What about Alex Sanchez?

by bigthree17 on Jun 13, 2005 2:54 PM PDT

I know he's not a typical guy we would covet, but why not? He just got designated for assignment by the D-Rays, so the asking price can't be much. So far this year he's having a career year, batting .346/.373/.466/.839. He's always had a high average (career .297), although before this year his OBP was not stellar considering the above-average BA. Plus, he's a lefty who is hitting well against both RHP (.837 OPS) and LHP (.857 OPS), so he might be a candidate to platoon with Byrnes or Kielty against RHP.

He's also just 28, and makes $600,000 this year. He would add some speed to our lineup (although absolutely zero pop).

One bad note: I've seen him butcher more than a couple of balls in the OF that have cost his teams games. But it's not like Byrnes or Kielty (or even Swisher) is going to win a Gold Glove anytime soon.

What's to lose? He's been DFA for cryin' out loud. Food for thought.

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who wld u want

him to repalce on the roster? I t would have to be an OF, SO which one?

Ray Fosse thinks Pete Rose is a prick......

by oakwin2004 on Jun 13, 2005 3:48 PM PDT reply actions

Roster change

I would send Matt Watson back down. While I like Watson, and he deserves an opportunity at some point, Sanchez looks like an upgrade with a little more defensive versatility, and he's proven he can hit for a good average in the bigs.

I guess if the rumored Byrnes for Joe Kennedy deal goes down that would open up a spot in the OF. Kennedy would replace Glynn or another pitcher who would get sent down. This would give Watson more time in the bigs too.

by bigthree17 on Jun 13, 2005 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

i've always liked him

especially when he was bunting like a madman to get on base - but if the D-Rays let him go...jeez, what's wrong with him? Defense I guess. They also let go of Josh Phelps, who I thought had some real talent, so maybe it's the D-Rays that are simply retarded.

oakwin2004 is right though, who do you pull off the roster from the outfield? maybe if you trade byrnes, but that's not likely until next month. Kendall is finally showing life by getting in the leadoff spot, if Macha has the sense to leave him there I don't think you wanna mess with that by inserting Sanchez there. IF he doesn't go in the leadoff spot, where do you put him? And do you really put him in the outfield? DH?

by giambizombie on Jun 13, 2005 4:17 PM PDT reply actions

why is Tampa Bay getting rid of him?

Seems unusual, he's hitting well, but before yesterday he hadn't started a game in nearly a week.

What does Tampa Bay know that we don't???

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jun 13, 2005 4:23 PM PDT reply actions

No!

We do not need Sanchez, right now we should be setting our sights on Kearns.

Remember that this guy got cut from the Tigers.

by JaysFan16 on Jun 13, 2005 4:26 PM PDT reply actions

kearns

got demoted from the stinkin reds so what is your point.

"What I'm trying to do is set our pitching up for five years," said Beane

by Satchmo22 on Jun 13, 2005 7:31 PM PDT up reply actions

No, no, a thousand times no

Just ask yourself: what does a player have to do to hit nearly .350 for a bad team and still be sent down? Maybe (a) pay absolutely no attention to defense (which is why the other lousy team he played for cut him), (b) remain totally clueless about the strike zone, making him useless if he hits less than .320 or so, and (c) get caught using steroids.

This dude is a poor man's Luis Polonia -- just as much a butcher in the field, but even less power and less patience. I think the only folks who should want him on the team are Byrnes-lovers who want AN to start hating on someone else.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jun 13, 2005 4:28 PM PDT reply actions

I like the Polonia comparison...

It does seem apt. But the guy is hitting .346 with a solid .373 OBP. That can't be ignored. And he's done all of this since coming back from the steroid suspension that started off his year. And again, it's not like he'd be a real downgrade defensively.

(In a funny side note, his BA in June is .375, but his OBP is only .353. You don't see that too often.)

by bigthree17 on Jun 13, 2005 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Alex Sanchez??

Huh....Why? To take AB's from our guys trying to improve for 06? I dont get why we'd get a guy like this.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jun 13, 2005 4:58 PM PDT reply actions

Alright...

...so maybe this wasn't the most well thought-out diary. I admit it. I saw the news on Rotoworld and I got a little jumpy.

In terms of the "taking ABs" argument, that makes sense, but since we're pretty certain this is the last year we're going to have Byrnes, why are we playing him? Because he's still effective, at least against LHP. Sanchez is only 28, so it is possible we could bring him back next year (I think he's only arbitration-eligible).

Again, I was just throwing this out there. There are certainly some good reasons to avoid this guy.

by bigthree17 on Jun 13, 2005 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions

The A's are also showing Byrnes for a trade...

A large reason to play him., at least vs Lefties. No way would I want Sanchez takign AB's from DJ or Swisher.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jun 13, 2005 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions

My guess is that he is still using roids

A .346 avg, especially on a team like the D-Rays, goes a long way towards mitigating defensive shortcomings. My suspicion is that he is still using 'roids and the D-Rays heard about it.

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by kaweahkaweah on Jun 13, 2005 5:08 PM PDT reply actions

Sanchez

Sanchez is like Eric Byrnes, defensive wise.

He can get on base, but only if he bunts.

And the last time he was designated for assignment, he was picked up by a team and immidietly found to test positive for sterioids. Maybe this is the same thing.

"Pinata's promote violence against flamboyant animals"

by Zonis on Jun 13, 2005 5:44 PM PDT reply actions

An apt comparison

He's like Byrnes with less power and patience. We don't need another outfielder that plays like bees are chasing him.

Although Byrnes could take a lesson from him on using your speed to get base hits, instead of trying to hit 10-run homers every time up.

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Jun 13, 2005 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Just want to clarify

That I like Byrnes as a 4th OF, his shortcomings notwithstanding. It would be nice if everyone tried that hard all the time.

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Jun 13, 2005 7:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Two problems with Sanchez:

He is not compatible with Kendall, because both are such low SLG guys--the lineup already lacks power.
With more hits and fewer walks, he is essentially someone we already have: Charles Thomas. In other words, if we want to play/develop a leadoff hitter with lots of speed and defense and little power, he's already in our system.

At no cost, Sanchez might be a damn good pickup for another team. Just not our team.

Nico

by Nico on Jun 13, 2005 7:05 PM PDT reply actions

Yep

He's another Slappy. Being a slap-hitting leadoff hitter is a lost art, but you only need one per team.

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Jun 13, 2005 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Comparison to CT

I see the comparison to Chucky. I just think Sanchez already is what we hope Chuck to become (except for the porous D), so there's some logic to giving him a shot.

The Kendall issue makes a lot of sense. But we already get low-slugging against RHP with Byrnes and Kielty. At least Sanchez will get on base.

He's definitely not the answer. Just someone I thought it might be worth taking a flier on.

by bigthree17 on Jun 13, 2005 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Ummm

Dude was released by the TIGERS and the DEVIL RAYS. What does that tell you?

by dchu on Jun 13, 2005 8:13 PM PDT reply actions

Be a little careful on that--

the Cubs, Rangers, Cardinals, Orioles, and Redsox all let Jamie Moyer go. Not everyone figures it out in their early to mid 20s. That's something worth remembering when you evaluate Blanton's development, Glynn's chances of becoming a solid starter, or Chavy's chances of becoming an effective leader. Things happen at their own pace, not always the pace we want.

Nico

by Nico on Jun 13, 2005 8:19 PM PDT up reply actions

What would be the point?

Sanchez isn't going to get any better than he is right now, and what he is right now is a marginal MLB player. (And for the record, I don't think he's half the hitter that Polonia was, not that anyone remembers Polonia for hitting.)

Give him ABs, and you take them away from players who might be more than marginal.

And finally, we're looking at 3 teams in 3 years. He probably makes Jose Guillen look fun by comparison.

"Yucky Head Bad Guy!" - my 5-year-old daughter to Manny Ramirez. She got ice cream immediately afterward.

by DMtShooter on Jun 13, 2005 11:37 PM PDT reply actions

That's fine

As long as the majority of the LH ABs go to Watson, because neither Byrnes nor Kielty have shown they can be even marginal against RHP. Kielty may have a chance if he ditches hitting LH completely.

by bigthree17 on Jun 14, 2005 12:08 AM PDT up reply actions

take a flier

I guess by advocating the acquisitions of both Sanchez and Kearns I'm not exactly expressing confidence in the current state of the A;s outfield, but if you're going to reshuffle the roster frequently with low-risk, high-reward moves, this is the year to do it. The A's philosophy tends to lead them to guys who are undervalued on a performance-basis but not on a potential-basis...borrowing from DePodesta's assertion that some high percentage of major league players are replaceable, the A's are going to fare very well if judged by how little they spend on their replaceable players, but not as well on their ability to acquire non-replaceable players.
Sanchez isn't necessarily high reward, but, uh, is Matt Watson high reward? Ignoring his flaws, the guy is a dependable masking agent away from being a dependable .300 hitter. So, I'd like to see Sanchez in the fold as the 4th OF, but I'm 99% sure this is all for not, since BB probably wouldn't like to see Sanchez anywhere near the A's OF.
side note: To the D-Rays' credit, while this seems like a questionable move, at least they made it to make room for Johnny Gomes...maybe Chuck LaMar stumbled upon AN sometime recently.

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by Cutthemullet on Jun 14, 2005 2:49 AM PDT reply actions