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Link Dump 8/4: Chavy hearts Bradley...

Tiny by Sharon on

...BFF!

"I said when the trade happened that Milton is an MVP-type player, and I still mean it,'' A's third baseman Eric Chavez said. "I'd go to bat with him any day.'' He took some heat for his temper on that trip in a July 20 column in the Examiner that called Bradley "a tired act'' and asserted that he has "about seven screws loose.'' Bradley's teammates took notice of the criticism, and after his game-winning homer against Toronto, "tired act'' was scribbled on the team message board in a show of support for him.

"He's like a family member, like everyone in here, and when someone takes a shot at a family member, you're going to defend him,'' Kotsay said.

"I thought that was great,'' Chavez said of the message. "We were all aware (of the column). With the kind of stuff he goes through, there's some satisfaction, some pride that we all feel about his accomplishments. Everyone is happy to see him do well. We love him as a teammate. He's a big part of what we're going to do.''

"Sure, he's intense, but it never goes too far. Kotsay is pretty intense, and so is (Jason) Kendall, but Milton takes it to another level, and I think that's great. You take it all when you have a player who's that's intense a person. He's already one of my favorite teammates all time.''

Clearly, this is a sinking ship.

I'm still waiting for the article that refutes this:

They're also tired of Macha playing the role of enabler. And I'm dead serious. That was the most shocking line in the entire column. Enabler of what?!

Bunnies is going on the DL. Blame Jennifer.

I apologize for the short link dump. I wanted to get one up as soon as possible.

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Facials!
"He should have been out for blood, like a two-mouthed bear at a monkey eating contest!" ~ McFood

by Poppy on Aug 4, 2006 9:08 AM PDT   0 recs

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

by Sharon on Aug 4, 2006 9:12 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

<speechless>
"the poop stain on the collective AN pantalones." -ohad

by ArakSOT on Aug 4, 2006 9:37 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

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

by Sharon on Aug 4, 2006 9:38 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

HEY!
You started it!
"He should have been out for blood, like a two-mouthed bear at a monkey eating contest!" ~ McFood

by Poppy on Aug 4, 2006 9:40 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

No, monkeyball started it.
Blame monkeyball!
"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 4, 2006 9:42 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I AM Ken Macha!
Mwahahahahaha!!!
You've got some clever folks, Blez. Mean as hell, but clever. -- Mychael Urban @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 4, 2006 10:20 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm innocent as a little lamb
Shall I bleat for you? <bbaaaa>

by Squeaky on Aug 4, 2006 9:43 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

If somebody takes you up on your offer...
By the time they get out of jail, you'll be cirquegirl36.
"the reason why hitting the ball on the "sweet spot" of the bat feels so good is that the ball is contacting at the bat at a vibrational node." - salb918

by McFood on Aug 4, 2006 9:47 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Um...
Hey, on the risk of sounding like a total idiot, and I already have, I actually had no idea what I was saying because I haven't heard the expression. So...yeah. I'm a total idiot.

by Squeaky on Aug 4, 2006 9:49 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You're not an idiot.
You're just a better person than some of the rest of us...  ;)
"He should have been out for blood, like a two-mouthed bear at a monkey eating contest!" ~ McFood

by Poppy on Aug 4, 2006 9:53 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks
I still feel stupid.

by Squeaky on Aug 4, 2006 9:53 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Well, we still love you...
And people are easily distracted.  Watch:

OMG!  Billy Beane just walked into my office to tell me he's DFA'd Frank Thomas!

"He should have been out for blood, like a two-mouthed bear at a monkey eating contest!" ~ McFood

by Poppy on Aug 4, 2006 10:01 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

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

by Sharon on Aug 4, 2006 10:03 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

BB....
That was a dumb idea.

by Squeaky on Aug 4, 2006 10:08 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Shiny!
"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 4, 2006 10:09 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I used glitter glue last night
I was mailing some birthday and anniversary cards, and went a little crazy with the glitter glue. Cingular is going to be *very* confused to see my payment....  :)
There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Aug 4, 2006 10:11 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Glittery!
"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 4, 2006 10:14 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

oooh, look! A squirrel!
"the poop stain on the collective AN pantalones." -ohad

by ArakSOT on Aug 4, 2006 10:10 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

oooh look, roadkill!!!
Someone bring it to the next Chez Nico! :)
There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Aug 4, 2006 10:13 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

mmmm... tasty skwirl...
"He should have been out for blood, like a two-mouthed bear at a monkey eating contest!" ~ McFood

by Poppy on Aug 4, 2006 10:14 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow.
bAnNeD!

<kRaZeE wAnD aKshuN>

by Jennifer on Aug 4, 2006 9:43 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Whoa
Stephen Colbert: "Kids who look up to athletes become athletes themselves."
The Word: Or bitter sports journalists.

by JLaff on Aug 4, 2006 9:45 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Someone should email that story to Dickey
"the poop stain on the collective AN pantalones." -ohad

by ArakSOT on Aug 4, 2006 9:09 AM PDT   0 recs

Okay, Dickey made a huge boo-boo
I think if they scribbled it after the game winning homer, it's pretty obvious they are doing it to support him. Based on his tone I had assumed it must have been written before. Lame.
I miss Bill King :(

by gojohn10 on Aug 4, 2006 9:27 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That's simply not baseball...
Kevin Pietersen rode his luck on the way to 82 not out
as England rebuilt their innings on the first day of the third Test against Pakistan at Headingley.

Sorry, I get a little stir crazy on off days.

"the reason why hitting the ball on the "sweet spot" of the bat feels so good is that the ball is contacting at the bat at a vibrational node." - salb918

by McFood on Aug 4, 2006 9:13 AM PDT   0 recs

The rules of cricket in a nutshell
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in, goes out, and when he's out, he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out. When both sides have been in and out including the not-outs, that's the end of the game.
"Even if you know the deck is stacked in your favor, you still have to have the discipline to trust the math and the cojones to go to the ATM." BB

by green star oakland on Aug 4, 2006 9:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

And then they do the hokey-pokey and they
turn themselves around.  That's what it's all about.

by Rickeyfan on Aug 4, 2006 10:18 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

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

by Sharon on Aug 4, 2006 9:16 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh, get a room you two
What do you think this is a Howard Stern-sponsored Web site?

by Blez on Aug 4, 2006 9:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

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

by Sharon on Aug 4, 2006 9:25 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm just bitter that we didn't see you
at AN Day 3.  

<runs off crying>

by Blez on Aug 4, 2006 9:26 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Jennifer and I are planning for AN Day 12.
We figure Poppy will fill up the cuss jar by then.
"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 4, 2006 9:29 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

SHIT!
If the cuss jar was real, I'd have bought you guys a nice Bay Area condo already.
"He should have been out for blood, like a two-mouthed bear at a monkey eating contest!" ~ McFood

by Poppy on Aug 4, 2006 9:36 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You mean Galveston Bay?
Otherwise, that must have been a HUGE cuss jar.
"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 4, 2006 9:38 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Give it another few years
and buy 'em a condo in the new ballpark.

Party at Jennifer and Sharon's place!

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

by Kyli on Aug 4, 2006 11:34 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Make sure someone tells Lew Wolff
that one of the new ballpark condos has to have a basement.
"Even if you know the deck is stacked in your favor, you still have to have the discipline to trust the math and the cojones to go to the ATM." BB

by green star oakland on Aug 4, 2006 12:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I think Sharon and Jennifer need to
... wear Kiss makeup.
You've got some clever folks, Blez. Mean as hell, but clever. -- Mychael Urban @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 4, 2006 10:55 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Where is that Mychael Urban guy?
When was his last Oakland A's article?  It has been a little while.
Mailbag? Haven't seen that either.
Maybe he is on vacation?
Can anyone shed some light on this....July 20?
Now THIS is Billy Ball

by Masaryk on Aug 4, 2006 9:28 AM PDT   0 recs

a nice long vacation
in the most crucial time of the baseball season...

by OaklandSi on Aug 4, 2006 10:07 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

In the name of accuracy ...
My column didn't include the words "tired act" ... the line to which Susan's article today is referring was "it was clear that they (teammates) have tired of Bradley's act" ... btw, not on vacation. In Seattle with the A's.

by MychaelUrban on Aug 4, 2006 12:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't see how the connotations are any different
for what it's worth, especially since you also referred to him as a guy with "seven screws loose."  I'm not surprised to see some of the other guys sticking up for Milton after that, in marked contrast to your claims, which you apparently still stand by.

by LD on Aug 4, 2006 2:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i think
that the connotations are completely different.  a "tired act" and "tired of an act" are two TOTALLY different things - the former being much MUCH worse, in my opinion.

i've been meaning to comment of the whole urban article from the get-go, but never got around to it.  i honestly don't see what the huge deal is about.  the guy saw something that was being commented on in the media (and rightfully so) and wrote an article about it!  he's a JOURNALIST - so obviously his personal opinions on the matter come into play.  as i said in a different comment, i don't think he'd do anything to jeopardize his relationship with the team - and i don't think he did in his article.  i even went back and re-read it after all the hoopla it raised.  

he gave his opinion, and he's sticking to it - which is something i admire.  i would have a hard time having any respect for him if he took back what he said in all the backlash that followed the article - both in the media and on AN.  we all have different opinions on what went on with bradley, and all of the opinions are valid.  maybe urban just said something we didn't really want to hear...

"One time I climbed a fence to get a baseball that had been run over by a lawn mower. I thought it was beautiful" *Scott

by MisplacedOakFan on Aug 4, 2006 2:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

maybe Urban just said something we didn't really
want to hear"

I don't think so. Many ANers were initially uncomfortable with this trade. Bradley had to prove himself to many fans, and I think he did. His teammates also seem to be quite supportive of him. It certainly helps when he's a productive member of the team...but there are players who seem to genuinely like him.

Urban is certainly entitled to his opinion, as well to his likes and dislikes of players. But I think much of the criticism that he got for the article was very well thought out.

by OaklandSi on Aug 4, 2006 2:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i didn't mean to imply
that the criticism wasn't well thought out, or even that it wasn't understandable.  i definitely understand why some people thought what they did.  i was merely trying to say that for ME some people possibly over-reacted...  that was MY reaction to the article, and to people's reactions.  
"One time I climbed a fence to get a baseball that had been run over by a lawn mower. I thought it was beautiful" *Scott

by MisplacedOakFan on Aug 4, 2006 4:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

To each their own.
I happen to disagree with you completely.  Making a mistake and overstating the case, and being willing to admit it when facts seem to prove you wrong, is a quality that I greatly admire.  In fact, I disrespect people who are incapable of that.  No one is perfect, and humility is sexy.

by LD on Aug 4, 2006 2:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

In the name of accuracy...
...Urban stated that Bradley had "about seven screws loose." (Emphasis mine.)

Clearly, the full and complete quote with the additional word added gives it a completely different meaning. Urban wasn't sure exactly how many screws Milton had loose, so he deftly add the "about" qualifier. ;)

(The above all stated with tongue planted firmly in cheek.)

`I think every morning I wake up I'm a little dazed. For some reason, I'm used to hitting things with my head.' - Eric Byrnes - 6/25/05

by nodaclu on Aug 4, 2006 4:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ha!
Better tongue in cheek than foot in mouth, I suppose.

by LD on Aug 4, 2006 5:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

A's doll that does not bobble
My kid got his Haren bobblehead on Sunday and he is in love with it. He sleeps with it, talks to it, and pretends to play catch with it ("you want to play baseball to-nite?"). The problem is a bobblehead doesn't last long with a 2 year old. Anyone know where I could get a durable A's doll?
I miss Bill King :(

by gojohn10 on Aug 4, 2006 9:30 AM PDT   0 recs

Well, probably not the roster.
"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 4, 2006 9:36 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

it can be generic
Maybe I'll just buy a GI Joe doll and make him an A's uniform.
I miss Bill King :(

by gojohn10 on Aug 4, 2006 9:52 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

My kids have Stomper plush dolls
Which I was delighted to learn have now re-appeared at the in-stadium souvenier stores (the larger ones on the first level near the corner exits).  Stomper toys had been totally absent all year long until recently.  My kids are obsessed with Stomper.

You could also get Kielty troll dolls from last year cheap on eBay.  They're durable and fun.

"I don't want to 'Wear It.' It doesn't match my shoes." --Jennifer

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Aug 4, 2006 10:54 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

"durable and fun"?
FSU, do we want to know just what, exactly, you've been doing with those troll dolls?
You've got some clever folks, Blez. Mean as hell, but clever. -- Mychael Urban @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 4, 2006 10:56 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Let's just say
Jennifer and gigglingone don't have a monopoly on glitter glue.  Or KISS makeup.
"I don't want to 'Wear It.' It doesn't match my shoes." --Jennifer

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Aug 4, 2006 10:59 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Stomper should do the Job
He loves stomer. Thanks FSU
I miss Bill King :(

by gojohn10 on Aug 4, 2006 11:13 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Heaven knows...
...the real players don't seem all that durable either.  :(

by GlassHeart on Aug 4, 2006 3:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Bill James' sabermetric all-star team
and despite his fear and loathing of numbers, Joe Morgan makes the cut.

http://science.discovery.com/convergence/baseball/photo/photo.html

"Even if you know the deck is stacked in your favor, you still have to have the discipline to trust the math and the cojones to go to the ATM." BB

by green star oakland on Aug 4, 2006 9:36 AM PDT   0 recs

New Conspiracy Theory
Urban wrote that article knowing it would cause the team to rally around Milton Bradley, because he could tell that Bradley was the kind of guy who feeds off criticism. If he's angry, he performs. If he's happy, he's hurt.

You see, my inside sources tell me that Urban bet his friends Bradley would be the AL MVP of the second half, and he took matters into his own hands to make sure it happened. He's been busy concocting a flu cure for the last few weeks, because he anticipated that Milton was going to be exposed and wanted to minimize the amount of time he was out of the lineup. Don't even ask about his work with a BJ Ryan voodoo doll. That was pure genius.

Smart guy, that Mychael Urban.

by Dog Days on Aug 4, 2006 9:37 AM PDT   0 recs

He's our Rally Writer
I'm sure he's penning an article saying Swisher is perennially enebriated and beats up puppies. Yeah, that'll get Swish fired up.
Stephen Colbert: "Kids who look up to athletes become athletes themselves."
The Word: Or bitter sports journalists.

by JLaff on Aug 4, 2006 9:46 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

He's not beating them up...
he's tenderizing them.

<whips up marinade>

"the reason why hitting the ball on the "sweet spot" of the bat feels so good is that the ball is contacting at the bat at a vibrational node." - salb918

by McFood on Aug 4, 2006 9:51 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

For Loaiza to grill, right?
Stephen Colbert: "Kids who look up to athletes become athletes themselves."
The Word: Or bitter sports journalists.

by JLaff on Aug 4, 2006 10:03 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Power Rankings...just in
Dayn is back!!!!
With a new picture!!!
Nice specs!!

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/powerRankings

Oakland in at #8

Now THIS is Billy Ball

by Masaryk on Aug 4, 2006 9:56 AM PDT   0 recs

INTERESTING...
Dayn about the A's -

"Also, points for having played the second-toughest schedule in the game."

I presume that means points for the schedule already played.

"ET TU, DAMON?" 4/4

by FireballerHARDEN on Aug 4, 2006 12:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Is it play over for Beckett?
Typical apocalyptic Boston sports hack piece on Josh Beckett's implosion against the Indians.  The absence of this kind of attitude in the Bay area makes me happy I'm an A's fan, and not a Red Sox fan.  Sure, once a YEAR Urban might write something like the Bradley piece...but the world ends every day Boston loses.  
And that's when it got really nasty for this supposed ace, this pitcher who needs to step up and shoulder some of the load while more than half of the Opening Day rotation languishes on the disabled list, along with its captain catcher and its veteran right fielder.

With the bases loaded, Beckett was left to face Shin-Soo Choo, a 24-year-old right fielder who had logged but 23 total at-bats against big league righthanders this season. Two of those at-bats were in this game. His batting average at the exact moment he faced Beckett was .173 . Did we mention Choo was playing in his 19th major league game of his young life?

Choo jumped on the first pitch -- a fastball down the middle of the plate -- and launched it to the center-field diamond for his first career grand slam, breaking open the game by providing Cleveland with a swift -- and stunning -- 7-3 lead.

Also, Beckett is unlikely to win the team's "Best Contribution to Sensitivity Training Program" Award:

``I didn't execute pitches," Beckett said. ``With a good-hitting team like that, you can't leave balls down the middle of the plate. Looking back at Hafner, and at Choos or Cho or whatever his name is, that's what I did."

It's Shin Soo-Choo, Josh.  Pronounced just like it looks.  

"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 4, 2006 10:06 AM PDT   0 recs

Edit
Naturally, I crush Beckett for not bothering to know the name of the guy who hits a granny off him, and I get it wrong myself.  Shin-Soo Choo, for those scoring at home.
"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 4, 2006 10:08 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

geepers, you fool!
"He should have been out for blood, like a two-mouthed bear at a monkey eating contest!" ~ McFood

by Poppy on Aug 4, 2006 10:13 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You don't really want me to misspell Poppy
do you?  Maybe sal does.
"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 4, 2006 10:15 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Or maybe I'm really David Ortiz.
"He should have been out for blood, like a two-mouthed bear at a monkey eating contest!" ~ McFood

by Poppy on Aug 4, 2006 10:17 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Not possible!
You were at AN Day...allegedly...
"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 4, 2006 10:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh, I was there, all right.
You can't even recognize me... McFood does wonders with PhotoShop...
"He should have been out for blood, like a two-mouthed bear at a monkey eating contest!" ~ McFood

by Poppy on Aug 4, 2006 10:27 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs