Final Score: A's 7, Rockies 6
With Oakland trailing 6-5 in the 9th and an 11th straight loss staring the A's in the face, Kurt Suzuki led off with a single and then ba-da-BOOM!!! : Chris Denorfia launched a walk-off 2-run HR to put the A's in the win column for the first time in 13 days. The HR capped a perfect day for the Italian Stallion, who finished 2 for 2 with a pair of walks.
Greg Smith started against his former team and didn't make it out of the 2nd inning. Going through a "dead arm" period according to the Rockies' clubhouse, Smith was not throwing hard, nor was he throwing a lot of strikes, and after a 1-2-3 1st inning Smith was rocked for 5 runs in the 2nd, two coming on a Rajai Davis ground-rule double, the last two courtesy of an E-5.
Given a 5-1 lead, however, Sean Gallagher was not impressive, pounded for 9 hits and 6 runs (5 earned) in his 5 innings and giving 3 runs right back in the top of the 3rd in a "shutdown inning...not" that culminated with Garrett Atkins' 2-run HR.
Other highlights for the A's: Matt Holliday smoked two hits, Andrew Bailey, despite allowing a leadoff double, turned in another 1.1 IP of scoreless ball, Brad Ziegler had an easy 1-2-3 inning in his first Cactus League appearance, and Jerry Blevins worked a perfect 9th for his second smooth outing in a row.
Tomorrow, Brett Anderson. Tuesday, Josh Outman. Down to the wire it goes!
0 recs | 70 comments
Slusser says that Gallagher got a talking to, a.k.a.
….“a fire lit under his ass” after his poor outing. she also said the A’s will announce more cuts today or tomorrow.
BB has to be frustrated by the poor pitching the team has showed of late
athleticsBB4life - March 29, 2009
Link
Slusser’s comments
athleticsBB4life - March 29, 2009
thx
brian.only - March 29, 2009
Strange Beane would do that rather than Geren or Young.
WaddellCanseco - March 29, 2009
it doesn't surprise me
micdog2001 - March 30, 2009
MUCH needed win for the A's
Great to see a bit of clutch hitting, something that’s been absent of late.
Not very encouraging for Gallagher, but the Bullpen looked good.
Hope Bailey makes the cut.
brian.only - March 29, 2009
A "must win" in spring training?
Now that’s pushing it!
Nico - March 29, 2009
I didnt write 'must' ;)
but I doubt 10 losses in a row is good for the psyche of any of the rookie players, esp pitchers.
Not too mention us ANer’s – was getting a bit masochistic following these games.
brian.only - March 29, 2009
More ANers, I suspect
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the players didn’t even realize the team had lost 10 straight.
Nico - March 29, 2009
well thats comforting-
But I think the folks up for rotation would have to be conscious of the fact most have been performing pretty dismally. I’m sure those kids are looking for a ‘win’ be it ST or not.
brian.only - March 29, 2009
That, I think, they are well aware of
Basically it doesn’t matter at all that Giambi is hitting .012 and that Wuertz’ ERA is 216.00, it matters a little but not a lot that Blevins neglected to get anyone out until this week, and it matters a lot that Eveland, Gallagher, Outman, and Cahill don’t really look ready for prime time at the moment.
Nico - March 29, 2009
Denorfia clearly showed he's clutch and deserves a roster spot.
Oh wait, we’re only doing the SSS game with pitchers? OK.
mikev - March 29, 2009
Team cuts
Egon, Shroder, Petit, Wimberly, Cunningham, and Galarraga are the latest cuts
Oklnd Fan - March 29, 2009
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Stirrups :(
mikev - March 29, 2009
this
:( :( :(
walkoff baltimore chop - March 30, 2009
So that leaves:
Starters:
Braden
Eveland
Anderson
Gallagher
Cahill
Outman
Relievers:
Devine
Ziegler
Springer
Casilla
Wuertz
Blevins
Outman
Gio
Bailey
I’m thinking Blevins and Bailey get cut and Cahill opens as 5th starter. Gio and Outman are the two lefties in then pen and long relievers. Duke to the 60-day DL opens up the 2nd roster spot for Cahill and Anderson.
WaddellCanseco - March 29, 2009
Duke is on the 60 day DL? Oh f%$K!
mrod - March 29, 2009
No. I'm not going to disseminate that falsehood.
WaddellCanseco - March 29, 2009
Blevins will not be cut
Nico - March 29, 2009
I certainly hope not.
Unjustified man-crushes are harder to maintain when they’re in Sac.
Leopold Bloom - March 29, 2009
If not Blevins then whom?
WaddellCanseco - March 30, 2009
Can you retroactively 60 day DL him?
If so how far back can you go?
designatedforassignment - March 29, 2009
Yeah, retroactive works for 15 day and 60 day DL
The maximum you can go back is 10 days.
Danny - March 29, 2009
So if Duke goes to the 60 day DL he can't come back till May 26th?
designatedforassignment - March 29, 2009
"Duke to the 60-day DL opens up the 2nd roster spot for Cahill and Anderson."
I was going by that part…..I was worried that the A’s had already made that decision.
mrod - March 29, 2009
Sorry I didn't mean to imply that the decision had already been made.
WaddellCanseco - March 29, 2009
I think it's very unlikely Gio or Outman make the team in the bullpen over Blevins
mikeA - March 29, 2009
If they don't then you have only one long reliever. Is that OK with you?
WaddellCanseco - March 30, 2009
at least, the A's saw the light on Schroder...
Wuertz is a harder decision, I guess, but he shouldn’t make this team. Not if Anderson and Cahill make it. If it is a “go-for-it” year, then go for it! Don’t start with any dead weight and hope they’ll perform.
Put your best performers (read Bailey, not Wuertz) on the Opening Day squad right from Day 1.
Casilla’s gonna be a stud this year, so, obviously, he makes it and is not moved.
FoolshGame22 - March 29, 2009
Wuertz has a 3.65 ERA in 262 MLB innings
The decision is easy. Wuertz makes the team.
BillyWannabeane - March 30, 2009
Yes but he's not really a multi-inning guy for most of that.
I’m not confident they can just ignore the ability to pitch 3-5 innings at a time in their decision.
WaddellCanseco - March 30, 2009
Link
Oklnd Fan - March 29, 2009
at least the starting pitching is looking sharp
9Custs - March 29, 2009
If sweeney hits the DL - then Denorfia makes team
If not – then what do we do with this guy? I heard the whitesoxs are interested in a CF – not sure if he is a major upgrade over wise/anderson/owens – but the guy has made a nice name for himself with the classic and today clutch hit.
ryanmoser - March 29, 2009
Thank god for the walk off by Denorfia!
I was spending just about the entire game going thru old mail, bills, and organizing my cabinet folders….eeek!
Nice little reward for me and all A’s fans to hear Korach call the 2 run dinger to win it. I’m a little concerned about the overall sucktitude of the staring pitching during the last week+ and Gallagher needs to find his mechanics pronto. He has one start left and then it’s the real deal. I hope Anderson has a great outing tomorrow and Outman after that….Cahill pitching on Wednesday?
Also, nice to have Chavvy back in the hot corner and Ellis over at 2nd. Seems like Holliday is also starting to rake…Go A’s!
mrod - March 29, 2009
Buck is always good for DL stints as well.
WaddellCanseco - March 29, 2009
KHAAAAN!
brian.only - March 29, 2009
Ziggy got into a game before leaving for Team USA ;-)
Small note, but it was against Milwaukee on 2/27.
Flashfire - March 29, 2009
Ah well. I won't bother to change it -
February isn’t baseball.
Nico - March 29, 2009
I'm sure Crosby wishes it was
Flashfire - March 29, 2009
just took a look at my gameday page...
Italy’s homer didn’t go very far, apparently.
link
But YAY A’s won!!!!!
#14fan - March 29, 2009
LOL
jakebmill - March 29, 2009
I really wish I could have seen that "HR" LOL
I wonder how gameday managed to mess up that badly. :P
#14fan - March 29, 2009
does anyone think denorfia is better tthan rajai
i’d say he has a better chance of being a league avg cf, while rajai at best is a 4th OF type
basically, denorfia has a better skillset to be an all around player and a better hitter, rajai does 2 things well (speed/defense)
with sweeney/buck already showing their durability issues we may see both rajai and denorfia play more than expected.
Asfan4ever723 - March 29, 2009
Honestly I’d like to see more of both in the Majors before I make a judgment.
Davis has cooled off a bit but so has the team in general, but he has shown a bit of hitting this spring.
brian.only - March 29, 2009
Davis made two errors today, which proves he can't field
Nico - March 29, 2009
davis is making the team
Walton711 - March 29, 2009
i keep raj over denorfia
9Custs - March 29, 2009
ditto
jakebmill - March 29, 2009
I keep Ditto over either one.
Nico - March 29, 2009
Is Ditto a lefty?
brian.only - March 29, 2009
Better question: Can Ditto give us 6 innings of 3 run ball every 5 days?
designatedforassignment - March 29, 2009
Ditto? DITTO?
You provincial putz!
doctorK - March 29, 2009
Oh I didn't know he was an option
Of course I’ll take Putz.
Nico - March 29, 2009
Putz can't get an out, man
Leopold Bloom - March 29, 2009
You'd keep a Pokemon over Rajai and Denorfia?
Well, since it could transform into anything, I suppose that would be a good idea. Beane could make it transform into a competent shortsop!
walkoff baltimore chop - March 30, 2009
Ditto
baseballgirl - March 29, 2009
latest on tBuck (from Slusser)
Link
jakebmill - March 29, 2009
wow
i thought the ear thing was a joke.
any predictions on buck’s next random injury?
dbeach13 - March 29, 2009
Nostril
Nico - March 29, 2009
Internal parasites
from sharing Chinese food with JG.
Leopold Bloom - March 29, 2009
no predictions from me,
but if he has another multiple injury/ailment season as he did last year, he could begin to fall into the Crosby health category.
Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. I for one want to see Buck have a healthy and productive season.
jakebmill - March 29, 2009
As long as he doesn't fall into the Crosby hitting category
WaddellCanseco - March 30, 2009
so true...
jakebmill - March 30, 2009
I thought it was a joke too
rotoworld didn’t even dignify it with a post.
micdog2001 - March 30, 2009
Let's sign Mulder!!!!
Then trade for Miguel Tejada, Ramon Hernandez, Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, and Carlos Pena…
Somebody will surely want Crosby for any of the players mentioned above!!!!!!!
MMunoz33 - March 30, 2009
That was a good team
4 years ago
Helloooo 1st - March 30, 2009
Nooooooooo
The dreaded un-reply reply
Helloooo 1st - March 30, 2009
The next big three spotlighted in the baseball card world!!!!
Here is the link.
http://themojohand.blogspot.com/
Pretty interesting.
waxman - March 30, 2009
Holliday shift
Evidently the Rockies put on a mild right-hand shift against Holliday yesterday.
link
Does anyone know why defenses often play those really extreme shifts against left-handed sluggers, but not the righties? There is a Bonds shift, an Ortiz shift, a Giambi shift, but no Pujols shift. Well, maybe Pujols isn’t a good example, since he hits well to every field. Maybe a Morneau shift?
Also, if the Holliday shift becomes common practice, I think we need to go Cust-Holliday-Giambi in the batting order, just so the opposing team’s middle infield has to trek back and forth.
colin - March 30, 2009
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Athletics Nation to post a comment.