Early Schedule and Pitching Staff Issues
by brenarlo on Mar 1, 2009 3:33 PM PST
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PrintToday I took my first glance at the A's regular season schedule. Something stuck out to me: the A's will probably need a 5th starter from the get-go.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/teams/schedule?team=oak
Let's assume that this is the starting rotation:
- Duke
- Eveland
- Gallahger
- Braden
- Gonzalez
4/6 - Duke 4/7 - Eveland 4/8 - Gallahger 4/9 - Braden 4/10 - Gonzalez 4/11 - Duke 4/12 - Eveland 4/13 - Gallahger 4/14 - Braden 4/15 - Gonzalez 4/16 - OFF 4/17 - Duke 4/18 - Eveland 4/19 - Gallahger 4/20 - Braden 4/21 - Gonzalez 4/22 - Duke 4/23 - OFF
With the young pitching staff, which tends to throw a lot of pitches, and an unfavorable schedule, it looks like they'll have to carry 12 pitchers. Would 13 even be out of the question? I'd suggest having Duke go on 4 days rest after his first start, but he's so injury-prone.
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13 is unlikely but not unprecedented
IMO, MLB should allow expanded 28-man rosters for the first 10 days or so of the regular season so teams could carry some extra pitching. This would allow them to shorten spring training by that same 10 days, since everyone acknowledges that the ridiculous length of spring training (which is even worse this year due to the WBC) is “for the pitchers”. The minor leagues would start their seasons about 12 days after the start of the MLB season.
This year the A’s pitchers and catchers reported on Feb. 14. We hope they are still playing on Nov. 5. That’s just too long a season; cutting it by 10 days (or about 17 days in a non-WBC year) would be good for everybody.
I don't think the A's can carry 13 pitchers, because
they really need 2 backup infielders for Chavez and Ellis (i.e., “corners” and “middle INF”) and at least one OFer and a backup catcher.
But the need for a 5th starter could benefit the A’s overall. Their #5 starter is likely to be better than the #5 starters of their opponents, whereas their #2-#3 starter is less likely to be.
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
This makes great sense to me
although I think sometimes people forget that in a dire emergency you can move your DH to a defensive position, at the price of forfeiting the DH privilege for the rest of the game. It sometimes results in Cust playing RF, Travis Buck playing 3B, Eric Chavez moving over to 2B and Brad Ziegler batting, or similar horror.
Anyway, the decision about the 25th position on the roster usually comes down to who is out of options and who are you willing to expose to waivers.
Maybe between PLAYERS, but not necessarily between POSITIONS
The A’s need to have someone who can play 3B, they need to have someone who can play the middle infield, they need to have a 4th OFer, and they need to have a backup catcher. Given that they don’t have a Figgins who can play two of those, you’ve pretty much filled your roster with 12 pitchers.
Now whether it’s Davis or Denorfia, Bowen or Powell, Nomar or Hannahan is another question. But I think it’s safe to say the A’s will need to carry 4 backup fielders, which means only 12 pitchers to go with the starting 9.
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
I would like to see Baisley instead of Nomar or Hannahan
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
I guess it depends who he's paired with
Nomar can play SS while Baisley can’t, so you could have (Baisley + Pennington) or (Baisley + Petit) but not (Baisley + Barton) or (Baisley + a 2Bman).
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
Good point
But Baisley is a much better hitter than Hannahan. Of course if they A’s sign Nomar then Baisley can come up with Nomar is on the DL.
I don’t like having Barton taking up a spot because he can only play 1st and we need two backups for with Ellis and Chavez and McRosby. I like both Baisley and Petit or Pennington. Give the kids a chance.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
Barton could play third in an emergency ...
If Ellis and Chavvy both got hurt at the same time … otherwise, Petit/Pennington/Nomar/whoever would backup all three infield positions …
"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback
I imagine the A's need to carry
5 outfielders (including Cust)
2 catchers
5 starting pitchers
6 infielders (including two backups)
which leaves room for 7 relief pitchers. I don’t think they’d be willing to carry only one backup infielder or no extra outfielders besides Cust.
I wonder if Casilla might be "odd man out" -
the A’s should be fine with 7 relievers as long as someone can go long. If Devine, Ziggy, Blevins, Springer, and Wuertz are in, that leaves two spots. Add Dennys Reyes and the last spot probably needs to go to a starter (who doesn’t win the #5 spot). Don’t add Reyes and you’re more likely to see Casilla and either Outman or Gio Gonzalez.
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
With how Duke is doing I would like to see Outman or Gio as the long reliever.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
I'm a little surprised not to have heard Casilla in these games
I’ve kind of thought that they might showcase him, and if he’s doing well perhaps he’d be a trade candidate. In any event I believe Casilla is out of options, so if he’s healthy he’ll likely have a spot.
I think since Gio is being considered a starter, if he doesn’t clearly win the #5 spot I’d expect them to send him to Sacramento.
Casilla did pitch today,
but just 0.1 IP to finish the inning Wuertz had started. He’s pitched twice in the first five games, but only a total of 1.1 IP.
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
Wuertz isn't really any better than Casilla. He's also more ROOGY-ish.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Mar 1, 2009 5:24 PM PST up reply actions
I think Wuertz is better if you factor in "certainty"
You pretty much know what you’re going to get with Wuertz and it’s an above average reliever. Casilla’s level of performance is very much up in the air, because he was really quite poor post-DL in 2008.
“Casilla at his best” may be better than Wuertz but not at his best he is significantly worse, and Casilla’s window of being at his best in the big leagues has been a small one.
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
We should carry 12 total pitchers.
I think the starting pitchers should be Duchscherer, Eveland, Gallagher, Braden, and G. Gonzalez.
The seven relief pitchers should be Ziegler, Devine, Springer, Blevins, Wuertz, Casilla, and Reyes if we sign him, or maybe even Outman if Reyes isn’t signed so that we have two left-handed pitchers in the bullpen.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Mar 1, 2009 5:10 PM PST reply actions
sounds about right
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
disagree slightly
The last relief pitcher should have the ability to be a spot starter, thus Ziggy, Devine, Springer, Blevins, Wuertz, Casilla & Reyes is a group that would not work…and that, I think, is where Outman or Gio comes in. My own feeling, just a hunch, is that the fifth starter when the team comes north will be Jerome Williams. And either Outman or Gio will accompany the team as the seventh relief pitcher. If the A’s do sign Reyes, I think Casilla is history.
That's exactly my best guess too
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
I’d rather have Outman than Gonzalez, then, and have Gonzalez pitch in Triple-A.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Mar 1, 2009 7:34 PM PST up reply actions
I'd take it a step further
and say if Williams earns a spot and we have a choice between Outman/Gio & Williams starting, even if Williams performs better, give it to the Outman/Gio combo and have Williams for long relief. Neither Outman nor Gio should be wasting away as a long man.
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I'm not sure that's true for Outman
He may benefit from some low-pressure major league time to get his control/mechanics to 100% capacity. It’s no guarantee that his future is as a starter anyway, whereas with Gio it is.
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
Thing is, we're pretty sure already that Williams isn't really a major leaguer
Certainly nothing special. So better to give Outman the chance to fail in the highest level he can amount to instead of not really knowing for sure in a lesser role which usually goes grossly under used by the A’s.
In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!
We don't know that about this Williams
The Williams that struggled in Washington and then was out of the MLB certainly had no future. But the one that excelled in SF and is now re-motivated in camp may have the potential to be very good. I’m not saying that he is going to perform like the SF version, just that a lot of people are saying he looks good and has slimmed down. I’m cautiously optimistic.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
Who's sure Wiliams isn't really a major leaguer?
He was very impressive his rookie season for the Giants, and good overall from 2003-05. Actually, even despite getting derailed by bad habits and personal distractions, his career numbers just taken as a whole are pretty solid. I think you’re selling Williams a bit short.
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
Not really; 258 K, 171 BB is pretty terrible
I don’t know what’s been going on with him one way or another, so maybe he was having issues that he’s solved, but since he’s been terrible since 2004, I don’t know why fifth time would be the charm this year….
With stout hearts, and with enthusiasm for the contest, let us go forward to victory. ----Hero Defector Montgomery
Those ratios are borne mostly out of two
REALLY bad stints. He has shown an ability to sustain a pretty solid ledger (around a 1.30 WHIP, . 250 BAA, 3 BB/9IP) when not at his worst.
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
At no point in his career has he posted even a 2/1 BB/9, much less 3/1 ...
"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback
This is all well and good, but
Mazzaro is going to sneak attack for the 5th spot in the rotation.
I miss Chad God
Or Cahill
12 pichers has been a norm lately, and this year should be no exception. It is probably unrealistic to assume that Numbers 1-4 will all be healthy in April— meaning another potential opening for one of MAC.
it would seem right now that Gio has the inside track— Outman obviously had a setback; hard to judge Edgar G off a wind game. Jerome Williams is a decided longshot. Cahill had a very nice first outing.
Round Two this week.
and what it (12 pitchers) means is:
Probably only one backup infielder
either 5 OFers or no Barton.. or two backup infielders and 4 OFers (a lot depends on just how healthy Chavy and Ellis are in a month)
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