Where's the Love for Joe B?
As much as we loved the awesome April weekend sweep of the Royals, and the share of first place, and all the offense that can actually score runs, and the comeback win on Saturday, we're actually hung up on a different issue from the weekend. Although we usually try to look on the bright side when things are going poorly, now that things are going well we want to complain just a little. Now, we aren't really bobblehead people. That is well documented. But the Travis Buck bobblehead giveaway on Saturday has left us pondering why Joe Blanton does not have a bobblehead. He is the most veteran, home grown A who is currently playing, he's the number 1 starter, he has been lights out all season so far, and yet the A's decide to create a bobblehead of pretty boy Travis Buck, who can't buy a hit this season. We think this is another example of the A's marketing department getting it wrong and catering to the "Mrs. Hudson" t-shirt crowd, rather than to true baseball fans. It bugs us.
Go Oakland!
I totally agree. Sure, Joe is only 1-3, but his ERA is respectable (4.24) and I think he leads the AL in innings pitched, as usual. He's toiled in obscruity long enough! If we gave a bobble to a one-year contract guy like Mike Piazza, why not honor the most consistent A's starter of the last 4 years? Also, it was always a mystery to me why Scutaro never got one, either.
Now that you mention it...it's time for a "Stomper and Stomper's Friend" bobble...it should be of the both of them break-dancing, with Stomper's Friend in mid back-flip. Let's DO this, A's!
Posted by: Blanton'sNutritionist | April 21, 2008 at 03:22 PM
I think they refrained this year because they weren't sure if Big Joe was going to be traded. There are several TBA bobbleheads this season, and I wouldn't be surprised if he took one of them.
Posted by: Anna | April 21, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Actually Blanton does have a minor league bobblehead made by the Kane County Cougars a few years back. He signed it for me his rookie year against the Yankees.
Posted by: Eric Marinbach | April 21, 2008 at 05:12 PM
It's ridiculous that they haven't done a Blanton bobblehead here in Oakland. One of the TV announcers the other day said the final "TBA" bobblehead was going to be of Jack Cust! He's done way less in an A's uniform than Blanton has.
Posted by: Jason | April 22, 2008 at 08:08 AM
"K"ust! Lord help us! Let me guess...it'll show him helplessly taking a called third strike on the outer half of the plate.
Call me crazy, but I agree with Scott Ostler's column yesterday 100%. A's should immediately sign Bonds and Big Hurt, cut Kust and Mike Sweeney, and platoon Barry and Frank at DH. That'll give those Angels pitchers something to think about during our 19 matchups this year.
Posted by: Blanton'sNutritionist | April 22, 2008 at 09:41 AM
DISAGREE. I wouldn't mind having Thomas back. He's a lovely fellow, but keep in mind the motto here at Oakland A's Days: More quirks, fewer jerks.
Posted by: Anna | April 22, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Anna, I agree, you make a great point. However, Big Hurt was known to be a big jerk before he became Oaklandized. I'm thinking Barry has become somewhat humbled by the federal indictments, the lack of interest from any ballcub, and the Giants callously turning their backs on him (Magowan's comments, taking down all the Bonds posters at PhoneCo Park, etc...). The only way a Bonds-experiment could work is if he shows up, takes a locker, and acts like one of the guys. I think he might feel invigorated playing with a bunch of kids who would idolize him. If he ends up being a total disaster, we can always cut him and call up Todd Linden (which shows you how bad our offensive situation is this year).
I know it's a risk, and I know that A's will get hounded on the road with boos, but the starting pitching and bullpen are strong enough for us to hang in the race, while the offense is a total mirage. We need some boppers! If Bonds starts jerking fastballs over the right-field fence, I'll welcome him with open arms! He's the quirkiest weirdo in baseball!
Desperate for homers,
B's N.
Posted by: Blanton'sNutritionist | April 22, 2008 at 11:05 AM
"Quirkiest weirdo in baseball"? Blanton's Nutritionist has indeed stirred up a hornet's nest of controversy. Back in Beantown, a inconsolable ManRam sheds tears, and vows to get this title back. Speaking of quirky, check out today's Chron and a cool article about the "King of the A's Clubhouse", Andrew Brown:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/21/SPFD10974I.DTL
Posted by: Steve-O | April 22, 2008 at 11:36 AM
We have someone named Andrew Brown on our team?
Posted by: Anna | April 22, 2008 at 11:27 PM