A’s Win! A’s Win! Holy Toledo, the A’s Win!
by Zonis on Apr 9, 2011 7:33 PM PDT
Email
Print
The A’s scored a victory today, 1-0 over the Twins and I am sure that Gio is as glad as he can be that his 6 IP of scoreless ball did not prove to be futile. He was backed up by a good relief effort by Grant Balfour and Brian Fuentes, who combined to pitch three scoreless innings, with Fuentes closing it out for the save.
The A’s only run came in the 6th in what otherwise was an uneventful game offensively. With Suzuki on 2nd and 2 outs, Mark Ellis hit a routine grounder to short, where Alexi Casilla fielded it, and short hopped Justin Morneau into the stands, scoring Suzuki and giving the A’s their only run.
Observations:
- The A’s have not scored an earned run since the first inning of yesterday’s game. This is kind of freaking me out, as this is supposed to be the new and improved A’s offense.
- The A’s really do have awesome starting pitching; with Gio improving his ERA to 0.67, and Cahill and Anderson having awesome ERA’s to show thus far as well. McCarthy is doing fine, and would be better if he had good defense behind him, and I am willing to grant Dallas Braden a mulligan if he really did pitch with a sore neck.
- Target Field looks awesome, and I in no way miss watching games in the Metrodome. I agree with one commenter who said he used to hate the Twins, but that it was a product of the Metrodome and now he only dislikes him.
- With tonight’s showing, has the Bullpen finally recovered? Too bad that, like Nico pointed out, Balfour decided to return to form 1 inning too late.
- Kevin Kouzmanoff, disregarding tonight’s infield single, really does need to be benched in favor of Andy LaRoche. LaRoche deserves the chance, and Kouzmanoff is not making a case to stay in the starting lineup.
- MiLB season has begun, and I am already looking forward to call ups for new faces and better offense. My only concern is that Adrian Cardenas has been DHing the first few games, as if he gets off to a great start, it might be nice to see him in Oakland at 3B mid-season.
- Meanwhile, Grant Green and Michael Choice are looking awesome as well.
- Tom Hallion, the Home Plate UMP, called a peculiarly low strike zone that annoyed me throughout the game, but I will give kudos to him for being consistent.
- For Ray Fosse, I think this will help you out: Definition of the word Four.
- Kurt Suzuki's defense is really underrated right now. He saved the day several times catching balls that could have spelled doom. Kudos to Suzuki.
- Dear Gio, stop giving AN heart attacks. We don't want to lose another pitching to a mysterious injury (in this case, a rolled ankle). Thanks!
323 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
To add a few observations:
- Grant Balfour’s accent is AWESOME!
- While the offense has been pathetic, they were a tad unlucky tonight in that Willingham had the “RBI single” in the 1st, Suzuki ripped a liner with the bases loaded, Barton lined out with a man on, Kouz lined out with a man on, and so on.
- Gio looks like a Cy Young candidate so far, with a mid-90s fastball, buckling curve, much improved changeup, and enough composure to run 3-ball counts instead of 4-ball counts. He’s won twice on the strength of coming up big in one inning each time when he really needed to.
- This rotation is legit. It won’t be this good throughout the season but you have to be impressed with the quality and depth — and it ain’t park and defense because the A’s have played more away games than home games and the defense has been terrible.
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
So far we have three who look like Cy Young
WHIP, ERA
Cahill .087, 1.42
Anderson 1.00 , 1.93
Gonzales 1.43, 0.69
It's the same problem year in and year out.
We don’t need a ton of bats…just a few guys who can string a few hits together in a row. So far Matsui is such a bust.
I didn't like the signing at the time. He's waaay over the hill at this point.
"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury
It's like signing an A's contract takes so much out of them.
Great second half of last season -—> old man….
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 traded him to the Twins mid-season
when they were out of the race and he was going to be a FA.
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
Isnt that Fuentes?
"Some field has fences, and sometime, the field cant hold a player, but most of the time, a field cant hold Domingo"
www.domingobeisbol.com/Domingo/Home.html
I thought that's who she meant, sorry.
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 I meant Matsui.
But as far as Fuentes goes…he’s a good addition to the A’s in my opinion. He may not be topknotch but a good reliever is always a good addition.
I think he's an ok addition -- I didn't like the price, given his age,
but agree he’ll make the bullpen better overall, not worse or the same. Loved the Balfour signing, though.
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
We needed the reliever help.
I don’t know what they paid Balfour but so far he fills a needed gap. So it seems pretty good.
They paid Fuentes more than they paid Balfour.
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's stupid.
At one point in my life I liked Dave Kingman more than Rickey Henderson. I was stupid.
I'm pretty sure what you mean by his changeup is actually his two seamer.
He throws his changeup very rarely and it doesn’t seem to be more than a show me pitch at this point. His two-seamer however, is thrown 25% of the time, has tremendous movement, and generates a ton of groundballs.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 9, 2011 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Hmm...He threw it "first pitch" twice one inning
but I don’t recall which inning (4th, maybe?), once for a called strike and once for a way out in front swinging strike. IIRC it was 84MPH. I thought it was a changeup but it could be a two-seamer.
