Nine Is So Fine

by Tyler Bleszinski on Sep 3, 2006 5:16 PM PDT in News

Well, that is certainly a way for DJ to welcome himself back to the fold, isn't it? The bow was pretty much put on this game in the first inning after the nine runs because Loaiza carried his August dominance right on into September. You know he's pitching well when you get disappointed that he gave up one run.

And say hello to my little friend, Eric Chavez. Welcome back to the lineup with a nice bomb.

For all the flack that Mark Ellis took about he should be replaced and whatnot, Ellis has hit .303 over the past 30 days and has a .402 OBP. He's also hit five home runs over that time span which is tied for second on the team with Nick Swisher behind Mr. Hurt (when you're hitting that good, you've earned the title of Mr.).

But I've got to say I love it when our team wins and then we get to sit back and watch what happens with the competition. The A's won their 10th out of 11th series (tying the one against Kansas City) and tied the longest unbeaten series streak of the 2002 season.

I'm just happy that we had a non-one run game for once and could just cruise to victory.

Go Tigers!!!

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excellent pitching by Loaiza

he didn't let up just because of the huge lead.

And I actually just heard Macha being interviewed on ESPN radio (KNBR -- the "Giants" station -- in the Bay Area). It was actually a lengthy and decent interview.

By the way, they report that Street's throwing did not go well...but Harden's did.

by OaklandSi on Sep 3, 2006 5:18 PM PDT reply actions

Harden for closer?

Goliath, dissatisfied with his size advantage, decided to buy David's sling, which took steroids.

by TexasAsfan on Sep 3, 2006 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions

05 Escobar of Angels = 06 Harden of A'S

Why not?

Macha is a great manager. -Ron Washington

by pachydermOAFC on Sep 3, 2006 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions

By the way

huge kudos to Macha for sitting down Bradley and taking advantage of September call-ups. That's smart managing. Bradley is brilliant defensively, but he's struggling at the plate big time as of late. The good news is that I'm confident that he will eventually come around.

Although Nico can marry him if he wants. Who am I to stand in the way of true love?

by Tyler Bleszinski on Sep 3, 2006 5:19 PM PDT reply actions

Thank you Blez!!!!

Here are my thoughts from today:

Where do you even start to recap this game? From Dan Johnson feeling like a million dollars, and rightly so, to the much-anticipated debut of Jeremy Brown, to the A's doing what they do best--win ballgames.

The A's put a huge stamp on the rubber game of the series today, by an unusually awesome first inning, which proved to be way more offense than their current best pitcher needed.

So many good signs today, and if you like seeing the expanded A's roster, you must have loved today's game. It seemed like everyone got a chance to bat today; Perez got an extra base hit, Bocachica (Wow! Wow!) walked, and the best sign of today: Chavvy hitting a homerun using a lot of his arm power, which appears to be back.

Nothing like putting that score on the board for the Angels to see.

The A's win another series, and their main problem right now is `too many good players, too few positions', which is something that the rest of MLB would trade for in an instant.

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

by baseballgirl on Sep 3, 2006 5:23 PM PDT reply actions

Hey Perez is up over 100!

Our little boy is growing up. Awwwwww.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Sep 3, 2006 5:33 PM PDT up reply actions

so is Baltimore's starter (ERA)

by OaklandSi on Sep 3, 2006 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Loiaza reached a nice personal milestone today

2000+ IP in his career, so mazel tov to him. Radio guys mentioned his folks were at the Mac to watch him reach it... Also, the uniform log has been updated. link (Excel file)

"You may have chopped off their legs or drowned them in a bathtub... " ~ Blez

by eamb on Sep 3, 2006 5:24 PM PDT reply actions

The A's might miss Santana

AS it stands now Santana should pitch next Sunday against the Tigers which means the A's would miss him, that is a good thing, but Liriano might pitch the Wednesday game, but it would be his first game back from the DL so would probably have a pitch count.

by china bob on Sep 3, 2006 5:27 PM PDT reply actions

It doesn't matter

In the first series against the Twins at Minnesota, the A'S miss Santana. Still got swept.

