Oakland's Opening Day Starter

by Witt_Writer18 on Feb 5, 2011 11:30 PM PST

With Opening Day less than three months away, I've began to wonder, " Who will be the A's starter in the Home Opener?'. A few candidates come to mind, even though the five-man rotation isn't set yet.

Dallas Braden, who pitched a perfect game last season was the Opening Game starter in '10. But with an 11-14 in 30 starts, would Geren give him the nod again? His WHIP, Opponent Batting Average, and total strikeouts are impressive; and he has the most experience on the team pitching wise.

Trevor Cahill who impressed all of Major League Baseball, posted an 18-8 record with a 2.97 in 30 starts last season. And at one point, one of the few considered for the Cy Young award. In 196 2/3 innings, Cahill has struck out a total of 118 batters and given up under 20 homeruns to the opposition.

Those are my top two picks to fight out for Opening Night Starter. And who knows, Gio could be thrown in the mix - with an outstanding curve; but more than likely fits a # 3 starter. So AN who is your ideal pick to go up again Felix Hernandez? Who will you think will be the winner of the game?

And if neither of this choices are your ideal picks, comment on who you would recommend and why.

Poll

Who will be Oakland's Opening Day Starter

Dallas Braden

67 votes

Trevor Cahill

134 votes

Gio Gonzalez

9 votes

Brett Anderson

130 votes

Rich Harden

7 votes

Brandon McCarthy

8 votes

Other

0 votes

355 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Anderson, because he's our best pitcher.

Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.

by Zonis on Feb 6, 2011 12:40 AM PST reply actions

this

by Colorado Fan on Feb 6, 2011 1:11 PM PST up reply actions

Anderson

Ever since his first start, he’s just had the demeanor of an ace. Barring injury, he will be the proven #1 starter of this staff. But like most of Oakland’s most talented player, he has the injury question.

During a contract holdout with Oakland in the early 1990s, Henderson said, "If they want to pay me like Mike Gallego, I’ll play like Gallego."

by Man Bear Pig on Feb 6, 2011 12:46 AM PST via mobile reply actions

Eh, I'm pretty sure it'll be Braden, but I'd like for it to be Anderson.

Whoever it is, I just hope we win; I’m sick of losing on Opening Day.

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

by lenscrafters on Feb 6, 2011 1:34 AM PST reply actions

Me too

but I’m more sick of playing Seattle

by PistolPete7556 on Feb 7, 2011 6:22 AM PST up reply actions

pretty much

gotta win sometime, right?

I am only pretty on the outside
dannycakes can also be called "hipsterbot"

by Future Ed on Feb 7, 2011 6:34 AM PST up reply actions

Anderson's the ace as long as he's healthy.

Although my real answer is to trade Carter, Green and/or Choice for a real ace and not have to rely on McCarthy or Harden except to fill in for Anderson and/or Braden when they go on the DL.

It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner

by WaddellCanseco on Feb 6, 2011 2:14 AM PST reply actions

I think Anderson

But, I also think too much emphasis is put into who pitches opening day, ultimately lets just hope everyone is healthy for 32-35 starts, who cares what order, we can discuss that come playoff time!

Visit my blog the Todd Van Poppel Rookie Card Retirement Plan!!

by dwishinsky on Feb 6, 2011 7:27 AM PST reply actions

Personally, I agree with you, but...

…I have read that opening starter is a huge status and ego thing for the players themselves.

I’d give it to Cahill, but would be fine with Anderson also.

"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are."
~ Anais Nin

by UncleLeo on Feb 7, 2011 4:04 PM PST up reply actions

2011 should look like

Anderson
Cahill
Gio
Braden
Harden/McCarthy

by TBRMKane on Feb 6, 2011 8:10 AM PST reply actions

I want it to be Anderson.

But I think it will be Cahill.

"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

by Syphon on Feb 6, 2011 9:29 AM PST reply actions

To me, it's a clear choice between Anderson and Braden

Against King Felix, your best chance to win is the best chance to have your SP really dominate and give up 0-1 runs, and Anderson is the one with that capability.

Braden is the staff leader and has rights by age, tenure, and role, and certainly makes sense if your question is, “Who should get the honor if you’re just looking at it symbolically?”

Since the object is to win the game, I’d go with Anderson, followed by Braden, Cahill, Gio, McCarden.

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 Feb 6, 2011 9:34 AM PST reply actions

We've talked about this is other posts

And my premise is whoever is going to pitch that first game will line up against other teams first starters for a while. It will be mentally tough and although I don’t think he is the best Braden is the mentally toughest of the 4 and him going into that spot might really help the other 3. So I vote Braden. He is really a bulldog out there and I don’t see the threat of a low scoring game doing anything to his composure. I have seen Gio and Cahill sort of looking rattled and I hardly saw Anderson enough out there to know what he does under pressure.

by barryzitoforever on Feb 6, 2011 9:55 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

I voted Braden

for this very reason

by Keze on Feb 6, 2011 11:37 AM PST up reply actions

I think Anderson is mentally tough enough

to spot fastballs and throw disappearing sliders, and give up fewer runs than Braden.

No, we haven’t seen that much of Anderson under pressure, but we saw that in a packed Fenway Park on Nomar Garciaparra’s much ballyhooed return to Boston, he tossed a complete game 2-hit shutout.

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 Feb 6, 2011 12:40 PM PST up reply actions

What makes you think Braden is mentally tougher than Anderson?

It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner

by WaddellCanseco on Feb 6, 2011 3:06 PM PST up reply actions

I'd say Braden is the "mentally toughest" pitcher on the staff,

if you’re interested in that nebulous delineation. I just don’t know that it means he needs to start on April 1st.

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 Feb 6, 2011 3:24 PM PST up reply actions

Why? Just because he has the fewest toes?

It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner

by WaddellCanseco on Feb 6, 2011 5:46 PM PST up reply actions

Which means he's had to toughen up just to be able to count.

Fan: "Yeah, whatever. You’re wrong." Stat guy: "No, you’re wrong." Fan: "Cool. Pass me a beer." Stat guy: "Here you go." Sigh, if only it was this easy.

by Tutu-late on Feb 7, 2011 9:27 AM PST up reply actions

I would support Braden going first based on the symbolism, rather than the statistical implications.

by Dan Bowen on Feb 6, 2011 1:21 PM PST up reply actions

But didn't Anderson pitch against Seattle in the home opener against Felix

I don’t recall the year off-hand, but I remember Brett gave up 5 runs in five innings. So is he capable to go up against Hernandez? And control himself with all the “hype” opening day brings?

by Witt_Writer18 on Feb 6, 2011 3:28 PM PST up reply actions

If he's not capable of that I don't want him on the team

It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner

by WaddellCanseco on Feb 6, 2011 5:46 PM PST up reply actions

It's kind of neither here nor there,

but the game you reference, he gave up most of the damage in one inning in which he was blooped and "seeing eye grounded’ to pieces. He actually pitched a lot better than the numbers showed at the end of the day. (It also happened to be the game after the Adenhart tragedy; Anderson was supposed to start in Anaheim the night before but the game was canceled.)

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 Feb 6, 2011 7:31 PM PST up reply actions

If we are basing this decision on mental toughness, the impact on the rotation's set-up,

and the “ace-factor,” then I think the clear choice is Anderson. However, if the opening day start is treated as a reward for the previous season then I would say it should go to Cahill. He was healthy the whole year and really did have an ace type of season (no matter how lucky it was). Anderson has ace numbers too, but dealt with the injury bug a couple times. I like the idea of Anderson going first, but I feel like the opening start is often given as a matter of recognizing a pitcher’s past, more so than their potential. Just my 2 cents.

by Dan Bowen on Feb 6, 2011 1:19 PM PST reply actions

Braden didn't start on Opening Day last year

Sheets did. I’d go with Anderson for Opening Day. We should try to squeeze as many starts out of him as we can.

Bring Dan Haren back to Oakland!

by X-Pac on Feb 6, 2011 2:00 PM PST reply actions

Your probably right about Sheets

I honestly forgot about him, even though he cost Oakland an X amount of money. Especially when your paying 10 mill for someone who can’t finish a season. I’m still scratching my head on this move.

by Witt_Writer18 on Feb 6, 2011 3:24 PM PST up reply actions

Who will it be?

Cahill

Who should it be?

Anderson

by DrDoom on Feb 6, 2011 8:42 PM PST reply actions

I doubt it will be Cahill, personally.

My first guess would be Braden, my second Anderson, my third Cahill, my fourth Gio, my fifth Ben Sheet just cuz.

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 Feb 6, 2011 8:44 PM PST up reply actions

Do the A's still even have Ben Sheets?

I thought he was let go some time back…

by Witt_Writer18 on Feb 6, 2011 9:38 PM PST up reply actions

He might retire.

If he comes back, it’s probably in 2012.

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 Feb 6, 2011 9:53 PM PST up reply actions

Braden would be my choice actually

None of our guys are true #1’s right now so I say toss Braden out there since he can handle the pressure and let the other guys pick on the back end starters of the other teams.

by DrDoom on Feb 7, 2011 2:26 PM PST up reply actions

The advantage of starting the season away is that you can have an 'Opening Day' guy and a 'Home Opener' guy.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) we don’t have that this year. I think you give it to Anderson.

by LoneStranger on Feb 7, 2011 8:41 AM PST reply actions

It has to be Anderson.

If you had to pick one pitcher to go out there and put up zeroes, he’s the guy.

by chrisatsac on Feb 7, 2011 10:00 AM PST reply actions

Stats aside, it's got to be Braden

He’s the face of the team, obvious leader, he gets the nod from Geren even with his record last season.

"Smells like burning hair and week-old Arby’s." - the stench of Steve Finley

by BBANGUS on Feb 7, 2011 10:46 AM PST reply actions

Besides the nebulous "mentally toughest" argument I made Braden has some other reasons to start the opener:

1) He pitched a perfect game last year
2) He pitched 5 complete games
3) He is the oldest of the big 4

Now an argument can be made that Anderson is better. An argument can’t be made that he is older than Braden or that last years time on the DL really prepared him to be an opening day starter. This is another tenuous argument, but I like a guy who has seen it all. Braden is closer to that than the other 3 are.

Here is an example, my wife works in a nursing home where a dude dropped his pants in the lunch room. The 20 year old female care givers were quite a bit more freaked out than the 40 year olds. 40 year old caregivers have seen some junk in their careers. By the same token, if you had 4 guys all fairly equal to Jamie Moyer, and one was 47 and the others were all 23, I’d go with Moyer because I get the vibe Moyer is not going to be freaked out on the mound no matter what happens. He’s seen (and thrown) some junk in his career. You might beat him, but it is tough to rattle him. In this case, Braden is not THAT mature, but also not THAT much worse. And I think there will be added pressure on that #1 spot we just don’t need to put on Anderson, Cahill or Gio. The good news is any one of the 4 could start the first game and dominate.

by barryzitoforever on Feb 7, 2011 1:45 PM PST up reply actions

so, Braden is the pants dropper or is that anderson?

I am only pretty on the outside
dannycakes can also be called "hipsterbot"

by Future Ed on Feb 7, 2011 2:13 PM PST up reply actions

You are the weak, and I am the tyrrany of evil men

But I’m trying real hard to be th Shepard.

In this analogy, the pants dropper is the tough situation in a game vs another team’s #1 starter where there is no room for error. The 40 year old caregiver who doesn’t freak out at the pants dropper is hopefully Braden.

The 20 year old caregivers are the other starters who dominate because they are seldom asked to interact with the pants dropper. In the playoffs it is all pants droppers though, so if our goal is to win the WS we better have a bunch of pitchers who can deal with them.

by barryzitoforever on Feb 7, 2011 2:42 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

I'm intrigued by the idea of 20 year old dominating caregivers

It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner

by WaddellCanseco on Feb 7, 2011 5:06 PM PST up reply actions

The pants dropper is Steve Lyons

by Glorious Mundy on Feb 7, 2011 5:23 PM PST up reply actions

The Opening Day Starter

doesn’t matter too much, so I think that Cahill should start because he should be rewarded for how well he pitched last year.

by Rygoslinglover on Feb 7, 2011 3:50 PM PST reply actions

I agree with some of the others

I think Cahill and Gio are not mentally equipped for opening day yet. I say it’s a toss up between Anderson and Braden although injuries in Spring training might mess with that. If Mcarthy or Harden start the opener then the A’s are in BIG trouble this year.

You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
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by micdog2001 on Feb 7, 2011 4:13 PM PST reply actions

How is Brandon McCarthy leading Gio in the poll?

Visit my blog the Todd Van Poppel Rookie Card Retirement Plan!!

by dwishinsky on Feb 7, 2011 5:30 PM PST reply actions

The Green & gold factor

has obviously made this site very popular in the Emerald Isle and disproportionately increased the Irish vote!

by wcmori on Feb 7, 2011 5:40 PM PST up reply actions

If this was a must win game I think most would go with Anderson

But it’s not, so I’d go with Braden for a couple of reasons.

In a nightmare scenario where our starting pitcher gives up 10 runs in 2 1/3 innings and Felix pitches a complete game shutout Braden is the type of guy you don’t worry about, Cahill or Anderson might let a really poor performance affect their game for several starts or more but Braden seems likely to shake it off and come back even stronger.

Having Braden start Opening Day would also be one last chance to celebrate his perfecto and it would be a nice shout-out to a semi-local guy.

Braden has been and should be the leader of the starting pitchers and this would help cement that position. I really love Braden’s demeanor and confidence and if the younger guys can take some of that attitude and follow his lead that would be awesome.

And finally (and I’m not sure if this makes any difference at all) if Cahill were to start it would mean the rotation would go R-L-L-L-R which seems like a bad setup (although this only makes intuitive sense to me and could be completely false).

Of course this is a lot of thought to put into a decision that probably doesn’t matter at all so if the A’s want to reward someone for a good season or just want to start their ace then that’s fine with me.

by Keze on Feb 7, 2011 5:37 PM PST reply actions

When have Cahill or Anderson let a bad start bother them for several more starts?

It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner

by WaddellCanseco on Feb 7, 2011 5:49 PM PST up reply actions

I'm not sure they ever have

But from my perspective I would be a lot less worried about the season if Braden got lit up on Opening Day than if it happened to either of the other two. I have no empirical evidence that Braden is a tougher competitor or more mentally resilient but that’s my opinion after watching these three guys for a few years (the A-Rod thing does seem to show that Braden has gigantic balls). Now I don’t think it’s likely that Cahill or Anderson would fall apart after a tough opening day but it seems much more likely to happen to them rather than to Braden.

by Keze on Feb 7, 2011 5:54 PM PST up reply actions