GreenNGold89
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We can do without Griffin but without Parker we are in trouble. Straily at 3? :x
The Oakland Athletics 2018 Offseason Season Thread | One and Done Again
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by Johnny_Cakes,
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This article makes it seem a little less dire:
http://www.athleticsnation.com/2014...njury-tommy-milone-jesse-chavez-evan-scribner
Athletics injuries: Everything is going to be OK
By Alex Hall on Mar 14 2014, 7:31p 10
I have a really good feeling about Jesse Chavez in the rotation. Which stage of grief is that? - Otto Greule Jr
The A's lost 40% of their starting rotation in one day, just two weeks before the season. But fear not, A's fans. This team was built to withstand injuries.
It was not a happy Pi Day in Oakland this year. Susan Slusser reported that the Athletics lost two members of their starting rotation on the same day, as Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin are both headed to doctors to check out arm problems and are doubtful for the beginning of the regular season. SB Nation has the full roundup of what's up with them, and Nico wonders if we should have seen it coming. The next question is how this affects the rest of the roster.
The word from Slusser is that Tommy Milone and Jesse Chavez are going to replace Parker and Griffin in the rotation to start the year. She didn't suggest it, or say that it was likely. She said it as if it were already fact. It makes sense, too; not only is Chavez killing it in spring training, he's also already on the roster. Using him frees up a spot in the bullpen, possibly allowing the team to keep an extra out-of-options reliever. Here is how the rotation should look on March 31:
1. Sonny Gray
2. Scott Kazmir
3. Dan Straily
4. Tommy Milone
5. Jesse Chavez
(Note: Gray on Opening Day is not my conjecture; Slusser calls him the "best bet.")
The change from Griffin to Milone isn't really that big of a deal. Griffin was solid last year and reached 200 innings, but his 97 ERA+ suggests that he was barely average. Milone has posted an identical 97 ERA+ in his two years with the A's, representing 57 starts and nearly 350 innings. The ZiPS projections actually think that Milone will be better than Griffin in 2014, such that this would have been a smart move even if the Lionheart was healthy. It's certainly nice to have a sixth option of Milone's quality ready for an emergency like this.
As for Chavez, here is what I had to say about him on SB Nation:
(Chavez) entered the year with a 5.99 ERA in 156 major league games, but he posted a 3.92 mark in 57⅓ innings last season with solid peripheral stats to back it up. He's been even better this spring, having tossed 12⅔ shutout innings with 12 strikeouts and only two walks. His career resurgence is most commonly attributed to the addition of a cut fastball that he began throwing in 2012; Chavez threw the pitch 41.6 percent of the time last year, and Fangraphs rated it as his most valuable offering overall.
Chavez was our whipping boy in 2012, and I was one of his harshest critics. I get it now. He was learning a new pitch (the cutter), and it clearly worked. I started coming around on him last year, especially after his 17-out performance in the 18-inning marathon against the Yankees. I even lobbied for him to get a spot start as far back as last May. So, when I say that Chavez can hold his own in the rotation, know that I'm not just reacting optimistically to an emergency through a green-and-gold bias. I've been ready to see what this guy's got for awhile now, and I think the only reason that he didn't get a shot last year was that Melvin wanted to keep him consistent in his role as the long-man rather than blackley him back and forth.
Yes, Chavez will be a downgrade from Parker. That can't be denied. Despite Parker's troubles at the beginning of 2013, he's a guy who can put up an above-average season. But this isn't a season-ruiner if Chavez can at least keep the team in games. I don't expect that he'll eat a lot of innings, and I think that we'll see a lot of four-to-six-inning starts from him, but I base that on nothing but his relative inexperience as a starter -- two major league starts, 54 minor league starts, career-high around 130 innings.
Of course, using some of your depth means that you now have less of it. The next in line to start is now either Drew Pomeranz or Josh Lindblom. I've been hoping that Pomeranz could get at least a month or two in Triple-A to get comfortable and show what he can do at normal elevation, so I'll bet that Lindblom will get the call if someone else goes down. Arnold Leon has been stretched out to start and is looking good this spring, but if it comes to him then it means that Oakland has lost an entire rotation's worth of starters. Anything's possible, but let's not think about that scenario during what should be one of the happiest and most hopeful times of the year.
With Chavez being promoted from the bullpen, a spot has opened up for another reliever. Ryan Cook may be ready for Opening Day after all, according to Carl Steward of the San Jose Mercury News, so this extra spot could prove quite valuable. With Cook in the mix, six spots are taken:
Jim Johnson
Ryan Cook
Sean Doolittle
Luke Gregerson
Dan Otero
Fernando Abad
The first four are locks, Otero is a virtual lock, and Abad is out of options. With Chavez in the rotation, that means that there is space for Evan Scribner on the Opening Day roster. This is important, because Scribner is out of options as well and I don't believe that he would pass through waivers if he were sent down. His ERA jumped a bit last year, but his peripherals remained strong and he dominated in Triple-A. He can also throw multiple innings, which means that he can slide right into Chavez's role as the long-man in the pen. Keeping Scribner in the organization could be a small silver lining in what is otherwise a very stormy situation. (For what it's worth, he's thrown 5⅓ shutout innings this spring as well.)
If Cook does end up starting the campaign on the disabled list, then it's tough to say who may replace him. The obvious choice is Joe Savery, but the fact that he can be stashed in Triple-A is crucial. The need for depth is as apparent now as ever, and there may be other worthwhile pitchers in camp who won't stick around if they are cut. Perhaps someone like Fernando Nieve or Philip Humber could earn a role in the back of the pen as a long-relief option; I don't know the contract status of either player, so if they can be kept in the minors then I'd just soon go with Savery, who I believe is the best of the three by far.
Today was not a great day for the A's, but the world did not end. They almost certainly got worse for 2014, but Billy Beane built enough depth into the roster that the team should be able to withstand the blow. They replaced the things they lost with MLB-caliber talent, and there is still more high-upside help available in the form of Pomeranz. And while I fear the worst with Parker -- I'd rather be pessimistic and wrong than optimistic and disappointed -- it's still possible that Griffin's injury could be short-term. Take a deep breath, believe in Billy, and enjoy your Friday night. Eat some walk-off pie for Pi Day and continue preparing for a winning season of A's baseball.
By Alex Hall on Mar 14 2014, 7:31p 10
I have a really good feeling about Jesse Chavez in the rotation. Which stage of grief is that? - Otto Greule Jr
The A's lost 40% of their starting rotation in one day, just two weeks before the season. But fear not, A's fans. This team was built to withstand injuries.
It was not a happy Pi Day in Oakland this year. Susan Slusser reported that the Athletics lost two members of their starting rotation on the same day, as Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin are both headed to doctors to check out arm problems and are doubtful for the beginning of the regular season. SB Nation has the full roundup of what's up with them, and Nico wonders if we should have seen it coming. The next question is how this affects the rest of the roster.
The word from Slusser is that Tommy Milone and Jesse Chavez are going to replace Parker and Griffin in the rotation to start the year. She didn't suggest it, or say that it was likely. She said it as if it were already fact. It makes sense, too; not only is Chavez killing it in spring training, he's also already on the roster. Using him frees up a spot in the bullpen, possibly allowing the team to keep an extra out-of-options reliever. Here is how the rotation should look on March 31:
1. Sonny Gray
2. Scott Kazmir
3. Dan Straily
4. Tommy Milone
5. Jesse Chavez
(Note: Gray on Opening Day is not my conjecture; Slusser calls him the "best bet.")
The change from Griffin to Milone isn't really that big of a deal. Griffin was solid last year and reached 200 innings, but his 97 ERA+ suggests that he was barely average. Milone has posted an identical 97 ERA+ in his two years with the A's, representing 57 starts and nearly 350 innings. The ZiPS projections actually think that Milone will be better than Griffin in 2014, such that this would have been a smart move even if the Lionheart was healthy. It's certainly nice to have a sixth option of Milone's quality ready for an emergency like this.
As for Chavez, here is what I had to say about him on SB Nation:
(Chavez) entered the year with a 5.99 ERA in 156 major league games, but he posted a 3.92 mark in 57⅓ innings last season with solid peripheral stats to back it up. He's been even better this spring, having tossed 12⅔ shutout innings with 12 strikeouts and only two walks. His career resurgence is most commonly attributed to the addition of a cut fastball that he began throwing in 2012; Chavez threw the pitch 41.6 percent of the time last year, and Fangraphs rated it as his most valuable offering overall.
Chavez was our whipping boy in 2012, and I was one of his harshest critics. I get it now. He was learning a new pitch (the cutter), and it clearly worked. I started coming around on him last year, especially after his 17-out performance in the 18-inning marathon against the Yankees. I even lobbied for him to get a spot start as far back as last May. So, when I say that Chavez can hold his own in the rotation, know that I'm not just reacting optimistically to an emergency through a green-and-gold bias. I've been ready to see what this guy's got for awhile now, and I think the only reason that he didn't get a shot last year was that Melvin wanted to keep him consistent in his role as the long-man rather than blackley him back and forth.
Yes, Chavez will be a downgrade from Parker. That can't be denied. Despite Parker's troubles at the beginning of 2013, he's a guy who can put up an above-average season. But this isn't a season-ruiner if Chavez can at least keep the team in games. I don't expect that he'll eat a lot of innings, and I think that we'll see a lot of four-to-six-inning starts from him, but I base that on nothing but his relative inexperience as a starter -- two major league starts, 54 minor league starts, career-high around 130 innings.
Of course, using some of your depth means that you now have less of it. The next in line to start is now either Drew Pomeranz or Josh Lindblom. I've been hoping that Pomeranz could get at least a month or two in Triple-A to get comfortable and show what he can do at normal elevation, so I'll bet that Lindblom will get the call if someone else goes down. Arnold Leon has been stretched out to start and is looking good this spring, but if it comes to him then it means that Oakland has lost an entire rotation's worth of starters. Anything's possible, but let's not think about that scenario during what should be one of the happiest and most hopeful times of the year.
With Chavez being promoted from the bullpen, a spot has opened up for another reliever. Ryan Cook may be ready for Opening Day after all, according to Carl Steward of the San Jose Mercury News, so this extra spot could prove quite valuable. With Cook in the mix, six spots are taken:
Jim Johnson
Ryan Cook
Sean Doolittle
Luke Gregerson
Dan Otero
Fernando Abad
The first four are locks, Otero is a virtual lock, and Abad is out of options. With Chavez in the rotation, that means that there is space for Evan Scribner on the Opening Day roster. This is important, because Scribner is out of options as well and I don't believe that he would pass through waivers if he were sent down. His ERA jumped a bit last year, but his peripherals remained strong and he dominated in Triple-A. He can also throw multiple innings, which means that he can slide right into Chavez's role as the long-man in the pen. Keeping Scribner in the organization could be a small silver lining in what is otherwise a very stormy situation. (For what it's worth, he's thrown 5⅓ shutout innings this spring as well.)
If Cook does end up starting the campaign on the disabled list, then it's tough to say who may replace him. The obvious choice is Joe Savery, but the fact that he can be stashed in Triple-A is crucial. The need for depth is as apparent now as ever, and there may be other worthwhile pitchers in camp who won't stick around if they are cut. Perhaps someone like Fernando Nieve or Philip Humber could earn a role in the back of the pen as a long-relief option; I don't know the contract status of either player, so if they can be kept in the minors then I'd just soon go with Savery, who I believe is the best of the three by far.
Today was not a great day for the A's, but the world did not end. They almost certainly got worse for 2014, but Billy Beane built enough depth into the roster that the team should be able to withstand the blow. They replaced the things they lost with MLB-caliber talent, and there is still more high-upside help available in the form of Pomeranz. And while I fear the worst with Parker -- I'd rather be pessimistic and wrong than optimistic and disappointed -- it's still possible that Griffin's injury could be short-term. Take a deep breath, believe in Billy, and enjoy your Friday night. Eat some walk-off pie for Pi Day and continue preparing for a winning season of A's baseball.
http://www.athleticsnation.com/2014...njury-tommy-milone-jesse-chavez-evan-scribner
Last edited:
GreenNGold89
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Griffin is going to be shut down for at least 3 weeks.
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So he'll be back for beginning of the season.
Really hope we get some positive news for Parker.
Really hope we get some positive news for Parker.
GreenNGold89
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I don't see Griffin back in the rotation until late April/early May. He'll prob rest until mid April and then need a couple starts in Sacramento before he is up with the team. I'm ok with that though.
Parker scares me. I don't like Dr. Andrews.
Parker scares me. I don't like Dr. Andrews.
GreenNGold89
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Cespedes's struggles really worry me.
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Right now, the best thing you can say about Cespedes' offense is that it's inconsistent. I don't know what he can do to get out of his own head and just swing.
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I don't worry about Cespedes, it feels like he knows when to turn it on.
Our catchers are looking great in Spring, I hope it continues into the season.
Our catchers are looking great in Spring, I hope it continues into the season.
GreenNGold89
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Parker done for the year. I need a drink.
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So we lost our #3 starter for the year. Definitely not good, but teams have survived worse. How about when we lost Colon for the second half two years ago?
GreenNGold89
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I wouldn't call him our number 3. You can make the case he was our number 1.
Gray may have the best stuff on this team but he is still very young. I think Parker's loss is big. The thought of having Chavez, straily, or griffin at 3 scares me.
I agree that teams endure worse though and we have a decent amount of depth, so hopefully we make it through.
Gray may have the best stuff on this team but he is still very young. I think Parker's loss is big. The thought of having Chavez, straily, or griffin at 3 scares me.
I agree that teams endure worse though and we have a decent amount of depth, so hopefully we make it through.
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You're forgetting Scott Kazmir who has pitched incredibly in spring training. I expect him to be our ace, and certainly no less than our second starter.
Chavez has been doing well too apparently, he should be serviceable in a fifth slot or wherever he lands.
Chavez has been doing well too apparently, he should be serviceable in a fifth slot or wherever he lands.
GreenNGold89
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I like Kazmir and think he will be solid for us, I just don't like any of our other pitchers at 3. Chavez has looked solid this spring and I think he will be fine as a 5, although I don't see him going more than 70-80 pitches.
Hopefully Straily or Griffin (when healthy) step up because I don't trust Milone as much more than a 5 starter either.
Can't believe we lost 2 of our 5 starters to begin the year.
Hopefully Straily or Griffin (when healthy) step up because I don't trust Milone as much more than a 5 starter either.
Can't believe we lost 2 of our 5 starters to begin the year.
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It's a good thing Billy focused a lot on bullpen. I think the plan is to limit everyone's pitch count and bring the bullpen in earlier than normal for every starter.
GreenNGold89
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Yeah it will help keep a young staff fresh for the stretch run.
You think Burns is going to make the 25 man roster? He has been amazing this spring but I still think it is going to be hard for him to land a spot. I think Fuld will make the team though.
You think Burns is going to make the 25 man roster? He has been amazing this spring but I still think it is going to be hard for him to land a spot. I think Fuld will make the team though.
GreenNGold89
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-Gentry and Cook will begin the season on the DL. Melvin expects both to be ready by April 4.
-Fuld expected to make the team.
-Lindblom, Leon, and Freiman sent to the minors.
-Ces hit his first homer of the spring today.
-Fuld expected to make the team.
-Lindblom, Leon, and Freiman sent to the minors.
-Ces hit his first homer of the spring today.
GreenNGold89
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And our pitching staff gave up 6 homers to the Cubs today. :x
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I can't wait for the games to start counting, I already have tickets to 3 games next week.
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I didn't buy opening night tickets yet, judging from the prices I see for them now I'm SOL.
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View media item 880265
Really want to see the new green uniforms in action. Really like seeing our tops change and still look great.
Really want to see the new green uniforms in action. Really like seeing our tops change and still look great.
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Shut out the Giants. Good work, Jesse.
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Who has opening day tickets? I've been hearing that it could get rained out. Can't remember the last time that happened.
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I got mine, but it doesn't seem like the game is gonna happen. 
GreenNGold89
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