Move to the basement! Grab the kids! Start the party! Everybody all together!!!!
JASON KENDALL HIT A FREAKIN' HOMERUN!!!!
If you don't take that as a sign, then...you don't believe in signs. It seemed like everyone, no matter where they were, jumped up, danced, screamed, etc. etc. I sure did. The A's announcers were HILARIOUS.
There's light at the end of this dark tunnel - and I don't think it's a train!!!!!! Because....
JASON KENDALL HIT A FREAKIN' HOMERUN!!!!
Side note: I posted the game thread and then ran out to the dentist. I had just settled into the chair when I heard the soothing music on the piped-in radio and then these words appeared, like music to my ears: `You have been listening to The Heart, soothing music on XM radio.' I sit bolt upright in the chair and say, "You get XM radio?"
The hygienist says, "Do you have a favorite station?"
You guessed it. I turned it to the game, and relaxed in the chair. Best dentist experience ever.
Excuse me for this RAMBLING recap, but I'm just so shell-shocked. I mean...
JASON KENDALL HIT A FREAKIN' HOMERUN!!!!
So....there's a lot to be positive about today:
- Texas lost! We are four games back.
- Joe Blanton is BACK, BABY!!!! First complete game of his career.
- Crosby is coming around! 11 for 19 in his last 5 games, but the real story comes from his plate appearances. He suddenly does not look lost at the plate; he's seeing a good amount of pitches, he's not flailing wildly, and there's a rumor that he earned $200 from Ken Macha today for his single in the bottom of the sixth. Macha's new plan is to pay the players for performance. Later today, there will be a `donation' option put on the AN menu. All proceeds will go to bribing our players with cash. For baseball performances. Man...this crowd!
- According to Poppy, today was the day to decide if we like Frank Thomas. I'm keeping him. He's just what we need, and if he gets/stays hot this summer, we'll have offense!
- Apparently, we'll have pitching too. There's a wild rumor that we'll see Harden before long.
- When I heard last night that Chavvy and Ellis left the game, my immediate reaction was, "Not Chavvy! Please, not Chavvy!". And it wasn't Chavvy. I hurt for Mark Ellis, but if one of the two had to go down...
- Did I mention...JASON KENDALL HIT A FREAKIN' HOMERUN!!!!
- Solid wonderful win today.
- WE ARE OUT OF THE MONTH OF MAY!
Harden - Will pitch in Las Vegas tonight. If all goes well, will be Sunday's starter.
Witasick - Took some fielding practice today. Rehab plan in works.
Loaiza - Will pitch in Las Vegas tonight. No set return date.
Bradley - Took live batting practice yesterday from both sides of the plate. Will hit off a tee soon.
Duchscherer - Injury reports look less-than-encouraging. He will be out a while, possibly until the All-Star Break
Kennedy - Has been stretching out his shoulder. Could return in the next couple of weeks.
Ellis - scheduled to go on the DL tomorrow for 4-6 weeks
So what do we do? A lot of things up in the air right now. Let's discuss:
- Problem #1: Mark Ellis is out for 4-6 weeks
Solutions: Macha wants to replace him with Marco Scutaro. Anyone with a computer, a pair of eyes, and any sense of the game of `baseball' knows this is a bad idea. Love Scutaro, I do, but the man cannot hit on a consistent basis. I'm sorry, but it's true.
I'm going to quote coffee roaster with this sentiment: [Perez] was a fair hitter in Los Angeles and maybe it's better to stick him at second for a week straight to see if his hitting improves. If not, dump him for sure. Scutaro just seems like a guaranteed black hole while Perez still might have an upside.
I agree. Try Perez for a few days straight, and then make a decision. That decision might be to get a new call-up, or make a trade.
- Problem #2: Dan Johnson
Solutions: Melhuse at 1B? Another call-up?
- Problem #3: Pitching Rotation
Solutions: Zito, Harden, Haren, Blanton, Saarloos/Halsey/Loaiza?
Discuss.
And Joe Blanton? I'm truly sorry your big day (and you did have one, and we're so grateful) was overshadowed, but let's face it. It was. Because...say it with me...
JASON KENDALL HIT A FREAKIN' HOMERUN!!!!
