Why We Shouldn't Overreact to the Offense
by danmerqury on Apr 26, 2011 4:12 PM PDT
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PrintSure, the A's rank 25th in runs scored as of today, with 80. But why shouldn't we overreact to this tough month? A handful of reasons, starting with the biggest:
- The offense is going to regress upward. Baseball Prospectus's PECOTA projection system has the A's scoring 570 runs in the remainder of the season. That comes out to 4.1 runs per game, and that projection is computed after knowing that the A's have only hit for 3.5 runs per game so far. Intriguingly, Baseball Prospectus also has the A's ranked fourth in their power rankings (here, requires subscription). I'm assuming much of that is because they have the A's allowing the fewest runs in the majors, even among the teams in the DH-less National League.
- Josh Willingham's bat. The A's essentially have a fairly similar offense to last year's, with one big upgrade: Josh Willingham in left field over the unholy trio of Rajai Davis, Gabe Gross, and Eric Patterson, who combined for 52% of our left field production last year. The remainder was split among such (un)notables as Conor Jackson, Chris Carter, and Matt Watson. The 2010 A's LFers combined for a major league worst .243/.297/.352, an astoundingly terrible line from what should be the third strongest spot in the lineup. Josh Willingham has a career line of .264/.366/.472, which comes out to an improvement of 40 runs over last year's LFers, over a full season of 650 PAs. Expect Josh to take his place as Oakland's best hitter, after he acclimates himself to the unfamiliar American League pitchers.
- Offense is down league-wide. Again. Sure, the A's have had a tough start with the bats, but so has everybody. In fact, the A's have a park-adjusted offense that ranks in the middle of the pack, at 18th. Among the teams that Oakland is out-hitting? Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Colorado, and Chicago (AL).
- The offense has been unlucky in clutch situations. Clutchness is, by and large, an uncontrollable phenomenon. Because of that, we should expect those who have been clutch to regress downwards in important situations, and we should expect those who haven't been clutch to regress upwards. The A's batters have been unlucky by almost eight tenths of a win so far, and the correct statistical thing to do is to assume that that number will regress upward to zero.
- The A's have had a really tough schedule, pitching-wise. Take a look at some the starting pitchers we've faced so far. Felix Hernandez (twice), Ricky Romero, Carl Pavano, Mark Buehrle, Edwin Jackson, John Danks, Justin Verlander, Clay Buchholz, and Jered Weaver. The pitchers listed above constitute almost half of the games Oakland has played so far. Any offense would struggle when facing that gauntlet.
Join the AN gamethread when Brandon McCarthy faces Tyler Chatwood in Anaheim at 7:05.
Current Series
Angels lead the series 1-0
| Mon 04/25 | WP: Jered Weaver (6 - 0) LP: Gio Gonzalez (2 - 2) |
0 - 5 loss |
|
Oakland Athletics Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011, 7:05 PM PDT Brandon McCarthy vs Tyler Chatwood Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 75. |
||
| Wed 04/27 | 4:05 PM PDT | |
298 comments
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2 recs |
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I feel better already.
Losing this team would be a huge failure for this city and an affront to Oakland’s great sports legacy.
Huh.
I didn’t realize they both have an ERA above 5. Either way, neither are 5+ ERA material. Pavano was pretty great last year, after being healthy (finally). And Buehrle is usually reliably good, aside from this month’s blip.
Also is it that tough of a schedule if half of the pitchers we face are good pitchers?
Out of the bunch of pitchers you listed, 2-3 of them are ace’s, the rest are # 2-3 type guys, so basically as a group they are above average, but nothing more. So 1/2 of the pitchers we faced are above average, isn’t that what’s roughly expected?
by asfansince1989 on Apr 26, 2011 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Call me crazy, but we'll be laughing about how bad the offense started in July
when we’re in 1st, cruising to an AL West title. right back where it belongs I thank you
"Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down"
-Rick Astley
by PistolPete7556 on Apr 26, 2011 4:16 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I like the cut of your jib!
Whatever the hell that means…
"Only one girl ever fell in love with me, and she was nuts."
-Eddie Waitkus
by CmdrKhraanik on Apr 26, 2011 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Old sailing term
The jib sail is the triangular one in front. How well it is cut is an indication of the quality of the ship and how well it is cared for. Experienced sailors would make a quick judgment of a ship and its crew from the cut of its jib.
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings; / Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:— / We murder to dissect.
The player I'm most worried about on the A's is David DeJesus.
For the most part, we know what we’re getting out of Mark Ellis, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Kurt Suzuki so I’m not really “worried” about them. Daric Barton should be fine since he’s just 25 years old and he isn’t switching teams or leagues or anything. Josh Willingham has a better track record than DeJesus. I fear DeJesus is only going to OPS about .770 or just .780 this year. His OPS is .789 since becoming a full-time starter in 2004 through 2010 and it was .809 in the last three years.
"You're all like big, fat failure turtles." - Edge
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 26, 2011 4:19 PM PDT reply actions
To be fair, DeJesus is the kind of player that gets underrated by OPS.
Because of his high OBP/medium SLG ways.
DeJesus has posted a wOBA of over .350 just twice and it was .337 in 2009 and .322 in 2007.
His WAR was 2.6 in each of those recent years in which his wOBA was under .340, though. I don’t know. I thought he could OPS .810 or wOBA almost .360 or something like that here and I just think a 40-point OPS drop from what I expected or a 20-point wOBA drop from what I expected will be disappointing a bit if it does happen.
"You're all like big, fat failure turtles." - Edge
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 26, 2011 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions
is there anybody on the roster that could woba 340, ops 770 and play right field?
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
No, I don't think Ryan Sweeney or Conor Jackson should be starting in place of David DeJesus.
DeJesus has to be the guy.
"You're all like big, fat failure turtles." - Edge
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 26, 2011 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Sweeney could OBP 330 and would provide greater defensive upside
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 26, 2011 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions
ZIPS still projected him to be a below average bat
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 26, 2011 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions
DeJesus has easily been the most dissapointing player thus far imo
I have had a really high opinion of him the past several years and loved the trade for him.
Fort he love of god someone needs to tell him to stop swinging at high and outside balls, he’s been doing it seemingly every game with no success…
Kiper+Fosse=Mute
by CorpseOfChavez on Apr 26, 2011 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions
And I thought Easter was supposed to be when De Jesus was supposed to rise from the dead
""Expelliarmus!" said Eckstein, attempting to knock the bat out of Matt Kemp's hands, just before Kemp laced a single to center." -Ken Tremendous
King Felix has 2 wins in 2011...
both against the A’s. The A’s scored a total of 2 runs against him. In the three other games he’s pitched this year, he’s given up 4, 5 and 7 runs. Teams that can hit can hit against him. The A’s can’t hit.
"... and A-Rod is forced to admit that Dallas got to the Hall of Fame before he did." - en
by FoolshGame22 on Apr 26, 2011 4:27 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Yes, never mind the fact that he has a career 3.20 ERA.
And that he’s, you know, the reigning Cy Young winner. Teams that can hit CAN’T hit against him.
More than a third of the Mariners' wins
are against the A’s.
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings; / Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:— / We murder to dissect.
Of course.
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
I'm with Art Bell
I’m waiting for the Mother Ship
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Regress?
I really think what you see is what you get with this bunch. Do we expect it to somehow trend upward, especially relative to other offenses? I get that warm weather helps bats, but that means it will help the bats that are facing us as well, and we will need more runs to win games.
I don’t think the offense is underperforming, so that it will regress upward. I really think this is just our offense, period. We have multiple black holes in our lineup that will always be black holes (i.e. our entire infield with the exception of Barton).
You expect these batting lines to last?
Pennington: .234/.271/./.297
Kouzmanoff: .215/.229/.354
DeJesus: .240/.301/.267
Those would all rank among the 20 worst offensive seasons in the last thirty years.
haha
Those would all rank among the 20 worst offensive seasons in the last thirty years.
Wow that does put it in perspective.
Yes, I guess I think we will have a historically bad lineup…or at least a lineup with a few historically bad hitters. Although if those lines continue, playing time will decrease. If La Roche continues to hit like an average MLB hitter, he will usurp a lot of PT. And if Carter heals up and re-discovers his power stroke, we will find a place for them.
I should say that I don’t think DeJesus will continue to hit that poorly. But Penny and Kouz, I dunno, it’s possible.
I definitely do buy the “league adjustment” when it comes to Willingham. Which is why we should have gotten an extension from him before he started hitting in Oakland. I don’t like taking a player switching leagues on a rental.
by Billy Frijoles on Apr 26, 2011 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions
And that really looks a lot like Pennington's MLE from AAA in 2009
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 26, 2011 5:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Except that almost everyone on the team is performing well before their career norms
""Expelliarmus!" said Eckstein, attempting to knock the bat out of Matt Kemp's hands, just before Kemp laced a single to center." -Ken Tremendous
I'm not convinced.
although I agree Willingham may prove to be somewhat immune to the overwhelming lack of stick on the A’s once he sees the pitchers another time through the league.
I’m just not convinced that Kouzmanoff and Ellis and Pennington will get markedly better offensively, esp. given last year’s performances.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
Especially given last year's performances?
Kouzmanoff, Ellis, and Pennington are currently on pace to bat a combined 94 runs worse than they were last year. That will change.
I don't believe it.
Kouz in particular just does not have the approach of a real MLB hitter and the longer he goes like he is the more confident pitchers will feel in getting him out. Ellis is on the downside and save a torrid September he’s been flatlined for a long time now. Pennington has more potential I’d agree but is his ceiling really all that higher than his .250 from last year, with long stretches of sub-.200 invisibility?
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions
What does "the approach of a real MLB hitter" really even mean?
Has he looked uncomfortable at the plate at times? Sure. Has he also had some solid at bats? Yes. I don’t see him being an offensive power house, but he should at least return to last year’s numbers, which for a number 6 or 7 hitter, would be pretty good. Pennington is a streaky hitter, and for his defense, I’ll take it. Other than Tulo and HanRam, there’s not many big stick shortstops in the league, and Pennington is a very solid option.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Last year's numbers for Kouz are not good for anybody
except maybe a great defensive shortstop.
