DLD for 6/17/08
by A'sfaninNC on Jun 17, 2008 7:57 AM PDT
73 comments
Going around the typical morning new/sports sites here are some of the interesting (not really but what the heck in some cases) things going around this morning.
First, some background/filler information about the up coming series. A trade last December between Arizona and Oakland has made what many (outside of AN) thought to be a hoe hum interleague series into one with a little drama as 3 pieces of that trade are currently up with the A’s, manning CF and making up 2/5 of Oakland’s rotation. And Dan Haren will pitch game 2 of the 3 game set. In the same report (the Team Report from Yahoo Sports) there was a bit of info about the other half of the prospects from the Haren deal, the high points being:
“Outfielder Arron Cunninghamis batting .287 at Class AA Midland after missing more than a month left-hander Brett Anderson is 8-2 with a 2.23 ERA if you throw out the two starts he made with the injury and OF/DH Chris Carter is at Stockton, and while he started slow, he’s batting .306 in June and has hit 16 home runs on the year.”
Then after the sweep of the Giants (just really like repeating that) 3B Eric Chavez has 770 career RBIs a number that ties him with Reggie Jackson for fourth on Oakland all-time list. So congratulations to Chavvy for that.
Finally from the A’s site over at MLB.com Mychael Urban, thinks that Travis Bucks struggles are both physical and mental and that he will iron them out. Not that great of news there and not the most socking thing to here. But here is the link:
The mail bag section there also talks about his thoughts on Joe Blanton being traded, on Chad Gaudin being used more or traded, and on the thoughts on the A’s drafting 2B Jemile Weeks. Decent little post from yesterday.
Go A’s
4 recs |
73 comments
Email
Print
Comments
Angels, Mets Musings
I’m one of those ANers who really respect the way the Angels play the game. I watch pretty much every A’s-Angels game and it seems like they push every inning. The surprise to me, then, is why this club has scored fewer runs than it has allowed. Last year, too, really: it seemed like they had a terrific club, and although they did win the division, it seems like they never really got it going. If it were someone else, you’d almost wonder about the manager, and why a club with such outstanding pitching and so many stars can’t be more dominant. For a first place club with a good record, do they really frighten anyone? Not so much as you might think.
As for the Mets … I like Randolph and can’t imagine he’s the guy to blame, but I went to a couple of their games in San Francisco last week and man the whole club just looked dead. No one ran anywhere. Guys slowly jogged off the field between innings, jogged to fly balls in the gap, jogged to first base on grounders … again and again and again. It seemed rather clearly like they were just going through the motions, waiting for someone to hit a ball over the fence. Something had to be done. Watching guys making $10 million a year just go through the motions is pretty painful.
by solotar on Jun 17, 2008 8:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
About the Angels
I didn’t realize the Angels had been outscored on the year, but they have. I’ve wondered the same thing every year: everyone talks about how the Angels “manufacture runs” yet we, with our less than great offense, tend to outscore them on the year, or at least make it close. The reality is that the Angels, despite the appearance that they score a lot of runs due to bunting, stealing, being “aggressive on the basepaths”, run into a LOT of outs on the basepaths on their way to scoring the one or two runs they need with their excellent pitching staff. They get the job done, so I’m not scolding them for it, but if their pitching slips at all, they won’t score enough to win.
For them, it’s about appearances: they appear to be aggressive and their players/coaches constantly talk about how much their offense benefits from this approach, when the reality is that it stifles them considerably. People will always pereive them as having a good offense because of this. They have good players, like Vlad, etc., but they should be scoring far more runs than they typically do.
by Crosbino on Jun 17, 2008 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The way they play
is exactly why they don’t score more runs!!
"If it were someone else, you’d almost wonder about the manager"WHY? You should wonder that now. Scocia has done nothing, but prove that he doesn’t no how to maximize the 27 outs his team has in order to get the most runs.
The angels win because of pitching!! See 2005 white sox for an example of the exact same thing!
"I can't wait for tommorrow, cause I get so much cooler every day" - shirt worn by Swish
by Bigtoe on Jun 17, 2008 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, faninNC!
Why don’t you edit the title of your diary and call it today’s Daily Link Dump?
Don't blame me, I voted for Ice Cream
by Englishmajor on Jun 17, 2008 8:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
+!
Seconded
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Jun 17, 2008 9:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I meant +1
!!!
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Jun 17, 2008 9:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
And recommended to facillitate.
How do the angels get to sleep when the devil leaves the porchlight on?
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 17, 2008 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There you go and sorry relatively new at AN
and thought that was someone elses thing. But after futher research i see that the DLD is for universal use. Will correct hence forth and forever.
by A'sfaninNC on Jun 17, 2008 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are aware of all internet traditions
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fastest mememonkey in the West
Don't blame me, I voted for Ice Cream
by Englishmajor on Jun 17, 2008 11:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Assuming this becomes the DLD
News came over the wire early this morning that the Mets have fired manager Willie Randolph, pitching coach Rick Peterson, and first base coach Tom Nieto. Jerry Manuel becomes the interim manager.
Pessimism FTW! ... Wait what?
by Zonis on Jun 17, 2008 9:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The Flag Day Massacre?
[checks calendar]
Crap, they missed it by a couple of days. Why are there so few holidays in baseball season?
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jun 17, 2008 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe the Gnats can hire Rick
as a special pitching coach for Zito.
Don't blame me, I voted for Ice Cream
by Englishmajor on Jun 17, 2008 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
that would be a genuinely smart use of $200,000
Heck, Barry should just pony up and hire Rick on his own.
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cops surrounding Memorial Stadium tree sitters
(Link) Stay tuned for further developments.
Also: tonight is Opening Night for the Vancouver Canadians!
by Soaker on Jun 17, 2008 9:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Stay tuned, but stand back
Mogulof said some of the tree sitters were “using their own waste as weapons.”
Don't blame me, I voted for Ice Cream
by Englishmajor on Jun 17, 2008 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
monkeyball could teach them a thing or two about feces flinging
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Jun 17, 2008 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Other sitters have dropped excrement, but none has scored a direct hit"
Too fine in the zone
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You gotta trust your stuff
How do the angels get to sleep when the devil leaves the porchlight on?
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 17, 2008 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i will not participate in this fake DLD
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 17, 2008 9:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
looks like a DLD, sounds like a DLD…
"The Athletics at Fremont" is obscene
by ArakSOT on Jun 17, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know...the OP didn't use the magic words
Ham and eggs,
pork and beans
;-)
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Jun 17, 2008 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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 17, 2008 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Couple links from Salon/King Kaufman
and
Jemile Weeks’ dad makes a home run call to Jemile’s grandfather – on his cell phone – during an elimination game for Miami in the College World Series.
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 Jun 17, 2008 10:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
{snerk}
“elimination game”
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
weeks has looked quite competent in the CWS
who knows if he’ll ever amount to anything, but maybe the front office is onto something with all these good genes (not jeans) guys.
i believe the grandfather played in the negro leagues, maybe the a’s should draft him next year if there’s another negro league draft.
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 17, 2008 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think drafting him
might have dropped a slightly-too-obvious hint as to the team’s plans for this season…
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jun 17, 2008 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
... combing through genealogy archives to see if Mark Ellis has black relatives?
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The A's are inbreeding?
Procrastinators unite....tomorrow
by muffinpryde on Jun 17, 2008 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cheap owner, or just not that glad to see me?
This Houston blog reports that the Astros aren’t turning the air conditioning on in Minute Maid Park. In June. In Texas. Gonna be a hot time in the old town tonight indeed.
A commenter in that thread suggests the problem is related to a lawsuit the Astros have filed against HOK, the noted ballpark architecture firm, for improper installation of the chilled water pumping apparatus which cools the park. When it works.
How do the angels get to sleep when the devil leaves the porchlight on?
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 17, 2008 11:30 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
prior to this year, I always knew that if it got too hot at the Coli ...
... I could just immerse myself in a cool, soothing vat of free sauerkraut.
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Natural sunburn remedy!
Also cures dropsy and the vapors, and can be used to unstick jammed luxury box dorr locks.
How do the angels get to sleep when the devil leaves the porchlight on?
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 17, 2008 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
cures dropsy?
Well, shoot—there’s the solution to the defensive struggles of Cust and Brown!
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously, nothing really pisses me off more than
NO DAMN SAUERKRAUT AT THE GAME
How the hell am I supposed to enjoy a big dog with just mustard?!
by mikev on Jun 17, 2008 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aramark: anti-German (and anti-Korean?) bigots
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
More Mariners fun
Ichiro moves to right field to improve his offense or mojo or something:
"I’ve been thinking about it for over a month. It’s nothing against Ichiro in center field, of course. I just think he’s a great right fielder and I want to see his zest and smile and everything going," McLaren said. "What I remember is just spectacular things and I want to try that. I’m not sure it’s going to work or make any difference whatsoever, but I’m going to try it."
"When I close my eyes and think of Ichiro, I think of (No.) 51 in right field," McLaren said.
Also considering moving Johjima to first base.
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on Jun 17, 2008 11:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
isn’t jeremy reed currently learning how to play first base?
1b is just the place for an all glove no bat CF.
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 17, 2008 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
such as, say, Mark Kotsay
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or for a catcher hitting .227/.265/.303
"May a nit suck Cajun geese?" wonders Red. No, we see gnu Jack Cust in a yam.
by andeux on Jun 17, 2008 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm glad the A's don't have Dutch owners
who insist on giving Saarloos a big contract and putting him in the rotation regardless of success.
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on Jun 17, 2008 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
and who wouldn't have given Beane the go-ahead to trade Haren
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
and signed Andruw Jones
(except… I wanted to sign A. Jones…)
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on Jun 17, 2008 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
on the other hand, they might make Coliseum concessions more ... interesting
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
They could sponsor this treat for Brown and Cust
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Jun 17, 2008 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you think about it in the right way,
the A’s do have Dutch owners.
(You know, like Dutch oven, Dutch courage, going Dutch on a date…)
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jun 17, 2008 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dutch oven?
That’s the Astros owners.
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
zest is the new grit
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Squinty...
He’s not going to last long, methinks.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jun 17, 2008 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
For the AN Euphemism Collection?
Close your eyes and think of Ichiro
Don't blame me, I voted for Ice Cream
by Englishmajor on Jun 17, 2008 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rob Neyer examines the Angels' run differential...
in which they are in first place despite being outscored 300-298.
“Can they keep it up?
They can, but probably won’t. Just last year the Diamondbacks won 90 games despite being outscored by 20 runs, but that sort of thing is exceptionally unusual. If the Angels are going to maintain their fine record they’ll almost certainly have to improve their run differential.
Can they do that? They can, and probably will. With John Lackey pitching brilliantly after his season-opening DL stint, the Angels have an outstanding rotation. Their bullpen is solid, as usual. On the other side of the ledger there’s plenty of room for improvement from Mike Napoli, Garret Anderson and Vladimir Guerrero. “
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=neyer_rob
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Jun 17, 2008 11:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Angels' "oustanding" rotation by fip:
Lackey: 3.74 (fair to say that he is outstanding)
Santana: 3.30 (has the stuff for it, I believe his success)
Saunders: 4.31(can’t possibly keep his ERA so low)
Weaver: 4.14 (Weaver is average, better than his ERA this year)
Garland: 4.61 (Garland just sucks, except for that one start against the A’s…..)
This is a good rotation, but it is definitely not outstanding, unless I’m wrong about Saunders, but I don’t think I’m wrong about Saunders.
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on Jun 17, 2008 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Saunders
I’ve watched him pitch about 5 times, and he looks like the real deal to me. He hits his spots/corners, and he appears to have great downward/cutter movement on his fastball… especially to righties. He’ll get lit up when he isn’t hitting his spots, but that hasn’t happened much this season.
by Colorado Fan on Jun 17, 2008 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
we should have
the dude that ran that analyzation of Duke take Saunders under the scope
"The two of them deserve each other. One's a born liar, the other's convicted."
by SwampyD on Jun 17, 2008 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This tee-shirt is, dare I say it, intelligently designed
How do the angels get to sleep when the devil leaves the porchlight on?
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 17, 2008 11:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
for the maelh8rs?
Fielding efficiency maxes out around age 30 or 31. Range is maximized at age 23 or 24. Ages 27 to 29 are when fielding ability is greatest for second basemen as their efficiency rises and their range has not been greatly compromised.
hmm, he’s 32 next year… two year deal, billy!
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 17, 2008 12:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Lookout Landing
...weighs in on Moneyball, Billy B., stadiums, and entertainment value>
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2008/6/16/553185/final-thoughts-on-moneybal
Looks like a Pacbell Cingular, AT&T fan transplanted to Seattle if you ask me…. :X
"Twenty minutes," says Jack Sr. "Thank god for Billy Beane."
by ST on Jun 17, 2008 12:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Blanton
A scout’s quote on Joe Blanton From Urban’s mailbag>
Another said this: "Blanton would win 20 games for the Yankees or Red Sox. I really believe that."Yeah…....
"The two of them deserve each other. One's a born liar, the other's convicted."
by SwampyD on Jun 17, 2008 2:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Craig Italiano is starting the Midwest League All-Star game, which is being
televised on MILB.Com. I don’t know if it is a free viewing, though.
by theblackpearl on Jun 17, 2008 2:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
“For what I’ve done, I should be treated like a king,” he said …He also has faced withering international scorn …
[Others] are blaming him for their mistakes. ...
“Everything that’s been written about me isn’t true” ...
The reporter at his door that morning offered [him] a chance to defend himself publicly. He was calm, unshaven, wearing a T-shirt and pajama bottoms. ...
“He was understated” ... “He was the opposite of a braggart, and that was impressive.”
[He] started dressing in stylish suits, bought a heavy gold necklace and kept a cupboard stocked with whiskey, according to former neighbors. He left his TV blaring all day and hit a local disco at night. ...
They couldn’t decide if he was dangerous or just crazy. ...
“Everything I said was true,” he said. “And everything that’s been written about me is wrong. It’s all wrong. The main thing is, I’m an honest man.”
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 3:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Shameless in the Zone
"May a nit suck Cajun geese?" wonders Red. No, we see gnu Jack Cust in a yam.
by andeux on Jun 17, 2008 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
and which Zone would that be ...
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pick a color
"May a nit suck Cajun geese?" wonders Red. No, we see gnu Jack Cust in a yam.
by andeux on Jun 17, 2008 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
{turns eyes rightward}
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
BP
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7675
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 17, 2008 4:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Brett Anderson, LHP, High-A Stockton (Athletics)
Acquired from Arizona in the Dan Haren deal, Anderson looked like the elite prospect that he was coming into the season during the first six weeks of this year, as he had scoreless outings in four of his first six starts. Then came a stretch in which he allowed 19 runs over 11 innings and got placed on the disabled list with a sore thumb. The good news is that that’s Anderson is back and as good as ever. He allowed three hits and only one run over seven innings on Saturday, and in four starts since his return, he’s surrendered just three runs in 23 2/3 innings while punching out 27. Last year he was one of the most polished teenage pitchers in the game, and nothing has changed this year, other than his improved physical conditioning. He’ll likely see Double-A at some point in the second half of the season, and could be in the big leagues as early as late 2009.
Vince Mazzaro, RHP, Double-A Midland (Athletics)
A third-round pick in 2005, Mazzaro hasn’t done much to help his prospect status by posting ERAs above 5.00 in each of the last two seasons. At the same time, scouts continued to see stuff to like, primarily a low-90s sinker that Mazzaro can get swings and misses with when batters aren’t pounding it into the ground. The A’s have been patient with Mazzaro, moving him up a level at a time, and it’s finally paying dividends in the Texas League. On Saturday, Mazzaro delivered another quality start for the RockHounds, his third in a row and ninth in his last 11. With a 2.29 ERA in 86 1/3 innings and a .239 opponent’s average, Mazzaro is living up to scout’s expectations as an innings-eating ground-ball machine who will fit well into the back of a rotation.
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 17, 2008 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
See? See?
I tol’ ya, I tol’ ya!
Mazzaro’s not “sexy,” but he’s the kind of guy who will perform well in front of the A’s good infield defense.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jun 17, 2008 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
for all you Band Wagon fans ...
RIP, Cyd Charisse
If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@
by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 4:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
