The A's return to action after a day off with a 1:05 p.m. date against the White Sox. Nick Swisher will bat fifth and play CF for the Sox in his debut against his former team.
The A's send Rich Harden to the mound and host Chicago counters with Jose Contreras. Today's lineups are posted below if you click the "read more" link.
*If the season started tomorrow, I think you'd see Kiko Calero placed on the 60-day DL, Mike Sweeney added to the 40-man (and active) roster...and a disappointed Gio Gonzalez, Greg Smith, Kirk Saarloos, Brooks Conrad, and Todd Linden. Call it "40-man roster politics".
All those guys warrant a chance, and it would be nice to reward them. But not at the cost of unnecessarily exposing one of our current 40-man roster guys to waivers. All five of them will eventually get their chance if they are still performing well in AAA when someone else eventually goes on the 60-day DL later this year.
Today's Lineups:
A's
Buck RF
Ellis 2b
Barton 1b
Crosby SS
Johnson DH
Sweeney LF
Suzuki C
Hannahan 3b
Denorfia CF
White Sox
Ramirez 2b
Cabrera SS
Thome DH
Konerko 1b
Swisher CF
Dye RF
Fields 3b
Quentin LF
Hall C
0 recs | 273 comments
So is Denorfia
Going to hit at the bottom of the order rather than the top? Earlier this offseason I thought he would hit leadoff. What do you guys think?
niallmack - March 14, 2008
I don't think he'll be moved up
until he shows that he's over the rust.
Tyler Bleszinski - March 14, 2008
The A's would just like him to hit
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Crosby 4th? Hope he's enjoying ST
kapers - March 14, 2008
I just cut the head off a live lettuce to protect Harden.
I'm a vegan. It's the best I can do.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
If it doesn't, I'll chop up some tomatoes and onions and we'll have a salad.
kapers - March 14, 2008
we need to start a secret club for all the AN vegans
xbhaskarx - March 14, 2008
Why keep it secret?
In my experience, absolutely everyone loves vegans.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Absolutely!
Next we'll all contribute monetary donations to the Joe Morgan School of Baseball Analysis.
thejd44 - March 14, 2008
no it must be secret
xbhaskarx - March 14, 2008
Okay
Meet you at Herbivore at 8 to discuss it. Wear black. Look no one in the eye.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
except for Roger Clemens
he doesn't even know what you are.
batgirl - March 14, 2008
We can all snicker as we enjoy
our ice cold gaspacho.
mikeA - March 14, 2008
gaspacho?
Is that the vegan version of nacho runs?
Or just a precursor thereunto?
monkeyball - March 14, 2008
Are you calling me a shyster?
That is libelous, my friend.
mikeA - March 14, 2008
if you prick a vegan, does he bleed?
monkeyball - March 14, 2008
You better believe I am collecting if I win
that Harden bet.
mikeA - March 14, 2008
if I recall the terms of the deal ...
... if I lose, I need to give you a pound of Lance Niekro's flesh, right?
monkeyball - March 14, 2008
or, you could gaspacho as you enjoy your ice-cold Snickers
monkeyball - March 14, 2008
I'm glad the image didn't work.
Fried snickers look like shit.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
weird. working for me.
monkeyball - March 14, 2008
I get this:
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
I don't know what you've been eating ...
... but mine rarely looks like this:
monkeyball - March 14, 2008
OMG
Dude, that doesn't look appetizing at all. [gags]
surfinsushi - March 14, 2008
I am a vegan also
I am a vegan also. I have been striving for level 5 status for years........
Seriously, I am a vegan.
And I tried to reply to this post hours ago at work but 3.0 crashed my work computer.
Athletics fan and runner - March 14, 2008
Making us believers
I know many of us have had great doubts about Crosby and Harden. It's nice to see them fairing well so far in Spring. Keep cutting off lettuce heads and I'll start burning incense to ward off all of the evil spirits......
greenmachine - March 14, 2008
Buck pops up to 3rd base
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Ellis grounds out to ss
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Crosby singles, Barton to second. I missed how
Barton got on, he might have walked
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
He did.
Did you get LOST?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
I am always LOST
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
wild pitch advances both runners
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Dj singles on a full count 2 runners score
2-0 A's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Wow.....
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
It was probably supposed to be a grounder to the 2B
But he accidentally positioned it in the hole so it slipped into the outfield.
thejd44 - March 14, 2008
classic
flipgatey3 - March 14, 2008
Sweeney grounds out to end the top of 1st
2-0 A's Harden coming to the mound
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Nice start. Hope that isn't all the runs we end up with...
a la last season.
kapers - March 14, 2008
is Ramirez the starting 2B for the Sox?
Oaktownflav - March 14, 2008
I would guess not
But only because it sounds like he's worse than Soriano defensively. He can hit the bejesus out of the ball, but no glove = AAA for now.
I think Juan Uribe might open the roster as the 2B.
thejd44 - March 14, 2008
Open the season on the roster
Apparently, I don't like typing all the words in my sentences.
thejd44 - March 14, 2008
Ramirez k's 1 out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Cabrera pops out to 2nd base 2outs
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Thome walks
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Whoa, that was faster than Buan!
Oaktownflav - March 14, 2008
fast typer :)
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Konerko flies out to Buck
end of 1 2-0 A's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Suzuki flies out to right 1 out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Hannahan grounds out to 2nd 2 outs
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
is this game on the radio
and if so, what stations?
(i asked a few weeks ago, but since you can't search comments on new AN, i have to ask again)
xbhaskarx - March 14, 2008
only mlb. audio
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
radio/tv schedule for year
http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/schedule/broadcast.jsp?c_id=oak
micdog2001 - March 14, 2008
thanks
so this game isn't on 106.9?
damn, i need to drive to the bay area in a few minutes.
xbhaskarx - March 14, 2008
search
is "top of the list", we'll see if it turns out well....
mikeA - March 14, 2008
we're working mostly off feedback from AN
and evern after we roll out the next version of search, we'll be able to tweak more based on how well y'all like it. the benefit of the new platform is that we can quickly change the functionality.
Trei Brundrett - March 14, 2008
clockwerks
quick question regarding the login at the top:
is there any way to automatically focus the cursor on the username field once I click "Login'"? I don't mind the two separated by all the screen real estate, but moving all the way over to activate the field is slightly tedious.
rebus - March 14, 2008
good suggestions
I'll see what we can do
Trei Brundrett - March 15, 2008
Denorfia singles
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Buck singles, but slips, Denorfia to 3rd
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
did buck still reach base alright?
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
slipped rounding 1st, made it back safely, and seemingly on 1 piece
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
That's good, the last thing we need is another injury scare
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
Buck slips
and I assume he tore every ligament in his body. Buan says he's fine, but I'm sure he'll be day-to-day in the next hour.
thejd44 - March 14, 2008
Ellis grounds out inning over
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Situational hitting?
Oaktownflav - March 14, 2008
not in A's vocab apparently
micdog2001 - March 14, 2008
Hi all. Is today over yet? Is it the weekend? Can I SLEEP!?
baseballgirl - March 14, 2008
No, No, and HELL NO
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Here comes Swish
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Swisher flies out to Denorfia
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Dye walks
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Fields k's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Seriously
How are you getting the info so fast? My audio is at least 10 seconds behind you.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
faster work network ?
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
The phone rang and I missed something, that
wasn't fields
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Fields fly out to right
Quentin K's
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
fields flew out
quentin K'd
colin - March 14, 2008
I wish Gameday loaded faster.....
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
Barton walks
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Crosby flies out to right 1 out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Intrentestingly
Barton was running on the 3-2 pitch with none out.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
well, with Crosby's bat control,
you just know that the ball will be put in play.
