Travis Buck and Company Secure Series Sweep
by baseballgirl on Apr 10, 2008 8:29 PM PDT
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PrintJust a side note; there will be a Harden thread up tomorrow morning. I am deliberately keeping this a game recap thread about the Athletics who took the field tonight. They absolutely deserve it.
Everyone still alive?
Well, nothing seems to come easily for the A’s in 2008; it seems like every game so far is a fight. But when all was said and done in Toronto, the newly scrappy and gritty A’s end up sweeping the series from a team who was fresh off sweeping the Red Sox themselves. And once again, for the third night in a row, the A’s refused to roll over and lose, using their pitching and their defense to hold off Toronto all the way to the 12th inning until their offense kicked in.
I can’t say anything more about the game without starting with Dana Eveland’s unbelievable performance, despite both Cleveland and Toronto implying that he is more lucky than good. I didn’t see that; he flat out rocked today.
Eveland’s line shows him pitching 6 and 1/3, with 3 hits, 3 BB, and 6 SO without giving up a run, and he and the A’s were in line for a win until Embree entered the game. Geren might want to think about changing his ‘auto-pitch’ setting to allow for more variation than “8th inning = Embree”. Judging from the game thread, that might look like, “Tarmac in Toronto after plane takes off = Embree”.
Eveland pitched beautifully around a leadoff double to get out of the second, and after allowing the first two runners to reach in the sixth, he induced a ball to shortstop that Crosby chose to catch instead of drop for a potential triple play. (I’m not criticizing; he obviously wanted to be sure of an out.) But Eveland got out of the inning unscathed, and started the 7th, still owning the slim lead. After striking out Frank Thomas (the A’s pitchers K’d Thomas all four of his first ABs), Eveland walked Hill, who ended up at second as Overbay was awarded first on Suzuki’s catcher’s interference.
Enter the awesomeness of Santiago Casilla, who induced Matt Stairs into an inning-ended double play, preserving the A’s lead for one more inning. The lead disappeared as Embree struggled through the 8th, courtesy of an old friend/new foe Marco Scutaro, but Embree was able to get the game to Andrew Brown, who after some adventures of his own, was able to push the game into extra innings.
Joey Devine, who went to the trouble of leaving the Rivercats in Portland, I think going home for his passport and flying all the way out to Canada for tonight’s game, turned out to be the key for the A’s in the 10th and 11th, working out of two jams in two innings (helped by a game-saving diving play by Hannahan at third, who made up for his struggles at the plate) to secure the win, and after an A's typically scary 9th inning (that took place in the 12th), Foulke winds up with the save.
Despite six hits and a walk, the A’s could only push one run across the plate until the twelfth, where they scored two. The A’s had a golden opportunity to add on in the sixth, with runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out, but Crosby popped up to the catcher to end the threat. All three runs were courtesy of Travis Buck - Doubles Machine!, who went 3-6 with 3 doubles. The Jays will not be sorry to see him go, but I think I can speak for all A’s fans when I welcome this Travis Buck to the leadoff spot.
Not to be overlooked is Suzuki’s play behind the plate; potentially saving the game with every splitter-in-the-dirt that he caught. He also prevented a couple of runners from advancing with his quick recovery on a wild pitch, and really held his own back there.
This is a good win for the A’s, who are not playing like a rebuilding team; they are playing like a major league baseball team. The Jay’s announcers admitted to not expecting much from the A’s from what they had heard in the off-season, and it’s nice to surprise a team for once.
The A’s have every right to be thrilled with this series; this team is not the team of last year, where any time the A’s were down by a run, the game was over. This A’s team is a team that will battle, and limitations and all, they are already 100% more exciting to watch.
Things continue tomorrow night, as the road trip moves to Cleveland. Game time is at 4:05 as Blanton tries for his first win against the Indians’ Sabathia.
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Double your pleasure
Hey people! As a first post from a long time lurker, I'd like to dedicate this post to DoubleDouble HittingHitting TravisTravis BuckBuck
Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa. -Field of Dreams
Welcome aboard
Whereabouts in Iowa are you. I spent six years in the garden spot of America, Ames.
"Evidently, a large number of people said, 'We really need more vermin at the ballpark, Artie.'" - Nick (AN), 10/7/07
Cedar Rapids
I lived in Ames for a year... Hilton magic baby!
Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa. -Field of Dreams
Heeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny
Good times indeed. Especially in '87 when Lafester Rhodes lit up the Hawks for 56.
"Evidently, a large number of people said, 'We really need more vermin at the ballpark, Artie.'" - Nick (AN), 10/7/07
Cedar Rapids, ah, the memories
Many years ago, my brother and his wife were in a bad car accident between Ames and Iowa City, and ended up being taken to the hospital in Cedar Rapids which was the nearest trauma center. My mom and I spent a couple of weeks in your fair city while they were recovering. There was a linseed oil plant just downwind from the hospital, and I remember the faint but disgusting smell everywhere, and the terrible hospital food. I'm sure there are many nicer things about Cedar Rapids.
The candy and the baseball all night long: )
by Englishmajor on Apr 10, 2008 9:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Um, well
Not that many nicer things, no. Cedar Rapids is officially known as "The City of Five Seasons." But to us locals, it's the "City of Five Smells." Those would be: Quaker Oats, Purina, ADM, Cargill, and the Cedar River.
Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa. -Field of Dreams
Thanks for the excellent (as always!) recap, BBG!
One of the really weird things about Geren's use of Embree is that the BP isn't full of lefties -- there's no doubt that Embree would be the #1 LOOGY between him and DiNardo, and there are a ton of righties out there to use. So when 5 consecutive righties are due in the 8th (Scoot, Eckstein, Stewart, Rios, Wells, Thomas), and the A;s have at least 3 rested righties in the pen -- one of whom got Stairs to DP in the 7th -- why bring in the lefty?
My advice to opposing managers -- set up your batting order against the A's so that you have a lot of power-hitting righties coming up in the 8th.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I've said this before
but the A's front office doesn't think of Embree as a LOOGY. That was a very definitive point that the front office made when they signed him. I personally don't agree with them, but that's life. Maybe Brown gets an increased role if Embree continues to struggle.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 10, 2008 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions
That's just stupid
I can do any job at work, but there are definitely things I'm better at. If my manager is smart, she assigns me to the things I'm good at and has me fill in at the other stuff. Right now, Embree is being asked to do the things he isn't as good at. Geren is setting him up to fail, and I would be just as upset if I were Embree as I am as a fan.
But your manager doesn't have a not-so-secret plan to trade you to Staples
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@
He may not be a LOOGY
But that doesn't mean lefty-righty matchups are just irrelevant to him. Matchups matter to everyone, righty and lefty alike, although to different degrees with different players. The argument about closers is that they are "the guy" in the 9th, that they are so far above their bullpen brothers in that regard that they have to take the ball matchups be damned. I don't know that I agree even with respect to closers, but since when has that argument been extended to the 8th inning guys? Alan Embree is so far above the rest of the pen that it simply has to be him in the 8th? A manager should be maximizing his guy's chances for success, and while a guy may not be a LOOGY, matchups should still be among the things the manager takes into consideration when he chooses a guy to head out to the mound.
A manager who isn't just a cementhead, at any rate.
Turn Back The Clock Night in Toronto
The A's turned the clock all the way back to 2003 tonight in Toronto as Keith Foulke scared the shit out of everyone but managed to get the save anyways. The A's also beat the Blue Jays three times in a row at the Skydome with Keith Foulke getting the save on getaway day in their only series in Toronto in 2003. Vernon Wells had 2 hits for the Jays in both today's and 2003's games also. Shannon Stewart was injured and didn't play for the Jays in 2003 unfortunately, but Mike Bordick, Bobby Kielty, and Cory Lidle did. Ex-A's to lose for the Blue Jays today were Stewart, Frank Thomas, Marco Scutaro, and Matty Stairs.
Shannon Stewart sac flies to score Marco Scutaro
worked better for me last year.
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
FTW
President of the Joey Devine fan club as of 1/15/08. Accepting applications for other positions. "He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown
Ms. Slusser, if you're reading this ...
... I'll give you the $20 I'm going to win from mikeA if you submit dolemite's first sentence as the lede of your writeup when Foulke next notches a save.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@
Nice recap - especially the details
of giving a shoutout to Hannahan (hey by the way, thanks for saving the game!) and Suzuki's work on balls in the dirt.
Buck's turnaround should serve as a reminder of how important it is that managers and GMs not panic and move guys down in the batting order, or onto the bench, or to the minors, based on a week's worth of futulity. (Granted, you might not want to wait 1.5 years either, Ken Macha.) We're going through it with Cust now - the guy is going to have some 3/30 stretches.
It's not that Embree sucks, it's that - as Nick points out - we have some other very good options for the 8th inning (which a lot of teams don't) and so to use Embree more against lefties, and to utilize Foulke and Brown and Casilla in more set-up chances, just makes good sense.
And finally, the A's NEED to stop giving up so many hits on 0-2 pitches. Once in a while fine, but it's happening too much (latest: John McDonald, who nearly scored the winning run).
We could easily have been swept in this series and instead we swept - we have now won as many or more games we could have lost than lost games we could have won.
Can we steal Buck's passport so he keeps hitting Canadian?
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
That's back Buckon, eh
"Evidently, a large number of people said, 'We really need more vermin at the ballpark, Artie.'" - Nick (AN), 10/7/07
Agreed that it was an excellent recap
Buck is one of my favorite A's and I've got to be honest, I was starting to get nervous with him wearing the number 6 that we were going to see another Adam Piatt.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 10, 2008 9:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Also, I'm glad that Foulke didn't give into the Big Hurt, despite putting the potential winning run on base. I thought that was a good call.
And don't look now, but we are tied for first after game 10.
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
Totally the right move
I was muttering throughout that entire at bat, "Don't give him anything to hit... Don't give him anything to hit..."
The Jays announcers mentioned that Thomas was 2 for 2 with 2 home runs off Foulke. Small sample size, but I sure didn't want to make it 3 for 3...
only got to read your summary
and look at the box score... im impressed by the K's our hitters are racking up.
Break up the A's!
Oh wait, Billy just did that...
solid recap
i knew this season was gonna be exciting.
the team is looking good in places and we're winning
awesome
this was probably posted somewhere already
but here are the 2008 team payrolls!
rounding out the top 3 are the yankees, detroit, and mets.
the bottom 3 payrolls are florida, tampa bay, and our A's!
Florida
ROFL
I still don't understand why the other 29 owners insist on giving their money away to Loria.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Why does "ROFL" always make me think
of epilepsy? And not in a good way.
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
Rolls on floor... lobectomy?
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
seriously...
the average salary is barely over league minimum
I'm joking about a serious topic like epilepsy,
and all you can do is talk about salaries? That's just wrong.
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
Sometimes it keeps things from getting awkward
when someone changes the subject.
I'm here to talk about the past.
He's developing young players for them.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
The candy and the baseball all night long: )
by Englishmajor on Apr 10, 2008 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions
What's this about Cleveland and Toronto
implying that Eveland is more lucky than good? Lucky pitchers don't strike out a batter an inning.
So it goes.
I thought this one was over.
Many, many times I thought this was a loss. Great win, glad to see all the former A's couldn't quite get it done.
Ten games in
And we've been in nine of them.
Well, we were actually in all ten, but in nine out of ten, we were in them.
And with that, I'm out. Not in.
I'm here to talk about the past.
Could someone throw me a bone
and describe the "fielders choice" Wells hit into in the 10th with Rios thrown out at 2nd??
Also, I'm assuming Hannahan dove to rob Scutaro?? Was the dive towards the line or in the hole?
Sorry, I had to get to a meeting after the 9th and missed the drama ... THANKS!!
VacaAsFan
It was a fly ball that Ellis was going back on
Buck was coming in for and honestly, Buck should've taken charge and called Ellis off, but Ellis is the veteran with gold glove-type talent, so he didn't and the ball fell just between the two. Buck took his time and made a good throw to Crosby at second for the out. The play Hannahan made was in the hole and he played a little cat and mouse with McDonald at third before barely throwing the guy out at first.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 10, 2008 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Regarding the Hannahan play,
I wasn't 100% clear on how the infield was playing. I figure Hannahan either didn't go for the 5-4-3 DP because he had to dive and wasn't sure he'd have time, or because the infield was in/halfway - just wondering which was the determining factor.
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
I think they were in at the corners.
With the winning run at third and a dive it was the only decision to make.
hanahan held the ball b/c McDonald froze down the line, never retreating. Crosby had not circled back yet. All around a good play.
Oh you mean the "throw it already!" play?
I mean, I realize he had to keep the runner honest, but it just seemed like forever before he threw it.
I'm here to talk about the past.
LOL - I didn't see it (hockey sticks in the way).
However, I did see the pitch Ken said "missed somewhere," to which I replied, "That would be in the dirt." Strange/funny moment.
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
You missed a good one.
Hannahan stared McDonald down for about ten minutes.
"Huston, you're hot!'' said first baseman Dan Johnson, dressed as a bottle of mustard.
It looked to me...
like the ball fell because Ellis held up at the very end. If he'd been going full-bore, I think he would have caught it, but Buck was coming in really fast (while not actually calling for it)... so it seemed like a combination of "communication breakdown" and Ellis not wanting to get killed in case Buck actually went for it, too.
"Huston, you're hot!'' said first baseman Dan Johnson, dressed as a bottle of mustard.
Great finish by our A's
but does Embree have to scare me like that when we need a nail-down inning?
Green Hulk Fists
Yes, owing to his lack of sufficient nonsuckitude
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
I thought the liner that Crosby caught could have been an Infield fly, but I didn't hear what Fosse and Kuiper said about it
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagines such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 10, 2008 10:15 PM PDT reply actions
Couldn't have been. It was at his feet.
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Apr 10, 2008 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions
I just educated myself
So, I think the ump could have called it an IFF batter out, though that rarely seems to happen.
However, if the fielder intentionally drops a line drive in that situation (runners on 1st and 2nd, no outs) the batter is out, the ball is dead and the runners advance at their own risk.
However, it the fielder allows the ball to hit the ground first then the ball is live and a triple play may be converted.
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagines such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 10, 2008 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I think yuu missed something
(Oh so many hours later)
IFR does not apply until the ump signals it. If a shortstop intentionally drops a hot shot, picks it up and gets the dp, it's a dp.
The rationale for the IFR supposed that the runner has to hold for the fly. Runners don't hold for a line drive.
by As Fan in the Bronx on Apr 11, 2008 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions
One thing I forgot to mention
People are always complaining about the 'fire' of this team. I kind of liked it when Barton broke his bat. He was clearly frustrated, but it showed he cared.
Weird, I know.
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
Kentucky Joe has fire
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagines such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 10, 2008 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions
This is the type of game
the A's would typically lose, so I stopped watching and started playing on the computer when all of a sudden Buck got the key hit and returned my attention back to the tube. Now if Jack Cust can snap out of his hitting doldrums... this team can have more offense for these tight, low scoring games.
10 games, so far so good
I like these A's a lot, 10 games are not a lot, but against Indians, Red Sox, and BlueJays, these guys did great, 2.87 ERA, 2nd in AL (how does KC have a 2.67 ERA?), middle of the pack offense that look to be on the rise, with some really clutch hitting. If they can keep this up, they might just make something of this season.
And how 'bout the Giants. Hated them when they were the arrogant rich guys across the bay. But now they are a bunch of nobodies, and all the pundits are crapping on them, it's good to see them win 3 in a row, and give conventional wisdom a slap across the face.
10 games into the season, the bay area is a combined 500, keep it up guys!
by asfansince1989 on Apr 10, 2008 11:52 PM PDT reply actions
Yeahh
Does any Bay area team get the respect they deserve. Forget the A's Dubs and Giants, the best team on ICE for the end of the season gets relegated to footnotes. EAST coast BIAS is almost too nauseating. And if someone comes up with an excuse saying Bay area baseball hasnt been consistent, Detroits a great example of a team getting all the hype in the world for just one good season in more than a decade.
The Sharks haven't played like the best team on ice
in their first two games.
They won last night but you could make a pretty good argument that Calgary outplayed them, outside of the dumb penalties.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Brooms, baby!
Granted, I'm slightly drunk and I missed the last 2 innings, but this kind of win gets me pumped up as an A's fan.
I am lovin' the "never give up" mentality.
Can we keep small-sample-size Bobby Crosby? Please? -Joey C.
I love slightly drunk A's girls...
I like to get them more drunk. That's how I get a 2 year old and one on the way.
Go A's!
by FoolshGame22 on Apr 11, 2008 12:07 AM PDT up reply actions
You get 2-year-olds drunk?!
Sick bastard.
"Huston, you're hot!'' said first baseman Dan Johnson, dressed as a bottle of mustard.
2-year-olds, Dude
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@
f***ing geren....
does not learn from his previous mistake.
what the hell is with this guy, for being the best man at beane's wedding he sure seems to be a traditional manager.
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
i thought it was obvious based on the conveniently provided link...
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
Beane and Geren
I was on the radio listening the 2nd game, it was the top of 8th bases loaded, one out and Genren decided to stick with Ryan Sweeney instead of getting Mike to pinch hit. Ryan didnt score, but that might be the single moment that captures the year for us. Frankly a move like that, can affect others drastically as well. I dont know if Bucks rallying after his wretched start was directly related, but I ahve a feeling it does. Or maybe this started a long tiem agao in Spring. For me the A's have been unbeleivable of what you can acheive as a team. I hope they get their breaks in terms of health. I dont see why we cant win the Al West, irrespective of how ehalthy the Angels are. Our pitching (Starting and releif) looks as good as any with only Embree struggling.
Great recap, bbg!
Sorry I wasn't still around last night to say you're not such a slacker after all... ;)
"Huston, you're hot!'' said first baseman Dan Johnson, dressed as a bottle of mustard.
The problem with Embree is he keeps shaking of
Suzuki, when he tells him to throw anything except that damn fastball. Hitters see Embree shake off, and know it is the fastball. They know he only has 2 pitches.
Baseball Pension
I am not sure what the criteria is for pitchers for the MLB pension. Has Harden qualified for the MLB pension? I know qualifying for the MLB pension is a big deal in a players career.
Rich Harden
I posted in the wrong section. My question is about Harden and the MLB Pension. Sorry about that!!
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