Sports Radio Service


		Memo to A’s Owner Lew Wolff By Charlie O. Mallonee October 3, 2009

	Memo to A’s Owner Lew Wolff TO: Lew Wolff FROM: Charlie O. Mallonee SUBJECT: The Oakland Athletics First Mr. Wolff we want you to know we feel your pain. As fans and members of the press, we realize that you cannot be happy to be the owner of a last-place team. We also recognize the fact you want to be the owner a winning team that qualifies for the playoffs. In light of your stated goals, I have put together a few thoughts that may help you reach those goals: 1. The time has come to reevaluate Billy Beane and the Moneyball philosophy. I know that the book made Mr. Beane a star commodity, and that he was almost portrayed by Brad Pitt in a movie of the same name. Putting all of that aside, it is time to look at the results. The last three seasons have brought progressively poorer results – 3rd, 3rd and last-place. Moneyball may have run its course. It is time ask if a different philosophy needs to guide the Oakland A’s. It is also time to ask if Billy Beane is person to take the A’s into the future. I am not saying that Beane cannot make the changes and make the A’s a winner again, but maybe he would like to move on to greener pastures … like San Diego. Mr. Wolff, it is time to ask some very hard questions and to expect some very straight forward answers. The bottom line is simple: “Just win baby!” 2. Bob Geren deserves one more season as manager. He also deserves to have more control of the club on the field. Teams run from the GM’s box tend not to do well over time (see the Oakland Raiders). The A’s have looked like a different team in the second-half of the season. They hit singles, run and use the sacrifice to score runs – many more runs! Geren has adjusted to his personnel and the A’s have been an exciting, watchable and winning team. Unfortunately, this adjustment did not come until after the All Star Break. I do not know if Geren is the man for the long-term, but he is winning games which should earn him another year at the helm. 3. It is time for some personnel changes: Who should stay? – I am not going to mention the obvious keepers like Kurt Suzuki. Adam Kennedy: This guy is a “gamer”! He can play multiple positions, he hits for average and he hustles. Mr. Wolff – re-sign Kennedy. Ryan Sweeney: He is a keystone in the rebuilding process. Sweeney is a player to keep. Landon Powell: This is another player who saw too little playing time. Powell can catch, play first and in my opinion DH. Scott Hairston: Strong player who helps to make the A’s a team with a strong outfield. Mark Ellis and Rajai Davis: Well, duh! Cliff Pennington: He may be the SS of the future. Almost the entire pitching staff: this is the crown jewel of the team. Who should go? Jack Cust: Power be damned – he strikes out too often. 184 times so far this season to lead the American League. Cust is a rally killer and must go! Bobby Crosby: This guy took rejection like a man and deserves to go to a team that wants him. Nomar: No more! It is just time to hang them up. Gio Gonzalez: He has had two shots in “the show” and blown them both. Goodbye Gio. Eric Chavez: Face it! It is over. Cut your losses and move on. 4. Do not be sucked into long term contacts. Three to four-year contracts are fine, but the seven-year deals are the basis for disaster. Signing free agents is fine but don’t get snookered into a bad deal. 5. Please - no more Matt Holliday type deals. If you are going to sign a player, then keep him. The fans are sick of seeing a new roster every 10 days. It is important for fans to know who the players are on their team without needing a program. 6. Take a hard look at your training staff. The injury rate among your players has been atrocious. An improved conditioning and physical therapy program needs to be put into place now. There may also need to be personnel changes. 7. Take a hard look at your player personnel director. Your Triple-A and Double-A minor league teams continue to win championships and yet when these players are promoted to the majors, they fall short. The scouts must be trained look for big league talent – not Triple-A players. 8. Build a winner and they will build you a stadium. Your team does not have win a divisional championship, but it does need to win at least 85+ games. Everybody loves a winner. 9. Sue MLB and the Giants. The territorial grant that gives the Giants the San Jose market is stupid and illegal. It is restraint of trade. People from the East Bay can attend Giants games. Fans from the South Bay can go to A’s games. It is one LARGE market. MLB hates to get sued. The Giants will not want to spend a bundle defending a suit. Sue them and move to San Jose. It’s what Charlie O. Finley would do … or did! Finally, Mr. Wolff on behalf of all Oakland Athletics’ fans, thank you for keeping the team in Northern California. Now, go build a winner! Charlie O P.S. Maybe it is time to drop the green and gold colors. I think the team would look great in Philadelphia Athletic “blue and cream”. It would also provide a new revenue stream as fans by new caps, jerseys etc. Just a thought – Lew.