Travis Bucks The Odds

by Nico on Apr 1, 2007 12:13 PM PDT in News Comment 91 comments

IN: Travis Buck, Lenny DiNardo, Jay Marshall, Todd Walker

OUT: Antonio Perez (DFA), Erubiel Durazo (BYE-BYE), Brad Halsey (AAA)

Welcome to the show, Travis Buck. I am very happy right now, for two reasons. One has nothing to do with the A's. It has to do with Poochini (the world's cutest and dumbest dog) finally being found after an hour of frantically running around Tilden Park until someone (unbeknownst to me) picked him up and drove him home (while I continued running around Tilden Park, not frantic but sufficiently cute and dumb). So Poochini lives to see another day.

As does Buck, whose presence on the roster allows the A's to play Swisher at 1B rather than settling for the inferior defense of Walker at 1B and Swisher in the OF, or Kielty full-time.

Buck and Marshall instead of Durazo and Perez; I can definitely live with that. This was a really difficult decision for Beane and Co. and I was prepared to offer support no matter what simply because I wouldn't want to have to make the call on this one. But given the somewhat surprising decision I say: good call, guys--I think you got it right.

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Walker made the team.

by mikeA on Apr 1, 2007 12:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Corrected, thanks--

I Walkered when I meant to Durazo.

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 Apr 1, 2007 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can also

thank me for stealing/returning Poochini in order to boost your spirits.

by mikeA on Apr 1, 2007 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, I appreciate it

It's funny, everyone at Tilden seemed worried except me. I figured, "He has tags; if I don't find him, eventually someone will see him and bring him home." I just kept hoping I didn't pass a fat mountain lion; then I would have been a bit concerned.

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 Apr 1, 2007 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

it was probably the best decision

given the circumstances and the options.

I'm moving on...Let's go A's!!!

and I'm glad for Poochini...great dog!!

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 12:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I like the roster given the injuries

Buck is what he is and I don't think time in AAA is really going to change that. With Buck playing full-time or near full-time, Kielty can fill in for Stewart and Bradley and always play somewhere against LH pitching. Walker is likely to see more playing time than Perez would have, so I like that decision as well.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Apr 1, 2007 12:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's interesting how the A's

refused to go with only one back-up IFer last season but are willing to do that now--it says a lot for their confidence in Crosby and Chavez' health this year compared to last spring. Perhaps the number of OF/1B injuries simply re-prioritized where the A's felt they needed depth on the 25-man roster. You also wonder what might have happened with Perez in the last 48 hours, to lead the team in hits in spring training, be out with a "non-baseball related thingy," and then be DFA.

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 Apr 1, 2007 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or . . .

they may see Walker as that guy. It would not surprise me if Walker got some time at 2B or 3B this year, although Scutaro would seem to have first priority.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Apr 1, 2007 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget about Melhuse.

Melhuse can play the corner infield positions which adds a decent amount of depth. I am a little concerned about the back-up center field position. If something non-catastrophic happens but causes Bradley to miss 5 or 6 games we may be in a little trouble. I don't trust Swish and God only knows what either Kielty or Stewart would look like out there. Can Buck swing center?

by jjham15 on Apr 1, 2007 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or Piazza

who has played 1B once or twice in his life.

"Incidentally, this sort of helps confirm my belief that Mark Kotsay is the perfect "average" player." - FJM

by doctorK on Apr 1, 2007 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Swisher played well at CF in ST ...

.. he will be fine .. Geren already said in his show today {with KenKo} that Swish will be a backup for CF ..

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Apr 1, 2007 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

or, they now have some fill-in insurance

at the AAA level

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think we all wished

the A's would look at it that way last year--instead of Perez wasting a roster spot, call up a AAA guy if an IFer got injured. But last year the A's insisted on keeping Perez on the active roster without using him.

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 Apr 1, 2007 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

now there's Merloni, the new guy from Florida

Donnie, Bocachica can play infield, who else? as possibilities in an emergency.

