Injury, the final irony.

by alamedaman on Oct 15, 2006 11:16 AM PDT

Huston Street is not ready to go over two innings, but there he was in the bottom of the 9th, two out--having pitched 2 1/3. He was mainly there because our key set up guy, the Duke, was hurt and couldn't play.

The previous game matched Kenny Rogers against our true #1 pitcher, but Harden was in spring training form, just--due to injury.

Both pitchers would have looked directly behind them up the middle, and not seen the fielding range that might have been, with Ellis (should be Golden Glove) and Crosby,,both out with injuries. Ellis in particular was missed at the plate as well as the field--he was not only hitting .286 for the last 30 days of the season and the Divisional playoffs, but his ability to work the count and get 10 pitch at bats was critical--a stat that doesn't make the box score. And his two errors all season were matched by two errors by his replacement in the LCS--but that didn't cover it, because he would have reached a number of other balls, that is replacement did not. I think two or three moe balls--would that have changed anything?

Who knows with Chavey? Playing with injury,,,,was he prevented from making plays he normally makes. Ron Washington said he turns that double play in the 2nd Tiger game "10 out of 10 times"--but just off the tip of the fingers of the glove.

Kotsay, Harden, Bradley, and Duke,,,,,maybe they are just injury prone,,bad backs, etc. So maybe that's an ongoing problem, and they come with that. Crosby too?--I don't think so, but looking at the record you have to consider that.

But the irony of Huston on the mound in the final game 9th inning, due to injury--it capsulized the whole season for me. Yeah some would say injuries are part of the game, and it's true. But this was an injury plagued horror show.

Most would agree this was an excellent season, and I somewhat agree. But my expectations were at the top--when I saw the roster, I thought it was a World Series team, and with the weakness of the NL, likely a World Series winner. Good that we got past that jinks of the first round,,,yes for sure. But I'm disappointed right now.

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Agreed--the injury bug

bit the A's as badly in the ALCS as it did throughout the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

My only gripe is that Calero was so badly misused in Game 4. No way should he pitch less than an inning in a game where Duke is not available. Had Calero been used for a whole inning prior to Street, or had he been available in the 9th when Street ran out of gas, things might have unfolded differently.

Might not have, but using Calero for one hitter was a real blunder, IMO--and one that also made an impact in the 9th inning.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 15, 2006 11:32 AM PDT reply actions

I'd rather lose the game in the 9th...

than let Calero give it up. He wasn't commanding the slider. (Don't you hate it when they call it "the slide piece")

by BleacherDave on Oct 15, 2006 12:22 PM PDT reply actions

Yes, I do hate that.

How was Calero commanding the fastball? We don't know, because he never threw one! Grrr...You can't throw 6 sliders in a row and expect to fool people, Kiko.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 15, 2006 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree

I was sitting here saying "throw a fastball" for most of the AB.

by snowflake on Oct 15, 2006 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions

we must remember

Kendall is calling the pitches... Unless he shook him off.

"Imagine all the Hebrews goin dumb"-Tell Me When To Go

by ohad on Oct 15, 2006 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Calero has said it more than once...

..."I can't pitch back-to-back games or multiple innings"

I guess Macha & coaches don't believe him?

by A s Eh on Oct 15, 2006 2:29 PM PDT reply actions

A's injuries hurt our chances for sure...

But The Macha & his coaches;

Left Zito in when the umpire would not give Zito a Strike call on his curve ball in game 1.
Left Loaiza in for 6 innings to give up 7 runs in game 2
Made a contest out of game 3
Left Street in when he had his worst location control I have ever seen from him

...It was managing that drove the final nail in the box.

by A s Eh on Oct 15, 2006 2:36 PM PDT reply actions

I'm starting to blame....

the head trainer. I just don't think it's a coincidence any more. Just too many A's are injured, ALL THE TIME! Let's get a NEW physical trainer, and hopefully, keep half of the team off of the DL.

Imagine the beauty of having all of our starters and pitchers on the field, healthy, at the same time!

Tear down Mount Davis!

by polytician on Oct 16, 2006 6:04 AM PDT reply actions