A Dozen Reasons To Love Leaving Fenway (Postgame & ANtics!)

by louismg on Sep 18, 2005 2:07 PM PDT in News

In what has been an up and down season for the A's, showing streaks of greatness followed by troughs of despair, this 4-game series at Fenway Park highlighted much of the 2005 campaign. Two gritty one-run losses despite great pitching. Too many double plays. And now, a blowout, as the A's put up 12 runs against the BoSox, chasing Matt Clement after only an inning and a third, and winning the game by a score of 12-3.

Chief to today's shellacking was the solid hitting, including two long home runs, by the simultaneously adored and reviled Eric Chavez, who powered the blowout with three hits and five RBIs. On the season, Chavez now has 25 home runs and 94 RBIs, to go with a .270+ average and continued sparkling play at third.

Chavez's strong season in light of unprecedented expectations, is explored in this week's ANtics!

Please consider this the post-game thread as well.

Anybody noticing the A's were up 12-0 in Blez' thread, and were outscored 3-0 in mine... can attribute that to sheer coincidence.

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Poll

Where to Rank Chavez's 2005 Season?

30 homers and 100 RBIs? I had no idea he was on that pace!

9 votes

For that kind of money, we should see 40 homers and 130 RBIs!

8 votes

I would have preferred we keep Tejada and play Ginter.

4 votes

The guy's got no heart. What does his play matter?

2 votes

He's the team's MVP. It's that simple.

13 votes

36 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

"the simultaneously ...

... adored and reviled Eric Chavez"

That's exactly how I feel!

It wouldbe great to just appreciate him, but means so much to the franchise that all of our hopes, expectations and frustrations get vented at Chavvy.

by Eck on Sep 18, 2005 2:31 PM PDT reply actions

Seeing eye dog

Hilarious. And Macha on meds. That would explain a lot.

The best part of today's win, from AP: "The Athletics clinched their seventh consecutive season with better than a .500 record." Guaranteed .500 finish. Yay!

Nobody Girl

by day-to-day on Sep 18, 2005 2:41 PM PDT reply actions

leadoff caller on extra innings

what the heck is this guy talking about??

"you know it's way cooler to be an A's fan" - billy beane to larry krueger

by gotgreen on Sep 18, 2005 2:47 PM PDT reply actions

"Chaw-vee"

hilarious :)

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

by Sharon on Sep 18, 2005 2:54 PM PDT reply actions

The real poll should have been...

So what's distracting you from reliving the A's big victory?

Watching the Angels play Detroit
Watching the NFL TV coverage
Tallying up my fantasy football stats
Getting ready for the big work week!
I'm writing an anti-Chavy/Kendall/Macha diary

by louismg on Sep 18, 2005 3:13 PM PDT reply actions

I'm a sucker for sophisticated humor...

You had me at "seeing eye dog".

"HRs by second basemen are sexy. They're rare and exotic." -Kyli

by McFood on Sep 18, 2005 3:32 PM PDT reply actions

Why aren't there

hearing-ear dogs?

Nico

by Nico on Sep 18, 2005 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Nico, there are...

just those who need them have never "heard" about them.

by louismg on Sep 18, 2005 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions

What?

Nico

by Nico on Sep 18, 2005 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions

woof

Lets take care of business and make the playoffs.

by ak_A on Sep 18, 2005 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Sandy? Is that you?

It's me, Little Arfin' Annie!

"HRs by second basemen are sexy. They're rare and exotic." -Kyli

by McFood on Sep 18, 2005 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Tomorrow, McFood, the A's will

come out tomorrow.

Lets take care of business and make the playoffs.

by ak_A on Sep 18, 2005 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions

tigers have

stranded 17 runners through 7...pls make a comeback!

by tresselfan on Sep 18, 2005 3:37 PM PDT reply actions

Bonds just went deep

Like him or not, no one can deny he is flat out one of the best hitters of this generation.

by Pucking Insane on Sep 18, 2005 3:38 PM PDT reply actions

I'm an odd type when it comes to Bonds

I really want him to be successful. He has done some amazing things with the bat, and accumulated consistently outstanding numbers year after year.

The fact that he's always been on second-rate teams that fold in the playoffs, if they get there, is too bad. He deserves a World Series ring much more than Dork Jeter and the Spankees ever did.

And his peresonality isn't horrible, like some would make you think. He seems genuine and is great with the kids (more than just photo ops). I'd rather hang out with him than Jeff Kent...

by louismg on Sep 18, 2005 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree

with all your points except the one concerning Jeter. Like him or not, there's no denying he plays the game the right way and deserves all the success he has already obtained.

As for Bonds, he had his chance at a World Series ring until it was Spezio-ed or Baker'ed away, depending on whose side you are on.

by Pucking Insane on Sep 18, 2005 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Jeter sure played the game the right way...

today, when he struck out with 2 on to end the game.

NICE!

"HRs by second basemen are sexy. They're rare and exotic." -Kyli

by McFood on Sep 18, 2005 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Heh. Hehheheheheheheheh.

Best Coliseum promotion of the year? 2005 Oakland A's baseball.

by baseballgirl on Sep 18, 2005 5:16 PM PDT up reply actions

on pirates in early 90's

he had a normal size head, now looks like something from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". I hate to assume, but...

by tresselfan on Sep 18, 2005 4:02 PM PDT reply actions

Balco Barry Has Been Hard to Swallow

Part of my being a fan means that I don't WANT to believe the steroid rumors, even as more and more evidence mounts. Being an A's fan for so long, it's been tough to see Canseco and McGwire, who I used to look up to, get mixed in the whole mess. And I really didn't want Barry Bonds' numbers to be tainted.

Giambi's leaked testimony was huge. Palmeiro looking sneaky is just pure ugliness. But Barry, Balco or not, has been very good for a very long time. His body, like many other sluggers of this generation, has seen some big, big changes. We may never know how much is "legal" and how much was under the table.

by louismg on Sep 18, 2005 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

his comments

that he "did'nt know what his trainer was giving him" is so absurd I stopped listening to him at that point. I find he and his ilk (you know who you are) to be the worst part of an otherwise fantastic national pasttime.

by tresselfan on Sep 18, 2005 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions

sorry

poor punctuation and tense etc., I'm on pain meds from surgery on fri.

by tresselfan on Sep 18, 2005 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Before you assume

That Barry is lying about not knowing what he was taking you should read the following story about Kelli White:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/12/03/MNGKSA5SKD16.DTL&hw=kelli+white& sn=001&sc=1000

Kelli is also a part of the Balco scandle. Assuming that these athletes know every single thing which goes into their body and they don't rely on others to help them out is absurd.

by skwid on Sep 18, 2005 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions

NOW I get to say...

I told you so. :D

Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore.'

by Squeaky on Sep 18, 2005 4:03 PM PDT reply actions

Ah man

I've got the life, the A's beat the hated Bostonians and split the series whioch is good enough for me and you have to admit a good trip to Ohio, Texas, and Boston, three tough places to pitch. Now in an hour the other Oakland team will go against the Chiefs man that should be fun then it's back home against the Twins.

You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club wont be worth a dime.-Babe Ruth

by doublehustle22 on Sep 18, 2005 4:25 PM PDT reply actions

Oh no...

Just found THIS on MLB.com:
* Bonds' 705th home run fuels Giants

Yes, I know this is an odd thing to be posting. But is this driving anyone else crazy?

Bonds did not hit the homerun until the Giants were already ahead.
Bonds has been in every single dang headline on the Giants site since he came back.

I don't CARE about Bonds so much! It was kind of fun to watch the Giants (all right, all right, Noah Lowry) while he was gone, but now he's back, the whole team should change its name to "San Francisco Barry Bonds". Sometime I expect to see some headline proclaiming that Bonds was, shock, shock, picking his nose during BP, and then immediately hit a homer. Next thing you know the Giants fans will cheer when Bonds picks his nose. <rolls eyes>

Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore.'

by Squeaky on Sep 18, 2005 4:39 PM PDT reply actions

Giants Fans are Pathetic

I was dragged to the Saturday game last week when the Giants got smacked around by the Cubs, and I'll tell you, it was NO fun. Boring. National League ball between two boring teams is a complete waste of time. And it's completely embarrassing to hear fans ooh and aah every pop up, fly out and foul ball as if they were going to go out of the park. How unintelligent can fans be? It's obvious that a liner to short is not going to clear the frickin' fence.

The media coverage in advance of Barry coming back to the Giants was awful - but given the wall to wall coverage of Laci Peterson, Kobe, and any other media disaster, maybe it's known that Bonds playing on the Giants is itself a major calamity?

by louismg on Sep 18, 2005 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions

You mean, they're not called...

...the Barry Bonds Giants of San Francisco?

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by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Sep 18, 2005 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions

wait.

i thought they were called the Barry Bonds Giants of San Francisco and Santa Clara County?

Hell is sold out... but some people are re-selling their tickets on Stub-Hub.com, or you can just sit on Mt. Davis. - McFood

by Jjjsixsix on Sep 18, 2005 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions

The Barry Bonds Giants of Los Angeles (North)

by green star oakland on Sep 18, 2005 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions

a's fans are pathetic

its so funny how u guys hate the giants because of barry bonds. I am guessing you guys are just jealour because we actually media attention even though we are losing. Look at how pathetic you guys are, u actually have a legit chance of making the playoffs and still you guys draw pathetic crowds even though you have a winning team. Of couse you guys hate going to giants game and of course they are going to boring for many a's fans. For me an A's game is boring to go to, i mean damn its the way it is. Its the A's who are they..........

by whatever on Sep 26, 2005 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Chavez' year

He has been awful at times, clutch at times (o.k. a few times), gold glove worthy at times, and incapable of throwing at times. In short, he is a microcosim of the A's in general. I guess it is no suprise, then, that he gets most of the love/heat depending on how the team is going. They do seem to follow his lead. It is his inconsistency that is frustrating to watch.
I also don't think his defense has been up to his standards this season. He has 15 errors, and the majority of them are throwing, so hopefully the off season surgery will correct that. But...surgery on the labrum is never a sure thing.
He's the highest paid player on the A's, so the love/hate relationship will probably continue. At least until he develops some iota of consistency. That usually doesn't happen, though, with players at this stage in their career.

by IndianaAsfan on Sep 18, 2005 4:52 PM PDT reply actions

Today, the A's feast...

PLEASE keep feasting! No more famine!

I love this: A's starting pitchers for the four-game series -- 26 innings pitched, only EIGHT earned runs, an ERA of 2.77. And that's WITHOUT Harden AND Zito against that crazy Red Sox offense.

Holy cow.

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by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Sep 18, 2005 5:55 PM PDT reply actions

That's definitely the main story

Yes - the A's hitters put up 12 runs today. But the Red Sox didn't score more than 3 in any of the 4 games - putting up 2, 3, 2 and 3. In effect, the A's scored more runs in this game than the Red Sox did in the entire series.

I sure hope we don't have to slog through any more "woe is us" diaries and trashing of our very good team - at least for a little while. It is our team's job to go out there and win, and they certainly showed they're capable of competing against some very good teams.

by louismg on Sep 18, 2005 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions

are you kidding me?

Are you some kind of adult?!

I sure hope we don't have to slog through any more "woe is us" diaries and trashing of our very good team - at least for a little while.

I can tell you precisely when those diaries will re-start: right after our next loss. Some people can't accept that sometimes baseball teams lose for reasons besides incompetence, failure of nerve, defective character, insufficient uncontrollable rage or a lack of effort. Sometimes you just lose. That's baseball... there's a lot of random stuff.

by Apricot on Sep 18, 2005 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions

NO KIDDING

There are so many "Oh I'm sorry I trashed the A's"-type diaries on here right now. That is so TIRED.

Not that I'm trying to deny anyone their right to freely express their opinion, but i'm tired of all the WAFFLING!

by LLawbug on Sep 18, 2005 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions

do you realize

The A's outscored the Sox 21-10 in a series and only got a split? Still, limiting the Sox to ten runs in four games is no small feat. Now, if only they could get to the playoffs to do the same thing...

Here's to hoping the A's can manage to pick up one game on the Angels this week, and head into the four-game set just one back.

by Alien @ Athletics Nation on Sep 18, 2005 7:12 PM PDT reply actions

I'd feel worse

as the team that had to scratch out its two wins while the other team won its part of the split by large margins.

Let us not continue to debate how many Angels can be dashed on the head of a pin. Let's just get to it while the gettin' is good.

by Checkswing HR on Sep 18, 2005 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Witasick

I must say I'm discouraged about Witasick today, even though it was mop-up time and he didn't give up any runs. A hard-hit base hit and a four pitch walk. How do you give up a four-pitch walk to a Sox scrub when you have a NINE RUN LEAD?

I'm discouraged because I thought Witasick had joined the front-of-the-bullpen middle relievers, Calero and Duke, and now it seems he's just reverted to his old self, afraid to throw strikes. Maybe he can get it back together, but I doubt it.

Let us not continue to debate how many Angels can be dashed on the head of a pin. Let's just get to it while the gettin' is good.

by Checkswing HR on Sep 18, 2005 9:01 PM PDT reply actions

I generally

think of players in terms of whether they are pitching/hitting a step up from where they should be to thrive (e.g. Mecir last year), a step down from where they could thrive (e.g. Blanton a #4 who could be a #3--this is a luxury), or right where they should be.

I think Witasick is too good for back-end relief, and not good enough to be a set-up man. But as the A's #4 right-handed relief pitcher, behind Street, Duke, and Calero, he is not being forced to "step up" so I think he'll be fine. We can afford him to wobble some and dominate some as a #4 guy. I'd be worried if he was our main set-up guy, though!

Nico

by Nico on Sep 18, 2005 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh, that's AWESOME!

I love Macha on Meds. That's great.

Overall... I feel better about this series now. On the morning of September 9th, we were coming into this ugly stretch one game behind the Angels. Losing only one game of ground facing Texas, Cleveland, and Boston, while they played the Struggling Sox, Mariners, and Tigers?

I will absolutely take that. It's frustrating that we could easily be tied or up on them with the poor losses that we've had, but we could easily have been knocked out of it, as well.

This team survived one HELL of a road trip, lost only one game, and now the remaining schedules are pretty even for the A's and Angels. This is not at all a bad spot to be in.

"A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings." -Earl Wilson

by Kyli on Sep 18, 2005 9:20 PM PDT reply actions