Oakland A's 2015 Season Thread

[Isaiah4110]

A's a basically a brand new team still learning to play together. I would not be surprised to see us have a much better second half of the season than we do first half, like the 2012 team and all the teams Billy assembled in the early 2000s. At least one of the other four is better than their record indicates right now as well, so I do believe it will be a two or three team race before all is said and done, and I personally will not be surprised to see a WC team out of the West again,

Remember, baseball is a marathon not a sprint.

 

[ratenstein]

GM1 against Houston was another close loss wasting Kazmir's effort. Former A Gregerson blows a save opportunity in the 10th but gets credit for the win. Is it time to pull the plug on O'Flaherty, or can he rebound?

 

[ratenstein]

Zobrist to the DL

 

[Isaiah4110]

Graveman to AAA and Chavez to stay in the rotation.

 

[ratenstein]

Hopefully that works out for Graveman. The Astros series was a trainwreck, but at least R.Cook looks like he was able to get his act together, and got back out there for an appearance without getting shelled.

 

[ratenstein]

Looks like I spoke too soon about Cook.

A's dump two of 3 to LAA, falling short in a comeback rally in game 3.

 

[RaiderZar]

Looks like I spoke too soon about Cook.

A's dump two of 3 to LAA, falling short in a comeback rally in game 3.

Cook is weak & feeble.

 

[HammerDown]

 

[ratenstein]

A's win series against Rangers... came close to a sweep, but win 2 of 3.
Reddick and Vogt kicking butt at the plate, and S.Gray is 4-0.

 

[ratenstein]

Cook is weak & feeble.

He got sent down again.
I don't know wtf happened to this dude.

 

[RaiderZar]

He got sent down again.
I don't know wtf happened to this dude.

Trade for a RH bat, preferably in LF.

 

[Isaiah4110]

Trade for a RH bat, preferably in LF.

Crisp is manning left when he comes back. I don't think there is any chance of that changing with what we would be able to get for Cook.

 

[ratenstein]

Hopefully Crisp, Doolittle and then Parker will all be back soon.

 

[Isaiah4110]

What happens to the rotation when Parker (and a couple months later, Griffin) returns to the rotation?

Gray
Kazmir
Hahn
Chavez
Pomeranz


I have to wonder how dedicated the A's are to riding out Hahn and Pomeranz. Right now, based strictly off of production, I have to rank Chavez right up there with Gray and Kazmir as the #3 guy in a very closely ranked 1-2-3 combo. Personally I like the ability and potential of Pomeranz more than Hahn right now, even though Hahn's ERA and WHIP are a tick better than Pomeranz's. I want chavez and Pomeranz to stick both in the rotation, but my guess is that either Pomeranz or Hahn will get his ERA down to the 3.5 or lower range and the other will get sent down to AAA (Hahn) or relegated to long relief (Pomeranz). I really wouldn't see how they could "bump" Chavez back to the bullpen unless his ERA balloons.

Oh, and I think I read that Crisp is expected back today. Hopefully that improves our W-L production.

 

[ratenstein]

Yeah, Chavez has been a bright spot so far, and unfortunately Hahn & Pomeranz both lost again in this series against Minn. I think getting a quality start out of Chavez is more valuable than using him as long relief at this point. I'm not sure what happens by the time Griffin is ready to come back.

 

[Isaiah4110]

I have to imagine our rotation would become Gray, Kazmir, Chavez, Parker, Griffin with Hahn being sent to AAA and Pomeranz either going to AAA or long relief. History, however, has taught me that we likely won't be having to make any hard choices. Someone is going to get injured or completely fall apart so the decision is incredibly easy to make.

 

[ratenstein]

Any word on Griffin?
If the A's are in last place for a while, maybe Beane will trade Kazmir... maybe that happens anyway though.

I'm not sure what to make of this team. I'm used to them not being able to hit some days, but losing all of these games by 1 run is lousy. With the loss to Sea, A's are now 1-8 in games decided by 1 run so far this year and 0-5 in extra innings.

 

[ratenstein]

A's out hit the M's, get 3 Hr's and still lose another 1-run game, getting swept in the process.

Up next: Boston

 

[ratenstein]

I have to imagine our rotation would become Gray, Kazmir, Chavez, Parker, Griffin with Hahn being sent to AAA and Pomeranz either going to AAA or long relief. History, however, has taught me that we likely won't be having to make any hard choices. Someone is going to get injured or completely fall apart so the decision is incredibly easy to make.

Sadly, J.Parker breaks elbow.

 

[Isaiah4110]

Sadly, J.Parker breaks elbow.

Yep, I heard about him leaving the game clutching his arm after throwing a wild pitch. Just read that it was a broken elbow last night.

I wonder what that means for his career.