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Jack Cust News & Rumors

Jack Cust: The anti-Astro Astro, and why this is bad — and good
January 19
Houston Chronicle
 
"There are three things that the Astros, as they have been and presumably continue to be constructed, do not do. 1. They don't walk 2. They don't, for a poor offensive team, strike out much. 3. They don't hit home runs. Now Jack Cust has signed with the Astros for $600,000 non-guaranteed plus a 2013 club option that according to agent Bobby Barad is for $1 million. And there are three things that Jack Cust does do on offense. 1. He walks. 2. He strikes out. 3. He hits home runs, or at least he did. While the Astros are a bunch of busy work for a defense, a Jack Cust at-bat is an invitation for defense to take a nap. If they had to find one player who absolutely doesn't fit their mold, both"
Astros agree to deal with free agent hitter Jack Cust
January 18
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Astros finished off a busy Tuesday by agreeing to a contract with free agent Jack Cust, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Cust will be under contract for 2012 and the Astros hold a club option for 2013, meaning Cust could become the team's first designated hitter when the Astros move to the American League in 2013, as most of his career experience is bat-only. The team also agreed to a $2.35 million contract with lefty J.A. Happ, exchanging salary arbitration proposals with shortstop Jed Lowrie, and hiring former Astros farmhand and experienced minor league pitching coach Craig Bjornson as bullpen coach."
Who is this Jack Cust, and where's he been hiding?
June 29
Tacoma News Tribune
 
"Jack Cust found himself in a relatively unfamiliar place on Tuesday night - the Mariners' starting lineup. The one-time starting designated hitter, who has been relegated to sometime pinch hitter, got a rare start at DH and was batting eighth in the order. "Custy hasn't been in there in quite a while," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said before the game. Cust's last start was on June 14 against the Los Angeles Angels. Since then he's appeared in three games as a pinch hitter. He came into the game hitting .216 (40-for-185) with two homers and 19 RBI. "I understand the situation," he said. "I feel I can help the team out. Obviously, I haven't, up to this point, hit up to my potential. I'm"
Jack Cust gets first start since June 14
June 29
Seattle Times
 
"Jack Cust, who started at designated hitter on Tuesday for the first time since June 14, is hoping to earn more playing time. "I understand the situation," Cust said. "I feel I can help the team out. Obviously, I haven't up to this point hit up to my potential. I'm a streaky guy. I haven't gotten hot yet. I feel I can get hot and carry a team for a little bit when I do. I've done it in the past. "It's no secret we've been struggling to score runs. They're trying anything they can. Unfortunately for myself personally, it's cost me at-bats. But that's the way the game is. I can't say I've done anything to warrant playing any more than I have. When I get in there, I'm hoping my timing is good"
Cust sits again, but still has high hopes
June 12
Seattle Times
 
"Mariners designated hitter Jack Cust took a seat for the third time in four days Saturday as Mike Carp was penciled in to his spot. Cust took the move in stride, saying he understands the Mariners are looking at younger hitters and need to find spots for them to play. He isn't overly concerned, saying he expects to start putting up bigger numbers as the summer progresses. "I know what I'm going to do when I get on a hot streak," he said. "I've hit 10 home runs in a month before. I just need to stay within myself. Not try to do too much. And when the weather heats up a bit, that's when maybe you'll see me start to do some of the things I've done before." Cust is hitting just .184 at home"
Jack Cust: "That's the swing I'm trying to do every time."
May 1
Tacoma News Tribune
 
"With deadlines and such, we weren't able to talk to Jack Cust last night after the game. The Mariners DH didn't appear for some time after the game, in which he provided the game-winning hit. But he talked before today's game about his big RBI double off of Bobby Jenks. "It felt good," he said. "That's the swing I'm looking for on a pitch middle-inside, taking it the other way. That's the swing I'm trying to do every time. It felt good to get a big hit there for the team." Cust knows he's struggling. He knows that he's not hitting the ball hard. But he's hoping that will chance. Basically he feels was pressing and trying too hard to make an impact. "Yeah, definitely," he said. "It's a"
With Ichiro at designated hitter, struggling Cust gets day off
April 25
Tacoma News Tribune
 
"Ichiro Suzuki got a much-deserved day off from the field Sunday, filling the role as the designated hitter. Manager Eric Wedge said he talked to Ichiro about it and knew he wanted to do it soon with the Mariners on a long stretch of games without a day off. "As we got into it, after talking to him a little bit, it might be the best thing to do to couple it with the off day (today)," he said. "It gets him off his legs for a couple of days here." With Ichiro at designated hitter, it meant that regular DH Jack Cust got a break from his struggles. He's hitting .171 (5-for-70) with one extra base hit - a double on April 8 against Cleveland - and has a slugging percentage of .186. That's the"
Jack Cust no fan of spring training
March 21
Seattle Times
 
"If only Jack Cust could feel as centered at spring training as a pair of his home run blasts looked the other day. Cust knows he's starting to get the timing down on his swing when his long balls fly out to dead-center or the opposite way to left-center. And that's what happened against the Texas Rangers on Saturday, though Cust admits that spring training is usually the last place he's able to feel truly comfortable. "I usually don't feel comfortable at spring training," Cust said. "There's too much stuff going on. Too much down time when we aren't hitting. You're standing in the field a lot. There's too much time to tinker with stuff and when I do that, it tends to mess me up." Cust"
Ichiro and Jack Cust: Fashion do's and don'ts
February 20
Tacoma News Tribune
 
"Everyone in the Northwest knows what Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki looks like - at 5-foot-11, 172 pounds he's mostly bone, muscle and sinew, reed thin. Then there's Jack Cust, the new designated hitter who is 6-foot-1 and weighs 250 pounds. There are bones, muscle and sinew on Cust, too. They're just better hidden. So when Ichiro came into the clubhouse Saturday dressed in tight jeans rolled to mid-shin, Cust couldn't resist. He rolled his wide-legged jeans to mid-shin, a homage to his new teammate. There was a lot of laughter when Ichiro spotted Cust. Asked about the fashion statement, Ichiro said "I'm the good sample, he's the bad sample."
Cust 'really excited' about joining Mariners
December 9
Tacoma News Tribune
 
"The Seattle Mariners were a team woefully lacking in power and run production in 2010. On Wednesday at the Major League Baseball winter meetings, they made a move to address the situation. Seattle has agreed in principle on a 1-year, $2.75 million contract with free agent designated hitter/outfielder Jack Cust. "I'm really excited," he said over the phone. "Seattle is a place that I've wanted to go to. They've shown interest in me the in past and they were interested in bringing me in last year. I'm just glad the interest is still there." A source in the Mariners organization said the deal is basically done, but that the final logistics and details, including a physical, need to be"
Mariners will sign free-agent DH Jack Cust
December 9
Seattle Times
 
"Free-agent slugger Jack Cust says the reason he agreed to a $2.5 million deal with the Mariners was because he wanted to "go somewhere that appreciates me as a player." Not just one who puts on a uniform, but who gets the chance to play every day. Cust will get that opportunity with the Mariners next season as their primary designated hitter, facing not only right-handed pitchers as a left-handed power bat, but also seeing his share of southpaws. "From what it sounds like, I'm going to be in there both ways, and that's the way I like it," Cust said Wednesday, confirming he'd reached an agreement with the team pending a physical later this week. "I've always been able to hit lefties pretty"
Report: Mariners reach deal with DH Cust
December 8
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
 
"Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com tweeted Wednesday morning that the Mariners have reached a one-year deal with designated hitter Jack Cust. He hit .272/.395/.438 with 13 homers and 52 RBIs in 122 games last season for the A's. For his career, he is hitting .245/.378/.452 with 102 homers and 300 RBIs. He was a late bloomer, not playing more than 100 major league games in a season until 2007."
A's again decline to offer contract to Jack Cust
December 3
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"For the second year in a row, the A's declined to offer designated hitter Jack Cust a contract by the deadline, making Cust a free agent. At the same time, Oakland continued its hot pursuit of potential new DH Lance Berkman and third baseman Adrian Beltre. A source within the A's organization confirmed that the team has made Beltre "a big offer," but did not provide numbers. On Thursday evening, the Boston Globe reported that Beltre's preference is to return to the Red Sox. Last winter, Beltre turned down an offer for more years and money from the A's to take a one-year deal with Boston. Could Oakland be rejected by the same player two years running? Cust, 31, averaged 28 homers per season"
Cust's blow backs A's power parade in Seattle
October 3
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"On Saturday night at Safeco Field, Jack Cust got a little boost from Mariners left fielder Michael Saunders, who knocked Cust's drive to the left-field wall up and out. That gave the A's - power-hitting fiends in this series with seven home runs - back-to-back home runs after Mark Ellis' two-out shot to left in the fourth, Oakland's first hit off David Pauley. The next inning, rookie Chris Carter belted a two-run drive off Pauley, and the A's beat the Mariners 5-3 to assure themselves of no worse than a second-place tie in the American League West. "Second place is the first loser," Cust said. "It's cool we'll get a little money for it, but besides that, it's not where we want to be." If"
Jack Cust's all right in left in rare start
August 27
Oakland Tribune
 
"Jack Cust was as surprised as anyone that he drew a start in left field Thursday against the Cleveland Indians. Manager Bob Geren said he wanted to stack his lineup with left-handed hitters against right-hander Justin Masterson, so he started Cust in left rather than Rajai Davis and inserted the left-handed hitting Jeff Larish at designated hitter. Cust, the normal DH, hadn't made an outfield appearance since June 20 at St. Louis, when he played two innings in right field. And he said he was a bit shocked when Geren approached him with the idea Wednesday. He hadn't been putting in much defensive work lately because he'd been used primarily as DH. "I haven't played much out there," Cust"
Road trip not kind to Jack Cust
August 2
Contra Costa Times
 
"Nobody is happier to put the A's six-game road trip in the rearview mirror than designated hitter Jack Cust. After hitting six homers over a nine-game stretch, Cust struggled mightily on the road against the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox. He was pinch-hit for in the eighth inning Sunday after striking out swinging in his first three at-bats in a 4-1 loss to Chicago. For the trip, Cust hit .188 (3 for 16) with 11 strikeouts and no RBIs in five games. Cust got off to a rocky start when he went down looking three times in the series opener against Texas, getting ejected for arguing with home plate umpire Kerwin Danley (Cust had a legitimate beef on the called third strike that preceded"
Jack Cust staying patient with limited playing time
June 24
Oakland Tribune
 
"Designated hitter Jack Cust was out of the A's lineup Wednesday for the fifth time in six games, though manager Bob Geren hasn't indicated Cust is an odd man out in the DH/outfield rotation. With Coco Crisp back from the disabled list and playing center field, there's less playing time to go around. Because right-handed hitters had fared better against Cincinnati right-hander Johnny Cueto, Geren went with Conor Jackson at DH and Rajai Davis in left field for Wednesday's 3-0 loss to the Reds. But Gabe Gross, who hits left-handed, got the nod in right field over Cust. Geren also went with Gross as the designated hitter on Tuesday because Gross had enjoyed prior success against Reds pitcher"
Cust prepped to put in time in left field
May 18
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Jack Cust was in left field at the Coliseum for the first time since Aug. 29, 2008, and didn't seem uneasy about it. In fact, when he was at Triple-A Sacramento, he asked River Cats manager Tony DeFrancesco if he could play some outfield, just in case he got a chance in the majors. "Luckily, I got in some games," said Cust, who played seven games in left for Sacramento and six in right. "I was doing pretty well down there. The more I get out there, the more comfortable I'll be." Unfortunately for Cust, he dropped a routine flyball in Anaheim on Saturday, immediately after he was recalled. "That was disappointing," he said. "Hopefully, I got it out of my system." Manager Bob Geren,"
Cust happy to be back
May 16
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Jack Cust didn't get much sleep, if any, Friday night, after getting a call after midnight in Oklahoma City that he'd be joining the A's. He was on the bus to the airport at 6 a.m., and in Anaheim in plenty of time, raring to go after nearly six weeks with Triple-A Sacramento. "It's good to be back," said Cust, who was stunned and furious when he was designated for assignment before the season began. Cust, who led Oakland in homers each of the past three years, will be in the lineup regularly, mostly in the outfield, according to manager Bob Geren. Cust went 0-for-3 with a walk and he also made an error in the seventh, dropping a flyball by Brandon Wood that was right to him. On the"
Cust travels long road back toward majors
May 9
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Vittorio Tafur
"More than chicks dig the long ball. When a power hitter strides to the plate, there is an anticipation in the ballpark that is almost palpable. Even old-timers who come to a baseball game just to drink beers and swap stories will stop and lock their sights on what could happen next. With only 19 home runs in 31 games, the Oakland A's are not hot to trot, and the crowds at the Oakland Coliseum have been small and quiet. Perhaps deep in thought, the fans must be wondering, "Whatever happened to that guy who led the team in home runs the last three years?" Well, Jack Cust misses you guys too. He also does a lot of thinking, as he commutes nearly three hours a day from his home in San"
Cust clears waivers; heads to Triple-A
April 9
MLB.com
 
