Ok---Put Up or Shut Up! Give Linden a shot!

by Buck18 on Mar 19, 2008 5:54 PM PDT Comment 25 comments

OK, so the guy is a whining loudmouth---but he did hit almost .600 during ST, and the observant BBG sez that he hit the ball hard. Meanwhile, Denorfia has been virtually invisible. I say, give Linden a shot. Give him two weeks to show he belongs---meanwhile, Denorfia plays every day at Sacto, getting rid of that year-long dusting of rust, and Carlos Gonzalez gets healthy. So, after two weeks, we have some solid options. Best case: Linden proves he belongs. Worst case: Adios, Mr. BigStuff (who do you think you are). Buck can play some CF in a pinch. So can Emil Brown. Meanwhile, Denorfia looks better or we call up Gonzalez, who is definitely our CF of the (near) future. From all I hear, he's the most excting player to come our way in a long time. Is this a silly idea? Well, maybe. Let the games begin!

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Two weeks is not enough time

for a player to "show he belongs."

To remind everyone:

SmallsamplesizeSmallsamplesizeSmallsamplesizeSmallsamplesize
SmallsamplesizeSmallsamplesizeSmallsamplesizeSmallsamplesize
SmallsamplesizeSmallsamplesizeSmallsamplesizeSmallsamplesize
SmallsamplesizeSmallsamplesizeSmallsamplesizeSmallsamplesize

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Mar 19, 2008 6:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

PaulThomas

Uses copy/paste to compensate for his small sample size.

by HigherPie on Mar 19, 2008 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hahaha

Juan Pierre: 44 Million Dollars, Juan Pierre's 3.2 WARP3: Priceless

by Travis Buck Nuckin on Mar 19, 2008 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you

have small sample size complex? They have surgery for that ya know

"Doesn't play well with the other children." Ms. Darias, principal, Broad Ave School

by since72 on Mar 19, 2008 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that I got a few emails about it

but I don't know because I took a small sample size of my spam.

Rickey Henderson: 35, 24, hall of fame!

by Athletics fan and runner on Mar 20, 2008 5:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hang on PT, some people still don't get it.

How's this for silly:

1. People like PT (and devo, and salb918, and...) typically back up their opinions with numerical evidence, whereas many others use anecdotal observation.
2. In a situation where looking at the numerical evidence is pointless, the AN smart kids say, "You need to look at the anecdotal observation."
3. People who generally look at anecdotal observation look at the stats.

Guh.

stat-addled alien overlord

by salb918 on Mar 20, 2008 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

if linden continues his tear

he will get his chance.

"It's like déjà vu all over again." -yogi berra

by Cheezombie on Mar 19, 2008 7:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The big issue is

that Linden isn't on the 40-man roster. The A's will already have to drop somebody to put Mike Sweeney on the 40-man, they'd have to drop 2 people if they wanted Linden in the majors. If that wasn't the case, I'd completely agree with you because Denorfia could use the extra at-bats coming off the injury last year.

by Dilferules on Mar 19, 2008 7:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree + what Syphon said about playing center

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

by micdog2001 on Mar 20, 2008 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it just boils down to..

his ability to play center. Sweeney can so he makes the team.

When will then be now? Soon.

by Syphon on Mar 19, 2008 7:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it also comes down to

Mike Sweeney taking Linden's spot - if the A's are going to give Cust some time in the OF, then there is even one fewer OF spot available. No injuries to OFers in spring training, plus Mike Sweeney looking healthy, effective, and a great clubhouse presence, combined to give Linden no shot even if he looked terrific.

You make a great point, though, Buck18, about the wisdom of giving Denorfia 2 weeks in Sacramento while auditioning Linden against big league pitching - the A's love to make moves that "buy time" to see what happens next. That's a way they could have done it, possibly to Denorfia's benefit - and then if something happened to Buck, or Emil Brown, or Mike Sweeney, in April, they would have Linden to fall back on.

My guess is that Linden's track record, combined with his attitude, made the A's conclude that even if there was a need, Linden wasn't the guy they wanted filling it. They haven't even cut the guy yet and he's already whined twice.

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 19, 2008 8:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree, Nico

OK, so Linden "whined twice", making him not the ideal "team player." So, it was an attitude thing more than anything. I just can't get my mind around not giving some kind of chance to a guy who hits close to .600 in ST. Certainly that has to count for something, even if the guy is a pain in the butt.

"It's a cookbook!"---The Twilight Zone

by Buck18 on Mar 19, 2008 9:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, it's more than just the attitude

I think the A's weighed his .600 spring (a handful of ABs against a range of competition) against the track record (a lot of mediocrity when promoted from facing AAA pitching to facing major league pitching), and decided that the likelihood of him exceeding his past major league performance wasn't enough to put him on the roster, given the uninspiring attitude and the lack of any injuries among those OFers ahead of him.

I actually think his .600 spring wouldn't have been good enough with a stellar attitude, because of spots available / OFers fighting for those spots. One injury, though, and attitude - along with upside - might have been a factor in a Linden-Fiorentino (or whatever) decision.

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 19, 2008 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

what's behind that 'attitude'?

Here’s the deal…

Linden’s ‘attitude’ and his statements stem from the fact that the coaching staff, from day one, treated him as an outsider. The thing that wasn’t pointed out in the first article is that the primary reason behind Linden’s frustration is that he was never given any starts, except two split squad games. Its tough watching all your competition getting a free pass to ‘first string’ status and no matter how Linden performed he was never promoted from the bench.

Many of us on the outside look at this as a guy frustrated with not making the team. From a pro ballplayers, and from a business perspective the A’s attitude will cost Linden over $325,000 in Salary MLB money vs Linden’s minor league salary…How bitter would you be to lose 75% of a paycheck that many would argue you earned?

Regarding the past few days, put yourself in Linden’s shoes. He is the ONLY healthy player in the Big League Clubhouse NOT going to Japan. He was told he was not going to Japan AFTER the team’s ‘Here’s all the details about the Japan trip’ meeting.

With all the other players bouncing around the clubhouse slappin fives and wearing all their Japan trip gear Linden, and his .577 BA sat there in the middle of the party as the ONLY guy not going…the A’s could have at least sent him down, so he didn't have to sit through all that…

Plus, arguably the Spring Training Offensive MVP, does not get the $40,000 Japan stipend, which would have increased his 2008 minor league salary by nearly 50%. How would you feel if you hit .577 and then watched guys hitting below .200 walking around the clubhouse with a $40,000 check in their pocket….

Folks these guys are not ‘just playing a game’ anymore; they work 7 days a week for 7 ½ months with no weekends off…this is long, hard toiling work…and when you get disrespected and have a huge chunk of your livelihood taken away, arguably unjustly, you might have a reason to be a little frustrated.

…just a few thoughts to chew on…

by insidescoop on Mar 19, 2008 11:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can see why linden is upset

I would not want the A's to get all gaga eyed over a small number of spring at bats against who knows what competition and cut somebody from the 40 man for Linden. That said, I can certainly see why he is upset. His lifelong aspirations and livelihood are being denied for reasons that are outside of his control. What more could he have done this spring as a player? Nothing really. His making the team was dependent on injuries to others and the performance of others. I can totally see why he is frustrated. I don't think that he is a whiner. He is passionate about what he does and justifiably frustrated.

That said, I get the feeling that this is the right move, given the wider track records and upsides of everybody involved. This is not a charity. It is professional baseball.

Rickey Henderson: 35, 24, hall of fame!

by Athletics fan and runner on Mar 20, 2008 5:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

When you listen to almost every other fringe player, they say, they are not only playing

for the team they are currently on, they are auditioning for the other 29 teams in MLB. Linden, would be advised to heed that. IF, big IF, his strong ST was an eye opener for the A's then it would have been for another team. The Met's have a few outfield injuries, GA is hurt in Anaheim, I believe. He needs to just shut the hell up play ball, and if the A's don't keep him, then he can sign somewhere else. If NOONE else signs him, then his opinion of himself may be a little inflated.

by theblackpearl on Mar 20, 2008 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thing is, Linden was brought in

as an insurance policy and the A's haven't cut him yet because he is still that policy. If someone gets hurt in Japan, Linden can make the team after all. That wouldn't be the case if he were cut now and opted to leave the organization - why should the A's cut him sooner than they need to? And they can only take 28 players to Japan - Linden is #29.

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 20, 2008 7:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Poor poor Todd, getting paid to play a GAME...

The money these guys make is so unreal.

They may not be "just playing a game" and busting their ass "7 days a week for 7 1/2 months a year." WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD KID, the world that the rest of us have to live in where we bust our ass - get this - 7 days a week for 12 MONTHS a YEAR and get paid pennies on the dollar that you get Todd. Mr. Linden's life is so much better than the 99% of the WORLD and I'm supposed to feel sorry for him? Get a grip on reality. I'll GLADLY take your spot in AAA playing a game and I won't whine for not being given a fair deal.

Sounds to me like typical "Spoiled Athlete Syndrome" to me. Karma is a bitch.

by 33SwisherSweet on Mar 20, 2008 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

agreed

it's a job and you have to "work" hard but you ARE PLAYING A GAME! You have to stay in shape and get paid for it, you get to take batting practice and be paid for it, you get to play catch and get paid for it, and you get to sit in the dugout and watch major league players, AND GET PAID FOR IT! Go dig a ditch in that Arizona sun for 40 hrs a week while getting paid $10 an hour and then try telling me you’re not playing a game.

I agree it sucks to do very well and not be rewarded. I agree it sucks to be away from your family. I agree it sucks to rides buses to small towns no ones heard of. But you still get to play baseball everyday.

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

by micdog2001 on Mar 20, 2008 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Always nice to hear from...

Linden's Mama. :-)

by IM4Oakgal on Mar 21, 2008 8:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

we should just merge the 'put up or shut up' fanpost with the 'anatomy of a bad attitude' post. I swear i am either having some serious flashbacks or a lot of the posts are being duplicated between the two.

"Put some ice on it. After that, there's nothing a few beers won't take care of. " -Pink

by OrlandoAsFan on Mar 20, 2008 1:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I posted basically the same thing on both fanposts

because it makes me mad when people complain about being paid to play Baseball.

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

by micdog2001 on Mar 20, 2008 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wasn't meaning that as

a shot. I just meant that we are basically having the same argument in two different posts. I don't really know where i'm going with this. I just don't want you to think i was trying to single you out.

"Put some ice on it. After that, there's nothing a few beers won't take care of. " -Pink

by OrlandoAsFan on Mar 21, 2008 6:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

no worries, I didn't think it was a shot

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

by micdog2001 on Mar 21, 2008 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This quote explains it all...

So is Linden, who early Monday morning was asked if he'd be surprised if he were told he wasn't going to Japan. "Yeah, very much so," he said. "I didn't expect to have this kind of batting average, but I know what I'm capable of when I get a chance to show it. Nobody's going to hit .500 forever, but I feel like I've done all I could." Then, in a moment of foreshadowing, he shook his head and said, "But it's not my decision."

- Todd Linden

"This is NOT rebuilding. Billy Beane reloaded." -rev

by ST on Mar 20, 2008 5:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs