You always hope that when your team comes to bat for the first time, the score is still kind of close. Such wasn't the case today at the Coliseum, as Vin Mazzaro set a high standard of suck early and then exceeded all expectations.
There was nobody out when Aaron Hill banged a two-run HR, his WTF 26th of the season, and there was still nobody out when Alex Rios cleared the bases with a three-run double. 5-0 before Mazzaro got the game's ceremonial first out. What is Mazzaro's problem? The number of fastballs down the middle appears to be a bit of a detriment. Eyeballing it, I would add two possible contributors to Mazzaro's downfall.
One is that in Spring Training, and in his first two starts, Mazzaro's fastball appeared to jump out of his hand and get on the hitter quickly. Lately, the fastball velocity is the same but the action just isn't -- his fastball seems to be fading as it gets to the plate, rather than finishing with that "giddyup" that shows up not on the radar gun, but rather in the batters' reactions.
The other thing I notice is that batters aren't out in front of Mazzaro's slider enough. When a pitcher throws the changeup too slow, the batter can get a "second wind" if he is initially out on the front foot. Similarly with breaking pitches out of the strike zone, you need the hitter to have committed by the time it's clearly not a fastball. If Mazzaro threw the slider a tad harder, he might have hitters committing on pitches they are currently laying off.
In any event, the game was 2-2 from the top of the first on, in a game where the Blue Jays were more than satisfied to trade runs for most of the afternoon. Until baseball adopts the "mulligan," the A's are going to lose games like this, and lose they most certainly did. Mazzaro has now gone 0-8 in his last 10 starts, making "Mazzaro World" a distant, if vaguely pleasant, memory.
0 recs | 101 comments
Glad
I was at work instead of crying on my couch watching this crap
A's10thMan - August 2, 2009 via mobile
I was there
so I totally absorbed the bullet that missed you.
What a freaking disappointment. I thought Mazzaro wouldn’t get out of the first inning. The rest of the game was pretty much a snooze fest.
oaklandSMASH - August 2, 2009
Cahill and Mazzaro to AAA NOW!
…who cares who gets brought up in their place…baseball is 90% mental, and sending these kids out every fifth day to get pounded on could destroy their confidence. The innings are piling up, too, so destroyed arms could trump even destroyed confidence…SEND THEM DOWN NOW!
kitoko - August 2, 2009
Agreed.
And pitching them back-to-back can’t be helping either.
Coach Cleats - August 2, 2009
I'm glad all these poundings are good for their character --
By September, they’re going to have enough character to sink a fricking battleship.
Nico - August 2, 2009
...but they won't want to, because they'll be above that sort of thing.
Leopold Bloom - August 2, 2009
These two have given up a zillion runs between them
And it does not look like stopping.
Mazzaro just throws BP.
Hopefully they get it soon for their sanity.
No one has heard from Duke.
I personally do not think he will ever pitch for the A’s again. Has a non baseball related issue and they still have not heard from him. Sounds like he just walked away and said fuck it. But that is just me speculating. It would not surprise me.
Trainman - August 2, 2009
It's a little weird. What was this "non baseball related issue"?
DId he suddenly have a basketball related issue?
Nico - August 2, 2009
considering the team is down the ol sha-shaftsky
ak_A - August 2, 2009
+1
I’ve always thought that some of these “kids” aren’t mentally ready yet. They might have great stuff, but if they can’t hold it together mentally they shouldn’t be in the bigs. Also, Geren doesn’t do them any justice by leaving them in there when they’re getting shelled, if they can’t get anyone out, get them out of the game. All of this just leads me to say one thing – Ron Washington for President
caliboy02837 - August 2, 2009
At this point, I agree
We’ve seen enough to know they’re not ML-ready. I’d bring up the recently acquired Clay Mortensen, and go with a rotation of Anderson, Braden, Mortensen, and some combination of Duke when he returns/Edgar Gonzalez (because at least if it’s him getting pounded, we know we’re not screwing up any important development time)/Eveland. Gio belongs in AAA until he can stop walking five and a half dudes every nine innings, too.
walk off bunt - August 2, 2009
I'll go with most of that
Except for Gio. He’s done everything he needs to do in AAA. And the last two starts show that he’s beginning to get the hang of being a major leaguer. He needs to pitch for the A’s at this point. AAA will do nothing for him.
But at this point, I’d send Mazzaro and Cahill back to AAA, bring up Mortensen and Eveland, and put Edgar and Mortensen in the rotation with Eveland as the long man.
richwol1 - August 2, 2009
Agreed, agreed, agreed
Or I guess the accepted shorthand is “+1” or “+ a million googolplexes” or some such thing.
But yes, send them both the fuck down. Especially Cahill, since that has really important service time implications. Bring up warm bodies of one sort or another to take their places – it doesn’t matter (to be a bit cold-blooded about it) what happens to Eveland or Edgar, but having our ace prospects get completely overmatched isn’t doing anybody any good. Anderson and Outman passed the test. Cahill and Mazzaro flunked and need a refresher course. It happens, and it doesn’t mean they won’t be back – look at Buchholz and Hughes for much-hyped guys who did huge faceplants but have largely recovered from it – but they don’t belong here now. Not helping the team or themselves getting their asses handed to them every time out.
Faust - August 2, 2009
I would have said the same thing about Anderson when Cahill was doing well
Jessse - August 2, 2009
For the record, Cahill's peripheral stats were always lousy.
PIck one of two rookie pitchers:
Pitcher 1: good ERA, K/BB around 1, and not striking out many guys to boot.
Pitcher 2: lousy ERA, decent K/BB, susceptible to the big inning but generally will give you 5 scoreless innings in addition to the crap one.
Anderson (pitcher #2) is starting to figure it out, whereas Cahill (#1) is struggling to survive. I’d take pitcher #2 even with all the frustrating swings over the regression-prone #1 every time.
speckops - August 3, 2009
I am not sure what sending them down would acomplish
Vin has been there and was lights out. I can’t see what Cahill can learn in AAA that he can’t work out in Oakland. The A’s have already used up Cahill’s year, so let him sink or swim in the bigs.
Future Ed - August 2, 2009
Argh
No, they haven’t “used up his year.” See here.
Faust - August 3, 2009
My bad. That's a real damn complicated situation, and I thought it was way more simple than that.
speckops - August 3, 2009
SO as of Aug 3
Cahill, and Anderson have 118 if the clock starts on opening day for the league (117 if its the teams Opening day)
September 24 is 172 (Sept 25 if its the A’s opening day)
Mazarro 68 (69)
Future Ed - August 3, 2009
What's up with the Line-up Card,
Crosby at 1st and Everidge at DH, all so that Jack can play in right? Apparently, the As need a new player to cover for Halliday’s OF loss. Cust is a total zero out there, and his errors (always called “singles” or “doubles”) are ridiculous. The As are a team of DHs (Cust, Giambi) and PHs (Garciaparra), and then end up with an actual position player at the DH.
Will we be free of Crosby next year?
Oh, and go Rajai! What’s up with that? Is he a player for 2010?
paris7 - August 2, 2009
I wish Cust was only a zero in right.
But he’s below even that. It’s interesting to me that despite the fact that Crosby acts like a baby, he regularly gets playing time anyway. He’s a terrible shortstop, an absolutely horrid third baseman, and a decent defensive first baseman, although his lack of offense makes him useless there too. Rajai is performing surprisingly well right now, so I’m all for him getting some playing time with the current roster. And I’m fairly certain Rajai will be back. Crosby at this point will be lucky to get a minor league deal.
MrMoneyBaller - August 2, 2009
When I see Crosby hit, I think...
“What a joke.” No, I’m not referring to playing Pennington, Bobby, I’m actually referring to you. You’re a .220 hitter with surprisingly little power. Wear it.
Nico - August 2, 2009
Seriously.
How many other guys in the entire league hit .220, play awful defense, and STILL complain that they want to start. Enjoy AAA next year Bobby! That, or maybe the Natinals.
MrMoneyBaller - August 3, 2009
When I see Crosby complain, I think...
“What a joke.” Bobby is delusional if he thinks he is swinging a hot bat at .219 for the year!!!
MMunoz33 - August 3, 2009
Well, at least ZigFan made cupcakes.
Thanks, ZigFan.
Rated-R Superstar - August 2, 2009
Anytime!
Glad you liked.
ZigFan31 - August 2, 2009
Rated-R Superstar - August 2, 2009
ZigFan31 - August 3, 2009
:: Eats a few. ::
Yummy!
You’re the best.
Rated-R Superstar - August 3, 2009
Can I have a cupcake?
mikev - August 3, 2009
You can have two!
ZigFan31 - August 3, 2009
Are they special ones?
mikev - August 3, 2009
Special in the sense that they are you, yes!
But not space cake special.
ZigFan31 - August 3, 2009
I don't want space cake.
But I don’t get it. You made cupcakes out of me?
mikev - August 3, 2009
Today's saving grace
A nice banner
oaklandSMASH - August 2, 2009
Comcast SportsNet California showed some kid using it as a blanket.
Rated-R Superstar - August 2, 2009
Yeah, and they failed to notice the kid next to him that was wearing it as a cape, which was much, much cooler.
Kelly - August 2, 2009
Follow our Double-A team, the Midland RockHounds, pound the living crap out of Corpus Christi.
Rated-R Superstar - August 2, 2009
Great dugout shot!!!
Yeah you can tell nobody on this team gives a crap and wants to play for Geren. Tv panned into the dugout during ninth inning and what a pathetic shot. Anderson had his hat on sideways, Sweeney had the look that the game was taking up to much of his time. It all starts with Leadership and theres none of it on this squad…. How bout Vinnies world been looking real good lately…
granja - August 2, 2009
Giambi
When G comes back I hope they don’t send down Tommy. I like the right hand option
and his compatibility with the other young players. Also, we have to get Powell’s bat in the lineup.
Graybeard - August 2, 2009
Everidge? Powell?
You mean we need to get Giambi’s and Nomar’s bats in the lineup — we have to see what those guys can do while we still can, i.e., before they’re eligible for Social Security.
Nico - August 2, 2009
Three guys I just don't want to see anymore
Giambi
Nomar
Crosby
All good guys, by all accounts. There’s so much to like about Giambi, and so much history there – I’ll even forgive him the “Have you ever been to Oakland?” comment (but I won’t accept the excuse that it was written for him – he willingly read the damn thing and gratuitously insulted the people who had supported him for years). Nomar seems like such a great guy I don’t even begrudge him Mia Hamm – it seems that he deserves her, although she’s just a tad suspect in my book in that she couldn’t single-handedly give the A’s wive a victory over the Giants wives in the softball game. Even fucking Bobby Crosby, by all accounts, is a good guy and a hard worker. Lots to admire there. It’s not his fault he didn’t have the upside we thought he did. In fact, it may be to his credit that he reached his full potential early, leading us all to think there there were yet higher levels to be reached when that wasn’t the case. If you can’t distinguish a fastball from a slider, you can’t distinguish it – it’s really not a failure of character. He’s tried to be the good soldier and mostly succeeded, and really I don’t hold it against him if he lets a few complaints leak out in his intense frustration. It’s got to be immensely disappointing to go from being the beloved (and anyone who remembers AN from his rookie year knows I do not exaggerate with my adjective) Hope of the Future to being a universally loathed bum. Haven’t been on either side of that transition, but I can empathize.
BUT – none of them will contribute to the next good A’s team. We need to see if Buck and Barton and Patterson and Pennington and Cunningham and Everidge and even Davis are going to be worth keeping around next year and beyond. It’s easy for me to say this – I’m not the guy who has to call them into an office and tell them they’re no longer wanted. Still, the governing principle for this team is now what’s good for the A’s in 2010 and beyond. And these three guys are no part of that.
Faust - August 2, 2009
sweet, sweet Faustus.
Leopold Bloom - August 3, 2009
You really love that phrase, don't you?
Faust - August 3, 2009
Caught myself
Wondering what Dana Eveland was up to during this 1st inning.
It’s rough times for an A’s fan.
Emmett89 - August 2, 2009
I know he was up to 101 pitches yesterday, 53 strikes
in 6.2 IP, 5 BBs. :-(
Nico - August 2, 2009
Maybe it's time to bring back DiNardo
richwol1 - August 2, 2009
Wow, that brings back bad memories.
Rated-R Superstar - August 2, 2009
Ah yes, I remember it well
Fastball: 86 MPH
Curve: 86 MPH
Change-up: 86 MPH
Those were the days.
richwol1 - August 2, 2009
Maybe even Saarloos
closetasfan - August 3, 2009
sweet, sweet Sarloos...
Leopold Bloom - August 3, 2009
There is no A in Sarloos.
Well, actually there is. But there isn’t the other one.
iglew - August 3, 2009
When G comes back somebodys got to go.
Who is most likely to be sent down? Is the Barton era over?
Graybeard - August 2, 2009
I was hoping Giambi would stay on the DL til September 1st
I was hoping we’d see a lot of Everidge til Barton comes off the DL. I’d love to see Nomar clear waivers and go to Boston for the rest of the season. Then we keep Barton & Everidge. With NO Giambi.
Repeat: with NO Giambi.
richwol1 - August 2, 2009
But...But...
But that would make sense.
Nico - August 2, 2009
At the game.
Beyond pathetic. I’m tired of watching minor league baseball. I want to watch a major league team. This just isn’t one anymore. I only go for the freebies, not the baseball.
Sad, Sad, Sad.
fansince1980 - August 2, 2009
The visiting team is usually a major league team.
So it’s like getting your wish.
Oh, you want our team to look like a major league team? Oops. You should’ve been more specific!
speckops - August 3, 2009
The RockHounds scored 13 runs tonight. Let’s just switch lineups.
Rated-R Superstar - August 3, 2009
And they had a no-hitter the other day, right?
That basically secures it!
speckops - August 3, 2009
It was a seven-inning no-hitter, but it still counts!
Rated-R Superstar - August 3, 2009
Pfft.
Matt Cain on the Giants got a CGV for 5 innings against the Nats earlier this year, if I recall correctly.
speckops - August 3, 2009
Man, our Community Guidelines are tough!
Nico - August 3, 2009
No, he beat up on a defenseless minor league team.
speckops - August 3, 2009
Did he post too many Rally Salmas?
oblique - August 3, 2009 via mobile
Too few -- you have to get it just right,
and you have to guess about how many is the right number.
Nico - August 3, 2009
130?
mikev - August 3, 2009
{opens trap door}
Have a nice fall! (I know it’ll be better than your Summer.)
Nico - August 3, 2009
With Rally Salma, I'm pretty sure
the correct number is two.
iglew - August 3, 2009
Seeing the Coli packed for the Sat. evening retirement ceremony
I thought today’s game on a beautiful Sunday afternoon would draw at least 25,000 w/ the banner giveaway to conclude ‘Rickey Weekend.’ Yeah, I was wrong. Terrible turnout. And it didn’t help that the awful start had people heading for the exit before the game was even half over. I stayed till the end, but only because… I got nowhere else to goooo!
SwisherThresher - August 2, 2009
You’re a trooper.
Rated-R Superstar - August 2, 2009
Aha!
I finally caught you, kid. With anyone else I wouldn’t even mention this, but since your record has been completely spotless, I figured you might appreciate it.
(And if you already knew this but were being ironic, then damn, you got me.)
iglew - August 2, 2009
I knew this, but I was being completely ironic.
Rated-R Superstar - August 2, 2009
Uh huh. Sure you were.
iglew - August 3, 2009
“Irony” is my middle name, sir.
Rated-R Superstar - August 3, 2009
I see once again Rod Barajas gettin' another HR
is this guy ever gonna get “uncomfortable” at the plate vs. the A’s??
13,000 on a nice day..I had other things to do…not even looking at the TV.
The local SF Chron sez it all…Football! Prominent triple coverage of training camps, versus the afterthought of baseball and minimal writeups. Hardly a wonder people are dis-interested in a last place team, playing for squat on August 2. The Bay Area is officially “on to football!”
One won lost won - August 2, 2009
I don’t know about the Bay Area “moving on” with the Giants in contention for a playoff spot.
Rated-R Superstar - August 2, 2009
quiet, you.
Leopold Bloom - August 2, 2009
I will do, sir.
Rated-R Superstar - August 2, 2009
Probably too late
To send Cahill and Mazzaro down. Only one month or so of AAA left. But I agree, it’s ruining their confidence at this point. Mazzaro
didn’t look confident at all, especially in the first inning. He placed his fastball fine on the
first pitch on the outside corner, then just lost command of it and three 4 straight balls
on fastballs to Bautista. Suzuki kept calling for the fastball and it wasn’t until he was
1-1 with Hill that he threw a slider that Hill tried to bunt. Kuiper and Fosse were joking,
yeah Hill keep bunting. Then a pitch later Mazzaro throws a meatball fastball down
and in and Hill strokes it out. Mazzaro looked lost at that point. Too bad we have to
send these rookies out to get battered.
SanJoseR - August 2, 2009
No-one-cares-about-your-Mariners-game Dept.:
Awesome imaginary interview with Yuniesky Betancourt in Jeff’s recap of tonight’s game, by way of giving deserved props to Omar Vizquel for a heads-up play.
Also featured: letting-Hannahan-bat fail by Wakamatsu.
iglew - August 3, 2009
I always loved it when they (the Mariners blog) posted their lineups. Everyone else — even the other team’s players — would have their position listed without quotations, but when it came to Betancourt, it was always “SS” with the quotations.
Rated-R Superstar - August 3, 2009
LL is always hilarious
travdog6 - August 3, 2009
Seriously.
I love popping in from time to time.
This post earned 134 recommendations. I have never seen anything like that before and probably never will.
Rated-R Superstar - August 3, 2009
Who can forget about their images?
This one, perhaps, may need to be brought to life.
Rated-R Superstar - August 3, 2009
Rec'd.
Someone save this. This is unbelievably awesome.
lenscrafters - August 3, 2009
Who is that??
iglew - August 3, 2009
The swing and a miss on the low and outside slider doesn't give it away?
lenscrafters - August 3, 2009
And so his head explodes?
iglew - August 3, 2009
If the swing doesn't tell ya who it is, the socks will.
Jackson23 - August 3, 2009
Well, unless you only listen on radio and never see the games on TV.
iglew - August 3, 2009
Funniest LL post ever
Starting to fade into history, but still hilarious.
iglew - August 3, 2009
I.
Am.
On.
The.
Floor.
Rated-R Superstar - August 3, 2009
Jeff is awesome.
iglew - August 3, 2009
Crosby is a ____________ .
MMunoz33 - August 3, 2009
mad libs?
speckops - August 3, 2009
the epitome of a big-league ballplayer
67MARQUEZ - August 3, 2009
30th in the league in attendance
and deserving every empty seat. Pittsburgh draws more I’m sure due to that nice new park.
bajablue - August 3, 2009
My uncle, who is from England, was recently in Pittsburgh for business and he went to a Pirates game.
Rated-R Superstar - August 3, 2009 via mobile
I was not aware that Mazzaro’s pitches have been defying the laws of physics this season.
Decreased movement, maybe. Offspeed stuff not off speed enough, maybe.
MrIncognito - August 3, 2009
It's not a physics thing -- maybe it's that he isn't hiding the ball as well
I know that with pitchers who hide the ball better, the ball seems to get in on hitters sooner, even though the actual physics from “leave hand” to “cross plate” isn’t different.
Some of it, though, and what I’m suggesting here, is whether the action occurs earlier or later; later being better because hitters have less time to react and adjust.
Nico - August 3, 2009
From Ron Washington
Tonight I will receive a warm welcome from your fans. You on the other hand, will receive boo’s and an ass kicking from the Rangers. Do us all a favor and quit. I’m tired of seeing you smell your finger every time the camera pans over your way. Now I must go figure out why Beane did not hire a qualified and respected African American, to manage his team.
Lucid Creations - August 3, 2009
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