Are You Rooting For Chavez This Year?

This past winter the Oakland A’s cut ties with Eric Chavez by declining to pick up his $12.5 million option for the 2011 season. The move, which saved the A’s a ton of money, was a no-brainer as Chavez had been limited to just 154 games from 2007-2010 due to various injuries and set-backs.

From 2000-2006, however, the A’s former Gold Glove winning third-baseman, averaged 28 HR and 94 RBIs per season. Knowing this, of course, made his eventual body-break down in Oakland all the more painful to watch.

This season, however, Chavez’s body seems to be holding up well in his new home in New York. The Yankees invited the 33-year old to spring training this season as a non-roster invitee, and the A’s former star actually had a terrific spring as hit hit .395 with a homer and four RBIs in 18 games.

More importantly, he’s still healthy.  

Chavez is hitting .444 through nine at-bats, and while he’s been used by Yanks’ manager Joe Girardi in a very limited way, the former Athletic is certainly making the most of his opportunities. For once, Chavez appears to be healthy. The ball is jumping off his bat, and scouts around the league have been impressed by his efforts this season.

While I personally take joy in hearing about Chavez’s early success in New York, some A’s fans are rooting against the six-time Gold Glover. After reading a fan post over on Athleticsnation.com about why he’s rooting against Chavez, I felt compelled to write an article in Chavez’s defense.

In his time with Oakland, I never felt (as a fan) cheated by Eric Chavez. He tried getting healthy, and he gave the team 110% seemingly everyday he put on his uniform. The dude won six consecutive Gold Gloves for a reason. His last three years or so in Oakland weren’t particularly enjoyable to watch, but I believe he tried to his best abilities to get healthy for the team.

The whole fan post over on Athletics Nation just got me thinking about the overall consesus about Chavez’s new home in Oakland. Are A’s fans excited to see a former star light it up once again, but in a new setting? Or do they still feel cheated by his huge $66 million contract in Oakland?

Well, how do you feel? Are you rooting for Chavez this season? Or are you rooting against him?