Open (Pre-Game) Thread: Game 128 - A's vs. Mariners

by notsellingjeans on Aug 22, 2008 12:49 PM PDT

The A's will throw some left-handed starter tonight at 7:05 p.m. against the Mariners.

We don't even have to check who it will be to confirm that; all five members of the rotation are now lefties, after Duchscherer and Gallagher both hit the disabled list yesterday.

Kidding aside, Gio Gonzalez squares off tonight against fellow lefty Ryan Feierabend, who makes his second start of the season for the M's tonight on his 23rd birthday.

After posting an 8.03 ERA and 1.95 WHIP in 13 outings for Seattle last year, Feierabend has had another bitter cup of coffee for the Mariners again in '08. The Twins rocked him for 10 hits and six earned runs in only three innings of work on the 17th. However, a look at his AAA stats shows he's had a good year for Tacoma.

I've never seen Feierabend pitch, but those minor-league numbers (and major league disasters) suggest he's the classic good-control lefty who lacks velocity and a major-league quality out pitch at this point in his career. That's a recipe for succeeding in AAA and getting rocked in the bigs, which is what Feierabend has done so far, and hopefully will do again tonight.

The A's look to win back-to-back games tonight - a two-game winning streak! - for the first time since July 10-11.

As a former pitcher I' m very, very interested to watch the next 10 days of A's baseball. Ten games in 10 days, and then, mercifully, the A's finally have an off-day on Sept. 1 and can call up pitching reinforcements if need be when the 40-man roster expands. (That 13th or 14th pitcher could provide a real breather for the 'pen, when you consider the lack of off-days and how fringy some of the starters are).

But those 10 days in between will be a fascinating test. In theory, we'll see Gio-Meyer-Eveland-Braden-Smith, in that order, two times in a row. The staff has already been stretched, and these five guys - as unheralded as they are as a group at this point - simply need to pitch past the fifth inning. They need to avoid ugly outings that overwork the pen, make the baseball unwatchable, and force the A's to make some awkward roster decisions they don't want to make, like purchasing Chris Gissell or Brad Knox's contract, simply because the team needs a body to throw innings.

A's a group of five, The Lefties have an important 10 days before the team can add reinforcements. The Lefties need to stay healthy, and they need to keep the team in the game by avoiding ugly innings. And they gotta do it for 10 straight days.

The lineups:

Oakland
Ellis, 2B .234
Crosby, SS .244
Brown, E, RF .255
Thomas, DH .231
Suzuki, C .289
Cust, LF .233
Gonzalez, C, CF .253
Barton, 1B .203
Pennington, 3B .125

Seattle
Suzuki, RF .315
Betancourt, SS .266
Beltre, 3B .248
Ibanez, LF .303
Lopez, 2B .294
Balentien, CF .216
Clement, C .220
LaHair, DH .279
Cairo, 1B .237

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Well...

at least Greg Smith started out our ten game run with our young lefties in good fashion, going six strong shutout innings. I am excited about this time of year even though we are not winning, simply because it will give us a chance to see what these guys got, especially Meyer. It seems like it’s pretty much sink or swim for Meyer and if he’s got anything left that proves he belongs here. As far as the bullpen is concerned we could have some problems because we are facing the Twins and Angels, but we should be good for the next two days against the Mariners. I looking for Saarloos to step in if any of our starters have any problems getting out of the first couple innings, like he did the other day with Duke. This guy is going to be a valuable piece for this long ten game stretch.

by mattman on Aug 22, 2008 1:15 PM PDT 0 recs

Lineups

Oakland

Ellis, 2B .234
Crosby, SS .244
Brown, E, RF .255
Thomas, DH .231
Suzuki, C .289
Cust, LF .233
Gonzalez, C, CF .253
Barton, 1B .203
Pennington, 3B .125

Seattle

Suzuki, RF .315
Betancourt, SS .266
Beltre, 3B .248
Ibanez, LF .303
Lopez, 2B .294
Balentien, CF .216
Clement, C .220
LaHair, DH .279
Cairo, 1B .237

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Aug 22, 2008 6:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

u forgot to mention

10 days

by chipper1001 on Aug 22, 2008 1:18 PM PDT 0 recs

Too bad they can't bring Lenny up too

as a second long relief guy. They will probably need it. Maybe Smith set the bar and the other young lefties will try and match his outing. You can always hope!

by A'sfansince1970 on Aug 22, 2008 1:53 PM PDT 0 recs

Lenny...

I’m guessing they probably will bring him up when the rosters expand because we still might need someone to eat up some innings. I guess for now they prefer saarloos over dinardo, which frankly I’m okay with. I think saarloos can do a decent job filing in for our young starters if they get hit hard in the first couple innings. He’s proven he can do it at this level before, so why not do it again.

by mattman on Aug 22, 2008 3:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

Grissell

Those are the type of guys I see whenever I venture up to watch the ’Cats play. So it seems we will not see a 1 – 2 Hawaiian Punch with Komine to Suzuki?

Enjoy the game

by DCinWC on Aug 22, 2008 2:01 PM PDT 0 recs

Shane is still on the mend, if I'm not mistaken.

by theblackpearl on Aug 22, 2008 2:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

Feierabend

Sounds like he should be paired with Feier(Joe)morgen.

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Aug 22, 2008 2:03 PM PDT 0 recs

/facepalm

by VORP is too nerdy on Aug 22, 2008 2:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

If Hawk Harrelson were commentating on this post, all he'd say is

“STRETCH!”

by thejd44 on Aug 22, 2008 2:52 PM PDT up 0 recs

OK, now that I'm seeing it on TV

I hear that they pronounce it “fear-a-bend”. I always assumed it was pronounced like German “fire-ah-b’nd”

As for Hawk, you’re saying he doesn’t see how “Morgen” and “Abend” are related? OK, I’ll buy that.

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Aug 22, 2008 7:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

Ha!

The Seattle TV broadcast just did a little bit explaining that “fear-a-bend” is wrong and “fire-ah-b’nd” is right. It means “happy hour”.

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Aug 22, 2008 7:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

So hypothetically if the pitching staff is taxed...

what positional player would be the “go to guy” to trot out there and pitch?

by buddahead9 on Aug 22, 2008 2:21 PM PDT 0 recs

I would say the BP guy

But that is who goes out to the mound every game anyway

Every day is just a little worse than the previous, that means every day is the worst day of my life.

by shooting4life on Aug 22, 2008 2:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

well if thats the case

just give them a different handed glove and let them throw with the other arm.

by buddahead9 on Aug 22, 2008 3:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

Taxing...

My money is on Pennington..the dudes got a hell of an arm.

by mattman on Aug 22, 2008 2:31 PM PDT 0 recs

I think the game is on ch 36 tonight

by OaklandSi on Aug 22, 2008 3:24 PM PDT 0 recs

yup, KICU

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Aug 22, 2008 3:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

The "Not Much Left" starting rotation

Pun intended

by asfansince1989 on Aug 22, 2008 3:24 PM PDT 0 recs

Off topic, but...

I saw a thing by Buster Olney on ESPN that the A’s had a chance at Jason Bay if they gave up Vince Mazarro. Is this true? That would have been amazing!

by A'sfansince1970 on Aug 22, 2008 4:19 PM PDT 0 recs

"A package starting with Mazzaro"

We don’t know what the other pieces would have been. I would have all for getting Bay now IF the A’s could sign him to an extension – given that this wasn’t guaranteed, probably smart not to pull the trigger. And I say that as someone who thinks Bay is about as close to ideal for the A’s needs as you could hope for.

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 22, 2008 6:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

The A's haven't had a 2-game winning streak since the day I turned 40

I’d be happy to correct both situations. But I’d settle for the one that doesn’t seem to contradict the unidirectionality of time.

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

by Nick on Aug 22, 2008 4:57 PM PDT 0 recs

40? Callow youth

They haven’t had a 2-game winning streak since the day I turned 51.

Polynesian Sauce may not be available in all locations.

by Englishmajor on Aug 22, 2008 5:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

So that's the solution

They’re not getting that 2-game streak until I turn 51. It’s gonna be a loooooooong decade…

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

by Nick on Aug 22, 2008 6:26 PM PDT up 0 recs

Three game-thread related items:

1) We’ll continue to use this thread once the game starts. I put it up unusually early today just so we’d have something new on the front page to discuss.

2) If you happen to see the lineups posted before anyone else does, please post them. Thank you!

3) Our overflow game thread is set to launch at 8:30 p.m.

"Innings eater? Depends on whether you want delicious innings or burnt, moldy innings. Kirk Saarloos is the Hot Pockets of inning eaters." - Gallagher's Watermelons

by notsellingjeans on Aug 22, 2008 5:15 PM PDT 0 recs

Barton - if he goes zero for his next 6 ABs he'll be....

hitting below .200. I know it’s an arbitrary number, but at the point do the A’s consider benching him for the rest of the season or sending him to Sacramento to finish the season…maybe let him help the Rivercats in the PCL playoffs. At what point do the A’s not allow him to embarass himself at the MLB level anymore?

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Aug 22, 2008 6:13 PM PDT 0 recs

Lineups

Oakland
Ellis, 2B .234
Crosby, SS .244
Brown, E, RF .255
Thomas, DH .231
Suzuki, C .289
Cust, LF .233
Gonzalez, C, CF .253
Barton, 1B .203
Pennington, 3B .125

Seattle
Suzuki, RF .315
Betancourt, SS .266
Beltre, 3B .248
Ibanez, LF .303
Lopez, 2B .294
Balentien, CF .216
Clement, C .220
LaHair, DH .279
Cairo, 1B .237

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Aug 22, 2008 6:17 PM PDT 0 recs

Thanks - I just pasted the lineups into the post for NSJ

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 22, 2008 6:20 PM PDT up 0 recs

cool...I'm a day late and a dollar short once again

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Aug 22, 2008 6:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

THANK GOD!

I’ve missed you, AN. Yeah, it’s only been a few hours since I last checked you at work, but I’m home now and didn’t have internet. I finally started to feel better and I wanted some AN. And you really miss something when you don’t have it. I thought for sure I was going to have to sit alone, in the dark, in my underwear while eating cold pizza and crying over the Ry Bear-less A’s. It’s here! It’s here! Of course, now that I say this, I’ll probably fall asleep before 9 CT.

Mark Ellis: sent down from Heaven to rob Evil of hits and hand out rainbows

by Jennifer on Aug 22, 2008 6:18 PM PDT 0 recs

I've missed Ry Bear ever since he passed away

So untimely. Then again, whenever is it exactly “timely”?

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 22, 2008 6:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

don't tease us

I was going to have to sit alone, in the dark, in my underwear

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Aug 22, 2008 6:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

Go Pachyderms.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Aug 22, 2008 7:11 PM PDT 0 recs

i wish i had tv 36

by vooya40 on Aug 22, 2008 7:11 PM PDT 0 recs

Ah, a game thread

It’s been a while. And I get to watch the A’s in HD for, like, the 3rd time this year.

Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.

by Joey C. on Aug 22, 2008 7:11 PM PDT 0 recs

HD on 36?

I didn’t know Channel 36 ever broadcast in HD. Am I missing something?

by skigurl on Aug 22, 2008 8:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

I live in Oregon

I get FSN Northwest HD for all the Mariners games.

Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.

by Joey C. on Aug 22, 2008 9:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

Usually Crosby and Bad Throws to First Are Bad...

But we’ll take that one.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Aug 22, 2008 7:14 PM PDT 0 recs

Emil Brown joke

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Aug 22, 2008 7:15 PM PDT 0 recs

Hi guys! Finally a dry day in space coast paradise.

Proud mommy of "mini-kapers"

by kapers on Aug 22, 2008 7:16 PM PDT 0 recs

Just wait.

by lynnzgal on Aug 22, 2008 7:44 PM PDT up 0 recs

That was foul?

Mark Ellis: sent down from Heaven to rob Evil of hits and hand out rainbows

by Jennifer on Aug 22, 2008 7:16 PM PDT 0 recs

Way to go, Emil

Learn, dammit

Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.

by Joey C. on Aug 22, 2008 7:16 PM PDT 0 recs

Aww

It’s okay. You’re still the best.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Aug 22, 2008 7:16 PM PDT 0 recs

Have all the game threads been this slow lately?

Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.

by Joey C. on Aug 22, 2008 7:20 PM PDT 0 recs

I think so.

We’ve lost the will to go on.

Mark Ellis: sent down from Heaven to rob Evil of hits and hand out rainbows

by Jennifer on Aug 22, 2008 7:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well Last night...

was really active for the last two innings, I’m guessing thats just because we were winning, but who knows.

by mattman on Aug 22, 2008 7:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

One of my favorite parts of watching a ball game at the park

is the OFer warming up by throwing to the ball boy/girl. It’s cute.

Mark Ellis: sent down from Heaven to rob Evil of hits and hand out rainbows

by Jennifer on Aug 22, 2008 7:20 PM PDT 0 recs

For those with online viewing access, USA/Japan for the bronze should be starting in 10 minutes.

I believe Anderson gets the start and Cahill will probably be available as well since he only went 3 innings the other day.

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

by Flashfire on Aug 22, 2008 7:22 PM PDT 0 recs

USA! USA! USA!

by SwisherThresher on Aug 22, 2008 7:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

America!

Fuck, yeah!

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Aug 22, 2008 7:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

Haha!

So bad!

by lynnzgal on Aug 22, 2008 7:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

Now thats the real dilemna...

do we watch the A’s and Gio or Anderson and USA, personally I’m going with Anderson just because I hear so much about him, but don’t ever get to see him.

by mattman on Aug 22, 2008 7:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

Nice looking pitch there

Sure as hell made Betancourt look silly.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Aug 22, 2008 7:23 PM PDT 0 recs

I'm so pathetic. Finally leave Texas and what am I watching? Cowboys - Texans

Proud mommy of "mini-kapers"

by kapers on Aug 22, 2008 7:24 PM PDT 0 recs

I really hope the guy sitting behind the

on-deck circle moves. I don’t know if I can look at that all night.

Mark Ellis: sent down from Heaven to rob Evil of hits and hand out rainbows

by Jennifer on Aug 22, 2008 7:26 PM PDT 0 recs

details please

Proud mommy of "mini-kapers"

by kapers on Aug 22, 2008 7:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

He's sitting on the steps///

wearing khaki pants that are too tight in the nether regions.

Mark Ellis: sent down from Heaven to rob Evil of hits and hand out rainbows

by Jennifer on Aug 22, 2008 7:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

You said

nether regions!

by lynnzgal on Aug 22, 2008 7:46 PM PDT up 0 recs

Nice half-inning

Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.

by Joey C. on Aug 22, 2008 7:27 PM PDT 0 recs

Gio Gonzalez looks like

the guy who plays Will’s Italian cop boyfriend on Will & Grace.

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Aug 22, 2008 7:27 PM PDT 0 recs

Costco dinner for 4

only cost me 12$. imagine that haha

white esurance sign behind home plate..oh so that’s why durham is an absolutely terrible defensive second baseman.. - xbhaskarx

by BigTuna on Aug 22, 2008 7:29 PM PDT 0 recs

Foot long hotdog and a soda for $1.50 used to be the best part of my Saturdays

That’s really sad, I just realized.

Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.

by Joey C. on Aug 22, 2008 7:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

No, i completely understand

now that i’m out of school and i have joined the working force, i’d consider myself lucky to even get myself to costco on a saturday after work.

I just had a long, difficult, and sad day at work, and i needed to bolus myself away from the ER

white esurance sign behind home plate..oh so that’s why durham is an absolutely terrible defensive second baseman.. - xbhaskarx

by BigTuna on Aug 22, 2008 7:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

Given the slow posting action,

I’ve changed the overflow thread update time to 8:45.

Nico, and athleticsfan, thanks for the lineup help.

"Innings eater? Depends on whether you want delicious innings or burnt, moldy innings. Kirk Saarloos is the Hot Pockets of inning eaters." - Gallagher's Watermelons

by notsellingjeans on Aug 22, 2008 7:36 PM PDT 0 recs