"The Squeeze Is On!"
by Nico on Sep 14, 2007 11:04 PM PDT
in News
45 comments
Many A’s fans have been waiting 7 years to hear those words. Not since Art Howe commissioned Ryan Christenson for the job on July 31st, 2000 had the A’s executed the suicide squeeze. Then, in the bottom of the 5th, Bob Geren gave the secret sign to Donnie Murphy and Murphy’s squeeze bunt capped off a 7-run uprising that turned what had once been a 6-0 deficit into a 9-6 lead. Sammy Sosa’s 3-run HR would tie it briefly at 9-9, Swisher’s HR would put the A’s on top for keeps, and Daric Barton’s first major league HR would prove to be in a winning cause. Final Score: A’s 11, Rangers 9.
Like Dallas Braden, Dan Meyer is showing that AAA success does not necessarily translate into major-league readiness. Meyer suffers from several problems: His fastball does not have terrific movement, his slider does not inspire hitters to chase, he has erratic command of his changeup, and his overall command is spotty enough to keep the pitch counts high.
The 3rd inning, in which Meyer and Colby Lewis combined to throw 50 pitches, was almost unbearably slow and painful—similar to watching a mouse get cornered by a sadistic cat who is in no hurry to complete a grisly and inevitable act the likes of which are rarely seen outside of Jennifer’s basement. Of course, the bottom of the 5th undoubtedly felt the same way to Ron Washington and Rangers fans.
Finally, congratulations to the Sacramento Rivercats for taking the PCL Championship three games to none by hanging on to beat New Orleans 4-3. A good night all around for the greens and golds.
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Great comeback tonight. I am beginning to like
the guys we have but tempering my excitement realizing that they likely don't have the capability of delivering an '08 AL West title. "Tryouts" are a wonderful way to spend the remainder of a forgettable season and let's all hope we find the additional necessary pieces in the off-season.
Jennifer's basement gets mentioned while she isn't even participating in the thread? She is definitely a "made" blogger. Don't f*** with her or the wrath of AN may be at your doorstep.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 14, 2007 11:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Thank me later.
Yes, I was asleep.
Off to Iowa I go! WOO!
by Jennifer on Sep 15, 2007 6:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll be getting a late start on my drive
to Anaheim tomorrow! A great game tonight. Coming back from deep in the hole, loosing the lead only to regain it on the long ball shot off Swisher's bat. Yes, 08 is shaping up to hold out the whisper of promise to beleaguered A's fans everywhere.
These bastards better not let me down again.
by alox on Sep 14, 2007 11:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I felt like I aged 5 years
during this game, but glad we came out with the W.
Also, I'm a little bit behind on my reading today, but this is adorable:
Injured outfielder Mark Kotsay, who did not accompany the team to Texas or Seattle last week, was sporting a Travis Buck giveaway T-shirt in the clubhouse, doctored up with red crosses and the names of Oakland's many disabled players.
by pam5981 on Sep 14, 2007 11:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Well I never thought of that ...
In the baseball portion of Meat Loaf's classic song "Paradise By the Dashboard Light", Phil Rizzuto erroneously refers to the runner's attempt to score from third base on a bunt as a suicide squeeze even though at the start of the passage he indicates that there's "two down, nobody on, no score, bottom of the ninth". With two outs, the fielder can simply throw to first for the third out and not worry about the runner coming home.
(wikipedia: suicide squeeze)
by green star oakland on Sep 14, 2007 11:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
indeed, it is wrong...
I checked it:
Still, the squeeze play was always fun by the dashboard light.
by FoolshGame22 on Sep 14, 2007 11:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah but he got 2nd and 3rd right, and ...
... as we all know,
by The Dogfather on Sep 15, 2007 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Was Ramon's a suicide or a safety squeeze ?
Online reports suggest it was a suicide squeeze, but surely Fosse at least would have remembered that tonight if it had been.
by green star oakland on Sep 14, 2007 11:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ramon's was with 2 out
so that was bunting for a base hit, not a squeeze.
by Soaker on Sep 14, 2007 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh what a night!
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 14, 2007 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not any kind of squeeze
It was just a drag bunt for a hit. It's success depended entirely on Ramon making it safely to first. A "squeeze," whether suicide or safety, entails that you're willing to give up the bunter to score the runner from first. Ramon was bunting for a hit, and if he had failed the runner on third would not have scored since there were two outs. Squeezes don't happen with 2 outs.
by mikeA on Sep 14, 2007 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Surely only Marco
can bunt a runner in from first.
by green star oakland on Sep 15, 2007 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Drag bunt.
By no means am I certain of this, but it was always my impression that only a lefthanded batter could perform a drag bunt because they are dragging it with them along the first base line as they run out of the box. That was just how I always thought of it.
by capper3 on Sep 15, 2007 4:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
not sure if fosse's memory can be trusted
when he is on a Dibs bender.....
by cvdoug on Sep 14, 2007 11:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I SAW THE A'S DO THE SQUEEZE!!!!
We were screaming over and over when we saw something nearly as rare as Halley's Coment...
Just got back from the game.Frankly, another kind of ugly one, as most have been for at least a week.
Loved: watching Barton's at bats.
Not: Meyer's pitching -- and what's wrong with Casilla?
by OaklandSi on Sep 14, 2007 11:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Still lacks command.
And his fastball's still straight. He reminds me a lot of Billy Koch.
by jeepers on Sep 15, 2007 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, that was a fun game
I was sitting in front of some first-time Coliseum visitors from St. Louis. At first it looked like they picked the wrong game to come to, but they didn't.
I visited the tent sale afterward, which is on through Sunday. Much better selection than the one a few weeks ago -- they have lots of last year's playoff roster and "Got Postseason?" shirts -- which do seem a bit sad to be buying this year when we don't got, but for five bucks I'll get over it. They have Milton Bradley bobblehead pins for $1 too. No Kendall or Bradley shirts though.
by Englishmajor on Sep 15, 2007 12:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
holy crap
that was such a FUN and DRAINING game!
my friend and i had the perfect seats to view the first successful suicide squeeze in 7 years! we were sitting in plaza infield between home and third!
when murphy was at bat with hannahan on third, i said something to my friend about how the A's should try a suicide squeeze there and how they NEVER do that.
and as i was trying to explain to my friend what a suicide squeeze play was, i was in complete shock when i saw murphy dropping the bunt and hannahan sprinting home!
man, that was exciting! i have a crush on all the rookies! go rookies! :)
by gotgreen on Sep 15, 2007 12:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Great Game
I don't mind the back and forth roller coaster... it was a blast.
As our season tickets, for some reason, didn't have today, I traded our Sunday pair for tonight, and was placed in 113, with the Texas Rangers' ticket sales staff. Despite their blue/red uniforms, everybody really knew their baseball. Forget being good hosts, they were great guests. They enjoyed being up 6-0, and we enjoyed our 7-run inning, and 9-6 lead. They loved the 3-run Sosa bomb, and we loved Swisher's solo shot. I look forward to seeing them tomorrow too.
Daric Barton continues to be amazing. Double. Homer. Single. The man is invincible. Piazza? Not so much. I was not excited by his early GIDP, and for a guy who was supposed to deliver power, I continue to be annoyed by the fact I've never seen him homer.
Meyer was Meyer - Mr. Big Pitch Count and Low Out Count. But we won!
by louismg on Sep 15, 2007 12:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I wonder if our offensive
ineptitude is affecting the pitchers we call up? Meyer posted great numbers in AAA along with other Braden. If the regular starting pitcher gave them a "friendly" warning about offensive woes, might that not exponentially increase the pressure on them to perform? Or it could be that they simply figured it out on their own and are trying to be to fine in their control.
by alox on Sep 15, 2007 6:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did Piazza look confused to anyone else
after his walk in the big inning?
Barton is a stud.
by JediLeroy on Sep 15, 2007 6:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
He may have forgotten where first base is.
by alox on Sep 15, 2007 6:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
the ump made a pointing gesture
which may have confused him as to whether the pitch was called a strike or a ball. We were actually talking about it in the stands.
by OaklandSi on Sep 15, 2007 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm just a little lost
as to why we care so much?
Just as good as a sac fly, far worse than hitting safely.
I mean, obviously x number of years seeing runs die at 3b will do something to a man's soul, but still, it's just a sac bunt. Why is it that such a big deal?
Fun win though. Really fun win, especially with the nice icing on the cake of the AAA win. Colby Lewis does not belong in the big leagues.
by LWilliams on Sep 15, 2007 7:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It's important because the next time they do it..
..in another seven or eight years, we'll probably have a few people pop in and say "I was there for the last one!"
by Flashfire on Sep 15, 2007 7:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
gives the defense one more thing
to worry about -- which can't hurt.
by OaklandSi on Sep 15, 2007 8:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
that makes me think about Wash's reaction
I doubt he is known as a swearing man, but he may have emitted a long, drawly "Sheeee it" as he watched that play unfold.
I think you're right. The ultimate value of this (above a sacfly, f'rinstance) is that it shows that Oakland's offense is willing to try some more tools than they have in the recent past, and that will "give the defense one more thing to worry about".
by Brian in 317 on Sep 15, 2007 8:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's one of the main reasons why you should
try to steal, bunt or hit & run every once in awhile. Even though they clearly have a negative effect in the long run if you do it often. You should still do it on select occasions or else you're letting the defense sit back and wait. It's like a pitcher who only throws a fast ball. If you don't throw in the occasional (successful) change up or slider here and there, the batter's going to be able to sit on that fast ball and then you're in trouble. If you force the corners to play in a little with a runner on third, the batter has a better chance at ripping it past him.
by DMOAS on Sep 15, 2007 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
"scumbag, baby, scumbag"
In the immortal words of Frank Zappa.
Very ugly (that seven run inning was "winning ugly" to the extreme- scoring two runs on walks and two runs on a 5 foot grounder- you've got to be kidding) game, but lots of fun at the ballpark.
I felt bad for Meyer, who definitely has some talent. When he settled in, for a few batters he seemed like a major league pitcher. Sure would be good to have him come around. I really get a kick out of the way he pops his cap up between pitches like he's a laborer on break.
Salb's ears might've been burning, as we were wondering about his take on the suicide squeeze. I could visualize Joe Morgan genuflecting in approval.
I hope Cassilla can figure out what he's doing wrong, 'cause he's doing it mighty wrong right now. On the other hand, it's great to have Brown coming in throwing some smoke (96 on the gun). That's something we haven't had in the bullpen for a long time.
by Brian in 317 on Sep 15, 2007 8:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
oh yeah my nickname for Andrew Brown:
"Bring it" Brown
by Brian in 317 on Sep 15, 2007 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Need a right handed bat
With Daric hitting like a major leaguer its time to do the DJ where will he go watch. He even knows his days are numbered. What the A's need in the off season is a power hitting right handed bat. The lineup has to many lefties in it. And we all know we can't count on Crosby being the hitter. So does Piuazza come back or who is out there we can sign?
by Arcman on Sep 15, 2007 9:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Outside of expensive CFers
(Hunter, Rowand, Andruw), there's not much out there to sign. So if we're going to add a right-handed bat it may come through trade. Which means giving something up, and it had better not be Barton, won't be Buck--and I don't think we can afford to part with Blanton. So...?
by Nico on Sep 15, 2007 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I keep thinking
that we ARE going to sign a free agent--but it's going to be a pitcher.
by jeepers on Sep 15, 2007 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh.... there's something out there...
If Beane's willing to spend $30 million a year on him. Solves our SS dilemma, too.
by FoolshGame22 on Sep 15, 2007 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll bet Larry Davis and Clarence Cockrell
can't wait to get their hands on A-Rod. A-a-a-a-h-h...
by Nico on Sep 15, 2007 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure!
It'd only be 40% of our payroll.
Awww f&%# it, lets do it. A-ROD [clapclapclap]
by LWilliams on Sep 15, 2007 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're Just Partial
What is it with you and "B" Names? Buck, Barton, Blanton, Batman?
It's kind of spooky.
by louismg on Sep 15, 2007 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree...
In that there isn't much to sign nor should we part with Barton or Buck.
Our true trading chips are DJ, Kotsay, Crosby, and Gaudin.
I think it's pretty obvious that to be a contender next year that Daric Barton, Travis Buck, Kurt Suzuki, Nick Swisher, Mark Ellis, Danny Haren, and Huston Street are untouchable.
Blanton should in no way be shopped, as we need him as part of our 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. The only motivation I could see in moving Joe (and once again it shouldn't be done especially with the departure of E-Lo) is a fear of how expensive could he become. However, it just doesn't make sense to trade a young, cheap, durable, hardly injured starter when there is no way we can replace that in a trade or in the FA market. If the A's do see Blanton as not apart of their future past 2008, then it would be better to move him mid-season where demand (or desperation, if you will) would be higher. Right now, no organization is going to part with young top level pitching.
Kotsay and Crosby don't really have much trade value. So it's honestly going to be up to a package of Dan Johnson and a minor leaguer or two (Halsey??) to acquire us the right handed bat we need. I know in the past NY and Minn have been interested... I still think the most attractive trading option is Gaudin as he could be easier replaced in a trade or on the FA market (much like DiNardo). BB has good luck in acquiring underappreciated starters.
by AsWin on Sep 15, 2007 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're not going to be able to trade Kotsay
at all. One, you'd have to eat the entire contract. Two, you'd have to get nothing in return. And Three, you're probably going to have to give up something else of value just to get this fantastic deal.
No one out there is going to take a chance on a broken down, aging centerfielder with a bad back and having not played more than 30 or so games in the previous season while putting up very poor numbers.
No, he's all ours. And the only hope we have is that the offseason is kind to him and he recovers enough flexibility to be a quality 5 outfielder. He's not going to retire before collecting on the 8 million he's owed next season and if he has to collect it from his nice cozy couch while spending the entire year on the DL, I'm sure it'll be tough, but he'd find a way to pull it off.
by DMOAS on Sep 15, 2007 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
DJ and Halsey won't get you
a right-handed batter who can hit. A right-handed batter, maybe, but not one you're hoping for.
by Nico on Sep 15, 2007 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Barton
pleasedon'tbebengrievepleasedon'tbebengrievepleasedon'tbebengrieve
by JediLeroy on Sep 15, 2007 10:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
hehe
swisher was breakdancing while levitating the ball and bat after winning that crazy game last night!
by gotgreen on Sep 15, 2007 12:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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