Dozen Hurt To Score 12

has been vindicated!

that guy should have been called up weeks ago.

And I yelled loud in the game thread about the use of K-rod.

That moved STUNNED me.

If the data I have found is right, then Al Leiter's ERA went from 4.35 to 5.33, and Cruz went from 8.49 to 8.03...

I'm sorry, did Street get into the game when I wasn't watching?

</dodging thrown fruit>

How did our field look tonight? As in.. were conditions crappier than after the typical football game, or better?

And were the yard markers in the outfield?

1. Haren pitched a heck of a game. Not at all easy to shut out this Yankee all-star team.
2. Juan Cruz did not stink. Not to be taken for granted, even if he was pitching to the Yankee AAA team.
3. I loved the Kendall steal in the 1st. I'm just a sucker for smallball, and it seems like whenever Kendall steals, the A's bust out for runs. COINCIDENCE? I THINK SO!
4. I thought Chavy driving in Ellis with a groundout to make it 2-0 was a big play (we couldn't get it done in ANA), and then for us to chip in another 4 runs with two outs was just delightful. [I note that historical data shows that 1-0, rnr at 3rd, 0 outs = 76.6% win, and 2-0, no one on, 1 out = 75.3% win.  Unbelievably, history ('79-'90) reports that the groundout RBI was a net loss of 1.3% win probability. Could be a sample size issue or could indicate something about 'productive outs'. ]
5. Fosse made a big deal of Kendall's 1st inning bunt attempt. It drew A-Rod a few steps in, which made Kendall's (sadly typical) groundout into a double down the line. That double nailed shut the game, turning 4-0 into 6-0.

That was truly awesome.  Prior to game time I felt really apprehensive about our chances, and how the team would do in general with the injuries.  Those first two innings felt really good.  The shutout felt even better.  Our fielding looked a touch sloppy a couple of times; hopefully that doesn't become an issue.  The field only was an issue once, when Jeter's (I think?) double scooted past Kielty trying to slide for it (at least that's what I saw from section 316).  My biggest worry was that Haren wouldn't be able to go five for the win!

I got there at around the time Ellis hit his triple, then I said the A's scored in the 1st and then I thought, if only they can bust out 10 more runs. Hatteberg is the man and whenever he is slumping he has a big game in between that slump. BTW, I was in the plaza outfield and these people gave me some free tickets to a Twins game, are they legiate?

Dan Haren impressed me tonight. His stuff was off, the strike zone was inconsistant, but he got the big strikeouts and the big outs when he needed them. I didn't expect six scoreless from him after those first two innings, it was great to see him battle through a lot of 3 ball counts with a cool head. Just the kind of practice he needs for down the stretch.

I love beating the Yankees so very, very much. I know that with our ridiculous offense it can turn on a dime and we could be in the opposite chair tomorrow, but damn, this was fun.

And Hatteberg! Dad's slide was pretty sweet to see, just good baserunning. And nothing says 'Oakland' like a three run homer. I love Hatty, it was nice to see him have a good game. I'll take a .277-to-the-end-of-time guy on this roster, no doubt.

And now we know what event it takes to get both Yabu AND Ginter in a game. My god, it was pleasant to see Ginter again. Probably because seeing him means we're really, really winning or really, really losing.

Hopefully, Saarloos will keep us in the game tomorrow, I have a lot of trust in him. He's done well in day games, I think he'll help the team out -- if the offense can remember what they did today, tomorrow will be fun!

All the Kielty fans in the crowd that they kept going to cracked me up. That was awesome.

I'm bummed by the condition of the field, though, it makes me sad this time of year -- I just HATE that this is what's being seen on national broadcasts this week, that the freakin' Raiders had to come back NOW, right when we're in a series that's gonna get some attention to the A's and the Coliseum. Our playing surface is so amazing for most of the season, I hate to see the A's look shoddy like this, it's such an unfair image.

cuz we're gonna need it the rest of the series.  Awesome game tonight.  I didn't get to see much of it, but I've watched the highlights, and this is the team I love.  I'm now very pissed I ended up not going to the game tonight.  We're gonna have to keep the heat on because Anaheim isn't going to let up anytime soon.

Keep cheering on those A's for me!  When I get more free time, I'll start posting more again!  Take care all...

I'll be in Section 108 tomorrow - Row #2.  Flying in from Denver in 4 hours...I'll be the guy w/ a yellow A's Hat, rooting the A's on.

Cheers,

CF
#207 - OG

Go A's!

Haren was less inconsistent than his stats would suggest, and it was the ump who was inconsistent. Two of Haren's walks came on pitches that were so good I wasn't even sure which way they had been called balls. ("Was it too low? No? OK, too high?")

The Yankees scare me every game, every inning, but at the same time if the A's were ever going to knock them down with a sweep this could be the series. Personally, as someone always urging fans to look ahead as much as at "today's game," I give Macha my blessing to pull out all the stops today and tomorrow. A sweep would leave the A's in a terrific position, a series win would leave them in a pretty solid position, and a series loss at home would leave them in a pretty vulnerable position.

watching James Blake vs Rafael Nadal at the US Open?  Blake is having an awesome match versus the number 2 Nadal.  Blake has been incredible in the fifth game of the fourth set.