Billy goes Gollum

The Boys of Summer roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

A Boys of Summer editorial from a long-time A's junkie.

“Precious…”

Come late October/early November, Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane will look at himself and think: “So this is the end of a ill/well-spent season…or perhaps era.” With the acquisition of Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, Beane has once again set the baseball world on fire. Talk about all in.

Just one month ago Beane traded away the teams top two farm prospects in short stop Russell Addison and outfielder Billy McKinney for the Cubs Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. Outsiders who have claimed to understand Moneyball or the inner workings of Beane’s mind were once again tossed aside this morning with the shocking trade of clubhouse and fan favorite Cespedes. When the A’s were seriously drawn into the Lester conversation yesterday, my response was that Beane was merely driving up the price to make sure whomever landed him paid a hefty price. Turned out that was Beane.

Over his tenure, Beane has stockpiled picks for later at times (trading away big names like Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder or budding superstar Carlos Gonzalez) and made plays for bigger names at other times (Milton Bradley, Frank Thomas and Matt Holiday). This year is an all out push. This is the ring or bust. After consecutive post-season losses to the Tigers, largely at the hands of pitchers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, Beane has decided he won’t be fooled again.

The line to consider is whether or not Beane has gone too far, given too much for what amounts to a short-term rental of Lester (he’s only signed through the end of the year) and the best shot the A’s have had at a ring in decades. While the starting rotation of Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir, Jon Lester and Jeff Samardjia is positively devastating, the smoking hole created in left field by Cespedes departure and the clubhouse is worthy of conversation. There are those who have long said Cespedes is more thunder than lightning – his value increased by the ROY, All-Star and home run derby titles and occasional highlight reel throws from the outfield. His numbers at the plate over his three years with the A’s are good but not great 2012: .292/.356/.505/.861 2013: .240/.294/.442/.737 2014: .256/.303/.464/.767.  

My knee jerk reaction was “oh no”. That had largely to do with my fan-side that loves the guys in green and gold and sees them as part of the family. Cespedes was an exciting part of this crew over the last couple of years. But if pitching wins championships, if you believe in closing windows of opportunity (with several contracts coming up in the next two years) and the ring is the only thing that really matters, then Beane has made yet another bold and brilliant move. The high-wire part about it, of course, is that it’s really only bold and brilliant if the A’s win it all.

Beane has long been a subject of fascination for baseball GM’s, fans and commentators. He’s tough, bold and devastatingly sharp – that blade cuts both ways. While the A’s have been competitive nearly every year he’s been at the helm, they’ve never even sniffed a World Series. Without a ring, rightly or wrongly, many people will forever question Beane’s true efficacy as a GM. This is his moment – to shine or flame. Is he a genius or a buffoon? Come late October/early November, the rapidly eroding middle ground will be gone.

The Boys of Summer roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #109

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

September 1, 2004 - Bob
Las Vegas, NV

I've begun to look at footage and it is a mixed bag for me. Some things make me happy, some sad. It's always this way in post. There are the memories of the things done well, the opportunities missed, the great times in between, the "didn't we shoot that?" (which, of course, we didn't) and many more. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my shoots that I see something in my eye and assume it’s on tape or film somewhere. When someone develops that system send me an e-mail (please mark it urgent).

The difference for me here is to remember my “gold” is in the story. We'll have plenty of footage from B-Roll sources (the city's convention centers have been great, sending shots to help us setup our introductions to each place we go).

I have an interview set up for today with an indie film magazine -- I'm very excited about that. Today is the 1st of Sept. -- whoo. I better get back to editing this bad boy to make Sundance’s September 24th deadline (crazy).

Chicago White Sox 5, Oakland 4
WP: S. Takatsu (6-3)   LP: J. Duchscherer (5-5)

September 6, 2004 - Bob
Las Vegas, NV

Almost through the tapes now. There is about 50 hours of footage, all told. Today (hopefully) I will begin dropping the footage into the hard drive. That'll give me just under two weeks to edit a rough cut. It's insane, I know, but I have this feeling...it could be insanity I'm feeling. Hmmm...you may be right, I may be...

At any rate, I'm going forward with this for now. It will be what it will be.

The B-Roll from other cities is fitting in quite nicely, accenting what I've already got (fly overs and helicopter shots were difficult to come by during the trip, ya dig?).

Also, I have an interview with the Michael J. Fox foundation set up for the New York trip we’ll be making at the end of this month. The two Stephen King short films I did, “Luckey Quarter” and “Roland Meets Brown” are going to be part of the first-ever Dollar Baby Film Festival in Orono, Maine at King’s alma mater. I'm still working on interviews with both Stephen and Ken Burns. We'll see...

Boston 8, Oakland 3
WP: B. Arroyo (8-9)   LP: B. Zito (10-10)

Tonight’s loss (above score) burned my ass like almost no other this season. The Sox rivalry is heated from our side for sure because we’re getting our heads kicked in by the Beantowners. Tonight, though, after the stupid ump (Brian Knight, I believe?) missed the fact that Manny Ramirez CLEARLY trapped a crucial hit by Mark Kotsay and instead called him out, the flood gates opened wide.

Now, I know enough to know that a good team gets past plays like that and certainly finds a way to win games like that. Right now, though, I’m not sure if the A’s are a good team. I love these boys and they’re breaking my heart...right on cue.
 

Boys of Summer book Entry #65

Leaving Fenway...

Mom:

We saw Johnny Damon who was being so sweet to the kids. We went up on top of the Green Monster. The whole experience was surreal.
I had a Fenway Frank. It was great. I loved being there. The only thing that was hard is the seats were so small!

Dad:

After a couple of innings we return to our seats to watch the Red Sox beat the Rangers 7-0. The crowd is large and enthusiastic but not too rowdy.

Bob:

Then up to the monster where we almost got drilled by a couple of balls and met a number of great members of the Red Sox Nation. We actually got invited to stay with a couple in Chicago when we go there in a couple of weeks just by meeting and befriending a couple of Chicago transplants who were in Boston to see their beloved Sox for the night!

We got interviewed by Channel 5 and by Colleen, also, for the Red Sox local Show. We got to see the game from so many interesting angles -- it was amazing. Met Colleen’s Dad -- sat five feet from the game. What a great guy. I met a fan who loved our story so much he gave us $40 to have a couple of beers or, “for whatever you want to use it for,” as he said.

Wow.

I scored a free peppers and onion sandwich on top of the monster (delicious) thanks to a kindly vendor closing up shop. Hats, shirts and an awesome throwback ball were also gifted to us courtesy of Colleen. Wow -- A-Freaking-Mazing. A great game. So much love. All that was left was the train ride home.

So we’re waiting in a long line to get on the train, which doesn’t bother any of us because we’re all floating on air by this point, and suddenly we see a guy and girl (who I’ll refer to as “The Couple” from here on out) appear out of nowhere. They look as if they’re going to cut to the front of the line. 

“The line starts back there” a voice in the line says.

The Couple turns around, stares.

“Who said that?” She, of “The Couple”, demands. And His face, God His face...His top lip was curled up the bottom one hung down, revealing sharply angled teeth and an expression that said he’d just recently been hit by an Andre Agassi two-handed backhand.

There was no response from the line beyond silence. 

“We’re walking, faggot,” He says.

The Couple turns and, indeed walks on the overpass. There is murmuring from a couple guys in the crowd.

“Bet you five bucks that kid can’t keep his yap shut,” someone says.

From the overpass, He calls out: “You see? We’re walking!”

From the line: “Thanks, you just made me five bucks!”

Dad:

The line to board the train was two blocks long but moved quickly. We are very happy with our decision to ride the train. Parking cost (from what we saw) $20 - $50 per car and traffic is at a dead standstill.

Mom:

The train was SRO (standing room only) on the way back. Everyone was talking to everyone else. I loved it. The people who owned the house we were staying at had arrived. We sat up and talked to them. I did feel a little guilty because we put their daughter our of their bed. But they were very kind.

Bob:

We get back to Newton. Annamaria and I go next door to interview some very cool artists who had heard about our adventure.

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #63

Interviewing Peter Gammons

RC:

Tell us why baseball is important to fathers and sons in your experience?

PG:

Well because there is so much history. And it’s traditional. It’s also a game that, because it doesn’t have a clock, it’s a conversational game. I mean it’s hard to have a lot of conversations during a hockey game, a basketball game or a football game because you think every play is really important. Now, in baseball, they are important but there’s time in between. And it’s every day...so you’re living out a life and each season is a life in itself. 

RC:

Did you go to your first game with your dad as a little guy?

PG:

Ayuh.

RC:

And what was that like?

PG:

It was tremendous. I remember the day, it was in 1952. It was June 28, 1952 I came into Fenway Park because I lived about 40 miles outside of Boston. And I was struck by how green it was. Because then we only had black and white televisions so I had no idea what the color was. I walked up that ramp right there the first time I came into Fenway and I remember everything about that day. And I think most people do remember the first time they went to a ballpark.

RC:

Did they win that day?

PG:

No, they lost 5-1.

RC:

Who’d they play?

PG:

They played the Washington Senators.

RC:

Who pitched?

PG:

Dick Berdowski pitched for Washington and beat Boston and I do remember I got to see Dizzy Trout who was 44 years old, pitch in that game. And then of course his son played. And then the second game I came to was against Detroit. The great thing about that was, a guy who was a great pitcher, Virgil “Fire” Trucks pitched for the Tigers in that game. And that was very important to me because of my love of music because his nephew and great nephew are the drummer and guitarist for the Allman Brothers. 

RC: 

What is it like for you now to share the game with others?

PG:

It’s wonderful. Their love of it, too -- in those days we used to go out to the bleachers and just have a lot of fun. Again...A baseball game isn’t an event, the way a football game is. A baseball game is just another day of an experience. And I think that’s what makes it so great. And the players...I’m fortunate to have been really close to the game and know how much players care and how hard they play. I very believe very strongly that the players today are better than the players when I was going to games in the 60’s. And I’ll tell you this, they care every bit as much now as they ever did.

RC:

Regardless of the money.

PG:

It’s all relative. To Ted Williams it was a big deal to make $125,000 when Joe DiMaggio made $120,000. When Rickey Henderson made three million and someone got three-point-one and he wanted three-point-five...it’s all relative. It’s not something that most of us can relate to...unless you’re making 17 million dollars. It’s not the money, it’s the pride of being better than somebody else. 

RC:

What is the greatest ballpark right now?

PG:

Pac Bell, San Francisco. Second, Pittsburgh. The difference is, Pac Bell’s in San Francisco and Pittsburgh’s Pittsburgh. 

RC:

What is the greatest play you’ve ever seen -- at the game when you were there?

PG:

I would say it would be the Devon White catch in the World Series in 1992. I think it was greater than Mays’ catch. The bases were loaded, line drive directly over his head with the wall, because he was going at it full speed, like Mays, but Mays at least had an angle. It was directly over (White’s) head. He caught it at full speed, bases loaded two outs, one-run game and he hit the wall. And to me, when you’re faced with a wall it makes it even greater. As much as I love Willie Mays, he’s my favorite player of all time, that was the greatest play. 

boys of Summer Book - Entry #61

July 9, 2004 - Dan

Boston, MA

We arrive at our guest’s home at 4:30 a.m. It’s a funny feeling walking into a house when you have not met the owners and it is 4:30 in the morning.

Fortunately the Bartons left us a welcome note so that we know that we are in the right place. I am only able to sleep in until 9:30, so here I am up and writing. What an amazing day! We meet some of the Bartons neighbors and they recommend we take a train to Fenway, a great idea!  

After a short walk from the train station, we arrive at the Fenway and it is alive with activity three hours before game time. We meet Colleen Reilly, the Red Sox P.R. rep. and a truly thoughtful person. 

Mom:

We left at 2-2:30(PM) for the game. We took the train in from Newton. The family arrived and told us that would be a much better route than driving. We got right off at Fenway. That was my favorite experience as far as baseball goes. 

To walk around there -- t-shirts, peanuts, the people. Colleen, our Red Sox ambassador, was just amazing! Loved her job, her team, her city. 

Bob:

Boston - whoa! Baseball!!!

The house we’re at is beautiful. We had a great start to the day -- the best I’ve slept in two months, maybe more. 

We went to the game and took the train getting there. How cool was that? Shades of the BART and trips I made as a kid riding in to the old Coliseum as a kid. The T-Line was money - and it saved us big money as parking around Fenway is nuts!

Within all of it was this overwhelming excitement about the city of Boston. I love the feel of this place. We get there, round the corner and BAM there’s the stadium. It's a carnival every game day. The streets shut down to cars and open up to people. We spoke with a third generation peanut vendor on the street. We spoke with a security guard on Yawkey. Everyone had a smile, a wink, a "Go Sox!" shout and a couple dozen great stories. 

So we meet our liaison, Colleen Reilly -- give me a break. How freaking cool is she? So fun. So sweet. So gracious in getting us all around Fenway. She got us on the field, an interview with Peter Gammons, seats next to her dad in the second row behind first base, a bag of goodies with BoSox hats and shirts and her unbelievable spirit and kindness the whole way. There aren't enough apples there to tell you how much I like 'em.