Athletics Nation

Is that like a jinx?

LoneStranger - August 18, 2009 reply

I know he's had a few times where he started his recap early and had to rewrite the whole thing

more than a few, particualrly earlier this year.

I actually always encouraged him to start writing when we were down late…

Leopold Bloom - August 18, 2009 reply

So you were doing it as a sort of way to help the rally?

LoneStranger - August 18, 2009 reply

I don't think I have the 67M mojo

Though I’ve never had the A’s go something like 2-13 in games I attend.

you don't want that kind of mojo.

poor guy thinks he’s a curse.

Leopold Bloom - August 18, 2009 reply

I've been to so many A's games over the years I can't remember my record

while seeing them but I think they’ve won more then they’ve lost when I’ve seen them at home and on the road.

sirbed - August 18, 2009 reply

I've been to...let's see...I think 11 A's games on the road

Three in Seattle a few years ago, which they all lost (though they’d clinched the division already)
Two in St. Louis, which they lost
Three in Chicago (Cubs), winning one
Three in San Diego, but I had to leave in the tenth of the extra inning game they won because I had a long drive back home and work the next day (I got home after midnight and the game went something like fifteen innings)

Rated-R Superstar - August 18, 2009 reply

Give Vinny time

He’ll figure it out. The team looked pretty crappy tonight, and he held the Yanks to only 2 runs through 5. Impressive. Let’s get ‘em tomorrow! GO A’s!

A'sfansince1970 - August 18, 2009 reply

Nice threads, FF.

Last AN Tailgate thread tomorrow late afternoon. Sleep well.

lynnzgal - August 18, 2009 reply

You sleep well, too, Lynnz.

Get out of my closet..!

http://bigurb.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/08/back_with_a_buck_and_a_bang.html

Sweeney

If Sweeny’s hit had only been in his previous at bat.

Graybeard - August 18, 2009 reply

Urban has some interesting notes on Buck

Notes Buck is being buried by the team but he’s working on improving and changing a couple things, mainly the big bat waggle as the pitch is coming and getting rid of a thumb guard he’s used. Some scouts have been taking notice.

Good comment in there about Buck deciding to do it now rather than coming into Spring Training (assuming he’s still here then) with it being a new thing.

Other notes are in there too.

thanks for the link

OakA'sHoney - August 18, 2009 reply

agree with Urban about Everidge and Cust

OaklandSi - August 18, 2009 reply

Everidge better than cust

because he hit a homerun against Sabathia? Yes Cust will be marginally more expensive, but not outrageously overpriced, if he is overpriced at all.

I like to stay away from comparisons, but I think of it like the Murphy-Scutaro situation a few years ago. Murphy could deliver the same thing as Marco, but with Marco we knew what he could do (and did in 2008).

Future Ed - August 18, 2009 reply

what I agree with him on is that

Everidge may well end up replacing Cust at DH next year. As far as I’m concerned Everidge hasn’t been in the majors long enough to say whether he’s “better” than Cust.

OaklandSi - August 18, 2009 reply

good comparison

I’d like to think that the A’s logic is more like mine: before this year, Cust had consistent power, and Everidge hasn’t shown consistent power yet. That’s not to take away from Everidge as a pure hitter, but we need mmore power not singles

cuppingmaster - August 18, 2009 reply

The problem is that Cust struggles against LHP

and Everidge struggles against RHP — and guess which there are more of…? Advantage, Cust.

what were his minor league splits?

I'm never sure where to find minor league splits from before this year

Maybe someone can direct me? He’s always had L/R split, IIRC, by way of mashing lefties.

You can find it

here.
For his career, Tommy has been great against LHP (.964 OPS) and ok-good against RHP (.799 OPS).

travdog6 - August 19, 2009 reply

Thank you, travdog6!

Who knew that minor league splits could be found at www.minorleaguesplits.com? The interweb is too complex.

LOL, I know.

travdog6 - August 19, 2009 reply

I actually googled that but it didn't come up

TWSS?

happens to everyone

thanks, I had looked but didn't find the minor league splits

in his cumulative (Midland+Sacramento) splits he faced right handed pitchers more than left handed pitchers (not surprising, but it shows he wasn’t platooned), and seems to have done a little bit better against right handed pitchers.

I don’t think he’s been up at the major league level long enough for us to definitely say much about him vs. Cust.

It's interesting,

if you go year by year Tommy has only has significant differences in his numbers against LHP and RHP in 05 and 08. In all the other years, it’s pretty close and in some years his numbers vs. RHP are better.

travdog6 - August 19, 2009 reply

Wow. How does this guy get to write for the A's?

Exhibit A:

I just checked out a few of the acronym stats I don’t understand in an effort to be a better-informed baseball writer, but I gave up upon seeing that Mark Teixeira is considered a defensive negative according to UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating). Anyone who thinks Teixeira is anything less than a godsend for the Yanks defensively is spending way too much time VORPing and not nearly enough time WATCHING THE GAME.

First of all, what is an “acronym stat?” HR? RBI? ERA? I suppose its a positive step that Mychael has finally realized people expect him, as a journalist, to be well-informed, but its ridiculous how quickly he is to dismiss information that doesn’t jive with common-sense, ESPN-approved, big-market punditry. Perhaps if Mychael had bothered to read up on UZR, rather than merely flipping through player pages looking for reasons to appease his statistical complacency, he would realize that over a three year sample UZR has Teixeira slightly above average at first. Perhaps he would also think about what it means to be a fielder who doesn’t get to balls that average players do. In any case, I resent being told I don’t know how to watch baseball by someone with his opinions on Bobby Crosby.

And the prediction about Cust/Everidge is based on what? When has Tommy Everidge ever shown the ability to be a “more complete” hitter than Jack Cust, at any respective level? And the part about not criticising Geren certainly seems to affirm Urban’s view that its better to have good intentions than to provide informative content.

Aufheben - August 19, 2009 reply

he also mentions the money issue

perhaps age also factors. There can be many reasons why Urban’s prediction about Everidge vs Cust might be reasonable.

I don't dispute the money issue,

or even the notion that Cust might not be on the A’s next year. But it seems pretty baseless to say of Everidge, “he’s got Custian pop, and he’s more of a complete hitter.”

Aufheben - August 19, 2009 reply

Maybe what he really means is,

“He’s strong and he doesn’t strickout as much.”

Rated-R Superstar - August 18, 2009 reply

explains his recent struggles

hopefully these adjustments will pay off in the long run. If the scouts are paying too close attention they might see that he hasn’t been hitting at all lately.

chipper1001 - August 19, 2009 reply

This Ports-Nuts game is never going to end.

Billy Goat Gaudin...

…is coming back? And starting? I am so-o there.

Let’s go yard a few times — early.

LeSaboteur - August 18, 2009 reply

Everidge

Crushed the ball tonight. And I emphasize “crushed”. In the Coli at night, it’s rare that you know a ball in going out. But not that one. Tommy could have lit a smoke and admired it as it was going out and then flicked the butt and started his trot.

alox - August 18, 2009 reply

Considering he's hitting .237/.322/.395, that would probably not be the best thing to do.

mikev - August 19, 2009 reply

his HR was an absolute bomb

apparent from the moment he connected the bat to the ball.

By contrast, Suzuki’s was a laser shot.

Both were fun to watch…on a night where there wasn’t much fun to watch.

Bob Geren

Bob f***ing Geren!!

I’m 19 years old, I haven’t played baseball since I was 13. I have no professional experience. The closest thing I have to managing is the Intro to Business course I took last semester. And yet even I know that Jay Marshall only knows how to get left handed hitters out, meaning I need a right handed reliever to be up and ready for the Swisher and the Cabrera and the Jeter coming up after Cano (who Marshall retired). I guess give credit on that one to Geren for eventually warming up a righty. However, Geren should then be tarred and feathered for warming up Santiago Casilla, a guy who can’t throw a strike, let alone get anybody out.

Bob Geren, with his repetitively disgusting handling of this bullpen, showed once again why he is simply incapable of being the manager of a major league baseball team.

ohad - August 19, 2009 reply

Swisher is a switch hitter....

OldhamA - August 19, 2009 reply

i think the point is

marshall would not get swisher out

Future Ed - August 19, 2009 reply

Not from the South Bay, are you?

BERRYJO - August 20, 2009 reply

So CC was a terrible, PR driven mess and Mazarro was a beautiful

italian supercar? Awesome, we win everytime then.

OldhamA - August 19, 2009 reply

My thoughts on the game Urban style

  Marshal plan..Plan on paking your bags and back to AAA
  Cust.. If he can’t hit the opposite field then he will be out of baseball in 2 years. A platoon guy next year.
  Hairston..rightfield calling. Has trouble seeing the ball in left maybe a change to right will do him good.
  Everidge..His time is now. Needs to adjust to pitchers now that they are adjusting to him. If he adjust the rest of the year he will be the starting DH next year and bye bye Cust
  Barton.. Will be back soon and take back over 1b.
  Wolfe.. Good quote from him forget the old hitters its time to play the young guys.
  Casilla..Drop the dance after his pitch. He looks like someone trying out for do you think you can dance. Just pitch and throw the fastball instead of looking afraid out there or its AAA for you
  Mazzaro.. Throw strikes and trust your stuff

Arcman - August 19, 2009 reply

If Hairston's having trouble seeing the ball in left I don't know how moving him to right will help

Right field is the sun field for night games.

hairston

Something needs to happen because to many lost balls in the outfield.

Arcman - August 19, 2009 reply

I think Hairston will be fine

If he was considered a possible CFer, then chances are he can be very good in LF. I imagine the quad injury isn’t helping him any. Also, RF demands a good arm and Hairston doesn’t have that so he’s better off in LF.

Agree on Marshall plan

Pack the bags yesterday.

By Cust not playing and being PH for. The writing may be on the wall and Urban may have that one pegged.

Mazzaro will get better with experience

Sheesh

The guy gives up one hit in his first four outings (3 1/3 innings) then, in no real surprise, runs into some trouble when facing Yankee right-handers, and has more runs charged to him because Casilla can’t throw strikes, and Marshall deserves to go back to Sacramento again?

What, like the A’s are in a pennant race and the occasional rough outing can’t be forgiven? Marshall shouldn’t be used when facing a number of righties in the lineup, but he can be very effective against lefties. Ziegler’s got similar problems flipped around. Both of them are ground-ball pitchers who are good when on, not so good when they can’t hit their spots or they have to face a number of hitters from the other side.

I am basing this on

His past performances against RHB’s in ML’s and his stats in the minors.

His ERA in AAA against RHB’s in near 5. Hitters are .362 from that side of plate.

He is not ML calibre.

He’s not AAA calibre when facing RHB’s. 25IP and 38H 13 BB’s. That’s Dana Eveland territory.

Marshall is NOT ON very often as these stats bear out.

Hitters up here, of course are much better and to allow 51 baserunners in 25 IP when pitching to RHB’s tells you all you need to know and that is in the minors. God Forbid he gets 25IP pitched (equivalent) up here against them. IMO He does not have the necessary talent to succeed up here.

And Yes

I agree, he may be effective against LHB’s but should only face them and not even 1 RHB unless we have a 5 run lead.

Quick note

I think I’d be a little more confident in Marshall than that. At least this year in the Minors, he only gave up a run on average about every three innings he pitched. That’s fine. If he can be anything like that in the Majors, he’s not the problem.

I guess what I’m wondering is which relief pitchers on this staff do you have full confidence in in being able to pitch scoreless innings most of the time. Bailey? Breslow? Wuertz? Ziegler? They do a good job of keeping teams off the scoreboard. Casilla? E. Gonzalez? Not so much.

Marshall’s line looked really rough last night, but at the same time it’s one bad outing out of a handful so far. Give the guy a better chance, especially since he faced so many hitters he’s weak against. At the same time, if a guy’s going to give up runs I’d rather he give up a few in one game instead of a run in multiple appearances.

My concern is that I haven't seen a real good plan against right-handed hitters,

other than “throw hittable pitches and pray for the best.”

That'd be a problem of a different sort, yep

Yes, we know he isn't very good against RHB

Again, part of that is on the manager in how Marshall is used. If he’s brought in to pitch an inning where two of the next three guys are LHB or something like that, good idea. If he’s brought in where he’s going to face a number of RHB in a row, bad idea.

It’s not that he can’t get RHB out at all. It’s that he isn’t able to be as effective against them as LHB because of the way he pitches. As good as Dennis Eckersley was over his career, LHB hit .276 against him compared to .214 for RHB, and they slugged .431 compared to .338. Of course, Eck was far and away better than Marshall can ever hope of being but the point is everyone is better against some hitters than they are others.

It doesn’t mean Marshall doesn’t or can’t have a place in the Majors, and what he did a couple years ago is 2007, not 2009. He’s had time to improve and he was very good overall in the Minors except for some rougher outings before he was called up.

In the Minors part of the idea is to give people like him a chance to face the hitters he’s weaker against so he can work on finding better ways to get them out. Still, Marshall is a specialist. He is very good against LHB. That is how he should be used right now when he’s in Oakland. This is about playing to the strengths of your pitchers and limiting the exposure of their weaknesses. Ziggy’s been solid overall this year but I wouldn’t use him when the other team has a series of LHB coming up, would you?

marshal

The first time around the A’s babied him since he was a rookie but he needs to get righties out or he will be just another situational lefty. The A’s don’t need a situational lefty with a young pitching staff.

Arcman - August 19, 2009 reply

If Cahill is on the young pitching staff, I think a situational lefty could help out a lot

Nick - August 19, 2009 reply

I agree with that

he should be used just against LHB’s. Not even switch hitters as they will of course turn around and bat RH.

Geren did not use him correctly and then of course Casilla sucked goats balls as he always does.

Of course I have the most confidence in Bailey, Wuertz and Ziggy when he is pitching to RHB’s. He has trouble against LHB’s but certainly not like Marshall has so far. Now we know EGon is not that good but in hindsight he would be a better choice that the two that disintegrated last night and also being that it was the 6th inning and a little early for the others.

Part of it also goes back to Mazzaro only lasting 5 innings

Then Geren may feel handcuffed in having to bring someone like Marshall into the game in a situation he’d rather not use him.

Either way, it happened.

painful

to be surrounded by fans for the visitors and the A’s LOST and then to be subjected to hootin’ & hollerin’ “let’s go YANKEES” on the bridge to BART. Me no like.

Game started out fun, two no-doubt dingers by the good guys. Thought we would trade the lead back and forth throughout the game.

Couple in font of me shooting me dirty looks for bellowing “OAKLAND” whenever a pro-Yankee chant started. Yea, I drown out those children. They’re in my stadium!

Tonight looks more promising, think I may attend again.

my_cat_max - August 19, 2009 reply

Yankee Fans Sucked

Monday night the Yankee fans were kinda quiet and, at least in my area, good natured and polite. Tuesday, not at all. I felt like I’d been removed to the Bronx. They were loud, beer-swilling idiots. The guy on our left bought two beers in the fifth inning, just so he could make sure he was drunk by the time it ended. Don’t these people realize you don’t shit on the floor in someone else’s living room?

The past few years, Red Sox fans have been worse than Yankee fans. But the Yankees are making a comeback.

I don’t know if it played quite that way on TV, but the A’s really sucked in the field. Hairston ran a few routes that would’ve made Eric Byrnes proud. Sweeney had another brain-lock. And Nomar - there’s no way Nomar should be in the field at this point, and Everidge at DH. Given how many outs Mazzarro had to make, it’s really a surprise he hung in there for five innings.

Still not sure why Casilla hasn’t been DFA’d. Though at least he knows to run to first on a ball hit to the right, which is more than you can say for the other A’s pitchers.

richwol1 - August 19, 2009 reply

the difference between the two nights

was that the Yanks were behind Monday and ahead Tuesday

In Section 115...

…the Bronx Zoo fans were in full effect from the first sighting of the Mighty Jeter before the game. On Monday night however, also in 115, it was almost like the Yankee fans were 49’er fans as opposed to Raiders fans.

Dr Pez - August 19, 2009 reply

man, that is one fat prius.

oakinboston - August 19, 2009 reply

Nomar's error may not have been an error, but...

… there were three other hardhit grounders that he couldn’t pick up, two of them we thought should have been errors except for the magic “Nomar-effect” on scorekeepers. It was around the 7th or 8th inning before he picked up a single grounder. He was a joke. And seeing him fall into second base on his (well-hit) double was a highlight matched only by the HBP (see photo above).

And Kennedy – sheesh. No range, no arm, but I’m ok with that so long as it keeps Crosby away from 3rd, since Kennedy has really worked hard on that corner. But through the legs really, really hurt.

I complained a bit about limiting innings over at the “Shut Down BA & TC” quote, but now I wanna shout about the stupid 100 pitch count idiocy. Mazz wasn’t great, but he dug out of all the holes with groundballs (including the above-mentioned Kennedy blunder) for exciting DPs, and taking him out for Marshall/Casilla (with the most excellent Jeff Gray still on the bench) was super annoying.

Last note: thought CC should have finished the game up on his own, wonder why the Yanks pulled him in the 9th?

paris7 - August 19, 2009 reply

Totally agree about Nomar --

the error charged was absurdly bad official scoring, but a good 1Bman makes a couple of the other plays that Nomar couldn’t make.

As for Kennedy, also disappointing was the “Is this the egg toss?” underhand throw to 2nd on what could have been a key inning-ending DP had he gotten the ball to Ellis quicker.