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A's Call up Gonzalez, Ziegler, Buck and Calero!!!

Baseball_tiny by baseballgirl on

Wholesale changes here in Texas: Carlos Gonzalez will be making his major-league debut tonight, playing center and batting eighth, and reliever Brad Ziegler also got his first callup in a massive four-man shipment from Triple-A Sacramento on Friday.

Travis Buck is back and he’s leading off tonight, and Kiko Calero returns to Oakland’s bullpen.

DH Mike Sweeney (knee), outfielder Ryan Sweeney (foot) and reliever Joey Devine (forearm) were all placed on the DL and Lenny DiNardo was sent out.

More details to come, but it’s unusual to get so many callups all at once.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/indexn?blogid=21

So both Sweeneys are on the DL with Devine, and the A's have DFA'd DiNardo, it looks like. This will be the major league debut for the long-awaited Carlos Gonzalez, and for our very own Brad Ziegler in the 'pen.

We welcome back our lead-off man, Travis Buck, and we welcome to the team for the first time this season, Kiko Calero!

WOW!

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Kevin Melillo off the 40-man?

I think that covers all the roster moves.

So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one

by baseballgirl on May 30, 2008 2:24 PM PDT   0 recs

Curious

This seems really extreme why CarGon, why all at once?

by throttle mathius on May 30, 2008 2:25 PM PDT   0 recs

Obvious

With Big Frank and Mike Sweeney on the DL, Cust has to move to DH, so that opens 2 spots in the OF. With Travis back the best choice was to promote CGon since Ryan Sweeney is banged up.

by bamaA'sfan on May 30, 2008 2:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm expecting we'll see some Chavy at DH

but damn, not seeing Cust in the OF is a nice little silver lining.

"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on May 30, 2008 2:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Promotions for everyone!

"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on May 30, 2008 2:27 PM PDT   0 recs

QOTM

That made me snort my milk!

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on May 30, 2008 3:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hi, Dr. Nick!

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

by monkeyball on May 30, 2008 4:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It had to happen

Buck was ready and Ziegler was dominating AAA. It’s a little earlier than I expected to see Gonzalez and I’d hoped never to see Calero in an A’s uni again. Should be good for the lineup (though a bit lefty heavy). It is sad that Casilla, Brown, and Devine, who were so dominant early in the season are all DL’d. Foulke and Kiko do not fill me with a lot of confidence. It feels like an old A’s pen, not the power pen they were sporting. I do hope that Geren uses Ziegler rather than sitting him on his ass in the pen. If he starts putting Calero in key spots and leaves Ziegler sitting, I’ll scream.

by boilerdan on May 30, 2008 2:28 PM PDT   0 recs

I'll be screaming with you.

"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on May 30, 2008 2:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Sould this...

be taken at face value or is it possible something is going on behind the scenes? The team has been performing very well so far…Devine replaced by Calero…Sweeney by Buck…Dinardo by Z…but why CarGon for Sweeney?

by throttle mathius on May 30, 2008 2:28 PM PDT   0 recs

3 guys put on the DL will do that....

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on May 30, 2008 2:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

DL says it all

Better to DL a guy who is performing injured, than absorb the lower level of performance. To wit:
Casilla makes one pitch hurt, and it’s hit for a home run. Similar stuff happens when guys attempt to “play through it”.

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on May 30, 2008 4:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Any news on Jermey Giambi?

Wasn’t there a massive shakeup one of the other years, getting all sorts of dead weight / etc off the roster in time for a run at the playoffs?

by MobiusKlein on May 30, 2008 2:30 PM PDT   0 recs

As long as

we don’t trade Cust for John Mabry.

"Tomorrow it may rain." - Leo Durocher

by andeux on May 30, 2008 2:35 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

mabry had a good year for us.

he was clutch like scutaro.

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on May 30, 2008 3:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Also less about "after hour activities".

I’m really curious to see what happens when our ‘pen is healthy again.

"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on May 30, 2008 2:40 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ah, the Larry Sutton days.

That was around the time we traded little G and demoted Carlos Pena.

stat-addled alien overlord

by salb918 on May 30, 2008 2:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

They are in Texas.

So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one

by baseballgirl on May 30, 2008 2:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I know

I just hate to rush premium prospects…I tend to think confidence is a huge factor in the success rate of young players and if you damage it it can damage more than just the short term numbers.

by throttle mathius on May 30, 2008 2:35 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Maybe, but it sure is fun and exciting...

As a fan, I friggin love it.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on May 30, 2008 2:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So is Daric Barton "rushed"??

Is Barton’s May slump caused by being rushed???

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on May 30, 2008 4:09 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

How's this for crazy:

Kotsay and Devine go on the DL the same day…

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on May 30, 2008 2:33 PM PDT   0 recs

Still in Virginia.

stat-addled alien overlord

by salb918 on May 30, 2008 2:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

nice

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 4:15 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 3:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

PROMOTIONS

So along with that, Pennington, Massaro and Putnam all got promoted.

Wonder if more are still to come?

by Zonis on May 30, 2008 2:36 PM PDT   0 recs

Congragulations to all

But especially to Mr. Ziegler. 28 years old and his dream comes true.

Not a bad day.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on May 30, 2008 2:38 PM PDT   0 recs

BREAKING NEWS

ESPN reports greatest pitcher ever Joba Chamberlain will start on Tuesday! STOP THE PRESSES!

Might as well Jump! - Van Halen

by sprtsnwyn on May 30, 2008 2:42 PM PDT   0 recs

Wow, that was quick...

He gets 2 starts next week then in nice matchups, big news for fantasy folks.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on May 30, 2008 2:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Joba no bargain.

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

by JediLeroy on May 30, 2008 5:34 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I wonder

if that puts him on track to face the A’s

Let's have our Piazza and eat the Cust too - SPWC

by closetasfan on May 30, 2008 3:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The best was

the two Dice-K updates in a span of 5 minutes.

He’s on the f*ing DL. Get over it.

"Looks like you brought two too many."

by BWH on May 30, 2008 3:30 PM PDT to parent up   1 recs

Really excited for Brad and to see Carlos....

Made this series a whole lot more exciting. Good luck Ziggy!

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on May 30, 2008 2:43 PM PDT   0 recs

Hm, so

Fiorentino, DiNardo, Melillo.

Anyone got a veteran to unload? Brian Giles or something?

It would suck to lose all of those guys for nothing.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 30, 2008 2:45 PM PDT   0 recs

I think Fiorentino might clear.

DiNardo will not, not sure about Melillo.

stat-addled alien overlord

by salb918 on May 30, 2008 2:48 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That sounds right to me

We also might be able to get something back in trade for DiNardo.

"Tomorrow it may rain." - Leo Durocher

by andeux on May 30, 2008 2:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I want DiNardo in the majors.

He’s a good guy, works hard, and has good taste in music.

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on May 30, 2008 3:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

...not for us, though...

I should have made that clear.

I just hope somebody claims him or trades for him, that’s all.

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on May 30, 2008 3:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Maybe they can get that guy who was traded for 10 bats

I did think DiNardo was useful in the pen and was mis/underused by Geren. I would like to have seen him used as an actual reliever. But I think they just kept thinking Harden or Duke was going to break down at any minute.

by boilerdan on May 30, 2008 2:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'd hate to lose Melillo

The rest of ‘em… meh. I know DiNardo gets a lot of love around here, but the organization has plenty of fringy 6th starters.

President and CEO of the Ryan Sweeney Apologists Consortium

by Joey C. on May 30, 2008 2:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Billy Beane: anti-Italian bigot

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

by monkeyball on May 30, 2008 4:24 PM PDT to parent up   1 recs

I noticed that too...

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 30, 2008 4:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

so there, Milton

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 4:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Bullpen depth chart:

Street

Hard to say between Gaudin/Foulke/Embree/Ziggy, all of whom should be above average. In close games they should definitely be aggressive with Embree against LHHs and Ziggy against RHHs in high leverage situations, instead of choosing someone for the 8th (which would presumably be Foulke or Embree). I would not be surprised at all if Ziggy is the best of this group, but he’ll also probably be the first to go back down when Brown is ready, which is a shame.

Kiko

Braden(long man)

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on May 30, 2008 2:49 PM PDT   0 recs

On the other hand

If Ziggy and Calero pitch well, isn’t the bullpen even stronger because that means the A’s will have a few extra arms always capable of pitching. Yeah, I want Casilla and Devine and Brown back. Soon. But I’m also looking forward to seeing if Ziggy can pitch in the majors. If he can, that’s bonus.

What worries me is that Devine went on the DL and I didn’t even know he was hurt. Was this ever reported?

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 3:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It was reported that he had forearm stiffness

while warming up.

I mean, you know the A’s. Every injury is brushed off as something minor, until the player hits the DL with no further comment.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 30, 2008 3:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

At least they said something

I just missed it.

It worries me when Casilla and Devine are getting hurt. They just seem like prime arm-explosion candidates.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 3:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's possible that the new program of being very, very conservative with injuries had something to do with this.

Rather than sitting him for a week and seeing if he feels better, they might have decided to sit him for 2 weeks no matter what, even if he feels better by Wednesday, just to be on the safe side.

Same could go for RSweeney (and even MSweeney, for that matter).

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on May 30, 2008 4:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

good point

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 30, 2008 4:36 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm thinking "violent horror" is more descriptive.

I have a feeling that either Embree or Street is going be pushed into a breakdown with this setup.

"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on May 30, 2008 3:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Geren refuses to use Embree in leverage situations

He wants a pitcher for the 7th, a pitcher for the 8th, and Street in the 9th. I think it’s pretty foolish and he lucked out because Casilla, Devine and Brown were unhittable for awhile.

by boilerdan on May 30, 2008 2:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Geren's not very creative.

I wish he could be the “Positivity Coach/Signal Relayer/Ego Massager” instead of the manager, and let someone in the booth with a laptop “manage” the team and make the strategic decisions.

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on May 30, 2008 4:00 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wait

When the hell did Devine come down with an injury?

What happened all of a sudden? Sweeney, Sweeney, Devine, Casilla, Brown, Thomas. Our bullpen really, really takes a hit.

And Rich Harden lives?

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on May 30, 2008 2:52 PM PDT   0 recs

The A's took advantage of that free Canadian health care

by giving everyone on the team MRIs while they were up there.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 30, 2008 2:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wait, no, they were in Oakland...

Cough.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 30, 2008 2:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Maybe they used Toronto's doctor... who did it for free

yeah, that’s the ticket!

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on May 30, 2008 3:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Devine was unavailable for the Toronto series

he had an MRI done on his forearm, according to Yahoo! Sports A’s page.

by OaklandSi on May 30, 2008 2:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

HOLY CRAP.

and CARGON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

""These guys are a different breed of ballclub." - Twins manager Ron Gardenhire on the A's

by gotgreen on May 30, 2008 2:54 PM PDT   0 recs

Wonder what we'll get for DiNardo?

He’s the guy that’s going to get claimed, and we should be able to keep Melillo and Fiorentino pretty easily. DiNardo should be a starter on an awful lot of teams, even some competitive ones. Maybe we can pick up the middle infield prospect we sorely lack.

So it goes.

by jeepers on May 30, 2008 2:57 PM PDT