Eight Is Enough, And Eight More Is Plenty
by Nico on Apr 20, 2007 8:18 PM PDT
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PrintThe problem with the A's is that they can't hit. Something sure turned things around in a hurry...Was it Scutaro's dramatic homerun, this year's version of the Kendall homerun (note the singular) which jumpstarted the A's offense last Summer? Was it the chance to face what the Rangers call pitching--throwing very few strikes and regretting the ones that are thrown? Or was it patience? Time. Progression to the mean.
Mark Ellis, Bobby Crosby, Shannon Stewart, and Jason Kendall all got off to slow starts whose upside was "hey, nowhere to go but up". And up they went tonight, with Ellis and Crosby rediscovering their doubles stroke, Stewart unloading his first A's homerun in a two-hit, four RBI performance, and Kendall getting back to doing what he does best: getting hit by pitches and hitting dribblers to third base he can beat out. Mix in a first-major-league-HR, 5-RBI night from the kid-who-keeps-creeping-up-higher-in-the-batting-order, and the rout is on. So as initially torrid hitters like Piazza regress to the mean, the progressors are far outweighing the regressors and the result is baserunners everywhere, with many coming around to touch the pointy pentagon base that gives you points.
Just as failure breeds failure, hopefully success will breed success in the form of a more confident and relaxed hitting team. Which is good, because after 16 games, the A's have yet to get a bad start from a pitcher. That can't last--but if the offense heats up, the A's might be in pretty good shape in the early going.
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Judge it like Ice Skating
Throw out the worst game, throw out the best. Then look at the stats.
I still can't believe the pitching
That's a lot of good starts in a row!
Well that and T-buck
I heart that kid.
by baseballgirl on Apr 20, 2007 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Bucked
Can't say enough about the kid. If the start to this season is any indication, the A's have another rookie of the year.
by jarforcefatherofforce on Apr 20, 2007 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions
You STUPID heart that kid
Maybe it was good barbecue ;)
Good recap, except that it's spelled "rout."
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 20, 2007 8:26 PM PDT reply actions
Now it all makes sense:
I was at the 2000 OU-Texas game in Dallas...
OU won 63-14 (a thing of beauty).
Anyhoo, I was in the endzone, surrounded by OU fans. And as Oklahoma scored the first touchdown of the second half (making it 49-17), a guy with a deep Okie accent behind me turns to his son and says:
The root is on!
Anyway you spell it or say it, it sounds good to me!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 20, 2007 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Might have been...
a foreign exchange student from Canada, eh?
by OaklandInvader on Apr 20, 2007 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions
the root ...the root
the root is on fire.......
by curlichick on Apr 21, 2007 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
You gotta love them Okies
The Aggies of the North.
OT: Has Mariano Rivera lost it?
Second consecutive appearence where he has looked gassed. They'll be roasting him in the tabloids tomorrow...
by BruceBochte on Apr 20, 2007 8:28 PM PDT reply actions
He might be losing a little velocity,
yes he has
and i really don't consider any thread about an AL player to be too off-topic.
jones also had a horrible blown save for the tigers in the past week. that's a hell of an achilles heel for a team with assumptions of postseason play.
well, he blew a couple of saves
last April too, didn't he? Hell, this is too hard for 2:40 a.m. Here's two games...
A blown save and a loss (BS, L)
Came in with it tied and gave up 2 in the 10th (L)
Yeah--just look at the
This SUCKS, living in Sacramento, the game can't
even be found on the Radio, and ESPN, hasn't shown ANY other baseball highlight except Yankees/Redsox, right after the game they went to BBTN, and they showed highlights until Sportscenter, and then it lead off Sportscenter, and now they are talking about it again, AAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH
Black Pearl?
I finally broke down and purchased Gameday Audio for 15 bucks. It is well worth the money. I was tired of listening to the game through Fuzz on reg radio.
I was in Sac. a couple of weeks ago
and it was very frustrating....with 1140am not doing every game, and that scratchy KAHI in Auburn.
Plus the GOD DAMN Dish Network is the only one to
NOT agree with MLB for EI,
by theblackpearl on Apr 20, 2007 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Try the FM side 1690 FM
I was coming down from Placerville to Sacto, and on to the Bay Area, and I got the game okay (this was Yankees, last Friday). AM was terrible, but FM was fine!
by One won lost won on Apr 20, 2007 10:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Young Buck on postgame interview with Vince
Loves facing lefties, makes him concentrate more, tries to go middle-away with the ball (re base clearing double vs Chen).
Has always hit well vs. Texas organization.
Really buys into the deep count, see a lot of pitches A's approach.
From the sounds of it, no veteran delivered the traditional shaving cream pie to the face during the rookie's first player-of-the-game interview. Hopefully there'll be plenty more chances.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Apr 20, 2007 8:34 PM PDT reply actions
It's comforting to know that he
<write seventh "man-crush love note" to Buck since noon>
you make me laugh
So..you only chuckle when it's cloudy?
He said he hit the TX org well that night?
What an odd thing to say...
Did he get the shaving cream pie treatment? I didn't see that one.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Apr 20, 2007 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions
I think what he meant was:
I certainly hope we have plenty more opportunities to see it, too.
What FSU was talking about, was someone wrote tha
Buck said he hits the Tx Organization well. That is strange for a rookie playing against a team for the 1st time, and asked did he get the pie treatment
by theblackpearl on Apr 20, 2007 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Check his minor stats
Bet he's huge against TX teams.
by baseballgirl on Apr 20, 2007 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Interesting to see what will happen when they
stop throwing Buck so many fastballs and more junk. I think he's just about proven that he can hit an MLB fastball...
by BruceBochte on Apr 20, 2007 9:16 PM PDT up reply actions
He's hit some good ones
Felix Hernandez, Francisco Rodriguez, Marino Rivera...to name a few.
by baseballgirl on Apr 20, 2007 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions
thanks Nico
i just want to post a comment of appreciation to you and some of the other front pagers and regulars. quite often your comments make me chuckle, which is sometimes embarrassing at work where Bessel functions and Fourier analysis do not usually cause laughter...
---------
on another note, i'm not sure that i'm glad to see mariano blow another one tonight. sure, i'm pleased to see the yanks lose, but it does take just a tiny bit of scoot's glory away if everyone starts beating up on rivera.
De nada, DanH
Oh wait: tequila!
16 runs, game 16
So tomorrow, the A's will score 17.
I saw the game on tv
The A's hitters were all on and the rangers pitching staff looked horrible tonight. Giving up 16 runs and 12 walks will do that to you. Even when the A's made outs they were productive outs. It was sweet
by 3Chavy3 on Apr 20, 2007 9:03 PM PDT reply actions
blanton
the mlb wrap notes
The offensive outburst was a welcome change of pace for Joe Blanton, the Oakland right-hander who had received run support of one run or less in 22 of his first 67 career starts (going 0-19 in those contests).
that's kind of remarkable, because his career record is 30-24. Which means that he's 30-5 when getting 2 or more runs. I know, i know, meaningless stat. But, still.
No, its not a stupid stat.
It means Blanton keeps us in games. A lot of games. And is a good pitcher.
I realize that the Yanks and Sox aren't seperate
things but a merged corporate entity called YankSox and based in Bristol, Connecticut...
by BruceBochte on Apr 20, 2007 9:14 PM PDT reply actions
Just back from the game
WOW!!! Where has that offense been hiding? It was ridiculously fun. I almost felt sorry for McCarthy the way he was getting booed. It was like he was throwing batting practice or something. Biggest screw up of the night: standing in the freaking concession line when Travis hit his homer. Unbelievable how slow they were. It was the shortest line and I still missed an inning and a half. Walking back to the car, the cop at the intersection said we couldn't cross but my daughter could because she was wearing the freebie Rangers hat. So my son and I started chanting "lets go Oak-land!!" He let us cross to shut us up. I love being an A's fan at the Ballpark in Arlington. Skipping Kennedy's start but will be there for Chad on Sunday.
I wish Kennedy were doing the same
HEEEE!
You got your wish, though. Somehow Kennedy's starts don't seem like the travisty they are when Gaudin is also in the rotation.
by baseballgirl on Apr 20, 2007 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions
That game was fun!
Not so much for the wife though (she's the ranger's fan of the house.)
My only regret is being one section to the right of Buck's first major league HR.
It was fun to watch live though!
OT - you know the day/season is weird when ..
.. Mariano Rivera is blowing saves and Armando Benitez is getting saves .. so it was tonite! :)
by Randy Bell on Apr 20, 2007 9:56 PM PDT reply actions
That's a whole lotta getting the groove back.
A's hitters were on fire tonight! Now that they have some confidence, they will be dangerous (especially with the stellar pitching.) I can't wait to play Seattle again!
by 510Fever on Apr 20, 2007 9:59 PM PDT reply actions
OT-Seattle ..
.. lost 8-4 tonite but they came back in the top of the 9th and forced Scoscia to use K-Rod. Do any of you remember Ellison of the Giants? He got traded to Seattle; and made the last out tonite by K'ing ..
by Randy Bell on Apr 20, 2007 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions
pointy pentagon base that gives you points
Makes up for the blank post earlier.
by fridaynightfan on Apr 20, 2007 10:05 PM PDT reply actions
I'll have you know that MANY
Point taken
Thus, you have none.
by One won lost won on Apr 20, 2007 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions
When you spell it,
Or, "nun"...
...messed up "Jumble" for me...that spelling "forgo".
by One won lost won on Apr 25, 2007 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow, what a game to have to have to miss.
It would have been so nice to watch a game without developing bleeding ulcers. A's pitching gives up ten hits and holds the Rangers to four runs! And we score 16 times! Have we scored 16 runs all year? Did we just double our total?
I needed a little good news. Because as of today, I am now the proud father of a third teenage daughter with a drivers license. I am actually on the Christmas list of the CEO of my insurance company.
By the way,
anyone interested in buying a fully restored 1964 Sunbeam Alpine?
OK, that might get me
thrown off the Christmas list...but if you want my address let me know! Show up really late...
Has it been accepted that Harden will miss the...
start on Tue? The gloom hanging over this situation is crappy.
Anyways, Kennedy and Melheuse will not get an easy task as the battery tomorrow especially now that the Rangers are stealing and they want revenge for tonite. I just hope the A's can handle the sinkerballer Loe. Otherwise, it might just be a repeat of tonite in favor of the Rangers.
This , , ,
Is bad analysis.
Who started for the Rangers? B. McCarthy. How well had he done thus far? Not very.
In 3 starts he had reached 14 innings total, averaging 4.66 innings a start with a 7.07 ERA.
The A's offense, obviously, is not prolific. But, they have, arguably, faced good pitching (for the most part) thus far this season. B. McCarthy does not equal good pitching.
The ability of the A's offense was well qualified to do what they did tonight.
But you must recall previous occasions
when anemic A's offenses have made some awful pitchers look great.
by green star oakland on Apr 21, 2007 12:58 AM PDT up reply actions
A's Fan Graph tonight
is a thing of beauty:
From Fangraphs.com. We had, what, a 97% chance of winning after Buck double? Honestly, Sunday's graph was much more awesome, but this one really inflates the ego.
by Philip Christy on Apr 21, 2007 12:58 AM PDT reply actions
Piazza ... hold the anchovies ...
... it's comforting to know that even though Big Mike went hitless, it happened when the A's lineup was cluttered with hits. Just as he went oh-for-five, there will be a night when he'll go five-for-five. Or something to that extent. Sure, I miss The Big Hurt big-time, he was so much fun to watch, but Mr. P's bat will get hot ... soon I hope, if not sooner.
by Edwinwinwin on Apr 21, 2007 12:59 AM PDT reply actions
Nice win, bitches!!!
Wow. I didn't see or hear one inning tonight....16 runs????? WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT? Looks like I'm not watching another game til we lose.
Suck it, Rangers.
Is the grass greener on Rich’s right side?
These three pieces describe the same event—Harden playing catch before the game yesterday—with subtly different takes.
From the A’s website notes yesterday:
Harden status uncertain: Right-hander Rich Harden played catch in the outfield before Friday's game, but remained non-committal about taking his side session in the bullpen Saturday, much less returning to the rotation Tuesday in Baltimore as tentatively scheduled. "So far, it felt all right," Harden said. "We'll see how it feels [Saturday]. I'm not sure. We'll just see how it feels then."
Now, from today’s Slusser Chron piece:
Starter Rich Harden, whose next outing has been pushed back four days because of shoulder stiffness, threw the ball about 90 feet during a 25-pitch session of catch and, if he feels OK today, he will throw long toss from a distance of 120 feet. And if that goes well, he'll follow that with a normal side session.
"I just played catch nice and easy,'' Harden said after throwing Friday. "So far, I feel all right.''
If Harden does not throw a side session today, he can still throw one on Sunday and be OK for Tuesday's start at Baltimore, according to pitching coach Curt Young."
And finally, also from Slusser, in yesterday’s Chron "Drumbeat" blog piece, the same story with echoes of pessimism:
Rich Harden played some light catch briefly before Friday's game and in a quick interview session afterward he said he felt fine but won't really know much until Saturday. If he feels OK Saturday, he'll throw a side session. If not, the A's will have to get Brad Halsey (the most likely candidate) on a plane for Baltimore for Tuesday's start, unless long man Lenny DiNardo gets the duty. They'd still need another pitcher, though.
The fact that Harden's already experiencing some physical problems just two-plus weeks into the season is a red flag as far as scouts are concerned. Harden's a hard thrower and high-energy on the mound and his body just might not be able to take the wear and tear. And anytime scouts hear the word "shoulder,'' they figure the worst - rotator cuff surgery - isn't far behind. So, like everyone else, they're watching Harden's situation with interest.
Harden has up till now been pretty unrelentingly positive in his quotes; his words above don’t fill me with optimism. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go examine some Chinese wall posters for hidden meanings, study the seating patterns at the last Moscow state dinner, and read the tea leaves in my morning cup.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Apr 21, 2007 9:16 AM PDT reply actions
As with Milton, we just have to wait
Bradley is a similar fragile player; I was glad to see him back in the lineup last night. I think it's premature to speculate about any sort of future surgery so long as Rich has a clean MRI. Last year's injury to his elbow was much more serious and potentially could have led to surgery which might have made him unavailable for most if not all of this season. We're fortunate he was able to recover from that injury without surgery; so keep your fingers crossed and hope this is just minor irritation - I'm thinking the cold weather may have something to do with it - Rich didn't look like he was able to get fully loose during his last start.
by Randy Bell on Apr 21, 2007 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions
it said "minor irritation" - no tissue damage ..
That is what I mean by "clean". Tissue damage - ligaments, cartilage, etc. - is the kind of stuff that can require surgery.
by Randy Bell on Apr 21, 2007 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions
the "minor" stuff can also lead to problems
in one sense it seems an MRI on any pitcher -- particularly after pitching a game -- might show some tissue irritation. I doubt that it alone would account for soreness and inability to throw side and bullpen sessions in time to make his normal start (which should have been today).
I would love for this to be nothing to worry about. But this is also the beginning of the season, and already there is concern.
When Rich was injured last year
I'm pretty sure it showed in the MRI. Until he has a bad MRI, I'm not particularly worried. Rich is very much like Milton - easily dinged up, and takes a longer time to heal than you expect! :)
by Randy Bell on Apr 21, 2007 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions
I hope you are right
...not to be overly pessimistic, but MRI's don't always show problems. For example, MRI's didn't show that Dotel's elbow was really messed up, and that he really made the best decision to undergo surgery. They didn't know that until they opened his elbow up. The only thing they had to go on before that was the pain he experienced.
Keep Yer Fingers Crossed
.. the folks on AN who thought Milton was going on the DL were wrong, heh - I hope similar warm fuzzies good things happen with Rich! :)
by Randy Bell on Apr 21, 2007 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions
I think Sluss is playing games with us...
by OaktownRajah on Apr 21, 2007 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
why would she do that?
Harden's health is a legitimate concern..and we all know the A's will give as little information as possible.
OT (lil bit): The long-awaited managerial matchup
Also from SuSlu's Drumbeat blog:
The long-awaited managerial matchup
I would just like to say, I feel for Wash - he's such a nice guy, and very knowledgable baseball man - but, I fear for him, that no amount of coaching can overcome Texas' pitching. It may be a long season for Wash. :(
by Randy Bell on Apr 21, 2007 9:59 AM PDT reply actions
elsewhere (not on this site) I've
seen some comments referring to Beane choosing the better manager, in taking Geren over Wash. Nothing against Geren, but that Rangers pitching staff won't make any manager look great. And Wash would look alot better with the A's pitching staff.
OT- Did Anyone Notice that ..
.. the Giants day game with the DBacks isn't being televised? That is about the only thing which would keep Bay Area TV from covering the Giants. {That, and the playoff situation with the Sharks and then the Warriors - but even then, the Giants were still televised on FSN Plus}.
We have a situation here in the Bay Area that is similar to the WhiteSox situation in Chicago - much better team, but will always be upstaged by the Giants {or Cubs} .. So I note such situations with a little bit of well, I won't say .. {my wife is an avid Giants fan} ..
by Randy Bell on Apr 21, 2007 10:29 AM PDT reply actions
"That" being: Fox covering the Yanks-BoSox today
.. forgot to make that clear ...
by Randy Bell on Apr 21, 2007 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Giants radio
said this is the ONLY game of the year not being televised.
by LawDaddy on Apr 21, 2007 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, even if they finish 30 games under .500
.. it just really irks me but it shouldn't ...
by Randy Bell on Apr 21, 2007 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions
I bet the A's TV deal will improve...
...when their contract with FSN expires. I think that's after the 2008 season. Since the last TV contract, Comcast Sports Net has come on the scene in Northern California and they need some programming other than the Kings. So the A's will probably either move to CSN or use the competition to get a better deal from FSN.
Sac radio rant
I have issues streaming MLB audio through my satellite internet connection. Don't know why.
When the Kings or Sharks are playing, we are very nearly in a radio blackout here in Sac. I'm sure the A's will be preempted on 1140AM by wall-to-wall Raider coverage as the draft nears. Sharks take over on 950 AM if they are playing. It appears the A's have "play us when you want" radio deals in the valley.
I can usually get the 106.9 FM station on my Superadio, but even that is tough some days.
Say what you want about the Giants as a team, but they sure have their s**t together on the media side of things. I like their broadcasters, and often end up listening to them simply because I can, especially in traffic.
by LawDaddy on Apr 21, 2007 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions
It's Because of KNBR (so strong)
.. you can get it from NorCal almost down to LA .. As for the Giants, yes they have good media people and a good broadcast team {I love Jon Miller} but their team is absolutely awful .. if they were playing in the American League, well, I shouldn't go there .. but I will - let's say they're playing in the AL-Central, then K.C. doesn't have to worry about finishing last {Grin} ..
by Randy Bell on Apr 21, 2007 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions
And that KNBR
is a 5% team owner...
by LawDaddy on Apr 21, 2007 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Is everyone as pleased with Geren as I am?
So far in his young managerial career I am very pleased with Geren's decision making. I love his aggressiveness on the basepaths, and the way he has been managing his starters. I was just wondering what everyone else thinks.
by 3Chavy3 on Apr 21, 2007 11:27 AM PDT reply actions
he is looking good ..
I wasn't around AN when Macha was here, but I did think Macha was smart - I guess his Achilles' heel turned out to be relationally, not relating well to the team. But he was a smart manager. Geren strikes me as both smart and easygoing, very good at relating or "connecting" ..
by Randy Bell on Apr 21, 2007 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions
{Macha passes Musselman a beer in silence}
by LawDaddy on Apr 21, 2007 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions
I have issues with the way
he used the bullpen yesterday. But for the most part I'm happy with his efforts.
I am very happy
Little Papi Scutaro!
by Randy Bell on Apr 21, 2007 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions
just showed it again
and the guy in the middle (who?) asked,"How did you get a video clip of Oakland...I don't have it." (duh...)
Yeah - I didn't understand that either
"How did you get a video clip of Oakland...I don't have it." (duh...)
by Randy Bell on Apr 21, 2007 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions
That is never going to get old.
I will be enjoying that clip for the rest of the season! And I was there to see it in person. Never have the A's taken me from maniaclly depressed to sheer ecstasy so quickly.
I could really get to hate Bobby if he doesn't step it up. No way can Marco sit behind him.
Rare sunny day
great walk around town getting some errands ran......nice latte, pleasant visits with folks on the street.
Home to do some spring cleaning/sorting and reshuffle the mac and tv to baseball season mode....and crimony, Joe Buck makes me sick.
Joe Buck singing Happy Birthday to
Terry Francona.
I threw up in my mouth a little.
Speaking of names
The A's little guys need a name. I've been calling the Chavy's seven dwarfs, but that's rude. Piranhas is already taken, but something like that would be good. This is for all the little guys who've been coming up with the big knocks lately (basically, everybody except Swisher and Piazza.)
Pacific Piranhas {grin} ..
by Randy Bell on Apr 21, 2007 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions
lineups for Saturday April 21 game
Oakland
Stewart, LF
Swisher, 1B
Chavez, 3B
Bradley, CF
Buck, RF
Crosby, SS
Walker, DH
Ellis, 2B
Melhuse, C
Texas
Hairston, CF
Kinsler, 2B
Young, SS
Teixeira, 1B
Sosa, DH
Blalock, 3B
Kata, LF
Cruz, RF
Laird, C
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