The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of an A's loss to the White Sox

by Flashfire on Aug 14, 2009 10:13 PM PDT

Pinch-posting for Nico, whose old age required him to get to bed early on a Friday night. At least that's the story he gave me. Let's try something a little different, shall we? An assortment of things from tonight's game, won in ten by the Chicago White Sox by a score of 8-7. Based on the subject, can you guess the theme?

* Brett Anderson allowing six runs four outs into the game

* The top of the second

* Jeff Gray warming up early before sitting back down for the rest of the night

* Non-baseball moment: Alex Smith's lone scoring drive in the 49ers exhibition game (hint: it's kind of a trick)

* Brett Anderson allowing seven runs in 5+ innings

* The Coliseum field a day after the first Raiders exhibition game (seriously, not enough time to at least paint green over the football markings? Wow)

* Jose Contreras and his first three innings

* Jose Contreras and his next 1 1/3 innings

* The bottom of the fourth

* Bill Hohn's call on Cliff Pennington's stolen base attempt in the fourth (hint: it hasn't been a good week for Hohn and this umpiring crew)

* The A's coming back from an early 6-0 deficit

* A.J. Pierzynski's hair

* Rajai Davis' stirrups (okay, so these last two aren't unique to tonight's game)

* The nights at the plate by Scott Podsednik, Gordon Beckham, Jermaine Dye, Ramon Castro, Scott Hairston, Ryan Sweeney and Mark Ellis

* The nights at the plate by Paul Konerko, Carlos Quentin, Adam Kennedy and Kurt Suzuki

* Nearly mirror images of Brad Ziegler and Jay Marshall warming up in the bullpen

* The A's against Octavio Dotel in the ninth

* Craig Breslow's third pitch to Alexei Ramirez in the tenth

* The inevitable tease

* Nomar Garciaparra's patience

* The final score

* No TV for tomorrow's 1:05 PM start (thanks, Fox & MLB)

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Comments

What a tease...

Can I just say this game delay would REALLY blow w/ out AN. by brian.only on Aug 10, 2009 6:14 PM PDT

Ha ha -- you misspelled "2009 season" by Nico on Aug 10, 2009 6:15 PM PDT

by brian.only on Aug 14, 2009 10:15 PM PDT reply actions

No doubt

It feels like I paid for dinner, drinks and a movie but… no ROI.

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

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 14, 2009 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions

i know

by OakA'sHoney on Aug 14, 2009 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions

what's roi?

by OakA'sHoney on Aug 14, 2009 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions

return on investment

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Aug 14, 2009 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions

(read between the lines)

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Aug 14, 2009 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions

oh i was, just didn't know what ir stood for

i feel like a guy now too

by OakA'sHoney on Aug 14, 2009 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Return of investment

I always expect good things when I pay for a fancy dinner, drinks, and the movie.

All Games and Comments are Subject to Blackout

by Hit4TheCycle on Aug 14, 2009 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah i think in this case

filet mignon, lobster, and baked alaska were ordered

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Aug 14, 2009 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions

then that's definitely deserving of a roi

by OakA'sHoney on Aug 14, 2009 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions

It's best not to enter those types of business arrangements.

Twitter went down today--if only there were some short, shallow, self-indulgent way to express my horror.-Stephen Colbert

by Leopold Bloom on Aug 14, 2009 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions

i know but life gets tricky sometimes

by OakA'sHoney on Aug 14, 2009 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions

If you're not sure whether you're going to have sex,

it’s probably not wise to spend a lot of money and then have expectations attached to spent monies.

Twitter went down today--if only there were some short, shallow, self-indulgent way to express my horror.-Stephen Colbert

by Leopold Bloom on Aug 14, 2009 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions

oh i was taking it from the other point of view

by OakA'sHoney on Aug 14, 2009 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm really high on the pillow talk

All Games and Comments are Subject to Blackout

by Hit4TheCycle on Aug 14, 2009 10:33 PM PDT up reply actions

if only del taco, a 99 cent rental, and a can of natty ice would work

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Aug 14, 2009 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions

points you guys to the last game thread for this stuff

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Aug 14, 2009 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions

you can either embrace the blog you have

or continue to wish for the one you don’t. One will make you happy. The other will leave you frustrated.

Twitter went down today--if only there were some short, shallow, self-indulgent way to express my horror.-Stephen Colbert

by Leopold Bloom on Aug 14, 2009 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Some people have asked for the innuendo to be kept out of recap posts or at least scaled back a bit

I don’t think that’s an unreasonable request, since the game threads are basically free-for-alls, and this week has kind of gone overboard with some of it.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Aug 14, 2009 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions

didn't know about the "out of recap threads" part

but i will keep that in mind. thanks for the heads up.

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Aug 14, 2009 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Much appreciated, thanks

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Aug 14, 2009 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions

and how is discussing what we were discussing have

ANYTHING to do with innuendo?

Twitter went down today--if only there were some short, shallow, self-indulgent way to express my horror.-Stephen Colbert

by Leopold Bloom on Aug 14, 2009 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions

It was getting to that point with the whole ROI sub-thread

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Aug 14, 2009 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions

uh huh.

gotcha, officer.

Twitter went down today--if only there were some short, shallow, self-indulgent way to express my horror.-Stephen Colbert

by Leopold Bloom on Aug 14, 2009 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions

i have no problem following the rules, whether official or unofficial

but maybe there ought to be a “read this first” or announcements thread with a prominent link on the homepage. that way, when something is decided, we don’t have to go hunting for it

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Aug 14, 2009 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed

This is one of those things that is probably in a transitional phase right now. I know at least one poster has basically asked “What’s going on with AN?” after seeing how far some of the innuendo went, and a couple people were politely asked to tone it down a bit. Not stop entirely, but tone it down.

There is definitely a much more open feel to the game threads but the impression I’m getting is there are a number of people who don’t keep up with game threads but look to read about the game in the recap. I don’t think it’s asking too much to suggest people keep certain things to the game threads but it’s not my decision in the end. If it’s deemed necessary I’m sure Nico or BBG will mention something soon.

All I’m asking is for people to be mindful of others and consider taking certain things back to the game thread before they continue further here.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Aug 14, 2009 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions

I see your point FF

is there a way to segue the last game thread into a “lively” post game thread? I can see that there would be lots of folks who just want to check out the game recap since they missed the game, and don’t need the “color commentary”. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sub-threads and dialogue. But the last thing I want is A’s fans going to ESPN for a recap because the AN recap is too racy.

I said "Why not baseball?" He said he hated baseball and demanded we NEVER speak of it again. He then, oddly enough, walked repeatedly into my fists and feet. So weird that he would do that! - TwistNHook, CGB

by Kallus on Aug 14, 2009 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Hmmmmm

Not sure, but it almost sounds like doing a separate postgame free-for-all of some kind. I can’t really answer that so I’ll leave it to the mods to discuss.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Aug 14, 2009 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions

yes, i like that idea

the “coffee break” or perhaps more appropriate “beer run” thread. count me among its early supporters

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Aug 14, 2009 11:04 PM PDT up reply actions

If it did happen it wouldn't need to be much more than a...

…thing like “Game’s over. Have fun. Recap up soon” sort of thing, though at least to this point it’s just continued in the last game thread itself.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Aug 14, 2009 11:07 PM PDT up reply actions

I see the advantage

but off-topic conversations are not exclusive to recap threads. Every thread on AN has its digressions. But that being said, I see the benefit of having both a “post game after party” and a separate recap.

by Kallus on Aug 14, 2009 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Since you're not a mod,

it would be nice if you stopped acting like one. And I love how you act like one while its convenient for you, but as soon as it comes to a controversial topic, you back off and tell everyone you’re not a mod.

Bring Jerry back!

by ZigFan31 on Aug 15, 2009 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions

One doesn't need to be a mod to ask people to keep innuendo out of a recap

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Aug 15, 2009 12:55 AM PDT up reply actions

I have no problem with

Flashfire “acting like a mod”. We should all act like mods. It takes a village.

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

by iglew on Aug 15, 2009 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Just stay in the game thread

We’ve done that plenty of times before.

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

by iglew on Aug 14, 2009 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks for this.....

I kinda get tired of it – myself – usually scroll through it. I read below as well and I think since we had that one discussion about the rally pics ppl have been really respectful and have toned it down a great deal. We just need to keep reminding each other of the behavior will be OK with!

"I never blame myself when I'm not hitting. I just blame the bat, and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn't my fault that I'm not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?" Yogi Berra

by BERRYJO on Aug 14, 2009 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions

The thing about the recaps, is they are neutral ground.

