August Offensive Woes

by jubjub on Aug 6, 2005 7:24 AM PDT

Here's a month-by-month breakdown of our Runs and OPS (AL rank in parenthesis):

April Runs: 89 (12) OPS: .657 (14)
May Runs: 112 (12) OPS: .672 (13)
June Runs: 148 (4) OPS: .820 (4)
July Runs: 155 (1) OPS: .809 (3)
August Runs: 15 (8) OPS: .626 (13)

Our August OPS has dipped significantly. The only hot player right now is Johnson (and man is he on fire with a post-June OPS of 1.074). Is there reason to worry?

At least our pitching staff has stayed hot:

April ERA: 3.65 (2) OPSA: .684 (3)
May ERA: 5.43 (13) OPSA: .784 (12)
June ERA: 2.83 (1) OPSA: .629 (1)
July ERA: 3.66 (1) OPSA: .705 (2)
August ERA: 2.62 (2) OPSA: .577 (2)

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Small sample size!

Keep in mind that the Twins have good pitching and the A's faced up-and-coming Zack Greinke last night. Give it a few more games before raising the red flag.

"He threw me a pitch I'd never seen before, Sexson said. The umpire asked me what it was, and I said, 'I don't know.' This guy throws ghost pitches.''

by Alien @ Athletics Nation on Aug 6, 2005 7:54 AM PDT reply actions

We should worry

if they don't do some serious mashing against Lima today. He's TERRIBLE.

Other than that, I don't think it's too much cause for concern. Sometimes it's not the quantity but the quality (?) of runs that matters. The twins have a very good bullpen. Beating them and Santana is no small feat. I would take those wins over scoring 10 runs per game against them or any other team, because that means they're scoring those "clutch", tough to come by runs.

by nycfan @ Athletics Nation on Aug 6, 2005 8:13 AM PDT reply actions

Lima has been better since the ASB

Lima has improved after a rough start in which he had a 10.08 ERA in May. He had a 3.52 ERA last month and has a 3.00 ERA in his three starts since the All-Star break.

from CC Times

I'm hoping that's a fluke, of course.

by Apricot on Aug 6, 2005 8:47 AM PDT up reply actions

I think you need

more than 5 games before you can make definitive statements about the team's performance.

Besides, the most important stat is are we scoring more runs than we're allowing?

A's RS in Aug: 20
A's RA in Aug: 13

As long as the one number is higher than the other (preferably significantly higher. 1.5:1 like we're doing now is quite good) we're fine.

"[Your blog is] pretty funny. Although I kinda wanna slap Charlie in the mouth. But I guess that's the point if you're an A's fan :-)" Blez

by Nate on Aug 6, 2005 8:40 AM PDT reply actions

These numbers

These numbers remind me of what I posted here at the end of April when people were really concerned about the sason because of the lack of offence. My feeling was that I thought April was a great month becaue the offence was much more of a known quantity going into the season and would rebound (probably has exceeded expectations to this point). The important sign for the future was that the pitching, especially starting pitching, was good.

That is, if the batting had been great and the pitching poor I would have been worried.

by Larry E on Aug 6, 2005 8:52 AM PDT reply actions

There is reason for concern,

and that concern falls squarely on the shoulders of one player-Bobby Crosby. As Bobby goes, this line-up goes. So far in August; 263/286/368. Small sample size? Well, try on July's numbers; 253/333/383. Now, typically I wouldn't be too concerned, after all, what's 4-6 weeks? BUT, Bobby scraped his nose on the bottom of the barrel during July/August/Sept in '04.

Last night, after a good talkin' to by our fearless leader Kenny, Bobby had 2 hits. Lets hope Bobby C is turning it around.

We're not dunderheads here...

by bigelephant on Aug 6, 2005 9:05 AM PDT reply actions

Yes

We need Crosby for sure. And Chavez needs to supply more power. His HRs and slugging pct are way down. Eventually Johnson will cool down and we need Chavvy to carry us.

by Larry E on Aug 6, 2005 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

It's only been 5 days

in August. RELAX!!!

by Fongpay on Aug 6, 2005 11:33 AM PDT reply actions

Not to mention we're 4-1 so far

by ArakSOT on Aug 6, 2005 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions

The A's have been on the road!

They were playing some great starters in Minnesota at the Dome for 4 of those games, and last night was after traveling. Give them a break: once they come home their hitting will get better.

Andre Ethier: The One.

by tblazrdude on Aug 6, 2005 11:55 AM PDT reply actions

Never underestimate...

LIMA TIME. Unless, of course, he has stats such as:
-2nd in the AL in HR allowed (23)
-3rd in the AL in runs allowed (93)
-WHIP of 1.65, worse than pitchers such as the recently demoted Joel Piniero, Runelvys Hernandez, and the incomparable Aaron Sele
-Batters are hitting an unimaginable .310 off him
I like our chances...

by jeffds1205 on Aug 6, 2005 4:06 PM PDT reply actions

sample size

The sample size has increased by one game. A's leading 15-0. Where do they stand in the August standings now?

by Larry E on Aug 6, 2005 6:23 PM PDT reply actions

yup

no reason to worry-- we're now scoring over 5 runs a game this week

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Aug 6, 2005 7:17 PM PDT up reply actions

yup

5-1 on the sixth

by ArakSOT on Aug 6, 2005 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Posted

I posted this and then ran off to golf and never really got a chance to be part of the conversation. I posted it as much to see how the numbers went month-by-month and how amazing our pitching staff has been except for May. Kind of amazing how a group can be so good/be so bad/be so good again.

And then they go off and score 16 in a game. On the road no less. Our road record is still <.500, but getting better by the week.

Can we play Lima everyday?

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Aug 6, 2005 8:32 PM PDT reply actions