Game 44 Wrap: A's 5, Braves 4 - It wasn't as easy as it should've been.

by Taj Adib on May 17, 2008 7:47 PM PDT

Is anything going to be easy for this club this season? I mean, the real Rich Harden finally stood up and pitched 7 dominant innings, allowing only 1 run on four hits, while striking out 8 and only walking 1. The A's bats finally woke up (well at least two of them did) as Cust launched a monster solo shot to dead center in the bottom of the 1st while Bad Getting-Better-Everyday Sweeney followed Daric Barton's walk and Kurt Suzuki's fielder's choice with a 3-run shot that hit off of the foul poul in right for his first A's homerun. Daric Barton (who got on base all 4 times he came to bat tonight ) added an insurance run in the 3rd as he got an RBI the typically-Athletic way - walking with the bases loaded. Huddy was wobbly early and often issuing 5 walks in 5 innings and even Harden got into the act offensively with a spiffy single and a well-placed sacrifice bunt late in the game. Foulke came on and cruised through the bottom of the 8th with two K's, and everything was looking "peachy" (or is it "peachtree" in this part of the country?) for the Green and Gold...

But, and it's a big but, even with all of those things going their way early in the game, one guy had to come on in the bottom of the 9th and make this game a lot more interesting than it ever should have been. That man's name, not surprisingly, is Huston Street, who just looks off this season in many ways. With a 5-1 lead, Street gave up a double to Teixeira to lead off the 9th, then a sharp single to Brian McCann, then an RBI groundout to swing-at-anything Franceour, then a well-struck RBI triple to Kelly Johnson, and a well-struck sacrifice fly to dead center off the bat of Gregor Blanco before finally settling down and striking out Greg Norton on his nicest pitch of the night, a changeup just off the plate. You can say that Huston made the pitches when he had to, but you can also say that a 4.91 ERA and four ringing hits in the bottom of the 9th are not something your closer should be sporting more than a month into the season. Something is clearly wrong with Huston...anybody have any ideas what it might be, besides injury?

But on to the good news: the alchemy of dominant pitching and a few timely hits mixed well for 8 innings for this team...the first time that has happened in what seems like weeks. And finally, the A's were able to take advantage of an Angel loss as the Halos dropped the 2nd game of the Freeway Series 6-3 to the Dodgers. The 1-2 punch pulls the A's within a half-game of the Halos, which is just a remarkable feat after an almost week-long stinkorama.

A multi-homer game is something for the hitters to build on heading into tomorrow's series tie-breaker and a vintage-Harden, dominant, 7-inning performance has to be uplifting for the pitching staff and the organization in general. So, while it wasn't easy, it wasn't pretty and there were a few things that are downright concerning to take away from this game, power, the great equalizer, finally came through and saved the day for this squad. Let's just hope that the team hits a few more bombs tomorrow and puts those haunting visions of the Tomahawk Chop in the bottom of the 9th out of our collective memories.

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Speculaton from a novice, but this is what I saw.

I don’t know if injury is the cause, but he seemed to have difficulty getting loose or some mechanical issue. His arm didn’t seem to have the right life or flexibility on release, at least on most of his pitches.

by rebus on May 17, 2008 7:55 PM PDT 0 recs

I clicked off after the 8th

and was a bit taken back by the final score. Then I said to myself, oh yeah the bullpen, and then only a minor surprise it was mr. street.

alaska A

by ak_A on May 17, 2008 8:18 PM PDT 0 recs

Didn't see anything obviously wrong

Had good velocity, pitches were moving normally. He just wasn’t holding the ball down in the zone.

This sounds like I’m making excuses, but it looked like he was just throwing pitches down the middle with a 4-run lead because he didn’t want to walk anyone. He doesn’t really have the fastball to get away with that, at least not to lefthanders (all the hits were to lefties). Once the tying run came to the plate, he went back to pitching normally and got both of the potential tying batters out.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 17, 2008 8:19 PM PDT 0 recs

He didn't keep his changeup down until the last pitch

His fastball was part of the issue in that he didn’t have his best one tonight, but the changeup just didn’t locate for a long time.

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 17, 2008 8:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

It did seem odd

that he demolished Norton for the final out – granted the guy is an M’s castoff, but – first pitch was a vintage Street freezer – hot slider at the knees. With no save on the line, perhaps HS was trying to pad his “degree of difficulty” score.

by Hot Cup Joe on May 17, 2008 8:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

Are we suggesting...

...that Mr Street needs a save situation in order to put his full mental concentration behind his effort?

Some read stats. Others actually watch the game.

by UncleLeo on May 17, 2008 11:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

Wouldn't go that far

but I would suggest that Street in “just get one over the plate” mode is a lot less effective than “normal” Street. If you’re a hitter, your best play against him is to get him into a 3-ball count when you aren’t the tying run, because you’ll get a fastball and probably a hittable one.

The decisionmaking is correct (you never risk walking someone when they’re not the tying run) but the execution, not so much.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 18, 2008 9:17 AM PDT up 0 recs

5 down, 5 to go

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on May 17, 2008 8:36 PM PDT 0 recs

My feeling about Street is that we could find a better closer

I was just watching Dotel pitch to the Gnats and he was throwing some nasty stuff. It made me miss him.

I think Street used to be more accurate, or good, I guess. Personally, I’d rather see him in the bull pen but not as the closer. Before Casilla was hurt, I thought he was much better for the closer role (this year).

by butler19 on May 17, 2008 8:39 PM PDT 0 recs

Dotel is like the jealous ex-girlfriend...

...you miss her because you remember all the good stuff… so you get her back, and you’re happy… for awhile, because then you start to realize why you kicked her to the curb in the first place.

Some read stats. Others actually watch the game.

by UncleLeo on May 17, 2008 11:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

by the way, Denorfia is playing centerfield

for the Rivercats tonight…wonder how long his “rehab” at AAA will last?

by OaklandSi on May 17, 2008 8:51 PM PDT 0 recs

Gotta change the Sweeney's Names

Good and Bad Sweeney has never sounded right to me.. and now with Ryan batting somewhere near 450 for the month of May and his home run I would like to change them to Old Sweeney and Young Sweeney. Sounds almost like a Johnny Depp character (Sweeney Todd) a real killer ;-)

I don’t think Young Sweeney is the future CF for the A’s but I think by the end of the year he will be a damn good corner fielder.

Thinking about next year with a solid outfield of CarGon, Buck and Young Sweeney and Chavez back at third and Cust as your normal, everyday DH I think we would have a pretty good team.. but Sweeney and Barton just need this year to mature.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on May 17, 2008 9:00 PM PDT 0 recs

He's definately improving on a nightly basis.

by OldhamA on May 17, 2008 9:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

Bah.

Much like Devine, sometimes all these guys need is a shot. We could have two very, very good players on our hands here – and neither was the headliner (well I suppose Devine was, but that was more of a salary dump and the Braves throwing in a guy they’d fallen out of love with).

by OldhamA on May 17, 2008 9:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

Would anyone disagree that Street is the worst arm in the bullpen?

I’d feel more comfortable with anyone BUT street in the 9th (with maybe the exception of of braden, dinardo, etc).

by 33SwisherSweet on May 17, 2008 9:02 PM PDT 0 recs

Erm, Embree and Foulke for mine. Both have their merits, but they're the least talented

guys in the pen and I feel they’re constantly walking a tightrope when on the mound.

by OldhamA on May 17, 2008 9:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

Embree has been worst than Street

Embree has two blown saves and two losses for this season. Street has two official blown saves and a very close one tonight. Street does draw more negative attention because he’s our closer but when Alan Embree is on the mound it freaks me out even more.

by Coffee13eans on May 17, 2008 9:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yes, I would disagree

I think he’s better than Brown and Embree, and at this point in his career Foulke is more an unknown going forward than Street.

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 17, 2008 9:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

After posting and having time to think about it, I'd say yes, Embree is worse, but seriously

half our bullpen (assuming Jairo Garcia is not out for the season) is better than Street. That’s not something you really want to be saying about our closer. Street makes me NERVOUS!

by 33SwisherSweet on May 18, 2008 12:14 AM PDT up 0 recs

Street > Embree

by rageon on May 18, 2008 7:22 AM PDT up 0 recs

Who will still be here next year in the bullpen?

Brown, Devine, Castilla and Street will be here unless Street gets traded.

Embree and Foulke should both be gone so that would open a spots for Blevins and who else?

I think Gaudin will probably move back into the starting lineup sometime this year with Blanton gone either at the break or in the offseason.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on May 17, 2008 9:11 PM PDT 0 recs

Embree

I would say that there’s a 90% Chance that Beane picks up Embree’s Option for 2009.

I would say: Street, Devine, Casilla, Brown, Gaudin, Embree, Braden

Gaudin is the 6th Starter. I can’t see Blanton getting dealt. Beane is asking for too much in return.

by Colorado Fan on May 18, 2008 6:26 AM PDT up 0 recs

Street scared the hell out of me

but we won and the Angels lost. I’m going to enjoy that tonight.

Still, there is nothing like clicking a 5-1 game late into it so I could hang out with my gf only to see that Street earned three runs.

Advanced scouts must have something on him.

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on May 17, 2008 9:40 PM PDT 0 recs

Hudson 0-9 in interleague play with Braves???

I watched the Braves’ broadcast of the game on MLB EI, and at the end I could have sworn that they said that Tim Hudson is 0-9 in interleague play since he went to the Braves? I don’t know where to look to verify this. Did I hear them right. Is this true?

Some read stats. Others actually watch the game.

by UncleLeo on May 17, 2008 11:37 PM PDT 0 recs

yesh

despite his 92 wins in the AL

witty remark

by dtownmbrown on May 17, 2008 11:58 PM PDT up 0 recs

the A's pre-game show said 0-10...

in either case, he seems incapable of beating AL teams since his move to the NL.

Foolsh, the most insane regular poster on AN since oaktoon left - salb

by FoolshGame22 on May 18, 2008 12:11 AM PDT up 0 recs

I was at the game and it was very weird but noone came out to pitch the ninth for

the A’s! I don’t know if this showed on TV or not, but then all of the sudden Foulke came out of the dugout for like 5 seconds and headed to the mound, then the door opened in the outfield and Street came running in. It was a very awkward moment, Suzuki was just kind of standing behind the plate looking confused. I’m not sure what really happened there but it was very strange indeed. I know that HS made that way more interesting than it ever should have been, but sitting out their at the game something just didn’t feel right before the Braves came to bat in the 9th.

Im also getting tired of hearing the stupid little thing they do right before the game when they play a video on the big screen in the outfield and they say here are just a few facts about the A’s that you may not know. The first thing they highlight is that the A’s have had more last place finishes than any team in MLB. The fail to mention all of the Championships along the way, I know that they are just trying to be funny but it just gets old and I am sure that i will have to hear it again tommorow.

Let’s Go A’s!!!!

There is no A in OFFENSE!!

by wacchampions on May 17, 2008 11:51 PM PDT 0 recs

Well, I never knew it, so it's interesting.

Not nice perhaps, but whatever.

It would help to compare to teams that have been around a while, or most last place finishes in the last N year to make it sensible.

by MobiusKlein on May 18, 2008 12:14 AM PDT up 0 recs

Also, being in the smallest division

If it’s random, any AL West team is last 1/4 of the time, as opposed to 1/5 or 1/6.

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on May 18, 2008 12:30 AM PDT up 0 recs

but, I doubt it's limited to Oakland's record...

it, no doubt, includes the records of Philadelphia and Kansas City. The Kansas City A’s probably finished last a lot.

Foolsh, the most insane regular poster on AN since oaktoon left - salb

by FoolshGame22 on May 18, 2008 12:49 AM PDT up 0 recs

Philly...

There at the end they tanked it like no one else in the history of baseball…but kc did just as poorly as the Yankees farm team.

You don't win friends with salad.

by tresselfan on May 18, 2008 5:46 AM PDT up 0 recs

I knew that, but...

...the Phil/KC/Oak A’s are also #3 in world series championships, which most people don’t know. They were tied for #2 until the Cardinals won their last one.

That being said, even with taking into account the Braves’ record since 1991, their overall franchise history isn’t exactaly all that impressive, either.

Some read stats. Others actually watch the game.

by UncleLeo on May 18, 2008 8:56 AM PDT up 0 recs

I'm still waiting for the Nico confessional...

where he admits he’s wrong about Ryan Sweeney. And, PaulThomas’ where he admits he’s wrong about Street. Coming soon, to a post near you.

Foolsh, the most insane regular poster on AN since oaktoon left - salb

by FoolshGame22 on May 18, 2008 12:54 AM PDT 0 recs

Here's the thing - I never said R. Sweeney was terrible

What I did say is that he doesn’t hit for enough OBP or XBH to be a corner OFer and doesn’t play good enough CF defense to play CF.

That being said, where I could be wrong is that he could wind up hitting well enough to play LF/RF – however, I stand by my main concern that his CF defense is not sufficient. But if he hits .300 I say trot him out to the corner OF and I’ll enjoy a plate of crow.

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 18, 2008 8:34 AM PDT up 0 recs

Street had a shitty outing

One shitty outing does not come even close to convincing me that his insane skills of the past three years have suddenly evaporated.

Today’s outing did make me wonder whether Street wouldn’t be better in a role where he didn’t have “runs to give” though. Obviously if you’re pitching the 8th inning, you don’t groove a 3-2 pitch with the bases empty just to avoid walking someone. I suppose it would be too much to ask the A’s, or any team really, to actually use relief pitchers rationally instead of the “traditional closer use pattern.” If you need a pitcher to pitch with a 3-run lead, you’re (relatively) better off with Andrew Brown or someone else with a high-90s fastball.

As for Sweeney, his first home run of the season came May 17 off a foul pole, on a hanging changeup by a guy who couldn’t find the strike zone. That is NOT an encouraging sign.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 18, 2008 9:29 AM PDT up 0 recs

hardin

was not rusty

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 18, 2008 1:45 AM PDT 0 recs

Street's problem

His splits in 2008:

2008 Ave./OBP/SLG/OPS
RH: .179/.195/.256/.452
LH: .300/.389/.767/1.156

Can you spot the problem there?

He’s been burying righties mercilessly, but lefties are absolutely crushing him as if the average lefty was Josh Hamilton, only with even better power.

Now those righty stats are perfectly in line with his career totals – Huston is simply death to right-handed batters. The fortunate thing is that, while he’s never dominated lefties as he has righties, his career numbers against them are still very good and if he can get back to doing what he used to do against them he’ll be fine. His career splits:

Career: Ave./OBP/SLG/OPS
RH: .184/.217/.238/.454
LH: .242/.313/.393/.706

His failures this year are in quite a small sample size (only 69 total ABs, lefty and righty, against him this year), but it’s still worth noting that his struggles this year have been entirely due to struggles against left-handed batters.

by Faust on May 18, 2008 5:44 AM PDT 0 recs

Faust, you win the award

for the most constructive effort to analyze Street’s problems so far.

Almost all of the difference in OPS is in SLG—not to discount the difference between .313 and .389 OBP, but that’s almost entirely about the BA difference, and in such a small sample size who knows exactly what that means? So what is it that’s letting LH tee off on him so much? Bad fastball location or movement? Inconsistent changeup and slider (which seemed to be the problem last night)?

I think the most important question regarding Street is whether his ulnar nerve injury has lowered his base level of performance—I don’t think it’s “naturally” this bad, but it might not be as good as it was before his DL stint last year. If I get the time, I’ll look back at his month-by-month performance last year and see what I can turn up.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on May 18, 2008 6:56 AM PDT up 0 recs

turn up...or turnip?

I sense a book here…

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 18, 2008 8:37 AM PDT up 0 recs

He was much, much better after the injury last season

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 18, 2008 9:30 AM PDT up 0 recs

The plan was that Street would be MORE effective this year against lefties

Because he had worked on his changeup and would be using it more frequently.

My impression is that the changeup actually has been pretty effective for him, but that lefties are for some reason just hammering his other pitches this year.

I also have the distinct (completely subjective) impression that he’s not been able to pinpoint that fastball as he did in past years.

by Faust on May 18, 2008 9:40 AM PDT up 0 recs

And we miss you!

by Faust on May 18, 2008 9:59 AM PDT up 0 recs

Uh, this makes no sense here

was meant as a reply to Sharon

by Faust on May 18, 2008 10:01 AM PDT up 0 recs

The plan was that Street would be MORE effective this year against lefties

Because he had worked on his changeup and would be using it more frequently.

My impression is that the changeup actually has been pretty effective for him, but that lefties are for some reason just hammering his other pitches this year.

I also have the distinct (completely subjective) impression that he’s not been able to pinpoint that fastball as he did in past years.

by Faust on May 18, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up 0 recs

Greetings from Brazil!

My 1st post here, after spending almost 2 seasons as a reader…

Regarding Street, I think Faust has a point there. Too bad Casilla is hurt. Maybe it’s not the time (yet) to put Devine to close. I’d stick to Huston still.
Barton was the man last night. Kind of a Crosby but with patience, lol.

by vieira on May 18, 2008 7:58 AM PDT 0 recs