Side Note: Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but someone should tell the A’s offense that Harden was on the mound. I would think that our other pitchers might need the run support just a little bit more.
My goodness, how much do I love Harden! Someone once described having Harden on the A’s like having a awesome new toy, one that you don’t get to play with very often, and one that you have to play with very carefully, but it’s the best toy that you’ve ever had and sometimes you can’t believe you even have it.
Harden breezed through the first nine batters, retiring them in order. Ichiro had Seattle’s first hit, although he needed a golf club more than a baseball bat because of its location. Harden walked a batter and gave up a hit in the fourth, but settled down to retire A’s-killer Sexson, and by the time all was said and done, his line looked like this: 7IP, 3H, 0R, 2BB, 7K. Marshall and Street finished off the game in impressive fashion, with Street striking out two of the three batters he faced.
Meanwhile, the A’s found their offense early. MaEl, en route to his five RBIs, while riding his sparkly unicorn, cleared the bases to break the game open, and it seemed like everyone else got into the action from there. Shannon Stewart looked good, literally hitting the ball right up the middle with each at bat, Bradley continued his torrid start, Piazza got his first AL hit, and before being replaced by Marco Scutaro (who ironically made an error in his first inning of work), even Crosby had a solid hit. He was supposed to sit tomorrow (for rest, I assume), but maybe that will change.
And yes, I did hear some rumors about a possible deal involving cable and MLB, but I refuse to get excited until a) the contract is inked and b) I have baseball playing in my house. However; if it does, I will quite literally be the happiest person on this planet. Expect a diary filled with nothing but random screaming.
Soooo....
<gulp>
The A’s, complete with starting pitchers Gaudin and Kennedy, take on the Angels starting tomorrow night for a four game series in what should be a preview of the AL West battle.
Let’s Go Oak-land!!
0 recs | 82 comments
Long Live King Richard!
Randy Bell - April 4, 2007
'night everybody
rest up, work or study, and get ready for tomorrow!
OaklandSi - April 4, 2007
G'Nite Oak!
Randy Bell - April 4, 2007
Love the signature
lightning-quick recap!
mikeA - April 4, 2007
It was nice having 3 nights of quality pitching
The A's could just as easily have won either of those first two games.
Tomorrow we get to feel like the M's fans did tonight: helpless as Major League hitters clean up on mediocre pitching. Here's hoping Kennedy can throw better tomorrow than that Batista clown did tonight. And that our offense gets itself in a little groove.
Elvez - April 4, 2007
Gaudin tomorrow, Kennedy Friday
Be afraid, and then very afraid. Maybe the Angels' tendency to be free-swinging will bail out Gaudin. One can hope; at least he has good stuff.
Nico - April 4, 2007
ooooh, that's right...forgot all about
that it is the Angels.... sheesh, pressure (for me behind the mac and back to mlbtv, sigh)
ak_A - April 4, 2007
The Angels aren't throwing their best either ..
These first two contests could be a battle in which best offense wins:
Gaudin vs Saunders
Kennedy vs Moseley
Last year, the A's tended to play better {prevail}, in Anaheim, and vice versa with the Angels in Oakland .. so we'll see ..
Randy Bell - April 5, 2007
not sure about Monday night
Felix perhaps only gave a glimmer for one run (when Buck made it to 3B). Haren was good but not the King that night.
But I do agree about Tuesday...
OaklandSi - April 5, 2007
Or at least...
the A's pitching in the first two games was good enough to expect a win. Felix just happened to be better than Haren, and Joe got shafted.
Elvez - April 4, 2007
You almost never see as many hitters
so late on fastballs as we saw tonight off Harden, and the offspeed stuff had the hitters baffled consistently. Health + Harden = Cy Young. I'm just sorry he's missing the LAA series; if we split that series, I'll be very happy, coming back home 2 out. Just maintain contact with the Angels for a while...
Nico - April 4, 2007
Where's the optimism?
After our offense tonight? C'mon! The A's will kick butt on Joe Saunders tomorrow and Gaudin will pitch well and so will Joe K! So, anybody switch to Direct TV? I was seriously contemplating, then saw the cable news and that Dish is still negotiating. Guess I'll sit tight and see what happens. Go A's!
A'sfansince1970 - April 4, 2007
I Agree, Sometimes Lately AN is sounding like ..
ESPN Baseball Tonite .. and that ain't intended necessarily as a compliment .. I liked the comment someone made in yesterday's game thread, - that ESPN analysts reminded him of dogs on a busy street, - chasing the latest and fastest car that comes by. In other words, they are "sensationalist" and not good long-term analysts. Here on AN it seems we have some remarkable "laypeople" so knowledgable with the stats and sabermetrics, - but it seems we also have some chronic pessimists and whiners who lack patience or who seem to forget that baseball is a long long "marathon" season and not a "sprint" - I am speaking as one who is still relatively new to this Site .. this exhortation not intended to single anyone out or offend anyone ..
Randy Bell - April 5, 2007
Let me balance that by saying ..
I have wanted to say this, because I don't know how long I'll stay here at AN, so taking opportunity now to say it -- but I am really impressed with this Site. The leadership, Blez and Nico and others, are great. Most of the fans who post here, have to be some of the most knowledgeable fans in the world. I guess it reflects the diversity of the Bay Area, what with two world class universities {Stanford and Berzerkely} and a diverse culture. I hope I never appear too negative because for the most part I am very impressed with the level and quality of fans we have here. The above minor criticism only intended to exhort everyone to remember what a long long season baseball is, and not get too down in the dumps or over-react to a small sample size or a small stretch of games .. I know, it is hard because our emotions run the gamut .. as, we all want the A's to win .. but you guys are the best .. ;-)
Randy Bell - April 5, 2007
of course it's a long season
but the nature of fandom is to wallow in the moment, so I'm pretty tolerant of the passionate and sometimes overly optimistic or overly pessimistic pronouncements here -- especially in the game threads.
OaklandSi - April 5, 2007
Let it go buddy...
I think I can help you with this one and make your stay with AN all the better. Let these kind of complaints go. Everyone here knows that Piazza & Buck will hit. We know there's a good chance that Crosby will probably find the inner-superstar within eventually. If you don't take these kinds of negative comments with a HUGE grain of salt, you're going to drive yourself nuts (the stale, germy, greasy hands been touching them all day, several years old bar nut type nuts). Especially if we have another one of our typical slow starts. Usually around June you'll see the turn of the emotions towards what you've been pushing and seeking from the rest of us. Give us time to warm up and get that negative energy out of ourselves (the offseason is never good for the soul of a baseball fan).
Why do we do it? It's simple. It's like comfort food. Should we eat the gallon of icecream? Probably not. Why do we eat it? Because it's tasty and feels good right now. Will we regret it when we start packing on the weight? Sure. Will we have to work hard over the Summer to burn it off? You betcha.
So are we being super critical of our team and their players right now? Absolutely. Are we serious and should we be taken serious when we are doing so? Nope.
What should you do about it? Joke along and enjoy the ride. 'Cause one way or another we'll be there at the end of the season.
DMOAS - April 5, 2007
Should I Interview Myself?
Absolutely!
Love and Kisses,
Donald Rumsfeld
camperdog - April 5, 2007
Thanks dmoas
Randy Bell - April 5, 2007
Agree, DMOAS
AN is a bad place to take yourself seriously and a great place not to. That's why I refuse to take anyone seriously, myself included, even though Cindi thinks I should take her seriously, or at least to the mall.
Nico - April 5, 2007
I Will Remember this Comment
.. the next time Nico gets locked into a heated debate about bullpen usage .. {g} .. j/k .. don't take me seriously ..
Randy Bell - April 5, 2007
I'm worried for you...
because you've only spent three regular-season games with us so far. What did you think I was talking about when I said, earlier, to BRACE YOURSELF? ;)
Poppy - April 5, 2007
Actually, Geren's explanation this morning
was better than the ones I could presume (though I still think he played it wrong). He said if the A's were trailing he was going to leave Blanton in and then go to Duke later--presumably just to get work in. I hadn't thought about that combo, and it makes more sense to me to put Duke in when trailing "because he needs to get in anyway" than because it's "the best strategy". However, given this, logic still dictates he should have put Duke in with the game tied (if he wanted him to get in anyway) rather than getting Calero up suddenly.
What Geren hopefully learned: Better to go with the guy who has already been preparing to come in than to change plans so late. I absolutely believe Calero rushed to get ready and that it affected his performance; just my opinion, but it was my opinion before he got hit so I think it's fair game.
Nico - April 5, 2007
IMHO darned if you do, darned if you don't
I'm sure a manager learns as the season progresses but my opinion, which hasn't changed either, is that we were destined to lose that game regardless -- the A's pen just looked "rusty" to me, both Kiko and Duke -- and of course it is just "water under the bridge" which nobody will remember come August-Sept .. there will have been wayyyy too many other controversial calls and close games .. and we may end up watching the Angels {not us} on TV in October anyway no matter what strategy we employ .. I hope not, but their pitching looks better and deeper ..
Randy Bell - April 5, 2007
I'm more about process than outcome
Had the process satisfied me, I wouldn't criticize due to the outcome. And I don't think Geren's managing of that situation cost us the game; I just don't think it was a good process.
Nico - April 5, 2007
Hopefully he learned something from it
I guess some are suspicious of geren because of his close relationship with beane but if you hear enough of his interviews he sounds {to me} like a pretty bright guy; not the type of guy to fail to learn and adapt ..
Randy Bell - April 5, 2007
Can I call him "Jesus Harden" from now on?
Finally, I feel good again. The last two days were a downward spiral for me, but after this 9-0 win, I realize that the A's are indeed a major league team, and we will win more than 40 games this year. (It's probably not a good thing to have my personal well-being be so attached to a baseball team, but them's the breaks in life.) This is what the A's are SUPPOSED to do with Harden on the mound, and Miguel Batista on the other mound (well, the same mound).
Now we can only hope and pray the Gaudin and Kennedy have one win between them.
Philip Christy - April 4, 2007
Hey as Geren reminded me
Some of the best teams in baseball lose at least 60 games. Too bad we couldn't have Harden start every day ;-)
Tyler Bleszinski - April 4, 2007
There is no Baseball Savior but ..
.. a healthy Rich Harden, for an entire year .. might come close to "saving" the A's Season .. but we'll see .. I'm sure hoping and praying he stays healthy! :)
Randy Bell - April 5, 2007
Where did this unicorn business come from?
When did the game turn into Fantasia?
Maybe Ellie can find more unicorns in Disneyland...
OaktownRajah - April 4, 2007
You want unicorns?
We've got unicorns!
http://www.athleticsnation.com/story...
baseballgirl - April 5, 2007
I'm predicting...
a Scutaro and Ellie tag team bashing at the bottom of the lineup tomorrow nite! It'll be Wrestlemania 45 except nobody loses their hair.
OaktownRajah - April 4, 2007
Travis Buck
Looked a little lost up there (3Ks). At least he took some walks and scored a run.
bringbackgallego - April 4, 2007
He will be fine
.. the kid can hit .. it is his first time in the bigs .. butterflies and all, y'know ..
Randy Bell - April 5, 2007
Addendum: Piazza will be fine too ..
.. the guy can flat out hit at the MLB level .. give him time ..
Randy Bell - April 5, 2007
And I Doubt We Will See Kendall strikeout thrice
.. three times in one game .. maybe GIDP three times, but not 'K' three times .. {g} .. that is extremely rare and reminds us of what a small "sample size" we have with only three games into the season ..
Randy Bell - April 5, 2007
But he did
have that one good AB coming back from behind in the count to work a walk.
He did seem to look at too many good pitches though.
humdinger - April 5, 2007
I love Rich Harden.
No, not like that.
Poppy - April 5, 2007
I'm a little disappointed.
Nothing about MaEl?
Jennifer - April 5, 2007
You're kidding.
How long have you known me? Doesn't it go without saying?
I decided that I have to buy whatever is in the vending machine slot E-4 every day, from now on. Even if it's something disgusting like beef jerky.
Poppy - April 5, 2007
[slaps self]
What was I thinking?
Jennifer - April 5, 2007
That sounds like a more fitting snack
for Swisher or Blanton mojo.
mikeA - April 5, 2007
I wonder...
Vending Machine Mojo probably only works if I actually eat what I buy. That's not going to work out very well for me. And what about weekends?! I'll have to come to the office on weekends in order to visit the Machine! And while I'm on vacation, or sick!
Sheesh, forget it.
Poppy - April 5, 2007
Why not
buy your own vending machine for home and stock it with glittered cupcakes?
mikeA - April 5, 2007
"your own vending machine for home"
Aren't those called refrigerators?
Jennifer - April 5, 2007
Yes...
So just label one of the drawers or shelves E-4 and stock stuff you know you'll want to eat before a game there. Problem solved. And you have a new conversation piece for the occasional guest that'll lead you to discussing the A's (as if you needed another).
DMOAS - April 5, 2007
Don't let us down now Poppy!
I know it sucks, but this is for everyone!
Elvez - April 5, 2007
Sorry, but
I am not going to take beef jerky for the team.
Oh god. The Machine has jalapeno chips sometimes, too...
Poppy - April 5, 2007
I wonder if Machine Mojo
will work for anyone? I'm going to see what our machine has in it.
Jennifer - April 5, 2007
Do it.
If you eat something from E-4, maybe we'll get the added bonus of a Mark Gruzalottaletters error.
Poppy - April 5, 2007
I wonder...
If you were to take something from J-2 and flush it down the toilet, would Jeter suddenly suck? Probably not, they seem to like (things) like that over there.
DMOAS - April 5, 2007
Trail Mix.
F'in Trail. Mix.
Sorry, not happening.
Jennifer - April 5, 2007
Do it.
Come on. It's not as bad as beef jerky.
Poppy - April 5, 2007
I'd rather eat beef jerky.
Jennifer - April 5, 2007
Feed it to the birds.
mikeA - April 5, 2007
I had almost forgotten how good Harden is
That being said, I'm not sure that I've ever, ever seen him pitch as well as he did last night. Sexson had to have missed that 88mph CHANGE-UP by three feet, and at one point Rich threw a splitter that I rewound and watched at least 8 times. I don't remember the poor fool who he threw it to, but dude didn't have a chance. Rich legitimately had four plus plus pitches working last night, and was basically unhittable. Quite impressive. How long til his next start . . . .
RayRay59 - April 5, 2007
Why I love April
Mark Ellis, leading the majors in RBI
Doug - April 5, 2007
I think we need a screen shot of that
Let's savor the moment.
DMOAS - April 5, 2007
question
How does he manage to have an OBP lower than his AVG?
A bigger (readable) version of the screen grab is here. Is there a way to post larger (wider) pictures in the comments without getting them cut off? Some style="..." attribute?
colin - April 5, 2007
Because OBP includes sac flies
according to BP's glossary.
Poppy - April 5, 2007
Good to see an Athletic on top of a...
Leader Board (no matter how short-lived the stint).
FoolshGame22 - April 5, 2007
Bradley
I had to make the screen grab large enough to show Milton down there at number 13. Though I'm sure there are a lot of people tied with 3 RBI.
colin - April 5, 2007
hmmmm...
I notice another (former) Athletic on that leaderboard, as well. Not a bad line, so far:
AVG OBP SLG
.500 .500 .857
And, 4 RBI.
FoolshGame22 - April 5, 2007
What's your CEAEB %?
(Comments Exclusively About Eric Byrnes Percentage)?
Nick - April 5, 2007
I didn't mention Byrnes in that comment...
lol
FoolshGame22 - April 5, 2007
No, you're thinking of
BMP (Byrnes Mentions Percentage). CEAEB % includes allusions.Nick - April 5, 2007
Big Ups for MaEl, Ma-shell
Glimpses of the 05 Ellie last night. Battling AB with bat speed. How bout the Rule5er Jay Marshall debut. And, with our dominant pitcher in the 3 spot, how will this match us up for April?
eshock - April 5, 2007
first full inning for marshall that is, nt
eshock - April 5, 2007
Let's clone Harden
We need 4 new names for King Richard's clones, so they can all start.
In that rotation, maybe none of them will get injured all year!
streetfan - April 5, 2007
They also need to wear disguises,
so no one will suspect they're Harden clones. Maybe one could wear a really grotesque beard like Danny Haren wore when he didn't want to be recognized at Spring Training...
Poppy - April 5, 2007
Right, a beard
Rich never has a beard, just stubble, so that's a good start!
Maybe Cindi could dye their hair all different colors for disguises?
streetfan - April 5, 2007
Omigod! How about:
I'm really into auburn right now; can you tell?
-Cindi.
Nico - April 5, 2007
Great Cindi!
So what is Kielty's shade? Flame auburn?
I think he is our only redhead?
streetfan - April 5, 2007
ooo
one of them can wear high socks!
drmmerchk - April 5, 2007
I'm becoming mighty fond of Shannon
it almost feels like he's always been an Athletic
ArakSOT - April 5, 2007
Twins seem to be similar team to the A's
.. in their small market status and their philosophy of player development .. so the transition to the A's probably not too much of a change for Shannon .. not to mention he gets to play on home grass half the time .. and all of the teams in the AL-West play on grass ..
Randy Bell - April 5, 2007
Street also looked impressive.
I know it was in a no-pressure situation, but he kept the ball down the entire inning, threw a couple of wicked change-ups, and breezed through. He looked sharper to me last night than I can remember him being in a long time.
humdinger - April 5, 2007
Me too
baseballgirl - April 5, 2007
I will let my tag explain my feelings....
HardenForCy - April 5, 2007
I have
been impressed by Bradley's hitting so far and if he can stay healthy, he'll hopefully go .300/25/80 but of course Ellis looked very good out there with his bat.
doublehustle22 - April 5, 2007
Its just not fair
Harden should not be able to have so many filthy pitches its just not fair. 100mph heater and a nasty change and splitter its just not very fair to hitters.
3Chavy3 - April 5, 2007
Nice win, bitches!!!
Wow. That was close. It's been so long, I almost forgot how to do it. (Insert sex joke here).
Tony - April 5, 2007
Can't, because if it's been so long,
then it's clearly not about your sex life. :-(
Nico - April 5, 2007
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