Odds and Ends
by jarforcefatherofforce on Feb 5, 2008 9:56 PM PST
27 comments
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 reply actions 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.
by PaulThomas on Feb 5, 2008 10:43 PM PST up reply actions 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 reply actions 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.
by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 9:37 AM PST up reply actions 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 reply actions 0 recs
I could see
by Sigur Ros on Feb 6, 2008 10:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Emil Brown
by DiegoAsFan on Feb 6, 2008 10:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
You flipped the two scenarios
Cust/DJ would be against righties, Brown/Cust against lefties.
by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 10:18 AM PST up reply actions 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.
by jarforcefatherofforce on Feb 6, 2008 2:41 PM PST up reply actions 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 reply actions 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.
by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 11:14 AM PST up reply actions 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 reply actions 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 reply actions 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.
by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 11:53 AM PST up reply actions 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 reply actions 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.
by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 3:29 PM PST up reply actions 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.
by jarforcefatherofforce on Feb 6, 2008 2:51 PM PST up reply actions 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 reply actions 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.
by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 4:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Batting Order . . .
. . . is critical. Why not bat Cust first since he has the highest OB%?
by jarforcefatherofforce on Feb 6, 2008 5:12 PM PST up reply actions 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.
by PaulThomas on Feb 6, 2008 5:27 PM PST up reply actions 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.
by micdog2001 on Feb 6, 2008 1:13 PM PST reply actions 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 reply actions 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.
by Nico on Feb 6, 2008 10:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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