De Los Santos

by TheRaiderWay on May 29, 2008 7:00 AM PDT Comment 32 comments

According to SuSlu's notes today: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/28/SPLD10URTP.DTL

Our promising Swisher deal pitching prospect, Fautino De Los Santos has gone under the knife and had "elbow-ligament replacement surgery". Not being a medical expert nor fully understanding what this could mean in real terms for his future outlook with the A's. I mean is this now comparable to the Dan Meyer situation? Or for that matter Liriano, who is not really recovering to anyway near his old form. De Los Santos is still so young that maybe with a solid recovery and rehab he will now have to turn into a pitcher and not a thrower.

What does AN think for his recovery time and future outlook?

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that means

he had Tommy John. Out for a year to 18 months, depending on how he rehabs.

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on May 29, 2008 7:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it's a good thing that Sweeney is turning out to be the best player in the deal

from either side.

by mikev on May 29, 2008 7:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It means he's out for pretty much 2008-09,

and will resume being a prospect in 2010, but that he could make a full recovery and pick up where he left off.

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 May 29, 2008 8:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep.

Players have returned and pitched in 18 months or less, but with a guy that young, there’s really no reason to attempt it here.

We’ll next see DLS in 2010. Hopefully.

by rageon on May 29, 2008 8:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's not actually that young

This is his age 22 season. He’s going to miss the rest of it and probably most of his age 23 season. Since the highest level at which he has pitched to date is A+, he would have to master 3 levels in one year at age 24 to reach the majors at even the same age as, say, Joe Blanton.

I mean, it’s only one A-ball player, but given that it’s an A-ball player, this is basically the absolute worst thing that could possibly have happened to the organization.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 29, 2008 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And that Age 24 season will be the rust year

So it’s not likely he’ll be all that successful again until he’s 25, hopefully at AAA.

We knew this was going to happen though. We knew that not every one of the pitchers in the trades would become what they should be. Just gotta hope 2-3 of them develop how we expect.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on May 29, 2008 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

far from the absolute worst thing that could have happened to the organization

BB could have died. In all seriousness, that’s really putting a lot of stock in DLS as the savior of the franchise or something

the city dumps fill
the junkyards fill
the madhouses fill
the hospitals fill
the graveyards fill

nothing else
fills.

by Cutthemullet on May 30, 2008 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reading posts is tech

given that it’s an A-ball player

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 30, 2008 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's a very good chance he'll pitch again in 2009 ...

Look for him in Midland’s bullpen next July (to help shake off the rust but limit usage), either transitioning back to to rotation in AFL or the following ST.

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

by devo on May 29, 2008 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a good job Sweeney is Studly McStud.

by OldhamA on May 29, 2008 9:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Is DLS still a Top Prospect???

Oakland Athletics Top 20 Prospects (IMO):

1. Carlos Gonzalez – OF (292/343/435 – Still needs to prove something in AAA)

2. Trevor Cahill – P (Stud, Stud, Stud – 60 IP, 18/77 – BB/K , 2.40 GO/AO – Groundballs/K’s Galore)

3. Gio Gonzalez – P (Very Inconsistent and Wild – 51 IP, 26/48 – BB/K)

4. James Simmons – P (Recent Shutdown w/ “Dead Arm” – 40IP, 8/31 – BB/K, 1.13 WHIP)

5. Brett Anderson – P (Was killing it until he gave up 19 ER’s in his last 3 starts – Thumb Injury looks have been the issue)

6. Sean Doolittle – 1B/OF (Cooling Off but still sports a 1.066 OPS)

7. Henry Rodriguez – P (Control Issues are Back in Full Force – 8.18 ERA is U-G-L-Y)

8. Aaron Cunningham – OF (305/368/463 – Future Looks Bright)

9. Craig Italiano – P (50 IP, 0.72 ERA, 23/63 – BB/K – Dominating Low A – Promotion Time after 1st Half?)

10. Fautino De Los Santos – P (TJ Surgery – Is he still in the Top 10?)

11. Chris Carter – 1B/DH (215/327/464 – 29/84 BB/K – 181 AB’s)

12. Vincent Mazzaro – P (Climbing up the Charts – Peripherals don’t stand out, but he’s young (21) for this level)

13. Arnold Leon – P/RP – 19 Years Old!!! (Back to Mexico in June – Not a bad start to his Pro Career – 21IP, 8/20 – BB/K – Future Starter??? )

14. Andrew Carignan – RP (Early Promotion to Midland – 20IP, 1.31 ERA, 18/27 – BB/K)

15. Matt Sulentic – OF (Seems comfortable in Stockton – Impressive Line – 287/365/503 – 6 HR’s)

16. Corey Brown – OF (843 OPS, 8 HR’s – Too many K’s)

17. Jesus Guzman – 2B/3B (Still Killing It – 356/407/574 – He’s only 23 Years Old – 40-Man Roster Addition after this season seems very likely)

18. Jared Lansford – RP (Seems to have turned a corner as a Reliever – 31IP, 6/35 – K/BB)

19. Brad Ziegler – RP (Come On, Billy! Trade/Drop Foulke and Give this guy the call – 24IP, 4/20 – BB/K, 2.86 GO/AO, 0.37 ERA, 1 ER!!!)

20. Josh Horton – SS (301/414/376 – Gets on Base…No Power)

Stock Dropping: Javier Herrera (always injured), Andrew Bailey

Other Notables (Pre-Season Rank): Daric Barton (4), Ryan Sweeney (12), and Greg Smith (17), Gregorio Petit (Unranked)... all with the MLB Club.

Very Pitcher Heavy!!!! **

by Colorado Fan on May 29, 2008 9:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd say a large portion of his future prospect standing should depend on what you think of his mechanics ...

(I, myself, have no thoughts on his mechanics)

If you like his mechanics and you think he just got unlucky, you should like his chances for recovery and his stock should not drop too much. He was 2 years away, anyway, now he’s 3 years away … not a huge deal.

If you do not like his mechanics and you think such an injury was inevitable, you should be very concerned about his future because he will either need to fix his mechanics - which could hurt his effectiveness - or run the very real risk of recurrence … a very big deal.

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

by devo on May 29, 2008 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The plurality opinion among the people I read, at least,

was that they felt his mechanics were highly questionable.

I’m no expert, but it sounds like Liriano 2.0 to me. Not good.

(Also, a correction to the above: this is not the start of Leon’s PRO career, although it is the start of his USA career.)

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 29, 2008 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, darn ...

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

by devo on May 29, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

TINSTAAPP

I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 29, 2008 9:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Definition

http://digamma.net/btfwiki/index.php/TINSTAAPP

by Colorado Fan on May 29, 2008 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tommy John and pitchers

While you never want your pitchers to get Tommy John surgery, it has actually become a surgery from which they not only bounce back, but from which they can excel.

I worked for the Bowie Baysox in 2002 (AA for the Orioles) and Erik Bedard was pitching there at the time and was also 22. Midway through the season he was on pace to start the AA All Star Game when he had to get Tommy John surgery. He hasn’t been lights out this year, but he definitely seems to have rebounded from the surgery. Obviously it’s different situations but it certainly gives a bit of hope.

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by Fooch on May 29, 2008 10:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Great anecdote

Thank you for sharing your experience.

"Let’s just hope he’s not a complete turd out there." -thejd44, describing Crosby's best scenario.

by notsellingjeans on May 29, 2008 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

look at Hong-chih Kuo from the Dodgers. I think he’s had two TJ surgeries and he’s doing well in the Dodger bullpen, coming on as a starter when needed.

by muffinpryde on May 29, 2008 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kuo's playing as though he's benefited from two TJ surgeries...

the city dumps fill
the junkyards fill
the madhouses fill
the hospitals fill
the graveyards fill

nothing else
fills.

by Cutthemullet on May 30, 2008 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

interesting story

the city dumps fill
the junkyards fill
the madhouses fill
the hospitals fill
the graveyards fill

nothing else
fills.

by Cutthemullet on May 30, 2008 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cahill is and always has been the best prospect of the bunch, IMO

since being drafted out of HS, the guy has done nothing but improve. He’s even got the ghost pitch (a very whiffleball-ish knuckle-nerve that he throws with ease and fluidity). He’s only been eclipsed in prospect status by the “experts” because of other high profile prospects who throw more gas, and because he didn’t have much of a track record of facing high-level opposition. Neither of these things, however, are his fault, or indicate any flaw or weakness of his.
Italiano seems to be right behind him, and it would be hard for me to imagine that he won’t make it to at least AAA by the end of the year.

by iceplant on May 29, 2008 11:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

italiano

absolutely no way the a’s do that.

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 May 29, 2008 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Italiano

I made a fanpost on Italiano after I saw him this past weekend. I think there are some pretty good reasons why he’s still at Kane County, despite his very promising stuff.

http://www.athleticsnation.com/2008/5/24/535673/the-view-from-the-press-bo

There’s a link to it.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on May 29, 2008 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's not really a starting pitcher, methinks

Doesn’t have a wide array of pitches, and expends a lot of pitches per plate appearance.

I think he’ll move quickly once they convert him to the ‘pen. Not THAT quickly, though. No one goes through 4 levels of play in one year.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 29, 2008 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't recall exactly what I wrote

But that was actually the feeling I got from watching him. His fastball was nice. He threw a couple just plain disgusting curveballs. His changeup was a work in progress (which really is a euphemism for “bad”). And again, he only made it through 5 innings…again.

What I wonder is why they don’t just try him out in the pen in AA or something to see how he does. I’m sure they have a plan for him. My guess is that he goes somewhere in about a month once all the newly drafted guys start filtering into the system.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on May 29, 2008 10:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It won't take more than a month or two to convert him to being a reliever ...

in doing so they will cut his upside by about a third, while significantly increasing his chances of fulfilling that upside. With a fairly robust bullpen in the majors, that’s a move they have every reason to put off for the time being.

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

by devo on May 29, 2008 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

There are basically two kinds of relievers: guys who could be starters but aren’t good enough, and guys who don’t have the stamina to be starters. Group #2 are already relief pitchers in college, or get moved to relief pitching in rookie ball.

There’s no real reason to move anyone in Group #1 to relief pitching until they reach a point at which the big league club could actually require their services. Which is to say, probably AA. The current team has essentially zero need for another reliever; the entire focus of the minor league pitching program right now has to be on churning out more starters.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 30, 2008 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unless...

No one goes through 4 levels of play in one year.

Unless your name is Jairo Garcia (or in the alternative, Santiago Casilla).

by rageon on May 30, 2008 6:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of TJS and pitchers,

has anyone heard or seen anything about Jose Garcia, the TJS victim the A’s claimed from Florida last year?

He was:
a. injured
b. put on the DL
c. DFAed by FLA
d. claimed by the A’s
e. non-tendered
f. re-signed by the A’s to a minor league deal

so he had a busy offseason.

but I haven’t seen any word on him since then. Still rehabbing? Extended spring? Dead?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 29, 2008 3:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Probably extended spring training...

The most recent reference I could find is from Scout.com (1/31/08):

http://sfgiants.scout.com/a.z?s=316&p=2&c=724957

Like Denorfia, Garcia is recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he had last May after experiencing elbow soreness during Spring Training. His recovery has been a gradual one, as he is not expected to be throwing at full strength this spring. Garcia was originally acquired by the A’s on a waiver claim from the Florida Marlins early in the off-season. He was waived by Oakland later in the winter, but cleared waivers and was re-signed to a minor league deal. The Dominican right-hander was a top pitching prospect in the Marlins’ organization before injuring his elbow. In two minor league seasons, Garcia struck out 205 batters and walked only 52 in 199 innings. He made five relief appearances with Florida in 2006, allowing six runs in 11 innings.
Garcia has been a starter throughout his minor league career, but at 5’11’’, 170 LB, he may be better suited for relief. When healthy, Garcia throws his fastball in the 88-91 MPH range and can reach 93 on occasion. He has an excellent change-up and a good curveball. Garcia has struggled at times against left-handed hitters, but he throws strikes and mixes his pitches well, an impressive combination for a pitcher of his age (just turned 23). He will likely be brought along slowly this season and may start the year in extended spring training as he continues his recovery. However, he could be a factor for the A’s in a relief role in 2009.

by andyinfremont on May 29, 2008 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was really looking forward to having DLS pitching in the bullpen in the future. DLS in the 7th Blevins in the 8th and Casilla in the 9th. Now I am just hoping Casilla will make a full recovery.

Eveland rocks! Eveland rocks! Somewhere Drew Carey just smiled.

by miggyk2 on May 29, 2008 4:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs