DLD Friday September 12, 2008

by ArakSOT on Sep 12, 2008 7:52 AM PDT

When I think about the baseball diamond that is the Oakland A's 2008 season to date, I reflect upon many facets. They are not all bright, and they are flawed, but among them some still shine. There is, for example, AN's own Brad Ziegler and his record-making start in the majors, along with the confidence I feel whenever he now takes the mound. There was, once, a three-game sweep of the loathsome Red Sox. On a sultry night in September I listened as the boys scored four runs without ever once putting the ball in play, as if demonstrating there and then, at last, that this was the plan all along. There was Gallagher's bizarre no-hit effort the other night, and even the meaningless fact that we just won a series against a vastly more talented, and vastly more expensive, team. And there was even last night's starting line-up, which not even Nostradamus at his best could have forseen last spring.

This 2008 season has been like every other season, unique, and precious, and I'll miss it sorely when it has gone.

Oh, and fuck the Angels.

Dump away.

5 recs | Comment 87 comments

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Comments

wipes away tear...

you had me at “fuck the Angels”.

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Sep 12, 2008 8:02 AM PDT 0 recs

LMAO

by easyraider on Sep 12, 2008 9:13 AM PDT up 0 recs

Two tix tonight in 225. Call my cell if you can meet me at the BART bridge around 6:45-7.

That is all, except the cell is 415.307.1600.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Sep 12, 2008 3:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

Unfortunately I won't be able to make it

but thanks for the offer.

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Sep 12, 2008 4:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

You were included, though not exclusively. Tix still available...

I was going for “product placement.”

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Sep 12, 2008 4:39 PM PDT up 0 recs

PS they're free.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Sep 12, 2008 5:42 PM PDT up 0 recs

attempting to artificially elasticize demand, eh?

cocky whacko @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 12, 2008 6:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yup. Didn't work.

Good choice, AN.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Sep 12, 2008 10:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well, it wasn't really at Fenway

but it was still a sweet sweep.

The winning pitchers that series? Harden, Duke, Blanton. The Sox scored six runs in 3 games.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Sep 12, 2008 8:18 AM PDT 0 recs

fixed, thanks

"The Athletics at Fremont" is really bad

by ArakSOT on Sep 12, 2008 8:43 AM PDT up 0 recs

"And all these memories come rushing like feral waves to your mind"

Whoo hoo, a genuine fresh dump first thing in the morning!

I’m like the last person in the world who ever hears about new music. I usually let music age 10+ years before I get around to discovering it.

But I heard this song on the radio last month and I was so hooked I actually bought the album on iTunes, a rare event for me. Anyone else diggin’ the song Sometime Around Midnight by The Airbourne Toxic Event? It’s like the best obsessed love song ever.

Arte didn't get much Home Run Derby. He was dug in too deep or moving too fast. His idea of great R&R was cold rice and a little rat meat.

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Sep 12, 2008 8:18 AM PDT 0 recs

I've heard that song once...

Kind of forgot about it until now. I’ll have to download it.

My recent downloads on iTunes:

1. “My Freeze Ray” – Neil Patrick Harris
2. “Ghost of Chance” – Ron Sexsmith
3. Ryan Sweeney’s AB music (“I Run This” by Birdman)
4. “The Man Comes Around” – Johnny Cash
5. “Blinded By the Light” – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
6. “The Resolution” – Jack’s Mannequin
7. “Tonight I Have to Leave It” – Shout Out Louds
8. “Baby Come Back” – Player
9. “Whatever you Like” – T.I.
10. “Merry Happy” – Kate Nash

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 12, 2008 8:58 AM PDT up 0 recs

Anbody who, within 10 songs

has NPH, Johnny Cash, Player, and T.I. gets my vote for an A+ mix! I also just recently bought Player on iTunes (or kinda sorta bought it…uh..hope the feds aren’t monitoring AN).

And to this day, I still think Manfred Mann is saying wrapped up like a douche-perfect music for when the rats come to town…

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

by 5Aces on Sep 12, 2008 9:16 AM PDT up 0 recs

I STILL sing "wrapped up like a douche"

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 12, 2008 9:38 AM PDT up 0 recs

"Another rubber in the night"

"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 Sep 12, 2008 9:56 AM PDT up 0 recs

Is that NOT the lyric?

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

by oblique on Sep 12, 2008 10:45 AM PDT up 0 recs

Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 12, 2008 11:00 AM PDT up 0 recs

I think that actually

makes LESS sense.

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

by 5Aces on Sep 12, 2008 11:02 AM PDT up 0 recs

It's the perfect song for AN.

Blinded by the light is obviously about Cust losing a ball in the light of the Coli.
revved up like a deuce – If that’s not a song about the DLD, I don’t what is.
Another runner in the night – … LOB, perhaps?

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 12, 2008 11:09 AM PDT up 0 recs

I've got a similar list... sorta...

1. Del Amitri – “Roll to Me”
2. Low vs. Diamond – “Heart Attack”
3. Pre-Jack’s Mannequin, Something Corporate – “Watch the Sky”
4. The Weakerthans – “Aside”
5. Against Me – “Thrash Unreal”
6. Ryan’s BFF’s at-bat song, Atreyu – “Becoming the Bull”
7. Rise Against – “Re-Education”
8. The Fratellis – “Flathead”
9. Kardinal Offishall & Akon – “Dangerous”
10. Anddd what took me forever to download, Say Anything – “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too”

by Kimberly on Sep 12, 2008 11:42 AM PDT up 0 recs

AH!

I heart #1. I also have #6 (I changed the album artwork to photos of the two), #8 (and as my cell ringtone), and #10.

If you like "Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too", I LOVE “Alive with the Glory of Love” and “Admit It” by Say Anything.

Jack’s Mannequin “Dark Blue” is also on the pod.

Others you might like:

Rogue Wave – “Kicking the Heart Out” is downloaded
Adele – “Hometown Glory”
All Time Low – “Dear Maria, Count Me In”
The Almost – “Southern Weather”
Ben Lee covers “Float On” by Modest Mouse (LOVE THEM) on the John Tucker Must Die soundtrack
The Black Keys – “Strange Times”
Carolina Liar – “I’m Not Over”
Paramore – “Pressure” or “Misery Business”
Scissor Sisters – “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing”… It makes me want to dance.
Vendetta Red – “Shatterday”

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 12, 2008 12:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

I LOVE Ben Lee's cover of Float On

and Quietdrive’s cover of Time After Time on the JTMD soundtrack. Actually, I love a lot of the stuff you listed.

And thanks for all of the suggestions! I’ll check out them out.

by Kimberly on Sep 12, 2008 12:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

"Kicking the Heart Out" is EXCELLENT.

“Falcon Settles Me” is pretty good, too.

I generally bemoan the profusion of Mr Sabermetric Sporks in the Scrabble ranks who don't know the meaning or usage of 50% of the words they use. -monkeyball

by JediLeroy on Sep 12, 2008 5:57 PM PDT up 0 recs

We need a diary to share our iTunes playlists.

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 12, 2008 6:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

I just downloaded "Thrash Unreal"

Holy mackerel. I might be singing it for days.

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 12, 2008 5:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

Bah bah bah

Bah bah bah bah da da da da!

by Kimberly on Sep 12, 2008 7:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

It's insanely addicting.

Thanks for the rec!

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 13, 2008 12:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

+1 person wrapped up like a douche

But these are my recent most played itunes.

Ben Folds – Still Fighting It
The Kinks – Strangers
The Shins – Girl on the Wing
Bela Fleck – Buffalo Nickel
Elton John – Tiny Dancer
The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Manfred Mann – Blinded By the Light
Brendan Benson – Life in the D
Elliott Smith – Say Yes
Fountains of Wayne – Yolanda Hayes

I generally bemoan the profusion of Mr Sabermetric Sporks in the Scrabble ranks who don't know the meaning or usage of 50% of the words they use. -monkeyball

by JediLeroy on Sep 12, 2008 5:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

Very cool song. How is the CD?

I think they are from down here in SoCal. I heard how they were discovered by a dj down here at a local club. Pretty cool story. They did a little in-studio set on the radio here a few weeks ago and it was really good – played Sometime Around Midnight and another completely different sounding song.

Kind of reminded me of a cross between Arcade Fire and Bright Eyes.
I’d recommend those two if you have not already heard them and you like Sometime Around Midnight.

by easyraider on Sep 12, 2008 9:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

It's very good

Sometime Around Midnight is the real gem, the poignant lyric perfectly matched by the building tempo which approaches that awesome angst-ridden crescendo at the end. I love how there’s no chorus, just building intensity. But there are another 3-4 really good tunes there also.

Arte didn't get much Home Run Derby. He was dug in too deep or moving too fast. His idea of great R&R was cold rice and a little rat meat.

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Sep 12, 2008 11:03 AM PDT up 0 recs

I also grabbed it for the 'pod

so thanks for that

"The Athletics at Fremont" is really bad

by ArakSOT on Sep 12, 2008 11:07 AM PDT up 0 recs

Sometime Around Midnight gets a big thumbs up from me.

by OldhamA on Sep 12, 2008 12:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

The last thing I downloaded - or tried to - from iTunes was a lecture podcast.

I know, the tiny violins are tuning up at this very moment…

Ray: "How fun is it to be up here playing in the Big Leagues?"
Gio: "It's *SUPER* fun!!!"

by Poppy on Sep 12, 2008 1:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

sad state of attendance

http://baseball.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=2261497&mode=

by oakinboston on Sep 12, 2008 9:22 AM PDT 0 recs

Joe Sheehan is not ga-ga for K-Fraud

linky

When the moment ends, though, regard Rodriguez as exactly what he is: Not the most valuable player in the league, not the best pitcher in the league, not even the best closer in the league. He’s a good player who landed in the perfect situation for him to build up one particular statistic.

This will, of course, not prevent some moron GM or owner from giving K-Fraud some ridiculous amount of money this off-season (oh please let it be Arte).

"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 Sep 12, 2008 9:32 AM PDT 0 recs

Hopefully that moron owner is Arte Moreno......then his arm falls off.

by OldhamA on Sep 12, 2008 12:20 PM PDT up 0 recs

Rickey on stealing bases

from SI.

On what would happen if he raced Jose Reyes:

"I’m quicker than him first to second. I’m quicker than all of them out there. My first two, three steps are too explosive. My first four steps, I’d be where he’s almost taking off and just start running. I’d have already stolen it.

On his approach at the plate:

“I realized they were afraid to put me on the bases. Why would I rush at the plate? They ain’t gonna walk me, they’re afraid I’m going to create all kind of damage. So why would I swing at your garbage when I know you gotta come to me? When I’m at the plate, I know the owner, the manager, everybody, says ‘Get ahead of him. Please don’t walk him because he’ll be at third base.’ Then you wait on that pitch to drive and you crush it.”

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Sep 12, 2008 9:41 AM PDT 0 recs

Damn'it I love me some Rickey

One of the greatest players of all time.
One of the best quote machines of all time.

"RIP: UserID: 517"

by Masaryk on Sep 12, 2008 9:56 AM PDT up 0 recs

I would love to see a race between Rickey Henderson, Jose Reyes, Usain Bolt, Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, and a horse.

by Rocktopus on Sep 12, 2008 10:07 AM PDT up 0 recs

Is the horse driving a car?

Children, until we have taught them better, will be perfectly happy with a seasonal round of games in which conkers succeeds hopscotch.

by salb918 on Sep 12, 2008 10:18 AM PDT up 0 recs

A mustang

by Rocktopus on Sep 12, 2008 12:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

Since you mention Bolt,

a Norwegian physicist says that Bolt could have run 9.55 in Beijing:

Hans Eriksen of the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics at the University of Oslo, Norway,

So, in their spare time, they used television footage to measure Bolt’s positions, speeds and accelerations as well as those of the runner-up, Richard Thompson. Their measurements show both Bolt and Thompson decelerating in the final 2 seconds of the race, with a larger drop in speed for Bolt.

The team then calculated what Bolt’s time would have been had he only slowed down as much as Thompson, arriving at an answer of 9.61 seconds. But this may be too conservative, given how much Bolt outperformed Thompson in the first 8 seconds of the race. So the team also tried assuming, somewhat arbitrarily, that Bolt would have decelerated less than Thompson, by 0.5 metres per second squared in the final 2 seconds, which they say would have given Bolt a time of 9.55 seconds.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Sep 12, 2008 10:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

I also could have run a 9.55 in Beijing

if only I had been in Beijing, and could run a hell of a lot faster than I do.

Overqualified to be an A's fan.

by andeux on Sep 12, 2008 11:16 AM PDT up 0 recs

But how fast could he run if he was being chased...by SHARKS?

Children, until we have taught them better, will be perfectly happy with a seasonal round of games in which conkers succeeds hopscotch.

by salb918 on Sep 12, 2008 11:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

He would have demolished

all the old records for the underwater hundred yard dash if he hadn’t pulled up to wave at his adoring fans….

"...in baseball you wear a cap." -- george carlin

by Hot Cup Joe on Sep 12, 2008 11:50 AM PDT up 0 recs

The most dangerous animal is a shark riding on an elephant, just trampling and eating everything they see.

I generally bemoan the profusion of Mr Sabermetric Sporks in the Scrabble ranks who don't know the meaning or usage of 50% of the words they use. -monkeyball

by JediLeroy on Sep 12, 2008 6:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Do the sharks have lasers on their heads?

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

by Nick on Sep 12, 2008 6:50 PM PDT up 0 recs

The Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics.

Am I the only one that thinks that sounds like a sweet assignment?

by OldhamA on Sep 12, 2008 12:24 PM PDT up 0 recs

You can do a lot when you're juiced up

by thejd44 on Sep 12, 2008 2:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

Like MLB players?

Or NFL players?

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Sep 12, 2008 2:51 PM PDT up 0 recs

TO isn't considered one of the fastest guys in the NFL or anything

Danieal Manning, a pretty bad DB for the Bears, is the fastest guy on the team (only a 4.46 at the combine but I tend to think he’s either faster than that or faster in pads than most guys). Faster than Devin Hester. I’d like to see him in a foot race with some of these guys.

by thejd44 on Sep 12, 2008 2:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

Rickey on his speed against the animal kingdom

I would have dusted the giraffe before it got a chance to hobble out of the gate, then I would cross the finish line before the zebra got midfield, giving e a chance to run back a quarter of the way, saddle the zebra and ride it back to San Diego Zoo. I’m the king of the jungle!

The Raider Nation is the only Nation.

by oaklandSMASH on Sep 13, 2008 12:29 AM PDT up 0 recs

If Rickey played

for the 2008 A’s, he’d never have to pay for another meal.

“People say I stole a lot of bases. I stole the bases for a reason. I crossed the plate. If I steal a base and my hitter couldn’t get me in, then you got to take me out to dinner. You got to do something, because I stole that base, I busted my butt. I need a dinner. I’m giving you a chance to get yourself an RBI. You can’t get me in from third base with less than two outs? Oh no, you got to take me out to dinner! Or I’m going to order dinner on you.”

"We are a complete freak show." -- Billy Beane

by day-to-day on Sep 13, 2008 11:33 AM PDT up 0 recs

The 2008 A's would be broke, and Rickey would be 400 lbs

by theblackpearl on Sep 13, 2008 7:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

VOTE FOR BILL

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Sep 12, 2008 12:05 PM PDT 0 recs

Sal, have you ever calculated ...

… a cat’s aspect ratio?

cocky whacko @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 12, 2008 12:21 PM PDT 0 recs

You really think you're the first to point that link out to me, don't you?

Amateur.

Children, until we have taught them better, will be perfectly happy with a seasonal round of games in which conkers succeeds hopscotch.

by salb918 on Sep 12, 2008 12:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

au contraire

My posting was a strategic redundancy designed to ensure your compliance with the protocol.

cocky whacko @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 12, 2008 1:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

Ha! Exposed as a fake!

Engineers don’t know french.

Children, until we have taught them better, will be perfectly happy with a seasonal round of games in which conkers succeeds hopscotch.

by salb918 on Sep 12, 2008 1:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

I missed entering a space

It was supposed to be a non sequitur for “gold against anger”

cocky whacko @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 12, 2008 2:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

I can read conversations between you two

all. day. long.

except when I can’t.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Sep 12, 2008 2:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

yoink

au contra ire

by JediLeroy on Sep 12, 2008 6:35 PM PDT up 0 recs

In case you're worried about the LHC

refresh this website frequently

Children, until we have taught them better, will be perfectly happy with a seasonal round of games in which conkers succeeds hopscotch.

by salb918 on Sep 12, 2008 12:34 PM PDT 0 recs

Comforting

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

by Nick on Sep 12, 2008 6:52 PM PDT up 0 recs

referesh again

Children, until we have taught them better, will be perfectly happy with a seasonal round of games in which conkers succeeds hopscotch.

by salb918 on Sep 12, 2008 7:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

hahaha if you view source..

if (!(typeof worldHasEnded == "undefined")) {
document.write(“YUP.”);
} else {
document.write(“NOPE.”);
}

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

by BigTuna on Sep 13, 2008 2:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

LOL!

Ray: "How fun is it to be up here playing in the Big Leagues?"
Gio: "It's *SUPER* fun!!!"

by Poppy on Sep 13, 2008 3:18 PM PDT up 0 recs

Looking for feedback

Here are some pics I took in detroit.
http://www.twinkietown.com/2008/9/13/613442/pictures-twins-on-the-road
and
http://www.blessyouboys.com/2008/9/13/613440/pictures-from-game-earlier

Should I put a post up similar to these with my A’s pics. There are alot more people here that are critical of what is made fan posts of. So give me your feedback if you think I should and what you think of the pictures I took in these posts.

by The Golden One on Sep 12, 2008 11:45 PM PDT 0 recs