The Dreaded Eighth Inning

by Tyler Bleszinski on Feb 9, 2005 11:03 PM PST in News

Exhale, Ken Macha, no need to reach for the acid reflux medicine anymore.

A's manager Ken Macha had a quick and definitive answer when he was asked what he'll remember most about the 2004 season.

"The eighth inning," he said.

Not the eighth inning of any particular game, mind you. He was talking about the many, many eighth innings that led -- directly and indirectly -- to an A's loss.

It's truly what every A's fan dreaded about last season. And what's beautiful is the fact that this year's Oakland Athletics are going to have a variety of options for those late innings that are proven successful.

No more white knuckle endings...suddenly, A's fans can stop asking their doctors for blood pressure medicine.

Yes, there will likely be someone who doesn't work out in the pen, be it Juan Cruz or Kiko Calero or even Dotel, but the truth is that now the A's have depth in the organization and can reach down into the system to pluck someone like Huston Street to take the role. Or even Jairo Garcia.

If the A's young starting pitching can hold up this year and go five or maybe six innings, the A's pen will actually win them some games. Especially when you combine it with that much improved offense.

It's going to be a new dynamic for us A's fans, having the games decided early rather than late...but I'm feeling like I'm free from the Prevacid once and for all.

Free at last.

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I just know

that Macha will still find a way to mess up the pen.

"I still stand firm that Johnny Damon is really Jesus, The Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer..."

by Zonis on Feb 9, 2005 11:49 PM PST reply actions

Really Unfair

I think it's really unfair that everyone blames Ken Macha for the bullpen's demise last year.

There were so many restrictions on who was available when, so many guys playing a bigger role than they were capable of, and, for much of the season, no reliable closer.

Bradford was overworked, Mecir was overworked, Rincon was asked to do more than he should, Duke became over exposed, and Rhodes just plain sucked.

What could Macha do? Call up Huston Street? Trade for help? Isn't that the GM's job?

Clearly, the bullpen was poorly constructed last season. Billy Beane realized that and went out and improved the pen for 2005. He obviously doesn't blame Macha. The talent simply wasn't there.

This year, Colero can pitch the 7th, Cruz can pitch the 8th, Bradford can face one or two righties, Rincon can face one or two lefties, and Dotel can close.

Does that mean Macha becomes a million times smarter than he was last season? No, because now he has the guys to do the job.

by Eck on Feb 10, 2005 7:45 AM PST up reply actions

I just hope

that our bullpen is used wisely next season. I feel a lot better now that we have a more stable and improved bullpen who can hopefully pick of the slack any of the new starters may have. At least now I won't have to duck and hide when the eighth inning comes around and hope for the best, which will keep the anxiety level down. :)

by oakasfan20 on Feb 10, 2005 12:07 AM PST reply actions

My nails will thank me..

for the less frequent biting. I don't even remember what it's like to not worry when I see relief pitchers take the mound.

by LD on Feb 10, 2005 7:02 AM PST reply actions

And I

Will thank my stomach for not turning as much.

Peace up, A-Town Down (A town being Albany California, not Atlanta)

by ohad on Feb 10, 2005 7:03 AM PST reply actions

The First Thing I thought of...

"Free at last. Free at last. Thank godallmighty, free at last."

"I seen some shit." -Ron Washington, when asked about being the infield coach for the A's, a team that will start a blind man if he can get on base.

by Roscoe Parrish on Feb 10, 2005 7:35 AM PST up reply actions

While it's certainly true...

...that Macha didn't have the guys you'd want to have out there, it's also true that he never seemed to identify roles, he never seemed to figure out who was hot and who wasn't, and he was slow to react to problems. He could never stick guys in their roles and leave them there, even when they were successful.

A repeat performance with more talented, albeit younger, arms this year will be the thing that gets him fired, I think.

by jrbh on Feb 10, 2005 9:06 AM PST reply actions

It wasn't Macha's fault

I don't think he had the horses. Rincon shouldn't be used in any meaningful game. My friend who's a Cleveland fan warned me about him, and he turned out to be right. He's the Jeff George of pitchers, decent stats, but just can't win a big one for ya, and never good when it's on the line.

This year it's going to be the starters we will dread. We might be calling for the 'pen in the 4th inning...

Pick your poison. I think the team is always better when responsibility for winning is spread out over more players than 3. Last year, we tried to have the Big 3 win everything, and when they don't you don't have much else to turn to.

This year will test my theory. I think it's an upgrade, as does Beane. But there will be a lot of painful starts by the young core pitchers. That's just 2005. There might also be brilliance.

by Gain on 10 on Feb 10, 2005 10:23 AM PST reply actions

Poor Rincon

Outside of a couple bad performances in key games down the stretch, he did an outstanding job on relief last year, I thought. I still like him for an inning or two.

by LD on Feb 10, 2005 11:13 AM PST up reply actions

Rincon is fine

provided he is used correctly. He is a classic LOOGY, and when used that way last year he was effective.

by OaklandSi on Feb 10, 2005 11:42 AM PST up reply actions

I like BP's description...

of Rincon. Jesse Orosco Mark II

Hey bartender! I think ol' Jobu needs a refill!

by nothinlikethetown on Feb 10, 2005 11:48 AM PST up reply actions

Forgive my ignorance

but what is a LOOGY, anyway?

by LD on Feb 10, 2005 1:56 PM PST up reply actions

Lefty One Out GuY - a left handed reliever

by Jennifer on Feb 10, 2005 2:12 PM PST up reply actions

Hey!

That's a baseball comment!

The triple of Jeremy Brown's imagination was, in reality, a home run.

by ArakSOT on Feb 11, 2005 11:46 AM PST up reply actions

by kaweahkaweah on Feb 10, 2005 2:25 PM PST up reply actions

But I can easily see our starters going 6 innings, giving up 4 runs, the pen giving up another 1, and the team scoring 4-6 runs per game most of the time. That means more nailbiters.

Guess we'll wait and see.

In any case, it's good to have more confidence in the pen.

by Hegenberger Road on Feb 10, 2005 3:59 PM PST reply actions