Chavvy's dead arm?

by RickeySteals on Jun 15, 2005 10:31 AM PDT Comment 20 comments

Its the first diary for me, so be gentle...

Reading the articles today about Chavez and his shoulder today got me thinking. The A's organization has known about this for a long time. What if some of their recent moves were made with this in mind?

Suppose Chavvy's shoulder only lasts a few more years, and then he can't make those throws any more. You'd have to think Beane has thought about this. Then, we use our first pick in the draft this year on a shortstop, even though we already have a good one locked up for several years. I've seen several posts suggesting that the A's would move Pennington to second eventually, but what if they were to move him to third?

Think about it for a sec - Chavez moves to second (or even first, although we're pretty set there) and no longer has to make those long throws across the diamond. Our infield ends up with Pennington (or another 3B), Crosby, Chavez and Johnson/Barton. There's some serious, serious power there and a pretty sweet defense as well.

Intriguing, eh?

0 recs | Comment 20 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

had that thought too

by Alien on Jun 15, 2005 10:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

if the A's have known about

Chavvy's arm for years, that means they took that into consideration when they decided to sign him to a long term contract...which also means they will be thinking about possible replacements for him at 3B before his six years is up.

by OaklandSi on Jun 15, 2005 10:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

chavez

will likely have surgery in da off season...problem solved.......

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

by oakwin2004 on Jun 15, 2005 11:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

source?

where are you getting this info from?

by xbhaskarx on Jun 15, 2005 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In the article, Chavez says

"It's not gonna get cured"

"Look what we did!"

by ArakSOT on Jun 15, 2005 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Chavez's arm had been known about..

We'd have kept Teahan.

Joe Morgan can Kiss My Bunt

by Zonis on Jun 15, 2005 11:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Do you mean Teahan?

or Tejada? You know someone had to slip it in.

by RunRickeyRun on Jun 15, 2005 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Both :P

So what exactly does Donnelly use the Lube in his glove for?

by Zonis on Jun 15, 2005 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not so sure...

I think they'll try and get as many years out of Chavez at third as they can. Teahen was prettymuch ready last year - it may be another year or two before they ponder a permanent switch.

by RickeySteals on Jun 15, 2005 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think its clear they knew about it

Chavez said in the article that surgery had been considered as far back as his rookie year. I guess the question is how serious they thought it was (and is)

by Alien on Jun 15, 2005 11:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think this is the first year

that Chavvy has visibly had problems throwing

by OaklandSi on Jun 15, 2005 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just read articles

Yeah, worrisome about Chavy. If we had known about it since the begining, it makes even MORE of an argument to have kept Tejada over Chavez.

But yeah, so whats the future of Chavez? We cant make him a perminant DH, that'd be a waste. If Chavez eventualy can no longer play Third Base with the same effectivness he has, the only other option is Left Field or First Base, is it not? He would become the best defensive first baseman ever, but we're stacked at 1B and thats a waste. I dont think he'd be as good in the OF... Second Base? Maybe, but more throws.

Maybe 3B is the best spot for him. It sure explains the whole 'Bouncing the Ball to 1B' thing.

Joe Morgan can Kiss My Bunt

by Zonis on Jun 15, 2005 11:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Left field?

That's an even further throw that third to first.

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds."
Red Barber, announcer

by Furious George on Jun 15, 2005 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But less throws

and those throws would be going into Second Base, and wont need to be Bullet throws all the time.

So what exactly does Donnelly use the Lube in his glove for?

by Zonis on Jun 15, 2005 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bullet throws

Chavvy is having trouble getting the ball across the diamond on a line, so I'd be a little scared to see how many bounces a throw to the plate would have. I think the A's will keep Chavez at third for as long as they possibly can, he plays third as well as anyone, being able to throw is somewhat secondary to being able to make the plays that he does.

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds."
Red Barber, announcer

by Furious George on Jun 15, 2005 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Throws from second

Are much shorter, usually you don't have to put as much zip on them. It could be easier enough on the shoulder that Chavez could handle it.

Heck, Ellis is playing with a torn labrum right now!

by RickeySteals on Jun 15, 2005 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Umm..yea, but thats not his throwing shoulder.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jun 15, 2005 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure it is

That's why they were so concerned over his throwing ability before spring training. On the Chavez/2B topic, he might make a slightly above average 2B, but his value is at 3B where he's one of the best in the game, and that's where I want to see him stay.

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds."
Red Barber, announcer

by Furious George on Jun 15, 2005 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hitting

Billy Beane always talks about Chavez's pure swing, hit hitting, his eye, his power...and oh yeah, the defense is great. That's why we didn't keep Mark Teahen (re: above). He's getting paid to hit, and the defense is a bonus.

I think Bill King and Ken Korach are fantastic broadcasters.

by rich on Jun 15, 2005 1:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think a lot of fans

are mixing up "a new issue" with "an issue you just heard about"...Chavy and the A's have known about this for a long time, and the A's were comfortable signing him to a long-term deal, building the team around him, etc. That suggests it is considered either to be at the "flare up occasionally, deal with it" level, or the "off-season surgery, deal with it" level. Just because it's news to us doesn't make it news.

Nico

by Nico on Jun 15, 2005 6:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs