I am here to introduce myself as a new Blogger to Athleticshomeplate.com. My name is Kevin and I will be a voice here for the upcoming 2009 season; however I will begin with spring training. A little something about myself: (Skip it if you’d like) I first began writing about baseball through message boards like most, but became infatuated and then infuriated with baseball writers who cover your local team, yet have favorable ties to the opposition. So now I will begin and thanks for visiting my blog.
The first official scrimmage begins Wednesday, February 25th, in Phoenix at Maryvale Baseball Park. For those of you who are attending, drop a line here to inform me about any worthwhile moments or experiences.
To more relevant news: SS Oakland Athletics
The most compelling story of the off season (and spring for that matter) for me is Bobby Crosby’s status as the starting short stop for the A’s. The pitching rotation is all but set with the fifth starter likely to go to Gio Gonzalez or will it be the other Gonzalez, Edgar? The non-roster invitee looked impressive in a sample intrasquad game today, who knows? I digress.
Crosby and the Short-Stop position gets my attention. Word’s out that Crosby has a vendetta!
Crosby-who has yet to fullfil his potential- is hard at work, attempting to put to good use the former “Bash Brother” Mark MCgwire’s batting instruction. From what I’ve seen in the media reports, naysayers-especially GM Billy Bean- have lost all faith in the former ROY. This alone has sparked Crosby and so far, he’s shown a significant change in his stance, swing, and approach. From camp, many are saying he looks good. For Crosby though, is this what has hampered his success, his swing, or has it been his frequent pine riding on the disabled list? I guess we’ll know sooner rather than later, or A’s fans wont have to worry if Orlando Cabrera agrees to a lesser contract, one or the other.
I’d like to here why anyone would appose a swap of Cabrera for Crosby. Say Cabrera agrees to a $4MM and the A’s pass Crosby’s service’s to another team, and cover half of his salary around $2.5MM. Sure the home runs might not be there but the average and OBP will. What is there to dislike?
Since this is my first post here, I assume there should be some feedback???
Well chomp on that for a while and I’ll be back for more.
]]>Matt Murton who came to the A’s in the Rich Harden deal with the Chicago Cubs was sent over to the Rockies. I would assume he would get more playing time with the Rockies and might actually put up a little bit of power hitting at Coors Field for half a season. We wish Matt the best!
]]>In the last two seasons with the St. Lous Cardinals, Springer went 10-2 with a 2.24 ERA and a .195 opponents’ batting average.
Good move for the A’s!
]]>The contract includes a 2009 salary of between $4 million-$4.5 million, with the option worth about $5.5 million. An option buyout of $1.5 million and annual incentive packages worth up to $250,000 also are said to be part of the deal.
Decent deal for the A’s even though Giambi is getting up there in age. He can still swing the bat pretty good just not like he was before he left the A’s to goto the New York Yankees.
]]>It’s also being rumored that Furcal wouldn’t even have came to the A’s if the Braves didn’t offer. He would have rathered re-signed with the Dodgers.
It’s unclear in which direction the A’s will be looking at now. Where do you think they should be looking at for a free agent or trade?
]]>You probably remember that the A’s offered Furcal four years and $9 million per year last month but he was wanting $13 million a year. Now it looks like the market has come down for the shortstops and the A’s are hoping he will take their new deal at $10 million.
As it appears right now, the A’s are the front runners to sign Furcal. The Blue Jays are dropping out of the running for him, and I don’t see the Royals spending $40 million on him. I also doubt that he goes back to the Dodgers.
]]>“Whether you’re looking at free agents or trades or both, the idea is to improve your club every winter,” he said. “That never changes.”
One player the team is going after is shortstop Rafael Furcal. Furcal took a guided tour around the area with Beane last week is the big guy that Beane would like to get this off season. Although no actual contract as been offered up to this point, Fucal and the A’s are still interested in each other.
One thing is for sure, in the first time in a while, Beane and company have money to spend this offseason and that is a good thing because the team really needs to improve before the 2009 season.
]]>Holliday, playing half his games at Coors Field, has 128 homers and 483 RBIs in five big league seasons. His best year was 2007, when he won the NL batting title with a .340 average and had 36 homers and a league-best 137 RBIs in helping the Rockies reach the World Series.
It sounds like a lot to get Holliday especially when he will be a free agent after the 2009 season. His agent is Scott Boras as well so I don’t think the A’s will have the money to sign him to a long term deal.
What do you think about the deal A’s fans?
]]>The two year contract will pay Ellis $11 million dollars while the third year would pay him six million dollars or a $500,000 buyout. Now the key for Ellis is staying healthy and playing great defense while hitting for average and getting on base.
Good signing as long as he stays healthy in my opinion.
]]>All four A’s pitchers that got into the game were charged with atleast one run as it wasn’t a good day to be a pitcher on the Athletics staff. Starting pitcher Dana Eveland was charged with eight hits and seven runs in just five innings to take the loss. Eveland is now 9-9 on the year.
Relief pitcher Santiago Casilla gave up four runs, while Jeff Gray gave up two runs. Dan Meyer gave up one more run and three hits over his two innings of action. Just a terrible outing by all the A’s pitchers.
Chris Denorfia and Jack Cust both hit solo home runs to finish with one rbi each for the A’s. The A’s also got single rbi’s from Cliff Pennington and Rob Bowen. That was all the offense could muster against the Rangers.
The A’s will now be off on Thursday before beginning their final series of the year against the Seattle Mariners.
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