Infusion Needed

by DKNJ on Aug 21, 2005 5:12 PM PDT Comment 16 comments

Beane needs to bring up a bat and hope to catch lightning in a bottle. Payton really energized the team when he came over and I think that Barton or Ethier would do the same. Adam Mellhouse is not the answer at DH. Barton will be starting next year so I don't see the harm in bringing him up(should have been this series) and throwing him into a playoff race. His numbers are off the charts in Double A and he almost never Ks(which is why he is a better coice then Ethier).

The good news is that the team is healthy and the pitching looks real strong. Harden's missed time this year should keep his arm fresh.

Macha also has to juggle the lineup. This is pretty apparent. Prospectus killed Grady Little two years ago because the Sox missed their expected run total by a lot because they had their two worst hitters hitting 1 and 2. Normally lineup order is immaterial but in a race this close it is foolhardy not to get Swisher and Ellis up at the top of order. I am very worried that teams have adjusted their D to account for Kendall's power deficiency. Blez made a great point about the 7 infielders and this bears watching.

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Barton in 19 years old!

He's NOT the answer, and the people that are making him out to be one are putting way too much faith in his abilities. He can be a great hitter in a year or two, but he has barely enough experience in A/AA ball to place those kind of expectations on him. Besides, he wouldn't get consistent at-bats up here, and that's what he needs.

As for the lineup: ARGH!!!! I understand Macha wanting to let the young stars learn and leaving Crosby in the 3 hole (though it's driving me nuts to see him there) but Kendall and Kotsay are NOT young stars! What is Macha trying to prove by keeping them at the top of the order?

by nycfan on Aug 21, 2005 5:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Barton is actually 20.

But remember all the great players now that came up when they were in their 20's. Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols, even D-Train was hella young when he was brought up. And all have been dynamic.

I play WarCraft 3 all day so i can get to the A's game faster.

by MoNeYbALL MaGiC on Aug 21, 2005 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He is now 20

His line is .335/.434/.525 with a 29/20 BB/K ratio. He clearly has the best numbers in the A's farm system so that is why I think that he is the best answer. What do they have to lose as the A's current DH's are putting up embarrassing numbers? They can't make a waiver wire trade so if they want to upgrade a vacuum at DH they have to do it inhouse.

His numbers are a better indicator than his age at this point. Remember that a Street call up could have gotten the A's into the playoffs last year. He was also a baby.

by DKNJ on Aug 21, 2005 5:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm starting to think

that maybe you, Oaktoon, and I are the only ones who get this. There is no indicator that Barton would do anything other than hit close to .300/.400/.450, and vastly improve the DH spot. I also agree with you on Swish and Ellis. I think the best lineup is as follows:

Ellis
Swish
Chavy
DJ
Payton
Barton
Croz
Kotsay
Kendall

Payton and Croz both help ensure that Barton gets good pitches to hit, and with the numbers he puts up, he'll offer them protection quickly.

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

by gatling on Aug 21, 2005 8:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Love this lineup

I would flip Crosby and Payton, but otherwise I think it is the best one that the A's could put out there.

There has been absolutely no erosion of his skills upon his first 200 PA in Double A. The point that people seem to be missing is that we are advocating flipping Barton for the Hatteberg/Melhouse/Scutaro/Keilty(righties) DH monster. Either you stick with these guys or you have to make an internal move.

by DKNJ on Aug 21, 2005 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you...

Hatty is done. Kendall and Kotsay are killing us at the top of the order. Bring up Barton and move Kendall and Kotsay down. With this starting rotation, we could go to the playoffs this year! BB just has to minimize the use of guys like Witasick and Kennedy, who along with Kotsay, were responsible for today's disgrace against the Royals.

Rich Harden - Cy Young 2005 & Dan Johnson - ROY 2005!

by FoolshGame22 on Aug 21, 2005 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I'm not going as far

as knocking Witasick and Kennedy. They both struggled this series, but they've been tough otherwise. Kennedy should never come into a game if he doesn't start an inning. He can't handle coming into a situation with runners on. It goes with his being a career starter. If he's run out to begin an inning, he's pretty damn solid.

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

by gatling on Aug 21, 2005 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Barton

Bring him up? Why the hell not? He's raking in AA, and as some have mentioned, his numbers look a lot like Cabrera's at the time, and he was brought up to help a team make the playoffs.

We NEED Barton's bat right now. Bring the guy up. He's a disciplined, professional hitter: he's not going to come up here and flail away. I think we're looking at DJ-like production right out of the gate, with a higher ceiling, of course.

Oaktoon's been right about this: no use being cautious about this guy. No need to wait. We have a spot for him, and he's the real deal.

