EiO GOES TO FANFEST 2008

Zachary reports from the 2008 FanFest...


I readily admit that FanFest has become something of an anomaly. It's really not that much fun for a fan if you have been to more than one event. It's the equivalent to a boat or RV show. There just isn't that much to do or see. I am saying this from my perspective. I have been in the dugout, the clubhouse (note: be a good baseball fan - baseball teams don't have locker rooms, they have clubhouses) and the press box before and after games. So seeing it during the FanFest isn't that much fun.


I'm sorry if I sound like a killjoy here, but I am simply being realistic. Fan attendance was down considerably for the 2008 FanFest. Many blame the weather - 101 was closed for stretches over the weekend and the recent spat of trades may have further dampened things. Really, I think A's fans just had something better to do over the weekend. Apparently so did Eric Chavez since he didn't bother to show up.


And let that be a ringing endorsement of the current stage of the franchise; the A's signature model - the face of the Oakland A's did not appear at their annual fan event. The idea that he did not have a few hours to spend in Oakland due to rehab or any other reason is just not going to go over well. Let's face it, Eric Chavez chickened out. At least Bobby Crosby showed up and heard the criticism from fans. Chavez might just be too brittle and delicate to take what he considers abuse.


It's a shame because nothing the A's have done to shield him from criticism over the years has worked. Billy Beane still sings his praises. Then again, I think Beane still feels Chavez is 22 years old and he is just due to break out into superstardom. As it is Chavez is a 30 year old who compares to hitters like Phil Nevin and Adrian Beltre. He isn't a star let alone on the verge of superstardom.


I made my way to the Q&A Section in the rightfield corner. David Forst, Billy Beane and Bob Geren were the featured targets with the annoying Glen Kuiper hosting. It was chilly and all three showed their mettle by braving the weather. Kuiper wore a blue fleece jacket. Would it kill him to wear the Green and Gold to the freakin' FanFest? Or at least a 'neutral' color like tan?





The beauty of the Q&A sessions is that you get a nice wave of fan reaction and sentiment; from the asinine to the overly complex. One fan mentioned she was thankful that the A's don't have problems in the front office like the 'other Oakland team'. Really? What do you call firing, re-hiring, and re-firing Ken Macha? Bob (Bobo) Geren is on a short leash no matter what Beane says in public. I am not suggesting that the fan was dumb, stupid or ill-informed. I am simply making the point that some fans believe what they want damn the facts or the conclusions thereof.


I generally ask questions of Beane that he is not ask knowing full well that the answers will be a jumbled mix of his standard rhetoric. A few years ago I asked if the A's could develop and replace front office staff just as they do players and managers. He stymied about the organization and how well it is run. But the fact is that the A's have not developed front office people from within. They continue to use outside contractors on a short term basis. This is part of the reason the A's are so secretive about information.


Saturday I asked Beane about the changes made to the medical staff and the coaching staff and why changes have not been made to the drafting and player development staff. It's about 30 minutes in on the Q&A available on the A's website. Beane got defensive and clumsily answered a question with, again, his standard answer; "these guys didn't get dumb overnight". He championed his staff and the system. When in fact he short changed what Grady Fuson meant to the organization and their draft strategy. Beane pointed out that Eric Kubota, Keith Lieppman - those are the guys that drafted Hudson, Mulder and Zito. Actually that was Fuson.


I was trying to get a response in but the guy holding the mike had switched it off. I said that those players were drafted 10 years ago - my question was why haven't there been changes made. Billy rambled on about how the money was tied up in the big league club for years and the money wasn't spent on the minor league system.


Huh?


I can not believe that Beane would think to try to argue the point that spending money on Jason Kendall, Mark Kotsay and Eric Chavez better spent than a measly $4-5 Million on draft picks in the last few seasons. I will bring this up again, and again, Justin Smoak was drafted by the A's in 2006 and the A's failed to sign him. He will be one of the first three draft picks this year. His demand the A's would not meet? $1 Million signing bonus. Heck, the A's gave John McCurdy a $2.25+ Million signing bonus and he has not been able to compete above High A ball in the California League.


It was futile to get an actually constructive answer, but I hope my point was made. That when there were continual issues with the medical staff and it came to a head a change was made. Albeit after the fact and considerable damage was made. There were issues with the coaching staff. Changes were made. Why not the drafting and player development departments?


Is it cheaper to sign 20 guys at $500,000 and try and develop their skills or pay 2 guys $10 Million and hope they perform?


Anyway.


I walked away from the Q&A and made my rounds around the first level. I saw the dogs in the SPCA exhibit and I saw Stomper so it was a full experience in my book. I don't recommend the FanFest unless you have nothing better to do on a Saturday and you live in the BayArea. Especially if you have to pay. I got four free tickets and free parking. I would have given the tickets away if I knew anyone who wanted to go.


Do I have suggestions on how to improve FanFest? Yup.


For a start - put the bloggers on the dais, get rid of Kuiper and Ray Fosse and let the true fans run the show.