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		<title>Oakland Athletics: Sh*t A&#8217;s Fans Don&#8217;t Say VIDEO</title>
		<link>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/oakland-athletics-sht-as-fans-dont-say-video/</link>
		<comments>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/oakland-athletics-sht-as-fans-dont-say-video/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:14:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ally Williams</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Oakland Athletics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1052771-video-oakland-athletics-sht-as-fans-dont-say</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>CHAMPIONSHIP!</p> <p>Next in our &#8220;Sh*t __ Say&#8221; series&#8230;another look into the lives of <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Oakland Athletics</a> fans.</p> <p>Because it really does not matter how many of these videos you have already seen.</p> <p>Sometimes it&#8217;s fun to look past a team&#8217;s flaws and just have a good time joking around. Some of these will never happen at any point during the life of an A&#8217;s fan. Other quotes may just not be a part of the conversation for the next year&#8230;or two.</p> <p>Once again, Fan Fest in Oakland gave a great glimpse of the Athletics&#8217; fan base. Solid bunch.</p> <p>Without further ado, we bring you &#8220;Sh*t A&#8217;s Fans Say.&#8221;</p> <p><a href="../articles/1052668-video-oakland-athletics-sht-as-fans-say">Click Here to go to our follow-up video: &#8220;Sh*t A&#8217;s Fans Say!&#8221;</a></p> <p>&#160;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Produced and Written By:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Ally Williams:</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/itsallyduhh">@itsallyduhh</a></p> <p>LinkedIn: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ally-williams/20/9a0/8b4">http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ally-williams/20/9a0/8b4</a><strong>&#160;</strong></p><p><strong>Josh Eisenmann</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/eisenmann89">@Eisenmann89</a></p> <p><strong>Max Schreiber</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/baseballrodent">@baseballrodent</a></p> <p>LinkedIn: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/max-schreiber/1a/ab7/a17">http://www.linkedin.com/pub/max-schreiber/1a/ab7/a17</a></p> <p><strong>Sunny Boparai</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/Sunny_sf">@Sunny_sf</a></p> <p>Email: Sunny_sf@hotmail.com</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>Get ready for next week: &#8220;Sh*t Giants Fans Say/Don&#8217;t Say&#8221;</p> <p>Contact any of us with ideas for future installments!</p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>CHAMPIONSHIP!</p> <p>Next in our &ldquo;Sh*t __ Say&rdquo; series&hellip;another look into the lives of <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Oakland Athletics</a> fans.</p> <p>Because it really does not matter how many of these videos you have already seen.</p> <p>Sometimes it&rsquo;s fun to look past a team&rsquo;s flaws and just have a good time joking around. Some of these will never happen at any point during the life of an A&rsquo;s fan. Other quotes may just not be a part of the conversation for the next year&hellip;or two.</p> <p>Once again, Fan Fest in Oakland gave a great glimpse of the Athletics&rsquo; fan base. Solid bunch.</p> <p>Without further ado, we bring you &ldquo;Sh*t A&rsquo;s Fans Say.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1052668-video-oakland-athletics-sht-as-fans-say">Click Here to go to our follow-up video: &ldquo;Sh*t A&rsquo;s Fans Say!&rdquo;</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Produced and Written By:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Ally Williams:</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/itsallyduhh">@itsallyduhh</a></p> <p>LinkedIn: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ally-williams/20/9a0/8b4">http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ally-williams/20/9a0/8b4</a><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>Josh Eisenmann</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/eisenmann89">@Eisenmann89</a></p> <p><strong>Max Schreiber</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/baseballrodent">@baseballrodent</a></p> <p>LinkedIn: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/max-schreiber/1a/ab7/a17">http://www.linkedin.com/pub/max-schreiber/1a/ab7/a17</a></p> <p><strong>Sunny Boparai</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/Sunny_sf">@Sunny_sf</a></p> <p>Email: Sunny_sf@hotmail.com</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Get ready for next week: &ldquo;Sh*t Giants Fans Say/Don&rsquo;t Say&rdquo;</p> <p>Contact any of us with ideas for future installments!</p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Oakland Athletics: Sh*t A&#8217;s Fans Say VIDEO</title>
		<link>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/oakland-athletics-sht-as-fans-say-video/</link>
		<comments>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/oakland-athletics-sht-as-fans-say-video/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:05:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ally Williams</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Oakland Athletics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1052668-video-oakland-athletics-sht-as-fans-say</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;Should we go see a Rivercats game to see what the team is going to look like next year?&#8221;&#160;</p><p>You've seen plenty of the videos. Whether you love them or hate them, they&#8217;re everywhere. Still, in spite of all the viral spin offs circulating around the Internet, there are very few that depict the lives of sports fans. This is where we come in.</p> <p>What is it like to be a lifelong A&#8217;s fan? Well through the past few years, it hasn&#8217;t been that easy. Still, there are still plenty of Oakland faithful that show up to the games. Even more that show up to Fan Fest!</p> <p>We took a trip up to Oakland during Fan Fest and came back with a little view into what it&#8217;s like to root for the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Athletics</a>. Regardless of the players, management, or this season&#8217;s standings, A&#8217;s fans flocked to o.Co Coliseum to support their team. Note: It was the first time I&#8217;d ever felt awkward wearing my <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/san-francisco-giants">Giants</a> gear.</p> <p>Enjoy our video, and leave your comments below. Did we miss some? Nail a quote right on the head?</p> <p>Without further ado, we bring you &#8220;Sh*t A&#8217;s Fans Say.&#8221;</p> <p><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1052771-video-oakland-athletics-sht-as-fans-dont-say">Click Here to go to our follow-up video: &#8220;Sh*t A&#8217;s Fans Say!&#8221;</a></p><p>&#160;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Produced and Written By:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Ally Williams:</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/itsallyduhh">@itsallyduhh</a></p> <p>LinkedIn: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ally-williams/20/9a0/8b4">http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ally-williams/20/9a0/8b4</a><strong>&#160;</strong></p><p><strong>Josh Eisenmann</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/eisenmann89">@Eisenmann89</a></p> <p><strong>Max Schreiber</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/baseballrodent">@baseballrodent</a></p> <p>LinkedIn: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/max-schreiber/1a/ab7/a17">http://www.linkedin.com/pub/max-schreiber/1a/ab7/a17</a></p> <p><strong>Sunny Boparai</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/Sunny_sf">@Sunny_sf</a></p> <p>Email: Sunny_sf@hotmail.com</p><p>&#160;</p> <p>Get ready for next week: &#8220;Sh*t Giants Fans Say/Don&#8217;t Say&#8221;</p> <p>Contact any of us with ideas for future installments!</p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&ldquo;Should we go see a Rivercats game to see what the team is going to look like next year?&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>You've seen plenty of the videos. Whether you love them or hate them, they&rsquo;re everywhere. Still, in spite of all the viral spin offs circulating around the Internet, there are very few that depict the lives of sports fans. This is where we come in.</p> <p>What is it like to be a lifelong A&rsquo;s fan? Well through the past few years, it hasn&rsquo;t been that easy. Still, there are still plenty of Oakland faithful that show up to the games. Even more that show up to Fan Fest!</p> <p>We took a trip up to Oakland during Fan Fest and came back with a little view into what it&rsquo;s like to root for the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Athletics</a>. Regardless of the players, management, or this season&rsquo;s standings, A&rsquo;s fans flocked to o.Co Coliseum to support their team. Note: It was the first time I&rsquo;d ever felt awkward wearing my <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/san-francisco-giants">Giants</a> gear.</p> <p>Enjoy our video, and leave your comments below. Did we miss some? Nail a quote right on the head?</p> <p>Without further ado, we bring you &ldquo;Sh*t A&rsquo;s Fans Say.&rdquo;</p> <p><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1052771-video-oakland-athletics-sht-as-fans-dont-say">Click Here to go to our follow-up video: &ldquo;Sh*t A&rsquo;s Fans Say!&rdquo;</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Produced and Written By:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Ally Williams:</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/itsallyduhh">@itsallyduhh</a></p> <p>LinkedIn: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ally-williams/20/9a0/8b4">http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ally-williams/20/9a0/8b4</a><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>Josh Eisenmann</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/eisenmann89">@Eisenmann89</a></p> <p><strong>Max Schreiber</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/baseballrodent">@baseballrodent</a></p> <p>LinkedIn: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/max-schreiber/1a/ab7/a17">http://www.linkedin.com/pub/max-schreiber/1a/ab7/a17</a></p> <p><strong>Sunny Boparai</strong></p> <p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/Sunny_sf">@Sunny_sf</a></p> <p>Email: Sunny_sf@hotmail.com</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Get ready for next week: &ldquo;Sh*t Giants Fans Say/Don&rsquo;t Say&rdquo;</p> <p>Contact any of us with ideas for future installments!</p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>MLB Free Agency: Ranking the AL Teams&#8217; Odds of Signing Manny Ramirez</title>
		<link>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/mlb-free-agency-ranking-the-al-teams-odds-of-signing-manny-ramirez/</link>
		<comments>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/mlb-free-agency-ranking-the-al-teams-odds-of-signing-manny-ramirez/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:30:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Matt Trueblood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Oakland Athletics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1049731-mlb-free-agency-ranking-the-al-teams-odds-of-signing-manny-ramirez</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Manny Ramirez has a 50-game performance-enhancing drug suspension to serve before he can play in <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/mlb">MLB</a> this season. That's just one of the things depressing his value in free agency. Other contributing factors:</p><ol> <li>He can't play defense;</li> <li>Four straight organizations have parted ways with Ramirez on unhappy terms;</li> <li>At age 40, Ramirez might not have anything left in the tank. He got just one hit, a single, in 17 at-bats before hearing of a pending suspension and choosing to retire last year.</li> </ol><p>That said, it's not unreasonable to suspect that Ramirez might find a job before spring training opens in two weeks. Around the American League, a number of teams are still looking for a right-handed bat to back up or platoon at DH. They always are.</p><p>If Ramirez seems loaded with downside risk, he also presents the opportunity to buy low on a legendary slugger and potentially catch lightning in a bottle.</p><p>Here are the odds that each of the American League's 14 teams signs Ramirez.</p><p><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1049731-mlb-free-agency-ranking-the-al-teams-odds-of-signing-manny-ramirez">Begin Slideshow</a></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Manny Ramirez has a 50-game performance-enhancing drug suspension to serve before he can play in <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/mlb">MLB</a> this season. That's just one of the things depressing his value in free agency. Other contributing factors:</p><ol> <li>He can't play defense;</li> <li>Four straight organizations have parted ways with Ramirez on unhappy terms;</li> <li>At age 40, Ramirez might not have anything left in the tank. He got just one hit, a single, in 17 at-bats before hearing of a pending suspension and choosing to retire last year.</li> </ol><p>That said, it's not unreasonable to suspect that Ramirez might find a job before spring training opens in two weeks. Around the American League, a number of teams are still looking for a right-handed bat to back up or platoon at DH. They always are.</p><p>If Ramirez seems loaded with downside risk, he also presents the opportunity to buy low on a legendary slugger and potentially catch lightning in a bottle.</p><p>Here are the odds that each of the American League's 14 teams signs Ramirez.</p><p><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1049731-mlb-free-agency-ranking-the-al-teams-odds-of-signing-manny-ramirez">Begin Slideshow</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>MLB Rumors: Oakland Athletics Remain Interested in Manny Ramirez</title>
		<link>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/mlb-rumors-oakland-athletics-remain-interested-in-manny-ramirez/</link>
		<comments>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/mlb-rumors-oakland-athletics-remain-interested-in-manny-ramirez/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:03:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jon Siddoway</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Oakland Athletics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1046383-mlb-rumors-oakland-athletics-confirm-interest-in-manny-ramirez</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><img class="slot" src="/images/pixel.gif">At this point, Oakland may as well change their name from the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Athletics</a> to Team Craigslist.</p><p>Weeks after trading a substantial portion of their starting rotation and bullpen, the A's are on the prowl for a veteran hitter at a bargain price; this year's Hideki Matsui.</p><p>And they're searching every possible location: free agency, the classifieds, outlet stores, eHarmony and other online sites. They're even scraping the bottom of the used golf balls barrel at the local Play it Again Sports. Praying for a Titleist but mostly grabbing Top-Flites. &#160;</p><p>While browsing Craigslist, the front office stumbled upon this post in the Personals section:</p><p><em>Single, 39-year old male, looking to regain respect in the baseball world. Can still provide a little pop to your offense, but don't put me in the outfield for defense. You'd be better off placing a uniformed mannequin out there. I rank 14th on the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/mlb">MLB</a> career list with 555 home runs and have enough gas left in the tank for a one-year deal. My only requirement is that there be plenty of fast food spots near my new home. Interested? Contact Manny. <br /></em></p><p>This is where the joking stops, though the laughter may remain.</p><p>The A's have publicly expressed interest in acquiring slugger Manny Ramirez.</p><p>"We're open to it," assistant general manager David Forst<a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7516654/oakland-executive-says-team-open-adding-manny-ramirez"> admitted</a> during a recent Fanfest at the Oakland Arena. "We do have other things going on and we do expect other additions between now and Opening Day. We have never been in a situation where we had too many good players."</p><p>Ramirez carries a career .312 batting average to go along with 1831 RBIs. Yet he has plenty of baggage as well.</p><img class="slot" src="/images/pixel.gif"><p>He was suspended for 100 games last year, after testing positive for performance-enhacing drugs. The ban was trimmed to 50 games because he sat out nearly all of last season. If signed, the suspension would start the first game he is eligible to play in.&#160;</p><p></p><p>Would it even be worth it then to pursue the tainted veteran?</p><p>Owner Lew Wolff believes so. "I think it would be fun," he said. "This should be viewed on the basis of talent. Once he's served the penalty he should be free to do what he wants. I don't know what kind of shape he's in, though I hear he's in great shape."</p><p>In great shape? That might be a stretch, but Ramirez may just have more career hits than the A's entire lineup combined. The reward may prove to be larger than the risk and, at this point, anything is a possibility. It's been an expect the unexpected type of offseason for this team.&#160;</p><p>Basically, they're a broken clock and Sega Genesis away from being an all out yard sale.&#160;</p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="slot" src="http://bleacherreport.com/images/pixel.gif">At this point, Oakland may as well change their name from the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Athletics</a> to Team Craigslist.</p><p>Weeks after trading a substantial portion of their starting rotation and bullpen, the A's are on the prowl for a veteran hitter at a bargain price; this year's Hideki Matsui.</p><p>And they're searching every possible location: free agency, the classifieds, outlet stores, eHarmony and other online sites. They're even scraping the bottom of the used golf balls barrel at the local Play it Again Sports. Praying for a Titleist but mostly grabbing Top-Flites. &nbsp;</p><p>While browsing Craigslist, the front office stumbled upon this post in the Personals section:</p><p><em>Single, 39-year old male, looking to regain respect in the baseball world. Can still provide a little pop to your offense, but don't put me in the outfield for defense. You'd be better off placing a uniformed mannequin out there. I rank 14th on the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/mlb">MLB</a> career list with 555 home runs and have enough gas left in the tank for a one-year deal. My only requirement is that there be plenty of fast food spots near my new home. Interested? Contact Manny. <br></em></p><p>This is where the joking stops, though the laughter may remain.</p><p>The A's have publicly expressed interest in acquiring slugger Manny Ramirez.</p><p>"We're open to it," assistant general manager David Forst<a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7516654/oakland-executive-says-team-open-adding-manny-ramirez"> admitted</a> during a recent Fanfest at the Oakland Arena. "We do have other things going on and we do expect other additions between now and Opening Day. We have never been in a situation where we had too many good players."</p><p>Ramirez carries a career .312 batting average to go along with 1831 RBIs. Yet he has plenty of baggage as well.</p><img class="slot" src="http://bleacherreport.com/images/pixel.gif"><p>He was suspended for 100 games last year, after testing positive for performance-enhacing drugs. The ban was trimmed to 50 games because he sat out nearly all of last season. If signed, the suspension would start the first game he is eligible to play in.&nbsp;</p><p></p><p>Would it even be worth it then to pursue the tainted veteran?</p><p>Owner Lew Wolff believes so. "I think it would be fun," he said. "This should be viewed on the basis of talent. Once he's served the penalty he should be free to do what he wants. I don't know what kind of shape he's in, though I hear he's in great shape."</p><p>In great shape? That might be a stretch, but Ramirez may just have more career hits than the A's entire lineup combined. The reward may prove to be larger than the risk and, at this point, anything is a possibility. It's been an expect the unexpected type of offseason for this team.&nbsp;</p><p>Basically, they're a broken clock and Sega Genesis away from being an all out yard sale.&nbsp;</p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Oakland Athletics Free Agency: Fun Facts About New Signee, Local Boy Jonny Gomes</title>
		<link>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/oakland-athletics-free-agency-fun-facts-about-new-signee-local-boy-jonny-gomes/</link>
		<comments>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/oakland-athletics-free-agency-fun-facts-about-new-signee-local-boy-jonny-gomes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:06:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>nathaniel jue</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Oakland Athletics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1043291-oakland-athletics-free-agency-fun-facts-about-new-signee-local-boy-jonny-gomes</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><img class="slot" src="/images/pixel.gif" alt="">The 2012 <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Oakland Athletics</a> are a team that has had tremendous turnover this offseason. There has been an exodus of players from last season, as <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/974660-mlb-winter-meetings-in-holiday-spirit-oakland-as-look-to-give-away-players" target="_self">this winter</a> has seen multiple veterans depart via trade and free agency. <br /><br />With such an excavation of talent, many people have decided that the Athletics are for the meantime unworthy of their fanship, as the team is more focused on moving <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/918946-mlb-what-does-san-jose-land-deal-mean-for-the-oakland-athletics" target="_self">to San Jose</a> than fielding a winning team.</p><p>In an effort to bolster <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/988525-mlb-oakland-as-outfield-empty-after-josh-willingham-signs-with-minnesota-twins" target="_self">their outfield</a>, it was reported last week that Oakland has <a href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/athletics-talk/post/As-agree-to-terms-with-Petaluma-power-hi?blockID=634590&#38;feedID=2797" target="_self">come to terms</a> with free-agent outfielder Jonny Gomes. The latent function is ironically an increase in attendance in 2012, as Gomes is a local product, having grown up in close-enough Petaluma in the North Bay. <br /><br />The nine-year pro has admitted that he is extra generous with tickets for his friends and family whenever he visits the Bay Area as a visitor&#8212;they fill up an entire section in the Oakland Coliseum. By virtue of his signing, the A's attendance, recently <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance" target="_blank">the lowest</a> in all of baseball, skyrockets a tick in 2012.</p><p>Gomes adds some right-handed pop to a lineup that lacks power on both sides of the plate. Though he has not played more than 148 games in an <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/mlb">MLB</a> season, he has managed three 20-home run seasons, and by far has more than any other Athletic on the current roster.</p><p>Bringing the local boy back home is a breath of fresh air for a team that is marred in a battle between two different Bay Area cities. He's been considered a great clubhouse guy who has a addictive fun personality, something A's GM Billy Beane <a href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/athletics-talk/post/As-agree-to-terms-with-Petaluma-power-hi?blockID=634590&#38;feedID=2797" target="_blank">was attracted to</a>, especially considering the youth of the ball club.</p><p>Some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonny_Gomes" target="_blank">fun facts</a> about the offbeat Gomes:</p><p>- As an homage to his hometown of Petaluma, Gomes has the area code 707 written on his glove and cleats.</p><p><img class="slot" src="/images/pixel.gif" alt=""></p><p>- His affinity to his Petaluma peaked when the city proclaimed February 11, 2006 to be <a href="http://petaluma.patch.com/articles/petaluma-native-jonny-gomes-signed-with-a-s" target="_blank">Jonny Gomes Day</a>.</p><p>- In 2005, while with the Tampa Bay Devil <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/tampa-bay-rays">Rays</a>, Gomes <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gomesjo01.shtml" target="_blank">finished third</a> in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, finishing with a .282 batting average, 21 home runs, 54 runs batted in and a .906 OPS, in only 101 games played.</p><p>- At a burly 6'1", 225 pounds, Gomes packs a lot of punch. His power was on display at Tampa Bay's Tropicana Field, when he hit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonny_Gomes" target="_blank">two catwalk rings</a> that hang right below the stadium's ceiling.</p><p>- Again with Tampa Bay, in 2008, Gomes <a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/athletics/2012/01/24/jomnny-gomes-on-coming-to-as-coco-crisp-ticket-sales/" target="_blank">was in a scuffle</a>, throwing punches at <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/coco-crisp">Coco Crisp</a>, then of the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/boston-red-sox">Boston Red Sox</a>. Crisp is now his Oakland teammate, as well as his potential neighbor in the outfield.</p><p>Gomes certainly adds some energy as well as local excitement to a rather <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1010294-mlb-oakland-as-multiple-trades-show-teams-throwing-in-the-towel-on-2012" target="_self">unrecognizable team</a>. His .242 career batting average isn't the asset he is focusing, rather his World Series experience with Tampa Bay, as well as his overall veteran leadership.</p><p>Oh, and about 100 or so tickets for his friends and family. At least there will be that many people watching the A's this season.</p><p>&#160;</p><p><em>Follow me on Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/nathanieljue">@nathanieljue</a></em></p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="slot" src="http://bleacherreport.com/images/pixel.gif" alt="">The 2012 <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Oakland Athletics</a> are a team that has had tremendous turnover this offseason. There has been an exodus of players from last season, as <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/974660-mlb-winter-meetings-in-holiday-spirit-oakland-as-look-to-give-away-players" >this winter</a> has seen multiple veterans depart via trade and free agency. <br><br>With such an excavation of talent, many people have decided that the Athletics are for the meantime unworthy of their fanship, as the team is more focused on moving <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/918946-mlb-what-does-san-jose-land-deal-mean-for-the-oakland-athletics" >to San Jose</a> than fielding a winning team.</p><p>In an effort to bolster <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/988525-mlb-oakland-as-outfield-empty-after-josh-willingham-signs-with-minnesota-twins" >their outfield</a>, it was reported last week that Oakland has <a href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/athletics-talk/post/As-agree-to-terms-with-Petaluma-power-hi?blockID=634590&amp;feedID=2797" >come to terms</a> with free-agent outfielder Jonny Gomes. The latent function is ironically an increase in attendance in 2012, as Gomes is a local product, having grown up in close-enough Petaluma in the North Bay. <br><br>The nine-year pro has admitted that he is extra generous with tickets for his friends and family whenever he visits the Bay Area as a visitor&mdash;they fill up an entire section in the Oakland Coliseum. By virtue of his signing, the A's attendance, recently <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance" >the lowest</a> in all of baseball, skyrockets a tick in 2012.</p><p>Gomes adds some right-handed pop to a lineup that lacks power on both sides of the plate. Though he has not played more than 148 games in an <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/mlb">MLB</a> season, he has managed three 20-home run seasons, and by far has more than any other Athletic on the current roster.</p><p>Bringing the local boy back home is a breath of fresh air for a team that is marred in a battle between two different Bay Area cities. He's been considered a great clubhouse guy who has a addictive fun personality, something A's GM Billy Beane <a href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/athletics-talk/post/As-agree-to-terms-with-Petaluma-power-hi?blockID=634590&amp;feedID=2797" >was attracted to</a>, especially considering the youth of the ball club.</p><p>Some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonny_Gomes" >fun facts</a> about the offbeat Gomes:</p><p>- As an homage to his hometown of Petaluma, Gomes has the area code 707 written on his glove and cleats.</p><p><img class="slot" src="http://bleacherreport.com/images/pixel.gif" alt=""></p><p>- His affinity to his Petaluma peaked when the city proclaimed February 11, 2006 to be <a href="http://petaluma.patch.com/articles/petaluma-native-jonny-gomes-signed-with-a-s" >Jonny Gomes Day</a>.</p><p>- In 2005, while with the Tampa Bay Devil <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/tampa-bay-rays">Rays</a>, Gomes <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gomesjo01.shtml" >finished third</a> in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, finishing with a .282 batting average, 21 home runs, 54 runs batted in and a .906 OPS, in only 101 games played.</p><p>- At a burly 6'1", 225 pounds, Gomes packs a lot of punch. His power was on display at Tampa Bay's Tropicana Field, when he hit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonny_Gomes" >two catwalk rings</a> that hang right below the stadium's ceiling.</p><p>- Again with Tampa Bay, in 2008, Gomes <a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/athletics/2012/01/24/jomnny-gomes-on-coming-to-as-coco-crisp-ticket-sales/" >was in a scuffle</a>, throwing punches at <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/coco-crisp">Coco Crisp</a>, then of the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/boston-red-sox">Boston Red Sox</a>. Crisp is now his Oakland teammate, as well as his potential neighbor in the outfield.</p><p>Gomes certainly adds some energy as well as local excitement to a rather <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1010294-mlb-oakland-as-multiple-trades-show-teams-throwing-in-the-towel-on-2012" >unrecognizable team</a>. His .242 career batting average isn't the asset he is focusing, rather his World Series experience with Tampa Bay, as well as his overall veteran leadership.</p><p>Oh, and about 100 or so tickets for his friends and family. At least there will be that many people watching the A's this season.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>Follow me on Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/nathanieljue">@nathanieljue</a></em></p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Oakland Athletics Lineup Won&#8217;t Stack Up in Tough AL West</title>
		<link>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/oakland-athletics-lineup-wont-stack-up-in-tough-al-west/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:04:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Peter Fournier</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Oakland Athletics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1041363-oakland-athletics-the-lineup-wont-stackup-in-tough-al-west</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><img class="slot" src="/images/pixel.gif" alt="">The <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Oakland Athletics</a> will not be able to compete in the A.L. West with the lineups they will have in any game this year. It&#8217;s a plain fact.</p> <p>A very sad fact.</p> <p>Don&#8217;t point the finger at the players on the team or manager Bob Melvin. General Manager Billy Beane is &#8220;building&#8221; for that <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&#38;rct=j&#38;q=&#38;esrc=s&#38;source=web&#38;cd=5&#38;ved=0CFIQFjAE&#38;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfgate.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Farticle.cgi%3Ff%3D%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F10%2F27%2FSPEJ1LNAPJ.DTL&#38;ei=bm4iT4jPD-O0iQL-hY32Bw&#38;usg=AFQjCNF4pX8vcCVN9VXRXsZ6rovSRixlqA&#38;sig2=JJwkzDoqqF3u3huRhyrl3w">hopeful future stadium in San Jose</a>. Constructing the "future" has meant the present is a sidebar. There&#8217;s no player on the roster that opposing pitchers don&#8217;t want to face. Why is that?</p><p>Because there isn't a player currently on the A's roster that can be a pure power hitter. That could change from here to opening day but for now, the future is not bright.</p><p>Who&#8217;s going to hit for extra bases consistently? Who&#8217;s going to drive in the small ball hitters like <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/coco-crisp">Coco Crisp</a> and Jemile Weeks?</p><p>Is it going to be new acquisition Jonny Gomes? From nearby Petaluma, Calif., <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/26/SPFA1MV26A.DTL">he was officially signed to a two-year deal Thursday</a>. Will he be able to stay healthy? Oakland hasn&#8217;t been known to be a place where players play the full 162-game schedule without some nagging injury.</p> <p>Josh Willingham, despite his awesome numbers, was <a href="http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/23/as-place-josh-willingham-on-dl-with-achilles-tendon-injury/">sometimes on the disabled list</a>. Gomes is here to be the next Willingham. How&#8217;s that going to turn out?</p> <p>Maybe this is Chris Carter&#8217;s year, but it was supposed to be his year in 2010 and then 2011. If this year turns out to be a bust for him too, will he be the next Daric Barton? Will Oakland just stick him as a puzzle piece on the lineup every third game?</p><p><img class="slot" src="/images/pixel.gif" alt=""></p><p>Outfielders Seth Smith and Josh Reddick, acquired via trades, are both expected to be starting for the A&#8217;s. Reddick was a rookie outfielder with the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/boston-red-sox">Boston Red Sox</a> last year while Smith was a starting outfielder with the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/colorado-rockies">Rockies</a> for the past three seasons. In other words, one has a lot to prove and another has only proved that he can hit for decent numbers in a hitters&#8217; ballpark.</p><p>Good thing Oakland knows what they&#8217;re getting out of those two hitters this year at the O.co Coliseum.</p> <p>There are too many questions too early in the season for the A&#8217;s to say they&#8217;ll be ready to compete for a division title or the wild card over a span of five months. Most contenders already know who&#8217;s going to be their everyday go-to hitters.</p><p>But Oakland? No. Anyone can be the next piece of trade bait or the No. 3 hitter on opening day and the No. 9 hitter the next week.</p><p>These are the A&#8217;s. It&#8217;s the same strategy year after year: get on base, and we hope to drive you in&#8212;by the way, you may be traded by mid-July.</p> <p>No team can contend with a strategy like that.</p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="slot" src="http://bleacherreport.com/images/pixel.gif" alt="">The <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Oakland Athletics</a> will not be able to compete in the A.L. West with the lineups they will have in any game this year. It&rsquo;s a plain fact.</p> <p>A very sad fact.</p> <p>Don&rsquo;t point the finger at the players on the team or manager Bob Melvin. General Manager Billy Beane is &ldquo;building&rdquo; for that <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=5&amp;ved=0CFIQFjAE&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfgate.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Farticle.cgi%3Ff%3D%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F10%2F27%2FSPEJ1LNAPJ.DTL&amp;ei=bm4iT4jPD-O0iQL-hY32Bw&amp;usg=AFQjCNF4pX8vcCVN9VXRXsZ6rovSRixlqA&amp;sig2=JJwkzDoqqF3u3huRhyrl3w">hopeful future stadium in San Jose</a>. Constructing the "future" has meant the present is a sidebar. There&rsquo;s no player on the roster that opposing pitchers don&rsquo;t want to face. Why is that?</p><p>Because there isn't a player currently on the A's roster that can be a pure power hitter. That could change from here to opening day but for now, the future is not bright.</p><p>Who&rsquo;s going to hit for extra bases consistently? Who&rsquo;s going to drive in the small ball hitters like <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/coco-crisp">Coco Crisp</a> and Jemile Weeks?</p><p>Is it going to be new acquisition Jonny Gomes? From nearby Petaluma, Calif., <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/26/SPFA1MV26A.DTL">he was officially signed to a two-year deal Thursday</a>. Will he be able to stay healthy? Oakland hasn&rsquo;t been known to be a place where players play the full 162-game schedule without some nagging injury.</p> <p>Josh Willingham, despite his awesome numbers, was <a href="http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/23/as-place-josh-willingham-on-dl-with-achilles-tendon-injury/">sometimes on the disabled list</a>. Gomes is here to be the next Willingham. How&rsquo;s that going to turn out?</p> <p>Maybe this is Chris Carter&rsquo;s year, but it was supposed to be his year in 2010 and then 2011. If this year turns out to be a bust for him too, will he be the next Daric Barton? Will Oakland just stick him as a puzzle piece on the lineup every third game?</p><p><img class="slot" src="http://bleacherreport.com/images/pixel.gif" alt=""></p><p>Outfielders Seth Smith and Josh Reddick, acquired via trades, are both expected to be starting for the A&rsquo;s. Reddick was a rookie outfielder with the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/boston-red-sox">Boston Red Sox</a> last year while Smith was a starting outfielder with the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/colorado-rockies">Rockies</a> for the past three seasons. In other words, one has a lot to prove and another has only proved that he can hit for decent numbers in a hitters&rsquo; ballpark.</p><p>Good thing Oakland knows what they&rsquo;re getting out of those two hitters this year at the O.co Coliseum.</p> <p>There are too many questions too early in the season for the A&rsquo;s to say they&rsquo;ll be ready to compete for a division title or the wild card over a span of five months. Most contenders already know who&rsquo;s going to be their everyday go-to hitters.</p><p>But Oakland? No. Anyone can be the next piece of trade bait or the No. 3 hitter on opening day and the No. 9 hitter the next week.</p><p>These are the A&rsquo;s. It&rsquo;s the same strategy year after year: get on base, and we hope to drive you in&mdash;by the way, you may be traded by mid-July.</p> <p>No team can contend with a strategy like that.</p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Top 5 Oakland A&#8217;s Players Who Got Better After They Were Traded</title>
		<link>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/top-5-oakland-as-players-who-got-better-after-they-were-traded/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:40:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kahlil Najar</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Oakland Athletics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1041307-top-5-oakland-as-players-that-got-better-after-they-were-traded</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>If your name is Andrew Bailey, Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez or Ryan Sweeney you have just been traded from the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Oakland Athletics</a>. It&#8217;s not you. It&#8217;s us. The Oakland Athletics appear to have a policy that states if you become a fan favorite, we ship you right off.</p> <p>Don&#8217;t worry guys. Lucky for you, we have complied a list of the Top 5 A's that got better AFTER they left Oakland.</p><p><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1041307-top-5-oakland-as-players-that-got-better-after-they-were-traded">Begin Slideshow</a></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If your name is Andrew Bailey, Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez or Ryan Sweeney you have just been traded from the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Oakland Athletics</a>. It&rsquo;s not you. It&rsquo;s us. The Oakland Athletics appear to have a policy that states if you become a fan favorite, we ship you right off.</p> <p>Don&rsquo;t worry guys. Lucky for you, we have complied a list of the Top 5 A's that got better AFTER they left Oakland.</p><p><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1041307-top-5-oakland-as-players-that-got-better-after-they-were-traded">Begin Slideshow</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Oakland A&#8217;s: Five Players to Watch in 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/oakland-as-five-players-to-watch-in-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/oakland-as-five-players-to-watch-in-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:10:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Erik Reitmeyer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Oakland Athletics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1039542-oakland-as-five-players-to-watch-in-2012</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>In a season most A's fans would like to forget, Jemile Weeks was one of the few bright spots for a club that fired its manager mid-season for the first time in a quarter century, and finished 14 games under .500.&#160;</p><p>The upcoming season isn't looking too promising either, as <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/billy-beane">Billy Beane</a> has once again opted to chase the future, opposed to the present.</p><p>During an eventful offseason for the A's, key veterans such as Josh Willingham, Gio Gonzalez, and Trevor Cahill now find themselves wearing different uniforms. &#160;</p><p>So with plenty of holes in the lineup and rotation, it's safe to assume that younger players will be given a legitimate shot to see major playing time in the 2012 season.</p><p>Here are five players that can get A's fans excited during the 2012 season.</p><p><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1039542-oakland-as-five-players-to-watch-in-2012">Begin Slideshow</a></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In a season most A's fans would like to forget, Jemile Weeks was one of the few bright spots for a club that fired its manager mid-season for the first time in a quarter century, and finished 14 games under .500.&nbsp;</p><p>The upcoming season isn't looking too promising either, as <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/billy-beane">Billy Beane</a> has once again opted to chase the future, opposed to the present.</p><p>During an eventful offseason for the A's, key veterans such as Josh Willingham, Gio Gonzalez, and Trevor Cahill now find themselves wearing different uniforms. &nbsp;</p><p>So with plenty of holes in the lineup and rotation, it's safe to assume that younger players will be given a legitimate shot to see major playing time in the 2012 season.</p><p>Here are five players that can get A's fans excited during the 2012 season.</p><p><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1039542-oakland-as-five-players-to-watch-in-2012">Begin Slideshow</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>MLB Rumors: Oakland A&#8217;s Should Fulfill Jose Canseco&#8217;s Wish and Sign Him Again</title>
		<link>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/mlb-rumors-oakland-as-should-fulfill-jose-cansecos-wish-and-sign-him-again/</link>
		<comments>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/mlb-rumors-oakland-as-should-fulfill-jose-cansecos-wish-and-sign-him-again/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:01:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>nathaniel jue</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Oakland Athletics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1039472-mlb-rumors-oakland-as-should-fulfill-jose-cansecos-wish-and-sign-him-again</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><img class="slot" src="/images/pixel.gif" alt="">One of the more indelible moments in my life as an Oakland A&#8217;s fan was being in attendance at the Oakland Coliseum when <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/jose-canseco">Jose Canseco</a> hit his 40th home run in 1988, putting him in place to become the first member of the elite 40-40 club.</p> <p>Watching him in person smack a home run against the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/san-francisco-giants">San Francisco Giants</a> during Game 3 of the 1989 World Series was equally memorable, as the A&#8217;s went on to win the championship that year in the Battle of the Bay.</p> <p>Yes, there were oodles and oodles of impressive performances and exciting memories of the Bash Brother, Jose Canseco, in an era when he was the best player on the best team in baseball. The grand slam in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. The fifth-deck moon-shot at the SkyDome in the 1989 ALCS. Everything he did was so incredulous. Everything he did was Herculean.</p> <p>To me, Canseco was a god. The way he swung was so majestic, whirling his toothpick of a bat as if it were a two-by-four, mashing baseballs as far as the eye could see. Watching him annihilate the ball like he was Conan the Barbarian was a feature any kid could idolize&#8212;and I did. The posters on the wall, the scores of baseball cards, the personalized outfielder&#8217;s glove. It was a great time.</p> <p>In the decades that have followed since then, Canseco has flipped from a god to a dog. The tumultuous theatrics that trailed him wherever he went had shriveled him. Maybe not his physique, but rather his value, respect and trust. The home run off his head. The elbow surgery as a result of a pathetic relief-pitching cameo. He became a punch line throughout the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/mlb">MLB</a>, and he was completely out of baseball in 2001.</p> <p>I could literally see my shoebox of Jose Canseco Upper Decks depreciate before my eyes.</p><p><img class="slot" src="/images/pixel.gif" alt=""></p><p>I grew up believing that he was one of the greatest players in all of baseball. And to see him mewl into retirement as a classic case study of wasted athletic talent was a bit tragic, and made worse by his post-baseball controversy: the autobiography <em>Juice</em>, that outed himself and fellow steroid users; the &#8220;celebrity&#8221; boxing matching; the MMA trouncing; an appearance on the F-list reality show <em>The Apprentice</em>.</p> <p>There are no words&#8212;just head-shaking.</p><p>His opening of the Pandora's box of steroids was shameful, helpful and sorrowful all at once. He is the scar of an era that MLB would like to soon forget, but won't for a long, long while.</p> <p>And yet when <a href="http://www.contracostatimes.com/athletics/ci_19812847">it was reported</a> earlier Tuesday that Canseco had expressed interest in signing on with the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Oakland Athletics</a> again this offseason, I couldn&#8217;t help but feel a little giddiness. The <em>Contra Costa Times</em> notes Canseco reached out to Oakland A&#8217;s general manager&#8212;and former teammate&#8212;Billy Beane in an effort to lobby for a chance to make the Athletics roster. Interestingly, Canseco avers that watching the movie <em><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/857319-why-oakland-atheltics-gm-billy-beane-should-not-be-excited-about-moneyball">Moneyball</a></em> reignited his fire for competitive baseball. Really? Canseco? The man who once auctioned off his AL MVP award and his <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/sportsbusiness/news/story?id=1995915">2000 World Series ring</a>? Wow.</p> <p>If <em>that</em> doesn&#8217;t prove how moving the film is, I don&#8217;t know what will. Give Jonah Hill the Oscar!</p> <p>Obviously it&#8217;s ridiculous to believe for a second that Beane would take Canseco so seriously in his dream to return to baseball. After all, Canseco, 47, hasn&#8217;t played in the majors since 2001, with the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/chicago-white-sox">Chicago White Sox</a>. How on earth could Canseco even take <em>himself</em> seriously? Not possible.</p><p><img class="slot" src="/images/pixel.gif" alt=""></p><p>And yet the kid in me somehow sees the glass half full. He&#8217;s trying to convince the modern me that the beleaguered Canseco&#8217;s desire to return to the majors <em>is</em> possible. He&#8217;s bursting at the seams of nostalgia, wanting to root for this comeback of all comebacks.</p> <p>With Oakland mired in a turbulent era, fans&#8212;what&#8217;s left of them&#8212;have had little to cheer for this offseason. There&#8217;s the nauseating <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/918946-mlb-what-does-san-jose-land-deal-mean-for-the-oakland-athletics">San Jose</a>-relocation battle. And, of course, the depressing exodus of <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/976633-oakland-as-breaking-news-trevor-cahill-traded-to-arizona-diamondbacks">nearly every player</a> on the roster via trade or free-agent departure. Beane, on behalf of owner <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1019224-mlb-lew-wolff-and-the-5-worst-team-owners">Lew Wolff</a>, has made it the team&#8217;s focus to do everything in its power to ostracize the few remaining A&#8217;s fans. Thus, the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1010294-mlb-oakland-as-multiple-trades-show-teams-throwing-in-the-towel-on-2012">2012 campaign</a> will be a tortuous one indeed.</p> <p>That is why it&#8217;d be nice&#8212;almost necessary&#8212;to bring Canseco back to Oakland. In the very least, he&#8217;d bring some excitement and energy to the fans. After all, who wouldn&#8217;t want to see Canseco take a stab at bashing a home run into the Oakland Coliseum again? The A&#8217;s are surely not going to be buzzing with competitive fire this season. It&#8217;d be a wonderful sight to come to the ballpark and have Jose Freaking Canseco in green and gold again.</p> <p>In a lineup full of <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1030086-oakland-as-trade-moscoso-and-outman-team-will-be-unrecognizable-this-season">unrecognizable players</a>, Canseco&#8217;s presence alone would be enough for fans to care about the A&#8217;s. Can you imagine a Jose Canseco bobblehead day? That would be awesome to see because, as we know, Canseco&#8217;s noggin is already a bit disproportionate from the rest of his body. The bobblehead itself would be like a real-life representation of those NBA Jam characters.</p> <p>Though Oakland amazingly has a better chance at winning the World Series than signing Canseco, the little boy in all of us should hope the A&#8217;s turn back the clock and at least give him a chance to make the team. It&#8217;d be a great way to inject some energy back into a depleted team and defeated fanbase. I certainly would be amped at the opportunity to unearth my shoebox of Jose Cansecos.</p> <p>Furthermore, I&#8217;d absolutely rather see Canseco fail than watch Seth Smith, Josh Reddick or Jonny Gomes&#8212;or <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1033958-oakland-athletics-should-make-run-at-vladamir-guerrero-not-manny-ramirez">a rumored</a> Manny Ramirez&#8212;succeed as the DH.</p> <p>In Oakland, that may be all there is to look forward to.</p> <p>&#160;</p><p><em>Follow me on Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/nathanieljue">@nathanieljue</a></em></p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="slot" src="http://bleacherreport.com/images/pixel.gif" alt="">One of the more indelible moments in my life as an Oakland A&rsquo;s fan was being in attendance at the Oakland Coliseum when <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/jose-canseco">Jose Canseco</a> hit his 40th home run in 1988, putting him in place to become the first member of the elite 40-40 club.</p> <p>Watching him in person smack a home run against the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/san-francisco-giants">San Francisco Giants</a> during Game 3 of the 1989 World Series was equally memorable, as the A&rsquo;s went on to win the championship that year in the Battle of the Bay.</p> <p>Yes, there were oodles and oodles of impressive performances and exciting memories of the Bash Brother, Jose Canseco, in an era when he was the best player on the best team in baseball. The grand slam in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. The fifth-deck moon-shot at the SkyDome in the 1989 ALCS. Everything he did was so incredulous. Everything he did was Herculean.</p> <p>To me, Canseco was a god. The way he swung was so majestic, whirling his toothpick of a bat as if it were a two-by-four, mashing baseballs as far as the eye could see. Watching him annihilate the ball like he was Conan the Barbarian was a feature any kid could idolize&mdash;and I did. The posters on the wall, the scores of baseball cards, the personalized outfielder&rsquo;s glove. It was a great time.</p> <p>In the decades that have followed since then, Canseco has flipped from a god to a dog. The tumultuous theatrics that trailed him wherever he went had shriveled him. Maybe not his physique, but rather his value, respect and trust. The home run off his head. The elbow surgery as a result of a pathetic relief-pitching cameo. He became a punch line throughout the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/mlb">MLB</a>, and he was completely out of baseball in 2001.</p> <p>I could literally see my shoebox of Jose Canseco Upper Decks depreciate before my eyes.</p><p><img class="slot" src="http://bleacherreport.com/images/pixel.gif" alt=""></p><p>I grew up believing that he was one of the greatest players in all of baseball. And to see him mewl into retirement as a classic case study of wasted athletic talent was a bit tragic, and made worse by his post-baseball controversy: the autobiography <em>Juice</em>, that outed himself and fellow steroid users; the &ldquo;celebrity&rdquo; boxing matching; the MMA trouncing; an appearance on the F-list reality show <em>The Apprentice</em>.</p> <p>There are no words&mdash;just head-shaking.</p><p>His opening of the Pandora's box of steroids was shameful, helpful and sorrowful all at once. He is the scar of an era that MLB would like to soon forget, but won't for a long, long while.</p> <p>And yet when <a href="http://www.contracostatimes.com/athletics/ci_19812847">it was reported</a> earlier Tuesday that Canseco had expressed interest in signing on with the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Oakland Athletics</a> again this offseason, I couldn&rsquo;t help but feel a little giddiness. The <em>Contra Costa Times</em> notes Canseco reached out to Oakland A&rsquo;s general manager&mdash;and former teammate&mdash;Billy Beane in an effort to lobby for a chance to make the Athletics roster. Interestingly, Canseco avers that watching the movie <em><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/857319-why-oakland-atheltics-gm-billy-beane-should-not-be-excited-about-moneyball">Moneyball</a></em> reignited his fire for competitive baseball. Really? Canseco? The man who once auctioned off his AL MVP award and his <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/sportsbusiness/news/story?id=1995915">2000 World Series ring</a>? Wow.</p> <p>If <em>that</em> doesn&rsquo;t prove how moving the film is, I don&rsquo;t know what will. Give Jonah Hill the Oscar!</p> <p>Obviously it&rsquo;s ridiculous to believe for a second that Beane would take Canseco so seriously in his dream to return to baseball. After all, Canseco, 47, hasn&rsquo;t played in the majors since 2001, with the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/chicago-white-sox">Chicago White Sox</a>. How on earth could Canseco even take <em>himself</em> seriously? Not possible.</p><p><img class="slot" src="http://bleacherreport.com/images/pixel.gif" alt=""></p><p>And yet the kid in me somehow sees the glass half full. He&rsquo;s trying to convince the modern me that the beleaguered Canseco&rsquo;s desire to return to the majors <em>is</em> possible. He&rsquo;s bursting at the seams of nostalgia, wanting to root for this comeback of all comebacks.</p> <p>With Oakland mired in a turbulent era, fans&mdash;what&rsquo;s left of them&mdash;have had little to cheer for this offseason. There&rsquo;s the nauseating <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/918946-mlb-what-does-san-jose-land-deal-mean-for-the-oakland-athletics">San Jose</a>-relocation battle. And, of course, the depressing exodus of <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/976633-oakland-as-breaking-news-trevor-cahill-traded-to-arizona-diamondbacks">nearly every player</a> on the roster via trade or free-agent departure. Beane, on behalf of owner <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1019224-mlb-lew-wolff-and-the-5-worst-team-owners">Lew Wolff</a>, has made it the team&rsquo;s focus to do everything in its power to ostracize the few remaining A&rsquo;s fans. Thus, the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1010294-mlb-oakland-as-multiple-trades-show-teams-throwing-in-the-towel-on-2012">2012 campaign</a> will be a tortuous one indeed.</p> <p>That is why it&rsquo;d be nice&mdash;almost necessary&mdash;to bring Canseco back to Oakland. In the very least, he&rsquo;d bring some excitement and energy to the fans. After all, who wouldn&rsquo;t want to see Canseco take a stab at bashing a home run into the Oakland Coliseum again? The A&rsquo;s are surely not going to be buzzing with competitive fire this season. It&rsquo;d be a wonderful sight to come to the ballpark and have Jose Freaking Canseco in green and gold again.</p> <p>In a lineup full of <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1030086-oakland-as-trade-moscoso-and-outman-team-will-be-unrecognizable-this-season">unrecognizable players</a>, Canseco&rsquo;s presence alone would be enough for fans to care about the A&rsquo;s. Can you imagine a Jose Canseco bobblehead day? That would be awesome to see because, as we know, Canseco&rsquo;s noggin is already a bit disproportionate from the rest of his body. The bobblehead itself would be like a real-life representation of those NBA Jam characters.</p> <p>Though Oakland amazingly has a better chance at winning the World Series than signing Canseco, the little boy in all of us should hope the A&rsquo;s turn back the clock and at least give him a chance to make the team. It&rsquo;d be a great way to inject some energy back into a depleted team and defeated fanbase. I certainly would be amped at the opportunity to unearth my shoebox of Jose Cansecos.</p> <p>Furthermore, I&rsquo;d absolutely rather see Canseco fail than watch Seth Smith, Josh Reddick or Jonny Gomes&mdash;or <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1033958-oakland-athletics-should-make-run-at-vladamir-guerrero-not-manny-ramirez">a rumored</a> Manny Ramirez&mdash;succeed as the DH.</p> <p>In Oakland, that may be all there is to look forward to.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>Follow me on Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/nathanieljue">@nathanieljue</a></em></p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Moneyball: Deserved Oscar Nomination Makes Movie All-Time Great Sports Flick</title>
		<link>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/moneyball-deserved-oscar-nomination-makes-movie-all-time-great-sports-flick/</link>
		<comments>http://www.erinoak.org/oakland-athletics/moneyball-deserved-oscar-nomination-makes-movie-all-time-great-sports-flick/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:18:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tim Daniels</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Oakland Athletics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1036884-moneyball-deserved-oscar-nomination-makes-movie-all-time-great-sports-flick</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p><img class="slot" src="/images/pixel.gif" alt=""><em>Moneyball</em> was awarded with an <a href="http://oscar.go.com/nominees" target="_blank">Oscar nomination</a> on Tuesday. It's an honor that guarantees the film, which features the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Oakland Athletics</a>' rise to greatness in 2002, will take its rightful place among the best sports movies in history.</p><p>Brad Pitt received a nomination for best actor in a leading role for portraying Billy Beane, while Jonah Hill also got one for best supporting actor, playing Peter Brand, who wasn't an actual member of the Oakland front office but is based mostly on Paul DePodesta.</p><p><img class="slot" src="/images/pixel.gif" alt=""></p> <p>Sports movies usually don't garner much hype during award season because they only tend to attract a fringe audience. <em>Moneyball</em> is different, though. It's really a tale about overcoming adversity when the odds are stacked against you in seemingly every way possible.</p> <p>It's a common movie storyline; it just so happens that baseball is the avenue of telling it this time around. That made it unique enough to warrant an Oscar nod.</p> <p>Having a megastar like Pitt around to grab attention certainly helps. He plays the role of Beane perfectly. Somebody who's willing to think outside the box and take chances because maintaining the status quo would have led the Athletics down a dead-end street.</p> <p>As good as Pitt's performance was, Hill's was even better. He played the role of a number-crunching sidekick to perfection, showing how analyzing numbers truly changed how general managers around the league look at the game.</p><p><img class="slot" src="/images/pixel.gif" alt=""></p><p>&#8220;He gets on base,&#8221; was Hill's most common line, explaining to out-of-touch scouts that there are more important things than batting average and speed.</p> <p>By bringing together their own island of misfits, the Athletics are able to reach the playoffs. They fail to claim the World Series, which would have been a fitting end to the story, but the goal of changing the game is realized.</p> <p>The numerous different life lessons that can be learned earned rave reviews from critics and helped attract that niche audience.</p> <p>So, while it might not be in the same category as <em>Hoosiers</em>,<em> Rocky</em> or <em>Raging Bull</em>, <em>Moneyball</em> is definitely a sports film that will have the same long-lasting characteristics as those three famous movies, even if it doesn't take home an Oscar.</p> <p>One thing's for sure: It's a must-see for all sports fans.</p><p><font color="#000080"><font color="#000080"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/TimDanielsBR" target="_blank"><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/follow_me-c.png" border="1" height="27" align="BOTTOM" alt="" width="160"></a></font></font></p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="slot" src="http://bleacherreport.com/images/pixel.gif" alt=""><em>Moneyball</em> was awarded with an <a href="http://oscar.go.com/nominees" >Oscar nomination</a> on Tuesday. It's an honor that guarantees the film, which features the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics">Oakland Athletics</a>' rise to greatness in 2002, will take its rightful place among the best sports movies in history.</p><p>Brad Pitt received a nomination for best actor in a leading role for portraying Billy Beane, while Jonah Hill also got one for best supporting actor, playing Peter Brand, who wasn't an actual member of the Oakland front office but is based mostly on Paul DePodesta.</p><p><img class="slot" src="http://bleacherreport.com/images/pixel.gif" alt=""></p> <p>Sports movies usually don't garner much hype during award season because they only tend to attract a fringe audience. <em>Moneyball</em> is different, though. It's really a tale about overcoming adversity when the odds are stacked against you in seemingly every way possible.</p> <p>It's a common movie storyline; it just so happens that baseball is the avenue of telling it this time around. That made it unique enough to warrant an Oscar nod.</p> <p>Having a megastar like Pitt around to grab attention certainly helps. He plays the role of Beane perfectly. Somebody who's willing to think outside the box and take chances because maintaining the status quo would have led the Athletics down a dead-end street.</p> <p>As good as Pitt's performance was, Hill's was even better. He played the role of a number-crunching sidekick to perfection, showing how analyzing numbers truly changed how general managers around the league look at the game.</p><p><img class="slot" src="http://bleacherreport.com/images/pixel.gif" alt=""></p><p>&ldquo;He gets on base,&rdquo; was Hill's most common line, explaining to out-of-touch scouts that there are more important things than batting average and speed.</p> <p>By bringing together their own island of misfits, the Athletics are able to reach the playoffs. They fail to claim the World Series, which would have been a fitting end to the story, but the goal of changing the game is realized.</p> <p>The numerous different life lessons that can be learned earned rave reviews from critics and helped attract that niche audience.</p> <p>So, while it might not be in the same category as <em>Hoosiers</em>,<em> Rocky</em> or <em>Raging Bull</em>, <em>Moneyball</em> is definitely a sports film that will have the same long-lasting characteristics as those three famous movies, even if it doesn't take home an Oscar.</p> <p>One thing's for sure: It's a must-see for all sports fans.</p><p><font color="#000080"><font color="#000080"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/TimDanielsBR" ><img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/follow_me-c.png" border="1" height="27" align="BOTTOM" alt="" width="160"></a></font></font></p><p>Read more <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/oakland-athletics" title="Oakland Athletics analysis, news and photos">Oakland Athletics</a> news on BleacherReport.com</p>]]></content:encoded>
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