Things Become Clear

by jarforcefatherofforce on Feb 11, 2008 2:46 AM PST

The A's are rebuilding so they go against logic and sign vets Foulke and Sweeney. Both are recovering from injury problems and when healthy have been good players. Beane is looking for the kind of success he got from Stewart and Thomas. Of course the lack of success he received from Piazza is a risk he is facing.

Sweeney could provide some right handed power thr A's need.

Foulke was a gread pitcher for the A's and Beane is looking for that kind of result. Over at Fox Sports Rosenthal reports that Beane is trying to trade Alan Embree to a contender. Foulke for Embree can save money.

If these moves pay off and Harden is healthy there could be some excitement on 2008.

Things are starting to become clear . . .

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Right handed power bat

Why is it that the A's always seem to need one?

In a ridiculously small sample, Buck seems to handle lefties just fine. Cust has been adequate vs LHP, Ellis has been very good, etc.

I mean, I guess it's not very sexy to have a bunch of lefties all in a row in the lineup, but when they can all hold their own against a LHP anyways it doesn't really seem to be that big of a deal to me.

by mikev on Feb 11, 2008 8:45 AM PST 0 recs

They can hold their own against most pitchers,

but when teams have an elite LOOGY, you don't want the other team to be able to use them for more than 1 or 2 batters before they see a righty. Makes the other manager think about burning another arm, or have the LOOGY face a righty.

by theblackpearl on Feb 11, 2008 9:06 AM PST up 0 recs

Seems like a rather small number of games...

in which that exact scenario might happen.

Frankly, there aren't that many "elite LOOGY" pitchers out there, are there?

I mean, I'm all for having a guy that was a really good hitter a long time ago on the bench for PH duty, and from everything I've ever heard/read/seen about MSween (yes, I call dibs) points to him being one of the nicest guys in all of baseball. If he has a Frank Thomas type of effect on guys off the field, awesome.

by mikev on Feb 11, 2008 9:11 AM PST up 0 recs

my version:

MiS ween

MaS ween

RyS ween

Unfortunately, there seems to be a couple of Matt Sweeneys in the minors.

Brain Sabean lol.

by rebus on Feb 11, 2008 11:58 AM PST up 0 recs

Flipping Vets for Prospects is More Likely

Beane has demonstrated his willingness to flip even young veterans for prospects in hopes of stocking the minors and building toward the future. Rather than looking at the signings of Foulke and Sweeney as reasons for hope, I think it's more reasonable that Beane is taking a chance on these veterans (buying low) to give them a chance to out-perform expectations, so he can trade them for prospects mid-season (selling high)?

by Razorback on Feb 11, 2008 9:15 AM PST 0 recs

that's what I've been thinking

by OaklandSi on Feb 11, 2008 9:21 AM PST up 0 recs

I think BB is getting new backups

BB is looking to trade Embry and Duke is projected for the starting lineup if he is healthy. Either way we need someone for setup to Street so that is where Foulke comes in. I think we will keep him for the year until someone in the minors shows they can fill in that spot, maybe by the trade deadline or in the fall.
Sweeney looks like a right hand bat and a backup for Barton which could mean DJ is on his way out. But, looking at the possibility that Beane may trade Blanton to the Dodgers for Ethier, LaRoche and a prospect which gives us a backup for 3rd, he could then flip Ethier and DJ to the Padres for another prospect, hopefully SS.

Either way, I think that he signed Sweeney and Foulke to stay with the team all 2008.

by Eastbayjim on Feb 11, 2008 11:12 AM PST up 0 recs

The thing I've liked about the moves....

...is the risk. At worst, we're down a couple million if they both "Piazza" on us (which I assume means Lowell decides to needlessly injure them). There's only so much we can spend in Latin America and Asia or in the draft. Why not go for the low risk , high reward gambles elsewhere (like these type of FA's).

I guess that's what Emil Brown is for as well. But really, I still don't quite see the genius, hell any reasoning, behind that one. If it's to make sure we don't itch to call up CarGo or Cunningham I'd rather see Linden or Fiorentino (they may at least have some upside). Plus as I've said a couple of times, I really think Beane's greatest strength is finding those league average players who've been cast off for cheap (Gaudin, Murphy, Cust, Hannahan, Snelling/Langerhans, etc). Hell I'd rather we have signed Hee Seop Choi (if anyone can find him, he could be a Cust-type) and play Cust in the field. I did call for us to sign Carlos Pena before his recent breakout. Take that for what it's worth (nothing).

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

by vignette17 on Feb 11, 2008 11:33 PM PST 0 recs