Score one for the misfits
by monkeyball on Aug 14, 2007 11:01 PM PDT
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PrintJack Cust, Lenny DiNardo, Donnie Murphy.
Not Mike Piazza, Rich Harden, Bobby Crosby.
Marginal, one- or two-dimensional guys who aren't your traditional "complete" ballplayers. Guys who can make definitive contributions on the field -- for cheap -- and who, when mixed together on a roster, can generate an entire team effort.
I'm not talking about intangibles like clutchness or positive clubhouse mojo or luck.
I'm talking about Cust clouting two impressive (and qualitatively different) home runs, just when he'd been at the edge of a long power drought.
I'm talking about Donnie Murphy putting an efficient, powerful stroke on a ball -- and providing some solid defense at SS.
I'm talking about Lenny DiNardo pitching effectively to contact and providing a more quality start than most of Zito's starts the last 2 years (to venture into the realm of the intangible, I feel more comfortable with DiNardo starting every fifth game than I did the last couple seasons with Zito).
Now, the White Sox are certainly in a shame spiral of their own this year. But the A's simply outplayed the Sox tonight in every facet of the game (Hannahan and DiNardo's shaky rundown execution excepted).
And they did it with castoffs and second-rate, "incomplete" players providing the bulk of the performance value.
Tonight was a good win, a satisfying win. A small thing in a long and dispiriting season -- but such are the steps back to contention, be it this season or next.
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Cust!
I just love that Rotowire refers to Cust as "America's Greatest Hero." That's fucking awesome.
Jack Cust has officially transcended the status of a mere baseball player. He is now Captain America. I love it.
Cust is awesomeness personified
I love the energy he brings to Oakland. He has the killer aura that makes opposing pitchers wince.
I love the all or nothingness...am I wrong?
Hopefully he survives in the big leagues longer than Capt. America did after the Marvel Civil War.
Cap's comin' back though and Cust is here to stay (hopefully for a long illustrious time).
by oaklandSMASH on Aug 14, 2007 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Why do we still have Piazza?
Just came from the Rivercats game. Dee Brown can rake! Why isn't he on the A's? Colby Lewis looked good on the mound, too. 5IP 1ER.
by A'sfansince1970 on Aug 14, 2007 11:18 PM PDT reply actions
Piazza
Will net the A's two draft picks in the off-season and no other team is willing to give the A's two first round quality draft picks for him; that's why he's still with the A's.
by Threepwood XX on Aug 14, 2007 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Say what?
The A's will be lucky to get one draft pick from him, let alone two.
They'll definitely get one
two is a possibility if he hits well the rest of the way. He'll be a catcher for draft compensation purposes.
Yeah, enough of the "Feel Bad Rainbow!"
I've felt much better about this team ever since I gave up hope. Seriously. The little triumphs like Murphy really feel good now...two months ago such a thing wouldn't have meant as much.
I'm up for Owning Our Own Okayness.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Aug 14, 2007 11:24 PM PDT reply actions
CUST IN THE WIN !!!!!
EVERYTHING IS CUST IN THE WIN!!!
by Imaseasonticketholder on Aug 14, 2007 11:25 PM PDT reply actions
My 1st game of the season!
I haven't done a Diary yet but here is a mini A's fact sheet about myself.
Fan since I was 5.
Season ticket holder since 2002.
Average 20-30 games per season attended since 1999.
Own enough A's memorablia to open a small museum.
A's tatoo on my right arm.
Why did I miss the ENTIRE season until tonight's game?
I promised myself in December I had to lose 40 pounds before I could go to another game.
Opening Day, Yankees, Giants, my birthday, bobbleheads, AN Day. I missed them all. Around June I got serious and today was worth the wait. I earned this game. Jack Cust, Murphy, DiNardo, bullpen. Thanks for making it special.
Hopefully some Mr.C magic can help the team get those 82 wins. Keep the streak alive!
by Mr C on Aug 14, 2007 11:27 PM PDT reply actions
Congrats, Mr. C!
Hard work! I'm glad the A's won on your first game back!
by A'sfansince1970 on Aug 14, 2007 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow, good job!
That plan would totally backfire for me. I'd be so depressed without baseball, I'd be eating constantly.
Is there room for Dee Brown on this team?
He seems very ready.
by A'sfansince1970 on Aug 14, 2007 11:32 PM PDT reply actions
If we're going with AAAA outfielders
I'd rather see Jorge Piedra. I would have said Jason Perry too, but... well, he's already "playing" for the team in the person of his trade counterpart, Jack Hannahan.
Can he play center ?
by panamanianexpress on Aug 14, 2007 11:41 PM PDT reply actions
Damn !
by panamanianexpress on Aug 14, 2007 11:44 PM PDT up reply actions
point guard
in basketball.
by sf drift king on Aug 14, 2007 11:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Boy, is that a goofy pic of Fosse !
by panamanianexpress on Aug 15, 2007 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions
If it was Fosse, it would read
KENDALL, COME BACK!!
by oaklandSMASH on Aug 15, 2007 12:11 AM PDT up reply actions
Beane punted Kendall off the bridge
I like what I saw tonight
no quitters on this team and despite everything, the players appear to be having a good time. Kotsay continues to have fun with the outfield fans, and Cust and Swish are smiles galore..
Great win! If we continue on this upswing, we should be at or above .500 by the end of the month.
Happy days are here again...
maybe not. But this was the first time in a looonng time that the A's were in a close game and I had no doubt they would win it. Maybe it's cause the Sox are somehow more pathetic offensively than we are. But still. I can't even remember the last time I felt that way watching a game. I sense a sweep!
by AintEasyBeinGreen on Aug 15, 2007 12:03 AM PDT reply actions
Another damn earthquake!
Just now, a rumbly little thing with a bit of a jolt here in Berkeley. I've calling 3.4.
Seem to be happening a lot lately.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Aug 15, 2007 12:15 AM PDT reply actions
Epicenter near Hwy 13 in Oakland
Gotta be the Hayward. You're in big trouble there, Cal-boy. I recommend not seeking shelter at the football stadium.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Aug 15, 2007 12:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Damn.
USGS site says 3.2 - about 3 miles from where I live. This is happening too frequently these days for my liking.
I've decided not to move there now.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 15, 2007 7:57 AM PDT up reply actions
You'll have to
get used to it if you move here. I can't remember a time when we've been through so many littler quakes in such a short period of time. Kinda freakin' me out.
actually
I kind of miss the quakes. I was never afraid of them; I'd always try and take a moment to pay attention to the experience, but they were always over before I really could. There's really nothing quite like an earthquake. Awesome display of power.
You should try a tornado.
Ooh, but earthquakes still have...
that "totally unpredictable" thing going for them. I love spontaneity!
And tornadoes are ????
Not as predictable as hurricanes,
but you can still know when a tornado is coming a lot more often than you know when an earthquake is...
I'll stick with quakes, though. A "small" quake that hits your house probably does less damage than a "small" tornado does.
got close to one, once
my brother is a meteorologist. He used to spend his vacation on tornado chases. We were visiting relatives in Wisconsin and got a warning. We all ran to the basement; my brother ran up to the roof for a better view.
My mother's father
sits outside and watches them. Dumbass.
I live right on the Hayward fault, pam5981,
so those little 3.2ers rattle me purty good. Why so many lately? Grrr... (Better three 3.0s than one 9.0, though!)
Yeah, I'm not right on it
but close enough, damnit. As for the three 3.0s vs. a 9.0...I don't think it works that way, but it'll help me sleep better at night.
that was a minor-league quake
Hadn't developed any power, didn't display much control of the strike-slip zone.
Whose fault?
Arg!
I was asleep! I missed it!
The earthquake?
Don't worry, there'll be another one.
I think that was me snoring.
It was Jack Cust thumping his mighty chest.
Ah.
I have the same problem.
Jack Cust thumps your chest?
Does he have to shove Travis out of the way first?
The Sox are in "a shame spiral"? What's next:
The A's organization is "crazy-making" because Billy Beane is an "enabler" of a group of "adult children," all of whom provide support for the "dysfunctional family" where all the members dress identically and keep expecting different results despite repeated failures?
B...uh?
Wow, this wins the "parlez-vous Anglais?" award for this month.
I really want to see
Jack Cust get to 100 ribs. He's at 63 I think in 83 games. Needs 37 in the remaining 52 games. Sounds doable.
Good wrap-up Monkeyball
and I agree with your comparison between Zito and DiNardo.
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