KNBR 1050 says Craigs coming to the A's.

Wow...

Which is more supprising? That trade or KNBR breaking A's news!?

Rotoworld says nothing.

It really depends on the prospects though. But, there could be a very good chance of Payton going as well to Pittsburgh, if not at least to offset the salary.

Leme look at the Pirate's prospects.

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 6:54 PM PST 0 recs

one thing that should not be forgotten...

is that wilson can play catcher. last season macha wouldnt pinch hit melhuse for kendall becasue if melhuse got hurt after the switch no one would be able to take over at catcher. BUT it we get wilson that will not be a problem. so this trade would improve our offense in more than one way.

by Swish33 on Jan 4, 2006 9:46 PM PST up 0 recs

I like it

Saarloos is a spart part at this point and Wilson is a righty bat with a career 120 OPS+.

Zonis is right though, a lot depends on the prospects involved.

Kendall Haiku by FormerHuntsvilleStar, " Ball in hand, a leap,--- a veteran catcher blocks--- and secures a win"

by Athletics fan and runner on Jan 4, 2006 6:55 PM PST 0 recs

Hmm

Im just wondering how reliable KNBR is...

by Devyn on Jan 4, 2006 6:56 PM PST 0 recs

Pittsburgh's Top 10 Prospect List

since I don't think they have much outside of the top 10, lets look at BA's top 10 of theirs.

Neil Walker, c
Andrew McCutchen, of
Tom Gorzelanny, lhp
Paul Maholm, lhp
Jose Bautista, 3b
Nate McLouth, of
Bryan Bullington, rhp
John Van Benschoten, rhp
Chris Duffy, of
Matt Capps, rhp

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 6:56 PM PST 0 recs

Guys' I would target on that list

Gorzelanny would be very nice. Lefty, good minor league stats. Should be in AAA next year. Insurance for Meyer and for Zito?

Maholm, another decent pitching prospect. LHP.

Bullington could be good.

Duffy looks nice.

Capps...

Pirates have good pitching prospects I guess... they just rush em too fast.

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 7:02 PM PST up 0 recs

mcclouth

i would take mcclouth, but that is only because he lives 10 miles up the road from my town, muskegon.

Baseball is like life. It's a day-to-day existence, full of ups and downs. You make the most of your opportunities in baseball as you do in life. - E Harwell

by peoples27 on Jan 4, 2006 10:49 PM PST up 0 recs

just on the basis of Scrabble-score consonants ...

... I expect the Royals to be targeting Van Benschoten and Gorzelanny

@('.')@

by monkeyball on Jan 5, 2006 9:13 AM PST up 0 recs

re

I think any prospect would be going in Pittsburgh's direction (or any swap of prospects would favor the Pirates).

This would be great for the A's if it happened. Wilson is a nice big bat. Personally, I would cry over losing Saarloos, but whatchagonnado. Swisher's D is too valuable to waste at first. Payton has to be moved to open up a hole, but the DH has to arrive first.

by 31Boots on Jan 4, 2006 6:59 PM PST 0 recs

Actually

I've always heard that Swish is better at first than at RF, at least that is what Wash says.

I like this trade so far. Funny becuase Andeux suggested getting Wilson on another diary today.

"Put a Milo on him." -Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on Jan 4, 2006 7:10 PM PST up 0 recs

yeah

and that's the first I had heard of it. crazy if true!

way to go andeux!

"Keep an open mind." --Milton Bradley, 12/15/05

by rungood on Jan 4, 2006 7:30 PM PST up 0 recs

<bows>

Believe it or not (probably not), I even thought of mentioning Saarloos as someone we could offer - just because he seems to have more value as trade bait right now than he does as part of our team.

Bright moments!

by andeux on Jan 4, 2006 8:13 PM PST up 0 recs

<Doffs hat!> Craigs resume looks great!

I have to wonder how well he & Kendall got along,
...if K recommended him to BB?
...if Kendall was training him to be a catcher when traded? I see he has about 10 games of at bats as a Catcher and can't help thinking what a plus that bat is at that position.

Going a step farther, (brainstorming now) if Kendall were to continue to train him he could start the season at DH and it would not interfere with that training at all.

CW is a slugger that can do OF corners, 1B, DH, C, or PH.

Regardless. We can move on from Frank now and give BB praises and glory yet once again.

Nice looking 25 man roster!

by A s Eh on Jan 5, 2006 12:11 AM PST up 0 recs

re

I could buy that he's better at first, but right field is so much more important of a defensive position, and he's so good out there.

by 31Boots on Jan 4, 2006 7:37 PM PST up 0 recs

So good in RF?

Better than Bradley or Payton?

"[Your blog is] pretty funny. Although I kinda wanna slap Charlie in the mouth. But I guess that's the point if you're an A's fan :-)" Blez

by Nate on Jan 4, 2006 9:34 PM PST up 0 recs

interesting

If true the A's mustve lost out on Thomas, not willing to pony up or maybe they werent pleased with his health.

Whats funny about Craig Wilson is that I remember awhile back in the early days of the offseason, AN had a discussion about Wilson, and almost everyone was in favor of getting him.

Hes got pretty good pop, but I agree Devyn, hes not better than DJ at DH, and is pretty crappy in the OF.

Bill Stoneman is about to be offered three seasons of a right-handed version of Vladimir Guerrero - Rev Halofan

by pickinmachine on Jan 4, 2006 7:12 PM PST 0 recs

Hey, when you

can only afford to find players off of Craigslist, you take the best Craig out there.

by Nico on Jan 4, 2006 7:17 PM PST up 0 recs

I like the line up flexibility (and the power)

I see he hits fast balls and has adjusted to breaking pitches. His power is consistent at home and on the road and vs the various styles of pitching.

I'm crossing my fingers he likes and adjusts to AL pitchers quickly.

I'm penciling the A's to go all the way.

Hats off to BB

<Psttt! BB. Keep Zito. It's about the rings!>

by A s Eh on Jan 5, 2006 12:19 AM PST up 0 recs

I couldn't have been the only one

but right after the Loaiza signing I guessed that Beane might have decided to pass on all the FA hitters (or figured they weren't interested in the A's), and so signed a SP and intended to trade pitching for a hitter. If the Wilson deal goes through, it looks like I actually guessed right!

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jan 4, 2006 7:48 PM PST up 0 recs

YES!!!!

We just had to dump Saarloos guys. If the pirates think that he is good, then I think thats great. If this trade really is going down then Im sorry to see kirk go, he did good work for us, but hey he will get a chance to pitch more at least. I hope we traded them Jay Pay as well.

Ellis
Bradley
Chavez
Wilson
Johnson
Crosby
Kotsay
Swisher
Kendall

I like!!!

by SwisherSweet on Jan 4, 2006 7:18 PM PST 0 recs

acually i think it would be...

ellis
kotsay
bradley
chavez
wilson
DJ
crosby
swisher
kendall

by Swish33 on Jan 4, 2006 9:48 PM PST up 0 recs

Bullpen

Does this open a slot up for Komine in the bullpen? I know BB & Company really, really like him.

Let's Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Jan 5, 2006 12:20 AM PST up 0 recs

lol

^_^ Lol

by Devyn on Jan 4, 2006 7:19 PM PST 0 recs

Also

If we dealt Payton, we could still use Wilson as a RF. a 1B as well as a Catcher, OH THE POSSIBILITIES!

by Devyn on Jan 4, 2006 7:23 PM PST 0 recs

NO!! Hope Saarloos isn't gone :(

I really like the guy. 2005 wouldn't have been so sucessful without him.

"I was the ugliest girl I've ever seen." - Noah Lowry

by Melody on Jan 4, 2006 7:23 PM PST 0 recs

And I got his autograph

on an A's coaster at Robert Buan's show back in June.

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005.

by ak_A on Jan 4, 2006 7:24 PM PST 0 recs

Is there or is there not any confirmation on this

or did KNBR just say it at random with out anything to back it up?

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 7:25 PM PST 0 recs

What a life...

Laying on beanbag chair in sleeping bag watching Rose Bowl while getting up now and then to check AN with oncoming flue symptoms.

Lagubrious half time - extravaganza show....horns, drums, tired themes belted out.

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005.

by ak_A on Jan 4, 2006 7:30 PM PST 0 recs

I'm with ya, alaksa....

I don't have a beanbag chair though...

by okteds on Jan 4, 2006 7:55 PM PST up 0 recs

i got you beat

i'm on the beanbag, watching the game, eating pizza, surfing the web with my laptop and wireless internet....i don't ever have to get up.... :) :)

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jan 4, 2006 8:02 PM PST up 0 recs

You win

most "lazy-life-ANposter-of-nighttime-Jan4" award. I need a wireless laptop.

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005.

by ak_A on Jan 4, 2006 8:05 PM PST up 0 recs

i got up for a little while

i had to find something to throw at the tv....

i hate usc....

* sigh *

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jan 4, 2006 8:29 PM PST up 0 recs

Two points deducted

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005.

by ak_A on Jan 4, 2006 8:41 PM PST up 0 recs

If the A's could get

a clean up hitter (granted, Wilson may qualify more as "clean-up lite") for their #6 starter, it would be hard to complain. I mean, I'd do it, but it would be hard.

by Nico on Jan 4, 2006 7:32 PM PST 0 recs

A repeat of 2004 would be "regular"

Hatte was X-Lite!

by A s Eh on Jan 5, 2006 12:23 AM PST up 0 recs

Can i really?

Trust KNBR? They havent said anything else about it, starting to think their "sources" are completly bogus.

by Devyn on Jan 4, 2006 7:34 PM PST 0 recs

Well if it is bogus

at least it gives us something to talk about during a lull in offseason activities.

"Put a Milo on him." -Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on Jan 4, 2006 7:35 PM PST up 0 recs

Wilson's stats

for anyone interested (I was):

Craig Wilson
Career:
549 G, 1593 AB, 427 H, 244 R, 81 HR, 241 RBI .268/.363/.488. OPS= .851

2005 (limited by injury - fractured pinky):
.264/.387/.421 OPS= .808 (led the league in HBP - 30, but had a 30/69 BB/K ratio)

Best OPS season: .979 (2001 - 88 games, .310/.390/.589)
Most HR in a season: 29 (2004 - 155 games, .264/.354/.499)

"Keep an open mind." --Milton Bradley, 12/15/05

by rungood on Jan 4, 2006 7:43 PM PST 0 recs

Thanks

You posted this while I was composing the post below.

by SportySpice on Jan 4, 2006 7:51 PM PST up 0 recs

OK, I'll play the idiot

Who the hell is Craig Wilson? Never heard of him. Of course, I couldn't name a single member of the Pirates, except Jason Bay (he's a Pirate, right?) and that young kid pitcher whose name I can't recall.
How do you people find time to follow the NL? I can barely keep up with the AL Western Division.
Mock me all you like, but my cheesey brain doesn't have room for two baseball leagues.

by SportySpice on Jan 4, 2006 7:49 PM PST 0 recs

Wilson...

Is a masher. He's got serious power, a pretty good eye at the plate, and he whiffs a lot. He brings almost nothing to the table defensively, although he can catch in an emergency. He's best used as a DH. 29 years old, hit's lefties tremendously well, but has held his own against rh's at times... And yeah, he's cheap...

by Little Rickey on Jan 4, 2006 8:01 PM PST up 0 recs

You're thiking of Zach Duke

They also have AN favorite Jack Wilson and a logjam at 1b/OF with Casey, Bay, Craig Wilson and Burnitz. Other notables are Mike Gonzalez (who would be amazing if he were in this deal, I know, impossible), Joe Randa, Oliver Perez (who I think is an ace), and Kip Wells.

To answer your other question, I have no life.

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

by vignette17 on Jan 4, 2006 8:02 PM PST up 0 recs

why is jack wilson an AN fav?

guy looks like a little kid.

Bill Stoneman is about to be offered three seasons of a right-handed version of Vladimir Guerrero - Rev Halofan

by pickinmachine on Jan 4, 2006 8:04 PM PST up 0 recs

it's a horrific joke

where certain demented posters refer to him as "the sexiest man alive". That's just not right. <shakes head> Kids these days.

by Apricot on Jan 4, 2006 8:18 PM PST up 0 recs

haha

I wonder who that could be. 2 guesses.

J & S

Bill Stoneman is about to be offered three seasons of a right-handed version of Vladimir Guerrero - Rev Halofan

by pickinmachine on Jan 4, 2006 8:24 PM PST up 0 recs

I'd love to have Gonzalez...

Big Big K rates, and he's lefthanded. Would certainly be worlds better than Rheineker or Flores. It ain't happening...

The Pirates always sign these mediocre old guys every year and hope they can flip them for prospects at the deadline, so there's a lot of turnover on their roster. It must be tough being a pirates fan and seeing your team sign guys like Jeromy Burnitz all the time...

by Little Rickey on Jan 4, 2006 8:11 PM PST up 0 recs

yeah

not to mention hes slated to close for them right?

Bill Stoneman is about to be offered three seasons of a right-handed version of Vladimir Guerrero - Rev Halofan

by pickinmachine on Jan 4, 2006 8:16 PM PST up 0 recs

Wow, I was reading rotoworld

and theu said they expected Wilson to be traded to a smarter team than the Pirates a couple of days ago. I started falling in love with the idea then and hoped the smart team was the A's.

Now all we have to do is wait a week and the trade will be complete and be Wilson and Duke for Garcia instead of Saarloos (well, maybe give them Payton as well).

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

by vignette17 on Jan 4, 2006 7:57 PM PST 0 recs

oh I see....for a second

I thought you meant OUR Duke hehe.

Bill Stoneman is about to be offered three seasons of a right-handed version of Vladimir Guerrero - Rev Halofan

by pickinmachine on Jan 4, 2006 7:59 PM PST up 0 recs

Well....

I hate to be a spoiler and all, but a similar thread by a similar poster was already locked on another board. Any links? Any confirmation? Anyone one else actually hear anythung on KNBR? I am highly suspect of this until I see/hear more on it. Sorry.

"I have nothing against the bunt - in it's place. But most of the time that place is in the bottom of a long-forgotten closet." - Earl Weaver

by PosterNutbag44 on Jan 4, 2006 7:57 PM PST 0 recs

Well, not a bad trade...

If this is true, I would suspect the A's would keep Swish in RF, DJ at first, and use Wilson as the primary DH, as he has an iron glove. That would be my plan...

Wilson's splits aren't as bad as I thought, he's managed to put up .803 ops vs righties the past three years. Of course he's manhandled lefties(.413 OBP over three yrs).

Yeah, WIlson K's a lot. But one things for sure- If it's a choice between 500 ab's of WIlson or Payton, I choose Wilson in a heartbeat.

by Little Rickey on Jan 4, 2006 7:57 PM PST 0 recs

or Frank's legs

and DL visits...

by A s Eh on Jan 5, 2006 12:29 AM PST up 0 recs

Well Nut

I saw the post on scout.com as well, So i decided to go check it out to see if it was just some random troll, then i heard them talking about it. So I guess all we can do is hope and pray.

by Devyn on Jan 4, 2006 8:00 PM PST 0 recs

Nothing personal...

I just don't buy into easily spread internet rumours. I tend to wait for at, the very least, an un-official announcement somewhere. I could be wrong, and have no issue with that. Maybe they decided to wait until tomorrow to announce it because it got done late and the Rose Bowl is on. Until I see/hear more though, I am skeptical.

"I have nothing against the bunt - in it's place. But most of the time that place is in the bottom of a long-forgotten closet." - Earl Weaver

by PosterNutbag44 on Jan 4, 2006 8:05 PM PST up 0 recs

And it very well

may be just some rumor, just putting the word out there though.

by Devyn on Jan 4, 2006 8:11 PM PST up 0 recs

Read the Scout post

it looks like BS. The guy who made it up also made it up on the Giants board.

False Alarm.

Knowledge is Power, Ignorance is Bliss. But I have Blissful Power, because I have a lot of knowledge, I just forgot it all

by Zonis on Jan 4, 2006 8:26 PM PST 0 recs

Reggie!!!!! Bush!!!!! Is!!!! Awesome!!!!!!!

"Don't you play the flute, Huddy?"

by capper3 on Jan 4, 2006 8:30 PM PST 0 recs

couldnt agree more!

Just AMAZING!

Bill Stoneman is about to be offered three seasons of a right-handed version of Vladimir Guerrero - Rev Halofan

by pickinmachine on Jan 4, 2006 8:34 PM PST up 0 recs

Except

for that "attempted" latteral pass :P

by Devyn on Jan 4, 2006 8:36 PM PST 0 recs

Even God made the Angels....;)

"Don't you play the flute, Huddy?"

by capper3 on Jan 4, 2006 8:38 PM PST up 0 recs

Sorry to help turn this into a SC thread...

I like Bush, but does anyone else think he's a bit overhyped?

I'm lazy, so you can read my point here.

"In 1962 I was named Minor League Player of the Year. It was my second season in the Bigs." - Bob Uecker

by JLaff on Jan 4, 2006 8:42 PM PST 0 recs

I think he is overhyped...

actually i think there are other more complete backs in college now, actually White might be a better pure running back of the two on USC, others would be Deangelo Williams of Memphis, Maurice Drew of UCLA, and Laurence Maroney of Minnesota. That being said Bush has more athleticism and upside than all of them. At the moment though he isn't even the best runner in tonights game, White is performing better and Young looks like he did in last years Rose Bowl running all over the place. And about all the ESPN coverage, I like USC and even i was fed up with all the coverage they were getting on ESPN before tonight, it will just be good we don't have to have that shoved down our throats anymore.

"What an ending. Who would have thought that? A's win with a bunt." ~Macha on Ramon's Winning bunt in the '03 playoffs

by NvrFrgtRamon55 on Jan 4, 2006 8:54 PM PST up 0 recs

Hard to overhype

8.9 yards per carry for a season

"We've come a long way, and I'm not talking about Virginia Slims, either." - Art Howe

by EastCoastA on Jan 5, 2006 9:55 AM PST up 0 recs

sure

hes overhyped. But for every overhyped player thats a bust you can name 10 that turn out to be superstars.

The last big player that ESPN overhyped was Lebron James.

Bill Stoneman is about to be offered three seasons of a right-handed version of Vladimir Guerrero - Rev Halofan

by pickinmachine on Jan 4, 2006 9:04 PM PST up 0 recs

not a very good argument

sorry but that argument doesn't really work. just because there have been other overhyped players that have turned out to be busts doesn't mean bush will be a bust, one can find anecdotal evidence to support anything. is bush overhyped? he's certainly heavily hyped.
as someone said, the last player to be overhyped by espn was lebron and that turned out okay. sure he could turn out to be a bust, as could anyone who hasn't yet proven themselves at the professional level. but i wouldn't bet against it. this was just one game, maybe white and young outperformed him tonight and his mental error turned out to be quite costly, but a team would have to be crazy to not take bush with the first overall pick.

how is espn setting anyone up for failure, as you say? there have been draft busts as long as there have been drafts.

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jan 4, 2006 11:07 PM PST up 0 recs

I don't believe these until I see it

somewhere else with a link.

by Blez on Jan 4, 2006 8:49 PM PST 0 recs

re

Is KNBR still reporting it? Don't they have three news breaks an hour? Somebody else should have at least heard it on the radio by now.

by 31Boots on Jan 4, 2006 8:54 PM PST up 0 recs

And it is not on the Pirates

blog...but then again, its late there and they may not have 24/7 posters like we do.

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005.

by ak_A on Jan 4, 2006 8:56 PM PST up 0 recs

I haven't heard a thing

by Blez on Jan 4, 2006 8:57 PM PST up 0 recs

great

Im like 80 percent sure this is bs, especially after looking at the scout.com boards, but now I will spend my time pouring over every website I can, multiple times looking for it. There goes a good half hour...

by OaktownIn06 on Jan 4, 2006 9:02 PM PST 0 recs

re

lol, welcome to my last two hours.

by 31Boots on Jan 4, 2006 9:04 PM PST up 0 recs

refresh

refresh, refresh.
Its just painful that it's probably not true, but their is always that chance,
<Crosses Fingers>

by OaktownIn06 on Jan 4, 2006 9:08 PM PST up 0 recs

refresh, rotate in chair

twice, touch nose and refresh again.

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005.

by ak_A on Jan 4, 2006 9:10 PM PST 0 recs

Looks like SC is going to have

to start all over again on a winning streak. heh, heh.

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005.

by ak_A on Jan 4, 2006 9:19 PM PST 0 recs

woo hoo!!!!

YEAH! Texas wins!!!

(I'm the biggest Texas fan today, a) because I wanted USC to lose, and b) because I was hoping Huston Street would come watch the game with me. Still waiting for him to come over....)

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jan 4, 2006 9:26 PM PST up 0 recs