Dunn is the guy I'm reminded of more than any other player performance-wise.  Ortiz has more ability to hit for average than Cust will eventually show, but Cust's power is real, and always has been.  The question for Cust will be whether he can do what Dunn has been able to do, hit .240-.260 while drawing walks and hitting for power.  If he can do that, he can be an AL version of Dunn, putting up numbers somewhere around .240/.350/.520.  As I said at the time we acquired Cust, he has real upside, and now that he has gotten off to a hot start, he may finally get the chance to show what he can do with 300-400 at bats.  

I have nowhere else to post this, but it seems to fit under the Jack Cust appreciation journal.  

I was not excited about this season.  there.  I said it.  last year, I paid for MLB.com TV, becuase I wanted to see Barry and his beautiful curveball before he left the A's and I was obligated to hate him for it.  When we signed Frank Thomas, my interest rose to a new high.  I would leave gameday on at work, just so I could tune in to the straming video to watch frank hit.  

This year had none of that.  None of those players who win or lose I wanted to watch.  Between Crosby, Chavy, and Kandall, I knew I was due for an anuerism.  Jay Marshall had me interested for a little bit, a AA kid bouncing to the show, and the unexpected suprise of T Buck had me hooked, so I subscribed to MLB.com again to watch my A's.  

Well, Just the other week, I was at the verge of cancelling.  Even though the A's were in it, I was bored.  I was content to read box scores, and maybe listen to he radio (I live in Boston, so going to games would be...well, a h*ck of a commute).  

Then we picked up Jack Cust.  I have been a fan for years, waiting in the crowded Stat favorite bandwagon.  I was dissapointed that he never got the chance for the A's while he was in uniform.  I wanted him when we resigned Durazo, briefly.  

I didnt really care about the home runs.  I wanted to see his disdain when a pitcher threw a ball 2 inches outside the zone.  I loved the zen like calm of his at bats.  I liked the pent up fury, and yes, I really liked an intervie I read with him two years ago, and I was hooked on the story.

Thank you Jack.  The Mike Piazza signing was as exciting to me as the Eric Karros signing, and in many ways, my love of the A's was defined by my hatred of the dodgers, and to me, Mike Piazza will always be a Dodger.  I appreciate your hustle Mike, but you are boring.  Bloop singles are not fun for me.  Walks are exciting.  I dont know why.  I love what they do to a pitcher.  

I watched the game last night.  When JC hit the game winning home run, two thoughts flashed through my mind:

1. Watasick just got a win?  

and

2. that was the most satisfying home run trot I have ever seen.  

If anyone out there has a link to his trip around the baspaths, I would be indebted. I would watch it all day.  The MLB website only has the shot, and him at home plate.  I want to see him throw his helmet.  I want to see Rene Lacheman slap him 5 like he actually likes him.  I want to see him grining and pumping his first.  That was great.  I felt like crying, although, admittedly, I am a cryer.  

Conspiracy theory:  Jack cust does not love home runs.  he loves Dan Johnson.  I think 5 out of the 6 home runs he has hit, he has driven Dan Johnson in.  Since Dan Johnson appears to be the only one on the A's who actually likes Jack Cust, I think jack has a crush.  I think he swings hard for that congratulatory pat from Johnson.  

Off topic-
Is anyone else unhappy to see Mark Kotsay swinging a bat again?

Does anyone else see how Chavez pulls the bat head up when he swings.  I tried the same maneuver with a bat last night, and it really hurt my forearms.

Jack Cust's dad loves him very much.  Have you seen teh cust family website?  

Did anyone else see Ty Burkleo put down the want ads when Cust hit that homerun?

Go A's

along with Dan Johnson.

http://www.mlb.com/news/press_releas...

the dunn comparisons (albeit insanely early) seem pretty right on to me. ortiz was always a pretty good hitter w/ power. i just don't see cust being better than a .260 hitter. but he has good ABs and a good eye, so .260 w/ walks galore would be just fine. he's got the motivation, after all that time in the minors, and the slew of teams who let him go. finally, he's probably in the right situation - a team w/ tons of injuries (which means consistent PT for cust), moderate expectations of him, and a focus on OPS. if cust gets 300-400 ABs in 2007, i think he'll have himself a pretty decent year. not the 100+ homers and 250+ RBIs he's projected to have right now - those seem like unreasonable goals to attain.

Padres got $100K in cash for Cust. i dont think
any other player was involved in the trade

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports...

what a bargain for Billy!

Does anyone else like "The General"?

I was  shouting it at the Indians fan behind me in 133 on Friday night. It seemed fitting based on our opponents (duh). When reminded of the historical result which would seem to favor the Cleveland "natives", I reminded him this wasn't Little Big Horn - and on the next pitch General Cust launched a tomahawk into the bleachers to give the A's a three - one lead.

The General also describes his cool calculated AB's, the patience, and the bold strike.

We know Cust is white hot, but Johnson is hitting close to .400 with power & OBP.

Blez,

How about a word or two of recognition about man everybody buried in Spring.

So what happens to these guys once Piaza and Kotsay are ready?  Do they try to move Piazza and/or Stewert? TO me it would be hard to keep Johnson, Cust and Piazza on the roster, harder still to get them all enough ab's.  I think that in the past that some of Cust's and Johnson's problems is that they do not get enough Ab's, they start pressing and a team need to commit to them.  Which I believe was Ortiz's problem in Minnesota, they would not put him in the lineup and leave him alone.

 ...make him a prime candidate to succeed. Beane could have called up Durazo but his age and attitude about being cut, sealed his fate in Oakland. Cust was here and Beane knew that under better circumstances and timing, he could have a spot on the roster (here and now).

  Injuries have been an issue in the past but his wrists are well healed as we have witnessed this past week. Keep your fingers crossed for Buck b/c he may be headed in the same direction Cust did.

  Heck, If Cust is our Boppi or whatever they call Ortiz in Boston, then watch out AL! This team will do some significant offensive damage.

  One last thing, for those of us who have fretted over the A's drafts in the recent past, don't forget that Beane still watches players although they end up in different organizations. Being drafted outside of Oakland just becomes a mere technicality at times when it comes to acquiring talent. Beane's elephantine memory is a thing of beauty..."an elephant never forgets".

a lot and hits the ball a ton.  Reminds me of Adam Dunn a lot might not have the pure power of Dunn but I like him.

This thread sums up nicely some of what I was thinking yesterday:

You hope Cust is the David Ortiz. You fear Cust might be Chris Shelton (who was valuable the year before his great April). You imagine Cust will be Matt Stairs--which will be just great for Cust and the A's.

To me, though, the real story of Jack Cust is how he points out this inevitable truth: Some valuable players just aren't getting a fair shot.

And sometimes who gets a shot and sticks is just luck. Think of Cust. Think of Stairs. Think of the all-time best example of this, Mike Bordick. Bordick should have never had a major league career, had little to no shot at one, but a series of injuries to A's middle infielders eventually culminated in him getting a big-time free agent contract from the Orioles. Bordick would have very likely never been a major league player without that initial luck.

So just how many guys are in the minors who would actually be equal to or better than some major leaguers? And how many of those guys will just never get a fair shot? Probably quite a few. Given that many players just stick because their contracts lock them in--think Hatteberg at the end of his run with us (and yes I know he's doing fine now)--I'd imagine there are more Custs and Snellings out there. This really should be an area that GM's give more focus. Glad Beane has this year.

(For a football parallel, think Kurt Warner. From no shot at being a starter to MVP and Super Bowl Champion in one season.)

(I'll likely put this in game thread, too.)

Since the April 17 game in which he homered off of Jared Weaver here are Crosby's numbers:

.272/.303/.482

And we know the defense has been better, though not perfect.

Just pointing out that he's been solid for a month now. So if we buy the "Extended Spring Training" argument, we should be feeling much better about our shortstop with the near .800 OPS and near .500 Slugging.