Wrap: Game 95 - Angels 4, A's 3
by Taj Adib on Jul 13, 2008 4:31 PM PDT
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PrintI'm not sure that there was anything that could have made this game more reflective of how differing the A's and Angels' seasons have gone thus far and are going from here. In this last, thriller-of-a-game before the All Star Break, all the elements that have made the Angels one of the league's best teams and have kept the A's in quasi-contention were on full display...but in the end, this game reminded me of the 2006 season, except that the tables have been turned on the A's. Instead of Jason Kendall racing in from home after K-Rod sulked off the mound to take the lead, it was Reggie Willits scoring all the way from 2nd after Murphy tried to get the out at first and Barton was too late at home with his throw. Instead of Bobby Kielty crushing a homerun off K-Rod in Anaheim late in the game to key a close one-run lead, it was Casey Kotchman roping one off of Duke. Instead of Chavez making diving stops on the third base line to rob Angels hitters of extra bases, it was Maicer Izturis. And that's just how the game goes, especially when your team is still learning how to play the game at the major league level...
This is not to say that this particular loss does not hurt. It does. It hurts a lot actually. The Duke, who seemed just a tad bit off all day, still managed to put in a more-than-quality start, going 7+ innings, allowing only 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts. He left the game in trouble in the 8th with Garret Anderson on 1st and Vlad up to bat and the A's clinging to a 3-2 lead. But then Geren called on SuperZiggy who got Vlad to bounce out to 3rd to end the threat. Is there a better story for the A's (and for AthleticsNation for that matter) than Brad Ziegler so far this season? I think not, but that's for another day entirely.
So the A's, after getting two walks in the bottom of the 8th but failing to score, were left with a 3-2 lead heading into the top of the 9th. Geren decided to go straight to Street for the save, even though Huston worked at least an inning the last two nights AND Ziggy had thrown only one pitch the previous inning AND had utterly dominated the Angels to that point. Then came the epic collapse. Street gave up consecutive, singles to Torii Hunter and Juan Rivera (who was pinch-ran for in the form of Willits). Howie Kendrick - the living, breathing prototype and essence of Angel offensive philosophy - came through with a sac fly to right and then, after a sac bunt moved Willits to 2nd, came the backbreaker. Erick Aybar hit a slow roller to Murphy who charged it well and threw to first. Aybar beat out the throw and Willits, who never stopped running, broke for home. Barton double-clutched for a second and that was all Reggie needed to slide in under Suzuki and give the Angels the lead. Crushing.
The A's, true to form, would go on to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the 9th only to see an even more-animated-than-usual K-Rod strike out pinch-hitter Rob Bowen and Kurt Suzuki to end the game and his stellar first half. God, that really hurt.
So folks, here are your 2008 Oakland A's: Now 6 games out of 1st place for at least the next 4 days; still growing into major leaguers; one step closer to being in full "sell" mode and definitely one strike, one out, and one play away from truly challenging the reigning AL West champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the division title...
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Definitely one of the most frustrating games of the year
Compounded by some real bright comments in the last thread.
But, small correction: Street only threw one inning last night.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Pay the nest time KRod turns to point at the sky
may God strike his Achilles tendon and leave it perfectly severed.
When will then be now? Soon.
SULK OFF was not 2006.....
2005 if I remember correctly, but definitely not 2006.
Otherwise, nice write up.
by 33SwisherSweet on Jul 13, 2008 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Considering that Bill King called it,
I’m gonna say it was 2005.
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
hiccup!
booze kickin’ in I see
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Nope. Just plain euphoria to a better time.
I need to calm down more before writing these write ups. I keep on mixing up details. Cutting down on the booze would probably help too with all those numbers and years…
All things considered
That was one of the most devastating non-playoff losses I can remember. Street’s choke, Barton’s double clutch, the ultimate tease in the bottom of the 9th, Bowen doing his best Melhuse impersonation, bad home plate umpire, 6 back instead of 4. And they don’t get back on the field for 120 hours. I am more sad than angry really. This young team has definitely exceeded my expectations in the first half. With the second half schedule (way more road games, very few off days), I just don’t see this team finishing ahead of the Angels. If Beane can get value for Street (ideally a right-handed hitting SS or 3B), I hope he trades him. Before Friday.
A little plumbing! Got to plumb! Plumb the depths! The depths of hell! - Larry David, CYE
by Swooney's Left Foot on Jul 13, 2008 4:44 PM PDT reply actions
I feel the same way
what a difference a few plays make in a SEASON.
If the team has a bad second-half we will probably look back at this game as a major turning point.
Taking Ziggy out
Bob Geren would have needed to buck baseball convention by going with the pitcher who is clearly pitching the best - Ziggy - rather putting in his closer. Ziggy is averaging no runs allowed per 9 inning, while Street now has an ERA over 4. I’m not sure whether everyone else felt the same way, but as soon as I saw Street was entering the game I was almost certain the A’s would lose 4-3. The Angels didn’t hit Street hard but their closer got strikeouts when he needed them and Street did not.
The fact is, that Street is not a really good "closer" per se.
He’s a great relief pitcher all things considered, but when he needs that extra “oomph” or “bite” to get that key out, he can’t find it, and that’s the difference between him and K-Rod, IMHO. But then again, I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags.
I would say that Street IS a good closer -
but not a very good one. Sometimes, when a streak gets as high as 20 IP and the opposition can’t buy a good swing off of him, you have to say, “Here, Zig – it’s yours until you fail.” He never has.
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
Good post
Street is a better than average closer…and we want him to be Mariano Rivera in his prime. He’s not and we can expect him to blow saves from time to time. Ziggy is doing the best right now but I do think it’s a little early to take Street’s job away.
Gallagher for shortstop!
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
Yeah
I suggested this in the game thread (and then had to leave before I saw just how bad the alternative was). I’m not saying Ziggy should be our closer, but he could have at least stayed in until the Angels got a baserunner (if at all) so that Street would be a change of pace.
New tag
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
by Leopold Bloom on Jul 13, 2008 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions
this loss is on Geren's decision making or lack thereof
Just because Street is your “closer” doesn’t mean he “has to close the game”. Ziggy only pitched to 1 batter in the 8th and should have returned in the 9th to finish them off. As soon as I saw street, i got knots in my stomach. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK, this blows man!
by sf drift king on Jul 13, 2008 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree 100%
Brandon Morrow had his second blown save, so the Mariners brought him in after one out in the 9th.
That worked. Mariners won 4-3. I prefer NOT to bring the closer in against a team as successful as the Angels (best record in MLB) all the time, predictably. The predictability is mentally tough. Ziegler esp. against Tori Hunter and Juan Rivera. Those two would prefer Street to Ziggy.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Push button managing....Geren, use your head!
Buck conventional “wisdom” every once in a while.
by 33SwisherSweet on Jul 13, 2008 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I kept thinking Saturday
why is Street pitching in a 3-1 losing game?
And nothing good came last night, and today nothing good came.
Can’t do the ‘standard closer’ routine one day, but the day before, whatever.
Run Differential...
...if I hear one more pucking thing about run differential as a means to argue Oakland is the superior ball club, I may just swallow two pucks and a skate blade.
For the series, Oakland was a +3, ooooooohhhh baby!
In the short term, run diffential can be less valuable.
But its still the best predictor of future success.
When will then be now? Soon.
Except in this case it's not because it's skewed
The A’s have had a few high-scoring blowout wins while the Angels are very good at winning close games. The A’s have a lot of close games because they don’t normally score a lot or give up a lot of runs, but the Angels have done a better job of winning games they shouldn’t have – like today’s. They’re also better in 1-run games and have not struggled against left-handers (17-6) like the A’s have (17-16).
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Well run differntial isnt the end all be all stat.
All Im saying is over the course of a year its pretty accurate. Maybe 1-2 teams a year make it look bad.
When will then be now? Soon.
There are some very good reasons
to believe that in the present case run differential will not prove a good predictor of how the A’s and Angels will fare for the rest of this season.
However, the arguments you list — “because it’s skewed”, “good at winning close games”, “winning games they shouldn’t have” — are emphatically not among them. Those are exactly the things that looking at run differential rather than W-L record is intended to correct against.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
I hear you, except run differential is not factoring into the most important statistic:
Wins and losses and which team has more.
You can say that run differential is a good predictor of how the two teams will fare the rest of the season, but the season is already more than half over and the Angels have a six game lead on the A’s.
Do you see the A’s passing them because, all of a sudden, the apparent luck of the Angels runs out?
I don’t.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Well..
“I hear you, except run differential is not factoring into the most important statistic: Wins and losses and which team has more.”
isnt that exactly what run differential is supposed to do? Predict Wins/Loses?
I also believe at the end of the year the Angles Pythagorean record will be more in line than it is now, for better or for worse Im not sure. It does however suggest a decline in wins by the Angles.
When will then be now? Soon.
Sure, but the actual results mean a whole lot more than whatever some prediction does
Based on whatever formula MLB.com uses, the A’s should be 55-40 and the Angels 50-45.
Hey, I’d take that.
But the Angels are 57-38 and the A’s are 51-44.
Again, the only reason the run differential is so great is because the A’s have had a handful of high-scoring games and a couple of them came against the Angels, so that makes it an even bigger-seeming disparity.
In reality, their offenses have scored the same amount of runs (one more for the A’s) and the A’s have given up 43 fewer runs.
The Angels are simply better at winning.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
"The Angels are simply better at winning."
In a perfect world where luck doesnt exist than your right. But luck does exist and they have had more of it.
When will then be now? Soon.
Call it what you will. The Angels lead the A's by six games.
They’re also six games better than the A’s against the AL West.
Whether it’s luck, timing, style of play creating opportunities, whatever, the run differential isn’t leading to whatever the expected result ought to be.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Thats what you get when you look
at a small sample size. A lot of “noise”. We need to wait and see how tings work out in the 2nd half.
When will then be now? Soon.
What small sample size? The season is 60% over.
This isn’t about a prediction. This is about who’s better at getting the job done on the field. The A’s have done better at that than most of us thought they would but the Angels are still outperforming them where it matters. I don’t see any evidence this is about to change, especially considering the road-heavy second half the A’s have (26 home games and 41 road games, which will be 9 more games than the Angels have to play).
If the Angels win 6 games by an average of 4-3 but the A’s win 5 by an average of 4-2, so what? The Angels still won more games in the end. The Angels don’t have to have a few 12-2 games just to balance out the fact the A’s have.
There is no reason to expect the Angels to falter at this point, but I sure as hell hope they do.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
The season doesnt end right now. Theres still
alot of baseball to play. And I for one think the Angles are due for a ruff patch based on them not being able to keep up winning all these close games. Hence playing more to their pythag record.
When will then be now? Soon.
If that happens and the A's can take advantage of it, great.
I just think it’s silly to hold out hope that a team will come closer to whatever their Pythagorean record is.
Put the two together and it’s currently an 11-game difference between what is apparently supposed to be and what actually is.
Sometimes teams are simply better or worse than the numbers suggest. This is the case here.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Well of course Pythag isnt the end all be all.
But just look at the two teams who played WELL above their Pythag record from last year. The Mariners and DBack, both not playing anywhere near what they did in 08. Despite both having added Haren and Bedard.
When will then be now? Soon.
Arizona had a number of blowout losses last year but did a better job of...
...winning the rest of their games. That’s not happening this year. Simple as that.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
This made me a little curious, too
Last year, Arizona had 9 games where they gave up 10 or more, getting outscored 32-97 (-65).
They also had three 8-1 losses for another total of 3-24 (-21).
That’s 12 losses totaling 35-121 (-86).
Their other 150 games? 90-60, outscoring their opponents 677-611 (+66).
They ended up 11 games better than their pythag record, which almost exactly covers the games I noted.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Hmmm
Also saw that last year the Angels were 4 games better than their pythag record and the A’s were 3 worse.
Not too much different from the Angels being 7 better right now and the A’s 4 worse.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Yeah, and what Arizona did last year is hardly normal.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Last point for the night
Anyone can watch the games and see exactly why the Angels have a better record than the A’s. A formula cannot take into account real-world variables that numbers don’t calculate.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
The homer, right?
I think I remember you mentioning that.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Its the wide angel horizaontal one..
Fits my phone better the vertical ones.
When will then be now? Soon.
good teams win blowouts
the only reason the run differential is so great is because the A’s have had a handful of high-scoring games and a couple of them came against the Angels
If you exclude all the high-scoring games from any team’s record, then you’re left with the close games—and the smaller the margin of victory, the greater a role luck has in the W/L outcome.
... arousing men to burst the chains under which monkeyish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves ... @('.')@
Sure, but often it's those few outliers that skew the differentials and we get...
...pythag records like we have now for the A’s and Angels.
Flip it around and let’s say in that four-game series in Anaheim the two the A’s won were the close ones and they lost the two blowouts. The A’s outscored the Angels in those four games 30-18 but in their losses they got shut out and scored 1 run. So they split and ended up +12 in run differential. That’s another -12 for the Angels at the same time so it’s like a 24 run difference.
Instead of the A’s outscoring teams 410-345 (+65) and the Angels 409-388 (+21), all of a sudden it becomes the A’s 398-357 (+41) and the Angels 421-376 (+45).
Instead of the A’s having a differential that’s 44 runs better than the Angels, all of a sudden the Angels have a differential that’s 4 runs better than the A’s. Along with that, while the teams would have the same records they do today the Angels would undoubtedly have the better pythag record.
Pretty big shift for just a few games, isn’t it?
So yes, the Angels have had some luck involved in winning their games. I’ve been saying that all along. They also haven’t blown some teams out like the A’s have, but where I think you’ll see the difference show up the most is the A’s lose more low-scoring, close games than the Angels do and the blowouts skew the predictions.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
This is actually a fallacy
There is no “law of averages.” Things don’t even out.
If the Angels are 7 games over Pythagorean today, then I expect them to finish the season 7 games over Pythagorean. Which is unfortunately about 90 wins.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
No, FF, you don't hear me.
You’re continuing to repeat the same fallacies.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
Don't worry my fellow ANers...
Three years from now the Angels will be sulking at the bottom of the division while the A’s will have formed a dynasty (courtesy of Billy Beane). At first I was really sad about this loss but when I thought about it I realized that this was what I expected all along from these A’s. When the Big 5 arrives in Fremont (Inoa, Cahill, Anderson, Gio, and Simmons) the Angels will cringe in fear. As the likes of Cargo, Doolittle, Carter and others step onto the field in the next three years the Angels will cringe in fear. After three years when the Angels finally break out of their trance without a championship and realize that they have no conrnerpiece for their future (they have one or two guys in the top 150 prospects) they will cringe in fear.
The sweetest thing about all this is that in those dynasty years (2010 and beyond) we will not simply beat the Angels by one or two runs, we will crush them. The Angels will be so bad that we wil forget we ever hated them.
Patience my fellow Aners. Patience.
Yes, but wouldn't it be even more fun to win now
when their payroll is nearly triple ours.
And in 2-3 years when our prospects are awesome
I don't think so
Texas will be tougher, Angels will still have Vlad.
I don’t like this myopic optimism. It’s only going to get tougher in MLB. About three teams will be real losers, the rest very very very evenly matched.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions
And why do you think Texas will get tougher?
Call me when they have Chris Young, John Danks, and Edinson Volquez, not when they…don’t.
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
one word: "Wash"
He’ll tighten their defense. And he’s only going to get better as a judge of pitching. With Nolan Ryan backing him, I think the pitching improves. They beat the Halos twice with rookies.
Just portends of “uh oh”.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 6:21 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't see it - one problem for them with Wash
managing is that he doesn’t have time to be infield coach. And their pitching is a disaster – show me where that is likely to change and I’ll start taking them more seriously. You don’t win without good pitching, end of story.
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
Texas has some of the best young players in the game
We’ve already seen Hamilton, Kinsler and Saltalamacchia. Davis, Ramirez and Harrison are recent call-ups. Teagarden, Andrus, Hurley, Main, Kiker, Poveda, Beavan and Beltre are all highly regarded and doing well. I’m not sure what’s the deal with Duran.
Rangers seem at least as well positioned as the A’s for the near future, and with a better revenue stream, I’d probably give them something of an edge. Wash is just the icing.
When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!
by WaddellCanseco on Jul 13, 2008 8:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Saltalamacchia?
Seriously?
I do not understand the hype surrounding that guy. At all. He’s a borderline embarrassment defensively as a catcher, and a borderline embarrassment offensively as a first baseman. I’m not aware of any other positions he plays.
You’re right that we’ve seen him—and what we’ve seen is that he really isn’t very good.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Granted he's looked crappy in the majors....
and I’d still take him over any of the A’s catching prospects.
When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!
by WaddellCanseco on Jul 14, 2008 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions
The problem is that the odds all those players "hit" is next to nothing
Prospects are exciting, and some of those guys will make the A’s and (hopefully) be major contributors. Expecting all of them to pan out is way too much.
I know we have a ton of SP depth, so we’re probably ok there, but keep in mind the vast majority of minor league players don’t even make it to the show (let alone contribute much), and the fact that we’re excited about these guys doesn’t change those odds all that much.
Just a note here:
Torii Hunter’s single was about as far from well-struck as it’s possible to get. More lucky bounces for us, but it’s the truth all the same.
~Till the Halo burns out...
Good news:
Please, I encourage anyone who didn’t catch the MLB Futures game to watch our pitching prospects in action. It was the first time I got to see Cahill, Anderson, and H-Rod pitch. And let me say, wow, it really cheered me up after this rough game.
Cahill is the next Brandon Webb, Anderson looks like a front of the rotation starter, and H-Rod, well, let’s just say he threw 100 mph. And was routinely hitting 97. Wherever they want to put him is fine by me.
Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?
Eh, the future is always "yet to come"
and nothing cheery about total speculation.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 5:33 PM PDT up reply actions
You are an
everlasting ray of hope and sunshine.
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
by Leopold Bloom on Jul 13, 2008 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, this is the internet
so everything may not be as it appears.
I’m probably taking this loss with less anguish than most here. I just don’t like to be given the “Don’t cry!!...Look over here, look at this !!” treatment.
As Tallyrand said, “Tact disappears when it is recognized as such.”
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Keeping Ziggy in would have been fine...
Putting Street in was fine….
What’s ironic is that they lost on slow hit ground balls, which is exactly what Ziggy’s m.o. is. And people complain that he didn’t strike anyone out. Well… Ziggy doesn’t strike anyone out and Street gets a lot of Ks. So… people wanted our gb pitcher in to get Ks instead of our K pitcher who wound up giving up gbs?
The A's colors are green and gold.
I know - what's ironic is that had Ziggy stayed in
it probably would have gone EXACTLY the same way. Except it would have matched “what I would have done” so I wouldn’t have any reason to complain. :-)
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
I admire your restraint, composure, and maturity, Taj.
I’m a pretty calm person, but I think I would have written:
F#ck! F#ck! F#ck! F#ck! F#ck! F#ck!!!!
sorry
didn’t have the same restraint, you may want to edit mine.. oops.
by sf drift king on Jul 13, 2008 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions
I am in your camp SSpice!
#$^#$@#$ and clicked off before seing the idiot point to the sky….and went out for a second run and am now at the office taking out my frustration on innocent customers by writing sharp emails.
alaska A
I blew off steam by
trash talking with an Angel troll about K-rod at the end of the game thread.
What was I thinking? Although I’m sure I made him see my point.
I find that usually if I just have rational conversation
with a troll, usually they will acknowledge the error of their ways and then go volunteer at soup kitchens. Personally, I like to go to soup kitchens and ask, “Can I get the salad instead?” But then I’ve been known to approach a sales clerk at Toys R Us and ask, “Hey, do you guys have any toys?”
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
That Angel Troll
is surely penning a letter right now:
Mr. Rodriguez,
I am a huge fan of your closing prowess. Good work, young man. But it has been brought to my attention by a keen baseball mind that, on occasion, you act like a jackass. Could you please stop?
Yours,
Angel Troll
our stupid family tradition
When we’re walking amongst a large group in “fan gear” heading toward a baseball stadium (ie in Oakland on the BART ramp ten minutes before a game), it’s our family tradition to ask total strangers if they’re “Goin’ to the ball game?” in a loud, ingenuous voice. Never fails to get a strange look, and ususally a slow “Uh huh”. Don’t remember how it started , but we’ve been doing that (my brother, my late mother and I) since the 70s. Yes we’re socially challenged simpletons.
by Brian in 317 on Jul 14, 2008 7:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Normally, I don't mind when they wait and don't DL guys
because people way overstate day-to-day depth. Definitely got us today, though. It was pretty ugly having to chose between Murphy/Petit/Bowen who all were very likely to strike out, instead of having Bankston or whoever instead of Swooney.
The A's colors are green and gold.
Yet it made sense because Sweeney only misses three games
Now they COULD have demoted a pitcher for 10 days (meaning just the NYY series) and carried an extra position player. But really there’s no one you would want up against K-Rod there – you want a left-handed hitter who can make contact and sadly we don’t have any of those.
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
Yeah,
DLing him was probably wrong, but we didn’t need Braden up right before the AS break. It’s bad to have no pinch hitters whatsoever regardless of what situation arises.
The A's colors are green and gold.
Correct. Braden in a blow out on Friday vs. a better PH today
Bankston is not the greatest but he sure hits alot of fly-balls.
A fly ball and we are tied.
I'm thinking they could have demoted Braden,
or even Blevins, for 10 days. But honestly if Bankston pinch hits there, I expect a K. A righty who has never seen K-Rod before?
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
I wouldn't have been too confident in him,
but way more confident than Murphy/Bowen/Petit.
The A's colors are green and gold.
Go Rivercats
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
Bankston K's I think so too
Bowen at least was 1-for-3 vs FRod.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Exactly, the right decision was to go to 11 pitchers for this series.
They could bring back a pitcher after the ASB.
And the pitcher to go should have been Smith.
One of the starters won’t pitch again till the 22nd. I see no reason why Smith couldn’t have been that person. I also haven’t seen Slusser, Bach or any other media type ask the A’s this question.
When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!
by WaddellCanseco on Jul 13, 2008 8:51 PM PDT up reply actions
I think it's been established that Smith
WOULD have used an option – that he actually hasn’t used one this year – in which case that’s a good enough reason. Sorry if I’m wrong on this, but that’s my recollection.
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
Sure he would have used an option. So what?
He’s got three left. Unless they plan to option him for the next three years after this one, why does that make any difference?
When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!
by WaddellCanseco on Jul 14, 2008 8:13 AM PDT up reply actions
All for what? To have Wes Bankston available?
So HE could fan against K-Rod instead of Murphy or Bowen? The problem is that the “good hitter” we need isn’t around, so optioning Smith would not have been worth it.
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
Smith is the kind of guy
(namely, a guy that you don’t mind having around as a 5th starter or swingman, but don’t want in the meat of your rotation) for whom it is very useful to have as many options as possible.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Er, what?
Why the hell would you waste an option on someone for three games before the All-Star Break just to have an extra bat?
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
I'd sooner put R Sweeney on the 15-day DL
than burn one of Greg Smith’s options.
But three days of Bankston on the bench wasn’t worth that either.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
I have to wonder...
Left pinky, left-handed hitter – Sweeney couldn’t swing the bat? Really? :-(
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
On the brighter side of things...
After today’s game, at least we know that no A’s loss from this point on will be as frustrating as this one has been. Yeah, we may be six games behind the Angels, but we’re also seven games over .500. That’s pretty neat, considering the little experience that most of the players have on this team. And with that, there’s bound to be losses. Today was one of those losses, just a super horrific one. Anyways, I’m looking forward to the second half of the season :D
Photography Page | Flickr
In a lot of ways, being over .500 is worse
There really is nothing worse than just missing the playoffs. Not only do you not get a good draft pick, you can’t sign any good free agents without coughing up your best draft picks on top of it. It’s like adding insult to injury.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Disagree;
I’d take 2004 and 2005 over last year. Not even close. I would, however, also prefer having to worst record to a season like last year.
The A's colors are green and gold.
Same here - all I wanted out of this year
was to be able to fool myself into believing every game mattered. So I have no complaints – well, other than being unbelievably depressed over a game like this because…it mattered. You see I’ve carefully set up my life so that I can’t win.
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
Emphatically disagree
I get full satisfaction out of every improvement in our W-L record. If we finish 83-79, that’s better than finishing 82-80. If we finish 99-63, that’s better than finishing 98-64. If we finish 76-86, that’s better than finishing 75-87.
Loss of position in the draft goes with doing well, and you should wear it with pride. It’s like being the guy who pays for a round of drinks because you just got a big bonus. It’s like getting the shaving cream pie in the face because you hit the walk-off homer. It is the opposite of adding insult to injury.
Count me as rooting for the A’s not to get a good draft pick next year. (And yes, I would absolutely rather get the compensable 16th pick than the safe 15th. Damn straight.)
I’m normally pretty sympathetic to dispassionate stat-wonk talk, but this sort of thing, where you’d actually prefer to lose a couple more games in order to get so-and-so in the draft, turns me into Joe Frickin’ Morgan. Baseball is about winning the game, not tweaking your draft position. If you ask me, any line of reasoning that ends with “being over .500 is worse”, proves nothing except that your priorities are screwed up.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
Shrug
My priorities are for the A’s to win baseball games.
If losing a game this year will win them 10 games down the road, I sure have a hard time seeing why I should be rooting for them to win it. Even if it’s only ONE game down the road, maybe it’ll be in a more competitive season. What’s it to me when, exactly, they win it? It’s not like I have a terminal illness.
I mean, the difference between this, and a policy of hating all rebuilding trades (since after all, they’ll cause you to lose some now, yet win more later) is little more than sophistry. The effect is indistinguishable.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Return shrug.
In one scenario you’re weakening today’s team, but you’re still hoping for a win with the team you put on the field. In the other, you’re hoping to lose with whatever team you put on the field. To me, that’s a big difference.
I’m not telling you how you should root. That’s your call. I’m just saying I disagree.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
Hopefully, the Rajai Davis, Mike Murton, Donny Murphy
experiment will soon be over. I miss Ryan Sweeney. By the way, isn’t it about time to pull the plug on Barton for this year at least. For two months he hasn’t hit a ball solidly, he is just lost at that plate. Bring back Bankston ASAP. please Billie, please.
Maybe I'm the only guy, but I'm bullish on Murton
LHP have been a waterloo for us and Murton is a Keilty-like LHP masher – who actually hits RHP pretty well too. Given how lefty heavy our OF is, I see Murton as part of the team’s 2009 success. I’m not hoping they move him.
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
I've wanted murton for several years
He’s a great fit for us. Trading him makes sense in the right deal, but he’s hardly dead weight.
Just a brutal loss
But how can anyone reasonably blame Street? Two weak grounders, a flare off the fists and brain cramps from Murphy and Barton caused the two runs, not anything Street did. He has not been very good this year, but today he was just unlucky.
The sad thing is, that even when Ellis drew the walk, the chances of scoring still seemed small because of the hitters coming up: OPS of .638, .660 and .598. And the only LH bat available has an OPS of .547. Ouch.
"You are not very good, Dad. You always lose." --Dylan
You're right that Street was unlucky
He also ran very long counts and didn’t appear to have a great fastball or his best slider command. Maybe pitching him yesterday down two runs was not an act of brilliance?
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
Becoming less and less of a Geren fan everyday.
A's, baby!
by Coach Cleats on Jul 13, 2008 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions
That's so unfair
Look at the talent on the field and look at the A’s record. And look at the A’s “never give up” attitude on the field. I’d vote him Manager of the Year before I’d fire him.
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
+1
"You are not very good, Dad. You always lose." --Dylan
A trained chimp can run a baseball team
Alright, maybe not, but I really think managers get too much credit. On the other side of things, I guess they shoulder too much of the blame, too.
Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.
On the tactician level, yes, but on the
“ethos” level I think they make a difference – just like any boss at any job – and there is where I think Geren has showed himself well.
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
Agree 90%
I still think Ziggy to start the 9th was more appropriate.
But you watched Street vs Seattle, and he looked perfect to close out the Angles.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 5:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Are you kidding me?
Ziggy to start the 9th is more appropriate? Street is the closer on this team. Period. No butts or pucks about it. No manager in baseball starts a reliever such as Ziegler over a pitcher such as Street. Period.
by Pucking Insane on Jul 13, 2008 8:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Try today's Mariners x KC game
Brandon Morrow (who hits 100 mph, and has more Ks/inning than Street) came in today after another pitcher got the first out. He pitched 2/3rds of an inning for the save.
Period.
Until Eckersely, and maybe Quisenberry, closers were not used exclusively, 9th inning, one guy. It’s a “new” thing.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions
i agree nico
With the talent we have had all year, im happy with this record. Yea i hope we deal blanton and street soon, yea gerens made soem bad moves but who hasnt, hes done a great job so far and its not over yet
Exactly - and the "bad moves" are often
really just matters of opinion. I can’t argue with going to Street – I just think that given the injuries and lack of talent, we could have made a little more use of Ziggy’s “lightning in a bottle” start to his career.
But I think the bigger mistake was having Barton bunt. Barton against an infield looking for the bunt was a better bet for a hit than Hannahan, Murphy, or Bowen were going to offer. But again, conventionally it was the right move, just not the right move at that point in the lineup, with that bench, IMO.
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
I don't see anyone else doing much better with what he's got.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
That's true - you don't see other managers
winning with the Oakland A’s players, do you?
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
Perhaps
To me, however, this loss is a lot more on bad luck (how about that 2-0 call on Suzuki?) than on player peformance or managerial decisions. If anyone in green and gold is to blame for today’s loss, I would pick the lineup for taking innings 2-8 off and Murphy and Barton for poor decisions on the decisive way before either Street or Geren.
"You are not very good, Dad. You always lose." --Dylan
I'm always amazed at Ellis' intelligence
even in the heat of the moment. Only now do you see first-hand why his decision not to throw the ball on the play against the Marlins was so brilliant. Under no circumstances should Murphy have thrown that ball, but few have the incredible presence Mark Ellis has. Just another reason to give him the 50 year contract extension.
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
Agreed
Minus 47-48 years on the extension.
"You are not very good, Dad. You always lose." --Dylan
And, betting on more real game experience
probably Crosby would have held it too.
True, pure speculation. But just sayin’.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 5:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Knowing Crosby...kinda doubt it
There are few Ellises around who don’t try to do too much when “less is more”.
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
Is that a cut and paste
from one of your “sharp emails”?
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
Well, this season's hope is pretty much lost
But don’t blame Street too much, for the loss today. Torrii’s hit was, by no means, well-struck. It was a weak grounder that went right to where no A was with Hannahan playing back. The next hit was of course a solid hit, that happened just when Torrii was running, another bad break. Then the sac fly, the hardest hit ball of the inning. Then the bunt and then the next stupid soft grounder and the winning run scores. Then the A’s bat and miss a couple close calls in key counts, an inside pitch hits Suzuki’s bat and boom, the A’s lose. It was just a couple of bad breaks. The Angels have gotten incredibly lucky this year and they continue to do so. More power to them, but the A’s can’t come back from 6 back this year at this point without huge improvements. And without Bonds, that ain’t happening.
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton
Difference between the A's and Angels
When the Vermin Angels get lucky breaks, they actually know what to do with them.
"There's m'fn sprinklers on the m'fn infield!'" - Ice Cream (AN), 6/13/08
True dat -
Runner at third, one out…sac fly. Runner at third, one out…whiff. And sadly, the Angels’ infield defense outdid the A’s infield defense.
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
dylantravis is right ...
We took innings 2-8 off against really mediocre pitching (please, no one add the “Well, Moseley really pitched well today – sometimes you have to tip your cap” bullshit. Because Moseley didn’t pitch well, and the fact we only got 2 runs off of him is a complete joke.)
Just a really, really tough loss … and Nico, you’re right, too. Aggressive baserunning pays off once again. Like it does 99 times out of 100. You put the pressure on the defense to make a play and it usually looks like Daric Barton did. Clueless.
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
Yup - when in doubt, make them throw you out
A lot of good things really can happen.
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
Looking at the replay on GameDay
You see Barton didn’t hesitate to look at the runner rounding third. I heard on the radio Ken and Vince suggest that Suzuki wasn’t looking, so Barton could not throw.
Look at the video again. Barton gets the throw from Murphy, and immediately cocks his arm to throw. All in one motion. This is an ex-catcher, folks. He is looking right at home plate, instantly.
I think Suzuki was looking at Murphy or something. But Barton didn’t throw because Suzuki wasn’t watching. That’s what I believe transpired.
By the time Suzuki looked to Barton, it was a second too late.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions
If that's the case though,
Barton should have fired a strike immediately to the plate – the rest is Suzuki’s job.
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
Ironically, I did that when I was thirteen
I got the relay in from the outfield (I was playing first base) and I saw the runner, the batter who had driven in the other two runners with his prodigous blast, round third and head for home. I cocked my arm to throw, looked at the catcher….
He was staring out to centerfield, hands on his hips, mask on.
“Danny! Danny! Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaannneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”
All the spectators yelling, he was totally oblivious to my yelling. Still staring out to centerfield. Glove on, hands on hips. Serene.
Well the runner was going to score, no question. By this time these fractions of seconds clicked off, I’d held the ball too long. So, simply out of total frustration, I wound up and fired all my adrenaline, all my frustration into that ball, right at goddamn Danny.
As the ball made a beeline for his head, he slowly began to turn slowly to his right, hands still on his hips, head juuust starting to scan in my direction.
WHAAAAAAAAM!! Ball hit him right in the face mask, which saved a direct hit squarely on his nose. He staggered back but didn’t fall. I don’t think he even knew who threw it.
The other team was laughing and gasping. I felt some release from having “punished” Danny for not paying attention, but I was still very angry.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 6:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Danny
grew up to hate baseball, you know.
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
by Leopold Bloom on Jul 13, 2008 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Six years later, I got a summer job
at a warehouse, and there he was!
It didn’t permanently damage him in any way…I speculate…
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Other than the fact
he worked in that warehouse for the rest of his life. No balls to whack you upside the head there. He felt safe.
Face 1WLW, you scarred him for life. Danny will always be haunted by visions of balls slapping him upside the head.
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
by Leopold Bloom on Jul 13, 2008 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Confirmed by Barton himself
Said Barton: "I turned to throw but Kurt was looking up the line. If I would have thrown it that first time we would have had him. I saw him round third and I know he’s fast. I’ve seen him take third on bunts."
from sports.yahoo
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 9:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Suzuki has a bad tendency not to be position
to handle throws to the plate. I can’t speak to this one, but someone needs to work with him on getting setup at the plate on live plays.
In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!
It's bizarre, because he only has to go, like, a foot.
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
He constantly does it though.
All those acrobatic looking sweep tags he tries to make are the result of standing WAY in front of the plate.
Geren is a former catcher. There’s really no reason that Suzuki shouldn’t be doing a better job blocking the plate.
Agreed
It’s weird that Kurt is so bad at this because he seems to be smart about everything else. The first few times I thought it was just a fluke, but it’s really looking like a pattern now.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
It's puzzling
You have ex-catchers running the team. You have Suzuki, who certainly doesn’t seem stupid. But he keeps taking steps forward with a runner racing home so he’s not blocking the plate.
This really ought to be fixed. It’s not some bizarre mystery.
As for the Barton double-clutch, it makes sense. You don’t throw a baseball at someone who isn’t looking at you.
But this is what we have. Rookies and fill-ins are going to make fundamental mistakes.
I have suspicion that Fosse tells all the young A's catchers to avoid collisions for the sake of their careers
... arousing men to burst the chains under which monkeyish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves ... @('.')@
see previous
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm seeing a lot of 2007 these days rather than anything resembling 2006
Trotting out sub-par talent at multiple positions, day in and day out. Now, I s’pose it hasn’t gotten to the same ridiculous level of 2007. But I do know we are seeing way too much of Jack Hannahan and Donnie Murphy. I like pretty much every A’s player—the fan in me would accept no less—but they just aren’t that good with the bat. I haven’t ever truly bought into the idea that the A’s were headed for the playoffs this season (though I suspect that is because I’m one of those people who to like have low expectations so that even the smallest pleasant surprise feels like Christmas and a fifth of Johnnie Walker all rolled into one), but I still feel myself getting emotionally crushed by games like these. George Burns was right: Baseball is a hideous bitch goddess.
Oh, well. At least we’ve got Carlos Gonzalez to watch instead of Jeff DaVanon.
Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.
You know why I love Carlos?
“Grounded up the middle…for a double!” The ball just goes Zooooooooom off his bat.
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
Barton was supposed to be the next Albert Puljos, but
I think Carlos Gonzales will be, seeing how he gets so much batspeed translated into ball speed.
It is a joy to watch. I second your observation.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes, we've only seen 4 months of Barton
I like the idea of a player who used to be a catcher, at first base.
Strong, accurate arm (mostly) and able to dig balls in the dirt.
He’s looking like he’s “bottomed out” on his hitting problems. I think he’ll be really good (Keith Hernandez-like??) in a couple of years.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 6:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I suspect/hope he'll be one of those
who, within a couple years, will be spraying line drives all over the park and we’ll be trying to remember how he struggled because it will seem like he never could have.
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
There's a guy who plays
first base down here in my neck of the woods. It makes me sick when I think of how we gave up on him too early. Barton’s not there yet, but it’s much to early to call it a lost cause.
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
by Leopold Bloom on Jul 13, 2008 6:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Not quite - Barton was the
“guy we could trade because we have Pujols.” But 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
agreed
There has to be something better out there than Donnie Murphy. He’s getting a lot of playing time and still can’t hit. Oh, to have super backup Marco back…who, by the way, hti a monster HR against the Yankees today.
The worst part of this loss is indeed KFraud pointing to the sky like he’s just been cured of polio, but the second worst will be Street’s quote tomorrow in the Chron: “It happens. I just have to forget about this one.” Grrrrrr…..
by coffee roaster on Jul 13, 2008 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions
17/21 in saves - again not great but not bad
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
Nico you know damn welll
we need to get rid of him, his fastball is 88 to 90, anyone can hit that, trade him why he still has value
I know, I have watched every one of them
I just went back and watched all the low lights.
I am more angry now than I was before.
That pitch to Bowen was a low strike but it was STRIKE 3. Cannot blame the umpire for that one.
We have shitty hitters due to injuries. I accept that. But hitters who are afraid to swing when they get a pitch. I will never accept that. Swing the fucking bats for Chirst sake.
Now I feel better. Sorry about the bitching but as you can tell. I really fucking hate it when the team loses.
I agree it was a strike to Bowen,
but it was also completely unhittable. When you have to be ready for K-Rod’s curve, you just are not going to be able to handle a 95 MPH fastball on the outside corner at the knees. I can’t really blame Bowen for taking the pitch.
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
Yes it was a nasty pitch
I just wish he had fouled it off but it was not to be.
Kurt swung at ball 3 but again it was borderline so I don’t blame him for doing that.
I am arguing with my Angel friend (soon to be enemy the way the argument is going) about Barton and the throw home. I watched the replay and had Daric been able to throw without the double cluch because of Kurt, then he was dead to rights at the plate. He says he would still have been safe.
I just said, you are a typical Southern California bandwagon fan. You are really a Dodger fan who supports every fucking team that exists from hockey, to football to baseball to masterbation teams. He hung the phone up on me.
My evening routine, you mean?
K, sure.
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
On a perfect team:
ie; a healthy A’s team, either Ryan Sweeney, Jack Cust, Frank Thomas or Mike Sweeney is taking that AB.
The Rivercats just couldn’t get it done on offense or defense today…It is as simple as that.
Pride And Poise!!!
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Jul 13, 2008 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions
It is pretty remarkable that this team,
literally putting AAA players at a minimum of 1/3 of its positions, is so competitive, season-wise or zooming in on individual games like this one.
What’s sad is that the Angels won two games in which they trailed Harden and Duchscherer 2-0.
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
Barton, Hanahan, Suzuki, Gonzales, Brown, Murton:
and Murphy should be in AAA or at the very best, be backups on good teams.
Ellis is a commodity, all glove and an infrequent bat. That was your starting 8 today.
It IS A-Mazing that they have managed to put everything they have into these games and have been able to ride the best pitching staff to a few wins.
Pride And Poise!!!
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Jul 13, 2008 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions
That AND trading away:
Swisher, Bradley and Kendall.
Pride And Poise!!!
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Jul 13, 2008 6:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Oy
Bradley and Kendall’s contracts were up after last season.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
And they both would have signed on here for les money than elsehwhere:
They wanted to be here long term.
Pride And Poise!!!
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Jul 13, 2008 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Your information for this being?
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
You do realize that KenDoll is worse than Suzuki this season
With or without LASIK.
"There's m'fn sprinklers on the m'fn infield!'" - Ice Cream (AN), 6/13/08
Not behind the plate: And That Race isn't close
Pride And Poise!!!
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Jul 13, 2008 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Give it time
enough of us yelling in unison for him to block the plate might have an affect
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 13, 2008 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions
You mean the guy that Billy replaced Ethier With?
Because he “Basically” had the same player?
Pride And Poise!!!
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Jul 13, 2008 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Then say that instead of "street has cost us so many game this year"
It may indeed be the tiem to move him and get soem value for him but it’s not because he’s cost us so many game this year.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Holding your breath does not equal costing us so many games this year.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Come with a better argument, then.
There are maybe only a handful of closers who, when they come in to pitch, you just KNOW it’s over.
Huston Street is a better pitcher than you and some of the people here will ever give him credit for. He is not a top-level closer but he is less of a question mark to me than someone like Billy Koch was, as one example of someone who was here with the A’s in the past. He’s also less of a question mark than Keith Foulke was.
Over the course of his career, Street’s save percentage is around or above 80%. Most teams would be perfectly happy with that.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
4.07 era as a closer
thats not a good sign at all. He was good couple years ago but his stuff hasnt been the same since his elbow injury but hey lets keep him and blow more games
Check out his WHIP
It’s right at his career average. He’s had a few rough games but has remained pretty effective.
When you’re a closer, it only takes a few really bad games to drive the ERA up.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Every time? All right, then I can only conclude you have no idea what you're talking about.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Since his elbow injury, he hasnt been the same pitcher
I live in texas, i saw him play at UT, his stuff was unhittable then
And he was pitching against college players, not major leaguers
39 games pitched this season. Runs allowed in 11 of them. Multiple runs allowed in 5 of them.
Two bad games against Florida. Other than that, 1 run allowed the entire month of June.
One bad game against Atlanta. Other than that, 1 run allowed the entire month of May.
Care to go on?
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
"Who can turn a bit...
Into a bite…? Silent ‘e’...”
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
Well, it would help if you could post with fewer mistakes.
And I’m not just talking about your typing.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
You need a comma
and you need a capital ‘E’ there. Oh, and a period. You’re welcome.
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
This probably isn't the best time
to discuss how many letters one capitalizes at the beginning of a word…No, maybe not right now…
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
But my friend Sam stayed just the same!
Tom Lehrer = genius
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
It was looking pretty good on Thursday, wasn't it?
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Well you think you know it all, i guess
Its funny how u talk about how great he is but his ass may be in another city in the next couple weeks. So i guess your calling Billy dumb
Never claimed he's all that great, but I do claim he's a lot better...
...than you seem to think.
I’m not calling Beane anything, so you can go ahead and stop trying to speak for me any time.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
I've always regarded Street
as a “B+ closer”. In fairness to Street, everyone else on our current roster would get a lower grade. He is our best guy.
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
You are speaking
Ill put money on it right now, he will be gone by the end of july, billy knows hes not the right guy anymore
It's irrelevant -
If Billy trades Street, it’s not because “he doesn’t think Street is the right guy,” it’s because someone else DOES think Street is the right guy for them. One thing Billy knows full well is that he doesn’t have a better major league closer right now.
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
Yea probley not in a couple years
Hrod i think will be great, but if we can get a nice bat for street you do it in a heart beat
(That was to buckfan6 but it doesn't really show clearly to me now)
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
buckfan6, just fyi, you might want
to check out the Community Guidelines link on the front page. I think you’re a true fan, but you might want to choose your words/tone a little more carefully.
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
Hey Nico, I guess me being 31 is pretty ancient now.
Sucks to be you in that case!
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
he just got the lyrics wrong
thought it was “go lay down” instead of “look at my life.”
The A's colors are green and gold.
Pop culture references
I love when I catch them. It’s rare.
Actually if you look at the exchange,
the civility breaks down with your comment “don’t be a tool”.
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
I guess I'm happy with him
just not as happy
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 13, 2008 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Package him w/ blanton so we don't know who to complain about anymore
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 13, 2008 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions
We'll come up with someone
I believe it was Nietzsche who said, “If the A’s scapegoat did not exist, it would be necessary for AN to invent him.”
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
by Leopold Bloom on Jul 13, 2008 6:28 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
88-90...
...with a ton of movement. Please. He’s not the reason they lose this game…
by Pucking Insane on Jul 13, 2008 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed, but this is my gripe
Where is Joe Borowski? Gone from Cleveland, because he failed at about the same rate.
So when you vett closers, what should be your premise about success?
That, about every seventh time out, it ain’t gonna work. Bloop hits, errant throws, accidental wheelhouse pitch (see FRod give it up on the Hamilton walk-off).
So, you alter the sequence, to try to get rid of that inevitable “seventh time out”. It’s unpredictable, so act unpredictably. Bring in the closer after one batter, two batters, maybe even three batters, once in a while. Just be ready. If your closer is a team player, and you don’t “start getting Ziggy with it” after a blown save, he will accept “confounding but it works!” as a “valid” strategy.
But you have to be ready to do it. Every team has these “eight strong innings, then the closer blows it…” Chicago Cubs just did it vs the Giants, and that guy is going to the AS game!!
It’s just not the best tactic to start the 9th with the closer every instance if you desire to achieve maximum wins. Mix it up. Just like Geren’s doing with the batting order. Mix it up, everyone feels the spontaneity, and success rate of winning games is increased. IMO.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I just got home from the game
and at least I can say the giveaway Stewart Jersey is awesome!
It was looking good in the beginning, but you always have the sense with the Angels that two is never enough—even with your ace on the hill.
It is getting frustrating watching our guys not hit, but even more frustrating when your supposed closer comes in and has an utter inability to get strikes/strikeouts/outs.
On the bart ride home, an A’s advertisement seemed to rub a little salt in the wound. On it Huston was doing thrusts carrying weights and wearing a weighted vest, with the caption, “Preparation is 100% Baseball.”
I thought to myself, what is he preparing for? To lose us yet another lead and another win? Ziggy had an extremely productive one pitch outing today and would’ve been great for us in the end.
BTW, I don’t know if this was the case for the television viewers of the game, but I didn’t see the ump call two strikes before Zooks got struck out. The stadium count had him at 3 balls and 1 strike. When F-raud pitched the supposed final strike and raised his arms to the sky like he was Douchebag Shazam, all of us in the stadium were wondering why it was a strikeout and not a full count.
ASG—time for a rest. we’re still alive people!!
Green Hulk Fists
The pitch on 2-1 hit Suzuki's bat
making it 2-2, not 3-1. The stadium had it wrong.
This according to Ken and Vince. Vince said, “No question, hit Suzuki’s bat.”
The A’s had the ultimate bad luck in both ends of the 9th inning.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions
It was a strike--clearly hit his bat
Now strike one on the other hand…
"You are not very good, Dad. You always lose." --Dylan
There were a lot of badly called pitches today
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 13, 2008 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions
The problem with the count at the end was Suzuki foul-tipped the 2-1 pitch on the check swing and the ump...
...didn’t raise his hands to signal a foul ball for a couple seconds. Whoever was up in the booth fell asleep.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Damn ump
Called a horrible game and didn’t give us anything resembling a proper count.
Seeing the loss indicated by Hit-By-Lightning Goggle-face and nothing else, made it even worse.
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 13, 2008 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Back From The Game:
I agree, Smash, the jerseys are VERY Nice. Aquafina did a great job on all of the jerseys this season, especially the Stew jersey.
Today was bittersweet. Duke and I drummed together for the first time since Billy broke up the 2006 team when he traded Milton.
And to me, the place felt electric. We were pounding away and the crowd was really into it. You know what, I really think that we made a difference in 2006.
I knew that Street was going to blow it…I just did. It wasn’t a mechanical thing, but more of a “gut-mrod” thing.
The bottom line is that this team with Harden, Haren, Swisher, Kendall, Gaudin, Payton and Kielty is better than the team that has been trotted out there this season and I truly believe that Beane gave up too soon. But, oh well, they are my team and I love getting out there with my family and friends and enjoying Major league baseball on a 77 degree summer day.
Pride And Poise!!!
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Jul 13, 2008 6:12 PM PDT reply actions
Saw you guys drumming but didn't get to come over
And yes—we were into you guys pounding away!
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 13, 2008 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions
The Let's Go Oakland Chants Were:
Involving the entire stadium at one point. i Love that feeling!!!
Pride And Poise!!!
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Jul 13, 2008 6:24 PM PDT up reply actions
LOVE the energy
the drums bring. It’s electric. Even translates over television.
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
by Leopold Bloom on Jul 13, 2008 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Cool Man, Thanks...
It’ll probably be a while before we do it again, although we do have the Saturday game against the White Sox circled. until then, Andy in RF has to hold it down.
Pride And Poise!!!
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Jul 13, 2008 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions
I had the radio on as well
“triple-media” and Ken and Vince commented on the crowd “getting into it”.
I’d say they lost 10,000 ticket sales right there (out of the season total) by not winning the game.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Does that mean that you are prospecting
No one will be showing up to the next home series?
Who will Lew get to sit with if the bleachers are vacant?
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 13, 2008 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Hey Saint
I thought it was cool when Murton was having a conversation with you guys.
I don’t remember the last time a major leaguer actually had full sentences to say to people in the stands, much less the bullpen.
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 13, 2008 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions
When we used to go to games
at the old Comiskey Field on the south side in the early/mid-eighties, Rickey used to talk to us from left. It might have had something to do with the fact that we were the only A’s fans that I ever saw at the games there.
And Hendu used to talk to the crowd too in Oakland.
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
by Leopold Bloom on Jul 14, 2008 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions
Street's as great as ever
This game was frustrating, but Street can’t take the heat for this one. This loss was a combination of things, and a lot of bad luck.
Street is as great, and valuable as ever.
Agree to disagree on that
If he was as great as ever, I would hate to see it when he sucks.
His velocity was down again
And Why are we not skipping Blanton
who is going to start the first game against the Yankees?
As per ESPN game recap
This would have been an opportunity to
match Blanton up with the other team’s #3 or #4 for a while. They could have gone with Gallagher and Smith out of the gate, then Duke, Blanton, and Eveland in whatever order they liked (presumably that one).
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
My assumption
The A’s want to give guys like Smith and Eveland some extra days rest. They’ve thrown a lot of innings, given their recent record.
Duchscherer will be pitching in the All-Star game, and they probably want to give him some extra days too.
Blanton is the one guy on the staff who is accustomed to pitching a lot of innings. Hopefully, he will start pitching them better.
Not really
We just get tired of the same goddamn chorus cuing up every game, whether it was prompted or not.
Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.
If you think that's all this is, then you really aren't paying attention at all.
I was pretty clear in what I was defending Street for when you said what you did, and I backed it up. All you could do was say he’s done because he’s throwing a few MPH slower right now, you acted like he’s sucked every time he pitched, and you called me a tool and a jackass when you didn’t like the fact I strongly disagreed with you.
Please grow up.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on Jul 13, 2008 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Maybe they want him to take the losses on the chin:
While our 1-4 face off against other team’s 2-5?
Pride And Poise!!!
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Jul 13, 2008 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions
2005 and 2006
were worse seasons for Joe. I didn’t hear people clamoring for his head then. He’ll be fine.
He needs to concentrate on
his conditioning some. He’s fading in the later innings even when he’s pitching well.
I’m a supported of Blanton, and I have no problem with his being a little big, but he’s got to get in better shape.
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
by Leopold Bloom on Jul 13, 2008 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Get this, I am walking back from the office
just a few minutes ago. I see man wearing an A’s warm-up jacket and cap, a tourist, walk past me on the creek bridge, I turn around as I do with any of the rare A’s gear toting tourist I see and get his attention. Tell him about today’s loss. He chats it up with me. An older gentlemen he was and he I thought he said before parting, “I used to own the A’s.” Well, his partner with him tells, “Oh yeah, that’s Ken Hofmann.” He made some comments on Street that I was in full agreement with.
alaska A
Nic e cliffhanger
and then….?
C’mon now.
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
by Leopold Bloom on Jul 13, 2008 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions
nothing we have not heard.
in fact very much what a lot of folks think. something like while shaking his head, he’s good but not that good to more confidently nail it down…but Ken did say, after I piped in about Ziggy, and I got these words pretty much right…”oh hell no, too inexperienced, give em more time.”
alaska A
Right on
Gotta let this team percolate, people.
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
by Leopold Bloom on Jul 13, 2008 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions
And what the hell,
does he talk like Hunter Thompson or something?
(spoken while clenching cigarette holder between teeth)
“Righteous bastards…think they can come in here with their fists blazing-hell, no! We’ll give it to them, right back, send those fuckers crying all the way back down to Anaheim, licking their wounds, resolving to not fuck with us again-no—fuck no! We’ll be like Christ-incarnate, ready to leap down their throats and step on the necks.”
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
by Leopold Bloom on Jul 13, 2008 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions
HAHAHA!!! I Guess They're Buying Up Alaska Now:
Seeing as we will soon be drilling up there!!!
Pride And Poise!!!
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Jul 13, 2008 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Um, if you mean the state,
we’ve been drilling there for more than 30 years.
If you mean ak_A’s home town, Juneau is about 900 miles from the North Slope, which is roughly as close as Atlanta is to Boston.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
I am going to watch the AS game with great anticipation
Of K-Rod pitching and an NL hitter who doesn’t suck hitting a 120 mph line drive right back above the waist and hoping like hell he does not get out of the way. Actually he will be falling off the mound and hopefully the ball will make contact in the rib cage or right elbow
Would prefer one
night in the ruts
"There's m'fn sprinklers on the m'fn infield!'" - Ice Cream (AN), 6/13/08
Telling people to grow up?
Grow up.
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
Uhhh, yeah?
If you wish injury upon another athlete, than you need to grow up…
If you are tired of his celebrations, than score a run off him with a runner on 3rd and only one out. The dude is a stud. Let’s call a spade a spade, eh?
by Pucking Insane on Jul 13, 2008 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Good luck, Puck
Hatred of K-Rod is a sacred icon on this site. It is not subject to rational arguments.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
During the All-Star break we need to get Geren a few books to read
Including The Book, so then he won’t put in a cold pinch hitter against K-Rod. Murphy might have struck out, too, but another late-inning dumbass decision by Geren. It’s beyond obnoxious that he does this so often. Bowen and Murphy are probably about equal offensively. Even if Bowen is marginally better – and with the L/R advantage – he’s not good enough to overcome the difference of being cold. He’s just not. The data backs that up. I have far more confidence that a guy who can pretty much only hit a fastball will make contact against a pitcher who was not going to throw a breaking ball before there were two strikes.
Also, Street has been terribly unlucky this year. Today was a pretty good example of that. His velocity being down is a concern though, and this could be a good time to get what you can for him. In the long run (after 2008), I don’t think the A’s will miss him very much.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on Jul 13, 2008 6:57 PM PDT reply actions
I started to order "The Book"
how is it?
I read the chapter teases on “batting order” and “sacrifice bunt”. Sounds very good.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 13, 2008 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions
It's not insanely excellent in terms of writing style
but it’s really a book you need to have read if you’re a serious fan. It does a very good job of breaking down in-game strategic issues into “ones where there’s a clear right play” and “ones where we can’t figure out what the right play is.”
Pinch hitting is one of the former variety. Asking him to pinch hit is basically the worst thing you can do to a hitter. He’d damn well better be a huge improvement on the guy he’s replacing to make it worthwhile.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
The question is, in comparing Murphy to Bowen
does Bowen’s left-handedness, against K-Rod, make enough of a difference to go with “Lefty McSuckfest” over “Righty McWhiff”? There were no good choices, that’s for sure.
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
See I would have gone with UtleyPujols,
so it’s really not that obvious after all.
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
Platoon differential < pinch hitting penalty
as a rule.
If you have two identical hitters of opposite handedness, you’re better off not pinch hitting.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Isn't there another rule, though, that says
if the right-handed hitter is Donnie Murphy then all bets are off?
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
I think there's a rule that says
“If you’ve managed to get yourself into a position in which your only choices are Donnie Murphy against a right-hander or pinch-hitting for him with Rob Bowen, you deserve to lose.”
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jul 13, 2008 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Just curious, would you have bunted with Barton?
With decent hitters coming up (say Ellis and Gonzalez, or R. Sweeney and Suzuki) I’d say yes – but given the upcoming lineup and the choices, personally I think you let Barton hit with the corners in and hope he finds a hole.
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
I would have had him bunt with a take sign
Basically show the bunt, then when you have the defense ready for a bunt, have him swing away.
In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!
Exactly how I would have played it, DMOAS
Bring the infield in at the corners and then hit away. I don’t mind “playing for one run” – I just don’t know that having Ellis or Barton bunt was the best way to do it.
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
"insanely excellent"?
sounds like an in-house accolade for the IPhone….8^).
Anyway, I did order it. I also ordered “The Book on the Book” as a used book, for $5.
How does $20 total order get to be $30.15, and then they say, “Your order does not exceed $30, you cannot use your $3 discount.” ?????
Apropos, the term “by the book” was a phrase created during the early railroading years (?~1840?). Back in those days, without time zones, every town set their clocks by the sun at noon. Without a “book” listing all the trains and when they left where, it was impossible to know when to send a train down the tracks. Soon came the references…”I’m doing this by the book, Do it by the book, ..” etc. (source: “Railroads Triumphant” Albro Martin)
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 15, 2008 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions
"by the book"
I’m not sure about that origin account.
I told them 'My game is like a blog.' Because I don't know what a blog is, but it don't sound good. @('.')@
I'll give you the exact passage if I can find it
makes 100 percent sense when you read it. very credible.
I do accept the philosophy that all history is subject to revision, so I welcome any competing stories.
Anyone interested in the railroads and the effects on our American culture and society should read this book. It is basically a college-level textbook, with footnotes and references.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on Jul 16, 2008 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Disagree about Murphy
Sending Murphy up against K-Rod is just begging for a K. Murphy doesn’t hit ordinary RHP all that well, and if he had batted against A-Hole I would fully have expected the AB to end with Murphy waving at a slider in the dirt.
You’re hitting on the problem and it’s not Bob Geren. It’s that Bob Geren’s choices were Donnie Murphy and Rob Bowen. Which is exactly why I would have preferred to see Barton swing away with the corners in, because look at the situation the team bunted into. If you want to take issue with one of Geren’s decisions, that’s the one I’d focus on – and again, not an obvious decision, just one up for some debate.
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
You had to have a LHB up there against K-Rod
Pity it was not Sweeney but then if he was healthy, we would probably not have been losing the game.
Agree - I think Geren didn't call on Bowen
so much as he called on “available left-handed bat”. I can’t help wondering whether Sweeney could have pinch-hit – think about the impact of the left pinky on a left-handed hitter’s swing. Couldn’t go up there, hit a sac fly, wince a little and recover in four days? Guess not.
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
For a moment I could picture Swooney taking that low and away fastball
that Bowen looked at and driving it opposite thru the hole. I believe he has the talent to do that.
That would have been worth him missing an extra day or two to recover as long as there was no more damage
BTW Nico
That display from K-Rod today made me want to puke.
I had to look at it one more time. Another one of my friend who is an Angel fan said it is embarrassing to him.
I hope he gets drilled or better someone charges the mound after striking out and beats him to death with the bat.
If I am on the jury, it’s justifiable homiclde
wishing injuries on players is ordinarily one of my biggest pet peeves ...
... but I am in complete, utter, 100% agreement with you on this.
... arousing men to burst the chains under which monkeyish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves ... @('.')@
He's hitting on the problem?
Does the problem have a hot friend maybe?
Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.
f-rod has a .150 ops split for his career
Bowen appears to be a bit better against LHPs, so call 80-100. That’s about what the pinch hitting penalty is. It is well known that Murphy is horrible against breaking pitches from RHPs. f-rod has excellent breaking pitches which he throws a lot. On the other hand, Bowen also strikes out a lot, and the pinch hitting penalty involves more Ks.
I don’t know if it was a good move, but it wasn’t obvious.
The A's colors are green and gold.
Exactly - what I think IS obvious
is that Geren was left with two really bad options that were likely to fail no matter he did. Which is why I’m not sold on having Barton bunt in the first place. I thought Ellis bunting was an even worse idea but luckily so did K-Rod.
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
FWIW, on the screen @ the game
They posted that Bowen was batting .417 (5 for 12) with RISP. I guess that’s 5 for 13 now.
The reality is
this game is emblematic of the types of games we’ve had with Anaheim over the past four or five seasons. It’s frustrating to be the losers, but they’re almost always well-contested, never over, both teams scrapping it out—IOW, exciting baseball.
And, on a personal level, I’m closer to Blez’s hatred of the Angels than I was before the series started. So that can’t be all bad.
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
LOL at Henry Rodriguez doing a K-Rod (falling off mound throwing 100) from mlb.com
Henry Rodriguez (A’s) broke the string with a leadoff walk in the eighth. All he did from there was unleash a series of 100 mph fastballs to strike out the next three batters. Rodriguez threw so violently that he fell over on the mound after delivering one of those fastballs.
It's still a long season.
The Rays are now in second place. Funny what a six game loosing streak can do to the standings. Are the Rays better than the Angels?
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
For Tampa Bay, seven
No, the Rays are not better than the Angels. They’re more talented, but I believe that in September experience does make a difference. Sadly, I see the Angels and Red Sox winning their divisions and the A’s, Rays, Yanks, and goodness knows who else from the Central, fighting for the wild card. And if the A’s get Thomas back, and get hot, I’m not ready to write off the playoffs yet – but ready to write off the division because I have always felt the Angels were solid and luck certainly appears to be on their side.
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
Too much luck.
I can’t help but think that the laws of average will catch up to them long before the season ends. Hell, they may pull off an epic Mets type of choke in early September. Truly that would give any A’s fan a warm fuzzy glow.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
My fear is that their rotation will prevent an epic collapse
Unless a starter or two goes down, in which case anything’s possible. I’ll keep hoping, 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
+1
For all the talk about the Angel’s run differential and ‘luck’ to have the record they have, their team is built to be that exception. I see it as much more likely that their hitters will have some blowouts to improve their run diff, than their pitchers blowing some big games to worsen their record.
To back your point, Rickeyfan,
we outscored the Angels in this series and they won the series. We’ve outscored them in the season series, which they lead 8-5. I hate them but I also think they’re a 95-ish win team, which I said in March, said again in May (to derision, based on the Angels “run differential”), and say again now – I’m not sure the wild card winner is, though. Let’s get healthy and hot and see what happens.
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
It's funny
People said the exact same thing about the D-Backs last year. Everyone was scrambling to find reasons to explain how they could have won so many games while playing so… well, average. Lots of unconvincing and, frankly, statistically inept explanations were postulated.
This year, with essentially the same team plus Dan Haren and minus Jose Valverde, they are playing—average. Gee. Gosh. What a shock. Who could have seen that coming?
All I can say is, I really, really hope the Angels buy into the notion that they are special and have a great team with “heart” and “grit” and whatever, because it might cause them to stand pat a la the Rockies (another decision that’s not looking real hot right now).
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Dont mess with Pythagorean!
Or he will get revenge the next year.
Signed 2008 Seattle Mariners
When will then be now? Soon.
The law of averages can catch up with us also
It will be interesting because both teams are not exempt from the law.
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 13, 2008 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions
On the Oak website is an article
Geren wants better two strike hitting.
If anyone is interested.
Take out the "two strike" part
and he and I totally agree.
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
I'd settle for two strike hitting.
Actually, anywhere in the count would suit me just fine.
There’s just no pleasing some folks.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
+1
Maybe we should call up Pennington (our only offensive “Futures” player) and his oh-so-sexy .269 AAA BA.
Why can’t it work more like video games where you can always swing trades like Harden + Blanton for McCann
WHAT???? You want to trade for a guy
to bat in the middle of the A’s lineup who is 71 years old, and plays way too conservativel—
Oh McCann.
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
Does conservative politics
lead to conservative playing?
I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib
by Leopold Bloom on Jul 13, 2008 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Sadly,
As an A’s fan…..I do find a 269 average very sexy indeed.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
Especially without the decimal point -
it’s like…269 hits all the time!
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
Notice when players first come up they are aggressive
and then after a few months they get walkitis and lookitis and loose their hitting edge. Not all of them by any means but I thought Barton was a better hitter last year when he was attacking the ball. It’s like he goes up there now with should I swing or not?
I still wonder if he's 100% healthy
or whether his injured hand from last year is still weak.
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
That's right
I remember now.
Of course we would never know especially how they hide injuries but that may well have something to so with it.
Now that I have had time to calm down, I do not think this team is out of it by any means. Get Frank and Co Back. Crosby will be back Friday and hopefully it’s Murphy that gets the shaft and not Petit. I do not Know why Petit is up here if he is going to sit though.
Frank will be a big lift to the team. I just hope they are no worse than where they are now in both races.
Blanton against Mussina has the potential for a 10-9 game for starters. Hoping of course Blanton accidently pitches well for all the innings with no hiccups.
So you're saying
You thought last year’s .347/.429/.639 Barton is better than this year’s .224/.328/.310 model?
That’s going out on a limb.
When is the last time oakland did a suicide squeeze to tie the game?
bob geren is a retard….a squeeze would of at least tied the game today!!!!! when is the last time we ever did this? i can’t remember!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this game was embarrassing!
by oaklandneedstobunt on Jul 13, 2008 9:26 PM PDT reply actions
BILLY BEANE...SQUEEZE PLAY WORKS! TRY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by oaklandneedstobunt on Jul 13, 2008 9:29 PM PDT reply actions
the first post said it all
besides, you want Donny Murphy / Rob Bowen to bunt, really?
You saw what hackery Daric Barton did on his bunts, right?
Can we not stoop to their level?
Which, I will admit, is low?
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
Thanks, Nico
I was considering posting a crudely ‘shopped pic of the Rev, but decided to not go there.
"There's m'fn sprinklers on the m'fn infield!'" - Ice Cream (AN), 6/13/08
Rev is Bizarro Blez
Knowledgeable about the wrong team and lacking refinement.
If he is the poster child for the Angel faithful, then I am even more proud to be part of Athletics Nation.
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 13, 2008 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Gettin Ziggy with it!
I was just watching Gameday Sports Wrap on Channel 5 KPIX and they were interviewing Brad Ziegler about his season so far and his history. They then featured Athletics Nation with Zigg’s regular feature, “Gettin Ziggy With It”.
He commented about the popularity of the blog and as they were talking to him they cut to one of the posts and right there in the middle of the screen was a post by yours truly….”mrod!”.
I had to do a double take and pressed record on my DVR, hit rewind and looked again and no doubt about it, it was my post! Unbelievable, I was right a between a comment by Blez and IM4OakGal. They showed the post for a good seven to ten seconds…........I’ll see if I can dig up that particular post. That kind of makes me feel not so bad after that crappy loss earlier today…..
Go A’s and Go Ziggy!!!!
That's cool he mentioned us
I hope lots of people got to meet him/talk to him at AN Day, before the game or anything?
Must be this one
Right here – that’s pretty cool, too.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
AN gettin some love!
I saw the Sports Wrap to! It’s good to know that the bloggers can get some recognition…even tho the last part of the game sucked and we lost. Poor Duchscherer! Would have loved to see him win # 11.
Nice posting MROD!
Video clip of the report
on Fanshots, please!
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Jul 14, 2008 1:07 AM PDT up reply actions
You got it
I just figured they’d go back to the most recent diary, so I did and searched for your username. Bingo.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
Geren is no Scioscia
Geren is the one to blame in yesterday’s outcome. Not to mention pulling Ziegler after one batter, he brings in Street, with whom no save opportunity is safe. Why did Geren allow Street to pitch to Kendrick when Kendrick is an all-time 3-4 off him and almost always puts the ball in play? The next batter was Budde who couldn’t be ph’d for because Scioscia had no other catchers. Had the bases been loaded for Budde there almost certainly would have been a force out at the plate and a possible dp with a slow running catcher. Geren is no Mike Scioscia…
murphy's decision
I know this is hindsight! Murphy should have faked a throw to first and wheeled around to check where Willis was! It is done all the time. Either he would have been caught or it would have stopped him, This gives the chance at one more batter.
I agree
But I can also understand that he thought he had a chance to get him at first. This stuff all happens so fast it’s hard to make the perfect decision in the heat of the moment. Too bad it wasn’t hit to Ellis, and too bad Suzuki fell asleep on the play… otherwise Barton would’ve nailed Willis at the plate.
by Brian in 317 on Jul 14, 2008 7:50 AM PDT up reply actions
9th
with so much happening in the 9th i thought i’d try to pinpoint IMO the biggest problem. yes, kinda like the A’s first when they have 3 seeing eye singles for a rally. the clowns from the OC get a BS chopper to third, a hit and run single and a baltimore chop to ss to grab the lead in the ninth.
I think the real difference is street did not have a strikeout pitch today. Ever since dan uggla i dont think i have seen street go inside to set-up his off the plate slider. kendrick just kept reaching out until he could keep one fair. on the other hand, if k-rod gets ahead he will not throw you a strike (rob bowen) until he needs to. he will set you up using other parts of the plate. K-rod’s WHIP is 1.262, he is going to get into trouble, the A’s just let him off the hook, becuz once again “situational AB’s” kill the A’s.
It’s a 2-2 count bases loaded, Rob (Melhuse Long Barton) Bowen , you have just taken his overthrown, set-up slurve for a ball. k-rod is not going to go three and two with the tying run at third. you have to be looking fastball!!! swing the bat
they get the flyball to tie, we dont , simple as that really. Too bad we have to sit on this loss for four days, maybe billy will do something this week to take our minds off it
Perhaps it will have a galvanizing effect....
BTW, I seem to remember a story about a black market for replacement organs. Anyone know more about this? After yesterday, I am sure I must be in the market for a new liver.
(And I am going to send the bill to Lew)
"There's only one Ken Griffey ." Jay Bruce
Three Things
1) We should hope that Blanton (accidently) has a great pitching performance in Yankee Stadium, then we trade him to them. They may be stupid and desperate to take him
2) Does anyone else think that had Petit been at SS yesterday instead of Murphy, that we would be playing the bottom of the 9th tied
3) What a shame Sweeney could not or did not get the chance to PH (sore pinky and all) against K-Rod instead of Bowen. It’s a moot point of course but would have been interesting
Suzuki
what sucked was the home plate umps (Rungey?) handling of that second strike. He spread his arms out and made no tip motion. So we are all going nuts but I can hear Fosse say “The crowd thinks there are 2 balls, when it was a strike.” Really deflating game. The Angels are just a bit better than the A’s. We need some competent hitting, a threat of some sort at the plate. FRod is totally annoying, but so much fun when he is flustered. And as for Street, he just isn’t as good as that first season.
Enjoy the game
Back to Run Dif. for a sec
If both the A’s and the Angels play to their RDs the rest of the way the A’s finish with 90 wins and the Angels with 92. The standard deviation for RD over a full season is +/- 3 wins, SO rest assured guys, we still have a great shot at catching the getting-lucky-Angels-of-Los-Angelaheim. ESPN calculates our play off chances as 46%, with a 35% at the division. If we gain a couple of games on the Angels in the next week, we’ll forget about this loss and probably be better than 50-50 to reach the playoffs.
And BTW this lose shows perfectly why 1-run games are decided by luck. The Angels bunted with 1 out and a men on 1st and 2nd to create a 2 out man on 2nd and 3rd situation, that dropped their expected runs from .9 to .6 (a horrific choice, something I’d fire a manager over, particularly because you don’t know 1 run will win the game), but ended up scoring anyway. Then the A’s had a 1 out bases full chance that contains a ER of 1.5, but failed to score. The amount of luck that went into this one inning was pretty ridiculous (not to mention the luck of those choppers falling for hits, the Barton throw being late, etc).
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