Game #89: A's 2, Angels 4
July 9, 2006 | A's vs. Los Angeles Angels
Weren't the Angels in last place just a couple of weeks ago?I thought the A's had put enough distance between us and them that we didn't have to think about them anymore. They were having their own share of injuries (Bartolo Colon, Darin Erstad) and stocking their line-up with unrecognizable rookie names. Why the heck are they kicking our ass now?
I saw a bit of the game on TV, when Jason Kendall got the score tied 2-2. Payton had a double in the next inning and that was it for offense for the rest of the game.
Kendry Morales hit a two-run, go-ahead triple in the 6th. From there, Mike Sciosia had him attempt a suicide squeeze which was foiled by the A's. Haren threw a pitchout (is that correct, Al?) and Kendall immediately ran up the third base line towards Morales. He tossed the ball over Morales to Chavy and Kendall kinda jogged away towards the dugout. But Morales wasn't out yet. Chavy had to throw the ball to Dan Haren who was backing up home plate and it was Haren who finally tagged Morales.
And here's something weird: hitting coach Gerald Perry got ejected for arguing balls and strikes. It's so rare for anyone on the A's to get ejected. I suspect it was all done for show — ya gotta have someone publicly express frustration for the team.
(Game experience: Some FSN Bay Area)
A's record: 45-43 | streak: L-3 | well-A-meter: 2
posted by blank book at 7:48 PM
2 Comments:
Great picture! Who gets credit for that?
I've harped for years on photographers that -- with the exception of when you're trying to capture emotion -- you need the ball in the picture. It's the ball that gives the frame of reference for the action.
I wonder if the A's stole the squeeze sign on Haren's pitchout (Yup, you nailed it!). Macha is not known for calling lots of pitchouts, so you have to wonder if they had inside knowledge. Or maybe it was just something in the water.
And give Haren credit for throwing the ball where Kendall could be on the move toward the runner. Too many pitchers fail at the fundamental of getting the pitchout to the catcher in a place where they can do something with it.
Would that the rest of the game could have lived up to those moments. :(
AP Photo by Benjamin Sklar. I was tickled that I even found it. Usually it's moments like that in a game that I like to remember, but they don't always get written about so editors don't publish the photo.
On TV I heard them wondering if they stole a sign as well. Of course, with all my biases, I'd like to think that Dan Haren was really smart and Jason Kendall was even smarter. :)
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