How Are We Feeling About Chavez?

by baseballgirl on Nov 26, 2008 6:00 AM PST Comment 68 comments

"I'm about three months or so out from surgery right now, and rehab has been going really, really well," Chavez said. "I'm not going to start with baseball activities until January or late December, but talking to the doctors and trainers, we all pretty much feel like I'm ahead of schedule. So if I had to guess right now, there'd be almost no doubt; I fully expect to be ready for everything by the time Spring Training starts.
"And I fully expect to play third base."

From Mychael Urban's mailbag:

I've been hearing that Chavez won't be healthy next season. Are we kidding ourselves by hoping that he is?
-- Justin D., Stockton, Calif.

Have you heard this from anyone with a medical background and access to Chavez's most recent post-op evaluations? Have they been supervising his offseason workouts? If so, go ahead and believe them.

If not, all you have to go on is Chavez's word, and when is the last time Chavez flat-out lied or was overly optimistic about anything baseball related? The answer is never. He's as honest of an athlete about himself as you'll ever find, so when he says that rehab is going well and he expects to be healthy, I'm going to take him at his word.

Assuming that we all are going to take Chavez at his word, how do you see his impact on the team this season? I don't feel the same hopelessness about Chavez as I do about some other players. In certain cases, I think that the touted talent might be overrated, and I cringe every time someone says "They never lived up to their potential", because I really think the bar was set too high. I feel that Chavez did (and perhaps still does) have all the potential in the world, he did not live up to his only because of injuries. I think it's a shame that we didn't get a healthy Chavez, and I will always wonder what he could have been for the A's had he stayed healthy through the years.

Now that we are looking at him as a possible third baseman candidate this season, I don't know what to think. I have missed his defense in every way possible, and I agree with Urban (gasp!) when he says that Chavy tells it like it is; he isn't one to be overly optimistic. I have a small glimmer of excitement about Chavez that I haven't had in quite a while. I have missed him, and nothing would thrill me more than a successful season from him this year.

Thoughts?

Poll

Will Chavez be a factor in 2009?

Yes.

618 votes

No.

788 votes

1406 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 68 comments |

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Comments

.275/.365/.485 in 350 PA

Good but not Gold Glove defense and won’t win anyway due to lack of playing time. Hannahan fills in and doesn’t hit but no defensive dropoff behind a young staff.

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

by WaddellCanseco on Nov 26, 2008 6:32 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

i concur

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

by DyeLongJustice on Nov 26, 2008 6:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd love to see 350 PA from him in 2009...

And a .275 average would put him in or near the top 3 for the ‘08 campaign, so if he can do that next year surrounded by the more potent offense the rest of the line-up should hopefully exhibit, I’d be very happy. And it’d be nice to see one of the last remaining big pieces from the ‘00-’03 years on form again and still wearing the green and gold.

I was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought: "What the hell good would that do?"

by Jackson23 on Nov 26, 2008 8:00 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I would be thrilled if Chavez did this

this is like half a season of way above average play at 3b. Hopefully it’s just the first half of the season and then we can snap up Adrian Beltre or Pedro Feliz in July.

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 26, 2008 9:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Boo Pedro Feliz!

"I have more questions after these."-WaddellCanseco

by Gaijin_Suketto on Nov 26, 2008 9:36 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

we already have Jackro Felizzazaz

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 26, 2008 1:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Never base your hopes on Chavez

More or less a half a season of Chavez is the realistic view. If he could get 150 games that would be great but I rate about a 10% chance of that. I do wonder about his defense. Will it be the same or a move to first more likely. We will see when the first spring games begin.

by Arcman on Nov 26, 2008 8:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Go ahead and hope on Chavez

Just have a really good Plan B ready.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 26, 2008 9:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I can say grace over that(,) turkey.

It’s November, after all. If we can’t be hopeful now, why bother?

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Nov 26, 2008 10:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Would you consider Baisley a good plan B?

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

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

No

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 26, 2008 12:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok grover

Quit beating around the bush and tell me how you feel about this!
What options do we have ? how about one of the rule 5 3B? There is a list of rule fivers on athletics.scout.com that was interesting.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Nov 26, 2008 1:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Like converting Barton to 3rd base! ;-)

Just filling the quota.

by OldhamA on Nov 26, 2008 2:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Out of Left Field...Angels Blog

I have always felt its smart to go on the Angels Blog and see if I can learn anything, but I have realized that they are truly idiots. On AN, for every 10 people that truly understand new-school baseball metrics/science/evolution there is maybe 1 person that doesn’t get it. At Halos Heaven it is the exact opposite. And furthermore, of those that do understand, none of them demonstrate that they really understand by posting relevant information. They are so so stupid, I derive much entertainment from this. Read the Latest CC thread for a nice taste.

www.punditpolitics.com - Political IQ Tests, Pundit Blog, News and Opinion.

by ChadGod on Nov 26, 2008 9:14 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

All SBNation websites need a disclaimer..

WARNING: You are about to leave the shielded, intelligent environment of SBNation. Beware of overwhelming stupidity on the rest of the internet.

by Jack Cust is valuable damnit on Nov 26, 2008 11:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I only wish HalosHeaven wasn't an SB Nation website.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 26, 2008 12:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope your eyes weren't scarred by that disgusting baseball cap FanShot

It’s sadder than the intelligence of Angels’ fans.

I know that's a pisser, baby.

by Blicks on Nov 26, 2008 11:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Nov 26, 2008 12:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

pompous alert?

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Nov 26, 2008 1:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I gouched it.

alaska A residing in colorado.

by ak_A on Nov 26, 2008 4:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Off topic threw me off for a second...

I was wondering why one would go to an Angels blog for their take on Eric Chavez…

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Nov 26, 2008 1:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I would love for Chavey to get 350-400 at bats

I think this is attainable if they spell him at least once a week. As the back up plan/person who spells EC I would like to see the A’s sign Russell Branyan. I know he is Hannahan
with a little pop but he would be a cheap backup plan.

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

by adragon on Nov 26, 2008 10:10 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Branyan has more than "a little pop"

He has huge raw power, he just also has the worst contact skills of any hitter in major league baseball.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 26, 2008 11:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hence the Hannahan comment

I can’t think of a 3B with more upside that will come as cheap.

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

by adragon on Nov 26, 2008 1:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I voted yes

The way the question was worded, “Will Chavez be a factor in 2009?” Weather he plays a lot of games or he is hurt and does not play in a lot of games he will be factor. Of course Chavez is a factor in 2009, if he is healthy and plays we have a gold glove 3B, and strong bat in our lineup. If he is hurt and doesn’t play, than we don’t have a gold glove 3B, and don’t have strong bat in the middle of the lineup. He’s a factor either way.

by bdemartin on Nov 26, 2008 10:53 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

You want to be patted on the back I suppose?

[Spank.]

www.punditpolitics.com - Political IQ Tests, Pundit Blog, News and Opinion.

by ChadGod on Nov 26, 2008 11:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That was low.

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 26, 2008 5:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

and if there is a combo...

We get a player who can play home games (Not long flight destination games) and has a spotty bat. Thinking he will stay healthy all season is a very nice wish. I hope it becomes reality…but I don’t expect it to.

by IM4Oakgal on Nov 26, 2008 11:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL bdemartin are you serious

The Not-So-Casual Fan

by rktse on Nov 26, 2008 2:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I actually think he will

It’s probably crazy of me, but it’s easy to forget how immensely talented he is. Some of the most stoopid hitting and fielding feats I’ve ever seen accomplished in an A’s uniform were courtesy of Eric Chavez.

"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico

by jeepers on Nov 26, 2008 11:05 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

and the guy has the will to play.

He proved that.

by IM4Oakgal on Nov 26, 2008 11:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He's also got the stubbornness to not shut himself down or get himself fixed 100% before coming back

thus hurting himself further and costing the team wins.

by mikev on Nov 26, 2008 12:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sadly,

that was the way of it. I hope that this has taught him a valuable lesson.

by IM4Oakgal on Nov 26, 2008 1:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I do, too.

But I’m an irrational Chavez fanboy. He’s my favorite player, and watching him mash this year would be awesome after having stuck with him through all the injuries.

Children, until we have taught them better, will be perfectly happy with a seasonal round of games in which conkers succeeds hopscotch.

by salb918 on Nov 26, 2008 11:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Same.

"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 26, 2008 11:20 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

exact same

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 26, 2008 12:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, I adooooore Chavez. I love watching him play..and I hate when he isn’t able to play. It’s not often we hear Chavy sounding so positive, which isn’t a bad thing, I think he’s just honest and realistic. When he says he thinks he will be playing this coming season and at 3rd base I believe him..and I really REALLY hope he is right!!! I would be thrilled to see him back at 3rd

by ilovegregsmith on Nov 26, 2008 1:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Fifthed.

He’s my avatar not just because he’s the only former Huntsville Star left on the A’s.

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Nov 26, 2008 1:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Chavez is one of ours.

He feels like a true Athletic through and through. I am sure that we all wish him the very best of seasons.

by IM4Oakgal on Nov 26, 2008 1:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Huh.

“Yes” was winning by a decent margin in the poll a little while ago, but now “No” has taken a slim lead of 4 votes. This must be the time of the morning when the Negative Nellies visit AN…

by whiteshoes40 on Nov 26, 2008 11:17 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

It was 64% yes to 36% no less than a hour ago.

I guess all the pessimist’s come out between 11 and noon.

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

by adragon on Nov 26, 2008 11:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

So what we can learn from this experience

is that people are more optimistic earlier in the morning.

Or the more optimistic people come to AN earlier in the morning.

Or Chavy isn’t Mexican enough to get “yes” votes in the afternoon.

by whiteshoes40 on Nov 26, 2008 1:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

When the Mexicans are on their siesta they come on AN to

trash the guy that’s not Mexican enough for them.

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

BALLOT STUFFING!

.
.
.
.
Sorry, I got confused and thought this was a minorleagueball prospect thread.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 26, 2008 11:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 26, 2008 2:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

LoL

by Syphon on Nov 27, 2008 3:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The Negative Nellies aren't morning people.

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

Chavez is a "factor" whether he's healthy or not.

If he’s not healthy, he forces someone else into the lineup (probably Hannahan, who’s all glove and no bat). So yeah, his health has a major influence on the team.

I know that's a pisser, baby.

by Blicks on Nov 26, 2008 11:29 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

But then, I'm probably misreading the question.

I know that's a pisser, baby.

by Blicks on Nov 26, 2008 11:29 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I feel that Chavez did (and perhaps still does) have all the potential in the world, he did not live up to his only because of injuries.

Billy Beane said something in almost these exact terms in Moneyball — that, barring injuries, Chavez had all the tools to be one of the great ballplayers. It’s eerie how he basically predicted Chavez’s future.

I’ll stick it out with Chavy as long as he wants to play with this club. I’m so used to big talent arriving and leaving, when someone as great as Chavez wants to stick with us, I say let him stick around. Same goes for Ellis.

by Jimbonator on Nov 26, 2008 11:34 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I never give MLB players credit for having "the will to play."

I too have the will to be paid multi-millions to workout a lot and make statements to the press saying how excited I am.

It means nothing.

www.punditpolitics.com - Political IQ Tests, Pundit Blog, News and Opinion.

by ChadGod on Nov 26, 2008 12:12 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

To clarify

I’m talking about injured players that keep trying to comeback.

www.punditpolitics.com - Political IQ Tests, Pundit Blog, News and Opinion.

by ChadGod on Nov 26, 2008 12:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You're a gamer.

by OldhamA on Nov 26, 2008 2:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I remember when I read that quote

I thought, from any other player I’d just think this is the usual BS, but Chavvy? It’s not so much that he’s honest (though he is). It’s that, whether the glass is half full, 10% full, or 90% full, Chavvy always wants to discuss the empty fraction of the glass.

For him to come out and say there’s “almost no doubt” he’ll play is just weird. Why has his attitude changed? Even if he were extremely confident, I’d still expect him to explore whatever doubts are still there and say something like, “It’s going a lot better than I expected, but you still can’t be sure until you get out there.”

I don’t know if I really believe he’s coming back, but I have more hope now than I did a few months ago, when I basically figured he was done for sure.

I would be thrilled to get even half a season of healthy Chavez at 3B.

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Nov 26, 2008 12:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I just hope...

that if we do get a healthy Chavez at 3B for half a season, that the other half Chavez isn’t spelled Hannahan !

- I pray for offense

When its time to shoot, shoot... don't talk

by Charlie O the Mule on Nov 26, 2008 1:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I read this sentence as "spilled Hannahan"

Which is sort of appropriate, in that there’s no use crying over it.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 26, 2008 1:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

big question

Baseballgirl has hit the mark with this post. If Chavez is able to go next year, we will see an offensive upgrade for the entire team. The team could even afford to allow Barton to continue his experiment at 1B. Without Chavez, there are still holes in the lineup that need a pluggin’.

by smellofgrass on Nov 26, 2008 1:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

don't misread your screen name like i just did...it sounds funny

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

by DyeLongJustice on Nov 26, 2008 2:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Would love to see better...

But I’m betting on less than 250 PA’s, hitting about .240, and nowhere near the player he was on defense.

I just wish the guy hadn’t torn up his body for years before getting surgery to fix things.

by BigJ7489 on Nov 26, 2008 1:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

"Less is more" with Chavy -

I think if he is given regular rest before he needs it, he has a far better chance to play 130 games than if he tries to play most of the first 100 just because he feels good enough so far.

I also have less worry about his hitting than I have about the physical impact of playing 3B. In other words, if Chavez were DHing, or even playing 1B, I’d be willing to bet on a really solid hitting line, like .270/.370/.470-.500, but I fear that playing 3B, and throwing across the infield, will take its toll.

Overall, though, I do think fans will be pleasantly surprised – it’s a pretty telling sign that Chavez is saying he feels great and that Billy is not going out and finding a 3Bman in a year he says he is planning to contend.

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 26, 2008 5:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

of course weve relied on injury prone players to produce before.

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

by DyeLongJustice on Nov 26, 2008 7:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Skeptical about Chavez

I’ve gone on rants about this topic before, so I’ll just say that I’ll believe Chavez is a productive, close-to-everyday third baseman when I see it.

I will agree that Chavez doesn’t pretty things up in media interviews about his health, but we will see how he feels when he has to start playing actual baseball.

by bear88 on Nov 27, 2008 1:06 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

+1

He may feel great by ST. How will he hold up over the season?

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Nov 27, 2008 5:41 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Who are the stupid people who voted the Chavez...

won’t be a factor? Of course, he will be… either, he’ll play or he won’t. If he does (as I think he will), he’ll be a positive factor. If he doesn’t, he’ll be a negative factor. One way or another, he’ll be a factor.

Clowns to the left of me... Jokers to the right...

by FoolshGame22 on Nov 27, 2008 2:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Those people would be the ones with sufficient reading comprehension skills

to understand that in this context, “a factor” means “a factor through his actual play.”

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 27, 2008 10:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

As compared to people who would omit quotation marks

and/or use “the” when they mean “that” – which would never happen, but still!

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 27, 2008 10:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

misuse of quotation marks by their omission...

“the Chavez”

Clowns to the left of me... Jokers to the right...

by FoolshGame22 on Nov 27, 2008 2:44 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Chavez

potential? maybe there was thought at one time (with his leg kick) that chavez would hit 40 dingers with 120 steaks, the type of player chavez is is the best defensive third basemen in the league (when healthy) who also gives .250-.270 avg, 80-100 walks a year, while smacking 20-25 homers and hitting 75-100 rbis. lets not forget he had a streak of 100+ rbis for a few consecutive years, folks. he’s a top 5 3-bagger

by DubElXero on Nov 27, 2008 11:39 AM PST reply actions 0 recs