Lackey Hurt - Is It A "Whole New BallGame" In The West?
by Nico on Mar 15, 2008 6:02 PM PDT
83 comments
You have no idea what the Angels fans are going through right now, hearing that their team's ace has an arm injury (strained right triceps) and watching the rotation your team will open the season with bear less and less resemblance to the one it envisioned. OK, maybe you do.
Lackey, Escobar, Weaver, Garland, E. Santana or Saunders – looks darn good. Weaver, Garland, E. Santana, Saunders, Moseley – not looking like the rotation of a team that will run away with a division. In fact, not looking any better than Bedard, F. Hernandez, Washburn, Silva, Batista. Suddenly, the A’s rotation of Harden, Blanton, Duchscherer, Gaudin, and DiNardo, Eveland, or Smith, is arguably the best rotation in the division for at least the month of April, when we know we won’t see Lackey, and do figure to see Harden.
Meanwhile, if the A’s sacrifice some outfield defense to put Jack Cust and Mike Sweeney in the lineup together, the offense will start to look pretty good along side the Angels’ and Mariners’ starting nine. All three teams can boast bullpens that are both effective and deep. All three defenses figure to have areas of significant strength and weakness.
The Angels, of course, hope that Lackey and Escobar return by early to mid-May, that the cream rises quickly to the top, and the Angels still own the division as predicted by pre-season prognosticators. But there is no guarantee on how quickly Lackey and Escobar will get back into regular season form, how effective they will be upon their return, or how careful the team will need to be with these precious commodities. Oakland and Seattle also know how easy it is for teams to get into cycles where just as one key piece returns another goes down – by the time Lackey is ready, how will Jared Weaver be doing, how will Vlad be doing, what key player on an AL West team will have been felled by a hard slide or a line drive back through the box?
There are very few starters in the major leagues that are worthy of the “ace” designation, and certainly Rich Harden followers know how big a piece of the overall puzzle an ace can be. As Lackey has been leveled, I say so has the playing field.
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japan trip
chavez and c-gon will not be going.
(link
)
by gotgreen on Mar 15, 2008 6:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You didn't mention Hernandez in the M's rotation. Is he injured?
by doggiebag on Mar 15, 2008 6:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Just overlooked him, typing quickly -
I'll edit in a sec.
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 Mar 15, 2008 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
An interesting question is:
would you rather have Lackey or Harden right now for just this year?
As far as contending this year, I'm more worried about the A's than the Angels. Four of our best players (Harden, Duke, Street, Chavez) are perhaps the four most injury prone. If these guys are healthy, though, I don't feel at all bad about our chances to contend.
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on Mar 15, 2008 6:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
My prediction would be
Harden - healthy for a while, then ???? (impossible to make an intelligent guess!)
Duke - healthy, body prefers starting
Street - mostly healthy but not entirely (that may be optimistic; we'll see)
Chavez - don't wait up
The reason I feel ok about that combination is that Hannahan has really sold me as a solid line drive hitter who can provide good defense. Healthy-Chavy-lite, if you will.
Basically it's all about Harden - per usual.
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 Mar 15, 2008 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That sounds pretty plausible
and I would take that outcome. I am also a Dukeophile, and I think he'll be an excellent SP if he stays healthy. It was impossible to hit his 06 cutter solidly.
All about Harden per usual is about right. I like the sound of that a lot more with lower expectations (for the team), than last year when a lot of us said that and it was a bit panic-inducing.
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on Mar 15, 2008 6:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was just thinking about Duke vs. Zito
Both have a great 12-to-6 curve - Zito's more "unhittable" but Duke able to get called strikes from his more. Both throw mid-80s. Both have only one other key pitch (Zito - changeup, Duke - cutter). The differences? Duke has tremendous command, Zito not terrific command. And Zito makes a bazillion dollars more.
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 Mar 15, 2008 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
another big difference
Duke has had health issues, Zito has been healthy.
by OaklandSi on Mar 15, 2008 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cy Young...
