Cust 3, Zombies 1 ... Giants 2

by monkeyball on May 19, 2007 9:33 PM PDT in News Comment 61 comments

By the end of this season, we may run out of superlatives for Danny Haren.

By the end of this month, we'll definitely have run out of superlatives for Jack Cust.

And by the end of the top of the eigh--

Sorry.

Let me try that again.

And by the end of the top of the nin--

Dagnab it! Foiled again.

Thanks to the Giants hitters' apparent need to get home in time for a rerun of Law and Order, the A's pen was able to preserve the victory. We Cust-omers got our Cust-omary Cust-omized HR, Haren shrugged off a dicey first inning, Kendall resumed his relentless assault on the Mendoza Line, and Crosby continued his decent first month of the season.

And once again, the team with more extra-base hits takes the game.

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Can Cust stay forever?

"Very nice day in the Oakland A... Oakland A's? What's this stadium called again?" Nick Swisher on TWIB.

by larrysgurl on May 19, 2007 9:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good win

Cust rules.

by sprtsnwyn on May 19, 2007 9:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

rotoworld dissing haren on sidebar

a top ten pitcher in AL-only leagues?

"Oh, Kielty, he was killing me."

by scutaroknowstheway on May 19, 2007 9:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I saw that

I would think he'd be good enough for all leagues, but what do I know? I've got Erik Bedard on my team.

by sprtsnwyn on May 19, 2007 9:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Woah-ooooh-ooooh Jack Cust!

C'mon, it's catchy!

by OldhamA on May 19, 2007 9:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh boy.

We've grown ac-cust-omed to a "Cust saves the day" routine. The good thing is, I think he'll keep it up a while longer.

This kid is as cool as Cust-ard. And custard's pretty cool.

Cust or bust!
Put your trust in Cust!
Not Just Cust!
Cust is a must!

Ha. :)

"It would be tough since I'm kind of known for having my hair long." -Travis Buck, on hypothetically being traded to the Yankees

by GreenNGoldGirl on May 19, 2007 9:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

the thing I love about Cust...

And I'm sure this has been said, but he seems perfectly content to watch every pitch that he doesn't feel he can crush. So much so that he doesn't even seem bothered by a questionable strike call. It's like, he doesn't care if it's a strike or not, he's still not swinging. Just awesome to watch that kind of discipline.

I'd love to see how many pitches he watches every at-bat. I bet he watches more pitches than most batters see.

by FreeSanJose on May 19, 2007 9:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Did anyone else hear Mychael Urban's comments...

on the suggested beaning of Travis Buck by Matt Cain on the Giants' post-game show? I just heard a caller mention this on Buan's show.

And really why does Urban do the Giants' post game show? Is there no room for him on the A's side?

by santaclaraave on May 19, 2007 9:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I expected him to get beaned today.

I was suprised it didn't happen.

"Very nice day in the Oakland A... Oakland A's? What's this stadium called again?" Nick Swisher on TWIB.

by larrysgurl on May 19, 2007 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Curious...

if they were going to hit him I would have thought it would have been in lieu of the IBB. Perhaps the pitcher feared the ball getting past the catcher and scoring a runner. Or maybe the Giants are following a policy of let bygones be bygones. We will know tomorrow!

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on May 19, 2007 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

what's going on?

I feel lost.

"It would be tough since I'm kind of known for having my hair long." -Travis Buck, on hypothetically being traded to the Yankees

by GreenNGoldGirl on May 19, 2007 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Caller on Buan's show

mentioned hearing this from Urban on last night's Giants' post game show.

by santaclaraave on May 19, 2007 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's retaliation for running up

the score last night. TB ran through a stop sign from Lach to add another run to an already ridicously lopsided score.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on May 19, 2007 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I'm just perplexed

that an A's beat writer does the Giants' post game show. Work where you can get it I guess.

by santaclaraave on May 19, 2007 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i thought he was going to stop at third but

was being waved in by the 3rd base coach. he looked like he was going to stop, and then started running again, and then oddly didn't slide at home. at least that's my memory of the play. anybody else want to comment?

Hi ho.

by danh on May 19, 2007 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are correct

Lach waved him, no question. And yes, Buck had started to slow up, expecting to be held. Any violation of "the code" was Lach's fault.

The reason Buck didn't slide is because Dan Johnson, the on-deck batter, totally botched his responsibility to give Buck the slide signal. Buck gave him a look right afterwards to the effect of "WTF, I thought I was the rookie here."

Watt Funk Staturist

by FreeSeatUpgrade on May 19, 2007 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And DJ's corresponding look was...

Hey dude, we're blowing these guys out...they're gonna be pissed. I happen to have a .365 average and a probable target on my back/ribs. So now they're pissed at you....so who's the rook now?

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on May 19, 2007 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fosse said on FSNBA

that Lache actually went over to the SF clubhouse and talked to their staff about the incident. Lache waved Buck in. Foss said that Rene explained to the staff that Travis should have scored easily on any ball hit like that one was, and they weren't trying to run up the score. Buck didn't run hard to third (Me: probably thinking Lache wasn't going to send him), and made the play closer than it should have been.

I have no idea why DJ didn't motion for Travis to slide, other than DJ didn't think Travis was going to come home. I don't blame DJ, either. 1) Look at the score, 2) Did you see they way Travis was running? He practically stopped at third to pick up a snack.

"Kots went yard. With a pink bat. Stud."

by Jennifer on May 20, 2007 4:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was just interjecting comical cynicism...

a must for fan survival the last two years. Hopefully, even though the Giants are old and feeble, they should see that the A's weren't out to humilate them. They are doing an excellent job of that themselves!

Of course, if I were either DJ or Cust I would be walking by the Giants and shaking my head while cursing rookie blunders....just to be safe!

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on May 20, 2007 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

the team that got more walks won again

it's not an inconsiderable item these past two games.

Just got back from the game – Crosby looked good on offense and on defense

Cust or Bust!

by OaklandSi on May 19, 2007 9:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Was at the game, and

Cust's HR was one of the more mammoth bombs I've seen in a while. The guy Cust most reminds me of is Jim Thome. Thome is a "walk/K/HR" machine who takes a lot of pitches, swings through a lot of pitches, and uses a quick but fierce swing that can drive pitches hard and deep to all fields. We could do worse than to have a DH who reminds us of Thome.

The thing about beaning Buck is ridiculous. A team's job is to score runs, and to score from second on a base hit is utterly ordinary. It's not like he stole second or beat out a bunt. You're not allowed to take two bases on a single when you can because it's 14-3? Is it wrong to hit a homerun when you could have graciously taken strike three? Give me a break.

Haren rocks.

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 May 19, 2007 10:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I like the Thome comparison

earlier on AN Ortiz was mentioned, and I didnt think it was really accurate. As long as he can avoid the DL I will LOVE the Thome comparison. Hes on the A's though so Im sure thats unavoidable.

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

by pickinmachine on May 19, 2007 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly

He looks like Babe F__kin Ruth. Really. Seriously.

Babe Ruth. Look it up.

''Certain types of players are born for the dramatic, and Marco Scutaro is one,'' teammate Nick Swisher said.

by fridaynightfan on May 19, 2007 11:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey I can see that.

There is a resemblance physically.

by IM4Oakgal on May 19, 2007 11:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll buy that for a dollar ... or a PTBNL

Thome's always one of my favorite players, for precisely the same even-keeled, preposterously judicious plate discipline.

You swing harder, you strike out; you try to throw harder, you hit the mascot. ~ theblackpearl @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 19, 2007 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely agree

when we start worrying about "offending" someone by playing the game the right way, we've got big problems ... like they say in the NFL, "You got a problem with me scoring?! Stop somebody."

VacaAsFan

by Vacafan on May 20, 2007 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's certainly a given

that suggesting Buck get beaned is ridiculous but what the hell is wrong with Urban? I thought he was our guy! How does he go back in the A's clubhouse after schlocking on Giants' radio?

by santaclaraave on May 19, 2007 10:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Now that I think about it though

I'm sure that plenty have said worse and Urban is simply trying to pay his mortgage. And I too like the Thome comparison. Cust or bust indeed.

by santaclaraave on May 19, 2007 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

uh ... what's with the Guckertesque ads lately?

You swing harder, you strike out; you try to throw harder, you hit the mascot. ~ theblackpearl @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 19, 2007 10:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

DH= Mike ? Who

What's going to happen when we start getting our original starters back, if the replacements (Cust) keep this up?!

Is Cust the DH, and Piazza is the backup-backup catcher?

by streetfan on May 19, 2007 10:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

hopefully Piazza the starting catcher

Hi ho.

by danh on May 19, 2007 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, for sure.

Whatever dropoff he might have from having to catch will be no worse than what Kendall is giving us now and the defense will be about equal. I think Kendall's days are numbered.

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

by Helloooo 1st on May 20, 2007 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ha ha

"Getting our starters back." Ha ha , that's a good one. Like that ever actually happens without them still being hurt and not able to play or someone else takes it on himself to get injured. What you describe is a completely hypothetical and seemingly impossible situation. ; )

by Larry E on May 20, 2007 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you know, watching Swish get his hair cut

it didn't look like he had enough to make a wig. I hope that's not the case.

"Very nice day in the Oakland A... Oakland A's? What's this stadium called again?" Nick Swisher on TWIB.

by larrysgurl on May 19, 2007 10:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree Larrysgurl

It looked more like the hair would have to be used as a clip on ponytail or something like that.

by IM4Oakgal on May 19, 2007 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

PS...

Cindi will probably know.

by IM4Oakgal on May 19, 2007 11:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

not enough

Swish's hair is mostly about publicity and not much about the actual wig value. If Swish were an ordinary guy and not a celebrity, he could just donate $20 and it would be worth more than his hair. The real value he's giving is the publicity. People see him every day and ask about it, so that raises awareness.

In the '90s I had very long hair (down to my butt). I was in showbiz then, and I had contact with a few hair designers who were familiar with the wig industry. What they told me is that the wigmakers have a strong preference for hair which hasn't been treated with chemicals that are found in all sorts of ordinary shampoos and gels. So unless I was going to make a point of washing my hair only with special shampoos, my hair wouldn't be worth enough to bother with selling.

The real supply for wig hair is in poor countries. There you have thousands of people who can't afford hair product anyway, and who are thrilled to get $15 for several months worth of growing.

"...but we're also always open to hearing about other sandwiches if it can make our lunch better." -- Nico, channeling Billy Beane

by iglew on May 20, 2007 12:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

mdl, I used to have hair

down to my butt too, but only because my butt used to be really high.

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 May 20, 2007 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

or several small paint brushes

subject to revision pending next issue

by ak_A on May 20, 2007 8:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

DH controversy

Are we going to have a DH controversy when Piazza comes back?
Cust has been by far more productive.

by Mr C on May 19, 2007 10:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully Cust keeps performing like this...

and we get to have that controversy.

by IM4Oakgal on May 19, 2007 11:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

when Piazza gets back

this roster becomes awfully crowded. I think he should get the DH at-bats against lefties only and become the second-string catcher, taking Melhuse's spot.

by vk on May 19, 2007 11:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

why not let cust hit lefties?

.429/.619/1.214/1.833 vs lefties isn't that bad you know

ALLEZ LES A'S!!!

by J Rod on May 19, 2007 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cust can play left field....

sometimes. That's the solution I guess.

by IM4Oakgal on May 19, 2007 11:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Piazza could also become the 1st string catcher.

by WaddellCanseco on May 20, 2007 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

funny, i am so aCUSTomed

reading and thinking the negative about Crosby that instead of decent, i read descent.

subject to revision pending next issue

by ak_A on May 19, 2007 11:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Still

You think Haren can get a little more love nation-wide? Seriously that was nasty 16 in a row retired. Nice job by Embree and hopefully Kennedy provides the sweep.

"Talk about impressive. My point is this: Break's over."- Josiah Bartlet

by doublehustle22 on May 19, 2007 11:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I can never look at Embree again...

w/o thinking about and laughing at his rookie card. Or Swish, or anybody in that thread. Classic.

"AN: We breathe through our noses." -mikeA

by McFood on May 20, 2007 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Having Jack Cust for 2 weeks...

is incredible. I know somehow the league will catch up to him. But for now it is like the Giambi-Miggy or Mark-Jose days. I love that Swisher-Cust forearm bash. As long as they aren't shooting each other up in the bathroom stall...

We are all pretty much here because we root for an underdog. But now we have the most underdog, rag-tag bunch of misfit hitters this side of McHale's Navy and we're winning. Winning! (Even if it is the Giants.) (And we just lost a four game series to KC)

And then there are the unholy starting pitchers...

''Certain types of players are born for the dramatic, and Marco Scutaro is one,'' teammate Nick Swisher said.

by fridaynightfan on May 19, 2007 11:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If they want to "shoot each other up"

fine by me ... just don't get caught. All about the wins, baby. If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'!

VacaAsFan

by Vacafan on May 20, 2007 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another Customary Evening

The game was over by the bottom of the 1st. The Giants didn't have anything tonight, and Danny had them shut down to a single hit through six. Molina's homer made it close to be sure, but the Giants never truly threatened.

The chasm between the A's and Giants is stark. The A's are a team full of fun-loving young players with spark and energy, while the Giants are just a team full of players. They're not fun. They're slow and dowdy. As my wife notes, the A's wear tight pants, and the Giants wear baggy pants. (I think she pays too much attention here)

Cust's bomb was tremendous. I was out of my seat by the time it left the bat, jumping and pumping my fist. Kendall's bases loaded walk helped too, but by that point, I was yelling to let Melhuse bat so we could avoid what I was sure would be an inevitable DP.

After losing 3 of 4 to the Royals, it's great to dump on our neighbors in the Bay. It's so much better to be an A's fan.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on May 19, 2007 11:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Not words you want to hear

from Susan Slusser ...

Cust said one of his hamstrings tightened when he ran from first to third on Bobby Crosby's double in the eighth but he believes he's OK.

by green star oakland on May 20, 2007 12:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course.

Now I can sleep easy.

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

by Helloooo 1st on May 20, 2007 12:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

P.S.

If indeed this is another pulled hamstring, Larry Davis/Clarence Cockrell have to go. They are just not stretching the guys out well enough and its that simple. Too many pulls and strains. Enough is enough, it's past ridiculous now.

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

by Helloooo 1st on May 20, 2007 12:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Congrats to Kendall

for taking his first walk since April 28th (3 weeks). It was a good time to take 4 pitches.

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on May 20, 2007 8:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

* chuckles *

Kendall resumed his relentless assault on the Mendoza Line...

Nice, thank you.

by paradox on May 20, 2007 9:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

So I went to a concert at Shoreline

last night.

My thoughts on the way over were:
Fremont? Really? Damnit.

The game represents... the checkered journey of life. - Milton Bradley

by mikeA on May 20, 2007 9:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, Bjork can be quite disorienting

Watt Funk Staturist

by FreeSeatUpgrade on May 20, 2007 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Silicon Valley A's of Iceland?

"Can I quote myself in my sig?" ~LAXile

by LAXile on May 20, 2007 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it would be pretty cool

if they moved to Iceland.

The game represents... the checkered journey of life. - Milton Bradley

by mikeA on May 20, 2007 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cust Vs. A-Rod

I'm sure that this has been discussed somewhere during this most impressive exhibition by Jack Cust, but I'm wondering if anyone has figured out what kind of HR pace he's on in comparison to A-Rod's April?

by Force on May 20, 2007 11:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs