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Open Thread: Spring Training Game 5

The A's take on the Cubs in a rematch of the first spring training game when the A's lost 8-7.  The A's send Danny Haren to the mound to match up against Angel Guzman.  Haren got roughed up in his first start in the spring.

The A's have sputtered through the beginning of spring training, particularly with two elements that are supposed to be this team's strength, starting pitching and defense.  But that's why they have spring training and it's still extremely early.

LET'S GO A'S!!!

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Comments

LET'S GO OAKLAND!!!
Who's doing pxp?  :-)
I elect you
;-)
I'd LOVE to, but
I don't have the MLB audio pass thing.  
THAT is why I need pxp.  
Wow
Defense continues to be shoddy right from the start.
What's going on?
ANOTHER error?
Whoa... what?!
We've (WE?) committed an error in every ST game.  
Fire defense now!
Who made the error?
Poor Haren not getting any help to start with.

Is it bad that I'm worried about this?

I'm not worried... yet
But if the trend continues, I'll be the second one to hit the panic button. ;)

BTW, I don't know who it was... I'm relying on AN to keep me updated.

Ah, Todd Walker...
flashback nightmare.
Not on XM
Finally got the home kit set up, and it's not on.  Boo-urns.
They only have
Games that are on the real radio, not Buan's webcasts, which are solely for MLB Gameday Audio.

During the regular season, you'll get all 162 A's games.

Do we get to choose whatever team's
feed we want?
Nope...
You get every game for every team (home team's broadcast).
XM, right?
I thought we get to choose the feed on Gameday Audio.  Can anyone confirm that?
As far as I know,
you choose the feed you want to listen to on Audio.
That's what I thought
Thanks!
check your mail
Excercise some caution
3rd log on is a no go
really?
good to know.
damn
I was afraid of that.
Otherwise, we'd share the love with everyone.
Right?
no.
Just because I have 157,651 pieces of candy doesn't mean I'm sharing all of them. Keep that in mind if you ever need a kidney. Just because I have two, doesn't mean I'll be handing the other out 'cause it's extra. :)
<removes a kidney from Jennifer>
<cuts it into 157,651 pieces>

<shares>

kaleja ka tukra?
https://mailman.rice.edu/pipermail/sasialit/2000-March/000136.html
Not being at all well-versed in Urdu ...
... I won't venture an opinion on your question itself.
Not being well versed in opinions,
I won't question your Urdu venture itself.
Not being a tall, well-versed Urdu ...
Thigh-bone debenture a new pinion onward fustian nit-shelf.
I'd give Huston a kidney.
I wouldn't give BoCro a kidney ...
... you just know he'd end up breaking it and never giving it back.
I heard Dan Johnson
chews on borrowed kidneys and then gives them back.
That's hot.
<snicker>
I have a dirty mind.
Meanie
I suppose I could ask for a deposit ...
How much is it?
OHMYGOD!
BOBBY CROSBY TOUCHED MY KIDNEY!

<thud>

Better yet
MY KIDNEY IS INSIDE BOBBY CROSBY!
Bobby eats monkeys?
I don't even think that's legal.
Monkey...
it's the other <censored> meat.
do you mean ...
... this?
not exactly.
If it will cause a problem,
then I won't use it.  Don't want you to get in any trouble because of this.  ;)
What about me?
I feel so left out.
Awww
Thank you so much!  You rock!

:-D

I'm sorry...
Yes, on MLB Gameday Audio, you choose the feed you want.

I was talking about XM radio where they broadcast the home team's feed.

MLB.com gameday audio
Yes on gameday audio, you get to choose which feed you listen to. 3-0 Cubs, Ginter made an error at 3rd.
Who was it?
it wasn't me
but I don't know who it was....
swisher
swisher booted a grounder to 1b by pierre.  walked launced one to right.

kotsay runs in to snag a liner by ramirez.  sounds like they're squaring up haren's offerings quite well.  no worries though, this is what st is for, to reaffirm that big leaguers really can hit the shit out of pitches right down the middle :)

Swisher made the error
Todd Walker then proceeded to hit a two-run bomb.
MLB Scoreboard is slooooow
What's going on? O you lucky ones with radio, who made the error?
Never mind
GRRR.... I hate giving up runs in the first. Even in spring training.

I hope this is only the desert air messing with Haren.

Actually, were pretty fortunate
Very few teams are offering ST coverage
I thought MLB audio was free
during spring training?
it was last year.
It is?
Wow.  I feel like I've been living in a cave.  
Do we have to buy MLB audio for the entire year?
God! This flippin' sucks!
It's $15!
It's really a hell of a deal. That's like $2 a month.
MLB TV is monthly and WBC is for one month
How come we can't just get the spring training games for $2?
Cause...
Then they'd only get $2 from you. :-)

I see your point, but really, you get access to more than 2000 games for less than the price of a couple movie tickets.

I do wish MLB.tv was a little cheaper, but I can't complain much about the audio package.

Ok you convinced me
I bought it. LOL, I couldn't resist.
Yes!
Somebody at MLB should take notice and give me a job. :-)
I wonder if Haren's splitter is working
I'm amazed
at the level of angst over a spring training game in the first week of competition.

My view about all these games until the final week or so is that if no one got hurt, it was a success.

As for the pitchers-- remember that they really aren't worrying about getting people out. They're stretching out their arms-- gradually introducing all their pitches-- not fretting much about location.

so really, folks-- nothing to worry about so long as they are healthy. When Crosby plays SS for the first time; Thomas is in the lineup; and Harden throws from the mound-- all will be right in the world even if the Padres win 12-4.

Oaktoon introduces a note of rationality
to AN doom-and-glooming.... the sky is falling! The sky is falling!

;)

No seriously, thanks for the dose of perspective. :)

Now, back to your regularly scheduled worrying....

i am utterly calm about this season
and will be for a long, long time, I suspect
Did you say WORRYING?
I was born to worry.  :-/
<dips swab in empty Robitussin bottle>
Amen, brother 'toon.
By the Way
The more I read about Kendrick, Wood, Morales, Weaver and mathis...

the more I worry about next year, when the Halos may be flat loaded offensively.

I'm not concerned about Weaver ...
but the rest are pretty studly ...

The real test is how efficiently they use all of that talent. Between Wood, Aybar and Kendrick plus McPherson, Cabrera and Kennedy the Halos have a hell of a lot of talent with only 3 positions to put them in. With Morales and Kotchman looking like the future at 1b/DH there is little chance that the performance of those six can match their talent. Outside of Santana, Lackey and Guerrero, there is little that the Angels can point to on their current team that will be valuable in 2007 and beyond besides those guys. While the Angels are certainly in a position of strength, how good their teams actually will be is mostly dependent on how much on the field value they can get from all that 2b/ss/3b talent.

While their top prospects look very strong, ask the Rangers how far a great infield will take you with a sub-par rotation and limited outfield talent.

Who is fretting?
I'm not.  I pay attention to these games mostly to see how some of the younger kids do.

It is surprising to see the number of errors the A's already have, but I guess that is to be expected in ST.  I guess I've gotten used to this team being so good defensively.

What's going on?
Is the inning over yet?
There's a game on?
Swisher's hitting leadoff?
That's a new one.
Kotsay is leading off
a's ab
kotsay - single
swisher (?) popout
perez - fc
chavez - fc

2-0 cubbies

FC = fielder's choice?
Nope
"FC" = "Freedom Club"
I'm being wire-tapped now
I can just feel them watching me now that i clicked on that link, thanks a bunch. Hopefully they have A's radio coverage in Guantanimo Bay, no? Darn.
Rule #1
There's no talking about Freedom Club.  Wait that's not right...
haren top 2nd
3 pitch k
double
passed ball, runner to 3rd, 1 out.
popup, to 3rd, ginter misses it, 3-0.
man, we're playing bad so far.

baun says "play should have been made, no question, same with swisher error."

Spring or No
Errors suck.
Wow
Without the horrible defense, Haren doesn't give up any runs... except for the Walker HR, I guess. How many runs are unearned? All of them? Some of them?
Oh, come ON ...
... worrying about the outcomes of ST games is silly; hanging on pxp during same is even sillier; worrying about computed ERAs during same is preposterous.
Hey, hey
I was just curious, that's all. :) I have every confidence our leaky defense will be fixed by Opening Day.
Oh, I know :)
I just can't reach the little bit of Robitussin at the bottom of my bottle, and it's making me cranky.
Try a Q-tip next time.
Signed,

Not-the-voice-of-experience

on the Q-T
... and very hush-hush ...
where's General
Robert Montgomery Knight when we need him, to start yelling at these lollygagging players: "Hey Ginter, where's your glove? Did you forget your glove? You were circling like a overweight woman on the dance floor?"
And haven't we learned by now
that Ginter is the Master of Disaster?
New sign...
"Fear MeGin-ter
From the little information
MLB scoreboard consents to give me, it appears that the Cubbies is seein' da ball goot.
Bradley...
Gets hit on the hand.
omg
is he okay???
seems to be
he's on first.  

big red at the dish

Goes to first...
Doesn't appear to be a big deal.
Catcher's Interference
Bradley didn't get hit by the ball, it was catcher's interference
Buan got it wrong...
Bradley wasn't hit. It was a catcher's interference (must have gotten in the way of Bradley's swing).
Another reason why Buan shouldn't
be doing pxp.
(hypothetical?) question
Are the no-body-armor rules relaxed/ignored during ST?

If they're not, I for one sure as heck think they should -- and that every player making more than league-minimum ought to Kevlar up for ST ABs.

I agree
Armor up like Paula Abdul
Actually, it's an improvement
for Haren, who gave up five runs last time.  The defense didn't help last time nor this time either.
Did they yank Danny?
BTW Bradley didn't get hit
It was catcher's interference.
Most of the errors this season, have been
by players who won't be in Oakland if I recall correctly, Pennington, Herrera, Barton, ROuse, now Ginter.  Swish is the only regular
Dream Weaver
is getting lit up by the Giants right now.  Already allowed 2hr.
Hehehe
I've always thought he's overrated. The LAAAAAAA are welcome to him.
agreed
I have a suspicion that signing is going to bite them in the ass.
Dream Weaver
has currently allowed 6 runs to the Gnats.
Haren
Buan - "A's bullpen is quiet" so Haren will be back for another inning or so.
which hopefully
the A's can get through with no more errors.
A. Mel...
draws a walk. Bases loaded.
Melheuse Walks, Bags Packed
ginter drilled
keilty hit into another fc.

ginter now drilled.

1st and 2nd, 1 down.

melhuse up:

fastball,strike 1.
high, ball 1.
swing and miss, 1-2.  (out in front of offspeed pitch).

just low 2-2.

foul.  2-2

ball away 3-2.

foul 3-2.

inside ball 4.  nice ab by melhuse.  sacks packed.

Let's go A's!
beady (sp)
k's looking on a nice curve.  lets go kotsay.
KOT-SAY *clap clap* KOT-SAY
kotsay
lines out fairly hard to left center.
once again a's get lots of base runners but can't drive the home.  3-0 cubs.
beattie
Andrew Beattie, is who you mean
beattie
correct.  never heard of him.  whats his story?
He will be at AAA, and from what I heard, as a
hitter, he can sure play defense.
Couple hits the other day against S. Africa
The A's leave the bases loaded...
Still 3-0 Cubbies.
C'mon Danny
Let's see you do an inning without the added, uh, interest of the defense.
top 3
haha walker we got you (grounds out to 1b) 1 down
next guy
hits rope to center.  1 on 1 down.
Thanks for the pxp!
(I don't CARE if I'm swabbin' away at the Robitussin bottle). ;)
ahoy, swabbie!
*sings*
Swab, swab, swab the decks, swab me hearties swab.... it's a massive deck but what the heck it's part of a sailor's job....
2 down
missed how it happened
doh
jacque jones rips rbi 2b.  4-0 cubs.
Yikes
The Cubs sure like Haren
yep
i think going back to when he was a card he has like a 10+ era vs the cubs.  good thing we won't be seeing them in games that count anytime soon.
lunch time
go a's, lets take it to these cubbies.  i want to see some runs when i get back with my sandwich.
Chavvy
Chavez hit a shot foul about 400 feet
Is Buan going to do the entire game?
Kielty draws a walk
Bases loaded.  2 outs.  Ginter up.
This could be a (pre)season
changing at bat, hold your breath!
With Ginter?
Naaaaaaaaaah.
<Chavinator changes her name to
gInTeRh8R.
;)
Hey, I should put that in my sig
Negitive Nancy Alert!
Terror alert level blueish-purple
Uh....?
:D
I dont know
But I love the new sig
Thanks ;)
I like changing it.
Although...
tHe UsE oF cApS aNnOyS mE
tHe CaPs ArE fUn!
Ok then,
For fun I'll write my next essay for school in alternating caps, I'll let you know how much fun my prof has with her red pen.
It's a way of parodying
doom-and-gloomers
dOoM aNd GlOoMeRs?
...Ok...
He walked!
Go Ginty! Ewww, thats a terrible nickname
Ginter walks.
4-1 A's.
Melhuse up.
4-1 Cubbies, you mean
but glad to hear that we scored :D
Yeah, 4-1 *CUBS*
Was that a Freudian slip?  
What's Milhouse up to?
Josh!
I'm guessing...
We traded Kendall for Josh Willingham?
Josh Suchon is chatting with Baun...
Oh.
Too bad. I was excited about Willingham.
gmday audio
Hey Araksot  so to refer back to a much earlier  comment.  Does 3rd login "no go" mean not being able to login?  or login/pw being banned?  
Merely rejects the third attempt. No banning.
thanks
my little bro's a starving college student in LA and was wondering if I should supply some A's baseball to distract him from his studies..
baN'd!
<krAzeE MLB AuDiO AcTiOn>
Hey, look
The-Reliever-No-Longer-Known-As-Jairo-Garcia is in the game.
Josh Suchon (sp?)
from the Oakland Tribune is on.  He says Frank Thomas took BP in a cage (Monkeyball's cage?!) today for the first time.
If FT is in monkeyball's cage then...
...monkeyball must be - OH MY GOD!
Bwahahahaha!!!
<scampers across infield>
Lock the doors!
Hide the cough syrup!!!
BBBBZZZZZZZTTTTTT
GET BACK HERE!
<Frank Thomas cringes in pain>
I suppose I didn't have to attach the electrodes to his ankle -- but it was his only body part they would comfortably secure to.
<loads surplus kalishnakov>
<loads tranquilizer gun>
<hits sal>

Oops.

<thud>

I'm okay, really.
Tranquilizers have no effect on me.  Betadine, on the other hand.
I took BM in a cage ...
... but the cage wasn't mine ...
Was it Weaver
that gave up the 2 extra runs to the Giants?
dream weaver-
yes, i believe he was responsible for both runs.
Hoorah
Good God!
Rich is only 5% body fat!!!

<thud>

Hawt!
but what % is his body grit?
Intangible, of course
110%?
If he's 110% grit
and 5% fat ... what is he -15% of?
maple syrup
mounties
Degrassi Jr. High
Brokeback Bacon?
you mean ...
... this?
So, remember the game?
The A's? Danny Haren, shaggy dark-haired guy, reliever with changing name, A's defense looking like Barnum and Bailey? Opposing team in red and blue with bear logo.... anyone heard anything about what's going on with them?
game
still 4-1 i believe.  a's coming up.  new pitcher and catcher for the cubs.
My poor Boy!
He has Pink Eye! ='(
....Always something wrong with him, huh?
But I thought he just got over that?
<subject>
Isn't that highly contagious? Why is he around other people?

And maybe we shouldn't have been joking about Bobby needing a kidney.

I think you can give pink eye
to other people if they touch something that you did....the last thing we need is for Bobby to fell the entire clubhouse with it, although it'd be a new record if he did.
The A's should just shoot
Bobby and get it over with. Like a horse with a broken leg.
LOL....
although I suspect BCG may shoot you.
We should have
Anna Benson shoot Bobby. She's great with weapons.

Here Bobby, Bobby!

<BOOM!>

Can we shoot
Anna Benson after that?
Anna Benson and I...
should have a shootout.
I fully expect to read Sliusser tomorrow ...
... reporting that Bobby has a brain cloud ...
I will totally
Jump into a volcano with him!
your sister's a flibbertigibbet!
What?
Did Bobby print out some sort of checklist from WebMD and is now having everything wrong with him possible?

...Hopefully he didn't put syphilis on the list...

Pink Eye?
Has someone been using Worcestershire Sauce as embalming fluid again?
Don't Make this Mistake
Coroner 2: Puts Worcestershire sauce on a hot dog
Coroner 1: "Marty, do you have to put that stuff on everything?"
Coroner 2: "I don't know....it just makes everything taste so........so English."
Coroner1: "You know, I think death is least funny when it happens to a child."
oh man, I had the wierdest dream last night
I was out in the middle of this field, with this huge satalite dish comming out of my ass. Then these aliens brought me onto their ship, and Scott Baio gave me pink eye!
Pretty standard dream
It can be interpreted to your childhood crush on a cousin.
Oh, you're one to talk!
http://www.athleticsnation.com/comments/2006/3/6/83724/81844/2#2
This conversation is over, too.
See how much fun I am?
Maybe Anna Benson should shoot sal, too.
<dips Sal in Betadine and Robitussin>
I had a dream a few nights ago...
Macha and Howe were our managers!

<GASP>

This fine Gameday Audio
Is it just my connection or is there a half-second of dead air in between every phrase of Buan's?  It's like he's pressing the COUGH button all the time.

Now bottom of the sixth, still Cubs 4 A's 1 for the non-MLB-audio'd.

congratulations
MLBAM found another sucker.
It's not you.
The gaps I think are supposed to be charming, I don't know if its some kind of noise gate built into the windows media audio codec or what.  The upside is that sometimes it kicks in for the entire time during the between innings commercials.  However, I don't think that today is one of those times.
Truly.
Internet audio has obliterated most of the progress made in radio quality since about 1928 -- returned us to the days of crowding around the set listening on headphones -- and we're paying for it!
Commercials
What's interesting about having to pay to listen to radio that contains commercials, and this is similar to the same arguments about 30 years ago for cable TV, is that by listening to it when your not in their radio range you're giving them an argument to raise their advertising prices by having proof beyond Nielsen ratings of an expanded audience beyond their local region.  So essentially  they get people to pay them so that they have a justification to charge more money for ads.  I don't know if they actually tally in the internet audience when calculating ad rates, but if they do, it's deviously brilliant along the lines of Tom Sawyer charging kids to paint a fence for him.
What inning is it?
I just got here.
7th inning Stretch!
7th Inning Stretch
I just heard "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and it's 8-1 Cubs
wow
guess I should have stayed away.  ;)
McClain
Perhaps our new clean-up hitter, McClain just went yard.
is the game still going??
i just got here and the news doesn't look good... :-/
damn, it's over
and wow, that was painful...
At least it doesn't count!
And now's the time to be rusty and get it out of their systems. I'm bummed that I already paid the hundred bucks for the all access and no A's games are on MLBTV. Just the Stankees. Guess I'll have to just wait for 4/3! Anybody going up to Seattle for opening weekend? Go A's!

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