A Bird in the Hannahan
by Tyler Bleszinski on Aug 20, 2007 7:23 PM PDT
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Printis worth three in the north. Yes, folks, Jack Hannahan came through early and often tonight with a double and a three-run home run. Congratulations to the young Hannahan. The thing is, it's almost always a pickup like this that seems to work out for the best for Billy Beane. I'm not sure why that happens to be, but the more high profile ones that Beane signs don't seem to rise up as much. Maybe it's just my expectations that get in the way. Although there was Frank Thomas last year. Speaking of which, I can officially say that I'm glad that the A's didn't retain the Big Hurt at the price the Jays got him. Don't get me wrong, I like Frank, I just can't see paying him for the next few years.
Hannahan is only batting .227, so I'm not crowning him the next big thing, but it's been really interesting seeing a guy that the A's front office obviously had some affection for getting a chance.
Oh, and there has officially been a Nick Swisher sighting in August. Swisher left the yard. Hallelujah and rejoice!
The big question coming out of the last two Joe Blanton starts is, "Has Joe finally gotten past his slump that may or may not have been Jason Kendall leaving induced?" I don't have the answer. But it's looking more and more like Joe has finally realized he can pitch whether or not a grizzled, unshaven veteran is throwing down the digits behind the dish. A kid with a puka shell necklace that calls him "Dude" can do it just as well.
One game closer to that magic .500 mark...
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Monday Night > Away
The A's are now 5-3 (.625).
First off, I agree on Big Hurt
If there's one thing the A's can't afford to absorb--and Kendall, Kotsay, and Chavez have shown it--it's an albatross contract. Thomas is a huge risk for that in a 3-year deal.
I am relieved to see Hannahan swing the bat well tonight, but I'm still very concerned about his defense. Every ball to his left and right has gotten through--many have not been gettable, but you know Chavy would have gotten to some, and you wonder how many an average 3Bman would get to. None? 1-2? 3-4? Makes me nervous.
As for Blanton, check out my Tuesday morning post for some thoughts on how the A's could approach next year's rotation and related off-season trade options...
Yeah, watching someone else
whether it's Hannahan or Scoot patrol third makes me long for watching Chavy day in and day out. Everyone knows how good he is, it's just good to get our daily affirmation, Stuart Smalley-style. He's good enough, he's got great range and dawg-gone it, people like him (on defense, not so much with the bat).
by Tyler Bleszinski on Aug 20, 2007 7:48 PM PDT up reply actions
I smell .500
So close, so close.
I agree about Frank, love the guy but after this year he'll be done and just stealing money.
by Mr C on Aug 20, 2007 7:44 PM PDT reply actions
Hotel in Toronto
Well since I'm headed to Toronto to see the next two games and can't find my 2006 media guide to look it up - where do they stay in Toronto?
Other hotels for the remaining road trips:
(While I have that section of the 2007 media guide open)
Anaheim: Doubletree
Arlington: Four Seasons Resort
Seattle: Fairmont Olympic
Cleveland: Ritz Carlton
Boston: Ritz Carlton-Boston Common
And, FWIW, AL teams visiting Oakland stay at either the Parc 55 or the Westin St. Francis (both in San Francisco).
BB needs to cut some fat by making them
stay at Motel 6. We would have so much money leftover that we could sign a big bat.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 20, 2007 8:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Apparently
people become smarter when they stay at a Holiday Inn Express...
by oaklandSMASH on Aug 20, 2007 10:17 PM PDT up reply actions
I'd trade Hannahan--
but only for two guys named Bushanush.
I'm going to say right now that I'm against
this trade.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 20, 2007 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions
We'd have to throw in Paul Byrd
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Aug 20, 2007 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions
That's fine with me--
I don't really mind throwing in players from other teams in order to complete a trade. I don't know why the A's don't do that more often.
Because the A's invariably
check their countings before they klatch.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Aug 20, 2007 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah!
let's trade A-Rod to Pittsburgh!
f'n A!
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Aug 20, 2007 8:44 PM PDT up reply actions
It seems so wierd.
Someone on 3B other that Chavez...and what makes it really strange is that it appears as though Hannahan's getting a long hard look at that. Billy's relative cool towards a sorry season seems so out of character for a guy who breathed fire ala Jeremy Giambi of yore. Maybe the winds of change are starting to skitter the early August leaves. One could wonder if this will not turn out to be a very memorable off season during the winter.
I sure hope so ...
Excluding the performances of Haren and Stewart ( who I believed only signed a 1 year contract and will likely be gone next year ), v2007 has been very painful to watch. Knowing that we have another year of Loaiza and a couple more years of Kotsay it will be discouraging if there is no major activity during the offseason to improve this club.
by DaveinRoseville on Aug 20, 2007 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions
You've gotta give props to Ellis and Buck too.
They have been great this year.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 20, 2007 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't think Kotsay will be back
Just a guess.
I'll get back to you
Oh geez, are we back to this again?
who will take him off the A's hands ?
Doesn't he have a couple more years on his contract paying him approx $8M per ?
Maybe the A's can pawn him off to the giants as a mensa for Zito :)
by DaveinRoseville on Aug 20, 2007 8:47 PM PDT up reply actions
2008
Kotsay's contract expires after the 2008 Season. So, next year will definitely be his last w/ the A's. Who knows... Maybe Kotsay has already played his last game in the Green & Gold.
by Colorado Fan on Aug 20, 2007 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Depending on how Melky Cabrera,
Matsui and Abreu progress, I could see Kotsay being a good fit on the Crank Yankers. Also, injuries have a way of creating need. A lot of teams might want Kotsay if their CFer suddenly goes down.
would've been in 2005
not now, though. They love Melky, wouldn't trade him for Gagne. They're trying to get younger, finally, and Kotsay would not help there.
by Cutthemullet on Aug 20, 2007 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Anyone with Directv HD should try YES on 94
instead of ESPN on 73. The "YESHD" picture looks a little crisper IMO. Rick Sutcliffe vs. Michael Kay is not easy to listen to because they both suck so I went with the better picture.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 20, 2007 8:21 PM PDT reply actions
The only difference between
Rick Sutcliffe and a sedative is that a sedative takes 20 minutes to start making you drowsy.
He always sounds drunk even when he is sober.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 20, 2007 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions
and you know what...
I bet he sounds drunk when he's drunk, too!
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Aug 20, 2007 8:45 PM PDT up reply actions
ESPN announcers
said "no team has had more injuries than the Angels this year". Um, I think that's an incorrect statement.
Not even close
Unbelievably ignorant statement.
Did Gary Thorne say that?
...sounds like something that dumbass would say.
by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Aug 20, 2007 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Love his comments
"This is where Cano hits the ball hard" - um, taylor-made double play. Doesn't take much to be a national commentator, does it?
Actually, Cano did hit it hard.
FWIW. <But Sutcliffe IS an idiot--let's not get away from the main point here>
Focus, Nico!
Don't let facts get in the way of making fun of Sutcliffe!
They are driving me crazy.
And I don't have fancy schmancy sports channels. I'm stuck!
Thank goodness for XM
For any Angels home game, I mute the television sound (whether it's ESPN, Fox or Phys and Hud) and listen to Rory and Terry on the radio. They are quite good, fair and knowledgable with minimal homerism.
Sorry, sorry.
Sometimes my focus just--
Ooh what's that?
Hey, don't be dissin' Gary Thorne
I've got a man-crush on that guy.
maybe they meant of the 100 million dollar
payroll teams
by theblackpearl on Aug 20, 2007 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Ah, among "real teams"
Good point.
In fairness, they probably don't
even know that the A's have a team.
ESPN discovered Kielty
He has more press in one game on Boston than he ever did on the A's.
In all fairness,
do we actually have a team?
we've had about 3 this year
by Helloooo 1st on Aug 20, 2007 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Michael Kay...
is my favorite play-by-play guy in baseball. What problem do you have with him?
by Cutthemullet on Aug 20, 2007 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Not sure where this would start or end so I'll
just leave it alone. Okay here is one reason that he sucks... "The Yankees win. Theeeee Yankees win." Extremely annoying.
See-ya!%^!
by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 21, 2007 8:01 AM PDT up reply actions
ohtobe, you have it wrong...
you're thinking of john sterling on the radio that does "the yankees win...theeeee yankees win." michael kay is not a big homer either. i like him as an announcer and his sports talk radio show is pretty good also.
lived in ny for 8 years, so i have a bit of yankees knowledge.
I know we won, but ...
I did a few back of the envelope grit equivalence calculations, adjusted for park factor and strength of opposition, ran several thousand quick simulations, and concluded that, had Kendall been catching tonight, Blanton would have thrown a three-hit shutout. Actually, a 2.836 hit shutout (I rounded up, to be conservative).
Our new catcher = abject failure. Perhaps in 10-12 years, once he's entered his decline phase, grown some facial hair, replaced his persistently enthusiastic demeanor with one of dour, glowering determination, learned to hit without batting gloves, and internalized sufficient quantities of Veteran Presence and Feel For The Game, he'll be passable, but at this point I can't even look at him.
excellent analysis
by rubin sierra on Aug 20, 2007 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Did the Angels' bottom of the 7th just now
underscore what the A's need to be able to do better or what? First to third, baby--what a weapon.
been watching most of it
they also let Hughes off the hook in an earlier inning with a CS when Hughes was having control issues. It was great seeing Figgins get thrown out on a first pitch changeup.
by Cutthemullet on Aug 20, 2007 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Somebody WIN already.
And let it be the Yankees.
double-post...
and I didn't spell his name right either time.
*Scioscia
by Cutthemullet on Aug 20, 2007 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL. Scioscia argued three calls,
Vlad's trap in the 1st, Figgins' CS, and Willits' check swing, and he was wrong on all three. Pick your battles, Señor Petulance.
haha
the check swing call from this game that should've been argued was Kendrick's strike non-call in the second. Kendrick eventually walked (you know a call was blown somewhere along the way if he's walking), and Mathis hit a 3-run double.
by Cutthemullet on Aug 20, 2007 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh my God--they just said that
"one of the best managers in the game has been thrown out". That's amazing, because Scioscia was just thrown out too!
lol
assuming you're watching ESPN...on YES, after the first hitter this inning, it was "and Cabrera just retired Carbrera." Might have wanted to save that neat call for when A-Rod came up against the current pitcher...
by Cutthemullet on Aug 20, 2007 10:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Cabrera
his pronunciation of the name, however, was impeccable both times, so I owe Kay a correct spelling.
by Cutthemullet on Aug 20, 2007 10:17 PM PDT up reply actions
let Scioscia back in the game...
Odds of a Vlad walk-off hit:
Currently 6:1.
In favor of.
Meanwhile, Torre, even on the road,
doesn't save Rivera for a save situation. He puts his best pitcher in now. Smart.
lol
I repeat my question...Vlad must think he's back in Montreal with the two hits that followed there....
by Cutthemullet on Aug 20, 2007 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Darren f***ing Oliver?
Mariner fans everywhere are rejoicing.
if...
the odds for a Vlad walkoff were 6:1, A-Rod game-winner is now 12:1, in favor of
by Cutthemullet on Aug 20, 2007 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Oliver has been effective recently
Whereas Scot Shields has been hideous (thus the choice of Speier in the 8th inning tonight).
Any reports on what's wrong with Shields?
Is it physical, mental, mechanical? Is his "rubber arm" catching up to him?
Angels radio announcers
Said they are working with him in the bullpen on some mechanical issues and did not intend to use him tonight. (Though extra innings could change that.)
that grounder...
was supposed to bounce 15 feet high on the second bounce...I guess it's only the right side of the infield
this game needs to end
so that I no longer have to watch Scott (not Scot) Boras on his cellphone behind home plate
Hang on--I'd reply
but my cell phone just rang.
<makes ridiculous counter-offer to Blez, won't budge>
I've always thought Darren Oliver
was a terrific pitcher.
If he were named Daren,
he'd be having all sorts of mechanical problems.
I wonder how often Henn balks.
or Darin
When was the last Erstad sighting this year?
by Cutthemullet on Aug 20, 2007 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions
just as you always thought highly of Oliver...
I always thought Kotsay would look good in pinstripes this year
I know this is stating the obvious, but:
Jack Cust would have caught that.
Yeah, you're right,
he probably woulda left.
Good job
I will say good job this year Blez and baseballgirl for continuing to make this blog interesting in a disappointing year. That said, the following statement by our dear moderator...
"I can officially say that I'm glad that the A's didn't retain the Big Hurt at the price the Jays got him"
...made me think. Huh, what a ridiculous fucking statement? Man get over the money for nothing thing...it doesn't work. Frank was worth the 9 million a year it would've taken to keep him for two years. The team was better with him for his intimidation factor alone not to mention his solid numbers and flair for the dramatic. This Billy Beane philosophy is tired. If we continue with it we'll be stuck with mediocrity for years. The A's drew over 3 million fans a year in the late 80's and made money when the Haas's owned the team because they spent money and had an exciting team and knew how to market it to the Bay Area.
Currently we're stuck lusting at the chance for .500 ball at the helm of our genious leader - Billy Beane. WooHoo!!
I have to disagree, jdub69,
because first of all Thomas demanded a 3-year, not a 2-year deal, and what has plagued the A's is precisely that: payroll eating contracts (Kotsay, Chavez, Kendall) that have strapped the team from solving problems elsewhere with younger, better players.
If Thomas goes down, or declines, before the end of 2009, Beane's decision to let him go will have been vindicated--especially since Cust (who could NOT be in the lineup with Thomas) has been so terrific at minimal cost. To me, Cust has already made the Thomas decision a good one, much as I would LOVE to have Thomas' intimdiating and awesome bat in my lineup.
H2A3N3 > T2O3RN
You're making me think WAY too much
at this hour! ;P
I loved the look on Hannahan's face
when he hit that HR...
{8-O
I'm sure you did.
It's the only thing that made the HR worthwhile.
3 runs? Pfff. So what? Offense is overrated. Nice, cute Irish guys! Whooo!
Loved listening to his postgame interview
It was like, "Yes sir, you are indeed from Minnesota."
Half my relatives live in Wisconsin. I'd know that upper-Midwest accent anywhere.
And not only that,
but he seems really nice.
I'd like to catch his Lucky Charms.
Are they in a fuzzy sack?
I mean like this one.
Sheesh.
I'm scared to click that link.
Needs more glitter.
If I hear they're magically delicious,
I'm outta here. (Or having lucky charms surgically attached somewhere.)
I like that Jack Hannahan cat.
He's cute.
And he seems nice.
seriously?
"I looked at it and said, 'Jeez, Louise!'" Hannahan admitted.
Jeez Louise?
Please don't tell THESE A's players
that offense is overrated.
The gap is now 5 games!
Brown wasn't effective in last night's game. However, it was his 18th appearance which is only 5 fewer games than Bradley has appeared in for the Padres.
by NoeValley on Aug 21, 2007 12:28 PM PDT reply actions
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