Mystery Solved: The Butler Did It

by Nico on Sep 2, 2008 8:18 PM PDT Comment 48 comments

Gio Gonzalez may not handle a 6-0 lead very well, but honestly the best solution to this concern is not to give up 3-run HRs in the first inning. That’s what Gio did in his major league debut and it’s what he did again tonight. Following a walk and what was ruled an error when Aaron Cunningham slipped on the wet warning track and dropped a long fly ball, Billy Butler launched a 3-run bomb, the first of three hits that produced four RBI. Butler came in with a .984 OPS against LHP (.614 against RHP).

Meanwhile, the A’s not only continue to make a lot of outs, they also continue to fail at making the right ones at the right time. Trailing 3-1 in the 2nd inning with Barton at third and one out, Jack Hannahan struck out. Trailing 4-2 in the 5th inning with runners at second and third and one out, Rajai Davis bounced to third. I don’t like the notion of “manufacturing runs” so much as I favor the notion of “finding runs” – throughout the course of a game a team will usually find itself with some scoring opportunities and the trick is to carpe the diem when those chances present themselves. It’s better not to make outs at all, sure, but when you’re a lousy hitting team sometimes you have to set your goals realistically – if the A’s are going to be last in the league in hitting, and are not going to be big power threats either, at least they could get really good at scoring the runs that can be scored on outs.

On the pitching side, what can you say when your pitcher is Jack Cust: a lot of walks and HRs? This has been a problem for Greg Smith and it’s an issue for Gio Gonzalez as well. Gio threw 95 pitches in four innings, surrendering 3 walks and two HRs. Not so good – even though the HRs were the only two hits Gio allowed. On the plus side, lefty Josh Outman made his major league debut and tossed two scoreless innings, showing a fastball that sounded about 94-96 MPH.

Finally, it must be September because Daric Barton looked like a batting champion tonight, pounding a HR, triple, and single and driving home both A’s runs. I’ve heard of “second-half players” but this is ridiculous – at least give us August too, pool boy!

0 recs | Comment 48 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Wow

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

by Flashfire on Sep 2, 2008 8:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

They shoulda charged that error to the grounds crew

by Technotofu on Sep 2, 2008 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought you meant, "Wow, high scoring game - the Tigers' bullpen really sucks!"

Which it does.

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 2, 2008 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My reaction was

Wow, “Cunningham” looks a lot longer on the uniform than I would have thought.

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

by nevermoor on Sep 2, 2008 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rajai is very, very small

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

by monkeyball on Sep 3, 2008 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Holy cow.

Yeah, that shouldn’t be allowed.

by whiteshoes40 on Sep 2, 2008 8:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't know we signed Michael Phelps!

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 2, 2008 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Finally, it must be September because Daric Barton looked like a batting champion tonight"

QOTM for September Nico………..

Everyone loves the pool boy on a hot day, right?

by mrod on Sep 2, 2008 9:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He can still salvage what has been a disappointing season

with a great September. Before tonight’s game his OPS was .629. If he can get it above .700 by the end of the year, I’ll be very happy (not overall, but with the way he turned things around this month).

by thejd44 on Sep 2, 2008 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Someone tell Daric, "No diving on the warning track!"

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 2, 2008 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the warning track in KC tonight was deeper than the pool he dove into

by thejd44 on Sep 2, 2008 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So was the s*** Gio was in by the fourth batter

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 2, 2008 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thoughts on Gio so far?

After, what… 6 starts?

Called up too soon? Bad luck? Still learning, but ok?

???

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

by UncleLeo on Sep 2, 2008 10:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Called up too soon

Still learning of course.

Sure wish the fastball had more zip on it.

Hope he rebounds because he has had quite a few less than adequate outings in a row.

As long as it doesn’t damage his confidence, then hopefully he will be OK. I didn’t watch much tonight but he seems to be in deep do do when he falls behind because of his average fastball.

Outman had a good OUTing so that was good.

I hate unproductive outs and the A's are producing them at record production

by Trainman on Sep 2, 2008 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's struggled early on at every level he's tackled recently

I doubt he’ll suddenly “snap out of it” and be fine, but I’d expect gradual improvement.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 2, 2008 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only real concern at this point is that getting beaten a few times will somehow hurt him

But, like you said, he’s struggled like this in the past and survived. It’s not like this is his first time failing at a higher level.

by thejd44 on Sep 2, 2008 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So you're saying

He won’t suffer a case of the Bartons?

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

by nevermoor on Sep 2, 2008 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I'm not sure Barton's problem is confidence

I think he’s trying to tinker too much and getting away from what made him successful. There’s a fine line between necessary adjustments and too much changing what makes you a good player and I think Barton crossed it.

by thejd44 on Sep 2, 2008 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I meant more

“first time failing at a higher level”

But I agree that the problem isn’t necessarily confidence.

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

by nevermoor on Sep 2, 2008 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I haven't seen anything to suggest a shaken confidence, but...

that is my biggest fear for him.

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

by UncleLeo on Sep 3, 2008 12:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree Nico ...

this team is horrible at bringing in runners from third with less than two outs.

The disturbing thing is, it seems as if this is a problem for us every year. I will never understand how the A’s make something that ought to be so routine, so difficult.

I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.

by Vacafan on Sep 2, 2008 10:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it's two different problems

In years past, the A’s got a lot of guys on base, and more guys on base means more left on base. This is espeically try when a team walks a lot. A team can have a runner on third with 1 out, have two straight successful at bats (walks), a double play grounder, and nobody scores. It sucks, but it’s not necessarily that the entire team doesn’t know how to bat w/RISP or something.

This year, a lot of the guys just sorta suck at playing major league baseball.

by thejd44 on Sep 2, 2008 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This comment (and the original gripe in the thread) is as wrong now as it was the last time it was made

I know there have been at least two prior game threads in which someone or other claimed that the A’s were uniquely bad with runners on third and less than 2 outs. It was preposterous then, as 2 minutes’ research at baseball-reference could tell you. It is still preposterous now.

This topic should be a conversational non-starter at this point. I mean, there are enough things to complain about with this team. It’s hardly necessary to invent more of them.

Teams have bad games with RISP. It is going to happen in a long season. Considering the parlous state of their offense, the A’s have had FEWER of those games than one would expect.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 2, 2008 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But I saw it today

Therefore it has been a problem for over a decade.

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

by nevermoor on Sep 2, 2008 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This projection is not about issues

This projection is about a composite view of what people take away from these ballplayers.

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

by monkeyball on Sep 3, 2008 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Theoretically

The A’s get me on base via walks, not hits, and it’s hits that drive in runs.

But in point of fact - didn’t the A’s enjoy a great RISP average early in the season?

And - at the Minnesota game last week, looking at the Twins’ batting averages vs. the A’s, I noticed that there was exactly one guy in the A’s line-up, Kurt Suzuki, with an average higher than the guy on the Twins with the lowest average.

The A’s can’t hit. Got nothing to do with RISP.

by richwol1 on Sep 2, 2008 11:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

wow...

this place is like a dead zone. Both on the wraps and the ~~diaries~~ fanposts. I wonder why that is? Prolly, just a crappy A’s team.

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

by FoolshGame22 on Sep 3, 2008 2:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

{tarps off top third of AN}

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

by monkeyball on Sep 3, 2008 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

+1

rec’d

"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball

by flipgatey3 on Sep 3, 2008 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

bad idea to encourage me

“AN’s servers are simply inadequate for a Major League blog. Really, they’re awful. We have leased the right to state-of-the-art servers that we will migrate the blog to … in 4-5 years. Those servers will also dispense frogurt. Hey, where’d everybody go?”

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

by monkeyball on Sep 3, 2008 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and then the rebuild starts

and blez is traded for six high schoolers from LL

by flipgatey3 on Sep 3, 2008 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

qotm

by oakinboston on Sep 3, 2008 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The thing to worry about .....

at this point, I think, is Gio’s head. I was at the game last night, and between pitches he seemed like he was really dejected and actually WANTED to be taken out. He certainly didn’t seem willing to bear down and take hitters on. If he doesn’t have a good game soon, his confidence may be shot to the point he never comes back.

The older I get the better I was!

by Post379 on Sep 3, 2008 6:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If that's the case, then major league pitching is not for him

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 3, 2008 7:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chances of a game today: 40%

Chances of me getting pneumonia from sitting outside last night in shorts and flip-flops: 80%

Dale Staplehead is awesome…. I almost forgot about Ryan Sweeney, that’s how awesome Dale is.

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

by Jennifer on Sep 3, 2008 7:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"I almost forgot about Ryan Sweeney"

Blasphemy!

by whiteshoes40 on Sep 3, 2008 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously.

I wanted to knock Dale over the head and take him home with me.

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

by Jennifer on Sep 3, 2008 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just set out a kiddie pool with a bit of water in it.

He’ll knock himself out and then you can take him home.

by whiteshoes40 on Sep 3, 2008 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

just shorts and flip-flops?

They let you into the stadium like that?

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

by monkeyball on Sep 3, 2008 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes.

It was topless night at the K.

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

by Jennifer on Sep 3, 2008 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The ONE time I don't make it to a game.

by mikev on Sep 3, 2008 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

{snerk}

“flip-flops”

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

by monkeyball on Sep 3, 2008 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

While I didn't get the opportunity

to see the pool boy perform last night, I still can’t help but be a little bitter that we could never get this kind of hitting in a September or October that mattered.

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

by alox on Sep 3, 2008 8:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Surprise, surprise

Well, not really. Anyone not see this coming for Gio?

"Do you know that the guy really doesn't like baseball all that much?" - J.P. Riccardi

by black beane on Sep 3, 2008 9:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Not really

I figured he be taking his lumps early on but I’m not sure what’s going on with him.

You think Curt Young would have already bent him over his knee yelling, “Bad Gio! No pancakes for you tonight!”, while spanking him with a block of Wisconsin’s finest queso. Yeesh!

by mrod on Sep 3, 2008 10:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs