Does he represent an immediate upgrade over Joba Chamberlain? Possibly.

Does his history of mental health issues bode well in the most scrutinized sports franchise in America? Uh, no.

I’d probably rank him up there in the pitchers market, but it’s just too painfully obvious NYC does not fit him.

I think the answer to both is that there’s no special phenomenon happening here, I think you could pick out a team at random and have a pretty decent chance of thinking of a few decent Yanks who had played for that organization at some point in their career.

On second thought, one of your examples doesn’t even really qualify… Gaudin came into MLB as a Ray, then went to Toronto, then Oakland, then Chicago (North Side), then San Diego, then New York. It’s not like he’s a product of the Oakland system, he just happened to pass through there the same way he has passed through a number of organizations. That’s what journeymen do.

Actually, Kotsay falls into that category, too. He came in with Florida, then spent time in San Diego, then went to Oakland, then Atlanta, then Boston, then Chicago (South Side). He was a product of the Marlins’ system and he spent more time in the Marlins’ organization than he did with Oakland.

No problem with the A’s and NEVER understood the greatness of Mr. Beane.

I don’t remember people here at RAB having some sort of candlelight vigil for Mark Kotsay. There may have been interest, but you’re misrepresenting the intensity of that interest.

“Chad Gaudin…”

When were people pining away for Chad Gaudin and hoping the Yankees would acquire him? He came here and did a nice job. Are people supposed to not acknowledge and appreciate that? More importantly, acknowledging and appreciating that is a totally different concept than hoping the Yanks would acquire the guy.

“.. and yes Swisher he did play 4 years in OAK before his cup of coffee in Chicago…”

Again, when were people pining away for Nick Swisher and hoping the Yankees would acquire him? And, again, more importantly… Acknowledging and appreciating performance while with the Yanks is a totally different concept than hoping the Yanks would acquire the guy.

Look… You made what you thought might be a decent joke about fans pining away for Oakland guys, seemingly because you have some sort of problem with the A’s and Billy Beane, but your joke really has no basis in reality and doesn’t make any sense. Just admit as much and let it go, don’t stubbornly tie yourself to a sinking ship.

Those 2004 to 2007 Championship Billy Beane team members seem to be a big hit here.