ANtics Episode 2.29: It Hurts So Good

by louismg on Sep 17, 2006 8:55 PM PDT in News

Deep into the September stretch run, something very big is different about this year's A's team. Something about 275 pounds big... with 38 homers and 105 RBIs big... which is why as the team and its fans get fired up in plans for October... "It Hurts So Good."

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Also: Take the Poll: What's your greatest fear as playoffs near?

2005 Comics | 2006 Comics | All Comics | Poll

Poll

What's your greatest fear as playoffs near?

That we won't make it and the Angels do.

11 votes

That a key player or pitcher will be injured.

45 votes

That Macha can't manage in the playoffs.

45 votes

That other teams are simply better than we are.

55 votes

That someone on AN will "woof" and curse us.

8 votes

Other (Write-In Below)

17 votes

181 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

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by OaklandSi on Sep 17, 2006 8:55 PM PDT reply actions

LOVE IT!

Perfect timing!

Oh, and today? Yankees swept in the double-header (which is good, since we need the best record in baseball), Jeter loses his hit streak, we win, Angels lose, and everything's green-and-gold colored!

"Today, everyone did do what I wanted!!"~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Sep 17, 2006 8:56 PM PDT reply actions

Love the way the Zito pic gets transformed

from disbelief at the loss at the Plunderdome to Z-dawg trying to figure out "what's different..." with the FFT A's. Great stuff, as usual. I can't wait to see our bitches clinch in Anaheim against Slingblade or whoever gets to lose.

"The guy's Far Eastern. Psychic. He knows what the hitters are looking for, and he relays that to me," Zito said.

by LAXile on Sep 17, 2006 9:02 PM PDT reply actions

Hush!

Don't let the kids really know the truth! It'll spoil the illusion! :-)

I think Zito is always contemplating... something... like the strike zone yesterday. Is it really a square, or more of a quadrilateral? What if I throw it here? A ball? Okay... here? A ball? Hmm...

More ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/ | Archive

by louismg on Sep 17, 2006 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes, indeed! Sometimes too much contemplation:

"am I being 'too fine'? Oh, look at that homerun..." Zito's a curious mix of what seems like relatively original thinking (see my sig), and the worst kind of clich?s (see quote from today's paper (Chronicle?), where he said, "My father said, 'If you never aim for the moon, you'll never get there..."

"The guy's Far Eastern. Psychic. He knows what the hitters are looking for, and he relays that to me," Zito said.

by LAXile on Sep 17, 2006 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions

and his "aim for the moon" quote

was when he was asked a strange question about whether Frank Thomas was "self-promoting' for the MVP. It was an odd question, and an odd response.

by OaklandSi on Sep 17, 2006 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah -- Zito clearly respects Frank, but

maybe he wanted someone to ask him a question about...ZITO. I love Zito, but I also love to rib him.

"The guy's Far Eastern. Psychic. He knows what the hitters are looking for, and he relays that to me," Zito said.

by LAXile on Sep 17, 2006 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Biggest Fear: "Other"

Twins win the central early in the final week of the season, setting them up to pitch Santana against the A's in Games 1 and 5 and the A's lose the series in 5. That's terrifying.

by DavidA on Sep 17, 2006 9:04 PM PDT reply actions

Go Tigers!!

"Very nice day in the Oakland A... Oakland A's? What's this stadium called again?" Nick Swisher on TWIB.

by larrysgurl on Sep 18, 2006 6:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Biggest fear?

itself.

I'm only concerned that i won't get to see any of the games.

"Straight outta Oakland, California where we sparkin on ya" - 2Pac

by Erik being Erik on Sep 17, 2006 9:06 PM PDT reply actions

I sat in the LF bleachers today for the first time

It was the perfect baseball day because witnessing a sweep against the defending champs is sweet, and the Angels loss made it sweeter.

A new ANtics strip is a sort of cherry on top.

: ) ALL SMILES!

by kvn on Sep 17, 2006 9:30 PM PDT reply actions

All smiles indeed :)

"Today, everyone did do what I wanted!!"~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Sep 17, 2006 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions

A's face Weaver, Lackey and Santana

this weekend, those guys own the A's hitters and let's be honest, if not for FT the A's would have lost most of the games recently. It is true the overall batting average of the team is much better since July, but you can't name one player other than FT who is really hitting the ball and driving in runs. Fortunately the A's probably only need to win one game to ensure getting to the playoffs, but even with a 7 game lead it is not over yet.

by china bob on Sep 17, 2006 10:02 PM PDT reply actions

C'mon my kindred spirit....

...jump on the bandwagon. We're not going to lose again until we clinch. :P

"Today, everyone did do what I wanted!!"~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Sep 17, 2006 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Best line

of the comic in a while:

"Let go of my hand, you're hurting me." ;-)

by Tyler Bleszinski on Sep 17, 2006 10:03 PM PDT reply actions

And here's the love we got on ESPN

tonight:

(after the Detroit wrap up)

And, oh yeah, the A's swept the White Sox, so they're pretty much out of it.

"Today, everyone did do what I wanted!!"~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Sep 17, 2006 10:15 PM PDT reply actions

Hubby wouldn't give up even after two hours of SC

"I can't possibly have missed it, right?" Yep, they're ignoring the A's.

by gawker on Sep 18, 2006 12:05 AM PDT up reply actions

The SECOND time I watched it....

...they showed the A's.

"Today, everyone did do what I wanted!!"~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Sep 18, 2006 12:07 AM PDT up reply actions

Frank Thomas MVP

"Big Hurt" carrying the team on his back especially in this series. He also an Offensive Juggernaut, bitch!

Macha is a great manager. -Ron Washington

by pachydermOAFC on Sep 17, 2006 10:20 PM PDT reply actions

First AN post baby!

Love big Frank, but lets no forget that pitching has been our horse for the 1st 3/4 of the season...So when someone says that the A's are just riding "one" player to the playoffs, kindly remind them all we need is our pitching(AL 3rd best) and just one player, whether Swish in april, Payton in july, Kendall in August, or the big F-bomb in september, to step up, and the Series is all A's baby, all A's

The A's always have one standout, and I'd love to see chavy be the one in october, that would be sweet!

by Asjunkie on Sep 18, 2006 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Welcome!

And good point about the pitching!

"Today, everyone did do what I wanted!!"~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Sep 18, 2006 12:35 AM PDT up reply actions

other

called "brain lock". especially around home plate

Hi, I am closetasfan, and I am a NRAF, and an ANA

by closetasfan on Sep 17, 2006 10:21 PM PDT reply actions

My biggest fear...

is running out of teams to hate in the playoffs. No Red Sox, no Angels, no Giants...

Oh, wait... the Yanks look like they might make it, even though they're having almost as much trouble as the Mets clinching they're division. Can't wait until we beat those punks in the ALCS! I'm hoping the Mets make it to the World Series, so we can knock out the two ESPN darlings one right after the other. Sweeps would be good.

Screw the Woofing Gods! We want one for the thumb in Oakland!

Magic Number: 7

The Los Chokeles Chokers of Chokaheim choke again! - BruceBochte, quoting Nico

by FoolshGame22 on Sep 17, 2006 10:30 PM PDT reply actions

"other"

I have no fear. If we don't win, oh well, but I think we're as good, when healthy, as any team in either league. No matter what anyone says.

by Philip Christy on Sep 17, 2006 10:33 PM PDT reply actions

Wow...you guys want a reason...

...to silence the Angels' chances as quickly as possible? From the front page of HH:

So we get an illustration of the schizophrenia of the Oakland Chump Fan Base: He-She possesses both the hooliganesque socipathic tendencies of Raider fans AND yet longs for the acceptance as an informed, objective and knowledgable baseball analyzer that Moneyball promised to deliver.

Don't tell the A's fan that He-She is not as gifted as Michael Lewis. Hell, read their Mychael Urban if you want proof...

So they are each a Jekyll and Hyde, wanting to be seen as cerebral statisticians while they stroke themselves in a hot lather over Mark Kotsay's tight asscrack and promise to bully anyone who doesn't share in said circle jerk.

I guess if you can't win, take as many people out as possible on your way down, huh, Rev? Classy.

Have fun in October, HH. And we'll just see about next year.

P.S. This is in NO way an endorsement to read or troll on that horror-show blog.

"Today, everyone did do what I wanted!!"~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Sep 17, 2006 10:41 PM PDT reply actions

Gotta love the "Portland Athletics"...

thread that Rev started after the Angels lost and we won yesterday. Spiteful, petty, ill-informed... that's Halo Hell.

Enjoying the "usual September fade," Rev?

The Los Chokeles Chokers of Chokaheim choke again! - BruceBochte, quoting Nico

by FoolshGame22 on Sep 17, 2006 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Seriously.

I hate the Angels.

And good for them, making 100+ errors over the season.

I suppose we'll start seeing the threads about the reason they'll be so good next year is because their team worked on their defense all October.

Whatever works, I suppose.

"Today, everyone did do what I wanted!!"~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Sep 17, 2006 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Pretty sure that

The Angels will be working on their short game this October...chipping and putting... you know, the fundamentals.

Free Clarett Now!

by tresselfan on Sep 17, 2006 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Spiteful, yes...

but a lot of the comments in the thread that followed (from people who have lived/been to Portland) were actually pretty dead on regarding why Portland isn't ready for a big league team.

"When it's moving, it's better than when it's not moving." Saarloos, channeling BZ.

by PDXAthleticsfan on Sep 18, 2006 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions

I am kind of worried

That too many people will start posting there(on hh). I get such a huge kick out reading their posts after losses. I hope we don't somehow screw it up. Can't wait for the posts the day we clinch.

Free Clarett Now!

by tresselfan on Sep 17, 2006 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Unlike other blogs,

it's impossible to have a rational discussion over there. AN should just chat it up over here.

"Today, everyone did do what I wanted!!"~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Sep 17, 2006 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree, but

They take it so badly...I feel guilty about thinking it's funny, but I do it anyway. Whatever...7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Free Clarett Now!

by tresselfan on Sep 17, 2006 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions

HH is pathetic, don't go there

It's kind of pathetic. Between this post and the Portland A's post, it's obvious that Rev is trying to get A's fans riled to post on his blog. Why? Because no Angel fans are posting there. The number of people posting on AN following the Angels/Rangers game today outnumbered the number of people on HH commenting on that game by a ton. It's kind of embarrasing for them. All Rev can do now is make fun of the A's. So, let him be and don't engage him. It's pointless. He and all Angel fans know who the better team is this year. Go A's!!

by Wolverine on Sep 17, 2006 11:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Yep....

...it's going to be VERY quiet over there.

"Today, everyone did do what I wanted!!"~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Sep 17, 2006 11:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean

that people aren't out to get you, Rev! (Hee, hee, hee: see my first ever diary). I expect to hear strains of "They're coming to take me away, ha ha, ho, ho, to the funny farm where life is happy all the time...." The guy is such an ass that I have stopped throwing him the occasional bone of my clicks (OK, the day we clinch I'll drop by and ask the Rev if he wants more koolaid).

"The guy's Far Eastern. Psychic. He knows what the hitters are looking for, and he relays that to me," Zito said.

by LAXile on Sep 18, 2006 7:29 AM PDT up reply actions

Rev

is attempting to play on our emotions at AN to generate conversation (hits) about HH. It's really quite sad.

"It's never 'just a game' if you're winning" - George Carlin

by bluelightrain84 on Sep 18, 2006 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Other: Biggest Fear

That teams in the playoffs will IBB Frank Thomas like crazy.

"We are deep-sea diving in the Monongahela River after heavy rains in the western Pennsylvania area." - A's Fearless Leader

by OaktownRajah on Sep 18, 2006 12:34 AM PDT reply actions

Well, they'd be smarter than Ozzie

"Today, everyone did do what I wanted!!"~SportySpice

by baseballgirl on Sep 18, 2006 12:36 AM PDT up reply actions

A's need to watch the Batter-Pitcher matchups

with batters behind Frank.

It will be very interesting to see who bats behind Frank on the game by game, pitcher by pitcher matchups.

by A s Eh on Sep 18, 2006 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions

nice!

the great playoff miss of 2004 followed by the good try of 2005...and 2006...is getting down to it!

by ak_A on Sep 18, 2006 6:36 AM PDT reply actions

Playoff starting rotation . . .

Zito, Harden (!), Haren, Loiaza, and Blanton? Does that sound plausible?

"It's never 'just a game' if you're winning" - George Carlin

by bluelightrain84 on Sep 18, 2006 8:49 AM PDT reply actions

No 5-man rotation in the postseason

There are too many days off in the postseason for a 5-man rotation. The choice is between 3 and 4, and there's no question at this point that the A's would favor using 4. The question is, who misses out?

Obviously, Saarloos isn't getting a playoff start, while Zito, Haren, and Loaiza are. So the choice is between Harden and Blanton. And until Harden makes a couple of starts, pitches well, and stays healthy, there's no way to know who'll get the nod.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Sep 18, 2006 9:00 AM PDT up reply actions

Boy

Imagine a playoff starting rotation consisting of Zito, Harden, Haren, and the enigmatic Loiaza.

"It's never 'just a game' if you're winning" - George Carlin

by bluelightrain84 on Sep 18, 2006 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions

The only thing to FEAR

is FEAR itself.

by MobiusKlein on Sep 18, 2006 10:43 AM PDT reply actions

And Kenny Rogers

at the Coliseum.

"When the A's suck, the terrorists win" ~ Poppy

by eamb on Sep 18, 2006 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions

And Frank with RISP

"Game THREADS/posters piss me off more than games." -Jennifer

by ArakSOT on Sep 18, 2006 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions

My biggest fear...

is Barry Zito, the way he deals with the pressure associated with the BIG game and how that translates into performance.

Make no mistake, I want Zito to pitch well but it seems as if he gets too ramped up to be his best in the big games. He admitted as much in the season opening loss vs. the Yankees.

Add to that the pressure of being labeled the club's current ace and I can see Barry trying too hard, trying to be too fine with his pitches and consequently giving up walks, hits and runs.

If that happens, I suppose it's up to Macha to pull the hook but I'm not confident that'll happen in a timely (i.e., before it's too late) fashion.

Ultimately, if Zito psyches himself out then Macha must make the call.

A short series demands it.

Hazelnut

by Ice Cream on Sep 18, 2006 1:20 PM PDT reply actions

Say what you want about the tenets of FITZ...

but at least it's an ethos.

Writing it under your cap ? living it. Hopefully BZ will let his hai grow long and get back his WTF rock and roll attitude.

"Meanwhile, Kirk Gibson's a coach with Detroit and I'm in the Hall of Fame.'" - Dennis Eckersley

by El Payo on Sep 18, 2006 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions

dead

link?

by takebart on Sep 18, 2006 3:50 PM PDT reply actions

fresh

ring?

"When the A's suck, the terrorists win" ~ Poppy

by eamb on Sep 18, 2006 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Host is Toast?

Must resist urge... to break random things...

More ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/ | Archive

by louismg on Sep 18, 2006 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Register.com has a massive outage

So everything I have is "hiding". The AN community at large should sue.

More ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/ | Archive

by louismg on Sep 18, 2006 6:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Frank is not afraid...

of the Twin's pitching or playing in that hole of a park. Santana is nasty, but Frank can get after him a bit, especially if we get some people to foul off some ptiches and get his pitch count up.

(I hope)

I'm climbing the foul pole and not coming down until Ron comes out to LF with a batting helmet full of cottage cheese.- Drunken A's fan

by ronismyhero on Sep 18, 2006 4:12 PM PDT reply actions