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Around SBN: Iron Bowl Thoughts... Right Now

Why Was I Tricked Into Watching This Game?!

Baseball_tiny by baseballgirl on Comment 363 comments

There comes a point when we have to realize that pitching can only keep you from losing games, not matter how great your pitching is, unless if they are so impressive that the official scorer can subtract runs from the other team based on your pitcher’s performance (I kid). If your offense don’t score any runs, then your great pitching only serves one purpose, prolonging the inevitable outcome, a loss.

--asfansince1989

The only good thing I can say about the game today is that we didn’t lose by one run. The Rays put four on the board, an insurmountable lead against Kazmir for even the most optimistic of A’s fans. The starting pitching was average at best, as Dana Eveland’s smoke and mirrors routine continued to break down, involving a lot of pitches, only a handful of them really good. The speedy Tampa Bay ran wild on him, and he allowed two towering homeruns and two other assorted runs through his five innings. Andrew Brown came in and got people out to keep the deficit at 40-0 4-0, and Casilla looked like the worst pitcher ever loading the bases, and then the best pitcher ever by using the K to prevent further runs. But 1-0 or 10-0; did it ever matter? The game was painful, boring, slow, tedious, frustrating, and predictable, and I blame the offense.

The A’s mounted the only threat of the game against Kazmir in the first inning, with two on and one out. After Brown flied out, Ellis got picked off to save Kazmir another K in the inning. The good news is that the A’s are no longer affected by the broken bat problem plaguing the rest of the league; they don’t ever get the bat on the ball, and they strikeout almost every other out. It’s bad--really bad--when the highlight of the game for the A’s was getting two runners on in the same inning. The A’s lone two hits were singles by Cust and Sweeney, and it’s impossible to determine how well Kazmir pitched; I’m sure I could throw a quality start against the A’s right now. They are winless on this road trip, and have lost six in a row.

Granted, Kazmir is an elite pitcher, but the A’s made it look easy for him tonight. They are a terrible offensive team who doesn’t even have good at-bats anymore, and quite frankly, they’re as tough to watch right now as I can remember.

Dallas Braden takes another turn on the mound tomorrow night. I hope he’s not expecting run support.

Poll
Which game was more painful to watch?
Tonight's snoozefest.
69 votes
Last Sunday's ninth inning loss
229 votes
Saturday's extra inning loss
147 votes

445 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 363 comments

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Comments

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This has to be the most despondent BBG I've ever read.

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 7:07 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Did you watch the game?

Embarrasing and disgusting. I just told it like it was. It felt like it was 40-0 from the fourth on.

So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one

by baseballgirl on Jul 21, 2008 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That wasn't snarky ;-)

I just had nothing, absolutely NOTHING happy to say about the game. It was easily among the most awful games I’ve ever watched.

So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one

by baseballgirl on Jul 21, 2008 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I didn't say you aren't justified

It’s a comment on how bad the team must have been to be to make you this discouraged

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hate,

to get shut out by anybody.

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jul 21, 2008 7:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

We always appreciate the comments and threads made by Baseballgirl......

Thanks for hanging in there!!!!

"Mount it? I already did. Oh! You meant on the wall?!!

by rickey939 on Jul 21, 2008 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oy Vey

"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 21, 2008 7:10 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I was there for last Sunday's last inning loss

Compound the A’s losing, Duke pitching lights out only to have Street blow it, the Angels winning, a push farther back in the standings (which it looks like we will never recover from), the Angels NOT pitching Saunders, and F-Raud doing his shazam pose after K-ing Zook—then yeah, this was the toughest.

Today was just that bad sugary frosting on the s—t cake.

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Jul 21, 2008 7:11 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Anyone watching the Cubs-DBacks game right now?

Harden just laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, and the first thing I thought was “can he come teach us how to do that?”

I missed the middle couple innings of the A’s-Rays, but apparently, that was a good thing….

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jul 21, 2008 7:14 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

and I was thinking...

damn, doesn’t Harden look hot!

21.2 and counting...

by ZigFan31 on Jul 21, 2008 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

well, I had that thought too

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jul 21, 2008 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

terrible

I guess a highlight for me tonight was the lack of Donnie Murphy in the lineup, although they all seem pretty interchangable these days anyway.

You have to wonder how Crosby feels looking up at the 3/4/5 hitters tonight – one, a LH rookie starting against on the the premier LH pitchers in the game, 4 – a burned out hulk who seems headed straight back to the Mexican League, and 5 – another LH bat who strikes out constantly.

And they’re all batting above Crosby! He’s like a taller Donnie Murphy without the power.

by coffee roaster on Jul 21, 2008 7:14 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I much prefer losing a well played hard fought game than

a boring crappy game. I prefer pain to dying of boredom.

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 7:14 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Right now the only reason I'm watching the games...

...is to see if Ziggy gets in.

I suppose I could just use Gameday for that and flip to the game when he does get in.

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 7:15 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Bitterness,

hard to avoid.

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jul 21, 2008 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Haha!

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jul 21, 2008 8:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's the spirit!!

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

by oblique on Jul 21, 2008 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think these players are not trying that hard....

I mean, these trades have to be deflating to the players when you get no players back that can contribute to win immediately. It sends a message to the players that management thinks the team is crap and to hell with the season. Guys are rolling over.
Additionally, these guys in the course of two weeks have become massive strike out machines. It just doesn’t add up. Billy ought to be stressing about now. Of course, maybe these players just don’t have much talent. Anyone who thought that Crosby needed just to be healthy to be good are sorely mistaken.
On even more depressing note, check out the new pitcher Outman’s line at midland tonight.

by pedoman on Jul 21, 2008 7:16 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Outman? More like Gascanman!

Wasn’t that one of the characters in The Stand?

by Swooney's Left Foot on Jul 21, 2008 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Balfour was good. Outman was bad.

Seems wrong.

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Another Balfour Declaration?

Oy Vey.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Jul 21, 2008 8:08 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sunday's loss was more painful,

but I’ll take that over tonight’s game. I just feel numb after watching such futility.

by rebus on Jul 21, 2008 7:17 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Embarrassing

Was Black Snake Moan a comedy or a drama?

by ohtobe21likehuston on Jul 21, 2008 7:18 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

x1000000

So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one

by baseballgirl on Jul 21, 2008 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

What I'm hoping is.

That at some point it our boys will realize it can’t get any worse and they will all accept that this is the way it is. Then they’ll put this all behind them and play some ball. These guys are supposed to be pros. Here’s hoping they have that within them.

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jul 21, 2008 7:21 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Here's how the pre game went here at AN.

Blez: baseballgirl, will you be a doll and do the game thread on Monday?
baseballgirl: Why sure, Blez! That sounds fun! The A’s always put up a good fight and give me something to write about.
Blez: Great!

fast-forward to today

(bangs head against desk)

So, bring on Bonds! Or, not... then, bring back Langerhans!! -One won lost one

by baseballgirl on Jul 21, 2008 7:26 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Awww!

Hands Baseballgirl some Exedrin.

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jul 21, 2008 7:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Awww!

Hands baseballgirl some Excedrin and hands lynzzgal a “c”

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jul 21, 2008 7:34 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Here's how the pre-game convo went with my son

I: Who are we playing?
L: Devil Rays
I: Should be an easy win
L: What? They’re a good team this year!
I: Uh . . . ok.

So see? Oh . . . sorry.

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jul 21, 2008 7:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I appreciate everything you do

Baseballgirl, no doubt. You are one of the reasons I keep coming back.

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jul 21, 2008 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

We have a son?

And he can talk? And he knows Devil Ray history?!

Man, nobody tells me anything…

I think we should throw (Barton) head first, into a pool with no water, screaming, "You like THAT? Huh, kid, do you like THAT?" Maybe that’s just the Marine in me, though. -Nico
For the record, I’ve never had a Marine in me. -Swooney's Left Foot

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 21, 2008 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Give her some of pam's heroin.

Mark Ellis: sent down from Heaven to rob Evil of hits and hand out rainbows

by Jennifer on Jul 21, 2008 7:48 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

and cust, K's looking to end the game

I think somebody needs a benching.
Play Rajai over Cust. Or PR for Cust his first walk.

by MobiusKlein on Jul 21, 2008 7:26 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Cust has earned his Ks

The rest of the offense has not.

by rebus on Jul 21, 2008 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He did get a hit.

I’d bench all those who didn’t.

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 7:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I know the players are bad

but I don’t see any blame on Van Burkleo. Does he even talk to these guys about hitting? It can’t be hard to not strikeout every other at bat, can it? Maybe these guys are really this bad at hitting, but to me Van Burkleo is just cashing checks at this point without doing a thing to earn them.

Might as well Jump! - Van Halen

by sprtsnwyn on Jul 21, 2008 7:27 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I'd make Young the hitting coach.

I like the cut of his jib

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

[Fosse/] Van Boogaloo is a fantastic hitting coach

And DFA is an RBI machine, and Kendall is the greatest player ever and the next time I ever say anything remotely critical of the A’s will be the first time. [/Fosse]

by Swooney's Left Foot on Jul 21, 2008 7:31 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Don't forget how great everything looks in HD

You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all. ~Earl Weaver

by UncleLeo on Jul 21, 2008 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The only thing that looks better

is a Jason Kendall HR! He’s the bestest ever!

by Swooney's Left Foot on Jul 21, 2008 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

and how great Dibs taste.

Procrastinators unite....tomorrow

by muffinpryde on Jul 21, 2008 8:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes

Last year’s was him. The year before we went to the ALCS. I know the talent was better, but still.

Might as well Jump! - Van Halen

by sprtsnwyn on Jul 21, 2008 7:33 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Gerald Perry in 2006?

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

just gonna bend the brim of my cap a bit more

and come back tomorrow to watch our guys with one more game experience under their belt.

by oakinboston on Jul 21, 2008 7:33 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

You watch TV with a cap on?

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

doesn't everybody?

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

by FoolshGame22 on Jul 21, 2008 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Mine's made of foil

You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all. ~Earl Weaver

by UncleLeo on Jul 21, 2008 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

D.

All of the above.

It's Rhodes Scholar Night at the Coliseum tonight.

by Scottbass on Jul 21, 2008 7:34 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

More K's tonite than hits plus walks...

that’s not a good sign. I guess this is the beginning of the end of this season.

by Oaktownflav on Jul 21, 2008 7:34 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Harden is on fire.

21.2 and counting...

by ZigFan31 on Jul 21, 2008 7:35 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I know he's injury prone

but spontaneous combustion would have been my last guess.

by Swooney's Left Foot on Jul 21, 2008 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

YES

Seems impossible but come on, we flat out just have no hitters in this lineup. I have been patient but this just flat out sucks. Just wait until Duke goes, can we say we are the AL equivalent of the Pittsburgh Pirates? I hate to be so down and I know the plan is to re-build but when we are used to success this is just hard to sit through.

by HRH on Jul 21, 2008 7:45 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Suggestions, then?

Who do you realistically trade for all those people?

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 7:48 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why not deal away some prospects

Go get a Matt Holliday or Jason Bay.

Try to sign Mark Texiera. I know this isn’t the A’s way, but maybe we need to go this route.
Sorry, frustration has gotten the best of me tonight.

by HRH on Jul 21, 2008 7:51 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

But I have a question

Do you enjoy the way our offense is playing?

by HRH on Jul 21, 2008 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

We got to get some pop in this lineup

If we wont trade anyone, then in the offseason sign one, getting rid of blanton and harden and even street or embree we will have plenty of money

by buckfan6 on Jul 21, 2008 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Bay or Dunn

i would be happy with Nady. We have plenty of pitching in the minors, or even throw street and crosby or even ellis int he package

by buckfan6 on Jul 21, 2008 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Do you think the A's would be able to keep them or would they just be a rent-a-player?

And are they worth the probable cost of a pitching prospect now with nothing to show for it in a season that isn’t going to result in a playoff spot anyway?

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You know, you are right

We should continue to sit and enjoy mediocrity for a few more years until Cahill, Simmons, Rodriguez, Cunningham and co. are ready.

by HRH on Jul 21, 2008 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm just asking you guys to present a realistic idea

It’s easy to say “leave it up to Beane because that’s his job” but when people want him to make a move it helps to tell us what you’d try to do. Then we can actually talk about it.

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 8:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The reason Flashfire keeps asking "who?"

is that as soon as it becomes “Fine, you can have (Bay or whoever) for Cahill and B. Anderson” you’re going to say “Oh no, we can’t do that!” Which means you’re really saying, “We just want (Bay or whoever).” It doesn’t work that way.

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 21, 2008 8:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Im willing to give up cahill or Anderson if we can get a big bat

Nico you have all the pitching you want and you still have to score runs

by buckfan6 on Jul 21, 2008 8:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm sure not unless that big bat is going to be here for multiple years

And even then, there are other prospects this team can trade first instead of Cahill or Anderson.

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 8:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I didn't say Cahill or Anderson,

I said Cahill AND Anderson. The guys who probably, by the way, will be the team’s #1 and #2 starters in 2011-2014, if not 2010.

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 21, 2008 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And if History is an indication of the future

they will be traded for Prospects in 2015.

"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 21, 2008 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Doubt it.

"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 21, 2008 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

There are patterns that exist from playing in the Coliseum.

I don’t believe they will be the same in a new ballpark.

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I sure hope so.

but im not optimistic.

"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 21, 2008 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think that's the plan

Beane has been pretty consistent in saying the plan is to get good, for a long time, with the core group he is assembling.

My hunch is that he has targeted C. Gonzalez, Cahill and Anderson (assuming they work out as well as planned), and a couple others – maybe Ryan Sweeney and Suzuki, maybe Barton if he becomes as good as once hoped – as the core that will be extended beyond their 6 years.

Some players will still be “fungible,” like maybe Casilla, Smith – guys who are good but replaceable – but not the “get you to the World Series guys”.

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 21, 2008 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He has signed one player to a long term deal

in the past 10 years. Ok maybe you can count Dye as well. But its still not enough.

"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 21, 2008 8:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Would Kotsay qualify?

Chavez, Dye, Kotsay… yeah, not much.

Right now, do they have any position players that warrant a long-term contract?

You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all. ~Earl Weaver

by UncleLeo on Jul 21, 2008 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

but Nico to win games you got to score runs

Look at the teams with top 5 offenses yea most of them in first place

by buckfan6 on Jul 21, 2008 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah?

Well whens the last time there was an elimination playoff in the original Coli?

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Jul 21, 2008 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I have become convinced over the

years, that it was more than a day for sure.

alaska A

by ak_A on Jul 21, 2008 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And you know what? With the pitching the A's have, they don't NEED a top 5 offense

Even one in the middle of the pack would be great.

More than that, all they need is an offense that can score consistently instead of getting 0-1 runs once every four games on average. Those 12-run games they get once in a while sure make that run differential look nice but they are the exception to this team’s norm.

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So how terrible is it that we cant even

get a middle of the pack offense?

"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 21, 2008 8:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Bad, but I call it a work in progress.

You can’t have it all at once when a team is trying to rebuild.

Remember, these guys weren’t even supposed to be sniffing .500 this year.

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Billy could have struck gold

Had Thomas stayed healthy (which he could have) and had Chavez come back strong (which was unlikely), this team might have contended in 2008 – not bad for a rebuilding year. I still have hope for 2009 because Beane has plenty of chips and payroll flexibility to go out and add a 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

by Nico on Jul 21, 2008 8:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thomas could have.

I felt he was running way too much, pushing it way too much when he was out there with us early on…almost like it was too good to be true..and it was.

alaska A

by ak_A on Jul 21, 2008 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So why aren't they playing guys with upside?

Brooks Conrad, Jack Hannahan, and Donnie Murphy aren’t gonna be part of the future.

by mikev on Jul 21, 2008 8:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sadly, I think it's because

they don’t have any. Chavez is hurt, Barton is hurt, Cunningham isn’t ready, and Buck IS playing – at the level he is currently suited to play.

Rushing Doolittle and Carter wouldn’t help. They ARE playing, as are Patterson and Cardenas, just not in Oakland.

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 21, 2008 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Murton?

I mean, there’s just no reason I can see that Emil Brown keeps playing, either.

by mikev on Jul 21, 2008 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll give you that one -

I don’t get that either. Maybe that’s the one case of “trying to create trade value” (which I generally don’t believe in) where they’re hoping Emil’s RBI total looks good enough to deal him in the next week (instead of just dump him) and they plan to play Murton every day in August/Sept.

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 21, 2008 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

First of all, there is more correlation

with teams that have good pitching being in first place, and second of all you need to score runs, you need to not give up runs, you need to prevent runs on defense – the bottom line is you need to outscore your opponent and you don’t do that by having a good offense at the expense of good pitching.

More teams compete successfully 3-2 than 8-7. That doesn’t mean offense is unimportant; however it does mean that Beane would be foolish to mortgage his good young pitching to add offense.

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 21, 2008 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

"More teams compete successfully 3-2 than 8-7."

Which says a lot about the Rangers, doesn’t it?

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So buckfan6, would you be willing to trade

Sean Gallagher and Greg Smith if it got you Jason Bay? Let’s say that’s what the Pirates wanted – would you 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

by Nico on Jul 21, 2008 8:31 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sorry, buckfan6, I missed your answer...?

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 21, 2008 8:47 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

no

i would do Duke and street, they a top starter and closer

by buckfan6 on Jul 21, 2008 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And that's the rub - the Pirates wouldn't

So you don’t get your hitter.

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 22, 2008 8:47 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

There is no way in hell

that they trade Bay for that little.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 21, 2008 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That wasn't my point at all

It was purely a hypothetical – my point was going to be, “Congratulations – you now have an ok offense behind a rotation of Duke, Eveland, Braden, DiNardo, and Saarloos.” You’re now the Texas Rangers with a worse lineup.

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 21, 2008 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I know

I’m just saying, you’re underestimating how bad that situation would be.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 21, 2008 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe Duke and Gallagher

would be a more dramatic, and apt, example. That would be a fun rotation.

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 21, 2008 9:31 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

fungible players

NIco,

Actually, in baseball, a “fungible” player would be one with a VORP = 0.0, by definition (fungible = easily replaceable by any other of like skill, at least in law). Smith and Casilla have VORP’s >0, last time I checked (prior to recent game “issues”).

by rollierollieOxenfree on Jul 21, 2008 9:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm using a Beane term,

whereby he cited closers as “fungible” – they aren’t literally easy to replace without dropoff, but his point was that you could keep finding/creating them without the level of difficulty of finding/creating a cleanup hitter or a front-end starting pitcher.

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 21, 2008 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Carlos maybe, but not the others

I wouldn’t pay FA dollars to starting pitchers or catchers, or players with “old player skills” or someone who reminds me of Kotsay. I’d only do it for a 5-tool player who didn’t have a bad back.

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Except it's not "free agent dollars,"

it’s extension/”no arby” money – IIRC, we did that with Chavez, and Swisher beyond their 6th year and with Hudson, Mulder, Harden, Haren, Crosby just through their arby years.

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 21, 2008 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Minor problem there:

The Dodgers offense is terrible too.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 21, 2008 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They're playing DeWitt over LaRoche anyway, and they need a SS and another reliever

Kemp and a backup (to them) infielder—I think they’d be willing to do that to fill the needs they have.

by mikev on Jul 21, 2008 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Kemp for those three guys makes no sense

for LA

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They've got a ton of outfielders, but anyway...

I’d be OK with doing Street and Crosby for LaRoche and another prospect.

by mikev on Jul 21, 2008 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So, who cares? We're not Dodgers fans

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 21, 2008 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

After gettign rid of the whole damn team

We should have plenty of money to sing one fo them, last time i checked we have already saved 15 million

by buckfan6 on Jul 21, 2008 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They've been all hit, no pitch for a while now and their ballpark helps a lot.

Oakland is about as much the opposite of that place as it gets.

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The last time Texas finished ahead of Oakland

in the standings was 1999.

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 21, 2008 8:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

spell words right

it’s annoying to read your posts

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Or angrey

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 21, 2008 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Got the M's and Redsox on FSNW

beautiful warm, evening light in Safeco on HDtv, the colors are so rich in the gloaming.

alaska A

by ak_A on Jul 21, 2008 7:42 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I read that as "NSFW"

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

by oblique on Jul 21, 2008 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I miss him.

Mark Ellis: sent down from Heaven to rob Evil of hits and hand out rainbows

by Jennifer on Jul 21, 2008 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Just a little high.

Mark Ellis: sent down from Heaven to rob Evil of hits and hand out rainbows

by Jennifer on Jul 21, 2008 7:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Is there

another way?

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jul 21, 2008 8:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Kick a puppy. It helps, strangely enough.

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 21, 2008 8:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Bad Nico!

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jul 21, 2008 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You think THAT'S bad?

Consider how I know that “taking candy from a baby” really IS easy.

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 21, 2008 8:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, yeah.

Stomper is a badass!

by lynnzgal on Jul 21, 2008 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Someone better hit something

DAMN quick, or I’m going to be pissed. Pisseder.

Mark Ellis: sent down from Heaven to rob Evil of hits and hand out rainbows

by Jennifer on Jul 21, 2008 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I like his purdy blue shoes.

Theys his magic shoes.

Mark Ellis: sent down from Heaven to rob Evil of hits and hand out rainbows

by Jennifer on Jul 21, 2008 7:51 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's fast.

Mark Ellis: sent down from Heaven to rob Evil of hits and hand out rainbows

by Jennifer on Jul 21, 2008 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah, that was a strike

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jul 21, 2008 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

19-0 Tigers over Royals

Still batting in the 8th.

Might as well Jump! - Van Halen

by sprtsnwyn on Jul 21, 2008 8:03 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Oh my.

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 21, 2008 8:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Young, green players who show great promise, and even when overpowered by superior opponents, stay in the game to the last pitch = I’ll watch.
Veterans who are a year or two past the season that made us love them, but substitute craftiness for power = I’ll watch.
Guys who look like they’re just going through the motions, even if they are wearing green and gold = I have plenty of other things to do with my time, so no thanks.
At this point, I’m actually ready to see the A’s sign the loathsome Bonds if it would put some spark in the clubhouse.

Oh, and I know I mentioned this once before, but it’s really annoying me lately—whatever amount of money the A’s are saving by using some kind of lower-quality audio delivery in the postgame radio show, it’s a false economy. KenKo sounds like his head is being held under water. Then again, with games like these, having an excuse to turn off the postgame show is a pleasure.

by Englishmajor on Jul 21, 2008 8:10 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Sometimes...

...this team just sucks. And right now they’re in major suck mode.

You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all. ~Earl Weaver

by UncleLeo on Jul 21, 2008 8:19 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Awww, Rich.

No hits through 5, and he learned how to bunt. Yay. I wanna watch! (And yes, I’m going to whine about it.)

by whiteshoes40 on Jul 21, 2008 8:21 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm happy for him, and I still think it's better for the A's

that he pitch well than that he flame out. I also predict he’ll miss time beginning around Sept 1st, in which case the trade is a good one for the A’s (and Patterson is 15/36 so far with Sacramento, by the way).

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 21, 2008 8:24 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Patterson's numbers are too good for the A's

right now because we need Crsoby and his sorry ass to prove to management that he isn’t a BUST, but we all know on AN that he’s done!

Beating LAA or wherever the fu*k they are, Priceless!

by MMunoz33 on Jul 21, 2008 8:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Huston Street, Matt Murton, and Bobby Crosby

for A. LaRoche and A. Eithier

Beating LAA or wherever the fu*k they are, Priceless!

by MMunoz33 on Jul 21, 2008 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It was a desperate post!

Beating LAA or wherever the fu*k they are, Priceless!

by MMunoz33 on Jul 21, 2008 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's not a serious trade proposal without Ellis or Duchscherer

or Cahill or Anderson or Carlos or Gio or Ryan or someone else that AN would be in an uproar if traded

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

good for the A's

It’s also good for the A’s in that it shows other teams that dealing w/ BB isn’t always a screwjob…

It is possible to get the better end of the deal w/ BB (at least in the short-term, which is just what your fanbase and local press ever cover). So this makes it more likely BB will get another Mulder-like return at some point in a future exchange w/ one of the other 31 managers (in exchange for doing a Hudson-like or Harden-like deal on BB’s end).

Then again, the conspiracionalist (grammar?) in me leads me into believing that not only did BB set up these “seemingly bad for the A’s” deals, but he did so with a few select other GM’s, so as to gain max leverage against those not in the “conspiracy”. 

Ahh, I'm just making stuff up, I'm sure...

by rollierollieOxenfree on Jul 21, 2008 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

What about bringing back Milton Bradley:

I know I’ll be asked what pipe did I just get done smoking but Bradley can be bought for a small 3 year deal as a DH!

Chavez has got to get healthy asap in order to help out the middle of the order. I

Beating LAA or wherever the fu*k they are, Priceless!

by MMunoz33 on Jul 21, 2008 8:24 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Wow - but you know the Cubs fans are going through exactly

what we’ve been through for years: “Man, if he can JUST stay healthy…”

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 21, 2008 8:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He walked a batter with his 107th pitch ...

... and Lou left him out there. I was surprised and nervous for him. I wonder if this is his highest pitch count of the year.

Brainless Automaton #439

by rubin sierra on Jul 21, 2008 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

or of his life

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

i am glad

that i don’t remember that

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

yup

Just visited baseball reference dot com

With the A’s he made it to 100 pitches in 4 of 13 starts … this is his second-highest pitch count of the season. Third highest is I believe 105.

Brainless Automaton #439

by rubin sierra on Jul 21, 2008 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They let him throw 112 pitches?!

In a relatively meaningless July game? Wow.

by Swooney's Left Foot on Jul 21, 2008 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

ladies and gentlemen

your chicago cubs braintrust!

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

no kidding

desperation

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's a hell of a campaign

Midget and broom and whatnot …

Who needs competence as long as everyone smiles? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jul 22, 2008 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They're feeling the Brewers/Cards heat

Both will finish the night 2 or 3 back pending the outcome of the Cubs game.

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 21, 2008 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

This team looks like shit

I think Blanton’s trade killed the season. I’m not doubting the quality of the personnel we got in return as I feel better about this trade then the Harden one. But I think Duke probably summed up the morale in the clubhouse pretty accurately. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the team is nosediving right after that trade. And I don’t blame them. As a fan these last few weeks have really killed my passion for this team also.

One thing that all the sabertricians seem to forget is that there is a very human element to baseball also. People cannot always be quantified by their VORP or their WHIP. They have feelings and ambitions and desires like everyone else. Players (and fans) have to be dejected that this team does nothing to assure them of a) job security, b) consistency and c) a true desire to win.

This team up until a week ago was very much in contention and management basically called the season on them and worse, called the season FOR them. I totally understand why this team got only 2 hits tonight. I wish Beane et al would too.

by petitceebee on Jul 21, 2008 8:36 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

How ironic, though, to think of reading on AN

that trading Blanton killed the season.

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 21, 2008 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

no kidding

i love game wraps after a loss

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Of all the things that one could say killed the season (which isn't dead)

I never expected to read that trading Blanton was the one.

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

the season was done

when thomas and chavez got hurt again…it’s been done for a while

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1000

Beating LAA or wherever the fu*k they are, Priceless!

by MMunoz33 on Jul 21, 2008 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I disagree

Being four games out with half a season to go is a pretty good position to be in

by petitceebee on Jul 21, 2008 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

with our lineup?

we can’t hit…remember

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

but we have a small village worth of 2nd basemen and pitchers as chips too. With our minors revamped I would have liked to try something to improve this year.

by petitceebee on Jul 21, 2008 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

i don't mean to be a dick or anything but

such as what? i feel like if there was a trade that made the team better billy would have done it, because like you said, we have a small village of chips

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

mine was

a small village of clothes, pizza boxes and beer cans…and baseball equipment. and my roomie had guitar hero

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't know

I’m not as well versed as many of you on AN about being a GM but I keep hearing Holliday’s name floated. Don’t we have anything in terms of medium quality and enough quantity to satisfy them? Like maybe 2 Dana Evelands, A Huston Street, 2 Murtons, a Patterson or something like that?

by petitceebee on Jul 21, 2008 8:47 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

If you can clone people

I would like 13 Swooneys and 12 Duchscherers. Thanks in advance.

by Swooney's Left Foot on Jul 21, 2008 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

We could always go Bob Uecker

on the diamond and make 3rd base 1st base then we could play baseball left-handed!

by petitceebee on Jul 21, 2008 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not sure

Still haven’t found the key to her chastity belt.

by Swooney's Left Foot on Jul 21, 2008 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

solid

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

double solid

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:07 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

If that's true

Why does she keep telling me that her clock is ticking?

by Swooney's Left Foot on Jul 21, 2008 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh yeah....

I forgot to mention that. You want it back?

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Jul 21, 2008 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was never good at multiple choice.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Jul 21, 2008 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Do you think a hitter like Holliday would be good in the Coliseum?

He kills in Denver of course and is fairly decent on the road, but even then the Coliseum is still an offense-killer.

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think Holliday is definitely in the range of

the level of hitter we need, i.e. not a Murton, Casey Blake type “slight upgrade,” but is at the low end of that range. On one hand, he’d be our best hitter and a legitimate #4 between, say, Cust and Gonzalez. OTOH, he’d probably show a lot of park effect for trading Coors for the Coliseum 81 times.

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

by Nico on Jul 21, 2008 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, I think he'd be a help here but if people are expecting him to put up...

...the kind of offense he does in Coors, you’re not going to get that here.

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Like I said

I’m not all that well versed on players or leagues or parks, much less everyone’s minor leagues but w/o the actual ability to clone people, my general idea was enough quantity of Type B players to land a Type A hitter. I’m just speaking from a commodities point of view which everyone on AN should be accustomed to by now

by petitceebee on Jul 21, 2008 8:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Unfortunately, "quantity for quality"

is what fans like to wish for, but doesn’t actually work. You have to trade quality, in the form of talent or real potential, in order to get quality in the form of talent or real potential.

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 21, 2008 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oy

Teams do not trade elite players for large quantities of averageness.

Rest assured they’d be wanting elite prospects back. Do you want to give up Sean Doolittle and Cahill for a 1.5 year rental? No, I don’t either. Give it a rest.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 21, 2008 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

PT, check out my comment and then yours

Same content, different tone.

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 21, 2008 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

If someone valued Doolittle as "elite" I'd be willing to talk

I just don’t think anyone does.

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

not at all

welcome to the “let’s trade nobody for good hitters” party

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll be leaving said party

Now.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 21, 2008 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

no kidding

but yet i can’t look away…

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:07 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ok we can get an elite player with a terminal illness

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You'd be right, if Harden was an elite player

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 21, 2008 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah no kidding

i want to hear some of these too…buckfan where are you

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll tell you someone I'd be interested in,

but I fear he’s just a couple years too old to be the right “4 year commitment,” is Troy Glaus. He’d be insurance at 3B, could probably move over to 1B if we wanted, or DH, he’s about to turn 32, and the Cardinals are a decent potential trade partner this Winter because they have hitting and need pitching (with Carpenter, Mulder, Wainwright hurt, Izzy having a tough year). If Glaus were even 30 I’d be tempted.

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 21, 2008 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

What will it take to get him??

Signing as a free agent or trade for him?

Beating LAA or wherever the fu*k they are, Priceless!

by MMunoz33 on Jul 21, 2008 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

i am not 100% sure

but i think he is under contract for a couple years.

he is interesting, and definitely can hit the baseball.

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

But he makes up for it by being really slow

at least he’s right handed and has some pop

by petitceebee on Jul 21, 2008 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

great

can we use two DH’s at once?

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

i seem to remember we used three

but never two…is that allowed?

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not with the roster we had going forward

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 21, 2008 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Bring back Milton

Bradley is cheap compared to other All-star hitters and is a free agent after the year!

Beating LAA or wherever the fu*k they are, Priceless!

by MMunoz33 on Jul 21, 2008 8:37 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

he wouldn't come back

after his comments after he left

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Trade for Josh Hamilton! Offer them Ryan Goleski!

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 21, 2008 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

best joke ever

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Worst of all we don't have Ryan Goleski

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not worst of all

Have you seen his AA stats-that’s even worse.

"Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it?"-Steve McCatty

by 5Aces on Jul 22, 2008 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Offer them our starting 9

save Patrol Craft, Sweeney and Zooks

by petitceebee on Jul 21, 2008 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

they probably wouldn't do that

but i would

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wow. It just hit home that we have 3 major league players in the lineup

I was under the delusion that the return of some imaginary injured players would help

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Beane knows we need hitters

ANer’s know we need hitters, so how do we get them here with our low budget and unwillingness to trade our promosing pitching prospects away.

The draft?

Beating LAA or wherever the fu*k they are, Priceless!

by MMunoz33 on Jul 21, 2008 8:47 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I think either the draft, or by

trading good young pitching. I see Cahill and Anderson as “untouchable,” but maybe Simmons (should be a Blanton-level solid #3 on up pitcher) and H. Rodriguez (tremendous upside) could be used to land a hitter – they should appeal to teams rebuilding their staff, could land you a damn good bat, and arguably the A’s could still build a terrific staff without them, anchored by Duchscherer (if he’s around) Gallagher, Smith, Gio, Cahill, Anderson. Until injuries and disappointing development hit and then you might be sorry…

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 21, 2008 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

sounds like a plan but

we’ll Beane make it happen now? I sure hope so because he has to know his rebuilding model has yet to bring in a talented hitter aside from CarGon who is still learning the ropes…

Beating LAA or wherever the fu*k they are, Priceless!

by MMunoz33 on Jul 21, 2008 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No.

The earliest it will happen is in the offseason.

There’s no reason to pay for a half season of a player in a season that is hopeless.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 21, 2008 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

but...but...

WE WERE ONLY FOUR GAMES OUT!!!!11oneoen

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

"were"

four is what everyone keeps referring to

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You mean back on July 11th - the last time

we won a baseball game?

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 21, 2008 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

win?

what is that

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's when we get shut out, but

the other team forfeits.

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 21, 2008 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

seven runs!

that’s more than we usually score in a week

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No no - I believe the final score

of a forfeit is officially 9-0.

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

by Nico on Jul 21, 2008 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

that's what i thought too

but we couldn’t score nine even if we got a forfeit

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Headline:

A’S LOSE FORFEIT WHEN PLAYERS NEGLECT TO TOUCH HOME PLATE

“That’s all they had to do,” Commissioner Bud Selig said, his head shaking in disbelief. “When I got to the ballpark, though, the 3Bman was lying face down in the grass, and the 1Bman was diving head first off the dugout roof into an empty bucket. So I decided to declare the game a tie.”

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 21, 2008 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Selig: /throws up hands

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

hahahahahaha +1

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

QOTM

sarcastic fatalism division

by AsFanInLA on Jul 21, 2008 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

i feel like

h-rod is a good candidate to get back a great hitter because he throws so hard. to me, he’s got reliever written all over him, but undoubtedly other teams like him as a starter. he seems like a guy who would fetch something good.

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'd trade Cahill or Anderson for a top position prospect in a second

Heck I’d do both for a Top 10 guy.

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cahill and Anderson are top 20 prospects in baseball

and you’d trade both of them for one hitter rated only marginally higher?

That would be a really bad trade value-wise. I think frustration is getting to you, too.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 21, 2008 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

not necessarily

We need run producers, not just hitters.

From what I gathered from “Moneyball”, after a series of high OBP hitters in the lineup, you need a high SLG player to drive them in. Preferably, you do it in proportion – that is, if you have 2 hitters w/ OBP = 0.250 (ok, that sucks), you need a hitter following with SLG = 0.500 (or better, which is quite rare) to drive them in to equal 1.0 runs. Since the A’s traditionally have a great high OBP avg, then they also need high SLG hitters. Note that they’ve done well in the past with these high SLG players in the lineup (FT, healthy Chavez, Tejada, Giambi (Jason, not Jeremy), Canseco, etc. They really only have Cust in there now (other than Smith’s 2 AB’s in interleague play with a .444 SLG) with a >.400 SLG. They need Bankston to be consistent with his high SLG, and pace him about 3-4 hitters away from Cust.

Note: I’m making the following assumptions, though (and I ain’t the smartest guy on the planet, so I could be wrong here):
SLG = BA x # bases/ #AB’s
OBP = H + W / #AB’s
for every hit, player advances 1-2 bases (which isn’t necc. the case w/ a Rajai Davis pinch-running)

by rollierollieOxenfree on Jul 21, 2008 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed on waiting until next year

If we were to make a move this year; I would activate Frank Tomas and bring in Bonds asap and plug Mike Sweeney in at first for a month and see what happens

Beating LAA or wherever the fu*k they are, Priceless!

by MMunoz33 on Jul 21, 2008 9:06 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

activate Big frank, Mi Sweeney, and sign Bonds

Ellis
R. Sweeney
Bonds
Thomas
Cust
Mi. Sweeney
Car gon
Crosby
Conrad

Beating LAA or wherever the fu*k they are, Priceless!

by MMunoz33 on Jul 21, 2008 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can't wait to find out who's catching

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 21, 2008 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Bonds and his bad knees!!!

Beating LAA or wherever the fu*k they are, Priceless!

by MMunoz33 on Jul 21, 2008 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

sweeney, m.

he’s still got it i’m sure ;)

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

What the heck is Conrad doing in that lineup?

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 21, 2008 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

If you're gonna dream,

dream big. He wants Mr. Drummond in his fantasy lineup, he gets him.

I think we should throw (Barton) head first, into a pool with no water, screaming, "You like THAT? Huh, kid, do you like THAT?" Maybe that’s just the Marine in me, though. -Nico
For the record, I’ve never had a Marine in me. -Swooney's Left Foot

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 21, 2008 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And send it over to us here at the

Equine Necrophilia Association.

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 21, 2008 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm versatile

Haven’t you seen my personals ads?

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 21, 2008 9:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Actually

I think there might still be a reason to sign Bonds, but it’s not for the reason you’d think. At this point I’d sign him to a deal for the rest of this season WITH an option for next year. That way you give him the rest of this year to shake off all the rust there might be from not playing and then he’d be ready to go next year without having missed an entire season. The option is useful as well for if he’s thrown in prison in the time before you need to pick it up then you can just drop the option and move on.

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin

by Helloooo 1st on Jul 21, 2008 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

Who needs competence as long as everyone smiles? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jul 22, 2008 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

One thing I have noticed is that teams that have good pitching

get affected with anti-offensitis. (Not a word I know)

It’s like a team says, “We have our ace going, 1 or two should be enough” and then they get shut out. The Cubs are a good example tonight. Often, in the past we would have Huddy or even Zito going (when he was good 80 years ago) and score zippo.

The question I am asking is, does anyone else notice this in watching other teams?

by Trainman on Jul 21, 2008 9:09 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

fine, i'll bite

since we are talking trade, i’d call o’dowd and see what he is looking for in return for garrett atkins. ian stewart seems to be turning the corner and would be a ready replacement.

i know atkins isn’t the greatest 3b, but neither is jack hannahan, donnie murphy (RIP), or (presumably) brooks conrad. at least he can hit.

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:09 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Garrett Atkins has a career OPS+ of 110

and gives all of that minimal-above-averageness away on the defensive end.

I wouldn’t touch that with a rod and fishing line.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 21, 2008 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

See? Height DOES matter.

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 21, 2008 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

SIOTM

sexual innuendo

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 21, 2008 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

so, whoever said "you can't pull fat" was wrong?

Who needs competence as long as everyone smiles? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jul 22, 2008 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I voted for Last Sunday's game

Mostly because I am still suffering from the sunburn I got that day… Love expired sunscreen!

If we had WON that game, it might have been worth it! Gah!

"He's day-to-day," Geren said. "But aren't we all?" - 5/29/08

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Jul 21, 2008 9:34 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Considering that I'm still muttering to myself,

“You BURY a slider 0-2,” I’m gonna have to go with Saturday. You can’t win ‘em all, but we could have won that one. Yes, I said “we” – you gonna come through the computer screen and do somethin’ about 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

by Nico on Jul 21, 2008 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

I’ve spent enough fucking time and money on the team to use “we” and the people who wanna get all high and mighty about it can STFU. It doesn’t make them look “cool” or whatever the hell they’re trying to do when they jump all over somebody because they said “we” instead of “they” or “Oakland” or “The A’s”

by mikev on Jul 21, 2008 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

There's a pretty simple formula

When things are going well for the team it’s “we” and “us.”

When things are going bad it’s “they” and “them.”

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think it's us versus them...

if you’re not with us, you’re against us!

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

by FoolshGame22 on Jul 21, 2008 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

damn, this thread is depressing...

wait until Beane is done trading away Ellis, Duke, Street and Crosby. AN will not be a fun place to visit.

But, the purge must be completed.

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

by FoolshGame22 on Jul 21, 2008 10:06 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

No Kidding.

Speaking of purges, perhaps the old AN shirt with Billy as Mao should have been Billy as Stalin. They both know a thing or two about purges.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Jul 21, 2008 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

this thread is a catharsis... the final capitulation

like the A’s and the stock market, I think we’re close to the bottom. Tomorrow is probably going to be bad for both the A’s and the stock market, but after that…. it’s RALLY TIME!!!

I know, I’m an optimist.

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

by FoolshGame22 on Jul 21, 2008 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Elizabeth Kubler, what's her name, Ross?

Are we in the bargaining stage now?

alaska A

by ak_A on Jul 21, 2008 10:30 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm pretty firmly in the

anger stage.

I think we should throw (Barton) head first, into a pool with no water, screaming, "You like THAT? Huh, kid, do you like THAT?" Maybe that’s just the Marine in me, though. -Nico
For the record, I’ve never had a Marine in me. -Swooney's Left Foot

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 21, 2008 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And I'm Freeeeeee

Free Fallin’

At least they had Baseball Bingo in Sacramento and 1B Casey Rogowski 3-4, 1 RB1, 1 R in a 5-4 loss to the Las Vegas 51s.

All Games and Comments are Subject to Blackout

by Hit4TheCycle on Jul 21, 2008 10:37 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

From the SF Chronicle (Van Burkleo)

“We’re in a little rut,” Oakland hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo said. “Obviously, we’re striking out too much. I don’t know if guys started pressing and they’re losing their aggressiveness a little bit, but we’ve got to grind through it.

“We addressed their two-strike approach, making adjustments, spreading out or choking up on the bat, and maintaining an aggressive mind-set. ... Sometimes, when you try not to strike out, you strike out more. It seems like our guys go up there 0-2. “

Oakland leads the lead in strikeouts, with 752.
___________
OK, we are out of the race. Lets try a different approach for a week and see what happens.

If it’s near the zone, then Swing. Pretend we are a bunch of Angel hitters and see what happens.

I am as frustrated as the next person. It cannot hurt to try. They might get themselves out of a funk

by Trainman on Jul 21, 2008 11:01 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

pretend they're Vlad...

swing at everything. Maybe 2 or 3 will go out. Hell, that’d be more than they’ve been scoring.

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

by FoolshGame22 on Jul 21, 2008 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

notice I put that in the "they" and "they've"...

rather than the “we” and “we’ve.”

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

by FoolshGame22 on Jul 21, 2008 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't know

I am certainly not an expert but the A’s for years used to struggle with RISP because they were not aggressive enough. (They were hitting great with RISP earlier this year) And in years past, how many times did we see fastball down the middle for strike one. If you got ahead of an A on strike one it was usually over.

Now they do it when ever they go to the plate. Mix it up. You see a lot of nice fat balls to hit and if they are indeed ML hitters, they should be jumping on them. The Angels sure as hell don’t take them and they get on base enough to score runs. This OBP is fine but lets get some of them in.

Act like the ball being pitched to them is Frankie Rodriguez and swing. They might get some results. Even some of the shitty hitters might raise their averages a point or 10. We all know what happens to them when they get down 2 strikes.

Crosby is a great example of taking good pitches to hit and then going after outside pitches and flailing.

Mike Sweeney (when healthy) swings early in the count and strikes out once in a blue moon and Ryan Sweeney is hitting over .300 and he too is quite aggressive.

Just a thought and my two cents FWIW.

by Trainman on Jul 21, 2008 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

We've noticed the same things about them...

they are successful at getting starters into high pitch counts relatively early on using this method. Unfortunately, they are equally as successful at not scoring with RISP. Perhaps, they should work on balancing that shit out, a little bit.

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

by FoolshGame22 on Jul 22, 2008 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

One of the problems I've seen increasing lately (so it seems) are a lot more swings...

...at balls in the dirt. They’re splitters, curves, sliders, whatever, but it doesn’t look like some of our hitters are really showing much of an ability to identify pitches like that and lay off them. If they’re not taking a called strike three it’s seemed like a ball in the dirt and they did it way too much against Ervin Santana last week.

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

by Flashfire on Jul 21, 2008 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think you've hit on the real problem,

and it’s not something Van Burkeleo can do anything about: The A’s have bad hitters and one thing that separates good and bad hitters is pitch recognition. One reason Crosby will never be a good hitter is that even as he matures a bit, he does not “read” pitches well. It’s not a matter of being more or less aggressive – it’s a matter of having guys like Hannahan, Bankston, Conrad, Brown, and Crosby in your lineup instead of Youkilis, Lowell, Pedroia, J.D. Drew, and Varitek – I included Varitek because he’s an All-Star!!!!

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 22, 2008 8:55 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's maybe the biggest problem that can exist with bringing a young hitter to the Majors too soon.

Many of them need time to develop a better eye at the plate, not so much for whether or not a pitch is in the strike zone, but what kind of pitch it is. Obviously we’re not going to get a bunch of Tony Gwynns out of it but the faster you bring a kid to the Majors the less time he has to see more pitches in the Minors and learn which ones to lay off. This could be part of the problem affecting hitters like Buck and Barton, aside from whatever other issues they’ve got going on this year.

There’s learning while you’re up here but there’s also being overmatched and developing bad habits trying to counter it.

When someone like Crosby still has problems with it, you wonder if he’ll ever be able to correct it.

With Ervin Santana, maybe he’s just very good at disguising his pitches that stay straight or drop at the last moment, but if other teams are good enough to lay off some of those then we can see a big part of why he always pitches so well against the A’s.

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

by Flashfire on Jul 22, 2008 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Can you imagine Duke pitching against our offense

With his pin point control, and his filthy offspeed junk, Duke’ll probably pitch a no hitter every time he faces the A’s offense.

by asfansince1989 on Jul 22, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, "aggressiveness" really is not the problem here

The A’s have drawn like 5 walks in the last two weeks. Frankly, with some of the hitters they’re running out there right now, aggressiveness is suicidal. You might just as well sit there and hope the pitcher misses the zone four times.

I mean, not to put too fine a point on it, if you have a problem and Brooks Conrad looks like a solution—you REALLY have a problem.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 22, 2008 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I enjoyed last nights game

Not sure any of y’all are from Florida, but the FSN camera crew kept me interested in this game. There were 2 blondes sitting behind the TB dug-out and wow. Thanks FSN for the good camera work, thats about all that was good with last nights game.

by kenny0904 on Jul 22, 2008 5:35 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

And now we know

who’s watching the watchers.

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

by oblique on Jul 22, 2008 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks for the quote, BBG

This is not one of my most optimistic posts. I hope there are better days ahead for our A’s.

by asfansince1989 on Jul 22, 2008 10:33 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

My votes goes for...

The game on Saturday. I was at the game and after Huston “BLOWN SAVE” Street blew it, I took off. Glad I did.

Side note, there were around 20+ A’s fans in Tier 18 that day. It was great to see that. I checked out the A’s statue after I left the game. AWESOME!!

by OakFaninFL on Jul 22, 2008 1:40 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

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by JPShark 2 days ago

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