Athletics Nation: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:

Around SBN: Reflections on the Best Blazers Month In Forever Bar-right-arrows

Open Game Thread: Game 127 - A's at Seattle

Oakland_tiny by Blez on

Oakland Athletics @ Seattle Mariners


The A's limp into Seattle with a ridiculous number of injured players, including two more starting pitchers in Sean Gallagher and Justin Duchscherer. 

Yes, I'm still watching these games despite how painful it is to hope and see something special from players like Carlos Gonzalez and Kurt Suzuki.  And even hoping that someone named Daric Barton wakes up and becomes all he can be.  At the same time, this is the issue when rebuilding.  Like a manic depressive, the highs can be incredibly high with the youth the A's have, but the lows can feel like an inescapable morass that threatens to suck all the fandom right out of you.

The A's send Greg "Nibbles" Smith to the mound tonight.  I hate to call him that, but he has definitely earned it with his seeming inability to throw strikes consistently and how unwilling he also appears to pitch inside.  I do think Smith is a quality pitcher and will be a great fourth or fifth guy in a solid rotation, but he needs to get over that and go after hitters more.

Here is his stat line:

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2008 - Greg Smith 5-12 24 24 2 0 0 0 142.2 123 65 62 16 67 91 3.91 1.33

The Mariners put out Ryan Rowland-Smith tonight.  It'll be the battle of the Smiths.  I wonder if Morrissey will be contributing.  Here are Rowland-Smith's stats:

W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2008 - Ryan Rowland-Smith 2-1 39 4 0 0 2 1 65.2 67 32 30 6 29 48 4.11 1.46

The Australian is actually pitching better against right-handed batters than lefties despite the fact that he's a lefty.  

So then the lineups are as follows:

Lineup

Oakland Athletics @ Seattle Mariners

08/21/08 7:10 PM PDT

Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners
Mark Ellis - 2B Ichiro Suzuki - RF
Bobby Crosby - SS Miguel Cairo - 1B
Emil Brown - RF Raul Ibanez - LF
Frank Thomas - DH Adrian Beltre - 3B
Kurt Suzuki - C Jose Lopez - 2B
Jack Cust - LF Wladimir Balentien - CF
Carlos Gonzalez - CF Kenji Johjima - C
Daric Barton - 1B Jeff Clement - DH
Cliff Pennington - 3B Yuniesky Betancourt - SS

LET'S GO A'S!!!!!!!!

0 recs | Comment 407 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Woo hoo no Hanahan tonight!

by justarebelheart on Aug 21, 2008 7:03 PM PDT   0 recs

Nice one, Blez!

Now seriously, what are the lineups?

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:03 PM PDT   0 recs

LET'S GO A'S

I don’t care about no damn draft pick, I want my A’s to win!

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

by Philip Christy on Aug 21, 2008 7:08 PM PDT   0 recs

Yeah!

F*ck em if they can’t take a joke!

by lynnzgal on Aug 21, 2008 7:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That battle of the bad is on.

by justarebelheart on Aug 21, 2008 7:09 PM PDT   0 recs

This is the first time in a long time where we’re better than the team we’re playing.

Doesn’t mean we’ll win, of course…

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

by Philip Christy on Aug 21, 2008 7:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Is R R-Smith a lefty?

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

by Philip Christy on Aug 21, 2008 7:12 PM PDT   0 recs

Oh there it is in the write-up at the top.

Never mind.

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

by Philip Christy on Aug 21, 2008 7:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hopefully Smith throws alot of strikes also

make quick work of these offensive offenses.

by asfaninpismobeach on Aug 21, 2008 7:15 PM PDT   0 recs

Marco Scutaro tonight:

4 for 6, 2B, HR, 3 runs, 4 RBI. Played third base.

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

by Philip Christy on Aug 21, 2008 7:16 PM PDT   0 recs

Wasn't the AN party line that

Scutaro wasn’t any good, he only APPEARED good.

Enjoy the game

by DCinWC on Aug 21, 2008 7:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

When he appeared, he was good?

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:21 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's the first game of the series,

so we might win!

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

by Nico on Aug 21, 2008 7:20 PM PDT   0 recs

It’s quiet in here, did everyone jump ship?

by justarebelheart on Aug 21, 2008 7:21 PM PDT   0 recs

I'm still driving that bandwagon

As a great man (salb918) once told me, you learn to love your team through times like these.

by Blez on Aug 21, 2008 7:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

sings

it’s times like these you learn to love again
it’s times like these time and time again…

by SwisherThresher on Aug 21, 2008 7:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

but seriously...

with all the talk of doom and gloom, loss of faith, hardin trades gone wrong, what are you gonna do? It is not easy to change your fan membership. A’s till the end.

Enjoy the game

by DCinWC on Aug 21, 2008 7:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That's the way to do it!

Besides, it’s not like we’ve got nothing. With a farm this stacked?

by danmerqury on Aug 21, 2008 7:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey folks! I'm here and I'm watching on mlb.tv!

What the hell is wrong with me?

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Aug 21, 2008 7:22 PM PDT   0 recs

You want me to go over it publicly, or just send a private email?

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Is there that much difference on tonight's game thread?

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Aug 21, 2008 7:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm worried that maybe all our right-handed starters are reading this

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

We are Pensive

Enjoy the game

by DCinWC on Aug 21, 2008 7:22 PM PDT   0 recs

We are

philosophical

by lynnzgal on Aug 21, 2008 7:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

We are

ready to win seven in a row, so the A’s come home 8-2 on the road trip!
Optimism!

"You can take all the sincerity in Hollywood, place it in the navel of a firefly and still have room enough for three caraway seeds and a producer's heart."
Fred Allen

by One won lost won on Aug 21, 2008 8:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I just upgraded to Firefox 3

and mlbtv is even worse than before — the top 3rd of the “screen” is cut off. Anyone else having this problem, or have suggestions?

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Aug 21, 2008 7:23 PM PDT   0 recs

Is Kuiper right?

Suzuki’s only gotten 16 games off all year?

by danmerqury on Aug 21, 2008 7:23 PM PDT   0 recs

Equal to how many hits

Donnie Murphy had when he was on the A’s.

by asfaninpismobeach on Aug 21, 2008 7:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

C'mon, Rivercats!!

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Aug 21, 2008 7:24 PM PDT   0 recs

2 base runners! Miracles happen.

by justarebelheart on Aug 21, 2008 7:28 PM PDT   0 recs

This is nearly my Olympic scenario

2 runners on base

Enjoy the game

by DCinWC on Aug 21, 2008 7:30 PM PDT   0 recs

FAIL

They fail cannot score

Enjoy the game

by DCinWC on Aug 21, 2008 7:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Morass!

Less Fewer runs!

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

by monkeyball on Aug 21, 2008 7:31 PM PDT   0 recs

OK - 8 more ABs to go and it's Daric Mendoza!

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:32 PM PDT   0 recs

Im waiting man

I read an article on line where Daric is actually considered only the second worse hitting everyday player in MLB. So thats a positive right?

by asfaninpismobeach on Aug 21, 2008 7:34 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I didn't realize Neifi was back

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:36 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Khalil Greene

Sorry had to look it up

by asfaninpismobeach on Aug 21, 2008 7:40 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hmm.

According to Fangraphs, there are no less than 6 MLB players that have a worse WPA this season.

Carlos Gomez
Jose Castillo
Adrian Beltre
Felipe Lopez
Jeff Francoeur

and the worst,

Khalil Greene.

by danmerqury on Aug 21, 2008 7:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Beltre? How could Beltre be worse than Barton?

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Not quite sure.

But if you go by OPS, only Khalil Greene and Michael Bourn are worse than Barton. Ouch.

by danmerqury on Aug 21, 2008 7:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Dude i just looked

Barton is almost in the 500’s in OPS, OUCH!

by asfaninpismobeach on Aug 21, 2008 7:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

There may have been a nectarine as well

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

by Nico on Aug 21, 2008 7:35 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I was going to propose a drinking game

a shot for each strickout – but that might be dangerous.

Enjoy the game

by DCinWC on Aug 21, 2008 7:33 PM PDT   0 recs

Speaking of getting hammered, the Yankees tonight!

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:35 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Can somebody seriously just make Dave Niehaus go away?

I don’t care how good he used to be, he died 5 years ago and nobody has told him. He just got as excited about a fouled bunt as he did a home run double off the wall that he called a home run because he doesn’t have a clue about what’s going on anymore.

This is ten times worse than Harry Caray in his final days.

by thejd44 on Aug 21, 2008 7:38 PM PDT   0 recs

We call it "Hank Greenwald Syndrome"

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:39 PM PDT to parent up   1 recs

Ken actually muffed the double call too:

“Cust looking up, and he’s gonna watch it fly! … Off the wall…”

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:40 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

When are they going to get rid of those yellow stripes??

Look, if it bounces back, it’s in play, stripe or no stripe… Why complicate things??
I know, the A’s and the Coli have a similar problem, but put some “faux edifice corniche” made out of styrofoam up there, and if a ball hits it, it blasts apart like a fluorescent tube dropped from the third floor. No controversy, plenty of fun…

"You can take all the sincerity in Hollywood, place it in the navel of a firefly and still have room enough for three caraway seeds and a producer's heart."
Fred Allen

by One won lost won on Aug 21, 2008 8:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wascaly Wabbitt

Enjoy the game

by DCinWC on Aug 21, 2008 7:39 PM PDT   0 recs

C'mon, Greg - you know you have win this game 0 to -1.

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:42 PM PDT   0 recs

Dman dibbles

0-2 to 4-2, straight.

THROW A STRIKE

by MobiusKlein on Aug 21, 2008 7:42 PM PDT   0 recs

This game is actually a little higher scoring than I expected

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:45 PM PDT   0 recs

Was that the first train horn?

I expected more than that.

by danmerqury on Aug 21, 2008 7:46 PM PDT   0 recs

Two teams fighting for a draft pick:

“I’m gonna get down in the count 0-2.”
“Well I’m still gonna walk you.”
“I still won’t score.”
“We won’t either.”

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:49 PM PDT   0 recs

And then, the A's pull out their trump card...

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Aug 21, 2008 7:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

"Well played, 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 Aug 21, 2008 7:50 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Greetings, fellow Earthling!

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 Aug 21, 2008 7:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Fay

giving you trouble?

by lynnzgal on Aug 21, 2008 7:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

only since Monday night.

Proud mommy of "mini-kapers"

by kapers on Aug 21, 2008 7:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs