2024 Season | Series #1 | Guardians @ A's | March 28-31, 2024

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Game 4 preview:

Going for the sweep and having outscored the hapless A's 26-7 through three games the Guardians send Cookie Carrasco to the hill against RHP Paul Blackburn.

Blackburn, 30, is starting his eighth year with the A's. His lifetime record is 17-24 with a 4.90 ERA. Last year in 20 starts he was 4-7 with a 4.43 ERA. His WHIP last year was 1.54; he allows a lot of baserunners but his BABIP was .350, suggesting he was unlucky.

Blackburn had one start against the Guardians in 2023, allowing 9 hits and 4 runs in 5.1 innings. Current Guardians are hitting .353/.889 against him, but almost all of that damage comes from Jose, who owns him, and Josh Naylor. Jose is 7-for-13 while Josh is 3-for-5.

Blackburn is equally effective against lefties and righties. He pitched well in Oakland last year with a 3.57 ERA. His outing against the Guardians was in Cleveland. He mixes it up, throwing five pitches, starting with his fastball at 39%. However, his fastball was his least effective pitch last year. His best pitches were his curve and changeup.

Current A's players are 3-for-17 against Carrasco. JJ Bleday has homered and walked twice in seven PA's.

After three games the Guardians have an OBP of .390 against the Oakland staff. They have 16 extra base hits.

 

[Real Deal]

Kwan hits like a child or a girl, which is it @CDAV45

 

[bushwick_bill]

“Crowd” announced at 5,425 today.

I think there was like 3,300 for game 2... So that is like a 64% increase...

 

[BMAN]

If Kwan wants to start hitting more dingers I’m all for it. And if Fry wants to perform like that when he starts he can have a spot in my catcher spot.

 

[Criznit]

FWIW - Steven Kwan hit his 1st homerun in 2023 on May 6th, his 2nd was June 3rd.

 

[PIP]

If Kwan has a 50 Homerun season there’s gonna be some questions…

 

[DCTribefan]

If Kwan has a 50 Homerun season there’s gonna be some questions…

Brady Anderson would like a word.

 

[CATS44]

All this is encouraging, but should be taken with a huge salt lick, esp against LHP. Almost everybody is using lefties for BP. 21 teams have a wRC+ over 102 vs lefties. 22 have a BABIP vs them.

But there are some plusses that may be real indicators of improvement.

We rank second overall in LD %...7th in FB %...and 1st in lowest GB %...15th in hard hit %. We aren't beating the ball into the ground.

We are being very selective...3rd in K rate...7th in BB rate...3rd in BB/K.

 

[sportscoach]

All this is encouraging, but should be taken with a huge salt lick, esp against LHP. Almost everybody is using lefties for BP. 21 teams have a wRC+ over 102 vs lefties. 22 have a BABIP vs them.

But there are some plusses that may be real indicators of improvement.

We rank second overall in LD %...7th in FB %...and 1st in lowest GB %...15th in hard hit %. We aren't beating the ball into the ground.

We are being very selective...3rd in K rate...7th in BB rate...3rd in BB/K.

I feel the last stat you mentioned is what matters... I felt like last season they got away from what made them good in 22, which was the hitting with selection and taking the walks aka trusting the guy behind you to get the job done. In 23, I felt like we had to much, hero ball/I have to do it...

 

[DCTribefan]

I think there was like 3,300 for game 2... So that is like a 64% increase...

 

[cliffdawg]

I know I find out in about 5 hours, but does CC have anything left, outside of looking at his Spring Training stats, what does his stuff look like, I’m assuming he probably more crafty then power, hopefully he pans out better then the wash up veteran that pitch last year….

On a side note I know he just places holder for Williams until he’s ready, but we all know we’re going to need 7/8 starters this year…..

 

[CATS44]

In comparison...

Last season we ranked 1st in K rate, but only 25rd in BB rate....10th in BB/K.

In spite of it seeming like we are consistently stinging the ball, our statcast numbers paint a different story.

We rank in the bottom third in EV, max EV, barrel %, and hard hit rate. Where we are doing well is in Launch Angle, where we rank 3rd.

 

[sportscoach]

I know I find out in about 5 hours, but does CC have anything left, outside of looking at his Spring Training stats, what does his stuff look like, I’m assuming he probably more crafty then power, hopefully he pans out better then the wash up veteran that pitch last year….

On a side note I know he just places holder for Williams until he’s ready, but we all know we’re going to need 7/8 starters this year…..

I have a hunch we will carry Beede and Carrasco the whole season if both are effective and healthy...

Curry will get stretched out at AAA and is likely our normal double header pitcher... We could even see a piggyback game with Carrasco and Beede...

Gaddis could eventually head back down to be stretched out... I don't know if Lively has a spot period now...

 

[CATS44]

I know I find out in about 5 hours, but does CC have anything left, outside of looking at his Spring Training stats, what does his stuff look like, I’m assuming he probably more crafty then power, hopefully he pans out better then the wash up veteran that pitch last year….

On a side note I know he just places holder for Williams until he’s ready, but we all know we’re going to need 7/8 starters this year…..

Who knows whats left in Cookie's tank, but his problems in NY were due to injuries...lots of them.

In his one healthy season, he was fairly effective....3.97 ERA...3.53 FIP...9 K/9...46% GB.

 

[sportscoach]

Who knows whats left in Cookie's tank, but his problems in NY were due to injuries...lots of them.

In his one healthy season, he was fairly effective....3.97 ERA...3.53 FIP...9 K/9...46% GB.

I'll take that any day of the week from a 5th/6th starter...