Open Thread: Thursday Thoughts
by Tyler Bleszinski on May 3, 2007 10:20 AM PDT
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PrintIt’s time for some random thoughts.
- Yes, we’re now into May, but I just wanted to look back at the A’s starting pitching and just how great it was in April. It really had an unprecedented run in Oakland history. The A’s starting pitching only allowed more than four runs in exactly one game in April and that was Dallas Braden’s second start. And from April 4 to 26, the A’s starters allowed three runs or less. That’s 20 consecutive games and the longest run in A’s history. Just think about all the amazing starting pitching the A’s have had through the years from the teams in the 70s up until the Big Three. Course that Major League leading 2.41 ERA from the starters only meant that the A’s pitchers wound up with an 8-8 record through the end of April. Imagine if Harden had been healthy the entire month…sigh.
- That obviously highlights the A’s issues with hitting. Just one quick note on that…the A’s .230 average in April was the lowest of any Oakland club in one month since 1982.
- Someone please arrest Billy Beane for grand larceny. How can he turn a player like Langerhans into Snelling? I know that for many this looks like a bench player for a bench player, but Beane essentially gave the A’s options once the team eventually gets healthy. Snelling is two years younger than Langerhans and has a better career OBP than Langerhans. I believe Snelling has option left as well if the A’s can ever get healthy. The only thing that Langerhans has over Snelling is that he’s supposed to be a better defender and in exactly TWO games with the A’s, Langerhans already muffed an easy play. I really, really like the deal whereas I was pretty ambivalent about Langerhans.
- So, seriously, the A’s went from missing Swisher and Bradley to now they are suddenly going to also be missing Piazza? You’d think we’d be used to it by now, but I just find my jaw dropping to the ground every time it happens. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, the A’s decimated and subpar lineup has been decimated even further. At least the A's are getting a chance to see what they have in the minors.
- Don’t forget that AN Day IV: A New Hope is coming. Baseballgirl is still accepting reservations and it’s essential that we get at least 50 people signed up asap. We’ve got about 42 so far so we only need eight more for now.
That's it. Go forth and discuss, ANers.
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By the way
be sure to check out Brian Durack's diary about Chris Snelling. It's just awesome.
by Tyler Bleszinski on May 3, 2007 10:20 AM PDT reply actions
Classic Billy
Trading nothing of value (likely cash instead of a PTBNL) for Langerhans, and then flipping Langerhans for Snelling, is an excellent move. It's nice to see some of Billy's creativity at work, his moves the last year or so have been mystifying at times. This one is all upside with no downside.
AN Day
Totally forgot about that. When is it?
August 4th
by baseballgirl on May 3, 2007 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Thanks, just sent $$$ for 2
Oh yeah, like THAT's news...
AN day
Okay, I'm gonna try for the third & last time to get an answer to this question. I understand the fee for AN day includes the ticket & the meal. I am a full season ticket holder so I have a ticket. Can I just pay for the meal or would I be out of luck?
I'm frustrated cuz last year, I tried to get an answer & was uanble to so I watched you guys have a good time from afar.
I guess, if push comes to shove, I could try to sell my ticket for that day, but I would like to no if there are any other options.
by Imaseasonticketholder on May 3, 2007 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions
As one season ticket holder to another...
The solution is:
- Buy AN Day IV tickets (with meal)
- Sell current tickets in other location
- Sit with AN group
- Watch A's win!
That's our plan. Worked last year.
The answer I got last year...
(since I had a similar situation) was that I couldn't buy a BBQ-only ticket. So I bought AN Day tix, but I also kept my previously-bought SHADY SEAT tix just in case I had to use them. I didn't have to use them, I just moved into a shady area of AN's section when I started to feel badly overcooked after just an inning and a half in the sun.
Unfortunately, the view from that whole section is horrible, IMO.
badly overcooked?
Did someone forget to remove your spikes?
I think this is less about Beane being awesome...
..and more about Jim Bowden having not. one. clue.
I keep expecting the Nationals to fire him, but I cheer every new day that passes with his job intact. One less GM to fear.
Bowden
We've all worked with a guy like Bowden: only one real skill, but a very necessary one, that of making his boss think he is doing a hell of a job. Bowden is a great self-promoter, and it's hard for me to believe that a class act like Stan Kasten and a scouting whiz like Mike Rizzo would want to work with a aggrandizing moron like Bowden.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Bowden
As bad as he may be he really fleeced the Reds last year and he's still living off those fumes.
by braek462 on May 3, 2007 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Blind squirrel?
Yeah, even Chuck Lamar made a great trade for Kazmir.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Or maybe
Bowden is just a genius, so smart we can't even fathom just how smart he really is, like he out-smarting us to think that he's dumb.
If you keep fleecing guys, nobody will want to do business with you. But if you make a couple small "bad" trades people might start to think you’re dumb and then they put themselves into position to get fleeced.
I do this with my dog all the time, I throw the ball he runs and chases it. I fake throw it, he turns and runs. I fake it again, he turns but doesn't run. I fake it again, he bites my leg. So know I've got to throw the ball again. Get it?
But I just think Bowden is a moron.
by braek462 on May 3, 2007 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Which is hilarious, since...
Who is Doyle?
Snelling's middle name...
Sorry, posted new comment instead of reply
by OaktownPower on May 3, 2007 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions
Ian Doyle Snelling?
Thanks, brotha!
by OaktownRajah on May 3, 2007 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions
ian doyle snelling
Club struggled on offense even when healthy so ..
Pitching is still the key - so long as our pitching holds up, and the bullpen does its job - they will keep us in most games and keep us competitive until we can get healthy. Offense will come around eventually but the problems we have right now is ameliorated by the excellent pitching. Hang on until we get healthy. Expect E-Lo and Harden back eventually. Bradley back soon {stay healthy once you do get back, Milton}. Swisher may have to do like Chavez last year and play through it if he can: DH and when feeling better, maybe first base. No outfield play until well. :)
by Randy Bell on May 3, 2007 10:39 AM PDT reply actions
You know the Offense is bad...
when you start looking forward to Kendall batting.
At least he has been making contact.
A's on sirius today
Bubba the Love Sponge will have some A's on his show today. On channel 101. The show is on at 1:00 or 1:30 pst.
by Ben25 on May 3, 2007 10:42 AM PDT reply actions
From TWO games
you've implying that Langerhans is a poor defender.
Also, Snelling is actually already eligible for arbitration. He and the Nationals settled and avoided arbitration at the start of this season.
One crappy player (Snelling) for one crappier
player (langerhans) does not qualify for "grand larceny" and a "really good deal". Please stop bowing to EVERYONE of Billy's move and call a spade a spade. This was a meaningless trade that will make no difference in the standings come October. Thanks....
Well . . .
We all know that Blez has sleepovers at Beane's house before flying up to the Bay Area to do lunch with Slusser and the Sycophant, but your analysis is a bit off. Snelling has a real upside and a track record of success in the minors, while Langerhans will be out of baseball in a year or two (or by July if Bowden pulls his head out of his ass.) That is a very good trade.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions
Snelling has a track record of succes
in the minors, yes, but Langerhans track record in the majors isn't crap either.
Snelling also has a track record of injuries. Before all the knee explosions he might have been Nick Swisher.
Better at contact and defense though
He was really, really good once upon a time. Now he's merely pretty good.
He's still Doyle, though.
by Graham MacAree on May 3, 2007 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions
I like Doyle
having been indoctrinated into the cult of Doyle by you LL guys.
But, Swisher isn't exactly crap defensively either.
Yeah, Swish is easily better now
Snelling was a plus CF before he blew his knee out the first time though.
by Graham MacAree on May 3, 2007 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Adam Piatt
had a track record of success in the minors.
by IndianaAsfan on May 3, 2007 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions
snelling is good
look at his minor league stats, he used to be the top prospect in the mariners system he's just had injury problems... he's like a 300/370/500 avg/obp/slg guy in the minors
I still think we need to trade for gomes though...
by johnjahafanclub on May 3, 2007 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Can It Get Any Worse?
Let us remember that when Swisher, Kotsay and Bradley come back they will be (especially the latter) rusty in the extreme---and so we should not look to them as saviors. Besides, it wasn't too long ago that many ANers were calling for Kotsay's head on a plate because of his offensive shortcomings. Truth be told, and perhaps we say this every year and then are delighted to be wrong---it does look like this is not our year. The Angels are very strong---and we keep getting weaker and weaker..... I like Buck, but he's just a kid and he already has wrist problems. How can you play baseball with wrist problems??!!! Piazza out for four weeks? Gimme a break. NURSE!
Said every year but often (usually) wrong
Even in 2005 we had the worst month of May that I can remember, maybe the worst in A's history? Don't know but 15 games under .500 looked like "dead" - but we came back to contend. We gave the Angels a good run, although fell short that year. I still think this year contains justifiable hope because of how good the A's pitching has been. :)
by Randy Bell on May 3, 2007 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions
Also ..
Not that I wish injuries on anyone - especially never on individual players - over a long season, the Angels are not immune to the injury bug any more than we are ..
by Randy Bell on May 3, 2007 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions
Unquestionably they are still favorites
It will be tough - but then again, the A's have defied the odds before so I have hope! :)
by Randy Bell on May 3, 2007 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Injured As may benefit from AAA
Swish looked rusty last night.
Looking at how good DJ is doing now, maybe they (Bradley, Swish, Piazza) should all consider spending a week in AAA before getting back.
by asfansince1989 on May 3, 2007 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
2-0 LAA
I hope Swish gives us a lift so we catch up to those guys. Lift = HRs
by OaktownRajah on May 3, 2007 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
and the final: 5-2 KC
also the Yankees beat Texas, 4-3. :)
by Randy Bell on May 3, 2007 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Cust was awesome last year
Check out his line from last year:
.293avg/.467obp/.549slg with 143(!) walks and 53 extra base hits.
But, we can't get too excited, as he's been putting up awesome numbers in AAA since 1962.
.295/.429/.692 with 8hr in 78 at bats this year.
he's the next jack cust!
Remind me again
why he only has about 100 major league at bats? Seems like the definition of DH.
definition of DH?
yes, jack cust is the definition of DH. did you mean definition of AAAA?
maybe, but his 144 major league at bats have been spread out over the last six years, the vast majority when he was 22-24 years old, and he's 28 now.
i don't see how it could hurt to give him a shot for two weeks. if he sucks and we have enough healthy OFs by then, we can always move DJ to DH and play swish at 1B.
i don't think anyone expects a 1.120 OPS, but if he can manage a .800 OPS for a month until piazza gets back, that would make him one of the top four hitters on this team.
It could work
He may end up being the 2007 version of Stairs or Geronimo Berroa. Cust can hit for power, and he can walk. I'm expecting little, but if he has a hot month it's possible he could finally become a major league regular for a couple of years.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions
I agree
I just can't understand why he hasn't been given more chances up to now.
Strikeouts
59 Ks in 169 major league plate appearances. That's 35%.
For comparison, when Adam Dunn set a record for strikeouts in a season, he struck out about 29% of the time. Crosby strikes out about 20% of the time.
Of course, many players strike out a lot when they're first called up (we've seen it from Crosby, Swisher, and Buck in the last few years), but when it's that high it probably means he just can't handle major league breaking pitches.
can't handle breaking pitches
i'm actually being serious, is there anything wrong with that comparison?
Cust didn't retire
to escape steroid testing. Wait, where are those two guys who love to talk about that? When they exchange comments, I hear Benny Hill music.
But
as you note, Sosa has 7 hr already. Sosa also has 8 walks in 94 PAs, hardly Neifiesque, and an OPS+ of 125 this year.
I'm not saying he's going to keep this up.
One reason
he hits so well in the minors is he faces pitchers trying to show off their fastballs, and their off speed stuff isn't as developed. Scouts don't think Cust will ever learn to hit breaking pitches, but he crushes fastballs.
by IndianaAsfan on May 3, 2007 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Cust hits so well in the minors
because he knows the pitchers since he has been a roommmate to half of them.
Alyssa Milano should hit well in the majors, then
There's sharing a hotel room
and then there's sharing a hotel room. Milano has done both. The cleanup for the later was more expensive.
Also awful defense and
even worse baserunning.
So, the moment he struggles somewhat with the bat, he's dumped.
that's why I thought he'd be a perfect DH
not sure why SD signed him though
Jack Cust career was over...
When he first came up and played for the Orioles at Yankee Stadium. I'll never forget it. He's rounding 3B and heading for home to score the go ahead run in the 9th...he's going to score easily until.....He Falls Down...so embarrasing...and thats when his career was over...well, either then, or else when our highschool team struck him out 3 times in one game
So now the
Playing field has gone out of sight because now the team is missing four outfielders, there primary DH, two above average pitchers on there best day, and now it is down to many becnch players getting a lot of playing, It's 2005 all over again, although it can't be as bad, can it?
IMHO this isn't like 2005 nor 2006
The big difference: pitching. So long as the pitching stays strong, we can hang in there competitively until we get healthy. Remember, our offense was struggling to find its groove even before all the injuries. Good pitching keeps you in games so that you don't have to score a ton of runs. Hate to sound like a broken record but, we just split a 2-game set with the best team in baseball. That's what good pitching can do! :)
by Randy Bell on May 3, 2007 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
will the A's run out of names?
They still owe Cincy a PTBNL, did they send one to Washington? Don't the owe ATL one too. They now owe SD a PTBNL. Maybe Cust can be the PTBNL for Cincy or ATL, and if they fall asleep send Cust back to SD as the PTBNL for himself.
Jairo is the answer
We can trade both Jaira Garcia and Casillas, that will take care of two of the PTBNLs.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Is there a limit to "later"?
Maybe we can send them some players next year after our AA team is completely in the majors.
How about some players' unborn children?
Aren't Kotsay & Ellis expecting? (I mean their wives... not them, together, in some bizarre experiment) (although that kid would have an awesome glove)
It's just too sad . . .
Baby Jesus cries when he thinks of a unicorn with a bad back.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
"grand larceny"??
Beane has made some great trades (Mulder), and he has made some awful ones (Hudson). To celebrate trading one guy who hasn't hit in the majors for another guy who hasn't hit in the majors seems a bit premature. Again, Adam Piatt, amongst others like Jack Cust, hit wonderfully in the minors yet could never stick in the majors. For one, the PCL is notorious for inflating offensive stats. For another, some guys are AAAA hitters and can't make the adjustment. If Snelling does something, then I'll consider the trade to be a steal. Until then it's just a trade of back up outfielders.
by IndianaAsfan on May 3, 2007 12:11 PM PDT reply actions
the hudson trade was not an awful trade
dan meyer was even more highly regarded than haren, nobody could have predicted he'd get injured.
It's still awful
Beane made what seemed like a fair deal at the time, but in hindsight it was an awful trade. No reason to deny that.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Meyer
Even if he didn't get injured, which happened while pitching in the A's minor leagues, Beane got a minor league pitcher and a minor league outfielder for Huddy. To me, that wasn't enough, and over the last three seasons the return for Hudson has been terrible. Trades get evaluated on how the players turn out just as much as how highly "regarded" the players are at the time of the trade.
by IndianaAsfan on May 3, 2007 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Actually
Meyer was very likely injured when he was traded to the A's, but no one knew it at the time. Meyer began having shoulder tightness immediatley upon pitching for the A's during Spring Training, and it was later (after 2 years of wasted time) discovered to be a bone chip. It's easy to say now with the benefit of hindsight that you knew all along that the Hudson trade was a bad deal, but Meyer was actually a higher rated prospect than Haren with about the same amount of major league experience. I doubt you would be bragging about how you were against the Hudson trade if Meyer had been as good as Haren has been. Beane made a reasonable trade that turned out badly, shit just happens sometimes.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Meyer hurt himself shortly after joining the A's
He felt the pop while working out with his new teammates.
Bone chips don't appear overnight
He may have had his first symptom with the A's but he was a ticking time bomb at the time of the trade. Not blaming the Braves or the A's medical staff, just countering IndianaAsfan implication that Meyer was a minor league pitcher who was hurt after going down to Sacramento. If Meyer had been healthy in Spring Training his first year, he would have been a starter for us in 2005.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Check the numbers
Meyer was very good pitching for Atlanta IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES. We should only trade for prospects who happened to pitch a few innings in the World Series? That's kind of silly, dude.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions
No I never said
that. What's silly is that you are saying they had equal major league experience. That is simply overstating Meyer's experience as compared to Haren's. Tell me where I said we should only trade for prospects who have pitched a few innings in the World Series. I was only comparing Haren to Meyer.
And, for the record, Dan Meyer has 2.2 innings of Major League experience. TOTAL. At the time of the trade Haren had 119.
by IndianaAsfan on May 3, 2007 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Even you said
the bone chip wasn't diagnosed until two years of wasted time. How do you know he had them when acquired? You don't hear a "pop" because you have bone chips. Bone chips wear and cause inflamation over time that causes chronic soreness and fatigue. Not a "popping" sound.
Here is what I am basing my assertion on. Meyer stated he was looking forward to trying to make the starting rotation when he arrived. Now, he could have been hiding an injury, but you have no way of knowing he was ticking time bomb at the time of the trade. That is a conclusion you are jumping to. It is just as correct to conclude he was hurt while pitching in the A's minor league system.
by IndianaAsfan on May 3, 2007 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Here's the problem with that
He was showing symptoms (reduced velocity) in Spring Training, before he ever got to the minors. No one will ever know when the bone chip actually appeared, but when you have a pitcher who sat at 90-92 and touched 94 suddenly sitting at 85-86 while touching 88 it's hard for me to believe he was not already injured in Spring Training of 2005. The only injury he has ever been diagnosed with is the bone chip in his shoulder. Occam's razor.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Let me clarify
Meyer has said that the injury occurred shortly after joining the A's. He was working out with some of the other Oakland pitchers when he felt something in his shoulder.
Maybe "pop" was an inaccurate term on my part, I was just trying to illustrate that he knew when his injury happened. So yes, his velocity was down during his 1st ST with the organization but it was because of an injury that happened to him AFTER he joined the A's.
when Halsey was working out the 1st time ...
... he felt his arm go "mom and pop."
Don't presume
It isn't with the benefit of hindsight that I am criticize. I was against the Hudson trade from day 1, and I'm not "bragging" about it, merely stating that in my opinion it was an awful trade. I happened to be right this time, while I've been wrong in the past. Explain how that is bragging, or how it makes the trade somehow not awful?
As far as their comparative experience goes, tell me, when did Meyer pitch in the World Series? Haren did, and pitched well. It is absurd to say they had the same amount of major league experience at the time the trades occurred. Haren had successful Major League experience while Meyer didn't.
by IndianaAsfan on May 3, 2007 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions
see above comment
went in the wrong place
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes, the trade was good
at the time. And if Beane were merely a poster here, that would be all that matters. But he isn't. As the GM, as a GM, I would assume that he has access to more info than posters on A's Nation.
As a GM, he's going to be judged on the process and the results. If he's going to be called a genius for the Mulder-Haren trade, or for signing Hurt, then he has to take some criticism for how the Hudson-Meyer trade turned out.
I already said the trade was awful in hindsight
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
You also said shit just happens
I assumed by that that you meant that Beane is blameless.
I think that the trade was better than
keeping Langerhans, although I dont know if Snelling is much better
by 3Chavy3 on May 3, 2007 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
AN Day
BBG, I just sent you money for 2 tickets.
Langerhans for Snelling
Before we break an arm from patting ourselves on the back over this deal, it should be pointed out the Snelling has been very injury prone to this point in his career. How ijury prone you ask?
Well, Snelling made his big league debut in 2002. From 2002-2006 he has appeared in 291 games, not counting playoffs. In comparison, the injury prone Milton Bradley has appeared in 533 games in the same time frame.
YIKES!!!
yeah, he makes Bradley look durable
and I don't think anyone would argue that he's as talented as Bradley
I would
He's not going to reach that level now, but he definately could have been a better player than Bradley were he not made of china.
by Graham MacAree on May 3, 2007 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah,
and I would just as good as Bradley if I wasn't slow, fat, and generally over the hill. To say he would have been as talented is pointless. The fact is, he isn't as talented.
by IndianaAsfan on May 3, 2007 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Perhaps I wasn't clear
Just to ensure that we're all on the same page, 'talent' is not the same thing as 'performance'. Please forgive me for my silly assumption that everyone would know this beforehand.
by Graham MacAree on May 3, 2007 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
thanks for your clarification
I did specifically say "talented" and you did specifically say "better player".
Based on their track record I don't see any reason to say that Snelling was more talented than Bradley or that he was a better player.
Scouting reports
Snelling was a favorite of scouts before he had the life sucked out him by injuries. He had real hitting talent before the injuries. Hopefully he can regain some of that glory, although this is probably the last organization for an injury prone player to suddenly become healthy.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions
I'd prefer to base it on
actual performance Both Bradley and Snelling have a track record.
But I understand there are other ways people like to compare players.
Huh?
Graham's point was that he believed that Snelling could have been as good of a player as Bradley if he had not been injured. You don't think old scouting reports about a prospect are valuable for determining what talent a player had? I don't think Graham was arguing that Snelling has a better track record than Bradley, and I know I wasn't.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions
He said he'd argue that Snelling
would have been a better player than Bradley.
I don't dicsount the value of scouting reports, particularly with players who don't have much of a pro track record. But when there is that record -- as there are with these two -- I think their actual performance is more important....and I see no evidence that Snelling was, is or theoretically could have been better than Bradley.
To each is own, I guess
btw, I don't personally think Snelling was ever as talented as Bradley. Bradley was a tremendous prospect who hasn't met his full potential because of injuries and behavioral issues. There were prospect experts and scouts that really loved Snelling, though, and he unquestionably had talent, and hopefully could regain some of that talent with better health.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Snelling being a ridiculously good hitter
Before getting injured?
by Graham MacAree on May 3, 2007 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Well Bradley did
have that one year in Cleveland at the age of 25 in 2003 when he went crazy and hit 321-421-501, 151 OPS+ in 451 PAs.
yep
But we didn't give up Ethier for him, either. Snelling will probably be the same injury prone and otherwise uninspiring guy he has been in the last few years. Of course, we also acquired a guy for nothing last year who had just been outcast from two organizations because he couldn't throw strikes, and now he is our 4th starter. Acquiring talent (and Snelling has talent) for nothing is always a good thing in my mind.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions
On this team, needing offensive help
I agree with the trade. But lets not count on Snelling just yet. He may be the better hitter but he has a horrible time getting onto the field.
Yes
Anybody who is counting on Snelling to be our savior is smoking chronic. I fully expect him to stub his toe getting off the plane to Tampa Bay and miss the next six months.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Friday's lineup, LOL.
Stewart LF
Ellis 2B
Chavez 3B
Johnson 1B
Crosby SS
Cust DH
Snelling CF
Putnam RF
Kendall C
that's ugly
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions
if you're kendall
aren't you annoyed that you are hitting behind 3 guys who weren't on the team a week ago? I guess it is comforting for him to go home to his $13MM paycheck.
looks about right
but snelling in RF and putnam in CF.
what's amazing is that after adding both cust and snelling for nothing, a AA player will still be in our starting lineup.
Adding for nothing...
you're assuming that the Brave and Padres will settle for cash.
Which is what I hope happens but it hasn't happened yet.
that's not what i meant
we added both cust and snelling to the lineup for nothing, meaning we didn't trade away anyone who would be in friday's lineup for two players who will be.
yet a AA outfielder will still be starting on friday.
good question
his knee problems are definitely mentioned as being the reason why he no longer has the range to play CF.
2008 Lineup?
Did we just grab 2 starting OF's and a DH for 2008 in the last week?
Denofria CF
Ellis 2B
Chavez 3B
Swisher 1B
Crosby SS
Cust DH
Buck RF
Snelling LF
Suzuki C
Maybe Daric will be ready by then and replace Cust. This would assume Milton and Kotsay disappear. On paper, I don't think that lineup looks half bad. Not a ton of power, but should post a very high obp.
Did Cust get called up?
by 3Chavy3 on May 3, 2007 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Bring up Charles Thomas
by Hawk on May 3, 2007 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Can he be brought up now?
I agree with what you posted, but thought someone earlier posted something about not being able to bring him up right now? I know Bocachica isn't available until May 15 ...
by Randy Bell on May 3, 2007 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Any notion that we'll see Daric Barton?
If this has been mentioned...sorry. I'm on my lunch break and don't get much time to read. Quick scans only.
Go A's!
by letsgoas on May 3, 2007 12:54 PM PDT reply actions
haven't seen that yet
but I hope not. He's not hitting that well in Sacramento, and as one of the team's top prospects he really would benefit from getting himself together at AAA first.
Daric Barton
Thats an excellent question. I was hoping that Barton was going to be called up as well. Let's see what the kid can do.
Why?
There's no good reason to call up Barton at this point. He is still learning to play defense, and he is not hitting for average or power. At his young age, Barton should be in the minors. It would do him no good and the A's no good to have him in the majors at this point.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Agree with you here
I may have disagreed above, but I think you've hit the nail on the head here. He needs time in the minors to get his swing and timing right before being brought up.
by IndianaAsfan on May 3, 2007 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I must confess
I'm starting to get a little worried about Barton's lack of power. I will probably end up looking stupid when he's hitting .310/.410/.490 in a few years, but I am having a hard time getting excited about a poor defensive player who not only doesn't hit home runs, but no doubles or triples either. If Barton was a catcher or a great defensive CF I wouldn't be worried. As a 1B or DH he needs to develop power or he may be the next Sean Borroughs. He is still young, though, and was rushed to AAA, so hope remains.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Snelling an A
the guy can't hit much, walks a TON (9 in 49AB this year), and gets injured often, shoulda been an A a long time ago.
yes indeed
by 3Chavy3 on May 3, 2007 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions
I will give Beane credit
for trying to make the team better and not just sitting there
by 3Chavy3 on May 3, 2007 1:13 PM PDT reply actions
What's interesting...
...is that we rarely see this much transaction activity this early in the year -- rare among a lot of teams, but with the A's in particular. The only deal I remember Beane making before June prior to this season was the Jeremy Giambi for John Mabry deal in 2002, and trading Frank Menechino to the Blue Jays in 2004.
But this early part to the season's probably nuttier than most in terms of injuries -- even for the A's, so it's probably warranted.
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on May 3, 2007 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah
by 3Chavy3 on May 3, 2007 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions
OT, but omg, check this out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlTvS...
the sad thing
is that the views are up to almost a million. That's almost a million people who went "eh".
Haha!
OMG! I had no idea what ghostriding was until I saw an episode of the Girls Next Door where they did that. I know, I know! Sorry, but the GND is a guilty pleasure. I love Holly. She's a blonde bitch like me. Just wish I had her body and her face. Got her brains though, so I'm one for three. That makes me better than most of the A's.
Cust an A indeed
Career .222 hitter, with a .333 OBP, our kinda guy.
by asfansince1989 on May 3, 2007 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions
I think we will see some good things from...
D. Putnam... he is a great hitter!
I wonder
If Calvin Pickering wasn't available...
by mikedaviswhereareyou on May 3, 2007 1:52 PM PDT reply actions
Elroy not allowed on the plane
no where to put him to maintain the weight balance.
When we win the world series this Oct
How many rings do the team have to order? It seems like we've rotated about 185 guys on and off the team already.
Hey, I like that ..
.. Optimism! .. :)
by Randy Bell on May 3, 2007 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions
First promotion
in 2008 is "Buy a ticket, get your World Series Ring."
by IndianaAsfan on May 3, 2007 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions
And now Cust!
This off-season sure is a lot of fun!
(What? They're playing games already?)
over/under on next injury?
bets as to who the next player to hit the DL will be? chavy? crosby? ellis? snelling? with this lineup there is no wrong answer...
Crosby and Ellis...
are both pretty fragile, and Stewart has bad feet. So we have lots of untapped potential for placing players on the DL.
This should be an official diary...
i'm guessing that Chavvy will definitely go down and go down hard.
No - CHavez isn't allowed to go on the DL
He'll be hurt, yes - but as long as they can wheel him out there, and he has a left hand to put a glove on, and one other extending portion of his body to which move the ball towards first - Beane will make sure he's still on the field.
I think all three
Ellis and Crosby chase a fly ball while Stewart charges hard. Ellis, partly for retribution from their last collision, slams into Crosby, breaking his sternum. Ellis then bounces off and steps on Stewart's foot, re-injuring him, and in the process Ellis sustains a "high ankle" sprain.
by IndianaAsfan on May 3, 2007 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions
That's not all
A couple pitchers are so bummed-out by the three-way meltdown they hurt their elbows throwing fits in the bullpen.
You have it all wrong :)
Next time in LAA-la-land: Kendall charges Lackey on the mound - something about Lackey saying, "You're such a little 'Doll'" {magic words}. Benches clear, bullpens too. After ten minutes, the dust settles, only to find that:
- Embree pulled a hammy and dislocated his left shoulder running out to the melee and then tripping over the mound. -> 15-day DL
- Duke arrived early to the fracus and fractured his right tibia in a wrestling match with Vlad. -> 15-day DL
- Kendall broke both arms, as it turned out Lackey had been practicing Kung-Fu in the offseason and salivating for the opportunity. -> 60-day DL
- Escobar and Kiko got into it in the outfield before reaching the main brawl, Kiko threw a slider that hit Kelvim and ricocheted back into his right {now broken} pelvis. -> 60-day DL
- Haren and Weaver also got into a fight in the outfield and both pitchers hurled 90mph fastballs at each other, fractured ribs for both. -> 15-day DL {for Danny, we don't care about Halos injuries}
- Melhuse and Molina broke one another's jaws out on the mound. Catchers are awfully strong. -> 15-day DL {for Adam, again we don't care about Halos injuries}
- OK I give you that, earlier in the game the 3-way collision between Stew, Ellie, and Croz did in fact occur. all three -> 15-day DL
and finally:
- Rene Lachemann is acting manager now because Geren and Scoscia are both in the hospital with broken ribs.
- Nico decided to put Mossback, Grover, and Blamechannel53 on the 15-day DL because AN needs to empathize with the team.
by Randy Bell on May 3, 2007 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions
There's that word again...
"fragile"
When you shred a shoulder while diving full-speed toward a 200-lb guy who is also diving full speed, you're not fragile, you're normal (even for an athlete). Ditto for finger bones breaking when they have a hard object (eg., a baseball) strike them at a high rate of speed and crush them against another hard object (eg., a bat). And I don't know exactly what the thumb hit when it got broken during a slide, but I'm sure there's a long list of players that have broken/dislocated fingers while sliding.
What are Ellis' other injuries that have caused him to miss substantial playing time over 5+ years? I can think of a grand total of three instances, where he missed only a couple of games each time: food poisoning, sore shoulder and last month's trapezius-plunking. I see no extraordinary fragility there. If anything, it took a hell of a lot of resilience to come back to normal from that shoulder injury.
Sorry, the "Ellis is fragile" characterization irritates the bejebus out of me.
Harden is fragile. Kotsay & Bradley are at least fragile-like. And Crosby is... well, probably too brittle to withstand his own playing style.
Is "injury-prone" any better?
Certain players have a propensity for getting hurt, one way or another.
No.
Most players don't suffer a major freak injury that causes them to lose a whole season, but I think having two medium dents (broken fingers) and two very minor sorenesses over the course of 3.5 seasons in the starting lineup is pretty normal. Instead of saying that somebody normal who had one major injury is "injury-prone," we should be saying guys like Kendall or (so far) Haren are "luck-prone." They're the aberrations.
Last year's ALCS
might have gone differently if Ellie had been playing.
Bad timing :(
Of course, Milton needed help from more teammates than just Ellie if we wanted to win the ALCS...
Agree
Losing Ellis to have D'Angelo Jimenez play second hurt us a lot - but the way we played {Milton being the only guy who was hot} we probably would have lost anyway. :)
by Randy Bell on May 4, 2007 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Bradley has a wrist injury!?
In the Fox Sports article it suggests that Bradely also has a wrist injury. First time I've heard about that. Anybody know what's up?
Didn't something similar occur last year. He was on the DL in May and then hurt something else while on the DL.
by bolt on May 3, 2007 3:52 PM PDT reply actions
Who is Cust?
where is Beane finding these guys? Bring back Durazo!
He's been cust and discust already
please try to keep up.
you discust me
If I become such an afficionado of Jack that I lose my mental faculties, could I be called a Custard?
Hold out hope for him long after others ...
give up and that would be the Custard's last stand.
Joe Blanton's reaction to the Cust trade: "We're getting custard? Cool!"
Yankees fire their conditioning coach
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/s...
Perhaps the A's can hire this guy!
by bolt on May 3, 2007 4:00 PM PDT reply actions
The Angels lose!!! THEEEE Angels loooose!!
Mwaahhaa!
Matsuzaka -Ichiro update!
Ichiro walked dammit!! Stay tuned...
Why couldn't we have faced this dud...
Dice-K walks the first three batters.
Well, the Sox waited till today to leave their...
gloves home. Dice-K sucks btw, 2H, 3BB, 5ER, 1 out, 31 pitches in the first. And we got Schilling and Beckett! what kind of luck do we have?!
Haha! 2 errors, i guess some of those runs were..
unearned...
So far, the guy Dice-K
Blanton, however, is a lot cheaper!
Well, right now he looks that way...
but I think he seems to resemble Tim Hudson in his compact delivery and his huge assortment of pitches. Hudson also had days when he would give up quite a few runs. He does not have the experience or the fiery nature. Definitely not worth that much money though...
{Blanton} will hold out next season for 103-Mil
.. but Beane and Forst say, "No Way" ..
by Randy Bell on May 3, 2007 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Zambrano has pea brain...
He seem to have one inning each game
where the hitters get inside his little pea-brain and have their way with him.
Blanton is just a little country...
Blanton is a grinder and wins
He does not have the best stuff but he has decent stuff and he always keeps us in games. He is also a work horse and eats up innings which is very important. I think the critism is a little unfair.
by 3Chavy3 on May 3, 2007 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions
depends what region we're playing in
Sometimes Blanton is indeed a grinder. Sometimes he's a hoagie. In his rookie year, he was often a sub. Occasionally ... he's a hero.
My point was simple
In the typical Blanton game, he has one bad inning. That's not an unfair criticism, it's God's honest truth.
The same could be said
If Snelling hits one right back at Rhodes
and Rhodes just barely catches it in the tip of his glove, is Arthur Snow-Conin' Doyle?
and our common erstwhile OF nemesis ...
More E-error T (Long)
Dice-K just gave up 2 more runs in the 5th
Game tied 7-7 in the middle of 5th inning .. Boston batting ..
by Randy Bell on May 3, 2007 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I wish we had a Lincecum...
instead we are stuck with Windsor and Komine. Those guys are great but what was Beane doing when Cain and Lincecum came up in the draft? Unfortunately, that talent on the A's always gets injured... (see Hudson, Mulder, Harden)
yeah, I wish we had prospects like the Giants do
{kills self}
The Giants' prospects
are on our DL right now.
The A's were too busy having winning seasons
In 2002 they drafted Swisher and Blanton before Cain went to the Giants.
In 2006 the Giants drafted Lincecum with the 10th overall pick.
I'm sorry you don't approve of the A's winning ballgames, maybe this season will be different. Would that make you feel better?
Dammit, grover!!
Quit letting your facts get in the way of his opinions.
by BlameChannel53 on May 3, 2007 7:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Who would win
In an intra-squad game between the A's starters and the A's DL, how would you pick?
It depends--
Healthy or in the current condition
and which team gets stuck w/Kendall?
by IndianaAsfan on May 3, 2007 5:37 PM PDT up reply actions
By the end of the game
there would be nobody left on the starters' team, prolly.
In an eating contest?
I'd have to say the DL players cuz they have Swish and Pizza. But the starters do have Cupcakes... hmmm, actually I dunno...
No way for Ruby
Durazo has signed to play in the Mexican League.
A's Homepage link about Cust:
http://messages.yahoo.com/Recreation...
by letsgoas on May 3, 2007 5:39 PM PDT reply actions
Oh fudge!!
Now we're stuck with Custard!
Is that sole or joint
Custardy of the joint
goes to the swift
if he's late to the hearing, he's Custardy
Meet your new DH, Jack Cust
From the Padres AAA Team:
by cautiousoptimist on May 3, 2007 6:28 PM PDT reply actions
Can someone explain this to me?
"Another potential caretaker of the DH spot apparently is no longer an option. Erubiel Durazo, who competed for a return to the A's during Spring Training and subsequently talked of retirement when the club wanted to outright him to Triple-A, has since signed to play in the Mexican Baseball League." -Tom Singer for mlb.com
Why is it exactly that we want to pay with a PTBNL or cash for a guy who can hit only fastballs while Durazo (who didn't exactly suck in ST) goes back to Mexico? Does anyone think this Cust character will be any better than the guy we already had signed a month ago?
Can someone tell me
how much the tickets are for AN IV? I'm thinking about coming out from Connecticut. My b-day is Aug. 6, and what better way to spend it that watching the A's win...
by Connecticut Fan on May 3, 2007 7:12 PM PDT reply actions
32 bucks per reservation
You can paypal to baseballgirl - the email is listed on her AN profile. :)
by Randy Bell on May 3, 2007 7:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Question: Is Papelbon ok?
Probably the former
needing two days off .. the RedSox said they would be very careful with Pap this year, to keep him healthy the whole season. :)
by Randy Bell on May 3, 2007 7:49 PM PDT up reply actions
check
<imgscr="http://www.prosportspictures.com/images/mlb/oakland-athletics/2005/05-jason-kendall-studio.jpg">
by letsgoas on May 5, 2007 6:06 PM PDT reply actions
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