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December 29, 2011

2011 A’s vs. 1997 Marlins

In 1997, the Florida (now Miami) Marlins won the World Series, bringing joy and enthusiasm to the team and its fan base. Days later, the destruction of the team began as management shipped off nearly every high-priced veteran it could to save money.

The excuse was that the team couldn't afford such a large payroll without a larger fan base, and more fans would come only if the team got a new stadium. Well, it took nearly 15 years, but that new stadium is finally a reality, and it looks to be a stunning ballpark, though the structural integrity and financing of the facility have been called into question.

In 2011, the Oakland A's went 74-88. There were no victory parades, but the team's teardown has been as thorough as the Marlins' was 14 years ago.

Starting pitchers Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez have been shipped off to the Diamondbacks and Nationals, respectively, in return for a gaggle of hot prospects. Middle reliever Craig Breslow joined Cahill in the move to Arizona, while closer Andrew Bailey and outfielder Ryan Sweeney were just sent to Boston for three more promising youngsters.

Josh Willingham, David DeJesus, Coco Crisp and Hideki Matsui—all solid, if unispiring, offensive contributors—will not be returning to Oakland. The roster has been stripped so bare that at one point Sweeney was listed on the A's official Web site depth chart as the starting outfielder at all three positions.

Like the Marlins, the A's say they need a new ballpark to compete. And with the Angels signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, and the Rangers coming off back-to-back World Series appearances and acquiring the rights to Yu Darvish, they certainly need something to keep pace.

Rumors abound that the team soon will be allowed to move to San Jose, though Bud Selig's Blue Ribbon Committee that has been studying the issue for a few years now has not made any formal proposals. Given how long the Marlins waited for a new facility, A's fans shouldn't hold their breath.

When the Marlins tore things down, they shaved massive financial commitments from their books, but at least they had a title to show for their investment. The A's are dealing away young, cheap, cost-controlled talent for even younger, even cheaper, cost-controlled potential. And they have nothing to show for their efforts other than the possibility of being the cheapest, most anonymous ball team since the 1998 Marlins.

Things were awful in South Florida in '98, as the team fell from 92 victories the season before to a mere 54 wins. The A's starting point is 74 wins. An equal 38-game dropoff would yield a 36-126 record that would make the 1962 Mets look like world beaters.

Oakland is unlikely to be quite that bad in 2012 and beyond, but it's going to be horrendously ugly for the next few years. It may even be so bad that this monstrosity will look good by comparison.
Posted by: Greg Simons

May 31, 2011

The Giants pigeonhole Brandon Belt

Following Buster Posey's horrific injury last week, the Giants recalled Brandon Belt from the Pacific Coast League. Should he be on the major league roster and how much playing time should he get?

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Posted by: Brad Johnson

May 26, 2011

Promoting Anthony Rizzo is a bad idea

Over the next several weeks, we should see major league clubs promote a variety of interesting prospects. One of the players most internet pundits assume will be promoted is Anthony Rizzo.

It looks like an open and shut case. The Pacific Coast League is known as a hitter's league, but Rizzo is killing the competition. His .366/.442/.720 triple slash performance screams for promotion. He has decent plate discipline with an 11.6 percent walk rate (22 walks with five intentional passes and two hit by pitch) and a 22.1 percent strikeout rate. He's shown huge power via a .356 isolated power mark. He has even swiped five bags in six attempts.

So what are the Padres waiting for?
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Posted by: Brad Johnson

October 27, 2010

Moving the prospect meter, October 27th

What you've missed...

Since we last spoke (well, I spoke—hopefully you listened), the fall and winter seasons have taken shape and begun to form a life of their own. Bryce Harper has had two successful games in the Arizona Fall League, roping a two-run ground-rule opposite field double in his first game, and going 2-for-4 in his second. He played right field (or rather stood in right field—he didn't have a ball hit his way) in the first game and was the designated hitter in the second. He may only be eligible to play twice a week, but all reports indicate that he has had nothing but positive effects on his teammates despite his confidant reputation.

Tearing up the AFL is Giants second base prospect Charlie Culberson, who is leading the league in batting average, slugging percentage and extra-base hits. Dustin Ackley is hitting .333, but is sporting a .556 in-base percentage thanks to nine walks, five of which came in one game.

In the Venezuelan Winter League, Angels prospect Mark Trumbo has been among the most productive players, posting a line of .302/.400/.535 through 12 games, with four doubles and two home runs to his credit. Cubs prospect Austin Bibens-Dirkx may be sporting an 0-2 record, but he's pitched well, as indicated by his 2.70 ERA and strikeout-to-walk ratio of 10-to-3 in three starts.

The Puerto Rican Winter League is under way, and prospects Dee Gordon and Chris Marrero are both off to hot starts at the plate. Gordon, the Dodgers top prospect, has four hits in his first nine at-bats while Marrero, a former first-round pick by the Nationals, is 3-for-9 with a double in the early going. The Dominican Winter League season is equally as young, but Mariners outfield prospect Carlos Peguero has five hits in his first 11 at-bats to put him among the early hitting leaders.

In injury and transaction news, Freddie Freeman has had his AFL season cut short due to a thumb injury, which the Braves will make him rest in order to have him ready to compete for a starting job this spring. Also coming home is Joe Mahoney, the Orioles minor league hitter of the year who injured his wrist in Venezuela and will have it examined by team doctors. The Royals were set to send Mike Moustakas to the Dominican League to get some more at-bats this winter, but after a strong season and extra games with Team USA in the Pan-Am qualifying tournament, the team may elect to withhold their top hitting prospect and let him rest this off-season.
Posted by: Jeff Moore

October 19, 2010

Fall league update

Now that we're a full week into the Arizona Fall League as well as the Mexican and Venezuelan winter leagues, we have some performances, injuries, and news items that are worth noting. At the very least, it should give you something to read while ignoring the latest installment of the Conan Blimp.

In AFL action, Michael Taylor of the A's has come out of the gate with a bang, showing off the power that he displayed last season but apparently got lost somewhere along his travels from Philadelphia to Toronto to Oakland last off-season. He's posted a .421/.522/.842 line through five games this fall, already slugging two home runs. Taylor hit a disappointing six homers this season after pounding 20 and 19 in the previous two years, respectively. He's tied for the early AFL lead with Giants second base prospect Charlie Culberson, who leads the league in total bases. None of them are to be outdone, however, by Ben Revere, the Twins outfield prospect who is off to a red-hot start, going 12-for-23 in his first six games, and stealing four bases in the process.

In the past, the AFL has at times been known known as a haven for hitters, leaving pitchers susceptible to offensive onslaughts and box scores that look like they came via metal bats. So far this fall, however, pitchers are holding their own, with some downright excelling in the warm, hitter-friendly climate. As week two of the season begins and pitchers have had their second turn in the rotation come around, Alex Cobb of the Rays has been among the most impressive of those toeing the rubber. Cobb has posted a 1.29 ERA through seven innings of work, striking out seven batters along the way, after an impressive season in Double-A.

Some teams use the AFL as a chance to get new draftees into game action if they signed too late to appear in regular season leagues. Chance Ruffin of the Tigers falls into that category, making his first professional appearances while serving as the closer for the Surprise Rafters, but getting touched up for four earned runs in three appearances so far. The Reds used a similar tactic with Mike Leake last year, and it led to a spot in their rotation.

Also slated to make his first professional appearance today is Bryce Harper. After a successful stint in the instructional league, the Nationals have added Harper to the taxi squad of the Scottsdale Scorpions, meaning Harper will be with the team throughout the remainder of the AFL season, but is only eligible to play in games on Wednesdays and Saturdays, unless someone on the regular roster gets injured. Harper, who just turned 18 last weekend, is a year-and-a-half younger than the next youngest player in the league.
Posted by: Jeff Moore


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