27 Innings, And No Run In One

Today in Oakland, in a 6-5 win over the Rangers, Oakland rookie reliever Brad Ziegler got six outs in two innings of work, including three strikeouts. He then gave way to Huston Street, who got the save, but that's not important. (Indeed, after the Harden Sale, nothing Oakland does for the rest of the year will be important, but let's move on.)

What makes Ziegler's innings noteworthy is the fact that this now gives him 27 scoreless to start the career... which breaks a 100-year-old record by a Phillies right-hander (the immortal George McQuillan).

Now, the record means nothing, but the interesting part to me is how the A's managed to get something useful out of this career ham-and-egger, by teaching him the extreme side-armed motion that have given him new life. The useful bullpen work is one of the ways in which the organization manages to remain upright, if not, you know, a threat.

Anyway, kudos to Ziegler, who, if he's able to do this kind of thing for another year or two, will get dealt to some team where he can actually make above the league minimum. Keep chasing that dream, sidewinder...