2009 Oakland A's thread

If Buck can stay healthy and get 500 ABs, I think he could be one who hits .280 with 15 HRs/35+ 2Bs/80 RBIs.

That's the big thing and you said it, IF!

As for the closer, if healthy, I'd pick Devine because he has closer stuff. Ziegler doesn't do all that well against LHs and with his ability to get ground balls, he'd be a ideal 7th or 8th inning man to put out the fire.

Plus with his delivery, don't think he can get tired as much as others so that'll allow him to throw more IP than lets say a Devine.

But I do agree that both will get save chances thru out the year, as I don't think Devine will be able to stay healthy for the entire season.

Other wise, I think Devine could be a lights out closer.

Are there any veteran SP's still available that could be a reasonable possibility for us? I still think that one more arm would complete our roster.

The only one I can think of that has been linked in any way with the A's is Mulder who has yet to work out yet.

Heads up, 45 minutes until A's 30/30 on MLB Network today.

I loved how Wolff is backtracking on how he didn't want to give the impression that he's ripping Oakland in his statement a few days ago.

What exactly has he ever done that you could say that "embraced" the city of Oakland or hell even A's fans.

Mazzaro like Cahill struggled in their outing in back to back days.

Nice to see Gallagher rebound from a poor showing last time out, although again, he wasn't probably near 100% after coming off the bug that has hit the club house this entire ST.

Nothing much to speak of about the 30/30.

Same stuff you hear, or mainly read but just in "visual" form.

Apparently Jesus Guzman is doing very well for the Giants during Spring Training. He's a guy who I think we could really use and didn't understand why we let him go. He plays 3B which is definitely a need. Maybe his defense isn't so hot, but the toal paackage cant be worse than what Hanahan ahs to offer. Looking at the 40 man roster we could've definitely found room to keep him. Did he have one too ma y temper tantrums here or soemthing?

Also, is there anything wrong with Holliday? I havn't see him in the lineup the past few days.

I don't know why they let go of Guzman. But at this point, I doubt Beane thinks he let one go away considering they have both Weeks and Cardenas maybe a year or two away who could play the 2B and SS positions...and Guzman at 3B, I don't think he was seen as a 3B long term or if he could play the position well.

He really struggled last season after a hot start. At this point at age what 25 or 26, I don't think he's anything more than a backup if he ever reaches the bigs. Least with Hannahan, you know he can be a backup as he's very good defensively which Guzman hasn't been known to be. As for the bat, well he's not a starter even though I thought he maybe could be a decent one or two year short term option at 3B if Chavez was done, but he could be decent I guess if not allowed to be an everyday player.

Long term 3B options in the A's org, there aren't many. But at this point, I'd give Donaldson a shot at 3B as the C position in the A's org looked pretty stacked with Suzuki/Powell at the major league level, Galarraga who the A's really liked enough to sign from the Mexican leagues this past offseason starting at AAA I guess and is doing well in ST so far hitting .400 albeit in limited ABs, you got Recker and Paramore probably manning the C position at A+ and AA...and the A's signed that Australian kid a few weeks ago believes his name was Box. Donaldson also is doing well in ST after he came from the Cubs in the Harden deal and had a monster year offensively at A+. Can Donaldson make the switch to 3B is the question.

Watching the 30/30 again, they didn't mention the A's top positional prospects.

Booo...

Beimel signs with the Nats.

Not entirely upset the A's didn't sign him considering he wanted 2/3 million per season and I don't think he would be 2/3 million better than lets say an Gio or Outman, hell I'd be interested to see if Sisco could arrive sometime in the season.

PP top 200 prospect list, 12 A's made the list with two on the honorable...

7. Brett Anderson
20. Trevor Cahill
48. Michael Yona
73. Gio Gonzalez
82. Adrian Cardenas
91. James Simmons
94. Aaron Cunningham
98. Chris Carter
117. Jemile Weeks
138. Vincent Mazzaro
145. Josh Donaldson
187. Sean Doolittle

HM Henry Rodriguez, Cliff Pennington
_________________

It still p*sses me off how we passed over a guy who is pretty much a consensus Top 20 hitter (Brett Walace) an a top 10 pitcher (Porcello) in consecutive drafts. Weeks is n the low 100's while Wallace is top 50.

7 Brett Anderson LHP Dominated A+/AA last year (6.2% BB, 26.3% K, 57+% GB); Ks rose by 4.7% from A+ to AA 21.1 OAK AA

20 Trevor Cahill RHP Stellar strikeout/ground-ball pitcher; command will determine if he peaks as a No. 1 or No. 3-4 21.0 OAK AA

46 Michael Ynoa LHP "He is a very polished pitcher with three above-average pitches" - Billy Beane told ESPN last Jul. 17.4

73 Gio Gonzalez LHP Reverted to '06 K and BB% in '08 (AAA): 24.4% K, 11.6% BB, 4.23 FIP; was in PCL, though 23.4 OAK MLB

82 Adrian Cardenas 2B Went .279/.392/.326 in 102 AA PA; no power (.047 IsoP), K's (9.8%); lots of patience (14.7%) 21.4 OAK AA

91 James Simmons RHP Was solid across the board as 21-year-old in AA (5.6 BB%, 20.8 K%, 3.41 FIP), MLB in 2009? 22.4 OAK AA

94 Aaron Cunningham OF Went .329/.400/.532 between AA, AAA; could have troubles breaking into crowded OAK OF 22.8 OAK MLB

98 Chris Carter 1B Had his way in the Cal League: .389 wOBA, 39 HR, 57% XBH; lots of strikeouts, too (26%) 22.2 OAK A+

117 Jemile Weeks 2B No. 12 overall pick had .379 wOBA in 90 A PA; leadoff-type hitter had 14.4% BB, .108 IsoP 22.1 OAK A

138 Vincent Mazzaro RHP Broke out in AA: 6.5 BB%, 18.7 K%; then was 4th-youngest SP in AAA; could make A's rotation 22.4 OAK AAA

145 Josh Donaldson C Liked CAL (.405 wOBA in 207 PA) far more than MID (.276 wOBA in 252 PA); in PHX for AFL 23.2 OAK A+

187 Sean Doolittle 1B Broke out power stroke in CAL League (.255 isoP, .389 wOBA); struggled in AA (.308 wOBA) 22.4 OAK AA

Well kind of strange.

I'm more upset with passing on Wallace, not only because he was a hometown kid who grew up an A's fan, but he could at least short term fill in at 3B...now he may have to move later on in his career....but even if he's average at very best defensively at 3B, his bat could've made up well for it.

But IMO, I think Weeks is a better bet to be a solid "core player" for the A's than I do with Simmons who in his first visual debut for me last SAT when the A's debuted on CSNCA, he didn't impress me all that much. Like Weeks or not, by the end of this season he could be one of the top 2B prospects in all of MLB...that's of course if he doesn't get injured like he did last season just when he started to play well in the lower minors.

Simmons? Obviously he's been surpassed by Anderson, Cahill, and Mazzaro...hell throw in Gio while you're in there and even Gallagher...all of them are I believe 23 years old or younger.

As for the list above, Porcello was 17 while Wallace was 36.