Erubiel Durazo Released

by ohad on Mar 31, 2007 6:55 PM PDT

Per Rotoworld:

Athletics released first baseman Erubiel Durazo.
Durazo didn't show that his power was all the way back this spring, and he also struggled with the glove at first base. We'd still probably take him over Todd Walker, but the A's weren't willing to sacrifice the defense. Walker now looks like a $3-$4 pick in AL-only leagues.

Also, Donnie Murphy was assigned to AAA and Kurt Suzuki to minor league camp.

Finally, it looks like Loaiza will start the year on the DL

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I wonder if that was his decision or Billy's. With Barton and Stokes, there really wasn't a spot for him at AAA either.

I really hope this means Buck, and not Todd Walker.

by 31Boots on Mar 31, 2007 6:57 PM PDT reply actions

What Becomes of Ruby?

.. does he go to Sacramento, or what? ...

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Mar 31, 2007 6:57 PM PDT reply actions

Not likely

There's no place for him and he will probably look for a team that has an opening in AAA or majors.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Mar 31, 2007 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions

thanks BC3

.. wish I knew as much as you, hehe ... seriously I do .. ;-)

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Mar 31, 2007 7:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't know anything

I just read the tea leaves and guess like pretty much every fan on here.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Apr 1, 2007 1:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Erubiel Durazo was released by the A's today...

RELEASED RELEASED RELEASED I KNOW YOU KNEW HE WAS RELEASED AND WERE JUST JIVING US...

Charlie Brown GO A'S WIN

by Charlie Brown on Mar 31, 2007 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions

How do you know that Loaiza will be on the DL?

With the Oakland A's, the intravenous drip is always half full!

by OaktownRajah on Mar 31, 2007 7:00 PM PDT reply actions

velocity has been down ..

.. just like last year .. which landed him on the DL ...

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Mar 31, 2007 7:02 PM PDT up reply actions

PURELY SPECULATION...

Charlie Brown GO A'S WIN

by Charlie Brown on Mar 31, 2007 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions

you are correct sir C.B. ;-)

.. it is speculation .. but I bet that is right .. we'll see ..

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Mar 31, 2007 7:44 PM PDT up reply actions

good call nate

http://www.athleticsnation.com/comme...

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 Mar 31, 2007 7:02 PM PDT reply actions

To be honest, I'm a little disappointed too.

When he first started hitting, I admit I wanted to see the old Ruby back too. Once I saw how he looked at the plate on Friday, I took a closer look at the numbers. Walker may not blow the doors off, but there are worse things in the world than Scott Hatteberg.

by Nate on Mar 31, 2007 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions

In fact Hatteberg

(who hit .289 with 13 HR last year) would be great!

BRING BACK THE MAD HATTER!!!!!

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 Mar 31, 2007 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't come around here no more...

Don't come around here no more...
Whatever you're looking for...
Hey!
Don't come around here no more...

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Mar 31, 2007 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions

hell yea

Petty rules!

"I Will Not Relent, I Am Driven"... Clutch

Bring Back The Bash!!!

by Shippee33 on Mar 31, 2007 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't tease us so! :-(

"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on Mar 31, 2007 9:46 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't see how they can....

send him to sacramento. I think he goes back to the mexican league. I don't think any other MLB team will pick him up.

by athleticsBB4life on Mar 31, 2007 7:02 PM PDT reply actions

Ohad!

Where you been??

There's a chance that Ruby ends up back in Sacramento; there aren't a lot of teams looking for lefty bats off the bench not capable of playing defense. Walker has had more recent success in the majors; this is a good call but hardly season-changing.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Mar 31, 2007 7:04 PM PDT reply actions

Hey Ohad!!!!

nice to see you buddy, I have been wondering when you were gonna pop back up on AN. How are things going in your part of the world?

"I Will Not Relent, I Am Driven"... Clutch

Bring Back The Bash!!!

by Shippee33 on Mar 31, 2007 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions

the east bay?

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 1, 2007 8:11 AM PDT up reply actions

High school.

Totally different world, homes.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Apr 1, 2007 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions

or maybe it was a very subtle height joke

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 1, 2007 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Nice Home Run Ruby

Now go home. Ouch.

I can't imagine he'll accept an assignment to Sac, Barton will be at 1B. But if he is there, I'll post pics for you all.

Just call me Waddy Lad, cattle rustler.

by LawDaddy on Mar 31, 2007 7:10 PM PDT reply actions

minor quibble

according to Geren the A's assigned Durazo to minor league camp. They did not release him.

Of course he has the right to accept or decline. should he decline he becomes a free agent.

by OaklandSi on Mar 31, 2007 7:11 PM PDT reply actions

thanks OaklandSi

.. appreciate the clarification .. ;-)

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Mar 31, 2007 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Nice to see you back Ohad

I hope you do your weekly prospect recaps this year.

I'm not too suprised by this, but now that means we have to face the ugly realization that Walker is going to be the starting 1B.

That is of course unless AN can organize a midnight rally at A's headquarters pleading for Buck to make the team.

"...we don't score six, seven runs. We score three, four runs and play defense and pitch" - Eric Chavez

by pickinmachine on Mar 31, 2007 7:13 PM PDT reply actions

The official press release

A's announce three roster moves

Donnie Murphy and Suzuki are the other two moved back to the minors.

"...we don't score six, seven runs. We score three, four runs and play defense and pitch" - Eric Chavez

by pickinmachine on Mar 31, 2007 7:28 PM PDT reply actions

Suzuki?

"The Oakland A's today announced that they have optioned infielder Donnie Murphy to Triple-A Sacramento, reassigned catcher Kurt Suzuki to their Minor League camp."

Why the distinction? Why send Donnie Murphy to Triple-A and Suzuki to the Minor League camp? Is another trade in the works?

by Hang Man on Apr 1, 2007 7:08 AM PDT up reply actions

I may be wrong

But I think the distinction is based on the fact that Donnie Murphy is a former major leaguer with options remaining, and Suzuki has never been on a major league 25 man roster, so he was never officially a part of the A's in the first place.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Apr 1, 2007 7:12 AM PDT up reply actions

You are absolutely correct BC53

It's just contract language, they're headed to the same place.
I think that our AAA team is looking very good right now.

"Fictional numbers are really effective for making your case." -Devo

by notsellingjeans on Apr 1, 2007 8:32 AM PDT up reply actions

Nice to see you back Ohad.

Bud Selig is the bravest, kindest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

by ak_A on Mar 31, 2007 7:53 PM PDT reply actions

Based on what we've heard so far,

it looks like we'll have Kielty in RF, Swisher at 1B against lefties and Swisher in RF, Walker at 1B against righties. That's a defensive downgrade at RF at 1B, but will probably decently approximate what Dan Johnson might have provided.

Walker hit 302/368/425 against righties last year and Kielty hit 325/358/607 against lefties last year. Throw in a little regression and we might be looking at an 800-850 OPS from a Walker/Kielty platoon, which is what a realistic expectation from DJ would have been.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Mar 31, 2007 8:17 PM PDT reply actions

That was before today's

Abomination to the Mean on defense by Walker.

by DMOAS on Mar 31, 2007 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions

just one meaningless ST exhibition game ..

.. we'll survive .. think positive! :) ;-)

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Mar 31, 2007 8:25 PM PDT up reply actions

I've seen Walker butcher plays

in meaningful games as well...so today was just a reminder

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 12:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Not Bad, not as bad as feared, and ..

.. I know A's fans think we are especially plagued by injuries, but .. I have faith in the baseball gods to, by season's end, spread the misery around. Even now, the Angels lost Juan Rivera with the broken leg in winterball, Chone Figgins broke his finger(s), and Weaver and Colon will begin the season on the DL, not to mention Escobar experiencing some problems etc -- point being, we aren't the only ones who are banged up; I have come to think that the long MLB season is often a test of depth and stamina, as well as skill ... so keep your chin up A's fans, maybe the worst of our woes is over or at least maybe we'll experience better luck later in the season ..

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Mar 31, 2007 8:24 PM PDT up reply actions

susan slusser said this in her blog yesterday

Then there's infielder Todd Walker. The veteran was signed Friday and in the lineup at first Saturday. It's pretty apparent he'll be on the Opening Day roster. Asked what he knows about his roster status, Walker said he wouldn't have flown from Phoenix for one game. That means the A's are likely to lose Erubiel Durazo. Durazo, the A's former DH, has had a nice spring but he's a non-roster player and he has an out in his contract if he doesn't make the big-league club on Opening Day. He indicated on Saturday that he would take the out if he isn't with the A's in Seattle.

link

by gotgreen on Mar 31, 2007 9:09 PM PDT reply actions

Welcome back Ohad...

...looks like another interesting A's season

One thing about HRs, ...they don't stop for defenders.

by A s Eh on Mar 31, 2007 10:21 PM PDT reply actions

oh no!

One thing is for certain: Erubiel Durazo is no longer in the A's plans. He was told he has the option of a minor-league assignment after Saturday's 6-4 victory over the Giants, but the team did not expect that he would accept. In fact, there is some thought that he might retire, despite a decent spring.

by gotgreen on Mar 31, 2007 10:38 PM PDT reply actions

Ah the SF Chronicle sportswriters...

...only one week behind the curve.

His spring has run through quite the gamut of adjectives. "Hot" up until a week ago, despite the fact that he was really only hot his first week and a half. "Solid" as of just before the Giants series, when his numbers were in freefall. "Decent" now that his camp, and possibly his career, are over.

A .288 OBP is not a decent showing for someone looking to play either 1B or DH for a Major League Baseball team.

by Nate on Mar 31, 2007 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions

so what about

third base for the giants?

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 1, 2007 8:04 AM PDT up reply actions

had me laughing hard Bhaskar

The Giants would give him a raise to 5 million to do that though.

"Fictional numbers are really effective for making your case." -Devo

by notsellingjeans on Apr 1, 2007 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions

career

you need a career .288 OBP, but .281 last year is good enough to get the $5 mil.

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 1, 2007 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions