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Daily Link Dump (2 Aug 05) - Experiment

Hi everybody.  One thing I've noticed is that ANers love to share articles and clippings that mention the A's, however tangentially, and that these articles are being produced both by traditional media outlets (ESPN, SFGate) and by alternative baseball news outlets (Hardball Times, SBNation).

I thought today we could try a little experiment and, if it works, maybe make it a daily part of our AN routine - a Daily Link Dump.

The idea is that we can all share links to articles and websites in one diary without having to wade through several diaries, open threads, etc.  You can leave it with or without analysis, since each item will be a comment in this diary ran than a diary unto itself.

Star-divide

I'll get it started:

http://prosportsdaily.com/mlb/athletics/ - Links to local papers, both Bay Area and away (in this case, Minnesota).  Even the Orange County Register is getting in on A's bandwagon act. (For registration-required sites, use http://www.bugmenot.com)

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/in-good-standings/ - Interesting graph at Hardball Times this morning detailing the A's near-rise to the top of the West.

So, AN, drop of your links here, with or without analysis, as you find them on the web today.  If this experiment is successful, maybe we could make it regular.

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sounds good to me
i often spend most of my day trolling around various sites looking for a's info... one stop shopping would probably make my bosses happy...

my contribution:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/bbtn/index

by pseudokiwi on Aug 2, 2005 7:12 AM PDT reply actions  

A few excerpts from
the Orange County Register:

...Bobby Crosby, the former Long Beach State shortstop who is the West Coast version of Derek Jeter...  I don't know whether I should be upset by this.

The story now isn't about the Angels as much as it is about the finest team A's general manager Billy Beane didn't have to buy.

If it wasn't official before, it is now. Beane is the closest thing to a wizard this side of the new Harry Potter edition.

How else do you explain Oakland losing two-thirds of its Big Three in Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder, as well as its second-best power hitter, Jermaine Dye, and still the A's are acting as if none of that matters? If Beane is Harry Potter, who is Dumbledore?

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 7:12 AM PDT reply actions  

Jeter?
gross
"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 2, 2005 7:32 AM PDT up reply actions  

crosby himself idolizes Jeter
he says Ripken and Jeter are the 2 guys he tries to emulate.

by blueconversechucks on Aug 2, 2005 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions  

I love the Beane veneration
Coming from an Angels area paper, that's delightful.  

Even more props for the Harry Potter comparison...that is just sweet.  

by sarajune13 on Aug 2, 2005 8:05 AM PDT up reply actions  

I smell another artwork thread
along the lines of the chinese propaganda posters! hmmmmm

by tblazrdude on Aug 2, 2005 8:42 AM PDT up reply actions  

I'll bet you...
...the OC Register felt somewhat slighted when the Angels pulled the recent name change stunt. The OC Reg tries pretty hard to differentiate itself from the LA media and the Angels were something they could claim over the larger county to the north.

I wouldn't be surprised if some local sports writers take satisfaction in the A's recent success.

by kaiser on Aug 2, 2005 8:47 AM PDT up reply actions  

Dumbledore is either
Bill King

Sandy Alderson (but he works for the Padres)

Bill James (but he works for the Red Sox)

or the late Bill Rigney

Actually, james makes the most sense, because he influenced Billy more than anyone.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Aug 2, 2005 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions  

Crosby / Jeter
Sure, if he starts producing big hit after big hit in the playoffs, becomes a commercial darling that helps put the A's in the national consciousness -- that would be nice.
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by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Aug 2, 2005 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions  

Awesome idea!
Is it okay to post quotes from the MN broadcast last night?

by Jennifer on Aug 2, 2005 7:24 AM PDT reply actions  

Heck I'm not the diary police
You can post pictures of Cupcakes if you want, although that's not the purpose of the diary.

Share any A's or baseball related items from the media for all to enjoy here.  If you think that includes quotes from last night's "win in MIN," go right ahead.

