Jays get Josh Donaldson for Lawrie, Graveman, Nolin and Barreto

[JaysAllMighty]

Lol so it's okay to bad mouth your employer to the media when your with them but once your gone your just a terrible person if you do it? wtf grow up.

 

You're a total idiot, can't comprehend what I wrote.

[Deadpool]

You're a total idiot, can't comprehend what I wrote.

 

You're taking this awfully personally. It's the sort of generic comment players make after they're traded. It literally means NOTHING.

[HERPDERP]

Donaldson was traded because Beane didn't like how he requested a few days rest

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/report--josh-donaldson-clashed-with-billy-beane-before-trade-005754140.html

[BTS]

One industry source says he "knew" the Athletics would trade Josh Donaldson this winter, no matter how little baseball sense it made, because the All-Star and Beane were "at war" by season's end.

 

Multiple sources cite a verbal altercation between the two after Donaldson told manager Bob Melvin he needed a couple of days off after Oakland had played several days in a row. The story goes, Beane told Donaldson if he needed a couple of days off, the club should put him on the disabled list, and that made Donaldson unhappy. ...

"Donaldson told the manager he needed a blow, and [bob] Melvin said, 'You got it,' " the source said. "Then that night's lineup came out and Billy asked, 'Where's Donaldson?' "

When told what happened, the source says, an angry Beane demanded that Melvin put Donaldson back into the lineup.

"They got into it in the coach's office," the source says, describing a scene in which Beane lit into Donaldson, with the third baseman reiterating his need for a day off and petulantly calling Beane "Billy Boy."

"Nobody talks to Billy that way," the source said. "It did not surprise me in the least that he got rid of Donaldson."

[King]

lol

[Candy Maldonado]

Someone needs to make a "Thanks Billy Boy" sign for the first game.

[KingKat]

One industry source says he "knew" the Athletics would trade Josh Donaldson this winter, no matter how little baseball sense it made, because the All-Star and Beane were "at war" by season's end.

 

Multiple sources cite a verbal altercation between the two after Donaldson told manager Bob Melvin he needed a couple of days off after Oakland had played several days in a row. The story goes, Beane told Donaldson if he needed a couple of days off, the club should put him on the disabled list, and that made Donaldson unhappy. ...

"Donaldson told the manager he needed a blow, and [bob] Melvin said, 'You got it,' " the source said. "Then that night's lineup came out and Billy asked, 'Where's Donaldson?' "

When told what happened, the source says, an angry Beane demanded that Melvin put Donaldson back into the lineup.

"They got into it in the coach's office," the source says, describing a scene in which Beane lit into Donaldson, with the third baseman reiterating his need for a day off and petulantly calling Beane "Billy Boy."

"Nobody talks to Billy that way," the source said. "It did not surprise me in the least that he got rid of Donaldson."

 

Macho ******** FTW

[flafson]

Been watching some defensive highlights of Donaldson and i'm really happy about his range, we need someone to cover Reyes and it was missed when Lawrie was on the DL. I'm glad that Donaldson has what it takes to cover the gap between short and 3rd cause we all know Reyes can't.

[intentional wok]

Macho ******** FTW

 

So an altercation over a day off and some chest puffing slurs led to Beane lighting the dynamite on his squad.

 

Somehow I thought Beane was smarter than this - actually I still do. Likelier the anonymous source has a skewed enough view of things (i.e., meathead) that makes him believe this was the lynchpin. "Nobody talks to Billy that way" makes him sound like some hired goon in a bad action flick.

[G-Snarls]

Someone needs to make a "Thanks Billy Boy" sign for the first game.

 

Oh absolutely

 

LOL

 

A's fans are gonna rage

[HERPDERP]

Been watching some defensive highlights of Donaldson and i'm really happy about his range, we need someone to cover Reyes and it was missed when Lawrie was on the DL. I'm glad that Donaldson has what it takes to cover the gap between short and 3rd cause we all know Reyes can't.

 

Unfortunately you should see the highlights of his throwing. Not all that great. I think he had the most errors by a 3B last year?

[HERPDERP]

And with all the throwing errors he is still the best 3B in baseball.

 

He is, but that makes me pause and think that defensive metrics should need to be looked at a bit more carefully.

 

Even with his E5-like throwing tendecies, is his range enough to overcome it? Statistically, yes, it's enough to provide more defensive value.

 

Still though, I'd hate to have a game situation where an errant throw leads to a bigger inning for the opposing team.

 

Would be nice to have defensive metrics that are split into type of defensive.

 

i.e. range, reaction, throwing/arm strength/, accuracy, e.t.c

[G-Snarls]

A's board loaded with Billy Boy comments

 

http://www.forums.mlb.com/discussions/As_Fan_Forum/ml-athletics?redirCnt=1

[KingKat]

So an altercation over a day off and some chest puffing slurs led to Beane lighting the dynamite on his squad.

 

Somehow I thought Beane was smarter than this - actually I still do. Likelier the anonymous source has a skewed enough view of things (i.e., meathead) that makes him believe this was the lynchpin. "Nobody talks to Billy that way" makes him sound like some hired goon in a bad action flick.

 

If you believe what Michael Lewis wrote in Moneyball, Beane had a similar incident with Jeremy Giambi. That's what makes the story credible.

[intentional wok]

If you believe what Michael Lewis wrote in Moneyball, Beane had a similar incident with Jeremy Giambi. That's what makes the story credible.

 

I've never read it, though I was looking into picking it up this week actually. Hilarious.

[burlingtonbandit]

UZR splits it into double play runs, range runs, and error runs. Donaldson was average with error runs last year (0.0) but elite in range.

In his career he has 1.1 double play runs, 32.5 range runs, and -2.8 error runs at 3B.

 

I think that is why they got Smoak to play 1B. He apparently is good at picking balls in the dirt so that will help save Donaldson and Reyes. EE is terrible at it so the errors would likely go up if he was playing the majority at 1B.

 

Random question but does Donaldson get a lot of his range defensive value from going to the massive foul territory at the Colliseum? He is going to make a ton more plays than average because of that and I would think Lawrie's numbers will show the same.

[G-Snarls]

I've never read it, though I was looking into picking it up this week actually. Hilarious.

 

It's a great read, really is

[G-Snarls]

I think that is why they got Smoak to play 1B. He apparently is good at picking balls in the dirt so that will help save Donaldson and Reyes. EE is terrible at it so the errors would likely go up if he was playing the majority at 1B.

 

Good point. Yes EE is terrible at it and he has two semi-wild throwers to deal with at SS and 3B. I hope Smoak hits well enough to stick cause I don't know who else we'd use other than Valencia, what with Lind and Francisco both gone.

[LongTimeReader]

Been watching some defensive highlights of Donaldson and i'm really happy about his range, we need someone to cover Reyes and it was missed when Lawrie was on the DL. I'm glad that Donaldson has what it takes to cover the gap between short and 3rd cause we all know Reyes can't.

 

I especially love how Reyes refuses to dive and will just do that half-assed-bend-at-the-hip thing to try and snag a ball... like he's an old woman or something... his range is f***ing bad... does make up for it a bit with the arm

[LongTimeReader]

Good point. Yes EE is terrible at it and he has two semi-wild throwers to deal with at SS and 3B. I hope Smoak hits well enough to stick cause I don't know who else we'd use other than Valencia, what with Lind and Francisco both gone.

 

You guys are way too critical, Edwin is not bad at picking... He's not good either... He's okay

[Mikeleelop]

You guys are way too critical, Edwin is not bad at picking... He's not good either... He's okay

EE is a poor defensive 1b. Bottom five in AL

[G-Snarls]

EE is a poor defensive 1b. Bottom five in AL

 

Good thing he hits like a motherf***er

[Angrioter]

EE is a poor defensive 1b. Bottom five in AL

 

Babe Ruth was a poor defender too.

[LongTimeReader]

EE is a poor defensive 1b. Bottom five in AL

 

Just talking about picking... I've only seen him miss maybe 2-3 in 2 years

[Jimcanuck]

Just talking about picking... I've only seen him miss maybe 2-3 in 2 years

 

Pretty sure he's missed 2 in the same inning once or twice

[burlingtonbandit]

Just talking about picking... I've only seen him miss maybe 2-3 in 2 years

 

I can think of at least 5 just last year. The KC game was a really bad one.

 

Anyone else think Lawrie will be better defensively than Donaldson next year? Both Inside Edge and FSR had Lawrie higher and he will be in his prime defensively while Donaldson is probably declining. Turf could slow him down a bit as well.

[Stangstag]

I can think of at least 5 just last year. The KC game was a really bad one.

 

Anyone else think Lawrie will be better defensively than Donaldson next year? Both Inside Edge and FSR had Lawrie higher and he will be in his prime defensively while Donaldson is probably declining. Turf could slow him down a bit as well.

 

Very possible. Doesn't really matter if Lawrie misses half the season again though.

[ElNik2013]

I can think of at least 5 just last year. The KC game was a really bad one.

 

Anyone else think Lawrie will be better defensively than Donaldson next year? Both Inside Edge and FSR had Lawrie higher and he will be in his prime defensively while Donaldson is probably declining. Turf could slow him down a bit as well.

 

 

I like Lawrie a lot. A's will get good value out of the deal, I really don't see this trade as the steal some are calling it. Barreto will be key, but the 2 MLB-ready pitchers will provide value for the A's as well.

 

 

We'll see what happens.

[burlingtonbandit]

Very possible. Doesn't really matter if Lawrie misses half the season again though.

 

Oh I still think you do the trade 10/10 times but I can see Lawrie getting a huge Defensive boost from Oakland's park.

[KingKat]

Oh I still think you do the trade 10/10 times but I can see Lawrie getting a huge Defensive boost from Oakland's park.

 

I was wondering about that... Oakland offers the possibility for a corner IF to make plays deep into foul territory, plays that aren't even available to players in other parks. I wonder if that gives Donaldson's defensive numbers a boost? I can't help but wonder if we see the defensive ratings for Lawrie and Donaldson even out now that they've traded home parks.