FAtAlity

1. The field looked really clean-cut and polished.  I hate the Raiders. RIP Field till' '07.
2. Padilla would come to the set position really quickly, only to pause for an eternity before delivering the ball.  I noticed 3 or 4 instances (to  Ellis and Scoot) where they called time and it wasn't granted, but they stepped out anyway.  
3. 14-0 losses are worse watching on TV.
4. The way the A's handled DeRosa was pitiful.  I thought in the 5th, with 2nd and 3rd and one out they should have walked him.  They could set up the DP and DeRosa hit a HR yesterday.  Then, in the next inning, the A's walked Lee in a similar situation (he had hit a HR earlier), but then pitched to Derosa when he came up in the EXACT SAME SITUATION.  And then he hit the ball off of the EXACT same sign in left.  I just didn't understand the reason to walk Lee, btu not DeRosa either time.
5. The A's seemed tired, didn't see much energy out of anyone from the start.
6. I love the A's.

Please, people. Stop caring about this. It is meaningless. It means absolutely nothing in the standings. If you need it to evaluate the team that you've been watching for over 4 months, then how close have you been paying attention?

The only people run differential matters to is the guys at Baseball Prospectus. They use it and all those other numbers to compute our real record. With their numbers, Cleveland should have a better record than Minnesota. I'll bet that's real comforting to the Indians and their fans.

I am sick of the tyranny of run differential. People were using it a few weeks ago to justify blowing up the team. But the only record that matters is the won-loss record.

I'm glad this was a non-television game, but other than that, I think this is an easy one to put behind us. We've been on a hot streak, we've got a semi-comfortable advantage for the moment, and a blowout counts the same as a 2-1 loss. I'd say this is the most content I've been after an A's loss this season.

...the run differential issue, Blez. I think that this one statistic has been used and abused by many on this site. Arguments have been made to show how weak of a club we have due to this dreadful statistic. Never mind the injuries and the fact that we entered the season's half-way point in first place.

   It's funny how a couple of statistics can lead many down a logical but not necessarily accurate path. The two this year that are thrown out there are this teams overall batting average which is discussed on a more national level for comparison with the A's competition and on the local blogosphere, the run differential.

   All I will comment on, is that I will take the victory by 1 run performed repeatedly over the occasional 0-14 blow-out any week. Are these stats good indicators of trends? Possibly, but we still have to deal with the reality that when team BA is discussed (and usually the season's numbers are used) the average fan will not get the story of what has happened since the All-Star break. This is also true for run differential. The early season's numbers and today's result don't give an accurate picture as to how good our team has been since the All-Star break.

 In our case, our 2nd half surge is as consistent as year's past. If the trend remains, then we shall probably see our team in the postseason playing the AL East contender in the first round.  

and get ready for the next series on Friday.  I've gotta quit picking Oakland to sweep in the GOG's...

I set my Tivo wrong and it didn't record the game.  And I'm glad!  The A's were going to lose again.  We all knew that.  14-0 may be ideal since it gave the players a chance to mentally relax once it went out of reach.

Just saw Kruk on baseball tonight. He said that the Rangers should have swept the series since they had leads in the two games they lost but couldn't keep them. Smart analysis Kruk; so that means whenever a team takes a 1-0 lead in the 1st they should have won the game? When will the critics give the A's their due and admit that the A's won the series because they're the better team, instead of saying that the Rangers "lost" the series.

Kruk also mentioned that they continue to lose because they have no pitching; DUH!! Maybe Carlos Lee can come in and pitch a few relief innings.

other than he's ben a $2.5 million waste. I saw him get lit up in Sacto Sunday and then once again today walk off the field accompanied by Davis...what gives?

when did we pick him up?

The other teams in the division could have more runs than Fat Bastard on Taquito Tuesday. As long as the A's have more wins, I'm happy.

It was a little warm today, but still a beautiful day for baseball. The crowd was over 30,000 strong, with a ton of kids there. I got to see a C-130 fly over the stadium, and there was no crowd when I drove out of the parking lot in the 7th inning. Considering the score, I'm still in a good mood right now.

The A's have a REAL off day tomorrow (instead of a travel day). I say they should roll out of bed around 11:00, go straight to the golf course, and forget about today. Kotsay should be back (no pun intended), and Joe Kennedy should be ready any time now.

P.S.: Anyone notice on Lookout Landing and Lone Star Ball that after Sunday's win and yesterday's win, the A's just caused TWO fanbases to throw in the towel in the span of 3 days? In early August, no less. I'd call that a successful start to the month.

I have. What is run differential going to add that I don't know. And let's say I don't know the team. Let's say we're going against a team with a poor run differential, but in part that differential was built against their awful third and fourth starters, or against their bullpen before it got healthy, or because their offense wasn't healthy in the first half, or because of four or five blowouts. Run differential wouldn't really help us assess the playoffs all that well.

And the A's haven't been getting blown out or winning by a little against the teams they're likely to face in the playoffs. They've been doing fine.

Look, whether it's New York or Detroit, we'll be an underdog. Run differential won't tell us how big of one. And regardless of run differential, we'll have a very good shot if we pitch well and hit well. We're certainly capable of beating any of these teams. Today's 14-0 loss didn't change that one iota.

i'm glad i had to babysit.

...that the team has been more lucky than say,good.

It's very simple.

It's a meaningless stat in terms of what in terms of "tangability," but it clearly is an indicator that that the A's have an inefficient offence and have been very fortunate to be 10 games above .500, even though they give up more runs than they themselves score.

  I was at the massacre today, until the last strike -- hoped for two late TD's and a two point conversion, but it didn't happen.
  As noted by others, sh** happens once in a while, Texas CAN hit, and the A's did just go 7-2 against the division rivals.  Perspective is everything.
  . . . and for those Ellis detractors: after Uncle Miltie was excused from the contest, due to the outfielder shortage, Ellis had to move to first (with Swisher going to right field).  With the score 14-0, on a foul pop Ellis streaked over and made a terrific sliding catch right in front of the Ranger dugout.  
  Did it change the outcome: no.  
  Will it show in the boxscore: not really.
  Did it show hustle and heart, no matter what: hell, yes!  GO A'S!!!!!!

I was there today. When it was 6-0 and Zito left the mound, I turned to my girlfriend and said: "if they score anymore runs, lets split, this game smells".  Next thing you know, it was 12-zip and we were grabbing our belongings and heading out the stadium in a hurry like everyone else. Oh well, you cant win em all, but I think the A's will seriously need to come up with a win that next game against Kazmir if they expect to avoid a Giants-ish losing streak.  Something about those pesky Devil Rays...in the last few seasons, I've seen the A's blow some tough games against the D' rays that came back to haunt them at the end of the season, holding on for dear life against the Angels of Anahell.

Ellis had two hits and Kielty was 3-3. Good to see those two hitters hitting. btw, who won?

It's a very bad sign for the A's...

With the exception of last year's padres,  there hasn't been a team since 2002 (as far back as I looked) with a negative run differential on today's date that has made the playoffs.  

but I actually like games like this.  It feels like you're getting all of the bad performances out of the way at once.  If every series comprised of two exciting, tight victories and one blowout loss, you'd have a pretty successful team.  I'll accept a appalling blowout here and there in exchange for the A's uncanny ability to prevail in one-run games.

ABC right now.

nothing.
Playoff prediction against Detroit/NY/Boston (as a wise man once said: IT DOESN'T MATTER!!!)
game 1 Detroit 9-1
game 2 Oakland 3-2
game 3 Oakland 5-3
game 4 Detroit 10-2
game 5 Oakland 4-1

We had a bad day, it's over, it sucked...but the weather was great (at least in L.A.)
and we're still in 1st place by 3 games.
I LOVE THE MUTHAF#$%IN' OAKLAND A'S, BEYOTCH!!

btw...If I can take a 7 out of 9 but lose the 9th game by 10-15 runs via the shutout, where do I sign up

I left at the 6 inning...I did catch Barajas homerun ball though. Everyone was yelling at me to throw it back but I didn't. Quite embarrassing...If you guys caught that ball, would you throw it back?

and they are not taking chances. Brad Halsey was sent down to Triple A today. Komine was sent down yesterday and if Witasick can't perform, they will prolly ship him off as well. I think the A's are taking the initiative and they want no pansies at the big league level. I love this! They are finally doing something to solidify this team and find what works now instead of later. What does everybody else think?