DoubleOffTheWall

Rasmus will need to throw about 60-70 in the next start. I dont like how many innings our other relievers r logging

Already taking roth out? Who is gonna pitch in the middle innings after herrera? Looking like a bullpen management disaster about to unfold

Should have gone with roth

why make santiago available? He is a fixture in this rotation and set to pitch when his turn in the rotation comes up.

I agree its better to get a starter thru trade or free agency in the offseason. Much better. While we may not need a 5th starter in the postseason, we may need a 4th starter in the later rounds, otherwise we are going to ask people to pitch on 3 days rest. Right now, that 4th starter is CJ Wilson, who is good, at his best, for like 5 innings 3 ER. I keep having flashbacks to him giving up that 3 run bomb to Fielder in the 2011 all star game, promptly losing home field advantage for the rangers in the WS.

5 starts? Remember that, we will: 1) most likely be in the postseason, which will require additional starts from our staff, and 2) be down to 5 men next year, with skaggs out till 2016 and richards possibly coming back up to a month into the season. Sosh said ideally you want to be 9 starters deep. With Grich back next year, our 6th starter is michael roth.

Exactly. If things hold as they are, and the angels win the divison, we'll be facing the winner of oakland and seattle (though detroit is now tied for 2nd WC). The path is pretty clear - play Oakland/Seattle in the first round, then play the winner of the Central and Baltimore. For some reason I get the impression we beat Oakland in 5 in the ALDS, and then beat Baltimore in 6 in the ALCS...

I am also with the number 97. Getting homefield is paramount. We're likely playing Oakland or Seattle in the first round (esp. if we have the #1 seed throughout), and their pitching is scary. We need every other card in the deck.

Washburn and ortiz were scary during that run. Thankfully lackey stepped up. Id rather not leave it to luck like that again.

Exactly. The fact is, we don't have a single pitcher outside of Shoemaker that can routinely go beyond 6 innings. The bullpen does a lot of innings and Rasmus is key to that, especially since Wilson is liable to explode at any time. I especially like Burnett because he is a power pitcher, which is typically the model for success in the postseason. Again, outside of Shoemaker and Santiago, we don't have a lot of power pitching, which was lost with the injuries to Richards and Skaggs. Burnett also brings postseason experience from his time with the Yanks and Pirates. Outside of Weaver and Wilson, our entire staff doesn't have a lot of postseason experience.

That is an incredibly good album.

they just keep digging up new good pitching talent. and winning rings, even with horrendous offense displays. i wish we could do that.

Tai chi man on the mound tonight.

Pass on both.

Shoe has done great and is a god send. But he will face the As this weekend and it will be a big test. I am interested to see how he does.

Lol those pics are hilarious. Crisp was the best one

Beckham will become the new Mathis

lol

Fatolo owes us a playoff win or 2, consideirng he had none during his 4 years here back in the day.

Cahill has a big contract too. That'd def be a disaster waiting to happen. More and more I'm with the few who advocate seeing if Rasmus can go to 60-70 pitches on Saturday...

Is it possible/realistic to stretch a relief pitcher mid season? Wouldnt the injury risk be high?

Cahill today with 3.1 IP 6 ER vs dodgers, era now at 4.98. Sounds like a solid pick up

Burnett is easily the best if hes willing to come, has that WS experience

well written article. but it doesn't answer the key question - in terms of competing for the last few weeks and into the playoffs, what are the benefits of not getting colon and rolling w/ the current staff? A staff of weaver santiago and shoemaker sounds incredibly suspect.

Herrera is a reliever though right? If he is, how does that help us for Saturday, other than him being the long man when the next candidate gets touched up by the A's on Saturday night?