Sigh. DLD 2/6/2007

by oblique on Feb 6, 2007 11:16 AM PST

As we muddle through another hazy February day, waiting for it to either frickin' get sunny or go into a downpour (come on, weather, have some heart! Be more Mexican!), we have much to celebrate. Yay.

Babe Ruth was born on this day in 1895.

More from Wikipedia:
Axl Rose and Rick Astley, who I'd never have imagined in the same sentence, both share February 6 as a birthday. And Singapore and New Zealand were both founded on February 6.

Former A Aaron Harang, who once had the potential to be a part of the most laughable pitching rotation in history (Harden, Haren, Harang, Halama....), got his self a new contract today.

The San Jose Mercury is not particularly positive about the A's offseason.

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Have some heart?

If you insist.

Astronauts wear diapers during launch and re-entry. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Feb 6, 2007 11:14 AM PST reply actions

Speaking of heart

I was pretty surprised to see an ad for implantable cardiac defibrillators on TV during the Monk marathon on USA last Sunday.

http://www.whatsinside.com/

Did you know these things are now Bluetooth-enabled!?

Huh. I always thought that baseball's version of a home run is the motherf---ing home run itself. -FJM

by oblique on Feb 6, 2007 11:30 AM PST up reply actions

Astronauts wear diapers during launch and re-entry

I had not known that until this morning.

Astronauts wear diapers during launch and re-entry. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Feb 6, 2007 11:16 AM PST reply actions

That is the nuttiest story EVER

She drove 1,000 miles to stalk her rival...and she's married with kids!!!

Ho hum. Just another day for the OAKLAND ATHLETICS OF AWESOME! ~Kyli

by baseballgirl on Feb 6, 2007 11:28 AM PST up reply actions

"Come on, kids!

It's time for stalker practice!"

Huh. I always thought that baseball's version of a home run is the motherf---ing home run itself. -FJM

by oblique on Feb 6, 2007 11:31 AM PST up reply actions

she's a stalker mom

Astronauts wear diapers during launch and re-entry. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Feb 6, 2007 12:13 PM PST up reply actions

Why?

Why didn't she just go to the bathroom when she filled up with gas?

by brenarlo on Feb 6, 2007 12:24 PM PST up reply actions

what they didn't tell you

was that the knife she was arrested with was actually a plastic picnic knife for which she had trying to jimmy-rig onto her bb gun as a bayonet.

"I'd like to reference a brilliant post from Left Coast Lumber today" - notsellingjeans

by methodrampage on Feb 6, 2007 2:32 PM PST up reply actions

C'mon!

Her thinking clearly wasn't dependable.

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Feb 6, 2007 7:16 PM PST up reply actions

Tee hee

Haggard is, like, not even a 9.

by mikeA on Feb 6, 2007 11:34 AM PST reply actions

Don't get me started...

...was going to post a rant on my myspace page about the whole subject, since I don't think it'd go over very well as an A's article. ;)

Ho hum. Just another day for the OAKLAND ATHLETICS OF AWESOME! ~Kyli

by baseballgirl on Feb 6, 2007 2:05 PM PST up reply actions

speaking of myspace...

During today's morning news, the death of a teenage girl, due to a tragedy of some sort, was announced...the guy reading the news then listed a few of her interests: horesback riding, playing the piano, and updating her myspace profile. Something about that made me want to immediately log off the 'Net altogether.

"We don't want haddock and chips, we want cod. In cod we trust." --Ghostigital, the pride of Iceland

by Cutthemullet on Feb 6, 2007 2:13 PM PST up reply actions

well

I've said it once, and I'll say it again. . .

death to myspace!

by malikot on Feb 6, 2007 6:32 PM PST up reply actions

harang

making way more money than mulder, and almost as much as hudson (who is overpaid).

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Feb 6, 2007 11:40 AM PST reply actions

I'm happy for Harang

I always liked him when he was with the A's, and I had a lot of respect for him when he came back lighter and more flexible when the A's asked him to. I think he never really got a fair shake from the A's, and I have cheered for him since he left. The Reds will likely regret that contract, however.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Feb 6, 2007 11:55 AM PST up reply actions

Congrats to "The Big Show"

Harang was one of those underdog guys on the recent A's teams that I rooted for-- along with Hatteberg and Saarloos. Thanks Cincinnati for keeping my guys well-paid! I hope Cincy juggles the rotation so that both Harang and Saarloos pitch during the interleague series in Oakland this June.

by LoveDemAs on Feb 6, 2007 2:20 PM PST up reply actions

In Sac

the off-day pitchers chart pitches in the seats behind home plate. When I saw Harang was on the Jugs gun, I'd sneak a seat behind him. He was usually in surf wear (read: BB-approved shorts and flip-flip regardless of the weather), and was very friendly with everyone.

I'm 6'1", and I look up to him, by more than a few inches! He such a mellow guy you'd never know he's 6'7" until he stands up.

"Is it because I often panic when making sandwiches?" - Crow

by LawDaddy on Feb 6, 2007 5:14 PM PST up reply actions

Tom Hicks buys himself

a futbol team; The most successful team in English soccer.

On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Feb 6, 2007 11:41 AM PST reply actions

He only bought half the team -

George Gillett has the other half.

I guess they're better than Dubai International Capital (the spurned suitor), whose record with child slavery in camel racing leaves a lot to be desired.

"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 Feb 6, 2007 11:58 AM PST up reply actions

I wonder...

if Hicks will face the same resentment that Tampa Bay Buccaneers' owner Malcolm Glazer (almost typed Malcolm Gladwell...not often can I say that I nearly confused a couple Malcolms) encountered when he became majority owner of Man U. Doesn't seem like us Yankees are worthy of staging an American Invasion on the Premiership...the US needs a lot more than David Beckham to promote interest in soccer.

"We don't want haddock and chips, we want cod. In cod we trust." --Ghostigital, the pride of Iceland

by Cutthemullet on Feb 6, 2007 1:52 PM PST up reply actions

Probably not.

Liverpool's owners have been trying to sell the club for some time now, and some of the candidates they considered were seriously scary compared to Hicks.

Also, Hicks is not putting the club in dept in order to fund his buyout.

Many Premiership clubs are foreign owned anyways.

On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Feb 6, 2007 10:12 PM PST up reply actions

I only read your subject line

and started laughing.

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin, Seattle Mariners

by Helloooo 1st on Feb 6, 2007 7:35 PM PST up reply actions

Bob Marley

born this day in 1945.

"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 Feb 6, 2007 11:54 AM PST reply actions

Now, there's the perfect addition...

...to the band with Axl Rose and Rick Astley.

"I can't believe you guys like that (Swisher) doesn't wear underwear..." ~ Mark Ellis

by Poppy on Feb 6, 2007 12:04 PM PST up reply actions

And just to round it out

Otis Williams (of the Charms, not the Temptations).

"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 Feb 6, 2007 12:31 PM PST up reply actions

Ah...

A new literary classic for my "to read" list...

"I can't believe you guys like that (Swisher) doesn't wear underwear..." ~ Mark Ellis

by Poppy on Feb 6, 2007 12:25 PM PST reply actions

... all this and a caption competition too !

OK Ozzie, I checked and you are a bigger dick.

"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 Feb 6, 2007 12:36 PM PST up reply actions

Usually I use protection, but

I figured, when will I ever be in a Venezuelan prison with Ozzie Guillen visiting Ugueth Urbina again?

"If your athame is a spork, you might be a Discordian."

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Feb 6, 2007 12:49 PM PST up reply actions

You win!

(uh, that's my comment about FSU's caption, not my suggestion for a caption...)

"I can't believe you guys like that (Swisher) doesn't wear underwear..." ~ Mark Ellis

by Poppy on Feb 6, 2007 12:57 PM PST up reply actions

LOL

very nice--I haven't thought of that in years.

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

by batgirl on Feb 6, 2007 2:43 PM PST up reply actions

Christ, what an asshole.

Huh. I always thought that baseball's version of a home run is the motherf---ing home run itself. -FJM

by oblique on Feb 6, 2007 1:24 PM PST up reply actions

of course!

"San Jose A's of Fremont" is a sad sign of the times

by ArakSOT on Feb 6, 2007 2:00 PM PST up reply actions

"'Scuse me for a sec Ozzie

...but I really need to scratch my Steinbrenner."

"[Frank's] a big battler. He's the mother of battleships."

-Nick Swisher

by kaweahkaweah on Feb 6, 2007 1:53 PM PST up reply actions

Arod

how do you get your arms so shiney smooth?

"I'd like to reference a brilliant post from Left Coast Lumber today" - notsellingjeans

by methodrampage on Feb 6, 2007 2:35 PM PST up reply actions

hee!

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

by batgirl on Feb 6, 2007 2:43 PM PST up reply actions

mlb.com gives Haren some love

He's on top of the list of pitchers who could have a breakout season and compete for the cy-young.I guess people have gotten tired of predicting that Harden would have one.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070205&content_id=1794670&vkey=news_mlb&fext=. jsp&c_id=mlb

by J Rod @ Athletics Nation on Feb 6, 2007 12:38 PM PST reply actions

or it was a typo

"We don't want haddock and chips, we want cod. In cod we trust." --Ghostigital, the pride of Iceland

by Cutthemullet on Feb 6, 2007 1:58 PM PST up reply actions

Payton was our second best hitter last year?

He was 1st on the team in batting average ...
but he was 6th in Slg (min 250 ABs) and 9th in OBP! (7th in OPS)

I understand that some folks just love Batting Average ... but if that's the yardstick, Frank Thomas isn't in the top 2, but, rather 5th.

Read my latest articles

by devo on Feb 6, 2007 1:04 PM PST reply actions

no love for swisher

"...we don't score six, seven runs. We score three, four runs and play defense and pitch" - Eric Chavez

by pickinmachine on Feb 6, 2007 1:15 PM PST up reply actions

congrats to the piazzas!

mike's wife gave birth to the couple's first child three days ago. the baby girl's name is nicoletta veronica. (link)

by gotgreen on Feb 6, 2007 1:19 PM PST reply actions

nicoletta veronica piazza

What a nice Irish-sounding name.

"We don't want haddock and chips, we want cod. In cod we trust." --Ghostigital, the pride of Iceland

by Cutthemullet on Feb 6, 2007 1:57 PM PST up reply actions

why did Nico let a veronica piazza?

Astronauts wear diapers during launch and re-entry. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Feb 6, 2007 2:01 PM PST up reply actions

Should he have held it instead?

"[Frank's] a big battler. He's the mother of battleships."

-Nick Swisher

by kaweahkaweah on Feb 6, 2007 2:03 PM PST up reply actions

Rollie Fingers

Best 'stache in baseball history

1. ROLLIE FINGERS-When one mentions the words "baseball" and "moustaches" in the same sentence, there's usually one ballplayer who comes to mind over any other. That player is, of course, Rollie Fingers. Fingers and his legendary handlebar moustache earned their place in baseball folklore long before the days of million dollar contracts and pretty boy shortstops. He was able to bring a bit of style to the game of baseball, without losing his grit and his tenacity. Also a relief pitcher, Fingers was able to save crucial World Series games, while sporting one of the most classic moustaches of all time. Like the man said, "They don't make `em like that anymore." No they don't, Buster. They certainly don't.

"My conclusion is that sportswriters just fucking love food." - Fire Joe Morgan

by JLaff on Feb 6, 2007 2:03 PM PST reply actions

Caribbean Series Update

Dominicans beat Mexico again today already, but only 5-3. Mexico finally played an error-free game, and it was really close all the way, so at least they're improving. Tomorrow will be Mexico's last chance to at least win one game (against Venezuela).Durazo went hitless in four tries but did get an RBI.He also struck out once and left 2 on base. One note: Alfred Amezaga (yes, the homer against Blanton that put the next to last game of the 2004 series away) has been quite the slugger, providing really the biggest bat for Mexico. He also has made quite a few errors, both at shortstop (he's a natural middle infielder) as well as in centerfield (basically misjudging flies).

Puerto Rico's game against Venezuela should be starting just about now. PR must win in order to make tomorrow's final game (against DR) mean something in terms of the championship. I'll update later.

by OaklandSi on Feb 6, 2007 3:37 PM PST reply actions

by the way, if PR beats Ven today

and then beats DR tomorrow (the scheduled last day of the Caribbean Series), then PR and DR would have to play an additional game on Thursday to decide the championships. This is not unprecedented, as the last time they had to add and extra day to decide the championship was just four years ago.

by OaklandSi on Feb 6, 2007 4:24 PM PST up reply actions

of all things, a pitching duel!

middle of fifth Venezuela and Puerto Rico scoreless...and no errors yet either. Of course there's still time for change...

by OaklandSi on Feb 6, 2007 5:18 PM PST up reply actions

a real nail biter in PR

Venezuela leading 2-1, just going into the top of the ninth. PR gets one more at bat in the bottom of the inning...

by OaklandSi on Feb 6, 2007 7:00 PM PST up reply actions

it's over

Ven beats PR 3-1. Lots of close plays and generally a gut-wrenching game. PR certainly had chances -- they left a horrifying 23 men on base!!

One day to go in the Caribbean Series, but no matter what happens the Dominican Republic wins this year.

by OaklandSi on Feb 6, 2007 7:24 PM PST up reply actions

I'm calling it

This is, officially, the most boring day of the year.

"Oakland has a way of bringing out the joy in the game." NYT, 9/22/06

by SportySpice @ Athletics Nation on Feb 6, 2007 4:36 PM PST reply actions

obviously you didn't get invited

to axl rose's birthday party

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Feb 6, 2007 4:45 PM PST up reply actions

Rick Astley

snubbed me too. That one really burns me up. His parties rock.

"Oakland has a way of bringing out the joy in the game." NYT, 9/22/06

by SportySpice @ Athletics Nation on Feb 6, 2007 5:21 PM PST up reply actions

Or

Reagan's B-Day party

"Is it because I often panic when making sandwiches?" - Crow

by LawDaddy on Feb 6, 2007 5:45 PM PST up reply actions

He and Eva Braun were born exactly 1 year apart

so they'll be partying it up together tonight.

"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 Feb 6, 2007 7:38 PM PST up reply actions

I second that.

Huh. I always thought that baseball's version of a home run is the motherf---ing home run itself. -FJM

by oblique on Feb 6, 2007 5:32 PM PST up reply actions

Well, let's see...

My son is home this week with strep and a tonsil infection. He called me at about 2:15 Tuesday to report that his tonsils were bleeding. Off we went to the ER.

My day wasn't boring.

(He's a little better now, btw.)

"I can't believe you guys like that (Swisher) doesn't wear underwear..." ~ Mark Ellis

by Poppy on Feb 7, 2007 6:20 PM PST up reply actions

Holy cow!!

How's he doing??

Huh. I always thought that baseball's version of a home run is the motherf---ing home run itself. -FJM

by oblique on Feb 8, 2007 9:04 PM PST up reply actions

Uh-oh.

The awesomeness of Prince is too much for some people

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Feb 6, 2007 4:50 PM PST reply actions

That was awesome

I was falling off the couch laughing when I saw that on Sunday!

Huh. I always thought that baseball's version of a home run is the motherf---ing home run itself. -FJM

by oblique on Feb 6, 2007 5:33 PM PST up reply actions

THUNDERBUTT! POPPY! XBHASKARX!

OTHERS! AHHHHHH! LOST! TOMORROW! EEK!

(Don't forget the time change!)

"i was not told that this blog would involve math."

by Jennifer on Feb 6, 2007 5:18 PM PST reply actions

Hey, happy late birthday

We have the same one, I think.

See the latest dumbass thing I've done -- camUra

by hunter on Feb 6, 2007 6:21 PM PST up reply actions

Thank you!

Mine is 1/26.

Happy late birthday to you!

"i was not told that this blog would involve math."

by Jennifer on Feb 6, 2007 6:35 PM PST up reply actions

Yep, that's the one...

I just turned 26.

See the latest dumbass thing I've done -- camUra

by hunter on Feb 10, 2007 1:24 PM PST up reply actions

we're all gonna die!

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Feb 6, 2007 7:12 PM PST up reply actions