Open Thread - Our Team is Broken!
Oh sure. Give baseballgirl the game after a terrible, terrible loss. Actually, if you want the truth, this loss wasn't as bad as last week's blown 7-0 lead. I think most of us had resigned ourselves to the "L" after the 6-1 start last night, and it was actually nice for once to come back and get the ball in the hands of our closer, who of course, didn't hold the lead. But is that really the point?
Here are some discussion topics for the next few hours:
- Huston Street. Sophomore slump? Injury? League figuring him out? Discuss.
- Bobby Crosby. Will he develop the plate discipline he needs to be a true offensive force in our lineup?
- Frank Thomas. Is he doing what we all thought he could?
- Adam Melhuse. Do we play him every day?
- Marco Scutaro. Can we risk keeping him on the roster? Who can replace him?
- What is up with Chavez and Ellis? We need some inside information.
- Rich (or Rick, if you prefer) Harden. I hate to get too excited...but...
And just think! In a couple of hours, we get to play a game, and not only that, but we must win to avoid a sweep at the hands of the mighty Royals. ;) And one more thing:
THIS IS THE LAST DAY OF MAY!
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Comments
State of Confusion
by greenmachine on May 31, 2006 8:27 AM PDT 0 recs
its about the only thing keeping me from jumping
The month changes tomorrow and we all know what that means.
by NicksDreamy on May 31, 2006 8:36 AM PDT 0 recs
oops. forgot to address the questions:
Bobby Crosby - yes, he IS developing plate discipline. Remember how he'd hack at EVERYTHING his rookie year.
Frank Thomas - getting over an injury and yes, he's doing as well as I'd hoped. 30HR. possibly .400 OBP. Protect Chavez.
Adam Melhuse - I officially declare the Jason Kendall experiment over. And, really, the A's need to get rid of Kendall NOW to make room for Jeremy Brown and/or Kurt Suzuki.
Marco Scutaro - I love the guy, but he's replaceable.
Chavez and Ellis - I don't have inside information.
Rich Harden - I'm excited too, and really think if he's back to his full form, then the A's rotation rights itself and allow the bullpen to right itself.
by NicksDreamy on
May 31, 2006 8:42 AM PDT
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Honestly
by AinOz on
May 31, 2006 8:44 AM PDT
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What about both?
by baseballgirl on
May 31, 2006 8:45 AM PDT
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At once?
by tankerraid on
May 31, 2006 8:46 AM PDT
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DH or 1st base
by baseballgirl on
May 31, 2006 8:49 AM PDT
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Ooo ooo oo
by tankerraid on
May 31, 2006 9:12 AM PDT
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Is it weird that I'm actually
Would MELHUSE! wear a mitt on each hand, like a backup? And MELHUSE! could talk trash while he's strapped to Kendall.
by Jennifer on
May 31, 2006 9:20 AM PDT
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Is he strapped
by twinkle toes on
May 31, 2006 9:25 AM PDT
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But with back-to-back...
by Jennifer on
May 31, 2006 9:29 AM PDT
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Well.
If he faced the same way as Kendall, he could touch the butts of the batters to distract them from really hittable pitches. This would come in handy for, say, a Cupcakes start, or when the bullpen comes in, or when our closer takes the mound.
by tankerraid on
May 31, 2006 9:29 AM PDT
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The month changes, but it is going to get WORSE
by oakfan97 on May 31, 2006 8:38 AM PDT 0 recs
Well, good morning to you too!
by baseballgirl on
May 31, 2006 8:40 AM PDT
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Hopefully, our pitching...
by baseballgirl on
May 31, 2006 8:40 AM PDT
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Twins
by Donner on
May 31, 2006 11:21 AM PDT
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Huston's Velocity is WAY down!!!
Who knows why? He just stinks...
by saint on May 31, 2006 8:40 AM PDT 0 recs
Does he ever throw a fastball?
by ohtobe21likehuston on
May 31, 2006 10:26 AM PDT
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"They're only __ games back"
by Sharon on
May 31, 2006 8:46 AM PDT
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WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!
by Poppy on
May 31, 2006 9:52 AM PDT
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The sky is falling.
by lonestar on May 31, 2006 8:44 AM PDT 0 recs
where's the DLD?
Thurs 6/1 vs. Twins: $6 Plaza Outfield Seats! (Reg. $14)
Use coupon code: BASEBALL
Fri 6/2 vs. Twins: 2 for 1 Plaza Infield Seats! ($15 per seat)
Use coupon code: DOUBLE PLAY
Tues 6/13 vs. Mariners: $6 Plaza Outfield Seats! (Reg. $14)
Use coupon code: DIVISION
by gotgreen on May 31, 2006 8:45 AM PDT 0 recs
Re: Missing DLD
by louismg on
May 31, 2006 8:47 AM PDT
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haha
by gotgreen on
May 31, 2006 8:48 AM PDT
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Just got my tickets! Thanks!
My son graduates 8th grade on Friday morning, meaning we've all already taken the day off. I just bought the 4 of us tickets to Friday night's game with the Discount Code - a little over $80 with fees, which isn't too bad. Got seats Plaza level right behind home plate.
The kid is going to be stoked. He's already going to be getting a card from dear old dad with tickets to the A's when they play at SF on June 25th.
But after his grad party starts winding down Friday afternoon, I'm going to tell everyone, "Well, hate to celebrate and run, but we have to get going!"
Dear son will have no idea what I'm talking about. "Go where?"
"Oh, didn't I tell you? We have tickets to the A's tonight..."
Much celebration, hugs and Mom-where-the-heck-is-my-Chavez-jersey screaming.
Mom already has it washed and stashed away. :)
Mark
By the way, if anyone here is going to be there Friday night, love to say howdy!
by marklodi on
May 31, 2006 11:43 AM PDT
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Last Post
If it weren't so annoying, I'd laugh until I puked, then laugh some more. For those of us old fogies who lived through the season of '05, let's try to remember back that far...
Hmmm...we were got killed by a last place team (D-Rays). We had injuries to key players (Crosby and Harden). Blanton was pitching like crap. 14 games under .500 and 11.5 behind first place Texas and Anaheim.
It seems to me we have a lot of people here who either weren't A's fans last year (or for that matter, any of the last 5 years where the A's kicked it into gear for the latter half of the season) or have memories spans stunted by watching too many beer commercials.
So I think I'm going to take a break from AN until logic is a valued commodity again. It's hard enough watching your team struggle through a rough patch than to have to do it with your fellow fans flailing wildly at every half baked idea that gets thrown their way.
by almostreggie on May 31, 2006 8:50 AM PDT 0 recs
2005
All due to terrible starts, and especially the horrid month of May.
Royals announcers feel bad for us. The slumps are almost laughable.
- DJ's "0 for 35...semi-hot...3 for whatever"
- Scutaro's "3 for 54...and counting"
- Ellis' "2 for whatever"
- Crosby's "0 for 19's"
- Frank Thomas with 10 HR's (9 Solo Shots, and hitting approx .133 w/ runners on base).
- Chavez getting sick, then hurt
- Payton had 25% of his RBI's last night
** AN = Therapy for some people .... for others, it adds fuel to the fire.
by Colorado Fan on
May 31, 2006 9:03 AM PDT
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not only that
by rich on
May 31, 2006 9:20 AM PDT
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Argh!
CFan, come on, the A's were in first place as late as late August last year. The bad start didn't keep them out of the playoffs, it was the late season slump mainly brought on by losing Harden for the second time.
And Rich, I'd agree that we can't expect them to pull this off year after year. Except that they do...since 2000. Five years is far too many to be a coincidence. I believe it has to do with the fact that the team is much younger than most and while other teams with older players are wearing down during the dog days, the A's are just heating up.
by almostreggie on
May 31, 2006 9:43 AM PDT
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Reg
Macha won't rest his players because he feels like wins are needed in order to get back to .500 Ball.
Bottom Line: Last seasons late season slump was brought about because of MAY 2005.
by Colorado Fan on
May 31, 2006 10:27 AM PDT
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depth
during the play-off years we generally started slow and then took off all the way to game five of the division series. in 2004 and 2005, we started slow, got hot, and collapsed in september because everyone was exhausted. if we can get hot (and healthy) this year, there should be no collapse at the end of the year.
Huddy: Uh... no.
by mendelbob on
May 31, 2006 10:37 AM PDT
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Why it does not feel like depth....
When you are playing 3 of your depth every day due to injuries, the depth is gone.
by Donner on
May 31, 2006 11:25 AM PDT
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I totally agree
Huddy: Uh... no.
by mendelbob on
May 31, 2006 12:01 PM PDT
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Every win matters (early or late) so the
by DeeWayne on
May 31, 2006 10:30 AM PDT
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Stay Reggie (and all other "True" AN'rs)
This patch is hard to stomach -- I was at the game last night and I saw it first hand -- but we need the real fans to step up and lead the way.
by SportySpice on
May 31, 2006 9:54 AM PDT
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I'm staying positive
Go A's. I have faith in your past accomplishments and my glass is half full even after last night's debacle. Call me stupid... or don't because that would be a violation on this lovely little community called AN.
by ohtobe21likehuston on
May 31, 2006 10:32 AM PDT
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Our Savior?
--RHP Jay Witasick pitched two innings, gave up three hits, two earned runs, walked one, hit one and struck out none in a rehab appearance for Single-A Stockton.
Sounds like we're testing "Rick Harden's" Back by throwing him on a couple plane rides. Wouldn't a round-trip to Stockton be just as valuable?
--RHP Rich Harden will fly into Vegas on Wednesday, go straight to the ballpark, throw two innings, fly home, and is expected to start Sunday against the Twins.
by Colorado Fan on May 31, 2006 8:51 AM PDT 0 recs
I'll take care of Rich!
<grabs sushi to go box on the way to the airport>
Remember Rich, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas...unless it's 6 innings of lights out baseball, in which case, bring it back with you!!
by gigglingone on
May 31, 2006 8:56 AM PDT
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don't give him food poisening with the sushi
by californiagirl on
May 31, 2006 9:00 AM PDT
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Yeah...
by Donner on
May 31, 2006 11:26 AM PDT
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he might hurt himself chewing it
by californiagirl on
May 31, 2006 11:31 AM PDT
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does he really need food?
by californiagirl on
Jun 1, 2006 8:53 AM PDT
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Witasick = good
by ohtobe21likehuston on
May 31, 2006 10:33 AM PDT
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Answers
Crosby will be fine, hopefully giving us the same spark as last year.
Thomas is doing exactly what we need him to do.
Melhuse shouldn't play every day. Pitchers will start figuring him out and expose his weaknesses more. Not that Kendall inspires a lot of hope.
Scutaro, Perez, and Ginter are exchangable parts, none of whom will get enough at-bats to establish any confidence at the plate (Oh wait...)
Chavez will be back soon. Don't know about Ellis. (No dirt, just my prediction)
Come on, Harden!!!
by WayOutInLF14 on May 31, 2006 9:05 AM PDT 0 recs
WBC?
I agree that Street doesn't seem right, and I've read the reports that he has lost velocity off his fastball. Can you explain how you think the WBC could still be having an effect?
by rich on
May 31, 2006 9:23 AM PDT
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The problem not rest
Res is most likely the problem. I would argue he needs to pitch more.
by Donner on
May 31, 2006 11:28 AM PDT
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WBC
by WayOutInLF14 on
May 31, 2006 2:29 PM PDT
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my $0.02
Crosby: He's up and down. Hopefully he puts it all together on a consistent basis, and not only against the lesser teams and pitchers. He certainly has the physical tools to be a star (notwithstanding his injury issues -- which so far I still think are mainly incident-related and not necessarily a worrisome fragility). I do think he needs to mentally adjust in order to succeed at the plate, and think he's trying to do that.
Thomas: He's 38 years old and coming off serious injuries. I honestly didn't expect him to resemble the Thomas of old. I don't object to his being in the lineup, but perhaps move him down a bit (assuming someone hitting better is available to switch lineup places with him). He should be seen as an offensive bonus, not a key.
Melhuse/Kendall: I would be very surprised if the A's were able to trade Kendall...and I think he began the catcher's offensive slide last year -- too many games caught, too many impacting injuries. His defense has improved from last year and he still does better work with the pitchers than any alternative. Solution? Keep him low in the order (which of course would be a no brainer if other players weren't batting even worse then him). Play Melhuse more often, including occasionally at DH (Melhuse hits more effectively if he plays more often). I don't know if he can be an option at first base (for those of you who think anybody can play first base, just think of the possibility for blown plays and how bad mediocre first basement look).
Scutaro: He is a bench player with decent defensive skills (plays third base better than Perez does). His offense has fallen off a cliff, much worse than 2004 or 2005. But what are alternatives from within the organization? Anybody doing well at AAA is doing well in the minors, which doesn't necessarily mean they'll do better in the majors. Still, it might be worthwhile calling up Ginter (who's no defensive whiz) to replace Perez.
Chavez and Ellis: very worrisome
Harden: I have tickets for Sunday's game. It'll be the last game I attend for a month, since I'll be out of the country (also probably won't be following baseball or AN much while I'm gone). So I'd love to see him pitch -- as long as he really is ready and is not overworked.
by OaklandSi on May 31, 2006 9:07 AM PDT 0 recs
I'm just thrilled that it's the last day of May so
by DeeWayne on May 31, 2006 9:25 AM PDT 0 recs
It's not an excuse. It's kind of a joke.
by Sharon on
May 31, 2006 9:30 AM PDT
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clemens to astros is official
yay, not the rangers.
by Eric in Atlanta on May 31, 2006 9:26 AM PDT 0 recs
pop open the bubbly
Huddy: Uh... no.
by mendelbob on
May 31, 2006 10:40 AM PDT
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My Take
Crosby: I like what I have been seeing the past couple of games. If he can be convinced of not trying to swing for the fences he can turn into a very good hitter.
Thomas: He has done about what I expected. Still, he is leaving too many runners on in scoring position. The FT of old is long gone, but if he can improve his RISP avg it will help greatly.
Melhuse: I have never thought of him as anything more than a backup. Still do.
Scutaro: I am more concerned with having Perez on the roster. Ship Perez out and bring back Ginter.
Chavez & Ellis: Maybe they were really hurt last night, but everytime I see injuries like this I just thing of Cal Ripken.
Harden: I said this before the season started. Without a healthy Harden the A's go nowhere.
by RudiFan on May 31, 2006 9:50 AM PDT 0 recs
Wait.
< looks at A's calendar, clearly showing APRIL >
Even the stupid team calendar is broken!
< throws calendar >
by tankerraid on May 31, 2006 9:50 AM PDT 0 recs
Ray Ratto's column
Contains this, in discussing the A's "wait and see" approach to DL'ing:
"With Chavvy, we might wait longer to see if he comes around on an injury than Mark, because we've got (Marco) Scutaro," Davis said before the game, in hypothetical (yet disturbingly prescient) terms.
BEFORE THE GAME. "Disturbingly prescient," my ass. Larry jinxed Chavy & Mark!
by Poppy on May 31, 2006 9:56 AM PDT 0 recs
Clearly, Davis should be fired.
by Sharon on
May 31, 2006 10:45 AM PDT
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Don't look now
by salb918 on May 31, 2006 10:01 AM PDT 0 recs
This team has played 52 gms,
by bigelephant on May 31, 2006 10:07 AM PDT 0 recs
I am.
by salb918 on
May 31, 2006 10:13 AM PDT
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it'ii be OK, i promise.
by bigelephant on
May 31, 2006 5:19 PM PDT
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They are better than my softball team
by niallmack on May 31, 2006 10:10 AM PDT 0 recs
It's final
by salb918 on May 31, 2006 10:15 AM PDT 0 recs
Rich coming back
Maybe they just need to make the conscious decision: "We're not going to lose anymore. Let's win." Ask Barry for some Zen mind tricks.
...I must be getting desperate to suggest such hocus pocus, but do what you have to, right? Next thing you know I'll be stripping down, painting myself green and gold, burning opposing teams' hats, and dancing around fires shrieking lines from MacBeth.
by Squeaky on May 31, 2006 10:18 AM PDT 0 recs
And not the LALAOOAAA Angels, either
by Squeaky on
May 31, 2006 11:12 AM PDT
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My sister trying to cheer me up via email
by Poppy on May 31, 2006 10:33 AM PDT 0 recs
It's, uh,
by salb918 on
May 31, 2006 10:38 AM PDT
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No... it's a powerful antelope sedative.
by Poppy on
May 31, 2006 10:56 AM PDT
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