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Open Thread: Game 42 - A's at Cleveland

Baseball_tiny by baseballgirl on

Oakland @ Cleveland


Good morning AN!!!!

Welcome to the Game Thread, Really Early Edition, where our 2008 Oakland A's try to break the Indians' impressive scoreless innings streak with a little offense! The A's will send out Greg Smith as the sacrificial lamb starting pitcher today against the Indians' bats, looking for a little thing called 'run support'.

I'm tired of wasting great pitching performances on our offense. It's annoying. I'd like some runs today, please.

And if nothing else, we can keep the announcers quiet about how good Cleveland is and how lucky the A's have been. You know, with the whole scoring 6, 6, 9, and 7 runs against the Indians in our previous 2 series' wins. That kind of lucky.

Grab your coffee, warm up your fingers, and get ready to root the A's on to victory!

Lineup

Oakland Athletics @ Cleveland Indians

05/15/08 9:05 AM PDT

Oakland AthleticsCleveland Indians
Rajai Davis - CF Grady Sizemore - CF
Daric Barton - 1B Jhonny Peralta - SS
Emil Brown - RF Ben Francisco - LF
Frank Thomas - DH Ryan Garko - 1B
Jack Cust - LF Travis Hafner - DH
Bobby Crosby - SS Franklin Gutierrez - RF
Jack Hannahan - 3B Kelly Shoppach - C
Donnie Murphy - 2B Jamey Carroll - 2B
Rob Bowen - C Andy Marte - 3B

LET'S GO OAKLAND!

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Yes.

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

by baseballgirl on May 15, 2008 9:01 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

WOO!!

Day Game! Just took a final, and now I’m ready for some ball.

Might as well Jump! - Van Halen

by sprtsnwyn on May 15, 2008 9:02 AM PDT   0 recs

Day?

I’m not even properly caffeinated at this point.

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 15, 2008 9:24 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Is there really a game on this early? Sweet!

I generally bemoan the profusion of Mr Sabermetric Sporks in the Scrabble ranks who don't know the meaning or usage of 50% of the words they use. -monkeyball

by JediLeroy on May 15, 2008 9:03 AM PDT   0 recs

Starts now!

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

by baseballgirl on May 15, 2008 9:04 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Just finished breakfast

working from home, and now a ballgame.

I just wish I didn’t have like 5 projects due today so I could have a cold one for the game.

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

by 5Aces on May 15, 2008 9:04 AM PDT   0 recs

Who is this Bowen guy?

"The Athletics at Fremont" is noxious

by ArakSOT on May 15, 2008 9:05 AM PDT   0 recs

Oh thank god

i just glanced at the lineup and didn’t notice zooks finally got the day off.

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

by 5Aces on May 15, 2008 9:07 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

interesting lineup

It’s so nice outside, I’m tempted to go the the giants game…

by OaklandSi on May 15, 2008 9:05 AM PDT   0 recs

Nice?!

It’s already roasting hot! That’s not nice!

AN 3.0's Search Function is *hawt*!

by Poppy on May 15, 2008 9:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's breezy, at least

Last night was dead calm until about 5 AM—terrible sleeping weather.

The candy and the baseball all night long :)

by Englishmajor on May 15, 2008 9:22 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Crazy hot wind in Oakland

There is some seriously strange weather happening here. I feel like I’m sitting in some other part of the world…

Too bad the A’s aren’t at home today; ATT Park is sounding like a good bet – 12:45 start vs. Miggy/Berkman.

by Mark H on May 15, 2008 9:27 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

In this weather

I wish there were a ballgame at Candlestick.

The candy and the baseball all night long :)

by Englishmajor on May 15, 2008 9:29 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

No baseball in Siberia

“You know it’s summertime at Candlestick when the fog rolls in, the wind kicks up, and you see the center fielder slicing open a caribou to survive the ninth inning. “

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 15, 2008 9:30 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

crazy hot?

Central Valley is bracing for our first 110+ day.

We gt to spend last night watching news items about all the community centers being opened up for people with little to n A/C and community pools open for free if we get above 110.

At least it will cool down in late October…

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

by 5Aces on May 15, 2008 9:34 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Great start

Might as well Jump! - Van Halen

by sprtsnwyn on May 15, 2008 9:08 AM PDT   0 recs

I did tell Rajai to bunt every AB

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

by baseballgirl on May 15, 2008 9:08 AM PDT   0 recs

Who's pitching?

I generally bemoan the profusion of Mr Sabermetric Sporks in the Scrabble ranks who don't know the meaning or usage of 50% of the words they use. -monkeyball

by JediLeroy on May 15, 2008 9:08 AM PDT   0 recs

Oh, THIS below! Hello!

The candy and the baseball all night long :)

by Englishmajor on May 15, 2008 9:08 AM PDT   0 recs

Haha...I deleted the other threads

Ooops :-)

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

by baseballgirl on May 15, 2008 9:10 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's early ;-)

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

by baseballgirl on May 15, 2008 9:10 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's early here too!

The candy and the baseball all night long :)

by Englishmajor on May 15, 2008 9:12 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Thank you

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

by doctorK on May 15, 2008 9:12 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Come on, Big Hurt!

The candy and the baseball all night long :)

by Englishmajor on May 15, 2008 9:10 AM PDT   0 recs

yay morning games!

boo morning meetings. :(

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on May 15, 2008 9:11 AM PDT   0 recs

The upside of unemployment

I go back to work next week (temporarily, three days a week).....I hate the thought of it, except for the getting paid part.

The candy and the baseball all night long :)

by Englishmajor on May 15, 2008 9:13 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Let's Go A's

Dare I say it – two-out rally

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

by doctorK on May 15, 2008 9:12 AM PDT   0 recs

dang

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

by doctorK on May 15, 2008 9:14 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ken does a wonderful job

of conveying with his voice exactly how unimpressive that Cust hit was.

The candy and the baseball all night long :)

by Englishmajor on May 15, 2008 9:14 AM PDT   0 recs

It was borderline disgust.

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

by baseballgirl on May 15, 2008 9:17 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Too bad Rajai's bunt wasn't fair!

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

by baseballgirl on May 15, 2008 9:14 AM PDT   0 recs

Cust = Rally Killer

What about Barry?
"Barry who?" Forst said, and I felt like I was in the middle of a knock-knock joke.

by KMoAsFan on May 15, 2008 9:15 AM PDT   0 recs

Crazy

82 degrees at 9am in Oakland, in May! 50-ish degrees in CLE at 11am or noon (whatever the time difference is).

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 15, 2008 9:15 AM PDT   0 recs

It’s endurable because we know it’ll be exactly the reverse for most of the summer.

The candy and the baseball all night long :)

by Englishmajor on May 15, 2008 9:20 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Anyone want the over??

Exactly 4 hitters out of 18 in the starting lineups with BA over 250

by madmongoose on May 15, 2008 9:15 AM PDT   0 recs

Cust starts off with his usual offering

Oh where did those homers go?

The greenmachine

by greenmachine on May 15, 2008 9:16 AM PDT   0 recs

Oh where did our OFFENSE go?

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

by baseballgirl on May 15, 2008 9:18 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't think he can use steroids anymore.

What about Barry?
"Barry who?" Forst said, and I felt like I was in the middle of a knock-knock joke.

by KMoAsFan on May 15, 2008 9:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Is that TRUE!?!?!?!?!

Smith hasn’t received a run in his last 3 starts?! That’s AWFUL!

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

by baseballgirl on May 15, 2008 9:19 AM PDT   0 recs

Welcome to Blanton's world

aka The 2008 Oakland A’s.

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 15, 2008 9:20 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Could you imagine...

they hype a guy like him would get on the BoSox or Yanks???

What about Barry?
"Barry who?" Forst said, and I felt like I was in the middle of a knock-knock joke.

by KMoAsFan on May 15, 2008 9:20 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

HAHA.

What about Barry?
"Barry who?" Forst said, and I felt like I was in the middle of a knock-knock joke.

by KMoAsFan on May 15, 2008 9:58 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Question for the Cust admirers

Does anyone really think Cust is the right person for this team- he’s an obvious liability in left field and even though he walks a ton, doesn’t the high strikeout ratio and feeble ground balls he’s fond of make him too much to continue with. Sorry, I just don’t like the dude.

The greenmachine

by greenmachine on May 15, 2008 9:19 AM PDT   0 recs

Try this link

here
Cust leads the team in WPA and BRAA, so yes, he is the right person for this team.

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

by doctorK on May 15, 2008 9:22 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

WPA

That has got to be a bogus stat. How the heck is there anyway to accurately measure that???

Cust really isn’t producing besides walks. Whats worse, is that he is a slow runner, and the A’s don’t steal a whole lot. I said it a while ago, but when the team doesn’t have a lot of XBH power you can’t just sit around waiting for someone to hit a double or HR like the roid infested A’s of the early 2000’s.

What about Barry?
"Barry who?" Forst said, and I felt like I was in the middle of a knock-knock joke.

by KMoAsFan on May 15, 2008 9:26 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ssshhhhhh...

Now that you have announced your Cust dislike, you must never attempt to discuss it… ;)

AN 3.0's Search Function is *hawt*!

by Poppy on May 15, 2008 9:22 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

He's our best hitter

and really the least likely to hit weak ground balls.

If you can’t appreciate being second in the AL in OBP, I can’t help you.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on May 15, 2008 9:22 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

BUT HE CLOGS THE BASES!

That’s really the argument being made here, and it just made me vomit all over my monitor.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on May 15, 2008 9:48 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes.

As long as he’s producing, I ignore the strikeouts completely.

Who do you propose to replace him with? He’s not an all star, but he’s an average corner OF. Average production for a position is not exactly something this team is getting much of right now.

by rageon on May 15, 2008 9:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Davis

Why is Davis leading off? Because he’s fast? Batting him first is indicative of Billy Beane dying 24 hours ago. I can’t think of any of reason it would happen.

by rageon on May 15, 2008 9:20 AM PDT   0 recs

Because he has a better chance of getting on base

than anyone except Frank Thomas, and HE’S not leading off?

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

by baseballgirl on May 15, 2008 9:22 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Who would you use?

There isn’t anyone else right now.

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

by baseballgirl on May 15, 2008 9:26 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hannahan

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on May 15, 2008 9:26 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

or really anyone else

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on May 15, 2008 9:27 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

really?

Because unless I’m wrong, he’s got the lowest OBP of anyone on the roster, if you include his games in San Fran.

Why can’t Thomas lead off? Because he’s slow? Isn’t that the sort of thinking the Athletics should be above at this point?

by rageon on May 15, 2008 9:26 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

He's not dead

He’s just stuck in the Kansas City airport waiting for a flight to Sacramento.

The candy and the baseball all night long :)

by Englishmajor on May 15, 2008 9:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Anyone seen Jennifer lately?

A coincidence? I think not.

by OldhamA on May 15, 2008 9:24 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Where is the...

HR power? Or gap power?

What about Barry?
"Barry who?" Forst said, and I felt like I was in the middle of a knock-knock joke.

by KMoAsFan on May 15, 2008 9:59 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

anyone know...

the last time A’s were shutout for an entire 3 game series??

by madmongoose on May 15, 2008 9:21 AM PDT   0 recs

The media guide says...

It hasn’t happened (yet). There have been three three-game stretches but never against the same opponent.

by 3rdDeckNet on May 15, 2008 9:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

On the other hand...

We shut out the Indians in 5 games of the 9 played against in 1968. Three of them were consecutive, but played in a 4-game series.

by 3rdDeckNet on May 15, 2008 9:27 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

True

Let’s hope the pitchers start pitching to him the same way they did last year, because he doesn’t seem to be able to adjust

The greenmachine

by greenmachine on May 15, 2008 9:21 AM PDT   0 recs

Where's M. Sweeney?

Why isn’t Mike Sweeney in the lineup with a lefty pitcher? I think Geren is dumb.

by sacto on May 15, 2008 9:22 AM PDT   0 recs

I'm guessing

His back might have trouble with a day game after a night game.

"Macha hates you"- Tacoma fans heckling Kielty

by zaniac75 on May 15, 2008 9:24 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I think Geren's dumb too

But I’m basing that opinion on the fact that he has not yet hired me as his Bench Coach. You’re basing your opinion on the fact that Big Sweeney is not in the lineup today? When there could be any number of reasons why he might not be, that have nothing to do with who Geren would prefer to have in the line up on any given day? Yup… between you, me, and Geren, Geren is definitely the dumb one.

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 15, 2008 9:25 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs