A's score early & often, cruise to a win over the Chisox

by Flashfire on Sep 8, 2009 8:00 PM PDT Comment 88 comments

Visual evidence that Carlos Torres did, in fact, pitch tonight. Not well, but he pitched.

When your bullpen gets up a handful of minutes into the game and it isn't injury-related, you're in for a long night. Such was the case for rookie Carlos Torres and the Chicago White Sox tonight as the A's sprayed hits all over the Cell in an 11-3 laugher, scoring in all but three innings. As the game started they noted Torres pitches out of the stretch all the time and given his line (2/3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 2 HR) I'm not surprised. He only threw six pitches for balls but when you factor in he threw more warming up before the game than he did in it (22)...well, yeah.

As a sign of how evenly distributed the 20 hits the A's had were, everyone in the lineup had at least one and Kurt Suzuki was the only hitter who didn't have at least two. Ryan Sweeney tore it up (ahem) with four against his former team, Rajai Davis had three and both scored three times. Jack Cust had a big three-run homer in the first after Torres got the second out on a sacrifice fly by Suzuki. Mark Ellis followed by depositing another one over the fence for back-to-back homers and an early shower for Torres. Then again, I don't know that he really worked up a sweat to begin with. After that sacrifice fly the last ten runs by the A's came with two out, always a good thing to see.

Two more runs in the second helped stake Brett Tomko to a big 7-0 lead early and while he didn't complete the sixth his outing was more than enough to maintain a comfortable lead. He'd wind up allowing 3 earned on 6 hits, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts, also giving up a pair of homers to Mark Kotsay and Paul Konerko. He had no trouble at all with the rest of the lineup, probably because none of their last names started with a K. Lefties Craig Breslow, Jerry Blevins and Brad Kilby looked great in relief of Tomko, combining to allow just a hit and a walk (both by Breslow) in 3 2/3 innings.

Just one of those fun games to be able to watch as the season winds down. The, uh, series finale is tomorrow.

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Speedy - Flash!!

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." Red Barber

by BERRYJO on Sep 8, 2009 8:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

YAY WINZ.

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Sep 8, 2009 8:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice quick recap

On the flipside, Cust really does like to ramble on

I'm a happy seal

by SwisherThresher on Sep 8, 2009 8:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sing his song?

On his way?

by Axl on Sep 8, 2009 8:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I hope colin enjoyed himself at the game tonight

"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 Sep 8, 2009 8:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

it was awesome

I was a little late because the bus was really slow. But when I got to my seat, the bases were loaded with no one out. Hairston’s K was sort of a bummer, but then we got Suzuki’s sac fly followed by Cust and Ellis going back to back. Sort of rough for Torres. The crowd was booing him after 0.2 IP.

Also, when I was waiting for the red line after the game, I met Trevor Cahill’s brother! He came out to Chicago from Raleigh to see the games.

by colin on Sep 9, 2009 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

also

it was great to see Kilby pitch. His delivery is extremely deceptive (tucking the ball behind his back) while he winds up, and it worked out with 2 Ks in just his first seven pitches.

by colin on Sep 9, 2009 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

for those who wondered how the Hawk reacted to the A's HRs in the 1st

the video highlights on the iphone MLB app are from the White Sox feed. When Cust hit the HR Hawk remarked that Torres had gotten away with that breaking ball to Hairston, but not to Cust, and he added “Cust is so strong.” As for Mark Ellis, Hawk stated that Ellis is a “solid, solid player”, and has been ever since he’s been in the majors.

by OaklandSi on Sep 8, 2009 8:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I like how Tomko went right after the hitters, even with a big lead

by OaklandSi on Sep 8, 2009 8:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You should have heard Hawk on the MLB.com feed

during the 9th inning. The two announcers lamented how the White Sox played good ball against good teams, but against “second division” teams (boy, there’s a term that goes back to the 8-team days of the 1950s) the White Sox this year play terrible….or “against bad teams, they play bad.” Direct quote.

Sigh sigh sigh…Oh how these announcers waited and waited and waited for a winning streak. Every day, they’d come to the ballpark, but…the White Sox would lose the last game of a series, win a couple, lose….sigh….what a season it could have been!!

Heheheheh, then Sweeney singles to make it 11-3. Nice!!

"It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to be moved by statistics. " GB Shaw

by One won lost won on Sep 8, 2009 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yet, after tonight...

…the A’s are just 7 games behind the Sox in the win column. Not a huge difference, by any means.

In 2008 I was watching a team that was rebuilding. In 2009 I feel like I'm watching a team that just sucks.

by UncleLeo on Sep 8, 2009 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ozzie certainly doesn't have any qualms about

calling his teams’ play bad

by OaklandSi on Sep 9, 2009 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really didn't think that Cust's HR

was going to go out. It almost sounded like he cracked his bat on that hit. The wind was blowing out, though, so that probably helped out a bit. Kotsay’s HR was also to right field, and I didn’t think that was going out either.

by colin on Sep 9, 2009 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Weird, because on TV it looked like he absolutely crushed it.

They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick

by mikev on Sep 9, 2009 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

also, guessing how far a ball is going to go

is really not something I’m good at. It was just the sound that was a bit weird on that one.

HitTracker says it had “just enough” and true distance of 401 feet.

by colin on Sep 9, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh hey

I just now realized that Kilby and Carlos Torres were teammates at SJSU during the ’03 season (along with Kevin Frandsen (Giants) and Aaron Bates (BoSox)). Small baseball world.

I'm a happy seal

by SwisherThresher on Sep 8, 2009 8:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm just glad the A's won big

It was nice to see.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....

by pookeyguru on Sep 8, 2009 8:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

that too

by OaklandSi on Sep 8, 2009 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love Rajai.

That is all.

Okay, that’s not all. Why am I watching Melrose Place?? Didn’t I get enough the first time around???

"Bobby Crosby at third is a bit of an adventure. And not like, here’s some hidden treasure, what fun. More like, gah! poison ants!" --alea iacta est

by baseballgirl on Sep 8, 2009 9:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sydney got killed in the last one

How’d she come back?

by richwol1 on Sep 8, 2009 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just got back from the game.

Awesome experience. Despite the big win for our guys, Sox fans were not jerks. Perfect weather with a storm of hits. Ziggy threw my kid a ball during BP, I got to explain the game to a fledgling A’s fan, and I had a Polish with grilled onions. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

JJ Martin
The best way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until the ball stops rolling and then pick it up. ~Bob Uecker

by JJ Martin on Sep 8, 2009 9:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

congratulations on your "jackpot" experience

looks like you “touched ’em all” with this game.

Nice to hear.

"It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to be moved by statistics. " GB Shaw

by One won lost won on Sep 8, 2009 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rajai just keeps proving me wrong every day

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin

by Helloooo 1st on Sep 8, 2009 9:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Pretty amazing season

Gotta give the guy credit for flat out playing great baseball and energizing this 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 Sep 8, 2009 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I heard this old blues song...

’bout how Rajai was at a crossroads, and met the devil. The rest is baseball history.

"I'm pretty sure I heard Ray Fosse call a run a "point" tonight." - travdog6

by Kallus on Sep 9, 2009 2:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What I find mystical was the game at Dodger Stadium

with Don Newcombe, the Dodger pitcher from the 1940s and 1950s, up in the booth (and an excellent hitter himself, often pinch hitting!) looking at Rajai get a hit and saying, “That guy’s a good hitter..”

Ever since that game, Rajai has been playing like Willie Mays. Stealing bases, doubles, hitting for average. Only the HRs are missing. It’s been great. I love success like that!

"It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to be moved by statistics. " GB Shaw

by One won lost won on Sep 8, 2009 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

he's just a few ticks away from an .800 OPS on the season

who would have ever in their wildest alcoholic dreams considered that Rajai might flirt with .800?

by cityplANner on Sep 8, 2009 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would have bet a large amount of money against him. I love this game.

JJ Martin
The best way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until the ball stops rolling and then pick it up. ~Bob Uecker

by JJ Martin on Sep 9, 2009 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The A's sure put some on the board

Yessss Yesssss Yesssss

All Games and Comments are Subject to Blackout

by Hit4TheCycle on Sep 8, 2009 9:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This steam may be made up of a ragtag bunch of misfits

But today’s game felt like it was legitimately out of the Sox’s reach. An entertaining, dominant performance.

by Joey C. on Sep 8, 2009 9:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Proofreading fail

by Joey C. on Sep 8, 2009 9:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But I still liked it.

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

.It is kind of a steam.

The little engine that could.

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mike Sweeney coupled with Brian Fuentes gives Mike Scioscia Heartburn

LOL

2-2 Runners now 2nd and 3rd with 1 out with Griffey at plate

by Trainman on Sep 8, 2009 9:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Me likey

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Morales strikes out and reaches on a catcher fail

Typical

by Trainman on Sep 8, 2009 9:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then they bunt and get runner at second and

throw the ball into dugout.

Aybar at second.

Major FAIL which will probably cost them the game with the luck that the slegnA have.

by Trainman on Sep 8, 2009 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh!

Seattle is breaking down.

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And the first wheel just fell off

Figgins now at plate

by Trainman on Sep 8, 2009 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The first wheel fell off when we won two of four against them.

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would like nothing better than for Texas to somehow

get tied with the slegnA and we win two of last 3 to eliminate them from playoffs.

Not going to happen as I think Texas is too beat up, but you never know. We have 6 left against slegnA so we can do Texas a favor by beating this hated franchise.

That could be our playoffs right there.

by Trainman on Sep 8, 2009 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Happy to play spoiler,

any way we can.

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My dream for this season is that the Angels will have to win on 10/4

and FAIL!

"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 Sep 8, 2009 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh! My god!

That would be so worth everything!

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

that would be awesom

by OaklandSi on Sep 9, 2009 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Izturis has the bases loaded and is 5 for 6 against Lowe

and pops up 1st pitch LOL

by Trainman on Sep 8, 2009 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha!

You must be laughing your ass of at your roommate.

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

or off

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He is passed out

by Trainman on Sep 8, 2009 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah. Peace.

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Adrian Beltre FAIL

Beltre is horrible and couldn’t catch up to Fuentes and his 91 mph fastball the previous at bat.

by Trainman on Sep 8, 2009 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Miguel Batista vs slegnA

What choice would you make?

Wakamatsu wants to hand them a win.

by Trainman on Sep 8, 2009 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which he does

Automatic fail

Oh well.

At least my roomy is still passed out.

LOL

by Trainman on Sep 8, 2009 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You called it

Aybar with the walk-off

"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 Sep 8, 2009 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yikes.

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Watching the Gnats try give one away to the Padres, courtesy of Jeremy AfFAILdt

"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 Sep 8, 2009 9:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sorry about the doggy, doc.

LMSK must have been sad.

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You too, of course.

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure she has really figured out what was happening

She was not in the room when the end came. You are, of course, exactly right about me.

"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 Sep 8, 2009 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My shop dog caught a rat today that bit the shit out of him.

I’m worried. I love him so much!

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

I really, really hate rats. Let’s hope your dog (who sounds like a good dog) is OK.

"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 Sep 8, 2009 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He seemed okay when I left.

I was worried that the rat left a tooth in his jaw. I could feel something sharp there, and that freaks me out. But, we have this ritual we do every day for a treat, and he was up for it. D’weasel the Dancing Dog.

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not all rats are bad, Lynn.

I had two girl rats that were the coolest pets I have ever had. Super sweet, and really intelligent…

I miss them both…. ;(

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

by mrod on Sep 8, 2009 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

also the rats that invade Angel Stadium

they’re cool with me

by cityplANner on Sep 8, 2009 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha!

exactly!

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

by mrod on Sep 8, 2009 11:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ben, the two of us need look no more...

Haha! These ain’t those kind, babe.

Hey, Raburn! YOU ever dive into the shallow end of a pool?--noava22

by lynnzgal on Sep 8, 2009 11:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed - I have had a couple rats and they are great pets.

Friendly and liked to sit on my shoulder and run down my sleeves. Would be cool to get one of those giant rats recently found in the New Guinea jungle!

by DeJay on Sep 9, 2009 2:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tonight was a night for the A's bats, but the defensive optimization of

the line-up really jumped out at me. Barton, Sweeney, Davis, and of course Ellis have all shown they can be a win above average with the glove, Pennington looks like an upgrade relative to Cabrera/Crosby, and Hairston is average at least. That leaves Kennedy as a glaring hole. To me this is a totally different team than the one that pushes Cust into the field to make room for Giambi/Garciaparra’s bat, or that doesn’t carry a true defensive back-up at 1st and 2nd base for the first 8 weeks of the season, or that trots Powell out at first to cover up for this. And lets not forget Cabrera was mostly terrible.

The top five defensive teams by UZR are (in order) Seattle, Tampa, San Francisco, Texas, and Detroit. One of these teams is almost certainly going to make the playoffs; most of the others are at least kinda sorta in contention. Its worth noting that two of the teams, Seattle and San Francisco, sport offesnses that may actually be worse than the A’s’, and only tampa has a truly above average offense in that group. Pitching-wise, the A’s marginally out-WAR all these teams save the Rangers and Giants. The fact that the out-WARing is marginal means it deserve little heed, but the A’s pitching is still fairly solid, despite the teething.

All this is simply to suggest the kind of difference defense can make, especially for an otherwise lacking team like the Mariners.

Next year, I expect the A’s could put together a defense worth 45-50 runs above average if they chose to go with some questionable young bats, and I think this would be a better strategy than going after sluggers to create “room” for the young pitchers even if the former line-up doesn’t always put up 11 runs. With a pitching staff that’s bound to improve and a potentially excellent defense, this team may want to be more cautious about how it handles the risks inherent in “upgrading” its offense, and may actually be served just as well by having some space on the roster for Wallace and Carter to go through their own teething process at some point.

Bob Garen is incontinent

by Aufheben on Sep 8, 2009 9:57 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

The kids keep playing

and we keep winning………so to speak. Really funny that the Sox are the A’s bitch this year…..Ozzie Guillen must be getting hammered at the local watering hole as we speak, cursing the South Siders!

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

by mrod on Sep 8, 2009 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice post.....I think your comments make a lot of sense.

Raj & Sweeney are good defensive players who seem to be getting effective hitting styles going at this stage in the season.

by Vegas Ace on Sep 8, 2009 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

excellent post

maybe this off season the A’s will go for Carl Crawford like they did Holliday, drop Hairston to platoon at DH with Cust. Then sign Adrian Beltre and Kennedy to1 yr contracts and put AK at first. That would upgrade offense and defense.

by Jessse on Sep 9, 2009 12:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Crawford sounds pricey and over-rated, and I don't think the whole Holliday quick-flip worked

out so well for the A’s, so I’d stay away from Carl. Escobar seems like the best fit to me in terms of a useful position player who wouldn’t cost the farm.

For FAs I would say yes please to Beltre. Even with his bat not doing so well lately, I think he’s more valuable going forward than a clumsy corner OF with a big stick (Abreu, Burrell etc.), and he could be the missing link in an otherwise stellar defense.

For outfielders I would agree with PT on Mike Cameron, although I seem to remember this was wildly unpopular. The guy’s been incredibly consistent, regardless of whether he took steroids, and his presence would turn one of Sweeney, Hairston, or Davis into a luxury fourth OF, which is a good thing. I would also consider making Byrd an offer if he slips through the cracks a bit.

I don’t see why you would replace Barton with Kennedy. Barton’s a well above average defender and he has more offensive upside than Kennedy and he’s cheaper.

Bob Garen is incontinent

by Aufheben on Sep 9, 2009 12:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Kennedy could provide solid D

at first base and better offense than Barton. I dont concern myself with price of players, just team needs. I’m glad you agree about Beltre I hope they do it. As for Crawford he’s been a consistent 300 hitter with league leading SB potential and he is only 29. Unlike Holliday he wouldnt be changing leagues or batting stances. Escobar is contract control for the next three years and would be great to acquire, he will cost lots of prospects.

by Jessse on Sep 9, 2009 6:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

AN has been all kinds of wonky for me tonight.

Now I find that C works but shift-C doesn’t. Closed the browser and re-opened it, but same problem. Never seen that before. Weird.

Earlier today trying to run both the game thread and MLB audio at the same time, my browser was unusually slow and jumpy in the game thread and then after a while crapped out altogether.

Anyone else been having trouble?

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

by iglew on Sep 9, 2009 1:34 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I have that problem at times too.

It usually stops when I close the windows with weird porn though.

Founding member of the Eric Patterson fan club.

by travdog6 on Sep 9, 2009 1:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing else open here.

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

by iglew on Sep 9, 2009 2:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

At work now.

Shift-C still not working. Maybe this is a separate issue.

Everything else seems fine, though I notice the background ad is not animated here as it was at home.

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

by iglew on Sep 9, 2009 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

watched the highlights on mlb.com

I love love love how Hawk sounds when the opposition scores or HRs, he goes into Monotone Zombie Describing Paint Drying mode. It’s almost sounds like during takeoff when the captain reads the in-flight safety stuff over the PA, like how to use the oxygen mask and so forth.

That guy is to baseball announcing what Tom Carvel was to public speaking… they shouldn’t send suspected terrorists to Guantanamo, they should just have them watch enough WGN Sox games that they crack just from the 12-billion-nails-on-fifty-million-blackboards-in-Hell Prozac tones of the Hawk. You’d have Bin Laden’s cell digits and location by the trade deadline, I swear.

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

by emperor nobody on Sep 9, 2009 3:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

come to think of it

the Sox ought to just ditch the Hawk for good, get a really fast bleep-censor operator, and have Ozzie call the games from the dugout, while he manages at the same time.

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

by emperor nobody on Sep 9, 2009 3:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ozzie

It would sound like a test of the emergency broadcast system.

by JLaff on Sep 9, 2009 8:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I loathe Hawk as a "commentator."

As a Chicago denizen, I’m subjected to his blatant homerism, constant whining about umpires, and blathering stories. The shame of it is that Steve Stone is pretty good, much more knowledgeable, and easier on the ears than Hawk. I despise (in a baseball sense) the Angels a whole more than the Sox, but there’s no better moment than hearing all the life drain from Harrelson’s voice when the Sox lose, whether it’s unexpected (ala the Ellis homer) or a big thumping like last night.

JJ Martin
The best way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until the ball stops rolling and then pick it up. ~Bob Uecker

by JJ Martin on Sep 9, 2009 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

After the sox went down 4-0, and Ellis came up,

Hawk was optimistically pointing out that the best part about this situation was, and here’s the kicker, THE SOX HAD ALL 27 OUTS TO WORK WITH – this even as the ball was travelling between Toress’ hand and Ellis’ bat. Then there were a couple seconds of silence, then a low croak, “five oh.” And that was his HR call. Hawk makes me laugh sometimes – especially in how he tries to rationalize defeat. Someone here once portrayed him as an alcoholic living in a fantasy reality, and I thought this was brilliant.

Bob Garen is incontinent

by Aufheben on Sep 9, 2009 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

See, this is why I sometimes relish listening to Hawk.

Especially when the Sox are being destroyed. The pain he exudes is palpable. I like that. A lot.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Sep 9, 2009 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steve Stone deserves it for stealing the CYA in 1980

I used to watch Cubs games all the time back in the 80’s, and Stone had to put up with Harry Caray back then. Harry Caray and the Hawk! – Stone should be the patron saint for long-suffering baseball announcers.

"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 Sep 9, 2009 9:30 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs