"Brilliance is in asking the questions." |
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| PLAYER | POSITION | AGE | CONTRACT | VALUE | ||
| Rich Harden | RHP - Starter | 27 | $4.5 million in 2008, Option in 2009 for $7 million with no buyout clause. | As the A's 'best' pitcher and 'number 1 or 2' starter Harden's value is extremely high. For a team with a poor performing offense pitching is paramount a healthy Harden was the embodiment of what the A's need to contend. Harden is worth as much and as often as he pitches. His high pitch counts often lead to early exists. As 'dominant' as his stuff is it is of little use on the bench after 100+ pitches in only 5 innings of work. | ||
| Chad Gaudin | RHP - Reliever/Starter | 23 | $1,775,000 contract for 2008. | Gaudin's value is his versatility in starting or relieving. Gaudin was outstanding in 2007 during the 1st half for the A's. It can be argued that Bobo (Bob Geren) misused Gaudin early and it cost them later. Gaudin collapsed in the second half. After the season it was revealed that Gaudin has serious hip and foot injuries that required surgery. Gaudin is younger than Harden, Blanton and Duchscherer and a lot of his worth is tied up in his age. Gaudin is a solid number 4 starter with a good fastball, decent change-up and effective to plus slider that varies depending on Gaudin's control. Guadin fits for a team like the A's who can use him as a starter, swingman and a reliever and a trade chip. |
What this means for the A's is they have a vacancy in their rotation and in their bullpen. Harden was the A's 'ace' though his role was only as valid as his health. There is a post due for tomorrow asking the question; 'DOES RICH HARDEN STRIKE OUT TOO MANY HITTERS?'. Harden has to exit games early due to high pitch counts. Tomorrow we'll look at the numbers closely and see if the question has any merit.
With Gaudin out of the bullpen the A's will need a long reliever and swingman - someone who can spot start on a moment's notice.
Here are some reasons for the trade based on your questions:
| The A's should have held on to Harden for the draft picks when he becomes a free agent. |
| Harden will not be a Type A free agent as he has not pitched enough innings and therefore the A's would not have received any draft picks for holding on to him. |
| Then the A's should have held on to Harden to win more games. |
| The A's winning games has more to do with their offense than Rich Harden. While Harden has immense talent he doesn't stand in the batter's box for the A's and when he did in inter-league games he stunk for a former hockey player (sic). |
| The A's are giving up. |
| It's funny how often the A's give up and they keep winning baseball games. They are not a top tier team (they never were in 2008 no matter what the ESPN 'Power Rankings' said earlier this year). The A's would not have caught the Angels with Harden. They probably won't without him, either. |
| Why trade Harden, why not Blanton? |
| Actually this is something where you need to pull off the blinders. Blanton had more trade value than Harden as recent as March. But Blanton has been awful. Harden has been 'healthy'. Yes, very funny when he misses a month. But this is Harden so let's keep it in context. If the A's hope to get anything out of Joe Blanton in trade it will have to be via an artificial market inflation. There's blood in the water; the Brewers made a big trade and the Cubs followed within 24 hours...think of what the market will be in three weeks when teams start to panic. And the A's are only going to get something out of Blanton in trade because he has been just downright terrible this season. He was only signed through 2008 and he would not be a Type A Free Agent. |
| But Ray Fosse said... |
| Fosse also said that Rich Harden would never have arm trouble or be injured because he threw so effortlessly. Anyone who ever watched Harden pitch knows that was never true. And listen for Fosse to start back-pedaling now that Harden was traded. |
SMOAK 'EM IF YA GOT 'EM
The A's are about to pick their 1st Round Draft pick for 2008. Several of the players the A's had been rumored to be looking at are gone. James Beckham was just picked by the White Sox and the A's were looking at Beckham as a possible 2nd baseman rather than shortstop.
Justin Smoak is still out there...the A's drafted Smoak in 2005 in the 16th Round. The A's would not give Smoak $1 Million out of high school. And he went to South Carolina. He hit 39 HR in the last two years. I am currently in Greenville, South Carolina working for a client and SEC baseball games are on the local channels here. Smoak is compared to Mark Teixeira, as a hitter and a fielder at 1st Base. That's rather lofty. Smoak does seem to have a tendency toward more power. The only downside I see for Smoak is his OBP and his K/BB ratio. His rate is relatively even. You'd like to see that a lopsided toward walks.
Well, so much for that. Texas just chose Smoak. Gee, think they miss Teixeira?
OKAY!!!
The A's pick Jemile Weeks. 2nd baseman form University of Miami. Brother of the Brewer's Richie Weeks. Huh. There were whispers of Bill Hall to Oakland.
Anyway.
From MLB.com
| Biographical Data | |
| Player Name: | Jemile Weeks |
| Position: | Second Baseman |
| School: | University of Miami |
| School Type: | College |
| Academic Class: | Junior |
| Birthdate: | 1/26/1987 |
| Height: | 5'10" |
| Weight: | 175 lbs. |
| Bats: | Both |
| Throws: | Right |
| Report Date(s): | 03/07 - 03/09/08 |
| Game(s): | Boston College |
From MLB.com
| Focus Area | Comments |
| Hitting Ability: | Weeks is a line-drive, slashing type of hitter who squares the ball up well and can really get things going with leadoff-type skills. |
| Power: | He's got a little pop, but it's not likely to be a big part of his game as a pro. |
| Running Speed: | He's got above-average speed, though a groin problem has hampered him some in the past. |
| Base running: | He's a very aggressive runner and should be an above-average base stealer as a result. |
| Arm Strength: | He's got a below-average arm and kind of flips the ball when he throws. |
| Fielding: | His hands are a bit stiff, with some feeling a move to center field will be in order. |
| Range: | His best defensive tool, Weeks has above-average range thanks to his foot speed. |
| Physical Description: | Weeks has a lean, small frame; a live, athletic body. |
| Medical Update: | A groin injury plagued him last year, but he's 100 percent now. |
| Strengths: | Above-average speed; good line-drive approach at plate; excellent bloodlines. |
| Weaknesses: | His defense at second and his physical strength (or lack thereof). |
| Summary: | Even though he plays the same position as his older brother, Rickie, Jemile is not the same kind of player. He doesn't have, and likely will never have, the kind of power Rickie does. He runs extremely well and with a line-drive approach, could be a good table setter. His defense is somewhat in question, but a move to center would fix that. The Brewers drafted Weeks in the eighth round in 2005 and it's clear that it was more than just a favor to his brother. |
From The Baseball Cube
| Year | Team | Age | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 2006 | Miami | 19 | 66 | 256 | 69 | 90 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 40 | 13 | 7 | 37 | 27 | .352 | .446 | .555 | 1.001 |
| 2007 | Miami | 20 | 50 | 188 | 40 | 56 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 27 | 7 | 1 | 27 | 27 | .298 | .393 | .489 | .882 |