SB Nation - Vin Mazzaro

Billy Beane Exclusive Athletics Nation Interview: Season End 2009 Part II

Tyler Bleszinski — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:22 -0000

Yesterday was part one of the Beane season ending Athletics Nation interview. Today is part two. I won't set this one up, I'll just let the interview speak for itself.

Hope you enjoy and can start looking forward to 2010. I know I am.

Blez: The starting pitching has really matured nicely with quite a few early ups and downs which you said you expected. The overall team ERA is fourth best in the AL.

Beane: Is it really? I didn't know it was that high. We fluctuated back and forth.

Blez: Not the starting pitching on its own, the whole staff together. It includes the bullpen.

Beane: And the bullpen has been spectacular. Numbers-wise, we'll have somewhere around 113-114 games started by rookies, which is an incredible number. I'm guessing that's the highest in the major leagues.

Blez: I'm guessing no one else is close.

Beane: It has been as we expected and we've had some good days and had some bad days. If you look at the guys who've been in there regularly, certainly Brett, who has gotten progressively better there from the start of the season and certainly Trevor Cahill has as well. Particularly look at his last six or seven starts. You remember the kid is 21 years old. He would've been a junior in college this year and eligible for the draft and here he is in the majors with double digit wins in our league too. The American League is not a forgiving place for a rookie pitcher, so I think he's shown himself nicely. Gio (Gonzalez) who came up and had some really tough starts, but he's definitely shown flashes of what he can be. I think overall we have to be pleased with some of these guys. The thing that was tough was losing (Josh) Outman who was pitching very well and you saw what this kid could become.

Blez: I was just going to ask about some of the progress of the injured pitchers like Dallas Braden, Vin Mazzaro, Joey Devine and Michael Ynoa?

Beane: Yeah but finishing up on the starting pitching, we certainly expected some ups and downs with the young starting pitching, there have certainly been more ups than downs. All the guys have justified our faith in them from their time in the minor leagues. I think they have a chance to be even better this year. We've stretched them out a bit in September here. Some of the guys we lost, we had to patch a starting rotation together in an effort to reduce some of the innings of some of these guys and in Vinny Mazzaro's case we were just very conservative in shutting him down. In another situation if we were fighting for a division, Vinny would probably still be out there but we want to be very, very conservative in how we treat these young guys. Some of the success, and the fact that we're fourth in the league, the credit goes to the bullpen which as I said has been absolutely phenomenal. After taking arguably our best reliever out of the equation in spring training in Joey Devine, it gets us very excited with what that bullpen will be like next year to think we'll be adding Devine to it.

To address the injury situation, Joey is doing great. He's right on schedule to be on a normal routine from the first day of spring training on. So we have complete faith that he's going to be back and at 100 percent next year. In Josh's case, he had the surgery a little later but he's doing great. If anyone knows Josh, he's a real hard worker. As far as his timetable, it's a little early now, but it's almost a full calendar year. There are cases where some guys come back a little earlier, some a little later, but you have to assume it's going to be a full calendar year. All indications are Josh is on that timeline.

Blez: It seems like it might be a little difficult to put a rotation together next year given all the candidates you have. Pleasurably difficult, if that makes sense.

Beane: Yeah definitely, it will be a good problem to have. I don't think you can have enough good starters with the injury factor and how difficult it is to go out and find them when you lose one. If it's a problem, it's one I welcome. In Dallas' (Braden) case it was just unfortunate with that infection in his foot, but when a starting pitcher has missed as much time as he has, there becomes a cutoff point where it becomes unrealistic that he can come back at any point during the remainder of the season. Dallas, in a very short time, established himself as a very good major league starting pitcher and one of the best ones we had on our staff so it's disappointing to lose him as he would've had a major impact on how we're finishing up now.

Blez: I was going to get into the bullpen, but it must be nice to feel like you already have one aspect of the team covered going into this offseason. You've got Ziegler, Bailey and Wuertz still around and if you throw in Joey Devine. That's four solid rocks of your bullpen already set for next year.

Beane: Breslow has also pitched very well for us and Blevins and Kilby have done very, very well in coming up. We've got a very good bullpen right now and looking ahead to 2010 it's one that could conceivably be better. We feel very good about that position.

Blez: You also add to that mix one of the starting pitchers that might not make the rotation because of all the starting pitching candidates you have.

Beane: These are all good problems to have and it isn't something we've had lately. Still you have keep injuries in mind and be careful. We do have high hopes that Joey will be 100 percent ready to go come the spring. The past few years have proven that you have to have depth if you're going to be successful for 162 games.

Blez: The situation with Justin Duchscherer is obviously very sad and it almost seems callous to talk about baseball in terms of him, but do you anticipate him being a part of the team in 2010 or is the situation too tenuous right now?

