Sunday Musings 2/23: Kitten Face Controversy
By Jason Burke
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
This is the first post of my Sunday Musings, which I plan on making into a weekly column. The idea is to talk about the highlights of the week, both for the A’s and around the baseball world. Once the season gets started, there will be a large incorporation of around the league news, projections, analysis and links to interesting baseball articles but for this week, let’s focus on the A’s.
Tomorrow (Monday February 24) is a big day A’s fans! In the Face of MLB competition, our spectacled hero Eric Sogard will be facing Buster (Gerald) Posey. The first couple of rounds have been relatively easy for Sogard, but this round should prove to be much more difficult. Giant’s fans are still mad about my article trying to get Posey eliminated last round. I don’t blame them. But this time, it’s up to us A’s fans to do the job and I believe we can do it. Just tweet #EricSogard #FaceOfMLB 25 times tomorrow. Heck, get creative with it. Some people include memes. The whole point is to have fun.
Yesterday, Ranger’s fans were upset that newly acquired Craig Gentry, and his kitten face, were all over the A’s twitter account. There is a picture of Gentry and Ryan Cook that has been posted in the clubhouse which is absolutely incredible. Ranger fans were mad because that is a ‘Ranger thing,’ to which I retort, “Do you call your manager Ron Washington ‘Wash’? Because that is an Oakland thing.” They recieved Michael Choice in return for Gentry, and they can go crazy with that! “The Right Choice” (Which works even better if he is in RF) “My Choice” and “The ONLY Choice.” There Ranger fans. You’re welcome.
A couple of days ago, it was announced that First Pitch for Diego is a Go! Diego was a huge A’s fan, and earlier this month went out for a jog and was struck by a drunk driver. His family members started working on social media with the hashtag #FirstPitchforDiego to get the A’s to honor him, and others that have been affected by drunk driving, by asking the A’s to let Diego’s brother throw out the first pitch at an A’s game. Through the community, and some A’s player’s involvement, it has been announced by Diego’s family that on April 19th, his brother will throw out the first pitch.
Jane Lee, A’s beat writer announced the starters for the first few Spring Training games this year. It’ll be Jesse Chavez on Wednesday, Jarrod Parker on Thursday and Tommy Milone on Friday. I’m assuming that Chavez gets the ball first because they want to take a long look at him this Spring. He is on the bubble for a bullpen spot, and they want to give him a chance to be the long-relief option.
Lee also announced today that A’s manager, Bob Melvin is now on twitter! It doesn’t sound like he will be doing much tweeting, but if you want to follow him, his handle is @bmrpm6.
Former Athletic, and oft-injured RP Andrew Bailey was signed by the Yankees yesterday to a minor-league deal. I wish you best of luck Andrew, even if it is with the Yanks.
These are the highlights for the week in A’s news. The coming weeks should be jam-packed, all leading up to Opening Day 2014!