Open Thread - Game 1
by baseballgirl on Apr 2, 2007 3:14 PM PDT
in News
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PrintAfter what feels like FOREVER, baseball is back, ready or not, and it seems like even the best of us are having trouble predicting exactly what we're going to see from the Oakland A's this year.
Things to watch for, of course, include Danny Haren continuing his stellar pitching, a full season with Rich Harden (cross your fingers!), the Major League debut of Travis Buck, a lot of firsts for MLB veteran Mike Piazza, and Gaudin as a starting pitcher.
But let's take it one game at a time. The A's will be kicking off the season against their BFF's from last year, the Seattle Mariners, as first-time ace Danny Haren takes on King Felix Hernandez. This should be a well-pitched game.
If you aren't excited beyond words right now, I feel for you. Post all about it in the first real game thread of the year! Blez will take you the rest of the way; enjoy the game!
For Seattle:
Suzuki CF
Beltre 3B
Vidro DH
Ibanez LF
Sexson 1B
Guillen RF
Johjima C
Betancourt SS
Lopez 2B
And here is your starting lineup for your 2007 Oakland Athletics!
Kendall C
Stewart LF
Bradley CF
Piazza DH
Chavez 3B
Swisher 1B
Crosby SS
Buck RF
Ellis 2B
LET'S GO OAK-LAND!!!!
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Ha! AN nerd
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
WE'RE ALL GONNA FIRE GEREN NOW AND DIE!!!
I'm not ready to die.
Got steaks on the grill and margaritas in the pitcher...IT'S OPENING DAY!!!
by LilAnnieOaktown on Apr 2, 2007 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
did I say I got the laundry going to?
You must fold clothes...
by LilAnnieOaktown on Apr 2, 2007 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Geren hopes we do that...
...in reverse order.
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 2, 2007 3:33 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah
wtf is this?
by OAKobsession on Apr 2, 2007 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Gwen Stefani's Wind It Up
by athleticscatcher on Apr 2, 2007 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow, the Mariners are really cheap
The owners seem to be using recycled music from their parent company, Nintendo's Super Mario!
I'd be embarrassed to be a Mariner fan!
by LilAnnieOaktown on Apr 2, 2007 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions
nice park, bad music
by OAKobsession on Apr 2, 2007 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions
jason ellison is on the mariners??
Just traded.
by athleticscatcher on Apr 2, 2007 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Former Manager Geren
Perhaps we could get Roy Steele to introduce Bob Geren on Opening Day at the Coliseum as, "And, the Former Manager of the Sacramento Rivercats, Bob Geren".
How about, if the A's show up for the first Coliseum Opening Night with a perfect (?6-0?, 5-0?) record, a sign that says, "One More Loss, and GOOD-BYE GEREN!"
by One won lost won on Apr 2, 2007 3:22 PM PDT reply actions
What a great time of year!
Lets go Oak Land!!!!!
I remember last year
against the Yankees on opening day.
Near the end of the moment of silence for Bill King, someone yelled out a very loud, and audible across the entire stadium, "YANKEES SUCK".
They certainly are if they're
yelling that their own team sucks. (Which they do, actually.) More classy would have been "Interleague play sucks!" but oh well.
GO-O-O-O-OOOOOOOOOO
HOTTIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay!!! Practice baseball is finally over!!! Go Danny Harden and all the other super-hotties who will lead everyone's favorite team to win the Western Conference in 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
-Cindi.
YAY BASEBALLL!!!!
I think I am going to burst!! I am so excited!!
The new Game Day looks really slick! I like it!
OH MY GOD! It has been too long!
5 Minutes! Lets PLAY BALL!!!
WOOO!!!!!
by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Apr 2, 2007 3:25 PM PDT reply actions
A's BASEBALL!!!!!!!
Whooooohoooo!!
LETS go OAK-Land!!!!!
clap-clap...clapclapclap
by jme on Apr 2, 2007 3:27 PM PDT reply actions
I've got the game on at work
unfortunately I have a 4 pm mtg...will put the game on again on my way home...
Leave...now...you got that headache thing going.
by LilAnnieOaktown on Apr 2, 2007 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions
For future reference,
also try this one...cramps.
by LilAnnieOaktown on Apr 2, 2007 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions
OK BOYS AND GIRLS
get ready for glenn........
FIRE KUIPER NOW!!!!
BRING BACK PAPA!!!!
by jme on Apr 2, 2007 3:30 PM PDT reply actions
Gameday Audio is working on my Linux box!
Hello Ken, Vince and Ray... Goodbye productivity!
i get "server busy" ...
when i click on "away" kifr. did you have to do set anything? are you at work with firewalls, etc? thanks.
Is this better than Christmas.
I say yes.
It's Finally Back
I can't wait - so pumped for the season - Color me incredibly optimistic for this season!!! First the AL West Crown - Then the AL Pennant - And Finally, the green n' gold recapture the World Series Tropy!!!!
Here we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's - go - oakland!!!!! Kill the Marinators!!!!! Can Blanton pitch every game in this series? He OWNS the Mariners!!!!!
Let's see how this offense
performs against Felix over there. Nasty stuff.
Let's Go Oakland !!!!!
Yes it is game time and we are in first place right now !!!!! Come on A's !!!!!!
Well this sucks
MLB.TV is giving the Seattle feed. I was hoping for the A's feed for the first game of the season.
Me too...
But right now, I'm just happy to see the A's on opening day.
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 2, 2007 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions
That makes three of us
.
by walk off bunt on Apr 2, 2007 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Well this sucks.....
Well it is not as bad as watching it on MLB Gameday
by viveksap on Apr 2, 2007 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions
MARCO!
Too soon?
I AM ABOUT TO POP!!!!!
Watching the game on the computer...man, we have it good compared to the set of second rate homers broadcasting for the Marinators!
I'M ABOUT TO POOP!
Why not? Kendall did.
Woot!
The first game thread of the year. Even with the M's feed on mlb.tv, I'm just so psyched!!!!
Well, I have to head home soon and tune in from there, but I wanted to catch the first inning first.
LET'S GO OAKLAND!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 3:41 PM PDT reply actions
I am sure this has been answered and discussed
But what the heck is the deal with the new format?? I have to click on every subject to read the individual posts? What a pain.
It is better when you aren't signed in!
at the top click "expand"
and then check "always"
by jme on Apr 2, 2007 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Just Click on the Expand Button...
....and the Always box.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks guys
MUCH BETTER!
fleh
It will be difficult to follow the game thread with most of the comments still flagged "New".
HAHA vidro hitting 3rd
You guys all owe me a beer if Kendall starts the year off with a HR!
And again thuis year.
Well at least he didn't start with a
HIDP
Felix is painting the corners with gas.
A's hitters are painting their pants with the sa!
BOOOOOOO!!!!
nice, just tuned in time for kendall K
Well Hernandez looks great
....unfortunately.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 3:47 PM PDT reply actions
Let's Hope
that the first inning is not indicative of things to come...
by elly on Apr 2, 2007 3:47 PM PDT reply actions
Whoo-ee
Hernandez'd
Oh, please
that was not a swing.
Fire the ump!
Then...
FIRE GEREN NOW!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Commercial for copiers...
Ricoh..Suave
New gameday...
really messing with my head. Holy crap, I just realized you can switch angles of looking at the batter or pitcher. Craaaazy. I can't handle all this change. Speaking of... [preview] [post]
The Extra GameDay Features....
.....don't really do it for me.
I wish they had the animated ball that they do over on ESPN's GameDay equivalent. Now that's cool!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions
I think Ichiro's speed
Siddown Ichiro!
Attaboy Danny!
When did Haren get a haircut? n/t
sometime between Friday Night
and today. the Action 36 guys were bugging him pregame Friday night about it.
by raiderjohn on Apr 2, 2007 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I wonder if it'll be his last of the season! n/t
Yes, was 24.
New mlbtv
The Premium is much clearer and than last year's t.v. view. Unfortunately, it seems like it's a few seconds behind the regular-resolution mlbtv feed. Weird.
It took less than 5 minutes
for New AN screw up. I'm done.
Are you sayin'....
FIRE BLEZ NOW?
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions
I've been going back and forth
expanding and shrinking comments, trying to decide which format I prefer.
I really really don't like the threaded comments in game threads. Ugh.
Siddown and type, dammit!
You can
t leave me!
8 pitch inning for Dan.
Boy! That was such a routine inning...
...I have time to watch another before leaving the office.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 3:52 PM PDT reply actions
1-2-3! Attaboy, Danny!
Nice play, Unicorn-boy!(Ellis)
John Baker traded for Jason Stokes
Big time prospect at one point, Florida traded overall #1 pick Adrian Gonzalez, clearing the deck for him but then signed Delgado, then traded for Mike Jacobs a year ago. Seems he fell off the face of the earth. Power hitting first baseman, could be a find if he stays healthy.
by raiderjohn on Apr 2, 2007 3:55 PM PDT reply actions
the letter just arrived by ship
He looks a hellava lot more like a first baseman
than a center fielder.
He's still swinging out of his skin,
Yes....first baserunner of the year!
May there be many more.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 4:00 PM PDT reply actions
wow
new game day is crazy. do we have any info yet on if the mph, amount of break etc are accurate? probably not, but i kind of like it anyway.
FSN doesn't have the gun going that I've seen
And the first LOB of the season
Oh well, at least we haven't GIDP yet.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 4:01 PM PDT reply actions
are you sure?
I though Kendal did that in his first at bat.
Team LOB = 1
Swisher left on base on the third out.
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 2, 2007 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Back to the grind...
So much for the A's batting around and an 8 run inning ;) Let's keep em close...I'll take a 1-0 nailbiter with Huston nailing it shut
Now this stinks about MLB.tv...
I'm so used to my DVR...I can't rewind!
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 2, 2007 4:03 PM PDT reply actions
Life begins again!
Summer guy is back.
Think "Fever Pitch".
by Mr C on Apr 2, 2007 4:04 PM PDT reply actions
Crosby 0-1 Runner left in scoring position
the more things change, the more they stay the same.
by alarsuel on Apr 2, 2007 4:04 PM PDT reply actions
Bottom of the 2nd,
nearly 150 comments (probably more by the time this is posted).
We're in mid-season form already!
Who's the analyst for the Mariners' TV?
He sounds like Tiger Woods.
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 2, 2007 4:06 PM PDT reply actions
That's "Former A Mike Blowers"
His A's highlight -- hitting for the cycle in Chicago.
Replacing former A Dave Henderson?
Coincidence? I think...so again.
by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Apr 2, 2007 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Yep. Hendu wasn't great on t.v.
but I still love the guy from his time with the A's.
Can't say I feel the same way about Blowers.
Pitch counts after 2
Hernandez: 36
Haren: 22
Haren is GOD!!!!
Man, does he look DOMINANT!!!!!! What a great call to have him start today. I love my team!
Nice break on the pitch.
He shouldn't have swung at that ball in the dirt.
Buck Baby!!!
Start things off right!
Heh
Buck's flailing around. Sure looks like a rookie.
It's to be expected, though.
Buck has probably seen lots of guys
with 95 mph fastballs and 88 mph sliders they can drop onto the corner.
Welcome to the majors, Travis!
I'm pretty sure that if Kendall
K's 3 ABs in a row that it's a sign of the Apocalypse.
98mph according to gameday
KKendall
WE'RE ALL GOING INSUFFERABLY PERISH
This is why we heart Jeff.
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/commen...
Really
The man makes a good point.
by walk off bunt on Apr 2, 2007 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Sorry, mike.
You're being replaced.
MLB.TV
anyone else having trouble with mlb.tv premium? I can get the normal mlb.tv to work, but not the premium.
Same here
the Premium is cutting in and out. It looks a hell of a lot better, though, doesn't it?
I'm gonna wait til some random teams' games are on to try out the mosaic feature.
I watched
the Devil Rays/Yankees earlier on premium with no problems (good quality) but now the game I really want to see and BAM! it cuts out and now won't load at all. hopefully it'll be fixed soon. thanks for letting me know! wasn't sure if it was my computer or them.
They are having HUGE issues
with premium right now. And, don't even bother with the MLB.TV Mosaic.
So far it is a huge waste of $30.
But, they are saying that they are aware of the problems and will have it all fixed very soon.
ah okay.
thanks! good to know. I hope they get it fixed! I'm going to check it in-between innings just in case it happens to start working during this game.
Yeah. MLB.Com's crack customer service dept.
will move mountains to satisfy us paying customers.
well my premium
is working now, so they must have done something :)
YAY A'S!
cirquegirl16 and my dad are at the Rox opener and apparently having an awesome time... I am very jealous. But baseball is back and I'm happy anyway.
Felix looks just unfair to date. Fortunately, Haren is matching him. It's the name of the game for the teams - all pitching, not much hitting.
by Chavinator on Apr 2, 2007 4:16 PM PDT reply actions
rockies rallying in the bottom of the 9th
by pickinmachine on Apr 2, 2007 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions
You know what's annoying?
Trying to log onto gameday audio and getting a "server is too busy. Try against later" message.
Was that David Wells in the lay-z-boy?
Hi everybody!!
LET'S GO OAKLAND!!
1) It's Yuniesky Bettancourt
- It's Safeco, not the Kingdome.
There's a reason Haren said that he loves pitching at Safeco. A great place for a HR-prone pitcher.
really?
game I watched earlier on premium, the quality was much better (except on full screen, which always looks terrible to me).
yeah
the premium is much better, but the fullscreen is still so so. Not good enough to watch on anything other than a computer monitor.
by pickinmachine on Apr 2, 2007 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Hey, what's the feature called
that pops up the little "1 new comment by FreeSeatUpgrade" message in the browser's lower right corner? I have it on IE, but not in Firefox, my preferred browser.
A pain in the ass.
That the Total Information Awareness plug-in
Pitch counts after 3
Hernandez: 47 / 33 strikes
Haren: 33 / 20 strikes
A**hole just said perfection
Not like I am actually thinking that yet, but I still hate hearing the announcer say it.
A HIT!!
by larrysgurl on Apr 2, 2007 4:21 PM PDT reply actions
That was apretty funny
Ichiro Commercial.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
WOOOOOHOOOOOO
nice hit!!!!!!!!
Well, I *did* enjoy that first hit while it laste
YAY we get a hit first!
Now DO something!
by Chavinator on Apr 2, 2007 4:22 PM PDT reply actions
Damnit
Wrong
WE'RE ALL GOING TO GET STRUCK OUT BY FELIX HERNANDEZ
by walk off bunt on Apr 2, 2007 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions
So far our perfect record is still intact:
Every pitch where we could possibly hit into a DP this year, we have.
The most upsetting thing about that inning...
was Felix threw like 5 pitches. They were doing such a good job of making him work. Oh well...
If Piazza isn't going to catch
Can someone get him some baggy pants?
When is the UFC Kendall vs. Lackey happening?
It's the under card @ 70.
I missed this
and I hate the Preview button.
Haren looks like he's throwing
way more strikes on breaking pitches than last year. That's a huge step forward for him if he can keep it up.
Thank God Poppy didn't see that.
Dear Milton
Please do not break our second baseman. He's a little fragile.
Love,
Nick
Dear Mark Ellis,
Please do not break our Right Fielder Center Fielder. He's a little fragile.
Love,
Zonis
Dear Bobby
Just stay away from both of these guys.
Seriously.
Love,
Nick
Perfect GAME?
We were working on a perfect SEASON!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions
I was just thinking I love Ichiro
and I'd love him even more next year in green and gold!
i like ichiro, but no thanks
fortunately there are 27-29 GMs worse at their jobs than beane and most of them have more money to spend, so it won't happen.
wow, vidro with the first hit off haren
that's as unlikely as erstad hitting a home run against sabathia.
Can he bat?
Pitch counts after 4
Hernandez: 52 / 37
Haren: 47 / 30
no thanks.
I would rather have a guy that can get on base.
Yeah. Anthropomorphized electronics...
clearly, PIXAR isn't animating these.
they keep opening and closing the roof
to mess with our hitters. yeah, that's our excuse today...
My mlb.tv sound....
...is almost a full pitch ahead of my mlb.tv picture.
This is annoying.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 4:33 PM PDT reply actions
I'm watching FSN HD
which is NICE
FSNNW for me...sweet. I get to
avoid the mlbtv frustration...for today and Weds, anyway.
crosby doing his best miguel tejada impression
swinging and missing at a pitch that almost hit him in the face.
On the other hand...
...with BoCro we should just be glad that he didn't somehow injure himself during the at-bat.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions
although it won't be quite the same
until crosby starts yelling at his bat on the walk back to the dugout.
Remember the game
when the opposing pitcher wasn't the most second-most talented pitcher in baseball?
Neither do I.
Essentially, yes
Liriano isn't as good as he was last year and Felix isn't as bad as he was last year.
I expect them to have very similar careers if Liriano ever actually pitches again.
Felix is the real deal and as A's fans we better get used to it.
by The Hypocrite on Apr 2, 2007 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I hate these announcers...
almost as much as I hate New AN... and this f'in preview button.
who are you listening to? m's or a's
M's
the new TV crew probably
i like them better, even though they are a bit rough, than Dave Henderson and company. I got them on the live Fox Sports NW so I get a heavy dose of M's games.
The mandatory preview button...
...must die!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Really Bobby
Embarrassing at bat.
Don't change a thing, Croz.
Sheesh. King Felix is dealing, legit. So is Haren. If it comes down to who gives up a solo HR, we're in trouble. If it comes down to the bullpens, we're in good shape.
This is sad.
I'm sad. I mean I admit the king is good, but man. 7K's in 5 innings.
On the plus side, haren is DEALING.
Man it has been too long, glad to be back!!! I hope everyone is doing well.
by WhiteElephantGuy on Apr 2, 2007 4:39 PM PDT reply actions
I'm so glad Crosby's back.
by larrysgurl on Apr 2, 2007 4:39 PM PDT reply actions
Embarrasing.
Don't change a thing, Croz.
thanks God
it was not a razorbalde; he would have lost his balls.
Fire Bobby Crosby
Now.
Buckner!
Crosby has been watching that youtube video where the guy recreates the 10th inning of Game 6 of the 1986 WS.
Dear Ground Ball,
Thank you for not hitting our shortstop when he failed to catch you.
He is somewhat fragile.
Love,
GreenNGoldSooner
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 4:40 PM PDT reply actions
My boyfriend made me miss the first four innings
to drive him across town. And now he doesn't understand why I don't want to play video games with him.
At what point is non-baseball-comprehension a reason to break up?
And can I break up with Bobby Crosby for hurting my heart this inning? :-(
"No. It's Oakland."
Just tell him you're going to the store
for some bread, and hit the local sports bar. You'll be well on your way to a backstabbing, deception-filled relationship.
They closed down the only sports bar in town.
Tragically.
Though I like the idea greatly. Hmmm....
"No. It's Oakland."
Something tells me AN=not the place to go
for romantic advice.
I like how the FSNNW "pitchtracker"
has the first to strikes to Bettancourt being about a foot outside.
Froemings's strike zone is wide, but it's not THAT wide.
Yarg!
My first mlb.tv image freeze of the year.
Guess it's just sound for me till the end of the inning.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 4:46 PM PDT reply actions
Pitch counts after 5
Hernandez: 65 / 46
Haren: 65 / 44
wow
through 5 innings there has been a total of 2 hits...
I've now seen an ad with a yak
and one with a goat.
Is Nico consulting for FSNNW's advertising sales department?
buckle!
It's a Travis-ty!
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Apr 2, 2007 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions
BUCK!!!
by larrysgurl on Apr 2, 2007 4:48 PM PDT reply actions
HUGE GRIN!!
pitch counts
Haren: 65-44
King: 65-46
Heh. 0-0 into extras?
Welcome to the Show, Travis
welcome Mr. Buck!!
Nice Ellis!
by athleticscatcher on Apr 2, 2007 4:49 PM PDT reply actions
I just soiled myself out of joy.
TB. TFB.
Too bad New AN doesn't like large, pink letters
Trav, I heart you.
what was that?
WE DON'T BUNT.
Small ball?
I smell home run.
Or strikeout. not sure.
Oakland Bunts in the sixth inning
of an April game. I hope all you Macha-haters are happy!
sacrificed to catcher?
did they have a play at third?
It's called a sac fly, boys.
That was not it.
Kendall hurts me today. Why, Jason? Why?
"No. It's Oakland."
not a good way for Kendall to
start the season.
by larrysgurl on Apr 2, 2007 4:52 PM PDT reply actions
Could use some new thread mojo
right about now
damn it
call up suzuki now!!
Felix scares me
Hard to hit a ball to 2B on a 97mph fb at your head
Crap!
FIRE THE BOCRO NOW!
by GreenNGoldSooner on Apr 2, 2007 5:00 PM PDT reply actions
Well...
Every team deserves to win its home opener.*
*except the Yankees.
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