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While the A's starting rotation has been pitching much better of late, the bullpen hasn't been finding similar success. In the four games against the Boston Red Sox, the rotation put up 22 innings and allowed just six earned runs, good for a 2.45 ERA against one of the hottest teams in baseball.
The bullpen didn't fare quite as well, giving up eight runs in 15 innings of work, good for a 4.80 ERA.
The A's played the Red Sox tough in this series, but ultimately dropped three of four to the visitors, despite holding a late lead on Thursday, and nearly getting a walk-off win Wednesday when a ball clanked off the wall. The ball has not been bouncing the A's way for awhile.
Right-hander Luis Medina was saddled with the loss on Thursday after he gave up back-to-back home runs by Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras leading off the frame and put Boston ahead 5-4.
A's manager Mark Kotsay likes to say that a player's development comes with its bumps in the road, and that goes for all players. Medina is seen within the organization as a guy with late-inning potential, and throughout the course of the season they have been giving him opportunities in those key roles.
On Thursday, he was handed a one-run lead in the eighth inning and didn't come through.
"I think he tried to throw the changeup to Abreu without conviction," Kotsay said after the game when asked what Medina's missing piece is to becoming the late-inning relief pitcher they envision.
"With Contreras, we know he's a first pitch breaking ball guy," Kotsay continued. "The plan is to not throw him a strike breaking ball, we throw a [breaking ball for a strike] without conviction, and it goes over the fence."
Kotsay added that the key for Medina and all of the A's young relief pitchers will be to understand that they need to execute every pitch with conviction.
"That's a message that will be delivered," Kotsay said.
Mason Barnett has pitched with the A's plenty of times this season, with Thursday being his 15th appearance with the club. It was also his first start of the season in the big leagues, though he had 10 starts in the minors earlier in the year.
Barnett went five innings and gave up four hits, a walk and three earned runs, while collecting six strikeouts. His command has been a lot better and he said after the game that he's been able to put his fastball where he wants more consistently.
"That comes from the mechanics work that I've been doing and being able to just get more consistent overall," Barnett said.
"I thought he executed his pitches tonight," Kotsay said after the game. "He kept the ball in the ballpark. Those are good things. So we're going to keep building with him, keep putting him out there."
By the sound of it, Barnett may have carved out a temporary spot in the rotation. The question is whether the A's roll with a six-man rotation.
J.T. Ginn is expected to come off the injured list next week and make a start on Tuesday. That hasn't been made official, but that is the plan as Ginn completes his bullpen sessions on Saturday. Ginn's addition to the rotation would put them at six, if Barnett stays.
This could create an interesting dilemma in the rotation for the A's front office.
As for Barnett, he's been in every role a pitcher can have this season, closing out two games for the A's, as well as being a leverage reliever, a bulk guy, a starter, and an innings eater.
"I think it's just one of these things where," Barnett said, "whatever role it is, give me the ball and I'm ready to go."
Continue reading...
The bullpen didn't fare quite as well, giving up eight runs in 15 innings of work, good for a 4.80 ERA.
The A's played the Red Sox tough in this series, but ultimately dropped three of four to the visitors, despite holding a late lead on Thursday, and nearly getting a walk-off win Wednesday when a ball clanked off the wall. The ball has not been bouncing the A's way for awhile.
Right-hander Luis Medina was saddled with the loss on Thursday after he gave up back-to-back home runs by Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras leading off the frame and put Boston ahead 5-4.
A's manager Mark Kotsay likes to say that a player's development comes with its bumps in the road, and that goes for all players. Medina is seen within the organization as a guy with late-inning potential, and throughout the course of the season they have been giving him opportunities in those key roles.
On Thursday, he was handed a one-run lead in the eighth inning and didn't come through.
"I think he tried to throw the changeup to Abreu without conviction," Kotsay said after the game when asked what Medina's missing piece is to becoming the late-inning relief pitcher they envision.
"With Contreras, we know he's a first pitch breaking ball guy," Kotsay continued. "The plan is to not throw him a strike breaking ball, we throw a [breaking ball for a strike] without conviction, and it goes over the fence."
Kotsay added that the key for Medina and all of the A's young relief pitchers will be to understand that they need to execute every pitch with conviction.
"That's a message that will be delivered," Kotsay said.
From the Bullpen to the Rotation?
Mason Barnett has pitched with the A's plenty of times this season, with Thursday being his 15th appearance with the club. It was also his first start of the season in the big leagues, though he had 10 starts in the minors earlier in the year.
Barnett went five innings and gave up four hits, a walk and three earned runs, while collecting six strikeouts. His command has been a lot better and he said after the game that he's been able to put his fastball where he wants more consistently.
"That comes from the mechanics work that I've been doing and being able to just get more consistent overall," Barnett said.
"I thought he executed his pitches tonight," Kotsay said after the game. "He kept the ball in the ballpark. Those are good things. So we're going to keep building with him, keep putting him out there."
By the sound of it, Barnett may have carved out a temporary spot in the rotation. The question is whether the A's roll with a six-man rotation.
J.T. Ginn is expected to come off the injured list next week and make a start on Tuesday. That hasn't been made official, but that is the plan as Ginn completes his bullpen sessions on Saturday. Ginn's addition to the rotation would put them at six, if Barnett stays.
This could create an interesting dilemma in the rotation for the A's front office.
As for Barnett, he's been in every role a pitcher can have this season, closing out two games for the A's, as well as being a leverage reliever, a bulk guy, a starter, and an innings eater.
"I think it's just one of these things where," Barnett said, "whatever role it is, give me the ball and I'm ready to go."
Continue reading...
