Yes, I'm on Crack

by jubjub on Dec 10, 2004 10:11 AM PST

That said, here's what I might do if I was Beane.

First thought: The Angels will soon spend on par with Boston and NY and become increasingly better. The Mariners will also increase payroll and the Rangers will get better as their crop of hitting studs improves. So, the division will become much more competitive. Over the A's run, the division has been fairly weak with even the Mariners 116-win team and the Angel's WS team not that good on paper.

Second Thought: There's no way we can keep 2 of the Big 3. Just not enough budget.

Third Thought: The A's lack any high-ceiling starting pitchings in the mid-to-high minors.

Conclusion: This is the year to shake up the team and get the pieces for another run.

Take the following actions:

Trade Hudson to St. Louis for Marquis, Haren, and Ankiel (substitute Calero for Haren if need be, but need a veteran like Marquis in return, also if Ankiel struggles in AAA, put in relief and set him up to replace Rincon).

Trade Zito to Atlanta (Leo Mazz will right the kid so fast it will make us cry - he'll win 95 games over the next 5 years) for Giles and Capellan.

Trade Capellan and Hatte to Diamondbacks for Connor Jackson and AA roster fill. If Beane didn't think he could do that, then substitute Marte from the Braves for Capellan.

Sign Mulder to a 2/$20 extension (through 2008) - shows immediate commitment and he might be wiling to do it since he might not know about his arm either.

Sign a veteran closer with some of the budget savings like Nenn or trade for Hoffman. Someone to let Street get wet in the majors as a setup man, rather than closer. Rooks don't close.

The team may drop a little in 2005, but they'd be fun to watch. And in 2006, they'd score 900+ runs and could probably win 100+ games. It would be like the Indians of the mid-to-late 90's when Thome hit 7th. Here's the awesome lineup in '06:

Kotsay CF .850 OPS
Kendall C .900 OPS
Chavez 3B .950 OPS, 40 HR
Giles 2B .950 OPS, 25 HR
Durazo DH .950 OPS, 25 HR
Crosby SS .900 OPS, 30 HR
Swisher RF.900 OPS, 30 HR
Jackson LF.950 OPS, 25 HR
Johnson 1B.900 OPS, 20 HR

(put young players at the end of the lineup to keep pressure off, but could easily move up)

Rotation - like the A's of old:
Mulder 20 Wins
Harden 20 Wins
Marquis 16 Wins
Blanton 14 Wins
Haren 12 Wins

Bullpen - like the Angel's pen the last few years:
Duke Long
Bradford RH Specialist
Ankiel LH Specialist
Garcia Setup
Dotel Setup
Street Closing

Now, granted, this is a little crazy, but it's what happens when one plays too much MVP baseball on Xbox.

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Comments

Not That You've Spent Much Time Thinking...

About this. I don't think BB would be willing to lick his wounds for this year. He knows that the team has to be competitive this year, as our expectations are that last year was the aberration and now the corrections have to be made. This would be a helluva lineup but somehow I like seeing the name "Jackson" associated with RF.

by Gerard on Dec 10, 2004 10:22 AM PST reply actions

Nen & Hoffman

Why do people talk about Nen, he CANT EVEN PITCH right now. We dont need a high priced closer.

by pickinmachine on Dec 10, 2004 10:37 AM PST reply actions

Does that mean you think Dotel is our closer?

I just wasn't that impressed with him last year. Too many flyballs. He needs to learn how to throw a sinker or splitfinger to get groundballs when he has a runner on 1st and 3rd with one out. As of now, he gives up a flyball and the runner on 3rd scores.

by jubjub on Dec 10, 2004 10:50 AM PST up reply actions

Dotel's got potential

While he did give up a lot of flyball outs he still has a blazing fastball and his familiarity in Oakland should help. He had a lot of pressure placed on him when he came over AND the team was better with him. Some of those 10 blown saves that were attributed to the staff would not have occurred and we would have been in the playoffs if he were here from the start. With Street and others in the pen for next year we will be stronger which should make Dotel more efficient.

by Gerard on Dec 10, 2004 11:22 AM PST up reply actions

with better set up work

and dotel coming in for only one inning instead of two, he is likely to be better in his first full year at closer -- as long as he's healthy. that said, i'm not sure he will remain all year as the closer. depends on performance, of course, also who else in the pen is doing what.

by OaklandSi on Dec 10, 2004 11:27 AM PST up reply actions

Beane has said he wants to contend in 2005

So NO WAY does he deal 2 of the big 3. I'm not quite convinced he will deal even one of them, unless for a monster deal that also returns a proven starter besides offensive and defensive help.

by OaklandSi on Dec 10, 2004 10:58 AM PST reply actions

I agree that he wouldn't do it

He wants to contend every year, but I'm not sure that's the right model. A small market club needs to look for its chances. We can be a WC/1st round loss team every year or we can be set up to win the the whole thing every 3 years. Which would you prefer?

Also, I agree that I HOPE he doesn't trade any of the Big 3, but if he feels he needs to (I don't think he has the budget for everyone on the team now), then why not do it in style. Also lots of questions about the Big 3 - Hudson chronic hip problems, Zito headcase with one pitch that batters won't swing at, and Mulder with the mysterious 2nd half.

Anyways, it was just fun coming up with.

by jubjub on Dec 10, 2004 11:50 AM PST up reply actions

this is all fun

sure beats work...

anyway, you ask an interesting question, and to be honest I'm not sure which I'd prefer. Obviously I want them to go all the way every year! and only when they contend right up to the end -- and get into the playoffs -- do they have a shot. It's a lot more exciting at the Net in Sept when they're in it than when they're already out of it.

Can't really choose, I guess.

by OaklandSi on Dec 10, 2004 12:08 PM PST up reply actions

haha, only in MVP baseball

does every player except one have a at least .900 OPS. :) sorry, but no way your bottom four play that well.

by Eric in Atlanta on Dec 10, 2004 11:14 AM PST reply actions

I wouldn't want Ankiel...

...for free.

I like your creative thinking though.

by McFood on Dec 10, 2004 11:22 AM PST reply actions

McFood

You wouldn't want Ankiel for free if you got the Ankiel from three years ago. If you've looked at his stats recently, you'd want him, but you couldn't get him for free. Ankiel's still going to be a good major leaguer -- when he got called up, he was only 21. Now he's 25-26 and he's shutting fools down.

by Uncle Charlie on Dec 10, 2004 1:05 PM PST reply actions