Bring back the RATTO NUMBER!!!

by Vaillant on Jul 25, 2005 12:12 PM PDT Comment 42 comments

Where, oh where, did the Ratto Number go?

It was up from the beginning of the season until some time in May/June. Maybe it disappeared because some feared the 59 win number (or was it 69?) could come true. Maybe it vanished when it looked like the A's would pass it easily, so they didn't want to rub it in.

Well, I'm a believer in the A's since I was a little un (remember those Man of Steel and Bash Brothers posters?) and so I believe the A's will obliterate the Ratto Number. I'm also a believer in accountability, so I think Ray should have to see that number every time he's browsing this site.

Who's with me?

Bring it back!

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NO

Why? Because we've been on a tear SINCE the Ratto Number was taken down! Its Karma! Karma!

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by Zonis on Jul 25, 2005 12:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I was wondering where it went...

...but in the interest of not jinxing anything, maybe we should leave it down. We're definitely going to obliterate it, let's just be happy with that.

by blueconversechucks on Jul 25, 2005 12:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Valliant: I suggest you add a poll on the

"Ratto Watch Question". I predict AN is really going to be of two minds on this one.

by ArakSOT on Jul 25, 2005 12:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

NO

It was bad luck then, it'll be bad luck now!

"He threw me a pitch I'd never seen before, Sexson said. The umpire asked me what it was, and I said, 'I don't know.' This guy throws ghost pitches.''

by Alien on Jul 25, 2005 12:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey, it wasn't bad luck in April!

Actually, what I want to know is when did it disappear? Was it B.C. or after?

by Vaillant on Jul 25, 2005 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

THIS IS A REPOST

I know, cause I posted it lol.

by runtru1 on Jul 25, 2005 12:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

sorry...

I did a search for "ratto number" and it didn't come up with anything. Maybe the search feature isn't quite bullet proof yet.

by Vaillant on Jul 25, 2005 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

anyone want to

describe what the Ratto number is? for us younger AN'ers you know.

Change is for the better. For both the A's and in life.

by WhiteElephantGuy on Jul 25, 2005 12:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ratto said

this team wouldn't win more than 60 games. So Blez put up a countdown. Unfortunately, while the countdown was up, the team really didn't look like it would win 60. As soon as it came down, the A's started winning again.

by Apricot on Jul 25, 2005 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was that considered woofing?

by Jennifer on Jul 25, 2005 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't have thought so

but the Woofing Gods have spoken loud and clear.

by Apricot on Jul 25, 2005 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I vote no

Let's leave the Ratto Number in the trash with other outmoded ideas like the Maginot Line and low-fat cream cheese.

by Apricot on Jul 25, 2005 12:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You're right, absolutely right

If we put it back up, the Woofing Gods might just get pissed. They would know the purpose of the gesture and may just decide to punish the team for it.

http://www.cafehayek.com ~ a blog for classical liberals

by LowcountryJoe on Jul 25, 2005 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Preach on brother!

This is a woof-free school zone.

by Apricot on Jul 25, 2005 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

NOOOO...

Please don't bring it back! Now is no time to tamper with success...

We can remind Ray of his stupidity and horrendous physical appearance when we have swept the Cards in the World Series and we are all rushing the field at the Net!!

Lets Go Oak-LAND!

by CyZito on Jul 25, 2005 12:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If the AL team sweeps the NL

Won't it be the NL's park? Or am I confused?
(AL, AL, NL, NL, NL, AL, AL)

by MobiusKlein on Jul 25, 2005 3:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup, you're right

I think my overwhelming hatred of Ratto really clouded my eyes there...

I suppose we'll have to spot them a couple wins, or just celebrate with the A's on the road -- it will probably make it easy for us easterners to get there anyway :)

by CyZito on Jul 25, 2005 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nay...

Leave it be...

But maybe Blez can get an AN interview with Ratto about 8 or 9 days from now when the A's get to 61.

by HigherPie on Jul 25, 2005 1:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i agree with this

if blez could get an interview with ratto after win 61 that would be so just.

by santaclaraave on Jul 25, 2005 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

NO

Dont put that back!

by arch on Jul 25, 2005 1:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed, I think it is a sign

Let's leave it off.
I'm sure when we are sniffing 90 wins Ratto is going to have to write something.
Let's patiently await his first move then blast him out of the water if it doesn't meet our expectations.....
If he claims he is wrong, then let him stew in his own juices.

Now THIS is Billy Ball

by Masaryk on Jul 25, 2005 1:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

NO

I'd like to say when I first starting reading the site I didn't post at all, and I didn't know WTF the Ratto watch was! Once I did I hated it and was glad it was gone. I also think it definatelly was bad karma.

Stop calling Joe Blanton fat!

by pbruins92 on Jul 25, 2005 1:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Take the high road

It'd be petty if we put it back up now, wouldn't it?

by Dog Days on Jul 25, 2005 1:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

And Spineless

Think about it: it's up at the start when everyone is optimistic, then it's down at the first sign of trouble, and now it's back up when things are going well? Doesn't say much for us as a fanbase, now does it?

by peanut gallery on Jul 25, 2005 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Put it up at the start of the season or dont. If its up.. leave it there. It just goes to show how long of a season it is.

"In 1930, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, in an effort to alleviate the effects of the... Anyone? Anyone"

by Parklife on Jul 25, 2005 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

NO, NO, NO,

bad, bad karma. since blez removed it the a's have been on a roll.

NO, NO, NO!

We're not dunderheads here...

by bigelephant on Jul 25, 2005 1:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

NO

They're on a tear, don't jinx them!

by Fongpay on Jul 25, 2005 1:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

NO

I didn't like the idea in the first place. It gave Ratto far more attention than he deserved. The team has already accomplished the very modest goal of showing that Ratto is an idiot. The only goal it needs to focus on now is getting to the postseason.

And besides: no woofing.

by matthias on Jul 25, 2005 1:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We were like 1-20 with that thing up...

God NO

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 25, 2005 2:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

re

No Ratto number, and back to "Simmering" Joe.

by 31Boots on Jul 25, 2005 2:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

So, uh, who's with me?

I guess nobody is.

One thing I agree with is that it should have been kept up all year. To have taken it off was a sign of premature pessimism.

But what I want to know is...does anyone know the actual date that it disappeared?

Anyone?

Bueller?

by Vaillant on Jul 25, 2005 2:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

5/14

by AllThingsOakland on Jul 25, 2005 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Off topic

Why the hell is Bueller pronounced Be-yool-ler, yet (Bill)Mueller is pronounced Mil-ler?
Also the Sox have 3 guys with similar names (Wade) Miller, (Bill) Mueller, and (Kevin) Millar. This is what happen when you live in NE and force fed the Sox...

Stop calling Joe Blanton fat!

by pbruins92 on Jul 25, 2005 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am indeed with you...

and recommended your diary. I don't believe in jinxes any more than Billy Beane does. Although the points that it would be weak to do so only now that the A's are winning is well taken.

by Cass from the Rey on Jul 25, 2005 11:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

IMO

its bad luck that we're even talking about this

"He threw me a pitch I'd never seen before, Sexson said. The umpire asked me what it was, and I said, 'I don't know.' This guy throws ghost pitches.''

by Alien on Jul 25, 2005 2:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No to the Ratto number

It's bad luck. I'm a firm believer in that.

GO A's!!!

by AsGirl on Jul 25, 2005 3:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It was cursed!!!!

Leave it down. Forever.

Obviously, Ratto knew that such a thing would happen if he said the A's would win only sixty games, and AN fell for his evil plot. To truly beat Ratto, the number must stay retired!

"While I was there, it didn't always seem perfect, but when I look back on it I just might think it was perfect." --Eric Byrnes

by Kyli on Jul 25, 2005 3:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

speaking of that...

I haven't noticed his column in the chronicle for a while... am I just blind or is he gone?

by LWilliams on Jul 25, 2005 3:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No

I'm far too superstitious to allow it back on the site. If it reappears, well, don't be surprised if the server starts having "troubles" again... *evil laugh*

(And before anyone suggests it, no I did not have anything to do with the Great Server Outages of last week....)

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jul 25, 2005 4:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's not going back up

I got tired of hearing people complain about it being jinx. Heaven forbid I put it back up and then the team lose a couple of games.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Jul 25, 2005 4:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Heaven forbid.

by ArakSOT on Jul 25, 2005 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My vote is no

at the time I laughed at Blez's snarkiness. But the Ratto Watch was bad karma because it's like having the papers printing a magic number in the sports pages a game into a season. Now that 60 wins is closer, it's not as karmically bad as it was in May but the A's are on a tear and I don't want to mess up any mojo.

If Blez just decides to put it back up, I won't mind, but if I was in his shoes, I wouldn't do it.

"so what was it? the pork chop or the booty???" -rly723

by secret ASian man on Jul 25, 2005 5:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs