MASSACRE II

Post date: Jul 24, 2013 7:57:35 PM

Evan Longoria, Cole Hamels, Mariano Rivera highlight

wave of players traded away to Rayne

In February of 2011, the A's agreed to a series of sweeping trades that would transform the direction and the character of the organization. In 2012, a couple of years ahead of the planned schedule, that series of deals which had become known as the "Valentines Day Massacre" seemed a stroke of genius. Led by the amazing, dynamic rookie pairing of outfielders Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, and the first full season from phenom pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the A's won 17 games and returned to contending status.

2013 was expected to be the next step for these young players, and for awhile it appeared that might indeed be the case. After losing their first two games of the year, the A's ran off a 6-game winning streak that left them all alone atop the Owens/East standings for the first time since 2009. However, the momentum could not be maintained. Somewhat due to injuries, as both star young outfielders Giancarlo Stanton and Harper each missed a full month, coupled with a continued lack of production from the middle infield, the A's began to fall apart. The club lost two straight, won a huge game vs defending champion Joplin to retake 1st place, but then began to seriously struggle.

This past week, the club lost a gut-wrenching 6-5 decision to visiting Rayne, the 2nd time in 3 weeks that they had lost as a favorite. The defeat was the club's 5th in 8 games since they took over the division lead. Their 9-7 record has them 1 1/2 games off even the Wildcard playoff pace now with just 6 games remaining in the regular season. They are 2 1/2 back of the Pennant race which they led just 8 weeks ago. Worse yet, they have a half dozen teams to climb over now.

With all this, team GM Matt Veasey felt that now was the time for another round of shakeups, and boy did he shake things up. In a day of wheeling and dealing to rival that "Valentine's Massacre", the A's leader orchestrated what feels like "Massacre II" at this point. In the major centerpiece deal, the club's all-time leader in almost every major pitching category, Cole Hamels, was sent to Rayne along with beloved 3rd sacker Evan Longoria, closer find Edward Mujica, and starting pitchers C.J. Wilson and Andy Pettitte. In separate trades the club sent Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera to Montreal, and dealt longtime starting pitcher Tim Lincecum to New York.

In return, the A's got younger, bringing in a trio of high-profile, high-talent kid arms who will be asked to jump right into the starting rotation mix as we head into the Stretch Run of 2013 and on into the future. Those arms belong to 22-year old lefty Martin Perez, a former A's prospect, and a pair of righties in 24-year old Jarrod Parker and 22-year old Michael Wacha. The A's will also now control a pair of 1st round picks in next year's Minors Draft, receiving both New York and Rayne's top picks, and a 2nd rounder from Montreal. This gives the club two 1st and five 2nd round picks at this stage.

While this is clearly seen as running up the proverbial 'white flag' on the 2013 season, manager Buck Showalter did not give in to that notion: "Yes, a big part of what we did today was a direct result of our inconsistent play over the last two months, and our current standings situation. We will still be greatly disappointed even now if we don't fight back and find a way to reach they playoffs. Given health, this is a talented team, and we still feel we have a shot."

Asked if any consideration had been given to changes in the managerial or coaching situation, Veasey was typically blunt: "No, we never considered anything other than Buck Showalter managing this team, and we don't evaluate coaches until after the season is over. Buck is our leader, and he will remain so going forward. There is an old saying, that you can't fire all the players, so you fire the coach. Well that's not going to happen here. If players don't produce, either individually or as a group. then we're going to look for a way to put together a group that will."

Veasey's thinking for the roster, as he went on to explain to assembled reporters, was that the three kid arms, along with rookie phenom Gerrit Cole, will largely take on the roles played by the three veteran pitchers who left. Manny Machado, probably the team's top prospect, will now get a chance to play 3rd base on a full-time basis. And what's left is basically a few very high Minors picks for a closer who might not have such a job next season, and another who is slated to retire.

The moves may make sense when they are broken down that way, and they may in fact pay off for the Athletics organization in the long run as well. But for today, the fans and much of the team feel this once-promising season slipping away. They now will watch as some of their favorites move forward elsewhere, and will try to get to know this new crop of kids.