Swingin' A's » Oakland Athletics news

A’s 2011 Video Of The Year

Joseph Lopez — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 07:45:33 +0000

Moneyball was a pretty good film in 2011 and I thoroughly enjoyed Brad Pitt’s performance as A’s general manager Billy Beane. The writing was solid and the directing was even better, with Bennett Miller moving swiftly through the 2002 season that saw the Oakland A’s winning twenty-straight games.

Shortly after the release of the movie, a video was released on YouTube that spoofed Pitt’s film version of Moneyball. The spoof, appropriately titled “Too Much Moneyball,” is a highly enjoyable parody of Moneyball. Instead of following the cash-strapped A’s, “Too Much Moneyball” tells the tale of the New York Yankees and all their spending ways.

It’s a very funny and creative video that I’ve viewed at least a dozen times today. Check it by clicking here! (more…)

Welcome To Hotel Wolff

Joseph Lopez — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 06:57:11 +0000

Welcome to Hotel Wolff, a five-star resort located in the heart of San Jose. According to a recent post featured on the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s ownership purchased a luxury hotel located in downtown San Jose as an effort to strengthen its standing in city.

The A’s are pushing hard for a new stadium and the organization has set its sights on the city of San Jose as their new home. The San Francisco Giants, however, contend that San Jose falls within their organization’s territorial rights and are trying to stop the A’s from violating those rights.

A’s owner Lew Wolff and general manager Billy Beane have been patiently waiting for a new stadium, but MLB and Bud Selig have played the waiting game with the cash-strapped Athletics for nearly three years now. Oakland needs the approval from MLB and Selig before any new stadium can be built in San Jose. (more…)

A Look Ahead: A’s In September

Joseph Lopez — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:13:50 +0000

The A’s finished the month of August with yet another losing record, and things are not looking particularly good at the moment for the green-and-gold. Oakland entered the season with a revamped offense—on paper at least—and one of the better starting rotations in baseball, but an excruciatingly slow start by the offense wasted the rotation’s brilliant first-half performance.

Since the start of the second-half, the brilliant pitching has since turned into a mediocre staff led by youngsters Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez, and the offense has surprisingly stepped up a notch or two. The whole Jekyll and Hyde aspect of this A’s squad has made 2011 a very painful year to watch as a fan, and I’m not sure where the organization plans to do after this season.

Do the A’s roll out next season like it’s finally their year to contend? Or does Billy Beane, or David Forst, who might take over soon if Beane decides to pack his bags and leave, decide to rebuild yet again for the future?

Those questions are going to be answered at some point or another, but until then, here are a few things to look forward to in September: (more…)