We've got some guys tearing it up in Sacramento

Weeks, Cardenas, and Jai Miller are hitting the ball pretty well down in AAA. At what point do we take a 4.75M+ guy (Kouz, Ellis, DeJesus) and say enough is enough? Can you ever do that with a guy like Ellis?
On a side note, is Jai Miller our replacement for Coco next year? It's hard to ignore a 1.129 OPS from a 26 year old CF.
Am I totally crazy for even bringing this up in the midst of a 2 game winning streak?

about 1 year ago A'sFanDFW 25 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Sacramento

I think this needs to be more about what sort of needs the A’s have instead of who is kicking butt. Actually more of a combination of both.

Outfield. If Geren would wise up and bat conor jackson instead of dejesus more, I think the outfiled would be pretty set. Plus, I’m not sure how many more hits Ryan Sweeney can get in his little playing time. I just don’t see a place for Jai Miller right now, although I will be excited to see him next year, or later this year if we get some injuries.

2b. I think it might be time to bring Weeks up. Ellis is batting pretty terribly right now (That almost HR last night was bad luck though). Weeks has always been good, its just more of a question of health. I dont see him being any more injury prone in Oakland than I do in Sacramento.

3b. Now that LaRoche has cooled off somewhat, I think everyone would love to get more offense from the 3b position, however I just don’t see there being that much of an upgrade in AAA. Cardenas hits for a ton of avg, but almost no power (Think Sweeney), but for whatever reason, they are playing him at DH, so I just dont see that being an upgrade.

by GhostOfScutaro on May 10, 2011 9:31 AM PDT reply actions

I'm still crying

About the Wallace trade. Beane’s reasoning for letting him go was that his defense was atrocious at 3rd base….ring a bell anyone???? He is hitting about .360 last time I checked and at his torid pace not only will he be the rookie of the year but also an All Star. Michael Taylor on the other hand is still hurt…..and 25 years old now. When we traded them I was weary because of how highly I thought of Wallace,but now it’t just downright upsetting.
Carlos Gonzales, Greg Smith, Huston Street=Matt Holliday
Matt Holliday= Brett Wallace, Clayton Mortensen
Brett Wallace=Michael Taylor
Brett Wallace=MLB Hitter
CGO=MLB STUD
Michael Taylor=?

by Matt Sampson on May 10, 2011 11:05 AM PDT reply actions

Wallace won't continue his torrid pace

Taylor being injured right now is bad luck. He’s still a more complete player than Wallace will ever be.

Wallace just looks bad for the A’s right now because the A’s don’t hit very well as a team. His future is as a DH only and we already have one of those guys assuming the Carter Experiment in LF ends soon.

Carter will hit for more power than Wallace, most likely. It’s fine.

Last of the Ninth - Photography

by Flashfire on May 10, 2011 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I totally agree with you

but Jesus Christ, I just want an A’s prospect to hit like an MLB player in Oakland. I don’t care if it’s a fluke, for real or whatever. I just want to see a young guy come in and rake. One day…

by Kyle_B on May 10, 2011 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions

By the way, Gonzalez hasn't been much of a stud so far this season

Last of the Ninth - Photography

by Flashfire on May 10, 2011 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Brett Wallace?

I have two words for you – Chris. Shelton.

Chris “Next Pujols” Shelton was batting .371/.436/.914/1.350 on April 23rd 2006. He had hit 9 HR in 19 games. He was the best thing since someone decided to press the olives and see what comes out.

Chris “Apparently Not Next Pujols” Shelton also batted .215/.317/.352/.669 with 9 HR over 146 games between that April 23rd and what was to be a very quite end of an also-ran career.

Or, to paraphrase Peter Jacobsen: “The slums of Chicago are full of non-fielding, one-month-wonder first basemen”

2011 Oakland Athletics: We have Cy Young pitchers and make yours look like it, too

by elcroata on May 10, 2011 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm using this in conversation at the next opportunity

He was the best thing since someone decided to press the olives and see what comes out.

by Glorious Mundy on May 10, 2011 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions

I am a huge olive oil fan

I take about ten liters every time I go to my island and bring them back to Germany with me. On a plane.

2011 Oakland Athletics: We have Cy Young pitchers and make yours look like it, too

by elcroata on May 10, 2011 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Flashfire you always seem to

Bring my hopes up and look on the bright side. I really like Taylor as a player, he was a stud in the Phillies organization. As for Carter, I really hope he can get his hacks in this year because his k/hit ratio is realllllllly bad.
Lets just hope they can both tear it up in Sacramento this year when they both get in the swing of things.
BTW does anyone have an update on Taylor’s scheduled return. I know he has a hand issue, but I can’t seem to find anything on his injury anywhere

by Matt Sampson on May 10, 2011 11:18 AM PDT reply actions

We just have to be more patient with a few people

Wallace went from the Cardinals org to the A’s to the Jays and now to the Astros before even making his debut last season. He’s had an extremely high BABIP up to this point (currently at .398, already dropping from being even higher recently).

Taylor and Carter are both question marks but word was in Arizona Fall League Mattingly found a hitch in Taylor’s swing that he’s working to eliminate. I’m not sure if he had it in the Phillies org or if he developed it once he came here, but if Mattingly finds something that can be improved chances are he knows what he’s talking about.

They both just have to heal, get back on the field and improve. They’re not all that close right now to being back, though.

Last of the Ninth - Photography

by Flashfire on May 10, 2011 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions

I really don't see any need for those guys to make it up this year

Unless we trade DDJ, Coco, or Willingham, we don’t need those guys. We already have one outfielder with a .344 OPS and another at .414 (CoJax and Sweeney). We’ll need one of Carter/Taylor/Jai Miller next year to pan out, but that’s about it.

John 3:16

by A'sFanDFW on May 11, 2011 7:04 AM PDT up reply actions

*wOBA not OPS

John 3:16

by A'sFanDFW on May 11, 2011 7:17 AM PDT up reply actions

Even if you think Jackson can continue to hit well

He’s still a FA at the end of the year

"Minutes from the last save opportunity...Balfour got 3 outs..."- Nico

by stranahanahan on May 11, 2011 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Also

Wallace was at .383/.448/.543/.990 after May 3.

After a bad half-dozen games, he’s at .330/.397/.464/.861

There will be fluctuation with him, no doubt.

Last of the Ninth - Photography

by Flashfire on May 10, 2011 11:34 AM PDT reply actions

I like Miller too.

He seems to have made major improvements with regards to his walk rate (14.4% this year). His K rate also improved a bit but that’s like saying orange fire is a little less hot than blue fire. It went from an abysmal 38% last year to a still pretty bad 32% this year. If anything, that’s the thing that’ll keep him from being a major league player.

"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."

by lenscrafters on May 10, 2011 1:37 PM PDT reply actions

I have been pondering the question...when do we cut ties with Ellis?

I love Mark Ellis. But we can’t have this absolute black hole in the lineup. And also like Kyle I just want one hitter to come up and impress me. I think Weeks could be the guy, highly touted prospect, has the pedigree, and the numbers.

Yes, Ellis almost hit one out yesterday, but almost hitting one out in an extreme hitter’s park isn’t really impressive.

Weeks is looking very very good. And if he fails, we have LaRoche who could fill in adequately at 2B.

I am thinking when Rosales is healthy, if Ellis hasn’t turned it around by then, he will lose his job to Weeks; between LaRoche and Rosales we would have quite an insurance policy on the infield.

by Billy Frijoles on May 10, 2011 1:39 PM PDT reply actions

So where does Ellis go?

Do you keep him as a backup INF with LaRoche and leave out Rosales? This seems like the most likely option that is both good for the team and doesn’t disrespect Ellis by releasing him.

John 3:16

by A'sFanDFW on May 11, 2011 7:11 AM PDT up reply actions

Just wait for the injuries

Then the A’s will be forced to promote some minor leaguers, and if one of them plays really well then he’ll find his way into the lineup.

by DaymanCometh on May 10, 2011 1:41 PM PDT reply actions

Dayman, ahhhahhhh, Fighter of the night man, ahhahhhh

by jeffro on May 10, 2011 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Injuries

This is exactly why we wouldn’t cut ties with Ellis, but maybe just have him as a backup infielder. At worst, a defensive replacement.

PS. Is ellis signed through this year or next?

by GhostOfScutaro on May 10, 2011 3:09 PM PDT reply actions

I'm pretty sure this year was an option year for him

We don’t owe him any more money.

John 3:16

by A'sFanDFW on May 11, 2011 6:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Miller's most likely a 4A guy

the next Matt Carson, if you will – with pinch running abilities.

The guys I see most likely to be called up are Weeks and Cardenas, and I’d personally like them in Oakland ASAP…but what corresponding moves do you make? The most likely seem to be DFAing LaRoche and optioning Blevins….dunno if it’s worth it.

I see you driving
round town with the girl I love
and I'm like, haiku.

by noava22 on May 10, 2011 3:44 PM PDT reply actions