Predictable Game is Predictable.
by Zonis on May 21, 2011 6:42 PM PDT
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PrintLets be honest, this game went about the way that everyone expected it to go from the start. Indeed, there isn't even a need to recap it in full, since it followed the storyline so well.
Lincecum kicked our ass, shutting us out, and pitching a complete game shutout. Brett Anderson, though iffy to start the game, allowing a run and a series of hits in the first, managed to make his way through 5 innings before being pushed out due to a 90 pitch count and, of course, lame NL rules.
Luckily for the A's, Ryan Sweeney singled during the first inning, saving us from the stress of being no hit, as the A's ended up with only three hits off Lincecum.
The game went smoothly, 1-0 Giants, through till the 8th when everything went against the A's. Kouzmanoff injured himself trying to run a ball out at first, ending up with a right groin strain, and is day to day (translation: he will be on the bench, unavailable for the next three weeks, though will somehow play the day before he is put on the DL).
In the bottom of the 8th, Brad Ziegler, on his third night in a row, allowed a single by Posey, a squib ground out which moved Posey to 2nd, and a bobbled single to Jackson which scored him. That was followed by Ross, ending up at third, scoring on a sac fly.
Lincecum's complete game shutout was the 8th consecutive loss the A's have faced in Tampa Bay San Francisco.
I hate the Giants.
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So is Cardenas coming up now?
Enough of this day-to-day crap. Give the guys who have been swinging well in AAA a chance for God’s sake.
And throw away the millions we invested in Ellis and Kouzmanoff!
Hah, we need to make them work for their money. And by “work”, I mean show up to the park and plan mediocre baseball
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on May 21, 2011 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Kouz did strain his groin. With the extra pitcher, that’s one less position player, albeit for only one more game.
and one less pinch hitting option for Bob Geren
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on May 21, 2011 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions
A plus. Limit the alternatives and you limit Bob Geren's mistakes
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on May 21, 2011 6:57 PM PDT up reply actions
A shakeup would be exciting
Because this team, in its present incarnation, does not excite me. Too many sub-.250 hitters will low OBP to go along with their noodle-swinging ways. Audition Weeks and Cardenas, hope they pan out into something resembling average major leaguers.
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
I would.
There’s been enough sample size now to back up how obvious it is that this offense as currently constructed, sucks. Shake it up, I say.
by Jufran Sauce on May 21, 2011 6:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Then he clearly needs to slap himself.
"I thought it was going in," Warriors center Chris Hunter said. "It looked like the invisible man tipped it away at the last second."
"He's chicken curry right now. He'll become beef curry a little later on."
-Keith Smart
You forgot to say
FYBG for taking Brett out after 5.
Unless the super secrit plan is to move to a 4 man rotation.
in which case, FYBB!
If it's predictable
He did it last nigh.
Ryan Vogelsong could even limit the A's offense to one run!
Oh yeah, he did that last night.
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on May 21, 2011 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Bets on which inning Gio is pulled
while down by 1 or tied.
I say 6th.
Woah, the Rapture just came to Berkeley!
In the form of an earthquake.
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 can't fuckin stand the Giants
All, and I mean all my friends are Giants fans, with the exception of 3. I don’t give 2 shits about how much we paid Kouz and Ellis. Bring Cardenas, Weeks and Taylor up…now. They are all hot. This staff we have is fucking great, but it’s going to be one hell of a month or two or three until we get back our 4 and 5 starters. We have been thoroughly beaten by the Gnats these past 2 games, and we had our only hopes of winning the games on the mound the past 2 games. Do you really, and I mean really think that Weeks or Cardenas could hit any worse then Pennington or Kouz. Ellis looks like he’s finally coming around, but he’s still at best gonna hit .240 this year. BARTON HAS TO GO. I know him and Sweeney are going to be studs wherever they end up after the A’s but you know what, it’s never gonna happen for them here. We can not have an every day first baseman hitting in the 2 hole at .214 with 0 homers. How many pop ups did we hit today. I understand it’s against arguably one of the best pitchers in baseball, but we needed this series as some grounds as to why we are not the Mets of the Bay Area, and yes it sounds horrible but at this point it sounds just right about right. _
It's not that bad. We're not the West coast Mets. The Giants and A's can't be that far apart.
At least it doesn’t feel like either team has an enormous advantage over the other. But with that said he have lost 8 straight at that damn beautiful ball park. Fuck, this shit gets tiring. Fire Geren!
"I thought it was going in," Warriors center Chris Hunter said. "It looked like the invisible man tipped it away at the last second."
"He's chicken curry right now. He'll become beef curry a little later on."
-Keith Smart
Outplayed, outcoached, outhit, outpitched
The A’s should put Geren on the mentally disabled list.
As much as everyone likes
To rag on Geren, there’s only so much you can do when you’re given a team this crappy and have to field 9 position players everyday. David Dejesus is our 3 hitter…..does that make anyone else besides me want to puke. I have an honest question for all you Aner’s out there. Do you think Pennington would start at shortstop for any team outside of maybe the Pirates???
by Matt Sampson on May 21, 2011 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions
The Giants
would glady take Pennington off your hands.
You're not a 49er unless you got a gold star from Trent Baalke. Only "high character" guys get to play for the 49ers. The team is built in the locker room, as we all know.
by BustaTheRippa on May 21, 2011 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions
He's totally clueless when it comes to the pitching staff.
And I just can’t see Geren as a rally the troops kinda guy.
"I thought it was going in," Warriors center Chris Hunter said. "It looked like the invisible man tipped it away at the last second."
"He's chicken curry right now. He'll become beef curry a little later on."
-Keith Smart
Anyone defending Geren should also be fired.
From any job you currently hold. He isn’t fit to coach a T-Ball team…….Then again…Maybe he is coaching a T-Ball team.
I admit i was hoping for an "A's Offense Raptured; Lincecum Dominates their Empty Shoes"
headline, oh well. That would have been too predictable, just like that miserable game.
When the A’s front office sits down and discusses things, what do we suppose they think people feel watching this product right now? This team has all the excitement of a PowerPoint presentation on the art of taking 9 out of every 10 pitches.
"If we start getting into that sh*t, we might as well get out the plastic sheeting and have an orgy." --Gaijin Suketto
Screw this game
…pull over and drag it out of the car and don’t give it a chance just wail on it and hit it and hit it and hit it and hit it until the blood and brains and skin and muscle form a fine pate. Serve chilled, makes 8 hearty servings.
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
So Cardenas is playing LF and Jerry Blevins reports he looks really good out there
That’s great but when you think about it, how could Cardenas, as an OFer, be any better, or even as good, as Ryan Sweeney?
Sweeney is an ok CFer and very good COFer and I doubt anyone thinks Cardenas will be that good in the OF.
Cardenas is a high average hitter with little power, whose upside is pretty much to hit .300 with a very good OBP but little slugging. Sound familiar?
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 see no purpose in having Kouz on the team, yeah he is stilled owed about 3 mil the rest of the year. Give Cardenas a chance. Defensively he can’t be worse.
Barton -0.4war
Kouz -0.1 war
Pennington -0.2war
Ellis 0 war
Well, defensively Cardenas can and will be worse.
Yet I’d still favor the move. It’s a position where you’re going to have a black hole no matter what, so you might as well see what Cardenas can do at the position, and see if his bat — the only one of the three (Kouz, LaRoche, Cardenas) that has potential to be a plus — might give the A’s a lift.
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 just remember all summer how we said how Kouz could never be as good defensively as last year, which is true, but I also never thought I would be nervous about him fielding routine balls
by Slide Giambi on May 21, 2011 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions
It's pretty sad.
Just like I knew when we acquired him that he was a hacker who wouldn’t walk much, but I thought he’d be more like .270 with 18 HRs than like .200 with 8 HRs.
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
Yeah
His OBP% was horrible last year, and all his stats went down. He doesn’t hit homers or get on base anymore. Just a lot of outs.
Presently drinking Drakes Red Eye
And watching basketball.
Today wouldn’t bother me so much had the A’s not wasted chances last night.
by OaklandSi on May 21, 2011 7:20 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
It still stings me that Cahill was pulled after 6.
Had Balfour, Wuertz, and Ziggy thrown their shutout innings in the 9th, 10th, and 11th, the A’s would have had at least two more chances (top 11, top 12) to take a lead, and they would have been batting against not Ramirez, not Lopez, not Affeldt, not Wilson, not Romo, but … Dan Runzler and Guillermo Mota.
Your best chance to win in extra innings is if you can get past the closer and other high leverage relievers, and the A’s would have been there had they pushed the game past 10 innings.
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
Agree
Chalk another one to Geren…although he’s not to blame for Barton’s bad AB in the 8th
by OaklandSi on May 21, 2011 7:29 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
No, and he's not to blame for a lot of things
What he is to blame for is that managing a team that has no margin for error, he adds more error by doing stuff like…well, like pitching Ziggy in a 10-1 game and then having him pitch tired when he goes for the 3rd straight day today.
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 certainly don't blame Ziggy for the 8th today
3 days in a row is alot to ask of a reliever.
by OaklandSi on May 21, 2011 7:42 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
It's too bad because he has looked great lately,
especially in finally showing some improvement against LHs. He’s been throwing the slider to LHs, which I’ve been wanting him to do for a long time.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Seriously, I don't get this part:
OK Matsui may or may be old/done, we knew that risk. But DeJesus comes here and immediately underperforms, Willingham comes here and immediately underperforms. I mean, W.T.F.? They’re not playing all their games at the Coliseum. Not every single player in MLB gets off to a slow start the first 8 weeks. W.T.F.?
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 May 21, 2011 7:35 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I left out a "not" but I think it actually reads better that way.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
You can't fire the team...
But you can fire the manager. Aside from the fact that Geren mis-managed two consecutive games against the Giants, we’re seeing sloppy baseball, players not running out ground balls, players benched after good games, bizarre pinch hitting moves, and so on.
I am aware that these guys are professionals and are supposed to be playing at 100% day in and day out, but they’re also (mostly) guys in their twenties who, like all of us have ups and downs. Geren teams have all lacked spark from the day he was first hired. Now it’s really starting to show. I expect more from these players and none of the position players, with the exceptions of Coco Crisp, Mark Ellis, and (in my mind at least) Cliff Pennington is playing full-tilt full-time.
Like I said, you can’t fire the team. But you can light a fire under the players. It’s time for Bob Geren to become Vice President in Charge of Stadium Acoustics, with a big fat raise.
Willingham I can Understand more...
League adjustment, injured last year, strikes out a lot
But DDJ has just been shokcing to me…I mean I LOVED that trade, he’s been such a consistent, solid hitter for several years…
Kiper+Fosse=Mute
by CorpseOfChavez on May 21, 2011 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't think the coliseum is to blame
Willingham has plenty of power to hit it out there. DeJesus’ game isn’t HRs anyway.
by OaklandSi on May 21, 2011 7:44 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Who HASN'T underperformed after coming to Oakland?
We’ve gotta go back, what, five years to a crazy motivated, pissed off Frank Thomas to find the last offensive acquisition to live up to, or exceed expectations?
The park argument only goes so far, then, regardless of what the stat heads will say, you’ve gotta look at Sideshow Bob and whether the player has any genuine desire to be here. I don’t know of anyone who’s waived a no trade clause to come here. Holliday, Dejesus and Willingham came basically against their will, and Giambi, Garciaparra and Matsui came for little money when they were basically out of options.
Professional or not, motivation still matters and guys just don’t seem to have much of that in Oakland. They got a tiny taste of first place (as small of a taste as probably mathematically possible) and immediately dropped 4 straight.
True or not, I’m rarely convinced any of these guys care.
by AsFan72 on May 21, 2011 7:50 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Basically, the recent evidence suggests that
Hall of Fame hitters can succeed upon coming to Oakland and no one else can.
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
Will Holliday even come close to being HOF and blow that up?
Giambi? Tejada? All borderline if you pretend steroids don’t exist?
More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/
holliday hit really well in his time in oakland
Put a bird on it
by Future Ed on May 21, 2011 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Solid, but not as advertised...
His worse line since his rookie season. He did better before, he’s done better since, but in Oakland our major multi-time All Star was merely pretty good.
by AsFan72 on May 22, 2011 7:00 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
This is what irks me the most. Since Frank Thomas in 06 not a single quality hitter has come to oakland and done a quality job.
We could field the silver sluggers from last year and we’d still have a below average lineup.
I can’t believe how frustrating it is that every single damn one of our hitters looks god awful, even though we have proven guys (not all-stars, but some damn good hitters!)
WHAT!??!?!?!?!?!?!
by true torture on May 22, 2011 1:42 AM PDT up reply actions
so wit a runner at third and two outs in a 1-1 game
you are saying, meh, we will score in the 8th or 9th?
Put a bird on it
Nope. I'm saying we're very likely not scoring in the 7th,
and just need to score the next run, doesn’t matter in what inning.
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
And as it turned out, that chance in the 7th was the best one they had left
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Only because they played 10 innings.
Had it gone into the 11th, 12th, beyond, you’re looking at facing Runzler and Mota.
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 really no guarantee of anything
Hell, Cahill could have hit in the 7th and there might have been a wild pitch or passed ball.
Sometimes you have to just go with what seems like your best chance at the time and live with the results.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Yes, exactly why I would have let Cahill hit and then pitch the 7th and 8th.
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
Had Pennington walked, I'd be fine with it:
1B/3B, one out you have a really good chance to score. Two out, runner at 3B, you have a shot but it’s not that big an upgrade from “auto out” to “decent hitter” when only a hit will do.
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 Pennington had walked I'd have let Cahill hit
Chances are he wouldn’t have been the last out in the inning (even though he did GIDP earlier) and assuming he didn’t make any contact you’re still looking at first and third with Crisp coming to bat with two out. They could have even told him “keep the bat on your shoulder and if you get a walk, great.”
Can’t really do that with the pitcher’s spot up and two out if you’re still hoping to get that run home after the failure before by Pennington. If they got that run I’d have taken my chances with the bullpen holding the lead.
That’s just how I’d have played it, though.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
What??????
You were so desperate for a run you’d remove Cahill when you needed a hit to score, but if a sac fly or hit would score a run you’d leave Cahill in to kill the rally when it was actually likely to yield a run? That makes NO sense.
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
Yeah, I would have in that case
And maybe it does take away the chance at a sac fly, but you still have the chance to score and you can still get another inning or two from him. That’s hedging the bet a little but it’s better than the basically zero chance you have with Cahill batting and two out.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Uh, ok.
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
Thanks for being so flippant and dismissive on this one
Apparently you can’t accept someone having a different opinion on a game situation.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
It just makes no sense, FF.
Pick one stance. If you’d hit for Cahill when you have a meh chance to score, at least hit for him when you actually have a very good chance.
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 it's all or nothing one way or the other, fine
I’m trying to look at it in a way that gives them at least a decent chance and allows them to take advantage of still having him pitch.
God knows the A’s are great at blowing even great chances to score at any given time.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
But this is probably why neither of us are managers
Because there’s no perfect solution to what the reality of it was last night.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
I'm with flash on this one
I’d go with the option that both preserves some chance to score and leaves Cahill on the mound. What made it so hard not to make the move Geren did was that leaving Cahill in would have reduced the chance to score in the inning to almost zero. Not so in your hypo.
by Glorious Mundy on May 21, 2011 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm going to celebrate by going to bed.
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
It all goes back to Pennington (and really, Kouzmanoff before him) both making unproductive outs
The only reason Ellis was on third at all was because he stole second and got to third on that weird passed ball. If he was still at first when Cahill was due up and there were two out, I’d have let Cahill bat there.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Note also, even though it's flipped around from his career averages..
..Ramon Ramirez has been getting predominantly ground balls so far this season, compared to fly balls.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=7986&position=P#battedball
Last of the Ninth - Photography
I wonder if Billy ever just says to himself, "I need to make better friends."
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
At least publicly
Lew seems to defer all baseball questions to Beane
by OaklandSi on May 21, 2011 7:30 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
{Except when he randomly says, "Get Matt Holliday -- I don't care WHAT you have to give up."}
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
Joke?
Or did he really say this?
by OaklandSi on May 21, 2011 8:43 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
In not those words, I think he said "Win now!!!!" instead of "Stay 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
Geren Is Really Good At
unnecessarily using relievers 3 days in a row…
Kiper+Fosse=Mute
I like your tag line. Couldn't agree more.
by Brett Narloch on May 21, 2011 7:51 PM PDT up reply actions
The Bullpen Is His Weakest Point
I mean, he struggles with other stuff, but the ‘pen is a disaster. He completely misuses guys.
BTW, has anyone noticed Grant Balfour? The guys’ been great since a shaky start. He’s got a 1.31 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 20.2 innings pitched. He’s done exactly what he was meant to do, and I think he’ll be even more useful when Bailey comes back.
Jai Miller
seems to be swinging the bat pretty well in Sac-Town. He still considered a prospect or minor league filler material?
Baja been here
Filler. Released twice last year alone.
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 wonder when Halladay or Lincecum are pulled after 5 or 6...
And giving up 1 run. My guess is never. At this point they need to call up the manager from AAA.
PS- it’s pretty bad when you’re ok with the game because we weren’t no hit. I knew we were going to lose but I was worried about the no hitter.
I'm not especially bothered by today's loss,
and it’s because I expected it to happen, and I expected it to happen exactly the way it happened. And that’s really sad.
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 May 21, 2011 7:56 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
At least we have moved beyond
making average pitchers seem like Cy Young candidates. We also make Cy Young winners look like Cy Young candidates.
I was at the game and to be honest, I thought Lincecum was very good, but not as unhittable as the scoreline suggests.
Andersen didn’t look completely on his game, but seemed fine for another 2 innings….
I think the fact that Lincecum had only 1 K through what, 5-6 IPs,
tells you he was not at his very sharpest. Yet not until the 9th did the A’s actually get a hit off a well-hit ball. Through 8 IPs, a 23-hopper by Sweeney and a bloop by Powell, plus a couple well hit at ‘em balls (Barton, some other yokel can’t remember who), against a great pitcher who wasn’t at his best.
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’s need a new manager, plain and simple. All they need is someone the players can get excited playing for. Am I wrong to think Geren gets absolutely zero respect from the players, especially the pitchers?
And you know those guys on Twitter have read the tweets calling for his head.
How does that change what they think, knowing that so many people think he’s an idiot?
by LoneStranger on May 21, 2011 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions
You are not wrong.
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
over in the first inning
Just like last night, this game was over in the first inning. Didn’t matter when or if Geren pulled Anderson or any starting pitcher if you can only score 0 or 1 run per game. Right now, the A’s are boring and painful to watch and I don’t see any group of the current Mendoza lineup that is going to lead the team out of this.
The A's offense sucks, and it isn't Geren's fault.
This is a true statement. But what he can do is make a difference – either positively or negatively – in other ways, and that’s exactly what Geren is doing. (I don’t need to say which one it is.) His ridiculous pitching decisions notwithstanding, the team plays with absolutely no - aw hell, I know I’ll get ripped for this – with no ‘sense of urgency.’
I know, I know – I don’t know what the hell that “looks like, exactly”, either. I just know when I’m watching a team that busts its ass inning in and inning out and when I’m watching one that’s going through the motions. “Going through the motions” looks like dropped pop flys, and over-running ground balls in the outfield – that kind of thing. It looks like one mediocre at-bat after another — in other words, when at-bats vs. Vogelsong look exactly like at-bats vs. Lincecum. There’s no difference.
This team is in desperate need of a shake-up, and I’m afraid it won’t happen. And we’ll continue to drift … slowly … slowly … slowly … out of contention.
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.
by Vacafan on May 21, 2011 8:27 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Where is the 2002 Beane
Who did indeed shake up the team in May?
by OaklandSi on May 21, 2011 8:45 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
It was late-ish May, right about now, so he's not behind schedule
Not that I expect a shakeup.
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 so confident that no shake up will happen, that I will leave
a hot beverage on the edge of the table right above my lap for two weeks.
alaska A in northern idaho
I seem to remember that 2002 shakeup working right...
3 people got shipped in 1 day (Giambi, Menechino and Pena if memory serves me well), and we went on a tear after that….
