Beaneball

A couple of A's transactions on the "injured first baseman" front. First, Todd Walker signed a minor-league deal with Oakland. There's noise that he'll be a guy to compete for time at first base, but that's a terrible idea. The A's are a punchless team as it is. Having Walker playing first base just exacerbates that when the other option is Erubiel Durazo, who at least has some power. Better, and likely more unheralded, is the fact that John Baker, a minor league catcher, has been traded for Jason Stokes. Stokes is a first baseman with a pretty decent (if not outstanding) minor league track record in Florida's system. He's a guy who's been willing to take a walk and has flashed occasional power as well. Except for the fact that he's right-handed, he strikes me as nearly a Dan Johnson clone - I wouldn't be surprised if he's on the team in relatively short order. On the other hand, given the A's befuddling decision-making at times, I also wouldn't be surprised if Todd Walker is leading the "hit and run" charge as the A's first baseman for 80 games this year. Ugh.

Posted by Jason Wojciechowski in Oakland A's at 23:17 | |

Did I say all the pitchers were healthy? I meant all the good pitchers: Esteban Loaiza was scratched from his last start because of stiffness in his neck and back. (Hi, Austen!) While I don't think he's going to be very good this year, it's not like the A's have a lot of candidates to replace him. Lenny DiNardo?

Posted by Jason Wojciechowski in Oakland A's at 20:37 | |

The injury situation is already getting out of hand for the A's and the season hasn't even started yet. Dan Johnson sustained torn cartilage in his hip during a collision on Monday. He'll be out, apparently, something like three months. I have no idea what this does to the roster. When Bobby Kielty comes back, it's easy enough: Kielty and Stewart in the corners, Bradley in center, Swisher at first. But if Kielty isn't ready on Opening Day, then what? Ryan Goleski as Opening Day starter? Erubiel Durazo at first base? Neither solution is optimal, though you're probably better off taking the defensive hit of having Durazo don a glove than you are having Goleski try to hit against major league pitchers in real games. At least (knock on wood) the pitchers are all healthy at this point.

Posted by Jason Wojciechowski in Oakland A's at 20:30 | |