that Pete Carroll has allowed his team to show up against a vastly inferior opponent unprepared and ill-equipped to win.  I know that the coaches can't suit up and play the game themselves, but there is absolutely no excuse for getting their asses kicked against Stanford in '07 and now OSU this year.  No excuse. 

Just an embarassing effort (if you can call it that) against a team that the scout team beats routinely if they play tomorrow.  I'm a Carroll fan (I liked him when he was an assistant with the Vikings) -- but as far as I'm concerned, these two losses are as big a statement as the two national championships.  Shame on us, seriously.

I can't remember now what the point spread was against Stanford ... hell, I've tried to forget ... but I bet it's been years since a team has lost  in back to back seasons vs. teams they were favored to beat by so much.  Even in the 90's, I was never embarassed by our teams ... we were overmatched at times, but never played with shi*** effort.  But I'm sad to say I'm embarassed.  Shame on us.  Seriously, shame on us.

After watching Memphis completely fall apart in the last two minutes of last night's NCAA championship game, several of us got into a water cooler discussion today about what it means to truly "choke."  Too often, that word is thrown out there simply because someone is mad a game or series of games ends differently than they'd hoped.  However, when a team and/or athlete loses a game or series they were favored to win, this doesn't necessarily qualify as a choke job.  In other words, the Patriots did not choke in the Super Bowl this year -- they were simply beaten that day by a team that outplayed them ... had they played again, the result might very well have been different, but alas ....

Anyway, I was wondering if you all had an opinion as what qualified as "choking" ... we decided to today on one rule -- for it to be a true choke job, one team had to have the game or series completely in hand and the only way to lose would be a colossal blunder or series of blunders that allowed the other team to come back. (By the way, not to take anything away from Kansas, but we all agreed that last night's game qualified as a monumental choke job by Memphis ... and it wasn't just the missed free throws.  The inbounds pass stolen by Kansas and converted into a 3; Dorsey's unbelievably boneheaded foul; and the cherry on top -- not fouling Kansas before they could get off a desperation 3 at the end of regulation.) 

Do you think that any of the A's early 00's playoff failures qualify?? Hard to say ... comments???

I rarely start a new thread, but I just have to rant a bit and get this off my chest amidst all of the "world is falling" nonsense ...

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So glad that Ty Van Burkleo called a meeting yesterday in order to go over the team's horrific performance with RISP. Not only are our beloved A's last in the majors in batting avg. with RISP, I'm assuming we've got to be one of the worst (if not the worst) teams when it comes to driving in runners from third with less than two outs.
Van Burkleo said, "We talked about situational hitting, the approach to it, the mentality you take to the plate."
Yes!! Contrary to what some AN'ers think, it's nice to hear a coach recognize that at-bats must be approached differently from time to time!!!!! It is a mistake to enter the batter's box with the same approach and philosophy each time ... different situations require different adjustments!

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So Chavez sinks to new lows offensively last night, and now I hear "his forearms are hurting."
I'm sorry, but that's crap. Plain and simple. Maybe not the claim that he's hurting -- that may very well be true -- but the timing of it leaves much to be desired.
If Chavez is injured, than he should have "mentioned" this some time ago.  Don't wait until you manage to even embarass yourself (finally) at the plate before you "reveal an injury."  I just find the timing of the announcement awfully convenient.  I'd have a lot more respect for him if he simply said the truth, something like,
"You know what? I'm not getting the job done ... and I haven't gotten the job done for quite some time now. I've gotten better defensively, but I've digressed ... BIG TIME ...offensively. Now I'm a liability and I need to get better."
That's the kind of "honesty" I need to hear ... but please, don't strand seven baserunners (in one game !? That is HARD to do) and "oh, by the way, my forearms are hurting." That is such garbage.

I would have included this in last night's game recap, but since I haven't seen one yet, I just needed to get this off my chest.
Look, I'm all for the A's being more aggressive on the base-paths.  Like several of the players said, I think it will serve us well in the long-run.  Put the pressure on the other team's D and make them throw you out once or twice a game -- sometimes you'll get burned, but more often than not, you'll manufacture a win or two a week this way.
But, for goodness sakes, don't stop being aggressive when you're being aggressive!! When Chavez got caught in that rundown last night, (bad mistake, but they happen) what the *&%$ was Swisher doing??!!  I was listening to the game on satellite radio, and when Chavez got thrown out, I said to myself, "Well, at least Swish got over to second, and he can score on a hit, now." Then, when Buck singled, I figured "tie game," only to then discover, of course, that for some unbelievably ridiculous reason, Swisher never advanced!!!!  
Is there something I'm missing?! What the heck was our first-base coach doing?!  Like I said, if we're gonna be more aggressive, great ... but everyone has to take their heads out and stop acting like you've never been taught fundamentals, or it will never work.

I need some Chavez "love." PLEASE tell me this was just a couple bad games. PLEASE tell me this was an abberation (you know, like the 10 pitches I've seen him swing at in the dirt or above his head.) PLEASE tell me this "oh no, here we go again" feeling is just my "anti-Chavez" bias. PLEASE tell me that he will begin to at least make contact, for cryin out loud.  PLEASE.
And I'm writing this with a smile, by the way, in spite of the Ellis news, etc.  Chavez is gonna show up for this thing, right? .... right?

Athletics Nation has always been pretty split when it comes to "Does the team show enough fire" opinion . . . half of us wish Macha/Chavez/whomever would throw a tantrum after every failed at-bat, while the other half seems to think it ok to see someone smile while the A's lose 10 in a row, the team plane loses an engine, and the hotel goes up in flames.
In other words, it's hard for us to find a happy medium. My ? is this -- is it time for Macha to rally the troops in a meeting, especially if the A's get swept today? Or do they just write the slump off to injuries, and say "What's the use?"
I loved it that Leyland ripped into the Tigers barely 2 weeks into the season -- and I'd love to claim it's the reason they're playing so well -- but then, I definitely fall into the "pitch a fit" every time something goes wrong side of the spectrum.
Then again, expecting someone (Macha) to do something outside of his character is probably unrealistic.  Sure would love to see someone "go off" right about now, however -- always makes me feel better when I see at least one guy on the team cares as much as we do.  

I know, I know, this shouldn't be a separate thread, please forgive me . . . but I wanted to respond to your question regarding Chavez . . .
Yes, by all means, credit/kudos/applause for Eric's hot start! He is hitting like I always thought he was capable of -- you must remember, I never claimed that Chavez "sucked," or any other such nonsense.  
I got on his case because these are the type of numbers he should put up on a regular basis. Beginning of season, mid-season, late season, whatever. With Giambi, with Tejada, with Matt Stairs, whomever.
It was interesting that Suchon today mentioned he thought Chavez is feeling less "mental pressure" this season with some other hitters in the lineup.  I agree. I know this makes some AN'ers angry, but I have always thought Chavez' biggest problem was mental.  He slumped because he pressed too often -- he has always had -- I repeat, he has always had the ability.  What he lacks from time to time is the mental fortitude to suck it up and do the job regardless of the circumstances.  To be honest with you Nico, I don't think he's one of those "win at all costs" competitors.
Now, please hear what I'm saying. I'm NOT saying he doesn't want to win, or that he doesn't care.  I'm saying it may not be that important to him ... and you know what? He's probably got his priorities right.  I don't know ...
But again, my frustrations with Chavez were because this current kind of production is what I expect of him -- right or wrong -- it was never because I thought he was lazy.
On a more personal note, I stayed away for awhile as well, because I hated squabbling with other passionate A's fans like you ... so, I'm done with that. I now reserve my "hatred" for Red Sox Nation, the Giants, and our division rivals. :-)  You guys do a great job on this site, I appreciate your hard work, and I know the A's will bust out of this slump with Chavez leading the way!  Go A's!

I'm having a great time watching the game and watching the posts ... both positive AND negative.  But you know what's just as bad as listening to people bitch and moan about the A's? People who bitch and moan about the people who bitch and moan.
It's currently 3-3, by the way. But you "positive thinkers" need to relax a bit as well.  Some people show their emotion by getting angry and saying things they don't really mean. You, on the other hand, choose to stay positive. That's great ... but don't get upset because everyone's not like you.  Your positive "vibes" and all that other stuff doesn't effect the game one bit .. just like the negativity doesn't.  This is a forum for everyone, like it or not. So stop crying about it.  People express their passion in many different forms. Some get excited, some (like a certain 3B I know,) choose to stay calm. Whatever. But it makes it fun, so lighten up.
Remember one thing ... guys like Oaktoon and the rest LOVE THE A'S JUST AS MUCH AS YOU DO.
So whining about the whining is every bit as chicken-s#$%! Go A's!