Maybe next time Manny Acta will choose not to eff up a huge start against Detroit by forcing a starting pitcher to enter in the 14th inning. Opinions abound (Manning thinks
David Huff was "pitching scared" against the Tigers) and mine is that Huff was completely out of rhythm. Numbers do not lie. Huff in his screwy 08.20 start: 0-1, 19.29 ERA, 3.43 WHIP, .444 OBA. The sum total of his other four starts: 2-1, 0.38 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, .184 OBA. Feel like arguing that the A's have an anemic offense? Recall that two of the other three opponents were the Red Sox and Angels. Detroit lost, the Indians sit 5.5 back and, if there is any hope of a September surge, David will have to continue his tremendous work. Good lookin', man, keep it goin'.
What to say about the bats?
Cord Phelps is 0-for-12 since coming back from Columbus and is down to .155. I would suspect him to be optioned out when Jeanmar Gomez is added to start tomorrow. Also, supposedly,
Matt LaPorta is a hitter. You could have fooled me. Matty is now hitting a meek .238 with a sub-.700 OPS and a 79/20 K/BB ratio. Are there positives about the offense?
Although he has trouble bunting and generally catching the baseball,
Zeke Carrera is pretty damn fast.
Oh, and Vinnie Pestano is back to nasty. Love it.
Here's to Chris Perez holding onto that 1-2-3 feeling.
Cheers.
