Sunday afternoon linkage..
- There have been indications that commissioner Bud Selig might rule on the A's move to San Jose by the end of the year, but he may be considering a ruling that could challenge both the A's and Giants to fulfill certain criteria, writes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. "I think there will be an effort to be Solomonesque," said someone who has spoken with Selig. "This is not a 'yes or no' sort of thing."
- Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington says that manager Clint Hurdle's job is not in jeopardy despite the club's recent slide, according to Rob Biertempfel and Karen Price of the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review.
- Paul Swydan of Fangraphs believes that if Rafael Soriano opts out of his deal with the Yankees in search of a multi-year deal with an average value of $14MM per year, either he'll be disappointed or the team that signs him will be. Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports opined that Soriano would be making a mistake if he cut the cord on his three-year, $35MM contract in search of a better deal.
- The Nationals don't plan on celebrating when they officially clinch a playoff spot as the team has goals within reach more worthy of a champagne bottle, writes Amanda Comak of The Washington Times.
- Stephen Strasburg's season isn't completely over as he's staying involved with the team by playing catch and participating in a rehab program crafted by the Nationals, says Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post. Pitching coach Steve McCatty says the young ace has handled the transition better than outsiders may perceive. “I don’t think he’s ready for a straitjacket, if that’s what you’re getting at,” McCatty said. “… Stephen is doing fine. He’s handling it.”
Daniel Seco contributed to this post.
Hurdle needs to go, huge slide two years in a row with the pirates. Only really one good year as a manager.
He’s having more success than he probably should given their roster. I think Neal Huntington’s job should be more at stake. Bucs have collapse post All-Star break, when the GM has to make the right moves. Hurdle may play Barmes/Barajas too much, but NH gave them FA contracts. He can’t identify hitting and he obviously doesn’t trust his own development staff enough to promote and play deserving players.
His team has quit on him, and that starts with the manager…
And his team is soft. Instead of retaliating to Chapman beaning Cutch in Cincy back in August, they just laid down. IMO, that’s a reflection of the manager. I don’t think that it’s a coincidence that the downward spiral began that night.
you can not be serious
It’s not Hurdle’s fault the GM tried to get cute at the deadline and get reclamation projects instead of trade for players who would shore up weaknesses and put them over the top.
That’s just the way the Bucs operate. The owners are to be blamed.
give him credit for helping the pirates get to 16 games above .500 but again hold him responsible for the huge second half slide,time to go…..
Or you might think that each year the true talent of the team showed itself and that resulted in the record coming back down towards what one might have projected.
Something “solomonesque” from Selig sounds more like the typical Bud Selig “ignore a problem and hope it goes away.”
So true.
Did Bud say by the end of “which” year? Good luck A’s fans. MLB was supposed to rule on the Nats renegotiation with MASN by Opening Day, June 1st, then the All-Star game and it’s still up in the air…
The A’s VS Giants in the 2012 World Series; winner decides territory rights.
As a Yankees fan, I would prefer the Yankees be in the WS, but if we choke again, this would be the best possible outcome.
As much as I don’t like that matchup as an A’s fan, I’ll take that over waiting another 3 years for Bud to choose [ ] Yes [ ] No
Move to San Jose definetely would help oakland. Population of south bay is at least 1/2 million higher than the territory they would be losing in the northern half of the east bay. It also has a much stronger economy. Just move them and be done with this drama. It is not like the A’s want to move to a completely new metro area, and they originally allowed the giants into the area as it is.
The Giants were in the bay area first, in 58, as opposed to the A’s first year being ’68.
The Oakland Athletics of San Jose?
Orlando A’s?
No.
i think MLB has got 1, possibly 2, teams to many in florida as it is…
orlando rays more like it
North Carolina A’s
Thats not true. They want to draw away attention from Bryce Harper and the champagne they’re not going to have.
Just say no already Bud… we know you met with the city of oakland and realized that lew is full of it when he says oakland doesnt have a viable option. people WILL show up in oakland, we just won’t show up to give you money. That’s the problem here, it’s not the stadium its YOU!