Gonzalez Goes 7, A's Rip Rangers 6-2
by jeffro on Aug 7, 2010 4:18 PM PDT
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"Today was a good day." -Ice Cube
Gio Gonzalez was spectacular through three, and good enough through four more innings, to lock down a win for the Oakland Athletics today, at home against the AL West leading Texas Rangers, 6-2. The game pitted Gonzalez against former Athletic Rich Harden, and was expected to be a pitcher's duel.Gonzalez held up his end of the deal, with some help from Jerry Blevins, Craig Breslow and solid defense all around.
The A's offense, led by patience at the plate and Coco Crisp (2 for 2, BB, HR, 4 RBI), pounced on the shaky performance from Harden. The hard throwing righty was done after getting just one out in the third inning. By the time Harden was heading to the clubhouse, he had walked five batters and surrendered three runs.
The Rangers vaunted offense didn't mount much of threat throughout the game. The only runs scored came late, well after the A's were on cruise control. It is interesting to note that one of the runs Texas scored came on an 8th Inning solo HR by new A's nemesis Taylor Teagarden, his third of the season against Oakland pitching. The young Rangers catcher has a single hit on the season against any team other than the A's.
In general, I think it is too early in the season to call individual games "must win." There is still plenty of time to make up for a rough game. The same can not be said for series like the one the A's are playing in now. The A's had a must win game today, if only because they cannot afford to lose this series, and the same will be true tomorrow.
The A's send Trevor Cahill to the mound to square off with Colby Lewis in the final game of this series. Game time is 1:05 PM (in the best timezone). A win tomorrow will put the A's 7.5 games behind the Rangers with 52 games left to play.
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today was a good day
I didn’t have to use my AK…
Hello, I'm Vince Cotroneo for the Marmaduke B. Mushmouth School of Public Speaking...
by emperor nobody on Aug 7, 2010 4:21 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
adam kennedy?
When we played softball, I’d steal second base, feel guilty and go back.
- Woody Allen
by rhymeswithelephant on Aug 7, 2010 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes they were highly underrated by the mainstream media.
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions
We win!
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
Missed the game
Nice to see a solid win after last night’s debacle.
Also, completely forgot it’s ‘Faith Night’ for the Stockton Ports. First 1000 fans receive Grant Desme bobbleheads (with a few rumored to be painted with a clerical collar and cassock).
If I wasn’t sick I’d be heading out to Banner Island Ballpark!
"Sorry guys, I’m not going to try and hit (Douglas) Murray anymore. It doesn’t work." - Steve Ott, Dallas Stars.
Bobblehead, eh?
Let’s hope Desme isn’t an iconoclast.
I don't think you're supposed to pray to it
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions
Yay! The A's win!!
An A’s win is my favorite kind of birthday present. :)
There's no crying in baseball!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
...being a role model I probably wouldn't recommend eating dirt. But at the same time, I'm not trying to be a role model. I'm just trying to eat some dirt.
Happy bday gigs.
Wins on birthdays are the best :)
The funny thing about baseball is that people will believe what they want to believe. -Joe Posnanski 8/29/09
by pam5981 on Aug 7, 2010 8:24 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
+1
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
– John Wooden
Me too.
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Having had to miss this game, let me just celebrate by saying,
TAYLOR TEAGARDEN AGAIN?????? GAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
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
Isn't that a total of 5 HR
Given up to Teagarden and Betancourt since the ASB? Yikes.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
We've already IBBed Betancourt. Should we do that to Teagarden?
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Good game
Hopefully we can win the series and stay within striking range of the Rangers. Next month they should definitely call up Carter, Taylor, and Larish to drive in some runs. We can’t always expect our pitchers to throw gems every game.
Can Carter, Taylor and Larish really drive in runs?
Carter maybe.
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Why are we waiting until September?
Everyone always seems to think we should wait until the roster expands, but I’m not sure I understand why. We bring those guys up, we bust down Watson, Carson, and Gross. What’s the problem? I can see waiting another week or something to just make absolutely sure they’re capable, but it’s time for the organization to try as hard as the guys wearing the uniforms have been all season long.
by StJosephBurningTheOakTreesToTheGround on Aug 8, 2010 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't think we will wait till September on Buck, and Carter's coming up as soon as
they’re OK with him in LF.
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Harden looked awful
He barely hit 90 on any of his fastballs. A couple hit 91. His control was lousy. This is not the Rich Harden we saw in Oakland, nothing like it.. Looks like he and Feldman can form a back-end tandem for the Rangers, but both are pretty bad.
Interesting thing about Gio is that although he had good stuff, he couldn’t put people away with a strikeout. They kept fouling pitches off and letting the count grow. He managed to induce seven scoreless innings out of that, more power to him, but it’s obvious he just didn’t have his strikeout pitch today (Boy, on some of the earlier counts, he made a bunch of Rangers look very bad indeed).
Not to get on Geren, but what was he doing putting Watson between Rajai and Pennington? I mean, I know right-left blah blah blah, but that really doesn’t matter when the monkey in the middle is batting under the Mendoza line. So you’ve got the hottest hitter in the line-up stuck between a slumping Ellis and a dead-in-the-water Watson, or Carson, or Flotsam, or Jetsam.
Dump Watson. Dump Carson. If you don’t want to bring up Taylor and Carter, then bring up one of them with Travis Buck, and send Buck down when Jackson is ready, if ever.
Right on!
Larish should be called up, Buck too. Carson and Taylor in September. The pitchers need the help. Gio et al pitch much better with runs.
"I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way." -Jessica Rabbit
by A'sfansince1970 on Aug 7, 2010 6:49 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Actually, Harden looked adorable and gorgeous, if a bit sulky
His PITCHES looked awful, though, and he was clearly miserable. At one point he was standing behind the mound, staring down at the rosin bag and muttering.
It's the fans that make the game fun. -- Rickey Henderson, July 26, 2009.
Thank you for clarifying EM
I would be worried if Harden didn’t look adorable and gorgeous….
There's no crying in baseball!
That pale gray of the Texas unis, though?
NOT Rich’s color. Green and gold and white were much better suited to his delicate coloring.
It's the fans that make the game fun. -- Rickey Henderson, July 26, 2009.
by Englishmajor on Aug 8, 2010 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions
He does look strange in other colours.
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Ya he got 13 GB outs and was very efficient except for the 30 pitch 4th inning
He had only 83 pitches in the other 6 innings.
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions
This just in!
Baseball is fun when the A’s win!
G Dammit
The Giants lose and then so do the Cards, Phillies, and Padres. These guys are gonna mess around and let the shitty-ass Giants make the playoffs. That will piss me off somethin’ fierce.
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.
Watching Huddy shut down the Giants makes my soul sing.
"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."
What a year he's having.
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 always loved that guy, even though he kept screwing up his oblique in the playoffs
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Yes and he pitched hurt blowing a 5-0 lead in Game 1 in 2002 as well.
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions
I want him back.
by StJosephBurningTheOakTreesToTheGround on Aug 8, 2010 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh baby give me one more chance.
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
I foster less hatred for the Giants than I do for the Dodgers and Phillies
And, Barry Bonds is unfairly villified.
Needs moar dingerz.
Yeah, some of my best friends are Giants fans
I suspect that you think tilting at windmills means something other than what it does.
The ninth fastest thirty year old in San Francisco
Some of my best friends are Giants fans as well.
Coincidentally, some of my best friends are super freaking annoying to talk baseball with.
Keep in mind, of course, that "the best defense of Derek Jeter's life" ranks somewhere in between "the best fiscal responsibility of Mike Tyson's life" and "the best not-getting-assassinated-ness of James Garfield's life." -FJM
I never really get the Bay Area baseball rivalry.
Or I guess I get it, but I don’t understand the virulence. Maybe I understand it a little from the Giants’ end, because they’ve never won a championship here and we’ve won four (including one that involved thrashing them), but we don’t play in the same league and it’s unlikely we’ll ever face off in the World Series again.
When you get right down to the heart of it, I think A’s fans hate the Angels a lot more than the Giants. And I think Giants fans hate the Dodgers a lot more than the A’s. And we all hate the Goddamned Yankees.
(But Barry Bonds is a cheater and his power numbers are completely illegitimate, and that’s from a McGwire fan.)
by StJosephBurningTheOakTreesToTheGround on Aug 8, 2010 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Nice game
Beautiful day, enjoyed the sun and an A’s win. Typical A’s offense – draw the walks, couple of sac flies, a solo shot by Crisp. I won’t mind if Crisp is back next year – he’s pretty good (i.e. better than a Matt and a Gross) when he’s healthy. He came very close to making an awesome play on Teagarden’s (what a painful name to type) home run, though I was afraid he hurt his hip when he jumped up against the wall. Seemed ok.
Gio is becoming a veteran in that he didn’t have his best stuff but was able to stick around for 7 innings, not giving up a run. Sweet to see Hamilton go 0 for 4. Not a lot of Texas fans at the Coli.
I figured out that the big concession stands take credit cards! I usually only go to the small carts for the better beers, now I know. And I almost got my pic taken with Stomper but then all the small children showed up and I had to back off….probably just as well.
I LOVE winning. It’s like, better than losing!! GO A’s!!
Crisp was soooooo close to making that catch, it tipped off his glove...
I was sitting in the suites above center field and when i leaned out i could see the ball just barely clip the tip of his glove. After the play he was showing Rajai and even Joe West that he tipped it. Rdiculously close!
by A'sBowlingLeague on Aug 7, 2010 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions
He said his thumb came out of the glove so he couldn't close it on the ball.
...being a role model I probably wouldn't recommend eating dirt. But at the same time, I'm not trying to be a role model. I'm just trying to eat some dirt.
Grant Green hit a home run.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 7, 2010 7:38 PM PDT reply actions
he's ready, I believe
I mean he can’t prove much more. His strikeouts and batting average have been strong ( low and high respectively ) for the past month plus. Those were the categories that he wasn’t really good in and now that he seems to have shored that up a bit, his entire line of stats are too enticing for the A’s to leave him in Sac until September. If the A’s are firm in their belief that they catch the Rangers, they’re going to have to go on a run soon and really hack away at the arm-length the Rangers hold. To do that they are going to need to get on an offensive-powered streak which is usually includes the prominence of the homerun ball. And for that Carter probably needs to be present.
What did i tell you...didn't I say they would win? Yeah that's right I did didn't ? Wait.. what? They LOST?!?!?
Some splitty notes on Chris Carter:
- vs. LHP for the season (121 ABs): .289/.428/.628 (1.056 OPS)
- on the road for the season (213 ABs): .291/.400/.596 (.995 OPS)
- Since July 1st (130 ABs): .315/.430/.635 (1.065 OPS), 11 HR in 34 games
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
If nothing else he's ready to be the A's best threat against LHP
Of course his competition is Carson, Rosales…
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
No. Rosales goes in for Cust.
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Note this, though
I’m not saying it’s all about the elevation because he’s still doing pretty well of late anyway, but here’s what he’s done in eight games in high-altitude cities (Colorado Springs ~ 6,500 ft & Albuquerque ~ 5,300 ft) over the past few weeks:
15-for-31, 17 R, 2 2B, 7 HR, 18 RBI, 9 BB, 5 SO
Last of the Ninth - Photography
I'd rather wait until September
I think he’s pretty much ready with the bat, but could use a little more time getting used to LF if that’s where the A’s see him perhaps sticking.
I just don’t like the idea of bringing him up right now and potentially just DHing him. It’s not that I think it would stunt his growth as a LF, but he’s going to be here very soon one way or the other so I don’t think a few more weeks in Sacramento will hurt.
I also don’t think the A’s are really in the division race any longer. Barring a big Texas collapse, the division is theirs.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
If they bring him up they should put him in the OF, whether in Aug or Sep
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions
It's a fair point
My guess is he’s ready to handle LHPs well and ready to handle RHPs like a .220 hitter who can lose mistakes.
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
Trade him to the Rockies!
"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."
For Daric Barton!
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions
"If the A’s are firm in their belief that they catch the Rangers"
A’s management has done nothing to show they have any belief they’ll catch the Rangers this year. If they did, Bob Geren would’ve been fired by now.
by richwol1 on Aug 7, 2010 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
You know, Geren sucks,
but he is the only guy in the A’s organization that isn’t a player who has at least been willing to say, “Screw it, we’re still in this thing.” I want the guy fired and I don’t think he deserves to ever have another shot at MLB management, but it should be remembered that he wanted to win.
by StJosephBurningTheOakTreesToTheGround on Aug 8, 2010 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Nice game, nice win.
Fox broadcasters still suck. Could they find any more ways to squeeze in Yankee talk? I half expected them to say “We’re sorry for having to broadcast this shitty division, but…”
Still, Gio was great through three like Jeffro said, and displayed a remarkable ability to induce an inning ending double play after that. I’ll take that.
Let’s get ’em tomorrow!
"With Chance on first, and Evers on third,
Great things from the Cubs will soon be heard."
Ironically
The broadcaster today was the regular Rangers guy.
The FairWeather Channel - Sports Comics and Bandwagon Forecast
by Hit4TheCycle on Aug 7, 2010 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Vince was on Fox?
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions
If Gio can't get a brace of strike outs........
He gets double figure ground balls instead (today 13)
This growth season of his is impressing the shizz out of me.
Is this the real life-
Is this just fantasy-
Caught in a landslide-
No escape from reality-
His curve has always gotten a lot of swing and misses or swing and groundouts.
It’s really a fantastic tool.
This really deserves a TWSS, but I'm not sure we're allowed to say that anymore.
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions
It's all about picking your spots
And yes, she said that too.
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
Oof
Sacramento blew a 12-1 lead, including 12-4 in the 8th and 12-7 in the 9th. Now in extra innings.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Haha the Rivercats are the opposite of the A's
Rivercats can score at will, but can’t hold the other team, and the A’s can hold teams, but can’t score for crap most of the time lol.
I saw Rajai at my work after the game today. I was gonna say I just saw you on TV, Bro.
But thought better of it while I was there. Lookin’ fly in the Kangol and vest attire though. GO A’s!
"I thought it was going in," Warriors center Chris Hunter said. "It looked like the invisible man tipped it away at the last second."
Header title so people can hide if they so desire.
A very fun game. Here are some photos. I put in a header title, so that people can hide if they so desire. If the mods feel that the photos are too much, feel free to delete. I’ll only whine about censorship a little!
Randy Couture threw out the first pitch:
CoCo Crisp rounds the bases after his home run:
This guy is happy:
Rajai preparing to steal first back (they’ll never expect it!):
Double steal time:
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Yay Pics!
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Banjo Man was interviewed by Kara between innings
He said he had a misspent youth as a Giants fan but then he saw the light. Much applause.
It's the fans that make the game fun. -- Rickey Henderson, July 26, 2009.
by Englishmajor on Aug 8, 2010 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions
OaklandAs
#Athletics vs. #Rangers: Crisp CF, Barton 1B, Suzuki C, Cust DH, Kouzmanoff 3B, Ellis 2B, Davis LF, Carson RF, Pennington SS, Cahill P
1 minute ago via UberTwitter
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 8, 2010 10:51 AM PDT reply actions
I have one request for today's game
That Trevor continue is remarkable 6 hits or less run. He has faced Texas a lot this season, let’s hope he continues the dominance and hope they have not made adjustments.
Go A’s
OK but a win would be nice too
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions
So you're not hoping for 5 IP, 6 hits, 5 ER and a continuation of the streak?
Trevor’s been awesome, but that stat is really, really, really arbitrary.
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 am hoping
for 27 pitches, 27 ground balls to Mark Ellis.
Should I be confident?
Is Chris Carter learning voodoo?
#MattWatson has left the Coliseum for hospital w/severe pains in his side & back; the team waiting for a report #Athletics
http://twitter.com/KLongworthCSN/status/20646203855
Last of the Ninth - Photography
OAH has plotted it so Travis Buck will be back.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 8, 2010 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions
But I’ll take my chances with Buck getting called up for Carter.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 8, 2010 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh good grief --
DOES TAMPA BAY EVER GET A HIT???
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
Vernon Wells dislocated a toe for the cause
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
We may have lost Gonzalez but at least we didn't trade him for Brandon League
I hate Bob Geren and his peanut brain so much -- lenscrafters
by WaddellCanseco on Aug 8, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Is he considered the weaker League?
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
Is it the most dominant performance in MLB history?
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by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 8, 2010 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions
What are the most strikeouts recorded in a no-hitter with just one walk?
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by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 8, 2010 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Dunno, but I feel pretty safe in saying that
Koufax had a 14-strikeout perfect game on 113 pitches, for example.
Johnson had a 13-strikeout perfect game at age 40.
Too many no-hitters to check quickly.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Don't know
But Kerry Wood had a one hit, no walk, 20K shutout
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
– John Wooden
That is a highest game score for a nine inning game, btw.
105
If Morrow strikes out the side in the ninth he will tie it.
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
– John Wooden
And Jose Molina stealing a base
What’s with the Molina brothers’ running this year. First Bengie gets a cycle…
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
– John Wooden
4-pitch walk to Zobrist
This would be Morrow’s first CG and SHO as well if he can finish this.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
It annoys me so badly, but I won’t switch to the Rays broadcast.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 8, 2010 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions
r_j_anderson
THANK YOU EVAN LONGORIA YOU MAY HAVE MY DAUGHTER’S HAND IN MARRIAGE
2 minutes ago via TweetDeck
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by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 8, 2010 12:36 PM PDT reply actions
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