So what happens to Barton?

by tmt85 on Jan 9, 2009 3:02 AM EST

Now that the A's have signed Giambi, what happens to Barton? It is waaaay to early to give up on him. He had a terrible season statistically and often times looked lost at the plate but looked like he was turning things around over the final month and a half of the season when he batted .309/.412. Do the A's platoon him at 1st with Giambi, send him back down to AAA for more work or do they trade him?

I think the best thing for him would be to spend time with Giambi and learn what he can from him. AAA might damage him and his confidence and trading him could be a huge mistake, one that they might regret for years because I think his value is kinda low right now. What do you think is going to happen to this former star in the making?

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Apparently he will get a chance to prove himself in the Spring

If he looks like he’s off to a hot start he could play 1B, Giambi could DB and Cust to LF. If not, Giambi at 1B and Cust at DH.

They could also mix and match a good bit.

by alskor on Jan 9, 2009 3:35 AM EST reply actions

Really?

If that’s actually the plan, Giambi is going to get about as many ABs as Frank Thomas before his knees give out on him.

by Fanon on Jan 9, 2009 8:33 AM EST up reply actions

You are aware he played 113 games at 1B this last season, right?

by alskor on Jan 9, 2009 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

whew

the absolute worst fielding 1b in baseball along with the absolue worst fielder in baseball? Hope the A’s get Garry Maddox to play CF and Frank White for 2b

by ScottAZ on Jan 9, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions

Jason Giambi and Jack Cust (I’m assuming you’re talking about him) are not the absolute worst fielders at their positions.

by Rocktopus on Jan 9, 2009 9:10 PM EST up reply actions

boy, Cust has got to be close though

-15.3 UZR/150 in LF and -86.9 UZR/150 in his few RF appearances last year. His arm is also nothing to write home about as per THT’s 2007 outfield arms statistics (unlike other UZR butchers such as Delmon Young, Hawpe, and Abreu).

by jibs on Jan 9, 2009 10:21 PM EST up reply actions

Cust's arm is alright

And citing his RF numbers would be like saying a guy who went 1 for 7 was a terrible hitter. Plus, he showed a lot of improvement between 2007 and 2008, though his UZR/150 is actually twice as bad. I think there’s lots of SSS problems here, and he’s likely about -10 at a corner.

Cust is not good defensively, and ideally he’s the DH (and Giambi is cut or something, because that’s a bad deal for the A’s), but they’ll be alright with him in right field if it comes to it.

by thejd44 on Jan 10, 2009 3:41 AM EST up reply actions

I'm still waiting to read a single professional analyst look at that signing

and conclude that it was a bad one. No offense to you or anything, but the critical evaluation of this is a consensus (in the true, non-coopted/bastardized sense of the term)— it was a very good deal. Even if it only adds a win, picking up a zero-risk one-year upgrade of a win for $4 million, with a friendly option cherry on top, is a nice little pickup.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jan 10, 2009 5:47 AM EST up reply actions

re

I agree, Giambi is a very nice signing at the price they got him at. He still hits HR and he still can take a walk.

My only comment is on how bad the A’s defense might be. Thats a big park with a lot of foul ground. Having guys like Giambi, Cust, Barton, etc defending can’t be good in that stadium. I’m hearing that Travis Buck will be the CF! I’m a huge Arizona St fan and was a huge Buck fan when he was here, but he was an absolue butcher in RF at ASU, and you are in a world of trouble if he plays CF and is flanked by Cust.

by ScottAZ on Jan 12, 2009 9:50 AM EST up reply actions

dont forget

matt holliday

Happiness is only real when shared

by manny59 on Jan 9, 2009 7:09 AM EST reply actions

Does this mean

No second chance for Travis Buck? He was awful for most of 2008, but he showed some flashes of power, especially in September that I think would merit him being given the opportunity for a starting job if he succeeds out of spring training.

The 2008 Rogelio Moret League Fantasy Baseball Champions!

by The Congo Hammer on Jan 9, 2009 9:47 AM EST reply actions

I was under the impression

That Giambi is the DH, period. He might get spot starts at 1B, but the difference in defensive value between Barton and Giambi pretty much eats away any offensive improvement that there would be by putting Giambi at 1B (reasonably assuming that Barton takes somewhat of a step forward as a hitter this year).

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Jan 9, 2009 10:53 AM EST reply actions

I think youre understating the offensive difference between Giambi and Barton

even if Barton takes a big step forward…

by alskor on Jan 9, 2009 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

I think you're overestimating it

Giambi is about a 1-win upgrade on Barton, and that’s without Barton living up to his potential.

by thejd44 on Jan 10, 2009 3:41 AM EST up reply actions

Alright, give me your math.

I need that broken down for me, because I dont see how you could reach that conclusion…

by alskor on Jan 10, 2009 4:50 AM EST up reply actions

Luckily, salb918 did the math for me.

http://www.athleticsnation.com/2009/1/6/710435/staturday-does-jason-giamb

It’s not that the Giambi deal is the worst deal of all time or anything. It just looks more like a deal the Royals would make. Spending money on a guy who is probably just moving you sideways, maybe a half-step in the right direction. It strikes me as a “We said we’d spend money, didn’t get the guys we really wanted, so now we HAVE to do this so we’re not liars” move. And that’s atypical of Beane and really disappointing.

by thejd44 on Jan 10, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

damn

i wish we’d have gotten giambi rather than jacobs.

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Jan 10, 2009 5:36 PM EST up reply actions

The A's problem is their all lefties

Giambi shouldn’t play 1B much, but Daric isn’t so stellar there. But you just don’t give up on a bat with his BA/OBP potential. His uncle is a friend of mine, says he needs to buckle down a bit. Kid just never really failed until the majors. Only thing he can learn from Giambino is the pull stroke – off Jack Daniels as well as in the box.

It’s likely Buck / Cust that get squeezed here – they’ll probably figure a way to use all, but eventually its 1 too many lefties.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Jan 9, 2009 12:18 PM EST reply actions

According to Susan Slusser

the A’s beat writer, the plan for now is Barton at 1B, Giambi at DH, Cust in LF and Holliday in RF. Personally, I’d rather see Barton go back to AAA for a year, save a year of service time, Giambi at 1B/Cust at DH/Holliday in LF with a Buck/Cunningham platoon in RF(at least until Buck gets hurt again).

"So's your mom"-David Sloane

by gatling on Jan 9, 2009 12:28 PM EST reply actions

Cunningham should not be playing in 25% of the games

He’s better off in Sacramento.

by thejd44 on Jan 10, 2009 3:42 AM EST up reply actions

What's going to happen:

Barton at first
Giambi at DH
Cust in left
Holliday in right
Buck in center, Cunningham in the running as well

by METSMETSMETS on Jan 9, 2009 1:47 PM EST reply actions

I guess

I never considered Cust an option an everyday OF. I would much rather see Buck/Cunningham out there than stone hands.

by tmt85 on Jan 9, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

There's going to be a competition of sorts it looks like

between Cunningham, Sweeney, Barton and Buck. The two who do dhte best will make it then.

If Barton makes it, one of Cunningham, Sweeney and Buck will be the Centerfielder, though I feel its likely that Sweeney will make the team as the 4th Outfielder in that case. But Buck and Cunningham are much better hitters than Sweeney, and Cunningham is Right Handed, so thats a plus for him.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jan 9, 2009 3:00 PM EST reply actions

I think the best thing for him would be to spend time with Giambi and learn what he can from him.

The only thing Giambi would teach Barton is how to use a syringe.

I joke, I joke.

I am like your Dan Aykroyd and biglow would be Jane, the ignorant slut. -Chad

by thecoolest on Jan 9, 2009 5:55 PM EST reply actions

I say he goes to AAA

I’d rather see Giambi at first and Cust at DH. Cust’s glove costs more runs in the outfield than Giambi’s at first. Keeping Barton stashed at AAA until Buck gets hurt has the advantage of keeping him under club control through his prime years.

by CapgrasDelusion on Jan 9, 2009 8:30 PM EST reply actions

Barton should get consistent playing time, either at AAA or MLB. Same for Buck.

Platooning them or giving them bench spots doesnt help their development. They both should be starting SOMEWHERE, Cunningham too.

Never, Never, NEVER give up

by hero66 on Jan 10, 2009 12:44 AM EST reply actions

Hope so

They could both probably use some AAA at-bats and frankly I think that creates a buy-low opportunity for both of those guys – at least in my league, they both got put back into the free agent pool at cutdown time.

by FI2 on Jan 10, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

i think it comes down to barton and buck in ST

If Barton does well and Buck doesnt, Giambi DH’s, Barton plays first, and Cust goes to OF
If Buck does well and Barton doesnt, Cust DH’s Giambi plays first, and Buck goes to OF
If both do well, they alternate i guess

"Sometimes Joe (morgan) doesn't like facts to get in the way of his opinions."- billy beane
"That was a great pick...if this was 2002" Me, to guy who selected Barry Zito in a fantasy draft

by harendaman365 on Jan 11, 2009 12:04 PM EST reply actions

Just occurred to me

is there anyone who thinks Buck can handle center? He appears to be pretty fast, and a good fielder in right, I think his bat could be more valuable than Sweeney there

"Sometimes Joe (morgan) doesn't like facts to get in the way of his opinions."- billy beane
"That was a great pick...if this was 2002" Me, to guy who selected Barry Zito in a fantasy draft

by harendaman365 on Jan 11, 2009 2:43 PM EST reply actions