Wednesday, August 31, 2005
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MOVING, NO SHAKING
MOVING, NO SHAKING
Here's the deal with the Freddie Bynum situation; it's fishy. Looking at the numbers it doesn't make sense. Looking at the scouting report is doesn't make sense. Even from an organizational perspective it doesn't make sense. Bynum is not the A's type of player. And to be honest, he's really not much of a player if we are talking about a guy on a MLB 25 Man Roster. I'm sure he's a nice guy, whale of a teammate and he has gone through some adversity with a rare blood disorder. But this move smells of something up Billy Beane's sleeve.
However, none of that shows up in his OPS or even in his inability to play defense.
Bynum will be used as a pinch runner, and as we saw last night, incorrectly running for the player on the A's with the best OBP and OPS. He might get some time in center, because the bullshit line that Nick Swisher can play centerfield has been laughed out of baseball, and because Jay Payton needs a day off this season. With Crosby down, he might get some time at short. Playing a few different positions in the middle of a Playoff Race...hmmm.
Now, let's set up some of the parameters of Bynum's call up;
- Mark Kotsay's health was beyond 'in question'.
- Bobby Kielty has been 'iffy' health-wise and in the production department.
- With Keith Ginter going down to Sacramento (eventually), and Ron Flores being thrown into the bullpen and then yanked back out there was some room on the bench for another player.
- Sacramento's outfield and infield was full of better players.
GOPHER: (phone rings)"Clubhouse."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "Hey this is the Oakland A's, is this the visiting clubhouse?"
GOPHER: "Yup, I said clubhouse"
A's FRONT OFFICE: Well, I only have one number for Fresno and this is it, so...
GOPHER: "Hey, pal, I got laundry to deal with, what do you want?"
A's FRONT OFFICE: "DO you know who you're talking to?"
GOPHER: "Yah, some douche bag from the A's."
A's FRONT OFFICE: (Silence)
GOPHER: "Hey, bub, you got about three seconds to tell me what you want or I'm going to call the cops and tell them this was an obscene call."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "We need you to pack up Freddie Bynum's stuff as soon as possible, we're sending him out to Baltimore."
GOPHER: "Finally cutting the guy loose, huh?"
A's FRONT OFFICE: "What?"
GOPHER: "Hell, the guy's been in your system for 5 years and ain't done a damn thing. About time you guys let him go."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "Ugh, no we're sending him to Baltimore, he's joining the big league team."
GOPHER: "Hey, it's your ballclub."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "Damn right."
GOPHER: "The guy doesn't get on base much."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "Well,..."
GOPHER: "But you kept having DeFrancesco bat him leadoff. Hurt the 'Cats early in the year. Luckily you have options."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "Well, you know, we really..."
GOPHER: "He doesn't hit for power."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "Not really."
GOPHER: "...or at all really."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "There's some potential that..."
GOPHER: "It's not like he can steal bases for you guys since he's rarely on base."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "But,..."
GOPHER: "Even when he does put the ball in play, he ain't drivin' it around the park."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "That's..."
GOPHER: "He might have speed, but he doesn't run the bases well at all."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "He's got some abilities that..."
GOPHER: "He can't play in the infield and he's a joke in center."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "Ugh."
GOPHER: "Like I said, your ball club."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "Hey, can I put you on hold?"
GOPHER: "Yah, don't be too long I've got to wipe the gunk of the thing and..."
A's FRONT OFFICE: "Won't be but a sec...(puts clubhouse on hold, hits button for another line) Hey, Billy, yah it's me. Are we sure about calling up Bynum?"
The A's are hoping Freddie Bynum turns into Chone Figgins. An all around utility guy. Which begs the question, why would you hope for a guy to turn into Chone Figgins?
There are players that are utility players because they are too valuable to leave out of the lineup and are able to play multiple positions.
There are utility players who have a lot of athletic ability and can't really hit for a particular position and are moved around a lot because they are better options available.
Freddie Bynum is the latter.
Scouts rave about his athletic ability. That doesn't translate, in Bynum's case, to baseball ability. He takes Terrence Long routes in center, misjudges balls - breaking in on balls that hit off the wall behind him, and he doesn't have the arm to play shortstop or the range.
He might be a great athlete, but he's not much of a baseball player. Which isn't to say he's a bad guy, the numbers are there for everyone to see. He strikes out too much, doesn't walk and doesn't make contact.
So why on earth did the A's call him up?
It's a gamble. Bynum has one more year before he becomes a six-year minor league free agent. If they can slip him into a few games in September and he gets a few hits and doesn't embarrass himself, the A's might be able to package him to a team that values his skills more than the A's.
Bynum was the A's first pick in 2000. A 2nd round choice since the A's gave their 1st round pick up to sign Mike Magnante.
All around, not one of the team's shinning moments.
Still September 1st is just a few hours away and help is on its way.
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 9:45 PM
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Still September 1st is just a few hours away and help is on its way.
Talking about call-ups or something else?
# posted by
: 31 August, 2005 21:56
I dont care what help is on the way....kendall cant stay @ the top of the order anymore unless he hits consistently all month
like...starting tomorrow & every other day....i dont rememeber who it was....but whoever complained (oh i read that on AN nevermind..but it was probably on here too lol) that chavez needs to stop swinging so early....he needs to swing differently or something...he is killing this team with his inability to make contact...oh & 1 last thing this is for every bobby kielty nick swisher & marco scutaro fan ITS CALLED A FOUL BALL BOYS & GIRLS...TRY HITTING THEM WHEN ALL YOU DO IS ROLL OVER ON PITCHES...JEESH
# posted by
pookeyguru : 31 August, 2005 22:06
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ANGELS SERIES AT THE O.C.:
GAME 2
WHO'S AT SHORT?
ANGELS SERIES AT THE O.C.:
GAME 2
WHO'S AT SHORT?
OAKLAND AVG OBP SLG OPS L'ANAHEIM AVG OBP SLG OPS Kendall c .260 .336 .305 .641 Figgins cf .284 .340 .391 .731 Ellis 2b .301 .361 .443 .804 Cabrera ss .254 .307 .356 .663 Chavez 3b .278 .339 .472 .811 Anderson lf .285 .316 .426 .742 Johnson 1b .310 .390 .511 .901 Guerrero rf .312 .382 .552 .934 Payton cf .286 .308 .547 .855 Erstad 1b .281 .339 .370 .709 Hatteberg dh .273 .350 .364 .714 Molina c .308 .349 .472 .821 Kielty lf .261 .353 .382 .735 Kotchman dh .239 .346 .522 .868 Swisher rf .246 .325 .455 .780 Izturis 3b .250 .302 .363 .665 Scutaro ss .243 .313 .365 .678 Kennedy 2b .315 .367 .379 .746 ATHLETICS ERA WHIP BB K's ANGELS ERA WHIP BB K's Blanton 3.61 1.25 56 87 Lackey 3.59 1.39 56 167
Here's a quick look at the Mike Rouse (SS) and Andrew Beattie (2B/OF) minor league history and Freddie Bynum, Rouse and Beattie in 2005 at Sacramento.MIKE ROUSE
Year Team Age Lvl G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 2001 Fullerton 21 NCAA 65 236 58 89 18 2 12 62 8 29 41 .377 .449 .623 1.072 2001 Dunedin 21 A 48 180 27 49 17 2 5 24 3 13 45 .272 .326 .472 .798 Year Team Age Lvl G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 2002 Tennessee 22 AA 71 231 35 60 11 0 9 43 7 29 47 .260 .342 .424 .766 Year Team Age Lvl G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 2003 Midland 23 AA 130 457 75 137 33 3 3 53 7 63 83 .300 .392 .405 .797 2003 Sacramento 23 AAA 2 7 2 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .429 .429 .429 .858 Year Team Age Lvl G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 2004 Sacramento 24 AAA 99 323 53 89 11 2 10 40 0 50 68 .276 .379 .415 .794 G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 4 years 350 1198 192 338 72 7 27 161 17 155 243 .282 .368 .422 .790
ANDREW BEATTIE
Year Team Age Lvl G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 1998 Billings 20 Rk 43 128 36 32 8 2 4 25 3 34 33 .250 .410 .438 .848 Year Team Age Lvl G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 1999 Clinton 21 A 108 335 58 77 11 3 6 41 18 60 75 .230 .351 .334 .685 Year Team Age Lvl G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 2000 Dayton 22 A 20 57 15 13 2 0 2 7 1 5 14 .228 .296 .368 .664 2000 Clinton 22 A 101 398 65 124 30 4 4 52 18 44 58 .312 .384 .437 .821 Year Team Age Lvl G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 2001 Mudville 23 A 60 227 37 71 17 0 7 31 11 28 50 .313 .392 .480 .872 2001 Chattanooga 23 AA 51 169 32 45 12 0 3 24 4 21 30 .266 .351 .391 .742 2001 Louisville 23 AAA 7 9 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 .222 .229 .222 .451 Year Team Age Lvl G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 2002 Stockton 24 A 92 350 68 101 21 2 15 62 26 53 88 .289 .384 .489 .873 2002 Chattanooga 24 AA 43 166 23 41 9 1 6 19 2 18 30 .247 .319 .422 .741 Year Team Age Lvl G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 2003 Chattanooga 25 AA 116 423 52 106 28 0 6 38 5 48 87 .251 .328 .359 .687 2003 Louisville 25 AAA 9 30 5 7 1 1 1 6 0 1 4 .233 .258 .433 .691 Year Team Age Lvl G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 2004 Chattanooga 26 AA 101 347 51 104 18 6 6 43 8 47 67 .300 .381 .438 .819 G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 7 years 751 2639 442 723 157 19 60 348 96 359 541 .274 .365 .416 .781
UP THE MIDDLE IN SACRAMENTO 2005 STATS
ANSWER? G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS Andrew Beattie 107 420 78 123 33 4 8 53 188 55 96 10 6 .293 .371 .448 .819 Mike Rouse 126 455 68 125 29 3 7 71 181 58 109 2 4 .275 .364 .398 .762 Feddie Bynum 102 378 56 105 16 9 2 40 136 38 83 23 7 .278 .347 .384 .731
These need a look. I really like Mike Rouse (bats left), but he has been Tony DeFrancesco's monkey in Sacramento. Constantly hitting 9th, or 8th or leadoff, or 2nd or 6th or 3rd or 7th in the lineup. Being asked to sacrifice A LOT. Being asked to move up runners in close games late rather than letting him put a good swing on the ball.
Beattie (swith hitter), too, has been impressive. He got a call up from AA, turned it on, sipped a bit at the beginning of the summer but has been a real bright spot for the RiverCats. Beattie can play the outfiled, too and has lead off and hit 2nd in the batting order.
MORE ON BYNUM DURING THE GAME
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 6:26 PM
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WHY DOES CHAVEZ SWING AT THE 1st PITCH!
YOU CAN'T WALK ON ONE PITCH!
DAMN!
JUST LOOK AT A FEW BEFORE YOU SWING!
# posted by
Zach is right. Mark Ellis should bat leadoff, for no other reason than he chews up pitchers.
Kendall is an embarrasment.
# posted by
Lackey should be over 90 pitches in the 6th; but because of Chavez' two first pitch outs, he stays in to pitch another inning.
# posted by
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PLAN B
PLAN B
According to several outlets, including the ESPN of Canada and Sports Illustrated, Bobby Crosby is out for the remainder of the season with an ankle fracture. Keith Ginter was called up, which is odd, since it was thought Ginter could not return for 10 days after he was sent down. According to Mychael Urban of MLB.com, Crosby was cleared to play yesterday.
Sit tight until the media reports start trickling in.
UPDATE: OFFICIAL RELEASE.
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 4:53 PM
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ummmmmmmm all i know is......FUUUUUCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK....OH YEA maybe crosby is pretty important
# posted by
wow, quite a difference between being cleared to play and being out with an ankle fracture...
how are they going to spin this one?
I also fear the worst on Harden
# posted by
Heal well Crosby, Harden and Kotsay.
I'm wishing Crosby a quick recovery time. So don't take this next statement the wrong way.
If the A's can continue to kick arse without their 2004 RoY and without Ritchy Pitch Harden, how much sweeter will victory be? Reminds me of the Timex campaign...takes a licken' and keeps on tickin'...
BRING IT ON!!!
# posted by
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VELVET UNDERGROUND
VELVET UNDERGROUND
The A's won a game last night that strained the voice of most A's fans and left them with bulging veins in their necks and throbbing pulsating tumors beginning on their foreheads.
Why bunt, to try for one run on the road?
The A's are hobbled. Here's the news on Harden and Kotsay via Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus:
Nick Swisher also banged himself up last night.
Luckily September 1st will bring some bench depth.
Here's some info from BP on the A's at Angels match up:
The arguments about what a great turnaround the A's have made is precocious to say the least. There are a couple of points that have to be made:
- The A's had to play REALLY bad baseball, severely under performing to get that far down.
- The A's hit their stride once they stopped trying to play small ball.
- The A's played over the head.
- The point in the season played a part as some teams pitched in the towel when the A's got an early lead.
Not a surprise, but you also have to take into consideration that the A's organization doesn't understand "rebuilding" or "losing". They have pitching, they will be competitive.
I haven't had time to go through most of the newspapers and online sites, so I'll spare you the list of links.
posted by ZACHARY D MANPRIN at 11:35 AM
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Ever the pessimist. I think we all know the A's played REALLY bad baseball, and that would almost certainly have to be true in order for anyone to be talking about a historic turnaround in the first place, but of course you needed to point that fact out.
Other teams threw in the towel. I guess this occured often enough that it tarnishes a historic turnaround? Interesting. Is this in any way related to the conspiracy to tarnish the reputation of Matt Watson? Are the black helicopters hovering over the Coliseum not being reported by Susan Slusser because Billy Beane told her not to?
Thanks for the injury update info.
# posted by
Ed, you are ridiculous.
Why is it that Zach constantly gets hammered for pointing out the obvious when A's fans would rather bury their heads up Billy Beane's ass? Ever think that Zach points out the obvious is because A's fans are too stupid to SEE THE OBVIOUS?!
Did you not pay attention to the A's the last several years? The A's players and coaches say the same thing! They get an early lead an teams tend to fold. How do you think they win 20 in a row in 2002?
Your comment about Watson is retarded.
When Watson was up, he played. When they call up other outfielders, they sit the bench...this is a constant in Beane's M.O. Keep an insurance policy down in AAA and have them get regular At Bats in case of an injury at the major league level.
Why are you so surprised that Beane and Co. would sit on a guy's career? Look at Keith Ginter. They were paying him a $1 Million this season to ride the pine in Oakland. But a guy like Watson, Andrew Beattie or Mike Rouse they can pay minor league wages (less than $56,000 for the year) and have in AAA even though they should be on a 25 Man roster somewhere in MLB.
Sure, it's their right because they own the player, but it is also shady and unfair. Players should get honest opportunities and it betters the game of baseball when the best players play at the highest levels.
# posted by
lewis: No, actually it never occurred to me that Zach points out the obvious because A's fans are too stupid to see the obvious.
My goodness. Not only is the current historic turnaround attributable to other teams throwing in the towel, but so was the 20 game win streak!
Other A's sites are critisized for being relentlessly and hopelessly positive. This is a good site but suffers from the same type of problem in the opposite direction. It could be so much better with a little more balance and a little less paranoia.
# posted by
Well now, if that doesn't make the gloom-and-doom fans happy, I don't know what will. Well yes, I do too. Harden might join him. Then the gloomers could anticipate a reprise of 17-32 (although we'd have to squish it a bit; only 31 games left to play.)
Would be interested in seeing one of Zach's breakdowns, over a 30-game season, differentiating Scutaro's .245 average vs. Crosby's .275 average, as well as the comparitive VORP.
# posted by
Why Goodmeat? Mark Ellis is the difference maker. And with call-ups, Mike Rouse might be playing shortstop. Or Freddy Bynum.
The doom and gloom seem to be a few assholes who want to rip Zach for giving information and offering an opinion.
Maybe if he started selling T Shirts it would make things better?
# posted by
I can always use a good T-shirt. Green looks good on me.
Hey, it's ok to point out the obvious, if one must. It does get a little bothersome, sometimes, when the team you're down on is about 5 games away/out of the best record in the AL though.
The business regarding Watson is silly, pure and simple. The guy is an employee, nothing more or less. Beane does not have to defend any decision he makes regarding him. And if Beane is going to play the guy, why would you tarnish him? If he is not going to play him, and is going to trade him, why would you tarnish him? If he is going to leave him at AAA as a spare part, why would you tarnish him? I've read the presented logic; it makes no sense. Finally, regarding Watson, if he wants to play at the ML level, then he is going ot have to make one hell of a lot more of an impression when he visits than he has to date.
I forget who intitially presented the idea, but it is equally -- no, even more so -- ludicrous to suggest that other professional teams rolled over for the A's at any time. Total bogus copout. And the streak was caused by other teams rolling over? That one flat out made me laugh.
Ellis is a good player; I would hesitate to say he is the difference maker. Crosby is a pretty good shortstop, Might not miss him over a 30-game stretch, but we sure did in April. If memory serves, Ellis was playing then.......
Finally, I'm not panicking. I just figured a bunch of regulars on this blog would be.
# posted by
GOODMEAT, you're a piece of work.
I don't think you have really thought about Watson's treatment by the A's. You and others give Watson a knee jerk reaction because Zach got an interivew with him.
Dan Johnson struggled for the first few weeks he was up, but the A's kept him in the line up.
Sure, it's not excuse, but how can you produce when Ken Macha sends you up to pinch hit and then replaces you with a pinch hitter when the opposing manager makes a pitching change?
Watson got jerked around. He put together some quality at bats and stung a lot of balls. A few just didn't drop.
Give him equal time as Nick Swisher and I bet many would drop their Swisher for ROY campaign.
Watson will get called up this weekend and I bet you makes a lot of people sorry they ever doubted his ability.
# posted by
I think maybeso you are gaining the wrong impression from me.
Watson plays a position we are pretty strong in at the big club level, doesn't he? Therefore, wouldn't he have to make a hellacious impression in the admittedly few opportunities he gets? DJ only got his shot because Durazo went down, not because Beane liked him more. Fer gosh sakes, DJ was in the hinterlands for freaking ever; we've been hollering to bring him up for over a year.
Watson had to beat out Kielty, Byrnes, Kotsay and Swisher for one of the OF spots. Wasn't going to happen. Has nothing to do with a conspiracy.
I do think Watson can compete at the ML level, but again, who you gonna sit? Yes, it is financially more expeditious to keep him in Sacramento, but it is also far more gooder to keep him busy every day, rather than shining water coolers in the dugout.
Ginter will likely be effective (more effective, if you will) now that he is likely to get playing time. Damn near impossible to be effective if your only at-bats are in mop-up efforts and a start every 15 days.
And I don't form too many opinions based on anything anyone, including Zach, says. I react, to be sure, to some of the more rediculous statements, but......
I guess I am a piece of work, now that you mention it. I love me, and that's ok. :0]
# posted by
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Tuesday, August 30, 2005
BACK TO THE MAIN PAGE
ANGELS SERIES AT THE O.C.:
GAME 1
ALL THE HYPE THAT FITS PRINT
ANGELS SERIES AT THE O.C.:
GAME 1
ALL THE HYPE THAT FITS PRINT
AP Preview.
Tim Kurkjian (spelled it without looking).
Why Buster Olney? Why not Just get Phil Rogers?
ESPN.com preview.
MLB.com Preview.
Susan Slusser getting ripped off by Fox Sports.
Stupid angle, why bother ripping it off?
Another from Baseball.com, no rip off here...then again, I didn't bother to read it.
The A's open a three game set against the Angels. At best, they can leave L.A. on Thursday and head to New York, New York, the city so obsessed with itself they named it twice, with a four game lead on the Halos. At worst, the A's would be two games back.
I'm not looking for a sweep by either side.
Where the A's are winning in spite of Ken Macha's moves, the Angels are losing games because of their manager, Mike Scioscia, ego whore of Major League Baseball. Seriously, name the Angels General Manager. Jay Jaffe of Baseball Prospectus and Futility Infielder takes the helm:
Jaffe also hits on another topic of consternation of some A's fans. When the A's vaulted into 1st place this weekend, they also topped the Angels in Run Differential. This is not a mere Elephants in Oakland whim when it is suggested within this bandwidth that the A's don't score enough runs.
Here's the deal - as always, the A's need to work the Angels' starting pitching. The A's have a tendency to gear up for hard throwers by swinging early in the count. The A's will need to take pitches and foul off pitches they can't handle rather than trying to pull the ball. Sit back, wait for off speed and react to hard stuff by going the other way.
Pitching, the A's should go after Vladimir Guerrero by pitching him up and in. Let him get himself out. The key for the Angels will to get some productivity out of Steve Finley and whomever the throw out at 3rd base and catcher.
The A's should come out and have fun, the pressure is not on them the rest of the way. And when a team plays not to lose, what happens?
OAKLAND AVG OBP SLG OPS LA of ANAHEIM AVG OBP SLG OPS Kendall c .260 .337 .306 .643 Figgins cf .286 .339 .393 .732 Ellis 2b .305 .367 .450 .817 Cabrera ss .257 .310 .361 .671 Chavez 3b .278 .340 .473 .813 Anderson lf .285 .315 .428 .743 Johnson 1b .307 .389 .508 .897 Guerrero rf .316 .386 .558 .944 Hatteberg dh .269 .347 .361 .708 Molina c .308 .347 .473 .820