Feel Better?

by Tyler Bleszinski on Mar 9, 2006 4:09 PM PST in News

The A's pounded an ailing Ben Sheets today for five runs in a third of an inning. Justin Duchscherer finally made an appearance this spring and pitched well. His line looked much like many lines in 2005, 1.0 IP, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 Runs.

Zito pitched better with three strikeouts in three innings and Eric Chavez had two hits. Jay Payton had three hits in three at-bats and Mark Kotsay left the yard.

So, for all of those who were already getting nervous, the team dedicates this one to you. I'm just hoping Esteban Loaiza doesn't pull anything in an important game for Mexico tonight.

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BREAKING NEWS: Loaiza pulls an ...

ox-sled.

No poetry any more. I've moved on to more scary things. -- Miguel Batista @('.')@

by monkeyball on Mar 9, 2006 4:12 PM PST reply actions

BREAKING NEWS: monkeyball is a

...poophead.

Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Mar 9, 2006 4:13 PM PST up reply actions

big game tomorrow

Cuba vs. Puerto Rico. Two strong and undefeated teams in Pool C. Lots of big interest in Puerto Rico, as you might imagine. I can't go to the game (sob!) as I'm travelling to PR tomorrow, but hope to catch it on TV.

by OaklandSi on Mar 9, 2006 4:13 PM PST reply actions

Lo..

I can't remember what I was going to say, but I assure you, it was brilliant!

by oblique on Mar 9, 2006 4:14 PM PST reply actions

aiza!

Is that like Co-stanza?

by Tyler Bleszinski on Mar 9, 2006 4:20 PM PST up reply actions

I dunno..

I was thinking of the Budweiser frogs :-)

I can't remember what I was going to say, but I assure you, it was brilliant!

by oblique on Mar 9, 2006 4:30 PM PST up reply actions

Yes, I DO feel better!

The A's won a game. The sky isn't falling anymore. ;)

Winning > Losing, even if it is ST.

"Baseball is reassuring. It makes me feel as if the world is not going to blow up." -Sharon Olds

by AsGirl on Mar 9, 2006 4:34 PM PST reply actions

Any Juan Cruz sightings yet?

"Keep Watson in Oakland in '06"- The Committee has reconvened and is accepting new members. ST Update;G-3, AB-6, RBI-1, BB-2

by bigelephant on Mar 9, 2006 4:38 PM PST reply actions

Hey! Where's the music?

"Cellll-abrate good times c'mon...

Jim Essian: The only Oakland Athletic to hit an Inside the Park Grand Slam.

by OaktownRajah on Mar 9, 2006 4:50 PM PST reply actions

Now...

If Haren could get his pitching in order I would be completely reassured.

by IM4Oakgal on Mar 9, 2006 4:59 PM PST reply actions

Nothin' makes me feel better...

than a little Hawaiian Punch-out. Gotta love seein' Komine come in and put up a good outing. I really hope he can keep doin' well and eventually make it to Oakland.

by OkayJay81 on Mar 9, 2006 5:02 PM PST reply actions

Mexico 4-Canada 0 in the first

If I understand the tie-breakers correctly, the US will now advance with a win over South Africa tomorrow, regardless of who goes on to win this game. (And the winner of this game will also advance.)

T could mean anything. G could mean anything. And pee could probably mean anything - Barry Bonds

by andeux on Mar 9, 2006 5:23 PM PST reply actions

I thought I read that the US

would get eliminated if Mexico holds Canada to one run or less.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Mar 9, 2006 5:50 PM PST up reply actions

That's what ESPN said.

If Mexico wins AND holds Canada to 1 run or less, USA will be eliminated.

"Baseball is reassuring. It makes me feel as if the world is not going to blow up." -Sharon Olds

by AsGirl on Mar 9, 2006 5:54 PM PST up reply actions

i think the ERA tiebreaker is first

so by giving up 4 runs, the canadians unbroke the tie. which means the winner of this game advances. i think...

--Nebraska--

(Shameless Self-Promotion)

by Ryan Armbrust on Mar 9, 2006 5:56 PM PST up reply actions

yes

The US could only be elimnated by a 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 win by Mexico. The winner of that game will join the US in the next round. And if Mexico wins, look for some major bellyaching from the canucks...

--Nebraska--

(Shameless Self-Promotion)

by Ryan Armbrust on Mar 9, 2006 5:51 PM PST up reply actions

Actually

I'm rooting against Estaban. If Mexico wins, US is out.

by paul75 on Mar 9, 2006 5:24 PM PST reply actions

US is in with a win tomorrow

Wrong. The tiebreaker is first W-L % and head to head, then ER given up over innings pitched only against the teams that are tied. So the US gave up 8 ER in 18 innings vs Canada and Mexico. With the 6-0 Mexican lead, Canada has given up 12 ER in 11 innings, and Mexico has given up 2 runs in 11 innings. So if Mexico holds on it's US and Mexico, if Canada comes back they are 3-0 Mexico 1-2 so it would be US and Canada if the US wins. So we are in with a win tomorrow, no matter what happens the rest of Canada Mexico. (Unless of course Canada ties it up and they play like 50 innings, but there is a max of 14 innings in first round games, so the smallest Canada's ratio can be at this point is 12 runs over 23 innings which is just over .5 an inning while the US's is still 8 over 18 which is .44. Got that?

by Eggman on Mar 9, 2006 5:59 PM PST up reply actions

Yep, I think so.

Thanks for the explanation. Yikes.
All I need to know is:

So we are in with a win tomorrow, no matter what happens the rest of Canada Mexico. (Unless of course Canada ties it up and they play like 50 innings, but there is a max of 14 innings in first round games, so the smallest Canada's ratio can be at this point is 12 runs over 23 innings which is just over .5 an inning while the US's is still 8 over 18 which is .44.

"Baseball is reassuring. It makes me feel as if the world is not going to blow up." -Sharon Olds

by AsGirl on Mar 9, 2006 6:27 PM PST up reply actions

Link

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/us_team_waits_to_learn_fate_in_wbc/

That's how the tiebreaker works out.

--Nebraska--

(Shameless Self-Promotion)

by Ryan Armbrust on Mar 9, 2006 6:01 PM PST reply actions

Esteban is looking really really great

out there. Good stuff. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does for us this year.

by atomopawn on Mar 9, 2006 6:42 PM PST reply actions

Wait, I thought pitch count limit

was 65? Esteban just hit 68. Billy Beane is ready to kill someone right now. His first outing of the year is 68 high leverage pitches? Jeez.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Mar 9, 2006 7:00 PM PST reply actions

I think you can

start a hitter under 65, but then have to leave after the batter (or is it inning?)

Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Mar 9, 2006 7:12 PM PST up reply actions

batter

--Nebraska--

(Shameless Self-Promotion)

by Ryan Armbrust on Mar 9, 2006 7:21 PM PST up reply actions

That's right

68 pitches really isn't a big deal. Given the limits, it's kind of surprising that the manager sent him out there to start the 6th with his count already at 62, but I guess he didn't trust the relievers.

Meanwhile Venezuela is leading Australia by only 2-0 in the 8th. The Australian pitchers have allowed only 4 hits (one of them a solo homer) but 12 walks. Pretty lucky all those men on base hasn't led to more runs.

T could mean anything. G could mean anything. And pee could probably mean anything - Barry Bonds

by andeux on Mar 9, 2006 7:36 PM PST up reply actions

Now I feel better ...

Check out the future Mrs. Devo's campaign ...

by devo on Mar 9, 2006 8:58 PM PST reply actions

Win-Win

By crushing Canada, Mexico put Team USA's destiny into our own hands.
By looking good, Loiza did more to make me happy than Team USA did.
This is a fifth starter? Only on the A's.

by NovA'sFan on Mar 10, 2006 7:52 AM PST reply actions

Actually,

Joe Blanton is, for all intents and purposes, the default 5th starter. Loazia and Zito are workhorses who can pitch 200+ innnings, and Haren and Harden are more talented. Blanton's no slouch, of course, but I would bet that he's the one who'll see has start skipped most often.

Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Mar 10, 2006 8:37 AM PST up reply actions

I wouldn't expect many starts ...

to be skipped, one way or the other ...

Check out the future Mrs. Devo's campaign ...

by devo on Mar 10, 2006 9:41 AM PST up reply actions

From what I remember reading

They don't plan on having anyone skip any starts - so it doesn't really matter whos the fifth starter is (unless someone gets hurt and Saarloos, or Kennedy are moved into that role). But otherwise they will stick to the five man rotation, and the weeks where they have days off, all of the pitchers will have an extra days rest.

by SD Erik on Mar 10, 2006 2:08 PM PST up reply actions