Giambi better than Barton?

by baseballhog on Jan 6, 2009 12:43 PM PST

Does anyone really believe this old guy who hit .239 last year in a park built for left-handed hitters is going to be better than Daric Barton in 2009 in a pitchers park? This guy is washed up.....and seriously now that Burrell signed for 2 yrs at 16m.....dont you think it would be reasonable to sign Adam Dunn to the same type of deal? I would rather pony up a few more million for a better player than a guy who in my opinion will not even be an upgrade.....

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4mill...stop complaining

he’s getting paid what they gave to emil brown last y

by Asfan4ever723 on Jan 6, 2009 12:47 PM PST reply actions

Brown got less than half that

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

by athleticsBB4life on Jan 6, 2009 12:55 PM PST up reply actions

close to..i thought he got 3.75mill w/ incentives reached

by Asfan4ever723 on Jan 6, 2009 12:56 PM PST up reply actions

According to Cot's baseball contracts...

Emil Brown of

1 year/$1.45M (2008)
signed by Oakland as a free agent 1/11/08
$1.5M in performance bonuses

not sure he reached the bonus

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

by athleticsBB4life on Jan 6, 2009 1:01 PM PST up reply actions

2008 Oakland Athletics $1,400,000

BBref.

by mikev on Jan 6, 2009 1:01 PM PST up reply actions

Dunn reportedly wants to stay in the NL

so all these hopes of him becoming an A could be wishful thinking. But then again, “in this economy”, he could end up anywhere that offers him the best deal.

I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.

by franks a lot on Jan 6, 2009 12:48 PM PST reply actions

i'm thinking abreu might be the only bat worthwhile

dunn – nl
anderson – please no
cabrera – unless he’s willing to take less money than renteria got

by Asfan4ever723 on Jan 6, 2009 12:55 PM PST up reply actions

I don't think Cabrera is going to have a choice

He’s not getting much interest at all and I really can’t think of many teams other then the A’s who could use his services at this point. $10+ million…..no thanks. Under $8 million, i’ll take him.

by JPShark on Jan 6, 2009 12:59 PM PST up reply actions

Padres and Jays seem like the other best options.

White Sox could use him, but don’t seem to want him. Maybe the Reds.

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Jan 6, 2009 4:32 PM PST up reply actions

he'll cost draft picks

for that reason alone, i think we should cross him off the list.

by guy incognito on Jan 6, 2009 6:09 PM PST up reply actions

Its possible Dunn just doesnt want to DH

In Oakland he wouldn’t be. So you never know.

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by ChadGod on Jan 6, 2009 1:38 PM PST up reply actions

I think nay sayers need to chill a little

Beane doesn’t seem like he’s trying to break the bank. I really think he has become convinced of the need for a solid veteran presence in the clubhouse. A guy with Giambi’s track record could really help young hitters like Barton and Sweeney, not to mention take some of the heat off the young pitchers, whether that be physically with a kick-ass performance in the batter’s box, or mentally with his mere presence (and Holliday’s performance).

"Well that's just like, your opinion, man."
-The Dude

by Degolas on Jan 6, 2009 12:54 PM PST reply actions

BA is flawed.

A .373 OBP and .876 OPS is pretty damn good. With 30 dingers to ice the cake, of course.

"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."

by Blicks on Jan 6, 2009 1:11 PM PST reply actions

even if giambi is terrible

this move could have value because barton will receive time in AAA. and i expect Giambi to be a pretty big offensive upgrade over barton.

batting average is a terrible stat. not a good way to gauge a player

"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 6, 2009 1:19 PM PST reply actions

Here is my bold prediction

And I have no concrete evidence to back this up, but we all seem to know that Eric Chavez is the type of player where his emotions affect the way he plays. So here it is, with Giambi in Oakland, Eric Chavez will have a productive year. Like I said, I have no real evidence to back this up. I just feel that Giambi’s presence will have a direct affect on Chavez’s health and production.

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by Man Bear Pig on Jan 6, 2009 1:21 PM PST reply actions

bold indeed

there is also the fact that chavez finally did the right thing and instead of playing through the pain, decided to aim for 2009. so im hoping for a good year.

also, awesome name

by travdog6 on Jan 6, 2009 1:23 PM PST up reply actions

i told you guys man bear pig was out there!

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

by Cheezombie on Jan 6, 2009 5:39 PM PST up reply actions

I am half man half bear and half pig

"I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out."-Bill Hicks

by Man Bear Pig on Jan 6, 2009 1:28 PM PST reply actions

i didn't know

you had children

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

by Cheezombie on Jan 6, 2009 5:42 PM PST up reply actions

that

is one of the creepiest pictures ive seen in a while

holdin' it down for the bay from upper westside manhattan

by SamYam on Jan 6, 2009 6:17 PM PST up reply actions

Oh good GRIEF.

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 6:20 PM PST up reply actions

wait

wasn’t man bear pig half man and half bear pig? or was it half man bear and half pig?

by guy incognito on Jan 6, 2009 6:10 PM PST up reply actions

Giambi Better than Barton

Is the sun brighter than the moon?

Giambi’s skills may be declining, but Barton’s has been existing on all potential gossip so far. Baseball is full of potential stars but so few materialize for one reason or another. Let Barton develop those vague potentials he is said to have.

syh

by quietfan on Jan 6, 2009 1:43 PM PST reply actions

Batting Average?

Batting Average??!

by scatterbrian on Jan 6, 2009 2:25 PM PST reply actions

I'm just trying to get on base!

"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 6, 2009 5:11 PM PST up reply actions

Im talkin' bout batting average!

by Holy Toledo! on Jan 6, 2009 4:00 PM PST reply actions

Batting Average IS WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS

"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty

by 5Aces on Jan 6, 2009 4:38 PM PST up reply actions

I OPS'd .875!

I’m a MAN!

"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey

by JJ on Jan 7, 2009 8:45 AM PST up reply actions

2008

Giambi: .247 AVG, 32 HR, 96 RBI, 76 BB, 111 SO, .373 OBP, .502 SLG, .875 OPS, 128 OPS+

Barton: .226 AVG, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 65 BB, 99 SO, .327 OBP, .348 SLG, .675 OPS, 85 OPS+

Even with Giambi being down a bit from some of his past stats, there’s no comparison between the seasons the two players had. Barton wasn’t right all year long and hopefully he can get back to hitting like people know he’s capable of.

Giambi’s numbers were inflated in some part by where he played and the lineup he was a part of so yes, you can probably expect some things to change. I really doubt he’ll be putting up the MVP numbers he did when he was here before.

Still, at this point it’s better than what Barton was giving and if Barton gets back to hitting like he’s capable of he’ll earn his spot in the lineup.

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by Flashfire on Jan 6, 2009 4:42 PM PST reply actions

Yes

If we use CHONE’s projections, Barton is 12 runs better than Giambi on defense. So the question becomes: how much of an upgrade does Giambi represent on offense. Taking an average of Bill James and Marcels, we get a .372 wOBA for Giambi, and .332 for Barton. Converted to runs, this represents about about a 20 run upgrade over 550 PA.

So, Giambi represents an upgrade of about a win, if we use this analysis. Given the low cost, and the A’s commitment to competing in 09, I think it’s a good move. My hope is that Giambi was chosen over Burrell because he leaves a sufficient amount of payroll flexibility to be allocated towards another FA, perhaps Sheets or O-Cab.

by CapgrasDelusion on Jan 6, 2009 6:00 PM PST reply actions