DLD - 6/27/08 - Athletics Nation

DLD - 6/27/08

by JLaff on Jun 27, 2008 12:21 PM PDT Comment 111 comments

I can't think of a title.

Yeah, we know Rich Harden is good.

via assets.sbnation.com

(From Flashfire's awesome photo diary - check it out)

Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge joins him on the list of weird athlete injuries.

His victor? Not a spider. Or an alarm clock. Or um, uh, his truck.

via sleepbetter.org

"It was the stupidest, most freakish thing," Inge said Wednesday, explaining why he had just been placed on the 15-day DL with the pulled side muscle (oblique) he suffered 3 1/2 weeks ago.

"I have a 3-year-old son who sleeps in the bed with my wife and me," Inge said. "I was trying to push the pillow down behind his head (two nights ago), and when I did ... I repopped (the strained muscle).

"You take swings in baseball, and it's not as bad as pushing a pillow down."

Upon hearing this story, manager Jim Leyland said, "That's a first."

NBA teams trade everyone

A couple of the big NBA draft trades:

Memphis acquires Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker, Greg Buckner and the draft rights to O.J. Mayo from Minnesota in exchange for Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, Jason Collins and the draft rights to Kevin Love.

Milwaukee acquires Richard Jefferson from New Jersey in exchange for Bobby Simmons and Yi Jianlian.

A few things that have surprised me. I'm trying to follow basketball now for the first time since Jordan's second (?) retirement. Chris Mullin and Steve Kerr are GMs? Grant Hill still plays? Vinny Del Negro is a coach? With all the scrappy white guys from the 90s getting front office gigs... how long until John Stockton gets one?

Warriors draft a tall, skinny dude

Meet the newest addition to Oracle Arena - F Anthony Randolph.

via bleacherreport.com

His favorite food is pizza. And he's three years younger than me. Damn. What am I doing with my life? I already feel old.

Random song from my iPod

George Strait - Amarillo by Morning

Which makes me wonder... what is your favorite kind of music and why? Sorry if my poll doesn't have every option, just the ones I could think of. I'd have to vote country with rap/hip-hop a close second.

Poll

Favorite type of music?

Country

12 votes

Rap/Hip-hop

6 votes

Rock

26 votes

Alternative

25 votes

Jazz

9 votes

Techno

3 votes

Pop

3 votes

Reggae

0 votes

Latin

2 votes

Classical

2 votes

Gregorian chant

9 votes

Other

15 votes

112 votes | Poll has closed

5 recs | Comment 111 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Randolph... ugh

What a terrible pick. I hate these “project” players that NBA teams take. This is not baseball, where you can afford to have a guy tool around in the minors for 4 or 5 years honing his game. The Warriors are supposed to be contenders next year.

I’m increasingly coming to the conclusion that Mullin is as bad as he ever was and just got really lucky in that one trade with the Pacers.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 27, 2008 12:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Who did you want in that spot though?

I wanted brandon Rush, but he went #13 and there was no one that really excited me after that. Maybe Courtney Lee, but I’m not sure they needed another guard. I’m glad they didnt go with Kosta, saw very little upside there.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jun 27, 2008 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd rather have taken Ryan Anderson

because he’s actually good at basketball.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 27, 2008 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anderson

ugh. Please no.

Anderson is incapable of changing a game. Hey played so many games against inferior athletes, and STILL failed to change the game.

I don’t know much about Randolph, but the mere fact that he’s a project is not a fatal flaw.

at 14, you either get role players, or projects.

by ohmangoAs on Jun 27, 2008 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

..............

Are you f’ing kidding me?

Yeah, 22 and 10 a night doesn’t change any games. Scoring like 15 points in a row against Washington didn’t change that game.

This post is so illogical it makes me question whether you’re talking about the right person.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 27, 2008 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

PT you have a Pac 10 bias, you seem to over rate there abilities a lot

by theblackpearl on Jun 27, 2008 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Want a non-Pac 10 pick?

Darrell Arthur.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 27, 2008 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ok paul, put that TiVo back on

The view from The Bench is a little closer than most of the untelevised games you couldn’t watch Paul…

Anderson is a scorer, no doubt about it. But the scores are put-backs, open jumpers…When was the last time that Anderson pulled the Bears out of a slump? He disappeared on several occasions (oddly enough, it coincided with his jumper being cold).

NBA players are one of two things: Athletic Freaks, or Solid Fundamental players who do the little things so that even when the shot isn’t falling, they are assets to the team.

Anderson is neither.

by ohmangoAs on Jun 28, 2008 12:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The occasions on which he "disappeared"

have a marked correlation to the occasions on which he was being guarded by the best defensive big man in the conference. This is not rocket science here.

Again I ask—did you watch the Washington game (in Seattle)? Without Anderson Cal loses that game by 20 points.

Which one of those “two things” is Dirk Nowitski? I would hardly describe him as being an “athletic freak,” unless merely being tall qualifies… which isn’t a problem for Anderson.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 28, 2008 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dirk has the amazing ability to move like a point guard, even though he’s basically a 7-footer. If that’s not freakily athletic, I don’t know what is. You don’t have to be Dwight Howard to be an athletic freak.

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 28, 2008 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

You've referred to 1 game

First of all, citing 1 good game is hardly an argument, and yes I did see it (and was thrilled).

Second, Anderson is NOWHERE near Dirk. He’s not as quick, not as tall, not as good a ball handler (how often did he take big men off the dribble?)

Third, even though Anderson’s numbers are good, his disappearance against athletic defenders is precisely what shows his problems as an NBA player- Everyone in the NBA is tremendously Athletic.

Fourth, even if he dominated the college game consistently, he didn’t do it in a way conducive to an NBA game- open Jumpers, putbacks, etc. He’s got a great shot, and like many other college players, hitting three’s alone was sufficient for nice numbers. But he’s not creating his own shots- that’s the problem.

Look, I think he might turn into a nice role player (and that’s not a guarantee either), but 14th pick would be a reach.

by ohmangoAs on Jun 28, 2008 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You said he was incapable of changing a game

I pointed out that he did, in fact, change a game.

If you don’t want to be refuted that easily, stop making preposterously exaggerated statements.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 28, 2008 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Changing a game

by ohmangoAs on Jun 29, 2008 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Semantics are always useful

a game can refer to games in general, not every single game ever.

Also, this argument is about YOUR contention that the Warriors should have picked him.

Even if we grant that you’ve semantically won the “changing a game” debate,
I think you’ve easily lost the rest of the debate (which you ignored)

ignoring arguments you don’t want to answer is a good strategy when you’re trying to make it look like you won an argument.

by ohmangoAs on Jun 29, 2008 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chosing to not argue

works well also.

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

by Leopold Bloom on Jun 29, 2008 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK

Here’s why I think Randolph is a dismal pick. Whether Ryan Anderson is or is not a good pick at that spot is basically not relevant (I think he is, but opinions clearly vary). Why is it not relevant? Because virtually every other player under serious consideration in the draft would have been a better pick.

From John Hollinger:

Anthony Randolph, LSU, 9.85

Yes, this is true. Seen in many quarters as a high lottery pick, Randolph has virtually nothing in his statistical record to justify such a lofty selection.

In particular, his woeful ball-handling numbers are a major red flag. Randolph had more turnovers than any prospect except Beasley and Thompson, but those two players had every play run through them; I’m still waiting to find out Randolph’s excuse.

Additionally, his 49.9 true shooting percentage is alarmingly bad for a guy who is supposed to dominate athletically.

He can block shots, and the fact his team was such a mess probably didn’t help his numbers any, but gambling on Randolph with a high first-round pick looks like the basketball equivalent of hitting on 19 in blackjack. Hey, maybe the dealer throws out a 2 and everyone thinks you’re a genius, but chances are you’re going to bust.

It appears he’s going to be drafted in the middle of the first round at worst, but even that appears to be a terrible mistake—there is no track record whatsoever of a player rated this poorly achieving pro success.

From Basketball Prospectus:

The various stat-based systems don’t always agree, but there is unanimity on this: Anthony Randolph is not a lottery pick, not anywhere close. In fact, of all the prospects I rated, Randolph rates as the most inefficient offensive player. He turns the ball over too much and doesn’t shoot a high enough percentage from the field, which are two big problems.

This is not normal “well, he might have issues” talk. Every indicator of bust-hood is flashing red lights and setting off alarm bells. Randolph is a tall guy with some natural athleticism who is completely incapable of actually playing basketball.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 29, 2008 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stats, and Turnovers

Turnovers are often the product of lacking strength. When you’re Physically overwhelmed, you throw the ball away, fumble passes, etc. After you get stronger, its easier to play with some poise. Monta Ellis is a great example of this. He was very turnover prone, and subsequently, he improved.

Also, statistics have much less predictive value in basketball. They’re pretty good at proving what is, but not always what will be. The reason for this is that more than anything else, athleticism is what wins in the NBA.

Polished, dominant college players such as JJ Redick usually are not dominant NBA Players.
The NBA is littered with players who have better stats in the Pros than they did in College.

Obviously, it would be better if he had great stats, showed the athletic promise he does, and had great character to boot…but then he wouldn’t be the 14th pick.

by ohmangoAs on Jun 29, 2008 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

JJ Redick is a terrible example here

because none of the players under legit consideration by the Warriors look anything like him. If they had drafted Chris Lofton, you could use Redick as a comp, but Lofton was undrafted. I agree that Randolph would be a better pick than Lofton.

Ryan Anderson is not Chris Lofton. Darrell Arthur is not Chris Lofton. Robin Lopez is not Chris Lofton. Ryan Anderson is probably the most polished out of that group, but even he looked like he was making post moves up on the fly half the time. If they really wanted a polished center, Roy Hibbert would have been the pick (but obviously he doesn’t work with Nelson’s style).

I agree that stats don’t tell you everything, but posting crappy stats at a low level is more predictive of failure than posting great stats is of success. If you’re great in college, you may not be great in the pros. If you suck in college, you will likely suck in the pros.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 30, 2008 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Comp was merely the combination of Polish/Lack of Athleticism

Obviously not skillset or playing style.

I think that we have pretty much hashed this. It comes down to a choice between high upside athleticism, or relatively low upside production.

I’m happy with the pick. In fact, Randolph started playing in the 8th grade(!), so its not surprising his development, strength etc. are a little behind. He probably should have stayed in college.

The ultimate point is this: With his athleticism, if he had better stats, he’d be a top-8 pick. Ws have to take what they can get.

Hey, we just signed Inoa based on workouts, why not Randolph?

by ohmangoAs on Jun 30, 2008 8:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Inoa doesn't have like 17 statistical indicators arguing that he is going to be godawful, that's why

and if Inoa was expected to contribute immediately to the A’s, I’d be as much against his signing as I am to the Randolph pick.

The NBA draft is not the MLB process, and trying to compare the two is silly.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 1, 2008 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't necesarally mind some project picks

But Mullin is making it a habit. And I don’t get the point of taking Randolph when we just got (and have rarely used) Brandon Wright last year.

by bruinhoo on Jun 27, 2008 7:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I debated about this pick with a friend of mine

And he was on your side. I get the position you’re coming from, but the Warriors exhibit a kind of goofy dichotomy where they’re good enough to contend for the playoffs but simply not good enough to legitimately contend for a title; also their important stars are either really young (Ellis, Biedrins, potentially Wright) or just about on the downside of their career (Baron, Cap’n Jack).

There wasn’t a player at 14 that could come in and legitimately play a role that would have appreciably improved them from last season, there just wasn’t. Nobody available to the Warriors (including even a Jerryd Bayless or Brandon Rush who potentially could’ve slipped) would’ve broke into the main rotation and played a significant enough role to push the Warriors from a very good 9 seed in 07-08 to a title contending 5 or so seed in 08-09. It, unfortunately, just wasn’t happening.

So in lieu of all that, they took a toolsy guy who has maybe a 20% chance of being a star three or four years from now when Baron and Jackson and Harrington are long gone (and/or ineffective) and you’re looking at a core of Ellis/Biedrins/Wright/whatever. I’m fine with that approach, personally.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Jun 28, 2008 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It doesn't seem so bad

How can you say it’s a terrible pick? Picking 14th, you don’t have much else but project players available. It’s not like they passed on Karl Malone to pick Chris Mullin or passed on Kobe Bryant to pick Todd Fuller.

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

by Monday Fan on Jun 29, 2008 1:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

RE: Project Players

You mean like Monta Ellis?

by methodrampage on Jun 30, 2008 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was a 2nd round pick

If Randolph had been available in the 2nd round, I would not argue with selecting him.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 30, 2008 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, JLaff :)

I was about to start a DLD just so there would be one, but my only link was going to be the Inge pillow story…

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

by Poppy on Jun 27, 2008 12:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Inge Pillows!

"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."

-Charles Manson

by kaweahkaweah on Jun 27, 2008 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was going to start one

but I didn’t even have the pillow story! Maybe if I had actually looked…..

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jun 27, 2008 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No problem

I’m bored, and no school today.

JLaff.com
My blog

by JLaff on Jun 27, 2008 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was the one that got my attention the most

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

by oblique on Jun 27, 2008 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Buster Olney: Harden fourth filthiest stuff

No. 4: Rich Harden, Oakland Athletics (nine votes): In his start against the Phillies on Thursday, he consistently threw in the 93-94 mph range in all eight innings he worked, and Philadelphia seemed to have no chance when he used his changeup—the off-speed pitch he prefers now, since ditching his splitter. A no-hitter seemed within the realm of possibility, writes Susan Slusser. Harden has 83 punchouts in 67 innings.

insider stuff

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3463380&name=olney_buster&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1

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

by closetasfan on Jun 27, 2008 12:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I guess Felix is #1

who’s 2 & 3….so Santana and Peavy?

by rh40 on Jun 27, 2008 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lincecum and Josh Beckett

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 27, 2008 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks!

by rh40 on Jun 27, 2008 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if there's anything to the fact that all 4 of those guys either have an injury history

Or, in Lincecum’s case, are total red flag guys for future injuries.

Is there some correlation between filthy stuff (however you would quantify that) and being injury prone?

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jun 29, 2008 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A's released Calero today

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080627&content_id=3013446&vkey=pr_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak

Evidently he couldn’t fetch anything via trade, and obviously he wasn’t added to anyone’s 40-man roster via waivers, either.

"Let’s just hope he’s not a complete turd out there." -thejd44, describing Crosby's best scenario.

by notsellingjeans on Jun 27, 2008 1:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

wasn't he supposed to go to the minor leagues?

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

by closetasfan on Jun 27, 2008 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn. That's it.

Anyone want some genuine MLB retirement papers signed by Kiko?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 27, 2008 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beautiful post

Might as well Jump! - Van Halen

by sprtsnwyn on Jun 27, 2008 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn!

Nobody wanted that damn ball either.

"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 28, 2008 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who are we making room for?

If Kiko is released that makes an open slot on the 40-man, right?

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

by iglew on Jun 27, 2008 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

BLB

by easyraider on Jun 27, 2008 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Billy Lamar Beane

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 28, 2008 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only BLB that's worth having.

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

by Poppy on Jun 28, 2008 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

True.

Well, except for a Bacon-Lettuce-Bacon. Those are pretty delicious, too. Who needs tomatoes?

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 28, 2008 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Going to the Minnesota State Fair this year, huh?

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

by Poppy on Jun 28, 2008 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

question

what happened to Denorfia? He was reactivated and sent down and then not, but then nothing ….... is he optioned to the minors?

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

by closetasfan on Jun 27, 2008 1:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He's on the DL with some sort of recurring back issue

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 27, 2008 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Caused initially by looking back over his shoulder

Exacerbated by pushing too hard to try to catch up

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

by oblique on Jun 27, 2008 9:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

1000th post on AN!!! wooo!

And, amazingly, I have nothing important to say (hey it’s worked 999 other times for me). I think I trail the leaders by 20k-ish now?

And I’ll give this post just a little meaning. Here’s a couple of notes from my recent three-stadium East Coast baseball trip:

Camden Yards is a very nice ballpark with great food.

Yankee Stadium is big and if you go, don’t sit in the bleachers (sometimes being cheap doesn’t work out for you). They don’t connect to the rest of the ballpark and you can’t go to Monument Park or better food choices. Also you feel very out of the game, or at least I did.

Fenway is really nice and has an awesome feel, much better than Yankee Stadium. I sat in the bleachers and felt like I wasn’t the only one paying attention to every pitch. Plus it was fun watching Haren shut down the BoSox even if he wasn’t doing it for the green and gold.

Also, it’s really fun watching A’s baseball on TV on vacation (seeing a couple of the games in Philly on tv).

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Jun 27, 2008 1:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It was like that here, too.

For many years the bleachers were fenced off from the rest of the seats at the Oakland Coliseum.

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

by Monday Fan on Jun 29, 2008 1:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

KenKo on KNBR at 2pm...

by calgbear on Jun 27, 2008 1:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I wonder how many country fans

would consider rap their next-favorite type of music?

For the record, I chose rock, which beats scissors. Unfortunately the whole thing was covered by the paper.

It's Rhodes Scholar Night at the Coliseum tonight.

by Scottbass on Jun 27, 2008 2:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Oddly this is the post that gets me to register but that is my order of pref country then rap. Yep not a normal choice.

by Copenhagen on Jun 27, 2008 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Swish just hit a grand slam, 8-0 White Sox

There’s a huge poster of him in the Sox dugout… giveaway or something?

He also has a dance with Orlando Cabrera, similar to the Bradley dance, but they do the Captain Morgan pose at the end.

JLaff.com
My blog

by JLaff on Jun 27, 2008 2:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I posted before seeing your post

so I’m not the only one who was watching ;-)

by OaklandSi on Jun 27, 2008 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ex-A's news flash

Swish just hit a grand slam off Dempster and the Cubs at Kominsky in the third inning…funny, it seemed like it was going to happen, it wasn’t a surprise…nice for Swish…(and he has a new version of the HR handshake with Orlando Cabrera)

by OaklandSi on Jun 27, 2008 2:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

That new HR shake was awesome.

Might as well Jump! - Van Halen

by sprtsnwyn on Jun 27, 2008 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He has a couple different ones, depending on the Sox player he's celebrating with

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jun 29, 2008 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Any Update on Ryan Sweeney ??

by DaveinRoseville on Jun 27, 2008 2:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Billy Bean Trade history on MLB trade rumors

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/06/gm-trade-histor.html

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

by closetasfan on Jun 27, 2008 2:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hurray!

I’ve been waiting for about two years for him to do a spreadsheet for Beane. He’s done about 10 other GMs.

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

by iglew on Jun 27, 2008 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sideshow Robin

So described by the Chron:

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

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 27, 2008 2:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"the" Stern, "the"

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

by monkeyball on Jun 27, 2008 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

< asvd >

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

by Poppy on Jun 27, 2008 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

(Formerly Nobody Girl)
"We are a complete freak show." -- Billy Beane

by day-to-day on Jun 27, 2008 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

dammit

I should have said “the star, the”

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

by monkeyball on Jun 27, 2008 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

QOTM

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 28, 2008 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The best was Brook

comparing himself to Brady Quinn on camera..that was classic.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jun 27, 2008 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

As if the world weren't scary enough.

Bee decline threatens ice cream production.

Pineapple Poppy Seed

by Ice Cream on Jun 27, 2008 3:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

From the article

Federal research dollars are beginning to flow and will jump dramatically with the newly passed farm bill, but scientists remain baffled about the cause of pollinator decline. The problem extends not just to the commercialized honeybee imported from Europe 400 years ago but, etymologists say, to other native pollinators.

What you really mean, etymologists say, is entomologists.

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

by iglew on Jun 27, 2008 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Etymologists say, "Why the hell are you asking us about bugs?"

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

by Poppy on Jun 27, 2008 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

if the bee-decline was threatening the production of baked goods ...

... they could interview entenmannologists.

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

by monkeyball on Jun 27, 2008 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And ...

if the bee decline is threatening the production of baked goods with shell-covered chocolates inside favored by a certain white hiphop artist, they could interview mandmeminementenmannologists.

"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."

-Charles Manson

by kaweahkaweah on Jun 27, 2008 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And when, after seeing several bees in one garden at one time they

shift their opinion 180°, then they’d be madmongoosemandmeminementenmannologists.

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

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 27, 2008 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and if this sort of thing was common practice at LL, then we'd be ...

madmongoosedeadmememandmeminementenmannologists

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

by monkeyball on Jun 27, 2008 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and if Marshall Mathers adds some anal purgatives ...

madmongoosedeadmememandmeminemenemasentenmannologists

Pineapple Poppy Seed

by Ice Cream on Jun 27, 2008 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and takes his first Broadway role in a G&S revival

madmongoosedeadmememandmeminemenemamadamebutterflyentenmannologists

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

by monkeyball on Jun 27, 2008 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and performs it in silence while gesturing a Beatles tune

madmongoosedeadmememandmeminemenemymeminemimemamadamebutterflyentenmannologists

"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."

-Charles Manson

by kaweahkaweah on Jun 27, 2008 6:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shouldn't this be

madmongoosedeadmememandmeminemenemamikadoentenmannologists?

"...in baseball you wear a cap." -- george carlin

by Hot Cup Joe on Jun 27, 2008 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Granted, I'm having trouble reading these big words,

but are you saying Madame Butterfly is G&S??

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

by iglew on Jun 27, 2008 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think he meant

madmongoosedeadmememandmeminemenemamikadoentenmannologists

by green star oakland on Jun 27, 2008 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Peter Gammons names a few A's in his surprises of the season so far

Ziggy for not allowing a run in his first month
A few people mentioning Rich Harden as the MVP of the World Series
Duke for being #7 on his surprises list
Trevor Cahill being a surprise contributor in the 2nd half

Insider only I think (which I got for $5 for the year!)

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=gammons_peter

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

by closetasfan on Jun 27, 2008 6:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Whoever named Cahill as a surprise contributor

(and it’s not Gammons, it’s some GM or office person he talked to) is on crack. I could see a surprise contribution at the end of 2009 (a la Matt Cain in 2005). Not this year.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 27, 2008 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

what if Harden is traded?

Perhaps Gaudin as well?

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

by monkeyball on Jun 27, 2008 6:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If both of them go, Braden or, maybe, Gio are next in line

I can’t see any way the A’s blow Cahill’s service time at age 20 and use up a 40-man roster spot unnecessarily. He’s not that likely to be better than the next available alternative at this point. Heck, Mazzaro would make more sense as a late callup than Cahill would.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 27, 2008 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gio would be a disaster this year

Honestly, I’d rather see Saarloos or DiNardo again than Gio. I assume that if Harden and Gaudin were both traded, Beane would get at least 1 major league ready starter back.

You're older than you've ever been. And now you're even older. And now you're older still.

by Swooney's Left Foot on Jun 27, 2008 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, once you filter out Gio's starts at high altitudes

his stats don’t look that bad. That may be a coincidence, but it may not be, especially since he’s a pitcher who relies on his curveball.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jun 28, 2008 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Monkeyball!

The revolution is at hand! Liberation is coming!

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

by Leopold Bloom on Jun 28, 2008 9:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm waiting for the right of apes to own firearms to be established

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

by monkeyball on Jun 28, 2008 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Justice Scalia?

You're older than you've ever been. And now you're even older. And now you're older still.

by Swooney's Left Foot on Jun 28, 2008 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meh.

Scalia’s at least smart (if hopelessly misguided about the role the constitution was intended to play by the founders he pays so much lip service to).

Some of the other justices are barely more than idealogues

by nevermoor on Jun 28, 2008 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eddie Izzard

supports your position.

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

by Leopold Bloom on Jun 28, 2008 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love that man

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

by monkeyball on Jun 28, 2008 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I'm the lone classical guy

Indie Rock is probably what I listen to the most (Elliott Smith, Brendan Benson, etc.) right now, but classical has always been my favorite. Gotta love some good old-fashioned rock-&-roll, too.

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 28, 2008 9:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My favorite music is "classical"

in the broader sense which is probably intended in this context.

I didn’t vote in the poll, because I didn’t think I could give a meaningful answer. “Classical” is such a huge category. Some of it I really love, some I don’t care for at all. I mostly like late romantic symphonic (and choral) works. Anything from about Bach through Beethoven — which encompasses all of “classical” in the more precise sense) — does nothing for me, and many classical radio stations play nothing but that.

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

by iglew on Jun 29, 2008 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm mostly a fan of Romantic era piano and symphonic works.

But I’m a huge fan of neoclassical stuff as well.

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 29, 2008 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

anyone see the fanshot on

batting stance guy?

hilarious

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

by SwampyD on Jun 28, 2008 9:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That was fun

Thanks~

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

by Leopold Bloom on Jun 28, 2008 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

From mlbtraderumors.com

Rich Harden struck out 11 in eight shutout innings in front of a number of scouts two nights ago. Also Joe Blanton and Chad Gaudin have heard trade rumors about themselves. Gaudin is “convinced that he’s going to be traded.”

You're older than you've ever been. And now you're even older. And now you're older still.

by Swooney's Left Foot on Jun 28, 2008 12:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

MLBTradeRumors will quote anybody

so you have to look at the source. This time the source is the “Trade Talk” section of MLBlogs (which seems to be a wannabe rival of Blez’s SBNation). Most of the posts there are signed by a beat writer, so you know who the reporter is. A few of them, including this one about Gaudin, are unsigned.

The unsigned ones make me wonder: who is writing this? Is it just some anonymous fan with a speculative opinion and no real sources? I’m not saying a fan is necessarily less reliable than a beat writer. We’ve seen right here on AN that occasionally a non-professional really does know something. I’m just saying that if it’s unsigned and unsourced, you really have no idea.

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

by iglew on Jun 29, 2008 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pavement is the best band ever

That’s all I have to say about music.

If Gaudin gets traded it’ll be a real shame, considering he’s better than Eveland and Smith and all.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Jun 28, 2008 1:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Cut your pitcher

Their starter is lame
In his career, career, career….

Children, until we have taught them better, will be perfectly happy with a seasonal round of games in which conkers succeeds hopscotch.

by salb918 on Jun 28, 2008 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cut your pitcher

Their starter is lame
He’s Correia, Correia, Correia…

Children, until we have taught them better, will be perfectly happy with a seasonal round of games in which conkers succeeds hopscotch.

by salb918 on Jun 28, 2008 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cut your eye

Really gonna hurt
Your cornea, cornea, cornea….

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Jun 28, 2008 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There are no "best" bands

We have our favorites but no style of music or band is “better” than another. It’s all subjective. I do like Pavement, though.

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

by Monday Fan on Jun 29, 2008 1:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Saturday's television broadcast

Um, does anyone know why the evil Comcast Corporation would prevent me from seeing my beloved A’s this evening? I am not seeing the game listed. Is it a misprint or some sort of personalized attack on me? (those are the only choices, BTW) What is the game being broadcast on locally?.

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

by Leopold Bloom on Jun 28, 2008 2:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs