Brandon McCarthy Gives Up Run
by Nico on Apr 21, 2011 9:42 PM PDT
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PrintThat's really all you need to know. Yes, McCarthy pitched brilliantly, firing 8 IP of 4 hit, 1 run ball, but these are the A's who can't score against anybody, let alone Felix Hernandez.
So when Adam Kennedy HRed in the bottom of the 4th, that was that, 1-0 Mariners. The A's would put up a couple late threats, allowing Bob Geren to emerge as a manager unfamiliar with smart choices. He let Conor Jackson bat against the right-handed Jamey Wright with the tying run at 2B in the 8th as Hideki Matsui watched from the bench, then let Kurt Suzuki bat against the right-handed Brandon League with the tying run at 2B in the 9th as Landon Powell, 5 for 11 this season, watched from the bench. Matsui watched the final out from the on deck circle, never getting an actual plate appearance. Nice.
There is no way Kennedy's HR was that important -- a pitcher has to be able to give up a run in a complete game effort, no matter how he gives it up -- but let me just make a point about the HR. The count was 3-1 and the Mariners' lineup is so anemic, so hard-pressed to put together a sustained rally, that you had to know, especially going up against Hernandez where you couldn't afford to give up even a single run, that the big threat was that a Seattle hitter would run into one. At Safeco field, in that situation, you have to pitch away.
Not that it would have mattered, because you have to score a run to win a baseball game and the A's are, apparently, incapable of doing that much to back their sensational starting pitchers.
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Matsui not getting an AB in the 8th or 9th is just unexplainable
I was sure he was hurt or sick…why the heck would he not hit vs a righty there??? This is a lefty who hits 4th or 5th for you every night, how do you not hit him?
Bring back Hammer.
by OaktownPower on Apr 21, 2011 9:46 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Quite right.
I was asking myself the same question. “Where’s Matsui?”
Oh well, just another frustrating game of offensive futility. I’m just glad it’s baseball season.
A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.
I think you are on to something...
we at AN try to get BB’s attention about how Mr. Deer-in-the-headlights Geren is performing so poorly, but to no avail, so if we all start pushing him for Manager of the Year, maybe that would be so absurd that Billy might get the point, FINALLY!!
by robertmelvin on Apr 21, 2011 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes, the guy who WAS sick (Barton) got an AB but not Matsui.
As did the guy who hasn’t been since he was sick (Conor) and the guy whose hitting makes me sick (Suzuki).
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
Giving Suzuki and Jackson at bats is emblematic of this organization's approach to talent evaluation the last few years:
A systemwide, inexplicable overrating of below average to mediocre talent.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 21, 2011 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Evaluation of pitching has always been good but dabnabit, how about a couple hitters?
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on Apr 21, 2011 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Just amazing he let the game end without Matsui getting an AB
Bring back Hammer.
by OaktownPower on Apr 21, 2011 9:53 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
It really is. Especially considering that each inning
the A’s had a runner at 2B, no DP possibility — basically the precise situation for which Matsui is ideal.
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 thought this was why Matsui was on the team
Instead, we get Jackson and Suzuki, two right-handers who – based on a simple reading of statistics – were much less likely than the left-handed veteran hitter (signed to be the everyday DH) to get a base hit.
Matsui probably wouldn’t have gotten a hit either. But again, this is my gripe with Geren. His job during the game isn’t really that complicated. It’s to give his team the best statistical chance to win. That’s all I really ask.
Hopefully, he didn't hurt himself on that run home yesterday
(Not that I’ve seen anything suggesting that he did.)
There is an evening coming in/Across the fields, one never seen before,/That lights no lamps. -- Philip Larkin, from "Going"
by Ray of Lite on Apr 21, 2011 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I think Geren's trying to get everyone some playing time which is fine
Not PH’ing Matsui for Jackson or Suzuki is not fine
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions
I almost feel like our depth is too much of a temptation for him
Like, we have Jackson and Sweeney, both of whom are probably better than most backups, but would be mediocre starters. So, Bob is like “I want to get everyone playing time” and plays these dudes only to keep them fresh. Willingham has gotten like 3 days off, where, as far as I know, he hasn’t been hurt. Dude’s our best hitter, strikeouts or not; he’s gotta be in there unless he can’t go.
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 22, 2011 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don't think it's that
Geren did the same thing last year. Mixing in our subs constantly to rest starters (except Suzuki). Even when the drop off was significant.
More than half our game threads start with. “Why is ____ starting?”
by Oaktown Shutout on Apr 22, 2011 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions
Fair enough, but resting better players to give worse ones a chance is bad
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 22, 2011 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions
If they were better players, they're roles would be reversed.
ALL reserves, on every team are by definition, worse.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
which is why they should play sparingly
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 22, 2011 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Agreed
But it isn’t like Geren is swapping them daily. These guys have less than 1/2 the ABs of the starters, and have rested various positions. I don’t see it that Geren is platooning these guys. That would be a total mistake. Jackson, LaRoche, Sweeney, and Powell have around 14% of the teams’ total ABs. This seems to be sparingly.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Hmm... I'd love to know what the percentages are for everyone else
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 22, 2011 9:06 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh, I'm pretty sure ours is high compared to the league average,
but winning teams don’t usually shake up their lineups too often. I think that some of what is going on, is Geren trying to find a spark to get this team rolling. Heck, Francona has Crawford batting down like Kouz, and that is just to shake the RedSox up a bit.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
I also see Geren trying to bring Sweeney along slowly, so that he is at full strength for next year( when we may lose some of our starting OF)
This isn’t a bad thing to do with a guy coming off knee surgery.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
this
Geren has to find ABs for the bench players. Sweeney smoked that ball that Chone caught. That happens sometimes. Right now, this has been happening a lot to the A’s, but the results don’t mean they are bad ABs.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
A's are 4th in mlb in LD%
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions
I see that as good.
That fact that they are finding gloves, is chance.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Yes, that's why I mentioned it
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions
I think we need to just ride this bad steak out, and not over react.
The lineup should come around soon, and then the wins will come.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Ever heard of salmonella?
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions
Oscar Madison thought he was a 3B for the Mets
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions
No that was Oscar Homolka
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions
So, are you saying that Geren, is Oscar Madison...
and Beene is Felix Ungar?
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
In defense of Geren...
…Matsui only hits .209 lifetime against Felix. That said, I too wondered why he didn’t get an AB against League.
by SteveMcPhatty on Apr 22, 2011 8:50 AM PDT up reply actions
And Barton did what the others did
Took at least one strike looking (he took 2) and you know the result of that. People get pissed at me repeating myself but I have watched our hitters for 4 or 5 years look at hittable pitches and them making outs. This IMO is a big part of the problem.
I love OBP....but how about OPSing a little bit more.
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on Apr 21, 2011 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions
uh...
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Hahahahaha
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Apr 22, 2011 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
apparently not sick..
because he was in the on-deck circle as the final out was recorded.
Which, had he batted...
Would have left us with no available 3B with Kouz and LaRoche out of the game. So, either Matsui was injured and Geren was bluffing by showing him in the on deck circle to influence the pitching sequence to Ellis or Connor Jackson would have been playing 3B in the bottom of the 9th with Landon Powell at 1B.
So, if Matsui’s not healthy and Geren is bluffing is he a genius? (not likely)
If Matsui is healthy, he should have batted in the 8th.
Or am I missing something.
And, are we missing one position player? Seems like it would be nice to have someone with speed on the bench to pinch run late innings (Where for art though Rajai?) instead of five lefties in the bullpen.
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
What's he bluff though?
Not like they were going to pitch around Ellis if Matsui wasnt available.
Bring back Hammer.
by OaktownPower on Apr 22, 2011 9:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Apparently, the plan was to save Matsui for when
if he singled to tie the game we would be left without a defense the rest of the game. Brilliant.
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
So, would you rank this as the same quality move as when Geren kept Balfour in reserve, while Cramer was losing the game?
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Good analogy.
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 was surprised
When they showed him in the on deck circle after Ellis I was a little disappointed that he hadn’t pinch hit for Suzuki…or at the very least let Powell pinch hit.
Geren thinks Powell would become a gelatinous blob if he played him in consecutive days
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on Apr 21, 2011 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions
he's halfway there, already
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 22, 2011 6:42 AM PDT up reply actions
I wouldn't cry if Bob Geren was fired
I’m sure we could demote him to Sacramento and with him being Billy’s best man, he would gladly accept the job.
Irrational anger!
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
Maybe
We could trade him for Randy Winn?
http://www.draysbay.com/2009/7/14/948899/revisiting-the-randy-winn-lou
Nights like tonight make me want to trade all of our pitchers for bats and just lose 15-14
Mostly I just feel sorry for them. In what joke of a game can your pitchers consistantly spin gems and still lose? And is Geren trying to get fired? Having your best power hitter die on the bench in a 1-0 game is unexplainable.
"Oh who am I kidding? The A's and Giants could stage a pillow fight, and I'd still care who wins." -67Marquez
I fear this will be a common theme this season.
Lots of 1-0 and 2-1 games.
I'm beginning to believe that Bud Selig wants to die of old age before he has to make a decision regarding Oakland vs San Jose.
This means we will be competitive
I’ll take that any day.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Games like that virtually ensure....
A club no better than .500 for the foreseeable future.
by AsFan72 on Apr 22, 2011 11:52 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
And no worse than .500 as well!
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions
That leaves the success in the remaining 42 games to decide our season, right?
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
No, it means .500 in those games too.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 22, 2011 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Close to my thought
I’m not even sure I agree with myself but last night I came to the conclusion that I’m okay with trading any one of our top 3 starters for an actual, dependable bat. We’ve been trying the all pitch/defense, no hit team for a couple years now and it doesn’t seem to be working.
It’s possible that the team needs to deviate a bit in order to have a chance to actually contend. Or, 1-2 of Carter/Green/Choice need to become great players in a short amount of time.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Apr 22, 2011 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I imagine you'll see that by 2012
Ideally, a “Haren-esque” deal, except without the “trade the good hitter so he can mash for someone else” part.
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
Well I'm not talking about beginning the rebuild cycle
You may not be either but to clarify I meant a swap of one our three (and some other parts) for a David Wright type of player (but not actually David Wright).
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Apr 22, 2011 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions
I mean that the A's might be able to improve themselves without rebuilding
by using a SP to bolster the lineup. Might be worth it, if they can upgrade at the right position.
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 hit as many HRs today as our 1Bman, 3Bman, and RFer have all year...combined!
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
Powerball!
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on Apr 21, 2011 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions
On the optimistic side
I have got to believe this is only going to get better in the coming weeks. We can’t continue to power suck this bad for much longer.
(I hope)
More worried about Suzuki and Kouz never coming out of the slump.
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
.
Melissa Lockard
Michael Wuertz continues to struggle. He allowed three runs in an inning of work for Stockton tonight in that bandbox in Lancaster.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
apparently it wasn't him!
Susan Slusser tweeted: Michael Wuertz apparently appears erroneously in Stockton’s box score tonight. He texts me to say that he didn’t pitch there. #Athletics
.
Melissa Lockard
Wuertz walked three and gave up two hits. #Athletics
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Gross.
I can’t imagine the frustration of the pitchers. They’re doing SO WELL and getting nothing for it! COME ON OFFENSE, GET IT TOGETHER.
What ever happened to...
Scratching out a run. Back in the BillyBall days (the original BillyBall days) you could almost always count on the A’s for one run. Runner on. Bunt. Stolen base. Sac fly. Nowadays, forgetaboutit.
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
You can say hi from the bench too.
Particularly after you run yourself into a pick off or an out because you’re fast, but not very good at running the bases.
Choosy Feebas choose Leopold Bloom nipples
Daring. Sensual. Invigorating. Squirrel.
BLOOM. For men.
If the eggs actually hatch I made more than a mistake, I made some scientifically impossible crime.
Or, run/slide past the base and get tagged out.
Rajai was fun, but I would be concerned about us trying to rely on him for 150 games a year.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Yup.
Choosy Feebas choose Leopold Bloom nipples
Daring. Sensual. Invigorating. Squirrel.
BLOOM. For men.
If the eggs actually hatch I made more than a mistake, I made some scientifically impossible crime.
He created too many outs, but he also created a lot of runs
He’s not a very good player, but on a team that can’t create runs and creates outs like they’re going out of style, he would be very useful right now.
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 agree, but the consenses at the time was to dump CoJack instead.
He has turned out to be surprisingly effective so far.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
I'd still rather have Rajai.
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 Apr 22, 2011 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Not that each and every one of us wouldn't,
but how aggravating would it be right now if the A’s had spent the money the Red Sox have spent, totally “gone for it” with Crawford, and he had been batting .143/.200/.171 for us so far? Would that not just seem par for the course?
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
KOOOOOUUUUUZ!
Right? Yes,there would be those demanding the GM’s head.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Yeah, I wish we had a centerfielder who could get on base, steal second
then advance to third on a grounder, and score on the next one.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Didn't we used to have one of those playing LF?
(If only I could remember his name….)
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Fro-Co?
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Naw, it was back a few years.
I think the guy left, and then came back.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Stewart?
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Apr 22, 2011 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Canseco
Oh, wait no… He didn’t come back from Tampa, Boston got him and benched him.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Ok, now you guys are just playing with me.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
don't you need baserunners for that?
Put a bird on it
by Future Ed on Apr 21, 2011 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Coco's generated a few of those so far this year.
"OK and now everybody who said 'game over' at some point
GO KNEEL IN THE CORNER!" - elcroata
by Gaijin_Suketto on Apr 22, 2011 8:26 AM PDT up reply actions
This all would have been avoided if we had just gone after Carl Crawford!
LB: How many VORPs does it take to screw in a light bulb? Nico: We don't have a large enough sample to know! Lenscrafters: Trick question. Everyone knows that VORP is a light independent stat.
{barfs}
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's the best position player we've had since Giambi (original era).
Easily. Keeping him should have been paramount.
{barfs}
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
Maybe you should
Holliday was all right here, but not to the point of being worth $21 million a year.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Better we never had him and kept CARLOS GONZALEZ
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 wish they had realized what a talent they had in 2009.
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
Heck with keeping them
We should have kept Macha.
Heck, somedays I miss Art “Quiet, I’m sleeping” Howe
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
I agree.
Perhaps not for that much money. But out of all the recent free agents, Crawford included, I think Holliday was the one the A’s should’ve gone all out to sign. I see no top free agents in the foreseeable future that I would want the A’s to spend serious money and years on.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 21, 2011 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions
No hitter would take our money anyway
e.g. Beltre, Dunn, Berkmann
We need a new ballpark or maybe at least lose some foul territory and bring in the fences a bit. Ah, but the pitchers wouldn’t be happy. How about just bringing in some speed…oh wait…we traded that. Well, pitching and defense then…oh, well, how about just pitching then.
Has anyone calculated how many games sloppy defense and bonehead managing have cost us this year? I peg it around 3-4 games so far that could have gone in the other column.
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
Of course, my point in mentioning Crawford above...
… is that there is no such thing as a “dependable bat,” only a very expensive one. Crawford has a -1.2 WAR accumulated this year, which may make it tough for him to get to a break even point (contract-wise, that is) for the year. His BA and OBP are in the bottom three in the league (maybe that changed since he got a couple BBs yesterday).
If our performances at bat rise to true talent level – and assuming that our starters are not ridiculously above theirs – and then giving back about three or four games for more Geren-based losses, it seems very possible that 90 W is still within reach.
LB: How many VORPs does it take to screw in a light bulb? Nico: We don't have a large enough sample to know! Lenscrafters: Trick question. Everyone knows that VORP is a light independent stat.
The thing is, the starting pitchers kind of are.
But….The blueprint was for an offense that could score 4 runs and a rotation/deep bullpen that could keep the opposition to 3 or fewer. That could still happen.
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
Righto. I'm with ya on it.
I hope your doggie cone has been removed (from your dog, that is).
LB: How many VORPs does it take to screw in a light bulb? Nico: We don't have a large enough sample to know! Lenscrafters: Trick question. Everyone knows that VORP is a light independent stat.
I removed it last night, and 15 minutes later had to put it back on again.
Stupid dog.
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
Semi OT: Whats just as crazy...
is that Fuld already has produced 1 WAR.
Just seeing the name Fuld makes me wonder:
With what does it rhyme? I’m just sure there’s an excellent poem, just waiting to be brought forth.
LB: How many VORPs does it take to screw in a light bulb? Nico: We don't have a large enough sample to know! Lenscrafters: Trick question. Everyone knows that VORP is a light independent stat.
This is why Tampa has the best front office in the game.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Going to Saturday nights game...
Cahill vs. Fister…Any bets that the score will be the same as tonights?
ba-dum-bum
Actually I wasn’t sure who it was….does it matter?
Bank it
The A’s make Fister look like a co-Cy Young Award winner.
There is an evening coming in/Across the fields, one never seen before,/That lights no lamps. -- Philip Larkin, from "Going"
by Ray of Lite on Apr 21, 2011 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Our offense is really crippling the prestige of that award
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Apr 22, 2011 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions
couldn't sleep. stressed about work. so....got up to see if
we managed by some miracle to tie and go ahead…..like having Matsui bat in key situations late in the game etc. etc.
alaska A in northern idaho
I expect to see Matsui batted in every similar instance, including against really tough lefties.
Fool Bob Geren once….
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on Apr 21, 2011 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions
as a coach
my biggest problen with bobo is his lack of creativity. If you’re going to ph matsui, do it earlier. I mean what’s the point of having him on deck with the tying run on 2nd and two outs? If mATSUI gets up its beacuse the batter in front of him walked or got a hit, or reached on an E. So bobo you wanted Matsui to hit with the game tied? dumbass
Ray Fosse thinks Pete Rose is a prick......
I could totally sense your frustration in the post game recap
and your feelings are reflective of all of us at A’s fans at this time. We keep waiting for our hitters to come around because, I mean, they can’t be this bad, right? Maybe they are though. The A’s hitting seems like it is in much more than an extended slump. Our hitters just have a real hard time hitting balls solidly that land anywhere outside of the infield. This pitching is too good to waste, so our hitters should be on a shorter leash than normal. Bringing up some of our prospects a little earlier could really help this team. Sometimes a team just needs someone new who hasn’t felt so bad about themselves to come onto a team and bring some new vibes.
You can sense the somber mood amongst the A’s hitters, and I am not sure if they even believe in themselves anymore. Bringing up Weeks to play for Pennington or maybe even Kouz, could maybe be what Posey was for the Giants last year. It won’t happen this month and probably not even in May, but if our hitters, continue to struggle, and Weeks and Jai Miller continue to perform at Sac, it is not outrageous to think that BB may call up some of his prospects.
by Rygoslinglover on Apr 21, 2011 10:12 PM PDT reply actions
Well, first of all the hitters ARE better than they've performed
Just look at the batting averages, OBPs, everything, and you know it will come around. What’s sad is that if they had just been “ok” so far, scoring 3 runs most nights, the A’s would be about 12-7 right now.
Jai Miller sucks. Period. He’s not a prospect. Weeks, Cardenas, and Carter are, but the chances of them coming up right now and performing well are slim.
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
Do you have a theory as to what's going on?
Bad luck? Bad approach? A combination of the two?
There is an evening coming in/Across the fields, one never seen before,/That lights no lamps. -- Philip Larkin, from "Going"
by Ray of Lite on Apr 21, 2011 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions
I really don't.
I don’t get how a whole team implodes to the level this lineup has (and it has happened before – was it 2005 where we couldn’t hit until the end of May?).
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
We take too many first pitch strikes
Go up there hacking, at least one AB per game. I think pitchers know that they can get the first strike and put us in a hole.
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
Didn't work for Jackson when he took strikes and got caught looking
in the first too either,
These hitters are not good enough to hit behind in count. That is why they have to zone in on the first strike be it 0-0 or 1-0 or even 2-0. Looking to get on base via the walk is no good unless you are leading off an inning
It doesn't really matter right now
Whether they go after the first pitch or don’t swing at a strike, nothing’s working at the moment.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Disagree
Taking 1st strikes isn’t working. Being aggressive? Worth a try perhaps?
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
Maybe, but it seems to me that's what Kouz and maybe Suzuki are doing, to no avail
There is an evening coming in/Across the fields, one never seen before,/That lights no lamps. -- Philip Larkin, from "Going"
by Ray of Lite on Apr 21, 2011 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Kouzmanoff says it is
as does suzuki.
Didn’t someone post a list of pitches per plate appearance the other day? didn’t that show that only 2 of the A’s 9 or 10 regulars saw more pitches than the league average?
Put a bird on it
That could indicate that only two A's are actually successful at seeing more pitches.
That doesn’t necessarily indicate they all aren’t trying and failing to do so.
"Never have a motto, that's what I always say" - Me
http://marcel-oehler.marcellosendos.ch/comics/ch/1986/05/19860506.gif
"I Hate SF" - The Chosen One.
its just a strike
if its not your pitch, don’t swing. If it is, swing.
I don’t get what is so wrong about that
Put a bird on it
Simplest concept in the world
But usually much harder to implement well.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
I think this is a case of " If the result is good, then so is the approach. If the result is bad, so is the approach."
Last year’s lineup was grilled in the offseason for NOT taking pitches, a’la Cust. Now that they are taking pitches( with poor results), they need to be more aggressive. If Kouz, for example, swung at every first pitch , and it resulted in 50% hits, he would be claimed as the best Beane trade of all time. If he went to 3-2 on every AB, but failed, he becomes the worst trade. I think they call this judging in hindsight.
I agree with the approach, that you look for YOUR pitch, and swing at it no matter when in the count it comes. Then your protect with 2 stricks. The A’s problem, right now, is that NO ONE is hitting the ball. LaRoche has the highest BA at .267.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Jai Miller is a 26 year old currently ripping it up at AAA...
…as of right this second, he deserves a shot. I don’t know over who, but we need bats and he is mashing. Couldn’t hurt getting him some time in the bigs this year if he keeps that 1200+ OPS going…
The hitters will come around.
But of course, when they do, the small positive regression will probably be mostly canceled out by the pitching no longer being astronomically good.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 21, 2011 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I'd take that
As bad as the offense has been, the starters have been as good as you can ask for. If they settle down a little and the offense starts putting up a few runs a game most of the time, they’ll be in decent shape.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
LOL
Susan Slusser
Michael Wuertz apparently appears erroneously in Stockton’s box score tonight. He texts me to say that he didn’t pitch there. #Athletics
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Bobby Cramer interjects: "I didn't pitch all those times I sucked either!"
There is an evening coming in/Across the fields, one never seen before,/That lights no lamps. -- Philip Larkin, from "Going"
by Ray of Lite on Apr 21, 2011 10:17 PM PDT up reply actions
This is very funny!
LB: How many VORPs does it take to screw in a light bulb? Nico: We don't have a large enough sample to know! Lenscrafters: Trick question. Everyone knows that VORP is a light independent stat.
matsui just texted me.... he was on the bench the whole game. never on deck.
alaska A in northern idaho
He texted me to say that he's going back to Japan to play for a real manager.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 21, 2011 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions
paging Satuharo Oh
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 22, 2011 6:45 AM PDT up reply actions
how awesome would it be to have a manager that needs a translator
he should just yell and scream and then have someone like Geren act as translator who calmly speaks in baseball cliches …
Geren says all the right things we just need someone to inject the lineup with some enthusiasm
by Oaktown Shutout on Apr 22, 2011 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Then we should have Hitler instead of Oh
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions
That made me laugh
But then we would have the inevitable “Fire Hitler Now” posts.
Being called a poet as a rock ’n’ roll musician is like being called a physicist as a baseball player. It might have some application but it’s pretty remote. - Richard Hell
by fridaynightfan on Apr 22, 2011 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions
haha I didn't see this and commented above... whoops!
Glad he didn’t actually have that bad of a day (though it does suck for whoever did…)
That was me.
I didn’t pitch, but I had to watch the A’s “offense” and Bob Geren’s “managing”.
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
Didn't think the pitch to Kennedy was that bad...
Had some movement on it, it was middle in but not exactly grooved, and McCarthy’s command was honestly not that great tonight (though Seattle’s hitters helped him look the part). I would actually prefer Bob Geren to do LESS pinch-hitting, as players perform significantly worse coming in cold off the bench than if they start, but if you are going to pinch hit a lot, there’s no one who’s quite as bad tactically as Bob Geren. I certainly expected to see Matsui PH for CoJax.
I think McCarthy got exactly what he deserved.
How DARE he give up a run! Who does he think he is?
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
FIRE SANJOSER NOW!!!!
Ooh, it does help!
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 propose that MLB put the A's manager position in receivership
There is an evening coming in/Across the fields, one never seen before,/That lights no lamps. -- Philip Larkin, from "Going"
by Ray of Lite on Apr 21, 2011 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions
GET NICO A JOB ON COMEDY CENTRAL NOW!
He’s so witty.
Give him a white and green A's hat and throw him on the steps of the dugout.
by LoneStranger on Apr 22, 2011 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Fire Nico Now!
Choosy Feebas choose Leopold Bloom nipples
Daring. Sensual. Invigorating. Squirrel.
BLOOM. For men.
If the eggs actually hatch I made more than a mistake, I made some scientifically impossible crime.
Well it was a fun ride while it lasted.
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
One day you are a hero,
The next your replace with a goat
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Maybe I just love hyperbole, maybe I just love to panic
I’m thinking of writing a letter (mostly to get blog or Bay Area media attention) stating that I and any others signed plan to forsake the Oakland Athletics for the Sharks or, worse, Gnats while this managerial ineptitude remains as par for the course.
I mean…it’ll definitely be a facebook status…that’ll show em :(
If I was a starter, then I’d ask for a trade. Again, mostly because I love hyperbole.
"Whether they find life there or not, I think Jupiter should be called an enemy planet." - Jack Handey
Even if the starters did demand trades,
there wouldn’t be any team better than the A’s that wanted them. At least not at starters.
totally meant starting pitchers
Even then, your point still stands. Demand wouldn’t really exist until around the All-Star Break. It’s probably a decent fraternity to be a part of being young guns and all.
"Whether they find life there or not, I think Jupiter should be called an enemy planet." - Jack Handey
by bluthbanana20 on Apr 21, 2011 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Red Sox up 2 in the 11th. Here's hoping that holds.
There is an evening coming in/Across the fields, one never seen before,/That lights no lamps. -- Philip Larkin, from "Going"
Sharks destroyed the Kings
I want to believe that they can go far in the playoffs.
Anyhow, down with the Angels.
"Whether they find life there or not, I think Jupiter should be called an enemy planet." - Jack Handey
by bluthbanana20 on Apr 21, 2011 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Sharks vs Angels
THAT’S entertainment
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
So Sharks won, Angels lost. A good night to that extent, anyway.
There is an evening coming in/Across the fields, one never seen before,/That lights no lamps. -- Philip Larkin, from "Going"
by Ray of Lite on Apr 21, 2011 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions
First place loses to second place team
Marginal gain, great for the Sharks though.
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
Can we have the Sharks bat for us
and change the rules to pitch pucks?
by A's Believer on Apr 21, 2011 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Sweet
scoring goals on pucks batted in mid-air.
by A's Believer on Apr 21, 2011 11:45 PM PDT up reply actions
At what point...
…Does Kouz suffer some sort of “injury” so you can call up Cardenas and play him or LaRoche and see if you can DFA Kouz?
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
Trade him to???
Tacoma? Reno? Stockton? Who’d want him? His vaunted defense of a few years ago? Kaput. Offense? Kaput.
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
Why? LaRoche isn't playing any better than Kouz.
The problem is that THE ENTIRE OFFENSE SUCKS right now!!!! Why blame it all on Kouz? LaRoche is only batting.267. Kouz has more XBHs, more RBIs, more HRs. I don’t get the massive blame put on the #8 hitter, when the 1-5 hitters are playing just as bed.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Because the 1-5 hitters have a better track record, and Kouzmanoff is really
this bad
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 8:42 AM PDT up reply actions
No, Kouz has an excellent defensive "track record", yet he is graded on his current performance.
I call this bad analyzing, and bias.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
And LaRoche has a "bad " track record, as well.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Yes but he never plays so nobody cares about him
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, and Kouz
has 11 strikeouts and ZERO walks.
That still doesn't make him THE problem, nor does it make LaRoche THE answer
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
I'll go along with the second part of that. The real problem is that
the overall talent level is pretty mediocre. No big stars on this team, no matter what people have said about Barton
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, I have no misconceptions about Kouz' abilities.
I agree that there are LOTS of problems in the lineup.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
I agree with this
but I would disagree about LaRoche not playing better, at least offensively. I don’t think there’s a worse offensive player on the entire team right now than Kous. Not just with his horrendous numbers, but his at-bats are attrocious, e.g. too many first pitch groundouts and not working any counts, hence the zero walks. He’s an absolute drain.
This is what I have problems with
Kouz has been working deeper into counts this year, and still gets reamed. LaRoche had a hot streak, but has gone cold since then, but thats ok.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
It would've been difficult for him to see many fewer pitches than he already was last year
As it is, he’s still under what he saw in San Diego and even that wasn’t exactly a lot.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
So your logic is
that Kouz has been working deeper into counts in this horribly bad year than in his last stupendously bad year, so cut him a break?
I wasn’t comparing his years on plate discipline. I’m reaming him because he sucks ass. He’s been worthless so far, and that is indisputable. The guy has a .196 OBP, for god sakes. Last year, Kouz had defense to contribute, and now he hasn’t even had that. No one is saying LaRoch is a savior by any stretch, but he’s been better offensively, and so far has had more of an overall value. Maybe that will hold out, maybe not, but at least he seems to have some upside. Kouz has just sucked ass.
I don't agree that LaRoche has more upside.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
I didn't realize Kouz had 11 ABs last night!
Geez, so how many Ks does he have on the SEASON so far!
LB: How many VORPs does it take to screw in a light bulb? Nico: We don't have a large enough sample to know! Lenscrafters: Trick question. Everyone knows that VORP is a light independent stat.
Right now this second I really really really wish that we could have sent him to LA for Kemp in the offseason
When LA hated Kemp
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
I doubt they would have made that deal.
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 8:43 AM PDT up reply actions
people were ready to run his ass out of town here
No joke.
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 22, 2011 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions
People maybe, but not Colletti
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Right. mikev, this is the kind of trade proposal you usually ridicule
Wanting to shed salary doesn’t mean trading gold for garbage. They could get a team’s top prospect for Kemp, and those guys don’t make any money.
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 Apr 22, 2011 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don't think I ever made an actual legit trade proposal.
But doing a quick search, I found stuff like —
Kouz/Rajai for Kemp
Kouz/Rajai/Mazzarro for Kemp
Kouz/Rajai/Mazzarro/reliever for Kemp/Broxton
Then again, I’ve always said that coming up with actual trade scenarios isn’t really my thing. However, the way LA/Colletti hated Kemp and lost faith in Broxton, moving those two and saving about $12M in salary could have been a pretty enticing deal for a financially strapped Frank McCourt.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Sorry, I meant when you said Breslow, Taylor, and was it Sweeney?
The Dodgers can get a lot for Kemp if they decide to dump his salary.
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 don't recall ever suggesting that
I may have, I dunno. I pretty much always wanted Kouz dealt to them
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
I mean in the last couple days. Did I imagine or misread?
Sorry if I did.
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 don't think so.
I don’t see him being traded now. During the offseason was the time to do it, when McCourt was having serious money issues and MLB didn’t take over the team, Colletti hated Kemp, and they didn’t have faith in Casey Blake, so Kouz made sense for them.
Now Blake has had a decent few weeks to start the season and Kemp is absolutely wrecking shop.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Oh sorry, I must have misunderstood
I thought you said we should try to grab Kemp while the Dodgers are in receivership and probably wanting to shed salary, and suggested something like Breslow, Sweeney, Taylor for Kemp. I could have totally imagined it – sorry.
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
OK so I'm not QUITE as crazy as I thought
It was this comment.
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
Oh, that.
That was somewhat half baked, but you threw me off when you said Sweeney.
I mean if we’re playing MLB 2K11 on Xbox360 and moving Barton around and playing with force trades turned on, shit… do that.
Nah, the time to try and get Kemp was last offseason when Colletti didn’t like him, and both sides were somewhat agreeing that he could use a change of scenery.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Gotcha. I think I took you more literally than you meant.
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 suffered his 'injury' over the winter
Last year he was an entirely adequate 3rd baseman – not great, not as bad as having, say, Hannahan in there – and all winter he read about Beane trying to replace him. I think it got into his head and it continues to be in his head. You never saw balls bouncing off of his chest with alarming frequency last season or some of the horrible at-bats he’s had. You don’t do this to a player and expect him not to press (and fail). So, we didn’t get a new 3rd baseman and the one we had is now a head case.
by coffee roaster on Apr 22, 2011 6:39 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
+ exactly
BB broke the Kouz
"Feel so bad, feel like a ballgame on a rainy day"-Lightnin' Hopkins
by justANotherAsFan on Apr 22, 2011 7:15 AM PDT up reply actions
What's annoying about it...
Is that we finally found a post-Chavez corner infielder who had some pop in his bat and could hit for power occasionally – and this is the one guy Beane targeted to replace. And yeah, now he’s broken. I’m sure he’s dying to be traded now because this has to be an awful situation for him.
by coffee roaster on Apr 22, 2011 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions
Yes, agreed.
But what have you got to lose at this point. My point is, Kouz gets a “groin injury” and you call up Cardenas and see if he can do ANYTHING. If so, cut Kouz.
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
Well... Cardenas usually sucks his first attempt at a new level.
So let’s do that now and get it out of the way.
Choosy Feebas choose Leopold Bloom nipples
Daring. Sensual. Invigorating. Squirrel.
BLOOM. For men.
If the eggs actually hatch I made more than a mistake, I made some scientifically impossible crime.
Nico you're fantastic.
For instance, your headline is hilarious on like 6 levels. We’re extremely lucky as A’s fans to have this pitching staff and you on AN.
Also: prepare to get your mind blown:
Barton back to C.
Suzuki to AAA to learn 3B (or traded for a couple AAA closers)
Call up Cardenas.
Call up Carter.
Trade Kouzmanoff for a AAA closer.
Lead off DeJesus for his OBP skillz.
DeJesus
Barton
Willingham
Matsui
Carter
Crisp
Ellis
Cardenas
Pennington
I JUST BLEW YOUR MIND.
Barton to 3B
Suzuki to Boston for Lavernway and Kalish.
Call up Donaldson to split time with Powell.
Kouzmanoff, Breslow, Michael Taylor to LA for Kemp and Broxton (hello Dodgers need to shed salary cause MLB is running them)
Bench Matsui, DH Willingham. Rotate in Matsui and Willingham fills in at corner OF spots when DDJ or Kemp need a day off.
Crisp
Barton
Kemp
Willingham
DDJ
Powell
LaRoche
Ellis
Pennington
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
Oops. I got mixed up. Let me fix that.
Crisp CF
Barton 3B
Kemp RF
Willingham DH
DDJ LF
Carter 1B
Powell C
Ellis 2B
Pennington SS
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
I like this, except...
I don’t think Carter is ready for the majors. Leave Barton at 1B and either start LaRoche or promote Cardenas (not that I’m really sure he’s ready either).
I'm down
Like Nico said, if we could hit worth half a shit we’d be leading the division right now. These same dudes just aren’t cutting it, and by the time they do, it may be too late.
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 22, 2011 6:48 AM PDT up reply actions
I see no way the Dodgers do that deal. Someone else will offer more for Kemp
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 8:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Thanks, 'cobra. Mind blown!
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
A runner on first, Sweeney smoked the ball...
…into a double play. That goes past the shortstop, it’s runners on first and second and nobody out.
1-0 games against the best pitcher in the AL are lost through a combination of bad luck and bad managing. Geren is a doorknob.
In construction, we would call him Neil-n-Bob Geren
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
This offense is a hard pill to swallow.
But it’s early days. My hope is that Kouz and Matsui get into some kind of groove as the season goes along. SLOW APRILS suck but as A’s fans we’ve seen it before and still have been in it by the end of the season.
True
I still think there’s hope for them to recover because they certainly can’t be doing much worse than they are. I’m surprised at just how poorly Kouz has been playing 3rd so far though. I don’t expect him to hit much but he played very well last year for him to be doing this poorly; hell the entire defense has been a weakness.
I feel for the pitchers…I know it’s been said before about the offense, but if it just picks up a little bit with the pitching we have seen so far this team is going to contend not just for the West but also be a force in the play offs. It’s fun to think about with it still being April…a fan can dream though, right?
I was pretty optimistic about the Matsui, Willingham, DeJesus acquisitions
But I’m left with the same “ugh” feeling watching this offense as I had the last two years. It’s crazy that not a single hitter on the team just busted out in April – that should happen just by chance.
The only one I wanted of those three was DeJesus
I was OK with Matsui because he’s no worse than Cust and he didn’t cost a player, but I’m not that excited by him or Willingham.
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions
This is SOP for our A's!
April sucks, but the bats will heat up. No worries! Anybody going to Safeco on Sunday?
"I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way." -Jessica Rabbit
by A'sfansince1970 on Apr 22, 2011 7:15 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
I'll take a 1-0 loss to Felix
They couldn’t hurt him early, and we all know that makes for a long night against an ace. Still, the A’s had their shots, even with their paltry offensive showing.
Now the A’s just need to go out, put runners on like they have been doing (oh, and plate a handful) and take the freakin’ series. By Sunday night the AN will be happy again.
I agree with you, but...
other teams have been hitting Felix this year. He has two great starts this year, both against the A’s.
by SteveMcPhatty on Apr 22, 2011 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions
POUND Athletics
maybe he just hates us more
by Oaktown Shutout on Apr 22, 2011 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions
The A's need to play well and take the next three.
Totally doable and it’s time to take advantage of opportunities. Three in a row against Seattle-sans-Felix is exactly that.
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
Pineda's not chopped liver
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions
In 2 years he might be great. Right now he's just a raw talent.
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
Which is more than the A's hitters are
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Less flippantly, PECOTA has him at a 3.51 ERA
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Firing Blanks
Pretty much sums up the A’s offense too much these days. Granted Felix is a top notch pitcher, but the Brewers lit up Halladay the other night.
Anyone know where the A’s rank average wise with RISP? It has to be pretty crappy. They are now 1-3 against the lowly Mariners.
They're 25th in BA with RISP, just ahead of the Yankees.
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 8:47 AM PDT up reply actions
April Offense
How many games this year have the A’s actually “earned” a win with their offense? A lot of the wins have been U-G-L-Y…. and other teams just plain ’ole beating themselves with bad baseball.
Someone needs to strap Billy Beane to Nico’s couch for April and May games so he sees what we all see. I doubt he has watched 10% of the games we have watched in the past 5 years. Maybe it would help if he got off the stairmaster, and traveled with the team to watch these games in person. Box scores don’t show how inept our hitters and manager can really be.
Or better yet, replace Beane with DePodesta
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions
No way do we catch up with Texas
or even the Slegna with this lineup and managing.
What
a
drag
go a’s!!!
Dern
@mlbtraderumors
MLB Trade Rumors
Note: Pirates have first crack at Brandon Wood because we’re within first 30 days of season, so 2010 records used. League doesn’t matter.
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
I doubt they'd take him with Alvarez around. Diamondbacks maybe.
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Brandon is offended by that last sentence.
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
Why would Wood be offended by the irrelevance of a Seattle reliever?
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions
Reality show!
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions
That works.
Then if we throw in McCarthy as the twitter mole…
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Of course the Mariners already tried this and came out on the short end of the stick
I vibrated with joy that join A's. -- Kim Seong-min
by WaddellCanseco on Apr 22, 2011 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions
I know we tend to complain about Beene, but there are some really bad GMs out there
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Hiring a friend he "rubber stamps" lost him tons of respect in my eyes.
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 agree 100%
This relationship is destroying the franchise. I’m just saying the M’s GM stinks as well
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
He doesn't, actually
The organization’s a mess, but my understanding is that Z knows what he’s doing.
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
there's
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
by cuppingmaster on Apr 22, 2011 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions
What prospects would you be willing to part with?
Trading players like Demel and Mazzaro doesnt seem like a great way to build an offense. We are gonna have to give something to get something. So who would you be willing to trade? To me, pretty much everyone but Carter would be fair game.
The problem I have with trading is the conditions of the player's contract.
I don’t want a rental player unless they are cheap, like Willingham. Our chances of re-signing players is abysmal, at best. So, that leaves good players, with multiple years left on their contract. Those are the ones that are expensive to trade for AND every other team is looking to obtain. I also don’t see any of our prospects as good enough to compel another team to trade a top shelf player for. If they were good enough, we would be calling them up to Oakland to play right now.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
You also need to set parameters for your trade intentions.
A random approach doesn’t work for me. “Getting a bat”, isn’t a productive way to build a team.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
We have bats.
We just don’t have anyone who can swing them.
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 take that back.
They swing just fine, they just can’t hit anything when they swing.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
I whiff corrected.
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'd trade Carter before I'd trade Choice,
because Choice has a chance to be an impact player at a position (while I do believe Carter can be a 30 HR DH, but I’m more sure about the DH part than I am about the 30 HR part).
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 wouldn't
Carter has performed very, very well in A, AA, AAA. He has a very good chance to be a 6-10 year MLB player. Choice is striking out a lot in Vancouver/Stockton. He has a very high fail rate, IMO.
Carter – DH >>> Choice – LF
by Colorado Fan on Apr 22, 2011 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Choice has too small a sample size for me to grade him that harshly.
Again, it comes down to who you are trading for.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
I like Carter, and Choice's K-rate concerns me,
but Choice has by far the better upside. Heck, let’s just keep ’em both!
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
this
Its not like Beene wasn’t trying to get Beltre, etc., this offseason.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Not my fault, spellcheck keeps missing it.
Actually, it was probably brain-fade.
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
smh
offense is fun to watch, especially those monster home runs and the A’s wonder why they cant sell out, it a shame that these pitcher are going to have a 1.00 lifetime e.r.a and only have 12 wins with 37 loses and the A’s wonder why they leave when they are eligiable for free agency
In all fairness....
Oakland’s major free agent departures have all been hitters. Beane trades away all the pitches before they can leave.
by AsFan72 on Apr 22, 2011 11:59 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I hate being right
When Kennedy’s ball left the yard, I said that was the game. The rest of the night was spent yelling at the TV with Bob’s actions/inaction.
I got nothin'
Funny, i had the exact same experience
Maybe I’m you?
"Some field has fences, and sometime, the field cant hold a player, but most of the time, a field cant hold Domingo"
www.domingobeisbol.com/Domingo/Home.html
The last sentence wasn't a change from any other game, was it?
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
I'd noticed Carter was at 1B recently for Sacramento then out of the lineup last night. Now we know why.
Susan Slusser
Within Chronicle #Athletics notes, Chris Carter is out at Triple-A Sacramento with another thumb injury. http://tinyurl.com/3o8r6zk
And
Susan Slusser
Asst. GM David Forst said there’s no timetable for Carter’s return. OF Michael Taylor remains out at Sac with a wrist injury. #Athletics
Last of the Ninth - Photography
I wonder where he has been keeping his thumb?
Life insurance s..cks. I'm now worth more dead than alive.
Same place Geren keeps his head?
by AsFan72 on Apr 22, 2011 12:00 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
There's a new DLD to hang out in
"Hey anyone can join in...as long as they talk about me." - Mr. Bed
"So you're saying we should skin the Rangers and wear them as uniforms? I’m down." - Kyli
I didn't think the A's would get 9 wins in all of April.
"First of all, all the glory goes to God, Jesus Christ. Secondly, I love my teammates." - Josh Hamilton, on being named MVP of the 2010 ALCS
You thought they'd be no better than 8-19?
Wow.
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
(Rangers troll)
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Apr 22, 2011 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions
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