Athletics Nation: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: Sounder At Heart for Seattle Sounders Fans!

A Visit to Kane County

Well, I'm in the Chicago area to visit a friend, and more importantly, watch the A's. I'm heading out to the game tonight at "the Cell", but I caught yesterday's Kane County -- Oakland's low class-A affiliate -- game in Geneva, Ill., a suburn of Chicago.

I wrote up some notes on the game over at the A's minor league site I run (with ConditionOakland) on MVN, but I'll post the portion dealing with RHP Scott Deal's well-pitched start. I spoke with Deal after the game, while he was icing down. It was obvious by his performance in the game, and his attitude afterwards, that he's regained the confidence that he had as a 19-year old in Vancouver last season.

Star-divide

20-year-old right-hander Scott Deal took the mound for the Cougars with an overall ERA of 5.40, but that’s not really telling the story. In his eight starts this season, he’s been either very good, or very... not so good. In his best four, he has an ERA of 1.89, while his worst four carry a 9.17 ERA. Sunday’s game was a good one, though. He set season-highs in innings pitched (7.0) and strikeouts (6), while allowing the fewest baserunners per inning of the year (0.71).

So why the great performance? I spoke with him after he left the game, and he had a couple of reasons why he pitched so well. "I had a week off, a couple extra days of rest. I really felt good." You can’t chalk it all up to extra rest, though. Deal was attacking hitters and generating strikeouts and weak grounders in every inning but the fifth, when he gave up two runs, one earned. He quickly regained command after he induced a double-play after an error by SS Mike Affronti. With only one walk issued, Deal has now only given out five free passes in his last four starts, after walking six in his first three games.

"I just came out throwing strikes, and then we scored early so it helped my confidence. We got a four-run spot in the sixth, which really built the confidence to keep going out there." said Deal.
And as for matching his longest outing to date — only the second time he’s pitched past the fifth inning? "Usually, earlier in the season, in the fourth and fifth inning, I’d struggle, and I wouldn’t say I quit, but I’d just get tired out there. Today, I just tried to push through it, and really focus, and I pushed through the sixth and seventh innings without giving up any runs. It really helped me to build some confidence there."

His performance on Sunday not only strengthened his self-confidence as a pitcher, it restored my confidence in him as a pitching prospect. He had a fine season in Vancouver last year, but the jump to full-season ball is an important measuring stick in a prospect’s future. I’d say we’re looking at the real Deal here.

The rest of my notes, including an update on Craig Italiano's skull fracture after taking a comebacker in the forehead on Monday, can be found here.

If anyone else is going to the game tonight, look for me and say hi. I'll be the guy taking pictures while wearing a dark green jacket and a backwards A's spring training hat in section 110, row 16.

0 recs  |  Comment 4 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

More from Athletics Nation

Comments

Display:

Keep up the good work, Ryan. I hear Urban may be

leaving an opening for the next A's beat writer.  Of course I would expect you to hook me up with a skybox, a novel about the "the Next 3" and whatever else I could dream up.

FYI- "Baseball 'round the clock" will take place from Aug 3rd-5th and the tournament itself runs from Jul 29th- Aug 12th.  You can crash at my house if you decide to come up for that weekend.  Here is their website:

http://www.nbcbaseball.com/index.cfm...

This is the tournament that once saw a Hutchinson, KS Broncs team display an outfield of Pete Incaviglia, Barry Bonds and Rafael Palmeiro.  Yes... all in the same year!

"Shitburger, Skip?"

by ohtobe21likehuston on May 21, 2007 12:36 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

AN Day IV

No baseball 'round the clock this year because we'll both be in Oakland!

"Shitburger, Skip?"

by ohtobe21likehuston on May 22, 2007 7:16 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good stuff, Nebraska.

I like travelogues.

"AN: We breathe through our noses." -mikeA

by McFood on May 21, 2007 4:20 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Love to hear about the young A's...
Keep up the good work.  Your fellow A's fan in the state to the south of you.
Charlie Brown GO A'S WIN

by Charlie Brown on May 21, 2007 7:58 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about Oakland Athletics.

Community Guidelines ANcillary Terms
Start posting about the Athletics »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Ph3spec_small
Having fun with Pythagoras, or, who got lucky during 2009
Dsc00764_small
DLD - 11/07/2009 - How to Keep Yourself Occupied in the Off-Season
527918550406_0_bg_small
2010 Off-Season Blueprint
Depaulbluedemons_small
Community Prospect List #15
Super_grover_small
2010 Offseason Primer

Recent FanPosts

Countdown_small
Bill James 2010 Projections Now on Fangraphs
Depaulbluedemons_small
Zonis's Off Season Charter
Bill_king_small
AFL Rising Stars Showcase Tonight on MLBN @ 5PM
Me_at_att_park_small
Greener Grass, Episode 4: The Biggest Off Season (Potential) Decision Doesn't Involve Free Agents
Oaklandathletics_small
Hardy to Minnesota. What's with the early offseason trades?
Tyler_at_maya_school_small
Happy 6th Birthday, AN!
Oaklandathletics_small
facebook Members: Keep the A's in OAKLAND
Bill_king_small
Organizational Statistics: Winter Leagues

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SPONSORS


Managers

Tyler_at_maya_school_small Tyler Bleszinski

08-_the_author_small 67MARQUEZ

Baseball_small baseballgirl

Poochini-butt_in_box_2_small Nico

As_kings_cal_small louismg

Editors

Countdown_small Taj Adib

Ziegler160px_small Flashfire

527918550406_0_bg_small notsellingjeans