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Open Thread: Game 41 - A's at Cleveland

Baseball_tiny by baseballgirl on

Oakland @ Cleveland


Well, in what seems like a familiar match-up, today's game will feature Joe Blanton against C.C. Sabathia as the A's try to even the series in Cleveland. Blanton is hoping that the curse of the 'starter who pitches very well, but ends up with nothing but a loss to show for it' went to Duchscherer last night, leaving the offense to score for him tonight.

The A's offense certainly needs to get up off the deck today and put some runs on the board. Some power would help (Thomas, I'm looking at you; it's time to heat up).

From MLB.com's Mychael Urban this morning:

The scouts who love Joe Blanton say he has "good winability," noting that Oakland's big-boned righty gets deep into games and keeps his team close, even when he's having a bad night.

The scouts who aren't wild about Blanton say he gives up too many hits to win a lot more than he loses. Period.

The A's just need Blanton to keep the team in the game today while the A's try to put some numbers up against C.C. Here's to scoring that first run.

Lineup

Oakland Athletics @ Cleveland Indians

05/14/08 4:05 PM PDT

Oakland AthleticsCleveland Indians
Rajai Davis - CF Grady Sizemore - CF
Mike Sweeney - 1B Jhonny Peralta - SS
Jack Cust - LF David Dellucci - LF
Frank Thomas - DH Victor Martinez - C
Emil Brown - RF Travis Hafner - DH
Bobby Crosby - SS Ryan Garko - 1B
Jack Hannahan - 3B Asdrubal Cabrera - 2B
Kurt Suzuki - C Ben Francisco - RF
Donnie Murphy - 2B Casey Blake - 3B

 

LET'S GO OAKLAND!!

(Side note: After the game, there will be a poll asking if you will need a ticket to AN Day - please vote, so I can get a rough count!)

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The Righty Lineup returns

minus Ellis, replaced by Hanahan.

Hopefully we can snap out of it with our old pal CC at the helm.

I put on my robe and wizard hat.

by Zonis on May 14, 2008 3:35 PM PDT   0 recs

Well,

I’m glad Suzuki is out of the leadoff spot. As for his replacement there…. I guess he’ll be ph for if we need runs…

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on May 14, 2008 3:36 PM PDT   0 recs

I love the cute little lineup insert

Life is SO much easier now!

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

by baseballgirl on May 14, 2008 3:37 PM PDT   0 recs

The lineup is much improved on paper

now lets see us pound the crap out of CC

And thank God Kurt is not leading off.

Davis goes 1 for 4 or gets on base once, it is an improvement.

I predict Sweeney will get on base at least twice.

by Trainman on May 14, 2008 3:42 PM PDT   0 recs

I'd like him to go 5-5 with 3 steals

I REALLY want Davis to succeed.

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

by baseballgirl on May 14, 2008 3:58 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah but he wont' have any RBI.

Don’t you know RBI is what wins games?????

by mikev on May 14, 2008 4:02 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

And...by 'sluggers' you mean...?

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

by baseballgirl on May 14, 2008 4:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Exactly

what I was going to ask….... :)

by mrod on May 14, 2008 4:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Louisville

Obviously

"Want me to punchasize your face, for free?" - Rod Farva

by methodrampage on May 14, 2008 4:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Finally!

Rajai Davis gets the chance to leadoff…..Geren must have been reading AN the past couple of days.

Hope our boys put up some crooked numbers tonight…Go A’s!

by mrod on May 14, 2008 4:02 PM PDT   0 recs

Sabathia and ...

Damn MLB has CC at 290 lbs. At least a Ponson/Sabathia match-up would beat out Blanton/Sabathia match-up.

"Want me to punchasize your face, for free?" - Rod Farva

by methodrampage on May 14, 2008 4:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I try so hard to hate him

he’s making it easier today

I've come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen.

by 149 on May 14, 2008 4:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Blame the messenger

Blanton is currently the worst of our starters

by Trainman on May 14, 2008 4:13 PM PDT   0 recs

we all know that

but he’s also the one of our starters most likely to be dealt, so they have to keep him in the rotation.

I’d rather have Gaudin in the rotation.

I put on my robe and wizard hat.

by Zonis on May 14, 2008 4:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Geez…can we start the game over?

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

by baseballgirl on May 14, 2008 4:13 PM PDT   0 recs

Oy vay.

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 14, 2008 4:15 PM PDT   0 recs

Emil should have had an RBI there

I blame Davis, Sweeney, and Cust for not having gotten on and positioned themselves in scoring position.

We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 14, 2008 4:26 PM PDT   0 recs

he really should be leading off

He’s got excellent plate discipline and (as PT says) LD% skilz.

We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 14, 2008 4:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hannahan
Barton
Cust
Thomas
Bonds
Gonzalez
Murphy
Ellis
Suzuki

We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 14, 2008 4:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow

thats a horrible defensive outfield…

Then again, we’ve had worse.

I put on my robe and wizard hat.

by Zonis on May 14, 2008 4:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I know. It is.

And I don’t care.

With this lineup, any opposing pitcher will be at 100 pitches by the 5th inning, guaranteed.

We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 14, 2008 4:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

how about

RF Buck
3B Hanahan
1B Barton
LF Cust
DH Bonds
CF Gonzalez
C1 Powell
2B Ellis
SS Crosby

I put on my robe and wizard hat.

by Zonis on May 14, 2008 4:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

the "Thomas *is* done, and Buck doesn't suck" option

We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 14, 2008 4:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Well Buck doesn't suck, he'll be back.

He’s still just as much an adventure as Cust in the outfield though.

by OldhamA on May 14, 2008 4:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Byrnsian routes, nice!

He injures himself diving a lot too. Granted I think he’s the next Harden on that front.

by OldhamA on May 14, 2008 5:01 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Game thread madness

How long since we’ve scored?
SWING THE EFFING BAT, DOUCHEBAG!
HOME PLATE IS RIGHT THERE!!

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

by Jennifer on May 14, 2008 4:38 PM PDT   0 recs

Perhaps you might enjoy a refreshing, diverting quasi-snack of chicle?

We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 14, 2008 4:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

or like me, what i do when things are not

going well for my team. I may, for example, make some cupcakes and frost them festively with sprinkles, and maybe smiley faces. Maybe order some mylar balloons from the Party Place.

alaska A

by ak_A on May 14, 2008 4:46 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

To put it bluntly....

you guys, and gals, are such haters. Baseball to you seems like such a miserable viewing experience.

To put it more properly, why are you all so negative.

I know, I know, I can choose not to read the game thread which is what I am deciding to do.

Enjoy the negativity party!

Go A’s!!!

by 33SwisherSweet on May 14, 2008 4:40 PM PDT   0 recs

This is mild.

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

by Jennifer on May 14, 2008 4:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

?!?!?

This gamethread makes you feel this way?

You don’t know from gamethread negativity, my friend.

We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 14, 2008 4:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

'Cuz it's one, two, three strikes, we're out

at the ‘ol ballgame!

"I've never hit a ball that good and not have it go out" –Jack Cust

by PortlandPachyderm on May 14, 2008 4:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

33 - 44 = -11

NEGATIVE PARTY !!!

by drink409 on May 14, 2008 4:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

LOL.

That’s funny.

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 14, 2008 4:44 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's kind of like

having a half full shot glass inside a half empty beer mug. Sure the beer mug is half empty, but that’s how we get to the good stuff.

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on May 14, 2008 4:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

simile of the year

I feel drunk after reading that.

We're going to knock balls out of the country's park, for the home team, which is America. @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 14, 2008 4:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

CC only seems to do poorly against the A's in his Bay Area hood.

I think he just remembered he’s a Cy Young winner. Bummer.

"I've never hit a ball that good and not have it go out" –Jack Cust

by PortlandPachyderm on May 14, 2008 4:45 PM PDT   0 recs

Hi folks

Is anyone else a little insulted that Urban called Blanton “big boned?”

I prefer to think of him as “husky.”

Unless “big boned” means something else entirely…

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on May 14, 2008 4:48 PM PDT   0 recs