Open Game Thread: Game 7 - A's vs. Indians
by monkeyball on Apr 6, 2008 1:42 PM PDT
Email
PrintCleveland Indians at Oakland Athletics, Apr 6, 2008 1:05 PM PDT
Well, I ain't gonna do either.
The A's go for their third consecutive win against the Indians, before flying out for a series in Toronto starting Tuesday.
Joe Blanton starts for the A's, and Cliff Lee for the Indians.
Expect to see Mike Sweeney and Emil Brown in the lineup again (both righties, both with a lot of exposure to Lee having played in the AL Central for most of their careers). I'd hope that Geren holds Buck out of the lineup one more day, facing a (not-so-tough) lefty. Other than that (especially still this early in the season and with an off-day tomorrow), I'd anticipate basically the same lineup as yesterday.
Funny the way memory plays tricks on you: I could have sworn that Lee had faced the A's more than 7 times in his career. After Sweeney and Brown, the only active Athletic with double-digit ABs vs. Lee is ... Bobby Crosby. Granted, there's been some serious roster turnover.
Blanton, on the other hand, has had a bit more exposure to the Indians' lineup. As per Blanton's pitching style, he's given up a fair amount of hits, but been able to (mostly) minimize their damage by not walking too many.
While Icin' Joe doesn't have many appreciable platoon splits, he does have an interesting penchant for giving up longballs to righties: over his career, he's surrendered 39 HRs to right-handed hitters in 332 innings, vs. 18 in 313 innings to lefties. And righty Ryan Garko has 2 HRs in 6 career ABs against Joe (including going back-to-back with Jhonny Peralta last September). I'd expect Blanton to pitch aggressively in the zone against the Tribe and to continue his success in keeping his walks down, but to pitch very carefully to Garko with men on base.
Off-the-cuff Rev Halofan-style prediction: Blanton does, indeed, keep his walks and pitches down, but also does surrender another solo HR to Garko (approaching Garko more aggressively with a lead and no one on base in front of him). Seven innings, 6 hits, 1 BB, 1 R. Cust and Crosby continue to hit the ball hard, the sun peeks through around noon to warm up the air, and the A's score 5. Street comes in for some work ... and gives up another solo HR. 5-2, A's.
Lineups
Cleveland
Sizemore CF
Cabrera 2B
Hafner DH
Garko 1B
Peralta SS
Dellucci LF
Michaels RF
Marte 3B
Shoppach C
A's
Buck RF
Ellis 2B
Barton 1B
M Sweeney DH
E Brown LF
Crosby SS
Hannahan 3B
Suzuki C
R Sweeney
In M*A*S*H news, Duke is set for an MRI today, and Richie Robnett, well ...
Robnett is going to play through Sunday with the Ports before undergoing surgery on Monday in San Francisco to remove a benign tumor from his stomach. He expects to miss seven to 10 days and then return to the River Cats.
243 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
M's blow a 2-1 lead in
the 9th and lose 3-2. Thx to Putz being on the DL.
When will then be now? Soon.
On a hit by Luis Hernandez, one of the worst hitters in the majors...
The A's colors are green and gold.
Is this game televised?
The A's website says KICU, but out KICU affiliate is playing some movie with Sandra Bullock and Matt Damon...
Well shoot...
Looks like we Renoites might not be getting the KICU games anymore. Hopefully this is just one game that we're not carrying, for some reason.
MLB.tv
is being lame again. :(
Juan Pierre: 44 Million Dollars, Juan Pierre's 3.2 WARP3: Priceless
by Travis Buck Nuckin on Apr 6, 2008 1:12 PM PDT reply actions
I hear you man, what day does the free games stop?
by asfaninpismobeach on Apr 6, 2008 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions
big hurt!
TBS just showed some highlights of Frank Thomas puttin' a Big Hurt on the Red Sox this weekend. I love it!
by long lost bash brother on Apr 6, 2008 1:14 PM PDT reply actions
But we gotta face him next!
perhaps we're going to get him on the down-slide?
Am I the only one who thinks Geren isn't quite sure how platoons are supposed to work?
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on Apr 6, 2008 1:16 PM PDT reply actions
every time we've seen Beane, Geren, or any players involved quoted ...
... they all say there's no platoons going on.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
Quitea an AB from Buck...
Maybe this gets him going...
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
Kinder's BBQ
actually is pretty good. Picked up a Ball Tip sandwich for the gf and a BBQ Beef sandwich for me @ the Fremont location. Pretttyyy darn good
You can't fire me...I don't work in this van!
yowch!
Was that Victor M's injury they just showed on the teevee? Looked like he was taken out by sniper fire.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
OK, so I flubbed the Cliff Lee vs lefties angle ...
... but I pretty much called Blanton's first inning.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
Ugh
Cros still overswinging at those low pitches down and away (at least it was ... well, near the plate).
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
I was looking at the Rivercats home page.
It says that Jeff Fiorentino suffered a face injury? Anyone have info on that?
by asfaninpismobeach on Apr 6, 2008 1:35 PM PDT reply actions
Blackout
I live in Sacramento where the game is not televised. Are there any sites that stream the game online. MLBtv won't work for me becasue I am not out of market.
It was a tough play
but he's a pro, I think that's got to be scored an error. It seems like the scorers were a bit generous.
Lineups are for the weak, but we have plenty of them here so...
G Sizemore CF T Buck RF
A Cabrera 2B M Ellis 2B
T Hafner DH D Barton 1B
R Garko 1B M Sweeney DH
J Peralta SS E Brown LF
D Dellucci LF B Crosby SS
J Michaels RF J Hannahan 3B
A Marte 3B K Suzuki C
K Shoppach C R Sweeney CF
Big Papi Eats Big Boogers
gadzooks!
Nice swing on that single up the middle.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
as I said in the post, I'd rather have sat Buck ...
... but that was an awfully nice AB he had leading off.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
Starting Buck is bad for this game
but they have to get him in there. Let's see what happens here......
The A's colors are green and gold.
at least he's eliminated the half-tap from the 1.5-toe-tap
He really should dig in and give himself a more stable base. Needing a timing mechanism like that is usually a bad sign (e.g., Crosby).
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
So frickin' tired of mlb.tv
...which would be working great for me today if what I was looking for was the word "buffering" appearing on my screen the maximum conceivable number of times.
Putting the "N" in "NRAF" from Leipzig, Germany!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 6, 2008 2:04 PM PDT reply actions
This is the situation you want Crosby up
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
No possibility of a DP?
"Looks like you brought two too many."
by BWH on Apr 6, 2008 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions
All of our starters have looked great thus far.
Now im hoping Duke is going to be ok and that Guadin comes back solid.
by asfaninpismobeach on Apr 6, 2008 2:12 PM PDT reply actions
According to rotoworld:
"The A's didn't baby him at all during spring training, but they removed him after 86 pitches today. Enough of them were from the stretch that it was probably the right move."
Makes sense.
Man, Buck's swing looks SO slow!
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
he's gotta ditch that toe tap
It looks as if he's thinking "OK, I'm g-g-g-gonna ... t-t-t-t-tap my t-t-t-t-toe ... n-n-n-n- ... NOW! Wait, where'd the pitch go?"
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
how many options does a bobblehead get?
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
Its All
definitely getting into Buck head, I'm sure he's trying not to get out, instead of just hitting
www.baseballmachine.blogspot.com
Its not just no hits, he looks horrible doing it. At least when DJ went 0-22 or whatever we knew he was going to groundout to second 15 of those 22 times.
by asfaninpismobeach on Apr 6, 2008 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
ordinarily, I'd say it doesn't matter, and that the hits will come w/regular PT ...
... but if he gets to 40 ABs w/o a hit, he has to be sent down, because he'll be hurting the team by playing, and the team would be hurting his development/psyche by not playing him.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
but not more than 2
so we can give Huston an easy save outing
www.baseballmachine.blogspot.com
by SwishMyNish33 on Apr 6, 2008 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Buck
On gameday and yahoo it says Buck is 0 - 2 but wasn't last inning his 3rd AB? Where did the 3rd one go?
2nd was a RBI Sac Fly
In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!
sac flies
don't count as at bats, dont ask why
www.baseballmachine.blogspot.com
by SwishMyNish33 on Apr 6, 2008 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions
No kidding...wow.(hides)
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
wrong guy to have up
www.baseballmachine.blogspot.com
by SwishMyNish33 on Apr 6, 2008 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Blanton seems to be losing mechanics a bit here
His stride and release point look like they're slipping from pitch to pitch.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
changeup!
Nice call, nice pitch.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
Oh goodness...
C'MON JOE!!! Get out of it!
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
He had an amazing play earlier
YOu have to score more than a run!
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
OH Barton :=(
Way to get one though
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
oh, boy, do I not like this move
Walking Pronk to get to Garko?
Bad, bad, bad move.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
that, and, as we just saw with the RBI BB ...
Joe's been struggling with his command this inning. And knowing that Garko owns him, Joe was pitching around (not to) the zone.
Just a dumb move all the way around.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
A fastball thrown and it'd be 5-1
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
3 games in a row.
Isn't this the 3rd game (of 3) that Blanton has been kept in the game after being clearly too tired to be effective, and ultimately giving up runs because of it? Why can't they simply take him out of there BEFORE he gives up the runs? Seems like it would make sense to me.
Fair enough
Next time call ahead and let Geren know when exactly Blanton is going to give up a run.
In fairness, if Barton hadn't flubbed a DB ball, Blanton would have gotten out of that inning. He looked good and the score should be 1-0. No mistake by Geren in this case.
by ClutchSteinbach on Apr 6, 2008 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions
actually, that's precisely wrong
Joe lost a lot of his control that inning, was clearly struggling with his mechanics, and was giving up baserunners left and right. Odds are, when you give up a lot of baserunners (especially when a high-hits, low-walks guy like Blanton starts walking batters), you're gonna give up runs.
Plus, that was by no means a guaranteed DP -- Barton would have had to field it cleanly, pitch a strike to Crosby while avoiding the runner, and get out of the way of the return throw, which Crosby would have had to get soem hurry-up on and Blanton would have had to field cleanly at first.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
thanks
I agree; I'm not saying that I knew Blanton would give up the runs. I'm saying that he did not look like he anything left. I'd say the same thing whether he got out of the game or not. It's not about needing a crystal ball; it's about looking at Blanton and knowing when he's tired.
My point
Is that its easy to post "Blanton looked tired" after he gives up a run or two. He pitched a solid 6 innings against a solid offensive ball team...of course he's going to be tired. Any pitcher would. The question is, do you pull him in the 7th or does he have enough left in the tank to finish the inning? Barton flubbed a DB ball that would have ended the inning without a score. Keeping Blanton in was a fine decision given the risk. There is no sure thing and hindsight is 20/20.
by ClutchSteinbach on Apr 6, 2008 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions
except that Barton being a below-average fielder is part of the initial risk assessment
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
if he can't handle a glove transfer
he shouldn't be in the field. I personally think he is capable of doing that nine times out of ten. He knew he screwed up a routine exercise after the play.
by ClutchSteinbach on Apr 6, 2008 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions
well...
...you'll just have to take my word for it when i tell you that after the first 2 guys on base, I was thinking to myself that Blanton needed to come out.
It's not like I decided, "hey, I'll go post that on AN to make myself look smart!" I stated my thoughts on Blanton as an observation that (1) Blanton seems to hit a real wall and (2) Geren can't seem to see it when it happens. I'm not here to impress people.
fair enough
and i understand your perspective, honestly. i just think that Blanton did enough to grind out that inning and its a shame that barton couldn't do his part.
But on to the ninth, go A's.
by ClutchSteinbach on Apr 6, 2008 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Disagree
This was the first inning in which he had given up more than one hit. Really a rough day for Joe.
Also, the ball was fielded cleanly by Barton (since it wasn;t a difficult play to make), then he dropped it when pulling it out of his glove. Crosby was on the move and Blanton was almost to first when Barton dropped the ball. This was a play that a major league team should make.
by ClutchSteinbach on Apr 6, 2008 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Blame the offense.
Per usual
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
Casilla kicks ass though
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
C'MON OFFENSE!!!!!
JUST ONE! Just get Blanton off the hook!
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
Blanton loses it fast
Seems great for 6 innings but he suddenly really loses focus at the end...
Or something?
uh, with a better Baron fielding, it would still be 1-0
and singing Blanton's praise
Davis?
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
With Murphy injured, who is the backup infielder right now?
by asfaninpismobeach on Apr 6, 2008 3:01 PM PDT reply actions
I'm guessing/hoping Cust pinch-hits
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
I would, but Geren isn't
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
Save him for RSweeney
or next inning
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
Me too
The other two have been hitting!
Suzuki owns almost all A's hits!
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
I don't like Cust vs. that last guy
or Betancourt. I'd love to see him take another shot at Borowski, but otoh Sweeney and even Buck seem like the best guys to ph for.
The A's colors are green and gold.
HR ties the game; BB puts tying run on, winning run at the plate
On the other hand, a really nice curveball over the inside corner means an out.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
Why Cust against the lefty?
I agree. Let Sween hit. Could have brought Cust in for Ellis after they made the move to the righty. Ellis is struggling.
Odds on the A's having someone bat over .300 this year?
by asfaninpismobeach on Apr 6, 2008 3:24 PM PDT reply actions
Crosby!
Nice play.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
Great play by Crosby!!
But why does it feel like we're down 10-0?
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
I already feel for Joe Blanton
He's like, What the heck? I have a great ERA and no wins!
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
woo-hoo!
Good eye.
And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched monkey into it. @('.')@
Can't say I'm surprised....
Our 3rd hitter is an unproven rookie... our 4th hitter is a semi-washedup walk-taker... and our 5th hitter is Emil Frickin' Brown...
What else should we expect besides a 4-hitter?
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
Yeah
I see Cros still overswinging at those low pitches down and away. But that seems ok.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
