We’re bringing everyone back, guys ← FREE KRAUT!

We’re bringing everyone back, guys 325

17 Dec 2012  |  lenscrafters  |FK-All · Rosterbating

Drew to Red Sox. One year 9.5 million

I don’t really care about losing Drew but it’s annoying how, in an offseason where the team basically only has one hole and supposedly plenty of resources to fill it with, they are still resorting to Plan D or Plan F.

Nakajima doesn’t appeal to me and Diaz isn’t ready for MLB. I guess I’d pursue a trade for Lowrie or Hardy but the price may not be tenable. Such is the way of things when you twiddle your thumbs as the options keep dwindling.

325 thoughts on “We’re bringing everyone back, guys”

  1. Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 6:47 am

    I find this amazing, given that he is signing for less than his option. Of course, we did pay him the $1.35M to decline it.

    • nevermoor Dec 17,2012 6:59 am || Up

      Yeah. Surprising that a one-year deal was the result of all that.

      "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
      • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 7:33 am || Up

        I know many think that decisions are made because of money, but this leans strongly towards the side of, “Oakland’s stadium sucks!” We are a team in a winning trend, while Boston isn’t. We have invested in personnel that can make a multi-year run at the playoffs, yet Drew signs for less. I know he is only one player, but this doesn’t seem to bode well for future FA signings.

        • elcroata Dec 17,2012 7:42 am || Up

          We don’t know that Drew signed for less. It was Oakland that declined the 2013 option.

          Also, this move gives Drew more money, even if 2013 salaries would be equal. He will hit 2014 FA market with better numbers.

          Because survival is insufficient
          • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 8:00 am || Up

            Wasn’t the option for $10M? We declined the option, after we were informed by Drew that he would be declining his side of the option.

            • elcroata Dec 17,2012 8:02 am || Up

              I am not aware (at least not from any confirmed source) that that is how it went down. We only know the A’s declined their side of the option. As far as I know, everything else is speculation.

              Because survival is insufficient
              • elcroata Dec 17,2012 8:04 am || Up

                Also, Drew is now getting $10.85MM guaranteed with bonuses that can take it to $11.35MM. So, even if it was him who declined option, he ended up with more money.

                Because survival is insufficient
                • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 8:10 am || Up

                  I wonder if it was a gamble that went south on BB. IF(and as you said it was unconfirmed) Drew did tell them he was going to decline the option, BB wasted the option money.

                • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:05 am || Up

                  Well, we don’t know how exactly the buy outs were agreed upon. Perhaps there was a $1.35MM for both cases (either player or club declines). Unless it is so, if Drew told them he was going to decline, then BB didn’t see Drew worth $8.65MM, otherwise it would not make any sense whatsoever to decline. In which case Drew simply went to the highest bidder.

                  Because survival is insufficient
              • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 8:06 am || Up

                Fair enough. It may have just been rumor.

          • dmoas Dec 17,2012 9:32 am || Up

            Oakland only decline the option after Drew did.

            • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:05 am || Up

              Source?

              Because survival is insufficient
              • dmoas Dec 17,2012 11:11 am || Up

                Slusser ages ago. I’m not going to bother looking it up.

                • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:16 am || Up

                  Whatever.

                  The point remains, either the buyout was the same regardless of who declines and this was merely ceremonial or the A’s thought Drew was bluffing and didn’t want to take a bet they might have to pay him $8.65MM this year.

                  Because survival is insufficient
                • MikeV Dec 17,2012 11:19 am || Up

                  I do recall hearing the same. Drew informed them that he was going to decline his end, so the A’s did as well.

                  I don’t know the language of the contract, but perhaps the 1.35M was there no matter which side declined the option

                  And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

                  Thanks, and go As.

                • Future Ed Dec 17,2012 11:28 am || Up
                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • MikeV Dec 17,2012 11:31 am || Up

                  UPDATE: Technically, what happened was that Drew did not provide the A’s the right to offer him an option, agent Scott Boras clarified.

                  So perhaps he got the 1.35 either way

                  And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

                  Thanks, and go As.

                • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:33 am || Up

                  It sure looks like it. He was betting on getting a $8.65MM+ deal somewhere and he was right. Plus much better chances of increased value for 2014 FA market

                  Because survival is insufficient
                • dmoas Dec 17,2012 11:35 am || Up

                  That’d be my guess.

                • Future Ed Dec 17,2012 11:40 am || Up

                  that seems like a dick move don’t it?

                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:52 am || Up

                  On part of whom? And why?

                  Because survival is insufficient
                • Future Ed Dec 17,2012 12:04 pm || Up

                  By Drew.

                  Hey you can’t exercise my option, gimme a million bucks.

                  that is, a dick move if I understand it properly. My understanding is: If the team wants to retain him and the player wants to stay=$10.

                  If team says no and player says yes $1.35M to player

                  If team says yes, player says no =$0.

                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • elcroata Dec 17,2012 12:10 pm || Up

                  Hey, you’re a lawyer – I’m sure everything was well regulated in the contract. And it was obviously made so that he gets the money regardless. And so I say, more power to him. You don’t know what he might have compromised on his behalf when this contract was written in the first place.

                  I have absolutely no grudge with Drew. He had $1.35MM in the hand, and he thought he was worth more than $8.65MM on the open market. And he was right.

                  Because survival is insufficient
                • Future Ed Dec 17,2012 12:19 pm || Up

                  right, and to be clear, I don’t know if what I say is the state of the contract, it may have been, no option for whatever reason equals $1.35M.

                  definitely, more power to him in that case.

                  maybe I should have held off on commenting on that one.

                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • the llama Dec 17,2012 8:23 pm || Up

                  What does that mean?

                • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:33 am || Up

                  Thanks

                  Because survival is insufficient
                • lenscrafters Dec 17,2012 6:02 pm || Up

                  I don’t think the who-did-what-first wrt the option matters. The fact is the A’s made it clear at the time that they’re not paying Drew 10 million and they’ve continued to make that clear.

        • lenscrafters Dec 17,2012 7:44 am || Up

          Sure, if Oakland offered him the same amount but he chose Boston instead.

  2. elcroata Dec 17,2012 7:29 am

    I did call it.

    He probably stands to gain the most with a one year deal with a 2014 option as Slusser mentioned, although Oakland is not the world’s best place to rebuild hitting value. Boston has Iglesias penciled to start, and he was bad both in his cup of coffee and in the AAA. Bogaerts had a great 2012, but there are some question marks about his SS defense and he could use another full year in the minors. I could see a mutual interest and Boston could be a great place for Drew to rebuild value.

    Because survival is insufficient
    • ptbnl Dec 17,2012 7:33 am || Up

      Drew was obviously persuaded by your post.

      If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
    • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 7:36 am || Up

      You nailed it, EC!!!

    • the llama Dec 17,2012 8:24 pm || Up

      Must have been persuaded by how beloved his brother was in Boston.

      • colin Dec 17,2012 10:31 pm || Up

        This is what came to mind for me.

        • the llama Dec 17,2012 10:37 pm || Up

          I was around for pretty much all of JD’s stay in Beantown, and man they hated that guy for reasons unfathomable to me.

          • colin Dec 18,2012 1:42 am || Up

            It was kind of similar to the “he doesn’t smile enough” critique of Matt Holliday.

  3. Kay Dec 17,2012 7:32 am

    Methinks the A’s don’t WANT to inch the payroll up into the 70mm range this year.

    \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
    • elcroata Dec 17,2012 7:43 am || Up

      They are at $53MM right now, so there is still some way up to the seventies

      Because survival is insufficient
    • lenscrafters Dec 17,2012 7:50 am || Up

      The 2011 team started with 67 million (would’ve been higher if Beltre had signed), nearly 15 million more than our current 2013 commitment. If they were willing to invest that much in a team coming off a .500 season, it makes sense to invest at least that much in the defending American League West champs, especially considering playoff revenues and the new national TV revenues.

  4. lenscrafters Dec 17,2012 7:46 am

    On the bright side, we re-signed Greg Smith. ok I lied

    • MikeV Dec 17,2012 7:55 am || Up

      GREGGLES!

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

    • Kay Dec 17,2012 8:20 am || Up

      Cool. I hope he gets his stuff together in Sacramento and ends up useful down the stretch.

      \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
    • Einstein on the Beach Dec 17,2012 8:43 am || Up

      really?

    • andeux Dec 17,2012 10:08 am || Up

      I thought I just saw that he signed with someone else (Toronto? – yes Toronto)

      TINSTAAFK
  5. Einstein on the Beach Dec 17,2012 8:46 am

    I agree with lenscrafters in not really understanding this. There’s really no reason the A’s couldn’t afford to do this money-wise, and I doubt they’re champing at the bit to trade Straily or Griffin + for Asdrubal Cabrera. That said, I’m sure they’re thinking about these things… I mean… it is Billy Beane’s job, yes? So they must have some plan… right? Maybe they really like Nakajima. I could see that. I’m fairly interested, his stats are very very good relative to the league, and if they have some scouts saying that his defense is good enough or that his swing is going to hold its own in the MLB, then perhaps they’re willing to go all-in on him.

    • lenscrafters Dec 17,2012 9:07 am || Up

      I don’t know, the beat writers made it pretty clear that Drew on a short term deal was Plan A for the A’s. They never really gave much of an indication that Nakajima was high on the list. As a matter of fact, Nakajima doesn’t seem to be high on anyone’s list.

      If I were to guess on the order of preference given the information we have:

      Plan A: Drew
      Plan B: Trade for Peralta
      Plan C: Trade for Escobar
      Plan D: Nakajima/Diaz? maybe
      Plan F: Alex Gonzalez/Ronny Cedeno/stand pat

      • grover Dec 17,2012 9:21 am || Up

        At least Cedeno is only 30 so he might not be completely washed up…

        If you’re a GM coming off a 94 win season and you’re naming either Alex Gonzalez or Ronny Cedeno as your starting SS for next year then odds are you’ve failed at your job during the offseason.

        • dmoas Dec 17,2012 9:35 am || Up

          Rosales!!! :/

        • Kay Dec 17,2012 9:57 am || Up

          s(i)(a)gh

          \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
        • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:08 am || Up

          Sounds logical, but this is where I differ. I say the A’s are not coming of a 94 win season, but rather of 89 or 86, depending how you want to look at it.
          Having said that, if the management believes the A’s to be competitive and they really thought of Drew as their option #1 as the shortstop, and they thought that the SS is the biggest need, then the supposed money (increasing the payroll to the Wollf-era average) should not have been an obstacle.

          Because survival is insufficient
          • dmoas Dec 17,2012 11:12 am || Up

            Unless they’re saving money for some other team related purchase.

            • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:16 am || Up

              Well, then they probably don’t think that

              the SS is the biggest need

              Because survival is insufficient
              • dmoas Dec 17,2012 11:36 am || Up

                True. And if they don’t, their priorities are crap.

          • grover Dec 17,2012 11:20 am || Up

            Payroll certainly isn’t an issue for 2013.

            Rangers are weaker. Hamilton, Feldman, Dempster and possibly Napoli are gone. Lewis and Feliz are expected to miss the start of the season. Sure, maybe they make some moves to improve things later in the offseason. And maybe the A’s add a SS so they can actually put 9 players out on the field.

            Hamilton helps shore up the Angels but they’re thin in the rotation.

            • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:23 am || Up

              Napoli is definitely gone, signed 3/39 with Red Sox.

              And the offseason is not over and rangers are well under their 2012 payroll. Swisher, Marcum, Bourn are still to be had. You have a beer if neither signs with rangers

              Because survival is insufficient
              • grover Dec 17,2012 11:25 am || Up

                Boston and Napoli are dithering due to (supposedly) something that came up in the medical. Sounds like Boston doesn’t want to do 3 years now.

                And can “neither” be used when listing more than 2 options?

                • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:28 am || Up

                  You are asking a Croatian to clarify that?

                  Because survival is insufficient
                • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:30 am || Up

                  Merriam Webster says – yes:

                  A few commentators think that neither must be limited in reference to two, but reference to more than two has been quite common since the 17th century (rigid enforcement of antique decorum will help neither language, literature, nor literati — James Sledd)

                  Because survival is insufficient
                • ptbnl Dec 17,2012 1:35 pm || Up

                  The USPS too.

                  “Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail shall keep the postmen from their appointed rounds.”

                  If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
                • oblique Dec 17,2012 3:36 pm || Up

                  Also, multiple options using nor, without the neither! “Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, nor public man, nor cheering crowds” from Yeats’ “An Irish Airman Foresees His Death” (OK, so he’s taking poetic license..)

                • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 12:41 pm || Up

                  I was taught to use “neither” with “nor”, and “either” with “or”

                • 5Aces Dec 17,2012 3:37 pm || Up

                  I was taught to use it with “potahto” and “oyster”.

                  Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
                • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 5:22 pm || Up

                  In Fresno?

      • Dial C for Concupiscence Dec 17,2012 9:49 am || Up

        The impressions coming through MLB Trade Rumors when they share the various SS signings/trades seem to be along the lines of “The A’s didn’t want to pay that much for Drew/Escobar/etc.” I get that to an extent, but at some point you can’t afford to be too picky about the biggest hole on the team. I’m worried that Beane is focusing more on getting a good deal than getting a good player.

  6. vignette17 Dec 17,2012 9:02 am

    They better get both Nakajima AND Diaz with the savings…

  7. grover Dec 17,2012 9:03 am

    Jed Lowrie could be a good addition, if he ever stayed healthy.

    But since he’s played fewer than 100 games (minor league rehab included) every year since the 2008 season you’d have to be pretty desperate to think he might be healthy in 2013.

    If Escobar and Drew were Plans A & B to play SS for Oakland next season then I’m not sure where Plan C will come from. Asdrubal Cabrera will cost a fortune in trade talent. Dee Gordon sucks. I’m not sure where the A’s will find a SS, although I vaguely recall a minor leaguer in another org. giving me a moment’s pause…

    • MikeV Dec 17,2012 9:05 am || Up

      Cespedes to SS.

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

    • vignette17 Dec 17,2012 2:21 pm || Up

      Chris Nelson has always been a favorite of mine. I think Colorado has another SS prospect these days as well…

    • the llama Dec 17,2012 8:25 pm || Up

      But the Astros probably won’t trade in division…

      • nevermoor Dec 17,2012 8:48 pm || Up

        Wouldn’t want to hurt their playoff chances

        "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
        • the llama Dec 17,2012 8:53 pm || Up

          We never would have traded Brett Wallace if we knew he would come back to haunt us in 18 times a year.

  8. MikeV Dec 17,2012 10:31 am

    So we lowballed the FK out of Drew, then. I guess it makes sense when Escobar makes 5M?

    And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

    Thanks, and go As.

    • grover Dec 17,2012 10:46 am || Up

      Any chance that industry source could give a name???

      • MikeV Dec 17,2012 10:53 am || Up

        At this point I’m assuming it’s Tulo.

        And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

        Thanks, and go As.

        • grover Dec 17,2012 11:06 am || Up

          $20 million annual, guaranteed 2015-2019 seems a lot for Oakland to take on. Not saying they can’t… more like won’t. They wanted salary relief for Hanley; I can’t imagine them not wanting the same in a deal for Tulo. In that scenario, it would take a FKing tonne to make a trade happen.

          • MikeV Dec 17,2012 11:09 am || Up

            I know, I wasn’t being serious. I have no idea what Billy is going to do.

            And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

            Thanks, and go As.

  9. Glorious Mundy Dec 17,2012 10:57 am

    This is disappointing. I’m going to pretend this didn’t happen and watch Sickels pare down his A’s prospect list. He likes David Freitas a lot and says Ynoa is throwing 95 again!

    • nevermoor Dec 17,2012 11:17 am || Up

      One in a generation talent!

      "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
      • MikeV Dec 17,2012 11:20 am || Up

        How old is he now, like 25, 26?

        And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

        Thanks, and go As.

        • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:23 am || Up

          95 again

          Because survival is insufficient
        • nevermoor Dec 17,2012 11:43 am || Up

          I would guess 20. Since he was like 16 when we signed him.

          "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
          • MikeV Dec 17,2012 11:46 am || Up

            …or was he

            *DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNN*

            And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

            Thanks, and go As.

          • Glorious Mundy Dec 17,2012 11:49 am || Up

            Only 20 and he’s already made the 40-man roster. This guy’s a fast mover.

    • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:20 am || Up

      Well he said, “Ynoa is up to 95 again”. Perhaps he was talking about the ranking, not mph

      Because survival is insufficient
  10. ozzman99 Dec 17,2012 12:54 pm

    I really feel like Billy doesn’t believe in this team’s ability to reach the postseason again. Or the conspiracy theorists are right and the A’s just don’t want to win in Oakland.

    • dmoas Dec 17,2012 12:56 pm || Up

      Or Wolff just as a really, really expensive paid sexy time habit that isn’t paying for itself.

      • ozzman99 Dec 17,2012 1:00 pm || Up

        Maybe he should get hurt and file for Worker’s Comp.

  11. Future Ed Dec 17,2012 12:56 pm

    Grant is a wonderful human being.

    Essentially thinks the A’s are a good fit for Loshe and cold use depth to get Cabrera

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 1:00 pm || Up

      How do you get links to open in new windows? Every time I use the link button, there is no option for “open in new window”

      • dmoas Dec 17,2012 1:02 pm || Up

        add “target = something” into the link instead Outside of the web address quotes.

        • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 1:04 pm || Up

          Ok. I give it a try. Thank you, dmoas.

      • Future Ed Dec 17,2012 1:02 pm || Up

        right click on the link. or hit “control” left click. that should give you a menu to choose.

        Assuming you aren’t using a mac.

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • elcroata Dec 17,2012 1:03 pm || Up

        you can always add target=”blank” manually into the brackets that start with “a href” at the very end

        Because survival is insufficient
        • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 1:05 pm || Up

          Cool. so many options for me to screw up! ☺

          • grover Dec 17,2012 1:07 pm || Up

            Just like Billy Beane shopping for a SS!

          • dmoas Dec 17,2012 1:07 pm || Up

            Try it, if you fail, one of us will be able to clean it up for you and you can take another look at how it was fixed.

            • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 1:18 pm || Up

              Like this?

              • elcroata Dec 17,2012 1:21 pm || Up

                Exactly. Although I did a cosmetic change you will probably not be able to appreciate

                Because survival is insufficient
                • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 1:29 pm || Up

                  I don’t recognize what you did, but some things just can’t be fixed, right?☺

                • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:10 pm || Up

                  I changed your “target=blank” into “target=replacement-level”

                  Because survival is insufficient
                • Tutu-late Dec 18,2012 7:08 am || Up

                  heehee! I can’t seem to access the link after posting a comment. I taught myself how to use a computer, so I really am computer illiterate.

                • ozzman99 Dec 18,2012 2:17 pm || Up

                  Somehow, I picture Scotty in Star Trek IV, picking up the mouse and talking into it.

    • dmoas Dec 17,2012 1:01 pm || Up

      Gotta think there are better options for that.

    • grover Dec 17,2012 1:03 pm || Up

      If only Cabrera was a good SS…

      • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 1:06 pm || Up

        We may just end up with Cespedes at SS….(yuck)

        • dmoas Dec 17,2012 2:07 pm || Up

          If he could handle it, would be one hell of an upgrade.

          • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 2:12 pm || Up

            Well, yeah, but it would be quite the story of the offseason, right?

  12. Englishmajor Dec 17,2012 1:01 pm
    • elcroata Dec 17,2012 1:06 pm || Up

      fixed that link for you

      I wonder if Mike Fast can get him to bunt more

      Because survival is insufficient
      • Englishmajor Dec 17,2012 1:08 pm || Up

        Oh thanks! it seems like when I do links from my office computer, they get screwed up. It must be because people are distracting me here with work.

    • ptbnl Dec 17,2012 1:39 pm || Up

      Wow – Carlos Pena is 34 now. I feel old.

      If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
      • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 1:43 pm || Up

        I know. I’m old enough to be his father.

        • the llama Dec 17,2012 8:27 pm || Up

          I’m old enough to travel back in time to be his father.

      • the llama Dec 17,2012 8:29 pm || Up

        His messiah-like arrival in Oakland was over a decade ago. Remember this?

        • Future Ed Dec 17,2012 8:33 pm || Up

          Frank catalanotto started over Michael Young

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
          • the llama Dec 17,2012 8:36 pm || Up

            the first of many Huddy wins blown-then-vultured by Koch.

            • ptbnl Dec 17,2012 8:42 pm || Up

              He had 5 B/W that year.

              3 of them were against Texas (one only a week later on April 9th at Zito’s expense).

              3 of them cost Huddy the win (Texas, Houston & Kansas City).

              If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
              • the llama Dec 17,2012 8:48 pm || Up

                The KC one was #20. I think in the Houston one he walked in the winning run. I think the Zito one was in NY.

                • the llama Dec 17,2012 8:50 pm || Up

                  I was right about Houston! (I meant tying run, natch)

                • the llama Dec 17,2012 8:50 pm || Up

                  But not about the Zito one.

                • ptbnl Dec 17,2012 9:06 pm || Up

                  FKWIZ … Koch holds the A’s record for most blown saves in a season with a 100% W record. Who is in 2nd place (4) and 3rd (3)?

                  If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
                • the llama Dec 17,2012 9:10 pm || Up

                  Unrelatedly, the first GIS result for Keith Foulke is hilarious.

                • FreeSeatUpgrade Dec 17,2012 10:10 pm || Up

                  That is awesome.

                  "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
                • the llama Dec 17,2012 10:14 pm || Up

                  Those Massholes are funny, but mean, sonsofbitches.

                • Future Ed Dec 17,2012 9:14 pm || Up

                  eck, dotel, rickey

                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • ptbnl Dec 17,2012 9:22 pm || Up

                  Yes, no, obviously.

                  (I actually misstated, and it should have been “perfect record in games where the reliever both blew the save and finished the game”)

                  If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
                • the llama Dec 17,2012 9:26 pm || Up

                  Ah, thanks for that clarification.

                • the llama Dec 17,2012 9:25 pm || Up

                  Speaking of Rickey:

                  In closing, I would like to say my favorite hero was Mohammad Ali. He said at one time, “I am the greatest.” That is something I always wanted to be. And now that the Association has voted me into the Baseball Hall of Fame, my journey as a player is complete. I am now in the class of the greatest players of all time. And at this moment, I am very, very humble. Thank you.

              • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 9:18 pm || Up

                I remember the total discussed look on Huddy’s face, when he turned over a lead and Mecir lost the game. If memory serves me correctly, the bullpen blew 10 or so games for Tim that season. That was Huddy’s last year with the A’s…

                • doctorK Dec 18,2012 8:23 am || Up

                  Huddy was traded before the 2004 season.

                • DasBoont Dec 18,2012 2:52 pm || Up

                  That’s odd, because he was 12-6 with a 3.53 ERA with Oakland in 2004.

                • nevermoor Dec 18,2012 2:57 pm || Up

                  Welcome. Comment approved. You shouldn’t be held in moderation going forward.

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • Glorious Mundy Dec 18,2012 3:02 pm || Up

                  Now you’ll be held in excess.

                • DasBoont Dec 18,2012 3:42 pm || Up

                  Haha thanks. Signed up on this site I believe a couple years ago, but didn’t really visit much. Been visiting much more lately cuz these are the people I really enjoyed reading.

                • nevermoor Dec 18,2012 4:48 pm || Up

                  …and me.

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • elcroata Dec 18,2012 9:32 pm || Up

                  heh

                  Because survival is insufficient
                • ptbnl Dec 18,2012 9:35 pm || Up

                  How is the return to work going?

                  If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
                • elcroata Dec 18,2012 9:36 pm || Up

                  It’s hell. Oh, you mean nevermoor?

                  Because survival is insufficient
                • nevermoor Dec 18,2012 10:09 pm || Up

                  Not as easy as I was hoping. Day one there was a midnight filing.

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • the llama Dec 18,2012 10:49 pm || Up

                  I misread that as “midnight filling” and pictured you as the night dentist in a bad part of town.

                • dmoas Dec 18,2012 10:53 pm || Up

                  I misread that as a “midnight fling” and thought, nm you salty dog you.

                • ptbnl Dec 19,2012 1:00 am || Up

                  I misunderstood that to be a late-night experiment with a bar magnet and iron filings.

                  If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
                • ozzman99 Dec 19,2012 11:38 am || Up

                  I got the same reading as dmoas. I was gonna ask NM if they’re hiring.

                • doctorK Dec 18,2012 5:56 pm || Up

                  oops – I was just as wrong as Tutu

                • Tutu-late Dec 18,2012 7:58 pm || Up

                  I just meant that Mecir’s fubar was during Huddy’s last year. I don’t know when it was.

                • doctorK Dec 19,2012 11:32 am || Up

                  OK – so the only dumbass here, as usual, is me!

                • dmoas Dec 19,2012 11:47 am || Up

                  Now wait a minute. Don’t forget me, dumbass.

                • Tutu-late Dec 19,2012 12:14 pm || Up

                  Nah, as usual, I wasn’t clear

  13. andeux Dec 17,2012 2:31 pm

    TINSTAAFK
    • vignette17 Dec 17,2012 2:38 pm || Up

      Before terms come out, I’m guessing 2 years 6 million.

      If the A’s were to spend 9 million on SS like Drew is getting, that would leave 6 million a year for Diaz.

      • dmoas Dec 17,2012 2:44 pm || Up

        I hope less. I’m not saying it would be horrible deal if that’s what it was, but I’d still hope less. And if they do this, they really need to go after Diaz as well. We need insurance for Russell and let’s face it, if both pan out that’s not a bad thing.

      • grover Dec 17,2012 2:47 pm || Up

        I hope the A’s get both, just to make you happy.

    • Glorious Mundy Dec 17,2012 3:00 pm || Up

      • dmoas Dec 17,2012 3:32 pm || Up

        I’d call that win for Vignette wins. Close enough at least.

      • natehst Dec 17,2012 4:02 pm || Up

        That is very little financial risk.

        • nevermoor Dec 17,2012 4:15 pm || Up

          Yep. Hard to see a downside, when you can just cut him if it doesn’t work out.

          "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
          • ozzman99 Dec 17,2012 5:16 pm || Up

            And if he does work out, he’ll have trade value in a couple of years when Russell is ready.

          • lenscrafters Dec 17,2012 5:57 pm || Up

            The downside is losing games in a competitive year because you didn’t land the best option.

            • nevermoor Dec 17,2012 7:59 pm || Up

              That’s a downside to other moves. $3M wouldn’t block anything itself

              "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
        • grover Dec 17,2012 4:24 pm || Up

          Figure it breaks down to $2.5/$4/$5.5 million, leaving plenty of room in the budget for further moves down the road.

          Now all he has to do is prove he can play in the majors!

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Dec 17,2012 4:17 pm || Up

      When I lived in Hawaii and the AAA Islanders still played there, circa 1978, the Seibu Lions came over for exhibition series a couple times. It was fun and new for me to see their well-organized travelling fans and their synchronized cheers. In a box somewhere I may still have a light blue Seiubu Lions cheer flag that one of the fans gave me.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • Dial C for Concupiscence Dec 17,2012 4:40 pm || Up

      So I take it the A’s are choosing the “Fuck it, all the moderately available short stops suck, let’s go with wild cards” door?

  14. Einstein on the Beach Dec 17,2012 3:20 pm

    Alright, I’m ready for the Nakajima era. Count me as a believer from the video of his swing and the fact that the A’s have some sort of belief in him:

    And yes, he won’t be this good, but his swing reminds me of Manny Ramirez. Nice short right handed stroke, power to all fields sort of thing. I’m happy to give him a chance. I hope he doesn’t suck.

    • ozzman99 Dec 17,2012 3:24 pm || Up

      Hiroyuki being Hiroyuki.

    • Einstein on the Beach Dec 17,2012 3:35 pm || Up

      his swing also reminds me of Jhonny Peralta, fwiw. I could see him being a fairly similar hitter to Peralta in the MLB.

    • dmoas Dec 17,2012 3:47 pm || Up

      My takeaway from this video is that he’ll hit a home run in every at bat.

      • Soaker Dec 17,2012 3:55 pm || Up

        And he likes to have piano music playing on the PA throughout his ABs. I prefer walk-up music only, but since I’m usually on TV/radio rather than in-person at the Coliseum I don’t mind turning down the audio for a couple minutes if he’s an upgrade over Crosby/Cliffy (which isn’t that much to ask).

        What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
        • dmoas Dec 17,2012 4:06 pm || Up

          When you really think about it, the bar is exceptionally low for him.

          • Soaker Dec 17,2012 4:24 pm || Up

            Regular season innings at shortstop in the post-Tejada era:

            1. Bobby Crosby 5030
            2. Cliff Pennington 3971.2
            3. Marco Scutaro 1697
            4. Orlando Cabrera 887.2
            5. Donnie Murphy 353.1
            6. Stephen Drew 350
            7. Adam Rosales 216.2
            8. Eric Sogard 168
            9. Brandon Hicks 143
            10. Steven Tolleson 45
            11. Andy LaRoche 44.2
            12. Mark Ellis 44
            13. Gregorio Petit 28
            14. D’Angelo Jimenez 26
            15. Antonio Perez 25
            16. J.J. Furmaniak 21
            17. Ramon Castro 2

            What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
            • Glorious Mundy Dec 17,2012 4:25 pm || Up

              I found the fake one:

              16. J.J. Furmaniak 21

              What do I win?

              • Soaker Dec 17,2012 6:52 pm || Up

                I was surprised that Ramon Castro’s 2 innings weren’t in September.

                (Travis Blackley walks 9 in 4+ IP…heh)

                What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
            • ptbnl Dec 17,2012 4:27 pm || Up

              So what fraction of those were above replacement level?

              If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
            • dmoas Dec 17,2012 4:28 pm || Up

              After seeing that list, I think I want to think about this less. Holy fk of suck.

            • nevermoor Dec 17,2012 4:29 pm || Up

              1. Future MVP
              2. MLB Futures Game Player
              3. Highly sought-after FA
              4. Ditto
              6. Ditto

              See, it’s a strong list!

              "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
            • FreeSeatUpgrade Dec 17,2012 4:35 pm || Up

              Sir Not-Appearing-on-this-List: Mark Kiger.

              "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
              • Soaker Dec 17,2012 4:40 pm || Up

                Kiger’s game appearances were both at 2B after starter D’Angelo Jimenez was pinch-hit for. Scutaro played all of the innings at SS in that ALCS.

                What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
      • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:17 pm || Up

        My takeaway from this video is that he’ll hit a home run in every at bat if he gets a hanging curve.

        Because survival is insufficient
    • Future Ed Dec 17,2012 5:47 pm || Up

      knock-a homa

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • lenscrafters Dec 17,2012 6:30 pm || Up

      With lyrics!

      https://youtube.com/watch?v=fD_3zgKA-UE” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen>

      • elcroata Dec 17,2012 11:15 pm || Up

        the leg-kick on the still scares me

        Because survival is insufficient
    • vignette17 Dec 17,2012 6:31 pm || Up

      So of the 13 HR he hit, they showed a KM/H on 10 of them. The pitches were the following MPH: 76, 79, 79, 80, 82, 83, 84, 88, 90, 91. Given that most pitches are fastballs, Nakajima is hitting a disproportionate of HRs on breaking balls. I think we might conclude Nakajima might struggle with plus major league velocity since he didn’t hit a HR off a plus fastball. That could be a function of Japan’s talent level, but with a 4 min HR video, what can you really conclude?

      As for stats:

      Kaz Matsui
2001 .308/.365/.496/.861
2002 .332/.389/.617/1.006
2003 .305/.365/.549/.914

wRC+ 90, 72, 72


Tsuyoshi Nishioka
2008 .300/.357/.463/.820
2009 .260/.360/.427/.787
2010 .346/.423/.482/.905

wRC+ 46

Hiroyusihi Nakajima
2010 .314/.385/.511/.896
2011 .297/.354/.433/.787
2012 .311/.382/.451/.833

wrc+ ???

      Nakajima does not compare well to the only Seibu Lion hitter to go to MLB, Kaz Matsui. Matsui had much more power and he got on base approximately the same amount. Matsui had only one reasonable year as a hitter in MLB.

      Nakajima hits approximately as well as Nishioka, who was of course an unmitigated disaster. For reference, the deal Nishioka got was 3/$9 M.

      Nakajima has an uphill battle to prove himself, so the A’s need some insurance. But scouts like Nakajima’s bat. Let’s hope they’re right.

      • andeux Dec 17,2012 6:44 pm || Up

        A comment over at BTF:

        NPB introduced a new baseball two years ago and immediately created a dead ball era. Nakajima’s 833 OPS was second in the Pacific League, his rough OPS+ (no park adjustment) was a little over 150.

        Of course, it seems evident that there are humongous error bars on NPB translations, and different players react very differently to the league switch. And now the Japanese dead ball era adds further complications. But Nakajima is an elite hitter in NPB to a degree that is not obvious from his raw stats.

        Your concern about possibly struggling against MLB fastballs is still valid, of course.

        TINSTAAFK
        • vignette17 Dec 17,2012 6:48 pm || Up

          That’s good to know. I used Matsui as a reference because I thought it might control for park and Nishioka because it might control for the timeframe. If a ton of change has happened in the last two years, it might not be reflected, because Nishioka left Japan right before it happened.

          Of course, Nakajima wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire 3 years ago.

        • Future Ed Dec 17,2012 6:54 pm || Up

          I choose to believe that the radar guns are slow and the conversion to MPH was done incorrectly and the mounds are higher and closer and the ball is soft like a sponge and the feilders are better and Hiroyuki Nakjima is going to be the greatest player since cal ripkin to go with mike schmidt donaldson at third

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
          • Kay Dec 17,2012 7:39 pm || Up

            Yay!

            \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
          • Tutu-late Dec 17,2012 9:20 pm || Up

            OOOH! Since most of the radar guns used by the police in the US come from Japan, can this conversion error be a form of defense in traffic court?

      • lenscrafters Dec 17,2012 7:04 pm || Up

        I’m least concerned about his bat (though obviously it’s still a concern). More worrying is that he may not be an adequate defensive player, rival evaluators think he’s just a backup guy, and he was apparently only worth 2/6 in a shortstop market where Trevor Bauer is being traded for Didi Gregorius.

  15. the llama Dec 17,2012 8:35 pm

    We could always call him Hiro-yucky if he stinks.

  16. the llama Dec 17,2012 8:55 pm

    Jairo –> Giants
    3 years/$15 MM

    • Future Ed Dec 17,2012 8:56 pm || Up

      good for him.

      Boy the Giants are going to be old in 2014

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Dial C for Concupiscence Dec 18,2012 9:37 am || Up

      Wow, another one. They appear to be using “Has played on the Giants before” as the primary qualifier of potential free agents.

  17. the llama Dec 17,2012 9:12 pm
    • ozzman99 Dec 17,2012 9:55 pm || Up

      At least someone is having sex around here.

      • the llama Dec 17,2012 10:00 pm || Up

        And fish are farting in your water.

        • beebo Dec 17,2012 10:29 pm || Up

          I’m never drinking that stuff ever again.

          • Tutu-late Dec 18,2012 7:11 am || Up

            I do!…but only after the water has been processed through a still.☺

        • ozzman99 Dec 17,2012 11:36 pm || Up

          The water I use to wash bug shit off my vegetables?

  18. Dial C for Concupiscence Dec 18,2012 9:32 am
    • Glorious Mundy Dec 18,2012 9:34 am || Up

      That’s really sweet. I wish they could stay here forever.

    • elcroata Dec 18,2012 9:41 am || Up

      Sigh. Form a pure fan perspective, I’d prefer the A’s field a team completely without a shortstop in exchange for having the privilege of having McCarthys in green and gold.

      Because survival is insufficient
  19. Dial C for Concupiscence Dec 18,2012 9:49 am

    Needs less Cowgill, apparently.

    • Future Ed Dec 18,2012 10:21 am || Up

      I guess that means Michael Taylor is the goto in AAA?

      yay?

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Englishmajor Dec 18,2012 10:25 am || Up

      Peple wth mssing leters n ther nmes re th nw Brndon.

    • Dial C for Concupiscence Dec 18,2012 10:44 am || Up

      3B prospects named Marte are always good bets right?

  20. Future Ed Dec 18,2012 10:24 am
    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Glorious Mundy Dec 18,2012 10:27 am || Up

      Beat you by one minute and posted it in the correct thread sucka.

  21. MikeV Dec 18,2012 10:26 am

    And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

    Thanks, and go As.

    • dmoas Dec 18,2012 10:30 am || Up

      Movin’ up the depth chart.

      • Kay Dec 18,2012 11:20 am || Up

        It’ll be good to see him in Sacramento next year.

        I hope he gets a cup of coffee in 2014.

        \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
        • Glorious Mundy Dec 18,2012 11:23 am || Up

          Judging by his tweets, he’ll be happy just getting away from Midland.

  22. aardvark Dec 18,2012 12:33 pm

    It may be too early to tell, but is seems to me that the A’s aren’t really making an effort to be BETTER than the 2012 team.

    • Future Ed Dec 18,2012 12:58 pm || Up

      its better than the opening day team.

      That’s not nothing.

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • aardvark Dec 18,2012 2:36 pm || Up

        Certainly, but it seems like much of that is just a happy accident.

  23. MikeV Dec 18,2012 3:10 pm

    phiLOLies

    And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

    Thanks, and go As.

    • Dial C for Concupiscence Dec 18,2012 4:22 pm || Up

      Damnit Phillies, you better not take away the Angels’ albatross.

  24. Glorious Mundy Dec 18,2012 4:12 pm

    Sickels’ preliminary A’s top 20. Lotta B’s in there.

    WARNING: **** is in the comments.

    • MikeV Dec 18,2012 4:19 pm || Up

      I’m bummed that the A’s took so long to move Green to 2B (seems like it was always the position that made most sense for him), but now that they have it will be interesting to see what he can do.

      based on, well, NOTHING AT ALL I JUST WANT TO SAY IT SO I SOUND SMART.

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

      • doctorK Dec 18,2012 6:01 pm || Up

        • dmoas Dec 18,2012 6:26 pm || Up

          I haven’t looked, but I sincerely hope Mikev responded to him with a “Look at me! Look at me!”

          • MikeV Dec 18,2012 8:08 pm || Up

            Nah, I want nothing to do with SBN at all.

            And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

            Thanks, and go As.

            • Kay Dec 18,2012 9:18 pm || Up

              good man.

              \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
    • Dial C for Concupiscence Dec 18,2012 4:27 pm || Up

      Interesting to see Sickels say that Head might be able to stick at 3B. I was under the (apparently misguided) impression he was a middling 1B defender at best.

      • MikeV Dec 18,2012 4:29 pm || Up

        He’s, um… a big boy.

        I’ll be surprised if he’s an MLB caliber 3B defensively.

        And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

        Thanks, and go As.

        • Glorious Mundy Dec 18,2012 4:33 pm || Up

          So I was looking for pictures of Head, and I ran across this fellow who I would never have recognized in a million years:

          • MikeV Dec 18,2012 4:35 pm || Up

            WOAH.

            And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

            Thanks, and go As.

            • Glorious Mundy Dec 18,2012 4:36 pm || Up

              Kind of reminds me of Jason Street from Friday Night Lights.

              • MikeV Dec 18,2012 4:37 pm || Up

                LOL totally

                And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

                Thanks, and go As.

          • aardvark Dec 18,2012 4:39 pm || Up

            Gotta be careful when you go looking for pictures of head on the internet.

      • aardvark Dec 18,2012 4:59 pm || Up

        The way I see it, the A’s feel that Head’s bat isn’t good enough to be a starting MLB first baseman, in which case there’s no reason not to try him at 3rd until he proves he can’t handle it. As I remember Goldstein was certain that Head wouldn’t stick at 3rd. BA (from their 2013 prospect list) leaves it open:

        He has enough arm and can make the routine plays at the hot corner, but his lack of range and athleticism leave his ability to stick there in question.

        • MikeV Dec 18,2012 8:09 pm || Up

          If I recall, he played 1B when I saw him in Stockton.

          And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

          Thanks, and go As.

          • aardvark Dec 19,2012 2:08 pm || Up

            Was it towards the beginning of the season? He didn’t play many games at 1b last year, but I think more of them were at the beginning of the season as they transitioned him.

            • MikeV Dec 19,2012 2:21 pm || Up

              I’m not sure, it was Little League day if that means anything

              And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

              Thanks, and go As.

    • lenscrafters Dec 18,2012 6:34 pm || Up

      11 B- or above is certainly encouraging especially considering the young talent already at the major league level. But many of those are 2012 draftees and while I’m not saying Sickels isn’t right to rank them that high, every evaluator is prone to a certain degree of uncertainty bias that may inflate the rankings of prospects with little track record.

      In other words, they haven’t played enough to prove that they suck yet so by default, it’s easy to dream on them.

      • Glorious Mundy Dec 18,2012 6:43 pm || Up

        There’s definitely an extra big error bar for those prospects, but it’s a pretty nice endorsement of that draft, if nothing else.

        I’m also pretty thrilled with his bullishness on Green, who has played long enough to prove whether he sucks.

  25. lenscrafters Dec 18,2012 6:07 pm

    Darn, I would’ve been happy if the A’s got Youk.

    It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t easy to sign, because I had Tito in Cleveland, New York and there were a couple other teams in the mix. But in the end, I had to do what was best. I thought it was the best opportunity to win the World Series, was with the New York Yankees,” he said. “I think when you’re a free agent, it’s never easy. For me, the easiest decision would have been if the Oakland A’s or San Francisco Giants were in the running because they’re the closest teams to where I am now.

    • Glorious Mundy Dec 18,2012 6:13 pm || Up

      I can see why the A’s weren’t interested in paying 8 figures when they’ve got Donaldson, Moss, Carter and Smith for pretty cheap and he’s no sure thing to be more productive than any of them. But still: Youkilis would have preferred us to the Yankees and we blew him off!

      • andeux Dec 18,2012 6:16 pm || Up

        I thought it was a huge missed opportunity not trading for him when he was available cheap last year too, even though Donaldson ended up playing well down the stretch. You just don’t get many opportunities to buy low on a player that good.

        TINSTAAFK
        • ozzman99 Dec 19,2012 11:42 am || Up

          And the price was so low as to be a virtually risk-free move for the A’s. And if they’d also added Hanley…

      • lenscrafters Dec 18,2012 6:20 pm || Up

        Looking at his numbers last year, he was worse than I thought. But I’m fairly certain he’d be better than at least one of those 4 next year. It’s too much to hope that all four of those guys continue to produce.

    • andeux Dec 18,2012 6:19 pm || Up

      Anyone ever eat at his brother’s restaurant?

      TINSTAAFK
      • colin Dec 18,2012 7:04 pm || Up

        I think that I have, but I can’t quite remember now. My fiancee, who is a Red Sox fan, was pushing for it.

      • nevermoor Dec 18,2012 9:03 pm || Up

        Certainly looks nice.

        A month ago…

        "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
        • the llama Dec 18,2012 11:03 pm || Up

          hahahaha you’ll be thanking your lucky stars when you go out next, which will be to an IHOP to get the kids pancakes for dinner when mrs nevermoor is out of town

          • nevermoor Dec 19,2012 9:36 am || Up

            You sound… psychic.

            "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
        • PDXAthleticsfan Dec 19,2012 8:52 am || Up

          My advice is to go out to eat while the baby is still little and easy to deal with. Once she gets mobile and more alert going out to eat, it’s much more difficult.

          A soliloquy of fresh-sounding ideas which would probably be disastrous.
          • nevermoor Dec 19,2012 9:37 am || Up

            Maybe, but that particular spot seems like a poor choice for that.

            Instead, we’ll be taking her to meet Amanda’s family in OKC. One upside of having a newborn is that the 7AM flights on 1/1 are REALLY cheap.

            "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
            • PDXAthleticsfan Dec 19,2012 10:00 am || Up

              Maybe, although parents here rarely let upscale-ness prevent them from going out.

              Also, looking at the bio again, I wonder if I was a TA for Mr. Youkilis at Indiana. About the right time/right school.

              A soliloquy of fresh-sounding ideas which would probably be disastrous.
          • Future Ed Dec 19,2012 9:58 am || Up

            this

            I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • TJ Dec 19,2012 4:25 pm || Up

        I’ve been, it’s pretty good. The fried chicken and pork chops were both standouts. It was a couple years ago and they’ve undergone some chef changes since then. I believe he’s also involved with Hog & Rocks and a place called “HiLo BBQ” which is coming to the same area some time soon.

    • vignette17 Dec 18,2012 8:21 pm || Up

      :(. I wanted him too. Would have provided very nice CI/DH depth.

  26. vignette17 Dec 19,2012 10:54 am

    Probably not the best place to post this but I just saw the 2013 A’s ZiPS projections from a month ago:

    http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove12/story/_/id/8604421/projecting-american-league-west-players-teams-2013-mlb

    • Future Ed Dec 19,2012 10:57 am || Up

      78-84.

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • elcroata Dec 19,2012 11:04 am || Up

        Can’t say I’m surprised. After regressing the second order wins, I have the A’s as 86 win baseline prior to roster changes and individual regressions.

        Because survival is insufficient
      • nevermoor Dec 19,2012 11:05 am || Up

        Fortunately, new guy’s love of the Bernie lean is worth 10 wins.

        "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
    • andeux Dec 19,2012 11:07 am || Up

      For those of us without espn insider, ZiPS projections for the A’s will be posted on fangraphs on Friday.

      TINSTAAFK
      • elcroata Dec 19,2012 11:21 am || Up

        I have it, but I don’t see any

        Because survival is insufficient
    • grover Dec 19,2012 11:29 am || Up

      Since I refuse to give ESPN money, would you be a lamb and post the Zips for Slegna and Texas?

      • dmoas Dec 19,2012 11:47 am || Up

        Baaaaaaah

      • elcroata Dec 19,2012 12:06 pm || Up

        slegnA – 84-78
        Texas – 89-73
        Mariners – 70-92
        LLWS All Stars – 62-100

        Some notables about his A’s projection:
        BA 80 IP, Straily 170 IP, Colon 130 IP
        No PA# for position players, but Kottaras as starting C, Norris as bench player
        No Nakajima, Rosales as SS
        Cespy .273/.337/.454 and Carter .231/.317/.439 only batters with OPS over .750

        Because survival is insufficient
        • elcroata Dec 19,2012 12:13 pm || Up

          Also, that’s without Hamilton on the LAAAA roster

          Because survival is insufficient
        • Future Ed Dec 19,2012 12:27 pm || Up

          basically, its a toss up between the Rangers and Angels, like last year. But this year the A’s are battling for 3, 4, AND 5th place

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • Einstein on the Beach Dec 19,2012 1:52 pm || Up

          obviously, projection is projection and they have a system… but I’ll eat my hat if Cespedes’ ISO is only .181 next year. I have a lot of reasons to think a lot of the A’s hitters will be a lot better than those numbers.

        • grover Dec 19,2012 10:00 pm || Up

          Thank you.

      • vignette17 Dec 19,2012 12:07 pm || Up

        (Click the link and you might be surprised. I don’t have insider, but for some reason I could see the whole article).

  27. andeux Dec 19,2012 2:24 pm

    Kendrys Morales traded for Jason Vargas

    TINSTAAFK
    • MikeV Dec 19,2012 2:45 pm || Up

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

      • dmoas Dec 19,2012 2:55 pm || Up

        Doesn’t that kind of hurt Trout’s value a touch?

        • MikeV Dec 19,2012 3:03 pm || Up

          Positional Adjustment -10, but he played 300ish innings in LF last year anyway and 800ish in CF. His positional adjustment was actually negative last year, which is weird.

          And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

          Thanks, and go As.

      • vignette17 Dec 19,2012 3:52 pm || Up

        Does “best lineup in ball” mean Heyman thinks the Angels will score the most runs? They trailed the league lead by ~40 runs last year and have lost Hunter and Morales and gained Hamilton. Assuming Bourjos gets Morales PA’s, I don’t quite see it.

        • nevermoor Dec 19,2012 4:08 pm || Up

          Trout will just have to get that much better.

          "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
        • ozzman99 Dec 19,2012 4:12 pm || Up

          Well sure, if you’re gonna use numbers as a way of defining “best lineup in baseball.”

        • ozzman99 Dec 19,2012 4:13 pm || Up

          It is one hell of a lineup, though.

          • vignette17 Dec 19,2012 4:25 pm || Up

            They had the most position player WAR of any team last year. But lineup typically refers to solely offensive production to me.

            • ozzman99 Dec 19,2012 6:01 pm || Up

              I just mean that even if they don’t lead the league in runs scored, they’ll still score a lot of runs.

        • Future Ed Dec 19,2012 4:52 pm || Up

          i don’t think he thought that through regarding hunter

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • DasBoont Dec 19,2012 6:57 pm || Up

          Park adjusted it could be. Their wRC+ last year was 2nd just to the Yankees.

          • elcroata Dec 19,2012 10:46 pm || Up

            good that it was the last comment so my answer was placed right next to it, as I was typing the same thing and generally don’t read the thread before answering

            Because survival is insufficient
            • DasBoont Dec 20,2012 2:33 am || Up

              Haha lucky you. I checked the answers first and was a bit surprised nobody had mentioned it yet.

  28. Kay Dec 20,2012 5:48 pm
    \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
    • Englishmajor Dec 20,2012 5:58 pm || Up

      Oh, I should have checked here before posting it in the Lounge thread.

      • Kay Dec 20,2012 8:23 pm || Up

        nah. Thank you for sharing.

        \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
      • dmoas Dec 20,2012 8:24 pm || Up

        Like it matters around here?

  29. Kay Dec 20,2012 5:48 pm
    \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
    • colin Dec 20,2012 5:58 pm || Up

      That’s another good reason to hate them. A few more years and they might overtake the Angles.

    • Englishmajor Dec 20,2012 5:59 pm || Up

      As my mom used to say when two particularly unpleasant people hooked up, “There’s a lid crooked enough for every pot”.

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Dec 20,2012 7:14 pm || Up

      This gets the vitriol flowing quite nicely.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • ptbnl Dec 20,2012 7:36 pm || Up

      Definitely worth getting the front row seats for a Rangers game or two.

      If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
    • Glorious Mundy Dec 21,2012 9:52 am || Up

      Shame that the likeliest guy to punch him has signed with the Red Sox.

      • Kylianna Dec 24,2012 8:59 am || Up

        Okay, now I’m even MORE annoyed about him going to the Sox.

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