Rays to Get Burrell at 2 yrs/16 mil?
by johnjahafanclub on Jan 5, 2009 10:59 AM PST
190 comments
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/01/rays-close-to-s.html
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Rays are close to signing Pat Burrell to a two-year, $16MM deal. It'd be a solid move, as the Rays can increase his value by not using him in the field. The '08 Rays struggled against lefties (.726 OPS) and Burrell crushes them (.952 OPS in '08).
Wow!
#1: This should significantly bring Giambi's/Dunn's/John Jaha's price down for us.
#2: We should try to outbid the Rays for Burrell at that price!
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Really think Dunn is the way to go here... Especially at a price like this.
by NateHST on Jan 5, 2009 11:12 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
absofreakinlutely
If the market is “depressed” (naturally or artificially) enough to render Giamsorri cheap, then it’s depressed enough to make Dunn eminently affordable and cost-effective for the A’s.
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 5, 2009 11:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I was tepid in my support of adding Dunn as I thought he would get an offer that would make him a bit cost prohibitive for the A’s. But if he can be signed for a deal in the same neighborhood as this one I am absolutely on board.
If you can get Dunn for 2-3 years at $10M or less I think it’s a no-brainer.
by DiegoAsFan on Jan 5, 2009 11:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The problem might be that...
now every other team that had some kind of interest in him can get him relatively cheap.
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
by brenarlo on Jan 5, 2009 11:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The A's are probably going
to have to outbid everyone else for Dunn by a decent margain to draw him here, but at these prices they still wouldn’t be overpaying. I say offer him a 3/30 contract and make this offense the best we’ve seen in years. I really hope Beane doesn’t sit on his hands here and makes a play for Dunn. 29 year old, .900 OPS sluggers don’t come at this price very often, regarldess of defense. Stick him at 1B and after Holliday leaves put him in LF or at DH.
by JPShark on Jan 5, 2009 11:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure what the market for Dunn looks like right now
I certainly don’t think we’ll get a discount against other teams but I could see Dunn choosing Oakland if the money/years were equal. This is strictly speculation but Dunn has taken so much heat over the years for the strike-outs, low BA, and for “clogging up the basepaths”, that given a choice he might want to go to a team that will truly understand his value and have a manager who will appreciate him for what he brings to the table.
by DiegoAsFan on Jan 5, 2009 12:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't even mind offering a contract longer than that.
He’s only 29 right now I believe. And when Holliday leaves next year, we’ll have an affordable 40 HR power guy in LF for several years.
by NateHST on Jan 5, 2009 11:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Of course 40 HRs in Cincy/Az...
is about 35 in Oakland.
BUT I’LL TAKE IT!!
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
by brenarlo on Jan 5, 2009 11:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Offer him another $2m if he can average 40 hr for 3 yr in Oakland
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
by Eastbayjim on Jan 5, 2009 12:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
i don't think that is allowed
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 5, 2009 12:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Actually that's not quite true
There’s a really nice article by Greg Rybarczyk in the 2009 Hardball Times Annual (awesome book BTW) that looks at, among others, each of Adam Dunn’s homeruns in terms distance/trajectory and compared them to the outfield dimensions of each stadium. According to Greg’s research Dunn would still be a 40 homer guy in Oakland (41.4 projected for 2009).
I’ve always liked Dunn WAAAAAY more than Burrel, and I continue to believe he should be added to the team.
"That's not a Sherman tank, it's Frank Thomas!" - Monkeyball
by JLeverenz on Jan 5, 2009 12:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I am not doubting the home runs
His bombs go out of any park
I just think that the AL has much better pitching
by Trainman on Jan 5, 2009 12:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I still think the Nats outbid everyone for Dunn.
They need that big name, lost on on Teixeira, and we all know they’re willing to throw money around this offseason. Dunn fits there.
I think Giambi could be had for a one year deal.
"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."
by Blicks on Jan 5, 2009 12:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
since i expected giambi to get something in the same range
i dont think this changes his asking price.
personally i’d prefer burrell if the prices were close
by Asfan4ever723 on Jan 5, 2009 11:12 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
I disagree
I think this substantially changes Giambi’s asking price… Burrell had a better year last year and is 5 years younger… if this is all he can command then Giambi deserves substantially less… maybe even 1 year deal w/1 year vesting option or something. none of this 3 year deal garbage that is for sure.
Cust is the new Jaha.
by johnjahafanclub on Jan 5, 2009 11:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
However, this probably does not change the asking price
for John Jaha
Cust is the new Jaha.
by johnjahafanclub on Jan 5, 2009 11:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It will HUGELY change Giambi's asking price
Burrell’s younger and was much better last year.
This means Giambi probably gets a 1 year deal.
"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."
by Blicks on Jan 5, 2009 12:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
If the A's end up with ONE of the no-glove, all hit guys
I’d rather it be the one on a 1 year deal, so he’s gone after ’09.
"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."
by Blicks on Jan 5, 2009 1:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
so that we lose two impact bats instead of just Holliday?
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 5, 2009 1:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Succession planning
At least we would have viable replacements at each position in 2010, and a few draft picks to show for it…
by CapgrasDelusion on Jan 5, 2009 1:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Giambi is a no-glove, not really as much hit as before guy.
If you’ve got the option of Giambi for 1 year/6-8M or Dunn for 3/30, you’d be wrong to take Giambi.
by mikev on Jan 5, 2009 1:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Possibly.
Unless the plan is to wait and see what a year does for the OF logjam and for Barton’s development. After a year, Giambi could be a one-and-done with other guys already in the organization ready to take over. But, with Dunn — if he could really be signed for 3/30 — that’s $10 less million to go after Holliday. He’d [Dunn] still be a great bat in the lineup but what if [key word, “IF” other guys, less expensive than Dunn, are ready to produce with offense and defense.
by LowcountryJoe on Jan 5, 2009 2:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Dunn could be traded after a year.
I mean, it makes ZERO sense to not sign Dunn because maybe Holliday might sign an extension even though we really know that there’s probably a 5% chance of that happening.
Besides, then after 2009 you’re looking at a team without Holliday AND without Giambi.
Better to have Dunn for 3 years so there’s at least one solid hitter along with Cust after 2009.
by mikev on Jan 5, 2009 2:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
mikev for GM should BB ever leaves!!!!
Don’t mean to insult you but I agree with you 99.9999% of the time.
by calas on Jan 5, 2009 2:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It is that other 0.0001% that is scary
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
by Eastbayjim on Jan 5, 2009 3:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
You must have only fractionally disagreed with
something he said.
Otherwise your 99.9999% claim implies that mikev has offered 1 million opinions for you to agree or disagree with. Since that would be about 100 opinions a day for about 27 years, I’m pretty sure he hasn’t.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
by iglew on Jan 5, 2009 4:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe he could be traded
Maybe he breaks down and we are stuck eating that $10 million and cant sign Holliday? Or Maybe Giambi is cheap enough that we can still go after another player this offseason. Sheets or Abreu please.
www.punditpolitics.com - Political IQ Tests, Pundit Blog, News and Opinion.
by ChadGod on Jan 5, 2009 3:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
actually screw Abreu
hed have only made sense at 1B, forgot for a sec.
www.punditpolitics.com - Political IQ Tests, Pundit Blog, News and Opinion.
by ChadGod on Jan 5, 2009 3:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
If we're talking about players breaking down
Well, one guy is 37, a former PED user, and has had declining numbers 4 years in a row.
The other guys is 28 and has hit 40 homers 4 years in a row.
by mikev on Jan 5, 2009 4:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'll still take the Giambino
I think this will solidify him coming back to the A’s now. Either way, we should know soon now.
by mrod on Jan 5, 2009 11:17 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
mikev
what’s up with all the Giambi hate? Seriously, what is your deal, man?
by mrod on Jan 5, 2009 5:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
better ways to spend the money
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 5, 2009 5:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
like how monkeyball?
where is your solution to adding a bat that gives the A’s potentially 25-30 jacks and 90 or so rbi’s for probably about 7-9 million per year? And if the reports are true, at one year plus an option year, where is the money better spent, sir? I ask this out of general respect for you as a regular poster on this site with decent knowledge of the game. So, as you like to ask on a regular ocaasion……“splain pleeze!????”
by mrod on Jan 5, 2009 6:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It would make it harder for the A's to sign Garret Anderson
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 5, 2009 6:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Uh, Burrell just signed for $8M per
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 7:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
basically what monkeyball said.
If the object of this FA signing is to improve 1B, Adam Dunn is a better option.
Giambi is probably not going to be enough of an improvement over Barton to justify spending the money and either demoting Barton or sitting him on the bench. While I loved the Giambi glory years as much as the next A’s fan, I think most of the people who want him back so bad are looking at his MVP years and not the fact that he’s a 37 year old whose body is breaking down and has declining stats since 2005.
by mikev on Jan 5, 2009 7:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I think you're way underestimating Giambi's recent stats
2008: .247/.373/.502 (.875 OPS)
2007 was a down year (.790 OPS) but it was also an injury year (83 games) and he clearly bounced back in 2008
2006: .253/.413/.558 (.971 OPS)
2005: .271/.440/.535 (.975 OPS)
In other words, he was absolutely tremendous in 2005 and 2006, then was middling when injured in 2007, before bouncing back to be outstanding in 2008. His 2008 OPS would have led the A’s and he would have been the only A’s player to slug .500.
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 5, 2009 7:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
2009: Another year older...
No short RF porch, More foul grounds and missing the yankees lineup to help him.
by calas on Jan 5, 2009 8:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I understand that, and I'm probably bullish on Giambi
But he’s declined every year, he’s going into his age 38 season, and I think there’s a good chance that he’s only around the 115 OPS+ range next year.
Better than Barton, sure — on offense, but not enough to justify the dollars spent for the marginal upgrade (I’m going by the $8M figure that Burrell got)
I’m just much more in favor of those dollars being spent on a more significant upgrade — Dunn or Sheets, or both, plus the salary taken in by trading for Peralta and jettisoning Crosby.
by mikev on Jan 5, 2009 9:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
bearish, you mean
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 5, 2009 10:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd hardly call an .875 OPS from a DH/1b type "ouststanding" ...
"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback
by devo on Jan 5, 2009 11:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
You should see the OPSes I'm used to
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 6, 2009 4:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Burrell
Goes on ridiculous slumps!
Didn’t want him
by Spidz34 on Jan 5, 2009 11:20 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Ahhhhhh...... the first domino....
Great deal for the Rays by the way.
I do believe that the A’s should get Dunn and maybe even Giambi, too. Giambi at 1B and Dunn in LF.
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
by brenarlo on Jan 5, 2009 11:20 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Wow, pretty good deal for the Rays
Even with the slow market and healthy supply of sluggers I assumed Burrell would get a better deal than this. This definitely puts the A’s in a good position to add a power bat. I don’t see how guys like Abreu, Dunn, or Giambi can hold out for a much better deal than Burrell got.
I was hesitant to sign one ot these guys, but at this price it’s a pretty good deal.
by DiegoAsFan on Jan 5, 2009 11:24 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Abreu can't play OF...
we have Cust to DH…
has never played 1B…
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
by brenarlo on Jan 5, 2009 11:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of which
I watched MLB Network this weekend and they were discussing Abreu. It is amazing how they let these jocks on the air with nothing but their observations to back up their opinions. Al Leiter was saying Abreu was still a good outfielder he just doesn’t go back to the wall with much authority. Harold Reynolds said he agreed if a pitcher said it. I threw up and changed the channel.
by jeffro on Jan 5, 2009 11:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
saw abreu live this year...
and watched him misplay a ball at the wall worse than ive seen since high school
holdin' it down for the bay from upper westside manhattan
by SamYam on Jan 5, 2009 11:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
glad he didnt nd up with angels
does 2yr/20mill get it DUNN?
by Asfan4ever723 on Jan 5, 2009 11:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Dunno
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Jan 5, 2009 11:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
wow
did not realize the market was that bad…
this is good news
holdin' it down for the bay from upper westside manhattan
by SamYam on Jan 5, 2009 11:50 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
looks like business will pick up this week hopefully
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3811501&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines
Burrell’s signing with the Rays increases the likelihood that the Oakland Athletics will be the front-runners to sign Jason Giambi.
by Asfan4ever723 on Jan 5, 2009 12:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
If we can get Dunn for around the same price as Giambi per year, please do it.
by son of wes on Jan 5, 2009 12:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Huh.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Jan 5, 2009 12:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Nen.
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 5, 2009 12:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Rangers interested in Manny
http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/hot_stove/posts/37781-rangers-mull-manny-pursuit?eref=fromSI
"RIP: UserID: 553"
by Masaryk on Jan 5, 2009 12:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
didn't they learn their lesson?
and he does even less for them than a-rod did
holdin' it down for the bay from upper westside manhattan
by SamYam on Jan 5, 2009 12:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
As long as they stay away from Ben Sheets/any good pitchers, then I'm cool.
"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."
by Blicks on Jan 5, 2009 12:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Jan 8th is Giambi's Birthday
I expect a birthday present for the A’s and Jason on Wednesday.
According to the below link Jason should be the the A’s fold soon.
by robertmelvin on Jan 5, 2009 1:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
"now seems"
All the Giamsorri-to-Oakland fallout is speculative at this point.
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 5, 2009 1:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
But speculation is always right...
everyone said we signed Furcal… oh… wait…
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
by brenarlo on Jan 5, 2009 1:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Imagine how much more affordable will this make Garret Anderson!
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 5, 2009 1:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
"this will"
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 5, 2009 1:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I was thinking more along the lines of "more likely to retire"
"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."
by Blicks on Jan 5, 2009 1:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
GA, or me?
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 5, 2009 1:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
GA.
"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."
by Blicks on Jan 5, 2009 1:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Question
If the A’s sign Giambi as cheap as it seems they should, say 1 year $6-8 million, do they stop there?? Do they try to add yet another bat?? I would rather have Dunn, but it seems like Giambi is bound for the green and gold in 09’. If Cabrera’s price falls down into the 2/15 range do they take a shot at him?? Not a huge upgrade over Crosby but he’s better defensively and will be good for about .40-.50 better in OPS. This market is a nice opportunity for Oakland to take advantage so what now?? By the way, it sounds like Bradley has signed with the Cubs for 3/30. Overpay IMO.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3811744&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines
by JPShark on Jan 5, 2009 1:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
And where would you play this 2nd hitter?
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Jan 5, 2009 1:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not saying it is something I would do.
It was a question. Obviously this is the offseason to do some bargain shopping, and if the A’s don’t believe Buck won’t stay healthy/perform they could add another corner OF like Dunn/Abreu. Cunningham could probably use more time in AAA, and although we have depth most guys are 4th OF types. I, personally am hoping for a healthy breakout season from Buck but lets face it, health has gotta be a concern with him.
by JPShark on Jan 5, 2009 1:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
After getting a bat I would look for a SP
The signs point to the A’s getting Giambi on a pretty reasonable deal so they might be able to make some noise with some of the SP’s waiting for a deal. It looks like Lowe is waiting to see if anybody will beat 3/36 by the Mets and while I don’t know if the A’s will get it on that (although Lowe would be a nice addition for 3 years) it looks like the SP market is almost as depressed as it is for hitters.
Cabrera still does not really interest me, even if he comes cheaper than what the Giants got Renteria the loss of draft pick still stings.
by DiegoAsFan on Jan 5, 2009 1:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Could Dunn and Giambi be had for $18-$20 million per?
1 – Buck RF
2 – Sweeney CF
3 – Dunn RF
4 – Holliday LF
5 – Cust DH
6 – Giambi 1B
7 – Chavez 3B
8 – Suzuki C
9 – Crosby SS
Is this lineup too defensively challenged?
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
by brenarlo on Jan 5, 2009 1:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Seems Like
Buck RF
Sweeney C
Cust DH
Holliday LF
Giambi 1B
Chavez 3B
Ellis 2B
Suzuki C
Crosby SS
Vs a RH Pitcher at least.
Now with this new Giambi news.
"With 16-year-old Dominican righty Michel Inoa in tow, Gio Gonzalez improving at Triple-A and lefty Brett Anderson carving up Double-Abatters along with Simmons and Trevor Cahill, Oakland’s pitching depthis officially the envy of baseball." - BaseballAmerica.com
by Syphon on Jan 5, 2009 1:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think having 2 RF
will compensate for all the ground balls getting through the gaping whole at second base.
by DiegoAsFan on Jan 5, 2009 1:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
as you can see
I am on strike from spelling during my winter break
by DiegoAsFan on Jan 5, 2009 1:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Well in this case
the hole is greater than the sum of the parts…
"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 5, 2009 1:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
HAHAHAHAHA OOPS!!!!
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
by brenarlo on Jan 5, 2009 2:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Damn... this won't work unless Cust can play 2B!!
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
by brenarlo on Jan 5, 2009 2:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
So you are going to not play Ellis at 2B and have 4 OFers?
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
by Eastbayjim on Jan 5, 2009 3:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
looks like the next dh type to go
Giambi To A’s Imminent?
By Tim Dierkes [January 5 at 3:38pm CST]
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the A’s have made significant progress in their talks with Jason Giambi. He says a deal appears imminent.
by Asfan4ever723 on Jan 5, 2009 1:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Its even on the A's MLB Site.
Source: A’s closing in on Giambi
Free-agent first baseman could sign one-year deal this week
By Mychael Urban / MLB.com
"With 16-year-old Dominican righty Michel Inoa in tow, Gio Gonzalez improving at Triple-A and lefty Brett Anderson carving up Double-Abatters along with Simmons and Trevor Cahill, Oakland’s pitching depthis officially the envy of baseball." - BaseballAmerica.com
by Syphon on Jan 5, 2009 1:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
VERGE ALERT!!!
All hands on deck we have a CODE RED VERGE ALERT!
WHOOP!!!
WHOOP!!!
WHOOP!!!
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Jan 5, 2009 2:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
So if the Cubs got Bradley...
the Phillies got Ibanez…
the Rays got Burrel…
the A’s get Giambi…
My guess is that Dunn is down to the Nats, Dodgers, and Angels. The Nats will probably offer the most money. The Dodgers can offer contention and the fact that they’re in the NL, though it doesn’t seem like Dunn cares about contention. The Angels offer contention.
Hopefully he’ll stay in the NL.
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
by brenarlo on Jan 5, 2009 2:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
and, another argument in favor of signing Dunn
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 5, 2009 2:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
So if we do indeed sign Giambi,
does that mean I have to stop hating him?
I see a deranged rabbit, on fire, cowering away from a vagina. I await the results of the Rorschaschererer. -Nico
by Leopold Bloom on Jan 5, 2009 2:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
No, but the term "porn stash" may take on a whole new meaning (and spelling).
Howsabout a porn ’stache contest at AN Day?
I mean, if this guy 
can try to grow one, anyone can. I’ve got maiden aunts with better facial hair.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Jan 5, 2009 2:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Dude we don't need Giambi for a Summer of the Stache
by jeffro on Jan 5, 2009 2:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I think you've got second-place locked up.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Jan 5, 2009 3:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
This girl I know, J. August can grow a mean stache. : )
Eveland rocks! Eveland rocks! Somewhere Drew Carey just smiled.
by miggyk2 on Jan 5, 2009 3:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Not me, but everybody else ties for first.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Jan 5, 2009 3:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I personally think it's an awesome idea.
But they won’t unchain me from my sign shop desk long enough to visit CA. I think they (rightly) suspect, were I given visitation privileges, I might defect.
I see a deranged rabbit, on fire, cowering away from a vagina. I await the results of the Rorschaschererer. -Nico
by Leopold Bloom on Jan 5, 2009 4:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The ideal finish to the offseason:
Sign Giambi 1 yr 6 million incentives to 10 million
Sign Dunn 3yrs 30 million Alternate Rf, 1B, DH (LF replacement for Holliday in 2010)
Sign Derek Lowe 3yrs 36 million. Add an innings pitched incentive bringing contract to 40 million.
Lowe could be the veteran leader in the club house for the young pitching staff. Additionally, he could show Cahill everything there is to know about a major league sinker.
Eveland rocks! Eveland rocks! Somewhere Drew Carey just smiled.
by miggyk2 on Jan 5, 2009 3:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Lowe won't take 3/36.
Mets offered same thing. If its between A’s and Mets offering same offer, he stays with Mets b/c he wants to stay in NE.
"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."
by Blicks on Jan 5, 2009 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Not to be geographically centrist, but...
why THE HELL would anyone chose NY over Bay Area? The reason there’s so many NYers and Chowds at the Coliseum when those teams pass through is because there’s no comparison. And I say that knowing full well what both experiences are like.
Wanna know how BAD the NE is? They think Florida’s a nice place.
I see a deranged rabbit, on fire, cowering away from a vagina. I await the results of the Rorschaschererer. -Nico
by Leopold Bloom on Jan 5, 2009 4:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I chose NY over the Bay Area
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Jan 5, 2009 7:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
WC:
Geographical contrarian.
I see a deranged rabbit, on fire, cowering away from a vagina. I await the results of the Rorschaschererer. -Nico
by Leopold Bloom on Jan 5, 2009 11:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
All of this and more could be in place
wait and see mates, wait and see……….
by mrod on Jan 5, 2009 5:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Beane's slump continues
2 years, $16 million is a ridiculously good price for Burrell, and it’s being offered by basically the one team in baseball we can be sure does NOT have a more attractive stadium/fan/cultural environment than Oakland. (Translation: He’d probably take the same money from the A’s if they offered it, particularly given that he used to live here.)
I cannot figure out what the A’s are doing this offseason. Great deals are going down all over the place, for once, yet Beane appears to be in hibernation (other than, apparently, moving to sign a worse player than Burrell who is a worse fit for the team’s needs for not much less money). It’s like someone kidnapped him and replaced him with Wayne Krivsky wearing a mask.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jan 5, 2009 6:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
i wish we would have gone for burrell as well
but what makes him such a better fit for oakland than giambi? id agree burrell is a better hitter but defensively he has no place. giambi can at least play first (not that well obviously, but still we can stick him there)
"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 5, 2009 7:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I guess it comes down to:
“Barton and Burrell,” with Burrell’s defense in LF and no Buck/Cunningham, or
“Giambi and Buck/Cunningham” with Giambi’s defense at 1B and no Barton.
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 5, 2009 7:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
i see
i guess i am less confident in barton (thus wanting giambi) than i am in buck/cunningham.
"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 5, 2009 7:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
i have much more faith in one of our plethora of young outfielders
than putting all our eggs in the barton basket. ill take giambi.
holdin' it down for the bay from upper westside manhattan
by SamYam on Jan 5, 2009 7:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Burrell is a better defender at 1B than Giambi
and would put him there.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jan 5, 2009 7:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
According to baseball-reference.com...
Burrell hasn’t played a game at 1B since 2000
how do you figure hes a better defender?
holdin' it down for the bay from upper westside manhattan
by SamYam on Jan 5, 2009 7:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It really does seem like a stretch
Wouldn’t there be about as good a chance that Orlando Hudson could handle SS? He’s a tremendous defensive player, still fairly young, and a good athlete. I’d sign him and stick him at SS before I’d sign Burrell and say, “I know you were in your mid-20s when you last did this, but can you remember how to do it now that you’re in your mid-30s?”
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 5, 2009 7:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
he was wasnt better than Giambi even back then
Burrell in 2000- 58 games 6 errors .988 fielding pct
Giambi in 2008- 113 games 9 errors .990 fielding pct
holdin' it down for the bay from upper westside manhattan
by SamYam on Jan 5, 2009 7:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It's first base, for heaven's sake
and Burrell doesn’t have bad hands, he’s just epically slow of foot.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jan 5, 2009 7:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
it just doesnt make sense
he was crappy at 1B 9 years ago… and he somehow improved since then without playing it even once?
holdin' it down for the bay from upper westside manhattan
by SamYam on Jan 5, 2009 7:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, Burrell might be horrible defensively at 1b
Giambi IS horrible defensively.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on Jan 5, 2009 7:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
And yet we have NO data
on Jack Cust at SS. I say go for it!!!!!!!111
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 5, 2009 8:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He wasn't crappy at first base nine years ago
He was “unknown”.
Stop trying to contort small sample sizes (of a bad stat, to boot) into meaningful observations.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jan 5, 2009 10:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
"meaningful observations"
SamYam’s fielding percentage citation was ancillary to his central (and salient) point that since Burrell hasn’t played the position in almost a decade, it might be unreasonable to expect him to be any more successful at it than Giambi.
I find that more persuasive than your rigorous analysis, which seems to go something like this: Burrell is a better first baseman than Giambi even though he’s hasn’t played there in eight years because a) his hands aren’t terrible and b) first base is easy.
by 74mk on Jan 5, 2009 11:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Players who have NEVER played first base,
like, ever, move there and are OK at it. Emil Brown was OK at first base for a few games this year, and as far as I know he’d never put on a first baseman’s mitt in his life. It is, by far, the easiest position on a baseball field.
Pat Burrell was actually DRAFTED as a first baseman. He moved to left because the position was full in Philadelphia, and he stayed there because it kept being full.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jan 5, 2009 11:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
1. After mocking SamYam for “contort[ing] small sample sizes into meaningful observations”, you just cited Emil Brown’s third of an inning at first base as evidence that anyone can make the positional transition.
2. Yes, first base is the easiest position on the diamond. No, it does not follow that all players who ever played there are automatically better than Jason Giambi.
by 74mk on Jan 6, 2009 1:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
There's a distinct difference between saying a guy passed the eye test for a game or two
and citing an authoritative-sounding statistic which actually means nothing. If he wants to argue that Pat Burrell looked bad/got bad reviews when he was at first base many years ago, fine… but that’s not the position he’s taking.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jan 6, 2009 1:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I’d argue that putting any stock whatsoever in a third of an inning “eye test” constitutes a far more egregious affront to analysis than any reference to fielding percentage.
I know, I know. Your Emil Brown remark wasn’t really intended as “analysis”. But that’s my point. Your argument doesn’t contain any (analysis, that is). Here it is, distilled: Anyone can play first base. After all, Emil Brown looked okay for that one out last year. Pat Burrell played there in college a decade ago and from what I can tell on the numerous Phillies telecasts I watch he’s got good hands, ipso facto Burrell is a better defender than Giambi."
I remain unpersuaded.
Sigh. This Giambi thing has me inexplicably wound up.
On a related note: Fangraphs tells me that Nick Swisher and Jason Giambi have been equally bad at first base defense during the past three years. I decided a) what the f***?, b) this can’t possibly be true, and c) UZR is stupid.
by 74mk on Jan 6, 2009 2:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I've watched a pretty large number of Phillies telecasts lately
seeing as how I, like, watched the postseason. And the Fan’s Scouting Report largely agrees with me— they rate his hands as much better than Ryan Howard’s (a fair comparison since it’s mostly being done by the same fans). He scores very poorly on “first step” and “speed” (no surprises there) but those are much less important to a 1B than good hands.
Swisher doesn’t grade very well at first in any of the defensive metrics, although they like him in corner OF.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jan 6, 2009 3:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I bet Giambi is a better defender at 3B though.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Jan 5, 2009 7:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The one way it might make sense is is Giambi is cheaper and they use the savings to get a pitcher.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Jan 5, 2009 7:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Where on earth do you get this?
and it’s being offered by basically the one team in baseball we can be sure does NOT have a more attractive stadium/fan/cultural environment than Oakland. (Translation: He’d probably take the same money from the A’s if they offered it, particularly given that he used to live here.)
Practically every news story about the signing had the exact same quote by Burrell, in which he says, “the thing that was most important to me was to go somewhere I thought had as good a chance or better to repeat and go back to the World Series”.
Are you just completely ignoring that? Or do you think Burrell is lying? Or do you think he thinks Oakland has just as good a chance of reaching the World Series as the Rays do?
Sorry, Paul. Most of the time you make a lot of sense, but this time you’re just making shit up.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
by iglew on Jan 6, 2009 12:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I have to admit, I didn't see the quote
I was out of town all weekend. I missed all of the first-wave news stories. I guess if he evaluated the A’s as “not a contender,” that would change things, although I think the A’s might well have a better chance of making the playoffs next year (and certainly if they added Burrell) than the Rays do.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jan 6, 2009 1:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Isn't the answer obvious?
FreeSeatUpgrade is holding Beane hostage, and is forcing Beane to engage in precisely the sort of penny-wise/pound-foolish, spend-to-not-contend moves that FSU has been predicting for a year and a half.
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 7:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I cannot figure out what the A’s are doing this offseason. Great deals are going down all over the place, for once, yet Beane appears to be in hibernation (other than, apparently, moving to sign a worse player than Burrell who is a worse fit for the team’
So what is your solution then, Paul?
I would love to hear it mate……….since MonkeyBall is not willing to explain his position, perhaps you are.????
Pray, tell?
by mrod on Jan 5, 2009 6:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
How about Pat Burrell, 2 years $18 million, and Randy Johnson, 1 year $9 million?
Or perhaps Rafael Furcal, 4 years $44 million… and Johnson…
And don’t give me the “they didn’t want to play in Oakland” crap. The reason they didn’t want to play in Oakland is that the A’s did not make the best offers.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jan 5, 2009 7:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Beane seems not to want to be aggressive in going after FA, other than with the puzzling
exception of Loaiza. He seems to want players to show an interest in Oakland first and then bargain hard with them. It’s a strange mindset, but one that I see in a lot of the comments here as well.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Jan 5, 2009 7:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think Johnson would have signed anyway, PT
He was clear and up front (and for that I give him credit) about preferring to stay in the NL and finding the Giants to be an ideal fit. Sure the A’s could have gotten into a bidding war, but even then the likeliest outcome would have been a better deal with the Giants. The same is likely true of Furcal.
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 5, 2009 7:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe on Johnson. If you don't want to argue about Furcal any more stop bringing him up.
He flew 10 hours to meet with Beane. He expected a 4/48 offer or thereabouts. He signed for 4/46 with 30 guaranteed. The A’s never offered more than 3/38. We have no evidence that if the A’s offered 4/48 with 30 or something like that guaranteed he wouldn’t have accepted. Instead they lowballed him, first by taking him to Fatapples instead of a decent restaurant, second by the contract offer.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Jan 5, 2009 8:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm imagine Furcal doesn't want to talk about lunch at Fatapples anymore,
yet I’ll bet he’s still bringing it up.
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 5, 2009 8:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That strategy works if you're North Carolina basketball or Texas football
It doesn’t work if you’re Appalachian State. Which the A’s pretty much are, except they can (in theory) pay their players.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jan 5, 2009 10:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes. They need better FA recruiting techniques. At least have the other players make calls.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Jan 5, 2009 10:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I've been offering solutions (and/or agreeing to those proposed by grover and mikev) for 3 months
Not my problem if you didn’t read ’em.
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 7:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, 74mk has his checkbook open
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 8:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Just letting you know I'm around if you need a hand
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Jan 6, 2009 8:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
{terrorist fist-bump}
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 9:36 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
(bump)
You did wash your hands after mailing the anthrax, right?
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Jan 6, 2009 9:49 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 10:12 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
mb, I did read your "solutions" over the last three months
and had a quite a few good laughs.
by mrod on Jan 6, 2009 2:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
glad they had some small utility, at least
I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 3:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, I always say
if you can’t laugh at your self, who can you laugh at then?
Cheers…..gotta run to work now.
by mrod on Jan 6, 2009 4:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Simple:
You can laugh at Monkeyball.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
by iglew on Jan 6, 2009 10:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
qotm
This is hardball! This is where we overreact! @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jan 7, 2009 1:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
But in former Soviet Union...
Monkeyball laugh at you!
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Jan 7, 2009 7:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
another reason for giambi
is that the a’s really want to give barton more time in AAA and dont feel hes ready for the bigs.
"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 5, 2009 8:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
His batting average sure did take a dive this year
Zing!
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 5, 2009 8:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
P.T. -Furcal=gone
Randy Johnson=gone
Pat Burrell=gone
Fucking “A” mate, give me something that sticks in an argument “now”!
I’m talking about what is available right this moment chap!
by mrod on Jan 5, 2009 9:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I don't see why Lowe for 3/39 would be a bad deal
It’s Furcal’s contract given to a #2 starter. And it sounds like Lowe might go for it – plus his agent is the same as Holliday’s.
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 5, 2009 9:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Furcal didn't sign that contract. He signed 4/46 with 30 guaranteed.
You’re right that Lowe for 3 years sounds good. I doubt Beane will be aggressive in pursuing him though. It’s not his modus operandae.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Jan 5, 2009 10:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I meant it was the money allocated to Furcal by the A's (high 30s).
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 6, 2009 4:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Lowe has indicated
a strong preference for the Northeast. Beane would have a better shot at just about any of the other remaining free agent SPs.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
by iglew on Jan 6, 2009 12:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Why not just do what all the politicians do before elections:
“I promise that if you sign with us, I will move the Northeast to Oakland!” Then once the deal is inked, Beane can work on the excuse as to how "circumstances changed since I said that, " etc.
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 6, 2009 4:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Dunn. Lowe. Sheets. Inquire on either Peralta or Asdrubal Cabrera.
any one of those players would be MUCH more likely to help the team than Giambi.
by mikev on Jan 5, 2009 9:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
yes and i do believe they would all cost more
and command longer contracts. and the latter two would require some serious prospects. not that im saying these are bad options.
"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 5, 2009 9:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
So what if they cost more?
You wouldn’t want Dunn for $10M instead of Giambi for $8M?
by mikev on Jan 5, 2009 10:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I would.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Jan 5, 2009 10:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
i definitely would want dunn
hence my saying “not that these are bad options”. im just saying that might have something to do with who we sign.
"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 5, 2009 10:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
My argument is that the A's missed a whole bunch of great opportunities for no apparent reason
I fail to see how “something that sticks in an argument "now"!” is relevant to that position. Most of the good opportunities are off the market at this point.
If you airdropped me into the A’s front office, I’d deal Holliday between now and the start of the season and not attempt to “go for it” this season. I think the A’s had a window and blew it, and it’s now too late to sign the players they needed to sign for 2009.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jan 5, 2009 10:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
They may still do that, but they better get back a SS.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Jan 5, 2009 10:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
i disagree with you on there being no apparent reason
and so do others but we can agree to disagree. my question tho is: would holliday really have more value now, or would a team desperate for a bat at the deadline who is “going for it” offer more. i would guess the latter. it would also give us a chance to gauge the first half of this team with holliday to tell if we can contend.
"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 5, 2009 11:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Based on my completely anecdotal observations of what teams are willing to give up for players,
I would guess Holliday is worth more now. You can get teams to overpay for league-average patches at the deadline (hello, Mr. Blanton), but it’s a lot harder to get good value for rentals of a superstar.
The Braves got Kotchman and Stephen Marek for Teixeira, a player of similar stature to Holliday, last season. I like Kotchman but that’s embarrassingly bad compared to Street/Gonzalez/Smith. Whereas the A’s ought, in theory, to get something close to what they paid (not 100%, but maybe 90) if they deal Holliday before the year starts.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jan 5, 2009 11:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Giambi for 1 year + option > Burrell for 2 years
Assuming the A’s will reinvest the money in 09. By getting Giambi for a year with a team option the A’s can guarantee that they get production from 1B next year by having Giambi as a backup plan, but will have the flexibility to reinvest the money to address an actual need if the prospects come through (Holliday!). Burrell’s production could likely be replaceable by a prospect in 2010. Also, no lost draft pick,
www.punditpolitics.com - Political IQ Tests, Pundit Blog, News and Opinion.
by ChadGod on Jan 5, 2009 10:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
reinvest the money in 2010* rather
They improve the team this year, but more importantly better set it up for next year.
www.punditpolitics.com - Political IQ Tests, Pundit Blog, News and Opinion.
by ChadGod on Jan 5, 2009 10:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Where would they invest in 2010? Holliday?
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Jan 5, 2009 10:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
A focal player
I wouldnt be surprised if we had to flip RFs with the Red Sox when all was said and done.
www.punditpolitics.com - Political IQ Tests, Pundit Blog, News and Opinion.
by ChadGod on Jan 5, 2009 10:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I assume you mean LFs
but don’t kid yourself. Bay and Holliday will, in some combination, be starting in left field for Boston and New York next season.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jan 5, 2009 11:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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