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 7:33 AM PDT up reply actions  

I want to know.
I chose to watch the ESPN broadcast last night.
"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 2, 2005 7:36 AM PDT up reply actions  

One of the MN announcers,
I forgot which one, said that Huston needed to grow a Rollie Fingers style mustache once he's old enough to start shaving. :P

by Jennifer on Aug 2, 2005 7:43 AM PDT up reply actions  

ha!
He could be like Huddy and just draw it on.
"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 2, 2005 7:45 AM PDT up reply actions  

Stadium promotion
That gives me an idea: the A's should do a clip-on facial hair giveaway promotion. They could have three models:
  • the Bill King full van dyke
  • the Rollie Fingers twirlio moustachio
  • the Kendall chai pet three-day growth
It's tough out there, Pootie. You got drugs ... crime ... gorillas ...

by monkeyball on Aug 2, 2005 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions  

And for the ladies...
Bobby Crosby and Huston Street bobble-butts.
independencefieldsac.org
Please help disabled kids in Sacramento play baseball by helping the Rivercats build a specially equipped field for them.

by kaweahkaweah on Aug 2, 2005 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions  

Is it okay
for others to post the link dump diary? I'm usually up earlier than most here...and do most of my reading in the morning.
"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 2, 2005 7:42 AM PDT up reply actions  

It's not like I patented this idea!
Sure, go ahead.  I'm on East Coast time, usually check AN between 8-9 AM EDT.  If anyone wants to start the Daily Link Dump Diary earlier, or even on the previous night if warranted, should feel free.  As long as we agree as a community to abide by one DLDD to keep ourselves organized...
Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 7:49 AM PDT up reply actions  

cool
This is such a good idea.
"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 2, 2005 7:52 AM PDT up reply actions  

I also think this is a great idea.
independencefieldsac.org
Please help disabled kids in Sacramento play baseball by helping the Rivercats build a specially equipped field for them.

by kaweahkaweah on Aug 2, 2005 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions  

yeah...this is a really great thing to have...
for some reason i get twice as frothy when i read national or non-local praise for the A's.  to wrangle everything into one place will be awesome.

by blueconversechucks on Aug 2, 2005 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

true
i'm on the east coast and can get the link started before 8:00est... i would imagine just add the date to the link dump title to keep things simple...

by pseudokiwi on Aug 2, 2005 7:51 AM PDT up reply actions  

The last sentence of
The posts at www.lookoutlanding.com is a classic:

"Call it being vindictive, but I want nothing more than to see the tattered corpse of the rally monkey on the back bumper of Billy Beane's car."

WOW!

No the only question is does Billy try this?

by skwid on Aug 2, 2005 8:14 AM PDT up reply actions  

Mariners
It's interesting how they feel about the A's. I have a similar feeling toward the Mariners. If not us, I'd much prefer the Mariners win the division than the Angels or Rangers. Even when they won 100 million games in 2001, I couldn't bring myself to hate them. I think it mostly boiled down to the fact that they let Griffey, A-Rod and Johnson go to the big money and got better as a result. That made them a kindered spirit of ours. Plus, I like the city of Seattle, so it's easier to root for one of their teams as opposed to a city like Dallas. Ick.

by peanut gallery on Aug 2, 2005 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions  

And to be honest
They didn't have players who were easy to dislike on that team, except Flipper.

I've always enjoyed Edgar Martinez and John Olerud as two underrated yet awesome hitter.

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions  

Seattle's a great town.
And their stadium is awesome.

And Ichiro is just flat out the most interesting player to watch in the MLB.

For years, the only thing keeping me from calling myself a Mariners fan was the A's short season affiliate in my hometown, and the presence of Bat-Flipper Boone.

Boone's history now, but Beaneball has taken hold and won't let go. A's forever.

by Ozzz on Aug 2, 2005 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions  

The one and only.
The Northwest is seriously beautiful in general.

Except for Spokane.

And Yakima.

Okay, Abbotsford is a dump too.

by Ozzz on Aug 2, 2005 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions  

The Northwest
ends at the Cascades.  Spokane and Yakima don't count.

Glad to see all the Mariners love. I still like them any time they're not playing Oakland.

The Lookout Landing guy who compared Oakland 2005 to Mariners 1995 is right on target.  It's the same kind of surge, and in both cases it's not just the surge alone, but the fact that the Angels were collapsing at the same time.

by iglew on Aug 3, 2005 4:11 AM PDT up reply actions  

Baseball Prospectus
(from yesterday)  Under the Knife article discussing young pitchers with increased workloads, including our very own Madman Haren, Cupcakes Joe Blanton, and Captain "Keepin' it 'Loos" Kirk.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4284
Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 7:41 AM PDT reply actions  

That's pretty ominous...
That 3 of our starting 5 face a statistical likelihood of injuries and/or performance dropoff with their innings pitched going up so dramatically.  (More dramatically than most pitchers in those lists.)

I'm all for resting those guys whenever possible.  Let's use that deep, quality bullpen.

by blueconversechucks on Aug 2, 2005 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions  

Chad Pennington
This is a boxscore rather than a story, but I thought that Chad Pennington's performance last night was worthy of recognition:

4 for 4 with a HR, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 BB, 3 SBs.

Sizzling!

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&did=milb&t=g_box&gi d=2005_08_01_qcsafx_kccafx_1

by sarajune13 on Aug 2, 2005 8:30 AM PDT reply actions  

Nice!
Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions  

cliff pennington
just thought i'd point that out
"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 @ Athletics Nation on Aug 2, 2005 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions  

oops
I was so dazzled by his numbers I messed up his name.  Durh!  :-/

by sarajune13 on Aug 2, 2005 9:03 AM PDT up reply actions  

chad
is a pretty good quarterback out here for the jets. i was wondering how he managed to go 4-4 myself.

by brothersky on Aug 2, 2005 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions  

LOL
That must have been what was confusing my thoughts!  

Plus, Pennington -- the A's one, that is -- looks more like a Chad than a Cliff to me.

Travis Buck has more of a "Cliff" appearance to him..doesn't "Cliff Buck" just have a nice ring to it?

by sarajune13 on Aug 2, 2005 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions  

In fact, I seem to have a problem
with prospects' first names.  I still cross my eyes trying to remember whether it's Brad Sullivan and Brian Snyder or vice versa.

Speaking of which, is Sullivan officially being converted to a relief pitcher?  I noticed that his last several appearances have been out of the pen instead of starting, but I wasn't sure whether it was permanent or if they're just trying to get him back on track.

And is Snyder injured?  He's just had a lone AB with the Rookie League team in AZ, but nothing else.  I saw him in spring training and he seemed to be fine, but he's all but vanished since then.

by sarajune13 on Aug 2, 2005 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions  

Snyder
you're not the only one in that boat. I think there is another prospect somewhere named Brad Snyder.

As for Brian, I've been wondering that myself. He popped up in Rookie League for a bit, but I haven't seen him recently. Unless, Ethier pans out, that 03 draft is really starting to look like a bust.

"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 @ Athletics Nation on Aug 2, 2005 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions  

Yeah, sadly, it seems that draft was not
one of the strongest.  

Aside from Ethier (and Q -- congrats to him) I still have some hope for Vasili Spanos, though I suspect he'll contribute most as part of a trade package.  And I think that Steve Bondurant and Matt Lynch still have a shot, albeit a longish one, at being late round pleasant surprise pitchers.

Too bad Eric Macha did not pan out, though.  :)

by sarajune13 on Aug 2, 2005 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions  

A's-fleet Academy
I think the A's should institute a policy of refusing all prospects the rights to their first names until they actually get called up. INstead, each shall be known as "Prospect."

"Prospect Pennington" ... "Prospect Suzuki" ... etc.

It's tough out there, Pootie. You got drugs ... crime ... gorillas ...

by monkeyball on Aug 2, 2005 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions  

Funny
Anyone notice Rick Ankiel's line as a DH for the Quad Cities?  Gotta give it to him for hanging around...

by BleacherDrummer on Aug 2, 2005 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions  

this is one of the better ideas
started on this site
We're not dunderheads here...

by bigelephant on Aug 2, 2005 8:57 AM PDT reply actions  

ESPN.com
has a poll on the front page: "Which rookie is having the best second half"

Zach Duke is leading, but only because THREE of the choices are Athletics (Street, Swisher, and DJ) so they are splitting the vote. California is painted blue (Duke) with 30% of the vote, but the A's combined have well over 50% of the vote. Not the best constructed poll

"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 @ Athletics Nation on Aug 2, 2005 9:08 AM PDT reply actions  

No, it's DUKE
Zach Duke has been phenomenal.  He is having one of the best 2nd halves of any pitcher, period.
Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions  

Duke
I was referring more to how the results are misleading, not their veracity. Duke is having an amazing second half
"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 @ Athletics Nation on Aug 2, 2005 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions  

ESPN.com Power Rankings
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/powerranking?season=2005&week=17

In case anyone cares what ESPN has to say, our beloved A's have climbed up to 5th in the Power Rankings, just one spot behind the San Dimas Angels of Santa Ana.  Since these were posted, the A's have won 4 straight while the Halos have dropped 3 of 4.

The White Sox (whom we OWN!), Cardinals, and Braves round at the top 3.

May we continue to climb the rally monkey's tail and then step on it's bobble-head!

Missing the ol' Coliseum view.

by Plunkage @ Athletics Nation on Aug 2, 2005 9:19 AM PDT reply actions  

Thanks for your
DLDD contribution
Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions  

Streaking Athletics
For all the talk of the Streaking Athletics, I have not yet seen Yabu run across the field naked.  I don't know what people are talking about.
Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions  

oh cool
much earlier this morning, cnnsi had listed Bobby Crosby as "Bubba Crosby," which is a typical East Coast publication mistake.  i'm sure i wasn't the only one who emailed them to correct it, but it's a good thing they did.

by sec119 on Aug 2, 2005 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions  

Angels vs O's
Game preview: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=250802103

Imagine that: Bartolo Colon vs Sidney Ponson.  The pitching mound will have its work cut out for it tonight.  That's 500 lbs worth of pitcher.  Wow!

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 9:37 AM PDT reply actions  

500 lbs?
Might be more like 550+

by rsquared on Aug 2, 2005 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions  

BP's Hit List
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4289\

A's check in at #5.

"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 2, 2005 9:44 AM PDT reply actions  

BP also has a whole lotta Rickey
In the week in quotes:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4281

"I got so many tools. Dominating on base paths and controlling a game. There's nothing I can't do. I think it's a disgrace to the game of baseball how they're doing me."
--Henderson

by ArakSOT on Aug 2, 2005 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions  

I see that
Ricky has found out about pronouns.
No, I do not want to FIRE MACHA NOW, nor do I think Blanton is fat. Now leave me alone.

by pbruins92 on Aug 2, 2005 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions  

One more tool
... in Rickey's toolbox. "Rickey has pronouns now. Rickey is unstoppable. We can steal bases. I can walk. He can teach young players baserunning."
It's tough out there, Pootie. You got drugs ... crime ... gorillas ...

by monkeyball on Aug 2, 2005 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions  

oh man, i'm cracking up...
If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Aug 2, 2005 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions  

Why don't the A's give
Rickey a shot? He has to be more valuble to have than Ginter.
No, I do not want to FIRE MACHA NOW, nor do I think Blanton is fat. Now leave me alone.

by pbruins92 on Aug 2, 2005 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

Plus...
he'd make the A's a FORTUNE in his return weekend home series. Who wouldn't come and watch?
Best Coliseum promotion of the year? 2005 Oakland A's baseball.

by baseballgirl on Aug 2, 2005 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions  

You know
his OBP is .466, 63BB, 15 SB and caught only twice in 54 games. Maybe Rickey will come back, he always gets a deal with someone towards the end of the year.

WE WANT RICKEY!

No, I do not want to FIRE MACHA NOW, nor do I think Blanton is fat. Now leave me alone.

by pbruins92 on Aug 2, 2005 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions  

boggs quote
"Honing my craft was the ability to get on base, hit for high average, and score runs. It was as if I invented the word `Billyball' or `Moneyball.' ..."

--new Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, on how he played the game

If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Aug 2, 2005 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions  

Nice of him to say that, but...
...he must not have read or understood Moneyball's actual point, which has nothing to do with OBP.

Still, a great ballplayer.  For some reason, I have this memory from when I was a kid of thinking of Carney Lansford as Wade Boggs-lite.

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions  

breaking news
this just in: wade boggs has been indicted for his role in the enron scandal.
If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Aug 2, 2005 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions  

Quote from AP article
"It was Wade's idea to use computers," said former Enron CEO Kenneth Lay.  "He would also throw wild corporate parties with company money.  We spent billions of dollars on chicken, and he once drank 64 beers on a cross-country flight."
If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Aug 2, 2005 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions  

freakin' rickey is ....
....NUMBER 1!!! LMAO!!! thanks for my "rickey dose"...i needed that.
We're not dunderheads here...

by bigelephant on Aug 2, 2005 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions  

One Stop Baseball
I don't ever search around for the articles.  I use www.onestopbaseball.com.  if you scroll down a small bit there are all the recent A's articles.  i dont think hardball and sbnation articles make it though.
Baseball is like life. It's a day-to-day existence, full of ups and downs. You make the most of your opportunities in baseball as you do in life. - E Harwell

by peoples27 on Aug 2, 2005 10:00 AM PDT reply actions  

A's notes from sfgate
has this gem at the end:

" ... Macha was asked before the game if he had spoken to his friend Terry Francona, the Red Sox manager, recently, given Boston's news-making week in which slugger Manny Ramirez said he wanted to be traded and nearly was. Macha smiled and said he had, then added, "Sometimes I guess you have to appreciate how simple your (own) life is.'""

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/08/02/SPGQCE0B4S1.DTL

by popcornjames on Aug 2, 2005 10:04 AM PDT reply actions  

New Choi Hoon Cartoon Featuring Our Boys!

Click Picture to go to full cartoon

Choi Hoon does those great mlb cartoons for mlb.naver.com. Anyone know anyone who can read Korean? This one is less pictures and more words about the A's (and I think Billy as well), but it's all in Korean and well, I have a difficult enough time with the English. It has something about our sweep of Texas and the small trades Billy made a few weeks ago vs. the Twins picking up Boone.

by Ray in Chicago on Aug 2, 2005 10:21 AM PDT reply actions  

Just from that panel
you can tell it's a steroids theme.

by ArakSOT on Aug 2, 2005 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions  

maybe
but in context with the other stuff in the comic, I think it's more about historical Oakland sluggers than 'roids. As I said, this one is a bit different than the normal Choi Hoon comic - more words than pictures and seems to be talking about the A's overall and especially Harden.

by Ray in Chicago on Aug 2, 2005 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions  

You're right
It's huge, and chock full of A's. I wish I could read Korean!

by ArakSOT on Aug 2, 2005 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions  

Moneyball...
i'm learning English from 2 month ago ..
so please understand my poor English ..  

The main story is about  Billy's moneyball...
1. 5 tool.
 Are you going to contract with Beltran ?
 Billy said : "be out of money"

2. have a sharp batting eye , patience
 A's : ball, strike...ball..
 Ivan :-)  : hit , hit

3. most of them got a  long hit
 Park(ex-ranger's pitcher) said : unbearable...

4. Always took..
club number 4 of A's (batting order)

 Canseco , Mc , Giambie , Tejada...
 Tejada said : WWE ?  muscularity ...

5. sell a player when he got a value
 Maybe .. Bean & Hudson & Mulder & ...Lilly ?
 ... Boone is on a bargain sale

6.bought closer at worthlessness
  :He got a scratch . Is the price negotiable?

7. Picked up from University
---------

I am tired to death.  
i m must go to the office . bye ~ (i lve in korea)

by MayBe on Aug 2, 2005 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions  

Thanks for the effort!
It makes a lot more sense now...
Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions  

It has to be about steroids...
...as that's Canseco (33), McGwire (25) and Giambi (16).

Not sure who the guy on the right is, but he does say "WWE," so I'm supposing he's relating the three to that.

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by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Aug 2, 2005 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions  

That panel, I agree
Tejada's "We" is a "what do you mean WE?" He's flushed with indignation. The line about muscles is him saying he's just muscley. That's my take.

by ArakSOT on Aug 2, 2005 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions  

WWE...
WWE ..  It's mean 'World Wrestling Entertainment'

Tejada said : Are you the Wrestlers in WWE ?
              muscular bodys..

by MayBe on Aug 2, 2005 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions  

Worth the link?
This is really about the Angels melt down from their blog, Halo's Heaven.  Well worth the read, though.  It is absolutely hilarious that Finley has become the whipping boy for the team's failures!  

http://www.halosheaven.com/  

By Rev Halofan
Posted on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 12:15:37 AM EST

In all my criticism of Steve Finley, I have yet to call for the Appier Approach, and the Pearly Gates has now done so, beating me to the punch.

After giving Frosty ample time to come back from his alleged shoulder injury, it is painfully obvious he has lost it, the worst fears of objecting to his signing are now manifest and the team suffers with him on the field or in the lineup.

To top it off, Chone Figgins is becoming an above-average Centerfielder, hopefully on his way to being great, and having a reliable Figgy in Center loosens up our crowded infield.

While I played many scenarios out on this blog and in my head about how to relieve this team of the Finley burden, the Appier Approach, the atomic bomb of player relations, just didn't seem like an option.

Well, now that the subject has been broached, and by a saner blogger than me, allow me to second the motion. Cut the hick, eat the money, fire Joe Maddon for suggesting the hick in the first place and let's close the book on an ugly offseason.

Wow, "HICK". Harsh words indeed!

by BruceBochte on Aug 2, 2005 10:33 AM PDT reply actions  

great idea, sal
i hope one of you east coasters does this every morning so those of us out west have plenty of stuff to read when we wake up.
If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Aug 2, 2005 10:35 AM PDT reply actions  

Gameplan for AN
I think this diary is a great idea, but It'd be even better if Blez would open up a spot for this and the other regular diaries (the comics, Station to Station, the Interviews, etc.) and syndicate them individually too. This way, there are 3-5 daily/weekly features covering all the topics you could think of that are separated from your regular diary.

For example, we could give each of them their own little logo design and have the links set up on the right side of the page. Possibilities include:

- Interview Archive
- Game Thread Archive
- Cartoons (Hoi Choi, ANtics, and whatever Page 2 comes up with every once in a while)
- Station to Station Archive (I really like this diary)
- Daily Link Dump Archive (Really useful to refer back to!)
- Stat Section (Like Daily Link Dump, but no posting allowed (except corrections), just tons of stats. It'd be a way to kind of match wits with people, then we could all vote on the best ones.)
- GoG Section
- Playoff Odds
- A Syndicated look at any power rankings we can find.


Just a thought.

by tblazrdude on Aug 2, 2005 10:38 AM PDT reply actions  

Also:
Maybe a section where it's all about "Are you going to the Game?" So you could meet up with fellow ANers if you were so inclined.

by tblazrdude on Aug 2, 2005 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions  

i would stop reading AN
if half of those were on the main page.
If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Aug 2, 2005 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions  

and what do you mean by "stat section"
"we could all vote on the best ones"

i'll post some ruth stats and some bonds stats and win the best ones poll every time...

If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Aug 2, 2005 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions  

cute
That was a hilarious joke, but in case you don't understand what I'm talking about, I'll lay it out a little clearer:
Basically, an aggregation of stats that are presently important to the team, IE Haren's last loss, Johan's last 2nd half loss, etc.

AN is getting a tad big, and it'd be nice if there were more structure to kind of guide the flow of information. I think you'd agree that most people don't have the time to filter through 10-40 diaries a day.

by tblazrdude on Aug 2, 2005 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions  

gotcha
you mean interesting facts/trivia, kind of like sportscenter's (ugh) "did you know" segment.
If I weren't playing baseball, I'd be... "in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." -Rich Harden

by xbhaskarx on Aug 2, 2005 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions  

Too much work
for a blog, which is supposed to be fluid and dynamic.
Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions  

Ryan Franklin
Has just been suspended for substance violation.

Are these players insane, or do they really not know what they are taking?

"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 @ Athletics Nation on Aug 2, 2005 10:50 AM PDT reply actions  

Not A's...
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2122665

Seattle Mariners pitcher Ryan Franklin has failed a drug test and will receive a 10-day suspension under the terms of Major League Baseball's tougher steroids policy, a source familiar with the situation told ESPN.com

by Jennifer on Aug 2, 2005 10:50 AM PDT reply actions  

Cliff Pennington update!
"Cliff Pennington went 4-for-4 with a three-run homer and three stolen bases for Single-A Kane County on Monday.

Pennington, the 21st pick in the 2005 draft, is batting .287/.358/.408 with 11 steals in 15 attempts in the Midwest League."

http://www.rotoworld.com

by gotgreen on Aug 2, 2005 10:53 AM PDT reply actions  

Here's a ridiculous article
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050802&content_id=1154446&vkey=news_mlb &fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

I love the way he dismisses the pitching and defense offhand.  "Yeah, that Beurhle guy is okay, and Garland is decent...but it's gotta be the stolen bases.  Yeah, that's right."

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 11:06 AM PDT reply actions  

Palmeiro news stuns Duscherer.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/baseball/mlb/oakland_athletics/12281865.htm

I just thought it was interesting how the A's are reacting to this. Other than that, no more steroid talk for me!

by anA on Aug 2, 2005 11:29 AM PDT reply actions  

Thanks Peoples57...
your site, onestopbaseball.com, is great as it lists all the articles and they are in chronological sequence as well for the entire season.   Same on each of the other teams.
Charlie Brown GO A'S WIN

by Charlie Brown on Aug 2, 2005 11:43 AM PDT reply actions  

Perfect Diary
For days my boss isnt here takes shoes off
A's Fan in Philly

by Duby on Aug 2, 2005 12:27 PM PDT reply actions  

Here's a Baseball Prospectus BB chat
that was transcribed on 7/29.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=140

He talks about Cruz, and that he will get a shot a starting for the A's in the "future."

Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third is covered by Kotsay.

by carp on Aug 2, 2005 12:30 PM PDT reply actions  

thanks for that
it's interesting and good to hear
The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.

by JJ on Aug 2, 2005 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions  

Article didn't give financials
Would be interesting to know what the going rate for a 2B is these days.
Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions  

He got over $ 3 Million in Arbitration
before this season... so I imagine its somewhere in the 3-4 million per year range
A's Fan in Philly

by Duby on Aug 2, 2005 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions  

Rotoworld says:
Tigers signed infielder Placido Polanco to a four-year, $18.4 million extension through 2009.

by gotgreen on Aug 2, 2005 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions  

Financials sounds right
But contract length is very long.
Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 2, 2005 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions  

Tigers
well this is the same team that gave Magglio a five year deal
"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 @ Athletics Nation on Aug 2, 2005 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions  

If you guys haven't read the OC registar...
...that article was AWESOME!

(Except for the part where Zito has 'picked it up recently'. That will annoy me to the end of this year.)

Best Coliseum promotion of the year? 2005 Oakland A's baseball.

by baseballgirl on Aug 2, 2005 2:03 PM PDT reply actions  

Travis Buck promoted to Kane County
Official press release here (word doc):
http://kccougars.com/press_room/buckinblasiondl080205.doc
and here (html):
http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3203519
"I can't believe they named someone like Hubert Humphrey after such a dump." - Billy Martin

by andeux on Aug 2, 2005 3:49 PM PDT reply actions  

I was not wild about pick
But everything since then (articles read ect) not jsut  performance are making this look like a darn good move.

by novaoakland on Aug 2, 2005 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions  

Billy Beane on Foxsports Homepage
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/3852962

Beane has to be perfect -- he can't cover his mistakes with his employer's millions the way Cashman can. Operating without a financial safety net, Beane has kept the A's a winner after Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada and two-thirds of his Big Three starters were escorted

by theblackpearl on Aug 2, 2005 4:54 PM PDT reply actions  

Oh. My. God.
Did you see what #8 on that list is?  I mean, who can possibly hate Stomper?!?!?!?!
I LOVE Stomper!  

Have they even ever looked at their ugly Moose? They're just a bunch of bitter people.  They're jealous because Stomper is so much better than the Moose.  ;-)

I thought that list was funny, BTW.  

GO A's!!!

by AsGirl on Aug 2, 2005 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions  

link tip
if you post a link, if you add target="_blank" to the code at the end of the link tag (after the close quotes at the end of the URL), as in wild card standings then it opens up a new browser window.

You will be doing me (and possibly others) a huge favor (reading this on a dialup, when I go back to this page it has to reload the whole thing.)

thanks!

by miguel on Aug 2, 2005 9:26 PM PDT reply actions  

On my browser
I just right-click the link, and the pop-up menu gives me an option to open it in a separate window.

by iglew on Aug 3, 2005 4:34 AM PDT up reply actions  

Gammons Induction Speech
In case you didn't catch it yesterday.  Truly, this is a great man in baseball.

Gammon's Article

Sorry miguel, your tip didn't work for little ole me.

by BleacherDrummer on Aug 2, 2005 10:02 PM PDT reply actions  

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