Final Score: Angels 3, A's 0 boxscore
I'll say this - it was nice when the A's were down 2-0, then 3-0, to look at the lineup and know Oakland was still in the game. In fact only four days ago, the A's had erased a 3-0 lead against Tim Lincecum. But the "new and improved offense" will have to wait until at least game two of the regular season to score, as Joe Saunders and three relievers blanked the A's on just three hits.
The A's had a couple chances. With the score still 0-0 in the 3rd, Oakland had two on and just one out with Cabrera at the plate, when Mark Ellis and Ryan Sweeney attempted a double-steal; Ellis was thrown out at third base. I don't like giving away outs, but I do like that the A's mindset this year appears to be, "We won't just wait for offense to come to us - we'll also try to find and create runs and keep the defense honest." Except Ellis was gunned down, and then it doesn't look so good. In the 6th, Cabrera led off with a double, the A's third and final hit, but was trapped off of second on a grounder to SS. OK that's not aggressive, it's just stupid.
As for Dallas Braden, his changeup wasn't on tonight and as a result he did not get many swinging strikes, but I thought he pitched well for his 6 innings. His biggest mistake was an 0-2 changeup right over the plate to .195 career hitter Jeff Mathis leading off the 3rd, which touched off a 2-run rally. But the rally was a soft-liner RBI single by Howie Kendrick and then an infield hit by Vlad Guerrero that would have been an out had Orlando Cabrera gotten the throw to Nomar on just one hop - or had Nomar handled the two-hopper that was still in time to get Vlad. Kendrick HRed in the 5th for the Angels' third run, and Braden finished the evening with 6IP, 3 ER (1BB, 3 K).
Positives? I saw plenty. Chavez looked terrific, lining a single and driving two deep fly balls, along with making a fine stab of a liner at 3B. Andrew Bailey's major league debut was a success, a perfect 8th with a strikeout in which he displayed a plus-fastball and a pretty nasty slider.
And frankly, the Angels just underwhelm me. Saunders pitched a really solid game and the bullpen, which retired all 7 faced tonight, will be a strength, but their OF of Rivera and Abreu is going to keep Torii Hunter running until he drops, the lineup just doesn't look imposing, and their current rotation appears to me to be below-average.
I thought Saunders looked very good tonight while the Angels looked mediocre overall. And the A's looked bad tight young like they need Game 2 to start.
0 recs | 351 comments
A's have a tendency to disappoint on opening day.
Syphon - April 6, 2009
A's have a tendency to disappoint in opening month.
iglew - April 6, 2009
actually they had a good April last year
OaklandSi - April 7, 2009
They've still had a tendency to disappoint in the opening month recently
Flashfire - April 7, 2009
We also have had
much better pitching opening the season as well so that has to be taken into account.
We need to be at .500 after a month to have a shot IMO
Trainman - April 7, 2009
Actually, according to BP
we just need to finish at .500 to tie for 1st.
Im not too worried about it.
ChadGod - April 7, 2009
Actually they're projecting the 2nd place team with 82 wins. But you're basically right.
Link
WaddellCanseco - April 7, 2009
I have a hard time believing that the Angels will only win 81 games
I hope they win 41 but I would think about 88 especially if they get two of their pitchers back.
Trainman - April 7, 2009
I say 85-86
Below average defense, below average offense, above average bullpen, eventually above average SP.
Nico - April 7, 2009
For the A's, a good April correlates with a lousy season
In all the good years of this decade, the A’s started off slow.
iglew - April 7, 2009
A's have a tendency to disappoint.
walkoff baltimore chop - April 7, 2009
They have a tendency to feed the zombies,
rather than make food of them.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
Brains!!!!!!
mrod - April 7, 2009
They'll only come back for more, later.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
Not if you spray the place with Zombicide.
ElQuesoCapitan - April 7, 2009
Bite me once, shame on you.
Bite me twice, shame on me.
Brains.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
Bite me thrice, curse you!
ElQuesoCapitan - April 7, 2009
Cap'n,
them damn zombies bite you three times, they ain’t stoppin’. Trust me, i’ve seen it before.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
After college football and basketball seasons...
It’s refreshing to have a game to watch the next day, rather than stew in a loss for a few days.
Emmett89 - April 6, 2009
+1
It’s only one game out of 162
doctorK - April 6, 2009
that's not true
it could be 161
xbhaskarx - April 6, 2009
or 163
FormerHuntsvilleStar - April 7, 2009
I hope we don't keep saying this after every loss
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
I disagree regarding the A's aggressive baserunning tonight
Especially Ellis getting thrown out at third. Aggressive isn’t always good—but smart always is. I think the mindset Nico mentions above isn’t necessarily the best one simply because the offense is so much more capable than last years. Last year was a time Oakland had to put pressure on the other team, not this year.
On the other hand, I might be contradicting myself when I say the A’s let way too many pitches go by. If a guy like Saunders knows the A’s are going to take and take and take—always on the first pitch (except Nomar), then why even goof around? And that’s what he did tonight. He was grooving "fast"balls down the middle around 82-84 mph all night long. There were several times when I cringed because an A’s hitter let a meatball in their wheelhouse go by because it was the first strike.
Saunders pitched a solid game only in the sense that he had a plan and executed it. He was hittable this whole game and the A’s failed to take advantage of that.
NateHST - April 6, 2009
Ellis had an absolutely horrid "jump" on the double steal.
I’d say it’s inexcusable given that it’s game 1, but Spring Training was 8 months long and he wasn’t being held on.
mikev - April 6, 2009
He also didn't play, what,
the last two months of last season?
Leopold Bloom - April 6, 2009
My complaint is exactly mikev's point
You pull that double-steal because there’s little risk – you have the element of surprise, you get a huge walking lead, and you take advantage. But Ellis didn’t have a good lead or jump – that was the problem, not the idea of being surprisingly aggressive.
Nico - April 6, 2009
Right the call didn't match the personnel. Ellis isn't a base stealer, especially at this stage
of his career.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
he runs well enough in a situation
where you don’t think the other side will expect it
OaklandSi - April 6, 2009
Obviously not.
brenarlo - April 6, 2009
Or they were on their toes...which isn't that surprising.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
One time getting caught does not mean it's a bad idea
Flashfire - April 6, 2009
It would have been a bad idea even if Mathis made a bad throw
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Where I disagree:
Had Ellis gotten a walking lead (and made it, because then he would have), I think it’s a great play.
Nico - April 6, 2009
Here's where I don't see Ellis as being the right guy to expect that from
It’s not that easy to get walking leads. When was the last time Ellis got one?
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
November 12th, 2008, 2:54pm
It was at a Foster’s Freeze.
Nico - April 6, 2009
Reason #3,254 Florida sucks...
Leopold Bloom - April 6, 2009
You're not with the Chamber of Commerce, are you?
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
More like the anti-Chamber of Commerce.
“Whatever you do, for Chrissakes, DON’T come here. Anywhere, but here. Take a pamphlet, and don’t forget to visit our website.”
Leopold Bloom - April 6, 2009
Hee hee.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
LB
Now we know your real name!
DCinWC - April 7, 2009
Kindred soul, it would appear.
It’s kind of tough not to despise Florida. EVERYONE talks about how great it is here. Yes, it is, compared to winters in Boston. But so’s Mexico.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
Nah
Sometimes you have to take chances, especially if you’re struggling to score runs.
If a double steal works, everyone’s happy. If it doesn’t, people hate that it was even attempted.
Flashfire - April 6, 2009
If it worked it would have been because the Angels weren't on their toes
which means you have to have a reason to believe they’re not on their toes. Clearly they were on their toes….so it looked terrible.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
That's the risk you take sometimes
Make the other team make the play by forcing the issue. The Angels did this time.
It’s not like the A’s were hitting the cover off the ball tonight. If they were, a play like that probably isn’t even attempted.
Flashfire - April 6, 2009
(Though a play like that against the Angels may not be the right team to do it against)
Without having the numbers on it, the double steal is something that fits their style pretty well so maybe they’re more prepared for it. The A’s don’t try it a lot so there’s also that factor.
Flashfire - April 6, 2009
So the A's should have tried it against themselves!
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Heh heh
Flashfire - April 6, 2009
precisely
For all the “good” things about the decision— surprise, right hand batter, pitcher throwing slop— it was undone by the obvious “bad” thing— you asked a slow runner to do something he doesn’t do well. So I think BB will make sure Geren keeps this one in the drawer for a whole now.
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
But there's tons of risk.
One of our baserunners was eliminated and we gave up an out. That’s risky.
NateHST - April 6, 2009
This pissed me off when guys like Holliday and Nomar came up
with Giambi on base and they both swung at the first pitch and popped up.
ugh….!
mrod - April 7, 2009
The A's take too many first pitches
and they hack at the first pitch too often!!!!!!
Nico - April 7, 2009
Yes....exactly!
:)
mrod - April 7, 2009
The double steal was bad...
Cabrera could’ve swung to protect Ellis… but there’s no way Ellis can steal 3rd base these days. The fact that Cabrera didn’t swing tells me that Geren thinks Ellis should be stealing 3rd base… that’s troubling.
Ellis’s AB in the 8th was pitiful. He watched 2 fastballs go right down the middle and then got behind (of course) and had to swing at a pitch he wasn’t going to do anything with. Ok… Ellis hasn’t played much. I’ll give him that. I’m not too worried long term.
What I am worried about is this lineup against lefties. I have a feeling lefties are going to do this to the A’s all season long. Mediocre lefties like Saunders should be pummeled.
Chavez looked great tonight. I’m surprised and very excited about that.
It’s painfully obvious that at least 1/3 of our lineup against lefties will suck… Cabrera, Ellis, and Sweeney.
Braden pitched… well… Bradenesque. He did exactly what the A’s asked. On opening day, that’s a good thing.
The bullpen looked freakin’ awesome.
Those are my game 1 observations.
brenarlo - April 6, 2009
Maybe
Cabrera missed a sign on that double steal? I seriously doubt they were trying to steal third and think its more probable that cabrera was supposed to be swinging the baseball bat making a hit and run the call by Geren…just a crazy idea im gonna throw out there. So rather than indicting Geren lets open up to the possibility the player made a mistake because I seriously doubt that Geren thinks Ellis can steal third base
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
the broadcasters speculated during the game
that there was a missed sign on that attempted double stea..
OaklandSi - April 6, 2009
Hit and run with two runners on is a strange call
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
I've seen other teams do it
OaklandSi - April 6, 2009
Sure, the '85 Cardinals....but it's strange for a team with very little speed
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Ellis and Sweeney both run well
OaklandSi - April 6, 2009
Sweeney isn't the one I'm worried about.
How many times, on a double steal, do they throw to second?
Ellis can steal 2nd base here and there… but not 3rd.
brenarlo - April 6, 2009
again I doubt
they were having ellis steal 3rd…I dont see them attempting to steal 2nd with ellis very often much less third….either they were trying to catch some Angels napping or Cabrera missed a sign
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
I think it was the former
In which case I like the idea and dislike the execution.
Nico - April 6, 2009
It wouldn't have been necessary if Cust batted 2nd
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
which
would be ellis’ fault not Geren’s…he cant walk out there and say hey moron you neeed to get much further off than that…My problem is that Brenarlo is insinuating somehow its gerens fault when in actuality it is more related to either Ellis screwing up the plan, because I dont think he was even looked back on, or it was Cabrera not executing hit and run if you want to believe it was the last idea
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
Well if it's a hit and run you're not supposed to get a good jump
If he’s trying to steal it’s different.
I don’t like either call in that situation with that personnel.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Im not huge on the idea
but I can live with it. If they were trying to catch the Angels napping it maybe coulda worked cuz I dont think that he checked him back at all but I could be wrong. The hit and run there would have been a bit unnecessary and therefore I definitely would not have liked that idea.
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
To me it's all about the jump
Which is entirely on Ellis – if he didn’t get the good jump he needs to stop. But if you look at how the rest of the game went (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0), you can at least appreciate the mindset.
Nico - April 6, 2009
Indeed
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
If it's a straight steal, then it's a bad idea with Ellis
If they were trying to catch the Angels napping, they should stop doing that….it looks terrible when they make a routine play.
If it’s a hit and run it’s a bad idea and Cabrera was napping.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Actually, as many things as went wrong -
not so fast runner, not so big lead, it was bang-bang at third to where the replay suggested he might technically have been safe (though I expect the runner to be called out when the throw beats him by that much).
Nico - April 6, 2009
True.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
I agree
A straight steal of third requires the Angles to make a mistake, either by Saunders not paying attention or a bad throw/no throw from Mathis. I generally don’t like plans that only have a chance to succeed if the other team screws up. A hit and run in that situation doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense either especially with the likelyhood that there isn’t contact and Elis gets gunned down.
designatedforassignment - April 6, 2009
Well, but not "steal third" well
You have to have the element of surprise, i.e., a walking lead.
Nico - April 6, 2009
right, that would have to be there
OaklandSi - April 6, 2009
not actually a hit and run, a double steal
OaklandSi - April 6, 2009
Me too
Not that crazy trying to make something happy and trusting Cabreras ability to put the ball in play for a hit…could have been productive
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
Four game threads? And I'm just now getting home from work?!?!?!
It’s going to take me a while to get caught up…..fortunately I was able to listen to the end of the game on the way home, as well as the wrap up, so I’ll just read the threads for the non-baseball commentary….
gigglingone - April 6, 2009
it would've been more if the game were more competitive, I think.
Leopold Bloom - April 6, 2009
Ya we did the best we could with what we had to work with
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
I've read through the first one, and it sounds like there was going to be a lot of drinking....
so instead of continuing on to the next thread, I’m going to have a drink or two or ten….just to get caught up ya’ know….
gigglingone - April 6, 2009
Good thinking
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
I'm disappointed in the results we experienced tonight,
but I’m equally optimistic toward our chances this year. Our starting pitcher did not have his best stuff. Our offense did not show up at all tonight. And we lost, 3-0. Not 12-0. Not even 5 or 6 to nothing. 3-0, and it easily could’ve been 2-0. And as much as we want to make comparisons to the offensive anemia of 2008, this is not the same team. Not even close. We have some proven bats. And it looks like Chavez is healthy. And Buck didn’t play at all. We’re not going to be nearly as bad as we were on the offensive side this year.
Leopold Bloom - April 6, 2009
+1
as painful as it was, there was a lot of good out there.
ChadGod - April 6, 2009
Well sure. It was a baseball game.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Plus,
we got BASEBALL BACK!
Leopold Bloom - April 6, 2009
Agree with the slegnA being underwhelming
Vlad should not get credit for a hit on the OC to Nomar play – if Nomar sticks his glove out there and catches the ball, Vlad is out.
Hope the bad baserunning doesn’t continue: Failed double-steal, OC getting caught off 2B on a ball hit to the left side (duh!).
I fully expect this team to perform much better – let’s hope the opening night jitters are done with and they’re ready to go out and kick some slegnA rat-asses tomorrow.
doctorK - April 6, 2009
I actually agree with the scoring decision,
because Cabrera could not have gotten Vlad by planting to make a good throw. Thus he HAD to hurry the throw and bounce it; and you can’t give the 1B an error for not scooping a throw in the dirt. No E6, no E3, just an infield hit.
Nico - April 6, 2009
I want the error
I went with 6IP, 2ER for Braden tonight, so with the error, I’m right (
doctorK - April 6, 2009
I disagree
Did you see Vlad lumbering?? As it was a two-hopper beat him by at least a step— i think a plant and strong throw nails him.
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
You can't tell me that a major league first baseman isn't expected to make that play?
It shoulda been an error
demarius12 - April 6, 2009
You can't hang an E3 on a throw that short hops
Ever. And while you can point out that Cabrera had time to plant and at least make a strong one-hop throw, the play unfolded as one where the SS could not make an ordinary play and the safety resulted from the fact that more than ordinary effort was needed on both ends.
Nico - April 6, 2009
Perhaps
But if I fail to make that play in softball, the guys I play with are going to be pissed. And we aren’t very good.
Nomar is a pro, and pros should make that play. I could care less about whether an error was assigned, as the only thing it affects is Braden’s ERA, but it was a play Nomar should have made.
rageon - April 7, 2009
Doesn't it affect the batter's stats as well?
iglew - April 7, 2009
Yes, but so does a batted ball that hits the runner
Batters with good aim get big contracts!
Nico - April 7, 2009
As easy as they make it look, a short hop pick is not a routine play
I’ve played first base. Even if it’s not on that level, short hops are short hops and I can attest to the fact they can be one of the most difficult plays to make. That they make them so often is a testament to their ability and practice.
They also should not be errors on the first baseman. The guy throwing it is the one who put it in the dirt.
Flashfire - April 6, 2009
This is true, but the A's defense is supposed to be a strength that helps the young starters
I’m not sure it’s any better than average with Sweeney in CF, Chavez and Ellis gimpy and Giambi/Nomar at 1B
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Yeah
I think we just take it for granted that a short hop is going to be picked all the time.
However, at this point Barton probably runs circles around Giambi and Garciaparra when it comes to playing defense out there at first and if he didn’t hit like crap last year he’s not in AAA right now and Garciaparra probably isn’t even on the team.
Flashfire - April 6, 2009
Barton and Hannahan were big parts of last year's defense.
Unfortunately they were also big parts of the offense.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
It was, for lack of a better word, offensive.
Leopold Bloom - April 6, 2009
Also, for all the grief he gets for his defense
Giambi picks balls in the dirt really well. He probably catches that one.
Nico - April 6, 2009
I agree
OaklandSi - April 6, 2009
I thought that as well when it dribbled out of Nomar's glove.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Yeah
I remember hearing him recently joke about working really hard on that because there’s a lot of running to do in the Coliseum if you miss it.
Flashfire - April 6, 2009
agrd.
Leopold Bloom - April 6, 2009
So is the Offense
The “new look” lineup is supposed to hammer the ball and give those same young starters support.
1) Losing sucks
2) Losing to the Angels sucks
3) Can we start game two already
DCinWC - April 7, 2009
Kendrick was not underwhelming
If he breaks out this year— and the dude could flat out hit in the minors for years— and hits 2nd— well then compare their #2 options to ours. Cust is better than Cabrera against RHP— but I think the L-L-L at the top of the lineup vs lefties is a bad idea— and if you sit Giambi, who bats third? Nomar?? I’d rather it be Holliday and put Chavy in the cleanup spot. Or Cust.
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
Ya if Kendrick starts hitting the ball in the air more, he's a big time threat
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
I think AN generally underrates Kendrick
He doesn’t walk enough, no doubt. But the guy can flat out hit. He’s basically their Travis Buck: Great player who sometimes sucks inexplicably and can’t stay healthy for no apparent reason.
Nico - April 6, 2009
Well hitting ground balls like 65% of the time isn't the way to be a big offensive threat
I’m hoping he just elevated tonight because Braden was throwing change ups
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
I do think he will generally have a higher than average BABIP
because he pretty consistently hits the ball hard. How much higher than average, though, I don’t know.
Nico - April 6, 2009
Sure, and because grounders have a higher BABIP, but it suppresses his XBH
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
I don't think he'll ever be much of a power hitter
but I do see him as a potential “doubles machine” – basically Daric Barton without the walks. Or the defense. Or the pool antics.
Nico - April 6, 2009
I don't see the doubles unless he elevates the ball
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Cabrera did well to get to that ball
and his throw, while not great, still was catchable. In any event, that was scored as a hit, not an error, so it’s hard to fault the defense.
Braden pitched well enough…but the A’s did not really mount much of an offense against Saunders. He may not impress some people, but Saunders certainly has done well against the A’s.
Tomorrow is another game. Go A’s!!
OaklandSi - April 6, 2009
The error was mental
Cabrera forgot who the batter was and how slow he has become. He had plenty of time to get set and make a real throw and still get Vlad. i can’t blame Nomar much for not handling a tricky 2nd hop.
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
+1
He takes his time, Vlad is hosed.
Vacafan - April 6, 2009
Also, I'd like to mention
when Suzuki went out to talk to Braden on a 3-2 count to one of LAA’s big righties—don’t remember who—and proceeded to throw a ball around 65 or so that tailed away from the hitter. I’m not positive because I haven’t seen many of Braden’s circle changes, or if he even has one, but I would not be surprised to find out that it was a screwball.
NateHST - April 6, 2009
Not sure which pitch your talking about
but I did see a shot of Anderson and cahill talking and they were making arm actions that would indicate they were discussing a screwball and I would bet that was because Braden had thrown one…Just a thought
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
he threw 2 or 3 "Rt 66"
pitches that sure looked like screwballs. The first time Zook went out to talk to him Kendrick promptly hit a runscoring single on the next pitch. it was after the Figgins walk so presumably Zook told him to “throw strikes”.
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
The one I was referring to led to an awkward swing
The hitter was in front and ended up popping out, I think.
NateHST - April 6, 2009
It was bad, but not too bad
and I got to nickname Wuertz, “Man E Faces”
so that was good
oaklandSMASH - April 6, 2009
Blah, one lousy game out of 162
Actually, after all the off-season discussion about the DirecTV and radio issues, I was just really happy that up here in the Lake Tahoe area I was able to watch the game in HD with clear sync’ed commentary from Ken and Vince. In spite of the facts that the local cable company doesn’t show the channel and there is no local radio station carrying the broadcasts. If they’re 0-4 after Thursday night, damned right I’ll be changing that tune.
Soaker - April 6, 2009
And after all my huffing and puffing today,
the radio behaved unusually well tonight. Far better than Howie Kendrick did.
Nico - April 6, 2009
the reception during the game wasn't good
although by playing with the antenna I got it to improve.
On the other hand, the extra innings show doesn’t have the annoying AM buzz that plagued 1550.
OaklandSi - April 6, 2009
But it has something far more annoying: Robert Buan
Nico - April 6, 2009
Funny thing was...
I did not need to use the DirecTV DVR to delay the video. The Gameday Audio sound was ahead of DirecTV 698-1 video so it was a simple matter of plugging my netbook’s audio output into Delay Play to sync the sound. It’s all so specific to which connection you are using…I have Verizon DSL and DirecTV. But if you extrapolated my Tahoe results tonight into Berkeley, a $14.95 subscription to Gameday Audio would be a complete solution to your issues.
Soaker - April 6, 2009
I intend to be equally upset after each and every loss
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
K-HILL MANIA!
Starts Tomorrow, will be at game should be good one
Waychill - April 6, 2009
Bailey set the bar pretty high for the rookies. Go Trevor!
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Got him with the last pick in my fantasy draft,
which of course means when he gets shelled tonight everyone can blame me. Sorry, guys!
cityplANner - April 7, 2009
Must have been one hell of a run on pitchers....
OldhamA - April 7, 2009
And the only team to not score a run (who played)
The 2009 Oakland Athletics.
Pucking Insane - April 6, 2009
WHY
Is Cust hitting 8th? Why why why why why why? Why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why ?
Buck Turgidson - April 6, 2009
I dont' get this either.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
To get his glove in there, obviously.
Nico - April 6, 2009
hmmm
I know batting order may be insignificant, but….
Sending Jack a message? Addicted to L/R balance? Smoking white drugs?
Buck Turgidson - April 6, 2009
What did Cust do wrong to deserve a message?
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Kotsch said in the pregame show
that Geren had mentioned how Cust didn’t make enough contact to hit in the heart of the order.
OaklandSi - April 6, 2009
Korach, not Kotsch
OaklandSi - April 6, 2009
Gotscha
batgirl - April 7, 2009
I thought it was Vinsch
Nico - April 7, 2009
Kinda
True but 8th is the bottom of the order…and I think its one of those well he doesnt make enough contact and I want to keep left/right balance so 8th is where he ended up…against a left handed pitcher he may hit 6th because it will prlly be something like
Sweeney
Cabrera
Giambi
Holliday
Chavez
Cust
Suzuki
Buck
Ellis
purely judging off what we saw today
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
I just don't think you'll see that lineup vs. LHP
very much. 5 lefties is a bit much. Davis occasionally and Nomah mainly will be in there. and even Bobby when Chavy sits.
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
I meant to say RHP
my apologies
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
Noooooo!!!!!!
Not Bob
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
I'm not sure you can really even say that's Cust's fault
It’s part of Cust’s profile, and it’s a profile the A’s (rightfully) like and accept. I see it as good reason not to bat him 4th or 5th, but I don’t really see it as a good reason to bat him 8th.
And if you’re going to dock him for not hitting LHP as well as he hits RHP, then Sweeney has no business leading off.
Nico - April 6, 2009
I know they were trying to keep from going L-L in the middle of the order...
…but I’d have hit Cust ahead of Suzuki, at least. Then you’d have had Chavez-Cust 6-7.
Flashfire - April 6, 2009
I'm not sure you can really even say that's Cust's fault
It’s part of Cust’s profile, and it’s a profile the A’s (rightfully) like and accept. I see it as good reason not to bat him 4th or 5th, but I don’t really see it as a good reason to bat him 8th.
And if you’re going to dock him for not hitting LHP as well as he hits RHP, then Sweeney has no business leading off.
Nico - April 6, 2009
huh
Is Wolffy goin’ Al Davis and calling in the batting order or something?
Buck Turgidson - April 6, 2009
L/R balance is my winner
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
Even with that exact L/R, though,
I’d switch Cust and Sweeney before I’d go with tonight’s order. Seriously.
Nico - April 6, 2009
HAHA
I would doubt cust would ever hit leadoff…but again I am not even a proponent of him hitting second so you are talking to a jaded individual in this discussion…the highest I could project him is 6th or 7th but that would have dropped Chavvy who arguably had some of the best swings of the evening…and then with the whole L/R thing chavvy or Cust would have ended up 8th…overall lineup didnt bother me too much and trust me I doubt it mattered this evening
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
Vs. LHP, the OBP difference between Cust and Sweeney
is 50 points in Cust’s favor. And Cust slugs better. Which one do you want up to start an inning? Which one do you want up for an extra AB?
Nico - April 6, 2009
Umm......Cust?
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Cust is slow
if this was slow pitch softball and we could pinch run every inning id say cust for sure but his lack of speed really makes me cringe on the top of the order idea especially the idea of leadoff
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
i miss you paul thomas
travdog6 - April 7, 2009
Cust is actually not that slow
He’s not fast, but he’s not as slow as you probably think. Anyway, Sweeney was pretty fast not being on base last night, eh?
Nico - April 7, 2009
“Anyway, Sweeney was pretty fast not being on base last night, eh?”
Exactly
travdog6 - April 7, 2009
Ok
Its one night…I mean there is no way in hell that Jack Cust hits first in any lineup under the sun…sure some statistical projection program says it would work but in actuality no one will ever do it…and last night is a poor example because Sweeney did absolutely nothing. I am by no means saying sweeney is a great leadoff hitter but Jack Cust aint gonna hit leadoff for the A’s anytime soon.
My biggest problem with cust is he isnt much of a contact hitter and therefore if you hit him in a position to potentially have to do situational hitting or bunting he is incapable of doing those types of things. He is either strikeout, walk, long ball…Sure he walks at a good rate but again by the notion that cust should hit first, then we should all say Giambi should hit leadoff or second because they had basically identical statistical seasons last year and Giambi actually hit for a higher average…I do not get the fascination with Cust and his supposed “greatness” but I have yet to read anyone support the same ideas for Giambi when as I have said multiple times in this comment section that cust and Giambi are clones at this point in each persons career.
yawedout21 - April 7, 2009
My question is this:
If you had an opposing LHP on the mound, and your only two options were to bat Cust leadoff, Sweeney 8th or Sweeney leadoff, Cust 8th, which would you do?
I’d bat Cust leadoff. And it has been done – Brian Downing, and to some extent Jeremy Giambi, were similar leadoff hitters.
Nico - April 7, 2009
smoking white drugs is significantly worse than brown ones?
Leopold Bloom - April 6, 2009
totally
way worse
Buck Turgidson - April 6, 2009
Yes. You snort white and shoot brown.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
and why's that?
Leopold Bloom - April 6, 2009
I mean from a conversational perspective
If you were going to shoot the shit with somebody – pick the one with the brown. They won’t talk your ear off.
That’s just one reason.
Buck Turgidson - April 6, 2009
Hmmm.
Agrd.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
Smoke Green, Snort White, Shoot Brown
DCinWC - April 7, 2009
The last one for sure
I wanted to all last season.
Nico - April 7, 2009
Ah yes.
My grandmother had a macramed pillow in her drawing room with that very truism.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
DCinWC - April 7, 2009
You been to Memaw's house?!
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
Leopold, this is an A's site
your drugs should be green.
cityplANner - April 7, 2009
or yellow.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
they want to turn the lineup around...
in front of the fearsome trio of Ellis, Sweeney and cabrera!!
but seriously has anyone run his numbers vs. Cabrera? Once you make the call not to bat him 2nd (which does make sense given that we would then be LLL at the top) where else do you hit him/ maybe 7th behind Chavy but that’s two lefties. Chavy was the better of the two hitters tonight— again, maybe Cust has bad numbers vs. saunders.
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
Vs. Saunders i meant
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
one for seven lifetime before tonight
OaklandSi - April 6, 2009
good catch
small sample size of course but on such numbers do the Gerens of the world base their decisions. Not the worst move— the only realistic option was probably to flip him with Chavy— and Chavy was the better hitter tonight, wasn’t he??
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
meaningless
xbhaskarx - April 6, 2009
Splits
OC vs Saunders – 7 PA, 3 hits (one 2B), one walk
Custy vs Saunders – 7 PA, 1 hits, 4 STRICKOUTS
Obviously, these small samples are truly statistically significant and warrant sending the best offensive player of last season to the bottom of the lineup.
doctorK - April 6, 2009
Ok, but if you want to get technical
Cust got 2 walks vs. Saunders; Cabrera went 1-3 with a double. They both had an OPS of 1000 vs him.
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
Point is, sample size is too farking small to take seriously
doctorK - April 6, 2009
my point is
Your not looking at anything except your sample size point and using that as your reasoning he should have been hitting second…Kinda ridiculous
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
No, I meant he shouldn't be hitting 8th
Although, over the long haul, I think the A’s would benefit if he did hit 2nd.
doctorK - April 6, 2009
Maybe
Maybe the A’s would benefit maybe they wouldnt…itd be close but I definitely agree nothing makes sense about him hitting 8th unless you wanted him down there to maybe start something for the top of the order…Just trying to see the logic…Cuz in the lineup today vs a lefty there was no way he coulda hit any higher than maybe 6th or 7th…cuz Id venture to say that Nomar statistically hits LHP better than cust and or chavvy so putting him 5th doesnt bother me…Chavez looked good today so him hitting 6th doesnt bother me then it comes down to not having two lefties in a row id guess…most of this was pure conjecture on my part
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
Best offensive player of last season
On a horrible offensive team doesnt mean much and we added two guys who will likely dethrone him and chavez is healthy so there are potentially three guys who could have better offensive seasons then cust on the team this year, not saying they will but keep your “best offensive player of last season” in context with the additions to the team. Plus I would imagine Nomar is a better hitter vs lefties then cust ever has been.
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
Holliday will dethrone him, but Giambi and Cabrera won't.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Cabrera no
Giambi could and very well will in my opinion…He had a slightly better season last year than cust and what makes you think he wont this year?
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
His season was slightly worse if you account for park, and he's a collapse risk
at his age.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
OK then
Obviously, these small samples are truly statistically significant and warrant sending
the best offensive player of last seasonone of the team’s top four offensive players to the bottom of the lineup.doctorK - April 6, 2009
haha
thanks
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
8th
Is a little low and maybe I dont get it but I am not on board of the lets hit him second idea so it made me laugh cuz I knew people on here would be none too pleased with this decision.
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
If not 2nd then 3rd
Although I don’t see what’s wrong with 2nd
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
what's wrong...
is going LLL at the top of your order vs. a LHP.
So maybe Giambi shouldn’t be 3rd— Holliday. Then either Nomar or Chavy 4th. But it didnt matter tonight because his walkswwerent going to lead to anything the way everyone else but Chavy was hitting…
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
I wouldn't have had Sweeney first either
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
But who instead??
Did you see anything out of either Suzuki or Ellis that warrants them hitting leadoff? or Nomah?
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
Sure any of those would have been better
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
or Rajai. At least he's a RHB.
cityplANner - April 7, 2009
I mean
Him and Giambi are clones and Giambi has the Giambi name so he will hit 3rd and therefore Cust will consistently prlly hit 5th and below…I dont see the idea of him hitting 2nd or 3rd ever happening with the current roster construction
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
I'm not sure about Giambi's name, but Cust is probably better at this point.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
They are close
Look at last years stats pretty identical looking
Giambi-.247/.373/.502/32/96
Cust-.231/.375/.476/33/77
Id take giambi prlly
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
Ya last year they were similar
though Cust was a bit better since he did it in a pitchers park
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
true on the park thing
But Giambi hit 16 points higher than Cust…You know really I just think that they are clones right now or dang close to clones of each other
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
There's probably not a big difference
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
If G doesn't hit...
he won’t stay #3 very long. Holliday should be our #3 hitter.
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
I think Geren likes Giambi 3rd and Holliday 4th because of this
My guess is that he wants Holliday up with runners on base because he has a higher batting average than Jason. If it is only 15 PA’s then it is not much of a difference, maybe 3 hits and a walk?
micdog2001 - April 7, 2009
Yes
but cust 8th? COME ON!
If he insists on this Cabrerra thing, have him lead off, put cust #2 and sweeney goes to the back.
Future Ed - April 7, 2009
at the very least
put Cust sixth. eighth is just barmy.
Unless the point he was trying to prove was that 2009 is Jack Cust’s gold glove year…
alea iacta est - April 7, 2009
Totally agree, Future Ed
This lineup would make more sense than the one we saw:
Cabrera – SS
Cust – DH
Giambi – 1B
Holliday – LF
Chavez – 3B
Suzuki – C
Buck – RF
Ellis – 2B
Sweeney – CF
Nico - April 7, 2009
I think you need Nomar against a lefty
WaddellCanseco - April 7, 2009
Yeah, that was a more general lineup
You could pretty much slot Nomar in at #3 or #5 if he’s starting at 1B or 3B.
Nico - April 7, 2009
No
Again cuz once you add nomar…lets say against a lefty like last night it doesnt mean Giambi is coming out of the lineup it means buck is coming out of the lineup so then what do you do hit Nomar 7th? when he could arguably the second best hitter against righties in that lineup?…I dont get the big deal with the lineup last night it wasnt that bad outside of the love of Cust on this website which I am not saying is unfounded
yawedout21 - April 7, 2009
It had several flaws:
Nico - April 7, 2009
in regards to cust batting 8th I dont think I agree with that low but if you look at the lineup construction the only real other option was to hit him 1st or to reshuffle the whole dang thing.
Another thing isnt custs career BA below league average? I mean the dude doesnt get very many hits and I think the main thinking is that there is value to the ability to be a situational hitter and have that at the top of the lineup, whereas with cust he is either gonna walk strikeout or hit a homerun…Again the one thing I dont get is the fact that people who propose this dont say Cust/Giambi take your pick to hit leadoff or second cuz these guys are practically statistical clones at this point in their careers except Giambi can hit about 15-20 points higher in BA…I dont get the enamoring of just cust hitting 1st or 2nd if your gonna make the argument I think you also have to say we should consider Giambi there if you are a believer in the leadoff cust idea…Again 8th is a little low but in any lineup the highest I would want cust is 5th or 6th and last night they had Nomar in the lineup who hits lefties better so he deserved to be above Cust or Chavvy then the argument is do you hit Cust 6th or Chavvy 6th and then do you want to go lefty lefty in a row at 6th, 7th apparently Chavvy won the 6th spot argument and L/R balance won out instead of stacking two lefties in the lineup back to back against a lefty….Overall any change in the lineup wouldnt have done anything cuz the A’s had three hits again this is why this lineup discussion is overblown because you could put a lineup together a thousand different ways and each person could see strengths and weaknesses in each and then as we all know the difference in run production would be insignficant most likely or very minimal
yawedout21 - April 7, 2009
I'm not advocating leading off with Cust
I’m saying that vs. LHP he should be higher on the “leadoff depth chart” than Sweeney – which says more about Sweeney than it says about Cust.
Cust batting #2 makes great sense to me. He gets on base a ton; that’s the single most important quality for the guy who bats in front of Holliday, Giambi, and Chavez. Batting average is pretty irrelevant, as is # of strikeouts. If every 8 times he comes to the plate, Cust gets on base 3 of those times, he will help greatly – and that’s exactly what he does.
Conversely in spots 5-6-7, after the heavy hitters, you will be coming up with runners on base and batting average becomes more important. That’s why I prefer Cust ahead of the 3-4 hitters, not behind them.
Nico - April 7, 2009
Yep - Gold Glove in action
DCinWC - April 7, 2009
1-2
cha cha cha.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
Crazy
Even if we assume that the actual order is fairly insignificant, the fact is that this lineup would get Cabrera about 100 more AB’s than Cust over the course of the season. And there’s simply no reason to think Cabrera is a better hitter than Cust.
Is “bat control” really worth costing Cust 100 AB’s? I sure as hell don’t think so.
I’m hoping this was a vL lineup only, but I doubt it was.
rageon - April 7, 2009
this was definitely a vL lineup only. Just look at it.
ChadGod - April 7, 2009
definitely
How often will Nomar hit 5th? Not often.
cityplANner - April 7, 2009
definitely
this was a vs lefties lineup
yawedout21 - April 7, 2009
Im sure he will be in the middle of the order against Righties
It doesnt concern me at all
ChadGod - April 7, 2009
You know I cut Chavez very little slack
but yearrrrrrrrrs ago, when he hit like he’s capable of … he routinely drove balls into the left-center field gap. He has to do that to be successful. I’m encouraged!!!!
Vacafan - April 6, 2009
try these lineups out
vs. RHP:
Buck
Cust
Holliday
Chavez
Giambi
Suzuki
Sweeney
Cabrera
Ellis
Vs. LHP
Buck/Sweeney
Garciaparra
Holliday
Chavez
Cust
Suzuki
Giambi/Cabrera
Cabrera/Ellis
Ellis/Davis/Sweeney
The last three spots are dependent on whether Giambi or Sweeney are sitting— leadoff depends on whether Buck or Sweeney are sitting.
jasonthea - April 6, 2009
I'm sure they will soon enough
It’s a long season
demarius12 - April 6, 2009
Is Buck in CF in your first lineup vs lefties?
The vs RHP is good.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Reply button FAIL
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
Little venting
Terrible, terrible lineup. I was willing to put up with Sweeney at leadoff but Cabrera at 2nd and Cust 8th? I know it doesn’t make TOO much difference and I still think my theory of the A’s trying to keep players happy is valid but it is really irking to see that. Also would not be surprised if Cabrera missed a sign. There was a hit and run with Cabrera at the plate Saturday. The A’s are officially in last place.
If Chavvy hit both of his shots a little bit farther, the A’s might still be playing. That would be the only good thing I could say. Bailey and Wuertz looked good.
vignette17 - April 6, 2009
I don't matter how the lineup is written... It's tough to win with 3 hits no matter what
demarius12 - April 6, 2009
I'd like to see Rajai in CF vs lefties.
Sweeney isn’t good against them, and his defense isn’t good enough to keep him out there. Also he might stay healthier if he takes more frequent rest.
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
I kinda
like this idea but not everytime against lefties
yawedout21 - April 6, 2009
Ya Rajai is best served in small portions
WaddellCanseco - April 6, 2009
+1
ChadGod - April 7, 2009
Agree..
The decision to bat Cabrera 2nd is ludicrous. For a team that will seriously need every run that it can muster, there is no logical explanation to give extra at-bats to the worst hitter in the lineup.
joeiz - April 6, 2009
worst hitter in the lineup?
worse than Ellis? I don’t think so.
OaklandSi - April 7, 2009
Umm no...
Career wOBA:
Ellis- .327
Cabrera- .318
joeiz - April 7, 2009
Late impressions
Braden was not missing bats. I swear I can recall his fastball working at a MPH speed higher than 81 in the past, but perhaps I’m mistaken. I’m not a velocity-o-phile, but I would have liked to have seen one or two fastballs rating above those seen in a BP session.
That said, even though he didn’t look his best, Braden handed about as good of a game over to the bullpen as one can expect. What I was really disappointed with was the veterans on offense. Garciaparra was hacking away two pitches deep into the count, usually popping up. Sometimes popping up as deeply as to the edge of the infield grass. Granted, it’s one game, and I’m not saying this defines his season. It was just frustrating.
Holliday took a couple of early hacks, too, and I think he may have learned today just how expansive the Coliseum’s foul territory is. I can’t be too mad at him; he got on base. It’s just that those middle innings ABs seemed rather impatient.
Then again, this could all be a function of Saunders being lucky. Maybe his soft tosses over the plate looked— and were— very hittable. And maybe just via the sweet hand of fortune, he managed to get through without any damage. I’unno.
What I do know is that Eric Chavez looked like the badass two-way mack of old (side note: the two ladies with whom I watched the game— and who are not familiar with the A’s— spent a healthy amount of time debating whether Chavez or Sweeney was more handsome. Perhaps to various AN ladies’ chagrin, Chavvy won out). Wuertz and Bailey also looked great. So there were some things tonight to make an A’s fan happy.
Let’s get the next three.
Joey C. - April 6, 2009
Holliday? Coliseum's foul territory?
Did Lew pull a switcharoo on me and made the game in Oakland so I missed the Home Opener? No wonder we fail in attendance…
Kaiser99 - April 6, 2009
It looked to me as if Braden's fastball was around 88-89MPH
Who was reporting 81? They were simply wrong.
Nico - April 7, 2009
his fastball is usually around 88-89
OaklandSi - April 7, 2009
Right, and it didn't look different from usual to me
Nico - April 7, 2009
ESPN's radar gun
Obviously, it may be off. But I guess it’s the shoddy workman who blames his tools, or some such…
Joey C. - April 7, 2009
Yeah, there's no way Braden was throwing 81MPH
Not sure what velocity his cutter is but his regular fastball sits around 90MPH and his changeup around 76MPH; I imagine the cutter is around 85MPH?
Nico - April 7, 2009
Esteban Braden?
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
He drives faster than he throws?
WaddellCanseco - April 7, 2009
Oh much more so.
And he’s more dangerous with an auto.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
And Pepe? Look out, road rage!
Nico - April 7, 2009
Yeah
Braden was consistently between 88-90MPH with the fastball.
The game was in Anaheim. I’m not worried about the pop-outs, except when Ellis is doing them 2 ABs per night mid-season.
ChadGod - April 7, 2009
Ah-ha, excellent point
That was the microbrew talking.
Joey C. - April 7, 2009
Chavez has the added advantage that he's frakin loaded. Though I doubt
the ladies considered that. ;-)
OldhamA - April 7, 2009
I haven't been to the lockerroom lately
Thanks for reporting.
Nico - April 7, 2009
Unless I'm mistaken, he's also frakin' married
which presumably is as relevant as his net worth.
iglew - April 7, 2009
I jus don't understand
why Cust was batting 8th…
I do like where Chavy is in the lineup.
Eric Chavez hit 2 that could have been homers..
Socalfan21 - April 6, 2009
I’ll take a 2-2 split heading home to face the Mariners.
Rated-R Superstar - April 6, 2009
The bullpen was good...
the baserunning poor…and still no runs. What’s new?
IM4Oakgal - April 6, 2009
I thought they looked unprepared
It didn’t appear that they had any sort of gameplan for hitting. I can’t believe how few hard hit balls there were. Oh well. It’s just the first game, and Oakland usually forgoes playing in those anyways. We’ll get them tomorrow.
sprtsnwyn - April 6, 2009
Quick thoughts
Okay, it’s one game.
That said, this looked like the same boring team as last year, just with some new but familiar faces.
Let’s see.
— A’s starter pitches okay, but isn’t terribly impressive.
— Cabrera already is annoying me. For a veteran, he’s gotta play smarter.
— Giambi will go long stretches without getting hits, although he’ll still get on base.
— New guys in the bullpen looked fine, especially Bailey.
— Endless lineup chatter is tedious. The A’s got three hits.
— As many have noted, Chavez played well, from what I saw and heard.
What else is there to say?
bear88 - April 6, 2009
To conclude.
1 game.
Colorado Fan - April 7, 2009
Giambi looked good to me
We have to keep in mind this was versus a lefty, where our team will struggle more. Giambi will be streaky, but I could already tell his power swing/bat speed/hand-eye is still where it was last year.
Great to see Giambi/Cust/Chavez not overmatched by a slightly above average lefty at least.
ChadGod - April 7, 2009
The 3-2 slider Giambi chased was nasty
It looked like a strike and nearly bounced.
Nico - April 7, 2009
But I thought a mediocre pitcher
held us to three hits.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
A damn good mediocre pitcher
DCinWC - April 7, 2009
Indeed
He might be the best mediocre pitcher in all of baseball.
WaddellCanseco - April 7, 2009
I don't think he's mediocre
I don’t think he’s as good as he pitched last season, but I think he’s a solid #3 starter. I’d love to have him in Oakland’s rotation.
Nico - April 7, 2009
beane makes a trade
Chad Reineke for hbp machine jd pruitt
AAA depth like edg gomzalez, jerome williams
Asfan4ever723 - April 7, 2009
What?
Helloooo 1st - April 7, 2009
Not too bad
That one 70-pitch walk in the bottom of the third seemed to frazzle Braden a bit. Other than that he looked pretty solid (and a solo homer is a solo homer).
Infield looked rusty.
Garciaparra (can that be shortened at all?) needs to relax. Someone send him a Frankie Goes To Hollywood mixtape.
Chavez showed off some impressive warning-track power.
Cust showed off some impressive OPB power.
Ellis needs to throw some EXP in the double-steal category.
Giambi is Todd McLellan in disguise.
senor_k - April 7, 2009
Also
The A’s wore their home helmets (yellow brim, white letters) instead of their road helmets (all green, yellow letters). Someone get Vucinich on the horn to explain this! I demand answers!
senor_k - April 7, 2009
I thought the helmets looked strange?
Garciaparra shortened is Nomar :-) just please don’t spell it with the Boston accent.
micdog2001 - April 7, 2009
god god yes
on the Garciaparra thing. Since I don’t get CSNCA I will take your word on the helmets
Future Ed - April 7, 2009
'Mar Gar'par'
iglew - April 7, 2009
A couple of thoughts
The starting pitching will likely not be this good every night. 6 IP, 3 runs is going to be something we’ll be looking for and be very happy with. Course that could be because the Angels offense just isn’t very good or imposing.
The offense will not be this bad. I’m convinced that this offense will be very good especially if Chavez is stroking like he was tonight and can stay healthy. I may be proven wrong still though. Green and gold seems to be like kryptonite to Superman hitters.
The pen was about the only thing that performed like I thought it would.
I joked about this in the game threads, but I’ll just call this game 162 from 2008 and we’ll start fresh with the offense again tonight.
Tyler Bleszinski - April 7, 2009
Yay! That means we're still 0-0!
Unfortunately, we tend to make too much of Opening Day being the harbinger of the season to come.
Fortunately, by next week we’ll have forgotten exactly how Opening Day went down anyway.
Still, I’d like at least eight runs tonight, please…
FormerHuntsvilleStar - April 7, 2009
Good job I didn't stay up for this one then.
OldhamA - April 7, 2009
Seeing the bullpen was worthy.
Bailey in particular looked really good.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
If we can start the season 10-10...
then we wil lbe fine. For some reason I always feel the first 20 games are very important . I think this team should be able to do this.
I know it’s only one game, but from what I saw from the Angels last night, the A’s have a great shot of competing in this division.
Congrats to Braden on a solid start on opening day. He represented the 209 very well.
LVElephant - April 7, 2009
"Whimper" sure is the appropriate word.
UncleLeo - April 7, 2009
Perhaps we use that word differently.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
Should I have said "Bleat"?
Nico - April 7, 2009
No, you can't.
It’s not funny and not appropriate.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
Right, thanks. Then I won't.
Nico - April 7, 2009
(it's only been a week)
You think you’d remember that.
Baaaaa.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
Then you probably think I know where my pants are from last night
Nico - April 7, 2009
But you know where the A's are...
DCinWC - April 7, 2009
Ruh roh!
UncleLeo - April 7, 2009
Ruh roh!... part 2
Dammit, I hate when I hit “post” too soon.
Anyway, my “whimper” comment had everything to do with the A’s offense and nothing to do with anything else. I just now realized that you had added “(mine)” afterward, so I hope my comment wasn’t misconstrued. If so, sorry about that.
UncleLeo - April 7, 2009
Sadly, I'm not even sharp enough to figure out
how it could be misconstrued in a way that would offend me. But just to be cooperative, I’m choosing to be highly offended anyway.
Nico - April 7, 2009
I would overreact immediately
DCinWC - April 7, 2009
Good idea.
GAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
It helped.
Nico - April 7, 2009
LOUD NOISES!
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
One Game but seriously....
This is not the late 90’s or early 2000’s. Nomar can hit lefties but couldn’t even get around on a 83 mph fastball. He’ll get his hits this year and will be have some moments but should not be starting. Cust should never play in the field. Period. Or bat 8th. You signed Giambi to play 1B. Put Buck in RF and leave him there. Seeing Geren say he wants to get as many AB’s for Nomar is scary when it puts forth the line-up he rolled out there tonight.
bababooey - April 7, 2009
I kinda like Nomar in against lefties, but Giambi's a good enough hitter against
lefties himself not to warrant being benched. You’re right about Cust, with him in RF the outfield defence is atrocious – he should never play there (and apparently Holliday can only play left so that’s not an option).
OldhamA - April 7, 2009
Giambi is good enough
to hit lefties. That’s why I say he should play 1B and Nomar will have his moments but this is not Nomar hitting line drives off of the green monster and being a consistent stud. That time is over. Cust DH, Giambi and 1B and Buck in RF. That’s the line-up against RHP or LHP. Nomar is now what they signed him for, pinch hitting and occasional spell at 3B/1B. Not an Opening Day starter.
bababooey - April 7, 2009
I like that Nomar started
I just would have started Buck, sat either Cust or Giambi and put the other at DH. Much better defense overall and you have a stud pinch hitter ready for the late innings against a right-handed bullpen.
Nico - April 7, 2009
I think for the future that is probably the most likely scenario
But for opening day, Giambi and Cust deserve the nod, with Buck being odd man out for just one game. Now why you would bat Cust 8th — no answer for that one.
AsFanInLA - April 7, 2009
Either way
I just don’t want Geren to fall in love with that line-up against lefties as I’m sure it will change through the season and some performance can start showing trends. Call me old school but with the inexperience of the staff I’d go ahead and put our best defensive alignment out there. Nomar at first is not that. Buck will hit this year and in a month or so this will all be moot.
bababooey - April 7, 2009
Totally agree - whatever Buck gives up at the plate vs LHP
compared to Cust/Giambi (which may be absolutely nothing) he more than makes up for with superior defense, especially compared to Cust. And for good measure he has plus speed, which Cust and Giambi don’t have.
Nico - April 7, 2009
Here's a PECOTA-derived lineup vs lefties (with Buck in for Giambi):
C Suzuki (.354 OBP)
SS Cabrera (.346 OBP)
DH Cust (.764 OPS)
LF Holliday (.889 OPS)
1B Garciaparra (.782 OPS)
2B Ellis (.760 OPS)
CF Davis (.708 OPS)
3B Crosby (.701 OPS)
RF Buck (.657 OPS)
Bench:
Giambi (.730 OPS)
Sweeney (.651 OPS)
Chavez (.645 OPS)
Powell (.579 OPS)
I don’t really mind all the righties in a row since they can pinch hit for Nomar and Davis. I don’t mind playing Crosby vs lefties since Chavez has to rest anyway.
WaddellCanseco - April 7, 2009
FWIW, PECOTA sees Buck as worse than either Cust or Giambi vs lefties.
Cust — .210/.351/.413 = .764 OPS
Giambi — .212/.321/.409 = .730 OPS
Buck — .222/.298/.359 = .657 OPS
Buck has the defense advantage of course so it’s probably not that big a deal one way or the other. Also I’d think Buck has the best chance at an upside surprise being a lot younger, but I’ve nothing to back that up.
WaddellCanseco - April 7, 2009
I think that's too bearish on Buck vs. LHP
I definitely agree that Cust and Giambi will maintain the better slugging pct, but I think Buck is perfectly capable of hitting .250/.330 against LHP, with decent power.
Nico - April 7, 2009
Ya I think the projection systems may be too bearish on Buck due to his missed games
at least in the short term. In the long term his upside probably is limited due to health.
WaddellCanseco - April 7, 2009
what's bear88 think of all this slanderous use of his name?
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
I expect to be bear8ed
Nico - April 7, 2009
Boy I sure wish I could get a contract extension
for consistently failing to be successful at my job. Too bad my boss is not my best friend. Must be nice.
EastVillageA - April 7, 2009
Very well said...
LVElephant - April 7, 2009
I think what you mean is:
FIRE GAREN NOW!!!!111
I thought he’d last two games, but fans demand results!
Nico - April 7, 2009
I wish I could blame Crosby...
But we can’t. He looked so sad sitting in the dugout all night.
LVElephant - April 7, 2009
It was a win/win for him...
…he got paid AND didn’t take the blame.
UncleLeo - April 7, 2009
Crosby's 5 mil
could have been spent buying runs.
there, we can blame crosby
Future Ed - April 7, 2009
After we've fired Garen can we get round to firing Geren?
OldhamA - April 7, 2009
I may be off on this...
but I believe you mean firing off on Garen. Line up!
Ovale Fan - April 7, 2009
No, only Garen!!!!111
Geren is fine.
Nico - April 7, 2009
I've heard he has huge hands.
Im’ not sure we can fire him without him crushing our skull like a melon!
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
A melon could never crush my skull
But I’m known to be especially hard-headed.
Nico - April 7, 2009
Not WITH a melon...
It was a simile, not a how-to video…
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
"Let a simile be your umbrella"
{gets as wet as a __}
Nico - April 7, 2009
Well we're actually 162 games into Geren's reign now
and he has managed to guide the team to a grand total of 75 wins (disregard the erroneous assertion in his oaklandathletics.com bio that the team won 76 games last year). Not good to say the least. I’m not advocating that the man be fired (clearly there were some factors outside of his control that contributed significantly to last season’s unacceptable results) , but I definitely don’t see how his performance warranted an extension given his total and complete lack of previous major league experience. Last night’s failed double steal (or whatever the hell that was suppsed to be), three paltry hits and decision to bat Cust eighth don’t exactly bolster the man’s resume. I’d love to see him prove this year that he is capable of successfully guiding a major league franchise, but until then he should earn what he gets. Say what you will about either of the A’s’ two previous managers, but one thing you can’t dispute is the fact that they did indeed manage to win a lot of baseball games.
EastVillageA - April 7, 2009
It's a little quick
to be knocking Geren. Beane left him a pitiful team to work with last year.
I liked the double steal call. If anyone bothered to check the replay, Ellis was actually safe. Yes, the throw beat him but he got in before the tag. We got a bad break on that one. 2nd and 3rd, no outs, we’re gonna score some runs there.
Although I’m still not sold on the Cust batting second thing I would definately like to see him batting sixth. Weird that he was batting eighth?
jdub69 - April 7, 2009
Therw was a little reference to him batting 8th
in the Chronicle
Cust is a lifetime .228 hitter against left-handers, one reason he slipped from sixth to eighth in the order Monday.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/06/SPPC16TVGG.DTL
Also lets hope he is DH’ing tonight and Buck is in RF. He is going to cost us precious runs fielding out there.
Trainman - April 7, 2009
Another point in defense of the double steal:
It was actually the closest the A’s got to third base all night.
Nico - April 7, 2009
Yes
That is very sad.
Would be really nice if they could give Cahill a run or ten to work with because he is going to be nervous which is very understandable.
Trainman - April 7, 2009
I think it's a favorable matchup for Cahill,
in that the Angels are a team likely to expand the strike zone for him and any team that does that will hit a bevy of routine ground balls.
I could see (knock on wood) Cahill being our Lackey/Santana over the next 6 years – a guy who pwnes the Angels, maybe more than Anderson does even if Anderson is the better pitcher overall.
Nico - April 7, 2009
I am looking forward to
the slegnA digging for worms all night.
The only thing I worry about is because he is going to be nervous, his sinker may be up in the zone to start with in the 1st inning. Like I said, the best thing for Trevor is having a run or two to work with.
Trainman - April 7, 2009
My bigger fear is that he will be wild enough
that even the Angels (who I’m sure are being told to be extra patient) will draw 4-5 walks.
Nico - April 7, 2009
I have no fear. I think Trevor's an ace in the making.
He’ll be like Hudson 1999. He probably could have been OK in the majors at the start of that season.
WaddellCanseco - April 7, 2009
Eeyore! You go!
Nico - April 7, 2009
Plus they've no lefty power to speak of
Abreu? Morales?
WaddellCanseco - April 7, 2009
I was thinking about going
as the A’s are 9-0 in my last 9 (of course) but my buddy went on a vacation with his family so I decided I would go next time the A’s came here.
I may of course change my mind and go when Anderson pitches.
Trainman - April 7, 2009
Go Trainman!
We’re all counting on you.
WaddellCanseco - April 7, 2009
Abreu hit 20HRs last season in a HR friendly park for lefties
I expect him to have a solid offensive season but not to hit with much power – maybe 16 HRs. Morales is an unknown, but it looks to me as if the Angels have, in Abreu, Morales, Napoli, Rivera, and Hunter, several guys who are likely to hit 15-20 HRs (Napoli maybe 25 IF he’s healthy enough to play enough games), plus Vlad who might hit 25, and no one who is a thread to hit 30.
Basically, the two things I expect the Angels to do fairly little of is walk and HR – which isn’t good for OPS!
Nico - April 7, 2009
Cust
his career average vs righties prlly isnt much higher than this
yawedout21 - April 7, 2009
Cust's career numbers vs. RHP:
.243/.387/.493 (.880 OPS).
Nico - April 7, 2009
average is a little bit better
point taken but my main point behind saying that is custs value as a hitter is not his batting average…right?
yawedout21 - April 7, 2009
Correct - his value is his OBP and his HRs,
which figure to be at 100+ BBs and 30+ HRs each season.
Nico - April 7, 2009
Hey ho hey ho
it’s off to work I go. I listened on 860 and then switched 1380. Both OK but not great. Like the A’s last nught.
LibrariAN - April 7, 2009
I tried 1440-AM, as suggested in one of the KTRB threads,
but only picked up a station at 1450-AM that broadcasts in Chinese. It was still easier to understand than a Ray Fosse interview or a Vince Cotroneo play-by-play call.
Nico - April 7, 2009
I've listened to 1450 quite a bit. When I was there - maybe 10 year ago -- it was sometimes in
Vietnamese and other times in Chinese. I think it even had a Japanese show at one point.
WaddellCanseco - April 7, 2009
Reineke another under the radar reliever for depth
he was traded for randy wolf last summer, BA liked the deal at the time
with Reineke, Roquet, Cameron, Schroder, Jer Williams, Edg Gonzalez, etc…filler depth that they may need with injuries later
Reineke, who stands 6-foot-6 and weights 210 pounds, uses his height to his advantage to deliver his 90-94 mph on a steep angle to opposing batters. The 26-year-old righthander also throws a plus slider, but his inconsistent changeup, mechanics and command all suggest he may be best suited to a bullpen role. Reineke has been compared with former Astros’ reliever Chad Qualls, who has a similar repertoire and who made the transition to the bullpen at a similar point in his career.
It’s hard not to like this trade for the Padres, who get a potential late-inning reliever in Reineke without sacrificing a core piece. If so inclined, San Diego could sign Wolf again as a free agent this winter, while Reineke is theirs for the next six seasons because he has no big league service time.
http://www.baseballamerica.com…008/266559.html
Asfan4ever723 - April 7, 2009
So we could have traded Pruitt for Wolf!
WaddellCanseco - April 7, 2009
Not on the specific subject of the A's
but you can’t help but be a little amused by the Yanks losing 10-5 and Teixeira going 0-4…. is that the sound of ESPN weeping I hear?
alea iacta est - April 7, 2009
And Sabathia going 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 0 K
Nico - April 7, 2009
my heart bleeds for them
alea iacta est - April 7, 2009
Stupid Pedroia...
…Just went deep
DCinWC - April 7, 2009
Did you drink?
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
Don't cry for me, Alea Iacta.
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
Yankees
Looked at the ticket prices? Sheesh.
DCinWC - April 7, 2009
speaking of ESPN
They have a Giambi story on the MLB homepage.
Giambi hope to turn back the clock with the A’s
micdog2001 - April 7, 2009
the damon quote is awesome
that 2001 team was SCARY good.
ChadGod - April 7, 2009
Yeah?
How’s come we lost?
Leopold Bloom - April 7, 2009
At least Crosby would have been swinging
on the double steal call. Cabrera just stood there. I have never been a huge Cabrera fan, or a Crosby fanatic either, but I don’t see where it was a “good” move.
RJ2549 - April 7, 2009
My Dilemma
I have an opportunity to go to a game either tonight or Thursday.
The A’s are 9-0 when I go since the last time they lost when I went.
The problem is I get to go with the most nauseating Angels fan I have ever met who gets off on rubbing it in when they win as he did last night when he was over at my house.
Couple that with the fact he is a Boston Celtic fan and you can see the last year has been rather annoying where he is concerned.
I think I will go Thursday when Anderson is pitching so I can Guarantee us at east 1 win.
What ya think?
Trainman - April 7, 2009
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