I've about had it with all the "The A's don't win playoff series" crap!

by kaweahkaweah on Oct 3, 2006 5:23 PM PDT

Who else is tired of hearing all the "experts" poo-pooing the A's by reminding readers that "The A's don't win no playoff series. The A's haven't won since last century."?

I am.

Screw them!

Yes, we all know that the A's have not won a playoff during the Beane era, but why, why, why do "they" insist on using the A's' history against them when they have so little in common with those past teams? Do those experts not have anything else to write about?

One of the few constants in the Beane era has been, of course, Billy Beane. But what about the teams themselves? Here are the players who played on the 2000-2003 A's who are still currently with the team:

Chavez, Zito
Chavez, Zito
Chavez, Zito, Ellis
Chavez, Zito, Ellis, Duchscherer, Harden, Melhuse*

*Crosby started in 2003, but only had 12 ab.

Except for Chavez and Zito and later Ellis, the 2000-2002 A's bore little resemblance to the 2006 teams. While the 2003 teams had a few more players who are with the A's now, they were still very different teams from the 2006 A's. The handful of players the A's have kept from those earlier teams have been some of their best players.

The bottom line is that this is a vastly different team from previous A's playoff teams. The 2006 A's should not feel any more or less constrained by its playoff history than other playoff teams.

All the naysayers can bite me.

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I'll add on

Did anyone watch Sportscenter? I'm tired of douchebags like, oh, JOHN KRUK, explaining that today, the A's didn't win the game, the Twins lost it. Don't you think that the A's had anything to do with that? It really pisses me off.

by sprtsnwyn on Oct 3, 2006 5:31 PM PDT reply actions

You really let John Kruk piss you off?

Everyone knows he is a tool...dont let that dude bug you, who cares what he says?

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Oct 3, 2006 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Is He the Guy With...

... the Grease Head?

Worst Haircut on ESPN?

by Dan_Honolulu on Oct 3, 2006 7:20 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree TOTALLY!

Those idiots over at sports center don't know what the hell they are talking about.

All they can say are things like, "the Yankees are great, and the Twins are great", It just reminds me of psycho-bable and makes me wanna puke!

When it comes to crazy talk, yes you can definatly count on Kruk, and Reynolds, (even thought I have not seen him around in a while) and that moron Sutcliff.

Oh, yes and how could I ever forget John miller.

John I have tolerated you for a while and have tried to like you but man you are the more biased Yankee lover there is, so having said that I hope all your teams' loose as I am sure they will because here come the A'S BABY!!!!!

by Sheldon72 on Oct 4, 2006 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions

It sucks to hear...

But it is true...They havent won a playoff series since 1992 and have lost 4 in a row and 9 straight elimination games. Just all facts.

Will just take a series win to get it to stop...but for now, I consider it a very valid criticism

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Oct 3, 2006 5:31 PM PDT reply actions

how much does ESPN pay you?

like 90% of your comments are defending espn and espn employees...

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 3, 2006 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree,

Although I believe OaktownPower is one of the most level-headed/objective people on here, it does seem that he is always defending that network. Maybe it is because they poured on the love for his SC trojans?

Stuart Scott sucks - worst thing to happen to sports media EVER!!!! Booya!

by Cal 2001 on Oct 3, 2006 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions

why is he so objective?

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 3, 2006 5:46 PM PDT up reply actions

That is simply my opinion

by Cal 2001 on Oct 3, 2006 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Sup Cal....

Not an SC fan..just live down here so see them every week and I love Pete Carroll. They are just a lot of fun to watch.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Oct 3, 2006 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Booya...

is Algerian for grandpa

Bill James on Duane Kuiper: "It's absolutely incredible that a player this bad could be given 3000 at bats in the major leagues." -- Baseball Abstract, 1982

by blueconversechucks on Oct 4, 2006 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions

They dont pay me anything...

I just think the constant day after day whining about ESPN is pathetic and most of the tiem without any basis to it...Just my opinion. And 90%? Haha, ok.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Oct 3, 2006 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions

sorry, not 90%

90% would be posts praising
-espn
-espn employees
-jeter and the yanks
-usc trojans
etc.

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 3, 2006 8:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Pretty ridiculously comedic

Considering that in my two posts in here that started all this..1) Ripped John Kruk who works for ESPN 2) Commented on the A's and had nothing about EPSN in it.

But hey, read into it if you want I guess. I really like your posts and insight on AN a lot..I would think some disagreement would be fun and make people think, I guess not.

Have a good night bro.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Oct 3, 2006 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions

one question...

do you have espn mobile?

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 3, 2006 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Nope....

Nice work on that, what did they lose...like $50 million on it?

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Oct 3, 2006 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions

And also..what did my comment have to do with

ESPN? We werent even talking about them at the time. I just believe that until the A's win a series, the mnedia is doing their job by reporting all the losses. it is the story of this A's era to date, whether or not the players are the same.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Oct 3, 2006 6:02 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree

I agree, probably a mole. . .

by Sheldon72 on Oct 4, 2006 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions

do you work for ESPN?

Because you have factual errors in your post:

have not won a playoff series since 1990 and have lost 6 post season series in a row.

noworries though..... I like our chances.

Rickey Henderson: 35, 24, hall of fame!

by Athletics fan and runner on Oct 3, 2006 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions

As for in a row...

I meant the 4 that were consecutive years.

You are correct on 1990, my bad.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Oct 3, 2006 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions

I dunno.

I don't think they can beat Johan Santana in Game 1.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 3, 2006 5:32 PM PDT reply actions

it's impossible to beat santana at the metrodome

he's only lost one game there since august 2005.

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 3, 2006 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions

And the A's offense was 2nd worst in AL.

"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Oct 3, 2006 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions

and joe blanton and the a's are responsible for

his last loss.

by Leesa on Oct 3, 2006 6:02 PM PDT up reply actions

no, barry zito and the a's are

that's my point, before it was "santana hasn't lost a game at home since august 2005" and now it's "santana has only lost one game at home since august 2005"...

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 3, 2006 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Is it now. . .

Im sorry, I did not realize that we were palying God on Tuesday.

Oh, wait, we weren't.

Is that why Johan lost??

Maybe it was because CAPTAIN ZITO is the man!?

by Sheldon72 on Oct 4, 2006 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Instead of bitching about ESPN boycott it

That is what I do, unless the only way for me to catch a game (ie Cal, A's, other college football) is if it is broadcast on that East coast Sports Programming Network.

UNTIL VIEWERSHIP DECREASES THEY WIN.

Start off slowly: DON'T WATCH SPORTS CENTER!

by Cal 2001 on Oct 3, 2006 5:50 PM PDT reply actions

That's what I've done

I've pretty much quit watching ESPN, not because I'm angry at them for downtalking the A's, but because I find their entire perspective on sports disheartening. I love sports and care about the quest to win and agree with former Supreme Court Justice White that the sports page is an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of mankind. ESPN has become obsessed with shiny objects and treats sports as a chance to sensationalize things in sports that I don't necessarily care about. I still suscribe to ESPN Insider because I enjoy the analysis provided by Neyer, Law, Gammons, Jim Callis, and the news collecting features of the daily links and Olney's blog. The rest of ESPN's baseball coverage simply isn't interesting to me anymore. It's really sad what an irrelevant piece of crap ESPN has become.

Please let 2006 be the year, and without an earthquake this time.

by BlameChannel53 on Oct 3, 2006 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions

The only way I ever watch ESPN...

is if it is the only place I can watch the A's. Unless you are a Yankee or Red Sox fan, there is no reason to watch it any more. ESPN has made themselves irrelevant to 90% of this country.

I'm not going to Cooperstown until Rickey does.

by rickey24 on Oct 3, 2006 5:51 PM PDT reply actions

Great minds think alike....

...see post above.

Believe me, it's not as hard as it seems!

by Cal 2001 on Oct 3, 2006 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I am actually thinking of taking signs to ALDS

games expressing my opinions about ESPN. If enough people do it, we are sure to let them know how we feel / get air time.

I know it is a downer when we should be celebrating an A's W, but what better time to express our distaste for Stuart Scott and his East Coast loving chronies?

by Cal 2001 on Oct 3, 2006 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions

i miss harold reynolds

by Leesa on Oct 3, 2006 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Good one!

I'm in the right field bleachers for the playoffs. Any other suggestions by ANYONE are welcomed.

by Cal 2001 on Oct 3, 2006 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions

a little sexual harrassment isn't always

a bad thing...j/k! he was great to listen to on sports center. espn fires him but lets morgan and miller continue to ramble on endlessly, repeat the same line inning after inning...hell they can't even get the players names right. thank goodness they won't be at the helm for game 2 and 3

by Leesa on Oct 3, 2006 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions

YES!!!!

Finally, someone agrees with me for once!

They are crazy them two!

by Sheldon72 on Oct 4, 2006 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions

How about...

Joe - I loved Baseball BY Dummies

Asked where Zito's perfect fit would be, Hudson said, "Do they have a league on Mars?"
*Magic #: ZERO!*

by JLaff on Oct 3, 2006 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Harold

was the only person with anything remotely interesting to say. too bad he's gone.

the problem most likely doesn't lie with all these talking heads who come off as total retards (kruk, scott, et al). their producers are the ones forcing them to talk about the yanks/red sox all the time.

but it would be nice if these guys could at least get the facts straight when theyre doign their mandated :45 update on teh a's and then going back to talking about jeter and a-rods favorite ice cream flavors.

by the stare on Oct 4, 2006 7:06 AM PDT up reply actions

He was overly-friendly

with the interns. I say Stuart Scott has to resign too.

"We're Menudo," -BB

by eshock on Oct 4, 2006 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Do it!

That's a great idea. I've always wanted to do something like that (but I live too far away to go to A's games). The postseason is the perfect time.

Just off the top of my head:
"ESPN: 90% Red Sox and Yankees. 10% everyone else"
"MTV is to music as ESPN is to sports"

Or, if you're short on ideas, "Fire Chris Berman! (Please)" is always a sure winner.

by Bleeding the Green and Gold on Oct 3, 2006 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks,

Keep the ideas flowing in. If LF Bleacher crew could hang some signs they couldnt miss them on the ESPN cameras.

Let's do this.

And to be positive... GO A's!!!

by Cal 2001 on Oct 4, 2006 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions

anyone catch Vernon Wells

First question, he's asked what happened in the second inning. Wells says, and i quote, "UNFORTUNATELY, he left up some changeups". Is he really openly rooting for the Twins!!!

"Imagine all the Hebrews goin dumb"-Tell Me When To Go

by ohad on Oct 3, 2006 5:57 PM PDT reply actions

Stop watching that shit (SportsCenter etc)

kid, it'll destroy your mind.

by Cal 2001 on Oct 3, 2006 5:59 PM PDT up reply actions

One problem

with not watching Sportscenter is that I do follow all teams, not just the A's. I hear you on the political angle and criticism of their coverage, but I frankly need to see highlights of all games every day. I'm an A's partisan, but I didn't grow up here and have loved the sport of baseball itself almost my whole life. So I've got to keep going back to the dealer to get my fix.

by Baseball Equals Life on Oct 3, 2006 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions

How bout ...

FSN or read the internet.

by Cal 2001 on Oct 4, 2006 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions

fsn or the internet...

Unfortunatly the whole world, the media world that is worships the groung that Derek effing Jeter and the skankees walk on so as far as going else where for our sports news I think we are stuck.

At least there is A-rod?

He still sucks!

by Sheldon72 on Oct 4, 2006 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions

he probably meant...

"unfortunately [for Santana]"...but why is Wells on there anyway? I don't think he's retiring anytime soon...on a related note, I don't like when networks bring in guys still involved in the game to temporarily broadcast/analyze for the playoffs...Fox brought in Leiter and Piniella a couple years ago...why bring in guys with no experience to do the most important games of the year? Piniella sucked, but even if he was great, he had no place making his color commentary debut in the 2004 NLCS or whatever series it was.

I am no drunkard, I'm a hard-working man.

by Cutthemullet on Oct 3, 2006 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions

air time =

no way for their cameras to avoid picking up some of the signs in the stands.

by Cal 2001 on Oct 3, 2006 5:58 PM PDT reply actions

How's this for a(n un)clever sign

E
SUX
P
N

Bill James on Duane Kuiper: "It's absolutely incredible that a player this bad could be given 3000 at bats in the major leagues." -- Baseball Abstract, 1982

by blueconversechucks on Oct 4, 2006 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions

The common denominator

is Beane and the A's style and identity. I know that we know it's changed some, but Beane is in large part the A's identity. The little team that could that does it with solid pitching and a big second half kick.

by RLangford on Oct 3, 2006 6:25 PM PDT reply actions

adding to that

Its the whole moneyball nonsense that ESPN is obsessed with. Even if they dont know ANYTHING about the team, they like to use that as a buzzword.

Gammons is the only one who deserves any respect for baseball in that company. Kruk reads the cue cards, and he cannot even do THAT well.

I've said goodbye to espn at least a year ago. There website is full of ads and garbage. ESPN motion is a bloated POS. Their stupid cell phone service is an absolute failure. Sportscenter USED to be a SPORTS show. ESPN Insider? Please people, dont support this.

Even though they are a bunch of blowhards, the A's just need to win. Winning shuts people up.

"...we don't score six, seven runs. We score three, four runs and play defense and pitch." - Eric Chavez

by pickinmachine on Oct 3, 2006 6:41 PM PDT up reply actions

The commercials for Game 1

were nauseating. For the A's one, they had a cash register graphic and a big dramatic voiceover about whether or not the A's "could win with Moneyball???"</gasp>

"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Oct 3, 2006 6:51 PM PDT up reply actions

2004 Boston Red Sox

Won the Series with "Moneyball". They forgot to mention that.

Macha is a great manager. -Ron Washington

by pachydermOAFC on Oct 3, 2006 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions

the only guy who seems to get it...

is Brian Kenny of all people, mainly a boxing analyst. I guess while he's not busy covering Friday Night Fights he's reading up on his Baseball Prospectus, because he always seems quite pro-Moneyball in the rare time he's given the chance to demonstrate it...like today. He actually used the phrase "from a sabermetric perspective" today while seemingly trying to goad Kruk into admitting that the Twins mismanaged the game today, at which Kruk immediately snorted and scoffed, lol. Brian Kenny for Baseball Tonight in 2007.

I am no drunkard, I'm a hard-working man.

by Cutthemullet on Oct 3, 2006 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions

well, beane and the injuries and freak breaks

2000 = messed up rotation (heredia pitching games 1 and 5), 2001 = the jeremey giambi non-slide, jermaine dye breaking his leg, 2002 = hudson pitching w/ a hip injury that rendered him useless, 2003 = no mulder, 9 pitches from huddy in game 4. not to make excuses, but there were some bizzare circumstances in each series loss. and they all went 5 games, plus we had the tying run on base in every last inning (minus 2001, i think).

"welcome to ME, motherf*^*er!" - tim hudson

by guy incognito on Oct 3, 2006 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions

freak breaks

with that in mind, man was I throwing shit when the Twins got their fluke "triple" in the bottom of the ninth...something like that has to happen in every A's playoff game

I am no drunkard, I'm a hard-working man.

by Cutthemullet on Oct 3, 2006 7:21 PM PDT up reply actions

you and me (and all A's fans) both

i really get pissed off about the "choking" rep, though. it's not quite so black and white. injuries, freak breaks, and all incredibly tight series do not make a team a choker.

"welcome to ME, motherf*^*er!" - tim hudson

by guy incognito on Oct 3, 2006 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions

aye....

i only watched espn today because i had classes during the whole game... and i wanted to see some highlights... but i immediately regretted it..

"The weather is hot, so I'm hot," Scutaro said with mock bravado. "Just kidding."

by TrizzleNizzle510 on Oct 3, 2006 7:43 PM PDT reply actions

Different players...

...and the players that remain were very young in 2003 (except Melhuse), as opposed to being merely young now, plus experienced. I like our chances.

"I miss taking showers with Kendall" ~ Brian Giles

by Poppy on Oct 3, 2006 8:07 PM PDT reply actions

Gasp

You're here?

Asked where Zito's perfect fit would be, Hudson said, "Do they have a league on Mars?"
*Magic #: ZERO!*

by JLaff on Oct 3, 2006 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions

No.

You're hallucinating. ;)

"I miss taking showers with Kendall" ~ Brian Giles

by Poppy on Oct 3, 2006 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Well...

You do produce opium.

Asked where Zito's perfect fit would be, Hudson said, "Do they have a league on Mars?"
*Magic #: ZERO!*

by JLaff on Oct 3, 2006 8:47 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL!

You might also want to step away from the Sharpie...

"I miss taking showers with Kendall" ~ Brian Giles

by Poppy on Oct 3, 2006 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions

QOTM nominee

"...sometimes I can't tell the difference between baseball and magic." - sappy drunk salb918

by McFood on Oct 4, 2006 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions

The Great "Choke" of the Century

2004 New York Yankees.

Macha is a great manager. -Ron Washington

by pachydermOAFC on Oct 3, 2006 9:22 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, but

That was all A-Rod's fault, so it really didn't count. You really need to watch more ESPN and then you'd understand.

Please let 2006 be the year, and without an earthquake this time.

by BlameChannel53 on Oct 3, 2006 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions

I have to confess

I enjoyed the one-hour Baseball Tonight this evening. The part about Derek Jeter was great and the other minute and a half wasn't bad either.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 3, 2006 9:54 PM PDT reply actions

you think beating santana in the terrordome would

get us dap? nico, for shame, that's just nonsense. because tons of teams can do that. happens all the time. hell, my cousin could probably pull it off if he really tried. particularly when the a's don't really win the game, but the twins lose it. big hurt didn't hit 2 homers so much as minnesota gave them to him. i mean, they pitched him the ball. what's the big deal about that? and zito? he didn't beat the twins so much as they just didn't get hits off his pitches. jeter and the yankees beating the all-world, hottest-team-coming-into-the-postseason detroit tigers is like 100 times more important!

"welcome to ME, motherf*^*er!" - tim hudson

by guy incognito on Oct 3, 2006 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL!

by Bleeding the Green and Gold on Oct 3, 2006 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions

I saw Vernon Wells on Baseball Tonight...

It sounds to me like he's stuttering.
Don't they have anyone else? I really would like to see more of Peter Gammons.

by Steve @ Athletics Nation on Oct 4, 2006 8:40 AM PDT reply actions

yes..

Yes, Gammons is good.

No, wait.

Gammons is great.

Better than those other idiots they have on that thing they call sportscenter.

Welcome back Gammons, it is good to have you back.

Sorry you have to work with such idiots.

by Sheldon72 on Oct 4, 2006 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions

I tried ESPN once when I was in college...

but I didn't inhale.

"...sometimes I can't tell the difference between baseball and magic." - sappy drunk salb918

by McFood on Oct 4, 2006 8:41 AM PDT reply actions

how about

jEter
yankeeS
yankPees
yaNkees

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 4, 2006 9:54 AM PDT reply actions