The Youth Movement is Back
by danmerqury on Jun 21, 2011 9:37 AM PDT
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PrintTwo weeks ago today, 2008 first round pick Jemile Weeks was called up to the majors for the first time. Since then? He's batted .364/.378/.591 in 46 plate appearances, which is better than any A's fan's wildest dreams. And he's not the only young bat to provide an infusion of hitting into this anemic lineup, as recent trade acquisition Scott Sizemore is hitting even better, with a stunning .387/.472/.548 line in 37 plate appearances. Obviously, those batting averages aren't going to hold up, but can we draw any rough half-conclusions from their play so far?
The first thing to notice is Scott Sizemore's fantastic walk rate. At 13.5%, it ranks second on the team behind Daric Barton's 14%, and if he qualified, Sizemore would rank 18th out of 163 batters in the majors this year. Sizemore has had nice OBPs in the minors, so this isn't entirely unprecedented. The high walk rate is fueled by an obscenely low swing rate at pitches outside of the zone, which is also near Barton-esque. The batting average will fall, but expect Sizemore to still take his walks and get on base at a fairly nice clip.
Jemile Weeks, on the other hand, illustrates the problem with small sample sizes. His walk rate is scarily low (think AJ Pierzynski low), and yet, he's swinging at pitches outside of the zone at a rate that is significantly better than average. And since out-of-the-zone swing rate is very strongly correlated with walk rate, expect Weeks to start taking more walks very soon.
Between the two of them, Mark Ellis and Kevin Kouzmanoff have cost the A's an astounding 16 runs this season with their bats. Their replacements, in a fifth of the time, have already almost cut that deficit in half. What else have you noticed about Jemile Weeks and Scott Sizemore?
The A's are in New York to take on not the Yankees, but the Mets. First pitch is at 4:10 Pacific.
Current Series
3 game series vs Mets @ Citi Field
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Oakland Athletics Tuesday, Jun 21, 2011, 4:10 PM PDT Mostly cloudy,rain. Winds blowing out to left field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 80. |
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| Wed 06/22 | 4:10 PM PDT | |
| Thu 06/23 | 10:10 AM PDT | |
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I've bought back in.
Pretty much completely.
Please play hard, A’s.
Reward my crazy faith in you.
by Leopold Bloom on Jun 21, 2011 9:53 AM PDT reply actions 3 recs
The emotional pivot point of course was the Geren firing.
That was the new bud growing out of what was thought was a dead tree.
The next trial, of course, is the next couple of weeks. The A’s have to hang close to Texas, even with the differential of schedule difficulty.
Then, the reinforcements start to come in, from within, and maybe even from without.
Beat ’em head to head more than they beat us, and 84-87 wins might just take this division.
"I heard the reason Geren never played Powell was so he could have someone around to fetch him a cushion."- UrgentMirth
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 21, 2011 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions
Ooh...now that we have New Bob...
Can we also have New Bud?
I nominate Bud Clark, former Portland mayor, and subject of this kinda, sorta, NSFW poster.
Don't you realise you'll find next monday or next Tuesday/Your golden shoes day
by PDXAthleticsfan on Jun 21, 2011 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Bud Clark would be great, but at this point I'd take Larry "Bud" Melman.
There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Jun 21, 2011 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
I was also thinking Bud Bundy would be interesting.
Don't you realise you'll find next monday or next Tuesday/Your golden shoes day
by PDXAthleticsfan on Jun 21, 2011 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm still holding out
I need to be able to sniff .500 before I let my heart get sunk
I’ve been overwhelmed and I’ve been underwhelmed. Can I ever just be whelmed?
by closetasfan on Jun 21, 2011 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions
Another interesting and impressive stat in Weeks' SSS
is that he only has a 3.1% swinging strike rate. League average is 8.4% and swinging strikes are (obviously) very highly correlated with future strikeout rates. Like Dan said, one might expect Weeks’ BB rate to rise since his O-Swing % is above average and he’s seeing an above-average percentage of pitches in the zone. These things might be contributing to a high BABIP, so it’s not inconceivable to think that as the BABIP falls, his peripherals will rise. (i.e. as he stops seeing so many pitches to hit, he’ll start walking more.)
"I think what baseball projects, and what classical music needs, is the sense that one goes to a live event not to experience greatness, but to experience the possibility of greatness.... Not every game is great but what we go for is the chance that this particular game might be.' —David Lang
As he cools down, other parts of his game heat up. I like that.
"I heard the reason Geren never played Powell was so he could have someone around to fetch him a cushion."- UrgentMirth
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 21, 2011 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions
That's what really gets me stoked about him.
Yeah, his BABIP is astronomical, duh. And he’s not going to bat .364 over his career. Also duh. And yet…there are parts of his game that haven’t shown up yet.
This is all true.
He’s actually going to bat .374
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Mini-trogdor
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Right. The other thing is that w/ a 3.1% swinging strike rate, he could have a low enough K% (even the 9.1% is quite low) that
even a more reasonable BABIP will still result in a high batting average.
"I think what baseball projects, and what classical music needs, is the sense that one goes to a live event not to experience greatness, but to experience the possibility of greatness.... Not every game is great but what we go for is the chance that this particular game might be.' —David Lang
by King Richard on Jun 21, 2011 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions
Percentage of pitches outside of the strike zone that Weeks swings at.
It’s lower than average. Not elite, but definitely lower than average.
Just like it sounds. It's the percentage of balls out of the strike zone that the player swings at.
Weeks is at 26.7%
To compare, the epitome of “free swinging” is Vlad, who has hacked at 46% of pitches out of the zone.
The lowest percentage is Carlos Santana of the Indians, at 16.7%
The other thing to look at would be actual contact % when guys swing at balls outside of the zone. The MLB leaders in that category are guys like Ichiro, Polanco, Callaspo who are up around 85%. Just for kicks, Albert Pujols is at 80% (so is Daric Barton).
So Weeks is at the low end of the scale as far as chasing pitches outside the zone, and when he swings he usually hits it (85% contact rate on outside the zone pitches, which would be right at the top of the league leaders)
As far as what it means? He’s getting pitches to hit and he’s hitting them, which is why the walk rate is so low. Over time those numbers will probably change a bit, and he’ll get more pitches out of the zone and take more walks.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
That's the at bat that put me over the top
His approach seems like a nice combination of aggressive and patient.
by Glorious Mundy on Jun 21, 2011 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions
The at-bat before
where he ultimately ot out was also very good. He fould off several good inside pitches from Lincecum and really made Lincicum work to get the out. I hadn’t had the opportunity to see a lot of his bats on T.V., but watching Saturday’s game, I was really impressed with his approach.
by longtimeasfan on Jun 21, 2011 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions
got my tickets
im going to citi field to see the A’s vs the NY Debts
anyone caught starting, promoting or participating in "the wave" should receive a lifetime ban from baseball
Debts! Awesome. Not to be confused witht eh other NY team, the Bankees.
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Jun 21, 2011 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions
anyone caught starting, promoting or participating in "the wave" should receive a lifetime ban from baseball
by CrackBaby on Jun 21, 2011 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
Also: the apparent Clipper-ization of the Mets is really kinda pathetic.
They have a huge payroll and an enormous natural fan base, but they’ve gone from competitive second fiddle to distant second fiddle in the NYC baseball market in recent years.
There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Jun 21, 2011 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
They were first fiddle in the 1980s
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
You're telling me!
I went to grad school in NJ in the late 1980s and early 1990s and I used to be able to drive to Yankee Stadium and get amazing seats minutes before gametime. I once sat directly behind home plate in a field-level box. A majority of other folks in the almost empty section were advance scouts from other teams.
There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Jun 21, 2011 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions
They will turn it around
Nowhere near Clippers-level second-fiddle. I’m pretty sure the only Clippers fan left is Coco Crisp.
"Once you go Bed....everything else is dead." - Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Jun 21, 2011 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions
One of the funniest lines IMO in the movies
In the movie (terrible movie..) “Bewitched” with Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman. They decide to exchange their deepest, most personal secrets before they get married. Of course, Samantha reveals that she is in fact a “witch”.
Will Ferrell’s character Darrin reveals, with much instant apologies and stammering, that he is…. a Clippers season-ticket-holder!!
A big LOL moment for me, and I was just walking through the room while the DVD was playing.
2011: Go Athletics!
by One won lost won on Jun 21, 2011 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I just noticed they’re playing the Mets. I wish I could go.
I’ve been overwhelmed and I’ve been underwhelmed. Can I ever just be whelmed?
by closetasfan on Jun 21, 2011 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions
i got an extra ticket for thursday day game
anyone caught starting, promoting or participating in "the wave" should receive a lifetime ban from baseball
weeks and sizemore have been a huge shot in the arm
i will admit i was wrong about sizemore. granted, its only been a sample size, but so far he has done way more than i ever thought he would, and i look forward to seeing more of him, ESPECIALLY over rosales, who is looking like everything i thought he was.
as far as weeks goes, how long has it been since the a’s had a prospect come in like this and just thoroughly take away a position from an established veteran?
I'd say the last one was Ramon Hernandez
they brought him up to catch and I thought, “Wha?!!! ..in mid-season!!” but he stuck and did well, until he stopped blocking the plate.
2011: Go Athletics!
by One won lost won on Jun 21, 2011 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions
comparing Suzuki versus Hernandez
After seven games and 28 PAs, Hernandez was hitting .458. After twenty games, .300 BA.
For Suzuki, seven games and 20 PAs, he was hitting .350 BA.
After twenty games, Suzuki was hitting .192. Fast fade.
2011: Go Athletics!
by One won lost won on Jun 21, 2011 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Suzuki was .249BA, .327 OBP, 7HRs, 248 PAs, 39 RBIs
That was his season in 2007.
Ramon Hernandez 1999 year?
.279 BA .363 OBP, 3 HRs, 158 PAs, 21 RBIs
I remember the Hernandez initial games …. He was “en fuego” early on, and Fosse was ecstatic.
2011: Go Athletics!
by One won lost won on Jun 21, 2011 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions
DREAD THE DREADS, BITCHES.
(yes, iglew, I know they aren’t “real” dreads. So what.)
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Why stop at Weeks?
I would like to see Carter, Cardenas, and Donaldson/Recker by the All-Star break.
Jemile Weeks hit a triple off Chuck Norris.
TRUE STORY.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
by mikev on Jun 21, 2011 10:15 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
And another off the most interesting man in the world
I saw it
by oaklanda'sfannotsj on Jun 21, 2011 10:20 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
But poor Marcel was watching something else.
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Jun 21, 2011 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions
Daric Barton texted Weeks about sharing some of the mojo, but
Jemile doesn’t swing that way!!!
Every man for himself...
Only because the ball imploded when it hit Chuck
ground rule triple.
But then Chuck picked him off twice.
by MobiusKlein on Jun 21, 2011 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions
True story on how coco became my girl's favorite player
So my girlfriend knew nothing about baseball before we started dating. So of course I bought her an A’s jersey and told her that they are the best team in the world, they’re getting there. I took her to a game vs the rangers and in the beginning of the game I was explaining to her the rules and what players played where. Towards the end of the game I told her I was going to quiz her on the players and what position they played. She got everything correct but she couldn’t remember who played center field. So she was really thinking about it, then she got a big smile on her face and said that she remembered. She yelled its CRISPY CRISP!! Hahaha I couldn’t stop laughing for the rest of the day. That’s how he became her favorite player
by oaklanda'sfannotsj on Jun 21, 2011 10:34 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
That's a great story.
