Mark Purdy believes A’s fans have developed some level of trust for Beane over his 17-year stint with the team. So, they are giving him some benefit of the doubt, for now.
“That said, it is really hard to be an A’s fan,” Purdy said. “You just get dizzy every year with the new cast of characters, and you cannot get attached to any of them.”
Although some fans might be angry, confused and unsure what to do with their old Céspedes jerseys, some pundits are once again praising Beane’s moves.
“Oakland is trying always to have rosters with as much flexibility as possible and as many players as possible between the ages of 22-29 because: a) those are usually the least expensive players and b) those are players likely to have their best seasons in front of them rather than behind them,” wrote Joel Sherman of the New York Post, in an article titled, “Billy Beane knows what he’s doing, even if nobody else does.”
Sherman argues that the moves give Beane the financial flexibility to “spend on hitters in trades or free agency who do not have onerous contract burdens, whom Beane could then turn around and trade to contenders in July if Oakland is not contending.”
So, resist the urge to freak out A’s fans.
Over on the other side of the Bay, the Giants continue to bask in their championship glory — Madison Bumgarner was named the 2014 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated.
One other tidbit: Barry Zito, the $126 million man and (don’t forget) Cy Young Award winner, is apparently attempting a comeback.
Bad: San Francisco 49ers
3%: Percent chance the San Francisco 49ers have of making the playoffs, according to FiveThirtyEight.
3?: Games left in the Jim Harbaugh-49ers era. Maybe.
After their Week 14 debacle in Oakland, the Niners chances of making the playoffs dropped by 20 percent. That puts them squarely in must-win territory this week when they travel up to Seattle.
The main problem with the team this season has been an inept, stagnant offensive that is incapable of moving the ball or scoring points.
“It’s like watching a nervous breakdown out there,” according to Mark Purdy, who points to a struggling offensive line, receivers that can’t get open and the inconsistency of quarterback Colin Kaepernick. That's a bad trio.
Adding to those on-field problems are reports of problems in the front office as well.
“There’s real rumbling, gurgling and indigestion between the owner Jed York, general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Jim Harbaugh,” Purdy says. Although Harbaugh is under contract for next season, it’s becoming increasing likely that he will not be coaching this team in 2015.
Nervous breakdowns. Indigestion. Add in a trip to Seattle just as the Super Bowl Champion Seahawks are hitting their stride again. Things don’t sound good in Santa Clara.
Watch the complete KQED NEWSROOM interview with Mark Purdy:
http://youtu.be/iCAk7hBgsiE
KQED NEWSROOM is a weekly news magazine program on television, radio and online. Watch Fridays at 8 p.m. on KQED Public Television 9, listen on Sundays at 6 p.m. on KQED Public Radio 88.5 FM or online here.