I can't think of many closers that stayed at an above average to elite level for over a decade, so Street's CB is already a bit optimistic, in my opinion.  Bobby Thigpen went from having the greatest single season of any closer ever at the time, to being out of baseball in three years, and he was 29.

Come to think of it, the track record of young closers really isn't that good.  How many players have been thrust into the closer role at 22 and have stayed in that role well into their 30's?  As Tim Kurkjian mentioned in his article on the two RotY winners, the only other pitchers to save 10 games in a season before age 22 are Terry Forster, Byung-Hyun Kim, Kelvim Escobar, Victor Cruz, Lloyd Allen and Bart Johnson, which isn't an incredibly encouraging list.  Johnson was never really a closer, and didn't do much after his 10-save season anyway.  Forster fell apart despite a very promising start to his career, much in the same way its looking like Kim's will.  Cruz and Allen were out of baseball by age 25.  Escobar has had a pretty up and down career, and has spent a lot of time as a starter.

Looking at the top 100 save seasons of all time, the only guys under 25 on the list are Rod Beck(saved 48 games in '93 at 24), and two guys from this year, K-Rod and Chad Cordero.

I think Billy may have turned the corner on that one. I'm sure Street could fetch a huge prize right now. BUT HE IS THAT VALUABLE.  He's a very special kid, who is already high quality at a young age. We all see how instrumental Mariano Rivera is to the Yankee's, and i believe (and i think Beane does too) that Huston Street can become the same thing. It was a pretty unanimous fact on the team that without Huston the A's wouldn't have climbed back into first place (and eventually lose out). I'm sure that Beane will not only sign Street for the 5 more years, but keep him after. Thinka bout it. At the end of his first six years, he will be going into his theoretical prime.

It says a whole lot about Street when Barry Zito says (paraphrasing) "Huston is great. When he steps on the mound, you just feel confident and calm that he will close it out". SO, in five years, the A's will most likely have a new stadium (somewhere) and a higher payroll, meaning that Beane can keep Huston around for the 9 million a year that he would eventually be. Wolff (A's owner) has already stated that if Beane decides to spend money on the right thing, they would be willing.

I think that you might be a bit confused.  It is true that Mr. Beane argues that closers are overvalued, but to say that there is an annual firesale on the part of the A's is adsolutely ridiculous.  Here is what happened with the A's closers recently:

Sept 1999-2001: Jason Isringhausen served as the closer.  2001 was the last year of his contract and his performance from 2000-2001 priced himself out of the A's range.

2002. Billy Koch - Performed well but was highly flawed.  Traded before the 2003 season.
2003. Keith Foulke aquired in exchange for Bill Koch.  Was best closer since Eck.  2003 was a contract year.  Took more money to go to Boston.
2004. King Arthur Rhodes then Dotel.  Dotel signed an extension to pitch in 2005.
2005. Dotel gets hurt, Street era begins.

The only player traded was Koch.  All others were either free agents or got injured.

I want to make a quick point about college closers.  I think that there is the perception that college closers are failed starters.  That couln't be further from the truth.  In recent years college closers have been the best pitchers on their teams.  College closers throw virtually every day.  Because of the amount of offense in college baseball, it is vital to have a guy at the back of the bullpen to shut things down.  Moreover, college closers generally throw more than one inning.  Hence, it's no surprise to see guys like Street, Chad Cordero, Joey Devine, etc reach the bigs so quickly.  Often times the closer is the most advanced pitcher on the staff.

I'm not sure who for.  Keith Foulke, maybe?

Ouroboros.

40th pick in supp 1st round for Tejada

"i would kill myself if he moved to the Rangers, then the frikkin Angels. God no. Thank God the point of this isn't to predict which teams he ends up on."

How do you think Ranger fans feel about a beloved-Longhorn in an Athletics uniform?

Hoffman converted to a pitcher in the minors, and didn't become a regular closer until he was 27, so comparing Hoffman and Street doesn't work.  The mileage on their arms will be completely different.

Using a changeup doesn't make you any more likely to stick around, anyway.

Nova, do you think 6 years is about right for Street in Oakland?  With the high likelyhood of Italiano moving to the pen (premature Lidge comps on the slider aside), do you think BB keeps Street like Ohad thinks, or trades him/lets him walk?