Game 125: Athletics 5, Indians 0

by Ryan on Aug 24, 2010 10:12 PM EDT in Game Recaps

Both Oakland and Cleveland have pathetic lineups. But the Athletics can compensate for their anemic offense with an outstanding group of young starting pitchers, while the Indians have a staff complementary in ability with their lineup. The way the Indians are hitting and the Athletics are pitching, I wouldn't rule out a series shutout.

To start the series the Indians got Gio Gonzalez, who hadn't allowed a run in two starts against the Indians. The young southpaw breezed through the Tribe lineup (which was without both Travis Hafner and Michael Brantley), striking out seven and giving up five singles in seven innings. The only time the Indians had anything resembling a rally against Gonzalez came in the second, when Oakland committed three errors on two straight plays to place runners on second and third with two out. But Trevor Crowe struck out, ending the threat.

Fausto Carmona looked pretty good, though it did come against a very weak lineup. His changeup was a couple miles per hour slower than normal, and got a lot of misses with it. It was his fastball that got him in trouble; in the second, he grooved a fastball to Jeff Larish, leading to a two-run homer. He later gave up a home run to LGFT Coco Crisp. Oakland, who came into the game with the lowest HR total in the AL, scored all five of their runs via the long ball, finishing their scoring with a two-run shot off the bat of Jack Cust in the seventh. The way Gonzalez was pitching, that last homer probably didn't make any difference.

The midges made an appearance tonight, just in time for Carmona's start, but they weren't affecting play to the extent they did in the 2007 ALCS. You could see base runners at first waving the little bugs away, but there were no emergency Off! supply runs needed.

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Gio has now pitched 20 2/3 scoreless innings against the Indians this year.

by palcal on Aug 24, 2010 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

That is just…horrible.

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Aug 24, 2010 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Game time temperature: 75 in Cleveland, 83 in SF (higher in Oakland)
One of the few midsummer nights where the A’s are playing in cooler weather on the road than when they are at home.

The comfortable homey weather may have helped them with a rare road night win.

by palcal on Aug 24, 2010 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

I’ll admit that I picked up Gio on my fantasy team just because he was facing the Indians today. It worked out pretty well.

/I need to drink.

by Chemo on Aug 24, 2010 11:18 PM EDT reply actions

I almost did, but I figued the Tribe has to break out of their slump offensively sooner or later.

Guess I picked the wrong day.

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Aug 25, 2010 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions

My primitive mind can't grasp these concepts.

by Ockus_NYC on Aug 25, 2010 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Ha. Sigh.

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Aug 25, 2010 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I trotted out Cahill today (though I owned him already) for another great turn. I feel a little guilty about it.

by Chemo on Aug 26, 2010 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

someone in a league of mine just added Mazzaro.

http://www.justingermanofanclub.com/

by westbrook on Aug 26, 2010 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions

while the Indians have a staff complementary in ability with their lineup

As weak as our rotation is, still seems like our lineup is another level of horrible.

by dgcambridge on Aug 24, 2010 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

The hitting has been quite bad pre and post Carlos.

"I spoil a lot of people with my play."
"But I mean, even my family gets spoiled at times watching me doing things that I do, on and off the court." -Lebron James

by Roger Dorn on Aug 25, 2010 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Who can we trade to acquire Gio Gonzalez?

Or is he only an average pitcher when you factor out his success against the Indians (whom he wouldn’t be allowed to face if he was on the Indians) ?

In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).

by V-Mart Shopper on Aug 25, 2010 12:27 AM EDT reply actions

Every year Baseball Analysts does this “quadrant” article. The most successful pitchers, logically, are the ones who had both above-average K% and GB%. Last year’s list included a lot of very successful pitchers and Gio.

If he’s good at getting ground balls and strikeouts, I’d say he’s not just lucky, even if his BABIP is low.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Aug 25, 2010 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Interesting. Thanks. I think the scouts always viewed him highly… wasn’t he traded for Thome?

In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).

by V-Mart Shopper on Aug 25, 2010 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

As a PTBNL.

December 8, 2005: Sent by the Chicago White Sox to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete an earlier deal made on November 25, 2005. The Chicago White Sox sent a player to be named later, Daniel Haigwood (minors) and Aaron Rowand to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jim Thome and cash.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Aug 25, 2010 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Man, that’s a Shapiro-esque PTBNL

In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).

by V-Mart Shopper on Aug 25, 2010 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

only a 2 week wait though. I wonder if they wanted to check him out / make sure he didn’t get hurt in winter ball or something.

http://www.justingermanofanclub.com/

by westbrook on Aug 25, 2010 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions

My brother and I were among the few in attendance. I don’t think those were midges. They looked more like fruit flies. One landed in my beer. I drank it anyway.

Andy made a great diving stop to his left. With more playing time I think he could again be regarded as a solid defender. LaPorta is showing better awareness around the bag. Donald has a quick release, Marson a good throwing arm. As a squardon, it looks like they’ve taken the reemphasis on D to heart.

Droobs looks totally lost at the plate all of the sudden, as do Shelly, Crowe, Lou, and Nix. Only Marte, Choo and Donald seemed to have any idea how to approach a guy like Gio. Not a lot to cheer for tonight, although Hot Dog entertained us with his madcap antics.

In conclusion, the state of the Tribe is not good.

by jhon on Aug 25, 2010 1:00 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Shelley, Crowe, Lou and Nix lost at the plate? Impossible.

Droobs being suddenly lost probably speaks of Gio more than anything else.

Let’s hope Trevor matches up well against the sinkerballer tomorrow.

http://www.justingermanofanclub.com/

by westbrook on Aug 25, 2010 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions

As a squardon, it looks like they’ve taken the reemphasis on D to heart.

Good.

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Aug 25, 2010 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions

In the musical Damn Yankees, the lowly Washington Senators sing, “You gotta have heart,” and also, “We gotta get better ‘cause we can’t get worse.” They were right. So have heart. I think.

by just a bit outside on Aug 25, 2010 6:51 AM EDT reply actions

It just hard to watch or listen to. Someone tell me that there is some hope for next year; I am not sure I can handle this for a whole year. If were not going to let a legit prospect play at 3B next year can we sign Ty Wig. next year.

by johio1 on Aug 25, 2010 9:28 AM EDT reply actions

It’s pretty low right now. Of course, the major league team isn’t winning, but the struggles of LaPorta and Masterson are particularly depressing. Donald is dropping off. Marson hasn’t been better than he was at the start of the season. Duncan is pissing away his last chance at a semi-regular job. Goedert and Phelps have disappeared. Kluber and McAllister struggling. Kipnis slump. Stowell done. Guys like Graham and Haley who simply can not throw a strike. Yesterday’s first inning report listed just a single highlight: “Delvi Cid was 3-for-5.” That’s right, Delvi Cid had three singles.

It’s a tough stretch, as though everyone (except for Chisenhall and Chen) is pulling the Chris Perez and wants to be done. Oh, and except for Fiery Tyler Holt. Grit is fine, but I agree with Nick; I’m ready for some fire.

by dgcambridge on Aug 25, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

How did Phelps disappear?

In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).

by V-Mart Shopper on Aug 25, 2010 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

His bat is slowing down, as expected, but I was referring to his 2 plate appearances total in the last three Clippers games. I assume it’s some kind of nagging, career-threatening injury.

by dgcambridge on Aug 25, 2010 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, I thought he might have been kidnapped.

In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).

by V-Mart Shopper on Aug 25, 2010 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

TonyIPI Been asked about Cord Phelps and why he is not playing. He has a wrist injury he is working his way through. Day-to-day #Indians #Clippers

Tony to the rescue.

by dgcambridge on Aug 25, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

The first inning report ‘highlights’ at the top are not always reliable. You have to look at the boxscores they list out.

For instance, it does only list Delvi Cid 3-5 as a highlight today, but if you look at the boxscores, Tyler Holt was also 2-4 with a double, Kipnis was 2-4, Chisenhall was 2-4 with a homerun, and Kelvin De la Cruz pitched 5 innings with 4 hits 1 run and 6 Ks – much better than what we’ve seen from him lately.

In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).

by V-Mart Shopper on Aug 25, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

All true, I just thought the single Cid bullet was funny. I was going to mention KDLC, but it’s hard to get excited when he keeps mixing in awful outings.

by dgcambridge on Aug 25, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions