Open Thread - Game 38 - A's @ Rangers
Oakland @ Texas
There's no doubt that this season has gotten off to a fairly odd start in the AL West. First off, the A's, supposedly in full-fledged rebuilding mode and without much hope of being competitive, have rode fantastic starting pitching and thoroughly un-Athletic-like clutch hitting to remain tied for first in the division 6 weeks into the campaign. Then there is Seattle, who, reloaded with a second ace (Bedard) and a solid innings-eater (Silva) seemed primed to build off of a nice 2007 and actually compete for the division...only to start slow out of the gate and look like the same old, middling Mariners. And what to make of the Rangers? We all assumed that by this time Ron Washington would be fired and that Milton Bradley would have lost his temper and another ACL or two along the way...but instead, in the oddity of all oddities so far this season, the attention has shifted to the Rangers' surprising pitching staff.
That's right, the words "good", "pitching" and "Rangers" have actually been seen in the same sentance recently. In fact, Texas pitchers have an aggreate, major-league-leading ERA of 1.71 in the month of May and have only allowed one run in the last 41 innings, tossing 3 straight shutouts along the way. Granted, most of those innings were tossed in a pitching-friendly environment (Safeco Field) and against unspectacular offenses (Seattle, Oakland), however, for a staff boasting the likes of Vicente "Swisher Hatin' Me" Padilla, Sidney "This is my 5th Last Chance" Ponson and a cadre of AAAA-fodder, this latest run is definitely a surprise.
Luckily for the A's, Texas will actually be sending their "ace" to the mound tonight in the form of Kevin Millwood, who is pretty much the only Texas pitcher not riding some sort of hot streak. On the year, Millwood is 2-3 with a 4.94 ERA and is coming off of an ugly 7 run/9 hit/3 inning performance against Seattle last week. He's 3-3 with a 4.34 ERA in 10 career appearances versus the Green & Gold.
Dana Eveland will take the hill tonight in Arlington for the A's. Dana's been pretty solid so far this season, with a 6.5 K/9 rate and 1.23 WHiP. He's issuing a tad too many walks at nearly 4 per game, but he's been remarkably adept at keeping the ball in the park to limit the damage, as he has only allowed one homerun so far this season for an impressive .22 HR per 9 innings rate. However, Dana's been extremely lucky with his Batting-Average-to-Balls-in-Play rate, which currently sits at an unsustainable and well-below league average mark of .270. Combine that stat with the Ballpark at Arlington's hitter-friendly confines and with the disconcerting fact that Dana "felt something pop" in his elbow during his start last Monday, and you have to be a little concerned that the bottom could fall out for him tonight, especially since he has a tendency to rely too heavily on his fastball (which could be a risky proposition tonight against fastball feasters such as Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley).
Notes
- Eric Chavez FINALLY did some fielding work yesterday on his road to recovery. There remains a chance that he'll be ready to come off the DL when his 60-days are over on May 27th, but I highly doubt it. The team should just DL him until the All-Star Break.
- TBuck finally had a decent game at the plate last night for the RiverCats, grabbing 3 hits in 5 at-bats, including a homer. And the reward he gets for busting out of his slump? Well, an option back down to Sacramento of course, now that his Rehab Stint is over! Can't say that this is a surprising move, considering his abysmal start to the season and the fact that Emil Brown has been performing so well in the clutch and Suzuki is doing a decent job in the leadoff spot. Hopefully, Travis can find his stroke back in Sacto alongside CarGon.
Lineups
OAK
Suzuki - C
Barton - 1B
Cust - LF
Thomas - DH
Brown - RF
Crosby - SS
Ellis - 2B
Hannahan - 3B
Sweeney - CF
TEX
Kinsler - 2B
Young - SS
Hamilton - CF
Bradley - DH
Murphy - RF
Boggs - LF
Laird - C
Shelton - 1B
German - 3B
With Rich Harden coming back for possibly one of his only starts tomorrow it would be really nice to snag this game tonight in order to set up a series-clincher tomorrow. Cust and Thomas have both been swinging the bat decently the past week or so and let's hope they can get the offense back on track this evening.
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comments
Comments
Excellent summary, Taj
Would anyone else like to see Bowen get to start a game? Suzuki’s not going to hold up playing this many innings for too much longer.
Also, Crosby needs a day off (some would argue he needs more than a day…).
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on May 10, 2008 4:56 PM PDT 0 recs
Hey, BoCro has a .684 OPS
That’s better than last year! And the year before!
What happened to him all of a sudden being awesome with his new approach?
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on
May 10, 2008 5:03 PM PDT
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i have been saying this for weeks
suzuki, crosby and ellis all need days off once in a while, that’s why bowen and murphy are on the roster. someone tell bob f’ing geren.
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
by xbhaskarx on
May 10, 2008 5:15 PM PDT
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I thought it was the start before last that Eveland "felt something pop".
He went 7 innings and won the start against Baltimore on Monday.
by WaddellCanseco on May 10, 2008 4:59 PM PDT 0 recs
you're right, it was the previous start
his last start was perhaps his best so far.
by OaklandSi on
May 10, 2008 5:01 PM PDT
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I posted a fan shot about Buck's being optioned
before seeing that you included it in the game thread intro.
Also, Kiko Calero will be doing some rehab pitching in Sacramento, according to Geren.
As long as Bowen doesn’t completely blow an easy popup - as he did last Friday - I’m fine with him starting more often. (I wonder what the pitchers have to say about his game calling?)
by OaklandSi on May 10, 2008 5:00 PM PDT 0 recs
Texas has pitched 31 scoreless innings...
damn, we need to break that up…
by drink409 on May 10, 2008 5:01 PM PDT 0 recs
Quick question
what’s the song used in the intro video for kicu games?
by muffinpryde on May 10, 2008 5:02 PM PDT 0 recs
it's just the beginning of the telecast
but the reception looks better than usual.
(yes I did email Mark from TV36 and he responded promptly that he’d pass on my message with my location to the engineer….the telecast looks LOTS better right now!
by OaklandSi on May 10, 2008 5:04 PM PDT 0 recs
Tom Grieve
for some reason reminds me of John Spencer, the late actor who played Leo McGarry on The West Wing. Looks vaguely like him and even sounds a bit like him.
Anybody else a little surprised that Buck was optioned and not Sweeney?
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 10, 2008 5:06 PM PDT 0 recs
Grieve's okay...
but that smarmy bastard Lewin is the worst. At least Hawk has age/senility as an excuse for being annoying.
by elhefe on
May 10, 2008 5:23 PM PDT
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I think they still trust Sweeney in CF more than they trust Buck there
which means they really don’t trust Buck much there at all.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on
May 10, 2008 5:08 PM PDT
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Sweeney's not bad in CF. Obviously he's not great either.
Buck needs some time to refind his swing. It’s better he does that in AAA.
by OldhamA on
May 10, 2008 5:14 PM PDT
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not at all
Buck hasn’t really gotten untracked offensivel yet
by OaklandSi on
May 10, 2008 5:14 PM PDT
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Davis would have caught Suzuki's fly ball
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on
May 10, 2008 5:19 PM PDT
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Okay, we get it. Boggs's family comes to Rangers games.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on May 10, 2008 5:09 PM PDT 0 recs
well, heck, we were hitting the ball well off him.
alaska A
by ak_A on May 10, 2008 5:11 PM PDT 0 recs
Millwood's last fastball was 89 mph
That’s pretty good evidence that something’s wrong with him.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on May 10, 2008 5:11 PM PDT 0 recs
Huge chance to win two games here. Millwood's injured, so hopefully
we can wear out their bullpen tonight so they’re not available tomorrow.
by OldhamA on May 10, 2008 5:12 PM PDT 0 recs
woah..what happened?
I go pee and now Millwood’s out?
by Amnesiac on May 10, 2008 5:12 PM PDT 0 recs
Maybe Ill go drop off the kids at the pool
just to see what happens
by Amnesiac on
May 10, 2008 5:13 PM PDT
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So you're saying it's your fault?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on
May 10, 2008 5:13 PM PDT
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Well I have always held a strong belief that Im awesome
if true, then I really underestimated my abilities
by Amnesiac on
May 10, 2008 5:15 PM PDT
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Ordinarily I'd look forward to 8 1/3 innings against the Rangers' bullpen
but given the team’s scoreless streak, who knows what’ll happen?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on May 10, 2008 5:13 PM PDT 0 recs
Having recently had
a round of back spasms myself…that looked painfully familiar. Not sure if that’s what it was, though.
by Soaker on May 10, 2008 5:13 PM PDT 0 recs
Josh Rupe's season stats:
0-1, 4.74 ERA, 19 IP, 15 hits 10 ER, 8 BB, 8 K
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 May 10, 2008 5:14 PM PDT 0 recs
LoL he said
“Rangers the talk of baseball”.. LoL
When will then be now? Soon.
by Syphon on May 10, 2008 5:15 PM PDT 0 recs
Their pitching staff's ERA is 6th in the AL since April 25th!!!
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on
May 10, 2008 5:16 PM PDT
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Wait what?
RedSox come to Oakland for their only 2008 appearance???
by Zonis on May 10, 2008 5:15 PM PDT 0 recs
I guess that was a mirage last month
The candy and the baseball all night long :)
by Englishmajor on
May 10, 2008 5:17 PM PDT
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Thank God for baseball
The world is in a good place again.
by paradox on May 10, 2008 5:17 PM PDT 0 recs
The question with FT's hitting this season
is whether pitchers will decide that his SLG is low enough the justify just throwing it down the middle and daring him to hit it.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on May 10, 2008 5:19 PM PDT 0 recs
Really, at this point if I were pitching to him I'd just pound the strike zone with fastballs until he proved he could crush one.
Of course, my fastball is about 55 mph, so he’d rake, but I think it would be a good idea for a real pitcher to try.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on
May 10, 2008 5:24 PM PDT
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Oh you know.
just another saturday, a great day for self inflicted stomach pain that is rooting for the A’s
by Amnesiac on
May 10, 2008 5:21 PM PDT
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Could be worse, some of us could
be Raiders fans also. Oh wait some are,lol
by asfaninpismobeach on
May 10, 2008 5:22 PM PDT
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I log on and see all 3 of
Suzuki, Crosby and Ellis playing again. I guess Geren is going to play those guys till they just cant play anymore huh?
by asfaninpismobeach on May 10, 2008 5:21 PM PDT 0 recs
Alright, everyone be honest:
If you’d found out before this series that one of the starters would get hurt in the 1st inning and have to come out after 12 pitches, who would have guessed it would be Milwood?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on May 10, 2008 5:22 PM PDT 0 recs
Wow, we have only 3 hitters who have an EQA above average
while playing with the A’s.
Jack Cust, Mike Sweeney and Frank Thomas.
And only two really can play at a time…
by Zonis on May 10, 2008 5:22 PM PDT 0 recs
It's sad isn't it. A lot is riding on Barton and Gonzalez methinks.
by OldhamA on
May 10, 2008 5:27 PM PDT
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And Buck
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on
May 10, 2008 5:28 PM PDT
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I didnt get to see Barton any last year, so I will have to take A's fans word for it
but I dont get it. I just dont see where he is some stud hitter. Maybe he needs a few years in the bigs. But I just havent seen him do anything but walk and strikeout. A below average fielding Cust with little power.
by asfaninpismobeach on
May 10, 2008 5:31 PM PDT
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He's 22 years old. Let's simmer a little.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on
May 10, 2008 5:32 PM PDT
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And I agree with you -- he's still very young.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on
May 10, 2008 5:33 PM PDT
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I'm still wondering about whether his hand is bothering him
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on
May 10, 2008 5:33 PM PDT
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Besides the fact he's 22. He has great judgement of the strikezone, a quick
bat and doubles power (at the moment). He’s not going to be all world, but he should hit at a .300 clip in the bigs. When you factor in how much he walks he’ll be a very valuable player.
by OldhamA on
May 10, 2008 5:34 PM PDT
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Super-Hatteberg!
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on
May 10, 2008 5:36 PM PDT
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Suzuki's is above average
Average EQA for a catcher is much lower than what his is.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on
May 10, 2008 5:33 PM PDT
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Where did the standings go, that used to be in the right sidebar?
I have [null set] to say.
by Poppy on May 10, 2008 5:26 PM PDT 0 recs
Its sad man
dude has sooooo much talent. Cant keep his emotions in check
by asfaninpismobeach on
May 10, 2008 5:27 PM PDT
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Im not jelous of the Rangers for much
but Hamilton is a stud. He would look good in an A’s uni if he stays sober.
by asfaninpismobeach on May 10, 2008 5:26 PM PDT 0 recs
We're going to hate Hamilton aren't we.
And seriously, isn’t it time Milton got injured?
by OldhamA on May 10, 2008 5:26 PM PDT 0 recs
RAWR!
"Hasn’t the foggiest inclination toward winning ‘tall. Hates to win. Likes to be buggered."
by Jennifer on May 10, 2008 5:27 PM PDT 0 recs
Hmmm...
Hamilton then Bradley…didn’t call that one or anything.
by Taj Adib on May 10, 2008 5:27 PM PDT 0 recs
That was a pretty terrible pitch by Eveland
He’s luck it was just a double.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on May 10, 2008 5:27 PM PDT 0 recs
He might hate us but he sure like that meatball
From Eveland. It should have gone out of the yard.
by Trainman on
May 10, 2008 5:29 PM PDT
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