ABOUT AT BAT

MSNBC.com baseball analyst Ted Robinson gives his take on the hits and misses by players, managers, umpires and owners in Major League Baseball.

Robinson has an extensive background in covering the sport. He called the play-by-play on NBC's Major League Baseball Game of the Week telecasts from 1986-89. Additionally, he has been the lead play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota Twins, the television and radio play-by-play voice of the San Francisco Giants, and a member of the New York Mets broadcast team.



A.L. imbalance has A's rebuilding

Posted: Sunday, January 06, 2008 11:49 AM

There’s an interesting debate in the Bay Area after Oakland’s trade of Nick Swisher to the White Sox. Moderating one radio exchange of opinions was Arizona’s Eric Byrnes, who shares with Swisher the distinction of being a fan favorite traded away by Oakland general manager Billy Beane.

 

What impresses me is the passion of Oakland fans who believe in all things Beane. No doubt that in two trades this offseason – the Swisher deal and the shipping out of Dan Haren to the Diamondbacks -- Beane has thoroughly replenished a bad farm system (why it deteriorated is another question).

 

I think Beane’s moves are a tangible byproduct of the imbalance in the American League. Sit in Beane’s chair, watch what the Tigers and Angels have done this winter to position themselves better to chase the Red Sox and Yankees and ask yourself if keeping intact a mediocre Oakland team (76 wins last season) would lead to a dramatic improvement by the Athletics this coming season? The answer has to be no. Thus, Beane chooses to tear down today in hopes of being stronger in two years.

 

One other dynamic at work here is that Beane often uses the phrase that if you’re told it’s time to rebuild, then it’s too late. Can’t help but see that as a veiled reference to the woes of Oakland’s cross bay rivals in San Francisco.

 

Changing topics, I ran into a young friend who plays minor league baseball. He had just returned from a trip to Japan, and he was struck by the overwhelming presence in Tokyo of Bobby Valentine. He told me Valentine is a dominating presence on billboards and commercials.

 

My next thought was Valentine is the best game manager I witnessed in 22 years of broadcasting major league baseball. We all know the other issues that have checkered Valentine’s career, but why isn’t he managing in the United States? Could it be that he has found in Japan, the money, the success and, most importantly, the respect that has eluded him in this country?

 

Next week is balloting for the Hall of Fame and Monday; I’ll offer thoughts on the process and those up for election.

 

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