SB Nation User Blog: Colorado Fan

Billy Beane Interview - Minor League Ball

Colorado Fan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:16:01 -0000

Billy Beane Interview - Minor League Ball

Very good interview. Lots of info w/ regards to Chris Carter, Brett Wallace, and the young pitching staff.

Phoenix Desert Dogs (Arizona Fall League)

Colorado Fan — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:29:40 -0000

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/d...

OAKLAND PLAYERS:

LHP - Jerry Blevins (Midland) - 24 Years Old
RHP - Jeff Gray (Sacto) - 26 Years Old
LHP - Jay Marshall (MLB) - 24 Years Old
RHP - James Simmons (Midland) - 20 Years Old
C - Anthony Recker (Midland) - 24 Years Old
SS - Cliff Pennington (Midland) - 23 Years Old
3B - Jeff Baisley (Midland) - 24 Years Old

Trainer - TBA (Oakland)?!?!

In the last couple of AFL Seasons, Andre Ethier and Travis Buck have made the immediate jump from AFL to the MLB. Jay Marshall is going to Phoenix... Not a huge surprise, but interesting nonetheless. I'm kind of surprised to see that James Simmons is going to the AFL for more work. I thought the A's might want to give his arm some time off after the College Season + Midland... but, I guess they like what they see in Simmons.

I'm midly surpised that guys like Trevor Cahill, Henry Alberto Rodriguez, Javier Herrera, Gregorio Petit, Andrew Bailey, Jermaine Mitchell, and Corey Brown didn't get the nod over some of these guys.

I really like the fact the Oakland hasn't determined who to send to Arizona to be the Team Trainer. I hope that's a good sign (crosses fingers)

Poll

Who will wear the Green and Gold in 2008?

Anthony Recker

4 votes

Jerry Blevins

1 votes

Cliff Pennington

7 votes

Jeff Gray

1 votes

Jeff Baisley

3 votes

Jay Marshall

24 votes

James Simmons

6 votes

46 votes | Poll has closed

Zito Finally Signs - WIIFU?

Colorado Fan — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 02:18:08 -0000

So, the Giants land the "Top Free Agent Pitcher" of the 2006-2007 Offseason". Yeah for them. So, WIIFU, you ask...?(What's In It For Us?). Well, as I see it, there are some teams very close to applying the "Win at all Costs" theory over the month of January.

One of those teams is the NY Mets. New York Fans/Media won't put up with another season of mediocre pitching, and they have a ton of question marks in their rotation. Minaya knows it. The Baseball World knows it.

Mets' 2007 Rotation:

Glavine
Hernandez
Maine
Perez
Pelfrey

The other team is the Toronto Blue Jays. Let's be honest: If things go like last season, J.P. Riccardi is on a very short lease in Toronto. They need a couple starting pitchers, and a lot of bullpen help.

Blue Jays 2007 Rotation:

Halladay
Burnett
Chacin
Marcum
Janssen

So, let's take a look at each prospect teams Top 10 List - According to John Sickels (Mets) and Baseball America (Blue Jays):

Mets: Mets Top Ten Prospects - John Sickels

Fernando Martinez, OF, A- (tools and youth, just needs refinement)
Mike Pelfrey, RHP, Grade A- (I think the breaking pitch problem is overblown. He had a good one in college and I think he'll find it again. I am sticking with my guns on this one)
Phil Humber, RHP, B+ (Many prefer him over Pelfrey, I like both)
Carlos Gomez, OF, B (great tools, but I'm not sure about his power)
Jon Niese, LHP, B- (projectable lefty is a personal favorite)
Deolis Guerra, RHP, B- (live arm, a long way away)
Kevin Mulvey, RHP, B- (accidently left off first list)
Joe Smith, RHP, B- (impressive reliever could advance fast)
Mike Carp, 1B, B- (developing power bat to watch)
Alay Soler, RHP, C+ (Cuban defector looks better as a reliever to me than a starter)

