So *that's* what a Major League offense looks like

So that's what a Major League offense looks like

by monkeyball on Sep 26, 2007 6:08 PM PDT in News Comment 27 comments

Boston 11, A's 6

The Red Sox haven't been the offensive juggernaut of this year's Yankees, nor have they quite lived up to their own recent powerhouse performances.

Yet they're still third in the AL in runs scored, comfortably above the second or third tier of offenses.

And today demonstrated why:

Facing a crafty hurler lacking an out pitch and who tosses to contact? Hit the pitches "where they are" and dink 'im to death with singles.
Facing a cavalcade of relative unknown relievers who have dominated their minor-league opponents but have struggles at the MLB level? Wait 'em out and smash the mistake/frustration meatballs.

Ultimately, even though "our" Lugo did a nice job of minimizing the damage in the fugly 6th inning, today's result was mainly about A's pitchers not being able to escape jams of their own making. Blanton was actually fortunate to only give up 5 runs in 5 innings of work, and Blevins and Brown seemed to be all over the place with their control.

Whether Beane trades Blanton in the offseason or not -- heck, even whether Harden is able to come back with some semblance of health in '08 or not -- I just don't think the A's can consider their pitching to be a strength heading into the offseason. Haren pitched at a more normal/expected performance level in the second half, Blanton is always going to give up a fair amount of hits and operate without much margin for error, the "front end" of the bullpen is good but not great, and the rest of the rotation and the back end of the bullpen are questionable at best and may likely be decimated by the requisite 40-man roster moves in the offseason.

On the offensive side, it was nice to see Scutaro's death grip on the starting SS job relaxed today, with Murphy dropping a 3-run bomb (seriously: has anyone seen any information or speculation about why Murphy's playing time has decreased so drastically since he came back from his injury? Perhaps just showcasing Scutaro?), Piazza contributing a solo shot, and Baron Von Barton continuing to perhaps even exceed expectations.

Oddly enough, I'm starting to feel quasi-comfortable with the A's projected offense heading into '08. A tweak here and there, and it might almost be respectable.

The A's have the day off tomorrow while they fly home to finish out the season vs the Angels. See y'all Friday at 7:05 PT.

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I agree with you about the team next year

I like an outfield of Swisher and Buck, not so hot for Kotsay, hope Denofria comes through. Barton, Ellis, Chavez and unknown at SS, probably Crosby is decent enough, and Suzuki at catcher sounds good to me. I wonder about Cust though, he will shatter the K record if he plays a full season, but will it be matched with 30 HR's and a .260 average? On paper it doesn't look like a great team, little speed, not a great amount of power but should be able to score some runs, enough for a good pitching team. I am sure you have read that Harden has tendinitis again, fat chance of him pitching a full season. The A's should be very worried about their starting pitching for next year. Haren, then a lot of #4 pitchers. I think the bullpen will be great, Street, Duke, Embree, and a lot of potentially pretty good set up guys. It is getting to the 6th inning that is the problem.

by china bob on Sep 26, 2007 6:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Average group

If there are no major addition to this team for enxt year, it looks like we have a very average lineup that doesn't scare anyone. Only Barton is projected to hit .300 and Cust is projected to hit 30HRs. The rest should have a combined average of .260 and Ellis, Buck, and Suzuki might each hit 20 HRs. Swisher is such a mystery; he could be a 40 HR guy and a 20 HR guy.

We can still field a winning team with a average batting lineup if our pitching is top in the league. Haren looks like a #2 with the occasional masquerade as a #1, and the rest of the projected starters are #4 materials. If only Harden can stay healthy, we'll be fine. Otherwise, we need at least another quality starter for next year.

I'm actually excited about the bullpen. I think this will be a strength next season. Street will remain the closer while our setup men will consist of Casilla/Brown/Embree. I know these 3 setup guys have high ERA but their strikeout numbers look excellent, a quality you love from your relievers.

by hollandcl on Sep 26, 2007 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget the Duke

He is dynamite if he is healthy, another big "if". Perhaps the surgery will make him a healthy Duke, or is that just a pipe dream, like Harden pitching a full season.

by china bob on Sep 26, 2007 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also agree about the offense

I'm starting to really get bullish about our prospects in 2008. It looks like a pretty productive offense. Course the big factor that could turn the A's from a good team to a great team would be a healthy Harden...but that's a bigger pipedream than world peace at this point.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Sep 26, 2007 6:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Damn

If we finish in the cellar ... well, that's just inexcusable. The Rangers are playing HARD to pass Oakland ... wish it looked like we cared.

VacaAsFan

by Vacafan on Sep 26, 2007 6:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Who doesn't care?

Or who doesn't look like they care?

"We've come a long way, and I'm not talking about Virginia Slims, either." - Art Howe

by EastCoastA on Sep 27, 2007 6:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll take the higher draft pick

with a healthy portion of crow, please.

by PaulThomas on Sep 26, 2007 8:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

woohoo

13th pick

Players taken recently with the 13th pick:

2006 - Beau Mills, 3B, Lewis-Clark State
2005 - Brandon Snyder, C, HS VA
2004 - Bill Bray, RP, William & Mary
2003 - Aaron Hill, SS, LSU
2002 - Khalil Greene, SS, Clemson

Based on this analysis, I predict we take a SS from a southern college whose first name starts with B.

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Sep 27, 2007 7:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This has very little to do with the recap,

But AN rocks. I know this becuase I just got back from the game. I was at the game because I was invited by slam, and so there we were, two Oakland fans, brought together by AN and united in the bleachers of Fenway. We were a drop of green in a sea of red though. we saw a couple of oakland fans out there, but not many. Our charming seat neighbors were asking us why there were not many oakland fans at the game and insinuated that Oakland fans were unsuppportive of thier team. I reminded him that Fenway tickets have been sold out since the Eisenhower administration and that Oakland fans hav a hard time shelling out 80 bucks a pop to see thier team.

I do need to report that for the first time since I moved ot Boston three years ago and started seeing the A's at Fenway, Boston fans were not complete *ssholes. Whether this was pity, or they ar elosing thier edge, I dont know. One guys pulled us aside and welcomed us to Fenway. Can you imagine?

Game notes: I saw the Donnie Murphy home run, but my eyes were unable to track the ball due to my incredulity. Seriously. I was looking right at him and it took a while to recognize that what I was seeing was power.

Swish. Swish? Que pasa man? Dear god. Nick has turned it in for 07.

Is there anything more terrifying than the words "now pitching, Ruddy Lugo"? oh wait, "now pitching, Colby Lewis". Brrr.

I dont know how many relievers from each team we did not see tonight.

Socks fans, while unmitigated *ssholes, love thier team. They will not admit that any player has a weak point. They had a hard time understanding that we could love our team, and recognize that some of our regulars should not be regulars.

It was 90 degrees. in Boston. In late September. This time last year I was cutting firewood. Ok, thats not true. The condo association would not appreciate that. But what nice weather, what a day for a game. What an experience to see Daric Barton, in the flesh, for hte first time. How great to see Jack Cust...being Jack Cust.

Slam, you are right, Shannon Stweart is not a complete b*tch. The man has one hit, the bleeeding single through the 5-6 hole, but he gets it, everytime it seems, when he needs it.

It occured to me that I am taller than the entire starting line up. And I am not all that tall.

You A's fans, who can turn on the TV to see them, drive to the Coli to buy a ticket, dont have to stay up till 1 am to watch games, be thankful for what you have. It was great to see my boys tonight, and thanks slam for the invite. I dont care that we lost and that we are 80000 games out of first, I loved every minute of it.

Except the Ruddy Lugo minutes. But the rest of them.

by mikedaviswhereareyou on Sep 26, 2007 8:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

good comment, thanks for that

by mikeA on Sep 26, 2007 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm very thankful

especially since I take BART right to the ballpark.

by OaklandSi on Sep 26, 2007 10:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

which section?

two other AN'ers were in 36.

My favorite part was how completely anonymous the A's relief pitchers were to the Red Sox fans. In true Boston fashion, every pitching change was interpreted as "Now pitching, some queer".

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Sep 27, 2007 7:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's so unfair!

Our relievers' fastballs are clearly straight.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 27, 2007 8:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The biggest off-season move the A's can make

is fire Larry Davis's corpulent butt. A whole generation of A's players depends on it.

To play devils advocate, if the A's have a healthy Harden, pitching up to his potential, then they will have a dynamic 1-2 punch with Haren Harden.

Word is Florida's GM is very upset with the performance of his pitching staff this year--wonder what it would take to pry Dontrelle out of Miami and back to the Yay...

I don't buy that the A's will be adequate offensively next season, unless they have a healthy 3Bman, a new SS, and given that Piazza is all but gone, another DH to split time with Cust. Jeez, I almost forgot, the most glaring weakness lies in center field. Beane must work some magic to fix that spot.

by Pucking Insane on Sep 26, 2007 8:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

By the way the worst thing about this team

is not they are not good, it's that they are boring as hell to watch. Haren pitching was cool, in the first half. Buck was a pleasure when healthy and Barton has been brilliant. Maybe Nick Swisher actually puts together a complete season, before being labeled a complete underachiever, created right out of the Chavez mold...

by Pucking Insane on Sep 26, 2007 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Would be less boring to watch

if the pitchers could hold a lead for a change.
(and the Offense add on)
What's the point of going up 4-0 if you're going to lose 6-4 in the end?

by MobiusKlein on Sep 26, 2007 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Regarding Florida's GM, etc.,

I think one thing the A's should do, seriously, is trade for Scott Olsen as a "6th starter" - the guy who if he doesn't make the team can be called up from AAA when the first guy goes down. I'll bet the Marlins will practically give him away and yet he has a great arm and could be a classic "change of scenery" steal. If I were Beane, I'd be setting my radar on him right now.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 26, 2007 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed! He looks great!

A ton of strikeouts. A lot of walks too, but maybe early wildness. Looks like a more powerful Gaudin type player. I am excited for next year and the possibilities!

by A'sfansince1970 on Sep 26, 2007 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why would the A's need another DH

to split time with Cust?

It's not like the position is exactly physically taxing.

by PaulThomas on Sep 26, 2007 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't DH Scott Olsen, personally

I'd use him as a left-handed starting pitcher.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 27, 2007 8:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am psyched for Fridays game!

I know it's meaningless, but I HATE Lackey and would love to see the good guys and Dan Haren kick his butt out of Oakland! Go A's!

by A'sfansince1970 on Sep 26, 2007 10:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Btw the A's clinched exactly one year ago today.

"We were s--, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."

by lenscrafters on Sep 26, 2007 11:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

thinking about next year...

It's completely obvious that the a's won't be a contender next year unless we do the following:

Keep Blanton who is our top winner over the past 3 years.

Bitch-slap Harden out of being such a pussy sore-armed wimp and tough it out like a true major-leaguer.

Bring back Jason Kendall who will put at least four to five wins on each of our starting pitchers stats due to his superior game calling (I think we can all agree that the staff fell apart the day he was traded).