The Athletics are bad. They are last in the league in hits, total bases, RBIs, batting average, slugging percentage, and OBP. (Semi-silver lining: they have grounded into the fewest double plays, but only because no one's ever on base.) They're not mathematically eliminated just yet, but man, if ever a team was playing out the string in early June, this is it.
But at least they're having fun, right? I mean, they've got a ton of young players, they've got no pressure, and they fired Bob Geren specifically because he was a dick. This should be a safe space for young men to learn, and grow as humans, and form a band of brothers. Instead, the clubhouse is righteously pissed because Kila Ka'aihue was designated for assignment, just as his wife is ready to give birth to twins.
"Total horse shit," one player told the Chronicle.
Ka'aihue was given a grand total of four games as the everyday first baseman before being cut, and was apparently well-liked by his teammates. Sure, he hasn't been hitting particularly well, but who has in this organization?
Not Manny Ramirez. You remember Manny, right? Weird dude, used to hit, took some female hormones and got suspended, retired, signed with Oakland, was expected to rejoin the team midseason? Ramirez actually became eligible to return yesterday, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen soon—maybe ever. He's been foundering in triple A, oft-injured and ineffective when he's healthy. He's hitting as well in Sacramento as Ka'aihue was against major league pitching. Manny Ramirez is not walking through that door, fans.
It's not all bad in Oakland. Yoenis Cespedes has been worth every penny, when he isn't on the DL. And he injured himself again yesterday. Oh well. Raiders training camp starts in six weeks.