SB Nation Blog: OaklandSi

Buck optioned to Sacramento

OaklandSi — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:45:09 -0000

I just heard Geren on the pregame show announcing that Buck was taken off the DL, but optioned to Sacramento...not really a surprise. They want him to get into a real hitting groove before bringing him back, according to Geren. Also, Calero is on a rehab assignment in Sacramento. this doesn't show up yet on the transactions...but I was forced to put in a URL in order to publish this fanshot.

ANer on Marty Lurie's show

OaklandSi — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:33:03 -0000

Our very own Marquez is being interviewed by Martie Lurie right now (Saturday April 12 2:30 pm PDT) about his new book "Generation A's Fans: a Family's Love Affair with one of Baseball's Best Teams (I think that's the subtitle)". How cool is that? Once today's show is put on the web you'll be able to listen to the interview. update: after publishing this I saw that Marquez announced it in a fanshot...so it must've been taped since I'm listening to it right now on the radio. To hear the interview: the best way to hear it is to go to Marty Lurie's website and look for his "right off the bat" show on Saturday April 12. Click on his interview with Donald Marquez.

who will be the A's centerfielder?

OaklandSi — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 16:06:46 -0000

I was reading Slusser's latest post when close to the bottom I noticed these tidbits (in the blockquote) about the centerfielder position:

Crisp back on radar? Boston has considered moving center fielder Coco Crisp since the end of last season, and the A's have been linked to Crisp several times. Now, the teams are believed to be discussing Crisp again.

If the Red Sox were to ask for any of the A's top prospects, Oakland would want someone like young center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury rather than Crisp.

Chris Denorfia, the frontrunner for the A's center field spot, is batting .138 this spring, and Ryan Sweeney another possibility, is batting .200 and might be best suited to a corner spot. Denorfia, who is from New England, might even be a Boston target.

Briefly: A's manager Bob Geren said that outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is unlikely to play in the next week because of a right hamstring strain. That puts Gonzalez's status for the Japan trip in doubt, although Geren said nothing has been decided. Gonzalez, obtained in the Haren deal, had an outside shot at a roster spot, but was considered a better bet to open the season at Triple-A Sacramento, and this injury might clinch that

DLD 1-02-08: the new year's first, my first too!

OaklandSi — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:12:56 -0000

I figured, what better time to do my first DLD? Mine will be all A's. (Of course, feel free to dump on anything, as I'm sure you will!)

First off: Mychael Urban writes that the A's could surprise in 2008. Sure....there are all kinds of surprises. Anyway, I'm a little surprised he didn't pencil in Eveland or Meyer for the starting rotation, since both are out of options. Also he put Gaudin as #2 in the rotation (way too optimistic, I really doubt he'll be ready for at least the first month of the season following hip and foot surgery).

Beane leaning toward rebuilding?

OaklandSi — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 07:06:56 -0000

As Blez and Nico pointed out in front page posts this week, Beane seemed to be leaning toward making a run at contending in 2008, which would mean keeping Haren (and perhaps Blanton), plus adding extra players for the short term ("Voldemort"). Several sportwriters also had supported this latest turn (Marty Lurie's blog today had an entry to this effect.)

Elias rankings are out: Types A and B players

OaklandSi — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:44:16 -0000

The Elias rankings are out for major league players. They are used to determine whether a player is considered "A" or "B". While most players listed are not free agents right now, this of course has been used to determine what kind of draft compensation a team can expect if they lose a player to free agency.

Players' performance over the past two seasons are used to rank them. I'm sure there will be some questions about the rankings, but it's certainly interesting.

AL rankings are here

NL rankings are here

As far as our Oakland Athletics go, only Swish is rated "A" among outfielders, first basemen, and DH's. None are "type A" for 2B, SS or 3B...Ellis is a "B"...Haren and Blanton are "A" starters, while Street and Embree are "A" relievers. Street is considered the third best reliever in the AL, behind only JJ Putz and Joe Nathan.

A's fire three coaches

OaklandSi — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 01:06:48 -0000

who saw this one coming?

Brad Fischer, Rene Lachemann and Bob Schaefer have all been let go. Beane did say when he extended Geren's contract that he wanted Geren to have a chance to choose his own coaches...so the older ones (who weren't hired last year, except for Curt Young) got canned. Then again, Bob Schaeffer was also hired last year, but I think the hiring process was well underway before Geren was named manager.

Wonder if Geren had any input on hiring of the Two Tys last season?

Ticket(s) for Sunday: last A's game of 2007

OaklandSi — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 15:11:03 -0000

I have one ticket for sure -- possibly two -- available for the A's last game of 2007. The seat(s) are together in Section 226. They are season tickets and thus were $18 apiece. However, I'm willing to let one -- maybe both if you want two -- for a reasonable offer.

As far as getting the tickets, I will be at today's game so could arrange to meet you there. Alternatively, I live in Oakland so can meet somewhere mutually convenient.

If you're interested please respond in this diary.

Harden to get two starts

OaklandSi — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 01:24:51 -0000

Ken Korach just told Marty Lurie that the A's are planning to have Rich Harden make two starts this month. The first will be on the road, at Cleveland, while the second start is planned to be against the Angels during the closing weekend of the season -- at home, on Friday (fireworks night).

Just thought I'd post this for those of you who don't get to listen to Marty's show.

Cust was about to leave for Japan

OaklandSi — Mon, 21 May 2007 05:03:50 -0000

or perhaps leave baseball entirely, had the A's out of desperation not acquired him.

I just read Ostler's story about Jack Cust. Quite moving:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...

Certain phrases, such as 'seeing players who couldn't carry his bat' get MLB jobs, being "half asleep" during endless minor league games in front of 100 people, even going to his hotel room these days and "staring at the walls" until it was time for the next game, make it clear that he doesn't feel he's in a fairy tale now, just where he has deserved to be for some time.