Baseball Toaster Catfish Stew
Log in | Register | Help
Durazo Released
2007-03-31 19:37
by Ken Arneson

According to this press report, the A's have released Erubiel Durazo.

Given that Dan Johnson and Esteban Loaiza will join Mark Kotsay on the DL to start the year, there are basically two roster decisions remaining: Lenny DiNardo vs. Brad Halsey as the long man in the pen, and Todd Walker vs. Travis Buck to replace Dan Johnson.

Even though Buck is probably a better player right now, I expect the A's to let Buck simmer some more in AAA, and give Walker a shot. Walker's slugging percentage slipped under .400 last year, but he still put up a typical-for-him .356 OBP, which ain't bad. Most of that drop came from a collapse against LHP (.204/.320/.315), which is actually fine, since Bobby Kielty has the same issues from the opposite side of the plate. This makes for a nice platoon, with Swisher covering the position for the sitting half of the platoon. How's this for some platoon numbers:

2006 vs LHP (Kielty): .325/.358/.607
2006 vs RHP (Walker): .302/.368/.425

Walker's slugging still isn't great, but the total numbers will do fine. Only problem is, this requires Shannon Stewart and Milton Bradley to stay healthy, so the A's can avoid playing Kielty against RHP and Walker against LHP. I suppose if that situation does come up, that's where you try Antonio Perez in the outfield and see what he can do.

 

Comments
2007-04-04 01:49:01
1.   aznemesis
Was the Durazo move a shock? I haven't followed him since he left Arizona, but he seemed to have a lot of promise as a hitter at that time. He wasn't worth much in the NL because he was a poor defender (and a whiner when asked to play out of position), but this news kind of surprised me based purely on my memory of him.
Post a comment   (Help)

To comment, please log in.

Not a member? Register!
STOP CASTING POROSITY! An Oakland Athletics blog.
Hot from the Toaster
Search
Google Search
Web
Toaster
Catfish Stew
Archives

2008
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2007
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2006
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2005
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  01 

2004
12  09  08  01 

2003
12  11  10  09  08 
A's Web Sites
MLB Heavyweight Champion

If MLB champs were decided like boxing: beat the champ, and you're the champ.

The 2008 season started with the Red Sox as champs. They were beaten by the A's, who were beaten back by Boston, who were then swept by Toronto, who lost to Oakland, who lost to Cleveland, and so on, until we reached our current champion.

The Heavyweight of the Year is the team that wins the most title bouts at the end of the season.

Current Champion (as of 5/17):
Cincinnati Reds

2008 Title Bout Records:

teamwl
Athletics1313
Red Sox117
Angels64
Indians46
Rangers46
Blue Jays33
Reds20
Yankees11
Tigers12
Orioles03

2007 Heavyweight of the Year:
Seattle Mariners

2006 Heavyweight of the Year:
Oakland Athletics

2005 Heavyweight of the Year:
Oakland Athletics

more info...

Email Us

Ken: catfish AT zombia d.o.t. com
Ryan: rarmbrust AT gmail d.o.t. com
Philip: kingchimp AT alamedanet d.o.t net

Minor Leagues
Syndication

rss2.0

Add to My Yahoo!