No mo': White Sox 2, A's 1
by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2008 4:14 PM PDT
This was a game that was dominated by the starting pitchers.
Dominated by their inability to throw strikes or work efficiently, that is.
Sure, there were only 3 runs scored in total, but that was essentially a matter of luck (on the part of the A's pitching) and suck (on the part of the A's hitting).
Greg "Nibbles" Smith lived up to his nickname, constantly pitching deep into counts. The White Sox were only really able to touch him up in the 2nd, when it seemed like every batter was hitting a screaming line drive. Two runs came across for the Sox, and while it seemed like they were always on the verge of scoring more, those 2 were the only runs they'd need.
John Danks didn't really pitch any better than Smith, but he was more "effective." The A's worked 5 walks and 6 hits off Danks in 6 innings, but they were undone by G'ing I 2 DPs (Crosby and, most painfully, Frank) and striking out often in the first 2 innings. Emil Brown did drive in Suzuki to get the A's on the board, but that was it for the scoring.
Smith's confidence and aggression have been on a downhill slide all season. He really needs to start working on going after hitters and trusting his defense.
And the A's offense ... well, when the biggest hit of the game was Nico banning FIRESALE ...
Final game of the series tomorrow at 1:05.
How long has it been
since we won a series? I won’t be holding my breath tomorrow.
alox - August 16, 2008
Since they took 3 of 4 from Seattle, thanks only to Suzuki's pinch hit heroics
in the final game. So, since the Harden trade…we’ve lost every series.
Nico - August 16, 2008
about smith's aggression
i think there’s no doubt the a’s nearly non-existent offense has played a major role in this. smith knows he has to almost pitch perfectly to give his team a shot (especially him…seems like he gets 1-2 runs of offense every game, tops). if he had any faith in the offense scoring something for him, i think he’d be more aggressive, but as it is, he’s probably scared of making any mistakes. if he was older, he’d probably be able to block out the offensive issues better and just pitch his game no matter what, but the kid’s a rookie.
guy incognito - August 16, 2008
2.99
Smith’s run support per start… dead last in AL and 3rd to last in all MLB ( only Harang, Lannan, and Bergmann get less) among “qualified” starting pitchers.
Blicks - August 16, 2008
That would be 4th to last, for those counting
thejd44 - August 16, 2008
Frustrating!
But you can’t blame Smith. He pitched fairly okay, as did the bullpen. The offense just doesn’t come through for him. Hopefully the offense wakes up for Gio tomorrow. What happened to firesale? Why was he banned? See you all tomorrow! Go A’s!
A'sfansince1970 - August 16, 2008
Troll.
FIRESALE, not Smith.
Nico - August 16, 2008
Here's all you need to know:
Record when scoring 4 or more: 44-12
Record when scoring less than 4: 12-54
Flashfire - August 16, 2008
so scoring runs is somehow connected to winning games?
xbhaskarx - August 16, 2008
Hard as it may be to believe, yep!
Flashfire - August 16, 2008
Our record when scoring zero is just terrible
Nico - August 16, 2008
Are you sure? I am gonna double check that.
ak_A - August 16, 2008
It was very similar last year but I believe our record
would have been unbelievable when scoring only “3” runs instead of 4. Sprtnswyn posted something about this last year. Maybe every team’s record would be impressive (sans Rangers) when they score 4 runs?
ohtobe21likehuston - August 16, 2008
Yes - most teams have this kind of split in their record
when they do or don’t score 4+.
Nico - August 16, 2008
I was confirming your zero run "theory"
and by golly it is terrible and get this, we didn’t win even one of those games either, not one freaking one.
ak_A - August 16, 2008
We did manage to tie a rainout, however,
thanks mostly to clutch hitting by Emil Brown.
Nico - August 16, 2008
Yes, normally teams will lose most of their games when they score under 4.
What stands out about it to me is in relation to the team ERA, which is considerably better than most teams out there. Even with that, that record is still terrible.
Flashfire - August 16, 2008
Well, the A's, I'd guess, don't often score 3 runs either
Seems like they’re in the 0-2 range a whole bunch.
thejd44 - August 16, 2008
Yeah, they are. They've got a pretty high ratio of coming in under 3 runs, not just under 4.
Flashfire - August 16, 2008
whoa!
ak_A - August 16, 2008
oye
I think it’s time the team lets me suit up and take my chance at swinging. Someone here needs to give the pitchers…especially my man Smith, some run support! His record doesn’t represent the way he has pitched this year. my poor pooooor smith.
ilovegregsmith - August 16, 2008
When you're sending Jack Hannahan up as a pinch hitter,
you know you’re in trouble.
Nico - August 16, 2008
When Hannahan is wearing your teams colors....
you know your in trouble.
alox - August 16, 2008
when Hannahan is your 2008 starting day 3B...
you should know you’re in trouble.
rollierollieOxenfree - August 17, 2008
we need
Michael Phelps batting 3rd.
oakinboston - August 16, 2008
If he did so wearing his speedos, at least attendance would probably double
Nico - August 16, 2008
I think 8 medals is lame
If he’d just put some effort into the other sports he could easily win 40 next olympics. Sprinting, Shot Put, Gymnastics, etc. The possibilities are endless.
nevermoor - August 16, 2008
"8 medals is lame"
-lil jon
oaklandSMASH - August 16, 2008
Really? Because he's so, so creepy looking.
thejd44 - August 16, 2008
I was at the game
and the lady next to me went to sleep for half the game. It was one of the more boring games I have seen in a long time. In person, that is, I have seen plenty of these types of games this year on t.v. Very sleepy atmosphere there. The crowd was comatosed. Pennington looks very weak. Billy really needs to get ahold of some power hitters because this singles/take pitches/ walks stuff is just killing the buzz……..that is, whatever buzz is left.
pedoman - August 16, 2008
Maybe next draft we should devote the first few picks
to signing a bunch of low-slugging 2Bmen and OFers with “some upside”.
Nico - August 16, 2008
I certainly don't disagree about the need for hitters ...
… but the boredom of this game was what I was getting at with my comments about Smith and Danks. Their nibble-nibble-nibble, lots-of-time-between-pitches worrywart approach absolutely kills the energy of a game. By the fifth inning, the game was on pace to last nearly four hours.
monkeyball - August 16, 2008
i thought a young team like the A’s would build off a walk off homerun and get some more offense but i guess not hopefully theyll rekindle the fire tommorow cuz ill be in left field hopefully catching A JAck CUst bomb
robbo650 - August 16, 2008
There's no such thing as game-to-game momentum
thejd44 - August 16, 2008
Oh Gak.
Mazzaro started the Rivercats game with: HBP, HR. Can’t really blame the infield for that.
Nico - August 16, 2008
Update - Nice recovery for Mazzaro
Finished with 6.2 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K.
In Midland, Jared Lansford got the save (7-6 win) with 2 perfect innings, 4 K. He is on FI-YAH!
Nico - August 16, 2008
At least we have the minor leagues.
By the way, how are Sac and Midland doing in the standings?
alox - August 16, 2008
both are heading to the playoffs
maybe we can send some guys down to help
KCB58 - August 17, 2008
Sure, let's jinx the minor league teams with our dreck.
theblackpearl - August 17, 2008
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