[轉錄][新聞] How's this for Moneyball -- Yankees' …

看板A-Rod作者hzc0725 (機車狼)時間18年前 (2006/10/20 22:46)推噓0(0推 0噓 0→)

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※ [本文轉錄自 NY-Yankees 看板] 作者: leddy (耿秋) 看板: NY-Yankees 標題: [新聞] How's this for Moneyball -- Yankees' A-Rod to A's? 時間: Fri Oct 20 22:05:20 2006 RICK HURD: INSIDE BASEBALL How's this for Moneyball -- Yankees' A-Rod to A's? from contracostatimes.com The timing screams out for a bold move, doesn't it? Something that nobody sees coming. Something that is not only outside the box, but outside the universe, as well. Billy Beane is just lucky that there are those of us in the peanut gallery who are all too willing to offer our suggestions. Because when it comes to bold, this makes the firing of a manager two days after his team was playing for a World Series berth look vanilla in comparison. A-Rod as an Athletic! No, no, no, not to manage. Granted, Beane has to take care of that vacancy before he sets about on the rest of his offseason, but you figure it shouldn't take that long. Third base coach Ron Washington should be the obvious choice to manage, especially if communication is the primary concern. The players already love Washington for his upfront, no-bull personality, and he deserves the reward after toiling for years as one of the most valuable members of the organization. Besides, Washington knows a thing or two about helping a guy field a ball or three and making an accurate throw or four. And that could come in handy if you stick with the original premise. A-Rod as an Athletic! Now, before you choke on your coffee, understand that this is strictly an idea, perhaps one borne of sleep-deprivation and too much time at the luggage carousel. But if the A's general manager is indeed the master of plotting maneuvers that those outside his inner circle never see coming -- Mark Mulder to the Cardinals ring a bell? -- then what's wrong with batting this one around over breakfast. Think about it. The timing will never be better. A-Rod -- aka Alex Rodriguez -- needs another year in New York the way Ken Macha needed more orders from Beane. A-Rod just endured his most miserable year in pinstripes, and to put that into context, his first two went over like termites in the den. As for the A's, how better to transfix the Bay Area at a time when owner/land-gatherer Lew Wolff has just bought up a few acres in Fremont? No better way to become a hot-button topic at a time when public approval for new digs may eventually be needed. Worth at least a phone call to New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, don't you think? Beane has said he and Cashman talk often in the course of the season, and this topic would provide many avenues to discuss. Obviously, the starting point would be A-Rod's contract -- $25.2 million averaged annually. Make sure the A's are on the hook for only $8 million to $10 million of it. If Cashman balks, well, thanks for the chat. But if he doesn't, imagine the possibilities. Would the Yankees be willing to take Eric Chavez -- the A's do have their budget to consider, and besides, imagine what a breath of fresh air his glove would be in the Bronx -- allowing the A's to slide Bobby Crosby to third base? Would Cashman also want a young stud pitcher, say Rich Harden or Dan Haren, and if so, does Beane keep listening? Would other prospects have to be involved? Other teams? Hey, more insane things have occurred, or haven't you noticed which team is representing the American League in the World Series? Now, clearly A-Rod is stubborn about making it in New York, because both he and Cashman are already on record saying neither has any plans to abort that mission. And if that remains the case, then good luck to both of them. But isn't it worth inquiring whether each might be open to another situation, especially one in which the media glare is considerably lighter and the fans considerably more forgiving? After all, the grass sometimes is greener on the other side, even if it's the side that doesn't look more appealing on first glance. In Oakland, A-Rod would not be the lightning rod for all things bad that he is now. And if you doubt that, just ask the opinions of Milton Bradley and Frank Thomas. Both players came to Oakland with reputations at least as soiled as A-Rod's, and both thrived in a place where players were so united and nonjudgmental they apparently needed no direction from the skipper. A-Rod's history of postseason failure wouldn't apply, either. To hear Beane tell it, the postseason is nothing but a crapshoot. Thus, the pressure involved with succeeding in October in New York would be considerably less in Oakland. And what might a relaxed A-Rod do? Mercy! Of course, a similar expression might be used to describe this very scenario. And for the record, Beane doesn't need help. He's the master crafter when it comes to winning baseball games with a shoestring budget. Point is, there's nothing wrong with some interesting debate. And the prospect of A-Rod turning into A's-Rod would certainly generate that. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Rick Hurd at rhurd@cctimes.com. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 220.132.198.21