Who to call up IF Johnson is sent down to AAA

by AsFanInLA on Apr 25, 2006 9:45 AM PDT

There has been a lot of talk about possibly sending DJ down to work out his swing due to his horrible start. I am not really arguing the merits of that move as much as I want to consider, who would we bring up in such a case?

First, I do not think we will bring up Daric Barton. BB does not want to bring him up too soon, hurt his confidence and slow his progression. Also, BB does not want to start his clock any earlier then he has to, and right now he does not HAVE to.

So who? First thing to remember for those people advocating we move Swisher to first and call up an outfielder.... we still need a back up 1Bmen. The only person on the entire roster that has played an MLB game at 1B is Thomas (and hell will freeze over before we put FT in the field) and Melhuse (a grand total of 6 games). So, unless the minor league OF can play some 1B, that is very important to consider.

The solution? Well, the easy solution is to call up a 1Bmen, but since that is Barton currently at AAA, that is not the current solution. We could buy Perez a 1Bmen glove and turn Wash loose on him, but that might be scary already into the season. Here is what I would like to do (and I have not heard it mentioned yet). Lets call up a 3rd catcher and let Melhuse get some at bats at first base. We can see what Melhuse would do with some semi-regular time (maybe some sort of time split with Payton), and not have to worry about not having a backup catcher. Also, on days we play Payton, we would have 2 catchers on the bench, maybe making it more possible to pinch hit for certain DP machines (you know who you are). It would seem that Brown would be the likely person to call up to fill that role, and it would be nice to get him a taste of the bigs, even if it is just for long enough for DJ to get his groove back.

Again, not advocating sending DJ down persay, but if we do I think this would be the best way to do it. Thoughts?

(By the way, this is my first AN diary so be kind -- or if not kind at least funny. Also, even if just for pity, please at least one response or I might have to send myself back to the AN minor leagues -- would that be the espn chats, or <gasp> Halo Heaven?)

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Welcome to AN!

But why not just move Swisher to 1b, and have the outfield consist of payton/kielty, Kotsay and Bradley?

"Put a Milo on him." -Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on Apr 25, 2006 9:49 AM PDT 0 recs

Yeah

That's the only way to go. Swisher makes a great defensive 1B, and Payton can go yard and is awesome in the field, and it would give us the flexibility to bring up one of those outfield options who is having a great time of it in AA right now (IE: not Kielty).

Don't you miss the days of martinis and greenies?

by Ozzz on Apr 25, 2006 11:37 AM PDT up 0 recs

AA=AAA

Typo alert.

Don't you miss the days of martinis and greenies?

by Ozzz on Apr 25, 2006 11:37 AM PDT up 0 recs

Kielty

Kielty is the obvious answer to me. He has played a little bit of first base and he is a player that we would not have to worry about hampering with not giving him at bats.

"Mommy and Daddy are going to take a nap before the baseball game starts..."

by Athletics fan and runner on Apr 25, 2006 9:52 AM PDT 0 recs

and

obviously Swish would be the everyday 1B.

"Mommy and Daddy are going to take a nap before the baseball game starts..."

by Athletics fan and runner on Apr 25, 2006 9:53 AM PDT up 0 recs

Yes Swisher the everyday 1Bmen

But I still think an extra catcher is much more valuable then another OF at this point (and I forgot that Kielty played some 1B -- thanks for the reminder)

by AsFanInLA on Apr 25, 2006 10:01 AM PDT 0 recs

Well, if it were up to me...

I would bring in the best AAA hitter (minus Barton) that can play either LF or 1B. Melhuse is competant enough to fill in at 1B here and there to give Swish a day off as needed. If a lengthy injury were to occur, we could always call up a long term solution.

Brown would be a possible solution or how about that Scott McClain guy that was raking in ST? Can Ginter play some 1B/LF - maybe we can get some production out of that huge salary he's sucking up? Nah, that's not possible.

"Do you ever get down on your knees and thank God you know me and have access to my dementia?" - George Costanza

by Captain on Apr 25, 2006 10:03 AM PDT 0 recs

mccain and ginter

mccain and ginter are not on the 40 man roster. I really doubt that they would be called up because of that.

"Mommy and Daddy are going to take a nap before the baseball game starts..."

by Athletics fan and runner on Apr 25, 2006 10:12 AM PDT up 0 recs

Yup, my mistake.

"Do you ever get down on your knees and thank God you know me and have access to my dementia?" - George Costanza

by Captain on Apr 25, 2006 10:15 AM PDT up 0 recs

If we are talking of sending someone down

We really should be discussing Perez. I can't stand seeing that guy at the plate. Everything about his approach bugs me. From the Wide stance to his weird arm twitch to his .000 average and 7 SO!! Not to mention, he just doesn't compare to Bobby or Scutaro when it comes to Defense. I was so relieved when Scutaro came in the game yesterday. And what does he do that Perez couldn't? He got a HIT in his first AB!

"Now, I'm not the guy who's in trouble, it's the guy on the mound who's in trouble.'' Swisher Pics

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Apr 25, 2006 10:04 AM PDT 0 recs

the larger sample size

the larger sample size says that perez is a good hitter. I would still bank on that.

"Mommy and Daddy are going to take a nap before the baseball game starts..."

by Athletics fan and runner on Apr 25, 2006 10:11 AM PDT up 0 recs

Antionio Ginter or Kieth Perez

you make the call.

English 101: Remedial Kick-Ass
"Cause only one language kicks ass, and that's the one we're teaching!"

by Zonis on Apr 25, 2006 10:12 AM PDT up 0 recs

Cmon..the most AB's

Antonio has had in any game is 3. There is no way to get any rhythem when you get 2 AB's every 3-4 days. We know he can hit, but without playing time, it is not easy to do. Cut him some slack.

And as for D....Scutaro sure didnt look good last night bouncing a throw with 2 outs ot bring one of the best power hitters in baseball to the plate.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Apr 25, 2006 10:13 AM PDT up 0 recs

perez isn't as bad as he looks right now

i watched him in spring training and he was pretty impressive. i'd give the guy a chance to show what he can do.

by gotgreen on Apr 25, 2006 10:14 AM PDT up 0 recs

I have to agree

Being in LA, I have seen my share of Dodger games (I know kill me now) but Perez could really hit while he was down here. Getting your at bats 1 at a time is not a way to show how good you can hit (see Melhuse). Last year Ginter was given a chance to start quite a few games, before Ellis eventually took the job. Tough to judge a guy on 3-4 at bats per week.

by AsFanInLA on Apr 25, 2006 10:16 AM PDT up 0 recs

You forgot to mention...

...that he's wearing Tejada's old #!

"If you're going to wear #4, you've got to play like #4!"

"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King

by Gerard on Apr 25, 2006 10:26 AM PDT up 0 recs

cmon BCG

you were all upset when A's fans were baggin on DJ at the A's game, and your doin the same thing.

Its not like Perez is a starter, where DJ is supposed to be our everyday 1B.

Bill Stoneman is about to be offered three seasons of a right-handed version of Vladimir Guerrero - Rev Halofan

by pickinmachine on Apr 25, 2006 10:54 AM PDT up 0 recs

That is completely different

That guy was ragging on DJ with false information. He had no idea what he was talking about. If he had been saying that stuff two days prior, I wouldn't have thought twice about it. That guy was sitting there spitting bull all day long and what he said about DJ was just the last I could stand.

With Perez, I am stating fact. He has a .000 BA and 7 SO. That is Fact! I don't mind people talking crap if they have accurate information to support their position.

As for my position on Perez, I understand that it is a small sample size and what not. And I always try to remain positive and give players the benifit of the doubt. But every time he goes out there to play, he does something that sends doubt into my mind, more often than not.

My point is, IF we are going to be talking about sending someone down, why not discuss Perez. At the moment, he is the only one, If there is someone, who deserves it in my mind. That is all I am saying.

"Now, I'm not the guy who's in trouble, it's the guy on the mound who's in trouble.'' Swisher Pics

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Apr 25, 2006 11:26 AM PDT up 0 recs

whether you like him or not ...

... Perez isn't going to be sent down for a 1B/OF/DH, since we need 2 backup IFs. If Perez is to be sent down, we'd need to be bringing up Ginter (who's not on the 40-man, IIRC) or one of the kids before they're ready (unlikely).

Those people aren't drinking the Kool-Aid, they're sucking it from a spigot! @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 25, 2006 11:29 AM PDT up 0 recs

Why not discuss Perez?

Because the reason for sending someone down would be for them to figure out their swing in relative obscurity for a while. Perez isn't the one we need firing on all cylinders. DJ is. And DJ has had about 35 more AB's to figure it out than Perez has.

That's why you drop DJ and leave Perez up. Because Perez is defensive depth, while DJ is a non-producing starting slot.

Don't you miss the days of martinis and greenies?

by Ozzz on Apr 25, 2006 11:41 AM PDT up 0 recs

exactly

Perez hitting as a backup is a bonus, but not essential to the success of this club. DJ hitting as a starter is essential to the teams success.

Bill Stoneman is about to be offered three seasons of a right-handed version of Vladimir Guerrero - Rev Halofan

by pickinmachine on Apr 25, 2006 12:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

yeah

Im sure the guy was an idiot. I'm only ribbing you because DJ is one of your "boys" where Perez clearly is NOT!

Bill Stoneman is about to be offered three seasons of a right-handed version of Vladimir Guerrero - Rev Halofan

by pickinmachine on Apr 25, 2006 12:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

Someone...

should start a "Perez for Prez" fanclub.

"I think the Coliseum is... comfy. Not state-of-the-art, not trendy, not chic, just comfy. It matches my wardrobe." - poppy

by McFood on Apr 25, 2006 12:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

I really disagree

Scoot is barely hitting his weight himself, and he doesn't provide nearly the potential pop that Perez does. On a team that's really lacking offense, you sometimes have to go with the guy who has the better shot of being a productive hitter. Perez may be worse defensively, by Scoot has made a couple of bad throws to first that I can remember.

No one outside of Swish or Eric is hitting particularly well, and to judge Perez based on a handful of at bats is completely unfair. As it is, Bobby will be back soon and hopefully can play a significant stretch of time without injury.

Really, we should just be hoping that Bobby starts to actually hit, because a .546 OPS totally overshadows the conversation about who his backup should be. Get healthy and start raking, Bobby!

by nycfan on Apr 25, 2006 10:56 AM PDT up 0 recs

i love crosby

but he better not be hitting third when he comes back!

by gotgreen on Apr 25, 2006 10:57 AM PDT up 0 recs

There's absolutely no logical explanation

for him to bat third, so if he does we can only conclude that Macha is not actually watching any of Crosby's at bats this year.

by nycfan on Apr 25, 2006 10:59 AM PDT up 0 recs

Scoot has made some absolutely fantastic...

defensive plays as well as a few errors. Everybody makes a few errors a year, though. I think Scoot is well above average defensively.

"I think the Coliseum is... comfy. Not state-of-the-art, not trendy, not chic, just comfy. It matches my wardrobe." - poppy

by McFood on Apr 25, 2006 11:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

Spreading the wood

It's completely obvious to EVERY A's fan on this website that he shouldn't bat third so I agree too.

Why doesn't anyone ever say something about his one-dimensional pull swing because the guy is just failing at spreading the ball around? I bet you when he starts doing so we will not be worried about the lineup nearly as much. OH WAIT... yes we will if he is still batting in that slot!

Gooooo A's!!!!

"If you're surprised by getting the job done, that means you didn't expect it out of yourself." -Huston Street

by ohtobe21likehuston on Apr 25, 2006 4:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

What Perez Pop? His career SLG is worse.

Scutaro has a higher career SLG.
What we do know is occasionally Scutaro wins games. We know he has the same RBI's this year as Ellis in half as many AB's. He has a double and two triples. Oh and he has already won games for the A's this year that merited mention in the NY Times.

Perez has done nothing --nothing at all. BA = .000 7K's in 12 AB's is nothing special. Add that he doesn't know the league or the pitchers and he is on a steep learning curve.

Advantage Scutaro.

We know Scutaro can replace Crosby for extended periods and do a resonable job. We also know Crosby will need a replacement --he is becoming known as Oaklands glass SS.

Perez is here as Chavez's back up just in case his shoulder flares up. He was never intended as Crosby's replacement and so far as proven to be considerably worse than Scutaro.

by Carerra on Apr 25, 2006 1:17 PM PDT up 0 recs

small sample size

perez is a better offensive player than scutaro. His OPS is much better over the course of their careers (97OPS+ for perez and and 79OPS+ for scutaro). Do not let 10 ABs skew the larger set of data....

"Mommy and Daddy are going to take a nap before the baseball game starts..."

by Athletics fan and runner on Apr 25, 2006 1:57 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well - your numbers are incorrect.

Per MLB stats Perez, in far fewer games, is .720 and Scutaro is .692 for their careers. Scoot has more SLG and Perez mor OBP.
Their minor league numbers are exactly the same an OPS of .805 for Scutaro and .806 for Perez.

Neither of these guys are great hitters which is why they are utility players. However, one has AL experience, hs done a good job for Crosby, and is considered by many a clutch hitter based on games won by his AB's.

So it is not a small sample.

by Carerra on Apr 25, 2006 2:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

ummm

no they are not.
Perez, career OPS+ of 97.
Scutaro career OPS+ of 79.
baseballreference.com is the source. The numbers are very different.

"Mommy and Daddy are going to take a nap before the baseball game starts..."

by Athletics fan and runner on Apr 25, 2006 3:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

au contraire!

Recent Antonio Perez references in the NYT = approx. 101

Recent Marco Scutaro references in the NYT = approx. 60

Statistical advantage, Perez!

Those people aren't drinking the Kool-Aid, they're sucking it from a spigot! @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 25, 2006 2:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

I wonder if Perez...

will have trouble adjusting to hitting in the AL a la Jason Kendall.

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 26, 2006 12:37 AM PDT up 0 recs

Ellis has played 1st base before as well, you know

And we could simply recall Kielty and have him fill in at 1st Base every once in a while.

Or Jeremey Brown, he's played 1st base before, albe horribly.

And if you want to keep Chavez healthy, you could theoretically put him at 1st base every couple games to a) get Perez playing time and b) rest the shoulder while keeping him in the lineup.

English 101: Remedial Kick-Ass
"Cause only one language kicks ass, and that's the one we're teaching!"

by Zonis on Apr 25, 2006 10:11 AM PDT 0 recs

now batting

daric baaarrrrtoooonnnnnn!!!!! do it now. <calling sac>

"Oakland is home, and you always want to go home. Anytime you get the chance, you're happy to go home." - #24 Rickey Henderson

by burnone on Apr 25, 2006 10:12 AM PDT 0 recs

3rd catcher

Bringing up a third catcher and letting Melhuse become the backup 1B-man is an interesting idea that, I for one, had not considered.

I'm an advocate for Meluse getting more PT, but that's always been in the context of playing instead of Kendall where A.M. is clearly (over the last 2 years) a better hitter. Obviously this is not the case if he's playing to give Swish a day off, so the benefits aren't quite as good.

OTOH, it does get Payton into the lineup everyday and it gives him consistent AB's which could help him get going.

I dunno. If it were up to me, I would be willing to give it a shot. It's not the obvious decision, but that doesn't make it a bad one, and I can't see it turning out any worse than bringing up Kielty who we already know is a blackhole in the offense (i.e. increasing the suckiness factor).

ducks to avoid flying chair

by JLeverenz on Apr 25, 2006 10:59 AM PDT 0 recs

I'd go with barton

Everything about his track record suggests that he can hit major league pitching. Power or the lack thereof is the only issue. He'll be a better hitter than Payton or Kielty from the getgo.

As for the defense how bad can it be?? Pickin' Machine went out there almost every day with almost no prior experience-- barton has had 1+ seasons playing the position.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Apr 25, 2006 12:15 PM PDT 0 recs

I don't think Barton will be up this soon, but I

beleive his lack of athleticism rap he gets might not be deserved. He has 3 triples already, so he must have some wheels, and he seemed to move well in the game I went to.

by theblackpearl on Apr 25, 2006 12:50 PM PDT 0 recs

Call up Watson!

I like organization soldiers.

Why yes. I am a ray of warm and fuzzy sunshine.

by grover on Apr 25, 2006 3:35 PM PDT 0 recs

even ones who can't hit

major league pitching?

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 Apr 25, 2006 4:02 PM PDT up 0 recs