The A’s Are Contenders
At least according to Oakland owner Lew Wolff, who apparently thinks everything is just peachy with his team heading into 2008. Here’s what he told John Shea in the San Francisco Chronicle:
“I’m expecting much better than a .500 season,” he said. … I think we’ll do better in ‘08 … and, with a little luck, will win more games than people are anticipating.”
With a “little bit of luck?” If by that he means successfully cloning Alex Rodriguez nine times, then sure the A’s will be just fine next season. In reality, Oakland will be one of the worst teams in the American League in the short-term.
I doubt Wolff thinks otherwise, but this is the type of thing he has to say to placate the “fans.” And by that, I mean the unintelligent casual fans, who don’t understand basic concepts like rebuilding. Is there a scenario where the A’s could sniff .500? Maybe, but that’s under the unlikely assumption that they keep Joe Blanton and Mark Ellis, Bobby Crosby and Eric Chavez play full, productive seasons. Even then, that’s pushing it.
Additional Reading: The Dugout - Dave Stewart Preserves [FanHouse]
January 13th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Yep, that’s wishful thinking if I’ve ever heard it. By the way, I love the picture—the Iraqi information minister would certainly be proud of this statement.