disarcina

a dinger here by Trout would help.

no one knows how many outs there are?

Beckham doubles and we're in a position here to start chipping away. the amazing thing is, CJ Wilson was one pitch away from getting out of the inning down only 2 to 1 (which would have been a miracle) when he gave up that two out, two strike count single to the hitter who hit a seeing eye ground ball up the middle with runners going.........and then the throw by Freese that resulted in two unearned runs.

we have E's at the corners now. long run, but it did hit Pujols in the glove........... Rucsinski in now -- thought Morin would pitch more than a third of an inning or so. I guess CJ's melt down happened so fast, they needed a guy who could get warmed up quick and that was Morin. Rucinski (I don't know how to spell it, obviously) will likely go two or three now - -perhaps longer -- wasn't he a starter at SLC?

I hear Joe Blanton is rested, ready and in addition to all that, he's already on the payroll.........

time to add Chuck Finley to the playoff roster.........

6 to 1 YIKES........... we need to chip away here......two runs this inning would help. OR -- will we see a position player pitch tonight??? probably not with a 40 man roster, you'd think.

hey, if its any consolation -- in the Oakland/Texas come from behind clinch game -- Texas looked absolutely terrible..........and they still won the game. perhaps we could get so lucky tonight.......

best record in baseball -- replay the FOUR walks, two to force in runs and the throw by Freese again.............highlight reel.

nice throw by Freese there ------- remember my post discussing why we need to carry more position players rather than 12 pitchers on the playoff roster -- because you want John McDonald in the game at third in the 7th inning on (maybe the first) to make the plays at third ------- although, to be fair to Freese, his bat has come alive in September..........DH is the place for him.

we need to get the pitch count up on Smardizja (I can't ever spell his name right........Notre Dame TE guy)....... because he's pretty stingy with hits and runs and we'll need to get to the pen to break through......... 4 to 1 now, we may not have time to get this done -- but since Wilson's meltdown was in the FIRST INNING - it's real early yet.

what a terrible line for CJ Wilson.........GEEZ. Morin really needs to shut them down and pitch about three innings here.

Orioles lost today -- that's a relief. Mariners got shelled by Toronto -- it was 13 to 2 or something last time I looked. KC beat Cleveland but also lost the continuation of that extra inning game that was suspended about a month ago or so......so they won one and lost one today. I think Detroit lost. A's win would help them right the ship after a month long slide.

two run single........that's it. Morin will need to pitch two or even three innings. FIRST INNING -- OUCH.

if I'm the A's -- I'm taking all the way.......

he's behind all the hitters and he's aiming the ball now. get him off the mound.

last start was his best of the season, this may be his worst.

before we get too down on CJ Wilson, remember the gem he pitched last time out.

walks two runs over......I'd yank CJ WIlson right now.

Santiago is an okay guy -- but the fact remains when we acquired Hector Santiago we got a swing man pen guy -- essentially a spot starter who can pitch long relief and be a pen depth guy. that's what we got, that's what he is. we have tried to fit him into the rotation and he's pitched the way a spot starter pitches -- some decent starts and some melt-down starts....... he's been inconsistent in relief. no knock on Santiago -- he is what he is, he tries his best. He works hard. But at the end of the day, he's a spot starter/ possible swing man who provides long relief and pen depth.

I think we play 'em both tough until the wild card spot is decided and also until the best record (us vs. Orioles) is decided WITHOUT messing up our pitching plans/ rotation. this means UNLESS Scioscia is going to give Weaver a real chance to get that 20th win (which I think has already been decided, extra effort to make that happen is NOT happening) -- our starters go five maybe six inning depending on how the game is going and then we go to the pen for what essentially is a final try out/ tune up for how Sosh will approach the playoff pen situation. our regulars should play but I would not hesitate to sub in some of our fresh guys off the bench early -- McDonald to third to play D about sixth inning......I'd put that Campana guy in to run for someone every game about the 7th and have him finish up in the OF -- and who do we have up from PCL for catching duties? I'd give some real thought to giving Ianetta and Conger either some time off or having them DH instead of catch (rather than just having them sit the bench) for a game or two........ So we play hard, but we appropriately give our players some rest, get our pen playoff ready and give our catchers a little rest from a season's worth of catching..........and give some of our depth bench guys a chance to play to see who, in fact, is going to get that final one or two playoff roster spots for the ALDS...........

I still think that your more typical 'tagging up to score or advance on a fly ball' play should be reviewable. I think the re-play from different angles with the technology they have today is more accurate than the ump's call on what is always a split second timing situation........ if any play should be reviewable its the play where the runner tags up to advance on a fly ball..........

yes -- it was a base running mistake more than a timing play --- HOWEVER -- there's a lot going on and the ump got it wrong -- Perez did not go back and tag the bag at third before advancing -- he needed to do so and didn't.........the Tigers made the correct move in appealing the play at third and the ump just got it wrong....... the play is NOT reviewable. the Jumbotron clearly showed that Perez never went back and 'touched up' at third as required by the rule. I give credit to KC for showing the play on the Jumbotron in such a critical, key game for them and to the umps for making sure at the end of the day - they got it right.

well, of course, the number one concern is the rotation but then the issues with the pen are a related concern particularly if 50 pitch a start Rasmus is used as a starter in the playoffs. Friday/ Saturday's LA Times had an article regarding playoff roster decisions and whether the Halos might carry 12 pitchers which would limit the number of position players available off the bench. That concerns me --- most teams, at this point, in a playoff series, are in a position where they might be able to 'cheat' on the side of carrying 9 or even 8 (8 seems a bit risky) pitchers because they go with a three man rotation, have the fourth starter available as a long relief, pre set up guy and then go to their closer, set up guy and two of their best depth pen guys. that frees the team up to keep that speedster/ defensive guys on the roster to insert in the late innings to bring home the tying/ winning run or to have play 3B/ MIF during the 8th/9th. If the Halos go with an increased number of pitchers -- it means that a guy like John McDonald doesn't make the playoff roster..........and I realize that October (in fact, September, it appears) is when Freese comes alive with the bat and all -- but think about Freese at third in the 8th inning of a 1 run game and a groundball between SS and third goes for a two run single instead of GIDP or a third out force play..........

well FIVE WEEKS --- oh well. slight typo.