D’s, O’s and Don’t It Just Make Sense

by oaklandfan40 on Jul 30, 2007 12:22 PM PDT Comment 10 comments

You’ll have to forgive me because I started to write this at work last Friday when I thought we’d take 3 of 4 from Seattle and before we scored 10 runs (and STILL lost!). Though I was pleased to see that the A’s did send out a somewhat more offensive minded line up (DJ, Cust, Swisher and Piazza all in one line up) and it paid off with some runs....

So aside from a small prospect trade here or there is doesn’t look like (surprise, surprise) our offense can expect any Teixerias, Dyes or Tejadas coming to help anytime soon (and we may even lose a Piazza/Stewart in the process), so it appears this is the team we’re going to need to make work (ie. play way above their pay grade in August and September to make things interesting).

If my addition is correct, our boys have played in 32 One Run Games this year. And since I’m not like most ANers and can’t find out where to look up how many extra inning games we’ve played this year, I’m going go with 5 because I don’t think we’ve played more than that.

All of which you need to keep in mind when I make the statement (that all of major league baseball thinks is absolutely ridiculous) of the A’s need to start playing like it’s little league or pre-"this time it counts" All-Star Game baseball and get everyone in the game.

The truly biggest problem with this team is we’ve got two guys in DJ and Cust who are much better offensively than five guys (Kotsay, Suzuki, Murphy, Scutaro, and Ellis), who are superior defensively and in positions that the first two guys can’t play. You know, kind of like little league. So it just seems natural to me that since we play a hell of a lot more close games than extra inning games to use EVERYONE at your disposal during a nine inning game.

Facing a #1 or #2 where offensive is going to be a premium? Save your heavy hitters for later in the game and send out your best defense to keep it close. Facing a #4 or #5, go with the thunder and left your defensive guys come in later to protect the lead.

For example, start Cust in RF, Swisher in CF, Stewart in LF with DJ at first for a better offensive chance and replace them after the 7th or 8th if it doesn’t look like they’ll get another shot up with Kotsay in CF, Buck in RF (he can pinch run for Cust too or pinch hit for Ellis, Murphy, Suzuki, etc) Swisher at 1B and whoever Buck pinch hit for with whatever IF was on the bench.

Or, if you’ve gone Defense first, pinch hit a Cust/DJ for a Kotsay/Suzuki/Murphy/Scutaro/Ellis and use the other guy on your bench as a defensive replacement. Suzuki should be catching, but who says he’s got to play 9 innings every game? What’s wrong with 3 ABs and 6-7 innings, a pinch hitter in a key spot and a back up catcher (you know, who’s been in the bullpen warming up the reliever coming in) for 2-3 innings?

Oh, that’s right, because what if the back up catcher gets hurt of you’ve used all your guys and the game is tied? Hmmm, isn’t part of being an Oakland Athletic playing the numbers and likelihoods (ie. 32 one run games where a pinch hitter may have changed the game vs. 5 extra inning games)...

Just a thought for AN and Oakland Management to consider for the rest of the season and maybe into next season since I can’t see any of our guys suddenly become offensive studs or us going out a getting a true 3-4-5 guy. Though it would be nice to at least add some speed (which seems to be cheaper) to next year’s roster.

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6-4 in extra innings

by NYC A's Fan on Jul 30, 2007 12:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bench use has definitely been a problem this year

It bears mentioning, though, that a lot of the reason the A's have used the bench so little during games is related to injuries; there have been times this year when only 10 or 11 position players were actually healthy enough to go.

I think this is an area the A's need to improve on next season. I see the outfield bench as fairly solid, with Denorfia and Snelling both solid replacements (and as avid readers know, I've been advocating that Denorfia get Kotsay's job next year, but MK would be an adequate bench guy too). The infield needs to improve. If Murphy can take Crosby's job, Crosby'll probably get traded, but if not he'd be an adequate defensive replacement/pinch runner. Murphy himself is not a great fielder, but he's an OK baserunner.

The odd man out here is Marco Scutaro. I love Marco like a brother (OK, I exaggerate for effect-- more like a short, Venezuelan second cousin) but his usefulness for the A's is coming to an end. He's not a plus-anything (fielder, hitter, baserunner) so he really offers very little value as an in-game sub. Added to which, he's likely to make upwards of $1.5M next season.