No, I'm not drunk. I'm just getting really restless in the office and it's causing me to type stupid things.
colin - March 14, 2008
Buan said
Dan Haren came by to visit with his former A's teammates.
prana160 - March 14, 2008
DJ grounds into double play
No my feed is not that fast, I am just prognosticating
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Well DJ flied out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
so no DP?
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
no 2 outs
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Sweeney walks
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
this is ryan sweeney, right?
colin - March 14, 2008
yes
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Suzuki grounds out to 3rd inning over
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Hall k's 1 out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Ramirez flies out to left 2 out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Cabrera flies out to the wall in left center
3 outs
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
sweeney or denorfia?
sourstuff - March 14, 2008
Sweeney
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Sweeney to the gap
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
danke
to both.
sourstuff - March 14, 2008
has harden
given up on groundouts?
sourstuff - March 14, 2008
Well so far...
he's given up on runs and hits for that matter, so I guess I'll take it.
WhiteElephants - March 14, 2008
Hannahan pops up to fields
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Denorfia k's 2 out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Buck walks
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Ellis doubles
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Go Mark!!!!!
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
Ellis
took the extra base. Geren smiles.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Buck only gets to 3rd
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
SLACKER!
Jennifer - March 14, 2008
do you think he was hurting from that slip? or good defense?
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
Ellis got to 2nd on good hustle, so it was really a single
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
alright thanks for the update
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
They showed this play on highlights here in Chicago
The ball went to the cutoff man who was lined up for a throw to third. Ellis took second on a hustle play, barely got in under the tag. Definitely not Buck's fault because of injury or anything else. If anything whoever was playing short for the Sox wasn't in the right position. He should've been over towards second for that cutoff to hold Ellis to a single.
thejd44 - March 15, 2008
It was a single that ellis turned into a double for himself.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Barton HOMERS
5-0 A's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Go Barton !!!!!
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
woohooo!
Syphon - March 14, 2008
Oh yeah!!! Barton Homer!!
kapers - March 14, 2008
WOW!! Barton homer!!!!
baseballgirl - March 14, 2008
This is so fun. Can we keep it up thru October??
kapers - March 14, 2008
Why cant we?
Syphon - March 14, 2008
Regression to the mean?
I dunno what that means, but I have a small sample size.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
I hate the Mean
Syphon - March 14, 2008
if we do, we'd better contact our physician
monkeyball - March 14, 2008
Crosby k's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
What was the count?
asfaninpismobeach - March 14, 2008
2-2
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
petit is now in at ss
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Uh oh
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
That would be a new one, getting hurt watching a 3rd strike. They probably
just want to see more petit
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
After 2 ABs and 4 innings?
That would be strange. I can't imagine it was planned.
Hoping I'm wrong.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
3 ABs, sorry
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Thome k's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Konerkoi flies out to Buck 2 out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Swish pops up to Barton
end of 4 5-0 A's and Harden has a no-hitter, and since it is only spring training, I don't care
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Harden still isn't injured.....that's all that matters plus Barton is playing well
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
How many pitches has Harden
thrown? Any idea on how far the A's plan on letting him go?
alox - March 14, 2008
Not many.
Even his 2 walks were 4 pitch walks.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
When the game goes to the bottom of the 5th
Gameday will show us how many pitches Harden has thrown
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
40
mikeA - March 14, 2008
Why is DJ still getting AB?
Can we just rid ourselves of him already?
Syphon - March 14, 2008
Jenks is new White Sox pitcher
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Dj roll over special grounds out to 2nd
1 out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Sweeney grounds out to 2nd 2 outs
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Someone on the radio is talking about how upset
A's fans were with the Swisher trade, but boy oh boy what the Chisox gave up for him. Maybe it will be good for the A's but it still sucks.
kapers - March 14, 2008
Beane had to make that deal...
Too good for us.
Syphon - March 14, 2008
quick
Let's get Gio in to pitch to Swish his next time up. Then we can settle this whole thing once and for all. With a nice 1AB sample size.
colin - March 14, 2008
Suzuki doubles to center
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Has anyone seen Sweeney play in person?
I hear he has 5pm power. Looks good in batting practice but doesnt translate to game time.
asfaninpismobeach - March 14, 2008
Hannahan walks
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
whoa
Does anyone else see Denorfia's gameday mugshot? Sweet 'stache, man!
colin - March 14, 2008
Sweet indeed
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
never heard that expression before, "5pm power"
what is its derivation?
ChadGod - March 14, 2008
batting practice before a night game
happens at 5pm
colin - March 14, 2008
Just a guess....
but that's about the time the players take batting practice before a a 7pm start isn't it?
alox - March 14, 2008
Denorfia walks bases loaded
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Linden batting for Buck
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Linden k's inning over
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Looking.
Oy.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
ouch....can't believe it
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
Hah....
Put him on a bus to Sacramento!
alox - March 14, 2008
That Karma -- she's a bitch!
The Dogfather - March 14, 2008
Yes Alox, it means guys hit the ball out at 5pm and dont do it at 7 when the game starts
asfaninpismobeach - March 14, 2008
harden's pitch count
40 pitches for 4 innings.
colin - March 14, 2008
Linden SUCKS, LOSER!!!
man, that felt good.
ChadGod - March 14, 2008
Harden in for the 5th
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
What a great day this is! Harden pitching *well* and Barton hitting homers? Does it get any better?
baseballgirl - March 14, 2008
you can sign me up for 8 months of that
TheGreenGoldCrush - March 14, 2008
Dye walks
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Linden and Robnett can compare muscle size
asfaninpismobeach - March 14, 2008
2 straight walks
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
so Harden is effectively wild today?
colin - March 14, 2008
Come on Rich
Lets get that first ground ball of the day
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Gosh this is a game of walks
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
Quentin k's 1 out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Hall flies out to Sweeney 2 outs
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Ramirez singles 1 run scores
5-1 A's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Cabrera flies out to Denorfia
Great outing by Rich 5 IP 4BB 5 K's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
too many walks..
Syphon - March 14, 2008
Buan said earlier
that Harden appeared to be working on off-speed pitches today, FYIW
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
I feel dirty
Just made a post on McC.
doctorK - March 14, 2008
Did it look like a fried Snickers?
The Dogfather - March 14, 2008
That awful black and orange motif
It makes me feel like in stuck in A&W hell.
doctorK - March 14, 2008
Or even like I'm stuck ...
doctorK - March 14, 2008
Murphy k's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Barton flies out to center 2 outs
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
petit doubles
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
DJ homers
7-1 A's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
4 RBI today
Trade him now!
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
sweet....
the better he does the more likely Billy can trade him
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
DJ and Barton the new bash brothers? wait they play the same position, damn.
TheGreenGoldCrush - March 14, 2008
Sweeney k's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Buan's comment on DJ's homer
Sounds like he's made for the White Sox.
bvank - March 14, 2008
unfortunatley he is only made for ST
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Damn you DJ
stop hitting HRs.
Syphon - March 14, 2008
Thome grounds out to Hannahan
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Casilla is now pitching
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Final line for Harden:
5IP, 1R, 1ER, 1H, 5K, 4BB, 57 pitches, 0 ground balls
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Konerko walks
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Swisher pops out to Petit, who apparently
mad a fabulous play
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
made not mad
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Swisher should be mad
doctorK - March 14, 2008
The Dogfather - March 14, 2008
Petit pwns Swish.
BWH - March 14, 2008
Dye pops up to Murphy inning over
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
OT: Now raining hard on Lake Merritt
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Its raining up there?
:-(
Amnesiac - March 14, 2008
You shoulda seen Vallejo around 11 last night.
