I think the A’s are trying to be diversified and dynamic. Holliday is an outstanding baserunner and one of the things that Beane has always preached is that stolen bases aren’t bad, it’s getting caught that is bad. Giving away outs on the basepaths. But if you have a guy with a ridiculous percentage like Holliday then you can set him free and generate more offense on the paths.

I think the 2009 team is going to be a lot more exciting and varied in terms of offense than any team we’re seen around here in a while, especially if they do successfully sign Furcal.

He only had 32 last year in a park that was designed for left-handed hitters to hit home runs.

As long as he’s

1. Healthy (as in, at least 120-130 games)
2. Plays the defense like he always has
3. Hitting decently. I’ll take a .750 OPS from him.

I’m pretty happy

since, more than likely, you are effectively replacing a guy who will put up something like 15-10 and quality defense with a guy who will put up 30-1 with terrible defense.

I doubt BB cares that much about having a “balanced” team … I just think that the players thought to be traditionally favored by Moneyball, say a guy like Ryan Howard or Prince Fielder, have become pretty thoroughly over valued, leaving defense that gets the job done but doesn’t result in a lot of Web Gems, effective base running that does not result in gaudy steal totals, on base skills among guys who don’t weigh 250 pounds and gap power as highly desirable but generally under appreciated abilities.

The seemingly big things — massive power and on base skills — have become unaffordable. (while the team may have 3 or 4 30 HR guys, it isn’t likely to have any 40 or 50 HR guys) So instead, he’s focusing on the little things.

like it would be counterproductive to the plan. Sure he can still be a high OBP/OPS guy but either he or Cust would then have to play the field and there goes the “dynamic defense” and kills some of the flexibility that Beane also covets. The offensive boost to the lineup would surely be canceled out by the defensive ineptitude.

I don’t think Beane is as interested in pursuing a “true” lead-off hitter as he is in finding a SS capable of providing some offense. It just happens that Furcal’s contributions come as a traditional lead-off type.

And the Giambi speculation is just that, especially since there’s no good place to play him in the Oakland line-up.

knowing their own home park and scouting the A’s said, “How do we get Greg Smith and Alan Embree to come pitch for us?”

“It was a darrrrrrrrrrk and stormy night…”

NL Rumors and Rumblings: The Dodgers have ruled out the idea of re-signing shortstop Rafael Furcal because of concerns about the back surgery he had this year, making it that much more likely that he will land with either the Giants or Athletics, though the Reds are a potential dark horse. …