This time they're in AAA instead of rotting on the bench like Perez did.

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Swisher, Ellis, Crosby, Chavez ..

.. {Marty Lurie says} .. may be the best infield in baseball ..

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Apr 1, 2007 12:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

best DEFENSIVE infield {correction}

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Apr 1, 2007 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great point

not only great at handling the routing play, but great range at all positions as well. I'm not even sure that there's a better offensive infield (other than the Yankees) out there either. When you look at overall infields, offensively and defensively, I think the A's have it.

by IndianaAsfan on Apr 1, 2007 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Cardinals are better offensively

Pujols is way beyond any of the A's at the plate, and Rolen and yes, even Eckstein are productive hitters, too.

And the Phils are even better than the Cardinals -- Howard, Utley, Rollins, and a life-size chocolate Mike Schmidt would be a better hitting infield than the A's'.

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

by Nick on Apr 1, 2007 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not an outrageous statement

They are great defensively and have the potential to be well above average offensively.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Apr 1, 2007 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

bullpen today

Today's game may present an early season problem. Assuming Kennedy doesn't give us 5 innings, who do we use in the bullpen to eat up some innings? We used quite a few pitchers yesterday and we don't want to open the season with a tired pen.

by AlBowe on Apr 1, 2007 12:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Probably extra non-roster guys

like Mike Mitchell and Erasmo can eat up those necessary innings. Also, Witasick and Embree might be scheduled to pitch.

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 Apr 1, 2007 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

APRIL FOOLS! Buck didn't make the team!

He's being sent to AAA, and it turns out Perez made the roster after all he's not being DFA'd. Turns out the A's were playing a trick on us!

Here's the link.

by Philip Christy on Apr 1, 2007 12:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

APRIL FOOL'S TO YOUR APRIL FOOL'S!

Travis Buck and Antonio Perez have always been the same person.

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 Apr 1, 2007 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Buck

hits to his .290/.348/.459 PECOTA and plays acceptable defense I'll be extremely happy.

For now, I think I agree that it makes sense, though ideally I would've liked to see Buck get some time in AAA.

It'll be interesting to see what they do if he gets off to a poor start.

Happy that Marhsall made the team, as well.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Apr 1, 2007 12:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That may be optimistic, BUT

even if Buck hits .250/.330 with a little 2B/HR power, he won't be a downgrade from what DJ likely would have produced.

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 Apr 1, 2007 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

While I agree

At this point I'm really doubtful Buck has the power to carry around a .250 average. I'm guessing his ISO will hit somewhere in the .100-.130 range this season, with future upside of something like .150-170, thus the importance in keeping his average in the .270+ range. Something like .270/.340/.400 would be more than acceptable, but .250/.320/.380 is a whole different beast.

I'm really not sure that kind of power will ever come, but there's nothing wrong with a career of 2006 Andre Ethier-type seasons.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Apr 1, 2007 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll glady take an Ethier-type season

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Apr 1, 2007 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

buck is already noticeably bigger than he was

last year.

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 Apr 1, 2007 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

bigger doesnt necessarily mean more power. nt

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

it's not the size of the player

it's the motion of the ocean

Storage is for buuuuuusiness or for familyyyyy. We have your space ... 5A RentaSpaaaaace....

by rolliedigits on Apr 1, 2007 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol nt

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Buck

ISO'd at .165 while at Arizona State, and in two minor league seasons has ISO'd at .181.

It's possible he'll develop more power, but I'll be highly, highly shocked if he ever puts out an ISO higher than .200. Which, again, there's nothing wrong with. It just means he needs to keep his average up, something I personally think he can do.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Apr 1, 2007 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Topps now scrambling to create Rookie card..

Buck will be card number 702 or thereabouts...

"- J. Duchscherer relieved J. Duchscherer" per Yahoo! Sports Box Score

by One won lost won on Apr 1, 2007 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I see they took Antonio Perez' card

marked it like ~~Antonio~~ ~~Perez~~, then off to the side, they scrawled in "Traves ~~Deer~~ Buck.

Could be a collectible!!

"- J. Duchscherer relieved J. Duchscherer" per Yahoo! Sports Box Score

by One won lost won on Apr 1, 2007 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

no, no no no no NO

It just doesnt make sense to me. Why have Buck up in the majors, wasting both his clock and his development time, by having him platoon in the OF. And who is he platooning with? Kielty. Yeah, that's a great option for the OF.

Never played a game in AAA, and has not been impressive on defense at all. Hopefully he can take care of business, like I expect him to next year.

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 12:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't see the problem with

platooning Buck with Kielty. Buck will start 75% of the time or more, which is plenty. Kielty truly mashes LHP to where his mediocre defense is a worthwhile trade-off--you want Kielty in the lineup against LHP, where he is a legitimate middle-of-the-lineup hitter. Buck doesn't have to play 160 games to be playing enough for his development.

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 Apr 1, 2007 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

true

but i don't like the idea of throwing him out there without any splash at AAA, especially with his defensive deficiencies.

if it works out, then great. but unless buck his hitting well enough to the point that he'd remain as a starter when DJ/Kotsay come back, i consider it a waste of clock.

and if he struggles, then you open a whole other can of worms.

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why are you hung up on

AAA? Pujols never played at AAA, so you would have sent him down just to get him some AAA at-bats?

by IndianaAsfan on Apr 1, 2007 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

it was no secret that Pujols

would be great.

Buck is not in that category

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really??

It was the biggest story of that spring. Pujols went to junior college because he got NO college scholarship offers. It was a huge surprise that he was that great that early. Remeber, he jumped from A ball to the majors, and the Cardinals were heavily criticized for it.
I never claimed Buck was in his category, I just took fadedash's logic and applied it in another situation.

by IndianaAsfan on Apr 1, 2007 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you didnt take my logic

you put words in my mouth and ran with it that way

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which words exactly

did I put in your mouth? Please explain, because one of your complaints was that Buck didn't have any AAA at-bats. How is that putting words in your mouth. The Cardinals had other options at the time as well, but thought he was ready for the big leagues. Time has obviously proven them right. Now Buck could fail miserably, but the A's feel he is ready. Criticize all you want, but come up with something other than he doesn't have any AAA at-bats, because AAA at-bats don't increase his chances of succeeding at the major league level.

by IndianaAsfan on Apr 1, 2007 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

read below. nt

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

words in my mouth

i didnt say i was hung up on AAA.

and i didnt say i would have made pujols play AAA.

you assumed both of these about me

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

re-read your post. You complain that Buck doesn't have AAA at-bats. I then compared that to Pujol's situation, and there is nothing different about Buck's situation now compared to Pujols's situation then. Except that Buck has had more minor league at-bats than Pujols did then. Pujols's clock started early, if he had failed miserably or merely did ok, then the Cardinals would have sent him down to AAA with an early starting clock.

by IndianaAsfan on Apr 1, 2007 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and i'm not hung up on him not getting AAA time

i'm just a risk-adverse person generally, and i dont see anything wrong with that.

Why use Buck right now? Start him in AAA and let him play every day.

In the meantime, go with Durazo/Walker or whomever at 1B. If they struggle, you can call up Buck. Buck isn't going anywhere, so why not wait and see first?

Instead, the other option is to cut one player and call up your rookie who hasn't played in AAA or the MLB, and has shown defensive issues in the OF in ST. If he struggles, you will have started his clock and will have to have him back in AAA.

If he does ok, you'll have him gain some experience at the MLB level, but he'll be back in AAA when DJ/Kotsay return, again wasting a full clock year.

If he does great, he stays on the team and everyone's new favorite player (mine included) is Buck.

That 3rd scenario has the least likely chance of happening, and therefore, I'm not in favor of it. Follow?

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I follow

and there's nothing wrong with being risk adverse.
Here's my point - if either one of your first two scenarios happen, experience at AAA isn't going to turn Buck into a great player so you haven't lost anything by starting his clock this year. Do you think Beane sits around and worries that he started DJ's clock early? I don't. The A's have lost ok players in the past and will in the future, it's just a part of being in Oakland. Beane didn't just start this today, and if he thinks Buck should be in the majors, clock notwithstanding, then that's good enough for me.

by IndianaAsfan on Apr 1, 2007 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not saying the AAA experience will turn him

into something better. It takes talent to get drafted and it takes talent to go through the system. A stop in AAA will not turn him into a superstar.

What I'm more concerned with is just starting him out there already, without having given the other options a chance.

If Walker/Durazo did well at 1B, we dont need to call up Buck right? The A's will get the benefit then of letting him build somewhat of a track record in AAA. If he's mashing and Walker/Durazo struggle, go ahead and call him up.

They're completely foregoing that option (which I'm sure they thought of and decided against) and instead are just banking on Buck providing enough to help this team get through the 1st half.

I hope he comes through, but I just wish they didn't give up on one option before going to this one.

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, fadedash, you're wrong

It's shocking to read a diary and see that you're making people angry and shooting off incorrect information.

YOU DON'T WASTE A FULL CLOCK YEAR BY MAKING AN APPEARANCE IN THE MAJOR LEAGUE SEASON. Do not write things you don't know and confuse people.

Service time is doled out as percentages of a year. That's why Milton Bradley has 5 and change years of service time and won't be an FA until after this year.

If Buck is called up for part of the year, then sent down, he will not lose an entire year of service time. If he plays 3 months with the A's, then is sent down, he'll be at approximately .5 service time years. That clock will continue as soon as he's brought back up.

Visit Cot's Baseball Contracts.

"Fictional numbers are really effective for making your case." -Devo

by notsellingjeans on Apr 1, 2007 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ok my mistake

is there a need for you to express it that way?

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, there isn't.

You're right, and I apologize.

"Fictional numbers are really effective for making your case." -Devo

by notsellingjeans on Apr 1, 2007 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i knew someone would bring that up

i'm not hung up on it. if we didnt have other options, then of course you go with buck. but we have other options.

and is buck pujols? no

could he be? who knows, but probably not.

unless buck puts up an extraordinary line, he's going back to AAA when kotsay/dj come back. when that happens, you'll have wasted a clock year.

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

I don't understand at all the choice of Walker over Perez. Perez is better than he played last year, and looked like he was coming around this spring. He's very versatile, whereas Walker isn't, and young to boot.

I imagine Beane and co. know something I don't on this one.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Apr 1, 2007 12:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

What they know may be

"non baseball related".

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 Apr 1, 2007 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Walker is also a known commodity.

Walker will get AB's because he's proven himself over his career. Perez had a solid season for the Dodgers one time. Walker is a guy who may end having a lot of AB if Piazza is injured/struggles or our brittle middle goes down again.

I think that Halsey is going down to AAA to be stretched out to start again and will be up to fill Loaiza's spot in the rotation with DiNardo switching spots with him in the minors.

by jjham15 on Apr 1, 2007 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm guessing its because

walker can play 1B and perez can't.

if buck sucks it up at the MLB level to the point where Geren doesn't want to play him, they have no other option but send him back down to AAA.

and what will they do then? have 3 OFs with no one on the bench, one of those starting OFs be kielty? don't think beane is a fan of that.

if buck sucks, swisher to the OF, kielty to the bench, walker to 1b.

perez didn't give them that possibility.

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

or, Walker has played 1B while Perez hasn't

Walker's performance at 1B hasn't been impressive...

but it appears Perez was DFA'd for other reasons

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and buck's performance in the OF

hasnt been impressive either.

if DJ doesnt go down, and they have an actual 1B, perez makes the team.

dj goes down, they dont have a 1b, so they find a UT player that has some experience at 1b. game over for perez.

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He filled in at first

last year for the Cubs after Lee went down. He played the position at least as well as DJ does.

by IndianaAsfan on Apr 1, 2007 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

really?

not that DJ is great at 1B (Swisher is better), but I have a hard time believing this one

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

I live in the Chicago land area and am forced to watch way too many Cub games. Especially last year, and probably again this year once they hit their June swoon. Remember, I didn't say Walker was outstanding at first, but for the short term he is fine, and just as good as DJ. His defensive problem isn't the routing grounder, it's his lack of range at second. When he plays first (especially with Ellis at second) this concern is minimal.

by IndianaAsfan on Apr 1, 2007 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope you're right

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Travis Buck Poll

Looking back on louismg's poll from a few days ago, it looks like about 111 ANer's have a chance of being correct, while the vast majority 491 (70%), were incorrect in their assessment of Buck's talent:

<prePoll <p>Travis Buck in 2007 will...
Play in AAA Sacramento and have a Sept. call-up.
70% 491 votes
Make the A's Opening Day roster, rot on the bench
6% 42 votes
Make the A's Opening Day roster, be a regular starter
9% 69 votes
Start in AAA, get in a funk and demoted to AA or worse
0% 5 votes
Start soft tossing from the mound and be the 5th starter
8% 57 votes
Other (Write-In Below)
5% 35 votes
| 699 votes | Results
</pre>

I, of course, was among the 9% of smart ANer's. ;-)

"When I got injured, I felt disrespected. Waaannnh!" - Mark Kotsay

by FoolshGame22 on Apr 1, 2007 12:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

wonder why it doesn't preview...

with the </pre> HTML showing? Oh well...

"When I got injured, I felt disrespected. Waaannnh!" - Mark Kotsay

by FoolshGame22 on Apr 1, 2007 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

what date was that poll?

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll give you a hint...

before DJ got hurt.

by mikeA on Apr 1, 2007 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well there you go

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

talent assessment?

buck isnt any more/less talented than he was a week ago, right?

dominoes just fell in the right order for him. funny thing is that his luck is created by yet some more bad luck for DJ

by fadedash on Apr 1, 2007 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

happens sometimes that way

for example, when Marco made the team in 2005

Bonds just HR'ed at the coliseum

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only difference

Luck and injuries often play a role in sorting out final roster spots.

What's different is that Buck is regarded as our best minor-league prospect, not a guy trying to catch on with a team after bouncing around the league.

My main concern with Buck is that we're rushing him. I would have preferred that he get a little time in Sacramento. But as you say, everything fell into place for him to make the big leagues right now. Let's hope he does okay.

by bear88 on Apr 1, 2007 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you

I would have liked to see him start at AAA. But given the injuries and the options I understand why he's going to start with the big club.

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Nico!!!! :-)

BUCK IS IN!!!! YEAH BABY!!!! So glad he's in!!!!!

I think this was an awesome call by Beane & co. :-)

Now we have 6 or 7 months to enjoy, to cheer, cry, and scream both in frustration and happiness. ~china bob

by baseballgirl on Apr 1, 2007 1:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Tough decision for sure, but I'm happy with it.

by sprtsnwyn on Apr 1, 2007 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like the Buck move

a) as someone pointed out he probably doesn't have a huge ceiling, so he doesn't have much room yet to expand in the minors;

b) even if you don't believe point A, you have to believe that 400 AB's (assuming he stays on the roster and hits against RH) against Major League pitching is worth more to the development of a 23 year-old than 600 AB's in the minors; and

c) he's "hot" right now and if he can keep it up, he'll provide a nice obp/doubles power from the 8 or 9 hole. He'll never be a big bopper, but he should be a solid OF with at least some room to grow.

Excited the season is starting after the eternal winter.

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Apr 1, 2007 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

he'll likely do ok til the pitchers

adjust to him. How he learns from that and adjusts may separate him from other players who started out well but haven't stuck

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Doesn't have a huge ceiling ?

His defense might not have a huge ceiling, but his bat is similar to Jason Giambi's or Erik Chavez's when they were in AA/AAA. Giambi might not have had the best defense but I didn't see anyone saying Jason Giambi had a "low ceiling" when he got MVP honers.

Seriously people, yesterday Buck was one of the best A's prospects. He makes the 25 man roster and suddenly the A's might as well have another Keith Ginter in right field. Whats up with that?

by Threepwood XX on Apr 1, 2007 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's that making the

A's roster basically guarantees injury, so he's no longer a great prospect.

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 Apr 1, 2007 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No scout or prospect expert would ever compare

Buck to Chavez, that is simply a silly comparison. Giambi's power surge, as we know, was chemically aided (and quite likely still is as HGH is not tested for). I'm about as big a fan of Buck's as there is, as I watched him at ASU and wanted us to draft him. Buck is nowhere near the prospect that Chavez was, offensively or defensively, and he likely will never be a star because he will likely never hit for great power. Let's enjoy Buck for what he is: a hitter that has a very real ability to hit for high average and enough doubles power to make it useful. If by some small chance Buck does develop home run power at some point, that is just a bonus.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Apr 1, 2007 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beane compared

Chavez to Mickey Mantle...

by IndianaAsfan on Apr 1, 2007 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

OMG

by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2007 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look at old scouting reports on Chavez

and you will see a lot of hyperbole. It's one of the reasons Chavez is seen as a bit of a disappointment despite a very good career so far. Chavez had a superduperstar ceiling, so anything short of that is going to unfortunately be seen as a lit bit of a letdown.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Apr 1, 2007 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately for Chavez

you're entirely correct. Although, in fairness, only Nico, Blez and bballgirl consistently live up to superduperstar status.

by IndianaAsfan on Apr 1, 2007 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Except for their

abject lack of Mexicanismo.

"He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man." --Dr. Johnson

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Apr 1, 2007 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hooray for DiNardo

I hope he shoves it up Boston's ass a couple of times this year. Though he may be sent down for Halsey like someone said above.

See the latest dumbass thing I've done -- camUra

by hunter on Apr 1, 2007 1:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Quick thoughts

I'm happy enough not to have Perez on the team. He was a waste of a roster space. I don't care how well he did in spring training. Perez was so horrible that nobody ever wanted to see him in a game last season, for any reason. There don't need to be "non-baseball reasons." He just couldn't hit in a new league, playing once a week or less. He's not the only player who have trouble with that. I hope for him that a change of scenery, and regular playing time, works for him.

They've got three players on the roster who can play third, so they should be able to survive. I like Todd Walker. He seems like a useful guy to have around.

Keeping Buck does surprise me, because it seems a bit of a rush. He's hit well this spring. I gather he's not much of a fielder. We'll see about that one.

Swisher as backup center fielder... I hope we don't see that very often. Outfield defense has gone from a team strength to a weakness.

My biggest concern is that we don't seem to have any reliable starting pitchers after Haren and Harden.

by bear88 on Apr 1, 2007 1:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

breaking the leash law again?

Bud Selig is the bravest, kindest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

by ak_A on Apr 1, 2007 1:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No, I had a leash on

Poochini didn't, unfortunately.

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 Apr 1, 2007 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

the spiked collar too?

Bud Selig is the bravest, kindest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

by ak_A on Apr 1, 2007 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was last night

and it's none of your business.

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 Apr 1, 2007 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope he plays every day

come hell or high water. If he's hitting .210 in June then he's still the regular. Period. No DJ. No bullshit. No crap from the AN Nation.

by WaddellCanseco on Apr 1, 2007 2:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Long live T-Duck!

Buck on the roster honestly surprised me -- I'm very, very curious to see how the team handles his playing time (and Kielty's). As wary as I am about bringing the kid up at this point, I'm quite excited to see how he fares against major league pitching (and the Mariners' pitching too, I guess).

I guess I haven't been paying enough attention, though, because the lack of Halsey DOES surprise me -- I liked him well enough, as nervous as he made me, and I was kinda surprised to see him not in the 'pen. Teaches me to pay more attention in the offseason!

"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on Apr 1, 2007 5:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs