A's Fan Falls During Amateur Hour at The Coliseum

When a foul ball is headed your direction, most fan's instincts are to simply reach for it - maybe even jump a little. This guy, however, completely sacrificed his face to the concrete gods. For a foul ball. That he didn't even catch. Plus his Oakland Athletics ended up losing 6-4 to the Cleveland Indians.

It's alright to laugh because apparently the fan is okay and... it's hilarious. Welcome to internet fame, guy who bit it at The Coliseum on Wednesday.

[Deadspin]

Season Previews: Oakland Athletics

With Spring Training well underway, it's time for one of our favorite things in all the world: Season Previews. Five years ago, they began as a semi-serious analysis and ended up as half-assed haiku. We're just gonna go with what we know. Finishing our preview of the American League West, here is a sneak peek at the 2012 Oakland Athletics.

Goodbye to Gio
So long Bailey and Sweeney
Hello Josh Reddick

The Oakland A's signed
Coco Crisp for two more years
We love his afro

Yoenis Cespedes
Made an awesome video
It's hilarious

Seth Smith in left field
Gomes and Cowgill backing up
Quite the outfield depth

Barton at first and
Donaldson across the field
Suzuki catches

Baseball Madness: From the Depths of the Cactus League

Kevin Rehberg is the Owner/Managing Editor of WestSide Culture, a site dedicated to life, beer, business and sports on the West Coast. Check it out at http://westsideculture.com. Or don't. Either way.

Ahh multitasking. Streaming March Madness on my iPhone, watching the D'backs rout the Cubs and sipping a Sierra Nevada. Tough day at the office. In fact let's get another beer and take this efficiency to another level.

Speaking of sweet gigs, how does one go about getting a job like Manny Ramirez? $500k this season to babysit Yoenis Cespedes, and not even for a full season? Just 2/3 of the year and some Spring Ball. Manny's kickin' back, keeping tabs on the little guy (Cespedes at 210 lbs is not little) and downing some women's estrogen pills. Hey, it's good being an Oakland A. Well, except for that whole paying for soda in the clubhouse thing.

If the regular season is anything like the craziness of this Spring, we are in for a special treat. The Oakland A's at 10-3 have the Cactus League's best record (who would've thunk it?). We already knew the Giants could pitch, but now they can hit. (Royals kicking themselves over that Melky Cabrera trade). Troy Tulowitzki is suddenly an actor. (Probably for the better since the Rockies are terrible). C.J. Wilson gets pitching tips from Kate Upton. (I would too). And Yu Darvish is human. (Maybe).

3 things I'm hoping to see before the A's and Mariners head to Japan: #1) Jurickson Profar and or Mike Trout in action. #2) Trevor Bauer win a starting job in Arizona. #3) Andrew "Cash Money" Cashner hit 104 on the radar gun. He's already done 103. What's another 1MPH, Cash? Rear back and fire it in there. Who cares if you drill someone in the ribs? If your GM, Josh Byrnes, has a problem with it, you have him email me.

[WestSide Culture]

Oakland Athletics Fans Get to Marvel at Coco Crisp's Afro for Another Two Seasons

Contrary to the popular belief that Coco Crisp was not planning on roaming the outfield for the Oakland Athletics next season, the club has brought him back for another two years after he decided he's rather play on the West coast 81 games a year rather than on a peninsula with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Of course, this business is top secret right now since the team has yet to divulge this information to the public. However, a source familiar with the club, who is speaking on condition of anonymity, says the deal is worth roughly $14 million and there is also a club option for 2014. The official announcement should come some time on Thursday after he passes his physical.

Oakland Athletics Trade Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney to Boston... Wait, What?

Has Billy Beane completely lost his mind, or is he using his "money ball" magic to rebuild the Oakland Athletics and improve on their future?

The team traded closer Andrew Bailey and outfielder Ryan Sweeney to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday for outfielder Josh Reddick (who looks like he's about 12) and two other prospects. This is excellent news for Boston, who was in desperate need of a pitcher to work the ninth inning since the departure of Jonathan Papelbon, who joined to the Philadelphia Phillies for four years, $50 million back in November.

Bailey, the 2009 American League Rookie of the Year, went 0-4 with a 3.24 ERA and 24 saves over 41.2 innings last year. He landed on the disabled list for the second straight season with a strained right forearm and didn't end up making an appearance until May 29, but managed to stay healthy after that.

Sweeney, who will turn 27 this February, hit .265 with 25 RBI and one home run in 108 games for Oakland last season. What an athlete.

In addition to Bailey, the A's have also gotten rid of Trevor Cahill and reliever Craig Breslow, who were traded away to the Arizona Diamondbacks early in December, just eight months after Oakland handed Cahill a five-year, $30.5 million contract. Let's also not forget about lefty Gio Gonzalez, who was sent to the Washington Nationals last Thursday.

Gio Gonzalez Deal Complete, Washington Nationals Looking Better All the Time

The Nationals are not messing around anymore. Finalizing the deal that began as just another rumor back in November, the Oakland Athletics have officially sent Gio Gonzalez to Washington in a six-player trade.

The 26-year-old lefty will join an already promising rotation and pitch between talented young right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg, both of whom recovered from reconstructive elbow surgery and still throw mad heat. Heat like Gonzalez, whose fastball is regularly clocked at 92-95 mph when he's not attempting to perfect his 10-4 curve and changeup.

Gonzalez went 16-12 last season seeing a career high in victories with a 3.12 ERA over 32 starts. He was also selected to his very first All-Star game, so there's that. He'll be a nice addition to a team that has made some major improvements since finishing dead last in the National League East three consecutive seasons from 2008-10. Last year they managed to finish third with an 80-81 record. Maybe they'll win their division some day and make the playoffs!

While the Nationals also received minor league pitcher Robert Gilliam, Oakland landed four players in the deal: catcher Derek Norris, right-handers A.J. Cole and Brad Peacock, and left-hander Tommy Milone.

[Washington Post]

Justin Verlander is Out of Control

Just two days after his Detroit Tigers clinched the American League Central title for the first time since 1987, Justin Verlander became the first pitcher in nine years to reach 24 wins.

Completing his 12th straight victory in as many starts, the high-velocity ace improved to 24-5 with his team's 3-0 win over the Oakland Athletics Sunday, lowering his ERA to 2.29 with a total of 244 strikeouts on the season. You think that's good? He has a 2.28 ERA with 91 K's in 87 innings over his streak. Surrendering just three measly hits over eight impeccable innings, Verlander extended his scoreless streak to 17 innings.

Delicious Interleague Goodness

There's the Subway Series, the Beltway Series, the Lone Star Series, North Side vs. South Side, the Freeway Series, the Highway Series, the Bay Bridge Series, the Sunshine Series, and plenty more exciting, nameless contests during Interleague play.

On this 15th anniversary of Interleague action, let's revisit the first weekend of action.

Every year since 2004, the American League has come out of Interleague play with the best record. After the first weekend, however, things are all knotted up at 21-21. Here's a miniature breakdown of just a fraction of what went down:

Lost in the Oakland Athletics Youtube World

So we've decided to make a Lost in the Youtubes Series out of different teams' 2011 commercials, since it's still pretty early in the season. We kicked things off last week with the San Francisco Giants, so it makes sense to stick around the Bay Area and bust out some of the Oakland Athletics new season ads.

While many of you may have already seen these videos, we figure another portion of you who do not live in California maybe never thought of searching Youtube for "2011 Oakland Athletics commercials." Or maybe you have.

Either way, enjoy!

Andrew Bailey is a closer 24/7

Trevor Cahill Gets the Big Bucks

The Oakland Athletics, home of one of the best rotations in the American League, have thrown a large sum of money at one of their All-Star starters.

Trevor Cahill received a five-year contract worth $30.5 million Monday, taking him through all three of his arbitration-eligible seasons and first potential year of free agency. The 23-year-old righty, who is currently 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA over his first two starts this season, was supposed to earn just $440,000 under the contract he agreed to on March 7. He had this to say regarding his new paycheck:

"It feels good. I came up with them and I’m just glad they gave me the opportunity to lock me up and I’m guaranteed to pitch for a while, so I couldn’t be happier."

Cahill earned the Opening Day honors after notching 18 wins last year with a 2.97 ERA, in just his second big league season. Awesome.

This move will keep their young rotation in tact for at least a few more years, which should bring them some decent season records. In fact, MLB odds give the A's a slight advantage to win the American League West this season. After all, winning does begin and end with pitching.

[Oakland Athletics]

Season Previews: Oakland Athletics

With Opening Day just around the corner, it's time for one of our favorite things in all the world: Season Previews. Four years ago, they began as a semi-serious analysis and ended up as half-assed haiku. We're just gonna go with what we know. Moving right along with our preview of the American League West, here are the Oakland Athletics.

Brad Pitt is playing
Billy Beane in Moneyball
We see the likeness

Kurt Suzuki vrooom
Landon Powell backs him up
Occasionally

Because Billy Beane Looks So Much Like Brad Pitt

If you were to choose one man to portray you in a film, who would it be? Most men would say Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Dwayne Johnson, or some other hunk their woman is attracted to.

Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane chose Brad Pitt to play him in the upcoming film based on the best-selling novel, Moneyball. Because clearly, they are damn near identical twins.

Rich Harden is a Bit Injury Prone

Look out! Rich Harden is hurt again.

The Oakland Athletics righty is expected to miss two weeks of Spring Training after experiencing "stiffness" in the lat muscle just below his pitching arm after tossing in the neighborhood of 15 pitches. Two days later, manager Bob Geren relayed the news that he won't be pitching again until he's pain-free.

Bad news for the 29-year-old Harden, who is back for a second stint with the Athletics and hoping to make it into the rotation. What's worse is that it seems to be quite a stiff competition for the fifth starter spot.

Harden signed a $1.5 million, one-year contract back in December to rejoin the A’s after going 5-5 with a 5.58 ERA in 20 appearances with the Texas Rangers during an injury-ridden 2010 season. After beginning the season as the Rangers’ No. 2 starter, he walked 62 batters in 92 innings.

Yikes. Good luck with that lat muscle Rich!

[MLB]

The Oakland Atheltics Bullpen is Pretty Good

The Oakland Athletics have added another awesome arm to their bullpen, finalizing a two-year, $10.5 million deal -- including a $6.5 million club option for 2013 -- with Brian Fuentes Wednesday.

The 35-year-old righty went 4-1 with 24 saves and a 2.81 ERA in 48 innings between the Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins last season. Though he won't be closing for the Athletics, he'll be holding down the important position of set up man for 2009 Rookie of the Year Andrew Bailey.

In addition to Fuentes, the A's also finalized an $8.1 million, two-year deal with right-handed reliever Grant Balfour a day earlier. Last Saturday, the team agreed to terms with submariner Brad Ziegler as well, on a $1.25 million, one-year contract which avoided arbitration.

General Manager Dave Frost had this to say about his relief corps:

We’re excited about the depth and versatility of the bullpen. Not only do we have more options than we've ever had, we have multiple guys who can pitch late in games.

[Sportsrageous]

Rich Harden Reunites with Athletics

The Oakland Athletics have brought Rich Harden back to his roots. The pitcher finalized a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the team Tuesday after passing his physical.

Harden, who went 5-5 with a 5.58 ERA in 20 appearances with the American League champion Texas Rangers, was designated for assignment immediately after the regular season ended due to control and injury issues. He kicked off the year as the team's no. 2 starter, but ended up walking 62 batters in 92 innings (sucking sound.)

Will Fat Elvis Be Athletic?

Lance Berkman could be the man to give the Oakland Athletics the big bat they're searching for this winter.

The 34-year-old switch-hitter, who batted .248 with 14 home runs and 58 RBI last season between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, became a free agent when the Yankees declined his $15 million contract option. Smart.

However, he was compensated with a $2 million buyout, so everybody wins.

Berkman, who has roamed the outfield over his 12 seasons in the big leagues, is looking to play first base or serve as an American League team's first baseman.

Canseco Goes Yard in Debut, Spaceman Returns

Before Monday night, the last time Jose Canseco had hit a home run was in a Chicago White Sox uniform on October 3, 2001 off Mike Mussina. The former Bash Brother ended his slump by going yard in his first at bat for the Laredo Broncos in their 16-8 win over the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings of the independent United Baseball League.

This is What They Call a No-No

David Letterman asks Dallas Braden what's up with him and A-Rod and why he wears his bill flat before the Oakland Athletics lefty does the Top Ten List.

Dallas Braden Does His Mama Proud

Remember a couple of weeks ago when Dallas Braden made headlines by having a meltdown when A-Rod walked all over his mound? And A-Rod was belittling the hurler by saying he only had a handful of wins and basically it was funny that he wanted a little respect? Well, here's Braden's big ol' F. U. to A-Rod: Tonight, Braden is making headlines for pitching the 19th perfect game in MLB history.

Happy Trails, Eric Byrnes

Eric Brynes, we've always liked your surfer look and sweet shades. Absolutely no one can rock the socks with sandals look quite like you, and for that, we'd like to high five you so hard that your hand stings for a whole day.

Only you could bounce back from those bad hair days on Baseball Tonight to bring us unconventional highlights from a kayak in McCovey Cove. Along with your faithful dog Bruin, you showed off your regular Joe fandom while other guys enjoyed playing in the 2007 All-Star Game. If only they knew how much fun you were having out there...

But way back in the day, we loved your hustle: those sweet diving grabs and shoe-string catches. And yes, we kept on loving you straight through the ups and downs. While the baseball world is very much looking forward to your unusual, yet sure-to-be entertaining broadcasting contributions, your buddies are looking forward to that right-handed bat roaming left field in beer league softball even more. Maybe you'll step up your game and bring a couple of sweet demarini baseball bats to the new field.