DLD 10/10/06: ALCS-a Seltzer To The Rescue!
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!!!
0 recs |
219 comments
Comments
SCUTARO!!
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?
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 7:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Distractions
by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 8:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A proven veteran
by rfloh on Oct 10, 2006 8:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
<monotone>
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Domo Arigato, Manager Roboto
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Evelyn Waugh?
by xbhaskarx on Oct 10, 2006 8:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bocachicawaughwaugh?
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL
by batgirl on Oct 10, 2006 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
dammit, I mean tremendous
by batgirl on Oct 10, 2006 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
tremendous in Japanese = segoi
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Steinbrenner keeps Torre
by rfloh on Oct 10, 2006 7:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
torre should quit
by larrysgurl on Oct 10, 2006 8:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not a bad idea.
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just like Cartman...
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Oct 10, 2006 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Marco Scutaro
"No. It's Oakland."
by Kyli on Oct 10, 2006 8:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Uhh?
"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.
by JLaff on Oct 10, 2006 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
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!
by tankerraid on Oct 10, 2006 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you!!!
by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Oct 10, 2006 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lucky you!
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!

<hugs creepy baby>
by Jennifer on Oct 10, 2006 8:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AAAAIAIAIAIAIEEEEEEAAAAHHHH!!
by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 8:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AHHHHHHHHHHum
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AAAAAAAAAAAHHH-CHOO
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 8:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Guess what, creepy baby?
What's that? That's what I said, too!
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You've developed
by Jennifer on Oct 10, 2006 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We have a little dance we do after A's homers.
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Where in Gods name
by tankerraid on Oct 10, 2006 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
for the record
by Apricot on Oct 10, 2006 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, baby!
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Oct 10, 2006 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
YODA BABY JUJU!!!!
by tresselfan on Oct 10, 2006 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Harden didn't do too well in Arizona
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 reply actions 0 recs
Tit for tat.
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.
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Zing!
by JLaff on Oct 10, 2006 8:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd let God slap my face for a million dollars.
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 8:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Christ: what an asshole!
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Colon of the Month.
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cologne of the Hoth
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Ice Planet?
by tresselfan on Oct 10, 2006 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If the organisation dislikes
by rfloh on Oct 10, 2006 8:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
As a relatively thin-skinned person
by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 8:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ginter vs. Kiger
by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whose name most closely approximates
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Oct 10, 2006 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can we change it to Liger?
by sslinger on Oct 10, 2006 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shit.
by tresselfan on Oct 10, 2006 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mwahahaha
by tresselfan on Oct 10, 2006 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, that was pretty bad.
http://vivaelbirdos.com/story/2006/8/21/205918/432
by lerei on Oct 10, 2006 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A Kool Omen
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:
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:
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:
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!
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Haren has pitched some gems this year...
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 8:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree.
Preview, you ask? What preview? Well, I'm glad you asked. THT ALCS Preview
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice work.
.287/.348/.481/.829 in 341 ABs. And Frank Thomas and Jason Kendall own HIM.
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, 5 of our starters OPS over .900
by hunter on Oct 10, 2006 9:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great write-up
by eamb on Oct 10, 2006 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
______ you!
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ditto the accolades
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Oct 10, 2006 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, that would be Verlander's start though...
by OaktownPower on Oct 10, 2006 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
excellent work, Sal
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."
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You and your nits.
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm not a big fan of haren's, but i agree.
by larrysgurl on Oct 10, 2006 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's a nice problem to have.
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chavy also said that Zito "hated the Big
by LAXile on Oct 10, 2006 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Read it in the papers this morning
No question, though, that he's great friends with Huddy and (to a slightly lesser extent) Mulder.
by Kaiser99 on Oct 10, 2006 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly. And I imagine Zito would know
by LAXile on Oct 10, 2006 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Barbara Streisand: "Shut the f--- up!"
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Aww, that's sweet.
by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not that there's anything wrong with that...
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gee, I can't wait until Babs is performing...
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
this is really, really, REALLY funny!
by Colorado Fan on Oct 10, 2006 8:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Lemuresque?
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Conkeresque!
by Englishmajor on Oct 10, 2006 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought this was funny...
GTA meets MLB:
by OaklandInvader on Oct 10, 2006 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've missed you guys.
by Sharon on Oct 10, 2006 8:34 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
SHE'S ALIVE!!!!!
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AAAAAAAAAAAHvsky
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHova
by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 8:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AHHHHHHHHHstria!
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHnold?
by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oakland A's baseball.
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Look who decided to show up.
by Jennifer on Oct 10, 2006 8:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A cameo appearance.
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wondered the same
by TurnTwo on Oct 10, 2006 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We finally drove her away.
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
we dodged a bullet
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Baseball Prospectus Overload!
Prospectus Today, and Sheehan's votes for the Big Awards... and picks A's in seven
And everyone's favorite Will Caroll
Oakland Athletics
The A's found themselves in the playoffs despite several key injuries. They head into their first LCS of the Moneyball era with another player lost: Mark Ellis took an inside pitch off his hand in Game Two of the Division Series, breaking his finger and ending his postseason. It leaves the team extremely short-handed, having to dip down into the 40-man and beyond to complete its roster. While Christina will analyze the details of the roster moves and break down how they should affect the team, I'm left reminding people that Bobby Crosby had thought he would be available for the LCS, but there are no reports on his current status. Given the moves made, it appears that Crosby is not ready.
With Crosby still something of a mystery, there's also some intrigue surrounding Rich Harden. We all saw him throw two solid outings towards the end of the season, and he wasn't needed for the takeout of the Twins. Why is he again all the way down in the fourth slot? Is there a hidden injury here? The answer is no. The A's staff simply seems to think that Harden is the fourth-best pitcher on the roster. He's been sent to the fall instructional league in Arizona to get some work in, keeping him on turn with perhaps a chance to check in with his rehab coordinator. Harden is again due for a Game Four start and, this time at least, we know he'll be needed. There's an interesting parallel here to Mark Mulder a few years ago, but Harden's pre-playoff appearances show that this isn't a bluff.
There's also some interest surrounding Frank Thomas. His inability to run is only a limiting factor on the bases, as shown by Michael Cuddyer's attempt to go 9-3 on a Big Hurt single. Thomas isn't slowing down, according to one scout. "Same times on home to first as I had in spring training," I was told. "I can use an hourglass and not a stopwatch on first to third." Thomas' limitations are well-known and don't appear to be exacerbated by having played a couple games in Minnesota. The rest of the playoffs will be on grass, so it seems that Thomas' feet are no more a concern now than they have been all season.
Like the Mets, the A's have known injuries and have had the time to adjust their roster accordingly. The team overcame injuries throughout the season in large part due to flexibility and versatility. That s*#t works in the playoffs as well.
by Zonis on Oct 10, 2006 8:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I like Sheehan a lot...
by OaktownPower on Oct 10, 2006 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
zito updated his blog yesterday!
by gotgreen on Oct 10, 2006 8:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The A's require 15 pieces on BP jerseys
by TurnTwo on Oct 10, 2006 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Milton's throw in Game 3
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Sharpies are better myself
by Englishmajor on Oct 10, 2006 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha!
by eamb on Oct 10, 2006 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ha ha! Sounds like the punchline
by LAXile on Oct 10, 2006 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love the fact that
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only 8 more hours...
by whiteshoes40 on Oct 10, 2006 9:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Damon Bruce
Hello,
I just wanted to let you know that as the baseball season began this year, I purchased XM Radio to listen to their brand of baseball coverage after years of listening to KNBR during the baseball season. Last night for the first time in a very long while I listened to KNBR as I was driving home from my slow pitch softball game. I am an A's fan, not really a Giants fan, so I understand I am not your audience per say. But I have to let you know that the reason I purchased XM Radio was caricature of show hosts like Damon Bruce who make up for their uneducated opinions with vitriol.
This jerk is on the radio chastising A's fans for not calling in to his program and not showing up to games and blah blah, blah. You think he would understand that A's fans don't listen to his program when all he does is rail on and on about how the team should move to Las Vegas (this much I have read on internet blogs, I haven't listened to him before last night) Like I said, I understand that A's fans are not really who you are broadcasting to and that is understandable considering you are the home of the Giants. I just wanted to let you know that Damon Bruce reinforced my decision, XM is where it is at for me. I don't get chastised by the radio hosts when I listen to baseball coverage there.
by jeffro on Oct 10, 2006 9:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
brilliant
by Colorado Fan on Oct 10, 2006 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
marco scutaro chant
by xbhaskarx on Oct 10, 2006 9:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yep
Personally, I'm cool with the ladder.
by Colorado Fan on Oct 10, 2006 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aw!
Mr. Leyland, too.
"I don't want to sound corny, but he's probably one of those guys that you'd like your daughter to marry."
<sob>
by Jennifer on Oct 10, 2006 9:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Milhouse!
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK, calm down...


by hunter on Oct 10, 2006 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The real question is...
"No. It's Oakland."
by Kyli on Oct 10, 2006 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
World series ticket drawing
Is it today?
-Nick Swisher
by kaweahkaweah on Oct 10, 2006 9:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Tomorrow.
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did you enter?
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
thanks!
-Nick Swisher
by kaweahkaweah on Oct 10, 2006 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes.
I'm this close to dying.
by Jennifer on Oct 10, 2006 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are you going to GO to the games?
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're going to fly out to Oakland!?!? SWEET!
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
STL just started their
by Jennifer on Oct 10, 2006 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
and we thought Nacho Runs were bad
by Satchmo22 on Oct 10, 2006 9:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Holy crap!
by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Christ, what an asshole!
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isn't that how BriteSmile works?
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
ThunderButt?
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
that explains why ...
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bleacher seats in the playoffs are assigned
by TurnTwo on Oct 10, 2006 9:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
But I can still play defense...Pilgrim
by easyraider on Oct 10, 2006 9:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Is anyone into model trains or tabletop wargames?
by hunter on Oct 10, 2006 9:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It's a bit overpriced at $20
by LAXile on Oct 10, 2006 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's not sludge!
And I wish people wouldn't say anything bad about the "most innovative collectible line in 1997."
by AlamedaAphid on Oct 10, 2006 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
claMAYto, claMAHto
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isn't that
by andeux on Oct 10, 2006 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
nitpicker
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The big question is:
by tankerraid on Oct 10, 2006 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My Email to KNBR and Damon Bruce
According to the Athletics Nation fan site, Damon Bruce was saying all sorts of bad things about A's fans, and was complaining about how they weren't calling in to his show.
I have one question.
Who is Damon Bruce?
Best,
A passionate A's fan.
Go A'S!!!!!!!!!!!!
by SportySpice on Oct 10, 2006 10:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Brilliant!
by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i was wondering the same thing!
by xbhaskarx on Oct 10, 2006 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wasn't even *thinking* about
Now I'm looking for a place to hide.
<Covers eyes>
by AsGirl on Oct 10, 2006 10:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Daisuke Matsuzaka
I like the Mariners fans, but I hope they don't get him. But then, if they don't, it'll probably be the Yankees. Damn.
by rfloh on Oct 10, 2006 10:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That posting system is messed up
by hunter on Oct 10, 2006 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
They used to just put them up on eBay.
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
and before that ...
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And all 30 owners had an unspoken agreement
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Oct 10, 2006 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's collusion!
That's corrosion!
Arroyo Bronson's old hairstyle.
That's corn rowin'!
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And the owners had to pay something like $300M
by hunter on Oct 10, 2006 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure
But basically, every team submits a bid to the selling team (in this case, the Seibu Lions). The team with highest bid then gets to negotiate with Matsuzaka.
Note the posting system doesn't apply to free agents. Hence the Matsuis, Johjiman, Iguchi et al could negotiate with every team. Matsuzaka is NOT a free agent. He has 1 year left on his contract.
by rfloh on Oct 10, 2006 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
So if he played his last year in Japan
The point of having a draft is to prevent the richest teams from simply offering more money to convince a player to sign with that team. Instead, the situation here is that some MLB team with pay the Seibu Corporation some amount of money larger than any other team is willing to pay, and then they will have exclusive rights to negotiate with the player. Seems counter-intuitive to the ideals of the draft, doesn't it?
Some enterprising idiots could set up a system where any foreign player could claim to be under contract with a foreign team for some term that lasts into next season, at which point the player goes through the posting process instead of the draft or free agency, for fun and profit.
Some questions that I don't have the answers to:
-How would MLB prevent a player from claiming to play professionally on a foreign team, thus justifying a tribute to get out of the contract? Why shouldn't Portugal (or Kuwait, or something) set up a league to get players and administrators to split the money or something crazy like that?
-Is this only the case for the Japanese baseball leagues and not other countries' leagues, for example The Netherlands?
-What happens if the player and one team allowed to negotiate can't come up with a deal? Does the player get to negotiate with the next highest bidding team, or does he simply return and play out his contract? Can the player then be posted again the next season, or is more or less time required?
by hunter on Oct 10, 2006 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll answer your last question first
This concept of posting, AFAIK only applies to NPB, due to a special agreement between them and MLB.
There are really no other comparable leagues to MLB and NPB; that is, a lucrative professional league in a rich country.
If Matsuzaka stayed in Japan for his last year, he would be able to come over as a free agent, like Kenji Johjima, the Matsuis, Tadahito Iguchi, Akinori Otsuka.
All international players are NOT subject to the draft. Which is why you'll sometimes read that a team paid a couple million to sign a young Dominican talent. The Giants for example recently splashed out on IIRC, a 16 year old.
If Japanese players were subject to a draft, it's highly likely that most would not want to come to the US. They are already highly-paid stars in their (equally rich) homeland; they're not comparable to, say a 16 year old from the Dominican.
by rfloh on Oct 10, 2006 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's not a lucrative league.
And no. Posting doesn't happen until after the Japan Series. What's happened is that he talked to the Seibu Lions owner, who said something that's given the press the idea that he'll let Matsuzaka go, but absolutely nothing is official yet. I can't help but wonder if either the AP jumped the gun on this, or if they know something that hasn't come out in the Japanese papers yet, or if there's been a mistranslation, or if maybe I just haven't seen the appropriate articles yet (Wednesday's sports dailies should be up in another hour or two...)
by Deanna on Oct 10, 2006 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn. My bad.
<hides in embarassment>
by rfloh on Oct 10, 2006 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damon Bruce?
I just about did a spit take when reading about this joker, because it is so close to a scen in the movie where there's a talk show host calling out the fans of the Flordia Gators. It ends with an exchange like:
Caller: Yeah, I'm a Gators fan
Host: Okay, so...
Caller: Well, you said no Gators fans would call in and I'm a Gators fan, and I'm calling in.
Host: So, what's your point.
Caller: Well, you said there aren't any Gators fans that would call in. I'm a Gators fan and I'm calling in.
Host: So...
Caller: I'm a Gators fan, and I'm calling in...
This is why I don't listen to sports talk radio. I'm pretty sure that every moment I do listen to it, my IQ drops a point or two. I figure the associated bleeding in my ears is a cry for help from my brain.
by RickeySteals on Oct 10, 2006 11:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Good News For the ALCS on TV
I don't know if I should be offended that we got the #2 announcing team or just happy to avoid Joe Buck and Jeter's lap dog for one more series.
by dn9480 on Oct 10, 2006 11:30 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That is indeed good news.
by mikeA on Oct 10, 2006 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice break to avoid McCarver.
by OaktownPower on Oct 10, 2006 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
<absorbs chair into expanding brain mass>
Between this and his trade Jeter piece the other day, I'm feeling some warm fuzzies for Jim Caple.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Oct 10, 2006 11:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Chavvy, not so much
Like Rich Harden, Tim Hudson, and Mark Mulder?
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm
I give you Rich Harden, Arthur Rhodes, and Ben Grieve.
by green star oakland on Oct 10, 2006 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I win!
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
But with Bill King & Dorothy Dix
by green star oakland on Oct 10, 2006 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fleet week in SF?
by andeux on Oct 10, 2006 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Finally, some sanity
Absolutely true. If only the media had such a thought process when talking about the Yankees and Red Sox.
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
by Jennifer on Oct 10, 2006 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
by Jennifer on Oct 10, 2006 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURP!
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!
by Apricot on Oct 10, 2006 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoa, you lucked out :-)
by oblique on Oct 11, 2006 7:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 11:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Excuse you.
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Christ, what a sachole!
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Luke Robertson= Good
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/minorleagues/team_stats.jsp?c_id=oak&minor_id=ARIAZA
The other is the enemy tonight. Hopefully we can get the job done in Game 1.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Oct 10, 2006 12:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Oral Robertson=Going to Hell
by McFood on Oct 10, 2006 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cliff Robertson = genius, then not
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have one word for you
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Torii Hunter picked up by the Twins
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 12:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
or, perhaps the same header for both
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Should be an easy night for him
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
but he still could end up with turf burn
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
and be in the middle of a bang-bang play
by green star oakland on Oct 10, 2006 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
and yet end up on his knees ...
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
KNBR
Who knows what kind of questions will get asked, but could be interesting.
by booya on Oct 10, 2006 12:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Who has better hands, TO or A-Rod?
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your output is piped into Ken Korach???
by oblique on Oct 10, 2006 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
by tblazrdude on Oct 10, 2006 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ballpark news
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 12:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Sauerbeck gone.
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 2:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
by Jennifer on Oct 10, 2006 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's already "gone"?
by mikeA on Oct 10, 2006 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Macha is way too relaxed
by eamb on Oct 10, 2006 2:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice shoes
by eamb on Oct 10, 2006 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
by whiteshoes40 on Oct 10, 2006 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, but seeing him in tight
by salb918 on Oct 10, 2006 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I find the ice cream photo more disturbing.
by Jennifer on Oct 10, 2006 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It was less disturbing to me
by jeepers on Oct 10, 2006 11:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
au contraire!
by monkeyball on Oct 10, 2006 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tonight's lineup
-Nick Swisher
by kaweahkaweah on Oct 10, 2006 4:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Game thread?
by streetfan on Oct 10, 2006 4:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

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