A's lose 12-2

by notsellingjeans on Aug 29, 2008 11:04 PM PDT

Joe Mauer had five of Minnesota's season-high 20 hits as the Twins absolutely demolished the A's 12-2 Friday night at the Coliseum.

Jack Cust provided the lone highlight for the A's with a two-run homer, his 24th of the season.

Dan Meyer's error in the second inning meant that only two of the six runs that scored in the top of the second innning were earned, but that only spared his ERA and not the A's. In reality, his performance was simply inadequate. He only lasted 1.2 innings and was responsible for all six runs that crossed the plate in the second. Before he was chased, he had walked two and given up four hits, and had further eroded any confidence that he's a long-term answer as a back-end starter for the A's.

If nothing else, perhaps he can be the team's 2009 long reliever, because right now the team doesn't have one of those lined up either. Kirk Saarloos, like Lenny DiNardo before him, has lost some of the magic pixie dust he had in past. He too was shelled in relief of Meyer, to the tune of 12 hits and 5 earned runs over five innings. But it was his job to mercifully get the A's to the end of the game, and he nearly did after 96 pitches.

Santiago Casilla threw 2.1 innings to close it out.

Zooks and Frank Thomas had two hits apiece for the A's.

0 recs | Comment 38 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Meyer truly horrific

If he gets another start, it will be only because they have no one else they would rather see until Gallagher returns..

Once again, the A’s are strike out machines, 13 more tonight, and a step back for Barton with 2 Ks.

Are we looking at the 2009 2bman in Eric Patterson? Not encouraging.

"It's better to live rich than die rich" -- The Fat Lady

by geogrman on Aug 29, 2008 11:12 PM PDT 0 recs

Even worse on Staplehead: two straight Ks looking at what surely appeared to be strikes.

On the bright side, his pop-up catching skills are much improved over the early season dropsies.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Aug 30, 2008 12:22 AM PDT up 0 recs

Glad I missed this one!

Ouch! What’s up with Dan Meyer? Did the A’s brass and coaches do this to him? Terrible. What time is game time tomorrow? See you all then! Go A’s!

by A'sfansince1970 on Aug 29, 2008 11:19 PM PDT 0 recs

6:05 pm start

by OaklandSi on Aug 30, 2008 10:20 AM PDT up 0 recs

Well, I was in favor of giving Meyer his "one last shot" this season to see if he's going to be worth sticking with.

Right now, the magic 8 ball is saying “All Signs Point To NO”

by mikev on Aug 29, 2008 11:52 PM PDT 0 recs

You know, most people have no idea of the exact moment when their careers end.

Dan Meyer, however …

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Aug 30, 2008 12:24 AM PDT up 0 recs

The streak ...

… ends.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Aug 30, 2008 12:39 AM PDT 0 recs

With hat trick.

by lynnzgal on Aug 30, 2008 9:10 AM PDT up 0 recs

Is that called "being affronted"?

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 30, 2008 10:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

Full frontal interruptus

by lynnzgal on Aug 30, 2008 10:24 AM PDT up 0 recs

A policeman's lot is not an 'appy one

Polynesian Sauce may not be available in all locations.

by Englishmajor on Aug 30, 2008 11:03 AM PDT up 0 recs

I'm glad I was at the water park with Galt...

and, didn’t have to watch. Well, I wasn’t there the entire time… but, when I got home and saw the score, I decided that Tom & Jerry On-Demand cartoons (which we’ve seen 10 or 12 times in the last month, but which Galt nevertheless demanded to watch) were actually a better option than watching the A’s get trashed. And, hey, Galt made the right call.

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

by FoolshGame22 on Aug 30, 2008 2:09 AM PDT 0 recs

Rotoworld's saying that Gallagher will come off the DL Sept. 5.

With the off day on Monday, that probably means we’ve seen Meyer’s last start, and Gallagher will take his place next Friday with the other four lefties pitching on normal rest.

"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 30, 2008 8:31 AM PDT 0 recs

What about the double-header Saturday?

Smith will pitch one game, but no one will be on normal rest for the other – so I think they have to slot in Meyer, Saarloos, or Gallagher/Duchscherer.

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 30, 2008 10:08 AM PDT up 0 recs

Has anyone figured out why there's a scheduled doubleheader?

Did Baltimore schedule Tropical Storm Wanda for that Sunday or something?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Aug 30, 2008 10:11 AM PDT up 0 recs

there was an article a while back

that had another event in the Orioles’ park on Sunday

by OaklandSi on Aug 30, 2008 10:22 AM PDT up 0 recs

No, it's the Ravens opener and their stadium is close enough for major traffic problems

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

by Flashfire on Aug 30, 2008 10:29 AM PDT up 0 recs

that's it

I thought it was because of football, but was a little confused since the Ravens don’t play in the Orioles’ ballpark

by OaklandSi on Aug 30, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up 0 recs

Ravens play afternoon football game Sunday

Not in same stadium, but Baltimore didn’t want both games at same time.

A’s had option of playing Sunday night instead, then flying late to Detroit. Since that breaks union travel agreement, A’s players—led by union rep Huston Street—were allowed to choose the rare Saturday doubleheader instead.

Arte didn't get much Home Run Derby. He was dug in too deep or moving too fast. His idea of great R&R was cold rice and a little rat meat.

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Aug 30, 2008 10:31 AM PDT up 0 recs

posted this on the last game thread

after returning from the game last night:

nice night for baseball…a decent sized crowd…good pastrami sandwich adn guiness at the field’s pub…nice friends

(oh, did I forget something?)

oh well, tomorrow’s another game, I’ll be there as well

I heard Meyer on Extra Innings say over and over the he has to stuff to be a MLB pitcher, and that his problem is mental. When asked what that meant he kept repeating that he needed to attack the zone.

someone sitting behind me kept saying in the second and third innings as Meyer pitched “give him a chance, he’s been injured so much.” As soon as Meyer was mercifully lifted from the game his fan left.

Quite a few of the Twins’ hits last night appeared catchable, had the outfielders been properly aligned. Was it just a case of lucky “hit ‘em where they ain’t”, or a breakdown in communication with the outfielders?

Hoping for a better game tonight.

by OaklandSi on Aug 30, 2008 10:15 AM PDT 0 recs

I can't spell today

Meyer said that he “had the stuff”

by OaklandSi on Aug 30, 2008 10:17 AM PDT up 0 recs

Yeah, if he has TO stuff to be an MLB pitcher

then he should go old school and just wear a cup.

Arte didn't get much Home Run Derby. He was dug in too deep or moving too fast. His idea of great R&R was cold rice and a little rat meat.

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Aug 30, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up 0 recs

I don't know that he has the stuff,

but he certainly does not have the command. I don’t think that’s a FITZ thing; I think it’s a command thing.

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 30, 2008 2:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

maybe he needs to see a sports psychologist

He looked all kinds of messed up last night — wandering off/around the mound after every pitch, muttering, tons of nervous twitches. Looks to me like he has no idea where the ball’s going half the time.

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

by monkeyball on Aug 30, 2008 5:50 PM PDT up 0 recs

I went to the game..

and left early. I always stay for the entire game…but that was one lousy game to watch and on top of it it was much colder than I had planned for. I only brought a sweatshirt and I needed a full-on coat! Brr!

by IM4Oakgal on Aug 30, 2008 11:47 AM PDT 0 recs

I almost made the drive

from Fresno in order to secure a Cust bobblehead. I was happy I didn’t because of the on field result, but now that you mention the weather, I wish I would have. It’s 105 degree’s here in the sunny valley.

"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 30, 2008 11:53 AM PDT up 0 recs

It's hot out here in Contra Costa too...

but I usually know better. My husband said he had checked online and that it was going to be a fairly warm night in Oakland…but it wasn’t. I bet the blanket sales were up last night because I saw an awful lot of shorts and jorts being sported around the park.

by IM4Oakgal on Aug 30, 2008 11:58 AM PDT up 0 recs

I was fine with a sweatshirt and shorts

but I sit in the middle of 225, not near the aisles. The aisle seats often get the windtunnel effect, which is alot colder.

by OaklandSi on Aug 30, 2008 12:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

I was sitting in 107...row 21.

It’s right in front of the bar leading to MVP…and it was cold, cold. It is warmer near the back and my husband did go to a back row to watch a couple of innings. That and a visit to the Pub kept him there at the game a little longer lol.
We haven’t been to many games lately because my daughter has had a complication in her pregnancy and has been hospitalized since Aug.6. So, we are spending our free time hanging out with her . She’s pretty bored…and not expected to be released until the baby is born. She will deliver early but her due date is Oct 22. So we are only going to games that we have already purchased tics for. The next game we have tics for is on Sept 16 …against the Halos.

by IM4Oakgal on Aug 30, 2008 12:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

Sorry to hear about your daughters

complications, but I hope that all goes well. My middle daughter was born on the 23rd of October. 19 years sure do roll by fast.

"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 30, 2008 12:15 PM PDT up 0 recs

TY Alox.

We are all praying for her and the baby and so far so good! 85 percent of women who have ruptured membranes deliver within two weeks and she is still holding on. The baby is up to almost 4LBS so…her chances are very good.
You think 19 years goes by quickly? My daughter is almost 30 and having her own little girl. And the time has flown by… I am very happy with my children and count myself very blessed but I do miss those years with a busy family buzzing around the house. However, getting to games is much easier now…so that’s a positive that you will enjoy when your kids are grown and on their own.

by IM4Oakgal on Aug 30, 2008 12:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

Being no medical professional,

that sounds like good news indeed! She’s far enough along that the baby’s chances are most excellent should she deliver early.

No kidding about time flying by….although I think I’m in a most peculiar situation. My oldest is almost 22, and none of them are leaving the nest yet. They seem to harbor no great ambition to do so either. The rare teenagers who actually believe that it’s better staying with the parents and contributing nothing to their own existence, rather than believing it’s all the rage to support ones self. Perhaps I made it to comfortable for them. I used to believe that I would have a disposable income at this point in my life. I do, but the damn kids are disposing of it for me. Living with three daughters age 17, 19, and 21 is a trial. At least I have my son for some testosteronal sympathy, though he’s only six. The girls stopped being girls when I wasn’t looking. Now they are women, with all the drama and complications that go along with such an unfortunate (for me) condition.

"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 30, 2008 12:44 PM PDT up 0 recs

Two-edged sword...

If they go off to college…housing them is an enormous expense too. and BTW? Even when they move out they still hit ya financially. My youngest is 24 in grad school and we are still paying her car insurance and helping her out with all kinds of random bills…it never really ends. The middle daughter talked us into going in on a condo with her a few years back so we have half of that mortgage to pay every month and so on and so on. I always wonder how other families seem to disconnect so well from all of that. We always want to help our girls whenever we can but sometimes the thought of no obligations and spending it all on us is pretty tempting.
Take heart your girls will grow out of the drama stuff…and then you will findout that they are your best friends. :-)

by IM4Oakgal on Aug 30, 2008 1:11 PM PDT up 0 recs

Sadly, you make the case

that there is no hope for me. Mine are in school too, and I get the luxury of paying for their insurance and tuition also! The condo is out of the question! Though now that you mention it…..if it’s far enough away….lol. They’re good girls, it’s just a living hell for me to have to put up with four women in the house. In a lot of ways, my dear young bride is the worst. Queen bee syndrome and all that!

I miss being the smartest man in the whole world, and the best looking! Little girls are so much more fun than little women.

"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 30, 2008 1:20 PM PDT up 0 recs

by alox on Aug 30, 2008 12:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

I stayed till the end

Probably one of the more lopsided games I’ve seen in a while. When I got home I was able to catch this lil’ blip on Rotoworld to help temper my anonmosity toward Meyer:

Barry Zito dropped to 8-16 after being torched for eight runs — seven earned — in 3 1/3 innings by the Reds on Friday.

Zito was coming off back-to-back victories, but he wasn’t able to post three straight quality starts for the first time this season. Getting hit this hard by a pretty punchless Reds team is just another embarrassment. Not one of his eight wins this season have come against a team that ranks in the top 10 in baseball in runs scored. Four of them came against the clubs that rank 28th (San Diego) and 30th (Washington). Too bad he’ll never have a chance to face No. 29.

I felt better

by SwisherThresher on Aug 30, 2008 12:50 PM PDT 0 recs