Total Rebuilding Year
by Vegas A's Fan on Apr 23, 2007 2:33 PM PDT
23 comments
Every year it seems as if our A's are in a rebuilding frame of mind but we always seem to find the right free agents to plug into holes to stay very competitive and have a shot in September.
I know it's early but 2007 seems a little different. In my opinion, this team even when healthy is only going to win between 81-85 games, and that's if we stay somewhat healthy.
So I have been thinking alot lately and is it time for the A's to go into complete rebuild mode after the 2007 season?
We will wipe our hands of Kendall's along with some others such as Kielty, Bradley and Piazza.
Will it be time for this team to trade some of it's other young stars that may or may not be living up to expectations? (Crosby,Loiaza,Duke,Calero,Kotsay)
Would fans of the team be upset if we went with this approach and let younger guys in the system get full time playing time in the big leagues?
I for one would be all for it but I'm not sure if I'm in the majority or minority.
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after 18 gms???
This team will win the West again. You don't pay the pizzaman 8.5 million bones on a "rebuilding" team. When the A's get Harden rolling, Kotsay and Loza returned, Crosby comfortable etc. they'ii be very difficult to beat.
Wait until July before posting sometimg like this.
by bigelephant on Apr 23, 2007 2:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm not quitting on this season...
I think we have shot this year but I'm speaking more in terms of next year.
I'm just curious if others think it's something the franchise would do.
by Vegas A's Fan on Apr 23, 2007 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No shit man
I hate these diaries.... Fucking people it's April!!!!! Did you just start watching the A's this season? The A's have started like this EVERY season since 2000. And you guys think April is bad, Wait till we get to MAY...
by Shippee33 on Apr 23, 2007 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
true, very true...
I think A's tradition of having a craptacular month of May is causing my hypertension at age 25.
by secret ASian man on Apr 23, 2007 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
if youre gonan question whether or not ppl watch
the a's, i'm going to have to question how closely you watch this team.
have you seen the may schedule? easiest month of the season.
by fadedash on Apr 24, 2007 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was refering to
by Shippee33 on Apr 24, 2007 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It might be a little early
But if the A's are going to make some trades first of all I would try and keep our nucleus here of Chavy, Haren, Crosby (He has talent), Street, The Duke, Buck and Blanton. We also have some young good looking players that have not yet proven themselves in Suzuki, and Barton.
I think that we could get rid of some older players with 1 year lefor on their contracts in Loaiza (I think he has 2 left), Kendall, Piazza and Bradley. Let some of our future play. However this is an extreme move and if you do so that means we will have given up on this season. Im not really sure what our team needs to do to get better this year, other than getting Manny and big Poppy which I am pretty sure wont happen.
by 3Chavy3 on Apr 23, 2007 2:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The way things are going.....
This is looking like the perfect opportunity to rebuild while competing.
Since no team is looking all that strong, the A's can take advantage and get their future started now by playing the young guys. There are still plenty of vets mixed in, but we're getting valuable experience for some potential key pieces. We could easily be looking at Buck, Putnam and Braden all on next year's opening day roster.
by jpl on Apr 23, 2007 2:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Does anyone know what kind of stuff Braden has?
by 3Chavy3 on Apr 23, 2007 2:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
He's pretty much Jim Mecir with two good feet
High 80's fastball that occasionally touches 90 along with a changeup and a very, very good screwball. Minor leaguers can't hit his screwball. Whether major leaguers can will determine his fate, because his other pitches are not major legue quality unless he can work off the screwball.
by BlameChannel53 on Apr 23, 2007 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Classic
Kotsay and Loaiza as our "young" stars. Laughable.
by dboysick on Apr 23, 2007 2:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
not what I meant
I just mean some guys that we could do without.
I'll make sure I make myself clear next time.
by Vegas A's Fan on Apr 23, 2007 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe he wrote that while under the influence of
the SF Giants' roster.
by danh on Apr 23, 2007 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No way in April....
But if Harden is still hurt in June/July and the Angels pull away somewhow, I would totally support this. I would love to see Suzuki and Barton get a half season of AB's to get ready to start in 08. Will be a tough call at the deadline, but I dont see anyone capable of pulling away in the West to make this a reality.
I think this year's deadline will be great for selling teams as I see a number of very close divisions that will lead to teams paying for players, especially starters. I would love to see a package the team could get in young macks for a Blanton or Loaiza or even Kennedy if teams are really desperate for pitching.
I don't think it will happen, but it sure would be fun and I would be tempted t pull the trigger if the injuries dictate that this just isn the year. I sure hope it isn't the case, but I think 07 will be a nice year to be a seller with some arms.
by OaktownPower on Apr 23, 2007 3:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It looks like the rebuilding year
will be 2008.
But it could very well be mid 2007. What has to happen for that is Barton and Suzuki have to play very well.
But yeah, you aim to rebuild in 2008, perhaps using 2007 if we are flailing. The reason being that this is who will be leaving:
Jason Kendall
Joe Kennedy (Compensation? [as RP])
Milton Bradley (Compensation?)
Mike Piazza (Compensation?)
Shannon Stewart
Bobby Kielty
You have many starting spots open up, and you have yet more players that can/will be let go, such as Melhuse.
So we could very well have a 25 man roster simular to this next year:
C1 Kurt Suzuki
1B Daric Barton
2B Mark Ellis
3B Eric Chavez
SS Bobby Crosby
LF Travis Buck
RF Nick Swisher
CF Mark Kotsay (if not traded)
DH Dan Johnson
C2 Landon Powell
IF Marco Scutaro
2B Kevin Melillo
OF Danny Putnam
SP Dan Haren
SP Rich Harden
SP Joe Blanton
SP Esteban Loaiza
SP Chad Gaudin
RP Huston Street
RP Justin Duchscherer
RP Kiko Calero
RP Alan Embree
RP Jay Marshall
RP Marcus McBeth
RP Mike Mitchell
by Zonis on Apr 23, 2007 4:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
With that pitching, it would be a stretch to say
that we would be rebuilding - more like reloading with less powerful ammunition.
by SwisherSweet33 on Apr 23, 2007 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree mostly
I agree that this roster is close to what our Opening Day 2008 roster will look like, although with a few exceptions.
For instance, I find it unlikely that the team will start the season with several decent prospects being used as reserves (Melillo, Powell, Putnam).
Melillo will either have a solid 2007 season, prompting management to decline Ellis' 2008 option, and Kevin will be our starting 2nd baseman. Or he will stay one more year at Sacramento.
Ditto that situation for Putnam.
And as for Powell, there's no way that Beane starts a season with a rookie as his primary catcher AND his backup catcher as well. Most likely, Suzuki moves up, Powell moves to AAA and Beane either keeps Melhuse (unlikely), re-signs Kendal (conceivable, but very unlikely) or brings in a veteran backstop to a 1-year deal (most likely) as insurance.
This seems to be Beane's MO: let the rookies play and go through some up and downs, but have a veteran plan B in place.
by Taj Adib on Apr 23, 2007 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Totally agree
But I add that I think Barton is still two years away right now. He is only 21. Most top prospects are just leaving college at that age and he is in AAA ball. But he is lacking power which means his bat speed is slow which is not a good thing and the MLB level. He can cheat the ball in the minors but it is a much more difficult thing to do in the majors.
by Athletics Fan In London on Apr 23, 2007 5:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
What is it, April?
Seems someone is a premature speculator.
by grover on Apr 23, 2007 6:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
consider the source
The author of this diary is the same guy who spent last year declaring "game over" in game threads every time we got down 2-0 in the third inning. If he ends up being right and we miss the playoffs he'll come crowing around in October and tell us how right he was. If we make the playoffs, he'll be very quiet until next year when he can jump to more conclusions in April. I guess AN needs all kinds :)
by BlameChannel53 on Apr 23, 2007 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
"premature speculator" otherwise known as the...
...."premature ejaculator". messy business that.
by bigelephant on Apr 23, 2007 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
{grin} Well we've already had three diaries that
.. have totally written Harden off for the entire year .. and one of those wrote him off for eternity {so far as the A's organization is concerned} .. so .. I've only been here at AN few months but am learning the virtue of cynicism and the danger and heresy of optimism {evil grin} ..
by Randy Bell on Apr 24, 2007 7:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It might be April
but that doesn't mean you can't deal with "what ifs" instead of jumping down someone's back.
If the A's are out of contention in July and..
- Crosby plays like an all star....trade or keep?
- Harden has another DL stint.... trade or keep?
- Duke regains his form .... trade or keep?
- Street continues his flair for the dramatic ... trade or keep?
- Kotsay, Bradley, Piazza...trade or keep?
- Barton continues showing his discipline with no power... trade or keep?
by fadedash on Apr 24, 2007 11:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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