Open Game Thread: Game 109 - A's vs. Angels
by Tyler Bleszinski on Aug 2, 2007 6:50 PM PDT
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PrintAnd thus the series begins that could've been a lot more interesting than it currently is. Sigh. Oh well, I'm still pumped that this series will lead to AN Day on Saturday. It's the fourth AN Day and definitely is the most interesting opponent. This year we get to actually take on a division opponent instead of the Royals or Blue Jays.
Any way, the pitchers for tonight's opener are Chad Gaudin with his 8-6 record and 3.71 ERA and Joe Saunders who is 4-0 and has a 3.16 ERA. The good news about 2007 is that the A's have been handling the Angels very well this year. They are 6-3 against them, having swept the two-game series against the men in red in April and going 4-3 in Anaheim. If there's anything an A's fan can take joy in this year it's that the green and gold guys been able to smack the Angels. We've got to cling to the small victories this year and is the Angels wind up losing the division by a game, I'll just go into the offseason thinking that it was one of the A's games that did it.
The lineup for the A's looks like this:
Buck
Stewart
Swisher
Piazza
Ellis
Scutaro
Kotsay
Suzuki
Murphy
Suzuki has been hitting a little better of late, but he's still hitting .167 against lefties, so we'll see if that continues or if it's just a matter of sample size. Chavez remains out and Geren continues to manage with a 24-person roster. If he's really hurt this bad, can we just put him on the disabled list? Or better yet, have him have the surgery he needs and start getting him ready for 2008? I'm not usually one to call for surgery as the best option and it's possible that Chavez can just continue to get better, but it seems to have at least given Kotsay the ability to stay in there on a daily basis. You can argue whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, but at least he's had the ability to be in there.
The Angels counter with this lineup:
Figgins
Cabrera
Guerrero
Anderson
Matthews
Kotchman
Izturis
Mathis
Willits
If I remember correctly, the last time Gaudin faced the Angels was one of the worst home plate umpire jobs I'd seen. Yes, Gaudin was all over the place, but the home plate ump had one of the weirdest zones I'd ever seen. And Gaudin needs an ump with a somewhat generous zone because of all the movement on his pitches. I'll be watching to see if Gaudin hits Suzuki's glove on a regular basis or if Kurt is continually reaching for pitches.
LET'S GO A'S!!!!!!! BEAT THE DAMN HALOS!
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First
Looking forward to meeting you guys at AN Day on Saturday. Also, the 5 of us traveling from the Midwest will be sitting in the bleachers tomorrow night, so hopefully someone else is out there with us. See you guys tomorrow!
Looking forward to meeting some people
but not you.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I hate the Angels.
I really really hate them. At least for tonight the dream of an sweep by the A's has a few more hours of life. What if.....
did anyone else hear this?
During the pre-game Bob Geren Show, Korach asks him about 'just how great has Alan Embree been, since he's been closing games?' (sic). He follows up that question with an almost exact same question, to which Geren responds,
"What can I say... he's just been our steady, ... tremendous, bullpen man."
It was like Geren was about to say "our Steady Eddie" but he paused and improvised with "Steady Tremendous Bullpen Man"
I think that's a nickname that bears sticking!
sorry, Fosse not Korach.
(shows still on - 106.9 fm or 1550 am -like I even need to tell you guys, chuh)
It makes it hard to believe that
no one wanted Embree at the deadline. Or maybe Billy wasn't shopping him, but I would've expect that many would've proactively sought out someone like Embree who proved he is a very good setup man and can be a capable closer when called upon.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Aug 2, 2007 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions
are we paying Embree a lot?
Seems like most of the trade speculation had to do with the bigger contracts. When Blanton's name popped up in the rumors, I wasn't too surprised that the Dodgers balked at what the A's were asking for, Blanton's cheap.
At least that's the only sense I can really make of the Bradley and even the Kendall trades.
I doubt that Beane would let him go
Embree is under contract for next year, and next year his exact pitching flexibility for situations in late innings may create many extra wins.
As someone has pointed out, Beane has done little the last 2-3 years at deadline.
by One won lost won on Aug 2, 2007 7:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I can't get past the idea
of what could have been with a full season of Duke, Street, Casillas, Embree, and an effective Calero. Not to mention a rotation of Harden, Haren, Loiza, Blanton, and Gaudin.
Throw in a couple of hitters and we could have been contenders....
".. instead of bums,
which is what we is."
by Checkswing HR on Aug 2, 2007 7:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Shooty has such a cool
baseball name. I love cool baseball names. Pokey Reese was another good one. Whatever happened to that guy?
Daric Barton hitting .185 last ten
games, with no extra base hits.
Now batting .308 overall.
Glad ANers not running the team.
by One won lost won on Aug 2, 2007 6:58 PM PDT reply actions
AHHH!
barton
I feel Barton is not the best option for the A's. I just feel he will put up DJ type of stats. Barton is not a 30 homer guy so he is more a Hatty type of player. A 300 hitter with OBA.
James Simmons
is pitching pretty good at AA. Some positive notes.
by chavyizdamn3 on Aug 2, 2007 7:09 PM PDT reply actions
Will do. Good luck to you guys.
That was one hell of a game last night and I watched it since the A's weren't playing. Wow!
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I hate Figgins.
oh god, was it.
Korach does this to us ALL the TIME.
Shut up Kuiper.
Crossed him up?
It figures I have to miss part of an Angels game
I'm just now leaving work and will listen on the way home. Will tag back up with you guys when I get home and say hi to my kids for 5 minutes. Still pooped from driving back from Louisville yesterday so we need to take an early lead and keep it in case I fall asleep before the game is over.
With all the money Vladimir G makes...
why can't he hire someone to clean his equipment...
at least the batting helmet.
How can you be so stingy, you cannot hire someone to clean your batting helmet?
by One won lost won on Aug 2, 2007 7:16 PM PDT reply actions
I know. I'm being facetious
Lotta players do this. I think the Red Sox are the most affected in this regard (esp when they had Millar). Trying to look "veteran".
by One won lost won on Aug 2, 2007 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions
People have posed the question
"which would you rather have? 9 guys who hit 20 Homeruns each, or 3 guys who hit 40 and 6 guys who hit 10?"
People seem to usually pick the "9 hitting 20", but the more I think about it, I would prefer the 3 40 HR guys. That way, I could concentrate the offense and get the most runs in. If I have a few high OBP guys, stick them infront of the 40 HR guys and you got a bunch of runs per HR, instead of what we have: lots of Solo's.
Please be okay.
The ump said he swung.
Hm. Not for sure.
I heard the ump grunt something, I assumed he called it on a check swing type thing. Hell, I don't know.
Not only wierd.
Retarded is not to strong a word.
RUN!
Golf clapo
for Marco.
WOO!
Man on third with less than two outs...
where I have I seen this before?
So it seems.
I'll take the under
Oh, don't try a squeeze bunt...
Yeah, just a ground ball...ooops. Another SURE score if the player can bunt...lost.
by One won lost won on Aug 2, 2007 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Cust
Is there any other team in baseball that benches their leading home run hitter, leader in slugging, and number 2 in RBIs and On Base Percentage? I understand Geren needs to fit guys in but since Piazza's come back it seems Cust hardly plays at all. His splits are virtually identical against lefties and righties. He's going to have his ups and downs but his offensive stats are actually better than Teixeira's this year and even missing a month of the season he still could get over 30 home runs and 100 rbis with enough playing time.
This drives me insane too.
I suppose he will have to wait until next season to get his full shot in the majors. It must be tough for Geren, who do you sit? A HOF'er who can still hit...or Cust.
And play the defensive liability known as Swish
in CF and the offensive blackhole known as DJ at 1st? Choices, choices(!)
That's the million dollar question.
I swear, if I hear this damn Willits living
in a batting cage story again I'm going to throttle someone.
Hey people of AN! Let's beat these guys
and start a "what could have been" streak.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 7:49 PM PDT reply actions
My ears are bleeding
oy!
by Amnesiac727 on Aug 2, 2007 7:51 PM PDT reply actions
What version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"
is played over the Coliseum PA either before or after the starting lineups or national anthem?
Is it a trick question?
I don't believe Take Me Out To The Ballgame is played at all except during the seventh-inning stretch.
Tired act.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Damn it
why did those bozos have to talk about Vlad's HR slump at the start of the game
Wow
Slow thread tonight. Is it our division rivals we are playing? maybe Im watching a delayed feed and the game was really on at noon today.
by Amnesiac727 on Aug 2, 2007 8:00 PM PDT reply actions
DJ wouldn't have that one. Nice stab, Swish!
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 8:02 PM PDT reply actions
Go Ellis!!!
by Amnesiac727 on Aug 2, 2007 8:07 PM PDT reply actions
MaEl with some 388+ communication.
The guy is gonna reach 20 homers this year.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 8:07 PM PDT reply actions
He's outhitting Swisher at this point,
which is pretty sad all things considered.
Ha, that Ump is going on the DL.
Shhhhh.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 8:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Watch out, Alphonso Marquez
Each Larry Davis visit takes months off your career. At least.
Larry Davis
work your magic on the Ump
by Amnesiac727 on Aug 2, 2007 8:09 PM PDT reply actions
Uh oh. Larry Davis touched the umpire.
He will be day to day now.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 8:09 PM PDT reply actions
Maybe the ump
will file a grievance with his union demanding that Davis never be allowed on the field with him.
what the hell mark ellis
are you serious?
<turns off tv>
Yep, he's simply the one person in this lineup
you don't pitch to. He's no threat to steal, so just put him on.
Hey Jennifer.....
Did you hear that the Mariners have the A's jerseys from Sunday's game on their website for auction? You can bid on a Buck jersey that he actually wore. Would top mine, that's for sure.
End of story for the A's.
They have already decided they aren't going to freaking hit the ball tonight. Bastards. Why does anyone pitch to Vlad? Son of mother fracking beotch....every one in the Coli and at home knows better than this.
Yeah, I'd walk Vlad
with the bases loaded even.
At least he could not drive in 2-4 runs that way!
by One won lost won on Aug 2, 2007 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions
I'd hit the bastard.
at least he would have to limp his ass to first.
But I'm just really pissed right now. I wouldn't hit him really....
If I was Gaudin I would hit him
VG is now 6-for-10 versus Gaudin.
by One won lost won on Aug 3, 2007 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions
I still like it. It has a nice ring to it.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Not sure if I could like a player any more
than I like Buck right now. This guy is gonna be a freakin' stud.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 8:29 PM PDT reply actions
"Even the great CF Gary Matthews couldn't
get to it."
Are they watching the same Gary Matthews jr that I am?
Do any of us doubt
what's about to happen right now?
Care to guess what's behind
door number 3?
What's worse..
some guy was wearing Vicks jersey and carrying a bit hot dog bun.
AGGGHHHHH
What does it take to score a fuggin run from third with one out
A bunt, plain and simple
Well, two more times, no bunt, no run.
Easily, two runs lost because players do not practice bunting.
by One won lost won on Aug 2, 2007 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions
We are always looking for a big inning
rather than just chipping away for single runs in multiple innings. I can understand using that theory if you average a lot of runs... but we don't.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions
There's a start. He is so due to get hot.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions
I love
Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream.
by Englishmajor on Aug 2, 2007 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Update on the Sac game?
by Amnesiac727 on Aug 2, 2007 8:37 PM PDT reply actions
thanks
Lets Hope he's alright. And by alright I mean, you know, not dead.
by Amnesiac727 on Aug 2, 2007 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions
It just sounded like
RayFo said, "Look at the movement on this bitch."
Maybe he was watching Kendall & the Cubs?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions
talking about the Angels never making a move
the A's are always supposed to make a move, but never do.
That was a bullshit call.
Why the hell isn't Geren getting tossed out
right now? These calls go against the A's because we never argue about a damn thing.
Dan Meyer?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 2, 2007 8:48 PM PDT up reply actions
What's so pathetic
is that we have a chance to tie the game...and our veteran team leader starts the AB so well only to pop out weakly on bad pitches. It's like the catcher went out to the hill and reminded Saunders how pathetic he Kotsay is with a bat.
Note to Geren
Never let Kotsay start against lefties
This season his BA is .119 and his OPS is .317
Not a typo
by onlysaying on Aug 2, 2007 8:57 PM PDT reply actions
Note to Geren
Never let Kotsay start against lefties
This season his BA is .119 and his OPS is .317
Not a typo period
Bad Call?
Swish had control of the ball. He only dropped it when he was pulling his hand out of the way to keep from being spiked.
At least Geren is going to get tossed on this piece of garbage call.
Geren better not let Swish get run
or he should be fired before the game is over
Huh, it seems like the ump is interpreting
It seems like theoretically for a force play, control doesn't matter as long as you tag the base with the ball.
Control isn't really an issue.
Swish had the ball the entire time. He tagged the base and and made the force out. He released the ball while pulling his hand away so it wouldn't get spiked. The out should have been recorded.
It didn't look that cut and dry to me...
I think the ump ruled
that touching the base with the ball forced it out of his hand. Kind of like a runner leveling a catcher and forcing the ball out of his glove. The replay looked like that to me, like Swish lost control as he touched the base with the ball.
Eh, I could be wrong.
But Swish picked the ball up and carried it in his hand. He obviously had control. The out was made once he touched the base. It's not necessary for him to have control after the out has been made. But hell, like I said, I could be wrong.
how similar is that
to a gloved but dropped ball by a firstbaseman? the ball gets in the mit for "bit" before...and the runner is called safe.
I think the difference is control.
The first base man in your scenario never had it. Swish did when he picked it up and carried it to the bag. Once he made contact with the bag the out should have been recorded. It's similar to a second baseman dropping the ball as he is trying to make the turn for a DP. He gets the force out at second even though he dropped it on the turn.
Swish only lost the ball because he was pulling his hand back in order not to be spiked by the runner. In other words, he lost control after the out should have been recorded.
Hard luck for Chad.
He pitched a good game and made only one mistake. Now brown is faced with the same situation. Hope he fares better.
OUT!
Kuiper.
That slob should be fired before the game is over. I'd love to hear Wolfe walk in the booth and can his ass over the air.
what is he doing tonight that is so bad?
by Amnesiac727 on Aug 2, 2007 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions
First inning
he started talking about Vlad's home-less streak. Result - two big flies.
He's also Duane's brother, which should be grounds for dismissal under any circumstances.
And then later he
starts commenting on another Angel hitters average....as the words are leaving his mouth he pauses and says he knew he shouldn't have said it... this is all taking place as the hitter is in the process of scoring another run on a ringing double. There's no doubt in my mind that Ray wanted to backhand him.
the opportunity to identify tonight's
scapegoat
lol...so many to choose from.
Yeah
It couldn't possibly due to the crummy pitches Gaudin threw to Vlad.
True, Chad made one mistake.
But overall he did pretty well. I wish the rest of the team performed as well as he did.
While We're Losing...
It's fun to watch the LA fans boo Bonds. He strolls up there, and you'd think Darth Vader was batting.
Sorry Jennifer, I was in the other room
I didn't check the M's website, I just heard them talking about it during the game yesterday and thought they'd have all of them up for bidding for a couple of days at least.
JoKe in
conceding early tonight.
Three runs looks possible, like in the 8th and 9th.
So bring in Joke and make it 7-2.
by One won lost won on Aug 2, 2007 9:25 PM PDT reply actions
so my wife asked me
why Barry Bonds is still so big, even though presumably he's done with steroids. Shouldn't the bulk and jowls go away? Muscle memory?
Doesn't HGH cause bone growth?
He's not likely to suck up if that's true.
I don't imagine bone
growth is reversible. Would it matter if you stopped taking it after the growth has occurred?
Ah, got it. He (allegedly) did the HGH,
and got permanently big.
There isn't a reliable test yet.
The human body makes it on its own, so its always going to be there no matter what. But its just a matter of time I suppose. They can look for elevated levels.
Well at least the fantasy of
a sweep by the A's dies an early death...only to be followed by the gnawing fear that they will instead be swept.
We're only 13 down!
Win the next three and we're 10 down with 50 to go - plenty of time! :)
Sacramento update
Colby Lewis: 8 IP, 1 R (earned), 5 hits, 0 BB, 8 K
River Cats scored two in the first and made them hold up. Sounds kind of like the parent club's formula for sucess.
You mean Kielty? Didn't we release that guy?
Donnie Murphy got a little love
coming his way.
Little brother says he will now call him
Donnie SMURFy
by Amnesiac727 on Aug 2, 2007 9:58 PM PDT reply actions
Here comes K-Fraud!
What a waste - Scioscia is an idiot for bringing him in.
I don't know, it's pretty scary
potential winning run looking for a helmet!
It worked out
He got Buck out but he pitched 30+ pitches yesterday and I don't think there was a great risk the A's were going to come back further. Still, you can't argue with success.
Need to fix your post
What a waste - Scioscia is an idiot for bringing him in.
Other than his double?
Will they call Colby Lewis up?
Sucky tonight. Glad I was working. Let's hope for better pitching tomorrow. What's wrong with Gaudin? Still on the learning curve? Give him time,no? Still hanging on every pitch and game like they matter! Go A's!
by A'sfansince1970 on Aug 2, 2007 10:16 PM PDT reply actions
Balls & strikes
that's what's wrong. Too many B, not enough S
Too many walks. Encouraging...
in Sacto last night. Loiaza pitched well. 4+ innings pitched, no ER, 1 hit, 1 BB, 3 K. Not bad.
by A'sfansince1970 on Aug 2, 2007 10:25 PM PDT reply actions
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