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Shop From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser Justin Duchscherer just conducted a very candid conference call with local reporters in which he discussed his diagnosis of clinical depression last summer,NBA Jerseys; I’ll…
Duchscherer discusses depression issues Wednesday, December 30, 2009 Duchscherer discusses depression issues
Posted By: Vlae Kershner (Email) | Dec 16 at 07:14 AM
Posted By: Susan Slusser (Email) | Dec 16 at 01:14 PM
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That means, barring other moves,Arizona Cardinals jerseys, that Duchscherer is likely to be the team’s No. 1 starter, as he had been projected to be last year,San Francisco 49ers jerseys, and he’ll be followed by left-handers Dallas Braden and Brett Anderson and right-hander Travor Cahill. The fifth spot will be up for grabs between righty Vin Mazzaro and lefty Gio Gonzalez, with Josh Outman a possibility when he returns from elbow surgery after the All-Star break.
UPDATE: Crisp said on the call that he’s a big Raiders fan and that he has a lot of relatives in the East Bay, including his grandmother.
For some holiday week alternative programming, Hardball Times columnists Chris Jaffe sends along highlights of his new book, “Evaluating Baseball Managers,” which takes a sabermetric look at the game’s best-known skippers. This guy does more research than doctors recommend. Here’s what he says about a trio of A’s managers:
Connie Mack was excellent until 1933, but went on far too long. Between 1934 and his retirement at age 87 in 1950 (by far the oldest manager ever), he was dreadful. He probably didn’t even really manage his last two teams, turning over the work to his former third baseman Jimmy Dykes.
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*Duchscherer is completely healthy and as I mentioned last month, he’s working out with noted trainer Brett Fischer.
From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser
There’s a lot of rumbling today about one of the players involved in the multi-team Halladay/Lee deal failing a physical and that holding things up, and speculation has centered on A’s prospect Brett Wallace and Phillies prospect Michael Taylor, but I’m told that is not the case.
Posted By: Vlae Kershner (Email) | Dec 20 at 09:05 AM
Buck said his agent heard some rumblings during the winter meetings that some other teams might have interest in him but A’s GM Billy Beane didn’t express interest in parting with him.
He thinks his speed is best utilized if he’s up near the top of the order, which could give the A’s a pretty interesting duo of basestealers, with Rajai Davis and Crisp.
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Posted By: Susan Slusser (Email) | Dec 16 at 12:17 PM
The A’s just officially announced the return of two-time All-Star Justin Duchscherer and there is expected to be a conference call with him later this morning.
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Google Bookmarks Share | Email Duchscherer signing official; Jay Marshall designated
Oakland liked the way the young starters progressed last year, but having an established veteran will help, and Duchscherer, with his pinpoint control, is an excellent model to show that pitchers who hit corners and change speeds well can enjoy great success in the league.
Billy Martin “was the most fearless manager in baseball history.” His aggressive basestealing tactics were “insane” according to the math,San Diego Chargers jerseys, but he dramatically improved most teams he managed, including the 1980-81 A’s, for a season or two before they flamed out. He says the leader most comparable to Martin is not a baseball manager but conquistador Hernan Cortes, who burned his boats prior to taking Mexico. The act was not the important part. All that mattered was the message it sent the men: there was no going back — they needed to win. Tony La Russa is “baseball’s best manager since Joe McCarthy” (wow!). “The most striking example of La Russa’s ability to get the most out of his players occurred in Oakland, where he assembled the greatest bullpen in baseball history from 1988-90.” Jaffe’s complete analysis of La Russa can be found on Cardinal blog Viva El Birdos here.
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I’m hearing that Coco Crisp was having a tough time getting from his home near Palm Springs to Phoenix for his physical because of a flight delay, so any announcement is on hold for the time being.
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When I said that sounded a little like the young Jermaine Dye, Taylor said he hears that comparison a lot, and if he can have a career anything like Dye’s, he’d be thrilled.
Justin Duchscherer just conducted a very candid conference call with local reporters in which he discussed his diagnosis of clinical depression last summer; I’ll be able to delve into it more in tomorrow’s paper, but to summarize some of his comments:
To that end, Buck has been working with ex-A’s outfielder Nick Swisher and Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long. Buck has all but eliminated his famous “waggle” and he said that for the first time, he’s really incorporating his lower body into his swing. That gives him more power,Green Bay Packers jerseys, Buck said. (And that’s certainly something the A’s could use.) He’s very happy with the results.
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Posted By: Vlae Kershner (Email) | Dec 28 at 07:05 AM
Posted By: Susan Slusser (Email) | Dec 30 at 10:05 AM
As yesterday’s Coco Crisp signing showed, the A’s like to have a lot of depth, given their many injuries the past few years, and having extra starting pitchers is a plus, especially considering that some in that mix can work out of the bullpen, including potentially Gonzalez and Outman.
Posted By: Susan Slusser (Email) | Dec 30 at 12:19 PM
Then he added with a laugh, “I’ve always said it’s a place I’d like to eventually live - if I can afford it.”
Since the team already has three starting outfielders, it seems like this free-agent signing would set up a trade of one of them — Scott Hairston, perhaps — for a third baseman or shortstop. Under that scenario, Crisp would start in left until Michael Taylor is ready to turn opposing pitching staffs into Shredded Wheat. Or maybe Rajai Davis would be the one who goes,New York Giants jerseys, and Crisp would start in center. At any event, this signing would only work if Billy Beane has some Trix up his sleeve.
I spoke to onetime A’s right fielder Travis Buck yesterday about the most recent influx of outfielders, which presumably pushes him down the depth chart again, but Buck has a good attitude about the whole thing: He said that if he goes out and does what he’s supposed to during the spring, either the A’s will want him or someone else might.
From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser
Duchscherer’s agent,NFL Women Jerseys, Damon Lapa, said at the start of the free-agent period that the two-time All-Star was clear with teams that he wanted to be a starter, and considering the incentives package,it is safe to assume that the A’s have agreed that that will be the right-hander’s role. Duchscherer missed all of last season, first with an elbow problem and then during treatment for clinical depression.
Posted By: Susan Slusser (Email) | Dec 22 at 04:31 PM
So… is that the new plan? Run past the opposition? If Matt Holliday can’t hit the ball out at the Coliseum, no one can,Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys, so now the A’s are all speed, no power?
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I asked Taylor if he can compare himself to any particular player and he responded that he’s a little unique because he’s so big (6 foot 6, 250 pounds) but he’s not strictly a power hitter; he can run,Super Bowl jerseys, too, and take the extra base, move runners over - the little stuff along with hitting the occasional homer.
It’s great to hear Duchscherer sounding upbeat and ready for a fresh start. He has clearly gained a lot of knowledge about coping with stress and emotional issues, and he said he is very happy to be returning to a spot where he feels comfortable. He loves working with catcher Kurt Suzuki and with pitching coach Curt Young, and he appreciates the A’s support and sensitivity during his tough times last summer.
*He is looking forward to mentoring the young A’s starters, both as a pitcher - he said he can show them that you can still get out big-league hitters even if you have “sub-par stuff” - and as a person. He said he didn’t feel he knew anyone going through the sorts of things he was as a young player, but after this experience of the past year, he can be a sounding board for teammates with off-the-field issues, too.
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Google Bookmarks Share | Email Monday, December 28,Miami Dolphins jerseys, 2009 Evaluating A’s managers
From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser
UPDATE: The deal is for $4.75 million in 2010, with a $5.75 team option for 2011 and a buyout of $500,000.
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Google Bookmarks Share | Email Wednesday, December 23, 2009 Coco Crisp is officially signed - updated with contract info
There were those rumblings today about someone in the multi-team trade failing a physical, which was discounted by my sources, and Taylor said he’d heard that report but then he got the call from the A’s soon afterward so he knew it was bogus.
*Duchscherer first realized he needed help when he was unable to board a flight from Phoenix to Triple-A Sacramento for a rehab start. He said he was “paralyzed” when he got to the airport, and he couldn’t figure out why he felt that way.
The base salary is $2 million, but Duchscherer could earn as much as $5.5 million with incentives,Oakland Raiders jerseys, should he reach benchmarks of 30 starts and 200 innings.
From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser
MLBTR is reporting the A’s are on the verge of a one-year, $5 million deal with Coco Crisp, a fine defensive outfielder who isn’t exactly Cap’n Crunch with the bat (stats).
Duchscherer is a steal at $2 million guaranteed, and even if he maxes out with incentives, at $5.5 million, he’s a bargain.
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Taylor has Type 1 diabetes, and he said he has a program that works for him, but he does have to be careful about what he eats, he tests his blood sugar and he administers insulin. There have been numerous top-tier athletes with Type 1 diabetes, and the A’s are not concerned about it, but they will be absolutely cognizant of the condition.
From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser
[Return to top]
There’s no problem with the physical itself, just getting the free-agent outfielder to it. Crisp, 30,Cleveland Browns jerseys, has had surgery on both shoulders this year but he is expected to be be completely ready for spring training. He has a pending one-year deal that is believed to be worth around $4.5 million (with an option for 2011) but he will have to pass that physical first.
More »
It’s all done, Coco Crisp is a member of the A’s; no details announced on figures, but it’s somewhere between $4-5 million with an option for 2011.
Taylor won’t have to worry about that if the projections are correct; many talent evaluators, including scouts and media analysts,Detroit Lions jerseys, say that he had the best overall season of any position player in the minors last year.
Aroldis Chapman might not be a bargain if he lands a deal approaching $20 million, but the A’s have more money to work with than many believe and it’s fun to see a lower-payroll team contend with the big dogs for a potential star.
“I figured if they were setting up this (conference call), it couldn’t be that serious,New York Jets jerseys,” he said. “A trade with this many moving parts, I figured there would be some mistruths that would come out, but I’d never heard anything from a credible source with inside information.”
I do know the A’s love Crisp’s defense, and even if speed hasn’t been a “Moneyball” kind of thing for Oakland in the past, their shift to defense a few years ago was an effort to take advantage of some market disparities. And with so many young starters and relievers, Oakland believes a strong up-the-middle defense is extra important.
If you haven’t seen it yet, this video of new A’s outfield prospect Michael Taylor completing the cycle with a monster home run is mouth-watering.
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Google Bookmarks Share | Email Thursday, December 24,Swingwan Jerseys, 2009 Duchscherer unofficially in fold: $2 million base salary
*Dr. Ray Karesky, who runs the A’s employee assistance program,Seattle Seahawks jerseys, helped Duchscherer to understand that his underlying problems were not baseball-related but were more to do with his personal life and relationships, particularly with regards to his divorce two years ago and to his own parents’ divorce when he was a child.
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Google Bookmarks Share | Email Tuesday, December 22, 2009 Crisp’s physical delayed; Travis Buck update
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*Duchscherer did not take any antidepressants, though they were suggested at one point. He said he’s always careful about what he puts in his body and he decided they just weren’t right for him.
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So again, from what I am hearing, there are no problematic physicals. In fact, it’s more likely that announcements will come this afternoon making this monster deal official. Wallace would be going from Oakland to Toronto and Taylor coming to the A’s from the Phillies.
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Lefty reliever Jay Marshall was designated for assignment in order to make room for Duchscherer on the 40-man roster. Marshall seems to wind up back in Oakland like clockwork, so even if he gets picked up by another team, he’ll be in an A’s uniform again someday, I’d bet.
*He’s now focusing on his life away from baseball more, getting more perspective on things,2009 Pro Bowl jerseys, and he’s learned that he cannot be such a perfectionist on the field,Tennessee Titans jerseys; though he’s a two-time All-Star, Duchscherer said he always dwelt on the negative, even after some of his best performances. He is now going to prepare himself as well as he can,Indianapolis Colts jerseys, do the job to the best of his ability and appreciate that he is making a full effort.
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Michael Taylor played college baseball about 40 minutes from the Coliseum, so he said he’s excited to be coming back to the Bay Area as part of the multi-team Roy Halladay/Cliff Lee deal.
Posted By: Susan Slusser (Email) | Dec 24 at 12:05 PM
“I spent three years out there,” the former Stanford outfielder said on a just-completed conference call. “I’m very fond of the area.”
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We’re hoping to speak to Crisp on a conference call later this afternoon.
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Google Bookmarks Share | Email Athletics Home Fan Forum The Drumbeat Stats Standings Schedule Roster Scoreboard Shop Tickets A’s Drumbeat Contact | About This digital dugout is the yap zone for the A’s on SFGatecheap. By Susan Slusser, Vlae Kershner, Read Bios advertisement
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your ad here Recent Entries Duchscherer discusses depression issuesDuchscherer signing official,Youth NFL jerseys; Jay Marshall designatedEvaluating A’s managersDuchscherer unofficially in fold: $2 million base salaryCoco Crisp is officially signed - updated with contract infoCrisp’s physical delayed; Travis Buck updateReport: A’s on verge of signing CrispMichael Taylor’s reactions to the tradePhysicals not an issue with Wallace, Taylor deal -updatedMichael Taylor home run video
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Google Bookmarks Share | Email Wednesday, December 16, 2009 Michael Taylor’s reactions to the trade
I think it could be pretty fun to watch, especially after so many years of slow, station-to-station teams. But I also think the A’s will add some power before the season starts, and I think that there’s a good chance it will be Jack Cust again. That’s my own speculation,Chicago Bears jerseys, but it seems like both sides have interest, so why not? There aren’t many 25-30 homer guys out there in Cust’s anticipated price range.
From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser
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Posted By: Susan Slusser (Email) | Dec 23 at 12:27 PM
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As I reported in this morning’s Chronicle,Dallas Cowboys jerseys, the A’s were optimistic about re-signing Justin Duchscherer,New Orleans Saints jerseys, and though the team might not announce the agreement until after Christmas, word from multiple sources is that a one-year deal is done pending a physical.
No matter what happens on the field, this is already a nice story, and a reminder that baseball players are people first, athletes second. They have the same problems everyone else does, but they sometimes have to play them out in public, which can’t be easy. Here’s to a fine season for Justin Duchscherer.
This is an era when many businesses are going green, and my theory is that with huge guys Chris Carter and Taylor,Washington Redskins jerseys, Billy Beane has decided to see if he can recreate the Bash Brothers with no chemical enhancements.
The likely hold-up: the teams are awaiting approval on some of the cash elements of the deal.
From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser
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**UPDATED** The A’s are now announcing that they have acquired Taylor.**
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Crisp definitely fits that mold, but does shortstop Cliff Pennington? Is that an area the A’s need to upgrade defensively or was he adequate there last year as a rookie?
When I asked if he believes he’s major-league ready, Taylor said that most players would like to think that, but he’ll have to prove it when given the opportunity. From what I’m hearing,Jacksonville Jaguars jerseys, he will get every opportunity during the spring, so I’m sure he will be one of the most central stories in Phoenix in two months.