Sports Radio Service


		Michael Duca on A's and Giants By Michael Duca August 7, 2010

	Sportstalk: The Giants have been hot but going into Atlanta everyone knew going into this series this was going to bring out some close games and some heat weather wise. Tim Lincecum lost a close one in the opener on Thursday and barely got any offensive support. Through the series how critical will it be for the Giants offense to find that extra pop in their bats and what a tough loss for Timmy on Thursday? Well, Friday night they took extra innings to win 3-2 without a single hit with runners in scoring position. The good teams win their share of games. The great ones win other people's share of games. Barry Zito is pitching out of his mind right now, as good as he was in the first half, he is STILL a second half pitcher, and I think it's going to be a lot of fun for the final 50 games. And then the ones after those, too. Sportstalk: Do you really buy into A's assistant General Manager David Forst's theory that Daric Barton is the established first baseman on the team and so he's converting Chris Carter to play left field after he's played first base all his minor league career. Is this the sensable move or should Forst let Carter play his natural position at first base? Hmm, let's see now. Carlos Gonzalez, Andre Ethier, and Nelson Cruz. Pretty good outfield, don't you think? If the A's had kept those players, well, where would any of these guys you're talking about be right now? Since they clearly knew what they had with those guys, it's only logical to assume they know what they have with Barton, who leads the team in OBP, and who is playing a decent first base after all these years. Sometimes, stubbornness just has to substitute for intuition. Sportstalk: Days before his resignation Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums was not taking any questions about the future of the A's staying in Oakland after San Jose Mayor Chuck Reid showed interest in moving the team to San Jose. With Dellums resigning on Wednesday will this be his legacy neglecting the A's and almost not making any effort to try and keep the team in Oakland? Gee, where do I begin with this -- first, let's clarify. Dellums didn't resign, he just came out of his cave to tell people he was going to keep not doing much of a job, only stop collecting a salary to not do it --- he's not running for re-election, probably because somebody helped him understand "run". I can't count how many times I've said, here and anywhere else people are unfortunate enough to be within the sound of my voice, that the A's are not moving to San Jose any time soon -- maybe not any time ever. The latest problems include: Parking. Sharks. Access. --- and --- AT&T owning a major piece of property without which they can't build. Hmmmm -- what's the name on the ballpark in San Francisco again? And, who owns the team already playing in San Jose? Ron Dellums did nothing to help the A's. Neither did Jerry Brown. Probably because the City of Oakland has a lot more to do, much, much bigger problems, than providing the Fishers and Wolfs with a better place to make money. Dellums' legacy will not even mention the A's. The loss of cops on the street, to ambush by criminals, and then to ambush by taxpayers, will resonate a lot longer.