VELVET UNDERGROUND

Ever the pessimist. I think we all know the A's played REALLY bad baseball, and that would almost certainly have to be true in order for anyone to be talking about a historic turnaround in the first place, but of course you needed to point that fact out.

Other teams threw in the towel. I guess this occured often enough that it tarnishes a historic turnaround? Interesting. Is this in any way related to the conspiracy to tarnish the reputation of Matt Watson? Are the black helicopters hovering over the Coliseum not being reported by Susan Slusser because Billy Beane told her not to?

Thanks for the injury update info.

Ed, you are ridiculous.

Why is it that Zach constantly gets hammered for pointing out the obvious when A's fans would rather bury their heads up Billy Beane's ass? Ever think that Zach points out the obvious is because A's fans are too stupid to SEE THE OBVIOUS?!

Did you not pay attention to the A's the last several years? The A's players and coaches say the same thing! They get an early lead an teams tend to fold. How do you think they win 20 in a row in 2002?

Your comment about Watson is retarded.

When Watson was up, he played. When they call up other outfielders, they sit the bench...this is a constant in Beane's M.O. Keep an insurance policy down in AAA and have them get regular At Bats in case of an injury at the major league level.

Why are you so surprised that Beane and Co. would sit on a guy's career? Look at Keith Ginter. They were paying him a $1 Million this season to ride the pine in Oakland. But a guy like Watson, Andrew Beattie or Mike Rouse they can pay minor league wages (less than $56,000 for the year) and have in AAA even though they should be on a 25 Man roster somewhere in MLB.

Sure, it's their right because they own the player, but it is also shady and unfair. Players should get honest opportunities and it betters the game of baseball when the best players play at the highest levels.

lewis: No, actually it never occurred to me that Zach points out the obvious because A's fans are too stupid to see the obvious.

My goodness. Not only is the current historic turnaround attributable to other teams throwing in the towel, but so was the 20 game win streak!

Other A's sites are critisized for being relentlessly and hopelessly positive. This is a good site but suffers from the same type of problem in the opposite direction. It could be so much better with a little more balance and a little less paranoia.

Funny, seems the paranoia is on the part of the reader...ED.

Crosby on the DL with a fractured ankle.

Well now, if that doesn't make the gloom-and-doom fans happy, I don't know what will. Well yes, I do too. Harden might join him. Then the gloomers could anticipate a reprise of 17-32 (although we'd have to squish it a bit; only 31 games left to play.)

Would be interested in seeing one of Zach's breakdowns, over a 30-game season, differentiating Scutaro's .245 average vs. Crosby's .275 average, as well as the comparitive VORP.

Why Goodmeat? Mark Ellis is the difference maker. And with call-ups, Mike Rouse might be playing shortstop. Or Freddy Bynum.

The doom and gloom seem to be a few assholes who want to rip Zach for giving information and offering an opinion.

Maybe if he started selling T Shirts it would make things better?

I can always use a good T-shirt. Green looks good on me.

Hey, it's ok to point out the obvious, if one must. It does get a little bothersome, sometimes, when the team you're down on is about 5 games away/out of the best record in the AL though.

The business regarding Watson is silly, pure and simple. The guy is an employee, nothing more or less. Beane does not have to defend any decision he makes regarding him. And if Beane is going to play the guy, why would you tarnish him? If he is not going to play him, and is going to trade him, why would you tarnish him? If he is going to leave him at AAA as a spare part, why would you tarnish him? I've read the presented logic; it makes no sense. Finally, regarding Watson, if he wants to play at the ML level, then he is going ot have to make one hell of a lot more of an impression when he visits than he has to date.

I forget who intitially presented the idea, but it is equally -- no, even more so -- ludicrous to suggest that other professional teams rolled over for the A's at any time. Total bogus copout. And the streak was caused by other teams rolling over? That one flat out made me laugh.

Ellis is a good player; I would hesitate to say he is the difference maker. Crosby is a pretty good shortstop, Might not miss him over a 30-game stretch, but we sure did in April. If memory serves, Ellis was playing then.......

Finally, I'm not panicking. I just figured a bunch of regulars on this blog would be.

GOODMEAT, you're a piece of work.

I don't think you have really thought about Watson's treatment by the A's. You and others give Watson a knee jerk reaction because Zach got an interivew with him.

Dan Johnson struggled for the first few weeks he was up, but the A's kept him in the line up.

Sure, it's not excuse, but how can you produce when Ken Macha sends you up to pinch hit and then replaces you with a pinch hitter when the opposing manager makes a pitching change?

Watson got jerked around. He put together some quality at bats and stung a lot of balls. A few just didn't drop.

Give him equal time as Nick Swisher and I bet many would drop their Swisher for ROY campaign.

Watson will get called up this weekend and I bet you makes a lot of people sorry they ever doubted his ability.

I think maybeso you are gaining the wrong impression from me.

Watson plays a position we are pretty strong in at the big club level, doesn't he? Therefore, wouldn't he have to make a hellacious impression in the admittedly few opportunities he gets? DJ only got his shot because Durazo went down, not because Beane liked him more. Fer gosh sakes, DJ was in the hinterlands for freaking ever; we've been hollering to bring him up for over a year.

Watson had to beat out Kielty, Byrnes, Kotsay and Swisher for one of the OF spots. Wasn't going to happen. Has nothing to do with a conspiracy.

I do think Watson can compete at the ML level, but again, who you gonna sit? Yes, it is financially more expeditious to keep him in Sacramento, but it is also far more gooder to keep him busy every day, rather than shining water coolers in the dugout.

Ginter will likely be effective (more effective, if you will) now that he is likely to get playing time. Damn near impossible to be effective if your only at-bats are in mop-up efforts and a start every 15 days.

And I don't form too many opinions based on anything anyone, including Zach, says. I react, to be sure, to some of the more rediculous statements, but......

I guess I am a piece of work, now that you mention it. I love me, and that's ok. :0]