Tuesday 4/18 - Thursday 4/20 Tigers @ A's

[Providence A's]

@

Tuesday 4/18 Justin Verlander vs. Esteban Loaiza
Wednesday 4/19 Kenny Rogers vs. Joe Blanton
Thursday 4/20 Jeremy Bonderman vs. Barry Zito

Series Notes
-A's have lost 5 of their last 6 games
-Esteban Loaiza looks to break the "voodoo curse"

[Bear]

Lets hope the A's can string together a long winning streak. They have the team but it just has not come together for them. I am going away until mid-may so when I get back I am counting on tha A's fans lead by Providence A's to have put them on track. With this team they will win this division by a wide margin!

GO A's

[A'sDiehard]

Loaiza sucks. I hope we bring the bats Tues night.

[Providence A's]

apparently, there has been talk of moving him to the pen...

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/...s/14360060.htm

OAKLAND -- The A's are continuing to monitor the velocity of Esteban Loaiza, who has allowed 17 hits and 11 runs in his first two starts, falling to 0-2.

Rather than temporarily move Loaiza to the bullpen to have him work out the kinks, the A's will keep him in the rotation. His next scheduled start is Tuesday night, the first of a three-game series against the hard-hitting Detroit Tigers at McAfee Coliseum.

"I talked to Loaiza two days ago," manager Ken Macha said Sunday. "There is concern with his velocity being down. There was some discussion about what exactly to do. The feeling is he pitched in the WBC (World Baseball Classic) and that's contributed to his struggles."

Macha said the A's believe the best way to build Loaiza's arm strength is to remain status quo. Although Loaiza's velocity improved from his first to second start (both on the road), the A's will have their radar gun man, Dan Dobbins, clocking Loaiza, as he does with all Oakland pitchers at home games.

The A's don't trust stadium radar gun readings -- at home or on the road.

"There was some concern about (Huston) Street's velocity being all over the board," Macha said before Sunday's game. "They were watching the TV and (stadium) radar gun. They should all calm down. Our radar guy said he's 92-93 (mph) on his fastball and 87-88 on his sliders."

Also

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...J1.DTL&type=as

Two of Loaiza's three spring starts also were dismal, and his rough spell has him jokingly looking at supernatural causes.

"I hope nobody has a curse against me,'' he said. "No little voodoo stuff. ... I want to do my best. I know people think I have a three-year deal and I haven't proven myself, but I'm trying hard.''

Loaiza's troubles are contrary to his usual pattern -- most years, he's a strong starter. Entering Wednesday's game, he had the second-highest April winning percentage among active pitchers with a minimum of 20 decisions, at 18-6, trailing only Pedro Martinez's 31-8 mark.

"I've only pitched eight innings and I've given up so many runs, so many home runs (three),'' Loaiza said. "It's the first time in my career I've done this.''

I know who cursed him

[A'sDiehard]

Prov, my posts in the gameday threads will be on and off for the next week as my wife went to New York and took the laptop with her. My computer in the back of the house took a crap but it works sometimes so we'll see how it goes.

We need to rattle off a little win streak here; we lost 5 out of 6 last week.

Time to step it up Loaiza.

[Providence A's]

Well, I'll be here either way...yes, we need to get hot because we got the Angels come in after the Tigers...

[A'sDiehard]

I'm going to take my little boy and try and hit both weekend games. My mom bought him a sick A's jersey and put it in his Easter basket.

[Providence A's]

what does the jersey look like?

I wish I could just hop in my car and go to an A's game...can't even get tickets to the Red Sox...well, I could to their AAA in Pawtucket, RI, but meh

[A'sDiehard]

Hard to describe but it's from the authentic collection. Thing is I was just about to start looking for one as he has grown out of everything from last year.

[Providence A's]

I've got a spring training jersey, a replica road jersey (Zito), a game alternate green jersey (russel, now all of their jerseys are made by majestic), and a replica black alternate jersey that they no longer use

[Providence A's]

ok, let's show see what you got Loaiza ya bum!

[A'sDiehard]

Off to a great start I see.

[Providence A's]

and it's 1 - 0 Tigers already

[Providence A's]

Swisher puts the A's ahead with a 2 run homer after a Bradley walk.

[A'sDiehard]

Swish with a moon shot!!! That guy is on fire!!!

2-1 Oakland.