A Duct Tape Victory
by Tyler Bleszinski on May 15, 2007 11:06 PM PDT
in News
69 comments
The A's had one call go against them last night and had a close call go for them tonight. I was watching the Royals broadcast and they showed the replayed literally about 15 times and I still don't know whether Stewart got in or not.
Regardless, this was a patchwork win with a patchwork bullpen. Marshall pulls a Houdini act after the combination of Witasick and Embree combined to blow the game. And to think, I was thinking about just how important that run that Chavez and Ellis got the A's in the eighth was. Turned out it was because it kept the game going.
The A's absolutely need to do something about the bullpen. If Duchscherer isn't at 100 percent, the A's need a viable closer and we're going to see a lot of great pitching efforts go for naught with that patchwork bullpen at the end.
Any way, another night, another thrilling ending, albeit one that probably never should've gotten to that point.
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Oh and kudos to Joe Kennedy
who didn't appear like he pitched against that same team less than a week ago. Usually that can really impair a pitcher who doesn't have ace stuff.
by Tyler Bleszinski on May 15, 2007 11:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Houdini
I think is the correct spelling.
by atomopawn on May 15, 2007 11:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
OR Whodini- Cuz... the Freaks Come Out At Night
unless you are Nico and then you head for bed.
by ohtobe21likehuston on May 16, 2007 6:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow.
You got on that one fast, Blez. :-)
I think this game shows how important our Bullpen has been this season. Subtract Duke and Street and suddenly, a game that shouldn't have been nearly this close is an extra inning game.
Shannon Stewart also played a key role tonight. I think he's showed that, when healthy, he's a very valuable player.
by atomopawn on May 15, 2007 11:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
props to Stew. He looking real good
anyone have a problem with dropping Chavez down to 6th?
by Hawaii FO on May 15, 2007 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
I'd drop him to 6th, 7th, or 8th...but, batting 3rd worked to our benefit tonight.
Opposing Managers actually respect Chavez!!! I don't get it??? Buddy Bell intentionally walked Chavvy to face DJ... That was stupid to do. 1st of All: DJ makes contact w/ the baseball on a regular basis (right now). Chavez would have stuck out, popped up, struck out looking, or bounced into the 4-6-3.
by Colorado Fan on May 15, 2007 11:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My thinking too
A guy's on a hitting streak, and you'd pitch to him over a guy who's struck out or fouled out in 9 out of 10 "pressure-do-or-die" situations?
What is Buddy Bell thinking?? Okay, rhetorical... he is simply pulling any and all levers-just keeping the job!
Of course, Buddy Bell is an ex-player and I'm not. Perhaps he knows what I don't know: to wit, that Chavez got a double in the eighth to drive in a run, and HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO THE NEXT AB? Bell knows, I don't (I, never having stood at second after a ringing double in MLB).
by One won lost won on May 16, 2007 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Plus
it takes away the pitcher's margin of error by creating a situation where a walk will force in the winning run. Soria doesn't have great control, and even if Bell still believes (against all the evidence) that Chavez is a more dangerous hitter than Johnson right now, that factor is important enough to make the IBB the wrong move. As it was, Johnson almost drove in the winning run without swinging the bat, and then with the count full Soria was forced to throw him a pitch he could drive.
Simply a horrible decision by Buddy "I don't argue for stupid baseball" Bell.
by andeux on May 16, 2007 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is True, I remember Bruce Bochte
Opposing Managers actually respect Chavez!!! I don't get it???
Last year in an interleague game with the Padres that went extra innings, I recall that Bruce Bochte, then manager of San Diego, didn't pitch to Chavez because he "didn't want Chavez to beat him" in that situation, according to a post-game press interview. (We ended up winning the game on an RBI walk by Antonio Perez with bases loaded). It is true, opposing managers still fear Chavy for whatever reason. :)
by Randy Bell on May 16, 2007 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rotoworld said Ken Macha did a poor
job tonight. hahha
With Justin Duchscherer getting the night off, Alan Embree and Jay Witasick combned to blow a three-run lead in the ninth Tuesday against the Royals.
Simply bad management from Ken Macha.
by buddahead9 on May 15, 2007 11:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Bob Geren morphs into Ken Macha
and is forced to go on the DL. hahaha!
by oak1 on May 15, 2007 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Macha didn't get one decision right tonight.
by Ozzz on May 16, 2007 1:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Being
a "Ken Macha" is just the common slang, and has become the typical vernacular for when someone makes bad decissions, or when someone says something nebulous, or simlpy chewing gum and refusing to ever get riled up or argue anything.
It's kinda like "Koching" up an inning, just like what our bullpen did today.
by F171615 on May 16, 2007 2:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
... getting "munsoned"
by ohtobe21likehuston on May 16, 2007 7:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's already a term for it..."Hudsoned".
by McFood on May 16, 2007 7:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
flashes of may 2006
of a bullpen where ian keinsler and matt rooney were setup guys,setting up for street who was suffering from a sophemore slump.
by J Rod on May 15, 2007 11:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ian Kinsler?
I wish we had him, but since we didn't, I think you mean Randy Keisler. Don't miss him. Oy.
by Chavinator on May 15, 2007 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yep,that's what i get for staying up all night
to watch the game.
Oh and lets not forget karsay!!
by J Rod on May 15, 2007 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Disagree with Rotoworld
With Justin Duchscherer getting the night off, Alan Embree and Jay Witasick combned to blow a three-run lead in the ninth Tuesday against the Royals.
Simply bad management from Ken Macha. If he didn’t want to use Duchscherer tonight, then there’s no way he should have taken Kiko Calero out after he got one out to finish the eighth inning. Embree allowed hits to two of the three batters he faced, and Witasick followed by giving up a walk and a bad-hop triple, scoring the tying run. Jay Marshall ended up getting out of the inning and preserving the tie
First of all, Bob Geren is the manager; this is the second time Rotoworld has made that mistake.
Secondly, I thought Geren made the right choices tonight with the bullpen. Geren used his best reliever, Calero, in the high leverage situation with two runners on and two outs in the 8th. Calero got out of the jam and will probably still be available for use tomorrow. It was perfectly reasonable for Geren to pull Calero after the insurance runs were put on the board in the top of the 9th. Bad pitching by Embree and Witasick shouldn't be conflated with Geren's decision making.
by NP15 on May 15, 2007 11:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree to a point
But any time you put Witasick in a situation to close the 9th inning means that at some point you screwed up. Witasick does not handle pressure situations well.
by grover on May 15, 2007 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Witasick can't hold a 4-1 lead...
...a 4-1 lead against the ROYALS...
...he should be off the team.
I'd like to see Colby Lewis or Jason Windsor pitch some innings rather than have to bear watching more Witasick.
by NP15 on May 15, 2007 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, Embree didn't help matters
But no, you should not expect Witasick to convert a tight save situation.
by grover on May 15, 2007 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
grover...
didn't I call this cluster-f*ck before the game even started when I said Robertson should be closing out the 9th instead of the easily foreseeable disaster that was Embree/Witasick?
I mean, it simply was bad managing to put either of those guys in there in the 9th. I'd rather see Nico closing.
by FoolshGame22 on May 16, 2007 12:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No way, dude
I've seen Nico in a bar, and he's not a closer. Barnyard? Depends on how fast the chickens can scramble.
by BlameChannel53 on May 16, 2007 12:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
which scrambled first, the chicken or the egg?
by monkeyball on May 16, 2007 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even Street got his feet wet in a non-save
situation. How amped do you think Robertson would have been to be making his big league debut? If Geren had called his number and Connor proceeded to cough it up we'd be questioning Geren for using a virgin rookie in the 9th.
by grover on May 16, 2007 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was thinking, with the score 4-1 going into
the 9th inning, Geren should have said, "One batter, no matter what the outcome." to break in the rookie. It would have been "righty-versus-righty" and Teahan singled anyway, which the odds favored (lefty pitcher righty batter) with Embree starting the inning. How much worse to bring in Embree with one on, than already "one on, no outs" or even 4-2 if Teahan homered.
Odds are, teams have some idea how to bat against Embree. No idea regarding the rookie. Odds favor a rookie. Even just one batter.
by One won lost won on May 16, 2007 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Geren made the wrong choice
in bringing in Witasick. I don't blame him, though, because he did the right thing... conceptually anyway.
The reason I say it was the wrong choice was that Witasick simply wasn't warm. I watched him closely in the bullpen as he was getting ready, and he simply wasn't coming close with ANYTHING. Isn't it the responsibility of the bullpen coach to notice this? I could see from 200 feet away he was going to suck.
Seems to me there should be a little more communication between the bp coach and the manager... you just can't bring someone in who isn't throwing well in the bullpen and hope he lights up on the mound (IMHO of course).
by Brian in 317 on May 16, 2007 7:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Like you could actually see anything from sec317
especially from under the tarp!
by McFood on May 16, 2007 7:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
post game wrap said Buddy Bell was
"playing the percentages" by walking Chavez. Nice job in not knowing the other team. And pichin to the player of the week.
by Hawaii FO on May 15, 2007 11:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Stewart's hustle in the Bot-11th won the game
.. he beat out an infield single, then scored on sacfly to medium left-center ..
by Randy Bell on May 15, 2007 11:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
AND, btw - we are now even in the loss column ..
.. with the Angels .. hooray! ..
by Randy Bell on May 15, 2007 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why was swisher tagging from second on that play?
Swisher was going from second to third. But with two outs (after catch) it's moot!
If out at the plate, inning is over.
If safe, game is over.
If the runner leaves early, then they could appeal, and that out would take priority.
So not smart.
by MobiusKlein on May 15, 2007 11:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Or worse,
throw to third and tag him out before Stewart crosses the plate. Agreed.
Makes me wonder why with 2 outs and runners on 2nd & 3rd in a tie game like this one, the runner on 2nd doesn't simply sit on the bag.
by DMOAS on May 15, 2007 11:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Swisher attended THE Ohio State U. ...
... THAT's why.
Go Blue.
by The Dogfather on May 16, 2007 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh yeah...
Korach's call is wrong. Buck wasn't the catcher, it was Phillips, the back up. Well, no one is perfect I guess.
by OaktownRajah on May 15, 2007 11:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Nothing like wins
that scare the $hit outta you!
At least this got me over the Warrior loss.
by oaklandSMASH on May 16, 2007 12:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Will Beane pull a trade off for a reliever?
Call me crazy but I think he will try to go after Turnbow from the Brewers.
by OaktownRajah on May 16, 2007 1:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow
I fell asleep after Kiko got Grudzielanek to end the top of the 8th and look what I missed. Sucks being an East Coast fan....
Glad we pulled it out, but our okay bullpen suddenly looks pretty bad. Need to pick up an arm (I hear McBeth is available...)
by jubjub on May 16, 2007 6:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
good ending and I saved
a few more "A's-anxiety-brain-cells" by cutting it off early and missing out on all the fun of extra innings.
by ak_A on May 16, 2007 6:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Don't know if these were already posted/discussed
Some rays of f'ing injury sunshine from yesterday...
Bradley ... was out, Geren said, because his hamstring was "a little sore."
Geren suggested that Buck, who has battled soreness in both wrists on and off since spring, was given the night off because of wrist soreness, but Buck was seen with his elbow heavily wrapped after batting practice.
Geren revealed that righty Esteban Loaiza, who gave up three runs in two innings of an extended Spring Training game Monday, was bothered by a sore left knee during his outing. Loaiza ... is working his way back from a bulging disk in his neck and is scheduled to appear in a Minor League game Friday. Geren said the veteran's status for that game is in question.
by Poppy on May 16, 2007 7:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This is beyond comical...
I don't think Blez's title could be any more accurate.
by ohtobe21likehuston on May 16, 2007 7:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
except that, technically ...
... the term is actually duck tape.
by monkeyball on May 16, 2007 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
technically the company is Duck Tape,
by theblackpearl on May 16, 2007 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
MmmmmmmmmmmmNope
Duck -- as in "duck" canvas. Duck® is wrong in this matter.
by monkeyball on May 16, 2007 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Duct tape is the name
But it's not good for ducts.
by BubbaDude on May 16, 2007 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A thought on injuries
I'm too lazy to look, and it might not be readily available anyway, but I'm sensing a correlation on the injuries to age. Now, there are definitely some injury-prone players on this team, but this many injuries is unreal. What I'm curious about is the amount of injuries in specific age groups. Team like the Giants, where the average age of the players is around 50, don't see this many injuries. My thought is that since we have so many "young" guys on the team, they are just ill-prepared for the rigors of a long season, and they don't quite have the full understanding of what it takes to stay healthy. Street's injury seems like a bizzare one, but everyone else's appear to be the body not being able to take the workload, and I think that it reflects on their ability to prevent injuries by not having years of experience in preventing injuries. Make sense? I think a lot of this is just youth and their inability to take precautionary measures to prevent injuries.
by sprtsnwyn on May 16, 2007 7:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Just blame Larrry Davis and Clarence Clemons
Imagine how the Royals feel? They have 10 guys on the DL (they are beating us!) but their team absolutely sucks.
by ohtobe21likehuston on May 16, 2007 7:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The video is done
It'll be posted later today. Like after 4 PM later.
by sprtsnwyn on May 16, 2007 8:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that guy plays his damn sax all day
instead of getting the players well conditioned. And the current A's roster is hardly Born to Run.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on May 16, 2007 8:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
66th Avenue Freeze-Out
by Poppy on May 16, 2007 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Quick Question....
Which is most ridiculous?
a) The sheer number of injuries suffered by the A's this year.
b) The state of our bullpen.
c) The reliability of our offense.
d) The fact that we're somehow still only a game out of first.
This much ya gotta say about this team: they're always interesting to follow.
by GreenNGoldSooner on May 16, 2007 7:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
easily "d"
I think we should feel like we are playing on house money and the Angels need to start worrying if they don't create some space before June. If we are only a couple of games back at the end of the month then I will say it's a MIRACLE.
by ohtobe21likehuston on May 16, 2007 7:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We're actually EVEN in the loss column
Angels have played two more games than us but it's the loss column that counts .. it would be nice if the M's could return the favor and sweep the Halos in their current series up in Seattle - of course that would put the M's in first place but at this point of the season I'd rather see them there than the Angels - and the M's still have five games to make up. What I like to see is competitive balance within the West {our division} because we have been outperforming the Angels against non-division opponents which gives us an edge ..
by Randy Bell on May 16, 2007 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A few bullpen thoughts...
- I can't really blame Geren for choosing to go with Witasick, considering righties were up, Embree was pitching terribly, and there were no good options. It was probably the best bad option available.
- Given that we mostly play close games, we may be forced to throw Connor Robertson into the fire. I support Geren not using him last night--that's not how you want to ask someone to make his debut. But it may be necessary, so what the hey--welcome to the bigs, can you get some crucial outs?
- Marcus McBeth was called up today by the Reds.
by Nico on May 16, 2007 8:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Can anyone explain why
Kendall is in the lineup? He can't hit, field or throw.
I know in the past he was able to do a few things fairly well, but he is a disaster this year. Thank god, the Kendall years will be behind the A's starting next year.
by china bob on May 16, 2007 8:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I've scrolled through
the game and post-game threads and haven't seen anyone write about this, but I think Geren screwed up big time in the 9th simply by not recognizing Swisher being hurt and going out to check on him. After he made the catch in right center he was obviously in pain, doubling over and trying to stretch, and we kept wondering why they didn't send Davis out to at least check on him. With that gnawing feeling that the next ball would be hit to him, and of course it did. If they would have at least gone out to check on him, taken a little time, I bet he doesn't botch the triple the way he does. Pissed me off more than any of the pitching decisions.
by sslinger on May 16, 2007 8:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
Swish looked beat-up. And then having to leap futilely after that bad hop on the next play couldn't have helped. I think he was trying to man-up to preserve his coming AB, and don't recall seeing him run in the final sequences. But I'm conditioned to fully expect more bad news on that front today.
by The Dogfather on May 16, 2007 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
wasn't he on base when DJ
by larrysgurl on May 16, 2007 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah -- apparently he tagged-up from second.
Hard to figure out why, as discussed above.
by The Dogfather on May 16, 2007 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Swishers run didn't mean anything, so his running
was not an issue, he could have walked around the bases. The issue was Adam Melhuse was the only one left on the bench. If they went another inning, I think DJ would have had to play the outfield, and Swish would have moved to 1st base. You guys are so quick to blame a manager when he has no choice. What did you want him to do, put Haren in CF, he is the only pitcher athletic enough to play the field.
by theblackpearl on May 16, 2007 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, Buck was sort of available--
he could have pinch run and maybe handled the OF--if Swisher had needed to come out of the game, I'm assuming Buck, not Melhuse, would have come in to play the OF. But if he had to bat, Buck would have had the take sign on all pitches; maybe not so bad, actually!
by Nico on May 16, 2007 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
well with an elbow injury, would you really want
Buck to throw, but then again if he can't throw he can easily play catcher.
by theblackpearl on May 16, 2007 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wasn't saying
take him out, just go out there, check on him, give him a minute to work out whatever cramp or tweak he had. Instead, the next ball was hit to him while he clearly wasn't ready for it. And yes, I blame him too for "manning up" and not waving to the dugout to have someone come out but they should have seen it and gone anyways. Just for a breather.
by sslinger on May 16, 2007 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I actually said out loud,
after watching Swish grimacing and holding his hamstring, "If the next ball is hit to CF, we're screwed." And of course it was. And of course we were. Like we really need to lose him right now.
by Nico on May 16, 2007 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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