After his Opening Night performance in Oakland Felix Hernandez has had a rather undistinguished April. In his subsequent three starts he’s given up 24 hits while walking 7 in 18 innings. When a good pitcher is struggling a bit, he probably doesn’t mind seeing this on the lineup card:
New #Athletics lineup: Crisp cf, DeJesus rf, Willingham dh, Jackson 1b, Sweeney lf, Suzuki c, Ellis 2b, Kouzmanoff 3b, Pennington ss
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) April 22, 2011
Late edit: Barton scratched due to illness
Matsui replaced by Jackson in the lineup (Sweeney entered when Barton was scratched); Matsui is 6 for 29 lifetime vs. Hernandez with 1 double, 1 home run, 5 walks and 3 strikeouts.
Jack Cust comes into the game 12 for 62 with 1 double and no home runs. Neither Milton Bradley (illness) nor Justin Smoak is in the lineup tonight vs. Brandon McCarthy (Smoak is on bereavement leave), so the Mariners’ lineup isn’t too intimidating either.
Actually Jackson is batting third and Willingham fourth. Whatever…they’re both 0 for 1 with a strikeout.
Fosse opines that Felix was the best pitcher last year, but shouldn’t have won the cy young.
I turned on the TV sound when I saw that question. Kuiper disagreed with Fosse on that? Huh, Kuiper was the guy who said “I’d rather have a pitcher who wins 9-8 than one who loses 2-1”, much to the delight of FJM.
The only reason to think the A’s have a chance tonight is Felix’s pitch count (90 through 6 innings). If he could throw 140 pitches there would be no chance.
Well, that was a complete shocker.
I seriously love that gif.
If the A’s were to seriously contend for the playoffs this year, something has to be done about Kouz, Ellis, and Suzuki three headed monster of offensive suck. Preferably the Kouz part of it.
So… you’re okay with Pennington?
The shortstop talent pool right now is so thin that any upgrade would require a tremendous expense…or Yunel Escobar pissing someone off again.
Do pigeons live on Conor Jackson’s helmet?
Sharks once again looking like the superior team in this series.