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Open Game Thread - Game 39: A's at Rangers

Banana_album_041907_tiny by monkeyball on

Oakland @ Texas


Lineup

Oakland Athletics @ Texas Rangers

05/11/08 12:05 PM PDT

Oakland Athletics Texas Rangers
Kurt Suzuki - C Ian Kinsler - 2B
Mike Sweeney - 1B Michael Young - SS
Jack Cust - LF Josh Hamilton - RF
Frank Thomas - DH Milton Bradley - DH
Emil Brown - RF David Murphy - CF
Bobby Crosby - SS Brandon Boggs - LF
Mark Ellis - 2B Frank Catalanotto - 1B
Jack Hannahan - 3B Jarrod Saltalamacchia - C
Ryan Sweeney - CF Ramon Vazquez - 3B

Alright, folks, time to roll back the stone from the tomb and see what condition the corpse of HRDN is in.
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG
2008 - Rich Harden 2 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 7 15 0 0 .000 .000 .000

He-who-shall-not-be-named is matched up against Sir Sidney Pontoon, the Royal Flotation Device of Aruba, who has put up impressive results so far in a 3-start comeback with the Rangers.
W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2008 - Sidney Ponson 2-0 3 3 0 0 0 0 20.1 20 7 3 0 4 11 1.33 1.18

Pontoon's been sporadically in and out of MLB for so long, that hardly any current Athletics have even faced him. (Of course, the same can be said vis a vis Harden, the DL, and the Rangers.) The only two who have significant ABs against him are:
- Mike Sweeney, 17/36 with 2 2Bs and 4 HRs
- Frank Thomas, 9/24 with 1 2B and 4 HRs

While Frank has generated a fair number of walks (7) against Pontoon, Mike has not (2). Expect Mike to be hacking early and often at Pontoon's meatballs. And this could be a great opportunity for Frank to get some hittable pitches to continue his progress from last night. Definitely a good idea to have both Frank and Mike in the lineup together, and to have Mike in the #2 slot.

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Today's game brought to you by the number 6

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on May 11, 2008 11:51 AM PDT   0 recs

Oh, yes Sidney Ponson

I forget who, last year or or so, had a nick-name for him that cracked me up at the time…it was Sir Fatty-Fat.

alaska A

by ak_A on May 11, 2008 11:57 AM PDT   0 recs

sidlard ponfatshit

"Mommy and Daddy are going to take a nap before the baseball game starts..."

by Devyn on May 11, 2008 12:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

OK, so what's the over/under on when Harden leaves today's game with a "new" injury?

I’m setting it at the 5th inning… and taking the under.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 11, 2008 12:00 PM PDT   0 recs

He'll go 5 innings on a pitch count

3 innings next start, then he’ll get pushed back a day. Then he’ll get scratched from that start, and go retroactive DL (day to day) before being transferred to the 60 day and being gone for the season.

by mikev on May 11, 2008 12:01 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

If we fail to hit against Sir Sidney

we don’t deserve to be called a Major League team.

I put on my robe and wizard hat.

by Zonis on May 11, 2008 12:02 PM PDT   0 recs

I don't have a good feeling about this.

He’s gonna start, and throw well, and get all of our hopes up again.

pam5981: Patience is a virtue that I do not possess.
ohtobe21likehuston: But you're good at drinking and cussing. Two out of three ain't bad.

by pam5981 on May 11, 2008 12:03 PM PDT   0 recs

(even though we know better)

pam5981: Patience is a virtue that I do not possess.
ohtobe21likehuston: But you're good at drinking and cussing. Two out of three ain't bad.

by pam5981 on May 11, 2008 12:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Happy birthday Pam (belated)

If Friday was indeed your birthday. If not then never mind and consider me the idiot everyone else always has.

by WaddellCanseco on May 11, 2008 12:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It was - thanks!

pam5981: Patience is a virtue that I do not possess.
ohtobe21likehuston: But you're good at drinking and cussing. Two out of three ain't bad.

by pam5981 on May 11, 2008 12:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Whoa...there's some cool new search functions abounding today on good ol' SB Nation...

pam5981: Patience is a virtue that I do not possess.
ohtobe21likehuston: But you're good at drinking and cussing. Two out of three ain't bad.

by pam5981 on May 11, 2008 12:05 PM PDT   0 recs

Unbelieveable.

Harden better peg somebody in the first.

by mikev on May 11, 2008 12:09 PM PDT   0 recs

mlb.tv help

hi,first post on AN 3.0,i normaly just lurk

i have the standard mlb.tv (not the premium) when i try to watch the game i get a message asking if i want the premium,but i don’t and the message won’t go away so i can’t watch the game

can anyone help?

by totoum on May 11, 2008 12:09 PM PDT   0 recs

I usually close firefox and open it again.

If that doesn’t work I switch to IE. If that doesn’t work I restart the computer. If that doesn’t work I give up and use gameday audio

by WaddellCanseco on May 11, 2008 12:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I've had that problem in firefox, and switching to ie fixes it

Logging out and then logging back in to mlb also works.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on May 11, 2008 12:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

ok thanks

i’ll do that….and probably sue mlb.com one day too

by totoum on May 11, 2008 12:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

TV broadcast is WAY ahead of radio feed

so much so that it looks like I’ll have to turn up the tv sound, and turn off the radio

by OaklandSi on May 11, 2008 12:11 PM PDT   0 recs

Are you listening on FM or AM?

I was listening to the pregame in the car, and noticed that 106.9 is about 7-10 seconds behind 1550.

The candy and the baseball all night long :)

by Englishmajor on May 11, 2008 12:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

with the way we have been

hitting, part of me says..hey get the three outs and lets see Harden. but I will take that hit!

alaska A

by ak_A on May 11, 2008 12:11 PM PDT   0 recs

Yay Frank

The candy and the baseball all night long :)

by Englishmajor on May 11, 2008 12:13 PM PDT   0 recs

Yay EMIL!!!!!!!!!!

The candy and the baseball all night long :)

by Englishmajor on May 11, 2008 12:13 PM PDT   0 recs

nice

alaska A

by ak_A on May 11, 2008 12:14 PM PDT   0 recs

I'm liking this game so far!

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

by oblique on May 11, 2008 12:14 PM PDT   0 recs

Im starting to think if Beane really wants to win now..

Go with Sweeney everyday and send Barton down till he figure himself out.

When will then be now? Soon.

by Syphon on May 11, 2008 12:15 PM PDT   0 recs

I agree Syphon

Having Daric be the 4th worst hitting Firstbaseman in Baseball is not helping him get better

by asfaninpismobeach on May 11, 2008 12:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Can you prove that?

Some players get better by struggling and playing against better competition. Destroying AAA pitching for another year (or month or whatever) may not do anything for him.

I could go play a bunch of 8 year olds and be Babe Ruth, but I’m not going to improve at the sport while doing so.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on May 11, 2008 12:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You cant argue that hes not hurting the

major league club.

When will then be now? Soon.

by Syphon on May 11, 2008 12:21 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

But that's a different question

Should he be sent down because the club would be better served with Sweeney as the everyday 1B is a completely different question than should he be sent down because he won’t get better while struggling at the major league level (and the implication is he WILL get better playing in AAA).

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on May 11, 2008 12:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You need ABs to get better and he wont be getting

a lot with Sweeney getting most of the ABs. Theres something to be said for confidence as well. A triple A stint may do him well in that area.

When will then be now? Soon.

by Syphon on May 11, 2008 12:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's possible

But the statement was a very definitive “[struggling in the majors] is not helping him get better.” I’m just making the argument that A) struggling might help him make adjustments and get better and B) going back to AAA won’t necessarily help him get better.

But if he’s not playing, he’s not going to get a lot better (unelss his hand is bothering him, then rest is good). And confidence could be an issue, but I think it’s impossible for any of us to know if that’s a problem.

I’m not totally opposed to sending him down. I just don’t think facing AAA pitching is going to make him a better hitter. It still could be the best move at this point though.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on May 11, 2008 12:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Im just saying it depends on what Beane wants..

If he wants to win, then send him down and have Sweeney play. If we were 4 games back then Id want Daric playing everyday no matter what. Just depends on the direction of the team.

When will then be now? Soon.

by Syphon on May 11, 2008 12:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So, is the team still rebuilding this year?

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on May 11, 2008 12:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Good question.

No one knows really other than Billy. The signing of Thomas seems to indicate he trying to win.

When will then be now? Soon.

by Syphon on May 11, 2008 12:34 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Okay, another Harden return

coming up. (rubs hands together)

alaska A

by ak_A on May 11, 2008 12:19 PM PDT   0 recs

Like a rare treat to be savored...

...because you never know when you’ll get another one.

Some read stats. Others actually watch the game.

by UncleLeo on May 11, 2008 12:21 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm thinking Wash isn't too thrilled

at the idea of yanking Ponson early today.

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 May 11, 2008 12:19 PM PDT   0 recs

Which could mean that Sir Sidney is going 4-5 innings no matter what

And that could bode well for the A’s.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on May 11, 2008 12:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

No kidding...

...a 12-10 game wouldn’t surprise me.

Some read stats. Others actually watch the game.

by UncleLeo on May 11, 2008 12:21 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yay Ryan!

I’ve never said that before

by WaddellCanseco on May 11, 2008 12:21 PM PDT   0 recs

Harden 1st 5 Pitches

88, 89, 90, 93, 95…

by Colorado Fan on May 11, 2008 12:22 PM PDT   0 recs

Nice

You won’t be disappointed. What part of Colorado?

by Colorado Fan on May 11, 2008 12:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Work is in Lakewood.

Reporting date not established yet, but anywhere from July 1 to Sept. 1.

alaska A

by ak_A on May 11, 2008 12:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs