Yankees Drop A's Behind Hughes' Strong Start
by baseballgirl on Apr 21, 2010 10:25 PM PDT
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PrintYou know those times when it feels like any pitcher could throw a no-hitter against the A's offense? Well, this was kind of that night, except instead of blaming the A's offense in its entirety, I would have to give a lot of credit to Phil Hughes; he pitched a legit gem.
Although Sheets threw six innings himself, allowing only two runs (if the game had stayed at those two runs, it would be the lowest number of runs the Yankees had scored all year), it would be an insurmountable lead against Hughes, Joba and Rivera; the only pitchers the Yankees needed to secure the win.
Hughes had retired 20 straight through his seven innings of no-hit ball; while striking out 10 and walking only one. I was convinced at this point that the A's would be no-hit, but then Eric Chavez came to the plate leading off the eighth inning. When I say he singled off of Hughes; I literally mean he singled off of Hughes. Smacking Hughes in the glove, Chavez took his place at first base, and the no-hitter was gone. The A's would close the gap to 2-1 a few batters later. After Kouzmanoff struck out for the hat trick (hey, two nights in a row; don't EVEN get me started!), Gross walked, and Fox singled Chavez in.
It might have been a different story had the A's gone to the ninth down only the one run, but an unfortunate series of events (Blevins leaving the game in the eighth with an injury; two singles in the ninth for the Yankees), led the Yankees to score the insurance run and despite the A's pulling their patented teAse against Rivera (single by Sweeney, HBP for Suzuki), he closed the door on the Yankees' win. Kouzmanoff flied out to end the game with the tying runners on base (again, don't even get me started).
Because I'm angry, and because I think this was absolute crap, I demand to know how Geren didn't get himself tossed in the ninth inning. Ray Fosse certainly would have had he been closer to the umpire, but I honestly think this at-bat should be reviewed and someone should be fined. Derek Jeter "walked" after he TOOK A FULL SWING at two different pitches. The first swing was probably the most egregious check swing call I have ever seen. Do the umps really think the Yankees need that much help? If I had a screen shot, I would post it, but it was just under a full swing and it was called a non-swing. Ridiculous.
So the game ended 3-1 and the A's drop their third straight for the first time this season.They are now tied with Seattle (yes, Seattle) for the AL West lead.
In injury news (thanks Susan Slusser!), Blevins had a back spasm, and Buck's oblique hurts when he coughs. Not good.
The A's try to salvage the series tomorrow against CC Sabathia. I will be your host for the day game; see you then!
Current Series
Yankees lead the series 2-0
| Tue 04/20 | WP: Javier Vazquez (1 - 2) LP: Gio Gonzalez (1 - 1) |
3 - 7 loss |
| Wed 04/21 | WP: Phil Hughes (2 - 0) SV: Mariano Rivera LP: Ben Sheets (1 - 1) |
1 - 3 loss |
|
New York Yankees Thursday, Apr 22, 2010, 12:35 PM PDT Partly cloudy. Winds blowing in from left field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 65. |
||
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Comments
Sheets looked great tonight
2 run ball to the Yankees is not bad at all.
"-i never said half the things i said." --Yogi Berra
Not at all!
Its not his fault there was no offense to back him up.
Oh! And, kma Yankees!
Hope is a strategy ~ Chaz Ebert
Sheets is improving every start
No complaints there.
hey, we're still in first place... at least for a couple more hours...
so none of that talk yet!
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 22, 2010 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions
GMTA
I was just thinking that as I was watching the post-game show (unfortunately it was the Yankees Version). Felt like the A’s were battling there at the end. Got shut down by some exceptional pitching. Let’s hope CC psychs himself out tomorrow and blows it! Odds are in our favor, right?
"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all." Earl Weaver
It's not always if the team won or lose
But how the team played, and I thought the A’s played well defensively. The tease at the end was another fire lit under the A’s that hopefully will continue tomorrow under the sun.
@MAD_Marvin
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
I was saying to Bloomy,
that interesting things happen at the Thursday games. Its gonna be a nice day.
Hope is a strategy ~ Chaz Ebert
Hughes has had an odd start to his career
but he looks like a very good pitcher now. As if the Yankees needed the help.
Someone explain to me why every pitcher doesn’t throw a cut fastball at this point.
Shawn Spencer: Ahoy there! Um, yes. Right! My name is Shawn Spencer! This is my first mate Hummingbird Saltalamacchia!
Burton Guster: Hello!
Shawn Spencer: We were turned around-- discombobulated! We... we just now realized we're in restricted waters.
Burton Guster: Just now! And we both have hepatitis!
I always thought that pitchers who threw ineffective sliders were taught the cutter
And some pitchers just didn’t learn a slider, and therefore, didn’t really pick up a cutter either. The others can throw both.
"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 21, 2010 11:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Everyone threw a cut fastball in Oakland when Dave Duncan was the pitching coach.
Did wonders for Stewart and a bunch of others.
Duncan liked that forkball too
the devastating downer
I don't think it's right to *thank* SuSlu for that news.
Just meh.
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
I agree here
Slu seems like a nice gal and her lobbying for the correct source to get ‘credit’ for news seems to have created a bit of a following on the site. This news was broke by at least two sources before Slu and it seems wrong to thank her for news others break. Outside of that great piece BBG!
"-i never said half the things i said." --Yogi Berra
Well that's not what I meant.
I love SuSlu.
I just don’t love the news.
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
ok i'll say it
maybe its just me but SuSlu is kinda cute
She is
But she is also an excellent beat writer!
"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 22, 2010 7:05 AM PDT up reply actions
you're lucky she is following the sharks right now
otherwise she might come after you ;-)
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
Really hard to figure how the ump missed those swings
during Jeter’s at-bat. You’re right — they were full swings, both of ‘em. Confusing. I mean, they weren’t even close.
Starting to get a little frustrated with the various injuries showing up again … Ellis, Buck, Blevins … crap, you just get the feeling an epidemic is about to break out again.
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
LOL @ Sheets comment
Sheets said he feels good about his stuff, but he’d like to start throwing more strikes and getting deeper into games. He also said he didn’t mind Ryan Sweeney diving for the ball Rodriguez hit and, he added of Sweeney, “He didn’t throw his glove at me for giving up a triple (to Cano) on an o-2 pitch.”
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/21/SP6U1D275C.DTL#ixzz0lo5JGhDl
Also this:
Sheets: “Whether or not we got a hit was irrelevant… the only thing that matters is a win or a loss. If you get no-hit it’s just a loss.”
Uh, NO.
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
I guess what he’s saying is that a loss is a loss with one hit, five hits or nine hits.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 21, 2010 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Um, I get what he's saying.
But getting zero hits is still different than all those scenarios you just listed above.
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
not at the end of the year, it ain't.
sock puppets have never successfully defended castles. -nm
by Leopold Bloom on Apr 21, 2010 11:44 PM PDT up reply actions
Just got back...
…from the game, and, man, too much blue in the stands. Towards the end, the area by the visiting bullpen was solid blue.
And once again, the offense comes up lacking. Damn it! Good pitching on both sides tonight; the A’s can definitely hang with the Yankees if they want. Oddly enough, they seemed to have hit Rivera a lot better than Hughes. Who wudda thunk et?
And Fox! Fox came through with a nice knock for a change.
"With Chance on first, and Evers on third,
Great things from the Cubs will soon be heard."
It was horrible, basically an away game for the A's.
I can’t imagine how demoralizing it must be for the team. It was for me, surrounded as I was by obnoxious Yankee fans, many of them, I’m guessing, having no real connection to NYC or to the team itself.
by Ray of Lite on Apr 21, 2010 11:49 PM PDT up reply actions
It was worse after the 8th inning, when a lot of A's fans left.
I was disappointed.
by LoneStranger on Apr 21, 2010 11:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes, yes...
…it was. I know people want to beat the crowds, but with that late attempt at a rally, I don’t understand the “let’s leave” mentality. Security was doing the same thing, too. You want people to sit during a rally?
"With Chance on first, and Evers on third,
Great things from the Cubs will soon be heard."
Saw a 'tossed' Yankee fan get tossed after being taunted by A's fans.
She wanted to fight them, and leaped down three rows to get at them. When the guard got her and started bringing her down the aisle, she ran ahead and went to get the guy(s) from that direction.
Later on, saw a ‘tossed’ A’s fan being tossed, probably for taunting.
by LoneStranger on Apr 22, 2010 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Fortunately...
…the bleachers were full of A’s fans, with only the occasional Yankee supporter in site. Though, I should’ve slapped the kid who kept kicking my chair anytime the Yankees did anything.
"With Chance on first, and Evers on third,
Great things from the Cubs will soon be heard."
All I had was a New Yorker and his family behind me, explaining things to the other people around him.
He probably lives here, because he was almost correct with the A’s stuff he was talking about.
by LoneStranger on Apr 22, 2010 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions
BUT WE NEED TO KEEP THE A'S IN OAKLAND. ALL THOSE FANS KEEP COMING OUT TO GAMES TO SHOW SUPPORT
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
Bingo.
He steps to the left, he steps to the riiiiiiight. That Amos Roberts, he'll make you look shite!
plz 2 see actual rant, posted further below.
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
well at least the Sleglets took it on the chin
boy Fuentes suxx, SO glad he is their closer now
So wow, 4 runs in two games. I hope CC is out doing jello shots with 2/3 0f Vallejo right now
.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Apr 21, 2010 11:32 PM PDT reply actions
Whoa, image height tag lesson for you, sweet pea!
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
Hey, at least it’s collapsible.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 21, 2010 11:36 PM PDT up reply actions
And I like it.
Though you really have to use the right kind of cup to make a perfect JELL-O shot.
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
Pam, why is the image height an issue?
I don’t post pics, I’m just curious.
And I’m unemployed, so my bosses are sleeping in their little beds by my feet right now.
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 22, 2010 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions
makes the threads take longer to load.
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
Setting an image size in the html doesn't change the time it takes to load the page.
Since the resizing is done on the client, and it still has to download the whole thing, right?
by LoneStranger on Apr 22, 2010 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions
Correct.
The height does not change load time. (Which is why linking to a truly enormous image is bad etiquette even with the height tag.)
The problem with tall pictures is that they overflow the screen too much and break up the flow of the thread. Also, they’re more likely to attract unwanted attention in the workplace. Both problems are greatly mitigated if there’s a subject line that allows them to be collapsed.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
I see
How long did you know that MagicMike was a troll? I had that dude pegged in December, but I was afraid to be too much of an asshole – last time I yelled at a troll I got a strike.
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 22, 2010 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions
Not till just the other day.
There are precious few AN Posters that I actually know by username.
A lot of times I’ll recognize people at AN tailgates and then not know who they are online or remember that we’ve had interaction in threads or whateve, because I’m mostly reading and replying to content and not specifically to usernames, etc.
A few of the people that apparently hunted him down and quoted posts from other sites were what clued me in. I just kinda thought he was a dumbass and largely ignored when he posted.
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
I have moved away from Oakland sadly
This is the first time since ‘98 that I haven’t been at a game or two of the opening homestand. AN is now my primary connection with the A’s.
With any luck I’ll be in town for a game or two this summer.
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 22, 2010 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
CC Sabathia is 5-7 with a 5.80 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and .287 BAA in 18 career starts against the A’s.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 21, 2010 11:38 PM PDT reply actions
Tomorrow
Draft + A’s game afternoon. You going to be hanging on S&B at all RRS?
"-i never said half the things i said." --Yogi Berra
Yes, I’ll be there. I’ll make a draft post on the front page if something isn’t up. I have no idea if anyone has plans for that. Saint is going to be at a draft party, I assume.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 21, 2010 11:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Yea, Saints going to be gone
I’ll be there as soon as I can blow out of work to join you guys. I’m really hoping by 1-1:30.
"-i never said half the things i said." --Yogi Berra
That’s the time I’ll get home from school. It’s a short day tomorrow, thankfully.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 21, 2010 11:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I think, given the bulldog that showed himself the second game of the season
is pitching tomorrow, that we’re in good shape to win tomorrow. No way Pepe let’s us get swept. Dallas is too mean for that. He’s a tough kid from Stockton. Every mf-er I’ve ever met from Stockton was tough as a coffin nail. Look at the Diaz Brothers.
sock puppets have never successfully defended castles. -nm
by Leopold Bloom on Apr 21, 2010 11:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Are they friends with Caspar Gomez?
If so, fuck ’em.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
specifically, the last two seasons.
sock puppets have never successfully defended castles. -nm
by Leopold Bloom on Apr 21, 2010 11:44 PM PDT up reply actions
And seasons future?
[[shudders]]
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
Can't forget the ghost of seasons present.
Pretty dead bats here, 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
by ElQuesoCapitan on Apr 21, 2010 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions
That was Powell in the bullpen tonight, right?
Maybe I missed some breaking news?
by slackeresq on Apr 22, 2010 12:04 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Powell was called up from Sacramento since Mark Ellis was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 22, 2010 12:05 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't remember seeing Powell actually warming anyone up.
I think I saw Fox and Chavy’s brother. I guess he could have been on the bench and I couldn’t see.
by LoneStranger on Apr 22, 2010 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions
Probably. The backup catcher is usually in the dugout, isn't he?
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
Thanks
Not sure how he fits in since Fox & Chavy are showing signs of life.
by slackeresq on Apr 22, 2010 12:12 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Gives more freedom to use Fox/Chavvy as pinch hitter since
Powell can cover as backup catcher.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Also, we didn’t need a second baseman necessarily to replace Mark Ellis because Eric Patterson is still on the roster!
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Apr 22, 2010 1:00 AM PDT up reply actions
and by this, I assume you mean
the thoroughly awesome, run-producing, defensive MACHINE we saw on the field tonight and in many games past.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Apr 22, 2010 1:29 AM PDT up reply actions
I recently discovered at work that we have a corporate connection with Patron tequila
I’m happy to get some bottles donated to whomever will pick his ass up if he DFA him.
"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 22, 2010 7:20 AM PDT up reply actions
so...
trying to avoid a sweep against pretty much one of the most likely future HOF pitcher amoung the current sub 30s crowd, what could possibly go wrong?
Oh well, at least Sabathia has a bad split against the As and is typically bad in April.
Two former A's outfielders who were traded away (Gonzalez and Ethier)
The Holiday trade was probably the worst. Gonzalez playing for Colorado batting 375 and steals bases. He had an excellent year last year batting 300. Coco Crisp with his broken finger and two shoulder operations was a poor choice. R Davis will be ok its early in the season
didn't know who to reply to
regarding the Yanks bringing their Umps with them from NY.
But I am not worried about the lack of O in this series- when you have umps giving the opposing pitcher an amazing and ever changing zone it messes with your head and you go up there in a very defeating posture
What does worry me is that i have seen many a’s hitters in recent games guessing location (lookin at you CHAVVY) especially in hitters counts. IE guys looking fastball in on 2-1 or 3-1, getting a fastball away and trying (and failing) to pull the pitch.
Some of you i’m sure will tell me that’s what big league hitters do and i would counter with ya but not good ones.
In contrast the Yanks are putting on a clinic in protecting the whole strike zone- the best example was Gardners AB vs. Tyson Ross where Gardner is looking inside but takes a well placed fastball on the black and pokes it to LF to drive in a run.
We can dissect it a number of ways
but the basic fact is that the A’s lineup has a whole lot of average-to-worse hitters in it, and only one person (Barton) who’s really impressive at the plate. They just aren’t very good at hitting a baseball.
Frankly, from a big picture perspective, if we’re going to lose ballgames, this is the way I’d prefer to do it. We have 3 very good hitting prospects in AAA right now (Carter, Cardenas, Taylor) and another guy who might become a productive hitter with some power (Donaldson). Maybe all of them will flame out and turn into the next Kelvin Moore/Dan Johnson/Jose Ortiz, but we’ve at least got a reasonable plan in place for filling out lineup with more guys who can hit HRs.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
And Doolittle if he's ever healthy
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
I'm starting to have serious doubts, there
Even if he does get healthy, he’ll have missed an entire season, and he plays 1B/RF — he’s in line behind Barton, Sweeney, Taylor and possibly Carter.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Barton's strikeout was on pitches all out of the strikezone (except the one he fouled off).
Dodgy umps, but you get those in every sport. They get stars in their eyes and don’t call the game fairly.
He steps to the left, he steps to the riiiiiiight. That Amos Roberts, he'll make you look shite!
And one of the strikes from Rivera in the 9th
was a ball off the inside corner and Barton turned around to bark at the ump about it, which he was right to do. Hallion was giving the Yanks 2 or 3 extra inches off both sides of the plate. Barton had every right to snap a little about it.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Yep, but it won't get mentioned because of who we are and who we're playing.
He steps to the left, he steps to the riiiiiiight. That Amos Roberts, he'll make you look shite!
Meant to say:
I experience that ALL the time supporting Blackburn Rovers. Referees are biased against us – whether it’s intentional or not, we simply don’t get a fair official that often.
Not that the Yankees weren’t better than us last night, but it just leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
He steps to the left, he steps to the riiiiiiight. That Amos Roberts, he'll make you look shite!
Absolutely
though part of the problem I think with soccer/football is the number of judgment calls involved, which leave the door wide open for bias, even unintentional bias — was that challenge too hard? was he really trying for the ball? did the player embellish?
Balls and strikes are supposed to be completely objective. Maybe an equivalent would be offsides calls — do the Big PL teams get an advantage from those, as well, do you think?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
the one that burned me was the steal of 2nd that the replay showed was an out by half a foot. not a huge deal because “hey it happens” and that runner didn’t make it to the plate. except! the ump made the call while the play was happening. he may have had his arms out before the runner’s foot was on base even. i can see them missing a call once in a while, but this showed a hint of predetermination.
ps. incarnate: wait, did they really bring their umps with them or did you say that for poetic value?
don't care if i ever get back.
it would be an insult to poets
to call it poetic but it was something along those lines
They get a good deal of calls in their favour.
Mainly the judgement calls – with the ref always judging that the player from the bigger team getting the benefit of the doubt.
As for offsides – the linesmen are SHOCKING at judging those. They really, really need instant replay.
He steps to the left, he steps to the riiiiiiight. That Amos Roberts, he'll make you look shite!
SHEARER!
That’s the only name I can associate with Blackburn.
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
Shearer?
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 22, 2010 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Both a legend and a wanker.
Mainly a wanker though.
You recognise the blue and white halves though, right? (I’ve got a whole marketing plan about those – basically that the away kit should be halved, so such a kit would be associated with the club).
He steps to the left, he steps to the riiiiiiight. That Amos Roberts, he'll make you look shite!
I really want somebody to get replays of the "not swing" bullshit from last night.
If I hadn’t been so drunk I would have caused a scene.
Last night was a truly fucking pathetic display at the Coliseum, and I’m talking about in the stands and not the bullshit on the field.
There is no excuse for a goddamn LETS GO YANKEES chant to ever start in the Coliseum. Ever. It did last night though, on multiple occasions. Absolutely ridiculous.
When Gardner’s base hit made it 3-1 in the 9th, the amount of green heading toward the exits was sickening. Looking down from 218 to the stands behind the visitors dugout, seeing how much bullshit fucking frontrunning Yankee gear there was and literally 4 or 5 WHOLE SECTIONS OF THE STADIUM on their feet cheering and screaming for Rivera to get the 3rd out, I came to the realization that all the “keep the A’s in Oakland” bullshit is just that. Bullshit.
I’ll start believing all the crap about “Oakland Deserves the A’s” as soon as those fans start showing up and cheering for their team instead of letting a bunch of fucking bandwagon frontrunners take over the yard.
Before the “Oakland” honks chime in with the shit about Lew Wolff wanting to make the experience bad and wanting to keep people away, there sure wasn’t a problem getting 30,000 people there last night.
/rant
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
Yeah I found it.
Obviously I’m not a Californian, but judging from MLB.tv the attendances at the Coliseum are disgraceful. If the fans want Oakland to keep their baseball franchise they need to turn out in numbers and show that the city is a worthwhile location.
In the few years I’ve been watching the A’s they’ve always had pathetic attendances. I’m fully on board with the owners wanting to move the franchise if it’ll stop them being such an embarrassment.
He steps to the left, he steps to the riiiiiiight. That Amos Roberts, he'll make you look shite!
Ever since I started going to games in the early 90s
The Yankees have had a strong fan presence in the Coli. In other words, this phenomenon predates Wolff and even the Yankees’ success. And it’s always been sickening.
"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 22, 2010 8:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Yankees and Red Sox fans are everywhere
and have been loud and obnoxious at the Coliseum (especially at night games) since at least 1981 when I started going to lots of games.
The Bay Area attracts lots and lots of migrants from all over the world, and the A’s have only been there for a little over 40 years, barely enough time for 2 generations of fans. I don’t blame native NY’ers for being Yankee fans if that’s how they were brought up. I do blame them for being loud, drunk, obnoxious assholes, and I also blame the non-native NYY bandwagon-jumpers.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Apr 22, 2010 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly
Red Sox and Yankee fans often come to the stadium for just those games. My company pretty much only buys tickets to A’s games when the Red Sox are in town, as 2/3 of the majority owners are Sox fans, for example. And I know I am “part of the problem” as I only go to maybe 5 games a year, and mostly just listen on the radio. I’m a strong Oakland partisan, but it’s hard for me to argue that the team is succeeding (from a business standpoint) where they are now.
Are you a fan of,
or are you really El Generico?
by LoneStranger on Apr 22, 2010 9:23 AM PDT up reply actions
right
I have gotten to the point with these “fans” that I ask them – straight up where do you live? If the answer is within 50 miles I ask them why not attend a few other games, besides “your teams” visit, I mean if you are a baseball fan, why not?
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 22, 2010 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions
After a few years here, I came to realize
that I would rather attend a Mariners game when they’re not playing the A’s.
I don’t enjoy being the infiltrator, rooting for the visiting team. It’s much more fun to be rooting for the home team along with the rest of the crowd. And since I like the Mariners enough that I would happily root for them against any other team except the A’s, I’d rather attend one of those games instead, and when the A’s are in town I’ll stay home and watch on TV.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
I feel the same way. Native New Yorkers, or children of native New Yorkers I can tolerate.
The fucking bandwagoners and obnoxious assholes can eat shit.
There was a lady in front of me, native NYer, and after the first triple, she jumped up, opened up her jacket so everyone could see her Yankees shirt, and she started dancing around like she had just hit the ball. I wanted to punch her in the face. And the boobs. She was petite, and they were big.
by LoneStranger on Apr 22, 2010 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions
That I'm OK with.
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
So she was a native NYer with big boobs and she danced in front of you
What’s the problem again? ;-)
"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 22, 2010 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions
heh. The problem is that she's a New Yorker.
Tough to overcome that deficiency.
by LoneStranger on Apr 22, 2010 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions
as long as you don't let her talk, it's OK.
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
I could think of one way to hinder her ability to talk.....
by LoneStranger on Apr 22, 2010 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions
I do believe we are on exactly the same page.
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
I'm quite certain that the phenomenon of
Yankees fans at the Coliseum does not predate the Yankees’ success.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
how about
their recent success?
"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 22, 2010 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Yes, that works.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
I get very frustrated by that too, mikev
It’s just not anything new, that’s all. I’ve been going to A’s games since the early 70’s, and the opposing East Coast team’s fans always show up in force. It’s rather cyclical though … for the last 10 years, Yankees and Red Sox fans seem to dominate. I remember in the 90’s, there used to be a TON of Indians “fans” that would show up. They’ve all disappeared. In the 70’s and 80’s, believe it or not, the Orioles fans would come out of the woodwork.
They know that tickets are relatively easy to come by … this has always been the case in Oakland – always … show they show up (but only when their team is doing well.)
I was in SF a couple times last year — once when the Mets put a whuppin on ‘em and another time I think it was the Cardinals. Same thing happened – the stadium emptied out and the opposing team’s fans crowded the lower deck … I thought it was funny then.
If you have a brand new ballpark in California – I don’t care what team you’re talking about – there will always be a TON of opposing teams’ fans in attendance. They might not stick out as much, but that will always be the case.
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
the thing is...
those Orioles fans from the 80’s, Indians fans from the 90’s, Red Sox fans from the 00’s and Yankees fans from the 10’s
ARE ALL THE SAME PEOPLE!
A bunch of damn dirty motherinseminators they are!
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 22, 2010 8:55 AM PDT up reply actions
It's funny cause it's true.
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
You raise a good point
I had a roommate from New York and she was a rabid Jets/Yankees fan. She couldn’t believe how easily available and relatively cheap seats were at the Coli for the Raiders and the A’s. And yes, when we went to the A’s games I had to listen to her cheer for the ballbag Yankees. She was, however, too intimidated to cheer for the Jets at the Jets/Raiders game we attended.
We went to EVERY A’s/Yankees game and the thinking is probably the same for New Yorkers who live in the Bay Area – it’s so cheap relative to Yankees Stadium they may as well take in every game. That’s why they show up in droves.
by coffee roaster on Apr 22, 2010 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Incarnate's Marketing Plan
The community at large no longer seems to feel a connection with the team.
1. Lower ticket prices across the board esp. in the sections like plaza infield which never seem to be filled. Or, buy two get two free etc.
2. Free Parking- would be very very curious to see if the free tuesdays help
3. No fees or charges to buy tix online- what you see is what you pay
4. Get a franchise player or two and keep them
5. Market directly to corporate and businesses to sell blocks of tix to them that can be used as employee perks and rewards.
Do whatever it takes to fill the stadium. The team’s lease costs are minute and they do not have large stadium debt obligtions.
If you get people into the park your revenue per fan will increase as well
Good ideas, but here's my take on them:
- They have lowered ticket prices, and added new options like the Jumbo tickets.
- Free parking would be great, but it’s impossible. The parking fees helps pay for the security staff, and even if they wanted to, they couldn’t go completely free since the County is imposing it’s surcharge. It will be interesting to see the numbers regarding Tuesdays at the end of the year.
- This would be great, but the surcharges don’t go to the team. It’s the price of having the online ticket purchasing available.
- It’d be great to be able to afford a franchise player once they hit FA. Unfortunately, it’s not happening until they can raise their payroll a bunch. I don’t see that happening without a larger revenue.
- Businesses might want to buy tickets and boxes to reward their employees, however where are those companies? And how easy is it for the employees to make it to the games?
4 and 5 are really questions that can be better answered with a new stadium in a place like downtown San Jose where there are many companies with employees who would be able to walk or light-rail over right after work without too much travel time. Selling those boxes would lead to greater revenue, which could be spent on keeping players.
by LoneStranger on Apr 22, 2010 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Harshin' on my vibe Stranger
but you make good points. Box revenue is way down for the team as i understand it but that it partially due to many of the (newer) boxes being suited to Football field confifg.
They have lowered prices, created new plans like the Jumbo’s and Fam Friday and kept prices frozen (like my season tix) but I wonder if they can take an even more aggressive approach-perhaps expand the dollar credit to every section, expand fam friday pricing to every day- get the families with kids out on a weeknight
When i say business mean smaller businesses too not just corporate giants.
if the coliseum authority is driving parking fees the team has a good case to go to county officials and tell them, in the name of keeping baseball alive, to ease up.
mike
when the A’ go to SF lets go take over PacBell/SBC/AT&T/Verizon/Sprint/MCI/Southern Bell whatever the hell they are calling it by then
Been there, done that.
Now, aside from once a year when it’s my close personal friend’s birthday and we all chip in to rent a luxury box, I don’t step foot in that park, I don’t care how nice it is, I refuse to support the Giants in any manner.
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
dude u are hardcore
we gotta tailgate sometime
This is kind of tired ranting though, mikev
We have heard this from you so many times, about “Oakland deserves” this or that. It’s just not the point man.
The weather sucked yesterday, by bay area standards, no?
Yankees and Sox followers do this all over baseball. It sucks, but it is not an Oakland only phenomenon.
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 22, 2010 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions
The tired ranting is all the pro-Oakland people who think the A's are bound to stay no matter what.
The weather sucked. So what? That didn’t keep 20,000 Yankee honks from showing up.
What’s really ‘tired’ is all the people saying Oakland deserves the team and then not showing up to support them.
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
You are entitled to your rant
I just think it’s more complicated than “Oakland citizens need to prove something” thing that you are on. The attendance demographic is much larger than that. You are oversimplifying the issue in my opinion.
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 22, 2010 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Yes, I'm probably oversimplifying, but last night is a shining example of why SOMETHING needs to change.
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
Oakland deserves nothing
We are all fans of the A’s, and the A’s deserve better than 10K a night. If you have to rely on popular opponents to draw more attendees, then there is a serious problem. You would think a good game would have brought out more A’s supporters, but instead, the attendance increase was probably 90% due to Yankee fans.
You’re right, it does happen all around baseball. But think about it: say we had a 45000 seat stadium, 35K were assured of being A’s fans based on average attendance. In this case, far more than half of the fans are home fans. This makes the bandwagon “fans” of opposing teams more tolerable.
"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 22, 2010 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions
Last night's game was an epiphany for me
I was so thoroughly disgusted that I have completely come around to this view.
Anyone know where to find the ball/strike locations for A's vs Yankees batters?
I want to see if the strike zone was really f’d up.
I was really, really hoping that SwisherThresher had her screenshot mojo working last night
I wanted to see how far around Jeter went on strike 3 and strike 4.
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
It was nuts
He did that “falling away check swing” thing, but on strike 3 it looked to me on the replay that the bat got all the way past home plate — like, pointing at Rosales at 2B, and on strike 4 it cleared the plate, but by a smaller amount.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Give this a try:
BrooksBaseball has the Pitch FX plots. Not sure how to set up the overlay of pitcher vs pitcher, but this should give you a good start.
Hi from a Mariners fan ;)
by Rachmaninoff on Apr 22, 2010 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions
See, at least we all have hatred of the Angels in common
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
only an ZOMG CENSORED WORD FAMILY SITE quotes himself. -mikev
Indeed.
If I had to root for a non-Mariners AL West team, it would be you guys. Still think it would have been fun if you’d beaten the Yankees in the 00/01 ALDSs so that we could have had AL West ALCSs. Heck, I would have even taken a “you get the championship in 00 if we get it in 01” ;)
Really though, you guys are OK—even if we are rivals. I can’t say the same about your SoCal colleagues.
Cheers.
by Rachmaninoff on Apr 22, 2010 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions
gameday on mlb.com has pitchfx
not sure how accurate it is though.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
click here to hide image
the second pitch was called a strike even though it was clearly outside. The 4th pitch which was called strike 3 was borderline.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
SuSLu seems to think Buck is DL bound as well
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/21/SP701D1M6U.DTL
Then, outfielder Travis Buck was scratched from the lineup 20 minutes before the game. He pulled his right oblique muscle while taking batting practice in the indoor cage, and it sounds as if he will be another DL addition. He said his side hurt when he coughed or laughed.
“It’s a freak thing, just when I started to feel good,” Buck said. “I’ve never had this before, but hopefully it won’t be as bad as it feels right now.”
If there’s a chance he’ll miss much time, the A’s are likely to make a call to Triple-A Sacramento.
Even though one of their top prospects, Michael Taylor, is an outfielder, if the A’s require a replacement until Buck or Coco Crisp (fractured pinkie) is back, the better candidate at this point might be Matt Carson. Carson, who was up in September, is batting .357, but he’s not on the 40-man roster.
Also, How do I get the whole link to paste correctly?
you can use the link tool
Just highlight the word “link” (or something like that), click the icon of the link above the text field, paste your link there, and hit submit.
Then you get something like this
"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 22, 2010 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Time to dust off that Tim Hudson NordicTrack Oblique Strengthening Machine
It’s only been used lately as a place for Larry Davis to hang his fanny pack.
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on Apr 22, 2010 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions
Travis Buck
Tuesday will probably be the last time we saw Travis Buck.
I really don’t understand how Professional Baseball Players like Mark Ellis, Travis Buck, etc… hurt muscles on a consistent basis. These guys are great athletes who take care of their bodies on a daily basis. They have professional trainers who are at their beck-and-call for stretching, warming-up, etc… It’s really is inexcusable, especially for field players, to pull muscles. I understand if Pitchers or Catchers get hurt, but come on people. You are paid millions of dollars to stay on the field. Cal Ripken was able to do it for a long, long time. I only ask for 145 games a year.
by Colorado Fan on Apr 22, 2010 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions
Just because you are a talented athlete doesn't mean you are bulletproof
This is what separates the great ones from the hoipalloi and the riffer af.
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 22, 2010 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions
I think we tend to underestimate how hard the sport is on the body
I’m not defending the A’s training staff. Lord no.
But swinging, throwing, diving – these are extraordinarily high impact activities.
Barry Bonds was partly great because he was able to manage his own frailty as he aged.
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 22, 2010 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions
damnit I was hoping for Patterson
(and yes it works!)
"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 22, 2010 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions
Howdy, y'all!
Run(z)! How’d we get ’em?
There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 22, 2010 1:16 PM PDT reply actions
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