Link Dump 1/4 : Nevermind

by Sharon on Jan 4, 2006 10:58 AM PST

Murray Chass writes that A-Rod has changed his mind and will play for the United States in the WBC. He should have picked a team and stuck with that decision from the beginning, but unfortunately he set himself up for jokes and even more hateful comments by baseball fans. Personally...I DON'T CARE.

The Mets and Dodgers are close to finalizing a trade.

Unable to complete a deal for Tampa Bay's Danys Baez, the Mets have turned West to fill their void for a setup man. According to officials from two major-league clubs, the Mets had all but finalized a trade to land Duaner Sanchez from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In return for Sanchez, a 26-year-old righthander, the Mets will surrender righthander Jae Seo, the officials said. The trade will probably be announced by the end of this week.

Baseball By The Numbers

"I'm afraid to actually use PECOTA in a column," Stark says, "because I don't know if it's reached the level where you can casually drop it into baseball literature without the average fan saying, 'What is he talking about?' And you can't explain it.

"Another really interesting stat I'm familiar with is VORP. Value Over Replacement Player [in a nutshell: the number of runs contributed beyond what a replacement-level player would contribute to a team]. You can explain that to people. But PECOTA, how'd you explain that to people between commas?"

The White Sox are believers. According to spokesman Scott Reifert, PECOTA is one of several systems the team uses. He says the Sox's baseball operations people consider it "one of the top couple of projection systems out there." A Cubs spokesman said that the club uses a projection system, but declined to be specific. I laughed when I read the Cubs use a projection system.

The Mets, Rangers, and Padres are interested in Bret Boone.

...it's likely that Boone will sign a minor-league deal with one of the three clubs and get an invitation to spring training, the source said.

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cubs

i wonder what their projection system thinks of corey patterson...

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jan 4, 2006 11:11 AM PST reply actions

Projection system

Maybe they were referring to their overhead projector

by ArakSOT on Jan 4, 2006 11:14 AM PST up reply actions

yeah

The system rates players on how well they can carry one up a flight of icy stairs.

I guess Neifi Perez must've done pretty well; I suppose the Cubs' system minimizes OBP and maximizes overall crapiness.

by Mark H on Jan 4, 2006 11:17 AM PST up reply actions

The Cubs' projection system ...

... consists of a flashlight and Dusty making a bunny with his hands.

@('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 4, 2006 11:18 AM PST up reply actions

You may laugh...

..but that's one of Dusty's most important jobs. After all, by the time he's finished with his pitching staff, all they have hanging off their shoulders are bloodied stumps.

And have you ever tried to make a shadow bunny with a stump? No. Didn't think so.

by Ozzz on Jan 4, 2006 11:21 AM PST up reply actions

Hey, kids!

It's 'Stumpy,' the Headless Rabbit!

@('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 4, 2006 12:56 PM PST up reply actions

Bret Boone

Ah how the mighty annoying have fallen. I wonder if he'll still wear that goofy smirk when he comes up to bat for Binghamton.

by Mark H on Jan 4, 2006 11:15 AM PST reply actions

Or the frosted hair

Now THIS is Billy Ball

by Masaryk on Jan 4, 2006 12:39 PM PST up reply actions

the year in bunting

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/sacrificing-2005-redux/

by Apricot on Jan 4, 2006 11:19 AM PST reply actions

Bat flips at spring training: Zero.

Tears after spring training: 793.

One less steroid abuser in the Major Leagues: Priceless.

by Ozzz on Jan 4, 2006 11:19 AM PST reply actions

OT-

'Hero' cat apparently dials 911 to help owner.

"Hello?"
"Meow."
"It's Baxter!"

by Jennifer on Jan 4, 2006 11:28 AM PST reply actions

favorite part of that story

is that they actually tried to train it to dial 911 but they weren't sure it remembered.

Hell, we can barely get the cat to crap in the litter box. They got ambitious cat owners over there.

by Apricot on Jan 4, 2006 12:14 PM PST up reply actions

THE CAT IS #1!

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/zonis/swf/%231.swf

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 12:24 PM PST up reply actions

Better link

http://tinyurl.com/aogyg

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 12:26 PM PST up reply actions

lets try this again

http://tinyurl.com/aogyg

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 12:28 PM PST up reply actions

How do you train a cat to call 911?

"Okay, Mr. Snuggles. We're going to practice emergency procedures. We'll start small with calling 911, then work our way up to a tracheotomy and the defibrillator. Now, if I don't get out of bed one morning, don't panic. Let's rehearse a situation. 'AH! Mr. Snuggles, Mr. Snuggles! <thud><gurgle, gurgle>' What do you do?"

"Meow."

"Excellent. Remember, 911 is only for emergencies."

by Jennifer on Jan 4, 2006 12:49 PM PST up reply actions

We need to train a cat ...

... to hit Harden's snooze button for him.

@('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 4, 2006 12:57 PM PST up reply actions

We don't need a cat for that...

I can do it.

"I like Band Camp. He hits things." ~ Kyli (9/24/05)

by AsGirl on Jan 4, 2006 1:19 PM PST up reply actions

you do know that ...

... I didn't mean "hit Harden's snooze button" as a euphemism, right?

@('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 4, 2006 2:38 PM PST up reply actions

<Takes mind out of gutter>

Really? Bummer.

"I like Band Camp. He hits things." ~ Kyli (9/24/05)

by AsGirl on Jan 4, 2006 2:47 PM PST up reply actions

C'mon over with me and LCJ ...

... and put your head in the sand!

@('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 4, 2006 3:04 PM PST up reply actions

Have you guys

found any gritty players that the A's could use?

Bright moments!

by andeux on Jan 4, 2006 3:09 PM PST up reply actions

<Annika sorenstam venereal disease>

@('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 4, 2006 3:26 PM PST up reply actions

My favorite part of the story ...

... is picturing the national-security spooks at the NSA monitoring the call.

"'Meow'?!? What the hell kind of encryption is that? My god, Osama's light-years ahead of our code-breaking skilz!"

@('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 4, 2006 12:17 PM PST up reply actions

meow twice if ur in Milwuakee

is this wilt chamberlain?!

"Baseball is like church, many attend, few understand" - Leo Durocher

by gWiLiKeRzZz on Jan 4, 2006 12:20 PM PST up reply actions

I think the cat dragged the guy out of his chair

...just so he could show off by calling 911. Sneaky little cuss.

I liked this in the sidebar on that story's page:
"* Woman 'marries' dolphin
Jan. 3: Sharon Tendler, an eccentric British millionaire, married the love of her life -- a 35-year-old dolphin named Cindy -- at an Israeli resort."

Sharon & Cindy? Don't you have to go to Canada or the UK to legally marry a lesbian dolphin?

"Don't go getting all Alexander Haig on me," Beane told Forst.

by Poppy on Jan 4, 2006 1:12 PM PST up reply actions

Did you read any of the

Most Peculiar stories of 2005?

by Jennifer on Jan 4, 2006 1:34 PM PST up reply actions

I had read...

...about the python, and the Halloween not-decoration... bleh...

"Don't go getting all Alexander Haig on me," Beane told Forst.

by Poppy on Jan 4, 2006 1:49 PM PST up reply actions

Chad Gaudin

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=304&p=9&c=2&cid=484987&nid=2348819&fhn=1&refid= 4742

Having a good winter:
11 starts, going 4-3 with a 2.84 ERA in 66.2 innings. He allowed only 65 hits and struck out 53 while walking 18.

Why don't they just lick their fingers? -- http://oaklandprospects.blogspot.com/

by novaoakland on Jan 4, 2006 11:39 AM PST reply actions

Craig Wilson available

I don't think this got discussed yesterday, but with the Pirates' signing of Jeromy Burnitz, Craig Wilson is probably on the trading block.

If the A's don't want to take a chance on Frank Thomas' health, I think Wilson would be a good choice for the last roster spot. He kills left-handers (.301/.409/.558 career) and his numbers against righties are still respectable (.256/.346/.462) so he's basically a better version of Eric Byrnes. The downside is lots of strikeouts, and no defensive value, but, like Thomas, I think he'd make a nice final piece to the lineup we already have.

His salary will be about $4 million (arb eligible), and he could probably be acquired fairly cheaply.

Bright moments!

by andeux on Jan 4, 2006 11:55 AM PST reply actions

I think that is an interesting idea

Pittsburgh, I believe, has so many holes that surely we could fill in something. Craig Wilson would be a nice addition.

"Put a Milo on him." -Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on Jan 4, 2006 12:14 PM PST up reply actions

As long as it's not Jack Wilson...

The resulting cat fight over him between Jennifer and Sharon would be, uh, cataclysmic.(pun intended)

"HRs by second basemen are sexy. They're rare and exotic." -Kyli

by McFood on Jan 4, 2006 1:39 PM PST up reply actions

Kielty

Doesn't Kielty KILL lefthanders to a similar clip?

I think we're looking at a Kielty/DJ platoon @ DH

Let's Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Jan 4, 2006 1:46 PM PST up reply actions

The DH Platoon

The DH Platoon (700 At-Bats):

Kielty vs. Lefthanded Pitching (plus, some righthanded pitching) - 20% = 140 AB's
Johnson vs. Righthanded Pitching - 50% = 350 AB's
Kotsay/Payton/Bradley/Swisher - 20% = 140 AB's
Chavez - 5% = 35 AB's
Others - 5% = 35 AB's

All things considered, this might be a better alternative than Frank Thomas.

Let's Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Jan 4, 2006 1:56 PM PST up reply actions

Kielty

Kielty's career numbers are .293/.387/.499 vs LHP, and .230/.337/.357 vs RHP.
They're similar players, but Wilson has the clear edge in power.

I'd be reasonably happy if we went in to the season with the lineup as it is, but still think it would be worth it to use the last roster spot for someone like Wilson or Thomas who would provide a little more offense.

Bright moments!

by andeux on Jan 4, 2006 1:59 PM PST up reply actions

DJ platoon?

Look at DJ's splits. He's good against RHP and LHP:



              G       AB      R     H     2B     3B     HR     RBI     BB     K     SB     CS     AVG     OBP      SLG      OPS      

 vs. Left    64       99     15     28      6     0      2     22     20     19     0     0     .283     .395     .404     .799      

 vs. Right   109     276     39     75     15     0     13     36     30     33     0     1     .272     .339     .467     .806

The Pastime

by Ryan Armbrust on Jan 4, 2006 2:17 PM PST up reply actions

DJ is a part of the DH Platoon

I agree...I would like to see DJ get about 500 AB's this season. Another 150 AB's while playing 1B should be doable. Swisher will still play some outfield to spell the Payton/Kotsay/Bradley trio.

Let's Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Jan 4, 2006 3:48 PM PST up reply actions

Anaheim grandstanding

This is pretty hilarious.

The city of Anaheim will not refurbish or replace Angel Stadium if the team continues to affiliate itself with Los Angeles and will expect the team to move to Los Angeles in 11 years, according to a court filing by city attorneys.
...
The city argues that permitting the Angels "to adopt the Los Angeles name and affiliate with Los Angeles for the next 11 years will, if anything, facilitate a move to Los Angeles in 2017, after more than a decade of paving the way by promoting Los Angeles and (becoming) LA's team."

The city also contends it did not accede to the Los Angeles Rams' demands before the team left for St. Louis "largely because this team with another city's name did not engender the loyalty or the economic return to justify the necessary concessions."

Bright moments!

by andeux on Jan 4, 2006 12:12 PM PST reply actions

Power to 'em.

I can't blame Anaheim for talking like that. It's nice to see.

"Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic." -Robert S. Wieder

by Kyli on Jan 4, 2006 12:50 PM PST up reply actions

Boone

Available, that is nothing new but he has shown some power but he has to play better as even Seattle released him.

The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.-W. M. Lewis

by doublehustle22 on Jan 4, 2006 12:16 PM PST reply actions

Brett Boone can take his bat flip

and flip it where the sun don't shine...

(or shines too much, if you belive the Vegas incident)

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 12:28 PM PST up reply actions

The Vegas incident?

...enquiring minds want to know!

"Macha, Howe...whatever." --salb918

by BruceBochte on Jan 4, 2006 2:18 PM PST up reply actions

Vegas Incident

<i>Bret Boone rolled a cart at Wynn's $500-a-round golf course, then when asked to remove his feet from the bar in the Country Club Grill afterward, turned belligerent and said "Make me!" prompting a call for security.

He also was said to have fallen off a stool, at which time friends escorted him out before security arrived.

...

"It's Star magazine stuff," said the former Mariner. "I feel like I'm Paris Hilton."

</i>

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 2:30 PM PST up reply actions

I hate this damn thing

keeps reverting to plane text...

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 2:30 PM PST up reply actions

Wow, maybe he is addicted to flipping things...

...bats, golf carts. After his playing career ends at least we know he's fully qualified to flip burgers!

"Macha, Howe...whatever." --salb918

by BruceBochte on Jan 4, 2006 2:41 PM PST up reply actions

Batflip signs with Mets

Hypothetically, if Reyez goes down, does that mean they will have a Kaz Matsui and Brett Boone DP Combination?

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 12:32 PM PST reply actions

ahh

Kaweah did Jim Callis answer any questions about the A's in his chat? This no insider thing is killing me.

RIP Bill King "By the Beard of Zeus!" "I don't know if you heard me counting. I did over a thousand"

by ohad on Jan 4, 2006 12:45 PM PST reply actions

I can answer that...

Here you go ohad:

proxl (O-town): How far away is Daric Barton?

SportsNation Jim Callis: I think you'll see him in Oakland at some point in 2006. There's no question he can hit, though there are some mild concerns about his power and some stronger concerns about his position.

Jeff (Iowa): Jim, does Shane Komine make the A's opening day roster?

SportsNation Jim Callis: I think he does, out of the bullpen. Nice comeback story for the guy who put Nebraska baseball on the map.

The Pastime

by Ryan Armbrust on Jan 4, 2006 1:17 PM PST up reply actions

Gee thanks Jim

I've literally read both those things in like three different chats, haha.

RIP Bill King "By the Beard of Zeus!" "I don't know if you heard me counting. I did over a thousand"

by ohad on Jan 4, 2006 3:12 PM PST up reply actions

A's rotation

Urban on our pitchers

Article includes this quote from Kendall: "Our rotation looks incredible right now," veteran catcher Jason Kendall said the day Oakland added Loaiza. "Every fifth day there's going to be a stud going out there for us."

Only every fifth day??? Sheesh, Jason! Maybe you meant "Every day there'll be one of five studs..."?

{picks nits}

"Don't go getting all Alexander Haig on me," Beane told Forst.

by Poppy on Jan 4, 2006 2:10 PM PST reply actions

that's classic

The Pastime

by Ryan Armbrust on Jan 4, 2006 2:18 PM PST up reply actions

Every fifth day?

Wow. Who is he calling a non-stud? It better not be Zeet, the Canadian, Hairball, or Cucpakes.

"I like Band Camp. He hits things." ~ Kyli (9/24/05)

by AsGirl on Jan 4, 2006 2:29 PM PST up reply actions

naaaaaaaaah...

He knows they're all studs... it was just a speako... LOL

"Don't go getting all Alexander Haig on me," Beane told Forst.

by Poppy on Jan 4, 2006 2:36 PM PST up reply actions

It is articles like that

That make me check the clock to see how long until the season starts!

I am WAY too excited for there to still be 89 days until Opening Day!!

"Happy Holiday's Billy Beane!" - Mychael Urban

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Jan 4, 2006 2:56 PM PST up reply actions

you're checking on a clock already?

dang, I'm still using a calendar! Should I use a clock? Does that make the offseason go faster?

"Don't go getting all Alexander Haig on me," Beane told Forst.

by Poppy on Jan 4, 2006 3:24 PM PST up reply actions

No it makes it worse!

The numbers are just too big!!

What I don't understand is how the season and the off-season are more or less the same amount of time (give or take a couple weeks based on post-season appearances) and yet, the Off-Season FEELS soooooooooo much longer!! I just don't get it!

"Happy Holiday's Billy Beane!" - Mychael Urban

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Jan 4, 2006 3:32 PM PST up reply actions

FanFest will make it worse this year...

...because it's too early! After getting that little taste of baseball environment at FanFest, the rest of the offseason just draaaaaaaaags by.

My Horribly Ungrateful Gift Recipient moment this Christmas: my husband surprised me with weekend reservations at an inn on the coast... and after being honestly happy with the surprise, I thought "Hey wait a minute... for about the same amount, he could have surprised me with a Spring Training trip..."

"Don't go getting all Alexander Haig on me," Beane told Forst.

by Poppy on Jan 4, 2006 4:02 PM PST up reply actions

Oh my gosh!

You know you are an A's fan when you are disappointed that a romantic weekend away with your husband does NOT include Spring Training!

"Happy Holiday's Billy Beane!" - Mychael Urban

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Jan 4, 2006 4:13 PM PST up reply actions

yeah, and it'll be the beginning of the end...

...if he catches me at FanFest trying to run into players and not bounce off... ;)

"Don't go getting all Alexander Haig on me," Beane told Forst.

by Poppy on Jan 4, 2006 4:25 PM PST up reply actions

In signifigant world news...

Sharon suffers a stroke...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/01/04/sharon/index.html

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 2:32 PM PST reply actions

Not to be confused

with Sharon

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 2:34 PM PST up reply actions

Oh...

you mean The Little Mermaid sharon.

"HRs by second basemen are sexy. They're rare and exotic." -Kyli

by McFood on Jan 4, 2006 3:43 PM PST up reply actions

Sharon

You mean the AN'er who posted this diary, or the eccentric British millionaire who married her pet dolphin?

Oh, that Sharon.

Bright moments!

by andeux on Jan 4, 2006 2:35 PM PST up reply actions

One of those times

when a sig can add a (presumably unintended) coda.

by green star oakland on Jan 4, 2006 3:01 PM PST up reply actions

It never occurred to me to make that a hard O ...

Check out some awesome music ...

by devo on Jan 4, 2006 4:22 PM PST up reply actions

Mets sign Boone

minor league deal

also they trade Soe to the blew crue

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AnSPS.XOuh3WcnfY8jDVLV4RvLYF?slug=ap-mets-boone&prov=ap&am p;type=lgns

"Baseball is like church, many attend, few understand" - Leo Durocher

by gWiLiKeRzZz on Jan 4, 2006 4:26 PM PST reply actions

Has anyone heard....

"Perfect Situation" by Weezer? I'm listening to it and there's this line that goes "Here's the pitch, slow and straight. All I have to do is swing and I'm a hero...but I'm a zero." Kendall, anyone?

by Squeaky on Jan 4, 2006 6:10 PM PST reply actions

Yes I have

I actually listened to the album yesterday. It's lyrically a little cringe-inducing, but that's a pretty cool song. I much prefer the album version to the radio version.

Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Jan 4, 2006 10:13 PM PST up reply actions