A'S SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
CHAVVVVVVVYYYYYY IS BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!
Okay, now is the time to jump up and down and cheer, and celebrate the fact that even though the Angels so far have taken 2 out of 3 at Yankee Stadium, we still hold a 4.5 lead in the West.
Kudos to Esteban Loaiza, who pitched a HELL of a game today--hitting his spots while throwing in the mid-nineties, going eight strong innings; three hits, one run. He pitched one of the best games by an A's pitcher all year, and just flat-out bested Corcoran.
As it so often happens in this 2006 season, the A's offense took advantage of the D-rays' defensive miscues, while the A's defense (Call me, Milton!), remained rock-solid from the first out of the game, to the last, even in the tough sun.
And don't look now, but our franchise player hit his first homerun in nearly a month, and it absolutely could not have come at a better time, sending the A's from a disheartening 1-0 loss, to a win, and a series sweep.
However, some credit is due for the managing today. When your team doesn't hit well (and we don't), it is vital to pick up some bases in other ways. The A's used walks, errors, steals, and even bunt attempts, to try to manufacture some runs, and they were finally rewarded in the bottom of the eighth with the insurance run. From top to bottom, the A's offense was stifled, stymied, and shut-down for most of the afternoon, with the exception of two back-to-back hits from Thomas and Chavez in the bottom of the seventh. When you get a pitching performance like Loaiza turned in today, sometimes two well-timed hits are all it takes, which is a good sign for our offensively-challenged Oakland Athletics.
Huge win today, preserving the 4.5 lead over the Halos, and doing what we have to do to win it all--beating the teams we are supposed to beat.
Some upcoming A's dilemmas:
-What to do about Bobby Crosby when he comes off the DL?
-Do we see Dan Johnson up again soon? (maybe sooner if Swish is still hurting)
-How do we successfully play the game of 'shuffle the pitchers'?
-<whispers> Rich Harden?
Until then, enjoy this moment. The A's could not have had a better weekend, and are now playing better than any team in baseball right now. Take that, Dodgers!
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Comments
Sorry.
by jme on
Aug 13, 2006 3:21 PM PDT
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ask mel gibson
by xbhaskarx on
Aug 13, 2006 3:24 PM PDT
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Cotroneo called Chavez' HR
by OaklandSi on Aug 13, 2006 3:20 PM PDT 0 recs
heard that
by smasfan on
Aug 13, 2006 3:23 PM PDT
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big games for all four pitchers
the a's offense didn't hit well or draw many walks, but on a positive note, only two Ks.
by xbhaskarx on Aug 13, 2006 3:20 PM PDT 0 recs
A's need to keep it going against M's
A's have earned a lot of respect with their play since the all-star break. 65-52 means that the A's are 42-23 since the season's low point. That's incredibly impressive without Harden and with the injuries to Bradley and Chavez during that stretch.
This is a different team than the 00-03 bunch, but one that has maybe been more amazing in what they've overcome and what they've done with what they have.
Last point: The manager deserves some credit for this.
by RLangford on Aug 13, 2006 3:25 PM PDT 0 recs
NEVER THOUGHT
by smasfan on Aug 13, 2006 3:25 PM PDT 0 recs
Time to go to camp
Camp Scoot - Not a very appealing entry way but before you know it, your in the compound with quaint cozy cabins...a real value.
by ak_A on Aug 13, 2006 3:26 PM PDT 0 recs
I'm in Camp A-Rod at 2nd...
by baseballgirl on
Aug 13, 2006 3:28 PM PDT
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see you at the campfire tonight
by ak_A on
Aug 13, 2006 3:31 PM PDT
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talking to eric
by smasfan on Aug 13, 2006 3:27 PM PDT 0 recs
as in Hendu?
by ak_A on
Aug 13, 2006 3:27 PM PDT
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did the M's fire him?
by ak_A on
Aug 13, 2006 3:29 PM PDT
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have not seen him on M's
by ak_A on
Aug 13, 2006 3:36 PM PDT
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listening to bruans show now on mlbaudio
by ak_A on
Aug 13, 2006 3:48 PM PDT
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RE: Loaiza
by Erik being Erik on Aug 13, 2006 3:32 PM PDT 0 recs
good call
by xbhaskarx on
Aug 13, 2006 3:34 PM PDT
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haha Erik..you are the man!
by Amnesiac727 on
Aug 13, 2006 3:34 PM PDT
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right on.
by ak_A on
Aug 13, 2006 3:36 PM PDT
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Oh yeah?
http://www.athleticsnation.com/comments/2006/8/2/04240/86911/5#5
by louismg on
Aug 13, 2006 3:47 PM PDT
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Stop being enablers
I'm not saying to be mean to people, but don't indulge them by giving props when they guess one right. It just encourages the "look at me: I predicted that" attitude.
by iglew on
Aug 13, 2006 8:49 PM PDT
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i don't think you can generalize like that
and even most of those that aren't, like "loaiza will pitch well today" or "watch payton hit a home run here" seem rather harmless.
by xbhaskarx on
Aug 13, 2006 9:04 PM PDT
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clearly wong predidictions, should
by ak_A on
Aug 13, 2006 9:24 PM PDT
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A's will win the WS!!!!!!!
by mikeA on
Aug 13, 2006 9:12 PM PDT
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Run Differential Fun Fact
Runs Scored: 35
Runs Allowed: 36
Record: 6-1
Let the good times roll.
by RLangford on Aug 13, 2006 3:41 PM PDT 0 recs
They put up playoff information
Niiiice.
Meow!
by baseballgirl on
Aug 13, 2006 3:57 PM PDT
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went to that
by smasfan on
Aug 13, 2006 4:00 PM PDT
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that oakey chokey thing on HH
by ak_A on
Aug 13, 2006 4:01 PM PDT
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A's Brand Baseball --
"No. It's Oakland."
by Kyli on
Aug 13, 2006 4:06 PM PDT
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Haha
by lenscrafters on
Aug 13, 2006 4:12 PM PDT
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ha ha
by smasfan on Aug 13, 2006 3:43 PM PDT 0 recs
feeling good, feeling good
by groversson on Aug 13, 2006 3:43 PM PDT 0 recs
Woofing Alert!
by SportySpice on
Aug 13, 2006 4:51 PM PDT
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I hoping...
by Threepwood XX on
Aug 13, 2006 5:14 PM PDT
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A seriously great weekend
by sprtsnwyn on Aug 13, 2006 3:49 PM PDT 0 recs
asked macha if e-lo
by smasfan on Aug 13, 2006 3:51 PM PDT 0 recs
Chavez
Just kidding -- Chavy, way to go bro'! Thanks for making those of us who doubt your offense to think twice! Great win.
by Vacafan on Aug 13, 2006 3:55 PM PDT 0 recs
If Loaiza can be anywhere near what he was today..
Deep thoughts:
- Good to see us running today. Looked like that was the game plan with Paul behind the plate. Corocan knew Payton was going and there was nothing Tampa could do. I don't need us to be a running team, but I'm a big fan of keeping the opposition honest and knowing that we have guys - Payton, MB, Kotsay, Chavez, Kendall - who can steal a base.
- Huston came on and (yawn) did his job again today with an economic 10-pitch inning. Three saves in three days likely puts him on the shelf for tomorrow. An insurance run one of these last two days, in retrospect, wouldn't have hurt. For the record: I do not want him to pitch tomorrow.
- Speaking of Street, I'm not a fan of getting cute with the pen, but with two lefties due up for Tampa in the 9th, I wonder if Macha was at all tempted to save Street and opt for a southpaw followed by Calero. Probably not, but I wonder if Halsey would have put the closer-by-committee-for-a-day thought in mind.
- What bearing did me walking to a neighborhood store prior to first pitch to buy a bottle of glue to repair my Chavez bobblehead - which was broken at his forearm! - have on his performance today? Why did it take me so long to do this? Will he ever make an out again? These are questions to which only the almighty Baseball Gods have answers.
- Where's Mark? Since he's sat for two straight series, would it make any sense to bring him back against the lefty Washburn tomorrow? I'd say might as well sit him again, and seeing Kielty has made me long for Hiram Boccachica, let alone Dan Johnson.
- Speaking of DJ, we don't know if Swisher can play 1B, left alone LF. For the MLB Gameday audience, what the heck happened? Strained hamstring stretching for a throw? Day to day? How premature is it to think about Melhuse at 1B tomorrow?
by RyanFromBonas on Aug 13, 2006 3:58 PM PDT 0 recs
Is Swish really day to day?
Hope he is alright. Chavvy rocks out with his c%*k out!
by mrod on Aug 13, 2006 4:04 PM PDT 0 recs
When a man does splits like that,
He definitely looked in some pain afterwards. :-(
...Can I offer to ice him?
"No. It's Oakland."
by Kyli on
Aug 13, 2006 4:07 PM PDT
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Finally!!!!
<after complementing another 3rd baseman> "Chavez is going to win the Gold Glove, of course, Chavez deserves it, but he's pretty good."
by baseballgirl on Aug 13, 2006 4:08 PM PDT 0 recs
That play Lowell made, was not anything that
by theblackpearl on
Aug 13, 2006 4:12 PM PDT
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Nobody does it better than Chavvy
by mrod on Aug 13, 2006 4:12 PM PDT 0 recs
Hey...did anyone know...
It's barely been talked about! They certainly didn't mention it 17,000 times on Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter, and of course, they didn't interview Joe Morgan about it.
For the love! The nation has to hear that man for 3+ hours tonight; don't extend it!
P.S. They said 'butt' on BBTN.
by baseballgirl on Aug 13, 2006 4:27 PM PDT 0 recs
And have I gone crazy?!
Ummmmm....!??!??!
by baseballgirl on Aug 13, 2006 4:29 PM PDT 0 recs
Was at the game, and...
- Loaiza looked terrific, and his fastball looked 93 MPH at times. Best I've ever seen him throw in an A's uni. Heck, 59 pitches in the first 6 innings tells the story--that's "Greg Maddux in his prime" territory.
- Now IS the time to be cautious with injuries; hamstring pulls, like the one Swish suffered, have a way of getting reinjured (and coming back to 95% only to be reinjured again) if you try to play through instead of sitting out until you are 100%. I was actually ticked that nobody came out to check on Swisher and felt he should have been taken out of the game. Mark my words, "day-to-day" will turn into a DL stint if they try to bring him back a minute too soon.
- Chavy is the man, end of story.
by Nico on Aug 13, 2006 4:45 PM PDT 0 recs
Me Too and
by lynnzgal on
Aug 13, 2006 6:34 PM PDT
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Sorry for the inaccuracy:
by Nico on
Aug 13, 2006 6:46 PM PDT
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Which Barry will show up tmrw?
by Oaktownmagical07 on Aug 13, 2006 4:47 PM PDT 0 recs
Washburn goes tomorrow
by china bob on Aug 13, 2006 4:58 PM PDT 0 recs
Fun, Fun Game
First, a little boy threw out a ceremonial pitch, then held up his glove because he wanted Swish to throw it back to him. So cute.
Then, the second oldest living Athletic (whose name I don't recall) threw out a pitch from his wheelchair. He basically handed the ball to Swish, but he is 96 years old.
Very touching.
At one point, I actually thought Loaiza would challenge Rich's record for the fewest pitches thrown in a complete game.
Loaiza got a loud standing ovation from the crowd after the 8th. After the game, when he finished his interview with the TV guys, he signed a bunch of autographs. A happy, confident E-Lo is very very good for the A's.
And finally -- cute kids running the bases after the game as Beach Boys music plays in the stadium.
The Best!!!
by SportySpice on Aug 13, 2006 5:01 PM PDT 0 recs
radio
by smasfan on Aug 13, 2006 5:03 PM PDT 0 recs
A's site says Philly A
"First pitch: Emil Maiho, a former member of the Philadelphia Athletics, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Sunday's game against the Devil Rays. Maiho played 21 games for the A's in 1936.
"At 96 years old, he is the second-oldest member of the Philadelphia A's alive today. He resides in Castro Valley, Calif."
by OaklandSi on
Aug 13, 2006 5:05 PM PDT
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Thanks for the info
by SportySpice on
Aug 13, 2006 5:15 PM PDT
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no, I was out of town
My season ticket package has all three Mariners games, so I'll be living in 226 M-W
by OaklandSi on
Aug 13, 2006 6:07 PM PDT
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Oakland Tribune: Both
He was both an Oakland Oak AND a Philly A
by OaklandSi on
Aug 13, 2006 6:17 PM PDT
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Wonder if he can still play short...
by alox on
Aug 13, 2006 6:13 PM PDT
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BBG has it right...
This is an important part of the game, should never be ignored and I predict will be used more and more as we near the playoffs.
by doubleplayer on Aug 13, 2006 5:13 PM PDT 0 recs
No Wave Today?
I don't think Giants fans are paying enough attention to start doing a wave.
by Hit4TheCycle on Aug 13, 2006 5:17 PM PDT 0 recs
They tried in the top of the ninth.
"No. It's Oakland."
by Kyli on
Aug 13, 2006 8:58 PM PDT
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i hate the wave.
by larrysgurl on
Aug 13, 2006 10:50 PM PDT
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