Open Game Thread: Game 85 - A's vs. Mariners
The A's and All Star snub Chad Gaudin (not that I mind, mind you!) with a 7-3 record and a 2.92 ERA takes on Miguel Batista and his 8-6 record and 4.63 ERA.
The Athletics face a Mariners team that has obviously gotten over the spanking the A's gave them in 2006. The Mariners are 4-1 against the A's in 2007 whereas they went 2-17 against the A's in 2006. Interestingly, the Mariners haven't made a personnel move with their position players all year. They have used only 13 position players all year. They and Detroit are the only two teams in the AL that can make that claim. No wonder they are perched in second place and are nipping at the heels of the Angels.
Just take a moment to imagine if the A's had that same luxury...what would the standings look like today? <sigh>
Any way, Gaudin comes off a one-hitter in New York. The A's also got some good news in that Kiko Calero appears healthy once again and will supposedly rejoin the team on Sunday, according to Rotoworld. As long as he's healthy, he's a great addition to the team. I'm convinced he hasn't been healthy most of the year. If he can finally get some snap on that slider, it's a small ray of hope.
The A's lineup looks like this tonight:
Stewart
Ellis
Swisher
Cust
Johnson
Crosby
Scutaro
Kendall
Suzuki
Well, this is a way to get Suzuki's bat in the lineup but still getting Kendall throwing down the pitches.
The Mariners lineup looks like this tonight:
Suzuki (you know, that OTHER one)
Vidro
Ibanez
Guillen
Sexson
Johjima
Beltre
Betancourt
Lopez
There's no question what is keeping the Mariners afloat. That is one scary offense. If Gaudin isn't awesome tonight, the A's won't have much of a chance to win.
LET'S GO A'S!!!!!!!
296 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Hurray! A's on TV up here
Seattle TV announcers
pronounce "Go-Don" instead of "Go-Dan".
That's because
they didn't get the heads up from Kyp.
by mlleaimee on Jul 5, 2007 7:21 PM PDT up reply actions
No Vince tonight :-)
He has a back ache and is seeing Larry Davis for help. Maybe he's out for the year?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:03 PM PDT reply actions
Vince h8rs!
the object of your radio scorn is out tonight with a bad back.
That's old news from 29 seconds ago. Ho hum.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Steve Bitker is worse, though
It doesn't seem like he keeps up with the AL on a daily basis...very unknowledgable about the players, especially those on the opposing team.
That's so freakish
that I was first twice in one day. I don't actually check in all that often. I just happened to come on right when the front-page post went up.
Mariner's announcers just butchered
Gaudain's first and last name. Next to the White Sox announcers they have to be one of the least knowledgeable and most biased crews going. Anyone with a soft spot for the M's hasn't listened to these guys.
by Bleeding the Green and Gold on Jul 5, 2007 7:05 PM PDT reply actions
How do you butcher "Chad"?
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jul 5, 2007 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Good question ... they thought it was 'shad'
by Bleeding the Green and Gold on Jul 5, 2007 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Ha HA
I think they've had too much Starbucks. Didn't Lou Pinella mispronounce Scoot's name too though?
by mlleaimee on Jul 5, 2007 7:23 PM PDT up reply actions
ask a "Janjaweed"
PIQOTB
ever
woo-hoo! I'm number 1!
waaaaaaaaait a second --
Hmmmm
Eric Chavez has a lifetime .429 batting average (6-for-14) against Batista and has driven in four runs against the righty.
Yet, he's not in the lineup. Anyone know why?
by letsgoas on Jul 5, 2007 7:07 PM PDT reply actions
Scoot at 3rd, no Chavvy
Seattle TV said "bit of a back problem", whatever that means.
He must be tired from carrying this team.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Tired from carrying the team.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions
"stiffness in the back"
they said now ... right after Scoot failed to get the foul out way off to the left of 3B. Would Chavvy have gotten it?
Probably
and I think he would have had Guillen's ground ball...
by IndianaAsfan on Jul 5, 2007 7:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Definitely
Chavvy absolutely would have gotten the Guillen hit. Went right under Scoot's glove.
Watching the Giants
And more specifically, Feliz, makes me treasure Chavvy.
by mlleaimee on Jul 5, 2007 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions
no chavez or kotsay in a big series opener?
hmmmmmmmmmm.
Korach: Kotsay "under the weather"
Chavez has a stiff back.
I'm LOLing at our lineup.
What this team needs
is a grip of duct tape.
by mlleaimee on Jul 5, 2007 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions
another great start for the A's.
by larrysgurl on Jul 5, 2007 7:13 PM PDT reply actions
One tough call from the ump and we are in a hole
1-0
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:13 PM PDT reply actions
Hi Everybody!!!
LET'S GO OAKLAND!!
Good evening good Dr.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions
not so good
we're already down and things don't look any good :\
Chavez would've had it.
by larrysgurl on Jul 5, 2007 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Chavvy would have had it
It was a fast hit, but not at all out of range. Chavvy always gets those.
scutaro at 3rd base
watching scoot playing third reminds me of how important chavez is to this team.
WTF....
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 7:16 PM PDT reply actions
thank goodness
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 7:16 PM PDT reply actions
Breathe in. Breathe out. We escaped a disaster.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:16 PM PDT reply actions
How refreshing
to see Bobby execute a double play, instead of being executed by it.
The double play king is...
My favorite player, Jason Kendall. My family always says "Uh oh, JKDP time. End of the inning."
by mlleaimee on Jul 5, 2007 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Felix vs. Harden saturday
Even if Harden only pitches four innings, it's still better than Dinardo vs. Felix.
I'd rather see DiNardo
Than Kennedy.
by mlleaimee on Jul 5, 2007 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions
a saving DP
thanks!!
Rangers-Angels watch
Angels up 3-1 in the 6th. Mathews Jr thrown out trying to steal 3rd. 2 outs and it is r-a-i-n-i-n-g
Stewart is on a mission and we needed that.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:19 PM PDT reply actions
he must be hitting with a door
nice job stewie
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 7:19 PM PDT reply actions
Ichiro
got that double back to 2B surprisingly fast. Stewart was running hard, so it wasn't close, but a slower runner might not have made it.
So, what did I miss?
ellis stares again @ pitch down middle
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 7:21 PM PDT reply actions
Very T-Long-like.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Moon shot.
book it.
Swisher using an upper cut again
If he had swung flat it would have been a double through the gap.
by bolt on Jul 5, 2007 7:24 PM PDT reply actions
these guys are painful to watch
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 7:26 PM PDT reply actions
I love how Jack sells
a walk. Tosses his bat like there can be no doubt about it. If Jack Cust doesn't think it's a strike, then you better too.
"The Avenger of Blood"
Title of mystery novel Batista wrote, says korach. Also a published poet.
A shocking novel about a 14-year-old boy accused
of brutal and remorseless serial murders where faith and reality collide"
Or so say his publishers. The Avenger of Blood, by Miguel Batista.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jul 5, 2007 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions
If he uses as many words as he throws pitches
he won't last 4 innings. ("Blood Avenger".) And then BoCro Ks. MuthaFucher.
Batista's smart.
Walk Johnson so he can face Crosby.
Pitching around DJ to face Crosby. Make 'em pay!
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:28 PM PDT reply actions
go DJ
nice BB
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 7:28 PM PDT reply actions
Let's Go A's! Let's Go A's!
Easy, now, swing at the first pitch and you will be heinously sworn upon.
induce a DP
so that the A's start the next inning with one out.
by bolt on Jul 5, 2007 7:29 PM PDT reply actions
0-2. Slider away?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:29 PM PDT reply actions
Same thing... "K"
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions
And where else would he strike out?
He doesn't need to GIDP, there's already two outs. This from someone who still holds out hope for Bobby.
Crosby's so bad it's funny.
RBI streak continues
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 7:30 PM PDT reply actions
God he's horrendous
by larrysgurl on Jul 5, 2007 7:30 PM PDT reply actions
like i said painful to watch
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 7:30 PM PDT reply actions
walks to Cust and DJ must of been intentional
three strikes to Crosby
by bolt on Jul 5, 2007 7:31 PM PDT reply actions
wasted 2B by stewie
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 7:31 PM PDT reply actions
Crosby... nevermind... nothing left to say.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:31 PM PDT reply actions
Yowza, now I see what you guys mean
I've heard bad Crosby ABs on the radio, but that's the first one this year I've watched on TV. He looks terrible.
haha me too
I just got mlb.tv, I should have done it earlier. Now I know what everyone is talking about.
