Billy Beane's Next Move for the Start of the 2009 Season Is an Easy One

Billy Beane has the ball in his court on his next move, which will be for the 2009 season. It's a simple one really, and if the move doesn't happen, A's fans should run him out of town, no matter how good the prospects are. What is the move you may ask?

The move is an easy one, and that is the firing of Bob Geren. Never in my recent memory have I seen an A's team look so hapless. It's almost as if, after the All Star break, the team just gave up.

The reason, it seems, is that the players just do not want to hustle for Geren. It's almost like he's taken the passion of these young players away.

The problem with Geren is a hopeless lack of common sense on when to come out to settle a pitcher down or leaving a pitcher in the game too long. He also has problems with the way he handles the bullpen, putting middle relievers in way too early.

The next problem with Geren is his insistence on how good a hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo is. The Athletics' offense has been non-existent all year long. Mark Ellis has been underachieving all year, Jack Cust can give you a walk or a strikeout, and every once in a while, he'll hit one out.

Emil Brown started out hot but slowed way down, though he seems to be doing fine against lefties, but he just can't hit righties, Daric Barton should have been sent down to work on his swing, but the A's kept him up way too long.

Now that Barton is starting to hit, the best you can hope for his around a .230 batting average for a player who should be hitting around .300.

So, Beane's job looks easy. Firing Geren and Ty Van Burkleo. The A's should try to bring in Rickey Henderson as a coach, pry Ron Washington away from Texas, and find a solid hitting coach. A's fans are getting impatient with the A's lack of success at the plate for the last five years.