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From: gates@bdmrrr.UUCP (Al Gates)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: canesco(?), and the A's
Message-ID: <451@bdmrrr.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 10-Oct-85 08:32:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: bdmrrr.451
Posted: Thu Oct 10 08:32:38 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Oct-85 07:41:21 EDT
References: <1103@princeton.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: BDM Corporation, McLean, Virginia
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> (Will there ever be group like
> the '81 staff of Norris, Langford, Kingman, Keogh, McCatty !?!?!?!?!
> that sh*thead Billy Martin @!#$%&^*()!@)
> 					Sunny
> 					One of the few A's fans left

Hold on here!  If Billy Martin had not come to Oakland, I honestly believe
they would not have experienced the two years of success that they had
in 1980 and 1981.  He took a team that lost 108 games in 1979, and got
them to finish above .500.  Had Billy Martin not managed the A's, Tony
Armas may have never gotten a chance to play and achieve the stardom that
he has.  One of Billy's first decisions was that Armas was going to be
his starting right fielder.

Billy Martin did not burn out Mike Norris.  Mike Norris burned out Mike Norris.
It was great the Billy could motivate him for one career year.  Norris probably
would have never lived up to his potential in any season had Billy not been 
in Oakland.

Had Billy Martin used the bullpen in 1980 and 1981 (and thus sparing his
starters some innings) the A's would not have won as many games.  They would
still be searching for their first AL West title since 1975.  Billy took a team
that was going to be sub .500 for ten years and offered two years of decent
baseball.  When was the last time you saw a team finish above .500 with
Wayne Gross at third (lots of errors .230 batting average), Mario Guerrero
at short, and Dave McKay at second?

Give Billy Martin a lot of credit.  If you want two good years out of a bad
club, he can get it for you.  By the way, look at the great job he did with
the Yankees this year.

Side note:  I am an avid Oakland A's fan as well.  We truly are a dying breed.

-- 
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