Team Meeting: 5 p.m.
by louismg on Jun 26, 2007 8:00 AM PDT
in News
71 comments
According to the Associated Press, following the A's loss yesterday, their fourth in a row, Nick Swisher scrawled "Team Meeting: 5 p.m." on the message board in the clubhouse.
The frustrations many of us have felt during this losing skid, which has seen the A's score only 5 runs over four contests, appear to have reached the players as well, who thus far have only offered the typical platitudes, best exemplified by Dan Johnson's, "The other team is just scoring more runs than we do, so we lose..." (Yahoo!) But, not having a backstage pass to this meeting, and not feeling tongue-in-cheek enough to skewer the process using comic software, the idea that the A's players could assemble together and fix what ails them is an intriguing one. Can you imagine the agenda?
Team Meeting
5:00 p.m. (Review minutes of last meeting, take attendance)
5:05 p.m. (Open forum: Are we really as bad as it seems?)
5:15 p.m. (Addressing the offense)
- Is there such a thing as clutch?
- How to stay out of the double play?
- How to avoid taking third strikes...
5:30 p.m. (Open forum: Larry Davis: Friend or Foe? Steps to avoid him)
5:40 p.m. (Leadership presentation by Jason Kendall. Optional)
5:50 p.m. (Open forum: The role of relief pitchers. Back to basics)
6:00 p.m. (Confidence Builder: Jack Cust presentation)
6:15 p.m. (Confidence Builder: Dan Haren presentation)
6:25 p.m. (Household items: Issues with per diem, living arrangements)
6:30 p.m. (Conclude meeting)
Whether this approximates the discussion or not, it's very interesting, at least to me, that it's Nick Swisher seen calling the meeting. Sometimes seen as the party guy or the most talkative male on the planet, Swisher's not often given credit for his leadership this early in his career. Did he call the meeting, or did one of the vets get him to write it on the board? And will this meeting spur the A's to turn their momentum around?
I'd argue the #1 way they can change their momentum is by putting their ace, Dan Haren on the mound, and luckily for us, that's the plan today. At 4:05 PDT, Haren and the A's take on Cliff Lee and the Indians in the second game of the series. We'll be here for our own meeting of sorts. Bring Kleenex and refreshments.
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I hope they followed it up with a group hug
or some Team Yoga.
by jubjub on Jun 26, 2007 8:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Or some
Kumbaya?
by baseb3383 on Jun 26, 2007 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or ritualized spankings
Assume the position!
by kaweahkaweah on Jun 26, 2007 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
pain-free spankings ...
... if Crosby's wielding the paddle, he'd swing and miss.
by monkeyball on Jun 26, 2007 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only if you slide it out
Low and Away.
by SD Erik on Jun 26, 2007 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hug it out bitches
by jubjub on Jun 26, 2007 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
7:05 on Cleveland time
by Poppy on Jun 26, 2007 8:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Crazy West Coast people.
by Jennifer on Jun 26, 2007 8:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe "team meeting" is code when Swish writes it
by Poppy on Jun 26, 2007 8:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The 6:00 slot should read...
This is what happens when you build your team around Jack Cust.
by athleticsBB4life on Jun 26, 2007 8:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This is what happens when you ...
< abandons quoting from The Big Lebowski >
by monkeyball on Jun 26, 2007 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Team Facials?
by Jennifer on Jun 26, 2007 8:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
"biff"?
by monkeyball on Jun 26, 2007 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
6:15...
We're really not that good...have you seen our collective batting average?
by athleticsBB4life on Jun 26, 2007 8:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
6:30...
Our bullpen staff doesn't belong in the majors!
by athleticsBB4life on Jun 26, 2007 8:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
6:45....
Harden doing his best Mark Prior/Kerry Wood impersonation!
by athleticsBB4life on Jun 26, 2007 8:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
7:00
Everyone looks at Kendall and asks, "Why are still playing, sucko?"
by BlameChannel53 on Jun 26, 2007 8:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
6:46 - 6:47
Spanish lesson by Eric Chavez
by Poppy on Jun 26, 2007 8:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
6:47- 6:48
Harden details everything he's learned about staying healthy.
by BlameChannel53 on Jun 26, 2007 8:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Which includes...
55 seconds for Q&A.
by peanut gallery on Jun 26, 2007 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
7:15...
A's load bases w/ no outs and don't score in the inning!
by athleticsBB4life on Jun 26, 2007 8:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You forgot introductions and icebreakers
They need to learn the new names....
by gigglingone on Jun 26, 2007 8:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Why bother?
All the new guys will be on the DL within two days anyway.
by BlameChannel53 on Jun 26, 2007 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Especially that guy named Ice,
who they're going to break right after introductions.
by Poppy on Jun 26, 2007 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
and housekeeping...the rest rooms are at the
by ak_A on Jun 26, 2007 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No raffle?
whichever one of the call ups holds the winning ticket gets to wear number 22.
by malikot on Jun 26, 2007 8:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh!
Door prizes and refreshments!
by Jennifer on Jun 26, 2007 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
=)
it's nice to see swish stepping up and calling a meeting!
by gotgreen on Jun 26, 2007 8:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Hell yeah, Swish.
I take this as a good sign since "some" of us, including me, believe he is upset that MB was DFA'd. This is a major sign of his growth.
Here are some recommendations for the meeting:
- Tell Chavez to get his crap together. You aren't defeated until you believe you are defeated. Oh wait... that is what he believes.
- Require players who hit into double plays to spend an evening with face-lick girl.
- If you are truly hurt than go on the DL and quit manning up if you are costing the team because it ain't helpin' anyway.
- Show Bobby Crosby that there is really only an 12" wide area near the outside of the plate where guys are pitching him. Prepare him to understand that he will never see a pitch inside this area but to beware that guys may throw it even further away after Strike 2.
- Call in the drill sergeant from Full Metal Jacket to rip their asses. Afterwards have Donovan McNabb's mom bring our boys some Campbell's Chunky Soup.
- BRING BEER BACK TO THE CLUBHOUSE.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 26, 2007 8:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
All good points
I think Swisher should be The Man anyways. He's got the confidence and the swagger associated with it. Chavez sure as hell doesn't, and I don't think anyone else does either.
by sprtsnwyn on Jun 26, 2007 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here here
I think Swish is showing some maturity here. When the boys get back in town, he should get a standing ovation. And I'm mad they dumped MB too. Damn! Get me a Bud Light.
by mlleaimee on Jun 26, 2007 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
6:20 PM
Play through the Uncertainty. . .
about how much salary the A's are going to have pay Milton or Milton's new team
by FanSinceKC on Jun 26, 2007 8:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Mark my words:
After today, the A's will go 62-25 the rest of the season.
by King Richard on Jun 26, 2007 8:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I just marked the dry erase board in my office.
God I hope you're right.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 26, 2007 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh don't worry.
There's no doubt in my mind.
Last night the ghost of John Jaha crept into my dreams and told me so.
by King Richard on Jun 26, 2007 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll take the under on that bet. in a heartbeat.
by Rickeyfan on Jun 26, 2007 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
remember...
by King Richard on Jun 26, 2007 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's a surprise birthday party
for Jason Kendall!
by Jennifer on Jun 26, 2007 9:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Nick Swisher is totally underrated by AN.
he's carrying our offense.
by rebus on Jun 26, 2007 9:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't say he's underrated.
There's universal appreciation for Swisher here.
by louismg on Jun 26, 2007 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, but he's not as lauded as he should be
he's our guy. we probably fear Vlad more than we respect Swish.
by rebus on Jun 26, 2007 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love Swish....
But carrying our offense? In 23 June games, he has a grand total of 1 HR and 9 RBI and is hitting .241 with an OPS of .688. He was great in May, but he has been very poor in June. He may have carried it for a while, but he sure is not carrying anything this month.
A one HR month is not something a guy who carries an offense does.
by OaktownPower on Jun 26, 2007 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i should have been clearer
it's more like our offense depends on Swisher, as he's the only guy on our team who's capable of reliably putting up an .850-.900 OPS.
by rebus on Jun 26, 2007 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That I agree with completely....
The O is VERY dependant on Swish.
by OaktownPower on Jun 26, 2007 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
<Attendance taken>
<Riot breaks out>
by mikeA on Jun 26, 2007 9:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I found out who's doing the catering
by Englishmajor on Jun 26, 2007 10:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ohhhhh shhhhiiiiit!
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 26, 2007 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I loves me some White Castle
Dad sent us this wonderful gift for Christmas. It came from the location near him in Colombus, Ohio and arrived in an insulated bag with dry ice. Wifey and I killed off all 30 in about 2 and a half days.
by malikot on Jun 26, 2007 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It started in my hometown but now we have none.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_C...
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 26, 2007 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
better start eating quarter pounders..
They originated in the future home of your Oakland Athletics.
by tosk on Jun 26, 2007 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess that means
Buck will be out with a recurrence of his stomach ailment...
by IndianaAsfan on Jun 26, 2007 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This meeting will last five minutes
I think it will get down to "more basehits, y'all".
That's about what it will take to turn around the losing streak.
Team dynamics are a fascinating subject. I think the "baseball team" as an organism is more ripe for statistical analysis than all the OBP, RISP, WHIP, and OB/GYN of the individual players. If Vlad has a great year, but the team does not reach the playoffs, what's it mean? If a team has a $200 million payroll, yet loses more games than it wins, how can it happen?
Individual stats are nice, because we are all "individual". But team dynamics matter most.
...as a team.
by One won lost won on Jun 26, 2007 11:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Team dynamics quantification
Not easy. How do you quantify the spontaneous? The Miggy jumping out of the dugout to do the windmill? The Swish-Bradley homerun dance?
One thing that can be quantified since the Bradley Fiasco, 0 Wins - 4 Losses.
by FanSinceKC on Jun 26, 2007 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Swish needs
a new dance partner.
by kkdaz on Jun 26, 2007 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Scutaro
He's been watching, wistfully mimicking the dance, alone, for over a year now...
by Poppy on Jun 26, 2007 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
there's something very poignant about that
by ArakSOT on Jun 26, 2007 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe now,
when Swisher hits a home run, he'll just sit on the bench next to Scoot, and they'll quietly nod to each other.
by Poppy on Jun 26, 2007 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nodding
can pull a muscle. WATCH OUT!
by FanSinceKC on Jun 26, 2007 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Won-Loss record is the obvious measure
After all, economics just seemed a flurry of "just so" stories, until Adam Smith wrote his "Wealth of Nations", and even that had little statistical ballast.
Keynes came up with his simple equations about savings, consumption, etc to try to explain the workings of a "National Economy". The results were measureable in terms of "everyone has jobs" or "so many out of work" (kind of a Won Loss ultimate measure) but it took a long time to decide on how to measure all the components that go into "The Economy".
Same with "Team Baseball" and ultimately, a team's W-L record over a season. I think it has barely been touched. Every one is concentrating on individual stats, but as if each guy walks up to a pinball game and starts playing, everything outside is deemed "neutral".
by One won lost won on Jun 26, 2007 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Teamonomics
I've always believed in the intangibles that drive team performance (e.g., spirit); even if they resist quantification. The A's need passionate players (at least one), just as they need the Regulars (e.g., MaEl).
by FanSinceKC on Jun 26, 2007 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's not just basehits
Defense, focus, and all.
And I think Swish has to be the one to call it since he was the most 'tight' with MB from all appearances. It's hard to focus on the job when folks are leaving & going each day, so I imagine Swish may have a message to take back to Beane as well.
by MobiusKlein on Jun 26, 2007 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
trying hard to come up with
a name for the Post-Milton streak the A's are on. "Curse of the Baby?"
by skutch on Jun 26, 2007 3:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Curse
How about "Curse of the Ill-timed DFA Decision"? Bradley should have shut up and put up with not being able to play right away. He should have concentrated on performance the days he played. Beane shouldn't have DFA'd him after one day back. MB deserved a few days of play to settle down and produce. If he couldn't shut up or produce, then a trade or DFA would have made sense. Bradley is obviously to blame for being a baby, but Beane could have handled this less peremptorily.
by FanSinceKC on Jun 26, 2007 4:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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