So I'm not usually one to give another team credit for an A's victory, but I think tonight it was clear that the Mariners didn't make the necessary adjustments to win this game. By that I mean, the umpire had a horrifically puny strike zone. Gaudin looked like he was going to be walking Mariners all night as HP umpire Greg Gibson refused to call strikes. But the Mariners decided to swing at quite a few pitches any way. Gaudin still gave up four walks, but it could've been a lot worse with a patient team. Or at least a team that recognized that Gibson's zone wasn't very large. Course the A's didn't really take advantage of it either making Batista look dominant.
Regardless, Nick Swisher had his first home run seemingly since he looked like Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer. Bobby Crosby hit a crucial home run for the A's for once as well. Congrats to Shannon Stewart, who kept his hitting streak going. He's now up to hitting .316. It's going to be tough to ever take him out of the lineup. Then again, I doubt he remains this hot for a long time.
How great was it that Marco Scutaro started the double play that ended the game with a nice play at third? Especially after he missed a play that Chavez would've likely made to end the first inning for Gaudin with no damage. Still, Gaudin actually looked like the first inning inspired him to pitch with an edge. I don't usually buy into that, but it looked that way to me.
Geren managed the game really well, although a bit dangerously. I was thinking once Gaudin had one guy on in the eighth that it would've been a good idea to pull him, but it's clear that Geren feels like any starter not named Kennedy or DiNardo is his best option to win a game right now. And who could blame him? Then again, you only have to use Casilla for one batter and Embree had a relatively painless ninth thanks to Scoot.
At the same time, the FSN guys had Huston Street on for a few innings and Huston sounded like he would be back soon after the ASB. And Calero should be returning by Sunday barring any setbacks. Harden is supposedly going to pitch Saturday and Kielty is also close to returning. Could it be that the green and gold is suddenly getting healthy? I have to keep telling myself to not get too hopeful. Though it would be nice...wouldn't it?
0 recs | 75 comments
surely I'm not first again?
iglew - July 5, 2007
Trivia question
Was this the first time two Suzukis have played in the same MLB game?
BruceBochte - July 5, 2007
would have to be
unless Mack played against Ichiro sometime
closetasfan - July 5, 2007
Mariners
Didn't the Mariners have Ichiro and Suzuki (the closer) on the same team, at the same time?
Colorado Fan - July 6, 2007
Sasaki
mikeA - July 6, 2007
Go A's!
One-game winning streak on my birthday. Also, if any of you gambling types had Crosby with the game winning homer AND Ichiro hitting into 2 or more double plays, collect your winnings and retire. Gaudin really battled, which was also nice.
sprtsnwyn - July 5, 2007
Happy Birthday!
You need to have a birthday tomorrow, too.
atomopawn - July 5, 2007
My birthday was yesterday
and I'd just as soon forget it
doctorK - July 5, 2007
Hey... I called the line out DP.
Happy B-Day, Kyle.
ohtobe21likehuston - July 5, 2007
Oh yeah,
props for that ohtobe21likehuston
BruceBochte - July 5, 2007
Great point about the strike zone Blezworth
I notice that Casilla threw 2 pitches and Embree 6, so they both would be available tomorrow, presumably.
BruceBochte - July 5, 2007
Just more fodder for promoting
an electronic reading of the strike zone.
Unlike such dumbos as Ken Kaiser (in his book "Planet of the Umps") think, an electronic strike zone would enhance the umpires balls-and-strike calls, and probably would create more action on the field (and less ejections and arguments). Simply a buzzer in the ump's pocket would tell him if the pitched ball was a strike.
One won lost won - July 6, 2007
Huston Street
was hilarious. I wish he was in the booth every game!
That he's injured, that is. We need him in the 'pen stat.
ChaBinsky - July 5, 2007
Why was he so funny?
What did he say? I was listening to the Seattle feed...
BruceBochte - July 5, 2007
He told a story about when he lived with Swish
and the a/c was broken. He mentioned that you would think big-leaguer's lived in a big, fancy house but that Swish slept with no covers because it was so hot in the house.
He did all of the promos when coming back from commercials, I believe for 4-innings, and he gave away 4 tix to the first caller.
ohtobe21likehuston - July 5, 2007
He also called Swish's homer and supposedly
also called Crosby's. He was very talkative and smooth in the booth. His proposal to his fiancee included 1500 roses.
ohtobe21likehuston - July 5, 2007
Cool!
Thanks a lot ohtobe21likehuston.
Also, will you change your handle when Huston turns 22?
BruceBochte - July 5, 2007
He's 23 now but I don't know if Blez will change
my name each year?
ohtobe21likehuston - July 5, 2007
Everything everyone has said is accurate, and
he's just a funny person. He has a really great rhythm to his voice and he doesn't stop talking. He would be mid-sentence and comment on the game. He teased that everyone knew who he was rooting for and was allowed to be biased and Glen Kuiper agreed and wished that he and Fosse could have an inning a game where they were just fans and not "un-biased" announcers.
ChaBinsky - July 5, 2007
excuse me!
an inning when Glen and Ray were not "un-biased..."
right...
littleA - July 6, 2007
Well,
an inning where they REALLY don't try.
ChaBinsky - July 6, 2007
Great start to the series regardless of how
we got the job done. I'm happy to see our rotation looks decent up until the ASB.
Props to Crosby tonight for hitting the game-winner. He really needed that for his confidence and let's hope it turns into something bigger.
ohtobe21likehuston - July 5, 2007
Slap in the face to Oakland
Why do all AL teams stay at SF hotels when they play the A's?
Just now on M's feed they were talking about getting out of the Coli quick because it is "dangerous" after dark...
BruceBochte - July 5, 2007
Let 'em run and hide
part of our home-field advantage
doctorK - July 5, 2007
Good one.
ChaBinsky - July 5, 2007
Stupid package deals on expedia.
Or better hookers.
MobiusKlein - July 5, 2007
hope?
this is the team of second half runs
how can you not be hopeful
forget the doom and gloom and packing in this year. this team always plays for now and retools at the same time.
over 500 at ASB, with two of the top starters still MIA, a hall of famer catcher MIA, closer MIA, and reinforcements still coming
have faith, ye friends
closetasfan - July 5, 2007
Thank you!
I have been preaching this for some time, amidst all the negativity. I see the A's making a real run in the second half. Especially because the shine is starting to come off the overrated Anaheim Angels. I'd be willing to bet that the race is going to tighten up in the West in July and August. Also, Seattle is likely to pick up an arm for their rotation and they will be a force to be reckoned with, by the A's and the Halos...
BruceBochte - July 5, 2007
all hail the magic marco
great win today especially after yesterdays loss.
greenandgoldpolarbear - July 5, 2007
A's are starting to resemble a the 70s and 80s
MLB teams with (comparatively) good hitting from the traditional spots (DH, corner outfield, corner infield) and woeful hitting from the traditionally poor spots (SS, C, CF).
BruceBochte - July 5, 2007
Street was hilarious...
he definitely will end up in the booth after his career (I believe his dad in the booth for Texas)
Is Casilla not the best pitcher in the bullpen? If so, how come he doesn't close or at least pitch to more than one batter?
if not, is Embree that much better?
yeah, the 9th wasn't bad, but come on Ichiro lined the hell out of that pitch..Embree scares me..
Erik being Erik - July 5, 2007
Ben Grieve < Huston Street
Tom Grieve (Ben's Dad) is in the Texas Booth. He's actually pretty good, too.
Colorado Fan - July 6, 2007
Unless Street's dad is calling UT football games
Poppy - July 6, 2007
I think Geren got away with one--
dubious process, good outcome. I think Casilla should have been in to face Beltre (8th), Betancourt, Lopez, and Ichiro, with Embree ready to face Vidro and Ibanez if Casilla didn't get 'em 1-2-3.
If Casilla goes 1.1 IP, Embree is fresh for up to 3 IP over the next two games if needed. I didn't like the matchup of Embree against a couple righties or against Ichiro, and I liked Casilla against all those guys.
All's well that ends well, but I wish Geren would give Casilla more consideration for the 9th against certain groups of hitters.
Props to Croz--I don't hate you for a day. :-}
Nico - July 5, 2007
I think Embree likes to have the entire inning
That's what Embree said on a pre-game show I listened to (Fosse was the interviewer, so considering that Ray pretty much builds the answer inside every question, it was a rather vague Embree admission.) I think Geren gives Embree the benefit of the doubt. Casilla has been great, but perhaps Casilla doesn't like returning to the 9th after cooling down, either.
One won lost won - July 5, 2007
Interesting possibilities to consider
But I'm dubious about Embree, seeing as he's spent most of his career coming into the middle of innings. And I don't think Casilla has enough history, majors or minors, to have a strong preference--my inkling would be he'd just like a chance to close if he could but doesn't really care how he's used at this point.
My guess is Geren's a bit into "Embree's my closer" mentality, thinking he needs to keep Embree's confidence high by not passing up any chances to use him as "the 9th inning guy". Thing is, one's a lefty one's a righty and Casilla is pitching out of his mind right now. There are good spots for both and I'd rather see each go 2 IP on days they're "on" than go an inning each on days like...Cleveland.
Nico - July 5, 2007
Agreed. Small sample size notwithstanding
Embree's ERA is 8 times as high as Casilla's. Embree's all right, but doesn't have dominating stuff. And it's not as if Embree has better peripherals. Or as if Casilla hasn't been pitching well in tense, high-leverage situations. In fact, the redeeming thing about having arguably your best reliever relegated to the setup role is he's more frequently allowed to pitch more than an inning and often winds up pitching in even higher-leverage situations than the closer (e.g. when tied in the eighth as opposed to 3-run leads in the ninth).We dodged a bullet (or maybe I should say we caught it) on Ichiro's game-ending DP. A little different placement and that's first-and-third, or second-and-third, or a game-tying double.
Faust - July 6, 2007
Dodged a bullet, but every game
has their "bullets" that would have changed things, a foot this way or that. I couldn't believe Scoot missed the ball in the first! and so it goes.
One won lost won - July 6, 2007
I disagree
I'd rather Embree have pitched 5 innings tonight so Garen would have been FORCED to used Casilla to close for the rest of the series.
Threepwood XX - July 5, 2007
A damn Macha move...
following the script that says when you're up going into the 9th, no matter the circumstances, the script says put in your "closer"
It worked last night, so what can I say? I'll tell you:
Casilla is a bad mutha- (shut your mouth) and I thought he should have at least faced the righty leading off the 9th...
By the way, how's my luck as an A's fan attending games? I happened to be at the only game he gave up a run in, in NY... (why did buck dive?)
Erik being Erik - July 6, 2007
upcoming pitchers
The A's lucked out and will not need to face washburn. He always pitches well against the A's. Weaver tomorrow with Haren on our side. Time to go to reno and bet on the A's. Their rookie pitches on sunday and so far he has been awful.
Arcman - July 5, 2007
Since coming off the DL, Weaver
has been strangely good, but I can't help think a lefty-stacked lineup will give him trouble. King Felix vs. Glass Harden should be interesting. And Fieireiieeiebrand has been so gawd-awful I fully expect him to pitch a no-hitter.
Nico - July 5, 2007
Didn't "Evening Fire" have a good game or two??
I liked his last game vs KC! If he's pitching Sunday afternoon there could be some long balls!
One won lost won - July 5, 2007
Off Topic
I'm pulling my hair out trying to score 15,000 points in Little League in Pinch Hitter. Basically, you pretty much need to hit 3+ home runs in order to have a shot. Which sucks cause hitting even one home run in Little League is insanely hard.
Anyone got any tips?
lenscrafters - July 5, 2007
How is that off topic?
I did it, but just barely. I definitely had good luck pulling the up-and-in pitch over the left field wall.
The majors are kicking my butt.
oblique - July 5, 2007
I got sick of Pinch Hitter...
the way Poppy Jr. got sick of Little League: It's just no fun when you always lose.
Poppy - July 5, 2007
You can hit homers over the left field wall?!?!?
Haha okay I'll try to do that. But I agree with Poppy, it's getting to the point where it's just no fun when you lose =(
lenscrafters - July 5, 2007
That was pretty much the ONLY place
I could hit them out. And I seriously just barely made 15K; it was like 15035 or something.
oblique - July 6, 2007
Swished on post-game (tv) chat
Did anybody else notice the evasive way Swisher answered questions about the HR dance? When asked about the standalone dance, he seemed to avoid mentioning Bradley at all - I suspect they are under orders not to say anything.
It shows that they can chafe under the edicts of management - not allowed to say anything, the strongest statement Swisher makes is the most eloquent.
MobiusKlein - July 5, 2007
on the postgame radio interview with crosby...
He said that after Swisher hit the homerun, he "just went up there to hack at it and see what he could do".
Eh...not exactly what I wanted to hear.
alamedagirl - July 5, 2007
which seems likes his everytime approach.
ak_A - July 6, 2007
Screw the Woofing Gods!
It's time to SWEEP these 2nd place(holders)! The Halos had been slumping and the A's didn't take advantage. Well, just go on a 21-game winning streak and the A's won't have to worry about what the Angels do... the A's will be looking at them in the rearview mirror.
It's July, guys... time to start the second-half winning streak!
If we finish 3rd in the division, you can all blame me, now.
FoolshGame22 - July 5, 2007
You make the caption!
alamedagirl - July 6, 2007
MLL
Major League Leapfrog - now it counts!
MobiusKlein - July 6, 2007
Did they say left FOOT in?
Damn this hokey pokey is confusing.
AsFanInLA - July 6, 2007
I hate freaking dog day at the park.
Look what he just stepped in....now he's going to step on me.
alox - July 6, 2007
I think we really need to something..
about Dan's foot fetish...it's getting out of hand
Erik being Erik - July 6, 2007
Late inning pinch runners ...
... is (the) one place I've consistently questioned Geren's managing. Last night he had another opportunity with Dee Brown on the bench. Watching that guy run around in RF on Weds convinced me that he's got some scoots.
I'd have run him in for Cust in the 8th and kept him out there as a defensive replacement in the 9th.
The Dogfather - July 6, 2007
As any dog or cat fancier should know...
"having the scoots" is not a good thing.
Poppy - July 6, 2007
Also true when traveling
"having the scoots" is something that you do not want.
doctorK - July 6, 2007
And no self-respecting 2nd grader
wants scooties.
green star oakland - July 6, 2007
/ Xs 3 xs A's fans off Xmas card list. \
The Dogfather - July 6, 2007
/ + worries that "having the scoots" may come ...
... to mean a botched fielding play by Third Baseman \
The Dogfather - July 6, 2007
is it just me
or did all the M's RBIs last night go past the 3b position?
ArakSOT - July 6, 2007
Chavvy's Glove ...
You are not wrong. Scutaro obviously botched the ball that would have been an easy DP had he fielded it in the first, but he also failed to run down Ibanez's foul in the prior AB. The count was full at the time, and although it was certainly a difficult play, with the ball landing almost on the dugout steps, I think Chavvy would have caught that ball. On the next pitch Ibanez walked and the M's were looking at a potentially big inning before the DP ended it.
As frustrating as Chavvy is with a bat in his hands and the winning RISP, his glove is what it is - unmistakably valuable.
solotar - July 6, 2007
Also
Scoot is a good 2B and a somewhat tolerable SS, but he can't handle 3B at all.
mikeA - July 6, 2007
the start of a nice run?
I hope so. Injuried players are returning but some of the others (Kotsay, Crosby, Chevy) must step up. Swisher is turning the corner it seems-he had some very good swings last night. When a player is in a rut I don't particularly look at the balls he hits but rather the swings he is having...Swisher is coming around but his lefthanded swings are still too long as where his RH swings are nice and compact. Crosby on the other hand seems to be trying the go the other way which is good but it makes his swing even longer through the zone. Crosby is a mess.
If the boys get within 4-5 games back in the ALW by July 29th look for Beane to add a maybe a reliever- but that's it. But, if they're too far back Beane should trade some of his assets (Kotsay? Kendell? Johnson? Shannon? Kiko? Kennedy?).
Bottomline: it won't be the O that takes us to the post sseason but rather pitching, defensive and the three run homer.
Go A's
bigelephant - July 6, 2007
Nothing To Get Excited About
I was at the game last night and was delighted to see Crosby hit that home run. His first two ABs were so bad the fans were on him. In fact, in his AB in the first inning, it was pretty clear that Batista pretty much intentionally walked Johnson (moving a second RISP) to load the bases so that he could get Cros with 2 outs. Cros made the move look both good and easy by taking an 0-2 pitch for called strike 3. Killer.
As for the A's maybe getting something going ... it's just not going to happen. The bottom of that lineup was something else last night: Crosby, Scutaro, Kendall, Suzuki. Can't remember the last time I saw an A's team that weak in the bottom half. And the top half isn't great, either. (Yes, I know ... it would be so much stronger with Chavvy and Kotsay in there, right?) Thank goodness that ball popped out of Guillen's glove because Stewart was going to be out at the plate by 10 feet. Stewart can clearly hit but his foot is just as clearly still bothering him.
Two little side bars:
Mark Ellis is my favorite A, but I've noticed this year that he seems to really struggle moving that runner from second to third with nobody out. (The best I remember at this was Steve Sax. Jeter is very good at this, too.) As much as I am gratified to see the A's work harder this year to create runs, I think the A's should just let Ellis hack in those situations.
Also, there was a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals at the game last night sitting right behind me. Not hard to notice the guy - he had a World Series ring on about the size of a walnut. Who are you looking at? I asked him. All of them, he said. They always say that ... but he seemed especially interested in Shannon Stewart. Is Stewart signed beyond 2007?
solotar - July 6, 2007
interesting information
great post.
chavyizdamn3 - July 6, 2007
Stewart has a one-year contract
doctorK - July 6, 2007
Good stuff
Scouts have to say "everybody" because they don't want to be the guy who came to see so-and-so, but never realized Koufax was playing 3rd.
Shannon Stewart is about 17-for-35 lately...somethin' like dat. I'm sure they're watching him run. The foot and all.
One won lost won - July 6, 2007
I'm starting to think
that Stewie just needed to be playing on grass all along
ArakSOT - July 6, 2007
I think we all do
I never go running except on a treadmill. When I do have to jog a couple of hundred yards on concrete or asphalt, I cannot believe how badly my legs take it.I went on a bike trip for a week with a bunch of 50+ aged well-to-do folk in 2002. I'd say ninety percent described themselves by saying in so many words..."I used to be an avid jogger, but my knee (ankle, foot, etc...waist down) gave out, so I took up bicycling."
One won lost won - July 6, 2007
I used to be an avid biker,
but my ass gave out so I took up jogging.
Nico - July 6, 2007
I thought it was your goat that gave out
monkeyball - July 6, 2007
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