Happy Birthday To Me! Happy Birthday To Me!

by Nico on Jun 24, 2008 9:53 PM PDT Comment 152 comments

Jamie Moyer "fired" a one-hit shutout for six innings, but Emil Brown's 3-run HR turned the tide in the 7th and Jack Cust added a 2-run HR in the 8th, as the A's and Joe Blanton walked away with the win. Final Score: A's 5, Phillies 2.

How ironic that a potentially depressing birthday game turned positively exquisite thanks to none other than my 2008 whipping boy, Emil Brown. Brown was brought in to platoon against LHP, wound up overexposed and regressed to the really, really mean. But now that the A's have Ryan Sweeney and Carlos Gonzalez in the every day lineup, Emil is in the role to which he is best suited: swinging hard against left-handed pitching and surprising fans - and even himself, apparently - by hitting pitches off the top of the wall NO, IT BOUNCED OVER THE WALL!!!

The main point I want to put out there today, though, is in regards to a complaint oft heard on AN: The practice of leaving a pitcher out there "so he has a chance to get a win." Blanton threw 119 pitches tonight, and as masterful as he was for the first 6 innings, a four-pitch walk to open the 7th suggested he might be out of gas in a game Oakland trailed just 1-0. I believe Geren stuck with Blanton throughout the 7th inning to give him a chance to still get the win if the A's rallied in the bottom of the 7th, which they did.

It may not matter to you or me, but I'll bet you it matters a great deal to Joe Blanton, psychologically, to be 4-10 instead of 3-10. Team wins need to trump individual considerations, but individuals can be affected by morale and in a stats-based game, athletes do use numbers to motivate themselves - things like "I can still get my record to .500 by the end of the season," or "I got a win for us at home," or whatever the motivator might be that keeps a player able to look forward instead of dwelling on the past.

Great job, Blanton, great job Geren, and great job Huston Street. Thank you Emil Brown and Jack Cust. Finally, if you haven't heard this stand-up routine before, take a moment to enjoy the great George Carlin musing about the difference between baseball and football. Like most of Jeff Nelson's ball/strike calls, George Carlin will be oft missed.

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Urban....

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jun 24, 2008 9:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Terrible...

I’m rather surprised that he didn’t mention HIS BOOK THAT HE WROTE CUZ HE’S CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDS WITH ALL THE PLAYERS

by mikev on Jun 24, 2008 10:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 24, 2008 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

old times.....

Grievances against Urban:
1. He is an idiot (please no one bother disputing this. It is just a fact.)
2. He rather pathethically called out Milton Bradley a few years ago.
3. He is a careerist (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and likes to make waves.
4. He claimed last year on his KNBR show that Bonds was not actually a good player and OPS is a stupid stat, subordinate to, say, BA with RISP and Myhchael Urban watching the game… He actually argued that Bonds hurt the Giants last year. ‘nuff said.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jun 24, 2008 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

...and this relates to this game how?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 24, 2008 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah really, what the heck?

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 24, 2008 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Urban was doing the postgame on fsnba

.......toolishly…....

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jun 24, 2008 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seemed kind of over the top

and out of nowhere to me too.

by Blez on Jun 24, 2008 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What.....

no one was digging his left earring????????

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 11:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was a joke

btw…..

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 11:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

shocking....

coming from the deleter of perfectly good diaries….

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jun 24, 2008 11:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

who?

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

blez

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jun 24, 2008 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Perfectly good diaries that went WAAAAY over the top.

by Blez on Jun 24, 2008 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have you been to LL lately?

Perhaps you ought to delete it. It is a bit over the top. Oh, and they insult the management/media coverage of their team. But that is verboten. We really need Urban on board to relate to us some scout’s opinion as to how many wins Blanton might get in various situations…. We must not point out how dumb that is… that would be rude… over the top….

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jun 24, 2008 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Different communities approach

building communities differently. There’s not one way to do this which is the beauty of it. We let our communities develop their own voice and if that approach works for LL, than that’s good for them. I don’t like that approach for AN.

by Blez on Jun 24, 2008 11:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

urban being an idiot is relevant, at least until urban goes away.

(but i partially disagree with point #2 now, even though i agreed at the time)

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 24, 2008 11:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about that dumbass toolbox?

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

by Buck Turgidson on Jun 24, 2008 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great game to watch tonight. I also have to tip my cap to Jamie Moyer, being a rather young baseball fan (21 years old) I can really appreciate his class on the mound. Question though...

Whats the latest on Frank Thomas?

by jwnewman on Jun 24, 2008 9:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

a Chron article about a week ago

mentioned that he was resting at his Las Vegas home, and wouldn’t be doing any baseball-related activities until the beginning of July at the earliest.

If so he’s not likely to be in the A’s lineup until after the all star break…how much later, who knows?

by OaklandSi on Jun 25, 2008 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the tide might turn

in the AL West race by the All-Star game. 6 games against the Angels. I will need someone to look ahead to both schedules and see if you can project what I think I projected. In those two series, we won’t throw Blanton, Angels won’t throw Lackey, and Harden goes twice. Am I seeing things, or is that a pretty good scenario for us? Hopefully that is the case, but they have an extra off day to work with. Nice win tonight.

Might as well Jump! - Van Halen

by sprtsnwyn on Jun 24, 2008 10:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Happy Birthday!

and, Happy Run Support to Joe.

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

by FoolshGame22 on Jun 24, 2008 10:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks. And yeah.

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 24, 2008 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

today

is also my kid’s birthday. he turned 0.

by Future Ed on Jun 24, 2008 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Congratulations!

I remember 0 – good times.

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 24, 2008 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Go Nico!

“It’s your birfday, we gonna party, like it’s your birfday!”

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm out of Bacardi

can I sip Diet Pepsi instead?

Florida ain't no place for a self-respecting A's fan.

by Leopold Bloom on Jun 24, 2008 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

YYewwcan drinnnk whtever u wahnn

{hic}

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 24, 2008 10:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

happy birthday!

also good news: the A’s didn’t lost on my birthday…then again, they were off that day.

by OaklandSi on Jun 25, 2008 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pedro Feliz

Swinging at sliders in the dirt like it’s 1999.

What a strange player. I can’t think of anyone else who could be counted on consistently for each of the following:

Gold Glove defense
20 HR a year
a sub-.300 OBP

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 24, 2008 10:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Every single AB he had a 3-0 count, IIRC,

but he never walked.

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 24, 2008 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Feliz

It’s like a point of pride with him for something.

“I’m not walking, dammit.”

You really have to try hard to give him a free pass.

by bear88 on Jun 25, 2008 12:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hence the whole "Hacking at Slop" controversy

by nevermoor on Jun 25, 2008 6:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The controversy wasn't about the "hacking"

that was a given. The controversy was derived from the geographical origin of said players.

by MobiusKlein on Jun 25, 2008 8:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well yeah, but to be a controversy he had to say it first.

by nevermoor on Jun 25, 2008 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

His American League counterpart: Joe Crede

Although they’re not exactly identical: Crede really isn’t a gold glover and he’s also better offensively.

They’re on each other’s similar batters lists on br.com, too.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jun 25, 2008 12:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Street

Tonight just made it clear to me that things are not right. His stuff was just unhittable tonight: good velocity, good command, great movement. But what worries me is that it was such a stark contrast to his appearances in the Florida series. He is not so valuable if half the time he is a hall of fame pitcher and half the time he sucks. I’ve never seen a pitcher fluctuate as much as he has.

The A’s need to figure out what’s going on with him, to hopefully use his awesome talent but avoid the meltdowns, which seem mujch more predictable than average.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jun 24, 2008 10:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

So, you're saying relief pitchers aren't allowed to have off nights?

Let alone 2 off nights in a row?

by mikev on Jun 24, 2008 10:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you mean like K-Rod?

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

by FoolshGame22 on Jun 24, 2008 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

His delivery looked more fluid tome tonight,

where over the weekend it looked more herky-jerky to me. Saturday he had several pitches misfire (release point), such as ball four to Hanley Ramirez. Tonight it looked like he was releasing the ball free and easy. Whether that’s health-related, mechanics-related, or my imagination, I don’t know.

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 24, 2008 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But the point is...

he’s not doing anything different with his delivery or anything like that. He is just off a disturbing amount of the time.And when he’s off the velocity is down, and the movement is down and it’s just very bad. They need to figure out a way to get those “unhittable” performances out of him.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jun 24, 2008 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe it's bad luck?

Sorry, couldn’t resist. Yeah, keeping the good part and eliminating the sucky part would be fine.

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 24, 2008 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well...

do you not see much much much greater variation in his outings than the average pitcher? And if so, isit not a different situation than the average pitcher?

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jun 24, 2008 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No doubt - what causes it, I have no idea

Cindi says “phases of the moon,” which is as good a theory as any.

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 24, 2008 10:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn’t see Friday’s game, and just assumed his (starkly) diminished velocity Saturday was at least partially the result of throwing 20+ pitches the previous night. Was his fastball hovering in the 88-89 range on Friday as well?

by 74mk on Jun 24, 2008 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was hovering all right. Don't remember the velocity, though.

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 24, 2008 10:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is it possible...

The groin injury had been bothering him over the weekend, and he felt better tonight? His velocity was up and he looked great. A very nice night at the ballpark, by the way, though the crowd for two contending teams (13,000+) was pretty sparse.

by richwol1 on Jun 24, 2008 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't help but wonder

when he takes the mound on any given night if he’s not exactly sure where his pitches are going to go. When calls are going against him he may be altering his delivery in order to get a called strike. When he takes enough off his pitches the hitters start to feast.

"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 25, 2008 7:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Slusser's wrapup sez he adjusted his stride after watching video

Link

Street said he watched loads of videotape of those two appearances to see what he was doing, and he realized that his gait was off, he was coming up and down too fast with his leg.
“I was basically trying to slow up a little bit to keep the ball down,” said Street, who pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts. “Thankfully, Cust hit that out, so I was a little more comfortable out there making adjustments.”

Can an aging lemur suffer from dementia? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 24, 2008 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

eh

I tend not believe these sorts of stories…Hopefully it’s true though.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jun 24, 2008 11:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I take 'em with a massive grain of salt

My interpretation is:

“The previous two games, I couldn’t lift my left leg more than an inch without it feeling like someone was trying to rip my nuts off through my ears. Billy threatened to let Larry Davis in the same room with me if I didn’t man up and pitch through it. Once I passed out from the pain after Sunday’s game, and I woke up with a mirror between my legs reflecting my right leg where my left leg should be, I got over the mental block of the excruciating pain. Then I went into the back to watch some videotape of the hotties along the third-base line asking for my autograph. I noticed that when I bashfully lowered my eyes, blood was spurting out of my appendages. We did some strength and flexibility work and then slathered some Bondo over it.

Can an aging lemur suffer from dementia? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 25, 2008 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't believe this is real,

but only because there is no end-quote.

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 25, 2008 8:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

considering he's been battling a groin strain

this sounds entirely plausible

by OaklandSi on Jun 25, 2008 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"...slathered some Bondo over it."

I was wondering what Barry was doing during his time out of baseball.

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Jun 25, 2008 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Birthday

Hey its my birthday too! June 24, 1978

by BalcoBomber on Jun 24, 2008 10:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Awesome! Except the part where

I’m not 30.

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 24, 2008 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well at least

your “thing” still works, right? Er…oh never mind!......

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 10:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My shit doesn't work in the playoffs

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

by iglew on Jun 24, 2008 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Check your pipes

they might need fixed…..

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Using the Hungarian phrasebook again?

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 24, 2008 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those Hungarians

sure can sing, eh? Great pipes!

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beautiful plumage

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 24, 2008 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

How many glasses of

White Zin have you had tonight, Nico?

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes.

{hic}

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 24, 2008 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay

so you’re gulping bourbon, then?

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You make it sound irresponsible

Hang on, I have to make a left turn.

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 24, 2008 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Remember

hands free starting on July 1st!

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

How else would I hold the Zin and the bourbon?

Hang on, I have to go between two kids…

Huh, turns out there was only one kid.

{hic}

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 24, 2008 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

10 points for 2 kids?

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Luck

by Sacred#24 on Jun 25, 2008 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actual thoughts on the game:

If the A’s were trying to get Blanton a win, they sure weren’t trying very hard. I thought they were punting the game when I saw the lineup. No Chavez, Emil Brown starting, Suzuki leading off, no Ellis. Luckily baseball is a game where a clearly inferior team (and this A’s roster was a clearly inferior team) can still win 30% of the time.

How do you strike out 6 times in 5 innings against Jamie Moyer?

I thought Barton had turned things around, but he’s lapsed back into his prior bad habits. He’s got this rocked-back stance right now that’s causing him to pull off everything, even pitches that are way inside. His third at-bat was one of the worst at-bats I’ve ever seen at the major league level. He needs to go down to AAA for a while and figure out how to hit again. Unfortunately, right now there’s no viable replacement available.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 24, 2008 10:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

For once

I actually agree with you, sir.

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's swinging over pitches a lot (especially down and in)

If he weren’t fielding so well at 1B, I’d say he needed an eye exam. But I don’t that’s actually the issue.

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 24, 2008 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

C'mon dude, it's my birthday - gimme SOMETHING

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 24, 2008 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Barton has a hammy problem

says it’s “getting better”.

Translation: still hurts a ton.

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

by One won lost won on Jun 24, 2008 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

People don't seem to want to talk about the actual game tonight for some reason

Must be a full moon or something.

by Blez on Jun 24, 2008 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Baseball was played. Emil Brown did well. It hurts to think about.

Oh, and we won, which is nice.

by nevermoor on Jun 25, 2008 6:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huge Strike Zone

I was at the game. For the first seven innings or so, the strike zone was enormous, and a number of batters were giving the ump weird looks at the called strikes. I saw someone (I don’t remember who) take a pitch that was wayyyyy high for a called strike. The next pitch was nearly in the dirt and it was ALSO called a strike. It’s no wonder Moyer struck eight, what, eight, and Blanton struck out six. Not taking anything away from either guy, but until the later innings, the strike zone - at least as it appeared from section 115, was enormous.

by richwol1 on Jun 24, 2008 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gamecast agreed

by nevermoor on Jun 25, 2008 6:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Punting

Chavez was a late scratch. Ellis was a scratch because of illness. So neither of those were intentional off days really. Suzuki leading off right now isn’t a bad idea. While recent performance is not an indicator of future performance, it doesn’t hurt to try to ride the hot streak for one day. And he’s got a .351 OBP at home this year so he’s actually been a useful offensive player at McAfee.

Striking out 6 times in 5 innings? Well, Jeff Nelson had a pretty terrible game behind the plate. Lots of called third strikes which says to me either a pitcher is totally unhittable or the umpiring is sketchy. Moyer is not unhittable.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jun 25, 2008 12:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

While he's not unhittable, you have to give him some credit

I mean, he’s been pitching since before the Lousiana Purchase. He’s obviously been doing something right all these years.

by mikev on Jun 25, 2008 8:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

it doesn’t hurt to try to ride the hot streak for one day

Actually, it does. Playing bad hitters at the top of your lineup because they’re “hot” won’t make much of a difference over a single game, but if you persistently do it you will start costing your team runs.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 25, 2008 8:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hunh?

does “one day” not equal “a single game”?

Can an aging lemur suffer from dementia? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 25, 2008 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I said won't make MUCH of a difference

not won’t make ANY difference. It’s only worth fractions of a run—but if you keep doing it, eventually those fractions will add up to something that bites you in the ass.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 25, 2008 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Geren has been doing thatt

with the batting order (especially the leadoff spot) all year, shuffling between Ellis, Hannahan, Suzuki, and Buck seemingly based on how they were hitting over the previous week or so.

And, of course, it’s not working – the horrible .213/.271/.319 that has resulted is not only have the worst performance from #1 hitters in the AL, but it’s also worse than any other slot on the team (just below ourr #9 hitters, who have hit .241/.302/.295 ).

"May a nit suck Cajun geese?" wonders Red. No, we see gnu Jack Cust in a yam.

by andeux on Jun 25, 2008 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So you're saying

DFA Hannahan? (sorry, after the Brown HR I’m so confused)

by nevermoor on Jun 25, 2008 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why?

Hanahan isn’t someone you want playing 162 games but he’s a pretty good player to have on the bench. He handles third base well enough, he’s not a slug on the bases, he’ll take a walk and pop an occasional homer. He’s also willing to play anywhere on the diamond if the team needs him to (including catcher). He’s probably not as good as he looked last year but not as bad as he has played so far this year. Take a look in the opposing dugout and you’ll see an everyday third baseman who gets paid millions to play the game no better than Hannahan.

Root for the Giants? Not even if they're playing al-Qaeda!

by Monday Fan on Jun 25, 2008 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chavez' shoulder was also hurting him

last Sunday. That makes three days in a row (if you count the off day) that his surgically repaired right shoulder (more major surgery than what he had done on the left shoulder) hasn’t felt good.

think he’ll be playing any time this week?

by OaklandSi on Jun 25, 2008 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't see all the strikes, but

Baseball Tonight (YUCK) showed a lot of the called 3rd strikes, and they all looked like strikes to me.

Jeremy was safe. He jumped over the tag.

by mrrickyg on Jun 25, 2008 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

At your age

you might need an eye exam…......JK. Go A’s!

Happy B-day again!

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 10:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Um, I'm over here.

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 24, 2008 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry

thought you were Jack Kust…....bombs away!!!!!

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Happy Birthday Nico

From me and my past incantations on AN….you rock!

"I'm seeing more and more Paul-baiting these days."

by OptimistPrime on Jun 24, 2008 10:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You have past incantations?

Positive thinking, dude: Those are inCANations.

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 24, 2008 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A Happy berfday song!!

Jack Black says “Happy Birthday to Nico

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Jun 24, 2008 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL - thanks!

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 25, 2008 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tell abraxis

I said “hi”

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Jun 25, 2008 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that too

"I'm seeing more and more Paul-baiting these days."

by OptimistPrime on Jun 24, 2008 10:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Woah. WOAH WOAH WOAH. WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THE GOOGLE ADS???

Now look – I don’t mind the political stuff. Whatever, it’s easy to ignore.

However, when I see a “celebrity gossip” ad that contains some blonde skank’s gigantic rack, I have a little bit of an issue. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a gigantic rack more than probably anybody else here, but that’s quite simply NOT the type of thing that should be on this site.

What gives?

by mikev on Jun 24, 2008 10:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

C'mon dude, it's my birthday - gimme SOMETHING

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 24, 2008 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

by mikev on Jun 24, 2008 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

YOWZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance! Happy dance!

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 24, 2008 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where are these google ads everyone whines about

Oh, right, I have one of the thousands of pieces of software freely available on the internet that blocks ads.

by nevermoor on Jun 25, 2008 6:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rack that comment

"I'm seeing more and more Paul-baiting these days."

by OptimistPrime on Jun 24, 2008 10:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"Rack 'em!

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 10:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

On here, it's either

Barrack or The Rack.

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 24, 2008 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Obama Your Mama In 2008!

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 10:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I smell what Barack is cookin'

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Jun 24, 2008 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

First of all

Happy Birthday, Nico!!!

Second of all, this is the way Billy Beane wants this team to win. Great pitching assisted by a three-run and two-run bomb.

And definitely credit to Geren because a game like this can psychologically lift up a pitcher and help carry them through.

by Blez on Jun 24, 2008 10:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, yeah, and word.

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 24, 2008 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But seriously, dude? The boobie ads?

I mean, the site has to get paid and all, but… that’s WAY worse than people cursing in fAnPoStS

by mikev on Jun 24, 2008 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What boobie ads?

by Blez on Jun 24, 2008 11:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just saw

yjr boobie ads at the top of the page…...yikes!!!!

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are there bare breasts on the page?

Can someone please tell me? Those are google ads.

by Blez on Jun 24, 2008 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not bare, but scantily clad

It’s probably just one of the rotation of google ads or whatever, but there’s a whole lot of skin showin.

by mikev on Jun 24, 2008 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll keep an eye out

The google ads are mostly just filler.

by Blez on Jun 24, 2008 11:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

it was just a still pic from Britney Spears'...

laughable “comeback” performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. I thought mikev was kidding, at first, but apparently he’s really upset by this ad. But, if you watch the video, it’s too hilarious: Britney Live! (NSFW – do not click if you’re offended by washed-up pop tarts, high on something, and lip-synching their way through a very forgettable song.)

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

by FoolshGame22 on Jun 25, 2008 1:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not really upset by it.

Trust me, it’s pretty impossible for something to actually be offensive to me.

by mikev on Jun 25, 2008 8:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely nothing wrong with the ads....

Nothing to see here, so keep moving along.

"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 25, 2008 7:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It must be this ad

by theblackpearl on Jun 25, 2008 8:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Conclusion: If you still can't spot the boobies,

you must have been calling balls and strikes last night.

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 25, 2008 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

im not getting anything

when i click on it. stop teasing.

by oakinboston on Jun 25, 2008 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Filler?

You mean, like silicone?

"May a nit suck Cajun geese?" wonders Red. No, we see gnu Jack Cust in a yam.

by andeux on Jun 25, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mmmmm..... boobies

by Sacred#24 on Jun 25, 2008 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not bare breasts

but huge gozongas that look like they are about to burst through the ladie’s bra!

by mrod on Jun 24, 2008 11:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

And you complain why?

by nevermoor on Jun 25, 2008 6:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not complaining

just responding to Blez’s comment….......although I’m not a Britt fan.

by mrod on Jun 25, 2008 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No gozongas to see here...

people’s imaginations are getting the better of them. The ads are fine. Really. Really, really fine.

"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 25, 2008 7:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Happy Birthday Nico!

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jun 24, 2008 11:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks - you only had 26 minutes left to post!

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 25, 2008 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who is this Blanton Guy??

could have fooled me—but seriously I do hope I am dead wrong—and I know many won’t hesitate to remind me of said fact if I am—and I’ll gladly take the hits. he was excellent tonight but for one meatball to Burrell. And kudos to Geren for leaving him in and to Blanton for a very good pitch to force the DP.

And as for the strike zone—WHAT STRIKE ZONE??? That was as poorly umpired a game as I’ve seen for a long time—and I know we see things through our team’s lens—but Moyer seemed to get a lot more borderline strikes than Joe did.

by madmongoose on Jun 24, 2008 11:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Is Blanton the team MVP now? =P

"We were s--, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."

by lenscrafters on Jun 25, 2008 12:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thoughts on the game

—This is the “Good Blanton” I thought we would see more often. He struggles early, gets out of a trouble, gives up a solo shot, and has hitters chasing sinkers in the dirt. It was nice to see him get a win. It would have been brutal if he had that line, only to pick up his 11th loss.

—Emil Brown can’t catch any breaks. He hits a critical three-run homer off a pitcher who was making our young players look stupid, and all he gets is people bitching because he’s still “starting.” He’s “starting” against left-handers, and not even all the time.

—I admire Jamie Moyer. He’s one of my favorite opposing players, because he’s just so smart and plays with hitters’ heads. He missed with location early in the game, caught a break, and had this bemused look on his face afterward. But Manuel left him in too long. You could sort of see Brown’s big hit coming.

—I’ll give the statheads this. I wasn’t impressed early with Barton’s defense, but my eyes are catching up with what the numbers were saying. That said, he looks terrible at the plate right now. Some of it was Moyer, but he’s been looking bad in other recent games too.

by bear88 on Jun 25, 2008 12:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Emil Brown hit a 3-run HR??

I don’t believe it.

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Jun 25, 2008 12:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd head for the bomb shelter

if Rajai didn’t already live in it.

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Jun 25, 2008 12:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've always loved good ol' DFA Brown

by Faust on Jun 25, 2008 4:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

credit where credit is due

No left- or back-handed compliments, no disparaging qualifiers, no snark—Emil put a heck of a swing on that ball.

(As did Cust on the pitch from Romero.)

Blanton, on the other hand … ~~good~~ great results, but he lucked out with those DPs (esp. the second one), and his form looked as bad as it has all year: shortening his stride, cutting his arm motion short and whipping the ball, Carlton Fisking every close pitch

Can an aging lemur suffer from dementia? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jun 25, 2008 8:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Cust's HR

was probably the ugliest home run I’ve ever seen. Pitcher threw an inside pitch, and Cust swung under it and hit the side of the ball.

The great thing about Cust is that whenever he makes any contact at all with the ball, even crappy contact, there’s a pretty decent chance he’s going to hit a home run.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 25, 2008 8:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think so

“ugliest home run” has to be Pierzynski off of Slingblade.

"There's only one Ken Griffey ." Jay Bruce

by tresselfan on Jun 25, 2008 8:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've never seen that one

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 25, 2008 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not relevant, extrapolate

"There's only one Ken Griffey ." Jay Bruce

by tresselfan on Jun 25, 2008 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lol

Reread the thread a little more carefully.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 25, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait

How about that one Kendall hit.

by nevermoor on Jun 25, 2008 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, that was freakishly gorgeous.

"There's only one Ken Griffey ." Jay Bruce

by tresselfan on Jun 25, 2008 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blanton, on the other hand … good great results, but he lucked out with those DPs (esp. the second one), and his form looked as bad as it has all year: shortening his stride, cutting his arm motion short and whipping the ball, Carlton Fisking every close

I disagree. I thought Joe looked pretty damned good after that first inning. Perhaps his motion was not optimal but he was making his pitches when he needed to. I watched the game again this morning on DVR and there were several different ab’s by the Phillies where Blanton was getting squeezed tighter than the Marlins payroll. Seriously, that umpire really sucked balls last night and made alot of folks hostile and uncomfortable. But that’s baseball, right?

By the way, that second dp to end the 7th was a thing of beauty…...

by mrod on Jun 25, 2008 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, how is it a luck out??

when you throw a perfect pitch for the situation—and the guy chops the ball to third. Sure it was right on the bag, but if it wasn’t they still either get two—5-4-3—or the runner out at the plate

by madmongoose on Jun 25, 2008 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

when Emil came up in the 7th,

I said aloud to my TV, “Oh, I’m so confident right now, you have no idea.” Apparently TVs don’t understand sarcasm, or Emil must have appreciated my confidence, because the outcome was surprisingly good. I should probably talk to my TV more often.

by whiteshoes40 on Jun 25, 2008 10:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I do it all the time

I also had a good feeling when E-mail came up in the seventh. The A’s had already had more hits in that inning than the had the previous six combined and something was bound to happen! Especially as bad as E. Brown has been struggling. I was happy for him, but more happy for A’s Nation baby!

by mrod on Jun 25, 2008 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Happy Birthday yesterday, Nico!

Oops.

There's no textbook for how to treat a geriatric tapir.

by Poppy on Jun 25, 2008 11:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Happy birthyesterday

Good game overall, even if it was a little ugly to start with. I was a little wary of leaving Blanton in—he ended up with enough pitches to qualify for Category III of BP’s Pitcher Abuse Points (only moderate risk for injury, but hopefully Geren does this very occasionally). But he got the W. It was also nice to see the A’s (mostly just Swooney and DFA) remembering how to put together major league-quality ABs in the 7th. The insurance runs via the Cust was a nice touch, too.

Now if someone could just convince the damn Angels to lose.

President and CEO of the Ryan Sweeney Apologists Consortium

by Joey C. on Jun 25, 2008 12:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs