Loss Means Geren Is 86ed For Third Year In A Row

by Nico on Oct 3, 2009 4:04 PM PDT

If won/loss percentage told you anything about a manager, we would know that Bob Geren wasn't very good but day-am was he consistent. In Geren's first season, the 2007 A's were 76-86. In 2008, 75-86. In 2009, the A's have achieved 86ness again, 75-86 with one to play.

Dana Eveland started for Oakland (please let this be the last time I ever have to type this. Please, please, please) and speaking of consistent, Eveland consistently pitches really terribly. He keeps the ball in the park, but sadly this is his only attribute as he gives up walks and hits at a frightening pace. Today it was just hits -- 8 of them in 4.2 IP -- as Eveland neither issued a walk nor recorded a strikeout. Eveland was touched for 4 ER -- two in the 2nd, two more in the 4th -- and the A's trailed 4-0 until the 8th.

Oakland started the teAse early, rallying for two in the 8th on an Eric Patterson RBI triple with one out. Then in the "what could have been" moment, Cliff Pennington ripped one down the right field line that either picked up 4 grains of chalk (as Ken Korach suggested could have been the case) or landed three blades foul (Korach's other hypothesis). Pennington struck out on the next pitch -- Rajai Davis doubled to make it 4-2, but the A's could not get any closer.

Davis had two hits to lift his batting average to .306 and ensure a .300+ season unless tomorrow's game goes about 23 innings. John Meloan quietly extended his scoreless string with Oakland to 8.1 IP of 3 hit, 2 BB, 11K bullpen work, and Andrew Bailey tossed another 1-2-3 9th to lower his ERA to 1.86. There's that pesky "86" again.

Tomorrow, the A's try to avoid ending the season with 7 consecutive losses. The starting pitcher may be "the bullpen." Meaningless baseball...gotta love it.

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Comments

So there's room for improvement?

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Oct 3, 2009 4:06 PM PDT reply actions

At least we have consistency

Although not exactly what i had in mind

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Oct 3, 2009 4:06 PM PDT reply actions

86 em!

In play, tease(s)? by ElQuesoCapitan on Aug 15, 2009 3:27 PM PDT

by brian.only on Oct 3, 2009 4:07 PM PDT reply actions

The starter is the bullpen?

Ah, we got this.

I won't heal, given time.
I won't try to change your mind.
I won't feel better in the cold light of day.
But I wouldn't stop you if you wanted to stay.

by danmerqury on Oct 3, 2009 4:08 PM PDT reply actions

i know

we’ve been doing it wrong the whole time

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Oct 3, 2009 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh, and Go Reds, Go Blue Jays

Those are the teams that need to win for the A’s to get a better draft position.

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 Oct 3, 2009 4:08 PM PDT reply actions

what position are we vying for?

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Oct 3, 2009 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions

doggie.

Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy

by Leopold Bloom on Oct 3, 2009 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

rofl

by ElQuesoCapitan on Oct 3, 2009 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

we just finished that one

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Oct 3, 2009 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Somewhere from 8th-12th, I guess

7 teams have clearly worse records. San Diego and Houston also have 86 losses.

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 Oct 3, 2009 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions

i'm really hoping in future years draft pick trading is allowed

Considering that we might be 1+ year from being good, it would be ideal to trade a draft pick to team with a decent record but bare farm

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Oct 3, 2009 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions

It's just not fair with washington being around and all.

by ElQuesoCapitan on Oct 3, 2009 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd like to see Kilby

I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)

by BleedGreen on Oct 3, 2009 4:08 PM PDT reply actions

I want to see Jeff Gray.

by ElQuesoCapitan on Oct 3, 2009 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

You may be the first person ever to say that

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 Oct 3, 2009 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions

You're literally dirty right now,

or you literally want to see a guy named Jeff become a pale and dull color?

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 Oct 3, 2009 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions

you choose

by ElQuesoCapitan on Oct 3, 2009 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, what you saw wasn't pretty

three runs on three hits, and takes the loss!

"It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to be moved by statistics. " GB Shaw

by One won lost won on Oct 4, 2009 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions

from on the road in British Columbia, I see we lost AGAIN

alaska A residing in northern Idaho.

by ak_A on Oct 3, 2009 4:17 PM PDT reply actions

I would have to say

that at the start of the season I was all for firing Geren. Towards the end of the season I tempered that, but I still hate the way he juggles the lineup daily like he is a circus performer and not real happy with his management of the pitching staff. I guess I am just resigned to the fact he and Billy are joined at the hip. Oh well.

"Tonto think Billy Beane need to make team full of squirrels and bears."

by OptimistPrime on Oct 3, 2009 4:23 PM PDT reply actions

Call a surgeon!

by ElQuesoCapitan on Oct 3, 2009 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

So much for those dreams of .500, huh?

And Eveland is terrible. I don’t care what anyone says otherwise.

Last of the Ninth - Photography

by Flashfire on Oct 3, 2009 4:31 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Who says otherwise? That should be consensus!

"Tonto think Billy Beane need to make team full of squirrels and bears."

by OptimistPrime on Oct 3, 2009 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions

There are a few who think he's a lot better than his numbers show

Last of the Ninth - Photography

by Flashfire on Oct 3, 2009 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I think even they have seen the light

It’s hard to describe Eveland, objectively, as anything but a suckfest.

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 Oct 3, 2009 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Can I give you my opinion on Eveland?

LOL

I don’t need to repeat myself for the 1,000th time.

I will say that he should have been released 4 months ago.

He is worthless as trade bait.

I would however send him to the slegnA and pay Mike Scioscia several million as long as he pitches him in at least 150 innings next year. This would narrow the division a little.

Good Idea?

by Trainman on Oct 3, 2009 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions

He said his cutter turned his pitching ability around

…unfortunately, it was “360 degrees”.

"It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to be moved by statistics. " GB Shaw

by One won lost won on Oct 4, 2009 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Hard to win games

when 4/6 of your rotation are Edgar G., Gio G., Clay M., and Dana E. Throw in Kennedy’s work at 3B and you have a real problem that isn’t Geren’s fault.

by richwol1 on Oct 3, 2009 4:33 PM PDT reply actions

Totally agree

There is no good way to win with that motley crew.

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 Oct 3, 2009 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions

It's also hard to win games when your offense consists of a couple of rocks and a hamster.

by ElQuesoCapitan on Oct 3, 2009 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL

“A couple of rocks and a hamster”, THAT is genius!!! : )

"Hi, I'm Bob Geren, I need to be fired today!"

by slkierley on Oct 3, 2009 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Actually, raccoons

"Tonto think Billy Beane need to make team full of squirrels and bears."

by OptimistPrime on Oct 3, 2009 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions

The raccoon was shot in the knee.

by ElQuesoCapitan on Oct 3, 2009 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Crap I knew I was doing something wrong this afternoon by not coming to AN

to watch the A’s lose on Gameday yet again. Crap, crap, crap.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....

by pookeyguru on Oct 3, 2009 4:46 PM PDT reply actions

Geren is still here why?

So I am curious if Billy Beane and the evil franchise known as the Oakland Athletics are going to keep up this charade they are calling “baseball,” and finally get rid of Geren? Do they even want to win or are they doing the “Major League” thing by in hopes that having a losing season, they might get to move wherever they want to? Ie; Vegas, or Portland for that matter? WTF guys?? Come on already!

"Hi, I'm Bob Geren, I need to be fired today!"

by slkierley on Oct 3, 2009 4:50 PM PDT reply actions

Remember

In BillyWorld, the manager is really a non-entity, so we will be stuck with the Human Vending Machine of Mediocrity, aka Bob Geren

"Tonto think Billy Beane need to make team full of squirrels and bears."

by OptimistPrime on Oct 3, 2009 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Head over to the Eric Wedge fanpost and put your argument there.

Keep in mind, of course, that "the best defense of Derek Jeter's life" ranks somewhere in between "the best fiscal responsibility of Mike Tyson's life" and "the best not-getting-assassinated-ness of James Garfield's life." -FJM

by travdog6 on Oct 3, 2009 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions

OT

Sideline reporter: “How do you stop Jahvid Best?”
Pete Carroll: “We have to tackle him.”

"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."

by lenscrafters on Oct 3, 2009 5:14 PM PDT reply actions

That's pretty diplomatic

He could’ve just said “Get a lead big enough that they have to pass on every down.”

Last of the Ninth - Photography

by Flashfire on Oct 3, 2009 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm not a fan of "sideline reporters"

A couple years ago, some sideline reporter asked a coach (I think Lloyd Carr) at halftime if he knew the injury status of a star player. Carr just said, “Yeah,” and walked away. I loved that.

by JLaff on Oct 3, 2009 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, at least I skipped going to the Cal/USC game.

Cal didn’t even bother to wait to the end of the season to take a gigantic shit, I see. Oregon dismantled them and USC is doing the same.

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Oct 3, 2009 6:33 PM PDT reply actions

Eveland's first three innings were not actually all that bad

but of course, once he’d gotten through the lineup once, they just had batting practice off of him…

Problem is, the resurgent A’s offense seems to have run out of gas a week too early.

A downer game to be sure, but I’m still basking in the glow of the postgame event for season ticket holders. I described it a bit more in the fanpost about the event.

by OaklandSi on Oct 3, 2009 7:18 PM PDT reply actions