Who should replace Mark Ellis on playoff Roster?

by gdub171 on Oct 6, 2006 11:57 PM PDT Comment 11 comments

The A's recently acknowledged that they are working out three players to take over sigh injured Mark Ellis.

Could Keith Be Un-Ginterized?

According to the SF Chronicle:

The A's are investigating the possibility of adding Keith Ginter to the ALCS roster to replace the injured Mark Ellis even though the infielder declared free agency after the minor-league season was over. Both the players' union and the commissioner's office have given Oakland the go-ahead to do so if Ginter receives a 2007 contract.

Ginter, who made $1 million while spending the entire season at Triple-A Sacramento, said he was told this situation never has arisen before. He'll report to the A's Papago Park complex today and hit in an instructional league game while waiting to see what the team decides. He hasn't played in the big leagues since the A's called him up in September 2005.

"I said if they want me, I'm ready,'' Ginter said by phone. "It would be crazy, but I'd be all for it. It's kind of funny how things work out.''

Minor-leaguers Mark Kiger and Kevin Melillo remain possibilities; the A's are working them out in Phoenix, too.

Poll

Who do you want to replace Mark Ellis on the playoff Roster?

Keith Ginter

33 votes

Kevin Mellilo

26 votes

Mark Kiger

4 votes

Or Fire Mach-errrr.... Macha for Coach of the Year!

5 votes

68 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 11 comments

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Comments

prbly ginter

if he signs for cheap enough. otherwise mellilo. Someone with experience and the ability to play multiple positions is favorable.

by jasonlbe on Oct 7, 2006 1:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Kiger = Moneyball

Kiger is from the famous Moneyball draft of Swisher, Blanton, Teahan and Brown. He can play 2B, SS, and 3B, so at least he gives us some defense. Probably not much bat, but Ginter didn't distinguish himself at that either and his fielding has been described by the coaching staff as average.

I think they'll take Kiger.

by Dann on Oct 9, 2006 2:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Questions

I think that Ginter is not in the A's plans for 2007 and vice versa. Ideally they need to find a way to sign the contract but be able to walk away from it. I assume that a major league contract would mean guaranteed money but what about a minor league contract? Perhaps he can sign a minor league deal for 2007, show up to the first day of camp, be released by the A's and free to sign with whoever he thinks he matches up well with.

The other question is do the A's have to add him to the 40 man roster to have him play in the ALCS? I mean, one of the reasons that they never called him up during the season was that they did not want to lose a prospect off the 40 man roster.

by Larry E on Oct 7, 2006 6:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Didn't Crosby say he'd be ready by the ALCS

Wouldn't he technicaly take the spot held by Ellis? How about Crosby at short and Scutaro at second? I'd be kind of nervous about Crosby comming of the DL strait into such a crucial series though.

by enz on Oct 7, 2006 7:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Crosby won't be ready

He's likely out for the rest of the year regardless. His back got worse in Minnesota and he's stopped doing rotational exercises.

by alamedagirl on Oct 7, 2006 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This cannot be posted enough....

"It took eight hours...seven-and-a-half to find the heart." -- Steve McCatty on Charlie Finley's heart surgery.

by GreenNGoldSooner on Oct 7, 2006 8:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If Ginter signs

would he start, or backup Jimenez?

by matthias on Oct 7, 2006 9:06 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't see signing Ginter for '07

when he would really be the last guy on the bench and likely to play only in emergencies.

by boilerdan on Oct 7, 2006 10:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he'd be a good PH

You could always use one in the playoffs, him batting #'s were good in AAA. I originally through Melillo, but having a rookie come up for the playoffs would be either extremely tough for him, or he'd be free and easy and play out of his mind.

"I see Milton Bradley being the Oaktown player that breaks out this year." breaks out... breaks out of where? jail?

by gdub171 on Oct 7, 2006 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's an interesting negotiating situation

Ginter obviously wants another shot at the major leagues and it doesn't look like Oakland has any plans for him there. That's why he was headed for the free-agent market.

But right now, due to our lack of alternatives, he's our best option for 2B, even as a backup. He knows that, and it gives him some leverage. Maybe he could try to use it to wangle that major-league contract he wants. On the other hand, is he really going to negotiate himself out of a good shot at the World Series? That's Beane's leverage, and they both know that, too.

I think both sides want to get a deal done, and so they will. With Ellis and Chavez on the team, Ginter has no realistic chance of being a starter in Oakland in 2007. That's a dead end for him and he and Beane both know it. On the other hand, there's no harm in pretending, so long as it can be gotten out of during the off-season. Beane wouldn't object to signing Ginter to a major-league contract in order to have him be backup 2B in the playoffs right now; all he cares about is (1) how easily the contract can be traded, and (2) how much salary he'd have to eat if he has to walk away from it.

The result, I predict, is Ginter gets a modest one-year contract, with the provision that he becomes a free agent if he doesn't make the big-league roster. Then some time next spring that contract is quietly traded.

As for playing time. I think Jimenez is still officially the starter, but I think Ginter could get a start, too. If he looks good, he can earn his spot for the next game. (As an added bonus, if Ginter looks good in the playoffs, that enhances his tradeability.)

"...but we're also always open to hearing about other sandwiches if it can make our lunch better." -- Nico, channeling Billy Beane

by iglew on Oct 7, 2006 10:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

ginter has nothing to lose and everything to gain

If he signs a reasonable deal, He's back on the Roster with the entire baseball world evaluating him, even if he just pinch hits and pinch runs. If he catches a little lightning in a bottle, he adds to his value. He also picks up shares for whatever series he's in.
I'd have to think they could come to some kind of agreement like Major league minimum for 2007 with mutual buyout for $100K. (and the oral agreement that his agent is free to shop him around. He could end up picking up over $200,000 counting playoff shares and bonuses for a couple weeks of work, and get his name back on the radar, plus, it would be fun!

by connie mack on Oct 7, 2006 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs