Open Thread - Game 2
by baseballgirl on Apr 3, 2007 6:21 PM PDT
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PrintWell, there are worse things than losing ugly on Opening Day (see: the outcome of last season), and worse things than losing our first head-to-head game against the Mariners (see: the outcomes of every other game against them last year). The best thing about baseball is the 24 hour do-over. Any heartbreaking loss early in the regular season can be made up for the next night.
With that in mind, we’re going to try a do-over tonight, as Joe Blanton faces a team he likes a lot. In his career, he is 6-1 against Seattle with a 2.50 ERA, and last season alone, he was 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA in his four starts. If I thought those numbers really indicated a trend, I would start him every single series against the Mariners; why not?
Obviously, he was not originally slated to start in this series, but due to Loaiza removing himself from the rotation before his injury cost us every fifth start, Blanton gets the nod. If you still don’t have enough reasons to cheer hard for Joe tonight, just think: It could be injured Loaiza pitching instead.
I wish I had some sage advice for Blanton, who struggles with...well...getting hit a lot and hit hard, but I really don’t. Throw strikes, but don’t make them hittable?
Yeah, that’s the ticket.
Opposing Blanton will be a favorite divisional foe: Jarrod Washburn. Washburn had a couple of pretty good years in his career with the Angels, but is coming off a pretty dismal season in Seattle. I hope our offense is tired of striking out, and is ready to hit.
Facing Joe Blanton will be this crew:
Suzuki CF
Beltre 3B
Vidro DH
Ibanez LF
Sexson 1B
Guillen RF
Johjima C
Betancourt SS
Lopez 2B
The A’s will try to score their first run of 2007 with this lineup:
Kendall C
Stewart LF
Bradley CF
Piazza DH
Chavez 3B
Swisher 1B
Kielty RF
Crosby SS
Ellis 2B
I though about putting batting averages up, but that just seems mean. And I don’t think my keyboard has that many zeros. I kid, I kid.
However, while I like Kielty in the lineup tonight, it's hard to see Buck sit.
Nico will take you the rest of the way...LET’S GO OAK-LAND!
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I'm on Comcast, Southbay
What channel is FSBA again?
I missed yesterday's game, I got plunked at work. I'm out of it, I know, I've been busy.
I get the teeveeland channel
I could be watching Gunsmoke. It's like that move Pleasantville.
Here we go, scroll again on the tv of the channel list.
I thought Buck wasn't going to be platooned?
Don't know who I'd sit though, as Stewart seems healthy.
Buck
He's not being platooned, he just happens to be getting the day off when the A's face a lefty. Just like Kotsay wasn't being platooned late last year. Seems like the right move, for now: Kielty as a RHB needs to be in the lineup. Eventually Buck will need to get some ABs against southpaws, but that can happen when someone else needs a day off for whatever reason.
Exactly.
He'll get some time against lefties probably when someone else needs a day off, like Stewart. It'd be a really dumb move if we didn't start Kielty against lefties.
Well, I have no reason to watch this game.
Obviously...
we're talking about Milhouse.
I like Booby
Buck will get some ABs against lefties this season -- Geren isn't Earl Weaver. But Kielty deserves to start against Washburn.
can I just ask
Why is the Women's NCAA Championship game on both ESPN and ESPN2? What's the point of having two channels if they are going to show the same game???
Remember whom you are talking about,
This is ESPN. The ones who employ such geniuses as John Kruk, Joe Morgan and Steve Phillips.
I heard that ESPN2
was gonna show closeups of the coaches or something.
I think I'd much rather see this lineup
Kendall
Kielty
Bradley
Piazza
Chavez
Swisher
Crosby
Buck
Ellis
or if I really had it my way
Ellis
Kielty
Swisher
Bradley
Piazza
Chavez
Buck
Crosby
Kendall
FSNBA on EI!!
WOOHOO! less annoying!
Wow, batting Crosby 8th
Macha would have had him (or Kendall) 3rd.
Man, Fox Sports are geniuses!
They make a one hour show that costs them basically nothing, where they simply count off a list of things that have happened while C and D Celebreties comment on how awesome they thought it was. And the show gets viewers because its always preceding a game!
"c and d" is generous
by OAKobsession on Apr 3, 2007 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions
mlb.tv's new "commercial break in progress"...
BreakOut® graphic is actually more annoying than last season's incessant Tom Petty.
Once again, mlb.tv manages the impossible!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 7:05 PM PDT reply actions
hi everybody
LET'S GO OAKLAND!!!
(Suppressing urge to comment...
...on why Sgt Wright finds himself in this position...)
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 7:09 PM PDT reply actions
Anybody been to SafeCo?
It looks like a nice park!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 7:12 PM PDT reply actions
kendall is an automatic out
unless he makes two
by OAKobsession on Apr 3, 2007 7:13 PM PDT reply actions
GAME OVER!
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!
FIRE GEREN NOW!
...or is it too soon for that?
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 7:14 PM PDT up reply actions
It's never too soon.
Stewart looks good at the plate.
Booo Kendall!!! Booo Stewart!!!
[smashes computer]
[sigh] I missed this.
Woo Hoo!
WE'RE ALL GONNA LIVE!
REHIRE GEREN!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions
WERE ALL GONNA GET
RADIO DELAYED
That's one of those times
You just lean in.
Too bad
that was a good AB by Chavez. Washburn hung that one, and Chavvy stayed with it and hit is well.
In other news:
Is someone giving MB shit in CF?
I think so.
Let's go take care of them.
As long as BBG comes along!
No, it was your typical SafeCo
reaction to any flyball out of the infield. <HUGE cheer> <disappointed sighs>
Dear Autorecrap,
Make up your mind. Wouldn't stop working last night. Won't work tonight.
Dear Jennifer,
Kiss my ass.
Sincerely,
Autorecap
Don't shoot the messenger. Autorecap made me post this.
New AN = the devil
Oh, wait...Crosby is up.
Crosby = the devil
New AN = Crosby?
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 3, 2007 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Not really.
New AN = Scoot
It's never going away.
Are you kidding?
New AN is soooo CLUTCH!!!
glen's comment of the year so far
would you rather have a pitcher who wins 5-4 or loses 2-1?....
ummmmmm. wow.
by jme on Apr 3, 2007 7:25 PM PDT reply actions
That was so stupid
that is belongs in FJM's Pantheon of the Dumb
I'll buy that for a dollar
FJM = firejoemorgan.blogspot.com
A must read for any saber-wielding ANer.
Because the pitcher accounts for so many runs
on the offensive side.
In AL baseball.
Still waiting on In Demand...
...and MLB to ink the freakin' deal!
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 3, 2007 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Did the announcer on FSN just ask
(in defense of Blanton and his high WHIP last year and 16 wins) If I'd rather have a pitcher that wins a 5-4 game versus one that loses a 2-1 game?!? O. M. G. Give me the 2-1 pitcher any time. Good grief.
Post facto, I'll take the win.
When predicting who will do well this year, I'll take the ERA.
I'll take the win...
...no matter which pitcher gets it.
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 3, 2007 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Keep the WHIP low and the wins will come.
Unless you're Haren.
amazing. once in a million
Goddamn
He didn't pull it!
that was a good at bat for Crosby
by larrysgurl on Apr 3, 2007 7:33 PM PDT reply actions
He did it! He did it!
He took a pitch the other way!
Yay Bobby!!
Come on now.
Bobby doesn't deserve our support or positive reinforcement.
Why didn't you hit a homer, you stubborn jerk?
[kicks Crosby]
i wonder if he did that on purpose
or accident.
That ball girl and Crosby
have to be related.
First and third and only one out. WOEEEEEEEEE.
Was that an indigestion type "Woe" or...
...a Joey Lawrence type "Woe"?
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 3, 2007 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions
45 pitches for Washburn!
hot dog
a run. now we have one more than the gnats
Woohoo!!
FSN / HD thoughts
- Baseball in HD looks purdy.
- I miss having the status bar at the top of the screen all the time. Looks like sometimes they put it up, sometimes they don't.
Ellis with SF and a run scores, 1-0 good guys
Whoo hoo!
Situational hitting!
1-0 A's!
At least he didn't break anything falling down
i hope
Well, that sucked ass.
Damn.
WE SCORED A POINT!!!
No seriously, we did!
Omigod, now Barry Crosby can't even figure out which direction to run, can you believe it!!!
-Cindi.
Oh, bunnies.
No better time to get picked off than with a runner on first, Kendall up, Stewart on deck and two outs.
And you people think we need to run more.
Because Kendall was going to hit a 2B?
It was actually a good time to run, IMO. It's just not a good time to get picked off.
When you have a moment...
...remind me again when it is a good time to get picked off?
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions
When you've just scored a run
on a sac fly, but the runner left 3rd too early, and the fielding team knows it. If the team in the field appeals, then you lose a run. If you make the pitcher do anything else before appealing (say, pick off a runner), the run stands.
Q.
E.
D.
Is the ESPN gamecast ball location legit?
Just looking at the alleged location on various balls on ESPN gamecast, and gave Kendall a ball that was in the middle, practicly. Is it even close?
BEEP....BEEEP....BEEEP.....BEEEP
BEEP
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 7:38 PM PDT reply actions
Why! Why did you have to get picked off so badly?
Answer?
Crosby: Well, you see, the Jason Kendall was about to hit a two run homerun! Thats the final sign of the appocolypse! And you wouldn't want that now would we? So I was doing you all a favor!
The "commercial break in progress"
is a visual pun on the old Breakout video game, right?
Yes....
...it also violates the Geneva Conventions.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions
How quaint
End of inning, Crosby caught stealing
That ball must be full
because it just ate up Swisher. Hopefully it doesn't cough up a hairball.
My favorite quote from LL's game thread
"Washburn making up for Felix's lack of suck."
Heh heh
"One man's 17 inches is another man's 18 inches."
wow the 2-2 was EXACTLY like the 0-0
by jme on Apr 3, 2007 7:42 PM PDT reply actions
no movement
that's pretty fucked up.
by jme on Apr 3, 2007 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions
groan
:(
Isn't it about time that Sexson
should eat some dirt
I knew I doomed us
when I drafted Sexson in the fantasy league
Two run homer for Sexton
ouch
Jeter woulda done it with more heart
And intangibles!
You just can't touch them!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Late to the party, I know
but: Bloody Sexson! When did you become a good hitter?! I know the power numbers were there, but can't you strike out as much as you used to...?
One thing's fer sure, these M's ain't your 2006 punching bags.
by Chavinator on Apr 3, 2007 7:45 PM PDT reply actions
Good defense at least
Anybody's game.
Also, I really hate Mariners broadcasts.
This BreakOut commercial thing...
...makes dot racing interesting!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 7:48 PM PDT reply actions
I thought Blanton not only
struck Sexson out, but that the 3-2 pitch was a perfectly good pitch. Oh well. I'm feeling sanguine because:
a. I think we're going to shell Washburn
b. Even if we don't, we're probably getting 2-3 innings off of non-premier relievers.
GO A'S!
Kendall didn't get memo A.
That really was a bad luck inning for Blanton
The bad hop single and then a seemingly good at bat against Sexson.
BEEP...BOINK....BEEP....BIP...
...BOINK
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 7:51 PM PDT reply actions
Long Term...I see two bad signs!!!
(1) King Felix has shown that he intends to be a legit #1 starter...aka "ace"...as opposed to some hard-throwing Freddy Garcia redux.
(2) Sexson - who has been a huge flop in the Great Northwest - has gone yard twice. This is the kind of confidence booster that can boost a guy from mediocre to dangerous....Yes, I know all about Shelton in Detroit last April. Point is, Sexson was legit BEFORE he got to Seattle. Hate to wake a sleeping Giant. (Speaking of, Nice opener for the men in Pumkin and Black...HA HA!!!)
Speaking of Giant
Crosby made a play!
And he had a nice hit. Good comeback game so far.
The thing I used to like most about Gameday
was that I could get online during a game and quickly see a narrative of what had happened so far. It seems way too cluttered to do that quickly now.
Bingo!
The "improvements" are largely chrome, not real usable features.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 8:00 PM PDT up reply actions
To make it look like a video game
Which raises the question: why didn't they make it look like Breakout!?
Yo, Adrian!
call MLB.TV tech support
After about 2 hours on hold, they'll fix it for you.
Granted, the game will be over by then, but...
Damn.
I wonder if Chavez is ever going to get untracked
Hopefully by me saying that, he'll hit a homer. :)
Felix Hernandez and Fly balls
I'm pretty sure Buck's Double was a FLYBALL. Kuiper keeps insisting the "strikeout" pitcher didn't give up a flyball. No, he didn't say flyball OUT!
by Fort Knox Yellow on Apr 3, 2007 7:59 PM PDT reply actions
Nice AB from Swish
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 8:02 PM PDT reply actions
two nights in a row
with a pro sex avoiding walk taken.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Apr 3, 2007 8:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Good AB by Swish
What's Washburn's pitchcount?
Thanks, rebus!
Swisher walks to put someone on base
I'm going to bed. hopefully the offense will show
up tonight.
by larrysgurl on Apr 3, 2007 8:04 PM PDT reply actions
C'mon A's!
When I said 'score the first run', I meant more than one!!!!
Willie F'in Bloomquist!
Damn!
AFLAC trivia notes Stewart the 8th opening day starting LF'er in 8 years fgor the A's.
last A's Starting Left Fielders on Opening Day...
Shannon Stewart
Nick Swisher
Bobby Keilty
Matt Stairs?
Jeremey Giambi
Ben Grieve
Terrence Long?
Joe needs to throw more first pitch strikes...
the Mariners are helping him out though.
Kupkakes!
Strikin' out the AL's leading HR hitter for 2007!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 8:10 PM PDT reply actions
C'mon freakin' offense!
It's WASHBURN!!!!
That's the Sexson we know and loathe
Hey Anyone live near Stockton?
our boys...
look lifeless so far this season...just going through the motions
by athleticsBB4life on Apr 3, 2007 8:11 PM PDT reply actions
I recall...Jason Giambi starting in LF
on opening day in 1997 (98?)...Made an AMAZING diving catch for the first or second out.
After that??? Well....
I sure do dig this mlb.tv Premium...
the BreakOut beeps are in 5.1 Dolby Stereo!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 8:12 PM PDT reply actions
Dunno...
...but he won the game with a double on Opening Day once.
<strangles offense>
< offense is already dead. doesn't notice >
LOL not paying the money for it
i settle for AN to get me through the games i cant see on TV
What is our problem?!
it is familiar, very, unfortunately
i have to slap my face to remember we won the AL west last year and beat the Twins.
Jose Guillen doubles for Seattle.
Knew he would be nice to have back in an A's uniform.
Boy that looked painfully familiar
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 3, 2007 8:20 PM PDT reply actions
nice blanton
havnt seen him move that quick since i dropped a hot dog last year
Torii Hunter, everyone!
Johjima doubles as well and another run scores.
Thats ok guys, now only down two runs.
Only 2 runs????? We have only scored 1 run in 14
innings
by theblackpearl on Apr 3, 2007 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Surely won't be held to one run in 18 innings.
by Charlie Brown on Apr 3, 2007 8:26 PM PDT up reply actions
not much you can do about that
ichiro is just ichiro
As I said this weekend...
April 2007 = May 2006
A 2-out RBI hit
Can they do that?
Suzuki bats in another run. Now down by three.
ugh
I liked it better when Blanton was unhittable against the Mariners.
Oh yeah and we scored runs sometimes. I really hope we get some offense going by this weekend...
Remember Blanton gets good support!!!
by Charlie Brown on Apr 3, 2007 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Ha Ha Ha LOL Remember???
by Charlie Brown on Apr 3, 2007 8:28 PM PDT up reply actions
What's the problem?
The offense has been very offensive so far.
by cptranman on Apr 3, 2007 8:27 PM PDT reply actions
NEW THREAD OPEN
This one has been dropped, kind of like...eh, never mind.
That's it. 5 runs this inning. I'm calling it.
Bradley a dinger
by Charlie Brown on Apr 3, 2007 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions
How can anyone not like Milton?
Seriously Seattle.
MILTON !!!!!!
I LOVE YOU BABY!!
Like I said, Blanton gets good support usually
Now we are down 4-2 at end of inning
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