A group weblog for Oakland A's fans
Wednesday, December 31, 2003
A's stands for Alamedans
Chris Speier is the new A's bench coach. I remember him most as a shortstop for the Giants. Since retiring, he has coached in the Giants, Cubs and Diamondbacks organizations. None of those teams have been particularly sabermetrically inclined. But a statistical mind probably isn't the main qualification for the A's bench coach job; it's how well you can work with the manager. Billy Beane let Ken Macha choose Terry Francona as his bench coach last year. Macha and Speier were teammates on the 1979-80 Montreal Expos, so Macha probably knows him well and respects him.
Speier grew up in Alameda, not far from my home, so I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on that fact alone. If he's not a stathead, I'm sure he'll be smart enough to learn. Even if he did go to the wrong high school. ;)
The Speier family is going in for a full immersion into philosophies of Moneyball this year. Chris's son, Justin, was just traded to the Blue Jays.
Are we all set for 2004 now? The big questions are all settled, at least. I can't wait to get started. Happy New Year everyone, and go A's!
Chris Speier is the new A's bench coach. I remember him most as a shortstop for the Giants. Since retiring, he has coached in the Giants, Cubs and Diamondbacks organizations. None of those teams have been particularly sabermetrically inclined. But a statistical mind probably isn't the main qualification for the A's bench coach job; it's how well you can work with the manager. Billy Beane let Ken Macha choose Terry Francona as his bench coach last year. Macha and Speier were teammates on the 1979-80 Montreal Expos, so Macha probably knows him well and respects him.
Speier grew up in Alameda, not far from my home, so I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on that fact alone. If he's not a stathead, I'm sure he'll be smart enough to learn. Even if he did go to the wrong high school. ;)
The Speier family is going in for a full immersion into philosophies of Moneyball this year. Chris's son, Justin, was just traded to the Blue Jays.
Are we all set for 2004 now? The big questions are all settled, at least. I can't wait to get started. Happy New Year everyone, and go A's!
