DLD 8/10/09 The White Elephant
by GoA's on Aug 10, 2009 3:25 AM PDT
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PrintMan this last week has been great, eh? I turn on the radio and Athletics are hitting home runs and running and generally not failing. The young starting pitching is turning in some dominating performances. All around the mood is good. I have a theory as to why this is. For the last month there's been this giant white elephant in the room. Here's what it looks like:
It's true. We're two wins better than Baltimore. This season is over. But despite being big time sellers at the trade deadline we never quite embraced cellar dwelling. With Holliday and Giambi and Cabrera still around there was a lingering mirage of a competitive 2009. We were in rebuilding mode, but we were not rebuilding. Finally the false hope is over. Now that we're not trying to not suck we in fact aren't sucking. It is so very fitting that Giambi, once the poster child of youthful exuberance for the A's, has stepped aside so the next generation can begin writing their own chapter of Oakland history. We have acknowledged that the above elephant was clogging space in our clubhouse and can now remove it. In honor of admitting that this beast existed I present a series of elephantine links:
Why the elephant is our mascot: It all started with a Giants-A's rivalry in 1905. The Giants and us go way back.
More Logos: A look back at recent Oakland logos. Prepare for waves of nostalgia.
The mythbusters are at it again: Jamie and Adam tackle the age old myth: are elephants indeed afraid of mice?
SF mayoral candidates to debate elephants? There hasn't been an elephant at the SF zoo since 2005. Supervisor Bevan Dufty opens a bag of worms by proclaiming that elephants will never appear in San Francisco. Does that mean the end of the Bay Bridge series?
Jose VS Stomper: That's right, our mascot can breakdance.
Elephant Jokes - the Wikipedia article: Seriously, there's a Wikipedia entry on elephant jokes. Here's a classic: Q: How do you shoot a blue elephant?A: With a blue elephant gun.
Turn Back the Clock Day: After much begging and pleading, the marketing department of the Oakland Athletics have finally put together a 1929 promotion. Check out this fun commercial with great old time footage of Foxx, Grove, and company.
A feat of elephantine might: In case you missed it last night, I found the box score from the last game in which the A's hit 4 home runs and stole 4 bases. Lots of fun trivia is sprinkled in that box score.
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appears Doolittle is out for the season?
Sacramento first baseman Sean Doolittle, out most of the season with knee injuries, might play winter ball.
"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane
by athleticsBB4life on Aug 10, 2009 7:04 AM PDT reply actions
This season just keeps getting better!!!
Time to re-sign Crosby? Multi-HR game…
"What a joke." ~ Booby Crosby
re-sign Crosby?
hopefully you’re joking!
"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane
by athleticsBB4life on Aug 10, 2009 7:23 AM PDT up reply actions
maybe Crosby is finally going to live up to those MVP expectations????
If he wants to sign for $10.00 an hour then maybe we can bring him back.
"What a joke." ~ Booby Crosby
He's be paying $10/hr to play right?
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Aug 10, 2009 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions
Me's grammer suck these morning
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Aug 10, 2009 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions
$10 dollars per home run
So we would have only owed him $60 dollars this season? At that price tag he’s almost worth it.
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball." - Connie Mack
i should've read your tag line
"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane
by athleticsBB4life on Aug 10, 2009 8:50 AM PDT up reply actions
Nomar to philly?
Slusser speculating:
The Phillies are looking for a right-handed bat off the bench, and the team’s top scout was at the A’s series in Kansas City. Did we mention that Philadelphia courted Nomar Garciaparra in the offseason? Could a waiver deal or a waiver claim be in the works? A’s general manager Billy Beane would allow Garciaparra the courtesy of OKing a deal. Garciaparra, asked about Philly, said, “Sure, why not?”
"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane
by athleticsBB4life on Aug 10, 2009 7:14 AM PDT reply actions
I would have thought Boston would find a way to bring him back
Still, he’d be a great add as a bench player for a contender. Maybe we pick up another C grade prospect?
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball." - Connie Mack
Nicely done
Though I’ll feel sorry for Nomar if he has to play in the French leagues for 10 years.
Also reminded me of this story of a Stanford baseball alum:
A fling with French baseball
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball." - Connie Mack
When I was a teenager
I was trying to figure out what country or territory I could hornswaggle into making putting me on their olympic team. Sport TBD.
I too had the sneak into the Olympics dream.
There’s even a dim chance it will happen. Very unlikely, but I might be going to London for the 2012 Games to play a demonstration match of shinty (it won’t be an official sport, but still part of the festivities). You’re welcome to join the team and tag along. There’s only one shinty club in America, so chances are good you can make it into the top squad.
Northern California Camanachd
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball." - Connie Mack
Oooooh, that's an idea.....
I checked during the last Olympics to see which countries did not field a Badminton team (that’s one of my sports), and tried to figure out if any of them had loose requirements for playing for them (ala the WBC). Alas, it looks like I will not be playing in the Badminton matches of 2012 (even though I could totally beat that one Canadian player….if I were Canadian, I’d knock her off the team….)
There's no crying in baseball!
Badminton is hawt.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
Moneyball not dead....
I meant the film…
by As Fan in the Bronx on Aug 10, 2009 8:47 AM PDT reply actions
Is this because we started winning a couple of games?
If the A’s become contenders again, Moneyball has a much better chance of happening.
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball." - Connie Mack
Awesome.
Brad Pitt is still on as Beane! Sadly they got rid of Soderbergh; with him, it had a chance of being more than just a baseball movie, but ah well.
"All your baserunner are belong to Greg Smith" ~ walk off bunt
by Philip Christy on Aug 10, 2009 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Did you read Soderbergh's script?
It was pure trash. It’s a good thing he’s no longer working on the film because he surely would’ve ruined it.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Aug 10, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah but I still hope they get rid of
the Beane goes to Outback Steakhouse side story. It would just be another excuse for Pitt to prove that he is a stud.
I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)
As if he needs to prove that any more.
Yeah that scene was pretty stupid but the original script as a whole was pretty entertaining to read at least.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Aug 12, 2009 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Turn Back the Clock Day Promotion
I’d really like to get the Throwback Jersey, but can’t due to being in Australia. If anyone is going and would be willing to grab an extra, or doesn’t want theirs, I’d be interested (Medium, btw).
Otherwise, its Ebay and paying the scalpers….
Don't believe in yourself.
Believe in Me who believes in You.
Australia?
How’d you get there? I thought you lived in Chicago?!
(Maybe I should keep up w/ this blog better!)
then trade him for prospects when his stock rises around the trade deadline...
"What a joke." ~ Booby Crosby
That has to be top priority
Wasn’t there mention of a team trying to go over slot on a Stassi like pick that the commissioner nixed. Was that even true?
He just nixed them from doing it early on.
Wanted them to wait till near the deadline to announce the deal. So others around it couldn’t base there deals on an overslot signing.
by Athletix Man on Aug 10, 2009 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Cal cracks Top 10 in college football simluation engine
Stanford climbs out of the center to make into the top 50. At number 50.
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball." - Connie Mack
Wow, Stanford made it, huh?
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 10, 2009 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Short review of Jason Giambi's career
over at Fangraphs. He was pretty damn good for a while.
"All your baserunner are belong to Greg Smith" ~ walk off bunt
by Philip Christy on Aug 10, 2009 12:48 PM PDT reply actions
From 2003 to 2008
Dr. James Andrews has performed Tommy John surgery on 224 teenage patients.
Damn…
Three days later, Alden pitched a complete-game victory against Aycock. Eppes won bragging rights; Dally quietly celebrated. That night, Ken Manning tapped on the underside of his son’s forearm, near the elbow. It felt like brick.
Still, Alden kept pitching. He pitched for a Babe Ruth League summer team till the pain was too great, then played third base on the Babe Ruth All-Star team just to stay on the field. Finally, in September, he landed in the operating room with a torn ulnar collateral ligament…
Rickey Henderson's strike zone is "smaller than Hitler's heart." - Jim Murray
I am honored to be praised by the current DLD king
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball." - Connie Mack
Unfortunately, I did not.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 10, 2009 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Which "Girls Gone Wild" episode was it?
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Aug 10, 2009 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions
They show that on WGN?
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 10, 2009 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions
I am pumped!
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 10, 2009 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions
The average game between the Yankees and Red Sox this season has lasted 3 hours and 43 minutes.
That’s 20 percent longer than the average Major League Baseball game, according to a report.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 10, 2009 2:48 PM PDT reply actions
Troy Percival hasn’t officially announced his retirement, but Rays manager Joe Maddon believes that the reliever’s career is over.
“I think so,” Maddon said, according to a report.
Agent Paul Cohen says that no decision has been made, but Percival has been suffering from severe back problems that could require fusion surgery.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 10, 2009 2:49 PM PDT reply actions
The Dodgers are looking for pitching help and both John Smoltz and Vicente Padilla are options.
Chad Billingsley is questionable for his next scheduled start Wednesday in San Francisco.
Los Angeles manager Joe Torre said on Sunday that the team continues to look outside of the organization for additional arms.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 10, 2009 2:50 PM PDT reply actions
just what the Dodgers need
more bench clearing brawls.
I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)
The Phillies are looking for a right-handed bat off the bench and they sent a scout to watch the Athletics recently.
Nomar Garciaparra could be an option for Philadelphia, and the first baseman tried to land a spot with the defending champs last winter.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 10, 2009 2:50 PM PDT reply actions
Tim Hudson is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Monday, which could lead to a rehab start later this week.
As he recovers from elbow surgery, it’s possible that he could return to Atlanta in a few weeks following a pair of rehab starts.
