Huston, We Really Have A Problem
We'll work in backwards chronological order and start with the bottom of the 9th, which saw a 3-2 A's lead turn into a 4-3 loss. One reason I like to watch games instead of relying on box score data is that not all hits, runs, processes, and outcomes are alike. I am here to tell you that having watched the bottom of the 9th, it is stunning how bad the three pitches were that Street threw to Rios (single), Barajas (double), and Mench (single). The first was a fastball, center cut, with just nothing on it. The last two were hanging sliders that would be hard to miss. On a night when the A's collectively, and Huston Street individually, desperately needed to show some success, Street just looked overmatched for the task. I have no explanations, just observations - and the A's have themselves a real dilemma here.
In the top of the 8th, with Oakland leading 3-2, Carlos Gonzalez' fourth hit loaded the bases with nobody out and Emil Brown pinch ran for Frank Thomas at second base. Ellis followed with a soft line drive to the SS hole that seemed to hang forever, in slow motion, before John McDonald made a fine diving catch. The rule of thumb, if you've ever played Little League baseball, is "live drive, go back to the bag" until you see it go through to the outfield. As slowly as the play unfolded, you wonder how on God's green earth Emil Brown could manage to get doubled off of second base. There's a reason he is so villified on AN - the season is now bookended with tough losses on blown saves by Street, preceded by ridiculous baserunning blunders from Emil Brown.
And so it goes. Many positives, from Carlos Gonzalez' four hit game to Ryan Sweeney's three hit game, from Greg Smith's outstanding 6 innings of work to Brad Ziegler's continuingly-historical 2 innings of work, wasted in an eighth consecutive exercise in futility. And the A's brass left scratching their heads pondering why Street suddenly can't do anything right, and wondering whether the A's will ever win a baseball game again.
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why wasn't Davis sent home on Carlos hit?
Morada Mudshark
by Morada Mudshark on Aug 5, 2008 7:08 PM PDT 0 recs
More importantly, why didn't he run through the stop sign?
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 5, 2008 7:09 PM PDT
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Davis did what Brown should have...took a step back to the bag on contact.
Brown did what Davis should have done…break on contact. It’s been that kind of a year.
by cvdoug on
Aug 5, 2008 7:52 PM PDT
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With one out, I'm sure they send Raj
You can’t really blame a coach for holding a runner at third with nobody out if it looks iffy.
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 5, 2008 7:53 PM PDT
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Caution
Watching huston street will lower your life expectancy. Do not expose hit pitching to pregnant women or children as he is toxic.
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Aug 5, 2008 7:09 PM PDT 0 recs
Too late. I'm 18 and he exposed me to anti-wrinkle cream.
AHHHH! I left the stove on!!!
********OaKlAnDaThLeTiCs********
by LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn on
Aug 5, 2008 8:12 PM PDT
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Aw C'mon
Dotel and Rhodes were much more toxic than Street anyday. My doctor advised me not to watch them at all.
by somebodyelse on
Aug 5, 2008 9:00 PM PDT
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the a's have handled street poorly...
for a guy that is ridiculously positive all the time, the A’s/geren destroyed what little confidence huston had left with the confidence shattering thought save situations would be split with blevins and ziegler.
by inbillywetrust on Aug 5, 2008 7:09 PM PDT 0 recs
If Street pitches to Buck in a bases loaded, two out, save situation
will the universe implode?
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Aug 5, 2008 7:11 PM PDT 0 recs
I think the more pertinent question is
If the A’s loaded the bases with nobody out in a key situation and managed to score, would the earth split in half and we would all fall to Hades bouncing off every single rocky crag along the way?
by jdr on
Aug 5, 2008 7:16 PM PDT
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I give even odds to hades
We don’t have a hercules on our team
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on
Aug 5, 2008 7:27 PM PDT
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Caution
Watching huston street will lower your life expectancy. Do not expose hit pitching to pregnant women or children as he is toxic.
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on Aug 5, 2008 7:12 PM PDT 0 recs
It's almost funny at this point.
On the other hand, you have different fingers.
by Streams Of Whiskey on Aug 5, 2008 7:13 PM PDT 0 recs
Thanks Street. Thanks Brown.
Eff both of you.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on Aug 5, 2008 7:14 PM PDT 0 recs
If you can't eff your friends
Well then, who can you eff?
:)’
by mrod on
Aug 5, 2008 7:33 PM PDT
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Such a good movie!
"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
Aug 6, 2008 12:48 AM PDT
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I'm assuming Street has options left, right?
I mean, let’s face it, right now he has the worst stuff in our pen. Even Embree’s stuff is better than Street’s right now. It really looks like batting practice out there.
by Blez on Aug 5, 2008 7:15 PM PDT 0 recs
wow....that's low bro
worse than embree? nah, you’re right.
by inbillywetrust on
Aug 5, 2008 7:16 PM PDT
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Huston's pitches stole a lyric from Tenacious D
“That’s levitation, homes!”
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on
Aug 5, 2008 7:34 PM PDT
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No, he doesn't.
He’s in his fourth year, and does not have options. The DL is where he should be parked.
"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico
by jeepers on
Aug 5, 2008 8:07 PM PDT
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No, and he has to stand in the long line at the airport
And no soup. One year.
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 5, 2008 8:08 PM PDT
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he definitely has a clear card, gives me a heart attack every time he takes the mound
by theblackpearl on
Aug 5, 2008 9:12 PM PDT
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Try a 30-minute brisk walk
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 5, 2008 9:16 PM PDT
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Does being in his fourth year mean he doesn't have options?
I thought Barry Bonds had all his options remaining.
[Crosby] "Guy that has driven in some big runs for the A's over the years" - Vince Cotroneo
by WaddellCanseco on
Aug 5, 2008 8:21 PM PDT
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Street absolutely has options...
He’s never been sent down before.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Aug 5, 2008 8:24 PM PDT
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now closing for your pittsburgh pirates....
HUSTON STREET
by inbillywetrust on Aug 5, 2008 7:15 PM PDT 0 recs
Total Jeebus.....
“A nice poker term used at the high stakes tables by your truly and my partners in crime”.
*M-Rod
by mrod on
Aug 5, 2008 7:24 PM PDT
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Rotoworld is awesome
Carlos Gonzalez went 4-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs scored in a loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
This season has been a learning experience for the 22-year-old outfielder. That he managed three hits against left-handed starter Greg Smith is certainly encouraging, considering that Gonzalez entered the game batting .197 against southpaws.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on Aug 5, 2008 7:17 PM PDT 0 recs
Well...
they are right in how impressive it was even if they were wrong about why it was so impressive.
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by DMOAS on
Aug 5, 2008 7:39 PM PDT
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Except that he impressively got hits off of lefties
by getting four hits off of righties.
Impressive.
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 5, 2008 7:41 PM PDT
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might be a record.
we should check.
By process of elimination (the only process I endorse), I guess that makes you a piece of lamb. @('.')@
by Leopold Bloom on
Aug 5, 2008 7:47 PM PDT
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I checked all the left-handed hitters,
and Vlad Guerrero did it once.
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 5, 2008 7:48 PM PDT
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that one hurt, Nico
was the last game we won, the one where I offered supplication to the Baseball Gods?
By process of elimination (the only process I endorse), I guess that makes you a piece of lamb. @('.')@
by Leopold Bloom on
Aug 5, 2008 7:52 PM PDT
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I don't remember when we last won a game
I don’t think we ever have. Strangely, our last two wins have been started by Eveland and Braden. Wheeeeee.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on
Aug 5, 2008 7:54 PM PDT
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WE HAVE NEVER WON ANYTHING EVAR!!!
BEENE SUKKS
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
by nevermoor on
Aug 5, 2008 8:02 PM PDT
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Isn't that type of caption
usually accompany a picture of a cat doing something remotely human?
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on
Aug 5, 2008 11:46 PM PDT
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A's lose again
street blows another save. yeah yeah whatever.
ZIGGY STREAK AT 34!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The glare was not practiced. I would get into the game situations, and when that happens, there comes a level of concentration that most can only imagine but can never achieve. You become what you are doing, and that is what you see on my face. -Dave Stewart
by Hegenberger Road on Aug 5, 2008 7:20 PM PDT 0 recs
What is street's blown save streak at?
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on
Aug 5, 2008 7:30 PM PDT
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4 out of 5 though, right?
Dating back to the infamous Angels game that set the earth on a fiery spiral into the bowels of Hades.
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 5, 2008 7:42 PM PDT
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no crap
i never could have imagined it they would be this bad. would selig make us play ellis and crosby and any other vets if we went all sacramento on them?
by KCB58 on
Aug 5, 2008 8:16 PM PDT
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Make street our garbage man
Down by >2 runs, Embree/Street
Down by <= 2 runs, Brown/Casilla
even or up, Blevin/Ziggy
by asfansince1989 on Aug 5, 2008 7:25 PM PDT 0 recs
Two problems with that plan:
1. Brown is on the DL
2. That plan would just cause you to learn to hate Brown and Casilla
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 5, 2008 7:43 PM PDT
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So Street and Embree get all the innings?
[Crosby] "Guy that has driven in some big runs for the A's over the years" - Vince Cotroneo
by WaddellCanseco on
Aug 5, 2008 7:44 PM PDT
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Update
Down big: Embree/Street
Down a little, Casilla/Devine
Even/up: Blevins/Ziggy
Once Devine gets back in the groves, swap him with Blevins. And some of those guys need to toughen up and learn to pitch >1 inning, and maybe more difficult, be good enough to last > 1 inning.
by asfansince1989 on
Aug 5, 2008 9:45 PM PDT
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You'll get no arguments from me here
That was an abysmal inning. Every ball was hammered except the one grounder. Even the first out was on a line drive. Talk all you want about the blown chance to expand the lead—that ball to the gap was 2 more runs if the game had continued.
Maybe it’s dead arm, maybe it’s the groin, I don’t know—fact is, right now Street is not an effective pitcher for whatever reason. Make up some excuse and put him on the DL—call it “shoulder fatigue” or something.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Aug 5, 2008 7:26 PM PDT 0 recs
If it were me
I’d DL him with a bad case of “I can’t f&%ing take it anymore!”
The glare was not practiced. I would get into the game situations, and when that happens, there comes a level of concentration that most can only imagine but can never achieve. You become what you are doing, and that is what you see on my face. -Dave Stewart
by Hegenberger Road on
Aug 5, 2008 7:27 PM PDT
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I think that's we DL YOU with
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 5, 2008 7:44 PM PDT
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I'm sure Huston has similar feelings
The glare was not practiced. I would get into the game situations, and when that happens, there comes a level of concentration that most can only imagine but can never achieve. You become what you are doing, and that is what you see on my face. -Dave Stewart
by Hegenberger Road on
Aug 5, 2008 7:50 PM PDT
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Huston is frustrated and will bounce back for the long haul
according to his call to Robert Buan’s extra innings show
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on
Aug 5, 2008 11:48 PM PDT
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You are correct about the double. It would have scored another man or so
Street and some bad managing were the keys to the loss. (The main mistake by the manager was keeping Street in).
by Yellowhorse on
Aug 5, 2008 7:28 PM PDT
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I'm tired of Geren's perverse fascination with the pinch runner...
one time maybe, BUT you can’t take both big bats out of the line up (see Cust and Thomas in top of 8th). Even if Street only gives up one we lose because we can’t score without those bats – even if they hadn’t done anything as of today’s game.
by 33SwisherSweet on
Aug 5, 2008 7:31 PM PDT
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PT, glad you finally came around to the Street Sucks line of thinking..
he’s been scaring the crap out of me since last season. He’s had the worst stuff in the pen for the majority of THIS season.
by 33SwisherSweet on
Aug 5, 2008 7:29 PM PDT
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Not to speak for PT, but I think his point is
not that Street sucks, or has sucked in the past, just that he was genuinely awful 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 5, 2008 7:45 PM PDT
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I'm in the same boat
Though, I’ll admit for the last 4 weeks or so he’s been awful. Whatever the problem is, we’re not seeing what he’s really capable of, but he’s a lot better than this.
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by DMOAS on
Aug 5, 2008 7:53 PM PDT
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He's clearly getting worse
Probably whatever physical and the ensuing psychological are combining. This is the worst I’ve seen. Score one for the Brewer scouts.
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 5, 2008 7:56 PM PDT
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No kidding.
I’m just hoping it’s purely mechanical and that we’re just going to have to spend the rest of the year watching him work through it. But if he isn’t hurt, I kind of feel like they need to do exactly what they’re doing. He’s not going to hurt the season any and I’d prefer him to get it figured out this year than over the course of next year.
The only concern I have is that it may be physical in his arm, but not painful leading him towards a Tommy John situation once the pain starts to show. He’s got the loss of speed, he’s got the loss effectiveness, all he needs now is pain in the elbow.
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by DMOAS on
Aug 5, 2008 8:00 PM PDT
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He's already a pain in the ass
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 5, 2008 8:01 PM PDT
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Well if he didn't steal
all the offense’s bats, maybe he wouldn’t have to pitch as often.
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by DMOAS on
Aug 5, 2008 8:06 PM PDT
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I didn't
He doesn’t suck. He’s not pitching well right now. There’s a major difference.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Aug 5, 2008 8:26 PM PDT
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I blame Geren for this one
Street should not have closed this game. He’s not pitching well. He shouldn’t be in this role. Geren himself said so.
by richwol1 on
Aug 5, 2008 11:02 PM PDT
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Huston Street, you're breaking my heart.
[QOTM, unfortunately still relevant division?]
by whiteshoes40 on Aug 5, 2008 7:26 PM PDT 0 recs
lol
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 5, 2008 10:43 PM PDT
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Where's Pam?
"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL
by oblique on
Aug 5, 2008 10:44 PM PDT
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I'm gonna go change my vote.
"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL
by oblique on
Aug 5, 2008 11:15 PM PDT
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where was joey devine?
Isn’t he healthy? He needs to replace street.
by sf drift king on Aug 5, 2008 7:30 PM PDT 0 recs
He didn't look too good before the rain delay
[Crosby] "Guy that has driven in some big runs for the A's over the years" - Vince Cotroneo
by WaddellCanseco on
Aug 5, 2008 7:45 PM PDT
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Did you see his 0+ innings at Fenway?
Not quite there yet.
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 5, 2008 7:46 PM PDT
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And yet
better than the 1/3 inning of Street tonight. Go figure :)
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by DMOAS on
Aug 5, 2008 7:54 PM PDT
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