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Just Your Typical Sunday Afternoon at the Ballpark

Baseball_tiny by baseballgirl on in News

So, how best to describe today’s marathon contest? I would venture to say that offense was not a problem for either team, but if you were looking forward to today’s billed pitching match-up, you were probably disappointed. Padilla pitched to exactly two batters before making the game-ending mistake of hitting Nick Swisher, who promptly charged the mound, taking himself and Padilla out of the game. On the other side, DiNardo didn’t make it through two; a pitching line of 1.2 IP, 2H, 4BB, 5ER speaks for itself.

Lugo was only marginally better in his two innings of work, but Braden was able to pitch the next three without further incident. The A’s offense, in the meantime, backed by excellent days by Suzuki (why, oh why couldn’t he have started the season!), Hannahan and Ellis, made up the deficit and actually led the A’s to a slim 8-7 lead going to the eighth.

Enter Andrew Brown. Exit the ball, as Michael Young cleared the bases with a grand slam, putting Texas on top 11-8. The A’s rallied for another comeback in their half of the inning, but were only able to score one. A seemingly insignificant ruling (a catcher cannot stop the ball using his mask) would have given the A’s another run, since the penalty is two bases for each base-runner, but Geren could not win the argument.

When it was all said and done, the A’s had fallen short, losing the final game of the series 11-9. Today’s BartonWatch finds Daric with a hit, a walk, and an RBI, and the EllisHomerunTracker climbs to 18.

All in all, this series was by no means a showcase of top major league talent, but at least it suggests that the A’s were better than someone this season. And that’s just going to have to be enough for 2007.

And if you want to see highlights from the game, don’t miss Swish’s ‘takedown’. That should be excellent fodder for the 2008 A’s commercials. Either that, or ‘introduction to wrestling’.

The A’s take on Seattle tomorrow at 7:05

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video of swisher.....

charging the mound, now up on mlb.com.
takedown, almost...

by arch on Sep 16, 2007 4:59 PM PDT   0 recs

anyone still think

we should send this guy to LA?
it's ludicrous to think that we would.

The A's need someone like Swisher to go to battle with. He posseses the kind of energy and passion that the underdog A's can't afford to do without.

That and he's a pretty good (and young) talent.  

by 67MARQUEZ on Sep 16, 2007 5:42 PM PDT   0 recs

I was pretty disgusted with Brown

walking Wilkerson on 4 pitches ahead of Michael Young. Today the A's pitchers had a very Rangers-like tendency not to throw strikes early or often. I'm not used to that--and I don't want to get used to it.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 6:07 PM PDT   0 recs

just got back from the fights

er...game.

another sloppy one -- one of many this last couple of weeks. Sorry to see Brown melt down, but it was bound to happen sooner or later.

I was glad to see Blevins' MLB debut...guy's got a live arm. He is extremely tall and skinny (looked funny warming up next to Brown).

by OaklandSi on Sep 16, 2007 6:09 PM PDT   0 recs

Blevins

His mom sat right near me and took pictures while he pitched.  She was in tears at the end of his inning, very emotional.  She said that when he called to tell her he'd been traded from Chicago to Oakland, she asked if that was a good thing.  He said, "Mom, go look in my room."  His bedroom at home is full of A's stuff.  She said Oakland has always been his favorite team.  They live in Toledo, Ohio.  I now have a new favorite player to root for.  

"Put me down and I'll walk off the field." -- Bradley to Macha, 9/06

by skigurl on Sep 16, 2007 6:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

wow...that is really great

I've got a game story too. One of the vendors is a close friend of my friend. This vendor came over today and told us a Ranger bullpen pitcher made some remark about wanting ice cream to him as he was selling to fans in the seats  near the visiting bullpen. The vendor said "working man to working man, I'll sell you ice cream if you want."

the Texas pitcher said "nah, not unless you'll give it away for free." The vendor replied, 'How much more do you make than me? You don't want me busting you in front of your teammates now, do you?"

The pitcher just scowled at him.

Not as nice a story as yours, but just a true game tale to share here.

by OaklandSi on Sep 16, 2007 6:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

AWWWWWWW

that is so awesome!!

by gotgreen on Sep 16, 2007 6:47 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

how old is the kid
if he's from ohio, maybe he's an a's fan because of swisher.
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Sep 17, 2007 1:15 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

IIRC,

his mom said he just turned 24.  

Love your story, too, OaklandSi.  Wonder who it was?  Chair-throwing Frankie, maybe?  

"Put me down and I'll walk off the field." -- Bradley to Macha, 9/06

by skigurl on Sep 17, 2007 9:02 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I asked the vendor, but he didn't

pay attention and couldn't identify him, unfortunately.

by OaklandSi on Sep 17, 2007 12:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So tell me

Who'd DiNardo hit to get tossed out in the 2nd?

The smart money lies

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Sep 16, 2007 6:14 PM PDT   0 recs

Some new call-up...

I think his name was Notsuzuki'sglove

by CoryC123 on Sep 16, 2007 6:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

DiNardo couldn't find the plate with Yahoo maps
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:58 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I couldn't find Lake Moultrie with Yahoo maps

At least, not at first.  But eventually, success was mine.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 10:02 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Blevins had a nice inning....

What's with all the walks the Oakland's pitching staff has been giving up?  We're supposed to do this to the opposition, it's not supposed to happen to us!

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Sep 16, 2007 6:25 PM PDT   0 recs

to think we lost the season series to Texas is...

DISGUSTING!!!

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Sep 16, 2007 6:26 PM PDT   0 recs

omann

got to the coliseum RIGHTTT as the charge happened..heard it from outside...saw the replay as i was buying tickets..but exciting game for sure

by GooooAs on Sep 16, 2007 6:29 PM PDT   0 recs

lol at hannahan

what was he doing diving OVER the pile in the brawl?

by gotgreen on Sep 16, 2007 6:45 PM PDT   0 recs

He's been face down in the grass before

Didn't care for it.  

We were caught in a hamster wheel of recriminations and resentment.

by Englishmajor on Sep 16, 2007 6:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Plus the toaster told him to do it
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 7:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Rotoworld says Swish is likely to be suspended

but also mentions that Hannahan might get suspended as well...if so that's a costly swan dive

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pla...

by OaklandSi on Sep 16, 2007 7:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Swisher's a given, but

why Hannahan? For breaking that bottle of Heineken over Blalock's head?

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 8:00 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Bullpen use and high leverage situations

If you're going to pull DiNardo in the 2nd inning with 2 runs in, the bases loaded, and a 2-0 count on the batter, isn't that a good time to bring in a hot hand - if not your hottest - from the bullpen to stop the bleeding ? Escaping from that inning without further damage would have been the difference in this game.

by green star oakland on Sep 16, 2007 8:05 PM PDT   0 recs

melhuse speaketh about the incident

Melhuse said that he wasn't aware of any anti-Swisher sentiment in the Texas clubhouse, but he, too, felt like Swisher had a bull's-eye on his back.

"I would definitely say something was up in this series," Melhuse said. "Obviously, Swish had a good series against them, and maybe they saw something they didn't like."

Melhuse also suggested that Padilla wasn't acting alone, based on the way the fateful at-bat played out.

"You could see they were on the same page, the way [Saltalamacchia] was setting up," he said. "It's obvious there was some intent."

link

by gotgreen on Sep 16, 2007 8:07 PM PDT   0 recs

video??
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Sep 16, 2007 8:23 PM PDT   0 recs

under MORE COVERAGE

you can see the "Swisher charges the mound" clip HERE.

by gotgreen on Sep 16, 2007 8:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

wow

i haven't been paying attention.  
so the rangers hit swisher on friday, saturday and sunday?
and padilla almost hit swisher three times before he actually hit him?

has there been any retaliation from out pitchers?  i would hope so...

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Sep 16, 2007 9:48 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah

They took out subscriptions to Playgirl in various TX pitcher's names, sent to the Rangers clubhouse.  And, to add insult to injury, they selected the "Bill Me Later" option.  <evil laughter>

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 9:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Well, sort of. Our pitchers haven't

actually thrown at any of their hitters, but they have spread some nasty rumors about them and written many unsavory things on various MySpace pages.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey, Ozzman99,

"great minds drink alike"! I mean ... No, that's right.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

MySpace

"... written many unsavory things on various MySpace pages."

So MySpace is the 21st century version of a bathroom wall.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 10:09 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ah, I could watch that clip all night. :)

Too bad Swish didn't get more of the loser. Sucks that he'll most likely suspended for it. There's no excuse for throwing at a batter, over and over.

by Gromit1025 on Sep 16, 2007 8:31 PM PDT   0 recs

Whereas running at a person

and attacking him, well...I mean, ya gotta do that!

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 8:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

crosby

what was HE doing  out there pushing and shoving with that injured hand of his?!

by gotgreen on Sep 16, 2007 8:35 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hah. I totally saw that on the clip

and thought "get out of there! you're gonna break something!"

"I apologize for the negativity. I'm almost out of vodka." -ArakSOT

by pam5981 on Sep 16, 2007 8:36 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's Crosby

He could break something getting out of bed in the morning.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 9:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I broke something getting

out of bed this morning. Wind.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's a nice way to start the day, isn't it?
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

and sustain it
The long sobs of autumn's violins wound my heart with monotonous languor.

by ak_A on Sep 16, 2007 9:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Sustain what? The day? Or...?

Eew.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

If anyone ever invented a car

that ran on farts, I'd be in stinky heaven.  And a lot more farmers would grow beans.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 9:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

And I'd be biking a lot more
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:35 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

biker shorts

may be causing that bulging dick in your back.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 9:36 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I need to stop riding tandem

<calls Piazza, cancels ride>

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

When a guy asks

if you want to ride on his handlebar, make sure he doesn't have a mustache.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 9:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Whenever anyone asks about

the wheels on my bike, I refer them to my spokesperson.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

otg, the season will soon be over.
The long sobs of autumn's violins wound my heart with monotonous languor.

by ak_A on Sep 16, 2007 9:44 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Aaand..MKT just now figures out what OTG means.
"Female ass are strange creatures. They come and go as they please." -- Sigourney Weaver

by oblique on Sep 16, 2007 10:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

otg?

old timer's game?

original t-ball gangsta?

onions, thyme, garlic?

ozzman takes gold?

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 10:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

...isn't it

Oh Thank God?

And I have no confidence that this "witty banter" will not continue long into the offseason.

"I apologize for the negativity. I'm almost out of vodka." -ArakSOT

by pam5981 on Sep 16, 2007 10:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, that's what I figure

but I like "onions, thyme, garlic."  It sounds like a Ron Burgundy exclamation.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 10:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

couldn't resist...



"I apologize for the negativity. I'm almost out of vodka." -ArakSOT

by pam5981 on Sep 16, 2007 10:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

btw

If you're implying that you find the banter between Nico and I less than entertaining, I just don't believe it.  Don't act like you're not impressed.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 10:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

There it is.

less than entertaining

;)

"I apologize for the negativity. I'm almost out of vodka." -ArakSOT

by pam5981 on Sep 16, 2007 10:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

ok, fine

So we're not paint drying on the wall.  We're still better than public access!

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 10:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Made of glass, that boy.
"I apologize for the negativity. I'm almost out of vodka." -ArakSOT

by pam5981 on Sep 16, 2007 9:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Anyone remember Todd Shell?

Niners LB from the 80's.  Nicknamed Crystal by his teammates.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 9:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

backing up his team..

the family of oakland a's =)

except i guess its not the smartest thing to do

by GooooAs on Sep 16, 2007 9:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Small sample size alert but...

I was impressed with Bevins.  I'm not too familiar with him, but from what I've read, it looks like he was pretty good in the minors (especially his K/BB rate).  It'd be nice if he could be a solid addition to the BP.

About the BP, what exactly is the cause of their decline?  Sure, Duke would have been a help but after Street, Duke, and Embree there's a lot of question marks.  Usually pitching is a strong point but even in our SP rotation anything beyond Haren, Blanton, and Gaudin is a question mark aswell.  

And continuing with some food for thought, one of those analysts was speculating that we send DJ to SF for Nate Schierholtz... just throwing it out there.  I don't personally know enough about him to make a case either way.  

by AsWin on Sep 16, 2007 8:59 PM PDT   0 recs

BP

How often, really do you see relief pitchers with long, consistent careers.  Sure, a few guys stand out, like Rivera.  But they are the exceptions that prove the rule, I think.  Plus, they are usually closers.  It seems to me that building a bullpen is 2 parts player evaluation and 2 parts luck.  As you said, even with Duke, the pen would have been iffy beyond him, Street and Embree.  On the other hand, who knew Calero would be so bad?  And if Harden and Loaiza had been healthy, the pen would have had DiNardo and Kennedy.  DiNardo was good out of them pen early in the year, and Kennedy had a good year last year.  Street, Duke, Calero, Embree, DiNardo, and Kennedy would be a strong group who could share the workload.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 9:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Also, we're relying heavily on

guys who shouldn't be "high leverage" pitchers. Brown and Casilla are inconsistent; hence why they are not established set-up guys like Duchscherer. But we have been forced to pitch them as if they were Duke. And they're not.

As for DJ/Schierholz, Schierholz is an excellent prospect whereas DJ is a 28 year old AAAA player. So sadly, that's not going to happen.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Could I have more typos?

I meant 3 parts player evaluation, not 2.  And I meant "the pen," not "them pen."

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 9:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Typos. God almighty.

Thats' freaking patetic.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm my own worst critic

Except for oh2b21likehuston.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 9:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh yeah--I criticize him way more too.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Plus, if I'm bad enough

I might get my own column and get mocked by FJM.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 9:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I attribute most of my typos

to a bulging dick in my back.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You'd think that would cause

problems worse than typos.

"I apologize for the negativity. I'm almost out of vodka." -ArakSOT

by pam5981 on Sep 16, 2007 9:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Not necessarily

Capote had that problem, and his writing didn't suffer at all.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 9:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That's true man.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Good idea

Henceforth, all of my typos will be attributed to your bulging disc.

by ozzman99 on Sep 16, 2007 9:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Who said anything about a bulging disc?
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Sep 16, 2007 9:30 PM PDT