Catching a Win
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jun 14, 2007 3:33 PM PDT
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PrintThanks to the deadly combo of Kurt Suzuki and Jason Kendall, the A's wound up winning the series in Houston. Man, what happened to Kendall? Was it the fact that he's hitting against the National League again? Maybe he just loves the ballpark in Houston? Or he just loves Crawfish?
Whatever it was, Kendall was huge in this series and it's nice to see. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Kendall. It's just that he seemed like he was headed down the fast track to oblivion earlier this season. Perhaps the imminent threat known as Kurt Suzuki helped to light a fire like many have speculated. Oh and congrats to Suzuki, who netted his first hit at a critical juncture of the game.
Regardless, it wasn't a banner day for many of the Athletics. Chavez, despite the long ball in the first inning, had several chances to end the game. Kotsay, despite two walks and scoring a run, also seemed to have weak ABs when he had the chance to be the hero. And Go-Go Gaudin reverted to his 2006 form after I'd just penned a column about him (well at least partially about him) on FSNBayArea.com. He didn't really seem to have his control and when he was in the zone, he was getting hit and hard.
But the A's bullpen wound up really being the star of this game. 6 and 2/3rds innings of three hit, no walk ball. Course they pretty much had to use everyone in the pen short of asking Curt Young to warm up, but it keeps the A's strong June going. I'm not sure what it is every year that makes this team turn it on once April and May are gone, but it's remarkable. It's like counting on the sun rising and setting. You just know that the A's will start to win and make a push towards the top every time.
And where, oh where has my mint, still in the box Jack Cust gone? Did the league figure him out this quickly or did it just get to his head when he wasn't seeing nearly as many fastballs? He's seeing fastballs now and missing them. Perhaps the illusion is over and he's Chris Shelton? I'd like to think that he'll make an adjustment and not be a flash in the pan. It's been too many years for him to get the chance and then lose out. And maybe that's just the problem? He realizes that unless he performs and quickly, this might just be his last chance. I can't help but still root hard for a guy who has pushed for that long.
By the way, three news items that I hadn't talked about that are big that I wanted to mention here:
First, the A's signed Billy Beane and Mike Crowley to extensions through 2014, which is huge news for those of us who love watching this team continue to be competitive year in and year out. Congratulations to them both and a huge thanks to Lew Wolff, who is smart enough to realize that when you have a great thing going, you don't mess with it. There are a ton of executives in sports who don't understand that concept. I'm thankful that Wolff isn't one of them.
Second, Bob Geren is winning a lot of praise from his players as truly a communication specialist. Now, this all sounds great and I hope it remains true, but I think it usually takes time for players to truly form an opinion about their new manager. Remember these are delicate athletes with fragile egos who can shift on a whim. I personally think Geren has been a blast of fresh air but my opinion doesn't mean squat. Let's hope the players stay this way because I love the manuevers Geren has made on the field.
And lastly, from that same article, we could be seeing Rich Harden coming out of the bullpen by Wednesday. Then again, I'm not exactly holding my breath. Harden could slip on a banana peel on his way to the mound the way his career has gone. I'm wondering what his music out of the pen will be? Maybe Nine Inch Nails, "The Fragile"? Sorry if I come off as harsh, but I so badly want Harden to be a part of this team and my frustration as a fan just gets to me whenever I think about Rich. I mean the truth is that even when he is pitching, it's a stressful experience for me. I'm holding my breath every time he winds up into his delivery. And even when the ball is put in play as we know he's hurt himself fielding balls just as much.
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Hi Tony!
by baseballgirl on Jun 14, 2007 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions
GREAT WIN!!
A great win that again made me so happy that cable sacked up and brought Extra Innings back.
Also, it is a great thing that Dan Haren is pitching tomorrow since we really went through the bull pen a lot in this series.
Yep!
Cuz' I'm going to the game tomorrow and I'm thrilled. Much as I love Gaudin (we usually go on Sun.), I lurv, lurv, lurv the Friday night game. I feel its like my family out there. Long week done. Time to get back in touch and party with my peeps!
A sampling of comments
from Crawfishboxes
Well fuck
I hate Kendall. I hate Kendall. I hate Kendall.
by saylinara on Thu Jun 14, 2007 at 05:58:05 PM EDT
You're telling me
that fucker was submendoza pre-Astros. If we never have to face him again I'll be a happy man.
by MG on Thu Jun 14, 2007 at 06:07:12 PM EDT
[ Parent ]Aren't we looking for a catcher?
If he loves MMP this much, we should snag him.
by saylinara on Thu Jun 14, 2007 at 06:08:28 PM EDT
[ Parent ]He bats
like .195 against everybody else and with no power
by Joe in Birmingham on Thu Jun 14, 2007 at 06:10:50 PM EDT
[ Parent ]So like 99% of our team
He'd fit right in.
by saylinara on Thu Jun 14, 2007 at 06:11:40 PM EDT
[ Parent ]
Priceless
Yes, please
let them snag him
hey, seriously folks...
I'm still wanting Kendall to stick around to tutor Suzuki, but if the Astros are dumb enough to overvalue Mr. Kendall because of one series, I'm glad Mr. Beane's ears are open. Maybe he'll hear a song he'd like to dance to.
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Jun 14, 2007 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Jack, Jack, Jack....
Poor Jack. His early performance set the bar so high. I think his only problem is that his fear is swinging the bat. After so much disappointment, he expects to fail. I hope he works through it. Lord knows he has a nice swing.
Time to trade Cust to Japan
maybe for a prospect with an independent streak in him...
Cust could be the second coming of Randy Bass or Bob Horner and lead someone to a pennant over there. I hope it's Bobby Valentine's Marines.
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Jun 14, 2007 11:58 PM PDT up reply actions
In Regards To Kendall
I just don't buy into the idea that he is now suddenly motivated by having Suzuki as his backup. Granted, he has been struggling offensively, but he was due to start hitting.
Whether this is a long-term thing remains to be seen. I have never questioned the fire in Kendall's belly.
Kudos to the bullpen. For a somewhat makeshift unit they sure are getting the job done.
GO A's!
Kendall
Has been working with the A's hitting coach to pull the ball more. It is paying dividends
by jarforcefatherofforce on Jun 14, 2007 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions
YAY!
I'm happy they pulled out another win!
I'm excited about getting Harden back, but I'm a little worried. On one hand it will be great to have him out of the bullpen, so we only use him for a couple innings max... but then I can't help but think that he'll be thinking "I'm only here for a few outs, might as well throw as hard as I can" and he'll hurt himself again (for example, see Brad Penny in last year's all star game... though he didn't get hurt he sucked the 2nd half of the season and I think it was partially because he threw as hard as he could while starting the all star game) Hopefully he'll be awesome, though! Can't hurt to have a pitcher as good as him to call out of the bullpen in close games.
GO A's!!
he hurts himself
with the offspeed stuff. if he sticks to a heater and split with occasional slider out of the pen he should be fine. i say may him the closer and let huston go under the knife if thats what is best for the long term. if harden stays healthy and racks up 30 saves throwing 99mph, then one of the two would be nice trade booty in the offseason.
ah yes
that is so true about the off speed stuff. I forgot about him never using his change-up. I still worry about him tho!
I agree with making him the closer while Huston is out... I feel totally confident that he can get hitters out when he needs to, and it would put less pressure on the rest of our bullpen. Hopefully he can stay healthy!
JINX!
And Go-Go Gaudin reverted to his 2006 form after I'd just penned a column about him (well at least partially about him) on FSNBayArea.com.
It's your fault Blez....
There *is* crying in Competitive Eating
I saw Kobayashi cry a few weeks ago. It wasn't pretty, either. LOL.
by BobbyKrosby on Jun 14, 2007 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Hell, there's crying in everything...
On a slightly unrelated subject, I like the lineup in your sig...
I'm assuming that you're starting a pre-Athletics Fosse, before he was hurt. If you're allowed to take that mulligan, then I'd move Giambi to 1st and play a pre-Athletics Dick Allen at DH. But that's just me...
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Jun 15, 2007 12:03 AM PDT up reply actions
Gaudin + day games = not so great
I seem to recall that he's said more than once he's not comfortable pitching day games. I think today's 11 o'clock start was just too early for him.
exactly right
He thinks he doesn't pitch well in day games, therefore he doesn't. I think the A's should seriously consider setting up the rotation having him pitch at night even if he means from time to time moving him back a day.
Baseball players are quirky that way.
I also think Geren should sit down Crosby and get Scutaro in there, we can live with the loss of defense, and when Buck comes back, sit DJ, he looks lost up there.
by china bob on Jun 14, 2007 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Kendall theory
It's an easy one in my mind. Kendall has been on a tear since Suzuki was called up. Or has he? Is it possible that underneath the mask and gear, Jason Kendall is really Kurt Suzuki? Either way, I hope whoever it is keeps it up.
i think
the kendall motivated by suzuki theory is hogwash. kendall is hitting well now because throughout his career he's been a very good hitter. after 2 of the most horrid months in baseball history lets hope he can keep it up. remember, he hit over 300 in both the 2nd half of 05 and 06.
Kendall
Whatever it was, Kendall was huge in this series and it's nice to see.
Well said, especially for all the venow spewed at him (especially by me, for which I am very sorry).
He's above both Mendoza lines...
.200 and .215
Which one is the right one? There are at least four answers; two of them even make sense!
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Jun 15, 2007 12:06 AM PDT up reply actions
Impressive victory
I'm glad to see Kendall coming through. So, what's the word on the Ruddy Lugo waiver claim? Is he any good?
by knowledge24 on Jun 14, 2007 3:54 PM PDT reply actions
No.
by Helloooo 1st on Jun 14, 2007 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Awesome win!
I think it is a little early
to be thinking wild card
I would much rather think about
a 1 game deficit than a 5 game deficit. I'm thinking about that 1 game deficit right now!
That was pretty much my point
We won't be catching LAAAAA anytime soon, but we can at least look to make some noise sooner.
The A's will catch the Angels
when they play the Angels. The Angels hitting weaknesses are the A's pitching strengths, and not necessarily vice-versa. The A's offense seems to step up against the tougher pitchers. They've beaten Cain and Santana and did really well against Oswalt before he settled down...
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Jun 15, 2007 12:08 AM PDT up reply actions
This team's resilience
And how many bad games have they had this year?
Not many. Even their losses are close and well-played.
by BobbyKrosby on Jun 14, 2007 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions
The single most ridiculous thing...
...that an opposing announcer has said about the A's this year came not from the usual suspects (i.e. the ChiSox and Angels' crews) but from the Devil Rays' tv guys, who went on and on about how much more interesting Devil Rays' baseball is to watch than A's baseball.
What a load of crap!
Year in and year out, the A's are always worth watching, through thick and thin. And that's especially true this season. Even when they were having rough patches this year, they've been in game after game.
I lurv this team!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Jun 14, 2007 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions
This is what I love
about this team. Their resilience. I have no idea what the stats are, but how many teams could lose so many players and still bring the wins that this team has? Scrappy!
Lincecum is OVERRATED
Yes, off-topic in an A's forum, but I just don't see "the Franchise" in Lincecum. If he were with the A's, I'd have him behind Dan Meyer on the depth chart.
by BobbyKrosby on Jun 14, 2007 4:07 PM PDT reply actions
kids got a live arm for sure
but perhaps they should have kept him in aaa until after the break. i guess they have nothing to lose though - its not like they are going to make the playoffs or anything.
He just pitched against the A's, in case u missed
by BobbyKrosby on Jun 14, 2007 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions
You know who sucks? Charlie Hough.
Three words
Rick Mahler: overrated!
by BlameChannel53 on Jun 14, 2007 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions
And Mitch Williams...
...just can't find the strike zone!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Jun 14, 2007 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions
My lord...
I've got all three of those guys on my fantasy team. No wonder I'm in 21st place in a 12 team league!
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Jun 15, 2007 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Charlie Hough is a nice guy!
I played high school baseball with his son Aaron and took some bp off ole' Charlie. He gave much to the program not to mention the fact that he has a great sense of humor about giving up 'Mr. October's' 3rd Home Run in the World Series and appears on every commercial that shows that clip.
by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 14, 2007 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I have a home run ball thrown by Hough
and hit by Dwayne Murphy, 9/19/84
Wow
A day after my 19th BDay, and a month before I reported for Air Force basic training. I hear doctors and lawyers drink too much, so I owe you a beer.
by LawDaddy on Jun 14, 2007 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Ummm, beer
I suck at photography, but here it is:
Written on the ball:
9/19/84
Off Charlie Hough
by Dwayne Murphy
A's 8, Texas 7
BTW, LawDaddy, your birthday is the same as Mrs. doctorK
Check out Danny Haren's
Can't disagree with you on that.
by BobbyKrosby on Jun 14, 2007 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Over-rated?
Lincecum at Fresno: 4-0, 0.29 ERA, 31.0 IP, 46K/11BB, 0.74 WHIP
Meyer at Sacramento: 3-0, ERA 3.27 ERA, 44.0 IP, 40K/25BB, 1.57 WHIP
Maybe you'd put Meyer above Lincecum on the depth chart, but no thinking person around would agree with you.
Geez, he's like 12 years old.
Fresh out of the wrapper. Give him until the end of NEXT season before starting a dialog about whether or not he was overrated.
Next to the stadium
I spent the afternoon in a conference room next to the stadium. I kept wanting them to open the roof because I would have been able to see right in. I seriously considered disappearing for a few hours to go to the game and see if I was missed. Damn you protestant work ethic!
Way to go Kendall - motivation for your job is a powerful tool!
Do you live in Houston?
I use to years ago. I still have family in the area.
no
here for work as punishment.
At least I got a baseball game and a good steak out of it.
Houston does run long on good steaks...
Who did you kill at work that neccessitated sending you to Houston in the summer as retribution?
Jack Cust and Frank Thomas are equal this year
Same numbers for both. Good thing the A's didn't resign Thomas. I knew Frank was giving a contract-year performance last year and would become complacent once he signed his last big contract. I'm glad the Blue Jays are paying for that and not the A's.
by BobbyKrosby on Jun 14, 2007 4:16 PM PDT reply actions
thomas complacent?
lincecum overrated?
feel free to occasionally NOT share your ridiculous opinions with everyone.
thank you for your intelligent come-backs!
by BobbyKrosby on Jun 14, 2007 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions
xbox = oaktown power = grover
by Helloooo 1st on Jun 14, 2007 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions
and with that comment,
you proved his point.
Helloooo 1st = my AN hero!!!
by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 14, 2007 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Glad Helloooo 1st has a fan club
I was being silly.
Don't worry, give it time, one day you too might have a sense of humor.
Alls well that ends well.
My post too was in jest. AN needs its senior members to be, shall we say, strict compared to the "softees" such as myself. It gives us flavor and keeps us from being like HH, bland beyond comprehension.
But I'm glad I'm SOMEBODY'S hero at least. Bout damn time I received the proper recognition around here ;-)
by Helloooo 1st on Jun 14, 2007 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I am not strict!
I'm an asshole. And I'm not senior, I'm old.
Get it right.
I got the comp betwixt me and xbhaskarx. But why did you drag poor oaktown power into the mix? That's just mean.
I can't let his legend fade away
by Helloooo 1st on Jun 18, 2007 10:45 PM PDT up reply actions
a's losses by over three runs (7 total)
april:
2 at Sea
Loss 0-4
3 at Sea
Loss 4-8
21 at Tex
Loss 0-7
may:
22 at CWS
Loss 4-10
26 at Bal
Loss 3-8
27 at Bal
Loss 4-8
29 vs Tex
Loss 0-4
so they got off to a slow start in april and had a bad week in may, other than that every loss has been close.
does it make you feel better
when they lose by less then three runs?
it does
if we lose by only one, i actually still cheer.
i cheer
when we lose by less than one
I'm a big fan of fractions
I cheer for rebels, mercenaries,
the Christian Right and the Socialists.
I'm a big fan of factions.
I cheer for Macha, Ron Washington, and Lou P
I'm a big fan of friction
I cheer for Pittsburgh, KC, and Washington
I'm a big fan of suction
Don't you mean krill?
or am I confusing my zoo-plankton with my phytoplankton?
comparison
red sox have lost 12 of 23 by over three runs, 7 of 29 for the a's. obviously we're the better team.
feel free to ... yadda yadda yadda
Teams that play lots of 1-2-run games, win or lose = mediocre
I think that you were probably sort-kinda kidding there, but (a) 3 doesn't exactly count as a blowout threshold, and (b) let's see the # of wins for each team by 3/4/5+.
you say mediocre
red sox blown out 14 times of 24 after tonight.
my least favorite kind of game is...
8-4 or 7-2 or 6-1 or 9-7...
If for some reason I'm feeling naughty and want to go off my pitching and defense diet for a game or two, I'm wanting to get really decadent. I'm wanting something like the 23-2 drubbing of the Rangers on the next to last day of 2000, or maybe a nice 16-0 over the Giants or something brutal like that...
Otherwise, I loves me some one-run games!
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Jun 15, 2007 12:22 AM PDT up reply actions
At the feet of the master
"I've watched Jason and how he sets guys up," an excited Suzuki said. "He's definitely been a big help to me with scouting reports and telling me how to set people up. He's given me some good hints and that has really helped."
I think Jason set up A's fans for two months. Now he's making us EAT IT.
Definitely f-ing with us in his contract year
by Helloooo 1st on Jun 14, 2007 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Swish sez, about Bob Geren:
"And who's had to deal with as many injuries as Bob has and still has his team in contention..."
Um... Ken Macha last year?
ken macha: "he's a non-factor."
Yeah!
I bet Mach wishes he had that eight bucks back, now that he's unemployed.
hey, he's still ployed
Billy's still paying for Macha's Blizzards this year.
The injuries from last year compared to
this season aren't even close. And I'd never thought I'd say that about any year after last season.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Jun 14, 2007 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe no else has noticed this...
but Gaudin has had more BB's than K's in each of his last four GS. Perhaps the league has adjusted to him and he needs to come up with a new plan of attack?
I think part of it
is that, to me, he's fallen a bit too much in love with the slider. I just think he needs to go back to fastball/change, and then go to the slider with two strikes. He can show it every now and then, but not rely on it so heavily. Maybe it was just me, but today it seemed like it was his featured pitch.
by IndianaAsfan on Jun 14, 2007 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Agree
It was his M.O. when he was in Tampa Bay, he was in love with his slider. Of course, he might throw his fastball more if he was able to develop better command. I am one of the biggest Gaudin boosters on this site, and have been a fan of his since before he was on the A's, but I think his ERA is bound to increase without the ability to rely upon his fastball. Unfortunately, his fastball moves so much that he has a hard time locating it. When the fastball gets jumpy, he starts relying on the slider, and he can't be dominant long-term by pitching like Calero.
by BlameChannel53 on Jun 15, 2007 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions
This Cardinals-Royals game...
Good news: Kip Wells only lasted 1-1/3 innings, and in the 4th inning La Russa went to his 4th pitcher of the night.
The bad part is, it's so ugly for the Cardinals that they might have a position player pitch the last couple of innings. But, at any rate, they will be arriving in Oakland with a battered pitching staff.
They would have arrived
with a battered pitching staff regardless of Wells's outing tonight. They were thin to start the year, and they've had a few injuries and Reyes has been awful.
by IndianaAsfan on Jun 14, 2007 7:41 PM PDT up reply actions
The "mighty" Cardinals
Only won 83 games in the regular season last year. Everybody thought they would go out quickly in postseason...wrong!!
The job that La Russa and Duncan did with the Cardinals last year reminds me of what they did with the 1992 A's, getting 96 wins out of an aging pitching staff and getting to Game 6 of the ALCS. Age, injuries and roster changes caught up with them in 1993 as the A's fell from 96 wins to a last-place 68-win finish. The Cardinals may be at a similar stage this year.
Doesn't look like we'll get a position player pitching tonight. Isringhausen worked a fairly quick 7th and Ryan Franklin is in for the 8th.
Funny how LaRussa
gets a lot out of marginal teams, but his overpowering teams ('04 Cards, '88 and '90 A's) seem to disappear.
Same tune for poor Tim Hudson.
He goes 7.1 scoreless innings, giving up only 2 hits and a walk. Then Bob Wickman blows it in the ninth, allowing three runs and recording only an out. Tim Hudson must have been reminded of Keith Foulke blowing all of his wins in 2003.
Be interesting to see how Kendall's surge looks
in a week or so when the league realizes he's now turning on the inside pitch. Until recently there was no price to be paid for working inside...now that there is, Kendall will probably start seeing more of the outside and offspeed stuff that pitchers wouldn't throw him when he was specializing in flares to right.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 14, 2007 8:32 PM PDT reply actions
Late comment
Another great win for our guys in green and gold.
Congrats to Billy and company for contract extensions, I hope we can get a ring from it. I'll put it on a green hulk fist and sock an Analheim Ass-halo fan in the mouth.
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