SB Nation User Blog: brenarlo

DLD 1/8/09

brenarlo — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:03:41 -0000

I was just going to post about Heyman's report that the A's are interested in Orlanda Cabrera but didn't think it was enough. So why not have a dump?!?!

http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/hot_stove/posts/38941

If Cabrera can be signed for 2 years and $15-18 million I think I'd be on board. From the discussion already held on AN it seems as though he'd be a marginal upgrade over Crosby, but if the A's plan on contending then any upgrade is welcome... especially if it's at a position where there's no young long-term solution.

Rosterbation: Can't hit lefties

brenarlo — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:23:37 -0000

Assuming Giambi is signed, the lineup is pretty well set in terms of positions. It's not necessarily set in terms of batting order. The glaring problem I see with most batting order scenarios is the fact that there are too many lefties. Perhaps it's not that there are too many lefties; rather, there are too many hitters who can't hit left-handed pitching.

Here is my projected lineup with their last year's OPS against lefties:

1) Buck LH (.546) - RF

2) Ellis RH (.535) - 2B

3) Giambi LH (.842) - 1B

4) Holliday RH (.896) - LF

5) Cust LH (.822) - DH

6) Chavez LH (.749) - 3B (2005)

7) Suzuki RH (.652) - C

8) Sweeney LH (.517) - CF

9) Crosby RH (.641) - SS

There were 3 hitters that had an OPS of over .800. Two of them hit left-handed strangely enough. What's troubling is that 1/3 of the lineup had an OPS un .600 against LHPs.

I'm not sure how many lefties the A's face per year, but it's safe to say they'll see their fair share in the late innings of games.

The weakest hitters against lefties in this lineup also play positions with no immediate "better" option. Ellis has to play 2B. Suzuki has to catch. Sweeney or Buck have to play CF.

How do we solve this dilema. Are their any low cost FAs available that can hit lefties we could get to bring in off the bench?

How old are you?

brenarlo — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:29:26 -0000

I've been an AN frequent for several years now. I love the website. I live in Bismarck, ND, stuck in the middle of thousands of Twins fans. There just aren't a lot of A's fans to talk baseball with. That's why AN appeals to me so much because not only does everyone here genuinely like the A's, but the discussion that take place a lot of the time are above a 3rd grade level.

As I become more and more familiar with everyone's views I have begun to "like" certain users more than others. That could be because they're thoughts are more in line with mine or because they're articulate. There are a lot of other reasons too.

It dawned on me this morning. I don't know what the age is of any of the users. Obviously, some people remember taking their kids to the 1989 World Series, so we get an idea of how old they are... but by and large I don't know anyone's age.

Who knows... maybe I'll be blown away that the users I trust most on AN are 14 years old. Maybe they're 55. I don't know....

With that being said... let's have an age poll.

How old are you?

I'm 26 by the way.

Poll

How old are you?

10-18

41 votes

19-25

123 votes

26-32

121 votes

33-40

85 votes

41-50

47 votes

50+

28 votes

445 votes | Poll has closed

DLD: Who has a case of the F-its?!?

brenarlo — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:02:12 -0000

I DO!!!

I just have a couple links to share today.

First, Buster Olney has an article up today about how more teams are turning towards sabermetrics. It looks like that Billy Beane was on to something...

Jack Zduriencik, the Mariners' new GM, has formed what he referred to on Thursday as his research department, led by Tony Blengino, who followed Zduriencik from Milwaukee to Seattle.

Pat Gillick used statistics as one tool, one part of the evaluation of players, while maintaining a strong belief in the core value of having a staff of scouts adept at seeing strengths and weaknesses in players, regardless of their numbers, and he never formally embraced the use of sabermetrics the way the Red Sox have. But Ruben Amaro Jr., who replaced Gillick as the Phillies' GM after the World Series, said on Thursday evening that he is thinking about hiring someone for statistical analysis, on the Phillies' players and on opposing players.

Also, according to the San Fran Chron, Randy Johnson WANTS to play for Oakland.

Lastly, this article was written by Rob Neyer yesterday. He thinks that even with Holiday, Furcal, and Randy Johnson, the A's pitching staff won't be good enough for them to "for sure" contenders; instead he mentions them as possible contenders.

That is all.

DLD: Johnson targeted by A's

brenarlo — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:40:16 -0000

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8889016/A's-still-after-Furcal,-but-may-chase-Big-Unit-too?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49

According to Rosenthal, the A's are targeting Randy Johnson to be their 5th starter.

Really? 5th? I bet he'd start opening day!

He also says that the A's are still the frontrunners for Furcal and that the A's may perfer Nick Johnson over Jason Giambi.

I fully support signing Furcal. Johnson and Giambi is a toss up for me. I guess it depends on what it'll cost to get Johnson (in terms of prosepcts) and Giambi (in terms of money).

Dump........ dump........ dump away!!!!

Vazquez to Braves for Lillibridge (among others)

brenarlo — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:20:40 -0000

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3740201

I think this is a good trade for the Sox...

"Right-handed pitcher Javier Vazquez has been told he's headed from the Chicago White Soxto the Atlanta Braves in a deal which is likely to be finalized on Wednesday.

Vazquez is flying to Atlanta on Wednesday morning for a physical.

A baseball source told ESPN's Peter Gammons that the deal will include four other players, including reliever Boone Logan, who would also go from the White Sox to the Braves.

Among the players expected to go from Atlanta to the Chicago organization are Jo-Jo Reyes, Brett Lillibridge and another top prospect."

Thoughts?

Rosterbation: Aaron Heilman for SP?

brenarlo — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:19:51 -0000

I just read at mlbtraderumors that Aaron Heilman told the Mets he wants to start or be traded. For whatever reasons, the Mets don't seem to want to give him a shot. The following is a list of reasons why i think the A's should (FINALLY) get him.

1) It won't cost much in terms of players. On the market he will be treated as a disgruntled player demanding a trade who has been an above average middle relief pitcher. I think it's reasonable for him to demand a trade because the Mets simply aren't giving him a shot at the rotation.

What would Heilman cost? I think the most he would cost would be a B prospect... perhaps with a little junk tacked on at the end.

2) He would round out our rotation. Duch, Gio, Eveland, Gallagher, Braden, and Outman dueling for the 5 spots in the rotation, Heilman would add a veteran to the bunch. Let's face it, the A's will need long relief people (which Outman or Braden can do) because of the wildness and youth of our pitching staff. Furthermore, Duch can't stay healthy so the depth is always nice. Furthermore, he would give Mazzaro, Anderson, and Cahill some more time in the minors. They don't need to be rushed.

3) He's under control for 2 more years. If he's in the rotation and pitches well maybe he'd eventually become a type B free agent. If he doesn't pitch well then at least he won't cost much.

I think he is a relatively low risk, medium reward player that could be of great value to a young pitching staff and can be had for very little and kept for very little.

What does AN think?

Reserved for post-trade deadline rantings

brenarlo — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:24:13 -0000

This sucks. I was hoping that Street and Duch. would be traded for top of the line prospects. Obviously, other teams didn't think that it was worth it. I'm totally guessing here but i think that it had more to do with Beane asking for too much, but i guess we'll never know.

Now what? Do we really have to watch Street blow up the rest of the season? My guess is that Duch comes back down to earth and finishes with an ERA around 3.40. That's still great for a first year starter, but his value would go down from where it is now. Or, he'll get hurt again.

Here's to a lineup of Brown, Crosby, Hanahan, and Thomas for the rest of the year....

Yippie Skippy!!

Where are the trade rumors? (OPEN THREAD)

brenarlo — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:06:47 -0000

I need trade rumors. Websites aren't updating fast enough!!! Nothing is happening!!! I want Duke to St. Louis rumors... Duke to Colorado rumors... Duke to LAD rumors... Embree to LAA rumors... Street to Det. rumors...

I want rumors. Doesn't anyone realize that the trade deadline is this week? I NEED TRADE RUMORS!!!! Maybe this should've been a fanshot or something but I need the latest rumors no matter how ridiculous they are.

Forst to take over next year?

brenarlo — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:58:15 -0000

This is an interesting tid-bit from the Rocky Mountain News.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/27/chacon-wade-both-to-blame/

Oakland assistant general manager David Forst is quick to decline interview requests for GM jobs because he figures to be the head man with the Athletics as early as next season. While Billy Beane will be around, Beane has indicated he plans to put his focus on developing the pro soccer team that he is involved with, along with Athletics owner Lewis Wolf.

This is an interesting piece of information. We know that Beane has taken a real liking to soccor in the past couple of years. Is he getting bored with baseball? Is this last group of prospects and young players his last harrah? I think it's too early to tell.

I guess if Beane were to be replaced it would make sense to give the job to Forst. To be honest, my feeling is that he does most of the work now anyway. If Beane does play to leave I think it would be nice of him to stick around and ease Forst into the job.

I'd hate to see Beane leave, but if he doesn't want to do it anymore, then his decisions won't be as good.

What makes me skeptical about this story is that you'd at least think that Beane would want to stick around to watch these great young players develop and possibly make and win a World Series.