"Jack Cust, designated for assignment by the A's right before Opening Day in a move that took the slugger by surprise, cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Sacramento, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The paper reported that as of late Thursday night, the A's had not heard if Cust accepted the assignment. The club has not confirmed this report. If he turns it down, he will be a free agent and would not be paid the $2.65 million he re-signed for in the offseason. "I'll probably stick around," Cust said after being designated. "There's not much out there right now, so there's a good chance I'll [clear waivers].""
DH bombshell: Chavez in, Cust out
April 4
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"In an unexpected move, the A's put the brunt of their power in Eric Chavez's hands Saturday, designating Jack Cust for assignment and replacing him as the designated hitter with Chavez. "I think it's messed up," Cust said in a phone interview with The Chronicle after leaving the stadium. "They're going to go on 50 at-bats after three years of what I've done here? It's ridiculous. A lot of other guys have had bad springs. This is a joke. "The fact is, this team has no power and they've just released a guy who (averaged 28 homers) the last three years. That's amazing." Cust has led the team in homers three years in a row, and the A's appear to have even less power this season. In explaining"
A's cutting ties with Jack Cust, Oakland's Tyson Ross makes the team
April 4
Oakland Tribune
 
"The Oakland A's designated Jack Cust for assignment on Sunday, meaning the team has 10 days to either trade, waive or release their leading home run hitter from last season. Also, former Bishop O'Dowd High and Cal star pitcher Tyson Ross has made the A's 25-man roster. The 6-foot-6 Ross, who was the A's second-round pick in 2008, will likely pitch out of the bullpen. Cust, who hit 25 home runs and drove in 70 runs in 2009, was re-signed to a one-year, $2.65 million deal in the off-season. Cust's spot on the 40-man roster was taken by Ross. Oakland also chose to keep outfielder Travis Buck instead of Cust."
DH Jack Cust rejoins A's
January 8
Oakland Tribune
 
"The A's were the first team to give Jack Cust a legitimate shot in the major leagues. So after the two parties went their separate ways last month, it wasn't a complete shock to see them reunite Thursday. Cust agreed to a one-year, $2.65 million contract with the A's, supplying much-needed power that Oakland has yet to land elsewhere in free agency. Incentives could bump his earnings to $3 million. Cust, expected to be the regular designated hitter, led the A's in homers each of the past three seasons. But when they didn't tender him a contract by the Dec. 12 deadline, the arbitration-eligible slugger became a free agent. The A's left the door open to bring him back, and Cust credited the"
Cust signs with A's
January 8
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Cust, who is expected to primarily fill the role of designated hitter now that Oakland has another fulltime outfielder in Coco Crisp, can earn an additional $350,000 in incentives, based on plate appearances. The A's re-signed right-hander Justin Duchscherer last week. Oakland had not offered Cust arbitration, but A's assistant general manager David Forst said, "We said all along that was not an indication of our desire to bring Jack back or not. We felt it was the right move from a resource standpoint." Forst said the A's hope had been to "get the last crack at it" and top any other offers Cust received, but it never came to that. The A's made an outright proposal Wednesday that Cust"
A's re-sign Jack Cust to one-year, $2.65 million contract
January 7
Contra Costa Times
 
