NewsGeren marvels at Suzuki
Oakland (75-80) at Los Angeles (90-64), 12:35 p.m. PT
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
09/27/09 1:04 AM ET
ANAHEIM -- As a former Major League catcher himself, A's manager Bob Geren knows a thing or two about the rigors of catching in the big leagues. That's why he's been so amazed by Kurt Suzuki, who has evolved into an impressive offensive force for Oakland in his third season with the club despite leading the American League in games caught each of the last two years. "It's impressive for him to play as much as he does and to look sharp," Geren said. "There's only been one or two games all year where he looked tired. It's amazing to me, especially with as much as we travel and the challenges of being a Major Leaguer and a catcher." Suzuki, who has been the team's cleanup hitter recently, currently leads the team with 85 RBIs and has 15 home runs, including a two-run homer on Saturday against the Angels. "He seems to have a knack for putting the ball in play, especially with runners on base," Geren said. "He rarely strikes out in those situations. You always know he's going to have a quality at-bat." Suzuki, though, is expected to have the day off on Sunday as the A's finish up a three-game series with the Angels at Angel Stadium. But it's a rare day off for Suzuki, who has played in 140 of 155 games this season, which is the most in baseball this year for a catcher. "It's a testament to what he does off the field," Geren said. "He takes care of himself perfectly. He gets rest at night and he has a great program." That conditioning program for Suzuki includes pregame and postgame workouts, icing his knees and shoulder after games as well as sitting in both hot tanks and cold tanks. And that's not even mentioning all of the time he spends with the team's pitching staff and the time spent scouting in the video room. "If you look at his pregame and postgame routine, it might be longer than the game," Geren said. "He puts the time and effort in and that's why he does what he does. If you just show up, you'll never last. "There's that saying about the first one to arrive and the last to leave, but I'd say 90 percent of the time that's true for him. If anyone is later than him leaving it's because they were a slow dresser." And that commitment to getting better is exactly why Geren thinks that this is still just the start of a lengthy career for the 25-year-old Suzuki. "It's going to pay off," Geren said. "He's on his way to a very long and prosperous career." Pitching matchupOAK: RHP Edgar Gonzalez (0-3, 5.22 ERA)
Gonzalez, added as the sixth man in the rotation earlier this month as the A's monitor the workloads of their prized young starters, struggled mightily his last time out, Monday against the visiting Rangers. After allowing an unearned run in the first inning, he was touched for three runs in the second, and consecutive RBI singles with one out in the fourth chased him. All told he allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits and two walks while throwing 73 pitches. Gonzalez, who spent most of the season as a long reliever and hasn't thrown more than five innings this year, made relief appearances against the Angels on July 16 and 18 and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings. LAA: LHP Joe Saunders (14-7, 4.63 ERA)
Saunders continued his recent run of success by essentially shutting down the Yankees for 8 1/3 innings on Monday at Angel Stadium. Saunders allowed just two runs on seven hits over those eight innings as the only runs came on solo homers by Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui. Saunders is 5-0 with a 2.11 ERA in his last six starts since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 26 after batting through stiffness in his left shoulder. He's also 7-3 with a 3.97 ERA in 12 career starts against the A's. Tidbits
Scott Hairston was held out of the lineup yet again on Saturday with a sore hip and SI joint. ... Third baseman Eric Chavez worked out with the team before the game and is hopeful he can return next season after having two back surgeries. ... Ryan Sweeney will get the day off on Sunday with Matt Carson getting the start in right field. ... The Angels can't clinch the AL West against the A's on Sunday as the Rangers won on Saturday. Tickets
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• KTRB 860, KDYA 1190 (Español) Up next
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Athletics (Trevor Cahill, 10-12, 4.45) at Mariners (Felix Hernandez, 17-5, 2.49), 7:10 p.m. PT
• Wednesday: Athletics (Clay Mortensen, 2-3, 6.07) at Mariners (Doug Fister, 2-4, 4.50), 7:10 p.m. PT
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
