Athletics Nation

I loved the DJ bunt

You need a baserunner, plain and simple. Element of surprise + shift = good odds. 40% chance? A heck of a lot better than the league's OBP vs. K-Rod.

And at least he was thinking, not just hacking. Why no criticism of the grounder to 2nd when the A's needed baserunners his previous AB? Don't hit into the shift, hit into the situation; he tried. If he beats it out, and Payton HRs, how good would that look?

In any event, sans Kotsay and Croz, the other hitters will need to find a way to remember just to do what they're good at. Trying to "hit for two" doesn't work.

Health often comes from a Leiter diet. Let's get it done!

Disagree on the bunt

That's a terrible idea at that time, in my opinion. DJ was hitting in the four hole, and is the most consistent power hitter the A's have right now. Yea, the A's needed baserunners, but going one base at time, and needing three runs, that translates to six runners in two outs against Rodriguez. I think Johnson stands a better chance at getting an extra base hit than the A's have of stringing 6 out of 7 against Frankie.

IndianaAsfan - September 1, 2005 reply

What if you had a choice:

a 40% of a double (that's a kick-ass .800 slugging pct), or a 50% chance of a single? Which would you take there, the double? Not I.

How about

two singles?

I'd take the chance on the double

If the person hitting is the best extra-base threat, and is hitting cleanup. Johnson isn't there to be beating out bunts at any time of the game. He is paid, and will be handsomly in the future, for his slugging percentage.

IndianaAsfan - September 2, 2005 reply

Agree

I hated both bunts - 1st inning, I'd rather take my chances with a runner on 2nd and nobody out than strand someone on third IN the FIRST INNING!
As for DJ, he got thrown out last night on a ball that should have got through the infield but Kennedy made a great play in the outfield, but what on earth makes him think he can beat out a bunt? Looked like desperation to me, and its way too early to let them see you sweat.

I was referring

strictly to DJ's at bat. That AB was ALL about reaching base to get the tying run to the plate, nothing else. You want a better chance of an XBH but a worse chance of a hit? Why?

I can see Blez' point about not going after the first pitch and seeing if K-Rod is wild, but my point here is that he was at least right in simply trying to reach base, not worrying about hitting for any power.

I would agree

if I thought there was a reasonable chance that DJ could beat out a bunt for a hit. Given what I've seen, especially last night, those odds aren't good.

Now that's

a whole other question. And since it's the first time I've ever seen DJ bunt, I'm not in a position to answer. I am, in fact, in the position of a pretzel, and if someone could call 911 I'd be most obliged. G'nite.

And someone said DJ "runs like a girl"

ak_A - September 1, 2005 reply

no, he runs like a big man

girls run pretty well if they are reasonably athletic

OaklandSi - September 2, 2005 reply

DJ's Bunt Was A Great Idea

If it went a foot further, the A's bring the tying run to the plate. If DJ hacks away and hits a home run ... the A's bring the tying run to the plate.

They needed three runs. They needed guys on base. A well-placed bunt against the shift (which DJ nearly pulled off) is a much higher percentage play than swinging away for a single.

It's all about the percentages, people.

Eck - September 2, 2005 reply

Irrelevance of batting order

Can we please dispense with the notion of "roles" for each position in the batting order? In that situation, DJ's job is simply to get on base, regardless of his position in the order.

Does a #2 hitter try to ground out to the right side every time up, regardless of whether there's a "leadoff man" on first?

all this bunting

smells of desperation

xbhaskarx - September 1, 2005 reply

And 6 runs in 3 games

warrants desperation!

We only scored 3 runs in 3 games

I liked both bunts tonight, if DJ gets his bunt single it may have initiated the K Rod meltdown sequence. Even though we lost the series I was happy with our performance. The offense will come around, we won't score 1 run a game the rest of the season.

redruin - September 1, 2005 reply

Obviously, you haven't heard

that 6 is the new 3.

Nico - September 2, 2005 reply

Ok

Nico would then qualify as the new airhead around here

redruin - September 2, 2005 reply

DJ's bunt

Did anyone notice if the Angels were still in their DJ shift when he bunted? If so then I think it is a good idea. He's just got to get his bunt to the left side beyond the pitcher and it is a sure hit. I don't see why any left handed batter can't beat these exaggerated shifts with a well placed bunt. Maybe established stars like Bonds are too proud (or old?) to bunt but a young guy like DJ could learn to do it right and force teams to stop using it.

jim789 - September 1, 2005 reply

That's

where he put it, and still got thrown out.

wrong

k-rod picked it up.. it doesnt matter where the fielders are if the only guy who cant move out there picks it up. he has to get it passed the pitcher then bobby crosby could push him to first in a wheel chair he'd have so much time

NYC - September 2, 2005 reply

Bunt was correct play

When I read Blez's comment about the bunt I totally disagreed. Actually, I think Blez missed the boat about the pinch running thing the other night too. I told my wife that Blez seems to be losing it but that Nico "gets it". And then we both laughed when only a few posts in we see Nico with the correct response.

In that situation a bunt single is as good as a 2 run HR. In both cases you still need 1 more guy who is not on base to score somehow. Heck if K-rod threw one to the screen on a 0-2 pitch DJ would be wise to swing and run to first. A little more toward the line and the tying run would have come to the plate.

That's what great pitching does -

- it shuts you down. That's exactly what the Angels did. There's a reason they have the best ERA in the league. They have great pitching. So do we, but it's unfortunate that the offense couldn't muster anything against them.

Here's what I have a problem with: Why wasn't Melhuse on second? When Figgins came up firing, it seemed obvious to think Melhuse shouldn't kept himself out of the DP. Maybe even put in Bynum and steal? Or even put the runners in motion. This is my problem with Macha. He doesn't do anything proactive, and when our offense is non-existent, he STILL doesn't do anything.

As much as I hate Scoscia, his aggressive play today payed off big time - and tends to most of the time. That offense is struggling also, don't forget, but they make it work.

Oh, and thank you Joe Kennedy. Great effort, made even better because he saved the pen.

nycfan @ Athletics Nation - September 1, 2005 reply

prior to tonights game

the lowest team era in the AL belonged to the A's and Twins at 3.58

Halos 4th at 3.69

A's lead easily in BAA at .239 but seem to give up more walks than the other top staffs

eastcoaster - September 1, 2005 reply

Another credit to Scioscia

It certainly took him long enough, but he finally benched Finley before this series.

Would the A's bench their second-highest-paid position player?

(Yes, the Yankees West can absorb the cost of benching Finley better than the A's can. And I'm not necessarily arguing that Kendall per se should be benched.)

A note on Ginter

I don't know how Macha justifies not playing him AT ALL. We desperately need some offensive pop, especially against a stacked lineup like the Yanks. I love Scoot, we all do, but he isn't going to give us the kind of offense we need.

I would let Ginter get some at-bats. Hell, you never know when you would need him to pinch hit in a situation, and if he hasn't had an atbat in eons, that doesn't bode well for our bench.

nycfan @ Athletics Nation - September 1, 2005 reply

Chavy

Loved it when he put on the shades to be Barry. The questions about who got the best of whom in HS were classic. I would've rather seen a few clutch hits over the past two days, but this was some consolation prize.

silver linings

That game left a sort of coppery helpless taste in my mouth. Nonetheless...

Great D from Payton. That throw to get Figs at the plate was STRONG (and almost went over Melhuse). Incredible stop by Figs and then a great diving tag from Milhouse. "I've lost all feeling in the left side of my body."
Nice DP where Scoot almost handed the ball to Ellis to end one Angel threat.
We got jobbed on that call on Ellis for supposedly dropping the liner on purpose. Please. That could have gotten us out of the inning (DP) or maybe Cabrera doesn't make third like Figgins...
Kennedy pitched much better than most of us expected. Billy's snuffleupagus mojo on full.

Okay, 8th inning, 1st/3rd, 1 out, down 2. Your sharpest batter up against Santana. I had the stray thought that Ellis could have bunted the runner home. Sounds dumb, doesn't it...? I checked the historical stats to confirm and... (pause if you want to take a guess at how dumb it is)

8th inning, runners on 1st/3rd, 1 out, down 2. Wins 16% of the time.
8th inning, runner on 2nd, 2 out, down 1. Wins 17.4% of the time(!).
8th inning, runner on 1st, 2 out, down 1. Wins 15.6% of the time. (they get the speedy lead runner)
8th inning, runners on 1st/2nd, 1 out, down 1. Wins 30.3% of the time.

So if you believe (1) in the stats, (2) that Ellis is a good bunter, (3) Bynum is too fast to be caught with a force, then it actually improves your chances of winning to bunt in a run and narrow the gap to 1 run. I think the psychological value of getting on the board shouldn't be ignored either...

Apricot - September 1, 2005 reply

Interesting analysis, but

I think that to make the bunt a worthwhile strategy given your percentages, you would have to be either over 90% sure that the sacrifice would work (scenario 2) or about 50% sure that a bunt single would result (scenario 4). I don't know what the success rates for squeeze plays and bunting for hits are, but if they were anything close to these numbers, I would think they would be attempted a lot more often.

dylantravis - September 1, 2005 reply

Historical stats

Apricot,

Where do you find these historical stats?

jim789 - September 1, 2005 reply

simple: two ways

I personally comb my extensive collection of decaying box scores and my private game databases, lovingly tended by inmates in a Guatemalan insane asylum. Good folks. I then add up the results on an abacus.
If you have less time, go to http://walkoffbalk.com/tools/winexp/index.php. Data based on 1979-1990, so adjust for more homers in the last 15 years. You can also download a spreadsheet somewhere with all the data. jjjsixsix uses one based on a mathematical model to post his occasional win exp graphs.

Apricot - September 1, 2005 reply

further adjust

Might also have to adjust for the fact that the A's and Angels have trouble scoring. Being down by a run late won't concern the Yankees as much as either of these teams.

Still like where we are

Newbie here. Been following the site most of the season. Love the interviews, discussions and especially the passion of my fellow A's fans. I figured it was time to chime in as we head down the stretch.

The last two nights have been frustrating, but if you had told me on April 1 that this would be the A's position on September 1, even with the schedule and injury issues, I would have said, "Hell Yeah!" If you had told me this on June 1, I would have said, "Hell Yeah!" right before I called the nearest mental hospital and had you committed.

dylantravis - September 1, 2005 reply

I think all the micro-analysis

is a bit misguided, because whether we took, swung, bunted, hacked, or hit situationally, we failed. Next game, please.

One thing for sure

It didn't matter whether Harden started or not. We couldn't even score run

gojohn10 - September 1, 2005 reply

Painful but true statement

boilerdan - September 2, 2005 reply

Just hope

this is not a retrograde into May...

Awesome ride up ahead.

Hit4TheCycle - September 1, 2005 reply

So Far, Harden Not Missed

Because Kennedy won in Harden's spot at Baltimore and pitched well tonight in a game lost because even Harden won't have won with no run support, so far Harden has not been missed. That is to say, the A's won't have won any more games with Harden pitching in his last two previously scheduled spots.

However, Kotsay and Crosby clearly are missed. I had posted before all the injuries that the A's would have a hard time making the playoffs without the addition of another bat. Well, with Crosby most likely lost at least until near the end of the last week of the season (no way can he meet the Larry Davis contention that he can be back in three weeks--at least not without risking a permanently debilitating injury to a still healing ankle), the A's are now short two bats. And if Kotsay can't return soon, three bats shy when facing righties as Kielty has (Tuesday excepted) trouble hitting from the left side.

Kennedy has been excellent in both his starts. And he deserves another start for Harden on Tuesday, as it has been said that there is no way Harden will be ready to face the M's...

reztips - September 1, 2005 reply

Kotsay ripple effect

If Kotsay is in CF Wednesday night, Payton most likely catches that sinking liner that Kielty missed.

Scutaro is less of a drop-off at SS, but still a drop-off. With an inconsistent offense, runs at a premium, and a lot of tight games, many things can turn on small defensive advantages or shortcomings.

Not exactly

What if Harden had shut them out and we win in extra innings. Also, there is nothing to say that the A's might not have scored a run in the 8th or 9th if they had been playing for 1 run and not the 2 and eventually 3 they needed.

Having said that, I agree with the spirit of the observation.

Bummer of a game

The way each A's/Angels series has gone, I think next time the A's should throw the first game of the series. Offense didn't show up today. Unlike the first two games of the series, I felt like the A's offense was more to blame for the lack of scoring tonight. Santana pitched well by challenging the A's hitters, and they didn't respond well. Maybe I'm just frustrated after scoring 3 runs in three games...

gojohn10 - September 1, 2005 reply

Holding Swish

Wash is usually pretty aggressive, and I've posted here before when I thought fans at the....whatever it is we call our home...dissed Wash for holding runners. But I was at the game early last night, watched Chone play catch with Vlad and he has one miserable arm. Given that, I was surprised Wash didn't send swish, to get at least one run and force the issue a little more. Any other thoughts on that one?

foss

said on the tv that he waited till the last possible second to wave swisher back. though the throw didnt have a lot of power on it it was thrown right at homeplate and because it had some extra loft on it you wouldnt be able to tell that it was coming up short. this plus the fact that swisher was waiting around second to see if it got caught or not. I think he would have made it seeing the throw come in with an appropriate slide by swisher, but it was a tough call to make... especially down by more than 1 as we were

NYC - September 2, 2005 reply

I Agree About Washington's Inept Decisions

Or perhaps "non-decisions." For the third time in two weeks in crucial game situations, Washington's failure to make the right move may well have cost the A's a ballgame. Who knows what have transpired were the A's only down a run at that juncture? The whole psychology of the game changes.

And some of you want this guy for manager? Give me a break--and while you're at it, lobby for Macha to get him out of the third base coach's box...

reztips - September 2, 2005 reply

How did it cost him??

Swisher broke BACK to 2nd......He would have been hosed and then we have nothing going.

Where the throw ended up, Wash made the 100% correct call...Brilliant stop.

Agreed

If anyone is to blame it is Swisher for not recognizing where the defence was playing before the pitch.

yea chavy was pretty damn funny

he seems very comfortable in front of a camera.

robber23 - September 1, 2005 reply

I agree

I didn't know he had such a personality! It was pretty funny. He did a very decent Zito impression!

indigo - September 1, 2005 reply

I think he was more interesting as Zito

than he was being himself. Probably because they asked him the same questions ["Who's made a difference?" "Tell us about the early season slump. and your performance since then." "We heard you had a talk with the team to get them back on track." "Did you think you'd be able to turn the season around like this?"] that everyone else asks, and I've heard those same answers so many times now that I could probably do a better Chavez impression than Chavez himself.

Melody - September 1, 2005 reply

That's what my husband said too...

...that when he settled into the interview as himself it was much less lively. I agree w/your assessment...at that point he was just answering the same ol', same ol' stuff.

indigo - September 1, 2005 reply

reminds me of highly intelligent people

who are personally somewhat insecure

It's much easier to act like someone else...

OaklandSi - September 2, 2005 reply

Looking ahead

I'm trying to stay positive and stop over-analyzing every ugly turn of events in these last 2 games, like Nico suggested.

So here it is: Leiter, Small, and Chacon. This is (potentially) the best thing that could happen to us. We can put a game or two of distance between us and the Yanks if we make these pitchers look as mediocre as they really are.

nycfan @ Athletics Nation - September 1, 2005 reply

Don't get your hopes up

The Yankees own the the A's and have the best lineup in baseball now that they have flipped Womack for Lawton. Cruz should be ready the second Saarloos takes the mound. At the A's have a rested pen heading into this series.

DKNJ - September 2, 2005 reply

Best thing about the Angels series

was the work of the starters, which leaves the pen refreshed for NY. The Yankees always worry me. I know it's popular to point out that they have patchwork and ageing pitching, and they aren't what they used to be, and they spend all that money, etc. But the fact is that they have the same record we do. They got there with the middle of their lineup, we got there with our pitching. So this is a different kind of series than the ANA series. The A's starters are likely to give up a few more runs, so the offense has to come around. They have shown the capacity to make mediocre pitchers look like Cy Young when they get in a collective funk. I'm hoping that the Kotsay-Crosby injuries and the Angels pitching have not put them in another one.

boilerdan - September 2, 2005 reply

Yankees

These pitchers stats, with the Yankees, aren't that bad. They look great when you consider the offence that is backing them up. The Yankees starting pitchers were all in major slumps when we played then in NY in May and we made them look like Cy Young candidates.

I am sorry to say that with our injuries and recent history against these guys I am not liking our chances this weekend. I will still be living and dying with each pitch though. It would be awesome if we could win the series.

Go A's!

BobbyCrosbysGirl - September 1, 2005 reply

Chavez was hilarious.

That was a nice impression of Zito, just a funny interview. I never realized he and Zito played against each other in Little League, probably should have. That's kind of adorable -- I'd love to see some footage of Zito striking out Chavy back then!

As for the game... it was ugly, no doubt about it. But I'm a lot happier having Joe Kennedy as Harden's replacement than the Etherton/Glynn tandem of doom. If nothing else, we once again saw how freakin' good our pitching can be. Very impressive. This offense just seems to be hot or cold with no in-between. They'll bounce back. The Angels have struggled enough lately, and our bats have found themselves enough at times, that I have faith in the chances of this team.

Kyli - September 1, 2005 reply

Chavey Put the Smile back on my face!

After that game, I was not in the best mood. I was all ready to curl up and go to bed at 9:30! Lame! But I stayed up because I knew they were coming up next. So I waited through all the football talk and I was rewarded with one of the funniest interviews I have seen in a long time (by a baseball player anyway). I was just dying. I was really glad they had that on right after the loss. It showed that these guys are having fun and they are light hearted through all this Pennant Race Drama. Thanks Chavey for putting the smile back on my face tonight!

Please

For those of us in Canada without access to this show could anyone paraphrase something Chavez said.

Hey peeps...

Just wanted to say that I thought Joe Kennedy did pretty well, especially for a fill in. I still do not understand that call on Ellis' dropped ball. Anyways, it was a tough-luck loss, hope we can do better against these guys the second time through.

For anyone who wants to check out Chavez's bit on Best Dang Sports Show, go to www.foxsports.com and there should be a link there down at the bottom right.

Go A's!

OaktownRajah - September 1, 2005 reply

Props to Kennedy

He looked like he was maybe nibbling too much and that drove his pitch count way up in the early innings, but to give him credit the Angels were having a pretty hard time getting a good hit off of him and he did a pretty darn good job keeping the Angels at bay.

As for the call on Ellis's dropped ball... It was ruled that he "caught" the ball - making Anderson out and the 'force at second' null and void, because Figgins didn't have to leave first. Except he never even came close to catching the ball, it bounced off the edge of the webbing on his glove. So it was just a bad call, period.

Melody - September 2, 2005 reply

Thanks

Chavy is the man...

Plain and simple.....My favorite player as long as he is in the league.

http://msn.foxsports.com/bestdamn

10/1 Saturday

Does anyone know what time this game starts? It's in Seattle during the last series of the regular season, I'll be up there that weekend but my schedule is TBA.

AllThingsOakland - September 2, 2005 reply

welcome me to the boards!

howdy everyone. i'm going to college in socal right now and i made it out to the first two games. You guys think you have it bad? Try listening to all my friends down here who are Angel fans :(

Its like the depression from the loss with tat trash talking stacked atop it

AntiAnaheim - September 2, 2005 reply

Chavez video

I don't think I saw a link posted, but it's on the best damn show site, under the video column on the left side of the page. Worth watching the first few seconds to see Chavez going back and forth as himself and Zito.

znk916 - September 2, 2005 reply

Ahhh...

I like entertainment with my lunch. :)

Thanks for posting the links. I liked the interview.

FormerHuntsvilleStar - September 2, 2005 reply

The Answer Is Currently in the A's Minors!

Guess what, fellow A's fans: The good hitter the A's need is currently in their minor league system. I kid you not!

No, I don't mean Barton, Mellilo, or Eithier who A's talent evaluators have deemed not yet ready for the Show.

Hiram Bocachica, an OF with pop who has been out with an injury the whole year, just returned to Sacto and last night went 4-4. Give him a few more games to reinforce his good timing and bat speed and, voila, bring Bocachica back!

Hey, even if he doesn't hit we can have a good time with his name! ;-)>

reztips - September 2, 2005 reply

Bocachica Mojo!

http://hirambocachica.com/index.html

Boca--DA Dinger Man

How could I be so negligent. In stating that Boca went 4-4 yesterday at Sacto, I forgot to state that 2 of his hits were dingers!

Hey BB: Bring up, Boca. And through his little orifice the A's will go to the promised land! ;-)

reztips - September 2, 2005 reply

this has been posted before,

but since he just got back:

AllThingsOakland - September 2, 2005 reply

Bocachica!

He was my pick back in March when Blez had a "who will be the surprise star of the season?" question. I saw him a few times in Seattle. He's awesome.

iglew - September 2, 2005 reply

Irritated with the game

Okay, I had a really bad day yesterday, so I was predisposed to being mad at the A's and everything they did offensively. I didn't even go on AN after the game because I probably would have spouted drivel.

Anyway, I liked DJ bunting. It was about the last thing the Angels were expecting. Didn't work out, but I thought it was a good idea.

But Chavvy---man could he take a pitch? Ok, he did in his last AB, but most of the innings beforehand it just looked like he wanted to sit down as quickly as possible.

And I hate umpires right now. If that wasn't interference, I don't know what is. And I'm pretty sure Figgins was out at second anyway.

Scutaro and Ellis as your 1-2 punch---not good. I'm not sure they had any better options--but maybe that indicates a severe weakness in this team. And why wasn't Matt Watson in LF? Surely he can hit better left-handed than Bobby Kielty.

Alright, I've vented a bit. Tonight, this offense is facing Al Leiter. He doesn't like to throw in the zone, so this is a pitcher who should have trouble with the A's. I'm willing to give a bit of a pass to a short lineup against Angels pitching, but Leiter--and the Yankees this weekend will be an offensive litmus test.

Alien @ Athletics Nation - September 2, 2005 reply

!st inning run.. how important?

The debate about sacrifice vs "no sacrifice" is usually bereft of 'circumstance'.

In the first inning, Chavvy

yes, Chavvy!

...should have been dragging a bunt to get that runner in. Can he even do it? That first inning run would've been HUGE for either team. Even Guerrero should have been bunting!

Usually the Bill James kind of stats take NO peripheral information into account, regarding sacrifices. I think a run in the first inning proves to be a deciding advantage in low-scoring outlook games.

Getting a run in from third... twice! because a player could NOT produce a run-scoring batted ball. A double play ball by Ellis, and a pop-up by Chavez. It's okay when the score is 4-3, or 6-4, but when you're SCORELESS I think a whole different valuation should be put on the batter at the plate:

He MUST make a slow roller by bunt toward 2nd base!

Ducts on the Pawn - September 2, 2005 reply

Chavez lack of production

Last evening the A's had Ellis on 3rd with one out and Chavez went after a pitch early in the count instead of working the count.
He has been going after first pitches which is not Oakland way of going after pitchers.
In addition it time to replace Kielty against righthanded pitchers.
Why not try Watson or Bryam they couldn't do any worse.
Bryam would add speed to lineup which the A's need
Lou

LOU @ Athletics Nation - September 2, 2005 reply

Pitching Matchups for NYY?

According to Yahoo Sports its Leiter, Mussina, and Chacon. But I thought that Mussina was injured? Does anyone have any info on who the Yanks might start on Saturday?

BruceBochte - September 2, 2005 reply

Mussina is unavailable, as far as

I've heard. there is speculation that the rookie Wang may come off the DL in time to pitch.

OaklandSi - September 2, 2005 reply

Hope Mussina is out

The A's have consistently looked terrible against his changeup.

Also nice to see the Yankmees offences slumping coming into this game. They've only scored 2 more runs over the past two games than the A's have!

A's also should definitely score some runs off washed up Leiter and whoever else the Yanks throw out there.

BruceBochte - September 2, 2005 reply

If he starts, the A's will certainly

Whack the Wang!

reztips - September 2, 2005 reply

They have named Leiter, Small, Chacon

Pucking Insane - September 2, 2005 reply

Saturday's pitching match

It will be Aaron Small for the Yankees facing Saalroos.

pachydermOAFC - September 2, 2005 reply

If the Yanks put Small and Wang together,

you know what they will get: A Small Wang!

Steinbrenner says, I spent $220 mil for a small wang? ;-)>

reztips - September 2, 2005 reply

With all of the steroids Giambi and Sheffield ..

have taken, they may know more about "Small Wang" than anybody.

Gerard - September 2, 2005 reply

Gerard, How Did You Know?

Did you testees?

'Course, now we know why they are called "The Yanks!"

reztips - September 2, 2005 reply

check out the link dump

for a journalists joke about how the small-wang combo is outperforming the Big Unit

Alien @ Athletics Nation - September 2, 2005 reply

"It's fun, man. It's fun." -- Ellis

(On penant race in Chronicle today)

Fun? Fun?

Look, I love this attitude. I really do. But this doesn't feel like fun to me. An 8-game lead over the Angels would be fun. A healthy roster would be fun. Instead, I'm tearing my hair out and fretting and fussing over the injuries and recent hitting funk. Just how bad is Bobby's ankle? Will Harden make another start this year? Can Kotsay stand up straight? And how many homeruns will A-Rod hit at the Coliseum? We just dropped 2 of 3 to the Angels. That's not fun. Losing is never fun, no matter how good the game was.

Thank goodness Ellis has a more resilient psyche than I do. I guess that's why he's a baseball player and I'm not (along with the fact that I'm not a guy and have no eye-hand coordination.)
I'm glad he's having fun, but I'm a mess.

SportySpice @ Athletics Nation - September 2, 2005 reply

I 2nd this. :( Also a big mess! NOT fun!

rookieoftheyear - September 2, 2005 reply

how is this not fun?!?!?!?!?

we are tied with the Angels with one month left, every game is equally important. I'm sorry but if you don't think this is fun then you really dont know what baseball is all about.

Amen!

I think this is a blast! We are in first place, tied yes, but first none the less! Every game is important, every game is exciting! And to quote the great Lew Wolff: I'm so Green and Gold, I hang on every PITCH, not just every Game!

This is what its all about! On the edge of your seat every second, not knowing what is going to happen the second that ball leaves the pitcher's hand. It is a beautiful thing! I love it!

BobbyCrosbysGirl - September 2, 2005 reply

Like I Said, Great Attitude

But my nerves are frayed. It's exhilerating and fabulous baseball, but "fun" isn't the feeling I'm going with.

SportySpice @ Athletics Nation - September 2, 2005 reply

I concur:

This is what it is all about.

Now, A's fans let's give them hell today!!!

The Tankee fans will be there as lud as ever and we have to make sure that we do not let them interfere with our hometown vibe.

Whenever they start the "Let's Go Yankees" chant it must be met with a Let's go oakland chant that is louder!!!

Let's get behind Haren and ride the Yankees outta town like Yankee Doodle rode his PONY!!!

saint @ Athletics Nation - September 2, 2005 reply

i agree 100%

i mean shit, if we make it to october we can look back and say, "we fucking earned this!" This team has so much character and chemistry that really is fun to watch. Now, while watching Chavez swing at the 1st or 2nd pitch three times isnt what i call "fun," this is my favorite time of the sports year by far.

Pucking Insane - September 2, 2005 reply

It's all good

this is even better than 2003 when the A's were head to head with Seattle, very encouraging start by Kennnedy but at least both offenses did not score a lot of runs which means the A's can beat LAA with 4 or 5 runs a game, Yankees in town cheer loud and let's let the Ace on sunday show his best against the Yankees.

doublehustle22 - September 2, 2005 reply

More On Bocachica

According to info on his fansite, Bocachica--while largely an OF--has played SS and 2nd base in the winter leagues. I would suggest that the A's put him at SS while at Sacto posthaste and evaluate how he does over the next week. The cat has hit well in the minors and might be a good temporary replacement for Crosby instead of Scoots as he is possibly a better hitter...

reztips - September 2, 2005 reply

Great idea

But then, you'd also have expected the A's to have gotten Melhuse some time in at third in spring training, and lined up a Myers/Castillo/Borders/Crash Davis type and warehoused him in Sacto or at AA in the spring.

Harold Reynolds is Stupid

I was watching ESPN...Can you believe he said Crosby's loss is devastating because CHAVEZ needs protection behind him? Does Harold not realize Cros was batting third? Idiot. The next thing he said was that he was on the A's bandwagon...If you're on the bandwagon, try to know the slightest bit about the team.

ohmangoAs - September 2, 2005 reply

To his credit..

He seemed really disappointed that the injuries were hurting the A's.

Guys make mistakes on live TV....Im sure he meant protection around him and mis-spoke...it's not as easy as it looks.