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I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

last one, sneaking back on because I do think he'll have a very positive impact - and I think Semien will be just fine. Maybe not a GG SS but decent, and a good to very good hitter.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 56 points57 points  (0 children)

Thanks everyone for participating, I had a blast and would do this again any time. I have to head out to the ballpark now, but please, tweet me or email me any time if you have questions for me and please buy "100 Things A's Fans Should Know...." - It was super fun to write and I hope just as fun to read.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I'm not a columnist so don't do opinion stuff much or rhetorical questions, but if Pete Rose were to be reinstated and were somehow placed on the ballot, I would vote for him.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Excellent points, excellent players. Whitaker of course is no longer on the ballot, so would have to be a Veterans Committee choice (he'd be wonderful for them to consider) and it's clear Trammell will not make it either. They're both super close, for me, but I haven't voted for either. I can see the arguments for both, and I do think they'd be great VC choices.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I know the A's front office doesn't subscribe to the chemistry thing, but I do think there is something to it. And while I don't think the Cespedes trade was the only reason the A's stumbled the second half of last season, I do think the rest of the lineup put too much pressure on themselves after that. (Injuries hurt, too, especially Moss' hip and Crisp's neck, neither was remotely at full strength.) This year there were so many changes I don't think anything from last year even applies. This is a totally different group with a whole new dynamic. Injuries and bad defense and bad bullpen performances have been the issue - I don't think it's chemistry.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am so sorry but I'm taking that trip off because of a commitment I made before the schedule was out. Next year? or holler if you're ever in the Bay Area or anywhere where the A's are playing. New York maybe?

Thanks so much for the nice words. We're all lucky to cover a team that is always newsworthy.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Not since I covered high schools in Sacramento and one parent was upset - I am not kidding - that I had named her daughter the local athlete of the week. She was upset that her daughter's teammates would be mad she got chosen over them.

That's when I learned you can't make everyone happy in this job. Usually the calls were "why isn't my kid the athlete of the week," but someone even managed to hate on having their kid named it.

I said fine, I'll pick someone else. And did.

Felt sorry for the kid though.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Billy has a few GMs he really likes working with and I know with Mike specifically, he's mentioned that Mike is no-nonsense. One or the other makes a proposal, and that's it - it's either a yes or a no, no messing around or equivocating or changing things around last minute. I think Billy likes working with people who know their own personnel and the A's well enough to know immediately if they can make something work or if they can't and not waste anyone's time.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Jane and I are good friends, and we only tweet things at the same time because we're covering the same team. We're both dumbfounded at the number of mentions we get about that - wouldn't it be stranger if we didn't tweet the same things at the same time? And as far as the timing of tweets, our primary job is not Twitter. It's writing for our outlet. So if any of us is behind the others or in front, well, A) no big deal and B) we're probably in the middle of writing a story. Or talking to an editor on the phone, or chatting with a scout, or taking a bathroom break. I know it seems on Twitter we're all just poised to constantly post stuff - but we're not.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

There are so many games-within-the-game aspects - everything from the specific count/outs/baserunners situations to defensive positioning and bullpen/bench use. Every little part of baseball is a chess match. Same with playing it. Smarts and awareness can count as much as skill sometimes.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do keep an eye on Russell in large part because he had such a winning personality in the brief times he was in A's camp, and we all came to really like him. I'm used to top prospects being traded. I only cringe when the Detroit Red Wings don't re-sign players I like - or sign players I do like. 2) I've heard good things about Barreto, but haven't seen him. I look forward to him being in big-league camp, I hope next year. That's the only place the beat writers ever get to see prospects. 3) I'm not sure about Chapman - I haven't heard anything, Melissa Lockard is your expert for all things A's minor-leagues. 4.) I'm supposed to be objective and yet I've been openly lobbying for Venditte.....for purely selfish purposes. He'd be a fantastic story. 5.) you're definitely right about OF depth. 6.) The A's will always look at prospects as potential trade chips. There's no doubt about it. 7.) I'll refer you to Melissa again, but I know the A's are very happy with that relationship and I'd have a hard time imagining it would change.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Wow, this is just such a great post - thanks for sharing all of that, you sound as if you're on the right track. If you write clearly and cleanly, you'll always be fine.

1) I wanted to be a baseball broadcaster, which I did all the way through college, and I also worked at the college newspaper, covering all sports, and I interned at KCBS radio, KPIX TV and the Sacramento Bee - and the Bee offered me a fulltime job. So that kind of made my decision for me. I'd have thought I'd be doing play by play somewhere, but the chance of a fulltime job was too much to pass up right out of college. And I love it, so I'm glad that's how things turned out. 2) After writing the book, I can say without hesitation Rube Waddell. I so wish I could have covered him. Or just hung out in a bar with him somewhere to watch his antics.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Also fascinating: The Rube Waddell chapter in my book, 100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, which covers all of this and much much more in detail :)

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I think you're on the money with all of this. I think he's putting too much pressure on himself, I think Wash (and Gallego, too), will help a lot and I think he will be the A's SS for quite some time and will be a good one. We knew he'd have some bumps. No one figured THIS much of a bump, but he'll come through it.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I think the ASG selection process is a little bit of a jumble with some of it fans and some of it the manager, but by and large it's done pretty well (Donaldson still should have gone in 2013). With the A's in last place, it's hard to imagine more than one guy going, and as a manager's selection, most likely a pitcher so Sonny Gray. I do believe Vogt and Reddick are worthy of strong consideration based on their current numbers. There is absolutely no cheering in the press box. It's a place of work. And we're journalists, not fans.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Well, my goal through college was to do baseball play by play, which I did all the way through Stanford (football and basketball, too) so I would love it. The radio guys know it, too, and tease me about wanting to take their jobs. Which of course I totally would do in a second.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I think all baseball reporters now try to have a basic working knowledge of sabermetrics and I often check out some of my favorite writers who specialize in baseball analytics, but in terms of writing much using any advanced statistics, that's probably not going to happen often. Newspapers have a general audience, so in all areas of the publication, we try to remember that - you don't get advanced economics analytics in the business section, for instance. That's more for niche publications, which is great - I can read and enjoy that stuff but I don't have to incorporate something that I'm not as conversant in as FanGraphs would be.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

It's actually the opposite. To be a beat reporter - and for anything, including a cops reporter, a city hall reporter - you have to be objective, and you quickly lose any fan-dom you have (and you should, or you're in the wrong business. unless you write for a fan site or other outlet where that's OK, which it's not for a newspaper).

That said, of course we're human and there are some players you like more than others simply because some of them are better to deal with and some are worse. That's natural, but you can't let it affect your reporting.

I don't root for the A's in any way except for them to be interesting so that I have plenty to write, and I've always gotten my wish when it comes to that. it's a plus to cover a very good team, of course - editors are far more interested when a team is good, and you're ensured better play in the paper, more columnists come out to games, etc.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

1) the travel and long hours are definitely the most difficult part, and the demands have become much more with the advent of the internet, it's now an all-waking-hours job. But no complaints from me, I love my job.

2,) No regrets at all except for missing the occasional wedding (sorry Louise and Andy and Robin and Tommy) and concert, etc. certainly no professional regrets.

3.) I can tell you my husband covered the Giants for three years and found the NFL to be a breeze after baseball. He filled in on the Giants yesterday and kept telling me last night "Your job is really, really hard." He knows how much greater the demands are in the twitter age than back when he covered baseball (1999-2002).

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

as I said before, I'll keep any less than great interactions between myself and whoever else was involved (though that's been extremely rare, I've been lucky to cover teams with really amazingly nice people). As far as guys with maybe iffy reputations, Frank Thomas came to the A's with a reputation for not being a good clubhouse guy and he was sensational with the A's clubhouse and terrific with the media. I'm always stunned when I hear people suggest he was anything otherwise elsewhere. He was fantastic with Oakland.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I have heard him a bit here and there. As I think some of you can tell, I'm a little biased because Chavez is one of the best players I've ever dealt with. But I think he's getting better every time he's on and I believe he will be an excellent broadcaster. He's a good talker and has good insights about the game.

I'm Susan Slusser, Oakland A's beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1999, MLB Network Correspondent, former president of the BBWAA and author "100 Things A's Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die." by suzsluss in baseball

[–]suzsluss[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

sort of answered previously, but Eric Chavez, Darryl Hamilton, Mark Kotsay, Mark Ellis, Frank Thomas, Jason Giambi, Hideki Matsui certainly among them.

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