SB Nation User Blog: athleticsBB4life

Tony D returns to the Sacramento River Cats

athleticsBB4life — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:41:13 -0000

With all the Giambi talk, this got lost in the shuffle.

DeFrancesco was named manager of the River Cats for the second time in his career.

Guided the River Cats to a 413-307 (.574) record, four PCL Southern Division Titles (2003-05; 07), three PCL titles (2003-04; 07) and a Triple-A Championship (2007) in his five seasons as manager.

Named Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year and The Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year in 2003 after guiding Sacramento to a 92-52 mark.

Compiled a 935-831 (.529) record in 14 seasons as a Minor League manager.

Began his career with the A's Arizona Rookie League team (1994) and also had stops at Single-A Southern Oregon (1995-96), Single-A Visalia (1997-98) and Double-A Midland (1999-2002).

via media.scout.com

Giambi Returns to A's: Open Thread

athleticsBB4life — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:57:43 -0000

Today's News:

Press Conference Info:

It's official, Giambi signed for a year and an option, and press conference at 2 p.m. Infielder Joe Dillon has been designated for assignment to make room for Giambi on the 40-man roster.

Official Press Release

OAKLAND -- Jason Giambi, the five-time American League All-Star and 2000 AL Most Valuable Player who rose to stardom during his seven seasons (1995-2001) with the Oakland Athletics, has reached an agreement to return for a second stint with the club, A's vice president and general manager Billy Beane announced today. Terms of the agreement include a one-year contract for the 2009 season, plus a club option for 2010. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A's designated Joe Dillon for assignment.

Yesterday's News:

NY Post Update:

Giambi has agreed to a one-year deal with the Athletics worth $4.5 million. Oakland has a team option for 2010 at $5 million with a $1 million buyout.
The deal is pending a physical that will take place tomorrow.

Rosenthal Confirms Report:

Jason Giambi is going back to Oakland.

The A's have reached preliminary agreement with Giambi on a one-year contract with a club option for 2010, according to major-league sources.

The deal, the possibility of which was first reported by ESPN.com, is pending a physical.

"They're at the finish line," one source said.

Olney Reports:

The deal would pay Giambi, who started his major league career in Oakland, $4 million in 2009 with a $6.5 million base salary for the option year in 2010. The second year would also provide for a $1.25 million buyout.

Monday's News:

MLBTR Link:

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the A's have made significant progress in their talks with Jason Giambi. He says a deal appears imminent. Urban heard today that the A's could sign Giambi this week, possibly for one year with an option.

via weblogs.newsday.com

Olney Link:

Tampa Bay's other primary free-agent target, Jason Giambi, now is expected to rejoin the Oakland Athletics. The A's have made major progress in their negotiations with the first baseman, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reports.

Urban Article:

An industry source told MLB.com on Monday afternoon that Oakland could sign Giambi this week, likely to a one-year deal with a possible second-year option.

The reported terms of Burrell's deal -- two years at $8 million per season -- also seem to favor the A's.

Angels sign Brian Fuentes to replace K-Rod

athleticsBB4life — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:59:55 -0000

ESPN Link

The Angels and left-hander Brian Fuentes agreed to a two-year, $17.5 million contract. The contract includes a club option for the 2011 season.

Official Release

Fuentes, 33, served as the Colorado Rockies' closer in 2008 and posted a 1-5 record, 30 saves and 2.73 ERA (62.2 IP - 19 ER) in 67 games last season. He allowed 47 hits (3 HR), walked 22 and struck out 82 batters. Fuentes tied for sixth among all National League relievers in saves (30 of 34 opp.) and ranked 13th in ERA in 2008. He is the only pitcher in Colorado history to record multiple 30-save seasons (3, 2005-06-08) and four 20-plus save seasons (2005-08). Fuentes ended the season converting 17 straight save opportunities (dating back to July 3) for the second longest active streak in the majors in 2008 (Brad Lidge's 41-save streak was longer).

A's hire replacements for Wakamatsu & Van Burkleo

athleticsBB4life — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:06:31 -0000

Official Release

Waller = Bench Coach; Steverson = 1B Coach; and Skaalen = Hitting Coach.

The Oakland A's named Jim Skaalen as hitting coach and Todd Steverson as first base coach today. The club also announced that Tye Waller will move from first base coach to bench coach on manager Bob Geren's coaching staff for the 2009 season.

via cache.daylife.com

Skaalen Article

via media.scout.com

Steverson

Skaalen joins the A's after spending the last two seasons as the Milwaukee Brewers' hitting coach.
Steverson has spent the last four seasons managing in the A's minor league system, most recently at Sacramento where he guided the River Cats to their second consecutive Triple-A and Pacific Coast League championships in 2008.

RULE 5: A's Select Ben Copeland

athleticsBB4life — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:31:55 -0000

At today's Rule 5 draft, the Oakland A's selected OF Ben Copeland from the San Francisco Giants with the 10th pick.

Career Stats

MLB.com article on Copeland from 2005

"Ben is a good defensive center fielder with speed," said Tidrow. "He's an offensive left-handed batter with pop and definitely a base-stealing threat."

According to baseballamerica.com, In the AAA phase, the A's selected Yusuf Carter (OF) from the CUBS and Josue Selenes (RHP) from the Yankees.

Ben Copeland

via www.sjgiants.com

Yusuf Carter, nephew of Joe Carter

via www.minorleaguebaseball.com

Poll

Good Pick for the A's

Yes

86 votes

No

113 votes

199 votes | Poll has closed

DLD (11/24/08): Report - Furcal to sign with A's

athleticsBB4life — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:48:39 -0000

It looks like the A's might get their man. A healthy Furcal would have a significant impact on the A's offense. Combined with Holliday, this is shaping up to be a great winter for our beloved Athletics. GET IT DONE BB!

According to the LA Times:

The free agent shortstop told El Caribe that he would return from his native Dominican Republic to the United States on Monday to sign a contract –- and judging by what he said, it sounds like he could be joining the Oakland Athletics.

Furcal revealed that he has been offered a four-year, $48-million contract by the A’s that includes incentives that could push its value to more than $50 million.
Furcal said he has also received a substantial offer from the New York Mets, who want him as a second baseman. "The offers made by the Athletics and the Mets of New York are tempting, but we’ll make a decision after I meet with my lawyer because there are various factors that we have to evaluate," he said. "But my general feeling is that every offer that’s been made is important, which is why we want to make a decision that’s well thought out."

Alejo = Giambi???

athleticsBB4life — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 02:39:57 -0000

The Oakland A's today named Bob Alejo as Director of Strength and Conditioning.

Alejo returns to Oakland, where he served as Strength and Conditioning Coach from 1993 to 2001.

Giambi hired Alejo away from the A's when he signed his long-term deal with the Yankees

BTW...Yankess decline Giambi's option

When Giambi signed with the Yankees after the '01 season, he hired Alejo away from Oakland to serve as his personal trainer. Giambi admitted to investigators in the Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs that he used steroids, but Alejo was never implicated in the case, and he's never been mentioned in connection with steroids. The addition of Alejo surely will lead to speculation that the A's are interested in bringing back Giambi. Oakland's brass has a policy against publicly discussing free-agent pursuits. The Yankees announced Tuesday that they will not pick up Giambi's option for 2009.

Should the A's have Interest in Mulder?

athleticsBB4life — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:16:39 -0000

Cards are done with Mulder

After two seasons lost to a persistent and perplexing shoulder injury, Mark Mulder and his representative received notification last week that the Cardinals will not exercise the $11-million option on the lefty’s contract.
Visits with nearly a half dozen specialists this past season assured the lefty that there was nothing structurally wrong with his shoulder.
"I feel healthy," Mulder told The Post-Dispatch in August. "But for what I do for a living, I’m not."

We've had a lot of discussion lately on AN about bringing back former Athletics' 1B Jason Giambi. Giambi is guy who could possibly be a good fit for an up and coming team, with salary demands that should be reasonable. Why would he want to come back? Oakland is a known quantity.

So, that leads us to Giambi's former team mate, one third of the big-three, Mark Mulder. Would it be worth it for the A's to offer him a one year deal with an option to see if there is anything left in the tank? Someone to mentor the young lefties the A's have collected.

Would Mulder be interested in returning to the friendly confines of the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum?

I think we can all agree that his old #20 will be available!

via i.a.cnn.net

Poll

Interested in Mulder returning to the Green N' Gold?

Yes

139 votes

No

144 votes

283 votes | Poll has closed

A's retain Van Burkleo; reassign DeFranceso; dismiss Cockrell

athleticsBB4life — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:40:00 -0000

A's decide to bring back hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo

A's reassign Tony DeFrancesco and decline to renew Clarence Cockrell as strength and conditioning coach

Official Release

OAKLAND -- The Oakland Athletics announced two baseball staff changes today. First Base Coach Tony DeFrancesco has been reassigned in the A's Minor League system, while the team will not renew the contract of Strength and Conditioning Coach Clarence Cockrell.
Joining Bob Geren's Major League coaching staff this past season, DeFrancesco has served 15 years with the Oakland organization. Prior to 2008, he spent 14 years managing in the A's Minor League system, including five seasons as manager of the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats from 2003-07.
Cockrell recently completed his seventh season as the Athletics' strength and conditioning coach. He arrived in Oakland in 2002 after spending two years as the Detroit Tigers' Minor League strength and conditioning coordinator.

Two days after first-base coach Tony DeFrancesco was reassigned to an unspecified Minor League post, hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo told MLB.com that he had been asked back for a third season with Oakland.
The 2008 A's finished last in the American League in runs scored (646), batting average (.242), slugging percentage (.369) and extra-base hits (418) and tied for last in on-base percentage (.318).

Oakland prospect who was the biggest disappointment

athleticsBB4life — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:33:37 -0000

After watching Crosby fail miserably last night in multiple at-bats, I mentioned in last night's game thread that in my 20+ years as an A's fan, Crosby, for me, has been the biggest disappointment. I don't know if it is related to keeping Chavez insead of Miggy because Crosby was the next great A's player or if I got caught-up in all the Gammon's MVP talk. Regardless, I had high hopes and this season clinched the fact that Crosby hasn't lived up to his potential and probably never will, well at least not in an A's uniform.

Some other Oakland prospects who have been busts over the past 20 years include: Ariel Prieto; Todd Van Poppel; Jose Ortiz; Brent Gates; Steve Karsay; Ernie Young; Jose Herrera; John Wasdin; Willie Adams; Adam Piatt; Carlos Pena; and Dan Johnson.

Who's been the biggest bust for you AN? Rules: 1) had to have played at least 1 game for the A's; and 2) Oakland players only (no KC or Philadelphia).

Poll

Biggest A's Prospect Disappointment

Van Poppel

179 votes

Crosby

80 votes

Prieto

28 votes

Karsay

8 votes

Ortiz

1 votes

Piatt

32 votes

DJ

18 votes

Other

19 votes

365 votes | Poll has closed