It's a Strickout-fest in Beantown; A's go down swinging (and looking)

by Flashfire on Jul 27, 2009 7:45 PM PDT

Josh Beckett threw 33 of his first 40 pitches for strikes. There was no way he could keep that pace up but he didn't need to. Trevor Cahill's rough outing guaranteed that as the Boston Red Sox took the first game of the series by a count of 8-3.

Beckett had very little trouble with the A's offense, tying a season high with 10 strikeouts. He went 7+ innings and wound up allowing 8 hits, 3 runs and a walk, but that doesn't tell how dominant he was early in the game as he only allowed a pair of hits over the first five innings. Beckett threw 77 of his 103 pitches for strikes (74.8%) and that's, um, pretty good.

Cahill's night was the complete opposite, only getting through 5 innings. Though he struck out 5, he gave up 10 hits, 6 runs, walked a pair and coughed up a home run to Dustin Pedroia in the bottom of the first. Only 61 of his 110 pitches were strikes (55.5%) and he didn't have a single 1-2-3 inning.

Jacoby Ellsbury did what you want any leadoff hitter to do, picking up three hits, scoring after a triple and driving in a run of his own. Pedroia hit a sacrifice fly in addition to his homer while Jed Lowrie pushed his average above .100 with a 2-run double off Edgar Gonzalez on a ball that probably should have been caught down the left field line. Instead it dropped in perfectly and bounced into the seats. Adam LaRoche had a pair of doubles. Yeah, the Red Sox had quite a few offensive highlights tonight.

For the A's, even though the bats woke up a bit later in the game and they got to Beckett a little, it was too late to really threaten at any point. Adam Kennedy and Ryan Sweeney had a pair of hits apiece and Kurt Suzuki had a couple RBI but that's pretty much where the good things begin and end.

The most glaring mistake came early in the game after Eric Patterson singled off Beckett's foot. After a throw over to first, Patterson took off on the first pitch to Kennedy, who swung and popped out. After sliding into second Patterson got up past the base and when he turned to hurry back to first he forgot to step on the bag. It's a mistake that just can't be defended no matter what the circumstances are. I know his first thought is getting back to the base to avoid being doubled off, but it doesn't matter when you forget to touch the one you wound up passing. Maybe you can chalk something like that up to youthful inexperience but it's something that ought to be taught at every level. It may be the only time he ever does it but for someone like Patterson, who's trying to impress the team, it can't help in the long run.

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Its worth much,

Flashfire. Thanks.

by lynnzgal on Jul 27, 2009 7:47 PM PDT reply actions

That’s a great caption.

As for the game and such, it may be time to send Trevor Cahill to Triple-A.

(Oh, and what Lynnz said.)

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by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 27, 2009 7:47 PM PDT reply actions

I like that idea

Cahill is a potential star, but he really was brought up too early. He’s already pitched a lot of innings. It’s probably time for him to go back down and not worry about giving up home runs for the rest of the season.

by rovingralph on Jul 27, 2009 8:09 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd really like to see that

Get the extra year of contract control and give Cahill a chance to relax, in a lower-pressure setting, and work on his repeatable mechanics.

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 Jul 27, 2009 8:22 PM PDT up reply actions

And bring up who?

…and will sending him down actually improve his chances of being a quality major league pitcher?

Trevor Cahill started the season very well. Something is wrong somewhere, and once it’s fixed, he’ll be back in sync. I’m not sure if sending him down is the answer - the A’s are going to lose an awful lot of games the last two months of the season. Will the team be any more successful with Edgar Gonzalez, for example?

by richwol1 on Jul 27, 2009 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, it may have more to do with preserving his arm. Let’s not kill it. After a few more starts when there are about exactly two more months left in the season, I’m not opposed to shutting him down.

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by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 27, 2009 9:28 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think he started out quite as well as it seemed

He wobbled out of a lot of jams, but his mechanics, control, etc. were issues from the git go. He has work to do — but some of it, frankly, is about contract control. If he has stuff to work on, and the need to slow down the IP, I’d like to see him relax in the minors for a couple months and have him in 2015.

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 Jul 27, 2009 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Just glancing at the numbers, he did have a decent 3.68 ERA just a few days over a month ago. I know that ERA and stats aren’t everything. I don’t think he started out “well” like Rich said, but he was holding his own. It’s tough to watch him now. Send him down now or shut down him down after a few more starts.

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by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 27, 2009 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions

He wasn't nearly as good as his ERA looked.

Just like Brett Anderson wasn’t nearly as bad as his ERA looked.

"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."

by mikev on Jul 27, 2009 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Maybe not....

…but still, he was holding his own - which I consider pitching well for a 21 year old rookie. It seemed to me that he was the guy who would make the transition to elite pitcher this year, rather than Anderson. But maybe Nico’s right, and it was pretty much an illusion.

I still think there’s nothing gained by sending him down. The six-man rotation idea sounds good, though. Weird, but good.

by richwol1 on Jul 27, 2009 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions

+1

I was a big proponent of sending down Cahill earlier in the year (or not bringing him up at all) but at this point in the season, there’s no point. You can’t save an arbitration year anymore if you send him down and sending him down might have unintended consequences (loss of confidence, etc). What he needs right now is to continue to adjust to major league, not AAA, hitters.

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

by lenscrafters on Jul 27, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions

What I didn't remember when I posted last night

is that the AAA season is over less than two months from now. So never mind.

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 Jul 28, 2009 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions

Give Mortenson a shot

They say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing all the time!

by muffinpryde on Jul 27, 2009 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions

It'll keep him cost controlled longer too.

"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT

by travdog6 on Jul 28, 2009 1:02 AM PDT up reply actions

Simply amazing play by the Pirates in the Giants game

and the umps got the call wrong (cost a run). Torres at 3B, two out, Winn a looping liner to RF, Garrett Jones comes on, clanks it off his glove, then leg, then kick-saves it in the air and 2Bman Delwyn Young makes a diving barehand catch. Unbelievable play — but the umps ruled that it hit the ground (which it never did).

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 Jul 27, 2009 7:59 PM PDT reply actions

Wow.

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by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 27, 2009 8:01 PM PDT up reply actions

It was actually one of the more amazing plays I've seen,

in that the 2Bman had no idea what was coming, the ball caromed a couple different times off of Olson, yet Young had the presence of mind to make an all-out dive to barehand it.

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 Jul 27, 2009 8:07 PM PDT up reply actions

The Pirates and their fans are surely asking themselves

Why can’t we have nice things?

I'm a happy seal

by SwisherThresher on Jul 27, 2009 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Jack Wilson made a pretty phenomenal play earlier, too

A diving shorthop stop in the hole at SS, then threw out Randy Winn from his knees.

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 Jul 27, 2009 8:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Sending Pitcher(s) to the Minors

seems like a perfectly reasonable idea at this time. I guess the other question is, Which one(s)? But I’m also interested in the 6-pitcher rotation options (if they had six viable pitchers). Anderson has been very different with an extra day, and Braden was weak on his last start. I only heard a bit of today’s game, don’t know if Cahill had stuff or not. Still, I wish I knew what to do with Mazz and Gio. I was sure that Mazzaro had big-league stuff his first inspiring starts. What happened?

Oh, and can I say it again: if you put vulnerable pitchers out there and want them to succeed, you have to put the best fielding line-up you can in the field. Every day. Every inning. It’s only fair. Errors aside, it seems like, rep-wise, O-Cab was a better SS than he has been. I assume there are stats that count things like “tough play counted as infield single but damn, a hot SS coulda nailed that one.”

by paris7 on Jul 27, 2009 8:33 PM PDT reply actions

Cahill needs to be sent down.

"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."

by mikev on Jul 27, 2009 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I have felt this way since spring training

but I don’t anymore. He is going to have to learn to get major league lefties out. make him do it hear, and don’t pull him in the 3rd when he has given up 5 runs.

by Future Ed on Jul 27, 2009 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm happy leaving Gio up for the moment.

His last start suggested to me that he’s learning from the experience.

The one upside to the A’s being totally out of it is that decisions about what pitchers to keep in Oakland can be made largely on this basis. We can afford to be less interested in who is going to get wins than in who is going to benefit from pitching in the bigs at this point in his career.

There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.

by GreenNGoldSooner on Jul 27, 2009 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions

much better talked

by Future Ed on Jul 27, 2009 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions

A few thoughts

2 games and 2 bad jump on fly balls by patterson. He is not a CFer. Put Ryan or Scott in CFer and Patterson in left or right. Cust took atleast 6 pitches in 1 AB and never swung. Is Cust have trouble seeing the ball? Wny is Nomar still on the team. They don’t need a PH. If Ocab stays then we need to release Crosby.

by Arcman on Jul 27, 2009 8:40 PM PDT reply actions

The problem is, Ryan and Scott aren't CFers either (not on a good team).

The A’s need to stop futzing around with people out of position and 4th OFers, and … y’know … get a starting CFer.

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 Jul 27, 2009 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Out of position

You don’t mean kennedy at third and Crosby at first. I would say Ryan is the better of the three. In the last 2 games I seen 4 balls that could be caught drop in.

by Arcman on Jul 27, 2009 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions

I can't say who's better between Sweeney and Hairston until

Hairston has time to get acclimated, but certainly the early returns suggest Sweeney is the ~~best~~ least not that good of the three.

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 Jul 27, 2009 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions

But is Patterson good anywhere?

Seriously. What does he add to this team.

Buck should be up and Patterson should be down in AAA. Can this guy even be called AAAA at this point?

There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.

by GreenNGoldSooner on Jul 27, 2009 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Patterson basically has no future, because

as a guy who hits for no power and does not play any position well defensively, the only way he could possibly help a team is by either hitting .300 and/or by stealing 30-40 bases — which requires getting on base. It’s unfortunate, but the fact that he is not a good defensive player pretty much seals his fate as a career pinch runner.

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 Jul 27, 2009 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Some encouraging signs

In the last couple of games for E-Patt. Offensively that is. He swung the bat well today, ripping a few for long outs and hitting a solid come-backer to Beckett. Granted, he is a huge liability on defense, but I see some signs of E-Patt breaking out offensively to some degree.

That being said, I would much rather see Cunningham and/or Buck in the outfield right now. I think our best outfield alignment is Cunningham/Hairston/Buck-not alot of power but overall pretty solid offensively and potentially very good defensively. I do think it might be beneficial though to trade for a true centerfielder though…

Jack "The Must, Just has no Rust, ain't no Bust, after him the ladies Lust, turns pitchers into Dust, likes his pizza with no Crust" Cust

by FrankCohen on Jul 27, 2009 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions

They have to work on there communication

The one by Patterson was because he did not get a good jump on the ball but most of the fly balls that should have been caught, (there have been a lot of them) are because the fielders are not communicating. Two examples are the one O-Cab should have caught in the 7th last night and the one Ellis missed in NY over the weekend.

PREPAREDNESS_Because those goddamn zombies aren’t going to kill themselves

by adragon on Jul 28, 2009 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions

The A's are, by some measures, one of the worst teams in the AL?

correct?

They have lost 4 of 5 games to two of the best teams in the AL?
correct?
whats the big deal? Scored runs on bad yankee pitching, scored some runs on good boston pitching.

Gave up more runs than they scored. Big deal. Enjoy the baseball until october cuz it;ll be gone then.

Its not going to be 2001-2 this year.

by Future Ed on Jul 27, 2009 9:02 PM PDT reply actions

Enjoy the baseball until october cuz it;ll be gone then.

Well, football will be back by then and I also love the NFL and college football.

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by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 27, 2009 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions

what does i-t-semicolon-l-l mean I wonder?

by Future Ed on Jul 27, 2009 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Mmm

Once again I get to root for U of O to trounce the Pac-10. Inevitably their QB will get injured and we will rely on our 3rd string QB for most of the year.

"I feel like we are sending Danny Haren for Mulder all over again." - Cardinal fan on the Matt Holliday trade

"But at this time of year, two plus two doesn't always add up to eight. Sometimes, it equals four." - Geoff Baker, Mariners beat writer.

by Orodawg on Jul 27, 2009 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Nice.

My Ohio bff has been killing me these last two years.

by lynnzgal on Jul 27, 2009 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Boomer Sooner

Once again, OU will somehow win the Big XII only to get slaughtered by a team from one of the coasts in the still largely mythical national championship game.

It’s like rooting for the Buffalo Bills in the early 1990s without the legitimacy of a playoff system!

There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.

by GreenNGoldSooner on Jul 27, 2009 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Pretty much

I mean, losing Dixon sucked after ‘07. But ’08 we lost our first THREE QB’s. I’m surprised we even had a winning season. Our running game was fantastic though.

"I feel like we are sending Danny Haren for Mulder all over again." - Cardinal fan on the Matt Holliday trade

"But at this time of year, two plus two doesn't always add up to eight. Sometimes, it equals four." - Geoff Baker, Mariners beat writer.

by Orodawg on Jul 27, 2009 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Lulz

Lincecum just finished a 15 strikeout, 2 run complete game.

Dude’s arm is gonna fall off in 3 years.

"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."

by mikev on Jul 27, 2009 9:25 PM PDT reply actions

only 115 pitches

by richwol1 on Jul 27, 2009 9:28 PM PDT up reply actions

it might still

"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 Jul 27, 2009 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Didn't listen today, but saw some highlights

I don’t agree with others than Cahill ought to be sent down. He hasn’t had the seasoning maybe we’d like, but what’s he gonna do in Sac? Probably pitch to a bunch of guys like Eric Patterson (who SHOULD be sent down) and then end up back here at this time next year in the same boat. He might as well learn to get outs against big league hitters.

I do, however, like the idea of a six-man rotation to reduce his innings

"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 Jul 27, 2009 10:14 PM PDT reply actions

slegnA going after Cliff Lee

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-angels-fyi28-2009jul28,0,6435140.story

Do not want but if they want to win the WS they need Halladay or Lee because without it the slegnA pitching will not get it done. Saunders has turned into garbage, Ervin Santana is terrible except when it comes to us and the pen is too shaky.

They stop hitting and they will open the door for Texas who has gained back 2 in the last 2 days.

My favorite team is a fucking embarrassment to all true A's fans and they make me sick to my stomach on an almost daily fucking basis. But being a true fan, I will ride this pathetic bunch of losers out and hope that they get better in 2010

by Trainman on Jul 27, 2009 11:05 PM PDT reply actions

I hope the Rangers get into the playoffs instead of the Angels.

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by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 27, 2009 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions

isn't it past your bedtime?

"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 Jul 27, 2009 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Hey, it’s the summer.

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by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 27, 2009 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions

right

Guess that means you’ve only been awake for like 8 hours then.

"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 Jul 27, 2009 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions

It’s actually been 12 hours.

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by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 27, 2009 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions

nice

ah those were the days.

Did you see Nelson Cruz’s blast in TX. That s—- was launched.

"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 Jul 27, 2009 11:36 PM PDT up reply actions

No, I haven’t seen any highlights yet.

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by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 27, 2009 11:46 PM PDT up reply actions

So was Soriano's walkoff.

"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."

by mikev on Jul 27, 2009 11:47 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't know about that guy

He’s been good, but last year was clearly fluky. Nevertheless, they’d be dumb not to go after him, especially considering the disgrace of having their current pen and krod racking up saves in NY.

"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 Jul 27, 2009 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions

beckett

not to take away from how good beckett’s control was last night, but it’s gotta help knowing that your opposing hitters as a group can’t handle your fastball. i mean, it was just nauseating seeing him pump one fastball after another. his fastball is good, but i mean, throwing, like, 10 fastballs in a row and not have anyone come near putting good wood on it? how sad can our line-up get?

by tas7b on Jul 28, 2009 7:39 AM PDT reply actions