Poor Play in Second Inning Sinks A's
by baseballgirl on Sep 1, 2010 7:17 PM PDT
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PrintThe A's could and should have won tonight's game, provided baseball was scored from innings 3-9. Unfortunately, innings 1 and 2 also count, which wasn't good news for the A's tonight.
The A's would put two runners on in the first inning (a walk to Barton and a single by Suzuki), but Jack Cust would strike out, a familiar sight in his 0-4, 3K game. The Yankees wasted no time in taking the lead in the first on a single by Jeter and a double by Teixeira.
The second inning won't be on Anderson's highlight reel.
Two one-out singles would put runners on first and second for the Yankees and after a strikeout for the second out, it looked as if Anderson would escape unscathed. But with Jeter batting, Anderson couldn't make the play at first to end the inning, and the Yankees doubled their lead on the play. After a steal of third, Anderson would walk the next batter to load the bases, and a Teixeira single would bring two more runs home.
That's all the Yankees would score, but it would be enough.
Anderson settled down to pitch six innings overall, as his A's made a valiant effort to get back in the game. A two-run homerun by Kouzmanoff in the fourth would cut the lead in half, and a Rajai double, stolen base and groundout would score the third run. But no matter how hard they tried, the A's couldn't tie the game.
So they drop another, and must win tomorrow to avoid the 4-game sweep. Early game time; we'll see you back at 10:00 AM!
Current Series
Yankees win the series 3-0
| Mon 08/30 | 5 - 11 loss | |
| Tue 08/31 | WP: Phil Hughes (16 - 6) LP: Vin Mazzaro (6 - 7) |
3 - 9 loss |
| Wed 09/01 | WP: A.J. Burnett (10 - 12) SV: Mariano Rivera LP: Brett Anderson (3 - 6) |
3 - 4 loss |
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In the last three innings, the A's had great chances
and had their #3 hitter up twice and their RF up the other time, yet couldn’t score. I just don’t know what happened.
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
Oh, and I don't know if it was discussed in the thread,
but as much as Anderson obviously muffed that play I thought Barton messed up too. If he lets Ellis field it, it’s a far more routine play. Barton’s OBP, by the way, is over .400 for the season. Yowza!
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
Not a bad game
but the A’s aren’t there yet. Anything above 80 wins was going to be a good year for this team. They just might get there. Next year? More of the same unless they buy some bats.
FYI Corey Brown to AAA
"Carter's 25-game hitting streak isn't any normal streak. He's 46 for 97 (.474 average) during the run, adding 16 walks and compiling 81 total bases in the process. I'm out of superlatives for what he's doing." - Kevin Goldstein
No more Custrickouts, please.
And no more Kurt Suzuki as your #3 hitter. The success of this team requires these two points to be resolved.
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
Who?
It’s too late to trade for a real #3 hitter. So who are you going to put there? First pitch Kouz? KKKust?
I guess you could put Rajai in at #2 and let Barton hit third. But as we’re all tired of hearing the A’s simply don’t have what would constitute even close to an average ML offense so the choices are “extremely limited”
It's kind of sad that the A's bat
their two only high-OBP guys (Barton, Cust) ahead of their two “DP specialists” (Suzuki, Kouz). But given how pathetic the lineup is, I don’t blame Geren as all his choices are absurdly sucky. There is just no one who has any business batting 3rd or 4th in a 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
Amen to that
it’s important that we get rid of our best offensive player. especially since our offense is the only problem on the team.
This is not little league. The kid who strikes out the most is not the worst player on the team.
by eastcoasta'sfan on Sep 1, 2010 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions
of course
benching your best player is a great way to improve the offense.
This is not little league. The kid who strikes out the most is not the worst player on the team.
by eastcoasta'sfan on Sep 1, 2010 8:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Cust starring as your best player?! Help us Jeebus
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
he is 9 for 29 on this road trip with 5 walks
Of course that sample is meaningless, but for the year he is .272 /394/445
so I don’t get why an 0-4 is familiar or why he needs to be benched.
I thought it was funny when vince said Cust needs to get it going, and then said “he is 9-26 on this road trip” like 9-26 is bad.
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
It's funny when people posting on AN look at baseball from a little league perspective
but not when professionals do it
This is not little league. The kid who strikes out the most is not the worst player on the team.
by eastcoasta'sfan on Sep 2, 2010 7:28 AM PDT up reply actions
this is why y'all need to lay off the Cust hate
He is by any reasonable measure the best offensive player on the A’s. But don’t let that scare you. He is a very good major league hitter and would be an upgrade at DH for about half of the AL.
Strikeouts are not the end of the world. Low on base percentage IS the end of the world, though. Cust has high strikeouts but an OBP that makes it much more worth it. See Future E’d post below for actual data.
It would be nice if the Cust haters actually used . . . data . . . when explaining their hate.
This is not little league. The kid who strikes out the most is not the worst player on the team.
by eastcoasta'sfan on Sep 2, 2010 7:27 AM PDT up reply actions
I mean future ed's post ABOVE
This is not little league. The kid who strikes out the most is not the worst player on the team.
by eastcoasta'sfan on Sep 2, 2010 7:27 AM PDT up reply actions
I love this post.
He is a very good major league hitter and would be an upgrade at DH for about half of the AL.
So true. It’s remarkable how bad DH’s have been this year.
A's Fan in Sweden
"Sosa had me caught up in the magic, and I feel like an idiot. I don’t say that often, but I feel like an idiot because of Sammy Sosa." -Jay Mariotti
Its funny that the White Sox just figured that out
Its also funny, because they could have had a whole season of Cust for less than they will pay for one month of ramirez.
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
Maybe it's just my perception but his strikeouts seem to happen a lot with runners in scoring position
"Life is tough .... It's even tougher if you're stupid." - John Wayne
It's just your perception. Come back when you have data.
Next.
"I wasn't able to extend so I had a serious lack of extension."--Dallas Braden
by StJosephBurningTheOakTreesToTheGround on Sep 2, 2010 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Just a comment, no need to be an A**
"Life is tough .... It's even tougher if you're stupid." - John Wayne
The problem is when you're discussing your "perception" when the data is RIGHT THERE
There’s a lot of stuff that happens in baseball that is hard (or, at this point, impossible) to quantify. It’s fine to go on perception in those cases.
But it’ll take less than 5 minutes to look and see if Cust strikes out at a higher rate with runners in scoring position (this year or for his career). There’s no need for relying on perception in this case.
This year with runners in scoring position, Cust has been horrible. He has 33 Ks in 95 PAs. Striking out 35% of the time is unacceptably bad (though he’s been very good overall, so he shouldn’t be benched or anything). He has struck out 31% of the time this year.
For his career, Cust has been good w/RISP (.402 OBP, .446 SLG). He strikes out 32% of the time in those situations for his career. He has struck out 32% (it’s actually 32.03 and 31.92) of the time in all situations for his career.
So this year he’s struck out 4% more often w/RISP, but for his career he strikes out the same amount regardless of situation.
This is why your (or anybody’s) perception is completely unnecessary in this particular situation. We have the data.
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on Sep 2, 2010 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah... perception might be unnecessary...,
But geez… it is allowed.
by Brett Narloch on Sep 2, 2010 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
he shoulds work at pancakes house
alaska A currently residing in northern Idaho. --- theme for august = remain calm and try to truly enjoy a .500 team.
I'm predicting a victory tomorrow
there’s no friggin way that Pepe stands for this pinstripe ass-whoopin. It’s gotta stop, and Dallas knows it. A’s win, 5-2.
I was at tonights game, and I'm happy I saw a good game.
Would have loved a win, but hey, just wasn’t in the cards.
What you fail to understand in your joyless myopia is that baseball is the key to life-- the Rosetta Stone, if you will. If you just understood baseball better all your other questions your, your... the, uh... the aliens, the conspiracies they would all, in their way be answered by the baseball gods.
is it 2011 yet?
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
i thought it was bush league that the first baseman came in and blindsided the batter
Let the pitcher handle himself
by stm72 on Sep 2, 2010 3:16 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Not at all
It was bush league for the twit to charge the mound. It was professional for the first basemen to come in the aid of his teammate.
Choosy Feebas choose Leopold Bloom nipples
Daring. Sensual. Invigorating. Squirrel.
BLOOM. For men.
If the eggs actually hatch I made more than a mistake, I made some scientifically impossible crime.
the hit him once and then threw behind him later in the game...cuz he stole a couple of bases. lame.
Slide is being generous.
You can see (a horrible version) here.
A's Fan in Sweden
"Sosa had me caught up in the magic, and I feel like an idiot. I don’t say that often, but I feel like an idiot because of Sammy Sosa." -Jay Mariotti
All I see is a guy who doesn't quit hustling.
If a catcher can’t take a couple of bulldogs, he shouldn’t be behind the plate. Go play first base or DH or something. You mean to tell me this guy’s built like a tank and he’s wearing a full suit of armor and he can’t take a hit from some skinny leadoff hitter? Nyjer scored runs, he stole bases, he did what he felt he needed to do, no matter how “meaningless” it was. You know what they used to call guys that did that? “Charlie Hustle.”
"I wasn't able to extend so I had a serious lack of extension."--Dallas Braden
by StJosephBurningTheOakTreesToTheGround on Sep 2, 2010 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions
I see a guy who could have slid in safely, but decided to take a cheap shot at an unprotected guy.
I’m cool with Morgan stealing in that situation. Separating a guys shoulder was not ok with me though.
A's Fan in Sweden
"Sosa had me caught up in the magic, and I feel like an idiot. I don’t say that often, but I feel like an idiot because of Sammy Sosa." -Jay Mariotti
not quite. He didn't slide at all.
If he had slid, there would have been no collision. He went out of his way to try and truck the catcher, and he ended the guy’s season.
You pull some shit like that, you expect to get plunked. That should have been the end of it, but Morgan kept being classless by stealing 2nd and 3rd in a game that was already like 14-3 or something. So he got thrown at again and then started the brawl.
This is the same dude that got suspended 7 games because he threw a ball into the stands and hit a fan.
Pam liked my old sig better.
Did you watch the video? What he did was no different than any other clean collision at the plate.
The catcher was receiving the ball and Morgan hit him as so many guys have done before.
He had a dirty collision recently, but this wasn’t it. If colliding with a catcher is within the rules, why plunk the guy for doing it?
Morgan is a tool. I’m not defending him generally. I just don’t see what was wrong with that one particular play.
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on Sep 2, 2010 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm not sure there's a post in the history of AN I disagree with more
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on Sep 2, 2010 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions
A couple observations...
-Kouz had the worst AB I’ve ever seen in my life. And I’m talking little league all the up to the majors. He swung wildly at two dirt balls then watched strike three. If there has ever been a worse AB, please… someone tell me.
-Pennington should be hitting higher. He always has good ABs. Why not bat him 3rd? He simply cannot be worse than Suzuki.
-Anderson throws way too many breaking balls. He’s headed for Tommy John surgery at some point. Of course, it would be hard to not throw too many considering how good they are. He’s a really good pitcher.
-I look at Cust’s numbers and agree with those who think he’s the team’s best hitter, but my eyes can’t believe it.
-Rick Sutcliffe is an absolute idiot. First, he said Suzuki is the team’s best hitter. He’s not even close. He said Brett Anderson is like Randy Johnson when the only similarity is their sliders. He changed his opinion of Burnett every inning. First it was “oh he’s on tonight.” Then it was “oh he has no confidence. The A’s must be having fun hitting against him tonight. He has no confidence.” Then when he was done it was “AJ was on tonight. He had confidence all night. He’s back on track.”
-The A’s pitching is so freakin’ good, that it’s hard to believe they’re hovering around .500. That’s how bad their offense is and how many dumb mistakes it makes.
re: Cust
it really is so painful to watch him watch strike 3’s w/ runners in scoring position – c’mon Cust, foul some of them babies off and wait for your’s!!
That Kouz at bat was unbelievable.
Swung at a curve low and away, swung at a curve REALLY low and away (like, LH batter’s box low and away), looked at a curve on the high inside corner.
If his teammates didn't laugh... then they weren't watching.
He should have to run laps for that one.
by Brett Narloch on Sep 2, 2010 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions
He's been batting like Crosby for most of the season
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on Sep 2, 2010 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Fixed:
Maybe Kouz was kidnapped before thegameseason and replaced with Bobby Crosby.
Bobby being traded to Arizona and then waived might just be the paper trail to cover his rear.
This is why I think Kouzmanoff just goes "I'm swinging no matter what!"
Because any one of us would’ve taken the breaking ball that started way outside and bounced somewhere near the first base line (yes, I’m exaggerating). I don’t think it’s that he doesn’t know a breaking pitch is coming. I think he’s just already decided what he’s going to do.
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on Sep 2, 2010 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Yep... I think he decides beforehand whether or not he's going to swing.
If that’s true, it’s actually amazing he’s a MLB player.
by Brett Narloch on Sep 2, 2010 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions
i don't know if there's data available but he swings at a very high percentage of first pitches.
i’d be willing to bet that he swings at least one-third more first pitches than the average player.
Today's lineup strikes fear into the hearts of, well, nobody
Crisp cf, Davis lf, Suzuki dh, Kouzmanoff 3b, Ellis 2b, Carson rf, Larish 1b, Powell c, Pennington ss
Last of the Ninth - Photography
I mean, it's even less fearful than usual
Though it might scare some of us.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Wow... *if* you're going to throw those guys onto the field... why not do this?
Crisp
Ellis
Pennington
Larish
Powell
Suzuki
Kouz
Davis
Caron
by Brett Narloch on Sep 2, 2010 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Slusser relayed that Barton is glad for the day off after the heat in Tex and NY.
I think he was talking about the other team’s scores and not the temperature.
I doubt Barton needs a day off right now.
He’s fifth in OBP right now in the American League.
"You're all like big fat failure turtles." - Edge
by Rated-R Superstar on Sep 2, 2010 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Barton and Cust out, Rajai and Carson in?
Uh….
And for the love of god, Bob, Crisp/Rajai is NOT a good 1/2.
I would second this
"Life is tough .... It's even tougher if you're stupid." - John Wayne
I mean
He has to be placed on the 40-man this offseason anyway, right? It wouldn’t hurt to give him a cup of coffee this year.
Don’t tell me the A’s still think they can win the AL West and will only call up “people that can help them”
Probably a good thing...
I bet he does well.
by Brett Narloch on Sep 2, 2010 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Call up Carter, too. Have him watch from the bench. Let him get used to the pace of a big league game.
I predict 3 less K's
and 2 less walks today.
You can figure out who I’m talking about.
Landon Powell?
Sign the A’s up for a win!
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