A's v. Angels Series Recap

Well, that sucked.

Hmmm. How to put this. The A's tried to do everything possible that they could in order to get swept down at the Big A, but they still managed to win one. I guess I should feel.... satisfied? I'm not sure. I strangely don't. The trip to Anaheim/Los Angeles/Orange County/Knott's Berry Farm was not a very productive one, and the Athletics return home with a 3-4 record on the road trip. I look at that and think, 3-4 on the road? Well, that's not terrible. Then I remember that two losses came against the Mariners, and one came against a pitcher called Chatwood. It was not the road trip they needed, but perhaps it was the one they deserved.

After doing so well those final two games in Seattle, the offense only managed 5 runs in Anaheim. It hurt, in more ways than one, but....



April 25
A's 0 @ Angels 5
Remember how I picked Jered Weaver to win the AL Cy Young? No? Yeah, I didn't think so. Well, I did, and he definitely looks the part. How does complete game shut out do ya? Me? Only if it's Gio or one of the gang doing it, and Gio, sadly, did not do it. Gio was rough around the edges, so to speak. Oh, Coco had 3 hits, rest of team: 2.

April 26
A's 3 @ Angels 8
Apparently Tyler Chatwood is nearly as good as Jered Weaver. Because, outside of a 3-run Conor Jackson jimmy jack, the A's offense could once again do nothing. They didn't have a single hit between innings 4-8. At this point I was pulling my hair out. Brandon McCarthy had his worst outing as an Athletic. He will rebound, but it speaks to how fine he has to be with his control before he meets trouble. Also, Coco had a hit.... then got hurt.

April 27
A's 2 @ Angels 1
Long story short: they won. Longer story: the A's did everything they could to lose this game. Tyson Ross was on the mound against Danny Haren. Suzuki was with his wife having their first child (Malia Renee, CONGRATS ZOOK!) Crisp and Willingham were out hurt. I did not have my hopes up. Then the A's were able to push a run across in the third. Then Ross threw 7 shutout innings against a team that had already scored 13 in the previous 2 games. Everything looked ok. Then Kouzmanoff bobbled yet another ground ball. In the ninth. This was very, very upsetting, as then run came around to score on an Abreu double. Strange as it seems, the A's were able to score another run on a GIFT triple, and groundout. And that was all she wrote. We salvaged a game. Yippee.

Player of the Series
Tyson Ross. What a guy. Former Golden Bear got it done in his first start of the season. He has electric stuff, and he always has. I remember watching him in college and thinking that he'd make it to the show. Well, it was pretty emphatic. The A's needed a win bad, and I don't think many watching thought that Tyson Ross would proved to be the stopper. 7 innings of 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K. It was pretty awesome to behold. He richly deserved a win, and Kouz better buy him about 8 steaks to make up for it. And not Sizzler steaks. We're talkin' Ruth Chris.

GOAT
And no, I don't mean greatest of all time. I mean third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff. He was just awful down South. The error in the 9th on Wednesday was inexcusable, and think about how things would be different if he doesn't make the bonehead play on Sunday (ranging too far to his left and misplaying the ball, leading to 2 runs) if Jackson's home run makes it 3-0 instead of 3-2. Oh, and at the plate? 2-10 with a run scored. Not nearly enough to make up for the miscues. The A's have a problem at third. Kouz was never this bad, I honestly think it's psychological at this point, and I don't know how to make it better.

Play of the Series

Pennington gets a gift that leads to an A's victory

Song of the Series



We Love It! no... no I don't, but it happened anyway.

On Deck
Nico at Athletics Nation pointed this out. If the A's win 3 of 4 at home this weekend against the Rangers, they finish April (+2 days) at a respectable 15-14 and only one game out of first in the West. Have they really played well enough to even deserve that shot? I didn't think so. Maybe my expectations are too high. Maybe the pitching is that good. 7:05 start tonight as Trevor Cahill takes on CJ Wilson to begin the series. Then three days games will follow wrapping around the weekend. Suzuki, Crisp, and Willingham should all return to the lineup, and the A's should be jacked up and ready to play back at home. Go A's!