The tone of tonight's game was set from the first batter. Upton popped up with what should have been the first out, but four A's fielders were unable to catch the ball in foul territory. I could be generous and excuse them for the dome, but I won't. Catch the ball! Of course, the very next pitch was smoked for a double.
So the Rays have a runner on second and no one out. Then something great happens for the A's. They get the runner dead picked off at second; Mazzaro making the perfect throw, and Cabrera just doesn't catch the ball. The ball sailed into center field; the run was driven in on the next pitch, and the A's were down 1-0. They would never recover. Mazzaro would give up two additional earned runs in his five innings (to go with 7 hits), but he never had a chance. Here's why:
First inning: Kennedy grounds out to pitcher. Cabrera singles. Hairston pops to first. Holliday walks. Cust lines out to first.
Second Inning: Suzuki strikes out swinging. Giambi strikes out swinging. Sweeney flies out to left.
Third inning: Ellis lines out to right. Kennedy strikes out looking. Cabrera grounds out to second.
Four inning: Hairston singles. Holliday strikes out swinging. Cust walks. Suzuki grounds into FC. Giambi grounds out to second.
FIfth inning: Sweeney grounds out to first. Ellis pops out to second. Kennedy pops out to third.
Sixth inning: Cabrera singles. Hairston strikes out swinging. Holliday lines out to right. Cust singles. Suzuki grounds into FC.
Seventh inning: Giambi strikes out swinging. Sweeney singles. Ellis grounds into double play.
Eighth inning:Kennedy grounds out to first. Cabrera flies out to left. Hairston pops out to third.
Ninth inning: Holliday pops up to third. Custs grounds out to second. Suzuki singles. Giambi walks. Sweeney reaches on FC. Ellis grounds out to end game.
Our offense is terrible. Literally unwatchable.
It's almost not worth commenting on the bullpen work, but I'll give it a shot anyway. It's the sixth inning, and the A's are down by 3 runs. With the bullpen rested, Geren elected to pitch Casilla and his 6.52 ERA in what was actually a close game at the time. Casilla uncorked a two-out wild pitch to give the Rays their fourth run, and allowed a homerun in the next inning for their fifth. Gio Gonzalez (who won't be starting this weekend) gave up the sixth run in relief of Casilla, and Jeff Gray pitched a scoreless eighth.
The difference between 3-0 and 6-0 is this: in the ninth inning, the A's loaded the bases. A double ties the game. A homerun (however unlikely) gives the A's the lead. The key to having a chance in a game--any game--is to not dig yourself a hole that you can't climb out of with one swing of the bat.
It's not that the A's didn't get breaks either. There were a handful of calls that I thought the A's got lucky on; including a pretty clear missed call in the ninth.
I'm tired of defending this team. I'm tired of feeling like I care more than the team does. I'm tired of no offense. I'm tired of rookie pitchers wasting starts every time out. I'm tired of losing baseball games.
We do it again tomorrow, but BRADEN'S BACK!
0 recs | 120 comments
This is exactly how I felt
After going to the game Wednesday. Fuck this season. That’s all I got.
walk off bunt - July 10, 2009
It's amazing how indifferent I've become to A's losses.
pam5981 - July 10, 2009
They're awful
Blow it up, nobody has value, but blow it up.
Orodawg - July 10, 2009
lame game
+’s: braden back in the rotation, duke due soon, trading deadline soon (at least provides for some drama).
rollierollieOxenfree - July 10, 2009
The Washington Saga continues...
Did you guys see this?
WTH? He sits HIS ALL STAR for three games, and would have sat him again tonight, except for an injury!?!?! And he TELLS THE NEWS this??? Why not just start him and let him enjoy the day?! And “hot hand”…awesome.
baseballgirl - July 10, 2009
Maybe he's trying to make sure
that his all-star gets the same break in action that the rest of his players are getting over the ASB. If Ron thinks he can make a push for the division, it’s not unrealistic to think that he wants his players rested.
alox - July 10, 2009
He wasn't announced to the ASG until this morning
He was sitting him for some other reason.
baseballgirl - July 10, 2009
Yes,
we always complain that Geren isn’t sufficiently demanding of his players. Presumably that means something more than insisting on using the players who are good hitters because (1) even the stupidest manager can do that, and (2) if that were all it is, Geren is off the hook because the A’s don’t have any good hitters.
No, we want Geren to be more demanding with “how you play the game” type stuff. And we like Wash because (we think) he’s more demanding in this way.
I think it’s pretty safe to assume that if Cruz is being benched for a few days by Wash, it’s not because Wash is ignorant of who is a better hitter. He’s got some reason for it, even if we don’t know what it is.
The fact that he made it public only reinforces the point. Cruz made it into the lineup after all, out of necessity, but Wash wanted to make sure Cruz still knew that he would have benched him if he could have.
iglew - July 11, 2009
my sentiments exactly
Great Post
This team is harder and harder to watch.
hishnik - July 10, 2009
You pretty much summed it up BBG.
And at the same time I’m here at home watching the Giants beat up on the Padres and taking care of business. Now don’t get me wrong: I’m not Giants hater by any means, in fact I do support them as a bay area team. However, isn’t it ironic how the A’s were supposed to be the team that had “The upgraded offense” this past off-season and the Giants were pretty much, “the same”?.
Call it what you want, but the Giants are playing good ball and are making a case for the playoffs despite what most considered a rag-tag offense coming into the 2009 season.
And by now, it isn’t even fun to slam the A’s organization for this epic faceplant they have displayed for A’s fans this year. It’s over and done with. But for the love of Dog, can Beane and Co.just start playing more of the youngsters and at least see what they have to offer? Where is the harm or gamble in that?
Giambi is done. Nomar is done. Cabrera is done, albeit his recent hot streak. Holliday we are stuck with till someone makes an offer that gives us at least something “pallatable” for in return. Cust seems like an okay player on a really good team, but on this team he just makes the case for someone younger and promising to be getting his at bats as well.
Anything else? Oh yeah, it’s not even fun anymore to yel……"Fire Bob Geren Now!!!!!!!. Peace…-MRod
mrod - July 10, 2009
Giants are playing weak competition.
Jessse - July 10, 2009
Yep, like the A's....
jakebmill - July 10, 2009
and they are winning
obviously the G’s competition is weaker so they should be winning these games. But the point is they are winning! The pitching has been great for the Giants and the offense is figuring out a way to get it done.
Ugh……..
mrod - July 10, 2009
Meh
I like the A’s long term look better. The Giants this year are great, and I wish we had a team like that. But the Giants have a shallow system in my opinion. Cain, Lincecum and Sandoval are obviously great, and guys like Bowker, Schierholtz, Sanchez and others are intriguing, I just don’t have much faith in their minor league system.
travdog6 - July 10, 2009
yup, (another) painful game to watch
thank goodness for the DVR—I’m in danger of wearing out my skip-forward button.
skutch - July 10, 2009
At least we hit all those singles?
I’m grasping here.
pam5981 - July 10, 2009
We are still very much rebuilding.
It’s the only thought that helps me watch this team and attempt to stay positive.
travdog6 - July 10, 2009
And Pepe is back tomorrow.
That’s happy.
pam5981 - July 10, 2009
Any word on his grandma's condition?
Technotofu - July 10, 2009
Ooo yes.
It’s impossible to not love Braden.
travdog6 - July 10, 2009
As far as this rebuilding goes
The pitching is rebuilding and doing a fine job
The hitting is getting worse every year. This man has yet to prove he can build an offense.
We have to hope that he falls in a bucket of shit and comes out smelling like a rose. So far, when it comes to the offense, he has been falling into a vat of perfume and come out smelling like the local sewage treatment plant
Trainman - July 10, 2009
The rebuilding of the offense is still in the minor leagues.
travdog6 - July 11, 2009
Looks like a good game to have missed.
On a related note, Juanita’s margaritas are an effective cure for A’s-related depression.
Technotofu - July 10, 2009
Soooooo perfectly written/worded.
This wrap is the highlight of the game.
thanks BBG.
jakebmill - July 10, 2009
Thank you...I wish it was happier!
baseballgirl - July 10, 2009
Yes, but they don't deserve happier.
This pretty much sums up how I think most fans feel and I wish it could get to the players and management.
jakebmill - July 10, 2009
I was thinking whilst reading it.... Kit Kitridge aka our own reporter aka BBG
ak_A - July 10, 2009
I'm glad I turned the game off in the fourth
Flashfire - July 10, 2009
Me too
And it pains me to say that.
MrMoneyBaller - July 10, 2009
I would just love it...
if someone (anyone!) from the A’s came out and said, “Yeah, we’re playing like crap right now and if we don’t at least show a little passion and/or execute fundamentals (let alone win some ballgames…) then heads are gonna roll!”
the_rozeboom - July 10, 2009
Yeah, fat chance! That should have happened long ago!
Eveland and Gallagher seem to be the only ones to have received that message so far…..and Gallagher at least has some promise even if he is going to be the PTBNL in the trade wit the Padres…
mrod - July 10, 2009
Oh, and Buck as well......except I think he is just plain getting screwed!
mrod - July 10, 2009
+ 1,000,000
Look at what the CarGon coment about the differences between the Oakland and Colorado clubhouses has done for example. Imagine if Geren or King Beane said something moderately controversial about the club’s performance. It would be the story of the year.
Technotofu - July 10, 2009
Chavez
Future Ed - July 10, 2009
The fact that the Giants are winning 7-0 right now is just depressing me even more.
pam5981 - July 10, 2009
Like I said above.....ya know?
mrod - July 10, 2009
Never Can Say Goodbye
No,no,no. now…
lynnzgal - July 10, 2009
Fare thee well..............lynnzgal.
“Parting is such sweet sorrow…”
mrod - July 10, 2009
Until tomorrow.
lynnzgal - July 10, 2009
Ryan Webb is pitching for San Diego now
and wow, does he have good stuff. At least a good arm. 98 mph fastball, 89 slider.
travdog6 - July 10, 2009
The A's as they are
Expect them to lose every game
Shocked when they win
As soon as the other team scores you can pretty much mark down a loss.
(That is an exaggeration but it seems that way)
Trainman - July 10, 2009
I want a refund.
MLB.tv and MLB extra innings was such a waste of money this year. Well actually, this makes two consecutive years. I can’t imagine how it must feel to be a season ticket holder. I had hoped that in the very least, even if the team was not competitive, I’d get to see some of the younger guys busting their asses for a chance to be a part of the future team. Unfortunately as we all know Beane would rather have the likes of Crosby, Davis, Giambi, Nomah, and Harriston in the line-up. Right now I’m at the point that I’m so bored with this team and franchise I’d like to see the ensuing train wreck of Geren trotting Nomah out there every day at SS until the inevitable hang nail lands him on the 60 day DL.
KMoAsFan - July 10, 2009
tell me about mlb extra innings $$$$
On impulse, after I moved here from Colorado at the end of May…..after getting my cable hooked up, I said to myself – “self, just hold on and don’t get impulsive, after all this season don’t look that hot so far and you can follow them on TV when they play the M’s or the odd game here and there and besides you got mlb audio to listen to whilst blogging….” Oh, no, I shelled out the $199 but….it is baseball and besides the A’s I can maybe stretch my horizons some.
ak_A - July 10, 2009
That is a good point.
I probably don’t do it enough, but it is fun to drop in on a Lincecum start every once in a while. Sometimes it’s also fun to watch a Phillies or Dodgers game to see what real baseball looks like every once in a while.
KMoAsFan - July 10, 2009
This is probably the year
That I fail to convince my season ticket buddy to buy season tickets next season
OaklandSi - July 11, 2009 via mobile
Anyone watching the Giants game??
pam5981 - July 10, 2009
Caught the last out
No career shutouts or complete games before tonight! Unreal stuff. Hope Beane takes a good look at what is happening across the Bay.
sprtsnwyn - July 10, 2009
He can look
But his response will be like “We play hard too”
ElQuesoCapitan - July 10, 2009
Silly Giants
Hit4TheCycle - July 10, 2009
Hits are for kids!
ElQuesoCapitan - July 10, 2009
QOTM
tag team division
pam5981 - July 10, 2009
No-no for Jonathan Sanchez!
congrats kid….very well done young man.
mrod - July 10, 2009
I accidently stumbled into the last inning. whoa electric
sigh….here I sit, the forlorn A’s fan with a lackluster ….never mind.
ak_A - July 10, 2009
Kruk and Kuip trying to wax poetic about the similarities between Sanchez and The Gladiator...
just…no.
Nice moment between dad and son though. There were tears.
pam5981 - July 10, 2009
Ya
I’m not a huge Giants fan, but congrats Jonathan.
travdog6 - July 10, 2009
GRATS
ElQuesoCapitan - July 10, 2009
Juan Uribe cost him the perfect game
No hits, no walks. Just the one baserunner from the error
Kallus - July 10, 2009
He got 28 outs
thats better right?
Future Ed - July 10, 2009
"You won your freedom."
Cringe-worthy
franks a lot - July 10, 2009
Yeah, barf.
pam5981 - July 10, 2009
i take it , that was kuip and kruk with that korny krap?
ak_A - July 10, 2009
Yeah, the full cheese effect. Blech.
pam5981 - July 10, 2009
Did you get the whole context?
“When Sanchez came to bat in the bottom of the eighth, Krukow said:
Well, Tim Flannery has nicknamed Jonathan Sanchez “the Spaniard.” And in that movie, “Gladiator,” there’s that one line that says, “Spaniard, you win the crowd, you win your freedom,” and he’s really won the crowd tonight."
Per Rob Neyer. So the comment made sense.
Gallagher's Watermelons - July 10, 2009
But is still a dumb comment.
Broadcasters should know that their comments on a no hitter will endure for a long time. The people that will watch listen again know what a great achiement it was so they should not make some dumb 3 times removed reference.
Future Ed - July 10, 2009
Well,
Jonathan Sanchez is Puerto Rican. So, there’s that.
pam5981 - July 10, 2009
In the bay area now A's = Jan Brady and Giants = Marcia Brady
ak_A - July 10, 2009
Good one
RLangford - July 10, 2009
Awesome analogy.
pam5981 - July 10, 2009
Oh shit!
ElQuesoCapitan - July 10, 2009
yep, yep, yep
their #5 just threw him a gem of a no-hitter, in front of his whole family, oh yes he did.
If the Gigantes make the playoffs (likely Wild Card), they win the ring, you heard that shit here first. Their pitching is developing into a wet dream scenario even w/out Unit, & in a short series in October they are gonna just shut other teams down, there’s my prediction, crazy as it sounds O_0
I realize it’s a blasphemy to say it here but as a baseball fan it’s hard not to notice they are now the obvious class act and we are the embarrassment, sorry bu the truth hurts friends… listening Beane? Oh, that’s right, people with no credibility don’t ever listen to “the little people,” right?
emperor nobody - July 10, 2009
Lincecum=Pedro
He could carry them a long way. One way I have to look at it is that they’re at their apex now. We’re at our nadir. Our time will come again.
RLangford - July 10, 2009
and we are unsafe at any speed now too.
ak_A - July 10, 2009
I get it
it was funny
Future Ed - July 10, 2009
I don't have a problem with what you just said EN
It could very well happen my friend……starnger things have happened.
Lightning in a bottle…
mrod - July 10, 2009
Stranger things....my bad.
mrod - July 10, 2009
Clowns on ESPN.
They were talking about how the Giants could make a move for Halladay. I don’t know anything about what they have or could trade for him, but could you imagine a Lincecum, Halladay, Cain rotation in a playoff series. Game over.
KMoAsFan - July 10, 2009
Ain't gonna happen!
mrod - July 10, 2009
Frightening that the Giants' offense is more productive than the highly-touted A's offense
And that’s even with the advertised TNT, dynamite, beef, and brawn anchoring Oakland’s lineup.
franks a lot - July 10, 2009
I believe we are missing one of those four.
Gallagher's Watermelons - July 10, 2009
I don't wanna sound like a complete Beane homer/apologist,
but we are in a rebuild. We made some (shitty) moves in a minor attempt to contend, but really we are still fully in rebuild mode. Comparing ourselves to other teams at this point doesn’t make sense to me.
travdog6 - July 10, 2009
If we were in true rebuild mode...
wouldn’t it be nice to have guys besides Davis, Giambi, Kennedy, Hairston, Crosby, and Garciaparra taking up roster spots?
KMoAsFan - July 10, 2009
Prospects are generally in the minor leagues.
Although it’d be nice to see Buck/Cunningham/Everidge/Barton NOW and get rid of a Davis or Garciaparra and other junky players. But were still truly in rebuild mode. Also, Kennedy and Hairston hopefully might have a future with this team.
travdog6 - July 10, 2009
If your prospects aren't good enough/ready...
for the major leagues your rebuilding effort is still a long ways out. First 2008 was a rebuilding year, then 2009. Now it’s pushed back to 2010. Even if these guys get called up to start the season we aren’t going to contend with a bunch of rookies with a dash of Mark Ellis and Kurt Suzuki. That basically puts it at 2011 at the earliest, and thats if everything breaks perfectly, which never happens anyway. The A’s are looking at being futile for a long long time.
KMoAsFan - July 10, 2009
That's what rebuilding is.
Getting prospects for the future. The A’s didn’t expect to be good in 2008, cause they were rebuilding. They added a little bit for 2009, but the focus is still on the minors. It’s far from an overnight product.
travdog6 - July 10, 2009
Oh, please
Rebuilding requires bringing in new position players, yet Buck, Barton and Cunningham are languishing in the minors while Beane trades for a player who’ll keep them there. Why is Bobby Crosby still on the team? Why is Rajai Davis still on the team? Why is Jason Giambi playing every day?
And why the hell is Bob Geren managing a club that continues to sink further and further into obscurity? ALL managers get fired for this kind of crap. Why is this man still on the job?
richwol1 - July 11, 2009
The thing is, this has always been a rebuilding process
It’s very easy to look at the moves made this offseason and say it’s not rebuilding, but it is. Beane just decided to try to garner some interest in the team, and needed placeholders until the up and coming prospects are ready for the majors. Rebuilding doesn’t work if you just throw a bunch of prospects up to the majors, they have to actually learn to play at each level in the minors, and eventually the majors, which it looks like they’re doing right now. Any thoughts of contention this year were in all honesty wishful thinking, because so much had to go right both injury and talent wise. Granted, it was a calculated risk, but still a rebuilding move.
MrMoneyBaller - July 10, 2009
It didn't work
And Beane is sitting on his hands.
richwol1 - July 11, 2009
Sure, the signings didn't work.
But that’s something Beane could afford with all of the young talent not coming up for another year or so. The promotion of MAC is a bit puzzling to me, but outside of that, all signs point to 2011 being to year the A’s contend.
MrMoneyBaller - July 11, 2009
You forgot Cabrera.
I agree with you on Giambi, Nomar, and Cabrera. Cut ‘em loose. But I’m not sure that Davis or Crosby is really blocking any prospects. I don’t really want Cunningham up just to sit on the bench as the 5th outfielder who can sub at CF, which is what I want Rajai to do.
Hairston I think has a medium-term future with this team, and that’s good enough reason to keep him on the field. He also is hitting relatively well, certainly compared to the other guys you mention.
iglew - July 11, 2009
tell that to Jan.
ak_A - July 10, 2009
Jan doesn't know?
travdog6 - July 10, 2009
They need a proven
National league outfielder to get them into the playoffs.
Future Ed - July 10, 2009
You are being too kind
The A’s are merely Tiger the dog at this point.
franks a lot - July 10, 2009
Tiger > Jan
Atleast how I saw it.
ElQuesoCapitan - July 10, 2009
BBG vents
What’s next? The A’s playing like a major league team?
Look, this is the most unwatchable A’s team ever for me, and I started as a seven-year-old boy at the first home game ever.
Even the late ’70s had some comic value.
This dreck has no value. None at all. The high point of the season was Anderson’s gem against the Red Sox. That’s as good as it’s going to get.
RLangford - July 10, 2009
:(
Afraid you are right….but the young starting pitching is definitely our future.
mrod - July 10, 2009
Knowing the A's, Anderson ends up getting hurt and we have Eveland filling in for him for a couple starts
Followed by an extended audition of Jerome Williams. You aren’t truely at the lowest point until you have the present-day Jerome Williams pitching for your major league team.
franks a lot - July 10, 2009
who's that?
ElQuesoCapitan - July 10, 2009
Another Giants retread.
Probably pitches on the same level of Rajai Davis’s ability to hit, and run the bases.
KMoAsFan - July 10, 2009
So if the Giants overpaid for Barry Zito
You think we can underpay Jonathan Sanchez?
Hit4TheCycle - July 10, 2009
and they were seriously thinking about trading him?
mrod - July 10, 2009
They SHOULD trade him during the ASB
Future Ed - July 10, 2009
for our vacation outfielder.... ahhh Holliday
ak_A - July 10, 2009
espn = no hitter is BIGGEST event of the season so far. okay, sure, kind of.
ak_A - July 10, 2009
I can't watch ESPN anymore
There is just too much East Coast bias. The only thing the cover from the Bay is Lincecum, and that’s not even guaranteed. This no-hitter is probably the only major mention the Bay Area teams will get this year. I just happened to be flipping channels Monday and happened to flip to ESPN as they were covering the A’s-Sox game on Baseball Tonight. They literally didn’t even mention Brett Anderson’s name. The only thing the did was track Nomar’s AB’s and talk about the impact of him coming back. I haven’t been on ESPN since.
MrMoneyBaller - July 11, 2009
To Matt Holliday:
Way to destroy your trade value at the same time ruining your big pay day. Dont let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
Syphon - July 10, 2009
Memo to Beane:
Release/Trade Kennedy/OCab/Nomar/Giambi. New lineup is…
SS Pennington
1B Barton
CF Harison
DH Cust
C Suzuki
LF Cunningham
RF Buck
2B Ellis
3B Everidge
Syphon - July 10, 2009
Memo to Beane:
Grow some balls and fire that best man/worst manager friend of yours and admit your grave mistake. Then step back and allow someone else to hire the next manager and do not interfere with who it is.
Thank you
A’s fans
Trainman - July 10, 2009
I agree Geren needs to go..
But I still put much more stocking into our position players sucking then blaming Geren for our failures.
Syphon - July 10, 2009
I do not follow minors that much
How long has this Tom Everidge been playing 3rd?
Trainman - July 10, 2009
Just this year.
Hes 26 and spent 4 years at 1st.
Syphon - July 10, 2009
Thanks Syphon
Trainman - July 10, 2009
Geren should have gone two months ago
This team has been playing without a will to win ever since the season began. Giambi should be released, he’s simply dead weight on this team right now. Holliday should be traded, if possible, for a quality 3rd baseman or SS; he’ll be happier and play better on a winning team in a ballpark where fly balls carry.
rovingralph - July 11, 2009
Holliday should be traded (But)
I honestly see his value right now is less than half of what he should be worth because he has been exposed for the fraud he is away from Coors and out of NL.
He is a grossly overpaid baseball player.
Trainman - July 11, 2009
Agreed!
But if you’re going to rebuld, rebuild! Get rid of Ellis, too. Let these guys grow up together.
A'sfansince1970 - July 11, 2009
Especially Cabrera.
Cliff Pennington is quietly having a very nice year for the River Cats, with a .762 OPS and 25 steals in 27 attempts. If his glove is what it’s cracked up to be, he’s a better version of Cabrera right now, and at least he has a future in Oakland.
jeepers - July 11, 2009
Glad I left to go drinking.
mikev - July 11, 2009
My Two Thoughts
1) The A’s really suck right now.
2) I could care less what the Giants do. They are still the Chicago Cubs of the West.
KCa's - July 11, 2009
I love the A's
But if this is going to be the team with little or no changes in the second half then Im done watching this year. I will still come on AN daily and check the news and Minors reports but Im not going to waste any more time watching guys like Giambi, Nomar and Cabrerra.
I also have a fear that the A’s may stick with this rotation throughout the entire season. What a shame it would be to ruin one of these young pitchers arms on such a crappy team. I dont know much about baseball but I do know that your taking a huge risk with young pitchers when you dramatically increase their innings from the year before.
asfaninpismobeach - July 11, 2009
Let em all throw their arms out
granja - July 11, 2009
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