Beane: First and foremost, contractually, he's a free agent. It's not a unilateral decision we can make. In short, we hope he is doing well. We need to respect what he's going through right now and from a professional standpoint, also monitor it and deal with it when the time comes. But anyone who has seen Justin pitch for the five years he's pitched for us, it's pretty easy to recognize he's a really good pitcher and will be valuable to anybody. As to how we go forward, we'll know once we get into winter, but not one we can answer right now. I don't think there's any shortage of people around here who aren't fans of the person and also fans of the talent.

Blez: How do you feel about your draft this year? You drafted Grant Green and addressed the need for a shortstop. But when you're looking at Max Stassi, he slipped to later in the draft because of concerns over signability. Is that something that you're looking at to spend a little more of the organizations' dollars in terms of going after someone who other teams might have passed on because of the concerns of signability?

Beane: Yeah, that's why we were able to get him where we did. If you look at an organization that's trying to rebuild from within, it's one area you can improve yourself, it was a conscious decision this year to take some chances on guys who might be difficult signs but we thought were very talented players. We had not done that in previous years and we're a little bit behind the curve because of it. If you look at the lifeblood of an organization like ours, it's going to come from within. If we're going to compete, we're going to try and bring in as many good young players as we can because that's really where the bulk of our future lies. In Max's case, this is a really impressive 18-year-old kid. We thought that and a lot of teams did as well. We weren't unique there. But based on what I've seen so far, we couldn't be happier that not only did we draft him, but we signed him. We think he could be a really good major league player and that it could happen quicker than most people think for a high school kid. He's really impressive and has been since the first day he put on our uniform.

Blez: Do you think he was ultimately first round talent?

Beane: That's what we saw him as is a first round talent. We did and hence why we had to compensate him as he had a full ride to UCLA. I just feel fortunate we were able to get him and able to sign him.

Blez: You said the lifeblood of a small market organization comes from building from within, but the 2009-2010 free agent season is right around the corner. I know you can't really talk about any upcoming free agents or anything, but if you had to look at your shopping list for next season what are areas you'd like to improve for your team?

Beane: Free agency usually starts five days after the World Series and it isn't really an area historically we've been involved in. In understanding what we're trying to do here especially long term, when you sign free agents, you're giving up draft picks. We have to be cognizant of that in that whenever you're bringing players in it isn't just cost, but what you're giving up in terms of standing in the way of long-term development of a younger player who might be there for a long time. Historically, we haven't been in the free agent market early. It doesn't mean that we don't go through the exercise of looking at the club needs and how they will addressed either short term or long term. We usually start a little earlier than people think, at least internally, but we will be looking at it over the next month or month and a half. I would expect us to try to continue what we've been doing here, particularly in the second half, which is creating a young team that has a chance to get better and better each year and one that can stay around for a while.

Blez: Speaking of free agents, Adam Kennedy is going to be a free agent at the end of the year. He obviously came in and did some amazing things for the team. Is he someone you're interested in bringing back, especially as he has already expressed interest in coming back? He seems like he'd be a good stop gap solution at third base until Brett Wallace is capable of taking over that position.

Beane: There are some things that you have to address pretty quickly. I agree with you in that Adam Kennedy has just been outstanding for us this year. If you consider the fact that he'd never played third base as we put him over there when Ellie (Mark Ellis) came back and he was learning the position at the major league level, we're very happy with not only what he's provided on the field but in the clubhouse too. He's a grinder and he brings a certain mentality to the game that I think is very positive. That's going to be one of the things I'm going to have to deal with pretty quickly after the season. The best thing I can say is that we've been very pleased with Adam and he's been great to have around. As far as him coming back next year, it will definitely be a topic of conversation. But from Adam's end, Adam is a free agent and he has the ability to choose where he wants to go. Rest assured we'll be having conversations internally and we'll be having a conversation with his representative as well as Adam himself.

Blez: What about Jack Cust? The team is seemingly pretty desperate for power and that's one thing that Cust does well.

Beane: You have to respect what Jack has done and the fact that he does have power on a team that doesn't have significant power. Once again, I'm not sure we could answer that question now. But he's arbitration-eligible so it isn't like he's a free agent. You have to respect Jack has hit 30 plus homers for us in a year and he probably isn't going to reach that this year but he's still our leading home run hitter. He and every other player on the team will be subject to evaluation going forward, not just for next year but for many years ahead. These are the things we get to do in October and November.

Blez: There was a lot of discussion heading into the season that Jack was going to try and cut down on the strikeouts so he could hopefully bring up the batting average. It didn't seem to work out. Do you think the focus on cutting down on those strikeouts wound up hurting his performance?

Beane: It would be better for Jack to answer that one. Jack is going to hit home runs. He's going to strike out. He's going to take his walks. The other thing about Jack is that 99 percent of the season, on a team that has more than its share of injuries over the past few years, Jack is ready to go out there every day. He keeps himself in good shape. There has rarely been a day that Jack has been here when Bob can't put him in the lineup. With the situation we've had the last three years, it's been nice that he's been healthy and available.

Blez: This is year three of the five-year rebuilding plan if you count the rebuilding starting after the 2006 season, but this would be the third year of the remaking of the team (Beane corrected me stating that the rebuilding actually started with the trading of Haren in late 2007). I know it's really early because we haven't even finished 2009 yet, but how do you feel about the team, especially because teams like Texas are on the rise and Anaheim remains a good team? Do you think the team will take that giant leap forward in year four of this rebuilding process?

Beane: I don't think you can really say until you start to go into the offseason and formulate next year's team. I think in the last couple of months, I've seen us put in some building blocks for a team that's going to be good. There's still a lot of areas that we need to improve on and some of that improvement will come by adding players from the minor league system but also just through these players getting better over time. I think it's hard to put a timetable on it, but anyone who follows this team on a regular basis can look at some positions, whether it be the pitching staff or in the field and say, this guy is a good young player and he has a chance to get better. As far as the timetable, it's tough to do. We're putting together a team that has a chance over the next few years to continue getting better and better. At what rate is hard to predict because sometimes young players will surprise you and develop quicker than you think, particularly when there is a lot of them that have a lot of confidence, but in some cases they can disappoint. When you take a guy like Brett Anderson over the course of a full season and chart his improvement, I think everyone is excited to see how good he can actually be next year after having a full year under his belt. And if you multiply that by say 25 guys, sometimes they can surprise you. The building blocks are in place and when that happens I certainly couldn't predict. I'm definitely very excited about what they could become.

Blez: Do you think Bob Geren is an ideal manager for this team simply because one of his strengths appears to be working with younger talent?

Beane: Absolutely. If you look at going into August in last place and you've traded away some of the most experienced and in some cases the best players, it's impressive to do what this team has done over the last couple of months. Case in point is this past weekend in Anaheim. The Angels had a chance to clinch the division and these guys never let up. I think that's the best indication in getting these guys to play the way they're playing in the month of September when other teams have more to play for than you do. He's been a young player himself at the major league level. He's managed at every single level. He's coached at every level. So he brings a lot of experience and a lot of it comes from dealing with younger players. It's been very much a positive that's revealed itself over this transition for us.

Blez: Is it the type of situation where maybe he grows up as a manager as the team grows up? Meaning that he becomes more comfortable in being a manager and dealing with veterans and veteran personalities as the team heads towards being more competitive.

Beane: Everybody in any position usually grows a lot the more you deal with those different circumstances. I'm sure there are some things Bob might do different today that he might not have done his first year. I think that comes with experience. Bob is gaining that and gaining it on the job. He's organized and guys are playing hard for him. He's prepared and Bob has all those things.

Blez: As usual, thanks so much for all your time.

Also, in case you're interested in a little more Beane, I did a more general interview for SBNation.com that ran yesterday. And please remember to participate in giving on behalf of AN to the Donor's Choose Social Media Challenge. It's for a great cause. Thank you.

Could it be...? No, it can't be... OMG it really is! It's a Minor League Update!!!

grover — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:00:25 -0000

Hello again.

Work called me away for a while and it’s been tough getting back into the groove of things. For those who don’t know, I’m a wildland fire fighter and August got a little busy for those in my career field. So when I disappear again for a couple weeks just remember… I envy your access to in-door plumbing.

Anyways, I want to focus this week’s minor league update on the 40 man roster and the options that are going to have to be decided upon in the coming months. Why do this now instead of waiting until September 1st? The topic tickles my fancy, that’s why. As I seem to have (once again) misplaced my Cap o’ Omnipotence I’m forced to resort to basic logic and common sense reckoning to try and deduce the future roster.

That’s right… none of what I’m about to tell you is guaranteed!

The way I see it, there are 28-29 spots on the future 40 man roster all but guaranteed. On the pitching side, Brett Anderson, Andrew Bailey, Jerry Blevins, Dallas Braden, Craig Breslow, Trevor Cahill, Joey Devine, Gio Gonzalez, Jeff Gray, Jay Marshall, Vin Mazzaro, Clayton Mortensen, Josh Outman, Henry Rodriguez, Michael Wuertz and Brad Ziegler all seem certain to have jobs in the Oakland organization next year. That’s 16 pitchers of varying combinations of success/cheapness/options that aren’t going to be released just to make room on the roster. (There’s a pretty good chance that Outman will open next season on the 60-day DL, opening up an additional spot on the 40 man.) Santiago Casilla and Edgar Gonzalez are both arbitration eligible next season but neither pitched so well that the A’s are going to be eager to give them big pay raises, which could mean either or both players could end up as trade fodder or possibly even released. Dana Eveland is still on the 40 man roster as well, but his poor performance led to a demotion that will keep him from seeing any arby money next season. Unfortunately, Mr. Eveland’s suckitude forced the A’s to use his last option this season; meaning he can’t be stashed on Sacramento’s roster next season without first passing through waivers. Chances are Eveland isn’t going to be one of the 5 best SP candidates for the A’s come Opening Day 2010 and as a lefty with a pulse he’d probably get snapped up by some other team desperate for pitching. Therefore, I think this is good-bye to Mr. Eveland.

