A's Beat Angels: It's Sunny In Dallas

by Blez on Aug 25, 2008 9:43 PM PDT

Diamond Dallas Braden was great tonight as he led the A's to a 2-1 win over the Costa Mesa Angels. He needed to be as the A's offense, as is expected, could only muster a Daric Barton solo home run off of Jered Weaver and the winning run was a wild pitch that plated, of all people, Big Frank Thomas. The only blemish on Braden's night was an opposite field bomb to Mike Napoli.

There was some discussion in the game thread as to whether or not to leave Braden in for the eighth inning because he had only given up seven hits through seven innings and no walks. My feeling was that A's have these excellent assets in Devine and Ziggy, so why not use them and let Braden walk away knowing that he pitched well and get a confidence boost for next time?

Any way, it always feels good to beat the Angels, even if the A's are not playoff contenders. And better yet, I like how Braden is pitching. Yes, he's not only of the higher profile A's prospects, but he could be a fill-in guy until some of those higher profile pitchers are ready. Course Braden didn't have to face Vlad tonight and that will weaken any lineup.

Any victory for this team is good at this stage in the season because it shows that they aren't just rolling over, but it's especially sweet to knock down the Angels.

Oh and don't forget, I will be posting the second part of my Lew Wolff interview tomorrow morning around 7 a.m.

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It's me It's me

It’s DDB.

A good clean win with the A’s capitalizing on some Angels mistakes while the same could not be said about the Angels.

A good night all around.

All Games and Comments are Subject to Blackout

by Hit4TheCycle on Aug 25, 2008 9:50 PM PDT 0 recs

So how many games are we back?

It’s time for some long suppressed optimism

by asfansince1989 on Aug 25, 2008 9:51 PM PDT 0 recs

Costa Mesa

That’s funny. I laughed out loud and woke up Stripey the cat.

by LibrariAN on Aug 25, 2008 9:51 PM PDT 0 recs

Shower Kitty can rejoice tonight

"However, at Elias, I think they keep track of the amount of sunflower seeds spit in a dugout each night." - Brad Ziegler, 8/7/08

by doctorK on Aug 25, 2008 9:52 PM PDT 0 recs

Stripey the Cat

is an A’s fan

by LibrariAN on Aug 25, 2008 9:52 PM PDT 0 recs

I only watched the first four innings, I'll admit

but were the Angels trying to set some kind of record for most runners eliminated on the basepaths or something?

It’s worth savoring the occasional game that they obviously should have won and threw away by dint of incredible stupidity.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Aug 25, 2008 9:54 PM PDT 0 recs

Maybe that's their trick

Make more mistakes than usual in one game, lose it, and do much better for a few in succession!

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

by Flashfire on Aug 25, 2008 9:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

I don't see it that way at all....

the Angels played their brand of baseball. It appeared to me that the A’s anticipated their moves and made the appropriate adjustments. Cust assumed that Aybar was going to go from 1st to 3rd and came up throwing. Braden and Suzuki “knew” Figgins was going to attempt to run on them and made the necessary adjustments.

"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 25, 2008 10:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

The 1st-3rd attempt on a single to LF

That was simply stupid on the part of the Rodents, regardless of who is playing in the field.

"However, at Elias, I think they keep track of the amount of sunflower seeds spit in a dugout each night." - Brad Ziegler, 8/7/08

by doctorK on Aug 25, 2008 10:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

Maybe so....

but they do that crap all the time. Most often other teams aren’t prepared for it so the Angels get away with it a lot more often than they should. I’m just happy to see the A’s school them for once in the fundamentals of baseball.

"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 25, 2008 10:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

If ever there was a poster game for how to run yourself

out of a game…..the Angels aptly demonstrated it.

"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 25, 2008 10:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

The A's have certainly seen enough of it

Maybe they’re starting to clue in.

"However, at Elias, I think they keep track of the amount of sunflower seeds spit in a dugout each night." - Brad Ziegler, 8/7/08

by doctorK on Aug 25, 2008 10:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

I know it's to much to ask...

but I sincerely hope they take two out three at least. All in all, in actually seemed like the A’s played like they wanted to win. Refreshing for a change.

"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 25, 2008 10:11 PM PDT up 0 recs

you apparently are unaware that aggressive baserunning is what separates .600 teams from .400 teams

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

by monkeyball on Aug 26, 2008 7:36 AM PDT up 0 recs

Joyful tonight, not so fun tomorrow

…..Oh and don’t forget, I will be posting the second part of my Lew Wolff interview tomorrow morning around 7 a.m…..

But I have to give [what will feel like gallons of] blood samples at that time, before I go to work. Wish me luck, AN folks. And I can catch the interview pt 2 during my lunch break.

by LibrariAN on Aug 25, 2008 9:56 PM PDT 0 recs

Good luck!!!

by Blez on Aug 25, 2008 10:39 PM PDT up 0 recs

Thanks, Blez.

by LibrariAN on Aug 25, 2008 10:44 PM PDT up 0 recs

Vlad?

I never did figure out where he was tonight. Please enlighten.

by LibrariAN on Aug 25, 2008 9:58 PM PDT 0 recs

He's getting a few days off to rest Knees.

"With 16-year-old Dominican righty Michel Inoa in tow, Gio Gonzalez improving at Triple-A and lefty Brett Anderson carving up Double-Abatters along with Simmons and Trevor Cahill, Oakland’s pitching depthis officially the envy of baseball." - BaseballAmerica.com

by Syphon on Aug 25, 2008 10:24 PM PDT up 0 recs

Thanks, Syphon

by LibrariAN on Aug 25, 2008 10:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

Glad we didn't trade pitching for Bay

because pitching is how the A’s won tonight, how they’ve won for years, and how they probably will win for years. That’s what I learned tonight.

Everybody already knows, but our minor league pitching is so beyond ridiculous. I’m not even disappointed that we’re 20 games back. It’s gonna be fun.

by NateHST on Aug 25, 2008 9:58 PM PDT 0 recs

+100000, Pitching is how most teams win.

Offense alone doesn’t win jack: see: Texas Rangers.

I see the future. I see cake.

by Blicks on Aug 25, 2008 10:14 PM PDT up 0 recs

True, but . . .

pitching alone doesn’t win jack: see: 2007-2008 Oakland Athletics.

The A’s are going to either figure out a way to draft and develop offense, trade for it, or buy it if they want to be relevant again. Good teams pitch and hit well.

by BlameChannel53 on Aug 26, 2008 11:07 AM PDT up 0 recs

You got that from just one win?

"If I've got baggage, he's got a whole set of Louis Vuitton." ~ Milton Bradley on Barry Bonds

by UncleLeo on Aug 26, 2008 7:12 PM PDT up 0 recs

Watching the end of the Gnats game

Podsednik just made a nice running catch in RF on a pop-up, without playing it off his head.

Oh yeah, and I don’t see much to be impressed with Rich Aurilla.

"However, at Elias, I think they keep track of the amount of sunflower seeds spit in a dugout each night." - Brad Ziegler, 8/7/08

by doctorK on Aug 25, 2008 10:00 PM PDT 0 recs

Aurilia would still likely be an upgrade over Jack Hannahan for a one-year stopgap at third

by thejd44 on Aug 26, 2008 11:33 AM PDT up 0 recs

NFW

by theblackpearl on Aug 26, 2008 3:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

You mean NSFW?

That’s how I’d characterize any suggestion that Rich Aurilia be signed to play for a baseball team. It’s pretty much a vulgarity.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Aug 26, 2008 3:58 PM PDT up 0 recs

Hey, I'm not saying they should do it

I’m saying he’d be better than Hannahan. But, really, if the A’s put a cardboard stand-up of Chavez at third every day they’d probably be better off than having Hannahan out there.

by thejd44 on Aug 26, 2008 6:39 PM PDT up 0 recs

That was a fun game to be at. I was planning on counting the number of times Angel fans said crap to me tonight, but surprisingly I only heard stuff twice and it was as we walked in. I loved Frank’s “slide” into home lol

Always fun to win against the Angels. We’re not eliminated yet!!

by drmmerchk on Aug 25, 2008 10:01 PM PDT 0 recs

Good for you!

Yeah! That slide was awesome. Frank’s whole base running tonight was a treat.

by lynnzgal on Aug 25, 2008 10:12 PM PDT up 0 recs

kind of like a galloping elephant

did you see him rounding second?

by OaklandSi on Aug 26, 2008 7:57 AM PDT up 0 recs

I just don't want to see K-Rod

unless he blows a save. Even if the A’s end up losing the game, K-Rod blowing a save against the A’s would be SWEET.

I see the future. I see cake.

by Blicks on Aug 25, 2008 10:15 PM PDT 0 recs

Angels Suck!

Sack En Slug!

by lynnzgal on Aug 25, 2008 10:19 PM PDT 0 recs

JE-TER SWAL-LOWS! clap, clap, clap clap clap

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

by Flashfire on Aug 25, 2008 10:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

Haha!

Oh lode!

by lynnzgal on Aug 25, 2008 10:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

Some Minors Updates

Travis Buck playing in ARZ rookie ball tonight. Went 4-5 with a DBL and Corey Brown hit 2 HRs to bring him to 30 on the year.

by Syphon on Aug 25, 2008 10:30 PM PDT 0 recs

Why is Travis

all the way down in Rookie ball?

"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 25, 2008 10:44 PM PDT up 0 recs

Prob didnt have room for him in AAA without making

a roster move. Its no big deal. Also I think he lives in ARZ and was home resting, so prob just an easy transition.

by Syphon on Aug 25, 2008 10:47 PM PDT up 0 recs

milb.com says he's rehabbing

[Crosby] "Guy that has driven in some big runs for the A's over the years" - Vince Cotroneo

by WaddellCanseco on Aug 26, 2008 2:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

Braden

I know it hasn’t been that many games. But after a while if you pitch well a lot you start to be considered a good pitcher. I don’t recall that many players improving as much as he has from last year. He really deserves credit for having improved his pitching.

by SA on Aug 25, 2008 10:45 PM PDT 0 recs

I still don't think he's anything more than long relief or second lefty on a good pitching staff.

If any GM thinks he’s more than that — I’d want Billy to talk to that man.

[Crosby] "Guy that has driven in some big runs for the A's over the years" - Vince Cotroneo

by WaddellCanseco on Aug 26, 2008 2:46 AM PDT up 0 recs

Well, isn't he the 4th lefty on this staff?

by thejd44 on Aug 26, 2008 11:36 AM PDT up 0 recs

Let's not get carried away, he didn't strike anybody out and Vlad was out

McGwire belongs in the Hall so put him there

by streetisclosedin08 on Aug 26, 2008 7:01 AM PDT up 0 recs

his stuff is no better than when I saw him last year

but his pitch selection, ability to keep the ball down, and general poise on the mound looks much better

by OaklandSi on Aug 26, 2008 7:59 AM PDT up 0 recs

All that makes him a better pitcher

Which is what SA said. 25-year-old pitchers rarely improve their physical ability. They just learn to use what they have. Seems like Braden is doing that and can be a decent major league pitcher.

by thejd44 on Aug 26, 2008 11:35 AM PDT up 0 recs

I agree

by OaklandSi on Aug 26, 2008 5:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

Totally agree.

There have been plenty of good pitchers that didn’t have great stuff, they just knew how to pitch.

"If I've got baggage, he's got a whole set of Louis Vuitton." ~ Milton Bradley on Barry Bonds

by UncleLeo on Aug 26, 2008 7:14 PM PDT up 0 recs

Braden had a good FIP even in his early stints this year

when he got lit up a little because opponents got a lot of hits off of balls in play.

Actually, he even had a decent FIP last year, when he was actually mediocre but appeared to be horrible. It’s hardly ridiculous to think that he has improved from mediocre to solid in his second year in the bigs— pitchers manage that all the time.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Aug 26, 2008 4:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

I wouldn't want to take my chances, though,

with too many 7 innings stints with no strikeouts.

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 26, 2008 4:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

late comment, but my first

iv’e been reading these and finally decided to write, felt the need to say how good Dallas has been doing. I understand why he went out in the 8th but Geren should have let him go one more, he deserved it and wanted it really bad. Throw the guy a bone of he keeps a team like the Angels to just one. And for the scroogie, he wants to throw it, but 1) they wont let him and 2) his shoulder feels and looks like someone took an ice cream scoop to it, not 100% positive from the scroogie but prob was, its pretty nasty.

by Sbo12 on Aug 26, 2008 11:04 AM PDT 0 recs

I love when they beat the Angels, made my night. And I’m glad Daric Barton has started to hit the ball more. Here’s to hoping for two in a row. Winning against ~~Lackey~~ mouth breather would be oh so sweet

by justarebelheart on Aug 26, 2008 11:26 AM PDT 0 recs