Games 31-33: The A’s in Fenway ← FREE KRAUT!

Games 31-33: The A’s in Fenway 77

Almost any way you sort the AL pitching stats, the Red Sox staff ranks approximately #11 in the American League. Certainly below the A’s. The Orioles are at the bottom in just about every category and then the Rangers, White Sox and Royals show up in some order below Boston.

The A’s are 10-3 against those teams (BOS, BAL and TEX, N/A vs. CHI and KC), having outscored them 91-56. So that might bode well for an offense that struggled mightily against a much better-ranked staff at the Rogers Centre.

Working against that is the A’s long and dismal history at Fenway Park. The club is 96-173 (.357) there since moving to Oakland, with Melvin teams putting up an 8-16 record.

The A’s did win 2 out of 3 in the series there last May. The last time the A’s won consecutive series at Fenway was August 6-8, 2002 and August 19-21, 2003, with the A’s winning 2 out of 3 each of those times. The winning pitchers were Mark Mulder, Aaron Harang, Ricardo Rincon and Chad Bradford. You might remember the way Harang’s win ended:

Weather forecast is chilly with temperature in the 40s and 50s but if tonight’s rain holds off until after the game as forecast there shouldn’t be any delays. The A’s also get a fairly rare weekday afternoon game as the Red Sox play in Chicago Thursday while the A’s have an off day in Pittsburgh. Scheduled pitching matchups:

77 thoughts on “Games 31-33: The A’s in Fenway

  1. FreeSeatUpgrade Apr 29,2019 1:51 pm

    Day off in Pittsburgh! Team trip to the Me. Roger’s set!

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • Soaker Apr 29,2019 3:14 pm || Up

      I’m still working on spare time plans. I did an Andy Warhol exhibit some years ago and that’s something you only need to see once in your life so I’m not going to the museum. The Jerry World tour was unavailable in June so I’m settling for the Heinz Field tour on Friday. They can’t take you to the spot where Franco Harris caught the ball though I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some marker on the former Three Rivers Stadium site. Besides the obvious trip to Primanti Bros. (might see Vince there!), one meal, probably postgame Sunday, will be in the brewery in the old church (talk about putting a church to great use). Weather is supposed to be very nice so maybe a bike ride along the rivers.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
      • Soaker May 3,2019 11:14 am || Up

        I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some marker on the former Three Rivers Stadium site.

        Complete with yard markers painted on the sidewalk, and that’s Franco’s footprint you can put your own foot on.

        A Steelers fan was walking by as I was taking the photo. I said I’m from Oakland and he said “Oh, where Antonio Brown went to die.”

        Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
        • 5Aces May 3,2019 11:51 am || Up

          If you can go buy a sticker with the letter D and place that on there it would be greatly appreciated.

          Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
        • FreeSeatUpgrade May 3,2019 11:51 am || Up

          I have a few other ideas for things to put on Franco’s footprint.

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  2. Glorious Mundy Apr 29,2019 2:29 pm

    The lack of a bench will continue until morale improves.

  3. Soaker Apr 29,2019 3:17 pm

    Yes I know I’ve posted the TLong clip before. Actually I’ve written more or less this same Fenway post before, bemoaning the A’s crappy record there, and I’ve just updated the numbers. I bear 50 years worth of A’s fan scars from that place. That hideous loss yesterday, it seemed like we used to see at least one, sometimes two, of those in Boston every season.

    Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
    • andeux Apr 29,2019 3:50 pm || Up

      I was at this one during my college years. Fkin Billy Hatcher. My memory was that it broke a record save streak by Eck, but he did have a blown save that ended with a win earlier in the month; this was the first loss he appeared in that year, in his 53rd appearance, so maybe that’s what the streak was.

      TINSTAAFK
  4. Future Ed Apr 29,2019 3:32 pm

    I see nothing but good sign.

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  5. FreeSeatUpgrade Apr 29,2019 4:42 pm

    Jurk Store and Fregley come through with the RBIs! This is not a typo.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  6. Soaker Apr 29,2019 4:48 pm

    A 12-1 win would be a good idea but I’m already wondering how Bob gets this one in the barn if he has a 1 or 2 run lead after 7. Soria in the 8th and Wendelken to close would be my guess.

    Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
  7. Soaker Apr 29,2019 5:13 pm

    That’s one where the umpire had a better angle than any camera angle so I believe the umpire.

    Also, man it’s getting tough to justify keeping Profar on this roster.

    Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
    • Glorious Mundy Apr 29,2019 5:41 pm || Up

      If the second baseman can’t turn a routine double play, and at this point there is a lot of evidence to support that proposition, then he can’t be the second baseman.

      • Soaker Apr 29,2019 5:45 pm || Up

        Since this game became unwatchable I’ve been looking through the CBA for provisions related to giving a player leave due to needing to go to some sort of retreat with a sports psychologist under the Employee Assistance Program. I’m seeing stuff about administrative leave after accusations of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse but so far nothing about psychological matters where the player himself is the victim. Which seems to be where Profar is. This is getting real close to DFA and move on.

        Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
        • Soaker Apr 29,2019 6:10 pm || Up

          Seems odd to me that there’s a brief mention of mental health issues under “Safety and Health” which sounds like it’s ripped off straight from the Wells Fargo Employee Handbook. Whereas the stuff about domestic violence and sexual assault goes on for 20 pages.

          J. Sports Psychologists

          Each Club shall provide Players with access, on a voluntary basis, to confidential sports psychology resources in a private space. Clubs that employ or provide Player access to a sports psychologist or psychologist under the Club’s Employee Assistance Program shall be deemed to have satisfied this requirement.

          Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
  8. lenscrafters Apr 29,2019 5:18 pm

    Thanks for causing the wheels to fall off, Profar.

  9. Soaker Apr 29,2019 5:19 pm

    Second also: Laureano is even worse than Coco about taking the first step in when he should be going back from the start.

    Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Apr 29,2019 5:48 pm || Up

      Yeah he really needs to work on reads and routes if he wants to be a truly elite centerfielder, and not just a guy who sometimes makes great plays.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  10. 5Aces Apr 29,2019 5:20 pm

    Yeah, Profar is officially the love child of JJ and CY25.

    Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
  11. lenscrafters Apr 29,2019 5:53 pm

    So fucking stupid right there. This team is hard to watch.

  12. Glorious Mundy Apr 29,2019 6:49 pm

    Ugggggh

    • Soaker Apr 29,2019 6:50 pm || Up

      Khris missed on those last couple swings by a total of about 4 feet.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
  13. Soaker Apr 29,2019 7:38 pm

    As suggested above I feel sad for Profar rather than angry at him, but that situation is only getting worse and if I’m Beane, Forst or Melvin I can’t let him suck the other 24 guys into the vortex.

    Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
  14. Future Ed Apr 29,2019 9:52 pm

    this is harder to take than 2011/2017. this is more like 2007/2015

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • 5Aces Apr 30,2019 9:12 am || Up

      I was thinking the second half of 2014. And we even are starting to have our very own Team Dynamite.

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
  15. Soaker Apr 30,2019 3:17 pm

    Profar –> bench.

    Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Apr 30,2019 4:20 pm || Up

      Yes but who will come to save the day from Aaron Brooks?

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  16. FreeSeatUpgrade Apr 30,2019 5:13 pm

    I feel like Kendrys striking out while getting hit by the pitch is the perfect encapsulation of his A’s career. It’ll never get more perfect; cut him now.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  17. Glorious Mundy Apr 30,2019 5:19 pm

    Rapidly reaching the point where this isn’t just bad, it’s also boring.

    • sslinger Apr 30,2019 5:30 pm || Up

      I know, you can just feel the hope getting ripped out by the fingertips. If they don’t turn something around soon this could be one long grim season.

      • Soaker Apr 30,2019 5:32 pm || Up

        I may need to declare that April 26 was the last time they’ll see .500 until 2020. That worked quite well last year.

        Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
    • 5Aces May 1,2019 8:59 am || Up

      Agreed. Each game so far I have turned off and disengaged from before I even got home to turn on the TV.

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
  18. Soaker Apr 30,2019 5:43 pm

    It looks like Mengden will be starting for the Aviators tomorrow so he would be on five days rest next Tuesday which is the next time this spot comes up in the A’s rotation.

    Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
    • Soaker Apr 30,2019 6:18 pm || Up

      Although with the A’s current offensive production Sandy Koufax wouldn’t have a better chance of winning than Brooks.

      The Pirates have lost 8 in a row entering tonight and haven’t been hitting worth diddly poo either so that will be quite a battle this weekend.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
  19. Glorious Mundy May 1,2019 10:11 am

    Is this Red Sox pitcher a huge fan of the Nineteenth Amendment or something?

  20. Glorious Mundy May 1,2019 10:26 am

  21. andeux May 1,2019 10:41 am

    Vaguely related: they will need at least one more bench player (preferably two) for playing in an NL park. Of the players on the 40-man roster, Bolt and Mateo are hitting the best in LV, but Fowler and Barreto have previous major league experience.

    TINSTAAFK
    • Glorious Mundy May 1,2019 11:42 am || Up

      I’d like to see Mateo, out of curiouity if nothing else. Barreto’s ability to play infield and outfield might make him the better NL fill in.

      Personally, I’d call up two guys and dump Morales now.

      • andeux May 1,2019 9:31 pm || Up

        It’s Skye Bolt.
        Great name at least.

        TINSTAAFK
        • FreeSeatUpgrade May 2,2019 8:57 am || Up

          Worth a flyer at 30-1 if the track is fast.

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
          • andeux May 2,2019 9:48 am || Up

            Heh.
            (Also, he’s a Tar Heel.)

            TINSTAAFK
            • Soaker May 2,2019 11:09 am || Up

              And as noted last week a Fleetwood Mac fan. Not many born in the 90s have Rumours in their collection; my cassette tape would be buried in the landfill next to the Farrah Fawcett poster.

              Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
              • Future Ed May 2,2019 11:13 am || Up

                there is only one good fleetwood mac song

                ” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen>

                I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • FreeSeatUpgrade May 2,2019 12:24 pm || Up

                  I like Never Going Back Again.

                  "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
                • andeux May 2,2019 1:00 pm || Up

                  From the pop era I like Go Your Own Way.
                  But this from Peter Green era kicks ass:

                  TINSTAAFK
  22. Glorious Mundy May 1,2019 10:43 am

    Getting hard to distinguish between bad luck and bad baseball.

    • Soaker May 1,2019 11:13 am || Up

      Not when I watch Kendrys “hit”, no sir it is not hard to distinguish.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
      • Glorious Mundy May 1,2019 11:17 am || Up

        It’s gotten to the point where sending him to the plate is just needlessly embarrassing a formerly good baseball player.

        • Soaker May 1,2019 11:26 am || Up

          I thought he would have a little bit left offensively but boy has that not been true. He has 7-10 days to somehow get himself one last good baseball memory.

          Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
  23. Glorious Mundy May 1,2019 11:13 am

    Morales is completely hopeless up there.

  24. FreeSeatUpgrade May 1,2019 11:18 am

    I’m excited about the Derby field for Saturday. No heavy favorite for first time in several years. Haven’t handicapped it yet but at a glance it feels like a good chance for a longshot win.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • FreeSeatUpgrade May 1,2019 3:50 pm || Up

      And now the morning line favorite Omaha Beach is scratched with an “enlarged epiglottis.” And rain forecast currently at 100%. Love it when the Derby gets squirrelly.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • FreeSeatUpgrade May 1,2019 5:33 pm || Up

        Free DRF past performances available here.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  25. Future Ed May 1,2019 11:50 am

    can someone kidnap mitch moreland?

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  26. Glorious Mundy May 1,2019 12:05 pm

    This team is awful.

  27. FreeSeatUpgrade May 1,2019 12:14 pm

    Speaking of horses this team is horseshit.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  28. Soaker May 1,2019 12:14 pm

    So pumped to be flying most of the way across the country to bury my nose in this manure pile for three days.

    As I’ve said before, Cal football taught me a long time ago to have a great time on the road trips regardless of a wretched performance on the field. The Pirates suck too so I hope for competitive, if not necessarily “good”, ballgames. One literal dark cloud is that the weather forecast, which was dry several days ago, has turned progressively wetter every successive time I’ve looked, particularly on Saturday.

    Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
    • Future Ed May 1,2019 1:38 pm || Up

      so definition 2 of “soaker”

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
  29. ptbnl May 1,2019 1:59 pm

    Can’t miss that many chances against Messi & co and expect to come away with anything.

    If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
  30. andeux May 2,2019 11:22 am

    TINSTAAFK
    • dmoas May 2,2019 11:41 am || Up

      Too bad they can’t pump that excess water westward to the desert and drought sections of the country.

    • Future Ed May 2,2019 3:43 pm || Up

      that’s gorgeous

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • 5Aces May 3,2019 8:53 am || Up

      This reminds me of the Iowa Baseball Confederacy by Kinsella. There is a big rainstorm and everything but the ballpark is eventually washed away (if memory serves).

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
      • FreeSeatUpgrade May 3,2019 10:13 am || Up

        Yes, after an extra inning game keeps on going for 40 days.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • colin May 3,2019 10:13 am || Up

        I read that book but found it boring and now I don’t remember much.

        • 5Aces May 3,2019 10:52 am || Up

          I got it for Christmas I think when I was in the 5th/6th grade. I enjoyed it enough then but havent revisited it. Got Ball Four at the same time-that one I’ve picked up almost annually since.

          Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
  31. Soaker May 2,2019 3:33 pm

    Looking out the window of the hotel room, no view of Allegheny River, bridges or downtown because ballpark is in the way. On my way to Allegheny City Brewing for dinner and live music by Dead and In The Way.

    Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
    • Future Ed May 2,2019 3:44 pm || Up

      that’s gorgeous

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • FreeSeatUpgrade May 2,2019 3:49 pm || Up

        3 rivers > 1 slough.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
        • ptbnl May 2,2019 3:57 pm || Up

          Hey – don’t forget Lion Creek!

          If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
        • Soaker May 2,2019 7:17 pm || Up

          On the walk back (maybe 3/4 mile) the streets were rivers because it was pouring…which I suspect is going to be a theme of this weekend along with poorly-played baseball games.

          Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
    • Glorious Mundy May 2,2019 5:16 pm || Up

      Vince scoffs at your plans.

      • FreeSeatUpgrade May 2,2019 6:32 pm || Up

        Ken’s expression says he took Vince for the dinner checks all weekend long.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • Future Ed May 2,2019 7:39 pm || Up

        i am always surprised by vince’s appearance

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
  32. Soaker May 3,2019 1:41 pm

    After a little morning rain it has been a cloudy but dry and pleasant day to be out and about exploring Pittsburgh. With the games about to start I think the “dry” part is about to end. Radar loop currently showing a big line moving across eastern Ohio and about to enter Pennsylvania. Best guess is they play all three games with delays tonight and tomorrow. Both teams are off on Monday but I don’t think the A’s would want to give up the off-day at home after this long train wreck of a road trip so in the event of a rainout tonight or tomorrow I would be hoping for a Sunday doubleheader.

    Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach

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