A's Learn That Two Runs Against Rangers Are Never Enough

by baseballgirl on Sep 21, 2011 10:30 PM PDT

Wouldn't be the only head-swivel of the inning.

Well, just when we think we might have ourselves a ballgame (it looked like a Kershaw/Lincecum game for a while there), one piece of the puzzle doesn't quite work, and it turns out to be just another loss. And, of course, the problem with recording just five hits and two runs is that there is no room for error. Despite how well Brandon McCarthy pitched tonight (and really, has pitched all season; what a disservice this offense has done for him), the A's offense couldn't get him his 10th win. The only run McCarthy allowed was scored on a double-play, and despite leaving after seven innings with a 2-1 lead, he came out with a no-decision.

Texas started the second inning with back-to-back singles, putting runners on the corners. A run scored on the subsequent double-play, but McCarthy was otherwise masterful. The A's scored both of their runs in the fifth inning; Pennington doubled with one out, Suzuki struck out (surprise, surprise), and Pennington stole third. Brandon Allen singled him in, Michael Taylor walked to move Allen to second, and Weeks singled Allen in. The 2-1 game looked pretty good until Balfour came into the game in the eighth. One batter and seven pitches later, the game was tied at 2, as Kinsler homered. Two batters later, Josh Hamilton homered to give Texas a lead they would not relinquish.

The A's put a runner on in the ninth (a walk to Willingham), but couldn't tie the game, and they have one more game at noon tomorrow to end the homestand with a win. We're sorry, McCarthy and the Mrs.

Current Series

Rangers lead the series 2-0

Tue 09/20	WP: Derek Holland (15 - 5) LP: Rich Harden (4 - 4)	2 - 7 loss
Wed 09/21	WP: Koji Uehara (2 - 3) SV: Neftali Feliz LP: Grant Balfour (4 - 2)	2 - 3 loss
Texas Rangers Lone Star Ball @ Oakland Athletics Athletics Nation Thursday, Sep 22, 2011, 12:35 PM PDT Overstock.com Coliseum Colby Lewis vs Trevor Cahill Sunny. Winds blowing out to right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around . Complete Coverage >

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McCarthy pulled???

I couldn’t listen because of work, but what did I miss that McCarthy was pulled after 7 and having only thrown 80 pitches???

by capper3 on Sep 21, 2011 10:33 PM PDT reply actions

79. I'm all into having set roles for RPs

but let the guy keep pitching. It’s not like they’re trying to preserve his arm, he’s only gonna make one more start this season.

Don't you realise you'll find next monday or next Tuesday/Your golden shoes day

by PDXAthleticsfan on Sep 21, 2011 10:50 PM PDT via iPhone app up reply actions

Amen to that!

I was pissed when Bob pulled him. We were all thinking he was on his way to a CG. As good as Balfour has been for us, he’s been giving up homers frequently lately, so putting him in to preserve a 1-run lead was a gamble. it was a risk we didn’t need to take.

79 freakin pitches! stop babying these guys.

Re-sign Josh Willingham now!

by sf drift king on Sep 22, 2011 1:02 AM PDT up reply actions

McCarthy looked pretty bad all night though.

He got some clutch DPs but also some very very loud outs.

I was fine with the decision. Balfour just has to make the pitches there, not leave low-mid 90s fastballs over the heart of the plate.

by Billy Frijoles on Sep 22, 2011 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions

from where I sat just behind home plate

I thought he looked pretty good. Even CJ Wilson said last night was the best that McCarthy had pitched against Texas this season.

by OaklandSi on Sep 22, 2011 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Given that CJ Wilson never had to bat against him

I’m gonna take that with a grain of salt or two. Not that it’s not true, but I’d rather hear that from Michael Young.

Don't you realise you'll find next monday or next Tuesday/Your golden shoes day

by PDXAthleticsfan on Sep 22, 2011 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions

He is already 60 higher then his career high already

I’m beginning to wonder what effect, if any, this might have next year.

by Copenhagen on Sep 22, 2011 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions

That doesn't account for minor league appearances

But point taken – it’s still the most he’s pitched since 2004 by about 40 IP if I was doing my math right.

Don't you realise you'll find next monday or next Tuesday/Your golden shoes day

by PDXAthleticsfan on Sep 22, 2011 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Kinsler homer was on a pitch out in the middle of the plate and up.

The pitch Hamilton hit a home run on seemed to be off the plate middle in. I couldn’t believe he hit his out.

by Cartwright on Sep 21, 2011 10:37 PM PDT reply actions

LHB love that inside fastball. I think it caught the plate.

by Billy Frijoles on Sep 22, 2011 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions

...

Don’t be so sure

Don't you realise you'll find next monday or next Tuesday/Your golden shoes day

by PDXAthleticsfan on Sep 22, 2011 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions

that is awesome

Total myth busted.

So, LHB think they love the inside fastball…but they don’t. Anyways I guess that one might have been a good pitch but Josh Hamilton is a great hitter.

The one to Kinsler though was pretty inexcusable.

by Billy Frijoles on Sep 22, 2011 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions

In truth, it seems like as long as it's about belt high, they don't do bad,

especially if you’re a hitter like Hamilton.

And, yeah, the Kinsler pitch was just bad. Which Balfour freely admitted.

Don't you realise you'll find next monday or next Tuesday/Your golden shoes day

by PDXAthleticsfan on Sep 22, 2011 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Somewhat Ironically....

…. it seems that Fuentes is now the only relief pitcher we can trust to hold the line in a tight game.

by Shed on Sep 21, 2011 10:38 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, now that they're out of it

Last of the Ninth - Photography

by Flashfire on Sep 21, 2011 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I would like to see McCarthy come back next year. He's been a great addition to the pitching staff.

by Cartwright on Sep 21, 2011 10:39 PM PDT reply actions

He's under team control for another year.

No way he’s going anywhere unless he gets teased straight up for Jose Bautista.

Don't you realise you'll find next monday or next Tuesday/Your golden shoes day

by PDXAthleticsfan on Sep 21, 2011 10:46 PM PDT via iPhone app up reply actions

Traded, not teased.

Don't you realise you'll find next monday or next Tuesday/Your golden shoes day

by PDXAthleticsfan on Sep 21, 2011 10:47 PM PDT via iPhone app up reply actions

Really? I thought he was gone after the year. Thanks for pointing that out!

by Cartwright on Sep 21, 2011 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions

I was at the game

McCarthy was terrific. We couldn’t figure out why he was pulled after only 79 pitches.

by OaklandSi on Sep 21, 2011 10:55 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

That doesn't really make much sense does it? I didn't get to watch until he was taken out.

It’s my fault everyone. First batter I saw hit a home run. Third batter I saw hit a home run. I stopped watching too late.

by Cartwright on Sep 21, 2011 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions

I was at the game also

McCarthy was terrific. Matsui teased us with that drive he hit late. It had good velocity off the bat, but it just freakin’ dropped out of the sky. Kinsler’s drive, unfortunately, was able to stay in the air. At least we performed adequately against Douche². 7 innings of good ball there. I can’t say goodbye to the season just yet, so I may go to the game tomorrow. One last shot.

by player20 on Sep 21, 2011 11:04 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Great seeing Penny double, Allen single him home,

Taylor work a walk, and Weeks drive in the go ahead run, all off of our least favorite Ranger.

by OaklandSi on Sep 21, 2011 11:30 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

me neither

except his last ininng, looked like maybe something was physically wrong with him, as folks came out of the dugout to check. McCarthy was masterful. I will never understand pulling a pitcher in this situation, especially with our less than spectacular pen. I was more nervous about seeing Bailey protect a one run lead than Grant.

"It's better to live rich than die rich" -- The Fat Lady

by geogrman on Sep 21, 2011 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions

me too (re: Bailey vs. Balfour)

I was pretty surprised that Balfour pitched so poorly…

by Billy Frijoles on Sep 22, 2011 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions

Seriously.

I didn’t see a limb fall off him, so no excuse. D:

"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on Sep 22, 2011 12:02 AM PDT up reply actions

I was at the game too

Did Melvin offer an explanation in the post game?

Re-sign Josh Willingham now!

by sf drift king on Sep 22, 2011 1:06 AM PDT up reply actions

I Guess

Some managers just get obsessed with the idea of defined roles for the relief pitchers. McCarthy was great last night, I would have liked to see him go at least one more inning. But it was a close game and, to be fair, Balfour’s been good this year. I can see both arguments.

"You play to win the game."

by MrWayneKeller on Sep 22, 2011 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions

Terrific?

I must have been watching a different game…

He looked shaky all night and the inning before ended with 2 warning track shots that would have been out of the park in day games.

by Billy Frijoles on Sep 22, 2011 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions

McCarthy held the opposition to one run.

No extenuating factors, no adjusting for temperature. He held them to ONE RUN and put us in a position to win the game. He pitched terrific.
(Now here’s the part where the experts simultaneously somehow prove me wrong and make me feel like an ass while I completely agree with their valid points.)

by player20 on Sep 22, 2011 10:30 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I'm just saying that he did not look terrific

His last inning were all hard hit balls, all smoked off the bat.

It made sense to take him out at that point.

He pitched well, but he also was showing signs of breaking down.

And you have a guy who has been pretty lights out all year waiting in the pen, I didn’t think it was a bad decision.

McCarthy got some double plays when he needed them, and some good defensive efforts. He pitched well but that doesn’t mean that he would have continued to pitch well into the 8th.

by Billy Frijoles on Sep 22, 2011 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions

I apologize and agree with your valid points.

What I meant was that McCarthy’s performance was terrific. For the 7 innings that he pitched. The 8th with Balfour was what it was. (Although from my vantage point, Kinsler’s ball had no business going out. The luck differential bit us again on that one. Conversely, Hamilton’s was correctly described as a “laser”.) And no, there’s no need for anyone to point out the irony in my statement regarding Kinsler’s ball and my aforementioned statements about weather and other extenuating factors, as I recognize my mistake.

by player20 on Sep 22, 2011 10:52 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

no need for apology!

We can also disagree its fine…

I guess what I’m saying is that while the rationale is obvious for keeping him in (79 pitches, only 1 run), I can see the rationale for pulling him as well.

by Billy Frijoles on Sep 22, 2011 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions

That statement I completely agree with, sir.

No one saw Balfour coming in and pulling an early half Human Torch maneuver. Just another unfortunate circumstance.

by player20 on Sep 22, 2011 11:07 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

It would take a No hitter

and 5 Home Runs by one player to excite me.

Anything else, even a win means nothing. I am a diehard A’s fan but this team needs to end the season yesterday.

Their play is not fanworthy

The only enjoyment I will get is if they beat the slegnA a couple of times this weekend. That is doubtful. Other than that I would rather watch other teams play at the moment.

I guess my standards are too high. Winning and even being over .500 would not be good enough. They have not made the playoffs since 2006 and while i hope like hell they do in 2012, I seriously doubt it at the moment.

We will have to make that judgment in ST I guess.

by Trainman on Sep 22, 2011 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions

by sf drift king on Sep 22, 2011 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Lineups:

1. Jemile Weeks (S) 2B
2. Coco Crisp (S) CF
3. Hideki Matsui (L) DH
4. Josh Willingham LF
5. David DeJesus (L) RF
6. Cliff Pennington (S) SS
7. Brandon Allen (L) 1B
8. Kurt Suzuki C
9. Eric Sogard (L) 3B

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

by lenscrafters on Sep 22, 2011 11:56 AM PDT reply actions