MARCO!
Wow. Talk about bittersweet. In the 7th inning, it was “season over” as Rich Harden left hurt. In the 9th inning, it was “game over” as arguably the best closer in major league history faced Scutaro with the count 0-2, two out, and the A’s trailing 4-2. Boom. “Fair or foul? FAIR!”
The parallels to last year’s AN Day are uncanny, right down to Jason Kendall’s relentless (“Kotsayesque”) at bat to keep the A’s alive and bring the winning run to the plate.
I’m writing this for baseballgirl because she’s on her way to the airport. She asked me to put this wrap-up together and requested just one bit of content to be added on her behalf: “Bobby Crosby is a terrible baseball player.” Did you feel the footsteps as they trotted around the bases, Croz?
MARCO!
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i'm gonna ride this pink cloud
for a while....heck, heading down to local market to tell the only other A's fan in town that i know of, the butcher's assistant, about this game.
by ak_A on Apr 15, 2007 4:18 PM PDT 0 recs
You ride that pink cloud, and remember:
A person's sexual orientation is no one's business but his own.
by Nico on
Apr 15, 2007 4:29 PM PDT
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the butcher guy just left
so I bought my usual diet coke and Club magazine
by ak_A on
Apr 15, 2007 4:38 PM PDT
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NO!
I am the only gay in the village!
<gets indignant>
<adjusts blue latex shorts>
by hunter on
Apr 15, 2007 4:41 PM PDT
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Yeah, but
can you cut the meat?
by FreeSeatUpgrade on
Apr 15, 2007 4:46 PM PDT
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MVP of the first two weeks of the season?
Jay Marshall!!!
by The Elephant on Apr 15, 2007 4:21 PM PDT 0 recs
yep
maybe we should have brought in marshall when harden left the game.
by xbhaskarx on
Apr 15, 2007 4:24 PM PDT
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There's no maybe about it!
by baseballgirl on
Apr 15, 2007 7:18 PM PDT
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Are you kidding?
It should have been Embree! The guy hadn't pitched for HOURS.
by Nico on
Apr 15, 2007 7:20 PM PDT
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"trotted?"
Marco DANCED around the bases. Freakin' DANCED!
by salb918 on Apr 15, 2007 4:21 PM PDT 0 recs
He goose-stepped
I enjoyed that quite a bit.
by mikeA on
Apr 15, 2007 4:29 PM PDT
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fascist
by xbhaskarx on
Apr 15, 2007 4:31 PM PDT
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WOW!
More Marco Magic!
And making the Yanks limp out of town with their bullpen heroes suddenly looking touchable, AND a sub .500 record makes it all the sweeter.
by Brian in 317 on Apr 15, 2007 4:22 PM PDT 0 recs
Marco!
fucking Scutaro! The man is our savior and it is even sweeter because the Warriors won next door earlier and the Clippers lost to Sacramento. Basketball playoff fever in the air and playoff type excitement against the Yankees. Walk off from Super Marco just makes my whole entire week!
And, yes..............Bobby Crosby might need a trip to the minors very, very soon. Not impressed at all my our 2004 ROY. I love my baseball team folks!
"Let's go Oakland!"
by mrod on Apr 15, 2007 4:23 PM PDT 0 recs
i am wondering abt bobby
.. he looks a little lost out there .. no baseball activity in offseason, missed a lot of playing time previous two years, and did not get a complete ST .. so you could be right ..
by Randy Bell on
Apr 15, 2007 4:26 PM PDT
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Crosby
I don't agree that he is a "terrible baseball player", but he is playing with zero confidence right now. Kinda like this old computer I'm using which needs to be re-booted once in a while for a clean start...send him to Sacramento for six weeks, let him get his confidence back, see ya about June 1.
by Soaker on
Apr 15, 2007 4:29 PM PDT
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agreed, he needs some sort of 'reboot'
.. it he can get himself jumpstarted here at the MLB level is the question .. Frank Thomas took two months to get going {offensively} last year .. remember that Scutaro has made some less than stellar defensive plays at SS also, - the whole team has looked a little rusty and sophomoric on defense at times - maybe it's just too early, I hope so .. and they will get it together in the next month or so ..
by Randy Bell on
Apr 15, 2007 4:38 PM PDT
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any news on Harden?
by larrysgurl on Apr 15, 2007 4:25 PM PDT 0 recs
shoulder tightness is all they have said
.. he was, or appeared to be on TV, shrugging it off -- but we really dunno yet ..
by Randy Bell on
Apr 15, 2007 4:27 PM PDT
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All we've heard is
"tightness in the right shoulder". No alarm clocks have yet been charged.
by Nico on
Apr 15, 2007 4:27 PM PDT
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LOL thanks. hopefully he doesn't miss any time.
by larrysgurl on
Apr 15, 2007 4:29 PM PDT
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Do you think he has a bulging dick in his neck?
by Nick on
Apr 15, 2007 5:29 PM PDT
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dude
I beat you to the punch earlier. see below! funny shit though, huh?
by mrod on
Apr 15, 2007 5:47 PM PDT
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Kiss of death
He said after the game he didn't think it was serious and wasn't concerned. Translated, that probably means season ending surgery.
by IndianaAsfan on
Apr 15, 2007 6:36 PM PDT
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Funeral on Tuesday.
In lieu of flowers, please send starting pitchers.
by Jennifer on
Apr 15, 2007 4:29 PM PDT
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He's got a new middle name
...and I'm wearing my Scutaro shirt to work tomorrow.
by AlamedaAphid on Apr 15, 2007 4:25 PM PDT 0 recs
That's fitting
since the original holder of the middle name was a Yankee, so dubbed by his Boston enemies. Now the Yanks fans can join us in hollerin Marco Fuckin Scutaro...just as they join us in booing A-Rod.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on
Apr 15, 2007 4:42 PM PDT
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Given the off days coming up,
the A's should insert Kennedy into Harden's spot, give Harden 10 days off, and go from there. I'm loving this win, and also believe that the A's just cannot compete with the Angels without Harden making 25+ starts. Please. Be. OK.
by Nico on Apr 15, 2007 4:27 PM PDT 0 recs
Halos still have two road games with BoSox ..
.. I hope they get creamed .. {g} ..
by Randy Bell on
Apr 15, 2007 4:28 PM PDT
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Interesting idea
I remember last year, Mark Mulder tweaked his back and the schedule was set-up so the Cards could have let him miss a start, keep everyone else on turn, and give Mark about a week and a half of down time.
They chose to pitch him instead.
The back problem caused him to adjust his mechanics and he ended up blowing out his shoulder a month or so later.
by grover on
Apr 15, 2007 4:47 PM PDT
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That's what I'm worried about
with Haren, actually. I think his hip is hurting and it's going to cause him to hurt his arm if he's not careful.
by Nico on
Apr 15, 2007 4:49 PM PDT
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Haren keeps telling the world he's fine
First thing to do is take him in a back alley and smack him around some until he tells the truth. If he's hurt and not telling anyone than the fuck-up's on him. Young can watch tape on his mechanics and see if he can spot any changes in Haren's motion but let's not foget he's got 11 other guys to look after as well.
by grover on
Apr 15, 2007 4:55 PM PDT
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Crosby
To give him some credit he seemed to get better
as the game went on and put together a decent
AB against Rivera going the other way.
BUT STILL HUGE PROBLEMS
I dont know why he kept trying to pull Pettite --
he just appeared to have no clue on the slider.
And when is he going to make an adjustment on that
outside strike? His fielding continues to be
erratic with a potential DP not turned midway
through the game.
Hope Ellis and Bradley come back on Tuesday and
Scoot gets the start at SS.
by oak1 on Apr 15, 2007 4:27 PM PDT 0 recs
another poor Crosby moment
Chavez at third in the 3rd inning after hitting a triple with 2 out. Crosby steps up and pulls
the first strike (2nd pitch of the AB) weakly on
the ground to the SS. Another opportunity with
RISP lost.
Any idea why Crosby was batting 6th today?
by oak1 on
Apr 15, 2007 4:32 PM PDT
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Because they don't allow you
to bat someone 11th? Because we can always find 3 guys who are actually batting worse? Because Geren has a sense of humor? All of the above?
by Nico on
Apr 15, 2007 4:35 PM PDT
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But he missed most of Spring Trainining ...
... so give him a break. Do you remember how awful Frank Thomas looked in April last year, for the same reason? But the people who were quick to label him "The Big Out" in April soon forgot about that once he had been playing for about 6 weeks.
I think you have to allow Crosby at least a month to get acclimatized before you even think about writing him off. Or accept that other readers will in turn dismiss your own comments and expectations as unrealistic.
by cloosley on
Apr 15, 2007 4:40 PM PDT
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I wouldn't accept that, since
I keep saying that Kendall and Stewart will start hitting, and never gave up on Frank Thomas last year. But those guys have career track records of success, while Crosby has a career track record of failure--and it's getting worse, not better. He used to be a .244 hitter who made all the plays at SS. Now he's a .200 hitter who can't do hardly anything, plate or field. If he needs more time to get into "game shape," he can do it at AAA. But he didn't adjust to major league pitching prior to his back injury, so I'm not especially waiting up for him to do it now. And if he can't field either, I'm not sure why he's in there.
by Nico on
Apr 15, 2007 4:46 PM PDT
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Not the same situation
Thomas not being ready hurt the line-up but as the DH his not being ready didn't affect the pitching and the defense.
Crosby's unreadiness hurts the A's at the plate and in the field, which in turn hurts the pitching staff. If he's not ready to hit and/or field than send him down to AAA and bring up someone who is baseball ready.
by grover on
Apr 15, 2007 4:50 PM PDT
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hmmmm... sensing a change of position
what a difference a couple of weeks makes on your perspective, eh, grover? ;-)
by FoolshGame22 on
Apr 15, 2007 5:58 PM PDT
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Of course I'll change my opinion
When Crosby is in game shape he's the superior defensive SS vs. Scutaro.
If Crosby isn't (physically) ready to play defense up to his potential, in he needs more reps to get in shape, then by all means someone else should be playing SS for the Oakland A's.
by grover on
Apr 15, 2007 6:04 PM PDT
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Hey, Foolsh:
re "And last I heard you still hadn't paid up from your little bet from way back when... that going to happen any time soon?" What's the answer?
by Nico on
Apr 15, 2007 6:04 PM PDT
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I've offered...
where are the Foolsh Five? I don't think you or grover is among them.
by FoolshGame22 on
Apr 15, 2007 7:13 PM PDT
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No, we're not
Nico and I are just interested in the integrity of the site.
by grover on
Apr 15, 2007 7:20 PM PDT
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Exactly. Foolsh, why don't you look up
the Foolsh Five and email them? Everyone's email address is in their user profile.
by Nico on
Apr 15, 2007 7:22 PM PDT
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<chirp, chirp>
<ribbit, ribbit>
by ArakSOT on
Apr 16, 2007 8:48 AM PDT
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yes he did miss most of it
and should have started the season in Sacramento to get up to speed.
by OaklandSi on
Apr 15, 2007 4:59 PM PDT
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The difference
is before his injury problems Frank Thomas was a hall of fame hitter. So, if Crosby had been a hall of fame hitter prior to missing most of spring training your argument might have more validity. If one hall of famer can come back, then another could. However, just because Frank Thomas turned it around doesn't mean a far below hall of famer like Crosby will.
by IndianaAsfan on
Apr 15, 2007 6:39 PM PDT
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Your argument makes no sense
Your argement reinforces my point that you cannot judge Crosby by his play this month. If you are willing to excuse a future HOF hitter who misses spring training for not being ready in April, why criticise someone who by your own admission is not in the same class? You should be willing to cut him MORE slack, not less.
It's not Crosby's fault if the A's management decide that the best rehab is to play in Oakland. He's going to play to the maximum of his ability, wherever he is. But it's Beane's and Geren's decision where he plays this month. They are playing him on the ML club.
by cloosley on
Apr 15, 2007 9:12 PM PDT
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I'm one of the few left who agree with you ..
.. but arguing anything in defense of Crosby right now on AN has become as politically incorrect as, well, it reminds me of the current arguments about a certain war america is involved in. An increasing number think it's unwinnable {i.e. Crosby is hopeless} and no solution but to pull out. And, typical of those who are negative or "anti" - they don't seem to offer any viable solution since Crosby is the only starting SS we have right now at the MLB level. Scutaro is only a sub, a very good one but still a sub not intended as a starter. That said, I do understand the frustration of the anti-Crosby side {just as I understand those on the different sides of the issue of the war}, and don't really have a solution to offer myself other than "stay the course" mainly because no other alternative right now - none that I can see. Please everyone, I'm not intending to get off-topic here or violate community guidelines, just used that as an illustration of what the Crosby vs. anti-Crosby climate here at AN reminds me of.
by Randy Bell on
Apr 15, 2007 9:27 PM PDT
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Politically correct?
You're comparing whether Crosby is good or bad to the war going on?
Here's my frustration: There is no solution. We have no one to replace Crosby with, because management has always been sold that he will come around.
Not only has his bat not come around (or he still may not be 100%--though I lay blame on the A's staff for last year's injuries), but his defense has gone to hell so far this year. I can handle Crosby as a .240 hitter with 20-25 bombs, but as someone who can't make a routine play?
Ask anyone who was AT the games this year. Crosby has been a joke in the field. No, I don't know why.
Do I have a solution? No. Marco is not a long-term solution, and barring a trade, there is no one in the system. Poor planning and too much faith in Crosby from the top.
Do I hope I'm wrong? More than you will EVER know; the future of the A's could depend on it.
But I don't consider myself on the 'anti' side because of any other reason than I don't have rose-colored glasses on. Look at Crosby's performance; really look at him, and you tell me how you can defend a player who, right now, is not playing anywhere close to the major league level.
by baseballgirl on
Apr 15, 2007 9:38 PM PDT
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No, he's not comparing Crosby to the war.
That's silly.
He's saying arguing against benching Crosby on this internet forum is like arguing against quitting Iraq on some other forum. The arguments are similar, in that they run up against frenzied popular opinion that seems to disregard all options other than "bail".
Avoiding the war issue, I'm still undecided on Bobby, but I do also believe that he's still capable of better things, and that he should be given the chance to "find himself" again, though I'd prefer to see him do it at AAA for now. The out he made before Walker came to bat was at least to opposite field...
by Elvez on
Apr 15, 2007 10:22 PM PDT
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the widespread dissatisfaction with Crosby
is based on his below average play, especially on defense, on a team that really needs its defense to be sharp given its offensive weakness.
There's nothing political about it, or irrational. Of course anyone who has a different opinion should feel free to express it. But it doesn't make the case for Crosby stronger to insult the fans who are displeased with his performance.
by OaklandSi on
Apr 16, 2007 9:54 AM PDT
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Apology to Oak, my post wasn't intended as insult
.. only mild sarcasm, but definitely I do not want you {or anyone} to feel that way. I was expressing how it feels from "the other side" - to say anything positive or apologetic for Croz does seem to invite ridicule here at AN, so it works both ways - that is all I meant. I guess when differences of opinion arise about a player, there can be {perceived} intolerance from both sides. So by the "politically incorrect" metaphor I simply meant that the "climate" here has appeared to me to become increasingly hostile to Croz and to anyone who dare to cut him some slack or offer apology for him - that's all. Again I'm sorry if you {or anyone else} took it as personal, it certainly isn't intended to offend my fellow A's fans in that way. And my position really isn't in defense of or apology for Croz - as I said, I don't see any positive alternative but to stick with Bobby and hope he snaps out of it. Scutaro is a sub not intended to start {especially at SS} and we don't have anyone else who is MLB ready at that position. :)
by Randy Bell on
Apr 16, 2007 10:09 AM PDT
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That is actually a pretty good analogy
in terms of the dynamics of the debate. I don't particularly want to say anything further, but I enjoyed that comment.
Well, I will say this: better to wait out an underperforming SS than to wait out......
by mikeA on
Apr 15, 2007 10:34 PM PDT
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What a load of bullshit.
He's playing really bad!
He can't hit (and hasn't over the bulk of his big league career) and right now he's woeful on defense. Is there really any other criteria we should be judging a non-pitching baseball player on?
Maybe he's hurt.
Maybe he's not game ready.
Maybe he's a bust.
The only thing we know for certain is that day after day he does more things to hurt the A's than he does to help them. Isn't that enough for you to want him out of the line-up?
You're right, Scutaro is nothing more than a sub. He is not a long term answer for a team with play-off intentions. But right now he's a Hell of a lot better option for Oakland.
by grover on
Apr 16, 2007 12:07 AM PDT
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Beane is still our commander in chief and ..
.. I will follow his leadership, along with vice president Geren .. {grin} ..
.. In the meanwhile, after a mid-season election, the anti-Crosby party has gained power at AN, and is threatening to cutoff support if the A's Administration doesn't do something soon to change policy and get this player out of an unwinnable lineup ..
.. Meanwhile, Anaheim has shown itself to be a real quagmire. It is a hostile place where we had a quick victory in 2003, followed by setbacks in 2004-2005, but then Beane & Company led us in a Counter-Surge that had some success in 2006 yet ..
.. for the most part Anaheim is shown itself an ungovernable province with a history of sectarian strife between two major religious factions dressed in the Monkey Red and the Green&Gold. There is fighting in the stands, the constant threat of beach ball bombs, ..- but our boyz have fought valiantly and continue to stage some major victories despite the discouraging climate down there .. and meanwhile ..
.. the Anti-Crosby Coalition continues to grow at AN and support for the A's Administration policy is wearing thin. What is going to happen, we don't know. Patience has worn out with Beane and Geren's "stay the course" with Crosby ..
Stay tuned .............
by Randy Bell on
Apr 16, 2007 4:48 AM PDT
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You must support Beane
Otherwise, you're just giving aid and comfort to the Angels.
by secret ASian man on
Apr 16, 2007 7:08 AM PDT
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{Grin grin} ..
.. glad to see folks lighten up a bit and respond to some humor ..
.. along those lines, just as one side on a real-life debate such as the war shouldn't impugn the other side's patriotism ..
.. so should we as fans not impugn the others' "fan-dom" if we disagree about "policy" such as with players we may like or dislike ..
.. It's OK to be on either side and still be a rabid fan of the Green&Gold ..
by Randy Bell on
Apr 16, 2007 10:16 AM PDT
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MORE slack??
by IndianaAsfan on
Apr 16, 2007 10:35 AM PDT
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I think cloosley meant something like ..
.. his 2004 type of performance {although hopefully finishing with better batting avg} .. cloosley nor myself expect MVP or even ROY type perfomance but clearly Croz is not himself. The guy has talent, he isn't this bad. So {i think} cloosley is saying that Croz is still in a bit of a "rehab" or "catching up" stage, and instead of letting him try to 'reboot' down in AAA the A's brass thought it better to let him get up to speed early in the season against MLB level competition. Remember DJ was sent down last year, {in July iirc} and tore up AAA, then returned to to the big squad - but it wasn't clear that it worked for DJ and I agree with Robert Buan who said on last nite's extra innings that he is unconvinced that sending Croz to AAA is the answer .. my exhortation to A's fans would be to try your best to be patient with Croz because we really have no good alternative right now - if we did, the A's management would have used it dontcha think? Take Care ..
by Randy Bell on
Apr 16, 2007 10:49 AM PDT
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Yea probably
I think my frustration w/Crosby is that overall I think he's overrated. He tends to drop the double play turn at second in pressure situations (the first game this year isn't the first time that's happened - remember getting the stare down from Redman?), and I've never thought very highly of his hitting. So, I'm probably guilty of dumping a few years worth of frustrations on him over his poor overall start, and under any measure it has been poor.
I just hope the optimists are correct in that it is just rust and an altered approach at the plate causing the problems. If so, he should be rounding into shape in the next couple of weeks.
by IndianaAsfan on
Apr 16, 2007 6:52 PM PDT
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Wow two buts in
the first sentence. Reminds me of Lackey and Colon.
by IndianaAsfan on
Apr 16, 2007 6:53 PM PDT
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Repeat of 2006 Yankees Series
Nobody seems to have commented that this is exactly what happened last year in the first A's series against the Yankees. Scutaro won the game (in the rain), and clinched the series, by driving the ball to the wall in right field, over Hideki Matsui's head.
Scutaro is a clutch player, whatever the stats say!
by cloosley on Apr 15, 2007 4:28 PM PDT 0 recs
nah
3 run walkoff HR is way more classy than a single
and how soon we forget that he came up twice yesterday with a chance to make a big hit but failed lol
by J Rod on
Apr 15, 2007 4:31 PM PDT
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hey, a career .300 player has failed
7 out of 10 times at the plate
by OaklandSi on
Apr 15, 2007 5:00 PM PDT
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The stats say
2 for 21 after that at-bat. Small sample size, yes, not very good the other 8 innings of a game, and probably 3 out of every 4 such situations.
<Dries wet blanket>
But for today, he's Super Marco.
by Rickeyfan on
Apr 15, 2007 4:34 PM PDT
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Scutaro easily could have been
3 for his first 3 yesterday. This didn't come quite as "out of nowhere" as it looks on paper.
by Nico on
Apr 15, 2007 4:36 PM PDT
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