Hairy Chamberpotter and the Lousy Pitching Matchup
by monkeyball on Jul 27, 2007 10:09 PM PDT
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PrintSee, this is what I was talking about last Saturday: when you have a strongly one-sided pitching matchup, you press your advantage and end up with ... a one-sided final.
So, as usual, regardless of the pitching matchup, the A's offense stands around like a bunch of Muggles waiting for an invisible train that they'll never see.
(You were wondering how I'd pick up the train metaphor from the game thread opener and tie it to the wrapup title, weren't you? mikeA, that's a rhetorical question.)
Seattle took advantage not only of the pitching mismatch, but of the defensive mismatch. The Mariners aren't exactly an offensive powerhouse, but they do boast several strong hitters (albeit with uneven track records) and the ability to recognize and punish inferior pitch location. And, for that matter, inferior glove location.
In some respects, it's not really fair to jump all over Scutaro for his shortcomings as a third baseman. And as a shortstop. And as a batter.
As I and others have often said, Scooter is an adequate utility infielder with an uncanny knack for guiling opposing closers into underestimating his ability to hit batting-practice fastballs.
But after how many years of injuries and debilities to Chavez and Crosby, and Beane's emphasis on defense, don't you think maybe we could have a little stronger backup for the left side of the infield? Reliance on pitching and defense, marginal decreases of opposing teams' chances for big innings, keeping the team competitive even with a lousy offense, etc.?
(And keep in mind the various recent flameouts in auditions for the second-understudy: Ginter, Perez, Rouse, et al. None of them would have fielded more efficaciously tonight, either.)
In any event, ultimately one has to acknowledge that even a perfectly fielded and league-average-pitched game tonight wouldn't have sufficed to have beaten King Felix.
So, the gap widens, the train pulls away from the station, and the A's wave their hanky forlornly.
(As opposed to what Beane did earlier this week to Kielty: waive his honky forlornly.)
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It ain't over 'til it's over?
I am still listening to and attending A's games. I hold out a small hope that the Angels will implode/get a rash of injuries/slump, and that the A's will pick up their offense. It is also very interesting to see Kurt Suzuki and Donnie Murphy in the Big League. As an A's fan, this Summer has been very frustrating. The Angels are so tough. Gotta have faith in Billy and the players! Last year was great.
by eriklovestheathletics on Jul 27, 2007 10:14 PM PDT reply actions
Defense
is no longer a strength on this team. Stewart and Cust (when he plays OF) are not good. Buck is ok and may turn out to be above average but at this point is an average OF. Kotsay is above average but is on the decline.
Swisher is a very good 1b, Ellis is a very good 2B.
With Crosby, SS is average to above average. With Murhpy/Scutaro at SS is average to below average.
With Chavy (healthy), 3B is outstanding. With Chavy (hurting), its still above average. With Chavy out, 3B is well below average.
C (whether it's suzuki or bowen) is below average.
So, we have good pitching and below average hitting and defense. Not a great recipe.
Piazza in the Lineup
= win
by FanSinceKC on Jul 27, 2007 10:49 PM PDT reply actions
Harry Potter references
will not help me to understand your metaphors. Instead, they will make me do a brief search ending in the disappointing realization that you have made a Harry Potter reference.
There are about 10 million books/articles/novels I would like to read. I have not seen the even the slightest indication that the Harry Potter books should jump ahead in the queue.
because he's Askin you to
I haven't read 'em either
They're not bad
They aren't the greatest thing since sliced bread but I've read them all and been entertained.
Which is more than I can say about some of the A's games I've seen.
Literary Crack
is what I call the Harry Pizzotter Books.
At first glance you say to yourself, "hey these are just kiddie books."
When you crack into them however, you can't stop reading them. The writing is simple with a great plot, good characters and very suspenceful.
The magic is only the icing on the cake.
I dare you guys, pick up one, read the first two chapters and try to not finish it.
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 28, 2007 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't know which 10 million items
are ahead on your list but the Harry Potter series probably ranks ahead of a couple of them.
I enjoyed them, we own all 7 books and I'm pretty sure my son will enjoy them once he gets old enough. Take from that what you will. I don't think JK Rowling will lapse into poverty if you don't buy her books.
I think
Scutaro is as good a backup infielder as you're going to reasonably find. The problem with bench guys is that, because they get infrequent and inconsistent playing time, they seem, to me at least, to put up numbers that aren't always indicative of their true talent. Marco's got some pop in his bat, plays around the infield (well, even, at second base), has a knack for coming up when you need him to (which, while perhaps maybe not a repeatable ability, makes him pretty fun anecdotally), and stays relatively healthy.
If he goes through any sort of slump the playing time he's allotted doesn't really allow for him to make it up, so his stats wind up looking worse. Of course, they're still an indication that he has in fact underperformed, I just think you'd be hard pressed to find much better out there.
Marco could probably start at 2B ...
... for a third of the teams in the majors.
As I said (though not strongly enough), I ain't H8n' on Scoot -- he's trying his best, in a role for which he's not really suited.
Part of what compounds the problem is that because of his illusion of versatility and his willingness to do what's asked of him, Beane thinks that he can use Scutaro's salary to cover 2 roster positions (or more, with the A's constant injuries and debilities). I think it may actually be a case of Beane overestimating his own tactical smarts for having recognized and acquired such a versatile, cheap utility player, rather than Beane overestimating Scutaro's skills per se.
You're last line in your post.
Absolutely hilarious.
I disagree about finding better
You can find guys who are more capable of playing anywhere in the infield. You can find guys who are more capable with the bat. Scoot, that lovable piece of Venezuelan man-candy, is a compromise solution that doesn't excell at either task. He's adequate at both.
Which, I suppose
I guess I mean, for the role we throw him into, a guy like Scutaro is as good as anyone else we can afford to have on the bench.
Are there better backup infield hitters? Certainly. Are there better backup infield defenders? Certainly. Are there more versatile backup infielders? Certainly.
But, are there many guys out there that do all of that adequately. Which I guess means is that I'm asking, do you want 2-3 guys who, when put together, construct a formidable tandem, or the one guy who can be human duct tape for you on the bench?
Arguments can be made for either option, I'd probably lean toward the former if it were available to us, but as far as the human duct tape route goes, Scutaro seems to be as good an option as is out there.
by walk off bunt on Jul 29, 2007 2:06 AM PDT up reply actions
And my choice would be
the defensive stud who can play 2-3 positions. If I'm going to play the guy once a week somewhere in the infield I'd be willing to sacrifice offense in exchange for the range, arm and glove to handle the position.
That's a large part of why I want Gregorio Petit to take Scoot's place on the roster next year.
bingo
Scutaro is a baseball player
Crosby is not. While he is clearly not a third baseman, I will take a baseball player at shortstop over a non-baseball player any day.
by Root4Scoot on Jul 28, 2007 9:08 AM PDT reply actions
Couldn't
have said it better, Root4Scoot!
by FanSinceKC on Jul 28, 2007 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Ditto
Glad we have him despite the errors
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 28, 2007 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions
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