A's implode in 8th to hand Mariners victory

April 12, 8:29 AMOakland A's ExaminerScott Sabatini

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Oakland Athletics' Brad Ziegler works against the Seattle Mariners in the eighth inning Saturday, in Oakland. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

OAKLAND-Calif. -- Oakland Athletics Eric Chavez had a scheduled day off to rest his ailing his shoulder. First baseman Jason Giambi took an unexpected trip the bench due to fatigue before the eighth inning against the Mariners with the team leading 5-3.

First came an error from converted third baseman Bobby Crosby. Reliever Santiago Casilla couldn't respond to the challenge, allowing a hit and walk to usher in the type of situations "closers" once dreamed of -- a six out save, with ducks on the pond and the team clinging to a lead-- A's closer Brad Ziegler promptly gave up two hits, and before the first of those needed six outs were recorded the lead was gone. The Mariners went on to win 8-5.

Troubling signs? Sure, but nobody could say surprising, right? 

Chavez was scheduled to take the day after night games off. But he also told a Contra Costa columnist, he'd banged his shoulder up a bit and the rest was welcome. Giambi told the San Francisco Chronicle all the running this first week of the season had sapped his legs. Giambi asked Geren to be pulled in before the 8th inning.

"Way too much running for me early in the year," Giambi said.

Five games into the season and the A's starting first baseman said his hamstrings and groins aren't ready for the rigors of playing the field every day.

Way too early? The team played what amounted to a third of the season in Spring Training. Will it be better in August nights with a pennant race heating up and a couple of months still to play?

Somewhere Giambi's noted strength and conditioning coach is chewing through a shower towel.

Be that as it may, the implosion on Saturday was one properly announced like a warning signal from the emergency broadcast network. Nobody can say they didn't hear the tests.

The fragile, combustible mixture that is this A's team was the risk the A's took to bring in veteran talent in place of emerging rookies.  When you bring in fragile veterans (Nomar), guys nearing 40 who have mostly played DH (Giambi) to mix with a disgruntled former starter forced to come off the bench and play a position he's not familiar with (Crosby) and a critical power threat and defender coming off four surgeries in less than two years (Chavez) you can expect some emergency broadcast system shrill. Saturday was that day. It was not, however, a test.

The A's looked to Ziegler to put out the fire, hoping the groundball specialist could turn a vintage double play like he did so many times during his record-setting scoreless inning streak last year. He didn't and the earned run and blown save he picked up topped the total from his first 39 innings last year.

You knew there would be days like this right?

Unfortunately, it's not going to get an easier. Chavez is slated to return to the lineup against the M's in today's series finale. Giambi might be given a turn at 1b, with Jack Cust taking some time in the field. It makes sense, but only Geren knows for sure what he'll do today Then come Monday, the Boston Red Sox come to town. Wednesday afternoon Chavez will likely take another scheduled day off. Geren will start moving his chess pieces around to best compete.

Still, there could be more days like Saturday up ahead. In the meantime, Mr. Giambi, meet the treadmill OK?

For the box score of Saturday's game, click here.

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• Comeback win shows off 2009 changes.
• All the events on this homestand and more to come this season are detailed here.

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• Fantasy Examiner.com baseball league update: My San Francisco Sea Dogs are locked in a close battle with SF Baseball Examiner Claire Reclosado's mighty offensive team in week 1.
• Internet Barstool, from the A's press box on Tuesday night vs. the Red Sox.
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