3's a crowd: Kendall, Suzuki, Piazza

so keep him and trade the other two busts.

But I am still not convinced that Piazza will actually see anything more than 2-3 games at catcher this year.  One possible explanation for the A's slowing down Piazza's return "so he can regain arm strength to catch" is the fact that Cust has put up a 1.007 OPS while Piazza delivered a .718 OPS.  I am sure Billy would like to see Cust continue to get more chances at DH, and may not be in any particular hurry to see Piazza return.  Piazza is unlikely to exceed an .800 OPS given that he will be rusty from his off time, and Cust is showing that he has the potential to make adjustments and is likely to exceed Piazza's production.  It would not surprise me if Piazza conveniently takes until July to begin a rehab assignment, and then ends up spending a couple of weeks in Sacramento, delaying his return until after the All-Star break.  At that time, if Cust continues to produce, Piazza's role would likely be reduced to pinch hitter, very occasional catcher, and DH on days Cust plays OF or takes a day off.  Suzuki would likely return to Sacramento from Piazza's return in mid-July to get 45 days of at bats in AAA until September 1st.  Piazza would likely not catch many games in July and August, and by September Suzuki would takes over all catching on days Kendall does not catch.  I just don't foresee much of a role for Piazza on this team absent further injuries.  Kendall's return to pulling the ball with authority likely guarantees his status in Oakland throughout 2007.

He got 3 hits and made two runs.  And Millwood actually won a game today!  So I guess Adam really does suck.

As far as the catcher 22 (he he), I think Suzuki will be sent back down, Piazza will have maybe 3 starts as catcher (and that is a guess on the high end) and Kendall will continue to play every single day.  Good for him!

I would think that Billy would want to keep Cust around (i.e. not have to release him) this year so he would have him next year. Piazza's on a one-year contract and Cust would be a super cheap DH for next year.  

I would speculate that the A's maybe trying to get Piazza healthy so that they can shop him at the trade deadline to both American and National League teams, keeping Suzuki as intern, Kendall as mentor and Cust as DH. If Duke and Street can not mend quickly, the A's may seek some short term bullpen help for Piazza who is expendable and highly paid.

to keep options open.  Any of the scenarios mentioned above could happen, or maybe not.  If you bring him up now, though, Suzuki has to stay on the active roster which means something has to be done with Cust, Stewart or someone else.  I don't think Beane knows what the next move will be - but he has a whole bunch of contingency plans and this is the (non-) move that keeps the most options open.  I would not discount the possibility of moving Johnson, Piazza, Calero, Cust, Kennedy, Stewart, Crosby, Gaudin, Harden, Barton - it just depends what other teams want and are willing to give.  This way Beane can play his hand from the most angles.  The only players that would be very difficult to pry away are Buck, Haren and Blanton (with Gaudin, Street and Elis not far behind in terms of being off-limits).

But basically, Kendall is a net plus to the team by his calling a good game.

From the story last night:
"Blanton threw 106 pitches with 76 strikes in an efficient eight-inning outing. The right-hander, who started in Oakland's two shortest games this year, had a six-pitch, six-strike first inning and kept up the quick pace -- getting through five on 53 pitches with 40 strikes.

It helps that he hasn't had to shake off a pitch call by catcher Jason Kendall, well, in as long as Blanton can remember.

'I don't know -- maybe last year,' he said."

If Kendall is responsible for giving up 4 fewer runs per start but also for scoring 3 fewer runs per night, it's a net gain.