"Some field has fences, and sometime, the field cant hold a player, but most of the time, a field cant hold Domingo"
http://www.domingobeisbol.com/
For a lower half of the order hitter, i'll take it on this team.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
.250/.280/.390
.316 wOBA. From a 3rd baseman. You’d take that? That shouldn’t fly on any team IMO.
"Some field has fences, and sometime, the field cant hold a player, but most of the time, a field cant hold Domingo"
http://www.domingobeisbol.com/
It's not good,
but i’m not one to associate a certain position with a certain offensive output. No team will be full of .300 25 hr hitters. If that comes from the 7th spot in the lineup, i’d want something better, but i could live with it.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Well, wait a sec.
We shouldn’t associate a certain position with a certain TYPE of offensive output (Daric doesn’t hit for enough power for a 1B, etc), but we definitely can associate a certain position with a certain AMOUNT of offensive output. Same reason why you don’t expect your SS to hit like your DH—shortstops are hard to come by, but DHs are easy.
Oh good point.
Yeah, i guess you’re right.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
That's the whole basis behind positional adjustments.
It’s why catchers get a 1.3 WAR boost just for being a catcher, and DHs get a 1.8 WAR penalty.
And Kouz's WAR was inflated last season due to his unreal defensive stats right?
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
It was a pretty good 2.9, actually.
But yeah, that UZR score was pretty huge. Not sure if he can replicate it, but it’s worth noting that even in spite of all of the errors, he actually has a slightly positive UZR number so far.
I saw and liked his WAR,
i guess that’s what i was going off of when i said i was ok with 2010 Kouz, from a statistical standpoint. Just didn’t know how much his fielding had to do with that.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
the 6-3 DP last night was pretty sick
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 27, 2011 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions
the approach of a real MLB hitter
means that someone makes adjustments over the course of a season, which I just don’t see this guy doing. His ABs look the same up and down the line, same first pitch hack, same Bobby Crosby swing-thru on the slider away. Pitchers must see him coming and just laugh by now, an easy out.
I like Pennington much more, he is a solid option given what’s out there like you said.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions
I think Dan's above post says it best
They’re not going to be great, maybe not even good, but you expect Pennington, Kouz, and Ellis to have the same lines they do now at the end of the year? They’d be among the worst offensive seasons in MLB history. They’re not good, but they’re not this bad.
Let’s say you expect each of them to at least hit .250/.300/.380. Here’s how much of an increase that would be for each of them in each category based on what they’re hitting now:
AVG: .16 for Pennington, .35 for Kouz, .43 for Ellis
OBP: .29 for Penny, .71 for Kouz, .47 for Ellis
SLG: .83 for Penny, .26 for Kouz,. 63 for Ellis
Now Kouz’s OBP could very well end up below .300, and a .380 SLG might be a little out of reach for Pennington, but you get the point. It would take something catastrophic for them not to improve greatly on the numbers they have now.
"Some field has fences, and sometime, the field cant hold a player, but most of the time, a field cant hold Domingo"
http://www.domingobeisbol.com/
I sure hope you're right
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions
I'll give it to you on Ellis
Age may be catching up with his bat. Glove-wise, he’s as solid as he’s ever been. That said, he had a wRC+ last year of 104, which isn’t too shabby (albeit with a lot of September in there).
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 27, 2011 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions
Buccholz=overrated
""Expelliarmus!" said Eckstein, attempting to knock the bat out of Matt Kemp's hands, just before Kemp laced a single to center." -Ken Tremendous
I hope you're right...
But we haven’t hit the crappy pitchers either.
yeah the A's have appeared as entirely invisible vs. too many so-so arms
the last few years to really put much stock in them ever performing offensively like a MLB team would be expected to perform. I just wonder how long management goes with th all-pitch, no-hit philosophy before they figure out that if you can’t put on some sort of exciting display or the promise of one on offense than no one will come see your team play, they just will not be interested in the current competitive entertainment climate.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Two things:
1. We rank 18th in the league in offense. So, by definition, they’re hitting like an MLB team. Better than twelve teams, even.
2. We don’t have money. Offense costs money. Billy can either put the best performing team on the field that he can, or he can put the most exciting team on the field that he can. Not both.
yeah, it sucks that we have to choose between the two.
I might add a
3. We never suck badly enough to draft a Heyward, Longoria or Posey so our hitting prospects are almost always worse players.
by Billy Frijoles on Apr 26, 2011 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Heyward went 14th overall
We’ve certainly sucked that bad, just not in 2006.
by Glorious Mundy on Apr 26, 2011 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions
good point.
Maybe we just suck at drafting hitters.
by Billy Frijoles on Apr 26, 2011 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Or maybe we've just gotten unlucky.
We did draft Swisher and Ethier, as well as traded for guys like Carter and CarGo. Sometimes prospects just don’t work out. Even Strasburg should be considered a bust as of right now, until he can prove he can come back from TJS successfully.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Weeks, Green and Choice still seem like pretty good picks too
by Glorious Mundy on Apr 26, 2011 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh good catch. Thanks
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
what? um that would be a no
They all look like pretty high busts to me.
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 26, 2011 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I'll have to disagree with you, for now.
At least not busts yet.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
name one that doesn't have massive k issues and can stay on the field
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 26, 2011 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Could you find players that don't have those issues at the slots the A's drafted them in?
Honest question. Not trying to bait you or anything
Brett Wallace, Mike Trout, and Yasmani Grandal
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Yeah, but compared to James Simmons....
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings; / Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:— / We murder to dissect.
That's pretty pessimistic to call them busts already
Green has only 1 full year and put up good numbers, despite the K’s. Choice hasn’t even had a full year yet. It’s ridiculous to throw something like that out this early. Besides he’s getting huge praise.
you got money
Corporate welfare money which you tried to throw at hitters who haven’t, don’t and will never want to come hit in a stadium that has more foul territory than fair territory (almost). I don’t think they’re all that big on coming to play for this manager either, truth be told. Listen to Ray the Security Gurad on CT telling how he’s asked several big sticks if they’d come here and they said “no way”.
The truth is, sadly, that there is no baseball…. there’s only money now, and the desire of offensive players to rake it in whilst they are still able by inflating their stats in bandboxes from Philadelphia to Texas.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, okay.
But either way, that doesn’t change anything. Billy can’t get FA hitters to come here, whether it’s because of a lack of funds or other factors.
what are we gonna do?
Mike’s son Hunter needs to grow up and become a .950 OPS guy so we can score some runs… I guess we gotta wait til 2031 for him to arrive.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions
New stadium with more neutral dimensions,
better facilities and more fans in the seats.
Honestly, if we’re still watching games in the Coli in 2021, let alone 2031, I’m going to be extremely upset.
by LoneStranger on Apr 27, 2011 8:07 AM PDT up reply actions
My 8 year old has 3 doubles in his last 3 games.
My 5 year old hit a home run last night AND slid into home twice.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Yay Mike's kids!
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 27, 2011 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions
Fashion
I am aware that it is very fashionable on this site to dismiss clutch as luck. Well give me a friggin break. How about putting the ball in play with runners on base instead of taking brain dead hacks. Luck my ass
AN wants Baseball Girl to succeed because of her gender.
Is your sig line for real? Please tell me it's sarcastic
I do like Matsui’s thoughtful approach to hitting with runners on. You can tell he always has an idea of what he wants to do. He knows what pitch he wants to look for, and knows whether the situation calls for a home run hack or just trying to muscle it over the infield oppo. He doesn’t always succeed at what he wants, but he always has a plan it seems like.
A lot of our hitters don’t have a thoughtful approach to those kind of situations, and do take “brain dead hacks”
by Billy Frijoles on Apr 26, 2011 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions
check out previous flags.
Save it for the fast money round, Paddy.
by Leopold Bloom on Apr 26, 2011 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions
wow, misogynist, that sig was
was he paraphrasing Rush Limbaugh on McNabb?
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Well I added a flag too
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Apr 26, 2011 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Apr 26, 2011 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow.
Woooooow.
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
can we ban this person?
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 26, 2011 6:47 PM PDT up reply actions
I hate rankings that include both leagues.
They’re different leagues, they have different rules, and different levels of talent. I mean sure we’re ranked 18th in wRC+, but 16 of those teams bat a pitcher. Same thing goes for comparing AL and NL pitching.
""Expelliarmus!" said Eckstein, attempting to knock the bat out of Matt Kemp's hands, just before Kemp laced a single to center." -Ken Tremendous
I know, it's just a pet peeve
""Expelliarmus!" said Eckstein, attempting to knock the bat out of Matt Kemp's hands, just before Kemp laced a single to center." -Ken Tremendous
The same goes for Kouz and hacking at low and away sliders.
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
Hey it worked for Bobby Crosby
wait..
""Expelliarmus!" said Eckstein, attempting to knock the bat out of Matt Kemp's hands, just before Kemp laced a single to center." -Ken Tremendous
if you threw 3 non-strike sliders to crosby and kouz, which one wouldn't strike out?
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
trick question
""Expelliarmus!" said Eckstein, attempting to knock the bat out of Matt Kemp's hands, just before Kemp laced a single to center." -Ken Tremendous
Correct answer:
The first 2 non-strike sliders would not strike out. Only the 3rd one would.
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings; / Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:— / We murder to dissect.
This just reconfirms my thinking.
I do think Willingham will be the wild card. Coco has also been getting hot recently and one of the A’s commented quite astutely that when Coco gets on base, the whole dynamic changes.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
We also should remember
that Coco only played half a season last year. If he stays healthy that’d be a huge boon to the offense and defense.
"Some field has fences, and sometime, the field cant hold a player, but most of the time, a field cant hold Domingo"
http://www.domingobeisbol.com/
I agree, but unfortunately "if" is the main word there.
and if he gets hurt we do not really have another player like that, a true lead off guy. And he is just to fragile to think that he will play upwards of 3/4 of the season.
I know "on pace" stats aren't statistically correct,
but I don’t know if enough people knew how ridiculously good he was last year. 3.2 WAR in half a season? Mercy.
its front page content.
its good, to be sure. With Dan it always is but if were resorting to hoping that the front page comes through so that there is any discussion on the blog rather than having any community content we are doomed.
Yes I am working on a long over due piece that should run this week.
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 26, 2011 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Also possibly forgotten,
last year Kouz had a .270 BABIP, his lowest in the Pros. This year? .231
I think he’s also getting fairly unlucky, as Dan touched on in the post.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
I really don't think it's luck
his ABs, just aesthetically, look as predictable as the sunrise and the other teams probably look at tape of him and wonder if he is ever gonna adjust or change.
Plus, you have the added factor that BB tried to leave him on the doorstep of the Salvation Army over the winter, several times, and that this might have gotten in his head at this point to the point where a change of scenery is needed.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions
From a scouting perspective you can see why it is
When he moves his foot from the bucket to close it he never closes his hips which means they stay open throughout the swing. Leaving his hips open prevents him from generating power from his legs so he is swinging completely with his arms and not actually hitting the ball with any force behind it.
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 26, 2011 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Yep
And he gets jammed on inside pitches almost all the time. Kouz can hit mistakes dedently. I wish he would be more patient and wait for more mistake pitches.
by Colorado Fan on Apr 26, 2011 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions
its because he doesn't have any bat speed and is just dragging through the zone
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 26, 2011 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions
His line drive rate last year was the lowest of his career...until 2011
Though I still think he will regress upwards
""Expelliarmus!" said Eckstein, attempting to knock the bat out of Matt Kemp's hands, just before Kemp laced a single to center." -Ken Tremendous
BABIP is actually semi-controllable for hitters, unlike for pitchers.
That said, it’s obvious he’ll get better. How much? I’m not sure, but a .231 BABIP is silly.
I've learned that BABIP should only be used when comparing the player to himself in previous years.
And .231 is crazy below his career norms.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
That's a good bet.
Even if it’s controllable by hitters, comparing to himself is a fine way to avoid bad comps.
The thing is,
his line drive percentage is down to 13% this year from 17% last year and 22% at his Padres peak. Something is going on other than bad luck.
by Glorious Mundy on Apr 26, 2011 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions
well then his next 80 plate appearances better be smokin' hot
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
He looks really bad. I know people around here don't buy into psychological factors, but...
it can’t be easy to hit when you know you could lose your job at any moment. Really wish Geren would have taken the pressure off the first couple weeks instead of adding. Kouz is a reliable and good player.
by AgitationStation on Apr 26, 2011 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree with everything, except that last sentence.
I’ve defended him, but i don’t know if reliable and good are accurate ways to describe him.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Well, he's been remarkably consistent in value the last few years.
Just think you leave the guy alone, he’s going to produce bare minimum a 2 WAR season, however ugly it may look.
by AgitationStation on Apr 26, 2011 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions
OK but 2 WAR isn't that great
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 27, 2011 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions
lucky and sucky
are oh so painfully just one letter apart
I got nothin'
by OptimistPrime on Apr 26, 2011 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions
ducky comment.
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
it was kind of mucky though.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
I fear we will score those 570 runs in one series against the Royals
and never score another run all season.
I got nothin'
wow, even Greg Smith could have won with that kind of run support
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, for a few days, we will actually be on ESPN!
I got nothin'
by OptimistPrime on Apr 26, 2011 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions
All they will talk about is the regression we are due for.
And that the BoSoz and Yankees would make those runs last for weeks
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
That sounds awfully like the last 5 games
Shutout, Shutout, 5 runs, 9 runs, Shutout
""Expelliarmus!" said Eckstein, attempting to knock the bat out of Matt Kemp's hands, just before Kemp laced a single to center." -Ken Tremendous
precisely my dear dead fromage
I got nothin'
by OptimistPrime on Apr 26, 2011 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions
La Fromage Mort
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions
How dare you use your powers of statistical analysis and projections for anything other than pessimism!
Great post!
"Juuuuust a bit outside" - Harry Doyle
I'm a bit worried about Crisp
I wrote this yesterday:
Crisp has never a big walker, but he’s always had decent plate discipline. So far this year, however, he’s been fairly hacktastic. For his career, he’s walked in 7.5% of his plate appearances, which is just a bit below the major league average of 8.5%. This year, he has just one walk in 86 PA.
Since drawing a walk in the second game of the season, Crisp has gone 18 games and 78 AB without walking. That’s the longest streak of his career.
Crisp has generally had a good eye at the plate. For his career, he’s swung at just 19.5% of pitches out of the strike zone. That’s not as awesome as Daric Barton, but it’s significantly better than league average. This season, however, Crisp has swung at 33% of pitches out of the zone. For some hitters, this would mean a lot of Ks. But Crisp has been making contact with 76% of the bad pitches he’s swinging at, which has resulted in weak contact, short at bats, and a lot of outs.
While this is certainly a small sample, a small sample of a player’s plate discipline tells us a lot more than a small sample of overall performance would. In fact, just a 50 PA sample of swing% is as significant as a 500 PA sample of OBP or SLG.
Looking at the pitches Crisp has seen this year, changeups jump out at me. Across MLB, pitchers throw changeups about 11% of the time. For his career, Crisp has seen changeups 15% of the time. That suggests, to me, that the scouting report on him is that he doesn’t handle them well. That is backed up by Fangraphs “pitch value” numbers, which tell us that Crisp has done far worse on changeups than he has on any other pitch type for his career. This year, Crisp has been thrown changeups 22.5% of the time. He’s seen 303 pitches so far this year. Based on his career averages, he should have seen 45 changeups; instead, he’s seen 69.
It really seems as if pitchers have been purposely throwing Crisp changeups out of the zone so far. Of the 69 changeups he’s been thrown, just 32 of them have been in the strike zone. Of the 37 that have been out of the zone, he’s swung at 16 of them.
The A’s haven’t faced pitchers that tend to throw more changeups than normal (their overall % of changeups seen is very average, after removing Crisp), though perhaps Crisp has just randomly seen more of them this year (he’s seen more than anyone else in MLB, though). But, to me, it seems as though Crisp’s sudden lack of plate discipline is explained, at least in part by pitchers intentionally going after him with more changeups.
by Danny on Apr 26, 2011 5:13 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
tl;dr
however, Crisp is our one bright spot.
I got nothin'
by OptimistPrime on Apr 26, 2011 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions
He didn't even walk in ST.
Of course, if I owned his car, I’d drive it as well
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
he should have walked, would have been a lot less expensive
I got nothin'
by OptimistPrime on Apr 26, 2011 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks, Danny. I learn more from reading your comments than from anyone's.
(And that’s not an insult to anyone else!)
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
( puts his Brosius baseball card in attic)
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
In General
Great Comment…
“It really seems as if pitchers have been purposely throwing Crisp changeups out of the zone so far.”
I don’t think pitchers try to throw changeups for strikes. You want the pitch to look like a strike for as long as possible, keeping it below the knees when it crosses the plate (with tailing action). Coco isn’t picking up this pitch as well as others. He needs to start taking more offspeed pitches to increase his walk rate.
From the start of Spring Training to now, Coco thinks he can hit anything. W/o more patience in the future, he could start to struggle/slump.
by Colorado Fan on Apr 26, 2011 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Is there a way to look at the Opponents xFIP for each team?
How tough has our opponents pitching really been relative to the league?
""Expelliarmus!" said Eckstein, attempting to knock the bat out of Matt Kemp's hands, just before Kemp laced a single to center." -Ken Tremendous
Yeah, I wonder. It has seemed kind of average to me.
We’ve also faced Vargas and Fister twice each, Blackburn, Coke…Overall, kind of the mix you’d expect in a 23-game sample.
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
Hey Dan, shouldn't this be titled "Why we shouldn't overreact to the LACK of offense"?
I got nothin'
cuz I ain't seein' much offense
I got nothin'
by OptimistPrime on Apr 26, 2011 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions
I keep waiting for the starting pitcher to grab a bat and insist on hitting once someone gets to 3rd base.
And Geren letting him
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
and for once, I would not yell at the TV!
I got nothin'
by OptimistPrime on Apr 26, 2011 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't think Geren would know what to in the fact of energy and passion
It would all be so unfamiliar to him
Er
“would know what to do in the face of energy of passion”
Two errors in one sentence? I’d fit right in on the A’s defense
Can you imagine Cahill striding to the plate with his Darth Vader mask on and the cape blowing behind him?
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
If you only knew the POWER of the Dark Side!
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings; / Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:— / We murder to dissect.
Unlike BoCro, he could reach that outside pitch
I got nothin'
by OptimistPrime on Apr 26, 2011 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions
And he'd use the force to stop the red dot.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Injury News:
Bailey threw well in a bullpen session and will start throwing curves in a flat ground session.
Willingham will likely be unavailable until Friday due to a back issue. I’m sure i’m not breaking the news here, but just more fodder for discussion.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
that was very Sports Machine of you
RRS would be proud.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions
I prefer Sports Encyclopedia.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
I like tht. Or Sports Lad!
Save it for the fast money round, Paddy.
by Leopold Bloom on Apr 26, 2011 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions
you always have to top me
{insert innuendo}
I got nothin'
by OptimistPrime on Apr 26, 2011 5:51 PM PDT up reply actions
hahahaha
I LOL’d
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions
THat would work.
It’s better than Sports Lad.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
nonono, we like Sports Lad!
Save it for the fast money round, Paddy.
by Leopold Bloom on Apr 26, 2011 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions
I go with Sports Scion
it implies royalty and the rite of succession to the throne.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions
hahahaa
or you know what else would work? Whiz Kid
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
soon you'll be 18 and not a kid no more
so you’ll have to change it to something more grown-up…they grow up so fast, don’t they OP?
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Ah, I remember when I was 18.
It was so long ago.
"You're all like big, fat failure turtles." - Edge
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 26, 2011 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions
yes, 19 is so much older
why, soon you’ll be able to go to bars and impress the ladies with your up-to-the-minute Sports machine knowledge.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't need to do that.
I already found the woman of my dreams.
"You're all like big, fat failure turtles." - Edge
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 26, 2011 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions
sweet!
I had no idea that RRS was a spoken for Sports Machine, congrats!
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks!
"You're all like big, fat failure turtles." - Edge
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 26, 2011 6:09 PM PDT up reply actions
I still have my American Made baseball glove from High School
That shows how long ago 18 is to me
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Just as long as he doesn't go immediately to WhizDad.
WhizDad would have to switch to WhizGrandDad, and we’d have lots of confusion on the blog.
by LoneStranger on Apr 27, 2011 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Kid Rock turned 40 this year....
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings; / Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:— / We murder to dissect.
if you're gonna call him Sports Lad
it has to be Sports Laddie, so it sounds good if you say it in a pirate voice.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Scottish, not pirate.
There really is a difference.
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings; / Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:— / We murder to dissect.
Sports-Man
Kind of has that superhero ring to it.
( stm72, did you see that I brought the "ring "thing into this?)
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
If he had rushed the mound after that 2nd plunking, he'd probably be on the DL
I assume the back issue is related to the HBP on the shoulder. He said it hurt…
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 5:51 PM PDT up reply actions
It's well timed in that the A's face two RHPs Tues and Wed,
and Sweeney should be getting more ABs, day off Thursday, hopefully back in to face CJ Wilson on Friday.
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
And of course Felix gives up 3 so far today
Pity he could not give up 2 against us last Thursday
This prove we are scaring people.
They know they have to bring their A game around here
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Insane optimism! I like it!
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Hey, it beats getting on a continuous drunk
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Actually, it doesn't. Working on that since Apr. 1
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions
He could have. We couldn't have...
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Also
Josh Donaldson will probably come up tomorrow when Suzuki misses a game while on Paternity leave.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Christ, really? I was hoping for Recker
even tho I hardly knew her.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions
I like Recker as well
The kid is an animal
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
For more than his ass?
Or is that the main consideration for a one-day stopgap catcher.
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
If we get into a fight, who would you rather see?
This guy: 
or this guy? 
Because that’s what i’m looking for in a stopgap catcher.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Recker looks meaner but Josh looks bigger
I’d take Powell.
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
Recker is MUCH bigger.
He looks like a linebacker.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Then I take Recker.
and I take back the Landon comment. He’s too nice and rosey cheeked to get in a fight.
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
they're both kinda hawt in their own way
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Recker is pretty damn cute.
Josh is like the southern boy you bring home to mom
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
Yeah, but do you go all out on the couch with Recker or donaldaon after mom goes to bed?
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Recker
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
I go all out with mom.
Sorry, MO.
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
Does she know about your........ya know
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
Look, it's fine to just say "small penis" ok?
Or did you mean the syphilis? Wife?
What are you getting at?
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 was going to say love of baseball
but uh….those work too
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
Oh ho ho. I really did laugh out loud! MILFS RULE!
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions
both
basically it’s an all-out gay 3some with me and the River Cats catching corps.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions
You thought this through better than I did.
Good work.
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
You know I do!
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
The Mrs and I met Recker in ST 2010,
Momma say Recker, no contest
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Is he nice?
His voice kind of annoys me but he seems cool
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
Gio was the only one nicer.
That puts him in great company
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Oh!
Then I really like him.
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
I'd rather take Dallas over everyone
but I have to wait for him to get off the DL
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
Dallas is the only person on the team
I can imagine really getting into it on the field
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
I think Penny and Coco would too.
Willingham would eat a sandwich and watch.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Oh yeah
Of course Coco. You really think Penny? Hmm..I think maaaaybe Kouz.
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
Penny looks fiesty to me.
Never underestimate the smaller guys. Being one myself, i can tell you that we don’t get many chances to fight, so i’d think he’d jump at the opportunity if he could.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
you know me too well, Blog Poppa
Plus I was under the impression that Donaldson’s ABs of late have made Kouzmanoff’s look like Albert Pujols’.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Is it actually possible to have a negative BA, OBP or SLG????
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I bet Geren still writes Suzuki in the lineup tomorrow
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
"Who zuki?"
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
He can't help himself
Geren has to stick with what is comfortable to him
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
I so wixh BB didn't have to stick with what's comfortable to him
I could go for some fire-breathing dragon of a manager to kick some butt and scare these guys by overturning the after-game spread a la Crazy Tony LaRussa.
“Get uncomfortable! Get mad! do something”. It might work. It would never happen with milquetoast Bob
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions
me and Chris had this whole animated conversation about Geren the other night
and one of the things i told him proves Geren is unfit to take the reins and be a leader is his reticence to force Zuk to sit a defined number of games and draw the line in the sand as the manager. I get the feeling Kurt tells him “I’m playing every game.” and Geren just goes “OK.” and by August the guy is toast.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Or mid-april.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
yeah.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions
too bad.
i like him.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
here's a theory for your whiz-dome to process
What if Geren’s bullpen and personnel use indicates that he’s heard the rumors of “This is it, Bobo has no more excuses and will be bagged by BB if the team sucks balls this time.” and is managing April like it’s September…. because for him, it is?
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm sure he's heard the rumors, how could you not?
But i’m not sure if he’s doing that, because that’s very much so counter productive. If he manages like it’s september for 2 more months, the team will be worn out and suck in the second half, and he’ll be fired. But that’s just my thinking.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
probably true
I’m just saying, what if he doesn’t think he’ll be around in September if he doesn’t get them out near the division lead by June? He might see it as a 3-month season for himself and that can’t be good for us.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
by emperor nobody on Apr 26, 2011 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions
Managing in the Minors is totally different than managing in the Majors
Geren was good in Sac, and stinks in Oakland
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Brett Wallace update: .324/.400/.451 135 wRC+
Starting at first base for the Astros. lol. The next Carlos Gonzalez?
Seems like we go through this offensive death slump every April/May. West Coast is a shitty place to hit before it warms up, especially the Coliseum.
by AgitationStation on Apr 26, 2011 6:10 PM PDT reply actions
I hate the first part,
even though he has no room really on the A’s. It hurts more that we bought high and sold low.
100% agree with the second part.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Brett Wallace was blocked, though.
It’s too bad he couldn’t stick at third base.
"You're all like big, fat failure turtles." - Edge
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 26, 2011 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions
ftr, was 100% in favor of the Wallace/Taylor trade
Just the A’s luck, or bad coaching, that Taylor imploded the second he got here.
by AgitationStation on Apr 26, 2011 6:14 PM PDT up reply actions
It's bad luck that we have bad coaching.
“Great seasons, Michael! Now let’s completely retool your swing!”
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
That's about it.
bad coaching begets bad luck.
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Still in shock over this.
Though, I read somewhere that messing with the swing was Taylor’s idea. Still…heads shoulda rolled.
by AgitationStation on Apr 26, 2011 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions
That's painful
Just our luck we’ll have traded away the next Jason Giambi for a guy who fell apart upon arrival.
by Glorious Mundy on Apr 26, 2011 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions
baseball gave him up for dead.
im fine with that one.
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 26, 2011 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions
I also forgot to mention that Cardenas is starting in Left tonight.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
For the a's or the RC's?
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions
RC
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
This is weird. Why is he DHing a ton and then playing LF?
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
Apparently they have too many infielders?
But don’t you play your best ones, especially if you’re only preparing them for the Majors?
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Ya THINK?
You don’t need to play .147-hitting Josh Horton at 3B, that’s for sure.
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
Who's managing the Rivercats?
Because he needs to be promoted right away! He’s like a rich man’s Bob Geren!
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
You mean thinking like a box?
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 may be why Tony D keft for the Astros
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Kefting? Is that like Queefing? Just using a different orofice?
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions
I soo K(L)now about the cheap-ass keyboards these days. (Mine doesn't even have detents for the f and the j, leading to really weird communications from the asteroid belt sometimes...)
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 6:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Is that what those thingys are for?
I taught myself how to type, so I cut those annoying bumps off
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
My biggest concern about the offense
is that while I know they’ll regress upwards, it will undoubtedly coincide with what happened last night: A starting pitcher not being spectacular, because they can’t be for 6 months straight. The wasted gems can’t be gotten back.
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
Too true. But THAT (last night) was NOT a 'wasted gem'.
By the bye, as bad as last year’s team was offensively, they were like 10-12 runs ahead of this year’s at this time, offensively. (And it IS offensive. Ta-DA-dat)
Of course, I’d rather a team that sucked early, rather than one that lead me down a Primrose Lane of promises, only to leave me stood up at the altar of October….
Unintentionally Freudian, but you get the ‘point’.
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Right, my point is that had we scored 3-4 last night it wouldn't have been enough.
Whereas for most of the season so far, it would have been.
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 see your pint, and give you one more.
Drink up!
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions
kAnd, really, you of all people should have been commenting on my second paragraph, not getting all serious about the first....
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 6:43 PM PDT up reply actions
but the party's just getting started!
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
So early?
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 26, 2011 6:43 PM PDT up reply actions
sometimes even earlier!
also, lineups were posted earlier somewhere…
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
You're just trying to kill the fun
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
oh i'm trying to make fun of you in the game thread.
so there’s that.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Trying being the keyword
"You ain't got nothin to say, it was perfect" -Dallas Braden, 05/09/10
hell hath no fury like a Cowboys fan scorned. -Leopold Bloom
He won't know how to use them
These youngun’s need aGPS
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
It isn't over-reacting to feel as if...
this is going to be the same old same old year. With good to great pitching and it goes for naught because of the horrendous inability of the A’s to put runs on the board. How many years does Beane have to watch the same thing happening to fix it?
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