BBTF's Game Chatter Discussion :: Athletics (11-12) @ RedSox (10-11), Monday, April 30, 2012, 7:10pm

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Monday, April 30, 2012

Athletics (11-12) @ RedSox (10-11), Monday, April 30, 2012, 7:10pm

OAK:Tommy Milone (25, LHP, 3-1, 2.00)
BOS:Clay Buchholz (27, RHP, 2-1, 8.87)

The Primer Chimp Posted: April 30, 2012 at 10:00 AM | 116 comment(s)
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1. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 04:57 PM (#4120056)

Hopefully the A's offense is what Buchholz needs to get on track. I remember him getting on track against them last year around this team (early May) in a start at the Coliseum.

2. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 06:18 PM (#4120116)

Youkilis a late scratch again with back stiffness. If he's going to miss more than a few games here, let's get WMB up here for a little trial run.

3. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:10 PM (#4120154)

A's lineup 5 guys under the mendoza line plus a .211 and a .221. Gee whiz.

4. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:18 PM (#4120158)

Why does Reddick pick facing Buchholz as a time to develop plate discipline?

5. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:19 PM (#4120159)

Walking Reddick is not easy to do.

I was sure that 2-1 to Cespedes was going to end up on the Pike. Terrible pitch, lucky outcome.

6. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:20 PM (#4120160)

Buchholz' fastball looks a little better than usual...

7. Phil Coorey. Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:20 PM (#4120161)

Yeah Youks is a ####### dinosaur - pretty much sick of him now - not looking forward to watching Clay much either - he's so boring and slow now - hope I'm wrong

8. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:20 PM (#4120162)

His fastball took 4 or 5 starts to come alive last season too, FWIW.

9. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:23 PM (#4120166)

Pedroia shaved?

10. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:25 PM (#4120167)

Carlos Pena just bunted for a hit on a 1-2 count against Felix Hernandez. Ballsy.

11. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:25 PM (#4120168)

The M's weren't even playing a full overshift either - he had bunted on the first ptich and they moved the 3B to a reasonable location.

12. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:27 PM (#4120169)

Milone appears to be a bit of a nibbler. Unless a good version of Buchholz shows up, this could be a long game.

13. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:28 PM (#4120170)

So weird to see Inge in a non-Tiger uni.

14. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:31 PM (#4120173)

Or not.

Milone still looks like a guy they should hit.

15. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:32 PM (#4120176)

Rays and Yankees both down 1-0 in top 2nd.

16. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:35 PM (#4120180)

This place is as empty as I've seen it in years.

17. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:38 PM (#4120183)

It was pretty empty for the first series against Oakland last season as I recall as well.

18. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:40 PM (#4120185)

Did the run score? ####### hell, that's dumb baseball.

19. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:41 PM (#4120187)

Little league baseball at its best

20. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:41 PM (#4120188)

Punto is a ####### retard. How the #### do you let the runner score on the run-down? Just cut him now. He's been useless on defense, which is supposed to be his goddamned strength.

21. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:42 PM (#4120190)

Who made the call to chase the runner back to second instead of chasing the runner heading home? Was that Punto?

Dumb dumb dumb.

22. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:43 PM (#4120191)

Pedroia blew it if you ask me. If he just keeps running Varton to third either the Athletics have two men on third or Suzuki has to break and he's an easy out then.

23. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:44 PM (#4120193)

Seriously, if Punto can't execute a ####### rundown he has no place on this team.

24. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:44 PM (#4120194)

That's true. Pedroia misread the situation, even though Suzuki on third was directly in his line of vision.

Punto's in a more difficult situation, but he's got to go home even if it means they don't get an out.

25. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:45 PM (#4120195)

What Jose says is also true.

26. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:45 PM (#4120196)

Wow. You cannot physically hit a ball harder than that. That topped out at what, twenty feet of elevation?

27. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:47 PM (#4120199)

I'd say maybe 30, but your point is apt.

28. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:49 PM (#4120201)

Orsillo shocked at the catcher platoon.

Orsillo doesn't know the split numbers of the team he covers. Hardly surprising. Too busy googling "Dave Mathews tribute band Kansas City"

29. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:52 PM (#4120203)

Of McDonald's six hits, five have been for extra bases. He's actually hitting pretty well so far, just hitting in a little bit of bad luck. (It helps, of course, that Valentine has him on as strict a platoon as possible.)

30. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:52 PM (#4120205)

I don't think Orsillo understands the concept of a platoon.

31. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:53 PM (#4120207)

Jemile Weeks: puttin' on a show

32. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:56 PM (#4120212)

If I were eight, I'd be practicing Mike Aviles' batting stance right now.

Oh, hell, I'll probably still do it.

33. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:56 PM (#4120214)

Yankees up 2-1 on an Eric Chavez home run, of all things.

34. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:58 PM (#4120216)

It's odd to look at the scoreboard in left and see "11-Texas" and "4-Toronto" as the pitcher numbers. That's about as low a number battle as you can get.

35. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 07:59 PM (#4120218)

Checking... it's Kuroda.

I have to admit a little bit of excitement about the back of the Yankee rotation. There's a lot of disaster potential back there. (Then they'll sign Roy Oswalt, of course.)

36. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:01 PM (#4120221)

Gotta figure Orsillo is eagerly awaiting the chance to tell tv viewers how long a wait Clay Buchholz had.

37. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:02 PM (#4120222)

Knoblauchian.

38. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:02 PM (#4120223)

I'm still not a believer in Nova. I think he's a solid innings eater but he's not really a #2 or 3 guy. And Kuroda's transition to the AL still could be iffy. Garcia's already lost his spot. Hughes is a short reliever overextended as a starter.

Weeks is having an Uggla-in-the-ASG kind of night. Wow.

39. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:02 PM (#4120224)

Jemile Weak?

Jemile Week in Re-ewww?

40. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:03 PM (#4120226)

Milone's already at 55 pitches.

41. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:04 PM (#4120229)

I think Kuroda's pretty likely to be a league average innings eater. Hughes and Nova and the rotating #5 slot, though, that I'm a little bit hopeful about.

42. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:04 PM (#4120230)

According to the box score, Kuroda has 1 SO, 2 GO, and 2 FO through 3.1 innings. So he's had 5 line drive outs?

43. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:05 PM (#4120232)

I guess 4. There's also a GIDP.

44. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:05 PM (#4120233)

I think Kuroda's pretty likely to be a league average innings eater. Hughes and Nova and the rotating #5 slot, though, that I'm a little bit hopeful about.

I think that's accurate. But Kuroda is nominally their #2 starter.

45. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:06 PM (#4120234)

Per gameday, one of the four lineups was "soft".

46. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:07 PM (#4120235)

Darvish hasn't allowed a hit through 3 IP in Toronto.

47. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:08 PM (#4120237)

Not that he had a shot at getting Crisp, but that was pretty impressive range there from Aviles.

48. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:08 PM (#4120238)

Impressive range by Aviles.

It'd be kind of funny if the SS and RF of the future were a failed Royal and a failed Athletic, respectively.

49. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:08 PM (#4120239)

I think more of the Yankee staff than you boys do. I think Nova is pretty good, not great, but solid.

50. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:10 PM (#4120241)

Anyone got a scoring on that one? 3-4-6-?

51. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:10 PM (#4120243)

I think Nova is probably pretty good, too, but there's a chance he isn't.

That still leaves two open spots.

52. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:11 PM (#4120244)

Nova is a solid #4 guy, but he's either their 2nd or 3rd best starter. He's not going to get favorable matchups against other AL playoff teams.

53. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:14 PM (#4120246)

Gammons on Dewey: "I used to go out, shag with him on the road."

54. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:15 PM (#4120250)

Would it surprise you if Gammons was using that term in the English way? The 70s were a wacky time.

55. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:17 PM (#4120252)

McDonald makes a good platoon player.

56. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:18 PM (#4120253)

The interesting thing about Darvish, for me, is that he has such a traditional American power pitcher approach, windup, and arsenal. Nothing about him looks like he learned to pitch in a different baseball culture.

57. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:20 PM (#4120254)

Flipped to Yankee game in time to see Chris Davis line out to Jeter. Kuroda is apparently the master of inducing line drive outs. That'll hold up.

58. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:23 PM (#4120258)

Gammons on Dewey: "I used to go out, shag with him on the road."

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

59. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:24 PM (#4120260)

Looked like Gonzalez was giving Shoppach a lot of #### for not being able to chase down Smith.

60. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:26 PM (#4120262)

Pot, meet kettle.

61. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:38 PM (#4120270)

Clay's on pace to go 9.

62. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:41 PM (#4120273)

And after I post that he completely loses the plate and walks Inge then hits Pennington. Urgh.

63. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:41 PM (#4120274)

Byrd got a great read on that ball by Weeks.

64. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:48 PM (#4120276)

Reddick almost ####### caught that.

65. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 08:53 PM (#4120278)

Half of Kuroda's outs tonight are warning track flyballs or line drives to infielders.

66. villageidiom Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:02 PM (#4120281)

Clay's on pace to go 9.

And after I post that he completely loses the plate and walks Inge then hits Pennington. Urgh.

63 pitches through 5 IP = 114 pitches through 9 IP

He's still on pace, though he's running out of margin for error.

67. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:05 PM (#4120283)

I love how Orsillo thinks Fuentes is Oakland's closer. And they're waming him in the 6th inning. And doesn't skip a beat saying "A's closer warming" when it's the 6th inning in an 11-1 game.

68. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:05 PM (#4120284)

69 through 5.2 IP. Back on pace.

69. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:06 PM (#4120285)

Kuroda preserves the tie game by getting the tying run out to end the 7th on an attempt to score on a wild pitch. ###### has been unbelievably lucky tonight.

70. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:07 PM (#4120286)

Buchholz has found his changeup apparently. That was his worst pitch before tonight.

71. villageidiom Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:08 PM (#4120288)

69 through 5.2 IP. Back on pace.

72 through 6 IP = 108 through 9 IP.

72. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:11 PM (#4120291)

Impressive to walk a man every other inning and keep the pitch count that low.

Or perhaps the A's suck at hitting.

73. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:17 PM (#4120294)

Checked in on Yankees, and Robertson's fastball is insane with the movement and the deception at 93-94. Their top two relievers are way too good.

74. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:28 PM (#4120301)

Ok, enough of this. End this inning please.

75. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:30 PM (#4120303)

Oh you can't be ####### serious.

76. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:30 PM (#4120304)

We are going to blow this aren't we?

77. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:31 PM (#4120305)

That was a pretty good curve that Reddick hit.

78. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:31 PM (#4120306)

Reddick trade continues to sadden me.

79. Textbook Editor Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:32 PM (#4120307)

I saw 3 shake-offs of signs before agreeing to the pitch that Reddick hit out. Don't think, meat. Throw what the C puts down.

80. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:35 PM (#4120310)

Yeah there was nothing wrong with that pitch. Reddick was looking for it and he demolished it.

81. Darren

Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:36 PM (#4120311)

I thought it was a hanger even though it ended up low if that makes any sense.

Knowing what we do about Buc, I think a priority has to be getting him out before he falls apart. Having a good game under his belt would seem to be key. That said, they didn't hit Clay that hard before the HR and I'm probably just frustrated.

82. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:36 PM (#4120312)

With tonight's 2-3, HR, BB performance, Reddick's OPS is up to .786.

83. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:38 PM (#4120313)

The inning should have been over on Weeks called strike 3 and on Barton's interference at 2nd base. Barton was 6+ feet away from 2nd after his slide. It was absurd.

Reddick's homer was the only real bad thing that inning. The inning was really a microcosm of Buchholz's season.

84. Textbook Editor Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:38 PM (#4120314)

Here comes the meltdown.

85. Darren

Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:39 PM (#4120316)

I haven't watched the whole game but it seems like this is a huge zone. That plus the A's lineup makes me think Clay was pretty lousy tonight overall.

86. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:40 PM (#4120318)

Are you ####### kidding me Punto?

87. Darren

Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:40 PM (#4120319)

It would have been too easy.

88. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:40 PM (#4120320)

Christ jus let the pitcher take it

89. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:40 PM (#4120321)

No, Buchholz was getting a pretty small zone actually. He threw a lot of good pitches. His stuff looked far better than it had yet this season.

Punto should go kill himself.

90. Darren

Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:41 PM (#4120322)

Well, Punto's in there for his bat anyway.

91. Textbook Editor Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:41 PM (#4120323)

Free Middlebrooks!

92. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:42 PM (#4120326)

If Barton doesn't hit a slam here I'll be stunned

93. Textbook Editor Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:42 PM (#4120327)

Just think, we have Punto for 2 years! Whee!

94. Darren

Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:43 PM (#4120329)

Padilla? Why?

95. Phil Coorey. Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:44 PM (#4120330)

#### I hate Nick Punto - hate him

96. Darren

Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:44 PM (#4120331)

I can't fathom why Padilla's in here.

97. Darren

Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:46 PM (#4120334)

Yeah Padilla, love him!

98. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:51 PM (#4120337)

No Sweeney for McDonald?

99. Phil Coorey. Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:59 PM (#4120341)

Here we go again - what a joke

100. Dan Posted: April 30, 2012 at 09:59 PM (#4120342)

Here we go again!

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