A's Lose 5-4; Barton Goes Yard

by Tyler Bleszinski on Mar 10, 2008 4:58 PM PDT

The A's are now 0-2 against the hated Halos this spring. Today was courtesy of Alan Embree who was the gasoline on the Angels comeback fire today.

It's interesting that Foulke didn't get in the game today. I didn't hear that there was anything wrong on the web cast, but I might have missed it because I had to do a conference call. Maybe someone else can fill me in? Was his appearance just scrapped or did he suffer some recurrence of his injury?

Any way, Daric Barton finally got his first spring training hit and it was a three-run bomb. The good news is that the A's pitching looked pretty good outside of Embree and it was against the Angels "A" lineup, if you will. Braden has pitched pretty well so far this spring and I know that the A's front office still likes Dallas quite a bit.

The fifth starter battle is quite intriguing. The thing is, I imagine that the A's will wind up needing a bunch of these guys throughout the year, especially given Gaudin, Duke and Harden's recent injury problems.

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Foulke

Nothing wrong, supposedly. He pitched live BP this morning instead of in the game. Buan said he looked good throwing.

by HigherPie on Mar 10, 2008 5:08 PM PDT reply actions

Foulke pitched a simulated outing

in the bullpen, according to the Buancast

by OaklandSi on Mar 10, 2008 5:08 PM PDT reply actions

Outside of Embree, the bullpen looks pretty good

Inside of Embree, it's too dark to see much of anything.

< / Groucho >

I wasn't thinking about anything. I'll have to try to do that more often. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Mar 10, 2008 5:39 PM PDT reply actions

Fifth starter

Looks like DiNardo has put up the best numbers so far, although Braden has looked pretty good. Unfortunately, Eveland isn't doing much to claim the job that's screaming to be his.

I wonder if the A's would have the cojones to give the job to Gio, though. He has certainly been the most dominant of the bunch.

So it goes.

by jeepers on Mar 10, 2008 6:03 PM PDT reply actions

What about Greg Smith?

Lots of good things being said about him this spring.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Mar 10, 2008 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd say Smith has put himself into real contention,

while Meyer has erased himself from the equation, with DiNardo (known commodity, so-so stuff, too much potential to pull a Saarloos) and Eveland (good stuff, bad results) quietly causing management to go "eh" without a great deal of enthusiasm. Then there's Braden and Kirk and - what do we have, 32 guys vying for the 5th spot?

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 Mar 10, 2008 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions

TOO. CUTE.

by gotgreen on Mar 10, 2008 7:57 PM PDT reply actions

oh, and happy birthday to donnie murphy!!

by gotgreen on Mar 10, 2008 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions

2 problems

Fun problem: DiNardo, Braden, Eveland, Smith, etc. Look at all these guys and only one of them can get a rotation spot. Who stays? Who goes? Bullpen for somebody?

Bad (and more likely) problem: Blanton - traded, Harden - hurt, Guadin - not all the way back, Duchscherer - hurt and/or ineffective as a starter. Rotation: DiNardo, Braden, Eveland, Smith. Hmm, who's the 5th starter gonna be?

I don't think things will go THAT badly, but, maybe all those 100 loss prognosticators think it will.

by thejd44 on Mar 10, 2008 8:14 PM PDT reply actions

Wait - after Blanton's traded

and Harden, Duke, and Gaudin all go down injured, what makes you think any of DiNardo, Braden, Eveland, or Smith will stay healthy?

Rookie.

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 Mar 10, 2008 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions