Braden's Excellent Start and Bailey's First Save Lift A's Over O's
by baseballgirl on Apr 16, 2010 9:49 PM PDT
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PrintIt's becoming increasingly hard to root against the poor Orioles, who have now dropped eight in a row this young season and 12 of 13 to the A's themselves, but at the same time, the A's need all of the wins they can get. I'm not picky about how they get them or who they are playing when they do, but tonight's game was classic, textbook, perfect baseball for this 2010 A's team (pitching and defense) and I'd like to see more. Although the A's only scored four runs, they made it seem like more with the excellent pitching from Braden, Ziggy and Bailey, who finally notched his first save of the season (it took eight wins!).
Braden earned his second win of the season with his stellar performance tonight. I could tell you that the Orioles only had a man in scoring position twice tonight, and only once against Braden, but I'll just give his line: 7IP, 3H, 1BB, 4K. His only blemish on the night--and I mean the only--was that his one walk came right in front of one of his three hits, and it happened to be a Ty Wigginton homerun. The Orioles never mounted a rally.
Although Braden finished the seventh only throwing 92 pitches, his night was finished in favor of Ziegler for the eighth and Bailey for the ninth. Some may not agree, but it's his third start, he didn't pitch a full season last year, and I think the set-up/closer combo is perfect with a two-run lead. I liked the bullpen call there.
The A's scored their four runs in true A's fashion; not a homerun in the mix. In the second inning, back to back singles by Kouzmanoff and Chavez put the runner at third with no one out. Jake Fox cashed in the RBI with a sac fly. They doubled the lead in the third when Rajai singled, stole second, advanced to third on an error, and scored on Sweeney's groundout. They doubled the lead again in the fourth when after a Fox single and a Gross single (who was 3-3 tonight), Pennington tripled them both in. The 4-0 lead was cut to 4-2 on the O's homerun, but that was the extent of the scoring.
Your first-place A's take on the Orioles again tomorrow. I will be your host; aren't you excited!
Current Series
Athletics lead the series 2-0
| Thu 04/15 | WP: Ben Sheets (1 - 0) LP: David Hernandez (0 - 2) |
6 - 2 win |
| Fri 04/16 | 4 - 2 win | |
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Baltimore Orioles Saturday, Apr 17, 2010, 1:05 PM PDT Jeremy Guthrie vs Justin Duchscherer Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 65. |
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| Sun 04/18 | 1:05 PM PDT | |
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Comments
Our first-place A's.
Can’t say it often enough.
by whiteshoes40 on Apr 16, 2010 9:53 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
The lead is at two games!
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 16, 2010 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions
If the A's keep playing such fast games, they will win favor with the umpires
I’ll take anything we can get.
BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD, AND STUFF.
Jake Fox is not as bad as presumed.
This game rocked, too.
Wuertz was scratched from a minor league game on Wednesday, but bounced back quickly on Thursday, throwing mostly fastballs and sliders, although he did mix in three sliders. -Rotoworld
Actually, I'd say he's about as presumed:
A hacker with power who drops some popups but catches most pitches.
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
He dropped an easy ball near the screen, however.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 16, 2010 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions
I mean he's a good dude.
Wuertz was scratched from a minor league game on Wednesday, but bounced back quickly on Thursday, throwing mostly fastballs and sliders, although he did mix in three sliders. -Rotoworld
by ElQuesoCapitan on Apr 16, 2010 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Looking around the site
good to see Brett Anderson get a deal….the Orioles suck……I think I’ve already been eliminated in the GOG
i didn't get one in on time.
sigh.
sock puppets have never successfully defended castles. -nm
by Leopold Bloom on Apr 16, 2010 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Ooh, I guessed that in the GOG!
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
Blogfather, sir, with all due respect, you can’t guess twice!
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 16, 2010 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions
No no, I guessed
LB won’t get one in on time!
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
you know vorp has nothing to do with Luke Skywalker, right?
sock puppets have never successfully defended castles. -nm
by Leopold Bloom on Apr 16, 2010 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions
These are not the sabermetric stats you are looking for
BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD, AND STUFF.
by doctorK on Apr 16, 2010 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
there have only been 4!
don’t give up!
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
so do the Orioles
"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
Everything is better with bacon.
by cuppingmaster on Apr 16, 2010 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Has anyone ever had a 4oz serving of ice cream?
I have a 16oz cup and it says I should get 4 servings out of it….crazy.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
What kind of moran stops after 4 ounces?
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
Have you seen the Allen Iverson documentary that aired on ESPN on Tuesday night? It was about the 1993 trial when he was in high school.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 16, 2010 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions
The Reggie Miller and New York Knicks one is on ESPN2 in 20 minutes.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 16, 2010 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions
that one I saw
I thought it was really good and that’s a subject I already knew quite a bit about as I was a bigger NBA fan back then (had the time to follow it)
I love reggie miller
And hate NBA basketball. I kinda dislike college basketball.
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - danmerqury
So I gotta ask...
If you hate NBA basketball and kinda dislike college basketball, why do you love Reggie Miller?
There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 17, 2010 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions
When I have seen him talk
he seemed quiet, thoughtful and reserved. (He told some cool stories about hustling with his sister.)
But when he is playing he seems like a trash talker, not like Jordan or Pierzynski. He didn’t seem like a dick, just really good.
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - danmerqury
I caught most of it
I was expecting a bit more out of it. I was very impressed with the SI article when that first came out so really thought this was going to be gripping, but turned out to be a lot less than I’d hoped. The story just became so convoluted that it didn’t grip me.
- one of the best hitters on the team last year- nontendered - resigned - DFA’d - BY THE SAME TEAM
That’s just f'ed up - mikev
(it took eight wins!).
WE HAVE EIGHT WINS!
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
done deal.
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
so it's a 92 win West?
I was figuring 90 would be all it takes this year.
by MobiusKlein on Apr 16, 2010 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Holy shit
10-8 Doyers, Gnats still batting in the 9th inning.
BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD, AND STUFF.
Whew, the Dodgers hung on.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 16, 2010 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Then Renteria hacks at the first pitch and taps out weakly to the pitcher
BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD, AND STUFF.
His batting average has dropped 355 points in a week.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 16, 2010 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions
asshole
I can’t believe MLB doesn’t do something about that steaming pile of FAIL.
BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD, AND STUFF.
he's not the first beanballer
"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
Everything is better with bacon.
by cuppingmaster on Apr 16, 2010 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions
It would not be a bad thing, however, if he were the last
BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD, AND STUFF.
Crap, Giants putting up a 5 spot in the 9th.
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
It's all good
The Giants got stuffed in the end.
Here’s to a fat loss hung onto Sticky Icky Timmy for the Gnats to lose this series and knock them the hell back to earth!
Green and Gold Lantern Corps
by oaklandSMASH on Apr 16, 2010 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions
I see the Rangers are up to their old tricks in finding a way to lose
"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
Everything is better with bacon.
sharks score with 31 seconds left!
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
game-winner or tie?
"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
Everything is better with bacon.
by cuppingmaster on Apr 16, 2010 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions
tie
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
Going to OT
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
hey! it's on VersusHD!
"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
Everything is better with bacon.
by cuppingmaster on Apr 16, 2010 10:16 PM PDT up reply actions
CSN Cal
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
My brother’s favorite player sent it into overtime.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 16, 2010 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow nabokov
only 18 SOG and 5 goals
"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
Everything is better with bacon.
by cuppingmaster on Apr 16, 2010 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Terrible defense though
You can’t hang really more than 1 or 2 of those on him
"Did you know you can comment on Athletics Nation from your phone or PDA? SB Nation has launched mobile commenting. Check it out next time you’re at the game or bar and have something to say."
by stranahanahan on Apr 17, 2010 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions
just got back from the game - sweet!
nice to see Fox contributing with the bat – and my oh my those double plays and great picks by Pennington, yes.
And no, I have no trouble whatsoever rooting against any team that plays the A’s…
Nighto, athletics nation.
Wuertz was scratched from a minor league game on Wednesday, but bounced back quickly on Thursday, throwing mostly fastballs and sliders, although he did mix in three sliders. -Rotoworld
by ElQuesoCapitan on Apr 16, 2010 10:15 PM PDT reply actions
guess (the) outcome game
"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
Everything is better with bacon.
by cuppingmaster on Apr 16, 2010 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Funny....
I know what GOG is but had forgotten what the acronym stood for.
There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 17, 2010 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions
touch-and-go with Nabby there. He looked behind him twice in OT
"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
Everything is better with bacon.
by cuppingmaster on Apr 16, 2010 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Sharks and A's win, and Giants lose against their hated rival
and all is well in the world.
Let’s please see some more nights like this!
Green and Gold Lantern Corps
by oaklandSMASH on Apr 16, 2010 11:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Don’t forget the radio!
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 16, 2010 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Poor O's.
I do feel bad for them.
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
no
no mercy
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
Just imagine if the A's were 1-10.
It’s not that hard to imagine.
Cue empathy.
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
Lame AP writer
Check out the lameness of the AP writer who wrote the post-game recap for tonight’s game.
Braden, who grew up in Stockton 70 miles north of Oakland, faced only three batters over the minimum in seven innings, getting a 3-6-1 double play on his final pitch.
by daveman on Apr 16, 2010 11:42 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
YAY WE WIN
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
Was at the game tonight.
Girlfriend shouted at Gaudin and asked him to “take it off!” when he stood up for water. He looked at her, smirked (complete with full-on, cocky head tilt), stretched, and sat back down.
Good man and holy SHIT he has a crazy ass beard…thing going on.
LETS GO OAK-LAND!
"You're just jealous. You wish you had a rally animal..." -CardinalWraith
Maybe he didn't understand what she meant.
Next time she should be more clear and say “shave it off!”
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
back from Clash of the Titans in 3D
Nice to see Braden releasing the Kraken on the O’s.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Apr 17, 2010 12:20 AM PDT reply actions
RELEASE THE BRADEN
Sundown dazzling day, gold through my eyes.
But my eyes, turned within, only see
starless and bible black.
lookit you
witcha dope Crimson sig.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Apr 17, 2010 1:44 AM PDT up reply actions
[[releases thunderous Bruford fill on the two-and just for you]]
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Apr 17, 2010 1:45 AM PDT up reply actions
I changed it at the beginning of the season, figuring the title of the song was a pretty apt metaphor.
I might be wrong about that, heh.
By the way, have you heard the new Steven Wilson remasters? They’re amazing.
Sundown dazzling day, gold through my eyes.
But my eyes, turned within, only see
starless and bible black.
oh man
I just put Red on cuz of you… the remasters are unreal… Lizard especially. I CAN’T WAIT for the next round with Islands and ItWoP.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Apr 17, 2010 1:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Steven Wilson is one of my very favorite musicians.
Everything he touches turns to gold, and these remasters are definitely no exception. I hear there’s 5.1 Dolby Surround mixes of these too, and oh man, no one mixes surround better.
Sundown dazzling day, gold through my eyes.
But my eyes, turned within, only see
starless and bible black.
yeah
Such a labor of love… people will play these records in whatever form prevails 1000s of years from now and look upon KC and the like as the alpha & omega, such is the breadth of creativity and innovation on display.
I have played music my whole adult life, the inspired amateur with no real talent but the knowledge that when we make music we are doing the highest thing humans do, in a certain way, music being the language that obliterates barriers like they aren’t even there (they aren’t, they’re in our heads).
In my experience, knowing so many musicians over so many years, the most influential group on other players is most likely the Beatles, who set the template and the Overton Window for everything that has followed in the mid 1960s, as the wave of global technological innovation broke and the recording went from 4 to 8 to 16 to 24 to 48 in no time at all.
The second most influential group for other musicians, in my experience, is the mighty beast called King Crimson, of which there have been so many incarnations and manifestations, yet with no loss of conceptual unity in the KC project/object across 40+ years now.
I think of all the popular music of the last 50 years, KC has been the farthest afield in terms of stirring elements into rock that just were not thinkable before the first version hit in 1969… yeah, the one where at their 9th ever gig, JImi Hendrix got up and proclaimed them to all assembled the Greatest Band In the World. Fripp, schmuck as he can be, hasn’t really stopped since, weathering all kinds of industry horrors and keeping the flame of that brand name of creativity alive. There have been breaks, but only to allow the Beast to reemerge in another body with somewhat different players each time.
Sometimes when I listen to KC music, and really so much of the incredibly creative music we as 21st century humans have available to us to become inspired by, and I feel so lucky to be alive in a time that overlaps with such a thing.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Apr 17, 2010 2:21 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
God damn, EN. One hell of a post.
The Beatles is an obvious pick. But Crimson at number two? I’ve never heard anyone rank them as high as two in terms of influence, but hell, I can’t disagree. I can’t even start to list the ridiculous amount of sheer technological musical advances Fripp has pioneered in the rock genre, not to mention the amazing lineups of top-tier musician after musician. Who else can say they’ve played with legends like Belew, Lake, Wetton, Bruford, and Levin?
Plus, I always got a kick out of how the heaviest and most intensely dark album, Red, was followed by something as light, airy, and quirky as Discipline. And yet they’re both fantastic. How does that work?
Sundown dazzling day, gold through my eyes.
But my eyes, turned within, only see
starless and bible black.
by danmerqury on Apr 17, 2010 2:47 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'll be at the Yankee series this week.
Should be really interesting. I think we’ll be getting our first look at the team’s true ability to be competitive this season. Hate them though I do, the NY team is always built to compete. If our boys can take two of three, I’ll be a happy little fan! The M’s may have gotten a lot of press at the beginning of the season, but they’re far from proven. The Angels may have finally fell to earth. I hope so. I’m so sick of seeing them play far beyond their means. The O’s suck ass. So bring on the Yanks and lets see if this team is the real deal!
Watching Miggy last night I couldn’t help but think that he looks as though he wonders what could have been had he stuck with the A’s. That dude hasn’t sniffed a winning season since he left the Green and Gold, and it’s obvious that it wears on him. How much effing money does one guy need?
Speaking of money, I’ve decided to sit in cheaper seats and curtail my No. Cal excursion so that the State of California can subsidize my brethren throughout the state with free stuff. Actually, the Gov and his foul minions in Sac decided for me….the rat bastards. And yes, since you’re curious, I’m still a bit miffed about April 15th.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
I think I'll be there WEdnesday.
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
the game is blacked-out here :(
MASN won’t televise the O’s game – which is the only time I can see my A’s :(
http://masnsports.com/masn_news_information/2010/04/programming-note-for-saturday-april-17th.html
Maybe time to get a mlb.com subscription.
I think that's because of FOX's contract
it says "THERE SHALL BE NO TELEVISED GAMES HELD DURING THE DAY, BUT FOX FOX TELEVISED GAMES, ON STATURDAYS.
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - danmerqury
It’s the lamest television contract in sports.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 17, 2010 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I noticed that,
plus there are waaaaay too many people in it. There was a very poor crowd last night. It made me feel sad.
Let's hope we rough up Guthrie
As bad as we did last year!
"Did you know you can comment on Athletics Nation from your phone or PDA? SB Nation has launched mobile commenting. Check it out next time you’re at the game or bar and have something to say."
Do you guys think that Fox will be Braden's regular catcher?
It seems like the two of them have quite a good relationship together and I don’t think Braden shook a single pitch off last night.
If the two of them seem to connect so well it would be a good way to lessen Suzuki’s workload behind the plate by consistently getting every 5th game off…
"Did you know you can comment on Athletics Nation from your phone or PDA? SB Nation has launched mobile commenting. Check it out next time you’re at the game or bar and have something to say."
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