The kind of game the A's are designed to < flip a coin >

by monkeyball on Jun 23, 2007 7:18 PM PDT in News

By design, Beane's A's rely on outstanding starting pitching, deep bullpens, solid defense, and ... yeah, that's about it.

In any matchup of our #1 or #2 against a solid starter, the A's fortunes will turn -- again, by design -- on essentially random twists of fate. The A's will continue to play a lot of close, low-scoring games, and the outcomes of those games will be, as most close games in large aggregate are, pretty much random.

Such is the rancid consolation of wasting another outstanding start by Icin' Joe Blanton. You win some, you lose some.

One can hardly fault Buck for an initial misstep or a calculated risk to make up for that step. One can't, really, even fault Casilla for finally giving in to a powerful Mets lineup. One can't really fault any specific batter for failing to drive in a run, because the A's offense, such as it is, is predicated on the slow and season-long chilly accretion of baserunners, creeping geologically around the bases to calve off into runs eventually at the water's edge of home plate. The glacier, at any given moment, to any observer, seems to stand still.

Such is the nature of Beane's A's. No individual player is ever at fault. Their anticipated performance levels inexorably realize themselves on the field in an inhuman process subject to the cold laws of probability.

And in any given game, the A's probably won't score many runs.

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What really blows is that the A's scored only 1..

run in this series and they did it in the wrong f***ing game...

Take my love, take my land/ Take me where I cannot stand/I don't care, I'm still free/You can't take the A's from me!

by Oaktownmagical07 on Jun 23, 2007 7:14 PM PDT 0 recs

If I can't blame T-Buck and I can't blame Casilla

and I can't blame the rest of the lineup, who can I blame??!!! The Mets??!!

Yeah, that'll work...

by SweetSarcasm on Jun 23, 2007 7:17 PM PDT 0 recs

Casilla bears some fault

I was at the game, so didn't see the pitch closely, but he should not be throwing a ball in the strike zone 0-2 to a backup catcher batting .230.

by athletics02115 on Jun 23, 2007 8:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

It wasn't hit hard

so it's difficult to really blame Casilla. So if he wastes a pitch, and then the hitter does the same thing 1-2 it's somehow better for the A's?

by IndianaAsfan on Jun 23, 2007 8:55 PM PDT up 0 recs

still

he was hanging sliders all over the place.

"The future's like, who cares?" ~Eric Chavez

by rebus on Jun 24, 2007 2:19 AM PDT up 0 recs

Kendall failed to tell him not to do that

That's not such a bad idea ... but it's a strange inference. ~ mikeA @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 24, 2007 10:16 AM PDT up 0 recs

A collection of failure

Is basically what the A's lineup is. It's depressing.

"Imagine all the Hebrews goin dumb"-Tell Me When To Go

by ohad on Jun 23, 2007 7:19 PM PDT 0 recs

Please Uncle Billy

Make a couple more landmark moves to get some magic sticks for our lineup! I'm sick hoping luck comes the Oakland way instead of having that audience feel that the Mudville fans had for Casey when he comes to bat.

I'm sick of pleading with the baseball gods for more Angel losses when obviously they are stacked up for this year.

Can we get a miracle? Can we be the darkhorse team the Angels were when they took it in 2002 when they snaked the headlines from the A's?

Please Uncle Billy, we need you!

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Jun 23, 2007 7:19 PM PDT 0 recs

The all star break is coming.

After the all-star break, we sure better get that second-half surge we've been counting on. The only thing is -- I can't see where it's going to come from. Unless Beane can trade for some major offensive power, we just don't have enough pop in this lineup to start really scoring runs and catch up to the Halos.

by atomopawn on Jun 23, 2007 7:20 PM PDT 0 recs

Beane has often

gotten us someone good after the allstar break. Hope he does it this year.

by IM4Oakgal on Jun 23, 2007 7:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

I wonder how much

The loss of Bradley is affecting this team. Maybe the players are pi**ed

by Alien on Jun 23, 2007 7:22 PM PDT 0 recs

No

They have played like this before many times this season. Trouble scoring runs has ben a problem in a lot of games for years now. Can't use Bradley as an excuse.

by IM4Oakgal on Jun 23, 2007 7:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well of course they have

But this is a team that has lived and died on emotion for years. If there's a bad taste in the players mouth--this is the type of team where it could affect their play.

I'm just speculating based on how they had been playing over the last few weeks--Last night and tonight have been a sharp contrast

by Alien on Jun 23, 2007 7:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

You didn't notice the losses

to the Cards?

by IM4Oakgal on Jun 23, 2007 7:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

sure, I did

Those were a different type of loss. It's been a while since they have looked THIS flat offensively.

Look, all I was doing was making a comment speculating on how Bradley's exit may have affected the team. I didn't mean to imply it was the whole reason--or to get into a debate about when and how the A's have been losing all season long.

It's very clear this is a flawed team--even if everyone is healthy it is less than a mediocre offense. That's sort of my point. This team plays well when they are in tune with each other emotionally. They don't when something goes awry.

I think its reasonable to wonder whats going on with the players right now. I certainly didn't mean to imply that the presence of Bradley would make things a-ok.

by Alien on Jun 23, 2007 7:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

I guess I just disagree with the way you see

things. Almost the entire year on and off the team has had trouble scoring runs. I don't know if the guys are taking Bradley's loss in a hard way or not.But I don't see this game AS TREMENDOUSLY different than normal for our team.

by IM4Oakgal on Jun 23, 2007 7:44 PM PDT up 0 recs

Agreed

This is a typical A's loss. More typical would have been ahead 1-0 A's, in the first inning, then the Buck dive in the ninth turn into two runs, and a 2-1 loss.

The A's are a collective .228 with RISP.

Worst in MLB. That statistic says..."typical" loss.

Rename Fremont, CA, to Philadelphia, CA. "Philadelphia Athletics" will sound great.

by One won lost won on Jun 23, 2007 7:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

I think you are partial right

I really think that losing Bradley might have an effect on morale. Even though the A's are kind of go with the flow, I think that something like this must have some effect on how you feel and how you play. I would be curious to know how Swisher feels since they were fairly close.

On the Mets/Cards tip, the Mets almost made it last year and the Cards won it. I know this is an obvious point but those two teams are just good. There is no way around it. I think the A's did remarkably well tonight against them. A win was just not in the cards.

On the flip side, the Giants broke their losing streak and gave the finger to the Yankees (although both those teams are stinking up the joint) Its just nice when the Yankees or the Red Sox or the Angels lose (although I'd prefer them all to lose at once)

Jason Kendall is a stinky pile of pooh.

by mlleaimee on Jun 23, 2007 10:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

Very depressing

Joe deserved better -

by vandy on Jun 23, 2007 7:22 PM PDT 0 recs

T Buck

Did kind of blow that last play. The kid froze on the ball and then maybe didn't know who was on second. The slowest Met since Mo Vaughn.

by IM4Oakgal on Jun 23, 2007 7:24 PM PDT 0 recs

true that

TBuck cant let that ball get past him. Castro was going nowhere. Rookie mistake

by KCB on Jun 23, 2007 7:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yeah

That's what I thought too. Surprised not many have said the same.

by IM4Oakgal on Jun 23, 2007 7:47 PM PDT up 0 recs

He did make a mistake

but it was going to be bases loaded, no one out with Delgado coming up and Casilla on the mound having given up a double and a single already. A's were going to lose anyway.

by athletics02115 on Jun 23, 2007 8:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

Angels up 5-0

It's becoming painfully certain that the Angels will need a few injuries to falter. Their pitching is as good/better than ours, but their lineup is full of 300 hitters (and Vlad). It's very frustrating, but the Angels are stacked. After today, we'll be 8 back, barring a shocking comeback by the Pirates. I think we are 4 out of the wildcard, behind both the Pirates and the Tigers. The A's will not succeed in this fashion. They can be a good team, but the competition is too good this year for the A's to make the playoffs like this.

"Imagine all the Hebrews goin dumb"-Tell Me When To Go

by ohad on Jun 23, 2007 7:24 PM PDT 0 recs

I doubt very seriously

the A's are trailing the Pirates in the wild card. Even for the National League wild card.

by IndianaAsfan on Jun 23, 2007 7:26 PM PDT up 0 recs

Agree. Can't Believe Billy Was So Angry w/ Milt.

by solotar on Jun 23, 2007 7:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

They are only behind Cleveland and ..

and now tied with Minn. Let's go get that spot!

by IM4Oakgal on Jun 23, 2007 7:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

man, there is so much baseball left..

The Angels WILL cool down.

I don't know if Oakland can catch them, but we still have 3+ months of baseball left.

In my opion, it's way to early to start looking wild card. The A's just need to get healthy, grind and accumulate as many wins as possible. If they do this, they'll be in good shape in september.

by tosk on Jun 24, 2007 3:51 AM PDT up 0 recs

Desperate Times for the A's

if I were Billy, I would be very reluctant to try to save this season by trading anybody good and young. This Angels club is a very good club, and when games get tight they really seem to shine. Three big come from behind wins in a single week, amazing. This A's club has for several seasons really struggled to get the big hit, even against guys who appear to have difficulty beating anybody else. With Bradley there was hope the burden and pressure might be lifted from guys like Chavvy and DJ, but ...

My expectation ~~per prior posts~~ was that the A's were looking at being 10 out at the break. But I'm wondering if I under-stated the problem. Such a shame for a club with such terrific pitching to essentially be out of contention at the break. Only other club I can think of that fits that description is across the Bay ... Zito, Morris, Cain, Lincecum, Lowry all securely in dead last and not going anywhere. And why? Because the lineup lacks any spark whatsoever.

by solotar on Jun 23, 2007 7:27 PM PDT 0 recs

well The A's have no gotten the Met's back

on track, and pretty much lost any chance at the division all in two days.

"Very nice day in the Oakland A... Oakland A's? What's this stadium called again?" Nick Swisher on TWIB.

by larrysgurl on Jun 23, 2007 7:33 PM PDT 0 recs

9th inning

Would have liked to see Cust over Scutaro pinch hitting in the 9th. Wagner is mostly a fastball pitcher, not particularly a lefty-killer. Besides, Cust hits lefties well and hits fast balls very well. No offense to Marco, but would any pitcher rather face Cust than Scutaro?

by SA on Jun 23, 2007 7:36 PM PDT 0 recs

Meanwhile,

here's a surprise: Anaslime is up 5-zip.

"The A's are boring because all they do is win."

by Checkswing HR on Jun 23, 2007 7:39 PM PDT 0 recs

Pretty frustrating

I really hate when we have pitchers do soooo well, yet we end up losing the game.

It sucks when everyone is slumping offensively at the same time. I feel like every time we have a guy up who has the ability to drive in a run, they swing for the fences. I don't think they're going to be able to hit a home run if they go up there thinking "home run" every time they go up. We worked the count better today than we did yesterday, I thought, but it obviously did no good when we had SOOOO many strike outs in key situations. Gotta fix that some how. I really want the team to score runs tomorrow with less than 2 outs. I mean, I'll take runs with any amount of outs... but I'm really getting tired of them trying to get key hits with so much pressure because there are already 2 outs.

Oh by the way Buck's throw for the out at home was web gem #10 tonight.

"I never saw a hooligan I did like. They're like left-handed pitchers, they all have a screw loose somewhere." - The Asphalt Jungle

by drmmerchk on Jun 23, 2007 8:00 PM PDT 0 recs

Great, I'll have to tune in to the later edition

I was willing to wait a couple of months for the offense to click, but we're almost at the all-star break and it just doesn't get any better. If it weren't for our amazing starters, I hate to think where we'd be. Is it the hitting coach? What can they do to improve? Any experts out there?

by kapers on Jun 23, 2007 8:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

There's only so much a hitting coach can do

and from the sound of things (i.e. calling meetings to discuss the mental aspect of hitting with RISP) he's doing all he can. The hitters need to actually swing the bats and right now theyre doing that fine, but it's the contact part thats lagging behind.

When you have a lineup that has Dan Johnson and Mark Ellis batting 5th and 6th respectively you're not going to score many runs and if you need a prime example of that take a look at last year's Angels who had NOBODY behind Vlad and Rivera. And they even had VLAD and RIVERA. We have Swisher and Chavez, not exactly the same.

Unless we get TWO bats, we ain't goin' nowheres.

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin, Seattle Mariners

by Helloooo 1st on Jun 23, 2007 9:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

this game epitomizes why the A's are not a

playoff team as they are set up. They put no pressure on the opposing pitcher and their at bats are lack luster. We faced two pitchers who can't touch 90 and we still aren't threatening to steal to at least divert his focus (not to mention a backup catcher in the late innings to boot). The philosophy of walk, bloop, three run home run just does not fit this team anymore. The opposing pitcher knows a slider low and away is an outpitch for over half the A's lineup and that if the A's do get a runner on just look over at him every third pitch and don't worry. You have to win these kind of games if you are the A's and you want to catch the the Angels Angels of Anaheim (translated for you non biliguals).

Not to sound overly down but I turned the game off before the bottom of the ninth because I knew without a doubt it was over. I hate having that feeling. From poor plate approaches to a lack of at least getting the pitcher to think about the runner when they do get on is pathetic.

I still think we can make a run and with some help from the injury bug to the Angels staff we may have a slight chance at the division, but simply put you have to win games like this and they didn't even look like they wanted to win.

Rant over. GO A'S!!!

by marco magic on Jun 23, 2007 8:05 PM PDT 0 recs

It wasn't a miss step

Ok, I just got in from the game. I was actually sitting in the section directly behind Buck and a little up from him. The wind was BLOWING up there. I atually watched the ball carry and swirl. As soon as it got near me I knew it was trouble. I don't think Buck did anything wrong there, the ball just had a mind of its own.

On another note, I was very impressed with Mets fans. They were very helpful and fun. I certainly hope Yankees fans are half as impressive.

"I'm already in Barry's head! He doesn't want to play against ME!" - Kotsay on facing Zito, Fan Fest 2007

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Jun 23, 2007 8:53 PM PDT 0 recs

Don't hold your breath

re: Yankee fans.

by IndianaAsfan on Jun 23, 2007 8:58 PM PDT up 0 recs

After Lo Duca

Got tossed out the A's should have taken advantage. Thye lost a catcher who is reliable behind the plate and then you lose the game, (ironically) to the back up catcher's double to start off the ninth. Hopefully they can salvage tommorrow's game.

"Talk about impressive. My point is this: Break's over."- Josiah Bartlet

by doublehustle22 on Jun 23, 2007 8:55 PM PDT 0 recs

Here he comes . . .

DJ, you are hitting .129 in June, and Barton had another great night with a HR and a double. That light you see at the end of the tunnel is not the sun, it's the Barton train and you are standing on the tracks.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Jun 23, 2007 9:58 PM PDT 0 recs

I say bring him on

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin, Seattle Mariners

by Helloooo 1st on Jun 23, 2007 10:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

Why not bring him up then?

Enough already with this offense. This is why I was so pissed and dissapointed when they gave up on Milton Bradley. He has such fire and enthusiasm with every at bat. These guys are all flat. Oh well, let's hope for better things and at bats tomorrow! Go A's! Go Joe Kennedy! Better support next time, Kentucky Joe!

by A'sfansince1970 on Jun 23, 2007 10:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

We had a 340-34 record this time last year

Unbelievable. This team is like clockwork. Always sucky stumbling offense into the All Star Break, then a big run post and an awesome July and August. Let's catch the Angels!

by A'sfansince1970 on Jun 23, 2007 10:40 PM PDT 0 recs

Woops! 40-34

by A'sfansince1970 on Jun 23, 2007 10:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

Very hard to be optimistic

I don't think the team's offensive troubles have a thing to do with Milton Bradley's departure. To the extent that they cared, it may have been a positive (for players who thought he was a "tired act," for others who see Bradley being gone as a chance for more playing time).

But the absence of Bradley points up the problem with the A's. While he wasn't a great offensive player, he simply has more talent - now - than the other outfielders. Kotsay is struggling badly. Buck is a rookie who makes mistakes in the field. Swisher has done okay in the outfield but is really a first baseman.

Bradley was constantly injured, and may have forced Beane's hands with his behavior. But his absence means the A's offense is going to be even more anemic.

The A's aren't really too far out of the wild card chase, so there's no point in giving up yet. But the Angels may simply be too good this year. And the wild card is a difficult road, because there is always some team that gets crazy hot.

The A's may have reached the limits of their outperformance.

by bear88 on Jun 23, 2007 11:12 PM PDT 0 recs

I blame Bobby Crosby....

Not for the loss. But for being a horrible player. Well I mean he makes up for it on defen... well I mean his bat has been reallyyyyyyy...... Well his eye is great I mean just look at his on base..... oh, nevermind. I bet a friend of mine that I would get $5 everytime Bobby grounded out to the left side of the infield and I gave him walks and a hit to any other part of the field whether he was out or not at a Reds game. I made $15. But I mean hey, he runs them all out right? BLEEEEEEEEK

by asfan777 on Jun 23, 2007 11:53 PM PDT 0 recs

okay, i am gonna turn off the lights

and catch some zzzz's....better outcome tomorrow for sure...

subject to revision pending next issue and there are too many issues

by ak_A on Jun 24, 2007 12:03 AM PDT 0 recs

who to blame

There coudl be alot of blame so far this season, the strenth and conditioning coach, Eric chavez who hasnt really hit as well since the new contract but has bailed himself out with the glove at third. i really feel these guys can do it, but soemtimes im just wondering what the hell there thinking up at bat and y chavez is swinging at a curve ball ont he first pitch, i remmeber how great chavez was back int he day behind in the count and just amzing ahead of the count, this team is still pretty young, the angels got alot of vetrans and just havent had much injurys, I think the A's are missing that one big bat with power, that can give u that big hit(A Rod and Vlad)Big frank was that guy last yr and hopefully pizzia can be that guy, for us to make a run at the angels harden has to stay healthy and got to score runners in scoring postion, its not over yet for our A's

by buckfan6 on Jun 24, 2007 3:24 AM PDT 0 recs

Will Barton will be in the plans soon?

Barton is now hitting 321 in AAA. If we are playing Buck fulltime, why not Barton? It would enable us to include DJ in trade discussions. If DJ was gone then Barton could play first base and Swisher could play first when Geren wanted to get another outfielder in the line-up. With how hot Barton is right now, I'm sure he could help this ailing offense.

by Iowa Athletics Fan on Jun 24, 2007 6:04 AM PDT 0 recs

team's strange approach to DJ

They keep running him out there, letting him get hot and run off a streak -- and then don't trade him, let him cool down and go into a slump, and then bench him/demote him, with his value in a trough.

My guess is that Beane's probably been trying to move him for quite some time (a la Bradley) and just hasn't been getting any decent offers that make it worth his while.

Unless DJ gets significant PT and heats up before the trade deadline, I don't think Beane will move him.

That's not such a bad idea ... but it's a strange inference. ~ mikeA @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 24, 2007 10:20 AM PDT up 0 recs

Bring up Barton

Make him an unconventional leadoff hitter. Put Buck in an RBI position. This offense needs a spark. Barton has gotten on base everywhere he's played. No pressure to hit for power or drive in runs. Just get on base. Bat Ellis second or Kotsay will turn into a DP machine again.

Barton
Ellis
Swisher
Cust
Buck
Chavez
Crosby
Kotsay
Kendall/Suzuki (2 games/week)

A little LH heavy in the middle of the lineup. When Crosby gets into one of his 10-game hot streaks, move him up one spot. Give Stewart a start or two per week, with Swisher moving to CF, Buck to RF.

by boilerdan on Jun 24, 2007 9:17 AM PDT 0 recs