Frank Thomas Hit a TRIPLE! Oh and the A's Also Win Big

by Blez on Apr 28, 2008 10:18 PM PDT Comment 147 comments

For all the close games the A's and Angels have played over the last few years, tonight was the rare exception. The A's blasted the hated Angels 14-2 with Emil Brown and Daric Barton leading the way with home runs and three RBIs a piece. Frank Thomas also was a home run short of the cycle. Chad Gaudin pitched through a rough strike zone and held the Angels to only two runs.

Let me get this out of the way right off the bat. Yes, Frank Thomas hit a triple in the first inning and Jack Cust had an infield hit. If that doesn't tell you that things have been breaking the A's way of late then nothing will. Thomas might've had a shot at the cycle had Bob Geren not put a pinch runner in at the bottom of the seventh when he led off with a double. The thing is, the game was actually still a game at that point because it was still 6-2 and despite Thomas' new found wheels that earned him a triple earlier in the game, I would want the extra insurance run if we can get it.

Emil Brown decided to eliminate that by starting the pain train on Chris Bootcheck, who got the check booted out of him. The A's started the Bugs Bunny style conga line going around the bases with Bootcheck. But the game was probably decided earlier. Home plate umpire Charlie Reliford had one of the most baffling strike zones I've seen in a while. And apparently Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher agreed as he got thrown out after Frank Thomas walked in the third inning. The funny thing is that Gaudin had to deal with the same weird strike zone and he worked through it. Is there ever a game when Mike Scioscia doesn't complain about something? The Angels announcers were blaming the loss on the Angels tough travel schedule about having to come home from Detroit last night late and play the A's today. Of course, no credit given to these anonymous A's. That's fine. Keep dissing this team. They love it that way.

I'm hoping Frank Thomas is now coming out of it with three hits tonight. That's his first triple since 2002 and Mulder, Hudson and Zito were still Athletics. That seems so long ago. Also, Daric Barton hits his first home run of the season and I thought the reason he did was because he was patient with the baffling strike zone. He essentially forced Garland to come in with an easy pitch right down the middle.

And finally, props to Vacafan who called Emil Brown's home run. Dude, are you getting an Emil tat or what?

This was one sweet night.

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just got back in the house

SWEET!

alaska A

by ak_A on Apr 28, 2008 10:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

don't forget Hannahan's HR

by OaklandSi on Apr 28, 2008 10:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

He actually almost hit another one later too. It’d be really good to get him going. I wonder how much not being in cold weather any more is helping the guys feel comfortable.

by Blez on Apr 28, 2008 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's just hard to hit when it's cold,

no matter whether you’re playing wiffleball, softball, or at the highest level.

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 28, 2008 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like this team's anonymity

Let the media (national and bay area) ignore us, or favor the Gnats, etc. As long as the A’s keep winning, eventually they will have to pay attention.

"Evidently, a large number of people said, 'We really need more vermin at the ballpark, Artie.'" - Nick (AN), 10/7/07

by doctorK on Apr 28, 2008 10:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Best record in the AL, baby

And who would’ve thought the team would actually have a damn good April for once? When is the last time that happened? I can’t remember.

by Blez on Apr 28, 2008 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Been awhile

17-10 in ‘03

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Apr 28, 2008 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

we never stopped rolling after spring training even with the international travel

witty remark

by dtownmbrown on Apr 28, 2008 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Solid

We were ready. They weren’t. I doubt Garland was in Detroit last night.

by Colorado Fan on Apr 28, 2008 10:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

anyone know what happened to carlos gonzalez tonight?

i was at the rivercats game, he left after going first to third and possibly hitting the base awkwardly. i didn’t think it was a big deal, but they took him away on a cart. any updates?

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

by xbhaskarx on Apr 28, 2008 10:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

other than that mrs. lincoln, how was the play?

alaska A

by ak_A on Apr 28, 2008 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

...we already had the tickets, so…

- Mary Todd Lincoln

"Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, doctor, and I'm happy to state that I've finally won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd (Jimmy Stewart), "Harvey"

by Derwood13 on Apr 28, 2008 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yikes that doesn’t sound good. Hope he’s OK.

by drmmerchk on Apr 28, 2008 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yikes

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Apr 28, 2008 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

On a cart?

Holy…

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

by lenscrafters on Apr 28, 2008 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well that sours my mood a bit.

by HigherPie on Apr 28, 2008 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh nooooo!

not CarGon!

""These guys are a different breed of ballclub." - Twins manager Ron Gardenhire on the A's

by gotgreen on Apr 28, 2008 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

cargon really botched a line drive quite badly and let it get by him in CF. then he didn’t exactly go full speed on a routine ground ball in his first at bat. but later he made a sweet diving catch on a line drive to his right, completely horizontal eric byrnes style. after walking with the bases loaded, he went first to third on a single after the LF fumbled the ball. unfortunately i was looking at the ball so i didn’t pay attention to him running. there was no play at third, but they took him out. the cart came for him a bit later, and took him out through the LF wall. i don’t think they gave an update afterwards. perhaps something happened on one of the defensive plays, he looked quite awkward on the error.

other than that, petit and melillo hit well (of course it was against zito’s 0-6 buddy mike maroth), petit screwed up a routine grounder early on but made some nice defensive plays later. powell struck out twice, but there were some questionable calls including a really high strike three looking. blevins finished things off effortlessly…

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

by xbhaskarx on Apr 28, 2008 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

the headline at

oaklandclubhouse.com says that he rolled his ankle.
dont have a subscription so i don’t know any more…

by oakinboston on Apr 29, 2008 6:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its amazing what a win like this

does for my sometimes tenuous-lived-in-alaska-too-long-with-irritating-job mental health.

alaska A

by ak_A on Apr 28, 2008 10:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

this smile says it all!

big hurt’s post-game interview with fosse & kuiper!

""These guys are a different breed of ballclub." - Twins manager Ron Gardenhire on the A's

by gotgreen on Apr 28, 2008 10:26 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Awww!!! Love him!

by drmmerchk on Apr 28, 2008 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

looks good in green

Things could be worse. Suppose your errors were counted and published every day, like those of a baseball player.

by 149 on Apr 28, 2008 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ho ho ho...

...Green Giant!

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 28, 2008 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ho ho ho...

...Green Giant!

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 28, 2008 11:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

...crappy server!

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 28, 2008 11:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

His winning smile

is as good as a cycle-clinching homer!

Thanks, Frank!

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Apr 29, 2008 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey Blez

What happened to the thing in the sidebar that shows when the next game is? I liked that, but it’s gone now.

This afternoon I was wondering if the series started tonight or if it was an off-day and the series start tomorrow, so I looked for it on AN, but that feature is gone now.

Policy decision, or technical difficulty?

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on Apr 28, 2008 10:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Technical difficulty

Since our servers crashed last week, we’re slowly adding elements back in. We need to make sure we’re on rock solid ground as much as humanly possible so we don’t have a ridiculous outage like we did.

by Blez on Apr 28, 2008 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cool

I’m all for taking as long as necessary to get it right. Just wanted to make sure you knew it’s a desired feature.

thanks

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on Apr 28, 2008 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

FWIW

The server (or, “swerver”) didn’t handle the rapid inputs very well tonight. I got stuck if I hit “POST” without hitting preview. It just hung. I had to turn the browser (IE) off. If I went “PREVIEW”, waited, then “POST”, it worked okay. But direct to “POST” it could not handle. Just hung.

Not enough testing on the rapid inputs. Server is not handling it well, whatever topography they chose for this app.

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Apr 28, 2008 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Weird

I didn’t have a single issue tonight. Worked flawlessly for me. Maybe cause I’m using firefox.

by Blez on Apr 28, 2008 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

not me

I’m using the latest version of Firefox (albeit on an old, slow processor), and any thread >200 comments starts to hiccup like Stomper after a particularly noxious batch of trough-urinal pruno.

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

by monkeyball on Apr 29, 2008 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blez, I prefer Firefox

but I’ve found it coming up “short” on some links while linked to www.athleticsnation.com. I just figured SBNation, like a lot of sites, bow to the popular majority and code to favor Internet Explorer. So, I’ve been using IE instead of Firefox.

I’ll give it a try tonight with Firefox, when the action gets 4-5 posts every ten seconds, like last night.

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Apr 29, 2008 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Could Feel This One Coming

Even the final score—I actually thought 13-2 or 14-2 earlier today—they were due to go deep—and Garland was a convenient foil.

Thing is, if we lose tomorrow I could easily see the Angels winning three straight. Santana is a beast against us and that final game of Blanton-Moseley looks like one of those trap games where the supposedlyweaker starter comes up big.

that said—it is the pitching depth that makes this team. No one else in the sport can match it.

by madmongoose on Apr 28, 2008 10:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Enjoy this One.

And, Blanton isn’t pitching until Friday.

by Colorado Fan on Apr 28, 2008 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thursday is Duke for us -

and now it appears not Moseley for them. Adenhart?

I’m with you – I’ll believe a split when we win one more. I’ve seen too many 4-game series lately where we won the first and the Angels won the next three. Gotta keep rolling.

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 28, 2008 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I can’t believe how good our pitching has been this year. Just night in and night out, steady and solid pitching.

by Blez on Apr 28, 2008 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry about that-- gotone day ahead of myself

But I do think Moseley still goes—this would be his normal night to throw anyway.

by madmongoose on Apr 28, 2008 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what they said on the Angels broadcast

Is that Moseley was only in because this was his normal day to throw.

by Blez on Apr 28, 2008 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Adenhart pitched yesterday

Even if they are bringing him up, doesn’t make sense to start him on Thursday.

Bees’ 13-game winning streak ended today, by the way.

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on Apr 28, 2008 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Crosby

Anyone else notice that he’s standing further from the plate lately? Someone needs to tell him to move closer to the dish, again.

by Colorado Fan on Apr 28, 2008 10:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I did, in the Seattle game

and, his orientation to the mound looked uncomfortable.

I thought, “Uh Oh!!” as soon as i saw it. Tonight, no hits.

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Apr 28, 2008 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

for sure.... 'stanced kitty korner to the mound'

alaska A

by ak_A on Apr 28, 2008 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup.

K, swinging at a slider low & away.

by MobiusKlein on Apr 29, 2008 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

WOO! This game was a ton of fun to watch! I’m hoping the bats stay hot the rest of the series. LOOOOVE this team!!! Thanks to everyone in the game threads for helping make the game even more amazing!

by drmmerchk on Apr 28, 2008 10:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

A's now lead the AL with the most runs scored and fewest runs allowed! Keep it up! Go A's!

by jwnewman on Apr 28, 2008 10:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

One half of that

is a whole lot harder to believe than the other.

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on Apr 28, 2008 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A's run differential is 10 times better than Angels

LOL

Ours is 40 and theirs is 4.

Considering all the errors, the fact that we have given up the least runs is quire amazing.

by Trainman on Apr 28, 2008 10:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Considering errors are totally useless as a stat,

the fact that anyone pays any attention to them is quite amazing.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Apr 28, 2008 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Kinda like grammatical errors on a sports blog.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Apr 28, 2008 11:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

but what if errors are totally your worst pet peeve?

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 28, 2008 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think he was using them "as a stat"

Errors happen. They exist. Often runs score because of them.

by dscel on Apr 29, 2008 8:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

They aren't completely useless

as long as you understand what they’re measuring, and what they’re not measuring.

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

by rfloh on Apr 29, 2008 9:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess

They’re OK as a “tools” stat to tell you how good someone is at fielding balls in their immediate vicinity. It’s like one minor component of defense, as if you measured teams’ offense purely by how many doubles they hit.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Apr 29, 2008 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's see I'm pretty sure an error led to run last night

So they do in fact have an effect on a teams run differential.

by methodrampage on Apr 29, 2008 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Errors" may be useless, esp. as determined by our scorer * -- but I think defensive blunders are important.

who is s/he, anyway?

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Apr 29, 2008 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks A's!

This game totally made up for the non-TV games I missed last week. Awesome fun!
Let’s do it again tomorrow!

by streetfan on Apr 28, 2008 10:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Blez

Just thought Brown caught a lot of grief in the Spring … for basically nothing more than signing a contract with us. So yeah, he’s my favorite this year … I hope he keeps it up.
I root for guys like that … just kind of floats around and earns a living ... he deserves some props.

VacaAsFan

by Vacafan on Apr 28, 2008 10:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

but the 2nd (erroneous) call totally undercut the 1st

by green star oakland on Apr 28, 2008 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know, I got greedy LOL

I needed at least one strike though—4 straight out of the strike zone … ala Bonds!!!!

VacaAsFan

by Vacafan on Apr 29, 2008 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A's get two TDs

and only allow a safety on the bad snap out of the end zone… :)

Great to see the hit parade and loved Gaudin tonight. Keep up the good work, A’s. The media can ignore us. I’d hope that the Richard Dreyfuss line from Jaws comes to fruition at the end of the season:

“Uh, I think that I am familiar with the fact that you are going to ignore this particular problem until it swims up and bites you in the @$$!”

Go Green and Gold! :)

"Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, doctor, and I'm happy to state that I've finally won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd (Jimmy Stewart), "Harvey"

by Derwood13 on Apr 28, 2008 10:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

San Jose A's at Fremont

I don’t know how many people cought it, but Lew Wolf came as close as I’m sure he is able in confirming that the new name of the A’s will be the San Jose A’s when he gave his speech about Art Moreno saving him some money and paying for all the legal work when they changed their name to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Sometimes life will strike you out on a curve ball and the only choice you have is to flip off the umpire and walk to first base anyway.

by Threepwood XX on Apr 28, 2008 10:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I caught it.

Better than Portland A’s, or Las Vegas A’s.

by mikev on Apr 28, 2008 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Las Vegas A[ce]'s

by methodrampage on Apr 29, 2008 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

but i live in portland now :-P

Some of the most violent things I’ve ever seen were at Raiders games. And I’ve been to jail. - leopold bloom

by designatedforassignment on Apr 29, 2008 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll still cheer "Let's go, Oak-Land!!"

“Let’s go San-Jo” doesn’t seem to cut it.

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Apr 29, 2008 1:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's said that before

But I think he means the precedent to call them the Oakland A’s of Fremont. He’s said that Fremont will definitely be in the name.

by indigo on Apr 29, 2008 8:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That wouldn't make sense.

The A’s wouldn’t be sued for adding “at Fremont” to their name after moving to Fremont, especially since Fremont knows they will not get top billing. Now what they would be sued for is adding a name currently part of Giant’s territory (like San Jose) to their name like the Angels did to the Dodgers.

Sometimes life will strike you out on a curve ball and the only choice you have is to flip off the umpire and walk to first base anyway.

by Threepwood XX on Apr 29, 2008 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I get what you're saying

But from what I’ve heard him say before I still think San Jose in the name is a long shot. Plus it’s a bit different since the Angels used to be the Los Angeles Angels. That said, I dislike any xxx of yyy name.

by indigo on Apr 29, 2008 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

One thing, Blez

I am pretty sure you meant Barton hit his first homer of the season, though technically it was his first of the night, too. ;)

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Apr 28, 2008 10:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Best record, most run scored, least run given up in AL

nuff said!

by asfansince1989 on Apr 28, 2008 10:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

omigoodness

Geren mentioned recently that he knows that closer Huston Street can play the outfield if needed because he’s watched Street shag flyballs during batting practice, and he’s terrific.
Street said he’d love to do that. He and Geren have even talked about the possibility.

“I’d love it!” Street said with a grin. “That would be a dream come true. I get after it in batting practice, trying to be persuasive. The question is: What situation? But it could make sense in the right place.”

""These guys are a different breed of ballclub." - Twins manager Ron Gardenhire on the A's

by gotgreen on Apr 28, 2008 10:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

he could come in for cust if norf/sweeney aren’t available

by MaineAthletic on Apr 28, 2008 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I feel like that would be fun, but I would be nervous the entire time that he would get hurt.

by drmmerchk on Apr 28, 2008 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd be less nervous with him in left

than with him on the mound…

Don’t get me wrong; he’s a great pitcher… it’s just that my fingernails are really really short because of him, that’s all.

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 28, 2008 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That literally made me LOL

twice.

I’d love to see Huston as patrol craft.

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on Apr 28, 2008 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously, that's a nifty way

to bring in someone else to face a tough LH hitter, and then have Street go back to the mound for the RH’s who follow.

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on Apr 28, 2008 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

definately, did not think of that

by MaineAthletic on Apr 28, 2008 10:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

didn't some NL team do it earlier this year

move a pitcher to the OF and then back to pitcher?

that could actually be really useful…

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

by xbhaskarx on Apr 28, 2008 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A's would be the coolest team ever if they did that

by ChadGod on Apr 28, 2008 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 28, 2008 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Braves did it

with Chris Resop, according to the SuSlu article linked above.

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on Apr 29, 2008 12:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think I love Andrew Brown.

“It was like a line change in hockey,” reliever Andrew Brown. “Next it will be a flying V.”

Flying V?! Like, The Mighty Ducks?!

"Hasn’t the foggiest inclination toward winning ‘tall. Hates to win. Likes to be buggered."

by Jennifer on Apr 29, 2008 6:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great Street is the next Ankiel

by methodrampage on Apr 29, 2008 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This team is special!

What a beat down! Let’s keepit going and score 3 touchdowns tomorrow!

by A'sfansince1970 on Apr 28, 2008 10:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll settle for one kickoff return for a TD, and a FG

off a fumble.
10-3. I’m easy to please!

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Apr 28, 2008 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought we looked

crisp in the red zone tonight. Defensively, we only allowed that one deep pass; other than that, our coverage was excellent.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Apr 28, 2008 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

although I'm worried that Parcells...

...I mean, Scioscia, might have been filming Zooks’ signs!

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 28, 2008 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I mean Belichick!

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 28, 2008 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's so pleasant to

watch a member of the Angels coaching staff with bulging blood vessels. Especially when the umps run his sorry ass and Sciosia has to live with the same crew for the next three days. Hopefully the umps are tired of his sorry act this season.

On another note….we have POWER!!! Where did that come from? This team is full of pleasant surprises this season.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Apr 28, 2008 11:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

got sport center on for past half hour...nothing yet

how was the coverage? 40 seconds at least?

alaska A

by ak_A on Apr 28, 2008 11:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Uh, they showed Thomas hit his triple

and Barton’s homer.

Uh, I think that’s about it actually.

by mikev on Apr 28, 2008 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love how everyone says our offense sucks

But we are 1st in the AL in runs scored. FIRST bitches.

Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?

by baseb3383 on Apr 28, 2008 11:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

AP is distributing the following picture/caption from tonight

Oakland Athletics closer Dallas Braden reacts after the final out …

(emphasis mine).

by green star oakland on Apr 28, 2008 11:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Great?!

This is our representative photo for the night?! If only the A’s would get some luv sometime….

by streetfan on Apr 28, 2008 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stupid caption

but a worse picture. Poor Dallas.

by HigherPie on Apr 28, 2008 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least he's rockin' the Kielty cut!

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 28, 2008 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also he's wearing clothes that fit.

HUGE improvement!

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Apr 29, 2008 12:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's Dallas on the right:

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Apr 28, 2008 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

we took photos of the native

girls, but they were not developed.

alaska A

by ak_A on Apr 28, 2008 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dallas "Prince" Braden

by HigherPie on Apr 28, 2008 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh my.

alaska A

by ak_A on Apr 28, 2008 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh ak_A, you do make speeches.

by HigherPie on Apr 28, 2008 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Max Patkin, you're no Jackie Price!

"You have to have a catcher or you'll have all passed balls."- Casey Stengel

by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 28, 2008 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mrs Monkeyball's nickname for Dallas

“The Fraggle”

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

by monkeyball on Apr 28, 2008 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Weird Al

stat-addled alien overlord

by salb918 on Apr 29, 2008 5:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do the A's have some kind of clown quota they need to meet.

Keilty and now Braden?

by methodrampage on Apr 29, 2008 9:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zito

to bullpen.

You've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?- Dirty Harry

by drumber on Apr 28, 2008 11:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's official.

Link

by HigherPie on Apr 28, 2008 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

“From my standpoint, it’s a bump in the road. It’s a big bump. It’s a battle. It’s stuff I’ve gone through (with the A’s), but there wasn’t the kind of scrutiny around it because of the market or the contract.
“Oakland’s under the radar. There weren’t microscopes. I don’t resist the microscope or any of that stuff. It’s a new challenge. It’s good. There’s a lot of growth and strength that comes out of these things.”

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

by xbhaskarx on Apr 28, 2008 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

gee whiz, he has no limits to the rationalization...on and on

and on.

alaska A

by ak_A on Apr 28, 2008 11:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why should he?

The only thing he’s got to rationalize is where to cash his paycheck. All the other garbage is the Giant’s problem….not his.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Apr 29, 2008 12:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmm

maybe he forgot to eat breakfast again?

""These guys are a different breed of ballclub." - Twins manager Ron Gardenhire on the A's

by gotgreen on Apr 28, 2008 11:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So much for feeling sorry for him.

Question Barry: if Oakland is under the radar, how in the name of Zeus’ butthole did you manage to earn enough votes to win the Cy Young Award? How about Jason’s MVP? Miguel’s?

(It’s one thing for AN to fret over lack of coverage (or worse, misleading coverage) but coming into this season, Oakland was under the radar).

Zito knew what he was getting into long before the ink dried on that fat contract of his.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Apr 29, 2008 5:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

14-2

wow, how many pythagorean wins is that?

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

by xbhaskarx on Apr 28, 2008 11:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

158.76 over a 162 game season.

by green star oakland on Apr 28, 2008 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not good at math, but I can give you one sure equation:

Elephants > Panthers

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Apr 29, 2008 1:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to be a downer ...

I love this offensive output and I’m thrilled that we are somehow leading the league in runs (albeit with a few more games played).

What worries me for the future is that we’ve scored all these runs despite having a still relatively low team OPS. I heard on the telecast tonight that we’re hitting extraordinarily well with runners in scoring position. Guys like Emil Brown are leading the league in RBI.

What appears to be happening is that an ordinary offense is getting extraordinarily lucky in “clutch” situations. You know how we decry these stats and note how team production in these spots will likely revert to the mean at some point? That’s what I’m worried about with the A’s. If that happens (and it will), we’ll become pretty ordinary pretty quickly.

In other words, our offense is succeeding based far too much on clutch performance, and that isn’t sustainable.

Don’t get me wrong; I love this team. I love how they’re playing … I just don’t expect it to last.

by Crosbino on Apr 28, 2008 11:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You're probably right

On the other hand, didn’t we all think the atrocious RISP numbers over the past couple years would revert to the mean? Maybe this is what it’s doing now. It’s possible they’ll remain this lucky over the course of a season if they were that unlucky for a season or two.

But you’re right in that it’s not something to count on. They need to start getting more consistent production, and not just in the “clutch” situations (Which would never be necessary if they could hit a few homers every now and then).

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Apr 28, 2008 11:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll be the first to admit...

that I’m a novice where the stats guru’s are concerned….but it strikes me that so many “clutch” opportunities are created by players other than the one holding the bat. The A’s are good because they consistently put runners on base. All the time. Sometimes we score and sometimes we don’t….but we always seem to have guys on base one way or another.

What are the A’s stats for LOB? Are we stranding a “league average” or are we truly “gifted” in scoring all the available runs?

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Apr 29, 2008 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last night's beating of Garland

upped the A’s OPS quite a bit. Before last night their OPS+, ie park adjusted OPS relative to league average, was 97, only ahead the Royals (78), Twins (80), Indians (92), Mariners (93), BJs (95). 100 is average.

Now, it’s 103. The teams in the AL that are better or tied are the Tigers (112), RS (111), Angels(111), Rangers(109), Yanks (103).

They are hitting VERY well with RISP: 318-418-445-863, 40 percent better than their overall park adjusted OPS, 30 percent better than the league.

Overall, with men on: 294-382-419, 801 OPS, 23 percent better than their overall park adjusted OPS, 12 percent better than the league.

When they get men on the bases, the only situation where they are hitting worse than the league average is with a man on first, 2nd and 3rd empty: 265-332-386, 718 OPS, 10 percent worse than league average.

With the bases empty: 223-309-336, 645 OPS, 20 percent worse than their overall park adjusted OPS, 18 percent worse than the league

Baseball Prospectus believes that the A’s “should” have scored 120 runs, instead of 134, based on how the A’s have hit.

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

by rfloh on Apr 29, 2008 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Neyer just did a bit on the A's with RISP

Link

to me, hitting is still a bigger concern than our defense.

by oakinboston on Apr 29, 2008 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

not sure if that's an insider article... here's the gist

What’s more interesting about last night’s game is that the A’s now lead the American League with 134 runs.
I wish that were real. It’s not.

First in the league in scoring, the A’s are also fifth in the league in on-base percentage, 10th in slugging percentage, and 10th (tied for ninth, really) in OPS. Over the long haul, it’s essentially impossible to rank among the leaders in scoring if you’re in the middle of the pack in OPS.

So how have the A’s done it, over the short haul? After years of struggling in clutch situations, this month the A’s have turned that upside down, posting an .863 OPS with runners in scoring position, second-best in the league. That number’s going to come down. Way down. I still think the A’s are a winning team, but to maintain their lofty place in the standings, they’re going to have to solve their power problem. After hitting three homers last night, they’ve got 15 this season; only the woeful Twins and Royals have hit fewer.

by oakinboston on Apr 29, 2008 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure whethter you were around then

but there was once a VERY long winded debate here what regression to the mean means. Involving grover and some poster whose name escapes me, IIRC.

Regression to the mean does not mean luck / karma “balancing out”. It doesn’t mean that they’ll remain lucky over the course of a season if they were that unlucky for a season or two.

All it means is that they were unlucky.

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

by rfloh on Apr 29, 2008 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Emil

I considered making this a fanpost, but it won’t be long enough to be worth it.

While I didn’t hate the Brown signing (depth, injuries, he’s not useless, blah blah), I have been pretty outspoken about his utter mediocrity. While I still think that Brown is, at best, a stop gap player (and more likely a platoon player), he’s done some very good things for the A’s so far this year. As somebody who refuses to get too excited about individual performances in small sample sizes (especially ones that go against a long history), the guy still deserves credit for some big-time hits.

That said, he’s still Jay Payton 2.0, and that makes me very uneasy.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Apr 28, 2008 11:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

finally

Foolsh, the most insane regular poster on AN since oaktoon left - salb

by FoolshGame22 on Apr 29, 2008 2:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry, he's better than Jay Payton, too...

and, I was going to make this a fanpost, but it disappeared into the AN 3.0 ether, so I’ll just post it here:

1. Athletics most wins in the American League;
2. Athletics most runs in the American League;
3. Athletics largest run differential in the American League;
4. Athletics best starting rotation in the American League;
5. Athletics second best bullpen in the American League (props the the 1st place Rays, who I also picked to win their division);
6. Emil Brown second in RBI in the American League…

I had more, but I forgot them.

Oh, I had some snide remark for the national pundits, the Bay Area media and the know-it-all stat geeks of AN, who said this team wouldn’t even complete, let alone contend, but I’m too gracious to post it.

Foolsh, the most insane regular poster on AN since oaktoon left - salb

by FoolshGame22 on Apr 29, 2008 3:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know exactly what you mean by "compete" vs. "contend"

but if you’re implying that the “100 loss season” panic-mongering was coming from the stat guys, you’re grossly out of line. The people I trust in that regard (devo, rfloh, grover, andeux, etc.) almost all predicted that the team would finish with between 75 and 85 wins, which is, in my book, a competitive (but not contending) team. We were virtually uniform in saying that the “worst team in the league” spin was ridiculous, unfair and ignorant. To the extent that there was any defeatism on AN, it was almost entirely from the “prospects suck, Billy Beane wants to lose” contingent.

I figured on 79 wins, with a possibility of several more if Harden actually pitched a full season.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Apr 29, 2008 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

But can they "complete?"

I say yles.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Apr 29, 2008 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good job jd!!!

I think he’s more “platoon” than All-Star as well … all the more reason to root your ass off and cheer like hell for someone like him … hard to feel sorry for anyone who makes even the major league minimum, but I have a much easier time rooting for the “fringe” player than the high-paid All-Star.

VacaAsFan

by Vacafan on Apr 29, 2008 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just got back from the game!!!

Okay, first of all, Gaudin did NOT have his good stuff. At all. But he battled through his six, and basically toughed it out for a win. The game felt ridiculously close in the fifth, with Vlad up with two on, but Gaudin did a nice job wiggling out.

It must be said; there is not a nicer place to live than SoCal on an April night like this, where tanktops and shorts/jeans were the order of the night, and the weather was 70 degrees for the whole game. Just a wonderful night.

It is something special indeed when Frank Thomas hits a triple…on Vlad’s arm!!! It was incredible. We all hoped he was going to stay in for a chance at the cycle, but for defense reasons (and to save poor Frank yet another slide), he was pulled to give Rajai a chance. I’m sorry, but I still dislike Sweeney, R in center. I feel much more comfortable with Davis in center, if Brown and Cust are flanking him.

And this power surge? From a team that hasn’t hit more than a single homerun in a game I can remember? Hanny, Emil (or Emeral as the Anaheim announcer thinks), and Barton? Barton’s homerun got stuck in the wall between the fence and the stands, and they had to dig it out. Vlad went back on it, and I knew it was over his head, but I had no idea how far over! What a shot! And Frank 3-3 with a walk? No one wants him to succeed more than I. Love love love love.

I also found a fellow ANer in the parking garage. That was fun too.

And at least for tonight, and even if it doesn’t last, I just have to say, “FIRST PLACE BITCHES!!!!!!!”

This season is 200% more fun than anticipated, and I’m going to enjoy the hell out of this ride, for as long as the A’s will let me.

LET’S GO OAKLAND!!!!!

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

by baseballgirl on Apr 28, 2008 11:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Gaudin

Personally, I thought Gaudin looked pretty darn good tonight. He was hitting his spots w/ decent movement. Changed speeds effectively. Big Strikeout of VLAD. Except for a couple pitches (Sorry Torii), he looked like he was in complete control (for Gaudin)... The Home Plate Umpire had a nightmare of a game.

by Colorado Fan on Apr 29, 2008 12:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay, I ammend that slightly

Was not close enough to appreciate the terrible ump, so what I gathered was a TON of 3-2 counts, which usually means that Chad is struggling a bit-not like Bootcheck, mind you-but looking back, he did make some great pitches when needed.

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

by baseballgirl on Apr 29, 2008 12:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, spring.

Tank tops, shorts and encounters in the garage.

Baseball, too!

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Apr 29, 2008 6:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Emeril Brown?

Well, he sure was cookin’ tonight! (hey-ooooo)

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Apr 29, 2008 12:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

BAM...?

I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.

by franks a lot on Apr 29, 2008 7:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another great outing for James Simmons

now has a 1.13 ERA, 22K, 2BB (Cliff Lee numbers!) in 24 IP. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him in Oakland before Gio.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Apr 29, 2008 12:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Starting Pitchers

With Harden coming back, the A’s will have six solid starting pitchers, and when Harden goes back on the DL, they’ll still have five solid starting pitchers. Where do you put Simmons?

by richwol1 on Apr 29, 2008 12:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt it will happen,

but I was more saying if it turns out we do need a pitcher in the second half, people assume it would be Gio, but I think it might be Simmons.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Apr 29, 2008 12:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

When Frank got the triple

did anyone else get that “Defensive Lineman attempting a rushing touchdown from the other side of the field” feeling?

It was great!

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Apr 29, 2008 1:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

by alox on Apr 29, 2008 1:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice win, bitches!!!

"Hasn’t the foggiest inclination toward winning ‘tall. Hates to win. Likes to be buggered."

by Jennifer on Apr 29, 2008 6:30 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

One thing I forgot that was fun...

Being appalled at the batting averages behind our team in the 1st inning (especially compared to the Angels!), and watching those zoom up by the 9th. A thing of beauty!

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

by baseballgirl on Apr 29, 2008 9:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs