Starters Continue to Shine as A's Beat 'Backs, 6-1
by 67MARQUEZ on Mar 12, 2009 4:05 PM PDT
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PrintA's 6, Diamondbacks 1
The A's continue to get solid efforts from their starting pitchers; Vin Mazzaro being the latest as Oakland defeated Arizona, 6-1.
The young right-hander gave up four hits and a walk, but not a single runner crossed the plate against him. The nine outs posted by Mazzaro came in a variety of ways: four by ground, two by air, one on strikes, and two caught stealing.
Bob Geren's starters have now allowed just ten earned runs in 38 innings this Spring.
The A's pushed a run across in the bottom of the first off of ex-Athletic Dan Haren, thanks to a pair of walks and a two-out knock by Mark Ellis.
Rajai Davis displayed excellent glove work in the fourth to rob Chad Tracy of extra bases (PxP extraordinaire Higher Pie with the radio call), and the much-maligned Bobby Crosby followed suit, nearly turning a 5-4-3 DP after a walk to Justin Upton. Having relied a little too heavily on his defense, Gio Gonzalez struck out Chris Snyder to end the inning, and then came back to "K" the side in his subsequent trip to the mound.
Oakland scored in the fifth on another two-out hit, this time by Jason Giambi, whose single plated Travis Buck. Were it not for a double-play ball off the bat of Rajai Davis, the inning could have been much more productive for the A's, who had to settle for just the one run on four hits.
The Home Nine needed a little less effort to make it 3-0 in the sixth. Landon Powell led off the frame with a single, and was promptly pulled for pinch-runner Corey Wimberly, who advanced to second on a walk to Joe Dillon. The runners moved up 90 feet on a balk, and Wimberly touched home on a well-placed groundout by Cliff Pennington.
Sean Doolittle's two-run blast after the stretch stretched Oakland's lead to 5-0. Joe Dillon later followed with his team's third two-out RBI single of the day, scoring Chris Denorfia with the A's final run.
The shutout stayed intact in the eighth when Josh Outman induced a 6-3 double-play to escape a bases-loaded jam.
Jerry Blevins gave up Arizona's lone run in the ninth before closing things out for the A's, whose five pitchers combined to shut down the Diamondbacks.
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Be nice...
If ever a game should have been called on account of wind, that one was it. Good thing Jerry Blevins didn't have to pitch; he's tall, skinny, and I could practically see one of the 40-mph gusts...sweeping him off the bump and pinning him to the left-field fence. --Mychael Urban
Mazzaro delivers
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Mar 12, 2009 5:59 PM PDT up reply actions
blevins
he’s struggled most of this spring, i would step up beimel negotiations
also mulder’s audition is going to be soon
Great recap!
You’re a natural ;-)
"I know they're the defending World Champs, but they are the whiniest team in baseball" -Rays announcers
The Prince
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Mar 12, 2009 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I HAVE THAT HAT!
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
work prevented me from listening to the game
until the sixth inning.
Funny how Doolittle’s blast interrupted what Buan was chatting about…
he was reading some poor saps email
Buan might be the worst in radio at finishing emails and giving away tickets for the best email
Farmer John looks fit at first.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Mar 12, 2009 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Though it's the spring...
the young pitchers continue to excel. It doesn’t really say that they’re all ready for the show… but it also proves that they aren’t very far away. The key will be getting them to start games against a team’s first string and try go 4 or 5 innings.
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
Travis Buckand the Valley Ho
He gets faster, betterer care.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Mar 12, 2009 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Betterer care is better than better.
It’s betterer. You can taste the betterery betterness.
AN: the new twitter of sportsblogs. -Dogfather
by Leopold Bloom on Mar 12, 2009 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions
GIO
He really looks like he’s dealing this year. I watched the MLBTV broadcast last Saturday, and he looks to be in control of all his pitches. He’s my sleeper for the rotation -
1. Duke
2. Eveland
3. GIO
4. Braden
5. SMAC (Simmons – Mazzaro – Anderson – Cahill)
Gallagher might need to start the year on the DL or AAA – I’m not sure what his problem is, but it’s very similar to last season.
The problem is we're still three and a half weeks away from opening day
And he was still feeling the effects of the flu for his last start.
ah
didn’t know about the sickness. I still don’t think he’s all that special. Very Straight fastball. No strike out pitch. I hope I’m wrong.
by Colorado Fan on Mar 12, 2009 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I like Gallagher's stuff. I think it's plus+
He just needs a little time to settle down. The kid has lots of talent and I don’t think Billy Beane would have asked for him in the Harden trade if he wasn’t really talented. I know from the reports that I read the Cubs did not wan to make him part of that deal but that’s also why they got Chad Gaudin as well, in addition to the health insurance part of it. If you ask me, when all these guys start clicking the rotation is gonna be scary good.
Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox
His fastball is anything but straight
Command is an issue, but he really gets a lot of movement – including one he starts right at a left-handed hitter and brings back over the inside corner.
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
Socks get a hit
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Mar 12, 2009 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Mazzaro has been impressive
From the slew of reports this past week about his spring work, it sounds like he’s very much the front-runner for one of the rotation spots. Maybe today makes him a lock.
Slusser was speculating that there is a very real chance that Gio could start the year in the bullpen. That move, I do not get. I made similar noises regarding Outman, so I’ll just say that I really think homeboy needs to be in AAA if he’s not starting in the bigs. I don’t trust Geren to use him effectively enough to aid in his progression (as PT suggests could work).
My expectations for the year are tempered, but this rotation arms race (aaaaaaaaaaaand pun) is pretty exciting stuff.
I just remembered I love Eric Chavez.
Gio shouldnt be in the pen.
Id rateher him start in AAA then be in the pen on the big club.
"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
The Socks on Easy Street
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Mar 12, 2009 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions
"but this rotation arms race (aaaaaaaaaaaand pun) is pretty exciting stuff."
and here I thought the cold war made me tense….
Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox
Good lord Blevins
You pitch in the later innings of all these games meaning that you’re facing minor league hitters. You should not be giving up a run every time out, get your shit together.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
Socks lead off second; ump nose best.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Mar 12, 2009 6:09 PM PDT up reply actions
lol, thanks for the Socks pics. :)
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball." -- Connie Mack
Go A's
Nice writeup
Glad to see the Gio is getting it together. Sounds like Mazzaro wasnt particularly good. I want to start all of MAC in the minors personally, but if anyone is up early it should behind Cahill imo.
I miss Chad God
Mazzaro hasn't given up a run yet
but he hasn’t been particularly good? No comprende’….. :(
Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox
mrod
My statement clearly meant that his performance wasn’t particularly good this last start. Careful about taking what I say out of context.
I miss Chad God
Wasn't particularly good
But didn’t give up any runs. Which is pretty good.
Bob Geren and Ken Macha both enjoy jai lai.
by CarGon's Jock on Mar 13, 2009 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions
spring training stats
hey does anybody know a good site for finding preseason hitting and pitching stats for the a’s? i don’t know where to look. thank you in advance…
Bill James on Duane Kuiper: "It's absolutely incredible that a player this bad could be given 3000 at bats in the major leagues." -- Baseball Abstract, 1982
by blueconversechucks on Mar 12, 2009 5:11 PM PDT reply actions
Nice win, bitches
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Mar 12, 2009 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions
thanks!
that’s why captain obvious is my favorite superhero. i need him more than most people do.
Bill James on Duane Kuiper: "It's absolutely incredible that a player this bad could be given 3000 at bats in the major leagues." -- Baseball Abstract, 1982
by blueconversechucks on Mar 12, 2009 5:18 PM PDT reply actions
Now, run anyway
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Mar 12, 2009 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions
...from the dreaded Dugout Tarantuhand that ate Papago Park
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
Y'all c'mon down. Bring cams and connectors!
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Mar 12, 2009 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Bob 'splains it all to you, though Su Slu.
That’s all for now.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
Excellent pictorial and commentary!
Who was this sultan of sock, this hero of hosiery, this stalwart of shinwear? Ah, Wimberly — Corey Wimberly. -Uni Watch
A few random observations.
I thought Vin was getting hit pretty hard. He was fortunate no one scored in the first inning. He looked best in the third.
Haren was verry shakey in the first inning — couldn’t throw strikes. After that he settled down and looked like, well Haren.
Rajai robbed a homer to deep center off Gio. Gorgeous catch over the wall! After that, Gio found his groove and looked very sharp.
Michael Weurtz (sp?) looked pretty good, too, as did his wife who is pregnant, from Nebraska and his biggest fan (and gonna get bigger). They hope to live in the WC. I love Spring Training.
Corey Socks is very fast. His ANtics on base led to the balk — pitcher could not concentrate on throwing to home plate. A disruptive force on the basepaths.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
This is good scouting
Mazzaro’s line points to luck. 2 CS’s – thanks diamondbacks. The Gio homerun rob is too bad, I mean better than it being a HR ofc, but still I was hoping he was completely dominant. Isnt the longball his weakness?
I like Wuertz, he is one of those BP guys that the A’s always seem to find that ends up having a great season due to our ballpark, our defense, and some sort of karma factor…which may or may not be really advanced pitching metrics – like maybe he gives up a lot of grounders that go to 2B…
I miss Chad God
Thanks for the at the game report Dogfather.
I especially love the pics….
Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox
I say bring up the MACs now
Just let their learning curve start now so it can end as soon as possible. Option Outman/Gio/braden.
If you had a lineup of 9 Jack Custs who hit(Cust career average) .239 AVG, .382 OBP, and .475 SLG, then your team would score 6.12 runs per game-totalling to 991runs a season.The 08 rangers lead the majors in runs score with 901.
by the way, I just watched Dennis Reyes
stink about as bad as a pitcher can stink, in the WBC Cuba-Mexico game.
He’s probably not normally as bad as he looked, but all the same I’m glad the A’s didn’t sign him.
Question for the knowledge laden
Is Denorfia really playing for team Italy, and if so is he really actually playing in A’s ST games as well? Or is something awry betwixt my ears?
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Mar 12, 2009 11:30 PM PDT reply actions
He *was* playing for Italy
Yes, in fact, Denorfia was starting for Italy, but they lost two games in round 1 and got bounced from the tourney on Tuesday. So he’s rejoined the A’s. It appears he hit .400 in the tournament.
Too bad — Italy was a fun team to watch. I don’t know if I’d be able to handle TWO Cinderella teams in what is now an 8-team field, though.
Why would Denorfia be playing for the Italian team? Well, Vinny Rottino of the Brewers said on MLB.com “[T]hey told me they literally looked at big league rosters for names that sounded Italian.”
(“It’s-a me, Denorfia!”)
In any case, the WBC and the MLB Network have been the methadone for my baseball withdrawal.
the official rule is that at least one grandparent
must have been born in the country that the player will represent.
I think only Italy really had many players whose only apparent connection was their last name.
(Also, most of Holland’s players are from the Dutch Caribbean islands.)
He played for Team Italy until they were eliminated
Now he is back in A’s camp and will see time in the next couple of games.
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton
Thanks
For some reason I thought Italy was still playing. I just can’t get excited about the WBC. It is a little annoying as an A’s fan to have players not in camp because of this goofy tournament. I know the Padres and Astros are not expected to compete, but can they really be happy having their aces throwing super competitive innings in early March? I would think not, but if it’s just about promoting the game then maybe they are fine with it.
Maybe they could move the WBC to August and shorten the regular season by twenty games or something once every 4 years. Or maybe not. Yeah, on second thought that would not work. Ok, they should dump this WBC thing.
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Mar 13, 2009 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions
ryan sweeney hype
great spring and i think he’ll be a solid player, but its possible he’s a 4th OF, platoon type.
he probably only an above avg CF defensively and might be better off in RF. also there might be 3 better defensive CF’s in davis/denorfia/copeland. also like buck there’s some durability issues.
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