Sayles, who moved up to head trainer when Davis' new position was created, was instrumental in getting the new machines (he did all the research) and adding Nishio to the staff. Sayles and Davis made the recommendations to Forst, who helped present the requests to GM Billy Beane and A's President Mike Crowley. They got all they wanted.

... just to watch him die.

(I know what you're all thinking. No, the suspicious name of the establishment does not mean I had anything to do with this. We I will not be distracted.)

I really want to see that movie.

dammit

Braden spent the offseason working on his changeup, and he has changed his grip, adding some of the action that he used for his once-upon-a-time screwball. Concerned about injury, the A's don't want him using the screwball, but Young likes the action that Braden is getting on the changeup.

In the THT season preview, I wrote:

Braden sported an ugly ERA last year, but his fielding-independent numbers were pretty decent. The Oakland defense, a pretty good unit, allowed a .343 Batting Average on Balls in Play behind him. So was his poor debut a matter of luck? Perhaps, but it is worth mentioning that Braden was seen as a trick pitcher in the minors. Despite an unimpressive repertoire, Braden struck out loads of batters in the minors with an outstanding screwball. But when he arrived in the majors, he rarely, if ever, threw it.

The rumor was that management put the kibosh on the screwgie due to concerns about his health. If he is allowed to throw the screwball, he may yet turn out to be a useful pitcher.

Manager Ned Yost has said for a week that he has a brain-full of ideas when it comes to his batting order, but it is way too early to commit to any one of them.

But one of the most interesting of possible orders would have Ryan Braun batting second, a pitcher batting eighth and catcher Jason Kendall batting ninth. This idea isn’t set yet, and it may not ever be used. It is just one of a flurry of ideas whizzing around inside the skipper’s head.

can we have these guys play for Street's entrance in Tokyo?

link

Fremont=bigger home field advantage?

Where are the links to the other SB Nation sites? I enjoy checking up on other teams' fans from time to time (although I refuse to visit HH anymore). Now I can't even find them. Help, anyone?

The names of those machines scare me.

shockwave machine, a cold laser machine and a SABA explosive pulley system

A blah column for a blah telecast.

Tim, baby -- no elder-hot props for our favorite, Helen Mirren? Best dress of the evening, best-looking female of the evening.

What does DLD stand for? Thanks.

hates us and everything we stand for.

It is worth noting that Tony Kornheiser presumably cannot name 2 members of the Oakland Athletics, and probably no more than 10 members of the AL West as a whole.

Also, he doesn't know what OPS is.

Bloggers should be embarassed that they're not professional enough to dress up like Miss Cleo and debate college basketball rankings.

Why does it say on my recent activity that I recommended Dork's Sarcasm Fanshot? If someone flags a comment it should not show as if they recommended it.