Well That Smarts -- Breslow Coughs It Up In the 8th
by Nico on Aug 21, 2010 9:21 PM PDT
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PrintHe may be the smartest man in baseball, but once the pitch is thrown the brain takes a backseat and the brawn takes over. And though he wasn't facing hitters of Ryan Braun's stature, Willy Aybar and Sean Rodriguez proved that when you don't locate your fastball you're in trouble. Aybar's RBI double, followed by Rodriguez' 2-run HR, turned a 4-2 A's lead into a 5-4 Rays' advantage in the 8th inning, undoing Brett Anderson's solid 7 innings (2 ER) and the offense managing 4 runs off of All-Star game starter David Price.
There was much wailing on AN about Bob Geren's decision to stick with Breslow as Aybar (switch-hitter) and Rodriguez (right-handed hitter) batted, and while I think Brad Ziegler would have been a solid choice to face Rodriguez (though he likely would have faced the left-handed Matt Joyce), I also think it made sense to roll with Breslow. Andrew Bailey is scheduled to come off the DL tomorrow, but for one more night the A's were just short-handed with Bailey out, Wuertz having been really inconsistent (and probably tabbed for the 9th anyway), Ziegler too shaky against lefties to bring in to face Aybar, Henry Rodriguez just way too green and volatile for this kind of situation, and Breslow having been pretty solid in these situations throughout the year. I think there was more than one right choice, and I'd say that both Ziegler and Breslow made sense. Breslow blew it, so it goes.
The ramifications, however, are steep. With a win the A's could have pulled to within 6 games of Texas; instead it's just two steps forward, one step back when the team needed to take a bunch of steps forward in order to make it truly interesting.
On the plus side, along with Anderson's return to top form you have to love Daric Barton's 3 for 3 with a walk, including a pair of line drive singles. Get a couple sluggers behind him and you're in business. Put Kurt Suzuki and Kevin Kouzmanoff behind him, however, and...you'll lose by a run instead of winning by a run.
Braden's perfect game tomorrow will still give the A's a series win against a great team. I wonder how the A's will score to win 1-0 despite Matt Garza's no-hitter. Stay tuned.
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but but
who was it? the other day in an interview after a game….“our relievers are the strength of this team”.
alaska A currently residing in northern Idaho. --- theme for august = remain calm and try to truly enjoy a .500 team.
About that, I think bullpens are more important
than a lot of folks think. One of the reasons the Padres are so good this year is that not only is their rotation pitching well but when they get 6 good innings from a SP and take a lead into the 7th, they’re so deep that they put those games away. Which allows them to lose the occasional “can’t score” games.
I’m not saying you should spend $7M on relievers, but I do believe it’s worth trying to get 4-5 deep with relievers you feel good about in high leverage situations. Without a powerhouse offense, you have to get these games, and for all the Geren-bashing the reality is that the bullpen just isn’t that deep.
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
Bullpens are definitely important, but there's still lots and lots of good, inexpensive relievers out there.
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on Aug 22, 2010 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions
I think the A's had the right idea this year
with Bailey, Devine, Wuertz, Ziegler, Breslow, Blevins. It just didn’t all work out so well.
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
and I am sticking with nico's post game thread
no CT for me tonight. I need quiet.
alaska A currently residing in northern Idaho. --- theme for august = remain calm and try to truly enjoy a .500 team.
You know you want to.
"You're all like big fat failure turtles." - Edge
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 21, 2010 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions
oh no, I am going hang out here. (puts feet up)
alaska A currently residing in northern Idaho. --- theme for august = remain calm and try to truly enjoy a .500 team.
You have good taste
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
What if you hang out in both threads?
"You're all like big fat failure turtles." - Edge
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 21, 2010 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions
Then you're bisexual.
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
re: Breslow
Sure he’s been good in those situations before but the signs were there for a replacement. Aybar hit him hard, coupled with Rodriguez being a righty and I would’ve brought in Rodriguez or Ziegler. Geren waited one batter too long and it cost the team.
It sucks because this is one of those games where you absolutely have to close it out. Now you have to win tomorrow and hope Texas stays cold because the road trip is looming and we all know how those usually turn out.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
Should note that the second Rodriguez is of the Henry variety.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Aug 21, 2010 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions
HotRod!
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Aug 22, 2010 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions
I guess it's a matter of opinion whether the signs were there on Breslow
I’m not sure that one drive to the gap is evidence of that. The walk to Peña hurt a lot, but the fact is Breslow walks too many guys — it’s part of his profile that occasionally he walks guys he should be putting away. I didn’t really feel his stuff was bad tonight at all and given the choice of Breslow-Rodriguez or Ziegler-Joyce, I’d take Breslow against the righty.
Henry Rodriguez has had a couple nice outings, and I’m encouraged to see it, but no way is he the right choice in that situation. In fact, if you go to him and he gets the out then you got lucky with a bad move. And if he gives it up then you are fair game for criticism.
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
But I want to blame Geren
So I’m not going to listen to anything else.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Aug 21, 2010 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't see a problem
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Aug 22, 2010 12:26 AM PDT up reply actions
i do.....
it geren. thats the problem. if not the call in yesterdays game then so many others in previous games
by heartstopper on Aug 22, 2010 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions
It's sad that the we lead AL in ERA
The SP has been lights out and we cannot string more than 5 wins together for the whole season.
Oh, having defended the bullpen management as reasonable,
let me say, in no uncertain terms, GIVING CLIFF PENNINGTON A DAY OFF? You have a day off Monday, he’s playing great, he’s hardly looking a step slow right now, and you have a shot to get back into the hunt after being left for dead. WTF?
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 Aug 21, 2010 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Tolleson is the future!
But on a serious note, this isn’t the first time that Geren has done something like this. In that one Texas series in Arlington a while back he sat Cust and Barton in the same game.
The apparent lack of accountability in the organization with regards to management is alarming. Combined with the rest of the horrible decision-making and infinite injuries and it’s a very hard time to be an A’s fan. This does not seem like the Beane we were shown in Moneyball.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Aug 21, 2010 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Let's not forget that Travis Buck is an auto-out
and allows opposing pitchers a luxury every time he comes up.
He should be kicked out of the clubhouse and told to find another line of work
larish is right handed, no?
why is he here?
Speak of why is he here, is weird beard still on the dl? is he OK?
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
no sense in playing a hot hand, they might cool off ....so why risk it. don't play him period.
alaska A currently residing in northern Idaho. --- theme for august = remain calm and try to truly enjoy a .500 team.
How do you know that Moneypenny didn't ask for a day off
He’s been playing a lot lately.
Geren may have said “OK, but I’ll put you in as a defensive replacement if the game is close”
(puts feet down, goes and turns over hour glass and checks thread, reads, puts feet back up)
alaska A currently residing in northern Idaho. --- theme for august = remain calm and try to truly enjoy a .500 team.
Ugh...
How depressing…I thought we had this one in the bag once we went up 4-2. Sigh…
Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tweet Tweet.
by ZeroIndulgence on Aug 21, 2010 11:16 PM PDT reply actions
Seriously... the more I think about it... the more it pisses me off.
Buck is a miserable, worthless baseball player.
He’s minor league filler until he just retires.
He's had 13 AB's since he's been recalled.
Give him a little bit before writing him off.
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
Breslow has been terrible sine the AN interview.
The front page curse continues!
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
Ugh
That was a demoralizing loss. The A’s were in control, for the most part, of that game until the 8th inning. That quick-strike offense stuff can really take the wind out of the sails sometimes.
"It's never 'just a game' if you're winning" - George Carlin
by bluelightrain84 on Aug 22, 2010 7:48 AM PDT reply actions
And is why power is so important to have in a lineup
“Quick strike” capability makes it harder for opposing teams/managers to react in time.
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
It's like that scene in Indiana Jones
where the guy threatens Jones with a frightening display of swordsmanship. Jones watches, then pulls out his gun and blows the dude away. The A’s are a skinnier, less menacing version of the guy with a sword.
In this case, though, the A’s got four runs off an excellent pitcher. And bullpens do blow up now and then. Just bad luck.
by rovingralph on Aug 22, 2010 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Lol
Good analogy. You know they actually had some elaborate fight scene planned for that but Ford had some virus or something on that particular day of shooting? I think the gunshot worked great though.
"It's never 'just a game' if you're winning" - George Carlin
by bluelightrain84 on Aug 22, 2010 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Lucky bones
I’m on the East Coast, freakin’ three hours away from Cincinnati. The nearest AL stadium to me is in Cleveland. :( Speaking of Cleveland, when the A’s were in town last month to play the Tribe, I talked my girlfriend into helping me locate the remains of League Park. It was in a rough part of town but we snapped some pictures. A ticket booth and a big empty field are really about all that remain. I still loved it though.
"It's never 'just a game' if you're winning" - George Carlin
by bluelightrain84 on Aug 22, 2010 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions
How does Rotoworld take SuSlu's latest and turn it into this?
Aside from the obvious answer, of course.
The A’s are expected to make a play for one of or both Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena this offseason.
Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/22/SPNU1EVRQU.DTL
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Pretty absurd, huh?
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
It's just crazy
How they go from Crawford being one of the top free agents on the market next year and a question speculating about what Pena would think of coming back to Oakland and turn that into “the A’s are expected to make a play for one or both” requires such a lack of reading comprehension it’s…well, not very surprising for Rotoworld when you stop and think about it.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Cool, it's official.
OaklandAs
#Athletics reinstate Andrew Bailey from the disabled list and option Ross Wolf to Sacramento.
17 minutes ago via web
"You're all like big fat failure turtles." - Edge
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 22, 2010 10:39 AM PDT reply actions
How bad is Kevin Millwood
Josh Hamilton just the latest to blast this has been out of the park
Cliff Lee is not 2-13
and does not have an ERA close to 6.
The lineup is out.
JaneMLB
#Athletics vs. #Rays: Crisp CF, Barton 1B, Ellis 2B, Cust DH, Kouz 3B, Davis LF, Powell C, Gross RF, Pennington SS
2 minutes ago via txt
"You're all like big fat failure turtles." - Edge
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 22, 2010 11:11 AM PDT reply actions
Thank God Kurt does nor appear in lineup
Needs a week off.
My word, that's a dreadful lineup.
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
I like the cut of manny atca's gib
but he just played the infield in down 7-1 in the third.
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
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