As it just so happens, it looks as if the A’s are going to need maybe 3 openings on the 40 man roster just to protect some arms that should attract a lot of interest in the Rule 5 draft. Pedro Figueroa hasn’t advanced past High-A ball but he’s a lefty with a low-90’s fastball. Brad Kilby is another lefty who’s put up back-to-back quality campaigns in Sacramento’s bullpen. Fautino De Los Santos is still trying to bounce back from 2008 TJ surgery but he wouldn’t last long if the A’s made him available for the Rule 5 draft. Jason Ray is in the same boat but I don’t think there’s much risk of someone grabbing him and keeping him on a 25 man roster all season.

There’s also a chance the A’s might be interested in bringing back Brett Tomko or Justin Duchscherer next season. Dan Giese should be fully recovered in time for next season; maybe the A’s are still interested in him as a swing man type. Plus, guys like Sam Demel and James Simmons could be knocking on the door next season and they’d need a spot on the 40 man to do so. Like I said, I could see 3-4 spots going to the guys I just listed and we haven’t even looked outside the organization to find help.

The hitting side of things is even more in flux.

Kurt Suzuki, Landon Powell, Eric Chavez (who?) Mark Ellis, Daric Barton, Travis Buck, Aaron Cunningham, Rajai Davis, Scott Hairston, Ryan Sweeney, Jack Cust, Tommy Everidge, Cliff Pennington and Gregorio Petit have spots on the 40 man roster. (Although I’m not sure if Petit has another minor league option available to him in 2010… if someone has a conclusive answer I’d appreciate hearing it.) C Anthony Recker is the most prominent bat in the A’s system that would be eligible for the Rule 5 draft this winter and I’m not sure if the A’s would consider his departure to be a great loss. So any Recker fans out there can protect him on their 40 man lists, but I’m thinking the A’s leave him off the protected roster. Chris Denorfia and Eric Patterson are both out of options, so if they aren’t in Oakland come Opening Day there’s a good chance they’ll be playing for another organization in 2010. I can maybe see Patterson as a back-up at 2B and in the outfield but I’ve got to squint and angle my head to one side to see it. I think it’s more likely that the A’s will try to bring back Adam Kennedy to serve as a deluxe back-up option/veteran mentor type.

The real twist comes when you consider the minor league bats that the A’s have in AA or higher that aren’t yet on the 40 man roster. Sean Doolittle, Adrian Cardenas, Josh Donaldson, Corey Brown, Chris Carter and Brett Wallace highlight the next wave of Oakland offense… which could be much more refreshing than the current ripple in the still waters we’ve experienced as of late. Yet again we haven’t looked outside the current organization to determine if maybe there’s another bat to be had.

So bring back Kennedy, add the newbies and you’re looking at 38-39 players on the 40 man roster before the Rule 5 draft. Does anyone see any glaring omissions?

Until the next time...

A's moving to six-man rotation?

Eli Greenspan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:06:37 -0000

More photos » by Ben Margot - AP

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The Oakland Athletics are keeping an eye on their promising young three - Vin Mazzaro, Trevor Cahill, and Brett Anderson - as the season winds down in an attempt not to overwork them.

The A's are watching with some concern as the innings mount for their young starters, who are pretty much the focal point of the season - the team's rebuilding hopes center around Vin Mazzaro, Trevor Cahill, and Brett Anderson.

Manager Bob Geren wanted to use Justin Duchscherer or Dallas Braden in the sixth spot, but both pitchers will be out till mid or late September. And with John Smoltz and Vicente Padilla heading to rival ball clubs, the A's do not have many options to choose from.

They could pursue former Athletic Mark Mulder, who should be cleared to play in the next week or so. When the rosters expand in September, you can count on the A's bringing up a plethora of young pitchers to give some of their guys a rest.

The Projectability Problem

Nico — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:29:18 -0000

Like most fans, I enjoy watching young players and trying to figure out whether they will get better, never progress, get worse. Some guys, like Brett Anderson, will make big strides, some guys, like Travis Buck, will suddenly stall, some guys, like Eric Patterson, will keep getting new chances with old results, and some guys, like Trevor Cahill, and Vin Mazzaro, and Aaron Cunningham, will...?

Here's what I think makes projecting future performance so especially tricky. I had Dallas Braden pegged as a 4th starter because while I liked his demeanor, fastball command, and changeup, I also saw that his fastball lacked great movement, and that his only other weapon, a curve, was primarily effective against lefties but that did he didn't have a lot of weapons against right-handed batters other than to spot the fastball and pull the string with the changeup.

And on this one, I don't think I was exactly wrong. The Braden I projected was a different Braden than the one who has taken the mound in 2009. He learned to add and subtract on the fastball and then he learned a cutter, and I think this pitcher has a chance to be more than a 4th starter. So how do you look at a drafted player, or a young player you see in the big leagues, and project whether or not they will able to add new skills that might elevate their game in important ways?

Will Cahill be able to repeat his delivery better, in which case the pitches he has right now could make him a #2 starter, or does he not have that particular potential, in which case he'll likely stall? Are we only seeing 2/3 of what Mazzaro's arsenal will be as a 24 year old starter, or is he stuck trying to make it with a good fastball, decent slider, and "show me" changeup? Will Cunningham take his excellent swing and minor league numbers to match, and converge them at the big league level due to one of Jim Skaaaaaaalan's famous "timing devices," or will Mark McGwire get to him first and Cunningham won't hit .474 until he joins the Cardinals?

My question for this discussion is: When trying to project a player's future, how do you factor in the additions and changes they might be able to make? Not everyone can learn how to add and subtract on the fastball, or can adjust their hands to suddenly stay back better on offspeed pitches, no matter how good the tutelage may be. Yet a player with poor results now may be a star in the making, if you just imagine the changes they are capable of making between now and when you want to count on them to be good.

I didn't see it coming with Braden, but maybe I should have. Maybe I should have seen a guy with the perfect competitive makeup, excellent fastball command, the intelligence and resolve to learn new things, and realized that he would, and could, learn whatever he needed to learn to get a lot better. What should I see about Trevor Cahill, Vin Mazzaro, Aaron Cunningham, Gio Gonzalez, Tommy Everidge, Cliff Pennington, that I can't see now because it hasn't actually happened yet?

Jays Jump Out Early, Take Rubber Game: Jays 7, Oakland 2

hugo — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:07:33 -0000

More photos » by Ben Margot - AP

4 months ago: Toronto Blue Jays' Alex Rios swings for a three-run double off Oakland Athletics' Vin Mazzaro in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

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The Jays beat Oakland this afternoon, 7-2, to take the series, with a strong team effort.

On the Mound: Ricky Romero had some trouble locating his secondary pitches today, but he got some strikeouts with his fastball and battled, though admittedly against a less than stellar Oakland offense. With a better offensive team today, the game could have looked different. That said, Romero did a very nice job, going 7 strong and striking out 5 while walking 1 and giving up 8 hits - 5 singles and 3 doubles - and both Oakland runs. He did more than enough to put the Jays in the driver's seat today.

At the Plate: The Jays jumped out first thing - right in the top of the first inning. Jose Bautista (1-4 with a walk) drew the leadoff walk and Aaron Hill rocketed a Vin Mazzaro pitch over the left field fence to give Toronto the quick lead. Adam Lind, Lyle Overbay, and Vernon Wells all reached base and Alex Rios cashed them all with a 3-run, bases-loaded double before Mazzaro ever recorded an out. The Jays had plenty of chances for the rest of the game, but scored just two runs - one on an Adam Lind 2-strike RBI single he pushed through the infield, and one on a Rod Barajas line-drive home run. New guy Edwin Encarnacion (0-4, 2Ks) looked like he was pressing just a bit at the plate.

From the Bullpen: New guy, Josh Roenicke, however, showed no jitters in his Jays debut. Roenicke came in and got Kurt Suzuki to ground out, then struck out Scott Hairston, using his mid-90s fastball to set up his cutter/slider (he grips it like a cutter but it moves like a slider), a very good-looking pitch with a lot of movement. He lost the patient Jack Cust on a 3-2 count, but came back to strike out Tommy Everidge on the same pitch. He looks like a credible late-inning option to me. Not to be outdone, Jeremy Accardo pitched the ninth and looked extremely sharp, striking out Bobby Crosby, getting Mark Ellis to pop up, and and retiring Cliff Pennington on a groundout for a 1-2-3 ninth.

Overall, it was great to see the Jays win the road series, something they hadn't done since mid-June. Ricky Romero did a nice job and put himself atop all AL Rookies in both wins (10) and strikeouts (87). And although I don't have an "in the field" section (maybe I should), John McDonald (1-4 with a line-drive double) had a sparkling defensive play to set up an inning-ending double play and looked very at home at shortstop the entire game.

Jays of the day: Aaron Hill, Ricky Romero, and Adam Lind. Honourable mention to Josh Roenicke for an impressive debut and especially to Alex Rios, who dragged down what looked like a sure JotD performance with a couple of pop ups with runners in scoring position and less than two outs. No suckage awards, which is the way it should be. The Jays have the day off tomorrow before starting a 2-game midweek series at home against the New York Yankees, which will begin 14 straight games against AL East opponents. Buckle up, B^3 ers.

Game Story: Sox over A's, as Beckett strikes out 10.

Allen Chace — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 05:53:17 -0000

More photos » by Charles Krupa - AP

DP... Makin' S. happen. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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What happens when your ace is dealing and your lineup is clicking on all cylinders?

Answer: Only good things.

A very encouraging win for the Sox tonight, soundly defeating the Oakland A's 8-3 at Fenway.

Athletics vs Red Sox boxscore

Athletics Nation

Josh Beckett went 7 plus, allowing 8 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 10 A's hitters. Daniel Bard followed, allowing one inherited runner to score (Scott Hairston, who had tripled with no outs) but escaping any further damage while racking up 2 Ks of his own. MDC cleaned it all up with a clean 9th on 11 pitches.

The runs came aplenty, and these kinds of games have been rare for the Sox lately. New addition Adam LaRoche started at 1B and doubled twice, DP went 2-4 with a HR, while Jacoby Ellsbury went 3-5 from the top spot with a triple. Only David Ortiz and Jed Lowrie failed to reach twice, and everyone in the lineup had a hit.

Can't worry about what the MFYs did tonight; it's great to get a win after a very disappointing loss.

Sox and A's again tomorrow. Clay Buchholz gets another shot to prove his value to the Sox, whether here or elsewhere. He'll be opposed by Vin Mazzaro, who hasn't had a win since June 7th. No reason for such an excellent streak to end tomorrow.

6-3 win over the A's shows why anti-fans can stop laughing at the Yanks’ pitching

CrazyYankeeChick — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:16:51 -0000

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I guess the recession affects even the richest team in baseball, since everything the Yankees have done since the ASB has been a monument to economical. If someone showed me the box scores for the last 7 games and told me they were from a Yankee homestand which included 2 of the worst teams in the league, I'd ask them if they were getting their sports info from Chris Berman.

And then if I was told that in this 7-game span, the Yankees' success was the handiwork of their pitchers who kept their opponents to an average of 2 runs a game, I'd ask if they were talking to Joe Morgan. I don't even know what I'd say if they concluded this exercise with the fact the Homerun Hedoism stigma of the stadium would be met with less than 10 long balls.

In their comeback win against the A's, the Yankees continued to demonstrate they're doing their part to cut back on excess wherever they can: after a wet delay that pushed the game til 10PM (west coast-esque start time made me forget they were home and not Oakland's Coliseum), the Yankees zipped through the game in under 3 hours, holding the A's to 3 runs over 9 hits.

CC Sabathia has gotten into the habit of pulling the Joba Rule, which now states he can't settle in until he's got at least 2 awkward/sloppy innings under his 8-foott long belt. I received the now routine "Fatso struggling" text after he allowed Nomar Garciaparra to score off Jack Cust's sac fly, followed by Bobby Crosby's RBI single. Matt Holliday doubled and scored to make it 3-0.

It wasn't a very auspicious start, and I think CC's consistent trouble with the A's may rank alongside Cody Ransom's presence as one of the most inexplicable Yankee mysteries.

Vin Mazzaro looked as though he was going to exploit the hell out of the Yankees' incurable fear of new pitchers, retiring the first 6 batters he faced, 4 on strikeouts. It wasn't until the 4th inning that Oakland passed over the conch shell to the Yanks, where a 2-run bomb from Mark Teixeira opened up the floodgates. Alex Rodriguez walked, stole a base (!), and then was brought home with Jorge Posada's RBI double. Eric Hinske's RBI single put the Yanks on top.

(PS, I'm pretty sure the only 2 types of at-bats Posada knows about are swinging strikeouts and well-timed RBI doubles, most of which occur by a blooper than dunks in just beyond the infield.)

The 5th inning was just as brutal for Vin, who probably won't be comforted tonight by his 7Ks. Eh, he's from Jersey, his hometown buddies are probably happy at least. And as painful as stuffing the bases may have been for Vin, that's how refreshing it was for the few remaining fans at the game.

Teixeira's double brought in Derek Jeter and advanced Johnny Damon to third, who had reached on an infield single. Posada brought in Damon, and then the 4th/5th inning all-you-can-eat run buffet shut down, and the Yankees' bats went into a food coma.

The score would stay that way through the end, as Phil Hughes closed out the game with hitless 8th and 9th innings. His first career save, and undoubtedly an invigorating, comforting suggestion of the Yankees' future Mo substitute. Neither Yankee pitcher let up a single walk tonight. \

The Yankees have now won 7 in a row, The score was 2-1 three of those times, 6-4 twice, and I will admit that part of me wanted to see the A's drive home another run just for the symmetry of it all.

Tomorrow Joba Chamberlain (5-2, 4.05) tries to keep his 1-game winning streak alive, when the Yankees face Brett Anderson (5-7, 4.25). Our boy can't rely on the run support from his team anymore. He'll have to rely on the defense behind him, so my advice to Joba -- if he wants to maintain his team's trend of otherwordly fielding performance--is that he needs to stop taking his sweet time between pitches and also stop getting through innings with the speed of a parade float.

Ask any New Yorker -- there are few things we hate more than slow walkers.

5 Questions with Athletics Nation

Ed Valentine — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:00:32 -0000

The Yankees take on Oakland tonight at Yankee Stadium to open a four-game series. Here's a quick set of '5 questions' with '67Marquez' of our Oakland blog, Athletics Nation, to help you get to know the A's a bit.

Pinstripe Alley: The Yanks always seem to struggle against pitchers they aren't familiar with. Who are the A's throwing in this series that fits that description?

Athletics Nation: Well if that is truly the case, that can only be good for the A's. You get Vin Mazzaro on Thursday, who is making his 10th career start. The Yankees beat Friday's starter Brett Anderson in April, but he's been terrific of late: a 2-hit shutout at Fenway (you're welcome) and 6-2/3 perfect innings against the Angels. Then there's Gio Gonzalez on Saturday, and Dallas Braden on Sunday. The former, like Mazarro, has never faced New York, and the latter has pitched to 15 Yankees in 3 relief appearances.

PA: Are the A's going to be sellers at the trade deadline? If so, does it bug you that despite having good teams a lot of years Oakland always seems to be getting rid of guys?

AN: We've probably seen the last of Matt Holliday, but it's hard to wax nostalgic over a guy who just got here. I can lie and say as an A's fan, I've gotten used to it, but you never really do. Best thing to do is not to get attached in the first place. But I am envious that- although it's a lot more rare in this day and age- some teams have been able to keep their stars for the duration; Ripken Jr.and Gwynn for example.

PA: Catfish Hunter should be remembered as an Athletic or a Yankee? Why?

AN: Ah Catfish, our first to leave for greener pastures, if you know what I mean. No matter what the Hall-of-Fame cap says (or in his case, doesn't say), he is an A. Threw his Perfect Game here, won a Cy Young here, 3 led World Series champions here; I think you understand where I am going with this.

PA: I know we won't see Jason Giambi this series because he is hurt. But, is he really as washed up as his .193 batting average would seem to indicate?

AN: Jason is done. It happens to everyone. It's too bad. I was hoping for a more memorable swan song. I've always liked him. Sure it hurt to see him leave, especially for the Yankees, but I could not help pull for him.

PA: This season is, obviously, not turning out well for the Athletics. Are you optimistic or pessimistic about their ability to contend again in the next couple of years? Why?

AN: I believe you will get a glimpse of the future this weekend with our young arms. They are why we remain optimistic that better days are ahead.

-- Don't forget to check out my answers to AN's questions.

-- Athletics vs Yankees coverage
-- Athletics vs Yankees preview

Yanks tee off then shut down, let up then sweep out in 6-4 Win

CrazyYankeeChick — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:20:28 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

New York Yankees' Brian Bruney needs more than a 5-run cushion to work out the kinks in his game...

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I always am grateful for the Monday morning crosswords; it’s like the newspapers know that the first day back from the weekend is going to be hard enough without having to labor through a 13-letter word that so far has _ _N_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _E filled in. Which is too much of a challenge that close to the weekend…And I guess the same merciful mastermind behind this practice also was the point person on the Yankees post-ASB scheduling committee.

But while the tic-tac sized "2-1 Final" games of the weekend may be have been the Tuesday puzzle, today’s afternoon game was a little less manageable.

Facing the worst pitcher of the worst team, the Yankees should have known that this Orioles match could be too good to be true, especially after jumping to a 4-run lead in the first.

Such an effortlessly dominant burst that it could have easily doubled as the opening scene of pretty much any underdog baseball flick when it looks like the juggernaut'll crush 'em from the get-go...

But it wasn't that cookie cutter, after all. Jason Berken at first lived up to his anti-hype, as Alex Rodriguez (surprise) tacked up NY's first ribbie with a single that brought in Derek Jeter. (ARod is definitely just loaded for bear in his campaign to not only collect ribbies, but to make sure they’re >2 run differential ribbies at all times.)

Then one by one the lineup teed off on the hapless Baltimore defense. The Yankees have been steadily metamorphosizing into this army of hybrid sluggers/lead-off men. Their role players no longer are so strictly delineated, like the Juan Pierre's and Justin Morneau's and Albert Pujols’ of the league. Instead, we see our bottom of the order completely dissolve the pitcher’s awareness of where exactly he is in respect to the lineup.

After ARod started them off, Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher throw their hats in the ring, with back-to-back singles that lassoed in Mark Teixeira, Hideki Matsui, and Jorge Posada.

A.J. saunters into the second inning and pitches like a pitcher who knows he needs only not spontaneously combust to score the W. He took the shutout into the seventh, whiffing 6, walking only 3, while donating 6 hits to the Os' cause.

After Posada did his best 2007 ARod impression with a solo in the 4th, the Yankees just sort of stuttered around in the batter’s box. One go-thru of the order and all of a sudden Berken throws down the gauntlet like he’s freaking Woody Harrelson in White Men Can’t Jump and cuts through the Yanks like a hustling pro. (That may be a little bit of an exaggeration, since he actually only struck out 1. Even 1 seemed a lot considering he had a pitching arsenal about as stocked as a 22-year-old's fridge.)

As for the Baltimore offense, the charge was led by the guy whose "6Ks and .143 against AJ!" stigma was all but shackled to his cleats at the start of the game: Adam Jones then went 4 for 5, which included a 9th inning solo that made things realllly uncomfortable for Yankee fans. Ditto for Nick Markakis, whose HR immediately following Jones’ prompted Girardi to abandon the Brian Bruney Not-For-Profit program he initiated in the 9th.

In fairness to Joe, the Yanks had 5 on the board, and barring a Tanyon Sturtze/Kyle Farnsworth meltdown, it’s a safe bet that Bruney can act like he isn't an infant discovering his hand for the first time. Instead, Girardi took no chances and brought in Mariano Rivera for about the 87th game in a row (2 consecutive, 5 of 6 post-ASB games) to put out the fire and hand the Yanks’ their 6th straight win.

Girardi played this excellently. Initially it appeared to be a case similar to my dad finding a shirt that fits him and then proceeding to buy 2 dozen boxes of identical shirts, ie Girardi discovering the bullpen formula and deciding to purchase 2 dozen innings just like it. BUT, it works when AJ can go 7 and Hughes and Mo only need to split the other remaining ones. Two straight sweeps for the Yanks, as they usher the A’s into the Bronx, and pit belated birthday boy CC Sabathia against Vin Mazzaro.

The Yankees look better than they’ve looked all year, which includes that explosive streak they tore open in May. Right now they’re capitalizing on assets and doing what needs to be done to find an edge. That’s more valuable to me than a Mardi Gras fireworks display of slugging.

Tomorrow we'll see them fill in another couple of letters in a 13-letter word they've already got a bead on: CONVALESCENCE.

Rockies 3, A's 1: Rockies Sweep A's, Win 20th out of 23

Jabberwocky — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:54:26 -0000

More photos » by Ben Margot - AP

Aaron Cook was dealing today as the Rockies swept the A's.

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For the second time in as many days, the Rockies made it interesting in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics--and for the third time in three games they pulled out a two-run victory.

This was the fifth sweep by the Rockies during their 20 out of 23 hot streak--with three of those coming on the road.

Aaron Cook (8-3, 3.77 ERA) went eight-plus innings, giving up only one run and striking out four and contributing .415 WPA to get the win--his fifth straight. Huston Street picked up the save (his 19th) for the third straight game against his former team.

Vin Mazzaro (2-3, 2.95) was confounded by the Rockies' patience at the plate all day, leaving after just 5 IP with 109 pitches, giving up three runs and taking the loss.

At the plate, it was a mixed bag for the Rockies. Colorado had two players earn the Golden Sombrero with four strikeout days--Brad Hawpe and Dexter Fowler--and ended up with 13 for the game. In all, the Rockies' top four hitters went 3-19 with 10 strikeouts.

However, the bottom half of the lineup picked up their teammates, with Troy Tulowitzki, Ian Stewart, Carlos Gonzalez, and Seth Smith having nice games offensively.

Box Score

With the win and losses by St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles, the Rockies (40-35) climbed to a mere half game back in the wild card standings (behind the Giants) and 7.5 games back of the Dodgers as Colorado prepares for a three game set in Chavez Ravine starting tomorrow to close out what has been a remarkable month of June for the club (20-6 so far).

The LA series looms very large for the Rockies, who will try to make up some serious ground on the Dodgers as they try to continue their hot streak into the All-Star Break.

40 - 35

Games Back: 7.5

Streak: Won 3

Games Left: 87

As has been the case quite often during the streak, the Rockies had this game well in hand for most of the game, with only a ninth-inning hiccup causing Rockies fans concern.

via www.fangraphs.com

Rowbot Roll Call: Thanks to The Lodo Magic Man, Poseidon's Fist, WolfMarauder, pedalpusher, djmbluemoon, Charlie77, Rox Girl, Since1993, fantasyfencing, FooMan, NYCskibum, TuLoRocks2008 (most prolific), rockiesfan4ever, TulsaDriller, oo_nrb, wolf213, MohrPlease, RoxFan17, EricMedic, Maris6161, ch3cooh1, AtkinsandTulofan, Roxfan24, nodakroxfan, theshiva, fatheadX, DeepPurple, and SpringStein for joining me for this game thread.