Sloppy Play, Crooked Numbers, and One Missing Hit Sink A's 9-8

by baseballgirl on Sep 23, 2009 11:02 PM PDT

The A's end up on the wrong side of tonight's slug-fest as the four unearned runs they allowed in the fifth--after they had put up a 5-spot in the previous inning--prove to be too much for their offense to overcome. Although they did score 8 runs in the game, they should have also scored the the tying run.

Texas led off the game with two runs on a sac fly and a double to give them the early 2-0 lead. They would double this lead in the fourth on a single and a homerun; the score was 4-0 Texas before the A's could even manage to get a hit.

It would take until the fourth inning before the A's had their first hit, but it was soon followed by five more. Davis started the parade with a one-out single, Sweeney doubled, Suzuki singled, Cust singled, Ellis doubled, and with two outs, Pennington singled to complete the five run rally for the lead.

Unfortunately, the A's didn't like the lead.

Thanks to four hits and two errors (and could have/should have been another error on Pennington in the inning), Texas regained the lead with four runs. The last two were scored after a double-steal, on a hit by Byrd after he had taken what looked like strike 3.

The A's scored single runs in the next three innings; a homerun by Patterson (!!!!), a single by Barton, and a double by Davis, but they allowed Texas to score one more to bring their total to 9.

The seventh inning should have been more lucrative for the A's, as both Suzuki and Garciaparra struck out with Rajai Davis as the winning run on third.

They wouldn't score again.

Wuertz and Bailey kept the Rangers off the board in the eighth and ninth; Bailey with yet another perfect inning with two strikeouts. His ERA is now 1.93, and as Korach said, "If Andrew Bailey isn’t the best rookie pitcher in baseball, I don’t know who is." Forget rookie pitcher; Bailey is one of the best pitchers in baseball right now.

Fun fact: Patterson now has a higher batting average than Cust.

See you tomorrow afternoon for the conclusion of this series. A's try to split the series at 12:35.

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Was at the game tonight

Bad pitching and some untimely bad fielding really killed them tonight. Too many hits, and those errors really opened to doors to some runs that put and kept the Rangers ahead. Can’t blame the hitters on this one, even if they failed a few times in the late innings they put up 8 runs, and you can’t ask for much more than that.

I gotta say, I haven’t been to a game for a few months, but it sure was nice to see an offense that can actually put some runs on the board. The A’s put no one on in the first three innings and my feeling was, “Here we go again!” But in the fourth they turned it around in a hurry. I know the A’s lost tonight, but the fact that they scored as many runs as they did is extremely encouraging after watching a team the past 3 years that was lucky to get 3 or 4 runs. I will be excited to have Rajai, Pennington (even if he screws up some plays) maybe even Patterson and Barton on this team next year; the potential is there for these guys, we are seeing it now, and maybe adding a key veteran or two will make this at least an average offense going forward.

"To tell the truth, I'm not excited to go to Cleveland, but we have to. If I ever saw myself saying I'm excited going to Cleveland, I'd punch myself in the face, because I'm lying" - Ichiro

by Philip Christy on Sep 23, 2009 11:25 PM PDT reply actions

Tonight was fun even though they lost.

Obviously a team with a rotation of Mortensen, Eveland, Gio Gonzalez and Edgar Gonzalez isn’t going to have a tough time of it in the early innings. But even so, when you’ve got a bunch of fast hitters who try to make things happen, there’s fun to be had at the ballpark.

I would like to see the last of Jack Cust. His passivity and lack of ability to actually hit a baseball may be acceptable at the end of a season when one is looking at statistics, but he may be one of the dreariest players I’ve ever seen in a major league uniform. Betting on the four choices: called, swinging, walk or other… gets tiresome after a while. He’s not inept. He’s just dull.

by richwol1 on Sep 23, 2009 11:33 PM PDT reply actions

I mean...

…isn’t going to have an easy time of it in the early innings.

by richwol1 on Sep 23, 2009 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Jack Cust is having a down year

and considering all the production from the others in the second half, his second half is abysmal to say the least.

With today’s economy, he is not worth anywhere near $5 mil in arbitration but that’s just my opinion.

If the prospects come through over the next year or two then the situation will take care of itself. He will not be here.

by Trainman on Sep 24, 2009 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions

He probably won't get 5 mil anyways.

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 Sep 24, 2009 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Mortensen's sinker

Just wasn’t working nearly well enough. Too many line drives and most were spanked. Rajai keeps it going. Still can’t believe he’s the same batter I saw in April.

If we had to lose, at least it was entertaining. I’m hoping we can put up a few runs early tmw for BA

"It's better to live rich than die rich" -- The Fat Lady

by geogrman on Sep 23, 2009 11:47 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Just returned from the game

Kennedy’s error that prolonged the first inning and helped lead to a run reminded me of the start of Monday’s game — but this game was better than that one. But too much sloppy play gave this game to the Rangers.

(sigh) I have tickets for only two more games this season

by OaklandSi on Sep 23, 2009 11:50 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Tough loss last night

Hopefully our A’s will come out swinging and running today to split the series.

by A's Fan in Virginia on Sep 24, 2009 3:08 AM PDT reply actions

Another tough night...

for the Rajai haters/doubters!

by Keystone State on Sep 24, 2009 5:11 AM PDT up reply actions

...

There are no Rajai haters. And those of us who doubt him only do so from a realist point of view. I would absolutely love if he could sustain this level of production. To insinuate that any A’s fan wants to see him fail is insulting and ridiculous.

Please remedy my confusion
and thrust me back to the day.
The silence of your seclusion
brings night into all you say.

by danmerqury on Sep 24, 2009 8:04 AM PDT up reply actions

Even we Raj-lovers

aren’t wondering if he’ll regress next year, just how much.

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 24, 2009 8:05 AM PDT up reply actions

can anyone tell me how Mortenson got a (L) in that game?

he pitched 4.2 innings and 7 runs were given up (3 erned) and the texas pitcher pitched 5.2 innings and gave up 7 (all earned). The W and L has to be one of the worst stats in baseball and how the scorer gave the loss to Mortenson Im just really not sure, but i didnt watch the game.

"Gratuitous gesticulating together sounds even better"

by OmahaHi on Sep 24, 2009 7:14 AM PDT reply actions

It's just the way the scoring rules work

Hunter pitched the minimum amount needed to be eligible for the win and even though he wasn’t very good once the A’s got to him Texas never gave up the lead he left with, so he gets the win.

Conversely, even though four of the runs Mortensen allowed were unearned, it’s his loss because the team couldn’t tie it up after he left. Simple as that.

Last of the Ninth - Photography

by Flashfire on Sep 24, 2009 8:43 AM PDT up reply actions

How the $#($#*@

does Mark Ellis get charged with an error last night? For making a perfect relay chest high to the plate that Suzuki missed? That should either be an E2 or no error. Ridiculous and unfair to a fielder who has been hosed out of the GG before and likely will be again.

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 24, 2009 8:07 AM PDT reply actions

The official scorer last night was

to put it simply — completely screwing up calls.

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 Sep 24, 2009 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I agree

The ball seemed to square pretty directly towards Suzuki’s glove and it looked simply like a missed catch.

by Jackson23 on Sep 24, 2009 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions

It was definitely an error...

the ball got past Suzuki, which allowed the runner from 2nd to go to 3rd. Not saying it should be on Ellis, just saying there should be an error.

"To tell the truth, I'm not excited to go to Cleveland, but we have to. If I ever saw myself saying I'm excited going to Cleveland, I'd punch myself in the face, because I'm lying" - Ichiro

by Philip Christy on Sep 24, 2009 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions

I was at that game -- whoever called that was either

high or on drugs — or both.
It looked like a perfect throw from where I was sitting, and Suzuki just dropped it.
I’m ticked. REALLY REALLY ticked.

Awww… Unicorn's optimistic. And a cheeseball. That’s cute. ~Whiteshoes40

by #14fan on Sep 24, 2009 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions

I meant drunk or on drugs

Awww… Unicorn's optimistic. And a cheeseball. That’s cute. ~Whiteshoes40

by #14fan on Sep 24, 2009 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Pray tell, where were you sitting?

I happened to be at the game as well.

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 Sep 24, 2009 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions

I did make it. I was initially up in 243, but I went down to 121, and sat down, when

the usher wasn’t there, and I was the only one in my row, and since I was in a shirt and tie, I guess she didn’t worry about me. She asked everyone else around me for there tickets, but the only thing she said to me was nice tie. I was at the top of 121-122. first seat from the top

by theblackpearl on Sep 24, 2009 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I never heard a gymnastics yell :(

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 Sep 24, 2009 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions

we sorta wandered around

because our seats were bad… we were in 232, but I was walking around the field level when the really bad call was made.

You’re coming to the tailgate, right?

Awww… Unicorn's optimistic. And a cheeseball. That’s cute. ~Whiteshoes40

by #14fan on Sep 24, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Yep

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 Sep 24, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Yay

Awww… Unicorn's optimistic. And a cheeseball. That’s cute. ~Whiteshoes40

by #14fan on Sep 24, 2009 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions

A few observations:

- It was pretty obvious (to me at least) that Mortensen was pretty gassed by the time David Murphy came up with 2 outs in the 5th. He had to throw some extra pitches in the early innings due to the errors, he was a having a hard time keeping the ball down and the Rangers were running wild on the bases. Kilby was warming up in the bullpen, and the Ranger lineup went Murphy (L), Byrd® and Blalock (L). Sure, it was nice to let Mortensen see if he could man up and get an out to get out of the inning, but he surely wasn’t having his best night out there and if I were Geren in that situation, I would have pulled Clayton and gone for the lefty-lefty matchup of Kilby v. Murphy in order to limit the damage immediately and prevent the big inning and another plate appearance by Han Blalock with runners on base. Alas, that didn’t happen and the Rangers put up a 4-spot in the inning, which proved to be the difference in the game.

- It’s hard not to admit that Cliff Pennington is showing more with the bat than previously advertised…but last night was a good example in that his defense still leaves something to be desired, at least from my perspective. He got to a few well-struck balls, but just didn’t field them very cleanly and didn’t keep them in the infield. I think with a fairly groundball-heavy starting staff, it’s going to be important for the A’s to ensure that the infield is manned by technically solid fielders, especially in the up-the-middle positions. I like Pennington’s arm and quickness, but he’s still a little too erratic for my taste and probably for Clayton Mortensen’s as well. Man, I would still love to get ahold of JJ Hardy…partly because of his field acumen and partly because I think Pennington would be a great backup infielder at short, 2nd and even 3rd…

I'm never gonna do it without the fez on!

by Taj Adib on Sep 24, 2009 9:46 AM PDT reply actions

OF's

if you remember a couple months ago, the A’s basically handed the CF job for a few games to patterson after the holliday trade He struggled for a few games, the sent him down and its been rajai’s spot since.

Sweeney his progress the last 3 months has to be exciting. Last yr he was basically an opposite field slap hitter. I recall many times lately he’s been hitting doubles to left center with authority, he still needs to pull the ball more and take advantage of that power.

Patterson- if he was even avg defensively at 2b/OF his versatility might be more useful. In limited AB’s he’s done well in September. But i still they should at least give buck a similar chance. It would be nice if someone cleared up this situation and some honesty from the A’s side. The handling of buck + the hairston injury situation seems to be very secretive and poorly handled by geren with his vague statements

Despite last night’s game, i think pennington has proven to at least be an above avg defensive SS.

by Asfan4ever723 on Sep 24, 2009 10:52 AM PDT reply actions