(Reasonable) changes that need to be made NOW

by Crosbino on Jun 26, 2007 11:15 PM PDT

Look, the reality is that Chavez is going nowhere and Crosby is likely staying put as well. Dude's got next to ZERO trade value. Injuries are killing us and we may have little chance to make the playoffs. But even if this is a rebuilding year, then why aren't we rebuilding?

There are some changes that could be made immediately to help right the ship a bit ...

DFA Kendall: Come on, the Angels would do it. Salary be damned. Kendall isn't performing (at all) and his contract runs out in October. How much money could we possibly lose by doing this? And Suzuki is no savior but he can't be worse than Kendall's been. Call up Closser as a backup and go with it. Really can't hurt at this point.

Make Casilla the temporary closer: Again, can't really be worse than Embree was tonight and hey, he COULD be special. Seems worth a shot anyway.

Call up Barton/bench DJ: I know he's 21 and that we don't want to eat into his clock or whatever and I know his hot month is only one month and is therefore a small sample size ... but you know what? Hitting .500 over an entire month is no fluke. He's been getting better all year. What does he need to do ... hit .500 all year before he gets called up? I know he's young but consider that when he comes up for a new contract (say in 2011 or whenever), we'll be in Fremont, presumably with more money to spend to keep him. If he's a special player, then he should be here. No need to wait until he's 23 or 24. Tejada was up with us at 20, Chavez at 20 or 21. If he's the real deal, let's not waste anymore time.

Let Cust play the field if it means getting Piazza in the lineup: I know Cust is a butcher out there, but that kind of lineup worked for us in 99 and 00 ... why not now? We might need to put a team out there that can bludgeon the ball a bit, fielding be damned for a while.

Think about it: Suzuki/Piazza replace Kendall, Cust replaces Stewart/Kotsay production, Barton replaces DJ. Can we really be any worse? Aren't these reasonable suggestions?

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great diary

agree on everything.

Lets go Oakland! Check out my blog:http://sportsrus33.blogspot.com/

by bballfanr33 on Jun 26, 2007 11:20 PM PDT reply actions

Partial Agreement

Crosbino, I agree with Barton getting called up and starting at 1st. DJ should be traded. I also agree Piazza should be in the line-up ASAP even if it means Cust in LF ocasionally. I also think Stewart should play more often in LF because he is a proven hitter. I don't think you DFA Kendall. I just think Suzuki should be starting more often. At least 3 times a week. We have a perfect opportunity for Kurt to learn some invaluable lessons on handling pitchers from Kendall. Lets take advantage of that. I don't mind Castilla closing if Harden can't. He is pitching the best among the relievers and already has that closers mentality.

" Small World, Big Island"

by thebabe on Jun 26, 2007 11:32 PM PDT reply actions

here here!

"I hope he arouses the fire that's dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul." - Ichiro on Matsuzaka

by ConditionOakland on Jun 26, 2007 11:34 PM PDT reply actions

A few comments

I agree on the Kendall DFA, if only because he would be too tempting for Garen to not use if he was benched because of his "grit."

I don't agree with Castillo closing. Castillo is still new and had control issues in AAA so there is no guarantee he wouldn't have blown two saves by now just like Embree. At this point I still think Embree is the best equipped to handle the stress of blowing a save.

Also, Barton should not be called up until after the Allstar Break. We are so close to the mid-point the A's would only be hurting themselves by not waiting two weeks to call up Barton so he could gain the extra year under contract.

by Threepwood XX on Jun 27, 2007 12:25 AM PDT reply actions

Who is Castillo? 1st Garcia, then Casilla, now?

Castillo?? Did I miss a name change again?

by Hawk on Jun 27, 2007 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Piazza, DJ, Kennedy should be traded

if this is really a rebuilding year. Basically anyone not under contract for 2008 should go. A young CF (ie ready late 2008) has to be the top priority given that Kotsay is gone after 2008, and might not be healthy or good anyway. Swisher clearly can't handle CF on anything but an emergency basis.

by WaddellCanseco on Jun 27, 2007 4:54 AM PDT reply actions

Partial Agreement

Please someone DFA Kendall.
1B: Swisher, Barton
OF: Swisher, Stewart, Buck, Cust
DH: Cust, Piazza
C: Suzuki, Piazza
P1 Haren

P2 Blanton
P3 Loaiza
P4 Gaudin
P5 Meyer

Kotsay needs to ride the pine (defensive replacement).
DUMP DJ & Kennedy for Brayan Pena (Braves C)

Lets go A's

by Jackson_A on Jun 27, 2007 5:12 AM PDT reply actions

I agree with everything but #1

No sense in DFA'ing Kendall at this point. He can at least provide solid pitch-calling from the bench. Also, his OPS is >.600 in June, a dramatic improvement (only half joking).

The move I'd like to see is to get into the Kevin Garnett trade talks and see if we can't dump Chavez and Crosby. Garnett would probably play a decent 1B and would provide some much needed fire to the team.

We can play Barton at 3B (I'm sure grover noticed how well he's hit since his mover over there....).

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Jun 27, 2007 6:05 AM PDT reply actions

Garnett, really?

The guy can't get out of the first round of the playoffs, and despite his "fire" he can't really carry a team.

Yeah, I know we moved on last post-season, but do we need more guys that don't know how to? get out of the first round

by timed exposure on Jun 27, 2007 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Given our position in the AL standings

I think worrying about how we'll do in the playoffs is like Alan Keyes worrying what color drapes he'll put up in the White House when he is elected president.

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

by BlameChannel53 on Jun 27, 2007 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Undervalued

NBA stars who can't get out of the first round of the playoffs are the new undervalued baseball commodity.

Will there ever be a boy born who can swim faster than a shark?

by JLeverenz on Jun 27, 2007 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't agree with DFA Kendall,

when you can just switch Suzuki and Kendall's roles and get value (mentoring/coaching as well as catching) from Kendall for your money. But I agree with all the other points, especially #4 which makes far more sense than ever playing Piazza in the field.

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 Jun 27, 2007 3:23 PM PDT reply actions

Agreed

I just figured that Kendall wouldn't appreciate sitting for a 23 year old rookie. But who knows?

by Crosbino on Jun 27, 2007 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions

For my several million dollars,

I don't really care what Kendall appreciates. If he wants to play, he should try hitting better than .220.

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 Jun 27, 2007 8:48 PM PDT up reply actions