This explains it well. We are the weakest of the division leaders and the team really shows on the road they might not be ready for prime time. It's frustrating because it will be a wasted opportunity because this is a down year in the AL. We'll see how it shapes up but I won't be surprised at this point if they don't make the playoffs.
Damn these A's and their role of playing spoiler. Amazing how things have changed so quickly from the Astros....no longer trying to spoil other teams seasons...
The thing to keep in mind was the off season acquisitions prior to the season start. We didnt go after long term expensive reliable folks. Mostly, the best low hanging fruit available cheap and for short contracts. I am not knocking this. 2015 wasnt supposed to be our year, so we didnt make long term commitments in terms of time or salary. This winter should be very different (I hope). The brain trust now knows we have arrived and that will play into how the 2016 team is constructed.
There Are some tough decisions: Gattis (one of worse dh in baseball). But the investment was made so at least one more year there. What are we goingo to do at 1b? Reed? Singleton? White? Please any op e of those but no Carter. LF? Tucker? Will he be moved to 1b? Dh? Pitching are we going to re sign Kazmir? Or go with Appel and VV? Bullpen? Are we going after a closer? Or the loser of 5th spot will close? VV or Appel. Or gregerson will continue to close or pitch the 8th? I don't think we need to make many changes , I just think Hinch needs to improve on decisions. He stuck with Carter too long. Same with Gattis. Same with using Conger vs righties. Look Conger did not had a good game last night but he was 3 for 1 in the game because he is hitting against righties. Right now the division is in Rangers hands not ours so every small move now looks big. If we want to win we need better performance from Hinch and star playing Tucker over Gattis
Some team will overpay Kazmir, and I don't think it should be us. He's only a year younger than Feldman, and at the age where his best years are likely in the rearview mirror. Would rather see his money go to locking in Keuchel for a couple years past team control. With Keuchel, Lance, and VV we have a solid front-end of the rotation. Hopefully McHugh or Feldman can take the four spot and we use the fifth spot to try out the youngsters coming up.
Let's worry about the off season in the off season. For now, this is a game thread. We are one up on the Rangers. If that doesn't get you more interested than the off season... well then this may not be the right sport for ya.
Then back to where we were Saturday in the standings. This season will be determined in those 7 games against the Rangers. For now, take care of each day and win on the damn road.
Agree, and we have Fiers, i don't think Kazmir is a need right now, and he usually cools down in the second half. The only reason i though of re signing him is that we gave a nice hitting catcher to get him, and to give that talent for a rental hurts.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> lineup for A's finale 9 Springer 4 Altuve 6 Correa 8 Gomez 5 Lowrie DH Gattis 7 Rasmus 3 Gonzalez 2 Conger RHP McHugh</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/status/641742138858848256">September 9, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bats must come alive this game. McHugh has been pretty solid all season so hopefully he continues that.
I'd stick with this lineup as much as possible... while rotating Valbuena and Tucker at the DH spots as well.
The division isn't in the Rangers hands. It is in the Astros hands. The Astros have the more talented team and have lead the majority of the season. I think the Astros would like Kazmir back but at a reasonable price. Do not discount how good he has been the last few years. Carter, Rasmus and Valbuena are gone. Feldman will be dealt if Kazmir resigns. Feliz will be the closer if the Astros stay within the organization. Hinch likes Gatis and that may buy him another year. Castro won't be be offered arbitration.
