Is it just me or are the A's not very good?

by Romyrick on Jun 23, 2009 5:32 PM PDT

I read posts on here all the time but rarely ever post. This has been lingering with me for a while now and I wanted to at least say it at some point. The A's record speaks for itself but I get the feeling people feel like the A's are rebuilding or are really going to start to compete in 2010 or 2011. So the pessimism for this season seems to be ruled over by an optimism of the next, or the next after that. However, I don't see it. The A's have a couple of nice starting pitching prospects but none of them really project out as 'special' players and Cahill, Anderson, Braden, and Outman all have questionable stuff while Mazzaro who's got the stuff, hasn't quite got the peripherals of the others. Now I'm not trying to slag them off... I'm sure they will be atleast adeqaute with potential to be very good. The problem is, this is what I believe, and if you don't agree with this axiom, then the rest of the logical consequences won't follow for you. I believe that the most important thing in all of baseball, from a team building standpoint, is to be able to aquire players who will bust out around 22-24 and be able to control them for a reasonable price through their peak years and have the stones to let them go before their first or especially second contract. This is so crucial to teams like the A's who have small budgets but it's also important for the big market clubs too. So when we look at this roster who fits that bill? No one really, the A's have nobody that has the potential to be an truly impact player offensively and the pitchers all have question marks (although what pitcher doesn't right). The A's have Cardena's but he's got a relatively low cieling, I suppose Chris Carter is the only prospect they have that profiles with that high of a cieling. Buck, Sweeney, Patterson, Suzuki, Cunningham... if any of these players (exception Suzuki) actually did anything they might be nice role players but they are not going to inspire hope into a last place team. We get Cust for cheap yes, but he's our best player (Holliday I have a hard time seeing as actually playing here). But our best player we got cheap because he's the worst kind of best player, undervalued yes but complete no.

I just dont see this team even rebuilding. They just seem to be waiting for the mida's touch.

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Comments

In answer to your stated question...

I think its just you. So… stop it, already.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jun 23, 2009 5:42 PM PDT reply actions

yeah, because to everyone else, the A's are very good...

so, grover, stop it already

by Cutthemullet on Jun 24, 2009 3:38 AM PDT up reply actions

A day later, still got nothing

Way to snipe the joke.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jun 25, 2009 7:20 AM PDT up reply actions

its you ---

delete the commy post

by ryanmoser on Jun 23, 2009 5:45 PM PDT reply actions

No idea why I'm posting in this thread but

if you don’t see starting pitching as a MAJOR strength going forward then I’m not sure that you even pay attention to the A’s. We are definitely lacking at 3B, SS and 1B, which is a lot, but pitching, pitching and more pitching gives us a chance to be very competitive the next few years.

Oh BTW the A’s are playing good ball in June in case you haven’t been watching. I think this might be “rock bottom” in the rebuilding process so the future is bright in a Timbuk3 sorta way.

These ain't your father's A's.

by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 23, 2009 6:50 PM PDT reply actions

Travisbuk4?

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 Jun 23, 2009 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions

A couple of people are being harsh above

But you do raise a point: that the A’s don’t have a guy who projects to 5+ WAR. Such a player really helps a team go through a couple of players who underperform. Then again, I think you underestimate a bunch of players: mainly Cahill and Anderson. Both could project as luxury #2 SP if not #1s.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Jun 23, 2009 9:17 PM PDT reply actions

I'm gonna point out that

Dallas Braden has accumulated 2.2 WAR so far this season, and if he were to continue on this pace and make 30 starts, he’ll accumulate 4.4 WAR by the end of the season. That’s all-star caliber.

Also, through 5 ML starts, Vin Mazzaro has already achieved 1 WAR, and projecting that through a whole season makes him a 6 WAR player.

So I wouldn’t say we have no 5 WAR potential players.

"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau

by King Richard on Jun 24, 2009 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Mazzaro isn't going to be a 6 WAR player this season.

Some motherfcukers are always trying to ice skate uphill - Blade.

by OldhamA on Jun 24, 2009 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions

one thing to point out

A’s have like 25 million to spend this offseason.

Then the next season Chavy’s contract is up.

"if gio would of ptched,he would of pitched shoot outs." - MR.OAKLAND

"Anyone who calls themselves the Angels Angels should have to start over and ride the short bus." -timmeh from McCovey Chronicles

by Cheezombie on Jun 23, 2009 9:39 PM PDT reply actions

If only the A's would, you know, SPEND that money.

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 Jun 23, 2009 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions

can i borrow your crystal ball?

mine broke :(

"if gio would of ptched,he would of pitched shoot outs." - MR.OAKLAND

"Anyone who calls themselves the Angels Angels should have to start over and ride the short bus." -timmeh from McCovey Chronicles

by Cheezombie on Jun 23, 2009 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Mine's "day to day" -

Crosby swung at it thinking it was a crystal strike.

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 Jun 23, 2009 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

QOTM

"May our feet be swift. May our bats be mighty. And may our balls be...plentiful."

by nothinlikethetown on Jun 23, 2009 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions

+1

"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau

by King Richard on Jun 24, 2009 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions

well it should be totally untouched then

what’s actually wrong with it?

by colin on Jun 24, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions

No kidding.

Back then, my idol was Bugs Bunny, because I saw a cartoon of him playing ball - you know, the one where he plays every position himself with nobody else on the field but him? Now that I think of it, Bugs is still my idol. You have to love a ballplayer like that.
~Nomar Garciaparra

by UncleLeo on Jun 24, 2009 7:50 AM PDT up reply actions

What makes you believe that..

they won’t spend it? Just curious…..

"Twenty minutes," says Jack Sr. "Thank god for Billy Beane."

"Any fan that wants us to do that is going to be disappointed because that just isn’t us." - Wolff

"Joe Morgan's going to think Beane wrote the movie too..." -whitshoes40

"What am I going to do, seriously? Maybe be a bouncer at strip joints. That's about all I'm qualified to do." -Giambi

by ST on Jun 24, 2009 5:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Track record.

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 Jun 24, 2009 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I can't say why they wouldn't anymore than you can say why they would, but...

…recent track record suggests they won’t.

by UncleLeo on Jun 24, 2009 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions

when you say you "rarely ever post" I think you meant to say

you joined yesterday, and this is your first post. welcome! i think.

Save Rajai Davis

by oakinboston on Jun 23, 2009 11:25 PM PDT reply actions

You're simply wrong about the starting pitching

It’s already very good, with a chance to be even better

As to the position players we’ll see. There is some hope, but lately guys like Buck, Sweeney, Barton and Cunningham have disappointed. Somewhere in this mix of 8-10 prospects the A’s have to get some “hits” rather than “misses” in the next couple of years. I’m getting increasingly pessimistic that Holliday will yield any great haul— may be better to wait on the draft choices.

by jasonthea on Jun 24, 2009 7:47 AM PDT reply actions

In an overall sense I agree with you.

There are some bright spots, mainly pitching, but beyond that I’m not not all warm-and-fuzzy with what I’m seeing.

by UncleLeo on Jun 24, 2009 7:53 AM PDT reply actions

Blah Blah Blah

Obviously a Giants or Slegna fan, spawn of Satan, come to spread seeds of doubt to the faithful! Shun the non-believer….ssssssshhhhhhhuuuuuuunnnnnnnnn-ah!

concocting something witty....check back frequently

by OptimistPrime on Jun 24, 2009 8:06 AM PDT reply actions

Jihad! Jihad!

Burn the unbeliever!

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Jun 24, 2009 8:27 AM PDT up reply actions

The word is cheap not bad

The A’s need toget rid of the bad contracts like Springer , Chavez, Crosby, and Garciaparra. Second they should play the youngster with a upside like Buck, Cunningham, and Patterson.

by Arcman on Jun 24, 2009 8:52 AM PDT reply actions

yes and no

in a best case scenario, only Carter projects as a middle of the order impact guy. I agree. I can’t agree on your pitching views – these guys are good now and will get better. The offense is an embarassment, no doubt. I just read on ESPN that Mazz-man projects as the best young pitcher in baseball. Maybe an over statement but he is exciting. Sheriff Cahill can be something special if he keeps throwing those heavy sinking rocks up there also.

Baja been here

by bajablue on Jun 24, 2009 9:40 AM PDT reply actions

After those first two innings

he shut down the Giants. I think he had a tough time keeping his pitches down initially, but once he did, he was tough to hit.

by asyouwish33 on Jun 24, 2009 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Th future is bright...

just not the immediate future.
The Holliday experiment was a good risk that just hasn’t worked out. I think Giambi was brought in to be a veteran leader and teach alot of these kids how to play.

The A’s do need to spend some money and get some quality position players but the real question is if those type of players want to come to Oakland?

The most interesting question is what will happen to Bob Geren? I have no idea if he is the right guy for the job in the next few years and I’m not sure the A’s do either.

by LVElephant on Jun 24, 2009 11:06 AM PDT reply actions

The A's second half of the season

lineup should consist of young guys like Barton, Buck and Anderson. Tell them that they are going to play half of a season no matter the results and see what you get. Trade or release Nomar, Giambi, Holiday, and DH Cust.

I mean what point is there in having guys like Giambi and Nomar on the team this year? They dont have have a future with the team. One cant stay on the diamond and the other shouldn’t be playing defense on the diamond.

The A’s and their fans talk about how good all of these young guys can be, well lets see it!

by asfaninpismobeach on Jun 24, 2009 12:15 PM PDT reply actions

I know this will just be more pessimism but

I stopped reading at “Cahill, Anderson, Braden, and Outman all have questionable stuff.” Going by raw stuff, Braden may be questionable. Outman has plus stuff, and Cahill and Anderson have amazing stuff. The question isn’t for these guys “Can they put it together?” but “Will they put it together?” Mazzaro, as you mentioned, seems to be doing fine. Cahill is coming along, and Anderson was a control freak with off the charts makeup, so I think he’ll also be fine after this season.

Yes, this team right now is awful. It’s hard to watch. But that’s no reason to think there isn’t a bright future coming. The big three have been coming along quite nicely for my tastes considering I think all of them could have used a season in AAA, and we have infield prospects who all have potential to be solid major leaguers at every position (Cardenas 3B, Green SS, Weeks 2B, Carter 1B.)

I’ll go ahead and point to my moniker and re-emphasize that it’s just something that we as fans have to deal with. We don’t make enough trips to the ballpark or buy the merchandise that Red Sox and Yankees fans do, so we have a small market team. Seasons like this and last will occur, so stay positive and remember, this team is just young.

rebuildingseason.blogspot.com

by Rebuilding Season on Jun 25, 2009 1:05 AM PDT reply actions