Crosby, Stewart and Cabrera

Crosby

Well, if Crosby’s numbers don’t pick up this year, he’s gone. It doesn’t matter where he hits in the order. He is a free agent after this season and he must improve his numbers.

The Ultimate Opportunist

by Rated-R Superstar on Jan 10, 2009 1:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I also brought up the Shannon Stewart idea

I would not give him a $5 million Signing Bonus.

Instead, I would sign him to a Minor League Contract, invite him to the Big Leagues, with a contract that states that if he makes the team, he will get X Dollars.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jan 10, 2009 1:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I like this deal Zonis, it allows us to keep our draft pick and to see if Cabrera is able to take over the SS position

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Jan 10, 2009 1:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm assuming the A's would make that deal with Cabrera any time

It’s Cabrera who is probably causing that not to happen. Come mid-February, if the A’s still need a SS and Cabrera still needs a team, this exact scenario may take place – legitimately, too.

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 Jan 10, 2009 3:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thats what I was thinking

as thats what happened to Stewart

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jan 10, 2009 4:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

When Stewart signed last year with the Jays he was younger than Cabrera, he had a better batting average than Cabrera, he hit more home runs than Cabrera, had a better OBP than Cabrera and the house I live in was worth 25% more. Not sure Orlando is happy with his agent today. Sure Cabrera is a better player, but the world is different.

Who needs a SS?

Padres, can’t even keep Hoffman. Their not going to spend on Cabrera

Jays, they will lose pick 16 or 17 (something like that) in the first round, if they sign him. Not very likely.

Is there anyone else?

by dougald1 on Jan 10, 2009 5:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I also imagine the Jays feel Scutaro is better

They may be wrong, but they seem awfully high on him and it’s their opinion that matters here – and at least when you factor in salary it becomes closer.

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 Jan 10, 2009 5:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Shannon Stewart is an average fielding LF, once you account for his Admiral Nelson-esque throwing arm

Orlando Cabrera is a good fielding shortstop.

Kind of a distinction there (about 20 runs, in fact). Stewart projected as maybe 5 runs above replacement, which is reasonable for a minor league deal given his extensive injury history. Cabrera projects as a league average player.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 10, 2009 7:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Seems that shitty defense is JUST now being looked at when factoring in player values.

Unless you’re the Phillies I guess.

LAWN DART.

by mikev on Jan 10, 2009 9:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

They

saw that as “arm strength is a +”

by Svidrigailov on Jan 10, 2009 10:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Crosby Stills and Nash

Dude, if Chavez bats 600 times in the next 3 years I will be happy!

I dream of Fremont and rainbows

by OptimistPrime on Jan 10, 2009 1:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

The anger towards Crosby might have something to do with

him either sucking or being unavailable to play over the last 4 years.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jan 10, 2009 1:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

yes, four years

You are right. It has been a bad 4 years. I just hate the idea of giving 5 million to Crosby, a pick to the White Sox and paying a 35 year old Cabrera another 6 or 7 million. Crosby batting 9th for one year with Petit and Pennington filling in when Crosby goes down (I said when not if) seem like a better idea.

by dougald1 on Jan 10, 2009 1:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

dougald1, when you say you don't understand

why Crosby is public enemy #1, you act as if he hasn’t been terrible. Crosby has been unable to take the field a lot in recent years, and that’s been the highlight. His OPS isn’t bad, it’s horrific, while his defense seems to be getting worse. What’s really to like?

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 Jan 10, 2009 3:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes... he's just an awful major league baseball player.

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

by brenarlo on Jan 10, 2009 3:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

OK

Orlando
Cabrera
will
not
sign
a
minor
league
contract.

There are a lot of silly memes that run through this site but this has to be about the silliest one I’ve ever seen. His situation is not even vaguely similar to Shannon Stewart’s. He could publicly break two of his fingers with a tire iron and he’d still have more negotiating leverage than Stewart did last offseason.

Every time you think about writing something to do with Cabrera and the words “minor league contract,” think about the 30 seconds of your life that will never come back. Realize that life is too short to be spending it on fantasies that are simultaneously this mean-spirited, irrational and profoundly unsatisfying. Then stop talking about this.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 10, 2009 1:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

And by "you," just to clarify, I mean anyone who reads this.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 10, 2009 1:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

CABRERA MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT

Sorry, just had to get that out.

by mikev on Jan 10, 2009 1:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

so we can't say we, but you can say you?

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 Jan 10, 2009 1:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I have no objection to people saying "we" to refer to the collective of AN posters...

It’s the “collective of AN posters, plus the Oakland Athletics baseball team” meaning that bugs me.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 10, 2009 4:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Duly noted.

Also, filed in the circular file.

by mikev on Jan 10, 2009 6:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No, one cannot

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

by Nick on Jan 10, 2009 4:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

We didn't just say that, did we?

Don’t you hate it when nurses ask questions like, “How are we feeling today?” It’s so obnoxious, and nothing like the “Nurses Gone Wild” videos.

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 Jan 10, 2009 5:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Buster Olney and Peter Gammons

When Peter Gammons and Buster Olney are coming up with an idea for the Yankees to sign Orlando Cabrera and trade him, because they only would lose their 4th pick, and then trade him to a team that wants him . I am thinking that my idea is not so crazy.

Think out side the box, Beane does, maybe you should.

by dougald1 on Jan 10, 2009 1:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

that's not thinking outside the box, if beane could sign him for one cent obviously he would.

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 Jan 10, 2009 1:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That's not even possible

You can’t sign a player and then immediately trade him. He’d be eating up a roster spot on their team for two and a half months, minimum.

That scenario doesn’t make any sense either.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 10, 2009 4:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Whereas signing him for one cent

is not minimum wage – something xbhaskarx clearly neglected to consider.

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 Jan 10, 2009 4:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not so

A team can trade a player earlier then that if the player in question consents to the deal. I can’t think of the last time it happened, but it can.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jan 10, 2009 6:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Only in Buster and Peter's mind...

On ESPN, Buster’s most recent post, he suggested the idea, saying how Cabrera would have to sign off on the deal for him to be traded, but he would to get the larger contract he is looking for.

On a chat with the Boston Globe, Peter Gammons talked about how Varitek could sign with the Red Sox and then be traded to Florida for something less than a 1st round and a sandwich pick.

I can see Buster’s idea work better because I am not sold on the Red Sox wanting to do Peter’s idea. Red Sox may want Varitek back and the Type A compisation may keep his price down so low. And there is the joy of putting it to Boras.

by dougald1 on Jan 10, 2009 6:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Lawyer speak...

CBA Section XX B6

(a): Any club signing a contract after the expiration of the election period with a player under this secion B may not assign his contract until after the next June 15. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, such contract may be assigned for other playerscontracts and /or cash consideration of $50,000 or less prior to the next June 16 if the player gives written consent to such transaction.

So I guess that means that Buster is right, ….I love lawyer speak

by dougald1 on Jan 10, 2009 6:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Again, this requires a club and player publicly conspiring to violate the spirit of the transaction rules

It’s not going to wash.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 10, 2009 8:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Right.

It’d be one thing if they traded him on May 1st, but to sign him tomorrow and trade him next week would be a little bit strange, to say the least.

by thejd44 on Jan 10, 2009 8:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

PT, were do you think that Cabrera will sign?

Given that you are unhappy with the pushing the rules method of aquiring Cabrera (minor league deal, sign and trade) were do you see him signing. And what kind of contract do you see?

by dougald1 on Jan 11, 2009 5:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, it wouldn't surprise me if he signed with the A's

It won’t be a minor league contract. If he still doesn’t have any offers by February, the A’s might get him for an Ellis-shaped contract, or maybe even a 1+1 deal, which would be ideal.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 11, 2009 2:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

PT I don't agree with you.

For one thing you and I both know that the odds against Cabrera signing a minor league deal is about 98. But there is always that other 2 and in this economy anything is possible. I mean the A’s just signed Giambi for about 5.5 million and everyone was saying he wouldn’t sign a one year contract and it would have to be over 8 or 9 million. And no, I don’t keep track of where and when people have said this but it is about the numbers I have seen.

Yes, He probably won’t sign a minor league contract but unless you are Cabrera or his agent you can not tell us that it is not a possibility.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Jan 10, 2009 1:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

PT, you are correct today

However, come February 15th with Cabrera still not having signed anywhere, you would not be. There aren’t that many teams still looking for a SS. If that number drops in the next 6 weeks and spring training is approaching…?

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 Jan 10, 2009 3:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Completely agree, Nico.

And I may not have been the first one to mention it in another thread, but when I did bring up the idea of a minor league deal for Cabrera, it was with the thinking that the A’s waited another 6 weeks. The A’s might end up missing out on Cabrera, but they might not.

On another note, I wonder how good Crosby would have to be this season to be a Type B next year.

by thejd44 on Jan 10, 2009 5:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Type B

You can’t be suggesting that A’s would offer arbitration. …..news flash…A’s fans everywhere go insane when A’s offered arbitration to public enemy and one time shortshop ……

It is a nice thought, type B, and all, but I think the A’s would just be happy to get though the season

by dougald1 on Jan 10, 2009 6:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree...

if NOTHING else, he’ll sign for a couple million in Japan or he’ll sign as a backup somewhere for some type of guaranteed money.

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

by brenarlo on Jan 10, 2009 3:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I seriously doubt he'd sign as a backup

and get more than a minor league deal. No team is going to pay good money AND a draft pick for a backup SS.

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Jan 10, 2009 5:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He public enemy number one today, but why?

expectations…fair or not. he was hyped by many as the next top tier SS and replaced one of the most popular A’s players. he was annointed by the media, team, fans etc to be the next star. he was a big part of that next wave of players to continue the success in oakland. he shouldnt take all the blame why theyve had only 1 playoff team in 4 yrs, so should chavez, harden etc. also some blame goes on the A’s for sticking with him through all the injuries and his stubborn approach. no forward planning, the best they could do was scutaro, murphy, penny, petit as replacements for the last 4-5 yrs? add to that they kept crosby and 2 fan favorites tejada/scutaro left and crosby himself messed up ellis shot of playing SS due to that collision.

by Asfan4ever723 on Jan 10, 2009 1:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I don't wholly agree with this

I had no particular expectations for Crosby – I just think he’s a terrible baseball player.

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 Jan 10, 2009 3:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

amen

my biggest problem with him is his absolute inability to ever make adjustments. it’d be annoying if he didn’t do this, but was an average hitter, but for a horrific hitter to do this is inexplicable.

by guy incognito on Jan 10, 2009 4:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's sad that a guy could go into a season with no expectations

and still fail to meet them.

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Jan 10, 2009 5:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i have no qualms with him as a person

I just want a better shortstop

"Sometimes Joe (morgan) doesn't like facts to get in the way of his opinions."- billy beane
"That was a great pick...if this was 2002" Me, to guy who selected Barry Zito in a fantasy draft

by harendaman365 on Jan 10, 2009 3:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Let's go FJM on this HOF-caliber strickout

2) I am not sure about getting ride of Crosby.

I think BobbyCrosbysGirl has some good perspective for you on this topic. As for getting rid of Bobby Crosby: we can cover that next.

He public enemy number one today, but why?

He SUCKS. In basically every way you can judge a player, Bobby Crosby gets a failing grade. He can’t get on base. He doesn’t have power. He isn’t a good defender. He can’t stay healthy (maybe a good thing). He doesn’t even have grit! He can’t advance a runner. Bobby Crosby is TERRIBLE AT BASEBALL. Like, replacement level terrible. If you don’t believe me, try searching AN and see what you come up with. End.

Sure he was far from great last year. Is it expectation?

In all fairness, it makes me feel much better that you go on to semi-answer your earlier question. Yup, he was far from great. Unfortunately you leave out that he is far from average, too. And that is why he is public enemy number one.

Peter Gammons said he will be MVP once.

Im running out of snark to deal with this.

He should be this or that and he is not.

rrruuh? I can’t really tell from over here, but I think I agree with you? He is not this or that?

I say maybe he is miss used.

Looking over this post, perhaps I agree with you more than I realized. Bobby Crosby is definitely Miss (fill in the blank). Your choice is fine by me, though I’d probably choose something more CGV worthy.

Look, I don’t like picking on people. It feels wrong, and Im really not so smart that I am invincible to this type of criticism, and I hope you don’t take this personally. But if you are going to post something, I think everybody would appreciate a bit more thought. If you really really want to write a post asking why we should hate Bobby Crosby (not recommended), at least get the spelling down, and come up with a better defense than “Peter Gammons said he’ll be MVP once”.

Save Rajai Davis

by oakinboston on Jan 10, 2009 1:38 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I thought Cindi was Miss Used

a man has to have something to help the petite vanilla bean scones go down @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 10, 2009 2:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !!!!!!!

I don’t get it.

-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 Jan 10, 2009 3:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Cindi, your title suggests otherwise

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jan 10, 2009 3:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Assistant Director Of Blush And Braids Records

suggests otherwise??? C’mon, groover!!!

-Cindi

P.S. Did you like how I remembered to make the “g” lowercase? I know you and MARQUEZ67 are really particular about how your names are spelled!

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 Jan 10, 2009 4:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

and he wasn't even a punter in college!

shakes head worthless

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

by Cheezombie on Jan 10, 2009 5:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

not about the hate...

Thanks for the post.

I understand that Crosby has not lived up to his billing. It just seems sad that it makes fan so angery about him. My main point is that if he was batting ninth on a team with a much better lineup(that the A’s seem to be getting) I feel that the A’s can live with him at short. Is it the best case,no. Having him bat 450 time in the middle of the order was a killer last year. If the A’s do sign Cabrera and bat him 9th (in this case) is there that much difference. Cabrera will run less with the A’s, his batting average will drop a few points because of home games and there fielding will be about the same.

by dougald1 on Jan 10, 2009 2:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Angery makes me saddy

but Crosby inspires a lot of it by being incapable of addressing his many weaknesses.

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 Jan 10, 2009 3:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Good lord

Crosby played in (at least) 472 games last year? No wonder the season felt so long.

a man has to have something to help the petite vanilla bean scones go down @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 10, 2009 2:57 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

The reason that I think Beane WILL sign

a new SS is that he seems as fed up with Crosby as we are …and it seems to me that he is dying to be rid of him.

by IM4Oakgal on Jan 10, 2009 3:15 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Beane has defended and stood by Crosby quite a bit in the past couple of years.

It makes me wonder if he told Crosby in some manner to ‘step it up’, maybe implying that it was his last shot to prove himself.

by Streams Of Whiskey on Jan 10, 2009 4:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

after defending crosby despite his play the last few years

i’d definitely expect beane to tell crosby he needs to step it up or else, while holding a 2×4

by guy incognito on Jan 10, 2009 5:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Crosby might actually make contact if he used one of those

The “bat” thing clearly isn’t working for him.

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 Jan 10, 2009 5:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He could erect a brick wall over home plate and still miss the slider away.

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Jan 10, 2009 5:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He could erect a brick wall?

With his aim?

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 Jan 10, 2009 5:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well clearly it wouldn't be a very good brick wall

it would have holes in the middle of it, away, inside, above & even below. In fact, I’m not even sure he’d actually use a single brick in his brick wall.

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Jan 10, 2009 6:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The tofu dog wall has worked all this time.

It’s what got him here, and he’s not going to abandon it now.

"When I was a kid, having someone correct your grammar was a sign that they cared and wanted you to present yourself in the best possible light. That being said, you should really learn the difference between plurals and possessives." -- RS

by oblique on Jan 10, 2009 7:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's just too bad

that major league pitchers have figured out the secret of how to throw a baseball through a tofu dog wall.

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Jan 10, 2009 10:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Soy it goes

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 Jan 10, 2009 10:32 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

even with crosby...

offense will be better.our 2 best offensive players werent on the team last year plus chavez will probly (hopefully) get more ab’s then last year, and i doubt barton and buck will both be worse than last year . Crosby still has very good defense and we already tried to give him away for nothing but his own contract and had no takers so he might be staying.

that's gold jerry, gold!!!

by 9Custs on Jan 10, 2009 5:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs