No mo': White Sox 2, A's 1

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2008 4:14 PM PDT Comment 39 comments

This was a game that was dominated by the starting pitchers.

Dominated by their inability to throw strikes or work efficiently, that is.

Sure, there were only 3 runs scored in total, but that was essentially a matter of luck (on the part of the A's pitching) and suck (on the part of the A's hitting).

Greg "Nibbles" Smith lived up to his nickname, constantly pitching deep into counts. The White Sox were only really able to touch him up in the 2nd, when it seemed like every batter was hitting a screaming line drive. Two runs came across for the Sox, and while it seemed like they were always on the verge of scoring more, those 2 were the only runs they'd need.

John Danks didn't really pitch any better than Smith, but he was more "effective." The A's worked 5 walks and 6 hits off Danks in 6 innings, but they were undone by G'ing I 2 DPs (Crosby and, most painfully, Frank) and striking out often in the first 2 innings. Emil Brown did drive in Suzuki to get the A's on the board, but that was it for the scoring.

Smith's confidence and aggression have been on a downhill slide all season. He really needs to start working on going after hitters and trusting his defense.

And the A's offense ... well, when the biggest hit of the game was Nico banning FIRESALE ...

Final game of the series tomorrow at 1:05.

0 recs | Comment 39 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

How long has it been

since we won a series? I won’t be holding my breath tomorrow.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Aug 16, 2008 4:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Since they took 3 of 4 from Seattle, thanks only to Suzuki's pinch hit heroics

in the final game. So, since the Harden trade…we’ve lost every series.

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 Aug 16, 2008 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

about smith's aggression

i think there’s no doubt the a’s nearly non-existent offense has played a major role in this. smith knows he has to almost pitch perfectly to give his team a shot (especially him…seems like he gets 1-2 runs of offense every game, tops). if he had any faith in the offense scoring something for him, i think he’d be more aggressive, but as it is, he’s probably scared of making any mistakes. if he was older, he’d probably be able to block out the offensive issues better and just pitch his game no matter what, but the kid’s a rookie.

by guy incognito on Aug 16, 2008 4:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

2.99

Smith’s run support per start… dead last in AL and 3rd to last in all MLB ( only Harang, Lannan, and Bergmann get less) among “qualified” starting pitchers.

I see the future. I see cake.

by Blicks on Aug 16, 2008 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That would be 4th to last, for those counting

by thejd44 on Aug 16, 2008 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Frustrating!

But you can’t blame Smith. He pitched fairly okay, as did the bullpen. The offense just doesn’t come through for him. Hopefully the offense wakes up for Gio tomorrow. What happened to firesale? Why was he banned? See you all tomorrow! Go A’s!

by A'sfansince1970 on Aug 16, 2008 4:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Troll.

FIRESALE, not Smith.

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 Aug 16, 2008 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's all you need to know:

Record when scoring 4 or more: 44-12
Record when scoring less than 4: 12-54

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Aug 16, 2008 5:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

so scoring runs is somehow connected to winning games?

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 Aug 16, 2008 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hard as it may be to believe, yep!

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Aug 16, 2008 6:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Our record when scoring zero is just terrible

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 Aug 16, 2008 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you sure? I am gonna double check that.

alaska A

by ak_A on Aug 16, 2008 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was very similar last year but I believe our record

would have been unbelievable when scoring only “3” runs instead of 4. Sprtnswyn posted something about this last year. Maybe every team’s record would be impressive (sans Rangers) when they score 4 runs?

Looking forward to Spring Training and the hope of another World Series title.

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 16, 2008 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes - most teams have this kind of split in their record

when they do or don’t score 4+.

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 Aug 16, 2008 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was confirming your zero run "theory"

and by golly it is terrible and get this, we didn’t win even one of those games either, not one freaking one.

alaska A

by ak_A on Aug 16, 2008 7:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We did manage to tie a rainout, however,

thanks mostly to clutch hitting by Emil Brown.

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 Aug 16, 2008 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, normally teams will lose most of their games when they score under 4.

What stands out about it to me is in relation to the team ERA, which is considerably better than most teams out there. Even with that, that record is still terrible.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Aug 16, 2008 7:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, the A's, I'd guess, don't often score 3 runs either

Seems like they’re in the 0-2 range a whole bunch.

by thejd44 on Aug 16, 2008 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, they are. They've got a pretty high ratio of coming in under 3 runs, not just under 4.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Aug 16, 2008 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

whoa!

alaska A

by ak_A on Aug 16, 2008 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

oye

I think it’s time the team lets me suit up and take my chance at swinging. Someone here needs to give the pitchers…especially my man Smith, some run support! His record doesn’t represent the way he has pitched this year. my poor pooooor smith.

by ilovegregsmith on Aug 16, 2008 5:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

When you're sending Jack Hannahan up as a pinch hitter,

you know you’re in trouble.

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 Aug 16, 2008 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

When Hannahan is wearing your teams colors....

you know your in trouble.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Aug 16, 2008 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

when Hannahan is your 2008 starting day 3B...

you should know you’re in trouble.

by rollierollieOxenfree on Aug 17, 2008 1:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

we need

Michael Phelps batting 3rd.

by oakinboston on Aug 16, 2008 5:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If he did so wearing his speedos, at least attendance would probably double

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 Aug 16, 2008 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think 8 medals is lame

If he’d just put some effort into the other sports he could easily win 40 next olympics. Sprinting, Shot Put, Gymnastics, etc. The possibilities are endless.

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Aug 16, 2008 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"8 medals is lame"

-lil jon

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Aug 16, 2008 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really? Because he's so, so creepy looking.

by thejd44 on Aug 16, 2008 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was at the game

and the lady next to me went to sleep for half the game. It was one of the more boring games I have seen in a long time. In person, that is, I have seen plenty of these types of games this year on t.v. Very sleepy atmosphere there. The crowd was comatosed. Pennington looks very weak. Billy really needs to get ahold of some power hitters because this singles/take pitches/ walks stuff is just killing the buzz……..that is, whatever buzz is left.

by pedoman on Aug 16, 2008 6:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe next draft we should devote the first few picks

to signing a bunch of low-slugging 2Bmen and OFers with “some upside”.

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 Aug 16, 2008 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I certainly don't disagree about the need for hitters ...

… but the boredom of this game was what I was getting at with my comments about Smith and Danks. Their nibble-nibble-nibble, lots-of-time-between-pitches worrywart approach absolutely kills the energy of a game. By the fifth inning, the game was on pace to last nearly four hours.

There were a lot of stupid, long confusing words that I’m sure normal people don’t use. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2008 8:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i thought a young team like the A’s would build off a walk off homerun and get some more offense but i guess not hopefully theyll rekindle the fire tommorow cuz ill be in left field hopefully catching A JAck CUst bomb

by robbo650 on Aug 16, 2008 7:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

There's no such thing as game-to-game momentum

by thejd44 on Aug 16, 2008 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh Gak.

Mazzaro started the Rivercats game with: HBP, HR. Can’t really blame the infield for that.

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 Aug 16, 2008 7:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Update - Nice recovery for Mazzaro

Finished with 6.2 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K.

In Midland, Jared Lansford got the save (7-6 win) with 2 perfect innings, 4 K. He is on FI-YAH!

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 Aug 16, 2008 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs