From the Get Down Lounge, where it has been kind of downer the last few days!
*After losing consecutive games to the Mariners, where the A's led 4-2 and 3-1, manager Bob Melvin had this to say. "Ugly, ugly game for us, and it's been going on for a while." Wow, clearly BoMel reads 100%3G! BoMel's quote appeared in the SF Chronicle. I would have liked to ask him, what exactly is a "while" and do you think John Jaso's injury is directly linked? Since Jaso has been out, the A's offense has sputtered. The baseball season is long and difficult, filled with multiple twists and turns. No piece of cake being a loyal die-hard live or day on every pitch either! Hitting a projectile hurled at 90 mph do day at the beach as well!
*I wonder if A's reliever's Ryan Cook and Sean Doolittle a little gassed? The last year and a half, whenever these guys are in the game, the pressure cooker is on. Everything is magnified when they know their team not scoring a lot of runs. Other guys in the A's bullpen, need to step up. Lefty Jerry Blevins was much more effective last season. Former Giant Dan Otero has pitched extremely effective as of late, and his role could become pivotal down the stretch.
*Yoenis Cespedes a very interesting case. Yo Yo doesn't seem to interact with his teammates, or his mates much with him? Just an observation. A few weeks back Sussan Slusser of the Chronicle wrote an interesting and well written piece on Cespedes adventures to the United States. One nugget that was left untapped in the article, was that Cespedes defected after he failed to make one of Cuba's top teams. My question would be, why didn't he make that team? He dropped a key ball in the loss on Tuesday--it was not an easy play, but the ball was in his glove. When was the last time in 2013 we have seen Cespedes make a great catch? (He did make a great throw Sunday, but I am referring to an actual running catch.)
*The Walk-Off wins--where did they go? Walk-Off's are an interesting stat to me. They are a little like a save in reverse. They happen in the bottom of ninth or later, and the team is either tied or behind. That is a pretty defined stat. In comparing all of those Walk-Off wins from a year ago, a couple of items jumped out at me. First, no Cespedes. Dodger fans remember his Walk-Off in the O.Co last season. The other noticeable omission in my humble opinion is Jed Lawrie. Lawrie has been hovering around .300, yet he hasn't yet been graced with the victory pie. Speaking of victory pie, Reddick hasn't had any served this season either. Yet (fingers crossed).
*Sonny Gray does indeed resemble Tim Hudson. Michael Choice, as I believe and hope we will all see soon, does resemble Kirby Puckett. Maybe just maybe shortstop-of-the-future Addison Russell will be another Derek Jeter. Bring them both up--A's need an infusion! I would also recommend another catcher after Derek Norris broke his big toe.
*On a positive note, how about the season Mad Max Scherzer is having. Dude is unhittable! I recall in Game 4 of the LDS last year in Oakland, Max was electric! In fact, what A's fans probably remember is the awesome comeback in the 9th inning, when Max was sitting on the bench in disbelief. Scherzer battled arm issues last season, but in 2013 he is pitching like Cy Max. Mad Max is 18-1, with and ERA under 3 runs per game, and is averaging more than one strike out per inning; 185 in 172 innings pitched. Max brings the gas! I sincerely thought in the World Series last year, Max and Verbeast would give the Giants a better tussle.
*Day off today for the Green and Gold, then begins a tough, tough, stretch of games. The road trip begins in Baltimore, who was the East Coast version of the Green and Gold in 2012. Then, 4 games against the Tigers. Who in the heck made this schedule? Then the A's return home to face the Rays and Rangers in consecutive series. Crunch time is upon us!
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