The A's First Game of the Season...

...And it's on TV, no less! I didn't catch the beginning - I was en route from the airport when I read a tweet about Josh Willingham hitting a homer in his first at-bat as an Athletic (the first player to accomplish that feat since Frank Thomas in 2006, according to @OaklandAs). Thus I missed some first inning fireworks, just like I did in the Diamondbacks exhibition game a few nights ago. But unlike the Diamondbacks game, there weren't any more fireworks for me to see.

Those two runs that came on the Willingham homer were the only two the A's would score all night. Fortunately, though, A's starter Trevor Cahill allowed fewer runs than that (his only ER came on a bases-loaded walk)... but unfortunately, he only lasted 4.2 innings. However, In un-typical Cahill fashion, he finally lived up to his name and struck out 8 batters in that span. But after an A's bullpen meltdown - led by former elite lefty Craig Breslow - and a King Felix Hernandez complete game effort, the Athletics extend their opening day losing streak to 7 games.

I don't particularly agree with Manager Bob Geren's style of handling the A's pitchers in last night's loss - but then again I haven't agreed with much Geren has done since his tenure as skipper. First, pulling Cahill with a close lead after 105 pitches in the 5th. As I wrote about before, I am now a full convert to Craig Wright's school of handling young pitchers, which states you should limit their workloads during their formative years (age 18-24). But he measures workloads in innings pitched per year and batters faced per start - nowhere does he condone the use of a fixed pitch count per game. And, if his system is followed correctly, an occasional start consisting of 120 - 140 pitches shouldn't be uncommon, even for a youngster like Cahill.

Trevor Cahill enters the 2011 season just having turned 23. Here's how his formative years have stacked up so far (including minors and majors):

2006 (age 18): 9 IP
2007 (age 19): 105.1 IP
2008 (age 20): 124.1 IP
2009 (age 21): 178.2 IP
2010 (age 22): 205.1 IP

Not overworked by any means - he's averaging 124.1 innings over his formative years so far. Especially compared to former young flameout Frank Tanana (mentioned in Wright's article in the Hardball Times Annual), who averaged 238.2 innings in his age 18-24 seasons. Given his relatively stable progression through his young years, why don't you let the kid pitch a little deeper into his first opening day start?

Then, Geren relieved Cahill with lanky lefty Jerry Blevins (whose signature rests proudly in that same Hardball Times Annual), who pitched to two batters before he was lifted from the game for... another lefty, Craig Breslow. If you read the box score, you'll see Breslow got saddled with the BS and the L, and he deserved them both. But, to be fair, he wasn't put in a position where he could thrive. Breslow's what I could classify as a "lefty setup man." He's good enough to pitch to lefties and righties (i.e. not a LOOGY), so he can work a whole inning. Plus, he's experienced and gritty enough to pitch in high leverage situations. And while I'm fully in support of stretching relief pitchers in terms of innings pitched, why would you replace Blevins, who profiles as more of a "long reliever," with Breslow, a short reliever, and then expect the short reliever to pitch multiple innings. It's the little things and arbitrary classifications of bullpen roles that win and lose ball games.

Well, at least my Fantasy team is off to a good start, with King Felix's performance. Now it's time to finally throw out my bad luck A's batting practice jersey, and turn my head forward to the next 161 games.