SB Nation User Blog: McP

"Place your deposit for 2009 tickets today"

McP — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:52:22 -0000

Yeah, right. The A's actually had the nerve to send out their 2009 season ticket renewal information yesterday. As if I am going to pony up for season tickets when the owner can't even pony up to give his team a chance at the playoffs. Forget it, Lew.

The A's need to give me a reason to spend money on them. The days of blind faith in your team are over, especially today in an economy that is tenuous at best. When the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings don't even have a waiting list for season tickets, you know times have changed.

So why should I give you my money, Mr. Wolff? I'd like a detailed response to my inquiry, as a "shareholder" in your organization/business. If I don't give you my money -- and other like-minded fans do the same -- how will you fund your team? Out of your own, plenty-deep pockets?

Why should I spend my hard-earned money when you don't spend yours?

A's are historically bad now

McP — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 03:07:43 -0000

Winless since July 27, the A’s have dropped seven straight series and are a major league-worst 2-17 since the All-Star break. The last time Oakland had a losing streak this long was a 12-game skid that began with nine straight losses in September 1995 and continued with three more defeats in April 1996.

The A’s also lost 12 consecutive games in April 1994.

The Athletics have been swept in three straight series of three games or more for the first time in Oakland history. The Kansas City A’s had the same run of futility in July 1955.

[http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=280807114]

Just friggin' great, Billy. All part of the "master plan to win in 2010", eh? Any real business that was run this way would go out of business.

The owner has money and chooses not to spend it. Why should the fans "be patient"?

Outlook for 2008

McP — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:13:23 -0000

Looking at the current roster and projecting it to 2008 …

** Sure bets for the offensive lineup:

Mark Ellis (2B) – His OPS is still under .800, but if he hits closer to .300 and draws a few more walks, Ellis will be an elite second baseman considering his defense and run production. Twenty HRs, 80 RBI and 10 SBs from a middle infielder is pretty good, especially with the great glove.

Nick Swisher (OF/1B) – Two thoughts on Swisher: he needs to be in the OF to be most valuable, and he has to have someone good hitting behind him. His 2007 numbers were a big drop from 2006, and that hurt the A’s. Give him a position and lock him into it; get some protection in the lineup for him. Even with the pathetic lineup, he drew 100 walks this year. His average came up, his power went down. He’ll still be in the lineup for three more years, of course, but give him some help.

Jack Cust (DH) – The A’s want to keep him, and they should if they can do so cheaply. His .937 OPS was best on the team, by far, and along with Swisher, he drew 100 walks this year. He had power, but he will have to grow as a hitter for 2008, since pitchers/scouting reports will be on to him. His presence also forces other position issues.

Travis Buck (OF) – He was pretty productive when he was healthy. An .850 OPS for a rookie is good, but he’ll have to produce for a full season. He had 34 XBH in only 285 ABs. If he’s a RF, Swisher can play LF or CF regularly, depending on who else the A’s sign in the offseason.

Kurt Suzuki (C) – In 197 ABs, he hit 7 HRs and had 37 RBI. He’s hitting .254, which is solid for a rookie catcher. His .758 OPS is also solid, when taken in context. His handling of pitching staff should improve with an off-season of work and relationship-building.

Daric Barton (1B) – He’s only got 50 ABs, but with a .927 OPS in 57 PAs, he’s the A’s new future, in the Jason Giambi-style. He’s young, cheap and good. He’s going to be in the line-up until 2013, at least.

** Question marks for the offensive lineup:

Eric Chavez (3B) – His health is in question, and he’s making too much money. His days as an everyday player for the A’s may be over. If the A’s can move him in the offseason, they should. His swing might work in New York, and if A-Rod leaves the Yankees (as he should), the Yankees might have an interest in Chavez (let’s hope?). Either way, he is not worth the money he’s due, and the A’s have a decent alternative on the roster (see below).

Jack Hannahan (3B) – In 123 ABs, he’s hit .293 with 14 XBH for a .848 OPS. Those are better numbers than Chavez, although he surely doesn’t have Chavez’ glove ability. But at some point, it becomes about cost efficiency, and for a cheap salary, he can produce just as much as Chavez can in the overall game.

Dan Johnson (1B) – With Barton and Cust, he’s basically a man without a position now. The A’s should keep him for depth, though, since he could get 3-4 starts a week even as a backup first baseman since Cust can play RF. Buck, Barton and Cust will all get days off here and there, and DJ can fill that spot effectively and somewhat cheaply. They really should keep him, unless they get an offer for him they can’t refuse (i.e. a MLB-ready starter for the tail end of the rotation).

Shannon Stewart (OF) – Is he worth re-signing? Not really. He produced fine this year, but he’s just not an impact player. Considering he’d be getting a raise in any offer he receives, the A’s should let him seek employment elsewhere and find better bang for their buck(s).

Bobby Crosby (SS) – Absolutely worthless at the plate with that .619 OPS. As I said before, giving this fool 372 plate appearances in 2007 sunk the A’s (although certainly not single-handedly). The As have a better, everyday shortstop already on their roster. Maybe it’s injuries, maybe it’s not, but Crosby has become a liability. Trade him if you can, Beane.

Marco Scutaro (IF) – His offense is better than Crosby’s, and his defense is fine. He has a knack for clutch hits, and in general, he’s a good clubhouse veteran at this point. He should be kept and installed as the starting shortstop, period. He’s affordable and productive enough.

Mike Piazza (C/DH) – He’s gone, and he was a waste of money. Maybe if he’d been healthy all year, the A’s would have contended for the wild card, but it’s all water under the bridge now. Adieu, Mike.

Mark Kotsay (OF) – He’s a backup OF at best now. Injuries or not, his game has just disappeared since 2004. The A’s gave him 225 PAs at the worst possible time, and with his .575 OPS, he just killed any offensive rally he was in the middle of as the A’s plummeted down the standings. He’s always been an overrated defender, and there’s no offense of which to speak. What a waste of money in 2008 …

** Projected line-up (for now)

1 – RF – Travis Buck
2 – SS – Marco Scutaro
3 – LF – Nick Swisher
4 – DH – Jack Cust
5 – 1B – Daric Barton
6 – 2B – Mark Ellis
7 – CF – Free agent signing
8 – 3B – Eric Chavez/Jack Hannahan
9 – C – Kurt Suzuki

** Free agent hitters

The A’s have money to spend with Loaiza and Piazza off the books. They need some pitching help, perhaps, but they need at least ONE serious hitting addition to the lineup. Who is available at CF this off-season? Torii Hunter? Rumor has it he may want to return home to Texas. There are CF options: Hunter, Mike Cameron, Andruw Jones, Kenny Lofton, Corey Patterson, and Aaron Rowand. The A’s can sign any of these guys, and they’d be better off than with Kotsay in CF. In a perfect world, I’d love the A’s to go after Jones, Hunter, Patterson or Rowand. Jones and Patterson are represented by Scott Boras, however, so automatically that’s bad. I know the rumors about Andruw Jones’ decline, and he was terrible this year, so … Patterson is ideal in my mind for this line-ups needs, but Boras will want too much for him. So those two are out. Hunter may want Texas, which leaves Aaron Rowand. He plays like Eric Byrnes, so there’s always an injury risk. But I like his grit, effort and ability. He will be moderately expensive, but I still think he’s an underrated player. The A’s should target him as a top free agent signing. He would change the above lineup significantly, probably hitting second and bumping Scutaro to eighth in the line-up and moving the third baseman to seventh. With DJ off the bench, that would be a solid, every day lineup assumking Barton hits, Buck and Cust maintain, Swisher improves, etc. Maybe you hit Rowand sixth, and move Ellis down to seventh. Either way, the A’s need a real everyday CF, and they have many options on the market.

If the A’s want to try free agency for the two other position needs (3B and SS), they’re not going to find much. At shortstop, you have Omar Vizquel, Juan Uribe and David Eckstein – none of whom will be worth what the market will pay them. At 3B, you could have A-Rod (don’t I wish) and Mike Lowell, followed by a bunch of overpriced scrubs. I think the Sox would keep Lowell, and I think A-Rod will command more money than Beane/Wolff are willing to commit, which is a shame. He’d be the perfect remedy for what ails the Oakland franchise.

Other random hitters who could be appealing: Luis Castillo, Tadahito Iguchi and Kaz Matsui are all second basemen, and if signed, Ellis could play shortstop – putting Scutaro back on the bench as the valuable asset he already is there. Crosby could be waived entirely. But in affordability terms, none of these guys will be “bargains”. What about Jason Kendall? As lame as he is with the bat, if the A’s could bring him back CHEAP to tutor Suzuki, that might be a nice idea. A guy like Brad Wilkerson might be good for outfield depth, or if the A’s wanted to make a BIG SPLASH, they could go for Adam Dunn. I wonder what his market will be, in truth. Bobby Abreu might be available, or even Jose Guillen, Geoff Jenkins, and Sammy Sosa (don’t laugh!). The A’s can find some affordable players, if they want to, this offseason, because they cannot continue to be such an offensive joke.

** Sure bets for the rotation in 2008 …

Dan Haren – Great season, by any measurement, although his second half lagged behind the first half. The A’s need consistent seasons like this from Haren for the next two years.

Joe Blanton – He is still too hittable, so he needs to re-discover whatever kept his OBA down in 2005. But he’s averaged 15+ wins in his three seasons as a starter, so he’s consistent there.

Rich Harden – He’s a sure bet to be in the PLANS for 2008, but whether or not he pitches anything significant is the real issue, of course.

** Other possibilities for the rotation in 2008 …

Chad Gaudin – He’s proven he can pitch in the majors, but he’s no better than a No. 5 starter. The WHIP is over 1.50, and it’s a miracle his ERA is at 4.52 right now, through 187+ innings. He gives up more hits than IP, and he walks a batter every other inning. He’s just not that good.

Lenny DiNardo – Same as Gaudin, albeit in a different way. More hits than IP, and while his walks are lower, he only has five more Ks than BBs. A high WHIP (1.43) is hidden behind his decent ERA (4.18). He’s No. 5 fodder, at best, meaning if the A’s have both Gaudin and DiNardo in their rotation, they’re in trouble.

No one else on the roster is worthy of consideration for the 2008 rotation. Dan Meyer has been terrible, Dallas Braden is terrible, etc. The A’s need at least one, if not two, new starters for 2008.

** Free agent possibilities for the rotation in 2008 ….

The A’s could use a decent lefty in their line-up, and the ballpark can hide a lot of deficiencies. Guys like Tom Glavine, Kenny Rogers and David Wells could be good fits for the A’s, but … Glavine would be ideal, in truth. But does he want to come to the AL this late? Would the Mets let him go? Rogers will stay in Detroit, if anywhere, and Wells is not suited for the AL anymore. Glavine would be a good mentor to the rest of the staff and fit nicely in the No. 4 slot (if Harden is healthy) if he was signed to a mid-level contract to end his career. Randy Wolf could be an option, but he’s an injury risk. With Harden already on board, you don’t want too many of those. You want someone who will log 200 innings. On the righty front, there are more options, albeit mediocre ones. A lot of injury risks out there (Kris Benson, Matt Clement, etc.), but maybe a workhorse like Livan Hernandez would help. The market is full of Brett Tomkos and Carlos Silvas, however. Someone like Victor Zambrano could be an intriguing option, but if the A’s go this route, they need reliability. Injury risks are out, which means the pickings are slim. But if the A’s have to go into 2008 with a rotation of Haren, Blanton, Harden, Gaudin and DiNardo, they’re in trouble.

** Bullpen outlook for 2008 …

If everyone is healthy (big if), the A’s should be fine here. Embree will be back, giving the A’s a lefty boost there. Casilla has been alright, so he’s an early option. Street, Calero and Duchscherer (if they’re all healthy) can be dominating. Throw in Andrew Brown and Flores, and the A’s have a solid bullpen. No free agent needs here at all.

** Overall outlook …

In general, the A’s need two free agent hitters and two free agent starters. Let’s see what they do this offseason.

Someone tell me again why ...

McP — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:18:03 -0000

Mark Kotsay is in the line-up?

His seasonal OPS is .575, his August batting average is .071, and his defense is overrated.

There is absolutely no reason this individual should be allowed to play right now. He is terrible, and every time he comes to the plate, he hurts the team.

On the off-chance he does throw out a runner trying to advance once every ten games, that is still not worth the price the team pays for having him in the line-up.

Come on, Geren -- bench this guy and stick him where he belongs.

Come on, Beane -- time to send this guy packing ANYWHERE.

Addition by subtraction, if nothing else.

Comerica Park

McP — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:22:51 -0000

I have gone to the last two games against Detroit at Comerica, and I'm going to the next two as well ...

Thoughts:

This is the best park in the majors that I have been to. It's beautiful, spacious and clean. The nighttime skyline of downtown Detroit is beautiful, second only to the view of the Rocky Mountains at Coors Field. Parking right across the street from the stadium? $10. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that sign. Capacity is about 40k, and while the fans are sort of lame in the sense you can tell most of them haven't followed baseball in 20 years (until last year, at least), they're easy-going and fun to interact with.

Mark Kotsay is a waste of space in this line-up. Whatever bonus his arm in centerfield provides, it's the only positive thing about his game. He costs too much, he's overmatched at the plater in almost every AB, he's the slowest CF baserunner I think I have ever seen (he got caught in a run down Friday night, but escaped only because the Tiger pitcher -- a rookie -- didn't cover third base in the rundown wheel), and there are better options sitting on the bench. I would much rather see Swisher in CF and DJ at first base, for example. Kotsay's .599 OPS in more than 200 plate appearances is just not acceptable, no matter how someone thinks his defense helps. He really needs to be traded (yeah, right) or waived. He is worthless.

Swisher really misses Thomas (or something from last year). After hitting 35 HRs last year, he's got 14 in mid-August? Maybe it was his hair. But the point is (again), there is just no one in this line-up to fear, so why pitch to Swisher if you don't have to? The A's need a serious thumper in this line-up, and without one, there will be no playoffs any time soon. It's a Punch-and-Judy line-up, for the most part, even if they did score 16 runs Friday night. That's an anomaly, until it happens regularly and becomes a pattern.

I like what little I have seen of Donnie Murphy. His arm looks strong, his bat looks good enough for now, and he's not Bobby Crosby. He's only 24, and in 60 ABs this year, he's put up an .818 OPS. Yes, these numbers are way above his career stats so far, but he only had 91 ABs in KC prior to this. Give him a shot at the shortstop position.

I am still not sure what to make of Jack Cust. At best, he's a poor man's Adam Dunn, but I don't even think he's that good. I think there's a reason he's 28 and playing for his fifth different team in the majors already. Either way, since he's strictly a DH, I don't think you can "plan" around him for the future, but he's probably useful enough to keep on the roster. Depending on how Barton does in the near future, Cust will probably stick ... but I am not sold on him yet. The seven RBI on Friday night were nice, especially after Blanton blew the lead so easily (weak mental effort, Joe, even if it was hot and humid -- you are from the South!).

Blanton and Haren both seemed to suffer from the manager's decisions not to lift them at opportune times. I understood Geren's decisions, but considering it's August, you have to be in better command of your team at this point. I know the playoffs are out of reach, but you can still play for .500 -- then again, with the A's bullpen, maybe it's better to leave the starters in too long. This is a hard team to manage right now, and I personally don't have any gripes with Geren this season. Sure, he's another Howe/Macha-type Beane seems to favor (I have no idea why, especially when you see Jim Leyland on the other side -- why don't the A's ever hire a good manager?); eventually, that will be his undoing here in Oakland. Beane might need to check his ego and either manage the team himself or hire a real manager to get this team to the World Series.

Between Bowen and Suzuki, the catching spot seems to be fine. You don't expect much from rookie catchers, so I don't mind them playing the next seven weeks and showing what they have (or don't have).

Obviously, Chavez isn't playing right now, but the A's might seriously try to trade him in the off-season. New York will be looking for a third baseman, perhaps, and the last time the A's sent them one (Brosius), it worked out well for them. Maybe we can get them to take Loaiza and Kotsay, too. Chavez just isn't worth his salary, even as a defensive wizard (I will say it right now: there will be no Gold Glove for Chavez this year. Mike Lowell will be winning it). It's well-past time to admit the A's kept the wrong player when they decided to let Tejada walk.

I was impressed with the team's effort Friday night; after Blanton coughed up a SEVEN-RUN lead, I thought they were done. Saturday night was a different story. When they had the first two guys on and no outs in the 7th inning, down by a run -- that's a situation where you must score a run to tie the game. But instead of moving the runners over, Cust struck out. Ellis then flied out, and Scutaro struck out. In this situation, you must score. The A's didn't, and that's why they're five games under .500 with one of the most anemic offenses in the majors. The Tigers are reeling right now, and the A's let (another) game slip away. You guys know I harp on these little things, but these lost opportunities add up over the course of the season, and here and there you can get away with it. But not when it's a regular pattern. This organization has to start stressing fundamentals and run manufacturing more thoroughly from top to bottom. If they are going to insist on a shoestring budget (more on that later), you have to stress the little things. Teachers cost less than players: hire some good teachers for once, Billy!

I like Travis Buck a lot. I think he needs to stick. Stewart is fine for the most part; Swisher in CF makes the most sense right now, and you have a decent OF. Not great, but passable. Infield? The A's need a new 3B, but with Murphy at SS, Ellis at 2B and Johnson at 1B, you're doing another passable job. Only time will tell if you need a new catcher for 2008. But again, passable isn't going to cut it when you only have 40% of a rotation (if that) and decimated bullpen. The A's need more than they have in the organization right now. I am sick of the A's low-payroll mantra. It's lame, and it hasn't won a World Series. The organization has owners with deep pockets, and there's just no more room for this "wear our poverty like a badge of honor" crap. I hate to say it again, but the A's had home field advantage in the ALCS last year and have gone in full reverse since. Losing Zito was no big deal; he wasn't going to help this team any more than Joe Kennedy. His effort with the Giants proves that. Losing Thomas was a big deal; relying on the laughable Kendall/Kotsay/Crosby trio was a mistake; signing Piazza didn't work out so well. Injuries have taken their toll, for sure, but this team is going backwards. The owners have to start spending money; no, money doesn't guarantee anything, but smart spending can help the A's. No spending at all isn't going to help them. The A's don't need to become the Yankees or the Angels, but they can step up a bracket in the salary tiers and re-build this team for 2008. Sign a stud hitter; sign a stud pitcher. Then fill in the gaps with the usual conservative small-spending options. But this is no way to keep/build a fan base for a move into a new stadium. Losing doesn't fill seats in a new stadium. Ask the Tigers; it took them six seasons to figure that one out.

Hey, I love being wrong ... Go A's!

McP — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:19:44 -0000

The A's are putting up a fight in Seattle, after falling behind 6-0 early.

It's now 7-5, Mariners, and the A's have the bases loaded with one out. One of their few good hitters is at the plate. This could be HUGE for the A's psyche ... Come on, Swisher!

This is what I like to see: fire. Something that says "We still want to win," whether in the form of a great effort from a middle reliever or with some clutch hitting by some veterans.

Fire. That's all I ask, Mr. Beane. Ship out the guys who have no fire; bring back the Eric Byrnes-types who drive a team to its best results. Even with minimal talent, the A's can still play above their heads. Maybe it is time for Dan Johnson to go; maybe it is time for some rookies to play more.

Just never quit, A's.

Don't.

Ever.

Quit.

I have no problem with being wrong; I just want to see some effort.

[As I type this, Swisher comes through with a bases-clearing double. See? My little clubhouse speech worked ...]

Why is Beane sitting still?

McP — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:10:26 -0000

I have to trust he knows what he's doing, but ...

Down 6-0 already, the A's once again are demonstrating they have no consistent ability to be on the field with other major-league teams. It's time to shake things up: the playoffs aren't going to happen in 2007. The veterans on this team are too comfortable, and they're not leading. I would rather see rookies hustle and lose than this roster of stiffs lolly-gag through another listless loss.

2007 is over, Mr. Beane. Shake up your roster; ship out whatever commodities other teams think you have and start playing for 2008. Why are you waiting? You're smarter than this. And fans should expect more from you as well, rather than lauding you for past actions. After all, you're only as good as your last game, and this version of the A's reflects poorly on you, Billy.

[P.S. -- I know I wrote this before, but the primary reason the A's made the playoffs last year was their abnormal record against Seattle. Looks like THAT one reversed itself pretty easily ...]

Worst 5-through-9 hitting order in the major this year?

McP — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:25:52 -0000

Probably tonight's A's lineup: Ellis, Kotsay, Scutaro, Crosby, Suzuki.

Seriously, Geren just doesn't get it, does he? Neither does Beane for that matter. Mark Ellis should never be hitting fifth in a major league lineup. Kotsay and Crosby shouldn't be in a major league lineup right now.

There is a reason this team is 47-52, and it's all about franchise management. Beane is letting us down; Wolff is letting us down. it's not about blind loyalty here; it's about expecting the ownership and the general manager to put a competitive team on the field, injuries or not. And this isn't it.

If I was Kelvim Escobar, I'd be laughing at this lineup. Maybe that's why he let the first three guys get hits, eh? :)

GO A'S!

Teixeira

McP — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:56:26 -0000

Why shouldn't the A's try to acquire him?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/s...

I am not talking about some three-way where they acquire him and them ship him to New York. They really should make a run at signing/acquiring a big-time hitter for this franchise, someone to carry them into the new ballpark. Teixeira isn't a bad player to consider: provided the A's could sign him to a long-term deal, he's the kind of guy you really can build a line-up around.

When was the last time the A's had that kind of hitter? 2001? Since Giambi left, they just haven't had a serious monster in the line-up that teams need to design a pitching strategy around. Thomas finished 2006 on that kind of roll; Tejada had it going in 2002. But other than that, there just isn't a hitter in the Oakland line-up that anyone in this league fears.

Besides, if the Giants are in pursuit, the A's should be. Not because they need to compete, but because if the sad-sack Giants can acquire Teixeira, there's no excuse for the A's not trying to do it as well.

Yay on the win -- change the lineup, though!

McP — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 23:10:10 -0000

A shutout was a good way to end all things bad. Kudos to DiNardo for stepping up today. But the offense still needs a lot of work ...

The lineup today:

T. Buck rf 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 .273
S. Stewart lf 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 .305
J. Cust dh 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .258
N. Swisher 1b 3 2 1 0 1 0 3 .256
M. Ellis 2b 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 .265
M. Kotsay cf 4 1 0 1 0 1 2 .219
M. Scutaro 3b 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 .244
B. Crosby ss 2 1 1 2 2 1 0 .225
K. Suzuki c 4 0 0 0 0 2 5 .200

There’s no way Mark Ellis should ever be hitting fifth in a MLB line-up; nor should Kotsay be hitting sixth. They’re terrible hitters: Ellis has a .721 OPS right now, and Kotsay’s number is .589 – while Ellis’ number is acceptable for a second baseman, it is not acceptable for a #5 hitter. And Kotsay shouldn’t even be allowed on the field with a bat that disgraceful.

The first four spots above are alright; the fifth and sixth are not. Scutaro’s .664 OPS hitting 7th is no help, and Crosby? With an OPS at .601, the A’s basically have three hitters in the bottom half of their order who have no business being in the major leagues. There has to be someone better to fill those three positions: third base, shortstop and centerfield. Seriously, this isn’t Double-AA baseball.

Considering they just got rid of a guy with a .542 OPS (Kendall), can you tell me exactly what the A’s are thinking fielding this joke of a lineup? No wonder they haven’t scored any friggin’ runs!

I think Suzuki will be fine at C for now: he has to get playing time somehow for the club to assess his value/potential. Ellis really should be hitting eighth or ninth, depending on Suzuki; if he’s hitting fifth, it’s a statement about the rest of the team’s lack of talent – and that needs to be addressed ASAP by management. This isn’t 1979, after all.

Johnson should be playing first base: his .797 OPS is miles above Kotsay’s, and Swisher can play centerfield. It’s not ideal, but Buck and Stewart need to stay in the lineup. In this season of hell, they’re as good as it gets in the outfield right now. Johnson is equal against lefties and righties this year: no need for a platoon when his OPS one way is .798 and the other way .794 – he needs to be in the lineup EVERY DAY instead of Kotsay.

I realize Scutaro was subbing for Chavez, and with his glove, Chavez is fine with his .764 OPS – this is who he is. We should forget 2001 ever happened and accept the fact he’s a mediocre hitter with a great glove. So getting Kotsay and Scutaro out of the lineup is a start; that just leaves Crosby.

Maybe Scutaro should be starting over Crosby, or they should split time. They’re both equally crappy against lefties (which makes NO sense, but should be understood as a key element in their overall lack-of-talent as right-handed hitters), so you can’t platoon them logically. Go with the hot hand? Find someone else to play shortstop? Trade for A-Rod?

The way I see it, the lineup should be different:

Buck RF – doing fine at the top
Stewart LF – perfect #2
Swisher CF – he’s the best three-hole guy
Cust DH – he’s the best clean-up option
Johnson 1B – Has to be the everyday first baseman
Suzuki C – between these two hitters, he’ll see better pitches.
Chavez 3B – at least he can still draw a walk and hit the occasional HR
Someone SS – this is where I believe the worst hitter should go
Ellis 2B – he’s decent enough to perhaps provide a bottom of the order spark

Even with Crosby/Scutaro hitting 8th, this team has to be better than what they’ve been showing. There is talent there; it just needs to be utilized more effectively. And if there’s any way to get a NEW shortstop, it’s time.

Is Keith Ginter still around? Can he play shortstop?