A's Spend 7th Inning Chasing Baseball To No Avail
by Nico on Jun 13, 2009 9:51 PM PDT
Email
PrintAt the stretch it was a tidy 2-2 pitcher's duel. Then in the bottom of the 7th, the A's defense reminded me of when I get crack an egg into a bowl and a little piece of the shell gets into the egg white and every time I think I've got it the shell squirts away and eventually I decide "I didn't really want an omelet anyway" and get out the Haagen Daas. Oh right, the baseball game.
So for the first 6 innings, it was Bengie Molina's 2-run HR in the 1st, soon after which Josh Outman settled down to retire 14 in a row. The A's got one back on Hannahan's leadoff triple in the 3rd, followed by two weak dribblers back to the mound and an Adam Kennedy single. They got the other back on Kurt Suzuki's HR in the 5th.
Then came the bottom of the 7th. It started with Bengie Molina lining a 3-2 pitch into the left-field corner, beginning a game of pinball with Matt Holliday playing the part of the flippers. The ball played keepaway long enough from Holliday - or Holliday from it - that Molina, whose speed is measured not by a stopwatch but rather by a calendar, legged out a double. Score one for continental drift. Then Pablo Sandoval, on an 0-2 pitch, hit a high, lazy and shallow pop fly to right field. Kennedy drifted back, Cust charged, and Crosby (playing at 1B) ran like a half crazed bull in Pamplona, half terrified elephant on amphetamines, and distracted Cust just long enough to ensure the ball would drop. I believe Cust then caught Crosby, but no out was awarded. Michael Wuertz was summoned, Juan Uribe poked the first pitch to right for a hit, and the 3-run rally was on.
What I want to say about that sequence of hitters is that while young pitchers need to throw strikes, Outman in particular needs to throw strikes, and it's terrific that Outman did not issue a walk in his 6+ innings, the trio of Molina, Sandoval, Uribe have a combined 540 ABs so far this season and 17 walks. Maybe the 3-2 pitch to Molina didn't have to be a hitter's pitch? Maybe you bounce an 0-2 pitch to Sandoval? Maybe your first pitch to Uribe isn't in the strike zone? Food for thought.
Speaking of food, I need an omelet a tub of Haagen Daas. G'nite all.
232 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Very good point on Outman getting too much of the strike zone in the 7th
But that’s how young pitchers learn. He’s talented, but he’s only a rookie.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Yeah, but in terms of the learning point,
if Outman bounces the 0-2 pitch to Sandoval there is no defensive flub.
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
Can't blame a pop up falling in on Outman at all
He got the out, period.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Jun 13, 2009 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't agree at all
First of all, he should have taken one pitch to flat out go for the strikeout. Sandoval will chase balls that bounce in that situation. Second of all, the pitch itself was WAY too good. He’s actually lucky that Sandoval didn’t line it somewhere.
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
I don't remember how the pitch was
But hindsight is always 20/20 so I’m not going to argue with the results. Maybe Sandoval was looking for another pitch in which case throwing the pitch that Outman did was a good idea. I’m putting that ineptitude totally on the shoulders of Crosby and Cust because there’s no excuse for that ball to fall in. And Uribe’s pop-up vs. Wuertz was just lucky so whatever.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Jun 13, 2009 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I gotta say, pretty much all the blame in my mind falls on Crosby/Cust
mainly Crosby. Cust made a couple of very nice sliding catches later in the game, there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t have gotten this one if Crosby had not been in the way.
Especially because he pulled up short as Crosby was charging toward him
Replay suggested if he didn’t change his momentum he’d have had a chance at the catch.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
But he doesn't throw it
He may have wanted Outman, or Wuertz, to get a lot less of the strike zone than they got.
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
He also may have wanted a reach around.
Or some spaghetti. Do we have the tape? Where did he set up?
by sleepingcobra on Jun 13, 2009 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions
High lazy and shallow can hardly be the result of a bad pitch. Having Crosby play 1B and expecting a GG result is a little problematic. I didn’t see it; I hear Cust would have had it. On the other hand, crap happens.
Hannahan doesn’t have the error last night, maybe a different outcome too.
Once Duke (hurt) and Eveland (wtf) were toast, who really thought this team would do ANYthing?
So they tease us a bit with the occassional 7-game winning streak. From what I see on A’s Nation, that is second only to 1) the non-stop whining streak of the ‘fans’, and 2) the utter worship of certain elements of the A’s management/sacred calves.
Of course, it has been awhile since I perused this site regularly; maybe I’m being unfair. It used to be just the right place for Beane/Chavez worship…So now Beane really DID do something that will allow this team to recreate the golden years, and squalling is all I read.
Anyone here remember the Big Three? Remember the years where knowing Zito-Hudson-Mulder usually meant win-win-win? Remember Zito being the “stopper?”
And now, we are looking at 2010 with the Big Five. Plus another year of development for about 4 more guys who would be #3-#5 on most other staffs. Not counting Duke. Imagine the years of service we get out of Duke if he stays in the BP? Think there’s a difference between Duke and Wuertz?
Barton will be ready and good by 2010. Kennedy can be kept. We’re set at catcher for years and years. No reason to not be optimistic about outfield help by 2010. Even more reason if Holliday could be induced to stay. And the money would be there if Beane wants to spend it, since there are so many young guys.
Anyway, sure growl a bit about the games we’re gonna lose, but c’mon. Three of the 5 guys starting expected to spend most of 2009 in AAA. Obviously, they’re not there, and even better, guys who thought they’d spend most of 2009 in AA are starting at the AAA level. That’s nothing but good news.
Enjoy 2009 for what it is. If we are playing 500 ball in June in 2010, THEN wail.
Spelling never an issue.
Offensively?
Suzuki is solid, golden, whatever.
Barton, if he’s EVER gonna be good, will be good by then.
Ellis, not a powerhouse, but very solid.
SS — free agent
3B — free agent (ie, Kennedy moving to 3B wouldn’t break my heart. Probably won’t happen, and maybe shouldn’t. But if we’re talking current assets, I’d rather have his bat than Hannahan’s glove.)
LF — Wet Dream: spend the money to retain Holliday. He’s already showing his offense re: Colorado is not a fluke.
CF — Nothing at all wrong with Sweeney. Especially with another year under his belt.
RF — Plenty of power with Cust. Although I’d rather just DH him and be done with it.
RF redux — We have plenty of AAAA OF’s; trade a couple of them and one good one. Or just live with one powerless position, and settle for the glove.
Cust pointed something out a week or so ago that a lot of folks missed: this game is a game of averages; it is the essense of sabermetrics.
It should be noted Cust is currently hitting and obp’ing well below his average. So is Holliday. So is Cabrera. Hannahan is hitting HIS average, and that’s a problem. But he should not even be there, and that one is because of Beane’s man-crush on Chavez. But Ellis can come back soon, Kennedy can move to 3B … but I digress.) Rojjy Davis in CF? Yeah, he’s been hot, but he’ll revert to average. and that is a problem. Unless Sweeney comes back, and hits for average. Which is NOT a problem. Suzuki is doing fine.
Point being, if this team hits for average — and sabermetrics says they will — then this team has a chance to do something pretty special the second half. Or will the entire damn team continue to have career-low years?
Hell of a pitching staff we have. Now that the SP are actually getting into the 7th on a regular basis — which was not the case the first 60 games — the BP will naturally be more rested, leaving Geren more options. Ziegler is not going to be recovering from getting sick and losing 20# all year.
See... I really see no hope 2010 with that line-up...
I hope I’m wrong, but we might be in the same position.
A year of experience with this pitching staff,
plus BB giving up on the pipe dream of Chavy ever playing regular 3B for us actually goes a long way for me.
We need a different manager and we need to figure out the left side of the infield. I think the rest of it will work itself out.
"A few of the guests, who had the misfortune of being too near the windows, were seized and feasted upon at once.""--Pride and Prejudice And Zombies
by Leopold Bloom on Jun 14, 2009 1:57 AM PDT up reply actions
How does sabermetrics say this team will hit for average?
You seem to be assuming that most of our guys are currently hitting below their true averages and therefore can be expected to improve over the long run. On what are you basing that?
That is, what is the basis for saying that, say, Sweeney is really a 275 hitter who happens to be hitting 245 right now, as opposed to he’s just a 245 hitter. And the same for the others. I assume you’re regressing them all to something, but to what, and why?
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
It's bad
in Richmond, where I live, Oakland, where my wife works, San Francisco, where I go tons, and everywhere inbetween.
For some reason it’s crystal clear in Walnut Creek, though. Fucking Little Dallas.
by sleepingcobra on Jun 13, 2009 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions
We've had a few diaries on this topic
The KTRB transmitter is out by Mount Diablo, and reception seems to be worst in the parts of the East Bay that are sheltered by the Berkeley Hills — Richmond, El Cerrito, Albany, Berkeley, North Oakland. Supposedly the station is working on some improvement, but I don’t recall any recent updates. I’m moving to the Peninsula tomorrow so I’ll report back on how it sounds there!
by Englishmajor on Jun 14, 2009 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions
You are? Where will I get my raccoons from now on?
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
The thing is
The pitchers are having to be close to perfect to have a chance to win. A pro team cannot have Crosby,Davis and Hannahan in the lineup and expext to score enough to win on a consistent basis.
Whatever the Beane-Master does he MUST add some hitting to this team or all this young pitching will be wasted losing 4-2 games.
That is why the team is hitting .236 for the year
The hitters as an overall group are not game winning calibre
Get rid of the garbage you listed and we would have a chance
Get rid of the garbage
and replace it with what?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Ah
what the other 29 teams have. Better hitters.
3rd base Jack Hannahan.
Beane had plenty of $$$ to cover up his drafting inadequacies
How does Beane get them?
“Hi, Omar. There’s this guy who calls himself ‘Trainman’ who’s sick of watching Hannahan start 2/3 of the time because Jack can’t catch up with an 85 mph fastball. Well, actually, he thinks about 3/4 of the roster is worthless and wants to dump them. So, could I give you 2 or 3 of our garbage players and you give me, say, Murphy and, uh, Church, or maybe Wright? Do you think I could have Wright?”
Call for Beane to be fired in 3…2…1…
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
You're to so called expert you figure it out
He should have thought about this three years ago. He created the mess so how could anyone expect him to have the brains to get out of it.
He does not know how to create an offense. That is painfully obvious
"Get rid of the garbage we have and we'd have a chance"
Those are your words. They don’t really make any sense on their own, since you can’t play with less than a 25-man roster. You have to replace the garbage players with someone. So, I’m asking who you replace them with.
And your answer is, “Better hitters.” Great. That’s called begging the question.
I ask, “How do you get these better hitters?” And you say, “You figure it out.”
Sorry, Trainman, that’s ridiculous. If you think there’s a way to improve the roster, right now, then suggest it. Call up Doolittle? Give the 1B job to Barton (would his number really be any worse than Giambi’s?)? Trade for someone?
And if you’re not all that interested in actually thinking about that, or making those suggestions, then it seems to me that you’re more interested in complaining and calling guys garbage than you are in imagining how the team could be better.
(Oh, and BTW I have no idea who in the world ever called me an “expert” on baseball but it sure as hell wasn’t me.)
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I can think of one way -
Beane could have gambled on Andruw Jones instead of Giambi, etc. I mean there were other options, just not the benefit of 20/20 hindsight.
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
If Beane had picked up Jones
Everyone here would have gone crazy with rage and disbelief. There’s a reason that he didn’t, Jones was absolutely terrible the past couple seasons. I’d say Jones success is mostly blind luck and the Ranger’s home ballpark. Oh and a good hitting coach.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Jun 13, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed
There was no reason to think Andruw Jones was going to hit like this.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
Jones has MASSIVE Arlington splits
His away numbers are Jack Hannahan bad.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=jonesan01&year=2009&t=b
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
His road numbers are even worse than Giambi's overall numbers
Andruw Jones on the road: .216/.333/.324
Giambi 2009: .211/.349/.381
The thing is, Jones’s overall OPS+ is 128, and baseball-reference.com claims that OPS+ is park adjusted. I suppose that means that they adjust based on the overall park effect, not based on each individual player’s splits (which, of course, can suffer from SSSitis).
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
I'm not saying "ZOMG they should have signed Jones!!!!111"
I’m just saying that there are always guys out there who will do surprisingly well and guys who won’t. The trick is to figure out who’s who and the A’s, because they don’t spend a lot of money, need to be exceptionally good at this. And recently they haven’t really been.
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
Maybe Raul Ibanez would be a better example
I wasn’t keen on pursuing him but how awesome would it have been, for 2009, had he been the A’s choice instead of Giamcabreraparra?
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
Sure they do - they need ones that hit like Ibanez is hitting
That’s like saying they don’t need a SS because they have Cabrera, Crosby, Pennington, and Petit. I never advocated going after Ibanez, but you’re saying if you had a crystal ball you wouldn’t want him for 2009?
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
Not a philosophy major, I gather
What’s wrong with having hypothetical arguments on an internet fan site? Isn’t that kind of what they’re for?
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
where would he play? would it negate the need for the holliday trade? do we still have cargon?
do we sit cust? does buck ever sniff the field? we still don’t have a CF or a SS or 3B.
we’d like ibanez’s offense (thought its a career year at 37..hello), but his defense is terrible. therefore, we’d be bitching about that.
Your OF would have been
Holliday, Sweeney, Ibanez and your DH Cust. And the exciting young 3B you traded for 3 years ago would be really hitting his stride, diving in front of traffic to save frightened unicorns on his way to starting the All-Star Game.
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
Longoria
:drool:
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
I can't BELIEVE
the A’s didn’t draft him1
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
FREAKING EEDIOTZ.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
You misspelled “EEDIOTTS.”
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
uh, surely three years ago the A's were competing
and Chavez was, well, people still thought he’d be ok.
If they’d traded away a chance for the playoffs in 2006 to get a future 3B…. do you think anyone would have been happy about that?
Not convinced.
Easy, easy.
Because no Raul Ibanez talk is complete without this. Regardless of how much hindsight is involved.
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
I was waiting for that video
How can ANYONE accuse him of taking steroids?
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
LAWN DART FTW
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
Ibanez would've been good, but...
He plays in a hitters park for a world champion team surrounded by MVP’s like Howard and Rollins, as well as Utley, Victorino, Werth, etc. There is NO WAY he hits in the Oakland lineup like he’s raking in Philly.
{cue the "protection is a myth" band}
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
Probably
I think it’s obvious that protection is not a myth. Adrian Gonzalez is going through what happens when there’s no protection around him. Teams can afford to pitch around him and walk him because they don’t worry about who’s coming up after him.
Mark Teixeira always starts slow but he’s been mashing since A-Rod came back and hit behind him in the lineup. You KNOW Tex is getting some better pitches to hit now.
Remember when Bonds was walked all the time because the Giants had nobody teams feared behind him?
People who hit ahead of feared hitters will always get better pitches to hit because teams don’t want to put those guys on ahead of a slugger. If a pitcher has to face three, four or five guys in a row that will all make him pay for a bad pitch or a walk, his margin of error shrinks to nothing.
Protection may not be provable with hard and fast numbers, but it is absolutely not a myth.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
I also saw last night snapped an 0-for-17 slump and he's back under .250
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
Another example would be Branyan
A better choice than Giambi, especially given the price.
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 a "way to improve the roster, right now"?
That was what NIck was asking for.
by el campysino on Jun 13, 2009 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Look
I don’t sit on the computer and follow all the players in the minors etc on other teams but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that there are better players out there to play 3rd than Jack Hannahan who cost minimal $$$ and can upgrade the offense.
Most teams have back ups that can hit better than Hannahan.
The bottom line is Billy Beane does not have a good record with offensive players and when he gets fixated and falls in love with people like Chavez and Crosby, thinking they are both the second coming, then he falls short when they either break down or are totally worthless as Crosby is.
I used to think Barton had talent but now he’s learned the A’s hitting philosophy of backing your way on base, he has become stagnant like most of the hitter do in the A’s system.
Adam Kennedy was a great pick up. If you found someone half as good to play 3rd who could hit .250 then that would give you some hope. Hannahan has a few hits and everyone thinks it’s fine.
If Beane had one of the top 10 payrolls in MLB
I flat-out, heart-attack, night-train, nuclear-bomb guarantee you, this offense would blow your impatient, Beane-blaming mind.
by sleepingcobra on Jun 14, 2009 5:41 AM PDT up reply actions
You've been wrong about this before and you're wrong about it again
Crosby, Davis and Hannahan are not the reason the offense is bad.
People better than them being injured enough that they’re forced to play a lot is.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
Yes
And Chavez is not an excuse
He has been injured for four years. Beane should have fixed that problem with the draft say like in 2006 at the latest.
Nomar was a risk with his calves
And Crosby, Davis and Hannahan are one of the reason’s the offense is bad. You are wrong if you think they are not one of the reasons
Are they hitting over .250?
They are like 3 pitchers hitting
Cabrera and Giambi are more at fault here than the reserve-turned-starters Davis, Crosby and Hannahan.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 13, 2009 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Hitting Cabrera in the #1 spot
I wonder who is at fault for that?
The twin geniuses I think
You're pointing fingers at a few players who have the least to do with this
With the roster heading into the season, Crosby, Davis and Hannahan probably figured to see some time here and there based on injury concerns with others but not to this extent. They’re not the cause, they’re the effect. Cabrera isn’t hitting well. Giambi isn’t hitting well. Cust started out well but he’s slumping. Holliday started out poorly but he’s been better. Suzuki started out hot but he’s slipped. Chavez is out. Garciaparra can’t go a week without landing on the DL again. Ellis went on the DL but at least Beane found Kennedy.
Meanwhile, Crosby’s had to play first and third. Sweeney’s hurting and Davis has had to play. Hannahan had to be called up. It’s not like anyone expects them to carry the team.
Then you complain just about every day and say “get rid of the trash” and “get better hitters” yet you offer no solutions or ideas for who to trade for (and how) or sign. It’s just the same stuff over and over again.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
This stems from...
Chavez really… and not being prepared that he couldn’t hold up for a entire month yet alone a season. When he went down it was a chain from there. Nomar should have never been the one in mind to back up Chavy… he’s had his own problems as well. The fact that we didn’t go out for a “True” 3B option is what is really killing us now.
Yep, and that's not the fault of the three whipping boys
That’s on Beane.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
And over and over again we get to watch a team
hit .236.
The other GM’s don’t have a problem with their teams for the most part. They hit a lot better.
Sweeney being hurt does not help. Chavez is out because he’s out every year. He does not count as an excuse. That’s 100 percent on Beane for being stupid enough to not have a back up.
We all point out that Cabrera should not be leading off.
I would have Kennedy leading off and Cust hitting second. Cust certainly should not be hitting 3rd. The number bear that out.
And then there’s the manager.
Sorry but IMO this team could be run a hell of a lot better but I am sure you will disagree with that.
I am too pissed off to sit down at the moment and look for solutions and for ideas on who to trade for. Maybe I will do that on the off day.
Well, thank you for at least proving it's not all just Crosby, Davis and Hannahan
But let’s stop pretending the A’s are the only team in the Majors with a bad offense or the only team that has trouble putting together a good one. It’s simply not true.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
Often wrong and
rarely right huh flashfire. Oh well, at least I’m consistent I guess. Your right about these players being replacement players but the players they replaced aren’t exactly on the way to cooperstown.
I believe in ol’ Beanie and since the pitchers aren’t going to cost much for the next couple of years there should be plenty of money for him to spend on some bats.
Chavez is pretty much done
Giambi is hitting .212 and slugging .383, Nomar is permanently hurt. Even Cabrera, who’s never been a really good hitter, is having the worst season of his entire career this year.
Beane was betting/hoping that at least some of those guys would produce at the plate. They’re all either hurt or old or both (which, except for Chavez, is why Beane could get them in the first place), but he probably figured that things would work out with at least one of them.
He took a calculated risk and lost. I completely agree that the lineup isn’t talented enough to win. That, and not intangibles or “leadership” is why the team is playing badly and losing so much this year.
There are some good hitters in the minors, and more good pitchers who can be traded for good hitters. That’s the basis for hope.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Completely agree with this.
Nobody has a crystal ball.
The Chavez thing was expected, and bad on Beane for not preparing for that, but nobody could expect Giambino and OCab to completely fall off the face of the earth (OCab both offensively and defensively). Mildly decline, yes, but not to this level.
The same way nobody could expect Raul Ibanez to hit like he has.
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
Defensive brain farts and untimely hitting does not win you ballgames.
Here’s to tomorrow!
by ElQuesoCapitan on Jun 13, 2009 10:22 PM PDT reply actions
On to tomorrow in which we will see Matt Cain’s 8-1 record along with his 2.55 ERA!
Here, here!
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 13, 2009 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions
I can hardly wait
Hope Anderson remembers how to pitch better than he has of late.
Obviously he is going to need to given the offense
He has been the worst pitcher in our starting rotation.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 13, 2009 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I would in reverse
Stop their gloat!
Green and Gold Lantern Corps
by oaklandSMASH on Jun 14, 2009 12:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Did Cust call off Crosby....
…. on that pop up? He should have. If not, I don’t think it was Crosby’s fault.
My take was that Cust was distracted by Crosby
where if Crosby hadn’t strayed so far out so aggressively, Cust would have been more likely to take charge and catch it.
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
It doesn't really matter at this point
but If Cust doesn’t call it I dont’ see how anyone call blame Crosby? He doesn’t know if Cust will make the play.. Bobby’s job is to go after it until he gets called off.
This is one of those bad luck situations… if Giambi was playing first he wouldn’t have had the range to get in Cust’s way. Oh wel… there’s always tomorrow… it’s not like the A’s will be facing another past or future Cy Young canditate…. oh wait
“You’re going to lose games eventually, but that was absolutely the worst possible way,” the rookie left-hander said. “I didn’t get to give up my own runs, the extra run scored on a play I thought should have been converted into an out.”
Asked if he thought the Sandoval fly ball should have been caught, he said, “I thought so, the way the wind was keeping the ball up.”
Woo honesty.
Since Geren isn’t going to hold them accountable (I want Ozzie Guillen in here!!!), why not the players police each other.
I like these quotes from Outman.
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
Geren's quote was that he thought the ball "was perfectly placed."
Way to hold your players accountable, Bobbo!
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!! This is a major part of the problem
Besides some game management mistakes my biggest problem with Geren is that he obviously has not done much to stem the tide of poor play.
I think this train wreck of a season falls squarely on the manager. Why is it that many hitters are not producing (Giambi, Cabrera) could be the team psyche and that has alot to do with the manager. Good managers know when to kick the team in the butt every now and then. One or two would have helped about a month or so ago. Right now the players would just laugh at him
In any other club he would have been fired. Justly or not to try and turn around the season.
As to blaming the GM he went out and brought in some hitters (Kennedy, Giambi, Cab) Based on their previous stats 2 of them should be hitting much better.
The team lacks the right winning culture that is on the manager.
One can't really help but notice that Mike Scioscia
chewed out his players two days ago for their effort, the team has responded by winning 11-1 and 9-1, Torii Hunter was quoting as saying, “We deserved it,” and he went out and hit 3 solo HRs, to walk the walk, last night.
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
perfectly placed?
between two lousy defenders?
is that what Geren meant?
what’s wrong with saying it was misplayed?
That could hurt someone's feelings.
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
It's a sign that your offense is terrible
When there are more horrible hitters than decent-good ones. The combination of Kennedy, Cust, Holliday, and Suzuki is merely an island in the ocean of suck that is Cabrera, Crosby, Davis, Hannahan, and the pitcher’s spot. What really gets me is that there are 29 other teams who manage to have a better offense than us so it really does not seem that tough to do yet we continually fail at producing a capable offense. Something’s gotta give eventually doesn’t it?
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
Exactly
Beane off to run his soccer club would be a great start
Ah, back with the hinting that Beane cares more about the soccer team than the A's again?
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
What's the deal with
the soccer stuff anyway? I’m asuming this is about the MLS team in San Jose. Does Beane run that club as well?
I’m sure Beane’s main focus is the A’s and I do believe a person can be a success as a baseball GM and still have other interests.
Anyone else notice...
that the A’s haven’t really developed a decent hitter from their minor leauges since steroid testing went into effect? Suzuki is a good hitting catcher but he’s hardly Chavez, Tejada, or Grieve. Am I forgetting anyone?
There were a couple of decent hitters developed
in Oakland’s minor league system. But none of them stayed to play in Oakland.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
Nick Swisher is still good
Even though Kenny Williams and Ozzie Guillen disagree with this statement.
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
It could be worse. We could be Pirates fans, Cubs fans, Indians fans, Royals fans or Padres fans. If I offended you fans of those teams I just mentioned, I apologize.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 13, 2009 11:24 PM PDT reply actions
Yeah, the Cubs are going to be REALLY bad really soon
All those backloaded contracts to aging guys, a farm system that consists of Vitters, Cashner, and Samardijija, and few trade pieces on the MLB club which are both good and affordable enough to bring back value.
Hendry is a moron in the finest sense.
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
The Solution is simple
We suck and we need to trade Holliday, Cabrera and a young pitcher or two.
We can get a legitimate SS/3B prospect that is ready to play next year. We can get a starting OF that can send Cust back to permanent DH. We can sign another starting OF in the offseason to replace Holliday. Cardenas is now at 3B in AA tearing it up and learning the position. He might be ready next year? Or maybe 2011. Our starting pitching and bullpen will be solid next year with Duke back. Overall the future is bright. This season is going to suck though. Remember how bad we were last year after Blanton and Harden were traded?
Byron
We have a rotation full of good, young pitcher, we don't need anymore.
What we do need is a couple more prospects with middle of the order hitting potential.
Sometimes life will strike you out on a curve ball and the only choice you have is to flip off the umpire and walk to first base anyway.
by Threepwood XX on Jun 13, 2009 11:47 PM PDT up reply actions
I am now enjoying watching the A's again.
I wasn’t finding much to get excited about but now with guys like Mazzaro and Outman on the team at least there’s something good going on. It always sucks not to make the playoffs but at least the team is no longer deathly dull to watch.
Hey do you want my ticket then?
LOL!!!! I’m trying to enjoy watching this young talented pitching staff peform, but damn it is sooooo frustrating watching an inept offense
Byron
by DoomandGloom on Jun 13, 2009 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I can't go tomorrow...
but I am going next week. Gotta get a McGwire jersey and see the ’89 reunion game too…those were crazy mad exciting years to be a fan.
I wish I was alive then.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 13, 2009 11:42 PM PDT up reply actions
No Longer Deathly Dull To Watch?
Have you seen the bottom 4 hitters in the lineup lately? They could put an amphetamine addict to sleep!
He's right! I can vouch for that!
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
Going tomorrow and
not even looking forward to it…
I hate going to the games when we suck. Call me a fair weather fan, but at least if I’m at home I can throw shit and kick things, turn the volume down, go surf the internet for SS prospects in other organizations….at the game I feel trapped and want to fight mutha fukers that talk shit…Only if I were still 21! Those were the good ol’ days! LOL
Byron
How old are you now?
The games can be fun…enjoy watching the young pitchers get their groove on. The hitting is improved too over the start of the season.
Cheer for your team tomorrow no matter what.
Trust me, the Giant’s fans hate it. They REALLY fucking hate it. So do it.
"You're just jealous. You wish you had a rally animal..." -CardinalWraith
Giants fans think we’re annoying and really do hate us.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 13, 2009 11:52 PM PDT up reply actions
The Deux Ex Machina of the Bay Bridge argument doesn't hurt either.
Good Guys = 4 Championships > Bad Guys = Bupkiss
Also, gotta love the winners of the 1989 Fall Classic!
It’s keeping me feeling good tonight!
Green and Gold Lantern Corps
by oaklandSMASH on Jun 14, 2009 12:05 AM PDT up reply actions
Okay, I give up.
Who the hell is Mike Carr, and why did he get a trophy?
by el campysino on Jun 14, 2009 12:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Beats me, but sign me up for the "trophy giveaway" line
Green and Gold Lantern Corps
by oaklandSMASH on Jun 14, 2009 12:37 AM PDT up reply actions
TWAS
(That’s what Ahmadinejad said.)
Hope that’s not a CGV.
by el campysino on Jun 14, 2009 1:03 AM PDT up reply actions
and you got to see it.
lucky you.
"A few of the guests, who had the misfortune of being too near the windows, were seized and feasted upon at once.""--Pride and Prejudice And Zombies
by Leopold Bloom on Jun 14, 2009 2:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Reasons for optimism
As long as the A’s young starters continue to pitch well, I am not going to be too glum.
Outman continues to perform at a high level. That’s what I’m looking for, really.
The other stuff is aggravating but the byproduct of a rebuilding team that doesn’t have enough good hitters. They won’t be arriving this year. We can bitch and moan about that, and I’ll join the chorus myself at times, but there’s no point in crying now.
If the A’s come out of this season with a promising young, healthy and cheap rotation, that will solve an awful lot of problems going forward.
I guess
What bothers me is that we always seems to have a good rotation but very rarely have we had a decent offense in the past 5-6 years. I know that we should feel blessed to have a good rotation but god damn would it be nice to be able to count on having 4 runs/game.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Jun 14, 2009 1:25 AM PDT up reply actions
One observation on the A's developing pitchers and hitters
The A’s have had a great record of developing young pitchers lately (even if some of them get hurt, which is not that unusual with pitching prospects). They have a pretty bad record of developing hitters.
I checked the park effects for the Coliseum over the past decade. Since 2006, the Coliseum has been either the worst or 2nd-worst hitter’s park in the AL (this year the rating is 93, with 100 being neutral). It’s been a much worse hitter’s park than Seattle during that time. The Metrodome has been the only similar park.
That’s a bad context for young hitters’ development. And even if they do develop, their numbers might look bad at first glance because the Coliseum lowers everyone’s numbers. On the other hand, it’s a great context for developing pitchers, and the caveats apply in reverse to them.
Strangely, there was a period from 2001-2005 when the Coliseum fell to 6th or 7th in the league for a few years. Obviously there can be random fluctuations, and of course since this measure is comparative, and not absolute, the difference could have to do with other ballparks. For example, the new Yankee Stadium pulls the AL’s hitting numbers up overall, so even if the Coliseum plays exactly the same in absolute terms this year, in comparison to the league average it’s an even more extreme pitchers’ park.
But when you get to 1999 and before, there’s the Coliseum again, either the worst or 2nd-worst hitter’s park in the league.
If you want to check these numbers out here’s the link the the Baseball-reference.com data on ballpark effects in 2009. Click either BPF (Batting Park Factor) or PPF (Pitching Park Factor) to sort the list. And you can click “2008 AL” to see the previous year.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
stayed up late after the fiasco. then convinced myself
to fork over for Extra Innings and real deal tv for a change ….. whether our boys that great or not… heck, it’s baseball and it’s the A’s (well, that is what I told myself last night….buyers remorse is setting in this morning….a win today would help)
alaska A residing in Idaho.
Your'e lucky you have the option!
Stupid Dish Network and their lack of a contract with MLB! Or maybe it’s stupid MLB! I think the A’s will be a special team in 2010 and on. Beane will fix the offense and make it better, either by keeping Holliday or trading for better players, and Sweeney will improve. Don’t worry, and let the G’s fans gloat. They don’t get the chance very often, and they’ll be out in the first round if they make the playoffs, so who cares?
"I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way." -Jessica Rabbit
by A'sfansince1970 on Jun 14, 2009 8:55 AM PDT reply actions
gio's line last night from the rivercats game
6IP, 0ER, 4H, 1BB, 8K…woo hoo right? no…
97 pitches, 62 strikes. ugh.
major league hitters are just gonna wait till he has to throw a fastball and then crush it.
Trade bait.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
Agreed, but that's actually not a terrible ratio
You’d like to see better but could do a lot worse.
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
I know - he'd be rocked right now in the bigs
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
I know.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
No!
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
Knough
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
I used to watch him 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
no that's Keough.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
Ough.
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
He's my favorite cockney knucklballer!
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
In the same way that Rod Nichols
is my favorite “forkleballer”?
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 too bad
Saw something in today’s Sac Bee that they want him getting his strike % up to about 65%, especially on first pitches.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
Sigh. I work with 2 Giants fans.
I guess it’s too much to ask for a series win at home.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
It's just too much to get what I ask for?
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
WHAT??? MINE IS THE 6TH!!!
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
in hind sight, asking for a million dollars
even if it meant a loss, you could have been a woman of leisure with season box seats.
alaska A residing in Idaho.
buck...
i imagine the a’s will call up buck for today’s game against cain…at this point i hope buck plays, barton plays, cunningham plays, etc for every game. aside from holiday, guy not on the team next year need to grab pine.
buck’s line during his rehab…357/389/714…only 18 PA
the part that is squishy is that he had ZERO multiple hit game. only 5 games
looking for hope
I'd sure rather see Buck and Barton
than see R. Davis and Crosby. Part of what has irked me about 2009 is that in regards to position players we’re not seeing the future anyway. Watching Cahill and Anderson and Bailey struggle and grow, fine. Watching crud flail, not so fine.
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
I'd like to see Barton get more ABs, too
Though I think that he’ll get sent down when Buck is activated, whenever that is. Unless Giambi pulls his hamstring first, or Nomar’s foot falls off or something.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
So you expect Barton to play every day for Oakland, then?
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
Oh, right Denorfia!
I’d completely forgotten about him!
Yeah, I suppose it would make sense for him to go back to AAA. That would buy Barton another week or so. But then the numbers game would catch up with him when Sweeney comes off the DL.
BTW, Orlando Cabrera has the 2nd worst OPS in the entire AL. For some bizarre reason, BJ Upton is 5th from the bottom — 2 positions lower than Sweeney.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
The A's are slugging .358 as a team, .034 points lower than next worst (CWS)
That’s more troubling than their league worst .238 batting average.
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 a correlation between slug % and batting average...it's hard to slug at a high rate when you make lots of outs
cust and dunn are two exceptions.
Low batting average doesn't always = lots of outs
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
Well, citing your 2 examples
It’s very possible to have a low average and a high OBP.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
ok, i see where you're headed...you took me too literally...
my point is that the formula for slg % is a severity adjusted batting average (simplistically anyway).
its hard to hit for a very high slg % if you have a low batting average. cust and dunn are the obvious exceptions. walks don’t affect slg %.
the correlation between obp and slg % is not as high as batting average and slg %.
the reason i was making the point was to tell nico that its not odd
that the a’s slg % poorly when their batter average is poor. the two points are highly related.
that’s it.
Except that the A's built their lineup with two key guys,
Cust and Giambi, who figured to be “low BA / high SLG” hitters.
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
And that's really all you can hope for.
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
lots of walks???
OBP is a better indicator of how often a player makes an out.
A guy with a .360 OBP and .250 BA makes a lot fewer outs than a guy with a .300 OBP and .290 BA.
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
i understand but you missed my point
you can’t slg if you don’t hit. having a high obp doesn’t equate to a high slg %. that’s all i was trying to say.
I don't know - I think the A's really need Denorfia
to sit on the Oakland bench and watch the other 24 guys play.
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
agreed
we need to see progress and we’re seeing it on the pitching side. cahill, mazzaro, outman and braden are formidable. i thought mazzaro was the weak link, but he’s clearly not. the other lefties need to step it up…anderson, eveland, gonzalez, DLS.
on the offensive side, we know nothing more about buck, barton, cunningham
Truly nothing is more maddening than seeing these guys called up and sat on the fucking bench.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
I completely, totally, fully, 100% agree.
That’s the absolute worst thing the A’s can do here.
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
Heading to the game soon...
I’m a little more optimistic than last night. I’m trying not to think sweep. It’s so hard because Anderson seems so poised to give up at least 5. Maybe a soft hitting team won’t do so much damage against him? Also can the A’s score off Cain? Jesus Christ! Please do not embarrass me A’s!!!! I’m going into foreign territory so at least get a Win and avoid the sweep!
Byron
Let's go Oak-Land
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
I'm wearing black today
All of my A’s gear today is black in mourning of our imminent slaughter….and consequential sweep! LOL
LET’S GO OAKLAND!!!!
Byron
Imminent Slaughter?
All this time I thought it was Enos.
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
wow
you know, the Giants aren’t that great a team. True, they’ve played better than the A’s this weekend.
They may not be a better team....
but at least they have an identity…we are an AAAA team with several of our off season signings on the DL or death bed; whatever…
We all knew the potential for bad health was very probable, so the sooner we deal with how bad our season is going to be the better off we are in the long run.
Trade, trade, trade!
Byron
by DoomandGloom on Jun 14, 2009 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions
Fans may hate my saying this, but if I am to be honest:
The 2009 Giants are more interesting to watch than the 2009 A’s. Sandoval is fun to follow, several players are threats to run, Lincecum is flat out electric, and Brian Wilson has the most awesomest tattoos, man! OK, Pepe is better – advantage, Oakland.
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
yeah, I'll take Pepe, Anderson, Mazzaro, and Cahill.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
You know what would be cool:
If Pepe made the All-Star team. Not Braden, mind you, Pepe.
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
Watching the A's is like....
viewing a root canal. It’s so painful to watch, but you can’t look away because someone is getting their tooth ripped out!!!
OR
As the late great George Carlin said, “watching golf (insert the A’s) is as boring as watching flies fuck!”
Byron
by DoomandGloom on Jun 14, 2009 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Equally frustrating for Outman, it seemed, was that A’s manager Bob Geren pulled him after Sandoval’s “single.” The score was 2-2 at the time, and Outman had retired 14 in a row before Molina’s double.
Did you lobby Geren to stay in the game, Josh?
“No,” Outman offered flatly. “It wouldn’t have done any good. When Bob comes out there, his mind is made up. So [lobbying] would have been moot.”
Never, Never, NEVER give up
I too also found that interesting as well.
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
And I don't agree.
That Geren has a mind.
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
Yeah, "he's got his orders" would probably be more correct there.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
I seriously doubt that
I’m confident that Geren and Geren alone makes on-the-spot decisions like whether and when to pull a pitcher.
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
You don't think Billy Martin is pulling the strings?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
PULL THE STRINGS!
"A few of the guests, who had the misfortune of being too near the windows, were seized and feasted upon at once.""--Pride and Prejudice And Zombies
by Leopold Bloom on Jun 14, 2009 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Pfffffffft.
Good one, LB.
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
Plan 9 From the AL West!
What will happen when alien GMs try to animate dead sluggers to lead a team to a division title?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Ughhhhhhh.
I hate Geren even more now.
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
Is Geren a numbers guy??
I don’t think so…
He wasn’t pulling Outman because of careers #’s against the next 3 batters. Hell he had Burriss, Pitcher and Rowand. Rowand looked horrible against him…Whatever!
Byron
I think he did the right thing, which was to put in the guy
who had the best chance to strike out Uribe – a bad ball hitter who treats a slider in the dirt the way Crosby does. At that point the A’s needed a strikeout (or pop up) before worrying about anything else, and Wuertz was exactly the best guy to get it.
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
Wuertz' slider has good days and bad days
When he’s throwing it well, he’s close to unhittable for RHs. But there are games when his slider is more of a “roller” and he has trouble putting guys away.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
He needed to bury sliders to Uribe,
not throw the first one for a strike.
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
"I come to bury slider, not to hang him"
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Umm, she's hot.
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
What was your point?
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
dogs don't eat pancakes.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
OT: Bryce Harper enrolls in JUCO
In other words, he can be drafted next year.
Too bad the Nats are record-setting awful right now, since he’ll probably be the consensus #1 pick.
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
Yeah, he'd be nice.
"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."
I just want to be the first to publicly thank Johan Santana
for picking a game against the Yankees to decide, for a day, to pitch like Edgar Gonzalez’ less talented younger brother, Gascan McSuckyzalez.
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
Did he throw another tantrum when Manuel came to the mound to take him out?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
No, but John Cleese whacked Manuel on the top of the head with a wet newspaper.
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
Kennedy leading off with Cust batting second
http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=290614126
Hannahan batting 6th (LOL)
I guess we can’t ask for him to do it totally correct
I'm glad
they’ve waited for cust to completely bottom out before hitting him 2nd
by chipper1001 on Jun 14, 2009 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions
A .780 OPS when you take into account his glove, is above average overall.
If he does that for some extended period of time (I know, not likely), that’s a major plus. But thats a pipe dream.
A .780 OPS from someone who provides nothing with the glove, now that’s not good(I’m looking at you Sirs Cust and Giambi).
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
Maybe already posted elsewhere but Chavez out for season
Just retire already please.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Baseball Nation Recent Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Photo: Padres fan regrets letting mother capture moment with Trevor Hoffman
- Marlins agree to unretire No. 5 for Logan Morrison, who will honor his father’s favorite player
- Weatherman Derek Holland does Dallas TV
- Ask Alex: Will Julio Teheran or Matt Moore win rookie of the year?
- Ku Klux Klan, umpires and bowling: Why the minor leagues tossed out Jim Evans academy
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
