Offseason Recap and the Return of the Community Prospect List!
by Zonis on Jan 23, 2012 6:34 AM PST
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And now we go to the 2015 team, or as I would like to call it, the Community Prospect List!
With all the trades we have experienced this off season; the list should look vastly different compared to last years. This year, I am also going to try a new voting style. Expanding from last year’s recommendation for drop system, this year I will not be attaching a poll at all!
Instead, in order to vote for a prospect for the current round of voting, find the first comment in the thread that says “VOTE FOR [PLAYER NAME]”, for example, “VOTE FOR GRANT GREEN”, and add a +1 Comment that comment. If the player that you want to vote for does not have a comment, create it yourself by typing “VOTE FOR [PLAYER NAME]” for your comment, and post. Only the first comment will count for that player’s voting, so watch for the green.
There are about 11 or so weeks until Opening Day, so we will be doing one voting thread per week until the season starts. So get ready, set and VOTE!
I told AN’ers I would be delaying this year’s Community Prospect List for a few reason [See the bottom of the post for the Community Prospect List!]. Some were for myself (lots of work, which is why you have not seen me on the front page for a while), but primarily because of the increasingly apparent strategy the A’s were taking early in the off season, as they laid hints that the move to San Jose would be approved, presumably at the January Winter Meetings, and that the groundwork for a competitive team circa 2015 would be their main priority. What did that mean for the A’s, AN, and a much depleted farm system? It meant a few years of sucking in order to garner high draft picks, and a trade of everything of value on the team, even if that piece was going to be around for a few more years.
And it did not take long to see that this was necessary. The Angels won the bidding war, out of nowhere, for Albert Pujols, out from under the grasps of Miami’s higher bid and the Cardinals home town advantage, and the Rangers won the Yu Darvish bidding war from Japan. These two signings in particular shows that the A’s were now relegated to the far, far back. The Angels and Rangers had announced massive television deals that would seemingly pay for their entire payroll (making everything else gravy), and the Mariners still made much more than the A’s. Cisco Field and San Jose became the only thing that the A’s could dream about to save themselves from destruction. Because it was one thing when you were in a division with 3 other middling payrolls, it’s another when you are in a 5 team division with two Yankee-Red Sox wannabe’s and a new team, with a new owner, with something to prove.
Accompanying this, there came the news every day of the newly christened Miami Marlins, with a new stadium in hand, bidding massively on every top free agent under the sun (albe losing out on them as well). The point is that they believed that they could pay for them, and that gives the A’s hope for the future.
So it began. After firestorms of rumors, and a bidding war around Gio Gonzalez, the A’s decided to trade… Trevor Cahill? The A’s sent Cahill and Breslow to the Diamondbacks for a package of Pitchers Jarrod Parker and Ryan Cook, and Outfielder Collin Cowgill. Gio Gonzalez was dealt to Washington for Pitchers Brad Peacock, AJ Cole, Tommy Milone and Catcher Derek “Soon to be called Chuck” Norris. Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney were dealt to the Red Sox for outfielder Josh Reddick, infielder Miles Head and pitcher Raul Alcantara. They expressed interest in Jorge Soler, a 19 year old, five-tool outfielder from Cuba.
Meanwhile, Josh Willingham was let go to Minnesota, David DeJesus wandered off to the Cubs. Instead, they were replaced by the aforementioned Josh Reddick and Colin Cowgill, as well as by a resigned Coco Crisp (for a massive amount of money considering his age and performance, but presumably to pacify the Players Union), and Seth Smith, acquired from Colorado in exchange for Guillermo Moscoso and Josh Outman. And now, just recently, we hear about the singing of Bay Area Native Jonny Gomes.
So now the A’s outfield seems rather full (sorry, Michael Taylor), and the rotation has been freed up for… what? Prospects and returning injured starters Dallas Braden and Brett Anderson, whenever they recover and play enough to be traded for more prospects.
Oh, and Jai Miller got traded somewhere in there too. At least we still have McCarthy’s tweets (and you can thank Wikipedia, Reddit and Google for that!)
There are three questions on the mind of A’s fans: Cisco Field, and what the team will look like come 2012, and 2015.
On the ballpark front, progress was made at the Winter Meetings, as the owners heard from the Blue Ribbon Committee, who might or might not have completed their report, the Giants have started suing San Jose to stop the move, and the A’s sound conservatively giddy about a possible forthcoming decision. Now we just have to figure out where the A’s will play for 2014.
