Revised Lineup 2/23

by LiveAdam on Feb 23, 2005 2:56 PM PST

I also have my revised 25 man roster for everyone:
12 pitchers
4 outfielders
1 dh
6 infielders
2 catchers

12 pitchers:
Zito
Harden
Haren
Yabu
Etherton
Duchscherer
Bradford
Rincon
Cruz
Calero
Dotel
____ (open spot)

4 outfielders:
Kotsay
Swisher
Thomas
Kielty

6 infielders:
Chavez
Crosby
Ginter
Hatteberg
Ellis
Scutaro

2 catchers:
Kendall
Melhuse

25th man open to a bullpen spot (T. Johnson, Street, Mabeus, etc)

Ginter acts as 5th OF
Swisher acts as 2nd 1B
Melhuse acts as 3rd 1B/3B (he's not going to see a lot of time behind the plate)

Ginter is starting 2b
Ellis primary backup
Scutaro utility inf

This is of course, reliant on Byrnes behind traded before the beginning of the season.

-Adam

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Comments

Interesting...

I have a hard time seeing Meyer AND Blanton in AAA.

And if Byrnes is gonna get dealt...dont you think they will get someone who makes the roster? Chris Burke sure would.

by OaktownPower on Feb 23, 2005 3:00 PM PST reply actions

burke

he already has three second baseman on the team, four would be two too many! as long as ellis is healthy, i don't see how scutaro will make the roster...

by xbhaskarx on Feb 23, 2005 3:12 PM PST up reply actions

You have to remember that this is the way I see the roster for Opening Day. If Meyer and Blanton are demolishing Triple-A they'll certainly be considered to be brought up after the All Star Break. This helps them get a little more seasoning in AAA, plus keeps their contract clocks from starting so soon.

As for the Byrnes trade: If it happens it will be late in Spring Training, and the A's will get a couple of prospects that will make the 2006 team and contribute to the 2007 team. It would be better to get several lower prospects and amertize the value to a later date rather than get one prospect and force them into an already young roster now. People have said Gorzelanny and McLouth. I'd go for that probably.

-Adam

by LiveAdam on Feb 23, 2005 4:40 PM PST up reply actions

yeah

i agree. I say its a safe bet to say that blanton or meyer makes the roster. If not, then we're in trouble, and if we're in trouble, they come up midseason when we're out if it.

"If you can dodge a wrench you can dodge a ball." -Patches O'Houlihan

by apocalyptica @ Athletics Nation on Feb 23, 2005 3:11 PM PST reply actions

Pretty Good

That's pretty much how I see it, with Johnson taking the last bullpen spot.

I think it is in the A's best interests to start Yabu and Etherton for the first half of the season, assuming they have good springs and neither Meyer or Blanton are lights out.

It gives Meyer and Blanton some time for extra seasoniong at AAA. At the very least, it lets them build confidence so they can hit the big team running.
It's better for the team's psyche to bring up a hot shot rookie when he's ready, rather than replace one when he falters.
It slows the pay-scale clock on both of the rookie pitchers. This winter's trades were too painful, let's put it off as long as we can before we have to trade away our pitching studs.
It builds momentum for our championship run in 2006!

by Eck on Feb 23, 2005 3:12 PM PST reply actions

Out on a Limb...

Adam, I like how you've taken the initiative and assumed that a few things will happen that haven't already:
1) Byrnes will be dealt before the season starts
and
2) The team will break camp with a 12-man pitching staff.

That being said, I might have to disagree with you on both of those points. I think Bynres will stay on the roster until both Kielty and C. Thomas have proven that they are at least capable platoon starters. So, by my own count that gives 5 outfielders to start the season, and since that adds another man to the roster, I would be inclined to predict us going into the season with a conventional 11-man (5 starters, 6 bullpen) pitching staff.

While what you imply might happen, much of the opinion I've seen and conjecture from around the A's coaching and whatnot makes me believe that the roster is pretty much set how it is right now.

by Taj Adib on Feb 23, 2005 3:12 PM PST reply actions

...but

I do agree with you strongly that Meyer and Blanton will both be in AAA to start the season, unless I personally see something special when I visit Spring Training in a few weeks!

by Taj Adib on Feb 23, 2005 3:14 PM PST up reply actions

a 4-man rotation is likely

for the first few weeks of the season

by OaklandSi on Feb 23, 2005 3:23 PM PST up reply actions

No it's not

Just for the first week. We'll need our #5 for game 6 of the season.

Relax alright don't try to strike everyone out. Strikeouts are boring besides that they're fascist. Throw some ground balls it's more democratic.

by devo on Feb 23, 2005 3:28 PM PST up reply actions

tarodoes scutaro make the team?

I have got to believe that there is a good chance that scutaro does not make the team. We are going to have three 2nd baseman. We also have a promissing 2nd bseman on the way. Why should we keep scutaro on the team. Ellis is a big question mark and how he plays will probably determin if scutro makes the roster.I look for scutaro to be dealt

Spring traning is going to be fun this year. Especally watching the cometion for starting pitcher.Etherton cost us next to nothing to look at so we will about him although billy is high on him. Why did we spend a million on yabu if we were not going to keep him? He might be long releif.

this is going to be a very intresting spring traning. Bille bean is going to be working his butt off with this team as he works to make is better

I am a sports writter.

by scottofchico on Feb 23, 2005 3:14 PM PST reply actions

Scutaro

Who else besides Crosby can play shorstop? Ellis and Ginter can't. Scutaro makes the team. If Ellis is not 100% maybe he goes to AAA to get back to where he was.

Jim

by jarforcefatherofforce on Feb 23, 2005 3:58 PM PST up reply actions

Ellis

Are you sure Ellis can't play shortstop? He came up as a SS and was converted to 2B only a few years ago. Has he forgotten already?

by iglew on Feb 23, 2005 4:17 PM PST up reply actions

if Ellis' throwing arm is a concern at 2nd

it's likely to be even more of a concern at SS

by OaklandSi on Feb 23, 2005 4:27 PM PST up reply actions

Not enough of a concern

that he couldn't play it on occasion. If Crosby is out long term, Scooter gets called up.

Relax alright don't try to strike everyone out. Strikeouts are boring besides that they're fascist. Throw some ground balls it's more democratic.

by devo on Feb 23, 2005 8:22 PM PST up reply actions

Ellis

I,m worried about Ellis. He was practicing the pivot play today and he was bouncing the ball to first. The excuse was that they didn't want him to throw hard yet. I can't believe that. If he is close to 100% he would already have done a lot of throwing so that excuse doesn't hold water. Making the throw from second on a pivot is harder to do than throw the longer distance from shortstop.

Jim

by jarforcefatherofforce on Feb 23, 2005 10:08 PM PST up reply actions

Maybe he's not ready ...

maybe he'll start the season on the dl or in Sac. Assuming everyone else is healthy, though, he and Scooter will not be on the roster together.

Relax alright don't try to strike everyone out. Strikeouts are boring besides that they're fascist. Throw some ground balls it's more democratic.

by devo on Feb 23, 2005 11:46 PM PST up reply actions

Scooter isn't making the team

He'll see some time over the season, but Johnson will claim the last spot on the bench if Byrnes is traded.

Relax alright don't try to strike everyone out. Strikeouts are boring besides that they're fascist. Throw some ground balls it's more democratic.

by devo on Feb 23, 2005 3:21 PM PST reply actions

Nice try....

But where the hell is Durazo?

by oaklandjoe on Feb 23, 2005 3:58 PM PST reply actions

Hahaha...

Yea, I bet he makes the squad. :-)

by OaktownPower on Feb 23, 2005 4:21 PM PST up reply actions

At the top...

of the diary there is a mention of 1DH, but it is never revealed who that DH is. I'm sure it was Durazo, and that adds up to 25.

by kent @ Athletics Nation on Feb 23, 2005 4:23 PM PST up reply actions

Durazo

Yeah, I counted him at the top, but forgot to put him in the full list. Thanks for spotting that.

-Adam

by LiveAdam on Feb 23, 2005 4:35 PM PST up reply actions

Burke

I'd rather have Burke start, from what I hear about him, then the 3 we got. Put Scooter in AAA and Ellis can Utility IF.

"I still stand firm that Johnny Damon is really Jesus, The Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer..."

by Zonis on Feb 23, 2005 4:02 PM PST reply actions

Scutaro

You guys are underestimating Scutaro. This guy can play the game.

by sommers on Feb 23, 2005 5:13 PM PST reply actions

scoot

can play the game, but he can't draw a walk to save his life. This is the Oakland A's we're talking about.

by matthias on Feb 23, 2005 8:48 PM PST up reply actions

DOES ANYBODY KNOW....

When the first time they'll need their 5th starter?? Beane might do what he did with Harden last year.

by brenarlo on Feb 23, 2005 5:20 PM PST reply actions

Yes,

Sunday, April 10th on the 6th game of the season @ Tampa Bay.

Relax alright don't try to strike everyone out. Strikeouts are boring besides that they're fascist. Throw some ground balls it's more democratic.

by devo on Feb 23, 2005 8:21 PM PST up reply actions

They could push it back another week

and let Yabu (if he's in the 'pen), Cruz, or Duke make the first start if they wanted to let Kielty, Thomas, and Johnson all make the initial roster and continue their ST battle for the 24th and 25 roster spots.

Relax alright don't try to strike everyone out. Strikeouts are boring besides that they're fascist. Throw some ground balls it's more democratic.

by devo on Feb 24, 2005 9:07 AM PST up reply actions

Revision

Let's say we trade Byrnes for prospect Zach Duke.

I see it going like this:

Ginter and Ellis (Scoot if he is not healthy) at second base/utility infielding.

OF: Kotsay, Kielty, Thomas, Swisher.

Utility: Jermaine Clark. He can play infield and outfield. He has better hitting numbers than Scutaro.

Aside from that, everything is cool. (though i do think Blanton and Meyer starting in AAA is unlikely.)

Peace up, A-Town Down (A town being Albany California, not Atlanta)

by ohad on Feb 24, 2005 5:48 AM PST reply actions

instead of jermaine clark

i'd have HIRAM BOCACHICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

goddamn crazy sunday driver- butters

by guy on Feb 24, 2005 10:00 AM PST reply actions

Clark, Bocachica, Smith

If anyone is going to knock Scutaro out of the lineup it will be one of these three: Jermaine Clark, Hiram Bocachica, or Bobby Smith. All three players can play both INF/OF positions, and all three are pretty good hitters actually.

Byrnes for Zack Duke is a stretch ohad, the Pirates see Duke in their rotation as early as June of this year. Gorzelanny is probably the best pitcher we can muster from them.

-Adam

by LiveAdam on Feb 24, 2005 11:58 AM PST reply actions