7 Early Doubles SPARKS A's To 5th Straight Win

by Nico on Jun 6, 2009 9:13 PM PDT Comment 98 comments

The A's may be last in the league in doubles, but if they keep pounding seven doubles in the first four innings every night they won't be last for long. Speaking of not lasting long, Jason Berken's 3rd major league didn't quite go as planned as the rejuvenated A's showed, in many different ways, what a successful offense looks like.

In the bottom of the 1st, following Cabrera's leadoff double Kennedy (fly ball) and Cust (ground ball) made productive contact to give the A's a 1-0 lead. In the 3rd, with a run already in and the bases loaded with two out, Jason Giambi came up with the "crooked number" hit, a bases-clearing double that made it 5-0. In the 4th, the A's chased Berken with four more, highlighted by doubles off the bats of Cunningham, Cabrera, and Kennedy.

You may have noticed a 0 at the end of the scores I keep noting. Trevor Cahill blanked the Orioles through 6 and did not issue a walk in his 6+ innings of work. Cahill was charged with 2 runs in the 7th, Brad Ziegler 2 runs, when the Orioles jumped back in the game with a scratched out run followed by a three-run HR by Nolan Reimold off of Ziegler.

A couple thoughts, as the A's pull to within 6 games of the .500 mark and 7.5 games of first place:

* To me, a defining moment was when Cust and Holliday walked to load the bases for Giambi in the 3rd. Understandably, Berken didn't want to give into Cust with first base open and understandably he didn't want to pitch to the red-hot Holliday either. Giambi made him pay and that's what this lineup was supposed to be: deep enough to punish pitchers who tried to avoid a slugger or two.

* The A's are 5-0 in "Mazzaro world." He must be wondering how the heck this team managed to lose all those games in April and May.

* The A's are not 7.5 games out of first place, in my opinion. If the goal is to catch Texas, the A's are every bit in this race. But I think the A's are 4 games off the pace with the much more difficult task of catching the Angels over the final 2/3 of the season. The Angels now have Lackey, Santana, and Escobar in the rotation to support Saunders and Weaver, and I will be very, very surprised if the Rangers are still the team to beat come the All-Star Break.

Once through the rotation without a loss. Back to Mazzaro on Sunday to try to keep the A's undefeated in their voyage into "Mazzaro world."

NOTE: If you missed this post earlier today about AN's charity drive to support Jon Wilhite's recovery, please take a moment to check it out!

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woooooooooooooooooot

5 game streak

by Wreckonized on Jun 6, 2009 9:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

mmmmm pie

custard please

Roy Steele is the voice of God

by cuppingmaster on Jun 6, 2009 9:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Jason Berken is starting a third major league?

Even Branch Rickey didn’t pull that off!

Interleague Play: Celebrating Thirteen Seasons of Suck

by GreenNGoldSooner on Jun 6, 2009 9:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, Baltimore was a Federal League city...

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jun 6, 2009 9:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ISWYDT

Nico: Okay. We have twelve hours to make a really big pickle.

by pam5981 on Jun 6, 2009 9:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

A's streak for 6 game homer streak came to an end tonight

but the 8 doubles sure made up for it

by Wreckonized on Jun 6, 2009 9:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd say it's almost certain that our pitchers will go through another stretch as bad as...

this one is good.

But still… they’ve shown the potential that scouts and stat heads raved about.

Sure, we’re sort of in it right now… but that’s not what really excites me. The future of this pitching staff really does.

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra

by brenarlo on Jun 6, 2009 9:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Let's get to .500 in a quick and see where the chips fall

Sure wish we didn’t start out in such a hole this season but this streak is impressive.

These ain't your father's A's.

by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 6, 2009 9:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We're channeling

I had the same thought about the loss column with the Angels. If anyone really thinks Texas wins 90+ games and runs away with the division, be my guest. I remain skeptical of the pitching staff— and they don’’t have Hamilton. If the A’s are closer to the Angles than this on July 4, forget Holliday being moved. Rather Beane will be in the market for a 3Bman and bullpen help.

A few observations about this game:

1) It’s been said before, but i’ll say it again: Cahill needs one more pitch. The command was good, the sinker and the change worked well, but whether it’s a 2 seamer or something else he needs one more piece to keep hitters more off balance;

2) I really like Kennedy’s approach— lots of inside-out swings;

3) Giambi has that “eye of the tiger” look again in key spots. He’ll never be what he was, but if he can hit in key spots partic. given the surge in walks Holliday is liable to get from here on out, he can help this team a lot;

4) Speaking of Holliday, I was impressed on multiple levels tonight. He held back and took a walk right before G’s 2B on a pitch he could have chased which might have changed the whole sequence; his RBI hit was a thing of beauty on a real pitcher’s pitch. And if he doesn’t make that catch in the 8th, who knows what might have happened;

5) Cabrera shouldn’t have jogged;

6) Geren was fine. Cahill was gassed— to leave him in was to invite a real downer like a Huff 3 run HR. Not his fault Ziggy failed. And Bailey had had two days of rest. He’ll be there tomorrow if need be.

7) The bullpen is becoming a major problem— half of them are now bascially unreliable. You can;t survie on just Bailey, Wuertz and Breslow in LOOGY situations. Beane may have to address this soon if Ziegler, Springer and Casilla can’t get their acts together.

by jasonthea on Jun 6, 2009 9:28 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Speaking of Giambi's "eye of the tiger" look,

I know plenty of fans don’t buy into “Braden’s fearlessness” and “Giambi’s clubhouse presence” being relevant to individual or team success, but it was interesting to hear Ken Korach tonight talking about what an impact Giambi has had in teaching/developing a “winning atmosphere” with the young players – meaning teaching them what it means to play to win, keeping on them to play hard and play to win, etc.

Now Ken is a pretty darn bright guy and he’s with the team every day – I would hope his observations, especially when he is so vehement, would hold traction with some of the more skeptical folk.

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 6, 2009 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well contrary to past seasons

We have four-fifths of the top of the lineup all with playoff and WS experience.

by jasonthea on Jun 6, 2009 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I heard a bit of Ray's pregame from yesterday

and he talked about the clubhouse fight he got involved in between Reggie and Billy North.

Apparently, North had lollygagged it on the first grounder he hit in the season (1974, IIRC), and a few days later Reggie got on him for it in the clubhouse. They started fighting, and Vida was in the next locker and somehow looked like he was getting involved, and Ray jumped in to prevent his starter that day (Vida) from getting hurt. Ray got pushed backwards on the floor and ended up needing surgery to repair some ruptured vertebrae. (BTW, Ray sounds very mild mannered but is obviously a really tough dude).

He told Ken that it always ends up being the players themselves who police stuff like hustling. The manager can get on guys, but in Ray’s opinion it’s up to the leaders among the players themselves to set the tone and call guys out who aren’t playing the game properly or pulling their own weight.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jun 6, 2009 9:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hopefully someone polices Cabrera then

though I think the shredding of the uni may have already done it. He was definitely lollygagging on Holliday’s two out 2B.

by jasonthea on Jun 6, 2009 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you are going to fault Cabrera for lollygagging on Holiday’s two out double, you should also fault Suzuki for not stealing second when the O’s decided to not hold him on first. Baseball etiquette.

by Thefirstletterofthealphabet on Jun 7, 2009 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

don't kid yourself

Foss is the F’n Man!!!

I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)

by BleedGreen on Jun 6, 2009 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's probably true, but it's also one of the things

that most disappoints me about Geren: he just seems far too tolerant of that stuff. I agree that players need to get on each other, but I also think part of being a leader is conveying high expectations and then following through with your actions.

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 6, 2009 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was mostly struck by Fosse's account of, well, accountability

He really seemed to think the main influences on a player were his teammates. Maybe some managers take a more active role, while others let the leaders among the players step forward. Maybe Geren has decided to do that because of the presence of Giambi and Holliday, and the former presence of Nomar. Then again, maybe Beane got those guys partly because he felt he wanted that kind of leadership on a team managed by Geren.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jun 6, 2009 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually I wouldnt mind Geren's

“throw em out there and see what happens” approach, if it actually yielded results that would be henceforth put into practice.

As we all know that doesn’t happen too often from either side.

I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)

by BleedGreen on Jun 6, 2009 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

1974 was a unique situation.

Alvin Dark had taken over the dugout that season, and he wasn’t an in-your-face tpye manager. (The A’s wouldn’t have responded to him anyway; they had won two World Series without him). Reggie was coming off an MVP season and assumed a leadership role. Although North didn’t take kindly to being scolded, most of the other A’s sided with Reggie, which was a rare thing.

As for Fosse, he came back and hit two big homerunss in the playoffs, one in the ALCS, and another in the Series clincher.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Jun 6, 2009 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

if you don't believe that guys like Giambi matter, then you've probably not played sports on a competitive level.

Shame and playing for teammates matters A LOT.

by inbillywetrust on Jun 7, 2009 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Excellent post Jason!

I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)

by BleedGreen on Jun 6, 2009 9:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I would write an enthralling piece about how the A's are playing well

but I am too enthralled in the concert, as Jordin Sparks has scrapped the setlist and decided to play the entire “H to He, Who Am the Only One” LP by Van Der Graaf Generator instead. Rumors were flying backstage that she was gonna encore with the whole “Flying Teapot” trilogy by French acid-progmasters Gong, but we’ll see… it might just be the usual encore of Robert Wyatt’s “Muddy Mouse” suite.

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 9:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

These ain't your father's A's.

by ohtobe21likehuston on Jun 6, 2009 9:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

by chipper1001 on Jun 6, 2009 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I don't think her whole "Metal Machine Music" thing worked out all that well at her Universal Orlando show

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jun 6, 2009 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

it was burnout

her “method approach” to Lou Reed, where she shot up a whole bag of heroin every night for six months, really took its toll…. plus, she was kind of aced out by the whole Hannah Montana tour, which as you’ll recall was devoted to a dramatic restaging of the works of seminal Marxist post-punkers Gang of Four as one of those Chinese Communist “People’s Plays”.

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't wait for the Jonas Brothers to roll into town with their "The Feeding of the 5,000" show

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jun 6, 2009 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

the Jonas Brothers

really fell flat with their to-the-lighting-cue reconstruction of Genesis’ “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” tour… they should just leave that kind of stuff to The Musical Box and people who know how to put on a damn Slipperman costume, fer Chrissakes.

They SO lucked out with that awesome follow-up, where they devoted a whole CD to the works of electro-pioneer Bruce Haack.

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have you had a chance to hear

Ashley Tisdale perform Kevin Ayers’ Bananamour? Apparently, she was determined to do a tribute to Ollie Halsall, and after rehearsing a Patto set she decided to go with the Ayers’ piece instead.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jun 6, 2009 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your guys' Prog refrences are even too obsucre

for me.

I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)

by BleedGreen on Jun 6, 2009 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I always thought it spelled Prague

I need to travel more.

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 6, 2009 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually they spell it

Praha

I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)

by BleedGreen on Jun 6, 2009 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So then what does the devil wear?

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 6, 2009 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see where you are going with this

If I was the devil I would wear Anne Hathaway.

I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)

by BleedGreen on Jun 6, 2009 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

to quote spinal tap...

would she fit you like a flesh tuxedo?
would you sink her with your pink turpedo?

by inbillywetrust on Jun 7, 2009 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Talk about bum cakes, my girl's got 'em

What you fail to understand in your joyless myopia is that baseball is the key to life-- the Rosetta Stone, if you will. If you just understood baseball better all your other questions your, your... the, uh... the aliens, the conspiracies they would all, in their way be answered by the baseball gods.

by winchester5 on Jun 7, 2009 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh these are nothing

wait’ll Nick and I get into the crazy Deutscherock scene and start comparing the teen stars of today with Agitation Free and Neu!

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't believe you Can pull that off

by bobnothing on Jun 6, 2009 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

stop acting so

Frumpy.

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm getting real tired of seeing Damo Suzuki's face

when I look in the mirror.

"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 7, 2009 12:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if I am the only person on AN

who has actually met Damo Suzuki… his is the only autograph I own of anyone famous as well, now that my hat signed by Rich Harden got washed.

