Hello again! Our regular season has come to an end, and we are preparing to open up the playoffs tonight in Salt Lake City in the first game of a best-of-5 series. The last couple of weeks, we had been matching Tucson win-for-win and loss-for-loss and held a 5 game lead with 5 games to play. We had one more game at home, and then we were heading to Tucson for the last 4 games. We wanted badly to clinch the division at home, but we lost a heartbreaker to Colorado Springs, 3-2 in 12 innings.

Our first night in Tucson (up 4 games with 4 to play), we played a game characteristic of our "Scratch & Claw" clubhouse motto. Trailing 2-0 after the 1st, we came back and tied the game in the 4th. In the bottom of the 4th, we allowed a couple of home runs that put us down, 5-2. But in the top of the 7th, Jeremy Brown hit a CLUTCH 3-run homer to tie the game, and Danny Putnam singled home the go-ahead run in the 8th to put us up, 6-5. Then our bullpen nailed down the game, setting off our division-clinching celebration. It was an exciting time. This is the 4th straight year I’ve been on a team that has celebrated either a division title or a league championship.

After clinching the title, we were able to relax and reeled off 3 more wins in Tucson to finish the season on a great note. Our last 2 games were started by pitchers called up from Stockton to help us save a couple of our starters for the playoffs. And both of them were OUTSTANDING. Brad Davis threw 7 shutout innings on Saturday night, allowing 6 hits. Then, in our season finale, Andrew Bailey threw 6.2 innings without allowing a hit and ended up with 8 innings, 3 hits, and 1 run allowed. They both did tremendous jobs in their first upper-level experience.

I finished the season throwing the ball pretty well. In the last month of the season (including the 1 inning I pitched in September), I threw 15.2 innings, allowing 6 hits and 2 earned runs.

Since the last GZWI...
River Cats record: 10-5
My stat line: 6 G, 2-0, 9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 K, 2 BB

FINAL REGULAR SEASON STATS...
River Cats record: 84-60 (PCL Pacific Southern Division Champions!!)
All-level Cumulative: 12-3, 2 SV, 2.41 ERA, 78.1 IP, 26 R, 21 ER, 65 H, 62 K, 18 BB

AAA stats: 8-3, 2.96 ERA, 54.2 IP, 20 R, 18 ER, 46 H, 44 K, 14 BB
AA stats: 4-0, 1 SV, 1.14 ERA, 23.2 IP, 6 R, 3 ER, 19 H, 18 K, 4 BB


Q&A:

I've been following your progress all year, and I hope you get a chance at making the 40-man and getting a cup of coffee in September, you've been Death to RH hitters. Lefties, however, are pounding you at a .408 clip. What's the plan for getting the port-siders under control? -- grover

Well, I’ve worked really hard at this. My AAA numbers were blown up against lefties back in early June when I gave up 9 hits and 6 runs in 2.2 innings (over 2 outings) against Tucson – and I think all 9 hits were by lefties, if I’m not mistaken. I don’t want to be known as a guy who absolutely can’t get lefties out. And I think it showed in my numbers the last couple months. I was able to get their BAA down to .349 by season’s end. Baseball is a game of constant adjustments, and I now feel confident I can have success against any hitter, no matter what side of the plate they hit from.  

3 questions from Colorado Fan ...
1. It seems like "Pitching-Inside" is a lost art form in the game today. How much does the organization as a whole emphasis pitching-inside to help set up the outside corner/change-up, etc.?
2. Do you ever intentionally aim at a batter’s hip/knee/lower leg, so a batter can't just "dig-in" on you...knowing the batter will have to move their feet a little bit?
3. Have you ever been asked/told by a player/coach/manager to hit a batter on purpose - whether it be H.S., College, Summer League, Minors, etc...? Is there ever a place in the game for something like that? Thoughts on protecting your STAR Players, etc.

1. I think everyone emphasizes it, but it’s a very difficult thing to master. A baseball great (I won’t say who so it doesn’t sound like I’m name-dropping) once told me: "You pitch inside for effect, not for strikes. You get hitters out on pitches away, but you gotta keep them from diving out there and hitting those pitches." I think it’s very true.

2. Most definitely.

3. Yes and yes. I’m not wild and crazy about hitting guys intentionally, but I do think you need to protect guys on your own team, whether they’re a star or not. My only major rule: NEVER intentionally throw at a guy’s head. That’s taking a risk on killing him, and the risk isn’t worth it. Knocking a guy down, or hitting him in the ribs/back is one thing...trying to hurt him is another.

Have you ever been brought in to face a right-handed batter, sent to the outfield while a RHP comes in to face a lefty batter, then brought back to the mound (no extra warmups) to face another righty?  Do you think your manager would ever consider it?  Are your outfield skills good enough to play there for a batter or two, especially considering Jay Marshall or some other GB pitcher might be the other half of your pitching platoon? -- ervance

No. I think I could play OF for a batter or two and not embarrass anyone, but I’ve never been asked to do it. I did play OF in a couple innings late in games in collegiate summer ball when we were out of position players. And I had a college pitching teammate who played OF for a batter or 2 one game in a situation like you were describing, but I’ve never been involved in it.

Have you ever been charged before (at any level)?  If so, did you intentionally hit the batter or provoke his charging somehow, and who won? -- JJ

This reminds me of something I 've always wondered Brad.  Have you ever been involved in a bench clearing brawl? I use the word "brawl" in a very general way.  They always crack me up. It always seems that two guys from opposing teams have a few words because they are angry for whatever reason and then both teams end up milling around together on the field. It just strikes me as odd because there is almost never any actual fighting....which is good. My question is, have you ever found yourself standing around out there wondering what is going on only to end up in an extended conversation with one of the other team members?  Maybe exchanging numbers or arranging to meet up after the game for dinner or something? -- alox

I’ve never been charged. But I’ve been involved in a couple bench-clearing incidents. Only one of them involved punches thrown, etc., and that was in independent ball. And I don't think it's ever an "extended period of time" unless it’s a serious fight. But you gotta go out there on the field and protect your teammates. I think everyone's hope is that cooler heads will prevail...every time.

I've wondered how helpful it is to a struggling pitcher when the catcher goes up to the mound.  What are the usual comments you hear from a catcher, and what are the more unique or non-baseball-related conversations you've had on the mound?  And how much good do you think these conversations do? -- sec119:

Most of the time, he’s just giving the pitcher a breather, or giving a reliever time to get loose. Another option is if they’re discussing what sign set they want to use with a runner on 2nd base. They also could possibly be discussing what pitches they want to throw to the hitter. The conversations are usually very productive, believe it or not.

The funniest thing a catcher ever told me was this year...our catcher at the time was hit by a foul ball, and he came out to let the pain wear off. It was a classic conversation, but one I can’t detail publicly. :-)

Do you hate the wave as much as I do? And a follow up, does it ever distract you when the wave starts up when you're on the mound? -- batgirl

I don’t hate the wave, and I know it’s popular among fans. But I do think there is a time and a place for things like that. Earlier this year, we had a pitcher make his first start at a new level, and he threw 7.2 shutout innings. Instead of getting a standing ovation when he was removed, he walked off the field to the crowd doing the wave. I felt he deserved better, but that’s just one isolated event. Most of the time, I know the wave’s done in good fun.

I hope everyone has a great week! We lost 3 of our starting pitchers in the last week, with Colby Lewis, Dallas Braden, and Dan Meyer getting called up. Hopefully we can step it up a little to make up for the lack of their presence in our rotation. We’ve been playing good ball lately, so we just need to keep it rolling in the playoffs. Games 3, 4, and 5 are at home this weekend (if necessary – Fri, Sat, Sun), so come out and cheer us on! See ya at the ballpark!

Hey, everyone! We’re in the midst of the longest road trip of my short pro career – 12 games! We started off the trip sweeping a 4-game set at Las Vegas. We then split a 4-game series in Portland and have lost the first 2 games in Tacoma. We have 2 more games here before returning home and starting a 9-game homestand. Tucson has been able to hang with us, just 5 games back in the division with 15 games to play. It’s gonna be tight down the stretch!

If you didn’t see it, Flashfire put together a neat group of pictures from an outing I had in Sacramento. Click HERE to see it.

This trip has been especially eventful and fun for me, as I’ve been able to meet and spend time with the immediate (Tacoma) and extended (Portland) family of my brother-in-law. In Portland, I was also able to renew an old friendship from when I was growing up in Odessa, MO. My parents are visiting here in Tacoma, and it’s been great seeing them for the first time in awhile.

On the field, our offense has done a remarkable job of staying cohesive on this trip, as we’ve had a ton of player movement since we left. When we started the trip, we sent Nick Blasi to Midland to make roster room for the newly-signed Jeff DaVanon. While we were still in Vegas, we traded OF Jason Perry to Detroit for Jack Hannahan (who was sent straight to Oakland), leading to J.J. Furmaniak being optioned to us. Furthermore, while we were in Portland, DaVanon was called up (with Blasi returning from Midland), and then Dee Brown was re-called 2 days ago. Then, yesterday, J.J. Furmaniak was re-called to Oakland. So we’ve had a different lineup virtually every day, and we’ve still been able to put together a 6-4 road trip so far. The return of Dan Meyer will boost our pitching staff, and hopefully we can put together a good run and put ourselves in position to clinch.

On a side note, I want to share something I read this week. In 2005, I, along with a few other players, had the privilege of speaking to the crowd at Faith Night in Stockton, sharing my testimony after a game. To give us some support, a couple players from the other team (Lake Elsinore -- Padres' high-A team) came out on the field and sat with us, including pitcher Dirk Hayhurst. Since then, I’ve made it a point to visit with Dirk every time we run across each other’s path (usually at spring training). Well Dirk has been writing a "non-prospect diary" for Baseball America this season, and this week, his entry tells an absolutely heart-wrenching story -- in my opinion, as well as that of almost everyone I’ve shared it with so far. I highly suggest reading it. Click HERE to check it out.

In an attempt to answer more questions, I’m gonna save some space and not talk about my outings specifically. I’m trying to get caught up to the current questions... Of note: I now have more wins this year (10) as a reliever between the 2 levels than I did last year as a starter (9)...kinda bizarre! :)

Since the last GZWI...
River Cats record: 10-7
My stat line: 6 G, 2-0, 6.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 K, 4 BB (3 BB in one inning!! ugh!)

UPDATED SEASON STATS...
River Cats record: 74-55 (1st place – 5 games ahead of Tucson)
All-level Cumulative: 10-3, 2 SV, 2.73 ERA, 69.1 IP, 26 R, 21 ER, 64 H, 57 K, 16 BB

AAA stats: 6-3, 3.55 ERA, 45.2 IP, 20 R, 18 ER, 45 H, 39 K, 12 BB
AA stats: 4-0, 1 SV, 1.14 ERA, 23.2 IP, 6 R, 3 ER, 19 H, 18 K, 4 BB


Q&A:

What do big leagers do when they go on rehab in the minors, such as Sacramento or Stockton? Do they hang out with the rest of the team, or do they go their own separate ways? Do they spout knowledge and talk about their experiences in the majors, or do they shy away from such topics? In short, how do they act compared to the other players and how are they treated differently, if at all? -- Zonis

For the most part, they definitely hang out with the team. Those guys are a lot of fun, and I think they enjoy the relaxed atmosphere in our clubhouse (not that they don’t get that in Oakland – but our clubhouse is easy for anyone to walk in and fit right in). They’re never hesitant to talk to us about any aspect of their career that we ask about, especially if we do it 1-on-1. The A’s have a bunch of great veterans that are great assets to the younger players in the system. Also, they usually buy us a nice post-game spread (meal), which is always a plus!

Ziggy, with the way you've been pitching, it seems likely that you'll get called up at some point, with the bullpen and injuries as is.  How much anticipation is there, and do you stay awake thinking about it?

Also, do you think Daric Barton would have success in the majors today?  Seems like an obvious move for a lot of fans, but for some reason A's haven't moved on this.

Also, how does it feel knowing that you'll probably have a lot of people from AN rooting strongly for you when you get called up? -- closetasfan

Obviously, I’d love a call-up. It’s been my goal since I was young, and I feel like the switch to submarine is my ticket. I just don’t know when, or if, it will happen. That’s something that’s out of my hands, and I try not to focus on it a whole lot. I just want to keep doing my job every time I’m put in a game, no matter what level I’m at.

I definitely think Barton would have some success at the big league level. He’s still young (just turned 22), and still developing as a player.

And it’d be great to have fans from AN cheering for me. It’s already happened in Midland and Sacramento, and I hope it has a chance to happen in Oakland someday!

I think Duke [Justin Duchscherer] is my favorite pitcher on the team. I love when he is on, with pinpoint control of all his pitches, it's awesome to watch him set up hitters. As an ex-pitcher (in an adult amateur league), I appreciate that and try to guess his pitch selection and location each time. Curveball, strike one! Curveball, strike two! Then I say watch, fastball on the low outside corner. BAM! Strike three! The hitter heads back to the dugout. Duke seems very calm and unrattled on the mound. What's he like in person? I urge you to pick his brain and study how he does things because I see him as an ideal model for a pitcher. -- McFood

Obviously, Duch’s rehab got cut short before he was able to pitch for us in Sacramento, but I met him in spring training, and I have absolutely nothing negative to say about the guy. He’s very nice, easy to talk to, a good mentor for young pitchers, and he’s also VERY heavily involved in community outreach, which I really admire.

Brad, does the altitude of Colorado Springs affect your pitches? If so, has it flattened out your breaking pitches or not so much? -- Gerard

Yes, it does...a lot. My slider is a flat pitch anyway, but the altitude does take away some of the break in the pitch. Also, my sinker doesn’t sink nearly as much as it does in, say, Sacramento, which is nearly at sea level. So location becomes much more important when pitching at high altitudes.  

Do you play video games at all?  There's a PS2 game series with a cyborg named Ziggy which leads to the question: If you were a cyborg, would you use your powers for good (striking out opposing hitters) or evil (world conquest)? -- JLeverenz

Why would world conquest be evil? :-)

When is your daughter's arrival expected? Congrats on the forthcoming addition to your family! -- sarajune13
Congratulations to you and your wife! Is your daughter due in the off season? -- kapers

Thanks! Due date: October 27

I hope everyone had a great weekend! By the way, if you liked The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy, I highly recommend The Bourne Ultimatum. I loved it! Come out and see us on our 9-game homestand while Oakland’s on the road. If you do, make sure you swing by the bullpen to say ‘hi.’ I’ll post again soon in an effort to get to some of the more recent questions. See ya at the ballpark!

Hello again! It’s SO nice to be back in Sacramento after the long road trip. To say the least, our team continued to bond the last 4 days of the trip in the EXTREMELY cozy confines of the Nashville visiting clubhouse. We played some pretty good ball on the trip, and going into the last 30 or so games, we put ourselves in great position for a shot at the PCL playoffs. To continue the bonding, the beginning of August marked the start of a very grizzly time for the River Cats – we’re all growing beards to give us an increased amount of team unity as we head down the home stretch in hopes of a postseason run. Hopefully the arrival of the facial hair will help us end our 3-game skid tonight!

Of note on the road trip: J.D. Closser hit his 100th career minor league home run. He launched it into our bullpen in Memphis, so I decided to have a little fun with him. I quickly grabbed the ball and tossed it to Jeff Gray before anyone in the dugout noticed. Then I grabbed another ball and threw it into the mob of fraternity guys sitting in left field. The whole dugout, including Closser, thought I’d thrown his HR ball into the crowd. They all looked down to the pen with outstretched arms as if to say, "Ziggy, did you not know?" Someone even called down to the bullpen on the phone, asking that very thing. At that time, we let them in on our trick. It was a good time and neat to be on a team with a player commemorating a special event.

Since the last GZWI, I’ve had 4 outings. On July 20, I threw 2 scoreless innings after Dan Meyer gave us 6 strong ones. I came in with our team leading 10-1. I ended up striking out 2 while allowing 2 hits (1 in each inning).

Then two Sundays ago, I got a chance to be a closer (our regular closer, Ruddy Lugo, had pitched the 2 nights before). I came into the game at the beginning of the 9th inning with our team holding onto a 1-0 lead, thanks in part to a brilliant 15-up, 15-down performance by Colby Lewis (limited pitch count) and Jeremy Brown’s 7th-inning homer. I was able to record strikeouts on the first 2 hitters, and then got a 1st-pitch groundout on the 3rd guy to wrap up the game and notch my 1st AAA save.

In the 3rd game at Memphis, I came on in relief of Meyer (7.1 scoreless) with runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out in the 8th inning of a 0-0 game. I was able to get the first hitter to hit a grounder right back to me, starting a 1-6-3 double play to get out of the inning. Then in the 9th (still 0-0), I got a groundout and a strikeout on the first 2 hitters, but then walked the 3rd hitter. I was taken out of the game, and, unfortunately, that runner came around to score, resulting in a 1-0 defeat (and me credited with the loss).

Our 3rd game in Nashville was the scene of my next outing, as I came in while we were trailing 4-0 in the 8th inning. The 1st 2 hitters, both lefties, flew out and grounded out. Then I struck out the lone righty of the inning, ending my night as we failed to score in the 9th.

In the month of July, I was able to find a groove and somewhat settle into my role on the team. I finished the month with 11 K’s, 1 BB, a .200 batting average against and a 7.67 GB ratio (7.67 groundouts per flyout/line out).

Since the last GZWI...
River Cats record: 9-5
My stat line: 4 G, 0-1, 5.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 K, 1 BB

UPDATED SEASON STATS...
River Cats record: 64-48 (1st place – 4 games ahead of Tucson)
All-level Cumulative: 8-3, 2 SV, 2.73 ERA, 62.2 IP, 23 R, 19 ER, 59 H, 52 K, 12 BB

AAA stats: 4-3, 3.69 ERA, 39.0 IP, 17 R, 16 ER, 40 H, 34 K, 8 BB
AA stats: 4-0, 1 SV, 1.14 ERA, 23.2 IP, 6 R, 3 ER, 19 H, 18 K, 4 BB


Q&A:

I mean no disrespect with this but how does a pitcher get "tired" after throwing 44 pitches?  Particularly since I believe you came up as a starter, where you're expected and prepared to throw much longer, why the difference in stamina now that you're relieving? Does the smaller margin for error that you mention create more stress on a reliever (thereby causing fatigue to set in sooner) than on a starter?  Or is "tired" another way to say "doesn't have it today" or "had it but is losing it"? -- camperdog

No disrespect taken. It’s all about how you condition yourself. I’ve been conditioning myself for short relief since last September (lots of sprints and other things involving short, explosive bursts). As a starter, you do a lot of distance running to build up endurance. As a reliever, you usually go in and go full-bore for 20-30 pitches, whereas a starter paces himself over 100-110. Mental stress, to me, doesn’t change my energy level, because a lack of focus for one pitch could ruin a start, just like it can blow a game as a reliever.

There's not a lot of information out there on how hard Dan Meyer is throwing now that he's back and pitching well. Although we're all very happy with the recent results either way, can you give us the mph range of his fastballs? -- xbhaskarx

It would be a lot easier to give you an answer if I was charting in the stands with the radar gun like I did when I was a starter. But if the stadium radar guns are accurate (only thing I can go by), I think he’s in the 86-92 range, sitting at about 88-89. He’s been throwing the ball EXTREMELY well (1.91 ERA in 6 July starts), and his last couple outings, he’s gone deeper into games than he had been, doing a great job of maximizing his allotted pitch count.

What is the MOST pitches you had to throw to a batter before you as the pitcher won and got the out? -- Yas822

I can’t remember an exact at-bat, but I know I’ve had a couple that have gone 10-12 pitches...but most were as a starter. The longest I can think of this year was in my July 20 outing vs. Salt Lake City. Adam Pavkovich had about a 9- or 10-pitch at-bat before being called out on strikes.

From user: Bottom of the 9th...
This is only the second or third post of yours I've read, so a couple questions I ask may have been covered before.

Shame on you! Haha :-)

Anyway, my questions:
1. What sort of learning curve have you gone through with each of your pitches?
2. How far along do you feel you are with each pitch you throw?
3. How challenging is it to avoid tipping any of your pitches?

1. Well, with the conversion to submarine, I’ve had to totally re-learn how to throw. The mechanics of every pitch are different than anything I ever threw overhand. Pitching is a contstant mental battle to keep things consistent, and I’m just getting to the point where I can repeat my delivery nearly every time without really having to focus on something specific.

2. I really like where my fastball is right now. I’m locating it down in the zone most of the time, and staying out of the middle of the plate, and it’s creating a lot of groundballs (and even a few swings-and-misses). My slider and changeup are effective at times, but I’m just trying to rely heavily on my fastball to get outs.

3. This is something I’m dealing with right now. Trying to keep a similar arm slot and release point with my off-speed pitches in relation to my fastball release. It’s just a matter of repetition. I've seen guys tip pitches before by their pre-pitch posture or movements, but as far as I'm aware of, I've never done that.

A few questions from richwol...
The A's pitchers talk about how incredible Kendall is at calling a game. For you, how much difference does a catcher make in that regard and can a catcher make the difference between having a good or bad outing? How often do you yourself shake off your catcher? In terms of calling games, how do you rate Suzuki (if he's caught you) and Landon Powell? What can they learn from Kendall? What can you learn from a guy like Kendall?
Also, Kendall is starting to hit now, but let's say for argument's sake that he continued to bat under the Mendoza Line. At that point, is his pitch calling (or any catcher's pitch calling) so important that you can keep such a dead bat in the lineup?

Any pitcher will tell you that being in-sync with a catcher is one of the most important things to getting in a rhythm on the mound. If you trust a catcher who has proven he knows how to pitch to certain hitters, it’s one less thing to have to worry about on the mound. Suzuki and Powell are both good at calling games, but more importantly, they’re both good at making adjustments to fit the pitcher’s strengths the more they get to work with each guy.
And I don’t think you can ever over-estimate the importance of a catcher’s game-calling skills. If a catcher can call a game, receive, and throw well, I don’t care if he goes 0-for-6 every game.

I've really enjoyed following your progress over the years, Brad. Hang in there. We're all pulling for you. Brian Reeves. -- Brian R

Awesome! One of my favorite teachers from high school! Thanks for the comment, Mr. Reeves. Great to hear from you!

You do realize your veteran teammates are going to extract a heavy price from you in Oakland because of this blog don't you?  Hopefully you look good in a sheer pink teddy with matching purple stillettos.  It's not a look many guys can carry off with success. ;) -- alox

If not this, it’d be something else. They’ll get my kangaroo court money one way or the other. And, no matter what it’s for, it’d be well worth it to be in the big leagues.

I hope everyone has a great week! We’ve got 8 games at home before the chance to enjoy our only off day of the 2nd half. Also looking very forward to the release of The Bourne Ultimatum this Friday! Then, after the day off, we’re on the road for 12 straight games – a trip that could factor heavily into making or breaking our playoff chances. I’ll try to post again before we go on the road. Come out and catch a game! See ya at the ballpark!

Hello, everyone! I hope you enjoyed the All-Star break. I definitely did. I was able to fly home to Missouri and spend some time with my family for a couple days. We’re starting a grueling stretch in our season now, as we have just one day off the rest of the 2nd half in AAA. So the 3-day break was much-needed. We ended the first half on a high note, sweeping a 5-game series at Fresno. They entered the series in 2nd place, 2 games behind us – and finished in 3rd place, 7 games back. Tucson, however, has kept pace with us, and is still only 4 games back in 2nd place.

We’ve played well since the break, too. With continued movement all over the system, our mix-and-match lineups every night keep grinding out wins, and it’s a lot of fun to be a part of. Also, it was cool to get to have a couple big leaguers rehab with us. Great seeing Travis Buck again, and his swing was looking good after his 2-game stint with us. And, of course, it was neat to play with a future Hall-of-Famer in Mike Piazza. He’s a great guy, and he was swinging a hot bat during his 3-game stint with us.

I appeared in five games since the last GZWI, and my brief streak of scoreless innings came to an end at 12 and 2/3. My first outing consisted of facing two batters in the 8th inning vs. Tucson, with our team winning 3-2. The first batter reached on an error, and then the 2nd hit into a fielder’s choice, forcing the runner at 2nd. We were able to hold onto the 3-2 lead to get the win.

In the 2nd game of the 5-game Fresno series, Mike Madsen was on a strict 50-pitch limit to ensure he wasn’t sore when he represented the A’s in the Futures Game, so he came out after the 3rd inning. I pitched the 4th, 5th, and got 2 outs in the 6th (coming out of the game with a runner on 3rd – he ended up scoring). Our bullpen was able to hold on to the lead, so I was credited with the win since I was the pitcher of record, having completed the 5th inning.

After the break, my first outing was one of the least fortunate I’ve ever had. Leading 5-0 in the 6th, I threw one good inning, allowing one hit. I went back out for a second inning of work. After striking out the first batter, the 2nd hitter hit a chopper to 1st base. The 2nd hop hit the lip where the grass meets the dirt cutout, and kicked sharply to the right, past our first baseman over toward the wall in foul territory, with the hitter ending up on 2nd with an infield double. Then the next hitter chopped a ball up the middle and beat out an infield single. I was removed from the game, and both runners later scored on a triple. So I gave up 2 runs without allowing a ball out of the infield in that inning. Probably just baseball's way of evening out the times I've given up rockets right at a fielder. :)

Two nights later, we played one of the most exciting games we’ve played all year. After trailing 6-0 after the first inning, we scratched our way back to tie the game at 6 after 6 innings. Madsen was our starter this game, and he did a tremendous job of keeping us in the game after the rough 1st inning. He was able to pitch til there were 2 outs in the 5th without giving up any other runs, and our offense crept back into the game. After Portland got 1st and 2nd with no outs in the 7th, I came into the game. The first hitter unsuccessfully tried to bunt, and ended up striking out. Then I got a potential double play ball, but we were only able to get an out at 2nd. With 1st and 3rd, 2 outs, I got the last guy to ground out to 3rd to end the inning. We scored that inning, and later held on for an 8-7 win, with me getting credited with the win.

Two nights ago, I threw in a game in Colorado Springs. The first guy grounded back to me, the 2nd got an infield hit, and the 3rd struck out. Then I was removed from the game, and lefty Ryan Meaux got an infield pop-up to end the inning. We ended up losing that game, 4-2.


Since the last GZWI...
River Cats record: 9-5
My stat line: 5 G, 2-0, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 K, 0 BB

UPDATED SEASON STATS...
River Cats record: 55-43 (1st place – 4 games ahead of Tucson)
All-level Cumulative: 8-2, 1 SV, 2.83 ERA, 57.1 IP, 22 R, 18 ER, 57 H, 46 K, 11 BB

AAA stats: 4-2, 4.01 ERA, 33.2 IP, 16 R, 15 ER, 38 H, 28 K, 7 BB
AA stats: 4-0, 1 SV, 1.14 ERA, 23.2 IP, 6 R, 3 ER, 19 H, 18 K, 4 BB


Q&A:

A series of questions from xbhasharx...
2 2/3 IP in both games [back in May], that seems like a lot for you (I assumed you were somewhere between a ROOGY and a 1 IP guy, but i see you averaged 1 2/3 in AA). IS it a lot for you? Is your bullpen role different now that you're on the AAA team? Obviously you'll do whatever the team asks, but would you prefer going 1 inning more frequently or 2+ innings every three days? Do such differences have an effect on your preparation? [and from a separate post...]Does every team in the A's organization wear white cleats?

Yeah, I would say 2 and 2/3 innings is quite a bit for me (especially when I was working deep into counts early in my AAA stint). I’ve been groomed mentally and physically to be a late-inning, short-relief guy, mostly facing right-handed hitters, and that’s what I’d probably prefer. It’s not like I have 4 pitches to keep hitters guessing at all times. At the same time, I like being versatile, and the experiences in the longer relief have been good for me in my development as a submariner...and the more I’ve done it, the better success I’ve had with the longer relief, and I’m even feeling better facing lefties, even though the numbers probably don’t show it. I’ve done a better job of getting softer contact against lefties, even though they seem to still keep getting hits. But I’m to the point now that I feel pretty comfortable coming in no matter what the situation, and no matter what, I have to just be ready at all times. And, yes, all of the A’s minor league teams wear white cleats.

For folks like me (and probably the vast majority of people on this site) who don't know that much about the way the minor leagues function on a daily basis, what differences have you observed so far in terms AA vs. AAA? I'd be interested in anything you have to say, from size of crowds to organizational attitudes. Does a AAA club have a different level of pressure than a AA? -- LAXile

I don’t know that there’s more pressure in AAA, because every night we’re trying to win no matter what level it is. When the game starts, it’s just baseball. You don’t think about what level you’re at during the game. But there are some major differences, starting with the umpires: the strike zones are smaller in AAA, and the umps are definitely more consistent. And not to criticize AA umpires in any way...they're trying to improve and work their way up just like we are as players. It took me a bit to adjust to the AAA zone, but I’ve done a better job lately working ahead in counts, which helps. We definitely draw more people in Sacramento than we did in Midland, but Sac and its suburbs are probably about 5x the size of Midland/Odessa. The stadiums are nicer and we get better food in the clubhouse (while also paying more than what we paid in AA for clubbie dues). But I’d say the primary difference is how closely everyone pays attention to the big league team in AAA. At any time, we’re just a call away from being in the show, and it seems like everyone talks way more about the moves the A’s make. Plus, it helps being in the same time zone as Oakland, because we get to follow their games much easier. It’s a lot of fun.

Since I am unable to come to Sacramento to your games, it has been nice to pay the money to watch your games LIVE. $30.00 for an all year ticket is pretty cheap. My question is--is there quite a bit of difference with the media/reporters from place to place,or Single A to Triple A,or do you find pretty much all media the same?  Who, in the media, have you met famous or not famous that has made an impression on you? -- StrikeThree

There are some differences in the media as you move up, with the biggest probably being the number of reporters that follow the team. As a middle reliever, I’m not speaking to the media after games as much as I did when I was a starter. But I see 3-4 reporters in the clubhouse every night after games, whereas in Midland it was usually just one (or maybe 2).

I haven’t met a lot of famous reporters, but the one well-known journalist I did meet that really left an impression was Peter Gammons. I met him in 2001 in the Cape Cod League, and he was so down-to-earth. Seeing someone on ESPN every night leaves you with an impression of them, and I just always had thought of him as a big-time reporter. And he definitely is, but when you talk to him, you’d never know. He showed up to one game out there in sweat pants and a t-shirt, just as a fan to watch the game. It was great.

A series of questions from fridaynightfan...
1. I know the catcher puts down fingers for what kind of pitch.  But how do they call location?
2. Isn't it hard to see finger in a crotch (no offense) esp. under A AA and AAA lights?
3. Do batters "study up" on particular catchers and how they call a game as well as on how a pitcher throws, etc.?

1. They kind of cock their hand to the side, as if to point with the fingers which side of the plate they’re calling for. If you pay attention to big league games, you might notice the same thing there. Granted, with a runner on 2nd, it’s totally different. But I can’t give away any secrets. :)

2. None taken. Sometimes, especially late in the game, it IS tough to see. But usually the catcher will just go through the signs a little slower, or put chalk from the batter’s box on the back of their fingers so that the white stands out in the shadows.

3. I’ve never heard of this. I know hitters study pitchers’ tendencies, and that’s definitely the most important, because if the pitcher doesn’t like what the catcher calls, he’ll just shake until the catcher puts down the sign he wants. So ultimately, the tendencies lie with the pitcher.

How did the wife and kids react to the news [of the promotion to AAA]? -- alox

Well, she had just arrived in Midland to visit for a weekend, and after finding out about my promotion, we knew that I’d have to fly out to meet up with the Sacramento team the next morning. We ended up seeing each other for about 12 hours – and that was mixed with having to pack, make travel arrangements for her to get home, and trying to get some sleep before the long day of travel. However, after things settled down, she was extremely happy for me, and I’m pretty sure my baby-girl-on-the-way would be excited if she understood what was going on. :-) It would've been nice to see her for a longer period of time, but sometimes that's just the nature of this game.

I hope everyone has a great week! We have a day game today in Colorado Springs, then fly home tonight. After 4 games at home against Salt Lake City, we go on an 8-day road trip. I’ll try to post again right after the trip. On the trip, I’m unsure of our Internet access (we’re going to Memphis and Nashville, 2 cities I’ve never been to before). But I’ll try to keep blez informed of my schedule so he can let you know when to keep an eye out for the next installment(s) of GZWI. Come out and catch a game! See ya at the ballpark!

Hello, everyone! First of all, let me apologize for not posting in so long. I’ve had a lot going on (on AND off the field), and things are just now starting to return to the normal, hectic state of life as a ballplayer. Our team continued its solid play, as we’re still holding down first place in the PCL by 1 game over Fresno. Our team is preparing to grind out the last week of games before the all-star break, when we’ll get a much-needed 3 days off (everyone except Daric Barton, who will represent us on the PCL All-Star team). After we return from the all-star break, we have one scheduled day off from that point until the end of the season. So it’s going to be a brutal stretch for us as we hopefully head toward the PCL playoffs.

Things have gone better for me the last 2 weeks, as I’ve kinda settled into the middle relief role. I’ve been getting more groundballs, and I’ve started to have some success against left-handed hitters. I’ve also done a better job of working ahead, throwing strikes, and minimizing the number of pitches thrown in each outing.

I won’t get into much detail on my outings, just to save time. But my last 2 outings produced something new for me. On Wednesday, I pitched 2.1 innings in relief of Dan Meyer (who gave us a really good start). Then the next night, we went extra innings, and I pitched 3 more innings in a game we ended up losing in 16 innings. So I threw 5.1 innings on consecutive nights. While my body was a little stiff, my arm really never got too sore, so that’s a sign to me that the submarine motion probably IS, in fact, much easier on the arm (before, I didn’t know if it was the motion or just the fact that you throw less pitches in each outing as a reliever).

On a side note: Daric Barton went 0-for-4 on Saturday night, ending his 24-game hitting streak. During the streak, he had a stretch of 10 consecutive multi-hit games. It was pretty phenomenal to watch. When I arrived in Sac, he was hitting about .240. After bouncing back with 3 hits today, his average now sits at .330.

Since the last GZWI...
River Cats record: 7-6
My stat line: 5 G, 1-0, 9.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 5 K, 1 BB

UPDATED SEASON STATS...
River Cats record: 46-38 (1st place – 1 game ahead of Fresno)
All-level Cumulative: 6-2, 1 SV, 2.63 ERA, 51.1 IP, 19 R, 15 ER, 51 H, 41 K, 11 BB

AAA stats: 2-2, 3.90 ERA, 27.2 IP, 13 R, 12 ER, 32 H, 23 K, 7 BB
AA stats: 4-0, 1 SV, 1.14 ERA, 23.2 IP, 6 R, 3 ER, 19 H, 18 K, 4 BB

Q&A:

2 questions, along the same lines, by mikedaviswhereareyou...

(1)As a submariner, you have an idiosyncratic arsenal of pitches. They look different to batters than their overhand equivalents. Do most catchers appreciate the offerings, or do you find yourself controlling your own pitch selection more than other pitchers?  Are the same combinations of pitches as used by overhand pitchers effective for you...or does the submarine delivery require an entirely different approach?  Does anyone ever give you feedback as to what your pitches look like from the plate?

(2)Speaking of the inside, can you do me a favor and explain a little bit about the submarine pitches?  I mean, is there even a curveball when throwing underarm like you do? Are there sliders and circle changes and such?  I mean, what on earth, beside ruining your elbow, would a split finger fast ball do underarmed? Or are the pitches completely different. I have heard Chad Bradford talk about throwing a "frisbee" pitch. In short, can you tell me your pitch selections, and how they differ in movement and bite from what they do when thrown overhand?

When I threw overhand, I had a fastball, sinker, curve, slider, and changeup. Submarine, I have a fastball, slider, and changeup. My slider would be similar to what Bradford calls his "frisbee"...it’s called that because the movement on it is totally horizontal (no drop in it like an overhand slider). I think a splitter would be impossible to throw from a submarine angle...I’m not even sure it would be effective.

As far as pitch selection, submarine is an entirely different approach. I tend to get myself into trouble when I revert back to pitch sequences that I used when I threw overhand, because they don’t have the same effectiveness when used submarine. When I am first working with a new catcher, I usually do shake them off quite a bit. But as we get more comfortable, all the A’s catchers have learned my style quickly and it helps keep the pace of the game going when I’m not having to shake them off.

2 questions from gojohn10...

(1) Who's a better pitcher: Brian Synder, Myron Leslie, or Vince Faison?

(2) If you were to ever play the field, what position would you play?

(1) Myron Leslie. He threw strikes, and even hit 90 mph on the gun.

(2) 3B, SS, LF, C...any of those :-) I caught quite a bit growing up, and then moved to the left side of the infield. I still occasionally catch bullpens when it’s necessary in pro ball. I started shagging batting practice a lot in LF, to the point that I wouldn’t be lost if I were thrown there in an emergency situation. But SS/3B would be where I’d be most comfortable.

As a reliever, does it make it easier when you have a good idea that you will be called into that particular game? Or is it usually "all-hands-on-deck" and you have to be mentally prepared to go into any game? -- emiyeric

It was nice meeting you in San Antonio, Eric. Yes, it makes it easier when you have an idea that you’re probably the guy that’s gonna be warming up next. But at the same time, you have to be mentally prepared at all times, because the coaches let the game dictate who they think is the best guy to bring in. Situations change, and they may alter their pre-game thinking sometimes. But the longer you play for a particular coaching staff, the more you have an idea of what guys they like to bring in in certain situations.  

With Putnam and Braden being called up, how does it feel to be playing with a guy one day,and seeing him play in the majors the next day? Do other team members stay informed on how they're doing? Is there some kind of special gathering to watch a former teammate make his ML debut? -- J Rod

It’s awesome. You’re happy for them, and at the same time, you know that it could happen to you at any moment. Makes you want to prepare better each day and try to "stick out like a sore thumb in a good way" (a favorite saying of one of our pitching coaches) by your performance on the field. We definitely keep up with the big league team, and how ex-teammates are doing. When Braden debuted, we were able to watch some of the game in the clubhouse in Corpus Christi. And when Putnam would hit, the whole clubhouse would stop what they were doing to watch. It’s awesome, and I hope to get that experience someday.

Have you always enjoyed writing and telling stories? What helped prepare you to be so good at writing for AN? -- Blez

I’m actually not a big fan of writing. I’m more a big fan of talking, and letting someone else do the typing/writing. :-) At the same time, along with my parents’ help, I had a great English/Literature teacher in high school that taught me most of what I know. And I enjoyed classes like that in college, even though I only took what was necessary to graduate. I’ve also done a lot of off-season work in the media: covering high school sports for the Springfield News-Leader(newspaper), sitting in on sports talk radio shows in Springfield, etc. Between that stuff and the occasional interview, I’ve been exposed to the media a lot over the years to hopefully have an idea of what fans like to read/hear about. I’m just glad everyone on the site seems to be enjoying this feature.

2 questions from bbnewbie...

(1) When you're on the mound and maybe things aren't going so well, and you see someone start to warm up in the bullpen, does it affect you in any way? How do you refocus? When a catcher visits you on the mound, what does he usually say?

(2) Also, in a previous post, you described how a minor-league salary provides little to no financial buffer. What do you to make ends meet during the off-season?

(1) If I see someone else warming up, that means 1 of 3 things to me: either I did my job, I'm about to exceed my pitch count, or I need to be taken out because I haven't been effective. Either way, I just try to focus on 1 pitch at a time and hope that I can do what my team needs me to.

When a catcher visits the mound, usually it's just to make sure we're on the same page with finger signs or to discuss exactly what pitch needs to be thrown in that particular situation. Occasionally, too, the coach will send the catcher out just to give a reliever in the pen a few more pitches in case he's not quite loose yet.

(2) In the off-season, I give private baseball instruction, mostly to kids in middle school and high school. I enjoy it, because I like working with kids, and the hours are pretty flexible.

2 questions from homerun13...

(1) Some pitchers throw a splitter which is hard to grip. Most of them have the splitter grip on the ball when they start the set position and then change to another grip since that is easier then the other way around and probably hitters would pick up if you had to grip the splitter in the glove. But what happens when they have the splitter grip and have to throw a pick-off? Do they throw over with the splitter grip? Last time I wondered was when I saw Curt Schilling doing it, especially since it didn't seem like he had time to change grip.

(2) Another question: where you always a pitcher when you started baseball? Did you play an other position before, and, if yes, when did you concentrate on only pitching?

(1) No, they wouldn’t throw a pickoff with a splitter grip. He switched the grip sometime. When you’re job is holding a baseball, you get to be really quick with your fingers and moving them around the ball.

(2) See the 2nd question from gojohn10 above. I started exclusively pitching in college.

Is anyone else disappointed that Ziggy didn't post this diary [referring to the diary posted by the colonel announcing my promotion to Sacramento]? It would be kind of gangster to post your own diary about getting called up to AAA on a fansite for your organization. Presumably he would be one of the first to know, right? Hopefully if he gets called up to the show he can trade on his inside info and get a diary up about it. -- TempletonPeck

As I stated before, I’m sorry I wasn’t the one to tell you. I was definitely the first to know other than the ones making the decision. And I can assure you that if I get called to the big leagues, you’ll hear it from me first (unless someone hears something straight from the mouth of the Oakland front office). I just knew that I was going to be extremely busy for a couple days with travel, getting my wife back to Missouri, etc., so I asked the colonel if he would post something about it for me.

If you become our closer, I think Bowie has a song you can use. Do you play guitar? -- giambizombie

Not yet. I really want to learn, and I love to sing, but I haven’t taken the time to learn to play. I do have a guitar, though, and maybe this off-season I can start pickin’ it up.

I hope everyone has a great week! My next post will probably come shortly after our all-star break (which coincides with the big league break: July 9-11). Milton Bradley and Rich Harden finished their rehab stints with us since my last post. Bobby Kielty is rehabbing with us at the moment, and we still eagerly await the arrival of Justin Duchscherer and Mike Piazza. Come out and catch a game! See ya at the ballpark!

Hey, everyone! It’s been a frustrating week-and-a-half for me since I last posted. I’ve faced some serious adversity on the field, having my worst stretch of the season. It all started in Tucson, a place that seems to give any pitcher fits (we gave up 45 runs in a 4-game series). It’s a very hard playing surface (ok, we may as well have played on a concrete parking lot, as one of my teammates put it), meaning a lot of grounders get through that wouldn’t on most fields. Also, the Candlestick-Park-like wind blows out (which isn’t uncommon in the PCL) to right field. To make matters worse for me, and other right-handed pitchers, Tucson had 7 or 8 lefties in the lineup every single night we were there.

My Outings

Thursday, June 7@ Tucson
We were up 14-6 going to the 7th inning. In the 7th, Tucson hit a grand slam, and then got another hitter on base when I entered the game with two outs. The first batter lined a ball to our first baseman, but he wasn’t quite able to snag it, as it hit his glove and caromed away into foul territory, leaving runners at 1st and 2nd. I jammed the next hitter, a lefty, with a slider, and he hit it up in the wind to right. It seemed like it would be a routine fly ball off the bat, but the breeze carried it all the way to the fence, where our right fielder leaped in an unsuccessful attempt at what would've been a spectacular catch. The ball hit off the top of the wall and bounced back into right field, giving the hitter a 2-run triple.

Then in the 8th, winning 14-12, I got the first guy out. On the 2nd hitter, I threw a 3-2 slider that was called ball four...a pitch I thought was strike three. Then the next hitter, a righty, chopped a ball into the ground to 2nd base. It bounced WAY up in the air, and by the time it came down, he beat it out for an infield hit, making it 1st and 2nd with 1 out. The next hitter lined a single to left, scoring one with the other runners advancing to 2nd and 3rd on the play. I was pulled from the game at that time, having thrown only 2/3 of an inning. The reliever after me got a strikeout for the 2nd out, but then allowed a single to center, scoring both runners. We ended up losing 15-14, and I was credited with the loss after allowing 4 runs (3 earned).

Saturday, June 9 @ Tucson
I came in with our team trailing 7-1 in the 7th. I gave up 3 straight singles to score a run. Then I got a flyout and 2 groundouts to escape further damage. In the 8th, I gave up a leadoff single and a 2-out double to allow another run...a ball that I thought was foul as it passed first base, but it was ruled fair (and our catcher confirmed that it looked fair to him).

Monday, June 11 @ Fresno
All year, my slider has been my best pitch to go to for a strikeout, but on this particular night, I didn’t have a good one. Twice, I gave up base hits on bad sliders (slow-breaking and over the heart of the plate), and ended up giving up a run on 2 hits and a hit batter. The good news about this outing was that I regained the command and movement on my fastball that I hadn’t consistently had since my promotion to AAA.

Thursday, June 14 vs. Las Vegas
I entered the game with our team trailing in the 8th inning and a runner on 3rd with one out. We were playing with the infield back, so to keep the run from scoring, I needed either a strikeout or a shallow fly ball. Early in the count, I was pitching the right-handed hitter away in an attempt to get him to hit the ball to Jason Perry, our right fielder who has a great throwing arm. On the 2nd pitch, the hitter flied out to right, and Perry made a great throw, but it had been hit just a little too deep to keep the runner from scoring. I allowed a leadoff hit in the 9th, but that runner was erased on a double play.

Saturday, June 16 vs. Las Vegas
Maybe the most unfortunate night I’ve had since I’ve been submarining... My stuff was as good as it’s been all year. I was keeping my fastball down, it was sinking well, and I had a good slider. I came in to start the 6th inning, while we were trailing 6-2. The leadoff hitter chopped a ball to my right. If I had let it go, it would’ve been a routine play for the shortstop. But, out of instinct, I lunged for it and deflected the ball, allowing an infield single. After striking out the next 2 hitters, I made a good 0-2 pitch off the plate, but the hitter poked it softly into right field for a single, making it 1st and 3rd. The next hitter lined a single to right, scoring the runner on 3rd. I struck out the last hitter that inning.

Then, in the 7th, the leadoff hitter grounded out to 3rd. After a walk, the next hitter (a lefty) chopped a ball about 10 feet over my head up the middle, and it bounced into center field, leaving runners at 1st and 3rd. Then the next hitter, a righty, chopped a ball right in front of the plate that bounced clear over the 1st baseman’s head and down the right field line for a double. With 2nd and 3rd, we pulled the infield in. The next hitter grounded to short, and we got the guy on 3rd trying to score. Then I got out of the jam by using the fake-to-3rd-throw-to-1st pickoff move, nabbing the guy at 1st.

In the 8th, I struck out the leadoff hitter, and then retired the 2nd hitter on a slow bouncer back to me. I was pulled from the game, confident with the way I was throwing the ball, but frustrated with the final line.

One of the other relievers asked me after the game, "What did you do to tick off the baseball gods? Brutal luck, man." But, at the same time, there have been nights in the past when my stuff was terrible and the other team was crushing the ball, but it seemed as if everything was hit right at our fielders, and I ended up having a great end-result. Just part of the game...

I’m hoping that I’m passed the big rough stretch, and now I can get in a good rhythm, using the good stuff I’ve had the last 2 outings to translate it into better results. What’s most frustrating about the choppers is that hitters are actually closer to missing the ball totally than squaring it up on the barrel when they beat it straight into the ground, and they’re still getting hits on them. I need to talk to our grounds crew about softening the dirt up in front of the plate. :-) I’ve been doing a pretty good job getting ground balls, especially lately, but seems like a lot of them are finding holes, and there’s not much I can do about that...

On a side note, Midland completed the game I had pitched in that was suspended because of rain. So my AA stats got just a tad better since I last posted.

Since the last GZWI...
River Cats record: 5-7  
My stat line: 5 G, 0-1, 8 IP, 17 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 5 K, 3 BB

UPDATED SEASON STATS...
River Cats record: 39-32 (tied for 1st place with Tucson)
All-level Cumulative: 5-2, 1 SV, 3.24 ERA, 41.2 IP, 19 R, 15 ER, 46 H, 36 K, 10 BB

AAA stats: 1-2, 6.00 ERA, 18.0 IP, 13 R, 12 ER, 27 H, 18 K, 6 BB
AA stats: 4-0, 1 SV, 1.14 ERA, 23.2 IP, 6 R, 3 ER, 19 H, 18 K, 4 BB

Q&A:

I'm wondering how much credence you give to the underlying theory of DIPS, that pitchers don't really have much control of what happens to balls that are put in play, and that the result comes from positioning and luck? -- sarchasmic

I am not too familiar with the theory, but I agree with the statement you made (at least, after my outings that I described above). :-) I’ve been getting lots of ground balls, but they seem to be finding more holes here than they did earlier in the year. Hopefully that will turn around, but once the ball is thrown, there isn’t much the pitcher can do. You hope the hitter doesn’t make good contact, and you hope he hits it where your fielders are playing. But it doesn’t always work that way.

Have you ever faced a submariner? What was that like? As far as I know, there aren't any submariners who start games...why is that? Would it be possible? -- JJ

I’m assuming you meant back in the glory days when I hit. I don’t remember ever hitting off one. But I know from what hitters say, the more movement a pitcher has, the less hitters like facing him. And while submarining usually adds movement, that’s not always the case, so that’s something I’m constantly working on.

The only sidearmer/submariner I know who has started is Byung-Hyun Kim. It’s tough, because dropping down limits the variety of pitches you can throw. Overhand, you can use gravity to help your pitches move, but that’s not the case with some of the submarine pitches. In fact, sometimes you’re fighting AGAINST gravity, and that limits the effectiveness even more.

You mentioned that Jeff Coleman (a Midland reliever) retired, a 21st Round pick for the A's in 2001. I was wondering if you knew why he retired, and how such things affect the ballclub and you personally. He's a young guy, yet his baseball career is apparently over. How tough is it to see a guy quit who's actually a year younger than you?

Your description of the roster volatility is very interesting. Is there anything the coaching staff or the players do to help keep things cohesive despite the turnover? -- andyinfremont

I don’t really know why he retired. Some guys just get tired of the everyday grind, especially when they have family back home. I’m sure he missed being away from his wife and kids, and maybe that played into his decision some. Either way, I don’t think it was a knee-jerk reaction...I hope it’s something that he is content with, even though I’m sure it was tough to walk away at first.

Honestly, that type of stuff doesn’t bother me much. I feel like, in a way, my whole career has started over with the move to the bullpen and submarine motion. And there are guys much older than me in AAA, still living the dream.

As far as trying to keep cohesiveness in the clubhouse despite heavy turnover, I think the easiest thing to do is just laugh. Guys play cards, dominoes, etc...but nothing makes guys gather around like a hilarious story. And when you get to AAA, there are enough veterans that have seen some crazy things in this game...and this Sacramento clubhouse is definitely no exception. I think right now we have 7 guys on the active roster who were in Sac to start the year. But we’re still having a lot of fun being around each other, and we’re getting to know each other better every day.

I’ll try to answer a few more questions next time, as I had a lot of game-recapping to do in this entry. But we have an off-day tomorrow, and I’m playing in the River Cats golf tourney. Then we have a 4-game series at home with Tacoma starting Tuesday, followed by a 4-game road trip to Salt Lake City. Milton Bradley is rehabbing with us right now, and we've heard rumors of Mike Piazza and Bobby Kielty joining us in the near future. Come out and catch a game! See ya at the ballpark!

Gettin' Ziggy With It will be posted on Sunday sometime after the completion of the A's day game vs. St. Louis.

Hey, everyone! It’s been an up-and-down week for the River Cats. After winning the last 3 games of a 4-game series with Albuquerque, we proceeded to lose the first 3 games against Round Rock. But we picked up a big, come-from-behind win yesterday to salvage a .500 homestand. Kevin Melillo was the hero Tuesday, with a 2-run walk-off homer in the 12th inning, giving us the 6-5 victory.

This week was also notable, in that Santiago "Willie" Casilla was promoted to the big leagues, the first player to do so since I’ve been in Sacramento. As a fellow bullpen mate, I’m happy for him, and so far, he’s making the most of his opportunity up there.

As far as my outings this week, I entered in the 6th inning of the final game vs. Albuquerque, with us hanging on to a 2-1 lead. After allowing a 1-out walk, I gave up a triple, scoring the runner on 1st. But I was able to strike out the next 2 hitters to get out of the inning without further damage. A leadoff infield single started the 7th inning, but the next hitter hit into a double play. I struck out the last batter, and then we proceeded to score 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th. The bullpen held our lead, and I was credited with the win in the 4-2 victory. In slang terms, we call this "vulching" a win. This happens when you give up a lead that another pitcher had, but then get the victory yourself. Even though I knew this had happened, as soon as the game was over and we were walking out on the field to shake hands, Danny Putnam was following me in the line, and started making a loud "CAW" noise. Knowing what he was getting at, without even looking at him, I started flapping my arms to let him know that I knew I’d vulched the win, leading to a good laugh.

Then 3 nights later, I was summoned to the game with 1 out in the 5th inning. Round Rock had runners on 1st and 3rd, and we were trailing 5-2. I made a good pitch on the first batter, shattering his bat. But he was able to fist the ball into shallow center, scoring one runner and sending the runner on 1st around to 3rd. I coaxed a groundball out of the next hitter, but it was too softly hit to get a double play, and the runner on 3rd scored. I struck out the last hitter that inning. I was able to pitch around leadoff singles the next 2 innings, striking out 4 more guys. I was sent out to start the 8th inning, somewhat fatigued after having already thrown 44 pitches. I quickly walked the leadoff hitter, and Tony D. (our manager) noticed my tiredness and quickly pulled me for a reliever. With 2 outs, the runner (having advanced to 3rd base) scored on a wild pitch, charging me with another earned run.

While throwing well and racking up several strikeouts, it’s frustrating to me to give up a run in both outings, and to allow the inherited runners to score, despite making quality pitches. But it’s part of the game, and I’m still getting used to the smaller margin for error for relief pitchers. I’m also trying to adjust to the longer outings for which I’ve been called upon. In Midland, I had only gone over 2 innings twice in my 14 outings there. Here, I’ve already done it 3 times in my first 4 outings.

Since the last GZWI...
River Cats record: 3-3  
My stat line: 2 G, 0-1, 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 9 K, 2 BB

UPDATED SEASON STATS...
River Cats record: 34-25 (in 1st place -- 2.5 games ahead of Tucson)
All-level Cumulative: 5-1, 1 SV, 1.91 ERA, 33.0 IP, 10 R, 7 ER, 29 H, 30 K, 7 BB

AAA stats: 1-1, 3.60 ERA, 10.0 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 10 H, 13 K, 3 BB
AA stats: 4-0, 1 SV, 1.17 ERA, 23.0 IP, 6 R, 3 ER, 19 H, 17 K, 4 BB




Q&A:

* Brad, [is] it weird playing with Kaz Tadano with his history?  Also, was it upsetting that he got called up and you were not?  Did you have any inkling of hope that you might be called up instead of Ron Flores, as I saw you and Kaz Tadano being mentioned as possibilities from Double A? -- closetasfan

No, not at all. Kaz is a good teammate. Very respectful and very polite.

I wasn’t bothered at the time when Kaz got called up to Sacramento from AA (a week or two prior to my call-up). He’s a starter, I’m a reliever, so he fit the River Cats’ needs much more than I did at the time. Plus, he’d been throwing very well, and he has much more experience than me at higher levels.

And I never even considered a big league call-up a possibility straight from AA. I’m doing something very new to me, and I need the experience in AAA before I’m ready. Plus, Flores had been lights-out in AAA and had a lot of experience in Oakland from the last two years. I’m happy for him – he deserves this shot.

I finally have a question of my own. In both the majors and the minors, there often come times when the player is going to get some bad news, such as a demotion. I'm wondering: how is it usually handled? Is the player called into the manager's office? I'm wondering how this is handled in a way that does not damage a player's confidence, yet doesn't encourage unrealistic expectations either. -- OaklandSi

I can only speak from experience on this one. I don’t know what other guys have dealt with, but I’ve experienced bad news twice in baseball:

• When the Phillies released me, it was the 4th week of spring training in 2004. I showed up at the complex early on a Monday morning and was immediately summoned to the farm director’s office. Inside was our pitching coordinator, Gorman Heimueller, and our farm director, Mike Arbuckle. I took a seat, and Gorman told Mr. Arbuckle who I was (yes, it was tough to deal with the fact that he needed an introduction to know who I was). Then Mr. Arbuckle proceeded to tell me that I was too old (24) for them to send back to Short-Season A ball in Batavia (NY), but I wasn’t good enough to pitch in Low-A Lakewood (NJ). They released me and gave me info on a flight home later that morning. They were very direct and to-the-point, even though I felt like I’d never been given a fair chance with them. My numbers while pitching with them were good, even though there wasn’t a large sample size to go on. And almost all of my outings in spring training that year were on the road, which meant the minor league personnel weren’t present for those games. The Phillies also had brought in nearly 90 pitchers that spring, and probably only about 60 were given jobs out of camp.

• When the A’s demoted me from Sacramento to Midland last August, it happened on an off-day. Jay Witasick came off the DL, which sent Shane Komine down to Sacramento from Oakland. I was called by our manager and told I was going to be heading to Midland the next day to make room on the AAA roster for Shane. Shortly after, I was called by our trainer and given flight information for my trip to Texas. Again, very direct.

In the times when I’ve been on teams where other guys have been demoted, it seems like they were rarely told when other players were around. It’s done in a very professional way so as not to cause embarrassment and to allow the player time to deal with the frustration that comes with a demotion.

*Something in your first GZWI gave me the impression that you are a deeply religious man.  Does your faith play a role in your development as a player and your attitude on the field? -- atomopawn

I do feel like my faith plays a major role in my life. I’m not sure it affects my physical development as a player, but it definitely affects my attitude toward baseball and my actions on the field. I do realize that there is life beyond baseball, even though I love the game immensely, and I put a lot of effort into it. As a person, I know I’m far from perfect, even though I’m trying my best to live a good life, and my faith is the #1 most important thing in my life.

*Will Carrol at Baseball Prospectus has gone on at great lengths about the need for pitchers to wear protection on the mound to protect themselves from hard hit comebackers. What are your thoughts on the topic? Have you had any close calls? Why do you think it hasn't happened yet? -- devo

I’ve had many close calls, and been hit several times. The worst was definitely the one off the right side of my head that sent me to the hospital for nearly a week. I'll copy and paste part of an article written about me by Kevin Goldstein from Baseball Prospectus:

Ziegler would go 9-2 in 16 games for Modesto as the team won the California League title, but the year ended on a scary note as Ziegler's last playoff start lasted less than a minute when San Jose's Fred Lewis lined the second pitch of the game right up the middle, nailing Ziegler just above the right temple and delivering a 1 ½ inch skull fracture that would lead to five days in an intensive care unit. Ziegler's recollection is a simple one: "It wasn't a good pitch." Doctors would not clear him to pitch again until the following January.

"Until the fracture was totally healed, I was at risk for seizures and hemorrhaging," he recalled. "I was on anti-seizure medication and they said any increase in my heart rate--like pitching--becomes high risk."

As far as wearing protection, I don’t think it’s really feasible for a pitcher to wear it. When I was recovering from my injury, the A’s trainers tried to think up a protective device I could wear, but nothing was possible that would still be practical. As violently as a pitcher’s body is twisted and thrown toward the plate, any extra equipment would surely get in the way. And I’m not sure it happens often enough for anything drastic to be done about it. It’s just a risk that we take every time we walk on the field, and I hope no pitcher ever has to go through what I went through (or worse).

* Question: This week you pitched a lot more innings relative to what you had thrown in previous weeks.  Is this due to the injuries/pitching situation you mention above or is it a sign of the progress you've made with the new delivery? (or both?) -- JLeverenz

Even though this is an older question, I think it could be appropriate for this week, as well. I’d like to think it’s more of a combination of the progress I’ve made and the success I’ve had so far. At the same time, we have been somewhat depleted by injuries and big league call-ups so that several guys are being stretched a little beyond what they’ve been used to. But that’s just part of the game – doing what is asked of you, no matter what the situation is with the game on the field or how many guys are available in the bullpen on any given night.

*You mention attending a little league game in the story above.  I have an eight-year-old who currently plays little league and loves it...and I love that he loves it, volunteer coaching and all.

Couple questions:
Any tips?  Anything you did as a youngster that helped you out? Did your interest in baseball ever wane while growing up?  If so, how did you get it back? -- easyraider

Keep your eye on the ball! Whether hitting or fielding, that’s always a good idea. And practice, practice, practice!

My interest in baseball never waned, because I love the game so much. The one bit of advice I can give: if you know a kid who doesn’t love the game and doesn’t really enjoy playing it, don’t force him/her to play. Try to find something else he/she likes to do, because being happy is most important, especially while growing up.

* Who is the best table tennis player on the [Midland] team, and can i get an autographed ping-pong ball from that player? -- Satchmo22

Bring one to a game, and I’ll sign it for you. :-)

I hope everyone has a great week and weekend! After a much-needed, relaxing day off yesterday, we’re start a 7-game road trip in Tucson tonight. After 4 games here, we head to Fresno for 3 more...then back home for an 8-game homestand. If you come out to visit Raley Field in Sacramento (or anywhere on the road that we play), make sure you come say ‘hi’ in the bullpen or when I’m signing autographs down the 3rd base line before the game. And make sure and tell me your screen name so I can put a face with the name! See ya at the ballpark!

Hello from Sacramento! I was ready to post this yesterday, but the Internet service at the hotel wasn’t working properly. I apologize for the delay.

***SPECIAL NOTICE: TOMORROW, JUNE 1, THE RIVER CATS ARE HOLDING AN OPEN AUTOGRAPH PROMOTION. NEARLY THE ENTIRE TEAM (EXCEPT FOR MAYBE THE STARTING PITCHER/CATCHER) WILL BE SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS BEFORE THE GAME FROM 6:15-6:45. SHOW UP EARLY, AND MAKE SURE YOU SAY 'HI' WHEN YOU SEE ME!***

OK, so if you didn’t hear or read about it, at the end of last week, I was promoted to AAA and joined with the River Cats on Saturday on a road trip in Colorado Springs. Click here for details on my crazy Memorial Day Weekend travel schedule.

I had my first outing for Sac on Sunday – my first appearance in 8 days. I wasn’t hurt or anything...just never called upon to get in a game during that stretch. The rust was obvious to me, as I had a hard time getting ahead of hitters. I came in to start the 5th inning, and pitched until there was 2 outs in the 7th. The game was tied at 4 when I came out, with runners on 1st and 2nd. The next hitter bounced a ball through the right side, scoring the runner on 2nd, and giving me the loss in the 5-4 defeat. All-in-all, I felt like I pitched alright – just need to get in some more games to get the sharpness back that I had in my last few outings in Midland.

We flew home Monday evening after a day game, and it was another crazy travel night for me. One of my bags was not on the luggage carousel at the Sac airport, so I had to go file another missing luggage report. Then I went to pick up my rental car, which was originally a PT Cruiser (yuck! ...no offense to anyone that has one!). For starters, everything on the instrument panel was digital, and it was all set to use the metric system ("kilometers per hour" for my speedometer, "liters til empty" on the gas gauge, and "degrees Celsius" on the temperature indicator). On my way to the hotel, I got a call saying my lost bag (which was a baseball equipment bag I had used in college) had been taken to the clubhouse with the rest of the team’s equipment. I drove to the field to get it, and when I returned to my car, I tried to change the instrument panel to readings that were more familiar. As I was cycling through the system, I realized the gas tank was just a little more than half full. So I drove clear back to the airport, told them of their error, and they gave me a different car – a much sportier one. :-) So I finally got to the hotel around 2:30 AM pacific time that night.

Then last night, I came in at the start of the 7th inning at home vs. Albuquerque. We were down 4-3, and I pitched until there were 2 outs in the 9th (at that time, we were tied at 4). Then I walked a guy, and went 1-0 on the next hitter (I was starting to wear down), so I was taken out of the game, and Santiago Casilla came in and punched out the hitter to get us out of the inning. Then we scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the 9th, and won 5-4. Things were much better last night, command-wise. I was ahead in the count more and got several groundball outs.


Since I joined Sacramento...
River Cats record: 3-3  
My stat line: 2 G, 0-1, 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 K, 1 BB

UPDATED SEASON STATS...
River Cats record: 31-22 (in 1st place -- 1.5 games ahead of Tucson)
All-level Cumulative: 4-1, 1 SV, 1.59 ERA, 28.1 IP, 8 R, 5 ER, 24 H, 21 K, 5 BB

AAA stats: 0-1, 3.38 ERA, 5.1 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 K, 1 BB
AA stats: 4-0, 1 SV, 1.17 ERA, 23.0 IP, 6 R, 3 ER, 19 H, 17 K, 4 BB




Q&A:


*You're around the Midland club full-time...batting practice, bullpen sessions, etc... So, who has been most impressive this [season]? And who can we expect to see in Oakland by 2008 or 2009 (September Call-Ups included)? -- Colorado Fan

Obviously, early in the year, Danny Putnam was very impressive, and it earned him a big-league callup. Jeff Gray threw well for Midland before his promotion to AAA, as did Kaz Tadano.

Of the guys still there, Mike Madsen was tremendous on the mound while I was there. Mad-Dog was wrapping up strikeouts at an extremely high rate over the few starts I got to see him. And Gregorio Petit stood out among the position players. He’s probably the most spectacular fielder I’ve ever seen on a baseball field, major leaguers included. And this year, he’s off to a great start hitting, getting on base often while batting at the top of the Midland order most of the year.

There are several other guys that are off to good starts this year as well, and there isn’t a single player I’ve played with this year that I would say has no chance to make it to the big leagues.

It's a well-known fact that the A's don't look for the stolen base as much as other teams. As a pitcher, do you worry less about the runner on first if you know he's not going to steal? Conversely, doesn't it affect your concentration at all if you think the guy is going to run? In other words, can the threat of a SB rattle a pitcher? -- mookyee

Absolutely – a fast runner can definitely distract a pitcher. When I’m on the mound, after I get my sign from the catcher, I take a quick look at the runner. I decide RIGHT THEN whether I’m going to pick to 1st or throw a pitch. After I make my mind up, I try not to let the runner affect my pitch at all. After all, unless I really mess up, a runner on 1st is not going to score without help from the hitter. So if I make good pitches, I’ve got a really good chance of keeping him from scoring.

Front office job: I totally second this...you've proved yourself the master of the politically correct response. On the one hand, I have to say that baseball's culture of civility is something I really like--respecting the people around you is something that I think is cool, and something we need more of today. (It's noticeably lacking in other pro sports: for instance, the normally docile NBA player Tim Duncan's accusations of a "vendetta" when a ref went off on him on Sunday--almost no baseball player, save maybe TB's Delmon Young, would consider saying such a thing, whether or not it was true!) On the other hand, clearly the Bull Durham-esque PC line is to some degree contrived, to put it kindly. I'm curious how strong this code is among the players you've been around at all levels, and how you think everyone learns to do it. -- BerkeleyDawg

I think, for most people, it’s inherent. It’s easy to say things to try to keep everyone happy (especially in a team sport where the dynamic of the team is crucial). When that changes is when a person gets an adrenaline rush. Whether it’s the heat of the battle, or someone getting defensive after a comment made to/about them, or whatever else it may be...when someone’s blood pressure goes up, it’s a lot harder to control what is said, and more of what’s said is based on a knee-jerk reaction. It’s similar to when a player and a coach get in a jawing match in the dugout...or when a player lashes out in front of the media. Usually, the intensity of the game has a lot to do with it. If you just give the situation time to calm down, most of the time, people aren’t going to say anything to offend anyone else. Not that it doesn’t happen, but I think most people have a trait of wanting people around them to like them and not be unnecessarily angry with them. That said, if you do have a point that needed to be made, there are ways you can be tactful about it so that you get your message across without sacrificing truthfulness.

Posted by notsellingjeans:

Any aspect of [the comments Brad Halsey made to the media] that you are able to comment on would be especially useful to us. Things that we would be curious about:

a.) How much are you in contact with the minor league training staff? Do you know if that communication ends up filtering up to Larry Davis and the major league staff? In other words, does the organization's collective medical team work together, or are they fairly independent during the year? The possibility that Beane and Co. would be unaware that Halsey had an MRI scheduled seemed strange to us.

b.) Have you ever told a team or coach that you were sore or felt hurt, and they asked you to push past it? What were the circumstances?

c.) Anecdotally, how much does a player who is "on the cusp" of the big leagues think about things like, "I gotta get to the big leagues this year, or I gotta crack the 40-man roster, so that I can hit arbitration, so that I can make more money?" Is that weighing on some guys' minds during their downtime, or even while competing? I could see that being a major distraction - and for people trying to provide for their families, it's probably in the back of their minds somewhere.

First of all, let me say I’m not going to get into details about injuries and specific comments other players make. I like Brad, and we’re teammates in pro ball right now for the first time. We played together for a few weeks in the Cape Cod League in college in the summer of 2001, so we’ve known each other awhile.

a) We’re in contact with our team’s trainer on a daily basis. They’re always readily available for whatever we need, no matter how major or minor. As far as their communication with the big league training staff and with each other, I have no idea. You’d have to ask them.

b) In college, I had a severe case of tendonitis in my shoulder during my senior season. But I tried to battle through it while our team was on our run to the 2003 College World Series. Until I joined the Phillies, I didn’t know how severe it was, but there was no way I was going to miss out on that opportunity at the end of my college career. Our coaches, however, never asked me to push through any injury. It was totally on me as to whether or not I could pitch.

c) I think, in a way, it probably does affect guys. But I can’t answer for everyone. I just know that I love playing baseball, and I want to succeed at it and have a lengthy big-league career. I’m not playing for the money – I just enjoy it so much that I want to give myself the best chance possible to be a big league pitcher. If that means converting to submarine, then that’s what I’m committed to. But I don’t let anything like that weigh on my mind, because to me, the worrying isn’t worth it. I don’t like anxiety...I just want to enjoy what I’m doing, no matter what it is, and live life as happily as I can.

I hope everyone has a great week and weekend! I’m almost finished with all the questions through GZWI #11. So if you’ve posted since then, I’ll be getting to it soon. And now that I’m in Sacramento, I expect more of the loyal AN body to come out and introduce yourself at a River Cats game! See ya at the ballpark!

In case you haven't seen the diary posted by the colonel, I'm in AAA now! I found out after our game on Thursday night, and I'm extremely excited about the opportunity! We're here in Colorado Springs for 3 more games (last one is at 11:30 AM on Monday)...then we head back to Sactown.

I'm sorry I didn't post anything myself right away, but it was a hectic day-and-a-half for me. My wife, Kristi, had just flown into Midland Thursday afternoon, and I got to see her for the first time after the game outside the dugout...about 10 minutes before I found out I'd be leaving the next day.

So I packed everything up, found a flight home for Kristi, then tried to get a little rest. As you can guess, making last minute travel arrangements on Memorial Day weekend wasn't easy, and it made my travel schedule pretty tough...and, of course, there were complications. There were no flights available all weekend into Colorado Springs, so I flew from Midland to Albuquerque to Las Vegas to Denver. Then had to get a rental car and drive to Colorado Springs to meet the team. When I got to Denver, I found out my luggage was lost, so I spent some time describing my bags to the airline attendants there. He didn't believe me when I told him there were 3 pairs of white baseball cleats in one of the bags. He said "WHITE?!?" Haha.

So, anyway, I got into town late last night. My luggage showed up at the hotel this morning, so I'm ready to go! Can't wait to get out on the field and get the ball rolling again! Have a great holiday weekend, and I'm looking forward to meeting many of you out on the west coast!