Errors Spoil McCarthy's Sparkling Debut
by danmerqury on Apr 5, 2011 7:34 PM PDT
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PrintHe didn't get the win, but McCarthy was phenomenal tonight in Toronto. Brandon McCarthy made it through eight innings in a fantastically efficient 89 pitches, striking out two and walking one. But why was his amazing effort a disappointment?
The defense. Again. McCarthy didn't get a team effort as strong as his performance deserved, as he had to dance around two errors in the sixth inning, where the Blue Jays plated four runs to tie the game. Josh Willingham homered in the top of the tenth, but Grant Balfour gave up a two-run walk-off home run to Yunel Escobar in the bottom half to give Toronto the victory. Two errors today gives the Athletics nine errors on the year, in just four games. Not the greatest start to what was supposed to be a special year.
But enough about the game. What about Brandon McCarthy? An all-minors top prospect with the White Sox, Brandon McCarthy spent time in Chicago before being traded to Texas, where he was both constantly injured and ineffective. The Rangers finally cut McCarthy after the 2010 season.
Give Brandon a lot of credit, however. Rather than sitting on his laurels, he reinvented himself, transforming from a power pitcher who relied on punchouts into a crafty sinkerballer who uses movement and deception. And the results? Courtesy of the fine folks at BrooksBaseball.net:
Consider me impressed. Very impressed. Assuming the calibration of the PitchFX installation in Toronto is correct, he throws three pitches—a sinker with tons of tailing movement (the leftmost blob of pitches), a slider (the middle), and a devastating curveball (the ones at the bottom). The sinker was great, allowing McCarthy to get ten groundouts today, but that curveball? That's almost Gio Gonzalez quality. I want to see another start to confirm, but a curveball that drops nine inches? Gio's career mark is 9.7. Barry Zito's (in the PitchFX era) is 9.6. And all of this coupled with Brandon McCarthy's trademark sterling control? We don't have four amazing starters. We have five.
Current Series
Blue Jays lead the series 1-0
| Tue 04/05 | WP: Jason Frasor (1 - 0) LP: Grant Balfour (0 - 1) |
6 - 7 loss |
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Oakland Athletics Wednesday, Apr 6, 2011, 4:07 PM PDT Mostly cloudy,rain. Winds blowing from left to right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 45. |
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| Thu 04/07 | 9:37 AM PDT | |
228 comments
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and the folks in the concessions too
don’t forget the hot-dog vendors
inexcusably bad
you have to win games like this. 4 games in and we are on the fast track to also-ran status.
Empires may crumble, FIP statistics may lose their meaning, but only a Keetsa mattress puts years back on your life while you're sleeping.
Bailey being out
is huge, very damaging.
Empires may crumble, FIP statistics may lose their meaning, but only a Keetsa mattress puts years back on your life while you're sleeping.
by emperor nobody on Apr 5, 2011 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions
And shows not how good the Pen is
but how bad. I would trust the bullpen coach to pitch better than anyone in the pen.
Breslow = Awful so far
Blevins = reliable for a couple then a bad outing
Balfour = in spite of his low ERA last few year, does not look like he was when he used to throw nearly all fastballs a couple of years ago.
Fuentes = Cannot get a RHB out to save himself it seems
Ziggy = The same with LHB’s
Wuertz = Better stuff than all of the above but is shoulder still attached
Until we get Bailey back and even one of Harden or Devine, this pen is going to be one of the worst out there. It is already showing in 3 of the 4 games just how non-ready and pathetic some of them are.
And the defense is nothing short of an abortion.
Anger meter high on the scale.
Starting pitching has given up 5 ER’s in 4 starts and we have 3 losses.
Gotta feel really bad for the starters so far
McCarthy was great today as Dan points out. 89 pitches in 8 innings even with the infield shitheads screwing him over.
Kouzmanoff needs to be benched period.
THis awesome recap make things a little better
Put a bird on it
by Future Ed on Apr 5, 2011 7:40 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Amen... thanks, dm.
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was stupid.
Thanks, danmerqury. You do a great job with the silver lining.
One question – some of the box scores earlier credited McCarthy with one error for a total of three, but now most say 2, both on Kouz. Was this changed by the official scorer?
"It's too much, Cap'n! The engine canna handle such a heavy load!." - LB
It was.
Halfway through writing this, the official scorer took away one of Kouz’s errors. Unfortunately, this gave McCarthy 4 ER, not 2.
Wait, they took away Kouz's error? But what about McCarthy's? Is that back?
"It's too much, Cap'n! The engine canna handle such a heavy load!." - LB
Sorry, yes that seems to be back. I shoulda checked before writing.
"It's too much, Cap'n! The engine canna handle such a heavy load!." - LB
What a clusterfuck
Seriously. Other than the starters, did anyone bother doing anything during Spring Training this year? The bullpen has been horrendous, and of course, there is the defense. Plus, nice to have the Toronto bullpen completely shut us down, save for one inning. Do the coaches have any clue how to get this team ready to play, because this start looks like the have not prepared for the season at all.
Might as well Jump! - Van Halen
I know it's only four games but...
…The team’s fundamentals are terrible. Unless things change, A’s are going to find themselves 10 games out by the end of April.
Yep
3 1/2 out after 4. Can not get much worse can it.
These fucks all had great confidence in themselves but Geren and the infield along with the pen have ruined the great SP.
How deflating for McCarthy and then Willingham gets us back on top and while that was great, you just knew someone who looked bad in ST was going to come in and blow it. I was happy when Balfour came in.
Thanks Ocker, we beat your arse in Rugby but at least you had the balls to watch your home run pitch go out of the park before you walked off.
The hitting should be fine as even though we only have 2 HR’s so far we have lots of doubles and that triple by Coco.
We're only 4 games into the season, so I'm gonna focus on the positives.
Willingham hit his 2nd HR, the team had quite a few doubles (even Conor Jackson!), and McCarthy pitched well and deep into the game. Getting Bailey back will help quit a bit. Every team hits a rough stretch. If this were June and the team was 42-33, no one would bat an eye. When it happens to start the season, people tend to put too much emphasis on it. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Very well reasoned, and very true.
Yet still troubling. After all, the games count just as much in May as they do the first week of April, but you never get a second chance to make a first impression and the first impression is “SERIOUSLY????”
Color me profoundly disappointed with the WAY the team has played the first 4 games, but also still optimistic knowing that one week from today, the A’s and Rangers could quite easily be tied for 1st place because that’s how baseball goes.
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 only that, offense and health were the big question marks coming in.
So far, the offense has shown flashes, and the team isn’t terribly unhealthy. The problem areas, the bullpen and the defense, are areas that will probably be fine in the long run.
Guys are hitting,
the rotation is as expected for the most part. The defense and pen are letting us down, but it’s only four games. They will hit their stride with the leather soon enough.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
come join us in the lounge.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
They seem like good guys...
except the one with the Brooklyn accent. What’s his problem?
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
STILL BETTER THAN BOSTON!
That’s all I got.
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
That'll do, pig. That'll do.
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
No more excuses this year Geren...
Billy Beane blamed the lack of talent the last three years. You now have a very talented club. I know you didn’t actually make any of the 13 errors this game, but you did put in the guy with like 8 career saves before the 4 time all-star closer who has 150+ career saves.
rage
matchups
They had 2 righties on deck…do you want Fuentes throwing to them?
yes
can’t say Fuentes would be worse, could you?
hindsight is 20/20
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
yup
and yes.
But zero outs, two runs.
What has Balfour done this year?
He was the first to get up (6th), but McCarthy settled down
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
He's had some fail too
assisted by the D.
Oh definitely.
You think Kouz is the only one to throw a ball straight into the ground instead of to an actual base? Ziggy copyrighted that shit.
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
He was probably caught off-guard that it was near a base.
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 it came on the fly. he was expecting to need to dive for a bouncer that was off line
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
Really?
Ziegler is terrible against lefties.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Generally yes.
But the BP(itcher)A generally doesn’t have as extreme splits. So it kinda goes together :)
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
I don't know enough examples to really know,
but my guess is that pitchers with equal skill to Ziegler do, better pitchers like Bailey and even like Fuentes won’t. Starters and top relievers obviously wont have as extreme splits as a LOOGY or a 6th bullpen arm.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
ziggy gets rocked by lefties. the submarine motion gives hitters a longer look at his pitch. in some sense, the same was true for eckersley.
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
And Fuentes was unavailable with a blister.
But otherwise…
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
Balfour was the right choice. Balfour didn't lose this game. Kouzmanoff did.
"So tired. So cranky. So full of rage. Ahhh, the baseball season." - Kyli
by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 5, 2011 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions
They all did!
We hit into a few DPs, didn’t make some plays, and the Jays did.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
they were winning 5-1.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Look Kouz didn't play well.
That’s obvious, but to blame absolutely everything on him? Not exactly fair. The error he made on the throw only occurred because of a great catch he made. And the run would have scored anyway, it just allowed the guy to move to second. And the other one wasn’t an error.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
It should have remained an error
and he’s playing like shit. He needs to be benched.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
by mikev on Apr 5, 2011 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
he also made an un charged error in the first game
and I think at least one in the bay bridge series
Put a bird on it
Kouzmanoff is pressing, big time.
He’s playing like he thinks he has to carry the team or something.
He doesn’t have to carry the team. He just has to play decent defense and not fuck up more than one play a week.
"So tired. So cranky. So full of rage. Ahhh, the baseball season." - Kyli
by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 5, 2011 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions
They get days off up there?
"As the tag line of my favorite dirty joke would have it: 'Keep your hat on. We could wind up miles from here.'" ~Kurt Vonnegut, Hocus Pocus
What's troubling to me is that most of the errors are on routine plays
Like the ball he bounced to Barton. It was just your most basic throw to 1B, with plenty of time, and he threw it like he was totally psyched out. Which I imagine he is.
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
Wait was that the error he was charged for?
Not the one after the catch? Oh in that case, i cant defend him for that one. That was just bad.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
The bouncer to 3B that he threw in the dirt (Hill held at 2B)
had to be charged as an error. The one taken away was probably the foul sac fly where the runner at 1B “advanced to second on the throw” — if you want to call it a throw.
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
The Knoblauch of 3B? Andy at the hot corner now!!!
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was stupid.
My fear with LaRoche is that he'll hit about .190 against RHPs.
I’d lobby for him to platoon against LHPs but LHPs happen to be the only guys Kouz can hit well not badly.
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
The issue is not hitting right now.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
No, but given that Kouz is in fact a good defensive 3Bman,
if the option to replace him were a “sub .200 hitter against RHPs” then I’d have to stick with Kouz.
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
again, again, "right now" is the key word
I’m not suggesting releasing him or getting rid of him or starting LaRoche and benching Kouz.
however, he needs to sit his ass down for a couple games.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Well, he sat for a day (they all did) and it didn't help much.
I’m not sure 4 games is enough to warrant sitting a guy. Though a more horrific 4 I’ve rarely seen.
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
If not, then it's sending the message that his awful play is acceptable.
Which it isn’t.
He should not be in the lineup tomorrow.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
You could argue that benching sends the message that
“playing badly for 4 games” is not acceptable. It’s not like he didn’t hustle, or made a bunch of mental mistakes.
I can’t believe I’m defending this pile of suck, but I think the urge to bench or punish him is knee-jerk.
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
If a guy is having a shitty week at the plate, he's given a day off.
If a guy is having a shitty week in the field, why not give him a day off?
It’s not little league. Catching and throwing is his job, and he’s not doing it.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Considering the timing, actually, no.
A hitter who was consistently strong at the plate the previous season doesn’t get benched after putting up 0-fers in the first four games of this one. A shitty week only gets a previously-strong hitter benched somewhat later on, methinks.
by el campysino on Apr 5, 2011 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions
its not the same thing
fielding is not dependent on an opposing player.
See the ball field the ball.
Put a bird on it
mikev claimed the similarity.
I challenged it in one way, you in another. I see we agree!
by el campysino on Apr 5, 2011 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions
On the other hand...
Yours,
Emily Litella
by el campysino on Apr 6, 2011 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions
make up an "injury" and retro-DL him
So he can work on throwing. Other teams have been doing it for years.
"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 Apr 6, 2011 7:02 AM PDT up reply actions
It absolutely is knee-jerk, but...
if Geren treats it as an opportunity for Kouzz to sit down and mellow out, rather than as a punishment for messing up, it could have a positive effect on his play, as well as allow the club and fans to get a larger sample of LaRoche’s play, and find out if maybe he’s figured it out a little bit and can hit righties as well as he did in the spring, as opposed to how badly he hit righties in previous years of his MLB career.
"So tired. So cranky. So full of rage. Ahhh, the baseball season." - Kyli
by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 5, 2011 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree with Mike
They guy should be benched
A travesty they took away one of his errors. Brandon has his ERA double because of that sack of shit at third. Not to mention losing us the game of course.
Giving him a day off as a "chance to step back and relax" --
as opposed to a punitive benching — sounds good.
I don’t know, though. I’m tempted to say that we should go back and study what the Yankees did with Chuck Knoblauch (remember that defensive meltdown?)… and do the opposite of whatever it was.
by el campysino on Apr 5, 2011 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions
It's late and I can't sleep and the reason is Kouz. If he's broken, so are the A's.
He’s got the yips and it looks pretty bad, and the hell of it is, he’s yipping for all the wrong reasons.
It’s all because of the A’s pursuit of Beltre (and their weird pickup and discard of E5). What’s disturbing is that I doubt anyone in the A’s front office (along with those of us on AN) had any issues with his D after last year. it was all about his lack of effective offense and the fact that only Beltre would’ve been an upgrade- better offense, at least as good defense (better, actually, but just a bit better).
Some one needs to sit him down and talk openly about this – and I don’t see Geren doing it, he’s just not the type to get real with anyone, can’t even look reporters in the eye – and remind him that he is a plus defender and that is not the reason the A’s worked so hard to try to land Beltre.
I know it’s a business. The reaction of players to that business is the intangible, though, and the A’s pursuit of Beltre has psyched this guy out and now he’s pressing where he doesn’t have to, with horrific results. Meanwhile, his determination to not just hack the first pitch he sees has been effective so far, and it’s all he really had to do…
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 6, 2011 1:38 AM PDT up reply actions
fuentes is hurt.
you give the ball to Balfour every single time in this scenario.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Fuentes was unavailable with a blister
and is also.. well, not good.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
He hit a walkoff homer. He can basically do whatever he wants.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Or, you know, don't let him hit a walkoff homer against you and then be a bitch about it.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Ear hole is too much from one union man to another.
Just hit him in the back.
"So tired. So cranky. So full of rage. Ahhh, the baseball season." - Kyli
by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 5, 2011 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Crotch, anyone?
And no, we’re not talking about Escobar anymore.
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
Isn't he some Colombian druglord? That dude would take it in the crotch!
Or at least hide it…
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was stupid.
why is that bad?
unwritten rule?
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
the whole walkoff celebration has exploded in the BBTN era.
I don’t think there are unwritten rules for that
Put a bird on it
Think of it this way:
Remember when the team used to suck in April and May, turn it up in June, and then blow up in the 2nd half? Well, this year’s team is on that path.
So we'll continue sucking for 7 more weeks?
Thanks, I feel better already!
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
Is it that long?
I was kinda hoping it ended, like, Friday.
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
They still play?
Well good for them!
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
Mully and his flat-top are in the Hall!!!
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was stupid.
15-32 after May?
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Kouz is playing his way out of a starting job
Seriously how long can this last?
He makes a few spectacular plays and screws up spectacularly.
La Roche is bearing down on Kouz. Wouldn’t be surprised to see La Roche at 3B tomorrow.
And our vaunted bullpen, our supposed strength? We need Bailey back in a big way.
I think Geren should sit Kouz for tomorrow
let him think a bit on the bench about playing MLB defense…
He did not look good at 3B all last weekend, and not only when he made those errors…
I'm not sure benching a player who is clearly pressing sends the right message.
I think actually talking to him (like an intervention) might be better. But, you know, Geren…
If he doesn’t settle down – and I mean, like, right now – we’re toast.
You’re completely correct about how he looks, thought.
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 6, 2011 1:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Don't overlook LaRoche's third AB.
He mashed against the LHP twice and then “Crosbyed” against the RHP. It’s unfortunate that Kouz/LaRoche don’t make a complementary platoon, but they don’t.
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, I see it now... or don't for that matter.
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was stupid.
I've missed him since the day he was traded.
Terrible move, IMO.
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
The concept behind trading Rajai is fine,
but they totally sold him for 25 cents on the dollar.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
not really.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
I didn't like the concept either, honestly.
But you’re right that the return was even worse.
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
Rajai Davis is unbelievably overrated here.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Eh. Some overrate him, some underrate him, some rate him about right, IMO.
There’s a big spread. I think he would be a great 5th OFer to have on a team with Coco Brittle as the starting CFer. I felt all along they should keep Davis, not Jackson, and I still feel that way. That doesn’t mean I think he’s an All-Star.
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 Apr 5, 2011 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Thank you.
It was poorly typed, but anyone who heard me say it had to be impressed.
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
He's an exciting player when he's in a groove....
but yeah.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
I like him.
But i did feel like he had a lot of trade value, which should be used if a valuable asset can be obtained in return. He plays the best when he’s a starter, and he wouldnt have been with Willingham and DeJesus.
"Caring about stuff binds us to the other people that care about stuff, and that creates the communities that makes life worth living."
Davis was a shitty hitter off the bench.
If the club had a lot of use for late inning decent but shaky defense and clutch pinch running, then it would have been best to keep Davis.
They were looking for hitting from outfielders though, so they did what they did.
"So tired. So cranky. So full of rage. Ahhh, the baseball season." - Kyli
by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 5, 2011 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Toronto is an organization I respect and they see value in Davis...
I agree with them.
Also side note, not that Im trying to make the “intangibles” case for Rajai, but with a slow runner at 1st base do you think Escobar is cheating dead red on that Balfour first pitch fastball like that? I actually believe Rajai will develop the tangibles as well, .300+ avg, surprising pop.
Chad Gaud really blows now, sad.
yes
it would be better to have him on the team than Sweeney because of the speed.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
This start actually shows why good teams don't play a lot of close games.
The A’s have lost these games because while they’ve been winnable they’ve also been losable. The “good team” led 5-1, which is how good teams’ games go a lot of the time. They don’t wind up trying to hang on in the 10th.
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
Was at the game Tonight...
…one of about 25 visible A’s fans and 100+ disappointed Matsui fans. So the good from tonight….
- Willingham’s bomb in the 10th. Geez, that ball was hit halfway to Detroit. Good to see tha A’s have a bit of power in the lineup.
- McCarthy…I saw him take the mound in the 8th and looked at the pitch count….87 WTF? I think Cahill had that many by the third inning on opening night.
- Got two baseballs at the end of innings…one from Barton and one from Crisp. Unlike the A’s I didn’t drop either when they were tossed to me. (OK that was a cheap shot)
- The cool and funny Jays fans sitting around us. I had a good time with them. They are good fans eh?…even when the two of us started the “Let’s go Oakland” chant.
And the bad from tonight…
- The implosion with the three error inning. Geez…on Kouz’s second error you could just see that he was being too careful and doing all he could to not make an error…and what does he do…throw the ball in dirt.
- Raja Davis…In the 10th inning I said to the Jays fan sitting behind me “I have a bad feeling about this game if Raja gets on.” And darn it..he hits an 0-2 mistake for a hit. Then the same Jays dude says well then here comes a homer..and next pitch..walk off.
Tomorrow is another day/game and hopefully the A’s will rebound. I do agree with others that Kouz should get the day off. I think his head is just messed up right now.
Canadian's are a hella cool bunch of people...
but games like this make me want to mass tanks on the border.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
Canadians are cool because they're just drunk all the time...
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was stupid.
No, they seem cool because I'M drunk all the 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
Same reason you look pretty.
{Call me}
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
Don't you have some papers to degrade?
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was stupid.
Those students are NOT papers.
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
Balfour gave Rajai a hanging curve that Davis could have swatted with his dick for a hit
Balfour should stick to his fastball
The sad thing is that a white hitter would have missed it.
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
They're actually among the top teams in terms of me liking them/not hating them
Hate the Yankees/Red Sox (ESPN crap), hate the Angels/Rangers (rivals), the White Sox have announcers that make me hate them. But the Jays remind me of Jimmy Key, Tom Henke, Dave Steib, John Olerud, Tony Fernandez…
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
Doesn't ring a belle.
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
Albert.
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
Real fans called him Joey.
"So tired. So cranky. So full of rage. Ahhh, the baseball season." - Kyli
by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 5, 2011 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions
And we like Cito...
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was stupid.
but they have the worst uniforms in all of MLB.
They should go back to their classic look.
"So tired. So cranky. So full of rage. Ahhh, the baseball season." - Kyli
by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 5, 2011 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Amazing that the A's have not only committed 10 errors in 4 games,
but IIRC all 10 are on the infield (including the pitcher). Talk about a strength backfiring in a big way.
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, 'cause they took one away from Kouz.
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
honestly, Kouzmanoff could have at least 2 more than he is charged with
its been bad all the way around
Put a bird on it
Um.....Yeah.
Ne meither.
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 almost 2 hours after the game,
and I’m still pissed. Have to remind myself that this is baseball and there’s a game manana.
There's no business like show business, but there are several businesses like accounting.
I'm really disappointed
I thought we’d go 160-2 this year, but I guess we have to settle for 159-3 now. Unacceptable.
Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?
See I don't think we'll take the game on July 26th.
Sadly, 158-4 is as good as it will get.
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 irks me just from an "Oh come on" standpoint
is that realistically, if you give Balfour the ball with a one-run lead and one inning, he’s going to put up a goose egg most of the time. But no, today had to be a day where he coughed it up, so that the season could continue to start in epic fail style. He couldn’t just set the side down, like he usually will, and we get a nice “Willingham saves the day” win.
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 agree. i didn't think we'd score again after they tied it up. ...sigh...
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
Just one of those things.
Sometimes everything breaks right. Sometimes it goes catastrophically wrong. Nothing to psychoanalyze here…just rolled a 1 twice in a row.
once bailey gets back then the relievers get back into their primary roles. when matui and dejesus get rolling, then we'll have a legit top 5 hitters
i’m still excited. frustrated but excited.
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
This can't happen
I would’ve put Wuertz in that situation, he had a great first appearence in relief.
by athleticsperson01 on Apr 5, 2011 9:42 PM PDT reply actions
Do the A's have anyone besides Kouzmanoff at third
by athleticsperson01 on Apr 5, 2011 9:44 PM PDT reply actions
he probably should have started there, pennington at short
by athleticsperson01 on Apr 5, 2011 9:48 PM PDT reply actions
they wanted to give penny a day off against a left handed starter
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
wow, today is the 18th anniversary of kurt cobain's death. i totally missed that
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
So, we're told that the hitting and pitching are going to be stellar
But they conveniently left out the other aspect of playing baseball: fielding.
And yet, the product they’re trying to sell is starting to look a little rotten.
Who told you the hitting would be stellar? And who left out fielding?
The most optimistic things I’ve heard all off-season are that the pitching and fielding would be stellar (like last year), that the hitting might be less miserable than last year, and that the overall combination should be competitive. Who is (are?) this “they” that you refer to?
by el campysino on Apr 5, 2011 10:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Having watched Innings 1-5 and 9- top 10,
I literally only saw the good parts and none of the bad parts. What I saw was an awesome 5th starter, an offense that seems competent for once, and a new acquisition who delivered. Honestly I still have a good feeling about this team. I don’t think there’s a risk that the things we thought would be really good (bullpen, IF defense) will be bad – there’s a risk they could be average. Kouz will not turn into Knoblaugh.
We haven’t seen the 2011 A’s yet because it’s simply to early to know what the 2011 A’s will look like.
Defensive regression is a bitch.
Also any performance where you only fan 2 of 33 batters faced isn’t sparkling.
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 5, 2011 11:06 PM PDT reply actions
He gave up 6 R I hardly qualify that as being lucky
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 5, 2011 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions
sorry 5
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 5, 2011 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions
No, even after the official scorer took back one of Kouz's errors, he gave up 4 ER
And really, he didn’t give up 4 earned runs. It was the D, not the pitching that gave up those runs, scorer or not.
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 6, 2011 1:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Ellis was out at second as well.
Poor baserunning, and a blown call at second allowed the inning to continue for us. The A’s played a bad game all around.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
I did not say ER I said R
pay attention to the fact that RA is a better measure than ER
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 6, 2011 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions
This is not defensive regression. this is oscillation.
Regression is where you come back down to earth. Going from a plus defensive team to an average defensive team. This is a very poor defensive infield so far – the oscillation from a plus to a minus, as in a sine wave. And it’s really two players: Kouz on the one end – he’s got the yips for no good reason except he felt threatened when the A’s went after Beltre (and of course it wasn’t about his D, it was about his crappy bat) – and Barton on the other. Barton is regression. Kouz is something different – the yips – and it doesn’t in any way confirm your expectations of regression.
And pitching is not just strickouts, no matter what. Pitching is also getting to the 8th inning with just 89 thrown. That is, in fact, sparkling.
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 6, 2011 1:53 AM PDT up reply actions
Strikeouts are the only thing that doesn't put the ball in other people's hands to screw up.
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 6, 2011 8:50 AM PDT up reply actions
It doesn't predict well by DIPS, no, but the outcome was sterling
You can’t draw a line based on one outing. He did fine with some bad-ass luck.
"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 Apr 6, 2011 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions
That is true, but by the logic of your saying that only two strikeouts 'hardly qualifies as sparkling'
You are in essence saying that ONLY strikeouts define a pitcher’s outing
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 6, 2011 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions
It's not regression when one player is clearly just out of his normal realm of play for 4 games
I suppose the Orioles are going to end up 145-17 too, right?
Everyone expects Kouz to regress, but no one expects he’ll forget to how to throw, which is where he’s at now.
"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 Apr 6, 2011 7:24 AM PDT up reply actions
No but Kouz would have to be huge huge hugely awesome on D at this point to get back to last year.
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 6, 2011 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions
He would? Four games worth is impossibly to make up unless he's "huge huge hugely awesome"?
It’s four games. Out of 162.
Not really, no
If he just plays similar defense to last year from this point forward I doubt anyone will cite the first four games of the season unless the A’s lose the division by a game or two.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
The A's awful defensive play thus far is only "regression"
if you believe in the Gambler’s Fallacy. The A’s should be expected to regress from a fantastic defensive squad to merely a good one. An awful four games isn’t regression; it’s variance.
by Danny on Apr 6, 2011 7:51 AM PDT up reply actions 4 recs
This is false, unless I expect this level of defense throughout the year, which I do not.
You don't need a religion, you have the A's. - My girlfriend
by designatedforassignment on Apr 6, 2011 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions
Regression just means regressing toward their true talent (mean)
Their true talent is obviously not anywhere near as poor as their play of the past 4 games would suggest, which means it’s not regression.
The only way one could think of this as regression is to think that playing above their true talent will be balanced out by playing below their true talent. Hence, the fallacy.
Correct and very well said.
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 BUT BUT
NO OUTFIELD ERRORS YET! SHOULD HAVE MORE FLY BALLS TO COMPENSATE!
Last of the Ninth - Photography
per country hardball facebook page
Tyson Ross: Per a reliable source, the RHP is set to join the #Athletics tomorrow in Toronto http://countryfastball.com/
Put a bird on it
FWIW Ross was originally listed as the starter for the exhibition tonight between Sacramento and Stockton...
…but Yadel Marti started in place of him. I wasn’t sure if it was just a mixup or not, so maybe Ross was supposed to go tonight and was pulled.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
huh?
Could Braden be injured? Maybe that’s why he didn’t start today?
fuentes has a blister?
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 6, 2011 1:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Carry another pitcher, Kouz to "DL" with the a case of the suck?
"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 Apr 6, 2011 7:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Deep breath!
Yes they look crappy, but it’s only 4 games. I also think trying to trade or replace Kouz has him all messed up and pressing. I hope someone is reassuring him. Today we win 7-2, tomorrow 5-1, series win! Go A’s!
"I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way." -Jessica Rabbit
by A'sfansince1970 on Apr 6, 2011 4:35 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Braden's fine
Ross for pen?
"I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way." -Jessica Rabbit
by A'sfansince1970 on Apr 6, 2011 4:39 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
It'd be nice to have him to go to.
Closer? That made me LOL, but maybe it’s not such a bad idea right now.
Wisconsin's #1 A's fan!
http://athleticsforlife.net/
Ok, so his neck hurts.
Dallas is scheduled for another toe removal surgery next week
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
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