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DLD 10/10/06: ALCS-a Seltzer To The Rescue!

B000fbgac6_tiny by oblique on

Here we go, and as they say, the ALCS is more than just a mountain range in Switzerland!

No link in the world could possibly distract us from the first game of the ALCS.  However:  I was flipping radio stations last night in the car, and happened upon KNBR just as they said something about "the A's" so I stopped and listened.  It was the Damon Bruce show (IIRC, I don't actually know anything about their programming) and he was going on about how A's fans are not passionate, and never "show up."  "I'm getting no love from the A's fans tonight!  Here I've opened up my radio show to talk about the A's, and...where are they?  They don't show up, just like they don't show up in their own stadium!"

In the interest of education, I'd like to educate Mr. Bruce and his listeners who feel similarly on how this new-fangled contraption called "radio" actually works.  See, while you are broadcasting your voice and various noises over the air, these noises can only be heard by people who tune a "radio receiver" to a particular frequency.  A listener would thus have to be motivated, independently of your immediate content, to tune a "radio receiver" to your frequency in order to even be aware that you are talking about subject matter relevant to them.  In other words, they cannot hear you unless they tune to your frequency first.

Earth to KNBR:  A's FANS DO NOT LISTEN TO YOU!!

Anyway, random rant over, and the annoyance really only lasted about 12 seconds because THE ALCS STARTS TONIGHT!!

Oh, and I almost forgot:  MARCO!!!

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SCUTARO!!
Ken Macha to manage in Japan, but only for a few days.
TOKYO -- Oakland Athletics manager Ken Macha will return to Japan in November to manage a team of major leaguers on their exhibition tour.

Macha, who once played in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons, guided the A's to the AL West title this season.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Bronson Arroyo, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay and New York Yankees reliever Mike Myers are the newest additions to the team, which already includes David Wright and Jose Reyes of the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard.

The MLB team will play five games in Japan from Nov. 3-8 against players from Japanese baseball.

I am personally against this idea.  After the long grind of the season, Ken Macha needs to rest during the offseason.  Young guys like Eric Wedge may need Winter Ball, but why risk an injury to an established veteran like Macha?

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 7:53 AM PDT   0 recs

Distractions
I agree, salb918.  The last thing this team needs right now is a distraction like this.  Macha's team needs to know that they will be his first priority -- but this kind of move could shatter that faith.  What if, for example, Macha decides not to make a pitching change just to make sure he stays fresh for the Japanese series?
Certum est quod certum reddi potest.

by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 8:00 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

A proven veteran
like Macha has paid his dues and has earned the opportunity and the right. A youngster like Wedge still has a lot to learn and needs to earn the right.
On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Oct 10, 2006 8:09 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

<monotone>
Konichiwaugh </monotone>
"Next thing you know, they'll have me taking an overdose of pills."--Milton Bradley

by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:14 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Evelyn Waugh?
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Oct 10, 2006 8:47 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Bocachicawaughwaugh?
but jesus--rhyming is a pain in the ass! -- Rubin Sierra @('.')@

by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 9:55 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

LOL
What's Japanese for "trememdous?"
"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Oct 10, 2006 10:35 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

dammit, I mean tremendous
"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Oct 10, 2006 10:35 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

tremendous in Japanese = segoi
As in "That was tremendous play!".
"...sometimes I can't tell the difference between baseball and magic."- salb918 "Ellie plowed into him like an evil, pink unicorn."-ArakSOT

by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 10:55 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Steinbrenner keeps Torre
Or so says the New York Post.
On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Oct 10, 2006 7:59 AM PDT   0 recs

Booo!
C'mon George!   Meltdown!  Meltdown!  Meltdown!
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:01 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So much for Torre Gate
guess we'll just have to stick with Coffeegate.

by Zonis on Oct 10, 2006 8:02 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

torre should quit
"Very nice day in the Oakland A... Oakland A's? What's this stadium called again?" Nick Swisher on TWIB.

by larrysgurl on Oct 10, 2006 8:02 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Not a bad idea.
Someone needs to put George in his place.  His whiny, self-absorbed megalomaniac little place.
"Next thing you know, they'll have me taking an overdose of pills."--Milton Bradley

by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:15 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Just like Cartman...
..."Screw you guys, I'm going home."
"So, whatever, Ozzie." -- Nick Swisher

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Oct 10, 2006 2:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Marco Scutaro
is all things loveable.
"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on Oct 10, 2006 8:03 AM PDT   0 recs

Uhh?
As he stepped to the plate, the sellout crowd of more than 35,000 was on their feet waving white flags and chanting "Marco, Marco."

"I've been here for three years, and I've never heard that from the crowd," Scutaro said. "That was real special."

I thought it was the MARCO! SCUTARO! chant... and I KNOW he's heard that before.

Asked where Zito's perfect fit would be, Hudson said, "Do they have a league on Mars?"

by JLaff on Oct 10, 2006 8:10 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah
But really, I don't think the whole stadium has gotten into it before like the other day, so it probably had more of an impact.

And when I was watching some footage of the cheering, etc, for some reason the "Marco" part comes through loud and clear, but the "Scutaro"s got drowned out.... it was more like a cacophony of Marcos with a trembling bassline of Scutaros. Music to his little Venezuelan ears!

"Folding chair. Right to the base of the HR guy's spine. Incapacitates a man in seconds. Next question." --Catfish Stew

by tankerraid on Oct 10, 2006 10:27 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Thank you!!!
I was hoping someone posted that! I read that this morning and I sat here balling!! So freaking precious! I <3 Marco!!
"This is the best hug in the major leagues, right here!" - Swisher Pics

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Oct 10, 2006 10:07 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Lucky you!
Oh, you probably meant "bawling".
"...sometimes I can't tell the difference between baseball and magic."- salb918 "Ellie plowed into him like an evil, pink unicorn."-ArakSOT

by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 10:57 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

LOL
QOTM nominee.

by sslinger on Oct 10, 2006 11:16 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!
This morning has been awesome.

<hugs creepy baby>

AN apeshit!

by Jennifer on Oct 10, 2006 8:04 AM PDT   0 recs

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
(new spin on an old favorite)
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:05 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

AAAAIAIAIAIAIEEEEEEAAAAHHHH!!
(in Spanish)
Certum est quod certum reddi potest.

by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 8:06 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

AHHHHHHHHHHum
(Latin)
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:08 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

AAAAAAAAAAAHHH-CHOO
"...sometimes I can't tell the difference between baseball and magic."- salb918 "Ellie plowed into him like an evil, pink unicorn."-ArakSOT

by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 8:17 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Guess what, creepy baby?
Jim Leyland is starting Nate Robertson twice!

What's that?  That's what I said, too!

"Next thing you know, they'll have me taking an overdose of pills."--Milton Bradley

by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:12 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You've developed
quite a bond with little creepy baby.
AN apeshit!

by Jennifer on Oct 10, 2006 8:15 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

We have a little dance we do after A's homers.
"Next thing you know, they'll have me taking an overdose of pills."--Milton Bradley

by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:16 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

O RLY?
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:16 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

YA RLY!
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
"Next thing you know, they'll have me taking an overdose of pills."--Milton Bradley

by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:21 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Where in Gods name
do you people find this crap!??????? Heh.
"Folding chair. Right to the base of the HR guy's spine. Incapacitates a man in seconds. Next question." --Catfish Stew

by tankerraid on Oct 10, 2006 10:28 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

crap.com
"...sometimes I can't tell the difference between baseball and magic."- salb918 "Ellie plowed into him like an evil, pink unicorn."-ArakSOT

by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 10:58 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You're
en fuego today!

by sslinger on Oct 10, 2006 11:17 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

for the record
Hopey LOVES Creepy Baby and apparently can watch it loop forever or at least until I have to scroll the page. She perks up and points and says "Baby!" and I have to correct her, "That's CREEPY baby."

by Apricot on Oct 10, 2006 9:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, baby!
The Green and Golden Road to Unlimited Devotion

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Oct 10, 2006 9:29 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

YODA BABY JUJU!!!!
Miller-You forgot about Scutaro! Morgan- So did Santana...

by tresselfan on Oct 10, 2006 2:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Harden didn't do too well in Arizona
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2006/10/10/SPG97LLL6N17.DTL

Rich Harden gave up six hits and five runs in 3 1/3 innings in an Instructional League game Monday.

Harden needed to stretch his arm out as he hadn't pitched since October 1. The A's are still mulling whether to start him in Game 3, which would mean he'd be available twice in the series if necessary, or to hold him back until Game 4 because they are concerned with his relative inactivity over the past three months.

Mark Kiger has been added to the A's roster for the ALCS.

Kiger will replace the injured Mark Ellis and only see action as an emergency backup, but the consensus seemed to be that he was the best defender available.

Keith Ginter, who the A's chose not to add to their roster as an injury replacement, was upset at the way he was treated during the process.

"They didn't tell me anything, not even thanks for coming down,'' said Ginter. "So this is just another slap in the face.'' Ginter was asked to try out as a possible replacement for Mark Ellis on the ALCS roster, but he lost the job to Mark Kiger.

by Zonis on Oct 10, 2006 8:09 AM PDT   0 recs

Tit for tat.
Your performance as an A was a slap in the organization's face.

Anyway, there's no way Ginter can pull the good soldier act.  He had every opportunity to leave the organization when he was removed from the 40-man.  He didn't, and the reason was so that he could collect on the last year of his contract.  I won't blame him for collecting the money that is contractually his, but in my mind that takes away his ability to complain about the way the organization treated him.  He could have left any time he wanted to, and the only thing it would have cost was money.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:12 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Zing!
Maybe Ginter and Sauerbeck can start some sort of club.
Asked where Zito's perfect fit would be, Hudson said, "Do they have a league on Mars?"

by JLaff on Oct 10, 2006 8:14 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'd let God slap my face for a million dollars.
"...sometimes I can't tell the difference between baseball and magic."- salb918 "Ellie plowed into him like an evil, pink unicorn."-ArakSOT

by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 8:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Colon of the Month.
"Next thing you know, they'll have me taking an overdose of pills."--Milton Bradley

by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:22 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Colon of the Moth
Certum est quod certum reddi potest.

by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 8:26 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Cologne of the Hoth
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:27 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The Ice Planet?
Miller-You forgot about Scutaro! Morgan- So did Santana...

by tresselfan on Oct 10, 2006 3:01 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

If the organisation dislikes
him so much, why did they call him when Ellis went down? Having called him, at least tell him personally that they don't want him.
On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Oct 10, 2006 8:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

As a relatively thin-skinned person
I'm kind of shocked by how sensitive all these baseball players seem to be.  What the heck??  Get over yourselves, dumbasses!
Certum est quod certum reddi potest.

by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 8:21 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ginter vs. Kiger
I'm thinking they made the decision based on whose name is more similar to "Tiger."  It's a tough call:  While "Ginter" contains a superset of the letters that comprise "Tiger," it contains an extra letter, and that extra letter breaks the rhyming scheme.  "Kiger" on the other hand is a simple 1-1 substitution -- although it is missing a letter, it keeps everything else about the word intact.
Certum est quod certum reddi potest.

by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 8:45 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Whose name most closely approximates
Panther?
The Green and Golden Road to Unlimited Devotion

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Oct 10, 2006 9:29 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Shit.
Miller-You forgot about Scutaro! Morgan- So did Santana...

by tresselfan on Oct 10, 2006 3:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Mwahahaha
"10-3-06  9:00 T-time"
Miller-You forgot about Scutaro! Morgan- So did Santana...

by tresselfan on Oct 10, 2006 3:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Well, that was pretty bad.
But after reading this article, I will always have some degree of respect for Ginter
http://vivaelbirdos.com/story/2006/8/21/205918/432

by lerei on Oct 10, 2006 3:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

A Kool Omen
Anyone want to guess what song started playing on my XM when I turned on my car this morning, as if cued to the ignition?  I got to the corner store before it finished, but I made sure I didn't turn the car off until it was done.

I was working on a DLD, so I'll just put the relevant info in this post:

Tim Kamakawi writes that it's time for Barry Zito to "let 'er rip," once again providing Eric Chavez an opportunity to show the total lack of filter he has that we all love:

``The only thing I knew about Barry when he was young,'' Eric Chavez said Monday, ``was that he was weird.''

Another brutally honest Chavy gem--his midseason comment that "This is the worst best team I've played on"--is the lead in for a nice, brief Dave Newhouse interview with Billy Beane.  As I put on my Milton Bradley tee-shirt in preparation for the journey to Oakland this morning, I was thinking about some of the same things Beane expresses about him in the interview:

Q. Milton Bradley was considered trouble, but he's blended in here without too much rancor. What told you that would happen?

A. We've never been a stuffed-shirt organization. The environment here is conducive to allowing guys to be themselves. And there's a certain acceptance of different types of people in this area. People are rooting for Milton to make it. Even the media was willing to give him a chance.

Well, MOST of the media, anyway...

There's an ASTOUNDING amount of A's related content to link today--it's like we're the Yankees or something.  Except less dysfunctional and still playing.

Susan Slusser discussed the outcome of Rich Harden's instructional league start inher A's Notebook this morning.

On Harden:

The A's dilemma remains: Do they use Harden in Game 3 so he can pitch twice in the series, or is he still too much of an unknown after missing more than three months with an elbow injury? In opting for Esteban Loaiza in Game 2, the team chose the less risky option, and it's likely that decision will hold for Game 3, too. There's some sentiment, too, that it would be unfair to move back either Loaiza or Dan Haren after decent starts in the Division Series and strong work much of the year.

One factor could change things, though: An advantage to having Haren go in Game 4 would be that if he were needed in relief in a Game 7, he'd have the arm strength to come back on three days' rest, but the A's could not jeopardize Harden's health in the same situation. So Harden could start Game 3 and Game 7, and if he didn't have it in Game 7, Haren could step in that spot fairly easily.

Good luck today, everyone!

"Next thing you know, they'll have me taking an overdose of pills."--Milton Bradley

by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:10 AM PDT   0 recs

Haren has pitched some gems this year...
I don't see how we don't go with Haren in game 3 & 7 if neccessary. Harden is the bigger question mark in my mind.
"...sometimes I can't tell the difference between baseball and magic."- salb918 "Ellie plowed into him like an evil, pink unicorn."-ArakSOT

by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 8:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree.
In fact, I thought it was a given, and I wrote my preview assuming as such.

Preview, you ask?  What preview?  Well, I'm glad you asked.  THT ALCS Preview

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:25 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Nice work.
I like the game-by-game format you adopted.  I was thinking over the series in the same way last night.  I think that the media is going to make a big deal of Kenny Rogers' past Oakland ownage...but they might want to take a look at how the people actually on this team have hit Rogers in the past:

.287/.348/.481/.829 in 341 ABs.  And Frank Thomas and Jason Kendall own HIM.

"Next thing you know, they'll have me taking an overdose of pills."--Milton Bradley

by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:35 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow, 5 of our starters OPS over .900
off of Rogers. I didn't expect that it'd be that good, but I am thankful, for sure.

by hunter on Oct 10, 2006 9:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Great write-up
But you are a little too ______ and I would expect you to be more ________ !
"so... I'll take that as 'none of your business'" ~ ArakSOT

by eamb on Oct 10, 2006 8:46 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

______ you!
<mysterious music>
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:56 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ditto the accolades
I'm predicting Detroit brings Rogers back on short rest for Game 6 if the A's return to Oakland with a 3-2 lead.
The Green and Golden Road to Unlimited Devotion

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Oct 10, 2006 9:27 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow, that would be Verlander's start though...
I cant see Leyland pushing him back an extra day.  Down 3-2, he would have to get a win from a Rogers game and a Verlander game in either order?  Why wouldnt he use each on regular rest rather than one on short and one on an extra day?
Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Oct 10, 2006 9:31 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

excellent work, Sal
Very happy to see you on the right side (pun intended) of the Kielty-Kotsay debate.

One small nit to pick, however: in G5, you say "Zito, on the other hand, does nothing if not work deep into games, or at least throw lots of pitches." I know you didn't mean it this way, but your sentence seems to imply that throwing lots of pitches in and of itself is a good thing. Prolly more precise to say that "Zito, on the other hand, does nothing if not throw lots of pitches, at least sometimes working deep into games."

but jesus--rhyming is a pain in the ass! -- Rubin Sierra @('.')@

by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 10:20 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You and your nits.
You're right, of course, both in form and content.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 11:09 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i'm not a big fan of haren's, but i agree.
harden is just too much of a question mark right now. the playoffs aren't where you want a rusty pitcher working out the kinks.
"Very nice day in the Oakland A... Oakland A's? What's this stadium called again?" Nick Swisher on TWIB.

by larrysgurl on Oct 10, 2006 8:28 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's a nice problem to have.
I think there's a lot to the idea that if Harden doesn't do well in a Game 3 start, Haren could still start Game 7.  At least we don't have to try and hide Oliver Perez in a Game 4...
"Next thing you know, they'll have me taking an overdose of pills."--Milton Bradley

by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 9:26 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Chavy also said that Zito "hated the Big
Three" and was glad to be the sole ace on the staff.  I imagine a comment like that might upset Zito, considering Huddy is still one of his best friends, if not his best friend, at least from what I've read.  No link, in respect off the linkless DLD from the ALDS.  
I don't know how I did it, but I quieted this crowd in my head today. -Zito, 10/3/06

by LAXile on Oct 10, 2006 8:40 AM PDT to parent up