BOBBY CROSBY NO LONGER PLAYS FOR THE OAKLAND A'S!!!!!!!
by Nico on Oct 4, 2009 3:54 PM PDT
Email
PrintI'm sorry, was there a game? Did the A's lose their 7th in a row? Did the Angels get hits pretty much whenever they needed them felt like it and did the A's hit into 3 rally-killing DPs? Was the A's defense once again terrible, with a key error by Pennington and a Patterson-Davis "yours-yours" communication error? ("Your fly ball is very important to us...Please stand by for the next available outfielder...")
Some things are bigger than a meaningless losing streak to end a string of meaningless games to end a disappointing season. Bobby Crosby is no longer under contract with Oakland. Right now, he plays for every other team just as much as he plays for the A's. I love that.
The A's scored the game's first two runs but lost 5-3 to finish the season 75-87. Chat amongst y'allselves and I'll be back in a bit with a Season In Review.
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Guess they teased people by looking good for a while then...
…looked just bad enough to stay in the top 10 for the draft.
Not bad.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Chris Mullin?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Great flick.
Simply one of the most fun action films around.
Lay down, black gives way to blue.
Lay down, I'll remember you.
yeah thats kind of cool actually
theres no point winning lots of games in Sept when you have 0 chance of making the playoffs. its nice to see individual players pad their stats but the draft pick is better than that.
I would have much preferred to
have won one more game and drafted 11th.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
Nope... Its the 10th... damn Padres
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions
might I suggest heroin?
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 4, 2009 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Naw
Weed. Heroin makes you crazy. Weed turns you into a couch potato, eat everything in sight and annoy those around you enough to pass the time til march comes around.
Just my personal experience from roommates :)
Ooo! Piece of candy!
by ChickenStanley on Oct 4, 2009 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions
hockey season just started
………..
crickets.
………..
I must be a masochist because as soon as the A’s get their fill of disappointing me, it’s on to 6 mos. of disappointment rooting for the LA Kings!
"I did nothing. I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything that I thought it could be." -- Peter Gibbons
You should root for the Sharks instead
That way you get 6-7 months of enjoyment followed by two weeks of complete soul-crushing despair.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
you're a hockey guy, PT?
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 5, 2009 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions
As pure visceral entertainment goes, I actually like hockey more than baseball
and, in fact, more than probably any team sport.
I just don’t have nearly as many interesting things to say about it.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
You need to take up Rugby.
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
I prefer soccer for my non-American football
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
I prefer watching people try to stand up, rather than try to fall down.
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
Hear hear
I use to date a UCLA rugby player and the sport is great.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 5, 2009 8:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Do you agree with me that hockey is by far better experienced live?
Baseball kind of is, too, I suppose. Though I think football is a television sport.
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 5, 2009 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree completely
I love hockey but if someone hasn’t seen a game in person they don’t know what they’re missing compared to watching it on TV.
I’d say baseball is more interesting in person too just because you really get a better chance to see all the little nuances of what goes into every pitch, every at-bat, the defensive positioning and so on.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Apart from having to hang around a cold ice rink, yes
TV coverage basically misses the entire dynamic of line changes.
Although Mike Emrick is by far my favorite sportscaster, and the Sharks team is by far my favorite local broadcast crew, so that makes up for it somewhat.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
So, according to Einstein,
would Sharks fans be considered insane (unless they really do enjoy said soul-crushing despair)?
The irony is, while San Jose is the league’s most recent whipping boy/poster child for postseason strangulation, the always highly-regarded Calgary Flames have four first-round exits in the same number of years.
"I did nothing. I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything that I thought it could be." -- Peter Gibbons
i approve of this recap
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
I think it's time for Geren
to be left at the altar, 86’d + 1.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
season in review...thank god it's over....but I've enjoyed AN...
IMMENSELY !!!!!
"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane
by athleticsBB4life on Oct 4, 2009 4:01 PM PDT reply actions
i learned that people here are VERY judgemental and defend the newest sabermetrics like their own children.
its been interesting! I love it!
What you have failed to learn is attacking people without warrants will get you destroyed.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions
his life will be incomplete now.
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 4, 2009 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions
I dont blame Geren for good players not playing well
was he supposed to hold Holliday, Nomar, Giambi & O-Cabs children and pets hostage until they hit like major leaguers? Those are the 4 faces of failure to blame for this year.
Funny thing is, the three they released started hitting like major leaguers as soon as they left.
And they’re all on playoff-bound teams.
Teehee.
by ElQuesoCapitan on Oct 4, 2009 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't blame him for the vets' epic failures
I blame him for failing to say to these kids a week ago that the team had a chance to finish near .500, or at least to surpass the last 2 years record-wise, so they would maybe be motivated to find a way NOT to lose the last week’s worth of games and fall short of even the last two pathetic seasons.
He needs to go, go, gonzo ASAP.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions
I just hope that next season
doesn’t begin with some sort of losing streak so the whole season can be tanked if we lose the first 7 or 8 and the press is all about “can they lose 20 in a row?”
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions
No it's not
You should try to create a winning culture, and try to win, at the big league level and let the draft position take care of itself.
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
thank you
it isn’t all a manipulation game to work the draft, which will generate a player we MIGHT see in FIVE years.
This team needs to stop acting/thinking/feeling like the 1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers if they want to regain some credibility with me.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Id agree if you were talking about 10+ wins
but youre talking about literally a 75 win team vs an 80 win one. In cases like this, whats the point of missing out on a great player because you swept a team in meaningless sept game featuring lots of AAA players?
“A winning culture” is a team thats a bunch of games over .500, that wasnt this team.
Winning is winning
Not caring about the difference between 75 and 80 wins is not, IMO, the mentality of a “winner.” You can’t just flip the switch between intensity and “whatever” — you either try to win every game you can or you don’t. A franchise that stops caring about a win because they’re out of the race, or because of draft position, is in big trouble.
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 Oct 4, 2009 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions 5 recs
if there was a button with which
I could rec this comment 1 trillion times whilst simultaneously ordering its author a delicious sushi/sashimi dinner from Edoko in Berkeley, I would do it.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Though to be fair....
…if you mail one in to increase your draft position, that’s a form of caring about a game. ;-)
There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Oct 4, 2009 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions
So who's driving Casilla to the airport
to catch the first flight outta town?
Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox
Hopefully, Eveland.
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
Nope...he's not allowed to drive anymore!!
"The trouble with baseball is that it is not played the year round." Gaylord Perry
by BERRYJO on Oct 4, 2009 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Not yet
he was issued a temporary on this morning, the DMV will take action within 10 days. He can ask for a hearing, and even then he can get a restriction for work related driving. Presumably taking Casilla and eveland to the airport is work related.
Too serious? SOrry
by Future Ed on Oct 4, 2009 6:28 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
How about we rent a bus
and load, (at gunpoint if necessary) Casilla, Bo-Crow, E-Gon, Dana, Geren, (he can drive) and any body else you can think of.
PREPAREDNESS_Because those goddamn zombies aren’t going to kill themselves
It amuses me, PL78,
that you and DFA have this opinion in common.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
Question,
how do you know he did nothing to motivate them, and that this weeklong losing streak has been a product of lack of inspiration, rather than lack of any resemblance of a major league pitcher on the staff?
Keep in mind, of course, that "the best defense of Derek Jeter's life" ranks somewhere in between "the best fiscal responsibility of Mike Tyson's life" and "the best not-getting-assassinated-ness of James Garfield's life." -FJM
I don't
but the fact is they were kicking ass right up to the last week and then reverted, instantly, to May form.
That may not be the direct fault of the manager, but there is NO WAY it reflects well on him. Nor do the last 3 seasons of bloodless, somnolent play and embarassingly poor records that demean the reputation and credibility of the team we all love.
Change is needed, IMO.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
This team was kicking ass pretty much throughout the entire second half,
(and overachieving, IMO), but the seven game losing streak nullifies this to the point where all the blame falls on Geren?
Sure, the losing streak doesn’t reflect well on Geren. I don’t blame him for losing seven games in which his starting staff included one actually good player, surrounded by the likes of Edgar Gonzalez and Dana Eveland.
Change is needed on the actual roster. But I’m sick of seeing all the blame being thrown on Geren, especially when this team did so well in the second half.
Keep in mind, of course, that "the best defense of Derek Jeter's life" ranks somewhere in between "the best fiscal responsibility of Mike Tyson's life" and "the best not-getting-assassinated-ness of James Garfield's life." -FJM
one thing I hope he does do
and if he doesn’t, then he really isn’t building a culture of winning, is to…
1) point out how much better they did after the ASG and after the vets were traded
2) specifically mention the play until Tuesday (last Sunday could have gone either way)
3) and say that the guys who played big roles will be back next year
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 4, 2009 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Ya,
it’s one of those things where we don’t really know what he’s saying. I personally don’t put much stock in what is said to the media, but I would be happy if he came out and said something.
Keep in mind, of course, that "the best defense of Derek Jeter's life" ranks somewhere in between "the best fiscal responsibility of Mike Tyson's life" and "the best not-getting-assassinated-ness of James Garfield's life." -FJM
they werent kicking ass
they were beating Cleveland and Texas.
We lost all these games late because SEA and LAA are much, much better teams than us this year.
We lost those games because the lineup, defense, and rotation
consisted mostly of terrible players. To me, this was just regression to the mean. Kennedy at 3B, Patterson in LF? Edgar Gonzalez and Dana Eveland? C’mon.
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
yep yep and yep.
But even at our best, are we going to beat King Felix? No.
The Mariners had a beast of a team this year, pitching-wise. thank god most of it will be gone next year.
What are you talking about
the Mariners pitching outside of Felix was horrific.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions
"Horrific" is an exaggeration.
Aardsma was good, Washburn had a good year, and Bedard pitched well before he got hurt. (Washburn may or may not have been a fluke — I’ve heard differing opinions on that — but lucky or not his results were good for the M’s.)
But you’re right that overall Seattle’s pitching is not so great.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
Felix provided nearly half the teams pitching WAR.
Its not Nationals bad but its pretty bad.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Washburn had a tRA of 5.00 or thereabouts with the Mariners
by Graham MacAree on Oct 5, 2009 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Is that horrific, or just bad?
Cahill and Mazzaro had tRA’s of 5.87 and 5.62 for Oakland.
I would have called each of them bad but not horrific.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
No they were horrific
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 5, 2009 10:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Ah, I guess I wasn't scaling tRA properly.
So at 5.17 Washburn was only slightly horrific?
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
It's bad, not horrific
I was disputing that Washburn had a good year, is all.
by Graham MacAree on Oct 6, 2009 7:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Statcorner uses a different database for batted ball classification.
And they have Washburn at 5.00 (tRA+ of 99), Mazzaro at 5.67 (tRA+ of 86) and Cahill at 6.07 (tRA+ of 78). Once Hitf/x comes into play, we’ll have consistency with this, thankfully.
Either way, it looks like Washburn is only slightly horrific. Pretty much average, actually.
Lay down, black gives way to blue.
Lay down, I'll remember you.
im looking in terms of raw numbers here:
felix, washburn, aardsma, washburn, white, bedard, lowe and rowland-smith all were pretty good.
now the predicators and whatnot will probably tell you only felix really was that good, and theyd be right, but in actual results (aka what i care most about) those 7 gave the M’s a lot of low-run innings and are a huge reason why they finished above .500. thank god it wont last into next year but i gotta give it up to those dudes.
What numbers are you looking at?
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions
it says in my post
but if you think aardsma, white, bedard and washburn were “horrific”, i have no idea what your standards are on good pitching.
The Mariners had a team UZR which was the highest this DECADE
Unless you examine their fielding-independent numbers, you’re effectively pretending that Frankiln Gutierrez, Ichiro and Adrian Beltre took the mound for the 2009 Mariners.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
Don't forget Hannahan!
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
PT hits it out of the park with his explanation
but Franklin Gutierrez brought it back from over the wall.
Looking at non fielding independent numbers in front of a team who is that good defensively will skew your analysis.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 11:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I get your point
(and it’s a subtle enough point that I think it would have been constructive to raise it earlier rather than just say, “huh? how can you think Seattle had good pitching?”), but I still think “horrific” is an exaggeration.
Aardsma was FIP=3.01 and tRA=3.37 for the year. Bedard was FIP=3.56 and tRA=3.72 before he got hurt. Those are good numbers, are they not?
Washburn, I see, didn’t fare so well (FIP=4.58, tRA=5.17) though even that looks more like more mediocre than horrific to me. I would also note that pitching stats which are defense-independent are also luck-independent and would suggest that part of the reason Washburn’s results were pretty good is not just defense but good old-fashioned luck, which brings me back to what I said above.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
Last time I checked hurt pitchers aren't pitching
and one good reliever does not save a team from being horrific at pitching. Yes it was probably a slight exaggeration, but it wasn’t that far off.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 5, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
right
so why are we talking about Geren? Certainly he’s not the one who makes the call on AAA callups.
I don’t like him any more than anyone else, but no one could win with those guys.
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 4, 2009 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions
it's 3 years of dead-in-the-waterness
the last 7 games just scratch the unhealed scab of three seasons of sub-mediocrity that coincidentally commenced with the hiring of this guy.
Believe me I don’t just blame Geren but you can’t keep with the same thing year after year and expect a different result, we finish with same exact crappy record every time and something has to change.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions
It also coincided with us rebuilding, or "being shitty for a few years for the future".
Something does have to change. Preferably, the roster.
Keep in mind, of course, that "the best defense of Derek Jeter's life" ranks somewhere in between "the best fiscal responsibility of Mike Tyson's life" and "the best not-getting-assassinated-ness of James Garfield's life." -FJM
just so we are clear and you guys know I am not insane
The whole thing starts with the roster and the players on the field, and I am in full agreement that we weren’t gonna do anything but suck spectacularly with E-Gone and All About Eveland pitching the last week.
My gripe is the last 3 years, the quality of play, the intangible sense of we-are-here-to-kick-ass Oakland A’s baseball is just flat-out missing and this manager cannot be helping the situation on the warrior-energy-that-would-kill-to-win-baseball-games front.
Maybe I expect too much, dunno.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions
No, I get ya.
I think we just agree to disagree.
Keep in mind, of course, that "the best defense of Derek Jeter's life" ranks somewhere in between "the best fiscal responsibility of Mike Tyson's life" and "the best not-getting-assassinated-ness of James Garfield's life." -FJM
Is there such a thing as
a team that has the intangible we-are-here-to-kick-ass attitude but also sucks? That’s a serious question. Are there examples of such a team? And if so, what do we think of such teams? That they’re simply delusional and don’t realize how bad they really are?
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Oct 4, 2009 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
BINGO
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Far as I can tell, Bobby Crosby has this attitude
Personally, I do in fact find it “delusional,” but whatever. Point is, it doesn’t will you to becoming good at baseball.
Followup point is, NOTHING can will you to becoming good at baseball, because baseball is an insanely hard game to be good at.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
Except repetition
If Wallace takes 5,000 ground balls at 3B this off-season, he’s going to be a better 3Bman than if he takes 2,000.
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
That's not "will," that's muscle memory
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
Yes, but you need the "will" to practice and endure
Great players don’t “will” themselves to greatness; what they do is have the drive and discipline to put in the grunt work.
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
do we care if they're naturally gifted
or work themselves to death, as long as they produce consistently?
Practice maybe does not make perfect, PT, but it does make you better.
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 4, 2009 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't disagree with this
and I’m not sure how you got the impression that I did.
I’m also not sure how it relates in any way to this thread, since it’s not like Cliff Pennington could take 5000 ground balls on last Monday’s off day.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
In other words....
You can’t fire the players, so you fire the manager?
I don’t think Geren adds anything to this team, and I think we need a manager who does.
But their crappiness is not all his fault by any means.
There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Oct 4, 2009 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions
thank you G'n'GS
you said it better than I could, he doesn’t bring anything extra to the team and it’s time again, IMO, for us to have someone that does and can.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions
on that note
of guys who could be available to manage, on the team now or not, who would we want?
Lure Bobby Valentine from Japan? Promote DeFrancesco?
And what of the coaching staff? IMO skaalen did a good job with what he had at the end, but there are others who could be had.
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 4, 2009 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions
agreed EN
I’m sick of the same ol’ from this team and from Geren…I think there will be quite a bit of change this off-season.
Time to dump all the dead weight off this team and go with the fresh yungens and perhaps bring over some additional good players that are not past their respective primes…..
Nico, are we still gonna get JJ Hardy for Christmas this year? Please??
Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox
I'd go after him if the price is right
Whether or not he fully rebounds as a hitter, he’s as good a defender as Pennington and has a lot more power, and he’s under contract control now for 2 years.
The question is what it will now cost to get him.
The A’s have some players who might be reasonable trade bait in Simmons, Cunningham, Buck, H. Rodriguez — maybe the right combination of these guys would get it done?
With A. Escobar up, Hardy’s value to the Brewers is as a trade chip. He has no future with the Brew Crew that I can see.
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
Exactly....
I think Beane should go after him as soon as possible. Then grab a starting pitcher and maybe a power hitting corner outfielder.
Just a wish list..
Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox
not a different result in the standings
but I think it’s fair to say that at the end of this season, there is a clear path to competitiveness that was absent before. Outman and Braden looked awesome when they were healthy, Anderson had a terrific season, and the bullpen emerged as a team strength.
The hitting, obviously, is no less a black hole that it has been, you’re right. But with some boondoggles off the roster and guys in AA/AAA pushing forward, I’m thinking we can make real strides in ’10
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 4, 2009 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions
well each year needs to be looked at differently
07: on paper, we had a contending team, no question. but then those players names kept falling off the “active roster” piece of paper and onto the “disabled list” one. Not on Geren we broke league records for DL use
08: “billy’s rebuild” sir beane looked at our farm system and said “holy jesus we are screwed, i wonder who i could get for Haren+Swisher?” and he did, at no point were we looking to contend. Beane alludes to it taking a year or two to get these prospects up and firing. Not on Geren he was playing a AAA team. Jack Hannahan was our everyday 3B for christ sake.
09: Lew says to Billy “a year or TWO? dude I dont want to see a team of no-namers maybe scrub their way to .500, here’s more money than any owner has ever let you see before, go spend it wisely and try to get that Holliday guy who’s kind of awesome.” We know how it ends.
So, I understand the frustration, but given these circumstances, how could Geren have made these teams better? Who in mlb COULD do that? Im saying no one.
Wow the first time I have agreed with you... very well done.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions
dogs and cats living together....
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
Im cat agnostic
and if your dog doesn’t weigh more than 40 lbs its not really a dog.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't necessarily disagree, but what is it if it's under 40 lbs.?
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 4, 2009 7:49 PM PDT up reply actions
then it's a big cat
but if your cat is over 15 lbs, then it’s not a cat anymore
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 4, 2009 7:55 PM PDT up reply actions
hmmm...
do you have a conversion chart?
I think I may have an aardvark.
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 4, 2009 8:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Over 15 lbs
and its a capybara.
Ooo! Piece of candy!
by ChickenStanley on Oct 4, 2009 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions
bratwurst filling?
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 8:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Texas is a much better team than the A's this year, too
I personally think that part of the A’s’ problem with the M’s is that the A’s were last in the league in HRs, and the M’s had the best defense anyone’s seen in a number of years.
The A’s score runs by putting balls in play. That was the worst possible plan against the 2009 Mariners.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
The M's were also last in the league in runs scored,
yet hit pretty well against the A’s. Things like “throwing way too many strikes to Yuniesky Betancourt” and “deciding to walk Russell Branyan to load the bases” didn’t help.
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
Good grief
You don’t know he didn’t say that.
You don’t know it would have made any difference if he did.
My hubris meter is unable to register the full impact of this comment. It’s literally off the charts.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Oct 4, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree. The almost bipolar swings around AN have become very problematic
and really undermine the credibility of those who participate in them. When its on the front page as often as it has been this year it undermines the credibility of the site.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
credibility of a fan blog?
seriously?
Lookit, I love your write ups and those of others that put loads of time into fanposts, but let it go, its not that big a deal that some people want to see some pep in the dugout. It may be irrational, but fandom can be irrational.
I agree
I don’t know what kind of credibility anyone is looking for here. It’s a fansite run by people whose opinions are going to fluctuate during the season, the same as any other fan’s.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
There are plenty of rational fans
and wanting a change in the dugout isn’t mutually exclusive with being rational. Being irrational destroys good analysis.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions
so you're saying
you disagree with Arthur Rimbaud and his notion that Enlightenment is only possible through the disorientation of one’s senses? I think he called it “The Sacred Disorder of the Mind”.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Not really
I don’t have a dominant philosophy mostly since my understanding of it is related to what beats what in terms of debate tactics. However I think disorientation of the senses as a means for finding truth lacking. Why not just take a fuck ton of drugs and have no idea what is going on? I don’t see that as truth.
I believe there are two types of understanding something understanding its function and its essence. Disorientation prevents the melding of the two into one truth.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 11:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Submitted for consideration:
I don’thave a dominant philosophy[:]mostly since my understanding ofit is related to what beats what in terms of debate tactics.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
Dude, what part of
“An SB Nation blog for Oakland Athletics fans” do you not understand?
Oh, wait, that’s easy. The last word, right?
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
I just don't get what's so hard to grasp about the fact that
some of our writers — and I’m definitely in this category — sometimes write what they think, sometimes write what they feel, and sometimes write what they think “fans” are feeling.
Isn’t that what being a fan is all about: Thinking, feeling, checking the pulse of how your fellow bretheren are feeling, and just generally spending far too much time on a blog?
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 Oct 4, 2009 8:05 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
hey, I resemble that remark
I just don’t get what’s so hard to grasp about the fact that it’s bad form to listlessly lose the last 7 games of a season which saw you take discernible strides forward in the second half and in September in particular. Whatever benefits drafting 9th or 10th over 14th or 17th might be for a player we won’t see for at least 3 years and who might not even pan out at the ML level, the losing streak (a season high, btw) sets up bad potential mental pictures: it feels like it negates in some way the forward progress, it means that a losing streak to start next year could potentially ruin the season because the press will get in their heads with “how many will they lose in a row?” building off of these seven to end 2009, so it’s added pressure to win the first game or whatever, I could go on.
My point is what concerns me isn’t the perceived credibility of what I or anyone else write here so much as it is for the credibility of the organization which we all, no matter who we are and what our expressive capabilities/strengths may or may not be, want to see succeed and prosper. I want/need/desire-in-my-instinctual-heart-of-hearts a manager who can foresee these potential scenarios ahead of time, and use whatever’s available like that to motivate his players directly and credibly no matter what time of year and under what circumstances, because for me that’s going the extra mile to be professional and set a standard where at the surface it might not appear one is required. It’s the difference between Mike Singletary and Bob Geren, I guess; sort of apples-to-oranges but as a fan I expect more passion, more fire-and-winstone from the alleged leadership, I guess..
In this case the manager in all likelihood didn’t make an effort to say, as the stellar September play was developing up to the last week, hey let’s use this as a team and set a goal to win more than the standard 75 games, ok? Let’s get out there and show some improvement overall…. it might not seem significant but it makes sense to treat it like it means something and not just phone in the last week. I understand the guys are tired and it’s like the last steps of a marathon being the hardest but it just stuck in my craw a little and took the p*ss out of a September to build on, IMO, fresh draft taste or not.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions
My positon on all this is that
I happen to disagree, personally, that Geren had anything to do with the 7-game losing streak, but I’m not at all bent out of shape for you to suggest it, believe it, or write about it. FAN site.
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
there is an AN in FAN, after all
I am not even really saying that he caused the losing streak, my critique is more of the failure to be preventative about it when the team had the chance, however slim, to finish .500. Kind of an error of omission and less than I, personally, expect from the manager.
Of course it’s all speculative and I agree sometimes I am overpassionate but that’s why I’m here and not in the A’s front office…. because if they hired me I might have to insist on “Fire Geren Fridays”.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I just don't believe any manager
could have put that lineup and those pitchers out there and preventatively done anything to avoid a losing streak.
I do like the idea of “Fire Geren Fridays,” though.
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
does that come with reduced price drinks?
And half off appetizers?
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 4, 2009 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions
yes that's at TGIFGF's
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Failure?
Where is your evidence of a failure? Have you ASKED Bob Geren about this? One of the players in the locker room? Clubhouse ballboy? Hidden microphone?
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
um
the evidence you seek is in the column in the standings, where it says “L7” next to our last place team that just lost 86+ games for the 3rd year running. I see it as a failure, anyway, it doesn’t mean you have to agree, for chrissakes.
Forget about the last 7 games, I concede the point that it’s not his fault. But the results of the last 3 years for me just don’t come up to the level of a professional sports franchise in a million ways from the radio station to the idea that the GM’s best pal is allowed to continue to get (mostly) terrible results as the manager of the team 3 years running now.
When other people in other jobs perform this bloodlessly and get the same exact mediocre result several times in a row any corporation worth its bottom line is thinking about a different direction, that’s all I am saying.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions
i hate to make this comparison
but looks at the Nationals. They fired Manny Acta earlier this season… for what? To give the illusion that this would affect their season positively? Manny Acta is not why the Nationals sucked — their suckitude runs far deeper than that.
Our sucktiude, also, is much farther than Geren can overcome. Maybe Geren should go, but I don’t want anyone to make a change for the sake of making a change.
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 4, 2009 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree
it starts with the roster, first and foremost. Or Forst and foremost. But instinctually it’s hard not to think that we couldn’t do better with a more demanding, less inert-seeming manager than we have.
For me it isn’t about the fire-Geren aspect so much as the who-replaces-him aspect, that we might move up in the world, or at least out of the cellar, in 2010.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Let's get one thing clear
If you want to lynch Geren from a sour apple tree because his record is 226-260, fine— I don’t have a problem with that. Opinions are opinions.
I do have a problem with inventing spurious justifications for your opinions. If you’re going to make controversial factual statements, you’d best be prepared to back them up. Being a “fan” does not give you a license to make whatever outrageous claims you want to without being challenged on them.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
I didn't make any spurious factual claims
No one said it was a fact, I was just expressing an opinion based on what I saw on the field and how it differed from what I saw on the field the previous 3 weeks. If I was overspeculative or too willing to ascribe the failure to the manager well then that’s why this is a fan blog. If you’re looking for always-sober analysis and 100% airtight reasoning this isn’t exactly the first place to look.
It doesn’t seem outrageous to want a manager to find whatever means necessary to motivate a team, and the team we saw on the field the last week didn’t seem eager or all that passionate about scratching out a win or two out of seven.
The degree to which this rests with the manager is arguable and I’m well aware of that; my wanting to get rid of Geren has less to do with the last week and more to do with his motivational and decisional skills expressed over the last 3 years.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions
That is not true
You with out any knowledge of what Geren told anyone said:
I blame him for failing to say to these kids a week ago that the team had a chance to finish near .500, or at least to surpass the last 2 years record-wise, so they would maybe be motivated to find a way NOT to lose the last week’s worth of games and fall short of even the last two pathetic seasons.
Which is a spurious factual claim that Geren didn’t say that.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions
ok, fair enough
but did the A’s seem like an adequately-motivated squad to you for the full 162 this season? The last week, did they? The last 3 years, have you gotten the impression that this was a team for whom the stellar managerial qualities on display would get us however many extra wins due to its brilliance?
If I had to bet money, I’d say that Geren made not-much-idf-any attempt to make the last week anything more than what we saw on the field, which was an underaspirational snoozefest IMO.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions
how about this
I blame him for failing to say in a public way, post-game press conference, whatever, hey yeah my boys here are trying to push for .500 this last week, yeah.
I believe we need a manager who isn’t shy and reserved about it all, and if I found a less-than-adequate way to express that I apologize.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Here is the thing
If you want to fire Geren because he doesn’t huff and puff on TV thats fine but don’t pretend that it has anything to do with winning baseball games.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions
THAT is irrational
because there are countless games and circumstances around which the result has turned because a team got up off the deck after their skipper was tossed out arguing a controversial play.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Please show me how a manager getting tossed made any baseball player better or made a team win a game
I dare you.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions
I can remember a dozen games
where Piniella was managing the M’s and he went ballistic and they went on to win the game.
It’s just logical, that’s why managers argue calls they know they are in the wrong on, just to whip up their team into a heightened sense that, well, skip’s into this shit so I better step it up.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions
post hoc ergo propter hoc
is a logical fallacy.
And sports psychology can be spun both ways. The skipper mad the team tense and they went on to lose because of it.
You fail to meet your burdens.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 11:00 PM PDT up reply actions
you make me laugh.
You have no idea when to just quit and stop beating that fuckin horse.
pro tip: IT’S NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
by mikev on Oct 4, 2009 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I bear no burdens
other than to write about a sport I love in the most entertaining and fun way I can muster, sometimes less-than-logically but sports is an emotional attachment, and not always a rational one.
Why make something so beautiful and joyous like baseball so acrimonious and accusatory?
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions
All affirmative statements have burdens
And your response was to my request that you prove it which has burdens.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Dude, you are so missing the point.
I wouldn’t razz you about your debate philosophy if you weren’t so evangelical about it.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
This should be the new AN tagline:
If you’re looking for always-sober analysis and 100% airtight reasoning this isn’t exactly the first place to look.
"I did nothing. I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything that I thought it could be." -- Peter Gibbons
I think managers get tossed for lots of reasons
They might just lose control of themselves (e.g. Piniella). They might really hate a particular ump (this was a big problem with Weaver and Luciano). They might do it to keep a player from doing it and getting tossed (which I agree can definitely help a team, by keeping a good player in the game).
And I’m sure some of them think it helps to motivate the team. But managers do all kinds of things to help the team win that are, in fact, really unhelpful, from whom they play to when to pull the starter to whether to play the infield in.
The fact that a manager gets tossed to light a fire under his team is no proof at all that it actually works that way.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
See, I just don't put that much stock in what he says to the media.
Now, I do think you’re right when you say we need a manager who fires up the team/inspires them. I don’t think it has the effect that you think it has, but we have similar views.
I think that most inspiration/motivation a manager can give comes from within the locker room, not from the media. Frankly, I don’t think anyone outside of the locker room has the insight to give an informed opinion on Geren, as some of the qualities are quite simply, not in plain view.
Keep in mind, of course, that "the best defense of Derek Jeter's life" ranks somewhere in between "the best fiscal responsibility of Mike Tyson's life" and "the best not-getting-assassinated-ness of James Garfield's life." -FJM
This is what I meant about hubris
Until and unless someone comes out with a fact-based criticism of Geren’s locker-room inspiration skils, we’ve got nothing on this issue. And it’s hubristic to suggest that one can discern otherwise from a run of poor play on the field.
Odds are we will continue to have nothing on this issue. Companies do not like to take this kind of thing public. All we know is this: If the A’s had a problem with his leadership style, they’d have let his contract lapse after this season.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Oct 4, 2009 11:58 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
This is irrational
You don’t think that these players know that they are fighting for jobs next year?
You think that losing isn’t motivation enough to play hard?
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions
you seem to want to cross examine me in the harshest terms
for one aspect of a criticism I made that integrated into a broader criticism of the way the A’s have been field-managed the last 3 years.
All this from a comment…. I can only imagine the wrath I’d be subjected to if I dared to write something like that on the front page, yikes.
Tough crowd.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions
I am sorry your position is so weak that it crumbles under such passive inquisition
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions
and I am sorry
that your tone is expressive of such naked and obvious contempt, the true reasons for which I cannot imagine.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions
If you want the true reasons here they are
I believe very firmly that all affirmative statements should be subject to scrutiny. I expect others do this for my own statements as well, and I am willing to defend them or if I am unable, I will retract them.
You made something up about Geren, and decided that something you made up was enough to fire him. When it was pointed out that you made it up, you acknowledged it but continued to say that people should make the assumption that what you made up is true.
You proceeded get mad at me for suggesting that statements you cant defend and these kinds of false accusations shouldn’t be put on the front page of a blog I care about.
I enjoy your contributions to this blog very much, as I think your writing is original and witty. However, this baseless rant and the suggestion that you would write it on the front page, raises concerns about the levelheadedness and the ability to provide quality analysis of a front page team that has already accused one of the best GMs in baseball of not caring, and has said that if a player truly cared he could hit .300. These kinds of things diminish my level of enjoyment participating on this blog and I know that if I was someone that hadn’t found AN yet and had an analytical baseball and read that on the front page I surely wouldn’t stay.
This is why I take the tone that I do, though my distaste for your stated position has no significant bearing on my opinion of you as a human being.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 5, 2009 1:04 AM PDT up reply actions
dfa = barney frank
dude just leave it. The contributions of management are neither quantifiable, nor, however, are they illusory.
To steal a statement from iglew the other day, just because something cannot be quantified does not mean it doesn’t exist.
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 5, 2009 1:08 AM PDT up reply actions
I didn't say they were illusory
Nor did I say that Geren shouldn’t be fired. I just object to the method and the reasons EN used.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 5, 2009 1:18 AM PDT up reply actions
who cares -- this is a blog
if you want to write academically, there are many peer-reviewed journals you can submit to. Or, you could start your own blog. Called it ANstats or something.
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 5, 2009 1:20 AM PDT up reply actions
One of the things I'm learning from employment law
is that, notwithstanding this “like it or lump it” attitude, organizations work a lot better when they allow expressing “voice” through something other than voting with one’s feet.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
I agree with that.
The interesting question is: If we impose a culture in which every affirmative statement must be justified with evidence, does that increase expression by voice or suppress it?
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
Alright, DFA, that's enough.
You’ve made your point and argued it, but this comment crosses into maliciousness.
Lay down, black gives way to blue.
Lay down, I'll remember you.
Its not malicious
I wish emperor nobody no harm no have no ill will toward him which is required for maliciousness, rather I want to discourage him or her from taking this path in the future.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 5, 2009 1:12 AM PDT up reply actions
it was technically feasible, yes
but after the loss last Sunday, our fate was virtually assured. Beat Felix and sweep a team that’s had our number all year, and also sweep the division winners. As it turns out, the Angels swept a three game series, and a sweep was something that neither the A’s or Angels had accomplished against the other since 2004.
The point is that it was a longshot for .500. I’m don’t think Geren had some sort of active control, or had a way to actively prevent not ending the season on a sour note. Also, I don’t think the A’s are as bad as they showed in the last 6 games. Somewhere after the ASG but before the pwnage we handed down in the 17-5 streak, IMO, is a more realistic estimate.
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 4, 2009 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions
I have no opinion about the last 7 games in regards to Geren,
and the last 3 years, we have seen a lot of mediocre players in the green and gold, so I understand Geren has not had the best cast of characters with which to direct a masterpiece, but I think there are a lot of other humans on this earth that I would rather have managing the Oakland Athletic’s from this point forward.
And I’m sure a few of them would take the job, if it became available.
"I did nothing. I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything that I thought it could be." -- Peter Gibbons
I guess I have a more aspirational definition of "fan" than this sort of mob-mentality hooliganism
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Oct 4, 2009 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I endorse this statement.
Signed and rec’ed,
DFA
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions
this is beginning to sound like
when Robert Fripp talks about “the serious audient” or whatever it is…. lighten up, man. It’s just a game, it’s just baseball and the fate of worlds does not hang in the balance.
Unless we sign Cabrera back, then I am selling everything and moving to a cabin in British Columbia.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Fandom comes in all different shapes, sizes and flavors...
…and is often colored by the frustrations and excitement over things that happen in each game. For almost every person there is a strong emotional attachment to it because of the connection and bond that forms between each of us and the teams we invest ourselves in.
Expecting rationality in all cases is, frankly, silly.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
thank you
I, for one, was/am extremely frustrated by the tail-off into suckitude the last week of the season and if this caused me to color my analysis in a way that some found unacceptably hyperbolic then I apologize.
It’s not like I started a vicious rumor that Geren forced them on orders from Billy Beane to lose the last 7 to strengthen the draft position or anything (hint).
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 4, 2009 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions
And yet here we sit, with you and DFA laying into emperor nobody for pretty much no reason
Singling out one or two sentences from a several paragraph comment he made and trying to tear it to shreds.
Mob of two. Good job.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
Right except Flashfire and Nico are on his side
but you know we are so scary.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 11:03 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm not taking sides
I just think this whole exchange is pointless and it’s even more pointless to expect everything fans say to make sense at all times.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
I think there's a point here
Don’t make stuff up about people.
Seems like a solid “principle to live by” to me, but whatever. Apparently you guys feel differently.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
No, I agree with you on the making things up part
The rest is a colossal overreaction all around based on things that are clearly born from the frustration of a fan. It’s hardly the first time someone’s ever made something up.
But, people decided they’d argue about it this time to make some sort of stubborn point instead of just going “Okay, yeah, whatever” and moving on.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
How do you get "I'm on his side"
when I say I entirely disagree with what he’s saying but am not bothered by his saying it? Leave me out of 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
Let me clarify
you think the style is ok. I was not intending to imply that you were agreeing with EN on the substance of his remark, nor drag you in.
My problem like I said above is the OMG THEY LOST THEY MUST ALL HATE OAKLAND AND NOT CARE BECAUSE IF ONLY THEY CARED THEY WOULD WIN! kind of analysis that has plagued AN’s font page this year more than any I remember. You have defended EN’s desire to write such posts in this thread.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 5, 2009 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions
I haven't defended his desire at all,
just his, and every fan’s (front page or not) right to feel how they feel and express it.
You say every affirmative statement requires evidence. I say, nonsense. It just requires a keyboard. Not everyone dislikes subjective opinion and raw emotion as much as you seem to.
You say you write pointed replies to discourage people from writing this way in the future. I say, stick with writing about baseball, and leave the thought/content policing to someone else — ideally nobody.
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 Oct 5, 2009 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
How did this happen?
Like crack, I couldn’t stop reading this exchange and 10 minutes later I fear for humanity and am strangely longing for Niners Nation where if a person writes something you don’t agree with you just don’t respond. AN was great reading this year, but I’m glad I stopped posting lest I be nailed to a cross and left on top of a building in Jack London Square for an angry post after a bad loss. In any case, thanks to the people that made AN happen this year.
Save the thesaurus for when you are in front of the judge. When speaking of the A's, speak with your heart on...................your sleeve!
This is what I mean when I say that there's a double standard
Somehow it’s always the intellectual types being the “stubborn” ones, facts of the individual situation be damned.
If EN had retracted his claim in his first post and just apologized instead of writing paragraph after paragraph after paragraph of what can only be described as post facto ass-covering, this thread ends pages ago. And yet somehow he is not castigated as “stubborn.”
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
It takes two to argue, most certainly.
I would say that both are being stubborn, yes.
And I have been guilty of that as well.
On occasion.
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 5, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes, Paul, it's all a conspiracy against you
Actually, it’s not.
I don’t agree with EN’s initial take on Geren even though I’d be lying if I said I haven’t wondered similar things before. But it comes off like you and DFA (well, maybe more DFA than you) think that anyone who has any connection with writing on the front page must be some sort of rational, logical person at all times or it damages whatever so-called credibility the site has.
I’m not buying it. Not one bit.
I’m a fan. Nico’s a fan. EN’s a fan. We all get frustrated with the team at times and say things in the heat of the moment. Even BBG’s done it and I think the consensus would be that she’s the most level-headed one among us.
Point is, this is a fan site. It’s a place for those of us who are sometimes prone to speaking with emotion, from the heart even, to let it out with others to interact with. Sometimes there’s a time and place for the analytical, the logical, the well-thought out. Sometimes there’s a time for ranting and raving. When we feel strongly about something, chances are we’ll defend it if someone else comes along calling it into question, especially if we’re still worked up over it. Maybe we’ll look back on it later and say “Okay, my bad. Shouldn’t have said that, or I could’ve put this a little differently, a bit better. Oh well.”
It happens. I don’t know how emotionally attached you, DFA or anyone else gets to the team but everyone has different levels of involvement, different breaking points, different things that excite us or frustrate us. You can be stubborn about what you believe. So can DFA. So can I. So was EN. So what?
As for credibility, Blez doesn’t seem to have any trouble getting interviews with Beane or Wolff, and Nico’s sat down with someone like Braden for a great interview. I doubt any of the opinions some of us have are going to damage that particular relationship AN and the A’s have, and if anything I think they’d hope we’re all passionate about the team even if we sometimes go overboard in our opinions.
Again, fan site. If there’s one thing we should all know about the average sports fan, it’s that they often say exactly what’s on their minds on the spur of the moment, right or wrong.
The issues you and others have with the direction the frontpage writers seem to head in with regard to stats and observation, I don’t really care to get into again. All I know is people like you and DFA contribute where they can and it generates some great discussion and debate. There is definitely a lot of value to that and I’m glad to see it even if I don’t always participate in it.
That doesn’t mean we’re out to get you every time one of us gets into it with the other.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
by Flashfire on Oct 5, 2009 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Actually, I'm out to get him.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
....
They’re out ta get me
They won’t catch me
I’m fuckin’ innocent
They won’t break me
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 5, 2009 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions
I didn't say there's a conspiracy
That implies intent.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
You realize that this and other explanations of our place
demean the type of fandom that PT and I practice right?
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 5, 2009 8:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Not really, no
I don’t even know what type of fandom you and PT practice, but if I had to guess I’d say it’s much more analytical and a lot less emotional. Just a hunch.
Nothing wrong with that, but I’d wager that type of fandom is in the minority.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Right which makes your continued assault on it more problematic.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 5, 2009 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions
I would posit that the
“rules” for stat-based threads and the “rules” for game threads are two different sets of rules.
These types of issues arise where we share mutual space, like this thread.
The list of people who actively participate in both kinds of threads is pretty short. And, fairly or unfairly, I think it’s up to the individuals who are familiar with both sets of rules to keep the peace between the Hutus and Tutsis Statheads and yahoos.
Look, the reality is both sets of people are equally fans and equally welcome at AN. That easy or uneasy truce between the two is one of the things that makes AN special.
So my suggestion, which is in no way directed at one individual or one faction, but at the collective, is that we agree to try to respect one another and realize that our common bond is stronger than our differences. And that we try to let go of whatever differences separate us.
Go A’s.
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 5, 2009 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
I agree with all of this
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 5, 2009 9:50 PM PDT up reply actions
rec'd
good deal, Bloomy
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 5, 2009 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Except there's no assault on it at all aside from whatever you've convinced yourself exists
So move on, please.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Think about this
you had no idea that I would find your explanation of my fandom demeaning, so are you really a good judge of whether stat people feel assaulted?
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 5, 2009 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions
What was demeaning about it?
I’m pretty sure I wasn’t criticizing anyone’s fandom, just specifying how mine and a lot of other people’s is compared to yours, but that also goes back to whatever issues you have with the so-called credibility of the site.
I think there has reached a point where you and PT are looking for anything to take offense at from people who aren’t as analytical and stat-based as you. This happens to be most people.
If someone isn’t directly attacking you about your fandom or your love of stats, I really don’t think there’s much of a point in getting offended about it. But, do what you want. I’m not even going to concern myself any more with what you or anyone else thinks of my fandom, my views, and so on. Your primary reason for being here is to debate, to argue. That’s not mine.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
This isn't accurate
my primary reason for being here is to learn.
I achieve that goal by testing hypothesis against the arguments of other knowledgeable and intelligent posters. Some people call that debate. Debate is a means, not an end.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 5, 2009 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Just going by some of what I've seen you say before
Learning is cool, though.
I think you’re a good guy but I just don’t think we’re going to see eye-to-eye on a lot of stuff.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
"Looking to take offense"?
I wasn’t offended by anything on this thread until that comment. That’s a completely ridiculous allegation and flies rampantly in the face of my actual practice on this site.
If you really meant “looking for bad arguments to refute,” then yes, I do that. But: a. I’m not offended by those arguments, and b. refutation of bad arguments is beneficial for the public debate of the site in a way that flame-wars are not.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
I don't see it as a double-standard.
For me the key difference is when one side demands that the other side retract its statement.
For example, if Leopold Bloom writes that Bill Murray is a great actor and all his movies are golden. I might write back and say, “Ugh no, he’s a putz and I hate all his movies.” LB could then say, “No, he really is great and here’s why,” and I’d say, “Yeah, I heard you the first time, but I still think you’re wrong.”
LB stubbornly persists in his opinion, I stubbornly persist in mine, and there is no problem. The problem begins if I say, “No, I have proven you wrong, so therefore you must change your opinion.” Then each time he restates his opinion, I would have to insist all the more loudly that he retract it. And likewise if it’s the other way around and LB is telling me I must retract my opinion. That is what I consider to be a problem.
Now maybe I’m misreading this conversation, but what it looked like to me is EN says “Geren sucks”; DFA says “you can’t prove that so therefore you must change your mind”; EN says “I’m not changing my mind, I still think he sucks”; DFA says, “Ack! you did it again. Take it back!”
I happen to think EN is wrong about Geren, but that’s not the point. He’s not telling me I’m not allowed to have a different opinion.
People have a right to be wrong. It’s not an offense against the universe if some people believe stupid things.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Oct 5, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I didn't say any of that though
I said EN was making shit up and that putting libel on the front page was bad.
Both PT and I said there were legitimate rational reasons to think that Geren should be fired and that if EN wants to fire Geren for losing or not getting tossed enough or having press conferences thats fine to have that opinion even though it isn’t rational.
EN then made the claim that his or her reasons were rational. I proved that those claims were not. If he or she had just said that I believe this because I do, that would have been fine. However, If EN wants to make claims about the rationality of his or her argument he or she in my book loses the right to be mad when people try to (or in this case successfully) prove them wrong.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 6, 2009 1:27 AM PDT up reply actions
(Bill Murray's a good actor)
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 6, 2009 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions
we can question Geren's all we want
but Bill Murray’s motivational skills are beyond reproach
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 7, 2009 3:45 AM PDT up reply actions
I didn't say he should retract his opinion
I said he should retract his baseless statement that Geren had not attempted to motivate the team to success in the final games of the season.
If instead of saying “Ugh no, he’s a putz and I hate all his movies,” you said “Ugh no, he molests children,” I think it’s more than reasonable to ask for some evidence of that claim and demand a retraction if there isn’t any.
The alternative is a situation where people have total license to lie in the service of making an argument.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
What do "sides" have to do with anything?
It’s not a fuckin playground fight, man. Jesus. Step away from the keyboard for a little bit or something. Drink a beer. Drink two beers.
You’re being an ass and pounding one small part of a much larger point EN was making into the ground.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
You cant call us a mob if there are less of us
And my point is that EN really has no idea what goes on in the clubhouse and to expect that a manager get fired for a 7 game losing streak which EN later expanded to 3 years with a shitty roster makes very little sense.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 4, 2009 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions
okay. whatever. You're right.
I guess that’s what you’re trying to get at? If I tell you you’re right will you just fucking drop it?
Eh, whatever. I’m going to bed. I’m tired of this already.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
right?
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Oct 5, 2009 1:25 AM PDT up reply actions
We know your argument.
You’ve explained it. Many times. But there’s a point where you just have to let it go before it descends into an ugly mess. That was about two pages ago. Just drop it before Bud Black makes you and accidentally tears your ACL.
Lay down, black gives way to blue.
Lay down, I'll remember you.
by danmerqury on Oct 4, 2009 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
What? You don't enjoy...
pissing contests? Trying to take a bone from a dog is easier than getting some folks to just DROP IT.
Why would you take a bone from a dog?!
What’s wrong with you?!
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 5, 2009 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Why take a bone from a dog,
when it’s both easier, and more rewarding, to take candy from a baby?
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
"But the old axiom was misleading:
Taking the candy proved exceedingly
difficult."
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
Screw you for worrying about that!
What evidence did you have that it was going to be a boring off-season???
Jerk!
Dimwit!
Douche!
{sob} I love you.
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
OAH told me she was going to take some time off.
Now, had she said she was going to take some clothes off, well, yeah.
{wink}
I'm here to talk about the past.
STOP FLIRTING WITH HIM!!!!!
WHORE!!!!!
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 5, 2009 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Do you get that most of us
agree with you on the Geren point? I only disagree on the haranguing Emperor-Nobody-for-his-faulty-opinion point.
Also, speaking only for myself, I’m only after you on this point, not Paul. Paul has defended you a few times, but he hasn’t gone rabid on EN like you have.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
Well, you are the Stats Killer...
Qu’est que c’est?
DFA.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
Better Run Run Run Run Run Run Run Away?
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 5, 2009 12:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Add in Dana Eveland, Santiago Casilla and Edgar Gonzalez
in your headline and we will all feel better
in honor of a new season
you should rename your cats “anderson” and “bailey”
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 4, 2009 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions
I can't wait until this headline appears on Yahoo! Sports and Sports Illustrated.
Anyone know Ed’s number?
Lay down, black gives way to blue.
Lay down, I'll remember you.
terrible
just pathetic.
It seems that I just have an on-line community to discuss the A’s with now, as most of my friends who were open to the idea of rooting for the A’s have taken up more sporting interests… like dog shows, roller derby, the Giants.
Ok Billy, you have 1 offseason of trading drama to keep my interest. make something interesting happen!
by rollierollieOxenfree on Oct 4, 2009 4:16 PM PDT reply actions
That team was one of my favorites....if the future team is gonna be like that one we are in for some big fun!!
"The trouble with baseball is that it is not played the year round." Gaylord Perry
by BERRYJO on Oct 4, 2009 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Goodbye 2009 season
you kind of sucked, although we had a few good times . . . not many, but a few.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
Lots of good times on AN, however.
As I said in today’s game thread, this was a very, very good season for this blog. I cannot remember it ever being a friendlier or more fun place to hang out.
Kudos to all y’all!
There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Oct 4, 2009 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions
TWSS
There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Oct 4, 2009 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah except in the middle of the season when every fanpost was
FIRE GEREN NOWW!!
That got really annoying
Oh yeah, and then that one time everyone was questioning Beane’s dedication to the team
"The A's get some action but they do not score..." -Glen Kuiper
"Anyone who calls themselves the Angels Angels should have to start over and ride the short bus." -timmeh from McCovey Chronicles
as mentioned above
those are both somewhat legitimate questions, there just isn’t solid agreement on a yes or no answer for either. The team didn’t help either of them, unfortunately, but that also makes the differentiation between dedication and laissez-faire for Beane, and suckitude or reasonable expectations for Geren that much harder.
We only have the Nationals to look at as an example of why firing a manager for a not-fully-assembled team makes little difference, but that’s my opinion
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
by cuppingmaster on Oct 4, 2009 8:01 PM PDT up reply actions
The Season In Review is up
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
We sucked, Crosby's gone
What more is there to review?
CuttheMullet, from "The Thread":
"Whenever I’m about to do something, I think "would an idiot do that?" and if they would, I do not do that thing."
by DMOAS on Oct 4, 2009 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
dibs.
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 4, 2009 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions
During Chez Nico on Tuesday every time Crosby appeared on the TV
Nico said “buh-bye”…and when the A’s took him out of the game today I thought of that…
I'm surprised Billy started Cros and Norma today
But then again, we were facing LHP. :-(
It will be interesting to see who ends up signing Cros (if anyone).
Is this the real life-
Is this just fantasy-
Caught in a landslide-
No escape from reality-
I'd look for Croz to sign with an NL team
banking on some “fresh start” mojo. He might do better in the NL, and with a fresh start. He could surprise everyone and only suck.
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
Look on the bright side.
Today, we witnessed the final GIDP hit by one “Bobby Crosby” playing for the Oakland Athletics.
This was my first year as an As fan...
… and it was a heckuva lot better than the As themselves. I learned a ton about baseball, loved listening to games on the radio, thought the late rallies and the stellar starts and all of Wuertz’s Ks and those incredible comebacks we will all remember and of course Bailey’s ROY-quality year – these were all wonderful and are the treasures that even a losing season and a 7-game slide can’t erase.
Did we love arguing about whether Rajai is a real .300 hitter? If Sweeney could ever hit 25 HRs? If Cust had a bad year or a great one? Did we love agreeing that Dana Eveland is a great weapon, except that its a weapon turned in the wrong direction?
My thanks to all of you for making this my very best season yet. See you in April!
IIRC, paris7 is young.
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 4, 2009 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Nope. I've lived in Oakland for five years...
… but I haven’t been a prof. sports fan for about twenty years, since college. Someone took me to a game last year (notoriously, the pre-ASB H.Street debacle), I really enjoyed it, and decided to follow the As for a year to see how much fun it was. Well, it was! I only made it to 3 games in person, but listened to probably 3/4s. And I read AN a lot, and poked my nose in now and again.
IIRC, I am wrong.
Maybe you can find one made by Go F**k Yourself San Jose... -Poppy
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 5, 2009 6:34 AM PDT up reply actions