Update [2006-6-8 13:4:29 by baseballgirl]: Yes, Harden is back on the DL. No, I don't want to talk about it, and I'll bet you don't either.
It's early for baseball. However, I bet ohad loves it. Isn't it some reasonable time over there right now? Just think, you don't have to get up in the middle of the night to watch the A's. Not to be too negative about this morning's game, but I sure wouldn't sacrifice sleep until Loaiza proves he can pitch five successful innings in a row. In one game. From some firsthand accounts from my super-secret baseball spies, Loaiza did not look good in his rehab assignments.
It's no secret that I think Saarloos should have started today's game, but that doesn't mean that I've given up on Loaiza. I think he can pitch well; he certainly has in the past, but so far this season, he's been a disaster, and one of the few pitchers that has actually pitched worse than his numbers indicate; do not forget the infamous rain incident.
I really would have liked to see Loaiza make at least one bullpen appearance before he starts a game, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Besides, the part of me that roots especially hard for Kirk Saarloos feels a little bit cheated on his behalf that he didn't get to follow up his last performance, where he was nothing short of awesome. But if we subscribe again to the roller-coaster theory, he had an up start, so he was due for a down one. <tries to convince everyone>
However, let's be honest. If Loaiza can pull it together--and that is a big `if'--he will not only be a solid starter in the fifth spot, but he will put another much-needed long-reliever (Saarloos) into the bullpen. We could certainly use Saarloos and Halsey to relieve the bullpen load, especially with the limited pitch counts of Harden and Loaiza, the absence of Duchscherer, and the inconsistency of Blanton.
So...good luck, Loaiza. I really mean that. We need the win.
Of course, the offense could really help out, by...oh I don't know...SCORING SOME RUNS!? Let's try that.
Wake up! It's A's baseball!!!!
A's
Kotsay CF
Swisher LF
Chavez 3B
Thomas DH
Crosby SS
Bradley RF
Johnson 1B
Kendall C
Scutaro 2B
Indians
Sizemore CF
Michaels LF
Hafner DH
Broussard 1B
Blake RF
Peralta SS
Belliard 2B
Boone 3B
Laker C
