Beaneball

Two more games, two more wins, one more East Coast series to the A's. I caught the end of today's afternoon matchup (morning matchup for those on the west coast) on Gameday whilst at "work."** It was obviously a very nice outcome, with Barry Zito getting through seven innings, allowing just one run, getting a bunch of double plays, and the offense putting up a slew (three) of home runs. Milton Bradley's got nine hits in his last five games, and he's been batting third, which looks like a great idea with Bobby Crosby struggling to do anything but hit the occasional ground ball through the hole (though he added a homer in game two of the series), Mark Ellis struggling (though he also added a homer), Mark Kotsay having apparently lost all semblence of power, Eric Chavez hurt and apparently unable to really drive the ball, Jay Payton making as many outs as he ever does (but minus the power), and Bobby Kielty as inconsistent against right-handers as usual. In other words, the offense sucks, and it's up to Milton Bradley and Frank Thomas to carry the offense. That's a couple of china plates in the bull-infested shop that is Oakland these days, though, so there's certain to be a lot of worrying in A's fandom over the next few months. For today, though, we can celebrate, because the two men with dual reputations for grumpiness and lumber-swinging went for five hits (two homers) in eight at-bats this afternoon, giving Zito all he needed to work with. Plus, the Angels finally lost again, so the A's are up to a 1.5 game lead in the West. That feels like a veritable cushion after the last few days.

Posted by Jason Wojciechowski in Oakland A's at 22:56 | |

I'm a terrible blogger. Tonight's A's-Orioles pitching matchup really struck me. Esteban Loaiza brings his 6+ ERA in to face Russ Ortiz's 7+ ERA. That's ugly, especially for two famous guys, particularly since the former is in the first year of a $21M contract. Maybe Billy Beane ought to hire somebody else to deal with the whole free agency thing. Or maybe the owners should pretend they don't have any money. Oh, wait, they already do. The A's are down to a half-game lead as the Angels have streaked their way into second place. Just as the A's tossed Jason Windsor into the fire for his first major league start last night, the Angels did the same with Dustin Moseley against the Indians. Moseley (four runs, ten hits, two homers in five innings) came off worse than Windsor (three runs, five hits, three walks in five innings), particularly since two of Windsor's runs were unearned (though on his own error on what was reportedly a really shaky throw to first base). Unfortunately for the A's, the Angels bludgeoned the Cleveland staff for ten runs, so they were able to grant Moseley his first big-league win. Tonight sees another rookie making his big-league debut for Anaheim. Joe Saunders, who's apparently an actual prospect (as opposed to Moseley, who's apparently more of a fill-in), will throw for the Angels against Cliff Lee. The A's-Angels tale of the tape looks like this for tonight: Anaheim is throwing the better pitcher, but they're also facing the better pitcher, but (double-but) they also have a better lineup, but (triple-but) they're also facing the better lineup. In other words, it all comes out in the wash, and anybody could be in first place tomorrow. If you put a gun to my head, I say the A's win 6-4 and the Angels win 8-5.

Posted by Jason Wojciechowski in Oakland A's at 11:18 | |