Meyer Called Up!

by Threepwood XX on Aug 12, 2007 4:20 PM PDT Comment 72 comments

Dan Meyer, the final hope from the Tim Hudson trade, has been called up to the A's

Scout.com is reporting that Dan Meyer has been called up to the Oakland A's.

According to sources close to the situation, River Cats' left-hander Dan Meyer has been called up to the Oakland A's.

At this time, it is not known who Meyer will replace on the A's roster, although left-hander Dallas Braden and right-hander Ruddy Lugo are candidates to be sent down.

This is exciting, but will he be replacing Gaudin, Braden, or DiNardo in the rotation? My guess is Braden will get sent to the pen to work on his pitching and become a long-man (the lack of which became apparent today), while Ruddy Lugo will get sent back to AAA after his below average performance since being called up. I just think Beane likes Braden too much to send him back down just yet.

Meyer has been pitching much better in AAA lately. He's gone 6 innings or longer in 5 of his last 6 starts. Also, during those games he's only given up 5 earned runs, struck out 34, and walked 14.

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woo hoo!!

okay meyer, just pitch as well as haren. no pressure.

(almost certainly replacing braden in the rotation)

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 Aug 12, 2007 4:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

that's a lot to ask...

I'll be happy if he pitches as well as DiNardo!

"We are all gods. You can never underestimate the creative potential of a human being. Nor the destructive potential."- Robert Pollard, GbV

by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Aug 13, 2007 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's better than my request

to pitch the four and five spot in the rotations, all nine innings, 0.00 ERA for the rest of the season.

First late-season addition for Cy Young.

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Aug 13, 2007 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

AHHHHHHHH!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

AHHHHHHHH!!!!

"Whoa, are you saying... a testosterone-addled Rich Harden, in a fit of misplaced aggression after growing several extra pairs, ran over LAXile?" Poppy

by Jennifer on Aug 12, 2007 4:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

CHHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

I love you, k^2. -Poppy*

by kaweahkaweah on Aug 12, 2007 8:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting timing on this one since Loiaza

is returning soon. I thought BB would wait for the September "call-ups" but it's pretty obvious that Braden is not a major league pitcher yet.

Anyone think there is a chance that we might be trading one of our starters?

"You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?" -Happy Gilmore

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 12, 2007 4:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Waivers

Probably not because I doubt anyone except (MAYBE) Loaiza would clear waivers.

by Threepwood XX on Aug 12, 2007 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

only loaiza is a possibility

i doubt we'll see a trade.

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 Aug 12, 2007 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess the Yankees come to mind as a team

that wouldn't care if they had to eat a salary like Loiaza's even though there pitching has been much better as of late. I would rather keep him for 2008.

"You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?" -Happy Gilmore

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 12, 2007 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"their"

"You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?" -Happy Gilmore

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 12, 2007 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

They traded for Loaiza once before in 2004

and he sucked (1-2 in 10 games, 8.50 ERA, 61 hits and 9 HR in 42.3 innings).

The Yankees are big on the mythology of who's a "real Yankee" and Loaiza is in the Ed Whitson/Kenny Rogers "he sucks in the Big Apple" version of things. I really can't imagine them trading for Loaiza.

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

by Nick on Aug 12, 2007 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mike Piazza is a real Yankee, dammit!

(sticks pin in Brian Cashman voodoo doll and recites mantra:) "You will trade us Chamberlain for Piazza..."

"We are all gods. You can never underestimate the creative potential of a human being. Nor the destructive potential."- Robert Pollard, GbV

by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Aug 13, 2007 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

is Loaiza "expensive"?

Assuming that either (a) he is healthy enough to pitch as well as his career norms or (b) he's not and insurance covers at least a good portion of the contract, is Loaiza "expensive"? The $7M he will make in '08 seems to be the going rate, if not even better than the going rate (see: Jason Marquis & Ted Lilly). I wouldn't trade Loaiza without knowing for sure he'd be replaced, and I don't see a replacement in our system just yet.

by Eric in Atlanta on Aug 12, 2007 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you completely. I just had a brain

fart and wasn't really thinking about "waivers" when I saw that Meyer was coming up. Loiaza is a decent bargain next year and, as we've seen, we're really going to need him. The Lilly price tag is the one I've used several times to justify the Loiaza deal but that is based on him actually pitching for the A's.

"You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?" -Happy Gilmore

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 12, 2007 7:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pitchers are too expensive.

We should get rid of them all and replace them with a hitting tee.

"We are all gods. You can never underestimate the creative potential of a human being. Nor the destructive potential."- Robert Pollard, GbV

by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Aug 13, 2007 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe we could just ask their parents

to pitch to them?

"You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?" -Happy Gilmore

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 13, 2007 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

to pitch "for" them

"You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?" -Happy Gilmore

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 13, 2007 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I double agree

I would say better than the going rate. ELo's biggest problem thus far has been his health. There's no one capable of "replacing" him so it's better to hang on to him for one more year. Meyer, Gaudin, DiNardo, are all question marks. Although DiNardo has been our Saarloos from a couple years ago. No telling if his pitching will hold up an entire season.

I think religion is a neurological disorder that prevents people from thinking on their own.--B. Maher

by sf drift king on Aug 14, 2007 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The question is...

who will he be replacing in the rotation?

There are several possibilities.

The rotation as it stands currently is;

RHP Haren
RHP Blanton
RHP Gaudin
LHP DiNardo
LHP Braden

DiNardo is, ironically, our second best pitcher of late behind Haren. Blanton is a fixture for the rotation regardless. If anything, we need to keep his trade value up in case of an off-season Dodger trade.

Braden, obviously, is the first odd man out. He will likely go to the bullpen and could replace Lugo, or he could go down to AAA and join the Sacramento rotation. Either way, one of Lugo or Braden will be gone. And its very likely that the other will be gone when Loaiza returns.

So we need to fit;
LHP Meyer
RHP Loaiza

into the pitching staff.

Option 1: If Loaiza is part of the teams plan for the future (next year), bring Loaiza back as a relief pitcher.

Send Loaiza to the bullpen to keep him healthy and get him some MLB innings the rest of the year, and focus on next year for him. Put Dan Meyer into the rotation, again, to prepare for next year.

Staff:
RHP Haren
RHP Blanton
RHP Gaudin
LHP DiNardo
LHP Meyer

LHP Embree
RHP Street
RHP Casilla
RHP Loaiza
RHP Brown
RHP Calero
LHP Marshall

Option 2: Prime to trade Loaiza in the off season. Bring Loaiza back as a starter and put Dan Meyer in the bullpen as a left handed reliever. Build Loaiza's trade value with two months of being a starter to deal him in the off season.

Staff:
RHP Haren
RHP Blanton
RHP Gaudin
LHP DiNardo
RHP Loaiza

LHP Embree
RHP Street
RHP Casilla
LHP Meyer
RHP Brown
RHP Calero
LHP Marshall

Option 3: Move Chad Gaudin to the bullpen to keep his arm healthy for next year. Gaudin has pitched a lot of innings this year, and has been struggling as of late. Put him in the bullpen to get him back into shape, and prevent him from logging too many innings this year to save him for next year.

Staff:
RHP Haren
RHP Blanton
RHP Loaiza
LHP DiNardo
LHP Meyer

LHP Embree
RHP Street
RHP Gaudin
RHP Casilla
RHP Brown
RHP Calero
LHP Marshall

Option 4: Trade a reliever, such as Kiko Calero. Call up Dan Meyer to replace Calero in the bullpen, activate Loaiza to put him in the Rotation, and either move Braden to the bullpen or send him down and keep Lugo.

Staff:
RHP Haren
RHP Blanton
RHP Gaudin
LHP DiNardo
RHP Loaiza

LHP Embree
RHP Street
RHP Casilla
LHP Meyer
RHP Brown
LHP Braden
LHP Marshall

Which seems more plausable? Which seems to be the best course of action? Because it appears the A's have arrived at a conclusion.

by Zonis on Aug 12, 2007 4:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I would pull for option 3...

Gaudin has been struggling to say the least lately, and it would be a good idea to try and save his arm while keeping him active and adapting.

I could see a dumb move being both Loaiza and Meyer are put into the rotation at the expense of DiNardo, but I'd venture that Meyer would be used in the pen before that would happen. Hopefully.

by RenoTy on Aug 12, 2007 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Too many starting pitchers

Is a good problem to have.

Hopefully Beane can trade one in the offseason to get us a new center fielder or shortstop.

by Threepwood XX on Aug 12, 2007 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

On that note,

I'd say that option 4 is the best; trade a reliever, whose spot can always be taken by the most disappointing starter.

by sec119 on Aug 12, 2007 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

no way we call up meyer

and then put him directly into the bullpen, that would be idiotic. if he ends up there it will be after failing (possibly multiple times) in the rotation first.

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 Aug 12, 2007 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Limiting Innings

With Meyer coming off of surgery and two injury-shortened years, it makes more sense to conserve his arm in the bullpen than Gaudin's.

by Danny on Aug 12, 2007 6:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't agree here...

...I just don't see how you can take a guy who basically missed two years with a shoulder injury, had surgery, and then went straight into the Rivercats rotation and basically hasn't pitched out of the pen since his two appearances with the Braves in September 2004.

When the A's as an organization have treated that shoulder with kid gloves all year long, putting him into the bullpen and asking him to screw up his warm up routine would be beyond idiotic, in my humble opinion.

`I firmly believe that in every game, at least one team should be required to wear a legitimate, major league uniform.' - Ken Korach - 8/4/06

by nodaclu on Aug 13, 2007 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If this was a diary

I'd recommend it.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Aug 13, 2007 12:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yep

"They weren't frightened of me, they LOVED me!" ~ McFood, deep in denial

by Poppy on Aug 13, 2007 6:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think..

That Loaiza in, Meyer in.

Chad "epitome of 'regression to the mean'" Gaudin out.
Dallas Braden out.

We've got two months left in the season, and I'll be a free agent after this year, so I still have something to pitch for." - Joe Kennedy

by Travis Buck Nuckin on Aug 12, 2007 4:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd put Calero on the waiver wire. He's been

atrocious this year.

by OldhamA on Aug 12, 2007 5:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it may be simpler than

all of the above theories. When Braden came out in the 2nd inning, my first thought was, "We have no long man--this is going to chew up our bullpen to where we'll probably need to make a roster move."

Meyer is probably up right now because we have no long reliever and we just used Lugo for 2.1 IP after he's been worked a lot in recent days. Maybe Lugo goes down, just because he's not available anyway, or maybe Braden for the same reason. In other words, had Braden lasted more than 5 outs, Meyer might not have been called up today. He might be our "long man" until Braden/Loaiza's start, then start if he hasn't been used or not start if he's been used.

Anyhow, no matter how it falls it's exciting--bring on the Dan Meyer era!!!

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

by Nico on Aug 12, 2007 5:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's about time we get something

out of the Hudson trade?

Sheesh, what a horrible deal that has turned out to be.

"See da broad ta get that booty eyed...laid her down and smack em yack em. Ho gotta be, you know? Shooot".

by BleedGreen on Aug 12, 2007 5:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd say the A's are .667 in the Big Three Dept.

So far, loss with Hudson but wins with both Mulder and Zito.

Bottom of the 9th - Baseball photojournalism by James Venes

by Flashfire on Aug 12, 2007 5:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

And that was to BleedGreen

Bottom of the 9th - Baseball photojournalism by James Venes

by Flashfire on Aug 12, 2007 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

gasp

AAAAAH!!!!

by gotgreen on Aug 12, 2007 6:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

CHHHOOOOOOOOO!!!

I love you, k^2. -Poppy*

by kaweahkaweah on Aug 12, 2007 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does he still play

for the Indians?

I think religion is a neurological disorder that prevents people from thinking on their own.--B. Maher

by sf drift king on Aug 14, 2007 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good.

They should bring up Daric Barton, too, while they're at it.

So it goes.

by jeepers on Aug 12, 2007 6:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No. He's not ready.

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Aug 12, 2007 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

he's darn close

He's not going to show his full power potential for a couple of years. I think he could hit .270 with doubles power in the bigs right now.

Bring him up after the Rivercats' playoffs are over and let him play a few times, with an eye towards making the big club next year.

"We are all gods. You can never underestimate the creative potential of a human being. Nor the destructive potential."- Robert Pollard, GbV

by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Aug 13, 2007 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bullpen, Loaiza Rotation

i almost guarentee he will be in the pen. there is no way the a's will let his innings stockpile after injuries.

also bringing barton up now would be the silliest thing in the world to start his clock. he should be up the 2nd month of next year, when they will gain an extra year of his services.

by ZfP75 on Aug 12, 2007 8:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Barton

Shouldn't be called up until he hits at least 10 home runs in AAA. Then again, that may mean no call-up until 09.

I'm all in favor of putting Gaudin in the pen, not as a demotion, but to protect his arm. Maybe let Meyer take the next 5 or 6 starts, and then have the two switch for the last three weeks. Not excited for either to be overly worked the rest of the season.

by 31Boots on Aug 12, 2007 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Barton's plenty ready.

He's already better than Dan Johnson. He's also going to be the starting first baseman next year, so he may as well start getting some experience.

So it goes.

by jeepers on Aug 12, 2007 9:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

could be

He certainly hasn't hit like DJ did at Sacramento. I like Barton; he's obviously the future, and I'm excited about that, but I wouldn't go anywhere near "plenty ready."

by 31Boots on Aug 12, 2007 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

whos place does he take?

Who comes off the 40 man roster for Barton?

Other kids may be sayin' hi-ho, but The Gooch just says yo.

by whobob on Aug 12, 2007 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No one has to

Currently the A's have 2 open spots on the 40-man because of players on the 60-day DL. They could use the two spots for Barton and Loaiza if they so desired.

by PaulThomas on Aug 13, 2007 1:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

DJ

He's 28 years old, and he's shown nothing at the big-league level other than two hot months as a rookie two years ago. Barton just turned 22, and while he hasn't put up the power numbers DJ did, he already has a better swing than DJ ever will. There's nothing wrong with letting people learn in the bigs--it worked for Tejada and Chavez.

So it goes.

by jeepers on Aug 13, 2007 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed, for the most part

let him learn in the bigs the last few weeks this year and compete for the job in S/T next year.

"We are all gods. You can never underestimate the creative potential of a human being. Nor the destructive potential."- Robert Pollard, GbV

by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Aug 13, 2007 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

lugo

I disagree with the Lugo comment, that he's sucked since his callup. He has a 1.59 era since his return. He seems to have clicked this month. Braden should be sent up so he can regain his confidence, and then bring him back when players are called up.

by spartan21 on Aug 12, 2007 8:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

After all the hype

I would like nothing more to see Dan Meyer in an A's uniform.... I was starting to think that he didn't really exist...

"I Will Not Relent, I Am Driven"... Clutch

Bring Back The Bash!!!

by Shippee33 on Aug 12, 2007 8:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Gaudin

Why not use a six-man rotation the rest of the way, with Meyer getting starts too? Gaudin's thrown too much this year for my taste, as I've diaried before.

Gaudin's success is one of the silver linings of this season. If we screw that up by pitching him into surgery or a terrible Sophomore Season (as a starter) within the next 12 months, it's inexcusable.

Look at Blanton Year 2 vs. Blanton Year 1. That might be what to look for in Gaudin next year if we continue to run this puppy ragged. He's been terrible anyway; just stop throwing him.

My second thought is, we can't really bag this Hudson trade for SIX MORE YEARS. Wait until we really see what a healed Dan Meyer brings to the table.
The fact that he took a while to get here is irrelevant. What's important is, he's making 400K for the next 3.5 seasons. Let's see what he does in them.

"How do you strain your oblique while staring at strike 3?" -slyrus, referring to Milton's infamous final A's at-bat

by notsellingjeans on Aug 12, 2007 9:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

so true

if he turns out to be a very good pitcher then it is a good trade, we have him for 5 or 6 years, and Hudson was going to leave anyway.

by china bob on Aug 12, 2007 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like your way of thinking.

and I am very interested to see Meyer's pitching. Another preview and chance to evaluate next year's talent.

by IM4Oakgal on Aug 13, 2007 12:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh come on!

Beane's #1 target when he dealt Hudson was to get a SP prospect that was ready to push for a big league job at the start of 2005.

Two and a half years later, Meyer is about to make his Oakland debut. At least 6 guys from the 2004 draft (taken less than 6 months before the trade) went from college ball to the Show before Meyer. Hell, Travis Buck got drafted in June of 2005 (roughly 6 months after the A's traded Huddy) and even he beat Meyer to Oakland.

The Hudson trade was a bust. Beane got nothing he went shopping for.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Aug 13, 2007 1:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I usually enjoy your posts, but it's hardly

fair on Beane when you consider Meyer has been injured for two years. There was nothing to indicate that was going to be the case.

by OldhamA on Aug 13, 2007 2:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not suggesting

that Beane traded for damaged goods. I'm saying that Beane traded for Meyer because he expected him to be in Oakland's rotation in 2005. Did that happen? No. Did any of the other players acquired in the trade provide value for Oakland? No.

I also believe that Meyer's no-show in 2005 prompted Beane to surrender his 1st round pick in 2006 to sign Loaiza. I'll admit it's possible that Beane could have still pursued E-Lo regardless, but I think most everyone would agree that Beane would have been less inclined to do so if he had entered the 05-06 offseason knowing that he had a 2006 rotation of Zito, Haren, Blanton and Meyer already set.

The A's are still feeling the reprecussions of Meyer not being the answer Beane was looking for in 2005. And Meyer has a long road ahead of him before he'll compensate for what was lost.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Aug 13, 2007 7:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whoa whoa whoa.

Did any of the other players acquired in the trade provide value for Oakland? No.

Methinks you've forgotten about one Brad Halsey.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 13, 2007 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was about to say the same

Halsey provided 90 innings of only slightly below average pitching for the A's last season; hell, he'd probably be starting now if he hadn't been infected with the A's Medical Staff Inflicted Injury Disease.

by PaulThomas on Aug 13, 2007 9:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But Halsey was not aquired in that particular

trade, he was a by product of a future trade of one of the components.

by theblackpearl on Aug 13, 2007 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's kind of irrelevant anyway,

in that Halsey, while of some use last year, was no great shakes. His performance could have been approximated by any number of alternatives the A's could have found on the scrap heap. Meyer is the only chance to make the trade a success, and as far as I'm concerned the jury's still out. Unforseen injuries happen; if he comes back 3 years later and excels, then the trade was still a success in my book.

Let's not overlook that Hudson had a lousy season in 2006 and that his salary would have blocked the A's from other moves (such as possibly signing ELo, extending Haren, etc.). So even over the past two seasons, where the 3 we acquired have done as little as you could "conjure up in your worst alcoholic nightmare," the Hudson trade hasn't been THAT bad, considering we shed his salary, we would have lost him anyway, and he was ineffective last season.

Let's see what Meyer can do. Bring him on!

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

by Nico on Aug 13, 2007 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree on Haren's contract

but retaining Hudson would have also negated the need to sign Loaiza.

by Zonis on Aug 13, 2007 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, Huddy would have been

gone at the end of 2005. We signed Loaiza starting with the 2006 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

by Nico on Aug 13, 2007 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Zonis means

Signing Huddy to an extension would have negated the need for Loaiza.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Aug 13, 2007 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait a sec

Probably the only move keeping Huddy would have prevented would have been to bring in Kendall.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Aug 13, 2007 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

You're joking, right?

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Aug 13, 2007 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dan Meyer's Options

Does anyone know what the deal is? Is he out of options and will have to be on the 25 man team next year, regardless?

Hasn't he had his 3 option years, or do his injuries discount some of that time?

by black beane and rice on Aug 13, 2007 9:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

according to Melissa Lockard

Meyer is "out of options next year". Her article can be accessed here:

http://mvn.com/mlb-athletics/2007/08...

by OaklandSi on Aug 13, 2007 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

according to Esteban Loaiza

he doesn't think he has any trade value.

Look at the comments to that thread. Haha.

by black beane and rice on Aug 13, 2007 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

article

not thread.

by black beane and rice on Aug 13, 2007 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

According to ESPN.com...

The A's

Recalled pitcher Dan Meyer from Sacramento. of the Pacific Coast League (AAA); optioned pitcher Dallas Braden to Sacramento.

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Aug 13, 2007 1:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

cool, let's see what Meyer does

by OaklandSi on Aug 13, 2007 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A's official press release

of Meyer's callup and Braden's option back to Sacramento:

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/new...

by OaklandSi on Aug 13, 2007 1:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

All makes sense

So, if this is indeed Meyer's last option year, it makes sense to throw him to the wolves now. The A's have to find out if he can be an AL starter right now.

If he's crap, well, they know they have to trade him this off-season, probably to the weaker NL. Because if he's crap now, it's very unlikely he'll be good enough to spend the ENTIRE next season on the big league without struggling at some point and needing to be sent down - which, since he will be out of options, won't happen.

So to avoid getting nothing out of him, or having to DFA him next year and negotiate from a position of no strength, the A's brought him up now to see if he's good enough to be an A.L. starter, so they can plan accordingly for '08.

"Planning accordingly for '08" is kind of the theme to the second half of this season. And the answer to pretty much every personnel move.

"How do you strain your oblique while staring at strike 3?" -slyrus, referring to Milton's infamous final A's at-bat

by notsellingjeans on Aug 13, 2007 2:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs