A's Conclude Metrodome Era With Forgettable 8-0 Suckfest

by Nico on Sep 13, 2009 2:51 PM PDT

Gio Gonzalez gave up 7 runs in 3+ innings -- not even his worst effort this year against the Twins -- and the A's managed to score 0 runs on 10 hits. Any questions? Or is it sufficient to say the Twins scored 3 in the 1st, another in the 3rd, and 4 more in the 4th, Gio is still very much a work in progress, and other than Rajai Davis getting 3 hits to raise his average to .310, really nothing good came of this farewell to the Metrodumb.

So rather than drone on and on about a game you should just forget as quickly as possible, I'll let you know that I'll be back at 5:00pm with a post about BABIP, and I'll leave you to discuss anything you want until then...

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Didn't get to listen to or watch the game

checked in in the 8th and (unfortunately) didn’t regret missing it.

Another thing I won’t regret missing is the Metrodome. RIP, suckdome.

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

by Nick on Sep 13, 2009 2:56 PM PDT reply actions

Impressive

It’s very difficult to get ten hits in a game, plus three walks, and not score a single run. I mean, let’s give credit where credit is due.

by richwol1 on Sep 13, 2009 3:00 PM PDT reply actions

I think that the lack of multilpe game threads and the lack of comments within the one that was up says it all!!

There is no A in OFFENSE!!

by wacchampions on Sep 13, 2009 3:01 PM PDT reply actions

Don't know if anyone mentioned this in the game thread...

Gio looked dejected from the very first pitch. I didn’t watch much of the game but even before the game started it looked like Gio wasn’t mentally all there. His apparent bad attitude or mental weakness or whatever it is has been noted by others on this site, even though he appears to have the stuff to succeed it seems to me that until he gets his head straight we’ll be watching more outings like this one.

by Keze on Sep 13, 2009 3:15 PM PDT reply actions

+100,000

Gio has a huge problem in that area

by Trainman on Sep 13, 2009 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions

a while back Ray Fosse interviewed Gio about that TV shot after Hairston hit the grand slam

and Gio seemed completely detached from it in the dugout. Some people here questioned him because of it. Gio explained that he has been trying very hard to control his emotions when he pitches. He tries not to show emotion on the mound or in the dugout, not joy, nor anger, nor excitement nor sadness. He assured Ray that he was jumping up and down inside, but that he simply couldn’t turn it on and off on the days that he pitches. That may be part of what you saw.

I don’t think it’s an issue of attitude (not like, for example, Vicente Padilla) but rather that he is trying so hard to control his emotions. Besides how he often lets the game get to him, he also mentions how he is still working on trying to master two new pitches. On his last start he had some success with at least one of them…but not today…and people here have pointed out that he needs more than his fastball and his curve in order to be really effective.

by OaklandSi on Sep 13, 2009 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

What it ultimately comes down to right now

is that Gio has an excellent curve but not a lot else. His fastball doesn’t generate a lot of swings and misses — it may have decent velocity but it’s not hitting spots, or missing bats, enough. The changeup is very much a work-in-progress and Gio is as wild in the strike zone as he is outside of it … and he’s plenty wild outside of the strike zone.

I’m as big a believer in the mental side of the game as anyone, but Gio’s problem right now is his fastball and his changeup.

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 13, 2009 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree

by OaklandSi on Sep 13, 2009 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

And unless he develops the change etc

he is going to need to be a reliever.

by Trainman on Sep 13, 2009 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions

In no way do I know or even have the ability to judge where he SHOULD be pitching...

how long will management let him pitch like this (i.e. – inconsistent performances) without making a move to put him in the bullpen? How long does it take to determine whether a pitcher is better in the bullpen or not? He has not pitched the entire season – but is one season enough? Just curious to know what the collective wisdom is on this.

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." Red Barber

by BERRYJO on Sep 13, 2009 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions

I suspect Gio's high K rate

(more than a batter/inning, among the best in the league amongst SPs) will keep him in the rotation for a while, as it portends well for his ability to get hitters out as a starter.

I would guess that all of next season, if Gio pitches well enough he’ll start for Oakland and if he pitches poorly he’ll pitch for Sacramento — basically the treatment Eveland has gotten the past two seasons.

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 13, 2009 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions

No, one season is not enough, depending on how good/bad he actually is

Mike Moore sucked for 3 seasons (covering 81 starts) before becoming effective — and even then, he mixed bad seasons in with good. More recently, Gavin Floyd was terrible in short stints for 4 seasons with the Phillies and White Sox (totaling 41 starts) before the light went on and he started pitching well on a consistent basis. Joe Saunders’ first 30 big-league starts (over 3 seasons) were pretty bad, then he had a very good season last year, and has regressed some this year.

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

by Nick on Sep 13, 2009 5:15 PM PDT up reply actions

And then there's Gil Heredia.

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 13, 2009 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions

And look, there's my lunch...

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

by Nick on Sep 13, 2009 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Now do that while throwing a pitch,

and we’ll call it “doing a Peterson.”

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 13, 2009 6:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh my deal lord Gil

Whatever happened to him after giving up 6 runs with only 1 out in the decider – 2000 was it? I think Wash got picked up on mic in that game saying he was a good pitcher but past it.

by SheridanH on Sep 13, 2009 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions

If you think the Metrodome was dumb

at least it was a dome.

they will be playing so many games in Milwaukee when the snow season stretches out into May like its been doing, worst idea to go open air.

by PL78 on Sep 13, 2009 3:21 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah I really dont understand why they did not go with the retractable roof...makes no sense!

There is no A in OFFENSE!!

by wacchampions on Sep 13, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Does anyone know/remember what it was like when the Twins played in Municipal Stadium?

I’ve been an A’s fan since before the Metrodome was built, and I don’t recall regular snow-outs or anything when they played in Minnesota. In fact, IIRC, in 1981 the A’s started their record-setting 11-0 start in Minnesota before sweeping the Angels in Anaheim, so the weather in April ’81 was okay!

I think the Metrodome was built mainly to keep the Vikings and their fans out of the bad weather, not for the sake of the Twins.

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

by Nick on Sep 13, 2009 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions

MN Weather

You have to keep in mind we’re spoiled in California. There are some nice days in MN, no doubt, but the vast majority of summer days are humid. It’s not exactly pleasant to sit around perspiring, unless that’s their plan to sell lots of beer at the game (at least that way you wouldn’t care that you’re perspiring). Not to mention the t-storms, rain (usually over fast, but there are days where it just drizzles without letting up) and cold. It’s very uncommon to have snow around in April, but that doesn’t mean the weather is pleasant either. Hate to say it but the Minnesota fans who aren’t die-hard tend to be very fair weather. If the team isn’t doing well and the weather isn’t good it will be a hard stadium to fill.

by Jernskogen on Sep 14, 2009 5:52 AM PDT up reply actions

I would have gone with "Metrodump" instead of "Metrodumb"

Went out there this year for business and caught a game. Not a stadium I’d recommend.

by HRH on Sep 13, 2009 8:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I've been there three times now...

…including this past weekend, and while it’s certainly not the Taj Mahal of baseball, I don’t think it’s as bad as so many people say either. I’ve enjoyed myself when I’ve gone there.

Maybe Candlestick is my benchmark for total stadium suckness.

In 2008 I was watching a team that was rebuilding. In 2009 I feel like I'm watching a team that just sucks.

by UncleLeo on Sep 14, 2009 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions