OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The Bright Side of the Bay: An Oakland Athletics Dynasty

William Foster · 08-14-2009, 12:34 AM

Magic Number at 24!
Amid potential tragedy the A's magic number is at 24

*A fuller discussion of Daric Barton's career ending injury and its implications can be found on the next page

Tuesday September 1st, 2009

Oakland, CA -- Following the end of play yesterday the A's have zoomed to a 17-12 Month that saw them lower their magic number to 24 games for the dog days of September. Leading the team was the bat of American League Batter of the Month 1B Daric Barton who suffered a career threatening injury only to learn 30 minutes later that he had won American League Batter of the Month for August. "This was absolutely the worst possible way for my career to get off the ground." said 1B Sean Doolittle who was called up following the injury.

The mood going into the following month with SP Ben Sheets returning and adding to an already impressive collection of A's Pitchers is that of somber determination. The A's are determined to win the division and playoffs for Daric. Barton was in the midst of a breakout month when the injury occurred.

Augusts Hot Players:
SP Trevor Cahill - 2-0, 2.51 ERA, 25 K
MR Jerry Blevins - 0-0, 0.93 ERA
SP Dallas Braden - 2-2, 3.77 ERA, 2CG, 2SHO
RF Travis Buck - .290/.367/.598, 7 HR, 8 2B, 21 RBI
C Kurt Suzuki - .344/.384/.527, 3 HR, 8 2B
1B Daric Barton - .347/.405/.607, 7 HR, 6 2B
CF Ryan Sweeny - .359/.409/.504, 3 HR

Augusts Cold Players:
MR Chris Schroeder - 1-1, 5.00 ERA, 2 HR, 10 BB
SP Ben Sheets - 0-2, 5.14 ERA in 14 IP
SS Orlando Cabrera - .183/.237/.303, 2 HR

August News and Transactions

Awards

1B Daric Barton won the AL Batter of the Month Award on the same day his career was permanently threatened by injury.
Injuries

1B Daric Barton suffered a career threatening injury tearing a labrum in his shoulder in an August 31st contest against the Kansas City Royals. Barton was in the midst of one of the best months in baseball history and the A's can only hope to estimate when he'll make it back if ever. Top prospect 1B Sean Doolittle (.285/.374/.517 with 28 HR and 101 RBI in AAA Sacramento) was recalled to replace Barton. "This is never the way you want to make it," said Doolittle after hearing of the injury and his recall. "I'm happy but to see a guy like Daric (Barton) go down like that in a semi-historic month is flat out painful."

2B Mark Ellis was informed by doctors that he is suffering a severe setback in his injury and won't be able to return to the A's until late September at the earliest.

Jason Being Jason

It was leaked that 1B Jason Giambi demanded a trade or more playing time just a day before Barton was injured according to the story printed by the SF Chronicle. Jason was upset by his lack of a starting role and apparently wanted a chance to prove himself. "Jason will play when its in our best interest for him to play." said GM Orloff on the issue. Jason could not be reached for comment on the story despite urgings from reporters.

Roster Expansion

The A's have not revealed their exact plans for roster expansion over the course of September but stay tuned.

Minor League Report

AAA Sacramento

1B Tommy Everidge received the Pacific Conference Batter of the Month award for August. On the season Everidge has shown borderline historic power hitting 31 Home Runs in just 354 AB and maintaining an excellent .268/.358/.585 line over the season. He's almost a lock to be in the competition for the 1B job next spring despite some worrying he's nothing but an AAAA hitter taking advantage of the PCL's notorious bandbox ballparks.

CL Andrew Bailey has managed to have an amazing season as the stabilizing force on Sacramento's historically awful pitching staff netting 27 Saves, a 3.02 ERA and an easy shot at the A's bullpen as of roster expansion. He added to that resume winning the Pacific Conference's top pitcher award for August after he saved 4 games and had an 0.90 ERA in the month. While some think he'll be stretched as a closer in the Big Leagues he'll definitely make a decent reliever according to the scouting consensus.

AA Midland

CL Rocky Roquet was named Texas League Pitcher of the Month for August going 17.1 Innings, striking out 31 and earning 6 Saves. On the season he is 6-9 with 21 Saves (5 Blown) and a 4.14 ERA. One scout watching him called him "A worse Andrew Bailey who leans 100% on his 95 MPH Fastball for outs." which would seem to be backed up by his season stats. Nonetheless the A's have hoped he's turned the corner.

Amidst a large crop of more established prospects 20 year-old SP Arnold Leon has quietly put up a solid season for the Rockhounds, going 6-6 with a 3.48 ERA, 168 IP and 179 K. The fact that he's young for his level upgrades his status from "curiosity" to prospect.

High A Stockton

IF Alex Valdez has signifgantly upped his stock by putting on a monster performance throughout August. Over the month he hit 8 Home Runs almost doubling his Home Run total on the season which was a fact made more interesting by the fact that he plays literally every position besides catcher. Its rare to find a utility infielder with pop so Valdez will be watched very closely indeed by the A's going forward.

2B Jemile Weeks has continued to hit well upon promotion to Stockton hitting .346/.424/.442 since his callup in about 114 AB's. He's looking like a lock to begin next year at AA Midland and could be as little as a year away.

Low A Kane County

OF Yusuf Carter has now hit 35 Home Runs in Kane County on the Season. He has legendary holes in his swing but power like he's shown in Kane County is rare and hard to ignore. His lack of patience doesn't help him out much case-wise either but regardless Yusuf may begin next year at AAA Sacramento.

How do you not get noticed with over 270 K's in 175 IP? Well one possible way is if you also walk 120 hitters and give up 17 Long Balls. This happened to be the case for raw SP Brent Hunter who possesses tremendous raw potential in his stuff but has horrible control problems. He'll likely hit Double A next year where his performance will determine his future as trade bait.

Short A Vancouver

Big Venezuelan righty SP Henry A. Rodriguez has continued to dominate upon being called up to Vancouver. He doesn't have much stanima which could mean he's headed for the pen in the upper minors but for now he'll continue to dominate the lower levels of competition at his almost 2 K per Inning rate.

Rookie Ball Arizona A's

SP Brett Devail has gone 5-0 with a 2.01 ERA for the team since being released by Atlanta and then signed by the A's as a minor league free agent. He lacks a big fastball or a projectable way of getting outs so his career will hinge on whether he can keep putting up these numbers in Kane County next season.

OF Christopher Berroa has been putting on a show in Arizona this year to the tune of .337/.461/.507 with 9 HR and 30 SB. Scouts hate him and he has been hitting well in Arizona which is known for inflating offensive totals. Nonetheless even if he doesn't make it as a starter his incredible speed means he'll probably make it as a 5th Outfielder.

08-14-2009, 12:34 AM	#20 (permalink)
William Foster Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 120 Thanks: 2 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	Magic Number at 24! Amid potential tragedy the A's magic number is at 24 A fuller discussion of Daric Barton's career ending injury and its implications can be found on the next page Tuesday September 1st, 2009 Oakland, CA -- Following the end of play yesterday the A's have zoomed to a 17-12 Month that saw them lower their magic number to 24 games for the dog days of September. Leading the team was the bat of American League Batter of the Month 1B Daric Barton* who suffered a career threatening injury only to learn 30 minutes later that he had won American League Batter of the Month for August. "This was absolutely the worst possible way for my career to get off the ground." said 1B Sean Doolittle who was called up following the injury. The mood going into the following month with SP Ben Sheets returning and adding to an already impressive collection of A's Pitchers is that of somber determination. The A's are determined to win the division and playoffs for Daric. Barton was in the midst of a breakout month when the injury occurred. Augusts Hot Players: SP Trevor Cahill - 2-0, 2.51 ERA, 25 K MR Jerry Blevins - 0-0, 0.93 ERA SP Dallas Braden - 2-2, 3.77 ERA, 2CG, 2SHO RF Travis Buck - .290/.367/.598, 7 HR, 8 2B, 21 RBI C Kurt Suzuki - .344/.384/.527, 3 HR, 8 2B 1B Daric Barton - .347/.405/.607, 7 HR, 6 2B CF Ryan Sweeny - .359/.409/.504, 3 HR Augusts Cold Players: MR Chris Schroeder - 1-1, 5.00 ERA, 2 HR, 10 BB SP Ben Sheets - 0-2, 5.14 ERA in 14 IP SS Orlando Cabrera - .183/.237/.303, 2 HR August News and Transactions Awards 1B Daric Barton won the AL Batter of the Month Award on the same day his career was permanently threatened by injury. Injuries 1B Daric Barton suffered a career threatening injury tearing a labrum in his shoulder in an August 31st contest against the Kansas City Royals. Barton was in the midst of one of the best months in baseball history and the A's can only hope to estimate when he'll make it back if ever. Top prospect 1B Sean Doolittle (.285/.374/.517 with 28 HR and 101 RBI in AAA Sacramento) was recalled to replace Barton. "This is never the way you want to make it," said Doolittle after hearing of the injury and his recall. "I'm happy but to see a guy like Daric (Barton) go down like that in a semi-historic month is flat out painful." 2B Mark Ellis was informed by doctors that he is suffering a severe setback in his injury and won't be able to return to the A's until late September at the earliest. Jason Being Jason It was leaked that 1B Jason Giambi demanded a trade or more playing time just a day before Barton was injured according to the story printed by the SF Chronicle. Jason was upset by his lack of a starting role and apparently wanted a chance to prove himself. "Jason will play when its in our best interest for him to play." said GM Orloff on the issue. Jason could not be reached for comment on the story despite urgings from reporters. Roster Expansion The A's have not revealed their exact plans for roster expansion over the course of September but stay tuned. Minor League Report AAA Sacramento 1B Tommy Everidge received the Pacific Conference Batter of the Month award for August. On the season Everidge has shown borderline historic power hitting 31 Home Runs in just 354 AB and maintaining an excellent .268/.358/.585 line over the season. He's almost a lock to be in the competition for the 1B job next spring despite some worrying he's nothing but an AAAA hitter taking advantage of the PCL's notorious bandbox ballparks. CL Andrew Bailey has managed to have an amazing season as the stabilizing force on Sacramento's historically awful pitching staff netting 27 Saves, a 3.02 ERA and an easy shot at the A's bullpen as of roster expansion. He added to that resume winning the Pacific Conference's top pitcher award for August after he saved 4 games and had an 0.90 ERA in the month. While some think he'll be stretched as a closer in the Big Leagues he'll definitely make a decent reliever according to the scouting consensus. AA Midland CL Rocky Roquet was named Texas League Pitcher of the Month for August going 17.1 Innings, striking out 31 and earning 6 Saves. On the season he is 6-9 with 21 Saves (5 Blown) and a 4.14 ERA. One scout watching him called him "A worse Andrew Bailey who leans 100% on his 95 MPH Fastball for outs." which would seem to be backed up by his season stats. Nonetheless the A's have hoped he's turned the corner. Amidst a large crop of more established prospects 20 year-old SP Arnold Leon has quietly put up a solid season for the Rockhounds, going 6-6 with a 3.48 ERA, 168 IP and 179 K. The fact that he's young for his level upgrades his status from "curiosity" to prospect. High A Stockton IF Alex Valdez has signifgantly upped his stock by putting on a monster performance throughout August. Over the month he hit 8 Home Runs almost doubling his Home Run total on the season which was a fact made more interesting by the fact that he plays literally every position besides catcher. Its rare to find a utility infielder with pop so Valdez will be watched very closely indeed by the A's going forward. 2B Jemile Weeks has continued to hit well upon promotion to Stockton hitting .346/.424/.442 since his callup in about 114 AB's. He's looking like a lock to begin next year at AA Midland and could be as little as a year away. Low A Kane County OF Yusuf Carter has now hit 35 Home Runs in Kane County on the Season. He has legendary holes in his swing but power like he's shown in Kane County is rare and hard to ignore. His lack of patience doesn't help him out much case-wise either but regardless Yusuf may begin next year at AAA Sacramento. How do you not get noticed with over 270 K's in 175 IP? Well one possible way is if you also walk 120 hitters and give up 17 Long Balls. This happened to be the case for raw SP Brent Hunter who possesses tremendous raw potential in his stuff but has horrible control problems. He'll likely hit Double A next year where his performance will determine his future as trade bait. Short A Vancouver Big Venezuelan righty SP Henry A. Rodriguez has continued to dominate upon being called up to Vancouver. He doesn't have much stanima which could mean he's headed for the pen in the upper minors but for now he'll continue to dominate the lower levels of competition at his almost 2 K per Inning rate. Rookie Ball Arizona A's SP Brett Devail has gone 5-0 with a 2.01 ERA for the team since being released by Atlanta and then signed by the A's as a minor league free agent. He lacks a big fastball or a projectable way of getting outs so his career will hinge on whether he can keep putting up these numbers in Kane County next season. OF Christopher Berroa has been putting on a show in Arizona this year to the tune of .337/.461/.507 with 9 HR and 30 SB. Scouts hate him and he has been hitting well in Arizona which is known for inflating offensive totals. Nonetheless even if he doesn't make it as a starter his incredible speed means he'll probably make it as a 5th Outfielder.