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's what I thought
He doesn’t throw it first time through the order, usually. But my observation isn’t that he’s throwing it more often, more that he’s throwing it more effectively when he throws 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
If you're talking about the 84 mph pitch, then it's probably the changeup.
But it’s still thrown on pretty rare occasions (and I guess more effectively now). The two seamer comes in low 90s and is probably the biggest reason for his improvement from 09 to 10.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 10, 2011 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Gio is a great pitcher
Can’t wait for McCarthy tomorrow :)
by athleticsperson01 on Apr 9, 2011 7:42 PM PDT reply actions
The fact that the A's are 2-1 over their last 3 games is pretty amazing
Considering the grand total of four runs that they’ve scored during that span. Five members of the A’s starting lineup can’t bat below .220 forever right?
I dunno. It feels like we're always carrying 4 or 5 guys that are batting below .240.
"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury
In terms of hitting
The issue is with Kouz, Zooks, Ellis & Penny. Sure they are great defensively but they are are all 8-9 hitters and a good team only has 2 of those. Kouz can be benched for Laroche, but the other guys are tough to have to watch and deal with. Coupled with 1B being occupied by a guy who hasnt found his power stroke yet, this is always going to be a frustrating offense.
To be honest, though, if the team had good enough 1-5 hitters,
I could live with those guys 6-9.
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
So four runs -- one on a strikeout, one on a bouncer to SS,
and one on a sac fly set that was up by a pickoff error. Nice!
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 if Geren had used the BP yesterday
they might have won three games while scoring four.
Not sure how often that hapens.
Realistically, that BP use yesterday means not used today.
Fuentes would have gotten the call yesterday and couldn’t have gotten a 5-out save tonight.
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 my fantasy
it works the way I imagine it.
so there!
Pretty sure some combination of Ziggy, Breslow, Blevins, and Ross could have taken care of today.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
This is the kind of game
Where there is little difference between watching it on TV, listening on the radio, or watching it update on MLB Gameday. Or watching grass grow.
Love the win though. Gio was awesome, as was Balfour, as was Fuentes.
Keep clawing out wins, boys!
Being called a poet as a rock ’n’ roll musician is like being called a physicist as a baseball player. It might have some application but it’s pretty remote. - Richard Hell
I like deadball. Gimme a 1-run pitcher's duel over a 5-2 lead that you know cannot hold, any day.
"It's too much, Cap'n! The engine canna handle such a heavy load!." - LB
1-0 is better.If we shut em out we have a chance
AN wants Baseball Girl to succeed because of her gender.
At what point
does LaRoache start getting starts at SS and 3B against right handers?
One run a game will only get you so far, and the players need to start earning play time.
Holy Toledo!!
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
LOL at the MLB Network guys
saying the Twins struggling offense wasted a good pitching performance by Nick Blackburn.
Uh, that wasn’t Blackburn. That was the A’s.
Wisconsin's #1 A's fan!
http://athleticsforlife.net/
it's boilerplate
Team X ’s struggling offense .wasted . . . .
Sweeney needs to play and DeJesus needs to sit...
Matsui look like he has zero energy out there!
Every man for himself...
I know he has that 24 game hit streak against the Twins, but I'm worried about Crisp and him being fresh all year...
Every man for himself...
Sweeney and Powell will start tomorrow if there's a game.
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
Yeah, I can influence the weather
Do you see how much I influence the A’s offense?
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'll ask the A's for some runs tomorrow, okay?
I think Josh Willingham owes me a couple RBI’s…
There's no crying in baseball!
True.
Maybe he can share his “How to ever hit a HR” secret with a couple friends.
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 notice that Nelson Cruz hit his 5th HR today.
And Howie Kendrick hit his 4th. Howie Kendrick?
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like….
"It's too much, Cap'n! The engine canna handle such a heavy load!." - LB
Howard* Kendrick
"Some field has fences, and sometime, the field cant hold a player, but most of the time, a field cant hold Domingo"
www.domingobeisbol.com/Domingo/Home.html
Kendrick has been hyped up as a guy that could win a batting title for years. Perhaps he's finally putting it together.
"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury
He's walking too much, as usual.
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 Matsui done???
I know I know it’s just a week, but he really looks terrible IMO.
Maybe I am just being too negative???
Every man for himself...
I wouldn't worry based on this week.
Any more than you worried before ST started, anyway.
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
Matsui is known for slow starts to the season
even in Japan, years ago.
No one is worried yet. Well, other than AN denizens…
2011: Go Athletics!
by One won lost won on Apr 9, 2011 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions
You play Dejesus
He has been most consistently good player in our lineup… maybe batting him third right now is the issue? He will produce, we dont need to worry
ok you take Dejesus out of the three spot, but who do you put in the spot then?
As of now, as in the past few years, we have nobody else who can hit in that spot.
We don't have anybody we can be confident in for that spot
The question is whether the odds are better with CoJax or Sweeney there than with DeJesus. I suspect they are. They both look stronger this year, I say let ‘em play and let’s see how much their greater strength translates into more slugging.
put one of those in OF and DH Willingham
sitting Matsui or giving him his outright release. I know that won’t happen due to Matui’s drawing power and marketing prowess, but from a pure baseball sense and putting your best team on the field, this would be the best option…until one of CoJaz or Sweeney or Coco breaks
If we're going to release Matsui,
the Red Sox should probably release Carl Crawford, right?
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 know it won't happen, but if, and it's a big if,
Billy would swallow pride and admit Matsui was a mistake it could happen.
Also, Matsui =/= Crawford
It's not a matter of swallowing pride.
It’s a matter of it being unbelievably stupid to release Matsui after one bad week.
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 don't mean right now, but if he doesn't produce, say by the middle/end of May
then absolutely I would release him. I know he’s a notoriously slow starter, but with our lineup we can’t exactly afford to wait for his second half surge, if this actually happens this year. Plus it’s not just the results of the week, as you, yourself noted, his bat speed looks like it has fallen of the face of the planet.
It doesn't look good to me, but I'm hoping it improves
and with it his productivity.
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 do, too.
I hate skeptics and I hate being skeptical myself, but I am concerned to say the least
I would disagree and say they wouldn't release him too early, but they did that to Giambi
and he was on pace for 22HRs and 75 RBI’s…
16 Homeruns by Kouzmanoff led us last year right???
Every man for himself...
I think Matsui belongs in the #3 spot, DeJesus #5, given our 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 think Matsui belongs on bench
maybe be a star PH ala Thome, although today wasn’t the best example of Thome
Au contraire
a sample size of ONE PITCH is sufficient to judge a hitter.
Ala Barton / TLong / etc. Any A’s hitter who has watched a single pitch be made for a strikeout in a crucial situation shall, nay MUST, be judged by that one pitch alone, nothing else matters.
(and conversely, swinging at ball 4 ala crosby also matters.)
I think one pitch is too many
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 windup alone should be enough to DFA a hitter.
As with Buck, just pissing off the GM can make you a worthless pile of dung
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
To be honest, if a hitter were to wind up
I probably would want them DFA.
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 thought you were talking about "...one pitch..."
I guess I’m still all over the place. It’s probably the Cholesterol meds I’m on.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Buck announced for game
digs in
Atca notices the stupid thumb thing
calls time out
replaces buck with Hanerhan
Put a bird on it
HOOLIGAN!!! Our "other" Jack!
Tuu bad we couldn’t combine the twu Jacks, and end up with a good fielder with a high whoa-ba.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Judge them by what they swing in the on deck circle
Or the ultimate quantum of ‘playing the game right’
Do they respect the traditions every microsecond of time.
Well, there is also the Holiday – Smile Factor too, for judging. I’m confused now.
See? the manager's job isn't as easy as it looks.
That’s why BB fired the mighty Geren tu lead this team. A lesser man wouldn’t be able to handle the decisions
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Oops, wishful thinking. "...hired the moghty Geren"
Freud would lof me
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
I think he's actually producing fine right now
By my recollection, he’s had more line drive / hard hit outs than anyone on the team.
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
er, that's the whole point of a fool hearty guarantee like that
if you wait till sept 27th when Gio’s 19-6 with a 2.47 ERA and 200 K’s, then what’s the point? I mean, it’s not as if he hasn’t shown in the past season plus this spring that he’s capable of winning a Cy Young? In fact, it’s not really going out on a limb to predict a guy that most scouts think has some of the filthiest and best stuff in the American League, could win the Cy Young. It’s just logical.
I'm guaranteeing, right now, that
Cahill, Anderson, Gio, and McCarthy will all be in the top 3.
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 sooooo funny! He would love to hang with my friends
WHAT!??!?!?!?!?!?!
by true torture on Apr 9, 2011 10:47 PM PDT up reply actions
I haven't been online much...
Whatever happened to Connor Jackson? He seemed like he might turn into a goot hitter.
more Tyson!
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
See?
That was my fantasy about winning Friday as well as Saturday.
Ross comes in, keeps the score flat, and A’s get back to back 1-0 wins.
If today wasn’t my anniversary, there might also be a few other things involved too…
goat hitter?
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
Better not use the word goat , Nico.
You’ll get the thought police here on AN on your case again…lol.
And if I use the word "hitter" people will get confused.
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 can't get much worse than this, can it?
Crisp .265
Willingham .241
Ellis .231
Barton .222
DeJesus .214
Pennington .190
Suzuki .185
Kouzmanoff .185
Matsui .160
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a collection of batting averages that bad after the first week of the season. It’s almost a miracle the team is 3-5, but you can thank the pitching for that.
It will get better.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Coco only at .265?
Just seems like he’s always on base.
Believe it or not
Ten teams have worse batting averages than ours.
THAT is hard to believe!
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 don't know if it's current as of right now, but...
A’s .226
Mariners .226
Cardinals .223
Nationals .222
Orioles .220
Padres .215
Red Sox .215
Twins .203
Rays .167
Last of the Ninth - Photography
either you are I are a day behind
Fangraphs says the A’s are .234, Orioles and Dodgers .233, Astros .230.
I just went to MLB.com's team stats
Like I said, I don’t know if it’s current as of this second.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
But we're 28th in OBP and walks taken.
by Glorious Mundy on Apr 9, 2011 8:53 PM PDT up reply actions
yep
unless management has departed from the strategy of emphasizing OBP, this suggests we’ve been unlucky in facing unusually good pitching days (albeit from not otherwise good pitchers).
I hate how Geren does not reward good play
Jackson should be playing more. Not that I feel he is the answer to all our offensive problems, but I feel that players should be rewarded for good play.