People that like the community part of AN, the inside jokes, the inuendo, like coming to a recap thread after a game. Makes sense. Stat people like to argue about how the game could or should have gone down or what not. We like coming to the recap threads. People who just want a recap thats better than any newspaper come to the recap threads. Its a melting pot. Everybody’s got to try to keep it from spilling.

Dating girls is like starting pitching depth, you think you have a good full rotation, even too many starters, then in an instant as soon as you trade your depth away injuries decimate your rotation and you are forced to start Sidney Ponson.

by designatedforassignment on Aug 15, 2009 1:15 AM PDT up reply actions

I agree.

The game threads and the recap threads draw a very different group of people.

In the game thread it’s like we’re all hanging out together in someone’s living room. There’s a definite feeling of familiarity and there’s a usual crowd with a lot of flirting in jokes and stuff.

The recap threads bring in a lot of others who never frequent the game threads and who are more focused on wanting to know what happened in the game.

I’m not saying there should be a law against pillow talk in the recap thread. I would just suggest that one should be aware of one’s surroundings.

It’s like the difference between making out on the couch at a party or making out on the bench at the BART station during morning commute.

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

by iglew on Aug 15, 2009 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions

but it does.

Twitter went down today--if only there were some short, shallow, self-indulgent way to express my horror.-Stephen Colbert

by Leopold Bloom on Aug 14, 2009 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions

if you're hot it will work on most girls

by OakA'sHoney on Aug 14, 2009 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions

unfortunately

no. lol.

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Aug 14, 2009 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions

After steak,lobster and a baked alaska

all I’d want is a nap, that’s a lot of food.

by sirbed on Aug 14, 2009 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions

+1

by OaklandSi on Aug 15, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions

all we got was a lousy

~~t-shirt~~ groundout

"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey

by cuppingmaster on Aug 14, 2009 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Cash for Clunkers

See ya Nomar.

All Games and Comments are Subject to Blackout

by Hit4TheCycle on Aug 14, 2009 10:23 PM PDT reply actions

I don't know if he's worth $4500

by sirbed on Aug 14, 2009 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions

well, his gas mileage is for shit,

and any replacement we got would have MUCH improved MPG…we’re definitely getting $4,500 for him.

Twitter went down today--if only there were some short, shallow, self-indulgent way to express my horror.-Stephen Colbert

by Leopold Bloom on Aug 14, 2009 10:33 PM PDT up reply actions

There isn't much tread left on his tires that's for sure

by sirbed on Aug 14, 2009 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions

To hell with that....

we be rim ridin!

S&BP > Mile High Mules

by 0akFoSho on Aug 14, 2009 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think that you could drive him into the lot

which IIRC is one of the requirements for getting your $4,500

by designatedforassignment on Aug 15, 2009 1:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Nice pinch posting flashfire

It was a fun game but it’s more fun when they win.

by sirbed on Aug 14, 2009 10:27 PM PDT reply actions

Leaving Anderson in during the awful second inning...

… seemed like a bad move, and some folks in the game thread were howling for his removal. But he settled in, got to his 98 pitches and stopped the run-flow. (Too bad about that last base runner.)

Usually I trust ANers over Geren, who has not inspired this new As fan over the course of the season. Did he get this one right, or did he get this one lucky?

Oh, and it was nice to see how Anderson has earned himself a bad night or a few bad innings. Even getting shellacked, nobody questioned his ability or preparedness overall. That is a good feeling, and shows how far he has come through this season.

by paris7 on Aug 15, 2009 8:42 AM PDT reply actions

I get the feeling that he got lucky.

And unfortunately, because the results turned out relatively well, we’re likely to see that behavior again.

This year, Anderson already went through a dead-arm period once that pushed back his start. The bullpen was probably pretty well rested given that they just had an off-day. I really don’t think there was any reason to keep sending him back out there; it’s not like we’re in the middle of any meaningful race, and we’d certainly like to have him healthy for the next 5 years.

by speckops on Aug 15, 2009 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions

Thanks, Speckops!

A bit back I put myself in the 6-pitcher rotation camp. This seems to affect Anderson a lot. I wonder if it is something he will age out of, or if he’ll always be a bit slow to recover.

by paris7 on Aug 15, 2009 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions