ANtics Episode 2.8: Swish vs. the Sophomore Slump

by louismg on Apr 16, 2006 9:13 PM PDT in News

Last year, the A's, on the backs of 4 rookies, Huston Street, Nick Swisher, Joe Blanton and Dan Johnson, surprised many by contending all the way through September. With two weeks complete in the 2006 campaign, Swisher is providing power at the plate and strong defense - laughing in the face of the dreaded sophomore slump. Today, we check in to see how he and the other three "smores" are doing.

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ANtics Archive: 2005/06 ANtics | PDF | Take the Poll

Poll

Given The "Knee-Chiro", Who Has the Better Future in Martial Arts?

Kung-Fu Ken Macha

8 votes

Joe "Judo" Blanton

1 votes

Jason "Tae-Kwon"Dall

3 votes

Nick "Slash and" Swisher

10 votes

22 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

LOL

knee-chiro! love it! great job as always!

by gotgreen on Apr 16, 2006 9:28 PM PDT reply actions

Did anybody see...

Dan Meyer had a good outing for the RiverCats. 5 IP, 3 runs, 3Ks, 3Walks, RCats won 17-4. I see a lot of upswing and potential in Meyer. Anybody else?

by A'sfansince1970 on Apr 16, 2006 9:37 PM PDT reply actions

I see a lot of potential in Meyer,

and have far from given up on him...but personally, I wouldn't use a 5 innings, 3 ER, 3 BB outing to trumpet the cause. Better than his first outing, though, I'll grant you that...

...Nice ANtics, louismg.

-Ichnico.

by Nico on Apr 16, 2006 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions

knee-co?

"It was an incredible catch, but I didn't really like his footwork." - Ken Macha

by secret ASian man on Apr 16, 2006 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Macha

Yes, Macha, I've been wondering the same thing, "Why are you even here," after you were let go and unexplicably brought back.

by Reggie on Apr 16, 2006 10:23 PM PDT reply actions

Interesting writeup, IMO,

though not as funny as ANtics:

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060416&content_id=1403571& ;vkey=news_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id

by Nico on Apr 16, 2006 10:37 PM PDT reply actions

This is the funniest

one yet, Louis. You keep getting better and better. Knee-chiro had me laughing out loud and the photo of Macha at the end is absolutely priceless.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 16, 2006 10:55 PM PDT reply actions

I wonder...

...if Macha now regrets teaching Swish his secret judo door-kick which should only be used for good and not for evil.

ducks to avoid flying chair

by JLeverenz on Apr 17, 2006 8:27 AM PDT reply actions

favorite panel

DJ's. Quietly brutal.

by Apricot on Apr 17, 2006 9:29 AM PDT reply actions

It's almost like watching Hatte last season.

Painful.

"Any shots that I'll be callin' will be to the bartender!" -- Band Camp

by Sharon on Apr 17, 2006 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions

with Hatty we questioned whether

his age was slowing him down

with DJ? it's not age. soph slump? perhaps? slow adjustments to how pitchers are pitching him? perhaps...though he needs to speed up his adjustment.

or...can't hit major league pitching? I hope not, but it's a possibility.

by OaklandSi on Apr 17, 2006 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions

I didn't mean

DJ=Hatte. I only meant that the feeling I get watching DJ struggle is similar.

"Any shots that I'll be callin' will be to the bartender!" -- Band Camp

by Sharon on Apr 17, 2006 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions

oh, I know that

that just gave me an opportunity to talk about some of the possible reasons why DJ is struggling

by OaklandSi on Apr 17, 2006 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions

Thank you, louismg.

It's nice to be able to smile even when the A's are in a slump.

"Any shots that I'll be callin' will be to the bartender!" -- Band Camp

by Sharon on Apr 17, 2006 9:55 AM PDT reply actions

HAHAHA.....

i think this is your best one yet... i love the knee-chiro... i was sitting in lecture today on my laptop.. and i laughed out loud and people were staring...

"A lot of teams don't like our crowds, and that's good for us. I love that other teams find them unnerving." -Bobby Crosby

by TrizzleNizzle510 on Apr 17, 2006 2:52 PM PDT reply actions