A's Midseason Report Card
by mattabedi on Jul 14, 2009 12:57 AM PDT
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2009 Record: 37-49, 4th Place in American League West
Offensive Grade: F
Defensive Grade: D
Starting Pitching Grade: B-
Bullpen Pitching Grade: B-
Managerial Grade: F
Front Office Grade: F
Overall Midseason Grade: D+
The A's entered 2009 as a darkhorse candidate to win the division. Now, at the halfway point, the team is a darkhorse candidate for the worst record in the American league. 2009 marks the first time in the past decade that the A's have entered the All-Star break with a record below .500. Offensively, the team has been a complete mess. Once again, Eric Chavez has found himself sidelined for the entire season, while the new free agent acquisitions have disappointed thus far. Even Matt Holliday , who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Rockies , has gotten off to a slow start and there are now questions as to whether or not the A's will be able to get what they want in return in a midseason deal. Defensively, the A's have struggled, mainly because injuries to gold glove caliber players in Chavez and Mark Ellis . However, this can also be attributed to manager Bob Geren for starting Jack Cust in right field in many games thus far. The starting pitching has shown signs of promise. Trevor Cahill , Brett Anderson , and Vin Mazzaro , already christened "the new big three", have looked brilliant at times....and other times have shown their lack of experience. Dallas Braden has been one of the best pitchers in the American League this season, but a lack of run support has failed to earn him recognition. So has Josh Outman , but he became the third A's player to fall victim to Tommy John Surgery this season. The bullpen was very good at the beginning of the year, but has started falter down the stretch, mainly from being used far too much. Michael Wuertz and Andrew Bailey have been the two bright spots though. As for manager Bob Geren, he looks lost. He refuses to let starters work deep into games, has failed to play the matchups correctly, and shows no confidence in his team. If he wasn't Billy Beane's best man at his second wedding, he might be the second manager to be fired this season. Speaking of Billy Beane , he has completely mishandled the farm system all year long and his trade for Scott Hairston is questionable. It's been a rough first half for the A's.
First Half MVP: Andrew Bailey - Closer
After trading Huston Street in the offseason and seeing Joey Devine fall victim to Tommy John Surgery, many that follow the A's were wondering who would step up and take over the role of the teams closer. Andrew Bailey answered that question. Since being selected as the last reliever to make the A's bullpen out of spring training, Bailey has forced everyone around baseball to take notice of him. He is the only rookie to be selected for the All-Star Game in St. Louis and is the A's lone representative. No one could dare say Bailey isn't deserving though. Bailey leads all American League Relievers in innings pitched and strikeouts and is 4th among American League Closers with a 1.92 era. Bailey features a mid 90's fastball, a curveball, and a cutter that does its best impression of Yankees future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera .
Apologies to: Adam Kennedy, Kurt Suzuki, Dallas Braden
First Half LVP: Jason Giambi - First Basemen
If the Jason Giambi that the A's had on their team mirrored anything close to the young guy in the picture to the right, the A's were going to get a bargain in the offseason. Unfortunately, what they ended up with was an over the hill, aging veteran, whose bat can't catch up to an inside fastball. Giambi has been terrible this season. In fact, this is his worst season of his career. Currently, Giambi is hitting below the Mendoza Line at .192 on the year. The A's were hoping Giambi would be an upgrade from Daric Barton , but instead they only stunted Barton's development for no apparent reason. In addition, his inability to play the field everyday is causing manager Bob Geren to play Jack Cust in the outfield, a position that Cust should never play. Because of his performance, the A's can't trade Giambi. Jason has a team option for next year in which I don't think is going to get picked up. Unless Giambi has a strong second half, Giambi might be playing his last season in baseball.
sighs of relief for: Jack Cust, Bobby Crosby, Orlando Cabrera
Biggest Surprise: Adam Kennedy - Infielder
At the beginning of the season, no one wanted Adam Kennedy . In fact, the St. Louis Cardinals waived Kennedy, eating the $4 million dollars he had owed on his contract. The Rays signed Kennedy to a minor league deal, but then quickly sent him to the A's for career minor leaguer Joe Dillon . Oh how those two teams GM's wish they could have do overs...Since arriving in Oakland, Kennedy has been an offensive force and is having his best season as pro baseball player. Kennedy is currently hitting .291 with 7 home runs and 31 RBI. Mind you, those numbers are since May, as the first month of the season Kennedy was in AAA. His home run total is his highest since 2004 when he hit 10 in a season. Kennedy is also proving to be a versatile player, playing whatever position he has been asked to receive playing time. He originally was called over to play second base in place of the injured Mark Ellis, but when Ellis returned Kennedy has made the transition to 3rd, 1st, and even some time in right field and has kept on hitting. Because Kennedy is a free agent at the end of the year though, he remains a good candidate to be traded. A team like the Cubs would be a perfect fit.
Apologies to: Josh Outman, Andrew Bailey, Dallas Braden
Player Most Likely to Be Traded: Matt Holliday - Left Field
While the A's have many players that could be dealt by the end of the month, none of them are more likely to leave than outfielder Matt Holliday. Holliday was a three time All-Star with the Colorado Rockies, but has regressed since joining the A's and leaving the hitter friendly confines of Coors Field. According to reports, the A's are said to be asking for two top of the line prospects in return for Holliday. The reasoning is because the A's would not only be trading away Holliday, but the two compensation picks that come with him if he becomes a free agent at the end of the year. The teams that make the most sense to acquire Holliday seem to be the Mets , Cardinals, and possibly the Red Sox . If teams won't give A's GM Billy Beane what he wants, Beane will simply hold on to Holliday and obtain the draft picks at the end of the season. However, some skeptics suggest that if Holliday doesn't get the price he wants in the offseason, he may accept arbitration from the A's which would net him a 1 year deal around 18 million. Personally, I don't think he would do it though as the last place Holliday would want to be to rebuild his value is Oakland. If it does happen though, the A's may have the same situation at this time next season.
Don't Get Too Comfortable: Adam Kennedy, Russ Springer, Bobby Crosby
First Prospect Likely To Be Called Up in 2nd Half: Tommy Everidge - Corner Infield
Tommy Everidge is flying under the radar. So much in fact, that I hadn't even heard of him until this year. He isn't even on Baseball America's list for the A's top 10 prospects. However, I can't wait for this kid to recieve his callup. Everidge features good power and pretty solid bat. Two seasons ago in Single-A, Everidge had 26 home runs and 94 RBI's while batting .266. Last year he had 22 home runs, 115 RBI, and improved his batting average to .279 at AA Midland. This season, combined between Double-A and Triple-A, Everidge is off to a torrid start hitting .309/.375/.508 with 14 home runs and an astonishing 73 RBI at the halfway point. A natural first basemen, the A's have been gradually converting Everidge to play 3rd, a position the organizational depth is weak at. His promotion to AAA, as well as the position switch, I believe forced the A's to trade away Jack Hannahan , who was demoted to AAA after a weak start to the season. The team probably felt they didn't want a player like Hannahan taking away at bats from Everidge. I expect to see Everidge to receive his first callup in August, though the team would likely have to trade Adam Kennedy to make room on the roster. If this kid has the ability to play 3rd base, the A's might have found their replacement for Eric Chavez.
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good post
agree with most grades but I really like the pitching more than an B-
are you going by current team ERA? I think more than a few teams with better ERA’s as starters or relievers would trade us strait up staff for staff at this point. We could be ranked as an A+ on salary cost per win.
And the front office built that staff. They have to get some credit for building at least half a team in just one/two years for under $10 million with most under team control for 4 or so more years. And still having the depth to trade for everyday starters without giving up anyone on the major club. We have had Braden, Outman (regardless of the injury) Wurtz and Bailey turn out to be studs and MAC may have some growing pains but have all shown to be in there first year at least league average, durable enough at this point, and with expected real improvement to come. I would give the Front Office at least a C based on the pitching
They deserve an F for offense but I’m not sure really what they could have actually done about the hitting as every choice they made has not worked out (like most players coming to Oakland) other than not making any boneheaded signings that where really bad moving forward with any real salary over multiple years. For as bad as things worked out this year we will have less than $4 million tied up into non-arbitration position players in 2011 and actually “blew” only about $10 million this year trying to have a better SS, 1B and Back-up 3rd/PH, the Trade for a OF MVP type player not withstanding.
"Gratuitous gesticulating together sounds even better"
re: OmahaHi
agree with most grades but I really like the pitching more than an B-
Don’t get me wrong, I love the young guys we have in our rotation and I think they have a promising future with the A’s, but I’m going off of overall performance this season compared to the rest of the league. Our team era puts us right in the middle of the AL in both starting and relieving. Meanwhile, if you look at ERA+ (adjusted for league and ballpark), our ERA+ is below league average. I really think the B minus grade is just right.
and actually "blew" only about $10 million this year trying to have a better SS, 1B and Back-up 3rd/PH, the Trade for a OF MVP type player not withstanding.
He also signed Russ Springer for 3.3 million as well and Springer has been terrible. In addition, I was never a fan of the Mark Ellis resigning. At least not for the 5.5 million average salary he’s receiving over the next two years. We are paying Holliday 13.5 million this season and may not even get the return we were expecting. Meanwhile, the jury is still out on the Scott Hairston deal. The only good move Beane has made this year in regards to transactions has been the Adam Kennedy trade.
I’m not saying Beane should be fired either. I love the guy, but I’m just not at all impressed with the moves he’s made so far this year.
Matt Abedi
Springer has a FIP 4.12
He has been disappointing but hardly terrible. Hopefully we should still be able to get something for him. Also I’d call the Wuertz deal a win.
Tommy Everidge
I’m as desperate for a third baseman as anybody, but it’s not going to be Everidge. He’s played third base twice since his promotion to Sacramento, and it’s not because the position is blocked. If the A’s are going to bring up a first basemen, it’s only logical to assume it will be Barton, who’s already hit five home runs in July.
Hank Rodriguez is the prospect (by rookie eligibility rules) most likely to come up and contribute.
I don’t have a problem with any of Beane’s signings. 20/20 hindsight there. Those moves should have worked. If anything, I’m irritated that the A’s haven’t figured out why all these players, the signings and the holdovers, have been hitting so far below their capabilities for going on years now. I don’t know if it’s a collective mentality, poor instruction/support, the park/weather being far more detrimental than we realize (not supported by the numbers), skillsets incongruous with the hitting atmosphere (that’s my best guess though I don’t think it’s a great one), or what…but it’s about time the A’s get on with fixing the problem and putting an entertaining club on the field.
by AgitationStation on Jul 14, 2009 5:57 AM PDT reply actions
My thoughts...
Braden has been the MVP. I couldn’t agree with you more about the LVP though Holliday has been making a case.
I think that Everidge won’t be called up until September. Can someone help me on the rules? If Everidge is put on the 40 man roster for a September call up does he lose an option? If he does lose an option then he’ll be called up soon. If he doesn’t lose an option by being put on the 40 man roster for Sept. then I think they’ll wait and save an option.
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
This Holliday hate is bordering on ridiculous.
Stop what your’e saying. Go look at the numbers.
MATT HOLLIDAY IS THE BEST HITTER ON THE TEAM.
Regardless of whether or not he’s hitting .330 with 23 homers and a .950 OPS like everybody expected, or if he’s at .276 with 8 homers and an OPS hovering around .790 like he actually is, IT’S STILL THE HIGHEST ON THE TEAM.
If you don’t like him, fine. If you want him traded, fine. If you don’t think he’s trying, you’re completely wrong, but fine. But don’t say shit that just flat out is WRONG.
You wanna see least valuable? Orlando Fucking Cabrera, that’s least valuable. I bet nobody thought that somebody would actually come out and be WORSE than Bobby Crosby, huh?
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
agree on holliday
The other thing you have to take into consideration is that for the first month when he was using that new batting stance he was TERRIBLE. Like 650 OPS terrible. (no actual numbers in front of me, so that may be off slightly).
Once he went back to his normal stance he has pretty much been what I expected.
I have a vast amount of dislike for Ocab, and always thought it was a waste of money.
by chri5 on Jul 14, 2009 9:51 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
The 8 HRs is legitimately disappointing, though
As is how many 90MPH belt-high fastballs he has swung through.
With due respect to Bailey and Braden, my first-half MVP is Kurt Suzuki.
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
He may be disappointing but he is hardly their LVP
Behind Braden and probably Suzuki he has probably been their most valuable player. He has certainly been their best hitter.
I agree with that
I think you could argue Suzuki has been as good hitter as Holliday, but still Holliday would crack the “top 2.”
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
+1
I was expecting more from Holliday but he is far from LVP. The stat I saw that no one has really noticed, 10 SB. That was kind of surprising to me.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
Let me clarify...
perhaps I meant biggest disappoint instead of least valuable.
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
THANK YOU MIKEV. I want to say this everytime someone says something rediculous about Holliday.
What you fail to understand in your joyless myopia is that baseball is the key to life-- the Rosetta Stone, if you will. If you just understood baseball better all your other questions your, your... the, uh... the aliens, the conspiracies they would all, in their way be answered by the baseball gods.
Just a question:
Has anyone noticed that Cabrera has pulled himself up over .260? Considering how awful his first month or 2 was, I think thats significant. Hopefully his pre-all star break hot streak will continue.
The 1st Half MVP is
Kurt Suzuki period. Not just for the hitting but for playing basically every freakin’ day and for his work behind the plate. As far as Holliday it’s all well and good to come up with stats that say this or say that the bottom line is he hasn’t hit a homer in 33 games and has not lived up to expectations. That doesn’t mean he’s horrible but it does mean that .276/8/43 at the All Star break is not what anyone was hoping for
Partly because to get that, you wouldn't have to
trade Huston Street and Carlos Gonzalez. His numbers aren’t far from what Ryan Church has been putting up the past few seasons.
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 think it's fair to say
that the A’s were expecting something more than Ryan Church like numbers which is why so far at least Holliday is a disapointment. I’ll admit when the trade was made for Holliday I was pumped up about it but that has faded to say the least.
I think that's fair.
In 2008 I was watching a team that was rebuilding. In 2009 I feel like I'm watching a team that just sucks.
Can the entire lineup be the LVP?
That would be my vote
McGwire belongs in the Hall so put him there
by streetisclosedin08 on Jul 15, 2009 3:13 PM PDT reply actions
I appreciate the effort....
…but I have to disagree with some of the analysis.
- It’s popular to rag on Geren, but with a weak offense, it’s not surprising he wanted to get Cust and Giambi in the same lineup, praying that they’d heat up when the division was still relatively tight. Outfielders Holiday and Sweeney have been solid offensively but unspectacular, leaving Geren with poor options like Davis, Buck, Cunningham – none of whom have produced much – until the arrival of Hairston. I’d expect either Nomar or Giambi to be traded, released or put on the DL within the next month and a half (waiver trade deadline), which will untie Geren’s hands even further.
- The bullpen was overused because the young starters often weren’t able to go deep enough, not because Geren consistently took them out too early. We had to expect that with a young staff. Except for Braden, none of these guys has pitched a full season. Anderson (back, arm), Cahill (blister) and Outman (TJS) have already been seriously hurt or have battled injuries. In addition, our depth was weakened due to Duke and Devine’s injuries right out of the gate. Guys that might have started in long relief got moved into the rotation. Casilla started off great, got hurt, and hasn’t really been the same since. Basically the A’s had a small margin for injuries/sub-par performance, and they’ve already well exceeded it.
- Billy Beane has not completely mishandled the farm system, and the Scott Hairston wasn’t questionable. We traded a pitcher who hadn’t performed well (and who seems to have lost something off his fastball) along with some spare parts for a fine major league outfielder who we control for 2.5 years. It’s called trading value for value. We can’t rip everyone off in every single trade. The A’s continue to draft or develop some of the best pitchers in baseball; we are deep, deep, deep with pitching.
- Where they’ve clearly failed overall the last several years is developing high quality infielders (except catcher). Lots of AAAA type guys, but virtually no one who has actually done squat. Maybe the next wave of players will be different (Weeks, Carter, et al), but the Petits, Penningtons and Bartons aren’t looking like solutions. And the outfield situation isn’t much better except for Ryan Sweeney. All the hype and whining over Buck is just that. The guy hasn’t gotten the job done this year or last and he seems injury prone to boot (not always his fault mind you). Cunningham hasn’t gotten much of a shot yet but offensively he’s looked overmatched. Maybe this is a drafting issue, or a minor league coaching issue, or both, but we must start developing offensive talent more like we used to.
- Where to go from here. Trade Holiday, Cabrera and Springer before the deadline if we can get good value for them. Trade Giambi, Nomar and Crosby too if we can get anyone to take them (I’m guessing not). Keep Kennedy – we need a versatile Marco Scutaro super-sub type both for the rest of this year and into next year; Kennedy’s done well here and can probably be resigned for a reasonable price. Otherwise, let AAA guys fill the holes and let’s see what they can do the last 3 months.
I thought the blister was Anderson
Has Cahill been hurt at all? Not that I can recall.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
No, the blister wasn't Anderson?
or no, Cahill hasn’t been hurt?
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
The blister was Anderson.
But yes, Cahill has been hurt, it’s just not injuries that hurt him, it’s the opposing hitters.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
I hate it when that happens to pitchers.
:-(
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
Oops
I got the baby faces confused. I hadn’t realized that all three of those minor injuries involved Anderson.
by andyinfremont on Jul 20, 2009 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions
We get an MVP of our team? Thats so considerate! I vote for Rickey, without his
Thats so considerate! I vote for Rickey, without his number retirement day our attendance would be lower than our runs scored this year.
I'm never hesitant to criticize Billy Beane
But I’d give him a pretty good grade this year—at least if we’re simply talking about what he’s done in-season. He stole Adam Kennedy from the Rays, made a solid deal to get a nice centerfielder (as long as they leave him there; I’m not going to like it nearly as much if he moves), and managed to actually get something potentially useful for Jack Hannahan, which amazes me.
I didn’t like any of his offseason moves, though, so if you’re talking about that, then yes, he doesn’t deserve a very good grade.
"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico
I didn't like his offseason moves either,
but they were all low risk/high reward kinda deals, and I like the fact that they decided to spend the extra money in an attempt at being competitive.
"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT
I thought the Hannahan trade favored Seattle.
Not that I’m objecting to the trade. I think it’s still OK, mostly because we’d probably end up waiving someone for the roster spot eventually anyway, but it helps Seattle a lot more than it helps us. Hannahan, in spite of his lousy bat, is still a guy who is better than replacement level in the majors at his position. The pitcher we got back is not particularly exciting. If one were to rank all the pitchers in our farm system, I’d be surprised if he registers above 25th.
If I had to guess, I’d say the motivation for the trade was:
(1) Billy thought Hannahan needed a change of scenery and wanted to move him somewhere where he’d be more appreciated; and/or
(2) After a decade of no trade discussions whatsoever with Seattle, this was a good opportunity to start a working relationship with the new guy and maybe build up some goodwill; plus
(3) Need to open up a spot on the 40-man roster.
Any of these is more plausible to me than the idea that Billy really wanted Justin Souza.
I figure the conversation went something like:
JZ: Hey, I need a good defensive 3B to fill in until Beltre is back. Is Hannahan available?
BB: Sure, why not? What have you got?
JZ: Um, how about this guy?
BB: Hmm, a short, right-handed reliever who can throw hard. Yeah, what the heck, we’ll add him to the pile.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
Souza's numbers this year, including peripherals, are pretty darn solid
Maybe Beane felt it gives him better depth if he trades another reliever or two.
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
What was Bob saying about fun gerbils?
Sure, another reliever is worth something, but I don’t think it’s worth more than Hannahan.
I think if it’s only about upgrading total assets Beane doesn’t do this trade. I think this trade is about networking.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
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