A's acquire Crisp, Youkilis for Buck, Johnson

by Zonis on Apr 1, 2008 8:47 AM PDT Comment 62 comments

Crap man, we don't need Crisp, but Beane apparently fell in love with the guy. The A's dealt Travis Buck and Dan 'Six Eyes' Johnson to the RedSox, on opening day and before playing them (Rincon?) for Coco Crisp and Kevin Youkilis (The Greek God).

Apparently, I guess, either the A's feel that Barton's wrist injury is going to cost him some playing time after all, or they think with Chavez out for some time, they can upgrade at Third Base with Youk and have Hanahan backup 3B and 2B on the bench.

Still, whats the deal with Crisp? The guy sucks, has no arm, and is oft injured. We don't need Kotsay back, and Kotsay was better than Crisp was when healthy.

And giving up Buck, our future, for a 1B/3B doesn't make sense to me when we're relying on Emil fcking Brown manning Left, after dealing away Swisher.

Ah well, In Billy We Trust, nay?

2 recs | Comment 62 comments

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this is a

joke, right?

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

by OrlandoAsFan on Apr 1, 2008 8:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Looks legit...

here's another link....

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Apr 1, 2008 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i almost shat myself

until i realized what day it is.

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

by OrlandoAsFan on Apr 1, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

april fool's!

President of the Joey Devine fan club as of 1/15/08. Accepting applications for other positions. "He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Apr 1, 2008 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I watch the whole video.

Every time.

It's a good song.

right?

by mikev on Apr 1, 2008 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you got rickrolled

by Zonis on Apr 1, 2008 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You know the rules

and so do I

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Apr 1, 2008 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

better link...

here

by Zonis on Apr 1, 2008 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

April fools???

I'm not a big wine guy... Where do you grow the BEER?

by str8tarrow on Apr 1, 2008 8:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't care

about Johnson, but i might cry if they traded Travis Buck. It would surely be a very sad day if that were to happen.

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

by OrlandoAsFan on Apr 1, 2008 8:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

April Fools!

Either this is April Fools or the A's are fools!

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra

by brenarlo on Apr 1, 2008 9:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it a bad thing

that I'm so depressed about Buck's constant injuries that I think this might actually be a good trade?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Apr 1, 2008 9:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I tend to agree.

I like Buck, but I just don't think he's ever going to either stay healthy enough or hit enough to play a corner OF spot.

by rageon on Apr 1, 2008 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i love how there was only one other reply to this

the pessimist in me agrees with you

President of the Joey Devine fan club as of 1/15/08. Accepting applications for other positions. "He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Apr 2, 2008 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

[commits ritualistic homicide]

"I have a strange urge to make copies." JediLeroy

by Jennifer on Apr 1, 2008 9:06 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

So,

Kevin Youkilis, most overrated player in baseball?

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 1, 2008 9:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

ESPN trumpets his errorless streak

He couldn't possibly be overrated.

I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.

by franks a lot on Apr 1, 2008 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

How? He's a tremendous player

Guys like Garret Anderson, Torii Hunter, and Joe Crede are ridiculously more overrated.

And that doesn't even include "grinders" like Darin Erstad, Scott Podsednik, and other bad white players who people put over because they try hard.

I would totally hate this if it were a real trade though.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Apr 1, 2008 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Youkilis is

a "tremendous player"? Define "tremendous". Last year was Youkilis' best year of his career, aged 28 His EQA was 283, his OPS+ 117.

These are the 1bs in MLB in 2007 with more than 500 PA who had better EQAs than Youkilis:
Carlos Pena 336
Albert Pujols 332
Prince Fielder 323
Mark Teixeira 317
Ryan Howard 315
Todd Helton 310
Lance Berkman 303
Dmitri Young 300
Derek Lee 299
Adrian Gonzalez 293

Average 1b have an EQA around 275-280.

Casey Kotchman's EQA was 282, OPS+ 119. Kotchman was essentially the same player offensively as Youkilis in 2007. So, Casey Koctchman is a "tremendous" player. Kotchman is also 4 years young er than Youkilis.

Also, James Loney, EQA of 302 OPS+ 131 in 375 PA. Scott Hatteberg EQA 291, OPS+ 120 in 417 PA.
Loney will certainly get more PAs this year, now that he is the Dodgers regular 1b.

Hunter had a 278 EQA, 122 OPS+ in 2007, the 2nd best year of his career, behind 2004. The following MLB CFs with > 500 PA had better EQAs in 2007:
BJ Upton 302 (he started at 2b, switched to CF)
Curtis Granderson 300
Carlos Beltran 299
Ichiro 294
Aaron Rowand 294
Grady Sizemore 289

Hunter Pence had a 297 EQA in 484 PA, but he is no longer a CF. Josh Hamilton had a 294 EQA in 337 PA.

As for Crede, who is Crede overrated by? The WS have been trying to trade him for months. The only interest they got was from Brian Sabean, genius. And even the genius was only offering crap for him, the likes of Dave Roberts etc.

Anderson is overrated by whom?

As for the grinders, how many people actually believe that they are good baseball players?

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 1, 2008 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Revise that last question ... how many people that don't work for ESPN, Anaheim or the White Sox actually believe they are good baseball players ...

As far as who overrates Crede and Anderson ... thejd44, apparently ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Apr 1, 2008 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I live in Chicago

And here, Joe Crede is talked about as if he were the amalgamation of Robinson, Brett, Schmidt, ARod, and a little bit of Clark Kent himself. There is outrage in this city over the mere possibility over trading Crede for anything less than another team's top prospects (which is why he's still on the White Sox - Kenny Williams thinks he's worth significantly more than he is). And, actually, I think the other GMs would be all over him if not for his back injury. I personally think he's one of the worst starting 3Bs in the league.

As for Youkilis, rfloh is right to a point. His numbers would look a lot better if he were still a 3B. I still don't think he's in the top 100 of most overrated players in the game.

Anderson is overrated by all the people who have called him underrated for the past decade. He's been a mediocre corner OF for most of his entire career, but because he doesn't draw a walk and was very healthy for nearly a decade, he accumulated a lot of hits so people act as if he was anything more than average at best (with the exception of maybe two seasons).

Grinders are overrated by the dopes at ESPN, sportswriters everywhere, fans who believe Erstad makes other players better by his mere presence. This is the majority of baseball people. Most people don't realize how bad guys like Erstad and Eckstein really are. That's what makes them overrated.

I'm not sure what your point was with the Hunter stats. Doesn't that prove he's overrated? He got paid a buttload, everyone talks him up, etc. but he's really not anything special.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Apr 1, 2008 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

psst ... you missed ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Apr 2, 2008 12:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you talk to most fans

most of those 6 players that were better than Hunter, are considered by fans to be better than Hunter. Most fans would consider Beltran better than Hunter. Most fans would consider Ichiro better than Hunter. Sizemore better. Granderson better. The only 2 guys whom they might not consider better than Hunter are Upton and Rowand. Both perfectly understandable. Upton has just moved to the position. Rowand has had a very up and down career, 1 great year, 2 bad years, another great year. Josh Hamilton had problems staying healthy, and even if you want to consider him as better than Hunter, there are legitimate reasons for Hamilton being underrated: his personal problems with addiction.

As for Hunter's pay, this is MLB. Players in MLB are not paid just according to what they are worth in terms of wins. FAs like Hunter, and Ichiro, and Beltran, obviously get paid more than arby players like Granderson and Sizemore.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 2, 2008 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good one

Had me for a minute. No way this goes down, but dumping DJ would be a good thing.

"Settle down I came here to read the fanpost about Dan Johnson. I am not interested in fighting with you. I agree with you. I would also love to see a "block PaulThomas" feature on this site." Reg

by Crapper Jon on Apr 1, 2008 9:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Holy crap

Don't scare me like that

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Apr 1, 2008 9:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

At least you could have done something more shocking

for an April Fools joke. Didn't have me for a second. Why would we ever deal away DJ? We need a non hitting AAAA 1st basemen/DH (4th string) who can't see.

by HRH on Apr 1, 2008 9:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Too add on...

A non-hitting, dizzy AAAA 1st baseman/DH (4th string) who can't see and always grounds-out to second

I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.

by franks a lot on Apr 1, 2008 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

could we find a way to make it 3 team...

to reacquire Kendall?

by designatedforassignment on Apr 1, 2008 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

mlbtraderumors.com will have this as fact....

this is how bad trade rumors get started ;)

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Apr 1, 2008 9:30 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

mlbtraderumors:

will have something like:

"Let's see how the blogs weigh in on potential trades: Athleticsnation has been having some discussion of a Crisp/Youkilis for Johnson/Buck trade."

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

by Travis Buck Nuckin on Apr 1, 2008 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

that scared the shit out of me

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

by Cheezombie on Apr 1, 2008 9:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Damn, this one was better than mine.

On AthleticsClubhouse my April Fools trade was Blanton, Crosby, and Street for Scott Kazmir and Carl Crawford.

by mikev on Apr 1, 2008 9:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

MikeV

I like that trade!!!!

"Settle down I came here to read the fanpost about Dan Johnson. I am not interested in fighting with you. I agree with you. I would also love to see a "block PaulThomas" feature on this site." Reg

by Crapper Jon on Apr 1, 2008 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Real Trade

Living in LA as I do, the rumors are Buck and Johnson for Alyssa Milano. She can't act, but she looks good in t-shirts, and she can see.

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

by Buck18 on Apr 1, 2008 9:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Deal.

by mikev on Apr 1, 2008 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sweet Jeezus

I almost screamed in class when I read that.

by designatedforassignment on Apr 1, 2008 9:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You should pay attention and not browse AN from class!

Leave it to people wasting away time at work.

by mikev on Apr 1, 2008 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah atleast im paying to be bored

rather than getting paid... wait no that doesn't make sense

by designatedforassignment on Apr 1, 2008 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

While waiting to leave...

...for their "doctor appt" aka leaving early for the 'Real' Opening Night. Lets Go Oakland!!

by SwisherGirl33 on Apr 1, 2008 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I HATE APRIL FOOL'S DAY!!

i always fall for it!

i gasped out loud at work!

by gotgreen on Apr 1, 2008 10:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Great joke ...

but am I the only one who thinks this would be a good trade for us?? It's basically Buck for Crisp and Youk. We bring Gonzalez up to fill the outfield spot, and we've got Youk to play 3rd until ... and this is a HUGE IF ... Chavez comes back.
I actually think this would've been a steal for Oakland.

VacaAsFan

by Vacafan on Apr 1, 2008 10:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Youk is not a 3B anymore, really, is he?

by mikev on Apr 1, 2008 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Youk is

already 29. He's younger than Eric Chavez by slightly more than a year.

And who knows whether he can be an everyday starter at 3b? The RS chose to sign a 34 year old Mike Lowell to a 3 year deal, instead of moving Youkilis back to 3b and finding a 1b.

Trading Buck is 24, and is probably already a better hitter and better player than Youkilis or Crisp will ever be.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 1, 2008 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Crisp would be filling the outfield spot ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Apr 1, 2008 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

doink

President of the Joey Devine fan club as of 1/15/08. Accepting applications for other positions. "He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Apr 2, 2008 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was looking for today's April Fools Joke

And here it is. Including some links was a nice touch, especially since the stories linked to could plausibly contain information about the trade.

Nicely done.

Will there ever be a boy born who can swim faster than a shark?

by JLeverenz on Apr 1, 2008 10:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Question

What have we done w/Linden and Conrad. Awaiting official info. on these two.

by HRH on Apr 1, 2008 11:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Linden & Conrad

Assigned to Sacramento

Read my Preliminary Minor League Roster Post

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Apr 1, 2008 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Terrible. You got me.

MLBlackout.wordpress.com - Help put an end to MLB.tv blackouts

by HigherPie on Apr 1, 2008 11:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

wasn't fooled for even a moment

Epstein is not that stupid

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2008 11:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey, does anybody know if the game will be blackout'd on espn?

They should show it right????

Badges, we don't need no stinkin Badges!

by henry85 on Apr 1, 2008 12:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course. It's Boston.

by mikev on Apr 1, 2008 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

FSN

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 1, 2008 6:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can we trade Zonis?

For a blogger to be named later?

Smells like team spirit

by since72 on Apr 1, 2008 12:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Or Alyssa Milano?

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Apr 1, 2008 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

deal

President of the Joey Devine fan club as of 1/15/08. Accepting applications for other positions. "He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Apr 2, 2008 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought it was an April Fool's prank

If the headline was "Beane trades Buck and Johnson for three single A prospects and a churro," then I would have been truly worried.

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Apr 1, 2008 2:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i totally got owned.

completely forgot it was april fool's day. doh.

by whiteshoes40 on Apr 1, 2008 4:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Zonis!

For a minute my heart sunk...then I realized it had to be a joke. Don't frighten me like that!

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 1, 2008 5:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I know! I thought, "Not Trevor Buck!!!"

and then I realized that even Mandi's hair this morning must have been a joke.

It was, right Mandi?

Cindi

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 Apr 1, 2008 5:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Not even slightly fooled...expecting

it. Ever since ohad shook me up bad a couple of years ago with one.

alaska A

by ak_A on Apr 1, 2008 5:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You mean when ohad claimed to be 5'6"?

I don't think ANY of us were fooled by that one.

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 Apr 1, 2008 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs