Open Thread: Game 74 - A's vs. Mets
by louismg on Jun 24, 2007 9:20 AM PDT
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PrintThe A's are used to being the last game on the scoreboard, playing after teams have gone to bed. Today, they mix it up by starting with a 10:10 a.m. first pitch here on the West Coast, in an attempt to shake the cobwebs from the team's bats.
Even after yesterday's 1-0 contest, and Friday's 9-1 loss, both at the hand of these same Mets, the A's have outscored their opponents 316-274 not halfway through the season's campaign, a 42 run margin which nets out to approximately .6 runs per game more for the A's. This is true, both at home, and on the road, as the A's are scoring 4.58 Runs per game to Opponents' 3.97 in road contests this year, and 4.23 Runs per game to Opponents' 3.64 at home.
As the above notes show, the Coliseum's effect on the team's hitting unfairly marks this team as worse on offense than reality. On the road, the team is middle of the pack in the AL, 7th in batting average, 8th in home runs, 9th in slugging percentage, not to overlook the team's being 2nd in on base percentage. (Source)
Today, the A's "average" hitting club and "superior" pitching staff look to pad the runs scored differential column with Joe Kennedy (2-4, 3.62) facing off against John Maine (7-4, 2.90 ERA). Maine's gaudy win-loss record includes a 5-0 start to the season and a solid 72-38 K/BB ratio. Maine has gone at least five innings in all starts this season, and has only given up more than 3 runs on 2 occasions. The A's will try to make that three, with a little luck.
Lineups:
Your 2007 Oakland Athletics
Stewart (LF)
Kotsay (CF)
Swisher (1B)
Chavez (3B)
Ellis (2B)
CUST! (RF)
Crosby (SS)
Kendall (C)
Kennedy (P)
Their 2007 New York Mets
Reyes (SS)
Lo Duca (C)
Beltran (CF)
Wright (3B)
Easley (LF)
Green (1B)
Valentin (2B)
Gomez (LF)
Maine (P)
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I'm not sold on the order
but I like that group assuming Buck's feeling sore.
I'm not sold on the order either
I would have batted Kendall below Kennedy.
One more programming note
The game will be televised on Fox Sports Bay Area for you here locals.
Because we have to play other teams
in the NL Central. Afterall, there's seven teams and they can't all play us... hmm... When did NY move to the central?
Geren's first Macha-esque series
Cust and Stewart today, but not yesterday? Neither Kotsay nor Swisher nor Crosby getting a day off? DGAANG, and Kendall's still in there?
Well, at least he's still not Macha-fying the pitching.
icecream hangover
too many scoops.....watched apacolypto (not the mets series) last night.
That error should have been on Crosby
from what I saw, there's no reason he shouldn't/couldn't have gotten to that ball, Cust didn't throw it hard enough to get by that easily.
he didnt have a shot..
bad angle on the throw
by AllThingsOakland on Jun 24, 2007 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions
well....good grief
had my back turn and was listening to that fiasco while messing with the coffee filters....
What did Swish do?
Crosby has no excuse not to get in front
of that ball. Stewart had his head up his ass by not backing up the throw from RF to second base. Blaming that entirely on Cust is a joke. Not mentioned by anyone is how the umpire cut right in front of Crosby as the ball was approaching him.
You think there is anyway we score a run today?
by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 24, 2007 10:23 AM PDT reply actions
Cust's throw
was no more than 5 to 6 feet towards Center from 2nd base and you could see it offline from the beginning. From what I saw, there's no reason for Crosby to not get in front of that. All he did was back up and not even in line with the ball instead of heading towards center and cutting it off.
cust thre that ball offline..
from shallow right across the field to shallow left. theres no way crosby can make that play unless he anticipates the bad throw with a bounce.
by AllThingsOakland on Jun 24, 2007 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions
Agreed.
There was no play there and instead of coming off the bag, he waited, then backed up to the ball instead of going to it.
i agree that he hseitated
but most ss are not going to make that stop. it was a terrible throw and he would have had to given up on the play at second just to respond in time to get back to the ball.
i think youre right about the ellis out
by AllThingsOakland on Jun 24, 2007 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions
i dont think he could have
its like trying to make a body block in lax.
by AllThingsOakland on Jun 24, 2007 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions
I watched it again. Crosby misplayed it.
He could have at the very least gotten a glove on it to stop it. It wasn't thrown that hard.
He is paid to make a 'body block' as you
put it. Assuming you haven't played baseball, because you referred to the east coast prep sport LAX, if you don't have a play/a chance to make an out you come off of the bag and do everything you can to prevent that ball from getting past you. Crosby saw that ball was not on line from the get go yet stood on second and didn't even attempt to get to that ball to prevent it from getting into LF.
The point is mute however seeing that david wright singled with two outsin the inning.
by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 24, 2007 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions
never played ss
but i've never been in front of the net in lax either. just using that as an example. i'm not arguing that crosby should have done more to stop the ball. i just hink that the error belongs to cust alone.
by AllThingsOakland on Jun 24, 2007 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions
watch the play again
crosby HAS TO GET IN FRONT OF THE BALL. Play a little short even for your local beer league and you will no that. Cust made a bad throw, yes, but Crosby's lack of EFFORT did nothing to mitigate the error.
by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 24, 2007 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions
God Damnit
This leads credence to the Get Rid of Crosby movement as well, doesn't it.
Chavez, too?
Chavez allowed Reyes to spook him into an error the other night as well. The whole team looks flat and mistimed right now.
Chavez looks
like he has given up. Can we DFA him too?
by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 24, 2007 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
he "gives up" at the drop of a hat.
at this point ...
... I think I'm going to have to give a lot of credence to the notion that the Bradley DFA -- regardless of any individual player's opinion of Bradley -- has unsettled the team far more than Bradley's continued presence would have.
not in response to his absence per se ...
... but to the tinhorn pique of Beane, and what it signifies about his leadership.
Yes, the few players who have been quoted about it have said that they trust Beane explicitly -- but those quotes are from players' whose tenure is guaranteed (to wit, Chavvy's comment that the DFA could have been of Bradley, could have been of Stewart).
I'm on that opinion train too...choo choo
Like last night?
Random thought
I think a whole lot of players would do well to choke up on the bat.
Kendall should choke up another 30"
Ellis was almost embarrassed there
he can't just head to the dugout as a matter of routine. He's lucky Reyes didn't throw to first to get Cust and then be called out for running out of the baseline completing the double play.
by IndianaAsfan on Jun 24, 2007 10:34 AM PDT reply actions
Can't be called out of the baseline
unless they attempt to tag you. I don't think Ray & Co were watching the play, the 2nd Base Ump was signaling that it wasn't caught and Reyes saw the tail end of the call and assumed he didn't get the call at 2nd.
Yes you can
if you, as a runner, indicate you are unwilling to attempt to achieve the next base you are out, without an attempted tag. The defender does not have to chase the runner to the dugout.
by IndianaAsfan on Jun 24, 2007 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Secondly
the umpire didn't indicate out on Ellis until Reyes went back and touched the base the second time. If he had already ruled Ellis out he wouldn't have given any indication after Reyes walked back.
by IndianaAsfan on Jun 24, 2007 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
I never said he indicated Ellis as out or not
the Ump never let his hands down from signaling a no catch at the time that Reyes looked up. Reyes played it right by going back to the bag but he may not have had to b/c the ump never signaled on his play and yes, Ellis played it wrong by assuming the out and walking away, though I don't think Ellis left the field early enough that he would have been called out on that play.
He said "tries" not succeeds :)
He's now so far off the plate
that he swung at a strike on the outer half, and missed it. Missed it with the end of his bat! Now everyone is pitching him outside, because Crosby cannot touch a strike on the outer edge of the plate!
They grooved a fastball there, and he missed it.
Why pitch him anywhere else?
by One won lost won on Jun 24, 2007 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions
Trade For Tejada now!
as long as we dont pay for the contract ;)
by SwisherSweet on Jun 24, 2007 10:42 AM PDT reply actions
if we somehow get out of the inning (hah)
we'll have Kendall, Kennedy and Stewart up...
So we'll be right back to pitching anyways.
Chavez is a gutless
wonder. Why is he hitting in the 4 spot?
by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 24, 2007 10:45 AM PDT reply actions
Alrite, we need some offense fast...
Kennedy can't last much longer like this...
a few days ago this season was looking up
now it's just spiraling downward, and not looking good at all.
by larrysgurl on Jun 24, 2007 10:47 AM PDT reply actions
Wild card baby!
We just need to beat Cleveland!
by OaktownRajah on Jun 24, 2007 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
Offense doesn't seem to care anymore
they act like they've already lost the game (which they have, granted).
From up in the broadcasting booth...
behind the plate.
Kennedy > Crosby + Kendall
by SwisherSweet on Jun 24, 2007 10:51 AM PDT reply actions
he certainly had a better at bat.
by larrysgurl on Jun 24, 2007 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Kennedy is a better hitter than
CHAVEZ at this point too.
by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 24, 2007 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Folks, don't know about you, but for me,
I have reached my limit for watching the A's hitters ground out to second.
Not watching again today. "Limited Out" as they say in fishing.
I predict the A's outscored this series 16-1. I think the jet ride to the East Coast, then circling three hours to land, completely zapped them mentally. Add in a dose of DFA'ed for a player with energy, and it is nearly forgone as to the results of this three-game series.
bleeech.
by One won lost won on Jun 24, 2007 10:56 AM PDT reply actions
Poor prediction...s/b 20-3
Of course the Mets were going to score more, plus the A's would get a couple of "untimely" runs..
Wuddadisaster....
by One won lost won on Jun 24, 2007 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions
ralph kiner on mets broadcast
"gotta crowd the plate.....placing of rear foot key to good pull hitter....gotta take the outside part of the plate away from the pitcher...." crosby?
Turn a DP please!
here's my attempt at a jinx
A's have scored 1 run in the past 21 innings...blech
I got a disease...
and the prescription is more outs!
oh wonderful...
Damn...
the second baseman has just out-RBI'd us in this whole series...
awesome open base only one out and groove a 3-0
pitch. Stellar.
The gap between the two teams...
in terms of hits with RISP is amazing...
ummm
Joe Kennedy SUCKS!!!
by anAfromfaraway on Jun 24, 2007 11:04 AM PDT reply actions
Were about to get our asses swept.
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 11:05 AM PDT reply actions
what a pitiful series
Here the team has scored one run in the entire series yet they're going to keep Piazza out of the lineup until he can (sort of) catch.
How ridiculous is that? Yeah, let's keep a halfway decent hitter out of this pathetic lineup for a couple more weeks while the division slips further and further out of reach every day. Brilliant.
by coffee roaster on Jun 24, 2007 11:10 AM PDT reply actions
I've been wondering about this myself
if he can hit why don't they just dh him until he can throw. At least he is a vet who would find a way to get the runner in from third with less than two outs (or the mets pitcher)
by marco magic on Jun 24, 2007 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions
I think they are just waiting
for another outfielder to go down so they don't have to DFA anyone else...
Word
You'd think this is the perfect venue (mentally) for Piazza's return. See Thomas, Frank, return to Chicago.
So we're short an infielder??? Why bring Melillo for NY trip, when Piazza's available?
I'm sure I'm not the first person to think these things, and it's affecting the whole team.
by One won lost won on Jun 24, 2007 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions
God this sucks
We come into the Cold Mets, and get swept by them!
Meanwhile, the Angels get to stroll through Pirate land.
The Only Team in the AL West
To take on the Mets.
Much to the credit of the Mets, 6-7 straight series against playoff teams of year's past?
by Hit4TheCycle on Jun 24, 2007 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions
9 games back...
This blows. This game blows.
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 11:13 AM PDT reply actions
That would happen...
especially this series. If we could get a break, that would be GREAT! But I think its a little too much to ask.
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 11:16 AM PDT reply actions
Bah!
Kennedy sucks on the road and during the day time. Not a good match up...
It's Colby Lewis time!
Let's bring him in now to guarantee the blowout. It's been a while since his ERA was over 20...
by coffee roaster on Jun 24, 2007 11:18 AM PDT reply actions
Maybe we should...
DFA some more of our better offensive players. Seems to be working well......
here's a thought
don't let them score in every single inning
Shhh! We're trying to tie the record...
for a 9 inning game.
OOOHHHH...
WOW. 5-1 now!
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 11:23 AM PDT reply actions
One of the greatest baseball songs ever written
I have a couple of Steve Goodman CDs but I never thought to look for him on YouTube. Very cool. Goodman was actually a dying Cubs fan when he wrote that song -- he died of leukemia when he was 36. His ashes are buried under home plate at Wrigley.
It's a good way to remember how many baseball fans root for their team their whole lives without having the slightest hope of the success that we've enjoyed.
by Englishmajor on Jun 24, 2007 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
you mean?
"Shshshshshabby!"
by One won lost won on Jun 24, 2007 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Why not pinch hit Piazza?
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 11:27 AM PDT reply actions
because he has to get his catching arm
in shape. Makes complete sense doesn't it?
by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 24, 2007 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions
At least they hit the ball hard
That's something, isn't it?
As long as he's hot, Cust should play every day now. I could understand sitting him against Glavine, but he should have played yesterday too.
Johnson hit a line drive!
I wish I could be more positive...
like you.
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Dude, me too ;)
Anyway, I'm usually a very realistic person. But we can totally turn this around. 9th inning? Maybe not so much. But I'd rather be optimistic in this situation and be proved wrong part of the time. If I'm pessimistic, and proved wrong, well, I'm still wrong. And if I'm proved right, we still lose. Either way, it's a loss for me :)
... got the job done.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Game over.
AKA Colby Lewis in.
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 11:30 AM PDT reply actions
Wouldn't this be another "No Pressure"
quality times to bring in Harden for 2 innings or 30 or so pitches?
The next week is pivotal
The Bradley DFA and Mets series have been discouraging in a bunch of ways. But we're never seeing the Mets again.
What does matter is the next week. The A's have big series against the Indians (Wild Card leader) and Yankees (fellow Wild Card contender), both on the road. If they hold their own, then the A's can get through this. If not, the notion of contending for the playoffs starts looking pretty far-fetched.
getting swept in the first series
in which you are supposed to hold your own, isn't holding your own.
Yeah and at this point
the Wildcard is so within our grasp. But we have to keep winning. and this is disheartening. Haren and Blanton are doing really well but Gaudin is stumbling as of late too. We can't do it without the 3-5 guys pitching well.
Saying "Game Over" is boring
Hearing it over and over is worse than seeing A's ground to second over and over (a little). Four innings left. Four runs. Cust does get to bat again. The game is not over.
Big Hurt...
still on the A's schedule... getting hot now and is probably gunna have a great second half.
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 11:39 AM PDT reply actions
I'm looking forward to it...
The Big Hurt and Matt Stairs are coming back to Oakland.
Clutch?
Luck is more like it. God, Lo Duca stinks.
by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 24, 2007 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
That's good on defense
Bad on offense. Somebody should tell him.
Tie goes to the runner.
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 11:50 AM PDT reply actions
We did!
I like the fact that for once, the other team loaded the bases and didn't score.
the a's can't hit
I hate watching this team play. It's more fun gnashing my teeth together. I give up posting anything of substance (since im not watching the game). And everytime a top reliever comes in down 5 runs in the 9th im going to start a hating bob geren petition. It took me more time to hate ken macha which is practically impossible. It's like saying time travel is possible. Ugh i give up. Hating the a's is more fun than liking them. Ugh.
Pookey, welcome
Not likely Louis
Unless Haren pitches every game lol. For the record throwing Beane under the bus would please me.
Really?
Sounds like you have some unresolved anger issues. We should discuss sometime. :-)
there are alot of things about beane i dont like
I hate chavez. I'm not a big fan of Crosby. I don't feel Rich Harden is the key to any season. Actually I don't like Swisher for that matter either. And he's awful defensively too. But he seems to mash sometimes which Chavez never does. Chavez isn't a gold glover either. The only player who makes an impact on both ends is Bradley it seems. And that's what 80 games a year? I'm tired of the entire bullpen being used wrong. I'm especially tired of the stadium issue being used as an excuse to spend more money on a team that always has focused on spending in the minor league system. I'm especially annoyed that both teams i love are having the same issue simultaneously lol. This team is full of holes all the time which I don't mind. What I mind is somehow they became the little engine that could. Last I checked this organization always has been pretty well run for a 100 years. It's not a new phenomenon.
Good afternoon everybody! Let's get some runs.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 11:54 AM PDT reply actions
That was a grind...
you gotta appreciate the grinding quality of the relievers and the fielders there. Basesloaded, 2 out, gotta get that final out and keep the team in the game. A's have got this in the bag! Its gonna be close folks!
Think we'll see Rich in there today?
Please do something here Crosby.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 11:58 AM PDT reply actions
My only question...
Do you have to change the user name every year as he grows older?
I don't know how? I am considering changing it
to username- "PLEASEDFACROSBYLIKENOWBILLY"
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
OOOOHHHH...
check out the Colorodo- Toronto game.
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 12:00 PM PDT reply actions
No hits in the 8th for colorodo.
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions
kendall sucks
I want suzuki!
Should "The Croz" have made the play?
I just saw a quick replay of the throw by Jack Cust and it looked "catchable" to me.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:05 PM PDT reply actions
Haha. Today's hot topic.
I don't think he could have made the play, but he certainly could have gotten to the ball to avoid it passing him.
Little League series. 50-something MPH curves
and then watching Crosby look my team's old shortstop when I played for "Tony's Tigers!"
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
The ratio is getting harder now.
2 innings to make up 3 runs. Lewis still in there.
I was lucky enough to watch Beltran in the minors
on a weekly basis and the guy was such a stud. I am beginning to like Reyes even more.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Sad news
Rod Beck dead at the age of 38.
by FlynnSox on Jun 24, 2007 12:09 PM PDT reply actions
I don't see that news yet.
Do you have a link? I'm surprised he's that young!
it's on ESPNEWS & KNBR
give it some time. the details are still really hazy.
by FlynnSox on Jun 24, 2007 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
5 outs. No runs yet.
Runner on 1st belongs to him.
There goes the NO-NO
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 12:12 PM PDT reply actions
Yup. No-Hitter Broken Up.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore...
Very nice, MaEl.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:14 PM PDT reply actions
Still one more big out to get
And Marshall is one strike away. Finish him!
Why leave Marshall in here? I hope we get
out of the inning but I don't understand.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:15 PM PDT reply actions
Big Time Ouch
That was not a good turn of events. 8-2 is much different than 5-2.
that one is on Geren.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm starting to wonder if he is even that?
I know we don't want to let a Rule 5 guy go but every week it appears to be more and more obvious that he just isn't ready for prime-time.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Couldn't agree more...
he has trouble getting the lefties out anymore let alone the right handed hitters who absolutely crush him.
On that note - the game is over. Go A's!
by SwisherSweet33 on Jun 24, 2007 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions
lazy
That was kind of lazy leaving Marshall in there....
I must of missed what Lewis did wrong?
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 12:17 PM PDT reply actions
marshall sucks
yea the title says it all. Not that it mattered with the ineptitude of the a's offense reaching all time high levels. Or just it's normal peak.
Marshall needs to be sent back to the Sox
by athleticsBB4life on Jun 24, 2007 12:19 PM PDT reply actions
We need to send Marshall packing now.
This guy is not a major league pitcher. Who cares about his rule 5 status, I'll take Flores any day of the week over this putz.
for the record
i do like the a's (which is why every time i hear the news of the a's resigning jay witasick makes me berserk)
They just got rid of Witasick
So you can rest easy for a while.
I got to see him pitch last night
Dodgers/Devil Rays playing at the bar. First time I enjoyed seeing him load the bases with nobody out.
Melillo is hot =]
by iloveoakland on Jun 24, 2007 12:19 PM PDT reply actions
He drew a walk! Typical A.
Not so sure about the hotness though, I don't think I'm qualified to judge!
how bout those June Athletics!!
HOT HOT HOT!!
Doesn't he play for the Devil Rays now?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Pookey's still learning
He's a rehabbing Kings fan in the dark offseason that is Kings hoops.
not learning im not paying attention
Normally i pay attention to the a's this time of year. This isn't a normal offseason for the kings lol.
Why isn't he playing today? Is he hurt?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions
you want me to explain
how little i like billy beane and i would kill him in order to move terry ryan to his seat?
Good job is not good enough
I'm a demanding fan. I demand reasonable expectations on everything. You think I'm bad on this site about Beane? Just see what I posted about Geoff Petrie (a guy I like) on Str lol. I refuse to kiss Billy Beane's ass for a mixed bag of moves. He makes good moves and some bad ones to be sure. Is he the best baseball GM? Nope.
He's not on the roster.
Other than that, sure!
Don't we get an off day to prepare?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions
A's have always done well against him
current lineup is not built to face LHPs though.
I'm more worried about Fausto Carmona.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions
I am worried about all of their pitchers.
Despite our great play against them at the Coli this year.
He is probably depressed about MB.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions
It could be another reason
I wouldn't be too surprised if he and Joe got tanked in NYC this weekend.
Susan Slusser coming up? Stay tuned...
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions
I have to admit it...
Part of me is rooting for Franco here. He's a respectable "old guy", not like Clemens...
many have said that he hits the ball harder
than "anyone" they have ever seen. I don't know if they can measure velocity on a hit but I have always wondered what that really meant.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Anyone think BB is getting ready to do something
drastic just to light a fire under the team? I would say that the Cleveland series will determine what decisions he may have to make.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:31 PM PDT reply actions
Short answer...
- He returned from the DL.
- The A's DFA'd him the next day.
- Then he was traded to the Royals.
- Then there was an oblique injury disclosed which canceled the trade.
That's where we sit now.
yea louis i know now thanks
That's half of my point about Beane actually. He traded him for Ethier (a guy who was losing value i realize) for a guy in Bradley who had NONE. The dodgers couldn't find any takers. YOu could have given up Jay Witasick for Bradley. Or some shit prospect like Freddie Bynum. BUT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO you had to give up Ethier. Ugh nevermind I'm done now. I'm ready to throw up.
well MB got us to the playoffs last year
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions
True. Perez = C. Thomas= Keith Ginter =
too many others to mention.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions
wanna hear something cool
the Angels as a team (that is all players BA's put together) are hitting 292.
In contrast the A's don't have a single player batting above 290.
COOL.
10 runs! Whooohooo!
Took a little longer than I thought it would, but alright! way to go!
feel like the wheels are falling off..
At least our LOB isn't as high as yesterday...
Crap our smoke and mirrors act worked a lot better in the first half of june than the 2nd.
that's what happens when u bld ur team arnd Cust
by athleticsBB4life on Jun 24, 2007 12:42 PM PDT reply actions
Rod Beck News Reaches ESPN
Dead at 38. No known cause yet.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/s...
Cust strikes out to end it
Now we can say game over.
and we get to leave NY finally.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Well... that really stinks. Look for something
crazy to happen in regards to personnel. This series was different than our normal hitting struggles. There are guys with really bad body language and it appears that something is wrong with our team.
I would say by week's end there will be something of significance done but my brain is not as sharp as Beane's so I would hate to speculate on anything specific.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:49 PM PDT reply actions
It is a business and these guys are being paid
well regardless of whether they like what is going on at their job. I respect BB enough to give him the benefit of the doubt on normal occassions but I just can't understand the MB DFA. I would be totally shocked if it doesn't have something to do with our uninspired play this weekend.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions
The smoke and mirriors has worn off
of Kennedy and Linardo.
by 3Chavy3 on Jun 24, 2007 12:56 PM PDT reply actions
As the visiting team
the Athletics performed as I expected the Kansas City Royals to have done, when the Royals visited the Athletics for four games.
Instead, the Royals took three out of four in Oakland!
With the Angels steamrolling everyone, and coming from behind game after game after game, I proclaim IMHO the A's officially "out of it" for 2007.
Sorry, but no winning record for the A's this year IMO.
by One won lost won on Jun 24, 2007 12:57 PM PDT reply actions
Like 98% of internet writers
I write on AN and elsewhere to see my own stuff staring back at me, truth be told.
Good question. I'd speculate, frequency and content will be much down.
by One won lost won on Jun 24, 2007 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I hate when people roll their eyes
except in this case :-) :-) :-)
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Opinions are not proferred
to garner respect from writers on blogs. To what result would one pursue the unmeasurable "respect" of unknown people?
by One won lost won on Jun 24, 2007 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Off Topic question on an irritating day...
Since there is very little to add about today's disaster, I might as well add in this long-standing question:
When are the New Orleans Hornets and the Utah Jazz going to swap nicknames?? I suppose, with as many "Lakes" as there are in Los Angeles, they assume a huge permanent IQ under 80 for the average NBA fan....
I'd rate that worse than the "Greenland" and "Iceland" misnomers.
by One won lost won on Jun 24, 2007 1:05 PM PDT reply actions
Oklahoma City/New Orleans Hornets now.
but they are dropping the OKC.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 24, 2007 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions
'caus Charlotte has the Bobcats
Think you whiffed that one!
by One won lost won on Jun 24, 2007 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions
The Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Hornets, another expansion team, moved to New Orleans about four-five years ago. The Bobcats were created to fill the void in North Carolina caused by the move of the Hornets.
New Orleans was available as a spot to locate a franchise since the New Orleans Jazz, an expansion team in the 1970s, moved to Utah as the "Utah Jazz". New Orleans was without a team for years. The amount of "jazz" originating in Utah is equal to the "lakes" in Los Angeles. The Lakers moved to Los Angeles about 1960, leaving Minneapolis and the "Land of 10,000 Lakes".
Since these names actually are connect to their areas, WHY NOT ABANDON THEM when you move??
How about the Los Angeles Sabertooths and instead of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Minneapolis Lakers? There are as many "wolves" in Minnesota as Wolverines in Michigan: none alive in the wild.
The Sabertooth tiger or Smiledon, is California's state fossil.
by One won lost won on Jun 25, 2007 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Well that series was a bummer
I'm still mad we had to play the Mets when the Angels don't and the Mets are an NL East team and I thought we were playing the NL Central in interleague this year... BUT I guess I can't complain about the schedule too much since the games aren't played on paper.
Instead I'm going to say that it has to be frustrating to be on this team right now. I really don't think our pitching is THIS bad, but they keep proving me wrong when they are consistently having games like this. I think everything is finally catching up to them. I don't want to use all the injuries as an excuse but it's hard to compete when you use 14 different outfielders, have your closer and set up man out, and have to throw guys like Kennedy and DiNardo out to start games they shouldn't be starting.
I'm really glad the season is not even half over. If we can figure out this hitting problem (I still think that guys need to stop looking for the big hit right now and work on getting ANY kind of hit to build some confidence back up) I don't think we'll be in that bad of shape down the stretch.
I'm definitely NOT conceding the season yet, but it is getting increasingly frustrating to watch.
Ah ok!
Thank you! I've been wondering since before this series began why we were playing them and everyone else wasn't. That makes a lot more sense!
short add to your narrative
I get the feeling that it is not that "(I)f we can figure out this hitting problem"... the problem is, the opposition has successfully scouted the Athletics hitters to the point that, with RISP, they can refer to their notes and get the batter (pick any) out.
I came to that conclusion with the 3-3 homestand. This series knocked me over the head with it.
by One won lost won on Jun 24, 2007 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Probably true
but I still feel like we had some terrible at bats this series against pitchers who weren't that dominant/good. I feel like they're not protecting the plate at all, and then when there were 2 outs (a guy on, or not) and 2 strikes they'd swing for the fence every time (or just stand there taking a close pitch).
I felt like it was more the A's not hitting well than the pitchers dominating them because they figured them out.... but then again I'm not a hitting coach and I don't play baseball myself so I could be totally wrong haha
don't say "totally"
I don't think anyone disputes your observations. Even the players would agree, I speculate.
by One won lost won on Jun 24, 2007 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions
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