Open Thread: Game 11 - A's at Indians (and Giants)

Batting Cabrera 2nd

for a smart organization, the A’s sure do a lot of stupid things.

Zonis - March 8, 2009 reply

Sometimes I think Beane lets Geren have too much power. He really ought to step in and say "No, bad Geren. You stop that."

thejd44 - March 8, 2009 reply

COME JOIN THE GUBA DAMMIT.

Oh wait, we just filled up the league again.

Stop doing this to me.

mikev - March 8, 2009 reply

well it's certainly not a unique idea

Cabrera has batted second more than any other slot in the order in recent years

OaklandSi - March 8, 2009 reply

just because its been done before, doesn't mean its better

see: History of Sabermetrics

Zonis - March 8, 2009 reply

did write that?

I just wanted to point out that for Geren to suggest batting Cabrera second isn’t surprising, since he’s mostly batted second in his career. At this point it’s probably the safest thing for him to say.

No doubt if they think they have a better alternative they’ll try it out.

OaklandSi - March 8, 2009 reply

I think it would be just as safe to say,

“He could be an ideal #9 hitter – a ‘double leadoff’ guy – while Buck / Sweeney / Cust might be really well suited to the #2 hole.”

Nico - March 8, 2009 reply

Geren is very diplomatic

so I’d be more surprised if he said that about his new veteran shortstop at this point.

OaklandSi - March 8, 2009 reply

Things like this bug me to no end

Cabrera batting second is far from the end of the world, but it’s just so obviously and blatantly stupid….

mikeA - March 8, 2009 reply

I'm going to try to put an original spin on the issue -

But we’ll see if anyone’s buying.

Nico - March 8, 2009 reply

OMG The World's going to end

I myself see nothing wrong with trying it.

I am sure if it doesn’t work, thwy will make changes

Trainman - March 8, 2009 reply

That depends on what "not working" means

If it means he gives you only a .320 OBP out of the #2 slot, is it “not working” or “what we should expect”?

Nico - March 8, 2009 reply

Good question

I would take say a .340 with a .270 plus BA. I see he was shitty last year in the 2 hole with only a .305 OBP in like 128 at bats

I guess we will find out.

He’s gotta love playing against the Angels

Trainman - March 8, 2009 reply

Hold on now

Cabrera has topped a .340 OBP just twice in his career. I don’t think there is a chancel in hell he tops that this year, in the worst hitters’ park he’s ever played in, and one more year into an obvious decline.

I think .300 is more likely than .340, though I’m sure he’ll be right around .315-.320

thejd44 - March 8, 2009 reply

I didn't look to hard

well, we can hope the balls he sees look like grapefruits and not his own that is.

Trainman - March 8, 2009 reply

I just hope he's batting 9th and playing good defense and not being a complete asshat.

thejd44 - March 8, 2009 reply

These are good goals

Nico - March 8, 2009 reply

no

Cheezombie - March 8, 2009 reply

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Sunday that he doesn't expect Ervin Santana to be available for the start of the season.

It’s still unclear what’s going on with Santana, as the Angels haven’t released the results of an MRI taken on Saturday. They had been dismissing the right-hander’s sore elbow as a routine spring issue, but Scioscia’s statement indicates it’s more than that. With Santana out, two pitchers from the group of Dustin Moseley, Nick Adenhart and Shane Loux would open the season in the rotation. Here’s one more team that should be looking at Pedro Martinez

From Rotoworld.com

Syphon - March 8, 2009 reply

Santana has been particularly rough on the A's

OaklandSi - March 8, 2009 reply

lol bad karma from HH

they were rejoicing over duke’s injury

Asfan4ever723 - March 8, 2009 reply

Sounds like the two situations are comparable

Elbow issues that are billed as somewhat ordinary, with each subsequent report acknowledging a bit more seriousness. Just his being shut down for six weeks could have an appreciable impact on the two teams’ relative standing come mid-May.

Nico - March 8, 2009 reply

just got an email message from the A's

that my 2009 season tickets were just shipped Federal Express — woo hoo!

OaklandSi - March 8, 2009 reply

Jealous

Syphon - March 8, 2009 reply

Which game should I primarily listen to?

doublegee203 - March 8, 2009 reply

1:00 p.m is the new 12:00 p.m.... and, Doolittle is the new Giambi...

A’s Spring Training OPS (over 10 PA’s):

Player         POS   TPA      OPS

S. Doolittle    1B    10     1.480

R. Sweeney      OF    22     1.486

M. Carson       OF    12     1.361

R. Davis        OF    10     1.326

Y. Chen	       3B    10     1.200

A. Cunningham   OF    14     1.136

T. Buck         OF    22     1.014

J. Hannahan     3B    17     1.009

B. Crosby       SS    12      .917

G. Petit        SS    14      .857

L. Powell       C     14      .812

K. Suzuki       C     15      .733

M. Holliday     OF    17      .728

C. Wimberly     2B    16      .708

C. Carter       1B    12      .614

J. Dillon       3B    13      .585

B. Copeland     OF    15      .564

J. Cust         DH    14      .500

M. Ellis        2B    11      .455

J. Giambi       1B    17      .307

E. Chavez       3B    11      .293

E. Patterson    2B    13      .237

C. Pennington   SS    14      .220

It is obvious that the A’s outfield should be Swooney, Carson and Davis. Let Holliday DH until he gets his stroke back. Cust should be sent to AAA to work on his hitting. Patterson and Pennington should be immediately cut. Giambi, Chavez and Ellis should give their money back! ;-)

FoolshGame22 - March 8, 2009 reply

See, if we believed spring training small samples,

we’d be snookered into thinking that Pennington can’t hit very well.

Oh wait.

Nico - March 8, 2009 reply

It kinda depressed me yesterday when I realized that if I were a major leaguer based on my little league/college experience, I'd be Cliff Pennington

Because all I did was get on base and hit singles and play pretty good infield defense. That’s quite useful until you start playing with a bunch of grown ass men who can hit the ball 400 feet.

thejd44 - March 8, 2009 reply

Don't feel bad - I'd be Alex Sanchez

(Truthfully, more like Braden before 2008: crafty, fearless, crappy.)

Nico - March 8, 2009 reply

I'd be a scrawny Jeremy Giambi

So there are worse things.

Joey C. - March 8, 2009 reply

I would love to see that happen

doublegee203 - March 8, 2009 reply

A's coaching staff also split between the two games

and Springer will act as bullpen coach in the game against the Giants.

Geren said he will watch the game against Cleveland because he wants to watch Anderson.

OaklandSi - March 8, 2009 reply

Wait, he'll WATCH the game or manage the game?

thejd44 - March 8, 2009 reply

managers are basically just paid to watch baseball games

xbhaskarx - March 8, 2009 reply

no gameday audio?

is anyone else having issues with the gameday audio feed? I noticed this yesterday, but it was after the game was over, so I didn’t care much. Now however, it’s dropped completely again. Just static. I’ve tried relaunching the browser and no dice. Odd…

Cristobalm - March 8, 2009 reply

yeah, same problem

doublegee203 - March 8, 2009 reply

Yep

worldblee - March 8, 2009 reply

of course my luck, i clicked on another games feed and it's playing just fine. what do i care about florida against st. louis?

Cristobalm - March 8, 2009 reply

i'm gonna listen to KNBR (ehhhhh) until KRTB is working

doublegee203 - March 8, 2009 reply

KRTB has been working fine today, at least on my radio

OaklandSi - March 8, 2009 reply

It's not working on Gameday Audio

doublegee203 - March 8, 2009 reply

bummer

OaklandSi - March 8, 2009 reply

Me too

Trying to suppress my gag reflex at the sound of the Giants announcers

worldblee - March 8, 2009 reply

I'm getting the same thing, and I can't get the KTRB stream to work from their website, either

Nick - March 8, 2009 reply

Good thing it's streaming fine in Pleasanton, eh?

Nico - March 8, 2009 reply

ah, and god said ... let their be radio...

Cristobalm - March 8, 2009 reply

Gosh I feel bad for A-Rod right now...out 8-9 weeks

doublegee203 - March 8, 2009 reply

Yeah, I'm crying a river right now

However, I am willing to give the Yankees Crosby if they want a stop gap measure. I’m sure Crosby will be more than happy to learn a new position—oh wait, what’s that, Croz? Never mind, he only wants to play SS.

worldblee - March 8, 2009 reply