Barton's May
by MMunoz33 on May 29, 2008 10:03 PM PDT
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PrintDaric Barton went 1-for-4 and is in a 7-for-59 slide. He also is 10-for-69 (.145) in May. The Oakland record for the lowest average in the month of May (minimum 75 plate appearances) is .134 by John Donaldson in 1968.
Now what do you take from these numbers if your the A's brass?
Is there anything that can explain why the drop off from his dwindling potential?
How long before we option him to triple A?????
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Maybe soon
Buck is tearing it up right now in AAA (Just hit a 2 run triple) so we could see Buck back very soon, and it wouldn’t be too supprising to just switch Buck and Barton.
CarGon is doing pretty well tonight as well, 1-3 with 3 runs and 2 walks.
He'll be fine. Young players are going to struggle and...
...he needs to go through it to get out of it.
Sending him back down to the minors accomplishes what?
Besides, read the Beane interviews and you’ll see that’s not how they like to operate.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Ridiculous
If Barton was my little brother I’d still want him sent down to get his stroke together. I’d love to see him hitting .300, but he’s killing the A’s and hurting himself. Hitting .200 is bad for his confidence and hitting is very mental. There is a point when there is no point in keeping him in the majors. The guy has a future.
What about sending him down will "get his stroke together"?
That’s the question nobody seems to be able to answer.
And how do you know what is or isn’t good for his confidence? What do you know about Daric Barton’s psyche?
In three lines you make way too many assumptions.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions
You've obviously never competed as an athlete at anything
. . . if you did you’d understand the concept. Let me put it into terms you could relate to: you’re geting killed in a knitting contest that requires multi-color complex patterns. You’re getting frustrated. It’s time to go back and master knitting a simple 1-color scarf. See, it all makes so much sense now.
Go tell it to Beane, then. It's his call.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
he can work on things while not hurting the big-league club
maybe it’s just a matter of having a few good AB’s – which are more likely against AAA pitchers.
"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey
by JJ on May 30, 2008 7:30 AM PDT up reply actions
I still don't understand
Sending Buck (24) to AAA is good thing…. But sending down Barton (22) is Sac-Relig. Travis Buck seems to be handling things well. Why wouldn’t Barton?
by Colorado Fan on May 30, 2008 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions
The didn't send Buck down, his injury did, and then they just kept him there. There is no
proof that they would have sent him down, without his injury.
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 9:18 AM PDT up reply actions
They Optioned Buck to AAA
Same thing, IMO. Barton needs to get away from the Media and Hype of the MLB Machine. I just don’t see any negatives in sending Barton down. Hannahan & Sweeney can split 1B duties.
by Colorado Fan on May 30, 2008 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions
the Media and Hype of the MLB Machine?
Yeah, it must be all those espn profiles that are getting in the way of Barton’s game preparation.
I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@
22 Year Olds tend to let outside influences get in the way. You don’t think he reads the newspaper? You don’t think he looks at the scoreboard to see his Batting Average Plummeting? AAA is a new start. He’s 0 for 0 in AAA. One bunt single, and his average would be 1.000.
by Colorado Fan on May 30, 2008 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions
John Donaldson?
Or Old Dan Johnson?
Might as well Jump! - Van Halen
by sprtsnwyn on May 30, 2008 6:23 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
(taps feet, strokes washboard)
‘get out of the way old dan johnson, your too late to get your bat on…’
alaska A
I thought up your way it went something like:
Get out ’ the way, Iditarod musher, winner’s comin’—it’s Susan Butcher…
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on May 30, 2008 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions
QOTM
Nicely done. Very nicely done, indeed.
I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@
Brass Tax
Well, if we read into what Beane said in his interview with AN, then I think Barton hangs around. He’s gonna need to get it together soon, but it’s part of the big leagues. Also he doesn’t feel that he’s getting the close calls at the plate. Having watched a few of the recent games, several times when the ball missed the plate inside he held up w/ good eyesight but the ump called it a strike. Replay’s showed it missed the plate and Barton was just too sharp for his age.
I’d give him another month. He’s still not playing every day (as Beane pointed out) so just give the guy some time to get his confidence back. Booting to AAA probably won’t help much since he needs to get better against MLB pitching rather than AAA pitching.
It's just more exciting with Billy Beane running the team.
That was happening to Cust last year...
probably still happening to a certain extent this year, but I’m not banging my head on the table every other game in frustration at him getting rung up on some ridiculous pitch.
Reputation plays a huge role in how often a guy gets borderline pitches called his way. It’s irritating, but it’s true.
(Side note: I’m thinking you mean brass “tacks,” but I’ll admit that I don’t know your position on excise duties for metals.)
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
On the opposite side
Frank Thomas gets a lot of those calls. Not as much as he used to, but he still gets them.
I can’t really remember back to 90-91 well enough (mostly because my age was still in the single digits) to say whether Frank got the close ones right away or if he had to earn it. I suspect he earned it by hitting the bejesus out of the ball. Seems like Cust is going that way, too. Yeah, he still Ks a lot. But he’s also not just waiting for a walk and he’s proven he can hit.
Barton will get the calls in time, too. It wouldn’t hurt to start hitting a little better.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions
where's LowcountryJoe, to declaim against the tyranny of the brass tax?
I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@
What Beane said about that applied to both Barton and Cust to me.
It’s more of a philosophical thing. The A’s believe their players – certain ones, at least – have to be given the time and the chance to fail at this level. It happens to everyone. Did they send Canseco down when he went 0-for-40 or whatever it was? No. Different era, different player, different management, but Barton (and Cust, for that matter) didn’t have a whole lot of trouble hitting in the minors. When they struggle up here, they need to be given the chance to pull out of it. I learned that with Cust just over the past month or so as he started getting hot again.
It’s not like the A’s are the Red Sox or Yankees and can’t afford to let a kid battle through the rough spots. Look at the Royals. They just sent Billy Butler down. What for? They’re not going anywhere. Why not let him try to get through a slump in the majors? What about the Angels and Brandon Wood? It seems they’re not sure where they want him to be. He’s with the Angels, then down in Salt Lake, then back with the Angels again? At least with them they’re expected to be in the playoffs, but it’s not that way with the A’s.
Some people just need to learn better patience with young players. If Barton goes through much of June and still isn’t doing anything, then we might see a move. Right now, I just see this as balancing out the great month he had at the end of 2007. You can’t get too high or too low on rookies. Barton will be fine.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Ziegler Got The Call
He is headed to Arlington right now.
Excellent
I hope they are shipping him in a box labeled “Company A—Disinfection.”
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Really????
That is HUGE NEWS around here. FANPOST THIS NEWS!
Ziggy must be so friggin’ pumped!!!! I’m friggin’ pumped!!!!
by Colorado Fan on May 30, 2008 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Me, For Now
I am a friend of Brad, so I guess it is just hearsay until the A’s release something official.
He got the call last night. He said Calero, Gonzalez, Buck and him were all called up and are
headed to Texas. He is fired up. I am sure he will touch base with A-nation once he stops
striking out the side.
All 4? This is one hell of a roster makeover.
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
Well someone is in line for, what was that, a sex change???
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions
yup
I’m on the verge of calling shenanigans on the 4-man callup—neither Calero nor Ziegler is on the 40-man roster, meaning that not only would 4 players need to be bumped off the 25-man active roster, but we’d have to cut 2 guys from the 40-man roster. For the minimal advantage vs. cost in players and confusion/administration, I just don’t see the logic.
I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@
If that comes true, I see Petit back in AAA, Rajai Davis, and Jeff Gray coming
off the 40 man, and Mike Sweeney joining Frank on the DL.
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Wouldn't be Petit,
I don’t see them going without a backup SS or 2B.
The A's colors are green and gold.
Hannahan at 2nd, and Ellis at SS, but yeah, I forgot Murphy was
still out, but they have 6 infielders now with Chavy.
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm pretty sure Hannahan would back up at shortstop too
He’d be a crappy shortstop, but a crappy SS and a great 2B is better than a crappy SS and a mediocre 2B.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Obviously, this is an emergency situation
I think he can “handle” them for a few innings.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Fair Enough
I am not a regular poster here, and the A’s haven’t released anything yet.
Maybe I'm crazy
But I believe you. It’s a quite drastic move, but I could see it happening. Thanks for posting.
Might as well Jump! - Van Halen
I'm not rejecting your credence per se
Just that, as TBP said, that’s one hell of a roster makeover, with a lot of drastic changes for not necessarily a lot of guaranteed payoff.
Unless, say, Chavez hurt his back swinging yesterday and is going back onto the 60-day DL.
I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@
hmmmmm
if that is true, and it’s all four:
possibilities:
One or both Sweeneys to the DL: if CGon is getting called up, RSweeney to the DL seems likely.
Barton down: probably not, but certainly possible.
Davis: would he get cut before Emil? I don’t know.
2 pitchers, probably: presumably Braden is one.
The other would be either Lenny or Devine to the DL.
I don’t know what this means. But if true, much DLing seems indicated, which doesn’t really sound like a Brown dfa.
The A's colors are green and gold.
which 2 players move off the 40?
It’s not Raj vs Emil—it’s Raj and Emil (or MSweeney), or Raj vs Emil and Chavvy back to the 60-day, or Frank (or someone else) to the 60-day.
I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@
Pennington is also listed on the Rivercats site now, so something is
definitely stirring in the minor league ranks. Putnam is also now on the Rivercats roster.
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions
No....
Could be one of them + Jeff Gray. Herrera and Robnett also seem expendable. So it could be Raj/Emil + Jeff Gray, or it could be both Sweeneys—>DL and Gray + Herrera/Robnett off the 40. Frank and Chavy are not moving to the 60 day. No chance of that.
The A's colors are green and gold.
I don't think you can DFA Herrera, or Robnett, while neither is on an
active roster. They are both in extended ST.
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions
60-Day DL Those Guys
Herrera and Robnett on the 60-Day DL opens two Roster spots… no?
Purchase: Ziegler, CarGon, Buck, Calero
DL: Devine
DFA: Rajai Davis
60-Day DL: Herrera & Robnett
by Colorado Fan on May 30, 2008 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions
I believe you can only 60 day players on your active roster. I
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't know these rules that well,
but what you are saying would make it impossible to get those two guys off the 40 man roster, which just can’t be true.
The A's colors are green and gold.
until they are actually playing, you have no choice. Once they
become active you can waive them, or add them to the 25 man, and then 60 day them. It is player protection.
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions
Ken Arneson
says you can put them on the 60 day here:
http://www.athleticsnation.com/2008/5/25/536015/mlb-rules-question-for-an#6377975
The A's colors are green and gold.
so if a shitty minor league
gets hurt and is out for the season, there is no way for the team to get him off the roster?
The A's colors are green and gold.
If they were shitty, they shouldn't have been
on the 40 man to begin with.
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions
I looked through every transaction from 2006, and I
can’t find where he was placed on the 60 day DL
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions
Well, you would not need to 60 day DL
Herrera and Robnett, if you DFA Davis. Also, you are only taking two guys off the 25 man roster, so more players need to be sent down to AAA. However, if we can 60 day DL Herrera and Robnett then this 4 man call up scenario seems at least possible.
What we need are 2 spots on the 40 man roster and 4 on the 25 man roster. The 2 40-man spots can be created by putting Herrera and Robnett on the 60 day DL (if this is allowable). As for the 25 man spots, the first and easiest are sending Braden and DiNardo back to AAA (their spots would be taken by Ziegler and Calero). If CarGon and Buck are being called up, I would have to assume that would mean a trip to the DL for one if not two players—Ryan Sweeney, and maybe even Mike Sweeney. Not sure if those are the 25 man roster casulties, but we would not be calling up this many people without someone heading to the DL, so I suspect that whoever hits the DL would create the room on the 25 man roster.
alternately ...
... Beane could have a trade ready to finalize.
I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@
The A's also got a new SS, they need some more experience with the youth movement,
The Athletics’ pick, shortstop Irvin Castille,
who played for the Birmingham Black Barons from 1951-53, currently resides in Los Angeles. When Castille played for them, the Barons were members of the Negro American League.
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Quick, let's check the Venezuelan tabloids!
I generally bemoan the profusion of Mr Sabermetric Sporks in the Scrabble ranks who don't know the meaning or usage of 50% of the words they use. -monkeyball
Rebuilding means sticking with young guys
even when they struggle, even when the team is performing well enough to hang around the division and wild card. The A’s should do whatever they feel is best for Barton, and not worry about what’s best for the 2008 team – and as banged up as Mike Sweeney is, it’s not as if there are many great options beyond waiting for Barton to get it together.
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
Nico
Why doesn’t this “rule” apply to Travis Buck? I mean, if Emil Brown can block the young guys from playing OF in 2008, why can’t Mike Sweeney “block” someone?
Barton: 22 Years, 9 Months, 14 Days (approx)
Buck: 24 Years, 6 months, 12 Days (approx.)
Because D. Barton is 638 Days younger than Buck?
by Colorado Fan on May 30, 2008 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions
Because Buck was injured at the time?
And now that he’s started hitting, he should be called up… no reason any longer to keep him down… SO CALL HIM UP ALREADY DAMNIT!
But as for why Sweeney can’t cover for Barton, the reason it seems from the Beane interviews is that the A’s do not believe that Sweeney can hold up playing 1B everyday, thus they need a 1B. Even the Royals didn’t think Sweeney could play 1B, so its not supprising.
Not that I'm suggestion Barton is sent down
But with Chavez back and close to ready for everyday 3B duty, Hannahan can play first so Sweeney isn’t out there everyday.
It can be done without taxing Sweeney too much. I still don’t think it’s a great idea.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions
I guess they can use Hanahan as a backup for Sweeney, or platoon them, or whatever
Petit would then have to handle 3B, SS and 2B backup duties alone for the meanwhile.
Dan Johnson
Crabmanfan here. Big mistake letting DJ go. Sweeney won’t hold up. Barton’s defense sucks. Wouldn’t have needed Frank.
Hello, ElephantsinOakland
I see you’ve innovated another pseudonym.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
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