Game #30: A's 1, Rays 3

May 5, 2006 | A's vs. Tampa Bay

I apologize to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Before game start, I indulged in smug thoughts of how the A's would handily beat them. They spent Friday flying cross-country from New York where they lost both games of a two-game series against the Yankees. And, as I heard in the pre-game radio show, they're changing their name to simply "the Rays." Perhaps they have a Christian fan base in Tampa Bay that spoke up.

• The A's left 13 men on base. Thirteen. Thirteen is a big number. Also considered an unlucky number.
• Joe Blanton now 3-3 with this loss.
• Huston Street closed. He threw an economical seven pitches. No hits, no strikeouts. I hope he's easing back into things. This guy carries so much of the A's future in his arm.
• There was something about Rays SS Julio Lugo's bunt single in the top of the 7th. I didn't quite get what was being described on the radio. Something about Swisher not acting and Blanton not able to field the ball. Once again I have to say I miss how Bill King would describe everything that took place over again. When I can, I watch the game on TV with the volume down and listen to the radio instead. When there was an instant replay on TV, I notice Bill King would be watching the same and describing the action on the radio. It was tremendously effective for times when I only had his voice on the radio and no visuals from TV.
• Rays DH Jonny Gomes makes one sacrifice fly in the game that results in the third run for his team. I had to look this up because I can't tell you how many times Gomes' name was mentioned on the radio. More about him in the Links below.
  
• Still on the subject of radio coverage, I feel bad for Vince Cotroneo. He sounds awkward and uncomfortable. He sounds like he lacks self-confidence. Earlier this week I thought I heard him say "Justin Kendall" then immediately correct himself. Tonight he and Ken Korach talked about the Toronto Blue Jays and Cotroneo was trying to learn how to pronounce Gustavo Chacin's last name. For pete's sake, don't do this on the air! During the commercial break, go to ESPN.com and look it up on the player card. It's "SHA-seen."
• And while we're talking about Jason (not Justin) Kendall, the A's catcher received a four-game suspension and $2,000 fine from MLB for his role in the brawl with Angels pitcher John Lackey last Tuesday. Kendall is appealing the suspension which means he'll keep playing until the appeal is resolved. I don't recall where I read this now, but Kendall has always planned to appeal the suspension and try to get it reduced so he'd only miss a start or two.

Links:
"Some have questioned naming the team for a marine animal not widely known in these waters. Others disliked the devil reference and predicted God would doom the team because of it. After eight years of losing, one must wonder if they were right." [St. Petersburg Times]

Did you know Jonny Gomes is from Petaluma? And that he had a heart attack at age 22? [St. Petersburg Times]

"Brawl will cost Kendall four games" [Contra Costa Times (requires registration)]

(Game experience: KYCY 1550 AM, but to be honest I was preoccupied with other things. )

A's record: 15-14 | streak: L-1 | well-A-meter: 2