What the hell is it with the Oakland A's? Potential Conspiracy Theory

[DeToxRox]

Is there something shady going on in Oakland? I mean honestly, look at the guys who were on their teams that had decent years and dropped totally off the map:

Miguel Tejada
Jason Giambi
Eric Chavez
Bobby Crosby
Johnny Damon
Mark Mulder
Barry Zito
Tim Hudson

Hudson may be flukey because he came back after being down a bit, but ihonestly, doesn't this seem really strange that all these guys could be so good for a year or two then drop off some amazingly? Two of them are tied to steroids, but this seriously makes me wonder if there aren't more.

Just a conspiracy theory but it made me wonder.

[DeToxRox]

Dola .. Always linked to Barry Bonds ... Cue the ominious music.

[Logan]

This Mets fan wishes Tim Hudson completely dropped off the map.

[DeToxRox]

And yes I am sure Damon could be considered a stretch too.

[Maple Leafs]

How are you cast aspersions on the franchise that brought us Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire.

[DeToxRox]

How are you cast aspersions on the franchise that brought us Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire.

Speaking of that, did anyone benefit more from the steroid era then LaRussa? His teams were anchored by Mac, and there is always going to be uncertanity around Pujols.

[Atocep]

Well, Damon doesn't deserve to be on that list. He produced in Boston and has with the Yankees as well. Age is getting him now, but it happens to everyone.

Mulder had a very serious shoulder injury,was rushed back, and reinjured it requiring another surgery.

Chavez's back has bothered him since he signed his extension and its killed his ability to hit.

Zito never had great stuff. He has a very good curveball, but hitters lay off of that now and his other pitches wouldn't scare AAA hitters let alone get anyone out at the major league level. He's also messed with mechanics a lot since he quit working with Rick Peterson and he's lost some velocity on his fastball and his command isn't what it was.

Hudson has been pretty good with Atlanta.

[cartman]

Don't forget about former RoY Ben Grieve.

[DeToxRox]

Don't forget about former RoY Ben Grieve.

Well played.

[Logan]

Moneyball.

[tarcone]

Pujols is clean. He is a hard working ball player. Putting him in the same sentence as steroids is a serious slap in his face.
I think they know when to fold and when to hold. Mulder was a sore arm guy but the cards gave up a good young guy to get him. I cant wait to see what Haren does in arizona.

[DeToxRox]

Add Rich Harden to the list of guys I forgot to add.

[DeToxRox]

So while I agree that the A's know way to hold and when to fold, at some point this looks really suspicious. Honestly, Nick Swisher is probably going to tear every tendon in his knee in a few months.

[kcchief19]

I think a better question is how Oakland got Johnny Damon and Jermaine Dye from Kansas City for 48-year-old reliever Roberto Hernandez, washed-up/never-was catcher AJ Hinch, the human windmill Angel Berroa and utter waste of humanity Neifi Perez. Dear god almighty.

[Rizon]

Giambi hasn't been the same since I pelted that bitch with a battery a couple years ago.

[korme]

It's called baseball. Players boom and fizzle out early all the time.

[korme]

Also- Julian Tejeda is old, that is why he is no good anymore.

[Cringer]

I won't argue too many of those names, but exactly what year did Tejada drop "completely off the map?"

SEASON TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
1997 Oakland Athletics 26 99 10 20 3 2 2 10 33 2 22 2 0 .240 .333 .202
1998 Oakland Athletics 105 365 53 85 20 1 11 45 140 28 86 5 6 .298 .384 .233
1999 Oakland Athletics 159 593 93 149 33 4 21 84 253 57 94 8 7 .325 .427 .251
2000 Oakland Athletics 160 607 105 167 32 1 30 115 291 66 102 6 0 .349 .479 .275
2001 Oakland Athletics 162 622 107 166 31 3 31 113 296 43 89 11 5 .326 .476 .267
2002 Oakland Athletics 162 662 108 204 30 0 34 131 336 38 84 7 2 .354 .508 .308
2003 Oakland Athletics 162 636 98 177 42 0 27 106 300 53 65 10 0 .336 .472 .278
2004 Baltimore Orioles 162 653 107 203 40 2 34 150 349 48 73 4 1 .360 .534 .311
2005 Baltimore Orioles 162 654 89 199 50 5 26 98 337 40 83 5 1 .349 .515 .304
2006 Baltimore Orioles 162 648 99 214 37 0 24 100 323 46 79 6 2 .379 .498 .330
2007 Baltimore Orioles 133 514 72 152 19 1 18 81 227 41 55 2 1 .357 .442 .296
2008 Houston Astros 21 81 16 30 7 1 4 18 51 4 10 2 1 .402 .630 .370

[korme]

He didn't and neither did a lot of those names, a lot of them got famous when the A's made their playoff runs, perhaps it is because Tejada went to no man's land (Baltimore) and is not in his "peak" years.

[lynchjm24]

So while I agree that the A's know way to hold and when to fold, at some point this looks really suspicious. Honestly, Nick Swisher is probably going to tear every tendon in his knee in a few months.

Some of those guys were easy to fold on. Zito? Are you kidding me? I don't play poker but that is I think like folding unsuited 2-7.

They didn't exactly fold on some of these guys. Crosby is still their SS and looking back his good years weren't all that great. They decided to pay Chavez because they could only pay one of Giambi/Tejada/Chavez. I guess they should have picked Tejada? Chavez was the youngest and played the best defense when he wasn't hurt.

[JeeberD]

Yeah, Tejada REALLY fell off the map. Hitting .370 with 4 homers and 18 RBIs sucks donkey balls...

[Ksyrup]

Was there something shady going on in Cleveland? I mean honestly, look at the guys who were on their teams that had decent years and dropped totally off the map:

Carlos Baerga
Albert Belle
Sandy Alomar
Brian Giles
Jeromy Burnitz
Charles Nagy
Chad Ogea
Jaret Wright

Baerga may be flukey because he came back after being down a bit, but ihonestly, doesn't this seem really strange that all these guys could be so good for a year or two then drop off some amazingly? Two of them are tied to donuts, but this seriously makes me wonder if there aren't more.

Just a conspiracy theory but it made me wonder.



...And yes I'm sure Belle could be considered a stretch too.



...Don't forget about former RoY Joe Charbonneau.



...Add Cliff Lee to the list of guys I forgot to add.



...Burnitz hasn't been the same since he realized he was a slow, poor-hitting white bitch a couple years ago.

:) <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[ISiddiqui]

Cliff Lee to the list of guys I forgot to add.

I'm going to knock on wood because he's on my fantasy team, but Lee is having a Hell of a year!

[Ksyrup]

So is Rich Harden. When he pitches.

[Ksyrup]

If I had known that Jake Westbrook went on the DL, I would have used him instead of Lee.

[jbergey22]

Was there something shady going on in Minnesota? I mean honestly, look at the guys who were on their teams that had decent years and dropped totally off the map:

Aj Pierzynski
Christian Guzman
Eddie Guardardo
Eric Milton
Latroy Hawkins
Doug Mientkiewicz
Jacque Jones
Chuck Knoblauch

Mientkiewicz may be flukey because he won a world series after being down a bit, but ihonestly, doesn't this seem really strange that all these guys could be so good for a year or two then drop off some amazingly? Two of them are tied to being pompous A-holes, but this seriously makes me wonder if there aren't more.

Just a conspiracy theory but it made me wonder.



...And yes I'm sure Pierzynski could be considered a stretch too.



...Don't forget about former RoY Marty Cordova.



...Add Joe Mays to the list of guys I forgot to add.



...Lew Ford hasn't been the same since he realized he was a slow, poor-hitting white bitch a couple years ago.

[jbergey22]

Is it just me or does it seem that you can make a case for any team:)

[korme]

ANY TEAM THATS THE POINT, its baseball.

[Ksyrup]

That was kinda my point.