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Around SBN: Celtics Seething Over Embarrassing Loss

Link Dump 8/16: DLDTBNL

The_baby_tiny by salb918 on

After last night's victory, we have some reading to catch up on.

Some think that Swish might be recovered from his illness...

Swisher is beginning to resemble the player he was in the first half -- 20 homers, 52 RBI -- and not the man who hit .188 in July during a bout with mononucleosis in which he dropped 14 pounds.

It was evident his appetite has returned when he polished off some postgame lobster and then gnawed on a hunk of red meat before addressing the media.

"Swisher gnawing on a hunk of red meat" is one of the better visual images from A's press this year.

THT takes a look at the A's streak against the M's:


With a run of games like that enjoyed by the A's against the Mariners, it'd be easy to keep piling on. But the fact of the matter is that the A's dominance of Seattle, including five wins in the past two weeks, has basically been the difference in the A's season so far. Thanks to the Mariners, the Oakland A's have quietly been the hottest team in the American League. On the morning of July 31, the A's were a slim half game ahead of the Angels, with the Rangers and the Mariners well within striking distance at three and 3.5 games back, respectively. The A's were set to play 12 of their next 15 games against the AL West, including six games against Seattle.

This bothers me.  

The difference in the A's season isn't that they have beaten the M's a lot.  The difference is that the A's have beaten the M's while the Rangers and Angels haven't.  It's ludicrous to reconstruct seasonal records if the M's had only won 4 or 5 games from us.  One can say that about any team.  Baseball may be about individual matchups, but I have a hard time believing that Oakland matches up so specifically well against Seattle that it explains the 14-1 record.  Seattle is any other .470 team, and the difference in Oakland's season is that they are beating the .470 teams while their opponents aren't.

Lew Wolff, like me, is expecting the A's to lose Barry Zito.  But he is saying, at least to the press, that Frank Thomas will be an offseason priority.

"Barry needs a big-market team to justify the kind of contract he deserves," Lewis Wolff said. "It's really up to Billy (Beane) and not to me, but he is a terrific young man -- I can make him a real-estate deal."

Wolff laughed and added, "That's counted (as a contract), by the way. If he stays with us or wherever he goes, I wish him so well."

Regarding Frank Thomas returning next year, Wolff said, "It would be very sad if we didn't bring him back. He's been a great presence for us on and off the field."

Barry Zito is going to give some a team bad case of buyer's remorse; I hope it's not us.  Zito will soon be a good player with a great player's contract.  Would that the A's spend those resources elsewhere, and spend wisely.  Frank Thomas, I hope, will likely be a good player with an old player's contract.  I think there's a good chance that we'll bring him back if we don't trade for Gary Sheffield.

As expected, Bobby Crosby will probably return friday and, according to Billy Beane, he will be the starting shortstop.

"That one is really easy," the A's general manager said. "Bobby Crosby is our starting shortstop. He will remain our starting shortstop."

That's fine. Beane has constructed a team that is 51/2 games to the positive in the American League West, and this is eight straight seasons the A's have headed into the stretch with the playoffs in sight. So even the devil would have a tough time advocating against him.

But one man's return means another man's removal, and so far, all signs indicate Marco Scutaro will be the removee.

That would be the smart move.  Scoot can sub in to give Crosby or Ellis or Chavez some rest, but his hot hitting is no reason to Wally Pipp Crosby out of the lineup.  Crosby is a superior defensive shortstop and Oakland must be willing to show faith in its young players, especially in the heat of a pennant race. The lifeblood of this team is that it allows young players to succeed by running them onto the field even when they struggle. If we let a pennant race change that, it's only a few steps downhill until we are saddled with mediocre players on free agent contracts because we were too scared to let young guys learn on the job.  Crosby will be, barring a big trade, our shortstop for the forseeable future, and he will probably be an above-average player.  Scutaro will be traded or released as soon as he starts to get expensive, which, by my count, will be after next season.

I'm looking forward to Crosby coming back. You should be, too.

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<...problem with the 2nd block quote...>
"the poop stain on the collective AN pantalones." -ohad

by ArakSOT on Aug 16, 2006 7:50 AM PDT reply actions  

"gnawing a hunk of red meat"
I immediately visualized Swish hunched & snarling over a zebra haunch.
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 7:59 AM PDT reply actions  

Hawt.
"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 8:07 AM PDT up reply actions  

Veldt mojo!
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 8:32 AM PDT up reply actions  

Bradbury mojo!
Veldt Mojo.  One of my favorite short stories.  I first read it when I was eight, but I didn't actually get it until I was twelve.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions  

{{{shudder}}}
And... way out there, but... wasn't George Hadley the name of the student that a drunken Jack Torrance beat up in "The Shining" (as told in flashbacks)?

And, if so, have I read "The Shining" too many times?  LOL

Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions  

As long as it wasn't steak tartar a la Chavez
I think we've had quite enough intestinal parasite scares this year.  That and gamblers.

BTW Poppy, I was in 216 last night and kept scanning the 215'ers to guess which one you were.  Thought about walking the rows saying "Poppy?  Poppy?"  Thought better of it.

"I don't want to 'Wear It.' It doesn't match my shoes." --Jennifer

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Aug 16, 2006 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions  

That would have been funny...
Or you could have just waited until you heard McFood shout "Hey, Poppy!" from the end of row 12, and looked to see who he was shouting at...
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 9:18 AM PDT up reply actions  

gnawed on a hunk of red meat
... um, has anyone seen Kielty yet today?
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions  

lol
Too funny.
"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 16, 2006 8:18 AM PDT reply actions  

Incredibly funny
One of the funniest baseball graphics I've ever seen. Equals the one on McCovey Chronicles with Truman holding a paper that proclaims, "Benitez Saves Game."

by RLangford on Aug 16, 2006 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions  

Lsst paragraph (your commentary)
Is probably some of the most reasoned and wise commentary that I've seen since I've stopped lurking and started participating.

Take that, fanatics -- those of you bandwagoneers who deal in the "what have you done for me lately" reactionary mode of thought!

4 8 15 16 23 42

by LowcountryJoe on Aug 16, 2006 8:19 AM PDT reply actions  

Thank you.
I try not to get too preachy, but I never understood why the WHYDFML only applies to the team's putative stars.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions  

Emotional bank account concept explains this
http://d53668.tmp40.quadrahosting.com/mediawiki-phase3/index.php/Emotional_bank_account

Unfortunately, those that have their eyesight clouded by excessive fandom, usually make many more fundamental accounting errors to our client's accounts.

4 8 15 16 23 42

by LowcountryJoe on Aug 16, 2006 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions  

Ditto...
...minus the lurking stuff. :)

I want Crosby back.

"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 16, 2006 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions  

I do, too.
And I suspect that oaktoon, our erstwhile friend, would agree.  After all, Scutaro has been playing at a - what - 850 OPS? so he is likely to spend the rest of his season at a 500 OPS to balance everything out.  Crosby, on the other hand...

Oh, I'm just kidding.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions  

hehe
"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 16, 2006 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions  

I haven't been around for a while
Did oaktoon leave?

(I'm not being snarky, I honestly have no idea.)

"We've come a long way, and I'm not talking about Virginia Slims, either." - Art Howe

by EastCoastA on Aug 16, 2006 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions  

Thanks
"We've come a long way, and I'm not talking about Virginia Slims, either." - Art Howe

by EastCoastA on Aug 16, 2006 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions  

Too bad
In my opinion he was good for the site and had a lot of interesting things to say. On the other hand I found him to be too much at times. One diary a day might have worked. ; )

by Larry E on Aug 16, 2006 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions  

I miss his *ass*.
Because, really, that's all that matters.

What ever happened to Crosby's #1 fan? He hasn't posted since 7/26? I almost miss him.

"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions  

Me four
Crosby has become quite the whipping boy around here this year (and I'm not referring to Jennifer's basement). He's certainly had an awful year at the plate, but too many people seem to have forgotten how good he was last year, and how he did adjust and improve during his first two years in the majors. While I've lowered my own expectations for Crosby somewhat, he's still a better bet going forward than a marginal player like Scutaro.
We hold these truths to be self-evident / We drink beer in bars and act irreverent - Lambchop

by andeux on Aug 16, 2006 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions  

LCJ-
If I completely agree with you, does that make me a libertarian?

by mikeA on Aug 16, 2006 8:32 AM PDT up reply actions  

It depends on whether
you overdraw your emotional bank account.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions  

I loaned all
my emotional capital to Oaktoon at 2AM a few weeks ago.

by mikeA on Aug 16, 2006 8:36 AM PDT up reply actions  

A Cal student isn't allowed to be
a libertarian unless he is also a nihilist.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 8:39 AM PDT up reply actions  

That hurts
You forgot I'm out of emotional capital.

by mikeA on Aug 16, 2006 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions  

Sorry.
I can loan you some.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions  

Libertarian/Minarchist/Classical Liberal
While it is true that I identify with the political labels above, I am, first and foremost, and argumentative @$$_(*).  Therefore, any kind of agreement that we may reach is bound to be shortlived...it's the combative contrarian in me.
4 8 15 16 23 42

by LowcountryJoe on Aug 16, 2006 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions  

Is it because it's Billy B., and not Macha,
who says, "Bobby Crosby is our starting shortstop. He will remain our starting shortstop," that you guys support benching Scutaro? If that's the reason, then it truly is a marker for ANers' high esteem for Billy and low esteem for Macha. Think Olympus Mons versus Mariana Trench.

I don't remember hearing many people boosting Crosby before today.

I miss Bill King.

by Checkswing HR on Aug 16, 2006 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

If your argument is
that the opinion isn't original because it agrees with Mr. Beane, I don't think anything I can say can convince you otherwise.  But, FWIW, I didn't think it needed to be said until last night, when the general game thread tone was that Scutaro should be elevated to starter status even when Crosby came back.  I thought the Beane quote dovetailed very nicely with those sentiments.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions  

It seems to me that
most people on AN were thinking that Bobby should be benched, platooned, or sent down, yet many of them changed their minds when they saw that Billy favors playing Bobby.

This definitely reminds me of the debate two years ago on whether to start Mulder in the crucial third-to-last game of the season. I suspect that most people's opinion of the decision is based on whether they think it was Beane or Macha who decided it.

I miss Bill King.

by Checkswing HR on Aug 16, 2006 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions  

I ask you to check the usernames
and find an instance of a user "changing their mind."  There's not as much groupthink on AN as one would think, and the people who agree with me and/or Beane probably held this opinion anyway.  What they're voicing is their agreement.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions  

I was struck by how suddenly the Crosby supporters
came out of the woodwork.

I'm still convinced that there are some who wanted this to be a decision of Macha's that they could bash, especially if Crosby fails.

Tell me that wouldn't happen if this was reported as solely Macha's decision.

Come to think of it, this is a product of my fatigue with the Macha-bashing.

I miss Bill King.

by Checkswing HR on Aug 16, 2006 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

Like I said before,
I don't think I can convince you otherwise.  If that's your opinion, then fine.  I'm not going to argue with you.

By the way, I am not a Macha basher, and I would agree with this decision whether made by Beane or Macha.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions  

I believe you, Sal
although my lawyer will call your lawyer to arrange for a deposition.

As for the others, where DID I put that vial of sodium pentathol, darnit?

I miss Bill King.

by Checkswing HR on Aug 16, 2006 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

wasn't Mariana Trench ...
... the chick who played Troi on ST:NG?
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions  

No, silly!
It's what a batter gets when he takes a pitch in the face from the Yankees' closer.
I miss Bill King.

by Checkswing HR on Aug 16, 2006 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions  

Also agree with the last paragraph.
Crosby should be hitting 8th, though.  At the present time, that is also what is good for the team.
"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 16, 2006 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

ninth might be even better for the team
given that scutaro and ellis are hitting okay right now.
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Aug 16, 2006 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions  

Is it just me, or does
Saars pitch better on more rest?  I know sinkerballers generally work well on short rest, but my recollection of this year is that he is at his sharpest when he starts after 5+ days of rest.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 8:20 AM PDT reply actions  

Josh Suchon
wants to know why you boo Ichiro.
"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 8:21 AM PDT reply actions  

I don't mean to hate on him too much,
but Ichiro had a terrible series.  He airmailed home, allowing Big Frank to score, got a bad read on Hurt's pop up yesterday, hit into a DP and struck out a couple times.  Maybe I'm expecting too much of Ichiro, but does anybody else think he kinda phoned it in for the last few games?

Dunno about the booing, though.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 8:25 AM PDT up reply actions  

YES, I think he's been phoning it in.
Also dunno about booing.  I don't boo.
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions  

I actually thought
Ichiro might have had a chance to rob Swish's HR on Monday. Then, like you said, on Hurt's hit off the end of the bat, and Ichiro striking out on three pitches. Very un-Ichiro.
"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions  

I won't blame him for the HR.
After all, Betty Lorraine Swisher rose from hell and grabbed Ichiro's ankles, preventing him from making a good jump.

(ooooh, that's bad taste)

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions  

not only bad taste ...
... but joke already made ...
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions  

Gah.
Bad taste and unoriginal?  I could land a deal with a major record label!
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions  

You said it first! You said it first!
"the poop stain on the collective AN pantalones." -ohad

by ArakSOT on Aug 16, 2006 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions  

But I said it louder!
Woohoo!  Yay me!
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions  

dude, what is wrong with you?
thats not even funny.
www.myspace.com/roneal

by signmebilly on Aug 16, 2006 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions  

Don't forget
he also got picked off by Duke to end game 1
Bill James on Duane Kuiper: "It's absolutely incredible that a player this bad could be given 3000 at bats in the major leagues." -- Baseball Abstract, 1982

by blueconversechucks on Aug 16, 2006 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions  

Is this where we're supposed to say...
..."Where's the USS Missouri when you need it?"
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions  

I don't understand either
why Ichiro gets boo'd.  He's a good player, are our fans jealous, envious or something else? I don't boo him.  I do boo (on occassion) Jason Giambi, Derek Lowe, Bonds, etc.

by oaklandbbfan on Aug 16, 2006 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions  

I do not Boo Ichiro
However, I do Boo all the poeple stand up in front of me with the Japanese symbols on painted on their chest
Every day is just a little worse than the previous, that means every day is the worst day of my life.

by shooting4life on Aug 16, 2006 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions  

Booing Ichiro
I was sitting next to a few Ichiro booers last night, but their sole purpose of booing was to drown out the cheers of their neighbors.  They all laughed afterwards.

Could that be the reason?

COME ON, OAKLAND, COME ON!

by Colorado Fan on Aug 16, 2006 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions  

Swish doesn't Booo he just does this
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
the home run that Eric Chavez did was tight. Sprots4Kids quote

by Satchmo22 on Aug 16, 2006 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions  

Ichiro gets booed
for the same reason Vlad gets booed: he's a great player on one of our closest competitors. It's really more of a relic from when the M's were really good, I believe. If the Mariners were a losing team when they first signed him, we wouldn't really hate him at all; for me, at least, I remember him as the MVP for a Mariners team that won 116 games the year my Oakland A's were supposed to win the World Series.
"The whistles are woooooooo" - Bubb Rubb

by Philip Christy on Aug 16, 2006 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions  

Josh Suchon also...
...talks about tarps.

(emphasis mine)

Wolff said, with a smirk, the tarps "come off very easily."

In reality, it will be a labor-intensive process: A crew of 25, working 8-9 hour shifts for two days to remove them.

It will take longer to put them back up with less time, too. On Aug.27, the Raiders host their Raiders Nation celebration, and they want to showcase the whole stadium to potential season-ticket buyers.

As a result, the tarps won't be completely back on when the A's host Boston on Aug.28. But as Wolff said, they will come back up.

Wow.  Lucky crew.  And you gotta wonder what's living under those tarps by now...

Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 8:28 AM PDT reply actions  

So much for the alleged labor savings
Lessee...the deck closure saved a handful of minimum wage security and concession jobs.  But the tarps coming on and off cost the labor of 25 double-shifted overtime earning union scale roadies each time.
"I don't want to 'Wear It.' It doesn't match my shoes." --Jennifer

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Aug 16, 2006 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions  

thought the same
when i read the article in the mercury this morning. i was thinking also that if they are off for raider games why even put them back up.

by smasfan on Aug 16, 2006 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions  

<raises tarp>
<out leaps Rich Harden with samurai sword>

by DavidA on Aug 16, 2006 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions  

<snerk>
"raises tarp"
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions  

tarps now to be sponsored by Viagra
Actually... maybe they should have been sponsored by Viagra before having to come down for football games...
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions  

So....
I guess this will end all the talk of sending Swish back to Sacto to "rest and get his strength back".  He seems to be doing just fine!  Welcome back Nick!  

I guess all he needed was a little surf and turf!

by Leesa on Aug 16, 2006 8:39 AM PDT reply actions  

Maybe Swish was on Meth?
An old Applebee's story but worth reading...

http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/2520076.html

"A's Brand Baseball: The worst best baseball you've ever seen!" -Chavvy

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 16, 2006 8:45 AM PDT reply actions  

one quote from the story
"Authorities are investigating what caused two Sarpy County deputies to become ill after eating there. One tested positive for methamphetamine."
"A's Brand Baseball: The worst best baseball you've ever seen!" -Chavvy

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 16, 2006 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions  

Dog day was a blast!
I highly recommend it for anyone with a socialized dog.  I took my 9 month old and she had a great time--lots of other dogs to sniff, people to meet, sunflower seeds to eat.  

As it turns out, our seats were right next to Mrs. MaEl (and Brutus) and Mrs. Big Hurt (and Barbie and several Little Hurts.)  You know how people look like their dogs?  Barbie is the biggest bulldog I've ever seen!  The funny thing was, they had a staging area in one of the parking lots where you'd pick up your tickets and show your dogs ID tags and vaccine certificate and all of the dogs were really well behaved.  Except for this one dog that kept wigging out and barking rather aggressively at other dogs.  Who did it turn out to be?  Barbie.  We went to our seats and soon, they all came and sat next to us.  

I can tell you what's hot with the A's families:  bedazzling!  Mrs. MaEl had bedazzled a tiny tank top for Brutus that said "BRUTUS 14" on the back in green and gold sequins.  She had also bedazzled her flip flops to match and Brutus' collar.  (I know she did them herself, because I was sure to ask her.)  He looked adorable.  Mrs. Big Hurt had a big bedazzled "35" on the right back pocket of her pants, and one of the little hurts had "BIG HURT" bedazzled on her t'shirt.  She held Brutus for most of the time.  The Saarloos dog, Abby was there, too, but I didn't see Mrs. Loos.

Anyhoo, it was a really fun night.  And I appreciate that the team obliged with a blowout, because it was hard to focus on the game with all the activity in the plaza seats.  It was also funny how when something big would happen, a lot of the dogs would start barking!  It really added to the drumming.

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Aug 16, 2006 8:50 AM PDT reply actions  

That sounds like fun!
I loved hearing the dogs barking... and seeing all the wagging tails in the aisles over there.

My husband wants there to be a Cat Day (for those of us who can't have dogs)...  <snerk>

Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions  

<talks from side of mouth
like bill murray in caddie shack>....yeah, i'd like cat day. <lives alone with cat, hundreds of figurines, and photos of nico papered all over the wall>
the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005...in 2006?...prove it.

by ak_A on Aug 16, 2006 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions  

socialized dog
I guess that would mean that LowCountryJoe's dog wouldn't be welcome, eh?

Kidding, LCJ, kidding! :)

aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions  

My dog is still bound by the...
...proletarian-made (yet bourgeois-peddled) chains that bind her.  I kick her every now and again, too, so that she doesn't forget who her master is.
4 8 15 16 23 42

by LowcountryJoe on Aug 16, 2006 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions  

dogs
Just curious but what happens when the dogs have to do their duty??? Was there an area for you to take them?

by Gene Nelsons Mullet on Aug 16, 2006 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions  

Visiting bullpen I think
"No, I haven't been drinking or taking Ecstacy... " ~ Poppy

by eamb on Aug 16, 2006 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions  

they provided
shuttle busses to Joe Morgan's lawn
"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Aug 16, 2006 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions  

I did see one mark his
territory upon exiting the east side club

by OaklandSi on Aug 16, 2006 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions  

Dodgers, Colletti, DePodesta
Interesting article by Dayn Perry on the Dodgers, Ned Colletti, and Paul DePodesta.
Who deserves credit for Dodgers' success?

by rfloh on Aug 16, 2006 8:55 AM PDT reply actions  

I heart Duke.
Chad Harville? Not so much...
"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 16, 2006 8:56 AM PDT reply actions  

Duke over Harville,
and the concomitant trade of Harville for Saarloos, is one of my favorite Billy Beane moves.  Under the radar, highly effective.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions  

Tampa, like Oakland
Requires a certain "Chad quotient," having now filled the Harville spot with Chad Orvella, who was surely called up to showcase him for Billy Beane and the role of Oakland's next Chad-in-waiting.  You can never have enough Chad depth.
"I don't want to 'Wear It.' It doesn't match my shoes." --Jennifer

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Aug 16, 2006 9:02 AM PDT up reply actions  

Is it okay to have two Chads in the bullpen?
What about three? I kinda miss our old Chad.
"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 16, 2006 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions  

if hes just chllin by the bullpen
does that make him a hanging chad?
There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Aug 16, 2006 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions  

I'm happy that Crosby is back
but I would split time between Ellis and Scoot at second base.

by AsMontreal on Aug 16, 2006 9:08 AM PDT reply actions  

I really thought today was a day game.
And EI has tonight's game on the schedule, but I couldn't find it on my DirecTv on-screen guide.

:(

"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 9:16 AM PDT reply actions  

Wed games should
always be day games.  This stinks.  What am I supposed to do, work?
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions  

Pshaw.
"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions  

That would ruin my
$2 wednesday season ticket package, since i work days
Bill James on Duane Kuiper: "It's absolutely incredible that a player this bad could be given 3000 at bats in the major leagues." -- Baseball Abstract, 1982

by blueconversechucks on Aug 16, 2006 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions  

Well...
I wasn't wearing my glasses when I looked very early this morning. It is possible I just wasn't looking hard enough.. :) I'll check it out tonight. Thanks!
"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions  

<gasp>
YAY!  You missed something that was right there!  ;)
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions  

I wasn't wearing my glasses!
Bitch.
"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions  

I'll have to start using that excuse, too.
Because, really, how would anyone online know whether it's the truth or not?  It's perfect!
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions  

Maybe you weren't wearing your glasses...
but you certainly had your bitch on.
"the reason why hitting the ball on the "sweet spot" of the bat feels so good is that the ball is contacting at the bat at a vibrational node." - salb918

by McFood on Aug 16, 2006 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions  

Channel 745
on Directv but I believe it's the Seattle folks doing their "Musical Chairs" announcing crew.
"A's Brand Baseball: The worst best baseball you've ever seen!" -Chavvy

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 16, 2006 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions  

I hope it's a night game
I have tickets for tonight.  They say 7:05 and that's when I plan on being there.

by twinkle toes on Aug 16, 2006 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions  

Random question
But who's going tonight?
Stephen Colbert: "Kids who look up to athletes become athletes themselves."
The Word: Or bitter sports journalists.

by JLaff on Aug 16, 2006 9:21 AM PDT reply actions  

I saw that
He made a sick catch, but he was wincing immediately. Pudge as the permanent 2b?
Stephen Colbert: "Kids who look up to athletes become athletes themselves."
The Word: Or bitter sports journalists.

by JLaff on Aug 16, 2006 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions  

I hated to see that
I did that to my shoulder three times playing.....Hard to watch anyone do it...especially such a solid player on a contender.
Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Aug 16, 2006 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions  

Solar system roster expansion
... and, scientists say, Pluto: definitely AAAA player ...
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 9:33 AM PDT reply actions  

kRaZeE sKWiRL aKshUn!
... in Tampa Bay:

With Tampa Bay mascot Raymond out of town at the Mascot Hall of Fame Induction ceremony in Philadelphia, the Rays promoted Chatter, a squirrel and official mascot of Class A Visalia, to fill in during Tuesday's game.

"We know he's no Raymond, but we're sure that Chatter will bring his own sense of nuttiness to Tropicana Field," said Andrew Friedman, the Rays executive vice president of baseball operations.

aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 9:40 AM PDT reply actions  

Via 6-4-2
Plaschke's done it again
:
Around the hotel table they were talking about dumping Milton Bradley and wondering whom they should demand from the Oakland A's in return.

In the corner sat the old scout who has never worked with radar gun, computer or even stopwatch.

Around the hotel room table, someone mentioned an unknown double-A outfielder named Andre Ethier.

In the corner, the old scout jumped.

Unknown?  

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 9:42 AM PDT reply actions  

ooops.
I blockquoted when should have ahrefed.

link

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions  

"ahrefed"?
Would you like some Pepto-Bismol?
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions  

More...
When the A's wanted the Dodgers to add infielder Antonio Perez to the trade, LaMacchia again pushed Ethier, telling Colletti that the kid had a chance to be better than Bradley or Perez.

"The A's finally gave in, and we got what we wanted," said Colletti.

I don't get that at all.  Didn't the Dodgers eventually add Perez to the deal?  Who gave in to whom?

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions  

.401 BABIP, bitches.
"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 16, 2006 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions  

thank you
ethier is a good player, but he's playing way over his head this season...anyone w/ a BABIP that high is probably having a very lucky season. i'd imagine he's a perennial .280-.300 hitter. not bad at all, but not where he's at now.
"welcome to ME, motherf*^*er!" - tim hudson

by guy incognito on Aug 16, 2006 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions  

Hawt.
"the reason why hitting the ball on the "sweet spot" of the bat feels so good is that the ball is contacting at the bat at a vibrational node." - salb918

by McFood on Aug 16, 2006 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions  

BABIP for batters
I've seen this mentioned a lot recently, and felt the need to step in and correct.

BABIP is not a good indication of luck for batters, only for pitchers. Batters have a signifiant amount of control over the rate at which their batted balls in play fall for hits. A very very good hitter, say one whose true ability is a .350 hitter, should have a much higher BABIP than a .270 hitter.

Think about the counter example. I could go out there and flail away at major league pitching, making weak contact most of the time in the form of slow rollers on the infield. My BABIP would be .040 or something equivalently horrific. Does that mean that I've just been unlucky? No, it just means I'm not a major league hitter.

by NP15 on Aug 16, 2006 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions  

It's true...
...but a .401 BABIP is unsustainably high.  He may be an above average BABIP hitter, but there's no way he's a .401 guy.  That's better than Derek Jeter this year.

If Ethier had a more reasonable but still impressive .340 BABIP, he'd be hitting 304/349/513.  Still very very good (better than most of what we've got here), but not the insane Vernon Wells numbers he's got now.  And that's assuming the isolated slugging is for real (it may be, but he's never had a 200+ ISO before, so color me skeptical).

Ethier will be a good, above average player.  But the hagiography has got to stop before it even begins.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions  

ethier's BABIP
The Hardball Times stat page for Ethier Andre E Ethier
which includes besides his BABIP, also his hit distribution, that is line drive % etc.

Sure batters have significant amount of control over the rate at which their batted balls fall for hits; but generally, statheads consider that a hitter with average luck should have a BABIP of line drive percentage + .120. Ethier's LD% is 23.1.

by rfloh on Aug 16, 2006 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions  

what that disregards ...
... is the slice of the talent distribution curve from which you draw. ML hitters are all grouped tightly on the far end; most everyone here is likely to be in the big mediocre lump in the middle.
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions  

Mariner Fans Love the Coliseum!!!
"they are hard to watch. The Oakland Alameda County Colisseum is the ugliest place baseball has ever been played (at night anyways) I hate those annoying drummers, and the irritating horns the fans have. Every one knows oakland fans are classes and the stadium is a dump, but why so irritating. maybe FSN will turn their volume down when Dave stops talking between pitches."

-From the ESPN Mariners Board

Gotta love it when other teams and fans hate playing here!!!

"I think we just feel that now is our time." - Nick Swisher

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Aug 16, 2006 9:46 AM PDT reply actions  

that reminds me
Of a couple of yours ago when my birthday fell on an away game for the A's and I stupidly decided to go to a giants game when they were in candlestick.  The audiance poounded on thoe crappy metal bleachers with thier feet for all nine innings.  It was supremely irritating.  

That said, the horns are irritating, but its my team and I like it.  I love the drums.  ESPN is scarmabled on my signal, but I turn it on when the A's are playing on naitonal TV so I can hear the drums way out here in Boston.  I like that opposing players find it distracting.  It reminds me of home.  

The Coli is ugly thanks to Al Davis.  Yick.  But it is an endearing post modern ugliness that has architectural merit like Yves Klien has conceptual merit, but in execution, neither approximates true aethetic beuaty.  As an A's fan, I try to transcend moribund traditional concepts of attractiveness, such as symmetry, airiness, balance, or workmanship, and instead I focus on the brooding industrial commentary that the coliseum makes as if to say "life is hopeless, but not serious".  Also, it makes the angles pitchin staff less ugly by comparison.  

by mikedaviswhereareyou on Aug 16, 2006 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions  

i'm sorry, but i think that it's just BS that
crosby automatically gets put back in the lineup.
"I thought it was cute," Oakland's Nick Swisher said of Kotsay's blast with the petal-colored bat

by larrysgurl on Aug 16, 2006 9:50 AM PDT reply actions  

I accept your apology.
"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 16, 2006 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions  

I agree with you.
But I can see why it's been set up this way. There is no one else. For better or worse, he is the A's shortstop now and of the future.
"Why won't everyone do what I want???" ~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Aug 16, 2006 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions  

that's what worries me.
"I thought it was cute," Oakland's Nick Swisher said of Kotsay's blast with the petal-colored bat

by larrysgurl on Aug 16, 2006 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions  

Regarding Crosby...
Here's the funny thing for me. I have absolutely no attachment to Marco Scutaro either on the field, or in the lineup. I don't. But the truth is, I would take just about anyone else than Bobby Crosby in our lineup for the rest of the year.

To say he's been terrible doesn't even cover it; it really doesn't. And now he's coming back off an injury rest; that can't help his batting.

Yes, he's missed in the field, but if you glance at his numbers without looking at his name, you'd think a pitcher was up at the plate.

He's batting .229. Yes, batting average is a terrible way to evalutate players.

His OBP is .297. .297. That's awful. That's beyond awful. He's been walked only 34 times out of 345, and his strikeouts are more than double his walks.

His slugging percentage? .339. .339. For comparison, Jason Kendall's is .324. Yes, this year.

Yes, Bobby Crosby is who the A's have lined up for the future at shortstop, for better or for worse. But we are winning right now, with a very real chance for the playoffs of 2006, and Crosby has not shown in a very long time that he can have one good pressure at-bat, much less six weeks of them.

Yes, I'm scared to let him learn on the job, because so far, he has refused to make adjustments in his swing that would give him any kind of sucess at the major league level. He has frustrated us all year with his inability to hit to the opposite field, with his swing-for-the-fences stroke when a simple single would do the trick, and his over-eagerness at the plate with any combination of runners on base.

The hardest I cheered for him this year was at AN Day, when after having two awful at-bats, he bunted for a base hit. It was awesome.

I want this year for the A's. I will very much welcome Crosby back on the field, where his defense will be a major upgrade over our current SS. However, unless something has DRASTICALLY changed in the weeks that he's been away, Crosby will hurt this team at the plate.

"Why won't everyone do what I want???" ~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Aug 16, 2006 9:58 AM PDT reply actions  

so, uh ...
... you'd bench Ellis even faster because of his even worse offensive  numbers and how he hurts the team even more at the plate, right? Right?
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions  

Ellis...
...has better ABs than Crosby. And you know it. :)

And holy hell, are his numbers really almost exactly the same as Crosby's?! Wow. I guess I really didn't realize that he, too, has been AWFUL. Why are we winning, again?

Look, our shortstop, second base, and backup SS/2B all suck. I can't help that. But I'd rather see Ellis or Scutaro at the plate than I would Crosby.

But yes, Crosby and Ellis belong in the field for defense. But I reserve the right to throw things, including chairs, when Crosby pops up with the winning run on third.

"Why won't everyone do what I want???" ~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Aug 16, 2006 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions  

Or breaks himself with that swing he won't fix.
Or can't fix, whatever...
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions  

Keith Law chat:
proxl (o-town): Frank Thomas has been great. But the A's MVP this year is the Seattle Mariners.

SportsNation Keith Law: (12:22 PM ET ) I have nothing to add to this. It was just too funny to ignore.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 10:07 AM PDT reply actions  

More...
SAM P: IF YOU WERE THE O'S OWNER WOULD YOU TRADE TEJADA

SportsNation Keith Law: (12:28 PM ET ) YES I WOULD ... ahem, yes, I would. I think Tejada's starting to mail it in. Saw him against the Yanks last weekend where he wasn't running balls out and cost his team a couple of bases. He needs a change of scenery, and the O's aren't going anywhere with him anyway.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions  

But... but!
"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions  

Heart and soul.
"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 16, 2006 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions  

Ohhhhh...
Is THAT was was in that bulky envelope in today's post?
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions  

*what* was
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions  

Can you forward it to Chavez?
We hold these truths to be self-evident / We drink beer in bars and act irreverent - Lambchop

by andeux on Aug 16, 2006 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions  

Of course.
{addresses new envelope}...

"Eric shuh-VEZ, c/o Not Mexico"

Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions  

Nice!
"the reason why hitting the ball on the "sweet spot" of the bat feels so good is that the ball is contacting at the bat at a vibrational node." - salb918

by McFood on Aug 16, 2006 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions  

(I should point out
that those screen captures are posted without the written consent of MLB, MLBAM, or MLBPA.)
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions  

What about implied oral consent?
(Yeah, yeah, "oral consent," <snerk>)
We hold these truths to be self-evident / We drink beer in bars and act irreverent - Lambchop

by andeux on Aug 16, 2006 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions  

Zito and Crosby for Tejada?
Hey, dreams are free.
"the reason why hitting the ball on the "sweet spot" of the bat feels so good is that the ball is contacting at the bat at a vibrational node." - salb918

by McFood on Aug 16, 2006 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions  

I dream that dream every night.
I'd probably take that, if I was Baltimore. They're losing him anyway, and they'd get Zito.
"Why won't everyone do what I want???" ~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Aug 16, 2006 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions  

creepy
i just dreamt you guys said that.
the home run that Eric Chavez did was tight. Sprots4Kids quote

by Satchmo22 on Aug 16, 2006 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions  

Baseball Prospectus in denial
I guess it's just too much for Baseball Prospectus, Rob Neyer, and the rest of the run differential crowd to take that the A's have built a 6.5 game lead on Texas with 42 games to play.

Neyer, as you all likely know, ludicrously said in his chat yesterday that you can "book" Texas in the playoffs.

And now today, apparently the HAL 9000 has taken over the controls at Baseball Prospectus. Their daily "Playoff Odds Report" that simiulates the rest of the season and posts current odds for teams to make the post-season now has Texas with a record of 64-55, 3 games back of the A's, and thus predicts that the Rangers, due to superior run differential, are more likely to win the division.

That's hilarious. Now they're just changing the Rangers record to make it all work out the way it's supposed to.

Link (I hope):
www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/ps_odds.php

by RLangford on Aug 16, 2006 10:59 AM PDT reply actions  

Damn, they just updated it
Trust me, though, that's the way they had it all morning. I know others who frequent that site can verify.

Somewhere the BP computer is no doubt singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as its circuits are one by one removed and it fades into AI oblivian.

By the way, the Updated--and accurate--projections have the A's at 63% to win the division. Angels 20%; Rangers 16%.

by RLangford on Aug 16, 2006 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions  

Were you also not wearing Jennifer's glasses?
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions  

But KC won!
"the reason why hitting the ball on the "sweet spot" of the bat feels so good is that the ball is contacting at the bat at a vibrational node." - salb918

by McFood on Aug 16, 2006 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions  

Here's the problem...
The projection uses a strong regression to the mean, but the playoff odds report regresses winnig percentage to a mean of .500 (and then randomly samples a normal distribution around the expected winning percentage).

In English, if a team is playing like a .600 team (based on run differential, not actual record), the odds report figures (actually, regresses) that the team will play somewhere between .600 and .500 (say, .540).  Then, for each season, it randomly guesses the winning percentage for the rest of the year as .540, or something distributed normally around .540.  Obviously, that's not accurate, so it runs the sim a million times, each time guessing a winning percentage around .540 -- sometimes higher, sometimes lower.

The problem, as I see it, is in the regression step.  It shouldn't be regressing teams to .500, but to some reasonable projection of a teams performance versus their run differenthttp://www.athleticsnation.com/comments/2006/8/16/104314/957/127/post#hereial based performance.  For that reason, BP has the PECOTA-adjusted report, which gives the A's a better shot at making the playoffs.  The PECOTA-adjusted report instead regresses the A's actual performance based on run differential (.500) to their PECOTA projection (something around .560).  This is, IMO, a more accurate way to run the simulation.

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions  

Check out the ELO projection, too
All projections aside. The A's are in very, very good position right now.

I'm wondering if they've ever led the division by 5.5 in August before. Definitely not in 2000. Of course not in 2001 when the Mariners won 116. Maybe in 2002 and 2003. Anybody know?

But this does feel to me like the biggest lead they've had in August.

by RLangford on Aug 16, 2006 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions  

you lost me at "In English"...
"the poop stain on the collective AN pantalones." -ohad

by ArakSOT on Aug 16, 2006 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions  

Whew!
I just look at the standings, and then watch and see how the rest of the season plays out!
"the reason why hitting the ball on the "sweet spot" of the bat feels so good is that the ball is contacting at the bat at a vibrational node." - salb918

by McFood on Aug 16, 2006 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions  

Freak.
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions  

BORING!
"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 16, 2006 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions  

'singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"'
Very nicely done, RL! I always loves me a good 2001 reference.
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions  

Canseco pitching tonight in the LBC
See the Note section for info.
Throwing the knuckleball.  I may have to go see that...

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/atoz/article_1244573.php

by easyraider on Aug 16, 2006 11:15 AM PDT reply actions  

Gold Glove criteria
Just wondering... what are (or should be) the official criteria used in assessing Gold Glove contenders?  Other than "He got it last year? Give him another."
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 11:27 AM PDT reply actions  

"He mashes the ball"
"the poop stain on the collective AN pantalones." -ohad

by ArakSOT on Aug 16, 2006 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions  

Ummm
"He got it the year before last" ?
"Even if you know the deck is stacked in your favor, you still have to have the discipline to trust the math and the cojones to go to the ATM." BB

by green star oakland on Aug 16, 2006 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions  

I don't wear glasses.
"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 16, 2006 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions  

I think he means my glasses.
"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions  

I'm not wearing your glasses.
"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 16, 2006 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions  

So it's come to this.
You and Jennifer are apparently interchangeable.  ;)
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions  

Only to people not wearing their glasses.
We hold these truths to be self-evident / We drink beer in bars and act irreverent - Lambchop

by andeux on Aug 16, 2006 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions  

If someone gave you...
...Lasix for your eyesight, you should definitely try to get a refund...  ;)
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions  

I am going to tell my boss, I can't keep fixing
all these computers every day, when it is affecting my AN posting.

by theblackpearl on Aug 16, 2006 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions  

Poor Sharon.
"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions  

pffft
Swish tells me you have a nice outfield. <wink>
"I almost landed in some lady's lap, which was kinda fun.'' -- Swish

by Sharon on Aug 16, 2006 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions  

Swish needs to borrow my glasses.
"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

At the game last night, a nice Mariner fan...
that was sitting behind me said, after the Mariner HR that made it 9-1 "And now starts the comeback!" I took off my glasses and offered them to him saying "You might want to borrow these, apparently you can't see the score." His A's fan companion had a good laugh at that.
"the reason why hitting the ball on the "sweet spot" of the bat feels so good is that the ball is contacting at the bat at a vibrational node." - salb918

by McFood on Aug 16, 2006 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions  

Well, I would LIKE to think...
...that fielding percentage and errors committed during a full or nearly full season of starting at one's position would be the principle criteria... but I don't know if they're official criteria.  Or if there are others.  Or whether voters are required to submit a short essay defending each of their picks (which I think they should be, but maybe that's just me).
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions  

The official criteria...
is the opinion of the other managers in the AL or NL respectively. The coaches submit their list of gold glove winners (and they're not allowed to vote for players on their own team,) to Rawlings - who then tally the votes and present Chavvy with his sixth straight.

They usually do a good job barring a few exceptions (Palmeiro).

"ET TU, DAMON?" 4/4

by FireballerHARDEN on Aug 16, 2006 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions  

note to Wolff
the Oakland Athletics baseball team certainly qualifies as a "small budget" team. But their market is the entire Bay Area, which does not qualify as "small market".

Of course the A's management over the last 10 years has treated the team (and their marketing of it)as if it was a small market.

Oh yeah, I guess Zito's not interested in a condo in Fremont...

by OaklandSi on Aug 16, 2006 11:51 AM PDT reply actions  

I think in Oakland's case ...
... it's short for "small marketing department."
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions  

There are A's
is "Small Market."
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions  

Borat? Is that you?
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions  

IS = IN
you know what I meant, pedantomonkey.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions  

that's pee-dance-o-monkey, bub
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions  

New lineup
Ryan Franklin LF
Rheal Cormier RF
Ken Griffey Jr. CF
Adam Dunn 1B
Esteban Yan 3B
Gary Majewski 2B
Bill Bray C
Eddie Guardado SS
Kyle Lohse P

Well, they do have solid defense on the left side of the infield; Guardado has great range.

"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 16, 2006 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions  

How far away is Fremont?
Do you believe they would still be called the "Oakland" A's if they moved?
"A's Brand Baseball: The worst best baseball you've ever seen!" -Chavvy

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 16, 2006 11:54 AM PDT reply actions  

Fremont is about the same distance from Oakland...
...as Anaheim is from Los Angeles.
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions  

From Someone who lives there
It isn't far at all. About a 20 minute drive, and I live in SOUTH Fremont, give or take with traffic.
"This is the best hug in the major leagues, right here!" - Swisher Pics

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Aug 16, 2006 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions  

in your opinion
do you think they would change city names?  
"A's Brand Baseball: The worst best baseball you've ever seen!" -Chavvy

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 16, 2006 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

Honestly, No
And Honestly, I would be ok with that!
"This is the best hug in the major leagues, right here!" - Swisher Pics

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Aug 16, 2006 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions  

Yankees break ground on 1 billion dollar stadium
1 billion dollar stadium

If you've never been to Yankee stadium and want to go you need to get to NY before the 2009 season.

We can be considered David, David knocks out Goliath. -Eric Chavez PT-42

by norcaldevilasu on Aug 16, 2006 12:06 PM PDT reply actions  

aCtually, Old Yankee Stadium
is a bit of a joke. The interior was completely gutted in 1972 and it looks nothing like it did during the storied "house that Ruth built" years.  It is about time they tore it down.  Besides one constantly has to be exposed to annoying NY baseball fans there.  

Wrigley field is still, dollar for dollar, the best ballpark in the game.

Beware the Reverend's rancid carne asada!

by BruceBochte on Aug 16, 2006 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions  

One step closer!
One more classic park tossed away in favor of a new, shiny stadium... which means the Coliseum will be one rung higher on the "oldest park" scale, and thus step closer to being considered a "classic stadium". ;-) It's all about the marketing.
"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on Aug 16, 2006 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions  

DL Update
Very little has been said about Stompers trunkitis but he is now almost 95% back and able to trunk wrestle with just about any Hoe

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

the home run that Eric Chavez did was tight. Sprots4Kids quote

by Satchmo22 on Aug 16, 2006 12:56 PM PDT reply actions  

A great and very tender story - tissue warning
A man was on holiday in Kenya. While he was walking through the bush, he came across an elephant standing with one leg raised in the air.

The elephant seemed distressed so the man approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot. There was a large thorn deeply embedded in the bottom of the foot.

As carefully and as gently as he could he removed the thorn and the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man and with a rather stern look on its face, stared at him. For a good ten minutes the man stood frozen -- thinking of nothing else but being trampled.

Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned and walked away.
For years after, the man remembered the elephant and the events of that day. One day the man was walking through the zoo with his son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to where they are standing at the rail. It stared at him and the man couldn't help wondering if this was the same elephant.

After a while it trumpeted loudly; then it continued to stare at him.
The man summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder.

Suddenly the elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of the man's legs and swung him wildly back and forth along the railing, killing him.

Probably wasn't the same elephant.

"the reason why hitting the ball on the "sweet spot" of the bat feels so good is that the ball is contacting at the bat at a vibrational node." - salb918

by McFood on Aug 16, 2006 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions  

Or maybe it was the same
and he was just angry from lack of anesthetics.
Storage is for buuuuuusiness or for familyyyyy. We have your space ... 5A RentaSpaaaaace....

by rolliedigits on Aug 16, 2006 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions  

You and your feel-good stories...
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions  

Does Josh Suchon have an AN username too?
The only place I had seen that Preston Wilson Rumor was on AN, and Warriorsworld.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/athletics/ci_4188728

There was no truth to a bad Internet rumor Monday that the A's acquired Preston Wilson from Houston for cash.

by theblackpearl on Aug 16, 2006 1:09 PM PDT reply actions  

I thought the same thing
When I read that this morning! I thought, SOMEONE reads AN!! I think it is awesome!
"This is the best hug in the major leagues, right here!" - Swisher Pics

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Aug 16, 2006 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions  

For the millionth time...
I ♥ LL.
The Mariners have played the Ultimate role of spoiler this year. We are going to single handidly push Oakland in the playoffs. They owe us, and they owe us BIG. I think every memeber of AN should send every memeber of LL 20 bucks.

The one consolation in this, is that it's not the A's or the Rangers that's going to keep the Angels out of the playoffs, it's the Mariners.

Take that Anahiem, you rat bastards!


~ Goose on LL.

Heehee.

by AsGirl on Aug 16, 2006 1:37 PM PDT reply actions  

$20 bucks
they should be paying us for finally providing something to hang their hopes on! Christ.

by AndreafromNJ on Aug 16, 2006 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions  

Simmons hates the A's
Seriously
7. Oakland
I can't take the A's seriously -- no home-field advantage, not a single dangerous bat, no Rich Harden, a 1-2 punch of starters (Zito and Haren) who seem to get shelled every three weeks (only their statistics don't reflect this for some reason), and a good bullpen that's helmed by the exceedingly hittable Huston Street (trust me, he's on my AL-only team; even when he's shaking hands after the save, you're still waiting for something bad to happen). And did I mention the legacy of playoff losses? They're like the Memphis Grizzlies of the American League. Whatever.
Stephen Colbert: "Kids who look up to athletes become athletes themselves."
The Word: Or bitter sports journalists.

by JLaff on Aug 16, 2006 1:44 PM PDT reply actions  

The more people scoff at this team
The more I like it.
"Their team is full of a bunch of shitty nobodies pieced together from the moneyball scrap yard." -- Halos Heaven 7/31/06

by SportySpice @ Athletics Nation on Aug 16, 2006 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions  

For some reason?
"Their statistics don't reflect this for some reason" -- that's hilarious!  Let me try:

The A's won the World Series in 2003, and the division in 2004, but the record books don't reflect this for some reason.

The A's are a .500 team, but their record doesn't reflect this for some reason.

Manny Ramirez is a .238/.299/.340 hitter, but the stats don't reflect this for some reason.

Day to day

by oblique on Aug 16, 2006 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions  

The A's play the Rangers 20 more times this season
But the schedule doesn't reflect this for some reason

by lerei on Aug 16, 2006 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions  

What part of "dangerous bat"
doesn't describe Frank Thomas, Bill?  
"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 16, 2006 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions  

Yankees @ #1????!!!!!
What a knob.  Seriously.  Guy has been drinking JD & Redbull while watching Tivo'd "Pride of the Yankees."

Ok, here's how I'd order it:

  1.  Tigers
  2.  White Sox
  3.  Red Sox
  4.  Yankees
  5.  A's
  6.  Twins (And they'd be #3 if they weren't in same Div as Tigers & ChiSox
  7.  Angels
  8.  Blue Jays
  9.  Rangers
  10.  Indians
  11.  Mariners
  12.  Orioles
  13.  Devil Rays
  14.  Royals
The big question: Why would I have them ranked ahead of the A's when they're six behind them in the loss column right now? Because I'd love to play the A's in October. The Angels? No way.

I think the Yankees would need to think hard about playing either team in October.  For a "stat" guy, he seems to revert to historical analogy pretty quickly.

The plain fact of the matter is that he thinks the A's have an ALDS curse.  We all know about curses.  Just ask the folks in Boston and Chicago.

"I almost threw up in my mouth when I heard this this weekend...I literally almost threw up in my mouth"Eric Chavez

by 510inDenver on Aug 16, 2006 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions  

since when is simmons a "stat" guy?
and i don't know how you can put the red sox ahead of the yankees...
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Aug 16, 2006 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions  

Ok...Mea Culpa
I called him a "stat" guy (in quotes) because of his comment "only their statistics don't reflect this for some reason"  Sorry, the irony isn't as obvious as it should have been. (Or as funny)

As far as the Yankees are concerned (since I am NOT a stat guy) I was thinking that with 9 games left against the BoSOX, the BoSOX could (and would) write their own fate here.

However, looking at their remaining schedules, the Yanks have a much easier schedule.  So I suppose I should reverse their order.

I think I will stand by my original call though, for a different reason.

I think the Yankees schedule is TOO easy.  I predict that the Yankees are going to go through a weird slump, and lose a bunch of games that they should win.  

<puts away dusty cracked crystal ball>

"I almost threw up in my mouth when I heard this this weekend...I literally almost threw up in my mouth"Eric Chavez

by 510inDenver on Aug 16, 2006 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions  

Wow...really?
I would easily put the Yankees ahead of the Red Sox.  That could change this weekends with 5 games..but why do the Sox go ahead of the Yanks now?  Manny and Ortiz are nice, but their starting pitching outside of Schill has been awful.

The only AL team I would put ahead of the Yanks rigt now if I had to pick a team to beat them playoff time would be the White Sox.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Aug 17, 2006 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions  

hmmmmm
I wonder if its starting already:

O's 12
Yanks 2

=)

"I almost threw up in my mouth when I heard this this weekend...I literally almost threw up in my mouth"Eric Chavez

by 510inDenver on Aug 17, 2006 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions  

Kane County / Sulentic update
Low Class A West Michigan has the best record in the minors, and their closer Orlando Perdomo leads the Midwest League with 28 saves. That did little to intimidate Kane County last night as the Cougars overcame a two-run deficit in the ninth against Perdomo to win 5-4 in front of 13,876 fans in Kane County.

With his team leading 4-2, Perdomo came on in the ninth hoping to earn his 29th save. He walked first baseman Steve Kleen to open the inning, and shortstop Justin Sellers followed with a double to put runners on second and third with no outs.

Left fielder Matt Sulentic, the Athletics' third-rounder pick this June from Hillcrest High in suburban Dallas, then delivered a single to right to tie the game at four.

"It was at a time when we really needed it, so I just had to bear down and fortunately I got the job done," Sulentic told the Beacon News. "You have to go up there with confidence or you have no chance."

Center fielder Chad Boyd promptly drove home Sulentic with a double to left field to send the Cougar fans home happy.

"I was looking for a fastball in that situation because they had been challenging me the entire game," Boyd told the paper. "I love those situations."

The hit was Boyd's second of the night, and the 21-year-old is now hitting .362/.421/.514 in 185 at-bats since his promotion from the short-season Northwest League. He was a ninth-round pick in 2004 out of El Camino Real High in West Hills, Calif.

The win was the seventh in a row at home for the Cougars and moved them within a half game of Quad Cities for first place in the MWL Western Division.

link

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 1:55 PM PDT reply actions  

Very impressive
Just out of highschool and already a he already speaks Press Baseball.
Nothing says fun like Premium Meat!

by lurkerD on Aug 16, 2006 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions  

Unlike me
I don't even speak English yet.

<has another drink.>

Nothing says fun like Premium Meat!

by lurkerD on Aug 16, 2006 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions  

Dodgers losing
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260816119
"No, I haven't been drinking or taking Ecstacy... " ~ Poppy

by eamb on Aug 16, 2006 1:56 PM PDT reply actions  

They're actually winning
But the score doesn't reflect this, for some reason.
Day to day

by oblique on Aug 16, 2006 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions  

LOL
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions  

ROFL...from LL:
Enjoy
RIP mAC dRe and biLL KiNg

by jme on Aug 16, 2006 2:01 PM PDT reply actions  

ROFL...from LL:
Enjoy
RIP mAC dRe and biLL KiNg

by jme on Aug 16, 2006 2:01 PM PDT reply actions  

sry for double post
RIP mAC dRe and biLL KiNg

by jme on Aug 16, 2006 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions  

Now you have to send...
...every member of LL 40 dollars.
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions  

My dad just told me I smell like
MARIJUANA..wow that was awkward.
RIP mAC dRe and biLL KiNg

by jme on Aug 16, 2006 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions  

Nonsequitur Comment Of the Day!
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions  

huh?
RIP mAC dRe and biLL KiNg

by jme on Aug 16, 2006 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions  

exactly
We hold these truths to be self-evident / We drink beer in bars and act irreverent - Lambchop

by andeux on Aug 16, 2006 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'm making $150,000/year,
but my bank account doesn't reflect that.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 2:05 PM PDT reply actions  

Gambling problem?
"No, I haven't been drinking or taking Ecstacy... " ~ Poppy

by eamb on Aug 16, 2006 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions  

Minor league rehab
Why didn't (don't) the A's send Crosby to Sacramento on a rehab assignment. He could hopefully get his bat going with the Rivercats,  with no pressure, and then come back here.

by Larry E on Aug 16, 2006 2:25 PM PDT reply actions  

where are all the links, bitches?
mlb.com creative headlines:
Bonderman faces Schilling in Game 2
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060814&content_id=1609724&vk ey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det
Schilling faces Bonderman in Game 2
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060814&content_id=1609776&vke y=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

did kornheiser bomb on monday night football?  did anybody watch the game?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081401503.html

greike doing well:
http://www.minorleagueball.com/story/2006/8/15/9372/67835

Prospectus Hit List
a's are 14th, below the indians, padres, and rockies!
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5422

New Planets:
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-planets16aug16,0,3652893.story?coll=la-home-headlines?inv ade

the new system means the moon will be a planet in just 40 million years!
http://www.badastronomy.com/

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Aug 16, 2006 2:34 PM PDT reply actions  

kornheiser
MNF announcing was just plain drab.  Between the medeocre playing and the dry comentary it was hard to pick the football game orve the A's game.

by twinkle toes on Aug 16, 2006 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions  

He will get better
the more ESPN loosens the reins on him.  He is extremely witty and knows sports well enough.  If they let him really needle Theisman on his BS, it will be good.
Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Aug 17, 2006 12:13 AM PDT up reply actions  

bitch!
I posted the planetary link already!
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions  

don't be jealous just because
my links are clearly superior to your links.  

the new standards are totally silly.  pretty soon we're going to have over 50 planets in the solar system, 8 regular planets and a bunch of "plutons" that are pretty much glorified asteroids...

and the biggest news is that our moon will soon be a  planet, which means we're in a dual planet system!  

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Aug 16, 2006 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

"soon"
About 40 million years according to your link, which I suppose isn't that long by astronomical standards.

But what I really want to know is what Darren Daulton has to say about all of this. Or Bill Lee.

We hold these truths to be self-evident / We drink beer in bars and act irreverent - Lambchop

by andeux on Aug 16, 2006 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions  

soon, meaning
well before the giants win a world series in san francisco.
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Aug 16, 2006 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions  

boys boys
this clearly needs a new diary to straighten out
the home run that Eric Chavez did was tight. Sprots4Kids quote

by Satchmo22 on Aug 16, 2006 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions  

Prospectus Hit List is always highly comic
Sabermetrics for the lowest common denominator.

"Let's see, why don't I just order these by run differential, that way I won't have to think about anything and it will be completely meaningless."

What a joke. I bet, though, that Cleveland fans are sleeping well knowing they're high on the BP Hit List.

by RLangford on Aug 16, 2006 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions  

Was Swish using
the "Imperial March" as his walk-up music last night? Or did that just happen to be playing when he came to bat?
"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 2:34 PM PDT reply actions  

Coincidence
They play it sometimes for "ominous" (to the opponent) situations, like bases loaded...
Food burns just as surely at 5 mph as it does at 65 mph.

by Poppy on Aug 16, 2006 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions  

Damn.
"The student is trying to keep up with the teacher," Swisher said. "It ain't easy chasing a dang Hall of Famer, though."

by Jennifer on Aug 16, 2006 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions  

My son noticed that too.
He's a big Star Wars fan.  I had to rewind to previous at bats to hear what they played because I thought the same thing - cool new song.

by easyraider on Aug 16, 2006 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions  

i don't know much about stats...
but i know i like this one, because five of our guys are in the top 30:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=93004
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Aug 16, 2006 2:37 PM PDT reply actions  

WHEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
We win lots of baseball games after the All-Star break.
"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 16, 2006 2:40 PM PDT reply actions  

passan on rookies
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=At0LyacARwdlGS9Q51sNh0kRvLYF?slug=jp-rookies081506&prov=yh oo&type=lgns
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Aug 16, 2006 2:42 PM PDT reply actions  

It sounds like "bulletin board material"
but Simmons comment strikes me as wierdly accurate.  I have felt for some time now that the A's are "doing it with mirrors" and Simmons seems to be of like mind.  

The only thing I can figure is that it is defense, notoriously hard to measure statistically, which is enabling the A's to win games.  Could there be a correlation between excellent team defense and 1 and 2 run victories?  If this is indeed the case, than I wonder how long the A's can ride that horse and whether it is good for one or more playoff round victories?

Beware the Reverend's rancid carne asada!

by BruceBochte on Aug 16, 2006 2:59 PM PDT reply actions  

after actually reading his article
it seemed more about him pissing about his fantasy team than anything actually related to real baseball.  the huge issue with fantasy folks is that they see the game through the tiny window of stats that count in their leagues.
the home run that Eric Chavez did was tight. Sprots4Kids quote

by Satchmo22 on Aug 16, 2006 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions  

Wow..
Thats a huge generalization anout fantasy players.  I play in a number of compettive money leagues myself, but I can step back and see what works in real baseball too...and most of the other good fantasy player I know can too.
Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Aug 17, 2006 12:15 AM PDT up reply actions  

Nice link dump
Regarding Sheffield, I wouldn't mind getting him in a trade next year...but wouldn't Sheffield throw some kind of fit and insist that the team to which he's traded pick up his $13M option for next year?  That's a lot of money, even with $8M freed up by Zito leaving.
"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 16, 2006 3:19 PM PDT reply actions  

Sheff has an option for 2007,
and that's the end of his current Yankee contract.  The Yanks could exercise it and then trade him.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions  

And Sheff could refuse to play
He could be under contract as you suggest, but we'd need to make sure he's interested in playing here regardless.  Things get ugly when Sheff isn't interested.
"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Aug 16, 2006 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

Agree.
Any trade would be predicated on his unofficial approval.
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Aug 16, 2006 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions  

how many games will we win this year?
i was thinking we'd get to the mid-90s until i looked at last year.

all this wining and we're only 67-52?
last year we were 67-49 on august 13th when we got our 67th win, and we still only won 88 games...

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Aug 16, 2006 3:59 PM PDT reply actions  

88 games
Might win the division this year.  

by mikedaviswhereareyou on Aug 16, 2006 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions  

Deeper this year
Plus players that were injured may be a little fresher come September.

by easyraider on Aug 16, 2006 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions  

Lets hope
Our September is nothing like 05
Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Aug 17, 2006 12:16 AM PDT up reply actions  

Kitty Chops?
Not sure how to link directly to the video.  So go to the first story under the Watch Video section.

http://www.cnn.com/

by easyraider on Aug 16, 2006 4:22 PM PDT reply actions  

Am I allowed to sell my extra tickets on AN or
do I have to give them away for free? I have one or two friends who might bail on me and I'm reluctant to give them away for free since I'm a broke high school student with no job...lol

by alamedagirl on Aug 16, 2006 4:24 PM PDT reply actions  

nice ground breaking
I was wondering if anyone has old A's gear that doesn't seem to be as big on them as it use to be and would like to perhaps trade it to me for a cash option to be named later???  
the home run that Eric Chavez did was tight. Sprots4Kids quote

by Satchmo22 on Aug 16, 2006 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions  

People are really cool on this site...
..just say that you have a couple of tickets free for a game, face value.
"Why won't everyone do what I want???" ~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Aug 16, 2006 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions  

mariners new mascot
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0816061mugs1.html
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Aug 16, 2006 4:54 PM PDT reply actions  

until I got down past his ears ...
... I thought it was Huddy.
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 5:33 PM PDT up reply actions  

paging McFood ...
... a rural legend for you to debunk ...
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 16, 2006 5:38 PM PDT reply actions  

and you thought arthur rhodes was a jerk
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060816&content_id=1613886&a mp;vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf

Rookie catcher Eliezer Alfonzo said Wednesday that when closer Armando Benitez is on the hill, he has no idea what pitch is coming his way. Got to be kidding, right? Nope.

"He tells me, 'Just stay there, I'll throw what I want to throw,'" said Alfonzo. "I don't even put anything [signs] down. I don't know what he's throwing."

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Aug 16, 2006 11:32 PM PDT reply actions  

too bad Asshat Pierzynski isn't still in SF
... we could have seen the first intrateam P-C onfield brawl.
aka Baron Monkey Von Ballheimer -- FormerHuntsvilleStar @('.')@

by monkeyball on Aug 17, 2006 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions  

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