... and his prestigious award is the only reason-- only-- that Zito made that kind of scratch in free agency. And he won that back before the entire league knew that you could completely ignore that awesome curve which never got thrown for a called strike and sit on that BP fastball that lived year-round in the upper half of the zone. Or you could just wait and let him walk you.
by Joey C. on Mar 15, 2008 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK
What is with the completely ridiculous dissing of Zito around these parts?
2002 was his third season in the league. Hitters and hitting coaches would have had to be shamefacedly awful in their scouting preparation for him if they hadn't figured out his tendencies as a pitcher with a season and a half of video evidence to work with. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that by and large, by that point, hitters knew exactly what he was working with, and couldn't hit it because he's, you know, a good pitcher.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Mar 15, 2008 8:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
IMO, it's not "ridiculous dissing"
Following 2002, Zito was an above-average pitcher who could be counted on to have very mediocre beginnings to the season, very strong finishes, and who was about a 14 game winner who would usually give you a chance to win, never got injured, and wasn't an ace - which is pretty much a description of Joe Blanton today.
Now he appears to have lost a good 3-4 MPH off his fastball and become a league average starter who is getting worse every year. Following a season in which Zito was not an above-average starter, the guy has now pitched 14+ innings in the Cactus League without raising a single dollar for our troops. You think the Giants are a bit concerned, spring training or not? I imagine they are, and with good reason: Zito has never had the command to make it as a guy who topped out at 83-84 MPH.
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 Mar 15, 2008 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe this is Zito's way of protesting the war.
Hi this is Ken Griffey Jr. Let's play major league baseball.
by Rocktopus on Mar 15, 2008 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
QOTM material
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Mar 15, 2008 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe he's average now but..
Did you watch game 1 of the 2006 ALDS? Were you an A's fan then? How can you diss him?
by skalordes on Mar 16, 2008 2:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
How is it "dissing him" to say
He's been good but not great for a few years, and now he appears to be slipping to average?
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 Mar 16, 2008 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Saying he's dropped toward average
isn't what I'm complaining about.
It's more comments like "Zito is replacement level" (wrong, you have absolutely no idea what replacement level pitching is), "Zito is done" (it's like two bad starts in spring, OK?), etc. It's sour grapes of the purest variety.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Mar 16, 2008 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Then I guess you're taking issue with others,
because I've never made those claims. However, I will claim this: From 2006 forward, Zito is on a rather sharp downward trend that, if it continues, will render him a soft-tosser with spotty command and a 4.50+ ERA - a lot closer to "replacement level" and "done" than the Giants feared in "their worst alcoholic nightmares!" when they inked the deal.
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 Mar 16, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
a viticultural quandary:
which is the purest variety of sour grapes?
by skutch on Mar 16, 2008 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A's fans: we put the "cult" in "cultivar"
I wasn't thinking about anything. I'll have to try to do that more often. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Mar 16, 2008 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Zito was done 3 years ago
He is not a good pitcher and has not been a good pitcher in ages.
He is a GASCAN with NO FASTBALL.
I wanted the A's to trade him 3 years ago.
by TimTimTimbo on Mar 16, 2008 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK...
so you wanted the A's to skip a playoff appearance and their first series win since 1990.
Not exactly making the case for your position here.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Mar 16, 2008 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, I like Zito
I agree with something I read in the 2006 Baseball Prospectus that put Zito as a fringey #1 or an awesome #2. When he's at his best, anyway.
The problem so far as I can see, is that Zito has shown an unwillingness to adapt his game. Other than developing a show-me slider for lefties, his approach is pretty much what I described above: high "fast"balls, curves out of the zone, changeups for strikes. And it leads to a lot of walks. In his contract year, he finished second only to Walk-A-Thon Daniel Cabrera. Zito only gets K's when hitters are overly aggressive and swing at his perpetually out-of-the-zone fastballs.
Nico's comment about the difference in Zito and Duke's curves was what led to what I wrote. I really think if he would just throw his curve for called strikes more often, he'd keep hitters off balance and hesitant. He just won't do it.
by Joey C. on Mar 16, 2008 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
obviously injuries can make or break a season
we can only speculate based on the talent on each club.
by OaklandSi on Mar 15, 2008 6:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
"100% Baseball"
The first series of new commercials is what it would be like to live in a neighborhood with the Athletics (FUN!).
A spot promoting Kurt Suzuki Bobblehead Day shows Suzuki emerging from his house early in the morning, wrapped in a white robe, and squatting to give the paperboy signs.
Outfielder Travis Buck knocks on a neighbor's door to sheepishly retrieve a ball that's been hit through a window. Right-hander Justin Duchscherer pumps his fist after striking out a young boy in a Red Sox cap. Stomper plays "Charge!" on an organ in time with the steps of the mailman. An A's-run, $1-hot-dog stand is packed, leaving the neighborhood kids' nearby lemonade stand desolate.
And on the flip side ...
It's quite clever, in keeping with Oakland's long history of hilarious ads, but there's a serious side to the campaign, too. Some of the spots focus on the club's 40 years in Oakland, starting with footage of vintage greats such as Joe Rudi, Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue and Reggie Jackson before gradually taking the viewer through the years of Billy Ball, the Bash Brothers and the Big Three.
I can't wait to see them!!
by gotgreen on Mar 15, 2008 7:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Can't go wrong with Stomper
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on Mar 15, 2008 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really hope Suzuki has something on under that robe
Or he could give the sign for the fastball without using his hands.
by thejd44 on Mar 15, 2008 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fastball location depends on who is pitching
Fastball down low
Fastball up and in
"Evidently, a large number of people said, 'We really need more vermin at the ballpark, Artie.'" - Nick, 10/7/07
by doctorK on Mar 16, 2008 8:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not comfortable with Lackey being down low.
by WaddellCanseco on Mar 16, 2008 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe he's "on the down low,"
wink, wink, eh? Wait...He's on the DL now...the "down low"? Know what I mean, know what I mean?"
Wot's it like?
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 Mar 16, 2008 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I'd much rather Alyssa down low
by thejd44 on Mar 16, 2008 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lackey's backdoor slider is pretty effective, though
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 Mar 16, 2008 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've been told that high and inside
is the way to hit the sweet spot.
formerly known as mdl
by iglew on Mar 16, 2008 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I had been thinking that this commercial
could be x-rated
by OaklandSi on Mar 16, 2008 8:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Long Shot Possibility
If the young A's can stay healthy, take advantage of the Angel's banged up rotation and play good baseball for all of April, then end the month in one of the top two spots in the division, then it's very possible that the team might be able to compete the rest of the season...
Problem is, the words "healthy" & "hot start" are not allowed in the A's clubhouse.
by Taj Adib on Mar 15, 2008 7:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Not sure
It'll be nice having those two out to start, but the Angels know they are the favorites and won't be rushing these guys back out there until they are ready, because honestly they might not need to. I hope it takes them a while to get into the swing of things, because I'm feeling really good about our team. I actually think, for the first time, that Harden will be healthy and effective. I've never felt really positive about his season-long health, but for some reason this season is different. I've always thought the offense would be better this season, because it would have been tough to be worse than it was last year. Mike Sweeney and Jack Cust will be a formidable duo in the middle, and as long as T-Buck and Barton get on base, which I think they will, the offense will be fine. Is it possible this year we might get some breaks? I mean, no Beckett or Schilling in Japan (not really worried about Schilling ever, but it's nice to not have to face him), no Lackey or Escobar for at least a month, the Rangers are still the Rangers, and we've got a good amount of depth and talent at all positions. Can't wait for the season to start.
Might as well Jump! - Van Halen
by sprtsnwyn on Mar 15, 2008 7:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
In keeping with the theme
Getting Mike Sweeney on the field means adding him to the 40 man roster. There are a few ways to do this. The easiest is if Calero goes on the 60 day DL or is given his outright release. Conventional thinking says if Sweeney makes the 25 man cut DJ is gone, which is probably true. An outside the box idea would be to trade AAA OF Richie Robnett, a tools guy who supposedly gets asked about inspite of his mediocre production. With Gonzales and Ryan Sweeney around Robnett's loss wouldn't be too traumatic. An even better idea would be to trade Javier Herrera if you could find anyone willing to part with more then a bag of baseballs for him. Sorry Herrera fans, but I'm done with the guy. He ain't gonna make it and right now all he's doing is taking up space on the 40 man roster.
