Reverberations of Crosby's bad back

by bear88 on Apr 5, 2005 11:02 PM PDT

I don't know how long Crosby will be out, or how serious his back problem is, but do think his injury impacts several players and the team.

-- Scutaro. AN gets to play more games of Marco... Scutaro. Macha seems to want him as a shortstop, and I have my doubts about whether Mark Ellis is able to play the position with his arm in its current state.

-- Ellis. In an ideal world, he'd flip over to shortstop. I think his injury precludes that, and also have concerns about a lineup that includes Ellis AND Scutaro. Maybe I'm overreacting to the Opening Day shutout, but I just think we need more guys with offensive pop.

-- Ginter. He seems to be a winner here. His offense is needed now, and his numbers seem roughly comparable to Crosby's. I'm concerned, sight unseen, about his defense, but we may have to take our chances.

My guess is our lineup will have Ginter at second base, most of the time, with Scutaro at short, most of the time. Ellis will be a defensive replacement at second base when he's not filling in at short.

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One good thing...

my prediction of Marco playing more games than Ginter or Ellis is looking better and better. On a more serious note, I think Marco will be this year's Byrnes, shining when opportunity calls and beating out Ginter (who has impressed me about as much as Kielty did at this point last season).

"I'm my biggest fan ..." Eric Byrnes

by FoolshGame22 on Apr 5, 2005 11:34 PM PDT reply actions

oh, and about Ginter playing 2nd...

over Ellis... there is NO way in hell that is going to happen as long as Ellis stays healthy. Ginter is a backup, PERIOD. Late inning pinch hitter, that's it!

"I'm my biggest fan ..." Eric Byrnes

by FoolshGame22 on Apr 6, 2005 12:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Billy did not get Ginter....

to sit on the bench. He's going to get 400 PA's. And lots of those will be at 2b.

by boilerdan on Apr 6, 2005 8:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Right on

My boy's gonna get some serious AB's now. Also, what dsward said was exactly what Urban said to me when I e-mailed him about Gint. Go Keith.

Check out "Brew Grit" at http://brewgrit.blogspot.com

by brewersandathletics on Apr 6, 2005 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Ginter's impressive spring performance...

continues into the regular season. He's gotten some of those 400 PA's today... 3 strikeouts, so far. Nice.

"I'm my biggest fan ..." Eric Byrnes

by FoolshGame22 on Apr 6, 2005 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions

You wrote too soon...

K's better than DP's, and HR's are nice too. Not a bad play in the field either. Get used to seeing him in the lineup with Crosby out.

by boilerdan on Apr 7, 2005 5:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Who plays where

If Ginter plays 2B, then I think Ellis will be at SS. If Ellis is 2B, then Scutaro is at SS.

It would be kind of funny though if they tried to have Ginter at 3B, Chavez at SS and Ellis at 2B. Its not as weird as it seems, as Chavez played SS in High School.

But then again, I think we'll be seeing more like Chavez (3B), Scutaro (SS), Ellis (2B), Hatteberg (1B) for our IF.

They could put Crosby on the 15 day DL or just the Day to Day DL right?

"I'm good because I ground out to second a lot!" ~ Darin Erstad

by Zonis on Apr 6, 2005 12:48 AM PDT reply actions

Too many pitchers

I've said it before and I'll say it again. 12 pitchers are too many. Macha's options are severely limited. If we had five or six guys on the bench instead of four, we could put a platoon at short and minimize the shortcomings of players involved. The get-one-guy lefty sucks. It's a wasted roster spot.

by kent1 on Apr 6, 2005 12:50 AM PDT reply actions

Bill James agrees with you...

He thinks it's stupid to carry 12 (or even 11) pitchers on the roster. I posted a comment about it, with a link, about a week ago. Too lazy to go back and look it up now, though.

"I'm my biggest fan ..." Eric Byrnes

by FoolshGame22 on Apr 6, 2005 12:57 AM PDT up reply actions

...and oddly enough, so do I.

Bring back Jermaine Clark!

by He Can Foos on Apr 6, 2005 3:45 AM PDT up reply actions

11 is plenty

They are rushing Street

by Billy Ball 2005 on Apr 6, 2005 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Rincon is useful

provided he is used correctly (so are most relievers!). I do agree that 12 relievers may be too much, and that some platooning might help avoid the burnout situation the A's faced at the end of last season -- and avoid having Ginter's brutal D give up more runs that he can produce with his bat too often!

by OaklandSi on Apr 6, 2005 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Agree with dsward89

I think Ginter will play second far more than AN posts would suggest. (For an example of precedent, McLemore was no better at 2B in his injured state but played there plenty down the stretch.)

Especially with Crosby out, the A's will want/need the offensive punch and will sacrifice some defense. The only consistent exception, IMO, is when Saarloos is starting, because he is a "tried and true sinkerball pitcher." Those starts may go to Ellis/Scutaro up the middle; for the next 2 weeks, I'd expect to see Ginter out there on the infield most of the games started by our 1-4 pitchers.

Nico

by Nico on Apr 6, 2005 8:25 AM PDT reply actions

We need Washington's magic

and fast

by Billy Ball 2005 on Apr 6, 2005 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Crosby's back problems...

may be nothing serious, but as someone who's had back problems himself, and knows a lot of people who have, too, they sound much more to me like the kind of thing that could, sooner rather than later, essentially end his career as an everyday shortstop.

This is how the long-term problems started for me, and most of the people I know: the lack of an obvious cause that matches the effect, the lack of a serious diagnosis, and the intensity of the pain.

Of course, a problem that comes and goes and never resurfaces again could be described the exact same way, so you never know, but the whole thing sounds ominous to me.

If it's the start, or the public revealing, of a lifelong battle with back problems for Crosby, it'd be horrible for the A's, of course: it makes them about a 70-win team this year, leaves a huge hole on the team, and it makes the decision to take Chavy over Tejada a complete, long-term disaster.

by jrbh on Apr 6, 2005 9:04 AM PDT reply actions

back problems

i heard that he has had back spasms in the past that were pretty bad. ive struggled with them for about 3 years now and its just made my back very sensitive. when i hurt it now... just a tweak will hurt for a week, if his problems are related to this..he could be in for a painful year....im just hoping its not longer than a stint on the DL to recover

Living in the mitten is second best to being Canadian...

Lets go GVSU!

by Alisa on Apr 6, 2005 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions

I had something similar years ago

I just tried to work through it but it got so bad it laid me up for a month on valium. Tests never revealed any problem. Basically I had a lot of stress that I wasn't dealing with, that began to tense up my lower back and pinch the sciatic nerve.

I eventually learned how to take care of my back and recognize the signs of tensing up before it woudl affect the sciatic nerve. I also started stretching every day, checking out relaxation and strengthening techniques such as yoga, pilates, etc.

It's been years since I had a problem with my back, thanks to learning how to take care of myself.

I wish all the best for Bobby!!

by OaklandSi on Apr 6, 2005 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Bad Backs

Yeah, I'm dealing with something similar, myself. I feel Bobby's pain. This does not bode well.

by kent1 on Apr 6, 2005 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Me to Oakland SI

Your history is identical to mine.

Get crosby on some Yoga! Seriously.

Wherever You Go...There You Are -J. Kabat-Zinn

by jrwolf on Apr 6, 2005 9:25 AM PDT reply actions

Tejada Is Post-Season Disaster

I agree, oaktoon. jbrh will try to justify his contention at every opportunity--including Crosby's unforseen back malady--that BB was wrong to keep Chavvy over Tejada. You'd think watching Tejada screw-up in playoff game after playoff game would have been sufficent evidence for jbrh that Miguel doesn't play well when the pressure is at its utmost.

Baltimore was the perfect place for Tejada to sign. Instead of opting for a contender, he demonstrated that he valued megabucks over mere millions at a place where, given the presence of the Yanks and BoSox, he will NEVER be under playoff pressure. 'Course, Miggy is also playing in the Camden bandbox which will expand his cheap HR output. And it doesn't hurt that he is playing with sluggers ahead and after him.

Finally, seeing the muscles Tejada put on prior to his MVP season, I won't doubt Canseco's allegation that Miggy is on the juice.

Crosby will recover from his back malady and prove a far better clutch player than Miguel for the A's over the years. He is already eons better than Tejada was in this stage of his career.

I say, "Go Chavvy and Crosby, the A's Big C Boys. And good riddance to Miggy The Choker!"

by reztips on Apr 6, 2005 10:04 AM PDT reply actions

who on the A's didn't choke

in the postseason, apart from Guillen, Zito, and Lilly?

by OaklandSi on Apr 6, 2005 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions

I agree

how could we get rid of lilly after that game 3 masterpiece? and guillen tearing it up in the postseason with a broken bone in his hand? BILLY: the postseason is only a crapshoot when you have mentally weak players like byrnes and miggy that get caught up in the moment. I will NEVER forgive byrnes for not even falling on the stinking plate. jeez

by kotsbots on Apr 6, 2005 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Scioscia had problems with Guillen in 2004

there's no denying it. However, there's no denying that Guillen was a real stud in the 2003 postseason for Oakland. And there has never been a hint that he was a major problem in the Oakland clubhouse.

My point was that Tejada was just one of many A's players whose best moments were not in the postseason. Guillen was one of the few who did have great moments as an A in the postseason.

by OaklandSi on Apr 6, 2005 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Miggy the Choker?

Youre pathetic..the guy gave his heart and soul to great teams and wanted to win more than anyone else. I lvoe the fan who just rips a guy as soon as he leaves. Just a disagace to A's fans.

by OaktownPower on Apr 6, 2005 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions

It's not ripping, it's the truth

His complete no-show in both the 2002 and 2003 playoffs were pretty much un-clutch. Not to mention dropping/booting crucial grounders (again in both 2002 and 2003 playoffs) or stopping dead in his track (2003). BTW before you call the entire team chokers, Chavvy didn't do much in 2003, but he did great in 2002.

by OaktownTribesman on Apr 6, 2005 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Hahaha...

Chavezx didnt do much in 03? Yea, Id say 1-22 with no rbi qualifies there. Yea, Miggy sucked bad in 02 and 03..but they are quick 5 game series. He gave that 02 team so freaking much, I think its terrible to call him a choker and rip him this much for 10 games. Just terrible. If Howe doesnt screw up the pitchign rotation or if T Long and Melhuse dont choke....there's a lot of reasosn they lost.

by OaktownPower on Apr 6, 2005 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Usual Suspects?

Great movie.
I love Miggie (and would have loved his 150 RBIs last year even more) but between he and Chavez, no contest. Steroids a possibility but my bigger concern was he seemed older than his documented age.

by easyraider on Apr 6, 2005 10:52 AM PDT reply actions

Oops

Thought I replied to Oaktoon. Must have cliced the wrong link.

by easyraider on Apr 6, 2005 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions

My point about Chavez vs. Tejada...

...is that Tejada's talent is rarer... if they cost more or less the same amount of money, you have to go with Tejada. If you can keep only one of them -- a premise I don't accept -- obviously it's impossible to fuck up. They're both great players. I just think keeping Tejada was probably a better idea. If Tejada is juicing, obviously that changes things. Or if Chavy is.

The notion that the A's will win only 70 games without Crosby isn't a suggestion that he's worth ten or fifteen games; no player is, except maybe a starting pitcher having a monster year. I've got the A's winning around 75 or so with him; that's how I arrive at the 70 figure.

by jrbh on Apr 6, 2005 11:04 AM PDT reply actions

Being A Multi-Millionaire Isn't Enough?

Oaktoon, I realize Tejada grew up in true poverty. But he was offered enough from a couple of contenders which would have enabled him to live like a king in the DR for the rest of his life, or megamillions to play on a team that clearly will not be a contender.

Tejada opted to stay pressure free by going for the megabucks when he could have played for millions from a contender. To me, this shows less a response to growing up poor than what appears to be, frankly, pure greed and a way to remain a "star" while staying out of the clutch playoff situations in which he so regularly failed when with the A's...

by reztips on Apr 6, 2005 11:23 AM PDT reply actions

Chavez vs. Tejada

Even if you think Tejada and Chavez are completely equal, (I don't, and I don't think Beane did either) we would have kept Chavez over Tejada because we had Crosby waiting in the wings at SS but no one at 3rd.

by EastCoastA on Apr 6, 2005 12:43 PM PDT reply actions

Spring Training Summersault

Obviously I have no idea what's causing Bobby's problem. But did anyone else see him in the last week of spring training when he did that very uncomfortable looking backward summersault when he backpedaled to catch a fly ball. He lost his footing, slammed down hard on the top of his back and flipped over. I thought at the time, Gosh, that had to really hurt. (He did make the out, though.)

That said, I think it's too soon for all the doom and gloom, worst case scenarios. But I guess that's what fan blog sites are for. To share our worst fears and best hopes.

Get better soon, Bobby.

by I Believe on Apr 6, 2005 12:50 PM PDT reply actions