A's Week In Review #2

Things are looking more shipshape in the world of the Oakland Athletics. So far they've gone 3-3 on this nine game road trip, taking one from the Blue Jays and two of three from the Twins. I'm finding, especially after the last two days have resulted in wins, that this team might truly meet the lofty expectations set for them preseason. I would like that very much. I'm in good mood about it currently. Last Tuesday, I could not say the same thing, after Balfour blew a game we had in hand. But, we'll stay positive for now.

We can no longer say that it's early. with Braden's start tomorrow, we'll have completed nearly 1/16 of the season. Though the newness hasn't worn off quite yet, the long feeling of summer is about to set in. And with the Rangers beginning their season 8-1 with an offense that looks near unstoppable, it looks like we're going to have to hold down the accelerator all through the dog days.



So, the week in Review.

Tuesday, April 5
A's 6 @ Blue Jays 7

What started as a great game for the A's became what is hopefully the worst game of the year, because I can't take many more of these. The A's, behind Brandon McCarthy, jumped out to a 5-0 lead on Toronto starter JoJo Reyes. McCarthy was brilliant, throwing strike after strike. Conor Jackson and Andy LaRoche paced the offense, adding a double a piece. But then the 6th inning happened. The A's, including the great booter, Kevin Kouzmanoff, committed 3 errors in the inning, allowing the Jays to tie it up. Then, Josh Willingham led off the 10th with a boomshot down the left field line, giving the A's a 6-5 advantage. Balfour came in to close, and promptly gave up a single to Rajai Davis and a game winning home run to Yunel Escobar. I wept openly.

Wednesday, April 6
A's 3 @ Blue Jays 5
The Blue Jays spoiled Dallas Braden's season debut. The A's offense made Jesse Litsch look like an ace, but at least the bullpen didn't blow the game, and at least there weren't defensive miscues. Travis Snider's three run jimmy jack did the A's in, but it was one of their most complete games of the season.

Thursday, April 7
A's 2 @ Blue Jays 1
The A's got their first win of the week and Trevor Cahill's first win of the season behind his dominant performance. The offense did just enough against the Toronto bullpen, scoring 2 runs with the help of a dropped third strike and two Coco Crisp stolen bases.

Friday, April 8
A's 1 @ Twins 2
It was a gem for Brett Anderson until the 8th inning, when the ground balls that had kept getting hit at his defense found holes and equaled 2 runs. The A's had a few golden opportunities to add to the 1 run in this one, but squandered them all. Yeah, offense still a big issue.

Saturday, April 9
A's 1 @ Twins 0
The A's won on my birthday, this was good. Gio Gonzalez had an amazing outing and Brian Fuentes and Grant Balfour looked like the pitchers we signed them to be. Suzuki scored the only run of the game with the help of a wild pitch and throwing error. Though the offense looked anemic yet again, a win is a win, and it was good to get one here.

Sunday, April 10
A's 5 @ Twins 3
They finished this week like last one, on a high note. Brandon McCarthy continued to impress on the mound, and was rewarded with a win this time around. Josh Willingham and Hideki Matsui hit home runs to double the Athletics' season total. That's right, Godzilla finally got one, and Willingham keeps showing his power stroke. Fuentes closed his second game in a row, and things may be looking up continuing the road trip.

The Good
For the second week in a row, starting pitching. The A's have it. 0.69, 1.42, and 1.93: Gonzalez, Cahill, and Anderson's ERA. McCarthy's 3.52 is very misleading for how well he has pitched as well. Braden's would be a bit lower if it wasn't for one mistake Snider didn't miss. This team will be in almost every game because of this pitching.

Andy LaRoche - He's this year's Adam Rosales. Filling in all over the diamond, and I like what he's doing with the bat as well. He's 4 for 9, with 2 doubles, 3 runs scored, and an RBI. Not bad from your backup infielder.

Josh Willingham - Three dingers.... and until Matsui today, the only one who's hitting them at all.

The Bad
I feel like I'm on repeat. The rest of the offense needs to start hitting. Badly. I can't take this Giantesque torture of 1-0 and 2-1 games. Oh, and these defensive blunders absolutely need to cease. I'm pulling for you to snap out of this funk Mr. Kouzmanoff, but it's gotta happen soon.

Play of the week:
Matsui hits his first tater as an A
LINK

Other play of the week:
Coco Crisp gets an RBI on a strikeout
LINK

Up next:
Three more on the road in Chicago against the White Sox. It's a battle of the perfectos between Braden a Buerhle tomorrow, then the A's return home Thursday for a four game set against the Tigers. In other news, the Rangers hit more home runs.

Song of the Week (For Mr. Cahill):


On another note, McCarthy and Anderson are ripping Cahill a new one on Twitter this evening. Some nuggets:

B__McCarthy Brandon McCarthy
@BrettAnderson49 could you imagine his giggle fits with the Vader voice? It would be like a seal barking underwater.

Brett Anderson
BrettAnderson49 Brett Anderson
@B__McCarthy we might have to get him a darth vader helmet to do interviews from now on.