Eric Chavez in 2009

by Warriors510 on Jan 6, 2009 1:41 PM PST Comment 49 comments

Call me crazy, but Chavy has always been my fav A of the current era. And its been sad to watch him go thru these injuries when he was on the cusp of becoming a super star. He was already a star defensive player and his heading kept improving..... Alot of people second question him getting 66 mil as opposed to making a big run at giambi or tejada, but at the time i thought it was the right move. Some bad injury luck showed maybe it wasnt but one can't deny his talent. He enters 2009 barely being 31, from 2000-2005 (age 22-27) he averaged 30 home runs and 100 rbi's with over a .350 obp.

Then injuries started to plague him...however just yesterday:

Status Alert: Chavez (shoulder) says he has no doubt he'll be able to play third base next season. "I'm throwing at the stadium and that's feeling really good, and hitting is no problem at all," he told the San Francisco Chronicle. "The last three weeks, everything's come together. My shoulder feels better than it has in the past 10 years." (Jan 5)

he may never reach that potential we all set out for him when he was coming up, but if he can return the chavy of old (280 hitter, 350+ obp, 30 hr, 100rbi) i'll be ecstatic what do people think he'll do in 2009?

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you're crazy

you said to…

but seriously, i’m very optimistic for chavvy. not that he’ll go back to his old self, but im hoping for a .350 OBP and 20-25 HR. ill take that, and if hes even somewhatclose to old chavvy at 3B ill take that too.

holdin' it down for the bay from upper westside manhattan

by SamYam on Jan 6, 2009 1:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

q

is this his last year of his contract?

by Warriors510 on Jan 6, 2009 1:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

no

we have him through 2010, with an option for 2011

link

"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 1:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I know it will never happen but

I want to bring Miggy back. We need a shortstop and he is better than Booby Crosby. Something tells me that a line up that has Holliday, Giambi, Cust, Chavez and Tejada would be a potent one. And this is another crazy idea, why not go after Pedro Martinez. We need a veteran pitcher and it seems he could be signed to a incentive laden contract. This will never happen but why not, especially if he has a low base salary. I know, this is the crazy post.

"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 1:48 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

heh heh booby

holdin' it down for the bay from upper westside manhattan

by SamYam on Jan 6, 2009 1:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

pedro's fastball is around

32 mph right now. ok so its a little more like 85. but he is done.

by travdog6 on Jan 6, 2009 1:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

rather take a chance w/Mulder

by HRH on Jan 6, 2009 2:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think if his f-ball were to bet back up closer to 90

I’d definitely be intrigued. Mulder is definitely interesting to me as well.

Chavvy, I’m crossing my fingers he does not suffer another setback. Love the guy and wish nothing but the best for him.

by mrod on Jan 6, 2009 2:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

ok

but I just think that the A’s need a veteran pitcher and the best flawed pitcher is probably what we could get. Mulder has not pitched well since his first year in St Louis, Sheets, well I would prefer him but I do not see that happening. I just hope we do not start the season with the pitching staff we have now. In a few years, it will be good, but the moves that were made this off season make no sense to me if the staff does not get an upgrade.

"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 2:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with ya.

We probably won’t see Beane jump into the FA starter market until one of Sheets or Lowe is offered something first.

either way, I’d still like to see Mulder brought back on a 1 year non-guaranteed deal.

by mrod on Jan 6, 2009 3:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Lowe already turned down an offer from the Mets: 3/36

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jan 6, 2009 3:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

well, he might get something more from somebody else.

If Beane were feeling frisky he could offer 3-39 just to see what he would say, right?

by mrod on Jan 6, 2009 4:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, yeah...

I must have misunderstood your previous comment.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jan 6, 2009 5:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

you and me both...

Swisher on Ellis - "every day he does something that makes me say, 'Well, I'll be damned, look at that!'"

by Mantecan As Fan on Jan 6, 2009 6:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't realize the offer to Lowe was actually for real

till I read something on ESPN about it. My bad on that one.

by mrod on Jan 6, 2009 11:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If his line is .260/.350/.475/.825 with 25 HRs...

Then the team should be in the top half of the league in runs scored. I assume he’ll be batting 6th or so and with production like that in the 6-hole, they’d score some runs.

The problem I see is that the team is still so left-handed heavy.

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

by brenarlo on Jan 6, 2009 2:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

agreed

holliday and suzuki will be only righties in top 6

by Warriors510 on Jan 6, 2009 2:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

assuming suzuki hits in the top 6 of the order

I could see…
Buck
Sweeney
Cust
Holliday
Giambi
Chavez
Suzuki
Ellis
Meat Balloons Crosby

by jeffro on Jan 6, 2009 2:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

meat balloons?!

ps why would u put buck instead of zuki? he was 1 of our most consistant hitterS! granted he hit best 6th and 7th, but he hit 306 outta the 2hole…

by Warriors510 on Jan 6, 2009 2:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Meat Balloons

an homage to Wanda Sykes

by jeffro on Jan 7, 2009 2:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm confused

you say Suzuki hits in the top 6th but your lineup has him 7th??

by HRH on Jan 6, 2009 2:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

New Math

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

by Eastbayjim on Jan 6, 2009 3:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

NO

I was pointing out that Suzuki may not bat in the top 6 in response to the original post saying Suzuki would. I could see Suzuki in the bottom 3rd and think he probably should be there.

by jeffro on Jan 7, 2009 7:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

the Chavy of old?

Those numbers that would make you ecstatic really should. That would essentially be a career year for Chavy, and those won’t come until 2010.

by scatterbrian on Jan 6, 2009 2:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'll

take a .250/.335/.465 line from Chavez. 150 games and an .800 OPS from him will give us the best middle of the order we’ve seen in years. Four legit 25 HR threats.

by JPShark on Jan 6, 2009 2:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I doubt they will push him this year so maybe more like 120 - 130 games if he stays healthy.

Of course I am also the guy who saw the following 2009 home run totals in a dream

Buck = 30
Sweeney = 25
Cust = 40
Holliday = 40
Giambi – 35
Chavez = 40
Suzuki = 20
Ellis = 15
Crosby = 3

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

by Eastbayjim on Jan 6, 2009 3:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

someone's been hitting up the cannabis club...

by scatterbrian on Jan 6, 2009 3:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

wow....

you hate crosby…..

a more realistic attempt…. 145 games each….

bush 20
sweeney 18
cust 35
holiday 35
giambi 35
chavez 35
suzuki 15
ellis 15
crosby 15

by Warriors510 on Jan 6, 2009 3:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I know George is in famously good shape, but I don't think he could go deep 20 times against MLB pitching

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 3:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think he meant Dave

Apparently he’s the next Ankiel.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 6, 2009 3:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

or possibly the band

they have to make a reappearance in a dramatic manner

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

by DyeLongJustice on Jan 6, 2009 6:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i think thats high

for Buck, Chavvy (ESP Chavvy!), and Crosby. Otherwise, I have no quibbles with those totals. I just don’t see how Chavvy is going to reach that total after the past few injury plagued seasons, especially when his season HIGH is 34.

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

by DyeLongJustice on Jan 6, 2009 6:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i'd say you're about 20 HR's more than what is likely to happen

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

by DyeLongJustice on Jan 6, 2009 6:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ryan Sweeney?

Dude might hit 10.

by jeffro on Jan 7, 2009 7:25 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

seriously... 18? 25? what are these people basing that on...

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 7, 2009 1:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

bong rips?

by jeffro on Jan 7, 2009 2:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If you add up Eastbayjim's totals,

he has the A’s with something like the 4th most home runs ever hit by a baseball team.

I want some of that…

I think realistic projections might be more like

RF 15
CF 10
LF 30
3B 20
SS 10
2B 15
1B 30
DH 30
C 10

which is a good 80 HR lower than EBJ’s “dream”. And these include the home runs hit by the backups at those positions.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 7, 2009 3:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

More realistic

but no less impressive considering the total a year ago.

by jeffro on Jan 7, 2009 9:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

One thing we know about Chavey

Is that he hates pressure and likes to be out of the limelight so he can just play. Adding Holliday and Giambi should help him. I think he’ll hit better lower in the order so that he puts less pressure on himself (IMO, putting pressure on himself has always been a problem for him—he has lots of athletic ability but is not at his best in the spotlight) with Holliday being the big bat in the order and Giambi taking the role of team leader.

Last year the A’s had no one big time hitter, just a lot of average vets and inexperienced players trying to take up the slack. Putting guys in their proper place in the order will help them a lot. If Crosby is suddenly a 9th place hitter he might be a really good 9th hitter—but he doesn’t belong in the middle of the lineup.

by worldblee on Jan 6, 2009 4:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I've been bullish on Chavy's 2009 all along, and

will predict these numbers per 150 games played: .263/.360/.460, 22 HR, 85 RBI. Basically, about 10 of "former Chavy’s" HRs turn into five warning track fly outs and five doubles.

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 6:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

but what's your guess for actual number of games played?

Nice subtle deployment of the “per” there.

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 6:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I really feel that the range of reasonable guesses

goes from about 50-150, so I wouldn’t want to venture a guess. I’d say that the less he plays, the more he’ll play, in that if he tries to play 50 of the first 52 games I think he’s less likely to hold up throughout the season than if he and the A’s play it smart and go a week on, a day off for a while.

I’ll throw a number out for the heck of it: 128 games played total, maybe all at 3B, maybe not.

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 6:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

agree with your overall argument

Myself, I’d guess that Chavvy will be more likely to be at either end of that range — either genuinely near-totally healthy, or fundamentally incapacitated. I’d say 50 is more likely than 100 or 128 — but so is 150.

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 9:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

My random calculation is based on

periodic days off throughout the first half of the season followed by one “uh-oh” scare on the DL that turns out not to be as horrible as we all fear.

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 9:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll believe the Beane A's giving a highly paid starter regular games off when I see it

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 6, 2009 11:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sticking with my prior projection of 100 games of slightly-above-league-average play for now

but obviously there’s considerable upside beyond that if he really is 100%.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 6, 2009 7:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Chavy Chavy Chavy..hmmm. I think he can hit around 20 hr this upcoming season if he stays healthy finally! I don’t care if he will never hit 35+ homeruns or whatever. He’s a good player and I am just happy he is coming back and hopefully healthy enough to play 3rd like he is saying. If theres one guy in baseball I like watching play 3rd it’s him.

by ilovegregsmith on Jan 7, 2009 6:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Chavvy is, as ever, the key to this team's success

As goes Chavvy, so go the A’s. It’s been that way for years. I would love to see Chavvy really return this year.

by Brian in 317 on Jan 7, 2009 6:49 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

finally, a lineup capable of scoring over 4 runs consistantly!

i think a realistic projection for chavy is .270/.340/.490 with 25 hr and 85 rbi….

My reasoning is he is finally healthy, and prior to the major surgeries he was as durable as any player. He’s already hitting so its not just press missleading us…

-i expect giambi to have a good year (for him comparitve to what he’s done recently) as he’s outta new york and thus less scrutiny, and has always hit well in oakland. Something like .275/.400/.515 with 35 hrs

- I think holiday will be very good., but not necessarily what some think because of inflated coors field numbers (more realistic numbers are his away from coors stats which project .300/.400/.480 w/ about 25 hrs)

and if cust gives us a small marginal improvement from last year… a couple less strikeouts or BA closer to .250, chavez will have best middle of lineup around him we’ve seen in years…There wont be the pressure on him to be THE GUY in the cleanup spot, which is great considering he’s off injury…

by Warriors510 on Jan 7, 2009 9:41 AM PST reply actions 0 recs