Comments on: A’s Take Giambi Back http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/as-take-giambi-back/ Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:58:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Michael Bravard http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/as-take-giambi-back/#comment-58853 Michael Bravard Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:39:50 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=2170#comment-58853 A's strength was pitching last season but they also did a lot of little things right. Their pitchers led AL in pick-offs and fewest WP. Catchers led AL in throwing out runners (Kurt Suzuki will be better in 2009 and attract media raves). In general this was a team that did not beat itself. Holliday will help the offense but is also a very good base runner and improving defender. He is so far above replacement level that a couple more positive moves could put Oakland in contention. Sweeney/Raj Davis should platoon in CF. While they have to find a way to play both Giambi and Cust versus RHP, they must also find a way to limit the defensive damage. I think that will result in playing Barton at fist and Cust in the RF. A’s strength was pitching last season but they also did a lot of little things right. Their pitchers led AL in pick-offs and fewest WP. Catchers led AL in throwing out runners (Kurt Suzuki will be better in 2009 and attract media raves). In general this was a team that did not beat itself. Holliday will help the offense but is also a very good base runner and improving defender. He is so far above replacement level that a couple more positive moves could put Oakland in contention.
Sweeney/Raj Davis should platoon in CF. While they have to find a way to play both Giambi and Cust versus RHP, they must also find a way to limit the defensive damage. I think that will result in playing Barton at fist and Cust in the RF.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/as-take-giambi-back/#comment-58784 Jeremy Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:52:02 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=2170#comment-58784 Why would you sit Sweeney? Sweeney was their 2nd best hitter last season and the only other centerfielder is Raj Davis. Just wait for Buck to get hurt, which he does at least once every 7 days, then play Cust in RF, Barton at 1st. Why would you sit Sweeney? Sweeney was their 2nd best hitter last season and the only other centerfielder is Raj Davis.

Just wait for Buck to get hurt, which he does at least once every 7 days, then play Cust in RF, Barton at 1st.

]]> By: oldjacket http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/as-take-giambi-back/#comment-58780 oldjacket Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:52:44 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=2170#comment-58780 Yeah, that was my first thought. Note to Oakland pitchers: strike Motherf*ckers out! Yeah, that was my first thought.

Note to Oakland pitchers: strike Motherf*ckers out!

]]> By: Justin http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/as-take-giambi-back/#comment-58776 Justin Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:08:32 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=2170#comment-58776 So, do you sit Sweeney? and make your LF Cust? Who is atrocious? Barton was cause of some bad luck last year, but itll be interesting how Beane uses them..... So, do you sit Sweeney? and make your LF Cust? Who is atrocious?
Barton was cause of some bad luck last year, but itll be interesting how Beane uses them…..

]]> By: Nick http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/as-take-giambi-back/#comment-58775 Nick Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:02:28 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=2170#comment-58775 I don't know if I can really see the A's using Barton as a bench player. He'll be just 23 years old next season, and will be in need of playing time. However, Barton has seemingly shown all that he can in AAA, so does he just go back there for playing time not really needing to show anything more? Not to mention that either Chris Carter or Sean Doolittle may be ready for AAA by the end of the season. I don’t know if I can really see the A’s using Barton as a bench player. He’ll be just 23 years old next season, and will be in need of playing time. However, Barton has seemingly shown all that he can in AAA, so does he just go back there for playing time not really needing to show anything more? Not to mention that either Chris Carter or Sean Doolittle may be ready for AAA by the end of the season.

]]> By: Justin http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/as-take-giambi-back/#comment-58774 Justin Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:47:41 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=2170#comment-58774 I am guessing that Giambi will spend most of his time at 1B, and Cust at DH, with Holliday, Buck and Sweeney in the OF. Barton will move to 1st, if Sweeney is not hitting, and Cust will move to the OF, while Giambi DH's. Beane has alot of options, so we shall see how he handles it. I am guessing that Giambi will spend most of his time at 1B, and Cust at DH, with Holliday, Buck and Sweeney in the OF. Barton will move to 1st, if Sweeney is not hitting, and Cust will move to the OF, while Giambi DH’s.
Beane has alot of options, so we shall see how he handles it.

]]> By: Double06 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/as-take-giambi-back/#comment-58769 Double06 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:34:12 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=2170#comment-58769 What of Jack Cust? Corner outfield? Or Giambi at first base? That's gonna be brutal either way. What of Jack Cust? Corner outfield? Or Giambi at first base? That’s gonna be brutal either way.

]]> By: Dave Cameron http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/as-take-giambi-back/#comment-58767 Dave Cameron Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:26:46 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=2170#comment-58767 We've actually already done this. Based on historic inflation rates, we'd have expected the cost per win in this market to be somewhere around $5 million. We've already removed the inflation assumption and gone back to last year's number of $4.5 million per win. And, I think that number is about right. Everyone is screaming about Burrell being a huge steal. He's a two win DH and he got $8 million per year. That's $4 million per win. If he's the poster boy for the market cratering, then it's hard to argue that the cost per win is less than $4 million. The high end guys got closer to $5 million per win from the Yankees. I'd say the cost per win is between $4 and $5 million per win. We could argue over the decimal point if we wanted to, but I'm not sure it matters much. We’ve actually already done this. Based on historic inflation rates, we’d have expected the cost per win in this market to be somewhere around $5 million. We’ve already removed the inflation assumption and gone back to last year’s number of $4.5 million per win. And, I think that number is about right.

Everyone is screaming about Burrell being a huge steal. He’s a two win DH and he got $8 million per year. That’s $4 million per win. If he’s the poster boy for the market cratering, then it’s hard to argue that the cost per win is less than $4 million. The high end guys got closer to $5 million per win from the Yankees.

I’d say the cost per win is between $4 and $5 million per win. We could argue over the decimal point if we wanted to, but I’m not sure it matters much.

]]> By: joser http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/as-take-giambi-back/#comment-58765 joser Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:20:14 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=2170#comment-58765 The market for gloveless or glove-impaired hitters seems to be soft (Raul Ibañez excepted -- and that may reflect the Phillies jumping early and misjudging him, the market, or both). Whether that's because of a glut relative to the available needs, or because GMs are starting to value defense more, I don't know. But I'm not sure (yet) we can conclude the market for FA overall has softened that much -- or have you forgotten about the early Christmas in the Bronx? The market for gloveless or glove-impaired hitters seems to be soft (Raul Ibañez excepted — and that may reflect the Phillies jumping early and misjudging him, the market, or both). Whether that’s because of a glut relative to the available needs, or because GMs are starting to value defense more, I don’t know. But I’m not sure (yet) we can conclude the market for FA overall has softened that much — or have you forgotten about the early Christmas in the Bronx?

]]> By: Kent Bonham http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/as-take-giambi-back/#comment-58757 Kent Bonham Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:35:24 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=2170#comment-58757 Dave: At what point is it worth adjusting the estimate for the going rate of a win in the current free agent market? It would be interesting to see how this off-season's signings look using the $4.5M estimate, and how they look using a value that factors in the cost of a win as defined by every '08-'09 free agent signing to date. Maybe there wouldn't be a difference. I honestly don't know. But it certainly feels as though the market has softened considerably over the past few weeks. Dave:

At what point is it worth adjusting the estimate for the going rate of a win in the current free agent market?

It would be interesting to see how this off-season’s signings look using the $4.5M estimate, and how they look using a value that factors in the cost of a win as defined by every ‘08-’09 free agent signing to date.

Maybe there wouldn’t be a difference. I honestly don’t know. But it certainly feels as though the market has softened considerably over the past few weeks.

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