The Case For Ryan Sweeney
by King Richard on Aug 1, 2009 3:48 PM PDT
88 comments
I am going to try to make the case that Ryan Sweeney could be the future of CF for the Oakland A's, an argument which, though of course debatable, I think is long overdue.
Let me first make clear that this is not a conclusion I had ever expected to come to. Since we first got Ryan Sweeney, I have felt that he was drastically overrated and just can't imagine him ever honing his swing so that those batting practice moon shots will happen during the game. I've always wanted Travis Buck given the shot over Sweeney in RF and think that those people who say "Sweeney is our best hitter!!!!111" are crazy...
Moreover, there has always been the thought that while Sweeney is a great RF, he is a subpar CF because of his bad routes taken to the ball.
But according to UZR, Sweeney has been an exceptional CF this year.
Now, UZR is known for its fluctuations in relatively small sample sizes, however it is also known for noticing and showing when players make improvements in their defensive skills and ability.
I think it is safe to say that Sweeney does indeed look much better in CF this year, obviously making the spectacular plays, but also he seems to be getting to balls he didn't get to last year.
UZR shows his range being worth 4.3 runs above average so far this year, up from -1.6 last year.
In total, 13.9 RAA / 150 games in CF, which rates him as one of the best defensive center fielders in the league.
Ryan Sweeney this year is on pace to be a roughly league average center fielder. Considering that he's cost controlled for a while longer, Sweeney is a valuable commodity in center field.
The point here is that what we really should be looking for in Sweeney's development is his continued progress on his defense in center field. Because as long as he keeps fielding like this, it doesn't matter whether he ever hits for power.
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Sweeney is a 4th OFer.
"Their Triple-A rotation, led by Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, could be better than some big-league rotations; Michael Ynoa is the best Latin American prospect of the decade; 2008 draftees Jemile Weeks and Rashun Dixon bring much-needed tools to an advanced group of hitters." - BaseballProspectus.com
by Syphon on Aug 1, 2009 4:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I enjoy your long strain of evidence disproving my point,
and explicitly showing how even though Ryan Sweeney has been a league average center fielder this year, he’s a 4th OFer, period, forever, assumedly.
"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau
by King Richard on Aug 1, 2009 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lets see..
He doesnt hit for average… he doesnt get on one all that well.. he has no power. His career OPS+ is 89…Should I keep going?
"Their Triple-A rotation, led by Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, could be better than some big-league rotations; Michael Ynoa is the best Latin American prospect of the decade; 2008 draftees Jemile Weeks and Rashun Dixon bring much-needed tools to an advanced group of hitters." - BaseballProspectus.com
by Syphon on Aug 1, 2009 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
*he doesnt get on base all that well
"Their Triple-A rotation, led by Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, could be better than some big-league rotations; Michael Ynoa is the best Latin American prospect of the decade; 2008 draftees Jemile Weeks and Rashun Dixon bring much-needed tools to an advanced group of hitters." - BaseballProspectus.com
by Syphon on Aug 1, 2009 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're ignoring my point,
which is that despite Sweeney’s subpar offense, he’s still an average player in CF.
"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau
by King Richard on Aug 1, 2009 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He prob is average if you compare him to the CFers in the AL right now.
Cause there really isnt any great CFers in the AL now a days.
"Their Triple-A rotation, led by Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, could be better than some big-league rotations; Michael Ynoa is the best Latin American prospect of the decade; 2008 draftees Jemile Weeks and Rashun Dixon bring much-needed tools to an advanced group of hitters." - BaseballProspectus.com
by Syphon on Aug 1, 2009 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Franklin Gutierrez says HI
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 1, 2009 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Grady Sizemore might be having a down year but I would still take him off Cleveland's hands
by DeJay on Aug 2, 2009 3:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
So would just about any team in the bigs
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on Aug 2, 2009 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
His D isn't that great... the whole package is fantastic however.
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 2, 2009 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
curtis granderson is pretty good too.
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.
by winchester5 on Aug 2, 2009 6:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Drool. Talk about "worth the strickouts."
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 Aug 2, 2009 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sweeney is hitting .274 right now
With this team that might as well be .400
Thank you Al Davis for Michael Crabtree!!!!!
by Athletic on Aug 3, 2009 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Management thinks highly of Sweeney enough to point where he’s in Oakland while Buck and Cunningham are are in Sacramento. Whether or not people want him to be here down the road, he’s going to be here. He has a better chance of being here in 2011 than Buck does even if Buck is the guy people like more.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 1, 2009 4:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
For right now
I’d rather see Rajai Davis in CF over Sweeny but for the long haul I think Sweeny will get a crack at it. I’m neutral on Sweeny as to where he should play but I do think he makes more sense in CF because he doesn’t seem to have a big enough bat for a corner outfielder.
by sirbed on Aug 1, 2009 4:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
he's not even the best CF on the team currently
especially with rajai playing well lately…though neither are long term options. I’m hoping Brown or Desme can fill that position
by Asfan4ever723 on Aug 1, 2009 4:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Exactly
Sweeney may score a 13.9, but Davis is sitting at 17.8.
Meanwhile, Davis has also posted a higher OBP and Slugging… albeit it in fewer at bats. My question, King Richard, is how do you justify playing Sweeney in CF over Davis right now?
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Aug 1, 2009 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My question, King Richard, is how do you justify playing Sweeney in CF over Davis right now?
Shouldn’t they both be playing?
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 1, 2009 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sweeney doesn't hit enough to play a COF
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Aug 1, 2009 5:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
But his D in a corner is unbelievable acording to UZR. Worth nearly 3 Wins by itself.
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 1, 2009 6:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
forgot to say SSS
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 1, 2009 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
An incredibly small sample size
The results of which can only be matched (barely) by 2 full time players at any position over the last 4 years.
So yeah, call me sceptical at Sweeney’s ability to maintain that defensive pace. And even if you choose to believe in the glove, for his career Sweeney has managed a -14.7 wRAA with the bat. So basically his bat costs the team half the value of his defense.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Aug 1, 2009 7:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree on the D to a certain extent but I disagree with your offensive reasoning
but he has only cost the team -10 BRAA when you pro rate his career BRAA for 650 PAs. So if you consider him a +20 rather than a +30 FRAA player in the corner, which i definitely see as being possible/fairly probable, then hes a 2.25 WAR corner OFer even if his bat is as bad as his career numbers which are severely negatively impacted by being rushed to the bigs with the White Soxs. Over the last two years hes more like -5.5 BRAA which would make him almost a 3 WAR corner OFer
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 1, 2009 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No need to add the positional bonus, we know the A's can find a replacement level COF
+20 with the glove and a -10 with the bat leaves a +10 margin, or 1 WAR. We’ve got to be striving for more than that in RF.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Aug 1, 2009 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im not sure what your argument is
WAR is a standard versus a replacement baseline of 20 runs below league average after positional adjustment (I know you know this but Im just putting it out there for the clarity of my argument rather than to be a patronizing prick). So I don’t understand why you’re not taking away runs based on position nor are you awarding the 20 replacement runs. What you are essentially saying is not that Sweeney is above a predefined replacement level player but that hes 1 win above average, which is essentially a 3-3.5 WAR player which is what I said. I might be really confuzzled however about the arguement that you are making.
Also I think that you can’t talk about small sample sizes on defense and then let the -7.3 BRAA from 85 PA’s when Sweeney was 21 and 22 first playing in the Bigs pull down your projections as much as you did. Calling him -10 BRAA thus is overly pessimistic.
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 1, 2009 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Projections?
I’m not awarding the replacement runs because Buck or Cunningham could almost certainly come in and earn them. In this case the replacement player isn’t some hypothetical creation, the A’s actually have options to choose from.
So the real question is: Does Sweeney’s glove give him an edge over what we could expect from the contributions of Cunningham or Buck or even Patterson? Ryan Sweeney does not have the bat you look for from a corner outfielder.
You feel I’m unjustly tainting Sweeney by including his earliest at bats? Fine. Since the 2008 season, over 690 at bats, Ryan Sweeney has produced a -5.7 BRAA. He has been a sub-2 WAR player since joining the A’s and the problem is his bat.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Aug 1, 2009 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ok thats fine but when you say WAR that means WAR on Fangraphs to me
rather than wins above Cunningham or Buck. I think your construction is strange however. Im not trying to argue that Sweeney should get starting time in a corner over Cunningham or Buck but rather that his defense can make him a Major League level starter at a corner OF spot in the Endy Chavez mold. The other thing is the idea of WAR is that every team has access to replacement players, nor do I think that Buck or Cunningham qualify for what people think of as a replacement level OFer. To me thats someone like Willy Mo Pena or Todd Linden, not a legitimate prospect like Cunningham or someone that would be one in Buck if he hadn’t exceeded his PA limit to be a prospect. Finally if you remove positional adjustment and replacement runs it creates a strange metric. League average bat for a RFer is way different from league average bat. If you want to take away replacement runs just call it Wins Above League average and it makes sense. That doesn’t apply to positional unless you put positional together with the BRAA. Plus if you take away position and you take away replacement runs I believe most starters would fall in the leve that Sweeney does. Also saying hes been sub 2 WAR is disingenuous when it is highly likely that he will probably eclipse that number by the end of the year and he only had a partial season last year.
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 1, 2009 10:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well shit, dfa
You don’t want me to count his numbers with the White Sox, you want a pass on his current level of non-production (‘cause his bat might get better but isn’t it reasonable to assume his defensive contribution will regress as the innings pile up?)… just what the Hell am I allowed to judge?
You’re defending an outfielder with a sub-650 OPS who’s only redeeming measurement is a defensive score that can’t possibly stand up over the long haul.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Aug 1, 2009 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im not saying not to count them but rather they should be discounted by some amount
Sweeney was a league average bat last year, and this year he hasn’t been great by any means, but it doesn’t look -10 BRAA. That is my only point.
You’re not really engaging my argument. My argument is that if Sweeney is a +20 RFer (Which while it is rare there have been some, and since it is likely with the under valuation of defense that players who could put up those numbers weren’t given enough playing time because of the premium placed on offense and the prioritization of defense in CF) he is a league average starter in RF even with a bad bat if you see him as a -6 BRAA hitter rather than a -10.
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 2, 2009 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Question:
In this comment you state that in figuring WAR, the “replacement” means a base-level player freely available to any team. This makes sense to me, and it accords with what I understood the concept of WAR (or any xAR stat) to be.
But in an earlier comment you say that WAR is measured against a “baseline of 20 runs below league average”.
Is there evidence that shows 20 runs below league average is actually equal to what the freely available replacement player is, or is that just an arbitrary baseline that may or may not match the underlying WAR concept? Presumably the league average relative to actual real-life replacement level is going to fluctuate. Do they recalibrate the baseline from time to time, or is it just pegged at 20 regardless of how it shifts relative to the current situation of real players?
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Aug 2, 2009 2:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fangraphs did a series on this preseason
They looked for some freely available players. I remember Wes Bankston was one at 1b. They did this for each position. Then they looked at their predicted value. Most came in the 18-23 below replacement range.
Except in CF. CF replacements were only 12-15 runs below replacement.
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton
by vignette17 on Aug 2, 2009 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bloomquist was one of them and he was -18.5 Runs
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 2, 2009 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
re
If he was true talent +20 he’d be the greatest defensive right fielder in history. I don’t know if you’re basing your numbers off UZR, but UZR has an unaccounted for park factor in RF in Oakland, at least I strongly suspect. Everybody who’s played there since UZR has been published has been twice as plus in RF as in LF; Jack Cust crunches as non horrible. Swisher and Buck were easy gold glovers. Sweeney is right field Jesus.
by AgitationStation on Aug 2, 2009 12:33 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Why would there be a park factor?
Foul territory?
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 2, 2009 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't.
I personally think that Davis should be a starting center fielder, if not here then somewhere, as well.
"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau
by King Richard on Aug 1, 2009 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good write up
But Sweeney must stick at CF to get any real playing time on a MLB roster. He really is kind of a tweaner to me. He doesn’t have true CF skills and he doesn’t hit enough to stick on a corner=4th outfielder to me anyway.
by asfaninpismobeach on Aug 1, 2009 4:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I think everyone is overlooking Scott Hairston here. He’s the option before Davis and Sweeney.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 1, 2009 4:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
In 2010 or 2011, I’d like to see Hairston in center with Cunningham and Buck in left field and right field respectively with Sweeney and Davis off the bench. I do think that, however, Buck will be gone by then because management just doesn’t like him for whatever reason. Therefore, I think the 2010 and/or 2011 outfield is Hairston and Cunningham with either Sweeney or Davis starting.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 1, 2009 4:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Id like to see
Brown/Desme/Cunningham
"Their Triple-A rotation, led by Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, could be better than some big-league rotations; Michael Ynoa is the best Latin American prospect of the decade; 2008 draftees Jemile Weeks and Rashun Dixon bring much-needed tools to an advanced group of hitters." - BaseballProspectus.com
by Syphon on Aug 1, 2009 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Something along those lines
Best case scenario is a Brown/Desme/Doolittle or Cunnilingus outfield. We can pass Hairston off to improve our team elsewhere, because other people will pass him over in the system quickly. Hairston + Buck could get someone that can actually play third base. Which would be a huge plus imo.
"I feel like we are sending Danny Haren for Mulder all over again." - Cardinal fan on the Matt Holliday trade
"But at this time of year, two plus two doesn't always add up to eight. Sometimes, it equals four." - Geoff Baker, Mariners beat writer.
by Orodawg on Aug 1, 2009 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is probably what I’d like to see in 2011:
Starters:
C — K. Suzuki
1B — B. Wallace
2B — A. Cardenas
3B — Free agent signing
SS — Free agent signing
LF — A. Cunningham
CF — S. Hairston
RF — T. Buck
DH — C. Carter
Bench:
C — J. Donaldson
IF — I don’t know
IF — I don’t know
OF — R. Sweeney
OF — R. Davis
I don’t mind trading Hairston and Buck for somebody that can play third base, though.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 1, 2009 5:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Donaldson could play 3rd...
and Hopefully Grant Green is playing SS in 2011.
"Their Triple-A rotation, led by Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, could be better than some big-league rotations; Michael Ynoa is the best Latin American prospect of the decade; 2008 draftees Jemile Weeks and Rashun Dixon bring much-needed tools to an advanced group of hitters." - BaseballProspectus.com
by Syphon on Aug 1, 2009 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Id like this by 2011:
Starters:
C —Donaldson
1B — Doolittle/Barton
2B — A. Cardenas/Weeks
3B — Wallace
SS — Green
LF — A. Cunningham
CF — Weeks/Brown
RF — Desme/Buck
DH — C. Carter
"Their Triple-A rotation, led by Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, could be better than some big-league rotations; Michael Ynoa is the best Latin American prospect of the decade; 2008 draftees Jemile Weeks and Rashun Dixon bring much-needed tools to an advanced group of hitters." - BaseballProspectus.com
by Syphon on Aug 1, 2009 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
How dare you throw away Kurt Suzuki like that!
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 1, 2009 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love Kurt an all..
but Donaldson if he makes it is just better. Much better on base skills than Kurt.. more power..prob same in the average department. Hes def the better glove man tho.
"Their Triple-A rotation, led by Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, could be better than some big-league rotations; Michael Ynoa is the best Latin American prospect of the decade; 2008 draftees Jemile Weeks and Rashun Dixon bring much-needed tools to an advanced group of hitters." - BaseballProspectus.com
by Syphon on Aug 1, 2009 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You mean Suzuki is the better defender
And by a wide margin, ‘cause from what I’ve seen Donaldson is not going to stick at C. I can live with his throwing errors, but he’s given up about 17 Passed Balls. If he can back-up C/1B/3B then he’s got a chance to contribute in the Show but he’s not a big league starting C.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Aug 1, 2009 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I was refering to Kurt as the obvious better defensive guy.
But Donaldson with his bat and on base skills doesnt have to be great to stick behind the plate. He prob does move to 3rd tho. But I like to dream he stays behind the plate.
"Their Triple-A rotation, led by Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, could be better than some big-league rotations; Michael Ynoa is the best Latin American prospect of the decade; 2008 draftees Jemile Weeks and Rashun Dixon bring much-needed tools to an advanced group of hitters." - BaseballProspectus.com
by Syphon on Aug 1, 2009 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think an exceptional defensive catcher is one of the most important things a team can have
If a pitcher is afraid to bounce a ball in the dirt because it gets past one catcher more than another, it’s going to have a major effect on how a game is called. I see this year the A’s only have two passed balls all season, tied for best in the majors with the Cardinals (that Yadier Molina kid’s pretty good). The A’s also have only 23 wild pitches, fourth best in the majors.
While part of that is the pitchers (the Royals have 56 WP, 10 passed balls, combined for the worst total in the league), the catcher’s ability to block the ball and keep it in front of him is major.
Whatever Donaldson eventually becomes as a hitter, even if it’s better than Suzuki I’d still take Suzuki as their catcher unless Donaldson’s defense gets anywhere close to Suzuki’s. The importance in keeping runners from moving up due to mistakes like that is huge.
(The A’s are also about in the middle of the pack overall when it comes to stolen bases they’ve allowed and caught stealing)
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on Aug 2, 2009 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really think Donaldson has a good shot tp put up a 800+ OPS
Suzuki for his career is 720. If Donaldson does that hes our catcher, as long as he is committing errors left and right.
"Their Triple-A rotation, led by Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, could be better than some big-league rotations; Michael Ynoa is the best Latin American prospect of the decade; 2008 draftees Jemile Weeks and Rashun Dixon bring much-needed tools to an advanced group of hitters." - BaseballProspectus.com
by Syphon on Aug 1, 2009 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
*He isnt committing
"Their Triple-A rotation, led by Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, could be better than some big-league rotations; Michael Ynoa is the best Latin American prospect of the decade; 2008 draftees Jemile Weeks and Rashun Dixon bring much-needed tools to an advanced group of hitters." - BaseballProspectus.com
by Syphon on Aug 1, 2009 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Donaldson is committing errors left, right and underneath him.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Aug 1, 2009 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Catching that terrible/eratic AA rotation
cant be fun or helpful.
"Their Triple-A rotation, led by Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, could be better than some big-league rotations; Michael Ynoa is the best Latin American prospect of the decade; 2008 draftees Jemile Weeks and Rashun Dixon bring much-needed tools to an advanced group of hitters." - BaseballProspectus.com
by Syphon on Aug 1, 2009 6:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is what his third season of catching? Id give him a little more rope behind the plate.
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 1, 2009 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hell, if rope would work
I’d urge the A’s to sign him up for a bondage class.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Aug 1, 2009 6:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is no way Suzuki
is goine in 2011. Of the current roster, Zook is the only mainstay…possibly sweeney
by hishnik on Aug 1, 2009 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If some team comes talking to Beane about Suzuki.
And offers a good deal with Donaldson playing well. Beane prob makes the deal.
"Their Triple-A rotation, led by Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, could be better than some big-league rotations; Michael Ynoa is the best Latin American prospect of the decade; 2008 draftees Jemile Weeks and Rashun Dixon bring much-needed tools to an advanced group of hitters." - BaseballProspectus.com
by Syphon on Aug 1, 2009 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Barton, Doolittle, and Brown are pissed you don't think they should be on the team.
Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.
by designatedforassignment on Aug 1, 2009 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
They should prove me wrong, then.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 1, 2009 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is that a typographical Freudian slip?
Or is Cunningham our elementary school principal?
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Aug 2, 2009 2:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
re
The sample size this year really does leave that UZR number as meaning less than nothing. You can’t just brush that off. Even if he is playing that kind of defense, he’s not hitting enough to justify a spot.
by AgitationStation on Aug 1, 2009 5:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The sample size this year is larger than last year...
"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau
by King Richard on Aug 1, 2009 5:55 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
last year didn't mean anything either
put them together and they barely mean anything.
by AgitationStation on Aug 1, 2009 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
why I like Sweeney
I believe in his defense, and I think it will get even better.
If he is gonna be a .270 hitter, I will take him on this team with that D.
He’s over a year younger than Buck.
by sourstuff on Aug 1, 2009 9:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Cant hit .270 if you dont take the fucking bat off your shoulders
Fuck you Sweeney
Solace: Law says he's a fourth OFer
PaulThomas: I think Keith Law is only a fourth analyst
by hero66 on Aug 1, 2009 9:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sweeney just offered his own rebuttal.
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 Aug 1, 2009 9:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
sweeney please go
id rather see cust in the outfield at this point sweeney doesnt hustle or apparently like to try with the tying run on third. in all honesty he does one bad thing a game everytime i watch the A’s
by Chris Schlitz on Aug 1, 2009 10:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Sweeney platoon splits are pretty severe
This year aside, where he’s walked like crazy against lefties, he’s been much, much more effective against RHP. He’s the quintessential platoon player. If you’re facing a LHP, play Rajai. If you’re facing a RHP, play Sweeney.
I don’t think he’ll ever be a star, but I definitely think if there’s room, he’s a cheap, useful, major league player that deserves a spot on the roster. If Desme and Brown all develop like they’re supposed to, then he’s expendable, but Sweeney’s a nice 4th outfielder.
On a side note, when we have fly ball pitchers like Gio and Braden, I’ve enjoyed watching an OF of three CFish players in Sweeney, Patterson and Davis.
by NateHST on Aug 1, 2009 10:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
don't forget Cahill as a flyball pitcher
by Future Ed on Aug 2, 2009 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Cahill remains a flyball pitcher...
It’s a VERY bad thing. Throughout his minor league career, Cahill’s calling card was his high GB rates. Without them, Cahill was an OK prospect. With them, he was top 20 in baseball.
If he can’t find those GBs in the majors, I don’t know if he’ll ever become the pitcher we all envisioned and hoped he could be.
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton
by vignette17 on Aug 2, 2009 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Honestly,
without them he seems like a clone of Edgar Gonzalez. A guy with good fastball movement, that with control could be a great GB pitcher, but without it just kinda sucks.
"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT
by travdog6 on Aug 2, 2009 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good, thorough work on this.
I think Sweeney is capable of being a league average/slightly above average player. But I think that Buck/Cunningham deserve a chance to prove themselves at this level, and that might come at the expense of Sweeney.
"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT
by travdog6 on Aug 1, 2009 11:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I think our starting outfield in 2010 should be Cunningham, Hairston and Buck; however, I don’t think management really likes Buck and that’s where a platoon comes in with Sweeney and Davis.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 1, 2009 11:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sweeney could be LH Jayson Werth
Both guys are 6’4" 220 lbs and very athletic. Werth was a late bloomer that a couple teams gave up on. Last year at 29 and this year at 30 he has developed into excellent player. Werth spent his 20s as a 4th outfielder. I can see Sweeney (24) as 4th outfielder hitting .280 until he figures out how to drive the ball in games. Eventually I believe Sweeney will hit for power — it may take a few more years.
by BlueMoon on Aug 2, 2009 6:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Going by your comp...
Sweeney will be eligible for FA before his breakout/maturation begins. What do you suggest the A’s do with him in the meantime?
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by grover on Aug 2, 2009 7:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Trade for Werth and put Sweeney on the 3,000 day DL
Call it Muscular Statue Mortis Syndrome and use last night as evidence.
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 Aug 2, 2009 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's not a terrible comp at all
but Werth seems to have shown more actual power in the minors than Sweeney. When he was 23 he hit 18 HRs and 25 2Bs in 127 AAA games. Sweeney had a promising power season as a 21-year-old at the Sox AAA team (25 BB and 13 HR in 118 games), but his power numbers have slipped in the years since then.
Of course, Werth has blossomed in the launching pad in Philly. It’s likely that Sweeney would put up significantly better numbers if he played in a hitters’ park like Citizens’ Bank.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Aug 2, 2009 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
thats a very interesting comparison.
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.
by winchester5 on Aug 2, 2009 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
like I said
4th OFer. I get he’s not starter material right now.
by BlueMoon on Aug 2, 2009 10:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That AB
should earn him a huge fine and a benching for gross fucking negligence
My favorite team is a fucking embarrassment to all true A's fans and they make me sick to my stomach on an almost daily fucking basis. But being a true fan, I will ride this pathetic bunch of losers out and hope that they get better in 2010
by Trainman on Aug 2, 2009 11:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Not to mention "intentional infliction of emotional distress" (me).
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 Aug 2, 2009 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know I was on the fence about him before that AB
But now I’m over him. That was one of the worst AB’s I’ve ever seen
by El Cerrito Steve on Aug 2, 2009 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He really does need to pay more attention to his gross fucking.
"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT
by travdog6 on Aug 3, 2009 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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