Where's The Bat? And The Relief?

by eck767 on Dec 18, 2004 9:42 AM PST

Hudson aside, we need hitters. Who's hitting HRs for us this year, other than Durazo and (on-again, off-again) Chavez? I was hoping we could get a decent bat, too. It was the right move to let Jermaine go.... but whpo replaces him where it counts? Nick Swisher? He's got an upside, for sure, but again we're talking about RIGHT NOW versus down the road year or three.

And... who's in the bullpen for us next year? Looks pretty uncertain. Although I'm not sold on Dotel, I'm glad that Mecir, Lehr Hammond and Rhodes are gone, though. Do we put together another Raggedy Andy troupe of losers? Seems like money's got to be spent in this area, too. (Last year showed pretty conclusively that a great starting rotation can be significantly cancelled out by an ineffective bullpen)

Last note: I can't beleive we're thinking of keeping Bobby Kielty. I'm sorry, but what does he offer to the team? Are we big-league contenders, or not? (Yeah, yeah, he's still working on that switch-hitting thing)

Hey, News-Flash: we do a mini-rebuilding, in a few years we hit that same ceiling. We either kick it up into the next level (and part of that is payroll, Mr. Schott), or we continue to throw the rice at other people's weddings.

Kind of like the Democratic Party in NOV. Yuck.

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New bullpen

With Dotel for the whole year and Cruz, Street and Garcia the 2005 bullpen could and should be a great deal better.

by dougald1 on Dec 18, 2004 12:30 PM PST reply actions

Bullpen / bat...

The bullpen is coming together with solid, if young, depth. Personally, I'd rather suffer through the growing pains of the staff that's coming together for 2005 than watch another 15 or 20 meltdowns on the order of last season. '05 is going to be exciting and there's a good chance that Oakland will have some much needed brave-heart in the late innings that might translate into late season confidence and momentum.
I agree that Oakland needs a bat. Durazo, for all his numbers, came up short in many key situations last season. If this team is going to clear the decks and load up on young players for the long run then what about making a move for a guy LIKE Austin Kearns? A lot more presence than Byrnes in the line-up and that then begins to look pretty awsome -
Kotsay
Kendall
Chavez
Durazo
Kearns
Hatteburg/Johnson
Crosby
Swisher
Ellis/Ginter
I think that's a line-up that is one continuous threat to score, with Crosby, Swisher and either Ellis or Ginter a dynamic bottom-of-the-order. One menacing bat fills out the offense nicely, and Kearns - whose name has been mentioned frequently - looks like a nice fit in the overall scheme. Dip into the prospect bin and pull out a threat.

If it's broken, fix it.

by Bosnian on Dec 18, 2004 2:33 PM PST reply actions

Kearns and 3B

The Reds plan to play Kearns at 3B next year, right? Do we have a stud 3B anywhere in the minors? I dont think we do so I cant see the Reds trading him and having nobody to play third in the future.

by JSCHWAN on Dec 18, 2004 3:38 PM PST reply actions