Ziggy, Kiko, Buck and CarGon Up-- could that be true?
by madmongoose on May 30, 2008 11:12 AM PDT
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PrintSomebody who says he's a friend of Brad Ziegler reported this.
It does seem like a stretch. For it to be true it would mean one or both Sweeneys being DLed. Cust shifts to DH when it's not Chavy; Emil reverts to a platoon option. And Petit could now be unnecessary with Chavez up and Hannahan and Murphy providing backup. So that is certainly plausible. It could also mean Barton being sent down.
As to the pitching piece of this, it might mean that Braden is getting outright released (is he out of options?) and that with Casilla out for an extended period of time and Brown still out with appendicitis, they want to deepen the pen.
Which means we may see Barton, One of the Sweeneys (DL) and Petit all disappearing for now.
SO Gonzalez, Buck, Ziegler and Calero replacing
Ryan Sweeney, Petit, Mike Sweeney or Barton, and Braden. Let's all wait to hear.
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would necessitate 2 drops from the 40-man
Ziggy and Kiko are not on the 40-man roster. Two guys would have to be dropped—either DFA’ed or shunted (back?) to the 60-day DL.
I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@
DFA Jeff Gray and Braden?
Seems like a bit of a crazy move though to bring up 4 guys all at the same time like that
I see suggestions to DFA Jeff Gray every day here--
I keep wondering what the poor guy has done to anger the AN gods. :)
"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."
Rule 5 draft
he was added to the 40-man to protect him from being drafted in the Rule 5.
"Let’s just hope he’s not a complete turd out there." -thejd44, describing Crosby's best scenario.
by notsellingjeans on May 30, 2008 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions
I hope its true
otherwise I’m just going to waste a thousand clicks looking on the A’s site or ESPN for the official release
where’s OaklandA23 when you ned him
Let's have our Piazza and eat the Cust too - SPWC
yeah but on the internet all chicks are really dudes.
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
and they weigh 300 lbs
not that there’s anything wrong with that.
"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty
until Emil Brown is waived, that is
I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@
Well, If those are the players, I don't see how you can send Barton down
without knowing that someone else can adequately play 1st base. I don’t think you can just thrown Hannahan over there when Sweeney gets injured, or needs a rest.
He's played it before...
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Hannahan played 1B
in all of the last three seasons in the minors, so I would think that he would be fine.
A's site
An official release typically just before game time.
Kevin Goldstein just confirmed that
Ziegler has been called up.
by BlameChannel53 on May 30, 2008 11:34 AM PDT reply actions
I guess it's true.
Kevin Goldstein at Bpro confirms it. At least the Ziegler part.
“After the 2006 season, I wrote a feature on A’s prospect Brad Ziegler, and how the organization had decided to convert him into a sidearmer. Year one of that experiment was overall quite the success, as Ziegler has a 1.14 ERA at Double-A Midland in 15 games before moving up to Triple-A Sacramento, where he had a 2.96 mark in 35 games, while compiling the usual outstanding groundball ratio that goes with the style. This year, he’s been even better as the River Cats closer, going 2-0 with eight saves and a 0.37 ERA in 19 games; allowing only 15 hits in 24.1 innings while walking four and striking out 20. His groundball ratio is nearly 3-to-1 and right-handers have nearly no shot against him, batting just .118/.135/.137. Now a quick note in the interest of full disclosure – Brad is a friend of mine. We talk quite a bit during the season over IM and text messages, and we made sure to have dinner together when I was in Arizona for spring training. He’s a good guy, a 28-year-old who was drafted in the 20th round five years ago, cut during the 2004 spring training, and now re-created as a different kind of beast. I woke up this morning to a text message from Brad – he got the call and is flying today to meet him with the A’s in Texas for a series with the Rangers. And whether you know Brad or not, it’s a pretty great story. “
"Looks like you brought two too many."
My Guess
Purchase: Buck, CarGon, Kiko, and Ziggy
DFA: Rajai Davis
DL: Devine & R. Sweeney
Send Down: Lenny Dinardo
60-Day DL: Chris Denorfia
If the A's really are activating Kiko, and calling up Ziggy, Buck and CarGon
then I expect the moves to look something like this.
Jeff Gray – DFA
Dan Meyer – DFA
that frees up 2 40 man roster spots for Calero and Ziggy.
Dallas Braden and Lenny DiNardo get optioned down to AAA Sacramento.
That clears for Ziggy and Calero on the 25 man roster.
Two of the following Three:
Emil Brown DFA
Ryan Sweeney DL
Daric Barton Option to AAA
that clears for Buck and CarGon
Emil Brown being DFAed
would obviate any need to DFA Dan Meyer, which I seriously doubt the A’s would do anyway. Apart from which, it would open up a hole on the 40-man roster, which the team would have to fill by purchasing some other contract. I mean, I suppose they could just add like Brooks Conrad or something, but that would seem odd to me.
And I still have yet to see an explanation for how Davis is a better keep than Emil Brown, particularly when you consider that Davis might clear waivers to the minors anyway.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Because
neither of them should be starting, and Davis is a valuable bench player whereas Brown is not.
The A's colors are green and gold.
OK
Perhaps I should have said a GOOD explanation.
Sorry, but I don’t see the value of a pinch-runner/DR being greater than the value of a platoon player. Particularly given that the outfield is about to become crowded.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Dude, seriously?
How many times has the end result of pinch running for Frank with Davis been a home run by Cust? Like at least twice. Nuff said.
by methodrampage on May 30, 2008 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Well,
I think that is false, for one thing. A crowded OF suggests getting rid of Brown, since a DR/PR will be needed in any case. Brown’s platoon bat adds something, but really very little. 1-2 innings a game of a big defensive upgrade (at 2 OF positions) is quite valuable as bench players go. Also, the preseason projections had Davis opsing about 10 points lower than Brown, so call it 30-40 now, which is that big of a difference. I think Davis is just a better player even outside of the context of the team’s needs, since he has a lot of defensive value.
The A's colors are green and gold.
*what* platoon advantage?
We all keep assuming that Emil has a platoon advantage, but I’m not really seeing it.
This year, he’s got high AVG and no power vs LHPs (and the reverse vs RHPs). For his MLB career, yeah, he’s about +.045 in isoSLG L vs R—but he’s only got 674 ABs total in his career vs LHPs. That’s about 1 season’s worth. I can’t find minor-league career splits for him.
I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@
Fairly big split
three of the last four years, his other mlb time was quite awhile ago. Probably best to assume he has a league average split, which would put his true talent in the .730-.760 OPS range vs. LHPs.
The A's colors are green and gold.
uh, what?
That’s some serious cherry-picking there.
I think we’d all agree that 64 ABs this year vs LHPs is a small-enough sample size to be disregarded; and even if it isn’t, this year he has virtually no power vs LHPs (he’s slugging better vs RHPs, even though his AVG vs LHPs is higher: my guess, w/o looking it up, is that he’s got a decent LD% vs LHPs).
Yes, in ‘07 and ‘05, he had pretty astounding conventional platoon splits. But ‘07 represented his lowest AB total of the last 4 years.
In ‘06, though, with half again as many ABs vs RHPs (and somewhat more vs LHPs) as in ‘07, he … had a reverse platoon advantage.
What it looks like to me is that the more PAs Emil gets, the more his supposed platoon advantage dissipates.
Who has Cust love, besides us? @('.')@
From 2005 to 2008:
vs. lhp: .292/.349/.474
vs. rhp: .268/.312/.397
Again, I think it’s best to assume he has about a league average split; the above numbers are a higher than average split. He had a reverse split in limited time in 2000-2001. Watching the games he seems to struggle against breaking balls from RHs, and is able to lay off similar breaking balls from LHs.
The A's colors are green and gold.
because Davis can be a defensive replacement, has speed (which most of the A's lack)
and can play Centerfield.
But Brown is probably a better couple-of-days fill-in
Let’s say Buck’s shin splints bother him a bit, or they don’t want him starting a whole series on astroturf or something. Wouldn’t Brown be a better fill-in starter than Davis?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Apologees
I feel like a jackass cause in my excitement for Brad, and wanting to tell this website because of the past support it has shown for him, I blurted out information that cannot be substantiated by any other source. I didn’t realize it would take so long for a press release from the A’s. I am a Single A poster, in Major league web-world.
Thats what Blogs, AN in particular, are for
Getting info out there fast, talking the hell out of it, and then being either shocked, dismayed, etc when it either comes to pass or does’t. As long as you say you can’t back it up with links, and acknowledge that many will not give it creedence with out a pro source to back it up, its fine.
well
you probably made Friday afternoon more interesting for a lot of people
Ziegler’s like a diety around here
Let's have our Piazza and eat the Cust too - SPWC
by closetasfan on May 30, 2008 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
some folks think Blanton should be a bit more diety
I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@
by monkeyball on May 30, 2008 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Woah, dude,
being the first to give us this news is hardly something to apologize for. If he told you, that’s a perfectly good source.
The A's colors are green and gold.
Don't be sorry!
We appreciate the inside info. People were naturally skeptical because you’re a new poster here, but it looks like the part involving Ziegler, at least, has been confirmed. Thanks, and tell Brad that we’re all rooting for him.
"Tomorrow it may rain." - Leo Durocher
Most of the conversation was about the other 3, we could beleive Ziggy was coming up
we were just trying to figure out the rest of the moves to make all that happen,
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Calero? Really?
I actually thought Beane’s worst move of the entire offseason was giving Calero another penny to pitch for the A’s. I think I mentioned this before, but there’s a good 15 guys I’d rather see in the A’s bullpen than him. He wasn’t good in Sacramento (10 walks in 9 innings).
I figured as soon as they were ready to activate him from the 60-day DL they’d DFA him and hope some really dumb team would take his contract off their hands.
Calero is not worth a 40-man spot over Gray, Meyer, Davis, or really anybody else they have.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 11:56 AM PDT reply actions
When Calero's pitching like he's capable of, he sure as hell is...
...worth a spot over Gray, Meyer, Davis, etc.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
He's 33, coming off major injury, was awful last year, and bad in Sacramento
What makes anybody think he’s going to pitch like he did in 2006 and earlier?
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions
That still doesn't put him behind the names you gave.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
I think it does
Because this is a rebuilding year and paying a guy like him a million bucks is a pretty bad idea.
I’d rather have younger players with upside than older, expensive players with nothing but downside.
I think there’s gotta be about a 10% chance, at best, that Calero can put up an ERA under 4.50 in a major league uniform. So with that said he’s gonna come up and pitch about 45 straight scoreless innings.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions
That would be perfect, actually
because then he could be flipped to Detroit or even the Angel Rays for a prospect.
crowd chaos
With everyone speculating about the roster, Sacramento is showing Clif Pennington on it’s roster. If Travis and CGon are called up, it only leaves the Rivercats with 1 OF. This could be a crazy 5 hours.
I have checked all the rosters, and Nick Blasi doesn't show up on any. Does anyone know
what happened to him? MILB.com doesn’t even list him on a team
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions
but as of 10 minutes ago, he is not listed on the roster, and where has he been
the last 4 days.
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions
he's off the grid
"Let’s just hope he’s not a complete turd out there." -thejd44, describing Crosby's best scenario.
by notsellingjeans on May 30, 2008 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I would think that Aaron Cunningham would be promoted
He was hitting well in AA, and the A’s liked him in Spring Training.
Rosterbation
Assuming that Buck and CarGon do get PROMOTIONS! and get to the team tonight, what will the lineup look like? If Sweeney is healthy and not being DL’d, it would be cool if it was this…
LF Buck
SS Crosby
DH Cust
3B Chavez
CF Gonzalez
RF Sweeney
2B Ellis
1B Barton
C1 Suzuki
Isn't Swooney out for a couple more games?
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions
If he is indeed still injured (hence the "if he is healthy") then it would be slighty different
RF Buck
SS Crosby
LF Cust
DH Sweeney
3B Chavez
CF Gonzalez
2B Ellis
1B Barton
C1 Suzuki
Hell, with all the speculation, we don't know if M. Sweeney is healthy
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
What I meant
But didn’t really explain was how does Sweeney being out for just a couple days, but not DLd, affect things? Because he wouldn’t be in tonight’s lineup, but he’d still be on the roster.
Rosterbation is fun.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Sweeney if still injured would be benched
but in a few days, if healthy, would take over an outfield position with Cust moving to DH and Big Sweeney on the Bench and filling in at 1B.
The question really is, what happens when Thomas comes back. Because when Thomas comes back, you have to make the choice between DFA/Trading Mike Sweeney, Sending Barton Down, DFAing Rajai Davis/E-Mail, or sending Mini Sweeney down.
That's it, someone get Billy Beane on the phone.
...And check if he sounds hungover…
"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."
“I called up who?!? Ohhhh, my head …”
I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@
Hey Billy, Bob Geren called, and asked why is Shane Keough the starting CF
by theblackpearl on May 30, 2008 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions
awesome
"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
If true, this would be amazing
But, I’ll just wait and see for more details before I comment. The one thing that is for sure true is Cliff Pennington is on Sacramento’s roster. Why would Moneypenny get the call before Guzman? Because Guzman is one day (!) older?
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton
i'd call guzman up soon anyways
that’s three prospect-y guys for four positions (1b/2b/3b/dh), not a problem unless the a’s really love rogowski/bankston for some reason.
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
three?
You are forgetting Powell, who is alternating between Catcher and DH, and coming off a knee injury.
Versatility
Clifton and Justin Sellers have been flip-flopping at SS and 2B for over a year now.
Could Cliff Pennington conceivably outperform Tony Pena, Jr. this season?
To quote the Beatles, “It can’t get no worse.”
Pena’s historically bad this year. Like, my goodness, is he bad. .160/.181/.200 for a robust OPS+ of 4. In 156 PA’s, so this sample size isn’t all that tiny.
Four. Sweet Heavens to Gracie. The most shocking thing is that he’s been intentionally walked twice. Whoever put up four fingers when he came up to the plate should be fired.
Pennington’s hitting .260/.383/.316 at AA Midland. It’s hard to believe, but I actually think he’d be a better everyday SS than Tony Pena.
"Looks like you brought two too many."
Pena is an amazing defensive player
But he really might end up being the worst offensive regular ever ever ever.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions
I think he's quite a bit better than Crosby defensively
Crosby is the one who’s middle of the pack.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions
We must have differing definitions of amazing
I watch Pena almost everyday here in Kansas. He’s simply ok at best in the field. Here is a link that puts his defensive ability into numbers. Nothing special. He’s certainly not awful, but I wouldn’t be clamoring for him.
Might as well Jump! - Van Halen
Pena
2006 UZR +38
2007 UZR through June whatever because MGL’s file isn’t updated: +17.
I’m not sure what that link is supposed to show. I’ve never known THT to have one of the better defensive metrics. Am I wrong on that?
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Pena played in 18 games in 2006...................
2003-2007 uzr has him at -6. Most other metrics like him better than that.
The A's colors are green and gold.
Well that doesn't make sense
Because he was great in a small sample size in 06, pretty good in 07. He didn’t play in 03-05.
Regardless: he’s so bad offensively he shouldn’t be playing.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions
That's the bottom line
He’s awful. Every Royals fan is done with him.
Might as well Jump! - Van Halen
Why is Bown DFA so popular?
All these lineup switches eliminate Emil Brown—would someone who follows this better than me explain why? Brown is a weak defender and a free swinger but he has gotten the A’s a lot of wins this year
"lot of wins"
Bpro has him at 1.5 wins above (their too-low) replacement level, while crediting him as a +10 run above replacement fielder.
Win shares (which takes into account his relatively clutch performance) has him at 2/3 of a win above replacement.
WPA has him at -.5 wins relative to an average hitter, also including his relatively clutch play, and -2 wins on offense not accounting for clutchness. So…. he has not gotten us a lot of wins, or a better way of saying it is perhaps that he has gotten us a lot of wins but also a lot of losses.
The A's colors are green and gold.
Yes, he's had a lot of RBIs (and some in key situations)
But the point is that he’s also come up to bat in a lot of key situations. And his overall failures are pretty self-evident.
When Ryan Sweeney moved into the 5 hole, he had a lot more RBI opportunities, too. That’s what happens with #5 hitters when you have Cust and Thomas hitting ahead of you. Lots of chances to drive in runs. Brown has done it a few times. He’s also been really, really terrible most other times.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Pennington's Promotion to AAA
if perminant, also tells us something else.
This also indicates that the A’s like Gregorio Petit, enough that they will probably try to keep him on the 25 man roster. Petit’s position is now filled at AAA, so he isn’t going back there.
The question then becomes what happens to either Murphy or Jackahan.
Or… could there have been a big trade that we don’t know about, and MaEl or BroCro are gone?
eh, I doubt it
If they like Petit (which I think they do) they’ll send him back to AAA, since he needs to develop his bat more and he can’t do that on the bench.
The A's colors are green and gold.
But can they send him down without any other middle infield backup?
Hannahan can barely handle third; he can’t play short or second. Murphy is still on the DL.
I think Petit stays until Murphy is healthy, if not longer.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Chavez' iffy health also necessitates the extra IF
The best-case-scenario plan right now is to have Hannahan starting at 3B 1 out of every 3 games.
I'm handy, but I've never built anything of consequence. @('.')@
The best case scenario:
Jack Hannahan, the new Stomper.
"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."
Richie Robnett
Is Heading to Sacramento. Cliff Pennington & Danny Putnam called up from Midland. Lots of Minor League Movement. Hmmmmm.
I hope Dr. Andrews didn’t find Santiago Casilla’s elbow ligament to be missing. Thus, creating a Roster Spot w/ a 60-Day DL move… That’s the only thing I’m worried about.
It's true...see front page.
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
DiNardo, Fiorentino dead, Denorfia MIA?
WHY does Billy Beane hate Italians?
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
Aw, rats -- jumped by MB and PT on the main page. No Original Thought in the world.
Yes, I know—shoulda used the Search Function.
/just like I shoulda invested in Micro$oft in ‘82. And had a V8 this afternoon.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on May 30, 2008 8:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Carlos Gonzalez has got to be here to stay, right? Beane doesn't tend to
bring his uber prospects up to fill in for injuries does he?
Probably correct - unless they just want
him to get a taste of “the show” for a permanent return later this year. More likely, he’s here to stay.
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
Mellilo was DFA'd
Which means Pennington replaces Mellilo. Petit still probably goes down when Murphy comes back.
My guess is that Barton gets a couple of weeks to get his act together. If he can’t, he goes down to AAA, and Sweeney & Hannahan alternate at first.
The next reliever to come back will be Brown, and he’ll replace Braden. The real problem comes in a couple of weeks when Casilla comes back, and then after that, when Devine comes back. If Ziggy works out, then what? Foulke goes?
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