I feel Gregorio Petit should have that place on the roster next season. Some may disagree, but I feel he offers more flexibility (and his 22 steals last year show that he has decent speed).

by PaulThomas on Jul 30, 2007 1:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't view Snelling

as an adequate bench guy. You cannot rely on him, IMO, until he proves he's healthy. There's no guarantee he'll even want to play next year with another surgery on the knee. There has to be another outfielder in the plans to take his spot when he inevitably breaks down.

by IndianaAsfan on Jul 30, 2007 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then add Jason Perry

for some pop as a pinch-hitter.

by PaulThomas on Jul 30, 2007 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree IndianaAsfan

Snelling hasn't proved anything except that he gets hurt a lot. What until he plays a few months without injury and then you can depend on him.

A's all the way in 07 . . . oh never mind!

by micdog2001 on Jul 30, 2007 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Travis Buck

...is in the starting line-up ahead DJ and Cust regardless of approach. Additionally neither DJ or Cust get playing time in lieu of Ellis, Suzuki or Murphy. They are part of a pool of OF/IB/DH types. However they are not interchangeable parts. DJ is only a 1B/DH, Cust is an OFer out of desperation and Kotsay while off of his game is the only one who plays an acceptable CF. There is a limit to how much defense you can give up. The reality is that at times Geren is shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.

by NoeValley on Jul 30, 2007 2:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I guess I don't view

Murphy as being superior defensively and worse than DJ offensively. Since he's been getting regular playing time Murphy has out hit DJ. And neither Cust or DJ plays SS, 2b, or 3b, so I don't understand the comparison between them and Ellis, Scutaro, and Murphy anyway. And as NoeValley mentioned above, you've completely forgotten Travis Buck, who is better offensively AND defensively than DJ.

by IndianaAsfan on Jul 30, 2007 5:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Murphy outhitting DJ?

First, over their last ten Murphy is 4-20 to DJ's 4-32. Which means Murphy is two hits better and his career 1 HR per 125 ABs compared to DJs 1:27 again makes DJ my option if the game's on the line.

Secondly, I can compare Cust and DJ to anyone on the team because I'm using everyone on the team. If my SS Murphy is coming to bat in a key situation and I have DJ on the bench, I can pinch hit my 1B DJ for my SS Murphy because my back up SS Scutaro can go in the next inning to play SS.

As for Travis Buck, yes, he's a better option and therefore the best offensive line up of current A's would go LF Stewart, CF Buck, RF Cust, 1B Swisher, 2B Ellis, SS Murphy, 3B Hmmm.... with Piazza at DH and DJ my first pinch hit opition for Ellis, Murphy or Scutaro if he's playing 3B.

"Baseball is like a church. Many attend, but few understand." - Wes Westrum

by oaklandfan40 on Jul 30, 2007 5:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I said since

he's been getting regular playing time, so his career HR/AB isn't relevant to that discussion. I merely meant that over the last two weeks he's been the better hitter, not just is pure average, but also in driving in runs. I agree that in a pinch hitting role I'd rather have DJ do it, assuming the pitcher is RH and there's not a Piazza or Cust available.
And your diary mentions playing your big offensive players against the 4 or 5 and leaving the defensive players to come in later. That doesn't make sense when you're comparing DJ and Cust to a 2b, ss, and 3b. Those positions aren't keeping DJ from playing against ANY pitcher. That's why I find the comparison curious. The choices for DJ is more Buck/Kotsay/Stewart, with Swisher moving to the outfield to allow DJ to play. Not the four mentioned in your diary.

by IndianaAsfan on Jul 30, 2007 8:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see your point

I just don't think either DJ or Murphy is guy to build the offense around. I think DJ will be lucky to beat out Barton next year if he (DJ) isn't traded.
My hope next year is that Cust is the full time DH, and Buck is a full time OF. That assumes, of course, Buck can stay healthy. I'd also like to see them go get a better hitting CF, which is difficult for me because I happen to like Kotsay, and a 1B (Barton) that would allow Swisher to move to LF.

by IndianaAsfan on Jul 30, 2007 8:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs