A win is a win is a win is a win.

by baseballgirl on Apr 9, 2006 3:54 PM PDT in News

Late last night, I took a few minutes to write this morning's thread, and this is what it originally said: "I'm seeing a pattern. Blanton pitched a two hitter, Zito pitched a one hitter, so it's Harden's turn to..."

I decided not to post it because I felt a no-hitter. Not that that's unusual with Harden on the mound; because with him, it's not a question of 'if', but 'when', but let's be honest. If you ever could predict a no-no, it was today. Seattle's offense was the perfect candidate. Having already been shut down in two consecutive days, the hitters were pressing at each at bat; something that is deadly against Harden, who likes to work quickly.

I LOVED the move by Macha in the 8th, yanking Harden with very little fanfare. There was absolutely no reason to push him; and he got him out while still allowing him the chance at the shutout. Perfect timing, and had the baseball gods not decided to wreck havoc on us in the 9th, it would have been a seamless ending. Macha did his job.

The A's starters appear to be playing the "Anything you can do, I can do better" (tm the Seattle announcers) game with each other. They are contagious. Blanton dominates, so Zito steps up, followed by Harden. I like this game. Let's teach Loaiza how to play.

Really what else can you say about the pitching? Despite the absolute insanity of the last inning, let's look at the facts. Three games. Seven hits. Twenty-seven scoreless innings before allowing a run. Three wins. First place.

I haven't forgotten the bullpen. The Duke got the tough Ichiro out, and after Ibanez refuses to follow Lopez' lead by standing at the plate until the ball hits him, Kennedy was able to get the crucial strikeout in the eighth. Saarloos could have been sharper, but that should come with more regular work <insert your own `Saarloos for starting pitcher' campaign here>. With a day off tomorrow, it doesn't hurt the A's that Huston had to come in, although he did turn a fairly routine `S' into a `Wow, he had to EARN that!' moment. I think I lost a few years off of my life, and I'm sure Rich Harden did too.

On the offensive side, CONGRATUATIONS to Ken Macha for hitting and running with Jason Kendall at the plate. Here's your check.

The offensive star of the game has to be Mark Ellis (or MaEl, if you're Jennifer), who looked really good. He did a great job from the leadoff spot, getting on four times (he went 3 for 4), knocking in 2, and scoring one.

JayPay, very quietly, also had three hits.

For his first three ABs, Bobby Crosby looked...well...lost, but then he surprised me with a solid single ahead of Chavvy's third bomb of the year. Eric Chavez hits in April. Who knew?

I was okay with Kendall/Swisher in the 8/9. They made a pretty decent combo today. Swisher looks like he's seeing the ball well.

All in all, it may not have been a `perfect game' in the technical sense, but it was The. Perfect. Game. This is what a baseball team looks like when firing on all cylinders, and the A's are there. Because above all else, like it or not, the only stat that counts is the 'W', and we've racked up five in seven days. This is our team living up to the hype. One week at a time.

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Comments

Neat

"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." ~ Kirby Puckett

by smith1051 on Apr 9, 2006 3:58 PM PDT reply actions

<gurgle, gurgle>

They are trying to kill me.

Greatest conversation ever.

by Jennifer on Apr 9, 2006 4:01 PM PDT reply actions

Don't they work on throwing to first?

in Spring Training?

What the heck was that "underhand toss"??

I bet our closer never underhands it again!

"Under no conditions should this person be allowed into our league." Orioles Chairman Joe Inglehart rec' on Charley Finley buying the Athletics (1960).

by Ducts on the Pawn on Apr 9, 2006 4:01 PM PDT reply actions

The "underhand toss"

He did it a few times last year. I remember a bunt play against the Nats, for sure.

I think he wanted to make sure it got to first. HA! :)

Greatest conversation ever.

by Jennifer on Apr 9, 2006 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Nice piece, baseball girl!

Nice way for Huston to learn that lesson - we still win.

by BleacherDave on Apr 9, 2006 4:03 PM PDT reply actions

Very nice summerization BBG

I especially love the last paragraph. It exactly what im feeling right now. This team has so much potential, and this game showed that although the game may not be handed to us, we're going to be there to battle every day. Harden's pitching looked great today, and once again, props to Macha for pulling him when he did.

I don't believe in clutch hitters. But I do believe in Marco Scutaro. - salb918

by paige20 on Apr 9, 2006 4:04 PM PDT reply actions

all cyclinders

i don't think, offensively, that the lineup is firing on all cyclinders. besides chavez, the middle of the line up has been pretty much up and down early this season. but it's early in the season.

so much on my mind, i just can't recline -respiration

by ucla kid on Apr 9, 2006 4:07 PM PDT reply actions

Scutaro for DH!

2006 Oakland A's: Making history, one game at a time.

by OaktownRajah on Apr 9, 2006 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Coming into today's game,

the A's were last in the AL (and maybe in the MLB) in batting. The offense isn't anywhere close to where we expect it to be, but it's still early. (Thank god for small sample size).
You know what's nice, though? Even though we aren't hitting the @#$% out of the ball, it's good to see this team coming up with <gasp> "clutch" hits. They're taking their walks and scoring just enough runs to win ballgames. The pitching staff is doing their job. :D

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

by AsGirl on Apr 9, 2006 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

it is a good

sign, because last year, more than a couple of players had to be hot to produce runs. it's good to see that we have a offense that can score w/out having 5 out the 9 being on a streak. plus it gives our pitchers the all important stat for Cy Young consideration; W's.

so much on my mind, i just can't recline -respiration

by ucla kid on Apr 9, 2006 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm kicking myself for missing

the two AMAZING pitching performances by our A's on Friday and Saturday. Not that Harden wasn't amazing this afternoon, but I wish I had seen the two amazing SHO.

By the way, from the A's notes:

Zito has been involved in each of the last eight times the A's have had consecutive shutouts, dating to September, 2000.

Nice.

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

by AsGirl on Apr 9, 2006 4:07 PM PDT reply actions

Interesting stat

I'm kicking myself too!

The rain soaked patrons reveled in thier victory and the shortest man on the field stood taller than Randy 'The' Johnson." - Saint

by Melody on Apr 9, 2006 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Honestly...

I don't think the Mariners were going to let themselves be shut down for a third game. Yes Street was out to lunch with Ichiro and ended up throwing up on Kirk Sarloo's ERA, but the Mariners were going down tough those last two innings. They were being patient and waiting for the good pitches, something they haden't done all series. I have to wonder, with the exception of Sarloos, were our relievers that bad or were the Mariners just "in the zone" for those last two innings trying to salvage an emberrasing series.

by Threepwood XX on Apr 9, 2006 4:07 PM PDT reply actions

Just read the previous thread,

have a couple comments:

"What's up with Saarloos?" Pitchers need regular work, especially sinkerballers and/or control pitchers. If used too seldom, Saarloos will become Yabu.
"Ichiro was out." Yes, but the ump had no replays, it was very, very close, and the ump didn't retardedly trying to play "egg long toss at the company picnic" with a routine throw.
"Swisher should have tagged Ichiro." Actually, I think he would have wound up tagging Ichiro just after he crossed first base.

Duke didn't have his "A-game," Street didn't have his "A-brain," but we got it done. That's what good teams do even when things go a bit askew--they get it done.

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 4:09 PM PDT reply actions

I am relatively positive

that he did get Ichiro. My dad and I watched the play over several times and it was VERY clear that he did infact touch Ichiro before he ever got to the base. Not only that, but his foot barely touched the side of the base. If the ump had been at the right angle, I would not have been surprised if they had ruled that Ichiro did not touch the base.

Ichiro was clearly out!

"I hope everyone here gets 450 at-bats, makes millions and millions of dollars and we win the World Series. That's my utopia." - Macha 3/29/06

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Apr 9, 2006 6:46 PM PDT up reply actions

in time

Macha will have to move
Crosby out of the 3rd hole. The last time Crosby hit well was before he was put in the 3rd hole last year, for whatever reason he cannot drive in runners and loses his power in the 3rd hole. I think Bradley and Crosby should change places in the lineup. Forget the lefty/righty lineup and put the right players in the right spots.

by china bob on Apr 9, 2006 4:13 PM PDT reply actions

I had that same thought...

...his single gave me hope though

"This is the show. Do it right."

by baseballgirl on Apr 9, 2006 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions

His single came

with the bases empty, though. For his career, Croz is hitting around .021 with the bases loaded.

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh, I know.

I absolutely do not think Croz should be batting third, or ahead of MB.

BUT...I was going to give Macha his complete due today and not nitpick that. If things haven't changed in a week, look out! :)

"This is the show. Do it right."

by baseballgirl on Apr 9, 2006 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions

In general,

I think Macha has done a lot more right than wrong, so I'm not feeling anti-Mach at the moment. Just the Croz #3 thing--and I highly doubt it will change in a week. With the A's, the timeline for lineup adjustments is usually 2 months (Ellis) to a year (Kendall)

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree Nico

I think Macha has done a fine job to date. Although I don't really understand Saarloos in the 9th, if I'm Jay Witasik I don't feel very comfortable about my role in the bullpen.
I was glad to see Johnson get the day off. Hopefully he got some extra work in, and with the day off tomorrow gets in a better frame of mind.

by IndianaAsfan on Apr 9, 2006 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Agree, put Omar Bradley in the 3 hole

Nothing like a five-star general batting 3rd.

Crosby just doesn't hit well (IMO) with pressure on him. Call it lack of experience, but he's better as a 6th place hitter it seems.

Will have to go to Yahoo! MLB, individual players, and look at the "splits" on batting.

"Under no conditions should this person be allowed into our league." Orioles Chairman Joe Inglehart rec' on Charley Finley buying the Athletics (1960).

by Ducts on the Pawn on Apr 9, 2006 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions

China Bob is alive!!!!!!!

Glad to "see" you, and I agree with you 100%. Croz hitting #3 is the only major gripe I have right now.

On the plus side, I'm loving the smart baserunning.

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Glad to be home again

My 6 years working in China is over, back in San Leandro fixing up a house that has been largely vacant for 6 years, looking forward to a full season of watching my beloved A's.

by china bob on Apr 10, 2006 7:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Cmon...He sat what, 5 games?

Give him a chance to get going, he will be fine there.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Apr 9, 2006 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions

OP, I didn't think so

before the season and I don't think so now. I think he'll fine there at some point in the next 2-3 years, but I'm not convinced that he'll be fine there now. Just my opinion.

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions

hilarious stuff

They've won 5 of 6.

Crosby just played his first two complete games of the season.

And the wolves are howling to move him somewhere else in the lineup.

Relax everyone.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Apr 9, 2006 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions

oaktoon, a lot of people

made the comment well before the first game that they felt Crosby wasn't the best choice for the #3 spot at this point in his career and with the options offered by this supporting cast.

Those people have been proven neither right nor wrong yet (though so far they have probably been more right than wrong), and it's not a knee-jerk reaction to performance, because they are not clammoring to drop F. Thomas, whose performance has been worse on a "first week basis".

There is no panic, or failure to relax, about continuing to hold an opinion that hasn't been proven any less true than when it was first formed.

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I've yet to see a reason

to put him in the 3-spot in the first place

by OaklandSi on Apr 9, 2006 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, he had that one month stretch

back in June 05....

Yeah, that's a stretch.

Why yes. I am a ray of warm and fuzzy sunshine.

by grover on Apr 9, 2006 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Exactly

A lot of us have never thought it was a great idea, and after 7 games all we're saying is, "Still don't think it's a great idea." (If Croz were hitting .320, I'd say "Small sample size; still don't think it's a good idea but we'll see.") So it's the opposite of a knee-jerk reaction; it's the consistency of an opinion Crosby has certainly, so far, given us no reason to change.

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 6:57 PM PDT up reply actions

2 games and 2 at bats

And Thomas ain't hitting-- move him to 9th!

Johnson's 0-19-- send him back to AAA!

Bradley didn't hit the last two days-- move him to 8th!!!

Whatever your views before the season, to be harping on the lineup after they've won 5 of 6, and with crosby returning from a pretty nasty injury to his hand is, IMHO, pretty silly. Patience is a virtue.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Apr 9, 2006 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions

This is a great example, oaktoon,

of what people mean when they complain that you don't read what they actually say. You get fixated on an idea and keep answering comments that haven't been made. And it's as annoying as it is dull.

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 7:14 PM PDT up reply actions

sorry, Charlie

I read exactly what you typed.

"After 7 games" was the key phrase.

Bobby Crosby has played exactly 2 games and 2 at bats of those 7-- so I felt-- and feel-- that whatever confirmation or evidence you are looking for in his supposed inability to hit 3rd is coming from a ridiculously small sample.

OK??

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Apr 9, 2006 8:19 PM PDT up reply actions

If you bothered to read what he's saying...

...Nico has based his whole judgment on Crosby's entire career in the bigs, a NOT SMALL sample size and has said that he doesn't think Crosby has ever earned the right to bat third.

Please tell us that you have a defense for why Crosby SHOULD be batting third at all.

"This is the show. Do it right."

by baseballgirl on Apr 9, 2006 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions

I can actually make that defense

I'll also point out the flaw in the defense.

The Pro: In 2005 Crosby had 250 AB in the #3 spot of line-up. He hit .272/.344/.436 with 17 doubles, 3 triples and 6 homeruns. He also posted a 27/43 BB/K rate. It was quite simply the best production Crosby has ever had from any spot in the line-up. (Well, not counting the .571/.625/1.143 line he posted in 7 AB from the #4 spot.)

The Con: The bulk of Crosby's success in the #3 hole came in his first 3 weeks with the job. Bobby posted the best month of his career in June 05, hitting .337/.394/.568 with an 8/8 BB/K rate in 95 AB. He essentially took over the #3 spot on June 15th, and from mid-June to July 7th (hitting almost exclusively from the #3 spot) he went 27-84 with 5 Doubles 1 Triple 3 HR; 6 BB/10K. That was good for a .321/.367/.512 line.

The next six weeks were not so kind to Crosby as the following numbers will attest.

6/15 - 7/7: .321/.367/.512 in 84 AB.
7/8 - 7/27: .234/.338/.391 in 64 AB.
7/29 - 8/17: .236/.321/.361 in 72 AB.
8/19 - 8/27: .306/.359/.639 in 36 AB.

Almost all of these AB came while Crosby was in the #3 hole. I admit that I didn't check the boxscores to every game during this 10 week stretch, but in a random sampling of roughly half the games I only found one instance were Crosby was batting elsewhere in the line-up.

Bobby was heating up just before he broke his ankle, but his late August boost was certainly aided by feasting on the pitching staffs of KC, Detroit and Baltimore.

Simply put, Crosby did not produce like a #3 hitter should during the majority of his time in the spot. So why is Macha playing him there now?

I don't know.

Why yes. I am a ray of warm and fuzzy sunshine.

by grover on Apr 10, 2006 12:02 AM PDT up reply actions

and I'd appreciate it if...

You stopped the lecturing

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Apr 9, 2006 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Pot, meet kettle...

Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Apr 9, 2006 8:28 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL "After 7 games"

is probably the least important thing I typed in that comment. Kind of like if the doctor says "You don't have a brain tumor; in fact you're absolutely fine," you want to focus on the "don't" and the "absolutely fine" more than on the "brain tumor".

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 8:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh, and it's not a lecture,

it's a "lecture series". I'm feeling very PBS tonight. Imagine me with a cardigan sweater, a pipe, a well-groomed moustache, and a pretentious voice. The last part shouldn't be too difficult.

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions

now you're getting tiresome

When the team is winning... when the player in question has just gotten hurt and has had less ability to contribute than any other player on the team.... when many others (see my OPS update post) are underperforming as well as him...

Your "we've believed this all along" simply rings hollow. Anyone drawing any conclusion -- whether it was the same one you believed all along-- after two games ought to think twice. Now I do think the collective skill we saw this week is indicative of the overall skill I've forecast for this team all along-- but that's a judgement made after observing 25 players for a week-- not one player for 2+ games.

If Crosby is hitting under the Mendoza line in two weeks-- and the team is struggling-- then the "players will make the lineup" and he'll get dropped.

Let's just wait and see-- i find that a much better attitude toward this lineup, given depth, new additions, and injury risk.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Apr 9, 2006 8:51 PM PDT up reply actions

How interesting

Let's wait and see before we proclaim any concerns, but it's never too soon to start with the exuberant praise!

'Tis an impressive new leaf you've turned.

Why yes. I am a ray of warm and fuzzy sunshine.

by grover on Apr 9, 2006 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions

get a leaf

or a life-- whichever.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Apr 9, 2006 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions

You're most dismissive

when I've scored a hit.

Why yes. I am a ray of warm and fuzzy sunshine.

by grover on Apr 10, 2006 12:04 AM PDT up reply actions

0-19, baby!!

And unlike Johnson, you're never gonna turn it around

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Apr 10, 2006 7:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Proving once again

that you're no good with numbers.

Why yes. I am a ray of warm and fuzzy sunshine.

by grover on Apr 10, 2006 7:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Oaktoon, I wasn't harping

I wasn't even complaining, I was just observing that for whatever reason Crosby doesn't hit very well with men on bases and also doesn't hit for power in that spot, and at some time Macha will have to make the obvious move of Bradley to the 3rd spot and Crosby to 6th where he hit very well early last year before the move to the 3rd spot. YOu can argue small sample size if you want but I am confident that the next month or so will prove me right, I hope I am wrong.

by china bob on Apr 10, 2006 7:26 AM PDT up reply actions

I hate defensive indifference

The Mariners ran twice in the 9th, neither time meritting a throw, one runner scored and the other ended up on 3B. When the other team's catcher tries to steal 2B you try and throw him out.

Why yes. I am a ray of warm and fuzzy sunshine.

by grover on Apr 9, 2006 4:16 PM PDT reply actions

Agree it's a stupid rule

If they're going to have that, they should have "HR indifference" when a pitcher with a two-run lead in the 9th gives up a solo HR to avoid a walk.

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL.

<Cough> Dotel <Cough>

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

by AsGirl on Apr 9, 2006 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Exactly.

I hate defensive indifferences too. It doesn't matter if you concede a base to the other team in the 9th inning of blowout games, but there are times when opponents string together a few hits and make it "interesting." EEK.
DI just increase my BP.

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

by AsGirl on Apr 9, 2006 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions

I think every time an infielder

boots a ground ball, the official scorer should stop the game and ask the infielder, "Did you care?" If he says "yes" it's an error; if he shrugs his shoulders and says "not really" it's defensive indifference.

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Hehe.

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

by AsGirl on Apr 9, 2006 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions

The rule is fine

or the scoring aspect of it.

But letting a guy take second like that with Ichiro up as the tying run is not too smart. That's the one situation where keeping the force in place might really matter. What if he had chopped one up the middle and there was no play?

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Apr 9, 2006 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Hold the Runner or Protect the 1st/2nd Base Hole?

If you want to keep the catcher (Johjima) from stealing 2nd Base, then you have to hold the runner at 1st Base. This creates a gigantic hole for Ichiro to hit through (Between Ellis and Swisher).

June 19th - June 21st, 2006 ** Oakland Athletics @ Colorado Rockies ** Lets Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Apr 9, 2006 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Except

Johjima was followed by the RH hitting Willie Bloomquist. Suzuki followed him, and he's such a spray hitter (not to mention faster than all get out) that it makes defensive positioning kind of a moot point. Do you really think the Mariners were going to try a double steal with Johjima at 3rd?

Why yes. I am a ray of warm and fuzzy sunshine.

by grover on Apr 9, 2006 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Well

If I take your logic, there would be no reason to even have fielders anywhere because you can't tell where he will hit the ball. It makes most sense to play back with a player who hits so many balls through holes so you can make those holes as small as possible.

by homerozzieandthestraw on Apr 9, 2006 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions

If you play back on Suzuki

he'll just drop a bunt down the line for a base hit!

But we've started to stray....

6-3, two outs in the 9th and Johjima's on 1B, no one else on. The A's let Johjima take 2B uncontested. Why? RH hitter at the plate, it's not that big of a risk to have Swisher hold the runner.

Bloomquist singles to LF, runners on the corners. Bloomquist is allowed to take 2B uncontested and now the M's have two runners in scoring position with probably their best hitter at the plate. Things just got real interesting! If you hold Johjima at 1B the Bloomquist single keeps runners at 1st and 2nd, with a force out available anywhere but home. The Mariners aren't going to try a double steal with their catcher leading the way and a LH batter at the plate.

I'm just saying that a lot of drama could have been avoided if the A's hadn't given away a couple of free bases.

Then again, maybe not!

Why yes. I am a ray of warm and fuzzy sunshine.

by grover on Apr 9, 2006 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions

believe it or not...

I agree with you on this. They were way too cavalier.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Apr 9, 2006 11:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Well I really don't care.

You got a problem with that?

I can't remember what I was going to say, but I assure you, it was brilliant!

by oblique on Apr 9, 2006 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Huh.

Defensive indifference indifference.

"There was talk about getting a big name manager. Casey Stengel, guys like that. But they were all dead." --Mark Kotsay

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 10, 2006 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions

A's

"Eric Chavez hits in April. Who knew?"

A's off to fast start. Who knew?

I'm am frikking excited. This is what the A's should be like. I love it.

I LOVE IT.

I LOVE THIS TEAM <proceeds to do cartweels and frontflips in front of Oprah while screaming how much he loves the A's>

www.hasidicreggae.com Check out Matisyahu. "I wanna be close to you, yes i'm so hungry. You're like water for my soul when it gets thirsty."

by ohad on Apr 9, 2006 4:24 PM PDT reply actions

Hey, watch your language,

young man. No need to use words like Oprah.

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

So far I've basically liked Macha's

use of the pen

credit where credit's due

by OaklandSi on Apr 9, 2006 4:30 PM PDT reply actions

I wish

Minnesota could have managed a win today. I hate going in to play a team thats 1-5.

by Alien @ Athletics Nation on Apr 9, 2006 4:32 PM PDT reply actions

yeah, but....

we miss Santana

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Apr 9, 2006 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Good point

That is the most important thing in looking at that series

by Chavez4Prez on Apr 9, 2006 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions

I almost died today.

"Any shots that I'll be callin' will be to the bartender!" -- Band Camp

by Sharon on Apr 9, 2006 4:33 PM PDT reply actions

You and the entire AN!

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

by AsGirl on Apr 9, 2006 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Already in great shape with room to grow

Got to love being in first place while still having a lot of room to grow. When this team rounds into to form they are going to be down right scary:)

Cheers, -Dave The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind. --Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

by strivan21 on Apr 9, 2006 4:47 PM PDT reply actions

Dan Meyer rocked in his first start

3.1 IP, 6 ER

1 BB, 0 SO

He gave up 9 hits, two of them homeruns. Disappointing, to say the least.

"Any shots that I'll be callin' will be to the bartender!" -- Band Camp

by Sharon on Apr 9, 2006 4:53 PM PDT reply actions

Damn, you gave me false hopes

I thought you meant he rocked. Instead, you meant he was rocked.

That guy very well may have wrecked his whole career, and his chances of making many millions of dollars, with that one short period of brute stupidity last spring that seems to have him heading down the Brad Sullivan career path. I should feel sympathy, but instead I mostly feel irritated.

by Faust on Apr 9, 2006 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions

heh... fooled me, too

I first took it in the "he ROCKS!" sense, then read the stats and thought, Hey, that doesn't sound good at all...

MMMM... gotta love the "new season" smell ~~ jlaff

by Poppy on Apr 9, 2006 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Meyer

He was good in the first two innings, but then got into trouble in the third, then couldn't finish the fourth. It's not like he pulled a Sullivan and sucked from the get-go.

by OaktownTribesman on Apr 9, 2006 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Further proof

that Chavy is psychic. If he hadn't hit that 2-run jimmy jack, we'd be going into extra innings. ;)

In other news, I'm just in awe of how good our young Canadian stud is.

Bring on the Twinkies!

Albert Pujols is God. But I think we knew that already. --oaktoon

by Chavinator on Apr 9, 2006 5:14 PM PDT reply actions

so does that mean

that he is now "clutch"?

I just said killed, meant strangled and made a punching motion

by pbruins92 on Apr 9, 2006 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Naw

Just psychic. ;)

Albert Pujols is God. But I think we knew that already. --oaktoon

by Chavinator on Apr 9, 2006 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions

On the contrary...

It's par for the course with Chavy. Does his damage when it's a 4-0 game and no hint of Seattle making it close. That we ended up needing the runs after the late-inning hijinks is fortunate, but we all know it would have been a called third strike or first-pitch pop to second had the game been on the line.

I realize you were being ironical. Just can never resist the temptation to purge some Chavy-related exasperation...

by Oakland East on Apr 10, 2006 2:24 AM PDT up reply actions

A called third strike,

a pop-up to the second baseman, or a huge 3-run HR off of Brendan Donnelly, you mean. Possibly the single biggest AB an A's hitter had all season, given the opponent, and the context of the game and the time of year.

by Nico on Apr 10, 2006 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions

I think the media jinxed the nohitter

Like Barry Bonds, I choose to blame the media.

The words "Harden" and "no hitter" were bandied about way too frequently during the pregamr warmup shows. Cortroneo even mentioned it when the game was in progress sometime during the fourth inning.

I heard it was even worse on the other media outlets.

"It was an incredible catch, but I didn't really like his footwork." - Ken Macha

by secret ASian man on Apr 9, 2006 5:42 PM PDT reply actions

The. Perfect. Game. Not.

The. Perfect. Game. would not Make. Us. Sweat. at any point, including and especially The. Ninth. Inning.

Friday now, that was The. Perfect. Game.

But a win is a win is a win is a (checks number of times I said "win")...win. I'm happy for Oakland winning today's game and Phil Mickelson winning the Masters (the reason why I was absent from today's game thread).

"There was talk about getting a big name manager. Casey Stengel, guys like that. But they were all dead." --Mark Kotsay

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 9, 2006 6:09 PM PDT reply actions

You have to give the Mariners credit

Their backs were up against the wall and they were still able to take advantage of miscues that the A's defense and relief pitching made. Unlike the A's in Thurs game, they were able to make it very close in the end. I give them props and I bet it will not be this easy 2nd time around.

2006 Oakland A's: Making history, one game at a time.

by OaktownRajah on Apr 9, 2006 6:14 PM PDT reply actions

Too funny!

I turn on the ESPN Sunday Night game for the first time, just in time to see Ricardo Rincon issue a 4-pitch walk.

Good memories.

by Nico on Apr 9, 2006 7:41 PM PDT reply actions

I came home and saw him

out there on the mound....Memories, haunt the corner of my mind...misty water colored memories...

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005 and finally the fix for 2006.

by ak_A on Apr 9, 2006 7:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Happy?

And you weren't you happy to see he wasn't wearing green 'n gold?!

"I'm biased but I don't think there's anyone better than us" -Jason "Bulldog" Kendall

by streetfan on Apr 9, 2006 8:14 PM PDT up reply actions

With Rincon now with the Cards

I am gonna suggest to an heart specialist friend of mine to move his practice to St.Louis.

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005 and finally the fix for 2006.

by ak_A on Apr 9, 2006 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Ninja Kick!

by OaktownTribesman on Apr 9, 2006 8:11 PM PDT reply actions

lol

"Any shots that I'll be callin' will be to the bartender!" -- Band Camp

by Sharon on Apr 9, 2006 8:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Macha sensei

is passing on his skills to our young Athletic grasshoppers...

by Deep Puddle on Apr 9, 2006 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Our pitching

Mariners are my second favorite team, so I'd love to think that Seattle has a great lineup and therefore our pitching must be ultra-awesome to shut them down so completely.

The reality is I think Seattle has a crappy lineup. Shutting them down is nice, but doesn't really prove much.

by iglew on Apr 9, 2006 8:29 PM PDT reply actions

beat who you're supposed to

I would love it this year if we smacked down the teams we're better than and played the elite teams tough. None of this getting our butts kicked by the Tigers, Royals (still hurts) and Devil Rays...

But yes, it's not the same as 1-hitting the Yankees.

by Apricot on Apr 9, 2006 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions

THE CURSE IS OVER!

life long a's fan. transplanted to seattle almost 4 years ago. i try to go and see the a's every time they come through. i've been to at least 7 or 8 games. went to the loiaza game on thursday and of course, my a's let me down. i started getting the feeling i was cursing the team. 3 years ago, when the a's had the chance to win the west here in seattle, i bought tix to the first 2 games. all they had to do was win one of those games. nope, won the third... the one i didn't go to. anyway... i was a little hesitant in going to today's game. they aren't back in seattle for a few months, so i had to get it in, even if the curse was real. i ended up staying pretty quiet when the first runs came through. i didn't want all the m's fans getting on me when the m's finally scored. i was secretly yelling for harden (along with all his family up in the second deck) to keep the no hitter alive. of course when i mentioned the fact to my girlfriend he had one going, the first m's hit came. i felt the curse creeping in. every time i started to feel comfortable, something bad would happen. in the 8th and 9th, i kept thinking in my head, oh no here comes the curse. when street threw the ball high, i was sick inside. winning run at the plate!!!! when the batter hit it to crosby, i was praying please please curse be over. YES!!!!!! it's over! THE CURSE IS OVER!

overall, the a's looked pretty sharp. cept for thomas. wonder how long he'll last. let's keep it up a's.

by rickmonday on Apr 9, 2006 10:01 PM PDT reply actions

A's Weekend

Just joined the board. A's partial season ticket holder, up at school in Seattle. Got the chance to see Friday, Saturday and Sunday games, and boy did the A's play well. They look like they are in midseason form a week into the season. Hopefully the pitching can keep up their pace and the offense will stop leaving guys in scoring position, then they will really have something!

Oh Ya...including Spring Training the A's are 5-0 when I go!

by elly on Apr 11, 2006 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Just got home from the game

and what a game it was! Got there in time for bp and Barry Zito posed for a photo with my 6 year old daughter! What a class act. Swish also signed my baseball and was posing with two hotties saying "this is the life!" too funny! A little nervous in the ninth (alright I was sweating bullets and my heart was pounding) but Oh Canada, what a great pitching performance! Go A's! Bring on the Twinkies!

by A'sfansince1970 on Apr 9, 2006 10:16 PM PDT reply actions