After a good showing in Week 1, the A's reverted back to their old ways and are looking at another slow start. They headed into the week at 5-2 and came out 6-7. They got swept by Minnesota and dropped 2 of 3 to Texas.
In the first series at Minnesota, the A's once again lost the series opener. Dan Haren got shelled and gave up 7 runs in 6 innings and that's all she wrote. In game 2, it was much of the same with Esteban Loaiza giving up 6 runs in 4 innings. What do you know? In game 3, another Oakland starter got lit up. This time it was Joe Blanton giving up 7 runs over 6 innings and to top it off Jay Witasik sprains his ankle on the final play of the game and will be out for at least a month.
Everyone was glad that the series with Minnesota finally ended and they were heading home to start a 9 game homestand. No one plays better at home than Oakland and no one owns the Rangers like Barry Zito, guaranteed win right? Wrong. Zito gives up 5 early runs and the A's once again drop the series opener. In game 2 we got "the man" Rich Harden on the mound and with a little help from the offense, we finally get a win. In game 3, Dan Haren gives a fantastic performance giving up 1 run over 8 innings only to hand the ball over to Houston Street with a 2 run lead in the ninth and he blows the save. I couldn't believe it. Now we're 6-7.
What I liked last week:
--- Eric Chavez still on fire. He went 8 for 22 (.363) with 3 HR's.
--- Nick Swisher heating up and out of the 8 hole. He went 10 for 25 (.400) with 3 HR's. The most important thing is that he is now using the opposite field, something that he has been working hard on in recent weeks.
--- Rich Harden the stopper. Riding a 4 game losing streak, Harden came in and got us a win. It's extremely important to have a guy who can do that although I don't think this staff will be having very many losing streaks.
--- The Big Hurt picking it up. He went 5 for 17 (.294) with 2 HR's in 5 games over the past week. With Chavez heating up, it will be important for Frank to provide the protection that Chavez needs to see good pitches.
--- Milton Bradley finding his stroke. He went 9 for 23 (.391) with 2 HR's. It's important for him to get off to a good start so that the fans don't give him any heat because we all know he doesn't need to face any more controversy.
What I didn't like last week:
--- Esteban Loaiza still looks like a bust. 4 IP, 8 hits, 6 earned runs, 4 walks, and 2 K's. That line is not what you expect out o####uy getting $6 million this year from a cash strapped team. The rumor is that his velocity is not where it needs to be and it should get better the more he pitches. Let's hope so.
--- Houston we have a problem. Houston Street has not made it through the final inning of 2 of his last 3 outings with the last one being a blown save. I have no idea what's wrong but I'm not too worried as I think his stuff still looks pretty good. They say it's because of his participation in the WBC but we'll see.
--- Mark Ellis' slow start. He went 0 for 13 and only played in 3 of the 6 games. Macha gave him the days off so that he could find his stroke. Hopefully this works as he is scheduled to start in the opener tomorrow.
--- Dan Johnson finally gets a hit! Johnson can home and got his first hit of the year. I thought being back in Oakland and getting his first hit might spark something but instead he goes 1 for 13 last week and remains in his slump. Plain and simple, we need this guy to hit.
--- Finally, Bobby Crosby in the 3 hole. he went 6 for 24 (.250) last week and is currently hitting .229 with just 1 home run. I don't know about you, but that is not the kind of production that I expect out of my number 3 hitter. Get him out of there Macha. This is what I want to see: Kotsay, Bradley, Chavez, Thomas, Swisher, Crosby, Johnson, Kendall, Ellis.
Up next for the A's:
The A's continue their homestand with games against the hot hitting Detroit Tigers and the division rival LA Angels of Anaheim. The pitching better find whatever it is that is missing because if not, they're in for another rough week. I expect all the pitchers to bounce back this week and for the A's to take both series'. See you next week, hopefully with a winning record.
I think the A's biggest issues are and will continue to be the lack of a big bat in the line-up. They and the Twins share this. They have some good hitters who are solid but don't have that breakaway hitter that can change the game and the momentum. Also, their bullpen has looked shaky. Plus Loaiza (who is on my fantasy team grrrr...) is hurting the A's a lot right now.
You're right, the A's biggest issue will be the lack of offense but I still believe they have the best staff in the league and they have one of the deepest pens also. The pen has actually pitched incredibly well if you take away Houston Street's last couple performances and also Kirk Sarloos's outings. It doesn't bother me much since Sarloos is not in the game when it matters and I think Street will straighten things out soon. Their lack of having a big bat, isn't as much as an issue with this team as I think it is for a team like the Twins as I believe the A's offense is much better than the Twins offense although I know the got outhit in Minnesota. As for Loaiza, he just needs to get his velocity up and I think he'll be fine. He said he feels great so I don't think it's an injury. He just needs time. We'll be alright.
DJ - The A's have reverted to their Awful April ways. It is really getting me down. You will need to really work hard to talk me out of Bunkley. It is insane that he has fallen so far. In fact, if you check my blog to see MrNFL makes his pick tomorrow (Tuesday) feel free to post it because I am leaving at 8am & won't be back until 8pm with very little chance to login in between. I can't see another player with more value that also fills a need (Ted & Jasper gone, Hawthorne not ready). In the event he goes (now I have jinxed it) I would say his teammate Wimbley, but that's not a lock I might need to mull it over or hear other suggestions.
Don't worry about the A's. The rotation will shake itself out (though the slow start by Zito is a bit concerning). Street is still going to be lights out and I'm sure Loaiza will get right soon enough. Just watch, they'll sweep the Angels and the Yankees in a couple of series and they'll be right there. Enjoy the rest of April man. I'm sure the Tigres will come down to earth soon.
I'm not too concerned. The knock on us was always that we don't have the "big bat." Well, we still don't have the "big bat" but now we're scoring runs and that's all that matters. The pitching will be fine, I know. The problem with Zito is that he won a Cy Young so we expect the world from him but he really isn't a Cy Young caliber talent, that talent would be Rich Harden. Zito will be fine and win 15, Harden will be among the finalists for a Cy, Haren may be better than Zito, Blanton will be right behind Zito and Haren, but Loaiza is the one I worry about. Everything I've heard is that once he gets a multi-year deal he goes on cruise control until the final year in the contract. It certainly looks like that's what's going on right now with his velocity. For most of the game he's in the 85-87 range and then when he gets into trouble he suddenly gets it up to 92. I want 92-93 for the entire game not just 5 pitches.
I'm a young kid, just graduated from college and I am a die hard fan of the Oakland Athletics and Oakland Raiders. I bleed green and gold and silver and black. Nothing makes me happier than watching those two teams win. As the man Al Davis says, "Just Win Baby!"
