Billy Got All His Men

by oaktoon on Jan 25, 2006 1:28 PM PST

Loiaza

Bradley and perez

Now Thomas

It is the deepest team we've ever seen in the Beane era.

It is his best offseason ever, and he's had a number of very strong ones-- including last year and 2000-01.

The offense will be one of the league's 3 or 4 best.

The pitching should be one of the league's 2 or 3 best.

It is comparable to 2001 in terms of before the season talent (I would argue better, some might say the same, others a little worse-- but the key point here is comparable.

Payton ain't going anywhere and in fact is a vital part of the team and its ability to basically have 6 players at the ready for 5 lineup positions. Bobby kielty may be expendable but if a major injury occurs, he suddenyl becomes part of the mix, particularly against left-handers.

Bring it on!!!

0 recs | Comment 27 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Fu*kin' A off-season

Forget the "fu*kin' A trade," I think we can officially call it a "fu*kin' A" offseason.

Can't wait for the season to get here!

by Dog Days on Jan 25, 2006 1:30 PM PST 0 recs

What is fustarkin'?

Is that what happens when Jayson Stark grows a funny-looking goatee?

A Beane in the hand is worth $60M in payroll

by jeepers on Jan 25, 2006 1:32 PM PST up 0 recs

Yeah, I know it looks weird

and I should just use the freaking word, but I remember Blez asking us to keep the site family friendly so I added the star.

I think Furstarkin' is too cool a word not to have a definition, though.

by Dog Days on Jan 25, 2006 1:33 PM PST up 0 recs

I thought that ...

... a "fustarkin" was a merkin made of fustian.

(And, yes, if you get a great deal on a bolt of that particular cloth material by haggling with your wholesaler, you've struck a fustian bargain.)

@('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 25, 2006 2:26 PM PST up 0 recs

If a woman wears it under her dress is it then a

fustian slip

by theblackpearl on Jan 25, 2006 2:35 PM PST up 0 recs

No, it makes her ...

... "A merkin woman" ...

Stay away from me!

@('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 25, 2006 4:55 PM PST up 0 recs

I think the Fu*kin A trade

Was the Bradley and Perez deal...or at least it could be if Bradley meets expectations.

by JCase on Jan 25, 2006 1:37 PM PST up 0 recs

i don't care what anyone says....

this is hands down, the best A's team on one roster in over 10 years....

I went to a doctor today and all he did was suck blood out of my neck. Never go see Dr. Acula!

by jrwolf on Jan 25, 2006 1:43 PM PST 0 recs

I agree

In 16 years, to be precise, since the pitchers were getting old by 1992.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Jan 25, 2006 1:46 PM PST up 0 recs

I think so too

I can't really think of any major holes, except perhaps health. But like you say, if we keep Payton, that hole will not be too much of a problem.

"Put a Milo on him." -Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on Jan 25, 2006 1:52 PM PST up 0 recs

officially signed

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060125&c ontent_id=1300764&vkey=pr_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak

--The Pastime--

by Ryan Armbrust on Jan 25, 2006 1:44 PM PST 0 recs

13 seconds better, good job!

ChunkyLover53

by OaklandInvader on Jan 25, 2006 1:44 PM PST up 0 recs

Deal Confirmed!

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5278852

ChunkyLover53

by OaklandInvader on Jan 25, 2006 1:44 PM PST 0 recs

Foolsh called this

and he said Payton would be traded.

So I wouldn't be surprised if Payton was traded and Bradley moved to left.

C'mon Billy, make it Hurt so good.

by As Man on Jan 25, 2006 1:45 PM PST 0 recs

Foolsh was damn close

http://www.athleticsnation.com/story/2006/1/20/25637/5099#commenttop

--The Pastime--

by Ryan Armbrust on Jan 25, 2006 1:49 PM PST up 0 recs

Even a blind dog will find a bone sometime

Foolsh has been saying this for 3 days straight now. i doubt very much he has any insider info.

by bigelephant on Jan 25, 2006 4:00 PM PST up 0 recs

he has been saying it

but i'll give him some credit for calling the week. in all honesty, it could have been anywhere from dacember to march that thomas was signed, to get the week right is doing well. i dont think he has any insider info, per se, but he did well. I'm in a good mood, i'll give foolsh some props.

--The Pastime--

by Ryan Armbrust on Jan 25, 2006 10:46 PM PST up 0 recs

Let's hope Frank doesn't become the Humpty Dumpty

of all the Beanes men.

by theblackpearl on Jan 25, 2006 1:46 PM PST 0 recs

Yes he did

Beane most definitely got the guys he wanted.

But the real question is: Is that a good thing?

Loiaza has been inconsistent the last two years, and no one should expect a return to his 2003 form.

Bradley has a ton of talent, and I like the deal that Beane swung to bring him to Oakland. But can he stay healthy and will he finally fulfill his promise?

Even Thomas' most ardent supporters have to be wondering When, not If, Big Hurt will get injured.

Beane has re-vamped the roster and added incredible depth, but has he made the A's better? The potential is there for this to be a great team but ask Billy Beane about the guarantee of potential.

Why yes. I am a ray of Fucking sunshine.

by grover on Jan 25, 2006 4:53 PM PST 0 recs

Well

Even if our additions stink up the joint, we're left basically with last year's team, minus Hatteberg. So last year's best case scenario is this year's "plan B" (or "C", whatever). Therefore, yes the team is in better shape.

by OaktownTribesman on Jan 25, 2006 6:44 PM PST up 0 recs

That wasn't my question

I asked if Billy's acquisitions have made the team better.

Worse Case Scenario (which I doubt will happen) Thomas misses most of the year, Loiaza makes everyone long for Saarloos and Bradley... is, well... Bradley than Beane will have spent $7-8 million and given up a 1st round pick to build a team that relies on the growth of Blanton, Street, Swisher, Johnson, etc.

Which is the team he had BEFORE he spent millions of dollars.

The two key offensive players Beane has acquired come with serious health and performance questions. The Big Money pitcher has consistency issues. A lot of people seem to be ignoring these things.

Why yes. I am a ray of Fucking sunshine.

by grover on Jan 25, 2006 7:50 PM PST up 0 recs

well yeah but...

obviously every trade involves risk...but i think your taking a far too negative view of the whole thing...any trade or any move (or lack thereof) involves risk...the moves that the a's made are about as low risk as they get these days...considering the budget constraints...well played billy, well played...that's what i say.

by Suck My Moneyballs on Jan 25, 2006 8:32 PM PST up 0 recs

I'm being cautious, not negative

My caution looks like negativity when surrounded by the over-abundance of optimism.

Why yes. I am a ray of Fucking sunshine.

by grover on Jan 25, 2006 8:44 PM PST up 0 recs

Why yes, you are a ray of fucking sunshine ....

No moves are guaranteed - and these moves are certainly no different. But the odds are that beween the three big acquisitions we will receive some value - as much as we hope? maybe, maybe not, but almost certainly some. As much as they don't work out, they are being replaced with as good or better options than we had last season.

If the Big Hurt goes down, his ABs will be replaced by DJ, Swish and Payton - which would a heck of a lot better than Hatty was last year.

If Bradley goes down, his ABs go to Payton, Swish and Kielty - which would be a heck of a lot better than our overall LF contributions last year.

Of course, Loaiza would be replaced by Saarloos, which should be pretty comperable to last year's Saarloos.

So is this team better than before he spent the millions? Well, not if all of the moves tank. But, odds are one or more of them will work out and then, yes, our team will be better than it was before. Regardless, Beane has assembled a team that has the depth to allow it to take risks. If a player bombs, he will be more than capably replaced. You don't win championships by assembling a perfect fantasy lineup (unless you're the Yankees). Safe moves build .500 teams. You win championships by taking risks. These are risks with remarkably little downside.

Check out some awesome music ...

by devo on Jan 25, 2006 9:25 PM PST up 0 recs

Has he made them better??

Let me count the ways:

he replaced a #5 starter who could rarely go past 5 innings and had a miserable strikeout ratio with a pitcher who has proven he can throw 200+ innings and is just two years removed from being the 2nd best pitcher in the AL;
By putting the former #5 starter in the bullpen as a long man, he has made the pen the deepest it has been in the Beane era;
He has constructed a deep and talented OF-- with three players who can play CF-- and has 4-5 player who can hit #3-5
he's improved infield depth, and has several players who can play multiple positions;
he has an offense that, with a modicum of health, should score at least 75 more runs than last year.

This is a no-brainer-- the team is better, and very possibly much better.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Jan 25, 2006 10:54 PM PST up 0 recs

I understand that if you don't use your brain

than it looks like Beane has improved the team.

I'm asking for folks to actually think about the roster moves Beane has made before jumping on World Series Bandwagon. Nearly 60% of AN considers the A's the AL favorite to reach the WS because Beane signed Frank Thomas. This is a guy who has played in 108 games over the last TWO YEARS! Oakland will be lucky to see Big Hurt 108 times in 2006. He turns 38 next year and is coming off foot surgery... why are people thinking that this long shot is a such a sure thing?

I love the Bradley trade. But if he hits like he has the last two seasons he is not going to be batting in the heart of the order. Let's face it, the A's are hoping he finally lives up to his potential and becomes the offensive force that he flashed in 2003. Bradley is another guy with health issues and everyone is thinking he's a lock. Why?

True or False? Loiaza has been an inconsistent pitcher the last two years?

Say what you want, but last year Saarloos stepped up and got it done as the 5th SP. I'm not saying that Loiaza isn't the better pitcher... he is... what I'm questioning is whether or not the improvement Loiaza offers is worth the money and the draft pick. His numbers away from one of the best pitcher's parks in baseball aren't good. The last time the A's acquired a NL pitcher with significant home/road splits it was Mark Redman, and that trade didn't work out so well. What kind of pitcher will Loiaza be in Oakland?

The potential is there for this to be a great roster. But a lot of things have to go right for that to happen.

Why yes. I am a ray of Fucking sunshine.

by grover on Jan 26, 2006 12:45 PM PST up 0 recs

Hey, I still want

Branyan, Wilson, and some blue chip prospects. So, I don't hope BB's done. And I expect Payton to be traded soon. However, Thomas is a low risk-medium reward which is definately worth it.

"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." - Yogi Berra

by vignette17 on Jan 25, 2006 9:59 PM PST 0 recs