Baseball Toaster: Catfish Stew : Geren Gripes

Geren Gripes

2008-04-23 18:32

by Ken Arneson

Ah, nothing says "the baseball season is really here" than your first, good heart-felt second-guess. Last night gave me my first good one.

I've been getting annoyed at how bad Bob Geren has been at recognizing when Joe Blanton is running out of gas. There was a breakdown of the A's on Hardball Times yesterday where Jeff Sackmann wrote "Blanton has been pedestrian", which if you look at his basic stats (1-4, 4.32) appears to be true, but that's been misleading. Joe Blanton hasn't been pedestrian, he's been fabulous. The problem is that Geren has removed Blanton after he's run out of gas in all but one of Blanton's six starts this year.

Compare Blantons' last half-inning of work to all the earlier innings so far:

vs.   1st X      Last <1
      IP   ER    IP   ER
BOS   5.0   0    0.2   3
BOS   5.0   1    1.0   1
CLE   6.0   0    0.2   2
CLE   7.0   1    0.2   5
SEA   7.0   4    1.0   0
MIN   7.0   4    0.2   1
All  37.0   9    4.2  12

Before his last inning, Blanton has an ERA of 2.19. In his last inning, Blanton's ERA is 23.14. Methinks Mr. Geren needs to do a better job of removing Blanton before damage is done.

Last night's loss was particularly annoying, as Blanton was approaching 100 pitches, it was a tie game with one out in the 8th inning, and three of the next four batters were left-handed. Perfect time for Alan Embree, wouldn't you think? Not if you're Bob Geren, apparently. Blanton gave up hits to two of next three batters before Embree came in and gave up the single which won the game for Minnesota.

C'mon Geren, wake up:

Twins at Oakland, 7:05pm

Comments

2008-04-23 18:42:55

1. Ken Arneson

Meanwhile, rumor has it that Frank Thomas was close to signing with the A's today when a second team swooped in with another offer.

mlbtraderumors.com/2008/04/frank-thomas-ru.html

2008-04-23 20:05:43

2. Ken Arneson

BTW, I have an extra ticket for tomorrow's day game, if anyone wants to play hooky. Email me if you're interested.

2008-04-23 20:12:41

3. Ken Arneson

A's claim Rajai Davis from the Giants, and designate Kirk Saarloos. So first we pile up Royals' rejects, and now we're getting the Giants' discards? Awesome.

2008-04-23 20:48:33

4. Philip Michaels

If what's happening in the 7th tonight is any indication, Blanton's not the only pitcher Bob Geren leaves in a little long.

2008-04-23 20:50:58

5. Philip Michaels

4 Thankfully, the ship has been righted.

2008-04-23 20:59:17

6. Haney

Gaudin had thrown only about 75 pitches up to Kubel.

2008-04-23 21:08:11

7. Ken Arneson

6 Yeah, but pitch counts aside, Gaudin was clearly losing his sharpness. Overthrowing his slider, getting under his fastball. They were lucky Gaudin got that last out.

This drove me nuts with Macha--he wouldn't watch the pitcher to see if he was tired, he'd just follow a formula. The pitch counts should be a guide, but it shouldn't be a rulebook.

2008-04-23 21:17:01

8. Philip Michaels

7 And until the Twins started helping him by swinging at first pitches, Gaudin started with first-pitch balls on seven of the first 11 batters he faced. (My count was performed hastily, so it could be off by one or two in either direction.) And he's protecting a 2-0 lead, so a couple of bad pitches and you're in trouble quickly.

My point is, have someone warming up in the bullpen so you can at least weigh the option of calling for reinforcements.

2008-04-23 21:18:27

9. Philip Michaels

On an unrelated note, hooray Mike Sweeney.

(Although I wish Kuiper and Fosse would refrain from opening urging balls to clear the outfield fence. What is this, a White Sox telecast?)

2008-04-23 21:27:02

10. Ken Arneson

I was laughing when M. Sweeney hit the homer, thinking: if they sign Frank Thomas and cut Mike Sweeney, that home run could be his last plate appearance as an Athletic.

2008-04-23 21:33:24

11. Haney

Sorry, I'm down here in LA and can't see what's going on re tiredness, etc. Carry on valiant A's watchers!

2008-04-23 23:39:25

12. Jason Wojciechowski

How much of this has to be on Curt Young as well? Isn't he supposed to be the expert on the pitchers' mechanics and pitch effectiveness, which should be the key signs of fatigue, even more than actual results?

2008-04-24 09:16:08

13. Ken Arneson

12 Good point. I will be sure to gripe about the Geren/Young ticket in the future.

2008-04-24 10:05:51

14. Longone

Great article. I was thinking the same thing about how Geren was handling Blanton.

It's baffling how Geren hadn't noticed Blanton's arm practically breaks off in the sixth or seventh innings. Blanton has pitched very well. And if only he had been pulled out at those times when he was showing signs of fatigue the A's might have an even better record...