Open Game Thread: Game 152 - Mariners vs. A's
by Tyler Bleszinski on Sep 17, 2007 6:59 PM PDT
in News
Email
PrintThe A's and former Cy Young candidate Dan Haren with a 14-7 record and a 3.11 ERA take on the Mariners and Miguel Batista with a 13-11 record and a 4.67 ERA.
The A's are 5-2 over the last seven games, but unfortunately they have been eliminated from playoff contention earlier than any time since 1998. It's really a testament to how successful this franchise has been for years. That's nearly a 10-year run of being in contention up until game 156. And I do believe that the biggest reason that it happened so early this year was because of injuries. What more as a fan can you ask for? OK, yeah, you can ask for a World Series win, but if not for a Jeremy Giambi non-slide or a Billy Koch meatball or Byrnes touching home, the A's very well could've had one if not two. Sorry to bring up painful memories, but I do think the A's would've been much closer to the playoffs this year had they not continued to set an Oakland record for most players used.
Jerry Blevins appearance yesterday for the A's meant that he became the 54th player the A's have used this year. They are only two away from tying the all-time Athletics record of 56 players in 1915. Seriously, this kind of thing hasn't happened for 92 years. Wow. Come on, A's, set the record (and with possible suspensions coming for Swisher and Hannahan, it very well seems inevitable).
The A's lineup tonight looks like this:
Stewart
Barton
Swisher
Cust
Ellis
Johnson
Suzuki
Hannahan
Murphy
The Mariners lineup looks like this:
Suzuki
Beltre
Ibanez
Guillen
Broussard
Vidro
Johjima
Lopez
Betancourt
I really would've preferred that the Mariners win the division over the Angels, but such is life. Ultimately, it will probably be a postseason that I ignore for the first time in quite a few years. There really isn't much interesting there for me outside of maybe rooting for the Padres if they make it. But that's about it.
LET'S GO A'S!!!!!!!
231 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Is the game thread late or are we early?
I have a ticket to tonight's game, but only just got home and still have a lot of work to do before I sleep....so I think I'll stay put and maybe go tomorrow. I hope a few ANers are at the park wishing Danny happy birthday.
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Well...
Kinda.
Street is a terrible actor
and I still say that commercial would be much more convincing if there was an actual game going on when he says "well, I gotta get back in the game"
I'm ready.
Leftover cold pizza and beer.
How was Iowa?
Did you have a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich?
It's what I understand is Iowa's claim to culinary excellence.
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Zachary's?
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions
I wish.
I really should have higher pizza standards.
Did you make it to the Cats game on Friday night?
No, I went to the A's game instead
And had a great time. Oh God, I just saw a shot of the bleachers and there's only about 20 people there. I wonder if I'd get a decent WiFi signal there....though given how much we yell at people using their cell phones, I can only imagine the crap I'd take for bringing a laptop.
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Lanesplitter?
Hopefully the As...
Can get Danny win #15 on his b'day. It would be nice to see him reach another personal milestone on what's already been a great season for him (becoming a legit ace, All-Star starter, etc.) Especially since his stepping up (along with the other guys) helped to ease the loss of Zito. Sometimes I think people focus too much on numbers (Win/loss, ERA, etc.) and not enough about clubhouse leadership, getting the job done with class and without ego, and teaching the other guys. Danny has been one of the bright spots this year and our ace for years to come.
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 7:08 PM PDT reply actions
Hopefully Haren doesn't get rocked again...
he's been gettin' hit hard lately
by athleticsBB4life on Sep 17, 2007 7:10 PM PDT reply actions
Good Start!!!
by athleticsBB4life on Sep 17, 2007 7:10 PM PDT reply actions
Yeah...
he had a real good top of the first the other day as well iirc.
Well...
Last game wasn't horrible by any means from Danny. Granted, it wasn't his personal best but he would have had #15.
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Go A's!
Im really enjoying the end of the season. Here's to the phillies and tigers, may they take out the Mets and the Yankees!
by SwisherSweet on Sep 17, 2007 7:12 PM PDT reply actions
Hmmm
There may only be 20 people in the bleachers, but it sounds like Duke and Saint may be two of them -- the kids aren't quite that good yet.
Yay Barton!!
Daric Barton sucks.
I mean, the kid hasn't even hit a triple yet.
You are in charge of all birthday DLDs.
looks like
batista is afraid to pitch inside hahaha
Nick: So used to being HBP
he had to do it to himself.
I'm so tired of all the K's from Cust....
learn how to foul the ball off
I'm still not sure he is a long-term answer at DH
by athleticsBB4life on Sep 17, 2007 7:22 PM PDT reply actions
considering he's not even HD'ing
Time to give this a chance and stop putting DJ in there.
HD...DH...DJ?
Whatever!!!!
Only 15 HR's since 2nd week of May
by athleticsBB4life on Sep 17, 2007 7:23 PM PDT reply actions
aw
we forgot to play the Jack Cust game!
I hope so..
let's for once get some runs for Danny.
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions
*
*guarantee does not apply if Ichiro Suzuki is within 3 miles of ball in question
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions
F' F' F'
by athleticsBB4life on Sep 17, 2007 7:24 PM PDT reply actions
Again, the TV guys stealing our lines!
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Danny Haren has "perfect game stuff"
So far anyway!
brings back memories of dirk diggler
of the movie, for crying out loud
you got any clue about that sig?
movie trivia wise?
What's strange is...
when you Google "monotonous languor", one of the first 10 hits is a previous alaska A post on AN.
check further into the google listing
part of 19th century poem, used as cryptic message to french resistance signaling D-day invasion....and also feature in the classic movie of D-day, The Longes Day. and appropriate for playoff-less A's season this autumn.
Movie trivia?
I thought it was the signal for the invasion of Normandy that was broadcast on the BBC.
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 7:53 PM PDT up reply actions
And alas,
"History of Public Broadcasting Worldwide" was not one of the categories that night.
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 7:57 PM PDT up reply actions
how bout this one...film trivia
broad sword calling danny boy.
I think
alaska A is old enough to have fought in WW2 (or WW1), more or less, based on today's age diary.
he's already asleep now
(this is Al West, his personal assistant, and I am going home shortly)
Are you allowed to give us the scoop on the
best bonus gifts on upcoming pledge days?
I can look tomorrow
But if there's anything special you want that's been offered this drive, you can usually just call in and ask for it instead of the thing of the day. We never hang up on anyone who wants to give us money.
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 8:07 PM PDT up reply actions
I have been less enthusiastic about Murphy
since he returned from the injury. Both in the field and at the plate.
aww
how about a DP haha
I'd like to introduce the official scorer
to an E-5. Since he obviously doesn't know one when he sees it. Hello-ooo.
Scoreless after three?
Damn. We're totally going to lose.
Good job Danny
Now please let's get him some runs...
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 8:01 PM PDT reply actions
NRAFs just missed a very strange ad
Yes.
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 8:05 PM PDT up reply actions
It was a PSA from Oakland emergency preparedness
Suggesting that we should all have flashlights and whistles on our persons at all times, and that we should "Learn The Code" -- 1 = Yes, 2 = No, 3 = Help. Then it showed what appeared to be an old lady lying on the sidewalk, blowing her whistle three times and someone rushing up to help her. Well, even in Oakland, most of the time when old ladies are lying on the sidewalk, people would rush over to help them whether they blow whistles or not. It doesn't seem likely that you would be unable to yell for help, but would be able to take the whistle out of your pocket or purse and blow it. The likely circumstance in which the citizens of Oakland would need the flashlight and the whistle, of course, is when they're trapped underneath their houses and offices after a very large earthquake; but apparently the emergency preparedness people don't want to freak us out by being too explicit about that.
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Sigh, it's another one of THOSE games
Danny will pitch well enough to win and won't get any run support.
F. Run scores.
But that was great D by Suzuki.
Lame defense by Hannahan/Barton, but
TEXTBOOK defense by Suzuki! That was awesome.
It was great.
Betancourt looked absolutely terrified of berserk Kurt running at him.
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Suzuki!!!!!!!!!!!
That's the way to properly execute a rundown play. Suzuki ran right at the runner, forced the runner to make a decision, then held on to the ball until the runner was fully committed. Fosse started to show some Suzuki love-well, at least some infatuation. The more Suzuki plays, the more comfortable I feel about the A's cather situation.
I hope you meant "catcher" there
and not "catheter" -- we don't need Kurt on the DL too.
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 8:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Crap. I just realized I won't be able to go
to another game this season. I'm out of town the last weekend series vs. LAAAAAAA.
You need one of us to call your office tomorrow
about the emergency that requires you to leave by 5:30?
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 8:29 PM PDT up reply actions
No good
She needs to be available 9/30. Instead of devising an excuse, I'm thinking we should just get her fired.
Or
you could try to sabotage the out-of-town wedding I'm supposed to go to 9/28-9/30.
That's a little less personally devastating.
I bet we can manage that
Nico, we're going to need to borrow your goat and the video camera, okay?
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions
At least my priorities are in order.
I do.
Except I stil wouldn't be able to go. I've pretty much devoted every waking hour to my job this week (devoted: read - except for game times, which I am partially watching and partially working on other documents). I have my very large fundraiser on Sunday this week and I could work 24 hours a day and it probably wouldn't be enough!
Professionalism Sucks
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions
For sure.
I want to retire already. Unfortunately, I also work for a nonprofit.
Does. Not. Compute.
woo hoo Danny..
way to get out that... now hitters, please do your job.
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 8:32 PM PDT reply actions
What are the cheerleaders saying?
What's that cheer going on for Johnson?
base hit base hit base hit base hit
lather rinse repeat
hey guys, I just wrote an epic play
and went on a trip to the highest peaks of the Ande's...
has Buatista threw a pitch yet?
I hate the Redskins. Always have. And it's not
because I like the Cowboys, Eagles, or the Giants.
Just had to get that out there. Thank you.
How on earth is it
that Stanford saw fit to change its sports teams' names from "Indians" to "Cardinal" back in the early '70's...yet the "Redskins" are still around?
Cowboys are 2-0 and surprisingly so are the
"Redskins." How on earth did that happen?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Haren
just didn't want to lose 1-0.
The sad thing is...
(HR aside) Haren still pitched well enough that we should have had this win. :(
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 8:57 PM PDT reply actions
And if my aunt had balls
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions
She would be your uncle.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, you've met my aunt, then?
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes. She/He goes by Pat.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions
And sat next to Red at a Mariners game recently
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions
That "thing" is terrifying. "It" should join the
circus.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:28 PM PDT up reply actions
I want some chocolate chip cookies
I have beer
and espresso filled dark chocolates.
I was offering them to Ms. Englishmajor
but in fact I will help myself to another beer.
(Try the Acme IPA from Trader Joe's if you can. It's good.)
Where is that available? I'll have to check
it out.
Well, my local liquor store has it
(Eddie's on College Ave.; aren't you in Oakland?) but I'm pretty sure you can find it at BevMo as well.
Yeah - I'll look for it, thanks!
Hey kids. What did you guys do to
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:05 PM PDT reply actions
Um...
Danny actually has done pretty good today. With some hitting help, he'd have the win.
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions
He has really been prone to the ol' long ball
lately. I didn't see the game... only the results.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions
And the results of..
7 IP 4 R 3 ER 6 K are hardly Ranger material (they should be so lucky). The only mistake he made was the HR.
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions
It's too bad that 4 runs is too many this season.
I didn't realize only 3 of them were earned. Thx
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah...
I agree. It's just too bad that Danny will have to hear another week about his so called "decline" when he pitched well enough to have wins #15 and #16.
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions
A very important lesson- Never change dealers
during the season.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions
"Jer-ry! Jer-ry! Jer-ry!"
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions
He "had" you? I welcomed him with open arms
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, good point
I kinda had a soft spot for Kendall though. I mean, I know he made Kotsay look like an All Star, but I was a big fan of his back in his Pirates days, esp. before his injury.
As long as we're on the topic, you know how people talk so much about how hard it is for a pitcher to adapt to a new catcher? So if that's true, then how come you see pitchers come up from the minors and pitch well with catchers they've never met before?
Kendall gave it everything and I can respect that
but we just needed more production and, more importantly, needed to look towards next season.
It defies logic. Every good pitcher should turn to shit with a bad catcher :-)
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions
C'mon hitters...
let's get Danny the win he deserves tonight.
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 9:05 PM PDT reply actions
He's determined to pitch until we win, dammit
In which case he'll be pitching the next 2 games.
With his pitch count..
that just might be possible. He's only at 93.
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I wouldn't feel nearly so bad
if I thought there was the least chance that the Mariners could use a win tonight to revive their hopes of beating the Angels.
Gawd
let's at least put a freaking run on the board.
You're one of those optimists, aren't you?
At this point
MikeA might need to hook me up with Haren's dealer.
If the dude has chocolate chip cookies
count me in for a group buy.
by Englishmajor on Sep 17, 2007 9:29 PM PDT up reply actions
One stop shopping?
That's actually a good idea, though. Dealers selling snack foods. It's like putting gum at the checkout counters at the grocery store, or popcorn by the registers at Blockbuster.
And it's not so much an impulse buy
as a necessity.
He has really got to learn to foul those
pitches off.
If he had learned that
he never would have been available to us. And if he hasn't learned it by now, I don't see it happening.
A girl can dream.
Or, I could just bitch about it. Yes, that's what I'll do.
They should just let Danny pitch the 9th
Since the offense decided not to show up, at least give him the CG. He's only at 106.. he can do it.
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 9:25 PM PDT reply actions
Just checked on the Angels game....
it's only the 5th inning???
Tied at 6.
This is weirdly appropriate
After the second airing of the "Know The Code" PSA and another one, I went to the website for Oakland C. O. R. E. and found out that tonight is Emergency Preparedness Night at the A's. I wonder if everyone got whistles and flashlights.
C. O. R. E. , Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies, looks like a good program for those of you who live or work in Oakland by the way. I keep meaning to sign up for the Albany equivalent whenever I drive by the fire station (i.e. twice a day).
Which reminds me...
...the A's should amend their fan Code of Conduct to prohibit the blowing of whistles during games. That is incredibly annoying.
It's unfortunate that the Rangers aren't here
tonight. That could have come in handy.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions
boo they should have let Danny pitch the 9th..
I mean Lewis couldn't possibly do any better.
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 9:29 PM PDT reply actions
Predictions? I think we'll make it interesting
but still lose the game.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:32 PM PDT reply actions
More than one baserunner at the same time.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh we're half way there.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions
I said 5 last inning..
Minus well continue the trend and predict the same for the 9th. It continues the trend of making sure Danny doesn't get a deserved win, anyways.
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions
It's over enough for me to say goodnite
And as for your Cowboys....
The games against the Redskins this year should be even more exciting than usual. I'll actually root for the Cowboys for those games.
You're starting to come around a bit. You have a
looooooong ways to go.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:38 PM PDT up reply actions
For those not listening to KFRC...
...the Hannahan soft single to left was the Grainger Play of the Game. Just so you know.
Poor Mulder - more shoulder probs.
I feel bad for the guy. Yeah we screwed St. Louis in that deal but Mulder was a fav. of mine.
by Hawk on Sep 17, 2007 9:37 PM PDT reply actions
Feel bad for him..
but love that we got two As- Danny and Daric- that will be with us for years to come.
by AsWin on Sep 17, 2007 9:38 PM PDT up reply actions
It's not like there weren't warning signs
in September 2004, culminating in that awful Friday night at the Coliseum against the Angels. I don't think "we screwed St. Louis"; they were on notice.
Well look on the bright side. Hilary is going
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 17, 2007 9:41 PM PDT reply actions
Ichiro is touching people AND talking to them
Oh well. It's time.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