TBH it’s needed, and quite frankly I think you could pick any 3 of our lineup right now to DFA or trade, and I really wouldn’t care less which 3 you picked, and who you replaced them with… it really couldn’t be worse.
well one ex-A thinks he contributes to it
here’s a quote from a past AN favorite: “I’m playing for a manger who really cares about his players and gets the best out of their ability,” Buck said. “I think that’s why we are where we are right now.”
also: “I never really had a manager come to me with that before,” Buck said. “It shows how much he really believes in me.”
not that TB is an expert on things but i think his comments echo the thoughts of many A’s fans… bobo just doesn’t motivate
by heartstopper on May 22, 2011 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
When someone goes out of his way to throw a former manager under the bus?
Might want to pay attention. You can’t speak up until you’re gone.
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 did we even bother getting those 3 anyway?
You could definitely make an argument that this lineup would score as many runs as the one we have now:
1B: Barton
2B: Weeks
SS: Pennington
3B: Laroche
C: Suzuki
LF: Cardenas
CF: Crisp
RF: Taylor
DH: Carter
Why wait around for the inevitable, these guys are going to be playing together a lot, might as well get them used to each other now.
This is crazy enough to be entertaining.
It’s a very green lineup, but at this point, why wait around for this current lineup of Mendoza’s to turn it around? The blowout game against the Angels was an abberation and the past two games are more apt representations of the A’s offense prowess.
Too bad Carter is still out with a thumb injury, but I’m on board for the other changes that you suggest.
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on May 21, 2011 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions
I certainly wouldn't bring Taylor up.
He’s had a handful of good games; the last thing he needs is to struggle in the big leagues and ruin what little confidence he may be regaining. I wouldn’t even consider him until after the ASB.
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
It boils down to if you think he could maintain a better than 645 OPS or not.
If he can OPS 675 here, that’s an upgrade.
Not over Willingham.
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
Cardenas at 3B tonight, is 2 for 3.
Marti with a one-hit shutout through 6.
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
Wait they're using Marti as a starter?
nice.
Official Athletics Nation Rotating Tagline Editor - Pam liked my old sig better.
My thoughtful watermelon is easily mistook for an early American catapult.
They are, and he's had some very good starts,
but his overall ERA is over 5.00 so I guess he’s also had even more very bad ones. Oh, and in the 20 seconds while I checked the Rivercats Gameday, Cardenas just dropped a foul pop up for an error.
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 he's on par with Kevin Kouzmanoff still?
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on May 21, 2011 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions
No, unfortunately I think he keeps getting base hits.
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
They have been, but he was about to be the odd man out and be sent back to the bullpen before Godfrey went on the DL briefly
So he stayed in the rotation and has been struggling. Now Cramer’s on the DL temporarily and that fits in with Godfrey being back, but who knows what’s going to happen come Monday. Chances are with the injuries to Braden, Ross and McCarthy you’ll see Marti continuing to start in Sacramento for the immediate future.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
If Outman and Moscoso come up to Oakland, as expected,
and, say, FDLS and Blevins return to Sacramento, then there’s plenty of room in the AAA rotation.
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
AJ Griffin had an outstanding Stockton debut tonight.
He won’t be there very long. He very well may be an option in September if he keeps up this habit of “mowing down every hitter he sees” thing.
You're talking about going from Low-A to a Sept. callup in a matter of months?
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
What's his background?
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
In what sense?
He threw a combined 26.1 innings in relief last year, most of it in Vancouver. 8 starts in Burlington this year and his first in Stockton tonight. That’s another ~ 60 innings now.
A plus for him so far is very good strikeout-to-walk ratios but he’s barely even been tested yet.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Just in the sense that I'm totally unfamiliar with him.
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 know much about him yet either
But here are some stats so far:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=griffi001aj-
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Woah, 5 BBs in 52 IP at Burlington this year.
That’s an attention grabber.
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 see a whole lot of info on him yet but I did come across this
“Big 6-5 durable body developing 90-93 FB command with put-away SL, had great summer.”
Last of the Ninth - Photography
How come he's not in Sickels' book at all?
Do you know?
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
Hmm. A lot of other guys from that draft are in there.
But I see he’s a 12th rounder — maybe he wasn’t highly touted.
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
{And when I say "12th" I mean "13th"}
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
13th Round pick last year out of U of San Diego
23 years old.
by Glorious Mundy on May 21, 2011 10:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Is reading comprehension, like, a totally foreign concept thing to you guys?
if he keeps up this habit of "mowing down every hitter he sees" thing.
Do you know what qualifiers are? Sheesh you really cant say anything around here anymore without having to explain the most obvious of statements.
Sigh.
Okay, fine. Yes, if he has an entirely unprecedented Strasburg+ level of crazy where he keeps his 6.58 K/BB ratio and blazes through A+, AA, and AAA in three months, then yes, he can be an option in September.
Happy?
I think I understood it fine
You were expressing something completely unrealistic and typical of you when you get excited about a player.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
He very well may be an option in September if he keeps up this habit of "mowing down every hitter he sees" thing.
My mind is blown people get called out for writing things like this here. AN might be the most hilariously pedantic site on the web. Jesus H. Christ…
LOL, whatever you say
“He may very well” nothing, man. I don’t care what he does. He’s not pitching in Oakland in September.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
Where "mowing down every hitter he sees" is attributed to whom? yourself?
I would say quoting your own quote over and over again is sort of the opposite of pedantic, in which case bring on the pedants. Have you ever heard of the word “tautology?”
Also, maybe “pedantic” usually refers to something that occurs on a textual level, but insofar as it connotes paying too much attention to minutiae, suggesting AJ Griffin could be a September call up is pretty pedantic in and of itself. I mean you could say, “Its categorically possible that Jai Miller, Jermaine Mitchell and Royce Consigli will be among the 2012 A’s starting nine,” and would you then expect AN’s most thoughtful contributors to respond, “yes, thank you for imagining an extremely unlikely scenario that no one else had yet deemed to mention but is nevertheless remotely possible?”
Or, more simply put, if you have to point out to people what your “qualifiers” are, who’s being pedantic?
in that pic of matsui
are his eyes closed… no wonder he’s not hitting well
Lincecum may not have been at his best today, what with the lack of K's
But it was pretty impressive to see him hitting 95 on the stadium gun after 125 pitches. He’s outrageous.
Speaking of a lack of hustle,
ATL-LAA, 4-4 bottom of the 9th, following a leadoff walk Amarista just bunted, didn’t run b/c he thought it was foul, and was doubled up. Going extras 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 really hate this team right now.
Our pitching staff just got hit by a wave of injuries and we can’t hit. I feel the need for a shake up, but I know its just overreacting. I really don’t feel like we can win the division right now. All that good from wailing on the slegnA is gone now. Anyways, the only remedy to this is wins. I’ll be happy when we get some wins.
I'm pretty sure no one will win the AL West.
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 better enjoy that wailing from that series
because I don’t think game 1 or 2 Next week will be 14-0 in our favor.
This team is either going to tread water until we get players back and also someone that can hit the ball or its going to fall of a cliff. Falling off a cliff is more likely when you lose two with two of your best starters and thenyou have to dig into AAA for 2 pitchers who are not exactly going to be throwing CG 5 hitters anytime soon.
The fact that the offense rolls in horse shit before they play does not help. And then there are all the stupid errors, mental errors that don’t show and the most worthless manager I have ever seen. Couple that and there is a huge problem for this team.
We better pray for a miracle.
Rajai Runs
Last year we could manufacture some Rajai runs, maybe running more would help.
I am, also thinking aout benching Willingham, in favor of, Jackson, Sweeney (Ryan
instead of Mark).
We do have someone in the lineup who's among the leaders in stolen bases
His name is Coco Crisp.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
I wouldn't mind seeing Pennington get the green light more too.
The A's are a fairly quiet team, and then there's Ben Sheets. Sheets, as a kid, must have been thrown out of every library in Baton Rouge. ~ Scott Ostler
He was cought stealing 5 times this year already
In 9 attempts
2011 Oakland Athletics: We have Cy Young pitchers and make yours look like it, too
I hope we score a run tomorrow.
I hope Kouzz is sent to the DL, even if he isn’t hurt, and I hope that Cardenas or Weeks gets a chance, because frankly there is no way they could do worse.
My mannerism a prism/ And it should shine
Light it if you would/ Be so kind, right now'd
Be A' Good Time
by DaRubiesSLOKingsA's on May 21, 2011 11:46 PM PDT reply actions
good news AJ Griffin got promoted to high A
and struck out 10 in 7 innings.
The A's are a fairly quiet team, and then there's Ben Sheets. Sheets, as a kid, must have been thrown out of every library in Baton Rouge. ~ Scott Ostler
last I heard he was moved to the 60 day DL
The A's are a fairly quiet team, and then there's Ben Sheets. Sheets, as a kid, must have been thrown out of every library in Baton Rouge. ~ Scott Ostler
I didn't think it would be soon...
just wishing and grasping at anyone who can be a starting pitcher.
Also, just because our offense leaves me nothing to get excited about
I often imagine a real MLB hitter with some POP batting in our lineup instead of Kouzz, Suzuki, Barton, etc. etc. etc.
So, I was curious….if Beane put together the right package of prospects, would anyone be in favor of taking on Soriano and that contract?! I think he would make a perfect DH or OF, which would obviously be sacrificing defense for offense. But, we need some pop.
I’d also really like to make a trade with the Houston Astros for Hunter Pence. Because 1.) The Astros are going to be listening to offers come Mid-Summer and 2.) He seems like the kind of player that could hit well in any stadium. Those are two players that I think will be realistically available. And they would both be vast improvements when compared to any hitter on our team.
Please, no one tear down this dream of mine with logic. In my dream, Beane makes a pair of trades that land both Soriano and Pence right before the All-Star break. The sudden influence of guys who know how to hit a baseball propels our team to a comfortable 1st place in the AL West, and we cruise to the playoffs, where our staff, boasting the best ERA in the game, carry us to the promise land……all the while, Giants fans watch the NFL lockout, confused that with no team to root for in the playoffs, and no NFL to watch, they have no team in 1st place to pretend to care about, which in turn causes Brian Wilson’s 15 minutes of fame to come to a crashing and lather induced halt.
My mannerism a prism/ And it should shine
Light it if you would/ Be so kind, right now'd
Be A' Good Time
by DaRubiesSLOKingsA's on May 22, 2011 12:04 AM PDT reply actions
Well... it's a good dream...
But the Phillies are interested in Pence . And they can afford to take on his 7 million dollar contract.
i know he just got drilled in the face with a fastball
but I wouldn’t mind seeing Marlon Byrd in a gold jersey.
The A's are a fairly quiet team, and then there's Ben Sheets. Sheets, as a kid, must have been thrown out of every library in Baton Rouge. ~ Scott Ostler
Would we be willing to take on his contract!?
My mannerism a prism/ And it should shine
Light it if you would/ Be so kind, right now'd
Be A' Good Time
by DaRubiesSLOKingsA's on May 22, 2011 1:07 AM PDT up reply actions
My gut feeling is that it's better to try to upgrade on the infield
A good hitting OFer will be an upgrade but it becomes a somewhat marginal one since they’re replacing someone who isn’t a bad hitter. But a good hitting infielder could be a truly awesome upgrade.
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
Yes I agree and, as I look at each teams roster
I just don’t find many great trade partners in the positions we are in the need of most help: 3B and 2B. Maybe calling Cardenas up is truly the best route to take at this point. However, if the A’s are still skating around .500 come early July (which I think we will be), and Beane can find an upgrade at 2B or 3B, I’d fully support his move.
My mannerism a prism/ And it should shine
Light it if you would/ Be so kind, right now'd
Be A' Good Time
by DaRubiesSLOKingsA's on May 22, 2011 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Wow
A really weak loss. The A’s had absolutely no solution to what Lincecum was throwing. Pretty good game by Anderson (5.0 IP, 5 K), but the lineup was completely silent (again). We need to score to support our starters. Anderson, Cahill and Gio are all good enough to match up against other aces or Number 1 starters, but only if the O scratches out runs.
I'm praying for a 10 game losing streak
so that Geren will finally be fired. When he took out Cahill the other night, I was stunned. I was also stunned that he let Cahill swing. I think the count was 2-2; I would rather have Cahill strikeout and give Crisp and Barton a chance to drive someone in. Yes, the players are inept but they weren’t when they were with other teams. So over the past 6 years, many players have changed; the one constant is Geren. He’s gotta go.
The count was actually 3-2.
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
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