Early Baseball Observations
- Thread starter AC Transit
- Start date
Damn, tell me about it. And I thought it was gonna be our young pitching staff that would be the reason for a long season. I mean from a offensive standpoint, it can't get any worse as far as scoring runs, but what's with it G-Dubb, our offense is not supporting these young pitchers especially when they're only allowing 2-3 runs a game, somtiems even less (I know Blanton's gotta be hatin' it). This can't be good for their mental psyche. I'm sure glad the baseball season is 162 games long... 
Kendall is a veteran and is a career .300 hitter. Chavez is a 4 time gold glove winner and is good for 30+ HR's/.270 average. Durazo is capable of hitting 20+ HR's with a .300+ average. Bobby Crosby is out right now, and is the right-handed presence that changes the way the middle of the lineup gets pitched to. These aren't projections, these are facts. We all know they're going to get better, it's just a matter of when... Until then, we're gonna have a hard time watching these games.
They need a little time to come together as a team... They have not had a real lineup all year. They still don't have a set left fielder or right fielder, and they are platooning the middle infield. They're treating the first month like Spring Training, aside from Crosby's injury they should have had this stuff figured out by now... I think that's the main thing that's bringing down the whole team. There are 6 players that are out there getting a lot of playing time that don't have a secured position or spot in the lineup. They need to hurry up and make some decisions so this "team" can start playing like one.
There are some positives to look at. For one, the A's haven't had ANY production from the middle of their lineup, and they're only 2.5 games back. Also, the A's are 2nd in the AL in ERA, after being bashed for getting rid of Hudson and Mulder and bringing in rookies like Haren, Blanton and Saarloos to round out the rotation. Rich Harden is second only to Clemens in the MLB in ERA. Joe Blanton is 12th in the MLB in ERA. Harden and Blanton are number 1 and number 2 in the American League in ERA.
Another, look at their first months in some recent years and the results at the end of the season:
2000: 12-13 / 91-70 (AL West Champs)
2001: 8-17 / 102-60 (Wild Card)
2004: 11-12 / 91-71 (1 Game Behind AL West Champs)
2005: 9-11 / ?-?
They need a little time to come together as a team... They have not had a real lineup all year. They still don't have a set left fielder or right fielder, and they are platooning the middle infield. They're treating the first month like Spring Training, aside from Crosby's injury they should have had this stuff figured out by now... I think that's the main thing that's bringing down the whole team. There are 6 players that are out there getting a lot of playing time that don't have a secured position or spot in the lineup. They need to hurry up and make some decisions so this "team" can start playing like one.
There are some positives to look at. For one, the A's haven't had ANY production from the middle of their lineup, and they're only 2.5 games back. Also, the A's are 2nd in the AL in ERA, after being bashed for getting rid of Hudson and Mulder and bringing in rookies like Haren, Blanton and Saarloos to round out the rotation. Rich Harden is second only to Clemens in the MLB in ERA. Joe Blanton is 12th in the MLB in ERA. Harden and Blanton are number 1 and number 2 in the American League in ERA.
Another, look at their first months in some recent years and the results at the end of the season:
2000: 12-13 / 91-70 (AL West Champs)
2001: 8-17 / 102-60 (Wild Card)
2004: 11-12 / 91-71 (1 Game Behind AL West Champs)
2005: 9-11 / ?-?
Damn bro, you sure as hell do your homework on this baseball shit. But yeah, reading that make me feel a helluva lot better (forgot to look at the bright side of things) especially looking at the records in the first few months and then seeing how they finish. I always forget that the A's for whatever reason, are ALWAYS a better second half team. I'm sure they'll keep the trend up.
There's no doubt they'll come around cause it is relatively early, but will they come around together or certain people at certain times. I wouldn't compare this team to the past A's team cause the past teams had the big 3 to rely on. This young pitching staff/team right now has to think that if they give up 3 runs, there is a good chance that they'll lose.
Tonights game should be a fast low scoring affair
Tonights game should be a fast low scoring affair
