Daily Link Dump 8/13/05

by wedge on Aug 13, 2005 10:18 AM PDT

Seems a bit pointless considering 1) lots of folks at AN Day today and 2) all the really interesting links are in the New Ballpark diary. But what the heck.

Huston Street, meet Eck (well, maybe):
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/08/13/SPG9OE6FDM1.DTL

Ben Fritz, 2002 first-round pick, continues his return from TJ surgery. He's got 11 scoreless innings in 4 starts with the rookie-league club. Here's the box from 8/11:

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&did=milb&t=g_box&gi d=2005_08_12_athrok_royrok_1

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From the Tribune

Short little article with Fosse's quotes about Eck:
http://www.insidebayarea.com/athletics/ci_2940156

And a funny little comment at the end, apparently the A's have their own name for the play against the Angels:
T-shirts are on sale at the Coliseum for the "Walk Off Drop" with the date of Thursday's game and the final score. ... The day after the bizarre play, infielders coach Ron Washington reminded shortstop Bobby Crosby, "Make sure you back them throws up."

"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 Aug 13, 2005 11:51 AM PDT reply actions

Walk Off Drop?

I like the Sulk Off better. It's a bit more visual.

"We tend to scoff at the beliefs of the ancients. But we can't scoff at them personally, to their faces, and this is what annoys me." Jack Handey

by davebenfremont on Aug 13, 2005 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Interesting thing in that rookie ball box score...

...it contained the name "Long" as DH.

Wes Long (.346 in Vancouver this year) was hit in the face a month ago by a foul tip off his own bat, with the ball hitting him so fast he claimed he didn't have time to blink and felt it impact his eyeball.

The foul tip caused a fracture of his orbital socket, which needed surgery - surgery that, at one time, would require temporary removal of the eye, which could cause long term problems if it wasn't reattached properly, and at the very least required months of rehab and the end of Long's season - if not career.

Well, Oakland looks after its draftees, and so they brought in a surgeon who was able to work around the eye without removing it, and repaired the damage so well that Wes was swinging in BP (with a face shield on his helmet) that week. And last night, barely ten days after the surgery, he went 0-3 with a walk for the rookies.

Hot damn, do I love being a fan of this ball team.

by Ozzz on Aug 13, 2005 1:58 PM PDT reply actions

Wow

The old procedure sounds gross! Glad things have changed since...

by OaktownTribesman on Aug 13, 2005 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Wes

wow, great story. Thanks for the info!

by wedge on Aug 13, 2005 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions

CBSSPORTSLINE Game Recap:

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jay Payton endeared himself to his Oakland teammates and fans in a hurry, and he's been rolling ever since.

Payton hit a three-run homer to lead the Athletics over the Minnesota Twins 5-2 Saturday for their major-league leading 23rd win since the All-Star Break.

"It's been great. I'm having fun just winning," he said after hitting his eighth homer since joining the A's on July 13. "I still felt I could go out and play every day and I had to prove that to myself."

Payton, acquired from the Boston Red Sox, continues to add much-needed right-handed power for the A's. He hit his 13th homer overall, as the A's erased a deficit for the 36th time this year.

"He's been unbelievable," A's outfielder Mark Kotsay. "He's always been a good player and he's given us a huge lift."
http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20050813_MIN@OAK

"(Jason) Kendall is the master of the improbable." ~ Ken Korach

by AsGirl on Aug 13, 2005 6:31 PM PDT reply actions