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Goat_tiny by Nico on

 

Monkeyball was at the game tonight, I believe, on a night that was cold not because of the fog, but rather due to the constant breeze batters produced as they swung at pitches by Matt Cain and Rich Harden.

Cain struck out 8 in the first 3 innings, while Harden struck out the side in the 3rd to give him 6 at that point. Harden would settle for 9 Ks in 6 dominant innings (one hit, no runs), while Cain finished 7+ innings with a season-high 11 strikeouts.

In the last four games between the A's and the Giants, San Francisco has scored exactly one run - and that run was Omar Vizquel's steal of home last night.

What stands out to me is that the A's are firing on all "little things" cylandars right now. They have three sacrifice flies in the series (which is good news for the local population of sacrifice frogs), they are walking, bunting for hits, putting on the occasional hit-and-run, going first to third, and whacking the first pitch - as Cust did tonight for an RBI double in the first inning - to the point where Oakland's offense is as unpredictable as it is effective.

Sure, tonight the offense got some help, twice scoring on wild pitches, but I have to tip my hat to Oakland for hanging 3 ER on Matt Cain on a night where he was dealing. A word to the wise: Go for the jugular while you can and get the sweep tomorrow, because the trip to Arizona will be a major challenge with the A's facing Brandon Webb, Danny Haren, and Doug Davis. Though if Oakland continues to create, and take advantage of, opportunities, and gets pitching anything like they got tonight, things might just work themselves out.

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And most importantly

the Angels have a negative run differential

by GeorgiaBoy on Jun 14, 2008 9:32 PM PDT   0 recs

I almost wish they would just win some game 30-3

so I could stop thinking about how unfair that is.

Grrr.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 14, 2008 9:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

of course, even if the Halos won 30-3 tomorrow...

the A’s would still have a better run differential, unless the A’s lose 26-0 to the Giants tomorrow.

Foolsh, the most insane regular poster on AN since oaktoon left - salb

by FoolshGame22 on Jun 14, 2008 11:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Harden continues to impress with his consistency

both with his dominence and being able to stay healthy. (which we all know for him, is harder than it seems)

I hope he can continue, he’s a treat to watch.

CarGon had a real nice single. Great hitting from the youngster. It seemed like a “powerful rip” which from a’s batters we don’t see that often. I think the kid has a ton of upside were going to enjoy watching

by TheGreenGoldCrush on Jun 14, 2008 9:35 PM PDT   0 recs

The ball just jumps off his bat

He had a couple unimpressive ABs earlier in the game/series but when he hits the ball, even when it’s pretty near a fielder sometimes it’s past them in a blur. Now I can see how he had a double to Catalanotto’s right in Texas – which seemed odd at the time (listening on radio).

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 Jun 14, 2008 9:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

previous at bats

i missed em tonight, but saw he had some poor results. His stance is extremely similar to swish’s. But i agree he seems patient and decicive when he does swing. I think that results in a powerful swing when he’s making contact.

I think his bat in the early years will be what this lineup needs, a solid hitter for average, can hit for extra bases, keep rallies going, move runners, rbi guy. We seem to have grounder hitters or homerun hitters and its nice to have a hitter with carcon’s style to come up to really boost momentum.

by TheGreenGoldCrush on Jun 14, 2008 10:07 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

He was a bit overmatched his first 3 ABs,

but most of that was Cain – he had a lot of guys overmatched. And Rivera took him to task to end the game Wednesday, but…he’s Rivera. So not a big deal.

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 Jun 14, 2008 10:09 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Cust's double in the first was huge

1. It took the pressure off of Harden by giving him a lead.
2. It put the Gnats back on their heels by putting them down against a dominating hitter.

And Zookie throwing Lewis out on a 3-1 swinging strike was just as big.

"There's m'fn sprinklers on the m'fn infield!'" - Ice Cream (AN), 6/13/08

by doctorK on Jun 14, 2008 9:38 PM PDT   0 recs

Zook's throw was amazing

Lewis had that bag entirely stolen off of Harden. Huge jump—no way he should have been out … yet he was.

Is it prurient? I don’t know what to tell you. I think it’s odd and interesting. It’s part of life. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 14, 2008 10:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The missed call on second that went against the A's....

The idea of instant replay is beginning to grow on me. That was awful. How did it look at the game?

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Jun 14, 2008 10:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I was there, a lot of people were saying "I thought he was safe"

...one Japanese woman standing in the lobby surrounded by Red Sox fans turned to her companion and said, "These Boston people are awful." -Slusser

by stormtown on Jun 14, 2008 10:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I missed it

I think what happened was that Swooney beat the ball to the bag, but that he came off the bag and got tagged.

But I really don’t know. It was awfully close either way. And it was a nice play by Durham.

Is it prurient? I don’t know what to tell you. I think it’s odd and interesting. It’s part of life. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 14, 2008 11:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

nope... he wasn't tagged...

ump was in a bad position and, possibly, was blocked the Vizquel. Didn’t help that the ump was ducking to get out of the way of a possible throw to third. I don’t think he even saw Swooney’s foot.

Foolsh, the most insane regular poster on AN since oaktoon left - salb

by FoolshGame22 on Jun 14, 2008 11:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It was a terrible call

The umpire was not even looking at the play. He called Sweeney out because he thought the flip from Durham was going to arrive sooner than it did.

Apropos: Can we tie Rajai Davis to the second base bag? I mean, come on.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 14, 2008 11:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

at this point, I'd like to just see Rajai DFA'ed

He’s fast, but a simply terrible baserunner. And while he’s a good-fielding CFer, he’s a worse hitter than Emil. Having him on the bench is too great a temptation for Geren to intentionally ditch Cust’s bat late in close games.

Is it prurient? I don’t know what to tell you. I think it’s odd and interesting. It’s part of life. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 15, 2008 12:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

If you're a specialist, you better be really good at your specialty

and Rajai Davis, despite his tremendous speed, doesn’t look like he’s that good a baserunner.

On pure speed plays - scoring from 2nd on a single or 1st on a double, or tagging up at 3rd - he’s very effective. But he hasn’t shown much ability to take bases on his own.

If Vizquel had Davis’s footspeed, he probably would have gotten to the plate before Smith even got rid of the ball on Friday night. But Vizquel evidently didn’t need Davis’s speed, and Davis doesn’t have Vizquel’s baserunning skills.

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

by Nick on Jun 15, 2008 8:01 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I think that's harsh

He’s proven his ability to steal bases in high leverage situations, and with a plodding team like ours (especially when Frank gets back) a pinch runner who can run is a big help. I’d rather give him time to figure out the base running (where’s Rickey when you need a coach) than get rid of him.

Brown, on the other hand, serves no purpose except to pinch strikeout in interleague games.

by nevermoor on Jun 15, 2008 8:30 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

He's a career 76% basestealer (34/45)

which is about break-even—nothing really spectacular.

As far as him figuring out baserunning is concerned…in addition to about a season’s worth of ML games over the years, Davis has played 625 games in the minors, covering over 2,400 ABs. He’s had tons of time to figure out how to maximize his speed on the bases. Even in the minors, his SB % was only 78%. I don’t see any reason to believe he’ll suddenly become Davey Lopes or Tim Raines (or Omar Vizquel, for that matter!) on the bases. And the A’s would be foolish to give him a few hundred ABs in the majors to see if he’ll figure it out with enough practice.

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

by Nick on Jun 15, 2008 8:41 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

For whatever reason, while appearing "stupid"

on the basepaths, Raj appears smart in the OF. I do feel good about having him in CF in the late innings. It’s a shame he can’t transfer his defensive instincts to the bases, because a .100 hitter with plus speed and plus defense will help the A’s more than an “RBI machine” who isn’t. But as Nick points out, Davis doesn’t really have plus speed – he’s just really really fast.

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 Jun 15, 2008 9:04 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Assuming Raj is DFA'd for Buck

There really isn’t a need for a defensive specialist in the late innings. Cust will be back to fulltime DH and if Emil does start a game now and again, you can replace him late with Buck, Sweeney, or Gonzalez. Raj just doesn’t have a role. When Thomas comes back, Emil goes.

by boilerdan on Jun 15, 2008 9:33 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Harden and Duke-- Best 1-2 punch in majors??

It’s hard to assert this when they’ve barely thrown 100 innings—but seriously—right now, are there two better anywhere?

Other possibilities: Lee and Sabathia; lackey and santana; Lincicum and Cain; Haren and Webb; Contreras and Floyd—Others???

Right now—June 14, 2008 in the year of our Tiger, I’ll go with our guys.

by madmongoose on Jun 14, 2008 9:42 PM PDT   0 recs

that jays rotation is pretty nasty right now, maybe halladay marcum

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 Jun 14, 2008 9:44 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

knew I left someone out

But I bet our guys’ poripherals are better—they just don’t have the innings.

by madmongoose on Jun 14, 2008 9:48 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Data is Interesting

Lots of guys with small sample sizes having big years—Kazmir, Lackey, Duke among them.

Lincecim is probably having the best season of anyone so far—but Cain was below average ERA+ until tonight, so it’s hard to make them the best duo. The 2nd guy has to be solid;

In terms of two starters who have been there all year—as opposed to all the injury cases—it’s a toss-up between Marcum-Halladay and Lee-Laffey.

But if you look just at the core peripherals per start—and give more credit to a 2nd fiddle (who in our case is actually Harden) who is close to the first guy in achievement than a more imbalanced duo—then it is either the Slingblade-Santana combo or our guys who rate the best.

by madmongoose on Jun 14, 2008 10:01 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

and....

both Judy (Holliday) and Oye Como Va got roughed up tonite. So i think as of this moment we do have the best 1-2 punch in any rotation.

by madmongoose on Jun 14, 2008 10:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Last three years

there aren’t three pitchers who’ve been better than Harden.

Halladay has…. And Webb…Possibly Lackey. Harden is simply an awesome talent that is not easily duplicated. Just makes the past (and future) injuries more frustrating.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jun 14, 2008 10:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Johan Santana, n'est ce pas?

Certainly if you mean the last three calendar years, since he was basically unbeatable from mid-2005 to the end of 2006.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 15, 2008 12:00 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

forgot about him

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jun 15, 2008 12:47 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

is casilla expected back tomorrow?

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 Jun 14, 2008 9:44 PM PDT   0 recs

Probably Tuesday

According to Geren, he would like Casilla to make one more appearance Monday with Sacramento:

Your team is your child...You love it no matter what.

by TheRaiderWay on Jun 15, 2008 2:37 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Odd question

Just wondering when Oakland plays at SF do the players have a team hotel or is it treated logistically like another home game??

Anyway a nice win. The team is coming together. I still think they need to add another good hitter in Thomas’ absence, that being said I think we are moving in the right direction

by Yellowhorse on Jun 14, 2008 9:44 PM PDT   0 recs

You think our ownership is springing for hotel rooms??

When the park is 10 miles away??

I think not.

by madmongoose on Jun 14, 2008 9:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Thought so

Just one of those odd questions that popped up during the game. I figure on game days in oakland the players just show up to the park on their own, I wonder if its the same situation for games in SF.

by Yellowhorse on Jun 14, 2008 9:55 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I would think that the players would prefer to sleep in their own beds

Makes the “road” trip seem like a home series.

"There's m'fn sprinklers on the m'fn infield!'" - Ice Cream (AN), 6/13/08

by doctorK on Jun 14, 2008 9:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

KenKo mentioned riding the team bus

from Oakland to the PacBell Park. I think they drive to the Oakland Stadium, then all go over on the bus together (just like they would go on the bus from the hotel in a “away game” city).

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Jun 14, 2008 9:55 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

They don't ride the bus together on the road either

There is a team bus, from hotel to park, every day like clockwork. But only coaches and broadcasters ride it. In fact it’s a classic joke on the fresh callup…tell him to take the team bus on the road, then laugh at him for being the doofus who rode the bus. Big leaguers take cabs and limos.

I’m sure the players made their own way to PacBell. Except maybe that greenhorn CarGon.

How do the angels get to sleep when the devil leaves the porchlight on?

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 14, 2008 10:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

FSU..

You wrote:

Big leaguers take cabs and limos.

So, this story (source, MLB.com) is some sort of “myth”, because everyone was taking cabs and limos>

Disgusted after Oakland’s 11th consecutive loss on the road, Chavez on June 9 stood up on a team bus following the third game of a three-game sweep at the hands of the Nationals and asserted himself among his teammates for the first time in his career.

The message was directed mainly at a collection of young players, from whom Chavez hadn’t been sensing the appropriate level of professionalism, and the team responded. The A’s won two of three in Atlanta to start a tear that took them from 23-36 and 11 games out of first place in the AL West to 66-48 and alone atop the division standings on Aug. 11.

“That was a big moment for Chavvy and a big moment for us as a team,” veteran pitcher Barry Zito said. “It was great to see him put himself out there like that, and we kind of took off after that.”

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Jun 15, 2008 10:20 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That was the bus to the airport

for their flight to Atlanta.

How do the angels get to sleep when the devil leaves the porchlight on?

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 15, 2008 10:33 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

mariners now 20 games below .500

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 Jun 14, 2008 10:01 PM PDT   0 recs

Ouch.

Willie Randolph should be looking for a job soon. Maybe he can help out.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Jun 14, 2008 10:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hmm, I don't know how good a manager Willie Randolph is -

I think I’ll watch tomorrow’s games and make a full determination one way or the other based on how his team does on one day.

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 Jun 14, 2008 10:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I was thinking he could hit cleanup....

He’s got to be better than whoever it is that’s doing it now.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Jun 14, 2008 10:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Jose Vidro, Richie Sexson...

...Miguel Batista, Carlos Silva…

I don’t know what went wrong.

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 Jun 14, 2008 10:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It doesn't make sense does it?

How can one GM be so unlucky?

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Jun 14, 2008 10:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

< orders alox to sit at his locker and think about it >

< orders alox to sit in front of his locker and think about it >

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 Jun 14, 2008 10:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

f’ing new AN…

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 Jun 14, 2008 10:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

LOL....

more ineptitude in the workplace. The pacific northwest may be just the place for me.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Jun 14, 2008 10:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

didn't you pick them to challenge the Angels...

for the AL West title this year?

Foolsh, the most insane regular poster on AN since oaktoon left - salb

by FoolshGame22 on Jun 14, 2008 11:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Think about who's hiring him.

Being good at managing is not going to be the winning skill set.

So it goes.

by jeepers on Jun 15, 2008 7:42 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks for taking care of the game wrap, Nico!

And thanks to The Dogfather (and the Pups) for a sweet ticket and a sweet time.

Four key decisions observed from up close tonight:
1. Cust jumping on the first pitch from Cain in the 1st (and when he hit it, he hit it hard). Very smart decision to go after Cain’s early hittable strikes—his pattern (and it obtained for most of the game, Cust’s double excepted) is to be basically unhittable for the frist 5-6 innings.
2. Geren’s decision to not bring Harden out for the 7th. Harden looked extremely smooth early, but in the 4th and the 6th, he started getting really wobbly and overthrowing the ball. While Harden’s pitch count and ultimate results weren’t prohibitive of his starting the 7th, his mechanics and process were. And even though the 7th, 8th, and 9th featured lots of Giant baserunners, they were mostly the fault of the A’s fielders, not the pitchers.
3. Rowand’s decision to dive for Suzuki’s single triple. Just flat-out stupid in any situation, but especially trailing 1-0 late against a good pitching staff. (Props, by the way, to Suzuki and Barton for both hitting a couple balls very hard tonight.)
4. Molina’s decision to forget that Ellis was on third base on the first run-scoring WP. Molina’s slow enough already, but it was clear that he zoned on the fact that Ellis was on base.

The A’s didn’t really execute any better than the Giants tonight (pitching on both sides was mostly excellent, hitting on both sides was mostly absent, and fielding from both teams was mixed)—but they did make much better decisions consistently throughout the game.

Is it prurient? I don’t know what to tell you. I think it’s odd and interesting. It’s part of life. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 14, 2008 10:20 PM PDT   0 recs

yeah that was a stupid decision by rowand

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 Jun 14, 2008 10:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jun 14, 2008 10:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

can i have $20?

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 Jun 14, 2008 10:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

he really looked great the first 3 innings

By the end of the season, though, I have a feeling we’re going to have a 6-man rotation of starters who each only goes 5 innings.

Is it prurient? I don’t know what to tell you. I think it’s odd and interesting. It’s part of life. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 14, 2008 11:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

We were fortunate on the seats, and my kid got a collector's item ...

... an inning-ending ball caught by none other than Jack Cust—in the AIR! (just for emPHAsis)

I think I need to quit picking on his defense, for a trinity of reasons:

1-the above generosity,
2-the observable fact that it seems to be improving, and
3—history’s highest pop foul at the Coli last week. It was a very lonely feeling standing under it, having no idea where it was going to land, and secretly hoping it was somewhere else. A very scary, nearly eternal three-or-four seconds. (It landed about three rows in front) So I think I have some new appreciation of the terrors that inhabit left field.

Anyway, because I’m special and the Deity stays busy teaching me things, preferably in threes, I intend to go and sin no more.

Can I get an “Amen?”

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

by The Dogfather on Jun 16, 2008 7:56 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Good to see they are protecting Harden

Harden, whose injury history is always a lurking subplot, was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the top of the seventh with a pitch count of 95, and he was fine with Geren’s decision to go to the bullpen.

“After my last start, I wasn’t feeling quite 100 percent for a few days; my arm was a little sore,” Harden offered. “I’d like to get my pitch count up a little more, but we have some time to do that. It’s still early.”

“We wanted to keep him around 100 pitches,” Geren said. “He’s had a great year for us, and I want to keep it that way. ... Just protecting him a little bit.”

by Trainman on Jun 14, 2008 10:30 PM PDT   0 recs

"There's really no weak link on our pitching staff,"

Harden said. “We have a lot of different choices, and they’re all good. I have a lot of confidence in them.”

When Casilla and Devine get back, our pitching staff will be even better.

by javaball on Jun 14, 2008 10:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

From the SF Chronicle

Harden said he hadn’t felt 100 percent after his last start when he’d thrown a couple of high-intensity pitches to Vladimir Guerrero (one topped 100 mph). He had an extra day off before Saturday’s start, and he said he felt great.

LOL the high octane gas to Vladdy

by Trainman on Jun 14, 2008 11:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

One night after being routed by the Phillies in a 20-2 loss,

where Tony La Russa used a position player for mop-up pitching duty, the Cardinals beat the Phillies 3-2. It reminds me of a series in 2007, when the A’s faced the Cardinals. The A’s also routed the Cardinals in the first game, and La Russa used a position player to pitch the last inning, then they came back to beat the A’s in the next two games and won the series.

by javaball on Jun 14, 2008 10:47 PM PDT   0 recs

Must break my streak!

A’s record with me in attendence. After starting the year 5-1 The A’s have lost 4 in a row!
I’ll be there tomorrow. Hopefully the change of venue will help. Both my cousin and I will be sporting the Zero splash hits shirts.

by fansince1980 on Jun 14, 2008 11:06 PM PDT   0 recs

Notable but probably known by most.

We are only 3.5 games out of 1st place! Perusing the schedule… it should be obvious whether we are contenders or pretenders around July 14th.

I hope this Harden guy sticks around for a while longer…

Was Black Snake Moan a comedy or a drama?

by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 14, 2008 11:36 PM PDT   0 recs

Giants fans

are getting a little treat in seeing how much better, athletic, and exciting the A’s are than the Giants. I hope some of them turn on SF and become OAK fans! I’m also digging the Let’s Go Oakland Chants @ AT&T Park!

But the most important stat tonight – Angels 4, Braves 9! And we’re 3.5 games back! Let’s Go A’s!

It's Been A Great Year! Thanks Warriors!

by ballin on Jun 14, 2008 11:57 PM PDT   0 recs

I doubt that many will convert, ...

if any convert!
After all, which team has been to the World Series since 2000? Since 1992? Only the Giants.
Giant fans may see many a superior team here in 2008, but they stick with what they have taken allegiance to.

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Jun 15, 2008 10:26 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Lucky us

getting Webb and Haren to start the Arizona series.

I was watching Tiger Woods go nuts at the U.S. Open, so missed the early part of the game, but I can’t say I was impressed with the team’s sloppy fielding at the tail end. The Giants don’t have enough punch to take advantage of it, but that gets you beat in a lot of games.

Street was throwing 90 mile an hour fastballs, according to the TV.

On Friday’s game, Zito just seems like a sad case right now. The curveball is still great, and he seems able to switch speeds okay, but his command isn’t good enough to get away with the weak stuff he was tossing up there.

by bear88 on Jun 15, 2008 12:19 AM PDT   0 recs

My one complaint

I really don’t get why Street’s been out there in back to back games with a 4-run lead. Maybe we need him today to protect a one-run lead or keep a tie game going and he’s either ineffective or unavailable.

by Faust on Jun 15, 2008 7:30 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That was really weird

They shouldn’t even have had him up in the first place considering how unlikely it is that a team comes back from 3 runs down. The fact that it’s “a save situation” is not a sufficiently good reason to use a guy two days in a row.

Then it became a non-save situation, and I REALLY don’t understand what Street was doing out there in that situation.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 15, 2008 10:21 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It makes me wonder if Brown couldn't go,

and suddenly Street was their only option (with Calero right now, it’s quite likely that a team comes back from 3 runs down!). I agree, PT, that I would have preferred Brown with a 3-run lead. But even if Geren felt differently, clearly Brown was up for “if it became a non-save situation” – which it did. There has to be some more to why Brown didn’t go in.

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 Jun 15, 2008 10:29 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Geren's pattern

He uses Street with the lead. Recall the Texas game in which the A’s had a 6-run lead or something.

I don’t think Brown was suddenly unavailable. I think Geren wants to use Street in these situations.

by bear88 on Jun 15, 2008 11:46 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Then why was Brown throwing?

In Texas, Street hadn’t pitched for several days and Arlington is known for wacky 17-16 type outcomes. Last night seemed odd – like Brown would have come in had he been available.

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 Jun 15, 2008 12:40 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Maybe Harden will play nice

Like Zito did. Of course, for Haren it would actually be a favor

by nevermoor on Jun 15, 2008 8:33 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

did anyone else watch the Sox-Reds game today?

Adam Dunn is a stunningly bad outfielder. He looks like Will Ferrell flailing away in his underwear.

Is it prurient? I don’t know what to tell you. I think it’s odd and interesting. It’s part of life. @('.')@

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