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No Webb Gem

Everyone homered constantly, especially Ellis, as the A's  hammered Arizona early and often. Final Score: A's 15, Diamondbacks 1.

Though she got the opponent wrong, my cat tried to foreshadow tonight's outcome by bringing in a dead Blue Jay in the middle of tonight's game. I suppose asking her to find a diamondback would have been a bit much. Anyhoo...

The A's cranked out 15 runs and six HRs (Ellis twice, Chavez, Suzuki, Crosby, and Raj Davis), but what was probably most gratifying was how solid the hitters' approaches were the entire evening. Obviously they A's did not get Webb at his finest, but even after Webb left Oakland kept piling on runs with great at bat after great at bat. Walks, hits, HRs, shots the other way, you name it the A's produced it again and again and again.

Meanwhile, Justin Duchscherer continues to be remarkable, giving up 2 ER or fewer for the 10th time in 11 starts, and completing 8 innings after it looked - for a scary, scary moment - as if he might only last one inning when he tweaked something in his side swinging at a second inning pitch from Webb. Duchscherer has a chance to make the All-Star team this year as a starter, after making it previously as a reliever. He deserves it.

If the A's are going to stay in the race to the bitter end, they will need to be a very good road team, because Oakland plays just 20 home games in all of August and September combined. Oakland started the season by playing the World Champions even halfway around the globe, and this road trip - now 4-0 with a win against Webb - is going a long way to validating the team's ability to somehow get it done against anyone, anywhere.

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Hey everybody

I know I haven’t rapped at ya in a while, but here’s what my home town of Cedar Rapids was looking like this past week:

flooding

So I thought it would be a good time to leave town for a few days. Anyway, way to go Oakland!

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

by IowaA'sFan on Jun 17, 2008 9:43 PM PDT   0 recs

Whoa.

Hope you and your loved ones are all okay.

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 9:46 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Thankfully, yes.

I am so glad I bought a house in the hilly part of town. A quarter of the city was evacuated; waters rose ABOVE the 500-year flood plain; the damage is simply unimaginable.

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

by IowaA'sFan on Jun 17, 2008 9:48 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I've been thinking about all of you

and wondering how we can best help.

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jun 17, 2008 9:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Donate to the American Red Cross

Or the Salvation Army. There are a lot of homeless people here now, and those organizations are doing their best to help.

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

by IowaA'sFan on Jun 17, 2008 9:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks.

My family is fine, but definitely pray for Cedar Rapids. We need it bad.

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

by IowaA'sFan on Jun 17, 2008 9:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Can we

get something together for you? We’re in bad straits too, economically, but I’m sure we can find some way to

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jun 17, 2008 9:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Help.

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jun 17, 2008 9:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Like I said above

Donate to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, or similar organizations. If you guys want to organize something on behalf of AN, fantastic. Otherwise, if just as individuals, anything helps. I’ll be all right, but there’s a lot of people who have lost everything out here. Please help if you can.

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

by IowaA'sFan on Jun 17, 2008 9:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Will do.

I’ve been thinking about you all every day.

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jun 17, 2008 9:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Are those cedars in those rapids?

Maybe bad timing with that comment, but I’ve always been one to fight hard times with harder humor.

Hang in there man. Just remember….what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.

Good luck and god bless.

by Force on Jun 17, 2008 10:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Depressed

We are so set up to be shut out by Danny boy tomorrow

by asfansince1989 on Jun 17, 2008 9:44 PM PDT   0 recs

Ummmm....

Hudson….check.

Zito….check.

Haren….bank it!

by Force on Jun 17, 2008 11:00 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hooray for hope!

Procrastinators unite....tomorrow

by muffinpryde on Jun 18, 2008 1:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Not a Blue Jay?

Traditional Blue Jays are East Coast birds. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_jay . Perhaps your cat got a Stellar’s Jay?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steller%27s_Jay

(Does it have a black crest, or a blue one?)

by MobiusKlein on Jun 17, 2008 9:45 PM PDT   0 recs

You want me to go pull it out of the garbage?

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 17, 2008 9:48 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i want you to eat it

blue jays are a bit more chewy, whereas stellar jays taste like chicken that has gone bad.

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 10:02 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wrong bird for him

I think Nico’s more accustomed to the taste of crow.

(I kid, I kid.)

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 17, 2008 10:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

M-f-f-mfff --

Definitely a Blue Jay.

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 17, 2008 10:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

If it's in California

it’s a Stellar’s Jay, but they =are= blue!

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

by One won lost won on Jun 17, 2008 9:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Stellar!

If we can’t fix the stupid, can we at least beat them senseless? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 17, 2008 11:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

nice

alaska A

by ak_A on Jun 17, 2008 11:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Caption

Georg Steller expresses frustration at yet another misspelling of his name.

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Jun 17, 2008 11:48 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Looks more like Georg

when he fell overboard in the Pribilofs.

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

by One won lost won on Jun 19, 2008 11:18 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Disagree kind of

I feel like it would be more likely a Western Scrub Jay

this all depends on the area that Nico lives. I’m not that familiar with that aspect of his life.

"Whether they find life there or not, I think Jupiter should be called an enemy planet." - Jack Handey

by bluthbanana20 on Jun 17, 2008 10:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

And Stellar's Jays are bad-ass

I don’t know if Nico’s cat is tough enough.

Scrub Jays are more wussie

by MobiusKlein on Jun 17, 2008 10:40 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

If it's got a prominent crest, it's a Steller's Jay.

No crest = Scrub Jay. Both are common.

So no dead Blue Jay unless Nico’s cat somehow got hold of Shannon Stewart. And you’d think he’d have noticed that.

by Faust on Jun 18, 2008 4:51 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Scutaro's not THAT bad

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 Jun 18, 2008 7:39 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I've rarely, if ever, seen a Steller's Jay in the Bay Area...

So, which was it, Nico?

A Steller’s Jay
Steller's Jay

Or

A Western Scrub Jay
Western Scrub Jay

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

by FoolshGame22 on Jun 17, 2008 10:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Their big mouths give them away

They aren’t what you’d call really shy.

I remember them being pretty common in the Oakland hills.

by Faust on Jun 18, 2008 4:54 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It was bloody albatross color,

with a head. That’s about what I remember as I put it into a plastic bag and did an anti-rabies prayer.

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 17, 2008 10:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

do birds carry rabies?

nope, I checked it. Only mammals. Now, perhaps, you should have done an anti-avian flu prayer.

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

by FoolshGame22 on Jun 17, 2008 10:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Does it come with wafers?

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

by 5Aces on Jun 18, 2008 8:32 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

strange you don't see them in the Bay Area

I see both these birds all the time in Oakland.

by Brian in 317 on Jun 18, 2008 7:12 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I have Stellar's Jays

here in Albany, about a mile or two (guessing) from Nico. We have them all the time.
I also have them up at my property in the Sierras. Typically, they want trees, and lots of them.

Perhaps you stay in the “strictly pavement” areas??

Contrary to their persistent noise and annoying behavior…they DO die! Sometime…
Probably the cat got a sick, dying, or dead one.

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

by One won lost won on Jun 19, 2008 11:17 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You cleverly added

“(guessing)” but I still think you’re stalking me.

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 19, 2008 8:48 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Not true, I live in Houston, TX which is relatively to the west and I've seen many Blue Jays here...

just the other day I saw four of them in my own yard!

oAkLaNd AtHlEtIcS!!
It's only Spring Clean for the May Queen. Call the Gardener!

by LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn on Jun 18, 2008 7:40 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Saw the map! And I bet that Blue Jay was lost! lol Took the wrong turn, lol.

Blue Jays tend to reside in Texas all year ,lol. Oops!! Sorry.

oAkLaNd AtHlEtIcS!!
It's only Spring Clean for the May Queen. Call the Gardener!

by LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn on Jun 18, 2008 7:46 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm told it was a female Blue Jay

So it WAS Shannon Stewart!

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 18, 2008 9:02 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It could also have been a Bluebird

A little smaller than the aforementioned Jays

by GusanoQuemador on Jun 18, 2008 9:41 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It was the Bluebird of Happiness

and now WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!

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

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 18, 2008 10:30 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Down on the farm

Buck and Murphy have homered tonight for the RiverCats

by A'sfaninNC on Jun 17, 2008 9:47 PM PDT   0 recs

nice

those guys must have seen the a’s scoreboard…

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 10:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

"No Webb Gem"

now THAT is professional quality.
I bet SuSlu steals it.

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

by One won lost won on Jun 17, 2008 9:48 PM PDT   0 recs

that is pretty good

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 10:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So good that it's PLAGIARY!

too bad i haven’t learned how to make things linkable on the new AN… it would be more dramatic

http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_5579848

by GeorgiaBoy on Jun 17, 2008 10:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Holy Toledo!

by gregorymark on Jun 17, 2008 9:48 PM PDT   0 recs

From Unicorn to the Bomb Shelter

all the A’s deserve the win today!

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Jun 17, 2008 9:49 PM PDT   0 recs

Pink elephants fly?

Rajai Davis hit a homerun?! Way to go!
Too bad I was stuck watching the Giants…

by streetfan on Jun 17, 2008 9:49 PM PDT   0 recs

How about Flood Shelt...

Say what? Inappropriate?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 17, 2008 10:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Just

a tad.

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jun 17, 2008 10:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Um, seriously

Funny, yet not funny. What is that, a paradox?

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

by IowaA'sFan on Jun 17, 2008 10:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Its a tragedy

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jun 17, 2008 10:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You're lucky that

the cat didn’t bring in a Yankee cause that’s illegal everywhere except South Carolina.

by Blez on Jun 17, 2008 9:50 PM PDT   0 recs

BTW

I love Justin Duchscherer. He very well might be my favorite pitcher. I just really, really love watching the guy pitch.

by Blez on Jun 17, 2008 9:51 PM PDT   0 recs

Nice!

Duke has been my favorite since Huddy left….but he’ll be back, someday, right?

Right?

"He's a misfit. He gets along with everyone." - Reggie Jackson, describing Joe Rudi

by McFood on Jun 18, 2008 8:08 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Of course!

Duke is the Shizzam baby!

All Star Game, here we come…......!

by mrod on Jun 17, 2008 11:44 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Duke's K/BB ratio

48/16. That’s just silly.

I hope he’s alright. He obviously pitched pretty goddamn well, but I don’t like on-the-field trainer visits.

President and CEO of the Ryan Sweeney Apologists Consortium

by Joey C. on Jun 17, 2008 9:52 PM PDT   0 recs

AL Whupping Up Tonight

12-2 when the Tigers finish off the Giants. Not much question which is still the superior league. And the playoff questions cointinue

by madmongoose on Jun 17, 2008 9:54 PM PDT   0 recs

Holy toledo

It was 4-1 when I turned it off….

by streetfan on Jun 17, 2008 10:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

that's not the tigers-giants score

it’s AL vs NL for the day.

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 10:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh. Duh.

Guess I should check this stuff before I open my mouth…. insert foot ;)
Thanks for the correction

by streetfan on Jun 17, 2008 10:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

More Possible Good News (Calero to go down to AAA when Casilla activates)

Casilla on hold: Santiago Casilla made his final rehab appearance Monday and joined the A’s in Arizona on Tuesday, but he is unlikely to be activated until Thursday unless there is a pressing need in the bullpen. Casilla worked 12/3 innings at Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, making him unavailable for at least a day or two.

Right-hander Kiko Calero is expected to be designated for assignment to make room for Casilla. If Calero clears waivers, he has enough service time to decline a minor-league assignment, but he already has told the A’s he would accept an assignment. Entering Tuesday, Calero had not worked in six days.

by Trainman on Jun 17, 2008 9:56 PM PDT   0 recs

sad news

Calero was a good arm. Maybe he should have opted for surgery?

"Whether they find life there or not, I think Jupiter should be called an enemy planet." - Jack Handey

by bluthbanana20 on Jun 17, 2008 10:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Would he pitch any better as a woman?

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 17, 2008 10:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Dude. Cut it out.

Can’t I read the postgame recaps in peace, without having to laugh all the time? :-)

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Jun 17, 2008 11:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Who's Bomb Shelter and why?

I’ve been in a cave

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

by Buck Turgidson on Jun 17, 2008 10:01 PM PDT