Oakland Athletics Top 20 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review
by John Sickels on Sep 7, 2025 8:00 AM EDT
88 comments
Oakland Athletics 20 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review
This list was originally published December 12, 2025. This is a review of the PRE-SEASON list for 2009, not a revision of that list. This is a REVIEW of the old list. I'm not doing new grades or lists until I start working on the 2010 book.
1) Trevor Cahill, RHP, Grade A-: 4.66 ERA with 79/64 K/BB in 158 major league innings, 165 hits. Would like to see more strikeouts, but given how much he was rushed this isn't a terrible season.
2) Brett Anderson, LHP, Grade A-: 4.42 ERA with 119/41 K/BB in 147 innings, 150 hits in the majors. Components are better than Cahill's.
3) Aaron Cunningham, OF, Grade B: Hitting .306/.376/.491 with 11 homers, 10 steals for Triple-A Sacramento. Hit .151/.211/.245 in 53 at-bats for Oakland. Will get more chances.
4) Gio Gonzalez, LHP, Grade B: 2.51 ERA with 71/34 K/BB in 61 innings for Sacramento. 6.07 ERA with 81/45 K/BB in 73 innings for Oakland, 85 hits. Very frustrating pitcher. The high strikeout rate shows that he's got a load of potential, and he has nothing left to prove in the minors.
5) Adrian Cardenas, 2B, Grade B: Hit .326/.392/.446 for Double-A Midland, .248/.317/.358 for Sacramento. Needs more Triple-A time.
6) Chris Carter, 1B, Grade B: Hit .337/.435/.576 with 41 doubles, 24 homers, 82 walks, 101 RBI for Midland. Promoted to Sacramento and has hit three homers in his first eight games. Looks like a monster hitter. Just need to figure out position.
7) Jemile Weeks, 2B, Grade B: Hit .299/.385/.468 in 50 games for Class A Stockton, .267/.327/.395 in 25 games for Midland. Slowed by injuries early.
8) Sean Doolittle, 1B-OF, Grade B: Hit .267/.364/.448 in 28 games for Sacramento, went on the DL May 9th with a knee injury.
9) Michael Inoa, RHP, Grade B-: Missed the whole year with an elbow injury.
10) Vin Mazzaro, RHP, Grade B-: 2.38 ERA with 44/17 K/BB in 57 innings for Sacramento, 5.32 ERA with 59/39 K/BB in 91 innings for Oakland, 120 hits. Could be a decent inning-eater but I've always felt he was overhyped.
11) James Simmons, RHP, Grade B-: 5.42 ERA with 80/46 K/BB in 116 innings, 130 hits for Sacramento. Not wild about these ratios.
12) Henry Rodriguez, RHP, Grade B-: 6.05 ERA With 70/35 K/BB in 42 innings for Sacramento, 37 hits. Excellent K/IP ratio, few hits, but way too many walks.
13) Josh Outman, LHP, Grade B-: 3.48 ERA with 53/25 K/BB in 67 innings for Oakland. Was pitching very well, until hurting his elbow. I was right about him; he's a very good pitcher. Too bad his arm didn't hold up.
14) Brett Hunter, RHP, Grade B-: Severe control problems, 6.85 ERA with 55/59 K/BB in 47 innings for Class A Kane County.
15) Andrew Carignan, RHP, Grade B-: Pitched just two innings for Stockton in June.
16) Corey Brown, OF, Grade C+: Hitting .275/.360/.500 for Midland, limited to 62 games but playing well right now.
17) Andrew Bailey, RHP, Grade C+: 1.88 ERA with 76/22 K/BB in 72 innings, 44 hits for Oakland. Another personal favorite, a guy I liked before other people did.
18) Tyson Ross, RHP, Grade C+: 4.25 ERA with 108/52 K/BB in 131 innings between Stockton and Midland, 115 hits. As written about in my trip report a couple of weeks ago, he's got good stuff but command is wobbly at times.
19) John Donaldson, C, Grade C+: Hitting .271/.382/.415 for Midland, 79 walks. Love the plate discipline, would like to see more home run power.
20) Fautino De Los Santos, RHP, Grade C+: Rehabbing in the Arizona Rookie League, 3.86 ERA with 16/4 K/BB in 12 innings so far.
21) Sam Demel, RHP, Grade C+: 0.61 ERA with 26/9 K/BB in 29 innings for Midland, 3.18 ERA with 30/20 K/BB in 28 innings for Sacramento. Has some command issues but could help sometime next year.
22) Rashun Dixon, OF, Grade C+: Hitting .214/.300/.281 for Vancouver in the Northwest League. Great tools, no skills yet.
23) Jason Christian, SS, Grade C+: Hit .261/.341/.385 with 28 steals in 31 attempts for Class A Kane County. Went on the DL in July.
24) Arnold Leon, RHP, Grade C+: 3.17 ERA with 61/25 K/BB in 71 innings for Midland, 65 hits. Could get a look next year.
25) Petey Paramore, C, Grade C+: Hitting .233/.345/.300 for Kane County. Draws walks, but can't do anything else.
Cahill and Anderson were B+ on the original list but I raised them to A- before the book went to press. Considering their lack of high-level minor league experience, I think they've done OK this year, particularly Anderson. Gio is more problematic, and I don't have any idea what they should do with him frankly. Carter's bat looks excellent. I'm glad that Outman and Bailey have done well since I pushed them as underrated prospects. Too bad about Outman's elbow. I like the 2009 draft, mixing in college players with an upside guy like Max Stassi.
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Grant Desme
im curious as to whether you think he should be one of the top 3 prospects in the system next year or if we should wait and see if he can duplicate the numbers to move him up to the top
mlbprospectreport.blogspot.com
by kstanz41 on Sep 7, 2025 10:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Top 3?
I think that’s rather ridiculous. He’s had a nice year, but I don’t see him jumping that high.
by jar75 on Sep 7, 2025 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Carter, Wallace and ????
He’s gotta be in the mix for #3 with Weeks, Cardenas, Ynoa, Green, Stassi and maybe Cunningham and Doolittle. He arguably has a higher upside than Wallace for that matter. A 30/30 CF with decent plate discipline isn’t ridiculous at #3. OK, he can’t actually hit the ball, but you can’t have everything.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Sep 7, 2025 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's 23 and in the CAL
I don’t think one year of great production jumps him that far up the list. I’d put Weeks, Green and Cardenas comfortably ahead of him. After that, would come the next tier of Desme, Brown, Cunningham, Stassi, Doolittle, Donaldson &c (in no specific order).
by jar75 on Sep 7, 2025 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's entirely reasonable, but if someone didn't think much of the upsides of Weeks,
Cardenas and Green, I can see putting Desme ahead of them.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Sep 7, 2025 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is Desme's first full pro season
Given that he only has 49AB in last 2 years,he can rate higher
by thomashsnu on Sep 7, 2025 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I see people saying this all the time
But I don’t quite understand what relevance it has. That he unfortunately lost a couple years of his career doesn’t make him any less old now. He’s still a 23-yo in the CAL.
I hope as much as anyone that Desme is for real, but I’ll have a very hard time believing such is the case until I see him hit at Midland.
we in the losin baseball binness. and cousin, binness is a boomin.
by walk off bunt on Sep 7, 2025 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
agreed
I love what the kid has done at Stockton but before he cracks the top five I would say he has to repeat to an extant in with the Rockhounds.
PREPAREDNESS_Because those goddamn zombies aren’t going to kill themselves
by adragon on Sep 7, 2025 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It absolutely matters
His lack of previous development is from not playing. That’s a lot different from a guy who is repeating the league for the second time or something. Sure, his age and injury history needs to be taken into account, but I also think it’s wrong to look at him from a normal development perspective because he is not going to take the route no matter how he ends up.
by thejd44 on Sep 9, 2025 6:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right
In that his performance carries the additional upside of his not having a history of failure and necessary repetition, but I still don’t see how you can’t take his numbers at Stockton with at least a little grain of salt.
I guess what I’m saying is, there might not be any reason to knock him pre-AA performance, but I find the 23-year-old-in-CAL thing to be kind of unavoidable when strictly looking at his numbers from this season.
we in the losin baseball binness. and cousin, binness is a boomin.
by walk off bunt on Sep 10, 2025 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ok, fair enough.
I totally see your argument; I just see the other side, too. Part of me thinks that, yeah, he’s 23, but he’s also not really 23 in the sense that he shouldn’t be viewed as the typical 23 year old in the CAL league. Of course, like you say, his numbers also need to be viewed through the lens of a guy who is 23.
I’m curious to see how fast the A’s try to push him through the system.
by thejd44 on Sep 11, 2025 3:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I bet he starts in midland next year.
"Carter's 25-game hitting streak isn't any normal streak. He's 46 for 97 (.474 average) during the run, adding 16 walks and compiling 81 total bases in the process. I'm out of superlatives for what he's doing." - Kevin Goldstein
by Syphon on Sep 12, 2025 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
De Los Santos
Anyone have any insights into his recovery? 16Ks in his first 11 IP (albeit in rookie ball) is certainly encouraging. Does he return to top shelf prospect status next year?
by ScottBoras on Sep 7, 2025 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Apart from one poster on this board I can't really remember anyone overhyping Mazzaro
by DeJay on Sep 7, 2025 11:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Top 100 list
A’s fans were falling over themselves over this guy.
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift
by King Billy Royal on Sep 7, 2025 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I kinda remember that, but he didn't make it until the very bottom of the list.
I guess that means a few people were really passionate about him being #90 or whatever.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Sep 7, 2025 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nino Leyja...
Will he crack the top 20 list next year?
by soccerman0 on Sep 7, 2025 1:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
For what it's worth, Gio has had a bad year overall
But over the past month-ish, he’s done much better and mixed in some flashes of brilliance. He posted an ERA of 4.54 in August while striking out 38 in 33 IP. I’m excited about his future. I don’t think he’ll put everything together, but he’ll do enough to be a pretty decent #3 pitcher.
If you think Billy Beane is a bad GM, I hate you and find you stupid.
by NateHST on Sep 7, 2025 1:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
At this rate, he really is shaping up to be Oliver Perez
That’s not completely without value, of course, but it’s also not something to aspire to. I guess the good thing is that he’s already pretty much Perez and he’s still young enough to improve.
by thejd44 on Sep 7, 2025 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perez was pretty valuable in 2004 and 2007. If Gio had two years like that I'd be pretty happy.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Sep 7, 2025 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the high side, he's Wandy Rodriguez
Those two are actually very very similar. Goofy first names, same size, same exact pitches (arsenal and stuff), they even look somewhat alike. Wandy took until he was 28, after over 300 big league innings, to figure out how to command his fastball, and once he did, he broke out. If Gio figures it out, he’ll break out also. The problem is Gio has never shown good command, not at any level of the minors. He may simply not have it in him to improve that aspect. In which case, it’s bullpen at best.
A lot of this is probably going to be riding on how the A’s handle him. Don’t know about you guys, but I have a very hard time seeing Gio with anything but a long big league development curve. Pretty rare for a guy with shaky command to improve it rapidly. Usually takes quite a while, if it happens at all. And Gio is going to have a lot of competition for playing time. If he struggles big next year, will the A’s stick with him, a la the Stros and Wandy? Or will his spot go to a Simmons, or Ross, or returning Outman, etc…
by AgitationStation on Sep 7, 2025 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A's seem to have decent back rotation depth
to fill in for injuries, failed performane, etc…Finding fill in back rotation types shouldnt be too difficult among outman, leon, banwart, godfrey, simmons, ross, capra etc
by Asfan4ever723 on Sep 7, 2025 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
These guys are all pretty sucky though, except Outman and he's on the shelf.
Leon and Godfrey might make the majors but I wouldn’t want any of these guys in a rotation.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Sep 7, 2025 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why wouldn't you want Leon
In the rotation?
And Ross, for that matter. If they continue putting up the numbers, then I don’t see how you deny them.
"Chicks dig the long ball, although fat chicks will settle for warning track power" - Nick Diamond
by hero66 on Sep 7, 2025 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
When have they put up the numbers?
Both Ross and Leon have been slightly above average AA pitchers. That doesn’t scream “I want this guy in my major league rotation” to me.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Sep 8, 2025 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you do realize that Leon has been dominating since becoming a starter, right?
And that he’s only 20 years old?
by ozzman99 on Sep 8, 2025 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I also realize that's in about 30 IP, he doesn't have a dominating
pitch and he wasn’t great as a reliever. I like him as a sleeper but not as a top prospect.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Sep 9, 2025 1:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
never said he was a "top prospect"
But calling Leon sucky is not even remotely close to reality.
by ozzman99 on Sep 9, 2025 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is a bit harsh
Leon has looked good since being stretched out in the rotation. Capra apparently has an excellent change up and has a chance to be decent back of the end starter (or better). Ross has good stuff and has put together a solid first season. Simmons has had a very poor year but he has also shown flashes.
by DeJay on Sep 8, 2025 5:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If that's the most positive thing anyone can say about them, they're in
no danger of cracking the Top 100 prospect list….and they’re not that exciting as prospects.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Sep 8, 2025 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not saying it will happen again...
But guys like braden, outman, bailey, etc werent even close to any top 100 lists and pitched well. If we’re just talking about back rotation filler types and if the pitchers ahead of them are as good as they expect…anderson/cahill/mazzaro/braden/gio/outman etc…thats all those other prospects will have to be. Pitchers like Ross, Capra, Marks, Hornbeck, Leon, Godfrey, Banwart, Simmons etc might be useful at some point either to A’s or maybe depth in future trades. Wth this depth, maybe they actually get lucky that a few of them pitch above expectations.
by Asfan4ever723 on Sep 8, 2025 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think that's true of everyone but Leon.
Leon is only 20, doing well in AA, and has a good history in the Mexican League. Dude has legitimate upside.
by Elston Gunn on Sep 9, 2025 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like your positive attitude
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Sep 9, 2025 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not saying they will all crack the top 100 prospect list
Just that they are hardly all ‘pretty sucky’. I think Leon and possibly Capra have a chance in the future of breaking into the top 100 but even if they don’t they still have a chance do develop into solid 4/5th starters and with Braden, Anderson, Cahill, Mazzaro, Outman and Gonzalez already in the majors that is probably all we’ll need.
by DeJay on Sep 9, 2025 4:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brett Anderson has been awesome this year, I dont think his ERA does him any kind of justice
he’s gonna be another great A’s pitcher. Cahill, Im not too sold on him both through the eye test and the stats. I dont really see the stuff like you see with Anderson. Gio has a nasty CB, he struggles though when he gets behind in counts. It will be interesting to see if he can stabilize his fastball control.
I’ll be interested to see which of the A’s position prospects really pan out, they have a solid handful of strong positional players and they definitely need some hitting help at the big league level moving forward
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Sep 7, 2025 1:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree on Anderson
I hate that ugly MF’er.
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Sep 7, 2025 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Huh?
You agree Brett Anderson is awesome, but you hate him?
by redtopcowboy on Sep 7, 2025 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is Anderson ugly enough to be featured in the Angels rotation?
Even without Colon, there’s a lot of baaad baseball faces in that crowd.
by thejd44 on Sep 8, 2025 2:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah really.
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Sep 8, 2025 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of ugly
The best 1-2 punch in baseball Lincecum & Cain can also take the crown for uglyiest 1-2 punch as well. Good thing those guys have money.
by AthleticsReign on Sep 8, 2025 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even with the graduations of Cahill, Anderson, Mazzaro + Bailey & Outman, Gonzalez
How good is the A’s system going into the offseason ?
you still got:
Carter
Weeks
Cunningham
Doolittle
Green
Desme
Leon
H. Rod
Cardenas
C. Brown
J. Donaldson
I still Love their system despite all the graduates.
Deolis Guerra = Daniel Cabrera ?
I tend to think so
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Sep 7, 2025 2:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
And of course graduating all those guys is a good thing
Because theoretically, you won’t need quite so much organizational depth for the immediate future (this is, of course, not true with the A’s since they like to use the DL 20+ times a season).
by thejd44 on Sep 7, 2025 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't really like where Outman graduated to though. Mazzaro's shoulder isn't thrilling
me either.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Sep 7, 2025 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right, that's the A's caveat
Graduating players = sending them to the DL.
by thejd44 on Sep 7, 2025 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you forgot Brett Wallace
Who’s either #1 or #2 depending on what you think of him compared to Carter
by PL78 on Sep 7, 2025 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's # 2
Carter is the undisputed king
PREPAREDNESS_Because those goddamn zombies aren’t going to kill themselves
by adragon on Sep 7, 2025 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Where's Wallace?
PREPAREDNESS_Because those goddamn zombies aren’t going to kill themselves
by adragon on Sep 7, 2025 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
this is a look back thread
wallace was not on the A’s when originally written
by tuna411 on Sep 8, 2025 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ben Hornbeck would make my Top 20 right now.
I also kinda like Josh Leyland.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Sep 7, 2025 2:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I would add in Anthony Capra. He was leading the MWL when promoted to Stockton. He’s looked good in stockton too. Looks to be a low 90’s lefty that can get strike outs.
by Mistermidgetman on Sep 7, 2025 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He has a plus-plus changeup
Decent other stuff, but that’s his bread-and-butter outpitch.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Sep 7, 2025 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about Stassi?
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Sep 7, 2025 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well sure, but I thought that went without saying.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Sep 8, 2025 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
players that suprised
obviously desme, i read he as the only player in otganized baseball (any pro level) to have a 30/30 type yr
hornbeck/capra high K #‘s lefties from 08 draft
smyth/storey- relievers their stats are ridiculous for low round picks
sulentic/peterson- they still might tweener type OF’s, but did well for their age 21 seasons in AA
spencer- slumped a bit towards the end, but he might have been just as hot as carter in AA around mid-late summer
non prospects- kilby/everidge, local bay area guys, that have been the system for awhile, but passed over by younger prospects. their stats were too good to ignore and finally got their 40 man roster spots.
I’m being optimistic that the carter/wallace/cardenas/weeks/cunningha/green/desme/brown and others are the A’s best group of hitting prospects i 5- yrs and hopefully will help sooner rather than later.
by Asfan4ever723 on Sep 7, 2025 2:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Brett Anderson...
is going to be a legit #1. He’s impressed me more than Porcello as a rookie, though I’m not really trying to knock Porcello.
by SenorGato on Sep 7, 2025 3:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He's spectacular
Just check out the sig for evidence……
Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.
by Frederick0220 on Sep 7, 2025 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is probably my favorite sig on the entire internet.
we in the losin baseball binness. and cousin, binness is a boomin.
by walk off bunt on Sep 7, 2025 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
I gotta give kudos to mah boi, Ecky, cuz without him, it wouldn’t exist.
Eckhart Tolle ’till I die.
Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.
by Frederick0220 on Sep 7, 2025 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I feel like you need one more sentence there
“Brett Anderson is.”
by thejd44 on Sep 8, 2025 2:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha
I felt it was hyperbolic enough, and it was stolen out of a book, anyway.
Except for every “Brett Anderson is,” it said “I am.”
‘I am’ being Jesus Christ.
Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.
by Frederick0220 on Sep 8, 2025 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Crushcrushcrush
So you’re saying it wouldn’t do much good to have Petey Paramore take a few swings at his namesakes. Hm. (Note to self: Only entrust beatings via baseball bat to players with at least a .400 SLG.)
"That is like saying my �upside’ is Brad Pitts face, with Einstein’s brain, and Ron Jeremy’s unit. It is nice to dream, but that ceiling isn’t going to happen." (King Billy Royal)
by drjayphd on Sep 7, 2025 6:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i got the joke
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
by flipgatey3 on Sep 8, 2025 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aaron Cunningham's defense:
Can someone summarize for me what we know about Aaron Cunningham’s defense?
I see that he’s made five errors in ~50 games of big league action at the OF corners, which is quite a few. He’s also yet to play an inning of CF in Oakland. But that doesn’t tell me nearly enough.
Does he project as a center fielder? Is he a plus defender on a corner? What’s his arm like? He’s obviously fairly fast given his sb totals, but does he take good routes?
Thank you for your help.
Batting 4th for the 2014 San Jose A's: 26-year-old RF Justin Upton, in the 1st season of a nine year, $250M deal.
by notsellingjeans on Sep 7, 2025 7:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think that if Gio is going to be an MLB pitcher, he needs to be up in the bigs now.
Remember last year when he struggled with walks in the early part of the season at AAA until he finally figured it out and kicked butt? Well I think same thing goes for the bigs. If he’s going to figure it out, he should be figuring it out up in the bigs.
Now whether the A’s believe he’s going to figure it out or not…
"If Bowden was a general contractor, he'd build houses with nine bedrooms, six garages, no bathrooms, and half a roof."
by DyeLongJustice on Sep 7, 2025 7:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He is in the bigs and has been for a bit now
The Oakland A's: Pissing off fathers of disappointing baseball players who still managed to be better than their dads (charter club members: Tom Grieve & Ed Crosby)
Last of the Ninth - Photography
by Flashfire on Sep 7, 2025 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess I meant consistently
I know he’s been up, but he needs to stay up. He’s either good or he isn’t, and he’s ready for MLB.
"If Bowden was a general contractor, he'd build houses with nine bedrooms, six garages, no bathrooms, and half a roof."
by DyeLongJustice on Sep 8, 2025 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's been up and in the rotation pretty much since June 24th
by thejd44 on Sep 8, 2025 2:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
AAA Sacramento will be scary for the A's next year.
You could have a future major leaguer at every position:
1B: Chris Carter
2B: Jemile Weeks
SS: Adrian Cardenas
3B: Brett Wallace
LF: Aaron Cunningham
RF: Sean Doolittle
CF: Corey Brown
C: Josh Donaldson
SP: Arnold Leon
CL: Sam Demel
How scary is that for the other team?
Sometimes life will strike you out on a curve ball and the only choice you have is to flip off the umpire and walk to first base anyway.
by Threepwood XX on Sep 7, 2025 7:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Methinks thou art too aggressive with Weeks
He’d have to go absolutely bonkers in the AFL and next Spring to start the year in AAA. Leon should probably start next season in AA.
Cunningham will be in Oakland, Carter in LF, Wallace to 1B and Cardenas at 3B. Horton might get the call to play one of the MI spots.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Sep 7, 2025 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Leon's only just started starting (that sounds awkward)
It’s going to take at least 2 seasons to get him safely stretched out to starter innings loads.
I’m actually a little puzzled that the team put him in AA this season, given that he’s a long way from being able to contribute as a starter and the team has way beyond more than enough bullpen depth.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Sep 7, 2025 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There are a couple problems with your line up
Cardenas will be 2B/3B
Carter will be a corner OF, (stwitch him and Doolittle)
Weeks will be in AA
Other than that I love your line up
PREPAREDNESS_Because those goddamn zombies aren’t going to kill themselves
by adragon on Sep 7, 2025 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
also Brett Wallace at 3B for a full season would be something to see....
also….Max Stassi is in Kane County already ?
Deolis Guerra = Daniel Cabrera ?
I tend to think so
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Sep 8, 2025 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's in Vancouver right now
If you think Billy Beane is a bad GM, I hate you and find you stupid.
by NateHST on Sep 8, 2025 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really cant imagine the A's letting him stay there
He’s awful. No range at all, and the A’s are too smart and value defense too much to let Wallace wreck their young pitchers’ ERAs.
by alskor on Sep 10, 2025 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vin Mazzaro cannot be contained by these "lists"
by T Pac on Sep 8, 2025 3:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's way too good for a single organization
Like Chris Young. Or Alex Gonzalez.
by Fanon on Sep 8, 2025 7:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
DLS is a wildcard
other than Anderson, he might be the only pitcher to have star level upside anytime soon. Maybe pitching winter ball and then starting the yr in AA, will make up some time lost due to injury
by Asfan4ever723 on Sep 8, 2025 4:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think you are giving up on Cahill too soon
If he starts having more confidence in his curve I think he still has star level. Gio also has the stuff but maybe not the head.
by DeJay on Sep 9, 2025 4:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why on earth do people assume they can know what happens in somebody's head?
What’s wrong with Gio in this regard? Does he not care? Does he not listen to coaches? Does he allow one runner to reach base and then shit all over himself?
If what you mean is “Gio has the stuff, but maybe not the control” that’s different. To make some vague statement about his mental ability is misguided, and I’d think fairly insulting to the player.
by thejd44 on Sep 9, 2025 6:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gio
I don’t know what is going on in his head. I was talking about how he seems to get flustered when he makes a mistake and is very prone to a big inning. He himself has even admitted this.
by DeJay on Sep 9, 2025 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chris Carter
Chris Carter is getting some hype this week with BA listing him 3rd on their recent list of impact rookies. We featured him on MLB Fantasy Prospects today as on our countown of the Top 25 for 2010. He came in at #21.
http://www.mlbfantasyprospects.com/2009/09/21-mlb-fantasy-prospect-chris-carter-1bdh-oakland-athletics—-scouting-report.html
by Steve @ MLB Fantasy Prospects on Sep 15, 2025 7:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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