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Open Thread: Game 124 - A's vs. Twins

Oakland_tiny by Blez on

Oakland Athletics @ Minnesota Twins


The All-Star Break could have been seen as the turning point for these A's. Going into the break, there was hope, albeit slim, that the A's were better than anticipated, and could challenge for the playoffs, despite trailing the Angels. Also, going into the All-Star Break, Justin Duchscherer was among the very best pitchers in all of baseball, representing Oakland at Yankee Stadium for the American League.

Just over a month later, five wins and twenty-three losses later, the story is much different. The A's personnel has changed a bit, Duchscherer seems to have lost his magic touch, and the A's are falling like a rock in the standings. Not falling? The Minnesota Twins, who in the Central Divison, are tied for first with the ChiSox, with a record of 70-53.

Looking to stop both trends tonight is the aforementioned Duchscherer, who comes into the game with a 10-8 record and 2.59 ERA, opposing Nick Blackburn, who sports a 9-6 record and 3.73 ERA. In off the field news, the A's have called up Kirk Saarloos to augment the bullpen, and have designated Wes Bankston for assignment.

Lineup

Oakland Athletics @ Minnesota Twins

08/18/08 5:10 PM PDT

Oakland Athletics Minnesota Twins
Mark Ellis - 2B Denard Span - CF
Eric Patterson - LF Nick Punto - 2B
Bobby Crosby - SS Joe Mauer - C
Frank Thomas - DH Justin Morneau - 1B
Jack Cust - RF Jason Kubel - RF
Kurt Suzuki - C Delmon Young - LF
Carlos Gonzalez - CF Brian Buscher - 3B
Jack Hannahan - 3B Randy Ruiz - DH
Daric Barton - 1B Adam Everett - SS


 

0 recs | Comment 463 comments

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So i’ve been MIA for a week because of being out of town. Did everyone survive the week?

by justarebelheart on Aug 18, 2008 5:04 PM PDT   0 recs

barely

I was there yesterday.
That almost did me in.

"Never in your wildest alcoholic dreams could you conjure up a game like this!" Ken Korach

by jackcustismyhero32 on Aug 18, 2008 5:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I was there too, I was tempted to jump over the railing of my seats

by justarebelheart on Aug 18, 2008 5:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i sat iright behind this white sox fan who,

after the grand slam was says “YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD!!! YES!!!!”
thats what almost did me in.
he was actually pretty nice though.

"Never in your wildest alcoholic dreams could you conjure up a game like this!" Ken Korach

by jackcustismyhero32 on Aug 18, 2008 5:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

right*

"Never in your wildest alcoholic dreams could you conjure up a game like this!" Ken Korach

by jackcustismyhero32 on Aug 18, 2008 5:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Crosby batting third!

Maybe THAT’S what the A’s have been missing.

by NateHST on Aug 18, 2008 5:06 PM PDT   0 recs

Earn? Not to be pessimistic but I think the A’s may wrap it up nicely with a bow and give it to them…

by justarebelheart on Aug 18, 2008 5:09 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It should've read "Streaking Twins will have to just show up to earn win against A's"

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

by brenarlo on Aug 18, 2008 5:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ladies and gentlemen,

Please remember there is NOOOO SMOOOKING in the METROOOODOOOME. NOOOOOO SMOOOKING!

Polynesian Sauce may not be available in all locations.

by Englishmajor on Aug 18, 2008 5:09 PM PDT   0 recs

{almost makes Minneapolis airport joke, thinks better of it}

There were a lot of stupid, long confusing words that I’m sure normal people don’t use. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 18, 2008 5:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ellis, first-pitch homer

Can we stop the game now?

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

by Flashfire on Aug 18, 2008 5:11 PM PDT   0 recs

Seriously did that really just happen? I need to lay off the drugs I think

by justarebelheart on Aug 18, 2008 5:11 PM PDT   0 recs

Goodnight! See y'all tomorrow.

"I'm disappointed Ziggy didn't pump his fist towards the sky 100 times and scream like a hooker." ~Nico.

by LAXile on Aug 18, 2008 5:12 PM PDT   0 recs

What?

I was so mad – for just a minute – I forgot we weren’t at home and thought that was hit by the opposing team. Yay?

by Rhndasue on Aug 18, 2008 5:12 PM PDT   0 recs

Gameday now sporting vitamin ads in the game zone part.

One a day (at least one K a day keeps BoCro away from the bases)

"I'm disappointed Ziggy didn't pump his fist towards the sky 100 times and scream like a hooker." ~Nico.

by LAXile on Aug 18, 2008 5:15 PM PDT   0 recs

Why is Cust in Right?

Has he been playing in RF since they recalled Patterson and I just didn’t notice?

"I was right and you were wrong." - Ray Fosse

by kbtoyz on Aug 18, 2008 5:19 PM PDT   0 recs

Little Nicky Punto, as MI batgirl used to call him.

"I'm disappointed Ziggy didn't pump his fist towards the sky 100 times and scream like a hooker." ~Nico.

by LAXile on Aug 18, 2008 5:20 PM PDT   0 recs

MN

"I'm disappointed Ziggy didn't pump his fist towards the sky 100 times and scream like a hooker." ~Nico.

by LAXile on Aug 18, 2008 5:21 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Do we really have to watch Hanahan the rest of the year?

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

by brenarlo on Aug 18, 2008 5:30 PM PDT   0 recs

Yes you do.

It’s part of the AN contract.

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

by louismg on Aug 18, 2008 5:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Don't diss my homeboy Jack

Especially when he’s playing at home (or across the river from home).

Polynesian Sauce may not be available in all locations.

by Englishmajor on Aug 18, 2008 5:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey I'm from ND... MN sucks!!!!

and MT blows… that’s why it’s so friggin’ windy here!!!

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

by brenarlo on Aug 18, 2008 5:48 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Suck and Blow

Isn’t that a party game?

A lot of guys ignore the laugh, and that's about standards.~Dr. Horrible

by lynnzgal on Aug 18, 2008 5:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

What town?

Pembina?

Polynesian Sauce may not be available in all locations.

by Englishmajor on Aug 18, 2008 5:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

No... about 60 miles south of there in Minto

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

by brenarlo on Aug 18, 2008 5:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

We only learned about Pembina in school

because of Joe Rolette.

Polynesian Sauce may not be available in all locations.

by Englishmajor on Aug 18, 2008 5:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Pembina is pretty much the oldest European town in ND.. fur trading post...

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

by brenarlo on Aug 18, 2008 5:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

in high school, I played maracas for the Original Pembina Fur Traders

There were a lot of stupid, long confusing words that I’m sure normal people don’t use. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 18, 2008 5:58 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

nice...

I played basketball against them.

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

by brenarlo on Aug 18, 2008 5:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Back in the 1980s

it wasn’t uncommon to see small national magazines and newsletters mailed from Pembina. Printers across the border took advantage of lower costs in Canada, then drove them over for postage.

That’s how I learned about Pembina.

"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk

by iglew on Aug 18, 2008 7:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

sooo.....

i’ve got a real feeling a’s will unload tonight and have a big run inning tonight…

by stranahanahan on Aug 18, 2008 5:31 PM PDT   0 recs

The fatty?

Or the two run inning?

A lot of guys ignore the laugh, and that's about standards.~Dr. Horrible

by lynnzgal on Aug 18, 2008 5:36 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes

"May a nit suck Cajun geese?" wonders Red. No, we see gnu Jack Cust in a yam.

by andeux on Aug 18, 2008 5:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

lol!

A lot of guys ignore the laugh, and that's about standards.~Dr. Horrible

by lynnzgal on Aug 18, 2008 5:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Amen!

A lot of guys ignore the laugh, and that's about standards.~Dr. Horrible

by lynnzgal on Aug 18, 2008 5:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

THE GAME IS IN MN?!

I had no idea.

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

by Jennifer on Aug 18, 2008 5:37 PM PDT   0 recs

They got 1 run, there about at their quota for the game, possibly the week

by justarebelheart on Aug 18, 2008 5:47 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's OK - be greedy

"However, at Elias, I think they keep track of the amount of sunflower seeds spit in a dugout each night." - Brad Ziegler, 8/7/08

by doctorK on Aug 18, 2008 5:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

why?

1 every 3 innings seems about right…

by stranahanahan on Aug 18, 2008 5:46 PM PDT   0 recs

We got our run this game.

Do we need any more? Can’t we just coast from here?

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

by louismg on Aug 18, 2008 5:48 PM PDT   0 recs

What is wrong with Duke's leg?

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

by Jennifer on Aug 18, 2008 5:52 PM PDT   0 recs

And here comes Stevie.

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

by Jennifer on Aug 18, 2008 5:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

And there goes Duke.

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

by Jennifer on Aug 18, 2008 5:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It just fell off.

Crosby went to pick it up and dropped it.

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

by louismg on Aug 18, 2008 5:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Sounds like a good time to go home

and pretend this game isn’t happening.

(cries)

"However, at Elias, I think they keep track of the amount of sunflower seeds spit in a dugout each night." - Brad Ziegler, 8/7/08

by doctorK on Aug 18, 2008 5:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

at least he didn't throw it into the stands behind first

There were a lot of stupid, long confusing words that I’m sure normal people don’t use. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 18, 2008 5:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The MetroDome mouse is pleased.

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

by Jennifer on Aug 18, 2008 5:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Why oh why do the baseball gods hate the A’s?

by justarebelheart on Aug 18, 2008 5:54 PM PDT   0 recs

Saarloos!

Welcome back, buddy!

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

by louismg on Aug 18, 2008 5:54 PM PDT   0 recs

duke comes out

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Aug 18, 2008 5:54 PM PDT   0 recs

ahhhh hahahahahah

white esurance sign behind home plate..oh so that’s why durham is an absolutely terrible defensive second baseman.. - xbhaskarx

by BigTuna on Aug 18, 2008 5:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Uhm.

Why can’t we have nice things?!

by schmifty on Aug 18, 2008 5:54 PM PDT   0 recs

Hey I'm gonna go add you back as a contact on Flickr!

I saw it in my emails today but my work computer blocks Flickr… grrr bastards! Don’t they know I need Flickr to live?!?

by schmifty on Aug 18, 2008 5:58 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Seriously!

Flickr helps me get through the day.

by Kimberly on Aug 18, 2008 6:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs