Is anyone else starting to get queasy about pitching......

by Aparicio11 on Mar 25, 2005 3:00 PM PST

I was in Phoenix and didn't see the shut-down performances that I used to see in spring training. Houston Street looked good but gave up a run in each game. The young starters had good innings and bad ones - - but no shutdowns and not even the foundation of what would pass as a quality start. Checking box scores around the league you see the good pitchers generally getting good results and going 5 or 6 innings now.
The games against Texas were very much like the games against Texas 7 or 8 years ago - very long and with basketball scores.
I didn't see Dotel but folks I ran into that saw him said I was better off.
After a winter of optimistic hope there is a certain reality that expecting three rookie starters to perform anything like Huddy, Mulder and Lilly is dream land material. I hope it can happen. Huddy and Zito were dominant out of the box - Mulder was more orinary his first season. Point is we will know soon.
We've been spoiled - I used to only go to Mulder Weeknight games cuz I knew he would have me in bed on time.......I sure hope one of the youngsters turns out to be as efficient.

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Anyone else....

Anyone else feel the need to remind everyone this is just spring training and we shouldn't read too much into the stats?

by Furious George on Mar 25, 2005 3:54 PM PST reply actions

this is normal, though.

When the starters go bad, we'll all feel a little sick. When they're on a roll...life will be beautiful. I expect a lot of posts like this during the season.

But, yes. It's spring training. Save the worrying for the regular season.

by Sharon on Mar 25, 2005 4:58 PM PST up reply actions

No!

I agree pitching is not very quality right now.

Honestly its terrible. Spring training or not.

Zito looks lost.

Can somebody direct him to the strike zone.

That is before he injures Kendell.

by bionic basterd on Mar 25, 2005 8:27 PM PST up reply actions

huston

street

houston is a city.

love, mike in canada

by oakland ehs on Mar 25, 2005 4:47 PM PST reply actions

On a good note...

Zito was really great on Sunday.

He felt so good that he even went to the pen for another 30 or so pitches.

Calero and Cruz look fantastic as well.

Duke was lights out every time I saw him pitch.

Blanton looks solid and except for that 1 bad outing Haren was the Ace of the spring.

Harden has been off for two starts in a row, but, I am not worried about him in the slightest.

The only real concern I have is the 5th spot.

Yabu, Etherton, Sarloos, Meyer???

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Mar 25, 2005 4:49 PM PST reply actions

Even without spring training....

...I think there's definite reason to be concerned about the viability of this staff. Too many question marks.

by tblazrdude on Mar 25, 2005 5:04 PM PST reply actions

Pitchers are throwing pitches that aren't

working,

...until they do.

That is what ST is for.

3 Aces ..."Wear it!".

by A s Eh on Mar 25, 2005 8:32 PM PST reply actions

Zito

Is Zito Fucked up or something?

He just doesnt seem the same.

by bionic basterd on Mar 25, 2005 8:33 PM PST reply actions

To an A's fan...

I doubt there is anyone who can honestly say that their hopes haven't been dimmed by the pitching performances in the last 5 games. Perhaps, only those who repeat the Yankee mantra that "It's only Spring Training." But, the A's don't have a $250 million dollar payroll (expandable to $300 million if you need a pitcher or two in the second half). So, yes, I'm feeling a little less certain of our 2005 division title.

"I'm my biggest fan ..." Eric Byrnes

by FoolshGame22 on Mar 25, 2005 9:29 PM PST reply actions

No worries here

But I set lower expectations for the new starters than most. By the end of the year Blanton and Haren will (most likely) put up Redman-esqe numbers. The difference is they have the potential to grow beyond such a season.

As for Zito, what were people really expecting? Whether his inconsistency is a product of ST or not, it's Zito we're talking about. He's as consistent as Jeckyl and Hyde. He has been for the last two years and odds are that's what he'll be in 2005. I just hope he pitches well enough for Beane to get good trade value for him.

by grover on Mar 26, 2005 12:11 AM PST reply actions

When was the last time you saw

a shut down performance in spring training? And when you did, did it matter? 2 to 4 innings doesn't forecast a season. It just feels like the A's junkies in AN have been trying to read more into ST than is necessary. This season will show itself pretty quickly within 6 weeks. Deal with it then. By the way, only going to "Mulder weeknight games" is soft. You missed a lot of quality baseball.

by TheO4Ever on Mar 26, 2005 12:31 AM PST reply actions

"starting" to get queasy?

No, I don't take dead arm in spring training as seriously as some people seem to. I'm also not that concerned about the #5 spot in the rotation because it's, well, the #5 spot. It gets skipped alot during the season, and if you have a halfway decent innings eater then you have a good #5 pitcher.

My concerns are with the first four spots, especially with the lack of major league experience with three of them and the past inconsistency of #1. All four are potentially quite good, of course, but we need to be realistic. Zito-Harden-Haren-Blanton should not be expected to be as stellar as Hudson-Mulder-Zito-Harden, at least on paper.

But I am very happy about the bullpen (which we know blew alot of games not only last year but even the year before). If the starters can at least keep the team in the game the A's should do well this year.

by OaklandSi on Mar 26, 2005 4:13 AM PST reply actions