Blue Jays: Blue Jays Top 10 Prospects

Adam Lind, of
Travis Snider, of
Ricky Romero, lhp
Ryan Patterson, of
Curtis Thigpen, c
Francisco Rosario, rhp
Brandon Magee, rhp
Jesse Litsch, rhp
David Purcey, lhp
Balbino Fuenmayor, 3b

As it stands right now, the A's have a 70+ Million Payroll if they keep the roster they have today. I'm sure they want to be under 70-Million in 2007. Thus, trading arbitration eligible guys like Calero, Duke, Saarloos, Kennedy, etc... could help clear some cash for 2007 and beyond.

Billy Beane covets Non-Prospects, Lastings Milledge, Aaron Heilman, and Alex Rios. Let's pretend that every Oakland A's pitcher is on the trading block. And, we know that 1-Year of Jason Jennings is worth a Top Organizational Prospect (Hirsch), and 2 Young MLB-Ready Players (Taverez & Buchholtz).

What is 4 Years of Blanton worth? What is 3-4 years of Harden or Haren worth? When Billy Beane says that "Joe Kennedy is now a Starter", does this increase is trade value for teams looking for a #3/#4/#5 Starter?

My guess:

Blanton and Calero,

for,

Milledge, Heilman, and Humber

Billy's phone is Ringing. GM's know that Haren, Blanton, and Harden have all been discussed. Hell, E-Lo looks like a great deal right now. What deal does Billy do in January?

Poll

What Pitcher is Most Likely to Be Traded this Offseason?

Kennedy

7 votes

Haren

0 votes

Saarloos

15 votes

Harden

3 votes

Halsey

11 votes

Blanton

41 votes

Calero

9 votes

Loaiza

11 votes

Duke

3 votes

100 votes | Poll has closed

To BOO, or not to BOO

Colorado Fan — Tue, 30 May 2006 17:39:45 -0000

I can't remember the last time an Oakland Athletics team received a good old fashioned "BOOOOOOO!". Can you?

Do Oakland Athletics Fans have an issue with booing a team that isn't performing to its potential?

Booing is an Acceptable, Democratic Way to Vent: "Eventually the frustration factor hits the boiling point and fans rebel against the system in the form of booing.

In my book, that's perfectly acceptable. If the product on the field does not live up to expectations and fans keep hearing the same old excuses, a loud chorus of boos is the first step toward democracy in sports." - Ken Burger, Charleson.net

Personally (and Selfishly), I was hoping I would hear a chorus of BOOOOS last night. I was booing in front of my TV after the finish of the game. Were you?

Not sending Kotsay earlier in the count in the 9th Inning (Defensive Indiffernce would have occured, preventing a double play). BOOOOOO!
Not pinch hitting for Mark Ellis in the bottom of the 8th Innning - 2 Outs. BOOOOO!
Karsay Continually Sucking! BOOOOO!
Macha coming out to make another "too late" pitching change - BOOOOO!
Macha not warming up a left hander earlier in the game so he could face Doug Mienkievitiajkzcz (not Karsay). BIG BOOOOO!
THAT'S JUST YESTERDAY FROM THE 7TH INNING, ON. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON WITH PLAYERS LIKE DJ, SCUTARO, PEREZ, CROSBY, ELLIS!!!!!

If the manager is is going to praise the team when it continues to fail, and management continues to praise the team, making zero moves to improve the team (Steve Karsay doesn't count)...Who will reprimand this team for not pulling through a tough stretch, and winning some games, especially against the 3-22 Royals???

THE FANS, THAT'S WHO!

Some athletes play better when they are mad. The "I'll show you mentality" works in a lot of cases. Maybe it will bring the team closer together? Why not give it a try?

If we, OAKLAND A'S FAN, can make it a TEAM vs. THE FANS mentality, maybe it will spark this particular team. If Beane/Macha/Wolff won't do anything about consistent slow starts and injuries, why can't we try to do something?

BOOING might not change the current pattern of losing, but it will tell the players that we're not accepting the current level of play. Something this particular A's team has never heard from A's Fans.

Poll

Should This Team Get BOOED if they are losing (or lose) to the Royals tonight?

NO

12 votes

It's never OK to boo the home team

20 votes

YES

31 votes

63 votes | Poll has closed

KENNY ROGERS

Colorado Fan — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 21:22:00 -0000

Kenny Rogers almost went off on another TV Camerman today. While taking finger prints inside an Arlington Court House, he stared angrily at the Cameraman, degrading him...

KR: (As Kenny Rogers stares angrily into the camera lense) "Dude, your getting really close, you know that?"

KR: (continues to stare, almost ready to go off) "Do you hear me?"

KR: "You must be pretty proud of yourself, too"

Cameraman: "Just my job, Kenny"

KR: "Good Job"

Bud Selig: Please suspend this guy before he kills someone.

Poll

How many games should Kenny Rogers be Suspended now?

20 Games

21 votes

10 Game Reduction (10 Games Total)

3 votes

None - Bud and Kenny are in bed together

3 votes

Rest of Season

19 votes

46 votes | Poll has closed

"Filthy" Rich Harden

Colorado Fan — Thu, 16 Jun 2005 16:37:21 -0000

Haven't seen this yet, so here it is....

It looks like "Filthy" Rich Harden is getting back into the rotation next Thursday vs. Seattle (knock on wood)...

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050615&content_id=1090728& ;vkey=news_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak

Couple Quick Thoughts:

23 Games until the All-Star Break. How about a nice 17-6 Run to finish off the 1st Half of the Season?
How good would 44-43 sound at the All-Star Break?
How about sending Cruz down to AAA next week. He could be "stretched" out in Sacramento for a few starts, then called up to replace Glynn as the 5th Starter after the All-Star Break. Cruz has nasty stuff, and mentally, starting might be the cure for Cruz'es mental struggles thus far. Saarloos can take over the middle relief duties.

Looking Ahead to the All-Star Break:

Jun 16 NYM 3:35 PM (Glynn)
Jun 17 Phi 10:05 PM (Zito)
Jun 18 Phi 3:15 PM (Saarloos)
Jun 19 Phi 4:05 PM (Blanton)
Jun 20 @Sea 10:05 PM (Haren)
Jun 21 @Sea 10:05 PM (Glynn)
Jun 22 @Sea 10:05 PM (Zito)
Jun 23 @Sea 4:35 PM (HARDEN)
Jun 24 SF 10:05 PM (Blanton)
Jun 25 SF 4:05 PM (Haren)
Jun 26 SF 4:05 PM (Glynn)
Jun 27 OFF
Jun 28 Sea 10:05 PM (Zito)
Jun 29 Sea 10:05 PM (Harden)
Jun 30 Sea 3:35 PM (Blanton)
Jul 1 CHW 10:05 PM (Haren)
Jul 2 CHW 9:05 PM (Glynn)
Jul 3 CHW 4:05 PM (Zito)
Jul 4 OFF (No game on the 4th of July???)
Jul 5 @Tor 7:07 PM (Harden)
Jul 6 @Tor 7:07 PM (Blanton)
Jul 7 @Tor 7:07 PM (Haren)
Jul 8 @CHW 8:05 PM (Glynn)
Jul 9 @CHW 7:05 PM (Zito)
Jul 10 @CHW 3:05 PM (Harden)

Poll

When Harden comes Back, what should happen?

Harrikala will be sent down to Sac. or waived

9 votes

Cruz will be sent to Sacramento to be "stretched" out to become our 5th starter

15 votes

Saarloss will replace Harrikala in the bullpen

9 votes

All of the Above

13 votes

46 votes | Poll has closed

Ohad vs. Colorado Fan

Colorado Fan — Sat, 28 May 2005 22:43:05 -0000

http://www.athleticsnation.com/story/2005/2/4/101152/7909

This diary from February pretty much rehashes why I'm a better predictor than Ohad...

Enjoy...

text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text,text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text,text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text,text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text,text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text,text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text, text,text, text

Scoreboard!

Poll

Who's the Best AN'er on this board?

Ohad

7 votes

Nico

10 votes

Oaktoon

7 votes

Blez

15 votes

Other

18 votes

57 votes | Poll has closed

The Bad News Bears...errrrr, A's

Colorado Fan — Sat, 14 May 2005 05:14:33 -0000

I'm sorry, but this team is laughable. I'm seriously considering asking Direct TV for my MLB Extra Innings $$$ back. I would rather watch the actual movie, but if our current A's were to put this season on film, here's the Cast:

In contrast to the "Moneyball" Cast, here's your 2005 Bad News Bears...errrr, A's:

Coach Morris Buttermaker... played by Ken Macha
Coach Roy Turner... played by Dave Hudgens
Tanner Boyle... played by Eric Byrnes
Kelly Leak... played by Barry Zito
Miguel Agilar... played by Eric Chavez
Ahmad Abdul Rahim... played by Ohad
Ogilvie... played by Jason Kendall
Engleberg... played by Keith Ginter
Amanda Whurlitzer... played by the Batgirl
Jimmy Feldman... played by Scott Hatteberg
Rudy Stein... played by Mark Ellis
Timmy Lupus... played by Erubial Durazo
Regi Tower... played by 2-Buck Chuck
Any other movie casts you can compare this team with?

Kotsay / Harden

Colorado Fan — Fri, 22 Apr 2005 18:29:39 -0000

It's THEIR team! THEY are the leaders! Others look to them for toughness, how-to-do-ness. They will dictate how far the 2005 Oakland Athletics take this team this year, as well as for seasons to come...

KOTSAY:

Year AB AVG
1997 52 .192
1998 578 .279
1999 495 .271
2000 530 .298
2001 406 .291
2002 578 .292
2003 482 .266
2004 606 .314

8 Seasons 3727 .287

162 Game Avg 594 .287

HARDEN:

Year IP ER BB SO ERA
2003 74.7 37 40 67 4.26
2004 189.7 171 81 167 3.99

162 Game Avg 199.7 91 91 176 4.12

I really, really, really, really,really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really,really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really...

...like the direction this team is going.

Viva Oakland Athletics!!!!

Poll

What is the next step for Billy Beane?

Sign Haren to long term deal (alas, Harden)

11 votes

Trade Dotel

4 votes

Trade Byrnes

5 votes

Sign Kotsay to a long-term deal

31 votes

Trade Dotel, Byrnes, & Scutaro to Cubs for Derrick Lee

15 votes

Trade Chavez to the Rockies for Todd Helton + Cash

3 votes

69 votes | Poll has closed

5 A's Prospects Fail Drug Test

Colorado Fan — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 22:43:33 -0000

Does AN hold a blind eye to the fact that we're the clubhouse leaders when it comes to Steriods? It's safe to assume that our minor league system was a chemical lab, and things don't seem to be changing. One of our top prospects, Javier Herrera, was caught as well. David Castillo (Kane County) has tested positive 3 times!

The most notable was David Castillo of the Oakland A's, who was suspended for 60 games after he tested positive for the third time. The other 37 players were all suspended for 15 games each, the mandatory penalty after testing positive for the first time. Ten of them had already been released by their respective organizations before the test results were made public.

"We haven't been trying to keep these a secret," said Rob Manfred, MLB's vice president of labor relations and human resources. "They've always been handled by the clubs themselves at the Minor League level. But we thought we'd make it easier and put them all in one place. We're just trying to be more transparent at this point."

The Minor League testing program is much wider in scope than its Major League counterpart. In the Majors, players on the 40-man roster of each team are tested for steroids and steroid-based drugs only. In the Minors, players are tested for steroids and a variety of drugs, including amphetamines and recreational drugs like marijuana, cocaine and alcohol.

The positive results were registered in 925 tests collected at Minor League camps in Arizona during Spring Training, plus one administered during the offseason.

On Sunday, Tampa Bay's Alex Sanchez was suspended for 10 days in violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. It was the mandatory suspension after an initial positive test at the Major League level for steroid use. Sanchez, whose suspension began on Monday, will miss eight games before he's reinstated on April 14.

Under the recently re-written program, baseball randomly tests all players on the 40-man rosters of Major League teams for a wide variety of anabolic androgenic steroids and steroid precursors all banned by the U.S. Government under "Schedule III" of the Code of Federal Regulations' Schedule of Controlled Substances.

MLB doesn't test for any other type of drugs at the Major League level under the current program, which was collectively bargained with the Players Association. This is the second year of punitive testing in the big leagues, but the first in which a player is suspended for an initial positive test.

Under the new program, which was implemented on March 3, a player is automatically suspended for 10 days after a first positive test, 30 days for the second, 60 days for the third, and one year for the fourth. All are without pay.

On the fifth offense, the Commissioner has the discretion to punish a player in a manner that is consistent with further positive tests. Offseason testing of Major League players also begins later this year.

In the Minor Leagues, a first offense nets a player a 15-game suspension; a second offense is a 30-game suspension; a third offense is a 60-game suspension; a fourth offense is one year, and a fifth offense gets a player banned from professional baseball for life.

Commissioner Bud Selig has made it clear, both in his testimony to Congress and in public statements, that he would like to implement the more far-reaching Minor League program in the Major Leagues.

Castillo, a 23-year-old catcher, spent last season playing for the Single A Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League. He batted .246 with nine homers, 28 doubles and 59 RBIs in 111 games.

As per privacy clauses in the program, A's assistant general manager David Forst declined to comment, saying only that "the program is in place, and it's working."

Player Minor League Club Major League Club Games Suspended:

Avendano, Elvis - Stockton Ports A's (15 Games)
Castillo, David Kane County Cougars A's (60 Games)
Herrera, Javier Kane County Cougars A's (15 Games)
Perez, Luis Kane County Cougars A's (15 Games)
Santana, Mayobanex Stockton Ports (released) A's (15 Games)

SB Nation User Blog: Colorado Fan

Billy Beane Interview - Minor League Ball

Billy Beane Interview - Minor League Ball

Phoenix Desert Dogs (Arizona Fall League)

Who will wear the Green and Gold in 2008?

Anthony Recker

Jerry Blevins

Cliff Pennington

Jeff Gray

Jeff Baisley

Jay Marshall

James Simmons

Zito Finally Signs - WIIFU?

What Pitcher is Most Likely to Be Traded this Offseason?

Kennedy

Haren

Saarloos

Harden

Halsey

Blanton

Calero

Loaiza

Duke

To BOO, or not to BOO

Should This Team Get *BOOED* if they are losing (or lose) to the Royals tonight?

NO

It's never OK to boo the home team

YES

KENNY ROGERS

How many games should Kenny Rogers be Suspended now?

20 Games

10 Game Reduction (10 Games Total)

None - Bud and Kenny are in bed together

Rest of Season

"Filthy" Rich Harden

When Harden comes Back, what should happen?

Harrikala will be sent down to Sac. or waived

Cruz will be sent to Sacramento to be "stretched" out to become our 5th starter

Saarloss will replace Harrikala in the bullpen

All of the Above

Ohad vs. Colorado Fan

Who's the Best AN'er on this board?

Ohad

Nico

Oaktoon

Blez

Other

The Bad News Bears...errrrr, A's

Kotsay / Harden

What is the next step for Billy Beane?

Sign Haren to long term deal (alas, Harden)

Trade Dotel

Trade Byrnes

Sign Kotsay to a long-term deal

Trade Dotel, Byrnes, & Scutaro to Cubs for Derrick Lee

Trade Chavez to the Rockies for Todd Helton + Cash

5 A's Prospects Fail Drug Test

Should This Team Get BOOED if they are losing (or lose) to the Royals tonight?