A few items on the A's..
- Jane Lee of MLB.com doesn't expect the A's record to dictate their level of activity in the trade market. Grant Balfour is already a popular name for clubs looking for relief help and Bartolo Colon should draw heavy interest from contenders looking for help at the Trade Deadline. Earlier this week, Ben Nicholson-Smith looked at Balfour as a trade candidate.
- Lee also writes that she was surprised by the club's decision to pick up Luke Hughes rather than use Adam Rosales at third base. The A's claimed Hughes off of waivers from the Twins on Sunday.
- Speaking of the club's third base situation, Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group (via Twitter) expects the A's to consider pursuing Brandon Inge.
Why start making sense now? Inge should be on the team tomorrow.
If Billy Beane hasn’t called Brandon Inge’s agent already, something is very wrong. The A’s have nobody that can competently play third base. This needs to happen immediately.
they do, but he’s on the dl for the year unfortunately
So, his statement is correct. The A’s have nobody who can play 3B. They haven’t since Eric Chavez broke in 2007. Service was serviceable last season but nothing special. Meanwhile, Jack Hanahanahan tears it up in Cleveland.
Agreed. Hughes might have a quick stop in Oakland.
like i said on the previous inge thread, not for or against signing him. i think i’d prefer we wait a month or two then call up parker and see what he could do at third. he’s got great control of the strikezone, but he’s lacking in 3B defense
Contrary to Inge. Who can play 3b defensively, but believes that the strike zone is an imaginary thing
Inge is garbage offensively, makes no sense to bring him in. Sure he offers a little bit better glove, yet not by much. See how Hughes can do.
Erik Sogard is the best answer they have. Only a .167 BABIP with a 34.5% line drive rate, so when his luck turns around along with his good walk rate (9.1% – in line with his minor league numbers). His defense is great too.
sounds like Joe Stiglich was reading our comments for the Inge drop.
other a’s news according to joe stiglich (on twitter), michael taylor is in baltimoah with the team
I’d be elated, but the A’s already have 50 billion OFers (Unless someone not name Josh or Yoenis is getting traded)
i had this thought in my head for a second, could it possible that he gets traded for mark reynolds?
I’m very meh on the idea of the A’s trading for Reynolds. But definitely possible.
There really isn’t a spot for Taylor on the MLB team unless this is a precursor to a Smith/Gomes trade.
Crisp is injured…inner ear issue
Crisp could get injured getting out of the shower for goodness sake! He’s very poor value for that salary. Can’t throw, can’t hit/poor OBP and no power.
Of course, re: the hitting the A’s have Cespedes and very little else. Kila’s shown some life. And, I think Reddick will be OK.
As for trade value, it’s all on the pitching staff: Balfour, Colon and McCarthy.
Obviously they need to get rid of Crisp. The, get Taylor up. BTW, for those who were chattering about Beane playing the service clock game with Parker, Peacock…Parker is already up and Peacock won’t be far behind.:;
Beane should be fired for not moving on Juan Francisco when he became available. Instead all these no-quite or retread-duds become pinwheel fodder while the program can’t produce a decent corner infielder if it fell from the sky.
he did find a decent corner infielder, who played pretty well last year actually, only issue is he had a freak accident practicing fielding freaking bunts and is out for the year. stephen parker is a decent hitter but it’s his fielding that’s lacking, if he performs the way he’s done for another month/month and a half, he may warrant a promotion
because Beane can control Scott Sizemore getting hurt.
let alone getting hurt during bunting-fielding practice. yeah, beane should’ve totally seen that coming and prepared for that!
I’m afraid the criticism is warranted. The system is so consistently void of infield talent (especially at third). Injury is no excuse for Beane not finding a few viable 3Bmen the past half-dozen years. And, first is no picnic either. You have AAAA Daric Barton and Chris Carter. Barton can field, but can’t hit. Hoping that Miles Head makes rapid progress through the ranks.
Stephen Parker, Miles Head