It's a good day for a rookie pitcher when he can go five innings, give up three runs, and still get the easy win, as his offense exploded for ten runs--something the A's don't do very often. The big blow in this game was the fifth inning, two-out grand slam by Landon Powell to break open the game, and lead the A's to another series win.
The A's made short work of Brian Bannister, who would leave the game with an injury in the second inning, but they hit his replacement harder--Yabuta was the proud owner of five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Cahill shut the Royals down in the second (after another leadoff walk), and the A's put the game out of reach in the bottom of the inning. After Bannister left the game, Patterson doubled, Kennedy singled, Davis knocked in a run with a sac fly, Sweeney singled, Cust walked to load the bases, bringing up Landon Powell. Spoiler: He hit a grand slam.
With the 8-0 lead, there wasn't much left for Cahill to do except get through five. He struggled in the third, allowing a couple of doubles, a single, and a homerun, but the thee runs hardly made a dent in anything but his ERA. The A's would answer back with a couple of walks, a single, and an RBI-HBP (Davis, who would end up 2-3 with 2 RBIs).
Aside from a token run in the ninth by the Royals, the scoring was finished. The 10-3 lead allowed some of the expanded roster callups to be showcased; Kilby for 2 (1 H, 2 K), Blevins for 1, (0 H, 2 K), and Eveland for 1 (2 H, 1 R).
All in all, a solid win for the green and gold, as the Royals leave town, and the Mariners are ushered back in. Tomorrow's game is at 7:05, Snell vs. Tomko. We'll see you right here!
0 recs | 81 comments
I LIEK WINZ.
mikev - September 2, 2009
I HERD
ElQuesoCapitan - September 2, 2009
So, Landon shook Yabuta?
The Dogfather - September 2, 2009
Yep!
Right here
lynnzgal - September 2, 2009
Nice job by the Green & Gold
I was mid type in the game thread and my work computer locked up. I had to restart my computer and stayed away from AN until now. I am now at home and my laptop is worlds better than that POS I use at work.
adragon - September 2, 2009
Let's see a Wednesday day game in September vs the Royals
I bet scalpers and StubHub made a fortune today. Always good to hear the boys won.
sirbed - September 2, 2009
did u know that you can comment from your cell phone from the Holiday Inn
wacchampions - September 2, 2009 via mobile
Yes!
Rated-R Superstar - September 2, 2009
We were thinking about you in the game thread
Fantasy baseball will do that
adragon - September 2, 2009
No! LOL
How was EI? Did you get Robert Buan’s auto? LOL
cuppingmaster - September 2, 2009 via mobile
No I did not get Robert Buan's Autograph...Darn!!
But at the request of Zigfan I did get some pictures which I will post a little later!! My firend also got Suzuki’s autograph…it was actually a very fun event….
wacchampions - September 2, 2009
I heard parts of that Gio was funny
Future Ed - September 2, 2009
He was very funny and seemed to be very nice person from what I could tell in the hour or so that they were there...
wacchampions - September 2, 2009
about the only part of the game that I could listen to today
was Powell’s grand slam
OaklandSi - September 2, 2009
That was the best part!!
cuppingmaster - September 2, 2009 via mobile
If I'd known beforehand that my boss didn't really mean it
about taking Wednesdays off, I would have been there.
lynnzgal - September 2, 2009
I would so be there if not for work
but I have tickets to Friday’s and Sunday’s game, at least
OaklandSi - September 2, 2009
I need to either unload my ticket for Sunday
(need to visit mom) or trade it in for Friday. You just made that decision a little easier. Where you sitting?
lynnzgal - September 2, 2009
225 both games
OaklandSi - September 2, 2009
on Sunday the giveaway is a 1929 Philadelphia A's hat
it’ll go nicely with the “turn back the clock day” jersey — if that helps
OaklandSi - September 2, 2009
Waah!
I can’t go to that one! But, I really want that hat!
(tries to figure out how to visit mom, AND get the hat)
lynnzgal - September 2, 2009
Yeah, definitely didn't know it was a day game today.
I could have entertained myself when I was at the library. Ah well, it’s probably better that I was oblivious.
So, I pretty much love Landon Powell. He is awesome.
whiteshoes40 - September 2, 2009
+1
lynnzgal - September 2, 2009
Landon Power!
ElQuesoCapitan - September 2, 2009
Boom Boom Powell!
SwisherThresher - September 2, 2009
just wow.
i amazed at rajai’s progress. proving again, that i am an idiot who should have nothing to do with any sort of baseball decision ever.
tresselfan - September 2, 2009 via mobile
yes me too
My earlier characterization of him was garbage, he is obviously a coachable dude and can get better and more disciplined. Hard not to keep him based on the last few months of steady progrss, perhaps even long term although maybe that’s going too far, dunno.
emperor nobody - September 2, 2009
Considering how we were all yelling for him to be DFA'd (myself included)
I really like what he’s done, and if he puts together another good season next year, he could get himself a nice little extension. With luck, CF would be fixed.
Orodawg - September 2, 2009
not all of us
OaklandSi - September 2, 2009
Exactly
grover - September 2, 2009
Um grover you were one of them...
From May 30
designatedforassignment - September 3, 2009
In grover's partial defense,
he may have thought Rajai would clear waivers at that time. I know I did.
iglew - September 3, 2009
I was always a fan of his speed, but who saw this coming?
I mean, he was basically strictly a Cust-Nomar PR to start the season. He’ll finish the year no worst than out third most valuable player. In my mind, he’s our starting CF in 2010; I don’t he how he couldn’t be.
Emperor nobody said it when he said Rajai has shown his coachability. He’s working deeper counts and has taken to choking up on the bat, which has increased his contact, which reaps extereme benefits for a guy with his speed. I’m totally ready to let Davis take over CF and let Sweeney, Buck & Cunningham duke it out for RF.
RyanFromBonas - September 2, 2009
Ultimately, I think the A's would be wise to
expect Rajai to play about 1/2 the time, at most, on a good A’s team — starting every game against LHP and maybe another 40 against RHP that are decent matchups for him. I still think a combo of Sweeney-Davis could be a good CF option, leaving the corners for guys with more power like (whoever is actually on the team from among) Hairston, Cunningham, and Buck, soon joined in the mix by Doolittle and Carter.
Nico - September 2, 2009
I am still not convinced Davis is a good idea going forward
Maybe if there are no other takers in CF next year Nico’s platoon is good.
Future Ed - September 2, 2009
Call it a SSS alert, but I'm REALLY fucking souring on Hairston.
Like.. a LOT.
mikev - September 2, 2009
SSS alert
And he’s been injured
hero66 - September 2, 2009
Don't care.
He’s looked like shit in the field, hasn’t hit, KEEPS GETTING HURT OVER AND OVER, and just doesn’t look good.
At least Holliday put up good numbers while people hated on him. Hairston is pretty much doing jack shit.
mikev - September 2, 2009
Urban agrees with you on his blog
OaklandSi - September 3, 2009
Yikes! mikev is now scrambling to change his opinion...
Faust - September 3, 2009
Dont care that you're overreacting
To a small sample size put up while he’s been injured?
Seems like a flawed argument to me.
hero66 - September 3, 2009
He sure botched that play in LF today and cost Eveland a run.
designatedforassignment - September 2, 2009
at least he's not scott hairston
ElQuesoCapitan - September 2, 2009
Nice to get home from work & see the score
Go A’s!
In other scoreboard news, the fans at Purple Row are loving Giambi right now
SwisherThresher - September 2, 2009
More proof that all you have to do to hit
is leave the A’s.
Nico - September 2, 2009
Not surprising to me
I believe the reason Holliday struggled so much was because he never got a day off. He looked tired running the basepaths and was often late on fastballs he would crush. Really, how often did he get a day off here? I’d like to know.
Could be the same thing for O-cab. He also started hitting, not coincidentally, after the ASB.
I’m almost certain that’s what it was for Giambi. Dude was playing first base like every day. He can’t do that anymore.
hero66 - September 2, 2009
It was because they didn't smile
Future Ed - September 2, 2009
Ah the symptoms you have described are for the deadly Zookitus
adragon - September 2, 2009
Holliday's a big boy
He played 158 games in 2007 and 155 in 06 and no one cared if he got a day off or not then. I think he just putz’ed it while he was with us, and he also wasn’t at Coors so his power went down, humidor be damned.
O-Cab seemed like he liked it here and progressively got better. Nothing against him at all.
I’m not convinced Giambi will be this year’s Matt Stairs, yet. He had a clutch single tonight, but that doesn’t signify his return to being an offensive force.
cuppingmaster - September 2, 2009
Oh my God
Why the hell would Holliday INTENTIONALLY perform poorly in his contract year? Holy shit, this is ridiculous. He was playing in Oakland, not Coors, and you realize that it gets much hotter here during the spring/summertime than it does in Colorado, right? That can wear you down.
O-Cab didn’t hit a lick until after the ASB. What do you mean “progressively got better”?
hero66 - September 3, 2009
Or go to the NL
Helloooo 1st - September 2, 2009
Not to sound mean
I am glad his family is ok and can return to their home now, but hey furcal! still think LA is better than oakland?
Future Ed - September 2, 2009
Thank god we didn't sign him
Helloooo 1st - September 2, 2009
Is this fire-related?
I seem to remember the Oakland hills having a pretty nasty one.
Flashfire - September 2, 2009
Yeah, I thought of that
Nowhere is safe in CA these days. grover has job security at least.
Future Ed - September 2, 2009
They were smart enough to get rid of the Raiders though
designatedforassignment - September 2, 2009
and the Rams
but USC still has professional football
Future Ed - September 2, 2009
Except when their players hit the pros.
Then they become busts.
OldhamA - September 3, 2009
a question about call ups
is this guy Chris Carter for real. i know if d isnt that solid, but he seems to have power. does this end jack cust days w oakland
also what is kennedy’s contract like, is he signed threw next year
jhroac02 - September 3, 2009
Chris Carter is for real.
But he’s not going to be called up this year.
We’ll very likely see him some time next year. I think he’s a serious candidate, but not a lock, for opening day roster.
I don’t think Carter is a threat to Cust. As I understand it, Carter’s defense is passable for LF, 1B, or RF, so he doesn’t have to play DH. There are other reasons Cust might be dropped, but I don’t think Carter is a factor there.
iglew - September 3, 2009
AK is a FA after this year
adragon - September 3, 2009
I think Carter is for real but it's too soon to call him up
He’s progressing well but he still has to improve against pitches with movement on them. If he gets brought up before he’s at least adequate there pitchers will destroy him because all they’ll do is throw him stuff he’ll chase, though he’s been getting better at laying off pitches that aren’t around the plate.
Flashfire - September 3, 2009
Honestly that might not be a bad idea to give him a handfull of ABs against ML breaking stuff
so he knows how far he needs to come next year. Its not going to burn an option and he needs to be put on the 40 man anyway.
designatedforassignment - September 3, 2009
There is a point to that
Could just as easily see it in Spring Training too, though it is a different environment in terms of what people are working on.
I don’t know him personally so I don’t know what his work ethic is aside from the evidence we’ve seen of his improvement, but if anything my biggest “fear” right now is actually him getting a couple weeks up here before the end of the season, mashing because he gets nothing but fastballs, and going into next year thinking it’s too easy. Then fans have even higher expectations of him and when he struggles and needs to go back and figure things out all over again, the “bust” label forms.
In a sense, it’d be the same kind of thing that happened to Barton, who just recently acknowledged last year was a wakeup call for him in that it really was harder than it looked at first.
Flashfire - September 3, 2009
That is a good point.
It does cut both ways.
designatedforassignment - September 3, 2009
I guess I'm paranoid
I don’t want to treat Carter with kid gloves but I do believe in letting him establish the pace he’ll set based on his performance without being too quick to rush him just because he’s looking good. He’s got time.
Flashfire - September 3, 2009
It may have been a wakeup call
But he hasn’t actually woken up yet, has he? I keep pulling for him to break through, but there’s precious little indication of it so far.
Faust - September 3, 2009
I dunno
From what little I’ve had the chance to see lately it seems his swings and contact have been better, if not the results. Maybe there’s something backing that up?
Flashfire - September 3, 2009
H-Rod
Will he be called up later this month?
TBRMKane - September 3, 2009
I sure hope not
He’s still learning how to pitch instead of just throwing and hoping it’s around the plate.
Flashfire - September 3, 2009
His clock is ticking though.
He better start putting it all together soon.
travdog6 - September 3, 2009
Pitchers sometimes take time
I think he’ll be around until his roster position is needed.
Barton on the other hand
-he’s got this month. If his average doesn’t soar, I think he’s done. If the A’s sign Cabrera in the off-season, then there’s no room for Barton on the club. I suspect (I know this is insane) that Chavez will start the season at 3B, in which case Cabrera plays first, with Landon Powell as his back-up. And Wallace, Carter and Doolittle all make their debuts some time during the season, with no rush. If Chavez retires, then I think we’ll see Wallace at 3B, and again, Cabrera at 1B, marking time for Carter.richwol1 - September 3, 2009
Which Cabrera are you acquiring and why would he be playing first base?
designatedforassignment - September 3, 2009
Zero chance that Chavy hangs it up....
Especially since he’s owed 11 million for the 10 season. He’d be a fool. Although I think he’s done, I’ll be a little miffed if he has a monster year next season. Mainly because there’s no way I’d want the A’s to sign him, but I’ll still be pissed if he goes on to have a few more seasons left with someone like the Angels.
alox - September 3, 2009
HRod is Rule V eligible soon, no?
I think he needs to be put on the 40 man in 2 years? Can someone help me out with that? But there are going to be a lot of guys commanding 40 man spots. So it will be interesting to see what happens.
travdog6 - September 3, 2009
Please, folks
There is no such thing as Rule V. It’s rule 5. Save the pretentious Roman numerals for suitable stuff like the Super Bowl. (No offense – you see it referred to as “Rule V” ALL THE DAMN TIME so no wonder people think that’s what it is.) It’s a very humble draft and makes do with regular down-home arabic numerals. (But don’t tell anyone they’re arabic numerals, or Republicans will fill up our TVs insisting that we go back to patriotic Roman numerals, which will crater the economy and lead to the downfall of civilization. I’m just sayin’.)
Faust - September 3, 2009
I think you might have underreacted.
Anyways, does anyone know when HRod is rule 5 eligible?
travdog6 - September 3, 2009
Since I griped at you about nitpicky stuff, I might as well take a stab at answering your substantive question
The quick answer is, he’s not eligible for the Rule 5 draft – but it’s a misleading answer because it’s not really the right question. The Rule 5 draft is for players not on the 40-man roster – and since Henry is on the 40-man, the draft is not an issue for him.
The real issue for Henry (and this may be what you were really thinking of) is running out of options before he’s actually ready to assume a role in the major leagues.
According to BA, Henry was signed in 2003 (at age 16). According to the CBA (as modified in 2006), he wouldn’t be Rule 5 eligible until after his first 4 seasons in the organization. That means should have been eligible after the 2006 season. However, he only actually reached the minor leagues in 2006, and didn’t play above the Arizona rookie league, so the A’s didn’t bother to protect him – no one gets drafted from that low down.
The A’s did add him to the 40-man roster after the 2007 season (see the November 20 transactions here). That means he’s spent 2008 and 2009 on optional assignment to the minors, but it also means (fortunately!) that he has one option year left. If he didn’t have that remaining year, he’d have to stick in the majors next year or the A’s would have to pass him through waivers to get him back down to Sacramento (and there’s no way he’d get through waivers). As it is, the A’s won’t have to face that problem for another year – let’s hope Henry figures it out before then.
Faust - September 5, 2009
Its a V because its a section of the contract which because its a legal agreement has Roman Numerals
designatedforassignment - September 3, 2009
As someone who reviews contracts all day at times
They don’t all have Roman numerals.
jeffro - September 4, 2009
Right.
And in this particular instance, the rules in question do not use Roman numerals.So saying “Rule V” is simply incorrect. It’s a very minor thing (despite my temporary outbreak of hysteria above) but it’s still incorrect.
Faust - September 5, 2009
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