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Open Thread: Game 101 - A's at Rays

As_kings_cal_tiny by louismg on Comment 367 comments

Oakland Athletics at Tampa Bay Rays, Jul 23, 2008 9:40 AM PDT


After any win, it can seem like your team is invincible. After any loss, it's easy to wonder why they took the field at all, if their sole purpose was to waste your time and cause you to damage your surroundings.

The A's win yesterday, the first since Friday, July 11th, has us once again feeling positive - even if the standings show us battling more so to keep Texas out of second place than seeing us contending for first. Hoping to show that  yesterday's single data point can be the start of a trend is Oakland's rookie left-handed pitcher Greg Smith, who brings a Blanton-esque 5-8 record, 3.79 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP to this morning's game, in hope for his own first win this month, having so far gone 0-2 with a no-decision.

Smith will be opposed by Tampa Bay's James Shields, who in his third year for the Rays is having another solid, if not impressive, season, sporting an 8-6 record, a 3.69 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Most interestingly, Shields features a 104 to 24 K/BB ratio, meaning the A's "swing and miss" or "take and walk away" approach could be featured over the next three hours.

Looking to scratch out some runs for the A's in this last game of the roadtrip will be an A's lineup led off by the .300+ hitting Ryan Sweeney, and capped by the still hitless for his career Brooks Conrad, who will be filling in for Mark Ellis, with an 0-7 tally and 3 K's so far over the last two days. One hopes these are just rookie jitters and just maybe, he'll exhibit his strong potential today.

Good morning all. Shake off those cobwebs, and let's go A's!

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Good morning everyone on the West side

Lunch was good here enjoy breakfast if you are just getting started

by A'sfaninNC on Jul 23, 2008 9:32 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Sweet!

Wake-and-baseball.

"If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something."

by RIPHalsey on Jul 23, 2008 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

steps:

1) throw ANer in bag with baseballs
2) shake
3) stick in medium oven until done

by oakinboston on Jul 23, 2008 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh yeah, one more thing...

Emil Brown: Cleanup hitter. Either the A’s know something we don’t, or AN is being ignored.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Jul 23, 2008 9:34 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

AN ignored?

NAW!

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

by Jennifer on Jul 23, 2008 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I saw a new advertisement for the A's on BART

It read “A RBI Machine is 100% Baseball” and showed Emil.

Obviously this was rushed to production earlier this season, because the “RBI Machine” is only a relative term that applies to this team.

I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.

by franks a lot on Jul 23, 2008 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

obviously it was rushed

It should be “An RBI Machine …”

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

by monkeyball on Jul 23, 2008 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

WOOOOOO A's!!!

i just woke up.. sigh

by vooya40 on Jul 23, 2008 9:36 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

According to Slusser:

Link

Near-daily Huston Street trade rumor: The Reds apparently have some interest in the A’s closer, according to sources, and the Mets also might make a run at trying to get him.

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jul 23, 2008 9:36 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

yes... first base looks like a pressing future need

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You're right.

The A’s need first base, because that’s the usual stopping point for pause before the inevitable double play.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Jul 23, 2008 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No Fosse on EI today?

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jul 23, 2008 9:37 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Irish coffee isn't very good.

I liked Irish tea, however.

Stuck on Buck :)

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 23, 2008 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I didn't like Bailey's.

I was in Ireland earlier this month and that’s ALL they talked about.

Stuck on Buck :)

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 23, 2008 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Didn't like Bailey's?

Do you kiss your family with that mouth? Next you are going to say you don’t like Guiness.

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

by 5Aces on Jul 23, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

[[makes face]]

We went to the Guinness factory and we got a free pint at the end of the tour… it’s ridiculously heavy and strong. I mean, I wouldn’t say no to another free one, but I don’t think I’d buy one. The black and tan however…

Stuck on Buck :)

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 23, 2008 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

black and tan = yummy

Irish car bomb (or “the peacemaker”, as I have been instructed to call it)=a great way to start the day.

Glad I’m working at home…

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

by 5Aces on Jul 23, 2008 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Irish car bomb...

Mmmm. The great thing about Ireland was that there were five pubs to every restaurant. Fantastic.

Stuck on Buck :)

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 23, 2008 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

WRONG.

I mean, it’s no Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, but Guinness is decent beer.

by mikev on Jul 23, 2008 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's really not.

It’s quite vulgar if you don’t gulp it down. It’ll get you drunk faster, but it’s… I had to keep my opinion to myself in Ireland because all the old men threatened to hit me with their canes if I spoke against Guinness, and all the old ladies were on Bailey’s side. No room for my Corona.

Stuck on Buck :)

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 23, 2008 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Corona's not the best either.....:-P

The thing with Guiness is that it’s a meal in itself. You can’t drink enough to get drunk unless you’re willing to put on about a stone.

by OldhamA on Jul 23, 2008 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I actually understand what you mean.

When I saw an Irish scale, I was so confused, I thought it was the Guinness fumes.

Stuck on Buck :)

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 23, 2008 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I had Becks.

And Carlsberg, and some beer from Belgium. It was pretty good. I like beer. I don’t know if that’s a good thing.

Stuck on Buck :)

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 23, 2008 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Generally the Belgians, French, Germans and Czechs

brew some pretty tasty stuff.

Oh and it’s a good thing.

by OldhamA on Jul 23, 2008 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I've heard Denmark and Sweden's are pretty good, too.

It was ridiculous, the 18 drinking age in Ireland opened my eyes to a whole other world ;]

Stuck on Buck :)

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 23, 2008 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm not sure that qualifies as "beer"

But I’m the type that doesn’t drink beer often, so I tend to gravitate more towards the stuff like Young’s Double Chocolate, Spaten Optimator, etc.

Though, i usually have a case of Newcastle in the garage fridge. It’s cheap at Costco :D

by mikev on Jul 23, 2008 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Corona is what it is

I much prefer a Newcastle or Guiness (red hook at one point did a stout with Starbucks that was great, but alas…), but I don’t turn up my nose to a Corona in the right spot.

I feel that way about most beers I guess-they are very situation dependent. At dinner maybe a Blue Moon, at the Raiders BBQ, a Tecate in a can with a bunch of limes and salt…

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

by 5Aces on Jul 23, 2008 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Drink what you like

If somebody don’t like Guinness, more for me!

by MobiusKlein on Jul 23, 2008 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Since you are up...

Could you refill my tea? KTNX

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

by Jennifer on Jul 23, 2008 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

ick, no coffee for me

though I brought in cookies to work today. :)

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jul 23, 2008 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Regarding Ryan Sweeney's .307 average...

I should remind you another famous A once batted .307 in his MVP year.

Of course, that one also had a .569 SLG%, 120 Runs, 42 HR, 124 RBI, and 40 Steals, but who’s counting?

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Jul 23, 2008 9:44 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Give Sweeney some roids

and he might do that, too. (Except the steals.)

by Philip Christy on Jul 23, 2008 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Gameday has me confused.

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

by Jennifer on Jul 23, 2008 9:44 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

It refused to believe Kurt was batting.

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

by Jennifer on Jul 23, 2008 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

that pitch

was way outside, according to gameday.

"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau

by King Richard on Jul 23, 2008 9:46 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Strike out looking

Sweet. That would be “take and walk away” from the game thread intro.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Jul 23, 2008 9:47 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

well

it was still take a ball outside for strike three and walk away.

"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau

by King Richard on Jul 23, 2008 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yay morning baseball!

Is it too much to ask that taphinia may join the thread today? I’m hoping maybe he/she can tell us all about some interesting dating web sites and will bring us day game luck…

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

by 5Aces on Jul 23, 2008 9:51 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Ya morning baseball at work!

by justarebelheart on Jul 23, 2008 9:51 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

EMAIL!

Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind...

by diaryofmac10 on Jul 23, 2008 9:55 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

wow!

way to switch it up a bit….

let’s start off with Runs this time.

"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau

by King Richard on Jul 23, 2008 9:55 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

our fearless cleanup hitter

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 9:55 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I wake up to see DFA hit a home run

I guess that’s a pretty good way to start a morning.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 23, 2008 9:55 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

And yes, 11:55 AM = morning

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 23, 2008 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

YES!

"If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something."

by RIPHalsey on Jul 23, 2008 9:56 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

C GONE!

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 23, 2008 9:56 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

My anger with him

only comes from how much I love him.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 23, 2008 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Back to back!

Cargon…gotta love him

Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind...

by diaryofmac10 on Jul 23, 2008 9:56 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

holy toledo!

"The Athletics at Fremont" is pretty bad

by ArakSOT on Jul 23, 2008 9:56 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Can the A's please just move to Tampa or something?

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 23, 2008 9:56 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

mommy, what's a tounge?

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dude, it's early.

I’ve only had one sugar free Rockstar. Leemeeealone!!!!!

by mikev on Jul 23, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I've been up since 7.

I don’t “do” mornings.

by mikev on Jul 23, 2008 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

woah, take it easy ya'll. you're way ahead of my gameday audio

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 9:56 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I KNOW!

i was confused for a minute!

by vooya40 on Jul 23, 2008 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Um....that NEVER happens?!

Back to back?

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

by baseballgirl on Jul 23, 2008 9:56 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Woo!

I read back to back here before I saw it on Yahoo!

Nice. Can we ask for three???

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Jul 23, 2008 9:57 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

The DRays announcers are speculating they might want DFA

And I just started jumping up and down with a big smile on my face.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 23, 2008 9:58 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Rays, I'm sorry. Rays.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 23, 2008 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

DFA, Street, and Murton for...

Im sure that could get a good bunch from them

by A'sfaninNC on Jul 23, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I almost forgot what a home run looked like.

"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 23, 2008 9:58 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

That's why they showed you again

... now… what does a grand slam look like? I forget.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Jul 23, 2008 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

What is a grand slam?

I believe Daric Barton’s head knows what it is.

Stuck on Buck :)

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 23, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And I'm not sure what a city in France has to do with anything.

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

by oblique on Jul 23, 2008 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Then you're obviously not German.

"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 23, 2008 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I mean..

err.. a HR for guys wearing Green and Gold :)

"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 23, 2008 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I did miss the game :)

"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 23, 2008 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

sorry this is late

stupid work.

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

by 5Aces on Jul 23, 2008 10:02 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Some dude

just tried to give me a vegimite sandwich.

I told him I didn’t know what the hell vegimite was and I punched him in the nose.

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 23, 2008 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Did it make you chunder?

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

by 5Aces on Jul 23, 2008 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

no, he ran, he took cover

somewhere on a lonely trail, head full of zombie

it is not possible to strategize while the ball is coming towards you

by eastcoasta'sfan on Jul 23, 2008 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I hear thunder

Can’t you hear the thun-der?

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 23, 2008 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Kenny Rogers Jr.

With the 1-2-3 inning.

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

by walk off bunt on Jul 23, 2008 10:06 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

His dads music is good.

Personally I like the older stuff more than some of his more recent stuff

by A'sfaninNC on Jul 23, 2008 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Word

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

by walk off bunt on Jul 23, 2008 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

at this rate Conrad's stay is gonna be short

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jul 23, 2008 10:07 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

wow, students come in to my drop in hours, and the A's hit back-to-back homers

I should have drop in hours during every game….

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jul 23, 2008 10:10 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Give them incentives

Are those cookies still around? Bribe them. Keep it up. Whatever you’re doing is working.

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 23, 2008 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Can I use this opportunity

To once again express my intense displeasure with Vince? His call of that double play was typical poor-form Cottronery. No emotion, no nothing. You can never tell what’s going on until the play is over and he’s told you the facts. The way he said “the throw is in the dirt,” you have no idea from his voice if it was caught or not until he actually says it.

Sigh.

by Bretter on Jul 23, 2008 10:11 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

He could be Ken Harrelson

or that asshat from Anaheim.

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 23, 2008 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

Vince is a pretty boring dude. He doesn’t do anything terribly offensive in my mind, like he’s not standout bad at anything, but he’s utterly dull.

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

by walk off bunt on Jul 23, 2008 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nothing offensive... sigh

True. Frankly though I’d rather he be offensive sometimes, to spice it up. It makes me inordinately mad to listen to him call big moments… I tend to throw things and yell. “JESUS VINCE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!!! IS THAT A SIMPLE FLY BALL TO LEFT? IS IT POSSIBLY A HOME RUN? DO YOU UNDERSTAND BASEBALL FANDOM AT ALL?” etc.

by Bretter on Jul 23, 2008 10:15 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

alright

who forgot to wake me up!?

going now to find out how we scored two runs.

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:15 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

What time is it....

in your neck of the woods?

"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 23, 2008 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I live in the shadow of the concrete cathedral

OAKTOWN

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

A nightgame?

So the A’s can hit at night….

"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 23, 2008 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

OMG

be still my beating heart

bigfoot
loch ness monster
back to back jacks from the A’s

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

At least one event...

has been documented on tape.

Are you listening MLB?

"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 23, 2008 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Tuned into the radio so I can do my perfect pushups

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I stopped using them ever since the T Buck debacle this year..

Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind...

by diaryofmac10 on Jul 23, 2008 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Theme song for Buck

Life is a highway (to Sac) I want to ride it all night long!

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

CARGONE!!!!!

sorry…kinda late!!!!! WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:16 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Smitty

is looking pretty good!

Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind...

by diaryofmac10 on Jul 23, 2008 10:17 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

SMITTY!

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:18 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Who is this Greg Smith character, he’s looking pretty good today

by justarebelheart on Jul 23, 2008 10:19 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Greg Smith

Ragin’ Cajun

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

by walk off bunt on Jul 23, 2008 10:21 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Greg Smith

Plain ole’ Cajun?

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

by walk off bunt on Jul 23, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

enough w/ the K's Cust

"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane

by athleticsBB4life on Jul 23, 2008 10:21 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

When Thomas Comes Back

Any chance Cust will be part of a trade or DFA?

I miss Eric Plunk

by chuckcheeze on Jul 23, 2008 10:22 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Cust is our best option for left field.

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I highly doubt the defensive difference between the two with make up for Cust's better bat.

And the A’s need slugging badly.

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I disagree that he is a better bat

Isn’t Murton a .295 lifetime hitter (could be wrong but thought I saw that at the trade)?

Can’t you only have slugging if you make contact?

I miss Eric Plunk

by chuckcheeze on Jul 23, 2008 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

sorry. Jack's a better offensive player. It's not close.

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Jack Cust

we gotta get this dude outta here, this isnt a major league hitter man come onnnnn!!

by jimmy325 on Jul 23, 2008 10:22 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

He's been the best hitter the A's have had over the past two seasons

What on earth are you talking about?

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 23, 2008 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

please ignore the day-game trolls

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

by monkeyball on Jul 23, 2008 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

All babies are ugly.

And they only get worse as they get bigger.

"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 23, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

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 23, 2008 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Lets have some positivity guys

custy is all we have right now

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nothing wrong with Cust....

that a couple of other hitters in the lineup wouldn’t cure. He is what he is….and if he had a supporting cast we would be singing his praises.

"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 23, 2008 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Did somebody say feast?

signed Joe B.

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:23 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

and Santiago Casilla

apparently, after his DL stint. Dude looks like halfway to CC now!

by Sliderule on Jul 23, 2008 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

and if he pitches like him we will all be fat and happy

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

RE: He's been the best hitter the A's have had over the past two seasons

because for the past two seasons the A’s have had no one in the line up that can hit.

by jimmy325 on Jul 23, 2008 10:24 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

He has an OPS+ of 122

He’d be the best, or one of the best, for most teams in baseball.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 23, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And last year it was 147

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 23, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

For people who think Cust should not strike out looking so much

And why you’re still so effing wrong:

He swings and misses more than anybody (actually, I think Josh Hamilton has more swings and misses this year). The last thing you want him to do is swing at more pitches, especially ones he doesn’t particularly like. It’s much, much better for him to take those pitches 3 inches off the plate and hope the umpire isn’t having a bad day.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 23, 2008 10:25 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

are you serious?

“It’s much, much better for him to take those pitches 3 inches off the plate and hope the umpire isn’t having a bad day.”

what kind of major league ball player goes up to the plate not swining and hoping the ump is having a bad day?

by jimmy325 on Jul 23, 2008 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

If they're 3 inches off the plate....

Then they’re balls.

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra

by brenarlo on Jul 23, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Reading comprehension my friend.

Check into it.

"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 23, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I should've taken that advice about ignoring the gameday trolls

But thanks for trying to help me out.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 23, 2008 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

IT WAS A BALL!

(I don’t really know, I just like the idea of yelling this repeatedly)

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thinking Jack Cust is the problem

is just incomprehensibly wrong.

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

by walk off bunt on Jul 23, 2008 10:27 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Personally,

I blame Stomper.

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 23, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I blame Crosby

not really, just Paul Baiting

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1mil

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Come on-we all know there is one person to blame

Dan Johnson.

Dan Johnson.

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

by 5Aces on Jul 23, 2008 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Come on, dude.

That’s just wrong.

Stuck on Buck :)

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 23, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ghostriding!

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

heheh

I bet there are a lot of concessions PT would make if he could D Crosby FA.

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well,

realistically, I do too, but I blamed others before him, including Jermaine Dye, Arthur Rhodes, and Scott Hatteberg.

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 23, 2008 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

OMG Prieto!

When is he going to be ready to come up and save our team? Any day now right?

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

DOn't forget Ben Grieve!

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra

by brenarlo on Jul 23, 2008 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

NOOOOOOOO!!

I had TOTALLY FORGOTTEN Ben Grieve! Thanks a lot for reminding me.

by Philip Christy on Jul 23, 2008 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

amended subject line

For people day-game trolls who never show up anywhere else who think Cust should not strike out looking so much

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

by monkeyball on Jul 23, 2008 10:27 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Jack Cust is God

He only strikes out to distract us from the fact he is an Earth-inhabiting deity. Now stop picking on him, or you will be visited by a series of plagues.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Jul 23, 2008 10:30 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

It's too late for that

We kept picking on him, the plague we were visited by was the rest of this offense.

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

by walk off bunt on Jul 23, 2008 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

What would the Yankees give to have in their lineup instead of Sexson right now?

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra

by brenarlo on Jul 23, 2008 10:31 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Cust in their lineup... that is...

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra

by brenarlo on Jul 23, 2008 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No hating on 18 hrs please

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:31 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

also

He’s only GIDP’d 5 times this year, 6 last year. For an Oakland A, that’s brilliant.

Pluses: Homers, walks, low GIDPS, cute smile, goofy likeability, cheap salary
Minuses: K’s a lot, low average, named in Mitchell report.

I’ll take him!

by Bretter on Jul 23, 2008 10:34 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

+all my autographed baseballs

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's not cheap

he is just on special this season

by A'sfaninNC on Jul 23, 2008 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Seriously?
Mitchell Report.... not valid in this case. Heresay and BS.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Jul 23, 2008 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

All of your baserunners

are belong to Greg Smith.

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

by walk off bunt on Jul 23, 2008 10:34 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

classic

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thank you!

I needed a sigline, now I got one!

"All your baserunners are belong to Greg Smith" ~ walk off bunt

by Philip Christy on Jul 23, 2008 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Bueno, just bueno

Geeks unite!

I miss Eric Plunk

by chuckcheeze on Jul 23, 2008 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

In the midst of our bantering

GSmith is shredding!

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:34 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Smith is a giant talking rat...

who runs with a posse of turtles?

"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 23, 2008 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

DANG IT

I woke up too late.

Photography Page | Flickr

by Kimberly on Jul 23, 2008 10:36 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Grab a cup and hang on

Our boys are back!

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Please don't grab MY cup.

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

by oblique on Jul 23, 2008 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

snarky reply.....

omitted.

"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 23, 2008 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Aw...I was looking forward to it!

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

by oblique on Jul 23, 2008 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Or THEIR cups.

They might get distracted.

Stuck on Buck :)

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 23, 2008 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I guess that depends on who's grabbing...

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

by oblique on Jul 23, 2008 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I guess I'd assume he'd miss and just take it?

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

by oblique on Jul 23, 2008 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Indeed, good sir.

He can’t seem to just smack one out.

Stuck on Buck :)

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jul 23, 2008 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He'd wait for ball four.

He doesn’t know what to to with just two.

"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 23, 2008 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Unfortunately he'd just strike out.

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

by oblique on Jul 23, 2008 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Greg Smith

Plainin’ Cajun

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

by walk off bunt on Jul 23, 2008 10:38 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Slusser says Reds may be interested in Street...

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra

by brenarlo on Jul 23, 2008 10:38 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Bubye huston

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ya, that killer performance

with an 8 run lead last night showed the Reds how well he handles pressure.

I miss Eric Plunk

by chuckcheeze on Jul 23, 2008 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't like how

Smith is getting all of his outs on flyballs. He’s doing phenominal but its concerning

by SwishMyNish33 on Jul 23, 2008 10:39 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Cros K's

but at least he didn’t just watch

by El Cerrito Steve on Jul 23, 2008 10:40 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

bobby crosby

is the best offensive short stop in baseball

by jimmy325 on Jul 23, 2008 10:41 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

that's offensive

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I thought he was the most offensive SS last year

good to see him changing the reputation, albeit slowly

by asfansince1989 on Jul 23, 2008 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wow..Shields has struck out 6 while only

throwing 56 pitches.

"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 23, 2008 10:43 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Imagine how high his K rate would be....

if all 56 pitches were thrown against the A’s.

"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 23, 2008 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh...wait.

"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 23, 2008 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

sad but true

"the A's need more quality preembreetive pitching" ~monkeyball

by OptimistPrime on Jul 23, 2008 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

ouch

well, we’d have 56 baserunners, and a lot more injuries…

Unless Crosby’s in the lineup-his HBP’s don’t count.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jul 23, 2008 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

who got hit?

or what happened? LOL

by vooya40 on Jul 23, 2008 10:47 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

The ball hit the knob of Pena's bat

and was a one-hopper to the mound. The umps called it a HBP. Geren was livid.

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

by oblique on Jul 23, 2008 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

i wish

i wouldve seen that

by vooya40 on Jul 23, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah...Fosse was pretty amusing on the radio side, though

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

by oblique on Jul 23, 2008 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I wish I could have watched this particular scene.

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

by oblique on Jul 23, 2008 10:47 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Rays announcers

just stealing Seinfeld bits now.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 23, 2008 10:48 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

They do that a lot.

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 23, 2008 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was hoping

Geren’s veins would explode in a cloud of dust and blood around home plate, thus changing the Ump’s lack of common sense.

http://sonicliving.com

by whaxed on Jul 23, 2008 10:49 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

just dragged myself out of bed...

did the A’s really go back to back?

Unicorn power!

by #14fan on Jul 23, 2008 10:49 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

thats a big old 10 4 good buddy

and it was DFA and CarGon to boot

by A'sfaninNC on Jul 23, 2008 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So, I'm guessing the umpires

think Pena has wrists of steel. Or maybe they just failed Physics class.

Photography Page | Flickr

by Kimberly on Jul 23, 2008 10:50 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

No self respecting MLB umpire would be caught in a

physics class. Or any other class for that matter.

"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 23, 2008 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Are you saying that umpires have no class?

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

by oblique on Jul 23, 2008 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

wow

both calls of people getting hit went against us. looked like and sounded like it hit the end of the bat

by 1smasfan on Jul 23, 2008 10:51 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

When you get hit in the hand like that

You don’t shake your wrist once and pull a slight grimace. You’re in a lot of pain. I remember getting hit on the fingers by guys who didn’t throw near as hard as Major League pitchers and it hurt like hell.

by VORP is too nerdy on Jul 23, 2008 10:51 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Heck i swear when i bang my elbow on something

so the ball had to get bat or else Pena has some Wolverine like powers

by A'sfaninNC on Jul 23, 2008 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Look at Travis Hafner at the end of 2006.

He got hit on the elbow with a ginormous pad on and he was flipping out.

by VORP is too nerdy on Jul 23, 2008 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So what you're saying is that Carlos Pena is way more man than you

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 23, 2008 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No.

He’s a crappy actor is what I’m saying.

by VORP is too nerdy on Jul 23, 2008 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Stay away from my cup.

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

by oblique on Jul 23, 2008 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

< reminds self to wear cup to next AN day >

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

by oblique on Jul 23, 2008 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah

he would be in so much pain as hard as it was thrown

by 1smasfan on Jul 23, 2008 10:52 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs