Comments on: Sheets to Oakland

By: Dealer A

Dealer A — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:04:24 +0000

I can’t provide a list, but I do agree that the article seems to overstate his arm injuries. In my memory, Sheets’ worst injuries were to the right latissimus dorsi and his vestibular neuritis.

Whatever injuries fill out the rest of the list, I don’t remember them being specifically related to one another.

By: Felonius_Monk

Felonius_Monk — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:02:23 +0000

No, but you can make some ridiculously over-slot pickups in the 2nd and 3rd round and amass some pretty good (first-round quality) talent. Selig might not like it but (whilst the slotting system works as it does) it’s certainly something you can use to your advantage if you have a relatively large stack of funds for signing bonuses.

By: Felonius_Monk

Felonius_Monk — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:31:25 +0000

150 IP each from Duke and Sheets is also at a very low percentile on the probability scale. But I agree, if it happens, the A’s may be as good at run prevention as any team in MLB, given their unbelievably awesome young bullpen, talented rotation, and extremely good defense.

By: Felonius_Monk

Felonius_Monk — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:28:38 +0000

Circle – Gonzalez has been commonly called “CarGo” by just about everybody who’s ever written anything about him for years. It’s almost as ubiquitous (albeit for a much lower profile player) as “A-Rod”. Dunno if you were being sarcastic but otherwise I’m not sure how you missed that!

By: Felonius_Monk

Felonius_Monk — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:21:54 +0000

I’m pretty sure hitters mostly peak around 30/31, actually. 27/28 is definitely too young (although, taking defense into account, might be more accurate).

By: BabySpittle

BabySpittle — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:24:16 +0000

Pitchers need experience to improve.

Still, I like the signing.

By: lookatthosetwins

lookatthosetwins — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:55:27 +0000

That works in theory, but in general, a 4.5 win pitcher in the NL is probably actually a 4.25 win pitcher, but will appear to be a 4.0 win pitcher in the AL. I do agree that he isn’t worth less money because he’s moving to the AL, that doesn’t really make any sense. But we’ll continue to have these problems until they start doing league adjustments to WAR.

By: PL

PL — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:05:16 +0000

This move is great and necessary for Oakland because Cahill and Mazzaro need more time at AAA and it would be nice to give Outman maximum recovery time.

30 games of Sheets is going to be at least 2 wins more than 30 games started from Eveland, Cahill & Mazzaro. Billy Beane is always trying to get an opening day team together that could compete for the pennant, this year is no different. With the updated A’s going with plus defenders at every position on the diamond, we can expect to see ERA’s drop at a severe rate. Washburn showed last year that defense can make your pitchers look VERY good and the A’s have 5 good-to-great SPs already in addition to the games best bullpen. Yes, the AL West has 4 teams that could win it this year.

By: Danmay

Danmay — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:57:31 +0000

It may be true that the $10 million could’ve been spent elsewhere, but you can’t use that $10 million to get extra picks in the draft. You can trade a (potentially) high quality pitcher at the deadline to get amateur talent.

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:08:03 +0000

Yeah, at over $10 million, I’d have to think that even if they can flip Sheets for an A prospect, you’re better off spending that money elsewhere, maybe on the draft.