Link Dump 5/26: It's safe in here.

by Sharon on May 26, 2006 7:30 AM PDT

Good news. That's all I'm willing to post today. And let's face it, any slight step forward in the recovery of those injured is the best kind of news right now.

Harden is close. Slusser writes that he could be back in a week to 10 days. That's music to my ears. Tomorrow, he'll throw about 60 pitches in a simulated game. After that, it could be a bullpen session and only one rehab start before he joins the team.

Loaiza will likely go on a rehab assignment next week. How long can the A's keep a player in rehab? Macha indicated before that Loaiza may not find himself in Oakland until he has regained his velocity. It's critical that he shows signs of being the pitcher Beane bought on the market. This isn't like April, when some were discussing the possibility of stashing him away in the bullpen. The A's can't even afford that.

Slusser also mentions that Bradley took practice swings yesterday. 35 from the right and 35 from the left.

...Larry Davis said the idea this time around is to keep things even rather than letting Bradley progress too quickly on one side and not the other. Yes, let's not even think about rushing him this time.

It looks like the A's will be getting Jay Witasick back soon (scroll down). He will probably begin his rehab assignment "by early next week". Sounds good.

Tony F---ing Womack will probably be called up by the Cubs this weekend. I hate him.

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<hugs DLDers>

It's cold out there.

by Jennifer on May 26, 2006 7:37 AM PDT 0 recs

You're safe here.

Can intangibles exist? Only the ones you can touch.

by salb918 on May 26, 2006 7:41 AM PDT up 0 recs

Wait!

What's that at the window?

"Braaaaains...."

Oh come on, after all that, now we have to deal with AJ Pierzynski zombies?

"I smell like a meadow." - Yuniesky Betancourt

by Ozzz on May 26, 2006 10:32 AM PDT up 0 recs

Geez, lighten up.

They may be AJ Zombies, but it's only MAY.

Can intangibles exist? Only the ones you can touch.

by salb918 on May 26, 2006 10:43 AM PDT up 0 recs

Is that why everyone is acting like Mayholes?

New advertising campaign...A's Brand Baseball: Blink, and You'll Miss It. - Kyli

by McFood on May 26, 2006 11:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

Pierzynski zombies only seek brains.

So as long as we keep panic merchants posting at AN for the next week or so, we won't have to worry about attacks.

No brains on display = Pierzynski zombies at bay.

"I smell like a meadow." - Yuniesky Betancourt

by Ozzz on May 26, 2006 12:39 PM PDT up 0 recs

<more hugs>

thanks y'all!

"The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass all the time."

-Catfish Hunter

by kaweahkaweah on May 26, 2006 8:11 AM PDT up 0 recs

Which teams were

most "smallball" in 2005?

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/small-ball-whos-who/

As it turns out, Anaheim, Tampa Bay, and Chicago (AL) played the smallest of small ball last year. Six of the top ten were AL teams, which should further dispel the myth that small ball is some sort of National League style.

And guess who came in last? No, not the A's. Texas. The A's were 19th last year, fairly middle of the pack. In fact, the only small ball categories in which the A's ranked near the bottom were stolen base attempts and bunts. They were near the top for "putting the ball in play" and middling for productive outs and reliance on the home run.

So ppppbbbbbtthh to you.

Can intangibles exist? Only the ones you can touch.

by salb918 on May 26, 2006 7:41 AM PDT 0 recs

I get to leave work at noon today

That's my good news. :)

Also, some plants I planted on the balcony a few weeks ago are actually growing instead of dying.

A's positivity... um... Kotsay's home run last night was gorgeous, wasn't it?

"Oysters were not considered as potential predators to use on the plane." ~~ Rubin Sierra

by Poppy on May 26, 2006 7:42 AM PDT 0 recs

Absolutely!

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

by oblique on May 26, 2006 7:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

Kotsay is dreamy.

<sigh>

I don't think Brad's going to be able to sex the Ranger's lineup to death. -- Jennifer

by Sharon on May 26, 2006 8:07 AM PDT up 0 recs

I was referring to the actual upper-deck HR...

...but okay. ;)

"Oysters were not considered as potential predators to use on the plane." ~~ Rubin Sierra

by Poppy on May 26, 2006 8:12 AM PDT up 0 recs

That too.

I don't think Brad's going to be able to sex the Ranger's lineup to death. -- Jennifer

by Sharon on May 26, 2006 8:17 AM PDT up 0 recs

A couple more

Our very own Nick Swisher makes the Under 25 Team.

The folks at Catfish Stew feel Macha's decisions yesterday had geopolitical implications.

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

by oblique on May 26, 2006 7:43 AM PDT 0 recs

geopolitical?

I thought it was about wallpaper...

"Oysters were not considered as potential predators to use on the plane." ~~ Rubin Sierra

by Poppy on May 26, 2006 8:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

Um

Under 25 and no Miggy C?

"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." - Yogi Berra

by vignette17 on May 26, 2006 11:03 AM PDT up 0 recs

Poor planning ...

how does any team with Jose Reyes not have a backup SS? Right now their player most suited to back him up is probably David Wright. I'd cut Cano, let Weekes start and bring in Hanley Ramirez as the backup MI.

Cabrera's absence is simply inexplicable as he's still 23 and he'd be at least the second best player on the team.

Devo's newest project And his blog

by devo on May 26, 2006 12:55 PM PDT up 0 recs

<sob>

Harden is <sob> close.

by Jennifer on May 26, 2006 7:50 AM PDT 0 recs

I want to stay in here

But I'm rudely being forced to rejoin the real world. I'll be back later, though...keep it safe here. I'll need it.

by Squeaky on May 26, 2006 7:52 AM PDT 0 recs

Sharon,

I went back to watch last night's game, just so I could see what you were talking about in the thread. It stuck out like a sore thumb. :)

by Jennifer on May 26, 2006 8:12 AM PDT 0 recs

great, there's a sore thumb now?!

{DL's 'it'}

"Oysters were not considered as potential predators to use on the plane." ~~ Rubin Sierra

by Poppy on May 26, 2006 8:13 AM PDT up 0 recs

It completely took my focus off the game.

I was relaxing, enjoying the banter in the game thread. And then I saw, no I heard that and I swear I started twitching. Yikes.

I don't think Brad's going to be able to sex the Ranger's lineup to death. -- Jennifer

by Sharon on May 26, 2006 8:17 AM PDT up 0 recs

It was amusing....

but it really did interrupt the game. <nails on chalkboard>

The look on Tom Grieve's face was priceless. Like, WTF was that?

Ditto, Tom. :)

by Jennifer on May 26, 2006 8:20 AM PDT up 0 recs

It could be worse.

We could be fans of a different sport.

Can intangibles exist? Only the ones you can touch.

by salb918 on May 26, 2006 8:23 AM PDT 0 recs

Hey, that's The Iron Moumbassa!

He does a great powerbomb off the top rope.

"I smell like a meadow." - Yuniesky Betancourt

by Ozzz on May 26, 2006 10:35 AM PDT up 0 recs

And now we know

how Dan Haren manges to stay off the DL.

And why is the UCLA school of Medicine named after David Geffen? Isn't he a record executive?

Can intangibles exist? Only the ones you can touch.

by salb918 on May 26, 2006 8:26 AM PDT 0 recs

Med schools named for music execs?

That study is tainted.

"Oysters were not considered as potential predators to use on the plane." ~~ Rubin Sierra

by Poppy on May 26, 2006 8:36 AM PDT up 0 recs

Geffen's into music and movies

And you can get your name on anything provided you pay enough for it. It's possible Geffen went to UCLA, and after making it big, they targeted him for a gift. Even if he's not an alum, he might have just wanted an ego balm and ponied up half the cost of the building or something.

"I was always high on X. Obviously, that hasn't changed." -- Jake Peavy

by spal on May 26, 2006 8:41 AM PDT up 0 recs

so they name a school after you

if you give them a pony?

death to myspace!

by malikot on May 26, 2006 9:12 AM PDT up 0 recs

not just one, but many

But what they don't tell you is that it's actually a veterenary hospital that Geffen funded, so in case one of the ponies gets hurt, they can try to recoup the value by selling it to stud even if it can't race anymore. I think most of the money for the Geffen hospital actually came from parlaying a quiniela with a straight trifecta on a $12M wager. Apparently someone in the med school got a tip that Neptune's Folly, the favorite in the 4th where they chose the trifecta, had eaten some bad feed that morning.

"I was always high on X. Obviously, that hasn't changed." -- Jake Peavy

by spal on May 26, 2006 9:54 AM PDT up 0 recs

prescription for A's teamwide recovery

FIRE ... NOW!!

by rubin sierra on May 26, 2006 10:43 AM PDT up 0 recs

As soon as the insurance is up to date

I'm pretty sure Vucanich keeps paint thinner on hand for just such occasions.

Better luck is just a standard deviation away.

by FreeSeatUpgrade on May 26, 2006 12:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

Anyone recall whispers of...

trades involving Duke during the off-season, namely that putrid one involving David Wells. I'm curious, would you rather have a relief pitcher with known chronic back problems in additon to recent arm woes or in hindsight, traded him while his value was at its peak and his injury concerns weren't as serious? Viewing this year so far, we now realize that Beane has brought together various players with known injury concerns. In all fairness, the players who occupied the DL (and the unofficial Oakland A's day-to-day DL) so far this year are no real big surprises. I hope for future health for this team but with this core of guys, injuries are always going to occur.

I like Mickey Morabito's hair.

by franks a lot on May 26, 2006 8:44 AM PDT 0 recs

i just saw Season Ending Lost

I just pooped my pants. And Sals.

Reed (to Carl Everett): Go f*ck a gay dinosaur, Bigot!-Lookout Landing

by ohad on May 26, 2006 8:46 AM PDT 0 recs

Yeah.

I hate "WTF?!" season finales... Invasion, ER, 24... feh!

"Oysters were not considered as potential predators to use on the plane." ~~ Rubin Sierra

by Poppy on May 26, 2006 8:58 AM PDT up 0 recs

Do you think the writers even KNOW

what the hell they want to do with that show? Or is it just a case of "Let's throw together the most random, unexplainable shit, leave much of it totally unexplained, and then maybe in season 5 or so we'll start to tell them what's really going on."

by nycfan on May 26, 2006 9:15 AM PDT up 0 recs

And Invasion

went and got cancelled. <sob> WTF?! with no hope of resolution. :(

by goldfish on May 26, 2006 9:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

CANCELLED?!

What about Larkin and hot ranger's baby?!

"Oysters were not considered as potential predators to use on the plane." ~~ Rubin Sierra

by Poppy on May 26, 2006 9:36 AM PDT up 0 recs

I KNOW!

What a way to end it. With Underlay standing there in the water all bloody. I had read in Tim Goodman's column that it had been cancelled before I saw the finale, and it was so frustrating knowing that there would be no next season.

by goldfish on May 26, 2006 9:46 AM PDT up 0 recs

well

it still leaves an element of "WTF?!". EVery lost episode basically just adds more questions... And IMO most of them won't be answered, just the main ones like "Who are the Others" and generally "WTF is going on".I can't believe we have to wait until October 4th...

How many episodes are in "Invasion"? I watch t

Reed (to Carl Everett): Go f*ck a gay dinosaur, Bigot!-Lookout Landing

by ohad on May 26, 2006 9:33 AM PDT up 0 recs

There were

22 episodes aired.

by goldfish on May 26, 2006 9:49 AM PDT up 0 recs

can you or anyone

sort of just break it down to me in short over the course of the season from about episode 10? What are the hybrids? What the hell is going on?

Reed (to Carl Everett): Go f*ck a gay dinosaur, Bigot!-Lookout Landing

by ohad on May 26, 2006 12:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

I'll give it a try

I'm not sure how much sense this will make! :-D

People who go into the water and are attacked by the "lights" emerge as hybrids such as Sheriff Underlay and his wife Mariel. They are stronger, heal faster, and can breathe under water.

Sometimes hybrids have a hard time adjusting back to living in normal society (one woman killed her baby and mother-in-law). The Sheriff has been sending these outcasts to an island run by a man named Szura to prepare them for reentry amongst normal people. Unknown to the Sheriff, Szura was training them to become a militia to take over.

In the finale the militant hybrids try to take over and force people to become hybrids. Sheriff Underlay and Russell (the cute ranger) stop them and the real military come in and round up the hybrids. Unfortunately, some people attack the Sheriff, blaming him for the whole fiasco, and in the process Larkin (Russell's wife) is shot. The show ends with the Sheriff carrying her bleeding (and presumably dying) body into the ocean. Russell and Mariel come upon him as he has apparently chosen to let Larkin become a hybrid rather than let her die.

by goldfish on May 26, 2006 3:52 PM PDT up 0 recs

I saw our Season Ending Loss too

unfortunetly.

"Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever."

by Zonis on May 26, 2006 9:38 AM PDT up 0 recs

LOL

Happy Place! Happy Place, dammit!

"Oysters were not considered as potential predators to use on the plane." ~~ Rubin Sierra

by Poppy on May 26, 2006 9:52 AM PDT up 0 recs

Now I know

You've been listening to too many A's broadcasts. You can sell anything--15 days for $15 in our classified ads "Surrender to the serenity of nothingness..."

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on May 26, 2006 10:38 AM PDT up 0 recs

Frank Thomas in May

OBP, SLG, AVG:

.423 .462 .231

I'll take that.

"The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass all the time."

-Catfish Hunter

by kaweahkaweah on May 26, 2006 8:57 AM PDT 0 recs

Seconds, please.

Can intangibles exist? Only the ones you can touch.

by salb918 on May 26, 2006 9:05 AM PDT up 0 recs

They're having fun in Arizona

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=66384

by Just Me on May 26, 2006 9:09 AM PDT 0 recs

This seems fitting

Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to grey
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee to go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces everytime
And I don't need no carryin' on

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Well you need a blue sky holiday
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on

You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You've seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Had a bad day
Had a bad day
Had a bad day
Had a bad day
Had a bad day

Chicks dig Moneyball.

by Kelly on May 26, 2006 9:09 AM PDT 0 recs

time for the wet blanket

I HATE that song. I'm kinda glad American Idol is over, but it still plays every 5 minutes on our piped in satellite music at work.

death to myspace!

by malikot on May 26, 2006 9:14 AM PDT up 0 recs

one of the most

annoying songs out there. makes me feel like i'm supposed to be running through a field of sunflowers or something!! eww !!

Can I move back to NorCal?!

by griffisgurl on May 26, 2006 12:35 PM PDT up 0 recs

On the other hand,

I just listened to "My Destiny" again, and it's actually a pretty good song. <covers head against flinged poo>

I miss Bill King.

by Checkswing HR on May 26, 2006 1:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

Oh my gosh, Harden's close?

That's hawwwt. Could we possibly be seeing the end of Karsay/Keisler/Flores? HAWWT.

On a side note, I'm so pleased that I was bitching about Kotsay's disappearing power and he goes BLAM!! and hits it about as far as you can hit it. Awesome. He's hawwt.

by nycfan on May 26, 2006 9:13 AM PDT 0 recs

Batgirl links!

'Cause we all need a little ice cream right now.

by Jennifer on May 26, 2006 9:15 AM PDT 0 recs

big work day for me

I shall frolic afterwards. Until then...

Hugs for everyone! Except Sal. Go back to your research... your lab needs you.

ps. Accidentally posted this comment in the winexp diary, where it looks pretty damn weird and funny.

by Apricot on May 26, 2006 9:28 AM PDT 0 recs

I think it's needed even MORE in the winexp diary

"Oysters were not considered as potential predators to use on the plane." ~~ Rubin Sierra

by Poppy on May 26, 2006 9:35 AM PDT up 0 recs

The least they could do

is put windows in our office. This f---in' sucks.

Can intangibles exist? Only the ones you can touch.

by salb918 on May 26, 2006 9:47 AM PDT up 0 recs

I always figured you for a Mac guy ...

the bears were hungry and the monkey looked a lot like lunch @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 26, 2006 9:49 AM PDT up 0 recs

I don't drive trucks.

Can intangibles exist? Only the ones you can touch.

by salb918 on May 26, 2006 9:51 AM PDT up 0 recs

Trucks?

When did Suzuki start making trucks??

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

by oblique on May 26, 2006 9:52 AM PDT up 0 recs

1968

http://www.off-road.com/suzuki/tech/history.htm

the bears were hungry and the monkey looked a lot like lunch @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 26, 2006 9:54 AM PDT up 0 recs

<goes to mental circular file>

Can intangibles exist? Only the ones you can touch.

by salb918 on May 26, 2006 9:56 AM PDT up 0 recs

<goes to circular mental ward>

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

by oblique on May 26, 2006 10:07 AM PDT up 0 recs

heh.

Speaking of the winexp diary, can you do a second check on Barajas? Something tells me that he is negative, but just to confirm?

Damn! Street is so imposing, he even causes the earth itself to freeze in fear! - monkeyball

by Jjjsixsix on May 26, 2006 11:11 AM PDT up 0 recs

done

and yes, I get that he's negative too.

by Apricot on May 26, 2006 1:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

Barret suspended

10 games for doing something everyone else in the league has been wanting to do for a long time.

death to myspace!

by malikot on May 26, 2006 9:46 AM PDT 0 recs

sorry

here's the link.

death to myspace!

by malikot on May 26, 2006 9:49 AM PDT up 0 recs

Man...

Every day should be punch Prickzinski in the face day

"Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever."

by Zonis on May 26, 2006 10:16 AM PDT up 0 recs

now THAT's a stadium promotion idea!

the bears were hungry and the monkey looked a lot like lunch @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 26, 2006 10:17 AM PDT up 0 recs

Instead of bobbleheads

give away AJ voodo dolls.

"The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass all the time."

-Catfish Hunter

by kaweahkaweah on May 26, 2006 10:19 AM PDT up 0 recs

I was thinking more like ...

... hanging heavy punching bags inside each entryway with White Sox jerseys in AJ's number on them. Each ticketholder gets to take a whack as s/he comes in.

the bears were hungry and the monkey looked a lot like lunch @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 26, 2006 10:22 AM PDT up 0 recs