Fodder for the Clubhouse Wall

by Steve in Napa on Aug 14, 2006 9:16 AM PDT

The NY Daily News has an interesting article this morning about the Yankees problems with the Angels. Here are the last few paragraphs:

"The Yankees' ongoing struggles with the Angels are worth bearing in mind as the season plays itself out, since tonight isn't the last time they will face each other.

Besides the fact the Yankees have a three-game series in Anaheim Aug. 25-27, there remains a chance the teams will meet in the postseason. If the Yankees win the AL East and Boston takes the wild card - as has happened the past three seasons - the Bombers likely would face the West winner.

Oakland (65-52) leads the West by 4-1/2 games over the Angels. Clearly, the best-case scenario for the Yankees is for the A's to hang on, given that they've never won a playoff series (0-4) since Billy Beane became general manager in 1998.

Nothing ever seems to change in the West. The A's always make a second-half run. They never go deep into October. And the Angels never make it easy on the Yankees."

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Comments

Unfortunately,

They're right. Until we get past the first round, we'll always have that monkey (rally or otherwise) on our back. Then again, we only have a handful of players left from the 00-03 run, right? Hopefully, we won't be burdened by the past.

by Rickeyfan on Aug 14, 2006 9:28 AM PDT reply actions

Hopefully this year we can clinch before the

last week of the season, so that we can actually rest some players so they won't play tired. Hopefully we can also find a way to slide (Giambi) and touch home plate (Byrnes) effectively.

Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third is covered by Kotsay.

by carp on Aug 14, 2006 9:40 AM PDT reply actions

Umm....

Maybe we can run to home plate too (Miggy)

"I almost threw up in my mouth when I heard this this weekend...I literally almost threw up in my mouth"Eric Chavez

by 510inDenver on Aug 14, 2006 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions

and not punch Red Sox fans with pitching arm

in a bar the night before the game

Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third is covered by Kotsay.

by carp on Aug 14, 2006 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Don't forget to swing at the 3rd strike (Long)

by Lafayette Scotsman on Aug 14, 2006 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions

or Melhuse who was pinch hitting

for our $11 million man...Jermaine Dye.

Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third is covered by Kotsay.

by carp on Aug 14, 2006 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions

i'm glad i can laugh at those comments now

hehe.

by gotgreen on Aug 14, 2006 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions

Or Eck walking

Mike Davis to get to Kirk Gibson and his fake-hurt knee.

I do like those Gatorade softball commercials though

Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third is covered by Kotsay.

by carp on Aug 14, 2006 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Who's laughing?

<sob>

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 14, 2006 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions

My problem with Hudson

was that he hit the wrong target -- there were 25 guys in the other dugout that he could have hit instead.

I mean, just aim for the tape on the back, and you hit the spine. Easy as hell.

"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on Aug 14, 2006 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions

it's the injuries!

they didn't exactly help us in the postseason. the first beane playoff year, we had gil heredia starting game 5 because of needing to clinch threw off the rotation. however, the next year, dye shattered his leg in game 4 (coupled w/ petite's gem in game 3 beating zito 1-0). the next year, huddy pitched w/ a hip injury (probably shouldn't have played) and got lit up by the twins in both his starts. and finally, in '03, mulder, who was a machine that year, was out. so while its popular to say the a's always choke, 1) we always played tough series, and 2) we've almost always had at least one major injury.

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

by guy incognito on Aug 14, 2006 9:52 AM PDT reply actions

The rotation has always been

thrown off I think, because the A's don't clinch until the last few games because they go 8-24 in the first few weeks of the season. This year though maybe they can take care of business soon.

Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third is covered by Kotsay.

by carp on Aug 14, 2006 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions

I can think of an

unresolved major injury that could doom our chances this year.

by mikeA on Aug 14, 2006 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Sauerback?

Witasick?

by DavidA on Aug 14, 2006 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Yabu

Is it Yabu? Oh wait. He is gone now. Hmmm....

"A's Brand Baseball: The worst best baseball you've ever seen!" -Chavvy

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 14, 2006 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd have to say...

..The article is purty durn fair. I'd want to play the A's in the ALDS, too. Because that way, the A's would be playing the A's, and the A's would have to win.

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 Aug 14, 2006 10:04 AM PDT reply actions

Yankees problems with the Angels is weird

Angels are the only visiting team with a winning record in Yankee Stadium for the last 10 years or so

The last two times the Yankees lost in the division series was both to the Angels

Hi, I am closetasfan, and I am a NRAF, and an ANA

by closetasfan on Aug 14, 2006 10:06 AM PDT reply actions

I think the A's have handled the Yanks

pretty well this year. We haven't seen them with Abreau, Lidle, and a healthy Matsui. Yikes. The Yanks vets always show up for big games, I'll give them that.

Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third is covered by Kotsay.

by carp on Aug 14, 2006 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Interesting

I can absolutely see why the Yankees would prefer to play the A's in the play off, given that we went into New York and SWEPT them with our B team on the field! Yeah, that makes sense!

"This is the best hug in the major leagues, right here!" - Swisher Pics

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Aug 14, 2006 10:23 AM PDT reply actions

Sweept their B team with our B team.

A Yanquii co-worker kvetched about all their injuries - I replied saying A's had a ton too.

But you can't expect a fan to be fair.

by MobiusKlein on Aug 14, 2006 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions

Yuck the Fankees!!!!

and Auck the Fangels!!!

"Let's Go A's"!!!

"I think we just feel that now is our time." - Nick Swisher

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Aug 14, 2006 10:40 AM PDT reply actions

Saint are you still

ducking frunk from yesterday's E-xciting and A-mazing win.

Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third is covered by Kotsay.

by carp on Aug 14, 2006 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Nah, I napped it off after writing that Pulitzer:

Piece!!!

I don't like any of the (Insert team) Sucks chants.

I like the "Let's Go (Insert Team or Player)" chants.

All that the suck chants do is show that we even care about thier team.

I usually shut those down unless it is the Munster's Themed You Suck chant for a miscue in the field.

"I think we just feel that now is our time." - Nick Swisher

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Aug 14, 2006 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Saint are you and Duke

practicing for someway to incorporate a killer beat into the raucous 35,000 (ok...25,000 of them are A's fans) chanting "Yankees Suck...Yankees Suck?"

It's too bad we can't chant "1918" anymore.

Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third is covered by Kotsay.

by carp on Aug 14, 2006 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions

The 00-03 Teams

and this one are very different. Bradley, Kotsay and Payton are not only a more talented outfield than we had 00-03 they are also much more, how should I say this, intense than players we've had before and that is one of the things that I think have been missing from the A's in years past. Swisher and Kendall bring a much different mind set than Hatty and Ramon did and a totaly revamped bullpen spells trouble for opposing teams. The A's in the past were Loaded with talent but seemed to lack a certian intensity. This is the year it all comes together.

"I like playing for Oakland, they have a very colorful uniform" Rickey Henderson

by natsirt on Aug 14, 2006 11:15 AM PDT reply actions

the only fodder needed is...

two words:

Tired. Act.

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

by Cutthemullet on Aug 14, 2006 2:11 PM PDT reply actions

and...

we don't have to pretend we're paying attention to the NY papers for that one. Just a high profile AN member.

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

by Cutthemullet on Aug 14, 2006 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions

He forgot to add...

that the A's make a second-half run and choke in September. Because that's what has happened the last two seasons, it's definitely happening again.

"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 14, 2006 2:13 PM PDT reply actions

heh

can't wait till Harden leads us to that annual September collapse.

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

by Cutthemullet on Aug 14, 2006 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Isn't it funny how quickly something

becomes a trend? I've seen other blogs mention this "annual" September collapse and I can't help but laugh. I'm hardly saying it won't happen again, but two seasons and it's already a sure thing?!

"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 14, 2006 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions

and it's already a sure thing?!

my dates say that about me sometimes

the home run that Eric Chavez did was tight. Sprots4Kids quote

by Satchmo22 on Aug 14, 2006 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions

was that before or after

The big wedding in Wichita, KS! I remember talking to your brother at the A's spring training games and couldn't believe you guys were in my fair city. EVERYONE parties too hard when they come here but they can't ever explain why they do!

"A's Brand Baseball: The worst best baseball you've ever seen!" -Chavvy

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 14, 2006 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions

indeed

I think the recent diary "we're the chokers" over at Halos' Heaven trumps the rest, though: not only do the A's usually choke in the regular season, but this year the Angels are choking. Next thing you know, the Mariners will have "choked" when they lose the upcoming series.

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

by Cutthemullet on Aug 14, 2006 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions

NEWSFLASH:

SALB918 CATCHES FOOD IN THROAT; REV HALOFAN DUBS FREQUENT AN USER "CHOKE ARTIST."

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 14, 2006 6:51 PM PDT up reply actions

BREAKING NEWS:

GARRETT ADKINS SUED BY SALB918'S ESTATE OVER DANGEROUS DIET.

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 Aug 14, 2006 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions

NEWSFLASH:

SALB918'S E-STATE SOLD TO JON ADKINS AFTER IPO FAILS.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 14, 2006 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions

The New York media

For some strange reason has always been in love with the Angels. If I remember correctly (I probably don't) they seem to pick the Angels in the west every year and always write as if an Angels AL West title is a foregone conclusion. I'm guessing it's because the Angels actually beat them in a playoff series once, but it's sorta ridiculous how they treat the team in my opinion.

Gary's Furniture gon hook you up with discount priced furniture....UP, IN, HERE

by walk off bunt on Aug 14, 2006 7:01 PM PDT reply actions