A group weblog for Oakland A's fans
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Not really an ex-A, but...
Apparently Jeff Weaver is now Yankee fandom's most reviled player. Given the post about ex-A's and just how badly Weaver's Yankee career turned out, time to take a look at other figures in that deal...
The Yankees "gained" Weaver but lost Ted Lilly, John-Ford Griffin, and Jason Arnold. At this point, Lilly alone was too high a price to pay for Weaver. (Given how unwelcome he is in New York now, arguably, the empty set was too high a price for the Yankees to pay for Weaver, unless/until they can trade him.)
Detroit lost Weaver but gained Jeremy Bonderman, Carlos Pena, and Franklyn German.
German had a terrible 2003 season, perhaps off-setting the major gains he'd made in prospect-list stature through the end of 2002. Pena has been a bust so far (though not as big a bust as Weaver). That leaves Bonderman, whose 2003 season I'd find extremely encouraging. All in all, big advantage Tigers.
That leaves the A's, with the gain of Lilly (and Arnold and Griffin) but the loss of the aforementioned Tiger prospects. If Lilly pitches in 2004 remotely like he did the last six weeks of 2003, then he alone almost justifies this deal for Oakland. Meanwhile, the A's flipped Arnold (and some cash) for Erubiel Durazo, and they still have Griffin doing... some really nice things actually.
All in all, small plus for the A's; big plus for the Tigers; catastrophic minus for the Yankees. Not at all what I'd have expected when this deal went down.
Apparently Jeff Weaver is now Yankee fandom's most reviled player. Given the post about ex-A's and just how badly Weaver's Yankee career turned out, time to take a look at other figures in that deal...
The Yankees "gained" Weaver but lost Ted Lilly, John-Ford Griffin, and Jason Arnold. At this point, Lilly alone was too high a price to pay for Weaver. (Given how unwelcome he is in New York now, arguably, the empty set was too high a price for the Yankees to pay for Weaver, unless/until they can trade him.)
Detroit lost Weaver but gained Jeremy Bonderman, Carlos Pena, and Franklyn German.
German had a terrible 2003 season, perhaps off-setting the major gains he'd made in prospect-list stature through the end of 2002. Pena has been a bust so far (though not as big a bust as Weaver). That leaves Bonderman, whose 2003 season I'd find extremely encouraging. All in all, big advantage Tigers.
That leaves the A's, with the gain of Lilly (and Arnold and Griffin) but the loss of the aforementioned Tiger prospects. If Lilly pitches in 2004 remotely like he did the last six weeks of 2003, then he alone almost justifies this deal for Oakland. Meanwhile, the A's flipped Arnold (and some cash) for Erubiel Durazo, and they still have Griffin doing... some really nice things actually.
All in all, small plus for the A's; big plus for the Tigers; catastrophic minus for the Yankees. Not at all what I'd have expected when this deal went down.
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
What's with the ex-A's in the World Series?
All these guys who really, really sucked when they were with the A's, leave Oakland and miraculously become World Series Clutch Gods. Scott Brosius, Scott Spiezio, and tonight, Ruben Sierra.
I thought Jason Giambi was going to come through and drive in the winning run in extra innings, but I think the problem with him is that he didn't suck when he was with the A's.
So there should be plenty of incentive for anyone who is remotely interested in acquiring Terrence Long. Hint, hint...
All these guys who really, really sucked when they were with the A's, leave Oakland and miraculously become World Series Clutch Gods. Scott Brosius, Scott Spiezio, and tonight, Ruben Sierra.
I thought Jason Giambi was going to come through and drive in the winning run in extra innings, but I think the problem with him is that he didn't suck when he was with the A's.
So there should be plenty of incentive for anyone who is remotely interested in acquiring Terrence Long. Hint, hint...
Ramon Hernandez on the block?
Baseball Prospectus used a little deductive reasoning from an interview of Padres GM Kevin Towers to conclude that the Padres are discussing a trade for Ramon Hernandez. The Padres are also interested in A.J Pierzynski and Ramon Castro, so it's far from a done deal.
Ramon is a solid major league catcher, but after hitting 21 home runs in 2003, his value is probably at its peak. I think hitting 21 home runs was a bit of a fluke, and he'll be back in 10-12 home run territory next year. So it's wise of the A's to see what they can get for him now, and spread the money around elsewhere.
BP suggests that they A's might get Xavier Nady in exchange. I'm a Cal grad, so I like Nady, but I think he was rushed through the minors a bit, so I'm skeptical about his value. He's only 24, but his .712 OPS this year in San Diego was nothing special. Here's John Sickels' take on Nady from spring training.
Baseball Prospectus used a little deductive reasoning from an interview of Padres GM Kevin Towers to conclude that the Padres are discussing a trade for Ramon Hernandez. The Padres are also interested in A.J Pierzynski and Ramon Castro, so it's far from a done deal.
Ramon is a solid major league catcher, but after hitting 21 home runs in 2003, his value is probably at its peak. I think hitting 21 home runs was a bit of a fluke, and he'll be back in 10-12 home run territory next year. So it's wise of the A's to see what they can get for him now, and spread the money around elsewhere.
BP suggests that they A's might get Xavier Nady in exchange. I'm a Cal grad, so I like Nady, but I think he was rushed through the minors a bit, so I'm skeptical about his value. He's only 24, but his .712 OPS this year in San Diego was nothing special. Here's John Sickels' take on Nady from spring training.
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Bye, bye, Singleton
The A's have declined their option on Chris Singleton. This should come as no surprise. Why pay $1.8 million to Singleton, when Eric Byrnes is a better and cheaper option in center field? Singleton gets a $200,000 buyout.
The A's have declined their option on Chris Singleton. This should come as no surprise. Why pay $1.8 million to Singleton, when Eric Byrnes is a better and cheaper option in center field? Singleton gets a $200,000 buyout.
