In Search Of A Shortstop Prospect

by DyeLongJustice on Nov 25, 2008 8:04 PM PST Comment 36 comments

In light of all the recent Matt Holliday/Furcal posts, I decided it was time to discuss something new. In order to keep my head from popping from all the supernumerary redundancy that results from the never-ending discussions and familiar conclusions in these posts, I figured that the best place to start was to find something that the A's can do this season. As such, I ventured to see what the A's can get cheaply (i.e. without trade or significant money) at positions of need like SS, which lead me to the minor league free agent list. While having a shortstop prospect in our system soon may be a moot point, considering all the Furcal-to-A's rumors, I found this list and perused it for anything of value at the SS position. What I came up with was Doug Bernier and Kevin Howard. Of course, I didn't take into consideration any players that weren't listed at the SS position since I don't follow the minor leagues close enough to know who can play where. As such, if anyone can think of any other players who may be listed at another position, like 2b, but can legitly play SS, then feel free to list them. Anyway, here are everybody's favorite thing: player stats (hat tip and thanks to minor league splits).

Doug Bernier:

AB H 2B 3B HR W IW HP K SH SF GDP AVG OBP SLG OPS BABIP

329 81 9 4 9 64 3 8 78 4 4 10 0.246 0.378 .380 .758 .298

Kevin Howard:

AB H 2B 3B HR W IW HP K SH SF GDP AVG OBP SLG OPS BABIP

262 72 16 0 11 40 1 0 37 4 1 8 0 .275 .370 .462 .832 .285

There is also the possibility (and much more satisfying option, in my opinion) of trading for teams' current SS or their SS prospects. This includes the usual possibilities like Escobar 1 (Yunel), Escobar 2 (Alcides), Reid Brignac, and J.J. Hardy. However, I am creating this fanpost with the intention of getting some new dialogue/discussions going as I personally can only talk about Furcal and Holliday so much. Again, if you think of other interesting possibilities for our (lack of) SS situation, be my guest.

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Ebenezer Snerdley!

There just HAS to be a SS, somewhere, named Ebenezer Snerdley, and we ought to able to acquire him. We just have to find his – getting him to be talented is the relatively easy part.

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 25, 2008 9:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I really hope there's no one on earth with that name.

Especially a girl.

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

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 25, 2008 9:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Brian Sabean has a son....who plays shorstop?

'That's something we do...thirteen hits and not score'-Terrence Long

by DyeLongJustice on Nov 26, 2008 6:29 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Given an Ellis-Furcal-Chavez IF I don't think it's at all moot to discuss who we'd like

as a utility guy or AAA Plan B. I’ve always liked Hu.

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

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 25, 2008 9:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

what about BoCro?

gasp!

if you’re going to go injury-prone route you have to have capable backups…whether Croz = capable is the question.

The Maharg makes me look like an idiot.

by carp on Nov 25, 2008 9:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think petit would fit this role perfectly well

no sense in trading anything of value for a backup

Can't get enough of the Oakland A's or Golden State Warriors? Visit Oaktown Awesomer's and Golden Stat Hoops

by iamawesomer on Nov 25, 2008 9:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't want Petit getting 450 AB

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

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 25, 2008 10:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yet you would be OK with Hu getting them??

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 25, 2008 10:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

then vizquel oe aurilia lol

by Asfan4ever723 on Nov 25, 2008 10:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, as long as he plays Gold Glove defense at SS

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

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 26, 2008 4:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

OK, well, he's not likely to...

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 26, 2008 11:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sure he is. He's better than Michael Young already.

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

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 26, 2008 1:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Petit's...

defense is pretty damn good as well though, so…

Never, Never, NEVER give up

by hero66 on Nov 26, 2008 3:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Adam Everett and Russel Branyan

Both are good backups who will get a ton of PT.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Nov 26, 2008 1:01 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Branyan yes.

Everett, who knows? Depends really on just how well he has recovered from that broken leg.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Nov 26, 2008 3:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd think third base would be more promising

At least there you have some slugger types— your Mike Hessman, Terry Tiffee, Matt Brown types.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 25, 2008 10:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Terry Tiffee sounds like the name of a bitchy conniving woman on Melrose Place

by thejd44 on Nov 26, 2008 1:00 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Are there non-bitchy conniving women on Melrose Place? Can they hit?

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

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 26, 2008 5:01 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Jossie Bissett is the only one who qualifies (non-bitch)...

…but she hasn’t been involved in a hit in a decade.

by LowcountryJoe on Nov 26, 2008 5:14 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not trying to drive you insane here but...

if the A’s sign Furcal then you don’t have to worry about finding SS prospects. The A’s drafted 3 guys in 2008 (Jason Christian, Nino Leyja & Dusty Coleman) who are all legit SS prospects. Best case scenario has Christian ready opening Day 2011, more realistically this bunch is at least 3 years away. Furcal’s supposedly looking at a 4 year offer, so unless something goes terribly wrong with Furcal the A’s should be covered.

Petit and/or Pennington should be adequate back-ups in the near term and they’ll be inexpensive enough to hold on to until the 2008 crop is ready.

If Furcal is signed (and I know you don’t want to talk about him) then SS loses a lot of priority for worry.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 26, 2008 7:36 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

agreed, and a Furcal signing is growing more and more likely by the day.

maybe i’m just not used to the A’s signing bigger name FA’s, since they haven’t really done it in a while. i probably need to go in another direction with ‘post topics. I like PT’s idea of looking into the 3b prospects though. I’m not sure how many of those we have, and with Chavvy having the nonwaivering question mark health history, it’d be worth it to see if we can’t find something. Of course, if we draft some 3b prospects and chavvy gets healthy for the rest of his contract, that may also be moot.

'That's something we do...thirteen hits and not score'-Terrence Long

by DyeLongJustice on Nov 26, 2008 7:58 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I have the list of A's 3B prospects handy

…

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 26, 2008 8:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Mark Ellipsis can't play third because of his shoulder

I also have a pretty high shame threshold. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 26, 2008 11:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Cardenas is a 3B prospect

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

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 26, 2008 1:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Whom the A's have yet to play at 3B

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 26, 2008 2:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

where can this handy list be found?

'That's something we do...thirteen hits and not score'-Terrence Long

by DyeLongJustice on Nov 26, 2008 8:15 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

that was a reply to grover btw...damn reply buttons

'That's something we do...thirteen hits and not score'-Terrence Long

by DyeLongJustice on Nov 26, 2008 8:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sarcasm?

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 26, 2008 8:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Where is this list?

I would love to see it.

"AN, Reducing Work Productivity since 2003", connie mack 11/06/08

by adragon on Nov 26, 2008 11:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

no, no sarcasm. i really would like to see this list. although east bay jim just stole my thunder on another fanpost by listing some 3b...

'That's something we do...thirteen hits and not score'-Terrence Long

by DyeLongJustice on Nov 26, 2008 1:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

my list of 3b

with mlb experience:

teahen
wiggington
branyan
hinske
kouzmanoff
encarnacion
fields

mlb ready types:

freese
craig
greene
laroche
stewart/headley- probably tough to pry away

even if they got furcal, i wouldnt ignore getting a SS with some versatility like dejesus, lillibridge, hu

by Asfan4ever723 on Nov 26, 2008 11:38 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

the thing is

if we truly believe Chavez will be playing 3b until his contract runs out (highly unlikely, i know, but the front office seems to think so), then we really don’t need to be finding someone ready for the now, but rather someone ready for the later, aka when Chavez’s contract runs out. Therefore, we can either draft some 3b, trade for some low A 3b (a cheaper proposition than acquiring the guys you mentioned above), or use the money saved on Chavvy to buy one on the FA market. I’d personally go with any of them, and they could, of course, all be done together in order to get us some options. We really may want to worry about 2b as well, since Ellis won’t be with us forever, and the only person we have is Cardenas (and putting all your eggs in one basket at that level probably isn’t the best idea).

'That's something we do...thirteen hits and not score'-Terrence Long

by DyeLongJustice on Nov 26, 2008 1:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I've already penciled in Cardenas for 2011

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

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 26, 2008 1:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

OK, seems I was too subtle for a change

DLJ was asking to see a list of 3B prospects in the A’s system.

There aren’t any.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 26, 2008 11:56 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

lol....i thought u meant in all of baseball...

thats what u get for quickly reading for before its time to go to work. i apologize, i got a case of the bobby crosbys.

'That's something we do...thirteen hits and not score'-Terrence Long

by DyeLongJustice on Nov 26, 2008 1:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

a case of teh suck?

"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball

by flipgatey3 on Nov 28, 2008 12:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs