Sounds fine to me. Whatever. Bring your b-12 miggy. Grab John ####### Mabry, we'll get the band back together.

Not sure there'd be much harm -- the A's lost Cardenas on waivers, so I don't think they really have anything else of any real interest, do they? Why not waste 400 PAs on him and see if that gets him to 2400 hits...

we'll get the band back together.

I was about to say the exact same thing. This year's already going to be crazy, might as well make it into a circus. It's not like Josh Donaldson is just waiting to set the world on fire.

There haven't been many A's who played the game with the kind of overt joy Miggy did. Still, you can never go home again, Miggy. The A's you knew are long, long gone.

He wasn't happy with the Giants because...?

Finally saw Moneyball last night.

Odd movie, not what I was expecting. Perfectly fine, not brilliant. How does a movie with so little dialogue (not a bad thing really) get a screenwriting nomination? Based on stuff said around here, I was expecting many more scenes with the daughter and for Howe to be truly evil. I can well believe that wasn't an accurate portrayal of Howe but Hoffman's got, what, maybe 15 lines in the whole movie -- it's hard to get upset about. I liked some of the subtler touches (e.g. Beane wearing his wedding ring) and that scene with the ex and new guy was just painfully/humorously accurate. Given Sorkin's involvement I was expecting more snappy dialogue but it probably works better without it. Schott was lifeless, Henry was bizarre, the Jonah Hill narrated computer sequence -- just odd stuff. Schmaltzy but I thought the closing scene was well done -- I was expecting face-to-face father-daughter schmaltz.

In the end though, it's a movie I don't really see the appeal to a general audience in. But there was, even to an extent in NZ. My friend put it fairly well though with "pretty good but I don't think I'd bother to see it again."

It was painful to hear Beane preaching sabermetric orthodoxy ca. 2002 -- I don't care about lefty/righty, I don't care if Hatteberg can field, etc.

It was humorous to hear the gasps of the Kiwis at the end when they tell you Beane turned down $12.5 M -- that's still real money down here even if it won't even buy you a year of Yadier Molina. :-)

He wasn't happy with the Giants because...?

He was playing poorly.

The only benefit I can see from this for the A's is that he would probably put a few butts in seats, since the dominant narrative in the Bay Area is the A's are always changing and you can never latch onto the players, etc. Plus he's a certifiable Oakland A's legend.

But he is, as Jerome from Manhattan would say, D-O-E-N done. He can't hit and his range is measured in inches.

Tejada... hopes GM Billy Beane might consider giving him a minor-league deal, as he recently did with Manny Ramirez.

Miguel Tejada has never put up a single-season OPS+ as high, not even in his MVP year, as the declining Manny Ramirez did in 2010.

I just want them to sign all the veterans who are still out of work--re-create the 1928 A's (who had 40+ year-olds Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, and Eddie Collins).

So, yeah, pick up Tejada, sign Vlad, Damon, and I-Rod, and trade for Jason Giambi. You could create an enormously entertaining team for like $2MM.

THE CANONICAL OAKLAND A'S LAST GASP LIST

Mudcat Grant
with Oakland 1970-71 (age 34-35), retired

Orlando Cepeda
with Oakland 1972 (age 34), played 2 more years

Tommy Harper
with Oakland 1975 (age 34), played 1 more year

Jim Perry
with Oakland 1975 (age 39), retired

Billy Williams
with Oakland 1975-76 (age 37-38), retired

Cesar Tovar
with Oakland 1975-76 (age 34-35), played 1 more month

Ron Fairly
with Oakland 1976 (age 36), played 2 more years

Dick Allen
with Oakland 1977 (age 35), retired

Rico Carty
with Oakland 1973, back to Oakland 1978 (age 38), played 1 more year

Willie Horton
with Oakland 1978 (age 35), played 2 more years

Joe Rudi
with Oakland 1968-76, back to Oakland 1982 (age 35), retired

Joe Morgan
with Oakland 1984 (age 40), retired

Mike Torrez
with Oakland 1976-77, back to Oakland 1984 (age 37), retired

Tommy John
with Oakland 1985 (age 42), played 4 more years

Don Sutton
with Oakland 1985 (age 40), played 3 more years

Dusty Baker
with Oakland 1985-86 (age 36-37), retired

Reggie Jackson
with Oakland 1968-75, back to Oakland 1987 (age 41), retired

Ron Cey
with Oakland 1987 (age 39), retired

Don Baylor
with Oakland 1976, back to Oakland 1988 (age 39), retired

Dave Parker
with Oakland 1988-89 (age 37-38), played 2 more years

Ken Phelps
with Oakland 1989-90 (age 34-35), played 3 more months

Willie Randolph
with Oakland 1990 (age 35), played 2 more years

Vance Law
with Oakland 1991 (age 34), retired

Eric Show
with Oakland 1991 (age 35), retired)

Willie Wilson
with Oakland 1991-92 (age 35-36), played 2 more years

Rich Gossage
with Oakland 1992-93 (age 40-41), played 1 more year

Dave Righetti
with Oakland 1994 (age 35), played 1 more year

Steve Sax
with Oakland 1994 (age 34), retired

Brian Harper
with Oakland 1987, back to Oakland 1995 (age 35), retired

Bip Roberts
with Oakland 1998 (age 34), retired

Kevin Mitchell
with Oakland 1998 (age 36), retired

Tom Candiotti
with Oakland 1998-99 (age 40-41), played 1 more month

Tony Phillips
with Oakland 1982-1989, back to Oakland 1999 (age 40), retired

Tim Raines
with Oakland 1999 (age 39), played 2 more years

Mike Stanley
with Oakland 2000 (age 37), retired

David Justice
with Oakland 2002 (age 36), retired

Ron Gant
with Oakland 2001, back to Oakland 2003 (age 38), retired

Mark McLemore
with Oakland 2004 (age 39), retired

Eric Karros
with Oakland 2004 (age 36), retired

Mike Piazza
with Oakland 2007 (age 38), retired

Frank Thomas
with Oakland 2006, back to Oakland 2008 (age 40), retired

Mike Sweeney
with Oakland 2008 (age 34), played 2 more years

Nomar Garciaparra
with Oakland 2009 (age 35), retired

Hideki Matsui
with Oakland 2011 (age 37), ?

Bartolo Colon
with Oakland 2012 (age 39), ?

Manny Ramirez
with Oakland 2012 (age 40), ?

Holy cow, what a list. Is it something in the water out there? I imagine a similar compilation for the Raiders would be just as lengthy.

THE CANONICAL OAKLAND A'S LAST GASP LIST

With guys who played 2 or 3 more years, how can you call it "Last Gasp"?

I'd winnow your list just to the guys who retired.

My criteria was guys who joined the team at age 34 or later, and played 2 or fewer seasons afterwards. Plus Don Sutton and Tommy John.

How does a movie with so little dialogue get a screenwriting nomination?

Gratitude.

Nice list! Felipe Alou, perhaps? And do the KC A's count for Enos Slaughter?

That team needs a real shortstop. Tony Phillips and Vance Law look like the best they can do. I guess you could let Dal Maxvill play.

eta: Ah, I see Felipe & Country played too much after Oakland to fit your criteria.

That team needs a real shortstop.

Nomar?

Duh! Missed him. Not that he played short for Oakland, but who cares about that for a fantasy team.

For "last gasp" I think they need to retire -- I might give a dispensation for somebody like Tovar who played for just 1 month.

But also, perhaps most importantly, they have to have been acquired on a "last gasp" basis -- i.e. no job offers or returning hero or pretty clearly done. And maybe they need to perform that way I think (not terrible necessarily but ...)

Billy Williams would be my specific example. He wasn't brought in as last gasp, he was brought in because they thought he could still hit and be the starting DH. They had just won the series in 74 and went on to win 98 games in 75 (8 more than 74). The A's traded a good set of players for him (Knowles, Locker and a young Trillo) and he put up an OK 116 OPS+ in 600+ PA in his first year there. It might have been a bad trade for the A's but it wasn't a "let's hope this vet has a little life left" trade. Williams was a major off-season acquisition.

Reggie (returning hero) and Morgan (Bay Area native) qualify as does Frank Thomas II but not Frank Thomas I.

Alternate headline: Miguel Tejada really, really wants a job.

Dave Parker wasn't a last gasp either.

I certainly remember Mike Sweeney's A's signing being perceived that way, but he hung on.

Dammit! I missed Foulke Part 2: Foulke Harder. Thought he was still only 30ish.

Keith Foulke
with Oakland 2003, back to Oakland 2008 (age 35), retired

Rickey Henderson and Barry Bonds could provide substantial offensive contributions for these 2012 A's. Get on the phone!

It's hard to extend it to the Kansas City A's, because I've never heard of some of the eligible players (Gerry Staley, Lou Kretlow, Russ Meyer) and there are some relics of segregation who could qualify (Bob Boyd). There seems to have been a lot of ex-good starters who became fungible relievers late in life back then (Don Mossi, Jack Sanford, Murry Dickson), and I didn't want to include fungible relievers.

Definitely Don Blasingame, Granny Hamner, Jim Rivera, Hank Bauer, Wayne Terwilliger, Vic Raschi and Johnny Sain joined the KC A's for their absolute last gasp.

Nice list! Felipe Alou, perhaps? And do the KC A's count for Enos Slaughter?

Let's see, Enos Slaughter was on KC at age 39 and 40, but played until 43! When he was part of the 1959 Milwaukee Braves greybeard brigade.

Miguel Tejada has never put up a single-season OPS+ as high, not even in his MVP year, as the declining Manny Ramirez did in 2010.

And Ramirez is likely to come in below a 100 OPS+ this year. It's a fact cause I read it here from multiple posters.

Miguel Tejada has never put up a single-season OPS+ as high, not even in his MVP year, as the declining Manny Ramirez did in 2010.

Cal Ripken has never put up a single-season OPS+ as high, not even in either of his MVP years, as the pinch-hitting Dusty Rhodes did in 1954.

Anyone else want to play the "Apples to Hand Grenades Stupid Comparison Game (TM)"?

Definitely Don Blasingame, Granny Hamner, Jim Rivera, Hank Bauer, Wayne Terwilliger, Vic Raschi and Johnny Sain joined the KC A's for their absolute last gasp.

But if you include KC you get Satchel Paige which is, well, awesome.

Schott was lifeless, Henry was bizarre,

Henry seems pretty bizarre in real life though I've not seen him in an actual interview. The Wikipedia page says Schott was played by Blizzard/Activision CEO Robert Kotick.

What about Dave Kingman? With Oakland 1984-6 (age 35-37), retired.

How does a movie with so little dialogue (not a bad thing really) get a screenwriting nomination?

It's not an award for "Best Dialogue." If you can tell a story very well with little dialogue, well that is a pretty good job of writing.

The list in 11 is excellent. Well done CA.

#25:
Anyone else want to play the "Apples to Hand Grenades Stupid Comparison Game (TM)"?

You appear to have missed the context, as stated in the excerpt up top and re-quoted in the post: since the 2012 Oakland A's have signed Manny Ramirez, maybe they should sign Miguel Tejada too.

Well, should they? When gambling, a peek at the numbers has traditionally been helpful. The two OPS+ figures are cited to debunk the comparison, not to stupid one up. Anyone else want to play the Ed Delahanty Jumping to Conclusions Game [patent pending]?

#24:
And Ramirez is likely to come in below a 100 OPS+ this year. It's a fact cause I read it here from multiple posters.

I won't be staggered if he does, coming off a year's vacation, at 40 years old, and deprived of his lady medicine. But if/when Ramirez does dip to a 99 OPS+ or below, it'll be 25 points less than his previous worst.

It's hard to extend it to the Kansas City A's, because I've never heard of some of the eligible players (Gerry Staley, Lou Kretlow, Russ Meyer)

They'll be covered in the film Beyond the Valley of Moneyball.

OK, has any team had more than 3 40-year old players on its roster in the same season?

The 2006 Giants had Barry Bonds (41), Steve Finley (41), and Jeff Fassero (43 with 15 innings), to go with Omar Vizquel (39), Moises Alou (39), Jose Vizcaino (38), and Mike Stanton (39, just 23 IP).

11 is a great list. two more might be Kelly Downs and Willie McCovey.

OK, has any team had more than 3 40-year old players on its roster in the same season?

'83 Phillies, aka "The Wheeze Kids." Pete Rose (42), Tony Perez (41), Bill Robinson (40) and Ron Reed (40). Plus Joe Morgan was 39 and Tug McGraw and Steve Carlton were 38.

The 2006 Giants had Barry Bonds (41), Steve Finley (41), and Jeff Fassero (43 with 15 innings), to go with Omar Vizquel (39), Moises Alou (39), Jose Vizcaino (38), and Mike Stanton (39, just 23 IP).

That's Giancarlo Stanton now, buddy.

Does Doug Jones count? He spent the last two years of his career in Oakland, although they were still fairly productive.

Mark McLemore completed his tour of the AL West in Oakland.

Gary Lavelle, Sonny Siebert, Bill Caudill and Andy Hawkins all had short stints with Oakland just before retiring.

Dave Stewart returned for 16 starts in Oakland before calling it quits.

Go back to the Phillie A's, and you have Nap Lajoie.

Will Rich Harden count if he never pitches again?

Finally saw Moneyball last night.

Odd movie, not what I was expecting. Perfectly fine, not brilliant.

Agreed. I liked it too, but it did bother me a bit that the A's were portrayed as a bunch of scrappy nobodies without any big names. I don't think it even mentioned Zito (who won the CYA), and it only showed Miggy (who won the MVP) in the newspaper collage shots. Throw in Chavez (barely mentioned), Hudson and Mulder (not mentioned), and even with the departures of Giambi and Damon, the 2002 A's had some serious star power.

For a team like the Tigers, here's the best players I could find for a "last gasp" team.

Eddie Matthews
Frank Howard
Jim Slaton
Gene Michael
Johnny Klippstein
Gus Zernial
Gary Ward
Vince Coleman
Hal Morris
Ivan DeJesus
Ray Knight
Fernando Vina
Jarrod Washburn
John Farrell

You appear to have missed the context, as stated in the excerpt up top and re-quoted in the post: since the 2012 Oakland A's have signed Manny Ramirez, maybe they should sign Miguel Tejada too.

Well, should they? When gambling, a peek at the numbers has traditionally been helpful. The two OPS+ figures are cited to debunk the comparison, not to stupid one up. Anyone else want to play the Ed Delahanty Jumping to Conclusions Game [patent pending]?

The next time that citing the relative OPS+ numbers of a DH and a former ss/prospective 3B is helpful will be the first.

As will be the next time Miguel Tejada is signed for his glovework.

Yeah, he probably can't hang with the minor-league catcher that seems to be Plan A.

Eddie Matthews
Frank Howard
Jim Slaton
Gene Michael
Johnny Klippstein
Gus Zernial
Gary Ward
Vince Coleman
Hal Morris
Ivan DeJesus
Ray Knight
Fernando Vina
Jarrod Washburn
John Farrell

Keith Moreland, too -- I think. And maybe Jim Morrison.

Jim Slaton wasn't really a last gasp; he was acquired from the Brewers for Ben Oglivie right before Benji blew up, then left as a free agent after a year to sign with ... the Brewers. Well played, Tigers.

I betcha Canseco would pick up the phone if they called...