Is it me or is this team just hard to watch?
by Arcman on Jun 25, 2009 9:01 AM PDT
46 comments
Last night I watched about 3 innings of the game then put on a movie. Once the A's are down a few runs there is no reason to watch the team. I know that unless its a pitchers duel the A's will not score more than 5 runs. To me this is the toughest season to watch the A's that I can remember.
I would not mind seeing some rookies like Patterson, Dollittle, or Pennigton hit but to watch guys like Crosby, Giambi, and Garciaparra who will be gone next year is tough. I still do not understand why Travis Buck is in AAA hitting over .360 when we have only 3 players in the starting lineup that can hit over .250. The toughest part is watching Geren manage like a little league manager. He makes out the starting lineup and then sits in the dugout the rest of the night doing nothing. So is it me or is this team tough to watch?
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It's not just you
I agree with you completely. This team by far has been one of the hardest teams to watch in recent years. Beane needs to clean house, including Geren.
by TBRMKane on Jun 25, 2009 9:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This is easily the hardest A's team to watch since
last year’s team.
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 Jun 25, 2009 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Atleast last year
We had a good first half. I do feel the injuries are because of not resting players and putting the same lineup out there almost every game. Giambi should only play 3 games in a row then rest.
by Arcman on Jun 25, 2009 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or he should rest for 3 games in a row and then play.
FREE DARIC BARTON!!!
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 Jun 25, 2009 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
New Coli Chant!
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 Jun 25, 2009 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Will this franchise...
ever have a legitimate offensive threat, I mean a superstar type, not a Matt Holliday, who was a great hitter only because of where he played?
by Keystone State on Jun 25, 2009 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chris Charter comes to mind
and hopefully Cardenas will be a stud as well.
"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT
by travdog6 on Jun 25, 2009 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I saw Jemile Weeks tonight in San Jose
Giants vs. Stockton Ports. Weeks hit a homerun in his first at bat and makes really solid contact just about every time he has an at bat. He didn’t look too shabby with the glove either and seems to have pretty good range at 2nd base. Also, Tyson Ross made the start and went 61/3 innings with pretty impressive stuff. He walked a couple of guys and uncorked a couple of wild pitches but seemed to keep it together fairly well. His delivery is pretty ugly but I was impressed overall by his demeanor.
On the other side, Buster Posey is the real deal and his defense is better than I thought advertised. Really strong arm, threw out two runners, good presence behind the dish, and in total control at the plate. Angel Villanoa was also in the game and looked alright, I don’t think he looks “awesome” or anything but he is super young and seems to have a good head on his shoulders. Other players I remember playing were Grant Desme, Yusef Carter, and Shane Keough. The game atmosphere was really fun and we had free tickets which was even better. A good time for sure and I’ll definitely go again. Go Future A’s!
Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox
by mrod on Jun 25, 2009 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also forgot to mention that Ross
was consistently hitting between 93-97 on the radar gun. Boy’s got some serious gas in that arm!
Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox
by mrod on Jun 25, 2009 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's not you
I’ve been following the team for a long time and it’s worst this year. They should never have fired Macha.
Ian Anderson
by Oaktown123 on Jun 25, 2009 9:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That's a first for AN!
Un-Fire Macha now!
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
by alox on Jun 25, 2009 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Managers are like POTUS
Everyone dislikes them while they’re in office. But everyone remembers them fondly after they leave office. Generally.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Jun 25, 2009 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, they should have
They just shouldn’t have replaced him with Art Howe Part III.
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 Jun 25, 2009 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
should have never fired art howe
The Not-So-Casual Fan
by rktse on Jun 25, 2009 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
read my mind
"If Bowden was a general contractor, he'd build houses with nine bedrooms, six garages, no bathrooms, and half a roof."
by DyeLongJustice on Jun 25, 2009 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
They didn't fire Art Howe
His contract was up, and they encouraged him to take big bucks from the NY Mets. He got more than Schott & Co would have paid. But he took Peterson with him, and that was unwise to lose Peterson (though he wanted to go to the East Coast).
"It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to be moved by statistics. " GB Shaw
by One won lost won on Jun 25, 2009 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lately, if the A’s fall behind by a few runs, I just turn off the television and go with the radio.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 25, 2009 10:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
They are tough to watch
I was at the game last night, luckily with my three year old grand daughter. She got cold so we left after four innings. Thank goodness!
Watching the A’s leave those runners on third with less than two out is really tough to watch. Had they scored those in the first and second inning, this would have been a close game, at least. As of right now, the Giants are not only obviously better this year, they have better players who are going to be around for a while.
This team, as constituted is not a good fielding team. Of the starters in the field positions last night, only two will be around long—Suzuki and Davis. I don’t know about Cust. I like the young starters, but where does it go beyond that?
I looked at the Sacramento stats this morning, and it would appear to me the way to get called up is not to do well in AAA. All the guys at the top of the batting average are there, the others are guess where! Best record of starters in AAA—Eveland. The guy that was the opener starter for the A’s! What’s he have to do to get another shot? He did win a few games for the A’s last year! I don’t understand the decision making.
Billy Beane—time to make some changes!
by rcodd on Jun 25, 2009 10:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The pitching hasn't been the problem...
The only one that I would even think about sending down would be Anderson.
Braden, Outman, Cahill, and Mazarro have been pretty reliable…
Wade Hines
by Wader on Jun 25, 2009 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can't watch...sickening.
Can’t watch live—-Tivo and then brace myself with my finger squarely on the fastest fast forward setting.
Historically with a few more losses you’d expect the “blow up and call up” to begin…but that’s the main problem with this rebuild—-most, if not all, of the kids are here already. And they’re not quite ready.
At least I can fast forward through the bottom half of our lineup without missing anything. Hannahan, Rajai, Crosby.
And, BTW, those of you who continue to extol the virtues of Jack Cust—I’ll let you in on a little secret. The league has figured him out.
Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. Billy Martin
by Steve in Napa on Jun 25, 2009 11:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Uhhh....no
main problem with this rebuild—-most, if not all, of the kids are here already. And they’re not quite ready.
Chris Carter, Jemile Weeks, Adrian Cardenas, Aaron Cunningham, Travis Buck, Sean Doolittle, James Simmons, Josh Donaldson, Sam Demel and many more say hi.
Also, regarding Cust: the league didn’t figure him out. For some retarded reason, his approach changed, and now instead of doing what he does best, he’s attempting to do what he does worst.
"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT
by travdog6 on Jun 25, 2009 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's not like Cust had much to figure out anyway
Pull hitter? Shift.
Patient hitter? Attack the corners.
Strikes out a lot? Throw strikeout pitches.
Homers and walks a lot? You can afford to pitch carefully, especially if the people behind him aren’t much to worry about.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on Jun 25, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll be the next to say "it's not just you".
In fact, I am seriously considering canceling my mlb.tv subscriptions for the rest of the year. As someone else said all they have to do is get down 3 or so runs and I have zero faith in their ability to come back and even make a game out of it, let alone win.
Back then, my idol was Bugs Bunny, because I saw a cartoon of him playing ball - you know, the one where he plays every position himself with nobody else on the field but him? Now that I think of it, Bugs is still my idol. You have to love a ballplayer like that.
~Nomar Garciaparra
by UncleLeo on Jun 25, 2009 11:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You have some legit points.
I die a little everytime the team insists on wasting at bats for Crosby, Davis, etc when guys with actual futures like Barton and Buck rot on the bench/AAA.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Jun 25, 2009 1:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I was thinking that the A's teams 1995-1997
were worse. But after going to baseballreference.com I’m not so sure, back then they had a few good hitters in the various lineups but the pitching staff was horrible.
Now our hitters suck but the pitching has potential.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
by micdog2001 on Jun 25, 2009 4:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
1995-1997 was at least watchable
those days u go into the game hoping for a win, no matter how u got it
these days, you go into the game hoping for a pitchers duel so u can at least get 7 innings worth of baseball before leaving
The Not-So-Casual Fan
by rktse on Jun 25, 2009 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I never leave a game early except for weather related stuff (in our case only rain I guess)
but I will stop watching on TV or listening to the radio if it gets really bad.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
by micdog2001 on Jun 26, 2009 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know if you're hard to watch, I've never seen you...
Wait, that’s probably not what you meant by “is it me…”
A’s-watching is a heartbreakingly atrocious experience right now, yeah.
Prithee, be not perturbed by yon third bagger.
by Poppy on Jun 25, 2009 4:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Now I know
Its not just me but most A’s fans are having a tough time watching this team. I remeber in 79 going to see a bad team but you had some hope with Henderson, Armas, and Murphy even watching Miguel Dilone but because he couldn’t hit.
by Arcman on Jun 25, 2009 4:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I wasn't watching in 1979,
but you hit a nail on the head when you used the word “hope.” I didn’t feel much hope last year, and this year I feel absolutely none. But I keep watching, because…
…
Um… I don’t have an ending for that sentence. “…because they’re there?”
Prithee, be not perturbed by yon third bagger.
by Poppy on Jun 25, 2009 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This post
Is hard to read
"I Will Not Relent, I Am Driven"... Clutch
Bring Back The Bash!!!
by Shippee33 on Jun 25, 2009 6:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I have to admit I'm a little tired of short posts that start with
“Is it just me, or…”
and I want to see more posts that start with
“Is that a banana in your pocket, or…”
"If you don’t start concentrating and catching the ball, you’re going to have to deal with my black ass!"- Wash
by Gaijin_Suketto on Jun 25, 2009 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
They are very tough to watch
because you can never be certain which facet of the game will blow up next.
Hitting: Unable to score with men in scoring position
Pitching: great job for many innings, then a walk and a HR, to tie it up.
Fielding: gloves turn to stone, or some other miscue. Always, there will be errors, but this team seems to make them count more.
Hitting: Suzuki did it last night, but it might as well have been Holliday: meaningless solo HR while down five runs or more.
It simply is not worth watching on TV, day in and day out. The disappointment is too much.
As Vin Scully said, “Losing hurts worse than winning feels good.”
"It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to be moved by statistics. " GB Shaw
by One won lost won on Jun 25, 2009 6:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
As hard as they are to watch
we still need to support them and throw away money going to games. That’s how teams can afford better players. The more games we go to, it increases the opportunity for this team to keep good players.
Don’t get me wrong, this team sucks right now but at least has a ton of potential over the next few years.
IMO they should sell everyone worth selling now and get people that play the positions we really need and play them well. No more pitchers, catchers or corner of types.
by VV A's fan on Jun 25, 2009 7:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I believe Tampa Bay had a lower payroll last year than the A's
so I don’t think it is simply a matter of checking the ticketbox, setting aside fifty percent of the take, then going out and buying some players….that’s “old school” thinking.
The Yankees can “afford” a $200 million dollar player payroll, yet they didn’t make the playoffs in 2008. The A’s aren’t alone on the injury list, but maybe they need to do a “Moneyball”-type reappraisal of conventional thinking when it comes to player health. What works? Who gets injured and what type of track record predicts future health.?
"It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to be moved by statistics. " GB Shaw
by One won lost won on Jun 25, 2009 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Rays are not a good example,
Since 1998, their lowest draft pick was #8.
"True fact: In a global thermonuclear war, the only human who would survive would be David Eckstein" -PT
by travdog6 on Jun 25, 2009 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A decade of mediocrity does that.
by VV A's fan on Jun 25, 2009 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
um they weren't mediocre... they were atrocious.
In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor on FK
by designatedforassignment on Jun 27, 2009 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hell yes they are...
I have been a season ticket holder since 1996 and this team is by far the hardest to watch…followed closely by last years collection. In defense of the ‘09 A’s, this years saving grace has been the emergence of the new young starters, I do enjoy watching Mazzaro, Cahill, Anderson and Outman (DL – Welcome to the party) and pulling for them. But in terms of entertainment, this team has been like watching paint dry (pretty much the case since Street blew the last game before last year’s All-Star Break.)
Watching this team leave RISP night after night (when they achieve even that modest success) just grates on you. It’s especially bothersome given the hope that Holliday, Cabrera, Giambi, and Nomar (DL – Welcome to the party) would finally put a little pop in the lineup. That was a big reason I re-upped the tix this year, because I wouldn’t be forced to watch another year of Hanrahan, Barton, and Crosby flail at the plate every night…OOPS!!! Misjudged that one.
I think the first move is to fire Geren. No, he doesn’t swing the bat, but Jesus H Christ does the man have a pulse??? Could he wipe that clueless look of his face? He should have been in the umps dish the other night about the botched call at 2nd, and the defense last night was just a joke. Somebody needs to get into these guys grill and let ’em have it. What do you think Jim Leyland would have done after a 3 error night? Not that errors are ever clean, but those were particularly sloppy. We need more than, “Well I thought we hit the ball hard and gave a good effort.” PLEASE….
by WannaBeGM on Jun 25, 2009 8:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree with the point that its been pretty much terrible since that Angels loss before the ASB
Also, team had a decent record in 07 until they dumped Bradley.
by Yellowhorse on Jun 26, 2009 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Something needs to get these guys motivated
I have no idea what it is, but this team has no fire, and the players that seem like they do either get injured or are exiled to AAA.
At this point I would rather see all of the old guys traded away and get some prospects up to play, at least then this team would have a legitimate excuse to lose this bad. When you have guys that have been in the league for years that can’t cleanly field a ground ball or catch a fly ball, and can’t seem to catch up with a major league fastball, it’s time to dump them.
Something has to change and soon.
by VV A's fan on Jun 25, 2009 10:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Not much to add to that VV
It’s really sad to say but this is turning into “Groundhog Day” with the offense.
Buck needs to be called up pronto and I want to see Barton get another shot.
Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox
by mrod on Jun 25, 2009 11:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I have very little faith Barton helps this offense
does he even have a hit this season? At least Giambi hits one deep every once and a while.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
by micdog2001 on Jun 26, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
but +1 on Buck
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
by micdog2001 on Jun 26, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It is hard to watch
the predictably awful offense do the same boring thing game after game. But have faith- better days are just around the corner! Great teams are built on pitching and man do we have some very nice pitching being developed.
The greenmachine
by greenmachine on Jun 26, 2009 5:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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