Arthur Rhodes may have just punched his own ticket out of Oakland. In an article by Scott Miller on CBS Sportsline, Arthur Rhodes is directly quoted - so there is no mistaking what the comments were or if they were out of context.

If Billy Beane can somehow ship Rhodes off it would be a miracle. At this point, handing him his outright release is out of the question. But, maybe they could find a reason to place him on the DL. If only MLB had a Physically Unable to Perform list ala the NFL. The A's could say Rhodes is mentally unbalanced - and not in a good way...
...from said article

"We had two starters on this team say that the bullpen needs to step it up. You shouldn't say that. You shouldn't say that. If we lose as a team, we all lose. If we win as a team, we all win. You can't have two starters saying that. If you're not man enough to come to somebody on the field and tell them to do a better job, don't say in the paper that we're doing a bad job. It's one of those things where if they can do better, they can go nine innings. Let 'em go nine innings."

"Everybody in the bullpen got mad about it. Among the both of them, they've probably got seven years in the big leagues, total. I've got 13. They don't have any business saying that. It (ticks) you off, players talking behind your back. We're sitting out there and whenever the phone rings, whoever's getting into the game, it's just do your best. That's all I can say. Do your best and try to keep your head up. You start throwing zeroes for two or three months, and what are they going to say then? They'll come and kiss our butts and say we're so much better. Well, no, you can never forget what was said by your teammates. But if it comes up again, it's not going to be a pretty sight. If it comes up again, I won't be nice."

- Arthur Rhodes
Isn't always a HUGE surprise in sports when a player begins to bitch and moan about comments made in the paper, magazine or TV about him that he challenges these persons 'to be a man' and 'say it to his face'? Yet, how do these idiots get the message across? By going to the media.

Rhodes is a man on an island at this point and if anyone else in the bullpen wants to join him, they can.

The point has been made that since Rhodes has flat out stunk at times this season that the bullpen really is in flux. Pitchers currently do not know their role and when to expect to come into a game. Maybe, but, good money could be put on when the phone rings in the bullpen and Bob Geren tells you to warm up. Yah, that's probably a good sign you might be coming into the game.

Rhodes comments aside, this is all a Ken Macha doing. He is horrible at the people side of things. The Thad Bosley incident last year made that apparent. A comment made by others that Joe Torre is not a master tactician, but his people skills are paramount to his duties. Which is why Don Zimmer is so important to Torre's tenure in New York.

But, can anyone recall an issue similar to this, that unerved so much clubhouse turmoil - even when Art Howe was around? Maybe, when Ben Greive popped off, but then he was traded. Maybe, when Kenny Rogers popped off, but then he was traded. Maybe, when Art Howe popped off, but he was traded. Maybe, when Terrence Long popped off, but then he was traded, and Ken Macha was manager at the time.

And don't laugh, but Art might become available, again, very soon.

Billy Beane is in his element at this time. Let's just sit back and watch the rumors and fur fly and pan out the results in a month.

In that vain, (you may need to subscribe - it's easy to sign up) Chris Haft of the SJ Mercury News is reporting the A's are interested in trading for a reliever, with Ugueth Urbina, Rocky Biddle, Jose Mesa and Octavio Dotel the names being dropped. Billy Beane can't comment on rumors of a 3 way trade that would send Carlos Beltran to the Dodgers, Guillermo Mota to the A's, with the A's giving up prospects. There are tampering rules, and the A's abide by them...we think. Of course, MLB.com is commenting on the matter.