"The Oakland A's have reportedly re-signed Jack Cust to a one-year, $2.65 million contract, SI.com reported Thursday. Cust, who was non-tendered by the A's on Dec. 12, batted .240 with 25 homers and 70 RBI in 149 games for the A's last season. He led Oakland in home runs, walks (93) and strikeouts (185). The 30-year-old has been the A's home run leader in each of the past three seasons. Cust has also led the American League in strikeouts the past three seaons."
Cust re-signs with A's
January 7
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Susan Slusser
"I just heard from a source close to the negotiations that DH Jack Cust will return to the A's on a one-year deal worth just over $2.5 million, with incentives that can push the total to close to $3 million. So the A's will have at least some pop in their lineup next year; Cust has led the team in homers in each of the past three seasons and the next highest total on the current roster was Kurt Suzuki's 15. With even more outfielders around this year after Coco Crisp signed as a free agent, Cust almost assuredly will be a DH only; defense is not his strength. The A's might have another left-handed hitting DH option, however, if Eric Chavez cannot return to third base after his second back"
Oakland lets Cust go, but door is still open
December 13
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"By non-tendering Jack Cust on Saturday, the A's are taking a risk that their offense, already lacking much power, will lose its top home run hitter of the past three years. General manager Billy Beane said that Oakland will continue to talk to Cust about a possible deal, with the threat of arbitration no longer looming. "It's not out of the question," Beane said. Cust said by phone Saturday evening that the dialogue will stay open with the A's but he's also looking forward to exploring his options in free agency. "I told Billy, 'I'm going to be 31 years old, I've got to see what's out there,' " Cust said. "I have to do what's best for my family. I spent a lot of years riding the bus, not"
Slugger Cust non-tendered by A's
December 13
MLB.com
 
"Jack Cust became a free agent Saturday, when the Oakland A's, as anticipated, did not offer him a 2010 contract. The three other arbitration-eligible A's players did receive offers for 2010 contracts: outfielders Rajai Davis and Scott Hairston, and right-handed reliever Michael Wuertz. These contract decisions came several hours prior to an 8:59 p.m. PT deadline for making them. Non-tendering Cust removes Oakland's leading home run hitter in each of the past three seasons. But along with the 84 long balls from 2007-09, Cust struck out 546 times, leading the American League in each of those seasons. Having made $2.8 million last year, when he drove in 70 runs with 25 homers, Cust would have"
A's face decision on power-hitting Cust
December 6
Contra Costa Times
 
"Oakland's deal for jack-of-all-trades hitter Jake Fox in advance of the winter meetings probably wasn't good news for another Jack — slugging designated hitter Jack Cust. If the A's do nothing else in Indianapolis this week, they will be making a decision on Cust, their leading home run hitter the past three seasons. Most signs point to their not tendering an arbitration offer to Cust before Saturday's deadline, meaning the A's wouldn't get draft compensation if he signed elsewhere. Cust, who'll turn 31 on Jan. 16, made $2.8 million in his first arbitration year last season and figures to command between $4-5 million in 2010, even though his production numbers slipped slightly in 2009 (27"
Cust could be odd-man out in A's DH search
December 6
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Oakland's deal for jack-of-all-trades hitter Jake Fox in advance of the winter meetings probably wasn't good news for another Jack — slugging designated hitter Jack Cust. If the A's do nothing else in Indianapolis this week, they will be making a decision on Cust, their leading home run hitter the past three seasons. Most signs point to their not tendering an arbitration offer to Cust before Saturday's deadline, meaning the A's wouldn't get draft compensation if he signed elsewhere. Cust, who'll turn 31 on Jan. 16, made $2.8 million in his first arbitration year last season and figures to command between $4-5 million in 2010, even though his production numbers slipped slightly in 2009 (27"
Cust wants to return in 2010
September 21
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Jack Cust said he'd like to be back next year, but he looks around and sees the many young outfielders and hears of the up-and-coming designated-hitter types and he knows that the team might be looking in another direction. "Maybe, I don't know," he said. "It's looking more like it. ... I hope I'm back, bit it's not my decision and I know they have some things to think about, if they want to spend that money on me or someone else. There are a lot of guys I'm sure they want to look at. They've showed they want to go young." Cust, 30, is arbitration eligible again, and he's making $2.8 million this season. Landon Powell could be a DH candidate; so could Eric Chavez if he is not able to play"
Cust blasts two homers to help A's, Tomko top Tigers
August 24
Oakland Tribune
 
"Jack Cust, who had hit just one home run in his previous 26 games, belted two on Sunday, supporting another excellent pitching performance by Brett Tomko as the Athletics closed out a nine-game homestand with a 9-4 victory over Detroit. With 17,690 fans watching, Cust delivered a 3-run homer to left to cap a four-run third inning, then hit a solo shot to right leading off the sixth to power the A's past the AL Central-leading Tigers. The A's designated hitter hadn't done much of it since the club traded Matt Holliday on July 24, batting just .215 with one homer over that span. But his three-hit game Sunday was his second in three days. Tomko, signed by the A's earlier this month after"
Cust's day worthy of a big stage
August 24
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Bruce Jenkins
"The Detroit Tigers came to Oakland in first place, and they left town that way, but they gained few admirers. They irritated manager Jim Leyland with their lack of clutch hitting, and they were no match for a startling power display Sunday as the A's closed out the three-game series with a 9-4 win. Heading into this beautiful East Bay afternoon, the A's had belted only one three-run homer in a month. By day's end, they had a pair, by Jack Cust and Landon Powell, along with a solo shot from Cliff Pennington and Cust's second homer of the day. To top off this venture into the unlikely, they beat the Central Division leaders with journeyman Brett Tomko, who pitched a solid six innings. Cust's"
Cust takes exception to Mitchell
August 19
Contra Costa Times
 
"Outfielder/designated hitter Jack Cust has always had issues with the Mitchell Report from the moment it was released roughly 20 months ago. And he's started to wonder why certain names were not included in the 409-page document about steroid use in baseball. In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Cust, who is in his third season with the A's, blasted the report for having no member of the Boston Red Sox among the 85 players mentioned. The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, reported last month that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were among the 104 players who allegedly tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance during Major League Baseball's survey in 2003, when"
Giambi, Cust bust out
July 2
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Two of Oakland's slumpingest players drove balls out of the Coliseum on Wednesday, and they did it against one of the league's top pitchers. Jason Giambi, who entered the day with a league-low .197 average, whacked his 407th career homer, tying him with Hall of Famer Duke Snider on the all-time list. And Jack Cust, pushed down in the order because of a recent slump, also hit a two-run homer off Justin Verlander in Oakland's 5-1 victory over Detroit. Though the A's have lost six of their past eight and 14 of 21, they still took the series from the AL Central-leading Tigers. Giambi had struck out in his first two at-bats Wednesday against Verlander, and his third time up, with no outs, he"
Cust's HR, bunt help Oakland snap skid
June 18
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"A night after a painful late-inning loss to the Dodgers, the A's nearly gave up another one because of recurring errors. On Wednesday, though, Oakland's bullpen was able to overcome the defensive lapses, pinning down a 5-4 victory over the Dodgers, baseball's winningest team, and snapping a four-game losing streak. Onetime closer Brad Ziegler helped avert potential disaster with two well-timed double-play balls, and Andrew Bailey, who'd blown a save the previous night, finished things up. Bailey allowed a leadoff infield single to Rafael Furcal, but Orlando Hudson popped up a bunt, James Loney fouled out and Casey Blake hit into a force. "It's nice to bounce back with the victory," Bailey"
Cust's grand slam sparks teammates
May 8
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"One day before, Jack Cust was saying that he doesn't even think about how poorly the ball travels at the Coliseum at night anymore, he just waits for the weather to warm up. Or for a day game. On Thursday, with splendid baseball weather in the East Bay, Cust belted a grand slam in the fourth inning to shove the A's recalcitrant offense into action. Matt Holliday added a three-run homer in the fifth and Oakland thumped the Rangers 9-4 to end a four-game losing streak. "It's nice when the weather heats up because the ball does carry," said Cust, whose blast landed in the seats above the scoreboard in right. "But the ball I hit today would have been out anyway." Holliday has homered four"
OAKLAND'S MAKESHIFT SLUGGER
April 24
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"In wintry New Jersey, there weren't many options for playing baseball when Jack Cust and his two brothers were growing up. So his father, also named Jack, asked his accounting clients for empty spaces where they could set up a batting machine. "We'd mooch space, set up in any kind of weather," the elder Cust said. "Warehouses, empty retail stores, anywhere." That's how the younger Jack Cust, now an outfielder/designated hitter with the A's, wound up hitting in a beauty parlor on Main Street in Flemington, N.J., one year. The equipment was gone and the windows were taped over, but still, it wasn't your usual batting cage. "I didn't get a haircut or anything," Cust said with a grin. "It was"
Dealing with A's for Cust might help Jays
January 23
Toronto Star
 columnist Richard Griffin
"The Jays are asking for fan goodwill while they rebuild and we're here with a positive suggestion of a potential trade with the Oakland A's, a deal I believe may already have been discussed behind closed doors. Spring training is 24 days away and the club has already announced to season-ticket holders that it will not be spending additional money on payroll in '09. With 16 players under contract, the Jays' committed payroll this year is $76.38 million (all figures U.S.). They will spend another $9 million for the remaining nine to 11 players (Shaun Marcum out for the year; Dustin McGowan out until May). The plan is to let young players develop and take their lumps. But there are creative"
Jack Cust's late homer lifts Athletics over M's 5-3
September 22
Seattle Times
 
"Jack Cust took good-natured ribbing after the Oakland Athletics' slugger had quite a typical day. This familiar Jack Cust effort featured a walk, a strikeout and a two-run homer. "That's been my whole career for better or worse," Cust said Sunday after his eighth-inning home run helped give the A's a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners. "Those are the three big things in my stat book." Oakland completed a three-game sweep and sent the last-place Mariners to their 11th straight loss. Seattle went 0-11 on its final road trip of the season, the third time in franchise history the Mariners have failed to win on a trip of at least 10 games. The Mariners have lost 13 straight on the road."
Cust's 30th HR fuels sweep
September 22
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Jack Cust did just about all he could to get a reprieve from talking about strikeouts Sunday. He popped his 30th home run, a two-run shot that completed the A's late-inning comeback and their three-game sweep of Seattle. Then, still glowing from his team's 5-3 win and his personal milestone, the first postgame question was posed. "So, you had a walk, a home run ... and a strikeout," a reporter started. "That's pretty much how my whole career has gone," Cust said. "Walks, strikeouts and home runs are the biggest things in my stat book, for better or worse." Cust's homer came in the eighth inning on a 2-0 pitch that he powered over the left-field fence. The A's rallied for three runs the"
Cust sees his problem
September 21
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist John Shea
"Jack Cust sees his future with the A's. He wants to see more than that. He wants to see the ball better. The not-so-proud owner of the American League single-season strikeout record, Cust said one of his goals in 2009 is to reduce his swings and misses. He has 187 strikeouts - none in Saturday's 8-7 victory over the Mariners in which he had one hit, three walks and scored twice. Cust wants to improve his vision, thinking a better trained set of eyes could mean more contact and, therefore, a higher average to accompany his power numbers. Consequently, his winter workouts will include exercises for his eyes along with exercises for his arms and legs. "I'll dedicate part of my offseason to"
A's, Cust will take the K's with the homers and walks
September 14
Contra Costa Times
 
"A's fans again were served the Jack Cust sampler platter Saturday afternoon at McAfee Coliseum, consisting of one-third walk, one-third strikeout and one-third home run. True, he also flied out to center, but we'll set that aside since it screws up the math. Point being, the entire offensive package that Cust offers was on display in the A's 7-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. There will be no shortage of statistics from which to evaluate Cust's 2008 season, but what conclusions to draw from those numbers is a head-scratcher. His opposite-field, two-run shot off Scott Feldman in the fourth inning put the A's in front for good. That was his team-high 29th homer to go with a team-best 68"
Cust can see clearly now and Ellis' pain eases
August 24
Oakland Tribune
 
"Jack Cust woke up Saturday morning, and the blurriness in his right eye was gone. Mark Ellis emerged from treatment later that afternoon, and his right shoulder was considerably less sore. Apparently, the A's can have days where the news out of the medical ward isn't all bad. Neither Cust nor Ellis appeared in the lineup Saturday night, and Ellis likely won't return until Monday at the soonest. But good news is a rarity in the second half, and what evolved after both departed early from Friday's game qualified despite their absence Saturday. Start with Ellis, whose career nearly was ended when he suffered a severe separation of the shoulder during a spring training collision with Bobby"