4 Score! And 7 Years Ago, The A's Last Won A Baseball Game
Perhaps the ultimate embarrassment came just a few minutes ago, when Mike Piazza requested to extend his stay in Stockton because he feels he needs a higher level of competition. OK, that didn’t happen but everything else did, such as:
• The A’s scored 4 runs in a game for the first time in 12 games—and they lost by 7 runs.
• The only time Joe Kennedy could find the plate was when he was trying to throw to third base.
And so on. But whether it was A’s pitchers giving up runs all 3 innings after the A’s had scored, or Suzuki unable to throw out a base stealer on a pitchout, or Crosby unable to handle a one-hopper to SS, or giving up triples to Vazquez, sacrifice flies to short RF, and a 5/5 to Michael Young, there is a bottom, bottom line and that is that the A’s tonight were not futile, they were utterly embarrassing.
And lifeless. I couldn’t help but note Chavez’ interview comment, aired at the start of the broadcast, about how Ron Washington brought tremendous energy and life to the field every day. I thought about how the A’s lost Wash in the off-season, then lost Milton Bradley three weeks ago, and now no longer seem to be able to show any life or win any baseball games. I’m not sure there’s any connection, I’m really not. I just know that the A’s look so bad, and so lifeless, right now that I can’t find words that could adequately convey how bad things have gotten in Oakland. Which is why I’m going to bed. G’nite.
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Ididn't think that they looked lifeless.
They just looked shitty. Lifeless can be fixed. Shitty can't.
by IM4Oakgal on Jul 17, 2007 10:43 PM PDT 0 recs
Well said
by baseb3383 on
Jul 17, 2007 10:47 PM PDT
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Thanks
I am going to Las Vegas next week... the timing is great. Can't stand another week of thinking about this season. Anyone else need a break?
by IM4Oakgal on
Jul 17, 2007 10:50 PM PDT
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This was the first time
I thought they looked lifeless. Deer in the headlights lifeless, like they were waiting for bad things to happen and then making sure.
by Nico on
Jul 17, 2007 10:57 PM PDT
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Well, in context
even shitty can be fixed, if players play at their potential. Playing well below their ability could be fixed. The trouble is, overlapping sub-par performances. See Suzuki, not-Ichiro. See pitching (pick any).
by One won lost won on
Jul 18, 2007 9:18 AM PDT
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After looking at LL's "Sinking Ship" logo...
I decided to try, with my own limited photoshop skills. This is just tongue in cheek, for laughs.

by JLaff on Jul 17, 2007 10:43 PM PDT 0 recs
LOL, that is so funny!
Is Kendall on a life preserver, or was he so scared he crapped his pantalones?
A's Brand 2007 Titanic Baseball
Brilliant
by oaklandSMASH on
Jul 17, 2007 10:55 PM PDT
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None of the above...
He jumped ship, the lower half of his body was eaten by a shark, and his upper half gritted its way to the treeless island.
by louismg on
Jul 17, 2007 11:01 PM PDT
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Nice
by CTAsGirl on
Jul 18, 2007 7:04 AM PDT
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Hey, Lookout Landing
already uses a sinking ship. The Titanic, in fact.
Instead, show a railroad train on its side, with various Athletic players either squashed, or with an arm or leg caught underneath the wreckage of tumbled, jumbled passenger cars. Show Larry Davis suveying the various injured, standing there scratching his head saying, "Who's next?? ...!!" Show Kendall leaving the scene saying the clever equivalent to "Huh? I wasn't there. What wreck?"
by One won lost won on
Jul 18, 2007 9:24 AM PDT
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Kendall...
...looks like he's in Southpark. Only thing missing is an expletive.
by UncleLeo on
Jul 18, 2007 9:33 AM PDT
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OK, the A's lost
Just a warning Nico, I shoot to maim.
Why do I always have to be the one to suffer through your exibition streaks?
by grover on Jul 17, 2007 10:44 PM PDT 0 recs
I just hope
you shoot at my "member," so that if your aim is off by an inch I'm guaranteed to come out of it unscathed.
'k, NOW I'm going to bed.
by Nico on
Jul 17, 2007 10:55 PM PDT
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Did we trade Kendall for Cubs fans?
Because suddenly "wait 'til next year" seems so easy to say...
by jeepers on Jul 17, 2007 10:51 PM PDT 0 recs
Or Brooklyn Dodger fans.
Even. Did anyone see the great show on HBO about them?
by IM4Oakgal on
Jul 17, 2007 10:53 PM PDT
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REAL FANS
Keep the faith.
by LilAnnieOaktown on Jul 17, 2007 10:52 PM PDT 0 recs
Real fans stick with the team...
and hope. But real fans don't have to be naive.
by IM4Oakgal on
Jul 17, 2007 10:54 PM PDT
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I'm a fan since 1968.
How many of you can say that. So long you bunch of a-holes!
by LilAnnieOaktown on
Jul 17, 2007 10:56 PM PDT
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Not me.
I started watching when we moved to Cali in 1977. But they've been my one and only team ever since. The A's have been fun to watch ,,,for us longtimers ey?
by IM4Oakgal on
Jul 17, 2007 11:01 PM PDT
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raises hand
by ak_A on
Jul 18, 2007 8:06 AM PDT
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Me Too, Me Too
...But that won't stop me from raggin' on Crosby. I enjoyed my A's then with the naiveté of youth, today I enjoy them with a hardened cynicism.
by DCinWC on
Jul 18, 2007 10:43 AM PDT
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There's a difference between blind faith...
...and realism.
by Flashfire on
Jul 17, 2007 11:23 PM PDT
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There is also a real difference between
being a real fans and being a long time fan. Most people who are long time fans can be considered real fans, but I have met exceptions.
As for me, I've taught myself to be an A's fan. Does that make me less of a fan than someone who watched the move from KC to Oakland?
I believe if you spend your time here on AN you are probably a real fan. Although I respect the Athletic Fan Elders, I never buy the whole because I was a fan physically longer than you I am a better fan than you explanation. And the A-hole comment to your allies is not appreciated.
by oaklandSMASH on
Jul 17, 2007 11:32 PM PDT
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Agreed.
by Flashfire on
Jul 17, 2007 11:48 PM PDT
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real fans will rag on their team but..
they will follow their team no matter the circumstances and care enough to talk about it no matter what the score.
by greenandgoldpolarbear on
Jul 18, 2007 12:55 AM PDT
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That's about it
This isn't about choosing sides in Bosnia, or Hutus versus Tutsis. No gunfire involved.
It's about entertainment. Right now, the A's are increasingly void of entertainment. I'll direct my attention elsewhere, for an increasing fraction of my day.
by One won lost won on
Jul 18, 2007 9:28 AM PDT
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That's right.
Even when you're a big fan ...you don't get as excited over a losing squad as you would over a winning squad. Silly to think anything else.
by IM4Oakgal on
Jul 18, 2007 1:35 PM PDT
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Give Art Howe a bat
He's probably a better hitter than these stiffs. He'd be the most exciting guy on the team
by SalParadise on Jul 17, 2007 10:53 PM PDT 0 recs
LOL..now that was funny.
Ty for the smile. A good place for me to say NYtol.
by IM4Oakgal on
Jul 17, 2007 10:55 PM PDT
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we really missed huston street tonight.
you know, it would've been fun if cust's sac fly would have been a grand slam. sure, we would've lost, but it would've been fun. while all hope for the a's may be lost, i'd still like to see custy get hot again.
by danh on Jul 17, 2007 10:56 PM PDT 0 recs
If it was a GS, then they would have
used the better relief pitchers, like
.
.
.
uh
.
who are they again?
Embr.. no
Cale... no
Bro... no
Jo.. no
Casillia .. OK - one inning.
How many more innings do I have to cover?
by MobiusKlein on
Jul 17, 2007 11:06 PM PDT
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I dont want to waste energy writing a Crosby rant
So...
<insert mandatory Crosby rant here>
by lenscrafters on Jul 17, 2007 11:03 PM PDT 0 recs
Good win today.
by Helloooo 1st on Jul 17, 2007 11:05 PM PDT 0 recs
The A's lost but this pic still made me laugh...

[insert caption here]
by alamedagirl on Jul 17, 2007 11:09 PM PDT 0 recs
I bet Craig Paquette is just hanging out.....
somewhere in need of a job, he could probably play SS...LOL...When do we ask for the return of Rickey....OH DEAR!!!!
by wacchampions on Jul 17, 2007 11:15 PM PDT 0 recs
Ken Macha
is probably chuckling right about now. I liked what someone posted earlier about why was Crosby batting 5th? That is just bizaare why Geren would bat him 5th and not 9th. For gawd's sake put Lachemann in charge and put Geren on the bench where he can be the rah rah coach and not be allowed to make any serious game decisions.
by pedoman on Jul 17, 2007 11:22 PM PDT 0 recs
Gaudin
When will it be time to remove Gaudin from the "untouchable because he's such an integral part of our future" club and realize that he's very quickly reverting to his pre-07 form. Namely, lots of walks, poor ERA.
Look, I'm not saying we get rid of him or anything, but let's call a spade a spade. The Gaudin we saw in April and May was not the real Chad Gaudin. I'm afraid this current Gaudin bears a much stronger resemblance to the Gaudin we picked up before last season. Even as a reliever last year, he had a low ERA, but the peripherals suggested a disaster waiting to happen.
It appears that this disaster might be upon us.
by Crosbino on Jul 17, 2007 11:23 PM PDT 0 recs
He just may be a reliever, not a starter.
At 24, it's far too early to throw in the towel. His stuff is great, and command can improve.
by jeepers on
Jul 17, 2007 11:24 PM PDT
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Not throwing in the towel
Just trying to slow down the "New Big 3" discussions a bit ...
As for command: what's troubling is that, yes, he's 24, but he's been pitching for a few years in the bigs and his command hasn't improved. It did spike a bit in April/May but he's back in what I would consider dangerous territory: walking for more guys than he strikes out.
I know he's got great stuff, but without control that's pretty worthless. I'm just thinking the league might have figured him out: not to bite on the wicked breaking stuff and let him walk you. It's like when teams realized that if they just laid off Zito's curve, they could rattle him and force a walk.
by Crosbino on
Jul 17, 2007 11:31 PM PDT
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it's too many innings
he only pitched like 80+ innings last year. He is over 120+ this year already. That jump in innings can easily explain his performance drop off. I thought as his innings climbed he would become less effective. That happens when you move someone from the pen to the rotation. They can’t expect 200 innings out of him. If they do he will not be effective next season or injured. He should start to be skipped in the rotation and limited in innings and pitch count from now on. I hope Curt Young reads Will Carroll.
by Athletics Fan In London on
Jul 18, 2007 7:51 AM PDT
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AAA talent, Major League prices.
Not a good mix.
by Flashfire on Jul 17, 2007 11:23 PM PDT 0 recs
I just read an article
which states that the A's have used nine different center fielders this year. Wow.
Trying to guess who they are...
Kotsay
Stewart
Swisher
Bradley
Snelling
Putnam
Langerhans
Buck?
That's only eight, if Buck is even right.
by jeepers on Jul 17, 2007 11:29 PM PDT 0 recs
Kielty,
not Buck, according the baseball-reference.com.
by day-to-day on
Jul 17, 2007 11:46 PM PDT
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Didn't Buck finish in CF tonight?
Or are they talking about who's started there?
by Flashfire on
Jul 17, 2007 11:53 PM PDT
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If it's his first appearance there
he'd be number 10. Somebody has to ride the bench on your all-CF team. Plus, he'd be a good fit for the bench on your team made entirely of centerfielders, too.
by jeepers on
Jul 17, 2007 11:56 PM PDT
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Yep, it was his first appearance there
I was at work so I didn't realize he'd played there tonight.
And that list is everyone who's spent any time in CF, Flashfire (Kielty's played only two innings there), but baseball-reference hasn't added tonight's games yet.
by day-to-day on
Jul 18, 2007 12:11 AM PDT
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Simple formula for losing...
(i know it's obvious, but still) Crosby at SS + Kennedy pitching in a close game = loss. If Billy Beane can trade Kendall for a major league player, why couldn't he do the same with crosby and kennedy? or at least get somebody for them.
by swisherroks33 on Jul 17, 2007 11:30 PM PDT 0 recs
They're next
I think Kennedy, Stewart, Piazza are definitely gone. Crosby might be but we'd have to get something in return. We have no real replacement for him now.
by Crosbino on
Jul 17, 2007 11:32 PM PDT
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replacements...
The A's could try Murphy, Scutaro, or Furmaniak at SS. With the season mostly lost, barring a miracle, it doesn't look like it would hurt a whole lot to try those.
Maybe they could get a shortstop in free agency next year, except i really don't know who the a's could get, does anyone have a list of possible FA shortstops the a's could get?
by swisherroks33 on
Jul 17, 2007 11:44 PM PDT
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according to the Cot's Baseball Contracts website
Free Agent Shortstops after 2007:
David Eckstein(STL)
Cesar Izturis (CHC)
John McDonald (TOR)
Neifi Perez (DET)
Omar Vizquel (SF)
Juan Uribe(CHW)and Ramon E Martinez(LAD)have options for 2008.
by alamedagirl on
Jul 17, 2007 11:51 PM PDT
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I wouldn't mind Eckstein.
The A's aren't going to do it, though, because Crosby makes too much money.
by jeepers on
Jul 17, 2007 11:52 PM PDT
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my thoughts exactly...
the free agent class of shortstops after 2008 looks better, but not sure we can wait that long...
Orlando Cabrera (LAA)
Alex Cintron (CWS)
Alex Cora (BOS)
Adam Everett (HOU)
Rafael Furcal (LAD)
Cristian Guzman (WAS)
Cesar Izturis (CHC)
Juan Uribe(CWS)and Ramon Martinez(LAD)if '08 options are exercised.
Edgar Renteria(ATL)and Craig Counsell(MIL)if '09 options are declined.
by alamedagirl on
Jul 17, 2007 11:59 PM PDT
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Izturis
take a flier...lost his job in Chi this year, and rightly so, but for like 1.5 mill or something, he's gold glove-caliber, at least he can bring defense, and not have to torment us with offensive talent that will never materialize.
If not...Neifi!
by Cutthemullet on
Jul 18, 2007 1:52 AM PDT
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just got back from the game...
crosby had an awful game. during his last 2 at bats, the fans (what little were left) were booing loudly. he wasn't just bad with the bat, but also the glove. he muffed balls, made bad throws and made ill advised throws. he looked totally lost in all aspects of the game.
johnson is the goat of the game. how many guys did he leave on base? end of story.
kotsay. no place on this team any longer.
kennedy. no place on this team any longer.
here's the game and the fans feeling a nutshell. after the 5 run 7th inning, one fan in a section to my left (124) ran down the steps to the field and threw his A's cap onto the field. he was SCREAMING AT CROSBY. he was giving up. security came and got him. no worries. as security was getting this fan, lew wolff was heading for the door. he'd seen enough and was shrugging his shoulders as he walked up the stairs.
nice.
by inbillywetrust on Jul 17, 2007 11:36 PM PDT 0 recs
I totally sasw that guy too. I was sitting in
the second deck right above him and couldn't hear what he was yelling but was damn proud of him throwing his cap on the field in disgust and storming out.
He seemed to care about the loss 100x more than any of the players. Seems like all the fans care more than the players right now.
by marco magic on
Jul 17, 2007 11:43 PM PDT
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best part was that
the guy got escorted out and then made his way back into the section somehow. sure enough security found him again and escorted him out again...this time in cuffs. awesome.
not sure i agree that the players don't care. i do think they care. they (crosby, kotsay, kennedy) just shouldn't be playing professional baseball.
by inbillywetrust on
Jul 18, 2007 12:01 AM PDT
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Sure they should play
professional ball. In Stockton.
Crosby should be back at Sacto, minimum. Maybe the Double-AA team in Texas.
by One won lost won on
Jul 18, 2007 9:33 AM PDT
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Too many goats
Name it, you got it.
(except Cust. 3 of 4 rbi, 2 walks.)
by MobiusKlein on
Jul 17, 2007 11:49 PM PDT
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a few other heroes
scutaro had a good game and almost hit a huge 3 run bomb.
cust was clearly the star.
ellis had a good night.
stewart had a decent night.
other than that, nobody played worth a darn.
by inbillywetrust on
Jul 17, 2007 11:59 PM PDT
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I was there too and seen everything.
My season tickets are in section 124 the last two years. This was the first time I've ever ever left an A's game before the final out. I must have left before the fan snuck back in but did see him throw his hat on the field.
by 66th ave tailgatter on
Jul 18, 2007 12:29 PM PDT
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I can't believe I spent money to watch this
excuse for a baseball team.........oh wait I didn't I just got a really cheap jersey :) WOOHOO Danny!
ps that was the worst game I have ever witnessed in person and yes I have been to little league games.
by marco magic on Jul 17, 2007 11:37 PM PDT 0 recs
Do you know if the team moms had the...
...CapriSun and orange slices ready for the team after the game tonight?
by Flashfire on
Jul 17, 2007 11:51 PM PDT
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I just got back from the game too
A lot of people left...but a lot of people stayed to the bitter end.
This was the first time I've heard a significant amount of booing by A's fans of our own players, directed at Kennedy and at Crosby. As a rule, I don't believe that fans should boo their own players -- but in this case I'm prepared to make an exception. I saw Kennedy wiping his eyes as he went into the dugout and I wasn't sorry that I had just suggested to my section that the next time we saw Joe in a uniform in the Coliseum it had better be Aramark.
I did enjoy seeing the all-Hawaiian, all-Nikkei battery. And Komine wasn't bad.
Some people in the left field bleachers had pro-Kendall signs...."Kravin' Kendall" and I couldn't read all of the other one (because I wasn't sitting in the LFB where I belong).
by Englishmajor on Jul 17, 2007 11:49 PM PDT 0 recs
Kennedy in an Aramark uniform.
I think you're on to something--he does have a knack for putting things right in the middle of a plate.
by jeepers on
Jul 17, 2007 11:54 PM PDT
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i call joe kennedy...
the human gas can. no conflagaration he can't make worse.
by inbillywetrust on
Jul 17, 2007 11:57 PM PDT
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he might throw it onto the ground.
i propose him working as pitching machine feeder.(unless he manages to find a way to put balls through the machine incorrectly)
by greenandgoldpolarbear on
Jul 18, 2007 12:57 AM PDT
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QOTM
That is a perfect observation.
Love the "Aramark" think! True LOL on both remarks.
One thing about AN. Invention and creativity are great here. Not to mention the stats. Thanks, one and all!

