6th Inning A Real Pain In The Butt For Moscoso

by Nico on Sep 24, 2011 9:12 PM PDT

I want to see that headline in tomorrow morning's Chronicle, Sluss. I dare you. The bottom (no pun intended) of the 6th vacillated back and forth between balls that were hit really softly and balls that were hit really hard. Unfortunately for Guillermo Moscoso, Howie Kendrick hit one of the hard ones.

It was 1-1 when Erick Aybar dropped a perfect bunt single down the 3B line to lead off with only the Angels' second hit of the night so far. Kendrick didn't get a hit, but his searing line drive might have been the game's pivotal swing because it nailed Moscoso high up on the gluteal region, if you will, with Moscoso having the presence of mind to pick up the baseball in front of him, rather than focus on the scattered remains of his upper ass behind him, and record the out at 1B.

Then came another very softly hit ball, a 63-hopper by Bobby Abreu between 1B and 2B that drove home the go-ahead run. Then came another very not-softly hit ball, on really Moscoso's only mistake of the evening, a possibly throbbing-posterior induced center-cut fastball with nothing on it that Torii Hunter deposited into the LF seats. Speaking of seats, did I mention that our pitcher was nailed in the buttocks by a line drive tonight?

The other notable in the game was the battle to claim the inside part of the plate. Josh Willingham, who was drilled by Jered Weaver last night, had to hit the deck when a Jerome Williams fastball ran up and in. Two outs into the bottom half of the inning, Moscoso hit Peter Bourjos, but not on the ass. On the leg.

Which reminds me of one other notable, a positive the A's can take from an otherwise forgettable performance: Kurt Suzuki threw Bourjos out stealing with a perfect throw and appears to have come a long way towards solving the throwing woes that plagued him for a good three months. That, and Jemile Weeks' 14th game of 3-hits or more -- three singles, two RBIs, and one SB -- constitute the best news of the day.

The Angels end the day 2.5 back of the Red Sox in the wild card, with Tampa Bay 1.5 back, and Boston throwing John Lackey and Tim Wakefield in a double-header tomorrow against the Yankees. This thing ain't over yet, folks.

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Love how Weeks is finishing the season strongly.

Is it my imagination, or is he making adjustments well. He’s working the count well, low strike outs, and generally just making himself a hard out – unlike some of our recent rookies, he’s not suddenly getting found out.

That and is it also my imagination, but he seems to have gone a (relatively) long stretch now (at least for him) with no errors.

Now if he could just stop over sliding the bases….

by Shed on Sep 24, 2011 9:39 PM PDT reply actions

Hrm recap seems hidden from the front page.

by Copenhagen on Sep 24, 2011 10:10 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah. Gotta love AN.

There’s no reason for it — it’s just doing that.

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 Sep 24, 2011 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions

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

by Kyli on Sep 24, 2011 11:12 PM PDT reply actions

that makes me quite happy

We yet enjoy little to be envied, but endure much to be pitied.-Thomas Dudley

by Future Ed on Sep 24, 2011 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions

That Willingham is being left hanging in the wind? :(

And we will be fielding… well… the 2011 A’s until we all die?

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

by Kyli on Sep 24, 2011 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions

So, weird

If the A’s and Giants work it out, and the A’s get San Jose, then they immediately start rebuilding, i.e. no Willingham. If they don’t work it out, then the A’s try to go for it in order to entice a sale of the team, i.e. they sign Willingham.

My brain is frying.

by richwol1 on Sep 25, 2011 12:49 AM PDT up reply actions

wow, there's a lot of info there!

The article at least suggests that
-A’s think the Giants’ reshuffle will bring resolution to the stadium issue
-Willingham really does want to stay with the A’s, he’s not just saying that
-the A’s might still turn him down (unbelievable)
-if the San Jose deal goes through the A’s will decrease payroll and set their sights on contending in SJ
-if the deal doesn’t go through the team is likely to be sold (and payroll will go up)

by DDroney on Sep 25, 2011 5:14 AM PDT up reply actions