One Can Be The Loneliest Number

by louismg on Apr 17, 2008 9:38 PM PDT Comment 78 comments

Sometimes, reality bites. When the A's won five in a row earlier this month, for a short time, holding the best record in the American League, it was tempting to think we could skip the rebuilding process and go straight to contention, years before the experts gave us a chance. But a lineup full of inexperienced players and career minor leaguers, combined with a start by a pitcher who likely would be out of the rotation were it not for a few injuries to key starters, made for a patchwork offering today - one that seemed over soon after it began.

Lenny DiNardo's second start for the A's this year proved much harder than his first. He departed after only 2 1/3 innings, giving way to Captain Kirk Saarloos, who gamely threw for 5 2/3 innings himself, but saw a 3-0 lead stretch to 5-0, and eventually 8-1, as the A's could only manage a single tally on Emil Brown's fourth inning triple.

In the last five games, the A's have now posted scores of 1 run, 2 runs, 1 run, 2 runs and again... 1 run. And unless you're playing hockey or soccer, that's usually not going to be enough. But they couldn't match up against the Mariners' Carlos Silva, who pitched seven full innings, allowing only four hits and the one run, to advance his record to 3-0 on the young season, dropping the A's record back down to 9-8, and 0-2 early against the AL West division.

The excitement we held last week when we saw Crosby batting over .300, Ryan Sweeney going 4-4, and Buck knocking doubles all over the park already seems like a distant memory. Jack Cust, my would-be favorite A, has got me worried he might not ever catch up with off-speed stuff, and just maybe won't again achieve the levels of productivity he showed us with an amazing 2007 debut. Crosby is back to his old stance, swinging at slop. The A's 6-9 spots, combined with the leadoff man, went 0-16 with a walk in the game, and that's simply not going to get it done.

We're all too happy to see the Mariners head out of town now, as the A's look to shake off their intra-divisional woes and take on the AL Central's Kansas City Royals, starting tomorrow. I've got tickets and hope I won't be driving down 880 tomorrow night, angry at the world. But if it's anything like tonight's game was... yeah. That just might happen.

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Better than zero.

I’m 0-for-’08. Three games attended, three losses.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Apr 17, 2008 9:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

well then stop going!!!!!!!! Send me your tickets. They like to win when I go.

by A's10thMan on Apr 17, 2008 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

They used to win for me, too.

I’m going to give Saturday a try. If that fails, you might hear from me.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Apr 17, 2008 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Posting from the park?

Or how did you get first post on this thread?

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Apr 17, 2008 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ill tell you where to send the tickets now...

by A's10thMan on Apr 17, 2008 9:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

What will it take to get Bonds In an A's Uniform?

by Swishdball on Apr 17, 2008 9:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

A Billy Beane lobotomy and about $10 million.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Apr 17, 2008 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I still think the rotation would be fine

if it were as arranged – Blanton, Harden, Duke, Gaudin, Eveland, Smith (pick 5) and the bullpen is solid. The lineup, though, is as bad as it seems. I do think Buck and Barton will come around, but until Gonzalez gets to Oakland there just won’t be much oomph – especially in the power dept.

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 Apr 17, 2008 9:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I notice the omission of Cust.

I just don’t get excited about him at the plate or on deck like I did last year.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Apr 17, 2008 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't have any faith in the offense right now

Especially at home. I can’t believe how well they seemed to hit on the road, but then the minute they get home again, they’re back to terrible.

I agree in that I think the rotation is fine. But with young and unproven players, you’re just going to have your ups and downs in the batter’s box.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 17, 2008 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Few go into deeper slumps than Cust

as we learned last year. I’m not encouraged, and I wasn’t one of his big fans last year, but it’s only April 17/Game 17. I’m giving him more time to sort things out.

by Soaker on Apr 17, 2008 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's been looking better the last two games

He’s still walking, and he’s starting to zone in on the fastballs: witness his two blistering opposite-field singles the last two nights.

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 17, 2008 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You forgot about rally killing DPs

and dodgey defense.

by MobiusKlein on Apr 17, 2008 10:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

To get Bonds on the team...

You need a cake and a nail file.

by A's10thMan on Apr 17, 2008 10:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll wait for the end of the month

but so far the A’s are making this year’s ZiPS projections look like they were produced by getting Beane drunk and stoned, then asking him to write down random three digit numbers.

Hard to believe how badly the offense has underperformed to this point. The team’s plate discipline has totally broken down. Particularly Buck’s. Jesus, 2 walks in 17 games? That’s Pudge Rodriguez-esque.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Apr 17, 2008 10:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I almost went to the game

I’m glad I didn’t but maybe I will go tomorrow.

Maybe the A’s will be a road team this year, which sucks for the home fans.

Hopefully Cust is just in one of his dry spells like last year. Didn’t he do most of his damage in bunches?

A's all the way in 08 . . . oh never mind!

by micdog2001 on Apr 17, 2008 10:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

10,000 fans and I watched this

unfun game. One of the high(?)lights: a whole group of fans in section 225 that had been buying lots of beer and food got pounced on by an equally larged group of security guards…why? One of them was spied with a small flask. The entire group of fans was kicked out of the game, making our section even emptier than it already had been.

A fan behind me yelled,”I don’t blame Lenny Dinardo, I blame Rich Harden!”

by OaklandSi on Apr 17, 2008 10:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This computer hates me.

Last night I had trouble posting, now I can’t reply.

So yes, louis, I posted from the park (with no issues), and should have just stayed on the laptop.

I am just going my memory, but to touch on Blez’ comment about the offense being terrible at home, it seems that the A’s have done this a few times over the years after a successful trip. And yes, going completely off memory, and too tired to look it up right now.

That kind of night, I guess.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Apr 17, 2008 10:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Cust

The worst month of the season to be an extreme flyball hitter is April. Why? The coldest month of season produces the densest air, which yields fly balls that don’t carry as well.

I’m sure that’s a minor factor, but it was to his statistical benefit last year that he wasn’t a big leaguer until early May.

by notsellingjeans on Apr 17, 2008 10:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We're Rebuilding

I need to remember that. We got a quick dose of hope at the beginning of the season. I’m not saying we’re not going to do well, in fact, i think we will. But we will have hot streaks and equally cold streaks. This is a bunch of young guys who are learning to play at this level, and they’re also learning to play together. They’ll find their grooves, develop a rhythm, and I still think at the end of the season will have surprised A LOT of people.

Can we keep small-sample-size Bobby Crosby? Please? -Joey C.

by pam5981 on Apr 17, 2008 10:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

AN is funny!

Three wins in a row, we’re the world champs!

Three losses in a row, we’re all gonna die!

Three hotdogs in a row, I pray you’re not downwind!

"Good pitching will always stop good hitting and vice-versa."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 17, 2008 11:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

What a crazy Rox-Pads game!

1-1 after 14?!? no runs scored until then?

Can we keep small-sample-size Bobby Crosby? Please? -Joey C.

by pam5981 on Apr 17, 2008 11:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

On to the 16th!

(Formerly Nobody Girl)
"We are a complete freak show." -- Billy Beane

by day-to-day on Apr 17, 2008 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

On the bright side

Gio pitched well again tonight: 5IP 3H 1ER 3BB 4K
He has 2.08ERA overall with 13 K in 13IP

And Cargon went 2-4 with a RBI raising his average to .340

Depending on how desperate the A’s brass are, help may be coming sooner than you think.

"We were s--, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."

by lenscrafters on Apr 17, 2008 11:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Anyone watching the San Diego/Colorado game? It’s in the 18th and I CAN’T STOP WATCHING!

help me.

So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one

by baseballgirl on Apr 18, 2008 12:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh good; it’s not just me that’s crazy then. :-)

So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one

by baseballgirl on Apr 18, 2008 12:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We're watching with you now.

On to the bottom of the 18th we go!

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Apr 18, 2008 12:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is anyone else’s reply button being freaky?

So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one

by baseballgirl on Apr 18, 2008 12:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Nope.

But how about this 19th inning? I have to point out that even our A’s could score 1 run in fewer innings than these bozos.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Apr 18, 2008 12:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

2 XBHs total

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Apr 18, 2008 12:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I always root for the game to keep going on in these games

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Apr 18, 2008 12:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

As do I.

Reminds me of a 22 inning game a few years ago from Milwaukee where the announcers asked watchers who were still up to e-mail in. So I e-mailed in from California, and they started talking about it on the air. “We’ve got viewers from Sunnyvale, CA!” Wow! That was fun. :-)

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Apr 18, 2008 12:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

the famous 23-inning game

between the Mets and the Giants at Shea during the 1960’s was the second game of a twi-night doubleheader. I know, I was there!

by OaklandSi on Apr 18, 2008 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Always root for it

And my first thoughts go back to the 4th of July game-Braves Mes I think, that went 20+ and had numerous rain delays. They shot the fireworks off at like 4 in the morning.

"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty

by 5Aces on Apr 18, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

...and the neighbors thought they were being bombed!

...they called the fire department and the police to find out what the fleck was going on!

"Good pitching will always stop good hitting and vice-versa."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 18, 2008 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This game is amazing.

Just needed to know I’m not crazy and the only one still listening.

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Apr 18, 2008 12:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bottom of the 20th

Glendon Rusch batting. .154 average 3 HR, 19 RBI. You’re not alone.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Apr 18, 2008 12:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

... andddd, 21.

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Apr 18, 2008 12:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Padres announcer sounds like he's on meth...

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Apr 18, 2008 12:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I sorta like him, though,

he keeps saying “that’s a FACT!”

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Apr 18, 2008 12:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Pads’ announcer is Sean Bean?

And what did we do once we discovered a rift in the fourth dimension? We launched a monkey into it. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Apr 18, 2008 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i like the pads radio announcers...

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Apr 18, 2008 12:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Crowd is into it

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Apr 18, 2008 12:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

for the 21st inning stretch?

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Apr 18, 2008 12:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

3 7th inning stretches...

Camera men falling asleep. Batters going through the motions. Postgame announcers playing with coins… oy.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Apr 18, 2008 1:06 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Colorado takes the lead, 2-1!

Top of the 22nd.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Apr 18, 2008 1:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

fielders falling asleep too...

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Apr 18, 2008 1:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm at work in the UK

and they’re still playing baseball!

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Apr 18, 2008 1:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, just got here.

And there’s still a game on!! And ANers watching/listening to it!!

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Apr 18, 2008 1:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Can Kip Wells really throw 4 scoreless innings?

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Apr 18, 2008 1:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it wrong to root for a Padres run

just for the novelty of it?

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Apr 18, 2008 1:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

absolutely not.

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Apr 18, 2008 1:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

I know I am

(Formerly Nobody Girl)
"We are a complete freak show." -- Billy Beane

by day-to-day on Apr 18, 2008 1:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

the gaslamp ball thread is at...

1250 comments, and counting.

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Apr 18, 2008 1:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

HRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHR

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Apr 18, 2008 1:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Aw, it's over :-)

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Apr 18, 2008 1:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Poor Glendon Rusch

No pinch hitters available. No pitchers available. Ballgame. Rockies win.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Apr 18, 2008 1:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I cant believe Cust is going to be

in the lineup all season – and you know he will…striking out 2-3 times a game and maybe getting 1 hit per game which will likely not be a HR. It pains me to see lineups with Emil on the bench and Cust in LF. And almost as bad is Sweeney on the bench and Cust at DH.

BILLY AND BOB – CUST’S MAGIC IS OVER – DFA DFA DFA YOU HAVE BETTER PLAYERS

I miss Eric Plunk

by chuckcheeze on Apr 18, 2008 8:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Apart from the fairly obvious fact

that Cust is, you know, better than either of those guys—what the fuck is with this “DFA this, DFA that” trend that seems to be ramping up around here? Is it just that people like having a fancy acronym meaning “release”?

Let’s see. You’re a rebuilding team which will not be competitive. You can a. wait for the guy who was your best hitter last season to turn things around, or b. release him and get absolutely nothing for it. And actually negative somethings because some other team will take him and use him.

I’m really trying to maintain civility here, but is this somehow not the easiest decision in human history?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Apr 18, 2008 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cust is 29 years old,

broke into the majors in 2001, yet never played more than 35 games in a season at the major league level before 2007. What’s more likely…a career AAAA guy had a good/lucky year, or he all of a sudden became a really good player after bouncing between the majors and minors for 6 years? Given the fact that over the past 7 years he was only able to play more than 35 games on a major league team once kind of makes it less than obvious that he’s better than Emil Brown or Mike Sweeney. I’m really not sure why every A’s fan was convinced that Jack Cust was a bona-fide good major league player after that one good year. He’s still the same player.

by Dilferules on Apr 18, 2008 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or that the A's are the only team patient enough to give him MORE than 35 games

to prove what he could do,

by theblackpearl on Apr 18, 2008 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

....naaaahhhhh,

I’m still going with my prediction that he’ll absolutely suck when we look back at the 2008 stats in October.

by Dilferules on Apr 18, 2008 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's see

Geronimo Berroa. The A’s gave him a chance at age 29. Until then he bounced around the league, spending most of his time in the minors. Whenever he got to MLB, he struggled. A career AAAA guy. Sandy Alderson, and later Billy Beane, made a mistake when each of them gave Berroa, an AAAA player, 1949 MLB PAs. The MLB 87 HRs were pretty much what you’d expect from a career AAAA player.

Matt Stairs, another AAAA player. Before the A’s gave him chance at age 28, he never played more than 39 games in a season at the MLB level. What’s more likely, a career AAAA, or he all of a sudden became a really good player at age 28 after bouncing between the majors and minors for 6 years? Matt Stairs over his career: career OPS+ of 120 in MLB, OPS of 848, 242 HRs, 271 doubles, in 5364 MLB PAs. AAAA player.

“Given the fact that over the past 7 years he was only able to play more than 35 games on a major league team once kind of makes it less than obvious that he’s better than Emil Brown or Mike Sweeney. I’m really not sure why every A’s fan was convinced that Jack Cust was a bona-fide good major league player after that one good year. He’s still the same player.”

Brian Sabean, hi?

Seriously, EMIL QUINCY BROWN? Before Emil Brown got his break with the Royals in 2006 at AGE 30, he was a GOD AWFUL player. Ask some Pirates fans what they think of Emil Brown, if you don’t like to look at stats. Emil Brown has had only 2 decent years. That’s it. And neither of his decent years was anywhere close to Cust’s year in 2007.

You’d think that an A’s fan would remember Geronimo Berroa and the Wonder Hamster. I guess not.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 18, 2008 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey I'm not ready to say he's awesome

after one season, where he went on insane hot and cold streaks. If he has a good season this year, then I’m wrong. But to say he’s an obviously better player than Mike Sweeney when he has one good season after being a AAAA player for years is, in my view, silly. Sweeney’s career OPS+ is 119. Hell I’m not even a Sweeney fan, I just think Cust doesn’t have what it takes to stick in the majors long-term.

And yeah of course I remember Berroa and Stairs. Maybe the A’s should use Cust in a reduced role as everybody has seemed to do with Stairs since he left the A’s. He’s only had more than 400 at-bats in a season once.

by Dilferules on Apr 18, 2008 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But surely you can agree that Emil Brown

is not better? And given his age, is in fact worse?

As for Sweeney, yes, Sweeney’s career OPS+ is 119. He’s also 34 years old and has struggled with chronic back problems for a number of years. The past 2 years prior to this, he was a below average 1b / DH. In 2007, he was worse than Richie Sexson.

Look, Ray Durham’s career OPS+ is 103. Should the Giants play him instead of Eugenio Velez? Rich Aurilia’s career OPS+ is 100. Should the Giants play him over Nate Schierholtz, John Bowker, or even Brett Harper?

Stairs has something of a platoon split. 868 OPS against RHPs, 752 against LHPs. Yes so does Cust. Cust’s platoon split is similar to Stairs.

I’m not saying Cust is awesome by the way. I expect an OPS around 800-820.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 18, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs