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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 18, 2006
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Alright guys, Rich Harden is about a week from coming back, and apparently Keith Foulke is about the same. Apparently Kiko Calero is going to be ready or close to ready to return when he is eligible to come off the DL. Eric Chavez is also on the mend, and Travis Buck is going to be rehabbing and back with the Athletics in two weeks if I remember hearing correctly. So here is the question: What do we do when each player returns and why? Who do we send down, release or trade?
I think Jack Cust is too good for the minors and is an amazingly potent, albeit streaky, weapon but he would have an incredibly low amount of trade value and is pretty limited in the field. He probably has the most HR potential of any player on our team right now as well. Frank Thomas and Mike Sweeney are dangerous at the plate (not so much Thomas yet, but he is warming up) but are also very limited in the field. I don't think that either of them would have much trade value either. At the same time, we can't just release any of these guys and let one of the other AL West teams pick them up. Even with those facts aside, I wouldn't lobby for any of these guys to be traded or released. Sweeney is an amazing veteran clubhouse presence. Thomas is a big veteran bat in the lineup. Cust is just a really powerful left handed bat and crazy OPS machine. They all would fill about the same role between the lines though. And on the IF, I think we need both Jack Hannahan and Donnie Murphy. Murphy can play both MIF positions as well as 3B, but he is more natural at MIF. Hannahan is more of a third baseman. I really think you need to have both on the bench to rest your infielders and to be there in case of injury.
And how about pitching? I love Greg Smith, but I think he will have to go down to Sacramento when Harden comes back. He is incredibly talented, but you don't want to relegate him to the bullpen with the success he has had in the rotation. I think you have to send him down to keep him stretched out and pitching on regular rest. Potentially there is the chance that Dana Eveland will struggle his next game and we will find out he is injured, though I certainly hope that isn't the case. I think Foulke's return has to be the easiest choice. Dallas Braden will probably be the one to go down there. Joey Devine has just been too solid and we already have a lefty reliever in Alan Embree. When Calero comes back... I think I like Devine, Santiago Casille, and Andrew Brown better than him right now so I don't know what I want the A's to do with him. I don't know if I would trust that he will be completely healthy since he didn't have the rotator cuff surgically repaired. I also don't know if he could ever be the same as he was when he was really good...
What are your thoughts?
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 4, 2006
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Nice bit of positive information.
I like what I've been reading about Eric Chavez. He seems itching to get out there on the field and was lobbying to be activated to play DH until he's strong enough to play the field (apparently manager Bob Geren likes the sound his bat has been making in the cage), but that was nixed. We already have too many DH's with Frank Thomas, Mike Sweeney and Jack Cust all needing at bats and some of them getting playing time in the field. I agree with the Athletics brass telling Chavez to get completely healthy before they activate him. I don't want to risk prolonging this injury, but I like his attitude. Who gets bounced from the team when he comes back though? Most likely Jack Hannahan, but that's tough.
I know that Travis Buck has been playing in Sacramento, but don't know too much about how that is going. Is Rajai Davis the odd man out when Buck returns? I like the way Davis has played since he's been with us though. I also like seeing him run. He covers ground fast, both in the field and on the bases. Wow!
The pitching has me the most bothered (but in a good way). I can't think of any of the starters who I want to leave the team when Rich Harden returns. They've all pitched very well, especially Greg Smith. That kid is good! I don't want to see him leave, but I would rather have him ready as a starter in Sacramento than move him to the bullpen in Oakland. I'm thinking that somebody goes on the DL when Harden returns.
There are other difficult moves that will need to be made in the near future as players get healthy, and all I can say is I'm glad we have a good front office in Billy Beane and others who seem to make the right moves so often. Our future looks bright A's fans. I thought the bright future was a few years from now. I'm glad we didn't sacrifice the present for the future.
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 15, 2007
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I agree with you that Jack Cust, Frank Thomas and Mike Sweeney are all to good and important to this team to be sent down or traded. While Jack Cust is not the best outfielder i have ever seen lol he does seem to be getting a bit better or maybe thats just my homer gogles talking.
Here is what i think is going to happen going player by player.
Keith Foulke - This one is an easy one. When Foulke comes of the DL Dallas Braden will be sent back to Triple A
Rich Harden - This one is going to be a hard decision but here is what i think will happen. I can tell you that there is no way there going to send Greg Smith back down. This kid has been WAY TO GOOD to send back down to the miners. I think he has been our best pitcher this year myself. Dana Eveland is going to be the one that gets sent back down. While he has been a decent Pitcher so far this year he has not been near as good as Smith has been. Now i dont know if he will stay down long becuase there is always the chance that Joe Blanton or Harden gets Traded. Theres also always the chance to Harden getting hurt agian. While i Like Harden alot you cant ignore 3 years or injury prone history.
Travis Buck - Here another hard decesion but i think it will be Chris Denorfia that gets sent down. Rajai Davis has been very good and with his speed and Defense i dont think he will be the one to get sent down.
Kiko Calero - I dont think that the A's will send down one of our current bullen guys becuase the bullpen has been awsome this year and i dont see any reason to send one of them down. If theres another injury then we might see Kiko back but most likely he will spend time with the River Cats or be traded/released.
Eric Chavez - I dont really know what they will do here but its still a way out so we will have to see what the roster looks like when hes ready to come back.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 21, 2006
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You guys make a good point about the roster, the only problem I have is the starting rotation. Why mess with a good thing? The rotation has been solid this year and it's very rare for one of our guys to get pounded.
I say bring the oft injured right hander back and stick him in the pen for long relief. Can you honestly say "man that Greg Smith needs to be in Sac not in the Town"? No , you cant say that. All these guys have busted their butts keeping the A's within striking distance with all these low scoring games.
Don't send one down because the "Great One" has returned to re-claim his throne, make him earn it.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 16, 2007
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Tough decisions to come soon, huh? Everyone has made legitimate cases so far and all I can add to this discussion is look how far we have come in one year!
I mean, a year ago when we needed to fill our starting staff because of the Harden and Loaiza injuries, didn't we bring up Lenny DiNardo and Dallas Braden? Or was it Dan Meyer or Shane Komine? Can't recall exactly but my point is, where do these these guys stand today? They have all fallen way down—or completely off—the depth chart.
A year later, we don't know who to send down because they all belong in The Show. All, meaning Harden, Blanton, Gaudin, Duchescherer, Eveland and Smith. And that's not even including prize prospect Gio Gonzalez!
And forget about the bullpen... we are stacked! Ironically, the only one who isn't performing beyond expectations is closer Street (and maybe the other vet, Embree but he has come back around)! Who you going to send down when Kiko comes back?
Anyway, sorry, but the previous posters have covered whatever thoughts I would have written so I have nothing new to add to this depth dilemma the A's pleasantly have found themselves in.
RANT WARNING: In closing (no pun intended), when is the last time Street closed out a game 1-2-3? Seems every time he comes in to close, it's never without a hit, walk or something else that has me thinking, "uh, oh." Anyone else feel uneasy with him in there lately? Thanks for listening.
Peace.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 21, 2006
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RANT WARNING: In closing (no pun intended), when is the last time Street closed out a game 1-2-3? Seems every time he comes in to close, it's never without a hit, walk or something else that has me thinking, "uh, oh." Anyone else feel uneasy with him in there lately?
Let me add some fuel to that fire!
Street has made 14 apperances this year and has only retired the side in order 3 times. I reach for the Pepto as soon as he starts warming up.
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 15, 2007
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I think DaBearsofCali and Megbydawg may have come up with another solution thats a little off the beaten path.
Like you guys have said the rotation has been solid without Harden and no one it really deserves to be sent down. These are all Starters that belong in the bigs and would just be a waste to send down.
While Huston Street has closed 9 of 11 save chances he really hasn't looked that good. I think he has gotten lucky a few times and could be alot worse off right now. So why not Trade Huston(im sure we could still get good value for him) and send Harden to the pen and have been close games for us.
Anywase just a thought.....
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 16, 2007
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Nice stat on Street, DaBears... that's proof positive as to why he doesn't instill a lot of confidence in my hopes he'll close games out lately. Thanks.
And BigPappaJon8, that sure is an intriguing proposal you've brought up! I've read before that some think Harden should close but haven't really given much thought to it in the past... but with Street's struggles this year, it sure seems more viable now.
Don't know how all the A's regular posters and fans feel, but I personally am not quite ready to give up on Huston as our closer and Harden as a front-end starter, but BigPappa's brainstorm is certainly something to maybe keep in the back pocket... especially while Street's value (as was mentioned by BigPappa) could bring someone to help us out even more.
Interesting stuff guys...
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 4, 2006
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I hate to disagree with people whom I respect so much, but I'm not ready to give up on Huston Street as our closer, or on Rich Harden as a starting pitcher. I like both of them in the positions they have been in.
Before last night's game, Street had converted 9 consecutive save opportunities for our Athletics. In the last 4 of these he had given up a total of 1 hit and 1 walk. That's 2 base runners in 4 innings of work while striking out 5 hitters. That he had one outing where they got a couple of lucky hits and a weak ground ball that scored a runner from third doesn't bother me. I know that he struggled a bit early in the season, but I've seen his pitch speed increase back to the Huston Street of old and some good movement and control as well. He's not Dennis Eckersley, but remember that Eck usually came in with a 3-run lead in the ninth and therefore a little more wiggle room. Give the kid a break. Don't expect him to be perfect and I'll bet he won't expect you to be perfect.
As for Harden, I think his stuff is better suited to a starting pitcher. He's coming off a couple of seasons where he barely pitched. It should take him a bit of time to build up his endurance. He sets a high standard for himself as a pitcher. I think he'll be fine. We all need to be a little more realistic with our expectations.
Here's the good news though. We wouldn't be having this discussion if we didn't have an awful lot of good, young talent. It's good to have Greg Smith and Dana Eveland as young starting pitchers, and Santiago Casilla and Joey Devine as potential closers waiting in the wings.
Face it, we have a good, young, deep team folks. We're going to be good for a while.
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Reputation:70
Level:Pro
Since:May 2, 2008
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In this young season, Street has looked the shakiest out of the bullpen. Of course, with guys like Brown and Casilla, that's not saying much. Still, Street has never been lights out and it's not like this season is the only one where we've been concerned about his place. It seems like he's always done just enough to stick around as closer. That doesn't mean we shouldn't reconsider someone else for the spot.
Of course I'm talking about Casilla. He always had great stuff and has greatly improved his control this year. The result? 21 scoreless innings in relief. He just finished closing a game against the Orioles and looked great. He's got the power and strikeout stuff that's better suited to closing than someone like Street who tries to stay away from the zone. Huston seems like he's hell-bent on putting at least one or two guys on base with a walk. Casilla looked disappointed to add another walk tonite to sully his ridiculous 20-2 stike-out to walk ratio.
The official line was that Street had pitched in too many innings in the past few games to close tonite, but I will guarantee that management was paying real close attention to this outing. Unless something happens to Casilla or Street changes his approach, I expect to see Casilla take on more and more of the closing duty.
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 15, 2007
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Dont get me wrong guys. I am a hard core A's fan thats loves everyone on the team and would love to see Huston Street and Rich Harden kick some ass and take names all year. While i think he has been a little down this year he is still performing well. I was just had to much time on my hands during my lunch break and was brainstorming and speculating a bit, lol.
I just see this as a very difficult decision the A's Front Office has to make when Rich Harden gets back and was just trowing out a off the wall idea out there. Good thing is we got people like Billy Bean and Bob Geren that are alot smarter then any of us armchair GM's/Coaches and i am sure they will make the right move. lol.
Go Oaktown
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 27, 2007
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Great discussion here guys. There is still some intelligence left on the CBS boards. :)
I pretty much agree with you guys on the hitting portion. Unfortunately, Chris Denorfia hasn't been quite what I was hoping for in the OF and would be my pick to send down when Travis Buck is well again. I love watching Rajai Davis play and hope he can stay with the team. He would be my second pick to send down though.
When Eric Chavez comes back I want Jack Hannahan to be the one to bite the bullet. Last I checked, he was ranked 24th among MLB 3rd basemen in fielding and I'm too scared to look at how bad his hitting has been, but I'm sure it's down there. Donnie Murphy is the guy I want to keep up at the major league level and give a chance to prove himself at any opportunity he gets to fill in at 2B, SS or 3B.
We have nowhere to send Jack Cust, Frank Thomas or Mike Sweeney, so they will all stay with the team. Only possible exception would be if Cust were to be traded, but that seems a bit unlikely. I think Billy Beane still values him more highly than other teams do.
As for pitching... I don't really want Kiko Calero back with the Athletics. To be honest, I hadn't even missed him. Santiago Casilla and Andrew Brown have been lights out in middle relief and even setup. Alan Embree is coming around and Huston Street is defintely still closer material, regardless of his minor struggles. I also love watching Joey Devine play, and don't think they can send him down either. I think our worst RP right now has got to be Dallas Braden and he will be the first to go when Keith Foulke or Rich Harden are ready to play.
I really hope the Athletics don't have to send don Greg Smith. He's probably been the best pitcher so far this season for Oakland. Justin Duchscherer and Rich Harden have better ERAs, but they didn't play the whole month of April. He's the obvious choice to send down due to his youth and lack of experience, but with his performance Bob Geren and Billy Beane will have to think long and hard b | |
