ANtics Episode 2.3: A's Teammates Show the Love

by louismg on Mar 5, 2006 4:32 PM PST in News

As you know, the A's broke their spring training slump today, defeating those hated Angels... from whatever place they claim to represent now... in an 8-5 victory that saw home runs by the much feared Scott McClain/Freddie Bynum duo, and solid pitching from Kirk Saarloos. But was this done through skills and stats, or true grit and teamwork? In recent years, critics from far and wide have chastised the team for their focus on statistics and trends, and have instead credited determination, camaraderie and leadership as being the true essentials for a winning team. In that vein, the A's players - in true Hallmark fashion - show the love.

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ANtics Archive: 2005/06 ANtics | ANtics Extras

Poll

Is Love at the Center of a Winning Team?

Surely you're not referring to Davis Love III. That's golf.

1 votes

Love is a product of that which does not love.

9 votes

Don't go all Brokeback Mountain on me...

10 votes

cd ../athletics/love.exe

9 votes

29 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

First, hehehe!

Love Barton's thought bubble :D :D

To vacillate or not to vacillate, that is the question.... or is it?

by Chavinator on Mar 5, 2006 4:35 PM PST reply actions

Freaking awesome

Great ANtics. I was laughing and crying at the time. <touches heart and wipes tear>

Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today, I am the greatest! - Rickey Henderson

by haren4prez on Mar 5, 2006 4:39 PM PST reply actions

a's go brokeback....

and we don't mean the injury problems

-"Joe Morgan doesn't like it when facts get in the way of his opinions"-Billy Beane

by harendaman365 on Mar 5, 2006 4:44 PM PST reply actions

hahah love it!

probably my favorite ANtic so far! :) great job!

by gotgreen on Mar 5, 2006 4:47 PM PST reply actions

oops

You need an extra a in "Sarloos" in the diary...

nice "happy thoughts" ANtics.

--Nebraska--

(Shameless Self-Promotion)

by Ryan Armbrust on Mar 5, 2006 4:48 PM PST reply actions

My bad - fixed.

Thanks Nebraska

More ANtics and other nonsense: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Mar 5, 2006 4:53 PM PST up reply actions

beautiful!!!

Don't let us go...until the end of October!!

by OaklandSi on Mar 5, 2006 4:50 PM PST reply actions

Yay

I love this one! <warm fuzzies times 1000>

I was nothing more than an almost innocent bystander.

by Squeaky on Mar 5, 2006 5:08 PM PST reply actions

Awwwww

Have I mentioned how much I love this team?! Well, I do!

Thanks for the AWESOME ANtics, Louis. These are great!
The A's beat Anaheim and I get to read the very entertaining ANtics. What a beautiful day. :D

"Baseball is reassuring. It makes me feel as if the world is not going to blow up." -Sharon Olds

by AsGirl on Mar 5, 2006 6:05 PM PST reply actions

this was funny

YABU: You're always eating cheese. ...Is cheese good for you? . FISCHER: IT'S BETTER THAN SUSHI!!!

by ConditionOakland on Mar 5, 2006 6:44 PM PST reply actions

Too funny

I get a good chuckle every time I read ANtics and I think this is one the best yet (which is really saying something). I'm not sure which panel I like more, the Zito/Loaiza opener or "The Big Heart"!

ducks to avoid flying chair

by JLeverenz on Mar 5, 2006 6:50 PM PST reply actions

this is getting old

Blez, are you on Curt Pringle's payroll? Or Frank McCourt's? When are you FINALLY going to get over it? How much longer are you going to list the Los Angeles Angels as "Anaheim?"

by Uncle Al on Mar 5, 2006 7:42 PM PST reply actions

Personally, I'm using "d'Anaheim"

Palm d'Or...Cote d'Ivoir...Angels d'Anaheim. As in...Defeat d'Anaheim! I'm making it my personal crusade to promote this usage.

"Beane would suck TJ's face off a nickel, crap out pennies and collect `em to sweeten the next deal." --Stomper

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Mar 5, 2006 7:55 PM PST up reply actions

Personal Crusade

Sold!

"Palm d'Or...Cote d'Ivoir...Angels d'Anaheim." - FSU

by eamb on Mar 5, 2006 8:14 PM PST up reply actions

It sounds French....

that should make beating them a lot easier.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Mar 5, 2006 9:12 PM PST up reply actions

So Sweet!

I love it! This team is all about heart! This is a great ANtics!

"Same as he always throws -- hard and nasty," Melhuse on Rich Harden - 2/27/06

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Mar 5, 2006 8:33 PM PST reply actions

It's really hard

to read the thought bubbles in your comics.

It's a beautiful day for baseball.

by As Man on Mar 5, 2006 8:40 PM PST reply actions

There is always a larger version.

Click the comic to blow it up. It's smaller to fit in AN.

Full size: http://www.louisgray.com/graphics/antics_16.jpg
Small: http://www.louisgray.com/graphics/antics_16_small.jpg

That's why we make two sizes.

More ANtics and other nonsense: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Mar 5, 2006 8:46 PM PST up reply actions

I know

It's still fuzzy after I click on the link.

It's a beautiful day for baseball.

by As Man on Mar 5, 2006 9:42 PM PST up reply actions

Not for everyone

I think that's probably a technical issue with your browser. If your browser isn't displaying the comic large enough, I would suggest saving it and opening it using a program you can zoom with. Or for that matter, change your browser to Firefox, which has a built-in image zoom funtion.

"Palm d'Or...Cote d'Ivoir...Angels d'Anaheim." - FSU

by eamb on Mar 5, 2006 8:47 PM PST up reply actions

Oh, okay

I do have Firefox and just noticed the zoom clicker. So ignore my comment above, Louis!

It's a beautiful day for baseball.

by As Man on Mar 5, 2006 9:42 PM PST up reply actions

I liked it when

You called Frank Thomas the big heart instead of the big hurt. I have noticed that some chitown people call him the Big skirt.

by IM4Oakgal on Mar 5, 2006 9:59 PM PST reply actions

Love the love

Love is so lovely. Don't you love it?

Sigh.

"(Insert favorite AN quote here.)" -- Some ANer
AN Census

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Mar 6, 2006 11:03 AM PST reply actions

Well done, but...

... can I suggest a "Crash" themed feature either with Kendall and Melhuse, or possibly some of our outfielders and their encounters with the wall (an homage to Byrnes perhaps?). I would just advise staying away from using any of our middle infielders in this future piece, so as not to jinx them.

by timq24 on Mar 6, 2006 10:59 PM PST reply actions