Shouldn't have been that close: Indians 7, A's 1

by monkeyball on Apr 13, 2008 1:25 PM PDT Comment 85 comments

Cliff Lee was virtually unhittable today. With some better defense behind him, he could have been literally unhittable: with the exception of Garko's Tyrone Power impersonation on Buck's "triple" in the 2nd, and Pherhalhtha's subsequent underplay of Ellis's run-scoring infield "single," the A's didn't muster a baserunner against the Indians' starter. Lee was dealing, and with the weather conditions (featuring a 48-minute pregame delay due to cold and threat of snow) knocking down every fly ball, the A's offense didn't stand a chance.

On the flip side, despite a not-terrible final line (6 IP, 3 ER, 4 H) with not-awful peripherals (4 K, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 60/48 strikes/balls), Chad Gaudin really pitched a lousy game. He benefited far more than Cliff Lee from the weather conditions, with 3 or 4 Indians hitters being robbed of extra bases by the swirling wind, and he was pitching from behind all day long. Twenty degrees warmer, and this likely would have been an even bigger Indians romp.

Fernando Hernandez then single-handedly increased the temperature in the 8th by adding accelerant to the Indians' fire, giving up a four-spot to (ahem) put the game on ice.

Hernandez and Gaudin are both going to have to correct their control problems if they're going to remain, respectively, short- and medium-term members of the A's pitching staff. Gaudin's inconsistent control has already led two other teams to give up on him, and Hernandez isn't making much of a case to not be returned off his Rule 5 pick. (Note: I'm not advocating on giving up on Gaudin this year, as he's cheap and still under team control for a while, and has first-half-of-'07 promise. I'm just not sure if he's in the A's '09-10 "planned contention" blueprints if he keeps this up.)

Tomorrow, the A's are in Chicago for a quick two-game set against the White Sox to finish off the road trip.

0 recs | Comment 85 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Are you sure Monkey wrote this?

It's the fastest you've ever put it up and where's the vocabulary word of the week? :-)

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 13, 2008 1:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I would like to defenstrate F'Her

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 13, 2008 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

defenestrate

"It's too bad there are no Hallmark cards saying, 'Sorry your loved one was killed by a foul ball.'" -- The Iowa Baseball Confederacy, W.P. Kinsella

by 149 on Apr 13, 2008 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

nyurg.

That'll learn me to go back to using the "preview" button.

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 13, 2008 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm here to help.

"It's too bad there are no Hallmark cards saying, 'Sorry your loved one was killed by a foul ball.'" -- The Iowa Baseball Confederacy, W.P. Kinsella

by 149 on Apr 13, 2008 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey!

How do you know I'd fit through the window?

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 13, 2008 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

pretty impressive

the game wrap, that is, not the game

by OaklandSi on Apr 13, 2008 1:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Is the game going to be broadcast tomorrow?

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 13, 2008 1:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Gaudin's control was indeed horrendous in this one

And his velocity dropped as he had to start underthrowing his fastball in order to get it into the zone. He's normally low-90s; today he was mostly in the mid-80s.

I think that accounts for the hammering of the ball when the Indians made contact-- he was practically throwing BP out there.

It's hard to tell whether the control issues were rust, weather-exacerbated (seriously, dude, everyone else is in balaclavas and you're out there in short sleeves?) or just Chad being Chad.

I felt like Hernandez was kinda unlucky; it didn't seem like he was that bad.

Someone needs to send a memo to the A's staff about Jamey Carroll. Attn A's staff: this is f***ing Jamey Carroll, not Alex Rodriguez. The guy had a slugging percentage of like .280 last season. At Coors Field. Just throw the ball over the plate, for Christ's sake.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Apr 13, 2008 1:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

It seems as if Gaudin is throwing batting practice, but while I was watching Hernandez pitch, it seemed as if he gets really good movement on his pitches. Atleast that's what I observed.

by butler19 on Apr 13, 2008 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My sense is that Gaudin is not following through well

on his pitches, which causes the pitch both to sail (up and in to a RH hitter) and have less velocity.

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 Apr 13, 2008 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hernandez is not good

Below average stuff, can't throw strikes... he has no business being on a major league roster.

Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?

by baseb3383 on Apr 13, 2008 1:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Also, I thought Gaudin was being smart by pitching to contact

When the conditions are the way they were today, why not let them try to blast balls into the upper deck? I thought that was wise pitching and it worked pretty well even though he didn't have his best stuff today.

Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?

by baseb3383 on Apr 13, 2008 1:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

except that wasn't what he was doing

Pitching to contact would indeed have been a smart move.

But Gaudin couldn't locate any of his pitches, except, as PaulThomas noted above, by dialing back his velocity and throwing BP fastballs -- which the Indians smartly decided to start hitting line drives off of. With runners on from walks and the HBP.

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 13, 2008 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, at least he was smart doing that for a few innings

Those sly Indians figured him out.

Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?

by baseb3383 on Apr 13, 2008 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty awesome road trip thus far.

Even if they only take one in Chicago, it will be a huge success.

So it goes.

by jeepers on Apr 13, 2008 1:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree

We should all be very pleased with the result of the trip.

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 13, 2008 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

One thing that has always frustrated me...

...about the A's, is their failure to adjust to a pitcher who has previously dominated them. Now granted, Lee is a very good pitcher, it's almost as if the A's looked settled in on their fate, that they would not hit this guy. On the other hand, he may have been just that good.

And now, I anoint you, Cliff Lee to the hallowed club of "Current MLB Starters who absolutely own the A's." It's pretty disgusting club, filled with the likes of Rogers, Colon, Buehrle, and fellow teammate Westbrook. Welcome!

by Pucking Insane on Apr 13, 2008 2:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree on Gaudin. He's in his fourth year of service,

same as Blanton and Street. I'd call him the #5 starter for the moment. Once he gets out of his own personal spring training he could contribute, but he's very unlikely to be a big part of the team starting next year. I don't really have a problem with Hernandez being the mop-up guy. I also wouldn't have a problem returning him to the White Sox.

by WaddellCanseco on Apr 13, 2008 2:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

what I'm hoping is ...

... that Gaudin irons out everything (physically in terms of fully rehabbing/recovering from his offseason, mechanics-wise, etc.), runs off a string of 10 outstanding starts -- and Beane leverages him before the trade deadline for some more prospects.

If Gaudin can do that, he might well be Beane's most valuable trade chip this year, since Blanton still doesn't seem to command the respect among GMs that he should.

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 13, 2008 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does Gaudin command more respect than Blanton?

by WaddellCanseco on Apr 13, 2008 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Depends -

Do you mean with opposing hitters, General Managers, umpires, or Maitre D's?

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 Apr 13, 2008 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I suppose this is possible

but guys who have been waived (and haven't subsequently, say, become "the most clutch hitter in baseball" and won two World Series) tend to remain devalued even when they should objectively be worth more. It's not quite a red "W" on the front of their jerseys, but it's close.

Also worth thinking about is the fact that Gaudin will hit free agency at age 28. If his success of last season wasn't a mirage and he's worth an extension, he's a much better candidate than any of the other 4 A's starters who will be hitting free agency in 2009-2010 (DiNardo, Duke, Harden and Blanton) for an extension.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Apr 13, 2008 10:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blanton > Gaudin

Gaudin is a "much better candidate" than Blanton for an extension? Is this based on Production or Dollars?

by Colorado Fan on Apr 14, 2008 8:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's based on age

Blanton will be over 30 when he hits free agency. Pitchers at that age are almost never good investments on the free agent market, either because they're health risks, overpaid, or both.

Imagine the Carlos Silva contract with 3 additional years' wage inflation. Do you really want to be paying a declining pitcher $15 million a year?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Apr 14, 2008 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, I don't

But what about locking up Blanton for the remainder of this year, next year, 2010, + One Club Option Year? Today, I would rather give an "extension" to Blanton. 4 Years / 30M

2008: 5M
2009: 7M
2010: 9M
2011: 11M (1M Buy Out)

Does Beane think Blanton is more valuable going Year-to-Year vs. Locking Him Up? Might that be a Red Flag to Blanton suiters?

by Colorado Fan on Apr 14, 2008 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stuff to keep in mind

Gaudin was supposed to be in Sacramento, and his results were respectable enough.

Hernandez shouldn't be good, and there is no reason to expect much. He's an inexperienced mop-up guy. If things continue to go this way, I assume he won't remain on the team.

by bear88 on Apr 13, 2008 3:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually

Guadin was originally supposed to start last night so he is supposed to be here.

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin

by Helloooo 1st on Apr 13, 2008 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You missed my point

Gaudin is rehabbing from an injury, and was rushed back into duty because of the injuries to Harden and Duchscherer.

by bear88 on Apr 13, 2008 11:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Chad is Chad, and the issue is

"Are you asking him to be a #3 starter, in which case you'll often be disappointed, or are you asking him to be a back-end innings eater in which case you'll often be pleased?" The return of Duke and ideally Harden would make Gaudin a much "better" pitcher.

And I agree that if Cahill, DLS, Anderson and Co. progress at any speed, Gaudin will soon be an afterthought. For now, though, he's a keeper.

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 Apr 13, 2008 4:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Duke and who?

Can we keep small-sample-size Bobby Crosby? Please? -Joey C.

by pam5981 on Apr 13, 2008 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, Hardin

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 Apr 13, 2008 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He who shall remain nameless.

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 13, 2008 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Should we start calling him "You know who"

by Keze on Apr 13, 2008 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I assume Duke, Harden, Chavez and Calero are not coming back.

If Gaudin is to be a #5 starter, then Blanton, Eveland, Smith and Gio are going to have to be ahead of him.

by WaddellCanseco on Apr 13, 2008 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You may be 3 out of 4, but I think Duke

is very much coming back. I think he actually had a specific and relatively minor injury, unrelated to past problems, that seems to be healing great. The others are damaged goods. Or arguably in Calero's case, damaged bads.

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 Apr 13, 2008 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

sure, Duke's biceps may (may) recover ...

... but we'll still have to see how his hip and back hold up, not to mention his elbow and shoulder given that the plan by the A's is for Duke to nearly double his career high in IP, and to increase his '07 IP by a factor of 10.

I'll be shocked if Duke makes 20 starts this year.

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 13, 2008 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Stockton pitchers

It's a small sample size, in A ball, but news of the four Stockton pitchers' excellent starts cheers me a lot more than the big league club's better-than-expected beginning. If the A's suddenly have a stockpile of talented and young arms, that opens up a lot of possibilities. One or maybe two will turn out to be good, cheap major league pitchers. Another one could be trade bait, something the team has lacked in recent years.

Realistically, the current team is not a contender. But if we're respectable while a bunch of young stud pitchers work their way through the system, I'll take that.

by bear88 on Apr 13, 2008 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just curious, bear88 - what do you think of the current team

with Harden and Duke? Contenders? Or still lacking enough to hang in there?

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 Apr 13, 2008 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not contenders

I'd be happy to be surprised, of course, but I just don't see this team contending.

Even if Harden and Duchscherer return in perfect health, which seems pretty far-fetched, this is still a team that's relying on an awful lot of unproven players who are going to go through struggles like all young players do. I can easily see a situation where the A's lose a whole string of close games because they just don't score enough, and then lose a bunch more because some of our pitching goes south. And then the A's are eight games under .500.

From my perspective, that's not a big deal. I want to see progress from the players being counted on as part of the future, a few pleasant surprises, and lots of updates from the minors.

by bear88 on Apr 13, 2008 11:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've said this before

but Gaudin is not the kind of pitcher who makes sense as a guy who will stick at the back end of a rotation. He's either good enough or he isn't (which in his case pretty much comes down to controlling his pitches), and if he's good enough, he's a frontline guy.

He's also not an innings-eater by any reasonable definition, because he throws so many pitches that he typically does not work deep into games.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Apr 13, 2008 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gaudin

Might it be possible to extend Gaudin contractually next season, and send him back to the bullpen in 2010? Especially if guys like H-Rod, DLS, Gio, B. Anderson, Cahill, and Simmons are ready to roll?

Gaudin was a very valuable piece in 2006. And he seems to have better control when pitching out of the stretch.

by Colorado Fan on Apr 14, 2008 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was not neat.

stat-addled alien overlord

by salb918 on Apr 13, 2008 4:18 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Oh happy spring evening on EspN

because its the Yanks and Redsox! Gee whiz, I sure wished they got special dispensation to play each other fifty times a season.

alaska A

by ak_A on Apr 13, 2008 4:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ha ha, typo -

You wrote "season" where you obviously meant "week".

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 Apr 13, 2008 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The "Best Man" Is Terrible!

Let me see if I can figure this out. Bottom of the 8th, the Athletics are 1 runner away from having the tying run come to the plate, and the "Best Man" decides to bring in a long reliever. How about trying to keep the margin 2 runs and taking our chances in the 9th. No, the "Best Man" brings in "R5". Ridiculous!

by E.J. on Apr 13, 2008 5:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

How about not trying so desperately to win games

you'll probably lose no matter what you do that you burn out your entire bullpen in April?

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 Apr 13, 2008 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's The Odds

I know it is a lot easier to come back from a 2 run, 9th inning deficit than from a 6 run, 9th inning deficit. Managing is about putting your time in the best position to win. Period.

by E.J. on Apr 13, 2008 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, sometimes managing is about realizing

that you can lose one way or lose the other, and that using overworked relievers is a lousy way to manage when you're down two with one inning left. If many fans were allowed to manage, they'd desperately try to win every game and pitchers like Street and Brown Foulke and Casilla would make 130 appearances each.

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 Apr 13, 2008 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I don't know about that...

Keith Foulke hasn't pitched since the Toronto series. In a 2-run game in the 8th inning with Jack Cust waiting to face Joe Borowski if the A's could keep it close, I was really hoping to see Foulke pitch the bottom of the 8th. Especially when the alternative is a 2nd inning out of your least effective reliever.

Geren let this one get out of hand.

bwh

"Looks like you brought two too many."

by BWH on Apr 13, 2008 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's Not The Coffee -- It's The Bunk!

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 13, 2008 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gaudin

Guess what Gaudin did today??? He put together A Quality Start in very cold weather. Not bad for a Louisiana kid coming off 2 surgeries (early, I might add). How many other A's Players have come back from injuries "Early"? Not many.

I'm going to cut Gaudin some slack... He does need to throw more strikes, though.

by Colorado Fan on Apr 13, 2008 5:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I am well satisfied with the Indians series.

We aren't going to win every game and taking 2 of 3 is terrific against a team expected to contend for a playoff spot. Lenny Dinardo won for goodness sakes! That was not exactly a given. We did well. The "blame of the game" mentality is nasty. The bullpen was tired from use and we had to use our worst reliever. It won't be the last time.

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 13, 2008 5:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm just glad Geren used Hernandez and not

one of our top relievers. Now we've won 2 of 3 in Cleveland and have our bullpen back in decent shape.

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 Apr 13, 2008 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

They needed the rest...

because there are not many days off in the coming weeks. I am in your camp...I am very glad that they let the bullpen rest. it wins our team games in the short term but later the guys have tired arms and they lose.We've seen that very often over the years.

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 13, 2008 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or doesn't even win you games in the short term

The percentage of games you win when you enter the 9th trailing by 2 is very low. And the way the wind was blowing a 2-run HR wasn't happening, making it even less likely the A's had a chance to come back. Sometimes it's not your turn to win.

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 Apr 13, 2008 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mostly true...

but a two run game is in reach. So it makes it a possibility instead of a flat-out miracle...like being down by 5 with one inning to go is.

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 13, 2008 6:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed, here and above

F'Her didn't pitch well, but in addition to the reasons you cited already, this game is precisely the sort of opportunity (likely going to lose, but if he keeps it close we hold onto a slim chance) that he should get to prove himself. Smartly done by Geren.

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 13, 2008 11:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love baseball

but this Yankees Redsox game is irritating... I hate both teams and don't know who to root for. I prefer the Yankees slightly to the RS but I have 3 of the RS players on my fantasy team including Papelbon . and only Wang for the Yankees.

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 13, 2008 6:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm rooting for them both to lose

So far so good on half of it.

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 Apr 13, 2008 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 13, 2008 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I always

pull for a tie... that way neither of them gets full credit.

(And, every season I have a Yankee-free fantasy team. I refuse to let them in. REFUSE. They are evil and will suck the fantasy and the joy out uva team. I also usually don't have BOSux on my team either. Tough for me this year because two of my fave new players are Chamberlain and Ellsbury.)

"With those who don't give a damn about baseball, I can only sympathize. I do not resent them. I am even willing to concede that many of them are physically clean, good to their mothers and in favor of world peace. But while the game is on, I can't think of anything to say to them."

by 149 on Apr 14, 2008 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a Yankee free team too.

That's probably why I am in 11th place out of 12.

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 14, 2008 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No big deal.

A 7-1 lose would normally depress me for about 2-3 hours but this one really didn't. They've played so well lately this one is no big deal. Their not going to win 20 in a row so they got to lose sometime.

As for Yankees Redsox. I used to be 100% pro Red Sox but now it's more 60-40. They both represent what's wrong with baseball.

by fansince1980 on Apr 13, 2008 6:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Only the way the teams are run...and the way that money talks ...

and in so far as the media coverage is concerned.The Yankee players and the Redsox players in no way represent what is wrong with baseball. (IMO)

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 13, 2008 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree mostly

However, Curth Schilling and Jason Giambi both represent what is wrong with baseball. One's a complete asshole and loud mouth and the other took steroids.

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin

by Helloooo 1st on Apr 13, 2008 6:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Giambi took steroids...that is true.

But I don't come down so hard on any one player as you do. I realize that the majority of the players took some form of Peds...just like Jack Cust allegedly did. Every team has some players who have roided.

by IM4Oakgal on Apr 13, 2008 6:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm

I was going to write about how absolutely horrible Guadin was today but others seem to have already covered that so I'll just leave it at that.

I agree with whoever said that the hitters were resigned to the fact that they were going to lose. I'd say they knew they were going to lose after the 1st inning when they saw that Lee was already dealing and Guadin was already erratic and getting hit hard.

Overall this game should not have been played and should've been rescheduled to when the A's come back in May. These conditions were not suitable to a baseball game and the umpires should have realized this. Yes, both teams have to deal with the weather but 34 degree weather with a 22 degree wind chill is not appropriate for a game of baseball.

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin

by Helloooo 1st on Apr 13, 2008 6:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"Glass is half full"

We took 2 of 3.
We didn't blow out the bullpen.
Nobody got hurt.

Works for me.

by LoveDemAs on Apr 13, 2008 7:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Harden's half full?

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 Apr 13, 2008 7:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eh..Er...

What's with Jerry Blevins: 1 IP, 7 hits? He has K'd 3, so...li'l feast or famine there, Jer?

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 Apr 13, 2008 7:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Oakland Athletics Baseball Organization

Oakland 8-5
Sacramento 4-6
Midland 9-1
Stockton 7-4
Kane County 10-0

Total 38-16

by Colorado Fan on Apr 13, 2008 7:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That about sums out where our farm system is

Bare at AAA because of the young studs in the bigs, good everywhere else

Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?

by baseb3383 on Apr 13, 2008 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

sums up*

Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?

by baseb3383 on Apr 13, 2008 8:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't agree with that assessment

I think the AAA core of Gio, CarGon, Braden, Blevins, Powell and Petit has more oomph then any 6 guys you could find on the AA roster.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Apr 13, 2008 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

AAA is better than AA and Low A

Kane County is not exactly brimming with prospects either, despite their unblemished record. I check the box score of every A's affiliate every night, but Sacramento and Stockton are the ones I really look forward to seeing with the excellent collection of prospects on those teams.

by BlameChannel53 on Apr 13, 2008 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hm, I'm curious

so what would the top 6 AA guys be? Clearly Simmons, Bailey and Cunningham are the top 3. Then you have, I guess, Herrera, Pennington and Ryan Webb?

Maybe I'm just irrationally high on Bailey and Cunningham, but it seems like a comparable group.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Apr 13, 2008 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cunningham and Herrera aren't even playing yet

And I've given up on Herrera. He's so far removed from the 2004 season that put him on the map that he's going to have to prove himself all over again.

So including Cunningham...

Bailey
Simmons
Mazzaro
Webb
Pennington

I love Bailey, but Midland's got Simmons on a tight pitch count and until they loosen the reins you've got to handicap him. Mazzaro and Webb have health and age going for them but there performance has been average at best. I'm one of Moneypenny's biggest supporters but he's got to show that he can actually hit the ball.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Apr 14, 2008 5:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

From Someone who was actually in Cleveland

Here's my takeaway from the game (without benefit of TV replays).

1: Lee was *filthy*. I don't know how much showed up on TV, but the story was that he was good more than the A's were bad.

2: Hernandez is a one-inning reliever. He looked fine in the first inning, but by pitch 50 he was done. Geren should *never* have sent him into the 8th without another reliever ready. Before we crucify the pitcher, lets acknowledge that he handled his business in the 7th.

3: Barton's play to start a double play (with runners on first and second) was awesome. Crosby almost decided not to throw back though, and seemed to half-ass the ball back to first. We got the out but it shouldn't have been that close.

4: Apparently the delay was the Indians' fault (according to the Indians radio guy they piped into the stadium while the Mets game was on the TVs). He and I were both pretty disappointed that they didn't just start the game while the weather was clear. He called it "thinking like a losing team, and that's what they are."

by nevermoor on Apr 13, 2008 8:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the analyses

Regarding point 2, I think Hernandez was a sacrificial lamb. Along with the bullpen overwork, further exacerbated by our long-reliever being unavailable because he became our starter, Keith Foulke had a stiff neck and was unavailable yesterday and likely today (never heard for sure). So I think the decision to send Hernandez out to pitch the 8th mostly reflected that he was the only reliever Geren wanted to send out there in a game the A's were very likely going to lose no matter what happened in the bottom of the 8th.

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 Apr 13, 2008 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs