At Least No One Was There To See

We lost today. On to two-in-a-row now.

Lots of twittering about how small the crowd was. The official count was 13k but everyone was saying it looked more like 4-5k. I had actually considered going up to the game today but it may have been rained out. Did you see the rain today? It rained all day. No one was going to go to the game tonight to maybe be sent home. I like to see a big crowd as much as the next person but I don't think tonight's game was a good representation of what is going on with the fans.

Anyway, Roberto Hernandez started and wouldn't you know...his first start had some bad defense so we couldn't judge him. His second start had a bad reliever that gave up two of Hernandez's earned runs, so we couldn't judge him. Now, today, he pitched 2 1/3 innings and twisted his ankle and that was it. He did give up 3 runs in his 2 1/3 innings so maybe we can judge him on that - although Ubaldo did the same yesterday and the Yankees' starter did the same Saturday.

Chris Seddon looked good in his long relief. He pitched 4 2/3 innings and only gave up 2 hits, walked one and struck out one. He hasn't been spectacular or anything but I think he's been a workhorse for us. I think I'd like to see him next year for sure - if he doesn't take some sort of turn for the worse in the last month!

Cody Allen went back to being perfect, and threw 2 innings only giving up 1 hit and striking out 1. Perfectly boring, I guess. His ERA is 1.08. Definitely looking forward to seeing him next year, if he is the real deal. Tom Hamilton doesn't seem to think we can trust anyone in our bullpen other than Smith, Pestano and Perez. But in his time here, at least, Allen looks to be at a level between Smith and Pestano. Of course I am no expert but from an eagle-eye view, that's what I am seeing.

There were only two hits tonight! We actually got more walks than hits - 3! Asdrubal was benched. Basically he is signed on through next year and we know he's awesome so he is going to be benched a lot, I think. Gotta see what we think about Lillibridge in the long term. Gotta feel out Donald some more. And I guess come next Monday there will be a ton of new faces playing all the time. That might be fun!

Kipnis was 0 for 3 with a walk. Santana was 0 for 2 with 2 walks! Woohoo! Hoo...

Still playing along as if nothing was ever going to break-a his stride, nobody gonna slow him down, is Michael Brantley! Six-game hitting streak and he's hit safely in 9 of his last 10 games. And in the "missing" 10th game, he walked. That guy, I tell you, a goddamn diamond in the rough! I hope to Og nobody comes by and swipes him from us because he'd be as big of a loss as Asdrubal, Choo or Perez. No kidding.

Brent Lillibridge got a double today, and did not commit any errors at short. So he's got that going for him.

LaPorta didn't do anything today but strike out twice. In his 6 games with us this season (3 in June, 3 just now) he's got 3 hits and 7 strikeouts. In the minors he has 62 RBI and is batting .264. I think he is some sort of fish in a pond analogy. Poor guy.

Yep, that's it. Two hits, three walks. No runs, lost game. Keep in mind that the A's starter has a .64 ERA right now. Of course, this is his second game of the season but that means someone else had trouble with him too. Perhaps Brett Anderson is some sort of phenom. I'll go ahead and throw that out there early, in case I'm right. If I'm wrong well...nobody will notice.


Tomorrow is another one against the A's. Zach McAllister versus RHP (3.87). We did score 4 runs off this very RHP a week or so ago! But they scored 4 off Zach. Look for this one to maybe be settled by the bullpen. Urk...

Anyway, 7:05 game - I'll see you there!

Oh, no Radio Chatter tonight. I listened, I swear. Other than some joking about football draft benefits and the Kardashians, there was very little excitement on the radio tonight. Nary even a peep about steroids in the water in Oakland or how poorly the Dodgers happened to do after the addition of their shiny new players. They did spend some time talking about how good the A's have been since the break and how good tonight's pitcher was. But nothing worth writing down - sorry!