It's funny how before the season the consensus seems to be "They should just release Jackson" or otherwise be rid of him...
…and now it’s “I wish Jackson was playing more.”
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Yeah, it's not like we've faced a LHP starter.
Jackson should never start against a RHP — Sweeney hasn’t even started a game yet.
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
Wasn't he the guy who led the team in BA the last twu seasons?
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
You find the good players through playing time...
But more importantly, you have to play the hot hand, particularly when the team is struggling. Geren ignores the hot hand; he ignores players who are, in their terms, “seeing the ball well.” The A’s have barely scored any runs this season, and Andy LaRoche and Conor Jackson seem to be the two hottest hitters. Yet they’re benched.
“Reward good players with playing time, not good play” sounds like one of those moronic truisms like “write what you know.” If a bad player is having a good week, you play him til he sucks, and then pull him.
That's fine, but LaRoche hasn't really been benched
At a time when Kouz, Penny, and Ellis are healthy he has started something like 3 of the last 5 games.
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
You do not play the hot hand.
Because hot streaks don’t exist, in that sense. Players on hot streaks hit no better the next game than players who aren’t. Playing an inferior player because he appears to be “hotter” is exactly what bad managers do.
Luckily for Bob,
all our players are equally inferior so it all works out.
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 disagree with this.
I’m not suggesting that attempting to manage this long term is sound, but hot streaks do exist. Statistically speaking hot streaks are just noise. But statistic noise when it comes to humans shouldn’t be viewed the same way you would a card game or other games of chance that have a fixed probability. Hot streaks are tossed aside because in the overall scope of things they carry so little weight they’ll quickly get measured out (and rightly so), but we’re not talking about a 2-sided coin with a static probability ratio, we’re talking about a person who, at times, has moments of better/worse focus or some level of mechanics that increases/decreases its probability to be successful on a day-to-day basis. It affects all players with heavy variance and is a big part of why a player will be ungodly good one week and ungodly bad the next but over the course of a season will just be “good” or just be “bad.” You sure as hell don’t want to make long term plans and/or supplant a much better player as a result of the noise, but putting some level of value on that noise on a day-to-day basis isn’t bad. It just needs to be a calculated move.
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.
And watched very carefully for a return towards the expected norm, correct?
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
More or less, yes.
more importantly, cut and run sooner than than that.
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.
I'm not basing it off of a theoretical probability like a card game or a dice roll.
If you find all of the players who have been hot over their last five games, they hit no different on their sixth than anyone else.
Shouldn't you continue playing until he starts reverting towards his mean?
Playing him in the 2-5 games was riding the hot hand.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
That's the point, though.
But how do you know when he will? The point of the study is that you can’t know. You can pick any number—3, 4, 9. If you find the group of players who have had hot streaks of that length, they hit no differently the next on the 4th, 5th, or 10th day than their career numbers.
So you're saying we should have yanked Gio after the second inning yesterday, because even though he appears to be 'on'
it’s just as likely he’ll flounder in the third as be successful?
by LoneStranger on Apr 10, 2011 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions
No, the point of the hot streak study is to show that it's often an erroneous belief
to play inferior players over better players just because you perceive the inferior player to be hot. At that point, Gio is certainly the best player in the situation.
And in any case, since he’s a freaking good pitcher, there’s not an equal chance he’ll suck than be good.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 10, 2011 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
ah crap
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 10, 2011 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions
What font change?
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 10, 2011 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions
I guess the game that he fails is one game too far.
At that point, he has reverted and should be played as such. Yes you give away that one game, but hopefully, his streak outweighs the one loss.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Well, right.
I don’t disagree with that. It’s not something you can do on pure numbers alone, I’d even venture to guess that the average manager isn’t adept at making these distinctions. It’s in that respect that I agree with your sentiment. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist or that it shouldn’t be attempted on occasional, calculated moves. You have player X who’s clearly on an upswing and player Y on a down swing. Player Y is overall better, but every player in baseball needs a break here and there, so you ride (very briefly) that hot hand that player X has, not with some long term goal of hoping to figure out whether game 5 or 6 is when he falls off again, but for a few games, preferably ones that take advantage of his splits and then be quick with the hook knowing it’s just noise.
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.
I think the point is that yes, they exist, but no, you can't predict the game in which it ends.
So it’s hard to ride the hot hand in that sense.
by LoneStranger on Apr 10, 2011 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions
I'd definitely agree with that.
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.
I'd agree as well...
You will always ride the hot hand one game too far…
But isn’t that exactly how any manager would use relief pitchers?
If it's just a break or a brief thing, I have no qualms with it.
At some point, appeasing a player who thinks he’s hot is worth more than the teeny boost of production.
That's all I'd suggest.
Going beyond that is incredibly flawed. I’m certainly not suggesting the “oh run him out there for a week or month or whatever” approach.
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.
I’m certainly not suggesting the "oh run him out there for a week or month or whatever" approach.
The Emil Brown Effect.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 10, 2011 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm not sure I understand what you're saying there.
It sounds like you’re saying it’s difficult to account for when they’re normalizing?
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.
It's from The Book.
Tango found 6408 hot streaks from 2000 to 2003 that were at least five games long. These guys hit for a combined .543 wOBA over that time. But if you looked at the next game? The sixth one? They hit for a wOBA of .369. Their career numbers were .365. If hot streaks existed, even a little bit, you’d expect at least some of those hot streaks to continue into the sixth day. But they didn’t, on the whole.
Hmm...
That’s more suggestive to me that either a) their calculation of what is a hot streak is inaccurate or b) that we’re dealing with such small sample sizes that a one game flub is more than enough to normalize things.
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.
Can you think of another way to test?
I’m not being snarky, but if you can come up with another way, I’m sure we have the data and could test it. (and by we, I mean dan).
by LoneStranger on Apr 10, 2011 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions
Nope.
I’m not even sure there’s necessarily a “good” way to test. We’re dealing with such small samples that probably any parameters, except the most extreme are likely to have the flaw of proving our own points. Hell, even the most extreme will invalidly prove it’s own point.
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.
This would dictate the necessity of the manager having good intincts, correct?
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Yup.
Which, as I’m sure we’d all agreed, is very hard to rate, incredibly flawed and not something we’d be particularly excited about any manager (ahem, Geren) attempting to do.
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.
and even the best one, aka LaRussa, have at times failed
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
For the record, the calculation they used is 5%.
They took the top 5% of five-day periods and threw it into a bucket.
That's such a load of crap
Maybe you’re too young to have watched Eric Byrnes in action for the A’s. If you think hot streaks don’t exist, then you aren’t paying attention.
Or, you know, you could counter my actual argument, other than an ad hominem.
But, you know, whatever doesn’t work.
The only guy who might be considered to have the "hot hand" is Willingham
And he’s played every game (as he should; he’s our best hitter)
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 10, 2011 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions
He also has the most strickouts on the team,
so he must be our best hitter.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
the moment we acquired him he became the most talented hitter on the team
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 10, 2011 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions
Holy Toledo! That's a LOT of strikeouts 13 out of 30 PA's
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 10, 2011 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions
With one walk, too.
Huh. He’s swinging at a lot more bad pitches and swinging at a lot less good ones.
Which tells me that he is simply luckier than Kouz at this point.
Kouz has hit some pitches right on the nose, only to have them find someone’s glove. A lot like Kouz did early last year. I believe they will both improve as the year goes along
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
I think what's happening is he's getting behind in the count a lot
I think some of that has been taking very borderline pitches that have been called strikes and some of it has been fouling off hittable pitches earlier in the count.
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
Marti killed it too, via twitter:
Yadel Marti with a terrific first start in the States; 1 R on 6 H & 0 BB with 5 K in 6 IP for Sacramento.
My gosh, the A's offense is one big epic fail
Great pitching, though. Good game for Gio.
"First of all, all the glory goes to God, Jesus Christ. Secondly, I love my teammates." - Josh Hamilton, on being named MVP of the 2010 ALCS
First 2 weeks are like that for many teams
It’ll pick up from unexpected quarters.
My ERA predictions
It’s gonna be a great year for our starters, especially Anderson, if they stay healthy
Anderson 2.20
Cahill 2.80
Gonzales 3.00
McCarthy 3.50
Braden 3.50
Might need to add 0.50 across the board.
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 still improving their pitching
Anderson by 0.6 because he’s healthy, Gonzales by 0.2, Cahill by 0.3.
Braden at 3.50 same as last year.
I’m admittedly out on a limb with McCarthy improving by 1.1 from his career average, but he has a much better defense and ballpark behind him, and he might learn some new tricks from his new teammates.
Gio at 3.00 might turn out to be pretty accurate...
…but otherwise, I’ll have to agree with Nico. If either Braden or McCarthy end up with ERA’s under 4, I’ll be jumping for joy, because that could be what would vault us into the playoffs…
Too many endorphins after today's dominating win, eh?
I don’t think you realize exactly what you’re predicting here. You have the starting pitching putting up a 3.00 ERA for this season. This would be slightly better than the greatest rotation of all time by run prevention, the 1998 Braves (3.06 ERA). Their adjusted ERA+ of 138 is better than that of dead ball teams’. Generally, rotations that average even 3.50 a season, like the A’s last year, are phenomenal and end up leading the league. Even Nico’s estimate, adding about 50 runs total, would still have the A’s repeating last year’s league leading run prevention, which would be a stretch.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 9, 2011 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Too many endorphins after 55 innings of dominating pitching
by our starters despite a ragged defense and typical .275 BABIP.
Yes, I know my prediction is for an extraordinary season for our starters. Why bother with boring predictions? I am indeed predicting we have one of the top rotations of all time (albeit probably not when adjusted for ballpark and defense).
Also, my caveat is assuming they all remain healthy, which alas probably won’t happen.
Some other reasons to expect an extraordinary season for our starters:
(1) ERAs have been coming down league-wide since the end of the clear/cream era, so these records are set to be broken by somebody, and we led the AL in ERA last year. I expect some NL teams this year to also have historically extraordinary pitching, so we won’t be alone.
(2) We have a better bullpen than last year (admittedly not much in evidence yet), so the starters can be pulled earlier, before they get tired, which will improve their ERA.
(3) Our starters last year and this have a much higher ERA than our bullpen. I certainly don’t expect the team as a whole to have a 3.00 ERA — probably closer to 3.30 (vs. 3.58 last year) — but I do expect our top five starters to.
FWIW our current starter ERA is 2.46 and overall ERA is 2.96.
by A's Believer on Apr 9, 2011 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions
3.00 would not just be extraordinary, it would be world-beating and historic
3.50 would be great and more realistic
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 10, 2011 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions
My 3.00 prediction is just for our starters, our bullpen will do much worse than that
Our four returning starters pitched 3.13 last year and are improved this year.
by A's Believer on Apr 10, 2011 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions
also
It’s just for the current 5 starters, not other starters that may be needed in case of injury.
by A's Believer on Apr 10, 2011 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions
incidentally
The Fangraph projections for Brandon McCarthy’s ERA this year average to 4.05. (The most optimistic is Bill James’ 3.65, compared to my 3.50). If we average in that projection with the 2010 ERAs of the four returning starters (weighted equally) we get 3.30. So they have to improve their ERAs over these numbers by an average of 0.30 which is admittedly optimistic but is well within the realm of possibility for the reasons stated above. Nico’s number assumes they will regress (or in the case of McCarthy miss their projection) by an average of 0.20 each. I find it far more plausible that they will improve.
by A's Believer on Apr 10, 2011 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Endorphins?
Aren’t those a kind of mammal that harasses whales?
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
A number of starting staffs have finished below 3.10
Although I certainly won’t disagree that 3.06 during the steroid era was amazing and I’m not saying the A’s this year are quite that good. But we are departing the steroid era so let’s cast our nets wider. Here are starting staffs that had ERAs below 3.10 since 1980:
1981 — Astros 2.43, Dodgers 2.77
1984 — Dodgers 2.99
1985 — Dodgers 2.71, Mets 2.84
1986 — Astros 3.06
1988 — Mets 2.97, Expos 3.05
1989 — Dodgers 3.02
1991 — Dodgers 3.06
1992 — Braves 2.95
1997 — Braves 3.05
1998 — Braves 3.06
Admittedly all NL (no DH). In the 1970s there were two DH-era (post-1973) AL starting staffs below 3.10 including our own A’s:
1974 — Athletics 2.98
1978 — Yankees 3.08
Since we are slowly losing the effects of the steroid era, I expect at least a partial return to an era where such ERAs are again in reach.
by A's Believer on Apr 10, 2011 7:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Granted it took a dropped fly ball, well hit as it was,
but that AB by Tejada is a brilliant example of what it means to protect the plate with two strikes instead of maybe taking strike 3 just on or off the corner. Terrific AB.
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 like 3 days ago he hacked at a ball on his shoelaces
the FIRST PITCH after the guy in front of him walked on four straight.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Our laughably horrid offense hasn't scored an earned run in 17 innings...
…against very mediocre Twins pitching. Unless these bats wake up on the flight to Chicago, the Sox are gonna hammer us, because not only are they leading the league in runs, but their starting pitching is WORLDS better than Minnesota’s. What a downer for our guy, knowing that if he doesn’t pitch a shutout, he’s probably gonna get the L…
Send Kouz to Midland (or Stockton)! Free Andy LaRoche!
Bench anyone who’s not hitting! (Uh oh, we ran out of bodies…lol)
I don't think I breathed at all in the bottom
Of the ninth until Fuentes got the final out.
And I still remember Miggy magic in the coliseum …
by OaklandSi on Apr 9, 2011 9:50 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
"Do you believe it? 18 wins in a row!"
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 sure why each time someone mentions LaRoche ought to be in the lineup
nobody comments … but consider this a giant +1 to each post above that mentions it.
At this point, it’s completely stupid to not find a place for our best hitter in spring training, and a guy who’s had consistently good AB’s when given the shot. It’s idiotic moves/non-moves like this that make you shake your head. You’ve got a guy who’s red hot and you keep him on the bench while you keep trotting out automatic outs up and down the lineup. Brilliant.
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
I agree - I say light a fire under a Kouz's ass
and start giving LaRoche 2-3 starts a week at 3B. Kouz, despite his spring training, has turned right back into old Kouz, only with worse Defense….ugh.
I totally agree with you about giving LaRoche a shot at 3rd. At this stage of the season, there is little downside & ......
lots of upside with that experiment. If he keeps up his hot bat, then maybe he helps us win a few extra games vs. Kouz. If his hitting fades or his fielding is subpar, then the experiment can be ended & we go back to the known ……Kouz, who we know now is a subpar hitter & subpar field!!!
Having seen LaRoche hit very well in spring training including 4 home runs, how tough can the decision really be for a manager??? Just asking….
This Angels - Jays game is crazy
neither team wants to win. Keep loading the bases in extras and failing.
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
J.P. Arencibia continuing to rake!
I feel cool for picking him in every fantasy league
WHAT!??!?!?!?!?!?!
by true torture on Apr 9, 2011 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow... Angels bribed the umpire for sure. I have never seen such a corrupt call in my life.
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
Holy Crap that was fucked up
Angels get 1st and 3rd. Wells hits bloop fly ball. Snyder dives, catches the ball… Abreu doesn’t tag, but Hunter at 1B goes to 2nd, and is doubled off for a double play.
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
Now they do the 1st-3rd fake, catch the runner going to 2nd, and throw Abreu out at home!
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
Are the Angels out of pitchers again?
WHAT!??!?!?!?!?!?!
by true torture on Apr 9, 2011 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Relievers yes, I think
they have 3 starters on the bench.
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
Yeah that's what I meant
WHAT!??!?!?!?!?!?!
by true torture on Apr 9, 2011 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Hopefully he goes 5 innings
And they are still playing at 11.00 a.m tomorrow in inning number 45.
Angels win
Kind of pathetic…. but man, way to buy the win, Slegna. Shameful.
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day.
It was the Victory To Be Named Later
"Hello Sacramento, wherever you are!" - Gene Rayburn
by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 9, 2011 11:16 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm not allowed to post them unless the A's are down.
by LoneStranger on Apr 9, 2011 11:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Aww, Dingbat!
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
Rivercats Highlights:
Including Carter driving in a pair with a double, and taking an awful route in left field (looks like he needs a lot of work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VZYwCmgo5MI
by Rebuilding Season on Apr 9, 2011 11:46 PM PDT reply actions
Gotta love Streptococcus Unicornius
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gio Gonzalez was locked in a 0-0 duel with Nick Blackburn when the Minnesota Twins opened the fifth inning with two straight singles.
That’s when second baseman Mark Ellis paid him a visit, telling the young lefty to not worry if he gave up a run or two. The Oakland Athletics ’ offense, Ellis told him, would get the runs right back.
“Which was a lie, obviously,” Ellis said with a wry grin.
2011 Oakland Athletics: We have Cy Young pitchers and make yours look like it, too
by elcroata on Apr 10, 2011 12:03 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Ha! Awesome.
Gio must be pretty gullible if he fell for that line…
by whiteshoes40 on Apr 10, 2011 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions
i know ppl here had some overly optimistic ideas about this new offense but...
im happier to see that the pitching is quite as good as we’d hoped than i am disappointed that the offense has started so poorly…
DeJesus, Willingham, Coco, Barton, (maybe) Susuki… are all quality enough to get warm(er) soon and we have three starters look exactly as we hoped they might. Both objectively by the numbers, and subjectively on what ive seen so far this year – i dont see any rotation looking better than ours. now it’s on the A’s (that’s you beane/ wolfe) to prove they actually want to win now by quickly identifying and then quickly wheeling and dealing the offense parts (+specs) that arent working and having the imagination (hate to say it) that the Gnats front offense had last year. I feel like the A’s are a quality 3b (neither Kouz nor LaRoche fits that description ever), DH and some offensive form away from being the team we all want them to be.
Way too early to get down about 2011… what do you think Twins fans are saying about this A’s team ‘damn their offense sucks’ or ’I’m glad this is the only time we see the A’s rotation in MN this year’?
I think they are saying...
I am damn glad they have no hitting power because if they did …we’d get swept.
hmmmm
Twins fan "Gee willikers, those boys from Oakland could be much better offensively. Mind you as a guy from Mankato who has followed the twins his whole life, I can’t really say much, don’t you know. My twins have not hit a LICK all year either. Its OK, though, the boys are trying hard, can’t ask more than that.
Say you need a lift to the store?"
Put a bird on it
This is brilliant
Or in the idiom of my people, not bad.
Help the A's help Japan. www.oaklandathletics.com/japan
by Englishmajor on Apr 10, 2011 8:46 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Very good points!
Hopefully the upward regression (hitting/defense) far outweighs the downward regression (pitching) and all is 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
The way I see it,
the pitching is playing closer to their talent level than the hitting and defense are. So you’re probably (hopefully) right.
One time while I was at a Rivercats vs Redhwaks game
I bought Landon Powell three $1.00 hot dogs for crushing a homerun to defeat the Rangers AAA squad.
The bat boy actually pffered him the grub, but he declined and became insulted. Maybe I should have sent a protein shake instead???
Every man for himself...
Do we still need 7 bullpen pitchers???
Why not just carry 6 and bring in another low cost aging veteran bat?
Much like the Yanks did with Chavez… Someone who could play a few spots or DH
I haven’t had my coffee yet, but I feel we could use another body to throw in the mix for ABs
Every man for himself...
And has to sit on the bench for 100 games before he CAN play
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 10, 2011 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Playing with a 24-man roster for 100 days. Is that how it would work? Or can he sit on the bench for the River cats?
Just curious
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 10, 2011 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions
Nah, I'm pretty sure the Dodgers were allowed to call a 25th man up during the 50-game suspension.
That said, if he unretires, he still has a Rays contract and all.
I'm aware it's all just speculation. Kinda fun, though. What an idiot he is..
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 10, 2011 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Seattle has lost every game
since taking the opening series. Winning those games is imperative to having a shot at the division.
The offense will improve and we’ll have a shot with the 5-headed monster of starting pitching.
Josh Willingham hit a 2-run homer off King Felix- April Fools Day
by ohtobe21likehuston on Apr 10, 2011 7:37 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Today's lineup behind McCarthy, posted without comment
DeJesus cf, Barton 1b, Willingham lf, Matsui dh, Sweeney rf, Ellis 2b, Kouzmanoff 3b, Powell c, Pennington ss
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Because he led our team in HR's last year and Geren thinks he'll get back to form...
:)
Every man for himself...
Watc this lineup will go out and score 10 runs!!!
and we’ll never use it again until May 1st
Every man for himself...
Looks fine to me
Though with 4 of the first 5 being LHs, I’d say if the Twins bring in a lefty reliever they should be prepared to PH, e.g., Conor Jackson for Sweeney. I don’t like that 4-5 against a LHP.
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's one reason why Matsui might be better at #3
he has less dramatic splits v lefties. He is just under his numbers v righties, they may as well be even
Put a bird on it
Jesus...5-9 are almost automatic outs
You could argue 4-9
"Some field has fences, and sometime, the field cant hold a player, but most of the time, a field cant hold Domingo"
www.domingobeisbol.com/Domingo/Home.html
Ellis is swinging pretty subpar this year?
The rest I will concede to your statement!
Every man for himself...
I would argue not
Certainly not to this extent
"Some field has fences, and sometime, the field cant hold a player, but most of the time, a field cant hold Domingo"
www.domingobeisbol.com/Domingo/Home.html
No, I'd say 7-9 maybe but not 5-9
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 most playoff contenders.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 10, 2011 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions
weather.com seems to think we'll get today's game in,
that the next storm is coming to Minneapolis around 4pm Central time. Sounds like an exciting 9th inning.
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'd say there is way too much overreaction to our hitting woes, and just as much overenthusiasm for our pitching...
If you think our hitters are doing poorly, consider this, from the Boston Globe’s ever-panicky Dan Shaughnessy:
The Sox were a robust 1 for 17 with men in scoring position yesterday. Crawford is hitting .152, Kevin Youkilis .125, Jacoby Ellsbury .156, Jarrod Saltalamacchia .182. Throw in shortstop Marco Scutaro (.143) and you’ve got more than half of the regular lineup significantly south of the Mendoza Line.
The Red Sox are OPSing slightly worse than the A’s, too. Oh, and their pitching? Dead last. And their preseason expectations were pretty high, also, you might remember…
Meanwhile, two of the 3 teams the A’s pitchers have faced aren’t exactly Murderer’s Row: (recognizing that PART of their awful offense is due to facing the A’s pitching, but still) The Mariners eat us two out of three, and yet their offensive line of .220/.291/.306 is a tad worse than ours. The Twins? Dead last, by a long shot, at .203/.262/.264 after 8 games, only 2 of which are vs. our pitchers.
A’s, Mariners and Twinkies have also each only hit 2 homers…
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 10, 2011 9:38 AM PDT reply actions
If we had Crawford and Youk, yes we would be overreacting. But we don't
The “overreaction” you mention isnt due to this year alone. Its due to the past few years of not having a good offense.
True. But we DID try to improve the offense this year. Willingtham, deJesus, and I'd even rather have Matsui driving a lineout to right than Jack watching strike three.
Of course, Daric is now doing his best Cust imitation…
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 10, 2011 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions
I just keep coming back to the fact that
last year we routinely had Ellis (or Sweeney) and Suzuki and Kouz hitting in the #3-#4-#5 slots and this year we have much better — aka “real” — hitters there, and the aforementioned in the 6-7-8. Our offense will be better, period.
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
Slusser just tweeted that Matsui hit a bomb to the upper deck during BP
earlier today… Let’s hope he can turn that into game results!!
Every man for himself...
RIDE THE HOT HAND!!!!!!!
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 still think he hits the next HR for us
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 10, 2011 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions
Random rant: How long before we (AN) start criticizing Beane for not being
able to acquire and keep (signed)real hitters…
I’m still having nightmare over Carlos Gonzalez and Andre Ethier!!!
I’m over Buck crapping out, but with Sweeney & Taylor not far behind where’s the beef?
I am very pleased with his ability to develop/acquire pitching though!
Every man for himself...
Maybe a few years after we get a new park and the team has revenue to sign big bats without spending 50% of the payroll on one player just to get them to think about it.
by LoneStranger on Apr 10, 2011 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Carlos was indeed a bad move.
Ethier is nowhere near the player you think he is. He’s basically a Josh Willingham who is a -15 with the glove, not a -5.
Mark Mulder is still with the A's isn't he?
His new name is Brett Anderson…
Every man for himself...
I guess Wallace since he's actually in the big leagues
But… yeah.
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 10, 2011 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions
Ethier is a "real hitter" though
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 10, 2011 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions
Wow!
Can’t believe they held on to that 1-0 lead, and REALLY can’t believe Fuentes shut the door. But I’ll take it.
Here’s hoping they can take the game today too….I want moar winz
What! You want moar!?! Nobody ever asks for moar!
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 10, 2011 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
That's because the A's have been serving nothing but boar, and we want some variety...
Every man for himself...
We get variety every day. I want something different.
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 10, 2011 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Athletics Nation
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Baseball Nation Recent Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- The Juice: Long Adam Dunn homer punctuates Chris Sale’s 15 Ks, Mark Trumbo goes deep after Jered Weaver goes down for Angels
- Leyland begs media to make umpires ‘accountable’ for bad calls (VIDEO)
- Get a grip: Reds’ Todd Frazier loses bat, still connects for home run (Video)
- Eric Hosmer redefines the Baltimore chop with infield double (Video)
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
