Barton Should be Called Up

by DKNJ on Aug 17, 2005 8:04 PM PDT

I think that Beane should consider a move as drastic as this. Hatteberg collapsed down the stretch last year and has a .706 OPS at this point. I love the guy but this is completely unacceptable. Barton is pounding the ball in Double A to the tune of .322/.418/.524 and would only have to concentrate on hitting as he would be the DH. He is hitting an amazing .370 in his last 15 games according to Baseball America.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/hotsheet2005.html

Precocious players such as Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Andruw Jones, Rocco Baldelli, Joe Mauer and Jeff Francoer all were productive upon call up. Maybe Barton can be the shot in the arm that the A's need.

I realize that the service clock is important, but this is clearly a year to go for it as the Yankees/Red Sox are extremely flawed and Chicago is a paper tiger. It may be another 10 years before the Yanks & Red Sox march into the postseason without any lockdown starters. Everyone was worried about rushing Street last year, but I would bet that Beane would have brought him up if he had to do it all over again.

The bottom line is that if Barton is reasonable bet to outproduce Hatteberg then he should be starting this weekend. Maybe he pulls a Francoer as his pedigree is even better.

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Comments

ya

maybe he would bat .400 and hit a hr off Clemens mulder in the W.S aka Cabrera

by Huston123 on Aug 17, 2005 8:14 PM PDT reply actions

i ment clemens not mulder

by Huston123 on Aug 17, 2005 8:20 PM PDT reply actions

its not actually THAT off the wall of an idea

he's a position player so it probably wouldn't hurt his "psyche" too much. Might rev up the team a bit. The question is whether he would DH or play first base--where he would be a serious liability.

Not a bad idea to have him DH while getting training from Wash every day. Especially since Wash probably won't be around next year.

Come ON A's!

by Alien @ Athletics Nation on Aug 17, 2005 8:29 PM PDT reply actions

Double A

Beane said in his recent prospectus interview that once a player rakes at Double A he is in play. It is clearly the toughest jump to make and the early returns on Barton are off the charts.

This race is going to be as tight as a drum and a move like this could be the difference. The Twins are now a major threat as Santana has returned to his Cy Young form. Liriano may get a call up which would be a major upgrade over Lohse/Mays.

by DKNJ on Aug 17, 2005 8:30 PM PDT reply actions

Time clock?

I'm not exactly sure how this arbi-clock works, but I THINK that the clock doesn't start if a player gets called up after Sept. 1. With this in mind, that's only fifteen or so games away. In the interest of the future, can we wait before making a move like this?

Two things can happen if Barton is called up:

He struggles (this is to be expected, as he IS 20). Even if he does, he's probably a mature enough hitter to benefit from the experience.
He rakes. If he is truly the special prospect he seems to be, this could not only be a boost to our playoff run, but scare the hell out of the AL West for the next few years to come.

We'd have to expect him to struggle, but the upside may very well be worth it ... if, in fact, he's the second coming of Albert Pujols ...

by Crosbino on Aug 17, 2005 8:41 PM PDT reply actions

Time Clock

Any time a player spends in the big leagues contributes to his service time and, therefore, to his eligibility for salary arbitration and free agency. However, since it's so late in the season, Barton could be called up (he would actually have to be added to the 40-man roster, which might mean that someone else would have to be moved off) and still not be eligible for salary arbitration until 2009, at the earliest.

by rsquared on Aug 18, 2005 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Risk/Reward

If 13 days means delaying his arb clock then I think that they should wait. All of those guys mentioned seemed to have success right off of the bat. Jason Kubel is another name that comes to mind as he gave the Twins a major boost in September last year. Maybe it is selective memory but it appears that the prodigies do well their first time around the league. It won't take much to be an upgrade over Hatte though so I think the reward is worth the risk.

by DKNJ on Aug 17, 2005 8:48 PM PDT reply actions

not a concern

Harden's arby clock didn't start in 2003 and he was called up on July 17

Come ON A's!

by Alien @ Athletics Nation on Aug 17, 2005 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions

arby clock

My understanding is that if you spend the first month of the season in the minors, that year doesn't count on your three-year countdown to arbitration-eligibility.

by Apricot on Aug 17, 2005 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions

arby clock

does the time at which a player is called up in any way affect one's ability to enjoy a roast beef sandwich?

Celebrate good times, come on!

by gojohn10 on Aug 17, 2005 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions

you forgot the cheese.

The only place the cheese is worth an extra X cents is at arby's.

let's go oakland [clapclap clapclapclap]

the a's fan lj community.

by Jjjsixsix on Aug 17, 2005 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Uh...

I like how the Arby clock doesn't have arabic numerals on it. And I can't read any Asian languages, so how do I know that's really a "clock."

by timed exposure on Aug 17, 2005 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions

definitely a clock

it's either Chinese numbers or Klingon. I forget which.

by Apricot on Aug 17, 2005 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions

chinese.

let's go oakland [clapclap clapclapclap]

the a's fan lj community.

by Jjjsixsix on Aug 17, 2005 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions

You also have to be careful ...

... that the kid doesn't take a bite of the proverbial tainted Serbian goat-meat sandwich ...

It's tough out there, Pootie. You got drugs ... crime ... gorillas ...

by monkeyball on Aug 18, 2005 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions

goodness.

that wasn't part of this diary!

let's go oakland [clapclap clapclapclap]

the a's fan lj community.

by Jjjsixsix on Aug 18, 2005 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions

No, but ...

... there is a secret meta-Arby's thread ...

It's tough out there, Pootie. You got drugs ... crime ... gorillas ...

by monkeyball on Aug 18, 2005 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions

oh.

Alas, I haven't found it yet, unless this was it.

let's go oakland [clapclap clapclapclap]

the a's fan lj community.

by Jjjsixsix on Aug 18, 2005 8:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Sounds like desperation

And desperate acts are usually founded on bad ideas. Pushing a guy from A-ball (which is where Barton started) all the way to the bigs in one season is asking for trouble. Let Barton continue to grow and learn and screw up in the minors.

Losing 5 of 6 is not a valid reason to hit the Panic Button.

by grover on Aug 17, 2005 9:59 PM PDT reply actions

i don't believe this would be desperation

i think this would just be beane acknowledging that hatte and kielty just don't make the cut. they are overpaid and not that goood.

"Some people pray to a totem pole, some people pray to a sun, some people pray to a god. It all works for them. It all comes back to what you think." ~ Zito

by burnone on Aug 17, 2005 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Nit pick

Kielty is not overpaid at $700 K. Plus he's a decent OFer while Barton has done nothing but DH all year. You have an arguement for Barton vs. Hatty but not vs. Kielty.

by grover on Aug 18, 2005 7:19 AM PDT up reply actions

its been done before

with pujols, and i have heard comparisions of the two

by BigRed on Aug 17, 2005 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Poor comparison

Pujols made it to St. Louis out of Spring Training and was protected my Mark McGwire.

People are calling for Barton to come up in the middle of the pennant race to protect Chavez.

Two entirely different situations.

by grover on Aug 18, 2005 7:17 AM PDT up reply actions

Ok, but what about Miguel Cabrera?

He is the other player Barton is compared to the most, and after 60 some games in AA he moved up to be a critical part of the Marlins WS team. Barton will have about 50 games in AA by the end of the month, and with fairly comparable numbers. He is a better option than trading the farm for Sweeney, Dunn, or Griffey like some are suggesting.

When I was kid, I laid in my twin bed and wondered where my brother was-Mitch Hedberg 1968-2005

by gatling on Aug 18, 2005 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Two can play this game...

Conor Jackson is as good a hitting prospect as Barton, he tore up AAA with a .370 BA and a 2:1 BB/K walk rate... and he's currently hitting .192 in Arizona.

What are you expecting Barton to do?

At best you're hoping for a player comparable to vintage Hatty. Barton has hit 4 HR in 151 AB in Midland, a launch pad if there ever was one, and I doubt he's been saving his power stroke for his Oakland debut. Right now his bat fits best at the top of the batting order or at the bottom, but not in the middle.

Do you want to put a AA rookie at lead-off in the middle of a play-off race? How about the 3-hole? I don't think that's such a good idea. The A's have enough bats to fill the #2 spot so what would be the point of bringing up Barton to bat him second?

Calling up Barton does not address ANY of the holes in the batting order that Nico has pointed out.

by grover on Aug 19, 2005 6:37 AM PDT up reply actions

What about Barton makes you think

this level would be any different for him? He has done nothing but get on base at a .436 clip in the minors, and bat .321. Even if he suffers a 50 point dropoff in both, he would be hitting 38 points higher than Hatty and 53 points higher than Kielty over the last month, and have an OBP nearly 100 points higher than both Hatty and Kielty. Over the month of August Hatty is .179/.207/.214 and Kielty is .163/.212/.163, please don't tell me you think Barton couldn't do better than this.

I think a lineup like this would be beneficial:

Ellis
Swish
Chavy
DJ
Payton
Barton
Croz
Kotsay
Kendall

It damn sure couldn't do much worse than what we've run out there lately.

When I was kid, I laid in my twin bed and wondered where my brother was-Mitch Hedberg 1968-2005

by gatling on Aug 19, 2005 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions

It is about production

This isn't just hoping for a miracle. I think that Barton has an excellent chance of being more productive than Hatteberg and his deplorable .706 OPS for the remainder of the season.

Minor league numbers translate and I mentioned about half of dozen current players who made the jump at a very young age. Look at Francoer as he has carreid the Braves for the past month.

What is your solution? Do you think that a Hatte/Keilty/Ginter DH combo is going to provide the production that is needed in a razor tight pennant race?

by DKNJ on Aug 17, 2005 10:07 PM PDT reply actions

Lets look at Francoeur

He's hitting .379 but his OBP is .389. Why is that?

Because he's struck out 20 times in 110 ABs and has 0 walks. Sure, he's hit 10 HRs but there aren't too many players who can maintain anywhere near this type of production with such poor plate discipline. Francoeur is hot right now but when he crashes it won't be pretty.

And for the record, I'd have rather seen Billy snag Ryan Langerhans than Kelly Johnson or Charles Thomas. I doubt that Francoeur was ever on the table.

by grover on Aug 18, 2005 7:26 AM PDT up reply actions

I agree

I think when the league catches up to Franceour (sp?), it is NOT going to be pretty. Eric Byrnes 2002, pretty (or was that 2003?).

Matt, who knows the league will NEVER catch up to him.

Best Barry In The Bay Area.

by TwistNHook on Aug 18, 2005 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Better parallel

Joe Charbonneau

It's tough out there, Pootie. You got drugs ... crime ... gorillas ...

by monkeyball on Aug 18, 2005 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions

also

whatever we do, it should involve keeping this dude around as long as possible.

"Some people pray to a totem pole, some people pray to a sun, some people pray to a god. It all works for them. It all comes back to what you think." ~ Zito

by burnone on Aug 17, 2005 10:13 PM PDT reply actions

Normally I agree

but I think that this is a year where the A's should pull out every stop to go for it. Schilling is shot, the Twins are banged up and the Yankees are a mess. The A's are is position to make a major move, but they also have no margin for error with this feast or famine lineup.

by DKNJ on Aug 17, 2005 10:17 PM PDT up reply actions

ARGH!!!

This team was not built with the primary goal of winning it all!

You don't trade Hudson and Mulder and say "World Series or BUST!" The A's are a team with the mood swings of a teenager and putting all this hope in one AA bat makes no sense.

Barton is not a Cure-All.

by grover on Aug 18, 2005 7:29 AM PDT up reply actions

wrong

From a chat on BP w/ Gary Huckaby (sp?):
"We begin every season with two goals: to make the playoffs and win the last game we play".

I'm not saying bringing up Barton is the right thing to do. But don't think for a second that if we were in a position to make a run this year we wouldn't address our needs.

RFB

by Tim J on Aug 18, 2005 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions

I have to call "Bullshit" on that one

Which should be pretty obvious. I'll make this real simple... show me how anyone could go into a season expecting better production from Calero/Haren than from Mulder/Hudson. Use Win Shares or whatever, because at the end of the season I'm betting Hudson/Mulder will have more value than the two guys currently on the A's roster.

I'm fully aware that Beane was likely expecting more contributors, namely Thomas and Cruz and perhaps Meyer, but that's not the way it worked out. These three in particular also carried the greater risk because they were, by and large, unproven in the Show while Mulder and Hudson have performed in a manner consistent with their past achievements. Call the 2005 season the Worse Case Scenario for the two trades, but Beane is smart enough to have recognized this possibility and adjusted his goals accordingly.

If he didn't he was deluding himself.

by grover on Aug 19, 2005 6:48 AM PDT up reply actions

I think we're missing each other's points

Because I agree with what you've said here.
Obviously the point of the trade was to provide for the next several years rather than to improve the club for this year. But why would that mean that, if we're in contention this year (which we are), we wouldn't do what we could increase our chances of making a push for a flag?

I think the question to be answered is "does Barton make us better right now?" rather than "was the plan to contend this year?"

If the answer to question #1 is yes, then you bring him up, regardless of what the answer to question #2 is (which I know to be yes as well, "bs" or not).

RFB

by Tim J on Aug 19, 2005 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions

Beane Chat From Prospectus

This was from July 29th and looks very relevant today as Barton has exploded since this time.

BradHoltzman (Chicago): Billy, What are the plans for Daric Barton, when can I expect to see him in the majors?

Billy Beane: As most of you probably know by know, Daric was recently moved up to Midland in the Texas League (AA). As expected, he's making great progress. It's hard to put a timetable on his arrival, but as everyone here knows, once you start producing at the AA level, anything can happen.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/

by DKNJ on Aug 17, 2005 10:14 PM PDT reply actions

How sweet would it be...

... if Barton WORKED the Cards in the Series?

Take THAT Ratto!!!

by Schinto on Aug 17, 2005 11:11 PM PDT reply actions

re

It'd be cool, but they'd pretty much have to DFA Hatteberg (or convince him to fake an injury), and I just don't see that happening.

by 31Boots on Aug 18, 2005 12:45 AM PDT reply actions

Need to keep Hatty as a pinch hitter

Barton could be called up on September 1st when the rosters expand to 40 if he keeps tearing the cover off the ball.

At least give him a couple starts at DH and see what he can do, maybe he flops and maybe he just rakes. Jeff Francoeur, who had inferior numbers to Barton, is carrying Atlanta right now - just goes to show some players who have that much natural ability are able to produce against any level of competition.

Might as well see what the kid's got.

by NP15 on Aug 18, 2005 5:28 AM PDT reply actions

You want to make sure

he'd be eligible for the post-season roster. I know you can sometimes add a "ringer", but I'm not exactly sure of the rules (he could probably replace Durazo).

We can keep Hatteberg if Ginter is sent down. When was the last time he even played?

We've got four OF, an extra in Scutaro. Scutaro also as the backup IF, but if someone were to go on the DL then of course you could call a player up.

I am now officially on the Call Up Daric Barton bandwagon!

Come ON A's!

by Alien @ Athletics Nation on Aug 18, 2005 6:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Late injury to player on the 40-man

I think that if you want to replace an injured player on the eligible roster with a post-Sept 1 callup for the postseason, you have to be able to at least make a semi-plausible case that the injury occurred late enough in the season to justify the "emergency" addition.

I forget whom K-Rod replaced in '02, or when that injury transpiured, but that was one of the more hinky instances of postseason roster-manipulation in recent memory.

(There's also, to date myself somewhat, the Phils' 1980 late-season callup of Marty Bystrom -- who was quasi-legitimately added to the postseason roster and proved invaluable to the WS run.)

It's tough out there, Pootie. You got drugs ... crime ... gorillas ...

by monkeyball on Aug 18, 2005 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Not sure

but I think if you have to DL a man on the 25-roster you can you replace him (pitcher-for-pitcher or position player-for-position player) with someone from the 40-man roster for the playoffs.

I think the Angels had a guy on the 40-man who wasn't playing anyway but might not have been on the DL, put him on the 25-man, DL'ed him, and left the door open for frankie.

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 18, 2005 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Here it is:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=1607609

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 18, 2005 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions

That is now

actually referred to as "the K-Rod rule." The A's were likely going to do the same thing with Street last year if they made the playoffs with him replacing Mark Ellis. They could do the same thing with Barton this year and replace either Durazo or Dotel.

"May our feet be swift. May our bats be mighty. And may our balls be...plentiful."

by nothinlikethetown on Aug 18, 2005 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Barton

As it stands right now the A's couldn't use Barton to replace anyone as Daric is not on the 40 man roster. I'd like to wait another week or two before deciding wether to put Daric on the 40 man roster. Leaving him off the 40 man and the 25 man means the arbitration clock has not started. If a player is not in the top 17% of 2+ year players then he can't file for arbitration. Thus if Barton was brought up mid next year (or two months into the season) he likely wouldn't be able to file for arbitration until after the 2009 season (i.e. for the 2010 season) and he wouldn't be a free agent until after the 2012 season.

by skwid on Aug 19, 2005 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Not going to happen

If there was any thought being given to elevating Barton, they'd put him in AAA for a week.

by boilerdan on Aug 18, 2005 7:18 AM PDT reply actions

He could be no worse than Ginter!!!!!

Can anyone recall the last game he was in? The last game he started? How about the last game he produced anything?
In the past month he is 0 for 9.
If not Barton how about Freddie Bynum - someone who can pinch run and at least help the team. I would suggest Jermaine Clark but he is off the 40 man roster now.

by Carerra on Aug 18, 2005 7:32 AM PDT reply actions

Ginter...Ginter...? what's his first name?

Royale with cheese. (resubscribed to cable recently)

by ak_A on Aug 18, 2005 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions

I Think He's Coming

It would be great if either kielty or Hatteberg would start hitting again, but I'm not counting on it.

Barton is the solution and Beane ain't gonna let the arbitration clock get in the way of this one.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Aug 18, 2005 8:03 AM PDT reply actions

I agree with this idea

There are some people whose talent is so natural and freakish that there are limited and diminishing returns on having them learn at the lower level (see Cabrera and Pujols--or Harden, for that matter). It seems quite possible that Barton is in that category. It would be a shame if he's capable of hitting .300 with power in the majors, and we don't reap its benefits out of caution.

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

by jeepers on Aug 18, 2005 10:25 AM PDT reply actions

If Chicago is a paper tiger ...

... does that mean Detroit is a paper white sock?

It's tough out there, Pootie. You got drugs ... crime ... gorillas ...

by monkeyball on Aug 18, 2005 10:50 AM PDT reply actions

mnkbl

you make me soooo laugh!

"I made a game effort to argue but two things were against me: the umpires and the rules." - Hall of Fame Manager Leo Durocher

by McFood on Aug 18, 2005 7:23 PM PDT up reply actions

No

Barton is hitting very well, but (unless he's stepped it up quite a bit in recent weeks) not for very much power.

Is is realistic to assume that Barton would be a big improvement over Hatteberg? Could he hit as well for average? Possibly, but probably not. Big league pitchers are a little better than the hurlers he's facing in Midland. Would he provide more power? Not based on his stats up to now. Does he have major league experience in a pennant race? Nope.

It sounds like Barton is on track to play in the major leagues... next year.

by bear88 on Aug 18, 2005 10:57 AM PDT reply actions

Comfortable with Hatte?

Hatte was horrendous in the 2nd half last year and has been brutal so far this year after the break. Are you advocating running his .700OPS out for the DH slot the rest of the year? It could very well keep the A's out of the playoffs in a soft year for the AL. Barton minor league numbers show that he is just about ready.

by DKNJ on Aug 18, 2005 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Excuse me...

but this is what a lot of people were saying about Johnson-- who has merely been the A's best hitter the last two months.

Bring the kid up-- now.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Aug 18, 2005 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't forget about Jairo Garcia last year

Bringing Jairo up didn't work last year and who knows how that hurt his growth. Plus Johnson has had the opportunity to play everyday. Would Barton play? If not, keep him in the minors until at least their season is over. As a September callup though, I don't see a problem. However, I wouldn't expect him to be a savior.

Celebrate good times, come on!

by gojohn10 on Aug 18, 2005 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn't compare Garcia and Barton

in any respects. Garcia is isn't in the same class as Barton, so the situations are very different. Barton is seen as one of the two or three best hitters in the minors by many baseball people. Garcia was never to my knowledge but in that category for pitchers. He also seems to me to be a fringe type guy, who will be a 4A guy or a head case middle reliever, nothing more.

While Barton would necessarily be the "savior" of the offense, getting a great bat in the lineup couldn't hurt. He didn't have any trouble adjusting to AA, and AAA is usually not where the best prospects are found. That is usually AA. Time in Sacramento this year wouldn't do Barton anymore good than staying in Midland.

Give the kid a shot. I think it would shock 85% or better of all of baseball if he didn't succeed. Like others have said, he can't really be worse than what we've been running out there lately.

When I was kid, I laid in my twin bed and wondered where my brother was-Mitch Hedberg 1968-2005

by gatling on Aug 18, 2005 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Garcia

is rated as a very high level prospect by essentially everybody. He hasn't been considered quite the prospect that Barton is, but that's largely due to the limitations of his position.

The next time I slap a guy's ass, can we all just assume it's because I wish I was a baseball player?

by devo on Aug 18, 2005 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions

My point is

they are completely different types of prospects, and just because Garcia struggled last year in the bigs, it doesn't have anything to do with how Barton would handle a callup.

When I was kid, I laid in my twin bed and wondered where my brother was-Mitch Hedberg 1968-2005

by gatling on Aug 18, 2005 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions

That's true

but I don't think that was the point of the original post. Which (I believe, if I remember correctly) was if he struggles from getting called up too early, it could screw up his initial development.

Eh, what do I care? I was just disagreeing with your statement that Garcia wasn't in the same class of prospects as Barton ... Barton's a better prospect, no doubt - but they are (at least Garcia was) both very high level prospects.

The next time I slap a guy's ass, can we all just assume it's because I wish I was a baseball player?

by devo on Aug 18, 2005 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions

we need pop

i posted this basic idea in another diary, but here goes...barton will probably develop his power next year (20-21), a la pujols. while i have no problem calling the kid up if he's ready, i think i'd rather see ethier or even jason perry (21 hr) from midland up. both have more power RIGHT NOW than barton, though i think we all believe daric will surpass them shortly. i actually really hope ethier gets the call. we can see what he gives us in the OF, since i doubt jaypay's back next year, and kielty may be gone, too.

"welcome to ME, motherf*^*er!" - tim hudson

by guy incognito on Aug 18, 2005 11:24 AM PDT reply actions

Do it now

Worst case, we've got a guy in the DH spot getting on base on a regular basis. If he's got pop, then it's a bonus.

We should sign rickey to the 40 man too! Hahaha, I'd love that.

by RunRickeyRun on Aug 18, 2005 11:56 AM PDT reply actions

Rickey

I can actually imagine two scenarios where I might actually prefer to see Rickey at bat over anyone on our current roster:

bottom of the 9th, trailing by a run, leading off
bottom of the ninth, trailing by a run, 2 outs, bases loaded

It's tough out there, Pootie. You got drugs ... crime ... gorillas ...

by monkeyball on Aug 18, 2005 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I agrre with you on at least the first one

I'd love to see him pinch run for any of our guys at the end of the game too. His knowledge is worth enough to get him back on the big team. I saw him the other day, check the Adam Johnson diary for the story.

by RunRickeyRun on Aug 18, 2005 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Just checked it out

Great Rickey anecdote! (Would that be a Rickeydote?)

Unfortunately, I don't see Beane ever giving Rickey a roster spot.

I don't see why he wouldn't consider bringing Rickey in as a coach, even just in Spring Training. Might not happen until speed becomes undervalued, though -- which itself may not happen for a while, what with the downtrend in power numbers across MLB.

It's tough out there, Pootie. You got drugs ... crime ... gorillas ...

by monkeyball on Aug 18, 2005 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions

I saw Rickey Sunday - STILL AMAZING!!

Got to the game and everyone said "Rickey don't play on Sunday"..........he was there on the top step coaching and encouraging the young Surf Dawgs - he called puppies.
Well they were down 3-2 - - in the 8th he pinch hit and singled...he was off and running and got to second on an infield dribbler that they couldn't field cleanly cuz he was the distraction he is. He stole third and scored when the throw got past the third baseman. He came into the game and did what everyone knew he was going to do and did it successfully. Dawgs won.
No one on the A's could do that,,,,but we do have Keith Ginter making sure the pine doesn't rot.

by Carerra on Aug 18, 2005 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions

barton vs. ethier

i'd rather see ethier up here than barton. it's not like andre's a slouch, his numbers are sick, hits for average AND power (the one element barton hasn't developed just yet). though if we did call up daric, i wouldn't be surprised to see him raking singles and doubles and getting on base a lot, none of which is bad. i just think ethier might toss in some homers into the mix and give you a similar ba/obp now.

"welcome to ME, motherf*^*er!" - tim hudson

by guy incognito on Aug 18, 2005 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions

All of those players except for Cabrera

had played in AAA and none of them were called up this late in this season and asked to cut their teeth in a pennant race.

I'm all for unconvential thinking - but I don't think it makes sense to call him to the bigs before he shows that he can hit in AAA. He's playing great ball, but it's not like he's completely outclassing AA.

The next time I slap a guy's ass, can we all just assume it's because I wish I was a baseball player?

by devo on Aug 18, 2005 1:48 PM PDT reply actions

370 the past 15 games???

I'd say that's close to outclassing.

Pitchers in AAA are not a whole lot better than AA. They're older, but not necessarily better.

Lots of players have made a pretty direct leap from AA to the bigs, with little or no AAA time in between.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Aug 18, 2005 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions

370 over 15 games?

That's outclassing? A 15 game hot streak? I guess DJ is in a class all his own then since he had such a similar streak in MLB.

Submit those H.O.F. ballots with DJ's name on them already!

by fadedash on Aug 19, 2005 12:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Just a thought

I'd love to see Barton get called up. Not only do I think he'll do well, but the best part is he'll get a little pro experience leading into next year and he very well could start for us. This will also bring the team a lot of attention and might help build the confidence of the team at the beginning of next year...Trust me Chavvy usually needs it. This may seem far-fetched, but I'd bet it's true. Imagine the coverage the A's will get with Barton doing well both this year and next. Gammons will be all over it with a"told you so" every night. Kurkijan loves young guys and Harold Reynolds is always amazed by the young guys that come up for the A's.

2006 ROY Daric Barton, unless he gets the necessary at bats this year.

by RunRickeyRun on Aug 18, 2005 2:21 PM PDT reply actions

Gotta remember Moneyball...

Not a direct quote but remember in moneyball when Beane was talking about trades and how you can keep things the way they are and have a nice little season....

OR you can say "F&$ it and swing for the fences."
Beane felt Harden could come up and produce right away...and if he feels Barton is ready, he's coming up. Whether that happens or not, who's to say. It's really going to depend on if Beane feels he's ready and will be that missing piece what will have everyone around the league saying "F&$ing A."

Everyone on here seems to worry about the abritration clock too much. This year was supposed to be a "rebuilding year" without being a complete rebuild. That being said, Beane wasn't willing to give up on the season completely but there wasn't quite the need to get to the postseason as in years past. At least not at the start of the season. So why bring up Huston Street and waste a year of arby and possible development if he didn't think this was the A's year? Street was brought because he could compete.

You bring up Barton, he struggles in the final month, fine you send him to AAA next year and he'll probably be a midseason call up in 06. A month with the club isn't going to destroy his development. He's been cruising through the ranks so far, doubt anything will really change. If him jumping straight up from AA somehow ruins his career then he probably isn't the prospect everyone claims he is.

Just my two cent

by Maverick @ Athletics Nation on Aug 18, 2005 2:34 PM PDT reply actions

Want more for Mulder now

I think alot of us just want to get more for Mulder now that is why we want to see Barton called up.

by Zabat on Aug 18, 2005 5:51 PM PDT reply actions

Bring him up, Bring him up

Jay-Z agrees. I want to see my man hit some balls out of the park. I'm sure he'll be fine.
Of course you can't compare anyone to Pujols, but he went from single-A to MLB with only 3 games in AAA, and he still hit 37 homers at the age of 21.

Let's roll the dice. THere's no downside to calling him up. It won't start arb. any earlier, and position players typically don't get psychologically scarred

by H3liCat on Aug 18, 2005 10:56 PM PDT reply actions