Seattle Loses, Royals Still Cruising Along, A's Slow on the Road
Seattle keeps looking like a team that is just waiting for something bad to happen. They got their wish last night as the Royals knocked them off 7-1, in a game that wasn’t that close.
Freddy Garcia has trouble with Raul Ibanez (13-18 lifetime off Freddy) and Ibanez did him in last night again. Garcia has now lost three in a row after going 5-0 in June.
The Mariners don’t hit with any authority. Ichiro is batting .354, but he doesn’t drive in many runs. The Mariners are looking for a new third baseman, left fielder, and first baseman, all traditional power spots. Those needs clearly sum up what is wrong with the Seattle offense.
Are they after Aramis Ramirez (I don’t think so, his 22 errors don’t fit on this defensive oriented team), Brian Giles (they don’t have the players to get Giles from Pittsburgh), Reggie Sanders may be more in their league or possibly Juan Gonzalez. GM Pat Gillick isn’t in Billy Beane’s league when it comes to nerve, so I don’t think the Mariners will do much to change their offense.
All this is good news for Oakland. Now, if the A’s could just play good ball on the road they might cut the four game deficit they currently have with Seattle more quickly.
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Jose Lima tweaked his groin last night, but should make his next start possibly Tuesday against the A’s. Lima throws a wicked slider just off the plate and seems to have found his control. The A’s have simply crushed Lima in the past, so we’ll see if KC gives him an extra days rest, or if they run him out there next Tuesday.
The A’s haven’t played well on artificial turf for awhile. The game last night was deja vu all over again to the 2002 playoffs. The A’s continue to struggle hitting with real authority. Eric Chavez had some bad at bats last night, looking lost at the plate. Erubiel Durazo is just not aggressive enough for me to hit third. The story of the Oakland offense is still 3-4-5 and until they let it fly, the road games will be an adventure.
Barry Zito pitched a great game in Minnesota last time through even though Bobby Kielty took him deep in the eighth to spoil his night. He had no hit stuff that night. Kielty is gone to Toronto, but the rest of the Twins are still here, so maybe Zito can duplicate his performance.
Johann Santana is a young quality lefty who may wilt under the A’s patient approach. The key for Minnesota tonight will be hitting Zito which they have done in the past, (except for last time) and then turn the game over to its shaky bullpen.
By the way, Eric Byrnes now looks lost at the plate, Ricardo Rincon had little command of his pitches last night, and Scott Hatteberg is killing the A’s in the field. Mark Ellis looks better making solid contact and Terrence Long is merely adequate in right field.
Chavez and Tejada better wake up quickly or this road trip could get sticky.
The White Sox lost another to Detroit as Bartolo Colon got rocked. The Sox should trade Colon to the Red Sox soon before it is too late.
Colon hasn’t pitched well enough to justify not moving him for a legit major league bat.
If Chicago doesn’t hit better it won’t matter who is on the mound for them. The loss last night to Detroit hastens Jerry Manuel’s expected departure, which could come at any minute.
The scouts all will be watching Kelvim Escobar in Boston tonight.
Steve Trachsel pitched quite well against the Braves although he didn’t get the decsion. I still say he would fit the Giants needs very well.
The White Sox have 13 games left with KC, they may have to win them all if they don’t start playing better baseball.
Until a team is at .500 they can’t be taken seriously. Chicago is now 45-50. I’ll get off their bandwagon until they get even.
By the way, Billy Koch is so messed up that a seemingly meaningless run he gave up last night turned out to be the game winner as Chicago rallied only to lose 10-9.
Curt Schilling looked like Curt Schilling Thursday. Randy Johnson begins his road back this Sunday. All eyes near the Bay will be watching that game with interest.
I said earlier in the season that Damian Moss would miss his Braves teammates Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. Now Moss credits a recent converstion with Glavine for straightening out his mechanics which led to his better game last night. What was he watching during his ten days off last month when he supposedly was holed up with
pitching coach Dave Righetti watching videotape? You’d think they could come up with something helpful before bringing Glavine in for a consultation.
Colorado shows up just when the Giants need a boost. Works that way every season.
Houston has Lidge to Dotel to Wagner humming along very nicely right now. With Jeff Kent back, look for the Astros to open up some ground in the Central.
The AL Wild Card race will be the one to watch. With the A’s sure to close ground on Seattle, the August games between Oakland, Toronto, New York, Boston, and Seattle will be absolutely terrific to watch.
The Marlins are 5 back in the NL Wild Card, watch them out of the break, their pitching is young and strong and if they stay healthy I expect them to get much closer to the Phillies and Arizona.
It sure looked hot in KC Thursday night, could lead to some high scoring this week no matter who pitches.
If Tim Hudson had Roy Halladay’s luck, Hudson would be 14-2 also.
With very few off days coming up, the bats will be coming alive for most teams.
Big start for Jeremy Affeldt tonight because KC needs one power pitcher to make this lead stand up, regardless of how inept Chicago and Minnesota may be right now.
0 comments
So much for a new hitting coach. The A’s look awful right now. Chavez is a non-factor and everyone knows it. Byrnes needs to go down in the order–switch with Ellis maybe. Or maybe put Durazo as leadoff hitter. I know that sounds silly, but he is at least getting on base. How many innings have we had with 2 outs, Durazo comes up and gets a hit or walk and then comes the 3rd out. Can we use the word bunt?
All eyes are on Harden, but unless they get him some run support, he will just be another Tim Hudson.
The A’s sure struggle on that ugly turf. Couldn’t they play a practice inning to get it out of their system? Don’t be too hard on Hatteberg. The Metrodome is just haunted for some players. They put themselves in quite a hole last night and then had no offense. Better luck tonight.
With all due respect to Hatteberg he is playing a power position, first base, and is hitting .259 with 25 of his 84 hits for extra bases. As a fielder he is below average and on a team that is expected to win a title it simply isn’t good enough. He is a terrific team player, hits well in the clutch, and would be a dynamite player off the bench. He has become an accomplished extra type player by perfecting the A’s patient hitting approach at the plate. For me, on this team with the prospect of losing Tejada next season, I’d look to upgrade first base and not get involved with a multi year deal which keeps Hatteberg at first base for the next two seasons. I’ve suggested JT Snow as a replacement, Snow doesn’t have power numbers either but is the best fielding first baseman I’ve ever seen and that would help the A’s especially if Bobby Crosby is at short next year. I’d like to see Hatteberg coming off the bench late in the game to deliver a key hit.
Marty
You’re exactly right about Hattaberg, Marty. He is a bench guy, plain and simple. He doesn’t have the footwork or the hands to play first (he should have had 3 errors last night, not one.) and he doesn’t hit enough to justify playing every day, especially at a position like first.
-Mike
my thoughts regarding eric byrnes are as follows. Byrnes was a lightly regarded utility
outfielder who came to play. However, the more he played, the more a “book” was developed. Scouts had a chance to see him and it doesn’t take long for his weaknesses
to be known to all the clubs. Byrnes must now
make adjustments or he will be back to the bench.
I was suprised to see no comment on Junior Griffey’s season ending injury. My feeling is that Junior id through in Cincy. It will be better
for him to play in the AL and DH for the rest of his career. Centerfield requires a lot of running.
His 4 years in the NL have been a disaster but
if he gets healthy he still has a chance to reach the 600 homer mark
Anybody else have thoughtson these issues?
Jerry F
Alameda
Boy, a lot of real good comments today.
I agree with several thoughts from all posters, except, of course, Mike, who continues to get incited by Marty about Hatteberg.
Granted, Hatty may have a hard time on fake turf in that abberation of a ballpark that is the Metrodome, but I quoted numbers a post or so ago indicang that Hatty is 3rd among all AL firstbasemen in fielding percentage and in the top five in hitting with men in scoring position. The guy always gives a good at bat and I dont care if he knocks in runs with a single or a homer. He produces.
I think the A’s focus should be on the other power positions: 3rd base, left field, right field.
Marty has just now started to touch on Chavez’s season long ineptitude. He did have horrible at bats last night and ran the bases with disinterest. I’ve got the feeling he needs to find his maturity with another team. Even if Miggy still goes, I would send Chavez packing while his value is high and resign Keith Foulke with the savings. I dont see Valentine progressing enough in the minors to be our closer just yet.
Meanwhile, we are desperate for a Brian Giles-type hitting corner outfielder. Konerko and Wilkerson are other names that come to mind.
Marty, still love ya man.
Reno Bill
Reno Bill,
Hatteberg managed another error that led to an unearned run tonight. He doesn’t have any hands or footwork, man. That’s the true of the matter. I’m aware of his fielding percentage. That statistic does not factor in shorthops that he should be able to dig and hardhit balls that he should be able to stop right beside him, however. His defense costs the A’s wins in close games. And his success with hitting with RISP is more of a reason for him to come off the bench than start. He doesn’t hit consistently enough. He pops up almost as much as Ellis.
-Mike
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