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DLD 5/23/08 - It's five o'clock somewhere...

Selfportrait_tiny by Poppy on

sfgate article on Baby Sweeney...

"Ryan is a special young player," Mike Sweeney said. "Go out and buy his jersey, he'll be with the Oakland A's for a long time."

I can just see it: Ryan is traded this coming offseason, and thousands of people try taking Mike to small claims court.

Something about the fact that the A's don't have Super Leadoff Guy. I kind of like never knowing what the lineup and/or batting order will be from one day to the next, but maybe that's because I don't actually care a lot (I do care a little... just not a lot).

Yeah, I know this isn't a Giants blog, but I like Omar Vizquel. That article describes an A's game and has quotes from Dave Stewart and Carney Lansford, so you can read it for that, if you like. (Nothing against them obviously, but I never saw them play.)

I really like Gregorio Petit, have seen absolutely nothing that I dislike about him, but that doesn't stop me from being yay happy about MaEl returning to the lineup tonight!

Re: The latest Zagaris blog entry (which may have already been posted here somewhere, I haven't been reading much this week) contains this series of images shot as Ellis concluded his walkoff jog around the bases... I love the second photo, how he's sort of just reaching in to barely toe the plate as he braces himself for the pummeling --



I'm not making a political comment, so don't freak -- "Ralph" just cracks me up:

If anyone would like to share the HTML secret code for a strikethrough (since the strikethrough button in the WYSIWYG editor still doesn't work), I'd appreciate it.

Have a dumptastic day & long weekend! My niece is graduating from Chico, so that's where I'll be :)

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Ralph should be worried

Check out the Secret Service agent behind HRC. He looks like he’s thinking about dropping the hammer on someone.

"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 23, 2008 10:20 AM PDT   0 recs

He looks like that guy from "Six Feet Under" and "Dexter"

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

by franks a lot on May 23, 2008 10:39 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Anthony Michael Hall

stat-addled alien overlord

by salb918 on May 23, 2008 11:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Tom T. Hall

Just look at me. How can you not quake in my presence? @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 23, 2008 12:55 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

does look like Fosse

“I was sittin in Miami….drinking blended whiskey down….when this old…”

alaska A

by ak_A on May 23, 2008 1:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

More cowbell damnit

"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagines such events unfolding!" Bill King

by Buck Turgidson on May 23, 2008 10:42 AM PDT   0 recs

if mikeA or xbhaskarx brings a dish to the AN Day V tailgate ...

... I’d advise being very careful what you say to either of them.

Just look at me. How can you not quake in my presence? @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 23, 2008 10:47 AM PDT   0 recs

What they were looking for, Carroll says, was an informant—someone to show up at "vegan potlucks" throughout the Twin Cities and rub shoulders with RNC protestors, schmoozing his way into their inner circles, then reporting back to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, a partnership between multiple federal agencies and state and local law enforcement.

I guess this means I should scrap my plan to spend Saturday making waffles with assorted PETA activists and Terrorist sympathizers.

by 74mk on May 23, 2008 10:56 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

some people don't believe in "vegan potluck" ...

They think that we can control it, and it’s vegan potclutch.

Just look at me. How can you not quake in my presence? @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 23, 2008 12:44 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

my bruschetta is pretty clutch

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on May 23, 2008 12:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

pretty clutch?

Just look at me. How can you not quake in my presence? @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 23, 2008 12:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Slusser article on Lil' Sweeney

Boy, did that read like a Crosby rookie-year profile.

And I heart Omar, too.

Just look at me. How can you not quake in my presence? @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 23, 2008 10:48 AM PDT   0 recs

yes it did.

"The two of them deserve each other. One's a born liar, the other's convicted."

by SwampyD on May 23, 2008 11:31 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Can I just point out that Embree and Thomas are playing Solitaire.

Discussing opposing pitchers and tendencies indeed!

by OldhamA on May 23, 2008 11:24 AM PDT   0 recs

LOL.

I noticed that too.

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 23, 2008 11:28 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

cheaters

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 May 23, 2008 2:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Huh

Maybe Joe Morgan was right:

Moody’s awarded incorrect triple-A ratings to billions of dollars worth of a type of complex debt product due to a bug in its computer models, a Financial Times investigation has discovered.
Internal Moody’s documents seen by the FT show that some senior staff within the credit agency knew early in 2007 that products rated the previous year had received top-notch triple A ratings and that, after a computer coding error was corrected, their ratings should have been up to four notches lower.

"Tomorrow it may rain." - Leo Durocher

by andeux on May 23, 2008 11:46 AM PDT   0 recs

what about their quadruple-A ratings?

What were Moody’s projections for Dan Johnson?

Just look at me. How can you not quake in my presence? @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 23, 2008 12:46 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Mike just wants to see more Sweeney jerseys in the stands...

Or maybe he does suspect an impending trade and plans on changing his uni number to 15.

by easyraider on May 23, 2008 11:49 AM PDT   0 recs

Strikethrough

I’ve always successfully employed < s > in the non-AN web universe, but it doesn’t work here. Gotta use < strike > instead.

Also, to get your links to automatically open in a new tab/window (always better, I think) add TARGET=”_blank” after the URL.

Like so:

< A HREF=”http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=123245” TARGET=”_blank”>Frank Thomas is awesome< /a>

=

Frank Thomas is awesome

by 74mk on May 23, 2008 11:56 AM PDT   0 recs

pwned

my “right click—Open Link in New Tab” beats your TARGET=”_blank” !!

by colin on May 23, 2008 1:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I also prefer

windows that DON’T open in a new window. I usually like to open in a new tab in the same window, which I do with right-click. But if I don’t right-click, I’d rather it opens in the same window than a new one. I hate having zillions of open windows.

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on May 23, 2008 2:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Firefox

Firefox can be configured to open all new windows in a tab instead. Click Tools->Options->Tabs.
Use Firefox.

Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa. -Field of Dreams

by IowaA'sFan on May 23, 2008 5:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

TGIF

that is all

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on May 23, 2008 12:11 PM PDT   0 recs

That is NOT all.

The baby is also playing basketball.

stat-addled alien overlord

by salb918 on May 23, 2008 12:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

spudw918?

Just look at me. How can you not quake in my presence? @('.')@

by monkeyball on May 23, 2008 12:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

LOL

AN 3.0's Search Function is *hawt*!

by Poppy on May 23, 2008 4:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The A's team OPS+ is 100, exactly average
  • The A’s are tenth in batting average in the AL, but fifth in OBP.
  • A typical day will see the A’s trot out the following OPS+s: 68, 89, 101, 108, 105, 153, 115, 93, 143. That’s three below average, four above average, and two excellent.

    The 68 and 89 are bound to get better, the above average guys have a decent chance to keep it up, and the two excellent have track records supporting this level of ability. With any luck, the 93 will be DFA’d or benched in favor of a prospect capable of much better.

  • The top 3 OPS in the AL were all acquired over the offseason, two for bargain rates and the third at a pretty good price. The top guy in the AL was DFA’d last year by his team.
  • Bobby Crosby has hit better than every AL shortstop except for Michael Young and Derek Jeter, two guys with awful defense.
  • According to RZR, Jack Hannahan is by far the premier defender at 3B in the AL.
  • Dana Eveland has a 2.000 OPS (smallish sample), but Geren refuses to pencil him into the lineup.

    • stat-addled alien overlord

    by salb918 on May 23, 2008 12:23 PM PDT   0 recs

    Jack Cust has a .700 SLG when he makes contact.

    Frank is at .600.

    stat-addled alien overlord

    by salb918 on May 23, 2008 12:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Some guys should go the other way. Some should not. Some don't care.
  • When BoCro pulls the ball he has a terrifying 1.340 OPS, .862 the other way, .400 up the middle. Frank: 1.067, .571, 1.049. Cust: 1.050, 1.583, .981.

    (All samples very small)

    • stat-addled alien overlord

    by salb918 on May 23, 2008 12:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Jack Cust:
    5 in the AL in OPS
    #5 in OPS+
    #4 in EqA
    #5 in wOBA
    #4 in K%

    The A's colors are green and gold.

    by mikeA on May 23, 2008 12:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    goodness!

    Who Ks more than Kust?

    Just look at me. How can you not quake in my presence? @('.')@

    by monkeyball on May 23, 2008 12:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    SeKsun, Ibb Kena, Kust-Komparison-Kid Thome

    The A's colors are green and gold.

    by mikeA on May 23, 2008 1:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    kolor me konfused by the sekond one

    Just look at me. How can you not quake in my presence? @('.')@

    by monkeyball on May 23, 2008 1:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    first name Karlos

    The A's colors are green and gold.

    by mikeA on May 23, 2008 1:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Dave Kameron: oops

    Said Dave:

    Generally, you’d look at a .161 batting average and conclude that the guy is just in a slump, and that regression to the mean will make that bounce back in the not too distant future. Jack Cust isn’t your normal hitter, though. He strikes out at unbelievable 41.4% clip, making contact less often than just about any other position player in recent history.

    Said salb918:

    FYI, Marcel (as of today, and knowing nothing about BIP distribution) sees Cust at a .326 BABIP and .374/.666 AVG/SLG on-contact. All three of those numbers are significantly lower than his career averages.

    Cust on contact in 2008: .384/.698

    stat-addled alien overlord

    by salb918 on May 23, 2008 1:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    And .329 BABIP.

    stat-addled alien overlord

    by salb918 on May 23, 2008 1:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Dave:

    If we observe that Cust lacks the requisite skills to post a high on base percentage, that is more useful for projecting his future production than what he did in 400 at-bats last year.

    The powers of observation are strong in this one.

    The A's colors are green and gold.

    by mikeA on May 23, 2008 1:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Previous Dave Cameron discussion

    here.

    "Tomorrow it may rain." - Leo Durocher

    by andeux on May 23, 2008 1:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    thanks for posting that

    now i don’t have to look for my list of dave cameron’s stupid a’s-related comments.

    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 May 23, 2008 3:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Since I've not seen this linked

    this comment is probably the one DC is most famous for:

    Cano
    I guess I should have nominated Cano in the most overrated prospect thread the other day. That he still gets talked up as some kind of top prospect (not pointing at John here, by the way) amazes me.

    I’ve seen Cano play a lot, and I’m not even sure he’d be a productive Triple-A player. Let’s start with his defense; it’s brutal. He has terrible footwork and simply lacks any kind of instincts around the bag. There’s no way you want him playing up the middle. He might have the raw speed to not be awful in left field, but that’s about as kind as I can be regarding his glovework.

    Offensively, he’s a fastball hitter. He sits dead red on every pitch and waits for a mistake. Any good breaking ball or offspeed pitch will have him out in front. He’s mostly a gap hitter, lacking the power to drive the ball consistently over the wall. To add insult to injury, he’s also a terrible baserunner.

    In his prime, I think he could hit .280/.320/.400 while playing awful defense. Yipee.

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

    by rfloh on May 25, 2008 10:55 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Dave Cameron has been predicting Cust’s collapse for a year now, so a stopped clock is right once a year. Cust will blast out of this slump like all the ones before, and again Dave will hope this analysis, like much of his, disappears in time never to be brought up again.

    Classic.

    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 23, 2008 5:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Hanahanahana is that good?

    towards the top in Defense? One of the higher OBP among 3rd Basemen? All acquired for a song and a dance?

    is he better than Chavez? What are they going to do when he comes back? Right field?

    Let's have our Piazza and eat the Cust too - SPWC

    by closetasfan on May 23, 2008 1:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    NASA prepares for the Seven Minutes of Terror

    Link
    When I saw the headline, I thought they were talking about a Huston Street appearance.

    "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 23, 2008 12:31 PM PDT   0 recs

    "Huston, we have a..."

    oh, nevermind.

    stat-addled alien overlord

    by salb918 on May 23, 2008 12:34 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    So does that mean

    They got stuck going into the hall closet with the fat kid when the head cheerbabe was sitting right next to her?

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

    by 5Aces on May 23, 2008 1:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Omar for HOF?

    Link

    Personally, I love the guy and think from visual evidence that he’s one of the all-time greats defensively, and his durability has got to be worth something. I’d be interested (though not deeply invested in) what the various defensive stats have to say.

    His offense, though … he started out awful, and his improvement was entirely coincident with the arrival of Wascawwy Bud Sewig’s Wabbit Baww.

    Just look at me. How can you not quake in my presence? @('.')@

    by monkeyball on May 23, 2008 12:43 PM PDT   0 recs

    The defensive stats have loved his aged glove

    so presumably his youthful glove was all it was cracked up to be.

    The A's colors are green and gold.

    by mikeA on May 23, 2008 12:46 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Depends

    Since people have already crunched the numbers, I’ll just link this thread on BBTF which is mainly anti Vizquel for HOF, for D see specifically posts 49, and 52:


    Here are the best 10 shortstops of all time by Dan Fox’s simple fielding runs, which likes Vizquel more than ZR and dislikes Smith more than ZR.

    Ozzie Smith 199
    Mark Belanger 198
    Cal Ripken 165
    Bert Campaneris 144
    Omar Vizquel 140
    Rick Burleson 123
    Chris Speier 104
    Roger Metzger 104
    Alan Trammell 88
    Rey Sanchez 88


    Zone rating doesn’t like him:
    Omar grades out as 97 runs above average on defense for his career (including +10, +10, +24 his last three years in SF) according to SG’s UZR database. He rates as +5.6 per 150 by this mark.
    (FWIW – the database only has the last 10 years of Ozzie’s career – from ages 33 to 42. In those years, he scores 134 runs above average, or +17 per 150. And that’s in his decline years. The two just aren’t comparable in terms of defensive value.)

    The poster means ZR, not UZR.

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

    by rfloh on May 25, 2008 11:07 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    One of bill james'

    traditional questions about a guy’s HOFworthiness is “was the guy famous?” Re vizquel, my response would be “Who’s vizquel?”

    by Hot Cup Joe on May 23, 2008 3:02 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    He scores well in Scrabble.

    Better than Saltalamacchia, even.

    formerly known as mdl

    by iglew on May 23, 2008 3:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Interesting little lay-ditty in the WSJ on pitch f/x.

    It is linkable, I hope, here.

    Also http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121149546083915647.html

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

    by The Dogfather on May 23, 2008 1:15 PM PDT   0 recs

    {snerk}

    up to nine inches of vertical drop and more than seven inches of horizontal movement

    Just look at me. How can you not quake in my presence? @('.')@

    by monkeyball on May 23, 2008 1:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Vertical drop is for show-ers.

    I tend to put more faith in horizontal movement.

    But then, I have no choice.

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

    by The Dogfather on May 23, 2008 1:35 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Well we might not be able to get a bag of balls for Davis, but we could get some

    bats.

    Independent team deals pitcher for 10 maple bats

    So about a month after being acquired by a Canadian team, Odom found himself on the roster of a team on the Mexican border. All for the price of 10 Prairie Sticks Maple Bats, double-dipped black 34-inch C243 style.

    According to the Prairie Sticks Web site, their maple bats retail for $69 a piece, discounted to $65.50 for purchases of six to 11 bats.

    The Vipers had signed Odom, but it seems Odom had a “minor,” but unspecified, criminal record that he did not reveal to immigration officials before they scanned his passport.

    Calgary found the Broncos were willing to take Odom, but the Vipers weren’t interested in any of the Laredo players.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/minorlbb/news/story?id=3409864

    by theblackpearl on May 23, 2008 1:26 PM PDT   0 recs

    I tell yah, does not get better than this.

    Sunny, blue-sky day in Alaska, the water is shimmering, the snowcapped peaks, it’s Friday….and the A’s host the RedSox tonight….will have the door open to the deck, gas grilling….and to think, jeebus, I will probably be in some stupid suburb of Denver in six to eight weeks from now….crapola.

    alaska A

    by ak_A on May 23, 2008 1:29 PM PDT   0 recs

    Gobal Warming...

    Feels like winter here in SoCal. Rain, cold, tornadoes…never like this in May.

    by easyraider on May 23, 2008 1:45 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    But none of that matters

    I, too, have the A’s-Sox on Extra Innings tonight…first game since Monday!

    by easyraider on May 23, 2008 1:46 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

    Just wait 'til...

    ...the day after tomorrow

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

    by The Dogfather on May 23, 2008 1:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs