8...9...10...<thud>

by Tyler Bleszinski on Jun 19, 2006 9:02 PM PDT in News

Entering this game, the A's had been cruising, mostly on the back of the starting pitching and some timely hitting. While the starting pitching held up its end of the bargain tonight, the offense and bullpen decided to stay in Oakland for the first game of the road trip.

Witasick and Sauerbeck put on an inning reminiscent of Rincon and Mecir back in the day. But the truth was that the A's offense went back to May offense all of sudden and the A's likely didn't have much of a chance after the Swisher/Buckner impression in left field (I'm not going to get on Swish considering how great he's been for the team this year). In Coors Field, of all places.

Bobby Crosby also had a horrid at-bat in the 8th. Mesa had been all over the place and he swings at the first pitch with the bases loaded. Ugh. That's the thing with young players still learning their way through the majors...sometimes they just do something brain dead. Maybe Crosby thought he was going to get a big, juicy fastball after Mesa was wild, but regardless, it seemed like a guy who was overeager to me.

Now the A's turn to Esteban Loaiza to try and start a new streak. I'm not going to get too down on a team that just won 10 in a row. You win a lot, you lose some.

The best news out of tonight? Justin Duchscherer started the game in Sacramento and his line was an inning pitched, one hit, no runs. He can not come back soon enough so the A's can strengthen their pen. Just remember ANers, Duke coming back is like the Angels getting Scot Shields back. Duke makes that much of a difference in the quality of the A's pen. Hopefully he came out of the appearance feeling fine.

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getting shut out at coors field is embarrassing.

i don't care how many games the A's had won in a row they should be embarrassed.

"I thought it was cute," Oakland's Nick Swisher said of Kotsay's blast with the petal-colored bat

by larrysgurl on Jun 19, 2006 9:06 PM PDT reply actions

You are right. It was bad.

I was in Coors Field tonight. It was not a very good show. Everytime the A's had a couple men on, double play. The one in the 8th, the third-- certainly ended it.

The Rockies have some good looking young hitters. But, Haren did pretty well with them. I don't think Witasick and Sauerback are long for the A's. They were both pretty bad.

But, I'll be there on both Tuesday and Wednesday, hoping to see the "real" A's.

racodd

by racodd on Jun 19, 2006 9:29 PM PDT up reply actions

First National Leauge Road Game

Is it me, or does all of the National League parks play a little big?

Bunts are for Chumps -encryptthisthat

by Hit4TheCycle on Jun 19, 2006 9:07 PM PDT reply actions

My Theory

After the 17 inning affair, they were tired. They took on a tired team yesterday on pure adrenaline. Then they go on the road. They're beat. So they were beat. No biggie. They'll get some rest either tonight or tomorrow. By Wednesday or at least this weekend, they'll be back up and roaring.

by DMOAS on Jun 19, 2006 9:09 PM PDT reply actions

Completely agree

That's all that was last night. Tonight should be better.

by sprtsnwyn on Jun 20, 2006 8:17 AM PDT up reply actions

Everyone run out

and get your Sauerbeck jerseys while you can! Then again, a few more performances like this and he'll be gone before the merchandise makes it to the stadium.

Why yes. I am a ray of warm and fuzzy sunshine.

by grover on Jun 19, 2006 9:11 PM PDT reply actions

anyone else think ...

... that Macha's use of Sauerbeck last night was somewhat of a f&*%-you to Beane over the acquisition? Not over Sauerbeck's "character," but his skill.

Everyone wears high socks, it's the level of the pants. -- compy75 @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 20, 2006 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Not at ALL, monkeyball.

I think Macha used him because it was a relatively low-pressure situation for a debut, where Macha knew Sauerbeck might naturally be both nervous and rusty. Macha has said repeatedly he likes to have two lefties in the pen. Since neither Flores nor Keisler has been effective, my guess is Macha was very much in favor of the Sauerbeck signing. Macha even said after the game that he wouldn't factor this outing into his impression of Sauerbeck, given the circumstances (he hadn't pitched for a couple weeks).

by Nico on Jun 20, 2006 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions

fair 'nuff

Everyone wears high socks, it's the level of the pants. -- compy75 @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 20, 2006 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Another thing

Macha almost always uses our new acquisitions immediately. He did so with Karsay this year, and I think he did last year with Witasick. I wasn't a bit surprised he went to him right away.

A's 2006 record when I attend: 5-5

by peanut gallery on Jun 20, 2006 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Immediate use?

Not if your name is Jeremy Brown.

Why yes. I am a ray of warm and fuzzy sunshine.

by grover on Jun 20, 2006 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions

No, not in his case.

But by "acquisitions" I meant trades -- mid-season trades to be specific. Which highlights something I hadn't considered: when guys come over from other organizations he seems to want to get them involved right away. But when they get called up from Sacramento, they tend to sit at the end of the bench. Why not get the young guys involved right away? Is it just an old school thing for Macha; basically a nod to the veterans and making the young guys earn their dues? Or is it simply because they've seen their own guys so much they more-or-less know what they've got, and with new guys they want a look-see right away?

A's 2006 record when I attend: 5-5

by peanut gallery on Jun 20, 2006 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Trades or FA signings.

Geez. That's what happens when you're babbling online instead of going to bed like you're supposed to.

A's 2006 record when I attend: 5-5

by peanut gallery on Jun 21, 2006 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't think Macha was flipping off Beane

but he sure came across as a meanie to Sauerbeck!

Why yes. I am a ray of warm and fuzzy sunshine.

by grover on Jun 20, 2006 6:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Yay Duke!

So looking forward to that!

Putting the "fun" in "perfunctory"

by Poppy on Jun 19, 2006 9:11 PM PDT reply actions

Matt Cain with something interesting

down in SF, through 8.2 innings...

Bunts are for Chumps -encryptthisthat

by Hit4TheCycle on Jun 19, 2006 9:12 PM PDT reply actions

ssssshhh...

Putting the "fun" in "perfunctory"

by Poppy on Jun 19, 2006 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions

not anymore

"I thought it was cute," Oakland's Nick Swisher said of Kotsay's blast with the petal-colored bat

by larrysgurl on Jun 19, 2006 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions

it was through 7.2

"I thought it was cute," Oakland's Nick Swisher said of Kotsay's blast with the petal-colored bat

by larrysgurl on Jun 19, 2006 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions

aw, man... good job for Cain

but no-hitter over after 7.2

Putting the "fun" in "perfunctory"

by Poppy on Jun 19, 2006 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions

I had no idea what you were talking about

in the other thread, when you said you looked at Cain's line and then you couldn't root for the Angels. But then I walked into my brother's room right after the no-hitter was broken up, since he was watching the game, and then it all made sense.

Oh well. Good start by Cain though.

by whiteshoes40 on Jun 19, 2006 9:22 PM PDT up reply actions

While it's cool to see it

It's also great that it won't be coming for the Giants...

Now for them to seal the deal against the Angels.

Bunts are for Chumps -encryptthisthat

by Hit4TheCycle on Jun 19, 2006 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions

And I forgot to start him on my fantasy team...

D'oh!

"74Oakland A's - Best Team Ever" - Homer Simpson

by secret ASian man on Jun 20, 2006 6:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Whether you like the Angels or not

It's hard to not like Vladmir Guerrero...

Bunts are for Chumps -encryptthisthat

by Hit4TheCycle on Jun 19, 2006 9:20 PM PDT reply actions

I wonder what Felipe Alou

was going to do if Cain had the no-no through 8 IP on 130 pitches. Personally, I'd have pulled him but I'll bet the house Alou would have put him back out there.

As for tonight's A's game, I absolutely agree with DMOAS that the A's were just tired/flat. It's that "second day" phenomenon I've talked about before, where the 17-inning game caught up to them today, not yesterday.

Just a total dud--"one of those days"--that a team can forget about before the last out is even recorded.

by Nico on Jun 19, 2006 9:44 PM PDT reply actions

if he has a no hitter through 8 you have to put

him out there for the ninth. no hitters can be a once in a career thing.

"I thought it was cute," Oakland's Nick Swisher said of Kotsay's blast with the petal-colored bat

by larrysgurl on Jun 19, 2006 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Especially if you

blow out a phenom's arm in his rookie season.

by Nico on Jun 19, 2006 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions

It's not his rookie season.

"74Oakland A's - Best Team Ever" - Homer Simpson

by secret ASian man on Jun 20, 2006 6:29 AM PDT up reply actions

I can see both sides to that

you really don't want to kill an arm by having the kid throw 130 or 140. However, you don't want to give up that opporunity. I'd leave him in with an extremely short leash. No hitter goes or a a guy gets to second, he's gone. of course, once he reaches that number of pitches, the likeihood of him being able to finish it is slim so you might be doing him a favor by having him leave on a high note.

by DMOAS on Jun 19, 2006 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions

It's alright!

We'll be back out there tomorrow, and we'll add another sweet little victory to the win column.

You win a lot, you lose one.

Street in the 9th is like the American Government when it comes to war: automatic!

by Boonee on Jun 19, 2006 9:52 PM PDT reply actions

Coors Field

II was in attendance this evening at Coors Field and it was a humiliating experience. I am proud to say that there were lots of A's fans in the stands. There were even some "Let's go Oakland" chants during a few of our rallies. Before the game Zito and Chavy wre signing autographs for hordes of A's fans. I asked him if he has been taking batting practice and he said no.

This makes me 0-3 for my career when attending A's games away from the Coliseum.

by AlBowe on Jun 19, 2006 9:57 PM PDT reply actions

Heard it!

I thought I heard that on TV--awesome!

by anomaly_kat on Jun 19, 2006 11:39 PM PDT up reply actions

I heard

the chants too. I thought I was imagining things there for a minute, but I guess not.

by Leesa on Jun 20, 2006 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions

loaiza at coors scares me.

"I thought it was cute," Oakland's Nick Swisher said of Kotsay's blast with the petal-colored bat

by larrysgurl on Jun 19, 2006 9:59 PM PDT reply actions

He scares me more on 580,

but yeah.

Maybe he can throw a non-alcoholic pitch, like, say, a Coors cutter.

by Nico on Jun 19, 2006 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Or a Cutter Sark

Day to day

by oblique on Jun 20, 2006 7:38 AM PDT up reply actions

or a cutting snark

Putting the "fun" in "perfunctory"

by Poppy on Jun 20, 2006 7:40 AM PDT up reply actions

or a Harden smirk

Everyone wears high socks, it's the level of the pants. -- compy75 @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 20, 2006 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions

had to leave before the 6th inning

to come back to this. So that Crosby at bat with swinging at the first pitch...not surprising at all...he only shows brief snapshots of patience along those lines. crimony bunnies.

I can believe the flatness to be expected given the run we had going, the big extra inning and all then the travel, not far, but far enough with change of scenery, foreign park, altitude, dry air, heat...it all adds up.

Aside from Esteban tomorrow...and that's a big if in Coors as far as I am concerned, we will see how they can bounce back in that atmosphere.

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005...in 2006?...prove it.

by ak_A on Jun 19, 2006 10:23 PM PDT reply actions

I still worry about our offense.

I really do. Having to look back at the 10 wins in a row today, it was pretty easy to see the smoke and mirrors routine that we perfected over the last couple of weeks. We had very few solid, safe victories.

"Let's face it, some pitchers have upside or downside---Blanton has backside." ~Buck18

by baseballgirl on Jun 19, 2006 10:35 PM PDT reply actions

Re: your sig

"so, what are we selling jeans?"

"When I'm doing well, it's like I'm in a nice little ballet. Everything is going slow all around me. It's very peaceful." ~ Barry Zito

by digsthelongball on Jun 19, 2006 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Pay no attention to that grey

haired guy behind the curtain. OZ has spoken.

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005...in 2006?...prove it.

by ak_A on Jun 19, 2006 10:42 PM PDT reply actions

I am not going to complain about one loss

I mean, it really wasn't that bad until Witasick decided to show up again. We held them to 2 ER and 1 not so ER. 3-0 is nothing to be to terribly distraught over. So I think I am just going to pretend that the game ended in the middle of the 8th inning, instead of the middle of the 9th.

Honestly, it looked like everyone was a little sleepy out there. Maybe the 17 inning marathon finally caught up to them, maybe it was that NASTY sun out there, maybe it was the elevation. Whatever it was, they didn't look like themselves. They didn't have the same energy or life that they had just yesterday.

So here's hoping they all get a good nights sleep tonight and come out WIDE AWAKE tomorrow!

"Now, I'm not the guy who's in trouble, it's the guy on the mound who's in trouble.'' Swisher Pics

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Jun 19, 2006 11:16 PM PDT reply actions

it's not the loss that bothers me. i mean after

winning 10 in a row they were bound to lose eventually. what bothers me is that they got shut out at coors field.

"I thought it was cute," Oakland's Nick Swisher said of Kotsay's blast with the petal-colored bat

by larrysgurl on Jun 19, 2006 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions

And by Kim.

"Let's face it, some pitchers have upside or downside---Blanton has backside." ~Buck18

by baseballgirl on Jun 19, 2006 11:38 PM PDT up reply actions

yep that makes it worse.

"I thought it was cute," Oakland's Nick Swisher said of Kotsay's blast with the petal-colored bat

by larrysgurl on Jun 19, 2006 11:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Kim

Is a sidearm thrower how many of those guys do the A's see every year, shut out now that is a problem with 3 DP's turned heck does anyone if the A's have a record going for most Dp's grounded into in consecutive games? Anyway, hope the A's get Kotsay back.

"Talk about impressive. My point is this: Break's over."- Josiah Bartlet

by doublehustle22 on Jun 20, 2006 1:25 AM PDT reply actions

and Bradley

it's starting to get rediculous the amount of game's he's missing. He's like Harden in that he comes back for a taste and then is injured again. This is freaky what's happening around the clubhouse. I hope we get to see the opening night lineup again sometime this year.

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin, Seattle Mariners

by Helloooo 1st on Jun 20, 2006 2:05 AM PDT up reply actions

agreed!

I'm becoming mighty impatient with my man Milton and his assortment of aches and pains.

"The Matt Watson/Chiba Lotte Marines Fan Club"-The Committee is accepting new memberships (please pay in Yen). "Raking" numbers soon to be posted.

by bigelephant on Jun 20, 2006 5:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Like you...

I have grown weary of Milton's injuries but unfortunately this was the talk around the league on him. We knew this when Billy signed him, I think we just all hoped that we had sustained our fill of injuries in years past.

by Leesa on Jun 20, 2006 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions

I've got a real concern about the roster

Once again, they are slow to do anything about a depleted roster. They just sit on these injuries (Kotsay and Bradley) and leave Macha with a bench of Scutaro and Perez (and Melhuse if he dare use him). In a NL park where you need to PH for the pitcher in a close game, that's not good enough. Send down a pitcher, DL Bradley, and bring up a couple of bats from Sacto.

by boilerdan on Jun 20, 2006 7:44 AM PDT reply actions

I agree

... but then, everyone probably knew that (my agreement, that is) ...

Everyone wears high socks, it's the level of the pants. -- compy75 @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 20, 2006 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions

THEY WERE SLEEP WALKING!

C'mon everybody, lighten up! Tonight they will be right back on another 10 game winning streak! Everybody chill!

by A'sfansince1970 on Jun 20, 2006 8:02 AM PDT reply actions

Well to give a little love where its due

IMHO, after the first, Haren settled down and really pitched a gem. His pitch count was way low, and frankly, had we had some run support, this would have been a different game by far.

BTW, I had the best seats I HAVE EVER HAD LAST NIGHT. I was 7 feet left of the Rockies dugout behind homeplate. OMG. I am in love. I think I have an extra kidney for season tix there.... (If only I could get 81 games of A's....)

"Knucklehead over there is second or third in the league in home runs."Billy Beane talking about Nick Swisher

by 510inDenver on Jun 20, 2006 8:39 AM PDT reply actions

Haren should've hit

in the top of the 8th. LOL Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

"There's not a moment of peace and quiet in this damn clubhouse." ~~ Nick Swisher

by luvsthecurveball on Jun 20, 2006 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions

c'mon, Blez

"young players still learning their way through the majors"?

I'm one of the bigger Crosby boosters around, but he doesn't deserve that particular bit of leeway. That first-pitch-swinging against Mesa last night was just. Plain. Stupid.

Everyone wears high socks, it's the level of the pants. -- compy75 @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 20, 2006 9:17 AM PDT reply actions

Unless of course...

He hit it 450 feet into the Colorado twilight, and then it would have been ah...er... Who am I kidding, it was stupid....

by SD Erik on Jun 20, 2006 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions

heh heh

That is half of a good point, which I considered before hitting "Post" -- and, y'know, there's a chance that Mesa might, indeed, have served a meatball on a silver platter ... but the Rockies have advance scouts, too, and they know Crabcakes likes to do him some swangin'. There was 0% chance Mesa's first pitch would be in the zone.

And in that situation, geez, bases juiced, 1 out, Mesa struggling with control -- simply no excuse for swinging at the first pitch. None.

I know, I know, I'm gilding the lily here since you agree with me -- but that AB was just shameful.

Everyone wears high socks, it's the level of the pants. -- compy75 @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 20, 2006 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions

I Screamed when Macha:

Threw in the towel in the bottom of the 8th!!!

That stunk!!!

That is a situation where you bring in Calero, or ATLEAST Gaudin to get three outs and give your team a chance to score 3 or 4 in the 9th in Coors.

That was just plain stupid!!!

While taint is everywhere and baseball is certainly no different, it's important that it be treated with open attention-Devo

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Jun 20, 2006 12:54 PM PDT reply actions

saint, you SO live in the moment,

and are SO biased against Macha. I would have screamed bloody murder if he had put in Calero, and merely murder had he put in Gaudin (which he was going to do if the A's cut into the deficit).

Macha has probably been waiting several days trying to get Witasick some work, and finally had a chance, so that now Witasick's next outing might be halfway decent. Same deal with Sauerbeck.

We were down 3 runs, with one AB left against a closer, having failed to score all night, with the bottom of the order due up. We were 99.4% going to lose the game. IMO, this was a no-brainer correct move by the manager.

by Nico on Jun 20, 2006 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions

agree 100%

Everyone wears high socks, it's the level of the pants. -- compy75 @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 20, 2006 3:27 PM PDT up reply actions

HUH?

So, you think that the A's cannot score three runs in the 9th against a closer?

Witasick is absolute garbage and has been since late last year.

I find it ironic that Gaudin got work in a 6-0 game and not in a 3-0 game...

While taint is everywhere and baseball is certainly no different, it's important that it be treated with open attention-Devo

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Jun 21, 2006 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions

For one thing,

they had just scored zero in 7 innings against a lousy former closer.

For another, Gaudin, no matter how much you may like him, has done his best pitching in the least meaningful situations and his worst pitching in the most meaningful situations.

And no, I don't think the A's can score 3 against a decent closer more than about 5% of the time. That's probably about the league average for a decent closer protecting a three-run lead for one inning.

You want Macha to play every game like it's the 7th game of the World Series, and IMO that's a stupid way to manage.

by Nico on Jun 21, 2006 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions