Athletics Nation: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:

Around SBN: Check out our NFL Scoreboard: scores, schedule and blogs Bar-right-arrows

Open Game Thread - Game 154: A's vs. Mariners

Banana_album_041907_tiny by monkeyball on

Seattle Mariners @ Oakland Athletics


You know, I feel kinda sorry for the Mariners. Not sorry enough to enjoy the fact that it's kinda nice to have a division whipping boy, or to not hope that the A's send them to their tenth consecutive loss today, but ... well, OK, I don't really feel all that sorry for them after all, I guess.

Kirk Saarloos returns to the rotation today for the A's in place of the injured Justin Duchscherer, who's done for the year. (In other related A's injury news, Mark Ellis had his cartilage-repair shoulder surgery, and the docs cleaned up his labrum while they were at it.) He'll be opposed by Carlos Silva.

Expect to see Slide, Emil, Slide in the lineup today. Brown's been absolutely unconscious in his career against Silva, to the tune of 13/31, with 4 2Bs, 1 3B, and 1 HR -- with only 1 K. Hopefully he and Travis Buck can swing a couple of hot bats. I'm also rooting for Jack Cust to join the 30/100/200 club.

Well, OK, so, no Emil. On the one hand, I'm happy; on the other, with his numbers against Silva, it doesn't make any sense (one start here or there in the last two weeks ain't gonna color the future of Cunningham, Sweeney, or Buck).

Lineup

Seattle Mariners @ Oakland Athletics

09/20/08 1:05 PM PDT

Seattle Mariners Oakland Athletics
Ichiro Suzuki - RF Travis Buck - RF
Yuniesky Betancourt - SS Aaron Cunningham - LF
Raul Ibanez - LF Ryan Sweeney - CF
Jose Lopez - 1B Jack Cust - DH
Jeremy Reed - CF Bobby Crosby - SS
Miguel Cairo - 3B Cliff Pennington - 2B
Bryan LaHair - DH Jack Hannahan - 3B
Kenji Johjima - C Jeff Baisley - 1B
Luis Valbuena - 2B Rob Bowen - C

0 recs | Comment 179 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

working at home today

but with the radio tuned to the game.

I’ve got tickets for the final home game tomorrow.

by OaklandSi on Sep 20, 2008 12:04 PM PDT   0 recs

lineup is up on mlb.com site

and Brown isn’t in it.

by OaklandSi on Sep 20, 2008 12:28 PM PDT   0 recs

Woo hoo! We're already ahead!

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 Sep 20, 2008 12:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Crosby, Pennington, Hannahan, Baisley, Bowen

Now that is a FUGLY 5-9.

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 Sep 20, 2008 12:31 PM PDT   0 recs

that's why I'm not quite as excited as you

that Brown isn’t starting…not that I’m advocating that, mind you.

by OaklandSi on Sep 20, 2008 12:36 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

of course, they're all infielders

but Brown could also DH…except cust needs as many AB as possible to reach the milestones mentioned below

by OaklandSi on Sep 20, 2008 12:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Look at that fugly 5-9!!!

8/14 with all production so far 1-4 “studs” are 0 fer, with a couple walks/runs…

baseball is an amazing game.

witty remark

by dtownmbrown on Sep 20, 2008 3:07 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

cust needs

1 hr
30 rbi
13 k’s

i wonder if we will get 30 baserunners in the next 8 games, much less on base for cust

"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball

by flipgatey3 on Sep 20, 2008 12:33 PM PDT   0 recs

let's see

the one homer: even odds
30 rbi: 10-1 odds
13 k’s: 3-2 odds

"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball

by flipgatey3 on Sep 20, 2008 12:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

no, he's already at 100

I’m talkin’ HR/BB/K.

It's just something we do. It's not something we like. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 20, 2008 1:15 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

that makes a lot more sense

"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball

by flipgatey3 on Sep 20, 2008 1:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't feel sorry for the Mariners at all

I’m angry at them for being so incompetent that they get a better draft pick than the A’s.

This is a team that was stupid enough to draft a relief pitcher in the first round midway through a season in which they will finish in the bottom 3 in baseball.

I’m certainly an advocate of a baseball welfare state, but can’t you cut off someone’s benefits at some point when it’s obvious that he’s spending all of it on crack and cheap vodka?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 20, 2008 12:39 PM PDT   0 recs

Sorry.

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 Sep 20, 2008 1:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

^%@(*&%@! BLACKOUTS!

At least there’s KenKo.

A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.

by IowaA'sFan on Sep 20, 2008 1:16 PM PDT   0 recs

So I came home today

Hoping to see my first A’s game on TV in about a month and a half (I’ve been out of the country) and what do I find out? It’s not on. Awesome! Considering I’m off to college tomorrow that means no A’s the rest of the season. Is it too much to ask to televise a damn weekend game?

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Sep 20, 2008 1:16 PM PDT   0 recs

Is it not on tomorrow either?

Even if it is, I doubt I’ll get signal in a car with no TV.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Sep 20, 2008 1:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Does anyone know why they have been playing Baisley at 1st instead of 3rd?

I would think that Hannahan would be at 1st and Baisley at 3rd or is Hannahan that bad at 1st?

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Sep 20, 2008 1:18 PM PDT   0 recs

Hannahan is (depending on whether you trust your eyes or any of various defensive metrics) a good to very good fielding third baseman

It's just something we do. It's not something we like. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 20, 2008 1:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The Baisley Underground!

It's just something we do. It's not something we like. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 20, 2008 1:31 PM PDT   0 recs

with a hot week remaining

barton/hannahan have an outside chance combine for 20hr/100rbi.
thank goodness 3 games in texas, so maybe they reach this milestone

by Asfan4ever723 on Sep 20, 2008 1:32 PM PDT   0 recs

can we get some infield predictions from gammons

what does he think about this current 08 group..hannahan/barton/crosby/ellis/chavez almost got to 40 combined…37 so far

gammons from 2000/01
4. Miguel Tejada, Jose Ortiz, Eric Chavez and whoever plays first for the A’s all hitting 30 or more homers. No infield has ever had more than two players hit 30 in the same season.

by Asfan4ever723 on Sep 20, 2008 1:42 PM PDT   0 recs

Ah, they're playing my favorite commercial.

Travis Buck: can hit, can’t read.

A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.

by IowaA'sFan on Sep 20, 2008 1:45 PM PDT   0 recs

I think it's safe to say

That Saarloos is a bad pitcher.

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin

by Helloooo 1st on Sep 20, 2008 1:53 PM PDT   0 recs

so, what's the deal with Cunningham's D?

I thought his rep was as a Kotsay/Rowand-type modest speed at best but with good instincts/skills.

Everything I’ve seen/heard so far, he seems a little lost and clumsy out in LF.

It's just something we do. It's not something we like. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Sep 20, 2008 1:55 PM PDT   0 recs

that's what was written at the time of the trade

since he’s been called up I’ve been reading that he projects as a left fielder

by OaklandSi on Sep 20, 2008 2:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ahhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELLO IS ANYONE HERE? ECHO.......ECHO.........ECHO....ECHO

ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO………ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO…….ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO……….ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO………….ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO………….ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO…………..ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO…………..ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO…………ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO………………ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO………..ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO………..ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO………..ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO………………ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO…………ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO…………ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO…………..ECHO…….ECHO………ECHO….ECHO

Brought to you by the letter A's!

by LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn on Sep 20, 2008 2:17 PM PDT   0 recs

Just sold the last of my six puppies.

Phew. And now to mop up the basement.

A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.

by IowaA'sFan on Sep 20, 2008 2:27 PM PDT   0 recs

AHHHH!!

The drugs! I’ve missed it all!

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 20, 2008 2:31 PM PDT   0 recs

Who dressed A-Rod in Kenji Johjima's uniform?

I want answers.

A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.

by IowaA'sFan on Sep 20, 2008 2:41 PM PDT   0 recs

let's see if the Mariners

can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory — YES!!! tie game!!!

by OaklandSi on Sep 20, 2008 2:52 PM PDT   0 recs

Aaaaahahhaha!

Can’t wait to see the win prob. chart on Lookout Landing.

A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.

by IowaA'sFan on Sep 20, 2008 2:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Woo!

My boys!

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 20, 2008 2:54 PM PDT   0 recs

Rob Bowen

Is great

by pbra17 on Sep 20, 2008 2:55 PM PDT   0 recs

Just went to baseball-reference...

His OPS+ is 28?!?!?!? Is that a typo??? I didn’t think he was that bad.

A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.

by IowaA'sFan on Sep 20, 2008 2:58 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I think Patrol Craft was on the field for less than five minutes.

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 20, 2008 2:57 PM PDT   0 recs

No pressure, Ryan.

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 20, 2008 2:58 PM PDT   0 recs

Psst.

I think we’re alone now…

A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.

by IowaA'sFan on Sep 20, 2008 3:00 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Don't mind me

I’ll pretend like you guys aren’t… doing stuff…

by thesteve9x on Sep 20, 2008 3:01 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

LOL

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 20, 2008 3:01 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Only room for one

Creepy guy in this thread, and I got that covered.

by thesteve9x on Sep 20, 2008 3:02 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hell!

They’re coming out of the woodwork now!

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 20, 2008 3:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Midwesterners don't have lives, I guess.

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 20, 2008 3:01 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm sorry Jennifer.

But I just can’t let you come between me and my man-crush on Sweeney.

A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.

by IowaA'sFan on Sep 20, 2008 3:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Three reasons

Maybe Ryan Sweeney will get a Bobblehead day, and all the AN girls (and some guys) will get all swooney over it.

by thesteve9x on Sep 20, 2008 3:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Who knows?

We have to take Vince’s word for it.

A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.

by IowaA'sFan on Sep 20, 2008 3:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Poppy just texted me.

She said it was painfully hot.

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 20, 2008 3:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Baseball Tonight hates the A's

So he’ll probably be #5 even if it’s better than #1

by thesteve9x on Sep 20, 2008 3:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It still hurts when I see or hear about Harden.

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 20, 2008 3:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Harden? Who?

He is dead to me.

A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.

by IowaA'sFan on Sep 20, 2008 3:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So Gonzalez PH for Baisley earlier...

…and now Hannahan’s out because of that catch. Barton goes to third, Bowen goes to first, Suzuki’s in to catch.

Fun.

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

by Flashfire on Sep 20, 2008 3:22 PM PDT   0 recs

[sob]

Why is this not on television?!

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Sep 20, 2008 3:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Uh oh, Barton moves over to third base

With Bowen playing first. Well, this could be interesting.

by Soaker on Sep 20, 2008 3:23 PM PDT   0 recs

Wow, did I hear that right?

Spring training opener is on February 25? But the regular season opener is not until April 6. Meaning they are extending spring training games by an extra 8 days. That’s just ridiculous; spring training was already a week too long, now it’s 15 days too long.

by Soaker on Sep 20, 2008 3:27 PM PDT   0 recs