How expendable is Rincon?

by iceplant on Aug 10, 2005 10:46 AM PDT

I agree entirely that Rincon's stock has fallen tremendously. His stuff is terrible and seems to be getting worse. I think we have no use for him, and that he's taking up space on the roster. I also think now is the time to get the starters some rest so they don't flame out like last year. Why not bring up Cruz as a replacement starter, taking the place of Blanton, Saarloos and Haren for a turn each in the rotation? He has been excellent in AAA, and if he excels in a few starts in August, then he's available (and confident) for the stretch and postseason. If not, at least you have given the young starters a little rest in August.

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rincon

he's important to the team because we need a guy in the bullpen that can get lefties out. i'm not a big fan of rincon and i always give him a hard time when he screws up but i think $1.9 million for a reliever that only has to get out lefties is just way too much.

"you know it's way cooler to be an A's fan" - billy beane to larry krueger

by gotgreen on Aug 10, 2005 11:22 AM PDT reply actions

He's typically done well in the 2nd half

...I expect him to be used for 1-2 outs as the season progesses. Teams will snatch him so fast you won't have time to blink if he's released. Maybe he has lost something. But his "something" is worth keeping if for no other reason than other teams will want him.

Imagine him in pinstripes facing Chavez in the playoffs. Doesn't exactly inspire confidence. That Chavy's going to crank one, at least this year.

by Gerard on Aug 10, 2005 11:29 AM PDT reply actions

Rincon

is a strange player. His stats say he is a good pitcher but who in AN land feels comfortable when he enters the game. He to me is in the same catagory as Mecir and Dotel. Stats OK but please don't put them in with the game on the line.

by oscarwdog on Aug 10, 2005 12:18 PM PDT reply actions

Perspective on Stats

I think the big issue here is whether or not he is performing. He comes out to pitch and everyone groans, throws their arms in the air and say, well, thats the ball game. Same issue when Dotel was playing. We had no faith in him and now Rincon has filled that faithless role. What I don't understand is why we even have a guy on the roster who can only get out one guy, who's sole purpose is to come out for ONE batter? Why are we paying this guy so much money when that is his only job and 9 times out of 10 he can't even do that? One batter over the course of 4 or 5 games, thats what, 1 in 250 give or take. Now that is the stat that blows my mind. Lets look at the stats from that perspective. Explain to me how a guy who has a 5 something ERA can have a 5 something ERA if he is only out there for 1/250 batters? And we are paying him to do go out there and work once ever 4 or 5 games for about 5-10 minutes before we pull him because he isn't doing his job. Now I don't know about the rest of you, but if MY stats at MY job looked like that, I would have been fired a LONG time ago. Now I know some still believe he is a good pitcher, and yes, I do see a glimmer of hope every so often. But when I see him warming up, I flip! I don't have the confidence in knowing he will get the job done. So why are we wasting time and money on a guy like that?

"We play our best ball when we're goofing around and having a good time" ~Bobby Crosby

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Aug 10, 2005 12:45 PM PDT reply actions

Reminds me

of the time when my sister asked me if they still get paid if they don't get into the game!

by Larry E on Aug 10, 2005 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions

But my point isn't to rag on Rincon ...

It's that I think a better use of resources might be to call up Cruz for the dual purpose of resting our young starters before the stretch run AND finding out if Cruz can help us more than Rincon. If we discover either of these to be the case in September, it's too late for the playoffs.
And, to answer Gerard, I concur with your assessment of Chavy v. Rincon. He's the type of slop-tosser that might dominate Chavy. Maybe he could have a twisted knee that lands him on the DL until September 1? At least that way he's not available for the playoffs.

by iceplant on Aug 10, 2005 1:09 PM PDT reply actions

We Have some guys in the minors

...that may step up to fill Rincon's position, maybe as early as next year. Depending on what type of free agent status Rincon gets (type A or B) Beane will easily let him walk at season's end. Dallas Braden comes to mind and Joe Kennnedy may not break the starting lineup next year.
I truly think this is his last year in Oakland regardless of how well or poorly he plays. Let's hope come October we'll be singing his praises without having to lament too deeply over losing him (which right now, many would welcome).

by Gerard on Aug 10, 2005 1:40 PM PDT up reply actions

To me, iceplant,

spot-starting Cruz would mean downgrading the rotation those times. Yes, Cruz has lit it up in AAA, but if the A's felt (or his track record showed) he was a better risk than Saarloos, he'd be starting now. So the option, then, is to downgrade in order to get Blanton, Haren, and Saarloos rest.

We assume they need rest, but the A's may have that covered through low pitch-count games and extra days (like Haren is getting this turn). Skipping an entire start could disrupt the pitching rhythm of each starter, in favor of an inferior option, in order to give rest that is not actually needed.

Nico

by Nico on Aug 10, 2005 2:39 PM PDT reply actions