MLB 2009 thread

[shayd]

well i wonder where the Giants would be if the had signed one big bat because thier pitching has been phenomal. the a's Buck seems to always get hurt or slump right when they make a move and after a great 07 his bad 08 killed him.

red001

The lack of playing time for Buck is the primary reason why Bob Geren is not in good standing in my book. Buck should be the starting right fielder, not question about it. The guy OPS's .850 his rookie year, struggled a bit to start last year, (he admitted he was putting to much pressure on himself and was simply playing with the intention of hitting a home run every time), then strains a hamstring, goes on the DL, is optioned to AAA, OPS's .800 there, suffers a concussion running into the wall robbing a home run, and doesn't get called up to the end of the season, where he promptly OPS's .890 the last month and a half of the season.

This year, Geren apparently has him on his shitlist, because he's been up 4 different times, and still only played in 31 games, the majority in late inning replacement/pinch hitting roles. He's played in consecutive games 3 times all year 3 times.The poor guy hasn't gotten a chance to play regularly since the beginning of the 2008, and it's making the A's look absolutely idiotic to have someone who's career average OPS+ is 110, when the now starter has a career OPS+ of 81 playing in AAA and absolutely dominating. And having Jack Cust play right field for a while made the A's defense look like a bunch of little leaguers. If Geren has any sense in his head at all, when Buck gets called up again he'll be the starting right fielder. If not, Geren has again proven his ineptitude as a Major League manager.

 

[Red001]

well i suspect as long as cust contunies to hit homers hell will get most of the pt . i agree that Buck is on someones shit list i wonder when the A's are going to realize that players like Buck are the new wave and just let him play

red001

 

[shayd]

well i suspect as long as cust contunies to hit homers hell will get most of the pt . i agree that Buck is on someones shit list i wonder when the A's are going to realize that players like Buck are the new wave and just let him play

red001

Here's what's funny:

Jack Cust as a DH is 2.4 wins above replacement (WAR). That's pretty spectacular especially on the current A's team. As a RF however, Cust is -1.8 WAR, his defense is that bad. It's idiotic to play Cust as anything other than a DH, but Geren keeps trotting him out there, although with Hairston out there, not so much anymore. Switch that around, and you've got Buck at 2.6 WAR as a RF, and -3.5 as a DH. Seems pretty clear where he should be playing.

What puzzles me more is that the A's keep doing this with such and young and talented player, which is exactly the commodity they need and want. Buck is almost the exact same player as another big name that the A's traded away to make room for Buck in the first place: Andre Either.

On a side note, looks like Sean Gallagher was indeed the PTBNL in the Hairston deal. I'm not so hot on this trade anymore, because I liked Gallagher a lot, and he had a lot of upside.

 

[yaheem]

How much longer will Billy let his buddy Geren continue to do his thing. From my limited experiences of him he does not exude too much confidence. But the teams hes had have not been very good but it is a business, right? First ASG I will surely enjoy, well the first two innings at least as long as Lincecum doesn't go out and get...:beer::throwup:

 

[shayd]

How much longer will Billy let his buddy Geren continue to do his thing. From my limited experiences of him he does not exude too much confidence. But the teams hes had have not been very good but it is a business, right? First ASG I will surely enjoy, well the first two innings at least as long as Lincecum doesn't go out and get...:beer::throwup:

I read an interview with Beane two days ago on the SF Chronicle website where they point blank asked if Geren's job was safe, and Beane said yes. In all fairness, Geren hasn't really had a lot of talent at the major league level for very long, as injuries has essentially lengthened this rebuilding period, and made it difficult to field a competitive team. I didn't expect the A's to realistically do much this season, but I was at least hoping for some signs of hope. It's been extremely depressing for me to watch Geren throw out half-assed or just plain dumb lineups, especially when the team is nowhere near contention this year. Jason Giambi is hitting .190, and about 75% of the balls he hits are straight into the shift, and he can't catch up to a ML fastball anymore. He's showing his age, and it's time for Barton to come back up and start developing as a ML player, instead of the backup he's been under Geren this season (his situation is a lot like Buck's). All I want to see from him is getting the young guys playing time, and playing people where they should be playing. At this point, that's his only job; get the young guys playing time consistently.

I'm looking forward to the ASG for sure, I'm sure Lincecum will do well, but I'll be interested to see how many innings they give him.

 

[Red001]

unless they pitch poorly usally all-star starters get 2 innings.
the A's hopefully realize that Buck is a talent before he is dealt away
Gallagher was gone when the A's promoted Vince and Gio instead of him in late may and early june when they needed starters

red001

 

[shayd]

unless they pitch poorly usally all-star starters get 2 innings.
the A's hopefully realize that Buck is a talent before he is dealt away
Gallagher was gone when the A's promoted Vince and Gio instead of him in late may and early june when they needed starters

red001

I know the starters usually only go two, but Lincecum has been so dominant, and he's rested, I wouldn't be surprised to see more.

I don't think the writing was ever on the wall for Gallagher, he just didn't perform well in the majors at the beginning of the season, then went down to AAA, and suddenly his control problems, (which only popped up after he spent about a month with the A's from the trade last season), disappeared and he put up an ERA+ of 125, which is beyond dazzling. Then he got hurt, and apparently Beane had soured on him at that point, which is sad, because I can easily see him as a plus #3 or 4 starter in the future. Not often a guy who throws 95 and drops in a curve at 75 with plus plus movement and good control comes along, but oh well.

 

[yaheem]

Gallagher was part of the Harden deal right? I remember hearing that he has got the stuff but he didnt show any...I forgot the word, he wasnt trying to be great, not trying maybe. The starters do usually go two, and they did today. Terrible to see Lincecum pitching like it was Opening Day. Maybe the pressure got to him, shoot with all those HOF players there, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, the President, most all of the US watching, that would be tough for a 25 year old. Has Pujols ever gone 0-3 with an error in his career, I doubt it, it would never happen in a game that matters. And why does the AL keep dominating? Perhaps no one knows the answer to that. Next year just you wait the NL will win! Or not.

 

[Red001]

the Cubs traded Gallagher because Flyball pitchers dont usally do well in wrigley.The A's moved him because they have a surplus of starters. I suspect we will see some trades over the next few days know that teams have had a chance to evauleate thier needs for the second half.

red001

 

[shayd]

Gallagher was part of the Harden deal right? I remember hearing that he has got the stuff but he didnt show any...I forgot the word, he wasnt trying to be great, not trying maybe. The starters do usually go two, and they did today. Terrible to see Lincecum pitching like it was Opening Day. Maybe the pressure got to him, shoot with all those HOF players there, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, the President, most all of the US watching, that would be tough for a 25 year old. Has Pujols ever gone 0-3 with an error in his career, I doubt it, it would never happen in a game that matters. And why does the AL keep dominating? Perhaps no one knows the answer to that. Next year just you wait the NL will win! Or not.

Yeah, the A's traded Harden and Chad Gaudin for Gallagher, Matt Murton, Eric Patterson, and Josh Donaldson. Murton has since been traded to the Rockies, and Patterson and Donaldson are tearing up the minors right now. It's depressing for me, because although his control went to shit in the majors, he showed his old form back in the minors this year before he got hurt.

Lincecum looked a bit nervous didn't he? I was surprised because he's usually so composed, but it's not like the ASG actually matters for anything anyway.

the Cubs traded Gallagher because Flyball pitchers dont usally do well in wrigley.The A's moved him because they have a surplus of starters. I suspect we will see some trades over the next few days know that teams have had a chance to evauleate thier needs for the second half.

red001

What I think is really interesting about trading Gallagher is he has higher upside than Gio. Gio put up the numbers in the minors, but Gallagher took time to develop, but now it seems Gio has hit his peak in terms of pure stuff, and he now needs to learn to pitch to major league hitters (he did a great job of that the last game he was in). Gallagher, as I've said before throws 95-97 with a plus plus curve and for his career good control. That upside there is scary, but I like Hairston a lot, so I guess I can't complain. I was just hoping the PTBNL was Eveland.

 

[Red001]

well Patterson seems stuck behind Mark Ellis no matter his numbers. i think Gallagher will do well in San Deigo talk about an extreme pitchers park.

red001

 

[shayd]

well Patterson seems stuck behind Mark Ellis no matter his numbers. i think Gallagher will do well in San Deigo talk about an extreme pitchers park.

red001

What strikes me is that Patterson hasn't hardly played second at all this year. He's been used primarily in the outfield, and at third (obviously there is a gaping hole there, despite Kennedy performing well right now). And the thing that gets me even more, is suddenly he's putting up plus defensive numbers, which he has never done. Someone must have been putting in some extra work, and it's showing off. Gallagher will do well in San Diego, but I still see his ceiling as a #3 or #4 guy. In San Diego, I can grant you he could become a #2.

 

[Red001]

the one time i saw Patterson he dh'd so i don't know about his defense but i liked how he hustled and played with so much energy. i'm beginning to think beane's genius is overrated

red001

 

[NavyBlue]

Mets are in a freefall mode. I say it's time to look to 2010 and trade players like Beltran in the offseason for some good prospects. This team is getting old and with so many players leaving it's time for a transition. I don't like Omar but with the contract he's given he'll be around for few more years so I hope he'll know what to do.

 

[shayd]

the one time i saw Patterson he dh'd so i don't know about his defense but i liked how he hustled and played with so much energy. i'm beginning to think beane's genius is overrated

red001

How so? I mean I'm not trying to say he's without faults, but I definitely think he's tops in the league.

 

[Red001]

well it's true Beane still makes good deals. i think he has missed more of late,more of the players he's acquiring aren't panning out.look realistically the A's need to be right almost always on players they can't pay a free agent to cover mistakes.

been fun watching the Pirates take the first 2 from the Giants

red001

 

[yaheem]

I hear all these people saying how the Giants are fine with what they have, dont ruin the chemistry in the clubhouse, what the Giants need is another pitcher, lets trade the entire minor league to get Roy Halladay. Those stupid people, the Giants have scored one unearned run in 26 some odd innings since the break. It is the Pirates though and the Giants havent been able to beat them in quite a few years. Hell I would prefer Billy over Sabean, but I have a feeling Beane would have traded Lincecum and Cain for every single top prospect the Yankees have.

 

[shayd]

well it's true Beane still makes good deals. i think he has missed more of late,more of the players he's acquiring aren't panning out.look realistically the A's need to be right almost always on players they can't pay a free agent to cover mistakes.

been fun watching the Pirates take the first 2 from the Giants

red001

Well that begs the question, what has he missed? All of the trades he's made since the Haren deal in 2007 have been rebuilding moves, which means all of those guys should be in the minors developing until at least next year (at the absolute earliest). MAC (Mazzaro, Anderson, and Cahill) have been shown some great things this year, and look to only get better. I'm trying to find a player that Beane has right now that hasn't panned out. So far, it seems to me that it's a bit early to tell for sure, but I think Billy has still put us in an excellent position to win (starting in about 2011) for years to come, and when the A's get their new stadium, the A's will finally be able to spend money competitively, although my guess is that it'll be more in scouting than FA.

I hear all these people saying how the Giants are fine with what they have, dont ruin the chemistry in the clubhouse, what the Giants need is another pitcher, lets trade the entire minor league to get Roy Halladay. Those stupid people, the Giants have scored one unearned run in 26 some odd innings since the break. It is the Pirates though and the Giants havent been able to beat them in quite a few years. Hell I would prefer Billy over Sabean, but I have a feeling Beane would have traded Lincecum and Cain for every single top prospect the Yankees have.

I'm trying to realistically look at what it would take for the Giants to get Halladay, and it's gonna be a pretty price. Any deal would have to at minimum include Bumgarner, and Alderson or Villalona, and outside of those three, the Giants only have one good prospect and that's Buster Posey. And if Billy were the GM, he'd still have Lincecum, but Cain would've been traded for 4-5 high end prospects, and not to the Yankees, who only really have two good prospects right now.

 

[HS47]

Mets need to start selling, outside of Sanat, K-Rod and Wright/Reyes, I'd try to unload anybody possible. I know he is currently injured, but I'm sure a guy like Sheffield has some interest from a contender, his contract isn't too bad.

I'd rather lose with young guys (Murphy, Evans, Niese etc..) than seeing us lose with losers like Tatis, Castillo in the team

 

[NavyBlue]

Mets need to start selling, outside of Sanat, K-Rod and Wright/Reyes, I'd try to unload anybody possible. I know he is currently injured, but I'm sure a guy like Sheffield has some interest from a contender, his contract isn't too bad.

I'd rather lose with young guys (Murphy, Evans, Niese etc..) than seeing us lose with losers like Tatis, Castillo in the team

Exactly. Mets should stop trying to compete this year and look to the future. I know they want to sell as many tix as possible but this team has been in a slow decline for years and if Mets don't try to restock their farm system right now they'll be in a world of hurt in a few years when guys like Beltran and Santana are past their prime and they have nobody to fill their shoes.