Tonight’s game has been postponed after news of the death of last nights starting pitcher Nick Adenhart. After dominating the A’s, Adenhart was killed in a car accident after the game, we all feel for the his family and friends.
You gotta love this game!
A’s win it in the ninth with three runs off garbage closer Brian Fuentes, (personal shot I know but it’s a blog) after trailing most of the night three nothing. The A’s got to the Angels bullpen for three in the eighth and three more in the ninth, then Brad Ziegler shut the door.
MVP of the night for me is Ryan Sweeney who continued hitting tonight with another three-hit performance, the most pivotal of the three coming in the eighth with two on and two out. Sweeney roped a line drive single up the middle to put the A’s within reaching distance. The ninth then came around and with two outs, Suzuki squibbed a hit up halfway up the first base line that should have ended the game, but Angels closer Fuentes and catcher Napoli hesitated and Suzuki was safe. Next up was pinch-hitter Nomar Garciaparra who hit a floater into left that drove in the tying run.
The next two runs came via base hits from Mark Ellis and “sick boy” Matt Holiday. Holiday came into the game as a pinch hitter because he was sick with the flu. The guy gets my respect with the effort, although earlier I was a little frustrated not seeing him in the lineup again.
A’s burly left-hander Dana Eveland went six innings while giving up three earned runs, eight hits, and walking two, while striking out four. Eveland was cruising through the game until the fourth, where he surrendered all three runs and four hits.
Rookie reliever Andrew Bailey got the win, his first ever Major League victory as he continued to impress with another scoreless inning of relief.
Take it easy A’s fans
A’s take game two from rival Angels, 6-4
Man I love having “the bouncer” back in the lineup. He makes me wanna scream, “you’re my boy blue!”
Tonight, although a nail-biter for Major League virgin pitcher Trevor Cahill and some of us fans, showcased what the A’s are capable of offensively and defensively.
Cust will drop some little league fly balls and cost the A’s runs, while the remaining Oakland defense will mostly do what’s expected of a major-league club.
Garciaparra tonight gets my praise, as he dug up some difficult in-betweener’s from Erik Chavez and Orlando Cabrera. Also, I’m swallowing my words (for now) from yesterday but not digesting them until I can see some consistency from Garciaparra at first, but tonight he really was big for the A’s.
I won’t waste any time on the Cust in right field drama, we all know too well by now, but I will say this, he got one more than he gave up, so that’s a plus. The remaining offense was great tonight, 16 hits! Nice 2009 coming out parties for Giambi, Cust, and Sweeney, all with three hits, while Gaciaparra and Ellis had two apiece.
Young Trevor Cahill had to be feeling it tonight, facing the division rival Angels, a huge stage, bigger expectations, and a bunch of family and friends all watching. Considering all of that, he did pretty well. He will have to be more consistent though, to stay up, but he held his own going five, walking five, and giving up five hits, while serving up three runs (two of them earned).
Oh, and I forgot to mention, Matt Holiday was absent.
Nice job without their stud.
Until tomorrow, go green and gold!
The A’s fell to the Angels 0-3 on opening night in Anaheim California. Starter Dallas Braden, I would have to say, did his job, surrendering three runs on eight hits, while walking one and striking out three. It was the offense that failed to get anything started, mustering a whole three hits (two off opposing starter Joe Saunders) while striking out twice.
New-comer, Matt Holiday and Orlando Cabrera, each went one for four while Jason Giambi and surprise starter Nomar Garciaparra failed to get hits.
The story was Angels Starters Joe Saunders, going sixth and two-thirds, yielding two hits, walking two and striking out two.
The side story for me was Nomar starting at first.
Oakland manager shifted the lineup from what was expected to showcase Travis Buck in right but instead elected to have Garciaparra in the lineup, forcing Buck to the bench.
This move proved costly as Garciaparra botched a throw in the dirt from shortstop Cabrera that resulted in another run making the game 2-0 Angels.
Why would Geren force Buck to the bench and Cust to right field?
This to me is forcing the issue of having Garciaparra in the lineup, and results in spotty defense in right. The philosophy is put up runs and play good defense behind the un-proven pitching, right??
Also can anyone explain to me why Geren would elect to have Garciaparra playing first over Giambi? I know Giambi’s defense isn’t great but he’s a better defender at the corner than is Garciaparra.
The A’s offense will click, don’t worry but Geren must be careful on the lineups he’s putting in there, or it could lead to some heartbreaking games for the green-horn pitchers.
Let me know what you think of the opening day roster and the first game.
Go A’s!
So here it is, the 2009 opening day, 25-man roster. Surprised by anything? how about Gio Gonzalez returning to Sacramento?
I must say, having Sean Gallagher as a long reliever scares me some. He has been very wild all spring. I’d rather have Gonzalez the long-reliever and Gallagher starting in Sacramento.
Also how about Andrew Bailey making the team straight from AA. He’s looked mighty impressive so why not give him a shot.
Bob Geren mentioned that his Saturday lineup will be opening day’s. Here it is for those of you who missed it:
RF Ryan Sweeney, SS Cabrera, 1B Jason Giambi, LF Matt Holliday, 3B Eric Chavez, DH Jack Cust, C Kurt Suzuki, RF Travis Buck and 2B Mark Ellis.
Let me know what you think of the decisions.
Pitchers:
49 Brett Anderson
48 Andrew Bailey
13 Jerry Blevins
51 Dallas Braden
53 Trevor Cahill
44 Santiago Casilla
30 Dana Eveland
39 Sean Gallagher
55 Josh Outman
36 Russ Springer
48 Michael Wuertz
31 Brad Ziegler
Catchers:
35 Landon Powell
8 Kurt Suzuki
Outfielders:
6 Travis Buck
32 Jack Cust
11 Rajai Davis
5 Matt Holliday
15 Ryan Sweeney
Infielders:
18 Orlando Cabrera
3 Eric Chavez
7 Bobby Crosby
14 Mark Ellis
1 Nomar Garciaparra
16 Jason Giambi
Going into the season, most of us knew the A’s rotation would make or break the season, but how many projected out a four-man lefty rotation? This is either an extremely temporary situation or Billy Beane is showcasing some young talent for a proven veteran, at least I hope.
Believing in the 21-year-old’s (Cahill, Anderson) is already asking a lot, but four lefty’s, most without much experience is asking too much.
So that’s why I say Billy Bean is up to something, as he is every year.
The A’s have a ton of depth -even after Cahill and Anderson- in the pitching department so why not package one of the two and a couple of minor-leaguer’s with promise for a proven Big-league talent, say Jake Peavy? The A’s could afford to lose one of the two, if it meant receiving a player of Peavy’s caliber. The money I know would be an issue but the A’s will be off the hook next season for a considerable amount after Crosby, Cabrera, Holliday (most likely), and possibly more. This move would continue in the philosophy of Billy Beane of building for the future while staying competitive, as it will also (other than the money) provide the young pitchers, a stable ace to provide leadership. This move would not inhibit their future too much and it would provide a much needed lift in the pitching department for this year’s pennant race.
So is a move such as this, farfetched or is it something that needs to be done? From an A’s fan point of view I can’t see the young pitching withstand the length and adversity in which a Major League season brings.
The West will come down to pitching as it always has, and right now, with all the pitching injuries, the division is up for grabs.
