The risk is not something we can take. If Barton starts shredding AAA pitching that is not a terrible problem. It is a minor inefficiency. If Barton tanks at the MLB level, it is a huge problem and serious inefficiency.

We want to have Barton under contract for his best seasons…when did people forget that. Even if some 1-2 year rental FA is slightly worse than him next year, which is highly unlikely imo, its still a smart move unless it is the difference between contending and not contending.

his lack of power through the minors caught up wth him in 2007 outside of two months.

I’d love to get Dunn for a 3-4 year contract. And I’d want him over Burrel, Abreu or Giambi if not simply because he is the most likely of them to be valuable by the end of the contract. This is a good time to sign a 1B/DH because there are so many of them on the market right now, and one cost draft picks.

Sign Dunn or Burrel to play 1st. I like Dunn because of his age and power numbers. I like Burrel because he hits right handed!! Barton still has plenty of trade value because he is still young. We package Barton, Simmons, Crosby, and another mid level prospect to a team to grab a legitimate SS. I’ll let you guys speculate who.

If we sign Dunn to a 3, incentive driven option for year 4 deal, that would give a few of our other minor league 1b prospects time to develop. We wouldn’t be rushing Chris Carter, Doolittle, or Donaldson. We can take our time in letting these guys deveolop proplerly in our system.

So we go into 2009 with the SS we need and Adam Dunn/Pat Burrel and we don’t need to overspend and we won’t need to sell the farm system to get the SS we all desperately need.

He would give A’s flexibility (DH, OF and 1B ) and right-handed power. A’s do not have power at SS, C, CF, to compensate for a no-power 1B. Let Barton learn to hit 25-30 hrs at Sac. If he develops great — the A’s will find room.

I actually do agree with your fundamental insight that upgrading from Barton’s ‘08 (whether that be done by Daric himself or someone else) is more crucial to the team’s success than upgrading from Crosby’s ’08.

But the A’s pivotal player? Unfortunately, by dint of the team’s questionable judgment, it’s Chavez.

Barton can easily be replaced/upgraded by relatively affordable (and relatively disposable) external options.

But when Chavez succumbs to one or several of his chronic owies … it’s back to Hannahan (and I’m a fannahan of his fielding, but he’s simply not a major-league hitter).

The A’s are, apparently, relying on Chavez returning to his early-aughts form. And that ain’t happening.

I would say if Barton gets up to league average with a bit of pop in his bat and shows some plate discipline, that would be a great upgrade over last season.
I am more concerned with the production from 3rd. Also, lets hope Ellis gets back to the form of ‘07, showing some of that power. ’Zook needs to stay healthy and perform like last year, and consistent production out of 2 not named Holliday. If we see performance at these positions, I think we will be in good position. I don’t believe the team lies on the production of a 23 year old 2nd year guy…

Chavez – will be an above average third basemen but season will be derailed by injuries…again
Buck – he will be legit. i think he fixed whatever was bothering him most of last season and is now ready to take off. IMO, i think the real reason he regressed this year was the short hair. He wasn’t comfortable, maybe he was too cold. But now that the shag is back, he’s good to go.
Sweeney – I am also in the Sweeney fan club. He is legit .300 hitter with gap power for now with the chance to develop some real hr (15-20) power down the road. Great arm, plays a good CF, great CO. Will be a solid #2 hitter for a long time.
Ziggy – solid-to-good reliever. Can work 7th and 8th. As long as he keeps his GB% up, will be a great set up man/late-inning reliever
Crosby – better but not great. if he ever could get motivated, now is the time. He knows he’s on the verge of never geting a chance to start again, plus he’s in a contract year. He’s looking for like a future end-of-the-bench player unless he turns it around. If he bounces back at all, some team will give him a chance saying “he’s always had talent. he just needs a change out scenery and he’ll finally break out.” As much as I dislike him and how overhyped he was (thanks peter gammons), I sure do hope he’ll find a way to not suck.

Chavez — has a career year that falls short of being fantastic because he misses games (28 HRs, 87 RBIs)
Buck — 18 HRs, 88 RBIs, 36 dbls, 5 triples, .282
Sweeney — 11 HRs, 69 RBIs, 32 dbls, 8 triples, .291
Ziggy — 38 HLDs or 31 Saves
Crosby — .275, 23 HRs, 36 dbls, 81dbls, 1 triple

:)

I am right there with you dude. do we sign a FA 1b and limit barton’s development or do we risk barton hitting .207 at the end of may and no legit FA available (which means hananahan will be manning 1st!!)

and teach him to play first base?

he’s a pretty natural looking athlete, and was hella dope in college.