The A's Win A Series!!!!

by baseballgirl on Sep 10, 2008 1:22 PM PDT

Taking a cursory glance at Gallagher’s line today as he returned to the A’s rotation is a bit scary. Any time a pitcher is throwing a no-hitter, but is pulled after four innings, you either assume injury, or a whole lot of pitches. Today was the latter, as Gallagher struck out six, but also walked six. It was actually kind of hard to tell how well he pitched; I’m convinced the Tigers batters had no idea where any of his pitches were going, rendering him effectively wild, but not very pitch efficient.

Before Gallagher even took the mound today, he had a lead, as back-to-back homers (are we allowed to do that?) by Sweeney (sadly, the only one on the team now) and Cust staked the A’s to a 2-0 lead; one that they would not relinquish. The first inning set the tone for how Gallagher’s line would end up. He faced six batters to the tune of: walk, strikeout, walk, strikeout, walk, strikeout, leaving the bases loaded, but not surrendering a run. I’m not sure that ‘shutdown inning’ applies, but the overall effect worked.

The A’s extended their lead in the fourth, as Patterson and Cunningham both singled to drive in runs, putting the A’s up 5-0.

The Tigers got two back in the sixth as Blevins and Casilla struggled, but the big inning was avoided by a great play by Jeff Baisley over at third to get a much-needed double-play. The parade of A’s bullpen pitchers continued as Embree, Street, Devine, and Ziggy handled the rest of the game unscored upon; the game ending with a déjà vu play of a deep drive off Ziggy to the wall, where the runner at first was doubled off for the last out of the day. Street ended up with the win (scorer’s discretion) and Ziggy the rare three-run save.

All in all, it wasn’t a bad day for the A’s, who showed some pop from their bats, some hits from their rookies, and some actual bullpen work.

In other news, Gio Gonzalez is heading for the ‘pen, and rookie Josh Outman will make his starting pitching debut for the A's on Saturday against the Rangers. The A’s head home and will kick off the Rangers' series tomorrow night at 7:05.

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Comments

More like the A's win two series in a row!

Let’s keep up the momentum – gotta make sure the A’s finish with a better record than the Gnats.

"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 Sep 10, 2008 1:28 PM PDT reply actions

A sweep of the Rangers would put us nearly or completely even with them, with two weeks to play.

Let’s do that, fellas.

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

by The Dogfather on Sep 10, 2008 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes!

Perhaps “we” can get screwed out of another much better player in the draft based on some meaningless games!

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 10, 2008 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions

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

by The Dogfather on Sep 10, 2008 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions

I can see

tanking for kevin durant, but for the opportunity to draft the 17 year old third baseman from paducah instead of the junior from san jose state, ehhh…?

"...in baseball you wear a cap." -- george carlin

by Hot Cup Joe on Sep 10, 2008 7:01 PM PDT up reply actions

KD's not worth tanking.

Gimme a LeBron or a Duncan.

I generally bemoan the profusion of Mr Sabermetric Sporks in the Scrabble ranks who don't know the meaning or usage of 50% of the words they use. -monkeyball

by JediLeroy on Sep 10, 2008 9:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Not meaningless

I have a big $1 bet with a 10 year old friend that the A’s will finish ahead of Texas

by Miata71 on Sep 10, 2008 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions

you'd take $1 from a 10-year-old? That's cold.

cocky whacko @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 11, 2008 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Meaningless?

What’s your definition of a meaningful game?

You think they’re going to magically start winning next year after sucking for so long? I’d much rather watch the young kids play well and put up good stats. That would most likely lead to wins. Their further development would mean a brighter future, sooner.

I generally bemoan the profusion of Mr Sabermetric Sporks in the Scrabble ranks who don't know the meaning or usage of 50% of the words they use. -monkeyball

by JediLeroy on Sep 10, 2008 9:40 PM PDT up reply actions

The "young kids" could put up good stats and still lose...

I don’t think it’s accurate to say that I want the A’s to lose, or finish behind the Rangers, or whatever. I just don’t really care whether they do or not. I’d rather see the “kids” play well and the team lose than the opposite scenario.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 10, 2008 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions

We have to do finish better than the Giants

I can’t believe that we only have three more wins than San Francisco. I almost feel sick.

by green_and_gold on Sep 10, 2008 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Celebration!

Sure feels a lot better when we win.
Remember to vote for Bill King today http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/awards/frick_2008/vote.jsp

"And sometimes, when it seems like all hope is gone, Life tosses you a special gift of a baseball game" . 7/10/08 BaseBallGirl headline

by LongTimeFan on Sep 10, 2008 1:29 PM PDT reply actions

Damn, that's a whole lot of info they want

birthday?
phone, email, all that. Grief

by MobiusKlein on Sep 10, 2008 7:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Put in any fake info you need to?

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

by Flashfire on Sep 10, 2008 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions

The HOF is building an army

cocky whacko @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 11, 2008 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Good win for the team.

Did anybody watch this game? I only had Gameday on here at work and said that Gallagher was hitting 93-94 on the gun consistently through his outing. Just want to see if someone else could verify that. While the wildness is concerning, as long as his arm is in good shape he’ll be fine.

I'm never gonna do it without the fez on!

by Taj Adib on Sep 10, 2008 1:38 PM PDT reply actions

That's what Fosse said

I didn’t see it, but on the radio they said that he was hitting 94, sometimes 95. Since they were at the game, I assume they know what they are talking about.

We're just in a team-wide funk. ~Mark Ellis

by #14fan on Sep 10, 2008 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions

It would be hard to no-hit a team for even 4 innings with so little command

and not be throwing pretty hard — unless Gallagher is suddenly throwing a knuckleball.

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

by Nick on Sep 10, 2008 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Or a really good forkleball

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 Sep 10, 2008 9:16 PM PDT up reply actions

knork you.

I generally bemoan the profusion of Mr Sabermetric Sporks in the Scrabble ranks who don't know the meaning or usage of 50% of the words they use. -monkeyball

by JediLeroy on Sep 10, 2008 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions

For the good of The Game: Break up the Athletics!

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

by The Dogfather on Sep 10, 2008 1:41 PM PDT reply actions

Outman's already made his MLB debut

If you’re not lying, i recommend seeing a doctor. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 10, 2008 1:48 PM PDT reply actions

Maybe she meant A's debut as a starter?

by mikev on Sep 10, 2008 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions

I did...sorry.

So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one

by baseballgirl on Sep 10, 2008 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Ryan homered (!!) and I missed it.

He hates me.

by whiteshoes40 on Sep 10, 2008 1:51 PM PDT reply actions

You can see it on the MLB.com highlights.

Go to the A’s main page.

Runs Please. A lot of them. The rest of the season. Thank you.

by One won lost won on Sep 10, 2008 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Just watched all the highlights...

Ry’s catch was pretty sweet, too. Nice shades, buddy… going for the Milton look?

by whiteshoes40 on Sep 10, 2008 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions

To the moderators, and Blez. Why isn't the BBWAA link not on the front page

this year for easy access to vote for Bill King????

by theblackpearl on Sep 10, 2008 2:09 PM PDT reply actions

Cause it gives me an excuse to post every day :)!

"And sometimes, when it seems like all hope is gone, Life tosses you a special gift of a baseball game" . 7/10/08 BaseBallGirl headline

by LongTimeFan on Sep 10, 2008 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions

No offense

but I really can’t figure out why so many people feel the need to plug this thing so constantly. Is there a rule that the words “Ford Frick Award” must appear somewhere on the fanpost scroll at all times?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 10, 2008 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

And you don't remember Bill King.

So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one

by baseballgirl on Sep 10, 2008 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions

I had a weird moment today--

listening to the end of the radio broadcast, when the voice says “here’s Ken Korach” before the postgame wrap, I totally expected to hear, “…here’s Bill King.” I miss him…

by whiteshoes40 on Sep 10, 2008 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't listen to the radio...

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 10, 2008 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions

All I can say PT

is that you missed out brother………sadly missed out not listening to the radio and missing the most excellent Mr. Bill King. There will never be another like him.

by mrod on Sep 10, 2008 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions

I remember and miss Bill King ...

… but I feel the same way about the Frick that I do about the All Star Game and individual postseason awards: meh.

cocky whacko @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 10, 2008 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Same here,

Bill King doesn’t need a reward for me to know that he was great.

by Kimberly on Sep 10, 2008 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Jeez, Paul

Dissing the admiration folks feel for the late great Bill King AND openly pulling for the A’s to lose games, all in one lightly trafficked game wrap thread.

Don’t blow all your cynicism at once…there’ll be trick-or-treaters to stiff in less than two months.

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 Sep 10, 2008 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions

I didn't say "Bill King sucks," I said the constant plugs for this award are getting tiresome

I mean…

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 10, 2008 6:14 PM PDT up reply actions

If he wins it, you won't have to see them again. ;-)

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

by Flashfire on Sep 10, 2008 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes, hence the

“dissing the admiration folks feel” sentence construction. It’s not a big deal, just, you know, why rain on our parade? I mean, I don’t believe in God, but I still refrain from telling the parishoners how tiresome that incessant Sunday worshiping is.

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 Sep 10, 2008 6:52 PM PDT up reply actions

There's a bit of a difference between ordinary churchgoers

and a guy standing outside your house banging a bass drum and yelling about Jesus every morning.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 10, 2008 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I'd probably not like that either if it happened.

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

by Flashfire on Sep 10, 2008 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't mind Nico, it's the sacramental wine talking

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 Sep 10, 2008 8:01 PM PDT up reply actions

So I like Guzman - we really do need a good 3Bman, you know

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 Sep 10, 2008 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't mind Devo, it's the Sacramento whine talking

cocky whacko @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 11, 2008 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions

Maybe you should shrink your browser text.

I generally bemoan the profusion of Mr Sabermetric Sporks in the Scrabble ranks who don't know the meaning or usage of 50% of the words they use. -monkeyball

by JediLeroy on Sep 10, 2008 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions

they make pills for that now, you know

cocky whacko @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 11, 2008 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions

prediction/suggestion for MSM beat writers

Off-day filler feature story for 9/15 or 9/25: anecdotal reax quotes from hitters/coaches/prominent (i.e., overrated) defensive CF specialists about Rajai’s wheels.

After today’s second Rajai-started game-ending DP, I’m starting to feel more charitable toward Jay Payton — I think Rajai simply gets to flyballs that no “normal” OF gets to.

cocky whacko @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 10, 2008 4:53 PM PDT reply actions

That was purely bad baserunning...

Most MLB CF would have caught that ball today. Was a pretty easy play for him and routine.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Sep 10, 2008 5:33 PM PDT up reply actions

I have tickets for all three weekend games

should be fun

by OaklandSi on Sep 10, 2008 5:15 PM PDT reply actions

I'll be

slamming my hand in a car door in front of a small crowd of surly onlookers. That should be fun too!

"...in baseball you wear a cap." -- george carlin

by Hot Cup Joe on Sep 10, 2008 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions

by Nico on Sep 10, 2008 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions

I saw the boxscore for the Giants game today

and thought I was looking at yesterday’s

Wilson with another blown save, surrendering 2 runs – again. And once more, the Giants strike back in the bottom half of the ninth for the win. Poor DBacks.

by SwisherThresher on Sep 10, 2008 9:40 PM PDT reply actions