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Furious Phone Calls

Oakland_tiny by Blez on in News

The speculation that Daric Barton is arriving soon is growing.  So, I've spent the past hour or so trying to reach anyone to talk about it.

Needless to say, I've figured out why Barton isn't in the lineup tonight.  The A's reportedly want to give Barton a couple of nights off to make sure he is well-rested.  Well-rested for what, you ask?  That's open to speculation because I never got a definite answer.  But I would guess that it means that Daric could be joining the A's soon for the stretch run.  He may still be a September call-up, but I also know that the team has been trying to work him in the outfield to get him used to that position.

Barton would like to both play in the field and bat, but if it means he gets a shot at DH, he'd do it in a heartbeat.  Regardless, this team could use an infusion of something...and soon.

As for the game tonight, the A's offense just looks like it has completely run out of energy.  The 0-8 at the top of the lineup is dreadful.  Our pitching continues to be a strength, even with former Athletic Carlos Pena coming back to haunt the team.

Even though the present is rough, the very near future could be very interesting.  Stay tuned.

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bad news everywhere tonight
Minnesota breaks up garcia's no-hitter and wins it in the 8th;

The Skanks rally in the 9th to win;

The Indians win a close one;

The Angels almost blow a game to Miguel Tejada and the Orioles but they hang on.

And our boys are moribund in Motown.

But.....

Daric barton and kevin Mellilo could be on the way.

If so, all I can say is that Billy Beane has the heart of a lion and he's as fierce.

No quit in him-- he knows all his current options are unsatisfactory so he's rolling the proverbial dice. Go get 'em, Billy!

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Aug 23, 2005 7:30 PM PDT   0 recs

I blame this guy!


Taken from Camden Yards tonight during the Orioles' loss to the Angels

Typical Byrnes tonight. 3-4 with an error in the outfield! And Tejada's 2 outs, bottom of the 9th grand slam was awesome, but too little too late!

by louismg on Aug 23, 2005 8:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Argggh devil devil
Byrnescurse strykes again!!!  :-<
"Soon, everyone will be using monkeyball quotes for their tag lines! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!" -- monkeyball

by oblique on Aug 23, 2005 8:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I swear I had the only A's cap in the stadium
You should have heard the fans razz Byrnes after his error. "Hey - put your glove on next time!", "You suck!", etc. I found the "You suck" call to be fairly insightful and unique in its variety.

Each of the Baltimore fans I talked to didn't seem interested in returning Tejada to the A's. Can't figure that one out.

by louismg on Aug 23, 2005 8:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

rich
Royale with cheese.

by ak_A on Aug 23, 2005 8:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Question
If we call up Barton after roster's expand, do we have the roster setup to jigger him into the playoffs (should we make it that far) a la K-Rod 2002?
Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 23, 2005 7:32 PM PDT   0 recs

Depends
Eligibility for the playoffs is normally set by being on the roster as of Aug. 31.  However, if a player is on the disabled list when the playoffs start they can be replaced.  I believe this is how K-Rod was able to be placed on the playoff roster in 2002.

by IndianaAsfan on Aug 24, 2005 9:24 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Melillo enters game as PH in Midland
Walks in his plate appearance, comes around to score. Still no sign of Barton....

by NP15 on Aug 23, 2005 7:33 PM PDT   0 recs

Umm, Blez?
Dude, Blez, normally your writing is some of the best available on the internet -- clear, incisive and just generally damn good. But tonight's piece smacks of frustration and being rushed:

"Needless to say, I've figured out why Barton isn't in the lineup tonight."

What exactly does this mean? Did you dream up the explanation yourself that he needs rest for a September call-up, or were you told this by one of your "contacts" (Urban, Slusser, BB himself)? So I wouldn't really call that "needless to say" seeing as how confused I am.

"Barton isn't a big fan of being a DH, but if it means he gets a shot, I'm sure he'd do it in a heartbeat."

Since when are we letting players decide which position their future is at? Barton may not like to DH, but he has no plus defensive position. As I noted in blee1134's diary, it could be that the A's intentionally put him at DH as it would keep his long-term cost down in arbitration and beyond -- just as we're currently doing with Justin Duchscherer (no starts, few saves = low cost).

Call up Barton right now and let him drive a couple Bonderman fastballs into the left-centerfield gap tomorrow.

by NP15 on Aug 23, 2005 7:41 PM PDT   0 recs

Ok
Thanks for the clarification, I couldn't tell whether it was your conjecture or actually came from someone.

That said, unless it's from BB himself, I think it sounds like a cop-out answer from someone who didn't really know what was going on ("Oh, Barton's not in the line-up tonight? Yeah, that's because I heard they're resting him." Umm... so the reason he's out of the line-up is because they're resting him?? Genius!! Why didn't I think of that?)

by NP15 on Aug 23, 2005 8:02 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

No, Barton was told
that he's being rested and wasn't really told why.  The rest is me speculating why.

by Blez on Aug 23, 2005 8:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That is the problem
Kendall wants to lead off, so he leads off, Crosby wants to bat 3rd so he bats 3rd.  Despite overwhelming evidence that both are unsuited for those roles, they continue to get run out there in those positions.  I don't know if it is true or not but I heard Chavez doesn't like to bat cleanup, but apparently Crosby has more say in these matters.  

by china bob on Aug 23, 2005 10:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

kendall says he wanted to bat 2nd
at the beginning of the year.  that is why he was not leading off earlier this season
Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! -- Ken Macha

by burnone on Aug 24, 2005 10:45 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

[I wouldn't be surprised
if the source was Barton himself.]
"I have seven forks. I need one for eating. The others I'm going to stick in the Giants, because they're done." - Random guy on BART

by Melody on Aug 23, 2005 10:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Stop the stupid rumors!!!
Baseball Players take days off!!! They may and should move to sacramento soon, likely in time for the Playoffs just to get them some more AB's.
Oakland is not in the near future.

Sorry to be pissy I will no longer respond to these ridiculous rumors.

Why don't they just lick their fingers?

by novaoakland on Aug 23, 2005 7:51 PM PDT   0 recs

Wow..angry much?
Jeez....it's speculation that has been a topic of discission all over this site....Relax.
Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Aug 23, 2005 7:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

They had an off day yesterday
You have to admit with all of the talk it would be a huge coincidence that he is going to get some rest.  he missed a lot of game with appendicitis so it is not like he is worn down right now.

by DKNJ on Aug 23, 2005 7:55 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

BACK TO BACK days off is very common
Why don't they just lick their fingers?

by novaoakland on Aug 23, 2005 10:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Nova
No one is forcing you to read the site.  Go somewhere else if you don't like what you read here.

by Blez on Aug 23, 2005 7:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

haha..
Better said than mine. :-)
Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Aug 23, 2005 7:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Since it hasn't been said
and I think you need to hear it: "Thanks, Blez."  Even if I could burn up the phone lines trying to figure out what's going on, I don't think I'd have the patience.

Thanks for trying to find out what's going on as the plot thickens...

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 23, 2005 8:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks for saying that Sal
I appreciate the kind words.  I had a really hard time reaching anyone.

by Blez on Aug 23, 2005 8:07 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Word
I'm definitely grateful to be given an insider's look, especially something like this when we all need a pick me up.

So thanks Blez.  It is indeed very telling to know that Barton was kept out multiple days so he'd be well rested.

"I'm so green and gold that I hang on every pitch, not just every game." - Lew Wolff

by BleacherDrummer on Aug 24, 2005 1:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i agree
thank you Blez.  for taking the time to investigate.  
Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! -- Ken Macha

by burnone on Aug 24, 2005 10:50 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Stupid rumors are stupid rumors
IF you do not like me pointing that out ban me!!!

IF I see them I will point them out.

Why don't they just lick their fingers?

by novaoakland on Aug 23, 2005 10:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Haha...you are pure comedy.
Cracking up.
Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Aug 23, 2005 10:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey bud
Just trying to put two and two together here.

And don't call them ridiculous rumors. If anything, you are being ridiculously illogical. Someone hitting for a .950 OPS in Midland with that type of BB:K ratio is going to be able to hit for an .800-.825 OPS in the major leagues right now. It's still baseball, it's the same game. We have years and years of historical data that allow us to forecast hitters' performance in the major leagues based on results in the minors, right down to the park factors and level of pitching for a league in a particular year. These things are remarkably consistent and have been analyzed going back 50+ years.

Now, that .800 OPS estimate is just a best guess, an expected value. Certainly, with someone who's just barely 20 years old, there will be more variance to the estimate -- but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't give him a shot right now.

by NP15 on Aug 23, 2005 7:58 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I guess I will not be proven right unitl
May of 2006 when Barton is still in the Minors.
He will not be called up this year and he will not start 2006 in the majors!!!!!
Why don't they just lick their fingers?

by novaoakland on Aug 23, 2005 10:15 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

.825 OBS?
To assume a kid currently in AA (The league, not the 12 step program) is going to put an OBS that would place him roughly in the top 50 in all MLB is a bold statement. Playing Corpus Christi in August isn't exactly the same thing as Boston in September.

by tinez on Aug 23, 2005 10:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i was at the game tonight
and i saw this one coming...detroit is very hot right now (especially since pena feels he has something to prove...again)  and oakland is struggling to score runs.  unfortunately for oakland, bondo is pitching tomorrow and we all know how he pitches against the A's.  then on thursday there will be what i think will be a great match up, harden and maroth (a lefty... and coming off a good outing against boston last wednesday).  i think harden is going to tame the tigers on thursday so tomorrow nights' game could decide the series...

at the game tonight tho... i was fortunate enough to meet Kotsay and Sarloos during BP and they were really nice!  and i almost caught pena's first homer in the 4th...

but the FUNNIEST part of the night was when swisher went to go visit one of his friends and his kid on the right field line and when people started running over to get his autograph he basically ran away and said to us all:

 "Sorry, I have to go take a drug test."

that might have been the funniest thing ive heard in a while, and even tho he didnt sign for us...it made me laugh and made the A's loss a little easier to take.

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

Lets go GVSU!

by Alisa on Aug 23, 2005 7:53 PM PDT   0 recs

Haha....He wasnt lying either.
8 Athletics got drug tested before the game tonight.
Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Aug 23, 2005 8:00 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

holy crap
i totally thought he was joking...that is funny

he was messing around with everyone tonight...especially the fans in the front row in right field -- they were getting on him about not giving them the ball he was warming up with...

im hoping i can sneak down to those seats tomorrow or thursday... ;)

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

Lets go GVSU!

by Alisa on Aug 23, 2005 8:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Haha..yep, he was serious.
That's too funny.
Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Aug 23, 2005 8:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

oh crap...
8 players got tested???? uh oh...i have a bad feeling they're gonna find kendall's been juicing...
"welcome to ME, motherf*^*er!" - tim hudson

by guy incognito on Aug 23, 2005 8:02 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Where do you think all his power is coming from?
Otherwise, he'd be hitting the ball negative forward.

by NP15 on Aug 23, 2005 8:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I doubt it
We'll know he's juicing when his infield popouts become outfield popouts.
Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Aug 23, 2005 8:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

hopefully...
they packed their "Wizzinators"
Living in the mitten is second best to being Canadian...

Lets go GVSU!

by Alisa on Aug 23, 2005 8:09 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Juiced
If he's juiced, just think of the stolen bases against him without it. He'd be throwing to 2nd and the runner is already sliding into 3rd.
Sniff, Sniff. "Who Fongpay?"

by Fongpay on Aug 23, 2005 8:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

silver linings
  1. No one was killed in the production of that puke-fest.
  2. If Haren could take back one pitch, then that would have been a very well pitched game. Still would have lost, of course.
  3. Reinforcements on the way?  The whole team looks depressed.
  4. Flowers are pretty.
  5. Sorry, I got nuthin.

by Apricot on Aug 23, 2005 8:38 PM PDT   0 recs

Check your email
I sent you a question about how to get the Red Meat comic screenshot posted.

10Q

"I made a game effort to argue but two things were against me: the umpires and the rules." - Hall of Fame Manager Leo Durocher

by McFood on Aug 23, 2005 8:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

brute force, my friend
I grabbed a screenshot of the browser page, then I posted it to my personal web site, then I posted an img link to it...

by Apricot on Aug 23, 2005 9:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That's not brute force...
that's chicanery of the highest order. I'll send you mine to post, if you don't mind, since I don't have a website. But I'll do it tomorrow. Must get the kids to bed now!
"I made a game effort to argue but two things were against me: the umpires and the rules." - Hall of Fame Manager Leo Durocher

by McFood on Aug 23, 2005 9:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Red Meat?
What does Milkman Dan have to do with Barton?

hmm.

http://www.aslegacy.blogspot.com

by Genaro on Aug 23, 2005 9:09 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

we are only
3.5 games behind the angels.  As I recall they came back from a bigger lead with about this much time to go last year.  Why can't we do the same.  I AM AN OPTIMIST!!!!!!!!
Kendall Haiku by FormerHuntsvilleStar, " Ball in hand, a leap,--- a veteran catcher blocks--- and secures a win"

by Athletics fan and runner on Aug 24, 2005 7:17 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Macha Comments on September Callups
From: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050823&content_id=1180817& ;vkey=news_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak

Callup talk: Macha said he hasn't discussed September callups with general manager Billy Beane, but he does have a few ideas for augmenting the roster when it becomes expandable.

Right-hander Juan Cruz, who was 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA as a starter for Triple-A Sacramento through Monday, was mentioned, as was outfielder Charles Thomas, who, Macha said, "could contribute with his [speed] and defense in the outfield."

Utilityman Jermaine Clark, one of the fastest players on the River Cats, is also an option. Clark can play all three outfield positions and three infield positions.

"He'd be a nice guy to stick in there, too," Macha said.

Macha added that he'd like to see the A's bring up another catcher, to give him the flexibility to use Jason Kendall and Adam Melhuse in the lineup at the same time more often, but he didn't mention anyone by name. Sacramento's catchers are John Baker, who was batting .233 in 326 at-bats through Monday, and Tom Gregorio, a .320 hitter in 75 at-bats.

Another option at catcher could be Alberto Castillo, who was signed to a Minor League contract Monday night. Castillo is a .222 career hitter who has played for the Mets, Yankees, Cardinals, Giants and Royals. Castillo appeared in 34 games for Kansas City this season before being released Aug. 5.

by louismg on Aug 23, 2005 8:40 PM PDT   0 recs

It shows you how stupid Macha is
He can't play Melhuse and Kendall at the same time because what if one gets hurt?  So you lose a DH, so what?  What the hell has our DH done this year anyway, and if it is late in the game, there is such a thing as a pinch hitter, which we also don't have but never mind that.  The guy has all the imagination of a toad.

by china bob on Aug 23, 2005 10:12 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Macha is not stupid
The main problem with DHing Melhuse is you can't pinch hit for him, because then you have nobody left to catch at all if Kendall gets hurt. So he starts against a righty, and when the left handed relievr comes in you're stuck with him.

And there's one other small problem with Melhuse: he's not very good. His OPS this season is .662, and his career OPS is .728. That is not every day DH material. And people say Hatteberg doesn't deserve the job?

Since the other options at DH aren't fantastic either, I'm all in favor of giving Melhuse a chance once in a while to keep his swing together. But he's hardly the solution to our DH problem.

With Eric Chavez batting, Jason Kendall scores on defensive indifference.

by matthias on Aug 23, 2005 10:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

finally
some logical thinking.  melhuse is not good.  he has hit some random clutch hits and has some power.  outside of that...???
Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! -- Ken Macha

by burnone on Aug 24, 2005 10:56 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's interesting that when the game is on,
a whole different genre of posters--many of whom never or rarely post in diaries prior to or after games--engage in some of the most ludicrous commentary imaginable. The A's are in a teamwide batting slump and they apparently must find scapegoats upon whom to afix blame. The two most convenient suspects are Ken Macha and Jason Kendall.

Somehow, they must feel Macha either doesn't deserve credit for steering a young, once last place team back into contention. Or they can't appreciate the job Macha did to enable the team to go 40-50; correspondingly, Macha--in their cranium-challenged brains--must be strung up for this recent downturn.

And, of course, a position player must also be singled out. In May, it was Chavvy. Now it's Kendall. Pray tell, who--along with with Curt Young--took the two young starters Haren and Blanton, and guided them to remarkable achievements this early in their career? And who, along with Young, helped turn Barry Zito's career around? Who helped make Kirk Saarloos one of baseball's best 5th starter? Who turned 22 year old Huston Street into a possible Rookie of the Year and a possible premier closer? Etc., etc.

No, as in politics when people project their own sense of futility in life onto someone else, in baseball too scapegoats must be found. Alas, analysis and logic require too many neurons...  

by reztips on Aug 23, 2005 8:48 PM PDT   0 recs

Disagreement
I don't want to ruffle feathers, because Reztips I always like your posts, and Blez I respect your site and everything on it.  But I see no reason to applaud this post.  It makes negative generalizations about critics of Macha and Kendall without any examples.  If any poster has evidence for debate about player performance, and there certainly seems to be plenty of late, then let's hear it.

If you just don't like hearing the same critiques over and over again, or if you think they're overly biased or substantively lacking, then why not just point it out on those specific diaries?  Or say so without so much judgement.  I know I've made plenty of statistics-based critiques of Kendall.  I think they've been valid.  And no, I don't post during or after every game.  If some posts seemed like political scapegoating to you I doubt they were intended that way.  I also didn't think this site was built on the tenets of "1984".

So to chalk all of the cynicism swirling around of late up to "a whole different genre of posters" who "project their own sense of futility in life onto someone else", and who lack the neurons for "analysis and logic" alienates those posters who don't feel like established "regulars" of this site, but still might have something to contribute.  Thoughtful questioning of the "status quo" is a unique part of this site that is lacking in other media outlets.

Maybe you didn't mean to be that incendiary.  But mass-labeling to anyone as having "cranium-challenged brains", whether it's toward a group or an individual seems contrary to the AN community guidelines.  And I don't think your post warrants approval from our administrator.  

"I'm so green and gold that I hang on every pitch, not just every game." - Lew Wolff

by BleacherDrummer on Aug 24, 2005 12:58 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Rez....
I really liked this post.....Very well thought out and said.  
Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Aug 23, 2005 8:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

After reading that,
I stopped heating my pot of tar in the yard, put the feather pillows away, put the rail back on the fence, called my friends to say I never mind about the pitchforks and torches, and took the money back from neighbor kid I hired to paint that huge poster about firing someone.
Royale with cheese.

by ak_A on Aug 23, 2005 8:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Whoa, before you go off the philosophical deep-end
you should realize that Macha did not have that much of an impact that you think.

Crosby came back and was instantly inserted into the third spot, deplacing Chavez, whom Macha said he would NOT move. According to Ken, he didn't "see how it(moving players in a lineup) could make a difference."

Now?

"Dan Johnson has kind of slid up into the fifth spot and (Scott) Hatteberg moved down a little bit. We have done a little tinkering here and there."

To say Macha had a great impact on this team is a slap in the face to what  Chavez, Crosby, and Johnson did.

And as for Kendall? Yeah, his salary went UP this year and his performance went DOWN. Oh, he's also the top moneymaker on this team for 05.

Some Scapegoat he is. For shame for some fans to expect him to perform to his normal levels.

http://www.aslegacy.blogspot.com

by Genaro on Aug 23, 2005 8:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Fan's reactions...
while I understand that all the "Kendall and Macha are bums" talk is a little over the top I do think it has some merit.

First though, it is the nature of the fan to react harshly towards players or persons (see Bartman) it perceives as the downfall of their teams. I think it is a bit elitist to simply disregard what they are yelling about without at least 1. understanding that the gripes will be exaggerated during times like these and 2. trying to logically discredit what they are saying.

Now I'm not saying you haven't logically challenged their reasonings behind the A's downfall, but I also think we need to let the venting take place as if we are NOT robots.

"Don't you play the flute, Huddy?"

by capper3 on Aug 23, 2005 9:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes
Being a fan means being extreme in one's reactions. I'll let Billy Beane and Ken Macha do the patient-and-objective thing. It's their job. My job is to do the "Jason Kendall is a superhero when he makes a great game-winning play against the Rangers or Angels but a bum when the A's are in a slump and he's not hitting" thing.

Let's not confuse the roles.

With Eric Chavez batting, Jason Kendall scores on defensive indifference.

by matthias on Aug 23, 2005 9:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree
The perogative of the fan is to vent their excitement, positive or negative.

Think about playing against your friends and or family in a game.  "You're a bum!" during the game, but afterwards, it's only a game.

Since as fans we suffer no monetary consequence (gamblers excluded... their own hell) why not rise and fall with  the tides and fortunes?

by Ducts on the Pawn on Aug 23, 2005 10:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The biggest sin . . . .
a fan can commit is indifference.  Ask anyone in management (from team manager to GM to team president all the way up to the Commish) what their greatest fear is and they'll say it's when fans stop caring.  

by camperdog on Aug 23, 2005 9:58 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

See:
National Hockey League fans south of Detroit.

Or at least that's what we could see this fall.

AN Member Location Surveys: Results | Take part

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Aug 24, 2005 8:28 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Not Macha, that's for sure
Who runs Kendall out every day as a lead off hitter, a guy batting .261, doesn't walk, doesn't run?.  He is a 9th place hitter, simple and true.  Who runs Crosby out in the 3rd spot batting .100 RISP, with no  power, high K's, few walks?  Since when does a manager take credit for a pitching coach?  I don't remember anyone blaming Macha last year for Mulders problems, save wondering why he didn't rest him which is his perogative.

by china bob on Aug 23, 2005 10:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

re
so what would your lineup be?
Come ON A's!

by Alien on Aug 23, 2005 10:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

great post rez
I am glad that I read it.
Kendall Haiku by FormerHuntsvilleStar, " Ball in hand, a leap,--- a veteran catcher blocks--- and secures a win"

by Athletics fan and runner on Aug 24, 2005 7:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

AthleticsNation has gone back
to a state of May.

At the same time, an Orange level alert.

So Watch out!!

by Hit4TheCycle on Aug 23, 2005 8:52 PM PDT   0 recs

Well where is all the love for Macha?
Everyone loved him a month ago because he turned the season around. With Credit comes Blaime.

I really think he is just a lump who is nither responsible for wins or loses and will be replaced by a cheaper Manager next season.

Why don't they just lick their fingers?

by novaoakland on Aug 23, 2005 10:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey, check Macha
for a pulse!!! Is he watching the same game the rest of us are?  Offense is sputtering, MIX UP THE LINEUP!!!!

by AlBowe on Aug 23, 2005 9:12 PM PDT   0 recs

I agree, change something
Now Macha is afraid that changing the lineup will show a lack of patience.

Nothing is constant, and everyone says the MLB game is a "game of adjustments".  So why not be constantly adjusting?  If you tell the players in March "I'll be moving people around if we win ten in a row, and I'll be moving people up and down if we lose eight in a row, or go .500 for 20 games..." then you don't have to show a change in philosophy.

by Ducts on the Pawn on Aug 23, 2005 11:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Macha's comments on the callups
are really interesting. I wonder why he wouldn't have mentioned Barton? It's not like it's necessary to hide their plans. If they were considering it, why not mention it?

Of course I could be reading entirely too much into this.

by nycfan on Aug 23, 2005 9:17 PM PDT   0 recs

Macha says no Barton.
According to Macha, Daric Barton won't be called up from Double-A Midland when rosters expand. He's only 20 and there's too big a gap between Double-A pitching and the big leagues.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/08/24/ASREPORT.TMP&type=as

"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Aug 23, 2005 9:19 PM PDT   0 recs

Was just about to post this!
Thanks, Sharon.
Street is a friggin physical marvel... -Mychael Urban

by rookieoftheyear on Aug 23, 2005 11:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Revenge of the castoffs
Carlos Pena... darn it all! Last I heard of him he was down in the minors -- I actually took a moment to feel bad for him -- and today I tune in to see him hitting homeruns against my favorite pitcher du jour, Danny Haren.

Did anyone else notice that huge chip on Pena's shoulder? Remember 2002 and the Carlos Pena Fan Club sign? I think it was in the right field bleachers? Was it 2002? Pena was roommates for all of 2 months with Chavy, Mulder, Ellis and Venafro in the fabled Lafayette house. Time flies...

There's something about players who get traded and play against the team that traded them -- they have Something To Prove. Pena with his 2 homers, mutter, mutter. What will Bonderman inflict on us tomorrow?

I have faith.

by BillybUcko on Aug 23, 2005 9:20 PM PDT   0 recs

Since we are scoring 1 run a game
against mediocre pitchers, the worst that can happen is he shuts us out, everyone else does, why not him?  But don't worry, we will trot out Kendall leading off, Crosby batting 3rd, and Melhuse sitting the bench.  Don't get me wrong I don't think Melhuse is a savior, he is not, just an average ball player but considering the options, the best we have.

by china bob on Aug 23, 2005 10:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs