MLB: 2014 Oakland A's

[Buster28]

Yes, it was Houston, but the A's had a fantastic finish last night at the Astros. Oakland trailed 4-1 going into the 9th inning before shredding Houston's closer, Chad Qualls, who gave up 5 runs on 4 hits, allowing the A's to win, 7-4. Highlights at the link:

http://m.mlb.com/oak/video/v3492781...n-ninth-for-the-win/?tcid=mm_oak_vid&c_id=oak

 

[LLCoolCY]

Yes, it was Houston, but the A's had a fantastic finish last night at the Astros. Oakland trailed 4-1 going into the 9th inning before shredding Houston's closer, Chad Qualls, who gave up 5 runs on 4 hits, allowing the A's to win, 7-4. Highlights at the link:

http://m.mlb.com/oak/video/v3492781...n-ninth-for-the-win/?tcid=mm_oak_vid&c_id=oak

In addition the Angels lost a game in 12 innings last night so the AL west went from a possible razar thin 1 game lead to 3 in an hour. That said, there is still two month to go into the season so it too hard to get excited about one days results. Marathon not a sprint.

In retrospect the A's trading for Samardjia (sp?) when they did and is looking like a good move IMO. Though Hammel and Shark haven't been dominate it did solidify their rotation for the past month in addition to going forward.
The price for Lester and Price is just rumored to be as high as what Billy Bean gave up, if either actually do get moved.
Now to see what is done in the next two days upto the trade deadline. I think The A's do go for a middle infielder preferably @ 2B. I am guessing the Angels are mostly done after the Street move. Seattle can use a lot more offense but, not sure if they are ready to make a major move that would allow them to make a run.

 

[Buster28]

Wow, the A's just traded Cespedes to Boston for Lester and Gomes. I don't know how I feel about this. Lester will be great to have in the postseason, but he won't stick around after this year. Cespedes is probably gone for good. If it doesn't end in a WS title, I don't think it will be worth it, imo.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story...land-athletics-yoenis-cespedes-boston-red-sox

 

[cloneteach]

Wow, the A's just traded Cespedes to Boston for Lester and Gomes. I don't know how I feel about this. Lester will be great to have in the postseason, but he won't stick around after this year. Cespedes is probably gone for good. If it doesn't end in a WS title, I don't think it will be worth it, imo.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story...land-athletics-yoenis-cespedes-boston-red-sox

If they don't win it this year, it won't be worth it you are right. If they do win it this year, it will be totally worth it. That is the gamble. Cespedes only had a year left in Oakland anyway.

 

[WalkingCY]

Huge trade.

The A's are going for it, and why not? We'll see if this pays off.

 

[roundball]

If they don't win it this year, it won't be worth it you are right. If they do win it this year, it will be totally worth it. That is the gamble. Cespedes only had a year left in Oakland anyway.

I take an ace pitcher with 11 postseason starts over Cespedes any day. It must be nice having to decide whether Chavez or Hammel gets bumped from the rotation with the years that both of them are having.

 

[Buster28]

If they don't win it this year, it won't be worth it you are right. If they do win it this year, it will be totally worth it. That is the gamble. Cespedes only had a year left in Oakland anyway.

Yup, that's how I'm trying to convince myself it's a good thing. Wait and see...

 

[Buster28]

I take an ace pitcher with 11 postseason starts over Cespedes any day. It must be nice having to decide whether Chavez or Hammel gets bumped from the rotation with the years that both of them are having.

At this point, it's gotta be Hammel that goes. 0-4 since coming to Oakland. Not exactly what the A's were looking for.

 

[Turn2]

I hope Beane isn't finished for the day. Suddenly a bunch of starters stockpiled that could attract a position player.

 

[Buster28]

Just saw this on Twitter: Billy Beane's got some stones. I would agree with that assessment.

 

[Buster28]

Billy Beane makes another move: Tommy Milone headed to Minnesota, Sam Fuld headed to Oakland.

 

[KnappShack]

Hammel has been a bust since coming over from the Cubs. 0-4 with a robust 9.53 ERA. O-4 isn't good, but maybe it could be a bad streak of luck. There's no hiding from that ERA, however

The A's are ALL IN. It'd be cool to see them win the title even while playing in a dump and being a small market

 

[Clonefan32]

I guess I question the need to break up a core that has the best record in baseball. Why not ride that wave as long as you can?

 

[roundball]

Billy Beane makes another move: Tommy Milone headed to Minnesota, Sam Fuld headed to Oakland.

I don't want to get too off topic from the A's, but that's a great get for the Twins. Milone's locked up through 2018 and will be an improvement for the Twins as long as his ERA's under 4.5. I hope this doesn't prevent the Twins from getting a reliable ace, though...they've sorely missed that since dealing Santana way back in 2008.

I don't think the A's are done for the day. Do you think they try to move some of their surplus outfielders now?

 

[The_Architect]

I'm sad to see Cespedes go but I love the trade. Like you guys mentioned already, Oakland is trying to win it all this year and to get by the Tigers they need to have a staff comparable to theirs.

 

[Buster28]

I don't think the A's are done for the day. Do you think they try to move some of their surplus outfielders now?

It would not surprise me to see Beane make at least one more move. Meanwhile, across the Bay, Brian Sabean is flipping through his rolodex, trying to figure out who the next Dan Uggla is to pick up...

 

[ISUCubswin]

Here's the free agents after this year on the A's (just the starters):

Starting left fielder - Gomes
Starting shortstop - Lowrie
Starting second baseman - Callaspo
Utility infielder (literally plays everything) - Punto
Ace - Lester
#3 on their sites depth chart but likely gone soon - Hammel
Top reliever Luke Gregerson
Smardzija after next year (they can't afford to keep him)

Along with this, the site I use that ranks farm systems ranked theirs 27th before they traded Russell and McKinney.

Needless to say, might as well make a move now because they will be awful after this year.

 

[roundball]

It would not surprise me to see Beane make at least one more move. Meanwhile, across the Bay, Brian Sabean is flipping through his rolodex, trying to figure out who the next Dan Uggla is to pick up...

Maybe they'll try flipping Gomes to Kansas City? I'd read a few days ago that the Royals were interested in him.

 

[Clonefan32]

Here's the free agents after this year on the A's (just the starters):

Starting left fielder - Gomes
Starting shortstop - Lowrie
Starting second baseman - Callaspo
Utility infielder (literally plays everything) - Punto
Ace - Lester
#3 on their sites depth chart but likely gone soon - Hammel
Top reliever Luke Gregerson
Smardzija after next year (they can't afford to keep him)

Along with this, the site I use that ranks farm systems ranked theirs 27th before they traded Russell and McKinney.

Needless to say, might as well make a move now because they will be awful after this year.

Just a guess, but after realizing that he can't pay for all of the talent on the roster, do you think the GM will go on a soul searching mission where he will have a chance encounter with a young, Ivy League graduate who has a different way of looking at baseball metrics than the rest of MLB and he will take on baseball purists in changing the way we think about acquiring talent on a baseball roster?

 

[Thomasrickj]

I hope Beane isn't finished for the day. Suddenly a bunch of starters stockpiled that could attract a position player.

Yeah, only problem is they traded Millone away for Sam Fuld. As an A's fan, I was hoping the A's would trade Hammel, Millone, and a prospect for a guy like Chase Utley.

I'm not sure how I feel about the trade. While Cespedes is hitting for a low average, he has the power to destroy other teams. His arm in the outfield is also second to none. I really hope Beane got this right and we win the WS this year or else it's a big failure.