Spring Training often isn't so much about watching teams as it is about watching certain players, so perhaps the most notable aspect of today's game is that lefty Greg Smith, the least electric but most polished return in the Dan Haren trade, takes the mound against Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano. Smith's strong showing so far this spring has put him in contention for the #5 spot (or, if you're a health skeptic, the #2 spot) in the rotation.
Other dark horses making this week especially interesting include Todd Linden, whose is batting .714 with the lumber (perhaps less so with the mouth) and Brooks Conrad, who is batting only .462 but hasn't raised any questions on any AN fanposts on whether he might be a clubhouse cancer, leukemia, gout, scurvy, jaundice, or even goiter
They like me to teach right about mid-day (those bastards), so someone else will have to post the lineups.
0 recs | 224 comments
A's Lineup
Buck RF
Ellis 2B
Barton 1B
Cust DH
Crosby SS
R. Sweeney LF
Suzuki C
Hannahan 3B
Denorfia CF
SP: Greg Smith
Oaktownflav - March 11, 2008
Pretty close
to what we might see opening day.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
It's sad our opening day...
...lineup might feature Crosby 5th (and I'm a Crosby supporter).
Travis Buck Nuckin - March 11, 2008
Cubbies very tough looking lineup even w Zambrano hitting
Soriano LF
Theriot SS
Fukudome RF
Lee 1B
Ramirez 3B
DeRosa 2B
Soto C
Fuld CF
Zambrano P
Oaktownflav - March 11, 2008
Ack..
Out at 3rd is buck.
Syphon - March 11, 2008
Why
do I feel like that's the start of a dirty poem.
pam5981 - March 11, 2008
Why
do I feel like that's the start of a dirty poem.
pam5981 - March 11, 2008
Mind..
outta the gutter there Pam!
Syphon - March 11, 2008
you started it
hahahaha
pam5981 - March 11, 2008
Its true..
I started it. :)
Syphon - March 11, 2008
Oh shout out!
to AN!
Syphon - March 11, 2008
Whee!!!!!
baseballgirl - March 11, 2008
We made it!!
We finally made it!!
Syphon - March 11, 2008
I missed it!
Jennifer - March 11, 2008
What did they say about AN?
Tyler Bleszinski - March 11, 2008
Somebody at the game
Told Robert to say hi to AN.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
I wonder if that was LongTimeFan
I think she went down this week. I love her. I really do.
Tyler Bleszinski - March 11, 2008
I didn't recognize the person's actual name
And I don't remember what their actual name was. Sorry!
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Marlene or Marjie perhaps?
Or maybe it was Louis?
Tyler Bleszinski - March 11, 2008
A woman's name, for sure.
Marjie rings a bell. Not sure, though.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
what did they say!?
batgirl - March 11, 2008
CUST HR!!!!
baseballgirl - March 11, 2008
Does this mean...
that every time AN is mentioned on the radio Cust will hit a HR shortly thereafter?
Jennifer - March 11, 2008
Cust HR
Woooo!
Syphon - March 11, 2008
Yay Cust
mikeA - March 11, 2008
1-0 A's
baseballgirl - March 11, 2008
woohoo!!
OrlandoAsFan - March 11, 2008
What's his OPS at now?
3.000?
mikev - March 11, 2008
gameday is broken:
Crosby, SS ......... .300
mikeA - March 11, 2008
Crosby k'd on a outside slider, all is once again right in the world
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
Can't believe it took this long
(trying to have faith in Bobby Crosby ain't easy!)
pam5981 - March 11, 2008
go Cust go
TheGreenGoldCrush - March 11, 2008
Greg Smith
Innocent until proven guilty.
His 1.51 WHIP in AAA last season is a little scary however, especially considering that Braden had a 1.08 in AAA last season.
ChadGod - March 11, 2008
Greg Smith through 3 innings
3IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 2K
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
He looks pretty good so far.
That's by no means a minor league lineup he's facing.
OrlandoAsFan - March 11, 2008
He's starting to look like the leading candidate
for the fifth starter spot. Wow.
Tyler Bleszinski - March 11, 2008
agreed
I have to admit, I wasn't too high on the guy initially. But so far his performance has definitely caught my attention.
OrlandoAsFan - March 11, 2008
might as well still give other guys a chance at it first
smith isn't going anywhere.
xbhaskarx - March 11, 2008
eveland
I really think Eveland was the front-runner for the 5th rotation spot at the beginning of ST. In my opinion though, he hasn't proven that he is the most capable or deserving.. The way Smith is pitching against the Cubs, he just seems to be more 'hungry' for the opportunity.
OrlandoAsFan - March 11, 2008
and he'll get it sometime mid-season or next year
xbhaskarx - March 11, 2008
Buan and Billy-O
essentially just hinted the same thing. Billy avoided the question of whether Smith's chances have improved.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Hi guys and gals. Meetings at work are so overrated.
I need to set my outlook calendar to show "busy" during ST games.
kapers - March 11, 2008
Which one of you guys asked to have Buan turn
off the sound, so we don't hear the email ding?
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
Somebody emails Buan
Says the email "ding" is annoying. Buan says there's nothing he can do, since everything is run from that computer.
And he isn;t using Outlook. It's web-based email, and there's no option to turn the ding off.
:-)
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
just checked my outlook webmail...there most certainly IS an option to turn off the sound
dscel - March 11, 2008
Email Buan!
Though I'm not sure it's web-based outlook. May be web-based something else that uses the same sound?
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
mine too
and that's definately an outlook sound..
tosk - March 11, 2008
How bout just turning the volume off on his computer then?
OaktownPower - March 11, 2008
not clear
he tried to explain that sound from commercials or something were coming from his computer
dscel - March 11, 2008
yeah
Buan made it sound as though turning down the volume would be disastrous for all involved.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
have we heard any outlook sounds during commercials?
dscel - March 11, 2008
Yes, I've heard the email ding during commercials
Flash G - March 11, 2008
That's what I was going to say
Just turn down the volume on the computer.
Tyler Bleszinski - March 11, 2008
I'm doing HW...
...So I wasn't really paying attention, but did Buan read an email in which someone asked him to turn the sound off? I think he said he didn't know how to operate his computer or something. haha.
Travis Buck Nuckin - March 11, 2008
Buan is getting better
at this whole play by play thing
tosk - March 11, 2008
Hannahan with an awesome double play
Smith gives up a leadoff single but nothing more.
If Gameday is right, only about 41 pitches through 4 full.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Emails and Sounds
The spots are run from the computer, if he had Vista he could just lower the email volume. But as of now doesn't look like it.
37 emails from cubs to the A's 13!!!
qweaspo - March 11, 2008
nice play by hannahan, apparently
xbhaskarx - March 11, 2008
Hannahan looks great.
baseballgirl - March 11, 2008
Another single for Jack
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Denorfia GIDP, Buck flies out
Kerry Wood throwing hard.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
BREAKING: A's will not face Beckett in Japan
It's official
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
muahahaha!
Cheezombie - March 11, 2008
Blanton to be first player traded mid-trans-Pacific flight
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
Smith done, Street in
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
thank goodness for that comma
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
Fuku, dome
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Game tied up
kapers - March 11, 2008
Update, Cubs have the lead 2-1.
kapers - March 11, 2008
Gonzales with a, sounds like inadvisable dive
ties the game, then the next batter singles to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
Street not looking sharp
baseballgirl - March 11, 2008
Street and Embree seem to be getting hit
hard this ST
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
Saw both throw in a ST game about ten days ago...
Sat down by the bullpen mounds down the RF line and Street threw his first few warmup pitches with his right elbow wrapped. Once he got a little loose he took it off, but that cannot be a healthy elbow.
train80 - March 11, 2008
Barton reaches on an error, Cust walks
2 on, 1 out for Crosby
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Bo to the Cro!
OaktownPower - March 11, 2008
Crosby hits a 3 run HR
A's lead 4-2
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
MVP!
With love, Peter G.
The Dogfather - March 11, 2008
great call
by Owen!
tosk - March 11, 2008
Sweeney doubles
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
Unreal
Crosby NEVER hits with guys on...much less a homer.
baseballgirl - March 11, 2008
Crosby now tied for Cactus League HR lead
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
maybe DJ should get a batting cage installed at his house
xbhaskarx - March 11, 2008
he'll just practice taking pitches
Cheezombie - March 11, 2008
I haven't seen it posted anywhere else, but here is
the reason Foulke didn't pitch in the game.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/athletics/ci_8531007
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
wow, thats dedication
taking the time to throw the simulated game...
tosk - March 11, 2008
Gio's in
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Am I the only one
who can't get excited about anybody's ST stats when BoCro is hitting homers and batting +.300?
thejd44 - March 11, 2008
BoCro's HR...
Was hit off Scott Eyre, one of the most over-rated LOOGY's on the planet. Nothing to get excited about, Crosby squaring up an 85 mph meatball from a lefty, but still....giddyup!
ChadGod - March 11, 2008
1-2-3 for Gio
K's Lee to end the inning
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
K'd Lee last week, too. Giogolo may be more ready than we think.
The Dogfather - March 11, 2008
Gonzalez singles to right
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
it looked like a single to left
on Gameday. I was just thinking about how it must have been a nice piece of opposite field hitting.
colin - March 11, 2008
It was - left, opposite, and nice
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
thanks
You never really know with this spring training version of Gameday.
colin - March 11, 2008
That's right, Gonzalez is a lefty
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
Here's an easy trick to help you remember...
EVERYONE on the team is left handed.
WhiteElephants - March 11, 2008
Ellis flies out to Fukudome
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
One rule change baseball should make
is in today's game.
If the National League won't adopt the DH like every other major league (and most minor league) on the planet, then they should have to have the pitcher bat always. The AL uses the DH, so they should get it always.
Eventually the NL clubs will realize how effing stupid the pitcher batting is. We don't make quarterbacks play linebacker. There's no reason to have a pitcher bat. Penalize them by letting the AL DH when the NL is at home and things could change.
thejd44 - March 11, 2008
Dusty Baker's head just exploded.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
it hadn't already?
oh whoops that was mark prior's shoulder
flipgatey3 - March 11, 2008
I caused that?
Do I get some kind of award or medal or something? I should.
thejd44 - March 11, 2008
Yep, the "Jay Bruce Award". Congrats!
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
or leave it the same?
seems fine the way it is
Cheezombie - March 11, 2008
wise words
mikeA - March 11, 2008
+1
xbhaskarx - March 11, 2008
Barton singles, Gonzalez to second
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
8 or 9 pitch AB
Nice
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Just subscribed to Gameday Audio, for the first time.
Wow. I really should have done this before.
danmerqury - March 11, 2008
Best $15 you can spend.
Though MLB really should make it free. Paying for video is fine, for now.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
I think those MLB moneygrubbers have in mind all-pay all-the-time.
Is it $15 for the season?
The Dogfather - March 11, 2008
For Audio, yes
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Isn't it great?
I actually have mlb.tv, because I want to be able to watch A's games (I'm out of market, so I can). the Audio comes with it. Even though the technology is sometimes a little bit sketchy, it's still worth the investment. This is the 5th season I've had it and despite the occasional problem I have no intention of not getting it in the future.
thejd44 - March 11, 2008
Agreed
Being in New York, I could normally see about 3 A's games/year. Now I've got a 22" monitor mounted on my bedroom wall connected to an old desktop with (seemingly) just enough power to run Silverlight fullscreen. 10:05 every night, can't wait.
dscel - March 11, 2008
That's awesome.
Good work, my friend.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
How's the picture quality?
WhiteElephants - March 11, 2008
We'll see..
Spring training games are all 400k, and aren't shot as well as regular season anyway. It's a little worse than cable TV, but I think once 700k streams start, it'll be comparable or better.
dscel - March 11, 2008
Glad to hear it,
I'll be moving to NY in the fall, so I'll almost certainly be a subscriber in 2009.
WhiteElephants - March 11, 2008
I'll do the same...
...in Indiana. I can't wait to stay up till 1 or 2am watching the A's on my computer. Good times.
Travis Buck Nuckin - March 11, 2008
I live in New York as well..
and got the Premium MLB.tv package. Well worth it IMO.
Syphon - March 11, 2008
Is it $79 again this season or did it go up?
kapers - March 11, 2008
89
I think
Travis Buck Nuckin - March 11, 2008
$89.95, 119.95 for Premium
Which comes with Mosaic and some other stuff.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
I got the Premium...
Its worth it.
Syphon - March 11, 2008
Yeah, I did last year
But my lame DSL couldn't handle the better video. Now I'm stealing Comcast from a neighbor, so I'm hoping Premium will work better.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
mlb.tv
This is my first season out of market since '03 and was weighing up paying for mlb.tv or settling for gameday audio. Given that you've been using mlb.tv for 5 seasons and sound fairly happy, I think you've just pushed me in that direction. Do you subscribe to the premium package or the one for $89.95?
Suz - March 11, 2008
89.95
I actually dont even know what the premium offers.
Someone asked about video quality. It's good. It's not great. It's not like watching HD TV or anything, but if you're like me and just want to see the game, it's fine. I'm not one of those people that needs the picture to look like I'm at the game.
You can also buy it by the month, so you might want to buy April and see what you think. Doing the monthly plan is more expensive, but at least you wont be throwing away $90 if you really arent satisfied.
thejd44 - March 11, 2008
Premium..
is very close to normal TV. The normal one its tuff to see the ball and plays sometimes.
Syphon - March 11, 2008
one warning
If your computer is really old like mine (Mac laptop circa 2002), then mlb.tv doesn't play smoothly and it's really hard to watch.
colin - March 11, 2008
howzabout the audio?
I have a crappy old iMac at home (433 mHz) and I'm worried that the audio will be all futzy.
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
I haven't tried Gameday Audio
But I'm thinking about doing it this year. I'm pretty confident that it will work. Most streaming audio is fine on my computer, while YouTube videos are usually jumpy. So imagine it will be the same for mlb's audio and video products.
colin - March 11, 2008
kewl. tnx!
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
last year...
.......I had audio and a really old Mac circa 1999/2000. I had to limit the number of browsers and programs I had running to make it work. Unfortunately, it does skip sometimes if you're browsing around online. When the computer loads it skips. If you just let it play by itself, it should work fine.
Travis Buck Nuckin - March 11, 2008
ditto
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
What I'd really like
I'd love a way to delay the netcast a second or two so it was sync'd with a tv feed, for those few games that there is a tv feed.
SirDan - March 11, 2008
By chance...
...Does anyone know if two people can log into the same account at the same time. My friend and I are thinking about going halfsies on MLB.TV...
Travis Buck Nuckin - March 11, 2008
My buddy and I did this a couple years ago.
It didn't work. At all. Only one of us could be signed in and watching at once.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
crap
That sucks. I thought I'd save 50 bucks, but I guess not.
Travis Buck Nuckin - March 11, 2008
My friend and I do it,
but we're across the Atlantic. It works for us.
OldhamA - March 11, 2008
Do you
both watch the same game at the same time?
Travis Buck Nuckin - March 11, 2008
come on Jack
Bobby has hit as many HRs as you this spring! You can't let that stand!
colin - March 11, 2008
I'll take a two-run double!
danmerqury - March 11, 2008
Cust doubles 2 runs score
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
once again i reiterate...go Cust go
TheGreenGoldCrush - March 11, 2008
Time to go home. Go A's!!
kapers - March 11, 2008
DP! DP! DP!
Gio still hasn't allowed a run.
danmerqury - March 11, 2008
And seriously
Buan is calling a damned good ballgame today. I've hardly had a reason to make fun of him, except for the email beep debacle.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
And the whole having Carlos Zambrano out in the outfield ;-) I think he meant Soriano.
baseballgirl - March 11, 2008
He's done GREAT tody, no joke.
baseballgirl - March 11, 2008
Oh God.
Chavy wants to DH in Japan.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
you beat me to it!
dbuzi123 - March 11, 2008
You provided commentary, though.
Commentary that I 100% agree with.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Truer words were never spoken:
pam5981 - March 11, 2008
Maybe he could sing the national anthem
Englishmajor - March 11, 2008
or remake a Wim Wenders film
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
Apparently Chavez wants to DH in Japan
Link here
No offense Chavy, but I think I would rather have Cust/Barton/Sweeney in that role....
dbuzi123 - March 11, 2008
I still love Chavy..
I hope hes healthy enough to make it.
Syphon - March 11, 2008
I love watching him play D
but he is just not the threat people make him out to be at the plate
dbuzi123 - March 11, 2008
Whens hes 100%
he still is. But hes almost never 100% anymore.
Syphon - March 11, 2008
stay down Chavvy, stay down
rebus - March 11, 2008
Gio has given up 2 this inning
Single (?), triple, sac fly.
6-4 A's
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
That single was a ground-rule double, if I'm not mistaken.
Gameday still hasn't shown anything from this inning.
danmerqury - March 11, 2008
You're right, I forgot.
Soriano hit a GR double
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Carlos Gonz
another Hit.
Syphon - March 11, 2008
A "Tomahawk Job" according to Buan
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Conrad K's
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Barton K's
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Barton K's
Syphon - March 11, 2008
Buck has been Ofer-a-while
is he struggling?
Oaktownflav - March 11, 2008
Well he is at .292
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
Hit a 3 run homer yesterday.
mikev - March 11, 2008
That was Barton.
Syphon - March 11, 2008
Crap. I totally read that wrong.
It's early.
mikev - March 11, 2008
That was Barton
Tyler Bleszinski - March 11, 2008
He's saving all his hits for the season.
mikev - March 11, 2008
oh nm then. :)
Zambrano is just tough i guess.
Oaktownflav - March 11, 2008
He hit a couple balls hard today
I'm not worried yet. He was 1 for 3 his last game on Sunday.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
DJ walks batting for Cust
theblackpearl - March 11, 2008
Yay, more Outlook sounds.
Thanks, Buan.
danmerqury - March 11, 2008
I bet he gets Clippy too
"It looks like you're trying to do play-by-play. Can I help?"
Englishmajor - March 11, 2008
ROFLMAO
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
Arrrr... Buan sounds too excited about that...
Oaktownflav - March 11, 2008
Marmol strikes out the side
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Carlos Marmol is ridiculous
Anyone else see his winter ball numbers?
He faced 41 batters and got 40 outs. I believe he had one base hit, one walk, one guy picked off of first base or doubled up.
Oh, and 22 strikeouts. Or something like that.
PaulThomas - March 11, 2008
Hey, nice Marmol!
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
what are you, a park ranger?
xbhaskarx - March 11, 2008
...?
Huh?
PaulThomas - March 11, 2008
if I ever post an apparent non sequitur ...
... especially if it's followed in rapid succession by more apparent non sequiturs from mikeA and/or xbhaskarx, dollars to donuts it's a Coen Bros. reference.
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
What my brother here means to say is that we felt that the institution no longer had anything to offer us.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
sometimes l get the menstrual cramps real hard
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
You know, for kids!
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Are you givin' me the high hat? I'm sicka the high hat!!
Nick - March 11, 2008
Youse fancy-pants, all a youse
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
Miller's Crossing
One of the most under-appreciated movies of all time.
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Ah
My knowledge of movies begins and ends with the "Home Alone" series.
PaulThomas - March 11, 2008
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
Gio with one
bad inning. Other than that looking good still.
Syphon - March 11, 2008
Line Drive out to Petit
2 out
Oaktownflav - March 11, 2008
A's Win!
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
We win!
Syphon - March 11, 2008
A's win! 9 - 5 record?
Oaktownflav - March 11, 2008
Yup
HigherPie - March 11, 2008
Look out Halos!
.. and M's!
Syphon - March 11, 2008
Buck needs to ask Sweeney to teach him how to dive.
rebus - March 11, 2008
xbhaskarx - March 11, 2008
VICTORY!!
OkayJay81 - March 11, 2008
Those are some fugly colors.
The Dogfather - March 11, 2008
looks like a Slegna alternate uni
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
I heart Johnny Drama
OaktownPower - March 11, 2008
Ahh, the Jeremy Giambi of Entourage...
Nick - March 11, 2008
He doesn't slide either?
mikev - March 11, 2008
I dunno about that
but he sure smokes as much pot as Jeremy does.
Nick - March 11, 2008
Awesome!
Tyler Bleszinski - March 11, 2008
I'm not sure I've ever found a show
more incredibly intolerable with not one interesting or likable character. I only watched the first season of Entourage, but I just couldn't stand anything about it.
thejd44 - March 11, 2008
wow, Baun is playing radio highlights!
cool because I just got back from a meeting and missed the whole game. He got really excited a few times, I guess he is getting more comfortable on the play by play.
micdog2001 - March 11, 2008
I was about to say...
...The Buan-cast seemed better today. He only messed up a few calls because he didn't know that players had switched around. A lot better today than normal though..
Travis Buck Nuckin - March 11, 2008
credit where credit is due
Buan's play by play work has improved
OaklandSi - March 11, 2008
Not for nothin..
but would it kill MLB to get an A's spring training game on MLB.tv for one damn game.
Syphon - March 11, 2008
Yes
Not to sound like an alarmist, but the appearance of the A's on national television at normal hours of the day would literally cause the earth to stop rotating. If Dilbert is to be believed, this would cause us all to be suddenly flung into space.
It would also signify that the terrorists have won.
PaulThomas - March 11, 2008
At least last year
I got to see Harden's amazing spring. A few games here and there but this year we get nothing. So lame.
Syphon - March 11, 2008
Watching Harden pitch in the spring
is like watching an Olympic-class skeet-shooting exhibition in a Ming china shop.
No matter how skillful it is, you know it can't possibly end well.
PaulThomas - March 11, 2008
Well atleast I'd..
get to see it rather than listen to a Baun-Cast of it.
Syphon - March 11, 2008
it would not surprise me in the least ...
... to find out that Joe Morgan thinks Bin Laden wrote Moneyball.
(And, yes, that OBL is one of those fancy-pants new stats generated, Enron-like, by computers.)
monkeyball - March 11, 2008
Why must he hate that which he does not understand...
gdub171 - March 11, 2008
Hey, didn't that happen in The Core?
Until they inseminated the earth with the giant phallic symbol and nuclear weapons? Or something. That movie really sucked.
thejd44 - March 11, 2008
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