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 7, 2009 1:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

lost in all of this are the spine-chills that pasting one's ears to

L’il Wayne – steamrolling his way through the angular, shreddingly dissonant catalog of the late axemaster Sonny Sharrock – can produce…. or the sense of pure exhilaration that can be brought about by his searing interpretation of “Hergest Ridge” by Mike Oldfield in which he performs all 309 instruments’ parts using only his voice and a set of spoons.

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

as chanelled thru John Zorns

interpretations of Ornette Coleman’s shredtastic anthems on Spy vs Spy.

I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)

by BleedGreen on Jun 6, 2009 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

nice!!!

I love Spy vs, Spy, AWESOME record, nice choice =)

You’d also dig Pat Metheny’s “Song X” record with Ornette, it’s a harmolodic Beast!

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have it on vinyl

Have it on cd.

Hell I might even have it on cassette.

I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)

by BleedGreen on Jun 6, 2009 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

the reissue is dope

it has a whole other several tunes from the sessions tacked on.

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You really haven't lived until you've seen...

….Katy Perry play one of her Magma tribute concerts.

Her version of Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh goes on for three or four hours. Intense!

Interleague Play: Celebrating Thirteen Seasons of Suck

by GreenNGoldSooner on Jun 6, 2009 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you bastard

you beat me to the MAGMA references!!!!

If anyone reading this doesn’t know Christian Vander’s legendary Magma, go get the live record from 1975 w/Didier Lockwood (then 16 years old!) on violin, it is sicker than sick.

Magma, to explain, are this insane French band that sing in a language that doesn’t really exist, other than in the minds of their leader, the whiplash-dextrous drummer Mr. Vander. The band is a concept group where every song and album embellished the story, which in their case features humans in the future fleeing the dying Earth and colonizing a nearby planet called Kobaia. And if that ain’t stony seventies enough for ya, I got a mood ring for every finger LOLOL

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ollie Halsall=helluva player

now if you will excuse me, I have an appointment with this tribute CD here, entitled “Astigmatic but Hangin’ Tough,” in which the Boy Bands of the 1990s pay homage to the music of legendary Polish composer Krzysztof Komeda.

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Opposite Day

Here’s a video of indie rock darlings Arcade Fire doing a killer cover of the song that won the 1965 Eurovision Song Competition.

Interleague Play: Celebrating Thirteen Seasons of Suck

by GreenNGoldSooner on Jun 7, 2009 5:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I once listened

to the entire metal machine music record (LP). It took me about 30 minuted to figure out that the end of the record had an endless loop

by Future Ed on Jun 6, 2009 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

best use of the infinite runout groove on an LP

surely must be the first side of “Peter Gabriel II” (that’s the “scratching” cover) where the Prophet 5 note at the end of “White Shadow” goes on forever if you leave the turntable on.

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

IIRC

The Manic Street Preachers wanted to make album cover for their first (or possibly second) album out of sandpaper, so it literally would destroy the rest of your record collection as you took it in and out.

now that’s scratching

by bobnothing on Jun 6, 2009 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

the first to do the sandpaper thing

was the incredible guitarist Vini Reilly, aka, The Durutti Column, on their debut, called “The Return of the Durutti Column,” on Factory Records from 1980.

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought factory couldn't put that out

due to lack of funds?

after they listed their cat as an official release, anyway

by bobnothing on Jun 6, 2009 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

no, they were made and sold, with an EP included!

http://www.cerysmaticfactory.info/fact14.html

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ian Curtis

threw a hell of a fastball.

"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 7, 2009 12:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vini Reilly is brilliant.

Dont blow Bailey.

by brian.only on Jun 6, 2009 11:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

one of the great delay/echoplex guitar players

although it should be noted that the idea to put a record in a sandpaper sleeve was thought up by Guy Debord and the Situationniste Internationale in the 1950s… The Durutti Column just implemented the concept.

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 7, 2009 2:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I bought a jordin sparks record

it ruined my whole collection

by Future Ed on Jun 7, 2009 12:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I noticed that but was distracted by Chavy's press conference

about donating his salary and pension directly into Matt Holliday’s bank account.

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 6, 2009 9:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes, it was mighty generous of Eric

to just suddenly renounce worldly possessions and wealth and just take off to join the Gyoto Monks like that.

Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?

by emperor nobody on Jun 6, 2009 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh man....

I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)

by BleedGreen on Jun 6, 2009 9:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

For me...

…the capper was definitely Jordin’s amazing a cappella trio arrangements of the music of Neu! which she performed with special guests Don Van Vliet and Crocus Behemoth.

by Brian in 317 on Jun 7, 2009 7:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's been really fun watch this team as of a late.

I can’t help but feel like it’ll continue as this staff is damn exciting.

"You're just jealous. You wish you had a rally animal..." -CardinalWraith

by Boonee on Jun 6, 2009 9:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

BTW

“Mazzaro” world is one of the funniest, and most apt, coinages I have seen in a long, long time.

By my calculations, there should have been upwards of 2500 different 5 game winning streaks in the AL since the 1969 expansion. I guarantee you can count the number that a) featured a sub .400 team and b) had that team outsocre its competition by over 5 runs a game in the streak on the fingers of two hands.

Truly “Mazzaro” world.

by jasonthea on Jun 6, 2009 9:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Antonio Alfonseca's hands?

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jun 6, 2009 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The sub .400 part could easily happen

if the five-game winning streak is early in the season. Like games 2-6.

"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan

by iglew on Jun 6, 2009 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

true enough

I’ll amend it to post May 1

by jasonthea on Jun 7, 2009 7:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't know if I'm confused or what.

But didn’t Cahill give up just one run. He left with Scott and Huff on base.
Then Ziegler came in and almost got a double play but only Huff was out. So the only runner on by Cahill now is Scott. Then came the infield hit and then the home run.
So only one run should be charged to Cahill.
But even mlb’s box score shows two runs charged to Cahill. So Im just a little bit confused.

by Athletix Man on Jun 6, 2009 10:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The way it works is that if you leave with a runner on base who is forced,

the new runner is still your responsibility. So:

Single
Single
(pitching change)
Fielder’s choice
3-run HR

is still going to charge two runs to the starter.

In contrast:

Walk
(pitching change)
Double Play
HR

charges the run to the reliever.

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 6, 2009 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks for that

by inbillywetrust on Jun 6, 2009 11:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And the logic is clear

Ziegler got an out. There were still two runners on. No way he should be charged for one of those runners.

by jasonthea on Jun 7, 2009 7:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice win bitches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I’m off to Reno to take the casino’s money!

let’s go for the sweepage tomorrow boys and girls! wooohoo1

Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox

by mrod on Jun 6, 2009 10:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Only 6 (!) games under .500!

Um, I could get used to this whole 9-runs-a-game thing.

I also have a lot of free Pepsi coupons to redeem from Lucky now.

And my season record is 6-5. Sweeeet.

by whiteshoes40 on Jun 6, 2009 10:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

you are doing better than the A's

keep going

by Wreckonized on Jun 6, 2009 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Free pepsi!

Did you get the free round table pizza also?

Free food and an A’s win rules!

Green and Gold Lantern Corps

by oaklandSMASH on Jun 7, 2009 12:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

LeopoldBloom...I found it...

the best scene from saving private ryan…

link

by inbillywetrust on Jun 6, 2009 11:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

crap

the link

by inbillywetrust on Jun 6, 2009 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hannahan

now holds A’s record for errorless games at third base. Just thought that was interesting. Unfortunately, he may also end up with the record for hitless games at third base as well.

Wow, are “we” really heating up, or are we just playing against crappy competition? Hard to say, but it’s awesome the way these five young starters performed this week; it seemed like each one decided they had to out-do the others. It reminds me of the early ’00s when Muldy, Huddo, Zeets, and Canada Boy were dealing.

After last night 7-4 in games attended.

by Brian in 317 on Jun 7, 2009 7:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The A's did have a very tough schedule over the first month of the season or so

I think things have been evening out a bit lately.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jun 7, 2009 7:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A fair reading of the AL right now would be

Two very good teams: Boston and NY

Two pretty good teams: TB (look at their run differential) and Texas

Three above average teams: Detroit, Toronto and LAA

One average team: Minnesota

Two below average teams: Chicago

Three pretty crappy teams: Seattle, Kansas City and Baltimore

But by now the A’s have played them all save Minnesota and they come in next. Where are the A’s in this list? Somewhere between crappy and below average, with a bullet.

by jasonthea on Jun 7, 2009 7:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's not where the A's belong according to Mark Buehrle

by Future Ed on Jun 7, 2009 7:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beyond the Boxscore analyzed difficulty of schedule and Pythagorean standings (and adjusted Pythag standings)

They did this back on May 11th. The A’s came in at that point as the 3rd-unluckiest team (this was before the debacle in Detroit). In the comments, there’s an analysis of strength of schedule that lists the A’s as having played the 2nd-hardest schedule in the majors up til that point.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jun 7, 2009 7:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The ChiSox count as two below average teams?

Are you also counting their broadcast crew?

Interleague Play: Celebrating Thirteen Seasons of Suck

by GreenNGoldSooner on Jun 7, 2009 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steve Stone

Is Solid. Hawk is just there for shitz and giggles…. Where did that DJ guy go? Was he fired?

by Colorado Fan on Jun 7, 2009 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

FTFY

Hawk is just there for ~~shitz~~ Schlitz and giggles.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jun 7, 2009 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hottest team

as of today: Oakland (6 in a row)

Optimistic...

by Porcupine on Jun 7, 2009 8:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just how it goes

Playoff teams smoke bad teams. Its when you are dropping series to teams you should beat that you are in trouble…

by SeanR on Jun 7, 2009 7:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You know

It crossed my mind that Hannahan is Mr. Reliable at third base. If the rest of the lineup can stay hot, he handles the hot corner pretty well. My hope is, is that he is a late bloomer at the plate, because he can sure pick ‘em. Although, Crosby has been looking good over there, too. He’s a competitor. I guess that’s what the 7 and 8 spots in the lineup are for… I’ve always viewed the #9 slot for a good hitter that qualifies for 1 thru 3, but is odd man out. Kind of like a lead-off hitter type that got pushed out of the top 3 or silent favorite. I liked when Ellis batted 9th. He seemed to do well in that slot. A little off the subject…. just rambling on.

Optimistic...

by Porcupine on Jun 7, 2009 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Number 9 hitter gets the fewest PAs every season.

So putting a good hitter there is a waste. Every hitter in a batting order gets about 20 less PAs than the guy in front of them. That means it’s about a 160 PA difference between a leadoff hitter and a #9 hitter. Your worst hitter should always hit 9th.

by sleepingcobra on Jun 7, 2009 8:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

keep an eye

on lineups of other teams. Sometimes, they will drop a good hitter down there. Put a power hitter in the #3 and #4 spots. Then, double-trouble throughout the game. The A’s sometimes do that.

Optimistic...

by Porcupine on Jun 7, 2009 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Example

Red Sox

Optimistic...

by Porcupine on Jun 7, 2009 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you're both right in some sense

You do not want someone batting 9th whom you feel is one of your best overall hitters because he will lose so many PAs throughout the course of a season. However, you do want someone who when he reaches is the right guy to have on base ahead of your best, most proficient, versatile hitters – that is often someone with great speed, or a very good baserunner.

That’s why teams like the “double leadoff” idea. Your #1 hitter is a good hitter who can steal and run the bases, while your #9 hitter is a not so good hitter who can steal and run the bases.

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 7, 2009 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You actually show my point with your example, by the way

Nick Green’s career OBP is .313, Pedroia’s .376.

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 7, 2009 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe

it is just another way to mix it up… by no means am I saying that’s the way it should be all the time

Optimistic...

by Porcupine on Jun 7, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My hope is, is that he is a late bloomer at the plate

give it up, he is a 29 year old 3b with a career 660 OPS. to me he’s a fine backup and defensive replacement, and plan B if/when some other AAAA 3b the a’s acquire in the next few weeks fails.

FREE KRAUT
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 Jun 7, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He doesn't have all

too much major league experience… so it isn’t like he’s been struggling for years. This is the first time he’s been able to play in the majors with veterans… so, with that said…. I hope it helps him because he plays a mean third base

Optimistic...

by Porcupine on Jun 7, 2009 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs