Open Thread: Game 140 - A's at Rodentville
by Nico on Sep 4, 2007 7:08 PM PDT
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PrintSuddenly, all three division races are looking locked up in the American League, though you know managers understand not to take anything for granted when you see K-Rod warming up twice in a blowout win. Still, at one time the A’s hoped this series would be highly meaningful for Oakland, and when that didn’t pan out they figured at least they could try to play spoiler. Now…If you’re not impacting the Wild Card race, you’re pretty much helping to play out the string, I’m afraid. A whole different scene in the NL; interesting contrast.
Among the A’s auditioning for a more secure job in 2008 is lefty Lenny DiNardo, who draws Jered Weaver as his opponent. The starting lineups:
Stewart – LF
Swisher – CF
Cust – RF
Piazza – DH
Johnson – 1B
Ellis – 2B
Hannahan – 3B
Scutaro – SS
Bowen – C
Cabrera – SS
Kendrick – 2B
Guerrero – RF
Anderson – LF
Morales – 1B
Quinlan – 3B
Matthews – CF
Rivera – DH
Mathis – C
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Hi A's Fans!
coming to you from a cabin in the smokies
Go A's
Go Lenny. Let's get Weaver out of there early.
Are you eating "little smokies" in the smokies?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I had some last night at my Fantasy F-Ball draft.
Mmmm... what a simple, yet great appetizer.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:20 PM PDT up reply actions
that would be a good idea, however, I just have
a summer sausage and some champagne-dill mustard I bought at the Biltmore winery.
Hey, I saw a bear in the neighbor's front yard. That was cool!
Level 14 Spelling nominee.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions
You are such a blog tramp.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Woo!
Finally back in Oakland. Ready to watch some baseball... let's go Lenny!
Do. You. Want. To. Play. A. Game.?
Let's pretend we are still in the race and this game is extremely important.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:18 PM PDT reply actions
How. About. A. Nice. Game. Of. Chess.?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:21 PM PDT up reply actions
That is such a monogamous statement.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Actually I guess it really isn't.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Man, Jered Weaver is sic
Dang, imagine how upset you'd be
if we were actually in the race.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Sep 4, 2007 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Before I checked the umps, I thought you
were cursing your hated co-worker.
I can't possibly pretend we are in contention.
That really was a terrible call
He's lucky Hannahan is sober.
Operator malfunction
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions
I was talking to a guy who does stringing
for MLB Gameday. In parks with the pitch f/x system, the computer tracks the ball and its location. But in parks without the system, the stringer shows where the pitch lands in the zone. This guy told me that they were under directives not to show up the umpire - that if the ump calls it a strike, that they have to put the location in strike zone, and vice versa for balls. No matter how bad the call is.
Excuse my language but that is totally
F*****!
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:28 PM PDT up reply actions
I've suspected that before
Any time it's exactly on the edge, I know it must be a coincidence.
My son has been at Space Camp 2 days
and has NOT called me yet! How can he not be missing me??
Yes but they require a calling card
Capitalism is everywhere.
Was it last year, when the A's pitched Vlad well
by jamming him up and in, and he was popping up a lot.
Nice work- DiNardo, Lenny
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:34 PM PDT reply actions
So does Blez
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Sep 4, 2007 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Doesn't BBG too?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:38 PM PDT up reply actions
It's worse than LA...
It's orange county....isn't it?
Yeah, that would have been a
cardinal baserunning sin.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Sep 4, 2007 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions
When Vlad makes an accurate throw
it is pretty spectacular. His accuracy is occasional though. And, getting the ball into his glove in the first place can be a problem.
He has a cannon, but not a good arm.
His accuracy is all over the place. Plus, as you touched upon, his range is pretty poor.
Neat story from Korach
Dee Brown reminiscing about being on the Royal bench when Hatteberg hit the homer to win Streak Game #20. Brown said that even in defeat, as Hatty's shot left the yard, he felt goosebumps.
That is really cool to hear. I'm glad I was
wearing a diaper during that historic moment.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Seriously...
I'll miss you Hatteberg, and I'll always remember you rounding first base, throwing your fist into the air, and reminding me that sometimes I can't tell the difference between baseball and magic.
I have that in my favorites. It was very touching, sal. It's been almost two years since that post... I never get tired of reading it.
Well, it's true.
I was fortunate to be at that game, and I'll never forget Hatte giving me that memory.
That was a truly beautiful post
but who the hell was that lady who replied to you first?
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Sep 4, 2007 8:00 PM PDT up reply actions
No shortage of baserunners for 2 innings.
Wish we had just a bit more than 2 runs.
Bad Vlad made a Bad Throw
I don't care that it is on the money - he did the #1 cardinal sin of outfield throws by missing the cutoff man by a mile. A good offensive would've made them pay for it.
Ray speaks spanish?
Are you mixing him up with Vince Controneo?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:49 PM PDT up reply actions
I think the English feed is down on 36.
I'm not sure but I think the color man said that they are having technical difficulties with their audio.
Compromiso...Senor Rey
I am the only one hearing Kuiper in spanish...well, the only one who prefers hearing him in spanish.
Did you press the SAP button on your TV
again?
by theblackpearl on Sep 4, 2007 7:54 PM PDT up reply actions
I thought of that...
but hell...I like this guy Yak Hannahan. Where did the A's find him?
Their fan base loves it too.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 7:55 PM PDT up reply actions
He doesn't hate him
He just thinks Hannahan's kneecaps are at mid-shin level.
I hate those stupid rocks.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:02 PM PDT reply actions
I keep imagining that I see rats scurrying around
the rocks....biding their time before they kill an Angel fan and drag his carcass to their lair.
I am hoping that they have to condemn
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:09 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm surprised that they don't have a
roller coaster out there
The Dodgers should start a new marketing campaign
"We don't have rats!"
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Hilarious. Never saw that one.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Don't his teammates call him donkey...
for a similar reason?
All I could think of was ... Ick
Lackey? Ewwwww. Give me Scot Shields if I have to boink an Angel.
Only to the A's can that happen.
The SS is breaking towards second and still has time to fall back and field the ball and turn two. Freaking Karma owes us big time next year.
WTF?!
bad enough that mlbtv skipped back to the previous doubleplay, i fix it, just in time to see this. holy crap, true atheleticism at its best in this game.
Life is life, and fun is fun
But all is quiet when the goldfish dies--Dinesen
(My kids just found a dead fish in our tank. They are, however, being kinda loud about it.)
For some reason this line is resonating with me as a metaphor for the impending end of the baseball season. My daily fix of box scores, the radio broadcasts a soundtrack to nearly all the events of my spring and summer. The irresistible drum beat is fading, and the cold silent winter looms.
And to make it all the worse...
the winter will be a month longer this year.
Why, is Cotroneo calling winter this year?
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Sep 4, 2007 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions
We managed to stick around a little longer last
year. At least until mid October if I recall....not so this year.
If Vince were to call winter it would be a close call as to which occurs first....entropy or spring.
Cust continues his anti-gold glove quest
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:20 PM PDT reply actions
The "legend" continues...
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I too think he pulled up short on purpose...
He must have suddenly realized that if caught balls like this....we will start to expect it all the time.....who needs that kind of pressure?
Man,
do you guys remember Rivera hitting into like 6 DPs in clutch situations down the stretch last year? That was awesome.
Is it just me?
or have there been more double plays tonight than there have been in the past million years?
Put people on base?
and another DP
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Korach & Cotroneo discussing home field advantage
in the playoffs and whether Scioscia or any other manager would push for it at the end of the season.
IIRC in 2006, 6 of the 7 teams that had "home field advantage" in the postseason lost their series. Think of all the wild card teams that have made the World Series in recent years. I consider it irrelevant.
I would rather have home field
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions
The Tigers were staggering too
Remember that they were swept by the Royals the last weekend. The discussion was whether, assuming the Angels have clinched when they come to Oakland, they push to win or just set up their pitching for the playoffs. I would set up the pitching.
It will be a little easier to manage the pitching into and in the postseason this year. With the extra days negotiated by Fox/TBS, postseason has up to 4 extra days. Game 7 of the World Series would be on November 1.
I would set up the pitching too however that
doesn't always seem to work too well. I remember thinking that the Tigers were crazy to throw Robertson against us and, of course, it worked out. I still can't believe that we don't have better results against him.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Is there anything more useless
than the "hold". Tonight for the Gnats, Brian Wilson gave up the tying run in a third of an inning (in other words, he sucked), yet gets a "hold". This stat needs to go the way of the GWRBI - even lamer than the win and the save.
Scot Shields does not agree.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:44 PM PDT up reply actions
no, you only get a "hold" if you complete your
inning with the same lead. He actually gets a BS, even though it wasn't the last inning.
by theblackpearl on Sep 4, 2007 8:53 PM PDT up reply actions
get 'em on...over...and in...the A's SUCK!
by athleticsBB4life on Sep 4, 2007 8:43 PM PDT reply actions
i can't watch this shit any longer
by athleticsBB4life on Sep 4, 2007 8:44 PM PDT reply actions
Oh come on. I broke down long ago and have
actually learned to appreciate the remaining days left in our season. Think of it as ST since we don't have a clue who will be able to play next year. This could be our actual 2008 lineup.
Are you more depressed now?
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Hah....no way...
everyone knows that Scutaro is not an everyday player...
He rejoined the team yesterday.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions
crimony, angels announcers
going on about Big John lackey... reminds me of
Although Jon Arthur created and produced Big Jon and Sparkie for kids, it is a wonderfully inventive and gently humorous show that many adults will find utterly charming. It may be for its opening theme, The Teddy Bear's Picnic.
So Sparkle was the Strike Force lady?
see mike's rocks link above
"If you go out in the rocks today, you'd better go in disguise,
If you go out in the rocks today, you'll never believe your eyes..."
Bowen is similar to Jay Payton
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Dear Santa
Please bring the A's some hitters this Christmas. And please don't make them out of styrofoam.
Please find the dog with the least fleas.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions
great, vlad on, and mr. A up
A puppy just died somewhere. I hate GA.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:57 PM PDT reply actions
A's have contained him last couple of years
But basically he has made a career out of tearing Green and Gold pitching to shreds.
Following that comment up
His .857 career OPS is his highest against any AL team. (Next two are Texas .825 and Minnesota .807.)
shit, and i did not know...mlbtv delay
Physioc is such a douche
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 8:59 PM PDT reply actions
i think the m's got wowwed out
about a week ago.
I never believed for a second that they
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Who would have ever thought that Oliver
would turn into a plus for the bullpen? This guy is overachieving more than Lyle Lovett did during his brief marriage to Julia Roberts.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:05 PM PDT reply actions
omigish I totally forgot about that marriage!
Angels have a $2 million option on him for '08
(Oliver, not Lovett)
Heh...before the 2000 season Texas signed him to 3 years for $19 million. Which resulted in a 7.42 ERA/1.787 WHIP in 2000 and a 6.02 ERA/1.649 WHIP in 2001. At long last, he's figured something out the last couple of years.
No Scot Shields tonight. Too Bad.
We could use the runs he'd give up.
BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!
We still suck.
Thanks for that one. I might be getting tubes
put in my ears tomorrow so maybe Physioc won't be as annoying when I can hear him without vertigo.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I must have blocked out a lot of HS memories...
which one was she? I remember Mr. Silvey... was she the older woman with short brown hair? What classes did she teach?
Gawd, this was not THAT long ago. I fear I'm not aging well.
DJ annoys me. At least he didn't pull the pitch.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:20 PM PDT reply actions
Hannahan does a great T-Long impression.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:23 PM PDT reply actions
Yeah, why is he batting ahead of Bowen??
Bowen is hitting over .300. Hanahan basically lost this game for the A's by failing to get a hit when it counted (1st inning).
by One won lost won on Sep 4, 2007 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Whoa there
Go upthread and check out the comments on the pitch where the umpire rang up strike 3 against him. It appeared to be well out of the strike zone.
Well that's my rant
You expect rookies to get no breaks.
Electronic strike zone, anyone?
I still cannot believe people think it would hurt the game. I think it would supercharge it.
by One won lost won on Sep 5, 2007 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Well he has been pretty "clutchy" for the most
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:27 PM PDT up reply actions
I thought A's games were late enough when in
Texas, but crap, it's after midnight here. I'm glad I'm not always on the East Coast for these games. They aren't exciting enough to stay up past midnight for.
I do it almost every night for six months.
It's dedication...devotion...and the night time turns into the day.
I really need to quit watching the late games
for the rest of the year. It's not good for my health.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, that's probably not gonna happen
You know me pretty well for not knowing me.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Have I told you to "go to hell" lately?
Don't pass go and don't you even be thinking of collecting $200.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Not sure what "5 guys" is but I'll send you the
$8 via paypal tomorrow.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions
5 Guys Burgers and Fries
It's a chain, out of DC I think. Really good food. I mean really good. It's as close to In 'N' Out and you can get on the East Coast, at least in my experience.
Oh my God!
For you NRAFs -- we just saw what I think is a NEW AAAAA Rent-A-Space commercial!
That beats the shit out of seeing a replay
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions
It sure did
Because it had Ray Fosse in the role of Huston Street, student of storage space methodology.
5A Rent-a-Space is on TV??
I just assumed it was radio.
5A Rent-a-Space is everywhere.
It's multi-platform.
I would love to ruin his confidence and send him
into a downward spiral.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:40 PM PDT up reply actions
balk(s)
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions
when's the last time Cust had a hit
he's got a pretty long 0er going doesn't he?
i have stayed with it this long
i demand some satisfaction
we'll we've had "some" but we need "more"
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:42 PM PDT up reply actions
my man billy idol
more more more (with a rebel yell)
Nice.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, what a lovely sound
"Let's Go Oakland" echoes through Angels Stadium....
Has dor-K shit the bed yet?
Did I show up in time?
by BruceBochte on Sep 4, 2007 9:43 PM PDT reply actions
@#$%!@#$^ swisher k-meister
I hate that little fuckwad. He is so annoying.
by ohtobe21likehuston on Sep 4, 2007 9:46 PM PDT reply actions
could not have said it better!!!!!
at least I don't have to watch F-Rod and his
emotional pumping at the end.
thanks for the mlbtv delay
i can click it off before the reality hits my screen.
I'm profoundly glad the A's
are not in a close race.
That was hands down the single worst umpiring performance I've ever seen. It's not just that the HP ump was crap. That happens all the time.
Every.
Single.
Fucking.
Call.
To.
The.
Angels.
Jesus Christ. That guy should be out on his ass tomorrow.
Wow dor-K pours some gasoline
on the fire and then still does his dance.
Hilarious.
by BruceBochte on Sep 4, 2007 9:49 PM PDT reply actions
Gnite. I'll probably miss tomorrow's game since
it's on at 3 here and I hope I'm doing something a bit more exciting about that time.
Even though the season is lost
Does anyone else have a hard time falling asleep after a loss, or do I just have anger-management issues?
only if the mattered for contention
Well, I just spent 20 minutes
looking at every Angels at-bat to try and exculpate the umpire of homerism. (Didn't work. He's evidently just a douche bag.)
I'd say I definitely have anger management issues.
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