Billy, get it done.

by Crosbino on Aug 21, 2005 5:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Barton?

I don't think so. He's too green. Remember Van Poppel? I know a pitcher is different than a position player, but Barton is the future of the A's, not the present.

Sniff, Sniff. "Who Fongpay?"

by Fongpay on Aug 21, 2005 8:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do me a favor

Go to thebaseballcube.com and check Van Poppel's career stats. Then after seeing how horrid they were, take into consideration the fact that his contract had more to do with him pitching in the majors than merit. Then check Barton's career minor league numbers. For this year's numbers, try this address: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&did=milb&cid=237

After that, show me any corollation(sp?) between the two. There is no basis for this comparison. None.

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

by gatling on Aug 21, 2005 8:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why would

Barton come up now, he would be ready next year but that's too much pressure in a pennant race and asking him to provide protection is an even biggere problem as the A's don't have a big HR hitter.

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 Aug 21, 2005 9:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He's ready now!

Can you tell me what I don't see in Barton that shows he's not ready? Please don't use his age, because there have been plenty of players his age excel in the majors. Barton wouldn't be counted on to provide protection to anyone in the beginning, but when he's hitting .300, pitchers will try to avoid him, giving the hitter in front of and after him better pitches to hit. Look at the lineup I suggested. Barton has protection from Payton and Croz to start, then he in turn can protect them. It's all part of having a better lineup.

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

by gatling on Aug 21, 2005 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He'll be up in ten days....Relax

They'll call him up Sept. 1st...so what's the rush.

By the way to all of you in the C. Little family...The A's hit a bump. Easy with the sky is falling crap.

Geez, this place is one violent roller coaster!!

by ImissHENDU on Aug 21, 2005 10:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

What's the rush??

Another week like the last and the A's become decided underdogs (my AL playoff odds will have to wait until timorrow due to the two-thread rule. Suffice it to say the A's have dropped) for the postseason.

Another four days and they may be out of contention altogether.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Aug 22, 2005 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Playoff Eligible? Ginter has 2 AB's in August

Who is kidding who? Ginter has been a disaster and is not contributing.....it is a wasted roster spot on a team without a player to carry them...and a weak bench. How long has Hatteberg been playing thru rib issues?

A player that can hit or run would help in tight games. Geez a player that could bunt would have helped yesterday. Somebody needs to take that roster spot prior to the playoff roster cutoff - just in case.

Crosby simply is not a third hitter-he gets the yips the more man on the worse - he hit .100 with the bases loaded and hits like .147 with 2 out. His best situation is no body on and no body out.....not exactly what a 3-hole guy should see much.

by Carerra on Aug 22, 2005 9:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Clearing Waivers

I don't know how accurate this list is, but here it is anyways:

Some players that have reportedly cleared waivers this month:

Tom Glavine, Mike Piazza, Ken Griffey Jr., Sean Casey, Pedro Martinez, Carlos Beltran, Kris Benson, Doug Mientkiewicz, Victor Zambrano, Danny Graves, Miguel Cairo, Ramon Castro, Cliff Floyd, Jorge Posada, Shawn Chacon, Tony Womack, Al Leiter, Felix Rodriguez, Wayne Franklin, Felix Escalona, Aaron Small, John Flaherty, Mike Sweeney, Sammy Sosa, Steve Kline, Ryan Vogelsong, Josh Fogg, Jason Christiansen, Edgardo Alfonzo, Scott Schoeneweis, Justin Speier, LaTroy Hawkins, Duaner Sanchez, Ramon Ortiz, Joe Mays, Tomo Ohka, Jose Lima, Bruce Chen, Joel Pineiro, Braden Looper, Odalis Perez, Derek Lowe, Frank Catalanotto, Dustan Mohr, Todd Hollandsworth, Todd Walker, 18 Brewers, Rafael Palmeiro, Rich Aurilia and about 250 others...

Some players that have reportedly not cleared waivers this month:

Jamie Moyer, Mike Cameron, Aaron Heilman, Jose Reyes, David Wright, Roberto Hernandez, Chris Woodward, Marlon Anderson, Kaz Matsui, Brian Shouse, Brett Tomko, Rob Macowiak, John Grabow, Bill Mueller, Mike Myers, Bronson Arroyo, Kevin Youkilis, Billy Wagner, B.J. Ryan, Ben Sheets, Matt Wise, Eddie Guardado, Miguel Batista, Russell Branyan, Brady Clark, Doug Davis, Carlos Lee, Lyle Overbay, Matt Treanor, Julio Lugo

http://www.mlb4u.com/rumors.html

Let's Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Aug 22, 2005 10:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs