Remember when we used to grouse about how Zito tends to fall apart after 6 innings? Then along came Saarloos, who tends to fall apart after 5 innings--causing fans to moan, "Geez, at least Zito is usually good for 6!" Then along came Glynn, who tends to fall apart after 3 innings--causing fans to moan, "Geez, at least Saarloos is usually good for 5!" I'll stop, before we get to Juan "and-a-third innings, three hits, two runs" Cruz.
My point is: As Zito opens the series with the Phils tonight against Robinson Tejeda, enjoy the 6th inning and make sure to appreciate it if the starter is still in there. It could be worse, and often is.
Apparently the A's agree, so they have made not one but two roster moves for tonight's game. The aforementioned Cruz has been optioned to Sacramento and Tim Harikkala has been designated for assignment, while the A's have added pitchers Jairo Garcia and Ron Flores to the major league roster.
The starting lineups are as follows:
Rollins
Michaels
Abreu
Burrell
Thome
Bell
Utley
Pratt
Perez
Kendall
Kotsay
Chavez
Hatteberg
Crosby
Johnson
Kielty
Swisher
Scutaro
