Open Game Thread: Spring Game 1 - A's vs. Brewers
by louismg on Feb 28, 2008 11:54 AM PST
Email
PrintI hate winter. It's not just because it's cold, or because it seems the sun is never out long enough to do any good, but because there's just no A's baseball. Try as I might, the NBA's just not cutting it, not even when I got to see Lebron James take on the Big Three and the Celtics last night here in Boston. A's baseball, of any type, is better than the best the winter sports have to offer. But today! Today is the day!
After months of waiting for the baseball headlines to be more about kids getting a shot than about old cheaters getting multiple shots, we get to see the once again refreshed "new look" A's take the field in a real game against an opposing team. And taking the mound for the "new look" A's will be a familiar face: Joe "I'm still here" Blanton, who looks to get the year off to a friendly start against the Milwaukee "we switch leagues when we feel like it" Brewers.
It's often thought that a team's Spring Training records don't mean all that much, and while they certainly don't have much impact on a season's final standings, seeing a young team win in a year where many don't expect them to do all that much could be incredibly rewarding. The more jaded among us also are pleading, internally and externally, for an injury-free Spring. After a few seasons where we were more likely to see A's highlights on ER than on SportsCenter, we're looking for a cure to what ails us.
We're dreaming of what could happen if we saw a full year with a lineup that included Barton, Buck, Cust and Suzuki. We're dreaming of a rotation that includes healthy arms by the name of Harden and Duchscherer. We're eager to show that the A's "Rebuild Different", and that this season could be better than anybody ever anticipated. But more than anything, we're ready to realize the nightmarish months without open game threads here on AN are coming to an end.
I welcome 2008 Spring Training. Game time starts at 12:05 PST. Play Ball!
345 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Is anyone else having issues
with the audio from MLB.com or am I alone in that?
by Tyler Bleszinski on Feb 28, 2008 11:59 AM PST reply actions
I was earlier
It was down. There was a message about they're working on the user experience and try back again shortly.
It's working now for me though...
This is what it is saying:
We are currently performing maintenance operations.
During this time, sections of the site will not be available.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Feb 28, 2008 12:01 PM PST up reply actions
I have a no-loan clause if the team is MLBAM
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by Trei Brundrett on Feb 28, 2008 12:08 PM PST up reply actions
Usually they have it so
that you can listen if you subscribed last season.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Feb 28, 2008 12:00 PM PST up reply actions
Me too!!! It says the site is down.
HigherPie, where are you getting your stream?
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
I'm getting it...
from the usual place.
I was already listening to the Astros game, though, so maybe since I was already "in", I'm not having the difficulties you guys are. Like a said, though, it took about 30 minutes for it to start working after 10 am this morning for the early games.
Can we get a rousing
and resounding new MLB AUDIO SUCKS!? It might make me feel better.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Feb 28, 2008 12:02 PM PST reply actions
it's working for me
I upgraded to the new silverlight player though...not sure if that makes a difference
but I also had the astros game on before like HigherPie
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by Trei Brundrett on Feb 28, 2008 12:05 PM PST up reply actions
Sound quality is crystal clear...not
I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.
by franks a lot on Feb 28, 2008 12:05 PM PST up reply actions
MLB AUDIO SUCKS!
Try the old MediaPlayer -- it's working for me now after many error messages.
by Englishmajor on Feb 28, 2008 12:05 PM PST up reply actions
I think...
it actually started working for me when I clicked over to the "New Media Player".
MLB AUDIO SUCKS!
Wow...it does suck...I can't find ANYTHING
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 12:06 PM PST up reply actions
Welcome to MLB.com 3.0
stat-addled alien overlord
by salb918 on Feb 28, 2008 12:08 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Correction
Season over. When does football start?
by thejd44 on Feb 28, 2008 12:13 PM PST up reply actions
to steal alaska A's bit ...
... what's everyone having for lunch?
Progresso vegetarian lentil soup with homemade buckwheat-flour baguette
Someone is wrong on the Internet. @('.')@
by monkeyball on Feb 28, 2008 12:09 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Wow, healthy
Pizza and diet Coke. Oh wait, that was breakfast.
by Englishmajor on Feb 28, 2008 12:10 PM PST up reply actions
top ramen and
dr pepper
I'm one of the guys who built the new SB Nation
by Pablo Mercado on Feb 28, 2008 12:20 PM PST up reply actions
is the ramen *in* the Dr Pepper?
And, is it Dr Pepper, or a cheap knockoff, a la Cap'n Sasquatch?
Someone is wrong on the Internet. @('.')@
I don't know what I am having yet
anyone have a suggestion?
Winner of the 2008 "find grover a new sig" contest.
Progresso available,
but I'm settling for an apple and a banana. Too much to do....
"Put down that Drano!!!!" Oh yeah, that goes in the sink...banana....eat that!
A big breakfast helps, as does a half-gallon of Peet's coffee ("Espresso Forte")
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Feb 28, 2008 1:06 PM PST up reply actions
I'm a Major Dickason's man
I have a Saeco espresso machine on my desk at work. No, really.
Someone is wrong on the Internet. @('.')@
I thought that was in reaction to Ellis getting doubled off
"What an odd and fascinating epithet," I thought to myself.
Someone is wrong on the Internet. @('.')@
dur
"expletive," not "epithet"
Though, the latter could be OK if we decide that Costco Swedish Meatballs (cold) is Ellis's new nickname.
Someone is wrong on the Internet. @('.')@
I was listening to Brewers for the first half-inning
but switched over to Buancasting in the break. Although the Brewers guys seemed pretty good.
by Englishmajor on Feb 28, 2008 12:15 PM PST up reply actions
I going to have a small burrito
and maybe a buffalo chicken fajita. I get to eat at home, yay!
A's all the way in 08 . . . oh never mind!
gameday not audio
Last spring, some people figured out the url to get the gameday flash application. Anyone know where to go for that today?
Buan trying to tell us where everyone's playing
taking his defensive positioning with a grain of salt.
So I was already confused
Because he said the A's "got one in, but couldn't get more." A double is not "in." Why does Buan always get confused with MaEl-related events?
by thejd44 on Feb 28, 2008 12:16 PM PST reply actions
from the chron this morning
Travis Buck, right; Mark Ellis, second; Daric Barton, first; Jack Cust, left; Dan Johnson, designated hitter; Bobby Crosby, shortstop; Suzuki, catcher; Jack Hannahan, third; Chris Denorfia, center.
The A's colors are green and gold.
which unfortunetly isn't the lineup
as Suzuki isn't catching, and Sweeney is playing instead of Cust.
So slow.....
The boxscore still hasn't shown fielder's home run......it's not very live.
by Coffee13eans on Feb 28, 2008 12:21 PM PST up reply actions
Is a silly lineup for the first spring training game
enough to get a FIRE GEREN chant started? Too early?
by thejd44 on Feb 28, 2008 12:24 PM PST up reply actions
My Knoedler???
was more along the lines of "I've never heard of that guy"
The A's colors are green and gold.
Lifelong Giants organizational filler
Now A's filler.
Is it really pronouned "Kuh-NAYD-ler" or is Buan just insane?
by thejd44 on Feb 28, 2008 12:26 PM PST up reply actions
question for all you gamedayaudio people
If you purchase it on one computer can you log in and listen on any computer?
like say I buy it on my office computer and want to listen on my laptop at home?
A's all the way in 08 . . . oh never mind!
Yes
just remember what email address and password you used.
by Englishmajor on Feb 28, 2008 12:18 PM PST up reply actions
cool thanks
I wasn't going to get it but someone just gave me $20 for a really late christmas gift, so A's game here I come!
A's all the way in 08 . . . oh never mind!
Not a problem
I listen to it everywhere, you just have to re-login. And crud, that's gone
Unless they are having maintainence issues
I just tried buying a yearly subscribtion and the site was down. Oh well, I'll try again in a little bt.
A's all the way in 08 . . . oh never mind!
Fielder doubles
Buan said it was Weeks who scored, but I thought he struck out. We love you, Robert, don't ever change.
Yeah, that's a bad 1st inning
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 12:20 PM PST up reply actions
Hello, 2008!
Let's try not to let the door hit us on the way out.
by Philip Christy on Feb 28, 2008 12:21 PM PST reply actions
Is Kendall playing?
If he is, I predict 3 HRs.
I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.
So maybe those seeing-eye bouncing singles...
will finally find their way past the drawn in infielders.
I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.
by franks a lot on Feb 28, 2008 12:25 PM PST up reply actions
How is the C function working for everyone?
I'm finding that it doesn't un-highlight the new comments fast enough for game threadiness.
we'd love other people's feedback on that
the thread is growing so fast, this should be a good test of the auto-update system. Do you find that using C and X in combination is smooth enough?
I'm the SB Nation visual designer. We're still tidying!
it's very smooth and functional
But it's difficult to manage actually reading/keeping up with the thread. Could be b/c I'm so used to my HOME/search-for[new] workaround.
Someone is wrong on the Internet. @('.')@
it allows you to unmark the comment as new
as yer cycling through the comments with the 'c' key
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by Trei Brundrett on Feb 28, 2008 12:42 PM PST up reply actions
oh, well that's helpful
I was wondering how to do that, guess I missed the memo.
A's all the way in 08 . . . oh never mind!
X unmarks the comment
so it's not new anymore, and will no longer appear in the new comment cycle—check the instructions at the top of these comments. we may change some of this behavior.
I'm the SB Nation visual designer. We're still tidying!
I'd still like a single key
to unmark and move (the way C originally worked).
by green star oakland on Feb 28, 2008 1:04 PM PST up reply actions
I have auto-refreshed turn off
and I think I'll prob turn it on again, because one of the features about AN 2.0 I liked is gone: the comments don't refresh after you've posted.
THIS IS GREAT!!
I just had to do a wonderful "we are listening to you team, here are the changes you didnt ask for" presentation at work. But now I have Baseball to bring me back to the living!!!
Winner of the 2008 "find grover a new sig" contest.
Reminds me of when
he was really motivated each of the last two years.
by Philip Christy on Feb 28, 2008 12:27 PM PST up reply actions
or when he said he'd change his swing in spring training
oh wait, that was last year... and the year before...
Perhaps the timeline jumped
when Crosby went on the DL after he fell in a wormhole.
Winner of the 2008 "find grover a new sig" contest.
That was BoCro's wife
who was motivated those years.
by thejd44 on Feb 28, 2008 12:29 PM PST up reply actions
Robert "Towelie" Buan?
Bob Geren, on 8/2/07, on the success of Alan Embree as new interim closer: "What can I say,... he's been our Steady Tremendous Bullpen Man"
by popcornjames on Feb 28, 2008 1:12 PM PST up reply actions
So it's Ryan Sweeney playing
and not Mike? Or are they both in there?
"Tomorrow it may rain." - Leo Durocher
Don't ask Buan.
I don't think he can possibly tell you.
by Philip Christy on Feb 28, 2008 12:32 PM PST up reply actions
I know we're going to suck this year
but I just want the A's to do something about the general hopelessness thats felt whenever the A's are at bat, especially with RISP. I want to at least be able to hope the A's can get a run in, get that hit, unlike last season when you knew they wouldn't.
Well, at least the A's are staying healthy this year
Oh, wait. Shit.
by thejd44 on Feb 28, 2008 12:34 PM PST up reply actions
Jason Kendall batting, count 0-2
Sweeney out hurt
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 12:35 PM PST up reply actions
Probably has the flu
That seems to be the reason for the lineup changes.
by thejd44 on Feb 28, 2008 12:35 PM PST up reply actions
since Buan keeps talking about the Flu
I bet Cust and Suzuki both fell ill with it. Sweeney got removed because he ran into Prince Fielder (you know the guy, can't miss him)
Kendall just got the 6th hit against Blanton
Runners 1 & 3
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 12:36 PM PST up reply actions
Baun said
Kendall had some good years for the A's. what seasons was he talking about?
A's all the way in 08 . . . oh never mind!
From Kendall's point of view they were fantastic
paid millions to hit that bad? It was below replacement level heaven.
Winner of the 2008 "find grover a new sig" contest.
Buan doesn't know who is playing
or what they do.
But he uses the word "equidistant" during his PBP. Tremendous.
by thejd44 on Feb 28, 2008 12:38 PM PST reply actions
"Getting his work in."
I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.
by franks a lot on Feb 28, 2008 12:41 PM PST up reply actions
Sac Fly, almost homerun
caught by Denorfia at the wall, Kendall scores, 5-0 Brewers with 1st and 3rd (if I understood Buan right)
What do you guys think
about having to preview before posting? Seems to slow things down too much for the game threads.
First game ever in ST last year vs. A's
4-5, 7 RBI, 3 run bomb and a grand slam. He has hit from day one in teh Bigs and never stopped.
Bring back Hammer.
by OaktownPower on Feb 28, 2008 12:51 PM PST up reply actions
there are two ways to interpret that
Actually, looking at your avatar, make that three ways.
Someone is wrong on the Internet. @('.')@
Thank Goodness!
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
Baseball is back!
Losing still ain't fun.
"I've got a lot of wins waiting in these white shoes." -Dan Meyer
Saarloos issues a walk
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
Ken:
"Crosby is still young enough that his future could be ahead of him".
I know what he meant, though.
Knowing what he meant
doesn't make the statement any less hilarious.
by thejd44 on Feb 28, 2008 1:06 PM PST up reply actions
Still good as ever!
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 1:06 PM PST up reply actions
At least it wasn't a groundout to 2B
I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.
by franks a lot on Feb 28, 2008 1:06 PM PST up reply actions
Okay, it's the FIRST GAME, and I'm tired of Crosby and D.J. already
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
Over-react much?
:-)
Bring back Hammer.
by OaktownPower on Feb 28, 2008 1:09 PM PST up reply actions
Hope this isn't a season preview
Bay area teams are collectively losing 14-1 today.
"Evidently, a large number of people said, 'We really need more vermin at the ballpark, Artie.'" - Nick, 10/7/07
Yay...BAY!
We....SUCK! ;-)
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 1:27 PM PST up reply actions
Got it...Dan Meyer in to pitch
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 1:27 PM PST up reply actions
Hahaha
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 1:27 PM PST up reply actions
Buan reminds us that Meyer was terrible in his A's games last year.
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
And does Meyer remind us that Buan was terrible in his ST pxp games last year?
Someone is wrong on the Internet. @('.')@
since there's no DLD ...
This proves it: Beane is racist after all! He hangs out with a ...
Oh, wait. Klinsmann. My bad.
Someone is wrong on the Internet. @('.')@
You know -- like a cousin, or an uncle or something.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Feb 28, 2008 1:38 PM PST up reply actions
Klinsmann
I walked by him in the Phoenix airport late Dec. he was flying to Tampa Bay with his family (i'm glad he's not a rays fan). It was funny to see someone so immensly famous in another country, able to easily walk past hundreds of people.
No Harden and No Chavez make the A's go, something something...
Can she Buan-cast?
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 1:34 PM PST up reply actions
Yes, that was the key ;-)
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 1:34 PM PST up reply actions
But he doesn't know the shortstop is 6.
I think I have a new favorite broadcaster.
by thejd44 on Feb 28, 2008 1:37 PM PST up reply actions
I only sporadically would listen to
games that were meaningless in the past, never closely enough to get the true value of Buan. I made a point to listen to as much as I could today based on the loooong (but very entertaining) game thread in which Mark Ellis ran around the bases in various directions multiple times in one inning. And something about unicorns.
The point: I will be listening to many more of these (and I love AN, even though I've only been around here for a couple months).
by thejd44 on Feb 28, 2008 8:18 PM PST up reply actions
Buan must be gearing up for the GRE exam
I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.
by franks a lot on Feb 28, 2008 1:40 PM PST up reply actions
coincidentally ...
the Sardonic Equidistant Parameters opened for Jay Farrar last night.
Someone is wrong on the Internet. @('.')@
Really?
I heard it was going to be Costco Swedish Meatballs (Cold). They must have the flu.
by Englishmajor on Feb 28, 2008 1:49 PM PST up reply actions
they were driven to the venue by Mark Ellis
... who struck out.
Someone is wrong on the Internet. @('.')@
Carlos Gonzalez was in center by the way.
Shockingly, two outs already. Blackholes of the offense, they are.
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
Is anyone else having C-conniptions ?
Its jumping all over the thread for me, including repeatedly back to the same comment while I can see others still unread.
by green star oakland on Feb 28, 2008 1:41 PM PST reply actions
are you also using the 'x' key to unmark comments you've already read?
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by Trei Brundrett on Feb 28, 2008 1:43 PM PST up reply actions
I wasn't, no
I think it somehow wasn't noticing some of the newer new comments but just looping me through a subset.
by green star oakland on Feb 28, 2008 2:15 PM PST up reply actions
it goes in order of time posted (I think)
And when it appears to be going to the same comment, it's likely that it's going to consecutive comments in a thread. But I could be wrong.
Someone is wrong on the Internet. @('.')@
it does go in order of time posted
but we're still playing with that idea
I'm one of the guys that built the new SB Nation
by Trei Brundrett on Feb 28, 2008 1:44 PM PST up reply actions
Not a thing. Except Susan broadcasting!
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 1:44 PM PST up reply actions
Well if this spring training is like the past 3 or 4
The regular A's fall behind,and the rookies come back and win it. Then the ST record looks outstanding.
it's like a rewind of the past...Foulke, Saarloos...who's next? ;-)
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
Hopefully, no Koch
"Evidently, a large number of people said, 'We really need more vermin at the ballpark, Artie.'" - Nick, 10/7/07
First email of the year:
The writers say we suck.
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
and Susan wouldn't use the word 'suck'! Hahaha!
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 1:50 PM PST up reply actions
I wish I could take credit for this
But wouldn't Georgetown center Roy Hibbert be perfect for the sausage race based on his odd body type?
by thejd44 on Feb 28, 2008 8:21 PM PST up reply actions
ouch
and somehow crosby deleved swelling
Beane's World!! Excellent!!! Rock On, Beane! Rock On, Geren!
Whoa...seriously!??! Crosby's hurt?!
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 2:01 PM PST up reply actions
farhan zaidi talking to buan
i just got here, is this crosby injured thing a joke or real?
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
Joke...for now.
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 2:04 PM PST up reply actions
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!11!!11!
"Evidently, a large number of people said, 'We really need more vermin at the ballpark, Artie.'" - Nick, 10/7/07
Can we keep Carlos Gonzalez?
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
yes we can keep him, but only for 3 years.
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
he's staying
i will steak your reputation on that.
Beane's World!! Excellent!!! Rock On, Beane! Rock On, Geren!
Good inning by Andrew Brown...going to top of 8th. 6-0 Brewers.
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
i am so confused
so Brown can play outfield and pitch and retire as a catcher all in the first few weeks of spring????
Beane's World!! Excellent!!! Rock On, Beane! Rock On, Geren!
Wrong Brown. Jeremy Brown retired.
So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one
by baseballgirl on Feb 28, 2008 2:10 PM PST up reply actions