DLD 7/18: HAPPY HAPPY! HA HA! POSITIVE!
You can't wipe this smile off my face, no siree Bob! Cuz we live in the greatest nation in the history of smiles and bunnies and that makes everyone a winner in my book! Where did I get this attitude from? Happy Bob Geren, that's who, silly! A little bird told me that the A's have been going through some frowny frump-frumps lately, but that doesn't keep Bobby (or 'Gare' as I call him) from his Bob Schuller/Norman Vincent Peale happity-joy-joys! No, way, Jose! See: here's what he told our valiant warriors after last night's effort:
"We're definitely looking up, fighting an upward battle right now, there's no doubt," manager Bob Geren said. "We had a nice talk today with the team, and everybody's really trying to push forward and climb out of it collectively. Some good signs tonight."
If you read the rest of the story , you'll see that Gare's message is 'Stay Positive, Fellas!!!!' which I think is okie-dokie! Thank goodness that our lovely community of baseball fans approved of Gare's managerial style during the month of April, 'cuz I didn't like that frowny Ken Macha, not one bit!
I also have an inspiring story, and I think it might bring a collective smile to that AN frown! I was playing Pinch Hitter the other day, and I wasn't doing so well at first. But then I prayed, put on the soundtrack to 'Annie,' switched my frown to an ear-to-ear grin, and in my last three pitches ended up hitting several super 8,000 pointers out of the sandlot (if you aren't familiar with this game, you should definitely check it out!! No link, though; it's a little addicting!!!) Then I realized: my game of Pinch Hitter is just like the A's: we might start off with some not so smiley times, but we can stil pull off a late-season streak, just like I did!
Plus: Happy Birthday to me!!!
215 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Up early
to get a bleacher seat and head out from Sac for the game! Stay positive or I'll post a pic of The Avenger!
by LawDaddy on Jul 18, 2007 7:10 AM PDT reply actions
It's... your... birthday?
Awesome.

I'll smack the happy right outta ya. Start bitching!
The sugar coma that the cat must've fallen into
soon after thses pix were taken is my sole comfort. And...thanks!
Yeah we lost...
"When right-handed reliever Shane Komine took the mound in the eighth to pitch to catcher Kurt Suzuki, the A's formed the first Hawaiian-born battery in major league history."
Ten years from now you won't remember the loss, but you will kinda remember that something happened for the first time... or maybe the last time and it had something to do with either race or midgets. And isn't that what this game's all about. Not winning or losing, but making memories.
"Damn something stinks. DJ stepped in something."
"No, I didn't. Maybe it's Elly."
"No, it's not me, either. It's YOU guys."

"Oh, wait.
"It's all of us. We have suck oozing from our pores."
I actually *yelled* at Bobby's last strikeout.
Strike two swing: "You can't reach that one!!!"
Strike three swing: "You STILL can't reach that one!!!"
I should have left early...
You'd been there about, what...
fifteen hours? :P I don't think anyone would have blamed you for leaving early.
Oh, I would have blamed me.
At that point, it wasn't about "everyone who stays really supports the team", it was more like "we're all staying and sending icky vibes so you guys might feel our collective disgust."
Uh, I mean...
"We're all staying and sending hearts and love and goodness because you guys are all so nice that it doesn't matter that YOU SUCK."
So, did you at least get a Haren shirt?
And as it turned out, how late do ya figure one could have showed up and still been shirted?
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jul 18, 2007 8:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Yes, I did! :)
I was only about the 25th person in line at 4:00! I reckon that even 5:00 might have been safe for still having a choice of sizes, and 5:30 or so might even have been safe for teeny people who don't mind having to settle for whatever size is left because it'll still fit...
I arrived at the stadium around 5:10
and no problem....plenty of L and XL to choose from.
by Englishmajor on Jul 18, 2007 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Happy birthday!
MEOW!
Vick going to the Pokey
If you haven't just ingested food, you can read this:
Ugly Details of Vick's Indictment
At first, I didn't think it was a big deal, but after reading the stories that have come out, he should be spending some quality time reading the Harry Potter series in a nice 8x8.
Well, that made my day.
Where's the evidence?
Anyways I'm pretty sure this trial is going to become a race thing and be huge ala Michael Jackson and O.J. ZI really don't want to be hearing about this on the news for the next 12 months.
Race?
Why because Chavez likes to cock fight?
by methodrampage on Jul 18, 2007 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
even more graphic on the espn article
but I didn't post that...
this vick thing looks bad
I'm going to have to find a new source...
of fresh puppy meat for kabobs. Where does that chick with the fish hook live?
Vick's latest alibi...
...He had his dogfood imported from China. What a loser!
just read the article
I don't think you're happy enough!

That's just plain scary
But in a funny way
by CTAsGirl on Jul 18, 2007 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions
so we saved $700K
not a lot, but can help signing some draft picks.
The A's will save roughly $700,000 on the remainder of Kendall's salary, having sent cash to the Cubs to cover the rest. (The Pirates are paying $7 million of the $13 million.)
I still hate you guys.
By the way, Cubs fans are not pleased with Kendall's play last night:
That was the single worst one-game performance by a catcher I have ever seen. Kendall cost the Cubs the game. On the first Giants run, Soriano made a tremendous throw from left that had the runner beat by three steps. Kendall "Barretted" the ball allowing the run to score. Leading off the eighth Bengie Molina hit a foul pop straight up. Kendall didn't even bother to look for it for a while. Then he realized it might be in play. He rushed back after it, and it hit off his glove well away from the brick wall. Molina then hit a single launching a two-run inning. Both runs scored with two outs, and if Kendall had been charged with an error as he should have been, the runs would have been unearned. That's three runs directly attributable to Kendall's poor play in a 4-2 loss.
In addition, the Cubs pitchers were charged with two wild pitches on catchable balls. At the plate, Kendall is apparently a league-wide joke. The outfielders for the Giants played shollower for Kendall than I usually see for pitchers batting in Wrigley Field. Not only are they convinced that he can't hit the ball over their heads, but evidently they don't even fear a hard-hit gapper getting between their shallow outfielders.
hey! There's a zonk posting over there!
That was the positive way of saying
the A's are sending over $4.5 million to the Chicago Cubs as part of the Kendall deal.
That's right, the A's are paying Jason Kendall $4.5 million to NOT play for them in Oakland.
at least that's all he'll cost us
(rather than games)
but ... but ... Redman! Rhodes! -sputter-
Lots of elderly KME believers
in 219 last night irate about the trade. They were jeering Suzuki after the first hit of the game. Probably wanted him sent to the Vick training camp. It was sort of amusing:
<Michael Young hits double>
Some screaming crazywoman: WE NEED A REAL CATCHER!!!!
It was probably loud enough for Fosse to hear up in the booth.
Are you sure Fosse wasn't yelling from the booth?
by BlameChannel53 on Jul 18, 2007 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions
are those the same folks who ...
... shout all sorts of enlightened epithets at Ichiro every time the M's are in town?
Yeah...it never fails
a small but vocal redneck contingent of fans feels compelled to start yelling/chanting racist crap.
by kaweahkaweah on Jul 18, 2007 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions
probably Beane's relatives
Just to have something honestly positive to say..
I really, really love Travis Buck (and I mean that in a completely baseball sense, so don't go there). He gives me hope.
Have you been reading my diary?
I said (and MEANT) "completely baseball"! LOL
WAY too young for me. He seems even younger than he is, and how young he is... is "too". And not even in an alarmingly appealing way.
How old is he?
12?
23, almost 24. It isn't that bad.
...said the 23-year-old.
;)
But no, I'm not just talking about the number. I don't know what I'm talking about.
"she's love struck"
If that's what you want to call it....
give her a break?
What, are you gonna send Larry D to see Poppy?
Hah. That'd be okay with me too.
The boy is hawt.
Agreed
but unlike Jennifer, I loved his "hay bale" of hair and I'm not so much digging this new look.
Mm. This look works better for me.
As if I had any input :)
Yey, Happy
I love Travis Buck too
by CTAsGirl on Jul 18, 2007 8:43 AM PDT up reply actions
DL
I like him too, when he plays- that single with men on second and third the other day was a bright ray of sunshine through the fog of miserable play that has settled in over this team. Unfortunately, it seems like he's already thoroughly infected with the "play one day, sit on the DL for two" bug that kicks around the A's dugout, no?
by BerkeleyDawg on Jul 18, 2007 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions
That was poetic
by CTAsGirl on Jul 18, 2007 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Happy birthday fellow Cancerian!
I think this is a new tradition -- birthday girl or boy must do the DLD.
So just for you:

Dis iz AN Kitteh, not hpy bouts woken up fwom moening nap for silleh hatz. But kitteh has poseytif attytood...sayz all AN must hang on to sees

By the way, after I posted my back-from-the-game notes last night, I went into my bedroom to find that AN Kitteh, apparently displeased that I did not come home between work and the game, had left a surprise gift next to my bed. It was the end to a perfect day!
Meanwhile, the Giants are all agog because Z finally remembered where he left the strike zone. Highlight quote:
In the eighth, Kendall failed to see or chase a catchable foul popup by Molina, who then singled to launch the winning rally.
The same fans who gave Kendall a huge ovation earlier now booed his ears off.
Now that's just lack of class. We don't boo people on their first night with the team.
Oh, don't read Monte Poole's interview with Billy if you want to keep all happy and sunshiney.
Billy sounds sunshiney enough
Even the bleeping part
I don't have any fear. I really enjoy building. It's what motivates me. I'm willing to take short-term pain for a long-term gain, if this needs to happen. That's part of the deal. We do need to recognize when it's time to change. It sounds so (bleeping) hokey, but I really do like building."
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jul 18, 2007 8:47 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't have any fear either, it's anger I'm full
of. So, Billy, I guess you won't be afraid to refund me the balance on my unused season tickets then? No? Ok, then can I apply it towards next year when they possibly won't be sucking the sweat off a dead man's balls? No? Ok, then fuck you.
sure, and you could use that refund
Or a pony that never has a bad year.
It can't tell you how happy it makes me...
that you don't think I should be upset that the offense hasn't scored more than 4 runs in any of the last dozen games and that we've lost the last nine of them.
What was I thinking?
Getting all emotional about the team's poor play on a fan site.
You have entitlement issues
You buy season tickets, you take your chances. They aren't conditional "if the team does good" tickets. It's not Beane's fault that you lost on your gamble.
Are you one of those white guys who always feels like he's being discriminated against by affirmative action, too?
Thanks for showing me the light.
You're right, what control does Beane have over how this team performs?
I have issues with the team looking absolutely pathetic for the last dozen games. Your last sentence shows you have issues with your deductive powers.
Cat in the happy fucking birthday hat
was one of my favorite books as a small child. Thanks!
So if you consider the DLD "the Clubhouse"
then AN, like the team we love, seems overrun with clubhouse Cancers. Happy birthday.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jul 18, 2007 8:41 AM PDT reply actions
QOTM
by CTAsGirl on Jul 18, 2007 8:43 AM PDT up reply actions
For some weird reason
I initially thought that said "2ended" and I was like, "huh? 2ended quote?" Then i got it and felt really stupid
by CTAsGirl on Jul 18, 2007 8:47 AM PDT up reply actions
But would you rather be 2-faced, or 2-ended?
But FSU does it without h8n on all of us.
Chase Utley now tops in MLB
according to ESPN:
Remember when we tried to get him and Madson back in the day?
Why so many cat pictures all the time?!
by CTAsGirl on Jul 18, 2007 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions
because they're part of a cat cult
http://icanhascheezburger.com/
OK
Now I'm enlightened and distressed
by CTAsGirl on Jul 18, 2007 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
Time just had a good article
on the dense web of reference and self-reference that only people who spend way too much time online can fully appreciate that is lolcats. Can our even denser web of reference and self-reference, appreciated only by people who spend way too much time online AND at the ballpark, be far behind?
by Englishmajor on Jul 18, 2007 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions
And ESPECIALLY because...
it's LAXile's birthday today.
I had to google that one
cause I wasn't aware of the reference. My cat freaked out when I clicked on this.
Holy Shit!
That cat eating the cake scared the hell out of me!
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 18, 2007 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Help! I'm stuck in my dog!
You can't make this stuff up.
Funny lexicon across the pond:
The dog was subdued by a vet. Vicky, mum of a toddler, was taken to nearby Wexham Park Hospital, where she was detained overnight.
Detained?
Very hopefully not "subdued" ...
... the Michael Vick ways.
by The Dogfather on Jul 18, 2007 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions
she was subject to a rest
Oh, I'll bet you could make it up if you tried.
The good news is that you don't have to!
you're doing it wrong
man calls 911 to save him from police. Stories like this kinda make me miss my late nights driving home listening to Adam Carolla and Dr. Drew play "Germany or Florida" on Loveline.
Nice
Happy happy! This made me chuckle out loud, thanks:
I didn't like that frowny Ken Macha, not one bit!
Happy birthday!
Susan Slusser's recap:
I wondered about that leadoff triple (because I couldn't see the replay very well on the TV in the suite behind me). From section 216, it looked like... well, as SuSlu puts it, Lofton should've been caught dead.
In the first inning, Rangers leadoff man Kenny Lofton appeared to be dead trying to stretch a double to left into a triple, with the relay from Crosby arriving a second or two before Lofton reached the bag. He was ruled safe, however, and replays showed why: Scutaro didn't reach to put the tag on Lofton -- if anything, he pulled his glove back as Lofton arrived.
Oops.
notes from the lf bleachers last night
Okay, it was fun to be in the bleachers (except for the high-pitched whistle that the kids behind us were blowing until they left in the 7th)... but the game, I mean, seriously. At this point it wouldn't surprise me if we lost every game for the rest of the year. There were a couple pro-Kendall signs, and several people saying "Kendall woulda caught that" and "Kendall woulda hit that" every time Suzuki did something. I'm surprised they didn't say "Kendall woulda called for the strikeout on two pitches." And Kennedy? Are you trying to lose? Sigh.
I appreciated the song improvisations in the bleachers-- "Why can't we win games, why can't we win games" (from "why can't we be friends") but even so, I let my friends convince me to leave early. At least we got our Haren jerseys...
ChiSox are blowing it.
BBJD.
See, dating is dangerous....
As someone who is scared of insects, bugs, etc., this freaks me out.
To All the AN Girls I've Loved Before...
Sad news for you, I am engaged. You'll get over me.
She was on one knee
Actually, it was more of a discussion followed by "Hey, let's do it!"
by kaweahkaweah on Jul 18, 2007 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions
did you meet
on a poppy h8rs dating site?
Pretty much
Some people write "Must love puppies."
I wrote, "Must hate Poppies."
by kaweahkaweah on Jul 18, 2007 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions
So Britney Spears
got you to fall for that line too?
Works for procreation, too.
There's a sucker born every minute, eh
by theblackpearl on Jul 18, 2007 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions
LOL
by CTAsGirl on Jul 18, 2007 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions
Fool me once...
(and I was married once before), shame on me.
Fool me twice...and you apparently picked the right person to try and fool.
by kaweahkaweah on Jul 18, 2007 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions
She's going to take this hard
they all do
by kaweahkaweah on Jul 18, 2007 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions
Wait, are we talking about the
engagement or the 2007 season?
I think she's much more heartbroken
about the 2007 season, but I could be wrong.
by kaweahkaweah on Jul 18, 2007 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Damn.
[slits wrists]
I'll mail you a band aid
by kaweahkaweah on Jul 18, 2007 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions
LOL
by CTAsGirl on Jul 18, 2007 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
I hope we're invited to the wedding.
So we can stand up and object.
Sorry
by kaweahkaweah on Jul 18, 2007 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
"He's my baby daddy!"
Shhh...
You promised not to reveal that to anyone!
by kaweahkaweah on Jul 18, 2007 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions
What, you're not gonna throw a Gatorade at me?
I was thinking monkey poop
by kaweahkaweah on Jul 18, 2007 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I was pooping, monkey think
No! No! NOOOOOOO!!!
Yes! Yes! YESSSSSSSSSS!!!
by kaweahkaweah on Jul 18, 2007 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Congratulations!
I don't have a paper hat that says Happy F*cking Engagement, and the cat is not in the office with me, otherwise I would make you a custom picture....
by Englishmajor on Jul 18, 2007 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions
Thank you!
It's the thought that counts.
by kaweahkaweah on Jul 18, 2007 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Congratulations, k!
Sometimes, you miss ballgames to spend time with the missus, and you wonder if it's all worth it. Then, she surprises you by walking into the bar where you're watching Game 3 of the ALDS with your friends so she can be there to celebrate with you and you remember why you married her.
Aw! That's sweet!
It was dark and you were drunk
I guess you don't remember going home with a lumberjack dwarfette that night.
I don't
but that explains the tiny axe I found embedded in my headboard
subtract the word "board"
and you'd have Trotsky's first sentence upon arriving in heaven.
i'm sure she wasn't checking up on you
because she knows where you are at all times due to the tracking chip in your ring (and the redundant one she put somewhere "safe")
That is sweet
I'm pretty fortunate--she likes to watch the games with me.
by kaweahkaweah on Jul 18, 2007 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Mike Piazza bobblehead
If I took care of the ticket/shipping costs, could an ANer pick me up a Piazza bobblehead? Shoot me an email, thanks!
That depends ...
Do you expect us to actually sit and watch the game? Since I'm not a masochist, that kind of torture costs extra.
Raining today
It has been here in Santa Clara. Maybe we'll get a rainout.
Don't think we're gonna luck out
No! No! NOOOOOOOO!!!
Nuts
Instead of "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain", we'll just have to go straight to the supplication.
Kendall's on the bench today
I think he'll have to get used to not playing every day, and being forced to acknowledge the existant of other catchers on the team.
No! No! NOOOOOOOOO!!!
Maybe Billy
can arrange for some sort of work-release program, assuming some of these guys can play SS.
first paragraph
Among the 5,000-plus inmates of San Quentin State Prison, about two dozen become players for the San Quentin Giants, the 13-year-old baseball team that takes its name and black-and-orange caps from the pro team across the bay.
They're playing against 13-year-olds? I guess these are guys who need an emotional boost...
Our boys
For the 5 year anniversary of the 20 game win streak, are merely looking to make a tribute for that awesome 2002 team by losing 20 in a row. It makes perfect sense people.
And the 20-game losing streak will end war!
From the other evening's thread:
http://athleticsnation.com/comments/...
Will he be on the Giants then? Talk about long
term deals.
The Mariners will be paying Ichiro, until 2032, at the ripe old age of 58. I think he is 33 now, correct.
M's to be paying Ichiro until at least 2032
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/s...
Seattle will pay $12 million in salary each year and defer $5 million per season at 5.5 percent interest. Suzuki, who turns 33 in October, will receive the money in annual installments each Jan. 30 starting with the year after his retirement from the major leagues
which one will he choose?
He also will be provided with either a new Jeep or Mercedes SUV by the team
Don't be a Player hater
Will Mark Mcgwire don the reading glasses again,
the next time he has to tee off. He doesn't want to talk about the past remember.
by theblackpearl on Jul 18, 2007 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Over/Under
on number of games Piazza plays with the A's before he's traded?
I'll go with two.
Speaking of Pizza, I just tried to have 4
delivered to my class (UCLA summer sessions -- nice Prof. who wants to feed students on birthday), and the jackhole on the line thought it was a joke and wouldn't deliver them. Speaking of Piazza, I bet he won't deliver either.
I just want to say it now.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Beane go after Jason Bay now or in the offseason.
Yanks are after Betemit
Apparently offering Proctor - they must just want to get rid of him. I hope the A's make a run at Betemit.
Proctor's arm is probably shredded after
a few years of overuse by Joe Torre. Pass.
I thought we had known that
or maybe I just have ESPN
you lost your espn?
what, are you stuck with deja vu?
well gosh...Happy birthday indeed
as ELO sings...."Don't Bring Me Down"
I've got a b-day coming up too!
Life copies Michael Bay movie!
Transformer explosion rocks midtown Manhattan
In Washington, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security official said there was no apparent link to terrorism.
No word on whether there's any link to Energon cubes, which Transformers were involved (I'm suspecting Megatron), and if it was initiated by the Autobots or Decepticons.
I smell a conspiracy, there's more than meets the eye.
Perfect game!
15th-round draft pick Brad Hertzler threw a 5-inning (rain-shortened) perfect game for Vancouver.
Hertzler estimates that 65 of the 70 pitches he threw were fastballs. And astute readers of AN will know where the real credit lies:
Ahhh
I will always fondly remember my Division-5 HS pitching days. I tossed a 5-inning (mercy rule) no hitter against California School for the Deaf. 1 out away from a Perfect Game and it still kills me. I still have a ball from that game and the ball from my one outside-the-park home run.
The year before that, I made my first and only (I think) appearance on TV (a news segment) as a multiple strikeout victim to a CSD pitcher with a prosthetic leg. It was a good story. The guy was in a car accident when very young and lost his hearing and a leg, but wound up being an excellent pitcher. I was a top hitter in that league and the guy schooled me.
CGV-violating note: the free market could not possibly provide quality that CSD does.
What school did you go to?
I went to Head-Royce(same league as CSD, at the time) for a few years (7-10) before xfering to Skyline.
I think head-royce produced Adam Duritz,
which might undo any good the rest of the collective alumni might have done the world.
Wow!
somehow
this DLD
made it to 200 comments!
(Pathetic, I know.)
Mango wished LAXile a happy birthday?


by 




























