SB Nation User Blog: Brian Durack

A cold perspective of the Oakland Athletics

Brian Durack — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 03:33:06 -0000

I figured the best time to post this would be after the trading dealine has passed, as that is the time it is most relevant. For quite some time I have had a way of looking at the Athletics that I suspect many of you don't and perhaps haven't even considered.

I don't care about a single member of the A's. To me they are simply an employee with a specific job to do. Their humanity is totally irrelvant to me and is just an unfortunate fact. All I care about is how much they contribute to the A's winning. I would trade every player on the 40-man roster for 40 different players if it meant a 1% upgrade.

I don't care what kind of horrible crimes an Athletic commits in his off-time, as long as it doesn't downgrade his ability, nor keep him from playing. I would accept Barry Bonds, A.J. Pierzynski or Elijah Dukes if it meant our team would become better.

This deadline I was hoping they would trade every single player whose contract is up with year, without exception. I don't care if we didn't win another game all year. In fact, I prefer it. If we don't make the playoffs, I would just prefer to lose as many games as possible to improve our draft picks.

I don't want to meet any of the players. Nick Swisher, Dan Haren, whatever. They aren't people, they are baseball players. I don't care what they have to say about anything, I only want them to hit or pitch as well as they can. Their opinions, charity work or whatever else that is good about them is irrelvant to me. Help us win games or get out.

My favorite players? Whoever contributed the most to our last win. My least favorite? You get the point.

Yeah, I don't have any feelings and am pretty much a bastard. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

Daric Barton's time is now... or not?

Brian Durack — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:35:40 -0000

[EDITOR'S NOTE: I was actually going to advocate for something similar to this in my post today. In particular, I really want to see Suzuki and Barton get some experience with the A's right now. I think it can only help the team both now AND in the future to get these guys some experience. In other words, it's not really impacting the lineup greatly to be removing the guys who are there now. You pretty much have nowhere to go but up. - Blez]

It isn't as if Dan Johnson isn't at least adequate at first base, but Daric Barton is hitting so well in Sacramento that the A's may pretty much be forced in to making a move.

Daric Barton's June numbers are quite impressive:

82 ABs, .512 BA, 13 2B, 1 HR, 7 BB, .578 OBP, .732 SLG.

In addition, he has had at least two hits in each of his last nine games. Over that span he has just one walk, but raised his batting average from .274 to .330.

Barton has hit .344/.425/.541 against righies vs .298/.410/.393 vs lefties. A platoon would be nice, but Johnson also favors the righies as well. Mike Piazza's career OPS against lefties is nearly 100 points higher than lefties, so maybe a platoon could be worked a little there.

Many people probably know he has been playing a little at third base this year, but his results haven't been too encouraging. He has been solid at first base, but nine errors in 49 chances at third base won't displace Chavez anytime soon.

So decide for yourself. Trade home runs for doubles and gain some OBP. Or maybe he sucks or maybe he goes nuts and tears it up.

Hell if i know.

Kevin Youkilis who?

Brian Durack — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 21:28:10 -0000

The A's draft Adam Klein with the 1,409th overall pick this year out of Cal State Los Angeles. That's the 48th round.

So far the outfielder has gone 2-2 with 7 walks, 1 HBP, 4 R and 3 SB in the first two games in Rookie-level Arizona. Yes, he has reached base 10 consecutive times (and counting) to start his professional career.

Ok so he is 23 years-old and is one of the oldest guys in the league, but the run is impressive so far.

Will he make the major leagues...mmm probably not. A 23 year-old drafted in the 48th round would be lucky to make it to double-A, but it is fun to track.

Chris Snelling arrested! Err.. sort of

Brian Durack — Thu, 03 May 2007 16:05:47 -0000

I have a couple stories about Snelling that I had recently heard from a friend and Blez asked me to share them with AN, so here they are:

The first was when he first got signed and went to Everett (short-season). He had just come from Australia and the scout who signed him (I think it was the scout) dropped him off at a hotel and told him he would come by the next day and take him out to lunch and later meet the manager and coaches. So he is in his hotel room and he wants to call his folks back in Australia. He tries to call them, but every time he does someone else picks up the phone so he just hangs up. Eventually he gives up and goes to sleep. The next morning he is awoken by a knock at his door. He opens it and it is the police there to arrest him for making prank calls to 911. Turns out he was dialing something like "0911..." which I guess was his folks number, but of course he had never heard of 911 before. So he is there in his underwear having been asleep and he is trying to explain to cops what is going on. He tells them he just came to the United States to play baseball, and suggests they call the team to verify if all. The cops call the team, but the manager had never heard of him before, so they take Snelling to jail. Eventually they get in contact with the scout and get it all sorted out, but the kid (he as 17 at the time) was just about ready to go home that night.

The other was when he first got called up to the Mariners. They tell him that players are required to wear a suit, so the guy goes to like friggin Goodwill and buys some old used polyester leisure suit. He shows up for the flight and of course the team thinks he is out of his mind. They had to stop off at a store and buy the guy a real suit so he didn't look like Cousin Eddie from Nation Lampoon's Vacation.

So yeah, he should fit in with the A's just fine.

Monday Morning Minors

Brian Durack — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 09:51:51 -0000

The AFL wrapped up this week. It may not be much consolation (read: no consolation), but the Phoenix Desert Dogs won the League Championship with a 6-2 victory over Grand Canyon on Saturday, although none of our prospects had much of an impact in the game. In the last week Kevin Melillo rebounded a little bit from a disappointing campaign. He went 6-for-13 with a double and a home run in the last three regular season games, but ended the season with a .245 average in 94 at-bats with just six extra-base hits and nine walks.

Marcus McBeth and Michael Mitchell each pitched respectably for the Dogs this season. McBeth had a 4.50 ERA in 10 IP, but struck out 11 with three walks against some very talented hitters. Mitchell pitched even better, posting a 2.61 ERA with 10 Ks against three walks over 10 1/3 frames. Mitchell's success was a little more eye-raising than McBeth's, but both will carry lofty expectations over to 2007.

Daric Barton and Jason Perry both started playing in the Dominican League at the end of last week. I would have the exact stats, but the only place I know has them updated is "temporarily unable to service your request due to the site owner reaching his/her bandwidth limit". Barton was playing very well in the handful of games he been in, hitting for both average and power. 2006 was supposed to be his breakout season until he broke his elbow during a freak play in Sacramento. Next year's expectations should be no less, especially if he continues to hit well on the island. Perry hasn't had as much success as Barton in the few games he has appeared in.

Veterans Charles Thomas and Doug Clark are both playing south of the States as well. Clark, who played in his ninth professional season at the age of 30, hit a career high 15 home runs in 2006 and posted a .366 OBP. He is playing well so far in the Mexican League, going 31-for-101 with six homers and 23 walks. Thomas, who struggled to maintain an OBP over .300 in Sacramento, has hit .255 with just four extra-base hits and nine walks in 47 at-bats. Neither figure to play a large part in the A's future, though. Speaking of Charles Thomas, it occurred to me that trades the Braves make usually end up good for them and bad for their trading partner, especially when it comes to pitching. With Mazzone long gone, I wonder if that pattern will continue.

Maybe bears have it right, just go to sleep when the World Series ends and wake up when Spring Training starts. I hope my boss understands. Err... and my dog.

Monday Morning Minors

Brian Durack — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:59:36 -0000

Slim pickens this week. The AFL wraps up next week and there have been an unusually small number of farmhands playing in the Latin leagues. I've prayed every day of the last week that the GM meetings will bring some sort of action. Since pretty much every of our manager interviewees have already been hired away, maybe we can make a decision? Eh screw it, just rehire Macha... again.

Perhaps the only piece of news this week is the addition of Richie Robnett to the AFL roster. He replaces Travis Buck, who underwent surgery towards the end of last week with a sports hernia. He will return to Arizona to support his team and should be ready to go by the start of the 2007 season.

Robnett, who missed the last couple months of the regular season with a broken bone in his hand, has hit in all four games so far. Not only that, but he has an extra-base hit in all four as well. In his debut on Monday he went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double. In the next three games he combined to go 4-for-10 with a double, two triples and three walks. His first game he batted ninth, but by the end of the week he was hitting third.

His 2006 season was full of ups and downs as he struggled with injury and bounced around the system. Stockton was his home for most of the year as he hit .266 with a .350 OBP and 11 home runs in 267 at bats. The 22 year-old got called up to Sacramento for a few games in late July before being sent down to Midland, where his season ended after a couple weeks with the broken bone in his hand.

He and Buck are two of the top offensive prospects in the system, especially at the top level, and a solid 2007 could put them on Oakland's doorstep by the end of next year.

Monday Morning Minors

Brian Durack — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 10:41:11 -0000

Why do you people still come here? Aren't you sick of baseball yet? College Football, NFL, NBA, NHL, curling, badminton, Chinese Checkers? Or not.

For the past couple of years it was easy to say that Michael Mitchell's success mostly occurred because he was an advanced pitcher playing against younger, less experienced hitters. The right-hander was selected in the 35th round of the 2003 draft out of a Missouri community college, but didn't sign until November. At 22 years old he made his debut in Vancouver by allowing just two runs in 13 1/3 innings. The reliever split 2005 between Vancouver and Kane County with good results. Oakland finally challenged him in 2006 after he spent the first half of the season dominating in Stockton. Midseason he was bumped up to Sacramento to bolster a depleted bullpen and held his own for five games. Once he was sent down to Midland he continued to pitch well out of the bullpen.

It was a little surprising to see Mitchell selected to pitch in the AFL, but he is rewarding the A's confidence with a good performance. In fact, he is performing better than any of the other representatives. He has given up a run in just two of his nine appearances (7 2/3 IP) and has struck out seven against just one walk. Not much to go on, but very impressive numbers in a league loaded with offensive talent, most of which is Double-A or higher. 2007 should be an interesting season for him, especially if he starts in Sacramento.

Kevin Melillo had a nice week in Arizona, going 4-for-14 with four walks and three RBI. All four walks came in Friday's game in which he scored a run, drove in a run and stole a base. Marcus McBeth added to his solid winter season by tossing two scoreless innings this week, striking out two. In Venezuela Gregorio Petit tallied a hit in four straight games, but has yet to walk in 42 at bats.

Matt Allegra, who has accumulated 2,345 at bats in the Oakland system, became a six-year free agent at the end of the 2006 season. Selected in the 16th round of the 1999 draft as a 19 year-old, Allegra has shown flashes of a solid player but has never been able to put together a breakout season. After hitting 20 home runs in Visalia in 2002 he struggled to compete at higher levels, compiling a .296 OBP in Midland in 2003. He missed much of 2004 due to injury, but hit .382 in 18 games, including 10 extra-base hits. Despite many people thinking 2005 would be the year for Allegra, he was demoted from Midland after failing to hit above .200 and showing little power. Last season he hit 15 home runs and 27 doubles for the RockHounds, but did so as a 25 year-old. He will likely move on to another team next season as many players do in his situation.

Monday Morning Minors

Brian Durack — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 09:49:03 -0000

This week was an especially slow one for our players in the AFL. It does mark the halfway point for the League in which Phoenix, the team of our affiliates, has the best record at 10-6. In case you were wondering, the playoffs comprise entirely of a single game between the winners of the two divisions. Rumor has it that the winner gets a pizza party at CiCi's after the game. It is also rumored that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game will be on free-play for the evening.

On Friday the AFL hosted the inaugural "Rising Stars Showcase", which is a sort of All-Star game. Call me crazy, but I think a season that is five weeks long probably doesn't need an All-Star game. Anyway, Travis Buck and Landon Powell combined to go 0-for-4 with a couple strikeouts, but Marcus McBeth threw a perfect ninth with two strikeouts to record the save and lock up the 3-1 win.

Shortstop Gregorio Petit has shown up in Venezuela playing for Caracas, the team which many A's farmhands have historically played for (and the team for which both Marco Scutaro and Javier Herrera are listed on, but have yet to play). In two weeks (26 at-bats) Petit has gone 10-for-26 with a couple home runs and six RBI. His best tool is his defense, but he has flashed a bit of power. He hit eight home runs and 40 extra-base hits for Stockton in 519 at-bats this past full season. His most glaring weakness is his plate discipline. He drew just 38 free passes in 2006 and none so far in Venezuela.

With the end of the World Series came the first free agent declarations. Of course we expect to see Zito walk, which will certainly result in a first-round pick and a first round sandwich pick. The newest labor deal, signed on Tuesday, barely made the news, but it may have some consequences for the way Beane works his magic. The Type-C free agent compensation will be eliminated in 2007 and the number of type-A free agents will be reduced by 33%. In addition, Type-B free agents no longer take a draft pick from the acquiring team, but instead result in a second-round sandwich pick. In short, this means potentially fewer picks and less compensation for walking free agents. For example Jay Payton may be a type-C free agent this year, resulting in a second-round sandwich pick, but next year we would receive no compensation.

Not the end of the world as we know it, but had it been in place in 2002, we likely wouldn't have had nearly as many first-round selections. Whether it is good or bad for baseball I am unsure, but it certainly helps teams like the Yankees and hurts teams like Oakland.

Other provisions of the new agreement were the increase of the minimum salary from the current $327,000 to $380,000 in 2007 (and smaller increases from 2008-2011) and the increase of the luxury tax threshold to $148 million in 2007 and an increase of between $7-8 million until 2011 when the agreement expires. Eliminated was the current provision which states that if a team does not sign their former players who became free agents by December 7th, they lose rights to the player until May 1st. Some arbitration deadlines were also extended in the agreement.

What fun is baseball without the minute, pointless details?

Monday Morning Minors

Brian Durack — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 08:05:35 -0000

Ok, so one week of the AFL doesn't give a ton to write about. It also doesn't help if none of the players did well. While the Desert Dogs have gone 4-1 with a team average of .288 over their last five games, the three A's farmhands hit a combined .189. The pitching wasn't much better, as our representatives gave up nine runs over 4 2/3 innings.

The biggest blowup came from Conner Robertson on Saturday when he gave up five runs in 2/3 of an inning of relief. He gave up three homers, including one to the first batter he faced, and two back-to-back to knock him out. While he was obviously overmatched, two of the three players who hit home runs off him had little experience above Single-A. Very surprising considering Robertson, who had had a 2.80 ERA in 83 2/3 Double-A innings this season, gave up just a single home run in all of the 2006 full season. In nearly 200 previous professional innings entering the AFL, he had given up just FIVE total home runs. Yet in 2/3 of an inning in the AFL he gave up three.

I think that says more about the Arizona Fall League than it does Robertson, though. Certainly it isn't ordinary to see that kind of performance, it also isn't too extraordinary. Three of the six AFL teams have a team ERA of over six and two of them over seven. Most teams choose to send three offensive studs, while resting their most prized pitchers and sending the second-tier. Pitchers rarely pitch more than two or three innings, including starters.

Not much movement in the Mexican/Dominican/Venezuelan/etc leagues. Former Athletic Erubiel Durazo is off to a hot start for Hermosillo of the Mexican League, going 17-for-43 with four homers and a pair of doubles. One of the A's top prospects, Javier Herrera, is listed on a Dominican League team's roster but has yet to play. The Caracas Native missed time in 2005 due to a steroid suspension and all of 2006 after undergoing surgery. His 2007 campaign will be closely watched, especially since there were so many disappointments this season.

Monday Morning Minors

Brian Durack — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 08:17:03 -0000

Not to be all Chicago Cubs on you, but there's always next year. Yes, some wounds take a long time to heal, and this is certainly one of those occasions, but we can at least start looking forward. All we have to do is look to Arizona where they seemingly play baseball 365 days per year. The Arizona Fall League started on Tuesday of last week and features six of the A's top prospects.

As is typical in the AFL, the offensive talent we sent was more impressive than the pitching. Travis Buck is certainly the most impressive name, but the other offensive players, Kevin Melillo and Landon Powell, deserve attention. On the mound, or more specifically the bullpen, are Marcus McBeth, Connor Robertson and Michael Mitchell. McBeth and Robertson had fine seasons in Midland, whereas Mitchell had plenty of struggles. The AFL is a place to either build off a fine full season, or recover from a disappointing one like Shane Komine did in Arizona last fall.

Kevin Melillo started his AFL campaign off with a bang, hitting a home run in the first game of the season. He has since added a double and a couple of singles. A nice Fall would mean a lot to Melillo, whose 2006 season totals were less than what was to be expected. If the second baseman can refind his power stroke he can hopefully carry it over to next season.

The player that may be the closest to Oakland is Marcus McBeth. He is certainly a wild card having pitched not much longer than one year total in his career, but his impressive numbers in Midland (65:20 in 54 1/3 innings) show much promise. He has two perfect innings so far this season with a pair of strikeouts.

Players typically don't get a lot of playing time in the AFL so it is difficult to make judgments, but a player who performs well usually has high expectations entering the next season. A good example of this is the aforementioned Shane Komine. He missed much of 2005 after undergoing surgery, but an excellent 2005 AFL season was followed by a good 2006 start and he eventually ended up in Oakland.

So as Nico and BaseballGirl have already inferred, how can you not be excited about 2007? Besides, this is Oakland, and our off-seasons are more spectacular than the actual season.

Right?