Minor League Updates to go with your Monday Morning Mocha

by grover on Nov 17, 2008 12:04 AM PST Comment 81 comments

This is the part where I usually say something funny or profound.

I got nothing.

I do have the link to one of the most popular sites on the Web today:

PUPPY CAM!!!

http://www.google.com/trends/hottrends?q=box+of...

Mexican Winter League

Arnold Leon has been OK but nothing special. Which the A's are perfectly fine with just as long no one tries to wear his arm off.

Dominican League

Jose Garcia’s numbers weren’t much to look at at the start of Winter baseball... and they still aren't.

Brad Kilby seems to have packed it in for the season.

Anthony Recker. Sticking with the bouncer prediction.

Pedro Figueroa. Meh.

Frank Martinez can't get playing time.

Venezuelan Baseball League

Jeff Baisley. The object is to hit the ball, Jeff.

Gregorio Petit Why does the Oakland FO hate you? A 326/375/453 line should hopefully catch him some attention.

Jesus Silva. Less than meh. Still.

Raul Padron is not playing much. He could be hurt but it's more likely his team knows he sucks.

Jesus Guzman. The A's are hoping to re-sign him as a minor league free agent. His 1.145 OPS has probably drawn some attention.

Javier Herrera. Still no clue at the plate, his uber-tools have carried him for this long though.

Rajai Davis is an interesting player, you know, for a 5th OFer.

Henry Rodriguez has 4 BB and 7 K's in 3 IP. Progress would be a good thing to see over the rest of the winter.

Matt Murton has surfaced and is sporting a 1.146 OPS in 16 at bats.

Arizona Fall League

Andrew Bailey is definitely Sac bound thanks to a 15/1 K/BB rate in 12 IP.

Andrew Carignan has 16 K's/4 BB in 11 IP. If he keeps pitching like this he'll be a River Cat next Spring.

Jeff Gray. Street's departure probably gets him a shot to make Oakland's bullpen next year.

Jared Lansford has a really bad habit of pitching horridly just before I do a write up. 3 hits and a walk in 1 IP tends to lead to multiple (in this case 2) runs.

Adrian Cardenas. This is Arizona for crying out loud, Slugging .295 is unacceptable.

Josh Donaldson. The 4 bombs are nice but a 5/22 BB/K rate in 90 at bats is a concern. Where's the guy who hit for power and walked more than he struck out in his 2007 pro debut?

Sean Doolittle. The .596 Slugging is fine and dandy, the .341 OBP is starting to look borderline.

Puerto Rican League

Tommy Everidge has begun play in the PWL. He turns 26 early next season and should be Sac's starting 1B. Setting up to be a AAAA player, he needs to hit and keep on hitting.

Hawaii Winter Baseball (Season Complete 11/16)

Corey Brown finished with a 216/294/396 line. He'll need an outstanding ST to not start back in Stockton next year. He has the tools but needs serious refinement.

Brett Hunter. Small sample size be damned. 18 K's in 9.2 IP are something to get excited about. Do the A's take the risk and put him back in the rotation next Spring?

Chris Carter didn't play after November 5th. Probably has something to do with bad poi.

Sam Demel Hawaii was too tiring for him.

And thank you for your support.

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Comments

I thought Barton was supposed to be Sacramento 1B next year.

Also if Brown stays at Stockton does Mitchell go to Midland?

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 17, 2008 12:11 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Sulentic goes to Midland.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Nov 17, 2008 12:57 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I envisioned the Midland OF/DH situation as Brown/Spencer/Sulentic

with Mitchell staying at Stockton. Are you saying both Mitchell and Brown stay at Stockton? If so, where do Barfield, LeVier, Thomas, Dixon, Berroa, Crisostomo, and House end up? Desme? KC starts to look pretty crowded, even if some of them go to Vancouver later. But then you have to make room for the 2009 draftees.

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 17, 2008 1:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Crisostomo can keep busy writing sermons on Jews and Judaizing Christians during extended spring training

Yes, thank you, I’ll be here all week.

Speaking seriously, though, I don’t see any evidence that any of those guys is ready for Stockton at this point. You might throw Desme and Thomas up there just because they’re feeling the pull of Father Time, but most of those guys are juco players who are barely older than the average high school pick— and there aren’t many high schoolers in High A in their first full year in the minors.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 17, 2008 10:29 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Crisostomo, what an asshole

Did you overpay for those eggs? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 17, 2008 10:32 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Golden-mouth!!!

"What do we do with Crosby? Well, in my neighborhood, trash goes out on Mondays." ~ Nico

by MMunoz33 on Nov 17, 2008 10:37 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

New Bond movie?

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Nov 17, 2008 10:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll probably do an organizational preview in a couple weeks

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 17, 2008 10:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought I read "Macha" and freaked out.

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Nov 17, 2008 12:44 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

same

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Nov 17, 2008 12:58 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Fire Mocha now!

by Ray of Lite on Nov 17, 2008 7:39 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And, by the way, thank you for the updates, Grover.

by Ray of Lite on Nov 17, 2008 7:42 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

uh oh...

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Nov 17, 2008 10:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

[hides]

Save Rajai Davis

by oakinboston on Nov 17, 2008 10:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Seems folks are expecting me to tear you a new one

I’m not in the mood right now.

A friendly reminder, my name is spelled with a lower case “g”.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 17, 2008 10:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I feel cheated.

Since when did Grover lose his Grover-esque rage against people who write his name “Grover”?

Grover.

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Nov 17, 2008 10:41 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Are you asking to be my bitch for the rest of the day?

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 17, 2008 11:32 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I genuinely didn't know I was committing a capital offense.

I’ll take your decision to lower my case to a misdemeanor as a “You’re welcome.”

by Ray of Lite on Nov 17, 2008 12:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

"lower my case"

Well played.

And a “friendly reminder” from grover. Cool.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 17, 2008 12:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

thanks, now I've got Montel Jordan in my head

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Nov 17, 2008 1:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, you're welcome!

I can’t please everyone but I’m so glad today was your turn.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 17, 2008 2:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

the girls I got da money...

hundred dolla bills, ya’ll!

(Is he still in jail?)

"I'll make a list for the record. These people should be trusted: Sal, andeux, rfloh, danny...and no one else. Certainly not me. And even extra super-certainly not NSJ."

by notsellingjeans on Nov 17, 2008 11:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Did he go to jail?

I know that's a pisser, baby.

by Blicks on Nov 18, 2008 5:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

quick google search says no

I’m relieved, because for some reason, “This is how we do it” is one of my guilty pleasure songs. Whenever it comes ont he radio, I can’t help but enjoy it. And the “hundred dolla bills ya’ll!” line always makes me laugh.

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Nov 18, 2008 9:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

HWY DOAN YOO GOE SIPP SUM EXPREXXO?

Did you overpay for those eggs? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 17, 2008 10:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

These Winter Leagues

Have been very discouraging for some of our very promising players. Cardenas has bombed, Carter/Brown were waaay overmatched, while our pitchers overall performed well. Nice to see Bailey, Carignan, and Hunter pitch well especially.

Hopefully some of these hitters can rebound next season because i’m starting to doubt the credibility of some of their potential.

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin

by Helloooo 1st on Nov 17, 2008 1:05 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Oy vey

Carter was doing worse than this in April… did you “doubt the credibility of his potential” then?

These stats are frickin’ meaningless. The sample sizes are tiny. Particularly for power hitters—if they hit a dry spell, it’s a wrap.

The only time when anyone gives a flying fig about winter league stats is during winter league, when everyone is bored and has nothing else to look at. Just like spring training, really. There’s less ridiculously overblown hand-wringing, but only because fewer people care about the minors.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 17, 2008 10:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I love Doolittle and Hunter

I think both these guys be good prospects for us. I wasnt sure we could get Hunter signed but Beane got it together and got it done. I also love Donaldson. Cardenas has got to at least hit the gaps.

"With 16-year-old Dominican righty Michel Inoa in tow, Gio Gonzalez improving at Triple-A and lefty Brett Anderson carving up Double-Abatters along with Simmons and Trevor Cahill, Oakland’s pitching depthis officially the envy of baseball." - BaseballAmerica.com

by Syphon on Nov 17, 2008 1:13 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Confused

Tommy Everidge has begun play in the PWL. He turns 26 early next season and should be Sac’s starting 1B. Setting up to be a AAAA player, he needs to hit and keep on hitting.porn

(emphasis mine)

he needs to keep hitting.porn?

by noava22 on Nov 17, 2008 1:31 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

haha grover

doing some other research while making this post?

by travdog6 on Nov 17, 2008 1:57 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

hitting.porn

If he keeps on hitting, he might go blind.

by Rocktopus on Nov 17, 2008 3:46 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

that ain't sunscreen in his eye

Did you overpay for those eggs? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 17, 2008 10:12 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I never bought DJ's excuse

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 17, 2008 10:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Edited

I have no idea where that fragment came from but it sure was funny.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 17, 2008 5:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I have "no idea" either

coednakedarizonafallleague.com?

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Nov 17, 2008 9:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, please

Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.

by Joey C. on Nov 17, 2008 12:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

TWSS

Did you overpay for those eggs? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 17, 2008 10:12 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I would leave Brett Hunter in the bullpen.

Everybodby knows that other GMs overvalue closers, but that’s not to say closers aren’t valuable. A couple years down the road (thinks could very well change) our bullpen could look like Devine in the 9th, and then take your pick between Carignan, Ziegler, Hunter, Blevins and maybe even Casilla between the 6th, 7th and 8th.

Our pitchers would have to go about five innings every five days to get to a very shut down bullpen.

I also don’t want to risk overuse in a rotation. I think it would slow his development more. I think he’d make it to the bigs much faster as a bullpen stud.

by NateHST on Nov 17, 2008 6:30 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

There's also the part about starting pitchers being far more valuable than relief pitchers....

by OldhamA on Nov 17, 2008 8:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not if their arm falls off.

by NateHST on Nov 17, 2008 10:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Which is why you manage the staff well

i.e. build pitch counts/IP slowly , etc.

I know that's a pisser, baby.

by Blicks on Nov 17, 2008 12:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If Hunter is healthy and dominating, putting him in the pen would be a criminal waste

He’s reminiscent of Joba Chamberlain— stud talent who drops in the draft because of injury concerns. Are you one of those guys who wants to keep Joba in the bullpen, too?

‘Sides, I think that the A’s will have a dominant bullpen already, with Bailey, Lansford, Carignan and Demel joining what’s already a pretty good group.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 17, 2008 10:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

From most of what I've read about him, he hasn't been 100% for a long time

If he is healthy, I would treat him like exactly like Joba and keep him on some seriously strict pitch counts. I understand that starts are much more valuable than relievers, that’s obvious.

But when guys like Cahill and Anderson and Inoa and whoever else get up, they’re not going to go deep in games. A four inning or five inning shut down bullpen would be a very very valuable thing when that happens, because as much as we’d love for them to step in and pitch like studs, they’re obviously going to take lumps. That said, I understand completely that if he’s healthy he should be a starter and that he alone does not make the bullpen perfect by himself, I’m just stressing the importance of a bullpen in the next couple of years when all the pitchers start showing up in Oakland.

by NateHST on Nov 17, 2008 2:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What makes you think Cahill and Anderson won't go deep into games?

by mikev on Nov 17, 2008 2:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Early on, Geren (or whomever-- I notice he hasn't been extended yet) will probably be under instructions

to give them the kid glove treatment. They’re only likely to go about 140 innings next year, so in 2010 you’re looking at, eh, 170? 180 at most?

Long-term, I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t be able to work deep into games.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 17, 2008 3:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly. Long term, hopefully they'll be fine. But they're still so young

by NateHST on Nov 17, 2008 3:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not early in their careers they most likely won't

They’ll still both only be 21 next year. They have a long way to go before their shut down front line starters. Until then, going five innings and turning it over to a great bullpen is a good luxury both for insurance and gives them a lot of confidence (if the bullpen holds up)

by NateHST on Nov 17, 2008 3:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

There's no evidence that bullpen work is better for a pitcher's health than starting

Bullpen pitchers suffer fewer injuries, but they throw fewer pitches. On a per-pitch basis, I’d be VERY surprised if relievers didn’t suffer more injuries.

Given that, I think you keep Hunter as a starter and cross your fingers (as you have to for any pitching prospect).

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 17, 2008 3:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Certainly that's what Smoltz said about closing

And it makes sense to me.

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Nov 17, 2008 3:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

But on a per pitch basis, relievers are more valuable ...

so the magnitude of the relative likelihood/value is key, not the absolutes …

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Nov 17, 2008 5:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Woah

by NateHST on Nov 17, 2008 5:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd slow down on Hunter

There might be legitimate reasons to think about moving him to the bull pen, but he was a great starter for 2 years and college and then suffered one serious arm injury. I think there is still time to let him develop as a starter, you don’e want to just through all your promising arms in the BP after one arm injury. It’s not like he’s been derailed by numerous injuries, and he’s going into his first full professional season, no need to start a salvage job.

As far as accelerating his arrival to the bigs, I know it’s exciting to think about getting a chance to see him sooner, but it’s not like the A’s are desperate for bull pen arms right now.

by DiegoAsFan on Nov 17, 2008 12:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If Doolittle slugs .600, he can have a .340 OBP all he wants.

by mikev on Nov 17, 2008 8:16 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yep

I can live with the resulting .940 OPS.

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Nov 17, 2008 10:00 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I find the puppies far more exciting than recent A's teams.

by SkipT on Nov 17, 2008 8:56 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

{flings poi}

Did you overpay for those eggs? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 17, 2008 10:12 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

{flings porn}

by easyraider on Nov 17, 2008 10:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

{catches porn}

is this like catching a bouquet at a wedding?

Save Rajai Davis

by oakinboston on Nov 17, 2008 12:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's the opposite...

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Nov 17, 2008 1:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

cardenas has bombed?

i disagree, thats what happens when you have a couple bad games in so little amount of ab’s…he had an ops over .800/.315avg a few games ago…yes the power is concerning but he just turned 21…i’m more concerned about the SS defense, which he hasnt been playing there much

by Asfan4ever723 on Nov 17, 2008 10:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Thank you

Honestly, I’m wondering if these threads are even a good idea— these stats mislead more than they help. No offense to grover and Taj, obviously.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 17, 2008 10:42 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

None taken you sanctimonious #^$*%@#%

When speaking of Cardenas, his power production has been below-average since joining the A’s and has been nowhere near the level scouts have said he’ll eventually have. As scouts have been known to be wrong Cardenas’ current lack of power is something to keep an eye on.

And the guy doesn’t have the range to play SS.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 17, 2008 11:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Okay, sure... but roll the winter league stats into the overall statline if you want to make a point about a player

It really points up the minimal extent of the sample size relative to the regular season. I just did this (for ulterior reasons) with Doolittle— his slugging was about 70 points higher in winter league than during the regular season, but when you average them out it only bumps the regular season line up about 12 points.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 17, 2008 12:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The point is, Cardenas is playing in a league known for offense

He’s slugging .295 while getting pretty regular playing time… that’s not good.

Any over-reaching declaration on his future can wait for another post.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 17, 2008 12:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

OK

That point, not to mince words, sucks. It’s not based on anything substantive.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 17, 2008 1:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm trying to encourage Cardenas to do better through tough love

He reads AN, right?

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 17, 2008 2:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If he happens to go 2-5 with a pair of homers tomorrow, he's slugging .400

by mikev on Nov 17, 2008 1:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

do you mean that these threads are putatively supernumerary?

Did you overpay for those eggs? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 17, 2008 11:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

hogwash.

"I'll make a list for the record. These people should be trusted: Sal, andeux, rfloh, danny...and no one else. Certainly not me. And even extra super-certainly not NSJ."

by notsellingjeans on Nov 17, 2008 11:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs