AND THE WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN

(NOT A JOHN COUGAR MELLONCAMP REFERENCE)

Let's start from a few hours ago and back track.
From the Associated Press

PHOENIX - The Oakland Athletics trimmed their roster to 31 Monday, trading outfielder Jason Grabowski to the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash considerations and optioning first baseman Graham Koonce to Class AAA Sacramento.

Grabowski, who was hitting .357 with one home run and five RBIs this spring, is joining his fourth organization. He was claimed by Oakland from Seattle in the 2001 Rule 5 draft and appeared in 12 games over two seasons, going 3-for-16 with one RBIs.

The 27-year-old also has played first base, third base and catcher during his professional career.

Also selected in the 2001 Rule 5 draft, Koonce made his major league debut with the Athletics last season, going 1-for-8 with six strikeouts in six games. The 28-year-old batted .357 with two homers and six RBIs this spring.

This is a poor example of buying low and selling low.

The A's grabbed two assets from the scrap heap for a moderate cost and polished them into viable commodities only to fail to get substantial return on their investment. This is a critical situation in player development of a 'small market' team. The A's can ill afford to lose any player without just compensation.

In the specifics of the transactions both Grabowski and Koonce were 'acquired' via the 2001 Rule 5 Draft, but essentially were retained by the A's organization by minor league contracts.

Graham Koonce - Career Stops:
1993 - Drafted by Detroit Tigers in the 60th Round.
1994 - Bristol of the Rookie Appalachian League.
1995 - Jamestown in the New York-Penn League.
1996 - Fayetteville in the South Atlantic League.
1997 - released by the Detroit organization at the end of spring training and signed with Tri-City of the independent Western League.
1998 - returned to the Western League, Chico Heat.
1999 - signed with the San Diego Padres organization following the 1998 season and played for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in the California League.
2000 - spent his second consecutive season at Rancho Cucamonga.
2001 - spent most of the season at Double-A Mobile before being moved up to Triple-A Portland on August 27.
2002 - Was selected by the A's organization in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft prior to the season and spent the year at Double-A Midland.
2003 - Triple-A Sacramento, Most Valuable Player of the Pacific Coast League. Member of Team USA.

Jason Grabowski - Career Stops:
1997 - Drafted in the 2nd round by the Texas Rangers. Spent his first pro season with Pulaski of the Appalachian League.
1998 - Savannah.
1999 - Charlotte in the Florida State League. Joined the Rangers for the Hall of Fame Game vs. Kansas City on July 26 in Cooperstown, NY...was 3 for 3 with a pair of home runs in Texas' 11-9 win to earn game MVP honors. Promoted to Tulsa of the Texas League. Played for San Bernardino in the California Fall League.
2000 - Spent the entire season at Double-A Tulsa in the Texas League.
2001 - Played the entire season at Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League.
2002 - Was selected by the A's organization in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft prior to the season and spent the year at Double-A Midland.
2002 - Spent the entire season at Triple-A Sacramento.
2003 - Spent the entire season at Triple-A Sacramento.

Now, it's clear that both players have been around the block. Koonce was the PCL Player of the Year in 2003 at age 28. Grabowski, 27 years old, has played the corner outfield spots, the corner infield spots and catcher and has suffered some minor injuries that have set him back. What doesn't make sense is why these two players were dumped by the A's when they both clearly represent what they are trying to stress to the restr of their players - patience and selective approach to hitting (which is becoming clear that it may not be a 'coachable' talent, rather an innate ability). Koonce and Grabowski both are obvious OBP fiends with power, Koonce with very good power.

GRAHAM KOONCE 2001-2003

Year	Team	Lg	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB
2001	MOB	SOU	320	85	18	0	13	89
SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
893	0	0	.266	.431	.444
MLVr	EqBA	EqOBP	EqSLG	EqMLVR	VORP	Wins	EQA	Defense
.223	.207	.345	.349	-.156	-8.8	0.0	.243	50-1B -5
Year	Team	Lg	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB
2002	MID	TEX	470	129	28	0	24	133
SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
117	2	0	.274	.444	.487
MLVr	EqBA	EqOBP	EqSLG	EqMLVR	VORP	Wins	EQA	Defense
.288	.205	.347	.370	-.126	-7.2	0.0	.249	116-1B -8
Year	Team	Lg	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB
2003	SAC	PCL	480	133	23	1	34	98
SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
119	0	0	.277	.411	.542
MLVr	EqBA	EqOBP	EqSLG	EqMLVR	VORP	Wins	EQA	Defense
.309	.237	.358	.472	.048	20.1	0.0	.276	80-1B 2

JASON GRABOWSKI 2001-2003

Year	Team	Lg	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB
2001	TAC	PCL	394	117	32	3	9	61
SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
94	7	4	.297	.394	.462
MLVr	EqBA	EqOBP	EqSLG	EqMLVR	VORP	Wins	EQA	Defense
.176	.262	.354	.410	-.022	19.6	0.0	.259	58-3B -9
Year	Team	Lg	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB
2002	SAC	PCL	265	78	22	3	12	39
SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
56	6	4	.294	.387	.536
MLVr	EqBA	EqOBP	EqSLG	EqMLVR	VORP	Wins	EQA	Defense
.269	.257	.342	.466	.029	7.4	0.0	.266	20-RF -2
Year	Team	Lg	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	BB
2003	SAC	PCL	250	73	13	2	9	31
SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
46	7	2	.292	.370	.468
MLVr	EqBA	EqOBP	EqSLG	EqMLVR	VORP	Wins	EQA	Defense
.162	.262	.336	.425	-.035	2.3	0.0	.255	45-RF -5

The problem is not so much that the A's are not reaping all they could from these two particular investments. The glaring results of several of the A's transactions that were not of the trade variety or free agency look awfully bad.

In 2004 the A's will end up losing, or have lost Jason Grabowski, Graham Koonce, Chad Harville and/or Justin Duchscherer. It could very well be that the A's lose the 2003 Player of the Year and the PCL Pitcher of the Year in the same week and get absolutely nothing in return.

Koonce is NOT(thank you Susan) out of options. The A's 'optioning' him to Sacramento is sort of like the four pitches thrown for an intentional walk - a foregone conclusion. Essentially, however, the A's waived Graham Koonce (but, they didn't, really). Because he is out of options, he must clear the waiver period. He will most likely be claimed on waivers by another team. The A's can pull Koonce back. It is a one-time opportunity. If they A's pull Koonce back from 'optioning' him, they must place him back on the 25 man roster or try to work out a trade - most likely with the team who claims him. The only way Koonce clears waivers is that another MLB does not claim him within 72 hours. There are at least 16 teams who are interested in Koonce as a pinch-hitter or back up 1B/DH, if not an everyday starter. Koonce can demand a trade, by asking for one, but the A's do not have to comply. But optioning their best 1st base option to Sacramento...is that what happens in the A's organization when you perform? Wasn't performance what player development was to be graded on? How did Koonce suddenly become unsuccessful?

Grabowski is a different matter as his value was deteriorating with every passing day. Even as multifunctional as he is, and with catcher a position possibility, Grabowski could not find an 'IN' on the A's 25-man roster. Despite putting up solid numbers, his age keeps growing. Which is not to say Grabowski failed to fulfill his promise, either. In point of fact both Koonce and Grabowski basically got behind the 8 Ball in their minor league stops. Oddly, the A's could have had two Detroit Tiger cast offs on their roster, Billy McMillon and Koonce. Which begs the question, why is Billy McMillon guranteed a 25 man roster spot and Koonce is not given a 'fair' shake? Can't Koonce shag a few fly balls in the outfield once or twice a week?

Why are the A's essentially letting Koonce go and why was Grabowski traded?

Because of three people; Scott Hatteberg, Eric Karros and Billy Beane.

Billy Beane has a breadth of power in the A's organization even when is confounds conventional wisdom (well, Oakland A's conventional wisdom). Billy Beane exclusively exercises that power. Suffice to say, Scott Hatteberg is a 'clubhouse guy' and more importantly, one of 'Billy's Boys'. And the latter rather than the former may be the overriding factor. Hatteberg, as nice as a guy as he is (he is - his nickname is "Dad" and he's a father again with a new daughter last week), he is not worth the $2.5 million a year the A's are going to pay him in 2004 and 2005. And Eric Karros is not worth the $1.05 million the A's are due to pay Karros this year or the $.55 million in 2005 or the $.50 million they will pay him in 2006 or the $40k for 75 games and an additional $45k for every 5 games up to 145 games in 2004 with a $1.5m buyout option for 2005. Not that Karros is a bad guy either. But here are Karros' numbers over the last three years:

ERIC KARROS 2001-2003

Season	TM	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
2001	LA	121	438	42	103	22	0	15	63	41	101	3	1	.235	.303	.388	.691
2002	LA	142	524	52	142	26	1	13	73	37	74	4	2	.271	.323	.399	.722
2003	ChC	114	336	37	96	16	1	12	40	28	46	1	1	.286	.340	.446	.786

Nothing especially eye-popping to get excited about. Especially for the position he plays. Especially when you can provide the service via troglodyte emancipation from AA or AAA and expect an OPS of .850 over a full season.

But the A's got Karros to 'PLATOON' against left-handed pitchers...right?

Not according to recent remarks by Ken Macha. There won't be a set platoon at any position. Here are Karros’ accumulative stats over the past three seasons:

ERIC KARROS 2001-2003 SPLITS

By Breakdown	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	HBP	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
vs. Left	307	42	97	23	1	12	44	37	1	42	2	2	.316	.389	.515	.904
vs. Right	991	89	244	41	1	28	132	69	8	179	6	2	.246	.298	.374	.672

So based on 300 at-bats over three years for an aging 1st baseman with a history of back problems the A's are going to dump Graham Koonce and/or Jason Grabowski. Not to mention add to the payroll in the process.

Erubiel Durazo gets off of the argument here, even if the A's are paying him $1 million more than they should be. He's a DH by trade and a 1st baseman by predicament. Durazo's low PECOTA numbers are still positive when compared with Hatteberg and Karros.

Billy Beane has been heard saying in the past, "If I ever pay more than a million bucks for a 1st baseman I should be fired." Hubris?

Well, maybe. Definitely not Beane's 'ego'.

Tongue in cheek?

Yah.

Should we take Beane up on the offer?

Hell no.

He knows what he's doing.

Meaning: He BETTER know hat he's doing.

Watching Koonce launch 450 foot shots in a Royals or Twins uniform in 2004 is going to hurt. Watching Grabowski play six different positions for the Dodgers will be a little more tolerable as Paul DePodesta will have the flexibility to keep Grabowski on the 25-man roster. So letting two guys find their fortunes might do a little for the spirit, it does absolutely jack for the A's win column and leaves two huge holes to fill in the organization.

This isn't meant to be a dump on Hattebeg and Karros session. Well, on Hatteberg. We still dig Hatteberg and still shout what we did back in April of 2002, "SCOTT HATTEBERG OWNS RIGHT-CENTERFIELD" at opportune times.

Watching Karros this spring was nearly as painful as it was nerve-wracking. Karros continually swung at first pitches and ground into enough double plays to make you think Ben Greive was back with the A's. Karros flipped the ball around the infield without any authority and more than once looked lost. When bending over, Karros looked more like a man trying to get a magazine off the end table in a chiropractor's office than a MLB player. Karros is a walking herniated disk and how he will be considered even 80% healthy when he seemingly can't twist or bend over is a huge question mark.

More information on the Mark Ellis injury is seeping in and we'll have some more details after the pizza feed tonight.