Everyone on the A's 40-man roster will wake up this morning with their own personal New Year's resolutions. I have tried to help them out if they haven't figured out what they want to do. But also, Happy New Year AN!
Brandon Allen - 1B/DH - Allen came to the A's from Arizona last July. His bat at first was exciting, his athleticism visible to the naked eye, then he fell to earth. Let 2012 be the year he stays in the stratosphere and gives Oakland more moon shots and more excitement with the stick.
Brett Anderson - LHP - Stay healthy! Every year since he debuted we have seen less and less of Anderson on the mound and more and more of him on the disabled list. While that trend likely will continue with him not off the DL until after the All Star break. Let 2012 be the year he begins on the path to good health!
Grant Balfour - RHP - We love hearing his curses above the din of the nearly empty Coliseum, and love it even more when they are audible in full ballparks. Let 2012 not silence his frustrations and have him continue to be the fire for our squad.
Daric Barton - 1B - 2011 was a wasted year. He doesn't need to hit home runs to be worthwhile. Let 2012 be the year that he doesn't take every borderline pitch but instead drives some into the gaps.
Jerry Blevins - LHP - Burning up I-80 these past few years between Oakland and Sacramento, I haven't been always the biggest supporter despite your second DFA but on the 40-man roster situation give my blog its still most popular link. While psychologically I still remember 2011 as rough for you, in reality some things worked. Let 2012 see Blevins reduce his BB% and eat a hamburger or something!
Dallas Braden - LHP - The soul of our team, Dallas missed far too much time last year. After looking sharp in his first three outings he was felled by injury missing the remainder of the year. Like Anderson, let 2012 be a year of good health. He is the veteran and leader of our rotation, and he can make our young arms better.
Adrian Cardenas - IF - Cardenas hasn't been that impressive, continually falling on any rankings of the A's system. He has a shot at making the big league club as a utility infielder. Let 2012 be a year where baseball forces NYU to the backburner all summer long.
Andrew Carignan - RHP - Six and a third innings in Oakland this past year. Didn't see much of him. Love the K/9 rates from the minors, love the HR/9 rates from the minors, neither of which was seen in Oakland. Let 2012 be a year for him to get it together in Sacramento and maybe he will be in Oakland before long.
Chris Carter - 1B/DH/OF - We have yet to see what he is fully capable of. Nothing left to prove in Sacramento he has looked lost at the plate since arriving in the Show. Let 2012 be the year he puts it all together. No ballpark in the country should be able to contain him.
Ryan Cook - RHP - As a seeming throw-in in the Arizona Cahill trade, in his MLB rookie year he had a great 8.2 K/9. He matched that with an awful 9.4 BB/9. Let 2012 be the year he finds the strikezone.
Collin Cowgill - OF - Coming over with Cook, Cowgill has a chance to break our starting outfield. Long a target of GM Billy Beane he is finally in the Green and Gold. Let 2012 be the year he restores our faith in Beane's man being worth the wait.
Fautino De Los Santos - RHP - Perhaps few other A's were as exciting to watch in 2011. Electrifying stuff like his is always fun to watch and his 11.6 K/9 showed others were wowed too. Let 2012 be the year that that K/9 rate represents the start of something special.
Joey Devine - RHP - With no options left Devine will be on the MLB squad come Opening Day barring injuries. It all went down hill with his sweaty forearm. Let 2012 be the year you find an antiperspirant that works wonders.
Josh Donaldson - C - I wanted Donaldson to be the backup catcher last spring. The path has (sort of) been cleared. He has the versatility to possibly play third as well. Let 2012 be the year he finally gives us some pop off the bench and salvages the Harden trade.
Sean Doolittle - LHP - He has done little. Let 2012 be the year he proves why his 40-man roster spot has been held so dearly.
Pedro Figueroa - LHP - See Sean Doolittle.
Brian Fuentes - LHP - Fuentes is perhaps responsible for the axing of Bob Geren, but there is no common source of anger to eliminate this year. Let 2012 be the year he owns up and tells Melvin he can't pitch to righties. He is a great LOOGY, let it shine.
Graham Godfrey - RHP - One great start against San Francisco a career does not make but our favorite #8 starter perhaps it does. Let 2012 be a year in which he is an insurance policy not needed but with a good payout if necessary.
Kila Ka'aihue - 1B/DH - With one game remaining in the year the A's acquired him from Kansas City. Like Carter he can hit AAA pitching and has nothing left to prove there. Let 2012 be the year that he too puts it all together.
Brandon McCarthy - RHP - Last year he fought for a roster spot in Spring Training. This year he probably is the Opening Day starter. My favorite Oakland Athletic. Let 2012 be a year of more banter and analysis on Twitter.
Tom Milone - LHP - Welcome to the A's, sorry. For the first time in history being traded out of Washington doesn't come with a bump up in the standings. Milone's walk rate is exciting. Can he be a slop throwing lefty for us like Braden? Can he out homer some of our position players? Let 2012 be a year where he seizes that 5th starter spot and astounds us with his control.
Jermaine Mitchell - OF - Has yet to break the bigs and is not getting any younger (he will be 27 on Opening Day). Let 2012 see him be our own personal Nelson Cruz or Michael Morse.
Guillermo Moscoso - RHP - I want to love Moscoso. I love his moxy. He seems angry and bitter and I love that in pitchers. But his ERA/FIP/xFIP splits (3.38/4.23/5.02) made last year's success seem so lucky. Let 2012 be the year he learns to induce a groundball or two.
Jordan Norberto - LHP - See Ryan Cook and replace Cahill with Ziegler.
Derek Norris - C - Got to love his OBP (.403 career in MiLB), can't love the batting average (.249). With 38 steals in 431 games he has some sort of speed. Let 2012 be the year that he legs out some infield hits and doesn't strike out so much.
Josh Outman - LHP - Like Blevins he has ground a new set of tracks into I-80 between Oakland and Sacramento. Let 2012 be the year he sticks with his stirrups held high.
Jarrod Parker - RHP - Acquired from Arizona this December, Parker has the potential to be a game changer. Let 2012 be a year when he firmly marches on the path to being a one day ace.
Brad Peacock - RHP - Acquired from Washington recently, Peacock is another pitcher who could be a key piece of contending teams in the future. Let 2012 be a year in which he like Parker keeps moving forward.
Cliff Pennington - SS - Pennington is a great fielder. He has a rocket arm. Let 2012 be the year we see the rocket reign in its power and reduce the throwing errors from the 25 we've seen the past two seasons.
Anthony Recker - C - While I want Donaldson to get a shot at the backup gig, Recker has played for so long he deserves a go too. Let 2012 be a year when the Spring Training competition's winner is a tough choice.
Josh Reddick - OF - I didn't like the trade that brought him here and am sad to see both Bailey and Sweeney go. Let 2012 be a year where he proves to us he isn't just Sweeney-plus but a bonafide starting outfielder who we can build an offense with.
Adam Rosales - UT - Rosie had a dreadful 2011. At -1.0 WAR he was the least valuable Athletic. Let 2012 be a year when we see more of the fastest home run trot in baseball.
Tyson Ross - RHP - Ross pitched well, got injured and it all fell apart. An Oakland native and Cal alum, we want him to succeed. Let 2012 be the year he learns to fix his mechanics so that every throw does worry us it'll be his last.
Scott Sizemore - 3B - The best move of 2011 was getting Sizemore for Purcey and his size 57 shoes. Let 2012 be a year where he continues his amazing learning curve at third base, and where his wife Brooke can see only plaudits of his play when she logs onto Twitter.
Eric Sogard - IF - Sogard's 2011 campaign was nothing to write home about - not that many A's had such a year. Let 2012 be a year when he can prove small size doesn't mean a small skillset.
Kurt Suzuki - C - Zuk's offensive numbers have fallen, many of us (or at least I) feel he can be so much better than he has been. Let 2012 be the year that he gets a day off or two!
Michael Taylor - OF - Finally making the show last year, Taylor has had his struggles. Let 2012 be a year where a Stanford degree can be just "a backup plan".
Neil Wagner - RHP - A New Year's baby. Wagner turns 28 this year. While a 25-man spot is far from a certainty his continual low FIPs in MiLB bode well for him. Let 2012 be a year he finally gets a long look with the big league club.
Jemile Weeks - 2B - No one expected his 2011. If they did, they didn't expect it to happen in 2011. A much needed jolt of excitement at a particularly dreary time to be an A's fan. Let 2012 be a year when he slides early so he can keep his fingers and a good CS% intact.
0 recs | 111 comments
Well, It's 2012
Let’s see how it goes for the A’s.
Good writeup; I’m amazed that Cook managed to have a 9.4 BB/9. That’s crazy, but he also had a high strikeout rate.
hoping that Anderson and Braden can stay healthy, they’re both big parts of our rotation.
Let’s see another great year form McCarthy and Weeks, and more improvement form Sizemore. Hoping for more surprises from Moscoso, too.
De Los Santos keeps reminding me of Henry Rodriguez; is there anything else in common apart from high strikeout rates?
As for the OF…. to think that we had Nelson Cruz, Andre Either and Carlos Gonzalez in our farm system.
Sean Fortuna - January 1, 2012
It's a small sample size problem 7 1/3 IP
Only concern was as he jumped levels the BB/9 went up. He is different from Norberto in that sense who has had significant control problems wherever he has pitched
dwishinsky - January 1, 2012 via iPhone app
My guess is that the BB/9 jumped
because better hitters weren’t flailing at breaking pitches in the dirt.
Nick - January 3, 2012
Only 3 sentences
On Rosales?
You should have asked me to write it for you. I would have gladly written a book on him.
Wiers103 - January 1, 2012
Was there really more to say than was said?
I thinketh not!
dwishinsky - January 1, 2012 via iPhone app
After Greg Jennings
I’d say that Rosales is probably the best athlete WMU has produced in recent years. Historically speaking, Jim Bouton is a Bronco!
Wiers103 - January 1, 2012
You're in Michigan! YAY!
Now I know I’m not the only one.
Cretgren - January 1, 2012
Haha yessir
Kalamazoo!
Wiers103 - January 1, 2012
I live in Portage!
Cretgren - January 2, 2012
State or UM???
dwishinsky - January 1, 2012
I wonder what the posting fees were for some of those new players
Flashfire - January 1, 2012
It took me so long to get that joke...
dwishinsky - January 1, 2012
Better late than never
Flashfire - January 1, 2012
It is a good one.
Cartwright - January 1, 2012
Oh I like this article.
Thank you and Happy New Years!
coachmmm - January 1, 2012
thx!
Happy New Year to you as well!
dwishinsky - January 1, 2012 via iPhone app
How about for Grant Balfour
“Get yourself traded for something useful. The end.”
cuppingmaster - January 1, 2012
I agree
And, though we as adults might get enjoyment from his language, I don’t approve the use in such an open manner in front of children. i would prefer he adopt Mark Mulder’s method of covering his mouth with his glove. We would still know what he says, but the word won’t seem as acceptable to youngsters.
Tutu-late - January 1, 2012
Yeah, I can see that
Although if you sit close enough, you hear cussing from the batters too. Balfour’s definitely not the only guy who swears loudly.
cuppingmaster - January 1, 2012
I do understand what you are saying, cupp.
Unfortunately, the TV camera is on the pitcher after every pitch, which makes him more noticeable. This makes it noticeable to more kids, than the ones at the games. Hard to stop, and I won’t even try. Just unnecessary.
Tutu-late - January 1, 2012
I can understand why this would put you off...
I have a young son too. But then again, it’s been part of the game for over a hundred years. I like my little guy to know the truth.
alox - January 1, 2012
There is a difference between using that specific word because you are upset,
and using it after every pitch, in order to motivate yourself( which is what Grant does).
Tutu-late - January 1, 2012
kids curse more than aduls anyways...
elBONESAW - January 1, 2012
Not more than Balfour
WaddellCanseco - January 1, 2012
Ross is the Boss
Jeff Fletcher tweets A’s have had preliminary discussions with cody ross.I’d prefer this over a seth smith trade. But this also takes ab’s away from a taylor and allen.
With the Quentin trade, also Kyle Blanks doesnt seem to be in the padres plans. He is sort of like Carter, Taylor waiting for a chance. Blanks and Darnell are mlb ready bats that could help A’s, not sure what padres would want. Would Tyson Ross + one of the cathers be enough? Ryan Ortiz dates bud blacks daughter and represented him in draft contract negotiations
J.J. Miller - January 1, 2012
Signing Ross is exactly why I fear this rebuild.
I would rather the ABs be given to the youngsters, or at least keep Sweeney to see if he did come back from knee surgery.
Tutu-late - January 1, 2012
This, it serves no purpose signing Ross and taking ABs away from
Reddick, Cowgill, Taylor, et al. Figure out that you have with those and a few others, if you want to grab a vet get another SP to help bury a few ppl in AAA that shouldn’t be up anyway.
Copenhagen - January 1, 2012
i disagree
While I want these young guys to get lots of ABs, there also needs to be some mlb experience in the mix. Otherwise, things can get out of hand.
And Beane has said he’s not comfortable with Taylor yet – that Taylor has to show some more consistency at AAA before playing in the bigs much. Taylor had a pretty good season with the Cats last year (finally, after injuries), but his numbers weren’t overwhelming. Same could be said for Mitchell. If either of those guys catch fire in spring or with the Cats, they’ll earn some PT with the A’s.
Cowgill and Reddick have put good numbers and the majors now, and both are mlb ready. But that’s two guys.
So while Taylor and Mitchell are possibilities, they are more “iffy”. So Beane needs to throw a proven mlb player or two into the OF mix. Ross could be a good option.
And the fact that Beane is doing this tells me he’s not just tanking in order to build for 2014 or 2015. He still wants to put a decent enough team on the field for 2012.
Btw – I didn’t include Allen in the OF discussion because I like him at first. I think the A’s do too.
One more thing:
Fuck the Giants! ;-)
jeff-athletic - January 1, 2012 via iPhone app
Brandon Allen
He’s my desired LF on Opening Day, and he’d be another guy losing AB’s in a pointless Ross signing.
The A’s might want Allen at 1B, and I wouldn’t disagree, but don’t they also want one of Barton/Ka’aihue to tear the cover off the ball and force Allen to LF?
RyanFromBonas - January 1, 2012
And they also want Carter tearing the cover off the ball so Allen can't DH
Basically they’d be signing Ross hoping he never plays
WaddellCanseco - January 1, 2012
Then why would Ross sign here?
Unfortunately, I think if he signs, he gets 4-5 starts/week in LF.
RyanFromBonas - January 1, 2012
Yes which is why they shouldn't do it
WaddellCanseco - January 1, 2012
Allen played very well at first.
Kila has very underwhelming numbers both at AAA and in the bigs. At 27, seems like pretty much AAA material.
Barton, I’m done with him – no power, looks at too many pitches, and his D is mediocre at best. He needs to go white hot in spring or AAA before he’s even considered.
Carter can’t field at all. DH all the way for him.
Allen fields very well, has a ton of power, and looks like he has a clue at the plate (despite coming back down to earth after a fast start). Of the bunch, Allen seems to have the best upside.
jeff-athletic - January 2, 2012 via iPhone app
Barton
I hate when people look at top many pitches and lead the AL in walks….
dwishinsky - January 2, 2012 via iPhone app
The only time I get concerned about looking at pitches,
is when a batter take the ones down the middle, then (with 2-strikes against him) swings at a pitch in the dirt.
Tutu-late - January 2, 2012
I hate seeing pitches that can be driven taken
I like aggressiveness but not recklessness
dwishinsky - January 2, 2012 via iPhone app
High walk rate is nice ...
… but is no replacement for someone that gets hits and for extra bases, neither of which Barton does much of.
Yes, based on 2010, and to a lesser degree, 2011, Barton draws lots of walks, and that’s a nice asset. But it’s not enough of an asset to compensate for his lack of power, and generally mediocre hitting and fielding.
First base is a power position. For first, I favor a high slugging percentage over a high walk rate, any day.
jeff-athletic - January 2, 2012
There would be absolutely no problem with 2010 Barton at first base
And without his shoulder issue, he was a Gold Glove level 1B.
Flashfire - January 2, 2012
I need to keep this bookmarked.
http://www.athleticsnation.com/2011/12/20/2636406/acquiring-power-isnt-more-valuable-when-a-team-has-none
Barton was a very good hitter in 2010, power or not. He was +12 runs above the average first baseman, just with the bat.
danmerqury - January 2, 2012
thank you Dan
dwishinsky - January 2, 2012 via iPhone app
That "someone" sure as hell ain't Brandon Allen either.
lenscrafters - January 2, 2012
I'm kinda hoping he will get hits and for extra bases and be an awesome LF
WaddellCanseco - January 2, 2012
I'm not kinda hoping
I officially am hoping for that
dwishinsky - January 2, 2012 via iPhone app
"Coming back down to earth"?!
That’s in the running for understatement of the year despite it being just the second day of the new year.
Allen “hit” .205/.259/.356 for the A’s last year. What part of that performance constitutes having “a clue at the plate”?
I like Allen, I think he should get a shot to see if he can do anything. But it’s ridiculous how some people give him such a benefit of doubt when he doesn’t deserve it anymore than the rest of the dreck at the first base position.
lenscrafters - January 2, 2012
Yeah, this
He has as much to prove as anyone else.
Flashfire - January 2, 2012
Fine. I just saw a lot of raw potential in Allen when he was first brought over..
And if Barton, while now supposedly being healthy, can put together 2010 numbers (.280, 10 or so dingers, high OBP), with solid glove work (not like in 2011, where he really struggled with errors, but like 2010 where he was potential GG material), then I’d be totally fine with him at first.
Truth be told, I’m quite disappointed with the likes of Carter, Taylor, Ka’aihue, Miller, Mitchel, and Allen.
Each one of those guys seem to have a lot of raw ability, but have huge deficiencies as MLB batters and/or fielders. And each guy is past 25, so are past “prospect” status.
jeff-athletic - January 2, 2012
So....everybody sucks. That's not good.
WaddellCanseco - January 2, 2012
Let's not forget our team
Allen’s slashline is Ruthian for our 2011 edition ha!
dwishinsky - January 2, 2012 via iPhone app
Reasons to be optimistic about Allen compared with the rest of the "dreck":
He’s younger than both Ka’aihue and Barton and only a few months older than Carter, he’s never had a major injury, he put up a .286/.401/.555 line in over 1,000 AAA plate appearances (Kila – .281/.412/.497 in 1,500 PAs; Carter – .264/.361/.529 in 950 PAs), and while his major league performance has been bad, there isn’t yet that much of a sample of badness.
Allen and Ka’aihue each have less than a season’s worth of plate appearances in the majors, but the big differences are that Allen was better at AAA and is two years younger.
Overall I give Barton the best shot at being a good player, with Allen right behind him and Kila and Carter lagging pretty far back. The big issue with Barton is obviously the injury and terrible recent performance.
laserbeams - January 3, 2012
Allen was born 2/12/86, Barton 8/16/85
A six-month difference is pretty meaningless.
Flashfire - January 4, 2012
I wouldn't want to rush the youngsters and waste valuable service time
As much as I’d like to see all our new AAAA quality guys, I think they should be brought up when they’re ready. Having a Cody Ross in there wouldn’t hurt as I’ve always thought, could provide some experience, and may come at a low price. If he can be signed for no more than $5M a year, i don’t think it’d be a bad move persay, but I agree the Taylor and Reddick should both get at least 300 PA right?
David Fung - January 1, 2012
You want Reddick in AAA to start?
WaddellCanseco - January 1, 2012
Reddick has had his AAA fun
If he sucks, then he sucks. We’ve already made our bed with the Bailey trade; now we have to lay in it.
cuppingmaster - January 1, 2012
Service time is only an issue for maybe Cowgill
Reddick is ready now and Carter/Taylor/Kila aren’t getting any younger. It’s time for these guys to sink or swim.
RyanFromBonas - January 1, 2012
We aren't burning service time with Reddick/Cowgill
Those guys are alleged cornerstones on the rebuild (I say that in terms of plans, Cowgill I think ultimately is a fourth outfielder if everythign goes as planned) they need MLB experience so they peak when young trade acquisitions a la AJ Cole come up.
dwishinsky - January 1, 2012
since Tutu must be recovering from last night's celebration
i will enthusiastically rec for the giants comment.
Deborah51 - January 1, 2012
Thanks. Deb!♥
We just got back from taking the kiddies to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. I rec’d! it below.
Tutu-late - January 1, 2012
happy to watch your back for you
time with the kiddies is important!
Deborah51 - January 2, 2012
Thats why we have Jason Pridie and AAA type filler.
dwishinsky - January 1, 2012
2012 Athletics: We're play for Prid[i]e
cuppingmaster - January 1, 2012
Just "try really hard" baby!
dwishinsky - January 1, 2012
REC'D!
Tutu-late - January 1, 2012
I like
the last part.
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 2, 2012
I really dont think Taylor is highly thought of in the organization.
JamesS - January 1, 2012
Or outside it
WaddellCanseco - January 1, 2012
Nice. Happy New Year to all!
WaddellCanseco - January 1, 2012
You as well WC!
dwishinsky - January 1, 2012
Speaking of the 40 man
Isn’t today Day 10 since Powell and Miller were DFA’d? Surprised there hasn’t been an announcement on either guy yet (or has there?)
biscuit530 - January 1, 2012
I think tomorrow is 10
Copenhagen - January 1, 2012
Lets hope its an outright with them looking for jobs elsewhere...
dwishinsky - January 1, 2012
Or an inexplicable trade
dwishinsky - January 1, 2012
and we receive a week's supply of baseballs?
cuppingmaster - January 1, 2012
Well I'd be fine with Powell being outrighted.
The guy hit .170 with the A’s, he can’t run the bases, and he’s fat. Decent enough at handling the pitchers, but way too deficient otherwise.
Due to his power and his athleticism, I’d like to keep Miller around, with the proviso he brings down his strike out rate and increases OBP.
jeff-athletic - January 2, 2012 via iPhone app
Re: Miller
No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.
dwishinsky - January 2, 2012 via iPhone app
You seemed out of breath on this one.☺
Tutu-late - January 2, 2012
this is my standard response to any
Let’s see more Jai Miller remark
dwishinsky - January 2, 2012 via iPhone app
Isley Brothers fan, are you?
WaddellCanseco - January 2, 2012
Does each of those "no"s represent a K in an average week for Miller?
Nick - January 3, 2012
I'm guessing it'll be between Balfour, Suzuki, Braden, and McCarthy; of those A's will be fighting for our lone All-Star rep??
MMunoz33 - January 2, 2012
Weeks?
inspyro - January 2, 2012
I'd say Weeks or FDLS
will be the sole representation at the All-Star game for the A’s this year: along with Carlos Gonzalez, Matt Holiday, Gio Gonzalez, Nelson Cruz, and Ron Washington.
DaRubiesSLOKingsA's - January 2, 2012
Andrew Bailey might make it
WaddellCanseco - January 2, 2012
true, maybe even Cahill
I could see him DOMINATING the NL — and it being extra helpful that he doesn’t have to face the AL East and the Halos and Rangers.. He could go like 19-7 out there
DaRubiesSLOKingsA's - January 2, 2012
aside from...
The fact he is playing in a bandbox with dry air…
dwishinsky - January 2, 2012 via iPhone app
true, but come on now
Didn’t IAN KENNEDY go 21-4 for them last year?! Cahill is much better than him
DaRubiesSLOKingsA's - January 2, 2012
Eh
3.22 FIP is pretty solid.
McCutchenIsTheTruth - January 2, 2012
Are you sure about that?
Flashfire - January 2, 2012
Really? How so?
WaddellCanseco - January 2, 2012
Wouldn't mind seeing a couple of vets on the team
Cody Ross would be fine, as would someone like Vladimir Guerrero, and maybe one or two back-end rotation vets on one-year deals. Teams usually only have one or two break-out players a year, if that, and the rest stumble and fall. Miller and Kia will most likely get shot, but for no more than a couple of weeks (like the Matts) and there’s a good possibility most of the others (Allen, Carter, Cardenas, Mitchell) will fail, so that leaves an outfield of Cowgill, Reddick and Ross, with Barton at 1B. Which is probably still good for last place, but certainly better than three guys hitting .140 with no power.
richwol1 - January 2, 2012
The problem is that Cody Ross is more than capable of hitting .140 with no power
WaddellCanseco - January 2, 2012
No, that's absolutely not true
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rossco01.shtml
Cody Ross, after he became established, has hit in the mid-.200s with 14-24 HR each year, an OPB of .354 in 2010 and .340 last year, and slugging percentage of over .400. Plus he’s a good fielder. These are decent journeyman statistics, nothing to write home about, but fine for a fill-in if all the not-well-regarded prospects fail.
richwol1 - January 2, 2012
Hmmm...looked again
OPB of .322 in 2010 and .325 in 2011. Not as good as I thought, but still better than what these guys would all do, barring a break-out season or two.
richwol1 - January 2, 2012
OK, you've convinced me.
I still don’t see the point of signing a below average player but you’ve convinced me that he’s not likely to be as terrible as the unproven guys could be if things don’t work out with them.
WaddellCanseco - January 2, 2012
You've just made the point of why you sign a below average player
At some point, someone will have to play out the string, and you do want your pitchers to succeed occasionally. If Ross has a great year and your prospects come through, you trade him mid-season. If not, you muddle through.
richwol1 - January 2, 2012
I'm just concerned that he'll take playing time away from Allen, Barton, Carter,
Kila and Mitchell, all of whom have a small chance of being on the next good A’s team, whereas Ross doesn’t. I’m OK with signing him if he doesn’t play for the first 2 months.
WaddellCanseco - January 2, 2012
I can't comment
I was too overwhelmed by Cody Ross’ bitching numbers.
So instead of getting AAAA filler crap we should PAY like $3M for AAAA+ starting crap?
dwishinsky - January 2, 2012 via iPhone app
Ummmm, yeah, actually.
Most likely that whole crew
-Carter, Allen, Kia, Cardenas, Mitchell, Taylor-will go down in flames. Barton isn’t a lock to come back to form either. Realistically, you have to have guys like Cody Ross or Ryan Ludwick, or Coco Crisp on the team. If any of the aforementioned work out, they push the vets to the side. But this is the first of three place-holder years, and these are the guys that stand in if the prospects don’t pan out.richwol1 - January 2, 2012
Also...
WE are not paying $3M for starting crap. The A’s are, and given how much they’re spending for the rest of the team, they can easily afford it.
richwol1 - January 2, 2012
Ross is crap.
But regardless, let’s assume he is wonderful and as you say “If any of the aforementioned [prospects] work out, they push the vets to the side”. Why on earth do you then sign here as Ross?
dwishinsky - January 2, 2012
Because nobody else wants him?
WaddellCanseco - January 2, 2012
Would you rather lose every game?
richwol1 - January 3, 2012
So you're saying Ross is a what 50 or 60 win player?
dwishinsky - January 3, 2012 via iPhone app
People who are too literal should be shot
Are you saying that if Jai Miller were still on the team, you’d rather have him playing every day than Ross?
richwol1 - January 3, 2012
that was a joke
richwol1 - January 3, 2012
Would like to pull these last two posts but I don't know how.
Not funny even in jest. But I pressed “enter” and don’t know how to remove it.
Anyway
-no Cody Ross won’t win 50 games by himself, but seriously, he’s better than a guy who hits .150 with no power, which is very possibly what you’ll see from the troops.richwol1 - January 3, 2012
So then I press "actions" to see if that will do anything
And I just flagged myself.
Jeez
-isn’t there any way to scribble your own posts??richwol1 - January 3, 2012
The 2012 Oakland A's
Parents, Bring your Kids, there is no longer a need for Where’s Waldo.
Simply spot the Oakland Athletic — on the field, in the dugout, or in the bullpen — that was on the team 2 years ago and win season tickets!
DaRubiesSLOKingsA's - January 2, 2012
+1
MMunoz33 - January 3, 2012
I really wish they'd work something out with
Powell to keep him in the fold – it’s not the end of the world if they don’t, but I’d love to see them trade Suzuki at somepoint this season (or sooner) even if it means eating a portion of his salary (which it likely would) and have a combination of Powell and Donaldson even though it doesn’t make much sense from a traditional platoon standpoint, they are the best two in house options we have at this point besides Suzuki until and if Norris is ever ready. We’ve already milked any and all of the value Suzuki was ever going to lend the team – and to a certain extent he’s out performed many of our expectations of him from when he was drafted – I’d love to see him traded even though we wouldn’t receive anything more than lower/mid level prospects for him if for no other reason then to clear playing time for guys like Donaldson and and to make room for Norris and Ortiz to get more time in the upper minors. Man – Catcher is an ugly position in our farm system.
oakballnack - January 2, 2012
I like Donaldson - rocket arm, saw him gun down would be base stealers at Raley field.
Plus Donaldson has some pop.
Not that high on Powell, though. He is good at handling the pitchers, and decent defensively. But hitting .170 is hitting .170 – no sugar coating that. And his base running is, well, interesting to say the least – kind of like a wounded cow or something. And he needs to shed 40 pounds or so.
I like Recker, watched a lot of him with the Cats. Put up really good numbers, made divisional all-stars, has power, good defense. But at 28, he’s past prospect level.
Norris looks interesting – another young guy with some power. But he’s a long way away from MLB level. Let’s let him move up in the minor league ranks, and produce good numbers at AAA before he becomes a consideration.
jeff-athletic - January 2, 2012
My prediction is that Barton will hit .400 3HR's 21 RBI's out of spring training;
then hit .129 with 0 HRs and 17 walks the month of May and June!
MMunoz33 - January 3, 2012
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