Open Game Thread: Game 96 - A's at Yankees

by notsellingjeans on Jul 18, 2008 3:56 PM PDT

The A's kick off the second half of the season at Yankee Stadium with a three-game series against the AL East's third-place team.

Greg Smith, proud owner of the best pickoff move in baseball, takes the mound against Mike Mussina tonight. Let's hope Smith won't need to use that weapon much tonight against the injury-riddled Bombers lineup (Study their lineup from the fifth hitter on - how the mighty have fallen! Nobody scares you a bit after Posada).

Richie Sexson makes his first start as a Yankee tonight, batting fifth and playing first base, as Giambi gets the night off against a lefty. Sexson was released a week ago by the Mariners and the team ate the remainder of his 13 million dollar expiring contract.

As for the A's first base situation, Daric Barton is out of the lineup and Jack Hannahan is playing first.

Bobby Crosby was activated from the DL today and starts at short, and Gregorio Petit was optioned back down to Sacramento.

Lenny DiNardo, who has already passed through waivers once this season, re-joins the 40-man roster and the big club today to take Joe Blanton's roster spot.

Lineup

Oakland Athletics @ New York Yankees

07/18/08 4:05 PM PDT

Oakland Athletics	New York Yankees
Mark Ellis - 2B	Derek Jeter - SS
Kurt Suzuki - C	Bobby Abreu - RF
Ryan Sweeney - RF	Alex Rodriguez - 3B
Jack Cust - DH	Jorge Posada - DH
Emil Brown - LF	Richie Sexson - 1B
Bobby Crosby - SS	Robinson Cano - 2B
Carlos Gonzalez - CF	Melky Cabrera - CF
Jack Hannahan - 1B	Jose Molina - C
Donnie Murphy - 3B	Brett Gardner - LF

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Comments

this reminds me of last year's lineup craptaculanza

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jul 18, 2008 3:57 PM PDT 0 recs

About time

Baseball being played….damn ASB

I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 18, 2008 3:57 PM PDT 0 recs

they used to have two ASGs

for a couple of years.

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

by One won lost won on Jul 18, 2008 4:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Thank Buddha

that ain’t happenin’ no more.

I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 18, 2008 4:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

excellent, home from work way early juz for dis.

alaska A

by ak_A on Jul 18, 2008 4:00 PM PDT 0 recs

What is it, like 1pm there?

I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 18, 2008 4:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

3:02 as i type, no make that 3:03, no make that

alaska A

by ak_A on Jul 18, 2008 4:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

Ah, thought AK was closer to HI

time zones…

I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 18, 2008 4:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

two zones, that i can remember in AK

Alaska Time and one for out in the Aleutians. Used to be several more and where I am used to be Pacific.

alaska A

by ak_A on Jul 18, 2008 4:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

Game thread!

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

by oblique on Jul 18, 2008 4:00 PM PDT 0 recs

Is that a wild moose?

I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 18, 2008 4:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Why yes....yes it is.

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

by oblique on Jul 18, 2008 4:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

let's hope he's not in very long tonight!

witty remark

by dtownmbrown on Jul 18, 2008 4:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

How funny..I didn't even think about that association.

Let’s consider it a jinx on him!

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

by oblique on Jul 18, 2008 4:11 PM PDT up 0 recs

Uh...

then why did you post it?

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

by Poppy on Jul 18, 2008 4:12 PM PDT up 0 recs

It's gamey.

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

by oblique on Jul 18, 2008 4:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

You don't have television,

but you have smellovision?

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

by Poppy on Jul 18, 2008 4:17 PM PDT up 0 recs

No, I'm not up on the new technology

I had to smellnet into their server.

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

by oblique on Jul 18, 2008 4:18 PM PDT up 0 recs

than wild moose should be a good omen

witty remark

by dtownmbrown on Jul 18, 2008 4:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

A moose bit my sister once

Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.

by Joey C. on Jul 18, 2008 4:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

{sacks Joey C.}

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

by Poppy on Jul 18, 2008 4:20 PM PDT up 0 recs

Odd that Barton isn't in the lineup...

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jul 18, 2008 4:04 PM PDT 0 recs

Barton = stiff neck

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jul 18, 2008 4:04 PM PDT 0 recs

Donnie Murphy and Emil Brown

in against a righty. Wheeeeee.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jul 18, 2008 4:04 PM PDT 0 recs

Why isn't Murton playing over Brown?

by mikev on Jul 18, 2008 4:06 PM PDT 0 recs

MaEl Double!!!

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jul 18, 2008 4:09 PM PDT 0 recs

Amazing this isn't on in Sac.

KMAX is apparently worried about overlap with the huge Brewers/Giants tilt they’re carrying at 7PM. You’d think the ad revenue they would generate by covering a Yankee game would be a no-brainer. Maybe the program director wants to be fired so he can get a nice severance package.

"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico

by jeepers on Jul 18, 2008 4:09 PM PDT 0 recs

man oh man, that is blockbuster tilt!

i will be switching over on mlbtv for that !

alaska A

by ak_A on Jul 18, 2008 4:11 PM PDT up 0 recs

A little surprised Murphy is starting over Barton

And no good reason why Brown is playing over Murton. If Brown were 10 for 10 with 10 grand slams against Mussina in his career, it would still be idiotic to start Brown at this point.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 18, 2008 4:10 PM PDT 0 recs

maybe not that extreme

witty remark

by dtownmbrown on Jul 18, 2008 4:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

good sign.

alaska A

by ak_A on Jul 18, 2008 4:10 PM PDT 0 recs

This was said in another thread, but

Braden will take the vacant starter slot.

It makes sense to have Lenny D back with the big club, because with Harden and Blanton gone, it’s more likely we occasionally will need long relief innings.

"The painting was a gift, Todd. I'm taking it with me." -Wedding Crashers

by notsellingjeans on Jul 18, 2008 4:10 PM PDT 0 recs

Ellis is awesome on the road

Has a team ever done a home/road platoon with a player before?

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 18, 2008 4:10 PM PDT 0 recs

A's baseball! Yay!

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

by Poppy on Jul 18, 2008 4:12 PM PDT 0 recs

yay runs

"With 16-year-old Dominican righty Michel Inoa in tow, Gio Gonzalez improving at Triple-A and lefty Brett Anderson carving up Double-Abatters along with Simmons and Trevor Cahill, Oakland’s pitching depthis officially the envy of baseball." - BaseballAmerica.com

by Syphon on Jul 18, 2008 4:13 PM PDT 0 recs

Holy Crap A's score a run!

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jul 18, 2008 4:13 PM PDT 0 recs

Baby Sweeney!

by pam5981 on Jul 18, 2008 4:13 PM PDT 0 recs

I hate you Bob Geren

Why do you insist on bunching up lefties when the only real thing that makes a big (not that big) difference in lineup construction is stacking up lefties for later in the game?

I don’t understand why Sweeney and Cust are back to back when it’s unnecessary. Same goes for Gonzalez/Hannahan. So, so stupid.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 18, 2008 4:14 PM PDT 0 recs

Guys that you're pretty sure will get a hit of some kind,

back to back with guys that may or may not?

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

by Poppy on Jul 18, 2008 4:15 PM PDT up 0 recs

Why not just flip flop Suzuki and Sweeney.

And switch Crosby/Gonzalez.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 18, 2008 4:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

Because...........

I dunno.

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

by Poppy on Jul 18, 2008 4:18 PM PDT up 0 recs

I should add that I know the Yankees have no lefty in the bullpen

But it’s still a silly thing to do when staggering would be just a little bit better if for no other reason than to constantly give pitchers a different look.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 18, 2008 4:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

So Geren's an idiot because

he didn’t guard against something that doesn’t exist?

Do I have your central thesis correct?

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jul 18, 2008 4:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

What is that in the score box for the A’s? Do I need to go get a vision test?

by justarebelheart on Jul 18, 2008 4:14 PM PDT 0 recs

Nah

just be sure your heart meds are in order. Can’t have a blown save without runs first

by MobiusKlein on Jul 18, 2008 4:15 PM PDT up 0 recs

Rock Mussina early

Lets get a big run scoring blow out for the A’s tonight.

by Great October on Jul 18, 2008 4:16 PM PDT 0 recs

Nice eye, Cust.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Jul 18, 2008 4:17 PM PDT 0 recs

better eye than the ump?

not that it does Cust any good that way

by MobiusKlein on Jul 18, 2008 4:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yay, Mussina getting the 30 inch plate tonight!

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 18, 2008 4:17 PM PDT 0 recs

"Nobody's happier than Bobby is about being back in the lineup..."

Oh, I bet I know someone who’s at least as happy as he is.

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

by Poppy on Jul 18, 2008 4:20 PM PDT 0 recs

bunnies is back and.....oh well

alaska A

by ak_A on Jul 18, 2008 4:20 PM PDT 0 recs

Man - Cust got an 0-2 mistake

he could have hit to the new stadium. And Crosby looked terrible, but otherwise…good start!

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jul 18, 2008 4:21 PM PDT 0 recs

What did you notice about Crosby in those 2 pitches?

Not being snarky, just curious.

Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.

by Joey C. on Jul 18, 2008 4:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

He reached out defensively to tap it to second

and he only had one strike on him. Not a good AB.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jul 18, 2008 4:36 PM PDT up 0 recs