We're not even going for wins right now -- we're going for "watchable," win or lose. And while these players, with this level of ability at this stage of their career (i.e., "too young" and "too old"), might not be able to win so many games they absolutely could do some things differently. My wish list:
1. Hitters: Play with a "take what they give you" mentality. Every time there's a shift, hit or bunt against it. No matter who you are, if you're at 1B and they don't pay attention to you, steal second. Dedicate yourself to punishing the opposing team for every opportunity they hand you. It's good baseball -- and it's worth watching.
2. Runners: "Go for it" on taking extra bases. Why? Because this A's team is last in the major leagues in total bases, last in the AL in doubles (one ahead of the Padres for last in all of baseball), last in the AL in HRs. Waiting around for extra-base hits is not a good strategy with this team at this time, so on every fly ball that takes the OFer far to his left or right, tag up from first. It's actually very difficult for an OFer on the run to stop, turn, and make an accurate throw -- and harder yet for the A's to score runners from 1B no matter how many outs there are in the inning. Go for it -- lead the league in tagging up from 1B. You'll lead the league in something and it's worth watching.
3. Pitchers: Claim the fricking inside half of the plate. Here's another important stat in which the A's are dead last in the AL: They have hit all of 13 batters this season. 13. We've watched Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill get beaten when hitters looked inside, and we've seen hitters leaning out over the plate to cover both sides, but what we haven't seen is the A's pitchers backing hitters off the plate. Dig in against Bob Gibson or Randy Johnson? I don't think so. Dig in against Mazzaro and Gio? Why the heck not? Claim the inside part of the plate, for God's sake. It's ok to be a little territorial sometimes, and it's worth watching.
You might win more games, too.
0 recs | 33 comments
How they can be more watchable? Easy.
Two words: chicken suits.
‘Play naked’ is an acceptable second option.
Kyli - July 11, 2009
Kilts
DMOAS - July 11, 2009
You are so right on about chicken suits
Every day I see this team play without chicken suits is another day I wonder, “What the HECK is this organization THINKING?”
Nico - July 11, 2009
Play naked and head first slides
I would watch!
OptimistPrime - July 11, 2009
But if you overslide, what do you catch the bag with?
Oh.
Nico - July 11, 2009
Which bag?
OptimistPrime - July 11, 2009
Love it Nico.
This harkens back to some BillyBall, circa early 1980’s. In short, be aggressive. Clearly, we don’t have the talent level to compete over the long haul. But some attitude would at least introduce the element of surprise, or at least the possibility of surprise. Or as you put it: watchability.
JJ Martin - July 11, 2009
Be aggressive.
Be be aggressive.
Leopold Bloom - July 11, 2009
Three more
1. Run out routine grounders.
2. Catch easily catchable pop ups and fly balls.
3. Stop showing shots of Geren on television. It’s starting to hurt seeing his mug.
Jackson23 - July 11, 2009
#3
He’s worse to look at the Sciocia. He has that “what’s that over there, my gum tastes horrible” look on his face all the time.
DMOAS - July 11, 2009
couldn't agree more
UOSportsDude - July 11, 2009
+1
so true
micdog2001 - July 11, 2009
Good post
1. Agree Last night why didn’t Cust attempt a bunt when there was no 3b in sight. I will take a base hit right now. Also Giambi should try bunting he has a better chance of getting a hit.
2. Agree Not running against Wakefield was stupid. Has Geren heard of hit and run?
3. Agree. I noticed once a pitcher has two strikes its nibble on the outside part of the plate. Have some guts and hit someone.
4. My addition would be hit to the opposite field. Opposing pitchers pitch on the outside of the plate on many A’s hitters who just try to pull every ball.
Arcman - July 11, 2009
One of my points is that while highly aggressive baserunning
is often a mistake — the outs you give away outweigh the bases you get — one reality this team has to face is that it is less capable than any AL team of generating doubles, HRs, or total bases in general.
Even so, I’m not saying, “Run recklessly, what the hell!” I’m suggesting there are calculated ways to be aggressive when opportunities allow, and that the mindset of the team needs to be “We’ll find those, every time.”
Nico - July 11, 2009
like
Stealing 2nd with 2 outs. Even the A’s announcers question why not make a attempt to put a player in scoring position.
Arcman - July 11, 2009
make 'em more watchable:
put ‘em back on broadcast TV. I’ve only seen the A’s on TV once this year (when they played the Giants).
Brian in 317 - July 11, 2009
It all starts with good "coaching"
granja - July 11, 2009
Agreed on all acounts
I’ve never understood why hitters don’t go the other way against the shift. Automatic base hit.
travdog6 - July 11, 2009
Well It wouldn't hurt to have Dan Meyer back.
After all, he is doing quite well with the Marlins. Though to be fair, there is no way he sustains a .217 BABIP.
DyeLongJustice - July 11, 2009
Random stat: Meyer has an 0.39 WHIP on the road
Nico - July 11, 2009
I believe some of it's luck,
but what the hell happened?
travdog6 - July 11, 2009
Why would it be luck as opposed to good pitching?
Even if it’s not entirely sustainable, unless he’s giving up an abundance of “at ’em” line drives, odds are he’s making quality pitches and getting outs. I’m just saying, can’t we give the guy credit?
Nico - July 11, 2009
That's actually just what I meant.
Like what happened, when did you turn good?
travdog6 - July 11, 2009
Ah, then I have the same question.
Maybe his arm finally feels good and he can snap off sliders like I hear he used to. Or maybe he just needed to escape the performance-dehancing vortex that is Oakland.
Nico - July 11, 2009
I gotta like the chicken suits.
Frankly, I will tune into a losing team…so long as they look headed in the right direction. But I dont see that. I see yet another sominating pitching staff, with a limp lifeless lineup, in our future.
But chicken suits would indicate to me that the front office was thinking.
mikedaviswhereareyou - July 11, 2009
Unleash the feral cats!
stormtown - July 11, 2009
Have the players dress up like giant tunas first
coffee roaster - July 11, 2009
Well duh.
I thought that was understood.
Nico - July 11, 2009
What you call watchable baseball...
{insert Jeff Golbum}
rebus - July 11, 2009
3. Stop being so Swiss.
Glomar - July 11, 2009
4. Fire Geren
Hire Rickey to be the manager. The entertainment value of that alone would be immense.
Failing that, play drunk. Then it would be funny when they made a baserunning mistake. Ha ha ha, look at O-Cab falling down when he tried to get back to second. He’s so funny when he’s wasted!
worldblee - July 11, 2009
You mean this isn't already happening?
Huh.
Nico - July 11, 2009
Airplane Hangar Stadium
Here’s something else nobody’s brought up yet in terms of “watch-ability,” probably because it’s an old and sour subject:
The coliseum is not a fun place to watch a game.
Seats are still somewhat cheap, but at this point, we’re combining a lackluster team with a lackluster venue. If one of those things were changed, I’d attend games. I’d also encourage other people to attend games. But I don’t even want to tell friends to see games, anymore because a) the A’s suck and b) their stadium sucks worse.
I’m not saying we need a gourmet sushi bar or a coke slide that only people sitting in particular sections have the right to grace their butts with, (the giants suck, by the way) but I would like to see the east bay hills if I’m sitting in the upper-reserved section.
Also, I miss Roy Steele’s voice. The new guy they got going on the PA isn’t doing it for me.
Leap Year - July 12, 2009
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