Manny Ramirez and lineup predictions

by tjmacari on Feb 21, 2012 12:39 PM PST

As everyone knows, the A's now have a boatload of potential outfielders for 2012: Cespedes, Crisp, Smith, Reddick, Ramirez, Taylor, Cowgill, Gomes, and even Allen and Carter.

Pretty safe bet to start 2012 in OF: Crisp, Cespedes, Smith

4th OFer: Reddick

Battling for DH spot: Gomes, Carter, Allen, and I guess Reddick

Bound for AAA: Cowgill, Taylor

If, and it's a really big IF, Manny proves to be major league ready - you would have to think that Smith becomes the odd-man-out right? He's one of our best hitters but he's not an unproven rookie like Reddick with a high upside right? You would have to think that if you're going to give up an All-Star closer in Bailey for this kid, that they are going to give him a shot to prove he's a winner.

My prediction for June 1st:

1 Weeks, 2b

2 Crisp, cf

3 Cespedes, rf

4 Ramirez, dh (he's just too good a hitter be overmatched, despite turning 40 years old in June)

5 Smith, lf

6 Sizemore, 3b

7 Allen, 1b (I think he beats out Barton and Carter, he's like Chris but with a good glove at 1B)

8 Suzuki, c

9 Pennington, ss

I think Melvin has a good head on his shoulders and will rotate Reddick in pretty regularly and find a way to get him 450 AB's (plus the A's won't stay healthy all year anyway). It would be nice if Chris Carter realized that his stone hands are now jeopardizing his ML career and decided to put in the work to become an average first baseman.

I am super excited to see a 2013 outfield of Cespedes, Choice, and Green with perhaps Reddick taking the 4th OF/DH spot! Would be thrilled if Carter could somehow learn to play some defense and play 1B instead of DH (which either leaves him without a job or Smith/Reddick in 2013).

Tom

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Comments

Manny won't go to the pros right away.

Having not hit mlb pitchers for over a year, there is no way he goes right out of his suspension and onto the team. He will need to hit pitchers in AAA and show that he can perform. Then he’ll come on board. It will definitely be before the trade deadline and hopefully before July. So here is what my lineup looks like after the trade deadline. Aug 1st:

1. Crisp, CF
2. Weeks, 2B
3. Cespedes, RF
4. Ramirez, DH
5. Kila/ Allen/ Carter, 1B
6. Reddick, LF
7. Suzuki, C
8. Sizemore, 3B
9. Pennington, SS

by Mike Siegel on Feb 21, 2012 1:42 PM PST reply actions

He's going to be facing live pitching somewhere you can be sure, spring training facilities, wherever

and it’s Manny. If he hits in spring he will be on the roster, unless someone else on the team, 50 games into the season, is totally raking. In other words, hopefully we never see Manny in the regular season.

"and I left Pennington out because I think he will die of natural causes." -sourstuff

by OptimistPrime on Feb 21, 2012 6:10 PM PST up reply actions

According to the rules

He will get 10 games of minor league ball leading up to his return from suspension.

by tjmacari on Feb 21, 2012 1:56 PM PST reply actions

That's great!

If that’s the case then he could be up in June, unless he is doing terrible in those 10 minor league games.

by Mike Siegel on Feb 21, 2012 2:05 PM PST up reply actions

Manny will be eligible to play on May 30th

Before that it’s likely to be Cespedes, Crisp and Reddick in the outfield, with Smith at DH, and righties Gomes and Cowgill replacing lefties Smith and Reddick on occasion. When Manny comes back, somebody’s bound to be injured or strugging, and that’ll be who he replaces.

Feel free to visit my blog focused on the future A’s down on the farm: http://athleticsfarm.com

by wcmori on Feb 21, 2012 2:31 PM PST up reply actions

I agree

That this is a “problem” that will simply work itself out due to someone being exposed and struggling with playing time, or someone getting injured.

by tjmacari on Feb 21, 2012 4:28 PM PST up reply actions

Interestingly,

May 30th is Manny’s 40th birthday.
Just throwing that out there…

by Sean Fortuna on Feb 22, 2012 9:26 AM PST up reply actions

Yep exactly

I think that helps make him a low-risk/possible high-reward signing.

by tjmacari on Feb 21, 2012 2:13 PM PST reply actions

I'm going on a hunger strike until there is a resolution

to the San Jose decision. Please check in on me tomorrow.

by asyouwish33 on Feb 21, 2012 2:38 PM PST reply actions

I vow to only eat breakfast, lunch and dinner until the stadium issue is resolved

I will be skipping Second Breakfast , Elevensies, Afternoon Tea, and Supper.

"and I left Pennington out because I think he will die of natural causes." -sourstuff

by OptimistPrime on Feb 21, 2012 6:13 PM PST up reply actions

Jarrod Parker will not join you in skipping these ancillary meals.

Jarrod Parker@JarrodBParker

#NicknameFailure appreciate the honesty tweeps time to crush a 4th meal!

6:06 PM – 20 Feb 12via Twitter for iPhone

by Billy Frijoles on Feb 21, 2012 6:27 PM PST up reply actions

lol

this

by Andrew Nordmeyer on Feb 21, 2012 9:43 PM PST up reply actions

Lineup post Manny

1. Weeks 2b
2. Barton 1b
3. Cespedes cf
4. Manny dh
5. Reddick rf
6. Crisp lf
7. Sizemore 3b
8. Suzuki c
9. Pennington

Carter will be on the team getting AB’s here and there. Smith and Gomes get traded for two organizations’ 23rd best prospects. Allen and Cowgill are both on the team as bench players. A week after Manny gets back on the team, someone gets injured and Allen takes over and hits a ball out of whatever stadium they’re playing in.

John 3:16
"If they want to pay me like Mike Gallego, I’ll play like Gallego." - Rickey Henderson

by A'sFanDFW on Feb 22, 2012 9:16 AM PST reply actions

Ooops

Sizemore hurt knee today in ST. Severity unknown. Do A’s have Plan B? Donaldson?

Perhaps opportunity to trade xs OF stock for real 3B.

by Slip n Slide on Feb 25, 2012 12:03 PM PST reply actions

A "real" 3B will require more than the OF fodder we currently have

We would either have to trade talent we don’t want to trade, or settle for a mediocre 3B. I wouldn’t be too opposed to throwing Donaldson out there, if he could actually hit ML pitching.

by Furyan on Feb 25, 2012 3:50 PM PST up reply actions

Post-Sizemore lineup

Maybe easier to predict without Scott’s bat floating around the mid- to high-low part of the order.

Weeks 2B
Crisp LF
Cespedes CF
Manny/Smith/Gomes/Carter DH
Allen 1B
Reddick RF
Kurt C
Donaldson 3B
Pennington SS

I’m assuming Barton isn’t handed a job, that Allen gets 1B, and that he trumps Reddick in the order. If Allen starts slow, he’s easily dropped down (probably the first to be demoted in some way). Also assuming that any of the DH candidates gets thrown into the cleanup spot.

A hot Donaldson start gets him moved up a bit, same with Kurt. I can see Melvin fiddling with the lineup more this year.

by Mark H on Feb 28, 2012 11:00 AM PST reply actions