OKAY KIELTY!

The A's ended the Lilly strain and traded the Jekyl and Hyde left hander for switch hitting outfielder Bobby Kielty yesterday.

NO, THEY REALLY DID

The Ramon Hernandez, Terrence Long for Mark Kotsay deal has hit a snag it appears, with Kotsay's no trade clause and possibly what else the A's were going to get out of the deal.

Honestly, it could come to pass that the A's Padres deal does not come to fruition, or as it is currently structured.


The Kielty deal possibly was done in a fit of rage (more likely just rather quickly) for Kevin Towers not having his 'ship' together when the trade was announced early yesterday by Peter Gammons. The Padres desire for Ramon Hernandez has been high and the deal is to have been in place for almost two weeks. Could it be falling apart? Could be, but it does seem rather unecessary as the A's now have Jermaine Dye, Kielty, Billy McMillon and possibly Eric Byrnes and Jose Guillen to round out the outfield.


Kotsay seems superfluous. Could the Padres counter with another player, then?


Who knows?


But it won't be Brian Giles or Phil Nevin. Xavier Nady or Jake Peavy would be interesting. Peavy would give the A's a fourth starter and allow Rich Harden to bring up the rear as a 5th starter.

The A's may have had second thoughts on giving up Ramon so cheaply.

RBI-TRATION

The A's freed up virtual dollars by trading Lilly as the maligned starter is due arbitration this year. Lilly could have commanded a great deal more than the sub-$400,00 contract Kielty brings with him. The absence of Lilly is far more valuable, especially if Rick Peterson is gone and if Ramon leaves, obviously Lilly would start to shake catchers off, again.


Kielty furthers the Eric Byrnes and Jose Guillen question. And if Jermaine Dye is healthy, answers a lot of questions, too. A larger, and more ridiculous question; If the A's promote Australian Adam Morrisey to the big club and make him an outfielder, would the A's have the only all English Isle outfield in MLB history?


BRITISH LAW MAKES ALL THE WORLD ENGLAND - slogan of the 18th century British Emprie


Kielty most likely gets plugged into either corner outfield spot and hits third or fifth in the order. 150 games from Kielty in the outfield for the A's is going to be a lot of fun. When Kielty was playing for the Twins, there were few outfielders who got more attention from the bleachers, especially rightfield.


But, this trade will go a long way in furthering our theory that every outfielder in MLB that does not wear an A's uniform somehow sucks, according to those in the bleachers. Once any of those sucky outfielders puts on an A's jersey, he's sure to get a banner and a fan club or two. It's a fascinating maturation procress. It happened for Jermaine Dye. And amazingly once Johnny Damon signed witrh Boston he amazingly regained his prior sucky nature.


Break out the lab coats and the slide rules, kids.