Here we are, through the fifth inning, and I couldn’t stand it anymore. This is a nice, dull, scoreless game so far. We had Jose Soriano pitching against Mitch Spence. This inning closed out still a 0-0 tie.
Did I just type “Offense” a couple of days ago? Oh no. I typed “Offense Challenged.” That’s different. It looks like Zach Neto will lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. Max Schuemann led off the top and walked. Brent Rooker got a two out double to make it 1-0 Athletics.
Now Michael Kelley came in to replace Mitch Spence and Zach Neto promptly doubled. Nolan Schanuel walked and Mike Trout hit into a double play. Taylor Ward also walked. With two men on and two outs, Jorge Soler flied out. I’m sorry.
There was no further scoring through the seventh inning. In the bottom of the eighth inning Travis d’Arnaud pinch hit for Scott Kingery and homered to make it a 1-1 tie.
Nolan Schanuel singled to bring up Mike Trout with a man on and one out. Trout flied out. “Wheels” Schanuel stole second and then Taylor Ward struck out.
Tied in the ninth, Kenley Jansen came in to pitch. He retired the Athletics. He didn’t retire them in order, but he retired them without any more scoring. Jorge Soler came up So did O’Hoppe and Jo Adell. Everybody was out. On to the tenth inning!
Reid Detmers came in to pitch. He struck out Austin Wynns. He also struck out Max Schuemann. Denzel Clarke grounded out to third.
Luis Rengifo came up to bat with Jo Adell at second base. He immediately popped up a bunt to the catcher. Deja vu. Kevin Newman (groan) grounded out to second base, but Jo Adell made it to third. Zach Neto was intentionally walked and advanced to second on defensive indifference. Nolan Schanuel got a hit on a liner to center. 2-1 Angels.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Schedule got busy so it has been tough catching games. I see the Angels are building momentum again after that terrible home stand against the Marlins and Yanks.
Regarding the discussion on this thread regarding where to have an AAA affiliate other than SLC. Why not put the AAA team in Anaheim? Use the stadium with an opposite schedule, a la the Sacramento A’s and there minor league team. Can get an honest appraisal of talent with same environment as big league club. Would be easy to send a player down or recall a player.
Someone mentioned using Bakersfield as the AAA site, probably in jest. My first job at 15 was with the Bakersfield Dodgers in ’71. The stadium then is the same stadium now: Sam Lynn Ballpark, a wretched edicifice, built backwards when the batter faces the setting sun. The California League left Bako years ago because of the crap stadium.
What a win! I thought we were doomed to lose 1-0.
D’Arnaud and Schanuel thought differently. Clutch hits!!
For Wednesday’s day game:
In 7 games vs. Angels, JP Sears is 3-3, 4.84 ERA, 28 Ks. For 2025, he’s 5-5, 5.21 ERA.
In 2 games vs. A’s, Hendricks is 2-0, 3.26 ERA, 8 Ks. For 2025, he’s 3-6, 5.40 ERA.
I say we have a better-than-average chance to win. So, let’s get the sweep!
Although Trout is struggling again (in last 7 games, 0.160 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 8 strikeouts, 5 walks), I hope he plays, despite this being a day game. It’s not like he exerted much energy in Tuesday’s game – went 0-4.
Com’ on Trout, hit a homer. He’s 1 homer away from tying A. Rod and Palmeiro for the most homers by an opponent versus A’s.
note: it doesn’t help that Trout didn’t face them in 2023 or 2024 due to injuries.
I hope D’Arnaud starts.
Fixed it for you.
Channeling your Trout energy, Phil.
We’re going to the game today and would love to see MNT crank one out.
Sammy with the positive
https://x.com/samblum3/status/1932667567283597604?s=61
Unpossible. Wash is still there. Arte is alive. Perry, so stupid.
Strickland amazes me. He walks more than he strikes outs out per 9-innings. But batters are only hitting .118 off of him. He’s getting away with his stuff for the moment.
He did all last year so why not?
The Hat forgot :
Jose Fermin: 8 IP, 3 ER
Too bad Neris & Mullet Man dont fit the narrative:
Hector Nerris: 9 IP, 6 ER
Shaun Anderson 10 2/3 IP, 9 ER
I liked how Schanny was gonna run all the way around the bases. He would have if the team hadn’t met him at third
Sure, he was happy, but there just wasn’t enough raw power in the enthusiasm. It was fine. I just wish we had a different walk off win.
His speed Flashing around the bases was exceptional on the walk-off.
And in the post-game interview he was a true gentleman shielding Erica from taking a Gatorade bath. Speed and Chivalry
Sir Galahad
I understand that Galahad rather likes peril… especially when it comes to Castle Anthrax.
But….he had oodles of grit.
LAWRENCE BUTLER! YOU ARE ON MY FANTASY TEAM! BUT I WANT YOU TO STRIKE OUT!!!
Great moments in shitty mic placement at the Big A. I can’t wait for Captain Racist F Bomb to sit in that seat. Maybe then they’ll take the 45 minutes required to move the crowd mic someplace else.
16 games coming up to end the month after finishing the Aths.
Bal for 3 (26-39, 7-3 last 10, lost 2 in a row)
MFY for 4 (playing .600+)
Hou for 3 at home (1st place)
Bos for 3 at home (33-36)
Wsh for 3 at home (30-36)
pessimist in me says 6-10, Hopiumist says 9-7
Eh. I say 9-7 or 7-9 basically.
4-12
Bal: win 1 of 3
MFY: get swept
Hou: get swept
Bost: win 1 of 3
Wash: win 2 of 3
Lol that’s horrible. What has bos, Baltimore, or washington done to make you think they will win the series?
Went to the game. Even met up with John Henry for a bit.
Shocked the walked Neto to get to Nolan. So happy to see that hit land.
Pitching is on a roll lately. Let’s get the sweep tomorrow.
Damn invite must’ve gotten lost in the mail, again! CtPG meet up this year?!?!
Nooooooo !!! You said it again !!!!!!!
Yeah. I don’t understand that. Schanny is an OBP machine.
And of course today the Halos are down 3-0 at the end of 4. Thanks, Jeff!
NOLAN! Man, he’s got big boy zazz goin, even without the HRs. His OPS the last say 30 games has to be over .800. I am totally willing to suffer through this if I’m forced to. Plus another of the ugliest stolen bases I have ever seen!
Our pitching too. Who are these pitchers and what have they done with our real pitchers?
That was a great “stay on it all game” win for our boys. I really liked how O’Hoppe and Neto kept trying to drown Nolan after the game. You can tell those guys are kind of joining up into a core and that’s good.
This run of games has been big fun. Now let’s get Ward and Rengifo and Trout hot so we can trade them. Keep winning till we don’t baby!
324/434/426
But he’s slow, can’t field and has no power.
He’s slow? Have you seen his Pink Vince Coleman thing lately? I think he’s fielding .996… not the end of the world… and I can live with that slash line.
you didn’t hurt yourself falling into that ‘casm did you? I was just regurgitating some of the CtPG critiques.
I love Schanny. His hitting style reminds me of Rod Carew highlights.
I was with you…. Sadly, Nolan is not Vince Coleman
Yet. He hasn’t focused on his sprint speed in the offseason to our knowledge.
Right but he has good OBA and he ranks 17th in toughest batter to strikeout at 12.7%. Those are his strengths.
6 out of the last 8, nice
Schanuel just turned 23, he’s only getting started.
You can see that, if he keeps this up (slumps aside) it gets far more realistic for him to start picking a couple spots in the zone where he swings for the fences and maybe drags that SLG up out of the mud. If he can maintain this type of contact hitting and even his current boost in exit velo he’ll walk into a few more HR at least.
Schanuel’s success makes your buddy 2002heaven get all frustrated.
Oh shit. You said his name. You know what that means….
Shawnty saved Rengifo’s ass. Wash was ready to throw him under the Bus for that Bunt attempt.
Rengifo is a selfish player… I say kick him to the curb and bring Christian Moore up.
It is time my friends….. It is time.
Heefo kicks into gear in July, we don’t need another minor leaguer to come up and add more K’s to the stat lines
He’s kinda dumb, but how is he selfish? Or is this more of the Rendon logic? He’s hurt all the time thus he’s an asshole and the other players hate him?
No, I am talking about his clear unwillingness to “give himself up”, which is the language usually used in regards to laying down a sacrifice bunt. The sacrifice bunt is called that for a reason….
Namely that you “sacrifice” yourself, your ego etc for the good of the team. That seems to be something Luis has a problem with….
I think he just really sucks at bunting…. and anything else that doesn’t just come from athletic ability.
He clearly gives half-hearted effort in those situations. He is a professional athlete at a high level with excellent hand-eye coordination. You couldn’t play in MLB if that were not the case.
Yes, there are some guys past and present who truly can’t bunt AT ALL. Say, a guy like Steve Balboni. Luis Rengifo can bunt. IF HE WANTS TO. That is the point. He doesn’t really want to do it so he makes a half-hearted effort.
That is how the game is played. Guys like Rengifo think they are fooling the manager and the fans but it doesn’t fool me. And he is not the only guy who plays that game. Sadly alot of guys pull those same shenanigans, fouling off the first couple attempts because they know the bunt will be called off with two strikes etc…
At this point why not? 2nd base has been a black hole offensively all season
I miss Chief Wahoo insignia, bring in back
It’s also called Shuffle Bot time.
Yay!
I’ll give it a Hell Yay!
Do we get shufflebot for winning 3 series in a row?
I don’t understand the A’s walking Neto to get to Schanuel when all it takes is a single to win. But hey, I’m not complaining. Gladd to see Schanuel excited.
Mack wanted lefty vs lefty
Schanny’s splits this year:
vs RHP .805 OPS
vs. LHP .564 OPS
In the managers mind it was a no brainer
There you have it. Thanks.
Back to back dimes by Kuch & Soriano.
Very nice.
Tone setting, so nice to watch the opposing team get carved up. We need those guys to keep it up and shit will change.
One other statistical footnote. We are now more than halfway to last year’s win total
And Jerry’s kids getting punked tonight
Is that right? I haven’t looked yet. A Seattle loss puts us 1 back of them
Ass’tros lost!
4 games out of first, 1-1/2 games behind the Mermaids
Scoreboard watching in June kicks ass!
I’ll get a rise any year, month or day when Jerry’s sobs