Well, Now THAT Was A Pitching Performance
by baseballgirl on Aug 19, 2007 4:01 PM PDT
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PrintIt was no eight-inning, seventeen strikeout affair like Johan-Cy, but it sure felt like that for the A’s and their fans today. Say what you want about DiNardo (and his competition today), but he provided the start that the A’s just couldn’t get in the last two games; throwing a gem of a game for eight innings to get his eighth win of the year. Huston closed it out with little fanfare, and the A’s did their part with some offense, including homeruns by Marco Scutaro (who also went 4-4), and Dan Johnson (who I didn’t think was on the team anymore).
The most telling sign of the A’s offense today was the thirteen hits they piled up, even with somewhat of a ‘B’ lineup. Everyone had a least one hit, except for Cust--who walked twice--and overall; they certainly looked the part of a solid team. The offense came through, and the pitching was lights-out. Why on earth we can’t manage this more than one game a series, I’ll never know.
But the A’s close out the homestand at 4-2, despite winning only one from the Royals this weekend, and they take their modest one-game winning streak into Toronto to play the Blue Jays, starting tomorrow. I want to see more wins, please.
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Scutaro
If that was his last start for the A's it sure was a nice way to go out.
by Scutaro The Great on Aug 19, 2007 4:00 PM PDT reply actions
Bummed
that Lenny didn't get a chance to pitch the 9th inning, especially since he was only at 85. Thought he should have at least gotten the chance (especially with a lead like that), and if he got into trouble, then bring Huston in.
Scoot's really trying to make his case here though...great job today going 4-4.
Great game all around and a stellar performance by Lenny. Days like this make it seem so easy - like they should be able to pull this off more often. (You almost forget about Friday and Saturday.)
I agree
Give DiNardo the chance to get the complete game. Boost Lenny's confidence as well as with the way the A's have been protecting Street, might as well wait until Monday when his 15-pitch one inning could have been more effective.
by Scutaro The Great on Aug 19, 2007 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions
just got back from the game
my first since early June!
A few thoughts:
- DiNardo threw an average of 10 pitches per inning. He probably didn't throw anything over 85 mph, but located his pitches well. (And by the way, that was a VERY extensive outside corner in the ump's strike zone -- but at least he was fairly consistent).
2)DJ was seeing pitches very well and really whacked the ball even in his outs the first two times against Davies. When he came to bat against the lefty Beal in the sixth I yelled "Dan, you're due", and he promptly crushed the first pitch into the right field bleachers. He radiated attitude as he rounded the bases and returned to the dugout (channeling anger at not playing lately?)
- Talk about players not playing lately, who took advantage of playing time with a vengeance: I'm talking about YOU, Marco Scutaro!! Nothing like a Slusser column quoting Beane as saying he's not going to play regularly (and ANers packing his bags for him) to get a solid defensive and exciting offensive game out of him! Even more than the HR, I really liked how his head-first slide into first got him a single.
4)Swisher had an awful at bat with runners on base later in the game. He appeared to be swinging from his heels, trying to hit a three run homer, when a single would have been just fine.
oops, forgot the amazing play
Ellis made, turning a seemingly sure single into grounder out late in the game. It was absolutely lovely, and the crowd loudly expressed their appreciation.
I'm excited that I bought tickets to Ellis' bobblehead game on August 28. Now I have to invent some excust to get out of an "important" thing at work that would keep me from getting to the game in time to get the bobblehead...
Here's an amazing stat:
Among lefty starters with at least 100 IP, only Erik Bedard and Johan Santana have better ERAs than...Lenny DiNardo.
I have no idea what next year holds
for DiNardo but he is another guy that any team could have had for nothing, a guy who has kicked around from team to team, no real opportunity, and the A's picked him up and he has done very well thank you. Is it a question of did he finally learn how to pitch, or is it just a matter of confidence and a chance. I have always felt there are guys in baseball who could be good, but never got the chance, a lot of guys. There are other guys who seemingly get chance after chance and do nothing with it, if the A's are to succeed it is with the hidden players. It is why I like the A's so much, because of financial constraints they have to find the former players. That is why I enjoy so much watching a Murphy or a Hannahan, or a Cust for that matter, guys who haven't been able to get the chance, some will take it and run with it, others will be proven there is a good reason they didn't get a chance.
Ellis falls into the former category, a throw in on a trade, now entering his arb years as a starter.
by china bob on Aug 19, 2007 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Mr.C with students 14-0!
In the summer of 2001 I brought 2 students to their first baseball game.
Every year since (minus 2006) I've brought students to their first game. Today was about game number 14 and the A's are undefeated when I bring a student.
One year the streak almost ended. Down by 2 runs 2 outs no one on base. They scored twice and won in extra's.
I don't know what it is, I bring students, the A's win.
by Mr C on Aug 19, 2007 5:18 PM PDT reply actions
bring students to every A's game...
the rest of the year. Even road games.
by FoolshGame22 on Aug 19, 2007 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Redarding GiNardo,
I think we're all assuming that DiNardo was "robbed" of the chance to get the complete game. He may have told Geren/Young he was gassed, low pitch count or not. He hasn't gone 85+ that many times, and we don't know if he might have eaten at Applebee's last night or something. It might have been a mutual decision:
"Lenny, how do you feel?"
"Well..."
"OK, y'know we need to Street an inning of work."
That's true.
I was basing my comment off of my obviously expert pitching analysis.
Really, though, to me it seemed like his pitches were still working and it looked like he was getting off the bench to go back in the game in the bottom of the 9th, so that's where my assumption came from.
My feeling is that
he left the game feeling real good about himself, that is confidence enough, not to mention his excellent ERA still in tact. What happens if he goes out in the 9th, gets shelled a bit, a few more runs score, the A's probably win, but still he leaves disappointed. Rather he be angry at Geren than himself. I agree with another writer, I think he benefited today by an umpire who gave a lot of close strikes, in previous outings he always frustrated me because he always seemed to be at 3-2 on every batter.
by china bob on Aug 19, 2007 5:59 PM PDT up reply actions
the crowd gave him a nice ovation
as he came off the field after finishing the top of the eighth. It was well deserved.
Yes, only two things worry me about DiNardo:
His penchant for not throwing first-pitch strikes and then running long counts, and his fielding--which seems strangely bad.
Ummm... it was Huston Street Backpack Day
there was no reason for DiNardo not to start the 9th other than that.
by FoolshGame22 on Aug 19, 2007 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Just got home from today's game.
An exciting game to take my nephew to. He's 12 and never been to a MLB game. He was excited to get a backpack and couldn't believe that it was free. He doesn't get to do a lot of things or go very many places so this was a real treat for him.
If Scoot really is on the block, then he made an excellent case for a job as a starting 2B with somebody out there. I have always thought he could crack the lineup on quite a few teams. Bad luck for him to be stuck behind Ellis, the only A who gets injured in the beginning or at the end of a season. As much as it would pain me to see him leave, I hope he gets the shot he deserves.
It was so strange watching the A's take the field today. I could count only four players from the beginning of the season who anyone could have guessed would be starting a game in August.
Hmm, let's see...
Ellis...um...Stomper...
<gives up>
Beware
My killfile, when on, prevents me from posting new comments. I can reply to already-existing comments, but that's it. To post new ones I have to turn off killfile and then navigate to a different page, and then back to the one on which I want to post.
Anybody else had this problem? Any solutions?
I've never had this problem,
but one solution that comes to mind is you could maim John Lackey with a meat cleaver. It wouldn't solve your posting problem, though.
It might solve his vermin infestation, though
... if he has one.
It seemed like Bowen brought his Calero game plan
to the 9th instead of the Street one. He seemed to be throwing 75% sliders. I thought it was strange considering Street doesn't have 9 different sliders like Calero does. It worked pretty well though . . .
by bloodsweatndonuts on Aug 20, 2007 4:23 AM PDT reply actions
I never heard a radar gun reading,
but Street's fastball looked poor to me, like it was 88-89 MPH. His slider was sharp, though. Maybe that's why Bowen called for so many sliders?
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