Everybody is down on Crosby, but both of the
strike calls were called balls to other batters, he is not getting into any hitters counts, and he is trying to be patient.
Yeah well
When you're one of the worst hitters in MLB, you can't expect the ump to do you any favors.
Too close to watch strike 3, though.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Noone could hit that, I don't know anyone who
could have even fouled that off
by theblackpearl on Jul 5, 2007 7:35 PM PDT up reply actions
The worst part is being able to predict
the whole sordid affair. He'll go up there, stand 20 ft away from the plate, they'll paint the outside corner, he'll watch it go by, go inside or straight down the middle to set him up and then he's all confused and gives up.
If you want to blame anyone for that 1st inning,
Ellis took a 3rd strike with noone out, where if he made contact Stew would have been at 3rd, and the run would have scored. Crosby is struggling, but he is not the only problem with this offense, and there is no better option. Scoot is not the answer
by theblackpearl on Jul 5, 2007 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, I'm not blaming anyone for the 1st inning.
I'm just frustrated with Bobby Crosby.
You have a good point but it's tough to watch
him fail so many times. Hell I want him to turn it around but his approach is rarely giving him a chance.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Seriously - I agree he's not the only problem
and I'm just waiting for him to prove me/us all wrong. I would love for that to happen.
You forgot the disinterested drop of the bat
and toss of the helmet for the batboy to pick up, and the amble out to short. I wrote about this after the game on Tuesday too -- it's great if you can hit; if you can't hit, you can look like you tried hard and might hit it next time; if you can't manage that, you can at least pretend to look angry with yourself, or alternatively as if you liked playing baseball for a living.
Or liked making millions of dollars
standing at the plate watching sliders low and away?
Sounds pretty damn good to me!
Hell yeah. At least Kotsay gets pissed off when
he fails. I think Crosby just lacks heart (and mind for that matter).
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm not down on him
That was a pathetic AB, bases loaded 0-2 watched strike three come in like the fokkin' Hindenburgh, man, down in flames our inning went.
are the other teams paying Crosby?
He just makes me CRAZY!!!!!
Piazza bobblehead, what a joke!
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 7:33 PM PDT reply actions
thinking the same thing...
why?
by Erik being Erik on Jul 5, 2007 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions
sunk costs
Beane doesn't want to pay some other team to distribute 'em.
IBB to Johnson
Can anyone in the A's organization see that Johnson is walked in front of crosby everytime with runners on??
In the Cron today
They had a link to a website that had pictures of Street, Swisher, Blanton, and Kennedy. OMG, face lick girl! I didn't know where that picture came from but now the whole of the bay area, or the part of the bay area that reads the cron, will see face lick girl and her inability to keep her tongue in her mouth.
by mlleaimee on Jul 5, 2007 7:33 PM PDT reply actions
how in the world is Crosby
batting 6th? My only complaint of Geren this year is that he has left Crosby in the lineup.
by china bob on Jul 5, 2007 7:34 PM PDT reply actions
Yeah. It's one thing to play him for "D"
but there is no reasoning for him batting 6th. I would rather see Scoot or Suzuki bat ahead of him. Kendall is still a toss up.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Mariners still not a smart team
Ump has a tight strikezone, Gaudin has control issues, so they start swinging at everything.
As for Crosby...
I mean his hitting is horrible to say the least...but what bothers me EVEN MORE is that every grounder to him is an adventure... if he fields it cleanly, it looks like he can barely make the throw to 1st...
he reminds me of my shortstop days when I was playing there with my 2nd baseman arm...
need a new SS
by Erik being Erik on Jul 5, 2007 7:38 PM PDT reply actions
That's funny. I spent years looking for meds in
Fruitvale.
And I've spent far too long
looking for fruit in Medford.
AT Fremont
Not of. At. That way it won't sound stupid.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jul 5, 2007 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, here you go
LOL
My mom asked if I was moving out there. Sigh.
I'll be a fake landlord reference for you
"And she totally redid the basement when she moved out...repainted, and even poured a new concrete floor!"
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jul 5, 2007 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions
on line... just grilled a
a t-bone, nice salad but then instant indigestion while watching crosby k on real tv.
Classic post today. Hilarious.
"Hello, Shhtokly Vansh Campshhs Froshen Foodshs Divishion, Rishhard Shorenshon shhpeaking."
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Gaudin looks smooth
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 7:45 PM PDT reply actions
Stewart must have been motivated...
by the exit of Bradley. He's been on fire...
by Erik being Erik on Jul 5, 2007 7:49 PM PDT reply actions
If we trade Crosby
will that motivate Chavez?
He zapped Swishers offense his way too.
Shazam!
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Cust is da man. Where would we be w/o him?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:54 PM PDT reply actions
Two outs
Should have intentionally walked Cust & DJ to load them up again for Crosby.
by green star oakland on Jul 5, 2007 7:56 PM PDT reply actions
Does Bautista feel good
that Cust only drove in one? With all the money Chavez makes, he better just stare at the ground when Cust is around him. Any other business than baseball and Chavy would be arrested for grand theft.
Kuiper is so bad at judging fly balls
and made a horrible call on a routine play earlier in the inning. Is there anybody out there?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 7:57 PM PDT reply actions
Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports says...
A's designated hitter Jack Cust is hot again, jeopardizing the future of Mike Piazza, a potential Hall of Famer, in Oakland.
If Piazza's shoulder doesn't recover enough by the All-Star break for him to throw and return part-time to catcher, the A's might need to trade him to a team in need of a DH
That won't be so easy, however.The Mariners, Twins and Angels all need better production out of their DH spot, but the A's would not want to move Piazza to a club that it's competing with for a postseason berth.
One thing is clear: Cust will play, perhaps getting more time in the outfield if Piazza remains in the picture. A left-right platoon with Piazza might be unnecessary; Cust's on-base/slugging percentage against left-handers (1.014) is higher than it is against right-handers (.999).
Cust batted .310 with eight homers in his first 13 games, then .153 with no homers in his next 21. A fluke? Not when he recovered to bat .390 with six homers in his last 15 games.
Uncomfortable as the situation might be, Cust says Piazza has been extremely supportive; they also were teammates last season with the Padres.
"You might think with the career that he has had, he might (act) a certain way," Cust says. "But he's as far from that as you can imagine."
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 7:58 PM PDT reply actions
"I'm sorry viewers, but you're just
gonna have to wear it."
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jul 5, 2007 8:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Ha! He said "going to Pepperdine!
No Kuip...
we do not find you jinxing the team funny...or informative. Listen to Huston and just shut up.
Has the other team EVER not scored when they
have a guest in the booth? I remember the other team scoring when Blue Moon, and Piazza was in the booth
I've gotta say
the only way I can describe this interview is "cute."
at least he didn't go 0-2. Small victory.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 8:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Huston! Can it on the roses!
He's unfairly raising the bar for the rest of us cheapskates.
He is. 1,500 frickin' roses.
Don't flowers have some kind of PETA equivalent to protest?
You can always stop by the cemetary..
for a really good price. It's probably best if you wait until the day before they pick them up...but hey, you save a few bucks and get credit you don't deserve.
LOL
"It was an exciting evening."
I bet. Heh heh.
I read in an interview how he bought a condo in
Austin and proposed in the off-season because it was time he "acted like a grown up". What is he, all of 23?
Did your read about Swish's old girlfriend?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Not sure but it probably had its moments.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Hmmm...
I've never heard it called a "people".
Smooth enough.
Apparently he got what he wanted. lol
But didn't Swish's people
Never heard that but you could be correct.
I just read the part that I mentioned.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 8:19 PM PDT up reply actions
You just want 1500 roses
I aspire to be
that smooth/creative/wealthy. And nice/humble/talented. And young. Damn.
ohtobe23likehuston
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Huston and Ray
need to kick Glen out of the booth.
Eeee
I'm so excited he's staying in the booth haha
Blargh.
I'm having issues with my interwebs.
This is gonna be a big inning. I can feel it.
You need to take one for the team.
Our *real* closer.
The awesome person in the booth.
But Fosse's not our closer!
<reads Intro to baseball 101>
I love it
He's getting all excited/disappointed like us. He should get a computer and come on AN :)
He'd be 100 times more eloquent
than most of us. And more polite.
What makes you think he isn't?
I believe
he hasn't worn them all year.
I think, if possible, he looks even more gross without them.
I'm going to put in a load of laundry.
Don't let anything bad happen while I'm gone!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Huston may never leave the booth!
One more inning, he said, as we went to break. Not bad.
Glen Kuiper
Where is that fun, dry humored Hank Greenwald, or even stretchy Tim Roye?
I need tix on 8/3, Huston!! Come on man.
Hook a white boy up!
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 8:24 PM PDT reply actions
That was going to be one damn fine play.
No doubt. I thought he had it.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 8:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Huston in the booth.
is HILARIOUS. they should just have him up there all the time when he isn't pitching.
[thud]
Huston rocks. I want to have his babies.
< looks up sex change doctors >
< in Canada >
I wonder if the foul ball of the foot hurt Richie
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 8:26 PM PDT reply actions
Huston's telling us about the AC going out
at Chad and Swish's place for most of last summer.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jul 5, 2007 8:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Gaudin's complaining
that he's the only one without a bobblehead (says Huston).
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jul 5, 2007 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions
This is too funny.
I like how they're all "Let's get back to this air-conditioning thing"
How about..."let's get back to this baseball thing"?
Anyone? No? Okay.
I wanna be a lucky person!
Pick me, Huston! YAY! I like Sister Hazel! We met at spring training last year! Pick me! lol
I feel totally left out
... thinking Scot Shields is hot. He'd be a lot hotter if he didn't pitch for the Angels.
You SHOULD feel left out...
I do laugh
when he cusses a lot after a bad outing... if that helps you feel any better.
Swisha!!!!!!!!!
Swish!!!
huston takes credit for blast
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 8:33 PM PDT reply actions
This could be the greatest game ever.
Awww. Swish dances alone sans Bradley.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 8:34 PM PDT reply actions
Did Swish just do a kind of
solo version of the Bradley handshake?
swish did phantom HR dance
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 8:34 PM PDT reply actions
LOL
I love Swish.
But I love Huston even more for calling it.
aww
that kinda made me sad, he did the HR dance by himself...
where's Scutaro? He practiced and everything!
swisher misses milton
Anyone else see the phantom dance, what he used to do with milton?
[sigh] I miss him too, what a player. Bee bee gee is still ripped about it, I guess.
DJ is robbed by an ex-A... :-(
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 8:36 PM PDT reply actions
It was a really pretty catch
RBI RBI baby!!!!
by athleticsBB4life on Jul 5, 2007 8:37 PM PDT reply actions
Huston Street
is a Karma Machine. Keep him in the booth.
LOL at Huston
"That's unbelievable."
I agree, Huston, I agree!
Crosby?!
C'est impossible!
Crosby redeems himself and the ghost of MB leaves
our team now. I'm telling ya!
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 8:37 PM PDT reply actions
We really do think alike. I hope we're right.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Haha
Sorry, I'm being ironic. I think it's funny every game everyone thinks everything is a sign.
But...Bobby Crosby just went down and got a pitch and hit a homerun. Maybe it REALLY is a sign!
Let's "pretend" that it is a sign. Good enough.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 5, 2007 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, shut my mouth
I guess I can't complain about that Crosby AB.
Sure ya can...
Why's he gotta hit jacks with no one on base? What a waste.
I like how my mlb.tv is delayed...
and I see "7 new comments" hahaha had to be a HR.
Pulled a pitch on the outside corner
Nice rip by Crosby, but I sure hope he doesn't decide to try that every time.
Why not?
He's been trying that for 3 months now....maybe he finally figured out how to do it.
i predict hr total of 12 this year
so...what, 5 more when the stars, moon and tide are right?
did anyone else catch a graphic
that read "first career grand slam" after Crosby hit the HR?
Yes. Thanks to TiVo.
It's at 8:37 for those of you with the magic remote.
Aw! Swish....
You and Huston both.
When he was talking in the booth with the guys, and talking about Custy's stats, he's all "Yeah, I follow my guys." Soooo cute.
Uh..irony?
US Marines leaders of the game: Ichiro Suzuki.
me toooooo!!
If Huston were still in the booth...
We might be seeing Kendall's 3rd bomb right here.

by 























