The A's pounded an ailing Ben Sheets today for five runs in a third of an inning. Justin Duchscherer finally made an appearance this spring and pitched well. His line looked much like many lines in 2005, 1.0 IP, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 Runs.
Zito pitched better with three strikeouts in three innings and Eric Chavez had two hits. Jay Payton had three hits in three at-bats and Mark Kotsay left the yard.
So, for all of those who were already getting nervous, the team dedicates this one to you. I'm just hoping Esteban Loaiza doesn't pull anything in an important game for Mexico tonight.
0 recs | 30 comments
BREAKING NEWS: Loaiza pulls an ...
ox-sled.monkeyball - March 9, 2006
BREAKING NEWS: monkeyball is a
...poophead.salb918 - March 9, 2006
big game tomorrow
Cuba vs. Puerto Rico. Two strong and undefeated teams in Pool C. Lots of big interest in Puerto Rico, as you might imagine. I can't go to the game (sob!) as I'm travelling to PR tomorrow, but hope to catch it on TV.OaklandSi - March 9, 2006
Lo..
oblique - March 9, 2006
aiza!
Is that like Co-stanza?Tyler Bleszinski - March 9, 2006
I dunno..
I was thinking of the Budweiser frogs :-)oblique - March 9, 2006
Yes, I DO feel better!
The A's won a game. The sky isn't falling anymore. ;)Winning > Losing, even if it is ST.
AsGirl - March 9, 2006
Any Juan Cruz sightings yet?
bigelephant - March 9, 2006
Hey! Where's the music?
"Cellll-abrate good times c'mon...OaktownRajah - March 9, 2006
Now...
If Haren could get his pitching in order I would be completely reassured.IM4Oakgal - March 9, 2006
Nothin' makes me feel better...
than a little Hawaiian Punch-out. Gotta love seein' Komine come in and put up a good outing. I really hope he can keep doin' well and eventually make it to Oakland.OkayJay81 - March 9, 2006
Mexico 4-Canada 0 in the first
If I understand the tie-breakers correctly, the US will now advance with a win over South Africa tomorrow, regardless of who goes on to win this game. (And the winner of this game will also advance.)andeux - March 9, 2006
I thought I read that the US
would get eliminated if Mexico holds Canada to one run or less.Tyler Bleszinski - March 9, 2006
That's what ESPN said.
If Mexico wins AND holds Canada to 1 run or less, USA will be eliminated.AsGirl - March 9, 2006
i think the ERA tiebreaker is first
so by giving up 4 runs, the canadians unbroke the tie. which means the winner of this game advances. i think...Ryan Armbrust - March 9, 2006
yes
The US could only be elimnated by a 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 win by Mexico. The winner of that game will join the US in the next round. And if Mexico wins, look for some major bellyaching from the canucks...Ryan Armbrust - March 9, 2006
Actually
I'm rooting against Estaban. If Mexico wins, US is out.paul75 - March 9, 2006
US is in with a win tomorrow
Wrong. The tiebreaker is first W-L % and head to head, then ER given up over innings pitched only against the teams that are tied. So the US gave up 8 ER in 18 innings vs Canada and Mexico. With the 6-0 Mexican lead, Canada has given up 12 ER in 11 innings, and Mexico has given up 2 runs in 11 innings. So if Mexico holds on it's US and Mexico, if Canada comes back they are 3-0 Mexico 1-2 so it would be US and Canada if the US wins. So we are in with a win tomorrow, no matter what happens the rest of Canada Mexico. (Unless of course Canada ties it up and they play like 50 innings, but there is a max of 14 innings in first round games, so the smallest Canada's ratio can be at this point is 12 runs over 23 innings which is just over .5 an inning while the US's is still 8 over 18 which is .44. Got that?Eggman - March 9, 2006
Yep, I think so.
Thanks for the explanation. Yikes.All I need to know is:
AsGirl - March 9, 2006
Link
http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/us_team_waits_to_learn_fate_in_wbc/That's how the tiebreaker works out.
Ryan Armbrust - March 9, 2006
Esteban is looking really really great
out there. Good stuff. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does for us this year.atomopawn - March 9, 2006
Wait, I thought pitch count limit
was 65? Esteban just hit 68. Billy Beane is ready to kill someone right now. His first outing of the year is 68 high leverage pitches? Jeez.Tyler Bleszinski - March 9, 2006
I think you can
start a hitter under 65, but then have to leave after the batter (or is it inning?)salb918 - March 9, 2006
batter
Ryan Armbrust - March 9, 2006
That's right
68 pitches really isn't a big deal. Given the limits, it's kind of surprising that the manager sent him out there to start the 6th with his count already at 62, but I guess he didn't trust the relievers.Meanwhile Venezuela is leading Australia by only 2-0 in the 8th. The Australian pitchers have allowed only 4 hits (one of them a solo homer) but 12 walks. Pretty lucky all those men on base hasn't led to more runs.
andeux - March 9, 2006
Now I feel better ...
devo - March 9, 2006
Win-Win
By crushing Canada, Mexico put Team USA's destiny into our own hands.By looking good, Loiza did more to make me happy than Team USA did.
This is a fifth starter? Only on the A's.
NovA'sFan - March 10, 2006
Actually,
Joe Blanton is, for all intents and purposes, the default 5th starter. Loazia and Zito are workhorses who can pitch 200+ innnings, and Haren and Harden are more talented. Blanton's no slouch, of course, but I would bet that he's the one who'll see has start skipped most often.salb918 - March 10, 2006
I wouldn't expect many starts ...
to be skipped, one way or the other ...devo - March 10, 2006
From what I remember reading
They don't plan on having anyone skip any starts - so it doesn't really matter whos the fifth starter is (unless someone gets hurt and Saarloos, or Kennedy are moved into that role). But otherwise they will stick to the five man rotation, and the weeks where they have days off, all of the pitchers will have an extra days rest.SD Erik - March 10, 2006
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Athletics Nation to post a comment.