Oakland Park Baseball

I see this as a improvement for the A's. Even though Karsay pitched great in his final appearance (got the win with 2 scoreless innings in the A's 17-inning win over the Dodgers last Saturday)..... even though he looked great, he didn't really look that way in his other appearances, and was at the end of his line. Sauerbeck is a great pick up because his career numbers are solid (3.83 career ERA), and his personal issues off the field represent opportunity to the A's. You know the A's love to take advantage of what they consider undervalued players. Just last year Sauerbeck was very effective in relief. They signed him for cheap, so it's a risk that's easy to take.

Another worthy contrast is Sauerbeck versus Ron Flores...... I'd go with Sauerbeck----(that's the other left-handed option the A's have but aren't using currently).

I always found Karsay's story to be tragic, I remember when the A's got him for Rickey back in the day, I remember when he fucked up his shoulder and couldn't pitch for a long long time (I actually toss him in the same catagory as Apriel Prieto, remember that dude?). It's too bad it never worked out, but yeah, I think he was just done. Though I find it a little shady to get traded for and retire a week later

So Sauerbeck just went on the DL with a tweaked nutsak or groin or something. I was pleasantly surprised to realize he had compiled good numbers since Oakland acquired him and, even including his numbers in Cleveland prior to coming over, had solid numbers against left-handed hitters in 2006. [He signed with Oakland on June 19 and has posted a 3.24 ERA in 13 appearances with the Athletics. For the two clubs, Sauerbeck has limited lefthanded hitters to a .193 (12-for-62) average.]

Looks like the A's will have to do with Ron Flores and/or Randy Kiesler until Joe Kennedy is ready to come back (in terms of filling the void Sauerbeck leaves of being a left-handed reliever). Luckily, John Rheineker has fallen back down to Earth in Texas, so it's unnecessary to look at him as the missing left-handed relief pitcher.