BWH - March 14, 2008
Hannahan singles after Knoedler gets out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Denorfia GIDP inning over
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
True Athletic, indeed
doctorK - March 14, 2008
rather Kendallesque
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Fields flies out to right 1 out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Quentin singles
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Lucy 4-6-3 double play
inning over
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Had to get outside for a bit to enjoy the 82 degree weather
I really do not want to be back in this cube.
kapers - March 14, 2008
Forsty the Stat Man is on
mikeA - March 14, 2008
Sounds interlewdly poetic.
The Dogfather - March 14, 2008
Linden grounds out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Unknown lefty on to pitch
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Linden hasn't gotten a hit since he shot off his mouth
has he.
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Last hit was on Saturday, 3/9
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
That was the day the report came out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Murphy safe on 3-5
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
e-5
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Clayton Richard pitching
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Barton walks
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
petit lines out to 2nd 2 out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
gameday
put Danny Richar in as the pitcher. I'm pretty sure that he plays 2B (or is it outfield?) for the White Sox.
colin - March 14, 2008
2B, and it's Clayton Richards on the mound
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
dj walks bases loaded
Fiorentino up
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Fiorentino grounds out to 1st inning over
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Street is pitching
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Can't DJ just stick to sucking?
why must he tease me
ChadGod - March 14, 2008
Todd Donovan is playing lf
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
someone grounds out to Murphy 1 out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
next unknown batter grounds out to Murphy
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Stark asks "MLB's worst team?"
The Giants are mentioned, of course:
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
hahaha
Sab(ean)ermetics for the win
ChadGod - March 14, 2008
Knoedler k's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Conrad singles, I think it was Brooks
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Todd Donovan is up
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
who the heck is that?
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
Former Rangers farmhand, who apparently has great speed
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
he was in Spring Training Camp before?
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
I only know what Buan balles about
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
babbles
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Todd Donovan.
That's all I got.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
Lisa Loopner's boyfriend (left).
The Dogfather - March 14, 2008
Donovan walks
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Like I said -- he left.
The Dogfather - March 14, 2008
Linden flies out to left 2 outs
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Murphy hits a ground rule double
8-1 A's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Lecroy is batting
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
They're putting in everyone they can now.....
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
Robin Williams is on deck. :)
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Trumpet Guy in the hole
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
probably fare better than Billy Crystal did
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
I want to see Billy Crystal again !!!
He actually made contact with one of the pitches and got ahead in the count.
Coffee13eans - March 14, 2008
Lecroy walks
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Yay, time to go home!!
Enjoy your weekend!
kapers - March 14, 2008
Petit k's inning over
going to the bottom of the 9th 8-1 A's
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
2nd time
we've K'd looking with the bags loaded today. Nothing much else to complain about.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
GO A's GO's
TheGreenGoldCrush - March 14, 2008
Lecroy is playing 1st base and
Joey Devine is on the mound
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
Eldred grounds out 1 out
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
someone singles past Conrad
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
double play to end the game
8-1
theblackpearl - March 14, 2008
A's win!
11-5 on the spring.
HigherPie - March 14, 2008
A's in 08!!
GO!
Syphon - March 14, 2008
That was prolly the best ST game thus far...
well balanced pitching, defense, and hitting against the A-lineup of the White Sox.
Oaktownflav - March 14, 2008
The fact that the walks were quick
does the fact that Harden's walks were quick 4-pitch types prove that he was working on off speed stuff? It seems like once he's down 1-0, or 2-0, he'd normally throw a fastball. So the fact that he (presumably) didn't, and threw more balls, might imply that it was a mandate for off-speed.
I'm thinking that the walks were just because of the spring training pitch selection, and I'm happy.
ohmangoAs - March 14, 2008
I wouldn't be so sure
Harden's (other) Achilles heal has always been control issues. Which is what makes him hittable at times, and also prevents me from complete suicidal behavior when he gets injured.
ChadGod - March 14, 2008
my internet connection crapped out
halfway through the game, and didn't return til now...but what I heard (Harden's pitching, Barton's 3 run HR) sounded pretty good
OaklandSi - March 14, 2008
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