For 2012, there are still a few moves that may be made. The A’s might sign Manny Ramirez to a minor league deal, though even if that occurs, he will not show himself until his 50 game suspension is up. The A’s might also try to deal from their glut of 1B/DH depth in the form of Brandon Allen, and then something has to be done about Michael Taylor if he does not make the team (after all, he’s about to become a complete non-prospect if this continues). And then, there is always the possibility that Kurt Suzuki will be out the door, made more possible by Victor Martinez’s recent injury. But first, let us see what we do have.
Catcher:
Kurt Suzuki
Anthony Recker
Josh Donaldson
Landon Powell (AAA)
Derek Norris
First Base:
Chris Carter
Daric Barton
Brandon Allen
Kila Ka’aihue
Second Base:
Jemile Weeks
Scott Sizemore
Adam Rosales
Eric Sogard
Adrian Cardenas
Shortstop:
Cliff Pennington
Adam Rosales
Third Base:
Scott Sizemore
Adrian Cardenas
Eric Sogard
Corner Outfield:
Josh Reddick
Seth Smith
Jonny Gomes
Collin Cowgill
Michael Taylor
Jermaine Mitchell
Centerfield:
Coco Crisp
Colin Cowgill
Michael Taylor
Designated Hitter:
Chris Carter
Brandon Allen
Kila Ka’aihue
Daric Barton
Jonny Gomes
Starting Pitchers:
Dallas Braden
Brett Anderson (DL)
Brandon McCarthy
Tyson Ross
Graham Godfrey
Jarrod Parker
Brad Peacock
Tom Milone
Relief Pitchers:
Grant Balfour
Fautino De Los Santos
Joey Devine
Jerry Blevins
Brian Fuentes
Graham Godfrey
Tyson Ross
Ryan Cook
Neil Wagner
Andrew Carignan
Going forward with that group, this is how I see the 25 Man Roster playing out to start the season.
C1: Kurt Suzuki
1B: Brandon Allen
2B: Jemile Weeks
3B: Scott Sizemore
SS: Cliff Pennington
LF: Seth Smith
RF: Josh Reddick
CF: Coco Crisp
DH: Chris Carter
C2: Anthony Recker
IF: Adam Rosales
OF: Jonny Gomes
OF: Colin Cowgill
SP: Dallas Braden
SP: Brandon McCarthy
SP: Graham Godfrey
SP: Tyson Ross
SP: Tom Millone
RP: Grant Balfour
RP: Joey Devine
RP: Fautino De Los Santos
RP: Jerry Blevins
RP: Ryan Cook
RP: Neil Wagner
RP: Andrew Carignan
I think the DH/1B situation will come down to a battle between Barton and Allen. My feeling is that the A’s play Allen a bit more, to see what he can do and see if he can be shopped, and if he struggles (or if Carter cannot hit in the Majors), Barton comes back.
I think Taylor will have to have an excellent spring to grab an outfield spot. The recent rash of acquisitions for mediocre outfielders, to me, shows their lack of faith in Taylor. If he makes the team, it will be at Cowgill or Gomes’s expense.
For the starters, I think the A’s will wait for Peacock and Parker to get more AAA experience, and delay their starting clock, while Ross and Godfrey hold the fort till they are ready. Meanwhile, Millone, who has a year of AAA under his belt, gets the nod as the 5th starter. I have no idea what to expect from Anderson (if at all) in ’12, so I left him out to start the season.
In the bullpen, I see Balfour getting the nod as the closer, and possibly traded midyear and replaced by either Devine or FDLS. The rest of the pen is rounded out by pretty much whoever is pitching well in spring training, or perhaps whoever’s arm is still attached.
And now we go to the 2015 team, or as I would like to call it, the Community Prospect List!
With all the trades we have experienced this off season; the list should look vastly different compared to last years. This year, I am also going to try a new voting style. Expanding from last year’s recommendation for drop system, this year I will not be attaching a poll at all!
Instead, in order to vote for a prospect for the current round of voting, find the first comment in the thread that says “VOTE FOR [PLAYER NAME]”, for example, “VOTE FOR GRANT GREEN”, and add a +1 Comment that comment. If the player that you want to vote for does not have a comment, create it yourself by typing “VOTE FOR [PLAYER NAME]” for your comment, and post. Only the first comment will count for that player’s voting, so watch for the green.
There are about 11 or so weeks until Opening Day, so we will be doing one voting thread per week until the season starts. So get ready, set and VOTE!
164 comments
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Comments
VOTE FOR CHRIS CARTER
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
by Zonis on Jan 23, 2012 6:35 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
VOTE FOR MICHAEL CHOICE
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
by Zonis on Jan 23, 2012 6:35 AM PST reply actions 12 recs
+1
Even with his strike out rate, I like his power and the fact that he can stick in CF. Parker is the better pick by the opinion of most scouts, but I want to wait another half season (in addition to last year) to see how his arm has bounced back after surgery.
by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Jan 23, 2012 8:16 AM PST up reply actions
We hope it is
And not a sign that he’s fouled easily even by low level minor league pitchers.
by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Jan 23, 2012 2:34 PM PST up reply actions
Don't we need to see how Choice does in AA before anointing him #1?
by branch rickey on Jan 23, 2012 8:54 AM PST up reply actions
No not really
last year grant green was our #1 prospect before playing in AA, and next year, our best prospect could be coming from this year’s draft, and therefore might not have more than 100 at bats in short season ball or A ball
Snoochies
I know I'll be in the Minority (and I probably should be)
But he’s got a high ceiling (capable of 30 HRs) and could plug a traditionally defensive hole in CF. He’s got the skills and athelicism, and he’s so far performed at 900+ OPS in both years in the minors.
Parker has done more at higher levels but he’s also already had surgery and tops at a number 2. My head says he’s the best prospect in our system, but my heart says Choice.
by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Jan 23, 2012 11:23 AM PST up reply actions
When I first read that I thought you said 900 OPS+
and I was thinking, “dang, I should have voted for him”
John 3:16
"If they want to pay me like Mike Gallego, I’ll play like Gallego." - Rickey Henderson
+1
"I'll guarantee this: The A's will have a better season in 2012." - George Zimmer
by cuppingmaster on Jan 23, 2012 1:30 PM PST up reply actions
VOTE FOR JARROD PARKER
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
by Zonis on Jan 23, 2012 6:35 AM PST reply actions 9 recs
+1
"Hello and welcome to another wonderful and frightening night of A's baseball." - Gaijin_Suketto
by EddieVegas_NRAF on Jan 23, 2012 8:53 AM PST up reply actions
+1
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was an idiot.
by the_rozeboom on Jan 23, 2012 9:20 AM PST up reply actions
+1
"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 Jan 23, 2012 10:32 AM PST up reply actions
+1
When we played softball, I’d steal second base, feel guilty and go back.
- Woody Allen
by rhymeswithelephant on Jan 23, 2012 10:55 AM PST up reply actions
+1
My mannerism a prism/ And it should shine
Light it if you would/ Be so kind, right now'd
Be A' Good Time
by DaRubiesSLOKingsA's on Jan 23, 2012 1:31 PM PST up reply actions
+1
What you fail to understand in your joyless myopia is that baseball is the key to life-- the Rosetta Stone, if you will. If you just understood baseball better all your other questions your, your... the, uh... the aliens, the conspiracies they would all, in their way be answered by the baseball gods.
+1
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was an idiot.
by the_rozeboom on Jan 23, 2012 2:37 PM PST up reply actions
+1
100% Athletics, 100% Baseball. 2009 Athletics, 40% Baseball.
+1
If Pennington manages 17 HRs, I’ll vow to consume an article of clothing to achieve a humorous effect --Joey C.
VOTE FOR AJ COLE
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
by Zonis on Jan 23, 2012 6:35 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Thought about voting for cole
but Parker’s and Choice’s near-major league readiness pushed me over the edge for them
Snoochies
Great stuff. gonna be fun to look at this year
I got him at 3. Just behind the guys you said.
by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Jan 23, 2012 3:20 PM PST up reply actions
I would give that a +1
Even at 19!
by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Jan 23, 2012 8:17 AM PST up reply actions
Does my +1 add any validity to the possibility that this will happen?
John 3:16
"If they want to pay me like Mike Gallego, I’ll play like Gallego." - Rickey Henderson
Of course it does
beane has to take notice…because you know….he’s always going and looking around these websites, and the more people who vote on this, the more likely he’ll go out and sign soler
end fantasy
Snoochies
VOTE FOR MICHAEL YNOA! ;-)
Keep hope alive!
by branch rickey on Jan 23, 2012 8:55 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Well, he has a sweet bike.
And he’s really good at hooking up with chicks.
"Hello and welcome to another wonderful and frightening night of A's baseball." - Gaijin_Suketto
by EddieVegas_NRAF on Jan 23, 2012 4:15 PM PST up reply actions
Bartolo Colon
He’ll start out in the rotation instead of Ross or Godfrey. I agree that Peacock and Parker need to stay in AAA for development and service time reasons.
Also, I don’t think the team’s done dealing.
Colon completely slipped my mind
probably my brain telling me something about next year…
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
in both cases
“shit”
interpret as you feel fit
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
by Zonis on Jan 23, 2012 2:01 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
+1
My vote is for forgetting Fuentes is in the Bullpen when the 25 man roster is made.
by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Jan 23, 2012 3:22 PM PST up reply actions
lol
"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 Jan 23, 2012 7:47 PM PST up reply actions
"So watch for the green"
Does that imply that we are supposed to hit the recommend button? Because that does not appear to be happening.
I would prefer
to see people hit the recommend button, so that we can see what the current vote talley is. It would also save all of the commenting space for actually comments, rather than plus ones.
What I assumed would be that people would rec the voting comments, so that they would stick out more.
It was my original intention, actually, to use a rec system for voting. But, people were more used to the MinorLeagueBall system of +1, and thats what it ended up as. Next week, I’ll put up a vote as to which system to use for voting (Rec or +1)
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
Sorry for starting the "+1" Zonis, I had a brain fart. :)
"Trying not to rec a "***k the Giants" post is like trying not to look at boobs."-anonymous
"i guess i just like beer"-stm
Ballot stuffing.
In terms of vulnerability to ballot stuffing, rec and +1 are equally easy for someone to do, but rec is much harder to trace after the fact.
Both are far better than a poll, both in terms of ease of cheating and ease of tracing it afterward.
Difference of opinion among my community is a sign of the bounty of God.
For what it's worth, I preferred the poll version,
in spite of the risk of tampering.
For future posts, I suggest a list of who all is eligible somewhere in the main post. Your “VOTE FOR XXX” comments serve a similar purpose, but for those who come late to the post they are all spread out and not easily seen.
Difference of opinion among my community is a sign of the bounty of God.
The tampering was so obvious last year, I'll take the messiness of this.
by Rebuilding Season on Jan 23, 2012 1:26 PM PST up reply actions
I am still perplexed that anyone would even WANT to tamper with
a poll like this. It makes about as much sense as tampering with your thermometer to affect the weather report.
Difference of opinion among my community is a sign of the bounty of God.
by iglew on Jan 23, 2012 3:59 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Oops. I voted twice for Parker above. Mainly because I am stupid.
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was an idiot.
by the_rozeboom on Jan 23, 2012 4:01 PM PST up reply actions
I opt to seed clouds instead and make rain.
Visit my blog the Todd Van Poppel Rookie Card Retirement Plan!!
I opt to pee on your head and tell you it's raining
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Jan 25, 2012 9:11 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Sounds like my favorite fetish bar in Key West
"Hello and welcome to another wonderful and frightening night of A's baseball." - Gaijin_Suketto
by EddieVegas_NRAF on Jan 25, 2012 2:28 PM PST up reply actions
How do you choose just one?
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 reason why I shied away from the poll this time around
was because I felt that we were too limited in the options for people we wanted to vote. We had such an ordeal trying to figure out who to put into the list next, whereas this gives you the opportunity to vote yourself.
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
no worries at all, there's really only about 4 legitimate choices for #1 in the system
Realistically it’s just between parker and choice. For the next round it could get more complicated (actually really complicated when picking the #3-5 prospects).
by Billy Frijoles on Jan 25, 2012 10:04 AM PST up reply actions
RE Kurt Suzuki out the door
Have no objection to comment in main post about Kurt Suzuki might be out the door soon. Wouldn’t be surprised if he stays or goes. But disagree that Vic Martinez’s injury makes it more possible. The Tigers have an astounding first-string catcher in Alex Avila. What they need most to replace Martinez is a proven hitter who will DH most of the time. If they want to find a decent hitter who can give Avila a rest by catching every fourth or fifth game, they are going to have a hard time finding that, and Kurt isn’t whom they’re looking for.
by nativetexanasfan on Jan 23, 2012 1:29 PM PST reply actions
yup.
Which they apparently have done with Fielder. Good God that is a huge contract.
by Billy Frijoles on Jan 25, 2012 10:05 AM PST up reply actions
For this round, yes.
There will be subsequent rounds for each number in the ranking. i.e. if Michael Choice wins this one, he will be number one, and then we’ll do it again for #2 without Choice as an option.
by Rebuilding Season on Jan 23, 2012 2:31 PM PST up reply actions
On a similar note, Sickels ranked our system 10th overall
Here. Though it should be noted that this is the first ranking he’s ever done.
Very cool. Thanks for the link.
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was an idiot.
by the_rozeboom on Jan 23, 2012 5:01 PM PST up reply actions
Number 10, yet still 3rd in the division
The AL West would probably have been the second toughest division going forward, even had it stayed at 4 teams. Adding another, despite it being the Astros, just makes it that much worse.
The last time the A's farm system was in the upper %
was the last time the A’s traded away the core of their team for prospects. And the last time before that, the A’s needed to trade away the core of their team to get enough prospects to have a decent farm system.
Now the Yankees … they’ve been legendary for not giving a rip about their farm system, because they just buy the finished products they want.
The A’s don’t have that cash advantage; never have had it. Even though they once led the league in payroll. So you’d think …
Isn’t there a trend there? Something obvious that suggests the last time the A’s brought up significant numbers of their own people, those people were named Zito, Mulder, Hudson, Chavez and Giambi? Something that suggests maybe there’s a good reason Grady Fuson – an “old-school guy” is back as a “special advisor” to the A’s FO?
Just speculating here, fella’s. Not trying to make anyone hyper-ventilate.
Back in the days of high draft picks....
Keep in mind that most of the players you cite were high 1st round picks, which have a much better success rate in general, and those players were highly coveted by a lot of teams. The only “hidden gem” Fuson can perhaps take credit for from your list was Hudson, as the Giambi pick predated Fuson’s tenure as scouting director.
The highest picks the A’s have had since 1999 were Michael Choice in 2010 (10th Pick), Jemile Weeks in 2008 (12th), Grant Green in 2009 (13th), Nick Swisher in 2002 (16th), and Sonny Gray in 2011 (18th). Of those, Swisher obviously turned into a very nice player, and Weeks is off to a good start. It’s too soon to tell on the others.
By the way, the other six 1st round A’s picks in that 2000-2007 period were 21st or later, by which time the talent level drops off substantially in most draft years.
Chavez – 1st round (10th pick) 1996
Mulder – 1st round (2nd pick) 1998
Zito – 1st round (9th pick) 1999
Giambi – 2nd round, 1992
Hudson – 6th round, 1997
by andyinfremont on Jan 24, 2012 12:28 AM PST up reply actions
This sucks that we need to make 3 huge trades
Just to be ranked number 10. Our drafts have sucked in recent years.
by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Jan 23, 2012 11:48 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
He's going to die choking on a ham sandwich in the clubhouse at Papago Park
A’s will list him as day-to-day.
"Hello and welcome to another wonderful and frightening night of A's baseball." - Gaijin_Suketto
by EddieVegas_NRAF on Jan 23, 2012 4:11 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
You might want to actually read the thread...
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was an idiot.
by the_rozeboom on Jan 23, 2012 5:00 PM PST up reply actions
It's a fair question.
The thread covers a lot of ground, not just the projected 2015 lineups. Specifically, we’re asked to speculate who will be in the starting lineup in 2012.
SP: Dallas Braden
SP: Brandon McCarthy
SP: Graham Godfrey
SP: Tyson Ross
SP: Tom Millone
…are speculated to be the Opening Day starters. Which is what begged the question: “Where’s Bartolo?”
And like I said before... you might actually want to read the thread.
Colon is mentioned above (and hours earlier) in regard to 2012 by laserbeams – before wcmori brings him up.
But maybe wcmori just missed that. Sorry to bring it up, and thanks for policing me.
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was an idiot.
by the_rozeboom on Jan 23, 2012 9:23 PM PST up reply actions
By the way, is "BoyHowdee" intended to be a Creem reference?
As a former Creem writer, I have to ask…
He's hiding behind Brandon McCarthy
I do like the fact that the A’s have two pitchers that could be the polar opposite from each other regarding their physical frames.
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on Jan 23, 2012 8:01 PM PST up reply actions
Here's a possible creative way to avoid "tampering" and make the thread more interested to read:
Have each commenter list their “1-3” and then create the top 3 list by who gets the most 1st place votes, who’s next, who’s next.
Next thread everyone lists their “4-6” with the same tallying system.
Obviously you could do it 3 at a time, or 5 at a time, whatever you want. Seems like it might be more interesting to read through the thread — people could even make their arguments after their vote.
Example:
1. Michael Choice
2. Jarrod Parker
3. Brad Peacock
Choice has a superstar’s ceiling of good CF defense and a 30HR hitter, has proven himself at single-A and appears poised to breakout. Parker combines “major league ready” with “#1 potential” and by all reports is healthy. I love AJ Cole’s potential but think Peacock gets the nod because while his ceiling is lower he is already major league ready and has had an excellent AAA season.
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
Oakland Signs Dominican Shortstop Yairo Muñoz
The Athletics have agreed to terms with Dominican shortstop Yairo Muñoz for $280,000 … Muñoz, 16, is a defensive-oriented, switch-hitting shortstop … is around 6 feet, 170 pounds
Maybe someone with subscribtion can add some more information.
More info from MLBTradeRumors
Munoz is said to be a “contact hitter who can drive the ball gap to gap, he uses his speed to leg out extra bases and he shows instincts to play the game.”
I'll get right on his "50%ile major league comp"!
{flips coin}
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
OK, so I guess I can add some reasoning here
I voted for Jarrod Parker as the number one prospect because I thought he had the best combination of past performance, ability, and projection. The fact that he was able to perform so well after the surgery has alleviated some of the injury concerns, and I think he will perform even better as he gets further from the injury and starts using his slider again.
I think I’m slightly more cautious on Choice than some others because of the K-rate. He does a lot of things really well but his struggles to make consistent contact at lower levels just feels a bit too scary for me. Maybe I’m overreacting to the struggles of guys like Carter and Allen, but I’m thinking I might vote for Peacock and Gray over Choice should Parker win out here.
Choice is in part an emotional pick, in that the potential he represents is bringing the first upper echelon homegrown slugger we have had in years
But besides the emotional component, it’s kind of the criteria that you use.
Parker is a safer pick to do well at the MLB level, and his ceiling is probably #3 or #2 starter. Regardless, barring major injuries, he should be able to fit in an MLB starting rotation for years. Which is very good. He’ll probably slot right into the rotation out of spring training if he’s healthy.
Choice as you say could amount to nothing. Or he could be the “carry your team” type of hitter, multiple all-star type player. I don’t see Parker being a fixture at the all-star game, but I see him being a valuable part of a very good rotation in the future. Choice could be THAT GUY.
by Billy Frijoles on Jan 25, 2012 10:11 AM PST up reply actions
Hmm, I guess I tend to value "floor" more than a lot of other people
But I’m not sure exactly why you think Choice has more potential to be a superstar than Parker. Parker has a live fastball that generates groundballs and , when healthy, a killer slider which can get a lot of strike outs. I’m not predicting he’ll become an ace but I think it’s at least as possible as Choice becoming a superstar.
TJS, and in general TINSTAAPP
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
That would seem to speak more to floor than ceiling
High injury risk could keep Parker from ever establishing himself as a successful major league pitcher but I don’t think it would explain why you don’t think he has superstar potential.
I guess risk of failure lowers the probability of all potential outcomes for a prospect, including ceiling, but it seems strange to me to use it in that context.
In Parker's case, it has to do with his reliance on his slider
and whether he’ll be able to throw it effectively without hurting his elbow again. We’ll all have the same question about Anderson when he finally starts pitching again, too. Those elbow problems might mean that they can be healthy, or really good, but not both.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Who wants to bet?
Dallas Braden will pitch fewer innings than Bartolo Colon in 2012. Just sayin’.
I'm willing to bet even money that Colon eats three of Braden's remaining toes.
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 definitely agree that Carter should be the opening day DH
He really can’t play left field and they should just let him hit every day for the first two months and see what happens.
Very disappointing, both in the A's and Cardenas
I really hoped the A’s could have called him up and used him either as utility or fill in 3B until we got someone better. Here’s hoping Parker returns to Stockton form, and not Midland form.
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
agreed
although i enjoyed having sizemore and his .249/ .345/ .433 (113 ops+) line at third base, and don’t think cardenas would’ve quite put up those types of numbers (probably a higher average, but lower slugging and maybe lower obp
Snoochies
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