Scutaro traded to Blue Jays
Obviously it was time to move in a different direction, and I know the A's didn't want to pay the big salary increase for him in 2008. But I'll still miss the guy. He truly seemed to be was one of those "clutch" types people like to debate endlessly about.
So is Donnie Murphy the new Scutaro? Or will someone else fill that utility role?
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I'm happy we got anything for him
figured he was going to be released
by jubjub on Nov 18, 2007 10:36 AM PST 0 recs
Well, if you really think about it
Throw away all your conceptions about Scoot and look at him for what he is;
A light hitting backup infielder who can play 2B, SS and 3B, and who's best position is 2B, with average speed. And he's due $2-$3 million bucks.
So yeah, trade him for a couple low A prospects who might return something...
Then replace him with, say, Donnie Murphy. A better hitting backup infielder who can play 2B, SS and 3B, and who's better defensivly than Scutaro, and is faster.
This isn't that big a supprise really. None of us made our mock 2008 rosters with Scutaro on them. And it could also very likely be a favor to an old friend JP, who can use Scutaro as his everyday SS if he really needs it, much like the A's, and has the money to pay for it.
The Jays middle infield situation is as bad as ours, after all. Too bad we couldn't give em crosby.
by Zonis on Nov 18, 2007 10:36 AM PST 0 recs
Better Hitting?
That's unproven. He is cheaper. Scutaro is a better fielder and we know he can hit major league pitching if he plays every day. Murphy can hit minor league pitching but has yet to prove himself in the majors.
If it was a choice between this and a non-tender, at least the A's got a couple of prospects back, one of whom was highly regarded prior to 2006.
by richwol on
Nov 18, 2007 7:17 PM PST
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Sorry, man
Scutaro isn't a better fielder, except if it's at second base (where the A's... don't really need a better fielder). He doesn't have the reaction time or the arm to be a good third baseman, and his debatably superior range at short is counterbalanced by his (for an infielder) pretty mediocre arm.
Unless you mean "fielder" in the strictly technical sense of "one who is skilled at gloving balls in the general vicinity of his left hand." Which you might, I guess. But as a baseball defender, Murphy is clearly superior at the relevant positions.
by PaulThomas on
Nov 18, 2007 9:33 PM PST
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Euphemism of the Month
gloving balls in the general vicinity of his left hand
by JediLeroy on
Nov 19, 2007 7:52 AM PST
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...ouch
Well played, sirrah.
by PaulThomas on
Nov 19, 2007 8:10 AM PST
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murphy hit major league pitching
by xbhaskarx on
Nov 18, 2007 11:21 PM PST
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I've been to my share of A's games
and it seemed as tho Scoot was making more errors this past season than in previous seasons. Just an observation. Although, he is better suited to play 2B.
I'll still miss him. He's been one of my favorite A's players.
by sf drift king on
Nov 19, 2007 12:10 PM PST
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Pretty obvious move
Can't have him on the roster with Hannahan and Murphy, and Murphy handles SS a lot better, as well as both those two being a lot cheaper.
Sad to see Scoot go though. Great memories.
by mikeA on Nov 18, 2007 10:39 AM PST 0 recs
Thank you Scoot
And goodbye.
Marco!
by grover on Nov 18, 2007 10:41 AM PST 0 recs
Scutaro!
I have the same sentiments: obvious move, but I'll miss the guy and all the memories he gave us.
by salb918 on
Nov 18, 2007 11:07 AM PST
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Did you see my last diary?
I was hoping for a critique.
by grover on
Nov 18, 2007 11:32 AM PST
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I did, and I never responded.
I also never responded to your last email. No one told me being a dad would mean I'd have to neglect the Internet People!
More later. I'm writing a season preview for the A's in the THT Preseason Book, so I might just wait until I do all the research for that.
by salb918 on
Nov 18, 2007 11:45 AM PST
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Some might call it neglect
I call it finding time to sleep and eat.
by grover on
Nov 18, 2007 11:50 AM PST
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The Internet people!!!!!!
by GreenNGoldGirl on
Nov 18, 2007 12:27 PM PST
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Those in glass homes shouldn't throw stones
Lil' miss I'm-never-around-anymore!
by grover on
Nov 18, 2007 12:31 PM PST
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Those who are stoned should not home in on glass.
by salb918 on
Nov 18, 2007 12:33 PM PST
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Since we all seem to have the same sentiment
I hereby dedicate this diary to posting favorite Scutaro memories and highlights of his career with the A's!
My personal favorite is probably during the 2006 ALDS, when he hit his double down the line, knocking in a couple runs, and the entire stadium was chanting "<clap clap> MARCO! <clap clap clap> SCUTARO!"
by Zonis on Nov 18, 2007 10:48 AM PST 0 recs
mine too!
I only go to a few games a year in person, but that was definitely one of them!
And don't forget his umpty skidillion walk-offs!
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on
Nov 18, 2007 10:51 AM PST
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will always
be one of our double secret cult favorites - confounding non-a's fans with his popularity here. and, an awesome performance with his wife in the indianapolis indians movie- a player to be named later. thanks marco. look forward to your tip of the hat to us before your first AB back in the O.
by oakath on Nov 18, 2007 10:51 AM PST 0 recs
soft spot in our hearts
We know that, sabermetrically speaking, he's in Eckstein territory. Does not stop us from a little love & respect.
by MobiusKlein on
Nov 19, 2007 9:43 AM PST
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first game
that i was ever drunk at. a memory for two different reasons.
by flipgatey3 on
Nov 18, 2007 11:17 AM PST
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Ah, yeah!
A friend with us in the bleachers, an East Coast native and longtime Yankees fan, had to leave early to get ready for an outing that night. The game looked to be well under the NYY's control, and I'm actually glad he left before that walk off. (He's a nice enough guy that I wouldn't want to taunt him, as I'd be tempted to do with others.)
Watching the ball from the LF bleachers provided an amazing vantage point, and Randy Newman's (?) theme from The Natural would've been the perfect accompaniment for a slow motion viewing of that shot, though KK's oft-replayed radio call still brings me goosebumps.
Best wishes to Marco and his family! Can't wait 'til the Jays return to the Mac.
P.S. Didn't an ANer see the entire Scutaro family at a WalMart?
by PositionPlayerProd on
Nov 18, 2007 11:24 AM PST
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Graham Godfrey Scouting Report
#18/C
Performance: Low-A Midwest League (1st pro season)
6-7 3.98 ERA 21 GS 110.2 IP
Born 9/9/84 R/R
From BA's 2007 Prospect Handbook:
Throws 90-94, solid curve as #2 pitch. Control, command and change-up points of emphasis for 2007.
by grover on Nov 18, 2007 10:51 AM PST 0 recs
Hear Hear
To Marco Scutaro. Thanks for the moments.
by walk off bunt on Nov 18, 2007 11:02 AM PST 0 recs
Oh good
It's good to get two worthless Single-A players in trade for one of the A's best clutch hitters ever who the fans universally love. Way to throw the fans a bone, Beane.
by Philip Christy on Nov 18, 2007 11:19 AM PST 0 recs
Wait, so do fans want a winning team
or one full of overpaid underproducers?
Donnie Murphy will bring much more to the table next year that Scoot ever would have.
Scoot, we'll miss you. Steal a couple from the Yanks while you're in Toronto.
by JediLeroy on
Nov 18, 2007 11:26 AM PST
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Thank you, Marco Scutaro.
Not a surprise, really, but still sad to see him go.
by Jjjsixsix on Nov 18, 2007 11:20 AM PST 0 recs
HR off Rivera:




by JLaff on Nov 18, 2007 11:37 AM PST 0 recs
Good luck Scoot
His hard work, determination, numerous walk offs, and ability to adapt to whatever position we needed him at will always make him a favorite in my books. We couldn't keep both him and Murphy, so it makes sense from a baseball standpoint. He'll get a huge cheer from the crowd when he returns, and it will be well deserved.
by gigglingone on Nov 18, 2007 11:41 AM PST 0 recs
Good luck Marco!
I already miss that hot little piece of Venezuelan man candy.
by batgirl on Nov 18, 2007 11:42 AM PST 0 recs
Just About Right for Scutaro
I know some people are going to bring up the sentimentality of Scutaro and insist that this deal sucks, but two Single-A pitchers with a little upside are just about all you can expect from a career backup infielder who will cost close to $2 million next season.
If anything, Beane did us the fans a favor by at least getting SOMETHING in return for him, since it might've been a lot easier to just DFA Marco or release him.
I'm not "wild" about Kristian Bell, who's got some pretty serious command issues, although scouts seem to think that he has a "live arm" and can touch the mid-90s with his fastball and can get righties out with a plus slider. With luck, he could be Kiko Calero.
Graham Godfrey is the real "prize" here. Although he was taken in the 34th round by the Jays, he was enticed away from going back to school with a six-figure signing bonus, which is an amount usually reserved for a 6th or 7th round selection. So Godfrey obviously impressed somebody enough to overpay for him.
He keeps the ball on the ground and keeps his walks down. With luck, he could be Lenny DiNardo.
So, the way I see this deal, is Oakland gets an extra 6th round and late-round pick in exchange for a guy we picked up on waivers years ago and was not part of the present or future. So while not being an "Effin Eh" trade, it's better than "Scutaro was claimed on waivers by the Blue Jays"/
by Taj Adib on Nov 18, 2007 11:43 AM PST 0 recs
Agreed.
No player would be untouchable if Veronica Mars were to become "available".
by Taj Adib on
Nov 18, 2007 11:52 AM PST
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apparently i'm the only person who doesn't know
who kristen bell is...
i just looked her up on imdb and i guess i've seen her in two episodes of deadwood (don't remember her) and spartan (pretty unimpressive mamet movie).
by xbhaskarx on
Nov 18, 2007 3:16 PM PST
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She is also now on Heroes, although, I am not a
fan of her work on the show.
by theblackpearl on
Nov 18, 2007 4:30 PM PST
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Who knows if it won't be an "Effin Eh" trade?
Last time the A's quietly acquired a pitcher the Blue Jays were happy to shed it was Chad Gaudin. At the time, most of us (myself included) were going, "Who again?" followed by (when we saw his major league stats), "And we traded for him WHY?" Time will tell whether we got nothing, a little, or a lot.
by Nico on
Nov 18, 2007 12:16 PM PST
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Gaudin was a hot prospect at one time.
He broke into the majors at age 20, and scouting reports on his stuff were always positive. When we got him, he was 23 and had quit a bit of major league experience.
Bell and Godfrey could be something, I just wouldn't count on it.
This is more like an "effin meh" trade.
by salb918 on
Nov 18, 2007 12:22 PM PST
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Fair point
Still, it's nice to get something for a guy that could have easily been DFA'd. Bell and Godfrey may turn out to do nothing but they have a much better chance of turning into something than the no one the A's would have gotten by releasing Scoot.
by grover on
Nov 18, 2007 12:30 PM PST
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You are right on the mark
Both guys might never make the majors but they both throw in the mid-90's, and both are only 23, and with pitchers you never know when you might get real lucky. No one on this site was jumping up and down when the A's got Gaudin, and that worked out pretty well, jury still out on Halsey. I am all for trying to find pitchers, much easier than finding hitters. Scutaro had to go to allow for Murphy and Hannahan to make the roster. Much younger, much cheaper with a lot more upside.
by china bob on
Nov 18, 2007 12:20 PM PST
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From the Toronto site...
Scutaro is a very cheap option (was hoping for a Crosby trade)...
hahahaha
by mikeA on Nov 18, 2007 12:08 PM PST 0 recs
This was bound to happen
but rather than ruminate upon that I'll just take this opportunity to say goodbye to a player we've all enjoyed watching and having on the team.
Truly a class act, and a guy with character who was easy to root for and who really did seem to have some kind of "clutch" ability in many crucial at-bats.
But most importantly, I think, he was just a fun guy to have on the team.
I hope he goes on to good things in Toronto and perhaps beyond, and enjoys a solid MLB career in general.
(And we just lost our best ballpark chant for any active player...dammit!)
by still bills kingdom on Nov 18, 2007 12:24 PM PST 0 recs
I am going to miss him so much!
I just ADORE Marco! I am going to miss him so much, I don't know if words can fully express it!
by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Nov 18, 2007 12:33 PM PST 0 recs
I'm sad
but my godson who's going to school in Toronto will no doubt instruct the Blue Jays fans in the art of the MARCO! SCUTARO! chant.
by Englishmajor on Nov 18, 2007 1:02 PM PST 0 recs
where is he going to school?
I went to U of T.
by Athletics fan and runner on
Nov 19, 2007 5:39 AM PST
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WOW
All of those came at the colosuem.... no wonder we love him!
by polytician on
Nov 18, 2007 1:44 PM PST
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Walk-offs
Can only happen at home.
by Helloooo 1st on
Nov 18, 2007 2:32 PM PST
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Quote from PR
Only six-time Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez (512) has appeared in more games than Scutaro (476) since Scutaro joined the A's in 2004.
That's pretty amazing, er sad.
by jubjub on Nov 18, 2007 1:06 PM PST 0 recs
Makes you laugh, cry and hurl
by grover on
Nov 18, 2007 1:11 PM PST
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wow, i was fine with the trade
but now i'm depressed
by xbhaskarx on
Nov 18, 2007 3:04 PM PST
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this is why I'll miss the guy so much.
While all of AN is saying "yeah, we figured as much", I hope you all realize how Scutaro played ALL THE TIME! He got injured like once! Are we placing any value on durability? This ranks right up there with the Byrnes trade for me on a personal level, but for AN I have to go the moneyball level:
Will the A's place value on durable players, or have we been priced out of that market too?
I have no doubt that Beane made a trade that is positive for the A's, I'm just still getting over the fact that my favorite player is gone now.
Something you would think I'd be used to by now.
by popcornjames on
Nov 19, 2007 10:19 AM PST
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Durability is obviously valuable.
If Marco Scutaro's your best option, a healthy Marco's more valuable than a hurt one. The problem (for those that hate to see him go) is that Marco isn't our best option anymore. Luckily, the A's should see an increase (or at the least repeat) in performance from their utility guy without having to increase salary.
Of course, none of that takes away the sting of losing one of your favorite players.
by JediLeroy on
Nov 19, 2007 4:49 PM PST
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this makes me so sad!
i KNOW the move makes sense but i still hate it!
i will miss that lovable little venezuelan!!
by gotgreen on Nov 18, 2007 1:42 PM PST 0 recs
MARCO! SCUTARO!
I'll miss him being in the division.
by Graham on Nov 18, 2007 2:50 PM PST 0 recs
But, they could have got Eckstein!!
What's up with the Blue Jays giving up 2 single-A players when they could have got Eckstein as a free agent and kept those players. I mean why would you want a guy who has never been to a World Series over the guy who has been on the winning team for 2 world series and got a World Series MVP. Clearly, JP has lost his marbles.
What kind of idiot GM would trade two single A prospects for Scutaro instead of signing Eckstein to a 4 year 36 million dollar contract, and whose grit and toughness will single handedly carry your team to the World Series.
I think the Blue Jays are going to be kicking themselves over this trade instead of signing Eckstein. But, wait maybe now that we traded Scutaro Oakland can sign Eckstein to replace Crosby!!!
by Donner on Nov 18, 2007 3:02 PM PST 0 recs
Been reading too much FJM.
Therefore, sarcasm... I did look at the stats. Eckstein might have a slight edge offensively solely on a higher OBP and batting average. Although that is balanced out by Scutaro nearly equal number home runs in half as many at bats.
And, I would take Scutaro defensively any day of the week.
I think it is an interesting case study into how capricious baseball is that one these two players who are the same age and play the same position and arguably are nearly equivalent players. Yet, one is a starting SS looking to sign a big free agent contract and the other is a super sub.
by Donner on
Nov 18, 2007 5:26 PM PST
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Oh thank god.
I guess I should have known from "whose grit and toughness will single handedly carry your team to the World Series." Ha ha.
by Rocktopus on
Nov 18, 2007 6:28 PM PST
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Went the way of Menechino
Toronto: where ex-Oakland utility infielders get traded
by faninphilly on Nov 18, 2007 3:33 PM PST 0 recs
And backup catchers...
and former thirdbase prospects...
and fourth starters...
by salb918 on
Nov 18, 2007 3:41 PM PST
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as i said on the front page
discarded a's go to the blue jays and royals.
the jays because of ricciardi, the royals because they'll take anybody as long as they're relatively cheap.
by xbhaskarx on
Nov 18, 2007 6:22 PM PST
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The Orioles?
Or maybe that's just ex-A's free agents.
Seriously, they have to have set some kind of record for most players ever to have been on one opposing team, with Payton, Tejada, Hernandez, Bradford and Bynum-- and that's just off the top of my head.
by PaulThomas on
Nov 18, 2007 9:40 PM PST
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Didn't Frankie predate JP?
I seem to recall that being the case. Of course, I also seem to recall attending a 4 game series against the Indians, where the A's swept, and Marco had a walkoff.
I hate stats. They have such an odd relationship with truth.
by Bronx A's Fan on
Nov 19, 2007 7:16 AM PST
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ricciardi became GM in 2001 (2002 season)
we traded menechino to the blue jays in may 2004.
by xbhaskarx on
Nov 19, 2007 10:42 AM PST
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Thanks for the memories, scooter
You were one of my favorite A's players.
Good luck with the Jays and wherever you go.
by Concord Fanz Dad on Nov 18, 2007 5:02 PM PST 0 recs
My favorite Scoot memory was from an Angels game
Scutaro came up in the 9th, and Sciosia pulled an outfielder in to play the infield. Of course, Scoot dropped a bomb that went all the way to the fence, getting a walk off double to end the game.
by RenoTy on Nov 18, 2007 5:49 PM PST 0 recs
Yeah, that one might've been my favorite too.
It was a walk-off in the bottom of the 12th I think, extra innings, last season (2006) when they were close to clinching the division. That didn't clinch it, but it made it highly improbable that the Angels would have anything to say about it.
And yeah, it was high drama because he hit it off of K-Rod and Scioscia pulled the OFer in just like you remembered.
by still bills kingdom on
Nov 18, 2007 10:51 PM PST
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Say it ain't so Billy!
Why, Why, Why! I knew this day was coming but it still doesn't hide the pain.
Honestly I'll miss Scutaro more than Zito. He WAS Mr. Clutch. I'll be sure to add the 1st blue jays game to my season ticket package. Sniff, sniff. What a sad day.
by Mr C on Nov 18, 2007 6:51 PM PST 0 recs




