Today's Game: The First Pitch Is As Good As It Gets

by Nico on Jul 18, 2009 9:28 AM PDT

Speaking of "as good as it gets," last night's game was a rarity in 2009: The team I root for playing real baseball, worth watching, making a fan proud. Crosby's 3-run HR was key, but Friday night belonged to Rajai Davis, whose alert steal of third on a throw back to the pitcher gave the league a rare glimpse of what it looks like for the A's to be alert, aggressive, resourceful, to dictate the tempo instead of frantically trying to figure out what the tempo is while the conductor stares into space looking lost. It's no coincidence, IMO, that Saunders (who, granted, wasn't sharp all night) made a mistake to Crosby soonafter -- give Crosby due credit, but with an assist to Rajai.

And then Rajai's 270 foot sprint home on an errant pickoff throw serves as a useful reminder that even after Mark McGwire has completely messed up your best hitter's swing and even after Giambi has pulled his 12th consecutive ground ball into the shift, speed never goes into a slump. But this post isn't about last night's game; it's about the fact that no matter how good today's game is, it won't get any better than the very first pitch.

Today's "ceremonial first pitch" will be thrown out by a guy who has little business being alive and even less business being able to throw a baseball: Jon Wilhite. Wilhite's recovery from an "internal decapitation," following the car crash that took three lives (including that of Angels' pitcher Nick Adenhart) has been faster, and has yielded more progress, than is usually case for those who even survive this gruesome injury.

Unexpectedly, I received another donation last week, this one for $200.00, to AN's efforts on behalf of Wilhite's long and expensive recovery process. That donation brought us to $2,417.00 raised from 69 big-hearted members of the AN community. Just awesome. And if you think a Crosby 3-run bomb, or a mad dash to third between pitches, is unlikely, you should check out today's first toss from the mound -- it just doesn't get any better than this.

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Good story today about Wilhite and Zooks

here

"If Vin Mazzaro comes anywhere near me with shaving cream he’s gonna be coming away with a bloody stump" – Dallas Braden

by doctorK on Jul 18, 2009 9:37 AM PDT reply actions

I'll post more pics later...

but what awesome AN-er was responsible for this:

Rickey Henderson's strike zone is "smaller than Hitler's heart." - Jim Murray

by JLaff on Jul 18, 2009 9:53 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

That was very cool.

I saw the Rally Monkey, but not the AN logo.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Jul 18, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions

I'll be there today

In the left field bleachers. I look forward to seeing the first pitch.

by MrMoneyBaller on Jul 18, 2009 10:19 AM PDT reply actions

Sometimes

the game itself is the gravy. Today is one of those days.

Nice post, Nico.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Jul 18, 2009 10:26 AM PDT reply actions

Is it nationally relevised today?

It is on Fox. So does that mean national?

HILLIS

by robbo650 on Jul 18, 2009 10:47 AM PDT reply actions

There are three games

and depending on where you live, you’ll get one of the three. Check here for a list of cities….

(by the way, why don’t they just do a map like abc does for college football regional coverage????)

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jul 18, 2009 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions

b/c its Fox

I tried to find a pic but no luck

HILLIS

by robbo650 on Jul 18, 2009 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Does anyone else find it somewhat ignorant

that the A’s are waiting to see if Hairston is still in pain when he wakes up to take X-rays?

Are they worried about the co-pay? This kind of lackadaisical medical treatment is exactly why the A’s have suffered a ridiculous amount of injuries the past two years.

You know things are bad when Bobby Crosby doesn't have the lowest batting average of any starter, yet he's hitting .138. Yes, you're 2009 Oakland Athletics.

by UOSportsDude on Jul 18, 2009 10:59 AM PDT reply actions

If there is swelling,

you usually need to wait for the swelling to come down a bit before you can get meaningful x-ray information.

Losing this team would be a huge failure for this city and an affront to Oakland’s great sports legacy.

by skigurl on Jul 18, 2009 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions

Well I'm not a Doctor

but I did stay at a Matt Holliday Inn Express last night and I think skigurl is right about the swelling.

by sirbed on Jul 18, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions

I hope you enjoyed your stay.

But we do need you out by July 31st.

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 Jul 18, 2009 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions