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Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:06 pm
by zilby
The Oakland Athletics

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Vs.

The Toronto Blue Jays!

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Game 1: Friday, July 31st

10:05 PM, Sportsnet

Scott Richmond Vs. Dallas Braden

Scouting Report:
Blue Jays: Richmond will likely return from the disabled list (shoulder) to make his 14th start of the season. He hasn't pitched since June 30, when he took the loss after allowing three runs over seven innings against Tampa Bay. Richmond gives the Jays another option to balance out their trio of young pitchers, and could be a key addition to the rotation if Roy Halladay is traded before the non-waiver Trade Deadline. He's faced Oakland once this year, an eight-inning effort that resulted in a loss after he allowed five runs on seven hits.

Athletics: Twice handed leads early in last Sunday's game at Yankee Stadium, Braden twice surrendered them and was fuming afterward because it continued a trend. He'd done the same thing in his previous start, a loss to the Twins in Oakland. The trend marks a pretty dramatic reversal for Braden, who spent the first three months of the season pitching like an ace but rarely had anything to show for it because his run support was among the worst in the American League. To wit, Braden on April 19 held the host Blue Jays to one run on five hits over 7 1/3 innings but was tagged with a 1-0 loss, and on May 10 in Oakland he posted another quality start againt Toronto but took a 5-0 loss.


Game 2: August 1st

9:05 PM, Sportsnet

Ricky Romero Vs. Trevor Cahill

Scouting Report:
Blue Jays: Romero wasn't real sharp in his last outing against the Mariners, but he managed to give a solid six innings in an 11-4 win. The lefty gave up four runs and 10 hits, but said he was happy with the way he attacked the strike zone and pitched to contact. Romero has been a reliable arm for the Jays all season, and his 11 quality starts are the second-most in the Majors for a rookie. He's never faced the Mariners.

Athletics: Cahill, who'd been outstanding in a victory over the Twins his previous time out, struggled against the host Red Sox in the opener of a four-game series on Monday, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks over five innings while absorbing his fourth loss in five decisions. A sinkerball specialist who need to keep his money pitch below opponents' knees to suceess, Cahill set the tone for his disappointing outing by surrendering a solo homer to Dustin Pedroia on a thigh-high fastball in the bottom of the first inning. Cahill has faced the Blue Jays once this year, allowing two runs on five hits and five walks over 5 1/3 innings on the way to a no-decision in Toronto on April 18.


Game 3: August 2nd

4:05 PM, Sportsnet

Ricky Romero Vs. Vin Mazzaro

Scouting Report:
Athletics: Mazzaro, a 22-year-old rookie, won the first two starts of his career but is winless in nine subsequent assignments, and it took a game-tying, three-run rally in the ninth inning Tuesday to prevent him from becoming the first A's starter to lose seven consecutive starts since Brian Kingman lost nine in a row in 1980. Mazzaro, who dominates when he keeps his fastball below the knees or above the belt, again struggled with location his last time out and gave up five runs in the third inning against the host Red Sox. In all, he was was charged with six runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out three over six innings. Mazzaro has never faced the Blue Jays.

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sat Aug 1, 2009 4:20 am
by s e n s i
I'm in the Chi, not even bothering to open a stream for this one. As per Bastian, stud outfieldress Alexia Rios lost a ball in the sun earlier. It happens, but with Rios, it actually happens.

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sat Aug 1, 2009 5:04 am
by Modern_epic
I just checked the box score, and I can't decide which is more impressive: Alex Rios making 2 errors from right, or Millar making 3 errors. As much as I like hating Millar, I think it might be Rios.

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sat Aug 1, 2009 1:54 pm
by zilby
oh wow.

i have been the one trying to keep the board optimistic about the season, but the game last night was truly pathetic.

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sat Aug 1, 2009 2:10 pm
by J-Roc
Wow, watch the Score, they show a highlight of Vernon with the game on the line. I wonder if Edwin Encarcion would be better than Vernon in clutch situations.

It's not even that Vernon gets out. A flyball or groundout, or even whiffing through a ball would be okay. But he's swinging in a different strikezone.

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 12:18 am
by zilby
encarnacion playing tonight?

anyone know?

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 2:10 am
by zilby
lots of things to say so i will put them in:

great speech by rickey, great ceremony.

Lyle Homerbay!

Good that Encarnacion got his first hit as a jay.

Rolen 0-4, hahahahhahahahahahahhahhahaha

ok, thats all.

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 3:11 am
by oomalay
Aaron Hill!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 3:34 am
by Geddy
Hill with 4 RBI and Cecil pitching a great game. Hopefully he can hold up til the 9th

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 3:48 am
by Schad
I don't even understand Hill at this point. He's on pace for 39 home runs. That doesn't make sense...you're a midget second baseman, Hill. Seriously. I'm the same height as you. And I'm not that tall. And I'm definitely not going to receive MVP votes. Calm down already.

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 4:15 am
by Geddy
tying run at third, 2 outs... i have a bad feeling...

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 4:16 am
by Modern_epic
What I don't get about Hill is that his HR explosion has come solely at the expense of doubles. Everything that was going as a single two years ago is still a single. His doubles are just leaving the park. Maybe this is just a normal pattern, I haven't looked, but it seems really odd to me.

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 4:17 am
by Geddy
woot Frasor does it (even though that one was inside) :D

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 4:19 am
by J-Roc
rkid wrote:woot Frasor does it (even though that one was inside) :D


haha Just gonna post that. Sweeney deserved to be out, just for not swinging in the final at bat. But there's no way that was a strike if two pitches before wasn't. Close game.

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 4:20 am
by Modern_epic
Also, the vulture strikes again.

It seems Jason Frasor should be our closer now.

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 4:26 am
by Hoopstarrzz
Downs nearly blew it again today. Frasor should have been the closer anyways.

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 1:55 pm
by zilby
woot frasor saves the game.

it's a change for the jays, not blowing games.

Hill, great game.

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 8:31 pm
by Hoopstarrzz
Johnny Mac - Minister of Defence!

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 8:36 pm
by youngLion
Off to a good start.

Re: Series Thread: Jays @ A's|July 31st- August 2nd

Posted: Sun Aug 2, 2009 10:32 pm
by zilby
hill and barajas with the jacks. on to the 9th we go!