Open Game Thread: Game 89 - A's at Minnesota

Wouldn't that be about the worst lineup strategy possible? Well, except maybe for grouping all the limp bats in the first 3-4 spots.

The A's also started the second half in Minnesota in 2003.  The Twins swept the 4-game series.  But, the "predator in the weeds" was in better shape going into the break in 2003.  The A's were 54-39, 4 games behind Seattle going into the break that year.

In every other year starting in 2002, the A's have won 3 out of 4 in the series immediately following the break...including last year at Fenway Park.

and muggy.....76 on the porch.  I hope the community volunteers drop by to check on me.

Kotsay on turf gets a lot of sharp grounder hits and Ellis against righties isn't fantastic.

Ken and Ray just said Kennedy is moving to the bullpen for good, meaning two things:

1. He should be more effective b/c he can used far more vs lefties

2. The A's will need a starter Monday (Braden? Meyer? Other?)

Suzuki ninth would suit me better. It may finally be time.  Maybe.

Let's go A's!  Let's go A's!

A's are shopping Piazza and Johnson.  Not too much of a surprise; they, much like Milton, aren't part of the team's future.

coach....boy howdy, everybody is about to break out!!  even crosby!  can't miss this game this should do it!

LET'S GO OAKLAND!!

2nd half run??
let's see.....

I listened to Ty's pre-game show. I am gonna hold out hope (I know, you're falling off your seats) that Bobby Crosby is gonna actually turn it around.

until Buck comes back and (hopefully) pushes Kotsay to the bench

was a 2-run HR waiting to happen. Juuuuuuust missed it.

That last pitch looked pretty up in the zone, and I think Stewart had one high called a strike.  I don't like it.

Rockin the socks.

Those Oakland Athletics that did not allow runs in the first inning, where have those A's gone?

Must. Get. Out. Of. This. Inning.

IBB to load the bases with a SP who's already walked 2 and tossed a WP?

I'll be spending all night trying to hit 20k on PH2

I see the A's bats smacking a few balls on that accelero turf...

True Athletic?

With a great series he could force a trade to his hometown.

is exactly opposite of what we needed just now.

and Ellis probably should have hit that 0-2 pitch out, but he was in 2-strike defensive mode.

How are you doing?

Do you need a pep talk?

"Shannon Stewart fires it in to

The rest of the comment is not important.

bad start :-/

Just got home.  That's about right...

And Glen, SHUT UP!!!

Ty simply was talking about the wrong team.

Close though.  He was "in the ballpark" so to speak.

ahhhhhh... watch about one more inning.  Another zero A's baserunners, and...zzzzz. Do something "entertaining".

Who's that bald guy wearing Chad's uniform?

to keep the runner at 3rd.

I don't feel too bad about missing the game up until now.

other than the one passed ball, no one has done anything wrong except Gaudin. He's walked guys, thrown a lousy 0-2 pitch, missed two balls back to the mound (one gettable). The hitters have hit the ball hard and made good plays in the field (Stewart, Swisher). It's all Chad.

Scott Baker is pitching. The first pitch to Cust, and the pitches Ellis and Crosby put into play, were gopher balls, while 5 other hitters have ripped the ball. He should be down 5-4 or 6-4 and out of this game by now. Seriously, he's been that bad.

a totally different pitcher since Mauer stepped in; like he finally decided to let loose. Sigh.

BTW, folks, don't make too much of the IBB. It didn't come until the count was 3-0 to Morneau and at that point it was pretty much a no-brainer.

time.

still 4-0...

slider low and away slider low and away.

and wind up with a double.

"Look at a guy's belt buckle; that will tell you where the ball is gonna go."

?

with and RBI double

This all seems very strange.

I don't typically h8 on any of the players. Maybe I should start. Chavy is a pussified American; Harden has -7 balls.

Etc.

but this inning is why Kennedy is so much better suited to the bullpen, where he can come in and face a lefty-heavy lineup that won't be pinch hit for with righties.

When they count how many strikes a pitcher has thrown, are they including balls that were swung at but were outside the strike zone?  What about 2-strike fouls?

taht was weird! mY computer just totally freaked out in the middle of my thread comment.............hmmmmm.....

anyway- A's need to wake thef*#k up and smell the coffee cuz it ain't brewin in the green n gold. Thet just don't really inspire much of anything these days.

Popup, K, pop up, weak flyball, weak grounder,
sandwiched around a couple of runs that don't mean much cuz it seems like the team is always playing from behind. Like I been feeling pre-All Str break.

This team is not even close to the team it was a year ago.....and it is sad to realize that. THe question now becomes again.......whi is going and who is staying???

When is Billy gonna start the trading?!

a carom over the years, I've actually never him bobble one. Until now. :-(

Too bad they scored though.

Oh, and Hunter was safe

Our pitchers and hitters just need to swap secrets. The pitchers have to reveal how they are able to put so many runs on the board and the hitters how they are able to put enough bagels on the board to satisfy Homer Simpson (Coming to a theater near you! 7-27-07)

I know that Jennifer has mentioned this but it probably should be pointed out in a game thread.  Extra Innings is in free preview for the first 4 days after the All-Star Break, so anyone with digital cable should be able to watch these A's-Twins games on TV.

Check for your cable system's MLB Pay-Per-View channels.  The schedule is:

Tonight:  5th MLB channel
Friday:  1st MLB channel
Saturday and Sunday:  8th MLB channels

what Joe Blanton would look like if he were left-handed and Hispanic.

I thought you all needed to know that.

Brownie.

then beat Johan tomorrow, everyone goes into the weekend happy.

Either that or I'm drunk.

tired of the coors light ads on the radio.

High performance players for little or no pay! Ultimate Moneyball right????!!

character in the movie Misery:  Cock-ah-doody!

He can assess, direct, and the boys execute!

I'm predicting only two hits tomorrow.  Good enough though!!!