Hudson is a year removed from ulnar collateral ligament surgery on his throwing elbow.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 10, 2009 2:51 PM PDT reply actions
For you, I can be.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 10, 2009 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Here’s the lineup: Kennedy 3B, Davis CF, Hairston LF, Cust DH, Suzuki C, Everidge 1B, Sweeney RF, Ellis 2B, Pennington SS
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/athletics/detail?&entry_id=45250#ixzz0Np519h9T
Duchsherer's next start could be in Oakland
Bob Geren said he had a good report on Justin Duchscherer’s outing for Sacramento last night: 55 pitches, 42 strikes. It sounds as if there’s a chance Duchscherer’s next appearance could be in Oakland, depending on Dallas Braden’s infected foot. Geren pointed out that the A’s have an eight-man bullpen, which means that if Duchscherer is only at 80 pitches or so on Friday or Saturday or whenever he goes, the bullpen is equipped to finish up
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/athletics/detail?&entry_id=45250#ixzz0Np6TC6OM
AN, Nico get love from Rob Neyer
(link)
Davis has little power and will always have little power. But he does run the bases effectively and he does play well in center field. Oh, and of course he’s super cheap. For Davis, the problem is that he’s probably not a late bloomer; he just happens to be getting his chance at a typically blooming point in a player’s career.
Right now, Davis is good enough to play regularly. He and the A’s need to milk this moment for all its worth. Because a year or three from now, he’ll once again be a fourth outfielder.
Rickey Henderson's strike zone is "smaller than Hitler's heart." - Jim Murray
so, Neyer reads AN
or just Nico?
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
No DLD yet today....here are some Travelzoo deals for Yankee (and Tigers) tix next week.
OAKLAND—AUGUST 11, 2009— Tickets to see the Oakland A’s play the New York Yankees next week were just cut by 45 percent off regular prices. The discounted seats now start at $8 for games Aug. 17-18.
A weekend series against the Detroit Tigers from Aug. 21-23 is also included in this offer for the same prices.
The available ticket levels include:
- Bleachers … $8 (reg. $13)
- Plaza Outfield … $10 (reg. $18)
- Field Level … $16 (reg. $26)
To buy tickets, click below and select a game from the calendar. Enter Travelzoo as the coupon code. Fees of $3.25 per ticket and $4 per order will be added. (Full price tickets are subject to the same fees.)
skigurl: Buy that man a Swatch!
I think it's the regular A's ticket website
There's no crying in baseball!
by gigglingone on Aug 11, 2009 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Free Tacos
What ever happened to Taco Tuesdays at the A’s games??
Anyways, if you like free stuff, free tacos at Jack in the Box today.
There's no crying in baseball!
Since putting
Damian Miller and Arthur Rhodes in the commercial, sales weren’t as high as expected.
I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)
Yeah, I was disappointed
about the gradual disappearance of Taco Tuesdays. I haven’t bothered to check the past two years, but prior to that, they kept downgrading the product. First it was tacos, then it became taquitos, then the taquitos became smaller with hardly any filling. By that time, I didn’t think it was worth it to trek over to the Westside Club to see what they were selling.
Not too many teams would embrace a white elephant.
If a team and its mascot take on each others characteristics, the white elephant is truly the best mascot for the A’s as well as Oalkand. We have some crazy good history.
"Gratuitous gesticulating together sounds even better"
California UFL team uniforms revealed
SFWeekly: http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2009/08/are_you_ready_for_some_footbal.php
vertig0/Marine Layer’s take: http://newballpark.blogspot.com/2009/08/california-redwoods-wtf.html
They don’t look so bad to me. Let’s hope the on-the-field product isn’t so bad either.
Photos and video from my trip to Lollapalooza
http://crazyfer.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/just-got-home-from-illinois/
"Smells like summer camp!"
Great pix, Jennifer
I’m glad you had such a great time!
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Three days with no new DLD? :(
BART might strike on Friday (tomorrow). But they won’t leave you stranded at work today.
No baseball in the 2016 Olympics.
Air Guitar in San Francisco on Sunday
AUG 16 – 4:15 PM – UNION SQUARE, San Francisco (or where you are) – You and Your Air Guitar.
…
On August 16, 1969 The Who played Tommy at Woodstock. It was, by all accounts, one of the highlights of the event. Today, 40 years later, we wondered – how can we celebrate such brilliant 40 years of great rock and roll since then? So here’s the plan: On August 16th, we are doing a Air Guitar Flash Mob party. It’s starting in San Francisco’s Union Square, where at 4:15PM thousands of people will gather for an impromptu Air Guitar tribute to Woodstock, to The Who, and the whole rock experience. Join us to Air Guitar your heart out to “I Am Free.”
There's no crying in baseball!
SI article on '29 A's
“Those A’s never got the credit they deserved,” says Shirley Povich, 91, the retired sports editor of The Washington Post, who covered both teams. “The A’s were victims of the Yankee mystique. Perhaps the 1927 Yankees were the greatest team of all time. But if there was a close second, perhaps an equal, it was those A’s. They are the most overlooked team in baseball.”
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