Sogard Loses Grip as Giants Slip Away 4-1

by danmerqury on Mar 29, 2011 9:55 PM PDT

Gio Gonzalez looked sharp, with a diving curveball and good velocity on his fastball. Unfortunately, so did Barry Zito, as he scattered four hits, allowing one run. But as good as both starting pitchers were, the decision came down to the bullpen. Or, more specifically, the defense.

In the top of the seventh inning with men on 1B and 2B with one out, Pablo Sandoval hit a tailor-made double play ball to the shortstop. SS Andy LaRoche fielded the ball and threw it to 2B Eric Sogard for one out. Sogard turned and fired...into the Giants dugout. And not just over the head of Daric Barton, no no. He shot that ball so far to the right that it might have been closer to home plate than first base. Mark DeRosa scored on the play, giving the Giants a 2-1 lead, which they wouldn't give up.

We do it again, this time at AT&T Park at 12:45 PM.

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Comments

Great day for Tolleson!

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 Mar 29, 2011 9:57 PM PDT reply actions

NERDS!

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

by Future Ed on Mar 29, 2011 10:20 PM PDT reply actions

I was getting upset

until I realized it’s JUST spring training! Beaten by the Giants makes me stressed :)
Yes, our 2 pitchers look good so far.

"We're not the doormat anymore" —Dallas Braden, 4/22/10

by streetfan on Mar 29, 2011 10:41 PM PDT reply actions

yeah

but so did Zito.
be upset again.

On the other hand, your day must be better than mine. Had to reformat & reinstall Windows at work. Boo viruses.

by MobiusKlein on Mar 29, 2011 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Zito was definitely ON Tonight.

He was ahead of most batters and while his ball to strike ratio was about the same as Gios they got the timely hits tonight. It was just good being there. Moar baseball later this week!!

Randy Jackson: "Did you eat a lot of paint chips when you were young?"
Idol Contestant: [Nods]

by Berry Jo on Mar 30, 2011 12:32 AM PDT up reply actions

off topic, but great link

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview/2011/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=6266687

by robertmelvin on Mar 29, 2011 10:52 PM PDT reply actions

Thanks for sharing

I loved the quote about “Gio’s curveball from hell!”. Nice one….Go A’s!

"You're early, but hang around; we'll have a fight for you sooner or later."

-John "Blue Moon" Odom

by mrod on Mar 30, 2011 12:47 AM PDT up reply actions

So, at this point...

Given that Cliffy is healthy – go with LaRoche. Given that Powell knows the catchers, go with Powell. I’m concerned about our offense. It’s reminiscent of last year.

Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?

by WhizDad on Mar 29, 2011 10:53 PM PDT reply actions

LaRoche didn't look much better

I believe he pulled Barton off the bag twice.

"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"If aliens were going to communicate with Earth, they'd contact you first." - my GF

by cuppingmaster on Mar 30, 2011 6:40 AM PDT up reply actions

I totally agree with going with LaRoche

"Life is tough .... It's even tougher if you're stupid." - John Wayne

by 94065 on Mar 30, 2011 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Geren

If Bob Geren can’t even lead the A’s to a victory over the Giants, what good is he? Can he lead us to an opening day victory for one?

by coachmmm on Mar 29, 2011 10:58 PM PDT reply actions

So what did Geren do wrong last night?

by LoneStranger on Mar 30, 2011 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Lot's of things

I didn’t watch but I’m sure he did something wrong. He’s an idiot. He does not belong managing in the majors. No other team in the league would hire him. Why do we have to put up with him? I’d be curious to know what % of AN’ers think he should keep his job. Very difficult to be hopeful with Geren at the helm.

by steeraw on Mar 30, 2011 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions

So.... you can't actually tell us anything he did wrong last night?

by LoneStranger on Mar 30, 2011 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Suddenly having the same hopeless offense feeling as last year.

Stop you stupid emotion. You are ridiculous.

"I thought it was going in," Warriors center Chris Hunter said. "It looked like the invisible man tipped it away at the last second."

"He's chicken curry right now. He'll become beef curry a little later on."
-Keith Smart

by kenntoe on Mar 29, 2011 11:47 PM PDT reply actions

Oh my God...we're the Mariners.

I would dance and be merry, life would be a ding-a-derry, if Bob Geren had a brain.

by Boonee on Mar 29, 2011 11:51 PM PDT reply actions

Part of me says it's just spring, and part of me says

what the hell Josh Willingham?

"Some of us know him as the a-hole who piled into Ray Fosse in an All-Star game (it's why Ray is the way he is folks)" - OptimistPrime

by travdog6 on Mar 30, 2011 12:24 AM PDT reply actions

Or more like

“What the hell offense?!?!”

I’m glad I didn’t see Sogard’s throwing error otherwise I would have flipped out! Overall, I’m not concerned about the defense and Sogard is destined for AAA in my opinion.

Preseason or not, though, the offense had better start to figure out how to support their pitching otherwise it’s gonna be a long season. Gio looked really great tonight and I hope we stick it to the Giants tomorrow!
Go A’s!

"You're early, but hang around; we'll have a fight for you sooner or later."

-John "Blue Moon" Odom

by mrod on Mar 30, 2011 12:52 AM PDT up reply actions

i went to the game and it stunk. there were mental errors all over the place.

laroche made a bad throw on a double play. matsui stuttered on the ball in the dirt and got nailed at second on a great play by posey. the bad throw by sogard.

the giants executed and the a’s did not. it was brutal to watch.

the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust

by stm72 on Mar 30, 2011 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Maybe we're just holding back...

My god, I hope our offense is just holding back – because so far this spring I have seen very little change from last year. We just cannot survive another year of no hitting, great pitching……

The greenmachine

by greenmachine on Mar 30, 2011 5:04 AM PDT reply actions