Final Score: Rangers 8, A's 5
4 in the 1st was as good as it would get for the A's today. Highlighted by Ryan Sweeney's two-run triple, Oakland jumped out to a 4-0 lead off of Kris Benson and the Rangers. And for two innings, Edgar Gonzalez looked like he would make those runs stand up and make a strong bid for that #5 spot in the rotation.
Then came the bottom of the 3rd, in which Gonzalez got just one out and surrendered 6 runs, including a two-run HR by Marlon Byrd. Jerry Blevins got the final two outs of the inning before Josh Outman took over in the 4th and became the biggest A's story of the day. Outman, who has been plagued by some mechanical and control issues this Spring and had allowed 12 hits and 5 BBs in 8.2 previous innings, put in by far his most solid effort to date: 4 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K. Outman's Cactus League ERA now stands at 2.13.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez has pitched well at times but his 7.94 Cactus League ERA has to be put in context: His career ERA in the major leagues, 5.97, isn't that much better. Speaking of pitchers named Gonazlez, you wonder how Edgar's poor performance and Outman's sparkling one may impact Gio Gonzalez, who would appear to be battling those two, as much as any pitchers, for a roster spot.
I also want to put a thought out there for discussion: Who should be the A's Opening Day starter given that Duchscherer won't be ready? Personally, I say it should be Dallas Braden. My reasoning is:
* There's no obvious choice
* Gallagher has pitched few Spring innings and hasn't pitched well enough to earn it
based on last year's or this Spring's performances
* Dana Eveland is not especially experienced, nor has he been "lights out" in the
Cactus League,
* Braden is the only one who has come up through the A's system, he pitched well last year, and he has pitched well this Spring.
So Braden is my choice for the honor. Is he yours?
0 recs | 55 comments
braden opening day by default
spring training aside, he would be a long reliever/swing starter (like saarloos/dinardo) or 2nd bullpen lefty if this was any other typical A’s rotation
Asfan4ever723 - March 19, 2009
I'd like for the Opening Day starter to be Dallas,
but my guess is that it will go to Eveland more or less by default, which is also fine.
LAA does have a righty heavy lineup, though (Vlad, Hunter, Napoli, Kendrick) so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sean out there on day 1.
vegAN ryAN - March 19, 2009
LAA killer
Sean Gallagher has a good track record against the angels, maybe it will come in to play?
Wreckonized - March 19, 2009
It's based on two starts...
lenscrafters - March 19, 2009
I think that is what we call a "small sample size"
drink409 - March 19, 2009
I think that's what we call a "winner!"
Gallagher for Opening Day!
FoolshGame22 - March 20, 2009
"Winner, winner, chicken dinner!"
mrod - March 20, 2009
nicely done
A'sfaninNC - March 20, 2009
It's a four-game series - he's gonna pitch
He also doesn’t so much have a “good track record” as he made a great first start against them (and one OK one).
Nico - March 19, 2009
I'd say Braden has as much a right to
start as any other contender. But pitching lines at this point in ST shouldn’t garner all that much concern. However, having said that, our rotation is starting to frighten me just a wee bit. After the last two seasons, I would dearly love a competitive run.
alox - March 19, 2009
Dana
He’s the elder statesman of the rotation.
niallmack - March 19, 2009
fattest stateman of the rotation
enjoying those pre/postgame buffets a bit much
Asfan4ever723 - March 19, 2009
Who else has a Pepe???
I’m for Braden as he’s been looking good in ST and had a pretty good second half of 08.
if the A’s can keep the offense flowing in the regular season we should be alright if any of the contestants have an O.K. start.
Here’s to a healthy infield, would it be asking too much?!
brian.only - March 19, 2009
E - Gone
experiment is over….for now….keep him on the roster as the long reliever and give outman and gio the spots until Duch come back and to let Cahill/vin/ and or anderson stick in the minors for a bit just to keep them from being “super two”s like the Ray’s did with Longoria last year.
D. Eveland
S. Gallagher
D. Braden
Gio Gonzalez
J. Outman
ryanmoser - March 19, 2009
You know, I'm not sure Outman has pitched better than E. Gonzalez this Spring
Sounds strange, given Outman’s 2.13 ERA and Gonzalez’ 7.94 ERA, but the former has mostly been “bad outings, not a lot of runs charged to him” and the latter has mostly been “one really bad inning.” For guys with ERAs a full 5.5 apart, the separation hasn’t actually been much overall from what I can see.
Nico - March 19, 2009
This is why spring numbers are silly
As much as I favor looking at stats, I think spring training is one time where in-person scouting is very important. I trust the A’s to know which of those two has actually been better. As fans, we don’t really know a lot that goes on in ST (for example, sometimes pitchers don’t throw certain pitches – or they only throw a certain pitch – during an outing. In this case, does it really matter what the result was if they were clearly just trying to get their arm ready for the season?). It’s fun to make guesses, but I just don’t feel nearly as informed on spring training competitions as I do overall judgments of who is good and who isn’t.
thejd44 - March 19, 2009
but is E Gone really the answer
I think we all know – NO!
So let Gio and Outman at it until Big Mac is ready
ryanmoser - March 19, 2009
Braden might be the most deserving
But the fact that he came up through the system should have absolutely no bearing on that decision.
I think it’ll be Gallagher or Eveland, and would leave towards Eveland.
thejd44 - March 19, 2009
I'm not sure I agree
“Who came up through the system” shouldn’t have any bearing if someone else is a better choice, but when all three are interchangeably “well we’d never consider him if we had a real #1, but he’s a pretty good pitcher,” then I think that since getting the Opening Day start is primarily an “honor” (and not especially meaningful for strategy), why not factor in who came up with you and has always been “one of yours”? Seems like as good a tie-breaker as any.
Nico - March 19, 2009
If one of the MAC makes it as the fifth starter
then that guy would start the home opener.
Right now, I say it’s either Braden or Eveland. I’m thinking Gallagher will start out being the number 3 starter, especially if the A’s go with four lefties…
mrod - March 19, 2009
Actually, if they go with four lefties then order really doesn't matter -
Any way you slice it, you’re gonna have four in a row!
Nico - March 19, 2009
true dat....true dat.
I can’t wait for the home opener!
mrod - March 19, 2009
if anyone has noticed
The a’s bats have been alive and well even the hitters that were here last year. Funny thing is the M’s up north are having trouble hitting the ball. Taking to many strikes. Sounds familar? No love lost for Ty being gone and up north. Never realy thought he was any good.
Arcman - March 19, 2009
I never thought so either
But I’m not going to use ST stats as my argument.
Helloooo 1st - March 19, 2009
Interesting stats so far from ST
Petit has the most ABs on the club with 40 so far. Buck and Sweeney are tied for second with 37. Maybe we’re a bit off base in saying that the A’s don’t realize Petit is alive. Trouble is that he’s only got 1 BB so far so his .300 BA is nice but that .317 OBP isn’t.
Crosby continues to show why he should be starting with that awesome .167 BA and .479 OPS. Thatta boy Bobby!
Doolittle, on the other hand, continues to mash. He’s sporting a 1.111 OPS. If he can fully develop into an exceptional all around 1Bman that’d be uber sweet.
Finally, we’re all waiting on bated breath for Holliday’s first homer as an A. The Babe Ruth diet he’s (reportedly) been on lately doesn’t seem to be helping. As far as homers go, Buck leads the team with 3 while 3 players are tied with 2 (Powell, Sweeney, and Cust).
Helloooo 1st - March 19, 2009
Ah, Croz - plus ça change...
If Petit could hit .280/.300 and play top-notch defense at 2B, SS, and 3B, I’d be fully satisfied with him as a backup infielder, “1BB/40 PA” and all.
Nico - March 19, 2009
That .317 OBP would be a good season for Crosby.
Actually, I don’t think Cabrera will OBP .317 for the A’s this year either.
thejd44 - March 19, 2009
I don't think Petit will either
Helloooo 1st - March 19, 2009
Don't ABs ignore BBs?
What are the rankings for plate appearances? If Petit took a walk now and then he’d be lower down on the AB list.
Elvez - March 19, 2009
For some reason
I think the mlb.com stats basically make PAs into ABs. I could be completely wrong but I didn’t see a PA column.
Helloooo 1st - March 20, 2009
i wouldn't be shocked
mlb.com isnt exactly stellar
travdog6 - March 20, 2009
nope... TPA is on the 2nd page...
along with OPS.
FoolshGame22 - March 20, 2009
let's see if this works
Oakland A’s TPA – Spring Training 2009
FoolshGame22 - March 20, 2009
Thanks
Well he’s still near the top so in any case he’s been getting an extended look.
Helloooo 1st - March 20, 2009
Did Pepe put you up to this, re: Braden?
Flashfire - March 19, 2009
Horrible news:
The Parkway is closing.
:`-(
vegAN ryAN - March 19, 2009
That is sad
Nico - March 19, 2009
That SUCKS!
lynnzgal - March 19, 2009
I'm really hoping
a DeLauer’s Newsstand-style salvation can somehow happen here. Oakland can’t lose the Parkway.
vegAN ryAN - March 19, 2009
Or a Grand Lake one.
Allen?
lynnzgal - March 19, 2009
That is a drag
The Parkway was one of the places I loved most when I lived there, and their “baby brigade” events (is that what they called it?) were a fantastic respite for my wife and I when we were new parents.
Ray of Lite - March 19, 2009
as toni reali woul say
he gone
9Custs - March 19, 2009
Its the
White Sox announcers who say that
pbra17 - March 19, 2009
Or the 1Bman for Castelmont HS when we played them.
On the rare occasion they recorded an out at 1B the guy would literally yell “He gone!”
Helloooo 1st - March 20, 2009
that was hysterical
travdog6 - March 20, 2009
Either Braden or Eveland
When there’s no obvious choice, you honor seniority. Braden has the most starts as an Oakland A, but Eveland has more starts total because of his year in Milwaukee.
I agree with Nico that being the opening day starter is purely an honor and has nothing to do with strategy, so it’s a question of whom you want to honor.
Given that neither of them has a whole lot of experience, I see no reason why preference shouldn’t be given for the guy who has been on the team for two years instead of just one. But I also see no reason why it must, so either selection would make sense to me.
iglew - March 19, 2009
Opening Day starter
This discussion reminds me of why I just can’t take the A’s seriously as contenders.
bear88 - March 19, 2009
C'mon now....
The season has not even started yet, bear88. Let’s try to look at things a little more “glass half full” right now…. :)
mrod - March 20, 2009
the rotation is "iffy," no doubt...
If the kids perform, we win… Angels don’t.
But, our outfield looks pretty good in Spring:
One bright spot, at least. Not so sure about the infield.
Who is playing in the Slegna outfield this year?
FoolshGame22 - March 20, 2009
Geez wee need to send
that chump Holliday down to AAA. Carson is way betterer.
AsFanInLA - March 20, 2009
But does he give faster betterer care?
Nico - March 20, 2009
Man crush
Could Nico have developed a man crush for Braden after interviewing him?
Larry E - March 20, 2009
my vote
Braden…I agree that being chosen as the Opening Day pitcher is an honor, and one that Eveland hasn’t earned to the same degree as Braden.
Braden seems to have improved over a longer trajectory since his (except-Baltimore) shaky debut.
Besides, I’d love to see the sideways cap come back.
HardensGirl - March 20, 2009
I did have mildly high hope for Édgar González, however they are fading fast
but before he is completely thrown under the bus if it were me, I would give him the rest of ST just to see what/if there is any hope. But i am down with Braden as opening day starter.
A'sfaninNC - March 20, 2009
Exactly - Edgar has basically had one rotten inning
Nico - March 20, 2009
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Athletics Nation to post a comment.