The A's did everything to give this one away.
But a win is a win is a win, and Oakland snapped a four-game losing skid with a 5-4 victory at Dodger Stadium.
Hey, a 5-4 score that works for us!
Adam Kennedy got the A's off to a quick start with a leadoff double and later scored on a RBI-groundout by Matt Holliday.
Oakland starter (and winner) Trevor Cahill labored through a 29-pitch first inning in which he walked three consecutive batters- he escaped without allowing a run- then helped his own cause with some nifty glove work to get out of the second frame unscathed.
Matt Kemp led off the inning with a single, and pilfered his way over to third base. With one out, LA hurler Hiroki Kuroda hit a shot back to Cahill, who knocked the ball down and threw out Kemp at the plate. The right-hander then got Juan Pierre to fly out to kill the threat.
Having seen his teammate walk the tightrope, Rajai Davis homered to lead off the third. There's just something about June 17 that brings out the slugger in Davis. One year to the day after hitting his first homerun in an Oakland uniform, he did it again. The silliness didn't end there, as Cahill singled in his first big-league at-bat. One out later he was back at home plate, having scored on a booming homerun by Jack Cust to make it 4-0.
From there Cahill got into a groove, retiring eleven straight batters until Pierre doubled with two out in the fifth. The inning was prolonged by a Kennedy error that allowed Pierre to take third, and he came around to score on a single by Orlando Hudson.
That miscue was a portent of things to come.
The A's got that run back in the sixth, as Cust beat the shift with his third bunt single of the season. Matt Holliday forced Cust, later stole second (his of first of two SB's on the night), and touched home on a base hit by our own Orlando (Cabrera).
An error by OOO (our own Orlando) led to another Dodger run in the bottom half (which ended Cahill's night), and then things turned really ugly after the stretch.
Rafael Furcal walked to lead off the seventh. Hudson then lofted a fly ball towards Cust, who dropped it. James Loney popped up to short, and Cabrera dropped it! Infield fly in effect, keeping runners at first and second with one out. Exit Breslow, enter Ziegler, who promptly gave up a single to Casey Blake to load the bases, and a knock to Andre Ethier to plate Furcal and Hudson. With Dodger fans gearing up for another comeback, Ziegler induced Kemp to hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
In the eighth Ziegler escaped again, starting an inning-ending 1-6-3 DP.
On came Andrew Bailey, and of course it wasn't going to be easy. Furcal reached on an infield single that Kennedy had trouble with, but Bailey retired the next three batters to nail down a typically wacky 67M thread the victory.
Well, there's your win, Pam.
(Barely)
0 recs | 140 comments
Jack Cust: HR, bunt single, dropped fly ball.
New “three true outcomes”?
Nico - June 17, 2009
Seriously.
This one wore me out, man.
67MARQUEZ - June 17, 2009
TWSS
Okay, I was gone last night so I had to…
mikev - June 18, 2009
But of course, mike!
67MARQUEZ - June 18, 2009
I am still trying to catch my breath
exciting does not do it justice
adragon - June 17, 2009
If your breath is a pop-up, don't bother.
Nico - June 17, 2009
QOTM
walkoff baltimore chop - June 17, 2009
Smell my breath!
mrod - June 17, 2009
photo caption suggestion:
“O-Cab’s roundhouse kick decapitates Ethier. Dodgers forfeit. A’s win!”
Kallus - June 17, 2009
either that or O-Cab says look at my junk
adragon - June 17, 2009
Or "Like Halley's comet, seen just above Cabrera, an A's win comes around every 75 years."
Nico - June 17, 2009
Or, "If Andre Ethier got any lower, he'd be Orlando Cabrera's OPS."
Nico - June 17, 2009
you win
adragon - June 17, 2009
I never want to see another win like this one again.....ever!
mrod - June 17, 2009
OK, but
it means games like the Seattle game, where we lost the lead, then got a 3-run lead, then lost the game anyway.
One won lost won - June 17, 2009
That one was funny, too.
That and this are the two most entertaining series so far this year.
iglew - June 17, 2009
Cahill showed alot of poise tonight even though his defense
tried to screw him out of the win. Bailey was outstanding and props to Ziggy for hanging in there as well.
mrod - June 17, 2009
Driving down for tomorrow's game
I hope to see Mazzaro World in person.
Hit4TheCycle - June 17, 2009
Have fun!
Dodger Stadium is def worth the trip.
One won lost won - June 17, 2009
If you're still able to, email me at
pam5981 at gmail dot com and come find us!
pam5981 - June 18, 2009
The highlight of this game for me was in the first inning
when Cahill had a hard time settling down and loaded the bases. Giambi came over to try and calm him down and cheer him on, and I think it worked great. Cahill got the out he needed and got out of that inning. On the way back to the dug out they showed Giambi come over and congratulate him for getting out of the inning. That for me was awesome and its exactly the kind of veteran leadership that this team needs
Amnesiac - June 17, 2009
Yeah. It'd be nice to see the veterans show some leadership chewing out the team for the comically inept, embarrassing, hey-I-don't-care defense.
Except … the veterans provided the comically inept, embarrassing, hey-I-don’t-care defense.
el campysino - June 17, 2009
inept and embarrassing, yes
but I have a huge issue with assuming that these guys just dont care
Amnesiac - June 17, 2009
I have to say I was a bit bothered right after Cabrera dropped the pop-up,
that Geren came to the mound and O-Cab was standing there laughing. If I were leading the major leagues in SS errors and had just dropped a routine pop-up, I wouldn’t find it especially amusing.
Nico - June 17, 2009
Exactly!
el campysino - June 17, 2009
and how come he gets a pass and crosby gets yanked midgame for
not making a play that wasn’t even totally his?
favoritism at it’s worst
mrod - June 17, 2009
"Standing there laughing"
well thats a bit of an exaggeration. I was upset, about it too but they guy chuckled, nothing more. You’re making it sound like he was laughing it up and cracking jokes about it. It seemed like more of a nervous chuckle
Amnesiac - June 17, 2009
Maybe he’s laughing because he couldn’t possibly have thrown it harder and Giambi can’t make the pick to save his life. I’d have to laugh too at that point or I’d cry.
sox1844 - June 17, 2009
I think Geren threatened to pull Cabrera and he replied:
“And who are you going to replace me with, Crosby? Mwahahaha.”
OldhamA - June 18, 2009
QOTM
Awesome
baseballgirl - June 18, 2009
Did you see O-Cab chuckling it up after his drop?
el campysino - June 17, 2009
it was more like nervous laughter but still, not a good thing to do..
mrod - June 17, 2009
Yup. It's Cansecoesque. Canseco the defensive player.
el campysino - June 17, 2009
Oh please.
The infield fly had been called. It’s impossible to know if that affected O-Cab’s concentration, and it really doesn’t matter if it did.
smokelanda - June 18, 2009
And Giambi's been waving at throws in a way that makes one think
of the (aged) Queen of England wafting an unpleasant odor away from her nose. Yeah, the throwing infielder gets the error for bouncing the ball .. but I’m sorry, he’s looked freaking lazy.
el campysino - June 17, 2009
You're right,
Giambi should have just let the kid sit there and marinate in his own mess. Forget offering words of encouragement, if he was going to not care, dammit, he should have gone all the way.
Amnesiac - June 17, 2009
No, you're right.
He should perform symbolic actions and pose as a Respected Veteran Figure (not hard) rather than, you know, put in the physical effort expected of a major league first baseman.
el campysino - June 17, 2009
because thats exactly what my original post was all about.
Amnesiac - June 17, 2009
Your name is well chosen.
el campysino - June 17, 2009
Burn!
Oh wait, nevermind.
Amnesiac - June 17, 2009
el campysino - June 17, 2009
Or how about when Giambi made the play at first to end the 6th inning, diving face first to tag the bag. The cameras flashed to Cahill who looked equally amused at Giambi’s less than graceful dive, and amazed that Springer bailed him out.
Thefirstletterofthealphabet - June 17, 2009
Can chacon throw down geren?
Shawn Chacon Signs With Athletics
By Tim Dierkes [June 18 at 12:24am CST]
MLBTR has learned tonight that pitcher Shawn Chacon signed a minor league deal with the A’s. Pitching for the independent league Newark Bears, the 31 year-old Chacon posted a 4.29 ERA with 29 strikeouts and 16 walks in 42 innings this year. The Astros released him about a year ago after he threw the team’s GM, Ed Wade, to the ground in a clubhouse altercation.
Asfan4ever723 - June 17, 2009
Nah, they just need a bouncer/pitcher in Stockton
cheaper to get two-for-one…
One won lost won - June 17, 2009
I guess Jerome Williams wasn't cutting it
at being sucky enough.
Helloooo 1st - June 17, 2009
Really? I thought Jerome was doing OUTSTANDING at being sucky.
Well, he’ll just have to try harder.
Nico - June 17, 2009
He misses having E-Gon
to share his suckiness with
Helloooo 1st - June 17, 2009
Wow.
I think even I have a 4.29 ERA in Independent League ball.
Nico - June 17, 2009
maybe they could hire this guy?
mrod - June 17, 2009
Who? The white guy or the proctologist?
Nico - June 17, 2009
If I'm not mistaken....I think the proctologist is Karl Malone...
mrod - June 17, 2009
and the other guys is Hulk Hogan
mrod - June 17, 2009
I'm pretty sure the white guy is Krazy George
Nico - June 17, 2009
haha!
mrod - June 17, 2009
I hope Sweeney can come back and play in the outfield soon
mrod - June 17, 2009
Agrd. With ten guys on the field, perhaps some of those pop-ups get caught.
el campysino - June 17, 2009
Ryan Sweeney is likely to be activated for tomorrow’s game.
Rated-R Superstar - June 17, 2009
Actually, one way to go is to start Rajai in CF, Sweeney in RF,
and give Cust a day off. Go for the best defensive OF and sit a lefty against Wolf.
Nico - June 17, 2009
No more horror shows like tonight...
mrod - June 17, 2009
Now pinch hitting batting left number 32 Jack Cust
adragon - June 17, 2009
you're not really sitting a lefty if you sub sweeney for cust
stm72 - June 18, 2009
Nah - just more chance for comical collisions
I say we go with eight.
Nico - June 17, 2009
You're right, as always.
el campysino - June 17, 2009
He's eligible tomorrow, but...
He doesn’t hit LHP too well and lefties are 5/60 this year against Randy Wolf. May be wise to ride the Rajai love train for one more day and then let Sweeney face TBA on Friday.
Nico - June 17, 2009
or at least have him available for off the bench duty...
or do they start Denorfia tomorrow?
mrod - June 17, 2009
Wouldn't Denorfia be the one going to AAA?
Nico - June 17, 2009
that's what I expect
of course, what I expect isn’t always what happens
OaklandSi - June 18, 2009
They should send Barton down though
He’s not going to get a start in an NL park b/c of teh Giambino.
But then, the A’s don’t care about getting their young prospect hitters playing time.
Blicks - June 18, 2009
He kills that guy!
adragon - June 17, 2009
right..... I meant if they didn't bring Sweeney back tomorrow
and started Denorfia and sat Cust etc…
mrod - June 17, 2009
Ah. Are they allowed to play Denorfia?
It’s unclear.
Nico - June 17, 2009
or did they trade him for a piece of rotting wood to be named later?
mrod - June 17, 2009
New A's hitter
oaklandSMASH - June 17, 2009
brilliant!
mrod - June 17, 2009
I love this response from Geren after Slusser asked him about O-Cab looking tired...typical
mrod - June 17, 2009
Yeah just a "more errors than any major league SS, oops was I supposed
to catch that?" bit off.
Nico - June 17, 2009
Unless O-Cab is insisting on playing every day, I don't understand why they don't sit him
Crosby has been playing more or less consistently anyway. Put him back at SS for a game or 2 and let the starter get his groove back.
Joey C. - June 18, 2009
in late April Cabrera actually told Geren
that he was tired and could use a day off, but Geren delayed giving him the day off (he eventuallly did). So it’s possible that Cabrera has indicated that he could use a day off, but Geren simply hasn’t given it to him yet.
OaklandSi - June 18, 2009
ah the days of the 85' Meta and hanging with Doc gooden and Keith Hernandez in the dugout....
chopping up some freshies…..sniff!
mrod - June 17, 2009
Mets I mean
mrod - June 17, 2009
Maybe that's why OCab was available
Can’t field, can’t hit. A true Athletic. Ouch. That was a little harsh. Who cares anyway, we won! Celebrate good times come on! WOO HOO!
A'sfansince1970 - June 17, 2009
if you look at his record in the majors
he can field and he can hit.
OaklandSi - June 18, 2009
OK, lets be honest…. OC is tired, he can’t buy a day off. Besides that, I feel like Giambi and Barton and Crosby and Joe Shmoe… whoever is at first NEEDS to make some picks. WTF, tonight OC was deep in the hole and it was a textbook one bouncer and Giambi waved at it like crazy. How many errors does he have to take like that this year? But he has to take all the heat for it? Not fair.
sox1844 - June 17, 2009
Crosby is still an adequate SS defensively and he did hit another bomb last night
give OC a friggin day off already!
mrod - June 17, 2009
An ANer lobbying for more Crosby playing time?????
Joey C. - June 18, 2009
I know.....kind of ironic isn't it?
mrod - June 18, 2009
Right now, I'd rather see Crosby every day than OCab.
He is the superior hitter right now, and they both aren’t playing well in the field.
Blicks - June 18, 2009
SOT....
A blurb from Matt’s World…..enjoy.
http://mattholliday.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/06/on-the-road-again.html
mrod - June 17, 2009
A's win. Giants and Lincecum lose.
It was sloppy, but it was a good day.
Let’s win this series!
oaklandSMASH - June 17, 2009
I know...those useless Giants!
you think they could win at least one of those games….
mrod - June 17, 2009
After hearing the Sports Talk Giants fans with
a.) a healthy disrespect of us and our team
and
b.) delusions of grandeur (“our pitching can take us to the world series, man!”)
I didn’t mind slegnA cutting them down to size. I want the Gnats to get softened up before they face us again!
oaklandSMASH - June 17, 2009
true dat.
I did get alot of that from my Giants friends after they swept us last weekend. Now they’re probably saying, “Um, maybe we’re really not that good after all…”
mrod - June 18, 2009
"But we're still way better than you," they'll say ...
and, sadly, there’s no arguing with that.
el campysino - June 18, 2009
way better? nah!
mrod - June 18, 2009
If this is going to devolve into --
“Way!”
“No way!”
“Yeah, way!”
— it’s really time to call it a night.
el campysino - June 18, 2009
"waaay!" … ºq
mrod - June 18, 2009
You saying I'm Greek?
el campysino - June 18, 2009
Jimmy, is that you?
mrod - June 18, 2009
Don't bet on it.
el campysino - June 18, 2009
Yeah, those dang Giants!
The A’s are SO close to overtaking the division, damn those G-Nats!
FurVault - June 18, 2009
I’m saying!! Crosby can play SS, give him a game or two. OC is tired, he’s had ONE day off so far. Even the games where we’re winning or losing by a million, he’s the only one to never come out.
sox1844 - June 17, 2009
mizzzzzzzzzzaro
greenbean - June 17, 2009
Will dominate the Blue Boys tomorrow. Book it!
mrod - June 17, 2009
I tuned in for the 7th and beyond
Despite the Breslow/Ziegler debacle, an entertaining watch. My Dodger-loving roommate was angry. For one night, at least.
It was nice to watch something positive for once. During the whole losing 6 out of 7 thing recently, I was forced to hunker down and comfort myself with the new Animal Collective record. And no one wants that.
Joey C. - June 18, 2009
I prefer Animal Crackers myself...
mrod - June 18, 2009
With or without Duck Soup?
el campysino - June 18, 2009
Chunky Beef Vegetable for sure....
mrod - June 18, 2009
Ats'a too bad.
el campysino - June 18, 2009
There is absolutely nothing wrong wtih drowning your sorrows in Animal Collective.
mrbendy - June 18, 2009
Agreed!
franks a lot - June 18, 2009
+1! Summertime Clothes = one of the best songs of 09
PL78 - June 18, 2009
"My Girls" has been on a constant loop in my brain
Joey C. - June 18, 2009
The headline here is pretty damn good
I barley followed the game yesterday because we had a couple of new additions to the family (my sister had twins) during the day, which meant i had work to catch up on at home at night. While I was sitting at the kitchen table, reading email, I thought “I wonder if the A’s have managed to lose that lead yet?”
jeffro - June 18, 2009
Refreshing to see a pitcher reason why he is pitching poorly
Wuertz is physically drained
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/18/SPVR1893F7.DTL
Trainman - June 18, 2009
This from the above link
(06-18) 04:00 PDT Los Angeles – —
Michael Wuertz has made a lot of appearances, and it might be catching up to him a little.
After coming in for his second inning of work Tuesday, the right-hander gave up two runs to tie the game, and he said Wednesday that he has been feeling “physically drained.”
“Maybe I’m a little tired,” he said. “I’ve pitched in 31 out of 63 games – that’s a pretty good pace. Sometimes that can catch up to you.”
Wuertz noted at the beginning of the season, when the bullpen was really clicking, the workload was spread out, with Santiago Casilla and Russ Springer getting the ball far more often. The main three now are Wuertz, left-hander Craig Breslow and rookie closer Andrew Bailey, with Brad Ziegler also getting in quite a bit. If the set-up men aren’t effective, Bailey then gets asked to do even more.
“It’s tough on Bailey; you can’t expect him to go out and get five outs every time,” Wuertz said. “We’ve got to do a better job of getting the ball to him.”
Wuertz said his velocity has been OK, but he’s leaving pitches up in the zone too much, which is often an indication that he’s tired.
Trainman - June 18, 2009
Having read this
I expect (since I will be at the game) Vin Mazzaro to go 8 innings and have a 5 run lead for someone other than Wuertz to play with in the 9th.
Now being that Bob Geren is the manager, he will no doubt have Wuertz up 3 times, bring him into the game with the bases loaded and no outs and expect him to pitch until his arm falls off as it is for the others that pitch above that are listed s being used alot.
Trainman - June 18, 2009
listed as being used alot
Trainman - June 18, 2009
this is just another place where offensive woes kill the team slowly
stm72 - June 18, 2009
Dodgers formula?
I can’t help my envious disposition watching the Dodgers play. Yes, it is true I hate the Dodgers; not because of any other reason other than Kirk Gibson.
Anyways, I hate to admit it, but they are a very ‘watchable’ team. Their line up is made up of a lot of young talent. I really have a hard time seeing Ethier perform so well. They sign players that have underperformed on other teams, (Blake, Hudson), the develop rookies who other teams tried to pluck away in trades, and finally they have a great knack for talent. With a young core of Loney, Martin (even though he can’t hit a HR), Ethier, and Kemp they have a core to build around for years to come. When you add Furcal, Blake, and Hudson to that mix and when Manny comes back, they are going to be tough to beat.
I can’t help but to think watching the Dodgers play, why are we so much different than them, even though they have so many young players? What are we not doing right? Trading Ethier? I don’t know, but I don’t like it!
DoomandGloom - June 18, 2009
Rotoworld doesn't seem to like Cust
I’m not disputing the swinging at more pitches and walking less but isn’t he still on pace for 30 HRs? Maybe my math is off. “don’t expect a rebound second half” man, the guy just hit a opposite field HR and a bunt single against the shift in the same game, cut him some slack or at least complain about the drop.
micdog2001 - June 18, 2009
Mor bnts agnst shft plz...
Gaijin_Suketto - June 18, 2009
saw that RW post, thought it was harsh.
I think we need more lineups that start AK-Cust-Holliday-Gaimbi-Suzuki, Cust is perfect for the #2 spot.
PL78 - June 18, 2009
yeah, he's only on pace for 24 homers in 440 ABs
Or 30+ homers in 550 ABs.
He sucks.
mikev - June 18, 2009
I think Cust and his average wiill go up if he stays in the 2 hole
or goes down to the 5 hole.
His average took a dump when he was in 3 hole. IMO he is not a 3 hole hitter.
I like this version of Cust and expect his average to rise if he stays in the holes.
Trainman - June 18, 2009
So you like this version of Cust even though his OBP is .050 points below his career average?
Tripp - June 18, 2009
Yes
I can do without a bunch more strikeout’s looking
Trainman - June 18, 2009
Getting on base is fine
but when you have others who like backing their way on base and not being aggressive, I would rather have him be more aggressive with runners on.
I don’t know but the alarming thing about him hitting .069 on a 3-2 count is that he probably saw a meatball or two early in the AB and didn’t take advantage of it and I have no way of knowing but I would like to know how much of that .069 on a 3-2 count is with runners on base waiting to be driven in.
Trainman - June 18, 2009
You seem not to understand that
this approach you’re suggesting for Jack Cust (being more aggressive) seems to be strongly correlated with him making MORE outs while actually NOT helping the offense produce more runs. Thus, this is actually HURTING the team and the offense overall. And aren’t you the one who’s incessantly complaining about the offense?
Tripp - June 18, 2009
I complain about the whole offensive philosophy of Beane
IMO we don’t score runs year after year because we (the players) watch too many hittable pitches go by.
People walking does’t help in the next batter is going to strike out looking.
They need to be more aggressive like other teams are. Opposing pitchers over the years know they can throw a meatball for strike one and get these players in a hole.
Jack Cust seems to swing at the first pitch more often. He’s not complaing when he makes contact on that 1st pitch because more often than not he gets a hit.
Like I said before, the slegnA walked over 100 times less than us last year but had way more hits. They are more aggressive.
Trainman - June 18, 2009
and the slegnA had 119 more runs too
jakebmill - June 18, 2009
So you prefer a less offensively potent version of Jack Cust
because your aesthetics are bothered by the more offensively potent version of Jack Cust. Okay.
Tripp - June 18, 2009
I prefer hits to walks
The slegnA don’t walk a hell of a lot but the score with hits.
A walk gives you one base. A hit can do so much more.
Jack Cust has 12 home runs so far. I see more RBI’s over a full year than last year.
He’s hitting way over .500 when swinging at the first pitch. He’s mixing it up. His average is down because he was hitting in the #3 hole.
If the idiot that manages the team, leaves him in the 2 hole, I would think his average goes up 20 or 30 points.
I think this version is Cust is better than the other providing he is put in the order either be it the #2 or #5 hole. I also wouldn’t care if the OBP is down as long as the average is up and he’s making more contact. That’s just my opinion.
Trainman - June 18, 2009
Wow...woooow.
Not going to even bother with this one…
Tripp - June 18, 2009
Good for you
You asked what I though so I gave you my opinion.
I am not going to change the way you think and you are not going to change what I think.
So don’t bother because it’s obvious you are an expert
Trainman - June 18, 2009
I just looked it up
Batting 3rd he has 103 AB’s and 16 hits .155 average
Batting 5th he has 90 AB’s and 23 Hits .256 average (.101 points higher)
These to me represent enough AB’s to support him not batting 3rd.
Hitting 2nd is too small of a sample which is 4 for 8 with the 2 home runs.
He also has one very sad stat and that when he is at a 3-2 count he hits .069 (2 for 29) That is appalling to say the least. I imagine a lot of breaking pitches on 3-2 get thrown to him
Trainman - June 18, 2009
He's also always batting with two strikes, and BA doesn't give credit for his walks.
What’s interesting to me is to ponder whether it actually affects a batter to hit #2 vs. #3. It shouldn’t, but does it? Or is this always just statistical noise?
Nico - June 18, 2009
I suspect the latter
Joey C. - June 18, 2009
That is meant to be "stays in the 2 hole"
Trainman - June 18, 2009
What happened to the defense on this team?
I used to love watching the A’s on defense a few years ago. Can we hire Wash as a parttime infield coach (will Texas mind)? All the regulars need a refresher course except Hannahan.
With Giambi’s slower bat and inability to scoop, I would rather see Barton at first more often than not. It seems Barton’s defense has come a long way from what I remember during his September call up in 2007 and early season drops in 2008 and he is fun to watch at 1B (love the splits!). And I don’t think we would loose anything with his bat over the current G in the long run. Barton has only had 8 ABs in 4 games since being called up. Give him a few days in a row at 1B and see what he can do! Besides, Giambi’s legs could use the rest.
And thank goodness for the infield fly rule, but OrCa should just let Hannahan field anything he can get to on the left side. I almost spit up my beer when I saw Hannahan peel away from the popup… and then to see Cabrera drop it!
This team is getting hard to watch… even when they win!
jakebmill - June 18, 2009
Time to Fire Bob Geren
This guy is really a lousy manager that has not proved any ability in his 3 years as Manager. Currently the A’s are last in the American League. He has no clue on his pitching staff and is a stiff emotionless bafoon.
firebobgeren - June 19, 2009
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