$500,000 doesn’t buy you much in baseball. A few bats, a few balls, an Ishikawa or two. But that’s what 39-year-old former batting champ, present suspension server, and future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez signed for with the Oakland A’s. Why did the A’s do this? Because when your $36 million mail-order bride asks for a boob job, you give it to her. And if The Dreaded One can sniff his 2010 production, the A’s can put up with his hijinks. But let’s look at every non-Athletic team and figure out why no one wanted Manny to Manny all over their team.
Author Archives: Thomas Todd
25 Men I Haven’t Seen Naked
Giants pitchers and catchers report on February 18th, and the position players follow five days later on the 23rd. Danny and I will be reporting some time around March 12th, notepads in hand. Many things will be playing out before our eyes. Roster spots will be won and lost. Guys will take their last professional hacks, groove their last slider. We’ll eat a lot of fried food. But before spring gets fully underway, here is a preview of how I think the roster looks coming out of Spring Training.
Rotation:
Lincecum
Cain
Bumgarner (L)
Vogelsong
Zito/Surkamp (L)
Zito has the spot Opening Day, but he and Surkamp could carousel in and out if Zito can’t stay healthy, effective, or a combination of both. By effective I mean not light the rosin bag on fire and throw it at the umpire.
Bullpen:
Wilson
Romo
Lopez (L)
Affeldt (L)
Casilla
Mota
Hensley
The Giants Don’t Need Brian Wilson
People who throw things for a living (quarterbacks, pitchers, Russell Crowe) don’t check under their beds for the boogeyman- they look for Dr. James Andrews, whose very mention conjures images of torn ligaments and career-ending injuries. Giants closer Brian Wilson has crossed paths with The Good Doctor twice- once for Tommy John surgery at LSU and once last August for elbow inflammation. Though the prognosis wasn’t serious and no surgery was required, The Bearded One faced just five batters in the remaining six weeks of the season. The Chronicle reported last month that Wilson’s rehab will have him ready for most of spring training, but questions remain about how effective and healthy the three-time All-Star will be. The answer to these questions, in my mind, is one of dismissal: the Giants don’t need Brian Wilson.