Open Thread: Spring Training Game 18 - A's at Angels

by Nico on Mar 15, 2009 12:00 PM PDT

Greetings from Phoenix. It's been an interesting trip so far, starting from the security check at Oakland Airport, where I was "randomly selected" to be thoroughly inspected (translation: personally violated). After feeling me up repeatedly with explanations and apologies (to which I replied, "Really, don't apologize - this is the most action I've gotten all week"), the authorities proceeded to protect America by confiscating my "dangerously over 3oz" of toothpaste and shaving cream, thus foiling my master plan to storm the cockpit waving a bottle of Edge and shouting, "Take this plane to Cuba or the co-pilot loses his beard!"

Once on the ground following a near-fatal (warning: I might be exaggerating) bout of turbulence, my attention turned to baseball, where I had a chance to see Dallas Braden pitch and then had the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with Braden for an interview that I will post on AN in the next 2-3 days. Braden looked strong on the mound, using his cutter to claim the inside corner and in turn force hitters (and Jose Uribe) to lunge at changescrewupballs down and away. Is Braden throwing the screwball these days? Stay tuned...

Today the A's are in Tempe to take on the Angels, and last I knew Trevor Cahill was scheduled to pitch for Oakland. I'll be at the game, so there may be a game recap a bit later than usual, or...it may be pre-empted anyway by something even better...

Starting Lineups:

Oakland A's: 9 cool people

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: 9 not-cool people

0 recs | 181 comments

Comments

Marty Lurie has scout Bernie Pleskoff on right now

he’s casting doubt on the Angels’ pitching, not only Santana (DL), but also Lackey (velocity down even since last year).

OaklandSi - March 15, 2009 reply

I tuned in to Right Off the Bat in the car

and through the buzz, snarkle, and hiss I faintly discerned Marty Lurie’s voice saying the first words I’d heard from him this season….
Give Bill Aboumrad a call.

Englishmajor - March 15, 2009 reply

Cool.

I generally prefer going into a season with younger untested pitchers. In all the commentary you always hear about how prospect so-and-so is young and untested and we really don’t know if he’s going to be any good or not. That’s absolutely true, but it’s also true with most veterans that although he has been good in the past we really don’t know if he can do it again this year. There’s a lot of uncertainty with pitchers, whether tested or not, but somehow you only hear about it with the new guys.

iglew - March 15, 2009 reply

that's true -- you never know if veterans can repeat good performance

however, there’s something to be said for having a good track record in the majors, with a player who has gone past the ‘unknown so did well first time around", as well as the “adjusting to the adjustments” phases. As long as a pitcher hasn’t shown any warning signals regarding health and performance I would put him ahead of an untested pitcher.

OaklandSi - March 15, 2009 reply

Hello Daric Barton.

Are we seeing a return to his promising days.

Also, Nomar had a solid first day.
And Anderson continues to impress….I am liking his chances at getting into the rotation.

WhiteElephant - March 15, 2009 reply

starting lineup for A's today

according to the SF Chron’s John Shea:

The lineup for the game in Tempe against the Angels: 3B Garciaparra, SS Cabrera, CF Sweeney, RF Cust, DH Ellis, C Suzuki, 1B Doolittle, LF Denorfia, 2B Petit, P Anderson.

OaklandSi - March 15, 2009 reply

will there be audio?

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