DLD 02/23/09: Thinking Outside the (Oliver) Box

by Helloooo 1st on Feb 23, 2009 4:30 PM PST

I've been catching up on a few A's related tidbits and stumbled across a couple interesting things. First off, in Slusser's latest article she elaborates a little on the Ynoa name change(s) and talks about how he'll be in Phoenix in early March and April to check out the team and get acclimated to life in the U.S.

Even more interesting is the recent signing of Aussie catcher, 19-year-old Oliver Box.

...according to Owens, is a right-handed hitter with "raw power." Box will be in Phoenix for extended spring training, and then might be assigned to a short-season A-ball team if he doesn't return to Australia to play for the summer.

And finally Slusser reports that the A's are close to signing four younguns from the Dominican Republic. Along with the new scout in Taiwan, the signing of Box, and of course Ynoa it seems that we're close to becoming a powerhouse in the overseas markets.

And then then I read Urban's piece on Tyson Ross, among other things, and came across a blurb about the A's changing Ross's mechanics:

Ross' delivery has since been tweaked, the product of a postseason trip to Oakland's Instructional League.

Good news there... Then there's some not so good news here

Geren also cautioned against reading anything into the fact that staff ace Justin Duchscherer hasn't thrown in a few days. Duchscherer has been getting treatment on his right elbow, but he told Geren he's fine, and Geren said Duchscherer hasn't missed any scheduled bullpen sessions.

If past A's history holds true then Duke is hiding an injury and will be on the shelf in the beginning of May. Of course, I may be overreacting but like I said, I've become all too familiar with these types of things.

Dump Away!

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Good Oliver Box article I posted 2 weeks ago...

Box Fanshot

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

by athleticsBB4life on Feb 23, 2009 4:58 PM PST reply actions

PHOTO DAY PICTURES

Er, I mean, I happened to notice that there are some pictures from Photo Day posted on Getty Images, but only of a few of the guys (Duke, Crosby, Holliday, Ellis, Chavy, Giambi, Gallagher, Cust).

Is it just me, or does MaEl look really tiny in this pic?

Chavy attacks camera

by whiteshoes40 on Feb 23, 2009 4:59 PM PST reply actions

Is it just me...

or do neither one of these guys look like MLB players in those pics?

Ellis looks like he’s wearing his pajamas and Chavy looks like a hobo with that beard. Oh well, still love em both.

"I think people in this state like BOTH teams," proclaims Nick Aliotti, the Ducks' defensive coordinator. "Except for our hard-core fans, I don't think most Duck fans would have been terribly upset to see Oregon State going to the Rose Bowl."

Another reason he needs to go.

by UOSportsDude on Feb 23, 2009 5:01 PM PST up reply actions

+1

by ohmangoAs on Feb 23, 2009 5:39 PM PST up reply actions

Ellis looks more like the batboy hauling around the Big Hurt's bat.

Boy needs a cheeseburger or something.

I switched Cabreras when your back was turned.

by Elvez on Feb 23, 2009 5:41 PM PST up reply actions

+100

and Chavvy looks kinda funny…
but i’m with diehardoak, still love em both. :P

Awww… Unicorn's optimistic. And a cheeseball. That’s cute. ~Whiteshoes40

by #14fan on Feb 23, 2009 5:53 PM PST up reply actions

Anyone else think that Jason Giambi looks like he should be the Manager of the team, not a player?

Little creepy…

Chicago. Where the Dead can Vote. Where the Voters of Tomorrow are found in the Obituaries of Today.

by Zonis on Feb 23, 2009 5:52 PM PST up reply actions

Now he just looks like a sad deer.

I’ll come around by the beginning of the season, I promise.

"Hot Goat Kraut Pants Day"--Monkeyball

by Leopold Bloom on Feb 23, 2009 5:57 PM PST up reply actions

I just thought the camera was a little close.

or a lot too close.

Awww… Unicorn's optimistic. And a cheeseball. That’s cute. ~Whiteshoes40

by #14fan on Feb 23, 2009 5:58 PM PST up reply actions

I'd like to make him look a little more attractive,

how far can you pull back?

"You have to score to win"~Rickey Henderson

by lynnzgal on Feb 23, 2009 6:28 PM PST up reply actions

Cleveland?

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

by 5Aces on Feb 24, 2009 6:53 AM PST up reply actions

My name is Jason! Capital J. a. s. o. n.

Not tootsie or honey or baby or doll!

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Feb 24, 2009 12:02 PM PST up reply actions

Mr. Giambi, if you're nasty.

"Hot Goat Kraut Pants Day"--Monkeyball

by Leopold Bloom on Feb 24, 2009 3:10 PM PST up reply actions

I think Giambi needs some Just For Men

Chicago. Where the Dead can Vote. Where the Voters of Tomorrow are found in the Obituaries of Today.

by Zonis on Feb 23, 2009 6:46 PM PST up reply actions

Not any creepier...

…than his first SI cover.

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Feb 23, 2009 7:40 PM PST up reply actions

I thought that was a cool picture,

but very dated. So 90’s.

by somebodyelse on Feb 23, 2009 9:35 PM PST up reply actions

the crosby one looks like he's just struck out

start as you meant to go on, eh

what have i got myself into this time... http://damiansthirtyyearchallenge.blogspot.com/

by alea iacta est on Feb 23, 2009 6:03 PM PST up reply actions

They're labeled "John Duchscherer"? Really?

by danmerqury on Feb 23, 2009 6:12 PM PST up reply actions

They're rright next to the Dale Barton pictures.

by thejd44 on Feb 23, 2009 10:06 PM PST up reply actions

Don't forget our new HoF Inductee:

"Hot Goat Kraut Pants Day"--Monkeyball

by Leopold Bloom on Feb 24, 2009 6:35 AM PST up reply actions

Richey Henderson.

"Hot Goat Kraut Pants Day"--Monkeyball

by Leopold Bloom on Feb 24, 2009 6:35 AM PST up reply actions

Buckle up, Mark.

No, really.

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Feb 23, 2009 7:41 PM PST up reply actions

Mael only looks tiny until you realize the bat he is holding is the size of a Redwood

I like important stuff just as much as the next guy, but please, for a little while, deliver us from meaning, baseball. That's your greatest glory, and we thank you for it very, very much. -- Craig Calcaterra

by JLeverenz on Feb 24, 2009 7:18 AM PST up reply actions

I thought the AN grammer police might find these funny

Basic Fail

Education Fail

The second one might be a fake person being stupid but what the hay. I hope I spelled everything right :-)

Sorry I didn’t just post the picture but I haven’t been very good at doing that.

You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}

by micdog2001 on Feb 23, 2009 5:08 PM PST reply actions

GRAMMAR

Grammar
Grammar
Grammar
Grammar
Grammar
Grammar
Grammar
Grammar
Grammar

Say something funny.

by muffinpryde on Feb 23, 2009 5:13 PM PST up reply actions

doh!

You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}

by micdog2001 on Feb 23, 2009 5:34 PM PST up reply actions

I love how the "answer" has no subject-verb agreement

m*****f***ing c***s***ing peanut butter and jelly!! f*** f*** f***!!!

by JediLeroy on Feb 23, 2009 5:18 PM PST up reply actions

second one is obviously a troll

people troll Yahoo Questions all the time.

Chicago. Where the Dead can Vote. Where the Voters of Tomorrow are found in the Obituaries of Today.

by Zonis on Feb 23, 2009 5:34 PM PST up reply actions

Anyone else chuckle at the name Oliver Box?

m*****f***ing c***s***ing peanut butter and jelly!! f*** f*** f***!!!

by JediLeroy on Feb 23, 2009 5:58 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

Not until just now.

I switched Cabreras when your back was turned.

by Elvez on Feb 23, 2009 6:00 PM PST up reply actions

tee-hee

Wow, did I really say that?

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Feb 23, 2009 6:46 PM PST up reply actions

Heck, I'd settle for just some of it.

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

by iglew on Feb 24, 2009 2:19 AM PST up reply actions

A's want Cabrera for $2-3mm.

" • Orlando Cabrera. Word is that he’s asking for too much money from the A’s, who obviously would like to replace their injury-prone shortstop Bobby Crosby. Or, are they offering too little? It’s believed Oakland would pay $2 to $3 million, which if he agreed would rank him as an all time bargain. Cabrera is an excellent all-around player who may be hurt by a spotty relationship with some of his White Sox teammates and a reputation as a solid player who gets traded more than he should. There aren’t too many starting jobs out there. But he could try to wait for an injury to get closer to what he wants."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jon_heyman/02/23/scoop.monday/index.html

by JPShark on Feb 23, 2009 7:52 PM PST reply actions

wow

Chicago. Where the Dead can Vote. Where the Voters of Tomorrow are found in the Obituaries of Today.

by Zonis on Feb 23, 2009 8:35 PM PST up reply actions

I hate articles that act as though Crosby's tendency to be injured is his worst quality

I’m much more disappointed when he is on the field than when he’s not.

Cabrera is also not an “excellent all-around player,” but whatever.

by thejd44 on Feb 23, 2009 10:08 PM PST up reply actions

Soooo.....

Orlando Cabrera. Word is that he’s asking for too much money from the A’s, who obviously would like to replace their ~~injury-prone~~ shit shortstop Bobby Crosby. Or, are they offering too little?

You’re right though, very few media outlets focus on the fact that Crosby is a terrible professional ball player.

by OldhamA on Feb 24, 2009 6:16 AM PST up reply actions