[Mick]

I was really happy to see Stripling go. It's bad enough to have an employee end-run the manager when they're good players...but when they flat out suck -- like Stripling -- it's doubly awful. He goes to the press whining about how he doesn't understand how he's being used. As an aside, Ross, it's because you had a 5.40 ERA, and when Kapler put you in after you whined in the press, you gave up three earned runs in 3 1/3rd innings. Nice to see you continue your abject incompetence as you are tied for fourth in all of MLB with 10 losses with the A's. 2-10 record. Still confused about how you were used?

As for Soler...his OPS through end of July wasn't all that different from last year, and his OPS in August/Sept/Oct was .940. He hit 36 HRs last year, 32 of which would have been HRs at Oracle. I think it was a good chance to take. I'm extremely happy with Luciano taking over here, plus Luciano can play in the field. When Lee comes back next year, this team will be awesome.

Chapman would be a great permanent Giant. We don't have anyone near his capabilities. Snell is way too up and down, mostly down. I'd be happy to see him walk, given the pitching talent we have already. I'd like to see a rotation of Webb, Harrison, Birdsong, Ray, and either Hicks, Miller, Winn or Bivens. Probably not Roupp or Black. They have great options, raised from within.

I'm pretty excited about next year. There's still a path for this year...

Breathing helium all the way.

[Mick]

I was really happy to see Stripling go. It's bad enough to have an employee end-run the manager when they're good players...but when they flat out suck -- like Stripling -- it's doubly awful. He goes to the press whining about how he doesn't understand how he's being used. As an aside, Ross, it's because you had a 5.40 ERA, and when Kapler put you in after you whined in the press, you gave up three earned runs in 3 1/3rd innings. Nice to see you continue your abject incompetence as you are tied for fourth in all of MLB with 10 losses with the A's. 2-10 record. Still confused about how you were used?

As for Soler...his OPS through end of July wasn't all that different from last year, and his OPS in August/Sept/Oct was .940. He hit 36 HRs last year, 32 of which would have been HRs at Oracle. I think it was a good chance to take. I'm extremely happy with Luciano taking over here, plus Luciano can play in the field. When Lee comes back next year, this team will be awesome.

Chapman would be a great permanent Giant. We don't have anyone near his capabilities. Snell is way too up and down, mostly down. I'd be happy to see him walk, given the pitching talent we have already. I'd like to see a rotation of Webb, Harrison, Birdsong, Ray, and either Hicks, Miller, Winn or Bivens. Probably not Roupp or Black. They have great options, raised from within.

I'm pretty excited about next year. There's still a path for this year...

Breathing helium all the way.