SB Nation User Blog: ST

Padres start to gauge interest in Peavy

ST — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:15:13 -0000

Interesting that SD is already starting the bidding war on him. I've always like Peavy and think of him as a real front line #1 Ace. Considering that the Padres only want "at least two young pitchers in return, along with someone who can become the team's everyday center fielder sometime in the immediate to near future", which fits exactly the strength of the A's presently: depth of outfields and pitching. Would it make sense to deal for him and his salary (see below)? I wouldn't mind a deal of Eveland / Smith + Duke / Casillas + Mazarro / Gio + Sweeny / Cunningham for him. Play him until 2011/2012 (and when the newlook A's start maturing) then unload him when he gets really expensive for more picks or someone in trades. A front line rotation of:

- Peavy

- Gallagher

- Cahill

- Anderson

- Simmons / Mazarro

Espn: Padres start to gauge interest in Peavy

Peavy, 27, will make $8 million in 2009, $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011 and $17 million in 2012, and he has a 2013 option for $22 million, with a $4 million buyout.

Harden to skip next start....says no arm issues....

ST — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:28:53 -0000

I think that there has been a huge division in the A's fanbase on the Harden trade as many have blasted Beane for trading a seemingly healthy Harden. However, all is not golden in the land of flameouts:

Sep. 2 News: 9:37 AM

Harden, whose velocity has slipped a little, will have his next start skipped, however he insists that there is no problem with his arm, the Chicago Tribune reports.

This sort of "developement" on Harden is something that we A's fans are very familiar with: slipping velocity, denial of problems, then the inevitible DL trip. I am not here to say, I told you so.....but as many have said all along: this trade was advantageous to BOTH the Cub's and the A's. The Cubs get a very short term front end elite pitcher for the playoffs, while the A's continuing restocking their farm system. I still think Harden is a very special player...when healthy, and i hope the Cubs take special care of the glass cannon so he can step up during their WS run.

edit: found the original Chicago Tribune article but seems to indicate that this was planned, albeit skipping 2 starts was somewhat unexpected.

update: Rotoworld comments from Harden

"I’ve been feeling pretty good, but I guess I’ve had a little bit of discomfort you could call it. But nothing serious," he said. It's always serious when it comes to Harden. He'll go 11 days without pitching before attempting to return to the mound next week.

15 Day DL...here we come!

DLD 08/19/08 - Insomniac Edition

ST — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:15:29 -0000

Yes, it's 2am in the morning, thus necessitating a 08/19/08 DLD....well not really but oh well....so some news from around A's land:

Yes the A's won yesterday! However, Duke got hurt but SuSlu reports that it might just be inflammation continuing from previous start (why am i not surprised he was hurt earlier?). Duke is supposed to take a trip to see an A's doctor, which means he's going on the 60-day DL soon. This in turn prompts our QOTM nominee from "the Babbler" :

The A's don't need to build a new ball park, they need to build a hospital.

With the win, Oakland is in #11 position for the 2009 MLB Draft, .5 games out from Cleveland at #10 and 13.5 games back on the Nats for #1 position (see we're not that pitiful....yet).

Oakland	57	67	.460	19.5	34-33	23-34	491	498	-7	Won 1	4-6	0.1	0.1	0.1
Cleveland	56	67	.455	20	33-29	23-38	577	572	+5	Won 1	7-3	0.1	0.1	0.1
Colorado	57	69	.452	20.5	34-29	23-40	591	654	-63	Won 3	5-5	0.7	0.1	0.7
Atlanta	56	69	.448	21	34-31	22-38	566	566	0	Lost 2	3-7	0.2	0.1	0.2
Pittsburgh	56	69	.448	21	34-31	22-38	583	671	-88	Won 1	3-7	0.0	0.1	0.1
Kansas City	55	69	.444	21.5	28-34	27-35	510	619	-109	Lost 2	2-8	0.1	0.1	0.1
Cincinnati	55	70	.440	22	32-33	23-37	533	634	-101	Won 1	3-7	0.0	0.0	0.0
San Francisco	53	71	.427	23.5	24-36	29-35	475	579	-104	Won 2	5-5	0.1	0.0	0.1
San Diego	48	76	.387	28.5	27-38	21-38	474	579	-105	Lost 1	4-6	0.1	0.0	0.1
Seattle	46	78	.371	30.5	24-38	22-40	521	623	-102	Lost 4	2-8	0.0	0.0	0.0
Washington	44	81	.352	33	23-39	21-42	462	624	-162	Lost 10	0-10	0.0	0.0	0.0

In other A's news, St. Paul native Jack Banaharan had Minnesota fans equal to ~500X his batting average show up at the game.

In a sign of the evolution of Moneyball, the A's have found a new market inefficiency hence on Sept. 6, they decided they would rather lose 2X in one day then one time over 2 days (Take that Theo E.).

The A's also expressed their confidence in Daric Louganis aka Staplehead. At only 23 years of age, Beane likes Daric's experience which will set him up to eventually take over Larry Davis' fanny pack.

From the A's / Twins game, caption this:

Dump away while i try to figure out how to get to sleep with a Euro con-call in 4 hours =(

"This is NOT rebuilding. Billy Beane reloaded."

ST — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:09:03 -0000

With our beloved A's doing well now, I want to turn back the clock on a prediction someone made earlier during the turbulent trying times of the offseason (and that I've made as my signature since then): "This is NOT rebuilding. Billy Beane reloaded."

There is a detailed analysis of the Dan Haren trade over at the subscriber-driven Baseball Prospectus, and for Angel fans, it is not a pretty picture.

In short, don't pop the division crown corks any time too soon, especially you pre-2009-11 AL West crown revelers.

The gist of the article is that the 6 prospects that the A's received from Arizona are SO good, that Fremont's pre-trade #11 prospect is now it's #16 prospect - and BP doesn't rate players over 25 as prospects, thus eliminating former-D-Back minor league pitcher Dana Eveland from it's consideration.

The analysis adds four of the players acquired in the Haren trade as firmly entrenched in the Joakland Top Ten prospects. Many pundits have given Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez a Carlos Beltran ceiling, and author Kevin Goldstein (the John Sickels of subscriber shakedown baseball websites) slots him as the #2 prospect for the She-Wolffs, implying that there is more than just an outside chance that Gonzalez will be the opening day centerfielder under Mount Davis. He calls lefty Brett Anderson the best teenage pitching prospect in baseball. Position players Chris Carter and Aaron Cunningham are #5 and #7 prospects respectively in Goldstein's very educated guesstimation.

This is NOT rebuilding. Billy Beane reloaded.

Before you point out all of the trouble facing Tarp Town, what with its proclivity for injuries and/or Kotsay/Krosby deadweight, consider that if Billy Beane is within 5 games of first place in July, he can take on two months of payroll for just about any star rental, and could trade a host of these glamorous prospects for serious pennant race mojo.

The Dan Haren trade should give Angel fans the queasy tension that early season games against the Athletics are of double import - Billy Beane's team cannot be allowed to sniff first place in midsummer. Complicating matters even more is the pathetic state of the Mariners and Rangers. Talk about the Green and Gold cakewalk - we all know that had the Mariners simply played .500 ball against Choakland in 2006 that the division crown would have comfortably rested in L.A. of Anaheim. With these two gelded inbred franchises being allowed on the field, there is no end to what the Connie Mack Attack can achieve in the A.L. West standings in 2008.

In other words, pop that bottle on New Year's Eve for the new year, not October.

Who "woulda!" predicted that this was brought to you by the the ringleader of the Huntington Beach Rat Lovers of Anaheim, Rev of Halo's Heaven! See http://www.halosheaven.com/2007/12/16/161215/74

Whatever happens in the months ahead, our overachieving A's are doing what no one expected and hopefully this is the dawn of very good things to come! :)

哎哟 - 对不起，我不知道英文 :(

Free A's ticket to tonight's game 9/18 (Field Level)

ST — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:36:26 -0000

Unfortunately i won't be able to make it out tonight and neither will my friends, so I have one free Field Level ticket for any fans out there. It is a field level ticket and has a complimentary free parking as well. The only catch is that you have to pick it up from my office near San Jose Airport.

Email stranx44@yahoo.com if you're intersted.

(diary to be named later)

ST — Tue, 22 May 2007 00:26:10 -0000

With the recent slew of trades left and right by the A's for (insert player / cash to be determined later), I was curious of the league mandates for such strange ambiguous stipulations in a trade. I mean, typically you have your straight player x for player y trade. But in scenarios where it is (insert player / cash to be determined later), how is it dertemined that Jack Cust is worth only cash considerations, and not say a Daric Barton? Or how is Denforia (who hasn't played one bit), worth someone like McBeth, a wonder prospect in the minors. Does MLB / MLBPA have any stipulations as to who/what amount/etc. has to be settled by what date? Just curious how it works out.

Site Proposal: Pacific Commons, Fremont CA

ST — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 23:39:50 -0000

I was about shopping last night and ventured to the new Pacific Commons retail site constructed at the Automall Parkway off of I880. The site presently houses retail and of course the automall car dealership section, but there is a huge empty lot adjacent by that is vacant. Further research into this site reveils the following:

http://acerider.org/maps/pacific_commons/Catellus_Pacific_Commons_Site_Plan.GIF

It looks as if it is going to be zoned for a corporate campus, but with lots of available space available throughout the valley because of the economy, this might be a stretch.

Further thought on this turned today when I read upon Blez's interview with Lew Wolff who mentioned:

Blez: "You mentioned Fremont. Is that a realistic option right now?"

Wolff: "We're hoping it is. They have sent out welcoming signals. If we can't stay in Oakland, we want to stay in Alameda County and if we're going to stay in Alameda County, that area would be very good for us. It's close to our existing fan base, it has BART and it's close to San Jose as well as the freeways."

This would be a great place IF the stagnant negotiations with the Oakland JPA goes nil. Although it doesn't have readily accessible BART port at the present, it can be extended with the corporate help of one of Fremont's largest employer: NUMMI (Toyota and GM) who are just right across the freeway. Now for those familiar with this area, it has heavy congested during traffic hours, though fortunately it is in the midst of a badly-needed widening effort.

Fremont would appease Lewis' desire for the south bay interest, but at the same time satisfy the Contra Costa / Alameda baseball "territorial" rights he has. The Pacific common site has the commercial aspect he is acquainted with as a developer, and opportune transportation system in place.

Poll

Where should Lew Wolff move the A's to?

Buy out the Bellagio and incorporate a new stadium with the Fountains in the backdrop and a wedding with every HR!

7 votes

Explore Portland and / or Sacramento and make a real AAAA team competing against both MLB and AAA!

7 votes

Check out Fremont, as the compromise between all of the above!

62 votes

Keep 1 yr options open indefintely and beat his head with the Oakland JPA

11 votes

Keep bribing his college buddy Selig and get the territorial, celestial, and subterranial ;) rights to San Jose

25 votes

112 votes | Poll has closed

AN Demographics - where are you from

ST — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 23:24:06 -0000

I know the geographical composition of AN is tremendous varying from local Bay Area to national visitors. I wanted do a poll though of the demographics of this site, especially those that are from Oakland/Alameda themselves. I know this is not an accurate cross section of the A's fanbase, but I think it's suffice to say, other than the season ticket holders, AN does represent one of the more vocal and exuberant fans that follow the A's. So let's see you vote!

Poll

Where are you from AN?

South Bay (San Jose, Sunnyvale, etc.)

23 votes

East Bay (Hayward, Fremont, etc., but excluding Oakland / Alameda)

63 votes

Oakland / Alameda proper (not county)

40 votes

Sacramento region

20 votes

California (other than the above)

24 votes

Western United States region

23 votes

United States (other than Western region)

56 votes

Outside U.S.

13 votes

North Bay (Peteluma, Santa Rosa, etc.)

15 votes

S.F. Peninsula area (South City, Redwood City, S.F., etc.)

28 votes

305 votes | Poll has closed

Mike Piazza vs. Frank Thomas

ST — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 18:32:43 -0000

I just saw in a recent column Mike Piazza's desire to play both on 1) on a California team and 2) the American League (see http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2305550).

While I know AN in general has been gaga over Frank Thomas, I am still a bit weary about his track record with recent injuries and the log jams it will introduce in terms of OF / 1B / DH. I would like to discuss the merits of signing Mike Piazza instead, which seems less risky.

Here are the stat break downs:

Mike Piazza:

SPLIT G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG
Season 113 398 41 100 23 0 19 62 0 .251 .326 .452
Career 1703 6203 976 1929 308 6 397 1223 17 .311 .382 .555

Frank Thomas:

SPLIT G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG
Season 34 105 19 23 3 0 12 26 0 .219 .315 .590
Career 1959 6956 1327 2136 447 11 448 1465 32 .307 .427 .568

It is true that FT's OBPS is dramatically higher, but we aren't losing too much from a power standpoint (our main reason for getting players of these caliber in the first place). Secondarily, Mike can be the 3rd catcher on our roster so Macha can have more choices in terms of substitutions / lineup with Kendall and Melhouse.

Your thoughts?

Uh oh: Milton and Monique Bradley file for divorce

ST — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 21:26:43 -0000

Sorry if this is old news, but:

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/baseball/mlb/oakland_athletics/13617094.htm

Having gone through seperation myself, I hope for the best for Milton going into the new season. It could be a really tumultuous season if he isn't strong psychologically (big ? here!) and doesn't have a good supporting cast of family and friends.

On the other hand, baseball may be the outlet he needs to take his mind off of personal matters. Let's just hope it's in a productive instead of destructive manner. Personally, I made work my priority afterwards and it helped somewhat, but for the most part I didn't care much about business.

Although AN, Moneyball, and the A's generally are about objectivity with quantifiable stats, there are also emotional and subjective things to keep in mind with the mental aspect of the game. Keep your head up Milton!


Sep. 2	News: 9:37 AM Harden, whose velocity has slipped a little, will have his next start skipped, however he insists that there is no problem with his arm, the Chicago Tribune reports.