The Expectations Game

Did you like Napolean Dynamite?  We probably would have, but we waited to see it on DVD and so by the time we watched it we had heard every funny quote repeated hundreds of times and we were getting references to a movie we had never seen.  Needless to say that when we finally saw it -- we were a little disappointed.  Kip and Rico and Pedro just couldn't live up to the hype. By contrast, the other night, we had no real plans, so when we went out to a bar and ran into a few friends, which led to dinner, which led to laughter and adventures in the City, it seemed like the best night of our lives.  This is the issue with expectations.

 
There was a time in the recent past that we had expectations for the A's.  Like it wasn't that long ago that we actually believed that the A's would re-sign Miggy.  And even more recently we were TOTALLY blind-sided by the Huddy and Mulder trades.  In the few seasons that followed, we have allowed ourselves to hope from time to time that that the A's would do something awesome in the off-season.  You know, say, for example, acquire a powerful, established right-handed hitter in the prime of his career.  But we have basically had the hope beaten out of us and lately we have given up on any kind of real hope altogether.  We had come to understand that as A's fans we can only have expectations for things like acquiring Mike Sweeney and that Travis Buck will get healthy.  Or that some random prospect will pitch well in the Futures Game.  Or that Eric Chavez will maybe play again someday.  It is like we used to hope that we would get a pony for our birthday and now we hope that we don't get run over by a horse.  

So imagine our delight today when the A's actually appeared to have signed Matt Holliday.  We were shocked and thrilled and dumbfounded with hope.  This is like being given a Liger (which is a lion and a tiger mixed and bred for its skills in magic).  And it goes without saying that Ligers are way cooler than ponies.  We will leave it to all you baseball analyst types out there to wonder whether Billy gave up too much and how the heck the A's are going to sign him for 2010.  For now, we're having an off-season moment well beyond any of our lowly A's fan expectations.  

p.s.  To our loyal readers, sorry for the long absence.  This baseball season involved some very exciting life events (two moves, two weddings, two honeymoons, a new cat, a new job) and some very depressing A's baseball (not to mention the purchase of a fish sandwich at the Coliseum which had green mold growing on the bread).  This confluence of good and bad events made regular blogging virtually impossible.  But we thank you for your patience and appreciate your comments.

Comments

[steve-o]

So is it official? Or is the deal for Holliday on ice?

[Dave-O]

According to SF Skate, er, Gate, it is official:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/indexn?blogid=21

[Oakland Si]

congrats on your new job, spouses, moves, and cat!

I'm curious as to the other moves that the A's will be making -- and they will; Holliday alone does not a contender make.

[Jason]

Ew, green mold, I hate that. That happened to me at Intermezzo once.

I'd be happier with the Holliday acquisition if the A's also manage to get Furcal. It'll be interesting to see what happens at mid-season -- one article I read said that guys like Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill will be in the majors by then. So, yet again, we will have a whole new squad to root for.

One of my friends hangs up the team pictures from each year and blacks out (or adds a big mustache and glasses to) everyone who is no longer in the A's organization. The team photos from the last few years sure have a lot of mustaches.

[Anna]

Wow... OAD hasn't loaded for me in MONTHS! It's good to see you all again! Did everyone have a nice Thanksgiving?