Macha is a great manager. -Ron Washington

by pachydermOAFC on Sep 3, 2006 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions

true

but it still matters.

by Larry E on Sep 3, 2006 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Johnson

Jim Palmer said on the O's telecast that Dan Johnson had an eye problem, which might explain his relatively poor hitting this year. That's the first I've heard of this. Presumably it got corrected while in the minors.

Does anyone know anything about DJ's eye problem? It certainly makes a difference in how we evaluate DJ for the future. An eye problem that is discovered and corrected is not unheard of in sports.

by SA on Sep 3, 2006 5:27 PM PDT reply actions

Too lazy to dig up all the links

But yeah, he had dry/debris in his eyes somehow.

"You may have chopped off their legs or drowned them in a bathtub... " ~ Blez

by eamb on Sep 3, 2006 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions

something about dry eye and caking

they found a good doctor to actually treat it instead of just trying to manage it....DJ spoke about it in the postgame interview.

by OaklandSi on Sep 3, 2006 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions

DJ's eye problem

Here is the link to the SF Chronicle story,

and here is the link to the discussion we had on the site.

Bottom line is that it should be a very fixable problem, but I didn't hear if it was fixed, or how. But I'm assuming it was.

by alamedaman on Sep 3, 2006 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions

DJ said it was

by OaklandSi on Sep 3, 2006 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Very fixable...

if you can get away from Larry Davis!

I'm not a big wine guy... Where do you grow the BEER?

by str8tarrow on Sep 3, 2006 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions

talked to dan

today about his eye after game

by smasfan on Sep 3, 2006 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Weird that Ledezma is starting on 3 days rest

Although he only threw 68 pitches in his start against NY on August 30th

"You may have chopped off their legs or drowned them in a bathtub... " ~ Blez

by eamb on Sep 3, 2006 5:28 PM PDT reply actions

The Angels with an error???

Someone call Geraldo Rivera...we've got a story here!

by Tyler Bleszinski on Sep 3, 2006 5:34 PM PDT reply actions

DJ needs to play every day

I have been very high on DJ since I first saw him. He did fantastic, until they eventually found his weakness on a breaking ball on the outside part of the plate. He initially had trouble adjusting, and the question is, has he adjusted or not? But we need to find out now! Because if he has, he may be the best hitter on the club--.300+ avg, great eye and therefore great OBA,,,,great power,,,,and this all leads to an OPS around 1000. IF he has been able to make that adjustment. I really hope Macha has the insight and the guts to do this, because we have that great problem of 5 or 6 guys competing for 4 positions--5 or 6 guys (Payton, Kielty, Kotsay, Bradley, Swisher, DJ),,,,,four positions (three outfield and 1rst base). Maybe, maybe, if Frank needs some rest, it's 7 players for 5 positions, if you throw in the DH. (but don't screw with Frank if that's a problem--IMHO).

by alamedaman on Sep 3, 2006 5:57 PM PDT reply actions

I'd still have DJ on a short leash

He's as pull happy as Crosby if not worse and he's not as good defensively at first as Swisher. Course if he's hot, ride him until he cools. Maybe he's made the necessary adjustments.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Sep 3, 2006 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions

swisher needs to play first base.

"Very nice day in the Oakland A... Oakland A's? What's this stadium called again?" Nick Swisher on TWIB.

by larrysgurl on Sep 3, 2006 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree Swisher is a much better defensive

first baseman. but I think there is a chance DJ is a 1000 OPS hitter, and we need to find that out now. If he is, a 1000 ops guy in the middle of the line up changes everything, and we figure out a way to play him somewhere.

by alamedaman on Sep 3, 2006 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions

I think he may not be as pull happy

as Crosby, but that is one thing we need to see right now. I agree with your comments,,,,I just think DJ has All Star possibilities, but we need to see now. so yes, very short leash if he hasn't adjusted to that breaking ball on the outside part of the plate, taking it to the opposite field.

by alamedaman on Sep 3, 2006 6:15 PM PDT reply actions

I don't think DJ is any less pull-happy than

Bo Cro, but I do think he does have a good enough eye and discipline to actually get pitches to hit. And he walks more.

RIP MAC DRE, BILL KING, AND 2006 FIELD

by jme on Sep 3, 2006 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions

"Steve Swisher," as Joe Morgan calls him

is just one more of those Oakland players who comes through in a pinch. Yes, "Steve." ESPN is already "Dead to me," right?
In other news, 2 errors for the A-lo's, and they're up 2-1 in Detroit, possibly helped out by Escobar's 7-0 record against the "Ligers" as one HHer calls em...

"The guy's Far Eastern. Psychic. He knows what the hitters are looking for, and he relays that to me," Zito said.

by LAXile on Sep 3, 2006 6:29 PM PDT reply actions

Joe Morgan

actually complimented the A's, I'm in shock about it, I may need a minute

Goliath, dissatisfied with his size advantage, decided to buy David's sling, which took steroids.

by TexasAsfan on Sep 3, 2006 6:31 PM PDT reply actions

Morgan has...

been showering the A's with complements- saying how the A's are a better team because they don't count on just one guy day in and day out. Everyone contributes. Whereas if Vlad goes into the slump, the Angels are dead.

Like Lazarus, the A's offense has awakened from the dead!!- Bill King

by Floridafan on Sep 3, 2006 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions

lol

does that mean fire joe morgan is off

by smasfan on Sep 3, 2006 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions

No it's still there

and I love it

Goliath, dissatisfied with his size advantage, decided to buy David's sling, which took steroids.

by TexasAsfan on Sep 3, 2006 7:53 PM PDT up reply actions

napping in back room when i

heard joe mograns voice on the tube...grogilly got up to catch a bit of it.

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005...and in 2006 don't make me sick.

by ak_A on Sep 3, 2006 6:32 PM PDT reply actions

What did JM say?

I just turned it on (was catching up on the news)

by wolffpackdavid on Sep 3, 2006 6:35 PM PDT reply actions

Morgan on the A's

He said that it's virtually impossible to catch a team with such a big lead -- one point he made was that if the A's win even 2 of 7 from the Angels at the end of the season, the Halo's will be in a very difficult spot. Morgan thinks they practically need to sweep.

The rest of it was repeating that point and saying that "every day it's a different guy" winnning games for the A's.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Sep 3, 2006 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions

This ain't news....

...but watching the Tigers-Angels tilt reminds me just how much the Tigers' home unis are real classics. Even better than Yankee pinstripes, IMO (though I'll admit my total Yankee hatred biases me pretty badly).

"It took eight hours...seven-and-a-half to find the heart." -- Steve McCatty on Charlie Finley's heart surgery.

by GreenNGoldSooner on Sep 3, 2006 6:35 PM PDT reply actions

Also...

...Jim Leyland is the anti-Scioscia. No "Angel baseball" bulls**t, no whining. Just quietly smart and phlegmatic (he even makes Ken Macha look excitable).

"It took eight hours...seven-and-a-half to find the heart." -- Steve McCatty on Charlie Finley's heart surgery.

by GreenNGoldSooner on Sep 3, 2006 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree, they're awesome.

I'll try not to swear.

by Tony on Sep 3, 2006 6:36 PM PDT reply actions

My two favorite teams

are the A's and Tigers....and now its looking like that will be the first round matchup. I'm not sure if I'm sad that one team will lose or happy that one team will move onto the ALDS! hahaha

Living in the mitten is second best to being Canadian...

Lets go GVSU!

by Alisa on Sep 3, 2006 6:43 PM PDT reply actions

Screw the Tigers

In all honesty, this team isn't that good. I've watched many of thier games this season and IMO they aren't that good. I feel the A's are a far superior team and I would welcome a first round matchup with the kitty cats.

The Tigers haven't helped us at all this season wether it's when they play the Rangers or the Angels. Just like the Red sox and Yankees.

The Tigers are undisciplined and overly aggressive.So I say welcome the Tigers if we meet in the playoffs because I feel we could handle them.

"I hate the Angels"

by Vegas A's Fan on Sep 3, 2006 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions

I've watched every game this season

and yeah, they are over-aggressive, but every team has a set of weaknesses. I think a matchup between the two teams would be good because of the outstanding pitching that would be featured. The Tigers have the best record in the AL, that is not a fluke... they are a good team.

Living in the mitten is second best to being Canadian...

by Alisa on Sep 3, 2006 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions

they are a good team

their record is no fluke.

I do think the A's match up well against them.

by OaklandSi on Sep 3, 2006 7:17 PM PDT up reply actions

the tigers

are a very good team, but they are young, their young pitchers have been hitting the wall of late having never thrown this many innings before. But Leyland is a GREAT manager, maybe the best one alive, and there are two words that absolutely terrify me at the thought of a short series with everything on the line against them.

And those two words are Kenny Rogers.

1972...1973...1974...1989...2006

by emperor nobody on Sep 3, 2006 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Kenny Rogers in the playoffs

sure doesn't scare many hitters.

"The whistles are woooooooo" - Bubb Rubb

by Philip Christy on Sep 4, 2006 12:13 AM PDT up reply actions

maybe not

but his lifetime record at the Coliseum is an astonishing 24-4, and he positively owns the A's.

In a short series he could be a major factor.

1972...1973...1974...1989...2006

by emperor nobody on Sep 4, 2006 12:43 AM PDT up reply actions

is there any score on angels game?

by smasfan on Sep 3, 2006 7:19 PM PDT reply actions

2-1 Halos

by wolffpackdavid on Sep 3, 2006 7:23 PM PDT up reply actions

come on, Detroit

kick K-rod's butt. The punk

by wolffpackdavid on Sep 3, 2006 7:23 PM PDT reply actions

did anyone see what

happened between frank and ump that was sitting close

by smasfan on Sep 3, 2006 7:27 PM PDT reply actions

Silly K Rod

What is he thinking?

It's It. What is it? aim: encryptthisthat

by Hit4TheCycle on Sep 3, 2006 7:30 PM PDT reply actions

pudge....K

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005...and in 2006 don't make me sick.

by ak_A on Sep 3, 2006 7:31 PM PDT reply actions

Open Letter to Loiaza

Esteban,
I'd like to apologize to you for the curse that I placed on you and your loved ones. I will sacrifice a live chicken this evening to try and keep you and yours from developing the debilitating diseases that I called down from the nether worlds. But remember that if you start to stink again I've got the voodoo doll ready, Hoss!!
Sorry 'bout that
Durden

P.S. Remember that DUI thing? I may have caused that. My bad.

"If my uniform doesn't get dirty, I haven't done anything in the baseball game." - Rickey Henderson

by Durden on Sep 3, 2006 7:34 PM PDT reply actions

i turned around before

watching krod "celebrate"

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005...and in 2006 don't make me sick.

by ak_A on Sep 3, 2006 7:36 PM PDT reply actions

damn

Oh well...at least we may actually beat the Tigers if we play them

by wolffpackdavid on Sep 3, 2006 7:37 PM PDT reply actions

darn la

won

by smasfan on Sep 3, 2006 7:38 PM PDT reply actions

on the bright side

Our magic # still went down today :-)

by wolffpackdavid on Sep 3, 2006 7:39 PM PDT reply actions

woo hoo

thats great

by smasfan on Sep 3, 2006 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions

To the River Cats' Wearhouse:

This is Mrs. Johnson.

I want to give your team the most wonderful compliment.

I have never dealt with such a wonderful staff.

Brian was just outstanding. The optometrist was absolutely darling.

My husband was sent down by the A's. Brian had him looking so sharp! I couldn't believe it was my husband!

Now he walks tall and proud.

And all because of your people there.

They cared! They actually cared.

By the way, he did excellent on his return to the majors and I credit a lot of that to him looking sharp.

Thank you for guaranteeing everything you send up.

Burgundy Cherry

by Ice Cream on Sep 3, 2006 8:00 PM PDT reply actions

Awesome 'cream

FRIGGIN awesome =)

"You may have chopped off their legs or drowned them in a bathtub... " ~ Blez

by eamb on Sep 3, 2006 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL, that's awesome

I've been wondering just how much of a "man" the man who's married to that woman could possibly be...

"there is a method to my madness"- Oaktoon

by SF Geoff on Sep 3, 2006 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Exactly!

That lady never says that he even got the job, just that he "did great." What a loser.

Remember kids, give a larbage, pick up your garbage! -- Gary the No Trash Cougar

by Jonny Oklnd on Sep 4, 2006 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions

Woohoo!

My sister flew in from Indy for the series (p.s. Blez, she's going to beat you in games attended). I got to see Nico and BBGirl, a nine run first and a nine run first. Did I mention JK running home twice in the first? And, there was a nine run first.
What a great day.

by Duke of left field on Sep 3, 2006 8:07 PM PDT reply actions

I had to see Duke and baseballgirl,

but at least there was a nine-run first!

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 Sep 3, 2006 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions

You guys should....

have stayed for the drinking and dancing afterward. We do the best post-game-high-class-low-class in the bay. Funk and IPA's for everyone.

by Duke of left field on Sep 3, 2006 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions

good to meet you guys: Nico and Baseball girl!

Good to meet you guys. Our boy had a rougher time at this game than he had in previous games but, for the first time ever, he slept through the night last night. I said to my wife that meeting you guys and going to the A's game must have been it!

Duke, I saw you and your friends hanging out after the game but our tired and crying 3 month old decided that coming up and saying hi would not have been a good idea.

ANers are all friendly in person though!

Rickey Henderson: 35, 24, hall of fame!

by Athletics fan and runner on Sep 4, 2006 7:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Omigod!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just got home from Cosmotology School (grrrr...mandatory Sunday classes just because you fail one Eyeliner final), and I just heard...

...WE SCORED NINE POINTS IN ONE INNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hearts for dots over BOTH i's tonight! :---}

-Cindi.

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 Sep 3, 2006 9:26 PM PDT reply actions

do you dress the part when you type this?

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005...and in 2006 don't make me sick.

by ak_A on Sep 3, 2006 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions

That made me LOL.

"I think every memeber of AN should send every memeber of LL 20 bucks." ~ Goose on LL

by AsGirl on Sep 4, 2006 12:26 AM PDT up reply actions

I was thrilled to see Jeremy Brown

for the first time, in his first ML AB, after hearing so much about him for three years. Let the record show, to my surprise, that he is NOT fat. Maybe he was fat four years ago, and probably he still doesn't have a body that could sell jeans, but I'd describe him more as "squat-shaped." No curves in either direction, really. My money would be on him in a footrace with Benji and Mr. Hurt.

"The A's are boring because all they do is win."

by Checkswing HR on Sep 3, 2006 9:34 PM PDT reply actions

He still wears a big pair of underwear!

I'm not a big wine guy... Where do you grow the BEER?

by str8tarrow on Sep 4, 2006 6:10 AM PDT up reply actions

I saw Jeremy in Fresno

a few weeks ago. He hit a grand slam...which made a very fine first impression.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Sep 3, 2006 9:47 PM PDT reply actions

A's All-Time Web Gems,

according to Baseball Tonight:

Randy Velarde unassisted triple play
T-Long's game-saving game-ending catch at Fenway
Joe Rudi's catch against the wall in the '72 WS

What? No Chavy? No Byrnes? No Kotsay? Nothing after '02?

"The A's are boring because all they do is win."

by Checkswing HR on Sep 3, 2006 11:20 PM PDT reply actions

I Agree

I think the triple play was pretty crazy, although kind of a right place right time kinda thing. I wanted to relive a crazy Mr. Byrnes moment too! It just goes to show the lack of attention given to the Athletics by the boys out in Bristol.

Remember kids, give a larbage, pick up your garbage! -- Gary the No Trash Cougar

by Jonny Oklnd on Sep 4, 2006 12:16 AM PDT up reply actions