Open Thread: Game 3 - A's at Baltimore

by Blez on Apr 7, 2005 3:53 PM PDT in News

Danny Haren makes his regular season debut for the Oakland Athletics going against Erik Bedard, the much-coveted pitcher in any trade talks with the O's (and rumored to be a part of a possible Zito deal last offseason before all the other deals went down).

Bobby Kielty gets his first start of the season, and it's no surprise because he still pounds left-handed pitching. What is a bit surprising is that he's hitting behind Eric Chavez. Kendall is batting third, as Macha promised to do a bit during spring training.

The lineup looks like this:

Kotsay
Byrnes
Kendall
Chavez
Kielty
Durazo
Ginter
Swisher
Scutaro

Swisher makes the start at first base while Kielty is playing in right field.

The O's, meanwhile, have changed up a few in their lineup, leaving Matos and Bigbie on the bench.

Roberts
Newhan
Mora
Tejada
Sosa
Palmeiro
Lopez
Surhoff
Gibbons

Hopefully, the A's take the series, Haren gets off to a good start in green and gold and the A's head into Tampa on a mini-roll.

Question: Just for fun, when do you think we'll first see Melhuse behind the dish? I added a poll about it, so click on entry link to vote.

LET'S GO A'S!!!!

Poll

When do you think the first time we'll see Melhuse start a game?

0 recs | Comment 267 comments

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Comments

Ah...

Macha returns to his 2004 tendency to bat his best hitter sixth in service of his obsession with L-R alternating. Fun fun.

Oh yeah...MARCO!

by Vic on Apr 7, 2005 4:08 PM PDT 0 recs

I love Durazo...

but he hasn't exactly been our best hitter in the first three games this season...

I actually like having someone in between Chavvy and Durazo - as I mentioned in another diary earlier this week...

by LD on Apr 7, 2005 4:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

I mean first 2 games...

I keep trying to count the win against the Giants in the exhibition game at the Coliseum, for some reason.

by LD on Apr 7, 2005 4:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

SCUTARO!!!

This guy's already at 1/8 of his 2004 walk total. He sure is trying to impress Billy Beane.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE YELLING ABOUT!!!" -Brick Tamland, Anchorman

by secret ASian man on Apr 7, 2005 4:09 PM PDT 0 recs

Swisher

anyone listen to his pre-game interview? Talking about having to play mind games with himself in the outfield to keep himself in the game. It was hillarious! The guy's a character!

The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.

by JJ on Apr 7, 2005 4:10 PM PDT 0 recs

Rhodes pitching well

Second straight good outing for Arthur with the Indians...I just think he had it in for us being from Seattle and all.

by runtru1 on Apr 7, 2005 4:10 PM PDT 0 recs

re

hes not closing though, hes much better in a setup role. Theoretically it shouldnt matter 8th or 9th, but Rhodes is a headcase.

by pickinmachine on Apr 7, 2005 4:15 PM PDT up 0 recs

rhodes

...is a headcase for the INDIANS.

Whew.

Keith

by kmonaco on Apr 7, 2005 4:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

Byrnes

Capt. America gets his first crack at left handed pitching today. Here's hoping he picks up where he left off

by Hegenberger Road on Apr 7, 2005 4:12 PM PDT 0 recs

Not a fan of the lineup

We'll see how it works out though

by pickinmachine on Apr 7, 2005 4:14 PM PDT 0 recs

Ellis

unless he's got some kind of injury it looks like Mark Ellis hasn't locked up the 2B job. Ginter makes 2 consecutive starts against a righty and lefty. If I'd told you before the season that Crosby would go down for six weeks and then said Ellis would be sitting on the bench would you have believed me. Macha has some real "old school" in him. Ellis has his work cut out for him if Ginter keeps popping.

The most important things in life are good friends and a strong bull pen. - Pitcher Bob Lemon, 1981

by Steve in Napa on Apr 7, 2005 4:14 PM PDT 0 recs

former A's pitchers

Mike Wood took the loss for KC, allowing 3 runs in 2 1/3 innings after Greinke was hit by a line drive and left the game (apparently only a bruise). T. Long inexplicably went 3-for-4.
Aaron Harang did his Kirk Saarloos impression, and earned a win for 6 1/3 innings of 1-hit ball against the Mets.
Arthurly Rhodes picked up the win for Cleveland, pitching 2 scoreless innings in an extra-innings game against the White Sox. Two scoreless innings!
And of course Hudson is making his debut for the Braves, at the same time as our game.

by andeux on Apr 7, 2005 4:15 PM PDT 0 recs

I think i'm only gonna get the braves marlins game

GOD I HATE THIS!

by robber23 on Apr 7, 2005 4:15 PM PDT 0 recs

At least its an awesome game..

Huddy vs. AJB. I will be watching that along with the A's game for sure

by OaktownPower on Apr 7, 2005 4:17 PM PDT up 0 recs

Mulder

I listened to a Cards game yesterday and they announced Mulder to pitch today... ouch!

The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.

by JJ on Apr 7, 2005 4:17 PM PDT up 0 recs

Braves/Marlins

Hey, at least you'll get to see Huddy.

"[Your blog is] pretty funny. Although I kinda wanna slap Charlie in the mouth. But I guess that's the point if you're an A's fan :-)" Blez

by Nate on Apr 7, 2005 4:18 PM PDT up 0 recs

Do u have satellite?

because espn has an alternative channel besides espn and espn2, and i was able to see the a's on that channel last night

by oakwin2004 on Apr 7, 2005 4:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

A's on ESPN

I finally get to see my boys play for the first time tonight!

Plus I am heading down to tampa on sunday to watch them play!

LETS GO OAKLAND!!!!!

Go A's! All the way from Orlando, FL Check my profile website! Please help me out!

by Ryan Hadden on Apr 7, 2005 4:16 PM PDT 0 recs

So Angry.........

by robber23 on Apr 7, 2005 4:17 PM PDT 0 recs

Hi-Def

Just a heads-up for all the fellow Hi-Def heads out there, today's game is featured on INHD2. The only downfall is O's announcers.

Lord Vader... ...yesss massster? ...RISE!!!

by Force on Apr 7, 2005 4:18 PM PDT 0 recs

did anyone watch the pregame intro on FSN?

I swear, the music they played in the background while introducing Dan Haren sounded like the stuff they play in the background of late-night cinemax specials... (not that I would really know, but I do flip channels a lot...) too damn funny...

I half expected some woman to walk up to him and ask him if he was the "handyman," here to fix the sink...

by RickeySteals on Apr 7, 2005 4:18 PM PDT 0 recs

ok, it just switched from the braves intro to a

commercial, are they switching over?

by robber23 on Apr 7, 2005 4:18 PM PDT 0 recs

this sucks

by robber23 on Apr 7, 2005 4:19 PM PDT 0 recs

haha YES FSN I LOVE FSN

by robber23 on Apr 7, 2005 4:19 PM PDT 0 recs

No ESPN and no baseball makes JJ

very sad!!! And it's going to be this way alllllll season long. how sad (for me, happy for my wife!)

The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.

by JJ on Apr 7, 2005 4:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

Greenwald...

really makes me miss King.

"[Your blog is] pretty funny. Although I kinda wanna slap Charlie in the mouth. But I guess that's the point if you're an A's fan :-)" Blez

by Nate on Apr 7, 2005 4:20 PM PDT 0 recs

Jason Kendall batting third...

...geez.

If you took Joe Torre, stuffed him full of heroin, dropped him off the Empire State Building, performed a lobotomy on him with a salad fork and then fed him a liter of LSD, he'd still be a more coherent, thoughtful manager than Ken Macha.

by jrbh on Apr 7, 2005 4:20 PM PDT 0 recs

Batting order

I think Durazo 6th makes less sense than Kendall 3rd.

"[Your blog is] pretty funny. Although I kinda wanna slap Charlie in the mouth. But I guess that's the point if you're an A's fan :-)" Blez

by Nate on Apr 7, 2005 4:21 PM PDT 0 recs

batting order

I think some people just have NO IDEA about how little batting order matters (short of something like batting Neifi Perez leadoff).

by andeux on Apr 7, 2005 4:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

maybe not in a single game

But, you want your best hitters getting more at-bats. Durazo batting 6th all season will get 40 or so fewer at-bats per year. Over the course of the season, it could make the difference of a few games, and as we saw last year, a few games does make a difference

The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.

by JJ on Apr 7, 2005 4:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

Balks happen.

That's a bumper sticker right there.

"[Your blog is] pretty funny. Although I kinda wanna slap Charlie in the mouth. But I guess that's the point if you're an A's fan :-)" Blez

by Nate on Apr 7, 2005 4:24 PM PDT 0 recs

Yeah, batting order...

...isn't really that important.

Also, starting pitching is over-rated, as well as fielding. I mean, they're wearing cowhide. How could that be serious? And those cylindrical wooden things.... don't make me laugh.

by jrbh on Apr 7, 2005 4:25 PM PDT 0 recs

like i said

you don't seem to have any idea

by andeux on Apr 7, 2005 4:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

Gee

Batting third he drives in a run

by theblackpearl on Apr 7, 2005 4:26 PM PDT 0 recs

nice

end batting order discussion.

by robber23 on Apr 7, 2005 4:26 PM PDT 0 recs

NICE

I'll take those bloops from Kendall all year long

1-0 A's

by pickinmachine on Apr 7, 2005 4:27 PM PDT 0 recs

haven't we been saying it all along?

how wonderful this lineup is and how Macha should be manager of the year and how Kendall is the perfect #3 hitter for today!

The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.

by JJ on Apr 7, 2005 4:27 PM PDT 0 recs

Kielty

hit a screamer

The most important things in life are good friends and a strong bull pen. - Pitcher Bob Lemon, 1981

by Steve in Napa on Apr 7, 2005 4:29 PM PDT 0 recs

that commercial was f'n funny

by robber23 on Apr 7, 2005 4:29 PM PDT 0 recs

totally...

gotta love the A's marketing department

by RickeySteals on Apr 7, 2005 4:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

Which one is it?

by Kaybeejay on Apr 7, 2005 4:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

Kendall...

... gettin' beat up but holding onto the ball...

by RickeySteals on Apr 7, 2005 4:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

I must be watching the Special Olympics

because I learned from AN that only a retard would bat Kendall 3rd. :)

Nico

by Nico on Apr 7, 2005 4:30 PM PDT 0 recs

Have an opinion, if you want, andeux,

but lay off the personal crap.

Any half-awake baseball statistician or analyst would tell you that batting order matters a lot. Batting Kendall third is well outside any halfway normal interpretation of how to best maximize production from your order.

In particular, you have to wonder why Macha doesn't bat Byrnes, who was one of the best hitters in baseball last year against lefties, in the third spot.

by jrbh on Apr 7, 2005 4:33 PM PDT 0 recs

interested why you think that..

jrbh, what is your source for that? I actually don't have a problem with Kendall batting third. And Sports Illustrated wrote an article last week about batting order that would seem to conflict with your point that batting order matters a great deal.

by Dog Days on Apr 7, 2005 4:46 PM PDT up 0 recs

does Haren...

throw anything other than high fastballs?

by goldenhammer on Apr 7, 2005 4:33 PM PDT 0 recs

So much for that lead...

Roberts hits a bomb to right field

1-1

by pickinmachine on Apr 7, 2005 4:33 PM PDT 0 recs

1-1 Tie

well that was fast first batter home run Ouch

ChrisB

by ChrisB on Apr 7, 2005 4:34 PM PDT 0 recs

hmm...

... looks like we could be flirting with a rain delay. lotsa fans with umbrellas

by RickeySteals on Apr 7, 2005 4:35 PM PDT 0 recs

Yep, rain is coming down hard....this sucks.

I hate weather delays

by OaktownPower on Apr 7, 2005 4:36 PM PDT 0 recs

east coast

Always shitty weather

by pickinmachine on Apr 7, 2005 4:37 PM PDT 0 recs

Is the game stopped?

tarp on the field?

by oakwin2004 on Apr 7, 2005 4:39 PM PDT 0 recs

opinion vs. fact

There was nothing personal in what I said. You're the one spouting invective and claiming things to be totally obvious that are simply wrong. I've written some (admittedly simple) simulations myself, and over the course of a huge number of games (it takes about 100,000 to get the variance low enough that you can draw any conclusions at all) the difference between any half-way reasonably lineups (basically good hitters toward the top, and bad ones toward the bottom) is just miniscule. Every article I've read from other analysts has concluded essentially the same thing. Now what's the basis for your claims?

by andeux on Apr 7, 2005 4:39 PM PDT 0 recs

Seriously,

I'm flipping between Hudson against the Marlins and A's/O's and enjoying the hell out of myself while reading along with the posts. Then someone always has to suck the pleasure out of it. Stop insulting people. You've done your homework. You can spout stats and give an insightful argument. We get it. Congratulations. Now shut the fuck up and watch the game.

by TravelingAsFan on Apr 7, 2005 4:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

huh?

How did I insult anyone? I'm trying to correct a common misconception. Why don't you tell jrbh to shut the fuck up? Why don't YOU shut the fuck up? Seriously.

by andeux on Apr 7, 2005 4:52 PM PDT up 0 recs

because

you're the one who's annoying.

by TravelingAsFan on Apr 7, 2005 4:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

HR aside

Haren looks good. Too many strikes (like a hittable 0-2 pitch to Miggy)--nice problem to have.

Nico

by Nico on Apr 7, 2005 4:40 PM PDT 0 recs

agreed

make the other team work, no free passes.

by pickinmachine on Apr 7, 2005 4:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

There's simply no point in arguing with you...

...about it, andeux, and I'm not going to. You're as wrong as you would be if you said three balls was a walk.

The commercial FSN is showing is a generic commercial that they're showing on all the FSN broadcasts across the country, with only the radio call at the end different in different cities.

by jrbh on Apr 7, 2005 4:42 PM PDT 0 recs

not true

According to the analysis I've read, andeaux is more right here. I'd be interested in hearing what you base your claims on, jrbh, because I've always thought batting order played a big part in production. It just doesn't seem to bear out in objective analysis.

by Dog Days on Apr 7, 2005 4:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

Typical pathetic argument

by jrbh. Why do you even post this crap? If you aren't willing to discuss anything and if you are so sure that you're right, are you just here to bash people and be a snob? Give it a rest. Everyone knows you don't agree. It's just like your other famous "I'll take a stand" arguments like Ron Washington sucks, Chavez has terrible technique, and Esteban Loaiza is the greatest pitcher in the AL.

You'll probably write back with a "at least I don't rely on personal attacks, ad hominem, vis a vis, blah blah blah," which everyone knows is the biggest joke ever. You don't use names but you attack anyone who might have an idea that's inconsistent with your own. It's a great strategy for remaining indestructible.

How could that moron Macha use Kendall as the third batter????!!!! HORRORS! This has never been done before! This is egregious! VIS A VIS!

Tony Gwynn was a singles hitter who seemed to do just fine batting third.

by Reg on Apr 8, 2005 7:19 AM PDT up 0 recs

So Andeux

are you claiming that Chavez kotsay and Kendall could bat 7,8, 9, and this would not have a negative impact on the offense?

by oakwin2004 on Apr 7, 2005 4:42 PM PDT 0 recs

No...

No, that's not what I claimed at all. Note what I said about "half-way reasonable" lineups ("good hitters toward the top, bad ones toward the bottom"). But even for something that is so totally brain-dead, the difference is a lot less than people seem to think - on the order of about 15 runs per year.

by andeux on Apr 7, 2005 4:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

Does it begin to dawn on you

that people don't like being talked to like they're six years old? At this point I don't care if you're right or wrong, I just want you to stop talking you condescending little turd.

by TravelingAsFan on Apr 7, 2005 4:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

stop acting like a 6-year old then

by andeux on Apr 7, 2005 4:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

devastating.

devastating reply. ouch.

by TravelingAsFan on Apr 7, 2005 4:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

Just a qstn

often times I speed read the posts, because I'm not a 6 yr old, but I do have a masters and a J.D......I'm getting so sick of this site, can't wait for AN day, like to see some people talk shit to my face

by oakwin2004 on Apr 8, 2005 1:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

Kendall hitting third

Okay, fine. He hit a bleeder and got an RBI because of the balk. But it's still dumb. Kendall is a lot of things, but he's not a #3 hitter.

I don't know Durazo's history against Bedard, so I'm ambivalent there. I don't mind righties (Byrnes, Kielty) getting more at-bats against a lefty pitcher.

by bear88 on Apr 7, 2005 4:42 PM PDT 0 recs

why not?

Why isn't Kendall a three hitter? What is your vision of a three hitter, and how do you back that up?

I'm just curious, by the way. All of my "training" in baseball tells me the same thing, but I don't understand why you can't put a high OBP and BA guy in the third spot.

by Dog Days on Apr 7, 2005 4:50 PM PDT up 0 recs

Kendall

My idea of a #3 guy isn't a spray-hitting singles hitter. This may be traditonal thinking, but I would like somebody with some pop - it doesn't need to be home run power, but the likelihood of doubles would be nice.

Kendall is a leadoff or #2 hitter. It makes little sense for him to hit anywhere else.

by bear88 on Apr 7, 2005 4:58 PM PDT up 0 recs

They are just going with something different

With the lefty out there....Chavy will be back at 3 tomorrow Im sure.

by OaktownPower on Apr 7, 2005 5:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

Oh, and Kendall had 32 doubles...

Which is more than Chavez and 3 less than Durazo.....so there's your doubles.

by OaktownPower on Apr 7, 2005 5:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

A bleeder?

That was a great piece of hitting and what Jason Kendall is.....Theres a reason he hits .300..the guy knows how to hits and servinf pitches where they are thrown is what he is about.

by OaktownPower on Apr 7, 2005 4:51 PM PDT up 0 recs

Kendall, again

I meant no insult to Kendall. It was a good job of hitting. My point is simply that I don't believe Kendall is a logical choice for a #3 hitter. He's a singles hitter, and as you note, a very good one.

I don't want to argue about this all evening. I think we've all stated our cases. I'm happy to agree to disagree.

by bear88 on Apr 7, 2005 5:00 PM PDT up 0 recs