DLD 6/4: Image DLD
Look, I know that not all of us like Lew Wolff. He's done some good things for the franchise, and he's done some bad. He'll likely do some more good things and some more bad things. These issues aren't black and white, and there are complex politics, both internal and external, at force here. Plus, we're fans, so we're going to be emotional about these things, particularly when many of us regard the A's fondly for experiences we've shared with our fathers and mothers and sons and daughters.
In a game against a non-divisional opponent in early June that featured 50 degree weather and a lot of bad baseball, I was happy to see this guy among the 10,800 attendees:
I'm what some of you might call a "stathead," which I guess means that I prefer facts over opinions when making decisions. But there are some decisions I make that require no facts whatsoever, and one of those is who I choose to root for. I live in a city that has seen a dominant four-year run in professional sports led by extremely smart management. It would be natural for me to root for the Patriots and Celtics and Red Sox, but I don't, and never ever in a million kajillion years will.
So I say, "Eat my shorts" to all of who you don't like Chavvy and think he's not Mexican enough and that he's the worst signing ever and that Tejada is way awesomer and that Chavvy's not tough enough.
Why is he my favorite ballplayer?
Usually smooth as silk:
Can crank up the badassery when necessary:
And every so often...sparkle hands!
All in a night's work.
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Amazing
DiNardo Clears waivers, outrighted to AAA. There are maybe five teams who couldn’t use this guy in the rotation or bullpen.
stat-addled alien overlord
I'm glad we get to keep "Pecs"
Yeah, there’s a lot of stupid going around.
Don't blame me, I voted for Ice Cream
I was very surprised by this.
The guy’s left-handed, 28, and makes under a million this year. You’d think several teams would want him on their 25 man roster, not to mention their 40 man.
Good for us. Something tells me we’ll see DiNardo back sooner rather than later.
Could someone please shed light on the “Pecs” nickname. I thought I followed AN pretty closely, but I missed this one.
"We've come a long way, and I'm not talking about Virginia Slims, either." - Art Howe
Started in ST this year -- apparently he's done a lot of body work and is fond of showing off his accumulated ...
... chestatory musculature. “Pecs” is the PG version of the nickname Sweeney, the Elder, bestowed on him—the R version being a descriptor normally reserved for the corresponding female feature, but unsuited to a family website.
(Okay, so it’s “Tits”—but it’s included here only because it might piss-off the FCC. Take that, Michael Powell.
No graphics, however—I’m told you can find some on the internets, though. Happy hunting.)
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Jun 4, 2008 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Chavvy's slide into home...
was maybe a little less than “smooth as silk,” but I’ve always liked him. I’d like Frank in the cleanup spot better, but Chavvy batting 5th will give us a nice middle of the order.
Foolsh, the most insane regular poster on AN since oaktoon left - salb
Yeah, I'm not sure that qualified as "badassery"
I was thinking “stumbleriffic!”
Don't blame me, I voted for oaktoon.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 4, 2008 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions
I'd say stumbleriffic for anyone else on the team
badass for anyone who’s recently undergone 2 shoulder and 1 back surgery!
"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King
Big Chavez fan as well.
I suppose I haven’t been particularly vocal about it over the last couple of years, and that’s my fault, but I continue to hope to see him in all-out-bad-ass-kitten mode soon. There is no one in the league I’d rather watch day in and day out than a healthy Chavez.
"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL
Thanks to AN's HAWT new search feature...
"JOAN! Are you watching Bombast? Did you see Lack Bust drop that fly call?"
Boy do I love that play.
Bring back Hammer.
by OaktownPower on Jun 4, 2008 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions
Ken Arneson, 2006
Chavez is making every single play he should make, and adding some jaw-droppers in between. In an August series against the Blue Jays, and as much as Milton Bradley’s walkoff homer might have stunned the Blue Jays into a pennant-hopes-killing funk, turning the A’s fortunes in the other direction, it was Eric Chavez’s defense that was the key to that series. Toronto hit rocket after rocket at him, and Chavez kept turning doubles into double plays all weekend long.In another jaw-dropper: With one out, runners on second and third, and Texas one run down, Chavez took a chopper near the bag, and quickly tagged out Mark DeRosa trying to return to third base. Now, I can’t ever remember seeing a 5-unassisted at third base like that before, but Chavez didn’t stop there. After tagging out DeRosa, he jumped over him into foul territory, planted his feet, and fired across the diamond to throw out the batter, Ian Kinsler. Double play, inning over.
Mouth agape.
stat-addled alien overlord
that was a great play.
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
I was at that game
Couldn’t believe my eyes.
Don't blame me, I voted for oaktoon.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 4, 2008 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions
my favorite Chavvy defensive play
The one Arneson described was awesome (I remember watching it), but I think that this is the game in which Chavvy was playing wayyyyyy in on the grass with Kenny Lofton (one of the all-time great bunters) at the plate. Pitch is delivered, Lofton squares around, Chavvy tiptoes in even further - then Lofton swivels back to normal stance and slashes a hard low line drive that’s destined to rattle around in the left-field corner - but Chavvy somehow leaps, LOLcat-like, and snares the liner.
Kenny just stood there about 3 steps up the line to first with his mouth open. I think he hadn’t even had a chance to drop his bat. (‘Course, I also remembered the play as having transpired when Lofton was with the Tribe - and it might have, if it was in ‘99 - RetroSheet doesn’t have PxP for ‘99.)
Who has Cust love, besides us? @('.')@
Having seats
down the 3rd base line for years, I’ve had the treat of watching him play defense up close. Last year was hard, because he just wasn’t making plays he used to. You could tell he was hurtin. Watching him play live on Monday night, then seeing him start the DP last night (on the tube), he looks to have that smooth quickness back. It’s nice to see.
Ooops
http://catfishstew.baseballtoaster.com/archives/462350.html
Although it appears the text is substantially similar to Ken’s description on Tango’s site, linked above.
stat-addled alien overlord

It happens all the time
This Chavvy love of mine
Wrapped around my heart
Refusing to unwind
Ooh-ooh, Chavvy love, ah…ah-a-a
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Jun 4, 2008 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions
I hate being alarmist
but Rich isn’t listed as a probable pitcher this weekend.
I hope it’s just a mistake. Still I feel a bit sick.
A mistake?
Not likely, considering how bad (and uncomfortable) Eveland looked last night. I thought he might be injured himself.
Whatever, the A’s already got much more out of Harden this year than I could possibly have hoped for.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
I think he's been moved down a day, he will probalby pitch against the Yanks on Monday...
mostly because Eveland has been struggling, I think. I don’t think we should be worried, we would of known since his last start, I think. And maybe he’s been moved down too because they might want him to pitch against the Giants next weekend!
oAkLaNd AtHlEtIcS!!
It's only Spring Clean for the May Queen. Call the Gardener!
by LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn on Jun 4, 2008 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions
The Yankees arrive Tuesday, not Monday
and the typical move with a struggling pitcher is to skip him in the rotation, not move him forward in it…
Pitching Rich Harden against the Giants is like killing a bug with a battery of artillery.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
I was just trying to be positive!
No need to get your panties all in a bunch! I was just trying to be a little optimistic. I don’t think it’s anything we should be worried about.
There’s no need to be rude!
oAkLaNd AtHlEtIcS!!
It's only Spring Clean for the May Queen. Call the Gardener!
by LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn on Jun 4, 2008 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions
lol...
oAkLaNd AtHlEtIcS!!
It's only Spring Clean for the May Queen. Call the Gardener!
by LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn on Jun 4, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions
I wasn't being rude
but thanks for asking.
My robot brain is having trouble, however, with the juxtaposition of “Harden” and “optimistic” in the same concept. I keep getting “does not compute” messages.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
I completely understand....Harden went out on Monday in the 7th...
with 100+ pitches and he pretty much begged Geren to go out there again, I think that is a very positive sign that he is developing a mindset that he can go out here and pitch 6+ innings….he will be starting on Sunday against Santana! WOOO! Optimism is GOOD!!!
oAkLaNd AtHlEtIcS!!
It's only Spring Clean for the May Queen. Call the Gardener!
by LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn on Jun 4, 2008 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions
/Starts "opposing manager visits the mound" music
Dadut…dadut, dadut, dadut, dadut, dadut, dadut diddley-iddeley-iddeley…
/rinse, repeat ‘til the primate moves along
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on Jun 4, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions
ESPN lists Sunday's game
as Santana vs. Harden. This is a change from their listing earlier this morning.
Yeay!!!
oAkLaNd AtHlEtIcS!!
It's only Spring Clean for the May Queen. Call the Gardener!
by LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn on Jun 4, 2008 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions
The A's list Harden as the starter Sunday
in their own Game Notes for today’s game. He is good to go.
Bring back Hammer.
by OaktownPower on Jun 4, 2008 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Thanks for making us worry!! lol wink wink
oAkLaNd AtHlEtIcS!!
It's only Spring Clean for the May Queen. Call the Gardener!
by LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn on Jun 4, 2008 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Is there a player in all of MLB
who even comes close to the look of a pampered South American soccer god than does Magglio Ordonez?

Don't blame me, I voted for oaktoon.
pampered south american soccer god
he needs to go by just “magglio”.
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
hopefully he doesn't get caught with transvestites like Ronaldinho
that could be hard playing in Detroit
Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.
Those Detroit transvestites are rutheless
by methodrampage on Jun 4, 2008 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
But there's kind of a strange abundance of Roberts
"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL
My personal favorite
"optimism 1 pessimism 0" ~Dirk
by 149 on Jun 4, 2008 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions
He looks like the adult Dora the Explorer
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jun 5, 2008 12:36 AM PDT up reply actions
Is today a $2 per bleacher seat day?? June 4t vs Tigers???
I see the BART promotion, and $1 hot dogs, but no $2 notation for cheap seats…
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jun 4, 2008 9:54 AM PDT reply actions
Yes, they are sold out of $2 beauties
I checked at the box office after the game last night, while buying tix for me and the kids to Saturday’s fireworks game.
Don't blame me, I voted for oaktoon.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 4, 2008 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Guess the speaker
“I just think walks were my downfall tonight,” he said. “I had pretty good stuff, but walking guys, falling behind, was the reason. I don’t want to go out there and have a blowout game, but my body feels good. I’ve got to put this one behind me and keep going.”
stat-addled alien overlord
Eveland! Right?
oAkLaNd AtHlEtIcS!!
It's only Spring Clean for the May Queen. Call the Gardener!
by LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn on Jun 4, 2008 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Oops! It's Zito!
Stupid me and I read that article this morning!
oAkLaNd AtHlEtIcS!!
It's only Spring Clean for the May Queen. Call the Gardener!
by LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn on Jun 4, 2008 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Marin IJ headline this morning
“Defensive letdown: Zito gets little help from teammates.”
The MediaNews story that went with the headline, from the San Jose Mercury News, is also somewhat sympathetic to Barry, but not as much as the above headline would lead one to believe.
Brainless Automaton #439
by rubin sierra on Jun 4, 2008 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions
And I meant to add some mockery,
Maybe something suggesting that Zito’s dad is now working at the Marin IJ copy desk
Brainless Automaton #439
by rubin sierra on Jun 4, 2008 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions
Wow -- looks like Unca Lew can even drive fans away from his own section!
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
Looking into the Future (Next 4 Series)
Angels Series:
Fri: Blanton v. Lackey (Advantage: Angels)
Sat: Smith v. Garland (Advantage: A’s)
Sun: Harden v. Santana (Dare I say: Slight Edge Angels)
Yankees Series:
Tue: Eveland v. Wang
Wed: Duke v. Rasner
Thur: Blanton v. Pettitte
Giants Series:
Fri: Smith v. Zito
Sat: Harden v. Cain
Sun: Eveland v. Correia
D-Backs Series:
Tue: Duke v. Webb
Wed: Blanton v. Haren
Thur: Smith v. Doug Davis
On the Bright Side: Travel Schedule is/has been very, very light. From May 19th – July 2nd, the A’s will only Travel to Texas & Back (May 30-June 1), Phoenix & Back (June 17 – 19), and LA (June 30 – July 2). That’s 39 Games and only 5000 Miles (approx.) of Travel.
Can't wait.
Duke v. Webb should end in about 2 hours.
Blanton v. Haren? Swoon.
Smith v. Zito: our crafty lefty throws harder than your crafty lefty.
stat-addled alien overlord
Greg Smith's gonna rake in AZ
Slusser’s notes column today observes that Greg Smith went 12-for-28 as a hitter in AA and AAA last year. I didn’t realize pitchers ever hit in the minors, but apparently they do, sometimes, when NL affiliates face each other.
Don't blame me, I voted for oaktoon.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jun 4, 2008 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions
For some weird reason, it's only in AA and AAA
I don’t really understand that, because it means that a lot of guys who were two-way players in high school have like a 4 year period for their hitting to atrophy before they actually face real pitching again.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Dude.
Those wer jazz hands.
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.
There's no bigger crowd pleaser than jazz hands...
...except “three run homer jazz hands”.
"He's a misfit. He gets along with everyone." - Reggie Jackson, describing Joe Rudi
I was gonna say the same thing
but didn’t want to have to field questions on WHY I know that.
"optimism 1 pessimism 0" ~Dirk
by 149 on Jun 4, 2008 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions
For anyone in the Dallas area in early '09...
There’s going to be a production of East Bay-born Itamar Moses’s “Back, Back, Back” at the Dallas Theatre Center, from March 11-April 5. The play’s subject? Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Walt Weiss, and the steroid era.
"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."
I like Former Huntsville Star Eric Chavez.
I want an A's-Rays ALCS.
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Jun 4, 2008 4:56 PM PDT reply actions
That's not a picture of Wolff, it's Clarence, the angel
from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” who was trying to show a suicidal Barry Zito how miserable Oakland would be if he had never lived.
"wither fair monkeyball?" ~fsu
Can we draft this pitcher, please?
He can really hit his spots, for a high schooler—and has big brass balls, to boot.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus































