Odds and Ends

by jarforcefatherofforce on Feb 5, 2008 9:56 PM PST

In a little over a week from now pitchers and catchers report. So what will the 2008 A's look like? Who will bat third? Where will the power come from?

The trading of Nick Swisher created a big offensive hole in the A's lineup. The A's are now deficient in power hitting. High average guys like Buck and Barton will now become the mainstays of the A's. They have shown themselves to be exciting ball players. Probably the best pure hitters since Carny Lansford. They could very well bat one-two.

Jack Cust is our power hitter. Unfortunately our only one that has shown some consistancy. If he bats cleanup, who bats third?

Jack Cust had an unbelievable year last year. He finished 7th in the AL in OB%(.408). He was 8th in OPS (.912). He was second in walks (105) and first in strikeouts {164).

The A's have shown they are willing to play Jack Cust in the ourfield. If Johnson hits with any consistancy he wiii be at first with Cust in right field.

Chad Gaudin was 2nd. in the AL with 100 walks in 2007. What does he need to do to improve?

Here is hoping that Bobby Crosby has a healthy year so that he can show he really knows how to hit. If reports are true that he is making some positive changes we could be pleasently suprised.

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I think Cust is DHing

Though it is possible that they platoon DJ and Brown if DJ is still with the team. Otherwise, they'll go with Sweeney and Brown platoon.

My hope is that either Carlos Gonzalez or Aaron Cunningham have a good Spring Training and grab that outfield spot. Either one could probably do it, and it'd be interesting to watch them play. I don't think the A's would be too reluctant to start Cunningham's clock, as he isn't going to be an expensive superstar, and he if he can pull a Travis Buck, more power to him.

by Zonis on Feb 5, 2008 10:04 PM PST 0 recs

Cunningham has played 31 games

above the A level. He would be 18 months younger than Buck was when he hit the majors.

You don't think promoting him two levels on the basis of a sample of 50 at-bats in a minimally competitive atmosphere might be rushing him just a tad?

If Cunningham plays to his minor league numbers, he will be a superstar. We know the scouts don't like him, but the guy's hit like gangbusters in leagues where he was years younger than average.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Feb 5, 2008 10:43 PM PST up 0 recs

Cust in the OF

If Cust gets any OF time I bet it will probably be in left with Buck in right. That said, I doubt Cust will see too much time in the outfield. With all the young Of'ers we added it would take a lot of injuries/poor performance for Cust to see regular time in the outfield.

I could see him out there if players need a rest or if we have short term injuries that we won't call some one up for, but not for an extended period of time.

by DiegoAsFan on Feb 6, 2008 9:33 AM PST 0 recs

The proper distribution of those two

has Cust in right and Buck in left.

The one aspect of Cust's fielding game that isn't terrible is his throwing arm-- might as well not waste it on left field.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 9:37 AM PST up 0 recs

Hmmm

I was under the impression that Buck had a better outfield arm than Cust. Seeing as most of what I hear has the team planning to use him in right I assumed they wouldn't shift him for Cust. I hadn't heard anything about Cust's throwing arm, guess I can always count on learning something new at AN.

by DiegoAsFan on Feb 6, 2008 9:42 AM PST up 0 recs

I could see

a platoon setup with Cust playing in the OF against lefties with DJ at DH, then Emil Brown in left against righties with Cust sliding to DH. I see no good reason to rush any of Gonzo/Cunningham/Sweeney.

by Sigur Ros on Feb 6, 2008 10:13 AM PST up 0 recs

Emil Brown

Hopefully we won't see too much of Emil Brown against righties. With his splits and the amount of left handed hitters on the line-up I really don't want to see him getting many at-bats against right handed pitchers.

by DiegoAsFan on Feb 6, 2008 10:17 AM PST up 0 recs

You flipped the two scenarios

Cust/DJ would be against righties, Brown/Cust against lefties.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 10:18 AM PST up 0 recs

Haha

Yup I did, thanks.

by Sigur Ros on Feb 6, 2008 3:37 PM PST up 0 recs

None of these . . .

. . . young outfielders are power hitters. Gonzales is expected to develop power but may not be ready. You may see Cust in the outfield if someone who hits for power and can only play first or DH needs to be inserted in the lineup.

Jim

by jarforcefatherofforce on Feb 6, 2008 2:41 PM PST up 0 recs

I'd Go

Opening Series vs. Josh Beckett/Dice-K:

Buck - RF

Barton - 1B

Chavez - 3B

Cust - DH

Ellis - 2B

Sweeney - LF

Crosby - SS

Denorfia - CF

Suzuki - C

Bench: Hannahan, Murphy, Emil Brown, Fiorentino or Linden

CarGo needs to start the year in AAA - There's no reason to start the arby clock early.

by Colorado Fan on Feb 6, 2008 11:01 AM PST 0 recs

I assume the team will have the full 40-man

roster available for those games, but I don't think non-roster invitees would be allowed to play. If Linden gets a spot, that means someone else is getting the axe.

Fiorentino still has yet to play a game at the AAA level in his life, so I'd say that he needs more seasoning as well. There just aren't a whole lot of options in the outfield at present. The team could start off the year with Cust in the outfield and DJ as DH, I suppose.

I'm still miffed that the A's didn't take the chance to swap Chris Shelton for DJ when he was on the waiver wire.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 11:14 AM PST up 0 recs

In previous opening series in Japan

most recently Yankees vs. D-Rays in 2004, the teams played the regular season games in Tokyo with 25-man rosters. They will take several more players on the trip for the exhibitions with the Japanese teams and also in case of injuries.

by Soaker on Feb 6, 2008 11:19 AM PST up 0 recs

Fiorentino / Sweeney

Do you know their option situations? Fiorentino looks to be out of options, considering he was w/ Baltimore in 2005.

by Colorado Fan on Feb 6, 2008 11:48 AM PST up 0 recs

Unless they were dumb enough to call him up

midseason in 2005, he should still have an option remaining.

Also, he may have a fourth option available because he was called up so fast.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 11:53 AM PST up 0 recs

Looks like they were dumb enough

Fiorentino was called up to Baltimore from 5/12/2005 - 5/29/2005. He was drafted in 2004, but wasn't called up in 2004 (Like Joey Devine was called up).

by Colorado Fan on Feb 6, 2008 2:06 PM PST up 0 recs

I still think he has one option left

He's clearly used three of them now. But he doesn't have five seasons of pro experience.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 3:29 PM PST up 0 recs

Chavez . . .

. . . may not be ready. Regaining strength and flexability from back disc surgery takes a long time. Playing third and batting third may demand more than Chavy has at this time. Even if he regains most of his health he has never been a batter for the 3 spot.

Jim

by jarforcefatherofforce on Feb 6, 2008 2:51 PM PST up 0 recs

Who should bat 3rd then?

I think Barton will take it over eventually, but if Chavez is ready by March 25th, he might be the best option. Believe it or not, opposing teams still respect him as a hitter.

by Colorado Fan on Feb 6, 2008 3:41 PM PST up 0 recs

Why are people so obsessed with batting order?

Seriously, it makes virtually no difference in 90% of all games.

As long as you don't line up a bunch of bad platoon splits in a row and put your OBP at the top of the lineup, it's not much of a challenge. Since Cust is the team's best slugger, it seems like a no-brainer to put him in the 3-slot after Buck and Barton.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 4:21 PM PST up 0 recs

Batting Order . . .

. . . is critical. Why not bat Cust first since he has the highest OB%?

Jim

by jarforcefatherofforce on Feb 6, 2008 5:12 PM PST up 0 recs

Why not, indeed?

He is a good power threat, and I suspect some members of the team will have similar OBPs to him.

If the OBP differential is as wide as it was last year, batting Cust leadoff would absolutely be the correct play.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 5:27 PM PST up 0 recs

I know we aren't high on Chavez right now

but even when he was hurt he had some pop in his bat. I think after the All-Star break he will be fully recovered from his surgeries and have his power stroke back.

A's all the way in 08 . . . oh never mind!

by micdog2001 on Feb 6, 2008 1:13 PM PST 0 recs

So Who Bats Third?

Jim

by jarforcefatherofforce on Feb 6, 2008 2:55 PM PST up 0 recs

Who Bats 3rd if Chavez out?

Howzzabout:

Denorfia
Ellis
Barton
Cust
Buck
Sweeney/Brown (Sweeney/Todd?)
Crosby
Hanohan
Suzuki

by nihilist on Feb 6, 2008 4:58 PM PST 0 recs

Problems I see there -

At least initially, you have to expect Denorfia to struggle after missing 18 months, so you'd figure a low OBP for a while. Ellis' OBP against RHP is pretty pedestrian, and most pitchers are righties. Then you get to the power part of the order and have a non-power hitter batting 3rd.

I'd sooner go:

Barton
Hannahan
Buck
Cust
Ellis
Crosby
Sweeney/Brown
Suzuki
Denorfia

Of course the four lefties in a row isn't ideal. Bleah, our lineup needs Albert Pujols.

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 Feb 6, 2008 10:00 PM PST up 0 recs