I'm not sure if there's a Todd Linden fan club on AN but if he keeps hitting like he has he may force the A's to get creative to keep him around. A couple of the ideas I mentioned above could come into play.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Mar 15, 2008 8:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Herrera
He might be a little overcooked, but a Herrera that lives up to expectations is the kind of player the A`s have been trying to trade for the last few years. Not only could he be that power thret from the right the A`s have been looking for, but he can play center to boot. He`s like (to tempt fate) Rich Harden in that the reward is so great you keep trotting him out until he proves he will never live up to expectations.
Sometimes life will strike you out on a curve ball and the only choice you have is to flip off the umpire and walk to first base anyway.
by Threepwood XX on Mar 15, 2008 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
trade em all billy
calero, DJ, robnett, herrera, trade them!
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
by xbhaskarx on Mar 15, 2008 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sure he'd love to...
it's sorta like the housing market now, though, you can't sell when there are no takers.
Go A's!
by FoolshGame22 on Mar 16, 2008 12:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
M's fans are pretty cocky about their opening day rotation versus ours...
Really though? As long as we are talking about the opening day rotation, which assumes healthy for both teams (thus far, sorry Halos).
Harden or Bedard? Bedard sure, but by how much? very little...thats how much.
Felix or Blanton? Felix for sure, but its not like he has fulfilled his promise thus far. This is really a question of which pitcher is more likely to improve, and definitely Felix is that pitcher.
Now the last 3 spots..
M's: Silva, Washburn, Batista
A's: Duke, Gaudin, Eveland(after his last outing, come on and recognize)
Hmmm, which group is better based on relevant past performance? I'd have to say its a toss-up because neither group has been too effective in aggregate, although this is hard to evaluate because of Duke. But which group has FAR more upside? I'd don't see anything UP about the Mariners' 3-5 SP's except the probable direction of their ERA trends.
Of course, the M's rotation becomes infinitely better, relatively speaking, if Harden is lost, but Felix hasn't shown himself to be injury free either...(I would never wish that fate for him)
by ChadGod on Mar 15, 2008 8:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
In fairness, the M's rotation looks good
and their bullpen is solid too - not sure about their lineup. I think Sexson is overrated, while Beltre and Ibañez have been so inconsistent it's hard to know what to expect. I suspect their "everything broke right" overachieving of 2007, and their legitimate improvement (adding Bedard) will approximately cancel one another out, leaving them a plus-.500 but sub 90-win team. They're in the mix, though - especially with Lackey's and Escobar's health in question.
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 Mar 15, 2008 8:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree, M's rotation looks good
but I guess I am just a little disappointed in the Mariners fans. From what I see on their blog and a lot my M's fan friends (I'm from Seattle), they are discounted the A's rotation quite a bit even though more than anyone else they should realize how competetive the A's rotation could be.
by ChadGod on Mar 15, 2008 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's not just adding Erik Bedard
It's also "not adding Adam Jones." They now have Brad Wilkerson playing right field instead. They also gave up their second-best reliever.
One of the ironies about trying to project Seattle is that because of their perverse insistence on playing bad players over good ones, a lack of injuries such as they had last year actually makes the team worse.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Mar 15, 2008 11:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
Who is Sexon overrated by? He gets booed by his own fans for being such a horrible player.
But yeah, barring injury the M's rotation is pretty damn solid, and if this is the year King Felix (hate that nickname, don't you really have to do something really impressive before getting a nickname like that?) lives up to his huge supposed potential they'll have two LEGITIMATE aces and a decent 3,4,5 (no more Weaver's probably one of the best 'addition by subtraction' examples). They did give up too much for Bedard in my opinion, but its still going to benefit them more for this season at least having him than any of the people they gave up would have helped them this year. As some earlier posters have said, even with these injuries it will take a lot of luck for the A's to really be competitive in the division race, unless for some freak reason Lackey ends up out for the year. Then we would have an actual shot (long, but there) at the division.
take money
by yo on Mar 16, 2008 1:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
'Who is Sexson overrated by?'
1. Casual generic fans who don't watch the Mariners and whose last memories of Sexson are the Home Run Derby in Milwaukee;
2. The Mariners front office; and
3. grover.
(To grover's credit, he doesn't overrate Sexson nearly as much as the other two groups do.)
formerly known as mdl
by iglew on Mar 16, 2008 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Duke, Gaudin, Eveland
certainly may all have higher upsides than Silva, Washburn and Batista. But to say it is a toss-up because neither group has been too effective in aggregate is ridiculous.
All 3 of Silva et al, have shown the ability to be 200 IP league average innings eaters. That is not great, or even good, but it has value. Silva and Washburn may be overpaid, but being overpaid does not mean that they are not effective.
Eveland has done absolutely nothing in MLB as yet. Duke is a great reliever, converted to starting, and has injury issues.
Felix has not been injury free. He also has never missed as much time, and had as many problems as Harden.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on Mar 16, 2008 12:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree that innings have value, but
I'm really not sure I agree that tons of innings from Washburn/Silva/Batista can be expected to be at league average going forward. I suppose I agree my statement is ridiculous in terms of past performance over a full season, but you have to keep in mind that I was talking about the opening day rotation, so longevity was not part of my discussion.
Ignoring longevity, I'd say Silva/Washburn/Batista vs. Duke/Gaudin/Combo of organizational 5th starters would be fairly equitable based on recent past performance.
by ChadGod on Mar 16, 2008 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Reliability vs. ceiling -
The trio of Silva-Washburn-Batista has a better chance of giving you a predictable outcome than the trio that starts with Duke-Gaudin. However, Duke and Gaudin could easily have the two best 2008 seasons out of any of the six. Partly because Silva and Washburn and Batista have established that they are aren't usually "very good".
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 Mar 16, 2008 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
just a caution
Duchscherer hasn't yet been a major league starter. He's been terrific as a reliever when healthy, so we're hopeful. But he doesn't yet have the appropriate track record.
by OaklandSi on Mar 16, 2008 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im just thankful for our organization
The M's are in win now mode and don't want to take chances (Morrow), but I'm just thankful that the A's likely won't put anyone as thoroughly unexciting and unpromising as Washburn and Batista in their rotation.
by ChadGod on Mar 16, 2008 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why not?
Has the pitching of Silva/Washburn/Batista changed since last year? Unless they have, I do not see any reason why they cannot be league average next year.
Sure, Silva and Washburn are the types of pitchers who walk a very fine line. A slight decline in skills, and they go kaboom, but that is true of many pitchers like them. That makes them overpaid, but still useful.
Why would you ignore longevity / durability? The most talented pitcher in the world is not an MLB pitcher if he cannot get MLB outs without injuring himself.
Equitable based on recent past performance? Silva's career ERA+ is 102. Last 4 years, 112, 129, 75, 103. He has topped 180 IP in all 4 of those years.
Washburn, career 110, last 4 years: 97, 132, 95, 100. IP totals: 149, 177, 187, 193.
Batista, career 103, bouncing between starting and relieving, Iast 4 years: 100, 109, 103, 101. IP totals: 198, 74(reliever), 206, 193.
Gaudin's ERA+ last year was 95, in his only full season. Duke has never started in a full season. Eveland, nope. I do not see how the past performances of Gaudin / Duke / Eveland can be said to be a fairly equitable comparison with that of Silva / Batista / Washburn.
The Mariners are likely to have among the best 4th and 5th starters in MLB. That does matter. Look at the crap that most teams cycle through their 5th starter spot in a desperate attempt to find a player who is not a disaster. Combined with very good 1st and 2nd starters, they are likely to have a very strong rotation.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on Mar 17, 2008 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
by the way, I don't know if I've ever mentioned
how relieved I was that the Angels didn't trade for Miguel Cabrera...
by OaklandSi on Mar 15, 2008 8:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
aLRITE!
If they just have a winning April for once they can carry that on for the rest of the season!
by Oaktownflav on Mar 15, 2008 11:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
All in all...
if the A's can start the season by staying within striking distance of the Angels until summer, I'm starting to believe that some of our young studs will be ready for the rotation/bullpen come July. As inconceivable as it was last December, we have an outside shot at this thing.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
by alox on Mar 16, 2008 10:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It was never inconceivable.
And it won't be until we're mathematically eliminated.
by WaddellCanseco on Mar 16, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
4 more cuts
No weekend link dump, so I'll throw this out here:
The Oakland A's on Sunday optioned pitchers Jerry Blevins and Henry Rodriguez to Triple-A Sacramento and reassigned non-roster invitee pitcher Kirk Saarloos and catcher Matt LeCroy to their Minor League camp.
by HigherPie on Mar 16, 2008 10:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm thinking Blevins' reassignment is partly
because he could still use some AAA refining (command) and partly because it appears the A's will have plenty of lefties in the pen from among the losers of the #5-spot derby.
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 Mar 16, 2008 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Makes sense
If a handful of guys have all performed about equally, you may as well send down the guy who has the options. No need losing a player to waivers or an assignment refusal if it's not necessary.
by thejd44 on Mar 16, 2008 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also the player who could most benefit
from more AAA work. (I wish they had optioned my car.)
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 Mar 16, 2008 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's all good that...
...Jerry Blevins was sent down, but what about Jerry Belvins? He's the one I've really been following. What happened to him??!!
Sometimes life will strike you out on a curve ball and the only choice you have is to flip off the umpire and walk to first base anyway.
by Threepwood XX on Mar 16, 2008 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
not to mention our 6 other outfielders
Denorfla, De Norfa, Denrofia, Deforina, Defnoria, and Deon Fria
I wasn't thinking about anything. I'll have to try to do that more often. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Mar 16, 2008 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cal Defornia
"[Moneyball] is huge [in Japan], I guess, so I'm like a David Hasselhoff type or something..." -- Billy Beane
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Mar 16, 2008 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You forgot Denofria
(He called me from the plane.)
formerly known as mdl
by iglew on Mar 16, 2008 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought your handle, Threepwood XX
must have to do with P. G. Wodehouse's character of Galahad Threepwood (Lord Emsworth's younger brother) but then I Googled and apparently there's some video game thingy.
by Englishmajor on Mar 16, 2008 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Henry Rodriguez
I'm surprised that H-Rod got optioned to AAA Sacramento though his performance during spring training justifies the upgrade. The biggest concern for me is whether the front office will put him on track to be a starting pitcher or will he be converted to a reliever.
The upgrade to our farm system leaves a small amount of spots to a lot of candidates at our AAA starting rotation. The AAA starting rotation looks to be any of Dallas Braden, Gio Gonzalez, Greg Smith (Eveland or DiNardo will probably be the A's 5th with the other one in the bullpen as long relief), Jason Windsor, Shane Komine, Kirk Saarloos, or Henry Rodriguez. There could be more that I missed but I wonder who will be in the AAA rotation.
by Coffee13eans on Mar 16, 2008 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd like to see H. Rodriguez primed as a reliever
Focus on being dominant by locating the fastball. We have Gio Gonzalez in AAA, and from Cahill, Simmons, Brett Anderson, Fautino DLS, and Arnold Leon, we have plently of great arms coming up to AA-AAA soon. I'd like to see H-Rod push Street for the closer's job, or replace Street if he's dealt, in 2009-10.
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 Mar 16, 2008 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
question
Does being optioned to AAA now really mean that he'll be playing for the Rivercats? Or does it just mean that he's going to the minor league spring training camp and then will eventually be sent to Stockton or Midland once their seasons start. Because I agree that AAA would be an extremely aggressive promotion for Henry.
by colin on Mar 16, 2008 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would think it just means "minors"
H-Rod should start no higher than AA, IMO - he's still very young and very raw.
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 Mar 16, 2008 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Optioned to AAA Sacramento" is a legal fiction
He will open the year in A+ or, maybe, AA.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Mar 16, 2008 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously Nico?
You must be stretching for things to talk about
by Athletic on Mar 16, 2008 2:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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