Thanks in large part to Rajai Davis, you will all be spared the diatribe I was preparing in my head most of the game about the A’s unique inability to hit Nate Robertson like the piñata he is for the rest of the league.
Trailing 2-0 in the 6th, Rajai poked a triple into the right-field corner and scored on Daric Barton’s sacrifice fly to make it a 2-1 game. Rajai then tied the game at 2-2 when he legged out an RBI triple to left-center, a ball that never even made it to the warning track. The decisive run came on Emil Brown’s sacrifice fly, scoring Davis – it was a medium depth fly ball and Granderson didn’t even throw to the plate.
Perhaps the sweetest words I heard tonight were that Bob Geren has announced he intends to make speed, and the stolen base, a bigger part of the A’s game next season. Not stand around and pursue records for runners left on base and objects thrown at my TV set? What I like about speed is that it does not into slumps and it can force mistakes by the other team. At the very least, it gives a team options to make adjustments when Plan A isn’t working. And it gives the team an infectious atmosphere of energy and life – something the A’s offense has not been able to create. Lastly, if the A’s may not win a playoff berth in the immediate future, the surprise bunt, the “when will he go?” steal, the aggressive streak from first to third – it’s just more fun to watch.
Rajai Davis was fun to watch tonight, and he has now put together a pretty sustained run of solid hitting, explosive running, and stellar defense. Like Braden, he has come from pretty far down on the depth chart to put himself seriously in the conversation for 2009. The outfield situation in going to be interesting in March, 2009.
Meanwhile, even though this game was between two teams long out of the pennant race, tonight’s game was electric from the 6th inning on, right down to the last pitch between a pitcher (Ziggy) who has had an amazing season and a hitter (Polanco) who has had an amazing career against the A’s. Pennant races aside, exciting baseball is exciting baseball. I leeve for thees.
0 recs | 139 comments
Winning Streak!
Rajai is doing better than I think any of us had expected. It’s interesting to see how he is performing with strong playing time. I don’t know that speed is the answer vs. power, but considering that’s his strength, we may as well play toward it. I mean… will we see Jack Cust as a 30/30 man next year? I doubt it.
And as CSN turns… who bets that Zito gives up more runs in the 1st inning than the A’s got the whole game?
louismg - September 9, 2008
Run Rajai Run
I’d say there’s a pretty good chance. In the end, I hope the DBacks win and get back on track. In other news, the BoSox put up 2runs in the bottom of the 8th to take a 4-3 lead over the Rays. DJ now at the plate in the top of the 9th, facing Papelbon
SwisherThresher - September 9, 2008
DJ homer & back-to-back doubles
puts the Rays back on top 5-4
nice
SwisherThresher - September 9, 2008
LOL Dan Johnson homered off Papelbon
Trainman - September 9, 2008
Lil' Wayne lyrics
Go DJ, that’s my DJ
Go DJ, that’s my DJ
Go DJ, that’s my DJ
Go DJ, yea
Wit Weezy We, step up to the mic dude do watcha do, ya heard
SwisherThresher - September 9, 2008
that shit was awesome
mistersalty - September 9, 2008
Fernando Perez doubled and scored the go-ahead run.
I’d never heard of him but his AAA numbers aren’t bad.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
The name sounds like a guy from the DR
but he actually went to Columbia. (The college, not the country.) I think he may have been a 4 year college player (and really, that’s probably the right decision if you’re at an Ivy) so he’s always been old for his levels, but he’s produced pretty consistently. Similar prospect to Chris Denorfia, without the weird injuries.
PaulThomas - September 9, 2008
And I should add
that I’m a sucker for those random mid-to-late-round overachievers from academic colleges, so, uh, nice going, Fernando!
PaulThomas - September 9, 2008
Rays win.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
Really?! That is AWESOME.
whiteshoes40 - September 9, 2008
I've been a pretty big skeptic of Rajai over the length of bis brief A's career...
but I’m starting to come around on him. He’s definitely forcing the A’s hand as to how to treat him this off-season. A few weeks ago, he was probably ticketed for his 3rd straight DFA, but now it seems prudent for the A’s to find a way to keep him around. He’s definitely a strong enough defensive CFer to be an everyday player and if he keeps hitting like this, he’ll be strong enough with the bat as well…
Taj Adib - September 9, 2008
I see a Gary Pettis career.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
That's not very nice.
Taj Adib - September 9, 2008
Pettis had a decent career for a guy who couldn't hit at all
Tremendous fielder who got the most career out of his abilities. Why is that not nice?
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
He's a different player from Pettis
First, Pettis was a spectacular CF, which I guess Davis might become, but isn’t yet. Offensively, Pettis hit for a mediocre average, but drew a fair number of walks to compensate — unlike Davis, who usually has an okay average but doesn’t command the strike zone well.
I’ve been thinking Darren Lewis as a comparison. But Pettis was a good player, even though he had a low BA. Sort of like Cust, except with GG in CF and 50 steals instead of 30 HRs.
Nick - September 9, 2008
Darren didn't seem to have Rajai's speed though.
Omar Moreno?
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
If he's Omar Moreno, release him now!!
Moreno sucked. He was Rajai Davis without the hot streak, starting 155 games a year. Lewis was pretty fast — he stole 46 bases in 1993, with only 15 CS.
Nick - September 9, 2008
Mickey Rivers?
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
Mickey never had a rep as a really good fielder
and I think he was a more talented hitter than Raj. He was a better player than Moreno, that’s for sure. He was kind of a poor man’s Willie McGee.
Nick - September 9, 2008
"Only" 15 CS?
46/61? That’s barely above par.
PaulThomas - September 9, 2008
As I recall, Mickey Rivers had a terrible arm
but he was also a far better hitter than Pettis or Raj.
Nico - September 9, 2008
My point was just that his SB total wan't a result of just running all the time
He wasn’t stealing 46 bases and getting thrown out all the time — he was maintaining at least a decent SB% with a pretty good number of steals. He was, as I said, “pretty fast” — not a speedburner, but still pretty fast. His SB numbers reflect that.
Nick - September 9, 2008
I think you're wrong on Davis' defense
I’d put him as “One of the best in baseball” easily. I can’t really find any flaws in his defensive game. In fact, I think his defense is so good that he’d be an above-average player even if he was the ~.700 OPS guy he’s been with the A’s this year. I also think Davis will be a better offensive player than Pettis.
That said, he’s probably best served as a platoon guy/pinch runner/defensive replacement. I still like him.
thejd44 - September 9, 2008
If he's an above average player, why put him on the bench?
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
Because I think other guys will end up being even better
I think his defense is good enough to make him a good player, but I expect Cunningham, Sweeney, Gonzalez, Buck, Cust, etc are all going to be/are more productive.
thejd44 - September 9, 2008
So the A's are going from one to six above average OF in one season?
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
Well, that's supposed to be the point of all these highly-touted prospects developing
If some of them don’t, the rebuild is going to be a failure. Why do you think it’s going to fail?
Gonzalez, Sweeney, and Cunningham haven’t shown you anything, eh?
thejd44 - September 9, 2008
In order of talent I'd rank them
Gonzalez — future starting CF
Buck — 2009 starting RF
Cust — 2009 starting LF
Davis — 2009 starting CF
Cunningham — hopefully Bobby Kielty.
Sweeney — Jay Payton clone and trade bait.
I’m not impressed with Cunningham’s defense and the scouting reports on this are mixed…which means not good.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
How come nobody wants to adknowledge that Travis Buck was basically awful this year
Injured a bunch and unable to hit even in the minors until about a month or so ago?
mikev - September 9, 2008
I acknowledge that Travis Buck was basically awful this year.
Injured a bunch and unable to hit even in the minors until about a month or so ago.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
Thank you. :D
mikev - September 9, 2008
You're most welcome.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
what has impressed you about Buck this year?
some psychic connection with his 2009 blossoming? Cust the best hitter of the bunch. And, Sweeney is probably the second best.
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
Nothing impressed me about Buck this year.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
yet, you annoint him...
the 2009 starting RF? NFW.
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
Yes. He is more talented than the others below him.
I believe in giving the most talented players the first shot, since they’re more likely to win games than less talented players.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
I'm a big Buck fan
But I’m not convinced he’s a better overall player than any of the guys on that list at this point, but I’m also factoring health and what it might do to his ability to produce/
thejd44 - September 9, 2008
Ya, Buck's certainly no Lou Gehrig.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
At this point he's barely a Milton Bradley.
mikev - September 9, 2008
Which is why I don't mind him in a sharing
arrangement with Cunningham.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
He ain't no Milton Bradley
Last I looked Milton was leading the AL in OPS and just a hair out in batting average. Since Milton careened out of town and Frank moved on in 2006, the A’s haven’t had a hitter to strike fear into the opposition.
If Buck ever has a year as good as Milton’s having this year, I’ll be pleasingly shocked.
DiegoSegui - September 9, 2008
I didn't expect a .355 EqA from Milton either
I’m not sure anyone did.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
weird...
I generally agree with you. But, Cust and Sweeney are both more talented hitters than Buck. And, Sweeney’s probably a better fielder, too.
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
Sweeney's certainly a more talented fielder than Buck,
but I don’t get why people think he’s a talented hitter — or more talented than Jay Payton.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
hmmm...
I sense a trap here. I should probably check my stats. But, I’d say Sweeney has much better strike zone judgment than Payton and Payton, an established veteran, has more power. But, I think Sweeney will develop power.
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
Why do you think Sweeney can develop
power without completely altering his swing? And if he does that, why do you think he won’t just completely suck?
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
Because after not hitting for power
throughout the minors, he’s clearly due?
Nico - September 9, 2008
you said the same thing about...
Carlos Pena.
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
I did? I don't remember saying that
but then again, I am drunk about 94% of the time.
Nico - September 9, 2008
that was a test...
I don’t remember you saying it either.
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
I wish the "I don't remember" excuse
worked with pregancy tests.
Nico - September 9, 2008
so do I...
my second son is being born on October 16th. I’m too old for this shit. Get ready for the baby naming
diaryfAnPoSt.FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
the kid's young...
he can still learn to adjust. And, he’s a big mofo. Power will come.
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
Ya but he swings like Chone Figgins.
Ken Oberkfell was big too, and he swung like Sweeney.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
People tend to get pretty excited about batting average
Defenses are starting to play Sweeney shortened up in the OF and he’s starting to lose a lot of those hits he used to get. If he doesn’t develop 15 HR power, he’s going to be a fourth OFer at best because he’ll become Kendall circa 2005-06.
Nico - September 9, 2008
as an A's fan...
I think it’s perfectly reasonable to get excited about anybody on the team batting above .230.
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
He doesn't have Kendall's batting eye.
More like Jay Payton’s.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
Oh, I see
We’re not even close to being on the same page with this. We’re not even reading the same book.
thejd44 - September 9, 2008
What does your book look like?
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
It has Gonzalez, Cust, Cunningham, Sweeney (I have confidence he’ll develop power) and a healthy Buck all as quality starting major league outfielders within two years, if not already.
While it seems you see the problem being finding 3 guys good enough to start, I think the problem will be juggling 5 or 6 guys who are all good enough to start.
thejd44 - September 9, 2008
If that's the problem, then it's an opportunity to trade #4-6
for infield help.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
So then when Buck breaks in half again they're stuck with a AAAA guy?
Nah, depth is good to have and it’s a bad idea to immediately trade whatever little bit of depth you have right when you get it.
thejd44 - September 9, 2008
If you believe that you could trade Buck for IF help
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
No, no!
For multiple single-A prospects!
Nico - September 9, 2008
That might actually happen.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
People seem to have been dissing Aaron Cunningham since he was drafted
Hey, what’s one more, right?
I’ll believe he CAN’T hit in the majors when I actually see it happen. There’s really no reason he shouldn’t be able to.
PaulThomas - September 9, 2008
I believe he can hit in the majors at a Ryan Church level.
I’m skeptical he can field at more than an Adam Dunn level.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
That's flatly ridiculous
I really don’t even know what to say to something that absurd.
PaulThomas - September 9, 2008
And yet you posted
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
I said that about Travis Buck, too...
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
Travis Buck had a good minor league track record
Aaron Cunningham has a much, much better minor league track record than Buck did.
PaulThomas - September 9, 2008
honestly, I haven't seen enough of Cunningham...
to make a judgment. And, you may be right… he could be the greatest thing since sliced bread. But, I see CarGo in CF in the A’s future, not Cunningham. I see Sweeney in the A’s future OF, too… prolly in left, but he’s got a good enough arm to play right. So, does Cunningham beat out Buck? Maybe. I’ll have to see more before I’m convinced.
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
I don't think he's the greatest thing since sliced bread...
There are many outfield prospects I would view as better than him, including Carlos Gonzalez and probably 10 or 15 others.
It’s possible that he will fail, but I see no reason to assume it when he’s succeeded at every point so far in his career and is only 22 years old.
PaulThomas - September 9, 2008
What do you think of his defense?
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
I think it will probably fall somewhere in between
“average corner outfielder” and “average center fielder.” Most likely in the middle of that range, which is to say a good corner OF who is stretched in CF, eg Swisher.
PaulThomas - September 9, 2008
In that case he'd be a very good player.
In fact he’d be a right handed Ryan Church. A 115 OPS+ and good defense is a keeper. I think he can do the 115 OPS+, but I’m not at all sold on his defense. He seems to have the speed though.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
a right handed Ryan Church
Hopefully without the anti-Semitism… which would be particularly ironic in Cunningham’s case, given his first name.
PaulThomas - September 10, 2008
They'll do it "The A's Way"
Let Rajai start for two years, let the league recognize he’s one of the game’s best defenders, and then flip him at max value when he gets expensive in year 2-3 of arbitration.
He can still have a Dave Roberts career. Dave Roberts made a good pile of money.
notsellingjeans - September 9, 2008
Not a terrible plan
If Davis can put up a 90-95 OPS+ (and nothing says he absolutely will), he’ll be a pretty good player to have for a couple years. Then move him when he turns 30 and his skills are likely to start to decline. By then, hopefully an outfield defensive replacement won’t actually be needed.
thejd44 - September 9, 2008
nothing says he absolutely will
Many things say he very probably won’t… and I really don’t see the A’s being able to flip him for anything of consequence. Last time I checked, Coco Crisp was still wearing crimson lederhosen.
PaulThomas - September 9, 2008
I could be underestimating him on defense
though, to be fair, he hasn’t played a ton in the majors and even given what he’s played I haven’t seen him that often.
Pettis’s career happened to coincide with my most obsessive period of baseball fandom, so I saw him play a lot, and he made a big impression on me. He was just a beautiful, wonderful CF — fast, smooth, acrobatic when he needed to be, with an excellent arm. If you asked me who was the best CF I ever saw, I’d really want to say Murphy but I might have to answer Pettis. So comparing Davis to Pettis, to me, is essentially saying he’s the best I’ve ever seen regularly.
Nick - September 9, 2008
+1 Best ever.
Pettis covered so much ground that I wanted some team to find a clone and defend with 2 outfielders, 5 infielders, and a ground ball staff. Be nice to see a batch of 8-3 up-the-middle ground ball outs.
MT Head - September 10, 2008
WHAT?!
I lost track of what inning it was! Completely missed the 9th!
Jennifer - September 9, 2008
Whatever
Jay Payton
67MARQUEZ - September 9, 2008
Fail.
whiteshoes40 - September 9, 2008
Rajai and Ziggy looked AWESOME.
That is all.
baseballgirl - September 9, 2008
I don't like the idea of the A's building their offense around power next year
since they don’t have any.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
It's a better plan than building it around strikeouts
thejd44 - September 9, 2008
But they have plenty of those already
PaulThomas - September 9, 2008
I like the fact that they are building
It’s better than taking things down.
Hit4TheCycle - September 9, 2008
Zito RBI
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
I saw that.
Hilarious. My wife and I were discussing Joe Blanton’s hitting abilities, and BOOM. Zito, hitting machine.
louismg - September 9, 2008
just happened to turn the channel to the game...
to see if you were right in your prediction that he’d give up more runs in the first inning than the A’s scored…. and, as you said, BOOM! Looks like you almost nailed it, too.
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
Bahaha.
Just saw the replay on SC… hilarious.
whiteshoes40 - September 9, 2008
Did anyone see Street pitch?
I’d like a scouting report if you don’t mind.
grover - September 9, 2008
didn't see it...
but, heard it on the radio. Wasn’t happy when Geren pulled him for Ziggy. I know that doesn’t help in your request for a scouting report, but it certainly shows Geren’s lack of confidence, even in a lost season.
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
I saw a few of Street's pitches
up and not enough movement. First out by Granderson was scorched, and Street jumped up, flinched like “Oh NO! Not a game-tying HR!!?” but it was right at Sweeney in RF, on a line.
He wasn’t too bad, but it was prudent to take him out. Just not the “dominant Street” he has been of late.
Wagner out in NY, but could Street pass waivers? Doubt it.
One won lost won - September 9, 2008
2 things
First, he already didn’t pass waivers, and second, even if he had, players acquired after September 1 can’t appear in the playoffs.
PaulThomas - September 9, 2008
Granderson hit a line drive
for the first out.
Next hitter smashed a double.
whoever was talking on radio at time said he missed location on several pitches.
Pulling him was the right decision.
Trainman - September 9, 2008
My non-stathead/scout eye says...
His pitches were up, his slider wasn’t slidin’, and Geren pulled him at the right time.
GreenSocks - September 10, 2008
I missed the whole game since I was out tonight
but I do want to reply to some of the ideas in Nico’s game summary.
All other things being equal, I totally agree. if Mark Ellis, for instance, were as fast as Patterson is, it would help the team and have no drawbacks at all. The problem is that Plan A — which broadly speaking is to get guys on base and hit for power — is actually a much better plan than plan B, which involves hitting singles and stealing and forcing defensive mistakes. If a team can afford to pay for both, they absolutely should. But if they can’t afford both, which should they choose?
A lot of teams in the 1980s thought Plan B was better than Plan A, and gave tons of ABs to guys like Dave Collins or Wayne Tolleson, just because they were fast. It was the remnants of that attitude that allowed Beane to exploit what is (wrongly) thought of as the Moneyball philosophy, BBs and HRs — if everyone wants Tolleson or Collins or Ottis Nixon, you can just snag Geronimo Berroa or Matt Stairs.
To the extent that the team is underutilizing the speed that already exists on the roster, I think it’s a good idea to run more. But I’d be wary of pursuing speed at the expense of OBP or SLG going into 09.
Nick - September 9, 2008
Well said
All else being equal, OF COURSE you want the faster guy. But speed, it has been proven, is not more likely to win you baseball games. It’s nice to have, but not necessary. On the other hand, guys who get on base and can hit for power are pretty much required to have a decent offense.
thejd44 - September 9, 2008
I think some of our outfielders have 20 HR potential
even with the speed. Tough to teach speed, but it is possible to learn to hit HRs, if you can hit ML pitching at all. Suzuki didn’t arrive as the next Johnny Bench, hittingwise, but he looks like he could average well above 15 in the coming years. And, he’s pretty fast, too!
Speed on the basepaths means speed on defense too.
One won lost won - September 9, 2008
No arguments there, Nick - the A's NEED power
And you always need OBP because speed doesn’t serve you much if it keeps flying out to left field. What I like is the notion that the A’s intend to use the speed they have and that they intend to value balance of all these traits. If they sign Dunn and have him, and Cust…better than not signing Dunn but not exactly a balanced attack. I like the idea of a Rajai or Patterson in there, and a Cust, not just a bunch of guys who walk a lot in theory but suck in fact.
Nico - September 9, 2008
They didn't utilize Byrnes's speed as much as they might have. I like that they're being more flexible.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
I think they didn't trust him
Because he was such a goof and generally not a very headsy player (head-first, yes, headsy, no) that they probably felt he couldn’t be trusted with a green light.
thejd44 - September 9, 2008
Also, the lineup had really good hitters when Byrnes was here
Giambi and Tejada and Chavez — so it made sense to tell Eric to play it safe.
Nick - September 9, 2008
Given his SB% they should have trusted him more, especially in 2002-4 after Giambi left.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
In hindsight, yes
But if they felt he wasn’t smart enough of a ballplayer to decide the best times to steal on his own, it’s completely logical to assume that his great percentage was because he only went when he was told (which is ideally a higher likelihood of being safe than if a player is deciding on his own).
So either they just didnt want him running, they didn’t trust his baseball smarts, or they underestimated his natural ability and speed. Either way, it probably wouldn’t have made much of a difference in the long run. A few runs here or there at best.
thejd44 - September 9, 2008
you're right, of course, about "a few rns here or there at best"
but, any moron could see Byrnes was capable of stealing 30 bases a season, if they turned him loose. The guy got to balls Kotsay would have been yards from even when he got a bad jump.
FoolshGame22 - September 9, 2008
There has gotta be
some stats that Byrnes cost more runs on defense than Kotsay did … His outfield hustle was outweighed by his shenanigans that made me cringe anytime a ball wasn’t hit directly at him.
Rickeyfan - September 10, 2008
I'm happy that the A's let the fast guys run
I hate hate hate running into outs, but Davis and Patterson are pretty good at stealing bases. And while not fast, Ellis and Crosby have a very good percentage, too. It seems like the A’s have found a very good thing when it comes to when and how to steal a base. There’s no point in having 200 team steals if you have 120 caught stealing, but this year they’re at nearly 80% as a team.
thejd44 - September 9, 2008
Cunningham and Gonzalez also come off as the bag swiping types.
Blicks - September 9, 2008
Versatility is crucial for contending teams
One-dimensional teams are vulnerable to extreme conditions. A power-only team can be shut down by a home-plate ump with a really low strike zone, or by a cold day with wind blowing in from the outfield. A speed-only team, on the other hand can have a lot of trouble if they (a) don’t get on base, (b) fall behind by a lot of runs, or © face a pitcher who controls the running game — say, a Joe Blanton type, who’s not so hot against power-hitters — and a really good catcher.
A great team can score runs in any environment. That’s what made the Big Red Machine so astonishing. Now, the A’s aren’t going to be anywhere close to that kind of team any time in the foreseeable future, but they could emulate Cincy’s balance at a much lower level. That’s what’s so appealing about guys like Gonzalez and Denorfia — they can hit a hanging slider for a HR, or go with it for a single if it breaks and then steal 2nd.
Nick - September 9, 2008
Exactly - a poor man's versatile offense
stands a better chance than a poor man’s anything else.
Nico - September 9, 2008
Eh
Every game that a one-dimensional team loses because of a low strike zone will be balanced by a game that they WIN because the umpire had a HIGH strike zone.
Hedging your bets makes you less likely to win big or lose big, but it does not change your average outcome. And over a long season, the average outcome is what matters. I suppose in the playoffs, the one-dimensional team is more likely to have wild swingy outcomes— which would suggest that if you come into the playoffs as the underdog, it’s actually better to be one-dimensional. Who knows— maybe the umps or the wind will play into your strengths and you’ll upset the opposing juggernaut.
PaulThomas - September 9, 2008
I like the idea of a hybrid lineup
where the A’s feature maybe two guys, one at the very top of the lineup and one at the very bottom who are speed burners. And who knows, maybe Rajai is a better hitter than we think? Maybe he’s that elusive leadoff guy the A’s haven’t had since Rickey has left. I mean he had no business turning that second hit into a triple tonight. He made two fantastic catches in center last night.
I definitely do agree that speed forces the opposition to often rush things to try and make a perfect play that can often lead to mistakes. Turn on those afterburners, Rajai, and leave them on.
Tyler Bleszinski - September 9, 2008
I definitely have no problem stealing bases with crappy hitters at the plate. So Rajai
batting 7th or something and creating a run per game with his speed at the bottom of the order works for me. I would want OBP at the top ahead of the sluggers though. I mean the sluggers we’re going to have…in the future….at some point.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
I might be biased, hence my name
But, this team could benefit from a shot of old Billyball. For you who may remember, the 79 team was horrid, 54-108. In comes Billy Martin, same team wins 29 more games. It was all based on speed.Sure we had a young Ricky Henderson, (he’s coming back?), no other base stealers, but everyone stole bases that year. 1980 was a fun season, how many triple steals do you see today…As for power Armas hit 35, next was Jeff Newman, Wayne Gross, and the forgotten Dave Revering, all three hit less than 20. A good young pitching staff, but no bullpen. So heres to dusting off my Billy Ball badge.
billyball1981 - September 10, 2008
A win streak cures everything
Go A’s, we are #1!
asfansince1989 - September 9, 2008
Street
I know Street is competitive but it’s hard for him to complain about Ziggy getting put in the game. The other day one of the announcers on TV said Ziggy has the second lowest ERA in Major League history for pitchers with more than 30 innings. So it’s not like Street lost his job to Arthur Rhodes, etc.
SA - September 9, 2008
I wouldn't put too much stock into a glare at Geren
(I missed it, whatever it was). Pitchers want to stay in – Stew always gave the death stare when LaRussa yanked him – and that’s fine. It doesn’t mean they should, or that they even feel that way later.
Nico - September 9, 2008
Who's Stew?????
Blicks - September 9, 2008
Ken Arneson
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
thanks
Blicks - September 9, 2008
Zito has 9K thru 6
wow Dbacks, wow
SwisherThresher - September 9, 2008
Well, some no-name is shutting down the Dodgers.
Blicks - September 9, 2008
Wade LeBlanc
Apparently he gave up 21 HR in 138+ AAA IP. He’s actually gotten Manny out twice other than the predictable HR.
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
He started the Single-A All-Star Game just last season in Stockton.
Flashfire - September 9, 2008
How did he look?
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
Just pitched an inning so you can't make much of it...
…but he struck out two of the three hitters he faced and won the game’s Outstanding Pitcher Award, which is probably just a pick-’em thing anyway.
Flashfire - September 9, 2008
He must have a curve ball HP umpire
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
Actually, I don't think so - he's not gotten some curve calls
I’m only watching on and off, but I’d say it’s more the changeup that’s getting swing-throughs.
Nico - September 9, 2008
He's mastered the art of changing speeds!
My Moyer prediction may actually come true!
WaddellCanseco - September 9, 2008
Whoa, Cliffy got #3 in SC's Top Ten.
I actually missed that play during the game, and happened to see it on SC… what are the chances?
whiteshoes40 - September 9, 2008
What play is that?
Jennifer - September 10, 2008
Diving catch to his left and doubling someone off 1st.
Or something like that.
whiteshoes40 - September 10, 2008
Thanks.
Jennifer - September 10, 2008
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