This is so typical of the As these days -- robbing pitcher Trevor Cahill of his chance to be part of the grand opening of Coliseum City in the year 20-A-Million.
Cahill has been traded to Arizona for the usual bag of prospects on coasters, meaning that whatever they get will be shipped out the moment they show the slightest sign of progress or contract enhancement. This news will shock no humans.
Then again, since the As strategy for the foreseeable future is to penalty kill until their magical palace in the sky (well, San Jose) appears, things like the Cahill trade really dont amount to a lot.
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It is the fate of all As, and while that seems harsh to people who believe that the As still have a vital role in the American League West beyond bringing the dessert tray when the Welcome Houston Astros social is thrown in November, it happens too often, it happens for the same reason every time, and even general manager Brad Pitt acknowledges this truth.
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Put another way, while Trevor Cahill is no Albert Pujols, or C.J. Wilson, or Joe Nathan for that matter, he is closer to any of those than Colin Cowgill, the outfielderlinchpin in the deal from the Arizona side.
It is part of the new plan, to build a juggernaut for 2015, when the stadium is supposed to be a tangible thing other than merely one more nail in Oakland mayor Jean Quans political bier. If this happens, fine. If it doesnt, fine again. By now, the As dont even pretend than winning now is an idea they feel comfortable embracing.
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So Trevor Cahill is now the new Dan Haren, perhaps. Amanda McCarthy, the wife of As pitcher and Cahills former teammate Brandon McCarthy Tweeted, Dbacks are lucky. We love the Cahillsso glad we got to know them and took an awesome couples trip to the Bahamas. I am on suicide watch.
She neednt fret so. Her time is coming, and soon. Its the circle of life in Oakland. Home of Coliseum City, Where Unicorns Frolic and Easter Bunnies Make Wicker Baskets For The Holiday Rush.
Ray Ratto is a columnist for CSNBayArea.com.