U-G-L-Y

can't expect the pitching

to always be so stellar. I'm not too worried about the pitchers.

It's the hitting.Still. Even though they scored 7 runs, how many did they leave on base? Especially early, Park was giving it away.

by OaklandSi on May 4, 2005 4:19 PM PDT reply actions

enh.

yanks have it worse than we do (way lousier pitching, no prospects), the sox's pitching aint so hot either.

If the road trip was Baltimore / Toronto we'd be worse off.

I think we've hit our lowpoint.

by miguel on May 4, 2005 4:20 PM PDT reply actions

true

i heard on baseball tonight a couple days ago that yanks pitchers have the worst BAA in the league...something like a .304. This could be a jumpstart for us

by dscel on May 4, 2005 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions

And them

The A's have a habit of making mediocre pitchers look like CY candidates.

by peanut gallery on May 4, 2005 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Last year the yanks used the A's

to break out of their early season slump.

Let's hope that doesn't happen again.

by OaklandSi on May 4, 2005 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Great

So we're the Yanks slumpbusters.

"Put a Milo on him."
-Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on May 4, 2005 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions

always have been

.... don't think history will change in 2005

by HerbWashington on May 4, 2005 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions

who cares about the AL East...

yeah, just like a couple years ago when the Yankees got swept in Oakland in a four-game set...screw the Yankees and screw the AL East...I'm more worried about our own division....all four teams are more well-rounded than either Boston or NY...theyre all hype and media...

tdwclark

by tdwclark on May 4, 2005 5:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks

For the dope slap: I needed that. New team, new series coming up: we'll get em! :-)

"Put a Milo on him."
-Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on May 4, 2005 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions

hey Juan Cruz brought his ERA into

.... single digits, before the decimal !!

this isn't the low point !!

they can get a whole lot limbo, limbo lower than this !!

by HerbWashington on May 4, 2005 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions

I wish this was the low point...

I think the next two weeks could be extremely ugly

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on May 4, 2005 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Nuthing like getting on a plane for 5 hours

after loising 3 straight at home, including getting waxed by 9 in the home series finale !!

by HerbWashington on May 4, 2005 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh please lord...

Let this game be cancelled. Put us out of our misery, please.

"Put a Milo on him."
-Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on May 4, 2005 4:28 PM PDT reply actions

Hell...

We may as well get our last licks now.

by AlwaysSweatin on May 4, 2005 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions

It's not over yet???

and truly ugly.
I too am concerned about the next two weeks...makes me very anxious going into NY the way we have been playing AND the way they have been losing..that club can turn it on at any moment, I don't care what their record is, how their pitching has come undone, what the media is saying..and then, there is Boston and then it is more of same back here. I am excited/sick about it: Wouldn't miss it for anything.
OK- that is out of my system for the moment. I fully trust our pitchers to step up and our offense to right itself and get going.
Miguel, I am with you, hoping this is the lowpoint.

by LongTimeFan on May 4, 2005 4:34 PM PDT reply actions

Trust

I trust the pitchers to step up.........wish i could share your offensive optimism though.

by AlwaysSweatin on May 4, 2005 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Scoreboard watching

Angels up early against Seattle ... is it too early for the A's to be playing for the wild card?

by RiverCats4Ever on May 4, 2005 4:36 PM PDT reply actions

Shutup bandwagoner

Are you serious? Get a life bandwagoner!

by mrlebowski79 on May 4, 2005 4:37 PM PDT reply actions

who?

Who are you talking to?

by AlwaysSweatin on May 4, 2005 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions

"Rivercats4Ever"

What a goon

by mrlebowski79 on May 4, 2005 4:39 PM PDT reply actions

dude

chill out, Walter. I was just kidding.

get yourself life and go to lebowski fest -

http://www.lebowskifest.com/default.asp

by RiverCats4Ever on May 4, 2005 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions

After...

the 12 with ny and boston. The schedule is (relatively) light all the way to the all-star break. At least on paper its ripe for some 4 or 5 game win streaks. 2 games under 500, big whoop.
-keeping the faith.

When I cant taste my beer it feels like the center of the solar system has collapsed - Jack

by BootyBall05 on May 4, 2005 4:39 PM PDT reply actions

Things don't look good ...

but let's remember things didn't look good before that 20-game win streak in 2002 either!

confucius says "baseball is wrong; man with four balls cannot walk."

by gotgreen on May 4, 2005 4:42 PM PDT reply actions

that's true

But the 20 game win streak coincided with Miggy getting ridiculously hot. I dunno if we're gonna see that kinda streak out of Eeyore Chavez.

by AlwaysSweatin on May 4, 2005 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Sure we can

chavvy is VERY capable of getting ridiculously hot.

confucius says "baseball is wrong; man with four balls cannot walk."

by gotgreen on May 4, 2005 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Eeyore

THAT is great. I don't know if you are the first one to call him that, but if you are, here's to you.

I believe you Barry.

by mikedaviswhereareyou on May 4, 2005 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Man......

I sure hope i am, i was pretty proud of myself. You heard it here first!!
(Insert picture of woebegone donkey here)

by AlwaysSweatin on May 4, 2005 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Amen!

Game called!

by BillybUcko on May 4, 2005 4:43 PM PDT reply actions

On a lighter note...

Is it just me or does Blez look a little like Keith Ginter??

by Hegenberger Road on May 4, 2005 4:52 PM PDT reply actions

Maybe a little...

Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects. - Will Rogers

by McFood on May 4, 2005 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Bad News for the Yankees! YAY!

"IDIOT RUINS GAME - Springfield forfeits pennant"

by franks a lot on May 4, 2005 4:59 PM PDT reply actions

ok, a few thoughts...

You knew the pitching wouldn't be stellar every time out. I'd much rather everyone do crappy at once than for one person giving away a game each day. Now its out of their system and their ready for the road trip!

The offense scored 7 runs, which, even though they left a ton of ppl on base, was still an improvement. 7 runs will usually win us a game easily.

At least we're done with Texas for now. For some reason we can't seem to beat them lately. Now, lets go take advantage of the struggling Yanks and BoSox (hey, we could turn it around!)

by ZeroIndulgence on May 4, 2005 5:02 PM PDT reply actions

damn

we were about to score 10 in the bottom of the ninth.

i heard it on the new 610 AM, hell is full of red sox fans.

by JMC @ Athletics Nation on May 4, 2005 5:12 PM PDT reply actions

dont forget

we scored 7 runs without kotsay and scutaro!

i'm desperately searching for the positives

i will say one thing that is really disturbing me about haren. He seems to walk a ton of people and FIND a way to give up runs. i actually worry about him the most simply because he seems electric at first and then he completely loses it.

by nycfan @ Athletics Nation on May 4, 2005 5:15 PM PDT reply actions

hmm.

maybe he'd be a good late-inning relief guy?

by miguel on May 4, 2005 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I think that he may end up in the bully

...he was lights out ... out of the bullpen in the end of 2004 for the Cards

by HerbWashington on May 4, 2005 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions

sounds like...

what people were saying about harden last year.
if you got a guy who could start, he starts. unless of course his name is duschcherer.

i heard it on the new 610 AM, hell is full of red sox fans.

by JMC @ Athletics Nation on May 4, 2005 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Right now, he's remarkably similar to Harden

last year. He loses control and walks guys, then when he does get into jams he just wants to throw hard, harder and hardest as things unravel. That probably worked in other leagues, but not in this one. Monday night was a thing of beauty (even though he lost) as Harden was getting rocked early - most of the line drives went straight into our fielders' gloves - then started dominating as he mixed in change ups and geared down his fastball. Haren needs to do the same.

by iceplant on May 5, 2005 9:07 AM PDT up reply actions

agreed

though haren doesn't throw as hard as harden, the similarities are there. it's a common rookie issue to try to overthrow when you get in trouble. the only way he'll solve this is to keep starting and learn how and when to change speeds. having someone like kendall behind the plate will help a lot in keeping haren form overthinking and just make his pitches. haren will be fine but we have to accept that he's only going to get about 10-12 wins this year, or 5-6 wins with no run support.

i heard it on the new 610 AM, hell is full of red sox fans.

by JMC @ Athletics Nation on May 5, 2005 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions

i worry

because this means there are too many guys in this lineup who just can't go deep. harden and blaton seem like the only ones.

blanton has his own problems...the very low amount of k's has me worried, just because you worry that guys are going to get better adjusted to him. on the same note, since he's always around the strike zone, he needs to be fooling people a little more. still, i actually worry about him less than haren, despite haren's great stuff, because blaton seems less prone to the meltdown inning.

is it still a small sample size?

by nycfan @ Athletics Nation on May 4, 2005 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Perfect Timing

Really, this couldn't have happened at a better time.

Because, you knew, sooner or later, it had to happen. Why not now?

A young and generally inexperienced team gets their asses whipped at home, and then have to go on the road for six games to face the Yankees and Red Sox. What could be a better test?

Many questions about this team will be answered in the next week. They may not be answers we like, but at least we'll have a lot better idea where things really stand with this year's version of the Oakland A's.

My prediction: we sweep the Yankees, and take two from the Red Sox.

Optimistic? I don't think so. But I'm not driving to Reno tonight to put money on it either.

by Mission1929 on May 4, 2005 5:55 PM PDT reply actions

Corner

Does anyone know the pitching matchups for the road trip?

You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club wont be worth a dime.-Babe Ruth

by doublehustle22 on May 4, 2005 5:56 PM PDT reply actions

Yea....

Zito - Pavano
Blanton - Moose
Harden - Brown (If they let him throw.

Saarloos - Wakefield
Haren - Arroyo
Zito - Clement

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on May 4, 2005 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions

What, no Wang?

"First of all, I'm not calm about it. Every time they lose, I freak out." - Andy Painter

by secret ASian man on May 4, 2005 6:04 PM PDT up reply actions

He throws manana vs TB

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on May 4, 2005 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Sweet!

I'm ditching class on Tuesday so I can watch Arroyo pitch. I have a mad crush on him, ever since he beat the A's last year and came back with cornrows. Crap, I can't believe I just said that.

by Melody on May 4, 2005 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow, that is, ummm ... wow

but those games are in Boston, I believe, so it might be too long of a BART ride. (unless you're in Boston, or nearby, of course)

I just needed something new here, since the season had started ...

by devo on May 4, 2005 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions

A little invention called the television...

I'll be watching it on TV! I have a class at 4, but this is way more important. Ironically, the last time [and only other time this year] I've ditched class was also to watch Arroyo pitch; May 14th, against the Yankees.

As far as I know, BART doesn't run to Boston, because I'm from Fremont and that's the end of the BART line :D I go to school in Santa Cruz though. So while I'm not too far away, I can't go to any home games unless I go home for the weekend.

And just for the record, I hate the Red Sox more than any other team in baseball. I just really, really, really like Arroyo.

by Melody on May 4, 2005 6:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Damn!

I knew I should have never cut off my beautiful braids(they went half way down my back)!

Maybe I could have impressed some women if I had only put on a baseball uniform????

Glad you hate the Sox......school in Santa Cruz is awesome by the way. Ciao!

by mrod on May 4, 2005 7:26 PM PDT up reply actions

I think you'd want the Pittsburg/Bay Point line

That's heading more toward Boston.

"You can throw your cocks if I don't care!" - Iggy Pop

by AlamedaAphid on May 4, 2005 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions

You're also from Fremont?

So am I. Where did you go to high school?

"First of all, I'm not calm about it. Every time they lose, I freak out." - Andy Painter

by secret ASian man on May 4, 2005 11:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow, small world!

I graduated from Irvington, but I went to MSJ my freshman year. It's a small world, isn't it?

by Melody on May 4, 2005 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions

IHS

At the risk of sounding Realllllly Old...
I graduated from Irvington in '68. :-)

"Holy Manama!" ~Bahrain, 5,000+ miles east of Toledo :-)~

by NomAd on May 5, 2005 12:32 AM PDT up reply actions

Graduated from MSJ '99

Asian, Fremont, where else could I have went to High School

"First of all, I'm not calm about it. Every time they lose, I freak out." - Andy Painter

by secret ASian man on May 5, 2005 1:11 AM PDT up reply actions

blow it up

go get austin kearns or piazza

by GrewUpAtTheColiseum on May 4, 2005 6:05 PM PDT reply actions

Austin Kearn...yes

Mike Piazza...hell no

"First of all, I'm not calm about it. Every time they lose, I freak out." - Andy Painter

by secret ASian man on May 4, 2005 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Mike Piazza?

Talk about done

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on May 4, 2005 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions

SportingNews Joke on A's

Who has the better chance to score? The A's after somehow managing to get a runner to second base or a husky kid who came to prom alone with out showering?

Regret the said the Tubby.

by novaoakland on May 4, 2005 6:56 PM PDT reply actions

ops that runner from second was to score

by novaoakland on May 4, 2005 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Yanks

The media in New York is in panic mode right now. If the Yankees lose to Tampa tonight and the A's win at least two, I think you'll hear another George explosion. There's suggestions in the media that the Yankees waive Brown and Giambi, but I don't see it happening.(too much salary to eat)

by Babitts on May 4, 2005 7:01 PM PDT reply actions

waiving and eating

waiving a player doesn't mean eating any salary. It means any team can take the player and his current contract off the current team's hands. The Red Sox famously tried it with Manny Ramirez after the 2003 season and there were no takers.

by matthias on May 4, 2005 7:23 PM PDT up reply actions

There is no way anyone claims either player

and the Yanks know it - so if they were waived it would to release them once they cleared waivers, so they could then be released.

I just needed something new here, since the season had started ...

by devo on May 4, 2005 7:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Can Chavvy get hot?

Of course. Here's his numbers from July/August of last year:

BA .320 OBP .432 SLG .630 OPS 1.062
AB 178 HR 14

That's hotter than a July day game in Texas. Wasn't that long ago either.

by matthias on May 4, 2005 7:21 PM PDT reply actions

former a's farmhand

mike edwards got called up to depo dodgers

by scottieh14 on May 4, 2005 8:29 PM PDT reply actions

Re Haren

Haren is a rookie or quasi-rookie. Doesn't every rookie pitcher suck at first, as he travels the learning curve?

Maybe we should dredge up the stats from Mulder's rookie year.

It sounded like Haren needed to be calmed down in the fateful inning. Were Young and Kendall going out to the mound to talk to Haren?

by Checkswing HR on May 4, 2005 8:57 PM PDT reply actions

haren

people are actually discussing putting him in the bullpen based on a couple rough outings??

by xbhaskarx on May 4, 2005 10:26 PM PDT reply actions

Haren will be fine...

of all the new pitchers to come into the A's rotation, I believe Haren has the brightest future. He has electric stuff, and once he gets his command down, he'll be a terrifying 1-2 punch with Harden. Blanton will be very good and very solid, but not electric. He'll be an awesome #3, with Meyer as a very good #4 (I'm assuming Zito goes elsewhere).

Give Haren time and he'll be more than good. We'll all be singing his praises for years to come :)

by ZeroIndulgence on May 4, 2005 10:47 PM PDT reply actions

Haren is very good

he is also very inexperienced as a major league starter. it's not unusual for a rookie starter to get rattled, plus remember the pressure he must feel to be perfect, given the offensive woes of the team.

As long as he stays healthy I am not worried about Haren. My worries about the team right now are all about the offense (it's even affecting their defensive play at times).

by OaklandSi on May 5, 2005 6:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Wood shed

Nothing like getting taken out behind the wood shed for a good @ss whipping. Has anyone noticed that the Angels are now 4 games up in the AL West

by crd04us on May 5, 2005 6:11 AM PDT reply actions

Hatteberg

does some nice stuff every now and then... does he have upside?

a career year, in him?

he sucks.

by GrewUpAtTheColiseum on May 5, 2005 7:34 AM PDT reply actions

I agree Hatte should sit

And be platooned with DJ. Maybe Machas waiting for him to collapse in July or August or maybe until we trade him in July. Time will tell. I think more platooning and substitutions should happen and Machas not used to having a bench to do this with. Any thoughts AN? FYI Mulder was 9-10 as a rook in 2000 with a 5 something ERA.

by A'sfansince1970 on May 5, 2005 11:18 AM PDT reply actions

Inside the box

Macha is not a creative thinker. Yesterday he was forced by illness and injury to shake up the lineup. That lineup scored seven runs.

There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.

by kkdaz on May 5, 2005 11:55 AM PDT reply actions

That lineup

Also faced Chan Ho Park. It's not as easy to say, "this lineup=7 runs."

by migueltejada on May 5, 2005 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Well yeah

I actually thought of that post-posting. However, I maintain that Macha's reluctance to make changes or experiment is not necessarily the best thing to keep the team on its toes.

There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.

by kkdaz on May 5, 2005 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I hear you

But Macha doesn't have a whole lot to work with. Bobby Kielty is our starting right fielder and batting 5th or 6th fairly often? That's just gross. Chavez will pick it up, Kendall will begin to learn AL pitchers (as has been said here before, Kotsay had a slow start and many hitters who switch leagues do start slow), Durazo is overrated but will produce to what is expected of him.

Some guys are trying too hard. A la Eric Byrnes. Runner on 2nd or 3rd and less than two out, just hit the ball to the right side. Do not try to pull everything you see. The A's need to begin to do the little things in order to win with this lineup. Think about it, we are built for OBP, we get some guys on base, and in scoring position, but we don't drive them in very well. Why? Because all of the sudden whoever is in the batters box feels he needs to go yard. We aren't built for that. We are built to continue to get on base, or even, give yourself up to move the runner along!

Regardless of the above rant, it's still early and we are in the middle of things and have many positives going for us. Hitting is not one of them, but hitting is the one of them that can be turned around.

by migueltejada on May 5, 2005 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Exactly the point

I heard on "Baseball Tonight." The batter sees the bases loaded and he thinks grand slam instead of RBI. The more they try to atone for the last bad AB, the worse the next one becomes.

There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.

by kkdaz on May 5, 2005 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions

My theory

Is that we should get back to doing something "easy" when put in those positions, i.e. hitting the ball the other way, etc. By trying to make up for all the runs we've squandered this year will just continue to kill us (as you mention above). It's just frustrating to watch. We don't have hitters that can hit more than 30 bombs a year (sans Chavez) and so we don't need to have guys trying to hit those bombs. Just stay within yourself and your abilities and move the runner over.

by migueltejada on May 5, 2005 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Funny how sickness and injury:

Make him look better by chance.

by saint @ Athletics Nation on May 5, 2005 5:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Wwe've been saying this whole week that:

Kielty should hit between Chavy and Durazo and that Ginter needed to be in the line-up. Huh, it worked!!!

by saint @ Athletics Nation on May 5, 2005 5:16 PM PDT up reply actions

So, what you're saying is ...

whether you believe the world is round or flat, you're right either way?

I just needed something new here, since the season had started ...

by devo on May 5, 2005 12:40 PM PDT reply actions

trade winds

BB will pull off a deal this season, sooner or later. It doesn't matter how good or bad the team is playing...has he ever not completed a trade during the season? So, here's what I think.

We'll deal Dotel, Byrnes and/or Ginter/Scutaro/Ellis.

We'll get a proven, cheap, hard-hitting OF (Aubrey Huff?!?) and a LHP (a reliever or a minor league starter).

Remember, BB is great at pulling of 3-team deals.

Any thoughts?

by mbrinda on May 5, 2005 12:56 PM PDT reply actions

Trades.

I was thinking about what teams needed a better bullpen. I figured that if anything, it would be the Rockies - they have lost so many games at the hands of their bullpen that it's beyond cringeworthy. Unfortunately, a deal with them would never happen, because the Rockies are not contenders this year and baseball just doesn't work this way. But, if only this was all fantasy baseball, then I think it would be a pretty interesting trade - Dotel/Byrnes (or Thomas) for one of their rookie/second year OF players [I'm looking at Hawpe: BA .348, OBP .389, SLG .561, OPS .949, 4 home runs, 14 RBI, 15 strikeouts] and LHP Jeff Francis, also a rookie.

It would be a cool trade because Dotel would probably let them win 15-20 games more per year that otherwise would be blown in the 8th or 9th. They've lost 10 games total so far this season by less than 3 runs, the past four games by just one run. I don't have numbers, but I'm pretty sure they were leading at one point or another in a greater majority of those games. Sound familiar? As long as they only used Dotel when they had a game to save, then I think Dotel would be really effective in their roster.

The thing about the Rockies is not about their players being unable to hit. Some of them are slumping [but what team doesn't have a few slumpers?] but they have hard hitters on their team too. What's funny about Hawpe and Francis, and the reason why I specifically named these two players, is that Hawpe hits significantly better away [batting average of .280 at home, .390 on the road, so it's not the thin air that's helping him - plus he still hits .200 against lefthanded pitchers too, better than Byrnes] while Francis seems to pitch better at home [he's not giving up hits in Coors field, but he's getting rocked on the road]. Francis also reminds me alot of a cross between Mulder and Zito - 6'5, Fastball, Curve, (Slurve), Breaking Ball and Changeup.

These two are promising players, and the Rockies could use a little more experience on their team. Hapwe and Francis would probably still be affordable for another 2-3 years, but I have no idea how market value and contracts work. We'd be trading a LHB [Byrnes] for another LHB so it wouldn't be adding another LHB to the lineup. And with only two lefties, I think another left handed pitcher would be benificial. Although, like I said, this trade would never happen, I also don't think the Rockies want to give up Francis and Hawpe either - they're hope for the future. But it's still a cool comparision nonetheless.

Checking again, their main catcher is quite inexperienced with this being his second year. Maybe if we threw Melhuse into the deal as well and picked up a few prospects [Rockies seem quite good at finding prospects], since Melhuse has put up better lifetime stats than the Rockies' backup catcher. Jeff Francis could probably use a more experienced catcher behind the plate too... Eh. I should probably turn this into a diary entry. But then I'd have to do actual reasearch ;)

by Melody on May 5, 2005 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Jeff Francis

Yes, Rich Harden would pitch even better with a fellow Canadian - also from the province of BC - in the starting rotation.

by Larry E on May 5, 2005 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Canadiiiiiiia!

I think Rich Harden and Jeff Francis would be really good friends if they were teammates.

by Melody on May 5, 2005 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Undervalued

The next undervalued commodity in baseball ... Canadians. Beane will load up on them. : )
Maybe we can get Justin Morneau from the Twins.

by Larry E on May 5, 2005 7:54 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm sorry...

why would COL give up their best pitching prospect and one of their top hitting prospects for Dotel and Byrnes and even 1 of our middle IF? Com'mon stop being so stupid! Just think, what did we give up for Dotel, Mike Wood- a guy that will never be more than a 4th starter and more likely will bounce around as a average middle reliever and Teahan- a good prospect but not nearly in the same arena as Francis or Hawpe. Additionally, I think Dotel's value is either = or slightly less than it was when we got him. Yes there is a market for closers right now, but I don't think COL has closer as their main concern right now.

"Don't you play the flute, Huddy?"

by capper3 on May 6, 2005 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions

didn't mean to say you are stupid.

got carried away. I did notice you said this trade wouldn't happen and thus I retract the harshness of the above post.

"Don't you play the flute, Huddy?"

by capper3 on May 6, 2005 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions

The Rays want D Johnson...

Johnson and Garcia may get it done for Huff. No way Aubrey stays in T Bay unless he gets a ton of Jack.

by saint @ Athletics Nation on May 5, 2005 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions

What about Hatteburg and Durazo

Are they sellable? Tradeable?

by A'sfansince1970 on May 5, 2005 1:23 PM PDT reply actions

no/mabey

I don't think Hatty is going to be attractive to anyone, and if he's headed to the front office, we aren't going to trade him. Ruby is also probably here to stay. If his numbers don't improve, no one wants him...if they do, then we want to keep him. Not a lot of teams are in the market for a straight DH whose not hitting.

by mbrinda on May 5, 2005 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Pouring salt on...

From Baseball Prospectus today -

In 2005, the Pirates have plated 30.74% of their potential runs. The A's have scored 31.25%, the Indians 35.45%. Just as before, the A's look to be in the middle of the pack when comparing them to the other two meager offenses this year. But comparing the Pirates and A's to every team since 1990, they come in dead last. In the past 16 years, no two teams have been as bad at driving in runners they put on base as the A's and Pirates. For comparison's sake, here are the top and bottom ten teams since 1990 in runner scoring percentage:

YEAR TEAM LOB R AVG OBP SLG R%
---- ---- ---- --- --- --- --- -----
1994 CLE 762 679 .290 .348 .484 47.12
2000 CHA 1127 978 .286 .352 .470 46.46
1996 COL 1108 961 .287 .350 .472 46.45
2004 CHA 1031 865 .268 .330 .457 45.62
1995 CLE 1018 840 .291 .358 .479 45.21
1996 BAL 1154 949 .274 .348 .472 45.13
1997 COL 1124 923 .288 .353 .478 45.09
2005 DET 161 132 .273 .331 .433 45.05
1999 CLE 1234 1009 .289 .370 .467 44.98
2000 COL 1198 968 .294 .358 .455 44.69
---- ---- ---- --- --- --- --- -----
1990 PHI 1242 646 .255 .324 .363 34.22
2003 LAN 1108 574 .243 .299 .368 34.13
1992 CHN 1148 593 .254 .303 .364 34.06
1990 SLN 1164 599 .256 .316 .358 33.98
1990 HOU 1132 573 .242 .309 .345 33.61
1992 BOS 1215 599 .246 .318 .347 33.02
1993 FLO 1189 582 .248 .311 .346 32.86
1992 LAN 1138 548 .248 .308 .339 32.50
2005 OAK 209 95 .237 .311 .338 31.25
2005 PIT 178 79 .230 .299 .359 30.74

by oaklandzoo on May 5, 2005 1:26 PM PDT reply actions

Another take

on the same information, I heard Peter Gammons say last night that out of 42 opportunities when the A's had a runner at third and less than two out, the runner scored only 12 times.

There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.

by kkdaz on May 5, 2005 1:32 PM PDT reply actions

I heard that too from Gammons

... also, thanks for the numbers.

criminey, the A's and Piros are behind a freakin' EXPANSION team ... the 1993 Marlins !!

by HerbWashington on May 5, 2005 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Odds are with us

that this trend is going to change, right? I do not believe this is the result of poor managing or an incorrect lineup. This debacle is the result of just the pendulum swinging in the wrong direction currently. For my own sanity, I'm sticking with this argument!

by oaklandzoo on May 5, 2005 1:41 PM PDT reply actions

Gut Check Time Back East

Buckle up your boots fans it gets really interesting the next 12 games vs NY (last place East team) and BotoxSox (pitching up in the air..)
Last man standing wins a playoff spot...not to early to calculate the numbers.
A's gotta hit or else their meat..come on guys get well back east!

Morada Mudshark

by Morada Mudshark on May 5, 2005 8:26 PM PDT reply actions

Right-on, gonna be real interesting

to see how we respond. Gonna try and cut out work early to catch the first pitch on mlb. I sure-nough remember this series last May...what a let-down. Hope the boys remember it too.

Alaska-A, Number-one-A's-fan-in-southern-southeast-Alaska.

by ak_A on May 5, 2005 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions

I just read on the A's website

A trade rumor via Mychal Urban that the A's are contemplating Reggie Sanders from St. Lou for Byrnes and a Low level prospect. Good rental player for a year, yes?
Based on some of your past responses, I know you're not a big trade-rumors guy, and I know Billy Beane doesn't comment on rumors. But surely you've heard something about the A's efforts, or lack thereof, to land another bat. Please, give us run-starved fans some glimmer of hope.
-- Kyle T., Clayton, Calif.
OK, but I'm warning you: The rumor I've heard that makes the most sense is probably going to upset as many fans as it will intrigue.

According to a credible out-of-town source whose information was substantiated by a National League scout, there have been talks about Eric Byrnes and a low-level prospect being sent to St. Louis for Reggie Sanders.

It makes sense on several levels.

1.) The A's have made it pretty clear that they aren't going to play Byrnes every day, and $2.2 million is a lot of glue for a guy who isn't always in the lineup.

2.) The Cardinals probably aren't going to keep Sanders or Larry Walker beyond this season, so they need a younger outfielder.

3.) Byrnes, whose uncertain status might be one of the reasons for his slow start, would probably get a chance to play every day in St. Louis, and my guess is that a change of scenery would do him a world of good.

4.) Unlike anyone on the A's current roster, Sanders is a time-tested source of power from the right side of the plate. You can pretty much pencil him in for at least 25 homers a season, and plugging him into the cleanup spot behind Eric Chavez would go a long way toward giving the A's the left-right-left-right attack they so covet.

Make that trade, and when Bobby Crosby returns from his injury you'd have a projected batting order of Mark Kotsay (lefty), Jason Kendall (righty), Chavez (lefty), Sanders (righty), Erubiel Durazo (lefty), Crosby (righty), Scott Hatteberg (lefty), Mark Ellis (righty) and Bobby Kielty (switch) or Charles Thomas (lefty).

From this angle, that looks a lot better than an

by A'sfansince1970 on May 5, 2005 9:10 PM PDT reply actions