It's unfortunate that the A's seem compulsive about spotting the division a month of smart play before getting it together, as the prevailing organizational philosophy seems to be, "The first 1/6 of the season is for working hard to put your team in a hole, the next 1/6 is for starting to do what you should have done all along, and the other 2/3 is either for playing .700-.800 ball or trading your good players."
Fast-forward to this week, though, and ignore - as if it were just your worst alcoholic nightmare - April's banishments of Sean Gallagher and Travis Buck, a belief that all running and bunting is "aggressive" and never just "reckless," "desperate," or "flat out dumb," and the conviction that a good insurance policy for a broken player is an even more broken one. There are signs of intelligent life in Oakland right now.
On April 25th, I suggested that in the next two weeks the A's should start working towards a rotation of Braden, Anderson, Cahill, Gallagher, and Gio Gonzalez, because Eveland was neither good now nor was he part of any solid future rotation the A's were trying to build, and because Outman was better suited to throwing hard out of the bullpen than he was throwing "kinda hard but straight" in the rotation. Anderson's blister has complicated things slightly, but with Gio eligible to be called up Monday and Anderson ready to go in the next few days, the A's are now poised to run with this rotation anytime - even as of today, because off days will allow them to use a four man rotation until May 21st, and the rotation is set up with Gallagher, Braden, Cahill, and Anderson poised to make the next four starts.
The lineups are finally making more sense, as Suzuki has been moved up to the #2 spot where he can get 5 PAs a game, and Buck is seeing regular playing time - which he should as a player who offers good defense and does not have large platoon splits in his career. (I'd still prefer to see Cabrera at the bottom of the order, but given how many weak hitters the A's have to start right now I can live with it.)
The bullpen management, which personally I believe has been a strength of Geren's all along in comparison to his lineups, overall use personnel, and offensive strategies, has been smart. A timely example was Geren's use of Bailey for two innings last night. By putting him in at all, the A's were going to lose Bailey's services Saturday anyway and it is always risky to use too many pitchers in a game because of the possibility that any one of them might do exactly what Ziegler did Thursday - which is to "just not have it and allow a crooked number." Rather than rolling the dice with 4 different relievers, Geren let Bailey - who was clearly doing fine - pitch the 9th, and in doing so he has Ziegler available for up to 2 innings today if needed while Bailey rests.
Guys like Dana Eveland, Dan Giese, and Rajai Davis and are "filler" - they're not very good now but they're also not part of any future success the A's will have. This is why it's so crucial for Gallagher, and Gio Gonzalez, and Travis Buck to be in the mix: Because they have just as good a chance of being good now (as however raw they are, they're also far more talented), plus they're the ones who have a chance of being really good later.
The smarter roster, the smarter use of personnel, a smarter brand of baseball - all this could have, and should have, been in place before May 9th. But better now than never and for the first time all season I'm liking what I'm seeing.
0 recs | 51 comments
OK Nico....... Let the secret out of the bag
Poochini composed this and you typed it.
This is a good post, it had to have his input?
Trainman - May 9, 2009
so whose name did he omit from this sentence?
stormtown - May 9, 2009
All part of the master plan.
Lull the rest of the league to sleep, and then wham. Sure it pisses off the natives, but it’s not like they were showing up in droves anyway.
Timely writing as usual, Nico. Clutch, even.
67MARQUEZ - May 9, 2009
It's pretty much on the money
Things are starting to look up. I like those 5 in the rotation that Nico mentioned and feel quite a bit better about having Eveland gone and hopefully never coming back. Outman back to the pen where he belongs also will be good.
Now all we need is a couple of players to get healthy (players that will contribute when healthy) and we will be OK in this weak division.
We still have to contend with a manager whose elevator doesn’t go to the top but things are looking better. A few losses in a row may dampen this but here’s hoping for a nice winning streak.
Trainman - May 9, 2009
Yep.
Sometimes it needs to be broken before you realize you have to fix it.
67MARQUEZ - May 9, 2009
Interesting choice of adage
considering Oakland’s familiarity with the disabled list.
GoA's - May 9, 2009
sounds about right
I’m excited to go to the ballgame today. (No surprise, I’m always excited to go to ballgames).
Gallagher is reportedly on a 75-80 pitch count for his start.
OaklandSi - May 9, 2009
not sure about everyone else
but I’m still willing to give Eveland a chance. Granted, he should take some time at AAA to figure it out but he has shown he has the stuff to be an effective starter. He had a decent ERA last season while getting zero run support in his first full season. I hope he can figure it out and either become a decent back-end option for the A’s or as trade bait to another club looking for some starters at the break. If he can have a good start or two I think Beane can net a decent prospect or two with him in a package with one of the many infielders or something. Dana’s still a guy I’d like to see succeed, in Oakland or elsewhere
MaineAthletic - May 9, 2009
I agree, I'd like to see him get his pitching straightened out
if nothing else he might then bring something useful in a trade.
OaklandSi - May 9, 2009
I'm with you
I still maintain that Eveland could be a perfectly serviceable fifth starter.
While he is struggling at the moment, it’s not as if I look at the rest of the rotation and think, “Oh, they’re all so much better.” They’re just not struggling now.
Gallagher hasn’t proven he can be an effective starter, and has obviously irritated the club in some way. Anderson hasn’t really been very good, has a blister problem, and is being rushed into the big leagues at 21. Same with Cahill, who has only had one good start and has been rushed even more than Anderson. Gonzalez hasn’t established that he can get big league hitters out on a regular basis. I’m not going to get all giddy that Cahill was good in his last start, or that Gonzalez did better than expected in a tough situation.
The reality is that I think the A’s will need Eveland to be reaonably effective if they are to have any success this season.
bear88 - May 9, 2009
Really? I don't. I think it's perfectly possible
that Gallagher and Gio could outperform Eveland anyway. I do think 2 of the 4 of Eveland, Gallagher, Gio, and Outman may have to be reasonably effective, but I don’t think it’s a stretch to think Eveland’s the one who won’t be yet 2 of the other 3 could come around.
Nico - May 9, 2009
Possible, not likely
For reasons you have stated, I think Outman is better suited for the bullpen. I don’t see him as an effective starter, at least this season.
Gallagher is a mystery. He shows flashes, I’ll admit, but his overall performance has been bad and management obviously is miffed with him. The only reason he’s on the team now is because of desperation.
The Mariner game was the first time Gio showed me something. Obviously, the kid could blossom – but he might not this season.
Eveland, by contrast, was a reaonably effective starter for most of last season. I understand the arguments against him (lack of an out pitch, less than inspiring demeanor, poor control) but he’s the only one of that bunch who has a track record of moderate success at the major league level.
And you’re not counting the likelihood that the rookies will continue to struggle with inconsistency or worse, or that somebody else gets injured.
I’m not trying to oversell Eveland’s importance. I just think he is still a guy capable of quality starts. After all, he was just doing that a year ago. That’s more than I can say for Gio, Outman, or Gallagher. They’re still unproven.
bear88 - May 9, 2009
I would LIKE to agree with you, but...
the fact that he is even getting rocked at the Triple-A level does not bode so well for him, at least in the short term.
I’m hoping for a similar turn-around from him as we got last season late in the year after his time in the minors, but I won’t really hold my breath. He chewed some innings for the team last season in a transition period, but I’d much rather see Gio or Gallagher in the rotation from now on.
Taj Adib - May 9, 2009
Eveland is struggling
I know that he got beaten up in his first AAA start but, as you say, Eveland was able to turn things around last year and pitch well after a stint in the minors.
I agree with Nico’s larger point that Eveland is not and will not be a major part of the team’s long-term future.
But he has shown the ability to eat up some innings and not be horrible. Gio hasn’t established that yet. Gallagher hasn’t established that, at least in Oakland. The rookies are rookies. Duchscherer’s return may be a pipe dream.
My point is that the A’s may need the guy this year.
bear88 - May 9, 2009
Eveland
He needs to go down to AAA to learn how to control his emotions. He wears his stuggles for all to see. If I were Geren/Beane, I’d tell Dana to work on 1) His demeanor on the mound, 2) Fastball location, 3) 1st Pitch Strikes using Offspeed Stuff.
He really needs to get his head on straight. I just don’t know if he has the mental makeup.
Colorado Fan - May 9, 2009
BTW
Gio should be told those same exact things. He gets rattled easily, and before he regains his composer, he’s giving up a crooked number. I really can’t believe how much more Anderson & Cahill look like they belong… and Gio and Eveland act like they are 21 & 21, respectively.
Colorado Fan - May 9, 2009
Personally, I'm hoping he regains Brahms.
Brahms is cool.
Nico - May 9, 2009
I agree with your overall point.
I just really wish he was giving us a little more hope that he can be that guy for the team soon. There’s no doubt that if he could be even REASONABLY effective at the big league level he’d be a help to this team because sooner or later Cahill and Anderson will be shut-down or limited in innings and Braden can’t pitch every single day….
Taj Adib - May 9, 2009
I'd complain about Eveland's lack of control,
but I’m advocating for Gallagher and Gio, so…yeah.
Nico - May 9, 2009
+1
MMunoz33 - May 9, 2009
PA?
ah…Plate appearance?
what is difference between PA and AB?
I need a baseball acronym glossary sometimes.
LongTimeFan - May 9, 2009
PA includes things like walks, sac flies and so on
In other words, things that don’t count as ABs.
Flashfire - May 9, 2009
And know a message from Too Much Information
A batter starts with an at bat every time he faces a pitcher; however, the batter gets no time at bat in the following circumstances:
* He receives a base on balls (BB).
* He is hit by a pitch (HBP).
* He hits a sacrifice fly or a sacrifice hit (also known as sacrifice bunt).
* He is awarded first base due to interference or obstruction, usually by the catcher.
* The inning ends while he is still at bat (due to the third out being made by a runner caught
stealing, for example). In this case, the batter will come to bat again in the next inning, though
he now has no balls or strikes on him.
* He is replaced by another hitter before his at bat is completed (unless he is replaced with two
strikes and his replacement strikes out).
GoA's - May 9, 2009
Thank for TMI
I didn’t know the second-to-last tidbit. Learn something new every day!
Jackson23 - May 10, 2009
signs of intelligent life unfortunately don't extend to KTRB
they just cut out completely in the middle of Marty Lurie’s live broadcast of Inside Baseball Saturday at the coliseum. This is not the first time they’ve cut out completely during Marty’s show, but it seems to be the longest such outage.
OaklandSi - May 9, 2009
On your larger point...
I agree.
Suzuki has probably been the best hitter on the team. Moving him to second in the batting order makes sense.
Playing Buck is necessary, because the team needs to find out if 2007 was a fluke or if he can recapture the success of his rookie year. He also, as has been pointed out repeatedly, isn’t a platoon player based on splits. I would rather have him hitting leadoff, especially with Suzuki, a righthander, hitting second. But he needs to establish that he can actually hit consistently before a serious argument can be made for that. [The competition isn’t stiff, though.]
bear88 - May 9, 2009
I've pretty much been in agreement with you all along with these things, Nico.
Although, to be honest (and this is not completely rational based on his performance) but I’ve kinda liked what I’ve seen from Dan Giese so far, especially in his spot start. I would not hold out hope that he would ever be permanent or even semi-permanent rotation option for this team, but he might be useful the less of this year and maybe next as a long reliever. He can only really go two times through the order before getting completely exposed, but with a young rotation, it would be nice to have a guy like him around to soak up an inning or two as a bridge between the inconsistent starters and the “lockdown” later inning guys.
Don’t get me wrong here, he’s not a great pitcher and I would never say that he is, but I kind of liken him to Kirk Saarloss of the 2005-2006 times: a guy that, when everything is clicking and he is keeping the ball down, he can be effective and keep you in the game and maybe have a lucky BABIP year or two that props up his ERA.
Taj Adib - May 9, 2009
Saarloos is a good comp, actually, in that
he was really valuable for a time and then when he “ran out of luck” he fell off the face of the earth entirely. This means you don’t want to get caught up in Giese’s success as boding anything for the future, but there’s nothing wrong with riding the wave as long as the league hasn’t fully caught up with him yet.
Nico - May 9, 2009
Giese
The A’s need long relievers. Giese appears to fill the bill. He throws strikes and doesn’t try to do much. The team is going to have a lot of games where the starter is out by the fifth inning.
He might be a Saarloos, but I’m expecting much out of him as a spot starter.
bear88 - May 9, 2009
I'm actually planning to write a post about this -
I think the A’s err by carrying one long reliever and then never using him if they haven’t needed him by the 3rd inning. If they carried two guys who are capable of going 3 IP – say Outman and Giese, or Eveland and Gallagher, or whomever, then they could use their “long man” more freely knowing that they had an emergency option still ready tomorrow if the starter got lit up. That could stop pitchers from getting “Yabued” – as Gallagher was, the latest in a troubling string of unused resources.
Nico - May 9, 2009
Forgot the "not"
I’m not expecting much out of Giese as a spot starter, but I think he has a role on the team this year.
bear88 - May 9, 2009
rajai/copeland together is a waste of roster space
also i was encouraged by outman’s stuff yesterday, i think the slider/changeup flashed plus potential. he needs to learn pitch efficiency and fastball command. adding a cutter or 2 seamer would help. interesting in minors he limited hrs and had a solid gb%, but its been the opposite in his mlb stints.
Asfan4ever723 - May 9, 2009
If anyone would benefit from Springer's "Cutters For Dummies" seminar, it's Outman
A little movement would go a long way. (Actually, a straight fastball goes a long way. That’s the problem.)
Nico - May 9, 2009
The A's could also just choose NOT to start Outman against the Blue Jays. Ever.
I’m sure that alone would improve his ERA by about 3 runs.
Taj Adib - May 9, 2009
copeland DFA/petit AAA
kennedy/gray up
feel bad for petit who is an ideal backup infielder than crosby
rajai hangs on!!
Asfan4ever723 - May 9, 2009
Hmm
Petit is doomed by Crosby’s presence and the need for Hannahan because all of the other natural third basemen are perpetually injured.
The A’s are fond of Davis.
bear88 - May 9, 2009
Does Copeland get voted into the "Ryan Langerhans Hall of Fame"?
Nico - May 9, 2009
Golseki...
MMunoz33 - May 9, 2009
I'm soria, what?
You’re joshing me.
Nico - May 9, 2009
the Ryan Goleski Hall of Fame
MMunoz33 - May 9, 2009
he was supposed to be a cheap version of kielty!
Asfan4ever723 - May 9, 2009
Interesting...
I’m wondering: when Copeland clears waivers…will the Giants will take him back or will they maybe want to make a trade with the A’s so that they can keep him? He had a fairly bad/mysterious injury during Spring Training and while his brief minor league rehab stint was encouraging, he hasn’t played in a week or so.
On a larger point, I would like the A’s to make an effort to keep Copeland. He hasn’t really gotten a real chance to show what he can do, but all the reports seem to indicate that he’s a pretty good defensive center fielder with speed and he’s a better hitter than Rajai, so he has some upside.
Taj Adib - May 9, 2009
Is Holliday using PED's?
This is a hot topic GM’s are going to have to start assessing and may be a factor in how the A’s apporach a trade package…
MMunoz33 - May 9, 2009
If I was going to try and trade for Holliday or sign him if he becomes a FA
I’d ask myself if the player was a product of the PED era and whether the chances of the player testing positive or not.
MMunoz33 - May 9, 2009
dont know about peds
but during interviews has anyone noticed how huge holliday’s head is
Asfan4ever723 - May 9, 2009
I just know this can be a touchy subject and given the A's history of players who used PED's
Beane may shy away from players that could be viewed as tainted…
MMunoz33 - May 9, 2009
Or big-headed?
Nico - May 9, 2009
Maybe that is the safe bet...
MMunoz33 - May 9, 2009
According to the side bar, Jeff Gray and Adam Kennedy are joining
the club, and Petit, goes down, and Ben Copeland, we barely knew ya.
theblackpearl - May 9, 2009
here is the link
http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090509&content_id=4641516&vkey=pr_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak
theblackpearl - May 9, 2009
Rotoworld has no love for Kennedy
…which I don’t quite get. He had one lousy year for St. Louis in 2007 at the age of 31, but has been pretty consistent otherwise. He isn’t THAT old, and it’s possible nobody signed him because he fell into the same category as Abreu and Cabrera and a bunch of guys who wound up signing minor league contracts, asking for too much money then finding that nobody would sign him at all for those prices.
The A’s don’t like Petit. They should package him in a trade and let him try somewhere else.
richwol1 - May 9, 2009
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