"Reporting From A's FanFest" - Oakland Focuses on Bolstering Bullpen in Offseason

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Spirits were high at the Coliseum for 2016 A's FanFest (photo by Jose Carlos Fajardo)

By Karl Buscheck | @KarlBuscheck

David Forst's first big-money move as the general manager of the Oakland Athletics was a bold one, splashing out $22 million – plus up to $3.75 million in incentives – to Ryan Madson, a 35-year-old reliever. Madson, who didn't throw a single major league pitch from 2012 to 2014, spent part of the 2014 season tutoring a high school pitcher as a favor for an old friend. 2015 was a much different story. 

After inking a non-guaranteed minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals that would pay him a million bucks if he made the squad, Madson spent this past season as an indispensable cog in the nastiest bullpen in baseball – a bullpen that helped the Royals roll to their first World Series title since 1985.

The 6'6” righty, who also won a Fall Classic with the Philadelphia Phillies way back in 2008, dazzled at Kauffman Stadium, posting a 2.13 ERA and limiting the opposition to a .205 average in 68 outings. In the process, the veteran whose career was almost snuffed out by a slew of elbow injuries, pushed his way to the top of Forst's winter shopping list.

Sitting in a left field suite at the Coliseum during a media availability session at the team's recent FanFest event, Forst commanded the room with a calm confidence as questions were lobbed his way. 

“The one thing we did this year with Ryan Madson is we went out and were aggressive,” Forst explained. “We sort of went to the top of the market. He just was such a good fit with his stuff and his experience in the back of the pen.”

From left to right: Chris Bassitt, Kendall Graveman, Jesse Hahn, Josh Phegley, and Stephen Vogt (photo by Jose Carlos Fajardo)

The signing of Madson was the signature move of Forst's first offseason in the GM's chair in Oakland, but it was actually just one of four key moves he made to overhaul his dumpster fire of a bullpen. Last season, the A's relief crew piled up the third-most losses (31) in the American League, lugged around the third-worst ERA (4.63) in MLB and checked in at No. 19 in strikeouts. It doesn't take a major league talent evaluator to decipher what kind of relievers Forst and his boss –executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane – were targeting: Hard-throwers who miss a ton of bats.

As teams like the Royals have made abundantly apparent, the more flame-throwing relief aces you have pitching out of the pen, the better off you'll be. Madson, who posted an 8.2 strikeout-per-nine ratio and whose average heater clocked in at an average speed of just under 94.5 mph, per the calculations of MLB.com, does exactly that. And based on those numbers, he's not even guaranteed to be the scariest of the club's new quartet of arms.

Liam Hendriks, who Oakland snagged in a swap which sent Jesse Chavez to the Toronto Blue Jays, logged a K/9 ratio of 9.9 and threw a two-seamer that ran up to the plate at 95 mph. Then there's John Axford, who the team officially signed to a two-year, $10 million pact on Dec. 11 – the same day Madson joined the club. Axford punched out 10 batters per nine frames for the Colorado Rockies in 2015 and has a four-seamer that sits in the mid to high 90's. Like Madson, the righty has closing experience on his resume as well.

The 32-year-old landed in the No. 9 spot on the National League Cy Young ballot back in 2011 when he saved 46 games. After slamming the door 25 times for the Rockies during the season that was, Axford had options this winter. As it turns out, the right-hander, who is famous for his creative facial hair, is a fan of the region. “I love the Bay Area,” Axford assured members of the East Bay media contingent on hand.

Axford is also a fan of helping the AL west squad solve its pesky one-run loss problem. In 2015, the club dropped 35 contests by a single run – setting a new Oakland record.

“Obviously, last year was a difficult year watching from the other side and just hearing about these one-run games every single time you turn on SportsCenter, but then knowing what the team was able to do the previous seasons – getting to the playoffs. So, the team's good and you know that sometimes bad luck just [happens] and those things happen and getting to the playoffs is really important for me.”

For Marc Rzepczynski, the new southpaw in town, landing in Oakland wasn't his call. 

“I got traded here,” Zep – as he's known – cracked, leading the suite to erupt in laughter. “So, I kind of had no choice. No, I'm happy to be here.”

The lefty, who's also known as "Scramble" – a play on his unwieldy last name – brings the heat with a devastating slider which clocked in at better than 92 mph last season and helped him K 10.4 batters per nine innings, as he split the campaign with the Cleveland Indians and the San Diego Padres.

While Madson will be the top caddy for closer Sean Doolittle, Axford and Hendriks will slot in to the middle innings, while Rzepczynski will be the proverbial lefty slayer. In parts of seven seasons in the majors, Rzepczynski has crushed left-handed hitters to the tune of a .288 opponents' slugging percentage. The sharp-witted 30-year-old, who embraces his role as the resident class clown, also embraces his role as the on-call specialist.

“I can get ready in five pitches. I literally can get ready in a batter if you need me to. That's kind of been the mindset for me, it's being ready as quick as I can,” Rzepczynski said, as he sat alongside Axford whom he shared a pen with in Cleveland in 2014. “Sometimes for me I don't even have the time to get the adrenaline going. I'm out there sometimes for one pitch. A lot of times I'm going out there and going, 'Okay, that's it.' ”

As Axford explained, the opportunity to join his old pal Zep and the other new guys in the bullpen is why he ultimately signed up with Oakland.

“Solidifying the bullpen [is what I want to do],” Axford said. “I signed after [they] traded for Hendriks, after Zep came over and after Madson. Sean's already here. Seeing that all of a sudden come together, I wanted to be a part of a group of guys that can be really familiar in the back end of the bullpen no matter where you're setting up and what you're doing. That's really big and key for me. Especially when we can have some young guys and some of the older guys and the veteran presences back there. For me, that's a big thing too to be there and maybe be one of the veteran guys and help out.”

As Forst foreshadowed, there's still a chance that one more veteran guy, who has been left stranded on the free-agent market could end up in an Oakland uniform in due time.

“I can't think of anyone specifically off the top of my head right now that I think might fall to us,” Forst said. “But we do have the flexibility – both payroll and roster-wise – to be opportunistic.”

A's hurler Rich Hill ponders his future in Oakland... (photo by Jose Carlos Fajardo)

(Note: All stats courtesy of MLB.com.)

Karl Buscheck has covered the A's, Giants, Warriors, Raiders, 49ers and Earthquakes for various outlets including the San Francisco Examiner and Bleacher Report. Find him on Twitter: @KarlBuscheck

"A European Football Roundup" - Barcelona Beats Atletico, Pep to Man City

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Neymar Santos Jr. of FC Barcelona eludes the defense of Club Atletico de Madrid's Jose Maria during Saturday's La Liga match. FCB prevailed 2-1. (photo by Alex Caparros)

 

By Bryan Maag | @FutbolTasteMkrs 

This past weekend’s much-anticipated La Liga match pitting top-ranked F.C. Barcelona against no. 2 Atletico Madrid ended up being a brutal/beautiful example of two team's will to win, which ultimately resulted in a 2-1 FCB win and two Marid players being sent off. Over FCB’s last few outings, teams have been pressing Barcelona high up the pitch, forcing them back up against their own sticks. The thought process has been to push Barcelona at their own game.

Conventional wisdom over the last five years has had teams sit back at their own end and invite Barcelona to attack time and time again, relying on one shot throughout the 90 minutes they could capitalize on. On Saturday, Atletico flew in the face of this traditional tactic and came out firing. It paid off, as they were able to score within the first twenty minutes.

Similar to Atletic Bilbao, and Malaga before that, Atletico Madrid could not keep up the exhausting pressure to secure a win. It took 20 more minutes but Barcelona was able to equalize at the half hour mark. Luis Suarez secured the win 10 minutes later with a show of personal brilliance. Finally, just before the end of an eventful first half, the game took a turn for the worse right before when Atletico’s frustration boiled over and Felipe Luis attempted to end Messi’s career with a high foot to the knee. Luckily, the fabled Messi walked away unscathed and Luis was rightfully sent off for the tackle.

The second half featured Atletico displaying a lot of heart and a near equalizer, until finally their brutal tactics resulted in another player being sent off with a red. 

February is shaping up to be a rough month for both teams. Barcelona will be competing in the Champions League, Copa Del Rey and La liga. The next six weeks will decide their place in all three competitions.

The big news on Monday was Pep Guardiola finally confirmed his much-anticipated move to Manchester City. He will be leaving behind a Bayern team that he has lead to unprecedented Bundesliga titles and the DFB Pokal. Today many managers are judged on European Success and rightly so, but Pep has been glorious as their leader. He has dealt with countless injuries and revamped the squad with Douglas Costa, Thiago Alacantera, and Robert Lewandowski. He is in a great place to take home European glory this year. But if not, he will leave with his head held high. 

Moving to City will be a huge shock to the Premier League. Pep will reunite with his old Barcelona confidant Txiki to overhaul the City squad. I would expect Fernandinho, Toure, Fernando, and Nasri to be shown the door within a year. City has young talent in Kevin de Bruyne but not enough to keep them moving forward. Pep will splash some cash this summer, which will be very interesting to see with Real Madrid needing to dominate the market prior to their transfer ban.

If Cristiano Ronaldo jettisons to the beaches of Miami and Zlatan leaves PSG, the summer market is going to be incredibly inflated. Pep will rely on selling his development of players like Messi, Busquets, and Thiago but players will have a lot of bargaining leverage.  jettisons to the beaches of Miami and Zlatan leaves PSG, the summer market is going to be incredibly inflated. Pep will rely on selling his development of players like Messi, Busquets, and Thiago but players will have a lot of bargaining leverage.

Perhaps the most worried people about Pep’s move to City are the people of Barcelona. Barcelona has to be scared their youth setup will be raided once again, especially the young Sergi Roberto. Hopefully Pep doesn’t meddle with his old club. Only time will tell. 

"The Sunday Section" - Selected Stories From Around The Bay

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ZAGS Invade Moraga for Annual Rivalry Game at McKeon

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Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer presents an inside-outside threat on offense for the Zags. (Photo by William Mancebo)

By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com

On Thursday night at 8pm, the Zags and Gaels will renew their storied rivalry on the hardwood in front of a nationally televised audience (ESPNU). Over the last decade, WCC fans have been spoiled with countless great games between these two clubs. Mark Few and Randy Bennett replenish their talent pool every year it seems, always ready to make an honest run at a WCC crown come March. 

After last week's loss at home to BYU, Gonzaga has dropped out of the AP Top-25 for the first time in recent memory. At 6-1 in conference, they share the same WCC record as St. Mary's. Surprisingly, SMC received eight AP Top-25 votes to Gonzaga's five this week.*

To Mark Few's credit, the Zags four total losses this season are nothing to be ashamed of. Notorious for playing a treacherous non-conference schedule, this year's Gonzaga team has lost to (#25) Texas A&M, (#19) Arizona, UCLA, and BYU. 

Traditionally a school known for relying on productive and exciting guards, this year's version of the Zags hinges more on their inside presence. With guards Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. gone, the face of their program is now 6'10" senior Kyle Wiltjer (22ppg), who is a dynamic offensive scorer who will be tough to contain for the Gaels. Wiltjer is flanked down low by Domantas Sabonis (Arvydas' son), a hefty big man who has a polished offensive skill set, similar to his father. 

Countering the Zags' two-headed monster will be a surprising Gaels team led by, you guessed it, a crop of crafty Australians. Emmett Naar and Dane Pineau lead an offense that is shooting a Warriors-esque 46% from three-point land. Sophomore Aussie Jock Landale has also come on strong as of late, winning WCC Player of the Week honors following his 7-for-7, 24-point performance on Thursday versus UOP.  

The Gaels only bad loss this year came on the road at Pepperdine, falling to Waves in Malibu by three. Randy Bennett's only other blemish this year was a hard fought four-point loss at CAL, a game in which the upstart Gaels earned a great deal of respect from Cuonzo Martin. 

As we now approach late January, there is not a single Mid-Major in the Top-25. It is rare that Gonzaga makes their trip to Moraga without at number next to their name, so you have to believe the McKeon Pavilion faithful will be smelling blood in the water on Thursday night. Adam Morrison certainly isn't walking through that door...

* Section925 has yet to earn a voting seat at the Associated Press table. 

Believe the Hype: Lady Mats Roll Over Mater Dei 65-47 at St. Mary's MLK Showcase

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(Photo courtesy of Miramonte Girls Basketball) 

By Josh Hunsucker | @jphunsucker

The center of the girls high school hoops universe may be in Stockton, California but Saturday night that universe revolved around Sabrina Ionescu and the Miramonte Matadors.  St. Mary’s High School, the No. 1 girls basketball team in America, has hosted the MLK Showcase since 2008.  This showcase pits some of the best teams from Northern California against the best Southern California has to offer.  The MLK Showcase features a two-day slate of 17 games and this year included nine McDonald All-American nominees.

The Mats, No. 2 in the state and No. 6 in America by the arbitrary ranking poll I subscribe to, matched up against No. 4 (CA) Mater Dei in the weekend’s highest profile game (and a battle of identical Nike stamp unis).  Not surprisingly, the host St. Mary’s players and coaches watched and scouted intently as they are no strangers to either team.  The Rams beat Miramonte in the NorCal Open Final last year and beat the Monarchs in the State Open Final.

The contrast of styles was clear from the first pass of Miramonte’s four-corners warm-up.  The Mats wanted to pressure and run and the Monarchs wanted to grind.  The first half can be best described by one word utter over and over again, pace.  For the first 16 minutes of play the Mats ramped up the pace of the game forcing countless turnovers by playing at track meet speed.  Miramonte coach Kelly Sopak’s substitution pattern more closely resembled the basketball equivalent of two-minute hockey lines.  The constant rotation of guards enabled the Mats to maintain the relentless pressure.

Ionescu did not disappoint either. From the opening tip she started off fast, driving and dropping a no-look dish Uriah Howard on the opening possession.  A step back three got the decidedly non-partisan crowd ooooing and awwwwing as Mater Dei was forced to call a time out with the lead ballooning to 12-4.

The pressure continued, which frustrated Mater Dei and didn’t allow them to effectively get the ball to UCLA commit Allyson Rosenblum in the low post.  With a 21-8 first quarter lead the Mats continued to hit the nitro button.  The Mats seemed to improve upon their push and press style in a way only Nolan Richardson and Corey Beck would truly appreciate.  Midway through the second quarter the Monarchs were shell shocked, gazing in disbelief around the gym following back-to-back turnovers, literally asking themselves, “what is happening?”

With a halftime lead of 40-18, the Mats effectively put the game into cruise control. The damage of the pressure was done.  Mater Dei looked tired.  Their shooting percentage and lack of urgency to climb back into the game confirmed that outward appearance.  Every Monarch mini-third quarter run was stymied by timely threes from Clair Steele and Keana Delos Santos.  Meanwhile Ionescu continued to facilitate the dismantling of Mater Dei to the delight of the crowd: “that girl can play,” “20 got game,” and my personal favorite “don’t get crossed up…ooooh here it comes…[Ionescu hitting cross over step back three and crowd falling over themselves] I tried to warn you, 20’s coming for you.”

In the waning seconds of the game, up by almost 20, Ionescu put her signature stamp on the game.  Taking the ball at the near midcourt, she stalked her opponent, pacing slowly forward and crossing the ball through her legs.  Then a hard push left, a hard push right, pause, cross, step-back, splash, and the game was over.  Ionescu finished with a game high 26 and the Mats cruised to a 65-47 win.

The win moved the Mats up to 4 in national rankings but more importantly the victory was a statement win.  The state championship may end against SoCal but all roads run through Stockton.  The Mats and Rams have met in the five times in the last ten years in the NorCal playoffs and appear to be on a collision course again this year.  Saturday night’s win was a shot across the bow to St. Mary’s that said we’ll see you in March and, like the Mats shooting shirts read, “Believe the Hype.”

The 14-0 Miramonte girls defeat 17-1 Mater Dei 65-47 in a battle between the #6 and #40 teams in the nation. Sabrina Ionescu led the scoring with 26 points along with 8 rebounds, 8 steals and 3 assists in the 2016 MLK Classic at St. Mary's High School in Stockton, CA.

49ers Fumbling On Search For A New Head Coach

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(Photo by Ezra Shaw)

By Devin Wright | @TheRealReno

My head hurts and it's swimming with questions right now. Unfortunately, the Niners abysmal coaching search is to blame for all of this, I'm afraid. One moment they seem to have a coach locked up, the next they are interviewing someone's grandfather for the position. By now, I'm having a hard time keeping up with Ian Rapoport, Tim Kawikami, and Mike Silver. With things still very much up in the air, lets take a minute to unpack how we got to where we are today with the 49ers search for a new team leader. 

The Monday after the last game of the season, hermit owner Jed York finally spoke with the local media. Jed announced that he was firing rent-a-coach Jim Tomsula after a nightmare 5-11 season, and that the Niners would spare no cost in conducting a search to hire a new coach. One that would return the Niners back to their glory years...of two years ago.

Jed said that he would step aside and allow Trent Baalke and his staff to conduct this search. Odd thing was, the guy running this search was not even at the presser. Hermit doesn't even begin to describe Trent Baalke, but not having the guy who is running the latest disastrous coaching search is beyond odd. Unfortunately, it's how things get done in Niners Land these days. 

Quick side note: Trent was later made available to the media that day. When asked about his contract he said he had no idea when the last time he had signed one, or when the contract expired. Local beat reporter Ann Killion was quick to point out that he signed an extension last year that ran until 2018. Trent said he didn't know that. Needless to say this is a total lie to the face of local writers and the public. I point this out because this is the kind of guy the team has placed trust in to make possibly the biggest hire in team history.

The 49ers first spoke with Chip Kelly, the hot name on the market and I believe the coach the fans want the most. Fans like the idea of Chip, his innovative offense, and what he might be able to do with Colin Kapernick. Of course, this meeting didn't go well and I'll make a few assumptions as to why. 

1. Chip is known as an odd duck, and as we know, Baalke is a really odd duck. The two of them together seems flammable. 

2. Chip had a lot of say in the roster in Philly. Needless to say his moves were terrible, but I believe he still thinks they were the right moves. When a coach gets roster power, it's tough to give it up in his next job. It is doubtful that Baalke would budge. 

3. Chip probably mentioned that he wanted to keep Kap on the roster and thinks he could turn Kap back into a star. That is the last thing York and Baalke want to hear. After blaming Kap for the way this season went (first the benching, then not allowing him on the sidelines after shoulder surgery), the 49ers seem to want nothing to do with Kap or his salary. 

Next the team talked with Hue Jackson of the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday after the Bengals gut wrenching loss to the Steelers. After a 5 hour meeting, reports came out that Hue was the Niners' number one choice. This was odd considering that Jed, in his press conference, had mentioned that he did not know any sources of leaks to the national media. Just another example of how things work in Santa Clara. Say one thing, do another. Always lie with a bold face. 

After texting with a few Niner faithful, people seemed really excited about Jackson. He led an explosive offense in Cincy (even though they were mediocre just last season), and coached Andy Dalton to his most productive season ever. All signs were pointing to our next coach being signed soon. 

Of course like most things with this front office, nothing goes according plan, and scramble mode typically goes into effect. Jackson interviewed with Cleveland, and agreed to another meeting with the New York Giants, which is viewed as the most desirable vacancy right now. 

So Jed and Trent went to plan B, C, or even D, which was to interview 69 year-old former Giants coach Tom Coughlin. Now Coughlin is indeed a great coach. He has won two Super Bowls, players love him, and he gets a lot out of them. But age is certainly a factor here. Why hire a coach just to have to go through all of this again in a few years? Again, this is York and Baalke only seeing what is right in front of them and and failing to take the more prudent longview. 

...(looks at Twitter)

Well now the 49ers are claiming they are slow playing Hue Jackson and are willing to hire others if he does not make a decision soon. 

Again, the 49ers Faithful are left to scratch their heads during all of this. It just seems like ownership cannot make a plan that works or one that they can stick to. It should be noted that so far, only one coaching vacancy has been filled up to this point, and that owner meeting about the Rams/Raiders/Chargers move to LA has slowed things down a bit (congrats Raiders fans for one more year in Oakland). 

I do not think anyone has any idea how this process is going to turn out. The only thing we do know is that it isn't going to go smooth and a bumpy ride should be expected. One day I hope to wake up from this nightmare. Hopefully sooner than later.  

*Note: As of this (Wednesday) morning Hue Jackson has been hired by Cleveland. Meanwhile, the Niners have said that are done interviewing candidates for the time being. Ugh.

Hello, World!

FIFA Crowns The World's Best Footballers of 2015

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Carli Lloyd and Lionel Messi clutch some FIFA hardware (photo by Philipp Schmidli)

By Bryan Maag | @HalfBAM

The international soccer calendar is officially in the books, and tonight at Congress Hall in Zurich, Switzerland, FIFA handed out its end of the year awards in a relatively toned down black-tie affair. The three male BALLON D’OR invitees were Lionel Messi (F.C. Barcelona), Christiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), and Neymar De Silva (F.C. Barcelona). The female nominees included Aya Miyama (Japan), Carli Lloyd (United States), and Celia Sasic (Germany).

The FIFA awards are always a bit awkward due to the vast amounts of nationalities and languages that are thrown together in one room. Everyone in the audience is outfitted with an earpiece while the British hosts deliver slow pre-approved jokes to a reception of awkward laughter.

This year was a tough one for the powers that rule over soccer, and the usual pomp and circumstance was missing in this year’s awards. The biggest news has been the indictments handed down to FIFA members for corruption and greed. Due to these criminal proceedings we are seeing a glimpse into the lives of the men behind the scenes of soccer. Unsurprisingly, Sepp Blatter and Michael Platini were two notable figureheads that were not in attendance this year.

The 2015 soccer campaign brought us various record breaking performances. Chile showed some amazing fortitude in defending their home soil to take home their first Copa America crown in the tournament’s 99 year history. Barcelona became the first European team to successfully win two European trebles which included the Copa America, La Liga and Champions League trophies. They topped off their season with a club world cup championship. The United States won a fantastic Women’s World Cup in Canada on artificial turf. Other notable moments were Chelsea securing the Premier League Crown, Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga and Juventus retained their Serie A trophy.

Today’s FIFA winners were well deserved. Carli Lloyd took home her first Women’s trophy and the first U.S. women since Abby Wambach in 2012. Lionel Messi took home his record fifth trophy after his stellar club team wins, yet still had to deal with another Argentina national team disappointment, losing in the Copa America final over the summer. 

The 2016 soccer calendar is packed and Section925 is ecstatic to help bring it to light. Some notable competitions to follow this year will be the British Premier League (NBC Sports), La Liga (BeIn TV), Champions League (Fox), European Championships (ESPN), Olympics (NBC), MLS, and the Copa America Centennial, which will be hosted here in the United States. 

From Avaya Stadium in San Jose to pitches across the pond and throughout the rest of the world, the coming year surely will not disappoint. 

Section925 Podcast Ep 89 - Theo Robertson

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Golden State Warriors' Video Coordinator Theo Robertson stops by the Section925 Podcenter to talk with Tripper. Raised in Pittsburgh, California, Theo's basketball journey led him to De La Salle High School to play for Brian Sullivan and Frank Allocco. The Excel Basketball Camp Hall of Fame inductee then starred at CAL for four years, making multiple NCAA tournament appearances. Today, he is a member of the Warriors' championship coaching staff...

"The Magic Theory" - Is Draymond Green a Forgotten Son of the Showtime Lakers?

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Father and son? Or nah?

(A letter to the editor):

It's obvious that there are similarities in their games.  Beyond the high hoops IQ, both Magic Johnson and Draymond Green can/could guard 1-5, play 1-5, run the "showtime" fast break, talk trash in a colorful and funny way, rack up triple-doubles, and generally be the most likable person on and off the court.  They're both leaders, talkers, and dynamic tone-setters. It's been noted over and over that their personalities and games have serious parallels that can't be ignored.  

But it doesn't stop there. They both have the Michigan State connection, philanthropy ties, and several instances where Magic has called Draymond "mini-Magic".  Let's also note that there really isn't a father figure in Draymond's life.  His MSU bio references some guy Wallace Davis, but we never see him or hear about him at all.  And now it gets weird: 

Draymond was conceived between June 1 and June 7, 1989.  And where was Magic during that time?  In Detroit, Michigan, pre-HIV diagnosis, getting swept by the Pistons in the '89 finals.  MAGIC WAS IN TOWN WHEN DRAYMOND WAS CONCEIVED! And we know he was getting down with everyone at that time in his life.

Of course I realize how strange this theory is, but I can't shake the idea that it might be true.  Add to the craziness that I "friended" Mary Tootoo Babers on FB, and I've been commenting on her posts in passively suggestive ways about her son's true paternity.  It's time to take it off the social media angles and give Section925 this hot take to run with.  Let me know how I can help...

- Chris Norton, San Francisco

Research credits to: Devin Wright, Ardian Zagari, Beau Delmore, Jason Friedman.

Section925 Podcast Ep 87 - The Roguecast is Back

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Josh (@jphunsucker) brings back his one-man pod and talks misplaced outrage at the Stanford Band, Jed York's press conference, Draymond Green's back-to-back-to-back triple doubles, the No. 4 women's basketball recruit in America aka Miramonte's Sabrina Ionescu, the re-booted running man celebration in college football, and opens the text line to take on obscure questions like what to do in an armed robbery and who to blame tent farts on. 

Josh (@jphunsucker) brings back his one-man pod and talks misplaced outrage at the Stanford Band, Jed York's press conference, Draymond Green's back-to-back-to-back triple doubles, the No. 4 womens basketball recruit in America aka Miramonte's Sabrina Ionescu, the re-booted running man celebration in college football, and opens the text line to take on obscure questions like what to do in an armed robbery and who to blame tent farts on.

Oakland Great Dave Henderson Passes Away at 57

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By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com

If one was forced to sum up Dave Henderson’s life in one sentence, perhaps his custom autograph signature would be a good place to start: “Hendu, still having fun.”

Henderson enjoyed a 14-year Major League career playing for five teams, but in just six seasons as an Athletic, Hendu was able to win over a fan base forever in Oakland.

Surely, the love for Hendu can be traced back to his performance on the field, as the center fielder helped lead the A’s to three straight World Series appearances and a 1989 sweep of SF in the Bay Bridge Series. But the deeper strains of love for Hendu can be attributed to the way he approached the game of baseball. How he never played without a smile on his face, how he engaged the fans in the outfield bleachers, how he quietly helped shepherd the Bash Brother’s through all the ups and downs.

As most A’s fans would admit, Hendu’s most indelible mark on a baseball field was made in 1986 in a Boston Red Sox uniform. It was the ALCS and Boston was on the road, down 3-1 in the series to the California Angels. With two outs, Hendu strode to the plate against shut-down closer Donnie Moore. With two strikes, Hendu somehow slugged a two-run homer to send the game into extra innings, where Boston would win both the game and eventually the series.

The homer still is alive and well in baseball lore, considered widely as one of the most clutch swings of the bat in the game’s history. There was Hendu, with the weight of the Curse of the Bambino square on his shoulders, swinging for the fences with two-strikes in the ninth. His post homer celebration was not a modern day “pimp-job” popular today. Instead Hendu leapt as high as he could, spinning in the air like a little leaguer. Smiling the whole time. Announcer Al Michaels’ television call was perfect, “You’re looking at one for the ages here,” he proclaimed. 

After a short 15-game pit-stop in San Francisco, Henderson arrived across the bay in Oakland, where it didn’t take long for him to become a fan favorite. Number 42 wasn’t your prototypical speedster in center field, but Hendu and his large-frame still managed to cover all the necessary real estate in the expansive Coliseum outfield.

Oakland bleacher creatures quickly took kindly to Hendu and his positive outfield vibes. Multiple fan clubs adorned the Oakland-Alameda County Colisuem including “HENDULAND” and “Hendu’s Bad Boy Club.” After catching the final out of an inning, you could always count on Hendu to feed his fans with a souvenir baseball, accompanied by his signature gap-toothed smile.

“The thing that stood out was his attitude. There wasn’t a stadium we went to where he didn’t have the center field fans going crazy. He really had respect and appreciation for the game. People talk about all the big hits and the World Series, but to me, it was that great attitude he brought every day. He would instantly pick you up, put you in the right frame of mind, get you going.”
— Terry Steinbach (speaking with The Chronicle)

During the A’s heyday, Hendu often hit second. Hitting behind the likes of Rickey Henderson and in front of Bash Brothers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, Henderson was left happily “hitting cookies” as he described it. For three straight seasons (1988-1990) Hendu helped take the A’s to the Fall Classic. On the biggest stage, Hendu was clutch. Proving that his famous Boston homer wasn’t a fluke, Henderson hit .298 during his postseason appearances, well above his career average. In the A’s World Series sweep of the Giants, Hendu blasted two homers in one game at Candlestick. Again, all with a smile on his face.

Hendu was not only a terrific player and teammate, he was also a family man who cared for his son Chase who suffers from Angelman Syndrome, a neuro-genetic disorder. “Hendu’s Bad Boy Club for Angleman Syndrome” was one of Henderson’s charity events to help support his son and the larger community affected.

There will never be another Hendu, and there will never be another team like the 1989 Oakland A’s. It is a shame that arguably the most uplifting and positive person from that championship team was one of the first to pass away. Even though Hendu is gone, he leaves behind a legacy in Oakland that won’t soon be forgotten. Thank you for the memories, Hendu. 

Ken Rosenthal’s Hall of Fame Ballot Changeup

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Barry Bonds is hoping his alleged steroid use won't keep him out of Cooperstown

By LeAnne Harris

It's the dead of the off-season, and while the stove is cooling, we're still months away from Opening Day. There is no baseball to watch, and if you're anything like me, you've got the iconic Rangers-Jays Seventh Inning playing in the background while you're refreshing your twitter feed every eleven seconds, giving yourself enough time to read an A's beat writer's response to a quirky fan comment and an article on a Barry Bonds vote to the Hall of Fame by Ken Rosenthal.

Wait, Ken Rosenthal did what?

That's right. Kenny Bowties did the unthinkable. For the first time in their three years of eligibility, Rosenthal included Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens in his Hall of Fame Ballot.

Rosenthal outlined several excellent points in this article released last night, discussing his recent motion to include the two players. Along the thoughts of cheating and authenticity, Rosenthal states: "I no longer could justify snubbing two of the greatest players of this era." Rosenthal then explains that if a player has faced accusations yet was still inducted to the Hall of Fame, there is still no proof that they did not engage in PED use. So why is it considered a crime for Bonds and Clemens to be elected?

The morality behind inducting possible PED users is more so an argument of authenticity. As Rosenthal wrote, "suspicion alone is not enough to withhold a vote from a player who hasn't admitted to PED use, never tested positive to public knowledge, never been the subject of a government investigation." And though we may be fully aware that both Bonds and Clemens were subjects in government trials, does that give them less of a right to be inducted if the charges were dropped?

Whether you agree that both players should be in the HOF or that they are cheaters and should be recognized as cheaters, having Ken Rosenthal's votes are just as important in the long run as other voters. We see and hear Ken Rosenthal everywhere, and one could only imagine the impact he may have on his voting brethren.

Rosenthal is the main, credible source we have for trades and news, and his ability to report such news allows for us baseball fans to see him as a familiar, comforting face when it comes to baseball. He made such a substantial decision on reversing his previous statements on adding both Bonds and Clemens to his ballot, which can be either judged as noble or cowardly among fans and other players. Both Bonds and Clemens have names that are tarnished for the rest of their lives, regardless of the numbers they put up during their careers; and while Rosenthal still feels conflicted after submitting his ballot, he understands the frustrating and contradictory point.

With such a big, influential reporter admitting his uncertainty on one of the biggest baseball scandals of the decade, it may show other voters in the future, if he is not inducted from the 2016 ballot, that it is okay to place a vote for him. We could possibly have one of the best, biggest, and baddest entertainers in the history of baseball inducted into the Hall of Fame, and for that, I am juiced.

Section925 Podcast Episode 85 – J Torchio and Chris Hawkins

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Christian Mccaffrey finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting.&nbsp;(Photo &nbsp;Michael Macor)

Christian Mccaffrey finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. (Photo  Michael Macor)

Insider J Torchio and repeat pod offender Chris Hawkins break down the Armed Forces and Rose Bowl and toast Josh from the 209 in this final college football pod of the season.

 

Insider J Torchio and repeat pod offender Chris Hawkins break down the Armed Forces and Rose Bowl and toast Josh from the 209 in this final college football pod of the season.

CAL Hoops Heads to Virginia to Face the ACC's Elite

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Redshirt Senior Malcolm Brogdon and head coach Tony Bennett have the Cavaliers ranked 5th in the nation through ten games. (photo by Mitch Stringer)

By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com

For anyone who has been around Cuonzo Martin, heard him talk in a press conference, or even just watched him patrol the sidelines on television, he certainly has never come across as a man who is risk adverse or afraid of a challenge. The East St. Louis native and cancer survivor seems to radiate confidence and a killer instinct whenever he sets foot in the gym. On Tuesday night in Virginia, Coach Martin will have himself one of the biggest challenges he could expect to find in regular season major college basketball. And he couldn’t be happier to accept it.

Surely, when Coach Martin circled December 22nd on his calendar, he expected his Bears would be flying out to Virginia as a ranked team. Unfortunately, CAL’s nationally hyped, high-flying attack has weathered some turbulence through the first third of the season. Largely due to an inability to break down zone defenses with dependable outside shooting options, the Bears find themselves south of the top-25, without a victory against a ranked opponent.

Tuesday night in front of a nationally televised audience (ESPN2, 6pm) will be just the kind of resume building opportunity coach Martin is searching for at this point in the year. It will come against a top-5 team in Virginia. A team many are expecting to win the stacked ACC and have a good shot at reaching the Final Four in Houston. Vegas experts are expecting the home Cavaliers to win by a comfortable 12-point margin.

It should be interesting to see CAL play the role of underdog for the first time this season. At least on paper, the Bears have one of the most talented teams in the country and were granted a top 15 ranking to begin the year. But with losses to San Diego State and Richmond, as well as close calls against Wyoming, St. Mary’s and even the University of the Incarnate Word, CAL has been humbled early. Now with less than 12 weeks until Selection Sunday, it’s about time the Bears put the engine into high gear if they expect to do any sort of damage come March.

As mentioned, CAL’s woes have largely stemmed from a lack of shooting touch. For starters, freshman phenom Jaylen Brown has only managed to knock down nine 3-pointers during the first 11 games. Senior Tyrone Wallace leads the team in scoring with 16ppg, but has only made 60% of his free throws. As a whole, against a soft schedule, CAL has only shot 33% from three point land. By now, teams are consistently sitting back in zone defenses, forcing the Bears to slow down and prove their ability to knock down shots from distance.  

On the bright side, Coach Martin’s team has proven they can get stops on defense and their offense has been spread out among many weapons, with all five starters routinely finishing in double figures. On top of that, CAL’s overall speed and athleticism has been spectacular to watch at times. The Bears will need to tap into this raw talent when they take the floor on Tuesday night.  

Cuonzo Martin is in his second season in Berkeley after finding success at both Missouri State and the University of Tennessee. (photo by Ezra Shaw)

In a somewhat quiet, methodical way, University of Virginia head coach Tony Bennett has turned the Cavaliers into a basketball power. Traditionally an also-ran in the ACC, Bennett has lead UVA to back-to-back 30-win seasons in Charlottesville. This is an eye-popping accomplishment when you consider Bennett’s league schedule consists of Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse, and Louisville. Somehow, Bennett was able to guide his squad to a 16-2 record in the ACC last year, all without one McDonald’s All-American on his roster (CAL currently sports three).

Before moving east, Tony Bennett took over for his dad Dick Bennett at Washington State. Challenged with the task of recruiting and winning in Pullman, Bennett was still able to find success and was eventually courted by an ACC school. Fast forward seven years and Bennett is one of the hottest young coaches in basketball, making more than $2 million a year and challenging the likes of Krzyzewski, Boeheim, Pitino, and Williams year in and year out.

Bennett’s 2015-16 Cavaliers are extremely skilled and experienced, led primarily by senior guard Malcolm Brogdon and senior forward Anthony Gill. Brogdon, who goes by the nickname “Humble Moses” leads the team in scoring with 17-a-game while shooting above 40% from 3-point land.

Athletic, skilled and well coached, the Cavaliers will pose the toughest challenge for Coach Martin’s Bears so far this season, if not all year. Will this road test expose CAL as an over-hyped team who doesn’t quite know how to utilize its widespread talent? Or, perhaps the Bears will use the opportunity to show the Andy Katz’s and Joe Lundardi’s of the world that Berkeley hoops is deserving of some hype after all. One has to believe Coach Martin will have his team ready for the bright lights and the big challenge that awaits in ACC country. 

Jabari Bird and the rest of the CAL Bears must connect from distance if they expect to beat fifth ranked UVA. (photo by Ezra Shaw)