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SEE YA LATER, MONKEY!

Oakland_tiny by Blez on in News

Since 2000, the A's looked a little like this:

That monkey is finally freaking gone.  I know this is a different group and that's exactly the point.  This is a group of players that didn't miss home plate.  That didn't stop to argue an umpire's call.  They didn't misjudge a ball in center field.  They didn't misplay a ball at first base that opened a huge inning for the other team.  For once, it was the OTHER guys who were doing those things.  The A's were the ones making the throw to home to nail someone at the plate.  Of course, he slid.  But that's neither here nor there.

In many ways, the A's wound up being a deeper team.  Granted, they didn't have the monster named Morneau, but they had a guy named Marco who quickly made himself most valuable.  No question in my mind that Marco was the MVP of this series.  He had a contribution in every game.

But it wasn't just about Scoot.  Today, the invisible men known as Chavez and Bradley stood up and made their presence known.  For those of you who said Chavez has never showed up in a big game...you can stop regurgitating that over and over again.  He was enormous today and it wasn't just the home run, it was the walk that allowed Payton to come to the plate.  And Dennys Reyes has been a nightmare to lefties.

So the A's go into territory that they haven't been in since 1992.  It's been 14 long years for A's fans.  Celebrate like you f'ing mean it.  This is a HUGE win for the Moneyball franchise.

The monkey can go write his memoirs for all I care.

The A's are going to the ALCS and as one very astute poster pointed out, you can't spell ALCS without "A-T-H-L-E-T-I-C-S".

Bring on the Yankees or Tigers.  I personally would love to see the Yankees and finish that book that Michael Lewis started years ago.  But right now, I couldn't give a rat's ass who it is...

LET'S GO A'S!!!!!!!!!  A'S IN 2006!!!!!!!!!BEST FUCKING SEASON EVER!!!

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YES!!!!
ABOUT TIME!!!  Let's KEEP IT GOING!!!

by Rickey35 on Oct 6, 2006 5:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

YES!!!!
ABOUT TIME!!!  Let's KEEP IT GOING!!!

by Rickey35 on Oct 6, 2006 5:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

YAY
FINALLY THE A"S WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by MoneyManWilliam on Oct 6, 2006 4:11 PM PDT   0 recs

yyyyyeeeeeaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A's win A's win....ALCS here we come!!!
ohio roots

by nickatt7 on Oct 6, 2006 4:12 PM PDT   0 recs

Thanks Blez....
for the awesome AN community!

Thanks to the A's for the awesome season that isn't yet over!!!!

GO A'S!!!!

by Flash G on Oct 6, 2006 4:12 PM PDT   0 recs

Love it Blez!
Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Oct 6, 2006 4:12 PM PDT   0 recs

A Quick Note:
After the A's game, ESPN went STRAIGHT to Yankees' coverage.

HILARIOUS!

I LOVE THIS TEAM!

LETS GO OAK-LAND!

"You're just jealous. You wish you had a rally animal..." -CardinalWraith

by Boonee on Oct 6, 2006 4:12 PM PDT   0 recs

yeah...
oh i know it absolutely ridiculous

by takebart on Oct 6, 2006 4:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That's why it'll be all the sweeter ....
when we win the World Series!  They'll cut to a highlight package of "Jeter's Greatest Moments" just as the A's are dog piling on the field ...but we won't even care about poopy ESPN!!!
Good pitching beats good hitting. And vice versa.

by TheBigO on Oct 6, 2006 4:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Celebration Over -- Time for business
My buddy told me today that he heard on the radio that big Frank signed an extension with the A's.  I can't find anything confirming that, so I suspect it's BS.  Any truth to it?

And Go A's Baby

by waltweissforever on Oct 6, 2006 4:12 PM PDT   0 recs

i am man enough to admit
i cried. but only after screaming and jumping around my otherwise empty apartment.

Let's Go Oakland, clap clap, clapclapclap!!!

by sypher1504 on Oct 6, 2006 4:12 PM PDT   0 recs

Me Too.
YEA  
H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Oh YEAH! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   !!!!!!!!!! !!! !!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   !!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! !!!!!!OH YWAEH!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!OH YEAH!!!!!!!!! !!!   OHYEAH!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
     

by Eck on Oct 6, 2006 4:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I can't wait for next week!
We have tickets for game 1 in Oakland and I am fired up!
"I'm more into going home and being horizontal" - Lew Wolff

by bvank on Oct 6, 2006 4:13 PM PDT   0 recs

Congrats, guys!
I liked Minnesota's story (come from behind to take the division), but I gotta offer up some love to a fellow AL West team.

I don't like the Tigers, I HATE the Yankees...so...GO A'S!

Visiting M's fan

by Phildopip on Oct 6, 2006 4:13 PM PDT   0 recs

CONGRATS!
Gotta give it up to our neighbors. A's and Athletics Nation representing the Bay to the fullest!
Golden State of Mind : Golden State Warriors news, hype, rumors, humor, science, history, and fashion

by Atma Brother ONE on Oct 6, 2006 4:13 PM PDT   0 recs

I feel ya' Sypher.
I didn't really cry though. I broke into hysterics (if that counts).

:)

"You're just jealous. You wish you had a rally animal..." -CardinalWraith

by Boonee on Oct 6, 2006 4:13 PM PDT   0 recs

heh. im sure
that to anyone who might have seen me, it looked like i was (am) hysterical

by sypher1504 on Oct 6, 2006 4:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

And someone put that scutaro
AB on youtube, stat!

by waltweissforever on Oct 6, 2006 4:14 PM PDT   0 recs

Jeez... ESPN
I love watching ESPN, but the first thing they talk about after the game is Yankees/Dodgers.  

by TDub on Oct 6, 2006 4:15 PM PDT   0 recs

ESPN blows
my thoughts exactly --> just switch to ESPNews

by Monkey Basher on Oct 6, 2006 4:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

WHOOOOOOOOOO!
I'm so happy! I'm hobbling around like crazy with my one good ankle!

by gawker on Oct 6, 2006 4:15 PM PDT   0 recs

ON THE UNLIKELY SWEEP?!
FUCK YOU ESPN!!!
"You're just jealous. You wish you had a rally animal..." -CardinalWraith

by Boonee on Oct 6, 2006 4:15 PM PDT   0 recs

CARL RAVESH
SHOULD WEIGH 500 LBS WITH ALL THE CROW HE HAS EATEN...THE SOB

by wencal on Oct 6, 2006 4:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Did anybody else see that?
"You're just jealous. You wish you had a rally animal..." -CardinalWraith

by Boonee on Oct 6, 2006 4:16 PM PDT   0 recs

A's game a footnote on sportscenter
Glad we could get a definition on a slump from Kruk instead of see highlights from the A's game.  

WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  All the pain from seasons past is gone.  

by Artvandelay on Oct 6, 2006 4:16 PM PDT   0 recs

Life is good.
I can die now.
The player's union is killing baseball.

by SoCal Rebel on Oct 6, 2006 4:16 PM PDT   0 recs

Who's beautiful
Canine is that, Blez?

by Salvatore on Oct 6, 2006 4:16 PM PDT   0 recs

OH MY GOD!!
AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

HONK!

AN apeshit!

by Jennifer on Oct 6, 2006 4:16 PM PDT   0 recs

MARCO
CLAP CLAP
SCUTARO
CLAP CLAP
MARCO
CLAP CLAP
SCUTARO
CLAP CLAP
"It is like Menudo, where guys reach a certain age and are kicked out of the band. And they go on to be Ricky Martins somewhere else." -Billy Beane

by WhiteElephantGuy on Oct 6, 2006 4:16 PM PDT   0 recs

THANK YOU!!!!
Thank You A's! Thank You Oakland! Fuck You ESPN!!!!!

Why the F--- am I listening to the Krukster talking about how much A-Rod sucks!!!! They're are much more important things to discuss!

by Monkey Basher on Oct 6, 2006 4:16 PM PDT   0 recs

what a win!!
Can't wait for the ALCS!!!  let's go oak-land!!!!!!

by saml314 on Oct 6, 2006 4:17 PM PDT   0 recs

MARCO!!!!
SCUTARO!!!!!!

EIGHT GAMES TO GO!!!!

by Monkey Basher on Oct 6, 2006 4:17 PM PDT   0 recs

An infinate amount of monkeys on typewriters
typing for infinity would eventually write moneyball.  Is that right?
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Oct 6, 2006 4:17 PM PDT   0 recs

"And one drunk monkey
over one weekend would type The Da Vinci Code"
-Colbert
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Oct 6, 2006 5:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I LOVE THE OAKLAND A'S
I LOVE YOU GUYS. AND I WANT A FUCKING RING!

by rsur5 on Oct 6, 2006 4:17 PM PDT   0 recs

YAAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOO!!!
I so glad I could share this moment with you all.   Wheeeeeeeeee!

by Apricot on Oct 6, 2006 4:17 PM PDT   0 recs

A few thoughts on the ALDS
-The Twins 2 successful sacrifice bunts and a stolen base netted them 0 runs. (The same was true, BTW, in 2002: the smallball twins didn't "manufacture" a single run when they beat us in that series).
-For two of the three games, the Twins DH was Jason Tyner, who hit .312/.345/.353 (OPS .698) this year and .272/.309/.315 (OPS .623) for his career, and ZERO home runs in over 1000 career at-bats. That has to be the most pathetic designated hitter in a playoff series since Dusty used Shinjo and Shawon Dunston there in 2002, but at least the Giants had the excuse of being an NL team. Gardenhire said he used Tyner because he wanted more speed in the lineup.
-The walk of Frank Thomas with no one on and two outs is just unbelievably stupid. Normally it won't blow up quite so spectacularly, of course, but that move was way against the percentages, and the result was poetic justice.
-If it seems like I'm picking on Ron Gardenhire...well, that wasn't my intent, but maybe I am. Ken Macha has gotten a lot of shit here for being too passive, but generally he's pretty good at putting his  best players on the field and letting them play. This series has been a fine example of the opponent getting himself in trouble by not doing that.
-This may seem like an odd thing to say about a team that just allowed 7 runs in 3 games, but if we meet the Yankees next, the part I'm most worried about is our starting pitching. In particular, our starters pitched 19 innings and only struck out 5. That's fine against a team like the Twins where two thirds of the lineup doesn't have any power at all (see Tyner comment above) but against the Yankees we're going to have to miss more bats.
-Another possible concern is that Street continues to look hittable. Maybe the three days off will help some.
-As Blez notes, just about everyone contributed on offense at some point. It's obviously not a dominant lineup like the yankees have, but even without Ellis and Crosby, I think this is the kind of attack that Beane envisioned when he put this team together.
-I really like the position the A's are in now. No more of this "can't win in the playoffs" garbage," but we're still the underdogs, so none of the pressure that favorites have either.
- Whose back is monkeyball going to ride on now?
Some are sabermetricians.

by andeux on Oct 6, 2006 4:17 PM PDT   0 recs

Macha
We just might have to start giving Macha a little credit around here. The A's played with incredible professionalism under pressure. I have to believe a manager has a lot to do with molding the character of a team. These guys are playing good baseball, every game. And we just got a demonstration of how easy it is for good players to not do that - in case we'd forgotten the demos from our side a few years back.

by matthias on Oct 6, 2006 4:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

My problem with Macha
is usually more about how he handles the bullpen, and I thought he did a really good job of that in this series. That was a big key in the A's winning. I never thought I would say this, but Congratulations Ken Macha, you earned it
Goliath, dissatisfied with his size advantage, decided to buy David's sling, which took steroids.

by TexasAsfan on Oct 6, 2006 6:15 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I HOPE
THE MONKEY LANDS IN NEW YORK..LOL

by wencal on Oct 6, 2006 4:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

good stuff, this should have been a diary
nobody will see it here buried among the other comments, i almost didn't.
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 Oct 6, 2006 10:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Can fans pour beer on themselves?
I sure the hell hope so...

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

MEOW

by smith1051 on Oct 6, 2006 4:17 PM PDT   0 recs

LOL
Awesome!
AN apeshit!

by Jennifer on Oct 6, 2006 4:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ok, now pour coffee
Nature's first green is gold...

by prana160 on Oct 6, 2006 4:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

second
best shit i've seen today i'm at work so I can't!
"He should be the Executive of the Year. Hands down." Macha on Beane

by KotsaysGirl21 on Oct 6, 2006 4:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Way to go Tim
Maybe I should go pop open the bottle of cheap champagne I have in the fridge!
"You're a terrible ballplayer, but you've always been a great asshole."-salb918 on Ozzie Guillen

by gatling on Oct 6, 2006 4:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't know
if Amy wants to clean up that kind of a mess or not.
"You're a terrible ballplayer, but you've always been a great asshole."-salb918 on Ozzie Guillen

by gatling on Oct 6, 2006 4:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Take notes...
do it outside.  Lake wouldn't let me do it inside
MEOW

by smith1051 on Oct 6, 2006 4:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I think i am
gonna do the same when i get home now!! Oakland in the MFin' HOUSE!!  HOLLA ATCHA BOY!!!
President of the Brent Gates Fan Club

by SoCal As Fan on Oct 6, 2006 4:40 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You are now my hero.
"This must be heaven," he says.
"No. It's Oakland."

by Kyli on Oct 6, 2006 9:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Swish is already drunk.
ESPNews post game extra
AN apeshit!

by Jennifer on Oct 6, 2006 4:18 PM PDT   0 recs

how bout some love for chavy
maligned here because we want so much out of chavy, man it makes it so much sweeter that he played the complete game finally in the playoffs, effortless pick and a killer startup homer after the twins wasted the chances in the first two innings. P.s. the savy of kendall comes through again, from getting interferences for outs to selling the phantom tags (ala posada on giambi) kendall is worth the price

by pieful35 on Oct 6, 2006 4:18 PM PDT   0 recs

true dat!
Good pitching beats good hitting. And vice versa.

by TheBigO on Oct 6, 2006 4:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

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

by EastCoastA on Oct 6, 2006 4:18 PM PDT   0 recs

Swish is awesome.
"You're just jealous. You wish you had a rally animal..." -CardinalWraith

by Boonee on Oct 6, 2006 4:18 PM PDT   0 recs

What the hell
is swisher doing right now??? Someone please tell me
"It is like Menudo, where guys reach a certain age and are kicked out of the band. And they go on to be Ricky Martins somewhere else." -Billy Beane

by WhiteElephantGuy on Oct 6, 2006 4:18 PM PDT   0 recs

pouring champagne on Wolff
and goin' crazy.

love that guy.

"The future's like, who cares?" ~Eric Chavez

by rebus on Oct 6, 2006 4:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Fosse interviewing Swish on the radio
what a freak!  He just said "shit"!  ooops!
Nature's first green is gold...

by prana160 on Oct 6, 2006 4:19 PM PDT   0 recs

ESPNEWS has continuing coverage...
The one Blez-approved ESPN network...
"So, whatever, Ozzie." -- Nick Swisher

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Oct 6, 2006 4:19 PM PDT   0 recs

Post-game press conferences commencing
Gardenhire first.
"So, whatever, Ozzie." -- Nick Swisher

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Oct 6, 2006 4:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm still crying.
I can't freakin' believe this.

I didn't want to play the Twins. I wasn't too confident of us winning against the Twins, much less SWEEPING.

WE SWEPT THE TWINS IN THE ALDS. UN-FREAKIN-BELIEVABLE.

AND SWISH IS AWESOME. I CAN'T NOT WRITE IN CAPS RIGHT NOW.

by whiteshoes40 on Oct 6, 2006 4:19 PM PDT   0 recs

AN APESHIT!
AN apeshit!

by Jennifer on Oct 6, 2006 4:19 PM PDT   0 recs

baseballgirl just called
And wanted me to give her love to the site.  She said, "Blez, I want the Yankees, bad.  We owe them.  This is a different team."

Gotta agree 100 percent there.

by Blez on Oct 6, 2006 4:20 PM PDT   0 recs

YES.
In the words of our country's fearless leader:

BRING 'EM ON.

"The future's like, who cares?" ~Eric Chavez

by rebus on Oct 6, 2006 4:21 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

She called from the Coliseum
by the way and it sounded LOUD.  You'd think she was in the clubhouse.  Hey, wait a minute...

by Blez on Oct 6, 2006 4:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

they must have turned it down on the TV
because the Coliseum sounded like a rock concert over the radio.
"The future's like, who cares?" ~Eric Chavez

by rebus on Oct 6, 2006 4:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

bring the f-ing yankees on!
let's show them MF's whats up and f-ing slaughter them!
"He should be the Executive of the Year. Hands down." Macha on Beane

by KotsaysGirl21 on Oct 6, 2006 4:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

A's are best positioned in MLB to beat the Yankees
We have the starting/relief pitching and a lineup that can score between 2-12 runs a game i.e a crapshoot that should be a ton of fun to watch.

People said th series with the Twins was a toss-up....I ythink the series with the Yankees would be one.

I think we are -150+ favs vs Tigers- in the unlikely event that happens.

by Vegas Bettor James on Oct 6, 2006 4:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

APESHIT WE ARE!
"You're just jealous. You wish you had a rally animal..." -CardinalWraith

by Boonee on Oct 6, 2006 4:20 PM PDT   0 recs

Looking ahead
Who do we call up for second base? Ginter?  I'm almost joking.
Electricity is actually made up of extremely tiny particles called electrons, that you cannot see with the naked eye unless you have been drinking. -Dave Barry

by davebenfremont on Oct 6, 2006 4:21 PM PDT   0 recs

i didn't start to cry
till i read this. and blez swearing on it makes it even more real. this is one of my happiest days in a long f-ing time. i cannot believe this is happening! i am so thrilled and so scared all at the same time...could my dreams be realized? are we going to the world series?! i will be that presumptous!i f-ing love this tem. i f-ing love AN and everyting it stands for! FUCK YES! LETS GO OAKLAND!!!!
"He should be the Executive of the Year. Hands down." Macha on Beane

by KotsaysGirl21 on Oct 6, 2006 4:21 PM PDT   0 recs

HUZAHHHHHHHH
HURAHHHHH HURAHHHHH HURAHHHHHH TO THE ALCS WE GO
there's simply no club like the white elephant club

by walk off bunt on Oct 6, 2006 4:22 PM PDT   0 recs

mines too
"We've got a whole new team with a lot of smart, experienced veterans. It's time to create some new history." -Ron Washington.

by haroldMD on Oct 6, 2006 4:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

First happy post
I'm a long time reader/lurker of this site who has never posted, but its about time I finally posted.  I love this site.  You guys keep me updated and entertained as an A's fan living in VA. Anyway, now that I've popped my AN cherry, I plan to be part of stuff.  LET'S GO OAKLAND!!!!  On to the ALCS!!!!!!

by eagleshead on Oct 6, 2006 4:23 PM PDT   0 recs