DLD 1/14/09

by DyeLongJustice on Jan 14, 2009 4:56 PM PST Comment 44 comments

A few notes around baseball on a slow day today:

The Oakland A's agreed to terms with outfielder/designated hitter Jack Cust on a one-year contract. Personally, I'm glad they did so without a prolonged process. I feel like arbitration is just a battleground where the only possible outcome is player-team relationship damage. Cust was earning 410k, and that figure is surely going to climb a few million. Any thoughts as to what his new salary will be?

(Edit: Cust signed for $2.8 Million. Cust figures to be worth ~ 3 WAR next season. On the market with a rate of $4.4m per win, Cust should cost $13.2m. Cust is still a ridonckulous bargain to the A's. Every day he plays makes Billy Beane look like one smart man).

Bud Selig has given the A's permission to "discuss a ballpark with other communities" if officials in Fremont, Calif., don't quickly approve a proposed new stadium. This gives the A's a possibility of moving to Santa Clara since the territorial rights will now be in the hands of Selig and not the Giants. Hopefully this gets done in a timely manner.

On an non-A's related note, the White Sox have now signed "Big Fat" Bartolo Colon to a one year deal. It would be nice to know the price, but if you assume he came in at a greatly discounted price, I don't see why the A's wouldn't have tried to sign him. He couldn't harm the rotation that much, as I'm sure he'd have a quick hook if he did.

Apparently, the Indians have signed Los Kirk (a.k.a. Kirk Saarloos) to a minor league deal. As an A's fan, I'm going to miss him. Good luck to ye, and I bid thee farewell.

Lastly, the Hardball Times put up an interesting article recently approxmating the value of a first round draft pick. I find this highly interesting as an A's fan since it helps us put a value on how much our protected pick would cost us when signing Orlando Cabrera. I really think that if we could get O Cab on a 2 year deal for 5-7 million per season, it would worth it. Of course, this is just one man's humble opinion, and there has been a lot of heated debate about that lately.

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Cust deal woth $2.8 million

Link

Also, Indians released Ryan Goleski

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jan 14, 2009 5:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

thanks for the Cust update!

"I'm on hold for now"- Bobby Crosby

by DyeLongJustice on Jan 14, 2009 5:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I posted a fanshot with links a little bit ago

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jan 14, 2009 5:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I think you want to call this a "DLD"

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

by monkeyball on Jan 14, 2009 5:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

done son

"I'm on hold for now"- Bobby Crosby

by DyeLongJustice on Jan 14, 2009 5:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

+2

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Jan 14, 2009 5:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The AP story about Wolff and Selig is confusing

Basically seems to be stuff we knew six weeks ago.

by Englishmajor on Jan 14, 2009 5:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

i think someone got a more complete version of the letter

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

by monkeyball on Jan 14, 2009 6:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I posted this on another story and it's way OT

but I wish the A’s would try to find some more Jack Custs. I only mention this because I came across the Red Sox’s Devern Hansack, and, to me, he looks like the next Jack Cust (albeit a pitching Jack Cust…so there is no real defense issue!). I’m wondering what it would cost to get him.

"I'm on hold for now"- Bobby Crosby

by DyeLongJustice on Jan 14, 2009 5:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

A pitching Jack Cust

A Three True Outcomes pitcher – more than half the time he either gets a STRICKOUT, gives up a walk or a HR.

Actually, with a potentially poor defense behind him, that might not be too bad of an idea (especially if we get more STRICKOUTS).

"However, at Elias, I think they keep track of the amount of sunflower seeds spit in a dugout each night." - Brad Ziegler, 8/7/08

by doctorK on Jan 14, 2009 5:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

well his FIP (essentially his 3 True Outcomes) is probably going to be around 4, or at least it has been slightly below that during his minor league career. There is value in that kind of pitcher, but of course we have a lot of league average pitchers as well. I guess I just don’t see why he hasn’t received a legitimate shot at the MLB level yet.

"I'm on hold for now"- Bobby Crosby

by DyeLongJustice on Jan 14, 2009 5:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Tagg Bozied

I believe that is Billy’s play for the next Jack Cust.

Look at the numbers. Despite walking a lot less the two players are fairly comparable except Bozied plays 1b.

Lets just hope if Bozied is Cust then Giambi is not Piazza.

If the A's can build around Holiday, Furcal, Cust, and maybe call up 2nd baseman Wes Childs at some point in the year, they have a shot to take a weak AL West. -- jameersju post on ESPN.com

by youdownwithOBP on Jan 15, 2009 10:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Tagg Bozied is Billy's play for the next Casey Rogowski

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 15, 2009 12:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

While I'm not 100% on board with the methodology Wang uses in the draft pick article,

at least it puts something like a dollar figure on the value of the draft pick the A’s lose if they sign Cabrera. It’s somewhere in the high six or low seven figures.

Just subtract a million from what you think Cabrera or Sheets is “worth” to account for the lost pick. It’s close enough for government work. If the A’s can get him for that amount, they ought to. (Example: If you think Cabrera is worth $8 million for one year in pure value, assuming the A’s have the cash, you should be advocating for them to be willing to pay up to $7 million to sign him. Keep in mind that if you’re advocating a multiyear contract, you can pay the player 100% of what he’s “worth” for seasons after the first, since you only lose one draft pick.)

$8 million is about what I think Cabrera is worth for next season. I think a contract up to 2/$14M would be reasonable, assuming some decline in year two. And I’m pretty sure that would land him— the only question is whether the team has the money (and by “has the money,” I’m not including discretionary spending on international and amateur draft players, which I think should be untouchable except in dire emergencies).

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 14, 2009 5:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I agree with the beef on the methodology

it seemed pretty arbitrary to me. But I also like the attempt to put a dollar amount on a pick. The main thing I get from this article is that because the A’s 1st round pick is protected, what they are going to be giving up will not be worth as much as one might think. I think it’s worth it and doable to get O Cab for a fair deal (team or player is getting what they paid for/deserve).

"I'm on hold for now"- Bobby Crosby

by DyeLongJustice on Jan 14, 2009 5:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Andruw Jones will be available tomorrow

link

OK, everybody, repeat after me:

"However, at Elias, I think they keep track of the amount of sunflower seeds spit in a dugout each night." - Brad Ziegler, 8/7/08

by doctorK on Jan 14, 2009 5:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

stop being ignorant

and start understanding that an overweight centerfielder who ops’d 505 before getting injured is very appealing and should be signed at somewhere around $20 million (roughly) a year. ;)

"My group runs some frogloks down the hall to finish them off and POP! RASTER! If there was a way to scream louder than caps in EQ I was doing it. Man I am straight panicking because I know I have NO CHANCE soloing and the party has run off. I'm in my hotel room; it's like 5am, and I am straight hollering, in EQ and in real life. Bottom line is the group comes back, heals me, and kills Raster! WOOT!" -Curt Schilling on his favorite memories in the video game "EverQuest"

by travdog6 on Jan 14, 2009 5:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sabes, is that you, baby?

"However, at Elias, I think they keep track of the amount of sunflower seeds spit in a dugout each night." - Brad Ziegler, 8/7/08

by doctorK on Jan 14, 2009 6:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

oh no

this is bill bavasi. andruw jones in only 31. sabes would wait at least 5 years to overpay him to play baseball (poorly).

by travdog6 on Jan 14, 2009 6:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

"Actually, this is Ned Coletti, ready to take questions folks!"

by mrod on Jan 14, 2009 6:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

exactly my thoughts

"I'm on hold for now"- Bobby Crosby

by DyeLongJustice on Jan 14, 2009 6:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He's going to sign with the Braves. He's been at Turner Field for the past few weeks working out with

Chipper and McCann.

by Erin6 on Jan 14, 2009 10:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

All 162 regular-season games to be broadcast in Spanish

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090114&content_id=3744140&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

by Athletix Man on Jan 14, 2009 5:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Adios, pelota!

Might help me re-learn Spanish.

Officially awaiting the 2009 season.

by One won lost won on Jan 14, 2009 6:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nooooo-no-no-no-no-no!

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Jan 15, 2009 1:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Apparently the A's marketing dept. knows me well...

by whiteshoes40 on Jan 14, 2009 6:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yesterday I saw a guy at my gym who looked EXACTLY like Ryan.

And by “saw” I mean “watched him lift weights for a half hour.”
No joke. I wanted to take a picture for you guys.
Thank god the cardio area overlooks the weight room. I will be doing a LOT more cardio these days…

A's Strategy 2009: "Whoever is not hurt plays" - Syphon, 11/10/08

by schmifty on Jan 15, 2009 7:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This is exactly why I don't go to gyms.

by oblique on Jan 15, 2009 9:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You're ... Ryan Sweeney?

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

by monkeyball on Jan 15, 2009 9:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No, I'd be surrounded by women ogling all the Ryan Sweeneys of the world.

My confidence is low enough without experiencing that every time I want to go lift my 10 pound dumbbells…

by oblique on Jan 15, 2009 11:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Monkeyball must be roaming around Tampa

Breitbart article confirms!

Hey, Monkeyball, when you get to a computer, tell us what the weather is like down in Clearwater.
http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=258683

by LowcountryJoe on Jan 14, 2009 7:51 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

beaten by 5 hours

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 14, 2009 10:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

2005 New Yorker piece on Rickey’s time with the Surf Dawgs

Among the gems:

Jose Canseco, who played with Henderson on the A’s, and who helped to fuel the explosion of performance enhancing drugs in the major leagues, has said of Henderson, "That’s one of the guys who’s not on steroids!"

"They kept that shit a secret from me," Henderson said. "I wish they had told me. My God, could you imagine Rickey on ’roids? Oh, baby, look out!" He laughed in an easygoing way. "Maybe if they weren’t juicing there’d still be a spot on a ball club for me.

by 74mk on Jan 15, 2009 5:28 AM PST reply actions 0 recs