My own girlfriend thought it was really cute.
Pavelski soaks panties faster than a firehose - Mr. Plank
by GoldenStateGuerrero on Jun 21, 2011 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions
crispy crisp..... hilarious
can’t stop chuckling about that
by heartstopper on Jun 22, 2011 6:27 AM PDT up reply actions
Weeks helmet
If only he could get a helmet that fits, so it wouldn’t come off every time he is running hard…
by GhostOfScutaro on Jun 21, 2011 10:40 AM PDT reply actions
if the helmet fit
how would it come off when he is running?
Put a bird on it
by Future Ed on Jun 21, 2011 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
if the helmet fits
you must acquit…right?
There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Jun 21, 2011 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
other way around
if the helmet don’t fit…..
by heartstopper on Jun 22, 2011 6:28 AM PDT up reply actions
Last Tuesday when he hit a triple (or was it a double plus third on the throw?)
I was having fun and yelled a couple times as he neared and rounded second “You lost your hat!” And for the next couple days when my almost-three year old son would see him run, he’d repeat “You lost your hat!”
by LoneStranger on Jun 21, 2011 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions
Willie Mays would lose his hat on purpose
He liked the excitement caused by his hat flying off…looks like you’re traveling so fast, the still air rips away anything not nailed down (kind of like the pickup truck at freeway speeds, with the garden debris flying, lifting up and out of the bed).
Mays learned that the way to be certain to leave your hat behind when running is to wear one that is too big, rather than a hat that is too small.
2011: Go Athletics!
by One won lost won on Jun 21, 2011 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions
So would Jim Bouton, and he was a PITCHER!
He liked his hat to fall off after pitches to show that he was throwing serious heat out there.
"I heard the reason Geren never played Powell was so he could have someone around to fetch him a cushion."- UrgentMirth
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 21, 2011 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions
i also wish his helmet would stay on
sure it might be “exciting” to see it fall off when he’s running fast but with his injury history and love of sliding headfirst, it’s a concussion waiting to happen
what are you talking about
players don’t wear wear their helmets after a single. they only have them on the bases when they immediately before were at the plate. they take them off when they reach first base on a single, 2nd on a double….etc.
the helmet is for protecting the head while batting not running the bases
by heartstopper on Jun 22, 2011 6:32 AM PDT up reply actions
Of course they wear their helmets on the bases
Tucker et al weren’t all hitting at the same time, were they?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
you’re thinking limb protectors and batting add-ons that impair running. they take those off and give ’em to the 1st base coach or a bat boy if on 2nd. but the helmet stays on till out 3, when, if still on base, a bat boy goes out to the runner to trade him for the now-needed glove. i mean, think of this… if they do in fact give up their helmets upon reaching base, what do they wear on their heads the rest of the way ’round (and in which pocket of their uni were they hiding it in)?
by AV on Jun 22, 2011 7:28 AM PDT up reply actions
How do we empirically know Kouz and Ellie cost us 17 runs?
I admit to enjoying the granular stats a little, something I’m not used to, but how did we equate that -17 to Kouz and Ellie? Surely they missed more than 17 RISP, it could not be that.
Light reading.
Short version:
Basically you can calculate the value of each possible outcome of an at bat. We know a HR is worth more than a double, a double is worth more than a single, etc etc. That’s wOBA. You can then convert wOBA into runs above (or below) average. It’s not literally runs scored
It’s a reasonably simple formula you can, say, plug into Excel, and it will give you the measure of a player’s offensive performance in a run value.
Ellis is at -11.5 so far this year. Kouz is at -4.2
The quickest way to find this information is to look at the fangraphs page and scroll all the way down to “Value”
The batting figure is the number of runs above/below average they are.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
by mikev on Jun 21, 2011 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Oh hey.
I wasn’t using park-adjusted numbers, and those figures are. So it’s more like 16 runs below average, not 17. That one extra run was swallowed up by the Coliseum.
JESUS DAN STOP SCREWING UP
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
It's cool. I'm not even allowed to rotate the tagline. Why would I want credit for anything else
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
-11.5 So remind me why we want Ellis back so quickly?
"Life is tough .... It's even tougher if you're stupid." - John Wayne
so quickly?? !!
Uh, I think all signs point to a leisurely return. First, he was put on the 15-day DL when he could have simply taken a couple of days off (according to him). Willingham is not on the DL, as an example.
The rules of the DL are such as to prevent a de facto 30-man roster by floating guys on and off the DL as a method of rotating in the “hot player” and rotating out the “shot player”.
So it isn’t a choice as to how fast you want someone back.
2011: Go Athletics!
by One won lost won on Jun 21, 2011 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Especially for starting pitching
1 day on roster, 4 on DL, etc
of course that was a typo
you mean 40-man roster….
by heartstopper on Jun 22, 2011 6:35 AM PDT up reply actions
They get that number by adding up all of their singles, doubles, etc, and comparing them to the average batter.
It’s not counting actual runs that score (or fail to score). Instead, they calculate that a single is worth a certain fraction of a run on average, and just tally everything up.
oh my god, you were just talking about batting runs
ouch.
I guess Ellis and Kouz would not have cost many defensive runs.
Put a bird on it
[squints]
Okay. So if we had the Total Average Joe Shmuckface Major Leagers batting for us, all things being statistically Kosher, 17 more runs would have come in than being stuck with, well, under-performance.
I worry about Kouz some. Can’t be easy to see your dream of big league ball burn so bad. I hope he finds a good path with a happy woman.
Exactly.
Most of that was Ellis, by the way. 12 of the 17 runs.
by danmerqury on Jun 21, 2011 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Doesn't swing at enough borderline pitches.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
lets hope the giants get him first
and he flounders some more
by heartstopper on Jun 22, 2011 6:36 AM PDT up reply actions
Things I've noticed...
- Weeks can get busted inside, will need to adjust or will hit too many routine short fly balls.
- Weeks has ok range, good athletic tools, but needs a lot of work on his throwing.
- Weeks has the “it” factor of being confident, a touch attitude-y, “I belong-y” that will serve him and the team well.
- Weeks will undoubtedly walk and strike out more as he settles in, but with his bat speed and foot speed figures to sustain a pretty high BABIP.
- Sizemore has a ton of work to do fundamentally at 3B (e.g., footwork) but is calm and makes reliably good strong throws. Seems to have the tools, just not the experience.
- Sizemore looks like he has real patience at the plate, including the ability to take close pitches with 2 strikes, so I expect his BB rate to stay strong.
- Sizemore has the tendency to flail at a good breaking ball out of the zone from a RHP, but who doesn’t?
- With his ability to hit for a good OBP with some “doubles, and the occasional HR” power and to play maybe a “decent” 3B, Sizemore reminds me a bit of Callaspo in overall value at 3B.
- I like the way the ball jumps off both Weeks’ and Sizemore’s bats. It’s one of the reasons I’m excited about both.
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
Is that from both sides of the plate? It seems Jemile can turn, batting right handed.
by theblackpearl on Jun 21, 2011 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Haven't really seen him enough from the right side to say,
but my recollections of him getting pitched, and tied up, inside are more from the left side.
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
had a double one game
when someone busted him inside when he was batting RH
by heartstopper on Jun 22, 2011 6:39 AM PDT up reply actions
the bat speed is the most exciting thing for me
weeks needs some work at the plate, but he does have great bat speed, which is a good sign for him as a hitter.
by guy incognito on Jun 21, 2011 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
According to the book "Physics of Baseball"
…bat speed is the most important aspect of successful hitting.
2011: Go Athletics!
by One won lost won on Jun 21, 2011 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
it cracks me up when people make comments about bat speed. like any of us know.
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
I swore that back in the day I used to see bat speed measurements on Sunday Night Baseball
"Once you go Bed....everything else is dead." - Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Jun 21, 2011 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah, they had that nike swoosh thing
and generated some number with it and talked about Gary Sheffield.
I am guessing that was junk science.
Put a bird on it
The solution is
All bats shall have accelerometers built-in.
"Once you go Bed....everything else is dead." - Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Jun 21, 2011 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Good idea. Also, with a sensor in the bat, check swing calls could be near-perfect, without appeals.
"I heard the reason Geren never played Powell was so he could have someone around to fetch him a cushion."- UrgentMirth
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 21, 2011 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions
But what will become of the humans?
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Resistance is futile
"Once you go Bed....everything else is dead." - Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Jun 21, 2011 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
There's a wrinkle to this that goes unappreciated
There’s being quick to the ball
There’s also having the bat moving quickly when it hits – what Adair is talking about.
You can easily have a guy with a slow (ie long) swing who hits the ball hard. In fact longer swings will result in faster bat speed since the player has more time to accelerate the bat.
Of course, if your swing is so long that you can’t react to the pitched ball you have a big problem. So there’s a balance that has to be met.
To my eyes (not intended to be an informed view),
Barton’s problem is that his swing is sufficiently quick but is not quick at the point of contact. In other words, his swing is quick start to finish but seems to hit the ball with a “lazy” force. What that would mean in terms of what he’s doing wrong or what he should change, I don’t know.
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
visual comparison alone
to Barton and Sweeney who seem to be swinging under-water; I say he has bat speed going for him too.
Baja been here
I'm not sure how much Weeks' K rate will go up.
I think he’s one of those freaks who can make contact with almost anything. I also think he’ll pair it with a good eye. The only thing that might not be there is power. If that comes, look out.
"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico
There's "power" and there's "slugging"
Weeks could double and triple his way into a pretty darn good slugging percentage.
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's not like his K rate is ridiculously low either.
"Some of us know him as the a-hole who piled into Ray Fosse in an All-Star game (it's why Ray is the way he is folks)" - OptimistPrime
Alvin "the troll" Dark
Let me know if i got this trolling thing right now Nico. I think there is a reason why Sizemore was principally a second basemen in Detroit’s system and it is that he has a below average arm. Not seeing the “strong throws” you are. What I have seen is a tendency to throw side arm, which is fine for a second baseman but will ultimately be a problem at third. I think both Bochy and Yost were looking for every opportunity to expose him at third with bunts.
Agree that Weeks throwing motion is not pretty. However, I saw nothing but results with his arm over the wekend, including a couple of high degree of difficulty turns on double plays.
You know who made a TON of sidearm throws from 3rd?
Eric Chavez.
Worked out OK.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
he still managed to make the throws just fine.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
So, if it weren't for your 'trolling' comments, you wouldn't have been trolling.
BTW, Charley says you’re fired.
by LoneStranger on Jun 21, 2011 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions
From what I've seen so far,
Sizemore’s arm does fine for strength and very good for accuracy. It’s the least of my worries so far (the most being the ability to know what to do on a ball that isn’t obvious to play, and my second most being his ability to avoid his own feet when making the easiest play on the planet).
Basically he can already make the routine plays when he doesn’t trip himself, but has made tons of mistakes on footwork and body positioning. If those go away with experience he could be fine; if not then we’ll know why he played 2B.
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
don't you worry about footwork --can be learned by decent athlete
arm strength, not so much
eh?
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
que?
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
backwards que?
“Ring him up…”
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
Boy, I'm trying not to take sides here but you both make great points.
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 only replying to your "huh"
which I felt rebutted the “eh” impressively.
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
meow
"Whether they find life there or not, I think Jupiter should be called an enemy planet." - Jack Handey
by bluthbanana20 on Jun 21, 2011 3:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Agree with a lot of this
I think Sizemore is a bad third baseman with a noodle arm, and I also think that a throwing motion doesn’t have to be pretty to be effective. Kouz throws like a girl, but until he suddenly hit a wall this year, he was a very effective defender.
"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico
Whatever happens, it's all good
Doesn’t matter to me at this point if they make the playoffs. What matters is that they’ve put a product on the field that is watchable and interesting with a manager who seems to know what he’s doing. Honestly, in the last couple of weeks of the Geren era the games were just gruesome – too many automatic outs in the lineup, no spark, no interest. I had the games on but it was background noise, I didn’t pay a lot of attention.
They’re fun to watch again. If they get back to .500 it’ll be more fun, but I’m just glad that a team that has been dull in a crippling, stomach-turning sort of way for the last few seasons is finally entertaining.
by coffee roaster on Jun 21, 2011 11:03 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
+1,000,000
Win or Lose, it might actually be fun to watch
His (Weeks') right-handed swing seems more compact and powerful
Definitely a line-drive swing. I’d say his lefty swing looks a little loopy to me.
Also, I love how his helmet flies off on every XBH.
"Once you go Bed....everything else is dead." - Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
that should be a rule.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
If Ellis is activated from DL before the game on Wednesday, who's sent to Sactown?
Barton
Every man for himself...
I personally fope
"I heard the reason Geren never played Powell was so he could have someone around to fetch him a cushion."- UrgentMirth
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 21, 2011 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions
I go with fope, too.
He needs work on his approach to RHP, most definitely.
He is fine against LHP.
He also needs to not have his confidence shaken up a la Kouz (Kouz is a lost cause at this point, I’m sure most GM’s fear/believe that, too).
A bunch of fairly idiotic sentiment that is clearly not reality-based has Ellis replacing him at 1B (so we lose his superior D, and try Ellis in a position he hasn’t played regularly in a long time if ever), when Ellis’ stats lines are every bit as pathetic at Barton’s (while ignoring the fact that Barton has done just fine against lefties.) All in the hope that we can keep Ellis around to ‘mentor’ young Jemile.
It’s not worth it. Ellis should be given the facts and allowed to make his own decision: would he like to be traded, or would he like to retire, and oh, by the way, we, the A’s (and A’s fans) would prefer that he do the second because we want to offer him a cushy coaching job as infield coach. See what he says. Pretty sure he’s able to turn down a trade, no?
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Jun 21, 2011 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Cot's says he has some "protection" against trades but he's not 5-10 yet
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Has the FO seen Ellis' MiLB stat line?
WHY would they call him up? He is sucking in Sac.
i've never tried to rank them to be honest. i guess i like beer.- stm72
They can't just "not call him up"
It’s a lot more complicated than that.
2011: Go Athletics!
by One won lost won on Jun 21, 2011 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Something's definitely happening tomorrow.
Either call up or trade. All sources have been 100% consistent about that all along.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
What about Rosales?
Outside of that awsome HR he hit the first game back, his AB’s have been really ugly.
"Life is tough .... It's even tougher if you're stupid." - John Wayne
Interesting Dan. How many PA before o-Swing data begin to stabilize? 150?
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 11:31 AM PDT reply actions
probably depends on more than just sample size
after all, more swings means more video for opposing teams to study.
More ability to find weakness.
by MobiusKlein on Jun 21, 2011 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Case in point: Bob Crosby's o-Swing%
2003 – 16.9%
2004 – 17.2%
2005 – 21.4%
2006 – 24.5%
2007 – 24.0%
2008 – 24.5%
2009 – 25.5%
2010 – 26.0%
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Hee
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions
But also
∞
Don't you realise you'll find next monday or next Tuesday/Your golden shoes day
by PDXAthleticsfan on Jun 21, 2011 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions
specifically,
NaN – not a number
X / 0 = ∞
0 /Y = 0
if you let X approach zero, the answer is ∞
if you let Y approach zero, the answer is 0
if you do X / X as X approaches 0, the answer is 1.
Since it can have any value depending on how you approach it, NaN is the most sensible result.
Same for 0^0
Calculus told me to run away screaming when I saw 0/0
Reason why 0^0 is NaN… Its equal to (0^1) * (0^-1) so thats the same as 0/0.
You know, it may just be that he is color-blind.
i've never tried to rank them to be honest. i guess i like beer.- stm72
I'm sorry.
Just don’t hit me any more, daddy!
i've never tried to rank them to be honest. i guess i like beer.- stm72
Thanks
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Not quite sure.
Pizza Cutter did his correlational research on Swing%, not O-Swing%, but it stabilized below 40 PAs. I’d guess O-Swing has a larger sample size requirement, but not by too much. 100 or so?
So Sizemore's number is already somewhat meaningful?
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Hee...it was 12 times in 43 PA
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
They were until he walked -14 times in the next 25 PA
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Curious about something
Seems to me what I’m not seeing from the A’s as much this year are your standard line-drive singles over the head of the shortstop or second baseman that drops in front of an outfielder. Instead, what I’m seeing a lot are semi-hard hit liners that usually get caught but sometimes wind up in the gap for a double. Certainly, that’s what we’re seeing from Barton.
First, is this impression justified by statistics (and what statistics would justify it?). Second, if it is the correct impression, could this be a team-wide approach that’s not paying off?
A's rank 19th in doubles in MLB and 18th in singles
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Well, they have the sixth highest line drive percentage in the league, as a team.
Which is pretty crazy, considering their BABIP is second to last. Some of that has to be bad luck, hitting balls right at fielders, but some of it is surely because they’re not really hitting the ball with much authority.
Of course, it could also be a bias in the scorer’s idea of what a “line drive” is.
Nope. Not really.
HitFX would give us three pieces of data: mph off the bat, inclination angle, and azimuth angle. Those last two can be measured in other ways (but not to the precision that this would give), but mph off the bat is totally new, and it’d be really fun to play with the numbers.
So Cust hit the ball about as hard as Joe Crede?
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
ask missoakland
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
by stm72 on Jun 21, 2011 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
HA!
Um….
If you'll excuse me, all of you, I'm going to go tearily spill my heart out to my only friend, the water heater. --danmerqury
by MissOakland on Jun 21, 2011 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Also his ISO is down from .125 career to .055 in 2011
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions
I wonder if his hr/fb rate for his career was about 5%
which means this year he would be expected t have 4 HR or so his ISO would be around .100.
I think I am not doing it right, but his line drives and ground balls seem pretty much in line with his career, but he is hitting slightly more IFF and flyballs and the ladder are not going out.
Does he have mono or something?
Put a bird on it
the flouride in the water has destroyed the purity of his precious bodily fluids?
There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Jun 21, 2011 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions
The opposing outfielders play so shallowly...
…this could cause more potential singles to be caught by the outfielders.
On a team with more overall power the outfielders might play differently, which would result in more potential singles falling in.
I thought that too, but there doesn't seem to be much correlation between ISO and BABIP
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions
That's not really a good comparison.
More powerful players hit the ball harder, but they also tend to his more flyballs. And FB% is very highly correlated with ISO. I’m guessing the FB% effect is canceled out by the harder contact, which is why ISO and BABIP have essentially no correlation.
OK, then ISO should be positively correlated with BABIP on GB, BABIP on LD and BABIP on FB?
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions
And Matt Swartz answers my question
—BABIP on line drives is not very consistent per player, but is positively correlated with homerun rate
—BABIP on groundballs is more consistent, but can be better predicted by including data on a player’s infield hit percentage, percent of pitches contacted, and age
—BABIP on flyballs is best approximated using historical infield fly rates
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions
You are on the same thinking track
that I was thinking. Perhaps opposing teams look at the Athletics’ BIP charts for each hitter, and set their defense accordingly. A step or two makes all the difference. Perhaps the Athletics are hurt by consistently hitting “at ’em” balls because the variation in the direction of their batted balls in play is so low (low variation).
Too many “cancer clusters”.
2011: Go Athletics!
by One won lost won on Jun 21, 2011 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions
that would cut down on angles and they would be prone to XBH though
like Weeks’ double on sunday. He hit it just past the rover and it went for the game tying run.
Put a bird on it
a's are second to last in the league in iso...
other teams aren’t worried about xbhs at all….they will be if the a’s, like weeks did, prove that they can drive the ball, which would be ideal as it would push the outfielders back and lead to more of our dinky line drives falling in
Exactly right
In particular, Barton, Pennington, and Sweeney lose a lot of singles to a shallow and well-positioned OF. A few XBHs would solve it, but these are guys not overly capable of such, hence the problem.
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
The Jason Kendall Syndrome
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Eventually batting at second?
He’s not a pure speed guy like CoCo or Rajai, but he does get extra base hits. I’m thinking he may end up in the #2 spot over time.
Sounds great to me, and why not now?
We don’t really have a #2 hitter in that Barton has decided to be psyched out there and Pennington is really a “bottom of the order” hitter.
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 dunno. seems pretty bonehead to me...
Weeks jacked the stat for the slot up by being hot and batting 9th for a week.
Weeks has already been promoted higher in the order.
When Pennington bats 9th, it’ll start going back down again, and the next variable will be the next rookie to be called up and stuck in the 9th spot to get his feet wet.
"I heard the reason Geren never played Powell was so he could have someone around to fetch him a cushion."- UrgentMirth
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 21, 2011 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Bottom line in the article...
…is that given Pennington’s production, he didn’t belong in the #9 spot where he’d get the fewest at-bats. Welcome to Geren Ball, where nothing quite makes sense.
I think Pennington is in fact a #9 hitter
Good “double leadoff guy” strengths, but ultimately a “modest OBP, low SLG, good small ball” hitter.
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
Sure... on a team with 8 other capable players
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
He was so badass in MVP Baseball 2005.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
ah my gawd
I miss that game. Disc was inside my PS2 that got stolen about four years ago.
"Whether they find life there or not, I think Jupiter should be called an enemy planet." - Jack Handey
by bluthbanana20 on Jun 21, 2011 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions
G_S loves that game. I was quite the stud catcher.
by Leopold Bloom on Jun 21, 2011 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions
I still play it
my lineup:
lf Rickey Henderson
SS my son Ashe
rf Reggie Jackson.
dh Frank Thomas
3b Chavez
cf Dwayne Murphy
c me/Suzuki
1b Barton
2b Ellis
Jack Cust: Nothing but true results…. Sac OPS: .964
by Athletics fan and runner on Jun 22, 2011 8:23 AM PDT up reply actions
I think he had like 21 home runs for Reno
I saw him when we went up for Cat game last month and I was shocked to find out he was even still playing.
Weeks is a wild card at the moment
What we’re seeing now is not what he was in the minors – more patience, less power.
On the one hand, he was hurt a lot in his minor league career so those numbers may not be an accurate reflection of his true (healthy) talent. If he can add back the walks and keep the power then we have a really sweet player who would regress in BA, but make that back up in OBP. 300/380/450 with average defense at 2B seems possible.
Guys with his talent are much more likely to raise their game as the competition gets tougher so we can hope.
My biggest fear is that he is undone by an inability to stay healthy.
Comps:
Ray Durham 277/352/436 Career
Tim Raines 294/285/425 Career
Not to mention 808 steals with an 86% success rate
by Glorious Mundy on Jun 21, 2011 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
BB-Ref reckons he had 12 career WAR just in baserunning
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions
looks like the exact same guy to me
which is the amazing part…. you don’t see many guys come up and not miss a beat.
Lofton is another similar player (we hope)
299/372/423 Career
I don't see Weeks having the base stealing ability of Raines or Lofton though
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Wait'll he works with Rickey!
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
Why hasn't he done that already?
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions
He probably has.
Maybe they’re working on his hitting or something first. Can’t steal unless you’re on the bases.
by LoneStranger on Jun 21, 2011 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions
rickey has frequently worked
with the minor league teams
by heartstopper on Jun 22, 2011 6:49 AM PDT up reply actions
I was comping more along the lines of...
Fast guys who are selective at the plate and have some pop.
Whether he has that “je ne sais quoi” of base stealing remains to be seen, but he certainly has the speed for it.
Jemile brings it
Since I have seen Weeks play in recent games there seems to be a child like abandoment in his play. He’s always smiling and seems to have the look of pure joy on his face. That type of attitude seems to be infectious through out the A’s team. I don’t pretend to know the future but if he continues to play the same way he has been with the same love and passion he’ll only make the game and the A’s better!
Born and Bred a Bay Area Baseball Fan!!
by a's freak 1979 on Jun 21, 2011 12:43 PM PDT reply actions
Got to see midland play today
Green had a real nice game with 3 hits and jermaine also had 3 hits at the top of the lineup. Parker had game winning homerun and also had 3 hits. Green looked good today in the field. Green gave me a bat and signed it and talked to me a bit about how great weeks is playing.
by buckfan6 on Jun 21, 2011 12:56 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Parker and green looked pretty good to me
I watched them take ground balls in between inning. There gloves look good but arms need to get stronger. Green told me he had back spasms and said that he’s good now and hopefully start hitting for more power. Jermaine wasn’t a real nice guy. He was like I don’t sign with pens but he did it anyway
by buckfan6 on Jun 21, 2011 1:34 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Jermaine signs only in pencil?
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions
When you're on the A's, that's probably wise
“Jermaine Mitchell, Oakland A’s Arizona Diamondbacks”
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
.
Willingham says he won’t play today or tomorrow. Might play Thursday if Achilles is better but that sounds 50-50.
this team is playing the dumbass day to day game again. achilles injuries are always serious. dl him. it’s utterly stupid to play shorthanded in nl parks…
He should be DL'd to get ready for the stretch drive, in case there actually is a stretch drive for us.
"I heard the reason Geren never played Powell was so he could have someone around to fetch him a cushion."- UrgentMirth
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 21, 2011 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions
He should be DLed because
1. He’s replaced by Matsui for 6 games anyway
2. The interleague games would take him to 9 games off anyway
3. Achilles heel injuries are the consummate “better wait a day too long than a day too few” injury.
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
Makes sense to me
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Might they be keeping him off the DL to trade him?
Help the A's help Japan. www.oaklandathletics.com/japan
by Englishmajor on Jun 21, 2011 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Doubt it.
Teams want healthy players, so if Willingham is going to be healthier long-term by going on the DL it doesn’t affect his trade value, I wouldn’t think. I also doubt they’re looking to trade him now as opposed to in July.
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
Well yeah but you can't trade guys while they are on the DL without commish approval or something
So if, say, Atlanta or Philly wanted him RIGHT NOW, putting him on the DL would be a bad thing.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
what's the deal with DeJesus?
he’s not in the lineup again today…are they phasing him out for a trade? It seems like he hasn’t played consecutive games in more than a week…
He has limited options
really. I am in the give-him-time mode. No negatives will cross these lips or fingertips relative newbob until his grace period expires – tic toc
Baja been here
no he doesn't
dejesus is better than sweeney offensively and matsui when defense is taken into account. barton is better than jackson against righties and jackson should pretty much never play against righties.
pennington shouldn’t be allowed near some college teams’ number 2 spot in the order.
Barton's line vs. righties: .193/.309/.224, ops:533. Jackson: .213/.286/.266, ops: .552
If you are using wOBA: .250, wRC+ 56 for Barton. Jackson: .256, 60.
So: 1) Jackson is ‘better’ than Barton, slighly, but the real bottom line is neither one of them whould be starting vs. righties, based solely on their performance this year. Both of them need to be in the lineup against lefties, while Sweeney and DeJesus need not to be. It shouldn’t be all that hard to manage this: either Sweeney or De Jesus should be able to play a passable 1B, just like Jackson, once Willingham is back in the lineup.
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Jun 21, 2011 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Whom do you think DeJesus should play ahead of? Sweeney?
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I think at least one of Matsui or Willingham is a necessity according to Melvin
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes but then neither is Barton by that standard. In fact we'd have almost no players
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions
barton and dejesus are at least young enough that i'd expect improvement or at least some positive regression
not so much with matsui.
I'm kinda scared of Matsui in LF too. Makes me want to play 4 OF.
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Can we do that?
Maybe Matsui LF, Sweeney, LF/CF, Crisp RF/CF, DeJesus RF?
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
Maybe if Matsui hangs around the ball girl no one will notice
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions
DDH is battintg like 092
in the last 11games
by heartstopper on Jun 22, 2011 6:52 AM PDT up reply actions
You didn't take Spanish, did you?
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
For Matsui if we're winning and as a PH if we're losing?
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Matsui should absolutely be replaced defensively
after his AB in the 6th or 7th. Worth sacrificing 1 PA for 3-4 innings of defense.
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
Oy, the pain
I remember a bunch of Cust replacements late in the game where the other team tied it anyway, and we missed having Cust’s bat.
But that’s damned if you do, damned if you don’t territory.
I loved reading Jane Lee's article on Weeks on oaklandathletics.com
(Her full article HERE)
Hearing Beane talk about their process in drafting him was pretty cool…
Staring back at them was film of a speedy switch-hitting infielder out of the University of Miami. He was listed at a generous 5-foot-9 and displayed a knack for flare, flash and extra-base hits. Even more, this player greeted the latter with a fast set of hand claps once securely on the bag and standing.
And that’s when Beane and Co. decided to make Jemile Weeks their first-round pick in 2008.
“We were trying to make a decision on a couple of guys,” Beane recalled, “and I said, ‘We need some of that. I want to see a guy who does exactly that.’”
Hell yeah Billy, me too.
You know you are big-time when people chant your name while you pee. - 67MARQUEZ
Also he might have drafted Hicks if he agreed to pitch
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions
It's just fun to be actually excited about the team again.
"If you leadoff and you play every day, you’re guaranteed to bat with the bases empty at least 162 times."- Tim McCarver, July 8th, 2006
John Shea's twitter:
Ellis was to fly to NY today, be activated Wed. Taking high road, wouldn’t be surprised if Weeks stays at 2B (gotta ride wave)
Sounds like they’ll keep Weeks and Ellis on the roster.
Bob Melvin quoted by Ostler in the Chron:
We have two great players. Mark Ellis means a lot to this organization and is an excellent player, and Weeks has really shown what to expect (from him) in the organization (as he was) coming up. Either way, we’ll figure it out somehow. You’d rather have tough decisions than easy ones.
Why the hell not? Get Vucinich on the phone dammit!
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions
They apparently made a "home team" set only
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
Vucinich! (shakes fist)
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Jun 21, 2011 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions
They could have easily taken one more trunk on the road,
and the gold alts would have accessorized fine with the gray pants and green hats.
"I heard the reason Geren never played Powell was so he could have someone around to fetch him a cushion."- UrgentMirth
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 21, 2011 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions
This makes me wonder if they're weren't already sent to NY, they're just waiting for approval.....
JaneMLB Jane Lee
I’m hearing the gold jerseys could make a special appearance on the road this week. Stay tuned.
by LoneStranger on Jun 21, 2011 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions
there we go!
hey little girl
…want a cookie?
by ChickenStanley on Jun 21, 2011 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions
YUP!!!!
hey little girl
…want a cookie?
by ChickenStanley on Jun 21, 2011 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Ha ha ha. The sun doesn't blind you, longtimefan
Where’d you go?
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
Did he also hint at whether
the curving line drive he just called down the LF line was fair or foul?
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
hmm
joestiglich Joe Stiglich
by townsendradio
Gold jerseys didn’t make trip w/#Athletics, but team could still send for them, I’m told. Gold jerseys, green hats, gray pants. Picture it.
52 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply
hey little girl
…want a cookie?
by ChickenStanley on Jun 21, 2011 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Screw the league. Wear the Gold.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
by mikev on Jun 21, 2011 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Yeah, what are they going to do?
Cancel the game in front of a sold-out crowd?
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
the only thing MLB would do
is fine the team and internally berate them
hey little girl
…want a cookie?
by ChickenStanley on Jun 21, 2011 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Then we'll NEVER hit a homerun!
The fences are absurdly far away as it is.
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
They likely wouldn't even do that.
MLB isn’t fascistic about uniform enforcement, unlike the NFL.
"I heard the reason Geren never played Powell was so he could have someone around to fetch him a cushion."- UrgentMirth
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 21, 2011 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions
I should have said
the worst thing they would do is
but I agree with you. I doubt they would do much if anything
hey little girl
…want a cookie?
by ChickenStanley on Jun 21, 2011 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions
just great. another blue ribbon panel will need to be commissioned.
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
I would like to commission a blue ribbon panel to replace the keg of Blue Ribbon in my garage that just tapped out.
Preferably at no expense to myself, of course, through some sort of revenue sharing arrangement.
"I heard the reason Geren never played Powell was so he could have someone around to fetch him a cushion."- UrgentMirth
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 21, 2011 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Technically, but teams violate it eight ways from Sunday anyway.
Tampa Bay’s plaid hats weren’t approved a year in advance.
Teams wear their batting practice jerseys in games on occasion too, without penalty from the league.
"I heard the reason Geren never played Powell was so he could have someone around to fetch him a cushion."- UrgentMirth
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 21, 2011 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
what's the issue with the gold jerseys?
I thought they were the “alternates” like the green tops of yesteryear? Didn’t they wear those on the road too?
No but they never had an OMG supersticious 5 game win streak in them.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Lineup
Oakland Athletics
@Athletics Oakland Athletics
#A’s lineup tonite in NY: Weeks 2b, Pennington ss, Crisp cf, Matsui lf, Jackson 1b, Sweeney rf, Suzuki c, Sizemore 3b, Outman p.
So I’m guessing Crisp plays LCF and Sweeney plays RCF and Matsui tries to hide on the foul line.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Barton sitting again against a RHP?
Dude’s getting sent down tomorrow.
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
Unfortunately, yes
"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/
You can tell Melvin hasn't been a Barton fan since he got here
Besides didn’t Jackson have a pretty nice season when he was managing the D Backs?
Jack McKeon is gonna bench Hanley Ramirez cuz he doesn't hustle
and replace him with Freddie Pateck cuz he had some good years when McKeon was Freddies’ manager
Put a bird on it
I thought it was because Ramirez showed up late to the ball park?
I think Ramirez must be a real dick to be benched by two different managers.
Also, is he really batting .200? Holy shit.
Okay, I get the joke now.
Hey! Louie C.K.'s excellent series "Louie" is back on Netflix instant view
(I discovered this because my twelve-year-old just asked me if it was appropriate for him to watch. Er…no. But it’s really great. So, adults, if you haven’t seen it, check it out.)
There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Jun 21, 2011 6:12 PM PDT reply actions
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