A's Beat the White Sox, 8-3

by jeffro on Mar 19, 2011 3:46 PM PDT

A bulleted recap of cool things from today's game (in no particular order):

Ryan Sweeney hit a home run.
Connor Jackson got some hits
There was a commercial for the Oakland Zoo. I love the Oakland Zoo.
AJ Pierzynski was booed as if it was Wrestlemania 2 and he was The Iron Sheik.
Josh Willingham got an infield single, legged out a double and used his smooth southern accent read to us about CPYC a bunch of times
Trevor Cahill had the sinker working into the 7th.
Josh Donaldson hit a ball off the fair pole with two runners on base.
Michael Wuertz pitched.
The A's won.
The sellout crowd sounded really cool.

Anything to add?

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it didn't rain there

as it did here

I am only pretty on the outside
dannycakes can also be called "hipsterbot," or "Gambit"

by Future Ed on Mar 19, 2011 3:49 PM PDT reply actions

moves mouse

(copies) & awaits (pasting) into an April game.

alaska A in northern idaho

by ak_A on Mar 19, 2011 3:53 PM PDT reply actions

I was wandering around Old Town Scottsdale, wearing my A’s visor, and someone in a passing car yelled “Go A’s!” Made my day.

by svetlanamonsoon on Mar 19, 2011 4:33 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

these:

Group photo on home plate;
and after, Hunter slides into home plate, to cheers from the few people in the stands still watching
Not to mention all the people who stopped to watch him hit a soft play ball with his bat on the concourse, and run the ‘bases.’
The Infamous Ralph has something to add to, but it’s his story.

by LoneStranger on Mar 19, 2011 4:38 PM PDT reply actions

From the Eyeball Center,

my notes:

Clearly inspired by our interview, Trevor Cahill looked terrific. Lots of routine grounders, and plenty of flails at his curve or changeup.

Sogard made a terrific play turning a 3-6-1 DP, taking a bad throw from Barton, digging it out, and still whipping it to 1B in time to get Juan Pierre. Later, though, his lack of arm strength was the reason they couldn’t turn two.

Wuertz dominated his first hitter, then labored, then looked fine — par for the course.

Sweeney looks really good, both at the plate and in the field. If his knees will allow him to play CF he could be the league’s best 4th OFer.

I really wanted to see a play where Landon Powell, on the bases, challenged Juan Pierre’s arm, to see what the world looks like in slow motion, but alas it never happened.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Mar 19, 2011 4:40 PM PDT reply actions

Landon hit one to the wall in right, and they almost had a play on him — at first.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Mar 19, 2011 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Please name something more embarrasing in baseball...

than getting thrown out at 1st base on a ball hit to the outfield.

"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King

by Gerard on Mar 19, 2011 5:19 PM PDT reply actions

dropping a fly ball?

I am only pretty on the outside
dannycakes can also be called "hipsterbot," or "Gambit"

by Future Ed on Mar 19, 2011 5:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Letting Kendall score because you dropped the toss back from the catcher

No wait, that was only embaressing for them

"Juuuuust a bit outside" - Harry Doyle

by ArunisArun on Mar 19, 2011 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions

....blowing out your knee during an argument with an umpire, while being forcibly restrained by your own manager?

….Or perhaps any of about 15 other bonehead things ol’ Miltie has done during his “illustrious” career?

by kitoko on Mar 19, 2011 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Forgetting to round second on your way back to first on a fly ball

Non-stat guy: "Yeah, whatever. You’re wrong." Stat guy: "No, you’re wrong." Non-stat guy: "Cool. Pass me a beer." Stat guy: "Here you go." Sigh, if only it was this easy.

by Tutu-late on Mar 20, 2011 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Dropping your pants at first base...

by jeffro on Mar 21, 2011 7:51 AM PDT up reply actions

Getting thrown out from left field

Thanks, Sean Casey!

by RickRoller on Mar 19, 2011 5:45 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

If it was at 1st base, that's just wrong

I saw a buddy of mine get thrown out from CF on a hit to center..at 1st.

Canseco’s header for a goal while playing for Texas has to be up there too.

"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King

by Gerard on Mar 20, 2011 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions

catching

a fly out for the 2nd out and throwing the ball into the stands thinking its the 3rd out

Ray Fosse thinks Pete Rose is a prick......

by oakwin2004 on Mar 19, 2011 7:10 PM PDT reply actions

I laughed.

So fun that you’re on board, jeffro!

Do you want to talk about some Wed/Fri’s during the season? :-)

"Oh who am I kidding? The A's and Giants could stage a pillow fight, and I'd still care who wins." -67Marquez

by baseballgirl on Mar 19, 2011 7:28 PM PDT reply actions

Not only did Sweeney hit a home run

He hit it to left center. It was quite impressive.

by Big Double in Little China on Mar 19, 2011 8:00 PM PDT reply actions

slusser said that Geren said that Sweeney was showing more power this spring

I will believe when he hits HR #5 this year.

I am only pretty on the outside
dannycakes can also be called "hipsterbot," or "Gambit"

by Future Ed on Mar 19, 2011 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions

His homer looked great. Effortless and gone in a quick second. He also played with some facility in CF. looked good and loose.

Randy Jackson: "Did you eat a lot of paint chips when you were young?"
Idol Contestant: [Nods]

by Berry Jo on Mar 20, 2011 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions

good game; Sweeney looks like a new man, Cahill looked sparkly

I met Susan Slusser and Ray Fosse, the latter of which told me he listens to me on the radio. I informed him that I listen to HIM on the radio and TV, so the hearing is mutual. And leave it to The Famous Ralph to walk away with the prize for the in-game promotion and end up on top of the visitors dugout holding one of those oversized checks whilst smiling for the cameras. Oh yes, and The Lone Stranger has fathered the cutest human being currently alive, the irrepressible (and free swinging/sliding) Hunter… if he ever has a daughter and fails to name her Gatherer I will haz a sadz.

What a few days this has been, memories to last forever… Optimist Prime even got us on the field for photos at home plate after the game, with Hunter stealing the show by sliding headfirst into home whilst the shutters clicked all around.

Empires may crumble, FIP statistics may lose their meaning, but only a Keetsa mattress puts years back on your life while you're sleeping.

by emperor nobody on Mar 19, 2011 9:24 PM PDT reply actions

Hanging out w/OP is a good strategy

by OaklandSi on Mar 20, 2011 5:58 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Forget about Gio, Cahill is your opening day starter.

As if it didn’t take Trevor to show everyone that he is in mid-season form to prove that last year was not a fluke, he should be the man that opens up the season for the A’s.

Mike O'Dowd

by Mikko O on Mar 19, 2011 9:53 PM PDT reply actions

I agree

Both based on last year and his temperament. Slide Gio into the two slot, then Braden, then Anderson or swap the lefties to get a R-L-R-L setup.

Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?

by WhizDad on Mar 19, 2011 11:39 PM PDT up reply actions

McCarthy in the 3 spot? no thanks

I know position in the rotation doesnt matter that much after the first couple of weeks, but I’d still rather keep McCarthy or whoever the 5th starter is in that spot. As for opening day, I think Cahill earned it with his performance last year, and I’d rather not put that sort of pressure on Gio to start the season. I’d actually like to see the rotation pan out as:

Anderson
Cahill
Gonzalez
Braden
McCarthy/Ross

I think Anderson has the bulldog mentality to face off against other teams’ number ones, and he seems impervious to the pressure on the mound. Also I like breaking Anderson and Gio up with Cahill in between. Gio and Braden are different enough that it doesn’t really matter if they pitch back to back as two lefties. Also, I like Gio matching up as much as possible against other teams’ #3 starters. He could win 17-19 games in that spot!

by oakballnack on Mar 20, 2011 12:34 AM PDT up reply actions

The only downside to opening the season at home is that you can't have two "opening starters."

It sure makes it easier to have both a ‘best pitcher’ and ‘reward pitcher.’ Of course, this year we have four guys who arguably could pull off the opening day starter job, so it wouldn’t have been that much easier.

by LoneStranger on Mar 20, 2011 4:27 AM PDT up reply actions

If we time this right, we'll get to see the sunrise shining on the Arizona mountains at 6:30 this morning.

by LoneStranger on Mar 20, 2011 5:08 AM PDT reply actions

NOW you tell me.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Mar 20, 2011 8:07 AM PDT up reply actions

...Except that there was hardly any sun. It wasn't very exciting.

by LoneStranger on Mar 22, 2011 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions

I know the sample sizes are small, but

Fox, ab= 50, ops =1.213
Cust, ab=40, ops=0.901
Bradley, ab=26, ops=1.029

all look pretty good so far. I know that Bradley will implode eventually, and Cust will come down to earth a little, but Fox?? where did he get the plate discipline??

by robertmelvin on Mar 20, 2011 7:30 AM PDT reply actions

By facing AAAA pitchers who can't throw strikes?

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Mar 20, 2011 8:08 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Randy Elliott

It’s the final two weeks of spring training that start to count, not the first two. There are spring training (and April) pheenoms who fall by the wayside pretty quickly. Cust and Bradley could wind up having spectacular years because Bradley already has done it, and Cust could always put it together. Fox? That’s why I mention Randy Elliott.

by richwol1 on Mar 20, 2011 8:55 AM PDT reply actions