Brad Ziegler To Be Featured on 2009 Season Preview

by Tyler Bleszinski on Feb 15, 2009 12:35 PM PST Comment 56 comments

Tonight on ESPN (yes, I'm actually pimping something on ESPN), there is a SportsCenter Special that is a 2009 baseball preview. It's from 5-8 p.m. on ESPN the big channel as opposed to the Ocho.

The big news is that AN's own Brad Ziegler will be on the show. He just contacted me to let me know. I can guarantee this will be one of the few times I'll ever say to you, make sure you watch ESPN tonight. If only to see Ziggy. Then you can make it a game by making fun of Kruk and company.

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Thanks for the heads up Blez!

I’ll be sure to tape it at the very least. Go A’s!

"God made Majnun love Layla so much that just her dog would cause confusion in him."

The Many Wines-Rumi

by mrod on Feb 15, 2009 1:00 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

"So Ziggy, tell me - what's it like pitching to Derek Jeter?

Speaking of Jeter, let’s talk Yankee baseball!…"

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 Feb 15, 2009 1:09 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

LOL!

The Ultimate Opportunist

by Rated-R Superstar on Feb 15, 2009 1:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

EPSN seems to be more all over the Sox Nuts

than Yankees recently.

"With 16-year-old Dominican righty Michel Inoa in tow, Gio Gonzalez improving at Triple-A and lefty Brett Anderson carving up Double-Abatters along with Simmons and Trevor Cahill, Oakland’s pitching depthis officially the envy of baseball." - BaseballAmerica.com

by Syphon on Feb 15, 2009 1:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

"So Zegler, if you were pitching to, say,

Dustin Pedroia, how much would you be thinking about how great Jacoby Ellsbury is?"

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 Feb 15, 2009 1:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

There ya go.

by Syphon on Feb 15, 2009 1:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Or how about this one?

“So Ziggy, you came into to pitch to A-Rod last year in a a tight game. Can you tell us what was going thru your mind? Or what the strategy was with your manager, Bob Geren?”
Zeigler to Geren….
"A-Rod? He’s my bitch."

“You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat.”—The Boys of Summer
by alox on Jul 19, 2008 4:09 PM EDT

"God made Majnun love Layla so much that just her dog would cause confusion in him."

The Many Wines-Rumi

by mrod on Feb 15, 2009 1:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey,

Good times!

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Feb 15, 2009 9:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Like ESPN knows Ziegler is a pitcher.

“So, Brad… Zig-… Zeeg-… Zeg-… Ok, Brad, who are you again?”
“A pitcher for the A’s.”
“The… A’s?”

by thejd44 on Feb 15, 2009 1:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

"Oh right!!! You play with Dale Barton!

So Zaggy – what DO you think of Manny Delcarmen?"

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 Feb 15, 2009 1:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And his twin brother...

…Daryl Barton.

by rageon on Feb 17, 2009 6:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nah, they know who he is

They spent about two seconds on him last hear when he set some sort of record.

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

by Flashfire on Feb 15, 2009 1:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And the intern who created that segment will never work in broadcasting again

by thejd44 on Feb 15, 2009 3:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thx for the heads up.

I prob woulda missed it.

by Syphon on Feb 15, 2009 1:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

You should thank Ziggy

I would’ve had no idea unless he messaged me. I don’t watch ESPN really at all anymore.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Feb 15, 2009 3:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I dont really either.

Thx Ziggy!

by Syphon on Feb 15, 2009 3:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oooh, we were close. They turned Ziggy into talk about the Phillies. Very smooth, ESPN.

by thejd44 on Feb 15, 2009 5:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

+1

It’s been a few months, but now I remember why ESPN sucks so much.

by NateHST on Feb 15, 2009 5:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That was fucking pathetic.

"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."

by mikev on Feb 15, 2009 5:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

what?

you didn’t like the 20 minute of who will sign manny, or the one question about the a’s to an actual player?

by Future Ed on Feb 15, 2009 5:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I like that they're so mystified by Nomar and Griffey being unsigned.

The fact that they’re not good has no bearing on it, I guess.

"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."

by mikev on Feb 15, 2009 5:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

So for those of us who weren't watching, what didn't we miss?

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

by Flashfire on Feb 15, 2009 6:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing! Everything!

Jeter’s jock! Sorry, I have to say that every three sentences when talking about ESPN. Just kind of a rule.

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 Feb 15, 2009 6:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Literally nothing.

They intro’d Ziggy, talked about the record, asked him about his motion or something, and then asked what it was like seeing Ryan Howard win the WS.

"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."

by mikev on Feb 15, 2009 6:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Have they asked Ryan Howard what it's like seeing Ziggy pitch?

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 Feb 15, 2009 6:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

At least they knew he and Howard are buddies.

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

by Flashfire on Feb 15, 2009 6:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

that's pretty much what I figured it would be

so I didn’t even bother tuning in. Why invite the disappointment? So I flipped over to “”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093428/" target="new">The Living Daylights" which I’m guessing was slightly less disappointing….

I'm starting to like our bullpen......Wuertz and all.

by scatterbrian on Feb 16, 2009 4:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This show is an absolute trainwreck.

I can’t stop rubbernecking.

"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."

by mikev on Feb 15, 2009 6:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Bring back Fire Joe Morgan!

by NateHST on Feb 15, 2009 6:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Fire Karl Ravech

ESPN just cannot seem to replace crap.

I'm starting to like our bullpen......Wuertz and all.

by scatterbrian on Feb 16, 2009 4:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I honestly think Ravech is the best (I mean, least bad) one

Basically because he doesn’t just make a whole bunch of shit up all the time, like Kruk and Phillips (and Harold Reynolds used to) do. Honestly, there are times when you can see how much he hates working with these idiots.

That said, they could replace everybody on the show and it would probably still suck.

by NateHST on Feb 16, 2009 10:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

last year

he called jerry blevins “jeremy belvins” and donnie murphy “danny murphy” in the same highlight. that’s when i decided he was the absolute worst

"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT

by travdog6 on Feb 17, 2009 3:01 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Chris Berman is the absolute worst

At least Ravech doesn’t try to impose an irritating and lame persona on you while he bungles basic information.

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 Feb 17, 2009 9:42 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Berman is pretty bad.

But I’d still give it to Kruk, Phillips (how the F did this guy get that far?) and of course, Joe Morgan. Was he even awake during those years when he was actually pretty good?

by NateHST on Feb 17, 2009 12:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Proof that you don't have to know about baseball to be good at it.

"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."

by mikev on Feb 17, 2009 12:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And also that just because you're good at it

Doesn’t mean you have any significant knowledge about it.

by NateHST on Feb 17, 2009 2:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

True.

Hey, you want London? PLEASE?

"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."

by mikev on Feb 17, 2009 3:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

that might be true

though I’d love to see how bad the broadcast could be if guys like Neyer or Law or even Olney were brought into the fold. My beef with Ravech is that he comes off like he’s just doing a job, and at times it doesn’t seem like he even likes baseball. Phillips, on the other hand, clearly loves baseball, but cannot help displaying why he is no longer a GM.

I'm starting to like our bullpen......Wuertz and all.

by scatterbrian on Feb 17, 2009 2:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It was good to learn that BBTN is awake for every inning...

of every Angels’ game, no matter how late they go. It was a lie, of course, but…

Clowns to the left of me... Jokers to the right...

by FoolshGame22 on Feb 15, 2009 6:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

At first I was like "Oh Cool! Ziggy!" and then I was all like "Man, that was lame."

Oddly enough I just happened to flip to ESPN at the beginning of the segment. I didn’t see Blez’s post until afterward so it was a pleasant surprise that lasted for about 30 seconds. I want to hope that doesn’t constitute the entirety of the A’s preview for the special, but I know better.

And it’s funny (and a little sad) that smart people like Peter Gammons still believe Ken Griffey Jr is a power hitter.

I like important stuff just as much as the next guy, but please, for a little while, deliver us from meaning, baseball. That's your greatest glory, and we thank you for it very, very much. -- Craig Calcaterra

by JLeverenz on Feb 15, 2009 6:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure I'd call Peter Gammons all that smart, at least when it comes to baseball.

He has his moments, but I generally ignore anything he says.

by thejd44 on Feb 15, 2009 6:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think he's thoughtful and insightful most of the time

He does tend to focus on the positive aspects/upswing of most things which I could see being mistaken for not being smart.

by JLeverenz on Feb 15, 2009 7:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

gammons

didn’t he say crosby would win the MVP a few years ago? haha

by dbeach13 on Feb 15, 2009 8:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh god

I forgot this, now I remember him saying that. Someone please kill the old man

Clear its radiance shine...

by ATarHeel on Feb 15, 2009 9:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Karmic justice.

It’s probably why he had that stroke.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Feb 15, 2009 9:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

too far

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Feb 16, 2009 2:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know...

I’ve felt my own blood pressure building to a crescendo while watching Bobby stride to the plate in a crucial moment. I can only imagine the rage I would experience had I made such a bold public prediction.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Feb 16, 2009 9:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought that was Harold Reynolds

"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."

by mikev on Feb 15, 2009 9:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

hmm

i’m pretty sure gammons made that prediction. maybe both reynolds and gammons made it. haha

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/gennaro_filice/09/28/fiveup.fivedown/1.html

by dbeach13 on Feb 15, 2009 10:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think they both made it online

But I think it was Reynolds whoe actually said it live on the air.

I might have it backwards though.

"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."

by mikev on Feb 15, 2009 10:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He also said that

The Cardinals (Who won the WS) and the A’s (Who made it to the ALCS) were the Play off chumps he couldnt see getting past the first round.

My favorite player is whoever is hitting behind Bobby Crosby because no matter what they always look so good.

by supermarc589 on Feb 16, 2009 12:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Um...

Both of those were upsets…

Many years from now, when his name's recalled
Everyone will say, "He should have passed the ball"
-- Al Stewart, "Football Hero"

by PaulThomas on Feb 16, 2009 12:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, really - those were completely reasonable predictions

Had he predicted that NOW, I’d be a little concerned. But at the time? Sure.

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 Feb 16, 2009 12:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs