SB Nation User Blog: Aparicio11

Chavez and Crosby worst hitters in AL

Aparicio11 — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:24:14 -0000

According to the Hardball Times Chavez and Crosby are the worst hitters in the AL based on win percentage added---A-Rod is #1. More disturbing --as if a team built areound the two "worst Hitters" isn't disturbing enough is there are alot of other A's on the last page---at least Kendall isn't one of them now. There are zero A's on page one of the 4 a page listing. Hard to argue with the stats--I would take anyone on page 1. The top A's hitter is Swisher--second is DJ --hence the trade rumor. Most A's are negative numbers in this ranking.

Here are the links:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/ar...
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.asp...

It just verifies statistically what we see every game--the A's need a real bat and haven't had them since Giambi and Tejada. Chavez's numbers were good then due to the protection of hitting around real hitters.

Kendall works on throwing out runners

Aparicio11 — Tue, 24 May 2005 15:09:31 -0000

The A's $10 million dollar man is getting intensive training to learn how to throw out runners. One report has the A's coaches saying they have never worked more with a catcher. Good thing cuz the last trip to Tampa was a track meet. Jason not only isn't hitting much but he is dead last in catcher stolen base stats.

I would have thought an "all-star" catcher with ten years in MLB would have had this worked out. I understand folks in Pittsburgh know he lost what little extra base power he had three years ago when he tore ligaments in his hand. He is damaged. Why the A's swallowed the last three years worth $34 Million instead of other opportunities is an interesting discussion. It certainly limits what can be done to become competitive....like paying a power hitter.

Susan Slusser's report:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/05/24/SPG4MCTGO91.DTL

New York Times on Miggy

Aparicio11 — Thu, 12 May 2005 13:36:53 -0000

attached is the link to a NY Times article on Miggy and what he is doing from a NY view. Intersting stuff on a successful ex-Athetic. You need to register to read it but the Times is a good read sometimes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/12/sports/baseball/12tejada.html?

Since the blog police won't let us just submit a short note to the link I have to add comments that I would have preferred to let others make. The article does mention the A's. However, the article doesn't specifically mention what a stupid, boneheaded move it was for the A's to let maybe the best and most motivation player in the game go.
Remember this is a NY rag - - the dig is on A-rod on plays but doesn't lead. We can perhaps relate to that in some way in our current situation with certain individuals that play that position as well.

Why are all the A's prospects LH hitters?

Aparicio11 — Tue, 10 May 2005 21:42:12 -0000

Any help for the A's is likely to come from the 40 man roster first and lower levels later. However, we have no RH hitters on the 40 man at the minor league level that would be of any help. All the big guns Johnson, Watson and Cust(no on 40 man) are all LH......all with good numbers. Check out Midland and the same thing the incredible Andre (who won't be at AA much longer if he keeps hitting), Colamarino, and Quintanilla are LH. Drill deeper into Stockton and Barton and the other significant prospects like Robinett, Putnam and Majewski are all LH.
I am not sure the A's have a legit RH power hitter in their organization.
We know the A's don't have one. It really begs the trade issue....and makes you wonder if they have a draft strategy to draft only LH hitters. Only some of the Catchers like Suzuki ar RH hitters.

The A's should start an A's radio station......

Aparicio11 — Thu, 05 May 2005 15:49:47 -0000

they have to resource their contract since KGOD took over. Why not have their own station with sports talk to compete with KNBR. One of the reasons the Bay Area is pro-Giants is they have a dedicated mouthpiece station while the A's have bounced around from country to lite rock to god know what now. Hire some sports jocks who don't sound like Rick Barry and you have a business that helps market the A's. Replay classic games, do the Sharks games if they ever decide to play, college games...I think Lew has the bucks to do it.
I heard my first burst of KGOD this morning because my car was still set to the game....this must be why God has now invented satellite radio.
First Mt. Davis and now KGOD - what did the A's do to deserve this???

Bring Up Jermaine Clark!

Aparicio11 — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 13:40:52 -0000

It is past time to keep Eric Byrnes off the field. I was there last night for another round of his follies. I can't decide which was worst - his awful at bat with guys on 2nd and 3rd, his mis guided lollipop over Chavez ( wrong base and strange throw) or his 3 Stooges juggling spasm.
I can't recall a game this year where he hasn't ham fisted something. Thank God we have a profesional center fielder.
We should give Jermaine Clark a shot and send Eric down for fielding lessons and god know what to calm him down. He plays like he is on an amphetimine over dose. All his fielding skills (and they were never great) have diminished more rapidly than Canseco's. I can't imagine any NL team having any interest in him after this years highlight tape.
I can't imagine any pitcher feeling good about a ball hit to left when he is out there.

Is it time to try Jermaine Clark?

Aparicio11 — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 14:00:27 -0000

Byrnes is pressing, and lets face it he would be a better player if he took sedatives - he jumps at pitches and jumps at fly balls. I also think there is something wrong with his arm....all his throws to the plate this year have been weak and bad. Last night he caught a pop up in short left and bounced the throw to 2b.
Clark impressed me in spring training as being like Chone Figgens - a fast trouble maker. Jermaine already has six steals in Sacto, bats lead off and would be an upgrade in the field.
Picking an outfielder to go down would be the tough part. I think Thomas needs playing time. Kielty has played enough. Keep Byrnes for his RH bat off the bench and pinch runner?

Two Week Stat Review - Pitching is tops

Aparicio11 — Wed, 20 Apr 2005 13:35:10 -0000

The more things change the more they stay the same. Despite losing two great pitchers the A's are still one of the top pitching teams in the AL.
-#1 in batting average against
-#2 in ERA
-#2 in WHIP
- - the one downer is a high percentage of unearned runs....A's make costly errors - not many but we yield almost a run per error.

Alot of scouts claim this team is the most pure Moneyball theory offensive team - if so it is a Titanic looking for a chunk of ice. The A's offense is BAD.
-last in team OPS
-2nd to last in OBP
-last in SLG
-2nd to last in AVE
-last in stolen bses of course
-2nd to last in runs scored - the A's have scored 67% fewer runs than the Tigers.

It is only two weeks but statistical trends are difficult to reverse. Going in I would never have guessed the A's pitching would maintained its now traditional position.
I also would not have guessed trading Miller and Melhuse for Kendall and Swisher for Dye and the forced substitution of Ellis for Crosby would have deflated the offense so much. I know others aren't performing - but those are the personnel changes which is all you can manage.

Is anyone else starting to get queasy about pitching......

Aparicio11 — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 23:00:44 -0000

I was in Phoenix and didn't see the shut-down performances that I used to see in spring training. Houston Street looked good but gave up a run in each game. The young starters had good innings and bad ones - - but no shutdowns and not even the foundation of what would pass as a quality start. Checking box scores around the league you see the good pitchers generally getting good results and going 5 or 6 innings now.
The games against Texas were very much like the games against Texas 7 or 8 years ago - very long and with basketball scores.
I didn't see Dotel but folks I ran into that saw him said I was better off.
After a winter of optimistic hope there is a certain reality that expecting three rookie starters to perform anything like Huddy, Mulder and Lilly is dream land material. I hope it can happen. Huddy and Zito were dominant out of the box - Mulder was more orinary his first season. Point is we will know soon.
We've been spoiled - I used to only go to Mulder Weeknight games cuz I knew he would have me in bed on time.......I sure hope one of the youngsters turns out to be as efficient.

Jose still has his Swing - Congressional hearings.....

Aparicio11 — Fri, 04 Mar 2005 18:42:51 -0000

will start March 17th and all the usual suspects will be invited to testify under oath about drugs and MLB.
The little book that could. Still #1 on NY Times best seller list

http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/8249663

From Jose to Giambi, McGuire, Sosa.
Not a good thing for MLB. I know John McCain is hacked that baseball still allows amphetimine use.
Looks like half the invitees are former A's.
For some reason they didn't invite Bonds to round 1.