Kruk and Reynolds rate the series

by Doc Bogus on Aug 8, 2005 7:58 PM PDT

Just watched Baseball Tonight, where John Kruk and Harold Reynolds discussed both their power rankings and the upcoming series.

In their power rankings, both men put the A's in third, with the Angels after them. then they broke down the series.

Both Kruk and Reynolds gave the edge to the Angels in hitting and relief pitching, and split on the starting pitching, with Kruk favoring the A's.

Asked to predict this week's series, Kruk took the A's and Reynolds took the Angels. Reynolds says the A's recent record must be some sort of fluke, because the A's can't be as good as they are playing. (Huh? Don't you define how good you are by the way you are playing?)

If you are a betting fan, I don't know how you can go with the Angels when:

The A's have them at home, where they have the best home record in MLB.
The A's took 2 out of 3 in Los Angeles.
The A's are 9-1 over the last ten (and 18 of 20), and the Angels are 5-5, with a loss to the D-Rays.
Our starters are better than their starters.

Of course they have to play the games, and win them, but I'm looking for a sweep, and never looking back again until the postseason.

I want to see Harold eat those words on Friday.

Tweet Comment 32 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Kruk is a major idiot

There was a perfect example of that too in the segment right before the A's/Angel's one on tonight's BT.

Kruk was talking about Miguel Cabrera and commenting on how much potential he currently has and has shown in the past. He described that Cabrera, as a 20 year old rookie, hit an opposite-field homerun against Roger Clemens in the World Series.

He compared Cabrera's prodigal success by then stating, "most 20 year olds don't even know what college they got into yet."

by fadedash on Aug 8, 2005 8:17 PM PDT reply actions

fools...

everyone i see on espn keeps saying the a's don't have enough offense to get the job done... kruk and reynolds are just the latest examples. and yet, we've scored 30 more runs than the angels. whatever...

trieste-zurich-paris, 1914--1921

by slipperyfrog on Aug 8, 2005 8:19 PM PDT reply actions

weird

i saw baseball tonight last night and reynolds said the a's were going to win the west and kruk disagreed

by tonyeee on Aug 8, 2005 8:19 PM PDT reply actions

I've mentioned this before, and

yes, they are bipolar.

"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 8, 2005 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL

thats funny

ohio roots

by nickatt7 on Aug 9, 2005 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions

No way

I watched last night and saw exactly the opposite.

Kruk liked the A's, Reynolds the Angels.

Somebody wrote a diary too about "Reynolds likes the A's!", but I swear man, It was the opposite!

Athletic: Mighty slayer of Slegna

by Force on Aug 8, 2005 9:40 PM PDT up reply actions

on BBTN Reynolds picked the A's.

Later on SporsCenter, Kruk "picked" the A's while Reynolds gave reasons for the Angels taking the division. I think they were assigned a team.

"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 8, 2005 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Reynolds picked the Angels?????

I swear last night he was talking about the A's winning the West and the Angels not making the playoffs. 24 hours later he calls the A's a fluke?
Now that I think of it, I shouldn't be surprised. ESPN execs must have told BT to quit saying positive things about the A's. It's bad for ratings in NYC and Boston.

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by lansfords1 on Aug 8, 2005 8:23 PM PDT reply actions

The key is

What does Ryne Sandberg say? He always picks nearly the exact opposite of what happens. He said the A's would lose 3 out of 4 in Texas, and BOOM, SWEEP. If Ryno picks the Angels this time, I have no doubt in my mind the A's sweep. :)

by OaktownTribesman on Aug 8, 2005 8:24 PM PDT reply actions

Tomorrow

Kruk will pick the Angels, and Reynolds will pick the A's.

"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 8, 2005 8:24 PM PDT reply actions

I think the Angels

are a solid, though flawed, team, so I have no problem with someone saying they'll fight the A's to the finish. I think the last 4 games of the season head-to-head will mean something.

But the notion that the Angels have better starting pitching is laughable. Down Washburn and Escobar, they're really scuffling to put a serviceable rotation together, with an inconsistent ace (Colon) and a lot of #4-5 starters who are OK but not terrific. Meanwhile, the A's throw Zito, Harden, Haren (A's have won 14 of his starts in a row) and Blanton (#5 in BAA), and you wonder which of those guys the Angels wouldn't put #2 in their rotation. Yup, that means they have to be better than...John Lackey?

Nico

by Nico on Aug 8, 2005 8:38 PM PDT reply actions

Reynolds can't make up his mind

I saw an earlier sportscenter/BBTN segment with Reynolds earlier this evening. Poor guy can't seem to make up his mind, one day it's the A's who will take the Division and the next it's the Angels. Both times he wavered back and forth. So the guy is on the fence and the BBTN people are shouting in his earpiece to make the call.

While I would like the A's to continue playing .800 ball for the next 2 months, it's going to be interesting to see if they can.

by Ray in Chicago on Aug 8, 2005 8:46 PM PDT reply actions

Lackey's doing well this year.

So they would probably prefer him over Haren, Blanton, and Saarloos this year.

"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 8, 2005 8:46 PM PDT reply actions

BBTN

Kruk and Reynolds can't pick the A's to win the series or win the AL West or they'll have to eat crow. They like crow!

by Fongpay on Aug 8, 2005 9:04 PM PDT reply actions

Angels starters....

do have a better ERA......

by BleacherDave on Aug 8, 2005 9:10 PM PDT reply actions

Perhaps

But that incorporates May, too. Of course those numbers count, but I'm more interested in the last two months.

by Crosbino on Aug 9, 2005 12:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Lackey's having a good year,

but no better than Haren and Blanton since June 1st--and I think 6/1-8/8 represents the pitchers they are today. The Angels' ERA reflects Washburn and Escobar--with them, the rotations are comparable, but without them I really don't think they are.

Nico

by Nico on Aug 8, 2005 9:17 PM PDT reply actions

makes sense

but I am a little worried about how Haren, Blanton, and Saarloos are going to fare down the stretch. Particularly Haren.

If Escobar comes back ready to pitch...that's a bit worrisome for the A's. Washburn is supposed to come back soon, but he's certainly not as good as his ERA dictates...and he's definitely not as good as the A's make him look :)

But I think the A's can at least hang with the Angels. The bullpens are, in my opinion, comparable b/c while the Angels have Shields and Rodriguez...the A's have depth. And I like the A's offense better.

"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 8, 2005 9:28 PM PDT up reply actions

one question is:

Is Kotchman their DJ??

He's had serious minor league billing, but he's failed to hit at the ML level-- until yesterday with two dingers.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Aug 8, 2005 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions

how often is Kotchman going to play?

b/c I agree that he could be their DJ.

Erstad is going to play. But if they realize that keeping Finley in that lineup is killing them...they could move Erstad back to center and play Kotchman at first. But I don't know if Erstad can play center anymore with that knee and his recent hip problems.

"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 8, 2005 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions

they can DH him

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Aug 8, 2005 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions

silly me :(

I forgot about their DH issues. Yuck.

"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 8, 2005 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Screw em

If they can't realize that Kotchman is a better alternative to Erstad at 1st, and HAS BEEN for two years now, then they deserve to lose as a result of it. Erstad as a center fielder is a below average hitter ... as a 1st baseman, he's downright embarassing.

I've said this before here: Erstad and Hatteberg's numbers are nearly identical (though Hatty's are better). My point? Hatty at first isn't great either (though we've already replaced him with a better stick), but at least Hatty ain't making 8 million to be a poor hitting 1st baseman ...

by Crosbino on Aug 9, 2005 12:21 AM PDT up reply actions

"recent hip problems"?

Has he been going to White Stripes shows but booing?

Wearing those 45-degree-angle-striped dress shirts but spilling coffee on them?

Carrying around an iPod but trying to light his cigarettes with it?

It's tough out there, Pootie. You got drugs ... crime ... gorillas ...

by monkeyball on Aug 9, 2005 7:49 AM PDT up reply actions

BBTN is a joke....

that was a pathetic analytical breakdown. I'm so over them just now.

by BleacherDave on Aug 8, 2005 9:51 PM PDT reply actions

Main problem ...

... with tonight's segment was that there was not one number or stat used to back up an argument either way. I can see pointing to Lackey's Ks, etc. But saying it's a better offense because of Vlad (the defense rests!) and not mentioning the A's bullpen's new additions just smacks of a quickly put-together segment. Hold a meeting, people!

Then again, that might result in Kruk and Reynolds hanging around with a bat and glove in front of their Jumbotron and fake field, talking about how to run to first base.

by WillieMcGeeModelingCompany on Aug 8, 2005 10:04 PM PDT reply actions

the show has been dumbed down

Like him or not, Showalter used to be on there. Dave Campbell used to be on there. Gammons used to be on there much more often than he is now.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Aug 8, 2005 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Vlad

That the Angels have Vlad seems to be the entire argument for them having the superior offense ... well, that and the fact they have "proven hitters." Vlad may be the best (most feared) hitter in baseball, but the offense stops there.

Am I the only one who thinks that Anderson is absolutely terrible? The occasional homer and .300 average does not make up for deficiencies in nearly every other offense category. Just WATCH the guy. If it isn't a lazy swing homer, it's a lazy swing K, pop out, or if he's lucky, bloop single. He's the ultimate stat padder.

by Crosbino on Aug 9, 2005 12:24 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm picking the A's to win the Series...

or, maybe that should be series? No, I'm picking them to win the Series, too. Kruk and Reynolds? Please... where's the third Stooge? Those guys are so hard dumb it's not even amusing, anymore.

Rich Harden - Cy Young 2005 & Dan Johnson - ROY 2005!

by FoolshGame22 on Aug 8, 2005 10:37 PM PDT reply actions

Best Damn ...

The problem is that they keep stealing jackasses from the Best Damn Sports Show, as if to give their shows some "edge." Big mistake.

Gammons must hate the guy.

by Crosbino on Aug 9, 2005 12:25 AM PDT up reply actions

I saw it last night too ...

and all it did was piss me off. The Slegna bullpen is deeper than the A's? They didn't even mention innings-eaters, Kennedy or Witasick. They hung it all on Street and then said he just doesn't have the experience to hold it together.

The Slegna offense? Without Vlad ... it falls short. I hope the A's 7-8 and 9 hitters have a monster series!

How do I get a gig like this where I can glance over shallow stats, be wrong, and still hold down a paycheck?

You don't get the FULL story until you've read it here on AN

by angus hanger on Aug 9, 2005 1:00 PM PDT reply actions

It's ESPN

What do you guys expect? They'll rip the A's every chance they get, Kruk complains every 20 minutes about how the Yankees have no starting pitching and Reynolds then disagrees. The Angels bullpen is perceived to be better because of K-Rod and Shields while the A's have 3 or 4 quality bullpen guys in Calero, Duke, Street, and also Witasick. I wish Scioscia would have thrown in santana in the day since he has a worst ERA in the day, but if it holds true get ready for a pitcher's duel with Zito.

You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club wont be worth a dime.-Babe Ruth

by doublehustle22 on Aug 9, 2005 1:58 PM PDT reply actions