Grading Your GM At The Winter Meetings

by Nico on Dec 21, 2009 2:00 PM PST

Over on The Nats Blog, where the debate on health care reform takes a back seat to debates over whether John Lannan or Jordan Zimmerman should start Opening Day, and whether it's wise to play Cristian Guzman on purpose, they asked several bloggers -- bloggers not unlike myself -- to assess their team's performance addressing needs at the Winter Meetings.

American League analysis was published today. You can also find National League analysis, division by division, there. See if you agree with how I, and fellow bloggers, assessed their favorite team's efforts at the Winter Meetings.

Tweet Comment 51 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

link's brokey, Nico.

Sock puppets have never been able to successfully attack castles. -NM

by Leopold Bloom on Dec 21, 2009 2:04 PM PST reply actions

Thanks -- I think it's fixed now.

And we still fully intend for it to be our Opening Day 3Bman.

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 Dec 21, 2009 2:10 PM PST up reply actions

Link is still broke as of 2:22 PST

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Dec 21, 2009 2:23 PM PST up reply actions

It's working fine for me now.

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 Dec 21, 2009 2:41 PM PST up reply actions

Link doesn't work...

Unless it’s supposed to be just a blue screen that says NATs on the top…

by HunterBlueStew on Dec 21, 2009 3:29 PM PST up reply actions

Every time I click on it, it works fine.

But in case others are having the same problem, here’s the URL to paste:

http://www.thenatsblog.com/2009-articles/december/national-winter-meetings-review-american-league.html

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 Dec 21, 2009 3:51 PM PST up reply actions

wow, their website has a lot more razzle dazzle than this one

I mean, not that I’m complaining or anything

I suspect that you think tilting at windmills means something other than what it does.

Goals on Film, coming to San Francisco in 2010

by bobnothing on Dec 21, 2009 3:58 PM PST up reply actions

It was paid for by the Stimulus Bill

"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King

by Gerard on Dec 21, 2009 5:24 PM PST up reply actions

Stimulating idea!

I have to know, if stimuloss works, then why not always stimulate as a public policy? Surely there’s free lunches to be had all the time; with the benefits aways exceeding the costs.

by LowcountryJoe on Dec 21, 2009 8:33 PM PST up reply actions

Still no worky

You can go to the home page just fine but the articles re: Winter Meeting Reviews don’t work.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Dec 21, 2009 4:10 PM PST up reply actions

the interweb hates you.

Sock puppets have never been able to successfully attack castles. -NM

by Leopold Bloom on Dec 21, 2009 5:43 PM PST up reply actions

Jordan Zimmerman is out for most of 2010

Is this the real life-
Is this just fantasy-
Caught in a landslide-
No escape from reality-

by Daniel777 on Dec 21, 2009 2:43 PM PST reply actions

So then he'll probably get the call.

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 Dec 21, 2009 2:44 PM PST up reply actions

When did the A's trade for JZ?

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Dec 21, 2009 4:07 PM PST up reply actions

After he hooked up with Beyonce'.

What, you didn’t know?

Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox

by mrod on Dec 21, 2009 7:50 PM PST up reply actions

Team Needs: 3B, SS, middle of the order bats
Team Moves: Traded for Jake Fox/Aaron Miles, signed Dallas McPherson, non-tendered Jack Cust

Dallas McPherson is allegedly both a middle of the order bat and a 3B. I’d give Billy a B for that particular dumpster dive.

Is this the real life-
Is this just fantasy-
Caught in a landslide-
No escape from reality-

by Daniel777 on Dec 21, 2009 2:51 PM PST reply actions

Yeah, I like that move

A lot more than the “non-tender Cust” or “sign Crisp” ones.

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 Dec 21, 2009 2:56 PM PST up reply actions

I like both of those moves

Cust (or half a dozen clones) are still available if we want them.
Is the Crisp signing official yet?

Is this the real life-
Is this just fantasy-
Caught in a landslide-
No escape from reality-

by Daniel777 on Dec 21, 2009 2:59 PM PST up reply actions

It's on the verge of happening, I'm sure of it.

by LowcountryJoe on Dec 21, 2009 8:34 PM PST up reply actions

Wonder what it would take to get Alex Gordon now?

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Dec 21, 2009 3:14 PM PST reply actions

I doubt he's available.

Chase Headley on the other hand….

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

by WaddellCanseco on Dec 21, 2009 4:01 PM PST up reply actions

Screw Headly. It's Utley or nothing

I suspect that you think tilting at windmills means something other than what it does.

Goals on Film, coming to San Francisco in 2010

by bobnothing on Dec 21, 2009 4:09 PM PST up reply actions

what?? we're getting chase utley?!

by OakA'sHoney on Dec 21, 2009 4:22 PM PST up reply actions

Hey, I can't remember where I just heard

the completely verified fact that the A’s have acquired Chase Utley but I did!

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 Dec 21, 2009 4:49 PM PST up reply actions

hey, for some guys, it's not the conquest that's important, it's the Utley

I suspect that you think tilting at windmills means something other than what it does.

Goals on Film, coming to San Francisco in 2010

by bobnothing on Dec 21, 2009 4:59 PM PST up reply actions

Get them both

And start shaping the All-LEY Team…

C Nick HundLEY
1B ShelLEY Duncan
2B Chase UtLEY
SS HanLEY Ramirez
3B Chase HeadLEY
LF Jeff BaiLEY
CF Milton BradLEY
RF Damion EasLEY

Yes, I am visiting my in-laws and yes, I am bored to death..

Have a glove you could spare for a good cause? If so please let me know

by elcroata on Dec 22, 2009 1:33 PM PST up reply actions

SP: Cliff Ley?

O'Hara: Detective Lassiter is literally on fire.
Spencer: What kind of fire are we talking about-- "Michael Jackson in the Pepsi commercial" fire, or "misusing the word literally" fire?

by PaulThomas on Dec 22, 2009 1:34 PM PST up reply actions

And Roy HaLEEday.

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 Dec 22, 2009 2:10 PM PST up reply actions

Brandon LEEgue?

Your day breaks, your mind aches.
You find that all her words of kindness linger on
when she no longer needs you.

by danmerqury on Dec 22, 2009 2:57 PM PST up reply actions

LEY-ROY JENKINS

Wait, I broke the joke.

by eastbayexpat on Dec 23, 2009 8:59 AM PST up reply actions

Way too many caught stealings for me.

Your day breaks, your mind aches.
You find that all her words of kindness linger on
when she no longer needs you.

by danmerqury on Dec 23, 2009 10:16 AM PST up reply actions

Wallace for Taylor isn't mentioned for some reason.

The other thing that Beane’s done is offer deals to Scutaro and Carroll which they turned down in favor of less money elsewhere. Those would have helped.

I’m willing to grade him an Incomplete just because I think the big shoes are yet to drop.

Christian Guzman is no worse than Pennington.

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

by WaddellCanseco on Dec 21, 2009 4:08 PM PST reply actions

As you can see, I basically give an "Incomplete" as well,

pointing out that it’s how you finish building a roster that matters, not where you are around XMas.

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 Dec 21, 2009 4:50 PM PST up reply actions

Yea, this whole idea of grading a GM at the Winter Meetings is dumb.

Everyone should get an Incomplete.

by LoneStranger on Dec 22, 2009 8:15 AM PST up reply actions

I have to say I too am very happy the off season

Get a SP and I think it will have been successful. True we have no 4 hole hitter but Cust wasn’t one either. Got speed and D and hopefully enough doubles hitters to get them driven in. The middle of the order bats will be up mid year.

I would love Bedard on a heavily incentived 1 yr deal. The A’s have enough AAA arms to call up as 5th starters should Bedard go down. Braden, Bedard, Anderson, Cahill, Gio with Mort, Maz, Simmons etc ready to be called up.

by Bud Light on Dec 21, 2009 6:03 PM PST reply actions

The other starter I would like to split up the lefties, righties is

Wang.

by Bud Light on Dec 21, 2009 6:04 PM PST reply actions

TWSS?

Is this the real life-
Is this just fantasy-
Caught in a landslide-
No escape from reality-

by Daniel777 on Dec 21, 2009 6:11 PM PST up reply actions

He doesn't go deep enough and more often than not you'd be forced to yank him too early.

by LowcountryJoe on Dec 21, 2009 8:38 PM PST up reply actions

Clap, clap, clap, clap.......

Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox

by mrod on Dec 21, 2009 8:42 PM PST up reply actions

There's a story about Rodney Marsh, an English soccer player

Before his ninth game, his coach (Alf Ramsey) said to him

“I’ll be watching you for the first 45 minutes and if you don’t work harder I’ll pull you off at halftime”. He replied

"Crikey, Alf, at Manchester City all we get is an orange and a cup of tea."

He was never picked again

I suspect that you think tilting at windmills means something other than what it does.

Goals on Film, coming to San Francisco in 2010

by bobnothing on Dec 21, 2009 8:54 PM PST up reply actions

TWSS

by easyraider on Dec 21, 2009 9:15 PM PST up reply actions

Article is relevant to my interests

however web site causes my browser to crash. maybe they could stand to lose some of the bells and whistles over there at nats blog.

so anyone got a text only link? lol

by PL78 on Dec 21, 2009 7:10 PM PST reply actions

OT

But I wondered if anyone had seen this article? It appears our beloved Banjo Man has lost his favorite banjo somewhere.

Here’s the link.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/athletics/ci_14042329?source=rss
Best of luck finding your axe, Sandy! Happy Holidays….

Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox

by mrod on Dec 21, 2009 7:40 PM PST reply actions

That sucks for Banjo Man!

I hope someone returns it to him. Otherwise, they’re the Grinch of all Grinches.

@worldblee on Twitter.

by worldblee on Dec 22, 2009 10:38 AM PST up reply actions

Thanks for the write-up, Nico (the linked worked fine for me, back at 2:23 this afternoon).

I think your evaluation is correct, if short. For now, our “holes” are not plugged, but here’s to hoping that the players gained can be turned around for good effect, or else get rid of some of the more controversial bench/AAA/AAAA players that we spend so much time arguing about. And, here’s hoping (yes, that’s what we do in the off season, right?) that some of those players absolutely kick butt if they stay on the team!

by paris7 on Dec 21, 2009 8:29 PM PST reply actions