What's the WORST thing Billy could do?
Switching gears for a moment from all the acquisitiveness lately ... we've all been arguing about what Billy should do by way of roster additions (or deaccessions) this offseason; I got to wondering about the things that he shouldn't do--and whether some of those might be some of the very moves that some folks are arguing in favor of.
Personally, I think over-committing guaranteed money to a known high injury risk (Furcal) in addition to Chavez should be on Billy's "to-don't" list. I think it would be setting us up for a couple more seasons with Hannahan and Petit/Pennington starting on the left side of the infield (which I'm not opposed to per se) while throwing away money that could otherwise have been used to acquire a bat or arm. But that's just me.
And while I'm in favor of signing Dunn, Manny, or Teixeira, some folks would say that over-committing a ton of money to a slugger who's likely to be declining (possibly dramatically) after 2 or 3 years would be a cardinal sin given the team's current situation.
Then, of course, there's the option of doing nothing at all (mitigated somewhat by the Holliday acquisition), which I think we all agree shouldn't be on the table.
(And I'm excluding the ludicrous/improbable/vomit-and-aneurysm-inducing option of "Overpay for an elite free agent closer.")
So what do y'all think? What's the one thing Billy should definitely not do this offseason?
Comments
I'm inclined to say the worst thing he could do is sign Ben Sheets or AJ Burnett
but those don’t seem to be in play.
The worst option that I’ve heard mentioned is paying serious money to a non-elite shortstop (Renteria, Cabrera, Guzman).
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Nov 15, 2008 10:56 AM PST
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i think
i would consider sheets and burnett in this category:
“Sign a non-washed-up-but-requiring-too-large-a-commitment pitcher (Lowe/CC)”
by dbeach13 on
Nov 15, 2008 12:08 PM PST
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and i agree
that would probably be the worst move he could make right now with all the young pitching waiting to arrive…and those guys being a huge injury risk + salary burden
by dbeach13 on
Nov 15, 2008 12:09 PM PST
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I'd put them in the "major injury risk" category.
But I agree with you
This.
by Blicks on
Nov 15, 2008 12:12 PM PST
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I don't see how the one-year aging pitcher choice
could be the worst move Billy could make, since even if disastrous it involves only one year and less money than you’d pay any of the other FAs we’re discussing. But as of this writing, it has 7% of the vote. (Then again, just before the recent election about 7% of the country was still “undecided,” suggesting that just a little more advertising was needed or maybe the campaigning needed to start just a touch earlier?)
Also, who is Pat and why is he always standing?
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
Nov 15, 2008 11:11 AM PST
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couldn't figure out of "stand pat" is for or against signing Burrell
by OaklandSi on
Nov 15, 2008 11:19 AM PST
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He didn't say "stand Pat up"
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Nov 15, 2008 11:21 AM PST
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reminds me of the old joke
where Nixon once said in a speech “America just can’t stand pat” , then paused for a long time…perhaps remembering his wife’s name.
by OaklandSi on
Nov 15, 2008 12:16 PM PST
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Texiera is NOT going to decline in two or three years
I don’t know why you pust tex in the category of being in decline in two or three years. The guy is 28 years old, how is he going to decline in two years?!!! He has the kind of talents which age well, power and average.
by HarbirD on
Nov 15, 2008 11:13 AM PST
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Plus as a switch hitter who can avoid big "platoon split" issues,
and as a gold glove caliber defender, he really brings a lot to his game besides “pure slugging ability”.
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
Nov 15, 2008 11:15 AM PST
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(I agree)
Did you overpay for those eggs? @('.')@
by monkeyball on
Nov 15, 2008 11:16 AM PST
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I don't think Adam Dunn is necessarily on the decline
He’s hit exactly 40 HR in each of the last four years. He’s only 29. If the A’s future has Barton in it, I don’t see where he goes unless you want to put him or Cust in RF. Can Holliday play a competent RF?
He’s about as cheap as a 40+ HR slugger can be. And him, Cust and Holliday in the middle of the lineup would do some serious damage, even if he doesn’t like to play baseball.
I don’t like the idea of signing Furcal, and if it’s avoidable, I don’t think free agency is the best place to find pitchers
by NateHST on
Nov 15, 2008 11:43 AM PST
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Do you really want one of Cust or Dunn on the field?
Their value is reduced when they play the field.
A run saved is a run scored.
And, I only support free agent pitchers if they’re coming on one year deals. Anything more than one year to Unit or Penny and I’m against it.
This.
by Blicks on
Nov 15, 2008 12:12 PM PST
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No I want Barton at first, Cust at DH, Holliday in left and Dunn playing in another city
But he’s definitely not on the decline. I’m just looking at various ideas.
by NateHST on
Nov 15, 2008 1:52 PM PST
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Agreed that he's not on the decline.
""Bobby Crosby’s Release" - Sounds like a good title to Mr. Crosby’s first work in his next career now that we know he can’t play baseball." - Joey C.
by Blicks on
Nov 15, 2008 5:28 PM PST
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It's true... Dunn is actually the definition of the word "consistent"
which is good when you’re a good player, as he is.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Nov 15, 2008 12:32 PM PST
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As others have already pointed out
Teixeira – 28 years old, and very good defensively.
Dunn – 29 years old, and poor defensively.
Ramirez – 36 years old, and awful defensively.
Granted, Ramirez is also the best hitter of the three (155 career OPS+, versus 134 for Teixeira and 130 for Dunn) but I just don’t see the others as being in the same category of risk. If you’re ever going to commit a ton of money to a free-agent slugger – and I don’t think the A’s will do that right now – Teixeira is about as good a bet as you’re going to find. (Incidentally, Holliday would also not be a bad choice.)
It’s also amusing that with all the hate for Crosby, even his biggest critics can’t seem to agree on what to do instead. There just isn’t much out there at shortstop.
Thanks for tomorrow 'cause I've had enough
by andeux on
Nov 15, 2008 12:13 PM PST
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We may not agree on a solution, but we agree Crosby ain't it
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on
Nov 15, 2008 10:38 PM PST
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True.
He’s doesn’t look washed at all.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
by alox on
Nov 15, 2008 12:17 PM PST
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New nickname: the Great Unwashed?
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Nov 15, 2008 12:32 PM PST
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I think "The Great Unwashed Massive"
has a better ring to it, personally, but I like your train of thought there.
Either is probably a better idea than “The Big Unwashed Unit” that’s for sure.
by still bills kingdom on
Nov 15, 2008 1:01 PM PST
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Or as he was referred to in the World Seires
a few years back…..“The Big Unich”.
by mrod on
Nov 15, 2008 8:46 PM PST
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My pick isn't even an option
I think signing Giambi would be fairly stupid and almost entirely counterproductive. Unless he’s willing to come in on a Mike Sweeney-type deal, it’s a waste of money that could be spent elsewhere (Furcal, Unit, free cheeseburgers for the fans).
by thejd44 on
Nov 15, 2008 12:53 PM PST
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Yeah, mine isn't either-
namely, don’t trade Anderson or Cahill for anything less than a quality left side of the infield player of the ilk of David Wright, Jose Reyes, Evan Longoria, Hanley Ramirez, or comparable.
Or better yet, just don’t trade Anderson or Cahill. :)
by still bills kingdom on
Nov 15, 2008 1:04 PM PST
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I don't think you have to worry
While I don’t agree with every single move Beane has ever made, I am confident that he knows the value of his minor leaguers more than most GMs.
If those guys are traded, we can all be confident that there’s a sound logic behind it even if we disagree. That’s comforting.
by thejd44 on
Nov 15, 2008 1:08 PM PST
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There was many a poster who was willing
to keep giving Crosby chances prior to last season.
I’ve been dreaming of his departure since at least the 2006 season.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on
Nov 15, 2008 1:26 PM PST
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yeah, I'm honestly not too worried about Beane trading either of those guys
away, or at least not for less than they’re worth to the team going forward.
But it’s definitely my biggest “don’t do that!” thing and wasn’t a poll option.
I would also prefer the free cheeseburgers to Giambi coming back, all sentimentality aside. And I don’t even like cheeseburgers that much. :)
by still bills kingdom on
Nov 15, 2008 1:50 PM PST
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I'm loving AN today!
9 months ago there’s no way the Crosby option is in the lead. Thank you AN, for finally joining me on the side of Light and Goodness.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on
Nov 15, 2008 1:00 PM PST
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I didn't join AN till maybe a year ago
Was there really all sorts of Crosby love previously? I don’t know if I could’ve dealt with that.
Of course, I’ve disliked Crosby so much (for so long) that when he had one of his injuries in 2007 a friend of mine called me to congratulate me on Crosby being out.
by thejd44 on
Nov 15, 2008 1:09 PM PST
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I didn't hate him as long as he was a plus defender.
Now I do.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on
Nov 15, 2008 10:39 PM PST
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You forgot
“Pay too much money for a defensive liability who is about to fall off a cliff offensively and would block one of our more promising prospects (Giambi)”
That’s what I’d vote for
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
by nevermoor on
Nov 15, 2008 1:21 PM PST
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That's another good option for the poll
""Bobby Crosby’s Release" - Sounds like a good title to Mr. Crosby’s first work in his next career now that we know he can’t play baseball." - Joey C.
by Blicks on
Nov 15, 2008 1:26 PM PST
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The worst thing he could do is trade Anderson or Cahill
for practically anyone other than Arod.
"I'm going to take a camera crew and march into Billy Beane's office and demand to know why instituting his newfangled cost-saving measures means that the run manufacturing plant had to get shut down." FJM
by Elvez on
Nov 15, 2008 6:10 PM PST
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Fuck A-Rod.
For practically anyone other than in a package for one of the REALLY good, young, cheap infielders.
""Bobby Crosby’s Release" - Sounds like a good title to Mr. Crosby’s first work in his next career now that we know he can’t play baseball." - Joey C.
by Blicks on
Nov 15, 2008 6:25 PM PST
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I would absolutely trade one of them for A-Rod
After all, he’s only one of the two (or so) best players in baseball.
Pujols, of course, being the other.
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
by nevermoor on
Nov 15, 2008 10:07 PM PST
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I would trade one of them for A-Rod, obviously.
I just think he’s overrated.
""Bobby Crosby’s Release" - Sounds like a good title to Mr. Crosby’s first work in his next career now that we know he can’t play baseball." - Joey C.
by Blicks on
Nov 16, 2008 8:00 AM PST
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Even though he's really, really though.
""Bobby Crosby’s Release" - Sounds like a good title to Mr. Crosby’s first work in his next career now that we know he can’t play baseball." - Joey C.
by Blicks on
Nov 16, 2008 8:00 AM PST
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My vote would be
Don’t Trade M-Rod!
{And I’ll take the all you can eat taco bar as well….}
by mrod on
Nov 15, 2008 8:49 PM PST
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I really hope they have a better Plan B and Plan C at SS and Plan B at 3B
than Petit, Pennington and Hannahan. The worst thing they could do is get Chavez healthy by spring, sign Furcal/Cabrera/Izturis and think they’ve solved the problem. I’d like to see them bring in Branyan or Hinske to send Hannahan to AAA as Plan C, and also bring in Lillibridge AND Hu as Plan B and Plan C in addition to signing a veteran SS.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on
Nov 15, 2008 10:42 PM PST
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Hinske has actually been pretty solid as a hitter in his career overall
He’s probably a 1B/DH, which the A’s don’t need like they need a 3Bman/SS, but I’d like to see his bat in the lineup.
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
Nov 16, 2008 8:48 PM PST
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