The lukewarm grill: the '08 model of the Big Hurt/Piazza

by EddieVegas_NRAF on Nov 7, 2007 1:20 PM PST

All right folks, I'm a long-time lurker/game-day poster, but this is my first time with a diary. So please be gentle.

It appears that one of the A's biggest items to address will be, again, right-handed power. Here's a list of the MLB free agents that are right-handed hitters:

Aaron Boone 1B
Aaron Rowand CF
Abraham Nunez 3B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Andruw Jones CF
Bobby Kielty RF
Chris Gomez 3B
Chris Woodward 3B
Damian Miller C
D'Angelo Jimenez 2B
David Eckstein SS
Doug Mirabelli C
Geoff Blum 2B
Jason Kendall C
Jason LaRue C
Jeff Cirillo 3B
Jeff DaVanon CF
Jerry Hairston Jr. CF
Jorge Posada C
Jorge Velandia SS
Jose Molina C
Jose Valentin 2B
Josh Paul C
Julio Franco 1B
Kazuo Matsui 2B
Kevin Cash C
Luis Castillo 2B
Mark Loretta SS
Michael Barrett C
Miguel Cairo 1B
Mike Cameron CF
Mike DiFelice C
Mike Lamb 3B
Mike Lieberthal C
Mike Lowell 3B
Mike Matheny C
Mike Piazza DH
Mike Sweeney DH
Milton Bradley LF
Neifi Perez SS
Paul Lo Duca C
Pedro Feliz 3B
Ramon Castro C
Ramon Martinez 2B
Reggie Sanders RF
Rod Barajas C
Rondell White LF
Sal Fasano C
Sammy Sosa DH
Sandy Alomar Jr. C
Shannon Stewart LF
Tony Batista 1B
Tony Clark 1B
Tony Graffanino 2B
Torii Hunter CF
Yorvit Torrealba C

There are some signability issues with a couple of names near the top, and some of the others aren't (or will ever be) power guys. But do you think the A's will wind up with one (or more) of these guys? (Stewart is obviously a leading candidate since the A's are in negotiations with him.)

Without looking into it too much, I'd like to see the A's take a run at Mike Lamb. Opinions?

Poll

Who should the A's sign to provide right-handed power in '08?

Mike Lamb

4 votes

Mike Piazza

1 votes

Mike Sweeney (or is it Mark?)

16 votes

Give Milt another chance!

11 votes

Spelled backwards - ASOS

3 votes

Other guy from this list

14 votes

They're all stiffs. Let's sign a minor-league FA or a River Cat.

15 votes

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!

24 votes

88 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 33 comments

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Comments

Jose Guillen....

regardless of the steroid accusations. Plus-defensive OF w/ good offensive power production.

In a perfect A's Utopia: Tori Hunter

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Nov 7, 2007 1:35 PM PST 0 recs

And he would play,

where?

On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Nov 7, 2007 1:57 PM PST up 0 recs

I mean Guillen

On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Nov 7, 2007 2:29 PM PST up 0 recs

Right field.

With Buck in center, and Swish in left. He's the best defender of the three.

I voted that they're all stiffs, though.

So it goes.

by jeepers on Nov 10, 2007 10:40 AM PST up 0 recs

MLB & MILB Free Agents

MLB Free Agent Tracker

6-year Minor League Free Agents

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Nov 7, 2007 1:39 PM PST 0 recs

Jason Kendall!!

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Nov 7, 2007 1:39 PM PST 0 recs

At first...

I thought after reading Kendall that it was a crazy idea. But after further thought, I'm under the opinion of why not? And there's a million reasons to answer that (not limited to his bad BA, possibly expensive, etc.) However, some have said that we need an upgrade in C. And if Kendall was willing to take a one year contract, then I might give it a few moments thought. Kendall is one of the better play callers and would help to teach Suzuki. Since I think 2008 is going to be an all in year having Kendall behind the plate would make an already strong rotation of Danny, Joe, Chad, Rich, and Duke that much stronger.

by AsWin on Nov 7, 2007 6:47 PM PST up 0 recs

Hmmm ...

and I was just thinking that his right handed bat would balance out the middle of our lineup well ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Nov 7, 2007 6:50 PM PST up 0 recs

Absolutely....

Punch and Judy's one thru nine!!!

Kendall's bloops to shallow RF can balance out Chavez's bloops to our new 3rd base coach....With RISP of course.

by WannaBeGM on Nov 7, 2007 8:24 PM PST up 0 recs

All we are say-ying...

...is give Milt a chance. (repeat, ad nauseum)

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Nov 7, 2007 1:45 PM PST 0 recs

Last I checked Mike Lamb hit left handed

Also, quite a few of the guys on your list are switch hitters:

Kielty, Blum, DaVanon, Posada, Valentin, Castillo, Bradley, Clark just on first glance.

by AsFanInLA on Nov 7, 2007 4:55 PM PST 0 recs

I guess Kielty is technically a switch-hitter

but given that he hits like Neifi Perez left-handed, the point seems a moot one.

by PaulThomas on Nov 7, 2007 7:49 PM PST up 0 recs

Mea culpa

You're right about Lamb. That's what I get for posting and listening to Michael Scott at the same time.

I figured switch-hitters are just as useful as guys that hit right-handed only. Maybe even twice as much.

by EddieVegas_NRAF on Nov 8, 2007 4:31 PM PST up 0 recs

If it is Mike

Then I'd take a flier on Sweeney. Could be a good platoon option with Cust if Jack struggles.

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin

by Helloooo 1st on Nov 7, 2007 6:28 PM PST 0 recs

How on earth will we know if Cust is struggling

by the start of the regular season?

The A's would have to carry 2 DHs on their roster to start the season if they signed Sweeney. I'd far rather spend peanuts on a rule 5 pick than millions on a backup DH. By the time it becomes clear whether Cust is struggling or not, Landon Powell will be healthy again. If the A's want to platoon Cust, just use Donnie Murphy, since he'll probably put up a ~900 OPS against left-handed pitching.

by PaulThomas on Nov 7, 2007 7:52 PM PST up 0 recs

Does ~900 mean 750?

Seems a bit optimistic for Murphy. Or maybe "he'll probably" should just be "he might, if we apply just the right amount of pixie dust, and call in a favor from the tooth fairy".

I'm kidding - I know you've delineated Murphy's minor league LHP mashing before, and believe that it will translate. But I'm not ready to say with any certainty that it will (it hasn't yet - looking at his whole career, that is, not the 43 AB last year).

Anyway, I agree that the presence of Cust renders all discussion of Mike Sweeney-type free agents moot.

by 74mk on Nov 8, 2007 8:55 AM PST up 0 recs

Well,

Marco Scutaro and Mark Ellis each posted >900 OPS against lefties this season without having outrageously good hitting years in general. I figure Murphy can more or less match Marco Scutaro as a hitter.

by PaulThomas on Nov 8, 2007 9:24 AM PST up 0 recs

Fair enough

Hope you're right.

by 74mk on Nov 8, 2007 9:36 AM PST up 0 recs

I mean this truly playfully, but

I laughed when I scrolled down a seemingly endless list of right-handed free agent hitters and finally got to the big conclusion - which suggested signing a left-handed hitter. Unintentionally funny, I know, but still: a laugh's a laugh and I did more than chuckle. :-)

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Nov 7, 2007 9:16 PM PST 0 recs

Crap.

When I looked him up on baseball-reference.com, I could have sworn it said Lamb was a righty. Oh well - - I wouldn't be a rookie poster if I really knew what I was talking about, right? Pretend that this post has been fact-checked by Jayson Blair or Stephen Glass.

by EddieVegas_NRAF on Nov 7, 2007 11:28 PM PST up 0 recs

I thought maybe you mentioned Lamb

because you were a mutton for punishment.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Nov 8, 2007 8:15 AM PST up 0 recs

That's why . . .

My response was so sheepish.

by EddieVegas_NRAF on Nov 8, 2007 4:27 PM PST up 0 recs

Ewe should stop this gag

by billyball1981 on Nov 8, 2007 5:58 PM PST up 0 recs

I wool if you wool

Shear madness, I know.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Nov 8, 2007 9:46 PM PST up 0 recs

This gag

has a severe lack of ram.

by EddieVegas_NRAF on Nov 9, 2007 12:33 PM PST up 0 recs

rack of lamb?

YUM!!!!!

-Cindi

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Nov 9, 2007 6:55 PM PST up 0 recs

rod bar-A-jas!

clap, clap, clap-clap-clap!

He fits in with our long-term strategy.

by CyZito on Nov 8, 2007 6:18 AM PST 0 recs

Of not scoring runs?

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Nov 8, 2007 8:04 AM PST up 0 recs

Affirmative.

Not scoring runs, and being awesome. Plus he's got a lot of wear on those knees. He's a lock for at least 2 stints to the 15-day DL, and maybe even a season ending surgery. Those sort of intangibles are undervalued in this market!

by CyZito on Nov 8, 2007 9:22 AM PST up 0 recs

Am I the only one who read this as some sort of

letter jumble that was meant to say A-rod Barjas?

by jpl on Nov 8, 2007 9:28 AM PST up 0 recs

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarajas!

I love it. We did not have NEARLY enough horrific, gut wrenching, vomit inducings AB's last year with runners in scoring position. We need Barajas to step up our offensive ineptitude to RECORD proportions. I'm talking baseball history, baby. Think of the chances of getting to watch an inning consisting of Chavvy, Croz, and a Barajas sighting! We might even be able to get Dane Cook to do a promo of that, given the swing-and-miss inevitability.

by the stare on Nov 8, 2007 10:28 AM PST 0 recs