Josh Donaldson Trade Ignites Fans
By Tony Frye
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Josh Donaldson being traded to the Blue Jays this weekend was the best thing to happen to Athletics’ tweeters and bloggers who have had very little to talk about since Billy Butler was signed. In fact, my Twitter timeline was flooded with some funny, bitter, biting, nostalgic, agitated and defeated tweets. There were the fans that shrug the trade off as “Billy being Billy” and there are the others who, for the tenth consecutive off season, have vowed to never watch an A’s game again.
That one pretty much says it all. If it turns out the Josh Donaldson has already had his best year, Billy Beane will be a genius again.
As bad as losing Cespedes, Donaldson, Giambi, Tejada, et al. is, it would never compare to watching my team leave. That would be devastating
— Eastshore Empire (@EastshoreEmpire) November 29, 2014
It’s good to have a little perspective and remember that the name on the front of the jersey is more important than the one on the back.
Cespedes, Addison Russell, Donaldson for Samardzija, Lawrie along with prospects and a half season of Lester. Interesting.
— Nick Hamelin (@NickHamelin) November 29, 2014
Well, sure. When you put it like that, with the facts laid out in a succinct manner, it looks like we’ve given up a lot for very little in return.
The pies... The tarp catches... The 3B acrobatics... We @Athletics fans sure are going to miss you, @BringerOfRain20! Soooo sad!!
— Kara Tsuboi (@karashotcorner) November 29, 2014
Ah, when Kara gets sad, a piece of me dies.
Remember in the winter of 2011 when people thought Billy was out of his mind and the A's would lose 100 games in 2012?
— Matt the Warrior/Raider/A’s Fan (6-9(15-18) (@mattgswlvroak) November 29, 2014
And, as we all know, lightning strikes the same place over and over and over again.
Billy Beane: pic.twitter.com/Uim4DyP6B4
— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) November 29, 2014
This kind of GM talk drives me crazy. You’re not setting a roster for last year anymore so those 11 games are pretty meaningless at this point. Some would argue that the deficit came at the expense of losing key players so hemorrhaging more players may be a bad idea.
I don't understand people who are saying they're not going to A's games now....this is what you sign up for as an A's fan.
— Nick Clementi (@ClementiNick) November 29, 2014
These people are called bandwagon fans and they are not an exclusive breed to the team across the bay.
Winter of '11-12 was the last year Billy acted a fool with trades and that worked out pretty well, so step off the ledge people.
— Devin (@d_pangaro) November 29, 2014
Devin is widely known for his optimistic endorsement of all things A’s management. This little wake up call is just what A’s fans needed.
My dad and I discussed a Donaldson trade last night at Thanksgiving. Billy, stop listening to me
— Jason Burke (@ByJasonB) November 29, 2014
Or, and this is just a thought, you could stop talking about stupid things like trading Josh Donaldson!
Plot twist: Donaldson is wildly overrated and I think Oakland did great there
— Listen Here Baseball Commissioner (@spacemnkymafia) November 29, 2014
Bigger plot twist, I agree.
Sources say A’s are interested in trading Cespedes to Red Sox again.
— Ray Ratto (@RattoIndy) November 29, 2014
All they ask in return is two Daric Bartons and an Adam Rosales.
I’m sure there will be much more public outcry from this surprising trade from Oakland. Check out the podcast for our take on the whole matter. We use way less swearing and almost never say LOL.