tejada and allowed Batista to go unprotected in the expansion draft.

As a casual fan, it hurts to see a fan favorite leave.
As a hardcore fan, it just pisses you off.
As an educated fan, it excites you for what lies ahead.

The A's were able to trade Mike Bordick because Miggi was around.

We could continue to cite examples. But it doesn't really change matters.

The Miguel Tejada Situation is one of those "things" that comes down to decision making rather than choice. The A's organizational philosophy is to not overpay for talent, to avoid being tied to a single player for more than 25% of the total payroll and to examine future options when looking at today's situation.

It comes down to a business decision. It has little to do with value, rather it has to do with worth.

Is it worth it to keep Tejada and handcuff the organization? Is it worth spending $10-$12 million on a 30 year old shortstop who has most-likely peaked? Is it worth losing Eric Chavez after 2004, or Hudson, Mulder or Zito in 2005+ to pay Tejada? Is it worth losing control of your own destiny because your heart wants to give in?

Miggi deserves to be paid what he and his agent feel he is worth and what the market value will allow. There is no way in Wilkes-Barre, PA (hell) that Miguel would even be offered his current wages (around $5 million) if the A's tried to formulate a free agent offer.

The A's aren't really crying "poor". They are crying about being unable to "afford" Tejada's services. It's sort of like, as a child, when your parents would hand down an executive decision that you couldn't have something you really wanted but was most likely really unnecessary.

It would have been great if the A's could have locked Tejada up before last season when he was moping in spring last year.

Does anyone recall those articles?

How quickly we (meaning you) forget.

Last Spring Miggi was moping about not being offered a long term deal. It took a few weeks before his bat came around and Art Howe had to pull him aside on more than one occasion.

The A's didn't offer him a nickel then, so they aren't about to hand over a quarter, now.

As a casual fan, it hurts to see a fan favorite leave. As a hardcore fan, it just pisses you off. As an educated fan, it makes you excited for what lies ahead.

The Oakland A's are going to be in good hands for several years. There's no need to resort to the ultra-violence of go looking for third world dictators to try and over throw the Schott-Hoffman regime.

The boys in green and gold are getting ready to put on a show. Strap yourself in and get ready for the ride.

We have visions of 118 wins. That number just seems to swirl in our heads. 4 to win a World Series. 4 to win a League Championship series. 3 seemingly impossible wins to get past the Division Series. 107 to obliterate the American League West.

Hmm. Maybe the 118 includes Spring Training games?
Dunno.