Bleacher Report - Articles by Jonathan Colomb

Where Are the Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants?

Jonathan Colomb — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:19:25 -0400

The baseball playoffs are here and if you are a fan of Bay Area baseball teams—you have nothing to root for during the remainder of October.

The Giants were finally put out of their misery after 162 games of the worst baseball I have ever seen. The final game against the Dodgers was like watching the final scenes of "Old Yeller" (that sick doggy snuff film produced by Disney)—you were sad to see the season end but you were just happy to not have to see the Giants embarrass themselves any longer.

Oakland's season was not much better. They came into 2008 by trading away every good player they have ever had then proceeded to look like a decent team until choking away the season in the final month and a half.

So after watching the embarrassing debacle that was Bay Area baseball all year and not being rewarded with a playoff team, I want to give you people a couple of reasons to watch the playoffs this year anyways.

1) The extension of the Cubs curse. Although the Cubs started to 2008 season as the odds-on favorite to win the World Series from the National League, they have looked rather mundane in the last month or so. Their best pitcher Zambrano pitched a no-hitter against the Astros then got shelled in the final two appearances before the playoffs. They will lose the series to the streaking Los Angeles Dodgers. Cubs fans: prepare for another 100 years of mediocrity.

2) The Angels getting stomped by the Red Sox one more time. Despite the fact that the Angels beat the Red Sox eight out of nine times in head to head meetings during the regular season, they will be dominated by the Red Sox in the post season.

The Red Sox have been there too many times. Experience can often trump talent any day—ask the New Orleans Hornets about their first round matchup with the Spurs. So, as a Oakland A's fan, I may not be able to see Frank Thomas hit home runs in the postseason but it as almost as satisfying to see the Angels get slapped.

3) Watching Sabathia's value go through the roof. Tired of watching your stocks fall through the floor? Can't stand seeing your 401K decrease and the number of years you need to work before retirement increase? Scared because your financial manager is avoiding your phone calls? In need of some good financial news?

Then you should watch every start that CC Sabathia has in the post season. The guy is nearly unwritable and with every start his value goes up. Every strikeout is like another million dollars the Yankees will have to pay to sign him next season. Recession my foot.

4) A-Rod may make another public announcement at anytime. Do you remember the World Series last year when the game was interrupted so that A-Rod could announce that he was opting out of his contract with the Yankees?

Clearly A-Rod is bigger than the game itself—even the World Series. This year we can expect A-Rod to announce what he is having for dinner or perhaps what type of Coke he drinks (Zero, Diet, Caffeine Free, Regular, Cherry, etc...). Exciting times.

5) The chance to see the team where your favorite Oakland A will be playing next year. Its no secret that Oakland closer Houston Street is on the trade market as is third baseman Eric Chavez. They are good players but their value has exceeded the Oakland threshold and they will probably be moved to another team during the off season.

So a fun little game for you Oakland fans this post season is to watch the games and figure out where your favorite A's player can fit best next year. Its kinda like playing your own personal game of fantasy baseball.

I know it was a tough season for Bay Area baseball teams and although we don't get a chance to watch any of our teams in the postseason, there are still reasons to enjoy post season baseball this year. And Bay Area fans—don't despair. There is always Warriors basketball.

The Long, Strange Journey of Oakland's Jack Cust

Jonathan Colomb — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:47:05 -0400

Jack Cust is a name that has been floating around baseball inside circles for years.

He burst onto the scene with the Oakland A's in 2007, hitting 26 home runs. He spent the season walking and striking out at higher percentages than any other player in major league baseball (21 percent and 45 percent of the time in the five months he was playing, respectively).

His journey to the Oakland DH position took 10 years of minor league stops, playing in Arizona, Colorado, Baltimore, and San Diego before landing with the Athletics.

His story is like a real-life Crash Davis (from the classic baseball movie Bull Durham). And his future in Oakland looks to be long and bright.

The legend of Jack Cust begins at Immaculata High School in Somerville, New Jersey. His baseball career literally started off with a bang, cracking a grand slam in his first official at-bat as a freshman.

His exploits were well known across the East Coast where he was worshiped as a naturally talented kid with a work ethic in the batting cage that was second to none.

He hit "tape-measure-worthy" home runs on a daily basis and managed to parlay that ability into a first team All-American selection at first base.

The Arizona Diamondbacks took Cust in the 1997 MLB draft with a first round selection before the team's inaugural season. He was heralded as a future Hall of Famer before taking a single swing in the major leagues.

The game seemed to come easily to Cust as he piled up award after award in the minor leagues.

He was sent to the Minor League All-Star teams in 1998, 1999, 2000, and in 2001. In 1999 he also garnered the Diamondback’s Minor League Player of the Year, Baseball America's First Team Minor League DH, and was a Class A All-Star.

In September 2001, he made his major league debut with Arizona only to be traded to the Colorado Rockies the following January.

Cust spent the next six years floating between the majors and minors with Colorado, Baltimore, Oakland, and San Diego, never able to hold a solid spot in the majors due to a stigma he developed as a defensive liability.

He was finally acquired for a second time by Oakland on May 3, 2007 after DH Mike Piazza went down with an injury.

For those of you who don't know, Billy Beane (Oakland's GM) uses a system to evaluate players that values on-base percentage and walk totals more than hits or batting average. Cust excelled in these categories and proved to be the prototype of an Oakland A's hitter.

His first major league game was on May 6th and his first home run came about four plate appearances into it. He was just starting to find his groove.

Cust went on one of the most prolific tears in Oakland A's history by hitting six home runs in his first seven games. He finished the season with a .256 BA, .408 OBP, and a .504 slugging percentage. Scary good.

Going into this season, Jack is slated to either start as DH for Oakland or possibly fill in at one of the corner spots in the outfield. His spring numbers have been solid with a .294 BA, a .478 OBP, and a .647 slugging percentage.

Yes, his defense is questionable and he is what is referred to as a "three outcome batter," (meaning his at bats are usually strikeouts, walks, or home runs) but the boy can hit.

So this season, look for Cust to be a real big bat in an Oakland lineup full of singles hitters.

Don't bother buying a place...you won't be here long.

Jonathan Colomb — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:04:03 -0400

Sure, there has not been a lot to smile about lately in the other city by the Bay. The Warriors are hanging like Tom Cruise in "Mission Impossible 2" to the 8th spot in the Western Conference at 41-24 (that is in reference to that scene where he almost falls off the cliff in the beginning? Get it? I don't. I hated that movie). The Raiders are prepping for another season of mediocrity and hoping their number one pick in the 2007 NFL draft, LSU quarterback Ja Marcus Russell, can drop from his rumored 300 lbs down to his playing weight of 255 lbs. What better way to spend the richest rookie contract in the history of the NFL than eating your own weight in silver and black cupcakes everyday? Congratulations Al Davis, you now own the rights to a guy that can throw 80 yards from his knees and eat an entire Christmas ham in a single sitting.

The A's spent their whole off season like every other Oakland off season, living up to the reputation that was created by the book "Moneyball". Billy Beane used the time between October and March to trade away any player that shows a glimmer of talent for more prospects. Why risk spending the money to hold on to good players when they could simply trade those guys to clubs willing to spend money in return for prospects that will develop in to great players....that will eventually leave for more money. It is a vicious/disgusting/insert your own synonym for crappy/upsetting cycle. How great would the A's be if that "Moneyball" system was actually backed by some money from ownership?

Don't get me wrong, I am relieved that Oakland didn't spend the money to hold on to Barry Zito, Miguel Tejada, Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, or Jason Giambi long term. All of them managed to flame out after leaving Oakland. The sole exception being the season that Tim Hudson had last year for the Atlanta Braves, finishing 16-10 with an ERA of 3.33. But the point is still valid. Nick Swisher was developing in to a solid player, Jason Kendell was contributing in a major way, and Dan Haren was the ace of the future.

This off season, the A's traded Haren (an up-and-coming star who is only 27) to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a package of prospects including Carlos Gonzalez (an ou tfielder rated #18 in on "Baseball America's" Top 100 prospects). Why would you trade a solid pitcher from a staff that is devoid of a clear ace, for a group of prospects that have not even proved they can produce on the major league level? I understand that rebuilding is often necessary, especially when the club doesn't have the required funds to go and get free agents. I just hope that when a new stadium is built, the Oakland ownership can stop acting as though winning the AL West with a tiny payroll is the goal every season. With the revenue flow that inevitabley comes from a new stadium, being in a small market can't be an excuse for mediocrity anymore. How many seasons should the fans have to endure an early exit from the playoffs? For just one year, I would like to be able to enter the free-agent period feeling like the A's might be a contender for a valuable free-agent and won't be saying goodbye to another rising star.

Don't worry though elephant faithful, the A's still have Rich Harden and Jack Cust to enjoy.....for the time being.