Tim Hudson only needed 79 pitches to get through 7 1/3 innings against the Blue Jays and grab a 4-2 win for the A's yesterday. Ricadro Rincon got the last two outs in the 8th and Billy Koch slammed the door on his former team (this time with nothing blocking the door) in the ninth to made up for a listless A's offense.
These numbers are for centerfielders. Player A's numbers jump off the page. Projected to 162 games that's (ugh, mumble, carry the four, deduct earned income variance, no, wait, intrinsic modification barrier times six...):
Eric Chavez got the A's off on a good foot with an opposite field 3 run homer in the first. The A's managed only one more hit, on the day, a Miguel Tejada single in the 3rd. For the day, the A's went 1-2-3 in the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th innings. In case you're wondering, the Blue Jays pitched perfect baseball for 7 of 9 innings, gave up only four hits, and lost.
The A's got their 4th run in the 3rd inning when Scott Hatteberg walked. Tejada's single moved him to second. Chavez fouled out to right and Hatteberg tagged up and took third. Jermaine Dye grounded into a fielder's choice, Hatteberg scored and Miggi was out at second. Not only did Jermaine beat out the possible double play, he then stole second. The A's couldn't capitalize but still had a commanding 4-0 lead after 3 innings.
The Blue Jays picked up a pair of runs in the top of the 6th. Shannon Stewart led off the inning with a homerun. Former Sacramento River Cat (and Rookie of the Year shoe-in) Eric Hinske doubled to right center and went to third on an error on, guess who? Orlando Hudson fouled out to third and Josh Phelps followed with an RBI ground out. Vernon Wells ground out to Huddy to end the inning.
Hey a Dead Horse, Where's My Bat?
Terrence Long leads all MLB centerfielders with 8 errors. That shouldn't surprise anyone. What should surprise everyone is that he continues on a 300+ consecutive games played streak.
For the record, it's not the errors that bother me with T Long. It's the plays where an error isn't charged. It's the lost confidence the pitching staff carries around; is this the inning Terrence blows it or is he going to make a good play? It's the fact that he doesn't make for up for his defensive liability at the plate, which begs the question; is he slumping at the plate and taking it into the field or is he slumping in the field and taking it to the plate?
Here's some comparative numbers:
| A | B | C | |
| G | 138 | 162 | 162 |
| RUN | 104 | 90 | 70 |
| HITS | 168 | 178 | 140 |
| HR | 18 | 12 | 9 |
| BB | 43 | 52 | 54 |
| AVG | .288 | .283 | .240 |
| OBP | .336 | .335 | .327 |
| SLG | .452 | .412 | .368 |
| OPS | .788 | .747 | .678 |
These numbers are for centerfielders. Player A's numbers jump off the page. Projected to 162 games that's (ugh, mumble, carry the four, deduct earned income variance, no, wait, intrinsic modification barrier times six...):
| RUNS | 122 |
| HITS | 197 |
| HR | 21 |
| BB | 52 |
| AVG | .287 |
| OBP | .375 |
| SLG | .456 |
| OPS | .831 |
That's solid production...and that's what the A's expected from Terrence Long.
Player A is T Long's numbers from his rookie year, Player B is last year and Player C is projected for this year.
Factor in that Long batted leadoff his rookie season and the numbers can move a little to compensate, but not much. I didn't even add RBI, but Long's numbers are:
93 for 2000 (as a leadoff hitter!)85 batting behind Jason Giambi with a 390 OBP (that's poor)62 batting down in the order (that's really bad)
That's not even calculating the other stats, stolen bases, errors, fielding range, etc. I'll mention this, T Long has attempted 7 steals this year. He's been caught four times. That's pathetic.
Terrence has been chided by the media (that's what they do), on occasions and he takes it as an insult. Pointing out Terrence's dip in production Long counters he only cares about hitting with runners in scoring position (RISP). When you're already dead last in MLB among regular center fielders (more than 100 at bats) in OBPS you really can't argue any point.
Terrence's defense has been called into question and he argues that he saves as many runs as he gives up.
"I'm a man. I accept the fact that I make mistakes out there," the converted right and left fielder said. "But I know I've made more plays to win games than made plays to cost us games. That makes it easier for me to stay positive." -Terrence Long, June 20, 2002
That's really not the point.
"Last season I led this team in ninth-inning doubles in the month of August!'' - Jack Elliot (Tom Selleck, in Mr Baseball)
Terrence is only 26 years old. On an average production curve, Terrence is still a year or two from his peak. Yet, he's regressing as if he was 36 and nearing the end of his career. With numbers like his 2002 stats, he may very well be doing that.
Terrence showed so much promise and exuberance in taking on not just the leadoff role when asked, but the centerfield job as well. Now, he uses those as excuses. He's not a center fileder and he had never hit lead off. So, he mounts his crutches and hobbles around not producing. Possibly hindering more than helping in the field, at the plate and on the basepaths. Meanwhile the A's are a sniff away from the Wild Card and a good weekend from the AL West Division crown. Where would they be if the 2000 or even 2001 T Long showed up?
That's not really the question, either.
The question is; can the A's win with the 2002 T Long?
"Because I loved them once and they broke my heart. Let that be a lesson to you, sweetie. Never love anything." - Homer Simpson, when asked why he hates the Springfield Isotopes so much (Wild Barts Can't Be Broken)
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