Hear that, Bill Madden?

This makes me happy for selfish reasons. I am going to feel very old when Nomar Garciaparra retires and I'm not ready for that. With all due respect to Lynn, Rice, Clemens, Pedro, Boggs and anyone else, in my opinion no one in my lifetime has electrified Red Sox fans like Nomar did those first four years of his career.

Given Billy Beane's known affinity for Soccer, I can only imagine this is a ploy to get Mrs. Garciaparra's autograph.

"Given Billy Beane's known affinity for Soccer, I can only imagine this is a ploy to get Mrs. Garciaparra's autograph."

Or, given Beane's forward thinking ways, a first-claim on their Mia and Nomar's off-spring. I guess they will be small, so middle infield looks like a likely choice.

Better than giving Jack Hannahan at-bats.

Aging shortstops are the new market inefficiency.

Bonus points for being injury-prone!

Has a player ever aged faster than Nomar? He went from young spry 23 year old rookie to, old injured vet in no time flat it seems.

I remember reading a thread about players retiring/playing for A's in the twilight of their careers - add Nomah to that list!

C Piazza
1b McCovey
2b Joe Morgan
3b Ron Cey (or Dick Allen)
SS Nomah!
LF Billy Williams
CF Willie Wilson
RF Dave Parker (or Reggie, maybe)

Nomar makes this line up better. I think Alfredo Griffin would have been the best previous choice for SS.

Maybe Frank Thomas takes the DH spot?

You can add Cobb and Speaker I guess.

If Reggie, then all the returnees like Strunk, Norris, Canseco, Rickey, Phillips, Giambi

Nomar makes this line up better. I think Alfredo Griffin would have been the best previous choice for SS.

I take it a guy doesn't have to actually play the position he qualifies for on your swan song team, because I'm not sure you really want Nomie getting any time there.

The A's are poised to win the 2000 World Series!

I take it a guy doesn't have to actually play the position he qualifies for on your swan song team, because I'm not sure you really want Nomie getting any time there.

Of course not. What fun is that?

Can a Pedro signing be far off?

You can add Cobb and Speaker I guess.

Yeah, I was keeping it strictly Oakland. Philadelphia would change everything.

You can add Cobb and Speaker I guess.

Satchiel Paige can be their pitcher. Joining him on the staff would be Bobo Newsom, Jim Perry, Vic Rashi, Howard Ehmke (of course), Johnny Sain, Bob Welch, Eric Show, Bill Dietrich, Mike Torrez, and Murray Dickson. Doug Jones can be in relief. Jimmy Collins can play third and they also have Zach Wheat.

If Reggie, then all the returnees like Strunk, Norris, Canseco, Rickey, Phillips, Giambi

Plus Eddie Collins, Nap Lajoie, and Al Simmons. Jeez, Collins, Lajoie, and Morgan - they're really loaded at second.

So let's think here:

C Mike Piazza
1b Willie McCovey
2b Joe Morgan
3b Jimmy Collins
SS Nomar Garciaparra (or move over one of their second basemen)
LF Tris Speaker
CF Ty Cobb
RF Rickey Henderson
DH Frank THomas
SP Satchiel Paige
SP Johnny Sain
SP Jim Perry
SP Vic Raschi
SP Bobo Newsom
RP Bill Dietrich
RP Murray Dickson (hey, Dietrich and Dickson were swingmen after all)
RP Mike Norris
CL Doug Jones

Bench: Reggie Jackson, Nap Lajoie, Eddie Collins, Dave Parker, Billy Williams, Willie Wilson, Zach Wheat, Dick Allen, Ron Cey, Al Simmons, Mike Torrez, Bob Welch, Johnny Sain, Howard Ehmke, Eric Show, Jason Giambi, Jose Canseco, Tony Phillips.

They pitching could be better, especially the bullpen, but that's a lot of talent.

Can a Pedro signing be far off?

Too bad Randy Johnson chose the Giants. Tommy John and Don Sutton anchor the fading legends rotation, I think.

Do the A's still hold options on Crosby? Because I've got to think that, with Ellis and Chavez and now Garciaparra, they'll have need of Crosby pretty soon.

LF Tris Speaker
CF Ty Cobb

Maybe switch those guys?

Crosby probably has options but as a 5 year player they can't option him without his permission. I'm guessing he's the backup middle IF till he can be traded....if anyone would trade for him.

Crosby will backup 2B and SS, while Nomar will backup/platoon 1B and 3B.

If the DL realizes its potential, the A's IF could be 1B Barton, 2B Petit, SS Pennington, 3B Hannahan...with Chen and Baisley as backups!

As long as Barton doesn't dive head first into anymore shallow pools. Or break his elbow playing 1B, again.

As long as Barton doesn't dive head first into anymore shallow pools.

Nomahh is utility infielder and lifeguard.

How about Keith Foulke for the bullpen?

How about Keith Foulke for the bullpen?

Goose Gossage!

Slusser says 1) the Nomar deal is final pending a physical, and 2) Duchscherer is getting an MRI. The A's might have their worst rotation since 1998.

How about Keith Foulke for the bullpen?

Gossage

I feel bad for Jesus Guzman. I dunno if he can play 1B, but other than that, he can platoon at 3B or DH for cheaper, and at his age, there isn't much point making him spend more time in the minors, you might as well see if he can do it in the bigs. (Yeah, I know they let him go altogether and he's on the Giants now.)

I'm pro-Guzman but slow down, DA. He can't field at a big league level yet and really has only shown this kind of a bat for the last year or so. Plus he's only, what, 25? He's where he should be - Fresno.

As far as prospects go, Jesus Guzman looks like the next Jose Ortiz.

Not a bad comp, AROM, though Ortiz was better (and far more hyped) than Guzman. Of course, that Ortiz never developed/regressed is known - Guzman's future, such as it is, lies ahead. That were talking about him, despite his being a 2-time minor league fa and having overcome getting demoted from AA to A+ for a whole season is either encouraging or a sign that we need to get out of our mother's basements.

Barry Bonds is looking for work.

Crosby will backup 2B and SS

Crosby was quoted in today's Chron saying that he has never played any position (e.g., second base) other than shortstop ever, in his entire life. So... can he even play a passable second base? Has he been taking grounders at second this spring? I assume he'll get a crash course starting today.

Crosby backs up 2B in the sense that as Ellis recovers from injury, takes time off, or gets re-injured Crosby gets the start at SS and Cabrera slides over to 2B.

Crosby was quoted in today's Chron saying that he has never played any position (e.g., second base) other than shortstop ever, in his entire life.

He was saying that in the context of a "wah wah trade me" whinefest, as if someone coming off a .237/.296/.349 season was in a position to dicate anything. Crosby'll play where he's told and hope to not suck so much that he's out of baseball next year.

After thinking about this signing more and especially after looking up Chavez career stats vs lefties I am very encouraged by this move.

With all due respect to Lynn, Rice, Clemens, Pedro, Boggs and anyone else, in my opinion no one in my lifetime has electrified Red Sox fans like Nomar did those first four years of his career.

Seriously. Through the 2000 season he was totally on a first-ballot HOF trajectory. Remember those stories where they would compare him, Jeter, and ARod?