Open Game Thread: Game 6 - A's vs. Indians
by Taj Adib
on Apr 5, 2008 12:43 PM PDT
Cleveland @ Oakland
Well, the good news/bad news dichotomy that is the Oakland Athletics organization wrote it's latest chapter last night as the Green and Gold (errr...Black on Black?) boys actually strung some hits together for the first time in over a week and protected a lead well enough to come out with a victory. Of course, in the process, they lost a promising starter (Duke) for at least a week and a former Gold Glove winner (Chavez) for at least a month with various ailments. What else is new? No need to get frustrated though...we're rebuilding right?
Today's matchup features a couple of portly southpaws (Sabathia for the Tribe and Dana Eveland for the A's) whom, when combined together, tip the scales at around 510 pounds. Just for some perspective, that's roughly the weight of the box-tail apparatus of this Cold War-era nuclear weapon:
Vallejo-native C.C. returns home to the Bay Area as the reigning A.L. Cy Young-award winner, although throughout his career he's been anything buy Cy-ish when pitching in the friendly confines of McAfee Coliseum, as he's gone 1-3 with a 7.17 ERA in 7 career starts in the A's home park. Eveland, on the other hand, has a sparkling 0.00 career ERA inside the Coliseum...partly because he's never pitched a regular season game there in his life. For his part, Dana has vowed to take advantage of the Tribe's unfamiliarity with him by promising to, "Pitch to my strengths rather than lean toward their weaknesses. I'm better that way." Sounds good enough for me, since leaning in any direction could be a major logistical problem for either of the two starters today.
Travis "0-for-17" Buck gets the day off today, replaced by Mark Ellis in the leadoff spot, who, although he's struggling to find holes in the defense (1-for-17) is at least drawing the walks (tied for the team-lead with 5 so far this season). I'm gonna go ahead and predict that Emil Brown has a big day against big CC today, as he is very familiar with him after several years of AL-Central battles and since he went 7-for-17 against him last season with a 1.059 OPS.
Lineups
OAK
Ellis - 2B
Barton - 1B
Brown - RF
Mike Sweeney - DH
BoCroz - SS
Cust - LF
Suzuki - C
Murphy - 3B
Denorfia - CF
CLE
Sizemore - CF
Cabrera - 2B
Michaels - LF
Hafner - DH
Peralta - SS
Garko - 1B
Gutierrez - RF
Blake - 3B
Shoppach - C
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No RSweeney? hmmmmmm
Yeah there is a platoon going on in CF (did Geren or BB ever announce that this was theplan?), but with both guys not showing a lot all spring, I would think that RS would get rewarded of a 4-4 night with another start. See if he can get a hot streak going. Lord knows the A's could use a couple of hot hitters in the line up each day.
by BleacherGuy on Apr 5, 2008 12:49 PM PDT 0 recs
Pretty good linuep
Brown was great against CC last year, for whatever that's worth.....
Apparently Geren believes in a Crosby resurgence, too....
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on Apr 5, 2008 12:51 PM PDT 0 recs
oops, I managed to miss the part where you mentioned that about Brown and even gave numbers....
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on
Apr 5, 2008 12:53 PM PDT
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Wow, interesting lineup.
Emil Brown, #3 hitter, makes the baby Jesus cry.
By the way, why is the small sample size of spring training irrelevent, but a 17 at-bat sample size relevant enough to bat a journeyman outfielder third?
So it goes.
by jeepers on Apr 5, 2008 12:54 PM PDT 0 recs
I think the other 8 guys may have something to do with that...
but really it's not too relevant.
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on
Apr 5, 2008 12:57 PM PDT
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Yeah.
The other options aren't that great, although I'd prefer Sweeney. If I were going to go all crazy, I might even try Croz, since he seems to be swinging a hot bat.
So it goes.
by jeepers on
Apr 5, 2008 12:58 PM PDT
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I agree about the baby Jesus crying
...But who else there strikes you as a #3 hitter? I think it's too early to believe all that much in Mike Sweeney, and way too early for Crosby to get that promotion. I also prefer Barton in the 2 slot (partly because I think, based on all the lineup analysis I've read, that the 2 slot is actually more important than the 3 slot). Brown is a default pick there, unfortunately.
by Faust on
Apr 5, 2008 12:59 PM PDT
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Sweeney does.
This is clearly a one-time thing though, so I'm not all that concerned. I was simply observing that Emil Brown is not a #3 hitter, at least under ordinary circumstances.
So it goes.
by jeepers on
Apr 5, 2008 1:02 PM PDT
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RE: Brown sample size
For what it's worth, over the past three seasons (2005-2007) Emil actually has a mark of 14-for-38 against Sabathia with an .844 OPS. Still a small sample size, but large enough of a data set for one batter versus one pitcher to say that he (Brown) knows what he's doing against him (Sabathia).
by Taj Adib on
Apr 5, 2008 1:01 PM PDT
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Nice to know it's sustained success.
Brown will probably see better pitches with Sweeney hitting behind him, too.
So it goes.
by jeepers on
Apr 5, 2008 1:15 PM PDT
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{waits for PT to make inoffensive rational response to first paragraph}
As reassuring as Bud's words were, the dulcet tone of his voice and his dashing appearance really sealed the deal for me. ~ GreenNGoldSooner @('.')@
by monkeyball on
Apr 5, 2008 1:17 PM PDT
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Inoffensive?
No, no, that's standoffish.
It sounds so much more sinister that way.
(BTW, I never post in game threads during games that are not on TV...)
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Apr 5, 2008 5:28 PM PDT
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Duke on the radio
says his arm is a bit achy today, but doesn't "hurt" - whatever that means...
by pam5981 on Apr 5, 2008 12:56 PM PDT 0 recs
I like that.
Since we only have one backup infielder, we need to keep him somewhat fresh, and Sabathia is a tough matchup for Hannahan.
So it goes.
by jeepers on
Apr 5, 2008 12:57 PM PDT
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NO SWEENEY??!?!?!?!
The kid has a 4-4 day and you sit hi? Wow!
2008 Oakland Athletics...more than meets the eye!
by OptimistPrime on Apr 5, 2008 12:56 PM PDT 0 recs
Even without the 4-4 I still think he should be in the lineup for a majority of games
He has a higher upside than Denorfia I think, shouldn't we be seeing if he's actually capable of being a plus mlb cf? I know Deno would probably outperform him but with sweeney there's the chance that he may turn out to be pretty darn good.
Big Papi Eats Big Boogers
by Keze on
Apr 5, 2008 1:04 PM PDT
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Not to mention
he's never going to learn how to hit lefties if he doesn't see any.
So it goes.
by jeepers on
Apr 5, 2008 1:05 PM PDT
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ummm....him
no edit here...sorry
2008 Oakland Athletics...more than meets the eye!
by OptimistPrime on Apr 5, 2008 12:57 PM PDT 0 recs
Nick Swisher had dyed his facial hair blond.
"Hi, I need to... uh... determination..."
by Jennifer on Apr 5, 2008 12:57 PM PDT 0 recs
Thank goodness the Sox don't have vibrant team colors.
At least he can't pull a Spiezio.
So it goes.
by jeepers on
Apr 5, 2008 1:00 PM PDT
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The ChiSox have some... interesting facial hair.
Bobby Jenks looks really odd, for one.
http://umpbump.com/press/the-natural-mystique-of-ufh-part-2-white-sox-bullpen/
(Formerly known as "Nebraska")
The Pastime -- A Minor Consideration -- Catfish Stew
by Ryan Armbrust on
Apr 5, 2008 1:02 PM PDT
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Things I like about watching the A's
Harden pitching
Duke pitching
Home whites
):
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on Apr 5, 2008 1:02 PM PDT 0 recs
Things I like about watching the A's
actually WATCHING the A's (on TV).
by pam5981 on
Apr 5, 2008 1:04 PM PDT
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Hi Pam!!!
I'm only here for about 10 mins, then have to go to my son's competition. Go A's!!!
by kapers on
Apr 5, 2008 1:05 PM PDT
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Hey there!
i'm only here for a little while as well.
by pam5981 on
Apr 5, 2008 1:06 PM PDT
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Remember my pitcher Jake last year?
He retired (sigh) and got married (bigger sigh).
by kapers on
Apr 5, 2008 1:10 PM PDT
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Whats up with not having the games on national tv onSaturday? Does Fox have the rights for Sat games?
by asfaninpismobeach on Apr 5, 2008 1:05 PM PDT 0 recs
A's wearing black alternates
here's screen grab from MLB.tv
(Formerly known as "Nebraska")
The Pastime -- A Minor Consideration -- Catfish Stew
by Ryan Armbrust on Apr 5, 2008 1:06 PM PDT 0 recs
Glad they're not on TV!
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on
Apr 5, 2008 1:07 PM PDT
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I'd be all in favor of a season-long black(uni)out
As reassuring as Bud's words were, the dulcet tone of his voice and his dashing appearance really sealed the deal for me. ~ GreenNGoldSooner @('.')@
by monkeyball on
Apr 5, 2008 1:18 PM PDT
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off-topic, but I wanted to let you all know
I'm giving away a free copy of MLB 08: The Show, to whoever gets closest to guessing James Simmons' line from his first start on Monday. Just wanted to open it up to AN.
http://mvn.com/milb-athletics/2008/04/05/predict-simmons-start-win-mlb-08-the-show/
(Formerly known as "Nebraska")
The Pastime -- A Minor Consideration -- Catfish Stew
by Ryan Armbrust on Apr 5, 2008 1:08 PM PDT 0 recs
MLB, welcome to Dana Eveland
The glare was not practiced. I would get into the game situations, and when that happens, there comes a level of concentration that most can only imagine but can never achieve. You become what you are doing, and that is what you see on my face. -Dave Stewart
by Hegenberger Road on Apr 5, 2008 1:08 PM PDT 0 recs
not the same Eveland that was ineffective for Milwaukee, hopefully.
He looks good so far, though.
(Formerly known as "Nebraska")
The Pastime -- A Minor Consideration -- Catfish Stew
by Ryan Armbrust on
Apr 5, 2008 1:10 PM PDT
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yeah, I was a little excited about that opening strikeout
The glare was not practiced. I would get into the game situations, and when that happens, there comes a level of concentration that most can only imagine but can never achieve. You become what you are doing, and that is what you see on my face. -Dave Stewart
by Hegenberger Road on
Apr 5, 2008 1:11 PM PDT
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Duke will get MRI tomorrow...
As per Korach. Cross your fingers!
by Taj Adib on Apr 5, 2008 1:11 PM PDT 0 recs
MRI = Must Really be Injured
"Hi, I need to... uh... determination..."
by Jennifer on
Apr 5, 2008 1:18 PM PDT
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WTF is up with
the MLBtv feed?
When will then be now? Soon.
by Syphon on Apr 5, 2008 1:11 PM PDT 0 recs
Yeah seriously.
Looks like 6th garde AV class.
When will then be now? Soon.
by Syphon on
Apr 5, 2008 1:13 PM PDT
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I think it's the ballpark feed
that runs in the concourse at The Jake Progressive Field.
It's incredibly awful. I don't want to see a screen with the Indians' stats, and no live game action. Argh.
(Formerly known as "Nebraska")
The Pastime -- A Minor Consideration -- Catfish Stew
by Ryan Armbrust on
Apr 5, 2008 1:12 PM PDT
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Ive seen some..
game actions flicker in and out.
When will then be now? Soon.
by Syphon on
Apr 5, 2008 1:13 PM PDT
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just replays, though
(Formerly known as "Nebraska")
The Pastime -- A Minor Consideration -- Catfish Stew
by Ryan Armbrust on
Apr 5, 2008 1:14 PM PDT
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I was
about to ask the same thing.
During the live at bats it shows their picture then during the replay it shows the play? wtf?
Juan Pierre: 44 Million Dollars, Juan Pierre's 3.2 WARP3: Priceless
by Travis Buck Nuckin on
Apr 5, 2008 1:15 PM PDT
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WTF is up with AN?
"Hi, I need to... uh... determination..."
by Jennifer on
Apr 5, 2008 1:18 PM PDT
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it's getting an MRI
As reassuring as Bud's words were, the dulcet tone of his voice and his dashing appearance really sealed the deal for me. ~ GreenNGoldSooner @('.')@
by monkeyball on
Apr 5, 2008 1:22 PM PDT
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So, Taj-- it's Fat Man vs. Little Boy?
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on
Apr 5, 2008 1:20 PM PDT
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judging by early results...
I think I picked NYY and BoSox to finish too high in the AL East.
Go A's!
by FoolshGame22 on Apr 5, 2008 1:13 PM PDT 0 recs
Hafner RBI
A's down 1-0. Hafner looped one over third base to score Cabrera.
(Formerly known as "Nebraska")
The Pastime -- A Minor Consideration -- Catfish Stew
by Ryan Armbrust on Apr 5, 2008 1:14 PM PDT 0 recs
Sounds like some rough luck there
Big Papi Eats Big Boogers
by Keze on Apr 5, 2008 1:14 PM PDT 0 recs
wait...
MLB.tv seems to be back to actually showing live action. Perhaps.
(Formerly known as "Nebraska")
The Pastime -- A Minor Consideration -- Catfish Stew
by Ryan Armbrust on Apr 5, 2008 1:15 PM PDT 0 recs
Yeah.. im getting a live feed now.
When will then be now? Soon.
by Syphon on
Apr 5, 2008 1:16 PM PDT
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Altho the 1.2meg feed
seems to be way behind.
When will then be now? Soon.
by Syphon on
Apr 5, 2008 1:16 PM PDT
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23 pitches in the 1st inning...
for Eveland. Get the bullpen up.
Go A's!
by FoolshGame22 on Apr 5, 2008 1:17 PM PDT 0 recs
Is there a radio station online that I can listen to the game on?
I have Xm radio but their online service doesnt have the sports on.
by asfaninpismobeach on Apr 5, 2008 1:17 PM PDT 0 recs
speaking of odd facial hair, from earlier in the thread...
Eveland seems to be growing... something.
(Formerly known as "Nebraska")
The Pastime -- A Minor Consideration -- Catfish Stew
by Ryan Armbrust on Apr 5, 2008 1:18 PM PDT 0 recs
maybe he duct taped
a hamster to his chin
The glare was not practiced. I would get into the game situations, and when that happens, there comes a level of concentration that most can only imagine but can never achieve. You become what you are doing, and that is what you see on my face. -Dave Stewart
by Hegenberger Road on
Apr 5, 2008 1:18 PM PDT
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noKnoKnoKnoKnoKnoKnoKnoKnoKnoKnoK
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on Apr 5, 2008 1:20 PM PDT 0 recs
Sizemore misplayed that
He was tracking it at a loping pace, and jumped too early and missed it.
(Formerly known as "Nebraska")
The Pastime -- A Minor Consideration -- Catfish Stew
by Ryan Armbrust on Apr 5, 2008 1:20 PM PDT 0 recs
I thought he was gonna catch..
it too. But good luck for us.
When will then be now? Soon.
by Syphon on
Apr 5, 2008 1:21 PM PDT
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nah
Sizemore just goofed.
(Formerly known as "Nebraska")
The Pastime -- A Minor Consideration -- Catfish Stew
by Ryan Armbrust on
Apr 5, 2008 1:21 PM PDT
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I never understand that move
... in virtually any situation.
As reassuring as Bud's words were, the dulcet tone of his voice and his dashing appearance really sealed the deal for me. ~ GreenNGoldSooner @('.')@
by monkeyball on
Apr 5, 2008 1:23 PM PDT
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When you want to prevent a run
It's always a good idea to configure the defense in such a way that it's easier to get a hit, obviously.
So it goes.
by jeepers on
Apr 5, 2008 1:26 PM PDT
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exactly
Cutting down the angle only works for soccer and hockey goalies.
As reassuring as Bud's words were, the dulcet tone of his voice and his dashing appearance really sealed the deal for me. ~ GreenNGoldSooner @('.')@
by monkeyball on
Apr 5, 2008 1:28 PM PDT
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game tied!
Brown with a nice liner through the hole in the right side.
(Formerly known as "Nebraska")
The Pastime -- A Minor Consideration -- Catfish Stew
by Ryan Armbrust on Apr 5, 2008 1:23 PM PDT 0 recs
